Parade

Subscribe to Parade feed Parade
Your daily destination for celebrity news, videos, entertainment, food, recipes, health tips, fitness, and games from America's most popular magazine.
Updated: 47 min ago

2015 Tom Hardy Movie Ranked 'Most Exciting Action Movie' Ever

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 7:15pm

Tom Hardy’s 2015 action movie Mad Max: Fury Road has been ranked No. 1 on Collider’s list of the eight most exciting action movies in film history.

The list places Mad Max: Fury Road above other action classics, with Collider pointing to its nonstop car chases, major stunt work and high-speed action as key reasons for its position.

Released in 2015, Mad Max: Fury Road stars Tom Hardy as Max Rockatansky and Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa. The movie follows the pair as they join forces while trying to escape Immortan Joe, a powerful ruler who controls the Citadel and its limited supply of water.

Director George Miller, actors Tom Hardy and Mel Gibson arrive at the ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Los Angeles Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on May 7, 2015 in Hollywood, California.

Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Collider described the film as the peak of excitement in the Mad Max franchise. The ranking says the movie takes the climactic chase idea from Mad Max 2 and expands it into a full-length action story that keeps moving across the desert.

The story begins with Max being captured by Immortan Joe’s War Boys and taken to the Citadel. He is used as a blood donor for Nux, one of Joe’s soldiers.

At the same time, Furiosa takes the War Rig and secretly helps Joe’s five wives escape. Joe soon discovers what happened and sends his army after them.

This starts the movie’s main chase.

Max becomes part of Furiosa’s escape after he breaks away from the War Boys. Although Max first wants to survive on his own, he eventually works with Furiosa and the women as they try to stay ahead of Joe’s forces.

Their journey takes them through a desert wasteland filled with armed vehicles, dangerous enemies, storms and large-scale battles.

The movie was designed around movement and visual storytelling. George Miller had worked on the idea for many years, with the project facing several delays before filming finally began.

More than 150 stunt performers worked on the movie, with some coming from Cirque du Soleil. The production also created a large collection of working vehicles for the action scenes.

About 150 vehicles were constructed, while only 88 survived through the end of filming.

Hardy took over the role of Max after Mel Gibson played the character in the first three Mad Max films. Hardy was announced as the new Max in 2010, while Theron was cast as Furiosa.

The film also features Nicholas Hoult as Nux and Hugh Keays-Byrne as Immortan Joe. Other cast members include Josh Helman, Nathan Jones, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Zoë Kravitz, Abbey Lee and Courtney Eaton.

Mad Max: Fury Road premiered in Los Angeles on May 7, 2015, before its Australian release on May 14. The movie went on to earn about $380.4 million worldwide and became the highest-grossing film in the Mad Max franchise.

At the 88th Academy Awards, Mad Max: Fury Road received 10 nominations and won six awards, including Film Editing, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound Mixing and Sound Editing.

It received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects as well. The film was also named one of the top 10 films of 2015 by the American Film Institute.

Rotten Tomatoes currently lists Mad Max: Fury Road with a 97% Tomatometer score from 440 reviews and an 86% Popcornmeter score based on more than 100,000 audience ratings.

The movie later expanded its story with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which was released in 2024. For Hardy, however, Fury Road remains his defining entry in the Mad Max world.

Related: 1974 Hit, With Gene Wilder, Ranked Second-Best Comedy Movie of All Time

1974 Song About Alabama Became One of the 'Greatest Classic Rock Songs' of All Time

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 6:43pm

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1974 hit “Sweet Home Alabama” has earned another place among rock music’s most celebrated songs,  ranking No. 14 on Amazon Music’s list of the 100 Greatest Classic Rock Songs.

Released on the band’s second album, Second Helping, the song became Lynyrd Skynyrd’s first major hit single and remains one of the best-known songs in Southern rock. It reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974, making it the band’s highest-charting single.

More than five decades after its release, “Sweet Home Alabama” continues to stand out in classic rock. The song is known for its strong guitar riff, catchy chorus and lyrics about Alabama and the American South. It also became part of a famous musical exchange between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young.

Allen Collins, Billy Powell, Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Artimus Pyle, Ed King, Leon Wilkeson of Lynyrd Skynyrd posed, group shot

Photo by Jim McCrary/Redferns

The song was written by Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington and Ed King, and the story behind “Sweet Home Alabama” goes beyond a simple song about a place.

Lynyrd Skynyrd came from Jacksonville, Florida, but the members had spent time traveling through Alabama. Gary Rossington came up with the idea for the song after developing a guitar riff. Rossington played the riff repeatedly while waiting for the others to arrive at rehearsal.

Ronnie Van Zant then wrote the lyrics, while Rossington and Ed King worked on the music. King also created the famous opening guitar riff that became one of the song’s defining sounds.

The song was recorded for Second Helping, which followed the band’s 1973 debut album. It was saved for the second album because the band wanted a strong song to open the record.

When it was released in 1974, “Sweet Home Alabama” quickly became a major success. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 93 before climbing the chart. It eventually reached No. 8 in the United States.

Its success helped establish Lynyrd Skynyrd as one of the leading Southern rock bands of the 1970s. But the song’s history also includes a famous reference to another major rock star.

According to Songfacts, “Sweet Home Alabama” was written partly as an answer to Neil Young’s songs “Southern Man” and “Alabama.” Young’s songs addressed racism, slavery and the troubled history of the American South.

Van Zant directly mentioned Young in the lyrics. The song included the lines: “Well, I heard Mister Young sing about her/Well, I heard ol’ Neil put her down.”

The reference helped make the song more controversial, but the relationship between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Young was more complicated than a simple rock feud.

In his songs “Southern Man” and “Alabama,” Young criticized racism and the history of the South. Lynyrd Skynyrd responded from a different point of view, using “Sweet Home Alabama” to show pride in the region and its people.

However, Rossington explained that the lyrics about Young were not meant to start a serious fight.

“We loved Neil Young and we’d listened to Southern Man and all these songs,” Rossington said in 2012, per Music Radar.

He explained that the band had been touring through Alabama, seeing the countryside and meeting people, which helped inspire the song. The line about Young was intended as a joke rather than a personal attack.

Young himself later acknowledged the song and its criticism of his earlier work. In his book Waging Heavy Peace, he admitted that his own song “Alabama” had been too accusatory and could easily be misunderstood.

The connection between the two artists was also shown by Van Zant himself. He was photographed wearing a Neil Young T-shirt on the cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1977 album Street Survivors.

“Ronnie wore that Neil Young shirt because he loved him so much.”

The two acts even hoped to perform together. According to Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd was once excited about the possibility of Young joining them onstage to perform “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Sadly, that performance never happened.

Other artists have recorded versions of “Sweet Home Alabama,” including country group Alabama, which included a cover on the 1994 tribute album Skynyrd Frynds. Jewel also recorded the song for the 2002 movie Sweet Home Alabama.

The song also received major recognition from the music industry. CMT ranked it No. 1 on its list of the 20 Greatest Southern Rock Songs in 2006, while it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009.

More than 50 years after Lynyrd Skynyrd first released it, the track remains instantly recognizable. Its opening guitar riff, references to Alabama and Neil Young and unforgettable chorus have helped keep it alive across generations.

Related: 1980 Hit by Willie Nelson, Written in 10 Minutes, Became One of the ‘Best Country Songs’ of All Time

1986 New Wave Classic Featuring Traffic Noise Recorded on a Walkman Was Pet Shop Boys' One Chance to Prove Themselves

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 6:34pm

The Pet Shop Boys’ “West End Girls” is one of the most enduring anthems of the 1980s, but the iconic synthesizer-heavy tune wasn’t actually an instant hit. Recorded twice, “West End Girls” became the band’s last chance at securing a record deal, a gamble that paid off spectacularly.

By 1985, Pet Shop Boys had already spent years developing their signature sound, but their arrival at a major record label didn’t immediately translate to success. After signing with Parlophone, their first single, “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money),” reached only No. 116 on the U.K. singles chart. Pet Shop Boys arrived on the music scene with more of a whimper than a burst.

Pet Shop Boys Got One More Chance With “West End Girls”

The record company then gave Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe the unique opportunity to re-record “West End Girls” with producer Stephen Hague, giving the pair a chance to prove that the song—and the band themselves—had star power.

“West End Girls” was released in late 1985 and slowly climbed the charts. The song reached No. 1 in the U.K. and eventually topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, but the song wasn’t technically new.

Pet Shop Boys had originally recorded “West End Girls” with producer Bobby Orlando, releasing that version in 1984. Despite becoming a massive club hit, it didn’t become a worldwide success until the re-recorded version became a pop phenomenon.

The second version of “West End Girls” was such a success that it changed everything for Pet Shop Boys.

“West End Girls” Was Recorded With Almost No Real Instruments

Recorded during the synthesizer-heavy era of popular music, “West End Girls” features almost no actual instruments except a cymbal. Even the song’s famous trumpet sounds are electronic.

“West End Girls” also features the sound of London traffic. Rather than manufacture the sound in a fancy recording studio, Hague recorded it outside Advision Studios on a Sony Professional Walkman, using the portable cassette recorder to capture the sounds of Gosfield Street.

The result is one of those wonderfully random pieces of ’80s music trivia that makes an already iconic song even more memorable.

Related: ’80s DJ Richard Blade Names This 1984 Frankie Goes to Hollywood Hit the Best Bassline of the Decade

“West End Girls” Captured a Perfect ’80s Moment

The song also captures ’80s nostalgia, serving as a time capsule of the era.

Across the street from where “West End Girls” was being recorded was Wham!’s office. A group of young fans happened to be outside. Thinking Hague was actually Police frontman Sting, some of the girls started shouting, “Sting!”

One female fan was also singing “Careless Whisper,” which can be heard on the recording of “West End Girls.”

It is such a perfectly ’80s moment that it almost sounds made up: a Pet Shop Boys song, a Sony Walkman, London traffic, Wham! fans and a mistaken celebrity sighting all accidentally becoming part of a No. 1 hit.

Why “West End Girls” Still Sounds So Good

“West End Girls” may be a quintessentially ’80s tune, but it has proved to be one of the most timeless songs of the decade. That’s because it never sounded like a typical pop song.

The song was synth-pop, but it also drew heavily from hip-hop, in particular Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message.”

Neil Tennant originally wrote the song as a rap, with commentary on wealth, class, geography and the contrasting worlds of London’s West End and East End.

The result was something that sounded completely different from the bright, polished pop songs dominating the charts. It was dark, atmospheric and cool, with Tennant’s distinctive vocals and the pulsing electronic production giving it a sound all its own.

One of the defining songs of the 1980s doesn’t feel classically ’80s, making it an enduring classic four decades later.

“West End Girls” offered Pet Shop Boys another shot at mainstream success, but it turned out to be much more than that. It became one of the most memorable and timeless songs of the 1980s.

Related: Missing Persons Frontwoman, 71, Still Sounds as Good as She Did in the ’80s at Recent Show

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

1978 Film, With Near-Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score, Ranked No. 1 Martin Scorsese Movie

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 6:32pm

Martin Scorsese is the godfather of the gangster film. With Casino, Mean Streets, Gangs of New York, The Departed, The Irishman, and Goodfellas, he’s cornered the market on organized screen crime.

But according to Rotten Tomatoes, Scorsese’s highest-rated picture has nothing to do with wiseguys, and everything to do with Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, and Robbie Robertson, the music men behind the influential roots-rock group The Band.

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

View this post on Instagram

Released in 1978, The Last Waltz is a landmark concert documentary directed by Scorsese and conceived by Robertson, the one-time lead guitarist for Bob Dylan‘s backing band and the guitarist and primary songwriter for The Band. A snapshot that captures the final performance of a band calling it quits, it’s “among one of, if not the best rock movie ever made,” Rotten Tomatoes shared.

The film was the result of 17 years of touring. Lore has it that Robertson had had enough and proposed that The Band take a final bow with a lavish, once-in-a-lifetime concert event. With his mates on board, they decided on the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1976, for the performance.

But the film is so much more than just a concert.

Alternating between kinetic live performances of The Band’s greatest hits, including “Up on Cripple Creek,” “The Weight,” and “The Shape I’m In,” and intimate studio interviews with every member, The Last Waltz reflects on The Band’s history, influences, and touring life, preserving the legendary era in a neatly sealed time capsule.

Speaking about his filmmaking approach for The Last Waltz, per IndieWire, Scorsese said, “Somehow the 35mm brought out expressions of the band, the people on the stage, and I decided not to shoot the people in the audience either. We’ve seen so much concert footage, and all you see is the audience. But we do see the audience, but from their point of view.”

And because it’s not a party until Dylan shows up in dark shades, the night welcomed a who’s who of rock and roll, including, of course, Dylan, the group’s creative partner and catalyst for The Band, as well as Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, and so many more.

According to American Songwriter, Scorsese became involved in the project through Jonathan Taplin, The Band’s former tour manager who also produced Scorsese’s 1973 film, Mean Streets. Robertson was impressed by the director’s use of music in the crime drama, whose opening sequence famously features The Ronettes’ iconic “Be My Baby.”

“I thought, ‘This guy has got the inside scoop on something going on with film and music,’” Robertson said after seeing a screening of Mean Streets. “It just touched me.” After that, he knew he’d found the right filmmaker for the job.

The movie hit theaters in April 1978, and despite a modest theatrical run, the film earned critical acclaim and immense cultural praise. Reviewers raved immediately and continue to share their approval today, cementing the film’s status as a gold standard and one of the greatest concert films of all time.

Since its original release, the film has found renewed life through anniversary theatrical re-screenings and special repertory runs at specialty theaters like the IFC Center in New York City. But what really solidifies its place in the Scorsese canon is where it landed on Rotten Tomatoes: at the top.

Related: 1979 Movie, Starring Robert Redford, Launched a Music Legend’s Acting Career—and Gave Him His Fifth No. 1

Cher Claims Her Son Elijah Blue Allman’s Wife Is After His Money

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 6:16pm

Cher is battling her daughter-in-law, Marieangela King-Allman, in court over who will be appointed as a guardian for her son, Elijah Blue Allman.

The 80-year-old singer filed a supplemental brief in a Los Angeles court on Aug. 28, stating that King-Allman should not be appointed. Cher claimed she is using the situation for financial gain.

According to the court documents obtained by People, “The New Hampshire State Hospital, and the rest of the family remain adamantly opposed to Mrs. King-Allman serving given her estrangement from Elijah as evidenced by the previously pending divorce, her refusal and failure to assist Elijah and Kayti Pease while he was struggling before he was arrested in New Hampshire, and/or because the family believes that she is inserting herself back into the picture on a quest for money and/or a bit of fame.”

Allman is being held in custody at a psychiatric hospital in New Hampshire. He is awaiting multiple criminal charges in two cases.

Allman and King-Allman married in 2013. King-Allman filed for divorce in 2021, but it was dismissed in 2024. She tried again in 2025, but it was dismissed in 2026.

The New Hampshire State Hospital initiated a guardianship for Allman on July 7, according to the pop star’s filing. She wanted her half-brothers Chaz Bono and Devon Allman to fill the position.

The filing stated there was a “dispute” about who should be appointed. It stated that there would be a hearing on September 1 to decide if King-Allman “can or should” serve. She did not show up for the hearing, so the judge moved the date to Dec. 1.

“Whether Mr. Allman ultimately chooses to be in a relationship with Mrs. King-Allman is a choice he will hopefully be able to make independently, but given her behavior and indifference to his health and living situation over the prior year, she, in no way, should ever be considered as a viable candidate to serve as a court-appointed fiduciary,” the filing claimed.

In King-Allman’s August filing, she claimed that Allman was estranged from his family, and they “repeatedly” attempted to create a conservatorship.

“I strongly believe that Elijah needs a robust, long-term treatment plan to deal with these issues, and appointment of conservator, selected by his mother, from whom he has been estranged for years, wherein her removing his autonomy against his wishes, would demoralize him, thereby jeopardizing his recovery,” she wrote.

Get Luxury Bag Vibes on a Budget with Walmart's Stylish New Woven Tote That Channels the Runway

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 6:15pm

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 have been quietly lusting after those sculptural woven bags that keep popping up on quiet luxury mood boards and the arms of impossibly chic city dwellers, Walmart just dropped a surprise you will want to snag before it sells out. 

Meet the Scenario Mini Clam Tote, a bag that looks straight out of an Italian luxury boutique but rings up at just $33. It’s a standout from Walmart’s new Scenario fashion line that blends budget-friendly prices with trendy styles, and it comes in three sophisticated shades: brown, black, and olive.

Scenario Mini Clam Tote, From $33 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

The fashion world’s obsession with artful basket-weave textures isn’t going anywhere, and this tote leans all the way into that vibe. The exterior’s lush, intricate weave gives it that unmistakable air of summer on the Amalfi Coast (even if you are just headed to the corner store). 

It is hard not to see the resemblance to those ultra-popular designer dumpling bags or the iconic woven leather styles that have been dominating runways and TikTok feeds. But here, the price tag is delightfully approachable. There’s no need to choose between groceries and looking glam.

Scenario Mini Clam Tote, From $33 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

The Mini Clam Tote has day-to-night practicality built in. Measuring about 15 inches wide and 5.5 inches high, it is roomy enough for your phone, wallet, keys, and a few extras. The lined interior includes tidy pockets to keep your essentials organized (no more digging for your lip balm), and the zip closure keeps everything safely tucked away. 

Carry it by the dual woven handles for a polished, classic look or attach the adjustable crossbody strap when you are on the go and need both hands for coffee and conquering your to-do list.

Related: Walmart’s ‘Elegant’ New $10 Gold-Tone Horsebit Earrings Channel Italian Luxury Styles for Way Less

Gold-tone hardware adds a subtle hint of glam, heeding those spendy designer details, while the vegan-friendly material means you can feel good about your new accessory. Care is easy; just wipe clean, and you’ll be ready for whatever the day brings. Reviewers are already raving, and it has a perfect five-star rating.

Shop More Deals

Whether you are channeling a downtown fashion editor or just want to spice up your coffee-run look, this woven clam-shaped tote is ready for its close-up. And at $33, you might want to grab more than one. Luxury vibes like these at an everyday price are rare.

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

Kohl's Is Selling a Pyrex Kitchen Staple That's Perfect for Baking Fall Desserts

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 6:10pm

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

At long last, it is finally almost cozy season, and if you are a baker, you know what that means: all the desserts. Pies are especially relevant to this time of year, and having the right bakeware is key to making the best ones possible. Luckily, you don’t have to spend a lot on a high-quality, beautiful pie plate. Take this Pyrex option at Kohl’s, for example. It’s perfect for baking and serving, and it retails for just $12.

Pyrex’s Advantage Glass Pie Plate is a staple in any baker’s kitchen, especially in autumn, when baking pies is essential. Measuring 9.5 inches in diameter, it is slightly larger than a standard pie plate, allowing you to make bigger pies. The pie dish has a sleek glass construction that is perfect for both baking and serving, and the crimped edges are a beautiful and functional detail as well. These wavy, easy-grab edges make for seamless handling from oven to table. Plus, they help make the crust pretty!

🍳 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & fun food news in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter 🍳

Pyrex Advantage Glass Pie Plate, $11.99 at Kohl’s

Kohl's

Shop It!

This is also an incredibly practical kitchen item. It is dishwasher-, microwave-, freezer- and oven-safe. This makes for seamless baking, saving leftover pie, cleanup and reheating.

Related: Aldi’s Portable Charcuterie Board Is a Game Changer for Fall Tailgates

Shoppers love this Pyrex pie plate, giving it an average rating of 4.7 stars on Kohls.com, with 96 percent of reviewers saying they would recommend it to others. Fans appreciate the pie dish for its high quality, crimped edges and larger size.

“Of course Pyrex is top quality! Love the crimped edge for the crust. It’s a bit larger than standard and that works for me! Turkey pot pie coming up!!!” raved one fan in a five-star review on Kohls.com.

“Perfect pie plate,” said another shopper in a five-star review on Kohl’s website. “My daughter was so happy to receive this pie plate. Pretty, practical, versatile and well made.”

Whether you love pumpkin pie, apple pie, blueberry pie or any pie at all, you will love this baking essential. You can find it on Kohls.com or in select Kohl’s stores. It retails for $12.99.

Related: T.J. Maxx Is Selling a Travel-Size Mahjong Set and It’s Too Cute to Pass Up

'90s Metal Band Announces Special Tour 36 Years After Forming in Finland

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 6:09pm

Metal fans woke up to some exciting news on Tuesday.

The European metal legends Amorphis revealed via Instagram on Tuesday morning that they will embark on a co-headlining North American tour this November and December alongside Insomnium. The lineup of concerts will kick off on Nov. 17 in Boston, and close at Irving Plaza in New York City on Dec. 19. Their supporting act will be Hinayana, a melodic death band based in Texas.

“The tour promises an unforgettable celebration of atmospheric melodies and Nordic darkness, with both bands presenting songs from the latest albums Borderland and Netherworlds as well as some ever-greens,” Amorphis wrote in their caption.

View this post on Instagram

This tour will continue the celebrations of Amorphis’ most recent album, Borderland, which was released via Reigning Phoenix Music last September. Amorphis was formed by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari and Esa Holopainen in 1990 in Helsinki, Finland. Known as a progressive metal band, Amorphis has released 15 studio albums since their debut 36 years ago and has influenced the metal scene in Europe, North America and around the world. Two weeks ago, Amorphis announced a Finland tour that will kick off in February 2027, and will embark on a Latin America tour this October.

In a recent interview with The Gallery, Holopainen and Koivusaari explained how they were able to keep their lineup almost the same for over 30 years.

“We were friends when we started the band, so it was not just like a workplace or anything. I think every one of us are pretty much grounded, so we never had any trying to be like a rock star, so we don’t have fights or anything like that,” Koivusaari said.

All of the three original members are still in the band, in addition to Olli-Pekka Laine, Santeri Kallio and Tomi Joutsen as their bassist, keyboard player and lead vocalist, respectively.

Tomi Koivusaari and Olli-Pekka Laine of Amorphis perform onstage during the Tuska Festival at Suvilahti on June 28, 2026 in Helsinki, Finland.

Venla Shalin/Redferns

Tickets and VIP upgrades for the upcoming co-headlining tour between Amorphis and Insomnium will go on sale this Thursday at 10 a.m local time. Tour stops include Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, Denver, Salt Lake City, Portland, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, Baltimore, Dallas and more.

Related: ’90s Heavy Metal Band Announces 2026 Tour With Special Guests

BBMAK Reveals What It Was Really Like Touring With *NSYNC and Britney Spears at the Height of 2000s Pop

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 5:49pm

The last time I sat down face-to-face with BBMAK was back in 2000 at a press dinner for teen magazine editors at the long-shuttered Ruby Foo’s in Times Square. I was just 23 years old and working as the Entertainment Editor for CosmoGIRL!.

Mark Barry, Christian Burns, and Stephen (Ste) McNally were charming British imports taking the American music scene by storm with their acoustic guitars, soaring three-part harmonies, and a fast-climbing single called “Back Here”. Catching up over Zoom more than two decades later, Ste not only remembered that very dinner but vividly recalled it as the first time he ever tried edamame!

In the early aughts, before DMs, TikTok, and virtual meetings, moments like that were the heartbeat of teen magazine journalism. We sat across dinner tables with up-and-coming artists, building genuine rapport and watching their careers explode in real time. Those priceless connections are why I’m so passionate about keeping that golden era alive in my Substack newsletter, The Teen Mag Time Machine.

Reconnecting with the guys for Parade and The Teen Mag Time Machine felt like stepping right back into 2000 without missing a beat. Lately, they’ve been reveling in the wave of Y2K nostalgia on the Pop 2000 Tour alongside fellow TRL favorites like LFO, O-Town, and *NSYNC’s Chris Kirkpatrick. Packing the venues is a mix of original fans (some of whom the guys recognized from back in the day) and the next generation—their fans’ kids!

When I asked BBMAK fans for questions ahead of our chat, the response was overwhelming. Decades later, the love is as fierce as ever, and several questions in our conversation came directly from the fans who have championed the group from day one.

From their memorable acting gigs (including Even Stevens and All My Children) to TRL pandemonium and three decades of friendship with Chris Kirkpatrick, my walk down memory lane with BBMAK is one for the Y2K history books. Here are the four things they will always remember.

Related: Jessica Simpson’s Lost 2003 Interview Reveals What She Really Thought About Nick Lachey and ‘Newlyweds’

1. Guest Starring on Disney Channel’s Even Stevens and All My Children

Because Disney owned both Hollywood Records and ABC, BBMAK was frequently tapped for high-profile network crossovers. From filming an entire Even Stevens episode where they famously delivered the deadpan line “free cheese,” to performing at the SOS Cafe on All My Children, the guys embraced their unexpected stint as television actors.

2. Touring with Britney Spears, *NSYNC, and Backstage Encounters with Destiny’s Child

Stepping into massive amphitheaters on Britney Spears’ Oops!… I Did It Again tour gave BBMAK their first taste of stateside mega-tours, quickly followed by three sold-out nights with *NSYNC at Giants Stadium. The trio also shared tour bills with Destiny’s Child, remembering just how warm and welcoming Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle were whenever their tour buses rolled into the venue.

3. Times Square Pandemonium at MTV’s TRL (and Why It Needs a Comeback)

Overlooking Times Square, MTV’s Total Request Live was the undisputed epicenter of early-2000s pop culture. Between beefed-up security to manage the crowds surging at the studio side doors and hanging out on set with Carson Daly, the band experienced pure Beatlemania-level energy. They also have a pitch to bring the iconic show back!

4. The 15-Year Hiatus and the Accidental Viral Kitchen Jam

After stepping away in 2003 to recharge after years of non-stop touring, it’s important to note that BBMAK never had a falling out. They stayed tight-knit through their weddings, christenings, and family milestones. Years later, during a casual meetup at Christian’s sister’s house, they picked up an acoustic guitar just to see if they remembered the harmonies to “Back Here”. The impromptu video caught fire online, garnering millions of views and launching their second act.

For more exclusive video clips and deep-dive Y2K nostalgia from Lauren’s interview, head over to The Teen Mag Time Machine on Substack. Follow back here each week on Parade.com!

Next, Lance Bass and Joey Fatone Reveal the Surprising Thing NSYNC Did After Every Show (Exclusive)

Hilary Duff Enters New Chapter as Fitness Brand Ambassador

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 5:37pm

Hilary Duff wears many hats these days. Why not toss in one more?

Reebok just welcomed the multi-platinum recording artist and actress, 38, as its newest brand ambassador.

Duff’s debut “Unfiltered & Unstoppable” campaign aims to celebrate confidence, individuality and everyday movement through Reebok’s active and lifestyle apparel and accessories.

The household brand took to social media this week to unveil its new pop-culture partnership.

“Unfiltered & Unstoppable. Artist. Actress. Entrepreneur. Icon. Welcome @hilaryduff to the Reebok family,” reads the Instagram post’s caption from Monday, August 31. See the carousel below.

View this post on Instagram

Fans have since flooded the post’s comments section to throw their support behind Duff and the partnership. “Nike should take notes, this is a true athletic woman in athletic wear!” wrote one Instagram user, while another person commented, “Love this partnership. Confidence, comfort, and making movement fit into a full life is the kind of fitness messaging more women need.”

“I’m excited to partner with Reebok, a brand that has always embraced originality and individuality,” Duff said in a statement, per Monday’s news release.. “To me, style has always been about wearing what makes me feel my best and gives me confidence, whether I’m on the go, spending time with family or fitting movement into my day. Reebok shares that mindset, and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead for this partnership.”

Duff has joined an evidently growing community of Reebok ambassadors and creative partners like Karol G and Julian Edelman, helping shape the brand’s intended next chapter across sport, fashion and culture.

Remember Those T-Swift ‘Opalite’ Shoes?

Reebok made headlines earlier this summer when the kicks Taylor Swift wore in her famed “Opalite” music video were confirmed available on Amazon — and for 53% off. With over 1,700 five-star reviews, the Reebok Club C 85 Vintage Tennis Sneakers are evidently a shopper favorite.

1984 Rock Ballad, Saved by Ron Nevison, Launched a Legendary Five-Piece Back to No. 1

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 5:37pm

September 1984 marked a turning point for Survivor. Not only had the band come up short with 1983‘s Caught in the Game, but frontman Dave Bickler, the voice of “Eye of the Tiger,” was forced to leave the band after serious vocal problems. Survivor needed a new lead singer, a new direction, and ideally a new hit. They got all three with Jimi Jamison and “I Can’t Hold Back.”

“I’m stronger on ballads,” Jamison once told the Los Angeles Times. “I like to sing them more than anything else, but I didn’t get much of a chance before. I wanted to sing more ballads. Being in this group is just right for me.”

View this post on Instagram

Released in September 1984 as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Vital Signs, “I Can’t Hold Back” was the first major hit of Survivor’s new era, and the song that introduced Jamison, formerly of hard-rock outfit Cobra, to a mass audience. And though he was brought on to fill Bickler’s shoes, the hire was way more than just a personnel change.

Survivor was shifting into a more polished soft- and pop-rock sound, and they needed the ideal voice to deliver the new material that the band’s longtime songwriting duo, keyboardist and guitarist Jim Peterik and guitarist Frankie Sullivan, were working on. Strained in their friendship at the time, the two put aside their differences and churned out a killer album blending Sullivan’s powerful guitar riffs with Peterik’s gift for melodies and lyrics.

Enter: Ron Nevison. Renowned for his work with Heart, Chicago, and Night Ranger, the legendary rock producer reunited with Jamison and the band after working on “The Moment of Truth” for The Karate Kid soundtrack. As the producer on “I Can’t Hold Back” and Vital Signs, he devised the song’s unique arrangement, helping transform it into something bigger and more radio ready.

In a chat with Rock and Roll Globe, Peterik also credited Nevison for saving the song from potential obscurity by recognizing a half-formed riff at exactly the moment Survivor thought the album was done. He insisted they turn it into a song and cut it the following day. Good thing they did.​ Radio stations loved it.

“I remember … Jimi and I walked outside of the hotel just to get some air, and a Harley was rumbling by and from the speakers was blasting ‘I Can’t Hold Back,’” Peterik explained about the first time he and the band learned the song was being played on the radio. “It sounded like magic.”

He added, “We hugged each other and went, ‘You know, I think we’ve got it.’”

To elevate the song during the MTV era, they also released a polished music video directed by Bob Radler and filmed in Chicago. Leaning into the song’s cinematic romanticism, it nods to Risky Business and stars Jamison as the Tom Cruise-inspired main character and the rest of Survivor in exaggerated roles. Lee Ann Marie, from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, plays Jamison’s love interest.

“It’s just a terrific vehicle, no pun intended, for ‘I Can’t Hold Back,’” Peterik said. “You can’t help seeing the video when you hear that song.”

The video received massive airtime on MTV, transforming Jamison from the new guy in Survivor to the face man of its next chapter, while also helping launch the five-piece back to No. 1.

According to Billboard, the song hit several charts, including the Cash Box Top 100, where it peaked at No. 14, and the all-genre Hot 100, where it reached No. 13. But the song’s best showing was on Billboard’s Top Rock Tracks, where it climbed all the way to No. 1 and stayed for three weeks, handing the guys their second No. 1 after 1982’s “Eye of the Tiger.”

The band rode the momentum with further hits including “High on You,” “The Search Is Over,” and “Burning Heart,” with “I Can’t Hold Back” becoming one of the defining Survivor songs of the Jamison era and their entire 1980s catalog. Bickler’s departure could have meant the end; instead, Survivor turned it into a stellar second act.

Related: 1973 Jukebox Hit, Produced by Todd Rundgren, Launched a Hard Rock Trio to Its First No. 1

NFL Announces Beloved Rock Band as Halftime Show Performer

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 5:35pm

The NFL has announced Mexican rock band The Warning as the halftime show headliner for its 2026 Mexico City game, giving the Monterrey-born sister trio a major home-country stage on Nov. 22.

The Warning, made up of sisters Daniela “Dany,” Paulina “Pau” and Alejandra “Ale” Villarreal, will perform at Estadio Banorte during the Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers game. The game is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET, or 7:20 p.m. local time in Mexico City.

The NFL made the announcement on Instagram, quickly drawing excited reactions from fans who welcomed the choice of the Mexican rock group.

Daniela Villarreal, Paulina Villarreal and Alejandra Villarreal from Mexican rock band The Warning attends the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sep. 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York.

Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for MTV

“Iconssss omggggg,” one fan reacted.

Another called it the “BEST DECISION NFL OR ANY SPORT EVER MADE.”

One commenter praised the trio as “The best rock band in the history of Mexico 🔥.”

The announcement also brought excitement over the group’s representation on an important Mexican stage, with one fan writing, “🗣️🗣️The first redhead chick to play at an NFL show at the Aztec 🔥🔥.”

Another supporter praised the league’s decision, saying, “Well done, NFL! Choosing The Warning to the halftime show was a great choice. 🤘😎”

One fan said the announcement was enough to make them tune in despite not being an NFL fan: “Ahhhhhhh 🔥 ❤️ well deserved, I don’t even like the NFL but we’ll be there watching them and enjoying the show 😍”

View this post on Instagram

According to the NFL website, the performance will be one of seven halftime shows presented by American Express during the NFL’s 2026 International Games. The shows will take place across seven countries and four continents as the league stages its biggest international schedule yet.

The Warning said they were excited to perform in their home country and at what they called an iconic stadium.

“We are beyond thrilled to be part of this NFL event in our home country and at such an iconic stadium,” said The Warning. “We love the NFL, and every time we work together, we cannot wait to do it again. Playing the halftime show during an international Sunday night game is an incredible privilege, and we cannot wait to show fans what Mexico and its people have to offer. It will be a night to remember — we’ll do what we do best and amp up the excitement of the game. You have been warned!”

The NFL announcement comes only days after The Warning reached a major milestone on the Billboard charts.

Their single “Kerosene” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. The achievement made The Warning the first Mexican band and the first all-women band to reach the top of the chart in its 45-year history.

“Kerosene” is featured on the band’s latest album, Everything’s Falling, which arrived on Aug. 28. The song also moved into the top 10 on Billboard‘s Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, while earning 255,000 chart-eligible streams in the United States during the tracking period cited in the provided chart information, according to Billboard.

The group has also built a large international audience. Its career streams have surpassed 785 million, while The Warning earned a Latin GRAMMY nomination for Best Rock Song in 2024.

Formed in Monterrey in 2013, the band consists of the three Villarreal sisters. Daniela handles guitar and vocals, Paulina plays drums and also contributes vocals, while Alejandra plays bass and provides backing vocals.

The sisters began making music together when they were young and gained wider attention after a video of them performing Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” went viral among rock fans. Their early rise eventually led to tours and performances across North America, Europe, Asia and South America.

The Mexico City show is part of a wider 2026 NFL International Games entertainment lineup. The Jonas Brothers are scheduled to headline the Melbourne game on Sept. 10, while Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin will perform at the Rio game on Sept. 27. Ayra Starr is set to headline the London game on Oct. 11.

The NFL has played 62 regular-season games outside the United States, with London, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto among the cities that have hosted games.

For The Warning, the Nov. 22 performance will bring the band back to a major stage in Mexico City while it continues its international rise. The group also has upcoming performances in the United States before returning to Mexico for another scheduled Mexico City show in February 2027, per Chaoszine.

Related: NFL Makes Halftime Show Announcement for Brazil Game

1967 Soul Song, Covered by Janis Joplin, Became an Era-Defining Rock Staple

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 5:31pm

Erma Franklin was one of soul’s standout singers of the ’60s when she released “Piece of My Heart,” and never suspected it would become one of rock and roll’s defining hits thanks to Janis Joplin.

The romantic soul song was originally written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns, and recorded by Aretha Franklin‘s older sister in 1967 and released that same year. Before Franklin, Berns had originally asked Van Morrison to record the track, but he declined, preferring his own music.

Franklin’s version was met with success as it landed at No. 10 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart and No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. That wasn’t all; the popularity behind the soul track led Franklin to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. At the awards ceremony, Franklin actually lost to her sister with her track “Chain of Fools.”

While “Piece of My Heart” was a hit for Franklin, chaos struck as she was ready to record her next album.

“Right after ‘Piece of My Heart’ broke and we were ready to record my next album, Bert Berns, the writer and co-owner of Shout Records, died suddenly of a heart attack,” Franklin recalled, according to Medium. “It was utter chaos after that within the recording company so I got a job with a computer programming firm.”

The soul track would gain new life a year later in 1968 when Janis Joplin led the vocals for her cover with Big Brother and the Holding Company. Their cover was released before Joplin embarked on a solo career, but undoubtedly helped make her mark in the industry. It was released on the band’s Cheap Thrills album and landed at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with critics calling it an “explosive performance” by Joplin with “power-packed” vocals.

“We were on our first East Coast tour in March of 1968,” said Big Brother drummer Dave Getz. “Jack came to rehearsal and said, ‘I wanna play this song for you. I think you guys could do it.’ We loved it! Janis loved it.”

Joplin’s vocals and the band’s cover would cement themselves as a rock anthem and be included among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It was even one of Rolling Stone‘s “Greatest Songs of All Time.”

With Joplin’s version outshining Franklin’s, the soul singer once revealed she never thought much of it. She also didn’t recognize it was her track due to the drastic changes in vocal arrangement.

“Her version is so different from mine that I really don’t resent it too much,” said Franklin in 1973, according to SongFacts.

The hit track would also be covered by a few artists decades later, like country singer Faith Hill. Her version was a No. 1 hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1994. Surprisingly, Hill had no idea Franklin and Joplin recorded the track and was advised by her record label to not listen to the rock icon’s version until she was done with her recording. After listening to Joplin’s, Hill thought, “Dadgum, how in the world did I ever cover that song?”

Related: 1979 Soft Rock Song, Nearly Shelved by Steve Forbert, Is Still a Breakthrough Hit 47 Years Later

Anthropologie’s 'Adorable' $48 Ghost Cheese Board Makes Halloween Hosting Frightfully Cute

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 5:30pm

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

The ’ber months are officially back, which means spooky season can finally come out of hiding. And if your fall plans involve Halloween parties, scary-movie marathons, or just finding any excuse to build a cheese board, Anthropologie has a hauntingly cute way to serve it all. The Halloween Marble Cheese Board is currently $48, down from $68, in an adorable ghost design. It also comes in a cute Frankenstein-esque style, although it’s listed at full price.

The ghost board is made from marble and measures 12 inches long by 12 inches wide and 1 inch high, so there’s plenty of room for cheese, crackers, and other party snacks. Each one is handcrafted, so the marble can vary slightly from piece to piece, which gives every little ghost its own look. It’s also hand-wash only.

Halloween Marble Cheese Board, $48 (was $68) at Anthropologie

Courtesy of Anthropologie

Shop at Anthropologie

Unlike cheaper seasonal serving pieces made from plastic or melamine, this one is crafted entirely from marble, giving it a more high-end look and feel that’ll likely last for years to come. And at under $50, the sale price falls on the lower end of what you can pay for similar ghost-shaped marble boards, with comparable options currently priced between $70 and $115.

One reviewer called it “so cute and great quality,” while another wrote, “This is my favorite Halloween purchase ever from Anthro! It’s so adorable.” Several shoppers also mentioned displaying theirs during the summer or already planning to use it for Halloween parties, so this ghost clearly isn’t waiting until Oct. 31 to make an appearance.

Related: Kohl’s Adorable $24 Ghost Braided Basket Makes Halloween Decor Surprisingly Practical

If you’re already dreaming up Halloween tablescape ideas, this ghost-shaped board would make an easy centerpiece. You could pile it with cheeses, berries, crackers, and olives, then surround it with black or orange plates, Halloween-themed glassware (which Anthro has plenty of), stylish candles, and mini pumpkins.

Shop More Deals

The Anthropologie Halloween Marble Cheese Board is on sale right as spooky season gets underway, so there’s plenty of time to put it to use before Halloween night. Whether it’s covered in brie, candy, or a little of both, it’s one ghost you probably won’t mind hanging around the kitchen. Head to Anthropologie’s site to grab it while the limited-time markdown is still live.

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

Who Is ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Announcer Jim Thornton? Meet His Wife and Son

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 5:29pm

Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton was suspended by Sony Pictures Television Studios on September 1, 2026.

While the exact reason for his suspension was not revealed, TMZ reports that Thornton was involved in an incident on a commercial flight in May 2026 after a passenger complained to a flight attendant about the TV personality.

Thornton has been on Wheel of Fortune since 2011, when he replaced longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell. Along with the ABC game show, Thornton’s professional credits include The Price Is Right and Monsters, Inc., where he voiced a commercial narrator.

In real life, Thornton is also a proud husband and father. In an anniversary Facebook post to his wife, Sue, he gushed about their marriage, writing, “Happy Anniversary to my beautiful Sue, who changed my world by saying, ‘I do.’ The years have flown by, but oh, what a run. Since that sunny Spring day in 1991. I love you always.”

Thorton also has a son named Sam, and he actively supports the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation since his son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2009.

According to his ABC bio, the family lives in Los Angeles, and the couple has a passion for “old houses” and is currently working on a renovation project together.

“Their current project is his family’s historic Federal-era home on the banks of the Ohio River,” the bio reads. “The old brick building served as the local post office and is believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War. The couple hopes to preserve it for future generations to appreciate.”

The studio did not share a possible return date for Thornton, but said they would be “recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.”

After he was hired as the announcer for Wheel of Fortune 15 years ago, Thornton shared his excitement.

“This has been a lifelong dream, and to be able to follow in the footsteps of a legend like Charlie O’Donnell is truly humbling,” he said. “Being selected as announcer for Wheel of Fortune is a huge honor. Now I just have to make sure I don’t call out the answers to the puzzles when my mic is open!”

Pete Davidson Donates $20K to Rare Disease After Meeting Young Fan

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 5:19pm

Pete Davidson donated $20,000 to benefit research on a rare disease after meeting a young fan with the genetic disorder.

Last week, while working on the film Tommy Karate in Brooklyn, the 32-year-old met Liam, an aspiring comedian with 5p- syndrome, also known as Cri du Chat syndrome (“cry of the cat” in French). The rare chromosomal disorder occurs when a piece of the short arm (p arm) of chromosome 5 is missing. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can result in physical symptoms like low-set ears, a small head, and a round face, as well as trouble with speech and language, heart defects, and intellectual disabilities.

The Cri du Chat Research Foundation thanked the Saturday Night Live alum for his generous donation on Facebook. They included a photo of Davidson with Liam and his mother. The post was captioned, “A heartfelt thank you to actor, writer, comedian, and native New Yorker, Pete Davidson, for taking the time to learn about 5p- syndrome (Cri du Chat syndrome), meet our Liam the Lion, and show him so much love.”

“Pete, your genuine willingness to listen, learn, and shine a light on this rare and profound disorder means more to us than we can put into words,” the post added. “And your generous donation to the Cri du Chat Research Foundation will help advance critical research and drug development for 5p-. We are incredibly grateful.”

The Foundation shared that “Hundreds of millions of people live with rare diseases,” but many don’t receive treatment “for the underlying cause.”

The caption concluded by thanking the actor, “Thank you Pete for using your platform and public figure status to shine a light on a rare disease community that so often goes unseen—and helping us create meaningful change for those living with 5p- syndrome.”

Davidson’s representative confirmed to People that he made the donation.

How To Succeed at Work Without Feeling ‘Fake,’ According to a Top Behavioral Scientist

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 5:16pm

If you’ve ever laughed at a joke you didn’t fully grasp during a work call, pretended to agree with someone in a higher position than you when you actually had a different opinion or hesitated before sharing a personal preference about music, TV or specific pop culture moments in a Slack message, you likely understand the struggle of wondering how to be authentic at work.

In this professional setting, complicated office politics, biases or dynamics like imposter syndrome can get in the way of genuine connection.

As someone who has spent over 25 years researching authenticity vs. conformity, Patricia Faison Hewlin, PhD, award-winning behavioral scientist and author of the new book Staying True to You: Unlock the Power of Your Middle Self and Live with Confidence, Integrity, and Peace of Mind (released on August 25), has plenty of insights to share about succeeding at work without being fake.

Maybe you struggle with self-expression in your career, crave authentic leadership in your department, or wonder how to network authentically at events and coffee chats—there are countless ways this concern can present itself in workplace culture.

Here, Dr. Hewlin reveals why “faking it” can cause burnout, surprising takeaways from her decades of research on this subject and how to bring your genuine self to work each and every day.

Related: Why ‘Just Be Yourself’ Is Actually Terrible Advice, According to a Behavioral Scientist

Jacob Wackerhausen/Getty Images

The Psychology of ‘Faking It’ (And Why It Causes Burnout)

“My recent survey of 1,457 full-time employees on workplace authenticity uncovered a surprising paradox about how we navigate self-expression on the job,” Dr. Hewlin tells Parade. “I found that nearly 80% of workers endorse a balanced approach, actively managing authenticity alongside conformity, which reflects the middle self mindset. Yet many of them (45%) reported that they still regularly construct facades of conformity, leading to emotional exhaustion.”

However, this burnout can be avoided with certain tools.

“These findings demonstrate that most individuals do not lack the right mindset—they lack the daily behavioral strategies needed to put the mindset into practice,” she continues. “That is why I wrote Staying True to You. In my book I offer a practical playbook for protecting your mental health, personal integrity and agency at work without resorting to overconforming or weaponizing authenticity.”

As Dr. Hewlin has previously shared with Parade, “Organizational leaders must note that when employees feel forced to create facades, they are far more likely to quit. By understanding this dynamic, we can begin to address mental health and reduce burnout within and outside of the workplace.”

Related: How To Recover From Burnout, According to a Psychologist

Redefining Professionalism: How To Bring Your Authentic Self to Work

Dr. Hewlin reveals a few research-backed recommendations for how to bring your authentic self to work.

Intentionally analyze and reprioritize your values

“I recommend that people ‘back into’ their true values,” she explains. “Instead of picking ideals off a list, look at where you actually invest your time and energy. Someone might say that they value family, but the calendar shows 60-hour workweeks that give little room for family time. Another example is checking off collaboration while only trusting one’s work and taking on work from team members to make sure it is ‘right.’ Being truthful with ourselves will help us understand what really matters and help us identify roles that better align with our values.”

The key is being honest, and looking at patterns of behavior.

“Examining real behavior also prevents people from relying on aspirational values, which are values they want to hold but aren’t actively living them out,” she continues. “When we claim aspirational values as core values, it creates an impossible standard that leaves us feeling fake.”

Identify your conformity thresholds

Dr. Hewlin says, “Ask yourself: How much conformity can I really tolerate? Your threshold is the limit where adapting to workplace expectations stops feeling like a reasonable compromise and starts violating your core values. Reviewing and placing boundaries based on your conformity threshold will help you make intentional rather than fear-based choices.”

Related: 11 Boundaries Every Woman Should Set by 40, According to Therapists

Evaluate value alignment

“Before accepting a job, evaluate value alignment: Observe cultural cues during interviews to ensure a company’s true environment won’t force you past your threshold,” Dr. Hewlin suggests.

She gives an example:

“Let’s consider Adebisi’s experience,” she says. “He is an award-winning engineer facing two job offers. The first was a high-status leadership role managing a department, with more money but little room for being creative in his passion for architectural design. The second was a Senior Engineer role focused entirely on architectural design. By auditing his values, Adebisi recognized his core priority was mastering his craft, not holding power. He also knew his conformity threshold: taking the leadership role would pressure him to create facades of conformity to fit in with the leadership team. So, he declined the management offer and recommended a colleague whose core value was power and who wanted a leadership role.”

Related: 11 Common Behaviors of Authentic People—and One Thing They *Never* Do, According to Therapists

6 Things Everyone Should Know About Workplace Culture

Here are six things Dr. Hewlin wishes more people understood about workplace culture and its impact on employees:

  1. “Encouraging employees to bring their ‘whole selves’ without addressing baked-in organizational preferences for certain forms of authenticity including how employees express their emotions, political preferences, how they wear their hair, and more creates chaos and forces employees to navigate exhausting facades.
  2. When employees feel forced to suppress their true values and create ‘facades of conformity,’ it leads to emotional exhaustion, reduced work engagement and a higher likelihood of quitting.
  3. Leaders and people whose values and backgrounds aligned with those of the majority possess authenticity privilege due to their power and status; they often mistakenly assume that because being authentic is easy for them, it is equally easy for their employees.
  4. Biases around race, gender and culture heavily impact how emotional expression and authenticity are perceived, putting women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals and minority viewpoints at greater risk.
  5. Authenticity is relational and it requires responsibility if we want to do it well. For employees to thrive, leaders must exercise restraint in their own self-expression to make space for others.
  6. Authenticity needs to be discussed more among leaders and employees, identifying what it looks like within the work environment in order to avoid toxic forms, bias or authenticity that disrespects and harms others.”

Related: 7 Traits That Separate Emotionally Intelligent Leaders From Everyone Else

2 Surprising Takeaways from Workplace Authenticity Research

In the decades that Dr. Hewlin has been studying authenticity, she tells Parade there are two takeaways, in particular, that tend to surprise people the most.

1. Age often makes a difference

“People have been surprised by the finding that in job-insecure environments, older workers tend to be more authentic than younger workers,” Dr. Hewlin explains. “This often surprises people because the common perception is that younger workers are generally more vocal, however, in a professional setting, younger employees are still learning how to navigate their careers and are therefore more likely to create facades of conformity. In contrast, older workers focus more on legacy and authentic relationships.”

Related: People Who Struggle With Self-Awareness Often Display These 8 Behaviors, Psychologists Say

2. Leaders can impact employees in an unexpected way

“Another surprising finding from my research with Professors Tracy Dumas and Meredith Burnett is that leader integrity can actually influence high levels of facades when employees feel a clash between their values and the organization’s,” she shares. “Having a leader with high integrity doesn’t make them drop their masks. Instead, out of respect for the principled leader, they feel even greater pressure to suppress their true views and fake alignment to fit in.”

Up Next:

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

Source:

Matthew Scott, YellowBelly Photo Ltd

Olivia Rodrigo’s $25 Ticket Deal for ‘The Unraveled Tour’ Has a Fast-Approaching Deadline—Here’s How to Get Yours

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 4:57pm

If you missed your chance to buy tickets for Olivia Rodrigo‘s “The Unraveled Tour,” all hope isn’t lost. On Sept. 1, the singer announced in an email that she’s bringing back the $25 Silver Star tickets, but the window to try to get them is closing fast.

If you’re signed up for the Daisy Chain Field‘s updates, you probably received an email with the exciting ticket news. The email includes links for the U.S., Canada, Germany, the U.K., and Spain. If you didn’t receive it, click on this link to go to your country’s Ticketmaster site, where you’ll enter a queue.

Silver Star Tickets will cost $25/€25/£25 or your local currency, plus taxes. The tickets come in pairs, and each person who enters the queue can buy only two tickets.

Entering the queue doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get tickets to the show you choose, as tickets are limited; it’s just a request. Fans have until 11:59 PM ET on Wed., Sept. 2 to request tickets. Those who receive concert tickets will be notified by the following week: Wed., Sept. 9.

Those who live in Sweden, the Netherlands, France, or Italy will have a slightly different process. After choosing their country, they’ll sign up to receive a private link. When tickets go on sale on Wed., Sept. 9 at 12 PM local time, they can follow the link to access the Silver Star Ticket sale.

So let’s say you receive an email by Sept. 9 telling you that you got tickets. Congratulations! Unfortunately, you won’t learn if you’re sitting in a seat in the lower or upper level, on the floor or in the pit, or if you have a limited view, until the day of the show, when you pick up your tickets at the box office. It’s totally random.

Whether or not you land a golden ticket, one thing’s for sure: Rodrigo really is trying to keep her concerts accessible for fans who can’t afford, or can’t snag, the pricier seats. So if you haven’t entered the queue yet, don’t wait. The clock is ticking until Wednesday’s deadline.

Zooey Deschanel Opens Up About the Greatest Honor of Her Career, the ‘New Girl’ Cast, & Zumba (Exclusive)

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 4:55pm

Whether it’s on the screen or on the stage, actress and singer Zooey Deschanel has continuously brought joy to her audiences. In an exclusive interview with Parade magazine, Deschanel opened up about one big thing that brings her joy in her own life: Zumba.

Right before speaking to Parade, Deschanel attended a Zumba class at Anaheim’s Zin Academy in celebration of the aerobic workout’s 25th anniversary. She told Parade that the August 29 class, which included 1,000 Zumba-enthusiasts, “was so much fun.”

“They asked me to come, and I was like, ‘I would have taken a Zumba class anyway!’ I love it so much, it was so fun,” said Deschanel.

Zooey Deschanel while at the 25th anniversary Zumba event.

Deschanel also shared that the “energy was incredible.”

“Like very electric. Everyone was wearing bright colors. It was so fun. And everyone’s happy,” said Deschanel with a laugh.

Deschanel also explained that she’s a fan of Zumba, created by Beto Pérez, because it’s “a really fun dance class” and it’s offered in many spaces.

“I think dance is so joyous and I have so much fun dancing. And to find a brand that infuses dance into fitness where it is a really great cardio workout, but it is, you know, a joyous dance party too. So it’s like a workout that you look forward to doing, not something that you dread. It’s like, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to do that!’ It’s so much fun,” said Deschanel.

View this post on Instagram

In addition, she said she recommends the workout class because “it’s a no-judgment zone.”

“Whether you’re like a dancer or if you’ve never danced before, I think if you enjoy music, and connecting with other people, and you want to get in a good workout. You don’t have to be a great dancer to do it. You just have to like listening to music and kind of having a great, fun party atmosphere on a random hour, any day of the week,” said Deschanel while speaking to Parade.

Zooey Deschanel Discussed Her Upcoming Projects & On-Set Memories Former ‘New Girl’ co-stars Zooey Deschanel and Max Greenfield present during the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

During her interview with Parade, Deschanel teased some of her upcoming projects. She noted her band, She & Him, which also includes M. Ward, is starting their Pump Up the Volumes tour with a Chicago show on September 20.

“I’m going on tour with my band She & Him, and I can’t wait for that,” said Deschanel.

In addition, she shared that she’s starring alongside comedian Caleb Hearon in the upcoming film, Trash Mountain, which is premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 11.

“I’m really excited about it. It’s a beautiful film,” said Deschanel.

Fans of the hit Fox comedy, New Girl, which had a seven-season run until 2018, will be pleased to know that Deschanel and her co-stars, which include Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone, Max Greenfield, Jake Johnson, and Damon Wayans Jr., will be reuniting during the charity gala, Chrysalis Butterfly Ball. The event will be hosted by Greenfield and held on October 10.

While the New Girl cast usually doesn’t appear all together for public events, Deschanel told Parade that she’s regularly in touch with her former co-stars.

“I’ve seen everyone individually, a lot. I actually see everybody a lot, but not all together, so I’m stoked. And that’s going to be really fun,” said Deschanel of the Chrysalis Butterfly Ball reunion.

She also shared that some of her most memorable on-set moments occurred while playing Jessica “Jess” Day on the sitcom.

“New Girl‘s memorable just because it was so, so much of my life. And they were like my family,” said Deschanel.

In addition, she pointed to starring in the films Almost Famous (2000), (500) Days of Summer (2009), and Elf (2003), as being quite memorable. She said that Almost Famous was “pretty amazing for [her]” because it marked a “big break for [her]” in Hollywood, and she got to share scenes with Frances McDormand, who played her on-screen mother. She also said she “had so much fun” filming (500) Days of Summer, as she “had such a great rapport” with her co-star, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and the film’s director, Marc Webb.

While Deschanel has enjoyed her acting career, she shared that she is most proud of her work as a songwriter, vocalist, and musician for She & Him.

“I love that people have also come to discover my music that I’ve written and covered it and everything,” said Deschanel. “And I feel like that to me is probably my greatest honor. And that people have covered my songs ’cause it came from me. I mean, I love acting, and that’s so much fun and collaborative, but there’s something about getting to write your own music that’s very, very satisfying for me. And I’ve always been so touched when people connect with it.”



Christina Aguilera Shares a Rare Look at Her 12-Year-Old Daughter Summer Rain—and She’s Growing up Fast

Tue, 09/01/2026 - 4:49pm

Christina Aguilera and her 12-year-old daughter, Summer Rain, are the perfect duo.

Aguilera, 45, a beloved singer known for her tremendous vocal range, hit it big as a teen with her song “Genie in a Bottle.” Her talents continued to thrive in the following decades, allowing her to become one of the best-selling music artists of all time. But despite all her musical success, Aguilera’s favorite job is as devoted mom. In a series of photos shared on her Instagram, Aguilera shared a rare picture of Summer as the duo sat on the hood of a car and smiled. With shaggy brown hair, Summer looks like a sweet and happy pre-teen.

“summerween ☀️⛵️✈️🐱🎃💀🧛🏻‍♂️🕷️🕸️,” Aguilera captioned the photo series, which showed her doing everything from enjoying a sail on a boat to playing with her animals.

View this post on Instagram

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

Christina Aguilera and Matthew Rutler Still Look So in Love in Rare Appearance

Christina Aguilera and her longtime love, Matthew Rutler, still look so in love 16 years after first getting together.

Back in July, Aguilera made a rare public appearance alongside her fiancé at an exclusive party at Sartiano’s hosted by Todd Graves, owner and founder of Raising Cane’s, in New York City. Snuggling up on a couch together, the duo looked happy and in love during the fun event.

Phillip Faraone / Getty Images

How Long Have Christina Aguilera and Matthew Rutler Been Together?

The duo first got together in 2010. Rutler, a New Jersey native, worked on several film sets in the New England area after attending Roger Williams University. He then moved out to Los Angeles, where he met Aguilera when he worked as a production assistant on her 2010 film, Burlesque.

16 years later, the couple is still going strong. On Mother’s Day, Rutler took to Instagram to honor Aguilera.

“Happy Mother’s Day @xtina to the most incredible woman and mom I know. Watching you pour your love, strength, and creativity into our family is the greatest gift. From our travel adventures to late night White Lotus marathons, every moment with you is magic. Summer and Max are so lucky to have you—and so am I. We love you beyond words. ❤️,” he wrote.

View this post on Instagram

Related: After 16 Years Together, Christina Aguilera and Matthew Rutler Still Look So in Love in Rare Appearance

Pages

New Haven Independent News

405 Charles Cook Plaza

New Haven, MO 63068

(573) 237-5600

nhnews2017@gmail.com