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Ants have a way of making even a minor household pest problem feel surprisingly difficult to control.

You wipe down the counter, kill the trail crossing the kitchen and think the problem is handled. The next morning, they’re back—sometimes following almost the exact same route. The frustrating part is that effective ant control usually involves more than killing the ants you can see.

Ants nest in different places, prefer different foods and present very different problems. Tiny ants congregating around something sweet in the kitchen aren’t necessarily managed the same way as carpenter ants nesting around damp wood or fire ants building colonies across the lawn.

That means the first step isn’t reaching for the nearest spray bottle. It’s figuring out which ant you’re dealing with and why it is there. Here’s everything you need to know.

How Do You Get Rid of Ants in the House Permanently?

The closest thing to permanently getting rid of ants is eliminating the active colony while removing the food, water, shelter and entry points that attracted ants in the first place. Simply killing visible worker ants may provide temporary relief without solving the underlying infestation.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends beginning pest control with prevention: remove food and water sources, store food securely, repair plumbing leaks and close cracks or other openings pests can use to enter a home.

That matters because ants usually aren’t wandering through your kitchen randomly. They’re looking for something. It could be:

• Crumbs beneath an appliance
• Sugar or syrup residue
• Pet food
• Garbage
• Water around a sink
• Moisture from a plumbing leak
• An easy opening around a door, window or pipe

There’s also an important reality behind the word “permanently.”

Even after one colony is controlled, another can eventually move into favorable territory. That’s why long-term ant control is better thought of as eliminating the current problem and making your house less inviting to the next one.

If ants repeatedly disappear and return despite your efforts, Orkin currently offers a free, personalized, no-obligation pest control estimate for homeowners who want professional help identifying and treating the source.

Why Do Ants Keep Coming Back?

Ants commonly return because the nest or colony remains active, a reliable source of food or moisture is still available or there are places to enter through gaps in the structure. A treatment that kills only visible workers may leave the larger problem untouched.

This is where ant behavior works against the homeowner.

The ants marching across your countertop are generally workers foraging away from the nest. Removing them can make the kitchen look better temporarily, but it doesn’t necessarily affect the colony producing them.

EPA guidance specifically recommends addressing the source of a pest problem rather than simply applying pesticides throughout a room. The agency also recommends baits as a potential first-line chemical option for some household pests when used according to the label and kept away from children and pets.

That doesn’t mean every ant should be treated with the same bait. Species identification matters.

What Kind of Ants Are in Your House?

Correct identification is one of the most important parts of ant control because common household ants, carpenter ants and fire ants differ in their nesting behavior, risks and treatment needs. Even the familiar term “sugar ant” can refer informally to several different ants attracted to sweets. Here’s a side-by-side overview of the most common types:

Ant Type

Description

Primary Concern

Typical Control Focus

“Sugar ants”

Small ants found around sweets, sinks or kitchens

Persistent indoor trails

Baits, sanitation and entry-point control

Carpenter ants

Larger ants that settle around wood debris and are more active at night.

Wood excavation and structural damage

Finding nests and correcting moisture

Fire ants

Reddish ants and outdoor mounds

Painful stings and persistent colonies

Fire-ant bait plus targeted mound treatment

The term sugar ant causes particular confusion.

Orkin notes that people often use the name for many small ants attracted to sweet foods, including species such as odorous house ants. The actual banded sugar ant is a specific species, Camponotus consobrinus.

In other words, identifying “little ants that like sugar” may not be enough to select the right treatment. Orkin’s former technical director, Ron Harrison, Ph.D., summarized the issue well: “Because associated risks vary by species, correct identification is crucial.”

How Do You Get Rid of Sugar Ants?

For small household ants attracted to sugary foods, begin by eliminating accessible food and water, cleaning trails and sealing entry points. Properly selected ant baits may help reach ants beyond the workers you see, but persistent infestations may require identifying the species and locating nesting areas.

Start with the kitchen.

Clean spills promptly, keep food in sealed containers, empty trash regularly and avoid leaving pet food accessible longer than necessary. Fix dripping faucets or other persistent moisture sources. Then, look for where the ants are entering. Check:

• Window frames
• Door thresholds
• Baseboards
• Plumbing penetrations
• Cabinet gaps
• Cracks near foundations

Odorous house ants, one of the ants commonly described as “sugar ants,” often nest outdoors but can also establish themselves in wall voids or beneath floors, particularly near moisture. University of Minnesota Extension says baits can be effective and advises professional pest management for persistent infestations.

Why Ant Baits Can Help

The idea behind ant baits is different from that of a contact spray. Instead of killing a foraging worker immediately, bait allows ants to carry material back toward the colony.

But placement matters. So does species.

Spraying repellent insecticide directly around the bait can interfere with ants feeding on it. University of Minnesota Extension specifically warns against applying insecticide on or around carpenter ant baits for that reason. Always use a product specifically labeled for the pest and location you’re treating.

How Do You Get Rid of Carpenter Ants?

Carpenter ant control involves finding the nest, addressing moisture conditions that favor nesting and treating the infestation directly. Carpenter ants don’t eat wood like termites, but they excavate galleries inside wood and can cause damage when colonies remain established. Simply spraying a line of these ants around sugar-based bait won’t solve the problem.

Orkin lists common warning signs such as large worker ants, winged swarmers and piles of wood shavings or frass produced as ants create galleries. Moisture is another clue. Carpenter ants frequently establish nests in wood affected by leaks or persistent dampness.

Don’t Confuse Carpenter Ants With Termites

Winged carpenter ants can also be mistaken for termite swarmers. Ants generally have a narrow waist and bent or elbowed antennae, while termites have straighter antennae and a broader waist.

That distinction matters because the treatment and potential property risks aren’t the same.

If you’re seeing large ants, winged insects or unexplained wood debris, this is one situation where guessing at the species isn’t particularly useful. Orkin offers free estimates, and its carpenter ant service begins with identifying the infestation and developing a targeted treatment plan.

How Do You Get Rid of Fire Ants?

Fire ants generally require outdoor colony management rather than ordinary indoor ant treatment. Extension experts commonly recommend a two-step strategy: applying fire-ant bait across the affected area, followed by treatment of individual mounds that remain (always according to product-label directions).

Fire ants create a completely different problem, though.

They sting, colonies can become large and some colonies contain multiple queens. Orkin notes that these characteristics can make fire ants difficult to control and allow populations to recover after incomplete treatment.

Mississippi State University Extension recommends what it calls the two-step method for residential lawns: broadcast granular fire-ant bait over the property and then spot-treat problem mounds that remain.

Extension entomologist Blake Layton says consistent preventive use of baits and mound treatments can dramatically reduce the number of fire-ant mounds in a lawn.

There is an important detail here: use a bait specifically labeled for fire ants and follow its directions. Also, never assume that an indoor bait intended for tiny kitchen ants will work against fire ants.

Do Ant Baits or Sprays Work Better?

Neither ant bait nor insecticide spray is universally better. Baits can be useful when ants carry a slow-acting treatment toward a colony, while targeted sprays and perimeter treatments may be appropriate for certain species and locations. The product label and correct ant identification should determine the approach.

One of the easiest mistakes to make is assuming that more pesticide means better pest control. It doesn’t.

EPA guidance explicitly warns against using more pesticide than the label directs and recommends targeting applications to specific locations rather than spraying an entire room.

A professional treatment may also use more than one approach. Orkin says its ant-control process can include species identification, locating trails and nests, targeted treatments, sealing entry points and monitoring for renewed activity. That’s a more useful model than simply thinking in terms of “spray versus bait.”

How Can You Keep Ants From Coming Back?

Preventing ants from returning means reducing the conditions that attracted them and blocking the routes they used to enter. Keep food sealed, eliminate standing water and leaks, clean spills promptly, seal structural gaps and monitor areas where ant activity previously occurred.

After an infestation is under control, focus on making the property harder to reinvade. A practical ant-prevention checklist includes:

• Storing pantry foods in sealed containers
• Cleaning crumbs and sugary spills promptly
• Keeping garbage covered
• Not leaving pet food out unnecessarily
• Repairing plumbing leaks
• Reducing excess moisture
• Sealing cracks around windows and doors
• Closing openings around pipes and utilities
• Trimming vegetation touching the house where practical
• Watching previously active areas for new trails

This follows the broader integrated pest management principle of removing the food, water and shelter that pests need before relying exclusively on pesticide treatment.

When Should You Call an Exterminator for Ants?

Professional ant control is worth considering when ants repeatedly return, you cannot identify the species or DIY treatment hasn’t controlled the infestation.

A few ants beside the kitchen sink don’t automatically require an exterminator. But a recurring infestation is different. Professional help becomes more worthwhile when:

• Ant trails return after treatment
• Ants appear in several rooms
• You cannot determine where they’re entering
• Large carpenter ants or wood debris appear
• Fire-ant colonies cover parts of the yard
• You have children or pets and are uncomfortable selecting or placing pesticides
• You simply don’t know what species you’re dealing with

Orkin’s current ant-control process begins with inspecting the home, identifying the species and locating activity before developing a treatment plan. The company also says it monitors key areas and provides follow-up service if ants return between treatments under qualifying service arrangements.

The Bottom Line on Ant Control

Getting rid of ants isn’t really about finding the strongest spray. It’s about finding the source.

Small sugar-seeking household ants typically respond well to sanitation, exclusion and appropriately selected bait. Carpenter ants require attention to nests, moisture and potentially damaged wood. Fire ants usually call for an outdoor control strategy built specifically around their colonies.

The common thread is correct identification followed by targeted treatment.

If you’ve cleaned, sealed and treated the obvious areas and the ants continue coming back, that’s a good sign the visible ants aren’t the whole problem. At that point, having someone identify the species and look for the colony can save a lot of time and money.

Orkin offers a free pest control estimate and can develop a treatment plan based on the ant species, infestation and conditions around your home.

The creators of the wildly popular Guitar Hero are reviving the era of plastic-guitar rock. Stage Tour, the “spiritual successor” to the 2000s-era video game, is expected to launch Dec. 10 and feature a soundtrack of more than 90 officially licensed songs.  

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Over the past several weeks, RedOctane Games, the newly formed studio made up of veterans of the original Guitar Hero team, has been sharing bits and pieces of the new rhythm game’s tracklist. This week, however, the company revealed a much larger portion of the playlist, along with preorder details and the game’s accompanying hardware.

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So far, the songs that have been confirmed include Extreme‘s “Get the Funk Out,” Slipknot’s “Psychosocial,” Weezer’s “Island in the Sun,” Paramore’s “For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic,” Radiohead’s “Just,” and The Rolling Stones’ “In the Stars.”

Related: ’70s-Inspired, Guitar-Driven Hit Named Best Rock Song of 2026 So Far

Stage Tour Setlist, Confirmed So Far

• The Rolling Stones – “In the Stars”
• Smash Mouth – “All Star”
• Muse – “Starlight”
• BABYMETAL & Electric Callboy – “RATATATA”
• Extreme – “Get The Funk Out”  
• Ghost – “Square Hammer”  
• Good Kid – “Mimi’s Delivery Service”
• Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Dani California”  
• Static-X – “Terminator Oscillator”  
• Weezer – “Island in the Sun”  
• Avril Lavigne – “Bite Me”
• Honey Revenge – “Airhead”  
• Paramore – “For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic”  
• The Paradox – “Do Me Like That”  
• The Long Faces – “Jane!”  
• Jfarrari – “The Unknowing”  
• Castle Rat – “Siren”  
• Rise Against – “Broken Dreams, Inc.”  
• Slipknot – “Psychosocial”  
• Mastodon – “The Motherload”
• Mammoth – “The End”  
• Beast in Black – “Blind and Frozen”  
• The Cure – “Just Like Heaven”  
• Radiohead – “Just”  
• Bad Omens – “Pretend”

“Interestingly, there’s no mention of Van Halen yet, but Eddie’s offspring, Wolfgang, is to feature with Mammoth’s ‘The End,’” Guitar World wrote about the news. “It’s a song practically made for a game like this. OG Guitar Hero darlings DragonForce are another big omission (so far), given that the game helped the band explode, while The Beatles are also currently absent.”

The rest of the 90+ tracklist has yet to be revealed. But the game already has the backing of Gibson, the iconic guitar manufacturer founded in 1902 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with more than 180 authentic Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer guitars featured as collectible in-game instruments. Its virtual world is even built around Gibson Garage in Nashville.

Following the release of 2015’s Guitar Hero Live, the series was shelved. Last year, however, the original developers decided to get back to work on a brand-new game. The team has emphasized that Stage Tour is a new game rather than a continuation of Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Guitar Freaks, or Rock Band, per NME.

Available for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2, Stage Tour is also now ready to preorder.

Related: ’90s Alternative Rock Legends Make History With ‘Greatest Hits’ Spending a Decade on the Charts

​

John Morgan just added a new personal milestone to a resume already full of hits written for other artists.

Morgan’s new single, “Kid Myself,” debuted on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 at No. 96, his first-ever entry on the chart as a recording artist, rather than as the writer behind someone else’s hit. It’s a full-circle moment for Morgan, who spent years building a reputation in Nashville as one of the industry’s most in-demand songwriters before stepping into the spotlight himself.

Morgan, a North Carolina native who grew up playing bluegrass festivals in his family’s band, first broke through in Music City after driving for Uber to make ends meet while chasing a songwriting career. That persistence paid off when Jason Aldean began cutting his songs, eventually recording 16 of Morgan’s compositions, including “Trouble with a Heartbreak” and “Whiskey Drink.” His biggest co-write came with “If I Didn’t Love You,” Aldean’s 2021 duet with Carrie Underwood, which topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, earned a Grammy nomination, and won the Academy of Country Music’s Single of the Year.

The song also made history on the charts in its own right, notching the highest-ever debut for a duet between a solo male and female artist on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, where it opened at No. 2. It went on to earn Platinum certification from the RIAA and spent three separate weeks at No. 1 on Country Airplay, becoming Aldean’s 24th career leader on that chart and extending Underwood’s record as the female artist with the most Country Airplay No. 1s in history.

Morgan has since built his own career as an artist, signing to Aldean’s Night Train Records imprint and releasing his debut EP, “Remember Us?,” in 2023. His first single as a lead artist, “Friends Like That,” featuring Aldean, also reached No. 1 at country radio, giving Morgan his first chart-topper as a performer rather than just a writer.

It’s hard to imagine Patty Loveless’ “Blame It on Your Heart” as anything other than the perfect song for the singer. The 1993 country hit is about as Patty Loveless as it gets. The song is pure honky-tonk swagger, turning a breakup into an epic takedown of a man who lied, cheated and apparently didn’t realize what he had until it was gone. Loveless initially passed on the song. Now, it’s being named her best song of all time.

Patty Loveless Initially Passed on the Song @cowboymarcuslovescountry

Patty Loveless – Blame It On Your Heart 🎵🎵🤠🤠

♬ original sound – cowboymarcuslovescountry🎵🎵🤠

Loveless and her team originally passed on “Blame It on Your Heart” because they felt the song was too much of a “ditty.” Feeling the song wasn’t substantial enough for the singer or the direction they envisioned for her, Loveless and her team initially passed on the song.

“Blame It on Your Heart” didn’t disappear because Loveless took a pass. Singer Deborah Allen recorded it for the 1993 film The Thing Called Love, which gave Loveless another opportunity to hear what the song could become.

Loveless reconsidered and recorded it. Released in 1993, “Blame It on Your Heart” became a No. 1 country hit for Patty Loveless and ultimately one of her signature songs, proving the song had more to it than simply being a “ditty.”

Related: 1976 Ronnie Milsap Classic Had a Piano Lick So Memorable It Earned Tammy Wynette a Writing Credit

The “Ditty” Became a Breakup Classic

The song’s simplicity is part of what makes it such an enduring classic, but that simplicity is exactly what initially made Loveless and her team say no.

“Blame it on your lyin’, cheatin’ / Cold, deadbeatin’ / Two-timin’, double-dealin’ / Mean, mistreatin’ lovin’ heart!”

The song’s writers, Harlan Howard and Kostas Lazarides, waste no time explaining the breakup or stating a case for right and wrong. Instead, they quickly pile on insult upon insult, creating one deliciously catchy chorus.

The song creates a country kiss-off with a side of humor, making it one of the ultimate breakup anthems. Loveless isn’t begging this man to come back, and she’s not devastated by his departure. Instead, she’s looking at the wreckage of the relationship and saying: You did this, not me.

That’s classic Patty Loveless, who brings a powerful country voice to lyrics that are playful, rhythmic and catchy. That contrast is part of why “Blame It on Your Heart” is her best. The contrast between the song’s seemingly simple lyrics and Loveless’ ability to make a breakup sound like a celebration is part of the song’s allure.

Patty Loveless Turned a “Ditty” Into a No. 1 Hit

What was initially perceived as a lightweight ditty became one of Patty Loveless’ signature classics.

Now, it’s her best.

Related: 1973 Country Classic Written the Same Day as ‘I Will Always Love You’ Named Dolly Parton’s Best Ever by Rolling Stone

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Gene Kelly‘s “Singin’ in the Rain” wasn’t treated as anything special when MGM put it into production in 1951. The studio saw it as a routine musical assignment, and upon release in 1952, it landed only modest box office numbers and just two Oscar nominations.

Decades later, the film’s reputation has completely reversed course. It now holds a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and in 2006, a jury of more than 500 film professionals selected it as the No. 1 entry on the American Film Institute’s list of the greatest movie musicals ever made. It also ranks among AFI’s top five greatest American films of any genre, and has appeared twice on the British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound poll of the ten best films ever made.

The film’s most demanding scenes fell almost entirely on Debbie Reynolds, who was only 19 and had no professional dance training when she was cast opposite Kelly and Donald O’Connor. A former gymnast, Reynolds trained for hours daily to keep pace with two of Hollywood’s most accomplished dancers. During one especially frustrating rehearsal, she broke down crying and hid underneath a piano, only to be discovered and comforted by Fred Astaire, who happened to be filming in a nearby studio at the time.

The “Good Morning” number alone took from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. to shoot, requiring more than 40 takes, and left Reynolds’ feet bleeding by the end of the day. She later said “Singin’ in the Rain” and childbirth were the two hardest things she ever did in her life.

Reynolds wasn’t the only one who paid a physical price. O’Connor reportedly had to stay in bed for days after filming his own strenuous “Make ‘Em Laugh” routine, while Kelly is said to have filmed the movie’s now-iconic title number while running a 103-degree fever, refusing to stop the shoot despite being visibly ill.

For over a decade, one song remained one of the most elusive tracks in Bon Jovi’s live repertoire. That 13-year drought officially ended when Jon Bon Jovi and the band pulled “the lost classic “Hey God” out of the vault, delivering a powerful performance that took concertgoers by complete surprise.

Before this unexpected revival, “Hey God” was a feature of the band’s 1995 LP, These Days. Over the years, the track gradually slipped out of regular rotation, becoming a mythic “lost classic” among the fanbase. Its sudden comeback signals a welcome setlist shake-up as the group continues to treat audiences to rare gems from their decades-deep catalog.

According to Ultimate Classic Rock, the band brought the track back to live performances for the first time since 2013. Additionally, they also performed “These Days,” the LP’s lead track, for the first time in seven years.

The outlet quoted Bon Jovi, who told the crowd at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland. The singer and songwriter said of “These Days,” “This one was a bigger hit in the U.K. than it was in the U.S. It makes me very proud to know that you guys have very good taste in music. I love this song. I’m really happy to play it to you.”

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According to the website Noise 11, Bon Jovi only played “Hey God” a handful of times. They noted that in 2011 alone, the song was only performed live six times. They report that the band performed the song 13 times in that decade, and just three times in Australia, all during their 1995 tour.

The band’s fansite, Backstage With Bon Jovi, shared details of the song’s inception. Bon Jovi explained, “‘Hey God’ was a narrative, an overview. It was me sitting in a traffic jam in Manhattan while people were literally walking over a guy who was passed out in the street.”

He continued, “And I just thought, ‘My God, he could have been having a heart attack. He could have fallen down from Diabetes, and people just walking over him. I don’t understand how things like this exist in 1995.” He also revealed the origins of the song came from former Bon Jovi lead guitarist Richie Sambora.

Bon Jovi’s 2026 tour, which launched in July, heads to Ireland on Aug. 30 before moving to London for a three-night stand on Sept. 4, 6, and 9.

Related: 1986 Rock Hit About Blue-Collar Dreamers Is Still the Ultimate Wedding Reception Sing-Along

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A touch of Italian-inspired glamor is now within reach for just ten dollars, thanks to Walmart’s newest fashion brand, Scenario. Known for bringing contemporary style to budget-friendly price points, Scenario is introducing shoppers to apparel and accessories that look and feel high-end without demanding a luxury budget. 

The brand’s latest offering, The Scenario Gold-Tone Horsebit Drop Earrings, are quickly becoming a favorite among shoppers, bringing a refined, heritage look to jewelry boxes across the country. With a 4.8-star rating, these earrings prove that affordable accessories can still deliver on style.

Scenario Gold-Tone Horsebit Drop Earrings, $10 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

The horsebit design is timeless. Inspired by high-end Italian fashion, these earrings feature a polished gold-tone finish and a classic shape long associated with elegance and equestrian flair. 

The one-inch drop silhouette adds subtle movement, catching the light without overwhelming your look. Whether paired with a crisp white shirt, a tailored blazer, or a favorite sundress, these earrings manage to look both sophisticated and effortless.

These horsebit earrings are particularly versatile, offering a hint of luxury for workdays, weekends, and evenings out.  The post-back closure keeps them comfortable and secure, while the lightweight design makes them easy to wear all day. 

Shoppers have been enthusiastic, with many praising the quality and designer-inspired feel at such an accessible price point. Shoppers have remarked on the earrings’ chic appearance, with some even noting that friends and coworkers have mistaken them for pieces from far more expensive brands.

“These earrings are gorgeous!” one shopper noted. The same reviewer added that they “look almost identical” to a luxury Italian designer’s version that costs thousands of dollars.

Another shopper called the earrings “chic,” saying that they’re “perfect for fall.”

The Horsebit Drop Earrings capture the elegance of Italian heritage jewelry with their polished gold-tone finish and iconic equestrian motif. The gold-tone finish lends itself to layering with other jewelry or standing alone as a statement, suiting a wide variety of personal styles.

Shop More Deals

• Scenario Goldtone Chunky Twist Necklace, $10 at Walmart
• Scenario Woven Mini Clam Tote, $33 at Walmart
• Scenario Women’s Saddle Bag in Brown Fringe, $27 at Walmart 

Related: Walmart’s New Budget-Friendly Fashion Line Includes $27 Sneakers With a ‘Retro’ Designer-Inspired Look

At just $10, the Scenario Horsebit Drop Earrings offer an easy, affordable way to add a hint of Italian-inspired luxury to any outfit. Grab a pair of these earrings while the price is great and add a standout pop of sophistication that does not have to come at a premium. They’re selling fast at this price!

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Sylvester Stallone‘s stunning daughter Sophia just got engaged, and she could legitimately be her mother’s twin.

Stallone, 80, who now stars in Tulsa King, rose to superstardom as everyone’s favorite boxer in the 1976 sports drama Rocky. He later made waves in Hollywood in action flicks like the Rambo films, Cliffhanger, and Demolition Man. Married for almost three decades to Jennifer Flavin, Stallone just celebrated the engagement of their daughter, Sophia. But from the engagement photos, one thing is clear: Sophia is a dead ringer for her mother!

“We are so ecstatic about the engagement of our daughter Sophia to Michael!” Stallone shared sweet photos with the family. In the photo of the carousel, you see Sophia standing next to her mother. It’s a copy-and-paste situation!

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Stallone and His Family Ditched California

So what made him choose the Sunshine State as his next destination?

“First of all, the air seems to always be clean. We’re very, very near the water and that makes my wife incredibly happy,” he told Fox News Digital. “It makes me happy, and it’s just something about it. It’s just so lush.”

Stallone continued, saying the area may be 3000 miles away from Los Angeles, but it just works better for him and his family.

“I went to college there for a couple of years. So, I’m not a stranger to the environment, but it fits my personality much better,” he said.

Stallone Wasn’t Thrilled With Leaving California at First

Originally, the idea of leaving California was a tough nut to swallow. The couple raised their three daughters in California.

“It’s not easy for me to leave California. That’s where I got my start, that’s where I got my break,” Stallone shared on the family’s reality show in 2024, PEOPLE reported. “We have a lot of roots in California, so it’s not an easy transition to Florida. But Jennifer really had her heart set on it. I gave in.”

But Flavin was ready to take on a new pursuit.

“I raised all three of our daughters in California. Everything’s a memory to me, memories of them not being there anymore,” she shared at the time. “So I needed a big change, and Sly went along with it.”

The Couple Showed Off Their Florida Home in Veranda

Stallone and Flavin show off the Florida digs last year in the September/October cover story of Veranda. Inside, the duo explained the challenges of house hunting when everything they saw seemed cavernous.

“We looked at some of the houses built after Covid, and they were monstrosities,” Stallone recalled. “Monumental structures, but none of them embraced you or made you feel warm. You felt as though you were in a hotel lobby.” 

It was Flavin who put her talents to work to make the space a real home.

“I’ve always made every house we’ve ever had a home. I don’t care if someone spills something. I can replace the rug or get it cleaned. We have three dogs and a cat and lots of children,” she shared. “Nothing we own is precious.”

Related: Frank and Sylvester Stallone Reunite for Sly’s 80th, and He’s Still Giving His Little Brother Wet Willies

In 2026, Ella Langley has spent much of the year making country music history with the seemingly unstoppable “Choosin’ Texas.” But on Friday night, she made room in her set for the woman whose influence on country music stretches back generations.

Langley paid tribute to the late Dolly Parton during her Aug. 28 concert at Auburn University, delivering a fiery, rock-infused rendition of Parton’s “Jolene.”

The performance came during the first of Langley’s two Dandelion Tour shows at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala., not far from where the Alabama native grew up. Langley returns to the venue for a second show Saturday night.

Ella Langley Puts a Rocking Spin on Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ @emily.these.days

Last night in Auburn, @Ella Langley said, “Tonight’s show didn’t feel right without doing something like this” and proceeded to sing “Jolene” in honor of @Dolly Parton. One of my favorite moments from the night 🦋 #ellalangley #dollyparton #concert #auburn #fyp

♬ original sound – Emily 🦋

According to a video shared on TikTok following Friday’s concert, Langley explained why she wanted to honor Parton before launching into one of the country legend’s signature songs.

“Tonight’s show didn’t feel right without doing something like this,” Langley said.

Then came “Jolene,” but not quite as fans have heard it before.

Rather than trying to replicate Parton’s original 1973 recording, Langley and her band cranked up the guitars for a heavier take on “Jolene.”

The performance turns the familiar plea into something considerably more muscular, with Langley leaning into the song as the band builds a full-on rock arrangement around her.

The fan who posted video of the performance called it “one of my favorite moments from the night,” and commenters quickly praised Langley for making room in the show to remember Parton.

Related: Ella Langley Leads Country Music to Billboard First That Has Never Happened Before

“Paying tribute 💯💛🔥,” one person wrote.

“You’re amazing 👏,” added another.

“Love that she did this 😭,” one fan commented, while another declared, “Ella crushed it all for DOLLY 💯🔥.”

The performance was particularly fitting for an artist who has increasingly blurred the boundaries between country and rock during her meteoric rise.

And Langley is having quite a rise.

Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ Is Chasing Hot 100 History

Langley’s tribute to one of country music’s most influential artists comes as the 27-year-old singer is in the middle of a historic run of her own.

“Choosin’ Texas” is spending its 19th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the chart dated Aug. 29.

That ties Langley with Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Old Town Road” and Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” for the second-longest No. 1 reign in Hot 100 history.

It also gives “Choosin’ Texas” the record for the longest stay at No. 1 during a single uninterrupted chart run, according to Billboard.

Related: Grand Ole Opry to Honor Dolly Parton With Special Show, 67 Years After She Earned 3 Encores at Just 13

Only one song has accumulated more total weeks atop the Hot 100: Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which has logged 22 weeks at No. 1 across multiple holiday seasons.

And Langley may not be finished.

Billboard reports that “Choosin’ Texas” continues to hold a substantial lead over its nearest competition, potentially putting Carey’s all-time record within reach if Langley can maintain the song’s remarkable momentum.

For one night, though, Langley turned the spotlight away from her own history-making year and toward one of the artists who helped make that career possible.

Country Music Continues to Say Goodbye to Dolly Parton

Langley’s “Jolene” performance is one of a growing number of tributes to Parton following the country legend’s death.

Linda Ronstadt, who collaborated with Parton on Trio and Trio II, remembered her longtime friend as “the most extraordinary” person, while Parton’s team has revealed that the famously prolific entertainer left behind a roadmap for projects that could continue for “decades to come.”

Parton also left behind a particularly poignant final message for families participating in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library , asking children to keep reading and dreaming.

Even the weather produced an eerie coincidence in the days following her death, when Tropical Storm Dolly formed in the Atlantic, briefly giving Parton’s famous first name another unexpected place in the headlines.

And the tributes will continue Saturday night.

The Grand Ole Opry, where Parton made her debut at just 13 years old in 1959 and became an official member a decade later, is dedicating its Aug. 29 show to the late country legend. The special show will feature Carly Pearce, Channing Wilson, Kathy Mattea, Molly Tuttle, Dan Tyminski, T. Graham Brown, the Opry Square Dancers and Belle Frantz making her Opry debut, along with additional “guest Opry stars.”

A portion of ticket sales will benefit Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

The tribute livestream begins at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT Saturday on the Grand Ole Opry’s Facebook and YouTube channels, giving fans around the world another opportunity to celebrate Parton’s life and music.

Meanwhile, Langley will be back onstage at Auburn for the second night of her homecoming run.

On Friday, though, one of country music’s biggest stars of 2026 used one of her biggest shows to salute the woman whose songs helped pave the road beneath her.

Related: Dolly Parton’s Final Message to Millions of Children Is Breaking Hearts After Her Death: ‘Promise Me’

Japanese matcha has officially made its way into everything from lattes to desserts, and now Lindt is giving the trend a chocolatey twist.

Becoming one of the biggest food trends of the moment, the earthy Japanese green tea powder is showing up everywhere. Lindt is leaning into the craze with a Tokyo-inspired twist, pairing matcha with strawberry in a limited-edition bar that’s already generating buzz.

The iconic chocolatier is teaming up with fashion designer Joe Ando for a special pop-up in New York City today, where it will debut its new Tokyo Style Matcha Strawberry Chocolate Bar. The Lindt x Joe Ando Strawberry-Matcha Pop-Up takes over the Lindt Chocolate Shop in Midtown Manhattan on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 3 to 6 p.m., giving fans a chance to sample the limited-edition chocolate and get a first look at Ando’s new fashion collection inspired by it.

Ando, known for his distinctive designs and social media presence, created a capsule collection of three dresses inspired by the new bar. The pieces will be on display at the event, and Ando will be there to meet guests.

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There will be plenty to taste, too. Visitors can sample the Tokyo Style Matcha Strawberry Chocolate Bar and enjoy a complimentary iced matcha from Japanese tea house Nana’s Green Tea while supplies last.

The timing couldn’t be better. The new bar combines Lindt’s chocolate with matcha and strawberry flavors, tapping into the growing popularity of Japanese matcha as a food and beverage trend.

For New Yorkers looking to get in on the craze, the pop-up runs from 3 to 6 p.m. today at the Lindt Chocolate Shop at 7 W. 34th St., between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Guests can also RSVP to the event online. No tickets required – just stop in for a matcha made in heaven.

For millions of summer vacationers, the dream of a classic European getaway has recently collided with record-breaking heatwaves and packed historic centers. That reality has fueled one of the biggest shifts in modern travel: the rise of the “coolcation.”

More travelers than ever are intentionally ditching the 95-degree Mediterranean sun in July and August in favor of temperate breezes, dramatic sea cliffs, and glacier-fed waterways.

Celebrity Cruises is leaning directly into that demand. As part of its newly revealed global deployment for 2028 and 2029, the line is launching its most extensive Northern Europe program to date, anchoring the region with two of its premier Edge Series ships—Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Apex.

Related: Why Everyone Is Swapping the Mediterranean for a ‘Coolcation’ Cruise

View this post on Instagram The Ultimate Iceland and Norwegian Fjords Grand Tour

Leading the northern season is the renewed Celebrity Beyond, which officially returns to European waters for the first time since 2023. Operating out of Southampton, England, the ship will sail seven- to 14-night journeys designed to showcase the best of Scandinavia and the North Atlantic.

The crown jewel of the schedule is a 14-night itinerary that combines the volcanic landscapes of Iceland with the serene beauty of Norway’s fjords. Guests will visit four distinct Icelandic destinations—Reykjavik, Isafjordur, Akureyri, and Seydisfjordur—before crossing over to glide between the sheer granite cliffs and cascading waterfalls of Geiranger, Alesund, Flam, Nordfjordeid, and Bergen. For travelers who want an even deeper dive into the land of fire and ice, Celebrity Summit will also offer dedicated round-trip circumnavigations departing directly from Reykjavik.

Related: ‘Coolcation’ Searches Are Up 42% This Year—5 Escapes Perfect for Beating the Heat

British Isles Firsts and Baltic Capitals

Sister ship Celebrity Apex is expanding the cool-weather map with 12-night voyages through the British Isles and Scandinavia. The new British Isles route features Celebrity Cruises’ first-ever scheduled port call in Galway, Ireland, connecting travelers to the rugged Atlantic coast alongside stops in Scotland and England.

For urban exploration in milder temperatures, Celebrity Apex will also navigate the Baltic and North seas with 12-night sailings calling on Oslo, Skagen, Stockholm, Tallinn, Helsinki, and Copenhagen. The combination gives travelers a seamless way to explore cobblestone capitals and Scandinavian design without having to repack their bags at every border.

Related: Holland America’s Flagship Is Ready For Summer Northern Europe Routes

Fresh Onboard Upgrades for Sea Days

Coolcations often mean more time spent taking in panoramic scenery from the ship, and Celebrity Beyond will arrive in Northern Europe featuring fresh venues added during its 2026 renewal. Guests will have access to Bora, a new dedicated al fresco Mediterranean restaurant, alongside the revamped Celebrity Pool Club, which introduces two casual poolside dining spots: Orange Peel Bar & Grille and Tacos del Sol.

Bookings for Celebrity’s 2028 European season officially open on August 25, 2026, giving planners the first pick of prime balcony staterooms and suite locations before the northern routes sell out.

Related: Celebrity Cruises Adds an Iconic Ship to Its Biggest-Ever Alaska Season

Cody Johnson just added another entry to his growing list of Billboard achievements.

The Texas-born country star’s new single, “Take Me Back (Leave Me There),” debuted at No. 47 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100, marking the 10th time in his career that Johnson has landed a song on the chart. It’s a milestone that underscores just how consistently Johnson has been able to cross over from country radio to the all-genre chart in recent years.

Johnson has built that track record steadily rather than through one breakout smash. His catalog includes hits like “‘Til You Can’t” and “The Painter,” both of which topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and helped cement his crossover appeal well beyond traditional country radio. His 2023 album “Leather” and its deluxe edition further built on that momentum, and the project’s CMA Album of the Year win last year reinforced his standing as one of the genre’s most decorated current stars.

Fans reacted to the new milestone on Facebook, with one commenter writing that Johnson is “‘leaving’ them wanting more,” while another said they “can’t think of any of his songs” that they don’t love. Several others pointed to his live shows as proof of his staying power, with one fan recalling a recent concert in Oklahoma City and already looking forward to seeing him perform again.

Johnson’s rise has been especially notable given his background. Before signing with a major label, he spent years releasing music independently and building a grassroots following through relentless touring, a path that makes his current run of Hot 100 entries feel less like a lucky streak and more like the payoff of a decade of steady groundwork.

With “Take Me Back (Leave Me There)” now on the board, Johnson’s Hot 100 tally sits at double digits, a number that puts him in increasingly rare company among his country music peers.

In 1974, Rufus and Chaka Khan released a song that is still, decades later, a timeless earworm. The track, “Tell Me Something Good,” was famously performed on iconic TV program Soul Train—and it has the same effect on listeners then and now. What once could instantly make you stop and want to bust a move is still driving folks to the dance floor.

Written by a 24-year-old Stevie Wonder specifically for Khan’s powerhouse voice, it became a funk soul smash. The hit was included on the album Rags to Rufus, released in June 1974. It raced up the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 3 on Aug. 24. Making it to the same position on the R&B chart, it pushed the songstress directly into the spotlight, paving the way for her to soon become a standout solo artist.

The tune went on to earn a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus in 1975.

Rolling Stone named the “mind-blowing” performance of the track one of Soul Train‘s best musical moments, writing, “Rufus’s singer was a shockingly young Chaka Khan, seen here in a sparkly purple tube top, looking shy but visibly gaining confidence as the performance builds up steam and her band makes some classic funk.”

According to American Songwriter, Khan actually co-wrote the song, admitting in several interviews that she never asked to receive credit for writing contributions. “In a 2020 interview for the Vlad TV YouTube channel, Khan said she didn’t realize that she should have received a writing credit, and she was too overwhelmed by Wonder’s presence to bring the issue up with him,” the outlet noted.

Fifty-two years later, “Tell Me Something Good” remains a timeless classic. At the time of writing, the song had racked up over 55 million Spotify streams.

Next, ’70s Rock Legends From the South Ranked the No. 2 ‘Greatest Duo of All Time’

Lacey Chabert has made a name for herself as a bona fide rom-com queen, from playing iconic teen Gretchen Wieners in the 2004 hit Mean Girls to starring in 45 Hallmark Channel movies since 2010.

Though romances and cozy mysteries are Chabert’s bread and butter, the Party of Five alum also has a side gig many fans don’t realize. She’s been regularly recording voice-overs for animated movies and shows since the late ’90s, and there’s a good chance you know many of the cartoon characters she brings to life.

Which Cartoon Characters Does Lacey Chabert Voice?

In addition to the long list of Hallmark movies and shows Chabert has appeared in, including her new Hallmark+ series Paris Is Always a Good Idea, she has an equally long list of voice-over projects under her belt, lending her distinctive voice to well-known animated characters.

After spending several years landing smaller voice-over gigs, Chabert landed her breakthrough role, starring as Eliza Thornberry in the beloved Nickelodeon series The Wild Thornberrys from 1998 to 2004 and animated movies about the zany family of wildlife experts.

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From there, Chabert was landing roles left and right, including playing Kaycee in the Bratz movies, series, and video games. In 2008 and 2009, she played Gwen Stacy in The Spectacular Spiderman series, Meg Griffin in the first season of Family Guy, Mako in the Star Wars: The Old Republic video games, Coorah in Kulipari, Dani Burns in Transformers: Rescue Bots, Xiao in the Kung-Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny series, and Zatanna in the Young Justice franchise.

Chabert’s favorite moment as a voice-over artist, however, was when her daughter Julia was little and recognized her mom’s voice on the TV as she played Zeta on Nick Jr.’s Shimmer and Shine.

“The best moment was when she was two,” Chabert told Pop Culture Planet during an interview posted on August 12. “I was on a show called Shimmer and Shine at the time and she watched, and she looked at the TV, and after a couple of episodes, she goes, ‘Mama’s voice! Mama’s voice!’ And it was the best.”

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Chabert told the outlet, “I love doing voice-over work. It’s something I still do and pursue.” Noting that she was made fun of in school for her “really, really high-pitched voice,” Chabert said things eventually turned around as she landed gigs.

“All of a sudden, I turned something that was a bit of an insecurity when I was younger into something that I could express myself creatively (with),” she said, “so it’s actually been such a blessing, and I do, I really love it.”

If you live somewhere cold, chances are there’s not a whole lot to do to keep yourself entertained while you’re stuck at home all winter—that is, until now. These 75 winter trivia questions (and answers) can put your seasonal knowledge to the test in a fun, gamified way. By the time it gets warm again in the spring, you’ll be a winter expert—whether you actually live in the cold or you just love looking at the snow from afar via movies or social media posts.

The trivia is broken down into several categories, so you can go through all of our winter-themed questions at once or separate them by the themes you’re most interested in. There are trivia questions about winter sports (including the Winter Olympics), winter animals, winter geography, food, movies and more. And even kids can play with several age-appropriate questions they’re sure to know the answers to—like a Frozen question, because nothing says winter like a queen whose power revolves around ice… and powerful songs.

With this list, you can quiz your friends, family or even play on your own. You’ll feel extra cool (pun intended) whipping out all your brand-new winter knowledge at your next dinner party or event.

Related: Between Winter Woes and Wonder, We Cover It All With the Greatest 125 Winter Quotes

75 Best Winter Trivia Questions and Answers

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Question #1: When does winter officially start?
Answer: The winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year, marks the start of winter. It’s typically Dec. 21, but it can also fall between the 20th and 23rd, depending on the exact amount of time it takes the Earth to rotate around the sun that year.

Question #2: How thick does ice need to be to walk on?
Answer: Four inches.

Question #3: What’s the polar vortex?
Answer: A low-pressure area of circulating cold air that can extend south from the North Pole to bring freezing temperatures to many US states during the winter.

Question #4: What qualifies as a blizzard?
Answer: A snowstorm that lasts at least three hours with winds over 35 miles per hour and reduced visibility.

Question #5: How many sides does a snowflake have?
Answer: Six.

Question #6: At what temperature does snow form?
Answer: 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Question #7: At what age does it get more dangerous to shovel snow?
Answer: Those over 45 should be careful shoveling snow—especially dense, wet snowfall. The mixture of exertion and cold air can sometimes to lead to heart attacks, especially in those with high blood pressure or other cardiac issues.

Winter Trivia for Kids

Question #8: What are snowflakes made of?
Answer: Ice crystals.

Question #9: For how many months does winter last?
Answer: Three.

Question #10: What color is a snowy owl?
Answer: White.

Question #11: What’s the reindeer’s name in Frozen?
Answer: Sven.

Question #12: What’s the name of the sloth in Ice Age?
Answer: Sid

Question #13: What vegetable is usually used for a snowman’s nose?
Answer: Carrot.

Question #14: How many snowballs are used to make a traditional snowman?
Answer: Three.

Question #15: What winter sport uses two pieces of wood strapped to your feet to go down a snowy mountain?
Answer: Skiing.

Question #16: What’s the difference between gloves and mittens?
Answer: Mittens have one large pocket for your fingers, and gloves have individual pockets for each finger.

Related: Avoid Going Stir-Crazy With 125 Indoor Activities To Do Even When It’s Cold Outside

Winter Olympics Trivia

Question #17: Where were the first Winter Olympics held?
Answer: In Chamonix, France.

Question #18: When did the first Winter Olympics take place?
Answer: Technically, in 1924, though the event was then called International Winter Sports Week and wasn’t renamed the first Olympic Winter Games until two years later.

Question #19: Which new sport was added to the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Answer: Ski mountaineering or “skimo.”

Question #20: What is ski mountaineering?
Answer: A sprint and mixed relay event that mixes cross-country, climbing and downhill skiing portions.

Question #21: How many sports are included in the Winter Olympics?
Answer: There are eight total sporting categories—skiing, skating, biathlon, curling, bobsleigh, ski mountaineering, hockey and luge. Those categories are broken into 16 disciplines.

Question #22: How many Winter Olympic gold medals does the US have?
Answer: 126.

Question #23: Which country has the most gold medals at the Winter Olympics?
Answer: Norway, with 166.

Question #24: Who is the most decorated Winter Olympian in the US?
Answer: Apolo Ohno, with eight total medals in short track speed skating.

Question #25: Which US woman landed the first ice skating triple axel at the Olympics?
Answer: Though Tonya Harding was the first American woman to land the trick in general, she couldn’t complete it at the Olympic level. At the 2018 Winter Olympics, Mirai Nagasu was the first female US athlete to do so.

Question #26: Where are the 2030 Winter Olympics being held?
Answer: The French Alps.

Question #27: How many times has the US hosted the Winter Olympics?
Answer: Four times. In 1932 in New York, 1960 in California, 1980 in New York again and in Utah in 2002.

Question #28: When will the US next host the Winter Olympics?
Answer: In 2034, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Winter Movies Trivia

Question #29: Which real-life event inspired Disney’s 2004 movie Miracle?
Answer: The time the US Olympic hockey team beat the heavily-favored Soviet team in 1980. It was famously referred to as the “miracle on ice.”

Question #30: Which Academy Awards did Frozen win?
Answer: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song—for “Let It Go.”

Question #31: Is Arendelle in Frozen a real city?
Answer: No, but the movie is heavily inspired by Norway, where there is a city named Arendal.

Question #32: What sport is Cool Runnings about?
Answer: Bobsled—specifically the Jamaican Bobsleigh team from the 1988 Olympics.

Question #33: Where was the March of the Penguins documentary filmed?
Answer: Antarctica

Question #34: What kind of dog was Balto in the animated movie?
Answer: In the movie, Balto was part-wolf, part-Siberian husky. In real life, Balto was a full Siberian husky.

Related: 85 Best ’80s Trivia Questions and Answers for Your Next Game Night

Winter Sports Trivia

Question #35: When was snowboarding invented?
Answer: In 1965, when Michigan engineer Sherman Poppen invented the first snowboard by attaching two skis together.

Question #36: What snowboarding trick did Shaun White invent?
Answer: The Double McTwist 1260, which is three-and-a-half twists and two flips.

Question #37: Which winter sport is the most dangerous for the average person?
Answer: Skiing. According to a 2018 study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, skiing accounted for 76,000 of the 200,000 treated winter sports injuries.

Question #38: Which Olympic winter sport is the most dangerous for professional athletes?
Answer: At the Olympic level, luge is widely considered the most dangerous winter sport because there’s low visibility and high speeds involved—and no brakes in the sled. Two of the four Winter Olympic deaths have been from luge.

Question #39: Which US hockey team has the most Stanley Cups?
Answer: The Detroit Red Wings, with 11 victories.

Question #40: When did the US get its first NHL hockey team?
Answer: 1924.

Question #41: Which NHL team was the first to be based in the US?
Answer: The Boston Bruins.

Question #42: How many hockey teams are in the NHL?
Answer: There are 32 total teams, 25 of which are US-based.

Question #43: Who was the first US team to win the Stanley Cup?
Answer: The now-defunct Seattle Metropolitans in 1917, shortly before the NHL was founded that same year.

Winter Foods Trivia

Question #44: Who invented hot chocolate?
Answer: The Mayans did around 500 BCE, though their version was on the spicier side. They reportedly used ground-up cocoa seeds, cornmeal and chili peppers mixed with water.

Question #45: What is snow ice cream?
Answer: Fresh snow is often mixed with a blend of sugar, vanilla and milk or cream. Though some people also just put maple syrup on fresh snow and call it a day.

Question #46: Are there eggs in eggnog?
Answer: Yes, and they’re raw.

Question #47: Can you still grow food in the winter?
Answer: Obviously, this depends on where you live, but yes! Many root veggies, like carrots and turnips, can grow and be harvested even into the winter.

Question #48: What’s the difference between soup, stew and chili?
Answer: Soups have enough liquid broth for the ingredients to float, whereas stews only use enough liquid to simmer the ingredients, resulting in a thicker base. Chili is technically a type of stew.

Question #49: Why is it important to eat citrus in the winter?
Answer: Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, which can help bolster your immune system during the winter cold season.

Question #50: Who invented the gingerbread cookie?
Answer: The first recipe for gingerbread reportedly came from Greece around 2400 BCE. Centuries later, Queen Elizabeth I was credited with turning gingerbread into person-shaped cookies, reportedly modeling them after her courtiers.

Related: 80 Space Trivia Questions and Answers That Are Out of This World

Winter Geography Trivia

Question #51: What US city gets the most snow?
Answer: Valdez, Alaska, with an average snowfall of 325.3 inches per year.

Question #52: What’s the most snow a US city has ever gotten in one day?
Answer: 78 inches in Valdez, Alaska, on Feb. 9, 1963.

Question #53: What’s a “polar night“?
Answer: A period of time where the sun doesn’t rise for over 24 hours in places within the Arctic Circle.

Question #54: How long does “polar night” last?
Answer: In places like Svalbard, Norway, it’s constantly dark for over 100 days. The sun never rises above the horizon, meaning the stars and moon are the only natural light sources between November and January.

Question #55: How cold does it get in Alaska in the winter?
Answer: The coldest reported temperature was -80 degrees Fahrenheit, but the average winter lows can range from -30 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Question #56: How many hours of daylight does Alaska get in the winter?
Answer: Most cities get between three and six hours of daylight in the winter. Towards the Arctic Circle, they may get none for weeks at a time.

Question #57: During which months does the Australian winter take place?
Answer: Being opposite on the globe from the US, Australia’s winter season is June through August.

Question #58: Which is colder, Greenland or Iceland?
Answer: Despite its name, Iceland is warmer than Greenland. Only 11% of Iceland is covered by an ice sheet, whereas 80% of Greenland is.

Question #59: Does anyone live in Antarctica?
Answer: There are no permanent residents of the continent, but the place is inhabited by many researchers. Around 5,000 scientists live there in the summer, but that number drops closer to 1,000 in the harsh winter.

Question #60: Can you visit Antarctica?
Answer: Yes, via cruise ship. Several such vessels visit the area with tourists every year.

Question #61: Which country gets the most snow?
Answer: Japan, which can get up to 600 inches in a winter season. The combination of cold air from Russia and moisture from the Sea of Japan causes perfect snowy conditions.

Related: 38 Winter Salads To Add Brightness to the Colder Months

Winter Attractions Trivia

Question #62: When did the idea of ice hotels begin?
Answer: In the Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi, beginning in 1989. The original ICEHOTEL is built each year for visitors in the winter and melts at the end of the season.

Question #63: Where can you see the Northern Lights?
Answer: This colorful phenomenon is easier to find the further north you go—think Alaska, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, etc. But some US states like Wisconsin, Maine, Washington and more have been able to see them in rare instances.

Question #64: When did the Rockefeller Center ice rink open in New York?
Answer: It was designed to be a temporary installation in 1936 but became a permanent winter fixture in 1939.

Question #65: Which state has the most ski resorts?
Answer: New York with 52.

Question #66: What’s the oldest winter carnival in the US?
Answer: The Saint Paul Winter Carnival began in 1886 in Minnesota. It still operates today.

Winter Animals Trivia

Question #67: Which dog breed is the closest to a wolf?
Answer: Several breeds are more closely genetically linked to wolves—Shiba Inus, Akitas, Siberian Huskies, Chow Chows and Alaskan Malamutes.

Question #68: What color is a polar bear?
Answer: Not white! Their skin is black, and their fur is hollow and transparent; it just captures the light in a way that gives a white appearance.

Question #69: How long do grizzly bears hibernate in the winter?
Answer: Up to seven months.

Question #70: Are reindeer real?
Answer: Yes! They’re also known as caribou when they’re found in the wild, per PBS.

Question #71: Where do reindeer live?
Answer: According to PBS, they can be found in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Scandinavia, Iceland and Greenland.

Question #72: Where do penguins live?
Answer: There are penguin colonies all over the world, from Antarctica to Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, the Galapagos, South Africa and more.

Question #73: Can penguins fly?
Answer: No, but they use their wings to swim quickly underwater.

Question #74: Are narwhals real?
Answer: It may surprise you how many people think narwhals are just a mythical as unicorns, but narwhals are in fact real animals. They live in Arctic waters.

Question #75: How long is a narwhal’s horn?
Answer: The pointy tusk, which is just an overgrown tooth, can get up to 10 feet long.

Related: 75 Greek Mythology Trivia Questions for Kids and Adults To Test Your Knowledge

Country icons Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash had a love story so legendary that it has lived on decades after both country icons died, even resulting in an Oscar-winning portrayal of their lives, with Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon taking on the famous couple in 2005’s Walk the Line.

During the early days of their relationship in the 1960s, Cash put his feelings for his future wife into words that most fans wouldn’t lay eyes (or ears) on for decades.

The Man in Black penned an unpublished love poem for Carter titled “Let’s Put It To Music,” essentially calling for their private romance to be turned into a song. More than half a century later, that’s exactly what has happened — just not in a way Cash could have envisioned.

Related: Dolly Parton Made Her Film Debut in ’80s Hit Comedy ‘9 to 5’—But She Had One Condition Before Saying Yes

The legend died less than four months after June Carter passed away in May 2003, almost as if he couldn’t bear the heartbreak of living without her.

But now his words live on through the voice of Alex Orbison, son of one of Cash’s famous pals, Roy Orbison, as “Let’s Put It To Music” is now an actual song more than half a century after Cash first put pen to paper.

The connection runs even deeper. Johnny and June were Alex’s godparents, making the opportunity to sing hand-written words written by Cash especially personal.

While the poem began as Johnny’s declaration of love to June, Alex found a way to make it his own by recording the song with his wife, Erika Orbison.

Related: Beach Rock Icon Jimmy Buffett’s New Album Spans 20 Years of Unreleased Songs, 3 Years After His Death

According to Noise11, singing Cash’s decades-old sentiments to Erika allowed Alex to express his own feelings for his wife.

Released August 28, “Let’s Put It To Music” is now the third single from Alex’s upcoming fall album, Love And Loss.

In 1976, the Bee Gees were on the verge of becoming the biggest names of the disco era, but they weren’t there quite yet.

The brothers had revived their career a year earlier with Main Course, which produced the No. 1 hit “Jive Talkin'” and the No. 7 “Nights on Broadway.” The album also marked an important evolution in their sound, with Barry Gibb beginning to explore the falsetto that would soon become one of the group’s trademarks.

Their next single pushed that transformation even further.

“You Should Be Dancing” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 50 years ago, becoming the Bee Gees’ third chart-topper. It was also their first No. 1 featuring Barry’s increasingly distinctive falsetto on lead vocals.

And tucked into that landmark recording is an unexpected contribution from another rock legend: Stephen Stills.

Stephen Stills Played Drums on ‘You Should Be Dancing’

The Bee Gees recorded “You Should Be Dancing” across several sessions at Miami’s Criteria Studios in early 1976.

As luck would have it, Stills was working at the same studio on Long May You Run with Neil Young. That put the future Rock & Roll Hall of Famer in the right place at exactly the right time.

Stills joined the Bee Gees’ February sessions, playing timbales, the shallow drums commonly used in Latin and Afro-Cuban music. The album credits list Stills on additional percussion, alongside Joe Lala and George Perry.

The unusual cameo wasn’t the only ingredient that gave the record its sound. Keyboardist Blue Weaver recalled that Maurice Gibb created the bass line and sang parts to the brass players, while Barry sang musical ideas for Weaver to reproduce on keyboards. Guitarist Alan Kendall added the brief, surprisingly hard-rocking guitar solo during the instrumental break.

The Bee Gees Had to Move On Without Arif Mardin

“You Should Be Dancing” also came at a moment of uncertainty for the brothers.

After Main Course returned them to the upper reaches of the charts, the Bee Gees intended to make their follow-up with producer Arif Mardin. But a change in record-label distribution meant Mardin was no longer available to work with them.

Instead, engineer Karl Richardson and arranger Albhy Galuten joined Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb as producers on Children of the World.

Related: 1975 Hit, Written by Neil Young for an Album He Shelved, Became a Top 5 Hit for a ‘Dynamite’ Young Singer

As music historian Fred Bronson quoted Maurice as saying in his “Billboard Book of Number One Hits,” “We were a little scared because we were so used to working with Arif. Now I’ve got great respect for Albhy and Karl as well. The things Arif brought out in us, they have perfected… to a better point and improved it more. We never used to experiment before … We’re mad perfectionists, and Albhy and Karl are both perfectionists as well. I don’t think there’s anyone who can beat them yet.”

The gamble worked.

“You Should Be Dancing” entered the Hot 100 in July 1976 and nine weeks later became the Bee Gees’ third No. 1. It also topped the U.S. dance chart and reached No. 4 on the soul chart.

“The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll” describes Children of the World as continuing the Miami rhythm-section sound of Main Course, with “You Should Be Dancing” becoming its No. 1 centerpiece.

‘You Should Be Dancing’ Helped Set the Stage for ‘Saturday Night Fever’

The Bee Gees couldn’t have known just how important their new sound was about to become.

A year later, “You Should Be Dancing” was included on the blockbuster Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, alongside the new Bee Gees songs that became inseparable from the movie and the disco era.

The song also accompanied one of John Travolta’s signature dance sequences in the film. Interestingly, the Bee Gees hadn’t even been involved when filming began. Travolta later recalled that he had originally danced to music by Stevie Wonder and Boz Scaggs before the soundtrack took shape in post-production.

By then, however, “You Should Be Dancing” had already proved the brothers’ disco transformation was no fluke.

Fifty years after it reached No. 1, the record captures the Bee Gees at the precise moment their most recognizable sound was clicking into place, with a little rhythmic assistance from Stephen Stills along the way.

Related: 1975 ‘Comeback Song,’ Written in One Night, Was No. 1 51 Years Ago Today

Remember when you could walk into a dollar store and know exactly what you’re paying at the register — you know — a dollar?

Those days seemed to be over once Dollar Tree flipped the script with its $1.25 model and 99 Cents Stores going kaput.

Dollar General is turning back the clock and helping out shoppers when they need savings most as recent reports show both consumer confidence is down — and prices remain 3.4% higher than they were a year ago.

Related: McCormick’s Launches 3 New Seasoning Blends Perfect for Summer Cookouts

The good news is you can walk into a Dollar General store and already find approximately 2,000 items marked for just $1 —the price you expect for dollar store shopping. But with popular competitor Dollar Tree now promoting $3 and $5 sections, Dollar General may be the big winner, especially with the impending holiday season that we all know kickstarts with Halloween decor.

The discount chain will soon offer 800 more new items for $1. According to Instagram’s popular The Freebie Guy page, boasting over 4 million followers, that means “$1 food, household essentials & bargain finds heading into the holidays… with even bigger plans for 2027!”

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And shoppers appear to be eating up the bargains.

Dollar General’s bargain-packed Value Valley section saw sales soar more than 16% during the second quarter, far outpacing the brand’s overall same-store sales growth of 3.5%.

Related: McDonald’s Is Adding Name-Brand Energy Drink to Its Menu for the First Time Ever

Better yet, this isn’t just a holiday-season gimmick. CEO Todd Vasos says the company has “real plans” to expand the $1 price point even further in 2027, meaning old-school dollar store shopping may finally be making a comeback after all.

Now, which gas station is going to go rogue?

In 1993, Clutch released their debut studio album, Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes and Undeniable Truths, but mainstream success didn’t exactly follow.

That is, until adult cartoon Beavis and Butt-Head gave the band a major dose of exposure by featuring the music video for album opener “A Shogun Named Marcus” on the show.

Before Family Guy, Beavis and Butt-Head developed a cult-like following for its similarly offbeat sense of humor, but with a twist: both characters were raging metalheads obsessed with rock music.

Related: ’70s Rock Band, Now Led by Vocalist Who Played Janis Joplin, Releases New Music and Extends Tour

Clutch had such an original sound that listeners couldn’t help but take notice—and the MTV spotlight helped put the otherwise little-known band on the map.

“Getting validation from Beavis And ButtHead was much more gratifying. It showed that people do like this band even if your sales may not reflect fame and fortune,” said Clutch vocalist Neil Fallon.

Fast forward more than 30 years later, and Clutch is still going strong with the same four original members who recorded their 1993 debut album, making not only the band’s unique sound instantly recognizable, but the fact they’ve stuck together all these years something of a unicorn in the rock world.

For the first time in 4 years, fans can sink their teeth into Clutch’s new music as they recently released “The Drifter Returns” and Fallon’s powerhouse vocals come roaring in from the jump.

Fallon, who gives the band its unmistakable edge, spoke with Metal Hammer last winter teasing new songs with no official timeline, so this week is the big week fans have been waiting for.

“We’d rather wait and make it as good as it can be. That’s where we are at. There are a number of songs in the can, but I’m not going to predict when it might be released.”

Related: ’90s Metal Band, Led by Pantera’s Vocalist, Announces First New Album in Nearly 20 Years

Not only is there a new banger, Clutch is hitting the stage beginning September 12, with a monthlong gap between shows before picking back up October 16:

• Sep. 12 – Timonium, MD @ Maryland State Fair
• Oct. 16 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Charlotte
• Oct. 17 – North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues Myrtle Beach
• Oct. 18 – Jacksonville, FL @ FIVE
• Oct. 20 – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz Ybor
• Oct. 22 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
• Oct. 23 – Robinsonville, MS @ Bluesville at Horseshoe
• Oct. 24 – Fort Worth, TX @ Sick New World Texas
• Oct. 25 – Fayetteville, AR @ Ozark Music Hall
• Oct. 27 – West Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
• Oct. 29 – Green Bay, WI @ EPIC Event Center
• Oct. 30 – East Moline, IL @ The Rust Belt
• Oct. 31 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady Music Center
• Nov. 1 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Clyde Theatre
• Nov. 3 – South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
• Nov. 5 – Hampton Beach, NH @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
• Nov. 6 – Wilkes-Barre, PA @ F.M. Kirby Center
• Nov. 7 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa

Foreigner was one of the biggest rock bands of the late 1970s, but they weren’t immune to controversy. The band’s third album, Head Games, featured a catchy title track, but it and other songs from the album were banned in certain parts of the U.S.

Written by Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, “Head Games” opens with a killer guitar riff with keyboards and ’70s-style synthesizers, leading into lyrics about psychological games and mixed signals in a relationship. The song became a hit for Foreigner, reaching No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1979. But some radio stations weren’t helping it along.

In an interview with Classic Rock Revisited, Gramm revealed that the Head Games album cover, which featured teen model Lisanne Falk in a men’s bathroom, didn’t fly in some cities.

“The song ‘Head Games’ was banned by a lot of radio stations after the cover of the album came out,” Gramm said. “Today, that would not have even been a problem.”

“In the Bible Belt, the cover of the cute little girl in the boy’s bathroom erasing her number off the wall… they didn’t see the humor in that,” he shared. “It wasn’t supposed to even be sexy.  … She was cute.  It was just the time and the place of what she was doing that was supposed to leave the impression.  She was erasing her phone number off the wall of the boys’ bathroom, and that’s all it was.  A big deal was made out of that, and it really hurt our sales.”

Speaking with Smashing Interviews, Gramm noted that the album itself was banned in Boston as well as “a whole slew of stations in the Bible Belt.”

“They thought the Head Games album cover was way over the line of good taste,” the Foreigner legend shared.

Despite the controversy, the song “Head Games” became a pivotal chart hit for Foreigner. Jones told Ultimate Classic Rock the title track was written in his apartment, and that it was based on a two-fingered riff.

“I had just bought a piano, and Lou had a keyboard at his place, and he would play two-fingered riffs – and it kind of worked with me because they were in the black keys, which I always wrote on anyway,” Jones shared. “He kind of put this sort of rough idea of the chords of that riff at the beginning, and it sounded pretty mean with an electric piano – like almost like clavinet sounds – and we blended that in with the guitar sounds and that’s what gave it a bit of a unique sound.”

He also compared the song’s sound to one of the band’s first major hits.

“In a certain way, it was a bit of a connection there with ‘Feels Like the First Time,’ as far as being a Foreigner sort of riff,” Jones said. “And that’s probably the song that, with ‘Feels Like the First Time,’ represented what people sort of tended to think was the Foreigner sound.”

Despite the controversy over the album, nearly 50 years after its release, “Head Games” remains a defining part of Foreigner’s early sound and a favorite among many fans.

Related: ‘70s Teen Model Reveals the Real Story Behind Her Controversial Foreigner Album Cover