Brian Hickerson Addresses Hayden Panettiere’s Death and More Top Us Stories

Get a rundown of Us‘ top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on August 20, 2026. Here are the key takeaways:

• Brian Hickerson broke his silence on Hayden Panettiere‘s death through his attorney Sloan Ellis, who said the investigation is ongoing and police have confirmed no signs of foul play. The statement said they had no further comment out of respect for Panettiere’s loved ones.

• Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, attributed their estrangement to the “involvement of a toxic individual who I believe led to her death” in a statement to Entertainment Tonight. Vogel said her daughter became involved with “the wrong person” and that the family unsuccessfully tried to extricate him from her life.

• Country singer Justin Moore revealed a recent health scare after discovering a benign lipoma on his neck that doctors advised against removing due to potential impact on his singing and speaking voice on Tracy Lawrence‘s “TL’s Road House” podcast. The “Small Town USA” singer also shared he is 65 days sober after struggling with alcohol dependency that escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Edited by Samantha Benitz. Story produced with AI assistance