Former NBA player Jason Collins' official cause of death revealed after brain cancer battle

The official cause of death for Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in the NBA, has been revealed.

Key Points

• Collins, 47, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of brain cancer, in September 2025.

• Glioblastoma ultimately was one of the contributing factors of his May 12 death, which was attributed to respiratory failure.

A week after the passing of NBA playerJason Collins, the official cause of his death has beenrevealed.

The 47-year-old athlete died of respiratory failure with underlying contributing conditions including a pulmonary embolism, hydrocephalus (buildup of fluid in the brain), and glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of brain cancer.

Collins, who made history in 2014 as thefirst openly gay NBA player, announced hisglioblastoma diagnosisin September 2025, only four months after hemarriedThe HelpproducerBrunson Green.

The 7-foot center, who played for the Boston Celtics andBrooklyn Nets, died on May 12, two weeks before what would have been his and Green’s first wedding anniversary.

According to Collins’ death certificate, his body was cremated on May 15.

“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” his heartbroken family said in astatement. “We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

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Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA, after being drafted in 2001 along with his twin brother Jarron, who is currently an assistant coach with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Jarron, his wife Elsa, and their three children remembered Jason at a memorial event over the weekend, each sharing the impact he made on their lives.

“I just saw something online that made me really put everything into perspective,” said one of his nieces in a video posted on Elsa’s Instagram. “My uncle said when he came out, ‘if not for me, then for someone else.’ I saw a video today and in the comments section somebody said, ‘I came out today.’ He didn’t even know them, but he already made such a big impact on their life. And I think that really sums up who he was as a person.”

As he battled brain cancer, Collins chose radiation along with Avastin, a drug used to stop the tumor’s growth, a combination he hoped would save the lives of others with glioblastoma in the future.

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“The average prognosis is only 11 to 14 months. If that's all the time I have left, I'd rather spend it trying a course of treatment that might one day be a new standard of care for everyone,” he toldESPNin December. "After I came out, someone I really respect told me that my choice to live openly could help someone who I might never meet. I've held onto that for years. And if I can do that again now, then that matters."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byJastin Mags

in

May 19, 2026

Former NBA player Jason Collins' official cause of death revealed after brain cancer battle

The official cause of death for Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in the NBA, has been revealed. Key Points ...

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Yolanda Hadid Walks Red Carpet Alongside Bella Hadid for the First Time in Years, in Glam Mother-Daughter Moment

Yolanda Hadid attended the Chopard Miracle Gala Evening at Cannes with daughter Bella in their first red carpet appearance together in years

NEED TO KNOW

• Yolanda wore a red floor-length shirtdress with silver jewelry while Bella dazzled in a gold Elie Saab gown from 2004

• The mother-daughter duo previously attended the Golden Heart Awards in October 2022

Yolanda Hadidmade her return to the red carpet with a special guest.

On Monday, May 18, Hadid, 62, posed with her daughter,Bella Hadid, 29, atthe Chopard Miracle Gala Evening at the Cannes Film Festival.

Yolanda looked as confident as ever as she stepped out in a cinched-waist shirtdress.

The bright red floor-length design had long sleeves, pockets, and a popped collar paired with a sparkling silver necklace and matching earrings.

TheReal Housewives of Beverly Hillsalum wore her hair slicked back in a low bun, dark black eyeliner to bring out her eyes, and a light pink lip.

Like her mother, Bella wore dazzling silver jewelry, including a pendant necklace and stud earrings.

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Bella glistened in agold Elie Saab gownfrom the Fall-Winter 2004 Haute Couture collection, featuring a small train and silver embellishments.

The mother-daughter outing comes years after their last red-carpet appearance together. The former reality star was last spotted with Bella on a red carpet at the God's Love We Deliver 16th Annual Golden Heart Awards in October 2022.

The duo coordinated for the evening, with Yolanda wearing a beige turtleneck bodysuit paired with a matching coat, heeled boots, and gold hoop earrings.

Bella wore a gold dress fromMichael Kors's spring 2023 ready-to-wear collection. The shimmering, deep-neckline look was made complete with gold heeled sandals and silver jewelry.

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In addition to Bella, Yolanda is also themother of Gigi Hadid, 31, and Anwar Hadid, 26, whom she shares with her ex-husband,Mohamed Hadid, 77.

Read the original article onPeople

byJastin Mags

in

May 18, 2026

Yolanda Hadid Walks Red Carpet Alongside Bella Hadid for the First Time in Years, in Glam Mother-Daughter Moment

Yolanda Hadid attended the Chopard Miracle Gala Evening at Cannes with daughter Bella in their first red carpet appearance together in ...

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Kathie Lee Gifford's Connecticut Home Is for Sale for $100 Million: See the Stunning Pics

Kathie Lee Gifford is selling her 13,163-square-foot waterfront home in Connecticut, after owning it for 32 years

NEED TO KNOW

• The home, nicknamed Cedar Cliff, features eight bedrooms, nine baths and unique sunrise and sunset views from its peninsula location

• Gifford says the decision to sell reflects her new life in Nashville and her focus on writing and music projects

Kathie Lee Giffordhas put her waterfront Connecticut home on the market for a whopping $100 million.

The stunning Greenwich property, which she bought in 1994 with her husbandFrank Gifford, is nicknamedCedar Cliff. It is being sold throughLeslie McElwreathat Sotheby's International. The property boasts eight bedrooms, nine baths and five half-baths, and covers 13,163 square feet on 2.9 acres.

"Frank and I were immediately drawn to the extraordinary and unique mediterranean beauty of the house on Cedar Cliff. We felt as though we were stepping onto the grounds of a European villa. It was just stunning," Gifford, 72, shares with PEOPLE.

Now living in Nashville, where she moved to after retiring from her role at theToday Showin 2018, Gifford says she made the 40-mile commute into Midtown Manhattan daily while living at Cedar Cliff and working at NBC.

"That was my regular commute, until I left the show withRegis [Philbin]in 2000 and took an eight-year break from daytime television," she says.

"Our friend, Jim Bell, the executive producer of theToday Show, talked me into returning in 2008, alongside my precious Hoda Kotb. One year turned into eleven, and I finally leftTodayin 2018 and moved to Tennessee," says Gifford, who recently released her 31st book.

As for why she's selling now, she says that she's fully embraced her third act as a singer-songwriter and author down in the South.

"The years went on, and my children had moved, the house that had once seemed so full of life and of laughter and of music had suddenly gone silent to me," she says.

"I knew I had to make new memories," Gifford continues. "By that time, I was writing a screenplay for my friend, Craig Ferguson and me, and cowriting the music for the soundtrack. I was spending more and more time in Nashville, and it was the new beginning that I needed. I moved down there full-time in 2019, but I never stopped loving Cedar Cliff."

As for whether she had a favorite aspect of the home she owned for 32 years, she says it was all about location, location, location. (And sunrises and sunsets.)

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"It's hard to choose a favorite feature, because so often it depended on the season and what time of year we were in," she says.

"Because of the unique position of the house on its own peninsula, I was always so moved by the fact that we were blessed to watch the sun rise every morning from a little alcove which we called ‘The South of France' (a vestige of the 1920s Beach Club) and watch the sun set on the opposite side of the property as we gave thanks for all our blessings," she says.

Gifford adds, "Frank and I both came from very humble beginnings, and it was almost unbelievable to us that we would have the opportunity to not only live out our married life there together, but also to raise our children in such a magical environment."

She says her favorite memories of the home include entertaining with friends like Regis and his wife Joy,Kevin Costner, Kenny Loggins, Neil Sedaka andKris Jenner. "Playing the piano with Dolly Parton. Hosting screenings in our theater and raising funds for our favorite charities," she says.

"But I think my all-time favorite memory would be of watching Frank sit down at Praise Point for hours, watching the beautiful sailboats and waving to the fishermen and paddle boarders. Here was a man who had conquered eight halls of fame, had traveled the world many times over, and nothing compared to his home. It was his favorite spot on earth."

She notes that it's time to pass the home on to someone else, even though she'll always "miss Frank and the beautiful life we created together."

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"Our lives have taken us elsewhere since Frank's passing," she says.

"With my children now adults, and with their own growing families, we always knew in our hearts that we would know when it was the right time, and we would have peace about it. Over the years, we were constantly besieged with inquiries. We weren't ready then. We have great peace now."

Read the original article onPeople

byJastin Mags

in

May 18, 2026

Kathie Lee Gifford's Connecticut Home Is for Sale for $100 Million: See the Stunning Pics

Kathie Lee Gifford is selling her 13,163-square-foot waterfront home in Connecticut, after owning it for 32 years NEED TO KNOW ...

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Cody Johnson Wins Entertainer of the Year at 2026 ACM Awards and Surprises Fans by Dedicating It to Fellow Nominee Luke Combs

Cody Johnson took home Entertainer of the Year at the 2026 ACM Awards

NEED TO KNOW

• He dedicated his award to Luke Combs in his speech on Sunday, May 17

• "There's a man that was up for this award that I personally watched devote his life to country music," Johnson said

Cody Johnsonis a big winner!

The country singer, 38, took home the coveted Entertainer of the Year win at the2026 ACM Awardson Sunday, May 17 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The night marked his third nomination for the title, and first win.

In his acceptance speech, Johnson dedicated his prize to fellow nomineeLuke Combs, admitting to the crowd that the dedication was one they "probably didn't expect."

"There's a man that was up for this award that I personally watched devote his life to country music," he said in his acceptance speech.

"I was there the night in Australia when his wife gave birth to one of their sons. And I watched the anguish, I watched the defeat on his face for not being there, because he was across the world playing music in a sold-out arena. The next night, right after, I watched him get on stage and absolutely murder the stage, and go on stage and play country music and preach the message of country music to a bunch of Australians across the world," Johnson continued.

"So, tonight I want to dedicate my first Entertainer of the Year award to my buddy, Luke Combs," he said. "I love you, brother."

Johnson was asupporting act for Combson his 2023 world tour. Combs, who hasthree kids with his wife Nicole, missed the birth of his second son, Beau, that August,due to performing in Australia.

Combs was up against Johnson for Entertainer of the Year along withMegan Moroney,Lainey Wilson,Chris Stapleton,Jelly RollandMorgan Wallen.

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Earlier in the night, Johnson took home the win for Male Artist of the Year.

He dropped his most recent albumLeatherin 2023, and is set to release his 10th studio albumBanks of the Trinityon June 26.

The "Dirt Cheap" musician released his song "The Fall" last year, which peaked at No. 4 onBillboard's Country Airplay and No. 7 onBillboard's Hot Country charts. In January, he was featured on a remix of Brandon Lake's hit "When a Cowboy Prays."

Check out all of PEOPLE's full ACM Awards coverage here.

The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards washosted by Shania Twain, who said in a statement that she was "thrilled" to be hosting in Las Vegas, "a place that feels like home."

“It's such an honor to be part of this incredible night celebrating Country Music's biggest stars, especially with so many talented women leading nominations this year," she said ahead of the event. "I can't wait to welcome all of the fans and artists out for this unforgettable night."

Performers at this year's ceremony included Lambert, Johnson, Wilson,Kacey Musgraves,Little Big TownandRiley Green. Musgraves notably performed a new song from her upcomingMiddle of Nowherealbum, while Wilson premiered "Can't Sit Still" and Green delivered a rendition of the track "Change My Mind."

The 2026 ACMs took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 17. Viewers can watch them live on Prime Video.

Read the original article onPeople

byJastin Mags

in

May 17, 2026

Cody Johnson Wins Entertainer of the Year at 2026 ACM Awards and Surprises Fans by Dedicating It to Fellow Nominee Luke Combs

Cody Johnson took home Entertainer of the Year at the 2026 ACM Awards NEED TO KNOW He dedicated his award to Luke ...

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Shania Twain opens 2026 ACMs with nostalgic monologue

Shania Twaintook to the stage on May 17 to host theAcademy of Country Music Awardsfor her first time.

Broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the ceremony celebrates the biggest names in country music as stars compete for top honors, including entertainer, album and song of the year.

Among this year’s leading nominees areMegan Moroney,Miranda Lambert,Ella Langley,Lainey WilsonandChris Stapleton.

Twain has graced the ACM Awards stage before. She previously won three ACM awards, including the top honor and entertainer of the year, which she nabbed in 2000.

As the who's who of country music sat in the arena's audience, the "Queen of Country Pop" opened the show's with a sweet retrospective monologue.

"What a time this is for country music. Our songs and storytellers are everywhere," Twain said, hitting the stage in an intricate gold gown.

"Now, this show and I have a little history together. Exactly 30 years ago, I was honored with my first ACM award, and that was a big, huge night for me. The 'Come On Over' album is about to turn 30," she said, adding she can't believe how long her journey has been.

"I started singing in bars when I was eight years old, and I didn't have my first top 10 hit until I was 30, and I wrote my new album called 'Little Miss Twain' all about that long journey, and I can't wait to share it with you. It's coming out in July," she said.

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"That little Miss Twain never imagined she'd be right here hosting tonight," she added.

Established in 1966, the ACMs are the longest-running country music awards show.

This is Twain's first time hosting the ceremony, making her the third woman to solo-host the show after Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire.

Twain shouted out Parton and McEntire for blazing the trail for all women in country music, as well as other hosts like Charley Pride, Glenn Campbell and Kenny Rogers.

"I had his poster up on my wall my whole teenage years," Twain said of Rogers.

"We love all our country mythic legends from then and now. Tonight, the power of music will shine."

Audrey Gibbs is a music reporter at The Tennessean. You can reach her at agibbs@tennessean.com. Follower her on Instagram at @audreyraegibbs.

Bryan West is a music reporter at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him onInstagram,TikTokandX as @BryanWestTV.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Shania Twain opens 2026 ACMs with sweet monologue

byJastin Mags

in

May 17, 2026

Shania Twain opens 2026 ACMs with nostalgic monologue

Shania Twaintook to the stage on May 17 to host theAcademy of Country Music Awardsfor her first time. Broadcast live from the MGM ...

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Who Is Gina Carano's Husband? All About Kevin Ross

Gina Carano and Kevin Ross first started dating in 2001 and split four years later

NEED TO KNOW

• They got back together in 2015 and ultimately wed in 2022, but she didn't reveal that they'd gotten married until 2026

• Ross, a retired Muay Thai fighter, inspired Carano's MMA career

Gina Carano's marriage to Kevin Ross was more than two decades in the making.

The actress first dated Ross, a retired Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer, for several years in the early 2000s. After rekindling their relationship, the two married in August 2022 — something she didn't reveal until four years later in March 2026.

At a press conference in Los Angeles for her May 2026MMA fightwithRonda Rousey, Carano shared that in the years since her retirement, she "moved up to Montana" and got married. (Carano's last fight was in 2009 against Cris Cyborg, perESPN.)

“I got married to my first and last love, Kevin Ross,” she toldreporters. “And it was the best thing I've ever done. So now you all know. I'm married.”

Prior to her announcement,Carano'slast-known relationshipwas withHenry Cavill, whom she split from in 2014, perE! Online.

In February 2021, Carano, also an actress, was fired from the Disney+ seriesThe Mandalorianafter shefaced backlash for controversial social media posts. She later sued her former employer for wrongful termination and discrimination in 2024 andsettled the lawsuitthe following year.

So who is Gina Carano's husband? Here's everything to know about Kevin Ross and his relationship with the actress.

He was born in Pennsylvania

Ross was born in Reading, Pa., on July 27, 1980, per hisbio. Growing up, he moved “every couple of months,” and he “went to so many different schools.”

“We'd move for various reasons. There was a lot going on. I grew up all over the country,” he explained on theAuthentic Adversity Podcastin April 2023.

When he was 14, Ross moved in with his dad in Georgia. Then, they relocated to Las Vegas.

He is a retired Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer

Ross began training in Muay Thai in January 2003 at Master Toddy's in Las Vegas, per his bio.

“I was always drawn to it and it always intrigued me a lot,” Ross shared on theAuthentic Adversity Podcast. “But it did seem so far from anything I could or would ever do.”

Ross went on to have a career as a Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer, which included training and competing globally.

His nickname “The Soul Assassin” came after his first professional fight in Mexico, Ross toldMMA Maniain a March 2013 interview.

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“I had a crazy fight out there and some dude after the fight came up to me and said that should be my nickname just cause of way I fought,” he shared.

He was voted Muay Thai North American Fighter of the Year in December 2010 and held multiple titles throughout his career until retiring in June 2021.

He introduced Carano to MMA fighting

Carano and Ross first began dating on May 29, 2001, per hisInstagram. When Ross began training in Muay Thai in 2003, he also inspired Carano to pursue a career as a mixed martial artist.

“Being a fighter changed his life completely,” Carano told theLas Vegas Sunof her ex in July 2009. “In one night he just made the decision to stop everything that he was doing and start something that he always wanted to do, and that inspired me to eventually sign up.”

However, their careers later drove them apart romantically. They ultimately split four years after they started dating, per theNew York Post.

“[Fans] don't see the sacrificing of friends and family,” Ross told theLas Vegas Sun. “Having to be in the gym all the time, not being able to go and hang out with your friends. Most people have no clue what it really takes to be a fighter.”

However, they remained close friends at the time. “He really did start off my career and gave me meaning to my life,” Carano added. “It's weird that it happened, I don't know if it wasn't for him. He's the kind of person who in one day completely just changed his life and that affected mine.”

He married Carano in 2022

Carano and Ross privately got back together around 2015, per theNew York Post.

The day after Carano's surprise marriage announcement, Ross revealed more information about their nuptials, telling the outlet that he and Carano had said “I do” at a courthouse in August 2022.

“We didn't even tell our family about it for a few months,” he shared. “We just wanted to keep it to ourselves.”

He said this was due to Carano's public life, saying, "We wanted to do something for ourselves and not tell anybody.”

“It was nice keeping it a secret,” he explained. “Something only we knew. Nobody knew we were married I don't think for like a year or so. We didn't tell anybody.”

The couple had previously intended to hold a “big wedding” in 2025, but put things on hold as Carano's match with Rousey neared.

Ross added, “We got the important part out of the way, so we're not in a rush to do it. Whenever it feels right and the time's right.”

Read the original article onPeople

byJastin Mags

in

May 16, 2026

Who Is Gina Carano's Husband? All About Kevin Ross

Gina Carano and Kevin Ross first started dating in 2001 and split four years later NEED TO KNOW They got back toge...

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Jack Schlossberg says he'll never process sister Tatiana's death: 'She was my best friend'

Kennedy heir Jack Schlossberg, the son of President John F. Kennedy's daughter Caroline, lost his older sister, Tatiana, in December.

Key Points

• Tatiana Schlossberg, 35, died of cancer. The environmental journalist was a mother of two.

• Political candidate Jack Schlossberg said Tatiana was his best friend.

While Jack Schlossberg is focused on winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, he can't stop thinking about his sister Tatiana's death.

"I don't think I'll ever process it," he toldVanity Fairin an interview published Friday. "The world will never be the same for me, not only since she passed away, but since she was diagnosed with cancer about two years ago."

Tatiana Schlossbergdied Dec. 30, after announcing in November 2025 that she had been diagnosed with cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, more than a year earlier. Doctors told her the prognosis was terminal.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.

"She was my best friend. We could finish each other's sentences," Schlossberg, 33, said of losing one of his two sisters. "I miss her all the time. Every day I think about her."

Schlossberg has said previously that his sister had told him he "better win" in his campaign.

His grief has served as a motivation.

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"It's made me all the more motivated, engaged, and focused on making the most out of my life, and I think that there's no higher calling than public service," the grandson of PresidentJohn F. Kennedysaid. "To me, I think politics is a noble profession, and one that I would be fantastic at serving this district as. So she wanted me to win, and I intend to honor her by doing just that."

The proximity of Schlossberg's loss has shown him, he said, that "it could have just as easily been me."

He feels an obligation to himself and his sister "to make the most out of my precious life and all that I’ve been given in this life to give back to others and make sure that we can fund cures for the type of cancer that took her life, and for other types of cancer."

During Tatiana's life, she worked as an environmental journalist at theNew York Times. She published the non-fiction bookInconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Didn't Know You Hadin 2019.

The emotional essay in which she disclosed her illness was published in theNew Yorker.

"Mostly, I try to live and be with them now," she wrote of her family, which included husband George Moran and their two children, Edwin and Josephine. "But being in the present is harder than it sounds, so I let the memories come and go. So many of them are from my childhood that I feel as if I'm watching myself and my kids grow up at the same time."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byJastin Mags

in

May 15, 2026

Jack Schlossberg says he'll never process sister Tatiana's death: 'She was my best friend'

Kennedy heir Jack Schlossberg, the son of President John F. Kennedy's daughter Caroline, lost his older sister, Tatiana, in Decembe...

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