Christian Entertainment News: Dolly Parton, Baptisms and Family TV
Faith took center stage across entertainment news this week as the public remembered Dolly Parton, two television personalities publicly marked a spiritual turning point, and familiar faces launched projects centered on family, service and biblical truth.
Elsewhere, an animated series expanded into music, a UFC contender described the octagon as his ministry, and a new appreciation of G.K. Chesterton examined why his joyful defense of Christianity still connects with readers.
Dolly Parton’s songs reflected lifelong Christian faith
Country music legend Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at 80, left behind more than country standards. She also recorded a body of music shaped by the Christianity she learned in a small Pentecostal church in the Tennessee mountains.
A Christianity Today review of Parton’s faith-filled songs examined how belief, doubt, repentance and hope appeared throughout her career. Songs such as “The Seeker,” “God’s Coloring Book” and “He’s Alive” spoke directly about faith, while spiritual themes surfaced across her broader catalog.
In a 2012 interview for her song, “Joyful Noise”, Parton shared about her relationship with Jesus. “He’s a personal savior to me. I just claim that and work from that.” Last year while discussing the death of her husband, Carl Dean. She said she believed they would see each other again. Metro Voice has repeatedly reported on Parton’s faith over the years, including a story in which she said her faith impacts everything she does.
Parton’s official website said she died peacefully in Nashville. She was remembered as a singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist and literacy advocate.
Donnie Wahlberg and Jenny McCarthy baptized together
Singer and actor Donnie Wahlberg and his wife, television personality Jenny McCarthy, were baptized after publicly discussing their renewed commitment to Jesus.
Wahlberg included footage of the baptisms in a birthday video posted online. Dudley Rutherford, pastor of Shepherd Church in Porter Ranch, California, baptized the couple.
View this post on Instagram
Wahlberg, a founding member of New Kids on the Block and longtime star of “Blue Bloods,” said the past year brought a spiritual transformation that changed his priorities and restored his joy.
“I don’t know where I would be without Jesus,” he wrote.
Wahlberg previously said that success, family and material comfort had not relieved an inner emptiness. McCarthy, who was raised Catholic, also has spoken recently about surrendering her life to Christ and turning to prayer during a period of grief.
Jep and Jessica Robertson bring faith to new series
Jep and Jessica Robertson are returning to unscripted television with a lesson inherited from the late Phil Robertson: Marriage requires Christians to keep their vows when life becomes difficult.
“The biggest thing is just not giving up,” Jep told The Christian Post.
The couple, nearing their 25th wedding anniversary, said forgiveness and learning to act as teammates helped them through a difficult first several years of marriage. Jep recalled his father teaching that Christians make two defining pledges, one to Christ and another to their spouse.
Their new series, “Jep & Jess: Beyond the Bayou,” follows the former “Duck Dynasty” stars as they establish a community at Comanche Moon Ranch in Texas. The program is also streaming on Great American Pure Flix.
The Robertsons said they hope the series offers families wholesome entertainment centered on faith, hospitality and community.
Marrs family completes 24-hour St. Jude renovation
“Fixer to Fabulous” stars Dave and Jenny Marrs completed a home renovation and outdoor play area in less than 24 hours for a 17-year-old St. Jude patient named Faith.
The annual St. Jude building project brought together the Marrs family, volunteers and local businesses that donated labor and materials.
“This is our fifth year being a part of this project,” Jenny wrote afterward, describing the work as challenging, exhausting and meaningful.
She said Faith’s Christian faith had remained a “steadfast anchor” during an extraordinarily difficult battle and had affected everyone involved in the project.
The renovation will be featured during the eighth season of HGTV’s “Fixer to Fabulous.” Jenny offered fans an early look at the project and said the episode would remind viewers that good still exists and there is always reason for hope.
‘Dead Sea Squirrels’ releases 22-song soundtrack
VeggieTales co-creator Mike Nawrocki has released a 22-song soundtrack from the first season of his animated series “The Dead Sea Squirrels.”
The season-one soundtrack features Matthew West, Bart Millard, Katy Nichole, Ellie Holcomb, Mac Powell, Steve Taylor and Ashley Cleveland. It is available through major streaming services.
The songs reinforce lessons from the show about kindness, honesty, mercy, self-control and trusting God. Other tracks introduce children to the birth, ministry, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Nawrocki said he hopes children will repeatedly sing the songs while remembering the biblical truths behind them. The soundtrack accompanies the show’s 13-episode first season, which is streaming on Minno.
The series follows 10-year-old Michael and two squirrels preserved in Dead Sea salt for 2,000 years. After awakening in modern-day Tennessee, the squirrels use their knowledge of Jesus to help children face everyday problems.
UFC fighter Jalin Turner calls octagon his ministry
Jalin Turner needed only 39 seconds to defeat Kauê Fernandes at UFC 330 in Philadelphia. Afterward, the lightweight contender used the national spotlight to talk about Jesus.
“I’m feeling the joy of the Lord right now,” Turner said following the knockout, according to media outlets.
Turner acknowledged that he once considered fighters’ public expressions of faith “the corniest thing.” His outlook changed after he began reading the Bible for himself and concluded that career success, partying and other pleasures had failed to provide lasting fulfillment.
Turner briefly retired from mixed martial arts in 2025 before returning to competition. He now views fighting as his largest ministry platform and an opportunity to reach people who need hope.
The victory was his second consecutive first-round finish since returning to the UFC. The promotion posted Turner’s official post-fight interview, while MMA Fighting reported on the 39-second knockout.
G.K. Chesterton made Christian belief intellectually adventurous
More than 90 years after his death, G.K. Chesterton continues to influence Christian writers, apologists and readers drawn to his mixture of humor, paradox and theological confidence.
A Religion Unplugged analysis argues that Chesterton made Christianity culturally engaging because he refused to present belief as timid or merely respectable.
In “Orthodoxy,” published in 1908, Chesterton described his intellectual journey toward discovering that historic Christianity was more surprising than the alternatives he had explored. His Father Brown mysteries used a modest Catholic priest’s understanding of sin and human nature to solve crimes.
Chesterton also became known for public debates with George Bernard Shaw and other leading intellectuals. His approach treated Christianity as a bold explanation of reality, filled with joy, danger and wonder.
The English writer died in 1936 after producing nearly 100 books and more than 4,000 essays and newspaper columns, according to Wheaton College’s Wade Center.
–Metro Voice staff.
#ChristianEntertainment #DollyParton #CelebrityFaith #ChristianNews #FamilyTelevision #FaithAndCulture
Dolly Parton Image: Eva Rinaldi, Wiki Media Commons. 2.0 license. Other images from social media or public domain.
This story was researched and produced using our Christian entertainment research chatbot examining hundreds of stories published this week. It was verified and edited by real people at Metro Voice.
