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Burgess Jenkins Opens Up About The Reason Behind His Decision To Exit The Young and the Restless!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

As fans of The Young and the Restless know, late last year Burgess Jenkins departed his role of Billy Abbott, and wss eventually replaced by Jason Thompson.

Back in November of 2015, soap fans were informed in a statement by Jenkins that he chose to leaveĀ  the CBS Daytime drama citing one of the main reasons for his decision:Ā  “Itā€s been a terrific time, but after a lot of thought I have made the difficult decision to leave The Young and the Restless.Ā  Commuting back and forth from the East Coast where my home and family are based has been challenging.”

Now in the Winston-Salem Journal, Jenkins revealed more details about why he chose to exit the primo role.Ā  It had toĀ  do with wife, Ashlee Jenkins who was battling breast cancer:Ā  “I departed the show because my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer back in November, and continuing to travel back-and-forth from the East Coast to the West Coast every week would have made it impossible for me to take care of her.

Jenkins addressed why the couple chose not to make any public announcements until they got a better idea of her prognosis. ā€œAt this point, however, we know that she is going to be OK … just in for a long and grueling battle with chemotherapy and radiation. Which stinks, but it’s a real blessing just knowing when we wake up in the morning that she’s not fighting for her life…. It’s great to see her back to normal.ā€

Burgess also addressed how touched he has been by the fans support from his work on Y&R: ā€œThe fans have been tremendous, a great outpouring of folks either asking me to stay or wishing me well, which is appreciated. It’s nice to know that you’ve told a good story and left an indelible mark.ā€

According to the Winston-Salem Journal, the actor is currently back w0rking with Actors Group, an acting school he started in Winston-Salem that helps prepare students for film and television work. ā€œIt’s a studio I’ve had going for nine years and something that I love dearly, so it is good to be back in the saddle with my other instructors and students. Frankly, nothing is more thrilling than watching the students grow and succeed and book work.ā€

Share your thoughts on Burgess opening up about why he left Y&R in the comment section below!

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Burgess…glad to see your priorities were in the right place. And good news to hear about the improvement in your wife’s health problem.

Good for him, putting his family above all else. Hope she becomes a cancer survivor.

I completely understand Burgess and Ashlee’s decision to not go public at first about her breast cancer diagnosis until they had a much better idea of what they were dealing with. That’s a very private issue and should be dealt with accordingly and only shared with others when the affected parties are ready to share the details of what’s really going on.

I wish Ashlee a speedy recovery and it is refreshing to see a husband give up a very good paying job to spend more time with his ailing wife and family.

Good luck and best wishes Burgess and Ashlee!

I’m happy for the Jenkins family. I wasnt a big fan of his Billy Abbott BUT warmed up to him and thought he was finding his way. I’ve often said, if Jack Wagner DOES NOT want to return to GH, I think Burgess could play that character.

What a good man to put his wife’s care above his career. All the best wishes for them and their family.

You were a great Billy…..wishing you the best !

I applaud him for putting family first before work, but he was very miscast as Billy Abbott from the get-go.

Best wishes to him and his wife in the days ahead.

Unfortunately at some point everyone faces health issues, either their own or someone they love..even people we watch on TV to sometimes escape our own problems.

Wishing the best for rhem.

Happy to hear that your wife is doing much better now. I loved watching you on The Young and The Restless ā¤ļø.I was so sorry that you left but we now know why. You are a wonderful husband to have made the decision that you did. Family comes 1st. My best to you and your wife. Ashlee is a lucky woman to have you support her through this. Hope to see you back on tv one day soon. Best Wishesā¤ļø Good Luck to Ashlee

This demonstrates what a well ground person he is. I applaud his decision and wish the very best for Burgess, Ashlee, and their entire family.

THIS IS A REAL MAN WHO PUTS HIS WIFES HEALTH AND FAMILY BEFORE HIS JOB…..MISS YOU….. WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GOOD HEALTH AND MUCH SUCCESS….

As a husband and father you done good!!! I do miss you playing Billy but you are where you should be. Praying for the best for your wife and family. I’m also a 16 year breast cancer survivor.

May God heal her body! I’ll pray her strength in The Lord!

I am happy that his wife is doing so well. What a good man, to put his wife first.

I would love to see him back in the role of Billy Abbott now.

Love watching Y & R, your role as Billy & love all the actors in the show. We are so far behind in episodes her in Australia, I have watched Y & R for many years now. Wishing your wife all the best for a positive and speedy recovery, she is very lucky to have such a wonderful and caring husband, family always comes first. God bless you all.

Wishing all the best with love, hugs, healing, prayers and blessings.

Oh my gosh, way to go BJ, being the leading man in your own life. What a wonderful man. My prayers go out to his wife going through this battle. I found a lump recently and it is terrifying just dealing with your own thoughts and imagination. , so I’ll be praying for peace for her through this battle. Praise the Lord they are a team. Support is such a wonderful gift in marriage. He seems like a real gentleman from what I’ve heard out of him in interviews.

Wishing the best to you and your family! Happy to see your priorities are in the right place. Happy to hear the good news about the improvement in your wife’s health. God bless!

Another wishing the best to you and your family.

You have better things to think about, but I had fallen into your Billy.

I gotta say…as time went on, Burgess’s, uh, take and all on Billy Abbott ended up boring me. But, the fact that Burgess is so HANDS ON in taking care of his wife as she’s battling breast cancer…to me, that is an example of A REAL MAN!!!!! BRAVO TO YOU, BURGESS!!!!!

General Hospital

Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

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Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.

The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.

Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.

Photo: JPI

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST

Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”

Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”

Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”

Photo: JPI

KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL

Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”

You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.

So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!

 

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General Hospital

Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

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Steve Burton

The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.

TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.

That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.

Steve Burton

Photo: ABC

STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES

GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.

Steve expressed at that time, ā€œI’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.ā€ It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).

Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.

GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS

Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.

Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.

So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027

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Jess Walton

The Young and the Restless enduring favorite and two-time Daytime Emmy-winning actress, Jess Walton (Jill Foster Abbott) is set to release her memoir!

Kensington Publishing has revealed on their website that Walton’s book The Young and the Rest of Us is now available for pre-order while listing an April 27, 2027 release date. In addition, in June of 2027, Walton will mark her 40th anniversary with The Young and the Restless and her debut as Jill.

The official log lines for the memoir share, “Emmy Award-winning actress Jess Walton, known to millions as the iconic Jill Abbott on the #1 soap opera The Young and the Restless, shares her extraordinary journey to stardom, sobriety, true love, and self-discovery in this startingly candid, intimate, and star-studded memoir.”

Jess Walton

Photo; Kensington Books

CAKE FIGHTS AND CORPORATE INTRIGUE

The book description for The Young and the Rest of Us adds,Ā  “In June 1987, Jess Walton walked through the artists’ entrance at CBS for her first day onĀ The Young and the Restless,where she had just been hired to play the recast role of Jill Abbott.Ā Two Emmy awards, four decades, and countless onscreen affairs, marriages, corporate takeovers, and cake fights later, she’s a beloved icon with an astonishing tale to tell.”

“In her refreshingly candid style, Jess shares her journey as a young actress from Toronto theaters to Los Angeles, where she found herself at the center of a Laurel Canyon circle that included the likes of Neil Young, David Geffen, Laura Nyro, and Joni Mitchell. Landing a Universal contract and a steady stream of guest starring roles, Jess embraced everything 1970s L.A. had to offer—including Hollywood parties fueled by limitless booze and drugs, and trysts with stars. She recounts with candor and gratitude the surprising path that eventually led her to sobriety, true love—and ultimately, to fictional Genoa City, Wisconsin, and the role of a lifetime.”

“Brimming with behind-the-scenes drama and celebrity cameos to delight fans, The Young and the Rest of Us is also rich in personal, relatable truths about marriage, motherhood, empty-nesting, self-discovery, and finding the courage to start over—as often as it takes. In a voice as fearless and frank as Jill’s, but with, humor and grace all her own, Jess Walton looks back on a life as unpredictable, and adventure filled as anything she has portrayed on screen.”

WHO ELSE PLAYED JILL FOSER ABBOTT?

Fans of The Young and the Restless know that Walton became the fourth actress to take on the role of Katherine Chancellor’s original nemesis Jill Foster back in 1987. The OG Jill was played by Brenda Dickson, also Deborah Adair, Bond Gideon and Melinda O. Fee played the part.

This year, Days of our Lives star Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) filled-in for several episodes for Walton who was unavailable to travel from her home in Oregon to Los Angeles where Y&R was taped. Walton is still with the long-running soap opera as Jill.

So, excited to learn of Jess Walton’s upcoming memoir, ‘The Young and the Rest of Us?’ Will it be it a must-read for you? Drop a comment below.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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