diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 27bb033a..840a4fe8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Antigravity Awesome Skills is a GitHub repository and installer CLI for reusable
 
 **Start here:** [Star the repo](https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills/stargazers) · [Install in 1 minute](#installation) · [Choose your tool](#choose-your-tool) · [Best skills by tool](#best-skills-by-tool) · [Bundles](docs/users/bundles.md) · [Workflows](docs/users/workflows.md)
 
-[![GitHub stars](https://img.shields.io/badge/⭐%2024%2C000%2B%20Stars-gold?style=for-the-badge)](https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills/stargazers)
+[![GitHub stars](https://img.shields.io/badge/⭐%2026%2C000%2B%20Stars-gold?style=for-the-badge)](https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills/stargazers)
 [![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](LICENSE)
 [![Claude Code](https://img.shields.io/badge/Claude%20Code-Anthropic-purple)](https://claude.ai)
 [![Cursor](https://img.shields.io/badge/Cursor-AI%20IDE-orange)](https://cursor.sh)
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Antigravity Awesome Skills is a GitHub repository and installer CLI for reusable
 [![OpenCode](https://img.shields.io/badge/OpenCode-CLI-gray?style=for-the-badge)](https://github.com/opencode-ai/opencode)
 [![Antigravity](https://img.shields.io/badge/Antigravity-AI%20IDE-red?style=for-the-badge)](https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills)
 
-**Current release: V8.4.0.** Trusted by 25k+ GitHub stargazers, this repository combines official and community skill collections with bundles, workflows, installation paths, and docs that help you go from first install to daily use quickly.
+**Current release: V8.4.0.** Trusted by 26k+ GitHub stargazers, this repository combines official and community skill collections with bundles, workflows, installation paths, and docs that help you go from first install to daily use quickly.
 
 ## Why Developers Star This Repo
 
diff --git a/tools/scripts/sync_repo_metadata.py b/tools/scripts/sync_repo_metadata.py
index d5943769..ac479bf8 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/sync_repo_metadata.py
+++ b/tools/scripts/sync_repo_metadata.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ def count_documented_bundles(content: str) -> int:
 
 
 def sync_readme_copy(content: str, metadata: dict) -> str:
+    star_celebration = metadata.get("star_celebration", "25k")
     replacements = [
         (
             README_TAGLINE_RE,
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ def sync_readme_copy(content: str, metadata: dict) -> str:
         (
             README_RELEASE_RE,
             (
-                f"**Current release: V{metadata['version']}.** Trusted by 25k+ GitHub stargazers, "
+                f"**Current release: V{metadata['version']}.** Trusted by {star_celebration}+ GitHub stargazers, "
                 "this repository combines official and community skill collections with bundles, "
                 "workflows, installation paths, and docs that help you go from first install to daily use quickly."
             ),
diff --git a/tools/scripts/update_readme.py b/tools/scripts/update_readme.py
index 3d65b1d5..915b0c55 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/update_readme.py
+++ b/tools/scripts/update_readme.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ SYNC_COMMENT_FIELDS_RE = re.compile(
     r"<!-- registry-sync: version=(?P<version>[^;]+); skills=(?P<skills>\d+); "
     r"stars=(?P<stars>\d+); updated_at=(?P<updated_at>[^ ]+) -->"
 )
+CURRENT_RELEASE_LINE_RE = re.compile(r"^\*\*Current release: V[\d.]+\.\*\* .*?$", re.MULTILINE)
 
 
 def configure_utf8_output() -> None:
@@ -206,11 +207,21 @@ def apply_metadata(content: str, metadata: dict) -> str:
         flags=re.MULTILINE,
     )
     content = re.sub(
-        r"https://img\.shields\.io/badge/⭐%20[\d%2C\+]+%20Stars-gold\?style=for-the-badge",
+        r"https://img\.shields\.io/badge/⭐%20[\dA-Fa-f%,\+]+%20Stars-gold\?style=for-the-badge",
         f"https://img.shields.io/badge/⭐%20{star_badge_count}%20Stars-gold?style=for-the-badge",
         content,
         count=1,
     )
+    content = re.sub(
+        CURRENT_RELEASE_LINE_RE,
+        (
+            f"**Current release: V{version}.** Trusted by {star_celebration}+ GitHub stargazers, "
+            "this repository combines official and community skill collections with bundles, "
+            "workflows, installation paths, and docs that help you go from first install to daily use quickly."
+        ),
+        content,
+        count=1,
+    )
     content = re.sub(
         r"^\*\*Antigravity Awesome Skills\*\* is a curated, battle-tested library of \*\*.*?\*\* designed",
         (