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In September 1971, the stars were aligning. Dennis Hopper and Kris Kristofferson, that is. As Hopper was filming The Last Movie, his highly anticipated follow-up to Easy Rider, Kristofferson was making moves of his own.

Not only was the legendary singer-songwriter scoring his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Me and Bobby McGee,” the counterculture masterpiece he co-wrote with Fred Foster that Janis Joplin took to the top of the charts, but he was also about to make his big-screen acting debut.

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Originally summoned to Peru as a horse wrangler and to contribute music to Hopper’s movie, Criterion Collection shared that Hopper thought the singer-songwriter looked so good on a horse that he offered him the role of Minstrel Wrangler right there on the spot.

Or, as Kristofferson later casually put it, per Screen Anarchy, “I was hired as a horse wrangler. Dennis Hopper had me sing ‘Me & Bobby McGee’ in the film because he liked it so much.” The decision changed the trajectory of Kristofferson’s career.

Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

After his debut in Hopper’s metafictional drama that explored the effects of Hollywood filmmaking on a remote Peruvian community, Kristofferson landed the starring role in Bill Norton’s Cisco Pike, followed by major parts in Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and Frank Pierson’s A Star Is Born.

Back home, Kristofferson still had plenty of musical momentum behind him. His songs were everywhere: Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee” was dominating the pop charts, while Sammi Smith’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night”—another Kristofferson composition—had topped the country chart.

Meanwhile, his own second studio album, The Silver Tongued Devil and I, was also turning him into a bona fide recording star, thanks in part to the love song “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again).” The success was followed by a hit fourth album, Spooky Lady’s Sideshow, which reached No. 11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in 1974.

As for the original reason he went to Peru in the first place, The Last Movie’s soundtrack, not officially released until five decades later, per Variety, was widely celebrated, thanks in part to Kristofferson’s contributions.

The raw ballad he wrote for Joplin made its way into The Last Movie, but as a country-folk duet performed with Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas. He also performed “Good for Nothing Is Good Enough for Me” alongside Phillips and John Buck Wilkin, as well as “The Party Walk,” with Wilkin and Phillips.

Despite The Last Movie notoriously bombing with critics and fans alike, Kristofferson arrived in Peru as a songwriter and left as a rising screen star.

Related: ’70s Rocker, Discovered by Deep Purple, Was Murdered 39 Years Ago—and His Killer Walked Free

Hole, the alternative rock band fronted by Courtney Love, delivered an enduring anthem of the grunge era with the 1994 song “Doll Parts,” and it is still making waves decades later.

In a ranking released by Rolling Stone, the track earned a place on the list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, along with historic favorites and new classics.

The fragile, haunting yet utterly explosive sound, accompanied by the emotionally raw lyrics of Hole’s song “Doll Parts,” secured the No. 208 spot.

Featured on their sophomore album Live Through This, released in April 1994, the band’s second single was considered Hole’s signature anthem after being a smash hit at the time.

“Doll Parts” peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the group’s highest-charting song of its career.

Hole band at the 1998 Billboard Music Awards

Ke.Mazur/WireImage

Behind the mainstream success of Hole’s “Doll Parts” was a song inspired by Love’s chaotic romance with the late Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain.

In a 2020 Instagram post, the frontwoman revealed that it only took her 20 minutes to write the song while she was inside the bathroom at a friend’s house party in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

“I had to write most of the lyrics on my arm in Sharpie as I ran out of paper,” Love posted, as cited by Billboard, adding, “People were pounding on the door as I wrote it. It was played for the first time about an hour later, at the Virgin Megastore in Boston. It was about a boy whose band had just left town, who I’d been sleeping with, who I heard was sleeping with 2 other girls, it was my way of saying, ‘You’re a f—ing idiot if you don’t choose ME, and here is all the desire and fury and love that I feel for you. Good songs don’t always come in 20 minutes, but the force was strong and that one did.”

As for the person who inspired it, Love gave an obvious clue and said: “Anyway I married that guy.”

Kurt Cobain of Nirvana with wife Courtney Love and daughter Frances Bean Cobain

Terry McGinnis/WireImage

The song was written in 1991 after she reconnected with Cobain and was first recorded in November of the same year during Hole’s BBC radio session with John Peel, according to Songfacts.

Live Through This was released just a week after Cobain’s passing and two months after their bass player, Krista Pfaff, died of a drug overdose.

Related: 32 Years Ago Today, Iconic ’90s Rocker Died at the Age of 27

Asia is well-known for producing power ballads, so it shouldn’t be all that surprising to fans that one of the band’s most beloved hits was recognized on Ultimate Classic Rock‘s ranking of the “50 Greatest Power Ballads in Rock History.”

The publication put Asia’s 1983 hit “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes,” off the supergroup’s second record, Alpha, at the ranking’s 46th spot. Other songs featured on Ultimate Classic Rock‘s ranking are Aerosmith‘s “Dream On,” “Keep On Loving You” by REO Speedwagon, and Journey‘s “Faithfully.”

The John Wetton-penned track, which has a runtime of 3 minutes and 31 seconds, became almost immediately popular, securing the number 34 Billboard Hot 100 spot in November 1983, just four months after the release of Alpha.

According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Wetton was thinking about the band’s keyboard player Geoff Downes‘ relationship issues while penning the song.

“He was going through a complete emotional turmoil over a girl about a year and a half ago, and I identified so strongly that I went home and wrote the song in five minutes. Boom! Sat right down at the piano and there it was. If anything’s straight from the heart, that song is,” said Wetton during an interview in 1983, per Songfacts.

Members of Asia Have Discussed the ‘Alpha’ Album

While “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” was a popular tune, Ultimate Classic Rock reported that critics and members of Asia, Steve Howe and Carl Palmer, didn’t love the Alpha album.

“The second album was a complete mistake and was put together, possibly, through greed and the ‘chasing the single’ syndrome. It was just full of pop tunes that just died miserably,” said Palmer, the drummer of Asia, during an interview for Time and a Word: The Yes Story by Martin Popoff, published in 2016.

Downes also discussed the band’s second album in a 2001 interview with Classic Rock Radio. He said he believed that Alpha was viewed as being inadequate, as their “first album [Asia] had been so successful that anything less than that was considered to be a bit of a flop.”

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Most homeowners understand the importance of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The harder question is whether those alarms need professional monitoring. After all, if a smoke detector is loud enough to wake the entire house, why pay someone else to monitor it? Right?

There is a practical answer: An ordinary alarm depends on someone being there, hearing it and being able to respond. A professionally monitored detector doesn’t. That distinction becomes particularly important when you’re asleep, away from your home or dealing with an emergency that leaves you unable to call for help yourself.

So, is professional monitoring actually necessary for smoke and carbon monoxide detection? Not always—but understanding what it adds can help you decide whether it makes sense for your home, your family and the way you live. Here’s everything you need to know.

If you’re considering adding monitored fire or carbon monoxide detection to an existing security system, ADT offers free home quotes and can recommend equipment based on your home’s layout.

Do I Need Monitored Smoke Detectors?

You don’t need professional monitoring for a smoke detector to provide lifesaving protection, but monitoring adds another layer of protection. When a detector senses smoke or fire, the monitoring service receives the alarm and can contact emergency responders according to its procedures, even if you’re asleep or away.

Working smoke alarms should be the starting point in every home, monitored or not. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends installing smoke alarms on every level of the home and inside each bedroom. It also advises testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly.

Professional monitoring addresses a different problem: What happens after the alarm sounds? With an ordinary smoke detector, the next step depends on someone hearing the alarm and reacting to it. But with a professionally monitored ADT smoke detector, an alarm can also be reported to an ADT Monitoring Center.

ADT says that for professionally monitored smoke detectors, its monitoring center can dispatch first responders when the alarm sounds, although procedures can vary by municipality. That can be especially useful if a fire starts while nobody is home.

Does 24/7 Fire Monitoring Matter While You Sleep?

Smoke alarms are designed to wake people during a fire, but professional monitoring provides an additional response path. If an alarm is triggered while your family is sleeping, trained personnel can receive the signal rather than relying solely on someone inside the house to hear the alarm and make the call.

Nighttime fires are particularly concerning because occupants may have less time to recognize what is happening. The National Fire Protection Association notes that the majority of fatal home fires happen while people are asleep, which is one reason it recommends smoke alarms inside bedrooms, outside sleeping areas and on every level of the home.

A monitored system doesn’t replace those alarms. It simply adds another layer to them.

ADT’s monitored smoke and carbon monoxide detectors sound locally but can also generate alerts through the ADT+ app and communicate with ADT’s professional monitoring service. Compatible detectors can also trigger paired devices in the house, so they sound together (increasing the odds of them being heard).

Do You Need Professional Monitoring for Carbon Monoxide?

Professional monitoring is particularly valuable for carbon monoxide (CO) since it is invisible and odorless. These devices can signal a monitoring center when dangerous levels are detected rather than depending entirely on someone inside the home to respond.

This is important because carbon monoxide presents a different problem from smoke: your senses may provide no warning at all.

The CDC describes CO as an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. It also warns that people who are sleeping can die from CO poisoning before experiencing recognizable symptoms.

That’s why CO alarms themselves are essential.

The CPSC recommends installing battery-operated CO alarms or models with battery backup on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Interconnected alarms are preferred so that when one activates, they all sound.

ADT’s monitored CO detectors add remote notification and monitoring-center communication to that local alarm. ADT says its CO detectors operate continuously even when the security system is disarmed and can send an alarm to the monitoring center when professional monitoring is active.

What’s the Difference Between a Monitored and Unmonitored Smoke Detector?

Both monitored and unmonitored smoke detectors can sound an alarm inside your home. The major difference is that a professionally monitored detector can also communicate an emergency to a monitoring center, while an ordinary standalone alarm generally relies on someone nearby to hear and act on it.

Here are the major differences at a glance:

Feature

Standard Alarm

Professionally Monitored Alarm

Sounds inside the home?

Yes

Yes

Can wake sleeping occupants?

Yes

Yes

Works while you’re away?

Detects locally

Detects and can report an alarm remotely

Monitoring center notified?

No

Yes

App alerts?

Depends on device

Available with systems such as ADT

Professional response support?

No

Yes

That doesn’t make a standard smoke alarm inadequate. Properly installed, working smoke and CO alarms remain fundamental home safety equipment. Monitoring simply adds another way for an emergency to get noticed before it’s too late.

Is Professional Fire and Carbon Monoxide Monitoring Worth It?

Professional monitoring is worthwhile to homeowners who want someone else available to respond to smoke or carbon monoxide alarms around the clock, particularly when the house may be empty or family members could be asleep or unable to react quickly.

For some households, standalone alarms may be enough. But I would give professional monitoring serious consideration if:

• The house is frequently empty during the day
• You travel regularly
• You have pets home alone
• Children or older adults live in the home
• You want smoke, CO and intrusion monitoring in one system
• You don’t want to depend entirely on phone notifications for emergency situations

ADT’s combination detector can monitor smoke, carbon monoxide and heat, while providing audible, visual, voice and app alerts when paired with professional monitoring.

For homeowners already considering a monitored security system, adding life-safety detection may make more sense than maintaining completely separate systems.

The Bottom Line: Do You Need Monitored Smoke Detectors?

You absolutely need working smoke and CO alarms in the appropriate locations around your home. But professional monitoring is an added layer that can give you peace of mind.

It won’t prevent every fire or guarantee a particular emergency-response time. What it can do is make sure an alarm isn’t relying solely on you being home, awake and able to react. That’s the part I find most compelling.

A burglary alarm protects property. But smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring can address situations where minutes—and sometimes seconds—matter to the people inside the house.

If you want to see what monitored smoke, CO and home security protection would look like for your property, ADT offers free quotes and professional system recommendations.

There’s something about a great haircut that can make you feel like you’ve had a full beauty reset without actually changing all that much.

As we get older, finding that cut can become even more important. Hair naturally changes with age, from shifts in texture and density to grays that may behave differently than your original color, so the styles that once made your hair look effortlessly full and bouncy don’t always have the same effect decades later.

That doesn’t mean every woman over 60 needs to get a pixie or chop off all her length, though. The best haircuts for older women are the ones that work with your hair, whether that means adding strategic layers to fine strands, creating movement around the face or choosing a shape that makes thinning gray hair look voluminous rather than flat.

Some of the most youthful hairstyles for women over 60 right now are refreshingly unfussy. Think soft layered bobs, shoulder-length lobs with curtain bangs, modern bixies and wash-and-wear haircuts that look good without requiring a 45-minute blowout.

The goal isn’t to look younger so much as to look fresh, and to feel good about yourself. Your look can be current without chasing every TikTok haircut trend and flattering enough to make you want to keep the style long after you leave the salon. Ahead, a celebrity stylist shares the cuts that strike that sweet spot. Read on for nine youthful hairstyles for women over 60 that are flattering, modern and actually wearable.

Related: 7 Trendy Short Hairstyles for Women Over 50, According to Celebrity Hairstylists

The Stylist’s Secret: Why ‘Soft Texture’ Is the Ultimate Anti-Aging Tool

According to Amerah Underwood, pro stylist and co-founder of UMI Salon, the answer isn’t necessarily chasing a younger-looking haircut—it’s chasing movement.

After nearly 20 years behind the chair, she’s learned that “texture reads as youth” and “stiffness reads as age,” especially as hair naturally changes in texture and density.

Too much precision, like sharp lines, overly-sculpted styling or enough hairspray to qualify as a helmet, can make a style feel dated, while “soft texture, loose waves, broken-up layers” keep it looking alive, she says.

That movement also catches light from different angles, making hair appear fuller and more dimensional, while softer pieces around the jaw and cheekbones can flatter the face. Best of all, this slightly undone finish is forgiving. It can disguise thinning, hide regrowth and still look intentional when every strand refuses to cooperate.

In other words, the most youthful hairstyles for women over 60 aren’t necessarily the most polished ones—they’re the ones that still move.

Related: 7 Cutest Curly Hair Styles for Women Over 50, According to Celeb Hairstylists

9 Best Youthful Hairstyles for Women Over 60 1. Soft, textured pixie

Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

A pixie can go from chic to severe in about three seconds, which is why texture is everything here. This version a la Jamie Lee Curtis keeps “longer, disconnected pieces on top” with “softly graduated sides,” says Underwood, giving the cut shape without making it feel overly tight or uniform.

The “point-cut, razored ends” keep everything from looking “helmet-like” while drawing the eye “up and out,” creating that subtly lifted effect around the face. For styling, work a dime-size amount of texturizing paste through towel-dried hair and “rough-dry with fingers,” pushing the hair up and away from the face before finishing with “a light-hold spray.” The goal is piecey and sleek, not shellacked.

2. Chin bob with soft waves

Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images

The classic bob gets a much more modern personality when a little movement is added. According to Underwood, Jane Fonda’s ‘do is “blunt underneath but with internal layering,” so it maintains that gorgeous, substantial bob shape while still allowing the hair to move rather than sit stiffly around the face.

At chin length, the cut “hits at the most flattering point for most face shapes over 60,” skimming the jaw while staying short enough to feel fresh. To style it, set sections with a 1-inch curling iron, “alternating curl direction section by section,” Underwood says, then gently brush everything out to turn those curls into soft, loose waves.

3. Soft shag

Kate Green/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment

“This is one of my most favorite haircuts out there,” says Gina Rivera, celebrity stylist (who has worked behind-the-scenes at the Grammys, NBA All Star Week and the Coachella) and is founder of Phenix Salon Suites, and the soft shag makes a pretty convincing case for itself.

The “soft layers throughout the hair and crown” create “movement and texture,” especially on naturally wavy hair, Rivera says.

In fact, Gina loves that the shag creates movement “without doing the perfect blowout,” making it an especially good option for anyone craving a more effortless, youthful hairstyle.

Her styling advice is to “use a curl cream or light mousse,” then towel-dry and “begin to scrunch the hair with a diffuser,” or use your hands and let it air-dry. Just don’t go layer-crazy. Be sure to “avoid too many layers especially if the hair is fine,” since removing too much weight can make the hair “look flat,” warns Rivera.

4. Layered with soft-swept bangs

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for CinemaCon

Forget the heavy, ruler-straight bang that requires constant maintenance. This version from Diane Keaton features “long, feathered bangs swept to one side,” says Underwood, with the fringe blended seamlessly into the surrounding layers instead of creating a hard line across the forehead.

The effect is softer and more flattering, particularly because it “draws attention to the eyes” while giving the face some gentle framing. It’s a small change that can make a big difference without committing to a dramatic new cut.

For styling, Underwood recommends blow-drying the bangs “across the forehead with a round brush,” sweeping them off to one side, then use a cool shot to help set the direction.

5. Clavicut

Swan Gallet/WWD via Getty Images

Not ready to give up your length? Enter the clavicut. Rivera says this cut “hits right at the collarbone,” making it “not quite shoulder length and not as short as a bob,” and that in-between placement is exactly what gives it its charm.

The cut “gives the appearance of length without looking heavy,” so hair still has enough room to move without getting dragged down by excessive length.

To give it even more body, Rivera recommends using a volumizing mousse and or a gel, sometimes mixing the two “for extra body and hold.” After a round-brush blowout, add a “large barrel iron or flat iron to create bend or soft waves.” It’s the kind of cut that can handle a polished blowout or a slightly messy morning.

6. Textured lob

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Jennifer Aniston’s lob has “soft layering and a slightly undone, tousled finish,” says Underwood, making it a particularly easygoing choice for anyone who wants something current without looking like they’re trying too hard.

It’s “long enough to pull back for versatility, short enough to stay light and current,” which is basically the haircut equivalent of having it both ways. For an easy finish, air-dry with a texturizing mousse and “finger-tousle once dry.” If more definition is wanted, alternate curls with a 1.25-inch wand and loosen them afterward. No perfection required.

7. Wash & go curly crop

David Livingston/Getty Images

For naturally curly hair, there’s something wonderfully liberating about a cut that simply lets the curls do their thing.

Underwood notes that this short crop “follows the natural curl pattern rather than fighting it,” creating a soft, face-framing shape that feels intentional without requiring daily heat styling. Cutting with the curl instead of constantly trying to straighten it can be “transformative,” helping save time, works with the hair’s natural movement and lets curls bring their own volume to the look.

The at-home routine is refreshingly simple—apply curl cream to “soaking-wet hair,” scrunch upward, then air-dry or diffuse “on low heat.” And resist the urge to brush dry curls. The key to keeping that soft, lively texture is leaving the curl pattern intact.

8. Voluminous layered blowout

Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic

Sometimes the answer really is just more volume. This medium-to-long cut uses layers to create a big, bouncy silhouette, with the crown doing much of the heavy lifting.

According to Underwood, “volume at the crown is one of the fastest ways to look younger,” while the layers make that lift feel like part of the haircut rather than the result of an aggressive styling session.

The trick is to lift the roots “straight up and away from the scalp” with a round brush before shaping the ends with a medium round brush. A lightweight shine spray finishes things off nicely, but skip anything too oily or heavy—it can undo all that glorious bounce faster than you can say “volume.”

9. Side-swept pixie

Alessandro Levati/Getty Images

The side-swept pixie proves that short hair can still have plenty of softness and personality. Rivera describes this cut as “short with a longer fringe towards the front that is swept to one side,” creating a flattering diagonal that feels less severe than a traditional straight-across bang. Better yet, “the side swept hair draws attention to the eye,” giving the face an instant focal point while keeping the overall style light and feminine.

To recreate it, Rivera recommends drying the hair “towards the front,” then using “a molding paste” to direct the fringe to one side before finishing with hairspray. It’s short, sophisticated and just undone enough to feel decidedly not matronly.

Related: 7 Chic Short Hairstyles for Fall, According to Celebrity Hairstylists

The ‘Granny Cut’ Trap: 4 Hairstyles To Avoid After 60 1. Long, one-length hair with no layers

Long hair can be gorgeous at any age, but when it’s all one length with zero movement, it can start working against the face rather than with it. Underwood cautions that “without movement, length pulls the whole face down,” which can leave the hair looking “flat and heavy rather than youthful.”

That doesn’t mean women over 60 need to chop off all their length. Adding a few face-framing layers or soft movement can make a major difference. The goal is hair that moves with you, not hair that feels like it’s weighing everything down.

2. The severe, razor-sharp bob

A bob is absolutely not the problem here. It’s the ultra-severe version that can make the style feel more dated than modern. Underwood recommends avoiding “severe, blunt bobs cut razor-straight with no texture,” noting that “a hard geometric line can look more ‘costume’ than current,” particularly when paired with fine or thinning hair.

A softer bob with subtle texture, movement or a little bend keeps the structure while taking away that overly rigid effect. In other words, keep the bob, lose the geometry lesson.

3. Tight, uniform curls or perms

There’s nothing wrong with embracing curls, but the super-tight, perfectly uniform perm is one style that can instantly send a look backward. Underwood says “a dated, overly structured curl pattern reads instantly as an older style,” calling it one of the fastest “aging signals” in hair.

Modern curls tend to have more variation and movement, whether that means loose waves, natural curls or a softer perm with plenty of separation. The goal is texture that looks like hair—not a set of identical curls that seem to have been assigned their positions.

4. Heavy, flat bangs

Bangs can be fantastic for women over 60, but the wrong fringe can do the exact opposite of what you’re after. Underwood advises steering clear of “heavy, flat bangs cut straight across,” since they can “shorten the face” and, particularly on fine hair, end up looking “thin and stiff rather than soft.”

A longer curtain bang, side-swept fringe, or wispy face-framing layer creates a much lighter effect while still giving the eyes and forehead some flattering framing. Basically, bangs should move—not sit there like a curtain rod.

Up Next:

Related: 7 Best Hair Colors After 50 To Brighten and Rejuvenate Your Face, According to a Celebrity Stylist

Sources:

• Amerah Underwood, pro stylist and co-founder of UMI Salon
• Gina Rivera, celebrity stylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites

Despite playing enemies on Prime Video’s The Boys, Jack Quaid and Claudia Doumit are newlyweds.

Quaid, the son of Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, became romantically linked to Doumit in 2022 before going official on the 2024 Oscars red carpet. Although they’ve chosen to keep their relationship mostly out of the spotlight, Dennis briefly opened up to People about the couple’s wedding ceremony.

“It made me remember when I let Jack off at the airport when he went to [New York University in 2010],” Dennis said during a screening of Water Wars on Sept. 2. “It just, it really gets emotional. You remember everything all at once. That just takes you by surprise.”

Dennis and his wife, Ryan, finalized their divorce in 2001 after 10 years of marriage. In a 2023 interview with People, Jack noted that growing up, he had friends whose parents were in the film industry, so his childhood “didn’t really feel different.”

“But then you grow up, and you realize that’s a pretty unique thing, that not one but two of your parents are actors,” Jack said. “You don’t realize that things are slightly abnormal until later.”

In June, Jack opened up about his own wedding on Jimmy Kimmel Live! People described the ceremony as low-key, taking place at Mona Farm in Braidwood, Australia, in April.

“It was amazing. It was really fun,” Jack said before talking about the reception, which featured a mechanical bull. “I have an amazing shot of [my wife], full wedding dress, on a mechanical bull. It was amazing,” he said.

Doumit stunned in an off-white satin wedding dress, which can be seen in images posted by news.com.au. The outlet also reported that alongside Jack’s celebrity parents, stars like Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin and Kevin Costner were all in attendance.

Jack and his wife Doumit are also no strangers to the screen. In addition to starring in The Boys together, Jack is known for films like Scream, The Hunger Games, and Oppenheimer, while Doumit has appeared in Dylan & Zoey and Soulm8te.

As for Dennis, he recently narrated Water Wars, a documentary now streaming on Prime Video.

Longtime Hallmark Channel fan-favorite Brennan Elliott continues to bravely navigate the ups and downs of grief and single parenthood since the death of his wife, Camilla Row, who was 45.

After Row’s years-long battle with stage 4 gastric cancer ended with her passing in March 2025, Elliott took a break from working to grieve and tend to their kids, 14-year-old Liam and 12-year-old Luna. The beloved star returned to Hallmark Channel in June with his 32nd movie there, A Castle of Our Own.

Hallmark Channel star Brennan Elliott with his wife, Camilla Row, during a 2024 family outing.

Credit: Camilla Row/Instagram

Elliott, 51, told fans on Saturday, September 5, that he is a changed man, posting a photo of himself at home and letting his followers know how “blessed” he feels. The Mystery 101 star reminded fans not to fall for any online scams from imposters pretending to be him, and then declared, “Today is a day of appreciation.”

“As hard as the last 16 months have been personally and professionally,” Elliott wrote, “I wouldn’t have grown to be this honest and find my power of who I am as a man, and what I want in every area in my life as I do now! They say struggle and pain builds character and that is so correct!”

Elliott continued, “I appreciate all you fans who clamor for me to be on your tv and in the theatres every day and that is happening! Trust me! You’ll be seeing me very soon again!”

Wishing them a happy Labor Day weekend, Elliott reminded his followers again to beware of “imposters and manipulative evil people everywhere,” advising them, “Stand your ground! Know your worth! And don’t associate with the fake. Be YOU and surround yourself with good people. Not these damaged fake sick imposters! Love ❤️”

Brennan Elliott, Sophie Thom, Erica Cerra, and Sarah Sheehan in Hallmark Channel’s “A Castle of Our Own.”

Courtesy Muse Entertainment via Hallmark Media

Fans flooded Elliott’s post with love and appreciation for being so vulnerable. One wrote, “Happy for you! Although your struggles and pain got you here so did your heart and strength. To know what we don’t want in our life and not giving our energy to it is so liberating. 🙏💖✌️”

“Thanks so much for your thoughtful, heartfelt post,” another commented. “We are so grateful that you have and will continue to share your talent with us… you are such a fabulous person, actor and so much more!! Have a beautiful and safe holiday with your kiddos, too. Looking forward to seeing you at Christmas Con 🎄 ❤️.”

It’s not clear yet if Elliott will be part of Hallmark’s 2026 Countdown to Christmas lineup of movies, which will begin premiering on October 17. Though a handful of this year’s Christmas movies have been announced, including the first one—Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story—the full list is expected to be announced soon.

Before Rowan Atkinson was shaving his tongue—yes, you read that right—as his wacky character Mr. Bean, few may know the true origin of one of both the television and movie industry’s most off-the-wall classics.

It all traces back to French actor Jacques Tati’s portrayal of the character Monsieur Hulot in the film Mr. Hulot’s Holiday, a tall, awkward, and good-natured man who rarely makes a peep and innocently stumbles his way into one mishap after another with a borderline Three-Stooges-type of humor.

Related: Julia Roberts’ Breakout Movie Made This Pizza Shop Famous—Now the Town Is Ranked America’s ‘Best Small Town’ 38 Years Later

Rather than relying on dialogue, his mannerisms, movements, and everyday surroundings do much of the comedic heavy lifting—a style that left a lasting impression on Atkinson, according to a LA Times interview.

Flash forward to today, and Mr. Bean’s two feature films, Bean and Mr. Bean’s Holiday, have grossed more than $491 million worldwide, so there’s no question why Atkinson feels obligated to honor the man who helped lay the groundwork for his most famous character.

The Mr. Bean star will join one of the U.K.’s longest-running rural film festivals this fall for a special day dedicated to Tati at The Mowlem theatre in Swanage, England.

The tribute is part of the Purbeck Film Festival’s 30th anniversary celebration, which runs from October 16 through November 1 with screenings and events scattered across Dorset—from village halls and restaurants to secret gardens and stately homes.

Related: 2000 Film, Named Among Best Sports Movies, Was One of Hayden Panettiere’s Biggest Breakout Roles

And Atkinson won’t be the only recognizable name tied to this year’s festivities. BAFTA-winning director Philippa Lowthorpe will present her adaptation of H Is for Hawk, starring Claire Foy, while Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes and actor and playwright Mark Rylance serve as patrons of the festival.

But you know Atkinson will be the one cracking up the crowd.

Elizabeth Smart is proving she’s stronger and more confident than ever. On Saturday, September 5, the best-selling author posted a video from her latest bodybuilding competition, and her followers flooded her with compliments.

In June 2002, Smart became a household name when she was kidnapped at knifepoint from her Salt Lake City bedroom at age 14. She remained missing for nine months, until rescuers miraculously located her in March 2003. As an adult, she has become an advocate for survivors of sexual assault through her Elizabeth Smart Foundation and topped The New York Times best-seller list with her 2013 book, My Story.

More recently, Smart worked with Netflix on the documentary Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, released in January, and has surprised many by dedicating herself to bodybuilding, even winning her first competition in April.

Smart had a “blast” at her latest competition, but did not rank as well, admitting in her post that she “placed at the bottom” of both classes she competed in: Masters 35+ (she’s now 38) and Open Class D, which she said is “height-based.”

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“Regardless where I placed, I loved the whole experience,” Smart wrote in the caption of her post, praising her coach and best friend, whom she called “the best support squad in the audience I could ask for.”

“I brought a better physique and stage presence than at my previous shows,” Smart noted, “and I’m so proud of myself for the hard work, discipline, and bravery it takes me to compete. So here’s to pursuing goals and not giving up!”

Elizabeth Smart Is Flooded With Compliments & Gratitude From Followers Elizabeth Smart attends a ceremony on April 30, 2003 at the Rose Garden of the White House as President George W. Bush signs into law the Amber Alert package which would create a system to help find kidnapped children and impose tougher penalties on child abusers, kidnappers and pornographers.

Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

Smart’s post wowed and inspired many on social media, with an outpouring of love showing up in her comment section.

“Elizabeth, I am actually crying,” one person wrote. “I was already a mother of two when you were abducted. I worried and prayed, along with your family and the whole country. Rejoiced when you were found!! But to see you now, well-adjusted, thriving, helping and teaching others, and NOW THIS! To see you fully owning and celebrating your strong, healthy body is so wonderful! You are showing me that people really can overcome abuse and learn to thrive! 🍀💐💞🏋🏼‍♀️🏋🏼‍♀️🏋🏼‍♀️”

Someone else credited Smart with helping her heal from her own trauma, writing, “I just did my second show a few weeks ago, and I owe that to you. You are a powerhouse of inspiration for survivors. My body got me through a shooting and I decided, instead of giving up, I’d celebrate being alive. 💙🙏”

Many also highlighted how strong and healthy Smart looks, including one who gushed, “I have to say (with full honesty) that out of all body builders I’ve seen, you look the best. Seriously. Beautiful. Not overdone. Stunning.”

Before Smart’s documentary premiered on Netflix, she wrote on social media that her goal was to help ensure that other survivors “don’t have to be ashamed of what happened to them,” and that others might “gain compassion and understanding for other families who are going through this.”

She concluded, “I also hope it brings comfort that there are happy endings — and that even after terrible things happen, you can still have a wonderful life.”

In the spring of 1975, folk-rock trio America released “Sister Golden Hair,” the lead single from their fifth studio album, Hearts, and it quickly became one of the most enduring soft-rock tracks of the decade.

Written by Gerry Beckley and produced by legendary Beatles producer George Martin, the song was an instant smash. It surged up the Billboard Hot 100 and, in less than two months, took the No. 1 spot on July 14, 1975, making Beckley, Dewey Bunnell, and Dan Peek stars.

The LP and song were so beloved that they sparked an album reissue in 2025. The website Rock and Roll Globe reported, “The Sir George Martin-produced Hearts still ranks as one of America’s most memorable LPs, having spawned the hits ‘Daisy Jane’ and ‘Sister Golden Hair.'”

The site continued, “Those two songs alone offer reason for a revisit, but the current expanded version adds further temptation, courtesy of varied versions of the original songs; some with strings, another with simply acoustic guitar and a take on “Sister Golden Hair” (“Con Tu Pelo Tan Dorado”) en Espanol.”

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“Sister Golden Hair” might have been a runaway hit, but it lingered in Beckley’s back pocket for a year before it was released, reported Rhino Records.

“I can’t really tell you if it was a lack of faith in the song or not, but it was interesting to see,” Beckley told Songfacts. “It shows you that songs can have a life of their own. They might just need the right time and circumstances to surface.”

The song’s true muse has been a hot topic among music fans for decades. Over the years, speculation has swirled around the woman—or women—who inspired the classic track.

However, Beckley called his description of “Sister Golden Hair” nothing more than ” poetic license.” He added, “With ‘Sister Golden Hair,’ as far as my folks were concerned, I was writing a song about my sister, and I couldn’t quite fathom it; they must not have listened to the lyrics.”

He added, “‘Sister’ was a relationship song, and there is a variety of elements. We always combine them as songwriters so that they’re not verbatim, word for word, for a particular circumstance.”

For Guitar Player, Beckley concluded, “The song went to number one, which felt pretty good. What’s nice is that America had two number one hits. Dewey wrote one, and I wrote the other. I think that helped strengthen the band’s stability. The best thing about a partnership is when you’re partners. We’ve always felt like we contribute equally.”

America is currently on the road performing across North America for their Happy Trails Tour 2026.

Related: 1975 Perfect Honky Tonk Classic Was Just Named One of the Greatest Country Songs of the Decade

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With the right touches, every room can tell your story and spark a little everyday joy. But sometimes a full overhaul can feel overwhelming. Luckily, a simple change in bedding can really upgrade your room. If you’re craving a bedroom refresh that channels the comfort of yesteryear, Eddie Bauer’s Garden Bloom Cotton Quilt Set might be the closest thing to a time machine. 

Now a jaw-dropping 84% off in the queen size (just $21, down from $134), this is a deal that feels as dreamy as the bedding itself. This quilt set is pure floral nostalgia, but with a modern twist. There are four timeless patterns available that evoke the botanical illustrations you would find in a vintage field guide. Shoppers can choose from motifs featuring painterly blooms, fish, detailed moths, and gentle greenery in muted, soothing shades of green, brown, and blue. 

Eddie Bauer Garden Bloom Cotton Quilt Set, From $21 (was $134) at Wayfair

Courtesy of Wayfair

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The Garden Bloom quilt’s versatility is another reason it has become a customer favorite. Toss it over your bed for instant vintage-meets-modern style, use it as a cozy, oversized throw for lazy afternoons on the couch, or even bring it along for a dreamy picnic in the park. 

“I love this cotton quilt!” one shopper stated. “It washed and dried beautifully in my machines, and will soften up even more with time. Perfect for using as a large throw on our couch!”

Of course, Eddie Bauer’s quality is legendary, and this set is no exception. The quilt is crafted from 100% cotton with a plain weave for a soft, smooth, and breathable feel that is perfect in every season. The lightweight fill, made with 80% cotton and 20% polyester, provides a light amount of warmth for snuggling up in winter or layering in summer. Rounded corners and diamond quilt stitching add a tailored, hand-crafted touch you will notice every time you make the bed.

Practicality is part of the charm here. The set comes with matching shams (one for the twin size and two for the full, queen, or king sets). They all feature a clever two-piece back closure that keeps your pillows perfectly in place. The set is machine washable and arrives with no plastic packaging either, so it’s a win for sustainability.

Related: Wayfair Has a 5-Drawer Dresser for 71% Off With ‘Plenty of Storage’ for Bulky Fall Sweaters and Jeans

Shoppers said this “super soft” quilt has a “beautiful pattern” that was “the thing for pulling my room together.” Other reviewers highlighted the “great colors” and “high-quality” design.

Shop More Deals

• Martha Stewart Eloise Floral Duvet Cover Set, $73 (was $167) at Wayfair
• Ophelia & Co. Runner Rug, $107 (was $300) at Wayfair
• Gracie Oaks Toyoko Linen Blend Semi-Sheer Curtains, $36 (were $46) at Wayfair

At 84% off, this is more than a steal. It is a chance to bring a little floral magic and some serious comfort into your home. Whether you want a bedroom upgrade or the perfect gift, Eddie Bauer’s Garden Bloom Cotton Quilt Set is ready to make every day feel like a fresh start.

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Living in Chicago my whole life, I have been lucky enough to have some pretty cool shopping experiences at my fingertips, especially in my childhood. We had one of the few American Girl Stores in the United States at the time, along with a massive Disney Store on the Mag Mile, and several big malls within driving distance. And for a couple of years in the late ’90s, you didn’t have to fly to Orlando, FL, for a fun, immersive experience either, with Disney Quest in Downtown Chicago, too. 

It might be the nostalgia talking, but it felt like there were many more whimsical and engaging events or spaces my parents could take me to as a kid in the ’90s and early 2000s than there are now. It makes adulthood feel even more like a loss of magic, with such a void of imaginative places available to shop at, eat at and play in. 

And when I consider that, I also remember memorable shopping trips to our favorite suburban mall, which included now-defunct stores like The Nickelodeon Store and the Warner Bros. Studio Store. Outside of smacking my head pretty hard into the entrance of the massive play place they had inside the WB store, it was one of my favorite places at the time. Which got me thinking: why did it close? Whatever happened to the Warner Bros. Studio Store?

The reasoning behind the store itself, along with why it declined and no longer exists anywhere—along with other similar shops like The Disney Store and The Nickelodeon Store, which suffered similar fates—are really interesting, and include a shifting retail landscape, lack of revenue and changing times. Read on to find out more about the once-promising Warner Bros. Studio Store and what led to its closure 25 years ago. 

Related: This Toy Defined Summer 1998—and Still Flies Off the Shelves Today

The Golden Era: Inside the 1990s Warner Bros. Studio Store Customers walk through the Wacky ACME labs of the Warner Bros. Studio store on Oct. 23, 1996, in New York City.

Evan Agostini/Liaison

From my preschool-aged memory, I remember walking into the Warner Bros. Studio Store to massive statues of iconic WB characters everywhere. From Superman and Wonder Woman mid-flight over shirt racks to Bugs Bunny in various outfits throughout the store, to even a Gremlin climbing the walls post-water form. The Disney Store in the same mall was similar in how detailed its decor was, but the WB store seemed bigger with a more eclectic mix of IP merch available—not to mention it had a play area that was Marvin the Martian’s ship. 

It wasn’t massive with tons of tubes and slides like the McDonald’s PlayPlace had. But the outside looked like something out of the Looney Tunes cartoons, and it was more “high-tech” with buttons that made fun sound effects inside along with a TV screen showing episodes of the beloved cartoon. There were many other interactive places like this throughout the store too. And if you were in one of the bigger stores, there were whole ACME lab setups. 

Looney Tunes merchandise on display at the Warner Bros. Studio store on Oct. 23, 1996, in New York City.

Evan Agostini/Liaison

A big online consensus now is “Why aren’t stores this cool anymore?” And that was kind of the point of creating this emporium of sorts in the first place.

A 1994 article in Billboard magazine noted that the Warner Bros. Store was part of a rise in “showcase stores,” following Disney, MGM and Nike. The reason for these companies wanting to establish their own corporate storefronts was to cut out the “middle man” of big-box retail stores. So instead of selling their products at department stores or places like K-Mart or Walmart, they sold them directly from their own brick-and-mortar stores to potentially gain more revenue. They were “designed to entertain” while also turning a profit and providing “testing grounds” for new products and “merchandising techniques.” They also reported that, while some of these shops—like Sony and Nike—were more for promotional purposes, the Warner Bros. and Disney stores were “profit-driven.” 

As Billboard reported, the first Warner Bros. Studio Store opened in 1991 at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles, CA. They grew to 61 storefronts by the end of 1993, with six of those shops being in the UK. 

At least for the flagship store in Times Square in New York City, the “project architects sought to marry Hollywood drama with New York City elegance, as well as replicate the excitement of a movie studio set.”

UPI reported in 1991 that the shop opened with 2,500 items that were store-exclusive; according to the Billboard article, by 1994 they had 3,000 items ranging from apparel, home accessories, books, videos, toys, posters, collectibles and more. At the store’s peak, it had 130 stores worldwide, per the Los Angeles Times.

One of the popular shops was located on the ground/underground level of the World Trade Center and was destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A few statues from the store, including a Bugs Bunny figure, survived and are now on display at the World Trade Center museum. 

Why the WB Studio Store Vanished 25 Years Ago

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

As the Los Angeles Times reported on July 7, 2001, all Warner Bros. Studio Stores were set to close. At the time all of the shops were shutting down, there were still 85 U.S. stores. 

According to Animation America, even though the store had major appeal to kids and adults, and they had some of the most notable IPs to sell imaginable—Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Harry Potter, DC Comics, to name just a few—they overextended themselves in certain areas. Plus, once online shopping became a thing in the early 2000s, fragile brick-and-mortar businesses were feeling that the most, including the Warner Bros. Studio Store. As the Chicago Tribune reported in 2001, the store also seemed to hinge on the “wow” factor of almost bringing the extravagance of a theme park to your local mall. But “once you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it,” as one person told the publication. And with a high price tag to continue operating, and not enough revenue coming in, it ended up not being worth it in the end. 

But the nail in the coffin, so to speak, came when Warner Bros. merged with Time Warner, and then they merged with AOL. They cut lots of costs, jobs and more, meaning that their shop was one of the things on the chopping block.

Related: This 28-Year-Old Children’s Show Is Still One of the Best Ways To Teach Your Kids Life Skills, Psychologists Say

What Replaced It: The Evolution of Experiential Retail

As for what replaced it or where the legacy of this emporium lies, nothing from the studio ever came and took its place. Instead, in terms of selling merchandise to the greater United States (and not just at amusement parks or backlot studios), the company went back to selling its products through other major retailers. As you probably already know, you can walk into any Walmart or Target and find merchandise from one of their many characters, like Bugs Bunny, Batman, Scooby-Doo and more. 

And if you want your fix on WB collectibles, home goods, graphic t-shirts and kitchy merchandise (such as tumblers, hair accessories, etc.), you can pop over to a Hot Topic, Spencer’s or BoxLunch. Plus, you can browse any of the above stores’ websites online.

But in terms of interactive or immersive Warner Bros. shopping experiences, the company is now doing more experimental retail moments. In addition to more pop-ups in recent years, they also have brick-and-mortar stores for specific franchises, such as the Harry Potter store in New York City (or the one that just opened in Chicago). 

Related: I Brought Back One ’90s Family Tradition for a Month—And My Kids Didn’t Want To Stop

Where WB Nostalgia Lives Today: Collectibles & Secondary Markets A view of products on display in the Warner Bros. Studio Store, during the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood Grand Re-Opening at Warner Bros. Studios on June 24, 2021, in Burbank, CA.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

With all that said, there is still a literal Warner Bros. Studio Store that still exists. It’s located in their backlot studios in Burbank, CA, and is meant for people after they go on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood. Any franchise that falls under the WB’s ownership has merchandise there, from Friends to Gilmore Girls to the Barbie movie, and more (on top of their iconic IPs like Looney Tunes, the DC Universe and more). It doesn’t look as immersive as the late-90s store that I remember, but the items they sell definitely fit the bill of exclusive and expansive items related to their characters. 

And considering they were sort of pushed out by the online shopping boom of the early aughts, it only makes sense that they have a WB Shop online where you can find anything from Practical Magic 2 to House of the Dragon and more. As Animation America pointed out, the studio seems to toy with pop-up stores here and there. And places like Universal Studios and Six Flags parks still have retail locations with similar things to offer. You can also always go to eBay for collectibles or nostalgic WB finds.

The Warner Bros. Studio Store was such a wonder for me at the age of 4, and nothing outside of amusement parks has really ever come close to it. As an adult, I guess it makes sense why it didn’t prosper or stay around longer. But it doesn’t make the nostalgia any less potent when seeing photos of and thinking about the defunct WB Studio Store. At least those of us who got to experience this emporium of sorts have the memories.

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Related: 25 Popular Toys Every Kid Wanted in the 1990s

Nearly 50 years after the release of “Just What I Needed,” The Cars‘ 1978 hit is being celebrated for the band’s guitarist Elliot Easton‘s excellent playing.

In May 2026, Rolling Stone published a ranking of “The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time,” which highlighted songs like “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC, Nirvana‘s “Heart-Shaped Box,” “Albatross” by Fleetwood Mac, The Kinks‘ “You Really Got Me,” and “Little Wing” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The publication ranked “Just What I Needed,” off the band’s first album, The Cars, at the list’s 75th spot.

Ultimate Classic Rock reported that Greg Hawkes, the keyboardist of The Cars, shared that he immediately thought the Ric Ocasek-penned track, which secured the number 27 Billboard Hot 100 spot in September 1978, had a certain uniqueness and coolness to it.

“I remember hearing ‘Just What I Needed,’ the first time I heard it, thinking, ‘Wow, that’s pretty cool. It’s got something unique about it. It’s nice and concise, a fairly short pop song format.’ I still remember hearing that for the first time,” said Hawkes in a 2000 interview, as reported by Ultimate Classic Rock.

Elliot Easton Spoke About Recording Guitar Solos for The Cars Albums

Ultimate Classic Rock reported that Easton, now 72, discussed recording guitar solos for producer Roy Thomas Baker, who was behind the production of The Cars album, the band’s 1979 record, Candy-O, 1980’s Panorama, and Shake It Up, released in 1981, while speaking to the publication.

“He’s going for a very difficult thing to capture in a performance. For a guitar solo, what he’s going for are sort of contradictory things; he wanted absolute perfection, yet spontaneity,” said Easton during the Ultimate Classic Rock interview. “He wants to sound like you just walked in the room, took the guitar off the stand and ripped off a solo, but he wants it to be a perfect solo. You have to kind of put yourself in that mindset, because obviously I wasn’t improvising all those solos. I was writing them.”

In September 1971, Five Man Electrical Band was riding high after its signature rock song, “Signs,” had just peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The breakthrough gave the Canadian rock band its biggest U.S. hit and turned a song about rules, conformity, and personal freedom into an international success.

Originally released as a B-side track to “Hello Melinda, Goodbye,” from the band’s second studio album, 1970’s Good-byes and Butterflies, the song was flipped to the A-side in 1971 after deejays began favoring it. And the move paid off: The single sold more than a million copies, earned Gold certification from the RIAA, and began a confident ascent up the all-genre chart.

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According to Songfacts, inspiration for “Signs” struck while the band’s chief songwriter, Les Emmerson, was driving down Route 66 toward Los Angeles. Annoyed at the amount of signage lining the historic highway, obscuring his scenic view, he pulled over and wrote down the bones for the song.

“The whole song was right in front of me,” he said, per Rolling Stone, “I just had to stop and write the song down. … That song broke every radio rule going. The record label said that the song was too long and it took too long to get to the chorus. Yet record producer Dallas Smith believed in the song and fought for it. That was the only reason it got released.”

Structured over a series of encounters with restrictive signs, the song features one sign warning against trespassing, another declaring that “long-haired freaky people need not apply” for work, and another requiring a shirt and tie to eat at a restaurant. The hit culminates at church, where the narrator encounters yet another sign, this one asking for donations. Unable to contribute, he ultimately makes his own cardboard sign declaring his gratitude for being alive.

Nearly two decades later, “Signs” got an unexpected second life, courtesy of American hard rock band Tesla. Recorded at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia, Tesla’s famous acoustic cover of the counterculture protest anthem was released in November 1990 on their live album Five Man Acoustical Jam, and whadya know, it became their biggest song, too.

The idea came while Tesla was touring with Mötley Crüe in 1990. During downtime, the band recorded some cover songs acoustically. In an interview with Songfacts, frontman Jeff Keith shared why he chose “Signs.”

“I still remember sitting in a buddy’s car in Oklahoma and listening to ‘Signs,’” he said. “The song was big there. … Because Five Man Electrical Band did the original ‘Signs,’ we titled the record Five Man Acoustical Jam.”

Tesla’s version became a massive radio hit in its own right, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Mainstream Rock chart. It remains the band’s highest-charting Hot 100 single, and it effectively gave the Five Man Electrical Band original a second life with a new generation of rock listeners.

Not bad for a song about “long-haired freaky people.”

Related: ’70s Rocker, Discovered by Deep Purple, Was Murdered 39 Years Ago—and His Killer Walked Free

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I have nothing against pumpkin spice—truly. I’m not here to start a feud with a latte. But when fall rolls around, pumpkin spice just isn’t where my taste buds immediately wander. Maybe I’m a little more interested in the supporting cast—the flavors that show up every autumn without demanding that every candle, coffee and baked good smell exactly the same. I’m talking about crisp apples, maple, warm cinnamon, toasted pecans and, of course, salted caramel, which might just be the fall flavor that isn’t talked about nearly enough.

That sweet-meets-salty combination feels positively made for sweater weather, whether it’s drizzled over an apple dessert or swirled into your morning coffee. And unlike pumpkin spice, salted caramel doesn’t need to announce that it’s fall. It just quietly makes everything taste better. So while pumpkin spice can have its seasonal moment in the spotlight, I’m perfectly happy exploring the rest of the flavor lineup.

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Rising Star Baking Supply Salted Caramel Baker’s Syrup, $9.98 at Sam’s Club Shop It!

If that exploration just so happens to involve a bottle of Rising Star Baking Supply Salted Caramel Baker’s Syrup at Sam’s Club, consider me very willing to investigate. This syrup is new to shelves and will be available on an ongoing basis, so no worries about it disappearing when fall leads into winter. It has that rich caramel flavor with just a hint of sea salt that really cuts through the sweetness and makes the caramel pop.

Related: Aldi’s 2-Tier Floral Server Brings Dainty Fall Energy to Your Table

Not only that, but this is one versatile syrup. You can just as easily use it in your baked goods as you might to flavor a beverage or even pour over dessert (hello, ice cream).

“I put this on everything—lattes, ice cream sundaes, Belgian waffles, etc, for a yummy sweet and salty twist,” says a Sam’s Club shopper in their review. “I love that the ingredients are clean. It’s also a great value—a little goes a long way.”

The salted caramel syrup, which comes in an eight-ounce squeeze bottle, joins other flavorful offerings from Rising Star Baking Supply. I also love the brand’s Squeezable Vanilla Bean Paste, which is incredible in baked goods when you want a more pronounced vanilla flavor than a typical extract offers.

So, go ahead, buck the pumpkin spice trend just a little and pick up some salted caramel deliciousness—you’ll be so glad you did.

Related: Dollar General’s $8 Glass Pumpkin Jars Are the Elegant Way to Decorate This Fall

Well, it seems some songs predict their own future. That is what happened this summer to a smooth, string-swept ballad that Lenny Kravitz first released when most of its newest fans had not been born.

On September 1, TikTok named Kravitz’s “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over” the No. 3 U.S. Song of the Summer for 2026, placing a 1991 recording alongside far newer tracks on a list defined by nostalgia. The platform credited a surge of videos set to the song, many sparked after it appeared in FX‘s limited series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. Part of its revival traces to a lighthearted trend in which creators, and sometimes their pets, pointedly ignore someone calling their name.

“It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over” arrived in June 1991 as the second single from Mama Said, Kravitz’s second album, and it remains the highest-charting song of his career. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, kept from the top spot only by Bryan Adams‘ “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You.” It was his first Top 10 hit, a retro-soul turn built on Motown and Philly-soul influences, with a closing horn line played by the Phenix Horns of Earth, Wind & Fire. Kravitz produced the track himself and played most of its instruments, and the title came from a Yogi Berra line about never counting anything out before the end.

Related: Faith No More’s Frontman Just Joined ‘The Sixth Sense’ Child Star On An Album

The song has proven that idea repeatedly. It has stayed a radio and playlist staple for decades, and Kravitz has kept it alive on stage, including a Madison Square Garden duet with Dua Lipa on her recent tour. Now it sits inside a ranking where the entire top of the U.S. list leaned on catalog music, with Katy Perry’s “The One That Got Away” at No. 1 and Mac Miller’s “Cinderella” at No. 2.

Kravitz, who turned 62 this year, has spent 2026 on the road with a new tour, and the renewed attention lands as he continues to headline arenas worldwide. He has spoken over the years about the song’s staying power, once saying it had a “classic vibe” the day he wrote it.

The audience rediscovering the track now is largely doing what earlier listeners did, applying it to what’s going on in their own lives. A song that finished one spot short of No. 1 in 1991 has outlasted nearly everything that beat it that year, and a new generation is treating it like a new jam.

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Growing up in rural Louisiana gave Tony Joe White plenty of material for songs, but few pieces of his childhood would prove as valuable as a wild plant his family sometimes ate for dinner.

White turned those memories into “Polk Salad Annie,” a gritty portrait of Southern life that he wrote and recorded in 1968. The song became his breakthrough when it climbed into the Top 10 the following year, and before long, Elvis Presley was delivering his own electrifying interpretation onstage.

White knew the world described in the song firsthand.

Born in Oak Grove, Louisiana, he grew up in a large family on a cotton farm. Pokeweed, or “polk,” as White knew it, grew wild in the region, and its young leaves could be prepared as food after careful cooking. White drew on that experience while creating Annie, the tough Louisiana woman at the center of his song.

“You can only eat the leaves if they’re cooked right, and you can’t eat the berries, they’re poisonous,” White told American Songwriter. “They don’t get berries until later in the year. In the spring it’s big ol’ green leaves, with no berries, and you can eat it.”

The recording also helped define a sound that became closely associated with White.

Built around a lean guitar groove, prominent bass, and his deep, conversational vocal, “Polk Salad Annie” blended rock, blues, country, and Southern soul. White became known as one of the leading practitioners of swamp rock, a style perfectly suited to the song’s humid Louisiana atmosphere.

Success didn’t arrive immediately.

“Polk Salad Annie” was released in June 1969, but it took months to gain momentum. As radio stations gradually picked it up, the single began climbing the charts, debuting at No. 86 in July on the Billboard Hot 100 before eventually peaking No. 8 in August. This gives White the biggest pop hit of his career.

“Polk was actually 3-4 different girls that lived around the river at the time that I went to school with,” White told Jazz Weekly. “They all liked it; all four of ’em ’cause they all knew it was about them. The one named Annie actually came to a show in Oakland, California. By then I was out happenin’ with Creedence Clearwater, touring together. They came to the show and brought people with them; they had old man Willis’ daughter and Annie. We had a lot of talk, a lot of fun and laughing. I was kind of relieved ‘cause I thought they maybe they’d be comin’ back there to whoop my a– for putting them on tape! But it worked out good.”

Then Elvis got hold of it.

Presley began performing “Polk Salad Annie” during his Las Vegas engagements in 1970, turning White’s tightly wound recording into a dramatic live showcase. A performance appeared on Presley’s 1970 album On Stage, helping introduce the song to an even wider audience.

“‘Polk Salad Annie’ was out for a year and a half and [someone] said ‘Elvis is getting ready to do Polk Salad Annie’ and I thought ‘Man, what a big world this is,'” White recalled. “All these songs like ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ that he’s doing and then he’s gonna do ‘Polk’ live in Las Vegas. They flew a plane down to Memphis, picked me and my wife up. We stayed a whole week in Las Vegas and watched Elvis do it every night on stage. And he always treated me real good. It was a cool thing, man.”

Presley wasn’t the only major artist to recognize White’s songwriting. Brook Benton scored a hit with the White-penned “Rainy Night in Georgia,” while artists including Tina Turner would later record his work.

Fifty-eight years after White first recorded “Polk Salad Annie,” its slinky groove and vivid storytelling still sound unmistakably his own. Elvis gave the song another famous life, but its roots remained firmly planted in the Louisiana childhood that White transformed into an enduring rock classic.

Related: 1971 Rock Song by Genesis, Lasting Over 10 Minutes, Is Still a Powerful Hit 55 Years Later

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If your heating or air-conditioning system seems to run constantly, your windows may need to be replaced.

Older single-pane windows allow heat to move through the glass more easily than modern energy-efficient windows. Air leaks around aging frames and sashes can worsen the problem, leaving rooms drafty in winter or unusually warm in summer.

So, can replacement windows really lower energy bills enough to make a difference? Yes, especially when replacing inefficient single-pane windows. But homeowners should be wary of promises that new windows will dramatically cut every utility bill.

A more practical question is: How much room for improvement do your current windows actually have?

If you’re wondering whether your existing windows are costing you energy, Renewal by Andersen offers a free in-home consultation that includes an evaluation of your current windows and an exact project price in writing.

How Much Can Replacement Windows Lower Your Energy Bills?

Replacing old single-pane windows with ENERGY STAR-certified models can lower household energy bills by an average of up to 13% nationwide. Actual savings vary based on climate, existing window condition, glass performance, air leakage and household heating and cooling use.

That 13% figure is an average, not a guarantee.

A homeowner replacing extremely inefficient single-pane windows has more room for improvement than someone replacing reasonably efficient double-pane units.

The Department of Energy has also found that replacing older single-pane windows with modern double-pane windows can substantially reduce energy lost through the window itself. Long-term testing cited by DOE found that a modern double-pane replacement window saved nearly half of the energy that had previously been lost through the tested single-pane wood window.

That refers to window-level energy loss, not a 50% reduction in your total household utility bill.

Which Homes Save the Most With Replacement Windows?

Homes with old single-pane windows, noticeable drafts, deteriorating frames or inefficient clear-glass windows generally have more potential for energy savings than homes with newer insulated windows.

Climate, window orientation, shading and HVAC efficiency also affect the result.

Your Existing Windows

Potential Benefit From Replacement

What to Consider

Old single-pane windows

Highest potential

ENERGY STAR says replacement can cut household energy bills by up to 13% on average

Drafty or deteriorating windows

Potentially significant

Air leakage may increase heating and cooling demand

Older, clear double-pane windows

Moderate potential

Modern Low-E glass may improve thermal performance

Newer, efficient double-pane windows

Smaller energy-only benefit

Replacement may make more sense for damage, comfort or appearance

Windows with failed seals or condensation between panes

Worth evaluating

Insulating performance may have deteriorated

The condition of your existing windows sets the baseline. That is why identical replacement windows can produce very different results from one house to another.

How Do Energy-Efficient Windows Reduce Heating and Cooling Costs?

Energy-efficient windows reduce heat transfer through the glass and frame, while proper installation limits unwanted air leakage. Low-emissivity coatings, insulated glass and improved frames also reduce the workload placed on heating and cooling equipment.

Low-E coatings, for example, are designed to control radiant heat transfer without blocking your view.

Renewal by Andersen offers several Low-E4 glass options designed for different climates. Its Low-E4 glass is marketed for heating and cooling climates, while SmartSun glass is designed to reduce solar heat gain in hotter conditions. The company’s Enhanced Triple Pane option provides additional insulation for colder climates.

Renewal by Andersen also uses its proprietary Fibrex composite material for window frames rather than conventional vinyl.

Glass and framing matter, but installation affects how well those components perform once the window is in place.

Does Window Installation Affect Energy Efficiency?

Yes. Even an energy-efficient window can underperform if it isn’t properly sized, fitted and sealed.

ENERGY STAR notes that windows must be installed correctly and warns that poor installation can allow water to leak into walls.

Renewal by Andersen takes a full-service approach. A project technician takes detailed window and framing measurements before the windows are custom-ordered, and Renewal by Andersen handles professional installation as part of the same project.

That matters because energy performance depends on the complete installed window, not just the glass specification.

If drafts, uneven room temperatures or visibly aging windows have you wondering how much efficiency you’re losing, Renewal by Andersen can evaluate the existing openings during a free consultation and recommend glass options for your home’s needs.

Are Renewal by Andersen Windows Energy Efficient?

Yes. Renewal by Andersen offers multiple energy-efficient glass configurations, including Low-E4, SmartSun and Enhanced Triple Pane options.

Select configurations meet ENERGY STAR requirements, while the company’s Fibrex composite frames are designed to provide strength and thermal performance as part of the complete window system.

New Windows From Renewal by Andersen

Renewal by Andersen

Professional window replacement from Renewal by Andersen can help you save money on your utility bills.

Get a Quote Now

Will Replacement Windows Pay for Themselves?

Replacement windows can reduce energy costs, but utility savings alone may not repay the full project cost.

Homeowners also replace windows because of drafts, condensation, difficult operation, maintenance issues or aging frames. If replacement is already necessary, choosing efficient windows gives you the opportunity to improve comfort and reduce energy loss simultaneously.

Can Replacement Windows Lower Energy Bills?

Yes. Replacement windows can lower energy bills, especially when old single-pane or otherwise inefficient windows are being replaced.

The clearest nationwide benchmark comes from ENERGY STAR: up to 13% average household energy-bill savings when old single-pane windows are replaced with ENERGY STAR-certified products.

Actual savings, however, depend on your climate, existing windows, glass package and installation quality.

For homeowners dealing with drafts, aging frames or uncomfortable rooms, the next step is determining how much improvement a replacement project could provide in that specific home.

Renewal by Andersen offers a free in-home consultation where a design consultant can evaluate your current windows, discuss energy-efficient options and provide an exact replacement price in writing.

Some of the late musician John Denver‘s most beloved songs are featured on his acclaimed 1974 album, Back Home Again, including “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” “Annie’s Song,” and “Sweet Surrender.”

While “Sweet Surrender” didn’t reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, like “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” and “Annie’s Song,” it was still popular, securing the 13th spot on the chart in February 1975.

Denver discussed his songwriting during an interview following his induction at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner in 1996. He said he appreciated being able to share his songs with fans.

“Music is the universal language, and to have the sense that you tap into that on occasion in a way that contributes to people’s lives is a wonderful, wonderful thing … It’s an incredible thing to write a song to find something and be able to say it in a way that you know is going to communicate to people,” said Denver during the interview.

John Denver Discussed Achieving a ‘Perfect Life’ in a 1975 Interview

In a May 1975 interview with Rolling Stone, nearly a year after the release of Back Home Again, Denver mentioned the notion of “sweet surrender.” After confirming that he had said he led the “perfect life,” the singer-songwriter explained that he believed “that the statement is true for everybody.”

“It depends on how you look at it. But I’m really aware of the perfection in my life from the point of view of what I’m doing and what I’m not doing and what’s working and what’s not working,” said Denver during the Rolling Stone interview. “I said yesterday, the truth is always there — always coming out. People go through a whole lot of stuff and I get caught in it too, trying to kind of hold back what’s really happening inside. When you let it be there and really experience the truth for yourself then you move.”

He also said that he was concerned that achieving success would cause issues in his life. He said that once he realized his desires weren’t monetary, but rather were “want[ing] to sing for people” and “liv[ing] in Colorado,” then “all the other stuff just started happening.”

“But now I look back and I can see that from my childhood when I first started singing I have been kind of on a path that brought me to here and then I think that I’m a very, very successful person in the business that I’ve chosen to operate in,” said Denver. “Life is a lot more demanding right now, in a sense. There’s a lot more that I’m responsible for or maybe I’m aware more of the responsibility that I have but I’m doing…I am what I’ve always wanted to be.”

The Rolling Stone reporter then questioned if the feeling of perfection can be achieved through “sweet surrender,” in reference to Denver’s hit song. Denver, who died in 1997 when he was 53, replied, “You bet your life it is.”

“How perfect an existence for fish to float in the water and swim and let food float by and they get it. How far out it is to be a bird and fly around the trees,” continued Denver in the 1975 interview. “I am what I’ve always wanted to be and that is the truth. And I think — in fact, it’s not that I think, but I observe that if people were to really take a good look at themselves, they are exactly the way that they have always wanted to be.”

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani’s beloved dog, Betty, has passed away after 18 years. 

On Saturday, Sept. 5, Stefani, 56, took to Instagram sharing the heartbreaking news with friends and followers. 

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“It’s with the heaviest hearts that we share our sweet Betty has gone to heaven 💔🕊️🐾,” the “Don’t Speak” singer captioned alongside a collection of videos and photos set to the celebrity couple’s duet, “Nobody But You.” 

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In the clips, viewers can see some of the special memories that Shelton, 50, and Stefani (as well as Stefani’s kids Zuma, Apollo, and Kingston) made with Betty during her years on earth.

The four-legged friend often tagged along with the famous married couple, accompanying them on work trips, whether it’s joining them on the tour bus, sitting in during concert rehearsals, and even making a cameo in the spouse’s music video for their 2019 smash “Nobody But You.” 

But the most touching memories in the montage are the casual at-home moments, where Betty can be seen playing companion to her owners while running around on the family Ten Point Ranch in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. 

“She made us all smile for 18 years…,” Stefani wrote. “We’re going to miss her forever. Thank [you], Betty, for all the love [and] joy [you] brought into our lives 🦋💗 gx.”

Shelton and Stefani, who are also owners of various pets, including a mixed-breed dog named Ginger, didn’t always share Betty, as they tied the knot on July 3, 2021, roughly seven years after meeting on Season 7 of NBC’s The Voice. The sweet hound was originally the “Austin” singer’s dog. 

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However, it didn’t take long for Betty to warm up to Stefani, and even Shelton has said the pup later belonged to her. 

“She gets jealous,” Shelton previously told CMT of Betty’s personality, having gotten attached to Stefani. “She’s Gwen’s dog now, and so that’s where the jealousy comes in.” 

Stefani chimed in, “She loves both of her parents very much.”

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