Parade

Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

I adore Anthropologie for its charming home goods and fashion, but if there’s one section I could browse for hours, it’s the jewelry. Between the gorgeous dangling earrings, personalized initial necklaces, and crystal bracelets, the retailer has quite the selection. And while I certainly don’t need another piece, I’ve never been particularly good at resisting one that looks this pretty.

The latest Anthropologie find to catch my eye is the Statement Stone Necklace, a vintage-inspired design featuring a collection of colorful stones set in ornate gold-tone frames. It comes in three gorgeous colorways, and would look just as lovely peeking out from beneath a cozy cardigan as it would paired with a dress for an upcoming holiday party. Better yet, it’s currently on sale for 74% off, bringing the price down from $78 to just $20. 

Courtesy of Anthropologie

The necklace has all the charm of a vintage treasure, with a series of oval and round stones arranged along a delicate gold-tone chain. Each stone sits inside an ornate, textured frame that gives the piece an antique-inspired finish, while the mix of shapes and sizes keeps the design from feeling too uniform. The stones extend along the front of the necklace, creating a colorful statement that doesn’t require much additional accessorizing. A lobster clasp and adjustable chain at the back complete the design.

Courtesy of Anthropologie

There are three colorways to choose from. The neutral version combines soft ivory, champagne, smoky gray, and pale green tones for a look that would pair beautifully with just about anything in your closet. The green option features an eye-catching assortment of turquoise, mint, and emerald-inspired shades, while the pink version mixes blush, coral, and deeper rosy hues. Each has the same gold-tone setting, so the choice really comes down to whether you prefer something understated, colorful, or warm.

• Parcel Pendant Necklace, $15 (was $52) at Anthropologie
• Multi-Color Beaded Collar Necklace, $15 (was $44) at Anthropologie
• Beaded Crystal Necklace, $15 (was $54) at Anthropologie

It would also make a lovely gift for anyone who appreciates a little sparkle. Tuck it into a jewelry box for a birthday or surprise your best friend with it over the holidays. It’s a thoughtful little addition to their jewelry collection that they’ll have plenty of opportunities to wear.

Jewelry lovers highlighted this “pretty” piece in the reviews section, saying that the“beautiful” design “elevates any outfit.” One shopper wrote, “The gold is subdued and the small hammered detail adds a nice touch,” while another added that they receive “so many compliments” whenever they wear it.

Related: Anthropologie’s ‘Gorgeous’ Hand-Painted Floral Table Lamp Is 40% Off and Brimming With Cottagecore Whimsy

Consider this your sign to refresh your jewelry box for fall. Shop the Statement Stone Necklace for $20 at Anthropologie while it’s 74% off!

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.

Taylor Swift‘s new song “Babylon” from The Life of a Showgirl: Encore left fans with several questions—like what is the meaning behind it? And who is it about, if anyone? Let’s take a deep dive into the track.

On Friday, Sept. 25, the pop icon (and new wife of Travis Kelce) released four new songs in an expanded edition of her 15th studio album. The tracks included “Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding,” and “Babylon.”

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 

Swift announced her expanded The Life of a Showgirl: Encore album on Sept. 23, just three days before the four new songs dropped. So fans didn’t have a ton of time to speculate what they might sound like. But now that the new music has arrived, Swifties are hard at work decoding the meanings.

In “Babylon,” Swift uses the city of Babylon—an ancient city of excess that existed on the Euphrates River in what is now Iraq, but eventually fell—as a metaphor for pursuing a place or goal that seems bigger and better. However, that goal leaves the person in the story feeling empty in the end—and what really matters was what they left behind.

Swift sings about a person who grew up in a small town where “Aunt Virginia” lives “with a church dress on.” They also lament that it feels “like a cage” despite it being like a “box” that is “wrapped up nice.”

Eventually, the person leaves their humble upbringing and embarks on an independent new life surrounded by casinos, electric fences, and pricey watches. They begrudge the “ice upon the ladder that you need to climb,” and meet a woman who loves them but will not enter into an official relationship. “Pretty as a picture that you didn’t post,” Swift sings, adding, “Looking at you like you’re made of solid gold,” and mentioning “that you’re single to the girls at the bar.”

Babylon about living the life you don’t want and regretting it?

Ultimately, Swift sings about Babylon feeling empty and what the person in the story traded for that life: sitting alone in a car while their partner is hanging Christmas lights with their son. They use “nostalgia as a weapon to hurt yourself” and always yearn for something else other than what they already have.

So to me Babylon is basically someone not being satisfied with what they have ever and chasing the next best thing only to realize that what they had was the best thing but now she’s moved on and is happy and now you just have to sit with knowing that you could’ve had it all but…

“You never knew that it was Babylon, and now it’s almost gone,” Swift sings.

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

Next: Taylor Swift “Pink Clouding” Meaning: Who Is the Song About?

Today’s NYT Connections Sports Edition puzzle covers recent Stanley Cup-winning franchises, NBA divisions, Carolina Panthers players and different types of hitters.

Get excited—there’s another New York Times game to add to your daily routine! Those of us word game addicts who already play Wordle, Connections, Strands and the Mini Crossword now have Connections Sports Edition to add to the mix.

So, if you’re looking for some hints and answers for today’s Connections Sports Edition on Friday, September 25, 2026, you’ve come to the right place.

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 

New York Times

Connections Sports Edition is just like the regular Connections word puzzle, in that it’s a game that resets at 12 a.m. EST each day and has 16 different words listed. It’s up to you to figure out each group of four words that belong to a certain category, with four categories in total.

This new version is sports-specific, however, as a partnership between The New York Times and The Athletic.

As the NYT site instructs, for Connections Sports Edition, you “group sports terms that share a common thread.”

Related: The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You’ll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle

Here are some hints about the four categories to help you figure out the word groupings.

• Yellow: Hockey champs.
• Green: Hoops groups.
• Blue: Sir Purr.
• Purple: Batter, batter, swing!

OK, time for a second hint…we’ll give you the actual categories now. Spoilers below!

• Yellow: LAST FOUR FRANCHISES TO WIN STANLEY CUP.
• Green: NBA DIVISION.
• Blue: CAROLINA PANTHERS.
• Purple: ___HITTER.

If you’re looking for the answers, no worries—we’ve got them below. So, don’t scroll any further if you don’t want to see the solutions!

The answers to today’s Connections Sports Edition #732 are coming up next.

Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day

• LAST FOUR FRANCHISES TO WIN STANLEY CUP: CAROLINA, COLORADO, FLORIDA, VEGAS
• NBA DIVISION: ATLANTIC, CENTRAL, PACIFIC, SOUTHWEST
• CAROLINA PANTHERS: HORN, HUBBARD, TREMBLE, YOUNG
• ___HITTER: LEADOFF, OUTSIDE, PINCH, SWITCH

Don’t worry if you didn’t get them this time—we’ve all been there.

Up next, catch up on the answers to recent Wordle puzzles.

Related: NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for Thursday, September 24, 2026

Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Whether you’re getting a head start on your holiday baking plans or simply love having festive serveware ready for the season,a pretty dessert set can make everything from homemade cookies to slices of pie feel a little more special. 

If you’re looking for an elegant set to serve all those holiday sweets, the Lenox Holiday 12-Piece Porcelain Dessert Set at Walmart is worth considering. Right now, it’s on sale for just $70 at Walmart, down from $170. The 12-piece set includes four plates, four bowls, and four mugs, giving you everything you need to serve seasonal sweets and cozy drinks to four people. 

Courtesy of Walmart

Each piece is made from Lenox’s premium porcelain and finished with a bold red border and holly leaf accents, giving your table a classic holiday look as soon as you set it out. You can use the plates for dessert, fill the bowls with ice cream or a scoop of warm cobbler, and pour hot cocoa or after-dinner coffee into the matching mugs. 

The set is dishwasher-safe, which is especially handy after a holiday gathering when the last thing you want to do is spend extra time washing dishes. It is also microwave-safe, so you can warm up a dessert or heat a drink when needed. 

One reviewer called the set “beautiful” and said the classic print was “always a classy addition to a holiday table.” Another shopper said they “can’t wait to use them” during the holiday season, while a third called it a “lovely Christmas dish set” with “everything that you need for a nice holiday gathering.” 

Don’t need the full set? Lenox also offers a six-piece dessert bowl set at Walmart, so you can bring the classic holiday design to your table with fewer pieces. 

• Vancasso Ceramic Dinner Bowl Set of 6, $36 (was $59) at Walmart
• Elama Salia 16-Piece Textures Stoneware Dinnerware Set, $56 (was $79) at Walmart 
• Lylhzrmdgc Glass Baking Dish Set, $33 (was $66) at Walmart

Related: Dolly Parton’s 12-Piece Christmas Dinnerware Set Is Serving Up All the Festive Charm

For just $70, the Lenox Holiday 12-Piece Porcelain Dessert Set is the perfect addition to a holiday table, especially for anyone who enjoys baking and sharing homemade treats. Head to Walmart and snag one while it’s still in stock and on sale!

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.

Taylor Swift‘s new song “Pink Clouding” from The Life of a Showgirl: Encore has fans looking up both the meaning of the term “pink clouding” and who the track is about. Let’s take a closer look.

On Friday, Sept. 25, the pop superstar newlywed (she married Travis Kelce in July) released four new songs in an expanded edition of her 15th studio album. The tracks are: “Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding,” and “Babylon.”

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 

For starters, what is “pink clouding”?

Naturally, Swifties are curious: What does the term “pink clouding” mean? Healthline describes it as a “stage of early addiction recovery that involves feelings of euphoria and elation.” Individuals in this phase “feel confident and excited about recovery.” Similarly, Dictionary.com says it’s a “sense of euphoria that’s then followed by a crash once reality sets in.”

A possible “pink clouding” Easter egg was offered when Swift was featured in an SVU Emmys skit alongside Mariska Hargitay, as the concept was touched upon on Law & Order: SVU Season 14 episode titled “Girl Dishonored.”

In “Pink Clouding,” Swift sets up imagery of a “magenta sunrise” and “fuchsia forever intertwined.” She goes on to sing about being “so good” at “letting you want me” and making promises. However, she now realizes she was “pink clouding from the thrill of it.”

Swift also sings about trying to figure out how to apologize to the person, lamenting that she “didn’t want to let you down.” In the song, she suggests that she had just gotten out of a bad relationship and jumped into something new during a “cursed time.”

In the bridge of “Pink Clouding,” Swift said she hoped the person realized that her “kind of trouble wasn’t worth it,” but that the person “never deserved” how she treated them. She confessed that she wakes up worried that she “left scars on a good person.”

I’m sure it’s so much deeper than any one theory or one past relationship but the first thing I thought of listening to Pink Clouding was Tom Hiddleston 🤷🏻‍♀️

On X, fans immediately began speculating about who they thought “Pink Clouding” was about. One Swiftie thought that Swift’s ex, Tom Hiddleston, might be the subject.

They wrote, “I’m sure it’s so much deeper than any one theory or one past relationship, but the first thing I thought of listening to ‘Pink Clouding’ was Tom Hiddleston 🤷🏻‍♀️.”

A second agreed, writing, “Is ‘Pink Clouding’ about Tom Hiddleston?!?!”

is pink clouding about tom hiddleston?!?! pic.twitter.com/5E0aYovHR4

I’m sure it’s so much deeper than any one theory or one past relationship but the first thing I thought of listening to Pink Clouding was Tom Hiddleston 🤷🏻‍♀️

Others thought her ex, Taylor Lautner, might be the person Swift is apologizing to in “Pink Clouding.”

is pink clouding about taylor lautner 😭

What did you think of Swift’s new song “Pink Clouding?” Who do you think she is singing about?

Next: Taylor Swift “Patient Zero” Meaning: Who Is Her New Single About?

Carrot Top has been a mainstay on the Vegas Strip for 21 years, anchoring the bright lights of the Luxor stage with his zany prop comedy.

With numerous AT&T commercials, the cult-favorite Chairman of the Board film, and years and years of wacky creations so unique and off-the-wall you couldn’t imagine applying for a patent, the fiery funnyman has made a career out of making people laugh with his treasure chest of gags.

Reportedly worth $70 million and living in a Sin City mansion, Carrot Top claimed to find the perfect work/life balance roughly one year before it was revealed the famed comedian attempted to take his own life after an alleged extortion scheme involving a sex tape.

While his attorneys have been steadfast in resolving those legal matters, Carrot Top has been recovering in the hospital and was said to be “breathing on his own” and cracking jokes with his medical team last Sunday.

Meanwhile, many of his shows have been canceled, but Luxor just revealed when fans can purchase tickets for what’s to be a highly anticipated comeback, especially given the circumstances, after many of his comedic cohorts and fans showed nothing but love for the man, whether they know him as Scott or by his stage name.

The first newly listed October show is Monday, Oct. 19, at 8 p.m., with additional performances scheduled throughout October and a Sunday, Nov. 15 date also listed.

Tickets are currently available through Luxor, starting at $49 before taxes and the $8.72 ticket service fee.

If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “HOME” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or visit their website.

To solve today’s NYT Strands puzzle, think of things you might find in a backyard or playground, from pools and forts to swings, sandboxes, treehouses and trampolines.

Move over, Wordle, Connections, Connections Sports Edition, and Mini Crossword—there’s a new NYT word game in town! The New York Times‘ recent game, “Strands,” is becoming increasingly popular as another daily activity fans can find on the NYT website and app.

With daily themes and “spangrams” to discover, this is the latest addictive game to cross off your to-do list before a new one pops up 24 hours later.

We’ll cover exactly how to play Strands, hints for today’s Spangram, and all of the answers for Strands #936 on Friday, September 25.

The New York Times

According to the New York Times, here’s exactly how to play Strands:

Find theme words to fill the board.

• Theme words stay highlighted in blue when found.
• Drag or tap letters to create words. If tapping, double-tap the last letter to submit.
• Theme words fill the board entirely. No theme words overlap.

Find the “spangram.”

• The spangram describes the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. It may be two words.
• The spangram highlights in yellow when found.
• An example spangram with corresponding theme words: PEAR, FRUIT, BANANA, APPLE, etc.

Need a hint?

• Find non-theme words to get hints.
• For every three non-theme words you find, you earn a hint.
• Hints show the letters of a theme word. If there is already an active hint on the board, a hint will show that word’s letter order.

If that doesn’t help, here’s a hint for today’s Strands game: Remember your math!

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

In today’s puzzle, there are seven theme words to find (including the spangram). Here are the first two letters for each word:

• PO
• FO
• SW
• SA
• TR
• TR
• SQ (SPANGRAM)

Today’s Spangram is mostly horizontal.

Today’s Spangram answer for today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram, and Answers for Friday, September 25, 2026, is SQUARENUMBER.

• POOL
• FORT
• SWINGS
• SANDBOX
• TREEHOUSE
• TRAMPOLINE
• SPANGRAM: SQUARENUMBER

Related: Today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram and Answers for Thursday, September 24, 2026

In 1975, Dr. Hook released their rendition of “Only Sixteen,” a song written and recorded by legendary soul singer Sam Cooke in 1959, which the band transformed into a timeless classic and one of their most recognizable hits.

Following the success of their self-titled album, which included the smash hit “Sylvia’s Mother,” the band, which evolved from Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show into Dr. Hook, continued its popularity and went on to release several standout songs.

Among their beloved charting hits was “Only Sixteen,” a cover featured on their fourth studio album, Bankrupt.

Far from Cooke’s original version, which featured his soulful vocals backed by doo-wop harmonies and orchestral strings, Dr. Hook, consisting of Dennis Locorriere, Ray Sawyer, Billy Francis, George Cummings, Rik Elswit, Jance Garfat and John Wolters, created their own take that showcased a more stripped-down sound.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The band transformed “Only Sixteen” into a quintessential 1970s soft-rock track, stripping away the doo-wop elements and focusing on electric bass, acoustic guitar strumming and an understated drum groove.

Moreover, the band also made minor changes to the lyrics to cater to a 1970s audience.

In the song’s original bridge, Cooke sings, “We’d laugh and we’d sing and do the little things…” followed by “but I was a mere lad of sixteen.”

However, Dr. Hook altered the lyrics to “We’d laugh and we’d sing and do funny things…” and changed the second line to “but I was a mere child of sixteen.”

The changes helped give the song a distinctly different feel, and Dr. Hook’s reimagined version went on to achieve greater commercial success.

Only Sixteen #drhook #1975 Check out @Super Cool 80s #70s #70smusic #1970s #1970smusic #musica70s #musica #foryou #fy

Before the release of “Only Sixteen,” the rock band had not had a song chart for three years.

After moving to Capitol Records, Dr. Hook shifted away from its earlier novelty sound and embraced a more mature and mellow style led by vocalist Dennis Locorriere.

Their rendition became one of the band’s most successful singles, with the track peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976, while Cooke’s original reached No. 28.

On the Billboard Hot R&B chart, however, Cooke’s recording fared better, peaking at No. 13, while Dr. Hook’s version did not chart.

Related: 1972 Country Rock Song, With 22-Year-Old Singer of Dr. Hook, Is Still a Generational Hit 54 Years Later

Taylor Swift‘s new single “Patient Zero” from The Life of a Showgirl: Encore left fans talking—but what is the meaning behind it? And who is it about? Let’s take a closer look.

On Friday, Sept. 25, the pop superstar (and Travis Kelce‘s wife), 36, dropped four new tracks as part of an expanded edition of her 15th studio album. They included “Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding,” and “Babylon.”

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 

Swift announced her expanded The Life of a Showgirl: Encore album on Sept. 23, just three days before the four new songs dropped. And on Sept. 24, she shared a 13-second tease of the music video for “Patient Zero,” which featured her friend, Dakota Johnson, and actor Colin Farrell.

The lead track was perhaps the most highly anticipated on Swift’s unexpected music drop. So let’s dive in!

In “Patient Zero,” Swift seems to be speaking directly to a woman who just broke up with one of Swift’s exes. She suggests that his behavior was “toxic,” singing that she knows about the “devil on his shoulder” that’s “under his halo.” She also understands how it feels to “rather die than let it go” when the “toxins take their hold.”

Additionally, Swift promises the woman her support “if you’re sick of him” because Swift was “patient zero,” after all. She sings about all the ways she can relate to the issues in their relationship because she went through it all before with the same guy.

Swift doesn’t often reveal who her songs are about, or if they are even about one person in particular. However, some fans speculated that “Patient Zero” could be about her ex, Joe Jonas, as Swift was spotted hanging out with his ex-wife, Sophie Turner, multiple times not long after they split in 2023.

Is #patientzero about joe jonas and sophie turner…….. pic.twitter.com/p93zlp2WYi

Joe Jonas getting dragged to hell and back in Patient Zero. 🤣

Others thought the song might be about Swift’s ex, Joe Alwyn.

Okay so patient zero is a jab at Joe Alwyn ???? Also a banger ???

Yet another Swiftie wondered of “Patient Zero” was about a combination of different past relationships, pointing out possible references to Swift’s exes, Matty Healy, John Mayer, and others.

ngl I think patient zero isn’t about one person, I think she references a bunch of her previous relationships!!! pic.twitter.com/vuLCoS9vXb

What do you think of Swift’s new single “Patient Zero”? Do you think she is singing about a specific person?

Next: Taylor Swift Dishes on Travis Kelce’s Favorite Life of a Showgirl Song & It’s Not “Wood”

Today’s New York Times Connections puzzle covers parts of words describing luxury, parts of a mechanical clock, famous Dans and taxonomic ranks with an extra letter added.

There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as the feeling of completing the daily New York Times Wordle, Strands, Mini Crossword and Connections Sports Edition word games in one fell swoop. But sometimes that can be easier said than done. If you need help with today’s Connections puzzle, keep reading.

Spoilers ahead! We’ve warned you. We mean it. Read no further until you really want some clues or you’ve completely given up and want the answers ASAP. Get ready for all of today’s NYT ‘Connections’ hints and answers for #1202 on Friday, September 25, 2026.

New York Times

If you’ve been having trouble with any of the connections or words in Friday’s puzzle, you’re not alone, and these hints should definitely help you out. Plus, I’ll reveal the answers further down.

Related: The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You’ll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle

1. Ooh-la-la!
2. Does anybody really know what time it is?
3. Haggerty played Grizzly Adams.
4. Words you learned in science class, with one letter added to each.

Related: 300 Trivia Questions and Answers to Jumpstart Your Fun Game Night

Ready for the answers? Scroll below this image (the image that represents your very appreciated patience!).

iStock

1. LUXE: BOUGIE, FANCY, POSH, SWANK
2. PARTS OF A MECHANICAL CLOCK: ESCAPEMENT, PENDULUM, RATCHET, SPRING
3. FAMOUS DANS: AYKROYD, LEVY, RATHER, SAVAGE
4. TAXONOMIC RANKS PLUS A LETTER: BORDER, CLASSY, FOAMILY, GENIUS

How’d you do?

Up Next:

– 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day
– Hints, Clues and Answers to the NYT’s ‘Mini Crossword’ Puzzle

Did You Miss a Few Days? Let’s Catch You Up With Recent Connections Answers

Related: NYT ‘Connections’ Hints, Clues and Answers Today, Thursday, September 24, 2026

Jen Hamilton has ruffled some feathers in her home state of North Carolina.

The nurse influencer — who recently exposed her ex’s “double life” — is working with North Carolina Senator Woodson Bradley to change the state’s divorce laws. As it stands, any party hoping to divorce their spouse in North Carolina must be legally separated for one full year before a divorce will be granted.

Hamilton and Bradley are fighting for a bill that would “shorten the separation requirement to six months and would waive the separation requirement for people going through domestic violence or those with an uncontested divorce with no children.”

While the social media personality acknowledges that, if passed, the law would not be changed in time to push her divorce from Brian Hamilton along, she’s committed to helping men and women would come behind her.

However, Hamilton took to social media on Thursday, September 24, to share the response she and Bradley have received in recent days.

“In a super unsurprising turn of events, MAGA is mad at Jen Hamilton. Can we guess what for this time?” she began in a video shared to Instagram. “Trying to change divorce law in North Carolina that requires someone to stay married to someone for an entire year after separating—living in two separate households—before they can even file for divorce.”

“There is no exceptions. No exceptions for adultery. No exceptions for domestic violence. Your spouse could literally kill your children, and you have to stay married to them. Your spouse could beat the ever-loving tar out of you, and you still have to stay married to them for an entire year,” she added. “Their argument is that marriage is sacred. I agree. So let’s instead switch the waiting period from wanting a divorce to wanting to get married.”

Hamilton went on to say that she “took it seriously” throughout her whole marriage to Brian—who had been cheating on her for a year and a half.

“Not once did I ever look at another man in that way. I do not want to be in a marriage that is not sacred,” she continued. “In my marriage, unbeknownst to me, apparently free for all. I don’t wanna be in an unsacred marriage. Let me get out of here.”

The labor and delivery nurse then shared a screenshot of a voicemail that a constituent left for Bradley that read, “You know divorce is wrong biblically.”

“It’s good for people to have that separation period so they can try to reconcile and get back together,” the voicemail continued. “For you to try to abolish that and for you to try to make it easier for cheating spouses to get away with it, you know you’re a bad person and you should feel bad about yourself. We’re going to defeat you politically…We don’t need women like you in power…We’re going to run you out of office and Make America Great Again, bitch.”

Despite the voicemail, one of many, according to Hamilton and Bradley, many fans praised Hamilton for being “on the right side of history.”

Just about every movie star in the history of Hollywood has made a film (or two, or three) that they’re not particularly proud of. Some even have movies they regret ever making…and in Sylvester Stallone‘s case, that movie is most definitely “Stop or My Mom Will Shoot.” (In fact, the majority of viewers regretted ever watching it.)

An action/comedy released in 1992, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot starred Stallone as a tough LAPD sergeant trying to cope with relationship troubles, criminal hijinks, and an overbearing, elderly mother played by beloved Golden Girl Estelle Getty. What must have sounded like a good idea on paper (at least to director Roger Spottiswoode, presumably) didn’t exactly translate to box office gold: With a $45 million production budget, the movie grossed just $70.6 million worldwide. The movie was also a critical disappointment, to say the least (more on that later).

One person who wasn’t surprised by the failure of Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot was Stallone. In a 2006 interview with Ain’t It Cool News, Stallone called it “the worst film I’ve ever made by far…maybe one of the worst films in the entire solar system, including alien productions we’ve never seen… a flatworm could write a better script than Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.”

“In some countries — China, I believe — running Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot once a week on government television has lowered the birth rate to zero,” he continued. “If they ran it twice a week, I believe in twenty years China would be extinct.”

So how did Stallone get involved in Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot in the first place? Blame Arnold Schwarzenegger. As Stallone told Hollywood Reporter in 2022, “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot was supposed to be like Throw Momma From the Train with the mom as this really nasty piece of work. Instead you hire the nicest woman in Hollywood, Estelle Getty, who you wish was your mother. That’s the end of that! Also, I had heard Schwarzenegger was going to do that movie and I said, ‘I’m going to beat him to it.’ I think he set me up.”

When Hollywood Reporter reached out to Schwarzenegger for confirmation, the Terminator star said Stallone’s suspicion was “100 percent true.”

“In those days we did all kinds of crazy things to get ahead in our rivalry. Luckily for us and everyone else, today, we root for each other. Thank God, because we sure don’t ever need another Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.”

Related: 1987 Box Office Smash, Ranked ‘Best Acting Performance by a Musician in a Movie,’ Won Cher an Academy Award

Schwarzenegger elaborated on the topic in a 2019 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, admitting that he “read the script, and it was a piece of sh—t. Let’s be honest. I say to myself, ‘I’m not going to do this movie…’ Then they went to Sly, and Sly called me: ‘Have they ever talked to you about doing this movie?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I was thinking about doing it. This is a really brilliant idea, this movie.’ When he heard that, because he was in competition, he said, ‘Whatever it takes, I’ll do the movie.’ And of course the movie went major into the toilet.”

Into the toilet, indeed. Getting back to that whole critical disappointment thing, just about every critic at the time slammed the movie, but Roger Ebert‘s review was a particularly epic slam.

“Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot is one of those movies so dimwitted, so utterly lacking in even the smallest morsel of redeeming value, that you stare at the screen in stunned disbelief,” Ebert wrote, going on to call the flick “moronic beyond comprehension, an exercise in desperation during which even Sylvester Stallone, a repository of self-confidence, seems to be disheartened.”

Alas, in the decades since Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot hit the big screen, public opinion hasn’t softened much. The movie currently has a rating of 17% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Related: 1979 Cult Classic, One of Kurt Cobain’s Favorite Movies, Launched 14-Year-Old Matt Dillon’s Career

Today’s NYT Wordle answer is about a small group of trees growing closely together, especially in a woodland or forest.

But the day just isn’t complete until I’ve solved all of the free word games from the New York Times, including Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Strands, and Mini Crossword. If you’re stuck on today’s Wordle answer, we’re here to help—but beware of spoilers for Wordle #1924 ahead.

Let’s start with a few hints.

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬

There are two vowels in today’s Wordle.

Today’s Wordle begins with a consonant.

There are no double letters in today’s Wordle.

A hint for today’s Wordle: A small wood, clump of trees or dense growth of shrubs.

OK, that’s it for hints—I don’t want to totally give it away before revealing the answer!

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

We’ll have the answer below this friendly reminder of how to play the game.

SPOILERS BELOW—do not scroll any further if you don’t want the answer revealed.

The New York Times

Today’s Wordle answer on Friday, September 25, 2026, is COPSE.

-If you missed it, catch up with the answer to yesterday’s Wordle.

Related: Every 5 Letter Word Wordle Hasn’t Used Yet (Updated Daily)

Orville Peck has the country music industry popping with his new song, “Ring the Bell.”

The singer-songwriter, known for wearing a custom, eye-concealing leather face covering with long fringe hanging over his mouth, is now revealing all.

In his new song, “Ring the Bell,” he sings about how he once “made out with a guy on the Raiders,” confirming to fans that the mystery NFL player actually permitted him to tell the story in a song.

Orville Peck reveals he made out with a pro football player in a lyric from his new album “Mule.” Peck sings, “I love the Lakers, the Mets and the Longhorns, made out with a guy on the Raiders.”

“I’m going to preface this by saying that I did receive permission to sing that… pic.twitter.com/qNBn1H7zt5

“I did receive permission to sing that lyric from the subject in question, and he was very thrilled,” Peck told Variety.

The revelation appears on Mule, Peck’s fourth studio album, which was released Sept. 18. In “Ring the Bell,” he sings: “I love the Lakers, the Mets, and the Longhorns, made out with a guy on the Raiders.”

Peck, 38, isn’t saying which Raiders player he’s talking about, and that’s apparently intentional.

The singer said he told the man that he wanted to keep the reference “ambiguous and mysterious,” adding that he would never have included it if the person were uncomfortable or afraid of being identified.

“This person would have probably allowed me to say their name if I wanted, but I didn’t think it was necessary,” Peck said.

That hasn’t stopped people from trying to figure it out.

Some outlets and fans have speculated that the mystery man could be Carl Nassib, the former Raiders defensive end who became the first active NFL player to come out as gay publicly in 2021. But Peck has not confirmed that Nassib is the player referenced in the song.

Peck’s revelation is part of the larger story behind Mule, an album that draws from some difficult chapters in his life.

The singer has described the album as a kind of “thank-you” to some people, an apology to others, and an explanation for still others. He has also discussed his sobriety and a previous struggle with addiction and treatment in connection with the new music.

But for now, one question is likely to follow the album around: Who was the guy on the Raiders?

Related: 1979 Country-Rock Ballad, Written for Linda Ronstadt in a Colorado Cabin, Became a Cross-Generational Hit

Like so many female musicians from the ’60s, Dana Gillespie got more attention for the famous men she was associated with than her actual musical talent. Considering the fact that her romantic involvements included David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, Mick Jagger and others, this isn’t particularly surprising…but that doesn’t mean her music didn’t (and doesn’t) deserve more credit.

The future singer-songwriter was born Richenda Antoinette de Winterstein Gillespie in 1949 to a London-based radiologist father of Austrian nobility and a mother descended from a long line of Norfolk-landowners, according to the Guardian. Her parents were remarkably liberal for the time, which probably explains why she was allowed to go to Soho’s Marquee Club as a young teenager.

“It was just so bloody exciting,” Gillespie recalled. “Everyone was attempting to play the blues back then.”

It was at the Marquee that her life changed forever when she saw Bowie (still Davie Jones at that point) play a set. Afterwards, Bowie, then 17 years old, asked Gillespie, 15, to take him home for the night.

“Of course, I said yes,” Gillespie recalled, adding that she introduced him to her parents the next morning while wearing her school uniform. Gillespie and Bowie’s relationship, both personal and professional, would last for another decade.

Their romance was not an exclusive one, however. In 1965, Gillespie caught Dylan’s eye during a press conference at London’s Savoy hotel. Dylan invited her back to his room, and then, to accompany him on tour. Gillespie can even be seen in the documentary Don’t Look Back, the documentary about Dylan’s British tour.

“I was very young then — a couple of weeks past 16, so I was just about legal, but, in those days, nobody cared about what anybody did,” Gillespie told hi-fi+ in 2025.

“There was no social media, you just went and had fun,” she continued. “Dylan was always a gentleman and extremely nice.”

Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images

Gillespie’s own career was picking up around that time, too. She was signed by Pye Records and released several singles, including “Thank You Boy,” produced by Page (also a love interest and a “gentleman at all times”).

While none of those singles were commercially successful, that didn’t stop Gillespie from making albums and performing; in fact, she’s released a staggering 74 albums over the course of her career.) She sang sessions with Reg Dwight (before he was Elton John) and played in clubs, bars and West End musicals. Bowie wrote the song “Andy Warhol” for her and her backing vocals can be heard on his Ziggy Stardust album. Eventually, Bowie and guitarist Mick Ronson produced Gillespie’s 1973 album, Weren’t Born a Man, which included her singing a cover of “Andy Warhol.”

Unfortunately, that album wasn’t a success either. Gillespie was forced to support herself as an actress, instead, appearing in movies such as The People That Time Forgot and Bad Timing, though she “was never serious about acting.”

Gillespie’s path took a turn when she started following the late Indian spiritual leader Sai Baba, which inspired her to start recording albums of Indian devotional music.

“I grew as a singer and a person,” she recalled.

In 2024, at the age of 75, Gillespie released her 74th album, First Love, a diverse collection of mostly covers including songs by Green Day (‘Boulevard Of Broken Dreams”), Leonard Cohen (“Dance Me To The End of Love”), Dylan (“Not Dark Yet”), Bowie (“Can You Hear Me?”) and others.

“If I’m lucky enough to make another album by the end of this year, it will be 75 — I can say one for every year,” she said at the time.

Related: Iconic Singer-Songwriter, Who Paved the Way for Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, Vanished Without a Trace 52 Years Ago

Rick Sollo, one half of the Brazilian country music duo Rick & Renner, has died at 59 after the helicopter he was traveling in crashed in southern Brazil.

The singer, whose real name was Geraldo Antônio de Carvalho, was traveling as the duo celebrated four decades of their musical partnership with a nationwide tour.

The helicopter disappeared on Monday, Sept. 21, while traveling from Porto Belo to São Joaquim in Santa Catarina. Search crews found the wreckage the following day after nearly 20 hours of searching. All five people aboard were killed.

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬

Rick & Renner had been touring Brazil as part of their “40 Anos” tour, celebrating four decades since the pair began performing together. The tour continued through the weekend before the crash, with the duo’s most recent performance on Sept. 19 in Sorriso, Mato Grosso.

The pair had another show scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Festa do Peão de Edealina in Goiás, along with additional performances planned through December. The tour was promoted as a celebration of the duo’s four decades of hits.

Rick & Renner first began their musical partnership in 1986, initially performing in nightclubs before releasing their first official album in 1992.

Rick & Renner’s biggest commercial success came in the late 1990s, particularly with the song “Ela É Demais.” Over their career, the duo sold more than 10 million records, according to Brazilian media reports.

Rick was also an accomplished songwriter whose compositions other major Brazilian country artists recorded. His credits included songs recorded by Chitãozinho & Xororó, João Paulo & Daniel, and Leandro & Leonardo.

The duo went through two periods of separation, from 2010 to 2012 and again from 2015 to 2018, before reuniting and continuing to perform together.

The helicopter, a Bell 430, departed from Porto Belo and was headed toward São Joaquim when contact was lost. Search crews used aircraft, drones, dogs, and dozens of firefighters to locate it in the mountainous region. Search crews found the wreckage Tuesday, Sept. 22, in a remote area of Santa Catarina.

Also killed were businessman Bruno Avelar, videomaker Paulo Soares, pilot Antônio Roberto Nóbrega de Araújo, and co-pilot Leopoldo Barros Teixeira.

Brazilian authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. Reports said the region had experienced difficult weather conditions, including fog and storms, but investigators have not yet established a definitive cause.

Sollo was born in Monte do Carmo, Tocantins, on Dec. 5, 1966. He began his musical career as a child before partnering with Renner.

Six children and two grandchildren survive him. His death came just days after he and Renner performed together on a tour intended to celebrate the 40-year musical journey they had built together.

Related: Garth Brooks Makes Shocking Announcement That Will Have Significant Impact on His Fans

Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way” came directly out of Lindsey Buckingham’s breakup with Stevie Nicks, but the personal fallout didn’t end when their relationship did. The two still had to work together as members of the band, with Buckingham turning those complicated feelings into one of their best-known songs. 

Buckingham and Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974, but their romantic relationship had fallen apart by the time the group began recording Rumours in 1976. They were forced to navigate the breakup while making an album that would become one of the most successful records in music history. 

“Go Your Own Way” was Buckingham’s way of working through what had happened. In a 2018 Song Exploder interview, he said the song began “almost as a stream of consciousness,” with the lyrics serving as a way to start a conversation with Nicks and process the split. 

Buckingham also helped put together the song’s instrumental sound. He looked to the Rolling Stones’ “Street Fighting Man” for inspiration, especially its drum pattern, and worked with Mick Fleetwood to get a similar feel. He also used both “dirty” and “clean” guitar sounds to add some contrast. 

The song’s emotional tension was obvious enough that even one radio DJ questioned it. After Buckingham heard “Go Your Own Way” on the radio, DJ B. Mitchell Reed followed the song by saying, “I don’t know about that one.” Buckingham called the station to ask why, and Reed told him he couldn’t find the beat.

Despite that reaction, the song became a defining track from Rumours, reaching No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. For Buckingham, though, it eventually represented more than the end of his relationship with Nicks.

He later described the writing process as cathartic, helping him accept that there was a “bigger picture” outside the band’s problems. 

NME pointed out the contrast between Buckingham’s harsh lyrics and the song’s upbeat sound, writing that his “bitter chant of ‘You can go your own way’ must have cut like glass, and yet with its uplifting chord progression, it sounded, paradoxically, like the sweetest sentiment ever.” 

It’s a fitting description for a song NME included among its “Most Explosive Choruses.” 

Related: 1950 Country Ballad Named No. 1 Hit Became a Timeless Anthem

Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

A pearl necklace is one of those rare accessories that never really goes out of style. No matter how trends change, pearls always manage to feel polished, timeless, and easy to wear. They work with casual outfits just as well as dressier looks, which is exactly why they’ve remained a staple for decades.

If you’re looking for a chic everyday piece that feels elevated without being flashy, the Adornia Freshwater Pearl Necklace is a beautiful option. Right now, it’s on sale for 75% off at Nordstrom Rack, bringing the price down from $140 to just $35. For a genuine freshwater pearl necklace that delivers old Hollywood levels of glamor, that’s an especially impressive deal.

Courtesy of Nordstrom Rack

The necklace features a delicate strand of luminous freshwater pearls designed to add a soft, elegant finish to any outfit. It measures 14 inches long with a 4-inch extender, making it easy to customize the fit depending on your neckline. The pearls measure between 5 and 5.5 millimeters, and the piece is finished with a lobster-clasp closure along with stainless steel plated with 18-karat gold.

What makes this necklace especially versatile is its understated design. Instead of feeling overly formal or gaudy, the smaller pearl size gives it a modern, minimalist feel. It works seamlessly with aesthetics like quiet luxury, coastal-grandmother style, bohemian looks, or coquette-inspired outfits.

This necklace looks chic whether you layer it or wear it solo. Its slim profile makes it perfect for stacking with other chains and pendants without looking bulky. You can pair it with chunkier gold necklaces for contrast or mix silver and gold jewelry together since pearls naturally balance mixed metals beautifully. If you prefer to wear the necklace on its own, it creates a clean and refined focal point.

This is the kind of accessory you can wear to the office, out to dinner, on vacation, or even to formal events like weddings and graduations. It’s lightweight enough for all-day wear and elegant enough to transition easily from daytime outfits to evening looks without feeling out of place.

It also makes an especially thoughtful gift. Pearls have always carried a sense of timeless luxury, and this necklace feels far more expensive than its $35 sale price suggests. The adjustable extender chain also makes sizing easier, which takes away some of the guesswork when shopping for jewelry as a present.

One shopper said the necklace is “great for layering,” writing, “I bought this mainly to stack with my gold necklaces, and it works perfectly.” Another described it as “delicate and very pretty,” writing, “It adds a soft touch without overpowering an outfit.”

Related: Faux Suede Jackets Are Fall’s Trendiest Outerwear, and Nordstrom Rack’s ‘Easy to Wear’ Version Is 66% Off

For a jewelry staple you’ll wear for years instead of just one season, the Adornia Freshwater Pearl Necklace is hard to beat. And thanks to Nordstrom Rack’s current 75% discount, you can save more than $100 on this timeless piece right now.

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.

Travis Tritt has been forced to postpone two of his upcoming shows after falling ill. 

On Thursday, Sept. 24, the country music icon, 63, took to social media to reveal that he had been unknowingly battling a bout of pneumonia for the past two weeks. After receiving his diagnosis from the doctor, Tritt is now focusing on his health and recovery, which means his two upcoming shows have now been rescheduled for a later date. 

“I’m sorry to report that I was diagnosed with pneumonia earlier this week. Turns out that the pneumonia was actually present for the past two weeks, but I didn’t know it, because I’ve never had it before,” Tritt wrote on Instagram in a statement to his fans. “I just knew I felt a bit weak and sluggish.”

The “I’m Gonna Be Somebody” singer went on to say that the affected dates were scheduled for Sept. 25-26 in Macon and Charleston. Those shows will now take place on April 22, 2027, and November 14, 2026, respectively. 

“Therefore, the two shows currently scheduled for September 25th and 26th in Macon and Charleston are being rescheduled to April 22nd, 2027, and November 14th, 2026, respectively,” Tritt confirmed, adding. “The good news [is] you don’t have to do anything! All tickets already purchased will be valid for the new dates.” 

Tritt’s next scheduled performance is on Friday, Oct. 2, at the Country Calling Festival in Ocean City, Maryland. He has not postponed the appearance and expects to be fully recovered by the time he takes the stage. 

“I fully expect to be back in the saddle next week. Thanks for understanding!” He wrote, closing out his message. 

Fans and followers took to the comment section of Tritt’s post to share their thoughts and to wish the artist well as he focuses on healing. 

“Get well, Travis! Prayers for a full recovery!” One person wrote, while another fan added, “Prayers for your recovery. Take care❤️.” 

A third follower commented, “Prayers for your health & recovery ♥️.”

For a complete listing of tour dates, visit Travis Tritt’s official website.

Related: Luke Bryan Forced to Cancel Another Farm Tour Stop: ‘Call Was Made for Everyone’s Safety’

In 1963, Roy Orbison, a.k.a. “The Big O,” released the classic ballad “In Dreams,” which became one of the defining songs of his career, further cementing his legacy and larger-than-life presence in music

More than six decades later, the operatic ballad remains timeless and continues to resonate across generations.

Billboard ranked “In Dreams” at No. 6 on Roy Orbison’s Top Hot 100 Hits, while it was also honored as the fourth-best song of 1963.

As for its chart performance, it peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Released as part of his fourth studio album, also titled In Dreams, the song took Orbison less than 30 minutes to write and was inspired by a personal dream.

Peter Bolton/TV Times via Getty Images

“Roy always told it the same way: he went to bed one night with no song in mind, and by morning the entire thing was there — melody, lyrics, structure — fully formed, like he’d dreamed it into existence,” as mentioned in an official Facebook post. “He got up, sat down, and wrote it out in about 20 minutes flat, barely changing a word from what he remembered.”

“In Dreams” stood out for its unconventional song structure, with dreamlike lyrics and a dramatic vocal performance from The Big O, a nickname associated with Orbison’s distinctive and powerful singing style.

More than two decades after Orbison released the track, the classic ballad experienced a resurgence in popularity after being featured in David Lynch’s movie Blue Velvet. The Orbison estate credits the film with helping revitalize the singer’s career.

“In Dreams” was also highlighted in one scene when Dean Stockwell’s character, Ben, the pansexual pimp and drug dealer, lip-synced to the song.

According toSongfacts, Orbison initially declined the director’s request to feature the song in the film but later created a video for the track that included scenes from the movie.

With the song’s renewed popularity, Lynch’s decision to include it in the movie eventually led to a new music video, re-recordings and helped introduce Orbison’s music to a new generation of listeners.

In 1987, Orbison released In Dreams: The Greatest Hits, a compilation featuring newly recorded versions of many of his classic songs.

The collection included a new version of “In Dreams,” produced by Orbison, T Bone Burnett and Lynch.

Related: 1972 Country Rock Song, With 22-Year-Old Singer of Dr. Hook, Is Still a Generational Hit 54 Years Later