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With Halloween just around the corner, now is the time to take stock of your holiday essentials in preparation for the spooky weeks ahead. And while decorations and plenty of candy are at the top of any good Halloween checklist, there are plenty of must-have finds to be discovered at your local Dollar General, too.

Case in point: the Halloween Tarot Card The Coffee Lover Printed Mug, a mystical kitchen staple any spiritual enthusiast and spooky connoisseur would love. Retailing for just $3, its calming skeleton graphic adds a little personality to your morning sip, whether you use it exclusively during the weeks leading up to Halloween or throughout the rest of the year.

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Halloween Tarot Card The Coffee Lover Printed Mug, $3 at Dollar General

Dollar General

Here just in time as the weather finally cools off and crisp autumnal breezes begin to fill the air, the Halloween Tarot Card The Coffee Lover Printed Mug is a fitting way to welcome in the cozy days of fall. As leaves change color and warm coffee scents take on notes of pumpkin spice and hot cocoa, this 12-ounce mug makes a stylish companion for your daily brew.

Designed with a white base covered in cascading speckles, the mug is decorated with black stars and moons scattered throughout. At the center is a charming graphic of a skeleton sipping a cup of coffee while sitting inside another cup, inside a purple Polaroid-like frame with the words “The Coffee Lover” spelled out underneath.

Related: Hobby Lobby’s $15 Fluted Pie Dish Is Rustic, Elegant and Perfect for Fall Baking

“I love all things spooky, and coffee,” one shopper shared in a five-star review. “Perfect size for those that like to take their coffee outside and watch the sunrise,” they added, noting that the mug is also “not too heavy.”

Any good drinkware collection deserves a novelty mug or two, and Dollar General’s Halloween Tarot Card The Coffee Lover Printed Mug is a fun addition to your growing lineup. At just $3, it’s an easy seasonal gift for the coffee lover or spiritual enthusiast in your life, though you may want to grab an extra one for yourself while you’re at it. 

Just keep in mind that Dollar General does not specify whether the mug is dishwasher- or microwave-safe. It’s suitable for both hot and cold beverages, but to play it safe, stick with handwashing and towel drying to help keep it in good shape for the long haul.

Need some more Halloween inspiration? Check out Aldi’s $9 Halloween Front Porch Signs for some decor ideas, then read up on this list of Discontinued ’90s Halloween Candies you probably didn’t realize were gone forever.

Related: Costco’s $19 Holiday Throw Blankets Are ‘So Cute,’ Shoppers Are ‘Obsessed’ With the Entire Selection

Six decades before genre-blending became the norm in country music, a singer raised in poverty outside Glendale, Arizona, transformed musical storytelling with nothing more than an acoustic guitar and a tragic tale. 

Marty Robbins released “El Paso” in October 1959 as the centerpiece of his album Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, and it climbed to No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the country chart within a few months, a run that later earned Robbins his first Grammy. More than six decades on, this Western ballad still holds up as one of country music’s most heart-wrenching story songs, enshrined in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

What makes “El Paso” endure isn’t just its rolling cowboy rhythm or its Mexican-inflected guitar work. It’s the raw vulnerability in the lyrics. Robbins sings as a young cowboy hopelessly in love with a dancer named Feleena. When another man starts flirting with her, jealousy takes over, and in a moment of blind rage, the narrator shoots him dead.

The real heartbreak starts after he escapes. Safety in New Mexico offers no comfort, because his mind is still stuck on the woman he left behind. That’s the emotional core of the song, the kind of love so strong it overrides your own survival instinct. Driven by longing, the cowboy rides back to El Paso, knowing full well an ambush is waiting.

The song ends with him gunned down, dying in Feleena’s arms. Robbins wrapped up love, guilt and obsession in one story, and it still lands with anyone who’s ever lost their heart over someone. He clearly wasn’t done with it, either, in 1976, he revisited the tale with “El Paso City,” imagining the cowboy’s ghost still haunting the same stretch of desert. Musical styles have changed plenty since 1959. Heartbreak hasn’t changed a bit.

Janis Ian’s most famous song defied the odds when it became a hit in 1975.

The song. “At Seventeen” appeared on Ian’s 1975 album Between the Lines. Written by Ian at age 23, the acoustic-guitar-driven song was a painful reflection on teen insecurity and feeling like an outsider. And while it became a major hit for the young singer, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1975, it almost didn’t happen because Ian was terrified to release it.

Not only did the autobiographical song feature embarrassingly honest lyrics about beauty, but it defied radio rules, running over four minutes long. Even Ian’s record label wasn’t sure how to market the truly personal tune.

“It took three months to write, because it was scary,” Ian told The Guardian in an interview. “This was the mid-70s, before confessional songs, and I’d never been that honest about feeling ugly and never being asked out. I kept picking it up and putting it down, saying: ‘I can’t do this.’”

Ian was living with her mother when she wrote “At Seventeen.”  In an essay for Songwriting magazine, she revealed that she had to move back home because she wasn’t earning enough as a musician to support herself.

“I was 22 or 23, and it was horrifying and embarrassing,” Ian shared. “I was trying to write a lot so I would feel like I was at least doing something.”

Ian became inspired by a New York Times magazine article about a debutante ball, and lyrics about “high school girls with clear-skinned smiles” and “love was meant for beauty queens” came to her.

“The first verse took about a week, and the bridge. I then realized that I didn’t have a chorus,” she recalled. “Then I got really scared of the song because it’s very brutal to sing, especially if you’re the writer and 20 – talking about your skin and not getting asked out on dates, it was humiliating and it scared me, so I set it aside for a while. I came back to it a month later. I remember saying, ‘I’m either in this or I’m not, and if I’m in it then I’m in it all the way.’”

Upon its release, “At Seventeen” became so big that Ian was asked to be a musical guest on the very first episode of Saturday Night Live in October 1975, where she performed the song on live TV.

Speaking with The Acoustic Storm more than 30 years later, she admitted, “It’s funny ‘cause, I remember just how unattractive and out of place I felt, and I was watching myself on Saturday Night Live a couple of months ago, ‘cause I did all that stuff live so I never heard myself or saw myself on TV before, and I watched myself and I said to my partner, ‘I wasn’t so ugly. I don’t understand why I felt like I was so ugly.’ It was a funny way of looking back.”

Related: Stevie Nicks Recorded One of Her Most Beautiful Songs Three Times—But It Was Never Released as a Single

Long before the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were the subject of their own Netflix series, the squad’s original director, Dee Brock, had a vision for the famed NFL cheerleading team. Brock, who died this week at the age of 96, was instrumental in taking the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders from sideline entertainers to global icons. What began as a group of local high school students cheering on the sidelines became the legendary Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, thanks in part to Brock’s vision.

Dee Brock Had a Bigger Vision for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

In loving memory of Dee Brock, our founding director. 💙 We will forever honor her and her legacy. pic.twitter.com/fXhC8ovcVz

— Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (@DCCheerleaders) September 23, 2026

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders began in 1962, a year after the NFL franchise was founded. By the mid-1960s, Brock was pushing the squad, bringing more dance elements into routines and elevating the performers’ style, which would become a hallmark of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, or DCC. In 1965, Brock made a trailblazing decision to integrate the squad, something that required convincing team ownership at a time when Dallas was still deeply segregated.

The Changes That Turned the DCC Into Something Bigger @sidelinerewind

🎉We Have The 1978 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders! We Love These Ladies And The Legacy Of Excellence They Have Consistently Given Throughout The Years!🎉 🎉Sideline Rewind Podcast Had The Pleasure Of Speaking With Ms Tami Barber Of The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders 1977-1980! Episode 13 On All Podcast Platforms 🎉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sideline-rewind/id1723377110?i=1000668659850 . . . . #sidelinerewind #sidelinerewindpodcast #podcast #nflalumnicheerleaders #professionalcheerleaders #nfl #dallascowboyscheerleaders #tamibarber #flashbackfriday #icon #legacy

♬ original sound – SideLine Rewind Podcast!

Brock had already paved the way for change, but DCC’s biggest transformation came in the early 1970s, when team ownership wanted a more athletic, glamorous group that could deliver Broadway-style dance routines. Star choreographer Texie Waterman was brought in, and a plan was put in place to completely overhaul the performers’ uniforms, creating a look that could accommodate the new choreography while still maintaining a glamorous style.

The result was the star-spangled blue-and-white uniform introduced in 1972. Paula Van Wagoner is credited with the uniform’s final design, while Brock was central to shepherding the process that would lead to the new look.

This wasn’t simply a costume change. It was a complete identity shift, one that helped associate the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders with the image of America’s Team, an identity that has remained largely unchanged to this day.

Under Brock’s guidance and thanks in part to her vision, the DCC became something bigger than a sideline attraction at football games. The DCC became a brand in and of itself. With the uniform change, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders became pop-culture icons, a popular attraction in addition to the football team rather than an afterthought of the game.

Related: Figure Skating Legend, Known as ‘Fred Astaire on Skates,’ Has Fans Saying Thank You for Bringing Back His Iconic Performances

The 1972 Uniform Changed the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Forever

The iconic uniform helped establish the visual identity that audiences still associate with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders more than 50 years later. The combination of the star-spangled design, white shorts and white boots became instantly recognizable and helped distinguish the DCC from traditional football cheerleading squads.

The uniform was ultimately about more than appearance. It was part of a larger transformation that turned the cheerleaders into performers with their own identity, choreography and place within the entertainment world.

Dee Brock left her role as DCC’s director in 1975, but she left an enduring blueprint behind. To this day, the DCC is an internationally recognized entertainment brand that has had a lasting influence on sports and popular culture.

The group’s current director, Kelli Finglass, shared a tribute to Dee Brock, noting her influence on generations of performers.

Dee Brock’s Legacy Lives On With the DCC View this post on Instagram

Brock’s legacy feels more relevant than ever. The Netflix series America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders has introduced the cheerleaders to an entirely new generation of fans and introduced the team to casual football fans who might not have otherwise tuned in.

That renewed attention makes Brock’s contribution especially worth remembering. She took a small group of cheerleaders cheering on the sideline and helped transform them into a cultural institution.

More than 50 years later, those blue-and-white stars, white shorts and boots remain one of the most recognizable uniforms in popular culture.

Related: Olympic Skating Legend, 62, Who Created Magic at the 1988 Winter Games, Can Still Make the Ice Sing

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Not only did Dolly Parton touch the hearts of her own generation, but she also inspired and educated many generations to come.

In 1995, Parton and her team started the Imagination Library, which is a book-gifting program that mails high-quality children’s books to kids from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. It first started in Sevier County, Tennessee, where the “Coat of Many Colors” singer grew up, before expanding nationally five years later.

After establishing the program in the United States, the Imagination Library started sending books to children in Canada in 2006, then the United Kingdom a year later, Australia in 2013 and Ireland in 2019.

Since its formation more than 30 years ago, the Imagination Library has gifted more than 332 million books to children all over the world. Over three million free books are sent to families signed up for the program every month.

Country and western superstar singer Dolly Parton meets young children at the Magna Science And Adventure Park on December 5, 2007 in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England.

Pool/Getty Images

Why did Dolly Parton start the Imagination Library?

Parton grew up in extreme poverty along with her parents and 11 siblings in a tiny two-bedroom cabin in the rural area of Locust Ridge near Sevierville. The Imagination Library is rooted in her childhood and growing up, and was deeply inspired by her father, Robert Lee Parton, who never learned to read or write.

Though the late singer considered him “the smartest man” she knew, his inability to read limited his opportunities. With the Imagination Library, her goal was to inspire a love of reading early in life and ensure all children had access to books regardless of family income. Her father passed away in November 2000.

“My dad got to live long enough to see a lot of it coming to be, and he took such pride at the fact that little kids call me ‘the book lady,'” Parton said in an interview with C-SPAN. “He was prouder of that than anything. So, it started from a true place in my heart and it’s done so much good for so many people over the years.”

Country Music Legend Dolly Parton with Jack Boden (and parents L) and Jake and Josh Devey (and parents (R)at the press launch for Dolly’s Imagination Library and European ‘Backwoods Barbie 2008 Tour’ at The Savoy Hotel on December 4, 2007 in London, England.

Gareth Davies/Getty Images

Many public figures and families who were a part of the Imagination Library program spoke out throughout the days Parton passed, praising the initiative. It is easy to sign up; all parents have to do is fill out this form and check availability.

“My 7-year-old daughter heard me say that Dolly Parton died, and got visibly very sad. I was surprised she even knew that name,” Matt Macauley, a professor at Clemson University, shared on X. “In the sweetest timid voice, she replied: ‘Well, I don’t know know her. But she sent me books.'”

“She knows the Book Lady. That’s all Dolly would have wanted,” an X user commented on Macauley’s post. “Her daddy told her the Imagination Library was the greatest and best thing she ever did.”

“What the Imagination Library does, that I think is so remarkable, is it just makes books available,” Second Lady Usha Vance said in an interview with C-SPAN last week.

“Mail would roll in for her, and she’d just get so tickled over it. And trying to explain to her who it was that was sending her these books — she had no real concept of who Dolly Parton was or anything,” Wanda Sexton, who signed her granddaughter up for the program, and credits that for strengthening her literacy, told Northwest Public Broadcasting. “But she just flat-out decided that Dolly Parton must be her cousin, because she was the one sending her the books.

“It was a very instrumental inclusion into our family dynamic,” mother of two Lleshea Fuson also said. “ I remember as a kid always loving bedtime stories, and I wanted to pass that on to my children, and (Parton’s) Imagination Library has helped that.”

Even some books sent out were in Braille to help children who were blind read. “It gave us that inclusion, and it was a chance for Stella to get things that all other kids could get. But it gave it to her in a way that she could read through Braille,” Stella’s mom, Kyley Gehringer, said.

When kids graduate from the Imagination Library program, Parton sends them a letter, asking them “to promise me [they] will keep reading” and that they will have such a fun time at school.

“There is no limit to what you can do or how far you can go. Just remember the lessons my family taught me — dream big dreams; learn everything you can learn; and care for all those who care for you,” the letter reads. “You do all of these things and you can be anyone you want to be. You are terrific, and remember, I will always love you.”

Singer Dolly Parton and her Imagination Library donate the 100 millionth book to the Library of Congress on February 27, 2018 in Washington, DC.

Shannon Finney/Getty Image

Hardships of the Imagination Library

Despite its huge success and impact on young children all over the world, Parton’s Imagination Library has faced several severe state funding cuts and localized shutdowns that put portions of the program in jeopardy, though the overall organization continues to operate. For instance, lawmakers removed $6 million in state funding in Indiana, shifting reliance to private philanthropy. Meanwhile, in Washington, there was a time where the state completely eliminated its public contribution to the program across consecutive budgets.

In a statement to Rolling Stone, the Vice Chair and President of the Dollywood Foundation, Jeff Conyers expressed hope “that Governor Braun and the Indiana Legislature will continue this vital investment by restoring the state’s funding match for local Imagination Library programs,” when Republicans have proposed cutting state funding in February 2025.

“The beauty of the Imagination Library is that it unites us all — regardless of politics — because every child deserves the chance to dream big and succeed,” Conyers said.

Country superstar Dolly Parton launches Imagination Library, her children’s literacy scheme at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

Rui Vieira - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

It was announced on Aug. 25 by her family and team that Parton passed away after a brief battle with cancer, and was surrounded by her family and loved ones at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville.

At 80-years-old, her legacy has been defined by her timeless catalog of country music, her businesses like Dollywood and the Imagination LIbrary, and extraordinary global philanthropy. Across a career spanning nearly seven decades, she broke barriers for women in entertainment and became a universally beloved cultural icon.

Though Parton has passed, her team and estate ensure that the Imagination Library will live on.

“We want to make sure that Dolly’s vision, that reading is for everyone, becomes a reality,” the ALA President Maria McCauley told the Los Angeles Times. “That’s something that we can all carry forward in memory of Dolly.”

Related: ’70s Country Star Dolly Parton Shares Rare Photos Ahead of Book Release

Related: Fan-Favorite ‘SNL’ Alum Launches Her First Children’s Book

A decade has passed since This Is Us characters Jack and Rebecca Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore) welcomed the Big Three into the world. Still, time hasn’t softened the show’s legendary emotional punch.

When Hulu posted a nostalgic anniversary tribute celebrating the show’s September 2016 premiere, viewers were quickly reminded of why the series became a pop culture phenomenon. From Jack’s enduring legacy to the show’s most heartbreaking twists, the post triggered an overwhelming wave of fan reactions that proved the Pearson family still holds absolute power over our tear ducts.

Hulu’s post was captioned, “10 years later, and we still haven’t emotionally recovered.” The video clip added a PSA: “Tissues may be required.”

To celebrate the milestone, Hulu honored the series’ legacy with a curated clip reel highlighting key moments from the Pearson family’s decade-long story. The nostalgic tribute sparked an immediate wave of emotional reactions from longtime viewers reflecting on the show’s biggest twists.

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One viewer wrote, “It took me three separate times to get past episode 4. I honestly didn’t think I could watch the series because it made me cry so much. But I finally made it all the way through and loved it. What I loved even more was that it helped me understand my parents a little more. I think we forget that our parents were young once, too, and had their own experiences to get through.”

“The perfect show that changes the way you see your life and relatives,” claimed a second fan. “This show will always be in my top 5 of all time. I cried in every single episode,” penned a third Hulu follower.

A fourth Instagram follower declared, “Best show that was ever made. The writing. The acting. The emotions. The heart. The truth. Life. THIS IS US. Nothing will ever come close.”

This Is Us starred Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan, and Jon Huertas. The series ran from September 2016 through May 2022 for a total of 106 episodes.

The series told the story of the Pearson family. Across multiple generations, the drama chronicled the triumphs, heartbreaks, and quiet everyday moments of parents Jack and Rebecca and their three children, Kevin, Kate, and Randall.

Through clever time-shifting storytelling and deeply human performances, the show proved that family bonds endure long after the hardest life chapters are written. That emotional resonance is exactly why a simple tribute can still reignite This Is Us fandom’s deep connection to the Pearson family a decade later.

Related: ‘Gilmore Girls’ Star Explains the Secret Behind the Show’s Timeless Magic

Summer may get all the vacation glory, but savvy travelers know some destinations are actually better once peak season packs up and goes home.

November and early December—that magical little window between Thanksgiving and the major Christmas and New Year’s rush—can mean fewer tourists, easier restaurant reservations and, depending on where you’re headed, much more comfortable weather. And we’re not just talking about scoring a cheaper hotel room.

“The trick with off-season travel is not chasing a destination simply because it’s cheaper,” says Jessica Parker, luxury travel advisor and founder of Trip Whisperer Agency. “I look for destinations where the reason you’re going still works beautifully outside peak season.”

So, where should you go? We asked travel experts for their favorite off-season escapes, and these five have us ready to pack a bag immediately.

Related: Travel Advisors Reveal Where They’re Booking 60+ Travelers This Shoulder Season

Marrakech, Morocco

If getting lost in Marrakech’s colorful souks sounds considerably more appealing when you aren’t melting in the summer heat, you’re onto something. Three of our experts recommended Morocco for this time of year.

“Marrakech works really well at this time of year because the weather is much easier for exploring,” says travel expert Arbër Abdullahu, a travel expert at TripSIM. “You can spend hours walking through the medina or doing day trips without dealing with the intense summer temperatures.”

SmartFlyer luxury travel advisor Carly Ritter recommends visiting Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, then venturing into the Atlas Mountains for a day of hiking. Parker, who recently returned from Morocco herself, also suggests combining Marrakech with the desert or coast for a longer adventure.

Tuscany and Umbria, Italy

If your travel plans are largely dictated by what you want to eat, consider this your sign to book Italy in early November.

“This is a slam dunk for someone who travels for food,” says Amy Kilbreath, founder of Port and Passport Travel. “Truffles are in season, new olive oil is showing up on tables, and those little hill towns can finally take a deep breath after the summer crowds leave.”

There is one caveat: Choose your Italian destinations wisely. Kilbreath wouldn’t pair Tuscany with the Amalfi Coast or Italian lake resorts this time of year since businesses begin shutting down for the season. Florence and Rome, however, remain lively year-round, making it easy to combine countryside and city.

European Christmas Markets

Christmas markets without Christmas-week crowds? Yes, please.

Many of Europe’s famous markets begin opening in late November, making the weeks after Thanksgiving and into early December a sweet spot for getting your fill of twinkling lights, wooden stalls, festive treats and hot drinks.

Parker points to Germany and Austria as classics and recommends a river cruise for travelers who want to hit several markets while only unpacking once.

@haleewithaflair

I have done a Christmas market trip both ways. Land trip and river cruise. I would choose the river cruise every single time. Here is why. I loved the land portion. I will not pretend otherwise. But the ease of the river cruise wins, hands down. On land, I was planning around train times, unpacking and repacking in a new hotel every few days, lugging bags through cobblestone streets in the cold. On the river cruise, you unpack once. That is it. You wake up in a new Christmas market city almost every morning, and you get to choose. Take the guided excursion, or wander the market completely on your own. No trains to catch. No bags to drag. Just choice and ease, every single day. Comment CHRISTMAS and I will send you my free European Christmas Market River Cruise Guide with everything you need to start planning your trip. Ready to find the right sailing for you? Send me a message and let’s talk through your options at Travel with a Flair. 🎄 #christmasmarket #christmasmarkets #rivercruise #traveltips #europetravel

♬ original sound – Halee-Hotel & Travel Expert

Kilbreath is also a fan of the river cruise approach. “By late afternoon, the market becomes the city,” she says. “The lights come on, everyone is outside with hot drinks, the food smells start drifting through the square, and the cathedral you toured six hours earlier now has a magical aura to it.”

Related: Darley Newman Names the Best European Christmas Market

Québec City, Canada

Want European Christmas charm without the overnight transatlantic flight? Two of our experts pointed us toward Québec City.

Old Québec already looks straight out of a storybook with its cobblestone streets, stone buildings and walled historic district. By mid-November, the German Christmas Market begins spreading throughout the old town, adding wooden stalls and Christmas lights to the scene.

“This is my pick for someone who wants that European Christmas feeling without the overnight transatlantic flight and the multi-hour time change,” Kilbreath says.

Parker also recommends Québec City in early December, calling it a great long-weekend option once the destination begins transforming into a winter wonderland.

Zion National Park, Utah

Summer Zion comes with spectacular scenery—and plenty of company. Visit in late November through mid-December, however, and you could experience a very different national park.

“In early winter, Zion seems to exhale,” says Jen Curnutt, founder of Jen33Travel, who has personally visited during this period. “The air turns crisp, the canyon walls glow bright red in the low winter light, and the trails become quiet enough to hear the Virgin River rushing below.”

Curnutt especially loves exploring Zion by e-bike. Without summer’s crowds, riding beneath the towering canyon walls on a nearly empty road can feel like having one of America’s most extraordinary national parks almost to yourself.

Up next:

Related: Fall Travel Is Booming, and These 6 Dreamy Escapes Are Perfect for a Seasonal Reset

While rumors swirl about Tucker Wetmore and Ella Langley dating after being spotted leaving Tuesday’s Nashville Songwriter Awards together, the country star gave fans something else to talk about. During a recent concert, Wetmore traded his own songbook for a stripped-down, piano-only rendition of Journey’s “Faithfully”, a departure that surprised fans expecting more from the “Brunette” singer’s own material.

“Faithfully” first arrived in April 1983 as the second single from Journey’s Frontiers album, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song came together almost by accident. Songwriter Jonathan Cain, the band’s keyboardist, jotted down the song’s opening image — a highway running into the midnight sun, on a paper napkin while riding a tour bus to Saratoga Springs, New York. He finished the rest of the song the following day, in roughly half an hour.

That quick turnaround produced a song that’s spent more than four decades in rotation. In 2008, Classic Rock magazine critic Paul Elliott called “Faithfully” the greatest power ballad ever recorded, and fan-made rankings have echoed that verdict ever since, pointing to Steve Perry’s vocal and the song’s ache-filled portrait of love strained by life on the road, a theme that hits close to home for any touring musician, Wetmore included.

Neither Wetmore nor Langley has confirmed anything about their relationship, but the timing hasn’t done much to quiet the chatter. Wetmore is coming off a breakout year that includes a No. 1 Country Airplay hit with “Brunette” and the ACM’s New Male Artist of the Year award, while Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has kept her firmly in the spotlight too. Whether or not the cover was meant as a signal, it’s given fans one more reason to keep watching the pair, and a fresh reminder that a song written on a napkin in thirty minutes still hits just as hard more than forty years later.

Watching a close friend walk through the painful, messy ashes of a breakup is one of the hardest parts of friendship. When you saw the red flags waving long before the relationship finally imploded, an impulse deep inside you might whisper that your foresight deserves recognition. You saw the warning signs early on, and you predicted the eventual collapse step-by-step. But blurting out those four crushing words—”I told you so“—can instantly destroy your bond at the exact moment your friend needs you most.

Navigating a friend’s heartbreak requires delicate emotional intelligence, patience and absolute restraint. When a relationship ends, the grieving person is already wrestling with intense self-doubt and overwhelming confusion, among other things. Adding a layer of smug vindication doesn’t protect them or teach them a valuable lesson; it merely undermines their autonomy and shames them for daring to hope.

True support isn’t about proving you were right about their ex or boasting about your superior intuition. It is about holding space for their pain while they slowly put the pieces of their life back together. In those fragile moments, your friend doesn’t need an inspector pointing at the wreckage—they need a safe harbor. Keeping your past predictions to yourself is the ultimate test of loyalty, proving that your friend’s emotional recovery matters far more to you than your own ego.

Related: Psychologist Warns: This 1 Subtle Sign Reveals a Friendship Is ‘Definitely Unhealthy’

The Hidden Cost of Validation: Why Saying ‘I Told You So’ Backfires

When a friend is nursing a broken heart, saying “I told you so” shifts the focus away from their healing and onto your own ego. Psychologists emphasize that offering unsolicited judgment during a crisis destroys the psychological safety required for genuine intimacy.

“While it might be hard, you refrain from saying ‘I told you so…’ out loud and keep that comment in your head,” advised Dr. J.J. Kelly, a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience, in a previous Parade story on things you should always keep to yourself. “For example, if your friend just broke up with someone you never liked, keep that to yourself. If you did not have the courage to tell your friend you were worried about the match—when they were in it—you don’t score points for saying it after the breakup.”

Related: It Takes Time and Effort—Here’s How to Rebuild Trust in a Relationship in 8 Steps

Claiming hindsight victory after the damage is done doesn’t make you a better friend—it simply makes the other person feel foolish for trying to make things work. Even if you did voice concerns early on, bringing up past warnings forces your friend to defend their previous choices rather than process their current reality.

When you center your own correctness, you signal to your friend that your need to be right is more important than their emotional well-being.

How To Be a Truly Supportive Friend During a Split

Instead of offering critical commentary on your friend’s past choices, focus on actionable, compassionate ways to help them move forward. Healing after heartbreak takes time, and the best thing you can do is offer a safe, non-judgmental environment where they can feel heard.

As relationship expert Tamara Green, LCSW, shared previously in a Parade article about how to get over someone, a critical part of recovery is helping a friend extend kindness to themselves. She noted that friends should encourage loved ones to “allow emotions to rise without judging yourself for having them.”

Related: Before You Cut Ties With a Difficult Family Member, Check These 4 Emotional Boundaries Within Yourself, According to Mental Health Experts

When you validate your friend’s pain instead of criticizing their past decisions, you empower them to practice self-love and self-discovery during a time of extreme vulnerability. Instead of reminding them of what went wrong, try offering these compassionate alternatives:

• Validate their feelings: Say, “I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I know how much you cared about them, and it’s completely okay to feel heartbroken right now.”
• Offer a judgment-free zone: Host a dedicated vent session where they can express anger, sadness or confusion without fear of receiving unsolicited advice.
• Focus on the present: Help them establish healthy boundaries, like cutting off contact or taking a break from social media, so they can focus on their own healing journey.

By keeping your “I told you so” to yourself, you give your friend the grace and room they need to heal on their own terms.

Adapted from Parade’s “9 Things You Should Always Keep to Yourself, According to Psychologists” by Morgan McMurrin and “28 Tangible and Impactful Ways to Get Over Someone After a Breakup (Even a Really, Really Tough One)” by Maryn Liles

Up Next:

Related: 4 Social Habits That Show Low Emotional Intelligence, According to a Psychologist

Sources:

• Dr. J.J. Kelly, licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience
• Tamara Green, LCSW, relationship expert

It’s been 56 years since The Partridge Family made its debut on ABC.  Premiering Sept. 25, 1970, the hit musical sitcom introduced viewers to a widowed mom, Shirley Partridge (played by Shirley Jones), and her singing children (led by David Cassidy) who turned their family band act into a music sensation.

With his unmistakable voice and teen idol looks, Cassidy was a perfect choice to front The Partridge Family band. But fans didn’t actually hear him sing in the pilot episode.

While the premiere featured the family singing two songs, “Let the Good Times In” and “Together (Havin’ a Ball)”, the vocals were performed by session musicians. The actors in the show, including Cassidy, lip-synced along.

Off-screen, however, The Partridge Family had a radio hit with the song “I Think I Love You,” and that song did feature Cassidy on vocals. Released in late August, the song soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Nov. 21, 1970, making Cassidy a superstar practically overnight.

So why didn’t Cassidy sing on The Partridge Family premiere as he was on the verge of having the No. 1 song in the country?

In an interview with Pop Goes the Culture TV, Cassidy explained that he initially didn’t audition to sing on the show and was just cast as an actor in the pilot.

“As with all pilots in television, you don’t know if it’s going to get sold,” he recalled. “So we did the pilot, we shot it in Las Vegas for a day or two at the very end of 1969, and the show was picked up in March, April, and I began recording. But I had to audition with my guitar because they had a record producer named Wes Farrell, and Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems at the time, owned a record company called Bell Records.”

“The pilot of The Partridge Family is the only episode that I did not sing because they didn’t know it was going to sell, so they didn’t take me in the studio,” Cassidy shared.

RELATED: 1970 No. 1 Hit Ranked One of the ‘Top Love Songs of All Time’ Was by a Made-for-TV Band

The actor once revealed that no one cared if he could sing or not when he was cast on The Partridge Family.

“I was really very, very fortunate to have someone, a couple of casting directors, that believed in my talent,” he told Culture Brats in 2012. “Sure enough, I went in and auditioned for hour dramas, and at the end of the year, it became pilot season. I did a pilot for a half-hour situation comedy that I’d never done, and even though they knew I could play the guitar and I had played in bands and garage bands and was always the lead singer, they didn’t care if I could sing or not. They cast me, strictly from a network studio standpoint, as an actor.”

Cassidy once told The Hollywood Reporter that after the pilot sold, he immediately auditioned for Farrell.

“Thankfully, I passed the audition. And when I started singing on the show, it was a whole other thing,” The Partridge Family star said. “[‘I Think I Love You’] was awarded record of the year by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers. It was up against the Beatles. Paul McCartney was sitting there, and there I was, an upstart young punk, beating one of the greatest songwriters in history.”

Cassidy died on November 21, 2017, at age 67, exactly 47 years after “I Think I Love You” went to No. 1.

Related: David Cassidy Hated This Hit 1971 Partridge Family Song — Here’s Why

Inspiration can strike at any moment and create a hit track that could launch a band into stardom, and that’s exactly what happened to the B-52s with their 1978 new wave classic that inspired John Lennon.

“Rock Lobster” undoubtedly transformed the Athens, Georgia group of friends into a beloved groovy-a-go-go party band. It’s even included in Rolling Stone‘s list of the “Greatest Songs of All Time” at No. 147. The track and its comical lyrics were all thanks to their singer and frontman Fred Schneider.

In an interview with People, the band looked back at the creation of the track and how Schneider was inspired by a less than spectacular slideshow about lobsters.

“I went to this disco in Atlanta called 2001 and they had no money for a light show I guess, so they had slides of puppies and babies and hot dogs and lobsters on a grill. And I thought, “Rock lobster! Rock this, rock that, rock lobster!” explained Schneider.

His bandmate Kate Pierson recalls how he thought “Rock Lobster” would be a great song title, and how he would get high and “jam on poetry” with Keith Strickland. In reality, the hit song was first developed into a poem by the frontman before it was turned into full-fledge lyrics.

“Rock Lobster” was developed by Schneider and guitarist Ricky Wilson, with Pierson remembering how both were snickering over Wilson’s having developed the “stupidest guitar line.” That guitar line ended up becoming a highlight if the track’s popularity.

“Ricky had just been playing something on guitar and he said, “Keith, I wrote the stupidest guitar line.” [demonstrates] One of the best riffs of all time to this day! … Joni Mitchell was a big inspiration, especially to Ricky. He was inspired by her open tuning, and “Rock Lobster” had two strings missing,” said Pierson.

“So Ricky was really playing this riff as two parts, which is still pretty mysterious to me. He was just playing the two parts, one on two strings and one on the other two, but he made it work.”

When the track entered the charts, it wasn’t a No. 1 hit. It landed at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 24 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. B-52s released their first single to enter the charts, with critics calling it “incredibly infectious” and “memorable.” It being a “silly yet utterly enjoyable affair” made it a hit across the board.

“Rock Lobster” even caught the interest of the Beatles icon. Cindy Wilson and Pierson’s fish noises were reminiscent of Yoko Ono, and was noticed by Lennon when he heard it in a club in the Bahamas. It reminded him so much of his wife that he returned to music after a five-year hiatus and developed his last album Double Fantasty.

“Cindy does this scream that was inspired by Yoko Ono. John heard it in some club in the Bahamas, and the story goes that he calls up Yoko and says, Get the axe out – they’re ready for us again! Yoko has said that she and John were listening to us in the weeks before he died,” said Strickland.

Yoko confirmed to SongFacts that they listened to “Rock Lobster” and, “Listening to the B-52s, John said he realized that my time had come. So he could record an album by making me an equal partner and we won’t get flack like we used to up to then.”

Related: 1968 No.1 Hit, Written by Robin Gibb About Death Row, Is Still a Soft Rock Classic 58 Years Later

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If you’re ever in doubt when decorating your home, turn to Drew Barrymore’s collection. The television personality has a slew of amazing pieces that will upgrade your living space on a budget, and they’re available at Walmart. We’re talking gorgeous fluted bookcases and bar cabinets that look 10x as expensive as they actually are. Our latest favorite find is this super-chic Beautiful Drew Round Side Table that adds a ton of mid-century modern flair to your living space.

The piece is popular — the warm honey colorway is actually sold out — but it’s still available in this super-sleek black option that has a hidden shelf for storage. Whether you’re using it as a side table next to a couch or even a bedside table, it seems like the perfect size, measuring 18 inches wide, 18 inches long, and 22.25 inches tall. 

Beautiful Drew Round Side Table, $83 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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Due to the dimensions, this side table is perfect for those who want to fill small spaces. The design features a classic round top that you can place beverages, lamps, and other decorations on. The open lower shelf is perfect for books, blankets, plants, and other miscellaneous items that you want to display in your living room. The piece weighs 55.1 pounds, so you may want another set of hands to help you maneuver it.

The unique attribute that this side table offers is that it has floor levelers that you can adjust for the perfect placement. It can hold a maximum of 100 pounds and is fully made of wood, so it’s recommended that you wipe it clean with a soft damp cloth to ensure that it keeps its quality. This is primarily an indoor side table — avoiding placing it outdoors is advised as to not tarnish the wood with outdoor elements. 

Related: Walmart’s ‘Comfy’ $20 Strappy Slip-in Sandals ‘Pack Easily and Go With Everything’

You will have to put the side table together upon arrival, but shoppers said that it was “easy” to assemble, but it’s an easier project with two people to help stabilize it. Customers further described the table as “absolutely beautiful,” “very sturdy,” and “good quality.” Some reviewers even used the piece as a night stand, as it sits elegantly on a thick rug or hardwood flooring.  

And don’t think that the above side table is the only beautiful (get it?) choice from Drew’s Walmart home collection, check out some more of our favorites below:

Beautiful Mae End Table by Drew Barrymore, $84 (was $94) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Beautiful Blyth Drink Table by Drew Barrymore, $67 (was $76) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Beautiful Lane Drink Table by Drew Barrymore, From $73 (was $82) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

There’s something about Drew Barrymore’s home collection that will add a simple elegance to your home, no matter the piece. This stunning mid-century side table will easily bring a chic and warm tone to your space. Make sure to add it to your cart while it’s still in stock for. under $100!

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Charlene Tilton, who rose to stardom on Dallas, is more stunning than ever in a rare red carpet appearance.

The stunning actress, 67, is best known for her role as Lucy Ewing on the CBS drama Dallas, which began its run as the epicenter of TV drama in 1978. While some stars of the hit series, like Victoria Principal and Patrick Duffy, are frequent faces on social media, Tilton tends to fly below the radar these days. But in a rare appearance on the red carpet at the Farrah Fawcett Foundation 2026 Tex-Mex Fiesta at The Rustic, the beauty stepped out for a good cause and looked better than ever doing it.

Rick Kern / Getty Images

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Tilton is a Selfie Stunner

Tilton recently posed for a rare selfie alongside Bewitched child star Erin Murphy. Now that’s aging like a fine wine!

“Always fun with my dear friend, Charlene Tilton! ❤️ We’ve shared so many fun adventures over the years, and I’m happy to add the Great American Road Rally to the list! 🚗✨Any Dallas and Bewitched fans out there? ❤️,” Murphy captioned the photo, which showed the duo smiling for a selfie in the backseat of a car.

View this post on Instagram Tilton Reflected on Making Dallas

Last year, Tilton told Women’s World that she was entirely clueless when she was first cast in the iconic series.

“I was fortunate that after I got Dallas, the people I was surrounded by, such as Oscar nominee Barbara Bel-Geddes [who played Miss Ellie Ewing], Jim Davis [Jock Ewing], and Larry Hagman [J.R. Ewing] had a stellar work ethic, and I just watched them. I learned things such as you always arrive 15 minutes early,” Tilton explained.

Tilton learned from their example and became a professional in her own right.

“You come to work prepared; you know your lines, it’s an all-for-one environment, no one is a diva, no one is demanding, and you always be professional,” she shared. “That’s how I got educated. I had no idea what I was doing when I was cast in Dallas because I was 17 years old.”

If you need a flashback from the beloved series, here’s a fun scene from a season 4 episode in which Tilton’s character, Lucy, has a pool party. Who doesn’t wear high heels with their bikini these days?

Related: ‘Dallas’ Diva Victoria Principal, 76, Is Ageless While Cuddling With Her Mini-Horse

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Now that fall is officially here, sandal season is coming to an end. While sad, that just means that you can finally wear comfortable and supportive sneakers again without your feet profusely sweating. From lace-up platforms to sleek slip-ons, there are so many different styles to choose from. If you’re looking for a style pair that’ll complement nearly anything in your closet, these Dr. Scholl’s Madison Cloud Slip-On Sneakers are definitely worth checking out at Amazon. 

Right now, you can score these shoes in the white canvas version for just $35 in sizes 6 to 11. These sneakers also come in a ton of other styles, including other colors with canvas uppers, faux-suede perforated versions, metallic hues, animal print, and more. Prices vary for these, with select styles at normal price between $40 and $55, others on sale between $45 and $55 marked down from $80, and a select few remaining at $80. 

Dr. Scholl’s Madison Cloud Slip-On Sneakers, From $35 at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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Delivering all-day comfort, these sneakers are made with cloud-like foam insoles that’ll cushion your every step. They absorb the impact from your steps, reducing the pressure on your feet and joints to help prevent you from feeling fatigued. These sneakers are lightweight and flexible, bending along with your feet as you walk around to make every step feel as effortless as the last. 

From quick errands to long autumn strolls, these shoes are fit for the occasion. Shoppers stated that they were able to walk over 20,000 steps in these sneakers without experiencing any blisters or pain. They also raved about how they didn’t require a break-in period. 

The insoles have an anatomical construction, designed to contour to the natural shape of your feet. They offer support for the balls of your feet, arches, and heels to keep your weight evenly distributed. Shoppers with plantar fasciitis, flat feet, and high arches all attested to their support, noting that these shoes were very comfortable to wear. A few even mentioned that they helped relieve their foot pain. 

Dr. Scholl’s Madison Cloud Slip-On Sneakers, From $35 at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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Ideal for fluctuating fall temperatures, these shoes offer ample coverage to keep your feet protected from the autumn chill. Whenever the weather starts to warm up and causes your feet to sweat, these shoes should remain in pristine condition, as the insoles have anti-odor and antimicrobial properties. 

Designed for easy wear, these sneakers boast elastic side panels that allow you to effortlessly slide your feet in and just as easily take them off. The collars are padded, keeping your ankles protected and ensuring that your feet stay in place as you walk around. 

Shop More Sneakers at Amazon

• Reebok Princess Sneakers, From $50 (were $60) at Amazon
• Adidas VL Court 3.0 Sneakers, From $60 (were $80) at Amazon
• Nike Court Vision Low Nubuck Shoes, $68 (were $85) at Amazon

These sneakers have a 1.5-inch sole, offering a slight lift without sacrificing comfort or stability. They feature a sleek design with rounded toes that’ll seamlessly blend in with all kinds of outfits, whether you’re sporting something casual like athleisure or loungewear, or wearing a dressy ensemble like office wear or elevated streetwear. 

Amazon customers loved everything about these sneakers, from their comfort to their style. “I’m a teacher, and these shoes are my go-to daily wear!” one reviewer raved. “I can dress them up or down, and they’re so comfortable.” A second shopper commented that they’re “so cute and wonderfully supportive.”

Related: Clarks’ Canvas Sneakers Are ‘Very Cute’ With ‘Great Arch Support,’ Now 35% Off

If you want to look stylish while staying comfortable all day long, don’t hesitate to grab the Dr. Scholl’s Madison Cloud Slip-On Sneakers for as low as $35 at Amazon! 

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Dakota Johnson knows how to get a shock on the red carpet: Sport a sheer dress with black undergarments.

Johnson, 36, the daughter of Miami Vice star Don Johnson and Working Girl star Melanie Griffith, earned her stripes in the Fifty Shades franchise. With more recent work in projects like The Materialists and Daddio, the star has become an important player in the entertainment industry. Now appearing in Verity, the erotic thriller that’s adapted from Colleen Hoover‘s hit novel, Johnson hit the UK gala screening at The Curzon Mayfair in London, England. But it was her outfit that caught the eyes of the cameras, thanks to the black bra and thong that were very visible under her cream-colored lace dress.

Eamonn M. McCormack / Getty Images

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Johnson Transforms Into Marilyn Monroe in a New Film

In a new still from Flesh Impact, created in honor of Monroe’s centennial, Johnson is nearly unrecognizable with platinum blonde hair.

Dakota Johnson looks unrecognizable as Marilyn Monroe in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Flesh Impact https://t.co/SWNkpLWiVh 🔗 pic.twitter.com/0zW0YK5Y6H

— Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) July 29, 2026 What Is Flesh Impact About?

Written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Flesh Impact “honors Marilyn Monroe’s singular power to challenge convention and captivate the world across generations. Dakota Johnson portrays Monroe at the height of her fame, while Ellen Burstyn stars as a version of Marilyn the world never had a chance to see,” according to a release. Starring alongside Johnson and Burstyn are Peter Sarsgaard and Sepideh Moafi.

When Did Flesh Impact Premiere?

Flesh Impact premiered at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival earlier this month. Burstyn received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, the release stated.

Johnson’s Early Acting Days

While Johnson is living the good life these days, it’s a far cry from her early days as an actress, when she was desperate for a role. After she didn’t get into Juilliard, her father cut her off financially.

“I didn’t get in, and my dad cut me off because I didn’t go to college. So, I started auditioning. I think I was 19 when I did The Social Network, and then little jobs and stuff after that,” Johnson shared in a discussion with her Materialists co-star, Pedro Pascal, for Elle UK. “For a couple of years, it was hard to make money. There were a few times when I’d go to the market and not have money in my bank account or not be able to pay rent, and I’d have to ask my parents for help.”

Ultimately, Johnson realized she wasn’t meant for college and didn’t have much interest in being put in a classroom. However, things ended up working out for Johnson in the end, since she “really didn’t want to go to college.”

“It just felt really wrong to lock myself in one place,” she concluded. Of course, things worked out pretty well for her, since she scored the role of Anastasia Steele in 2015’s Fifty Shades of Grey.

Related: Melanie Griffith, 69, Soaks Up the Austrian Sun in a Bathing Suit During Scenic Getaway

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No matter the time of year, it’s never a bad idea to have an extra spot where guests can lounge, unwind, or even sleep when needed. A piece of convertible furniture like the Hommpa Folding Sofa Bed can really come in handy in one of those instances. This stylish and incredibly plush option shifts from sofa to bed in mere seconds — and it boasts a luxe look that definitely belies its price.

In fact, it is an absolute steal right now at Walmart. You can snag it for as low as $99 in the single size during a limited-time flash sale. There are twin, queen, and full sizes available as well at varying discounts. It offers a budget-friendly way to bring some extra comfort to your living space without occupying too much room. The sofa bed is exactly the kind of piece that fits nicely into more snug spots, whether it’s a reading nook or a guest room.

Hommpa Folding Sofa Bed, From $99 (was $190) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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It shines as much from an engineering perspective as it does for its classic design. With a 7-inch high-density foam filling, it has a 400-pound weight capacity and is designed to adapt to your body with premium cushioning. It’s soft, but won’t sag with time thanks to its robust bounce-back memory foam. Shoppers described the feel as “very firm.”

The ergonomic layout includes a modular headrest and lumbar pillows that naturally follow the curves of your spine, whether you’re lounging upright or fully reclined. Another huge perk is that it’s also durable enough for anything your life might bring. The material is resistant to everything from scratches to spills, so daily wear won’t affect its integrity over time.

Since tools aren’t needed, assembly is a breeze. It arrives ready to go, and can be collapsed down to half its size when it’s not in use. Shoppers love the practicality. “Great buy! Super comfy, stylish, and practical. It’s literally more comfortable than the bed I bought.” Another reviewer shared, “It’s exactly what I needed. Easy to move around and super easy to unfold.”

Related: Walmart’s Freestanding Floor Cabinet Is ‘Super Cute’ for Kitchens, Bathrooms, and Entryways

Whether you’re getting set for visitors or you want to elevate your home with an easy piece that folds out of the way when you don’t need it, you can’t beat the value of the Hommpa Folding Sofabed. Pick up this beautifully designed piece while it’s on flash sale for a sweet $99 at Walmart!

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Iggy Pop, the legendary frontman of The Stooges known as the “Godfather of Punk,” will receive the prestigious “Man With The Golden Ear” award at the 18th Soundedit International Music Producers Festival in Lodz, Poland.

The music icon will be honored during the festival, which is scheduled to take place from Oct.23 to 27. The award recognizes artists, producers, sound engineers and other music figures who have made a major contribution to recorded music.

Pop is the third honoree announced for this year’s Soundedit Festival. He joins Polish music figures Bogdan Kondracki and Ziemowit Kosmowski, who were previously named as recipients.

Iggy Pop performs at Riot Fest at Douglass Park on Sept. 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

Barry Brecheisen / Getty Images

The “Man With The Golden Ear” award has been presented by Soundedit since 2009. Past recipients include Brian Eno, Sir George Martin, John Cale, Daniel Lanois and Tony Visconti.

According to Blabbermouth, Soundedit Festival director Maciej Werk described Pop’s recognition as an important moment for the festival, “This is a historic moment for us. After all, we’re talking about a man who defined the raw essence of punk both in the studio and on stage. His collaboration with David Bowie has become an absolute classic of music production.”

Iggy Pop’s Punk Rock Legacy Earns Major Music Honor

Pop has spent more than five decades making music in his own style. As the lead singer of The Stooges, he helped shape the raw sound that became closely linked with punk rock.

The band became known for songs such as “Search and Destroy,” “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” “Raw Power,” “T.V. Eye” and “Gimme Danger.” Pop later built a solo career that produced well-known songs including “Lust for Life” and “The Passenger.”

His work with David Bowie also became an important part of his career. The two had a long creative relationship, with Bowie helping Pop during the early years of his solo career. Their work together included Pop’s 1977 albums The Idiot and Lust for Life.

He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Stooges in 2010 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. He also received the Polar Music Prize in 2022.

The new Soundedit honor comes after another high-profile performance in 2026. In April, Pop performed at Coachella, where he played a set filled with Stooges classics and solo favorites.

Per Consequence, the Coachella set included “T.V. Eye,” “Raw Power,” “I Got a Right,” “Gimme Danger,” “The Passenger,” “Lust for Life,” “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” “Search and Destroy,” “Down on the Street,” “1970,” “Nightclubbing,” “Loose,” “1969” and “Funtime.”

During the performance, Pop also spoke about getting older. “It’s not easy being alive now … It’s not easy to be old … it’s not easy to be young,” he said.

Pop turned 79 on April 21, 2026.

The 18th Soundedit International Music Producers Festival will bring together concerts, workshops, lectures and its annual awards gala in Lodz. The festival will also feature sessions about music production and new audio technologies.

For Pop, the Soundedit award adds another major honor to a career that has already included the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Polar Music Prize.

Related: 1974 Iconic Ballad, Covered by Joe Cocker, Is Still a Beloved Hit 52 Years Later

Legendary news broadcaster Dan Rather thrilled fans on Thursday, September 24, by sharing his first social media photo in over six years. Rather, who anchored the CBS Evening News for 24 years, from 1981 to 2005, was right where you might imagine: in a button-down shirt while sitting at his home desk, ready to type out his latest take on world events.

Rather, 94, also shared the photo on X (formerly Twitter) and Threads for a simple reason: to let people know he continues to write posts for his Steady blog. He captioned the photo, “Dan Rather here. Working on Steady, my Substack about news and politics. Check it out and join us. The link is in my Instagram bio. Stay Steady.”

View this post on Instagram

Thousands liked Rather’s post, and many shared that seeing Rather looking happy and healthy — and still writing — was a day brightener.

“Ah, this brought me such a smile,” one person wrote. “Read your book What Unites Us this summer and it was such a good read and reminder of the good in all of us. ❤️”

Another commented, “Miss you on Instagram. So grateful for you and your integrity, clarity and humanity. I can’t tell you how many times I have said quietly to myself, “steady”, when this time we’re going through seems so terrifying hopeless. Thank you Mr. Rather”

Someone else gushed, “Iconic & wow – a journalist who keeps producing at 94 🙌”

In May 2026, Rather did appear in a web exclusive interview with CBS Sunday Mornings correspondent Mo Rocca to talk about his career. He got his start in radio, but joined CBS’ TV news operation in 1962.

“In 1962, most people still got most of their news either from newspapers or from radio,” he told Rocca. “But television news was exploding and with stories such as the civil rights movement of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

“Nobody knew what the hell they were doing,” he admitted. “We were just making it up as we went along. But with radio, you knew exactly what to do. And I felt more confident with radio than I did with television.”

But Rather quickly found his way on TV, covering some of the biggest stories of the century, including reporting live from Dallas during the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, covering international conflicts like the Vietnam War, and serving as White House correspondent during the Johnson and Nixon administrations, including covering Watergate.

In 1975, Rather became a co-anchor of 60 Minutes, but gave that role up in 1981 to replace another news legend, Walter Cronkite, at the CBS Evening News anchor desk. In 1988, Rather also took on hosting CBS’ hour-long news show, 48 Hours. Not surprisingly, he received countless broadcast journalism awards, including numerous Emmys and Peabody Awards, and the Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award in 2005, the year he retired from CBS Evening News.

The 100 has been named the greatest CW show of all time in a new ranking, putting the post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama ahead of other well-known series from the network.

The series, which aired from 2014 to 2020, took the No. 1 spot on Collider’s list of the 10 Greatest CW Shows of All Time. 

The 100 premiered on March 19, 2014, and ended on Sept. 30, 2020. Although the show ran across six calendar years, it completed seven seasons and 100 episodes.

The series was developed by Jason Rothenberg and is based on the young adult novel series by Kass Morgan. Its story begins 97 years after a nuclear disaster destroys most life on Earth.

The remaining humans live aboard a group of connected space stations known as the Ark. As the Ark’s resources become limited and its life-support systems begin to fail, its leaders send 100 juvenile prisoners to Earth.

Penske Media / Getty Images

The young prisoners are tasked with finding out whether the planet is safe enough for humans to return.

What they find is not an empty planet.

The group discovers that humans survived the nuclear disaster. The young survivors must then deal with dangerous environments, rival groups and difficult choices while trying to keep themselves and others alive.

The story centers on Clarke Griffin, played by Eliza Taylor, along with Bellamy Blake, Octavia Blake, Raven Reyes, John Murphy and other members of the ensemble. The cast also included Paige Turco, Bob Morley, Marie Avgeropoulos, Lindsey Morgan, Christopher Larkin and Richard Harmon.

Rotten Tomatoes lists The 100 as a drama, sci-fi and adventure series with seven seasons. The series currently has a 93% Tomatometer score from 106 reviews and a 67% Popcornmeter score from more than 5,000 ratings.

Collider described The 100 as the network’s “most perfect entry” in its ranking. It highlighted the show’s post-apocalyptic setting, moral conflicts, warfare and survival story. It also pointed to the way the series allowed its characters to change as they faced increasingly difficult situations.

A major part of the show’s story involved decisions where there was no simple right answer. Characters had to deal with the consequences of their choices as the story moved from one crisis to another.

The series continued to expand its story over seven seasons. What began with 100 young prisoners returning to Earth eventually moved beyond the original survival story and introduced new locations, threats and conflicts.

The fifth season takes place after a six-year time jump, while the sixth season moves the survivors to a new planet called Sanctum. The seventh and final season brought the story to its conclusion.

The show also maintained its central focus on survival as its world grew larger. Its characters moved from the Ark to Earth and later faced new challenges far beyond their original mission.

The final season premiered in May 2020 and completed the story later that year.

The recognition adds another notable entry to the show’s legacy, years after Clarke and the rest of the survivors reached the end of their story.

Related: 1988 Bob Hoskins Film, With $70 Million Budget, Ranked Among ‘Best American Fantasy Movies’ of All Time

Taylor Swift‘s new song “Cleveland!” from The Life of a Showgirl: Encore left fans knowing exactly who the track was about: her husband, Travis Kelce.

On Friday, Sept. 25, the pop legend, 36, dropped four new songs in an expanded edition of her 15th studio album. The tracks included “Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding,” and “Babylon.”

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Who Is Taylor Swift’s ‘Cleveland!’ About? Travis Kelce Offers a Clue

Before “Cleveland!” was officially released at midnight, Swifties had a strong feeling the song would be about her NFL spouse. Kelce, 37, grew up near Cleveland, Ohio, in a suburb called Cleveland Heights. (Thus the title of his and his brother Jason Kelce‘s podcast, New Heights.)

In March, Swift and her husband purchased a $5.35 million lakefront home in Bratenahl, Ohio, which is a short, 10-minute drive from Cleveland. Fans immediately wondered if “Cleveland!” was an ode to the property, or to a new city she calls home.

Taylor Swift’s ‘Cleveland!’ Meaning: What Is the Song About?

Taylor Swift in “Cleveland!”:

“But my baby likes what he likes
He already took me to Cleveland
And showed me The Heights!
So hate all you like
This is the love of my life” pic.twitter.com/JNst5s8aC1

— Taylor Swift Updates+ (@chartstswifty) September 25, 2026

Swift’s song “Cleveland!” seemingly addresses public critiques of her (“she’s not as hot as she was; she was only a 4” and “would you even call that dancing?”), while essentially throwing up her hands and declaring there is one thing everyone can agree on: “My baby loves what he loves.”

Additionally, she declares that Kelce “already took me to Cleveland and showed me the Heights,” inviting her critics to “hate all you like” because “this is the love of my life.”

Another verse acknowledges haters calling her “fake” and how Kelce could “find someone younger.” She muses that she can “see what they mean.”

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)

In the bridge, Swift speaks a tongue-in-cheek truth: “You only need to find one person in this entire world who doesn’t find you completely insufferable.” She also makes an “important announcement,” declaring, “I found mine.”

At the end, she switched up the lyrics, singing instead, “Now I’m wearing white, so hate all you like. This is the love of my life.”

Swift and Kelce started dating in the summer of 2023, got engaged in August 2025, and said “I do” on July 3, 2026.

What do you think of Swift’s new song “Cleveland!”?

Next: Taylor Swift “Babylon” Meaning: What Is the New Song About?