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No matter how seriously someone takes pizza, you will likely still find at least one frozen pizza hiding in their freezer at all times. You can spend all weekend making dough from scratch, simmering sauce and carefully layering fresh mozzarella, only to end up grabbing a backup pizza from the freezer a few days later so you don't have to do the whole process every time you want a pie. You're not alone either—even professional chefs have their go-to frozen pizza options for those nights when a multistep production just isn't in the cards.

That’s what made us curious about exactly which frozen pizzas chefs actually buy for themselves. Not the answers you'd expect professional chefs to give, but the frozen pizzas they genuinely keep in their own rotation when they want something comforting, convenient and consistently good.

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In our talks with five chefs about the best frozen pizzas, there were definitely a few cheffy answers involving Neapolitan-style crusts and carefully sourced ingredients, but not every pick was an artisan-level pie. More than one chef shared that certain grocery store frozen pizzas still genuinely hit the spot after a long day.

We also learned that chefs have strong opinions when it comes to how to make frozen pizza properly. Nearly everyone had a clever trick or finishing touch they swear makes a huge difference, from adjusting oven temperatures to adding fresh ingredients after baking.

After hearing the best frozen pizza choices and easy at-home upgrades five chefs swear by, we're never making pizza the same way again. Here's what they had to say.

Related: The Italian Way To Make Sausage 10x Better

Our Panel of Chefs

To find out which frozen pizzas are worth buying, I asked chefs, pizza pros and food experts which frozen pies they genuinely keep in rotation at home.

Here's who weighed in:

• ChefRocco DiSpirito is the James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author and television personality behind Bar Rocco. DiSpirito trained at the Culinary Institute of America and has authored multiple New York Times bestsellers.
• ChefJoe Powers is the lead pizzaiolo at Jay's Artisan Pizza, which was ranked the fourth best pizzeria in the U.S. in 2025 by Italy's 50 Top Pizza guide. Powers trained with the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN) and specializes in Neapolitan-style pizza.
• Chef Chris Ayala is the executive chef at Indaco Nashville, known for its wood-fired pizzas and Italian-inspired menu. Ayala trained at the Culinary Institute of America and has led restaurant kitchens across Nashville and Florida.
• Chef Dylan Werth is the executive chef at Typhur and former executive chef at MEATER. Werth has spent more than a decade working across food media, culinary production, and food styling for cooking shows and digital food brands.
• Chef Emma Sullivan is a recipe developer and home cooking expert at DailyCookingRecipe.com. Sullivan regularly tests grocery store products and develops practical cooking tips for home cooks.

5 Chefs' Favorite Frozen Pizzas

Natalia Gdovskaia / Getty Images

These are the seven frozen pizzas these chefs recommend.

1. Genio Della Pizza Margherita View this post on Instagram

Chef Joe Powers says Genio Della Pizza stands out because it approaches frozen pizza with the same ingredient-focused mindset found in traditional Neapolitan pizza making.

“What stands out is the restraint,” Powers says, noting that it uses “quality dough, balanced sauce and thoughtful ingredients without trying to overload the pizza unnecessarily.”

Powers said he gravitates toward frozen pizzas with shorter ingredient lists, balanced toppings and cheeses that brown naturally instead of turning greasy. As someone trained in Neapolitan-style pizza, he also pays close attention to crust texture and caramelization.

To make it even better at home, Powers recommends fully preheating the oven and baking directly on a pizza stone or steel whenever possible. He also likes finishing frozen pizza with fresh basil, Parmigiano, olive oil, chili flakes or hot honey after baking.

“At the end of the day, even frozen pizza is best when the focus stays on balance, texture and ingredient quality rather than excess toppings or shortcuts,” Powers says.

2. Kesté Frozen Margherita Pizza

Chef Rocco DiSpirito recommends Kesté’s frozen Margherita pizza because he likes how simple and balanced it feels.

“A lot of frozen pizzas are overloaded with cheese and sugar-heavy sauce,” DiSpirito says. “Kesté keeps it simple and lets the dough, tomato and mozzarella do the work.”

He says that “the crust has real character, the tomatoes taste like tomatoes and it’s one of the few frozen pizzas that still feels connected to actual Neapolitan-style pizza.”

His biggest recommendation is thoroughly preheating a pizza stone or pizza steel before baking and finishing the pizza under the broiler for extra blistering and caramelization on the cheese and crust.

He also almost always adds olive oil, basil, oregano, chili flakes or Parmigiano-Reggiano after baking.

“My general advice: ignore the exact bake time on the box,” DiSpirito adds. “Frozen pizza gets dramatically better when the crust has real color and crunch.”

3. DiGiorno Rising Crust Pepperoni Pizza

Chef Emma Sullivan says the DiGiorno Rising Crust Pepperoni Pizza still holds up surprisingly well, even compared to more expensive frozen pizzas.

“I’ve tried fancy brands, but this one actually crisps up without turning into cardboard,” Sullivan says. “The crust gets legitimately fluffy inside.”

Sullivan recommends moving the oven rack to the bottom position and baking the pizza about 25 degrees hotter than the box instructions recommend to help the crust crisp properly.

She also brushes the crust edges with olive oil and adds fresh herbs during the final few minutes of baking.

Another tip? Let the pizza rest before slicing.

“The cheese needs time to set or it slides the second you cut it,” Sullivan says.

Related: The Genius Way to Make Guacamole 10x Better, According to an Award-Winning Chef

4. Pizza King Pepperoni Pizza View this post on Instagram

Chef Dylan Werth said Pizza King remains one of his favorite frozen pizzas because it doesn’t skimp on toppings or sauce.

“It’s the perfect frozen pizza to reheat,” Werth says. “They pride themselves in having both sauce and toppings go all the way to the crust.”

Werth also praised the overall balance and portion size, especially for the price.

One of his favorite ways to upgrade frozen pizza is by using flavored oils after baking.

“You can never go wrong with flavored oils,” he says, recommending herb oils, garlic oils and spicy oils like chili crisp.

“To sneak a fourth option in there, I have to recommend a good ol’ fashioned hot honey,” Werth adds. “From vegetarians to meat lovers, it ALWAYS hits.”

5. Antico Casa Margherita Pizza View this post on Instagram

Ayala also shouted out Antico Casa’s Margherita Pizza as one of his favorite frozen pizzas to grab at Costco.

“It tastes good, and I can get it from Costco, where I shop for most of my groceries,” Ayala says. “It’s also the best price for the quality.”

His approach to improving it is simple: a little olive oil before baking, and fresh toppings afterward.

6. Newman’s Own Uncured Pepperoni Thin Crust Pizza

Sullivan says Newman’s Own Uncured Pepperoni Thin Crust Pizza is one of her favorite frozen pizza options.

“It’s lighter than DiGiorno, but the pepperoni quality is noticeably better,” Sullivan says, adding that it's “good for when you want something that doesn’t feel heavy.”

Like the other pizzas she mentioned, Sullivan still recommends using higher heat and the bottom oven rack for a crispier crust on this one too.

7. Trader Joe’s Pizza Formaggio

The Trader Joe’s Pizza Formaggio is another frozen pizza Sullivan says she genuinely keeps in rotation.

“It’s four-cheese, thin crust and extremely reliable,” she says. “I’ve served this to people who didn’t realize it came from a box.”

To help the crust crisp more evenly, Sullivan recommends baking frozen pizzas hotter than the box instructions suggest and letting them rest a few minutes before slicing.

Related: I Asked 3 Chefs the Secret Ingredient to the Best-Ever Lemonade, and They All Said the Same Thing

5 Chef-Approved Ways for Making Frozen Pizza 10x Better

Roberto Machado Noa / Getty Images

After talking to all of these chefs, one thing became very clear: almost nobody is making frozen pizza exactly according to the box instructions. Nearly every chef had a finishing touch or cooking method they swear makes a dramatic difference in texture, flavor or crispiness.

Here are the frozen pizza upgrades these chefs kept coming back to again and again.

1. Use a Pizza Stone, Pizza Steel or Preheated Baking Sheet

Multiple chefs said one of the easiest ways to improve frozen pizza is to bake it on a properly preheated surface instead of a cold sheet pan. Powers and DiSpirito both recommended using pizza stones or pizza steels to help the crust develop better texture and caramelization.

If you don’t own either option, Werth suggests preheating an upside-down baking sheet in the oven before placing the pizza on top. That extra heat underneath helps crisp the bottom crust much more evenly.

2. Don’t Be Afraid To Bake It Longer

Several chefs mentioned that frozen pizzas are often underbaked when people follow the box instructions too closely.

DiSpirito says many brands intentionally recommend shorter bake times to prevent people from accidentally burning the pizza, but that extra browning is exactly what gives frozen pizza better texture and flavor.

Sullivan also recommends increasing the oven temperature by about 25 degrees and moving the pizza to the bottom oven rack for better crust crispiness.

3. Finish With Fresh Ingredients

One of the most common chef tricks to better frozen pizza was adding fresh ingredients after the pizza comes out of the oven.

Fresh basil, olive oil, chili flakes, oregano, Parmesan, pecorino and cracked black pepper came up repeatedly. Several chefs said these finishing touches help brighten frozen pizza and make it taste less flat or processed.

Werth also strongly recommends flavored oils and hot honey.

4. Let the Pizza Rest Before Slicing

Sullivan says one of the biggest mistakes people make is slicing frozen pizza immediately after it leaves the oven.

“The cheese needs time to set or it slides the second you cut it,” she says.

Even just letting the pizza sit for a few minutes can help the cheese settle and keep the toppings from sliding everywhere.

5. Keep the Toppings Balanced

One of the more interesting takeaways was that chefs consistently preferred frozen pizzas that kept things balanced.

Both Powers and DiSpirito praised frozen pizzas that avoided excessive toppings, overloaded cheese and overly sweet sauces. While it’s tempting to pile on extra ingredients at home, too many toppings can weigh down the crust and make frozen pizza soggy instead of crisp.

Final Thoughts

After getting the inside scoop on the best frozen pizzas and how you can easily upgrade any of them at home, it's safe to say we're never making frozen pizza on autopilot again. After hearing how much attention these chefs pay to crust texture, oven setup and finishing touches, it’s hard not to look at frozen pizza a little differently. With their easy tips in mind, you can turn a decent freezer pizza into something genuinely craveable.

Related: This Viral Muffin Tin Hack Actually Works—Here’s What Happened When I Tried It

People have a way of treating candles like background noise — something you light for guests or during a power outage. But true candle lovers know that the right scent can completely shift your mood, your space, even your energy. Some people need warm and comforting notes after a long day, while others want something bright that feels like opening a window in spring. According to astrologers, your birth month might say more about your ideal candle scent than you think. Read on to find the best candle scent for each birth month below.

Each birth month as a Candle Scent

Check for your birth month.

Learn more about your birth month:

Born in January | Born in February | Born in March |

Born in April | Born in May | Born in June | Born in July |

Born in August | Born in September | Born in October |

Born in November | Born in December

January — Sandalwood & Amber

January babies tend to carry a calm confidence with a rebellious streak underneath, making them equal parts grounded Capricorn and free-thinking Aquarius. They need a scent with depth, like sandalwood and amber. It's cozy without being predictable, and it gives off "main character reading in a bookstore café" energy.

February — Lavender Vanilla

February people are usually emotionally sharp but creatively restless, caught between the dreamy side of Aquarius and the sensitive intuition of Pisces. A lavender vanilla candle suits them perfectly. It softens the noise in their head while still feeling artistic and a little romantic.

March — Sea Salt & Jasmine

March-born personalities often feel deeply connected to other people while quietly living in their own imagination, balancing intuitive Pisces energy with fiery Aries boldness. Their scent match is sea salt and jasmine, airy, emotional, and just dramatic enough to feel memorable.

April — Cedarwood & Fig

April people are passionate, impulsive, and hard to ignore, blending adventurous Aries confidence with steady Taurus loyalty. Rich and earthy, like cedarwood and fig, it fits their personality perfectly. It feels luxurious without trying too hard.

May — Citrus Basil

May birthdays are charming but stubborn, in the best way possible, combining sensual Taurus energy with curious Gemini wit. A citrus basil candle fits their vibe because it feels fresh, social, and slightly unexpected.

June — Coconut & Linen

June-born people are emotional shape-shifters — nurturing one minute and wildly spontaneous the next — thanks to the mix of Gemini playfulness and Cancer sensitivity. They need a scent like coconut and linen, something comforting but still light enough to keep up with their mood swings.

July — Vanilla Musk

July personalities protect their peace at all costs, while craving excitement, by blending the emotional depth of Cancer with the confident warmth of Leo. Their candle scent is vanilla musk: soft, familiar, and impossible not to love once it fills a room.

August — Black Cherry & Clove

August babies are magnetic without trying, carrying Leo's bold charisma along with Virgo's perfectionism. A black cherry-and-clove candle suits them because it's strong, sophisticated, and a little dramatic.

September — Rose & Patchouli

September people are detail-oriented but surprisingly romantic underneath it all, balancing practical Virgo tendencies with Libra's love of beauty and connection. They need rose and patchouli — classic, elegant, and quietly intense.

October — Smoked Vanilla

October individuals are charming and social with hidden emotional depth, thanks to Libra's easygoing nature mixed with Scorpio intensity. Their perfect candle is smoked vanilla, something warm with a mysterious edge.

November — Tobacco & Honey

November souls tend to be fiercely loyal and brutally honest, while carrying Scorpio passion alongside Sagittarius independence. A tobacco-and-honey scent works beautifully for them because it feels bold, comforting, and unforgettable.

December — Pine & Cinnamon

December people are optimistic, nostalgic, and always chasing the next adventure, blending adventurous Sagittarius energy with ambitious Capricorn focus. Their candle match is pine and cinnamon — festive, comforting, and full of life.

Just when you finally figured out how to stop impulse-buying wide-leg sweatpants and Korean collagen sets from your FYP, TikTok is coming for your travel budget.

On Friday, May 12, the platform officially announced the launch of TikTok GO, a brand-new, in-app ecosystem that allows users to discover and book hotels, attractions, tours and local experiences directly inside the app.

If you’ve ever lost three hours of your life watching a travel creator break down a hidden-gem boutique hotel or outline a perfect "carry-on only" itinerary for Europe, you know that TikTok is already a massive discovery engine for travel. With this new feature, the app is completely collapsing the timeline between seeing a dream destination and actually booking it.

Related: Virgin Voyages Just Handed the Keys to Its Flagship to 1,000 Content Creators

Here is everything you need to know about how the new travel feature works:

• Seamless Booking: When you spot a hotel or an excursion you like on a video, search page, or location tag, you can check availability and complete the booking in just a few taps without ever leaving the app.
• Heavy-Hitter Partnerships: TikTok isn't building a travel agency from scratch. They are partnering with the biggest names in the industry—including Booking.com, Expedia, Viator, GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Trip.com—to power the inventory.
• Age Requirements: To use the feature, users must be at least 18 years old to book an experience.

The launch marks a massive shift toward "experience-first" travel, especially for a younger demographic that views booking an excursion as the main event rather than an afterthought. "Whether it's visiting the Vatican or checking out a cooking class in Tokyo, we're collapsing the time between inspiration and action," Johannes Reck, Co-Founder & CEO of GetYourGuide, noted in the announcement.

Related: TikTok's U.S. Future Just Got Clearer, but It's Not Final Yet

What This Means for Travel Creators

If you love sharing your favorite boutique stays or local guide tips, TikTok GO is also introducing a major monetization upgrade. Creators who feature these linked hotels and local services will now have the opportunity to earn direct commissions and participate in targeted creator campaigns when their viewers book through a video.

Between the rise of "stealth wealth" travel aesthetic videos and high-velocity packing hacks, the platform is betting big that its 200 million American users are ready to move from scrolling to packing.

Related: Why The 'Fluxury' Trend Is The Smartest New Way To Travel This Summer

Paul McCartney came full circle on Saturday Night Live. On May 16, the Beatles legend was the musical guest on the NBC variety show, where he performed his new song “Days We Left Behind" as well as the 1970s Wings classic “Band on the Run." The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith played drums during the two performances, and fans assumed that would be it.

But at the end of the show, after standing on the Studio 8H stage for the traditional “good nights” alongside host Will Ferrell, McCartney walked over to the musical stage where Smith and the rest of the backup band awaited. It was there that the 83-year-old music legend went into a surprise encore of his 1980 hit “Coming Up." The expected performance caused the “good nights” segment to go overtime as the SNL cast danced on the main stage.

“Coming Up,” the opening track from McCartney’s 1980 solo album, McCartney II, actually made its debut on SNL exactly 46 years earlier. The May 17, 1980, episode of the late-night sketch show featured Steve Martin as the host and Paul and Linda McCartney as the musical guests, per IMDb. As part of the appearance, McCartney’s “Coming Up” music video premiered on SNL.

McCartney’s song launch came after he appeared in an unusual interview sketch with Don Novello’s iconic SNL character Father Guido Sarducci, according to Rolling Stone. The “Coming Up” music video then aired on the live show, one day before McCartney’s second solo album was released in the U.S.

Rolling Stone described the colorful pre-MTV music video, which showed McCartney dressed as different characters playing all of the instruments,  as “quite innovative for its time” and “fresh and New Wave–y.”

In a video clip, McCartney said the drummer character he played in the music video was “based loosely on” Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, while one of the guitar players was inspired by Hank Marvin. “So I based the characters on some people I knew, some people I saw,” he said.

A live version of “Coming Up” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot  100 on June 28, 1980, making it one of McCartney’s most successful solo singles.

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Those who move through the world openly expressing divine love are profoundly healing to be around. With otherworldly energy that softens people, these individuals naturally foster comfort, trust, and openness. While everyone is capable of such kindness, certain birth months carry an especially tender, compassionate, and heart-centered way of loving that feels divine. 

In astrology, the month in which a person is born can provide insights into their approach to love and the effect their love has on others. Those who embody a sense of divine love often influence those around them simply through their caring nature. Expert astrologers have identified four birth months that are most likely to be associated with this divine love.

Which Birth Months Embody Divine Love?

Check for your birth month below.

February

Those born in February share a beautiful balance of emotional depth and an altruistic kindness. Either a progressive Aquarius or a compassionate Pisces, February-born individuals love people for who they truly are rather than who they expect them to become. Their hearts are open and expansive with true acceptance. With a humanitarian spirit and an ability to care about people collectively, they hold profound intuition, softness, and an almost spiritual understanding of human emotion.

Together, this creates someone who knows how to hold space for others without judgment. People born in February have a calming presence that makes others feel seen and safe enough to open up fully. Their love feels selfless, as they care deeply about the emotional well-being of those around them and want to offer encouragement, understanding, and support. Even when they’ve experienced heartbreak themselves, they rarely allow it to harden their hearts completely. There’s still a willingness to believe in the power of love.

RELATE?: The 4 Birth Months Who Are Natural-Born Healers

May

Individuals born in May have a unique way of making love feel effortless and enjoyable. Influenced by the sensuality of Taurus and the flirtatious nature of Gemini, their approach to love is fun and light-hearted without being overly serious. They know how to create memorable experiences! Thoughtful, affectionate, and attentive, May-born individuals express their love through tangible acts of care, such as planning exquisite dates. They take the time to remember your favorite meals and beloved spots, ensuring you get home safely.

Attentiveness is part of their nature. These people craft beautiful environments where their loved ones feel comfortable and valued. Known for their warm curiosity, don’t be surprised if they ask many questions; they genuinely care about your answers and want to get to know you better. What makes those born in May so magnetic is that their transcendent love doesn’t need to be heavy; it can also be filled with joy! Divine love can thrive in laughter, good conversations, shared meals, long nights, and the small moments of everyday life.

July

July-borns possess a wholehearted and passionate approach to love, making others feel safe, cherished, and supported. Influenced by the nurturing nature of Cancer and the affectionate qualities of Leo, they care deeply about the happiness and well-being of those closest to them. Cancer represents sensitivity, devotion, and a strong desire to create a safe space for others, while Leos are known for their warmth, generosity, loyalty, and open-heartedness. They instinctively protect the emotional well-being of their loved ones and often become the trusted confidants during vulnerable moments.

People born in July seek to make those around them feel celebrated, appreciated, and valued. When they commit to someone, they do so wholeheartedly. They care deeply for the people closest to them, demonstrating immense loyalty, tenderness, and pride. They protect their loved ones fiercely and serve as a source of strength during life’s toughest challenges. Their profound love leaves others feeling cherished, defended, and respected.

NEXT: The 4 Birth Dates Who Have a Way With Words

September

Individuals born in September express love through intentional actions. Influenced by the service-oriented nature of Virgo and the diplomatic qualities of Libra, they believe that love should be nurtured, protected, and actively maintained. Their understanding of divine love is rooted in attention to detail. Virgos possess a strong sense of devotion and discernment, instinctively seeking to support those they care about. People born in September are known for remembering important dates, checking in after difficult conversations, noticing subtle changes in others' moods, and readily stepping in to make life easier for their loved ones.

September-born individuals embody romance, harmony, and balance. They are deeply committed to creating healthy relationships where everyone feels valued and appreciated. With their calming presence, they make those around them feel cared for and considered. They demonstrate that sustainable love goes beyond mere passion or intensity; it is a fundamental part of their nature. Through consistency, patience, and a choice to be present for the people who matter most, they maintain close-knit connections.

UP NEXT:

If your current travel strategy involves crossing your fingers at the baggage carousel and praying your zipper holds, it might be time for an upgrade.

To find out which wheels are truly worth the investment, Consumer Reports recently put a dozen popular spinner bags through a brutal gauntlet at their testing headquarters—and a definitive winner has emerged.

Landing the coveted No. 1 spot for overall satisfaction is the Samsonite Outline Pro Carry-On Spinner.

To earn top marks, the suitcase had to survive a series of rigorous lab tests where engineers pulled, dragged, dropped and literally stabbed the luggage to evaluate construction quality, impact resistance and maneuverability.

Related: I Stopped Overpacking—These 9 Carry-On Items Fixed Everything

View this post on Instagram

So, what makes this specific hard-shell stand out from the pack? Constructed from durable polypropylene, the 6.4-pound bag hits the sweet spot of being incredibly lightweight without sacrificing structural integrity.

It features eight multidirectional spinner wheels and an ergonomic trolley handle designed to glide smoothly over everything from airport terminals to bumpy sidewalks. For tech-savvy travelers, it also boasts a built-in TSA lock and an integrated USB port to charge your devices on the fly.

The lab findings mirror rave reviews from real-world travelers. On Samsonite's website, the bag holds a stellar 4.7 out of 5-star rating, with an overwhelming 92% of buyers stating they would recommend it. Reviewers frequently praise its interior compression system, which helps maximize space for long-haul trips without pushing the bag past standard overhead bin dimensions.

Related: I Traveled the World for Years With This Under-$100 Carry-On—And It Doesn’t Even Have a Scratch

While the suitcase typically retails for around $220, it frequently goes on sale. According to the report by Bridget Gleeson for Islands.com, you can currently snag the chart-topping carry-on at Walmart for $158.86 with free shipping, making it a smart, budget-friendly upgrade just in time for the busy summer travel season.

Related: I Stress-Tested the 5 Most Viral Carry-Ons for Six Months—Here's My Honest Verdict

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

Ever since I was a little girl, I've always been a bigger fan of dresses than pants. Even to this day, my closet is packed with feminine frocks. When it comes to bottoms, I mostly own leggings, but I'll occasionally break out something more polished. Still, I've written about denim a lot over the years, and lately, I've been thinking about incorporating more jeans into my wardrobe.

When I was researching 2026 denim trends, I discovered thatbaggy jeans are en vogue right now. I've always been more of a skinny jean type of gal, so I wasn't convinced that the trend would be worth my while. But I decided to keep an open mind and try a little experiment. On a recent weekend, I visited the mall and tried on 12 pairs of baggy jeans to find the best styles.

If you're like me, you dread trying on jeans just as much as you dislike trying on bathing suits, so I brought my husband with me for moral support. It's not the jeans themselves that I was worried about. More so, I wasn't sure what to expect when trying on denim from so many different stores since sizes vary from one brand to the next, and nobody loves carrying four sizes into the dressing room.

Still, I did my research and came up with a list of baggy jeans that ranged from classic wide-leg denim to barrel jeans. Below, I'm recapping how the experience went and breaking down the nine best baggy jeans styles that I'd actually consider buying for myself—and three you can definitely skip.

Related: 7 Best Jeans for Curvy Women, According to Celebrity Stylists

My Testing Process

Before I even went to the mall, I started researching different brands that were currently selling baggy jeans. After finding which brands had products in stock, in stores and online, I then paid attention to what each one offered. I took note of which brands had a wide variety of colors, unique design details, sizes for different heights, etc. Overall, I visited six different stores and tried on 12 pairs of baggy jeans.

Related: This Iconic Designer Launched His First Denim Line in 1978—and It’s Still Going Strong in 2026

The 9 Best Baggy Jeans I Loved—After Trying on 121. Best Overall: LC Lauren Conrad Women's Super High Rise Wide-Leg Jeans, $38.24 (originally $44.99) at Kohl's

Courtesy Chrissy Callahan

Shop it at Kohl's

Price: $44.99 | Materials: Cotton, Polyester, Lycra | Size Range: 2-16 | Fit: 6 | Exact Wash: Allison Wa | Colors: 5 | Inseam: 27-34 Inches

I've always admired the girly designs Lauren Conrad features in her Kohl's collection, so I figured her denim line would have baggy designs with more of a flattering, feminine aesthetic. And I was right.

When I stepped into this pair, I enjoyed the retro vibe of the oversized front pockets. The jeans were just wide enough that I felt like I was stepping outside of my comfort zone while also staying true to my personal sense of style.

2. Levi's Women's 318 Shaping High-Stretch Wide-Leg Jeans, $74.95

Courtesy Chrissy Callahan

Shop it at Levi's

Price: $74.95 | Materials: 80% Cotton, 19% Polyester, 1% Elastane | Size Range: 23-34 | Fit: 29 x 32 | Exact Wash: Clever Girl | Colors: 6 | Inseam: 32 Inches

I turned to Levi's, a tried and true staple in the denim industry, for the first pair of baggy jeans I tried on. I loved the dark wash and found the mid-rise fit to be quite flattering. I also enjoyed that the jeans were wider on the bottom rather than the top.

3. Steve Madden Women's Sydnee Straight-Fit Jeans, $97.30 (originally $139) at Macy's

Courtesy Chrissy Callahan

Shop it at Macy's

Price: $139 | Materials: 100% Cotton | Size Range: 24-31 | Fit: 28 | Exact Wash: Juliette | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 31-1/2 Inches

As a girly girl, I love pretty details, so I instantly gravitated towards these baggy jeans with white pearls at the bottom. The light wash felt perfect for the warmer months ahead, and I appreciated the way the jeans tapered nicely at the bottom. The jeans were baggy, yes, but didn't overwhelm my frame.

4. Steve Madden Chlo High Rise Peplum Wide Leg Jeans, $95.20 (originally $119) at Bloomingdale's

Courtesy Chrissy Callahan

Shop it at Bloomingdale's

Price: $119 | Materials: 100% Cotton | Size Range: 24-31 | Fit: 29 | Exact Wash: Sulphur Spring | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 32 Inches

Peplums and jeans don't usually go hand in hand, but when I saw this pair, I realized it's a genius combo with unrealized potential. I quickly fell for the slight peplum ruffle on the front and back. I also liked the dark line or seam that ran down the length of the front. Typically, I'd assume that wide-leg jeans and peplums would be a tad too baggy, but it somehow works.

Related: 9 Best Jeans for Short Women, According to a Celebrity Stylist

5. Lands' End High Rise Wide-Leg Denim Jeans, $59.97 (originally $99.95)

Courtesy Chrissy Callahan

Shop it at Lands' End

Price: $99.95 | Materials: 52% Cotton, 20% Recover Recycled Cotton Fiber, 27% Polyester, 1% Spandex | Size Range: 2-18 | Fit: 4 | Exact Wash: River Rinse | Colors: 6 | Inseam: 30-32 Inches

If you're hoping to wade into the world of baggy denim without fully committing, this pair of wide-leg jeans from Lands' End is a nice introduction to the trend. The jeans offer plenty of support and suck you right in, in the best possible way. They offer a subtle bagginess without making you feel sloppy.

6. H&M Baggy Wide Low Waist Jeans, $44.99

Courtesy Chrissy Callahan

Shop it at H&M

Price: $44.99 | Materials: 100% Cotton | Size Range: 0-20 | Fit: 6 | Exact Wash: Light Denim Blue | Colors: 2 | Inseam: 30.5 Inches

As I made my way through the mall, I got a bit more daring with my baggy denim selections. This pair from H&M was wider than the others I'd tried on, but I was somehow not intimidated by them. I liked the light wash, and they paired well with the brown booties I was wearing. One thing to note: The buttons were a little stiff and hard to secure.

7. Women's Sonoma Goods For Life High-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans, $29.74 (originally $39.99) at Kohl's

Courtesy Chrissy Callahan

Shop it at Kohl's

Price: $39.99 | Materials: Cotton, Polyester, Spandex | Size Range: 0-18 | Fit: 6 | Exact Wash: Vintage Wash | Colors: 3 | Inseam: 28 1/2-32 1/2 Inches

When I tried on these high-rise, wide-leg jeans, I liked the '70s energy they offered. They were baggier than I'd normally opt for in my everyday life, but not too baggy that I couldn't appreciate how they lent a carefree vibe to my look.

Related: What To Wear With Black Jeans—6 Best Outfit Ideas, According to a Celebrity Stylist

8. Madewell The Ultimate Wide-Leg Jean in Tile White, $148

Courtesy Chrissy Callahan

Shop it at Madewell

Price: $148 | Materials: 100% Cotton | Size Range: 23-33 | Fit: 29 | Exact Wash: Tile White | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 31 Inches

This pair of white wide-leg jeans felt more like a pair of linen pants for the summer instead of jeans. And I loved that. There's a zipper, button and tie, meaning they offer a pretty secure fit.

9. Primark Low-Rise Baggy Jeans, $28

Courtesy Chrissy Callahan

Price: $28 | Materials: 100% Cotton | Size Range: 2-14 | Fit: 4 | Exact Wash: Mid Blue | Colors: 1 | Inseam: N/A

When I tried these jeans on, I was surprised that they only had a button closure instead of a zipper and a button. Still, it didn't bother me, and I appreciated the subtle bagginess. Since these are from Primark, you can't buy them online, but you can check the availability at a store near you if you like them, too.

Related: 7 Best Jeans Styles for Women Over 50, According to Celebrity Stylists

3 Baggy Jeans You Can Skip

Naturally, I ran across a few pairs of jeans that didn't impress me very much. Below, I'm sharing the three that didn't work very well for my petite figure.

One note: Just because I wasn't fond of these jeans doesn't mean they won't flatter other figures.

1. H&M High-Waist Barrel-Leg Ankle Jeans, $47.99

Courtesy Chrissy Callahan

Price: $47.99 | Materials: 100% Cotton | Size Range: 0-18 | Fit: 6 | Exact Wash: Light Denim Blue | Colors: 2 | Inseam: 28.1 Inches

Barrel jeans aren't my friend, and my husband may have lovingly joked that the style was "frumpy." Enough said.

2. Madewell Pull-On Jeans in Cotton-Linen Denim, $158

Courtesy Chrissy Callahan

Price: $158 | Materials: 66% Cotton, 34% Linen | Size Range: XX-Small - XX-Large | Fit: S | Exact Wash: Irving Wash | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 30 1/2 inches

Since I'm so fond of leggings, I was excited to try this pull-on pair of jeans from Madewell. However, they looked more like sweatpants when I tried them on. I did like the tie waist, though.

3. Primark Ultimate Cotton Denim Barrel-Leg Jeans

Courtesy Chrissy Callahan

Price: $28 | Materials: 100% Cotton | Size Range: 2-16 | Fit: 6 | Exact Wash: Mid Blue | Colors: 3 | Inseam: N/A

These baggy jeans felt a bit sloppy. My mom described them as "Hammer pants," and I had to agree.

Up Next:

Related: Chocolate Brown Is a Trending Neutral for Spring—Here’s How I’ve Styled It 5 Different Ways

If your mind is already drifting toward the sun-drenched shores of the Aegean Sea, it’s time to lean completely into the daydream. While Mykonos is famous for its high-energy beach clubs and winding, whitewashed alleys, a stunning new cliffside haven is about to show travelers a much more serene side of the legendary Greek island.

The all-new Four Seasons Hotel Mykonos has officially opened its books and is now accepting reservations for its highly anticipated debut season starting June 26, 2026.

Cascading down a dramatic rocky cliffside along Kalo Livadi Bay, the property unfolds across 15 acres like a private, modern Cycladic village. Designed by acclaimed Greek architect Nicos Valsamakis, the resort features 94 ultra-chic accommodations connected by shaded stone walkways, lush courtyards and flowering gardens. The best part? Because of the clever tiered layout, every single room boasts panoramic water views and private terraces—with many featuring infinity-edge plunge pools that look like they spill right into the sea.

Related: The Best Way to See Crete: JW Marriott's Coastal Reopening

Four Seasons Hotel Mykonos

"Four Seasons Hotel Mykonos is set to elevate the traditional Greek island vacation to an entirely new level of serene luxury, thoughtful details and personalized service," said Adrian Messerli, President, Hotel Operations, Europe, Middle East and Africa, in a press statement. "Our goal is to create a deeper experience for our guests as they venture beyond the nightlife and beaches, connecting to Greek culture in more meaningful ways."

"Our local experts can create personalized experiences based on each guest's own interests," said General Manager Ryan Grande. "Whether it's recommending off-the-well-beaten-path restaurants, matching families with a knowledgeable guide, packing a delicious picnic to go, or simply helping you make sense of Chora's maze of streets and squares, our team will create your perfect Greek Island holiday."

For those who want to experience the island’s famous energy but retreat to total tranquility, the resort sits on a secluded private cove with its own exclusive beach and a private jetty (perfect for slipping away on a yacht excursion to the nearby ancient ruins of Delos).

Even if you’re just armchair-traveling for now, the resort's culinary lineup—designed by New York City’s famed Rockwell Group—is enough to make your mouth water:

• Álef: A moody Mediterranean grill where the scent of wood fires sets the tone for open-air dining.
• Kafeneo: A modern take on the traditional Greek coffee house, perfect for a morning frappe or a sunset glass of ouzo.
• Corbu: A postcard-perfect spot serving coastal Italian cuisine with a heavy dose of la dolce vita.

Related: The Greek Islands, Hotels and 'Secret' Beaches Chef Suzy Karadsheh Is Loving Right Now

Four Seasons Hotel Mykonos

When you aren't lounging by one of the two infinity pools, the property offers a massive wellness spa, a yoga pavilion and an on-site chapel for anyone dreaming of a quintessential destination wedding.

Whether you’re ready to pack your favorite carry-on or simply want to manifest a future luxury getaway, this new Greek oasis proves that the ultimate summer aesthetic is all about slowing down, soaking in the view, and letting the Four Seasons team handle the rest.

Related: We’re Living Vicariously Through These First Photos of Royal Caribbean's Stunning New Beach Club in Greece

Laurie Gilmore’s newest romance novel, The Daisy Chain Flower Shop, has earned a major spot on the latest USA TODAY best-selling books list, ranking No. 5 among the top-selling books in the United States this week. 

The novel continues the strong momentum of Gilmore’s popular Dream Harbor series, which has become a favorite among romance readers online and in bookstores.

According to USA TODAY, the weekly ranking combines print and electronic book sales from bookstore chains, independent bookstores, mass retailers and online sellers. 

The Daisy Chain Flower Shop joined the list shortly after its May 2026 release and marked another milestone for Gilmore, whose cozy romance stories continue to grow in popularity.

The book follows Daisy, a flower shop owner in the small town of Dream Harbor, who believes she may be unlucky in love after several weddings tied to her flower arrangements end in divorce. Her shop’s reputation gets even worse after Mayor Kelly claims the store is cursed. 

Things begin to change when Elliot, a newcomer to town recovering from his own failed relationship, walks into the flower shop and becomes part of Daisy’s life.

The story includes popular romance tropes such as fake dating, found family and friends-to-lovers themes.

The Daisy Chain Flower Shop is the sixth book in the Dream Harbor series. Previous titles include The Pumpkin Spice Café, The Cinnamon Bun Book Store, The Christmas Tree Farm, The Strawberry Patch Pancake House, and The Gingerbread Bakery.

Gilmore’s books have become especially popular on TikTok and among readers looking for cozy small-town romance stories. Videos about the Dream Harbor series have reportedly gained more than 26 million views on TikTok, helping the books appear on multiple bestseller lists over the past few years.

@violet.hollow

Dream harbour has grown! 🌼 @HarperCollinsUK #romancebooks #spicybooks #dreamharborseries #hea #newbooks

♬ original sound - Violet.Hollow

The first novel in the series, The Pumpkin Spice Café, won TikTok Shop Book of the Year at the 2024 TikTok Book Awards. Later titles also saw strong sales in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Goodreads readers have also responded positively to The Daisy Chain Flower Shop. The novel currently holds a 4.01 rating from more than 8,000 readers on the platform.

In a recent interview with CBS News’ Club Calvi podcast, Gilmore spoke about the unexpected mix of sweet covers and spicy romance scenes in the series.

“Yes, that does catch people off guard,” Gilmore said. “Those covers are real sweet, real cute. You can read them on public transportation and nobody knows what's inside. And that's a good feature.”

She also explained that her editor encouraged her to increase the romance elements while writing earlier books in the series.

“My editor was like, you can up it. People like that. Then we added spice. People are surprised, but I think they like it.”

During the same interview, Gilmore described Daisy as a character struggling after heartbreak and returning home to rebuild her life.

“We find poor, sweet Daisy in a low moment,” Gilmore explains. “She has had some breakups. She's come out of some serious relationships. She's back in Dream Harbor after having been gone for a little while.”

Entertainment outlet Cosmopolitan described the story as “a fake relationship twist that will absolutely make you feel real feelings about what is going down.”

Gilmore, whose real name is Melissa McTernan, lives in Upstate New York with her husband and children. Before becoming a full-time writer, she was a stay-at-home mother. Along with the Dream Harbor books, she also writes fantasy romance novels under her real name.

With The Daisy Chain Flower Shop now ranking among the country’s top-selling books, the Dream Harbor series continues to show strong demand from romance readers looking for cozy settings and fan-favorite tropes.

Related: Best-Selling Author’s Hit Book Ranked Among ‘Most Streamed Audiobooks’ of All Time

Nearly 50 years after its release, Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” is still setting the standard for rock guitar greatness.

Music producer and session musician Rick Beato ranked the song’s iconic David Gilmour solo No. 1 on his list of the greatest rock guitar solos of all time, placing it ahead of legendary performances like Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne” and Journey’s “Stone in Love.”

Related: 1981 Timeless Classic, Inspired by Real-Life Heartbreak, Became a Soft Rock Anthem

Coming in at the top of Beato’s countdown, “Comfortably Numb” stood above every other solo on the list thanks to its emotional intensity, melodic phrasing and unmistakable tone.

“This guitarist is also one of my favorites of all time,” Beato said while introducing the track.

Related: 1965 No. 1, Ranked Among Greatest Rock Songs Ever, Came to Guitarist in a Dream

Released on Pink Floyd’s landmark 1979 album The Wall, “Comfortably Numb” has become one of the band’s most enduring songs despite never becoming a traditional chart hit in the United States. Over time, however, its reputation has only grown, particularly because of Gilmour’s soaring guitar work during the song’s two celebrated solos.

The track emerged during a creatively tense period for Pink Floyd. Roger Waters wrote the lyrics based partly on his experience being injected with tranquilizers before a 1977 concert, while Gilmour composed much of the music. The two famously clashed over the song’s arrangement during recording sessions, with Waters favoring orchestral elements and Gilmour pushing for a more stripped-down sound.

Related: Legendary Rock Band Adds 40 More Dates to Massive Farewell Tour

Eventually, the band blended both approaches, leading to a compromise that helped produce one of rock’s most emotionally powerful recordings.

Part of what makes the solo so legendary is how carefully Gilmour constructed it in the studio. Rather than recording a single perfect take, he assembled the final version by combining sections from multiple solos.

Related: 1972 Soft Rock Classic, a Hit Before It Was Even Released, Became a No. 1 Smash

“From there I just followed my usual procedure,” Gilmour explained in a past interview with Guitar World. “I create one great composite solo by whipping one fader up, then another fader, jumping from phrase to phrase until everything flows together.”

Producer Bob Ezrin later summed up Gilmour’s talent bluntly: “You can give him a ukulele and he’ll make it sound like a Stradivarius.”

The song’s reputation among fans remains enormous today. Earlier this year, Parade readers voted “Comfortably Numb” the greatest Pink Floyd guitar solo of the 1970s by a wide margin, beating classics like “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” “Time,” “Money” and “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2.”

Critics and musicians have also continued praising the song for decades. In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked “Comfortably Numb” among its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” while Planet Rock listeners voted Gilmour’s performance the greatest guitar solo ever recorded.

Even after all these years, the song still carries an almost mythic status among rock fans, especially during the extended final solo, which many guitar players consider one of the most expressive performances ever captured on record.

For Beato, it was the clear choice for No. 1. And judging by the song’s lasting reputation, plenty of listeners still agree.

Related: 1982 No. 1 Hit Ranked Among Billboard's Greatest Songs Ever Became Both Artists’ Biggest Hit 44 Years Ago Today

In the summer of 1978, “King Tut” was all the rage. The song, recorded by Steve Martin and the Toot Uncommons, was a satire of the traveling U.S. museum tour of King Tutankhamun's treasures that was in progress at the time. 

Released as a single, “King Tut” hit No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Aug 12, 1978, and became the hottest novelty song of the year. A second version of the tune later appeared on Martin’s album A Wild and Crazy Guy, which won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 1979.

The song had an interesting start. “King Tut” made its debut on Saturday Night Live on April 22, 1978, months before it was released as a single. The accompanying sketch, featuring frequent SNL guest Martin and his backup band dancing while dressed in Egyptian garb, included Blues Brothers saxophone legend Lou Marini delivering the song’s musical solo.  At the time, “King Tut” was the most expensive segment the NBC late-night show had ever produced, according to Rhino Records.

Steve Martin wrote ‘King Tut’ in the car

The Treasures of Tutankhamun museum exhibit famously toured seven cities between 1976 and 1979. Martin’s homage to the event took a lot less time.

In a 2004 op-ed for The New York Times, Martin revealed that he wrote "King Tut" in minutes. “I know that the song ‘King Tut’ has become a standard and that many people believe it has been around for three-quarters of a century and was probably written by Cole Porter or Irving Berlin,” Martin joked. “But no, I wrote it in my car while driving—and you probably won’t believe this—I wrote it in less than 15 minutes.”

RELATED:1978’s Biggest No. 1 Hit Song Was Written in Ten Minutes

In his essay, Martin added that the song broke musical ground in that “if you look at  the sheet music, there are asterisks where the notes should be because the song has no tune.” He admitted that fact annoyed "so-called legitimate" songwriters.

According to the book Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live, after writing the song, Martin approached Saturday Night Live producers with his future hit, but never expected his performance to become a big production. Showrunner Lorne Michaels went all in to help create the elaborate TV moment, and the rest is history.

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A short documentary film that was once labeled “foreign political propaganda” in the United States is now being remembered as one of the most controversial and influential films of the Cold War era.

Far Out Magazine included If You Love This Planet among its list of controversial movies that were banned in America. The 1982 Canadian documentary short, directed by Terre Nash, focused on the dangers of nuclear war during a tense period between the United States and the Soviet Union.

The 26-minute film featured a lecture by anti-nuclear activist and physician Helen Caldicott at SUNY Plattsburgh. Throughout the documentary, Nash combined Caldicott’s warnings about nuclear weapons with disturbing black-and-white footage from Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the atomic bombings.

The film was released during the administration of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan at the height of the Cold War. Because of its anti-nuclear message, the U.S. Department of Justice ordered American distributors to register the documentary as “foreign political propaganda” under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Despite the controversy, If You Love This Planet won the 1983 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject. 

The documentary was produced by Studio D, the women’s unit of the National Film Board of Canada. According to production records, the film was made with a budget of $70,117.

Nash first became interested in the subject after hearing one of Caldicott’s lectures while studying at McGill University. She later turned the speech into her directorial debut.

The documentary was originally planned to screen at the United Nations Conference on Disarmament. It first debuted in the United Kingdom through the London Socialist Film Co-op. It also included archive footage from American military propaganda films from the 1940s and 1950s. 

One section used footage from Recognition of the Japanese Zero Fighter, a 1943 U.S. Department of War film featuring Reagan before he entered politics.

According to reports, officials within the National Film Board debated for six months about whether the Reagan footage should remain in the documentary before allowing it to stay.

The controversy expanded further when the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation initially refused to air the film. The network argued that the documentary did not provide a “balanced and objective view” about nuclear weapons. After the movie won the Oscar, CBC later aired it on its news program The Journal.

The legal fight over the film continued in the United States for years.

On Jan. 13, 1983, the U.S. Department of Justice ordered American distributors of If You Love This Planet and other environmental documentaries to register as foreign agents. California State Senator Barry Keene later challenged the order in court.

In 1983, U.S. District Judge Raul Anthony Ramirez issued an injunction against the Justice Department’s ruling. The legal dispute eventually reached the Supreme Court of the United States.

In the 1987 case Meese v. Keene, the Supreme Court ruled 5-3 in favor of the Department of Justice, allowing the political propaganda label to remain.

Over the years, the documentary gained recognition as a major film of the international peace movement. It won a special prize from the World Peace Council at the Leipziger Documentary and Short Film Festival and also received recognition at the Yorkton Short Film Festival.

Today, more than four decades after its release, If You Love This Planet remains an important reminder of Cold War fears and debates surrounding nuclear weapons. What was once suppressed in the United States has become a lasting part of documentary film history.

Related: 1993 Box Office Flop, Rewritten for Iconic Actor, Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts 33 Years Later

John Denver was never the coolest guy in the room. He was something better—the one who reminded us all what hope sounded like.

Born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. on New Year's Eve 1943 in Roswell, New Mexico, he grew up as the son of a U.S. Air Force pilot—which meant constantly being uprooted from one city to the next. John was the perpetual new kid, never quite staying around long enough to figure out where he fit in.

The truth is, John's childhood was far from the wholesome picture his future music would paint. In his 1994 autobiography Take Me Home, Denver described his father as a cold, stern man unable to show love to his children. The kindest compliment he got was when his dad told him: "You know, you've got talent. You can play guitar and you can sing. Not everyone can do that, but that doesn't make you any better than anybody else. Just remember that."

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But there was one bright spot in his childhood that changed the entire course of John's life. When he was just 11, his grandmother gave him her 1910 Gibson acoustic guitar. It became his lifeline—an icebreaker at every new school, a refuge from a father who couldn't say "I'm proud of you" and eventually, his legendary career. After dropping out of Texas Tech to chase his musical dreams, he renamed himself after his favorite state's capital city.

What followed was nothing short of extraordinary. He wrote "Leaving on a Jet Plane" for Peter, Paul and Mary, became the top-selling recording artist in America from 1969 through 1975, and released some of the most iconic music of the decade. Classic John Denver songs—including "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Annie's Song," "Sunshine on My Shoulders" and "Rocky Mountain High"—became the soundtrack of a generation.

But behind his sweet smile and wire-rimmed-glasses was a man who battled depression, divorce and a very public career decline. Through it all, he never stopped believing the light would return—and that's why John Denver is today's quote of the day; a ray of sunshine for anyone who feels stuck in the dark.

Quote of the Day by John Denver

Parade/CanvaPro

"Things go up and down. If you can survive the down, it will come back."

In just 15 words, Denver delivers one of the most reassuring promises ever spoken. He doesn't tell you things are always going to be perfect. He doesn't tell you how to fix it, fight it, or find the silver lining. Instead, he tells you to simply find the strength to survive it—because one day, the storm will end, a rainbow will come and things will be so much better. The sunshine will always find its way back into your life.

Related: Quote of the Day: At 93, Willie Nelson Proves Blessings Add Up

Deeper Meaning of John Denver's Quote—You're Stronger Than the Storm

Denver knew the down better than most. By the early 1980s, musical trends had shifted toward arena rock and new wave—think Journey, The Police and Van Halen. Suddenly, Denver's sentimental sound was considered passé. Then, his marriage to Annie Martell—the inspiration behind "Annie's Song," which he famously wrote in just 10 minutes on a Colorado ski lift—ended in 1982. After his divorce, he struggled publicly with alcohol. And in 1985, came perhaps the most devastating career moment of them all: He was rejected from "We Are the World" because some industry insiders felt his image would hurt the song's credibility as a pop-rock anthem. "It broke my heart not to be included," he wrote in Take Me Home.

But he always stayed positive. In one 1977 interview, he said: "I love life! I love everything about it. And there comes a point, when I'm incredibly angry or sad, that I experience that emotion so strongly it gets to be a celebration. It's life, you see? I get to a certain low point and what I really experience is, 'God, I'm alive!'" The down wasn't something to fear—it was something to survive.

And Denver lived his words—he didn't disappear. Instead, he poured himself into environmental activism, founding the Windstar Foundation to promote sustainable living long before it was popular. Rather than simply being one artist on a song, he co-founded The Hunger Project to combat global hunger and it still exists today, long after his death. He also took the stage as one of the original performers at the inaugural Farm Aid in 1985—helping acts like Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan raise over $9 million for America's family farmers.

Related: Willie Nelson Celebrates Special 40-Year Anniversary: ‘We’ll See You Soon’

He even testified before Congress alongside Frank Zappa and Dee Snider to speak out against music censorship. He continued to write, record and tour internationally—even when his American audience had moved on.

But the sunshine returned in 1995, when his Wildlife Concert—a stripped-down, mature performance—reminded the world exactly why they had fallen in love with him in the first place.

In 1996, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. One year later, he released The Best of John Denver, signaling his American comeback was officially underway. But tragically, that comeback would be cut short on October 12, 1997, when he died in a plane crash in Monterey Bay, California, at just 53 years old.

Throughout his entire life—from his first time strumming the guitar as a young boy to co-founding The Hunger Project—John Denver always lived with positivity and purpose. "Faith is a kind of knowing; it is different from hope," he wrote in his memoir. "My faith is that life is purposeful; of that I'm sure. There is a God, there is intelligence, there is consciousness. And behind all of this, there is incredible compassion."

The storm was real. But so was the sunshine. And Denver's life is the proof that if you can just hold on and live with purpose, the light will always find its way back.

Related: John Denver Called This 1975 Classic ‘One of the Best Songs’ He Ever Wrote

More Quotes by John Denver

• "I'm aware that I have this underlying purpose of wanting people to know, in the midst of this incredibly insane world, with all of the terrors and problems, that life is worth living."
• "I've always liked to think that we put ourselves in the circumstances in life that will support us moving through to wherever it is our spirit is going."
• "At times I've got a really big ego. But I'll tell you the best thing about me. I'm some guy's dad; I'm some little gal's dad."
• "Music does bring people together. It allows us to experience the same emotions. People everywhere are the same in heart and spirit."
• "My faith will proclaim it is so—we are never alone."
• "Perhaps love is like a resting place, a shelter from the storm. It exists to give you comfort, it is there to keep you warm, and in those times of trouble when you are most alone, the memory of love will bring you home."

Related: Next Up:

The 1978 Jamaican film Rockers was ranked its soundtrack No. 52 on “101 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time” list. The ranking placed the reggae-heavy collection alongside some of the most celebrated movie soundtracks in film history.

Rolling Stone praised the soundtrack for capturing the rise of roots reggae during the late 1970s. The magazine described the music as “a darker, moodier collection” that reflected the political and cultural changes happening in Jamaica after reggae first reached global audiences through earlier films like The Harder They Come.

The soundtrack features major reggae artists including Burning Spear, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Jacob Miller and Junior Murvin. 

Songs such as “Police and Thieves,” “Stepping Razor” and “Tenement Yard” helped define the soundtrack’s powerful tone.

Released in 1979 by Mango Records, the soundtrack became known as one of reggae’s strongest compilation albums. Critics over the years praised the album for combining roots reggae classics with deeper cuts from the era’s biggest artists.

Directed by Theodoros Bafaloukos, Rockers was first planned as a documentary before turning into a full-length comedy-drama centered on Jamaican reggae culture. The movie stars real-life drummer Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace as a Kingston musician trying to earn money by selling reggae records across Jamaica.

The story follows Horsemouth after thieves steal his motorcycle, leading him and his friends into a Robin Hood-style mission to recover stolen goods. Critics often compared the movie’s story to the 1948 Italian classic Bicycle Thieves.

Jutarnja doza sedme umetnosti : Rockers Jamaica 1978.
Rasta takeover scene. pic.twitter.com/8EdIpYYXok

— Џyлc (@doprinositelj) August 28, 2025

Unlike many music films from the time, Rockers used real reggae artists instead of trained actors. Musicians including Gregory Isaacs, Big Youth, Dillinger and Robbie Shakespeare appeared as themselves.

The movie also showcased famous Jamaican recording locations like Harry J Studios and Channel One Studios, where many reggae legends recorded during the 1970s, including Bob Marley.

Produced on a budget of about $40,000, the film was completed in just two months. It premiered at the 1978 San Francisco Film Festival before receiving a U.S. theatrical release in 1980.

Rolling Stone noted that Rockers captured the height of roots reggae as Jamaican artists were beginning to influence punk music scenes in the United Kingdom. The publication highlighted the soundtrack’s political themes and dub influences, which separated it from earlier reggae soundtracks.

The album includes tracks such as “We ‘A’ Rockers” by Inner Circle, “Fade Away” by Junior Byles and “Jah No Dead” by Burning Spear.

The film itself also maintained strong reviews over the years. OnRotten Tomatoes, Rockers holds a 100% critics’ score and a 94% audience score.

Reviewers praised both the soundtrack and the film’s authentic look at Jamaican life. Janet Maslin of The New York Times highlighted the movie’s “funny, offbeat players and sinuous reggae score.”

Meanwhile, The Guardian described the movie as “a reggae classic.”

Today, Rockers remains one of the clearest snapshots of reggae culture during one of the genre’s most important eras and Rolling Stone’s ranking has introduced the soundtrack to a new generation of listeners.

Related: 1996 Hit Romance Film, Which Saw a ’70s Legend Fired, Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts 30 Years Later

More than 50 years after its release, “I Saw the Light” by Todd Rundgren remains one of the defining soft rock songs of the 1970s. 

The upbeat track, released in 1972 as the opening song on Rundgren’s album Something/Anything?, continues to earn praise for its catchy melody, heartfelt lyrics and polished production.

What makes the song’s success even more surprising is how quickly it came together. Rundgren said he wrote “I Saw the Light” in about 20 minutes while working at an intense pace during the album's creation. Despite the fast writing process, the single became one of the biggest songs of his career and is still widely played on classic rock radio today.

Todd RUNDGREN performs on stage.

Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns

The song reached No. 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 and also charted in countries including Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Over the decades, it has been covered by several artists, including Terry Hall, Yo La Tengo and Bill Murray during the holiday special A Very Murray Christmas.

Rundgren later admitted that he had mixed feelings about the song’s simplicity. In interviews and liner notes, he explained that he wrote the track quickly while relying on stimulants to keep up with his demanding recording schedule. He once described the lyrics as “moon/June/spoon kind of stuff,” suggesting that the rhymes were straightforward and easy.

At just 23 years old, Rundgren handled nearly every part of Something/Anything? on his own. He played the instruments, sang the vocals and managed much of the production work himself. “I Saw the Light” showcased his growing reputation as a one-man musical force during the early 1970s.

According to album notes and later interviews, Rundgren intentionally placed “I Saw the Light” at the beginning of the record because he believed it had hit potential. He followed the Motown tradition of opening albums with strong singles that could immediately capture listeners.

The strategy worked.

The album became one of the most important releases of Rundgren’s career and helped establish him as both a solo artist and producer. Beyond “I Saw the Light,” the record also included songs like “Hello It’s Me,” another enduring hit that later climbed into the Top 10.

Lyrics such as “And I ran out before / But I won’t do it anymore” helped give the track emotional depth despite Rundgren’s own criticism of its simplicity.

Outside his solo work, Rundgren built a long and influential career as a producer and innovator. He worked on albums by acts including Meat Loaf, Grand Funk Railroad, XTC and Badfinger. He was also known for experimenting with music technology and interactive media long before many artists embraced digital tools.

In 2021, Rundgren was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, further cementing his place in music history.

Even after five decades, “I Saw the Light” continues to find new audiences through television, streaming services, cover versions, and classic rock playlists. For a song reportedly written in only 20 minutes, its staying power has proven remarkable.

Related: 1970 Pop Rock Classic, Named No. 1 Hit Song for Five Weeks, Became an International Anthem

Singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, 24, admits it can be "frustrating" when people don't understand Tourette Syndrome and the range of involuntary physical and vocal tics that often come along with the neurological condition. In a recent interview, she opens up very authentically about her personal experience with Tourette Syndrome and details what it's like living with it and suppressing tics.

During the May 5 episode of the podcast Good Hang With Amy Poehler, Eilish explained that she does experience vocal tics, which she describes as "mostly just noises and I can keep them pretty quiet." She also says she goes through "phases of words becoming tics."

Also, in her case, Eilish says she does have the ability to hold back her Tourette’s tics, at least temporarily. "There's a thing called suppressing," she explains. "When I'm in an interview, I'm doing everything in my power to suppress all of my tics, constantly. And as soon as I leave the room, I have to let them all out."

Poehler and Eilish talk how about learning to cope with everyday intrusive thoughts is a very normal human problem, but Eilish adds, "Now imagine those intrusive thoughts, but your mouth has to say them out loud. And that is Tourette Syndrome."

Related: Billie Eilish Exploring Acting Debut in Film Adaptation of Iconic 1963 Novel About Mental Health

The Hit Me Hard and Soft musician does detail some of the misconceptions she encounters around Tourette's, including people who want console or dote on her after a very typical tic attack. On the flip side, others claim not to see her tics at all. She explains this may be because her tics can be in her knees, elbows, and hands, which are not the most common types of tics people recognize.

She explains, "I'm doing everything I can to suppress every single tic that's visible, from the top of my head to about right here," she said, referencing the bottom of her rib cage. "And that's how we as people with Tourette's pretty much spend our days—and some people don't even have the privilege of getting to suppress them at all in any way."

"The not understanding of that," Eilish adds, "is really frustrating as a person with Tourette's."

Eilish's new concert film, Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), is playing in theaters now.

Watch the clip where Billie Eilish discusses her experience with Tourette Syndrome:

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Watch the entire interview with Billie Eilish on Good Hang With Amy Poehler:

Watch the official trailer for Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D):

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It's been nearly 20 years since Flight of the Conchords premiered on HBO.

The American comedy series certainly struck a "chord" with fans at the time, given it was soon renewed for a second season. But that was all, at least in terms of the musical duo's small-screen time together.

Award-winning New Zealand musicians Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement make up Flight of the Conchords and play fictionalized versions of themselves on the cult-classic HBO sitcom, as fans are well aware.

It's that loyal fanbase that has certainly motivated the pair to continue performing together under the iconic band name in the years since the show's 2009 cancellation, including at this year's Netflix Is a Joke Fest on May 10.

“We’ve noticed the less we say about the future of the show, the more people want to talk about it, so in an effort to reverse this trend we are today announcing that we won’t be returning for a third season,” McKenzie, 49, Clement, 52, and co-creator James Bobin had written on their website to reveal the show's conclusion, per Billboard. “We’re very proud of the two seasons we made, and we like the way the show ended.”

Billboard also noted that the show's unique combination of storyline and original songs, plus the fact that the three co-creators had continued to live in their native New Zealand, were factors that had made it difficult to produce.

The series received 10 Emmy nominations over the course of its two seasons, with the second earning a best comedy series Emmy nod. Here's the official synopsis offered by Rotten Tomatoes, where Flight of the Conchords holds an impressive 94% average critics rating:

"Cutting edge musical comics Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement travel from their native New Zealand to New York in search of love and professional success, both of which prove elusive, in this semi-improvised comedy series."

You might find today's NYT Connections Sports puzzle is easy if you know someone named Jay. Get excited—there's another New York Times game to add to your daily routine! Those of us word game addicts who already play Wordle, Connections, Strands and the Mini Crossword now have Connections Sports Edition to add to the mix.

So, if you're looking for some hints and answers for today's Connections Sports Edition on Sunday, May 17, 2026, you've come to the right place.

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Today's NYT Connections Sports Puzzle for Sunday, May 17, 2026 / New York Times

The New York Times

What Is Connections Sports Edition?

Connections Sports Edition is just like the regular Connections word puzzle, in that it's a game that resets at 12 a.m. EST each day and has 16 different words listed. It's up to you to figure out each group of four words that belong to a certain category, with four categories in total.

This new version is sports-specific, however, as a partnership between The New York Times and The Athletic.

As the NYT site instructs, for Connections Sports Edition, you "group sports terms that share a common thread."

Related: The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You'll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle

Hints for Today's Connections Sports Edition Categories on May 17, 2026

Here are some hints about the four categories to help you figure out the word groupings.

• Yellow: Skol!
• Green: College division.
• Blue: Same first name.
• Purple: Think hat.

Here Are Today's Connections Sports Edition Categories

OK, time for a second hint…we'll give you the actual categories now. Spoilers below!

• Yellow: AN NFC NORTH ATHLETE
• Green: AN ACC ATHLETE
• Blue: JA(Y)LENS IN THE NBA
• Purple: ____ CAP

If you're looking for the answers, no worries—we've got them below. So, don't scroll any further if you don't want to see the solutions!

The answers to today's Connections Sports Edition #601 are coming up next.

Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day

What Are the Answers to Connections Sports Edition Today?

• AN NFC NORTH ATHLETE: BEAR, LION, PACKER, VIKING
• AN ACC ATHLETE: CAVALIER, EAGLE, HOKIE, MUSTANG
• JA(Y)LENS IN THE NBA: BROWN, BRUNSON, DUREN, GREEN
• ____ CAP: BASEBALL, GUARDIAN, RALLY, SALARY

Don't worry if you didn't get them this time—we've all been there.

Up next, catch up on the answers to recent Wordle puzzles.

Related: We Asked 4 Chefs What They Never Leave Aldi Without—and We're Taking Notes

The Dude would ace today's NYT Strands puzzle. Move over, Wordle, Connections, Connections Sports Edition, and Mini Crossword—there’s a new NYT word game in town! The New York Times' recent game, "Strands," is becoming increasingly popular as another daily activity fans can find on the NYT website and app.

With daily themes and "spangrams" to discover, this is the latest addictive game to cross off your to-do list before a new one pops up 24 hours later.

We'll cover exactly how to play Strands, hints for today's Spangram, and all of the answers for Strands #805 on Sunday, May 17.

How to Play Strands

The New York Times

According to the New York Times, here's exactly how to play Strands:

Find theme words to fill the board.

• Theme words stay highlighted in blue when found.
• Drag or tap letters to create words. If tapping, double-tap the last letter to submit.
• Theme words fill the board entirely. No theme words overlap.

Find the “spangram.”

• The spangram describes the puzzle's theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. It may be two words.
• The spangram highlights in yellow when found.
• An example spangram with corresponding theme words: PEAR, FRUIT, BANANA, APPLE, etc.

Need a hint?

• Find non-theme words to get hints.
• For every three non-theme words you find, you earn a hint.
• Hints show the letters of a theme word. If there is already an active hint on the board, a hint will show that word's letter order.

What Is Today's Strands Hint for the Theme: "Strike one!"

A hint for today's Strands game: don't cross the line.

What Are Today's NYT Strands Hints?

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

In today's puzzle, there are seven theme words to find (including the spangram). Here are the first two letters for each word:

• SC
• PI
• LA
• BA
• LO
• AR
• BO (SPANGRAM)

NYT Strands Spangram Hint: Is It Vertical or Horizontal?

Today's Spangram is mostly vertical.

NYT Strands Spangram Answer for May 17

Today's Spangram answer on Today's NYT 'Strands' Hints, Spangram and Answers for Sunday, May 17, 2026, isBOWLINGALLEY.

What Are Today's NYT Strands Answers, Word List for Sunday, May 17?

• SCOREBAORD
• PINS
• LANES
• BALLS
• LOUNGE
• ARCADE
• SPANGRAM: BOWLINGALLEY

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