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Every fall, I realize I’ve accumulated enough pumpkin decorations to open a small pumpkin patch. Between the miniature ones scattered across my bookshelves, the ceramic versions on the mantel, and the oversized pumpkin that’s plopped onto my front porch, there’s always room for one more. Especially when it looks nothing like the others.

And while I love a classic orange pumpkin as much as anyone, I’m particularly drawn to seasonal decorations that are unexpected. Enter the My Texas House Fall Forest Toile Pumpkin Decorative Pillow at Walmart, which trades the usual harvest colors for a vintage-inspired pattern that looks right at home alongside antique finds. At an affordable $13, it easily looks like something you’d find at Pottery Barn or Anthropologie.

Courtesy of Walmart

This plush takes a more understated approach to fall decorating, pairing a warm rust-colored toile print with a soft cream background. The intricate pattern features a series of woodland scenes, complete with leafy trees, delicate branches, and lush foliage, giving it the look of traditional French toile fabric. The earthy color combination is especially appropriate for autumn, but doesn’t rely on the usual bright oranges and yellows, making it easy to incorporate into a more neutral decorating scheme.

Rather than a traditional square or rectangular throw pillow, it has a plump, pumpkin-shaped silhouette with deeply defined, rounded sections that give it plenty of volume. The printed fabric wraps around the entire pumpkin, so the woodland illustrations remain visible from different angles. A thick, curved stem wrapped in natural jute rope rises from the center, introducing a rustic texture that contrasts nicely with the soft fabric. Measuring approximately 6 inches tall and 10 inches wide, it’s compact enough to tuck into an existing arrangement without overwhelming your other decorations.

Not sure how to style it? Try placing it on an upholstered accent chair alongside a chunky knit throw, or arrange it with a few textured, solid-colored pillows. It would also look lovely nestled into a decorative basket beside the fireplace, perched on an entryway bench, or incorporated amongst a collection of ceramic and velvet pumpkins on a console table. 

• Gift Boutique Thanksgiving Set of 3 Gold Dot Pumpkins, $28 at Walmart
• Way To Celebrate Light-Up Pumpkin Decoration, $6 at Walmart
• My Texas House Fiona White/Black Pumpkin Cotton Halloween Decorative Pillow Cover, $10 at Walmart

Walmart customers praised this “adorable” and “super cute” piece. “It has such a unique yet versatile design,” one shopper wrote, calling the design “beautiful” and “elegant.”

Related: Walmart’s ‘Pretty’ $33 Leaf and Pumpkin Wreath Brings Cozy Fall Feels to Your Front Door

With this pumpkin, there’s no carving, no rotting, and no packing it away after Halloween. Shop the My Texas House Fall Forest Toile Pumpkin Decorative Pillow for $13 at Walmart and enjoy woodland whimsy through Thanksgiving!

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.

We’ve all been in a conversation where something felt just a little bit off, even if we couldn’t immediately put our finger on why. You might be sharing a story about your week, recounting a hilarious mishap or explaining a project at work, only to notice that the person across from you feels distant, upset or entirely disengaged.

Often, we assume that being a good conversationalist comes down to the words we choose or how animatedly we express ourselves. However, psychology reveals that our non-verbal cues carry far more weight than our spoken words—and chief among those cues is how we use our eyes.

While establishing connection often relies on visual cues, there is a very fine line between looking engaged and making someone feel deeply uncomfortable. In fact, experts note that one extremely common, subtle eye contact mistake can instantly ruin your rapport, making you come across as off-putting, overly intense or untrustworthy without you ever realizing it.

Related: An Etiquette Expert Is Begging People To Stop Doing This One Thing When They Meet Someone

When we are taught basic social skills, one of the first rules we learn is to “look people in the eye” to show respect, confidence and active listening. While gaze aversion can certainly signal disinterest or anxiety, overcompensating by locking eyes without breaking your stare creates the exact opposite of warmth: intense discomfort.

Holding relentless, unblinking eye contact—often referred to as intense gaze or “eye-locking”—can feel less like a warm conversation and more like an interrogation or a power play. Psychologically, human beings are wired to perceive unyielding eye contact from a non-intimate individual as a sign of confrontation, dominance or even threat.

Related: Psychologist Says if You Rehearse Conversations in Your Head Before They Happen, You Likely Have These 8 Traits

In a story on habits that make you instantly likable, psychologist Dr. Ernesto Lira de la Rosa, Ph.D., who is also a Hope for Depression Research Foundation media advisor, highlighted why constant gaze is counterproductive. As detailed in that previous Parade article, he explained that while eye contact is traditionally viewed as a trust-building mechanism, true likability actually comes from knowing when to soften and break that stare.

“Intense eye contact can feel confrontational, while breaking eye contact occasionally makes people feel less scrutinized,” he shared. “This subtle balance between engagement and ease puts people at ease and enhances the flow of conversation.”

When you fail to break your gaze naturally, the person you are speaking with may feel placed under a microscope. Instead of feeling heard, they become self-conscious, leading to a subtle desire to end the interaction as quickly as possible.

To avoid coming across as either cold or overly aggressive, psychological experts suggest adopting a natural “rhythm” to your eye contact. Rather than staring continuously, aim for the 50/70 rule, which Michigan State University reported was the “appropriate eye contact” amount. For this, maintain eye contact for roughly 50% of the time while you are speaking, and about 70% of the time while you are listening.

Related: 10 Social Behaviors That Make You Seem Unapproachable, According to Etiquette Experts

When you do look away, do so casually and softly. Glancing briefly to the side as you pause to think or collect a thought feels organic and human. Avoid looking down at your phone or checking the room over your shoulder, as these movements communicate disinterest rather than a brief mental pause.

By softening your gaze and allowing natural breaks, you remove the pressure from the interaction. This small adjustment signals to the other person that you are fully present, respectful of their space and comfortable in your own skin—paving the way for genuine connection.

Adapted from Parade’s “13 Surprising Habits That Make You ‘Instantly Likable,’ Psychologists Say” by Beth Ann Mayer

Up Next:

Related: Etiquette Experts Say Most People End Conversations the Wrong Way

•  Dr. Ernesto Lira de la Rosa, Ph.D., is a psychologist and Hope for Depression Research Foundation media advisor.

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 think we can all agree that pumpkins are the official mascot of fall. They crowd front porches, take over mantels, and adorn every bookshelf the minute September rolls in. And while there’s nothing wrong with a classic orange pumpkin, the more unexpected versions are often the ones that end up becoming permanent fixtures in your seasonal decorating collection — especially when they do more than just sit there looking pretty.

Take the Pumpkin Alabaster Rechargeable Cordless Table Lamp at Anthropologie for example. It combines everyone’s favorite autumn decoration with the convenience of portable lighting. And if you’ve had your eye on it, the timing couldn’t be better: The lamp is included in the retailer’s app-exclusive extra 50% off sale, dropping from $148 to just $53. That’s $95 off a fall decoration that can light up your home from the first chilly evening straight through Thanksgiving!

Courtesy of Anthropologie

Dubbed an “elevated fall decor” find by shoppers, this pumpkin-shaped lamp is crafted from alabaster, giving its milky-white body a softly luminous appearance. Gently rounded ridges recreate the shape of a ripe pumpkin, while a metallic gold stem and coordinating stainless steel base add a polished finishing touch. 

Measuring 4.75 inches tall and 5 inches in diameter, the lamp is small enough to tuck into a bookshelf, bedside table, or autumn centerpiece without dominating the arrangement. Its compact size makes it particularly charming on a mantel alongside brass candlesticks and dried foliage, or on an entryway console surrounded by miniature pumpkins. 

Weighing 2.6 pounds, it feels substantial despite its petite size. And since the alabaster body doubles as the shade, the light shines through the pumpkin itself, creating a soft glow that highlights its rounded silhouette.

The cordless design makes it especially convenient for decorating spots without a nearby outlet. Its rechargeable LED provides up to four to five hours of illumination at maximum brightness or 10 to 15 hours on the lowest setting, so it can easily last through an evening of entertainment. A circular button on the base lets you switch the lamp on and off, while a long press adjusts the brightness to suit the occasion. 

When it’s time to recharge, simply connect a USB-A to USB-C cable (sold separately) to a compatible charger. The built-in, dimmable LED has an estimated lifespan of up to 50,000 working hours.

• The Mud Fairy Stoneware 24k Gold Accent Candy Bowl, $38 (was $98) at Anthropologie
• Set of 4 Icon Jacquard Spooky Dishcloths, $13 (was $34) at Anthropologie
• Mystic Witch Icon Incense & Amber Glass Candle, $15 (was $38) at Anthropologie

Related: Attain ‘Perfect Farmhouse Vibes’ With Walmart’s $56 Pair of Ceramic Table Lamps

This glowing gourd has a bright future in your home. Shop the Pumpkin Alabaster Rechargeable Cordless Table Lamp for $53 at Anthropologie while it’s 64% off! Just make sure to shop the deal in Anthropologie’s app for the full discount.

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.

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 solar wind chime is a stylish — and musical — way to add some ambient lighting to your outdoor space. They not only help illuminate your backyard or patios, but they also add a pretty decorative touch. Right now, Walmart is offering a can’t-miss flash deal on one of its bestselling options, the Qishi Solar Hummingbird Wind Chime. 

Originally $20, the beautiful LED wind chime is now on sale for just a little over $10 in the hummingbird design. It comes eight additional shapes and themes — including angels, butterflies, and crystal balls — all discounted to $11.  

Courtesy of Walmart

These “lovely” wind chimes provide a magical glow that lights up your outdoor space, shining a variety of colorful hues at night. Powered by solar energy, they charge up during the day and automatically turn on once it gets dark. You can hang them anywhere you want to create a whimsical atmosphere, from gardens and porches to windows and doors. They’re rainproof, moisture-proof, and easy to hang, making them a cinch to move around indoors or outdoors. 

In addition to providing some ambiance for your space, these light-up wind chimes also make great gifts for all types of occasions, including birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. “These wind chimes are so cute,” one shopper wrote. “I had to order myself one after I received the one I bought for my mother. They look awesome lit up at night.”

Reviewers were impressed by how bright the solar lights are both day and night One shopper said they’re “so colorful and fun to watch,” while another noted the wind chime “lights up beautifully in my garden.”

Many also took note of the wind chime’s durability. One reviewer shared that they’d held up wonderfully after over a year of use. “We have high winds, and they survive,” the reviewer commented. “The hummingbirds are truly beautiful when lit up at night.” 

Related: Stash Summer Clutter With Walmart’s $68 Canopy Shed That’s Perfect for Small Yards

Add a pop of color to your outdoor space, and snag this colorful solar light wind chime while it’s still as low as $10 at Walmart. The bestseller may not last long at such a great price!

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.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit has been ranked among the 10 Greatest American Fantasy Movies of All Time. 

The 1988 film, starring Bob Hoskins as private investigator Eddie Valiant, is recognized for combining live-action performances with hand-drawn animation in a way that made cartoon characters appear to share the same physical world as human actors.

The Robert Zemeckis-directed fantasy comedy was also one of the most expensive movies of its era, with a reported production budget of $70 million. At the time of its release, that made it the most expensive film ever produced, according to IMDb‘s production information.

Released by Touchstone Pictures on June 22, 1988, Who Framed Roger Rabbit became a major box-office success. The film earned $351.5 million worldwide and became the second-highest-grossing film of 1988, behind Rain Man.

Collider‘s ranking places the movie at No. 5 among its 10 Greatest American Fantasy Movies of All Time. It highlights the unusual mix of cartoon characters, noir storytelling and live-action filmmaking, while also pointing to Hoskins’ performance as a major part of the film’s success.

Set in an alternate version of Hollywood in 1947, Who Framed Roger Rabbit follows Eddie Valiant, a private detective who has grown bitter toward cartoon characters after the death of his brother.

Valiant is hired to investigate rumors involving Roger Rabbit’s wife, Jessica Rabbit and Marvin Acme, the owner of Toontown. The case changes when Acme is found dead and Roger becomes the main suspect.

Roger insists that he was framed. Eddie eventually agrees to help him uncover the truth, leading the detective into a larger conspiracy involving Judge Doom, the Toon Patrol and the future of Toontown.

The film mixes a murder mystery with comedy and fantasy. Humans and animated characters live side by side, while familiar cartoon figures appear alongside the original characters created for the movie.

Collider describes the movie as a “cartoon noir slapstick fantasy” and praises Hoskins for playing Eddie with a hard-boiled style that contrasts with the exaggerated behavior of the Toons.

Roger Ebert also praised the film when it opened in 1988. In his review, Ebert wrote that it was “the first film to convincingly combine real actors and animated cartoon characters in the same space at the same time and make it look real.”

That effect required extensive work. According to Ebert, the live-action scenes were filmed first, with actors such as Hoskins having to imagine where the animated characters would appear. Animators then worked frame by frame to add the Toons.

The result helped make the interaction between Eddie and Roger feel natural rather than like two separate images placed together.

The technical ambition of Who Framed Roger Rabbit came with a huge price tag.

Mental Floss also reported that the film had a $70 million budget when it was released in 1988, equivalent to nearly $150 million at the time of that publication’s calculation. 

The production brought together Disney, Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis and animation director Richard Williams. The combination of live action and traditional animation required a large amount of detailed work.

The movie also brought together characters from different animation studios. Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny appear in the same film, while Donald Duck and Daffy Duck share a piano sequence. The movie includes more than 140 preexisting animated characters, according to Mental Floss.

The film’s reception reflected the scale of that achievement. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists Who Framed Roger Rabbit with a 96% Tomatometer score from 76 reviews and an 85% audience score based on more than 250,000 ratings.

The movie also received major recognition from the Academy Awards. It won Oscars for Film Editing, Sound Effects Editing and Visual Effects, while Richard Williams received a Special Achievement Academy Award for animation direction.

In 2016, the Library of Congress selected Who Framed Roger Rabbit for preservation in the National Film Registry, citing its cultural, historical or aesthetic significance.

Related: 1983 Chevy Chase Movie Ranked Among Best Movies of the 1980s

Lee Greenwood wrote “God Bless the U.S.A.” in 1983 while traveling between shows, never knowing the song would become his signature hit and a familiar patriotic anthem.

Long before “God Bless the U.S.A.” became one of Lee Greenwood’s best-known songs, it was simply an idea the country singer had been carrying for years.

Greenwood wrote the song in 1983 while sitting in the back of his tour bus. At the time, he was spending much of the year on the road, performing hundreds of shows and working on music for MCA Records.

The song did not begin with plans for a major hit. Greenwood had already been thinking about writing a song about America and bringing people together. After years of touring, he said he had seen how much Americans had in common despite differences in culture and dialect.

Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images

That experience helped shape the song that would eventually become “God Bless the U.S.A.”

Greenwood confirmed the tour-bus story in a 2013 interview with Cowboys & Indians, explaining that the idea had been building for a long time. He also pointed to Elvis Presley as an inspiration because he had seen Presley perform “An American Trilogy” in Las Vegas and understood the power of ending a show with a song that could move an audience.

Greenwood’s connection to patriotic music did not appear overnight.

Before writing “God Bless the U.S.A.,” he had written another song called “America” for one of his Las Vegas shows. Greenwood described that earlier song as being connected to the Vietnam era and said it was not as positive as the song he eventually wanted to create, per Songfacts.

His years on the road changed his view.

Greenwood said touring across the United States gave him a closer look at the similarities between Americans from different parts of the country. That helped him decide that he wanted to write a patriotic song that could also serve as a powerful show closer.

The song came together in 1983, and Greenwood first performed it during his live shows that same year.

According to Greenwood, he initially placed the new song in the middle of his show. Audiences responded so strongly that he soon moved it to the end as an encore because he could not follow it with another performance.

That early response helped show Greenwood that the song had something special, even though he had not written it with the goal of making it a huge commercial single.

“God Bless the U.S.A.” was released in 1984 on Greenwood’s album You’ve Got a Good Love Comin’. The song reached No. 7 on the U.S. country chart that year.

The song gained new attention during the Gulf War in the early 1990s. Greenwood recorded it again for his 1992 album American Patriot, an album that placed the song alongside other well-known American standards.

The song found another major audience after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. It returned to the charts and became closely connected with moments when Americans were looking for songs about national pride, loss and unity.

Greenwood has explained that the song continued to take on new meaning depending on the moment.

“It keeps having a different kind of life.”

The song’s reach continued to grow through performances, recordings and appearances at major American events.

Greenwood has said the song was always meant to bring Americans together. In a 2013 interview, he described it as the song he had always felt he needed to write and said he wanted it to unite Americans “from coast to coast.”

In 2025, Billboard included “God Bless the U.S.A.” at No. 95 on its list of the 100 best country songs of all time. Billboard noted that the song had expanded beyond the country audience and become a patriotic anthem with a much wider cultural reach.

For Greenwood, that longevity appears tied to the personal meaning behind the song. He has said that it represents his family, his community and Americans who have sacrificed for freedom.

What started as an idea on a moving tour bus in 1983 therefore became much more than another track on a country album.

Related: 1964 Rock Song, With 19-Year-Old Singer of The Zombies, Is Still a Generational Hit 62 Years Later

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

Few things are more satisfying than stepping on a crunchy leaf while wearing a cozy pair of boots in the fall. And if your collection needs an upgrade before the leaves really start dropping, Nordstrom Rack just slashed the price of its Sam Edelman Laguna Waterproof Lug Sole Chelsea Boots by up to 55%. They’re currently on sale for $67 to $90, down from $150, depending on the color and size. They come in antico gray, almond taupe, and olive branch, with sizes 5 through 12 and half sizes available.

The classic waterproof Chelsea style features a leather upper, synthetic lining and sole, stretchy elastic gore panels on both sides, and a chunky lug sole. They also have a 1.5-inch heel and 6.5-inch shaft, giving them a little bit of height without being a heeled boot. Medium and wide widths are available, too, and the brand says they run true to size.

Courtesy of Nordstrom Rack

The waterproof design alone makes these a very handy pair to have around once unpredictable fall weather arrives. You can wear them on dry, chilly days for apple picking or walking around town, but you won’t have to swap shoes just because rain is in the forecast. The lug sole also adds traction, while the elastic sides make the pull-on silhouette a breeze to slip on.

One shopper said they were “super comfortable from the first time I put them on,” while others mentioned wearing them without much break-in time. Another reviewer noted they were “easy to get on and off” and “comfortable for long walks,” adding, “The traction is great.” ” “They are extremely comfortable,” a third shopper wrote, “I feel like I could wear them every day, all day.”

These waterproof boots aren’t limited to fall, either. Their three neutral shades make them easy to keep wearing into winter and even the first chilly days of spring. You could pair them with jeans and a sweater for a casual look, leggings for errands or travel, or a cozy sweater dress when you want to dress them up a bit. The classic Chelsea silhouette gives you plenty of ways to wear them without making every outfit look the same.

• Vionic Winny Low Top Sneakers, From $20 (were $145) at Nordstrom Rack
• Anne Klein Uharie Flats, From $28 (were $70) at Nordstrom Rack
• Sam Edelman Michaela Mary Jane Flats, From $39 (were $140) at Nordstrom Rack

Related: Dr. Scholl’s ‘Cute’ Wedge Booties Are 55% Off and ‘So Comfortable for All-Day Wear’

If your old boots have seen better days, now is the perfect time to replace them before cooler weather settles in. The Sam Edelman Laguna Waterproof Lug Sole Chelsea Boots offer a waterproof upper, a grippy lug sole, and versatile colors in one everyday pair. Head to Nordstrom Rack to see which colors and sizes are still available at the biggest markdown.

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.

Today’s NYT Connections Sports Edition puzzle covers abbreviated sports terms, things found on the ice, making deals and things associated with a legendary Yankees player.

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 Thursday, September 24, 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 

The 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: Take me out to the ballgame.
• Green: Ice, ice, baby.
• Blue: Sign on the dotted line.
• Purple: New York legend.

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

• Yellow: BASEBALL POSITIONS, ABBREVIATED
• Green: FOUND AT A HOCKEY RINK
• Blue: DETAILS IN A CONTRACT
• Purple: ASSOCIATED WITH DEREK JETER

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 #731 are coming up next.

Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day

• BASEBALL POSITIONS, ABBREVIATED: C, DH, OF, SS
• FOUND AT A HOCKEY RINK: BENCHES, BOARDS, GLASS, PENALTY BOX
• DETAILS IN A CONTRACT: INCENTIVES, OPTIONS, SALARY, YEARS
• ASSOCIATED WITH DEREK JETER: 2, CAPTAIN, THE FLIP, YANKEES

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 Wednesday, September 23, 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.

Layers that you can easily throw on ahead of cooler evenings as we move into fall and winter are essential, and a hoodie is a perfect starting place for building out your seasonal wardrobe. Hoodies go with everything and are extremely easy to take with you on the go. Right now, you can get this “warm” hoodie starting for as low as $3 at Walmart. 

The Sovlvnd Hoodie is on sale now for between $3 and $7 in a whopping 24 colors. You’ll get the best deal on the army green color, which currently priced at a little under $4 and available in all sizes. There are plenty of other colors to choose from, so you’re sure to find one you love. While the shipping is more than the cost of the item in some cases, you’ll only end up paying around $10 to $12 for the hoodie overall, which is a steal for a bestseller with over 800 glowing five-star reviews.

Courtesy of Walmart

These hoodies are not only priced affordably, but also available in many more colors than comparable options at Walmart (as well as at other retailers). The hoodie is sold in sizes small to 3XL, but it runs small, according to reviewers. The manufacturer’s recommendations say to go up to two sizes larger than your usual size for an oversized fit.

Though it’s labeled as a men’s item, this hoodie is a unisex style, so anyone can wear it. Just be sure to keep in mind that the sizes are based on men’s measurements and adjust accordingly. 

This “comfortable” hoodie is made from 100% polyester material that is “soft” and breathable, according to shoppers. You can wear it for running errands, your daily commute, or while traveling. Since it’s machine washable, it’s easy to care for, and you can quickly add it back into your weekly rotation.

Shoppers appreciated that it didn’t fade or stretch after washing and drying. That makes it easy to preserve the vibrant hues and cozy feel over time. “The color is rich and looks even better in person,” a reviewed noted.

Related: Add Stylish Storage to Small Bathrooms With Walmart’s Freestanding Cabinets, Starting at $43

This sale won’t last long, so hurry and snag the Sovlvnd Hoodie for as low as $5 now at Walmart while your preferred color is still in stock. 

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.

To solve today’s NYT Strands puzzle, think of things you might find outside a child’s home.

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 #935 on Thursday, September 24.

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: Want to go out and play?

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
• BA (SPANGRAM)

Today’s Spangram is mostly horizontal.

Today’s Spangram answer for today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram, and Answers for Thursday, September 24, 2026, is BACKYARD.

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

Related: Today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram and Answers for Monday, September 21, 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.

‘Tis the season to start planning for the holiday season! If you start counting down the days to Christmas during summer, you’re probably gearing up to decorate any minute now. We don’t blame you for being excited, especially given that the cozy months ahead bring so many opportunities to refresh every part of your home.

One of the easiest places to start is the bedroom. Macy’s just dropped a slew of festive comforter sets bearing the cutest holiday-themed motifs, including floral patterns, crisp plaids, snowy scenes, and more. Every single one is reversible, so you’ll essentially get two looks for the price of one. These beautiful sets offer an easy way to make the season brighter while adding a jolly little accent to any bedroom in your home. Better yet, they’re currently on sale for up to 69% off!

Courtesy of Macy's

This brilliant set is ideal if you’re looking for something that gives you two completely opposing looks. One side features an adorable forest pattern with an array of pine trees, soaring eagles, and plaid-flecked reindeer. The medley of red and green checks against the crisp white backdrop commands attention, adding a bold focal point to the room.

If you’re craving something classic, flip it over to reveal a timeless Christmas tartan that instantly warms up any room with its old-world influence. With two pillowcases that invert to match your comforter, it’s “nicely coordinated,” according to shoppers, and boasts a “soft and comfortable” texture. On colder nights, the comforter is perfect for layering over a thick blanket.

Courtesy of Macy's

Solid colors can infuse a room with undeniable holiday spirit, too! Just look to this set for proof. Featuring a comforter and two matching pillowcases, it offers a rich crimson on one side that’s etched with a subtle tonal pattern. The detail is just distinctive enough to catch the eye, complementing other elements in the room nicely.

The other side brings good tidings with its beautiful poinsettia pattern against a bright white setting. The blossoms are so deeply saturated and generously sized that they almost appear to pop from the comforter. With one livelier side and another more restrained option, this is the set to snag if you want real variety all season long.

Courtesy of Macy's

This set’s rustic aesthetic brings good cheer to any Christmas lover’s bedroom with its richly detailed motif. There’s a little bit of everything in this charming winter woodland, from bare branches and snow-capped cabins  to plaid pine trees and Santa on a sleigh led by his trusty reindeer! 

Contrasting this vintage-inspired, slightly folky print is a down-to-earth check print in simple red and black. If you love the idea of introducing some nostalgic holiday decor to your living space, this is a go-to choice. At 63% off, it’s an outstanding deal that contains everything you need to completely refresh your bed for the holidays, including a comforter, flat sheet, fitted sheet, two pillowcases, two shams, and a bedskirt. 

Courtesy of Macy's

For something that leans more sophisticated, try this three-piece set. The bold floral pattern is absolutely exquisite, with a blend of red- and blush-toned blooms and leaves etched on a creamy white backdrop. The border is especially distinctive, with three wide stripes bearing intricate vine and floral medallion scrollwork.

The other side is deep red, with thick floral stripes in warm shades of cream, blush, and gray. No matter which you go for, you can bet it will transform the room into the merriest spot in your home! With a comforter and two shams, it’ll pull your bed together for a quick holiday update.

Related: Bring Natural Beauty to Any Bedroom With Macy’s Floral Comforter Sets for Over 60% Off

With the most festive time of the year just weeks away (yes, really), you can consider this your green light to snap up a holiday-themed comforter set at Macy’s. With savings of up to 69% off, it’s the perfect opportunity to treat yourself!

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.

Today’s New York Times Connections puzzle covers parts of a popular Halloween costume, things with springs, popular pointers and phrases that can be rearranged into animal names.

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 #1201 on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

The New York Times

If you’ve been having trouble with any of the connections or words in Thursday’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. I vant to drink your blood!
2. Coily.
3. Finger gesture.
4. Same letters, mixed up.

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. PARTS OF A VAMPIRE COSTUME: CAPE, FACE PAINT, FAKE BLOOD, FANGS
2. THINGS WITH SPRING/S: BOBBLEHEAD, POGO STICK, SNAKES IN A CAN, TRAMPOLINE
3. FEATURING POINTING: CREATION OF ADAM, FOAM FINGER, I’M WITH STUPID SHIRT, UNCLE SAM
4. ANAGRAMS: BEER HAT, BREATHE, HERB TEA, THE BEAR

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, Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Today’s NYT Wordle answer refers to something you might do to build excitement.

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 #1923 ahead.

Let’s start with a few hints.

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There is one vowel and one sometimes vowel in today’s Wordle.

Today’s Wordle begins with a consonant.

There are double letters in today’s Wordle.

A hint for today’s Wordle: think dirty or untidy.

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 Thursday, September 24, 2026, is MESSY.

-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)

Everyone knows that Michael Jackson had nine siblings, but not many people remember that he also has a half-sister named Joh’Vonnie Jackson.

Joh’Vonnie, 52, is the daughter of Jackson patriarch Joe Jackson and his longtime mistress, Cheryle Ann Terrell. In a new interview, Joh’Vonnie opened up about her famous half-siblings and when she realized her mom was in a secret relationship with the King of Pop’s father.

“I got a little bit older, and my mother had a conversation with me and let me know the situation between Dad and her. So, that’s when I learned that my mother was a mistress to my father,” she said on the Portia Show about the discussion she had in her early teen years. “I really didn’t even know what that meant.”

She continued, “I was very angry. I was very upset. I was feeling like, how can I ever get advice from her when she’s out here doing this. It was really abnormal because I saw my father every day… he was at home with us.”

Due to the clandestine nature of the relationship, Joh’Vonnie shared that she always knew about her famous siblings, but she just could not speak with them, which made her feel “horrible.”

“When you’re young, and you see these people who are your siblings on television, you have these expectations,” she said, before adding that she eventually developed a relationship with her half-sister, Rebbie Jackson.

“She is my heart. I love her so much,” she added. “I met her when I was 15, and it was such an exciting time.”

Joe and his wife, Katherine Jackson, had a volatile marriage. Katherine first filed for divorce in 1973, but reconciled with the talent manager. He would welcome his daughter, Joh’Vonnie, one year later. Katherine filed for divorce again in 1982 but abandoned the proceedings.

Joe and Joh’Vonnie’s mom remained together for over two decades, from 1973 to 1998. Cheryle died in 2014.

Meanwhile, Joe and Katherine remained legally married until Joe’s death in 2018 at the age of 89.

It’s hard to believe 18 years have passed since the Jonas Brothers first hit the road, but a month into their Burning Up All Over Again Tour, the milestone is impossible to ignore. When the original Burning Up Tour kicked off in 2008, Camp Rock had premiered just a month earlier. Kevin Jonas was 20, Joe Jonas was 18, and Nick Jonas was only 15.

Photo by Steve Granitz/Steve Granitz

Looking back, Nick, 34, says the brothers were largely winging it. “We really didn’t know what we were doing. We were so young and so green,” he told Parade in an exclusive interview. “We had a lot of big ideas, and thankfully we had a lot of grown-ups around us to help us shape those ideas into something that can really connect with our audience.”

Now the Jonas Brothers are the grown-ups, and many of them are parents themselves. From the stage, they can see how much their audience has evolved, and how widely the fans’ ages now span.

Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation

“What we’re seeing now is people who were in their teens during the first part of the tour coming with their kids,” Nick said. “Their parents, who brought them when they were teenagers, still want to come. It has this multigenerational effect to it.”

The challenge was building a show that speaks to every generation in the crowd. Nick explained that the band wanted to honor the past while keeping things fresh. “As we went about building the show out, it was really important to us to nod to the past and find ways to highlight moments we all loved about the first Burning Up Tour, but reimagine them in new and exciting ways,” he revealed.

The show’s second act turns to their more recent work. “We’ve released, I think now, more albums since returning as a band back in 2019 than previously, right? So there’s so much music that we love playing for our fans,” he continued. “And getting the chance to combine those two chapters of our journeys is really special.”

Though Nick is “proud of all the music” the band has made, he acknowledges that some of their early songs have aged in amusing ways. Take “Year 3000,” with its joke about outselling Kelly Clarkson, or the nod to AOL Instant Messenger in “S.O.S.” Still, revisiting the older material has its perks. “We’re all grown-ups now; we’re not going through vocal changes as we’re trying to sing these songs, so that really helps,” he joked.

Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images

A prolific songwriter, Nick has helped write much of the music across the band’s seven studio albums. His latest solo record, Sunday Best, shows how far he’s come as a writer. He singled out “Gut Punch” as the song he’s proudest of, calling it a chance to put into words feelings he’d carried for a long time.

“I’m trying to be more interpersonal, and hoping that that becomes more universal is always the goal for me as a songwriter,” he said. “I find that when I get my most introspective and write as if I’m journaling, it tends to be the things that people connect with, and that sort of connects all of us.”

“Just speaking from the heart and seeing how it connected has been really gratifying for me,” he added.

The Beatles’ 1969 classic “Something” became one of the band’s most celebrated songs, earning widespread recognition for its memorable melody and George Harrison’s iconic guitar work. Decades later, the song was ranked among the “greatest guitar solos of all time” and received a notable cover from legendary singer Frank Sinatra.

Written by Harrison, “Something” was released on The Beatles’ 1969 album Abbey Road and marked a major songwriting achievement for the guitarist. Its enduring appeal has also made it one of the most covered songs in The Beatles’ catalog, further cementing its place in rock music history.

More than just a celebrated rock song, “Something” continues to resonate across generations. Guitar World ranked it among the “greatest guitar solos of all time,” placing it at No. 25 on its list.

In the ranking, Beatles member George Harrison was recognized as both the track’s songwriter and guitarist. Guitar World described the song as one of the “most stunning compositions of his career,” highlighting its “symphonic ballad” qualities as a standout factor and suggesting that Harrison outshone “fellow songwriters John Lennon and Paul McCartney” with the composition, as cited by Songfacts.

King Collection/Avalon/Getty Images

Released as part of the iconic 1969 Beatles studio album Abbey Road, “Something” was written by Harrison in 1968 toward the end of their recording session for White Album, according to The Beatles’ official website.

Because it was not recorded for The White Album, Harrison first offered the song to Apple artist Jackie Lomax,  then gave the song to rock and blues singer Joe Cocker to record.

Cocker recorded it before the quartet and later included his version on his second studio album, Joe Cocker!, which was released in November 1969.

In the same year, The Beatles released their own version of “Something,” which appeared on Abbey Road in September 1969.

Their rendition peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while Cocker’s version failed to enter the chart.

Behind the song’s success, speculation arose that Harrison’s ex-wife Pattie Boyd was the inspiration behind the song.

During his guest appearance on a TV program hosted by BBC presenter David Wigg in 1969, Harrison was asked about the track’s subject, to which he replied, “Maybe Pattie, probably.”

However, he later claimed that he had no particular person in mind when he wrote the song.

Harrison reportedly downplayed the track’s romantic interpretation, explaining that the 1969 hit was originally a spiritual song inspired by Krishna and that he later changed the pronoun from “He” to “she” to avoid a different interpretation of the lyrics.

Despite the song’s complex origins, Frank Sinatra embraced “Something” as one of his covers, performing it numerous times in concerts and eventually making it a staple in his live sets.

Furthermore, the “May Way” hitmaker also recorded the song as a single in 1970 and later included it on his 1980 album Trilogy: Past Present Future.

The late music legend described it as “the greatest love song of the past 50 years,” underscoring the song’s lasting appeal and enduring legacy.

Related: 1973 Country Song, With Singer Nicknamed ‘The Hag,’ Is Still a Powerful Hit 53 Years Later

For 13 years and nine films, “The Conjuring” has asked you to sit in the dark and watch somebody braver walk into the basement.

That’s about to change.

Netflix is releasing “The Conjuring: Unspoken” in October, and it’s the first stand-alone video game the franchise has ever had. The reveal came buried in Netflix’s monthly New on Netflix newsletter.

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Netflix’s entire description runs to two sentences. It asks what’s haunting the Red Lion Inn, then tells you to “scan for paranormal signals and investigate the eerie events troubling a grieving family.”

You’re not watching the investigation this time; you’re running it.

Netflix later clarified that the game is cloud-based and plays on a TV, putting it alongside Netflix Games titles like Unhinged and its party games. That makes it unusual. Most Netflix games only run on Android and iOS.

Horror is having a moment on the service either way, from a gory remake of a 1980s slasher to the highest-grossing Halloween movie ever. This month Netflix also went the other direction, turning a 1999 arcade game into a live-action comedy.

There’s no developer attached. There’s no release date past October. There’s no gameplay footage.

And there’s no word on whether Ed Warren and Lorraine Warren appear, the roles Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga have carried across the main films.

Last year, ahead of The Conjuring: Last Rites, Fortnite ran a themed map that dropped players, in first person, into a haunted house stalked by the series’ supernatural entities. That was a promotional tie-in. Unspoken is the first game built to stand on its own.

The nine films consist of four Conjuring movies, three Annabelle pictures and two Nun installments. The Curse of La Llorona sits outside it, never officially folded into the universe.

Last Rites closed out what the studio calls Phase One. The Conjuring: First Communion opens Phase Two in theaters on Sept. 10, 2027.

Related: ’90s Punk Rock Band Reunites With Iconic 1999 Arcade Classic as It Makes Long-Awaited Return

In September 1979, J.D. Souther‘s third studio album, You’re Only Lonely, introduced the title track that would become the Amarillo-raised songwriter’s biggest solo hit. The Columbia Records release ultimately became his most commercially successful solo album, propelled by its instantly memorable title track.

“It was just a really accessible song, an honest, easy-to-remember song,” Souther told Best Classic Bands. “It’s a good record.”

Written years earlier while Souther was staying in a Colorado cabin, the country-rock ballad had one woman in mind: Linda Ronstadt. The song eventually peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, while the album reached No. 41 on the Billboard 200.

Souther wasn’t simply a singer who happened to land a big solo hit. He was deeply embedded in the Southern California country-rock scene and had already helped shape the Eagles‘ sound as a songwriter and close friend. He co-wrote such Eagles hits as “Best of My Love,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Heartache Tonight,” among others.

For You’re Only Lonely, Souther surrounded himself with an extraordinary collection of musicians. The album included Eagles members Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Don Felder, along with Jackson Browne and Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers. Everly contributed harmony vocals, while other guests and players included Waddy Wachtel, Danny Kortchmar, David Sanborn, John Sebastian, and others.

Souther later recalled that Wachtel was looking for something that could work as a single while they were recording the album. Souther told him about a song he’d written in Colorado years earlier that didn’t yet have a chorus, bridge, or final verse. After hearing it, Wachtel urged him to sing the first verse again, and the song began taking shape as the record that would change Souther’s solo career.

Souther’s connection to Ronstadt went far beyond one song. The two were romantically involved in the 1970s, and their musical partnership became an important part of the Southern California country-rock story. Ronstadt recorded several of Souther’s compositions, and the pair also performed and recorded together.

But the story behind “You’re Only Lonely” began before the song had a title or a recording date.

Souther said he wrote it in 1973 while snowed in at a small cabin in Colorado that he was renting from Stephen Stills as he rehearsed with the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band. A girlfriend from Los Angeles would fly in every few weeks to see him, and Souther said she seemed anxious and lonely. He described the song as a simple response to that feeling—a reassurance that loneliness could be fixed.

Souther later revealed that the woman was Ronstadt. In his original interview, he said he wasn’t even sure she knew the song was about her.

That intimate origin story clashes with the song’s larger musical footprint. Listeners and critics have long noted its resemblance to Roy Orbison‘s work, an influence Souther openly admired. In fact, Souther later performed with Orbison at the celebrated Black & White Night concert.

It took Souther several years to decide what to do with the song. He wrote “You’re Only Lonely” around 1973 but didn’t record it until the sessions for his 1979 album. When it was finally released as a single in September, it quickly became the biggest solo success of his career.

The song reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent five consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Adult Contemporary. It also crossed over to the country chart, reaching No. 60. The album peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard 200.

The timing was particularly remarkable for Souther. His co-written Eagles hit “Heartache Tonight” was also climbing the charts at the same time. Souther, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Bob Seger shared songwriting credit on the Eagles song, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Souther later recalled that “You’re Only Lonely” and “Heartache Tonight” both hit the Top 10 in the same week.

“You’re Only Lonely” didn’t disappear when the era of AM-radio ballads faded. The song has continued to find new audiences through recordings by artists from different generations and musical backgrounds.

Raul Malo of the Mavericks recorded it for his 2006 album You’re Only Lonely, while singer-songwriter Schuyler Fisk later included it on The Good Stuff. Taiwanese girl group S.H.E. recorded it in 2004, Patrick Norman released a French-language version, and Brothers of the Heart have also recorded the song.

More than four decades after its release, the song still carries the unusual combination that made its history so memorable: a country-rock songwriter surrounded by California rock royalty, a melody shaped by Roy Orbison’s influence, and a deeply personal origin involving one of the era’s biggest stars.

What began as a small song Souther wrote for someone he loved while snowed in at a Colorado cabin ultimately became his signature solo hit, and a song that continued finding listeners long after its original moment had passed.

Related: Country Music’s King of Gunfighter Ballads, With 17 No. 1 Hits, Would Have Turned 101 This Month

A Glee reboot might be coming sooner than you think!

“Well, funny you ask, ’cause I just finished the script an hour ago,” show creator Ryan Murphy told Entertainment Tonight on Wednesday, Sept. 23. “So, we have a script. Brad [Falchuk], Ian [Brennan] and I, who wrote all the first two seasons, have written something. I’ve been in touch with around 10 of the original cast members. It’s very sweet, and they all had a lot of questions, but they all were very enthusiastic about the idea.”

However, Murphy was quick to note that nobody else has gotten a chance to read the script yet.

“I vowed to myself that I wanted to write a couple of them to see what people think, particularly the cast, ’cause we were very close when we were making it,” he said.

The exciting news comes just one week after Lea Michele, who starred as Rachel Berry on all six seasons from 2009-2015, said she’d happily come back for a reboot of the beloved series.

“I love Glee. I will always love Glee. I love Ryan Murphy. It just holds such a special place in my heart for me… I will follow Ryan wherever he goes,” she told E! News.

RELATED: ‘Glee’ Star Kevin McHale Slams Fans Over ‘Curse’ Theory

Murphy first teased fans with a revival of the musical comedy-drama during a July interview with People.

“That show is interesting because it’s come back around,” he said at the time. “So many young people now watch it. And I’m like, ‘Maybe we should revisit that show.’”

“My nostalgia and love for that show is enough that I’m like, ‘Well, maybe people would like to see a new incarnation of that in some capacity,’” he continued. “So yeah, I love that show and I loved what it became and what it meant to so many people.”

While fans are bound to be excited by a potential revival, three of the show’s main cast members—Cory Monteith, Mark Salling, and Naya Rivera—have died since the show’s premiere nearly two decades ago.

During the series run, Cory Monteith died at age 31 from a drug overdose in 2013. In the years following the show’s conclusion, Mark Salling died by suicide in 2018 and Naya Rivera died in an accidental drowning in 2020.

Murphy has not yet addressed how he would handle the cast members who have died in the reboot, but it appears that many of the surviving original cast members are interested in returning.

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Nearly 10 years after his death in 2017, Gregg Allman is still remembered as one of the most legendary singers of all time. As David Browne of Rolling Stone wrote, “The question ‘Can white men sing the blues?’ has been debated for decades, especially once earnest white kids began taking a crack at the music in the 1960s. But in the case of Gregg Allman, no one ever raised the question.”

Even Allman Brothers songs that are known primarily as guitar masterpieces serve as showcases for Gregg’s iconic soulful voice. Case in point: “Statesboro Blues,” included on both Rolling Stone‘s roundup of Gregg’s “20 Essential Songs” and the publication’s list of “100 Greatest Guitar Songs.”

Originally written and recorded by Blind Willie McTell in 1928, the title of the blues classic refers to Statesboro, Georgia. Though McTell was born in Thomson, a different Georgia town, he called Statesboro his “real home,” according to Red River Blues: The Blues Tradition in the Southeast.

Decades later, Taj Mahal put his own spin on “Statesboro Blues,” adding a slide guitar part, and released it on his eponymous 1968 debut album. It was this version that Gregg gave to his older brother, Duane, when he went to visit him on his 22nd birthday.

According to Rolling Stone, Duane was sick in bed at the time, so Gregg gave him a bottle of Coricidin pills along with the record.

“About two hours after I left, my phone rang,” Gregg recalled later. “‘Baby brother, baby brother, get over here now!'”

Gregg returned to Duane’s house to find that he’d poured the pills out of the bottle, washed off the label and was using it as a slide to play “Statesboro Blues,” even though he’d never played slide before.

“He just picked it up and started burnin’. He was a natural,” Gregg said.

Perhaps the Allmans found the song especially relatable because they hailed from Macon, Georgia, located just a couple of hours away from Statesboro. “Statesboro Blues” soon became a regular part of the Allman Brothers Band’s live sets, as did Duane’s slide guitar work. “Statesboro Blues” went on to become the opening track on At Fillmore East, the group’s acclaimed 1971 live album.

Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

Tragically, Duane died in a motorcycle accident just a few months after At Fillmore East was released. The band performed “Statesboro Blues” in tribute at Duane’s funeral, according to Songfacts, with Dickey Betts on guitar. In the years to come, the song remained a concert staple, with the guitarists who took Duane’s place trying their best to preserve his spirit.

“It wasn’t something that Duane would play the same way every night,” Warren Haynes said. “But in all of our heads, that’s the way it goes.”

There was one thing about the Fillmore East version of “Statesboro Blues” that the band changed, however, which Gregg called the “note from hell” Duane accidentally hit at the end of his solo.

“He left it in because he knew I hated it,” Gregg admitted, adding, “It was live. It was something that happened.”

Related: This 1971 Record Was Ranked ‘Best Southern Rock Album of All Time’