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'60s CBS Sitcom, Ranked Among 'Best' TV Shows of All Time, Still Holds Up 58 Years Later

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 6:15pm

The Andy Griffith Show ended its eight-season run in 1968, but the beloved CBS sitcom remains one of television’s most highly regarded comedies.

The series, which starred Andy Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor, first aired on CBS on Oct. 3, 1960. It followed Andy, his young son Opie, and the colorful residents of the fictional Mayberry, North Carolina.

More than five decades after its final episode aired on April 1, 1968, the sitcom continues to attract viewers through reruns and remains part of conversations about the greatest television shows ever made.

Using the ending year as the reference point, 2026 marks 58 years since The Andy Griffith Show ended. Its long life after the original broadcast is a major part of its legacy.

‘The Andy Griffith Show’ episode “The Darling Fortune” on July 1, 1966.

Photo by CBS via Getty Images

Rolling Stone placed the series at No. 14 on its 2021 list of the 100 Best Sitcoms of All Time. Rolling Stone praised Griffith’s Sheriff Andy Taylor as a wise, gentle and likable television character while also mentioning Don Knotts’ comic performance as Deputy Barney Fife.

‘The Andy Griffith Show’ Became a Classic CBS Sitcom

The story centered on Andy Taylor, a widowed sheriff raising his son Opie in the quiet town of Mayberry. Unlike many television comedies built around big conflicts, the series often found humor in ordinary problems involving neighbors, friends and family.

Andy was calm and practical, while Barney Fife was his enthusiastic but often bumbling deputy. Their friendship became one of the show’s biggest sources of comedy.

At home, Andy relied on his Aunt Bee, played by Frances Bavier, to help care for Opie. Ron Howard, then credited as Ronny Howard, played Andy’s son.

The town itself was just as important as its main characters. Mayberry was filled with familiar faces, including Gomer Pyle, Goober Pyle, Floyd the Barber and Otis Campbell.

The series began with an appearance by Griffith on The Danny Thomas Show. In the Feb. 15, 1960, episode “Danny Meets Andy Griffith,” Griffith played Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry. Bavier and Howard also appeared in the episode before the character and setting became part of the new CBS sitcom.

The Andy Griffith Show officially premiered later that year.

Over eight seasons, the series produced 249 half-hour episodes. The first five seasons were filmed in black and white, while the final three were filmed in color.

The show was never ranked lower than seventh in the Nielsen ratings during its run and finished its final season at No. 1. Only I Love Lucy and Seinfeld had also ended their runs at the top of the ratings.

The show’s success was also recognized through awards. Don Knotts won five Emmy Awards for his supporting performance as Barney Fife, while Frances Bavier also won an Emmy for her work as Aunt Bee.

The show’s continued popularity is not only tied to its original ratings. It has spent decades in syndication, allowing new generations to discover Mayberry long after the original series ended.

In a 2025 interview with People, actress Margaret Kerry, who appeared in two episodes, described the atmosphere on the set and explained why she believes the show continues to connect with viewers.

“How does it still connect? I think once they glom onto it… they see something different. Something nice. They recognize someone they knew,” Kerry said. “Or they say, ‘Oh, look how that turned.’ It touches their hearts. And their minds. And they think, ‘I want to watch this again.’”

Kerry also remembered how guest actors were welcomed by the main cast. Rather than being treated as outsiders, she said they became part of the show’s environment.

Ron Howard has similarly looked back fondly on his years on the series. Howard was only six when The Andy Griffith Show began, and the experience became an important part of his childhood.

In 2025, Howard told People, “It does represent my childhood. . . . To think about that being 65 years now, it’s pretty mind-blowing.”

He also remembered Griffith as an important figure in his early life and career.

“Andy was like a wonderful uncle to me. He created an atmosphere of hard work and fun that I try to bring to my movies,” Howard said.

The young actor eventually became a successful director, working on films including Splash, Apollo 13, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Beautiful Mind.

The show’s influence also continued through its characters and spin-offs. Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. began in 1964, turning Jim Nabors’ Gomer Pyle into the lead of another successful CBS comedy.

After Griffith left the original series, the story of Mayberry continued through Mayberry R.F.D., which ran for three seasons and ended in 1971.

The original cast also returned for Return to Mayberry in 1986. Griffith, Howard, Knotts and several other familiar faces reunited for the television movie, giving fans another visit to the fictional town.

The show’s legacy has also been recognized by TV Guide. In 2002, it ranked The Andy Griffith Show No. 9 on its list of the 50 Best Shows of All Time. In 2013, it placed the sitcom at No. 15 on its list of the 60 Greatest Shows of All Time.

Another sign of the show’s lasting impact came from the episode “Opie the Birdman,” which ranked No. 24 on TV Guide‘s 1997 list of the 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time.

For a sitcom that ended in 1968, The Andy Griffith Show has maintained an unusually long television life. Its simple setting, familiar characters and stories about family and community have helped it remain recognizable to audiences decades after its CBS run ended.

Related: 2008 Science-Fiction Book, Adapted by Netflix, Became a Global Hit

Psychiatrist Says People Over 50 Have 1 Social Advantage Younger Adults Often Don’t

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 6:15pm

Cultivating a fulfilling social life is one of the best ways to keep your mind sharp and fend off loneliness as you progress throughout life. After all, it’s the relationships we form and the connections we maintain that help us navigate the more challenging seasons of life.

Younger adults often equate a packed calendar with a thriving social life, but you don’t have to overschedule yourself in order to feel connected. Learning that little nugget of knowledge comes with experience, and—over time—you realize that you can still have a rewarding social life on your own terms as you get older. In fact, we chatted with a psychiatrist who says people over 50 have one social advantage younger adults often don’t.

Here, Dr. Nikole Benders-Hadi, a board-certified psychiatrist and the Chief Medical Officer at Talkspace, reveals how your social life actually improves as you get older. She breaks down the four ways that emotional intelligence surges after 50 and also shares why younger adults sometimes struggle with social fatigue.

Since it’s never too late to create a new social circle at any stage of your life, Dr. Benders-Hadi also offers up some tips for cultivating high-quality friendships at any age.

Related: When Did We Stop Borrowing Things From Our Neighbors? Psychologist Weighs In

The #1 Social Advantage of People Over 50, According to Psychiatrist

With age comes wisdom, especially when it comes to friendships. Later in life, Dr. Benders-Hadi says people often begin to enjoy a social life that’s “less stressful, more authentic and tailored entirely to personal happiness.”

“Earlier in adulthood, friendships and social connections are often shaped by work, parenting, status, networking, proximity or expectations,” she tells Parade. “By 50+, many people have more clarity about who they actually enjoy being around, and much less interest in maintaining relationships simply because they are expected to.”

Stanford psychologist Laura Carstensen coined the term “Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST)” and expanded on it in a 2021 journal article titled, “Socioemotional Selectivity Theory: The Role of Perceived Endings in Human Motivation.”

Per Dr. Benders-Hadi, the theory explains how the perception of time “plays a fundamental role in the selection and pursuit of social goals.”

“When time feels infinite, typically during youth and young adulthood, goals are rooted in knowledge building, exploration of new experiences and expansion of social networks,” she explains. “But as people age and realize their time is limited, priorities shift from exploratory goals to more emotional ones. That limited time is selectively spent investing in enjoying experiences in the moment and deepening bonds.”

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

4 Ways Emotional Intelligence Surges After 50

The more you experience throughout your life, the more you exercise your emotional intelligence. Here are four ways this important trait can increase after 50.

1. Emotional regulation

“Older adults generally become significantly better at regulating negative emotions like anger, frustration and anxiety compared to younger adults,” Dr. Benders-Hadi says.

2. Perspective shifts

“Rather than reacting defensively, individuals past 50 are often much better at seeing situations from multiple points of view and holding space for conflicting feelings,” Dr. Benders-Hadi tells Parade.

3. Conflict resolution

“Instead of avoiding conflict or escalating arguments, mature adults tend to excel at collaborative problem-solving and de-escalation,” Dr. Benders-Hadi notes.

4. Staying positive

“They exhibit a well-documented psychological trait known as the positivity effect: a natural neurological bias toward remembering, prioritizing and dwelling on positive social interactions over negative ones,” Dr. Benders-Hadi says.

Related: 11 Habits That Make You ‘Instantly Unlikable’ in Group Settings, According to Etiquette Experts

Why Younger Adults Struggle With Social Fatigue

As you’ve matured, you’ve likely noticed that you encounter social fatigue less often now than you did earlier in life. Dr. Benders-Hadi says there’s a relatable reason for that.

“Younger adults experience a fundamentally different psychological and neurological workload during social interactions that older adults no longer carry, making them far more prone to ‘social burnout,'” she explains. “While establishing their identities and building careers, younger people are trapped in a continuous cycle of impression management, such as monitoring how they are perceived, actively pursuing wide networks and navigating digital connectivity.”

At this stage in life, younger adults’ prefrontal emotional regulation systems are still maturing, which can influence the way they behave.

“They react more strongly to potential rejection or social awkwardness, which keeps their nervous systems on high alert,” she continues. “In contrast, adults over 50 have a more settled sense of self and a more curated inner circle to interact with authentically and without the burn of social anxiety.”

Related: Psychologists Rank the 10 Most Emotionally Healthy Daily Habits

How To Cultivate High-Quality Friendships at Any Age: 4 Tips

Our friendships may evolve as we get older, but there are a few universal tips for developing strong friendships, regardless of your age.

1. Practice active listening 

“Don’t just listen to respond. Focus on understanding the other person. Ask open-ended questions about their life and remember the small details they share,” Dr. Benders-Hadi suggests.

2. Make the effort to reach out

“Something [as] simple as sending a check-in text when someone crosses your mind or sharing an article you think they would find interesting can go a long way,” Dr. Benders-Hadi says.

3. Lead with vulnerability 

“Deep bonds form when you share authentic struggles, not just highlight reels,” Dr. Benders-Hadi explains. “Taking the risk to show up as your real, imperfect self invites others to let their guard down as well.”

Related: 6 Ways We Sabotage Our Own Authenticity Without Realizing It

4. Show up

“Whether it’s helping a friend move or showing support during a crisis, true friendship is built on presence during all of life’s ups and downs,” Dr. Benders-Hadi says.

Up Next:

Related: We Asked 3 Psychologists What Group Activity Is Best for Adults—They All Said the Same Thing

Source:
  • Dr. Nikole Benders-Hadi is a board-certified psychiatrist and the Chief Medical Officer at Talkspace.
  • Socioemotional Selectivity Theory: The Role of Perceived Endings in Human Motivation. (27 October 2021). The Gerontologist. 

Dolly Parton’s Stoneware Pie Dish Brings ‘Beautiful’ Country Charm to Your Kitchen

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 6:15pm

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Dolly Parton’s unmistakable style extended far beyond the stage. Her home collection brings the country icon’s signature sparkle and Southern charm to everything from dazzling drinkware and pretty platters to bakeware and kitchen utensils. And for fans who loved her warm, colorful aesthetic, these pieces offer a sweet way to bring a little bit of Dolly into everyday life.

One especially delightful find is the Dolly Parton Jeweled Mosaic Butterfly Design Stoneware Pie Dish, available at Amazon for $30. Made for baking and serving everything from classic apple and pecan pies to savory quiches, the decorative dish brings country charm to the table before dessert is even sliced. And with fall baking season right around the corner, the timing couldn’t be sweeter.

Dolly Parton Jeweled Mosaic Butterfly Design Stoneware Pie Dish, $30 at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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This dish is almost too pretty to cover with crust! The center features a large butterfly in shades of pink, red, and purple, with tiny mosaic-like sections filling its wings for a stained-glass effect. Swirls of pale coral cover the creamy background, while geometric borders and more intricate patterns continue around the sides. 

There’s an extra-special inscription tucked around the inside rim: “Dreams are of no value if they’re not equipped with wings.” The Dolly Parton lyric wraps around the entire dish in purple lettering, tying right back to the butterfly in the center. Measuring 10 inches in diameter and 2.13 inches high, this baking dish offers plenty of room for apple pie, pumpkin pie, fruit cobbler, or savory recipes like quiche, casseroles, or shepherd’s pie. 

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The stoneware construction is oven- and microwave-safe, so you can bake in it, bring it straight to the table, and reheat leftovers without switching dishes. Better yet, it’s dishwasher-safe, so you won’t have a pile of hand-washing waiting after dessert. 

Dolly fans praised this “beautiful” pie dish in the reviews section, calling the design “lovely.” One shopper wrote that the stoneware piece has “got Dolly’s charm to it!”

Related: Dolly Parton’s Stainless Steel Travel Mugs are ‘Perfect’ for ‘Coffee in the Morning,’ and Start at $20 on Amazon

Baking season is calling, and this dish certainly knows how to dress for the occasion. Shop the Dolly Parton Jeweled Mosaic Butterfly Design Stoneware Pie Dish for $30 at Amazon.

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Costco Is Selling 'Comfortable' Barrel Jeans That Are 'Perfect in All the Right Ways'

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 6:10pm

If you have ever cried in a dressing room while trying on jeans with your mom, please know that I relate and this is a safe place. Jeans can be tough. Finding the right size, length, fabric and style in one pair can sometimes feel like an impossible feat. Luckily, it’s no longer 2006. You have your money, and you have the Internet, which lets you read reviews before you buy, so you can narrow down the jeans you want to try on a little more easily. Well, if you’re looking for flattering, affordable high-waisted jeans with a relaxed fit that aren’t overly baggy, Costco has just the pair for you.

Hudson’s Women’s Barrel Leg Jeans are too cute to pass up. Featuring a flattering high-waist cut and a tapered barrel leg, these jeans are on-trend yet comfortable thanks to their relaxed fit. That said, these aren’t too baggy. The jeans come in either cream or light blue and are available in sizes 2 through 18.

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Hudson Women’s Barrel Leg Jean, $26.99 at Costco

Costco

These jeans are made of heavyweight material, so they won’t feel cheap. Being 94 percent cotton also makes them super soft and comfy to wear.

Related: Costco Is Selling Comfortable Hiking Boots With High-Quality Arch Support

Costco shoppers love these barrel jeans, giving them an average rating of 4.4 stars on Costco.com. Reviewers say the jeans are comfortable, stylish and the perfect fit, and affordable to boot.

“Best jeans ever!” raved one fan in a five-star review on Costco.com. “I have a small waist, wide hips and large thighs. Thought these Hudson barrel leg jeans looked interesting and the reviews were promising, so I ordered a pair. To my delight, they’re perfect in all the right ways: fabric weight, fit, price and color. They’re even the right length. I’m 5′ 4″. I immediately ordered more. So happy that Costco offered such nice and affordable jeans. I would say they run a little large.”

“I absolutely love these jeans! They are true to size and fit perfectly. They have the trendy barrel-leg style without being overly baggy or oversized. The fit is flattering, comfortable and just right. If you’re looking for a barrel jean that’s stylish and easy to wear, I highly recommend these!” said another happy Costco shopper in a five-star review on Costco’s website.

You can find these on-trend barrel jeans on Costco.com or in select Costco warehouses. Each pair retails for $26.99.

Related: Costco Is Selling ‘Flattering and Comfortable’ Levi’s High-Rise Jeans That Are Too Cute to Pass Up

Michaels' Stunning Celestial Wreath Brings Spooky Energy to Your Halloween Porch

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 6:07pm

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

If you love treating your front porch as the opening act for Halloween decorating, then we could be friends. The porch is the first glimpse anyone gets, so why not use it to set the mood? But I’m not necessarily looking to get ghoulish. Give me something a little gothic, a little mysterious and just dramatic enough to make the neighbors wonder what’s going on inside. Think moody florals, dark colors, flickering lanterns and perhaps a few strategically placed pumpkins—but nothing that requires a fog machine or a cemetery’s worth of skeletons.

The beauty of this approach is that Halloween decor doesn’t have to be horror-filled to make an impression. Sometimes a touch of darkness is all you need. And I especially love pieces that feel more like they belong in a stylish, slightly spooky manor house than in a Halloween aisle.

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24″ Moon Wreath by Ashland, $35.99 (originally $59.99) at Michaels

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That’s exactly the vibe I get from Michaels’ 24-inch Moon Wreath by Ashland, which is shaped like a crescent moon. It has the celestial drama, the gothic flourish with those jewel-toned flowers and black foliage, plus enough Halloween spirit to make your front door look positively enchanted. And yes, I’m already picturing it surrounded by a few black lanterns and an unreasonable number of pumpkins.

Related: Aldi’s 2-Piece Glass Cake Dome Set Is Giving Pottery Barn Vibes on a Budget

I’m definitely hanging this beauty on my front door, but you could also add it to a gallery wall.

For those who love that dark academia decor energy, plenty of Michaels shoppers are leaving this wreath up year-round.

“I bought two of the large crescent wreaths and the dark muted colors are so pretty,” writes a customer in their review. “This is definitely a year-round wreath. Nice and full and big! Not tacky or cheap. I may need to buy more just in case.”

Another person describes it as “witchy and wonderful.”

“I love the muted, dark color scheme as well as the size of this wreath,” they wrote. “It’s a nice, big piece and I’m happy to have it hanging in my home.”

Right now, you can get the wreath at a pretty nice 40 percent discount. While Michaels tends to run sales and promotions pretty frequently, you’ll definitely want to nab this one at the marked-down price.

Related: This Oversized Rich Burgundy Sweater Will Make You Feel Like a Character From ‘Sterling Point’

Iconic Rock Band Extends Historic Record With 26th No. 1 Hit ‘Young Again’

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:53pm

Chart-topping rock band Shinedown has made history once again with the release of their latest single.

The Florida quartet, featuring vocalist Brent Smith, drummer Barry Kerch, lead guitarist Zach Myers, and bassist Eric Bass, is celebrating another huge achievement after earning its 26th No. 1 single on the Mediabase Active Rock chart, extending the band’s all-time record for the most chart-topping songs in the format’s history.

“Young Again” is the latest single off the iHeartRadio Music Awards Rock Artist of the Year winners’ eighth studio album, EI8HT, which was released on May 29, 2026.

Earlier this year, Shinedown earned its first-ever No. 1 on  Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart with “Young Again,” marking another major achievement in the band’s 25-year-long career. Elsewhere on the charts, the band also holds the record for most No. 1 songs on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

“When we wrote [‘Young Again,’] the entire embodiment of the song is about nostalgia,” Smith previously told iHeartRadio Canada in an interview. “That song is such a reflection of simpler times.”

The “Second Chance” hitmaker also discussed how pop culture influences the band’s songwriting, with The Goonies and Stranger Things serving as inspiration for “Young Again.”

Shinedown’s latest in a long list of historic achievements comes as the band continues their Dance, Kid, Dance Act II World Tour, bringing their high-octane live show to audiences around the globe. In May, during the North American leg of the tour, the band surprised fans by playing a deep cut for the first time in almost two decades.

During the May 16 show in Wisconsin, the band honored a fan’s request to play a track that they hadn’t previously performed in 18 years: “Junkies for Fame,” taken from 2008’s The Sound of Madness.

“Real quick, before you say anything. We don’t do this for anyone,” Smith said, addressing the fan named Anthony in the crowd. “Anthony, you are the number one tonight, my brother. You are the number one, my man.”

Related: Legendary 2000s Rock Band Shocks Fans by Playing Beloved Song for First Time in 18 Years

1969 Rock Song, Recorded on Abbey Road, Is Still a Generational Masterpiece 57 Years Later

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:48pm

Two years after Procol Harum released one of the most recognizable songs of the 1960s, the English rock band churned out yet another masterpiece.

Though this time, the world took a little longer to catch on.

Released in 1969, “A Salty Dog” was the title track from Procol Harum’s third studio album and a dramatic departure from the sound that had made the band famous with its monumental 1967 hit, “A Whiter Shade of Pale.”

Written by singer and pianist Gary Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid, the epic song began while Brooker was on tour in Switzerland. By his own recollection, the music portion came quickly, taking him only about five minutes to compose, and Reid’s lyrics were written separately to accompany Brooker’s sweeping chords. The organic process was typical of the songwriting duo.

“Usually the best combinations do happen very naturally,” said Brooker of his writing partnership with Reid. “If we take something like ‘A Salty Dog’ that was a musical idea, it’s very much a type of chord progression with a certain rhythm. And I think soon after I got that idea, Keith sent me the words and they were already done, and they just seemed to fit with it very, very easily.”

The results were spellbinding.

Recorded in Studio 2 at London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios, “A Salty Dog” begins with the cry of seagulls before Brooker’s haunting piano chords, B.J. Wilson’s innovative drumming, and a sweeping orchestra carry the listener out to sea. The effect is cinematic.

In fact, it was the band’s first time to use orchestration, according to Brooker.

“I wanted to have strings on the number and it was my first arrangement,” he said. “I loved doing it. I’d met a viola player when we were on tour with the Bee Gees in Germany who were using an orchestra. He was very supportive, almost like a music teacher. He actually put an orchestra together for us and members were all leaders of top London orchestras. We got a very warm chamber music sound on A Salty Dog.'”

The song’s lyrics were heavy on metaphor and reversed meanings of words, a device that Keith Reid used a lot. A good example is the captain’s phrase ‘All hands on deck – I think we’ve run afloat’ instead of ‘aground’.

Brooker’s aching vocal tells the story of sailors on a strange and treacherous voyage, following a “twisted path” toward an otherworldly destination. There is danger, death, beauty, and finally overwhelming joy, but exactly what any of it means has been debated by listeners for decades.

Some hear a story about sailors lost at sea. Others hear an allegory about death and the afterlife. The song has been compared to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s epic poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. When asked, Reid didn’t have a concrete answer to appease the band’s long-curious listeners.

“Well, all I can tell you about it is, I saw some graffiti on a dressing room wall in Cleveland [at] the show we were doing, [and] there was something someone had written on the wall: “Great God skipper, we’ve run aground.” And I clearly remember that that was the inspiration for A Salty Dog,” said Reid in a 2009 Goldmine interview. “Now how that became A Salty Dog is sort of… sometimes you, as a writer, you don’t really understand how things happen. You just know they did, and that was the story of that one.”

Perhaps its mystery is part of what has kept fans hooked.

The recording itself was equally ambitious. Procol Harum made the album at Abbey Road as the band moved into eight-track recording, giving them considerably more freedom in the studio. Brooker later remembered having access to a cupboard filled with unusual instruments previously used by artists including the Beatles, helping give the album its musical depth and colorful sound.

“With Salty Dog, we started to experiment with strings and acoustic guitars and a lot of different instruments, and in a way, we sort of got away from what had been ’til that time the sound of Procol Harum, which was very easily identifiable,” recalled Reid. “And we stretched out a lot more on A Salty Dog, and we had more acoustic-based tunes, and it was just a totally different sort of feel.”

And the arrangement doesn’t just decorate Reid’s maritime narrative, it makes you experience it.

First of all, the music seems to move with the story itself. Built around a chord progression that continues to surprise, the song never settles into the comfortable predictability of a conventional rock ballad. Rather, Brooker’s piano establishes a stately, almost mournful foundation while his own string arrangement rises and recedes around it, giving the listener the sensation of a vessel being vaulted across an enormous sea.

Then there is B.J. Wilson’s masterfully intuitive drumming: rather than simply keeping time, his thunderous fills arrive like sudden waves, breaking through the elegance of the orchestra with dramatic foreboding.

Yet, despite its having risen to such innovative heights, “A Salty Dog” was hardly a smash.

Released as a single, it reached just No. 44 on the U.K. Singles Chart, although it fared better elsewhere, reaching No. 3 in the Netherlands. Its reputation, however, would far outgrow its original chart position.

Critics and fans have long singled out “A Salty Dog”‘s seamless combination of rock and classical instrumentation. Music critic John McFerrin called the track a Procol Harum classic and praised the marriage of Brooker’s vocal melody with its orchestral backing, while writer Phil Shaw described the song as possessing a “majestic sweep.” More than five decades later, it is that tension — between beauty and peril, grandeur and melancholy — that makes “A Salty Dog” sound less like a conventional rock song than a journey unfolding in real time.

The song became a cornerstone of Procol Harum’s live performances and was later included on the band’s acclaimed 1972 album Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Jimmy Page reportedly called “A Salty Dog” the band’s masterpiece, while generations of listeners have come to regard it as one of Procol Harum’s finest recordings.

Fifty-seven years later, it is easy to understand why.

From those first lonely cries of the gulls to Brooker’s soaring final vocal, “A Salty Dog” still feels like a voyage into another world.

And somehow, after all these years, we are still aboard.

Related: 1971 Folk Song, Written in 15 Minutes in New Jersey, Is Still a Beloved Hit 55 Years Later

Hallmark Star Nikki DeLoach & Her '90s Boy Band Husband Sweetly Celebrate 17th Anniversary

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:39pm

Like millions of teens in the 1990s, Nikki DeLoach fell head over heels for multiple synchronized-dancing boy band members. The difference between the longtime Hallmark Channel star and the rest of us, however, is that DeLoach actually married one.

On Saturday, September 7, DeLoach paid tribute to her husband, Ryan Goodell, in a sweet social media post for their anniversary, writing, “17 YEARS 💫 Still you. Only you. Always you. Happy Anniversary, my love.”

Boy band Take 5 (Tilky Jones, Tim Christofore, Ryan Christopher, Jeff Goodell and Ryan Goodell), in 1999.

Photo by Tim Roney/Getty Images

If Goodell’s name doesn’t ring a bell, it might be because he’s been out of the limelight for more than two decades, working an an entertainment lawyer in LA. But in the ’90s, Goodell was one-fifth of the boy band Take 5, created by the same since-disgraced band manager who launched *NSync and the Backstreet Boys, Lou Pearlman.

Take 5 didn’t have quite the same level of success as those two chart-topping juggernauts, but after the Orlando-based group formed in 1997, they performed around the world for two years before returning to the U.S., where their album Against All Odds debuted in the No. 26 spot on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. The group broke up in 2001 amid contract disputes with Pearlman.

By then, DeLoach and Goodell had already been dating for a couple of years. After co-starring for several years on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club with fellow Mouseketeers like Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake (who remains a close friend), and JC Chasez (whom she dated before Goodell!), DeLoach was also managed by Pearlman in a girl group called Innosense.

Eventually, DeLoach and Goodell moved to Los Angeles, where he graduated from UCLA and earned his law degree at Loyola University. Meanwhile, DeLoach began studying sociology at UCLA, with them both barely scraping by as students. Things got a bit more stable for them when she began to land acting gigs like the 2005 series North Shore (where she became close friends with Kristoffer Polaha, who’s also become a huge Hallmark star and her co-star in 2025’s A Grand Ole Opry Christmas).

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DeLoach and Goodell dated for a decade before marrying in September 2009. She shared photos from their wedding in her 15th anniversary post, writing, “We’ve known better and worse. We’ve had years where we didn’t know how we would make rent, but together, we always figured it out. And we’ve always been rich in love, family, friends and community. We’ve faced sickness. And we’ve experienced the miracle of healing and good health. And through it all, I have loved you more with each passing year. Happy Anniversary, babe. I love you so much.”

The couple eventually welcomed two sons, Hudson in 2013 and Bennett in 2017. But Benny’s arrival came with some serious complications that required three heart surgeries while he was still an infant. He’s still monitored closely by cardiac experts at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, but is thriving.

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In 2019, DeLoach told Parade that her love for Goodell has grown with each year of their courtship and marriage, explaining, “I believe that love is something that grows, I do. I also, by the way, was never a person who enjoyed dating. For me, I was more of a let-me-get-to-know-you-a-little-bit person and then maybe let’s go get dinner. [I’m like,] ‘Let’s hang out a little bit. Let’s talk about each other’s lives. Let me hear about you and then when I feel comfortable, then maybe you and I can go to a movie or something like that.'”

Sounds like Goodell made all the right moves to steal DeLoach’s heart, from boy band choreography to stepping up as her perfect partner. When the actress shared her 17th anniversary post, fans flooded the comment section, swooning over their lasting love.

And a few swooned over her boy band hubby, too, including one who wrote, “SHUT UP! YOU ARE MARRIED to one of the members of take 5?! (I looked it up because I was curious) This made this older millennials day! N E Way Happy Anniversary!”

‘DWTS’ Pro Jenna Johnson Reveals the Scary On-Stage Wardrobe Malfunction She Kept Secret (Exclusive)

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:34pm

Jenna Johnson will be returning to the Dancing with the Stars stage on Sept. 15, partnered with Grey’s Anatomy and Glee star Harry Shum, Jr. But the Mirrorball champ had quite the eventful summer on the DWTS tour — including a wardrobe malfunction she revealed only to Parade!

During a recent Zoom chat while promoting her new partnership with Orgain Kids Protein Smoothie, we asked Jenna about any major costume incidents on the hit ABC reality show. The dancing queen said a crazy situation unfolded not on the series itself but the recent DWTS nationwide tour that concluded this May.   

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Jenna, 32, and her husband, fellow DWTS pro Val Chmerkovskiy, 40, delighted fans by performing together on the tour. But they didn’t know they could have seen much more of Jenna if not for a trusty wardrobe person!

She exclusively told Parade, “This actually just happened on the Dancing with the Stars tour, and it’s one of those moments of ‘the show must go on.’ I had to change I think that was one minute, a one-minute quick change where I had to change shoes [and] full dress, and I had this corset that zipped up, a heavy-duty corset and the number that I was changing into was a duet with myself and Val and it started, we have a live camera onstage with us, and it started as a close-up on my face and so I’m in the quick change, the zipper snaps, breaks in half. There’s no way of fixing it and I have like 30 seconds to figure out what’s going to happen and then I need to be on camera.”

She continued, “And our wardrobe [person] was like, ‘Let me just hook and eye it, and pray it stays’ and I’m like,” Jenna opened her mouth wide with praying hands to mimic her shock at the time. “So we do a hook and eye on top and it is fully wide open in the back and I ran and was in the wing and ready for my camera shot and I did the rest of my duet with Val hanging, literally, by a little clasp. But somehow it stayed on, and that’s that.”

Jenna Johnson

Photo by Maya Dehlin Spach/FilmMagic

Jenna said communication with Val, whom she married in 2019, was important during the near-disaster. “The whole thing was this cinematic camera duet that we had camera with us onstage while we were dancing the whole time, very close-up and so I’m trying to be a ventriloquist and tell him [without lips moving], ‘My top is broken.’ He’s like, ‘Oh.’ And then he finally saw it and is like, ‘Okay, so maybe go gentler today.’”

Jenna Johnson and husband Val Chmerkovskiy perform on season 29 of DWTS (Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images)

Accomplished performer Jenna, who has won DWTS twice–with celebrity partners Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon in 2018 and The Bachelor star Joey Graziadei in 2024—opined that she’s learned to take wardrobe woes in stride, telling Parade, “It’s those fun moments where you’re like, can I do this full out? You want to give the audience a full show and this is a duet that I love and I’m going to dance it to my full potential so it’s just one of those things, you’re like, well, let’s see what happens. I always love those moments, they remind you that you’re human and they humble you a little bit and you’re like, o-kay. But they’re always fun stories.”

Jenna and three-time mirror ball champ Val have become DWTS’ golden couple with their adorable son Rome, 3.

Related: ‘DWTS’ Pros Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson Announce Major Family Milestone: ‘Been Hard to Keep This Secret’

When asked about how they handle the family juggle when both compete on the show and appear on the tour, Jenna said, “This is just part of our life and we both agree we are both passionate about our work and our jobs and we’ve been able to do it with a lot of help—whether family or nannies or assistants or whatever it’s been we have a community that really helps take care of us. So I think that’s why prioritizing both our health and our household, what we feed each other, how we take care of each other, having everybody on the same wavelength, okay, this is how we’re going to approach raising Rome, just means the world to me. We couldn’t do it alone. It really does take a village for both of us to be able to do what we love to do and to do it at the highest level.”

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While Jenna hasn’t confirmed if she and Val are part of the upcoming DWTS season 35, fans can see the hotly-anticipated cast reveal on Wednesday, Sept. 2 on Good Morning America.

“It is bigger than ever and people are still engaged,” Jenna raved about the viewer response, particularly during the past two seasons.

DWTS returns on Tuesday, Sept. 15 on ABC and Disney+ and streams next day on Hulu.

Related: ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 35 Cast Revealed: Giada De Laurentiis, Jenna Dewan and Julia Stiles to Compete

Jaclyn Smith, 80, Reveals 'Charlie's Angels' Secret Pay Gap, On-Set Cocaine and One Co-Star's Hawaii Threesome Proposition

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:32pm

Charlie’s Angels turns 50 on September 22. Jaclyn Smith still gets photos from the show in the mail every single day. “Who would have dreamed the afterlife of Charlie’s Angels would be like this?” she asks. “We were just three girls hoping to find an audience, and boy did we find an audience.” That’s the story she tells first. Then she tells the rest. And the rest is something.

Here’s what nobody knew at the time. When the show debuted in 1976 alongside Farrah Fawcett and Kate Jackson, Smith was offered $3,000 per episode. Fawcett got $5,000. Jackson got $10,000. Jackson had previously worked on Aaron Spelling’s The Rookies.

@rabbit_ears_tv

50 years ago today, Charlie’s Angels premiered! 🔥 On this day, March 21st, 1976, Charlie’s Angels’ self-titled pilot movie aired on ABC, and transformed the television and pop culture landscape; praise it as groundbreaking for women in television, or deride it as the cheap start of Jiggle TV, but there’s definitely a line drawn in the sand for a pre-and-post-Angels world 🙏🏻 #CharliesAngels #FarrahFawcett #CherylLadd #ClassicTV #70s

♬ original sound – Classic TV

Smith looked at what Fawcett was making compared to her own track record — guest spots on Switch and Harry O — and decided the numbers didn’t add up. She told her agent to go back and match Fawcett’s pay, or she’d walk. She got the raise. “I was probably a little more aggressive about that than today,” she says with a laugh. “I don’t know where that business sense came from, but it was there, I guess from my daddy. He would always say, ‘Have a backup plan. Really think things out.'”

Good advice. Because things got complicated fast. After just one season, Fawcett left to pursue more dramatic roles. “Kate had a hard time with Farrah gone,” Smith says. “No one could replace her.” Cheryl Ladd came in as Kris Munroe, and the dynamic shifted again. “Kate was sharp and fought for everything, and Cheryl was pretty easygoing, so I felt sometimes caught between the two because they were so opposite.” Jackson left after season three in 1979. Shelley Hack replaced her. Then, Tanya Roberts replaced Hack.

Smith writes in her memoir that Roberts had an open marriage with her husband Barry Roberts and “wasn’t shy about it in the least or about propositioning people to ‘swing’ with them.” On a flight to Hawaii to shoot the show, Roberts asked Smith to join her and Barry for a threesome. Smith said no. She still found Roberts’ “honesty about her sexuality to be brave and self-aware.”

Related: 1974 Alison Arngrim, Who Called Little House’s Villain ‘Kismet’ at 12, Is Rotten and Unrecognizable on Netflix in 2026

By season five, cocaine had become a constant presence on set. Smith didn’t touch it. “The more drug use I saw, the more time I spent in my motor home,” she writes. “I was in there a lot by the end of the series.” She’s never used cocaine and says she never will. “I’ve watched that drug in particular turn people into the worst version of themselves.” She knew that season would be her last. And through all of it — every cast change, every difficult moment, everything nobody saw on TV — her friendships with her original co-stars held. “After the applause, the friendship is still there,” she says. “That sisterhood was strong.”

ABC Photo Archives / Getty Images

The Only Angel Who Never Left

Here’s what fifty years looks like. The bronze sculpture Farrah Fawcett gave Smith still sits in her living room. The phone at the gate of her Los Angeles home still rings with the show’s theme song. The photos keep arriving. “People still send Charlie’s Angels pictures for me to sign every day,” she says. The show survived Fawcett leaving after season one. It survived Jackson leaving after season three. It survived two more cast changes after that. Smith was there for all of it. She was the constant.

The co-stars and friends who gave her those memories are gone now. Fawcett died in 2009. Tanya Roberts died in 2021. Barry Roberts died in 2006. But the show they made together isn’t gone. In April 2026, Smith reunited at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles with Jackson and Ladd to celebrate five decades of Charlie’s Angels. Three surviving Angels in one room. The sisterhood proving itself fifty years on.

Theo Wargo / Getty Images

Her memoir “I Once Knew a Guy Named Charlie” is out now. Charlie’s Angels turns 50 on September 22. That’s fourteen days from today.

Jaclyn Smith fought for a raise and got it. She watched every other Angel leave or get replaced. She stayed in her motor home when drugs showed up. She said no to the threesome and stayed for all five seasons. Fifty years later, she’s still signing the photos all because she stayed when she could have easily left.

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Hoda Kotb Reunites With Ex Joel Schiffman for Daughters’ Major Milestone

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:28pm

Former Today host Hoda Kotb reunited with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman, for their daughters’ major milestone.

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the mom of two took to Instagram with a trio of photos featuring herself, Schiffman, and their two kids, Haley, 9, and Hope, 7.

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“It’s here! First day of school💥,” Kotb, 62, captioned her update. “4th and 2nd grade! Whaaaatttt?”

In the featured image, Haley and Hope crossed a street between Kotb and Schiffman, as all four of them faced away from the camera. A second shot featured the journalist with both arms raised above her head while walking with the other three. Meanwhile, a third snap showed all four family members smiling and posing for the camera in front of (presumably) Kotb’s home.

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In the comments, the Today alum’s followers praised Kotb and her ex, with one Instagram user sharing, “I love this co-parenting situation so much ❤️❤️❤️.”

Another wrote, “So glad dad is in the picture.”

A different follower pointed out, “I love this. Memories will fill your heart. And, I love you parenting together.”

Meanwhile, yet another Instagram user commented, “Hope the girls have a wonderful school year!! ❤️.”

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Although Kotb and Schiffman announced that they had parted ways in 2022, they have remained committed to co-parenting their daughters. She even posted a sweet shout-out for her ex on his birthday, calling him the “best dad” on Instagram. The couple started dating in 2013, announced their engagement in 2019, and publicly split in January 2022.

Kotb and Schiffman adopted Haley in 2017 and Hope in 2019.

Next: Today Star Announces Exciting Family Update Live

1972 Joni Mitchell Song Ranks Among the Most Beloved End-of-Summer Songs

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:26pm

Before it became a quiet favorite among fans, Joni Mitchell’s “Urge for Going” captured the feeling of being pulled between seasons and the bittersweet realization that time is constantly moving forward, even when you’d really like it to stay in place. 

Though widely associated with her early ’70s era, the song actually dates back to 1965, when Mitchell first wrote it during a transitional period in her life. 

Inspired by cold Canadian winters and a longing for escape, the track reflects a deeply personal desire for change, both physical and emotional. 

It was first recorded by her friend Tom Rush in 1967, eventually catching the attention of George Hamilton IV, with the country cover soaring to No. 7 on the country charts, marking the first time Mitchell had chart success as a songwriter, per Rolling Stone. 

“With the help of Mr. Chet Atkins … they came up with a song that was a version of my song with a narration and all sorts of wonderful things in it. And I really enjoyed it,” she said, introducing the tune to a Gerde’s Folk City crowd.

Her version was originally recorded for Blue in 1971, but it was left off the final tracklist. 

It was officially released in 1972, finally reaching listeners as the B-side to “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio,” tied to her album For the Roses. It was also included in her 1996 compilation, Hits. 

“Urge for Going” wasn’t a chart-topping hit like her other commercial songs.

Chart success was never the point, though, as the song showcases her brilliant songwriting, using the changing seasons as a metaphor for the inevitability of change. 

“Urge for Going” focuses on summer fading, with lines that evoke changing leaves, cooling air and the quiet ache of leaving something behind, with lyrics like, “I’d like to call back summertime and have her stay for just another month or so / But she’s got the urge for going so I guess she’ll have to go.”

Its reflective tone makes it a natural fit for listening as we bid summer farewell in late August and early September, even ranking among Ultimate Classic Rock’s “40 end of summer songs” list. It even topped Rolling Stone’s list of the “50 essential” Joni Mitchell songs.

Over the decades, it has become a cult favorite, resurfacing in live performance and seasonal playlists. 

'Wheel of Fortune' Announces Season 44 Switch-Up in Game Format

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:25pm

Wheel of Fortune just announced a switch-up to its game format for Season 44 that will hopefully result in its contestants going home with even more money.

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, hosts Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White revealed the addition of a round called “Fortune Frenzy” to the popular game show during a segment that premiered on Good Morning America.

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“This is exciting. A lot of people say, ‘How do you get more games into this show?’” Seacrest, 51, explained, of Fortune Frenzy. “It’s not a long show, so we’re squeezing more gameplay into the show with a rapid-fire game that we just started to have, which I love, giving away $1,000 for every puzzle they solve.”

So, how does it work? At the beginning of each episode, contestants will have a chance to win $1 grand each time they can quickly — and correctly — solve a series of puzzles before a timer runs out. The sprint round aims to add even more puzzles solved per episode. Not to mention, contestants get even more chances to earn prize money.

In the category “Season Premiere,” one contestant correctly guessed, “It’s Great To Be Back!”

Seacrest continued, “I think it shakes off the nerves off the contestants at the top. Because they’re so excited. The adrenaline is pumping and rushing, and they’ve got to focus right into playing the game—and I noticed that when we did some of the first episodes.”

White, 69, added, “Yes, there’s nothing else to think about but ‘solve that puzzle.’ It’s gotta be quick. So they have nothing else on their mind but solving.”

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Wheel of Fortune Season 44 premieres on Monday, Sept. 14. (Check local listings for the start time.)

What do you think of the addition of Fortune Frenzy to Wheel of Fortune?

Next: Pat Sajak Turns Heads With Bold Style Switch-Up After Wheel of Fortune Retirement

3 Lindsay Clancy Jurors Say Male Holdout Admitted Reasonable Doubt but Still Refused Not-Guilty Verdict

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:24pm

Three jurors from Lindsay Clancy‘s murder trial are breaking their silence, and their account paints a picture of a jury room pushed to its breaking point.

The trio spoke with NBC affiliate WBTS on Tuesday, September 8, in Boston, days after Lindsay’s case ended in a mistrial — following allegations that one juror refused to follow the judge’s instructions on reasonable doubt. Among them was the foreperson, who had written the note alerting the court that one juror expressed doubt but wouldn’t budge on a verdict.

Lindsay stood trial in the high-profile Massachusetts case after strangling her three young children, Cora, Dawson and Callan, to death in January 2023.

She shared the children with her then-husband, Patrick Clancy, who has since divorced her and remarried Dr. Rachel Danis.

Patrick Clancy, Lindsay Clancy

(Photos by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

She sought an insanity defense, arguing she had undiagnosed postpartum psychosis and didn’t know right from wrong at the time.

The three female jurors, whose names remain sealed for 14 days under an order signed by Judge William Sullivan, described mounting frustration with the lone holdout on the panel.

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“He admitted he had reasonable doubt and I started filling out the forms, I was so excited,” the foreperson said. 

She recalled his response: “But I’m still not going to say that she’s not guilty by reason of insanity.”

The jury had five options to decide Lindsay’ fate, ranging from first-degree murder to manslaughter, or acquittal by reason of insanity.

Deliberations grew so heated that six alternate jurors waiting outside could hear the shouting through the walls, according to the jurors.  As per NBC News, there was reportedly name-calling as well, though the group leaned on each other throughout the week of deliberations, sharing laughs, hugging, and encouraging self-care between arguments.

One juror called the holdout “arrogant.”

“He really did not take anything that anybody said,” she said, adding that he pressed the group with questions about Lindsay’s prescribed medications.

Jurors reviewed toxicology reports and records from South Shore Hospital, where Lindsay was treated after her suicide attempt following the killings. 

Another juror revealed that some panel members were nurses. “We read to him on numerous occasions the definition of reasonable doubt from Judge Sullivan’s instructions,” one juror said, noting he eventually requested the judge come in and read it himself. 

“He had the hardest time getting off the fact that Lindsay viciously killed her children,” she claimed. Jurors worked through roughly 300 exhibits following five weeks of testimony, often standing and pacing the room because, as one juror put it, “you just couldn’t sit anymore.”

Lindsay’s case remains unresolved after the mistrial. Prosecutors have not yet said whether they will retry her, and she remains at Tewksbury State Hospital ahead of a September 29 court hearing, according to The New York Times.

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.

Figure Skating Legend Who Captivated Fans at the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics Reflects on One of Her Proudest Performances of All Time

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:21pm

Michelle Kwan is one of the most celebrated ice skaters in the history of Team USA, but at 10 years old, the graceful skating sensation was already showing signs that she would become one of figure skating’s most influential stars. In a 1990 performance, at just 10 years old, Kwan nailed her first triple toe combination, a moment she now calls one of her proudest moments on the ice.

In a post shared to social media, Michelle Kwan, 46, writes, “Nailing my triple toe combo at the end of my program — one of my proudest moments as a 10-year-old!” alongside video of the young athlete nailing the iconic moment. Already, the young athlete shows the grace, poise, and unflappable athleticism that would become signature elements of future Michelle Kwan performances.

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In response, fans are calling her a “graceful” and “magical princess.” Even at 10, she was just that.

Michelle Kwan’s 1990 Performance Shows Her Early Talent View this post on Instagram

Kwan’s post is more than a skate down memory lane, or even a nostalgic glimpse at a future champion. It offers an early look at the precision, determination, and confidence that would define Kwan’s remarkable career.

A skater who would go on to win five World Championships, nine U.S. Championships, and two Olympic medals, including a silver at the 1998 Nagano Games and a bronze at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, Kwan went from a daring 10-year-old nailing her first triple toe combination to an iconic skater who would effortlessly guide her way into the hearts of all who watched her.

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

Michelle Kwan’s Impact on Figure Skating

Michelle Kwan went on to become one of the most recognizable American figure skaters of her generation, helping bring the sport to a broader audience and inspiring generations of young skaters.

But seeing her execute a difficult combination with such confidence and ease at such a young age makes her later success feel less like a surprise and more like a part of a journey that was already underway.

Related: Olympic Skating Legend, Who Captivated Fans at the 1984 Winter Olympics, Names the Greatest Performance of His Career

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'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Coming to an End: Report

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:11pm

After 24 years, Jimmy Kimmel Live! is reportedly coming to an end.

According to Page Six, the longtime late-night host will give his final monologue in May 2027 as sources claim “his contract is not getting extended.”

The news comes after Kimmel signed a one-year contract extension in December, after previously claiming he would end the show in 2026.

“I think this is my final contract, I hate to even say it, because everyone’s laughing at me now — each time I think that, and then it turns out to be not the case,” Kimmel told the Los Angeles Times in February 2024. “I still have a little more than two years left on my contract, and that seems pretty good, that seems like enough.”

He ultimately announced his one-year extension via Instagram in December, writing, “I am pleased to announce another no-talent year!”

Kimmel found himself in hot water last fall after the death of Charlie Kirk in September 2025. ABC pulled the plug on Jimmy Kimmel Live! after receiving pressure from network owners for comments made by the host that were deemed controversial.

“I just saw it as distortion on the part of some of the right-wing media networks, and I aimed to correct it,” he said upon his return one week later.

While a spokesperson for ABC Entertainment told Page Six that the “information is inaccurate,” adding, “any reports about the future of the show at this point are purely speculative,” Kimmel previously hinted at a move to Italy.

The new season of Jimmy Kimmel Live! kicks off Tuesday on ABC.

The 3 Birth Months With Pure Hearts

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:07pm

There are people born with pure hearts—the kind of goodness that can’t be manufactured or learned. And according to astrology, these souls are most likely to be born in February, April, or September.

Which Birth Months Have Pure, Pure Hearts?

Check for your birth month.

February: The Empath

February-borns are old souls who feel everything. Ruled by Aquarius’s humanitarian impulse or Pisces’s boundless compassion, these sympathize beyond the norm. They instantly feel what others feel with intuitive precision. When they come across another who is hurting, they clock it instinctively.

What makes those born in February pure of heart is that they act on that empathy without hesitation. They show up. They listen without fixing. They remember the small details of your struggles and loop back to check on you weeks later. They’re not performing kindness. Rather, they’re living it. A February-born person will give you the shirt off their back not because they want credit, but because they genuinely can’t stand the thought of you being cold.

Many gravitate toward February babies because being around them feels safe. These are the friends who won’t judge you, the family members who see you at your worst and love you anyway, the coworkers who somehow know exactly what you need to hear.

RELATE?: The 3 Birth Months Entering Their Luckiest Era This Autumn

April: The Gentle Optimist

April-borns carry either Aries’s courageous spirit or Taurus’s grounded stability. Their pure heart leads them to believe in people’s potential even when evidence suggests otherwise. As eternal hype-men, they see the best in you. Sometimes, before you see it in yourself.

What’s pure about an April heart is their passionate consistency. They’re not kind only when it’s convenient or when someone has earned it—they’re kind by default. To an April person, everyone deserves a chance or the benefit of the doubt. They move through the world assuming the best of people, and somehow, that faith often becomes self-fulfilling.

April babies radiate a warmth that’s almost palpable. While they can be direct, their intensity is more endearing than intimidating to the right people. They make you feel seen and worthy just by being in their presence. Celebrating your wins as if they were your own, this birth month holds space for your loved one’s failures without shame. Their pure heart is their greatest strength and sometimes their greatest vulnerability. They believe so deeply in humanity that betrayal cuts them deeper than most.

MORE: How You’re Meant to Succeed, Based on Your Birth Date

September: The Quiet Healer

September babies, carrying Virgo’s service-oriented nature or Libra’s justice-seeking determination, carry a pure heart that expresses itself through doing. They’re not flashy about their goodness. This birth month quietly shows up, improves things, and helps without a fuss.

A September-born person notices what needs to be done and does it. They anticipate your needs before you voice them. They organize the meal train, remember everyone’s birthday, and fix things without being asked. Their purity of heart lives in the details, in the consistency, in the unglamorous work of actually caring for their people.

Most of all, their hearts are so pure that they expect nothing in return. They serve not for recognition but because service is how they love. They understand that true devotion is rarely about grand gestures. They show up, day after day, with gentleness and intention.

UP NEXT:

Le Creuset Is Celebrating 60 Years of This Iconic Fandom With a 'Bold' New Collection

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:05pm

Star Trek has done something few pop-culture juggernauts can claim: It has boldly gone where generations of fans have gone before. Since the original series debuted in 1966, the franchise has become far more than a TV show. It’s a cultural shorthand, a sci-fi touchstone and, for plenty of devoted Trekkies, practically a way of life. Its influence can be spotted everywhere from technology and fashion to language, with “Beam me up, Scotty” becoming part of the cultural lexicon.

While the Enterprise crew has changed over the decades, the fandom has hardly slowed down. Parents introduce their kids to the franchise, kids grow up to introduce it to their own kids, and everyone debates which captain reigns supreme at the dinner table. So, naturally, it was only a matter of time before Star Trek teamed up with a kitchen icon.

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In honor of the franchise’s 60th anniversary, Le Creuset is giving fans a chance to bring a little Starfleet flair to their stovetops with a limited-edition collection that’s ready to make any meal feel just a little more out of this world. (I promise I’ll stop with the bad space jokes now.)

The Star Trek Collection Enterprise Round Dutch Oven is just one of 10 different pieces included in the collection. Retailing for $500 at LeCreuset.com, it comes in the elegant French Grey colorway shown above. Of course, if you already own a Le Creuset Dutch Oven but really want to add that Star Trek spin, the brand is also selling Star Trek Collection Starfleet Delta Knobs for $50, so you can swap out the existing knob on what you have at home.

Related: Target Is Selling a Charming 1,399-Piece Lego Set Dedicated to This Classic Disney Character

What Else Is Included in Le Creuset’s Star Trek Collection?

Aside from the Dutch oven and Starfleet Delta Knob, there’s also the Gorn Mini Cocotte in Pearlized Bamboo Green, of course. That retails for $60. Other smaller items include the super fun Live Long & Prosper Spoon Rest ($55), Star Trek Collection “Communi-Grater” ($68) and Live Long & Prosper Oven Mitt ($40).

Personally, though, I’d go all in on the Star Trek Collection Galileo Shuttlecraft Rectangular Covered Casserole, a $150 1.7-quart dish made of the finest stoneware (and an amazing amount of nostalgia).

Unlike Star Trek’s popularity, this collection isn’t forever, so get your hands on the pieces you absolutely have to have before they vanish for good.

Related: Costco’s 5-Piece Stoneware Floral Baker Set Is Full of Farmhouse Charm

1967 Pink Floyd Track Is Named One of the 'Best Songs About Cats' by Rolling Stone

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:03pm

Rolling Stone just released a new ranking of the top 30 songs about cats — yes, cats — and one of Pink Floyd‘s songs surprisingly made the cut.

On Monday, Sept. 7, the music publication unveiled its list of the 30 Best Songs About Cats, ranking tracks from a range of musical genres that use cats or feline imagery as a central theme in their lyrics.

Placed at No. 11 on the list was none other than Pink Floyd’s eerie psychedelic rock track “Lucifer Sam,” which appeared on the band’s 1967 debut studio album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.

Written by co-founder Syd Barrett, the quirky and mysterious track is believed to have been inspired by his real-life Siamese cat, Sam. Barrett seemingly refers to the titular subject in the first line of the song, when he introduces, “Lucifer Sam, Siam cat.”

In the second verse, Barrett mentions to another subject, “Jennifer Gentle,” who is described as a witch. Fans have long speculated that the Jennifer in the song referred to Barrett’s former girlfriend Jenny Spires, though he never confirmed that.

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“Lucifer Sam” ranked in the No. 11 spot on Rolling Stone‘s list of the best cat songs, which also featured hits from Prince, Taylor Swift, Elton John, The Cure, David Bowie, Beyoncé, The Grateful Dead and more.

Top 10 Best Songs About Cats, According to Rolling Stone:
  1. The Cure “The Lovecats”
  2. Al Stewart “Year of the Cat”
  3. Squeeze “Cool for Cats”
  4. Elton John “Honky Cat”
  5. The Stray Cats “Stray Cat Strut”
  6. The Grateful Dead “China Cat Sunflower”
  7. Beyoncé “Kitty Cat”
  8. David Bowie “Cat People Putting Out Fire”
  9. The Coasters “Three Cool Cats”
  10. Father John Misty “Goodbye Mr. Blue”

Related: 1983 Talking Heads Song, Never a Major Chart Success, Became One of the ‘Best Songs of the ’80s’

1984 Pop Ballad, Written for a Comedy Film, Scored Stevie Wonder His Only Solo UK No. 1 Hit 42 Years Ago

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 5:00pm

Forty-two years ago today, Stevie Wonder was No. 1 in Britain with “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” He has been there on his own exactly once.

A legend who has sold more than 100 million albums has two UK No. 1 singles in his whole career, and one of them is a duet.

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America and Britain Never Agreed About Him

In the United States he is one of the most successful chart artists who has ever lived. Ten No. 1 hits, 63 songs on the Hot 100, 28 of them top 10. The first of those came in 1963, off a live record billed to “The 12 Year Old Genius.”

In Britain the record is two. “Ebony and Ivory,” his 1982 duet with Paul McCartney, spent three weeks at the top. Then this one, in 1984, spent six.

Related: ’70s Legend Announces International 18-City Tour for Milestone 50th Anniversary of ‘Songs in the Key of Life’

It Took the Top Spot From George Michael

The song entered the UK chart on Aug. 25, 1984 and reached No. 1 the following week, pushing George Michael‘s “Careless Whisper” down to No. 2. On the chart dated Sept. 8 the two were still stacked that way, Wonder first, Michael second.

It stayed at No. 1 for six weeks and on the chart for 39.

Then It Won an Oscar

Wonder wrote both the music and the lyric for the 1984 film The Woman in Red, and the Academy handed it Best Original Song the following spring. Prince took Original Song Score the same night, for Purple Rain.

America took longer to come around than Britain did. The single did not reach No. 1 on the Hot 100 until Oct. 13, five weeks after it was already sitting on top in Britain, and it held there three weeks.

Next: 1973 Song by the Prince of Motown Was a No. 1 Hit on 2 Charts, 53 Years Ago Today

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