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Burger King has been doing big things lately, from collaborating with Disney on its limited-time Star Wars menu for the premiere of The Mandalorian and Grogu to debuting Whoppers inspired by fans’ wildest dreams as part of the Million Dollar Whopper contest. 

Related: Panera Brings Back Two Fan-Favorite Menu Items Just in Time for Summer

Now, it’s taking on a beloved menu item: its iconic chicken sandwich. The elongated white meat chicken patty on a sesame seed bun typically comes with shredded lettuce and creamy mayonnaise, but the fast food giant is elevating the sandwich in two major ways.

First up there’s the loaded jalapeño original chicken sandwich, which adds a spicy twist to the menu item with creamy jalapeño sauce, crispy and pickled jalapeños, crispy onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and American cheese. If you’re not a fan of spicy food, but want an elevated take on the chicken sandwich, there’s also the new club chicken version, which comes with crispy bacon, melted Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and creamy mayonnaise. Both will be available for a limited time at participating Burger King restaurants starting on July 7.

Related: Chick-fil-A Rival’s First-of-Its-Kind New Offering Is Perfect for Parties

The limited-time Original Chicken Sandwich lineup at Burger King.

Burger King

“The Original Chicken Sandwich is a true Burger King icon that’s been loved for its signature seasoning, taste, and unmistakable shape since 1979,” said Joel Yashinsky, Chief Marketing Officer, Burger King US&C, in a statement shared with Parade. “Through our ongoing Guest listening initiative, we heard just how passionate fans are about this sandwich, and how excited they are for new twists on it. The Loaded Jalapeño and Club flavors are our way of celebrating that love while adding something new to the lineup.”

Popular food blogger Markie Devo shared the news on Facebook, prompting commenters to proclaim that it’s “About time they made more!” Several also noted that they were most excited for the club version, though over on Instagram, the influencer’s commenters said, “anything jalapeño is my fave.”

Next: McDonald’s ‘Wild’ Breakfast Item Needs to Come to the U.S.

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Summer is filled with weekend trips, long walks through the neighborhood, afternoons spent shopping, and full days on your feet soaking it all in. It’s the season of getting and staying out more and saying yes to plans that keep you moving from noon to night. But anyone who’s dealt with aching arches or tender heels knows not all sandals are built for that kind of mileage. Style is easy to find, but lasting comfort is a whole different story — and finding a pair that delivers both is key.

If you’re ready to step into something smarter, Dr. Scholl’s All The Time Slide Sandals are as low as $30 at Amazon right now, marked down 67% from their original $90 price tag. Discounts vary slightly by size and color, but many pairs are on sale for under $50 right now. Known for blending comfort with everyday style, the brand delivers again with this easy slip-on pair that supports your feet while looking chic. 

Dr. Scholl’s All The Time Slide Sandals, From $30 (was $90) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

Thoughtfully designed for both comfort and everyday wear, these Dr. Scholl’s slides check all the boxes. They feature a low-chemical faux leather upper and lining, offering a more mindful approach to materials. The slip-on design is paired with an adjustable buckle on the instep strap, giving you a more customized fit. Underfoot, the brand’s insole technology delivers anatomically ergonomic cushioning and support, creating a padded, comfortable base that helps keep you going throughout the day. 

The high-traction rubber outsole provides stability, and its ultra-flexible, lightweight construction moves naturally with your stride for that easy, broken-in feel from the start. Even better, the sandals are pre-treated with an easy clean repellant to help keep the sidewalls looking fresh longer — just a quick wipe with water is all it takes. Finished with a small 1.25-inch platform, this pair blends function, flexibility, and style into one reliable go-to. As a bonus, shoppers said they're "wide feet-friendly."

Finding your size is pretty easy with these, since they come in half sizes from 6 through 11. That means you’re not stuck choosing between too tight or slightly too loose. They’re available in seven different colors, giving you plenty of options to match your style. Choose from honey brown, black, gold, white, off white, pink, and pink jelly.

Shoppers shared their thoughts on this “super comfy” and “cute” pair with “great cushioning” in the reviews section, saying that they’re a “nice addition to summer wardrobes.” One shopper shared, “I normally struggle with slide-ons, but these keep my foot in place and have great support.”

Related: Amazon's 'Flowy' $20 Cotton-Linen Pants Are 'Summer Perfection,' and They Come in 7 Colors

Don’t let uncomfortable sandals slow you down. Grab Dr. Scholl’s All The Time Slide Sandals for as low as $30 while the 67% off deal at Amazon lasts, and keep your spring plans moving in comfort and style. 

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.

Kate Middleton's brother James Middleton shared a heartfelt tribute to his sister on Sunday after the two completed the Three Peaks Challenge following the future queen's cancer journey.

"I’m so incredibly proud of my darling sister," he began his lengthy caption below the photo of the two hugging. "Two years ago, I told you we’d climb this mountain together. We talked about climbing mountains while you were in hospital, and about the incredible healing power that nature can have for both the body and the mind. So it was such an honor to join you for your Three Peaks Challenge for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity."

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Kate, who completed the challenge in June also shared family photos upon completing the trek, where hikers climb the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales, as well.

"Seeing how far you’ve come is nothing short of inspiring. Your strength, resilience, and determination, all while being the most amazing mother, wife, daughter, and sister, inspire me and so many others every single day," he added. "Keep being exactly who you are."

While James has managed to stay out of the royal spotlight for the most part, he and his wife Alizee Thevenet regularly attend red carpet events together. He is the founder of a dog food company, author, and advocate for mental health. Sharing photos with Kate is rare for James, however he has continued to show his support for his older sister throughout her cancer journey.

Upon news of her diagnosis in March 2024, he shared a sweet photo of the two as kids, with the caption, "Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too."

Related: Kate Middleton Completes a Major Accomplishment as She Discusses How Cancer Changed Her

The princess stepped away from royal duties for months as she underwent chemotherapy treatments. The mom-of-three, now in remission, took on the Three Peaks Challenge where to raise funds for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Following the challenge, Kate has shared her experience both on Instagram and on the charity's website.

"I have taken on the National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavor but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back," she wrote. "The Royal Marsden is a place that holds great meaning for me and whose care and expertise are life changing for so many people."

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Are you one of the lucky birth months during this summer 2026? Basking under the sun and enjoying the balmy beach weather is just the start of having the best summer ever. Summertime promises excitement, adventure, and romance. Sure, there might be some chaos, but it’s all in good fun. Although all birth months have fun plans to look forward to, only four birth months are destined to have the best summer ever. People born during these four months can thank the cosmos for the magic and joy this season will bring. 

Depending on your birth month, you could be unexpectedly lucky all summer long. After all, only four birth months will experience heightened confidence, genuine friendships, and passionate love throughout this exciting period. Get excited if your birthday falls in February, March, July, or August, because this summer 2026 will go down in history as one of the best summers yet. 

Which Birth Months Will Have the Best Summer Ever?

Check for the month you were born for pro insights.

EXPLORE: The 4 Birth Months About to Get Very Lucky After June 30

February: Radiant & Popular

Summer is February’s time to shine. People born during this month tend to be more mysterious given their aloof Aquarius energy and elusive Pisces vibe. They might have spent most of 2026 hiding, but that won’t last this summer. Whether they want to or not, this summer’s astrology thrusts February into the spotlight. At first, this could be a little stressful. Being seen by so many can feel daunting until February remembers that they deserve to be celebrated for their talents, achievements, and winning personalities. Their social calendars are destined to fill up with fun outings, friendly events, and celebrations. February will also get their flowers when they share their accomplishments and successes. Everything will change the moment February confidently embraces this attention.

RELATE?: The 4 Birth Months That Make the Best Uncle

March: Cut Loose

The first part of 2026 has been notably stressful for March. The March Pisces noticed that their spiritual journey completely rerouted, whereas the March Aries felt like the odds were stacked against them. No matter the zodiac sign, all March birthdays have been waiting to cut loose this summer. Summer offers reprieve from stress, responsibility, and even isolation. March’s energy and vitality renews entering summertime. The weight of the world finally comes off this birth month’s shoulders. Since there’s fewer obligations to worry about, March will have ample time to do as they please. Don’t be surprised if people born during this month go buck wild. They have so much fun, excitement, and even chaos to catch up on this summer. 

READ: Your Second Saturn Return Happens Between Ages 57 and 60 — Here's How It Changes Everything

July: Luck is On Their Side

July has the best luck this summer. The July Cancers can finally cash in while the July Leos can look forward to new beginnings aligning with their fates and destinies. Regardless of the zodiac sign, everyone born during July will feel like luck is finally on their side. This could be the first summer in years that July has felt truly confident in their appearance and identity. Embracing their individuality and beauty will help July shine. The more confident they feel, the more luck July will call in. July’s courage will surge, so they’ll feel more inclined to go after their desires. Serendipity will follow July when they apply for their dream job, giving love a chance, diving into new experiences, and more.   

August: Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Shake off any lingering worries, because August is destined for a happy-go-lucky summer. Individuals born during this month might be worried that their Leo energy will invite drama or that their Virgo energy will be too anxious to have fun. Luckily, the cosmic energy of this summer affirms that all August birthdays are in for a good time. In particular, August will experience luck in their social circles. The people August surrounds themselves with will have a massive impact on their summer. Many August babies are destined to experience life-changing romantic connections and to make life-long, wholesome friendships. Each person coming into August's life will only bring cheer and excitement. August won’t have to worry about anyone else, since everyone will be on the same page about having fun.  

UP NEXT:

Bruce Springsteen is formally doubling down on his outspoken criticism of President Donald Trump, referring to himself as a "patriot" in his recent PBS special, Bruce Springsteen: Finding America in Song (via Variety).

In Springsteen's view, the 76-year-old singer believes the true mark of a patriot is willingly facing the flaws of the current American landscape, allowing each citizen to do their part in improving the country around them.

“I believe in critical patriotism,” Springsteen said in the PBS special. “I believe that’s the definition of a patriot, you know, that you love your country so much that you are willing to look at it clearly, recognize its faults, encourage it to be a better place, and believe that you carry in your heart the country that is waiting.”

Of course, Springsteen himself has remained one of the most vocal opponents of Trump and his ongoing presidential administration. During his recent Land of the Hope and Dreams tour, Springsteen called out the commander-in-chief and then-attorney general Pam Bondi, saying, “She prosecutes our president’s perceived enemies, covers up for his misdeeds and protects his powerful friends.”

The Boss then set his sights on Trump himself, criticizing the president's hypocritical use of the term "snowflakes" when discussing his political opponents.

"You want to talk about snowflakes?" Springsteen said. "We have a president who can’t handle the truth.”

Unsurprisingly, Trump has hardly kept quiet about his own personal ill-feelings towards Springsteen. More recently, the president even encouraged his followers to boycott Springsteen and his music, calling the artist "a total loser."

“Bad, and very boring singer, Bruce Springsteen, who looks like a dried up prune who has suffered greatly from the work of a really bad plastic surgeon, has long had a horrible and incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome, sometimes referred to as TDS,” Trump shared on social media. “The guy is a total loser who spews hate against a President who won a Landslide Election, including the popular vote, all Seven Swing States, and 86% of the Counties across America.”

Coffee Mate is delighting fans once again with the addition of a brand-new creamer flavor—and it's inspired by one of the most beloved bakery classics ever: banana bread.

The new launch, Coffee Mate Banana Bread flavored coffee creamer, will bring a delicious dose of the longtime favorite bakery item right to your morning cup of joe. If the packaging is anything to go by, the flavor will be a creamy take on the soft, nutty, banana-based staple.

Introduced via social media by trusted food blogger Markie Devo on Sunday, July 5, the grocery item is reportedly already making its way to major retailers' refrigerator aisles.

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Its arrival has coffee fans raving, with several taking to the comments section of Devo's Instagram post to share reactions. "Perfect timing. I'm drinking some banana coffee right now," one remarked.

Another called it "a must have for me," adding, "It’s been hard to find some new creamers different than the usual."

More excited comments read, "Yessssssssssss!!!! I hope it doesn't let me down," "Yay. Go nana, go," "I can't wait to try this," "Yummy 😋," "😮 Stopppp playinnn," "Oh yes…need immediately," "Omg yes," and "I can’t wait to try this."

Another person reasoned of the new release, "Mmmm! I love banana bread so I hope I love this in my coffee although I’m not usually a big creamer person I will definitely try this. Normally I put milk in my coffee, but if it’s a flavored like this, I might like it."

Meanwhile, someone else joked, "I'm gonna mainline this s--t in my veins."

Coffee Mate's Banana Bread creamer follows recent news of a returning fan favorite. In celebration of the New York Knicks' championship win, the brand revived its Snickerdoodle coffee creamer, posting a banner graphic showcasing a play on words that read "sKNICKerdoodle coming back soon."

Related: Dunkin' Announces Big Change to Limited-Edition Menu Item — And Fans Say It's an Absolute Win: 'Finally'

Few television shows became event TV quite like Dallas. What premiered as a five-part CBS miniseries in 1978 went on to become one of the most popular TV series of the 1980s, thanks in large part to the villain fans loved to hate, J.R. Ewing. Played by Larry Hagman, the ruthless oil baron transformed the primetime soap opera into must-see television and became one of the most iconic TV antiheroes of all time. A new ranking has named the best TV character of the 1980s, and it's no surprise that Hagman's J.R. Ewing claimed the No. 1 spot. Here's why.

"Though Dallas began airing in 1978, the show hit its peak with 1980's "Who Shot J.R.?" storyline, which became a pop culture landmark and rocketed the character to global fame. Ratings may have declined in subsequent seasons, but Hagman's greedy archvillain remains a popular TV figure and has been widely referenced and emulated by many later shows. Hagman also reprised the role in the show's 2012 revival, playing the character until his death in 2012."

How Dallas Turned J.R. Ewing Into a Television Icon @your8osgirl

Do you remember where you were when this episode aired?#retro #memories #your80sgirl #nostalgia

♬ original sound - your80sgirl

Dallas followed the wealthy and often feuding Ewing family as they battled over oil, power, money, and loyalty. The series' original storyline focused on the Romeo-and-Juliet-esque romance between Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) and his new wife, Pamela (Victoria Principal), whose family was a rival of the Ewings. But Hagman's J.R. Ewing quickly became a fan favorite, and more and more storylines began to center around him.

J.R.'s popularity reached a fever pitch with the "Who Shot J.R.?" storyline, which culminated in the shocking reveal of the mystery shooter. We won't spoil it for you, just in case a rewatch is in order. The episode became one of the biggest television events of all time. When it came to '80s TV, it seemed like everyone wanted to know who shot J.R. Ewing.

Related: Beloved 'Modern Family' Episode, That Put Claire and Phil in a Compromising Position, Named the Series' Best Ever

Why J.R. Ewing Changed Television Forever

J.R. was unlike the traditional television heroes of the era. The character was manipulative, ambitious, and unapologetically ruthless. Yet '80s TV audiences couldn't get enough of him, even as they rooted for his more honorable brother, Bobby.

Hagman's portrayal didn't simply create a memorable villain. J.R. Ewing helped pave the way for an era of television dominated by antiheroes like Tony Soprano, Don Draper, Walter White, and Omar Little. For better or worse, J.R. became the blueprint for morally complex leading characters who captivated audiences despite their flaws.

The Legacy of "Who Shot J.R.?"

"Who Shot J.R.?" became one of the most-watched television episodes of all time, with more than 100 million viewers tuning in worldwide. For generations of viewers, J.R. Ewing's popularity elevated Dallas from a hit nighttime soap opera to a global cultural phenomenon. More than four decades later, his influence on television storytelling remains undeniable, making him a fitting choice as the defining TV character of the 1980s.

Related: '70s TV Icon, Who Captivated Viewers Every Tuesday Night, Named the Greatest TV Character of the Decade

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I’m a coffee person. My day hasn’t started until I’ve had my first cup, followed shortly by my second (and sometimes a mid-afternoon iced coffee). Whether I’m grabbing a cup on the go or making coffee at home, that daily caffeine ritual is what gets me through the morning (and sometimes the afternoon).

For years, coffee drinkers have debated the best ways to improve a bitter cup: add cream, stir in sugar, buy better beans or grounds or invest in a more sophisticated brewing setup. But lately, one surprisingly simple trick has been making waves on social media: Add salt.

I’ll admit that I was skeptical. Salt belongs in savory dishes—not a cup of Joe. Right?

Wrong, according to Ed McCormick, a food scientist and author of the forthcoming book The Food Questions America Is Asking.

He explains that not only does salt improve coffee, but that the idea is far from new. “Adding salt to coffee has been around for generations,” he tells Parade. “Sailors, campers, military personnel and people brewing inexpensive coffee have long used a small pinch of salt to tame bitterness. Scandinavian traditions, Turkish coffee variations and even some U.S. military field cooks have used this technique for decades.”

So why is everyone suddenly talking about it? Ah, once again, the reach of social media. Plus, the appeal is simple: It’s cheap, easy and requires no special equipment. A tiny amount of something already sitting in your kitchen is all you need.

But what does adding salt do to coffee, and does it actually improve the taste—or is this just another internet food trend? Let’s pour out what happens when salt meets your morning brew.

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Why Put Salt in Coffee? The Science Behind the Trend

The science behind salted coffee comes down to how we experience flavor.

Courtesy Jo Ann Liguori

Coffee contains hundreds of flavor compounds, including compounds that contribute to bitterness—especially when coffee is over-roasted or over-extracted.

“Salt doesn’t remove those bitter compounds,” McCormick explains. “Instead, the sodium ions interfere with how our taste receptors interpret bitterness.” In other words, the coffee itself isn’t changing. The way your brain perceives it is.

“The chemistry of coffee remains essentially the same,” he says. “What changes is how our taste system responds. Sodium suppresses bitter taste signals while allowing other flavors to stand out more clearly.” Think of it like turning down the volume on bitterness rather than changing the coffee recipe.

Salt is especially helpful for coffee that naturally leans bitter, including dark roasts, over-extracted coffee, budget coffee made from lower-grade beans, office coffee that has been sitting all day and percolated coffee.

However, it isn’t a magic fix. “Salt is a bitterness reducer, not a miracle cure for every bad cup,” McCormick says. Stale beans, poor-quality coffee or dirty equipment can create flavors that salt cannot hide.

How To Add Salt to Your Coffee (The Right Way)

Courtesy Jo Ann Liguori

If you want to try salted coffee, start small.

McCormick recommends adding salt after brewing so you can taste the coffee first and adjust as needed. For an 8-ounce cup of coffee, McCormick says, start with about 1/32 to 1/16 teaspoon of salt. Stir thoroughly and taste before adding more. “The goal isn’t salty coffee. The goal is smoother coffee.”

Alternatively, according to Cook’s Illustrated, you can add 1/8 teaspoon to the grounds before brewing a full 40-ounce pot.

As for which type of salt to use, almost any food-grade salt will work, since sodium is what creates the effect. McCormick recommends ordinary table salt because it dissolves quickly and provides consistent measurements. Kosher salt can work too, but brands vary in crystal size, so measurements are not always interchangeable. Leave the fancy finishing salts in the pantry.

Related: This Is What Happens to Your Body When You Drink More Than One Cup of Coffee Every Day

My Experience: Trying the ‘Pinch of Salt’ Coffee Trick

Courtesy Jo Ann Liguori

The Coffee I Used

For my test, I used a standard cup of coffee and treated the salt like a seasoning rather than an ingredient. (Yes, I used my favorite pod in my Keurig; don’t judge me. I said I was a coffee person—not a coffee snob.)

What I Did

I brewed the coffee first, tasted it, then added 1/32 teaspoon of salt. Most people don’t have measuring spoons in such small increments (I bought them just to write this article). Use the ¼ teaspoon (the smallest size in most sets) and fill in one-eighth of the way—or just eyeball it. Then I stirred the coffee and tasted it.

The Taste Test: Before vs. After Salt

The biggest difference wasn’t that the coffee tasted salty: It was that the bitterness became less noticeable. Which is exactly what McCormick says should happen. “Think of it the same way chefs use a tiny pinch of salt in desserts,” he says. “The salt isn’t there to add a salty flavor. It’s there to balance other flavors and reduce harshness.”

Related: Drinking Coffee Has One Very Surprising Health Benefit

Frequently Asked Questions About Salted Coffee

Courtesy Jo Ann Liguori

How much salt should you put in coffee?

You need just a teeny-tiny amount: about 1/32 to 1/16 teaspoon for an 8-ounce cup. (By the way: The technical term for 1/32 teaspoon is “a smidgen,” and for 1/16 teaspoon, it’s “a pinch.”) Add less than you think you need, stir and taste. “If you can taste the salt, you’ve probably added too much,” McCormick says.

Why does salt reduce coffee bitterness?

Salt doesn’t chemically neutralize bitterness. The bitter compounds remain in the coffee. Instead, sodium changes how taste receptors and the brain interpret those compounds. It reduces the intensity of bitterness, allowing other flavors—like sweetness, chocolate, fruit and aroma—to become more noticeable.

Who started the salt in coffee trend?

No single person started it. The practice has existed for generations, including among sailors, campers, military cooks and coffee drinkers looking to improve inexpensive or bitter coffee. Social media simply brought an old trick back into the spotlight.

Related: 31 Different Types of Coffee Drinks, All Explained

More Ways To Improve Your Morning Cup

Salt isn’t the only simple way to improve your coffee. McCormick recommends a few other easy tweaks that can make a noticeable difference:

• Use filtered water. Since coffee is about 98% water, water quality can have a major impact. Filtered water can help prevent off-flavors caused by chlorine or excess minerals.
• Clean your coffee maker regularly. Old coffee oils and mineral buildup can create stale flavors.
• Grind coffee right before brewing. Once coffee is ground, aromatic compounds escape faster. Grinding fresh helps preserve more flavor.
• Don’t drink your coffee piping hot. One of McCormick’s favorite “hidden science” tips is that your tongue detects flavors, but your nose experiences much of what you think of as taste. As coffee cools slightly, more aromatic compounds are released, making flavors like chocolate, caramel, nutty, fruity and floral notes easier to notice.

The Bottom Line

Salted coffee isn’t a secret to better brewing—it’s a backup plan for a bitter cup. But if you’ve got nothing to lose, a tiny pinch may be worth a try.

Up Next:

Related: Never Take These 4 Vitamins With Coffee, Registered Dietitians Warn

Sources:

• Edmund “Ed” McCormick is a food science consultant and ingredient specialist whose work focuses on the chemistry of taste, texture and functional food ingredients. He is the founder, primary author, scientific voice and educator behind Cape Crystal Brands. His next book, The Food Questions America Is Asking: How Journalists and Scientists Are Redefining What We Eat, is slated for release later this year.
• Instagram: Cook’s Illustrated: “Add Salt to Coffee”

Adam Sandler's first stop after officiating Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's wedding was a Nantucket basketball court.

The legendary actor and comedian, 59, who has done everything from stand-up comedy to starring roles in films by Paul Thomas Anderson and Noah Baumbach, just added a new role to his resume: wedding officiant. The actor, who officiated the music icon and the football star's 4th of July weekend wedding at Madison Square Garden, headed to Nantucket after the nuptials. And in typical Sandler fashion, he found himself on the basketball court.

Less than 48 hours after the wedding, the actor stopped for a quick game of pickup basketball at the court off Backus Lane on the beloved New England island, the Nantucket Current reported. Dressed in his classic colorful style, Sandler showed up on the court.

“Adam sandler rolled in a car and started playing pick ups with the boys,” Andrew Kesler told the Current. “He's like ‘guys let me stretch I’m going to hop in’.”

According to Kessler, Sandler was great to play with.

“Great passing and playmaking, decent lay-ups, hesitated to shoot the ball,” he continued.

Check out the photos of Sandler below:

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How Does Adam Sandler Feel About Becoming an Unintentional Style Star?

While Sandler didn’t set out to become a fashion icon, he does find the whole thing a bit humorous. When Complex asked him how he feels about the unintentional honor of wardrobe legend, Sandler simply laughed.

“It’s funny as hell,” Sandler explained while promoting Happy Gilmore 2. “And whenever one of my kids or their friends talks to me about it… my wife’s like, ‘What the hell are we talking about right now? How did that happen?’

“But my wife always was nice to me about my clothes,” he added. “Even when we were young, others would say, ‘Would you put on something better than that? Your wife’s dressed so beautifully.’ My wife would say, ‘He’s comfortable like that. Let him do that. Leave him alone.’ “

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3faT0Fa91Uc

If you’re looking to emulate the actor’s style, he told Esquire a few years back what it takes to score his level of fashion knowledge.

“I go with a lot of XXL even though I’ve been told I don’t need a XXL,” Sandler told the publication. “I wear the XXL shirts. I wear the XXL shorts. I pull my socks up goofy and I wear my sneakers.”

He also advises sticking with stuff that’s worn in.

“Usually I wear the same clothes a lot because after it gets out of the laundry it feels even better. New stuff kind of gets me itchy.”

Related: Adam Sandler’s Beautiful Daughters Steal the Show on the Red Carpet Alongside Their Proud Parents

Saying goodbye to a piece of Disney history is never easy, and for theme park fans, July 5, 2026, marked an incredibly emotional milestone at the Magic Kingdom.

The 1994 iteration of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress has officially closed its doors to the public. While it's a bittersweet moment for generations of fans who hold a deep nostalgia for the rotating theater, rest assured that this isn't a permanent farewell. Instead, the attraction is stepping into a grand new chapter designed to preserve its historic past while completely revitalizing the experience for the next generation of dreamers.

The major update—which was officially detailed at a recent Disney World media panel event about how the park keeps reinvesting in its classics—has actually been in development for years. This legendary attraction holds a sacred place in Disney lore. The Carousel of Progress wasn't just a park ride; it was Walt Disney’s personal brainchild and the true breakout star of the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair.

Back then, it was an instant hit, driven by the timeless optimism of its signature theme song, "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow," written by the legendary Academy Award-winning duo Richard and Robert Sherman. When the show eventually moved to Florida in 1975, it cemented its status as a timeless rite of passage and the longest-running stage show in the history of American theater.

Related: Disney Just Announced a Massive, Retro-Chic Revamp of a Beloved Classic Attraction

Meghann Foye

For the past three decades, fans have grown to love the specific charm of the 1994 version, which tracked the family from the turn of the century up to a "modern" 1990s Christmas. Audiences fell in love with the animatronic storytelling and endlessly quotable, lovable moments—like watching the family patriarch, John, battle with the newfangled hand-cranked washing machine, or checking in on Uncle Orville as he sits in the bathtub on a hot summer day, calling out to the audience that there's simply "no privacy at all around this place!"

But true to the spirit of progress, the attraction is getting a massive, near-complete overhaul to open in 2027 that will shift the entire timeline forward by exactly 60 years. While fans can rest easy knowing that the iconic core family—John, Sarah, Patty, Jimmy, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Orville, and of course, their faithful four-legged companion Rover—will all be returning, the acts they inhabit are changing completely to connect with modern memories.

Related: How Disney World Quietly Overhauls Iconic Rides Overnight—And What’s Next

A rendering of "The Possible Future" finale coming to Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress.

Disney

The new production will feature four completely updated acts, beginning with a spectacular, historic introduction scene that features a state-of-the-art Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney himself. First revealed as a major innovation at last year's D23 event, this advanced figure will welcome guests to the stage in a scene inspired by his classic 1964 television special, Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair.

From there, the theater will rotate into a brand-new Act I, jumping straight into the summer of 1969 as the family gathers around a vintage television set to witness the Apollo 11 moon landing. Act II will fast-forward to a cozy Halloween night in 1985, giving Sarah her well-deserved moment in the spotlight to show off the decade's newest household appliances while John hands out candy on the porch. Act III will transport guests to New Year's Eve 1999 to face the hilarious chaos of the Y2K dawn, complete with Grandma sneaking a peek at her favorite pro-wrestling match while Grandpa nods off before the midnight countdown.

The biggest reveal from the creative team, however, lies in the grand finale. The traditional near-future smart home is being entirely replaced by a stunning, retro-futuristic "off-planet" future. Drawing deep inspiration from original mid-century concept sketches by Disney Legend John Hench, Act IV will head into outer space, imagining a galaxy where advanced technology, space travel, and even a helpful robot assistant are just a normal part of everyday family life. By leaning into a timeless space-age aesthetic rather than trying to guess next year's smart gadgets, Imagineers are future-proofing the ride for decades to come.

While change can be tough for a dedicated fanbase, this evolution ensures that the core humor, heart, and soul of the Sherman Brothers' message remain entirely untouched. The lights may be dark in Tomorrowland for now, but a beautiful tomorrow is just a spin away.

Related: My Dad Hadn’t Been to Disney World Since the ’80s—So We Planned an ’80s-Style Nostalgic Trip Back

The 1980's were a tough time for rock musician Don Henley, feeling the tension of embarking on a solo career, which soon led to a rejected track, "The Boys of Summer," that became a summertime hit.

Many rock fans know Henley as a founding member of the Eagles, but by 1980, the band had broken up. Henley once recalled feeling the pressure of not measuring up to the band's success, but "simply to write and record without them." The musician never even considered taking on a solo career when he released his first album in 1982.

Henley called the album a "decent first effort," but it wasn't until gathering material for Building the Perfect Beast that he landed on "The Boys of Summer." The 1984 track was first brought to life by Mike Campbell, the guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He had recently acquired a LinnDrum machine and got to work developing unique sounds with it.

While Campbell was ready to revolutionize music using the drum machine and Oberheim Xpander synthesizer, Petty wasn't a big fan. He felt the track didn't suit the current album they were working on, Southern Accents, and rejected it. At the suggestion of Jimmy lovine, Campbell pitched the demo to Henley.

“We sat at opposite ends of a long table, and he put the cassette on. He didn’t tap his foot or move his head. Just sat there, with his arms folded. He listened all the way through. I thought he hated it. He goes: ‘Okay, I’ll see what I can do with that.’ And I left," said Henley, according to LouderSound.

Henley also added that once figuring out the proper arrangement for the track, "the melody and the lyrics began to flow pretty quickly." The track landing in his lap was a "gift," according to Henley, and took inspiration from real-life events.

 “It came from that mysterious place that lyrics sometimes come from. I had been stuck on the bridge section; couldn’t get the words, the melody. One afternoon, I was driving on Interstate 405, somewhere south of Sunset, the cassette of the track blaring through the sound system," he explained.

"I looked to my left and there it was: a 1979 Cadillac Seville with a ‘Deadhead’ sticker on the back. It just struck me as ironic, paradoxical, with a little touch of nostalgia, and it went right into the song."

When re-working "The Boys of Summer," Henley ended up changing its key and initially angered Campbell, but soon came around to it. The track would become a signature hit for Henley about lost young love that landed at No.5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topped the Billboard Top Rock Tracks for five weeks. He even won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for the song at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards.

Related: 1978 Power Ballad, Once Spent 5 Weeks Charting, Remains a Classic Rock Anthem 48 Years Later

Catherine Grace Garner, known as Slayyyter, recently opened up about her personal life when she appeared on a June episode of the “In Your Dreams With Owen Thiele” podcast. The singer revealed that before her latest album, WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA, was released, she learned that she had been cheated on by her boyfriend.

"It was like two days before my album dropped, I found out I got cheated on in my house while I was rehearsing for Coachella in L.A.," the singer explained, as reported by PEOPLE. "It’s kind of one of those things where — what a horrible thing, right? But at the same time, my album dropped, and then I did Coachella. I don’t think it’s very common where you get cheated on, and your s---, like... skyrockets. Like, it’s kinda the best thing ever."

Related: An Important Man in Taylor Swift’s Life Died on Her Wedding Day

This isn’t the first time that the star has referenced her breakup. When she performed at a festival last April, she changed one of her song lyrics from "Oh, you know my boyfriend?" to "Oh, you f---ed my boyfriend."

During the podcast, Slayyyter also explained that the breakup was complex since she had been living with her ex. "That’s the thing, too,” she said. “If you’re gonna cheat, go out and cheat, but my s---’s in my closet. My clothes are everywhere. I don’t trust these random b-----s. Do it outside of the house!"

Related: Jake Bongiovi Inspired This Romantic Scene in Millie Bobby Brown’s New Film

Since this was the first time she had dealt with infidelity, she admitted, "It is really scary. It’s really weird. Every day is hard. Sometimes you’re a little more bitter and nasty about it. Sometimes I'm like, ‘You know what? Let me let go and forgive and be better and be bigger.'"

Overall, she has been looking on the bright side, and added, "I feel like it’s not every day a person [experiences infidelity and goes through a breakup] and then they get really f---ing famous after.”

Slayyyter, 29, launched her career by releasing songs through SoundCloud, then came out with her debut album in 2021. Since then, she has skyrocketed in popularity and has toured with icons like Charli XCX and Kesha. Some of her biggest hits include “CRANK,” “BEAT UP CHANEL$” and “DANCE…”

Slayyyter is on tour this summer with tickets available now.

With a career that stretches back to his childhood in the 1960s, Kurt Russell has been involved in a number of remarkable projects over the past several decades, including such hit films as The Thing, Tombstone, Used Cars, Overboard, Big Trouble in Little China and many, many more.

For as many films as Russell has appeared in over the years, however, his most noteworthy might very well be the soft-spoken anti-hero of director John Carpenter's Escape from New York series, which marked a serious turning point in the actor's career.

While Russell remains closely tied to the role of Snake Plissken nearly five years later, with many fans eagerly hoping to see Russell return to the role following 1996's Escape from L.A., the 75-year-old actor has routinely said that he has no real desire to return to the role.

Among other reasons, Russell said that he could never imagine portraying the character of Snake without the directorial and creative input of Carpenter himself, something he has reiterated time and time again.

More recently, when asked whether he would ever portray the character in a non-Carpenter directed film on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Russell said, "No. Period. John Carpenter is the reason for Snake Plissken."

Russell's comments echo similar sentiments expressed by the actor years earlier. In an interview with Empire alongside Carpenter, Russell was similarly asked whether he'd ever play Snake again.

“Could I do it again?” Russell said “No.”

“They got people working on trying to put together Escape From New York, and they don’t know where they’re going with it.” the actor continued, laughing. “It’s been done! Guess what, guys, it’s been done. And there’s nothing wrong with it. But what you need now is what John told them then: you need a good young guy who gets the character.”

There’s nothing like the phrase “bikini season” that can cause self-confidence to plummet. There’s a lot of pressure—both internal and external—to lose a certain number of pounds before an upcoming vacation. 

Often, this leads to hard, punishing workouts and cutting calories way back. While this “no pain, no gain” mindset may work in the short-term, science is clear that it doesn’t work long-term. According to a widely cited review in American Psychologist that analyzed 31 long-term diet studies, one-third to two-thirds of dieters regained more weight than they lost.   

Besides, who wants to spend their vacation counting calories or in the hotel gym? Fortunately, there’s a more effective (and enjoyable) way to transition into summer: soft wellness. Instead of intense workouts and extreme diets, soft wellness encourages slowing down, listening to your body and choosing habits that feel supportive instead of stressful.

Related: 'I Tried Tai Chi Walking—and Was Honestly Surprised by the Results'

While this softer approach is more effective, it still requires guidance. That’s where BetterMe comes in. BetterMe’s soft wellness approach and bite-sized workouts make it easy to keep up with, even on vacation. It’s not restrictive or time-consuming. It also helps create mindset shifts that make living a soft wellness lifestyle long-term easy.

Keep reading to find out why taking a softer transition into summer is so effective and how BetterMe can help you along the way. 

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Why Soft Wellness Is So Effective

Soft wellness can be applied both to how you eat and how you move your body. “Soft wellness is about treating your body with more kindness and less pressure, and nutrition is one of its most important pillars,” says Victoria Repa, CHC, a certified health coach and the CEO and founder of BetterMe. 

Repa explains that while many people believe that wellness means following strict dietary rules or cutting out entire food groups, the reality is that the healthiest approach is usually the most sustainable. “A balanced approach to nutrition lays the foundation for all other healthy lifestyle habits, from physical activity and mindfulness to productivity and emotional well-being,” she says.

Scientific research backs this up. According to a scientific study known as the DIRECT study, long-term weight loss success was strongly tied to adherence, regardless of the type of eating plan participants followed. The study showed that no single diet was best for long-term weight loss; what was more important was what was most sustainable. 

This ties into something else that Repa says is important: There is not one way of eating that works for everyone. “Our nutritional needs are influenced by age, genetics, physical activity levels, health status, hormonal balance and lifestyle. This is especially true for women, whose nutritional needs can change significantly across different life stages,” she says.

Related: These Are the 5 Best Workouts for Complete Beginners, Personal Trainers Say

Repa explains that when it comes to nutrition, soft wellness is about choosing foods that help you feel full, energetic and nourished. “This means prioritizing whole foods whenever possible, listening to your body’s hunger and fullness cues and building a diet that includes a balanced mix of protein, healthy fats, fiber and carbohydrates,” she says.

This same approach applies to movement too. Instead of doing workouts that push your body to the limit, soft wellness prioritizes gentle workouts that feel nourishing instead of draining. Brittni Johnson, NCPT, a certified Pilates instructor and BetterMe’s Head of Pilates, has experienced the difference between intense workouts and a more gentle approach firsthand. 

“As a dancer and gymnast, I was very much living that hustle and grind lifestyle with my workouts, but now that I’m older, I craved an approach that didn’t leave me so fatigued and drained. Soft wellness is more sustainable for longevity and is also much more realistic,” Johnson says.

Johnson points out that intense workouts can often backfire, leading to injury or sustained cortisol levels that can make losing weight more challenging. It’s why Pilates is one of her favorite workouts to integrate into a soft wellness routine. “It’s the perfect mixture of both strength and mobility in a very low-impact way,” she says. 

Other examples of soft wellness workouts that prioritize low-impact, sustainable movement are yoga, brisk walking, water aerobics or swimming, or leisurely bike rides. 

Related: The Exact 15-Minute Pilates Routine Instructors Recommend for Beginners

How To Use BetterMe to Try Soft Wellness This Summer  

BetterMe is the quintessential app for living a soft wellness lifestyle. As Repa explained, the most successful plans are ones that are individualized and sustainable, and you won’t find a more personalized app than BetterMe. That starts with the BetterMe quiz, which is designed to understand your goals, assess your fitness levels and factor in other factors such as your age, weight and height to create the most effective and efficient plan for you.

After completing the quiz, you can check the app each day to see your recommended daily workout from the app’s library of more than 4,000 workouts and log your food, water intake and steps. There is also a fasting feature that can be used for intermittent fasting.

“We don’t view nutrition as a separate category from wellness. It's connected to movement, hydration, recovery, sleep and mindset. That's how people actually live, and that's how healthy habits are built,” Repa says. She explains that BetterMe offers more than 20 nutrition plans tailored to different goals and dietary preferences, whether someone follows a plant-based lifestyle, needs gluten-free options or simply wants guidance on balanced eating. 

The app also provides practical tools, such as an AI calorie tracker that can instantly identify foods and estimate calories and macronutrients. “We focus all nutrition features on helping people become more aware of their habits. For example, many users don't realize they're under-eating protein, skipping meals or not drinking enough water until they start paying attention. Small adjustments in these areas can create significant improvements in energy, recovery and overall well-being,” Repa says.

Part of your personalized plan includes a daily reading centered around building healthier habits through mindset changes. For example, one of the daily readings shares how to challenge negative thoughts you may have about your body. Another reading explains intuitive eating and how learning how to listen to your body can lead to weight loss.

Though the app is comprehensive, nothing is too time-consuming or hard. This is why it’s so easy to keep up with, no matter how busy you are or how much you’re traveling.

The recommended workouts typically take about 45 minutes total, but the videos are broken up into shorter segments, so you can do them all at once or spread them out throughout the day; whatever works best for your schedule. And if a recommended workout is too long or not what you feel up to that day, you can choose another one from the extensive library. 

As Johnson explained, Pilates is the perfect soft wellness workout, and BetterMe has tons of guided Pilates workouts you can do anywhere, including while you’re on vacation. If you want to step up your practice, you can purchase the Pilates Power Kit, which includes a toning Pilates ring, soft Pilates ball, sculpt dumbbells, adjustable weight bands, long resistance bands and Pilates loop bands. 

If you know you’re going to be traveling this summer, you can opt for the Pilates travel kit, which includes Pilates loop bands, adjustable weight bands and long resistance bands. Everything is small enough to take up hardly any room in your suitcase. 

Johnson says she likes that BetterMe offers a wide variety of workout videos that range in how long they are, and she’s also into the app’s step tracker. “I like the idea of workout snacks,” she says. “You don’t have to do everything all at once. You can go on a 10-minute walk in the morning, a 15-minute walk after lunch and a 20-minute walk after dinner. It adds up!” she says. 

If you want extra support, BetterMe offers access to a daily coach for daily motivation, accountability and guidance. 

My Experience Trying BetterMe

My current workout routine is pretty intense: 30 minutes of strength training followed by a five-mile run, three to four times a week. I liked the idea of dialing it back for a softer approach, but was worried that trading my hard workouts for a gentler routine wouldn’t have the same results. But there was no way that I could keep up my current routine with all the summer travel I have planned, so I decided to see if BetterMe would be a more sustainable approach both at home and while I was on vacation.

After downloading the app, my first step to getting started was doing the BetterMe quiz. The questions asked how active my lifestyle was, how well I slept and what my energy levels were like. Women can also use the app to track their cycle, but I opted not to do that.  

It asked for three activities I was interested in and I chose general fitness, Pilates and running. It also asked about my “bad habits,” such as not resting enough, having a sweet tooth, drinking soda or loving salty foods. I copped to liking sweets. Later, I learned through using the app that the mindfulness chapters are partially inspired by one’s “bad habits,” giving practical advice on how to change the behavior by changing destructive thought patterns.

The quiz also asked what my goal was and I said that I wanted to lose 10 pounds. If I stuck to my individualized plan, it said I could meet my goal in 2.5 months.

I was ready to check out my plan. My personalized plan included a daily step goal of 8,500 steps, drinking 92 ounces of water a day and staying within a 1,493-calorie budget each day. That seemed extremely doable to me—a lot more sustainable than plans and calorie budgets I was given with other apps.

Mindfulness

Now that I had my plan, I started with the daily reading. Throughout my whole experience using BetterMe, the daily readings ended up being one of my favorite features because it was like nothing I had seen before on other wellness apps. Over time, it truly did help me challenge negative thoughts that would sabotage my progress in the past. 

For example, in the past, I would eat a calorie-loaded sweet treat and then immediately feel bad about it, thinking, “I can’t believe I ate that. I’ll never meet my weight loss goal now.” But BetterMe’s readings taught me how to challenge negative thoughts like these before they completely derail my progress. 

Nutrition

The food log made staying within the calorie budget easy—especially since the budget isn’t super restrictive. The app has an AI calorie tracker where you can take a photo of your plate and it calculates the calories and nutrients. I personally didn’t find this feature as accurate as using its food library. The library is super extensive, including specific brands as well as the foods themselves. I was never not able to find a food or ingredient in the app’s library.

For my first few days using the app, I would input each food right before every meal. Over time, I found that I preferred planning my day’s meals in advance and then entering everything in the morning. That way, I wouldn’t get to dinner with only 400 calories left, for example. Not only did inputting the foods in advance make staying within the calorie budget more manageable, it also meant I could dig into lunch and dinner without stopping to enter the foods into the app first.

BetterMe also offers different intermittent fasting plans, with a timer telling you how much time is left in your eating or fasting window. I found this helpful and was grateful to offload the mental energy of looking at the clock and doing my own calculation.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t very good at tracking my water intake. But I could see how people who struggle to drink enough water could benefit from tracking their hydration.

Fitness

Emily Laurence

Going off my interests for general fitness, Pilates and running, my recommended daily workout came in three parts. The first part was a guided workout video that was 15 to 20 minutes long (depending on the day and the other workouts it was paired with) that targeted the abs, which is what I requested through the quiz. 

I liked the rhythm of these guided workouts. They always started out with some easy stretches before getting into more intense ab-targeting moves. They always ended with a few minutes of easier stretches to cool down. I definitely felt the burn! 

The daily Pilates videos followed a similar structure. They started off with some easy stretches before transitioning to more challenging moves. The Pilates workouts that were recommended as part of my daily workout didn’t require any equipment, but since I had the Pilates Power Kit, I often chose Pilates workouts from the library that used the kit. I especially liked videos that incorporated the adjustable weight bands and long resistance bands.

The recommended running workouts were shorter than the general fitness and Pilates workouts; typically between 10 and 15 minutes, though once a week there was a 24-minute guided long run. I did these runs on the treadmill, but they could easily be done outside. The guided interval training—saying how much exertion to give for a set amount of time—made it feel like I had my own personal running coach. The intervals made the time fly by too.

Final thoughts     

Though my new routine with BetterMe was gentler than my typical routine, I can honestly say that it worked just as well. After just one week using the app, I felt stronger and more toned. I also felt much more energized, which made me realize that my old routine left me depleted. 

The guided workout videos are perfect for traveling because they don’t require much space or any equipment. Since I’m loving the Pilates bands that came in my box so much, I do plan on tucking them into my suitcase when I travel and choosing videos from the library that integrate them. 

The biggest lesson BetterMe taught me was that a routine that’s sustainable is much more effective than one that’s extreme. Listening to your body and being kind to yourself can still bring results. It’s a lesson I plan on putting into practice not just during the summer, but all year long.

Up Next:

Related: A Doctor Says the Strength of This Body Part Predicts Longevity—and Almost No One Realizes It

Sources

• UCLA Study: diets not a long-term solution for weight loss: ‘rest-of-your-life’ changes like eating fewer calories and exercising regularly are needed to lose weight permanently. Healthy Years.
• Victoria Repa, CHC, certified health coach and the CEO and founder of BetterMe.
• Brittni Johnson, NCPT, certified Pilates instructor and BetterMe’s Head of Pilates.
• Greenberg, I., Stampfer, M. J., Schwarzfuchs, D., et al. (2009). Adherence and success in long-term weight loss diets: the dietary intervention randomized controlled trial (DIRECT). Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 28(2):159-68.

Dylan Dreyer is opening up about the "painful" miscarriage she suffered while "surrounded by people."

The Today show meteorologist, 44, opened up about experiencing a pregnancy loss while on a group vacation during a candid conversation on The Parent Chat podcast with The Viall Files co-hosts Nick Viall and Natalie Joy.

"I’ve suffered one miscarriage, and I remember we were kind of on a group vacation," Dreyer recalled on the Thursday, July 2, episode. "So, there was just like a lot of people around, and everybody’s happy, everybody’s on vacation. And I was hiding the fact that I was pregnant. So, I’m like pretending to drink, but not really drinking."

Dreyer also remembered the devastating experience of hiding her miscarriage on the trip. "I’m surrounded by people. There’s literally no one I can talk to," she shared. "I’m crying in my bed in so much pain, because no one really tells you how painful, physically painful, it is. And I’m like, ‘Man, I wish I could share this with someone,’ and you can’t always do that."

Dreyer, who is mom to sons Calvin, 9, Ollie, 6, and Rusty, 4, with estranged husband Brian Fichera, has been open about her miscarriage experience over the years. In April 2019, she recalled on the Today show the experience of waking up to "massive bleeding" that wouldn't stop.

"I wake Brian up, and I tell him that, and I said, ‘I think I lost the baby,'" she remembered. "And the first thing he said to me is, ‘You didn’t lose the baby. It’s your body doing what it needs to do. You didn’t do anything wrong.’ He was so supportive."

"I am blessed with the family that I have, but going through a miscarriage and not knowing what the future holds is emotional," she continued. "And I just want people to know that I’m going through it, too."

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No matter the time of year, it's never a bad idea to have an extra spot where guests can lounge, unwind, or even sleep when needed. A piece of convertible furniture like the Hommpa Folding Sofa Bed can really come in handy in one of those instances. This stylish and incredibly plush option shifts from sofa to bed in mere seconds — and it boasts a luxe look that definitely belies its price.

In fact, it is an absolute steal right now at Walmart. You can snag it for as low as $100 in the single size during a limited-time flash sale. There are twin, queen, and full sizes available as well at varying discounts. It offers a budget-friendly way to bring some extra comfort to your living space without occupying too much room. The sofa bed is exactly the kind of piece that fits nicely into more snug spots, whether it's a reading nook or a guest room.

Hommpa Folding Sofa Bed, From $100 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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It shines as much from an engineering perspective as it does for its classic design. With a 7-inch high-density foam filling, it has a 400-pound weight capacity and is designed to adapt to your body with premium cushioning. It's soft, but won't sag with time thanks to its robust bounce-back memory foam. Shoppers described the feel as "very firm."

The ergonomic layout includes a modular headrest and lumbar pillows that naturally follow the curves of your spine, whether you're lounging upright or fully reclined. Another huge perk is that it's also durable enough for anything your life might bring. The material is resistant to everything from scratches to spills, so daily wear won't affect its integrity over time.

Since tools aren't needed, assembly is a breeze. It arrives ready to go, and can be collapsed down to half its size when it's not in use. Shoppers love the practicality. "Great buy! Super comfy, stylish, and practical. It's literally more comfortable than the bed I bought." Another reviewer shared, "It's exactly what I needed. Easy to move around and super easy to unfold."

Related: Walmart’s 'Beautiful' $115 Farmhouse Arched Storage Cabinet Is Perfect for Organizing Small Spaces

Whether you're getting set for visitors or you want to elevate your home with an easy piece that folds out of the way when you don't need it, you can't beat the value of the Hommpa Folding Sofabed. Pick up this beautifully designed piece while it's on flash sale for a sweet $100 at Walmart!

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As the July heatwave officially signals the start of the peak summer travel season, millions of families across the Tri-State area are packing up their beach bags and heading straight for local pools, lakes, and waterparks to cool down.

But while splashing in the water is a quintessential summer rite of passage, safety experts are reminding parents that the absolute most important accessory a child can carry this season isn’t a pair of trendy goggles or a colorful pool float—it’s the ability to swim.

In a major effort to bring widespread awareness to crucial water safety education and prevent accidental summer drownings, Six Flags Great Adventure officially stepped up to the plate this morning, transforming its massive wave pool into a giant, record-breaking classroom.

On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the Jackson, New Jersey destination joined a massive, synchronized global movement by hosting the annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson event.

Kicking off promptly at 9:00 a.m. at the Blue Lagoon wave pool inside Hurricane Harbor New Jersey, the park united with hundreds of waterparks, aquatic centers, and specialized swim schools across the entire country to conduct a simultaneous swim safety lesson designed to build confidence and vital survival skills in the water.

Related: Dolly Parton Just Gave You the Perfect Excuse to Visit the Smokies After Dark

A Powerful Partnership for Local Youth

What elevated the morning event beyond a standard community workshop was Six Flags Great Adventure's continued, purposeful collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey.

Bringing together approximately 150 local participants—including children, mentors, and family members—the partnership is part of an aggressive, ongoing regional effort to actively expand access to water safety education for youth development programs across local New Jersey communities.

Because traditional private swim lessons can often present a significant financial or logistical barrier for working families, bringing an elite training framework directly into a major local theme park setting offers a highly engaging, non-intimidating way to deliver lifesaving skills to kids who need them most.

Following the completion of the morning's structured water lessons, all of the participating children and their families were invited to stick around to enjoy a completely complimentary, stress-free day of fun exploring the massive collection of water slides, lazy rivers and roller coasters across both Hurricane Harbor New Jersey and the main Six Flags Great Adventure theme park.

Related: Matt Damon Plays Santa for Safe Water Access

The Vital Importance of Early Water Safety

According to the World Waterpark Association—the founding organization behind the global initiative—teaching children basic swim techniques and water proficiency at an early age reduces the risk of drowning by an astonishing 88%.

By transforming a routine operating morning into a high-visibility, community-driven event, the park is helping to dismantle the common misconceptions around water safety while actively demonstrating that a structured, life-saving lesson can be just as thrilling as a day on the park's biggest drop towers.

Ultimately, as families map out their high-energy road trips and weekend lake escapes for July and August, the morning's record-breaking event stands as a powerful reminder that preparation is the ultimate foundation for summer fun. By equipping local youth with the physical skills and situational awareness to navigate the water confidently, the unified team at Six Flags and Big Brothers Big Sisters is ensuring that New Jersey families can dive into the warmest months of the year with true peace of mind.

Related: Six Flags Just Opened a New Retro Boardwalk Destination

Tyler Childers is back on the Billboard 200 with a familiar album nearly 15 years after launching his recording career.

The country singer-songwriter's acclaimed 2017 album Purgatory has re-entered the Billboard 200 at No. 192 on the chart dated July 4, 2026. The album returns with a "RE-ENTRY" label after spending a total of 247 weeks on the chart. It previously reached a peak position of No. 71.

The latest chart appearance adds another milestone to Childers' career, which began with the release of his independent debut album, Bottles and Bibles, in 2011. Since then, the Kentucky native has built one of country music's strongest independent success stories through steady album sales, streaming, and loyal fans.

Tyler Childers performs during Day 2 of the 2026 Railbird Music Festival at The Infield.

Photo by Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images

Released in August 2017, Purgatory marked a turning point for Childers. The album was issued through his own Hickman Holler Records alongside Thirty Tigers and quickly became his breakthrough project.

Produced by fellow Kentucky musician Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson, the record blended country, bluegrass, folk, honky-tonk and Appalachian influences. Critics praised its storytelling and traditional sound, while listeners helped turn songs like "Feathered Indians," "Whitehouse Road" and "Lady May" into fan favorites.

The album debuted at No. 71 on the Billboard 200 during its original run. It also climbed to No. 9 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, No. 2 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart, and No. 3 on the Independent Albums chart.

Its success continued well beyond its release year. Purgatory appeared on several Billboard year-end charts between 2019 and 2025, showing its lasting popularity. The album has also earned Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) after reaching one million certified units in the United States.

Critics also welcomed the album when it arrived in 2017. It received a Metacritic score of 82, indicating universal acclaim based on published reviews. 

Childers released his first album, Bottles and Bibles, in 2011 while pursuing music across Kentucky and West Virginia. Before finding commercial success, he worked odd jobs while performing in small venues and building a following through live shows.

His breakthrough finally arrived with Purgatory, a project that introduced his songwriting to a much wider audience without relying heavily on country radio.

Since then, Childers has continued to expand his catalog with albums including Country Squire (2019), Long Violent History (2020), Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? (2022), Rustin' in the Rain (2023) and Snipe Hunter (2025).

His career has also earned multiple Grammy Award nominations. The single "All Your'n" received a nomination for Best Country Solo Performance, while "In Your Love" became his first top-10 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. His 2025 album Snipe Hunter also received several Grammy nominations, with "Bitin' List" winning Best Country Song at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

His 2019 album Country Squire expanded on the momentum created by Purgatory. The project produced the Grammy-nominated single "All Your'n," while his 2020 release Long Violent History explored traditional fiddle music alongside themes of empathy and social issues.

Childers followed with the ambitious triple album Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? in 2022, earning his first top-10 placement on the Billboard 200. A year later, he released Rustin' in the Rain, which featured "In Your Love." The song became his first top-10 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and brought additional Grammy nominations.

His latest studio album, Snipe Hunter, arrived in 2025 and continued his exploration of Appalachian music while blending country, gospel, experimental rock, and psychedelia. The project earned several Grammy nominations, including Best Contemporary Country Album, while "Bitin' List" won Best Country Song at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

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Away from the studio, Childers has remained active on tour. Earlier this year, he postponed two concerts in New York and Pennsylvania as he and his wife, fellow musician Senora May, prepared to welcome their second child. The rescheduled performances are set for August, with previously purchased tickets remaining valid.

Related: Country-Rock Star Announced as Headliner for America's Salute 250 Concert

Historically, rock bands aren't exactly known for being drama-free. Throughout the '60s and '70s, a slew of stories involving drugs, betrayal, and infighting surrounded some of the most beloved bands in history. While many groups, from Fleetwood Mac to Led Zeppelin, can coyly own up to dozens of salacious stories, few can say they have weathered it all and remained a band like The Rolling Stones can.

On the cusp of their 25th album, Foreign Tongues, and in the wake of their bandmate Charlie Watts' 2021 death, famed guitarist Keith Richards offered some heartfelt thoughts on their longevity in a 2023 CBS Sunday Morninginterview that the Stones recently reshared on their official Instagram page.

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"I think we basically, we love each other and we love our music," Richards said plainly. "And when you're doing it, you don't really think about it. But I think with Charlie [Watts] going, I've realized more and more how special that is. I mean, there's something about the Stones, and there's something about us all that sort of says, 'No, we stick together.' And then you can't just drop it, you know. You've got to follow it right down to the end, down the tunnel."

Foreign Tongues, slated for release this week on July 10, 2026, promises to blend familiar Stones tunes with contributions from cutting-edge and classic artists. Steve Winwood, Robert Smith, Chad Smith, and the legendary Paul McCartneyall have guest spots on the album, as does work by the late Watts.

According to an interview with MOJO magazine, singer Mick Jagger spoke about the album's concept, which seems to generally focus on the dysphoria circulating in and around America.

“It’s about America as an idea,” Jagger elaborated to MOJO about the band's new song, "Ringing Hollow." “The American Dream is intact for some people, and I’m sure we can find some wonderful immigrant stories that happened in the last 12 months, but we read about the decline of the American Empire. Is the Iran war America’s Suez moment? Well, it’s not the same at all, but there are a lot of questions about imperial overreach and the lobbying system. The money spent on an election is absurd – it’s not corruption per se, but unnecessary. Is it indicative of this administration, or is it something that has been happening a long time? In any case, it’s not the same place as it was.”

Related: 1981 Rolling Stones Dreamy Song Took Almost a Decade To Make

The Stones' Most Political Songs

Historically, the Stones have never shied away from controversial topics or politically charged lyrics. “Sympathy for the Devil” meanders through history from "evil's" point of view, highlighting moments of war, disease, and famine across time. “Mother's Little Helper” addresses the prescription pill epidemic plaguing neglected housewives. “Street Fighting Man” was just one of the anti-Vietnam War songs they produced in their time together. And that's just a handful of samples featuring the band's strong political views.

Knowing they are keeping that rebellious spirit alive still warms the hearts of fans across the globe. And knowing that they are still doing it just because they love it will make the new album sound all the sweeter.

You can probably imagine how hard it was to write novels in the past without even typewriters. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy was written before the invention of the typewriter, meaning that it had to be written by hand.

However, it wasn’t Tolstoy who wrote everything nearly for the publishers. While he did handwrite the initial drafts, his wife, Sofya Tolstoy, had the job of painstakingly deciphering his messy handwriting and creating drafts that the publishers could read.

One round of writing wasn’t enough. Tolstoy was notorious for his perfectionism, and so, when Sofya would write out one of his drafts — at night, by candlelight — he would then scribble over the words, make more notes and edits, and then hand it all back to her to handwrite a clean draft again.

And he did this seven times! Keep in mind, this ended up being a 1,200-page book!

Sofya was just 18 at the time they married, when this duty first fell on her. At the same time, she had to raise their children and keep the house clean, which is why all the writing was done at night, as it was the only time available.

To make matters worse, the novel that we know from the 1869 publication wasn’t the original one published as serials. The original story was published as short serials starting in 1865 — two years after he originally started the draft — with the first half of the novel titled 1805. Parts continued to be published until 1867, but Tolstoy wasn’t happy with the finished work, and it had a different ending.

Between 1866 and 1969, he rewrote the story, which Sofya continued to clean up, until it was ready to be published as a whole novel stretching 1,200 pages, split into four volumes and an epilogue split in two parts.

Due to the way the whole piece was published and then changed, Russians were eager to buy the completed work, so War and Peace sold out immediately, and it was quickly translated for the world to read. Don’t worry; Sofya didn’t handwrite any of the translations!

Out of all of Tolstoy’s novels, War and Peace was never banned. While the leftist factions didn’t like it, the Russian government viewed it as supportive of the regime, as the main focus was on Russia’s triumph over Napoleon’s forces. It was only as Tolstoy got older and more anti-establishment that his works started to be banned, but War and Peace continued to excel.