As word of Jeanne Cooper’s (Katherine Chancellor, “The Young and the Restless”) continues to spread, her family has released the following statement:

The OnLine Network has announced that Matthew Cowles is returning to “All My Children” as his now undead character, Billy Clyde Tuggle, who resurfaces to cause some trouble as the owner of an escort service. The actor, who debuts on Thursday, May 16, will play a role in helping find Cassandra Foster, Angie and Jesse Hubbard’s (Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams) daughter, who was recently kidnapped as part of a sex trafficking ring. The character will also interact with Dixie Martin (Cady McClain), who fans will recall Billy Clyde was trying to get to marry him before he plunged to his “death” more than 20 years ago.

It is with great sadness to report that Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor, “The Young and the Restless”) has died. The 84-year old actress, who has been in and out of the hospital in recent weeks, died this morning in her hospital bed with her daughter by her side.

Before “One Life to Live” returned on Monday, April 29 via Hulu, Hulu Plus and iTunes, we last saw Cutter Wentworth on a phone call while in prison on the ABC incarnation back in January 2012. So how did he get out and get some Shelter at Blair Cramer’s (Kassie DePaiva) new nightclub? “You mean in a TV show people can’t come back from things worse than jail?” jokingly said Cutter’s portrayer, Josh Kelly, during a recent interview with Soap Opera Network. “A lot of people get out of prison, and on a TV show it can happen even easier. People come back from the dead!” the actor noted.

The OnLine Network has confirmed the casting of Brooke Newton as Colby Chandler on “All My Children.” SON Insider watchers will have noted in our ON THE RED CARPET feature covering the premiere of “AMC” at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts two weeks ago that Newton had been cast in the contract role of Adam Chandler (David Canary) and Liza Colby’s (last played by Jamie Luner) “spoiled entitled daughter,” per a description released by TOLN. Newton takes over the role previously played by Natalie Hall on the ABC incarnation and first airs on Thursday, May 16.

“RIP Jeanne Cooper (1911-2013) Dead,” read an inappropriate tweet by tweeter @BravoMaxine, which was tweeted to twitter accounts @ebraeden @melodythomassco @victoriarowell. The tweet received a response from Victoria Rowell (ex-Drucilla Winters, “The Young and the Restless”) who said, “A special lady & great Native American actress.” Thankfully, we can report that Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor, “The Young and the Restless”), who was actually born in 1928, is very much alive as stated by Eric Braeden (Victor Newman, “Y&R”), “Contrary to some statement, Jeanne Cooper is doing better and sitting with her daughter Caren by her bedside!!”

Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” kicked off the summer box-office season on Friday raking in $68.3 million, which according to Deadline Hollywood is expected to translate into a weekend haul of between $165 to $170 million for the third installment in the popular film franchise. So how does the films massive success relate to soap operas?

On the Thursday, May 2 episode of “All My Children,” The OnLine Network finally revealed what the ABC finale in 2011 left viewers clamoring to know…Who Did JR Shoot? Fans will remember that the character was drunk and aiming his gun at at unknown individual(s) when shots were fired and the show faded to black. Now in 2013, we have our answer and sadly, some of you will not be happy.

The OnLine Network released the following breakdown showing how popular “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” were during their debut week on Hulu and iTunes.

As Senior Vice President of CBS Daytime, Angelica McDaniel is ultimately responsible for the daily operation of television’s most popular daily lineup consisting of “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Let’s Make a Deal,” “The Price is Right,” “The Talk” and “The Young and the Restless.” Just a few weeks ago, Soap Opera Network had the opportunity of speaking with McDaniel about her diverse lineup filled with soap operas, game shows and talk shows.