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If you asked me to choose the most relaxing way to start each morning, I’d quickly reply with, “Curling up on my front porch and sipping a homemade latte in my PJs.” This peaceful quiet time would lead to a hot shower with my favorite Jo Malone London body wash. I can confidently say that my answer would not include climbing into an ice bath or cold plunge of 50-degree water at 6 a.m. 

That said, I’ve watched my husband devotedly dip into his Plunge several mornings each week for the past three years, and he’s become a major fan. He’s convinced that this ritual improves his focus, supports better sleep and helps him recover quicker after a full day of yard work or a long bike ride.

To be honest, I can’t understand how he would choose to step into a tub filled with chilling water when our nice, warm shower and plush bath towels are just steps away. Yet cold plunging is one of the most popular self-care trends right now. There are endless articles about the potentially amazing cold plunge benefits, including improved insulin sensitivity, inflammation reduction and mental clarity.

Between much positive buzz, my husband’s praise and the fact that this is my “year of wellness,” I felt inclined to see for myself if I’m missing out on something good. Hence, I tried cold water immersion every morning for two weeks, and here’s what I learned. Read on for my cold plunge results.

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Why I Decided To Take the Plunge: Benefits and Expectations

I learned cold plunging can be a great wellness habit to include in your routine—and science backs this up. Research shows that cold water immersion could provide potential health benefits like improved sleep quality, better immunity and reduced stress. In fact, participants who took cold showers experienced a 29% reduction in sickness absence.

Cold water immersion may also serve as an effective tool for fitness enthusiasts and athletes who need speedy recovery between workouts or competitions, says Dr. Mark Kovacs, PhD, FACSM, CSCS, sport scientist and longevity and human-performance expert.

Although more research is needed on cold water therapy in general, as current evidence is limited to a small number of randomized controlled trials, modest sample sizes, and a lack of diversity among study populations, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular.

Potential benefits aside, I was honestly skeptical that this habit would stick in the long-term. That said, I’m always game to try new wellness hacks, and I was eager to kick off my two-week cold water immersion journey.

Related: I Tried the Viral ‘Dark Showering’ Trend for Two Weeks—and My Sleep Tracker Was Shocked

Alexa Mellardo

My 2-Week Setup: Temperature, Duration and Rules

The first week, I eased into my cold water immersion journey by plunging each morning around 8 a.m. for 30 seconds, submerging myself up to my chest. The water was set to roughly 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

During week two, I took the plunge—quite literally—by completely covering my shoulders. This teeny bit of extra skin submerged makes the experience feel even more intense. I stayed in the tub for approximately 40 seconds per day.

For first-timers, Dr. Kovacs says you don’t need near-freezing water to reap the rewards. He recommends starting with 55 to 60°F for 30 to 60 seconds and slowly progressing to one or two minutes as your tolerance improves. For cold showers, wrap up a warm shower with 20 to 30 seconds of cool water and gradually increase the duration from there.

“There is no scientifically established minimum exposure that guarantees general health benefits. Colder and longer are not automatically better. A moderate stimulus that can be controlled safely is preferable to pursuing an extreme temperature for social media. Prolonged or very cold immersion increases cardiovascular strain and the risk of hypothermia, nerve injury and loss of physical control,” Dr. Kovacs stresses.

Related: I Ate Dinner at 5PM for a Month—Here’s What Happened to My Belly Bloat

Week 1: The Initial Shock and Mental Barrier

The first time I cold plunged, I knew I was in for a chilling experience the moment I slipped my legs into the water. If you’ve ever done cold water immersion before, you know the shock factor is all too real. Throughout weeks one and two, it was challenging to get myself in the right frame of mind—or shall I say, ready—to step into the “tundra,” the nickname I gave our plunge pool. I knew I had to immerse myself quickly, otherwise I would have talked myself out of it.

It didn’t get any easier once I was submerged. It’s safe to say I was definitely hyperventilating and counting down the seconds until I was finished.

After I got out of the plunge and wrapped myself in a towel, I wondered what was really going on inside my mind and body during and after that initial shock factor.

“The initial sensation is the cold-shock response,” explains Dr. Kovacs. “Rapid cooling of the skin activates sensory receptors and produces an involuntary gasp, hyperventilation, increased heart rate and a sharp rise in blood pressure. This is a protective survival response, but it is also the most dangerous phase because a person may temporarily lose control of breathing or inhale water.”

I learned that repeated cold exposure can decrease this response, which makes perfect sense because the body learns how to adapt to the “shock.” I know it will take ample time for me to conquer this mental hurdle.

Related: ‘I Tried Alo Wellness Club for 3 Weeks—Here’s My Honest Review’

Week 2: What Happened to My Energy, Focus and Recovery

Most mornings, I still feel groggy—even when I’ve had a good night’s rest. A cold plunge first thing in the a.m. proved to be the jolt of energy I needed—and I felt it immediately. While it was definitely far less enjoyable, cold plunging helped me wake up even better than my cup of joe—and it seemingly set me up for mental success. I felt more prepared and focused to tackle my emails, tasks and deadlines.

As far as cold plunge recovery is concerned, since I don’t perform high-intensity workouts and did my plunging in the morning, this isn’t the most relevant benefit for me. (I prioritize lower-impact forms of movement, like Pilates and brisk walking.) That said, I do think adding cold plunging to my routine might have helped me fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly at night.

Cold Plunge vs. Cold Shower: Can You Get the Same Results?

If you’re comparing a cold plunge vs cold shower, there are a few things to consider, including whether you’ll get the same results from each.

According to Dr. Kovacs, cold plunging involves immersing a much larger portion of the body in cold water, which can lead to quicker heat loss and a stronger cardiovascular and respiratory response. A shower, on the other hand, exposes less of the body’s surface area to the water and allows you to tweak the temperature as desired.

“Cold showers may still provide a temporary increase in alertness and an opportunity to become accustomed to cold, with substantially less equipment and generally lower risk. However, they are unlikely to create the same degree of tissue cooling or post-exercise recovery effect as full-body immersion,” explains Dr. Kovacs.

Related: I Tried Jane Fonda’s ’80s Aerobic Workout for 2 Weeks—Here’s How It Holds Up Today

Potential Risks and Who Should Avoid Daily Cold Water Therapy

Brief, controlled exposure to cold water therapy can be tolerable for many healthy adults, but daily exposure has not been proven to be necessary or provide additional benefits. Dr. Kovacs recommends progressing gradually, avoiding cold plunging alone and never plunging while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

In addition, be mindful of these cold water therapy side effects. Stop ASAP if you experience any chest pain, dizziness, faintness, uncontrolled breathing, confusion, severe shivering or numbness, Dr. Kovacs stresses.

It’s always wise to speak with your healthcare provider before adding a new wellness habit like cold plunging to your routine. This is especially important for those with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, seizure or fainting disorders, heart rhythm abnormalities, uncontrolled hypertension, peripheral artery disease, Raynaud’s phenomenon or a history of heart attack or stroke, Dr. Kovacs says.

If you are pregnant or taking medication that impacts your heart rate, blood pressure or body temperature regulation, discussing cold exposure with your physician is also crucial.

“Sudden cold exposure constricts blood vessels, raises blood pressure and increases the workload placed on the heart,” Dr. Kovacs explains. “The main message is that cold exposure can be a useful wellness or recovery tool, but it is not a substitute for exercise, sleep, nutrition or medical treatment. Most potential benefits can be achieved without extreme temperatures or prolonged immersion.”

Related: I Tried the Evening Walking Trend ‘Passeggiata’ That Italians Swear By

Final Verdict: Is a 2-Week Cold Plunge Challenge Worth It?

Cold plunging is definitely not for everyone. Some people love it, while others fear it. My husband does it all the time and genuinely loves how it makes him feel afterward.

As for me, will I continue to do a cold plunge every day? Most likely not—especially during the colder months of the year. But as my body continues to adapt, I’d like to think I might become a more experienced cold plunger, weaving it into my routine every so often. Only time will tell. 

For now, it has been challenging for me to break through that mental barrier and completely calm my breathing, which is a crucial part of the puzzle I’m still working on mastering.

Up Next:

Sources:

• Esperland, D., de Weerd, L., & Mercer, J. B. (2022). Health effects of voluntary exposure to cold water—a continuing subject of debate. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 81(1), 2111789.
• Cain, T., Brinsley, J., Bennett, H., Nelson, M., Maher, C., & Singh, B. (2025). Effects of cold-water immersion on health and wellbeing: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 20(1), e0317615.
• Dr. Mark Kovacs, PhD, FACSM, CSCS, sport scientist and longevity and human performance expert.

In 1965, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles released one of Robinson’s most enduring ballads, “Ooo Baby Baby,” a song he would later call his “national anthem.” But more than six decades later, it isn’t the Miracles’ original recording, or even Linda Ronstadt’s hugely successful 1978 cover, that’s suddenly finding a new audience.

It’s The Five Stairsteps’ version of “Oooh, Baby Baby,” and it’s currently climbing TikTok’s Top 50 Songs chart, where it has reached No. 32.

The Chicago family group, best remembered for their 1970 Top 10 hit “O-o-h Child,” recorded their version of the Robinson and Pete Moore-penned song early in their career. Released in 1967, their rendition reached No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 34 on the R&B chart.

Now, nearly 60 years after The Five Stairsteps recorded it and 61 years after Robinson first released the song, TikTok is giving that lesser-known version an unexpected second life.

The Five Stairsteps Put Their Own Spin on ‘Ooo Baby Baby’

The Five Stairsteps were a true family affair. The Chicago group originally consisted of siblings Alohe Jean, Clarence Jr., James, Dennis and Kenneth “Keni” Burke, five of Betty and Clarence Burke Sr.’s six children. Their mother reportedly came up with their name because the children resembled stair steps when lined up by age.

After winning a talent contest at Chicago’s Regal Theater, the siblings were introduced to Curtis Mayfield through Fred Cash of the Impressions and signed with Mayfield’s Windy City label. Their first charting single, “You Waited Too Long,” arrived in 1966.

The following year brought “Oooh, Baby Baby,” their take on the song Robinson and Moore had written for the Miracles.

The original was already a major hit. The Miracles’ recording reached No. 16 on the Hot 100 and No. 4 on the R&B chart in 1965. Built around Robinson’s wounded lead vocal and the group’s intricate harmonies, the song finds its narrator admitting his infidelity and pleading for forgiveness.

Rolling Stone later ranked the Miracles’ version among its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, praising Robinson’s delicate, wounded vocal and noting the remarkable staying power of a song that has been covered by generations of artists.

Robinson himself understood just how deeply “Ooo Baby Baby” connected with listeners. He once told rock critic Dave Marsh that he considered the song his “national anthem” because “wherever we go, it’s the one song that everybody always asks for.”

Marsh, who ranked “Ooo Baby Baby” No. 329 in his book “The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made,” believed its power went well beyond its popularity. He praised the way its lyrics flow effortlessly from one vernacular phrase to another and wrote that Robinson’s singing “just about defines the soul music version of rubato.”

Marsh was particularly struck by the way Robinson could stretch one phrase and double-time another while still hitting his marks, writing that a listener could spend a lifetime trying to figure out exactly how he did it and what Robinson’s smallest vocal quavers meant.

Six decades later, the song’s pull clearly hasn’t disappeared. What’s changed is the recording listeners are finding.

The Five Stairsteps’ version never approached the commercial heights of the original, but the group soon scored the song that would define its career. “O-o-h Child” reached No. 8 on the Hot 100 in 1970 and sold more than 1 million copies.

Linda Ronstadt Took ‘Ooh Baby Baby’ Back Into the Top 10

More than a decade after The Five Stairsteps recorded “Oooh, Baby Baby,” Ronstadt introduced the song to another generation.

She recorded “Ooh Baby Baby” for her 1978 album Living in the USA, with producer Peter Asher and a memorable opening saxophone solo from David Sanborn. Her rendition became one of the song’s biggest covers, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Ronstadt eventually performed the song alongside Robinson himself. The pair sang both “Ooh Baby Baby” and another Miracles favorite, “The Tracks of My Tears,” on the 1983 television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.

The song has been covered by numerous other artists over the decades, including Ella Fitzgerald and Todd Rundgren, but it’s now the Five Stairsteps’ comparatively overlooked recording that’s having its turn in the spotlight.

Why ‘Oooh, Baby Baby’ Is Suddenly Everywhere Again @yeathatsjh ♬ Ooh Baby Baby (Buddha Remastered 2001) – The Five Stairsteps

There’s no single TikTok trend driving the Five Stairsteps’ resurgence. Instead, the song has found its way into two very different corners of the platform.

One is unabashedly romantic. In one video, a man covers his face in disbelief while text on the screen ticks through everything he’s “obsessed” with about someone, from their eyes and smile to their voice, laugh and sense of humor. Another pairs the song with a slideshow of memorable movie romances.

Then there’s the considerably hungrier side of “Oooh, Baby Baby” TikTok.

@audreybakes

Biscoff Cinnamon Rolls 🤎 (makes ~8 rolls) Dough: ¾ cup (180g) warm milk 1 packet instant yeast (2¼ tsp/7g) *if using active dry yeast, gently stir it in with the warm milk and sugar then let sit 5-10 min until foamy) ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar 1 egg + 1 egg yolk, room temp ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter, melted 3-3½ cups (360-420g) all purpose flour (start with 3 cups and only add more if it’s super sticky) ¾ tsp salt optional: ⅓-½ cup warm heavy cream to pour over the rolls before baking Biscoff cinnamon filling: ⅓ cup (76g) unsalted butter, softened ⅓ cup (~80g) Biscoff spread/cookie butter ¾ cup (165g) brown sugar, packed 1½ tbsp cinnamon + crushed Biscoff cookies Cream cheese icing: 6oz (170g) cream cheese, room temp (block style, not spreadable) ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter, room temp ⅓ cup (~80g) biscoff spread 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar ½ tsp vanilla Instructions: Combine the warm milk and instant yeast. Add sugar, eggs, and melted butter, mix. Stir in salt and flour. Mix until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough for 8-10 min. Place in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1-1½ hrs or until doubled. For the biscoff cinnamon filling, mix the soft butter, biscoff spread, brown sugar, and cinnamon until combined and spreadable. Roll dough into about a 9x14in rectangle. Spread biscoff cinnamon filling evenly and scatter the crushed biscoff cookies on top of it. I like to use a pizza cutter or knife to first slice 8 pieces then roll them each up tightly. (Or you can tightly roll the whole thing then slice) Place in greased 9×13 pan (it could also probably fit tightly in a 9×9). Cover and let rise 35-45 min. Pour warm heavy cream over the rolls right before baking. Bake at 350°F for 22-28 min until golden. (tent with foil towards the end if the tops are browning too quickly) To make the icing, beat cream cheese, butter, and biscoff spread together until smooth. Then, beat in powdered sugar and vanilla until fully combined. Spread over warm rolls and sprinkle extra crushed biscoff cookies over the top. Enjoy! biscoff/cookie butter and cinnamon rolls are my new favorite combo 🤭#bakingrecipe #cookiebutter #cinnamonrolls #bakingszn

♬ Ooh Baby Baby (Buddha Remastered 2001) – The Five Stairsteps

The dreamy soul recording has become a soundtrack for decadent recipe videos, including warm chocolate chip banana bread being sliced open, Biscoff cinnamon rolls pulled apart and gooey Twix cookies. The creators pair all that slow-motion food temptation with the Five Stairsteps crooning in the background, then provide the recipes in their captions.

It’s an unlikely combination, but apparently “Oooh, Baby Baby” works equally well for falling hopelessly in love and staring helplessly at a cinnamon roll.

More than half a century after it first appeared on the charts, The Five Stairsteps’ version is finally getting a moment of its own.

Related: 1976 Linda Ronstadt Deep Cut, Written by a 24-Year-Old Newcomer, Helped Launch the Songwriter’s Career

As one of the most legendary guitarists of all time, Jimmy Page influenced countless musicians over the years…bringing his own interpretations of the music that inspired him to millions of fans in the process.

While it’s no secret that Page borrowed quite liberally from greats like Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson, blues wasn’t the only genre that shaped his sensibilities. While still with The Yardbirds, Page wrote the instrumental “White Summer” (which would later become a Led Zeppelin live favorite), based on an Irish folk song, when he was just 23 years old.

According to biographer Keith Shadwick‘s Led Zeppelin: The Story of a Band and Their Music 1968–1980, “White Summer” was “specifically derived from ‘She Moved Through the Fair’ in the 1963 version by [Davey] Graham, which he in turn credited to Padraic Colum.”

“White Summer” was released on The Yardbirds’ last album, 1967’s Little Games. By October of 1968, the band had gone through a major lineup shift and transformed into Led Zeppelin; eventually, “White Summer” became a fixture of the group’s live concerts, often performed with the instrumental Zeppelin song “Black Mountain Side,” according to Dave Lewis‘ From a Whisper to a Scream: The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin. (“Black Mountain Side” was also adapted from a traditional Irish folk song, “Down by Blackwaterside.”)

A performance of the two songs recorded during Led Zeppelin’s U.K. Tour of Summer 1969 was released in 1990 on the Led Zeppelin Boxed Set with the combined title “White Summer/Black Mountain Side.”

In a 1993 interview with Guitar World, Page reflected on how his work with The Yardbirds evolved with Led Zeppelin.

“I had a lot of ideas from my days with The Yardbirds,” Page explained. “The Yardbirds allowed me to improvise a lot in live performance and I started building a textbook of ideas that I eventually used in Zeppelin. In addition to those ideas, I wanted to add acoustic textures. Ultimately, I wanted Zeppelin to be a marriage of blues, hard rock and acoustic music topped with heavy choruses — a combination that had never been done before.
Lots of light and shade in the music.”

As Page recalled years earlier in a 1977 interview with Modern Guitars Magazine, his time with The Yardbirds was complicated.

“One thing is it was chaotic in recording,” he said. “I mean we did one tune and didn’t really know what it was. We had Ian Stewart from The Stones on piano, and we’d just finished the take, and without even hearing it [producer] Mickie Most said, ‘Next.’ I said, ‘I’ve never worked like this in my life,’ and he said, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ It was all done very quickly, as it sounds.”

“It was things like that that really led to the general state of mind and depression of [Keith] Relf [singer, harmonica player] and [drummer] Jim McCarty that broke the group up,” Page continued.

“I tried to keep it together, but there was no chance; they just wouldn’t have it,” he added. “In fact, Relf said the magic of the band disappeared when [Eric] Clapton left. I was really keen on doing anything, though, probably because of having had all that studio work and variety beforehand. So it didn’t matter what way we wanted to go; they were definitely talented people, but they couldn’t really see the woods for the trees at the time.”

Thankfully for music lovers everywhere, Plant and Clapton of course went to achieve even greater success after The Yardbirds.

Related: 1965 Classic Rock Hit, Written by an 18-Year-Old, Was Rejected by Record Label Before Topping the Charts

Europe has entered the final countdown.

It is now T minus four weeks until the Swedish hard rock legends release their long-awaited new album, Come This Madness, slated for release on Sept. 25.

Recorded at RMV Studio in Stockholm, which was founded by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and his son Ludvig Andersson, the album features guest appearances from Tobias Forge of Ghost and Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth.

Related: 1976 Disco Smash, Covered Later by Rock Legends U2, Has Spent 50 Years Making People Happy

Meanwhile, Tom Dalgety produced the record, with Mike Fraser on mixing.

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In a chat with We Go to 11, longtime drummer Ian Haugland dished even further on what fans can expect from the forthcoming 12th studio album, sharing details about its songwriting, sound, and evolution.

“When we started all over again in 2004 [with] Start From the Dark, we decided that we were not gonna become a novelty act, just relying on the ’80s stuff and the big hits,” Haugland said, via Blabbermouth. “To do this for real, we said that it needs to be driven by the force of music. … Just let the music flow, and it becomes what it becomes.”

He added that this new evolution of the band “still has that signature Europe mark to it—melodic, heavy, but also dynamic, with balance.”

Formed in 1979 in Upplands Väsby, Sweden, under the name Force, the band changed their name to Europe in 1982. Active until 1992, they reunited for a one-off performance in 1999, and then for good in 2003. And although nine years have passed since their last studio album, 2017‘s Walk the Earth, they haven’t exactly been sitting around.

Related: 1980 Metal Hit, Reimagined by Anthrax Legend, Rocks Even Harder 50 Years Later 

“The funny thing is that we haven’t been unemployed during this time,” Haugland explained. “Every year, we were out doing all the festivals around Europe, and we’ve been touring in Asia and in South America. … And then the pandemic hit, so there was another year that went by. … Time flies, it’s weird.”

Haugland also dove into details about the album and the band’s recently released new singles, “One on One,” released in April, and “The Cult of Ignorance,” dropped in June–the latter of which has a music video starring Fargo‘s Peter Stormare that has already surpassed a million views on YouTube.

“It’s an adventurous album,” he said, “but it also has elements from the ’80s with very melodic guitar solos and strong hooks and melodies in basically every song, but still some heavier elements that we might have been used to with the later Europe albums. So it’s the old and the new.”

The album’s heavier sound is rooted in the band’s longstanding love of ’70s hard rock, with Haugland citing Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, and Rainbow, among Europe’s influences.

“Since we come from that ’70s rock era, and we loved Black Sabbath and those bands as well, I think we all carry with us a lot of heavy riffing and heavy melodies and stuff like that,” he said.

Luckily, the new Europe and the classic Europe, who gave the world “The Final Countdown” and “Rock the Night,” aren’t competing versions of the band. If Haugland’s teasers are any indication, they actually work together.

“I’ve heard a lot of demos before when we recorded this album,” he said. “So I know there are a lot of great ideas still in the can that we will be working on. And so, hopefully, it won’t be another almost 10 years before the next album comes.”

Related: 1987 Rock Song, Once an i-Ten Flop, Ranked the Greatest Power Ballad of the ’80s

While The Raspberries never exactly made it to household name status, the ’70s rock/power pop band was hugely popular with other musicians of the era, like John Lennon and Keith Moon. They had plenty of fans, too: The Raspberries’ biggest hit, “Go All the Way,” went all the way to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was later ranked among Spin magazine‘s “100 Greatest Singles of All Time.”

Another classic Raspberries track, “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record),” didn’t break the Top 10, but it did manage to peak at #18…and inspired a number of covers, including one by former Runaways’ lead singer Cherie Currie and her twin sister, Marie Currie, on their 1980 album, Messin’ With the Boys.

According to Eric Carmen, lead singer for The Raspberries (who later had a huge solo hit with “All By Myself”), the inspiration for “Overnight Sensation” came to him almost like scenes from a movie in his mind.

“‘Overnight Sensation’ was like the first video that I ever saw in my head,” Carmen explained in the liner notes for The Raspberries’ compilation album, Greatest.

“It was written very theatrically,” he continued. “The first scene was, you can picture Abbey Road Studios, this great, huge dark room with a real high camera and this one spotlight on the singer and it was like this guy singing in his living room, thinking about the music business: ‘I know it sounds funny but I’m not in it for the money…'”

“So, he gets through the first verse and the first group of background vocals come in and the room lights up and gets a little bit bigger, and by the time you get to the first full-blown chorus it’s like, ‘Baboom!’ Visually, I was trying to get on a record what I was seeing in my head,” Carmen added.

Years later, the Raspberries’ original version of “Overnight Sensation” is still considered a classic. Ultimate Classic Rock‘s David Swanson described the song as “epic,” calling it “probably the Raspberries’ most adventurous record.”

“Taking a somewhat Phil Spector, kitchen sink approach, it’s a mini-symphony packed into a five minute song,” Swanson continued. “Overflowing with vocals, percussion, guitars, drums, saxophones, pianos, you name it, the song is a majestic slice of pop music.”

Six years after The Raspberries released “Overnight Sensation,” the song was recorded by the Currie sisters. Cherie was pursuing a post-Runaways solo career at that point, and after Marie joined her onstage during a Japanese promotional tour, they had the idea to make an album together.

In an interview with People in 1980, the sisters opened up about the project and growing up in the fast lane (they were nicknamed “Double Trouble” in high school).

“We smoked in the bathroom like normal kids, but got caught more often,” noted Cherie, with Marie admitting, “We’ve learned more out of school than in.”

Unfortunately, the Currie sisters didn’t have a huge hit with “Overnight Sensation” (or anything else, really).

Related: 1972 Hit Song, Featured in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Almost Famous,’ Became One of the ‘Greatest Singles of All Time’

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword puzzle has a few words that end with the same letter, one of the names from a popular Cartoon Network show and a nickname for a generation of people.

Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can’t forget about the NYT’s The Mini Crossword, too!

Although the NYT is known for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.

So, if you’re working on today’s Mini Crossword on Tuesday, August 25, and need some help (I’ve been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both “Across” and “Down” words, followed by “Across Answers” and “Down Answers,” so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!

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Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: Cohort born between 1965 and 1980, for short — HINT: Ends with the letter “X”

5 Across: Shipping giant with a purple-and-orange logo — HINT: Ends with the letter “X”

6 Across: Section at the end of a textbook — HINT: Starts with the letter “I”

7 Across: Dry, as the desert — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”

8 Across: “___ it high and let it fly” (golfer’s mantra) — HINT: Starts with the letter “T”

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: Pop, rock or jazz — HINT: Starts with the letter “G”

2 Down: Comedian Murphy — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

3 Down: Requirement — HINT: Starts with the letter “N”

4 Down: Winning line in tic-tac-toe — HINT: Starts with the letter “X”

5 Down: Italy’s largest automaker — HINT: Ends with the letter “T”

Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Don’t go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Answers

1 Across: Cohort born between 1965 and 1980, for short — GENX

5 Across: Shipping giant with a purple-and-orange logo — FEDEX

6 Across: Section at the end of a textbook — INDEX

7 Across: Dry, as the desert — ARID

8 Across: “___ it high and let it fly” (golfer’s mantra) — TEE

NYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: Pop, rock or jazz — GENRE

2 Down: Comedian Murphy — EDDIE

3 Down: Requirement — GUANO

4 Down: Winning line in tic-tac-toe — NEED

5 Down: Italy’s largest automaker — XXX

Related: NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Monday, August 24, 2026

It’s rare to say a show’s format would forever be changed in its 26th season. But that’s exactly what happened with Big Brother in 2024. That summer, the hit CBS reality series introduced the “BB Block Buster” (then known as the “A.I. Arena”), an opportunity for the nominees to compete on eviction night for one last chance at safety.

Through two-and-a-half years, the new competition has seen a handful of clutch wins leading to shocking evictions. The fact that any configuration of the three nominees can face the vote has the players’ minds scrambled, as they think through myriad options — and sometimes use it as an opportunity to stage power plays. Yes, some Big Brother fans may see the downsides (particularly its tenure, considering last year ran the competition all the way down to the Final Seven). But the Block Buster has by and large been the most positively received twist the show has gotten in years.

And one of the most memorable eliminations in Big Brother history was its origin story.

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In an interview with Variety in anticipation of the show’s 1000th episode (airing this Thursday), producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan discussed a slew of topics spanning decades of the show. One of the more modern talking points centered on the Block Buster, which they revealed was sparked eight years ago, during one unforgettable night on Big Brother 20.

On Day 37, Kaitlyn Herman was evicted near-unanimously. But she didn’t immediately walk out the front door, as every one of her houseguest colleagues would. Instead, she was quickly ushered into another room, giving an immediate chance to stave off execution. This came from the “Bonus Life” power that Sam Bledsoe had received in the “BB App Store,” giving her the chance to come back should she get voted out. With the advantage going unused, it was automatically put into play in Week 4, making Kaitlyn the lucky recipient of this redemption competition.

As is the case with Big Brother as a whole, the concept was simple in principle and apparently complicated in execution. To come back into the game, all she had to do was disassemble a puzzle of herself, then reassemble it on the other side of the room. If she did that in under two-and-a-half minutes, she would succeed. What would follow in real time was an excruciating, yet exhilarating 150-second experience. As time ticked away, it became increasingly clear to both Kaitlyn and the fans that she would be unable to reconstruct herself.

Kaitlyn Herman attempts to solve a puzzle that can get her back in the game on ‘Big Brother 20’

Screenshot courtesy of CBS

Related: Meet the ‘Big Brother’ Season 28 Cast — Including the Surprising Reality TV All-Stars!

Soon enough, it was all over. Kaitlyn sat against the wall, curled up in a ball, weeping. The audience, both live in the studio and in homes across America, sat shocked. So were Grodner and Meehan, for the record. But they also saw opportunity.

“It captured so much energy, and it was fun to watch,” Meehan recounts. “We were like, ‘How can we do that in the live show? It’s super simple, but hey, increase the nominees and you’re making more enemies in the house, which creates more drama. And then also, we have this great ‘can’t miss’ sporting event that you have to watch. You don’t know who the final two up for eviction are until that moment.”

The Block Buster was an immediate hit in its debut season, helping contribute to the chaos that defined the first two-thirds of that summer. Grodner and Meehan were so happy with the results, in fact, that they chose to extend the twist another couple of weeks. Then another couple of seasons. And, at this point, it doesn’t look like it’s disappearing anytime soon.

“The current idea is that it’s like a new format piece for the live show,” Meehan reasons. “So I think, at least in the near future, it’s for sure something we’re going to continue to stick with, unless for some reason it stops working or generating.”

And we’ll get to see yet another Block Buster play out during Big Brother‘s 1000th episode, airing as a special 90-minute installment on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Related: ‘Big Brother 28’ Spoilers: The Veto Results Flips the Nominations to a New Target

Carrie Underwood was on the bill to deliver four sets at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., over the weekend. But that’s not all. 

During her two-date stay, which took place on Friday, Aug. 21, and Sat., Aug 22, the country music superstar, 43, celebrated Randy Travis, 67, who was honored for his 40-year legacy with the Grand Ole Opry.

RELATED: 1961 No. 1 Hit, Ignored by Radio and Rejected by Brenda Lee, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Country Songs of All Time

The special surprise celebration, which happened on Saturday during the first of two shows, was bittersweet for the two stars as Travis was the one who invited Underwood to join the Grand Ole Opry in 2008. With Travis looking dapper in a black suit and seated center stage inside the historic circle, Underwood walked out to present him with a commemorative scarf embroidered by Nashville celebrity designer Manuel Cuevas. 

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“You are so special to all of us, certainly to me, to country music, to the Grand Ole Opry,” Underwood told Travis during the moment, as shown in a video posted on Instagram by the Grand Ole Opry. “We celebrate you and your legacy, your incredible talent, but anybody that knows you knows that you’re great because of your heart and because of the person that you are.” 

She added, “On behalf of all of us, we are so glad to celebrate you tonight, and your 40 years.” 

Further sharing her appreciation for the “I Told You So” legend — who is no longer able to perform, having developed aphasia after surviving a near-fatal stroke in 2013 — Underwood took to her Instagram page, sharing two photos with Travis along with the caption: “I still can’t believe this man even knows my name. It was an honor to honor him tonight at the @opry. I love you @therandytravis …always and forever.”

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“Thank you for always taking the time and being so kind. The years have flown by, but it seems like only yesterday the world heard the voice of an angel on American Idol – one of my greatest honors to watch your journey!” Travis replied in the comment section of Underwood’s post. “Love you forever and ever…”

RELATED: 1969 Hit, Reimagined by Reba McEntire Decades Later, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Country Songs of All Time’

Travis went the extra mile to show his mutual respect for Underwood, sharing a slideshow on Instagram highlighting the evening. 

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“Proof that I’m @carrieunderwood ’s biggest fan! 🙌” He captioned his post. “What an incredible night at the @oprysurrounded by friends & family ….Lots of laughs, dancing and memories made that I’ll treasure Forever and Ever… Thank you, Grand Ole Opry, for this family that I’m blessed to be a part of. 🤎”

Related: 2009 No. 1 Hit, Ranked Among ‘Best Country Songs of All Time,’ Reimagined as a Duet With Megan Moroney

The Firm, the British rock supergroup, released several memorable songs during its short-lived run, among them was the 1986 track “All the King’s Horses.”

Composed of musical virtuosos including former Led Zeppelin and The Yardbirds guitarist Jimmy Page, ex-Bad Company and Free vocalist Paul Rodgers, bassist Tony Franklin and former Manfred Mann’s Earth Band and later AC/DC drummer Chris Slade, the quartet, which was recognized as one of the greatest supergroups of all time by BBC Music magazine, scored a major radio hit that has since become a forgotten gem.

Loudwire unveiled a list of “forgotten 1986 rock radio hits” highlighting songs that performed well on the radio but have faded from mainstream memory.

First on the list was The Firm’s “All the King’s Horses,” from its album Mean Business.

According to the publication, the band got off to a strong start with its debut album, but its sophomore record experienced a more modest reception.

The Firm members Paul Rodgers and Jimmy Page.

Brian Rasic/Getty Images

Despite this, the final album’s lead single, “All the King’s Horses,” proved to be the lone bright spot on a second album that’s often gone overlooked in the years after 1986.

Written by Rodgers and with Page among the co-producers, the track features tight riffs and strong, energetic beats, along with Rodgers’ powerful, blues-influenced vocals that helped make it a radio-friendly hit.

Following its release, the song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in February 1986 and remained there for four consecutive weeks.

Unfortunately, it received only a lukewarm response from the general public after peaking at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Following the second album’s modest impact with listeners, The Firm officially disbanded in the summer of 1986, ending the two-year-old project.

However, Rodgers shared that the band was intended as a two-album project while leaving the door open to a possible reunion that never took place.

“By the end, I felt that Jimmy was up and running and in great shape – he was in fantastic form,” he mentioned in an interview with Classic Rock magazine, via Louder. “And I sort of thought, ‘Well, job done’, really. We left it on a high note, thinking, ‘Well, we’ll come back at some point and do something’. But we haven’t actually done that. Maybe we will, who knows? It’s always on the cards.”

Even decades later, the song remains a memorable entry in the supergroup’s catalog and is well worth revisiting.

Related: 1985 Rock Song, Written by One of the ‘Greatest Supergroups’ of All Time, Remains a Classic 41 Years Later

In 1972, David Gates transformed the loss of his father into one of Bread’s most poignant recordings.

“Everything I Own” appeared on the band’s fourth album, Baby I’m-a Want You, and became another major success during Bread’s remarkable early-’70s run. Although its lyrics could easily be heard as the aftermath of a romantic breakup, Gates later revealed that he had written the song about his late father.

“My father died in 1963 and I wanted to write a song in memory of him,” Gates told The Guardian. “He did live to see some of my early progress towards success, but not the major songs or stardom with Bread. As with all my songs, the music led and the words tried to keep up, but they came pretty quickly.”

That meaning was deliberately tucked beneath the surface.

Rather than explicitly writing about grief, Gates framed “Everything I Own” around the longing to have someone back again. The lyrics reflect on everything another person has given you and what you would surrender for the chance to spend one more moment with them. Its universality allowed listeners to attach their own experiences of love and loss to the song.

The understated approach resonated.

Released as a single in 1972, “Everything I Own” climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It joined songs including “Make It With You,” “If” and “Baby I’m-a Want You” in establishing Bread as one of the era’s defining soft rock groups, with Gates’ gentle vocals and melodic songwriting at the center of the band’s sound.

The composition soon began traveling through other artists.

Jamaican musician Ken Boothe transformed “Everything I Own” into a reggae recording in 1974, taking his version all the way to No. 1 on the U.K. Singles Chart. His interpretation gave Gates’ ballad a dramatically different rhythmic character and helped establish the song with another audience.

More than a decade later, Boy George returned it to the top.

“When Boy George wanted to do it he called Ken Boothe and said he was going to record that song he’d written,” Gates later shared in an interview. “Boothe said, ‘No, no, it’s a David Gates song’. I thought he did a good version.”

The former Culture Club frontman recorded “Everything I Own” for his 1987 debut solo album, Sold. Drawing heavily from Boothe’s reggae interpretation, George’s version reached No. 1 in the U.K., becoming a major solo success as he began a new chapter outside his famous band.

Fifty-four years after Bread first released “Everything I Own,” the song’s ability to move between artists, genres and generations remains part of its remarkable legacy.

“My records are still being played around the world and maybe they are somewhat timeless in that you can hear them over and over and not get tired of them,” said Gates. “And there’s no one writing anything quite like that now. As long as there’s a uniqueness to what I am doing, and what a lot of artists out of the seventies and eighties have done, they will continue to be played. If you want to hear that kind of music you pretty much have to go to those artists.”

What began as David Gates’ deeply personal reflection on his father became a soft rock favorite and, through voices including Boy George’s, a song capable of finding entirely new lives long after 1972.

Related: 1971 Folk Rock Song, Written by Jonathan Edwards, Is Still a Beloved Hit 55 Years Later

After actress Mayim Bialik joined the Big Bang Theory cast during its third season, which premiered in 2009, fans were eager to watch the blossoming of her character, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler’s relationship with Dr. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons).

During an appearance on an August 2026 episode of The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast, hosted by Jessica Radloff, Bialik was asked to share what scene from the series she’d like to reshoot “for fun.” Bialik replied that she would like to revisit Season 7, Episode 15, wherein Sheldon and Amy finally kiss while on a train. She explained that Parsons “had the flu” while filming the romantic scene, but clarified that’s not the only reason she would like another shot at the moment.

“It was a very technically complicated scene because we were literally on a train car. They brought the train car onto the stage, but it was very technical, and we had to film from all these crazy angles,” said the actress.

Radloff then mentioned her delight at a scene from Season 9, Episode 11, wherein Sheldon determines he’s ready to be physically intimate with Amy as a way to celebrate her birthday after conferring with Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch). After Penny and Bernadette reveal Sheldon’s plan to Amy, she excitedly blurts out, “You shut your damn mouth!”

Bialik then said she wasn’t interested in reshooting the scene where Amy expresses her delight, as filming the moment was “stressful.” She then explained that she felt pressure because she and the showrunners were aware of what the scene meant for viewers who were invested in Amy and Sheldon’s relationship.

“Those were stressful. Scenes that had a lot of kind of buzz about what it meant were stressful,” said Bialik during the August 2026 podcast interview. “Meaning, they carried a lot of weight in terms of ‘How exactly do we want this?’ And, ‘Let’s do a version like this.’ And let’s do a version like that.’ You know, there’s a lot more input, which means as an actor you’re sometimes asked to switch it up and like, ‘Okay, do this.’ And ‘Try this.’ And so yeah, it just has a lot more weight to it.”

Sandra Bullock knew her children could see Bryan Randall changing, even while the family kept his ALS diagnosis from the public. Her priority was giving each child room to decide how much of his decline they could emotionally handle.

The Blind Side star discussed son Louis Bullock, 16, and daughter Laila Bullock, 12, during her appearance on the Monday, August 24, episode of the podcast SmartLess, alongside hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes.

Randall helped Bullock raise both children before his death at 57 in August 2023 following a private three-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

How Did Sandra Bullock Explain Bryan Randall’s ALS to Her Kids? Sandra Bullock and Bryan Randall

(Photo by Jackson Lee/GC Images)

Bullock, 62, said her children were “completely aware” of Randall’s illness as it progressed and eventually left him bedridden.

“They could see. They have eyes. And, they are very, very astute kids,” she shared. “Very astute because they not only see the physical change, [but] there’s a behavior that changes in all of us.” Bullock revealed on the podcast that she addressed difficult changes when her children asked questions or when she noticed them processing what they had seen. She then asked how they wanted to respond.

Why Did Sandra Bullock’s Son Louis Step Back? View this post on Instagram

Louis began creating distance from the situation about two years before Randall died, though he continued supporting his mother.

“Louis handled it very differently than Laila. About two years before Bryan passed, he saw it was a dynamic that wasn’t healthy for him to be around,” she said. “So, he’s very evolved. He’s like, ‘You know what? I’m here for you.’ I didn’t want him to become the man of the family at that age. My job [was] to be both at that time.”

Bullock said she wanted Louis to remain a child rather than feel responsible for filling an adult role, particularly while the family was also navigating the COVID pandemic.

How Did Daughter Laila Handle Bryan Randall’s Decline?

Laila remained closely connected to Randall for longer before asking her mother to help her step back. “Laila, on the other hand, was more bonded until about six months out,” Bullock recalled.

“And then she says, ‘Can you please say no when they call me over to go visit?’ And I said, ‘Absolutely.’ And I said, ‘But, if you do wanna go visit, I will come with you, and I will be right there. And if you tap out, I am right there.’”

Bullock honored that request and made clear that Laila could change her mind without facing the situation alone.

How Did Sandra Bullock Protect Her Family’s Privacy?

Randall asked Bullock to keep his diagnosis private, a decision she has said left her feeling isolated while caring for him. The model-turned-photographer met Bullock in 2015 after she hired him to photograph Louis’ fifth birthday party.

The couple remained together for eight years. In a Red Table Talk episode, the Practical Magic star described Randall as a father figure to her children and previously called him the “love of my life.”

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Ardent fans know there are few public figures who bring the sparkle like Dolly Parton. The “Smokey Mountain songbird” is known as much for her glamorous style as her sweet voice. That signature style shines through in her vast collection of kitchen essentials, including her brand’s Jeweled Mosaic Mug Set.

You wouldn’t catch Parton with anything but the most spectacular of anything, so it makes sense that her mug collection is so dazzling. The set includes a whopping four 14-ounce cups neatly contained within a durable wire rack. It’s just $33 at Walmart — breaking down to approximately $8.25 per cup without factoring in the value of the included holder.

Dolly Parton Jeweled Mosaic Mug Set, $33 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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Each mug is detailed with a beautiful floral motif in a vibrant color and etched with a famous lyric from Parton’s beloved single, “Wildflowers.” The line, which reads “wildflowers don’t care where they grow,” is as much an encouraging sentiment as a nod to Parton’s own free spirit and joy of self-expression.

While the mugs are sure to bring a smile to your face while you sip your morning coffee or enjoy a cup of relaxing tea, they’re also designed with longevity in mind. The porcelain material is safe for both the dishwasher and the microwave, so you can use them freely without worrying they’ll lose their color or integrity. 

The wire rack is an equally thoughtful addition. It keeps the mugs in one place and makes it easier to put them all on display, too. The setup is elegant, creating an eye-catching focal point for your countertop or coffee station. Colorful blossoms radiate warmth and homey style in shades like yellow, blue, red, and pink, and they bring a touch of vintage-inspired farmhouse charm to any kitchen.

Related: The Pioneer Woman’s $30 Cottagecore 12-Piece Dish Set Has a ‘Fresh and Beautiful’ Pastoral Daisy Print

“These coffee cups are stunning,” one reviewer said, adding that they’re “almost like 3D.” Another person noted that the set is a great value and fits right into their existing collection of treasures from the Parton line. 

Shop More Deals

• Dolly Parton Jeweled Mosaic Accent Plates Set, $25 at Walmart
• Dolly Parton Two-Tone Vase, $12 at Walmart
• Dolly Parton Jeweled Cake Stand, $35 (was $42) at Walmart

It’s also a lovely starting point for a new collection — and at this price it offers you an easy way to liven up your space without spending a fortune. Don’t miss the Dolly Parton Jeweled Mosaic Mug Set for just $33 at Walmart!

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.

At 14, Janis Ian recorded a song most record companies wanted nothing to do with.

Born Janis Eddy Fink, Ian grew up on a New Jersey chicken farm in a home filled with music. Her mother loved jazz, her father favored folk and Ian was playing guitar and writing songs by 12. She wrote and recorded “Society’s Child (Baby I’ve Been Thinking)” by the time she was just 14 years old.

The song follows a white teenager whose relationship with a Black boy is condemned by her mother, classmates and teachers. By the final verse, the pressure has won and she ends the relationship. It was a difficult subject for pop radio in the mid-1960s, especially coming from a singer barely in high school.

Atlantic Records paid for the recording session, then declined to release the song and returned the master. Jerry Wexler later apologized for the decision. Verve Records eventually agreed to put it out in 1966 after a double-digit number of labels had passed.

“Society’s Child” did not become an immediate national success. Its break came in 1967, when Leonard Bernstein featured Ian on the CBS special Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution. The appearance helped the single reach the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Ian a teenage star.

Success also exposed her to racist harassment, boycotts and death threats. At a concert in Encino, California, roughly 20 hecklers began shouting slurs during the song. Ian left the stage crying before gathering herself and returning to finish the show.

“The song didn’t just have the power to make people angry, but it had the power to make people stand up,” Ian later said.

Ian returned to the charts in 1975 with “At Seventeen,” which reached No. 3 and won her a Grammy. “Society’s Child” later lent its name to her 2008 autobiography. The 2025 documentary Janis Ian: Breaking Silence returned to the song, the threats and the concert that changed how she understood her own work.

Related: 1971 Soft Rock Hit, Covered by Andy Williams, Was a No. 1 Hit 55 Years Ago Today

James Lew, a legendary Hollywood stuntman who’s career spanned around 50 years, has died at the age of 73.

He died on Saturday, Aug. 22, his wife, Jordana Potter, announced on Instagram. No cause of death was revealed.

“Honey I imagine you walking the beach with Dudley, sparring with Bruce Lee and finally getting to hug your Dad again. James MF Lew you are loved and will be deeply missed. Rest in peace. 8/23/26,” Potter wrote.

Lew has appeared in numerous different movies and television shows. That includes him working with John Carpenter on Big Trouble in Little China, They Live, and Escape From L.A., as well as his role in three Rush Hour movies, released in 1998, 2001, and 2007. He is also well-known for his role in  Jim Abrahams’ parody of the Rambo films, Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993), where he lost a battle to Charlie Sheen’s character Topper Harley. Other movies include Black Rain (1989), Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991), Undercover Blues (1993), Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995), The Last Samurai (2003), Tropic Thunder (2008), Star Trek (2009), Inception (2010), Olympus Has Fallen (2013) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).

As for television, he’s been in .J. Hooker, The Fall Guy, The A-Team, Falcon Crest and Murder, She Wrote to Roseanne, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Walker, Texas Ranger, Alias and Westworld.

He received an Emmy for outstanding stunt coordination for a drama series, limited series, or movie due to his work on the Netflix series Luke Cage. Lew was also Black Belt Hall of Fame in 2024.

Fans paid tribute to Lew following the news.

“He was always great, whenever I saw him in screen,” one person posted.

“he made the impossible look easy. real legends leave a mark,” another person shared.

Nearly six decades after it was published, Maya Angelou’s memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” continues to be assigned in schools nationwide.

The autobiography is described as a coming-of-age story, detailing Angelou’s childhood from the ages of 3 to 16, and tackling issues such as racism, identity, and sexuality. Published in 1969, it remained on The New York Times bestseller list for two years and won the National Book Award in 1970.

However, Angelou only wrote the book after she was dared by her friend, author James Baldwin, and her editor, Robert Loomis, to write an autobiography that was also a piece of literature.

“He furnished me with my first limousine ride, set the stage for me to write ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,’ encouraged me to take a course in cinematography in Sweden, and told me that I was intelligent and very brave,” Angelou wrote in The New York Times in 1987 following Baldwin’s death. “His love opened the unusual door for me and I am blessed that James Baldwin was my brother.”

While Angelou’s memoir, the first in a seven-volume series, continues to be taught in school, it has also been the target of censorship. PEN named it one of the most banned books in public schools since 2021 alongside “The Bluest Eye” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

Before her death in 2014, Angelou spoke about her books being banned, famously saying, “I’m always sorry that people ban my books. Many times I’ve been called the most banned. Many times my books are banned by people who never read two sentences. I feel sorry for the young person who never gets to read.”

One of her biggest fans, Oprah Winfrey, also spoke out about the importance of the memoir.

“That book gave a voice to my silences, my secrets,” Winfrey said at the 74th National Book Awards in 2023. “It gave words to my pain and my confusion of being raped at 9 years old… That’s the power of books.”

Merle Haggard was a 20-year-old inmate serving time for an attempted robbery at San Quentin State Prison when he saw Johnny Cash perform, in what was one of the singer’s earliest prison concerts. Haggard later credited that night with steering him toward a music career once he got out.

The experience stuck with him. Within a decade, Haggard turned that path into one of the defining careers of the era, writing “Swinging Doors,” the second single off his and the Strangers’ 1966 album, Swinging Doors and the Bottle Let Me Down. The song cracked the Top 5 that July, becoming one of the signature tracks of Haggard’s early run.

Now, 60 years later, that song is getting new life onstage. Zach Top and Marcus King teamed up for a rendition of “Swinging Doors” over the weekend during Top’s sold-out show at PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the latest in a growing string of collaborations between the two rising stars, who have built a reputation for trading guitar licks together onstage.

Before launching into the tribute, Top gave King a shoutout for joining him on the road, calling him “such a huge fan” and adding that he’s grateful to have him out on tour right now.

The cover is only the latest example of Top embracing his role as one of the traditional country’s most devoted torchbearers. Over the past year, the Washington native has racked up an ever-growing list of tributes and collaborations, running through songs by Chris Stapleton, Waylon Jennings, Travis Tritt, and George Jones, reinforcing why he took home the first-ever Grammy for Best Traditional Country Album earlier this year.

For longtime fans of Haggard, watching two of country’s brightest young talents revive one of his catalog deep cuts is proof the outlaw sound he helped build six decades ago is still very much alive.

If one of your health goals is to maintain a heart-healthy diet, cooking the majority of your meals at home instead of eating out can go a long way. 

“I tell my patients that cooking at home is generally much healthier—and less expensive—than eating out, and having staples in the freezer makes it less likely that you’ll order takeout,” says Dr. Dara Lee Lewis, MD, a preventive cardiologist with Mass General Brigham Heart & Vascular Institute. 

Related: The Supplement Cardiologists Say Is a Waste of Money for Heart Health

Of course, this all entirely depends on what you cook and how you season it. If you’re cooking up juicy steaks, hamburgers or pork seasoned with lots of salt, you aren’t exactly doing your heart any favors. But if your home-cooked meals center around lean proteins (like chicken), seafood, plant-based proteins (like beans, tofu, chickpeas and lentils) and you go easy with the salt shaker, you’re on the right track.

There’s one popular frozen food that Dr. Lee Lewis avoids keeping in her freezer at home because it’s detrimental to heart health when eaten regularly. Read on to find out what it is.

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Healthy Foods a Cardiologist Always Has at Home

Before getting into the frozen food Dr. Lee Lewis avoids, let’s talk about what she does keep on hand at home. “As a mom and a busy cardiologist, I am always looking for foods that are healthy, delicious and quick to prepare,” she says. 

Since she doesn’t always have time to go grocery shopping, Dr. Lee Lewis says she keeps her freezer stocked with frozen shrimp or chicken breast, and mixed berries and spinach for her morning smoothies. Frozen berries are just as nutrient-rich as fresh berries, and eating them regularly is associated with lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.  

As for what she pairs her shrimp or chicken with for lunches and dinners, Dr. Lee Lewis says that she always has either fresh or frozen vegetables as well as pre-washed salad greens on hand. “My fridge mainstays also include easy proteins like cottage cheese, plain yogurt and tofu,” she says.

Related: ‘I’m a Cardiologist—This Is the Simple Dinner Swap That Makes a Big Difference in Heart Health’

If you were to peek into Dr. Lee Lewis’s pantry, she says you’d find avocado oil and olive oil. Both of these oils are scientifically linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease due to their high omega-3 fatty acid and antioxidant content.

Besides these heart-healthy oils, Dr. Lee Lewis says she also stocks her pantry with beans, nuts and seeds—all heart-healthy foods due to their high fiber content. “Recently, I discovered a high-protein pasta made with lupini beans that tastes delicious. I also love popcorn for a snack, so there is usually a bag or two in my pantry, and my husband likes sweets, so I try to keep some healthy-ish treats like dark chocolate-covered almonds and Fig Newtons on hand,” she says, naming a few of her other pantry mainstays.

Related: We Asked 3 Cardiologists About Their Go-To 5-Minute Habit for Heart Health and They All Had the Exact Same Answer

The Frozen Food a Cardiologist Doesn’t Keep at Home

As you can see, Dr. Lee Lewis keeps her kitchen well-stocked with heart-healthy foods. But there’s one food you won’t find in her freezer: ice cream. 

“I really like ice cream in the summertime, but it is high in saturated fat, which leads to elevated cholesterol that can lead to plaque build-up in the heart arteries. It is also high in sugar and calories, which, of course, can lead to weight gain and inflammation,” Dr. Lee Lewis says.

To her point, a 2021 scientific article published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology states that a diet high in saturated fat is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. This, the researchers say, is because saturated fat increases LDL cholesterol, which directly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

As Dr. Lee Lewis pointed out, the high sugar content in ice cream isn’t great for cardiovascular health either. Research shows that the majority of US adults eat more sugar than is considered healthy, and there is a significant relationship between sugar consumption and cardiovascular disease risk.

How To Enjoy Ice Cream While Protecting Your Heart

The fact that ice cream isn’t good for your heart likely isn’t all that surprising. But does that mean you have to choose between ice cream and heart health? Fortunately not. “As with most things, I recommend moderation when it comes to ice cream,” Dr. Lee Lewis says.

Instead of keeping ice cream stocked in your freezer at home, which can make it all too easy to enjoy it every night, consider only eating ice cream when you specifically seek it out. Often, this means you’ll be heading to the ice cream shop with loved ones, making it an extra special treat instead of something you enjoy every night by yourself. 

If you do want to eat ice cream at home regularly, Dr. Lee Lewis recommends buying healthy ice cream alternatives, which are found right next to traditional ice cream in the frozen section at the grocery store. 

“There are now quite a few healthier alternatives to regular ice cream that you can get in the supermarket, including brands such as Halo Top and Nick’s. They don’t taste quite as creamy and rich as the real thing, but it’s great that we can find a lower fat, lower sugar and higher protein alternative when we are craving an icy treat on a hot day,” she says.

Following a heart-healthy diet doesn’t mean depriving yourself of ice cream. It just means keeping it as an occasional treat and not a nightly dessert. When you do go out for ice cream, don’t feel guilty; enjoy it! After all, sharing a dessert that makes you happy with people you love is good for the heart too.

Up Next:

Related: ‘I’m a Cardiologist, and This Is the One Supplement I Actually Take for Heart Health’

Sources

• Dr. Dara Lee Lewis, MD, preventive cardiologist with Mass General Brigham Heart & Vascular Institute.
• Basu, A., Rhone, M. and Lyons, T. J. (2011). Berries: emerging impact on cardiovascular health. Nutrition Reviews. 68(3):168-177.
• Cervantes-Paz, B. and Yahia, E. M. (2021). Avocado oil: Production and market demand, bioactive components, implications in health, and tendencies and potential uses. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. 20(4):4120-4158.
• Xia, M., Zhong, Y., Peng, Y., et al. (2022). Olive oil consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Frontiers in Nutrition. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1041203. 
• Maki, K. C., Dicklin, M. R. and Kirkpatrick, C. F. (2021). Saturated fats and cardiovascular health: Current evidence and controversies. 15(6):765-772. Journal of Clinical Lipidology. 15(6):765-772.
• Yang, Q., Zhang, Z., Gregg, E. W., et al. (2014). Added sugar intake and cardiovascular diseases mortality among US Adults. JAMA Internal Medicine. 174(4):516-24.

Get ready to relive your childhood—because Dunkin’ is debuting a Frosted Animal Cookie Cloud Latte, and it’s everything you remember about the classic confection and so much more.

PEOPLE revealed the new test drink on Monday evening, confirming that the donut chain is indeed testing the nostalgic latte. 

What does a Frosted Animal Cookie Cloud Latte taste like? Per PEOPLE, Dunkin’ says it has a “bold espresso with frosted cookie flavor.” Espresso and iced cookies? Okay, we can get on board with that.

Where can you get Dunkin’s nostalgic Frosted Animal Cookie Cloud Latte?

Sadly, the Frosted Animal Cookie Cloud Latte isn’t available nationwide. At least, not yet. According to PEOPLE, Dunkin’ is currently testing the bold beverage at five locations in Rhode Island.

What are Dunkin’ fans saying about the new test coffee drink? 

While PEOPLE seems to be the first major media outlet to talk to Dunkin’ about the drink, the snackolator Instagram account shared a sneak peek of the Frosted Animal Cookie Cloud Latte last week, revealing a few tasty tidbits. Along with a pic of the pink drink, the post also includes an info-packed caption: “The drink features espresso mixed with frosted cookie flavors that is topped with pink shortbread cold foam and cookie crumbles.” Yum!

Coffee, cookie, and Dunkin’ fans jumped to comment on the post. “I was ready to put my shoes on and run out the door and then read that it’s being tested. I’d 100% buy this,” responded one eager would-be customer.

Others added, “Dunkin’ has been putting out bangers”, “A great day to be a new englander,” and “WHAT. need this immediately.” 

The comments didn’t end there. Disappointed Dunkin-lovers lamented, “We need this in NYC”, “Why do they test the good things and then never release them lol”, “I hope they bring it to all locations soon! It looks so good,” and “Any test stores in Texas!? I’d love to try it!”

News of the nostalgic test drink also hit the Dunkin’ World Facebook group. Members posted their thoughts, commenting, “Yesss can’t wait to try it,” and “They should do something like that with a frozen coffee.” But wait, it gets better. 

A lucky Rhode Islander actually got to try the drink. Not only did they post a photo of the Frosted Animal Cookie Cloud Latte, but they also added a review: “It’s good!! Very sweet 9/10.” 

Brian Boitano is still taking to the ice and reminding fans that some things never go out of style. The Olympic champion, 62, shared a social media video of himself “spinning out” on the ice, leaving fans marveling at how effortlessly he still moves. The Battle of the Brians may have ended decades ago, but Brian Boitano can still skate like it’s 1988.

From “Those edges give me life” to “Oh Brian, you’re still as beautiful as ever on the ice! As Dick Button used to say, ‘so lyrical!’” Brian Boitano is leaving fans shocked and awed in the best way possible with his latest social media video. Wearing new skates, Boitano hits the ice and immediately starts spinning, and spinning, and spinning, just like he’s back at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

View this post on Instagram

For fans who remember Brian Boitano’s competitive years (isn’t that everyone?), the skater’s recent video is a welcome walk down nostalgia lane, with a side of serious inspiration. Boitano was known for his speed, control, confidence, unmistakable presence on the ice and, yes, those edges. But his latest video is a reminder that at the heart of what made Boitano such a special competitor was the sheer joy he brought to every performance.

That joy clearly hasn’t left him.

Boitano looks like no time has passed since he spun his way into a gold medal in Calgary because he’s still skating with the same joy that made each and every performance of his memorable and appointment viewing.

Brian Boitano Still Has the Magic on the Ice

Watching Boitano skate at 62 isn’t just a remarkable ode to his enduring athletic ability. It’s a reminder of the snapshots his performances hold in a generation of Olympic viewers’ memories.

Competing during what can best be called a golden age of Olympic figure skating, skaters like Brian Boitano, Brian Orser and Scott Hamilton did more than dazzle judges and fans on the ice. They gave an entire generation something that brought us together, reduced division, inspired hope and brought joy.

We don’t just remember how Brian Boitano skated. We remember how he made us feel when he skated.

The fact that he can still inspire some of those same hopeful feelings at 62 is even more remarkable than watching him spin into his 60s with the athleticism of a teenager.

Related: Olympic Skating Legends, Who Defined Figure Skating’s Golden Age, Made the Ice Sound Like Tap Dancing

Fans Still Remember the Battle of the Brians @cbcsports

Canada vs. USA, grace vs. power, Brian vs. Brian ⛸ the Battle of the Brians rocked Calgary ‘88 #CBCTheGame presented by @BetRivers

♬ original sound – CBC Sports

For fans just discovering Brian Boitano through social media, the skater’s latest video is a testament to his continued skill on the ice.

But for those of us who have been following along since the ’80s, when the “Battle of the Brians” dominated headlines and we stayed up late into the night to watch Olympic competition across multiple time zones, Brian Boitano’s latest video is a reminder of what is so special about Olympic competition.

The 1988 Winter Olympics gave fans the unforgettable rivalry between Boitano and Canada’s Brian Orser, but it also gave us something bigger: performances that became permanent memories.

Decades later, those memories can come rushing back with something as simple as a few spins on the ice.

At 62, Brian Boitano Is Still Skating

At 62, Brian Boitano has nothing left to prove. Yet he’s still out there on the ice, spreading joy and inspiring others.

That’s the best part of all.

He doesn’t need an Olympic arena, a panel of judges or a gold medal waiting at the end of the program. He just needs a pair of skates and some ice.

For fans who grew up watching him, seeing Brian Boitano still skate with that same confidence and joy feels like a gift.

The years have passed. The sport has changed. But when Boitano spins across the ice, for just a moment, it feels like 1988 all over again.

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

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