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Something pretty special happened at the Grand Ole Opry when country star Mae Estes took the stage on Wednesday, August 26, one day after the tragic passing of legend Dolly Parton. 

Estes paid tribute to queen of country, performing Parton’s 1971 hit ‘Coat of Many Colors.’ As she soulfully sang a rendition of the classic track, a butterfly flew onto the stage. The Opry shared a clip of the magical encounter on social media, showing Estes strumming her guitar and an arrow pointing to the special guest star (a.k.a. the butterfly) along with the caption, “You can’t make this up.”

In a brief explainer, the Opry continued, “The spirit of Dolly Parton is strong in the Opry House. Just ask Mae Estes! A butterfly appeared flying around stage during her tribute to Dolly with ‘Coat of Many Colors.’” When fans caught wind of the video, they jumped on Instagram to share their thoughts on whether this was a little secret message from Parton’s spirit.

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“Chills!” wrote one commenter, adding their similar story, “My best friend passed away, and it’s been nonstop happily flying big black bumblebees from flower to flower, or one time thinking of her and zipping right up by my face in my patio. That was for sure a little zip of the beloved.”

Other Parton fans responded to the Opry, writing, “I believe these things happen for a reason…it’s def a message from the other side”, “I was thinking about Dolly as I was on my phone yesterday and I looked to put an emoji on a social media post and there was a blue butterfly right next to my top ones I always use. It made no sense, I have never used a butterfly before. Right here is another example…it’s spiritual,” and “I did not intend to cry like a baby this afternoon but here we are.”

But the comments didn’t stop there. Fans continued to share their love for Dolly and the belief that the butterfly was her message: “Of course this would happen. Dolly finally got her butterfly wings!” and “And inside, even more unusual, rare and special!”

As if a butterfly fluttering onto the Grand Ole Opry’s stage during Estes’ rendition of ‘Coat of Many Colors’ wasn’t special enough on its own, Parton’s fans know she had a strong connection to the winged insects. She adopted the butterfly symbol as her personal emblem, even including it as the “W” in the DollyWood sign’s logo. 

Dolly Parton poses for a portrait at Dollywood on October 24, 1988 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. (Photo by Ron Davis/Getty Images)

Back in 2021, Parton spoke candidly about her lifelong fascination with butterflies, telling W Magazine, “I used to get in trouble with my mom, ‘cause they’d have to come and find me and I’d be chasing a butterfly from one bush to another.” 

Parton went on to explain, “Butterflies don’t sting, they don’t bite, and they are so beautiful…And I just kind of related to them with my own personality. I claimed them as my little symbol.” 

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From the Y2K revival to the cottagecore trend, the internet can’t get enough of the vintage aesthetic. Items that have an old-school feel evoke a sense of nostalgia and uniqueness, which is why chinoiserie design is currently taking the internet by storm. Timeless yet trendy, chinoiserie pieces often look like a family heirloom, typically featuring an iconic blue and white colorway and nature-inspired motifs. 

@kakaseal2.0

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♬ original sound – KaKa || MUA & ESTI 💋

While you could definitely find chinoiserie lamps, decor pieces, and furniture at antique stores, it takes time and patience. Luckily, you can shop for them at Amazon, and while they’re not true antique pieces, they have a vintage-like appearance and a budget-friendly price tag. One option that we love is this Zpgxlrz 2-Piece Chinoiserie Ceramic Jar Set. Right now, you can score it on sale at the lowest price it’s been available at in the past 30 days. Normally retailing for $25, this chinoiserie jar set is now marked down to just $21. 

Zpgxlrz 2-Piece Chinoiserie Ceramic Jar Set, $21 (was $25) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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Featuring a stunning botanical design, these jars are decorated with delicate flowers, dainty leaves, and winding branches. The pattern boasts a white hue with a few splashes of blue, set against a deep blue backdrop to really make the design stand out. These jars are made of ceramic, giving them an authentic feel. The ceramic has been fired at a high temperature, creating a glossy glaze for that porcelain appearance. 

Similar to many antique styles, these jars have a curved silhouette that tapers toward the bottom. The base is flat and wide enough to ensure that the jars remain stable. The lids are domed and flare out towards the edge. For decorative and functional purposes, the lids have a finial at the top so you can open the jars with ease. The finial is accented with a gold finish, adding a touch of subtle luxury. 

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For size reference, each jar measures 4.7 inches tall and 3.6 inches wide. They’re small but mighty, so they’ll hardly take up any space wherever you put them. You can set them on your dining table, console, a shelf, or the kitchen counter to elevate your space with a touch of elegance and vintage charm. 

While these jars undeniably make for gorgeous decor, they’re also ideal for storage, practical for storing small items without leaving a lot of space unused. You can keep them in the kitchen and fill them up with anything from spices to coffee beans. These jars could also work for craft supplies, hair accessories, trinkets, and anything else that you see fit. 

“They are gorgeous and look amazing in my kitchen,” one reviewer raved. A second shopper described them as “adorable and beautiful” and commented that they’re “cuter in person” than they look online. A third customer said that the jars are “nice quality.” 

Related: Shoppers Say This $18 Chinoiserie Ceramic Planter With ‘Vintage Charm’ Looks Like a ‘High-End’ Family Heirloom

If you want to bring some vintage charm into your living space without having to step foot outside the door, be sure to grab the Zpgxlrz 2-Piece Chinoiserie Ceramic Jar Set at Amazon while it’s still on sale for just $21! 

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Even though 1971’s “Starship Trooper” by Yes was released 55 years ago, Steve Howe‘s guitar skills are still getting recognition. In May 2026, Rolling Stone magazine published a ranking of “The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time,” which put “Starship Trooper,” off the band’s third album, The Yes Album, at the 79th spot.

Some of the other guitar-forward hits included on Rolling Stone magazine’s list are 1978’s “Just What I Needed” by The Cars, “The Trooper” by Iron Maiden from 1983, Howlin’ Wolf‘s “Spoonful” from 1960, 1970’s “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath, and Jimi Hendrix‘s 1968 hit “All Along the Watchtower.” According to Rolling Stone magazine, Prince‘s 1984 tune, “Purple Rain,” had the best guitar solo ever.

Yes Guitarist Steve Howe Gave Some Insight Into Co-Writing ‘Starship Trooper’

In a 2023 interview on The Weekly Show with David J. Maloney, Howe discussed co-writing the 9-minute-and-39-second song, which consists of the three sections, “a. Life Seeker,” “b. Disillusion,” and “c. Würm,” with Yes members Jon Anderson and Chris Squire, who died in 2015 at the age of 67.

Howe, who began playing for Yes in 1970, said “Würm” featured a guitar “structure” he had added to his previous band, Bodast‘s song “Nether Street,” which he said was penned by his then-bandmate Clive Skinner. He explained that Bodast’s record company had “dropped” them and their recordings, which was “one of the reasons [he] joined Yes.” Howe, who didn’t believe any of Bodast’s recorded songs would ever be heard, introduced his “Nether Street” cords to his Yes bandmates while making The Yes Album.

“So, we’re doing The Yes Album, and I say, ‘Well, I got these three cords, you know, it’s a G with a D route, you know, and it’s an E flat with a B flat route, and it’s a C with a G route.’ And so everyone said, ‘Alright that’s pretty cool,'” said the guitarist.

He then noted that Skinner died in 1978.

“He passed away very tragically, very lonely, and he was a terrific singer and writer. And he really felt disillusioned. The world had turned their back on him,” said the musician in the 2023 interview. “I had as well, you know, I’d rushed off to Yes. And you know, by ’78 you can imagine Yes were a pretty big band in the UK, in the world in fact. And Clive was kind of lost, nowhere, so I wish to hell I’d stayed in touch with him.”

After Howe got in touch with the other surviving members of Bodast, he managed to finally get the band’s recorded songs released “out of respect to Clive.”

“It did come about in the end with being heard by the rest of the world because I wanted it to be, but not primarily, nothing to do with ‘Nether Street’ really, but just because of Clive,” continued Howe.

IKEA is closing one of its two North Carolina stores on August 30.

The affordable furniture store opened the Providence Road, South Charlotte branch just two years ago. The 356,000-square-foot store located in University City will soon be the state’s only remaining location.

The closing IKEA was different than the typically Scandinavian store; there were no Swedish meatballs or furniture for sale. It was part of the chain’s “plan and order” trial shops where customers could speak with employees to plan their intended interior design. The location also offered pick-up orders.

The new structure was a U.S. growth strategy and intended “to meet customers where they are and how they like to shop”, IKEA told The Charlotte Observer in a statement.

It is currently unknown why the store is closing. IKEA told the outlet that it wants to continue investing in new shopping experiences, including “home delivery, pick-up services and digital capabilities.” It is unclear how many employees will be impacted.

IKEA told the US Sun that they are closing the Providence Road store as “part of our strategy to build a more affordable, accessible, and sustainable future for IKEA in the US”.

The statement continues, “We continue to test, explore, and develop new ways for customers to meet IKEA, while investing in home delivery, pick-up services and our online experience.

The furniture company added that customers in the midst of projects should finish them quickly or transfer to another location.

“If you have a current kitchen, room or business planning project open at IKEA South Charlotte Plan and order point with pick-up, you can complete it before the store closes or switch it over to any other IKEA store or online with a remote planner.”

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There comes a point in every beauty lover’s life when the makeup bag simply can’t be trusted anymore. What started as a perfectly reasonable collection of mascara, lip gloss and a few favorite products has somehow turned into a small cosmetics department living on your bathroom counter. There are foundations you forgot you owned, three nearly identical shades of blush and that one very expensive serum you refuse to use because you’re “saving it.” For what? Unclear.

And then there’s the daily scavenger hunt. You know the product you want is in there somewhere, but finding it requires moving six other bottles, opening three drawers and questioning your entire organizational strategy. The problem isn’t necessarily that you have too much beauty stuff. It’s that your beauty stuff has no system.

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Milano Acrylic Rotating Makeup Organizer, $19.19 (originally $29.99) at Kohl’s

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That’s where a little vertical thinking can help. Instead of spreading beloved products across every available inch of counter space, give them a designated spot where you can actually see what you have—and, crucially, reach it without knocking over everything else. The Milano Acrylic Rotating Makeup Organizer at Kohl’s can do that for you, serving as your personal, beauty-focused lazy Susan.

Related: Costco’s New 2-Piece Organic Towel Set Brings Supersoft Spa Vibes to Your Bathroom

Its four-tiered rotating design lets you neatly stack different types of products, from perfumes to lipsticks and makeup brushes, on a single 13-inch-tall unit. Some tiers are sectioned off to allow for easy corralling of like items such as nail polish or individual eyeshadows.

Kohl’s shoppers are loving how well it’s keeping their vanity and counter spaces organized.

“Very happy with this,” says a customer in their review. “I was able to move so much off of my counter space and categorize it into specific spaces such as all cleansers together; all primers, all dental etc. There are bands included to stretch and keep shelves in place but they were hard to stretch and I ended up not using any of them. The shelves have been fine.”

The organizer is usually priced at $29.99, but Kohl’s currently has it marked down to $23.99. When you apply the GOSHOP20 coupon at checkout, you’ll get an additional 20 percent off, which brings it down to $19.19. Grab it before this deal is gone.

Related: A 1981 Bar Jukebox Favorite Is Immortalized on a $5 Five Below T-Shirt

“I Wanna Be Sedated,” like much of the music by New York punk band the Ramones, wasn’t a hit at the time of its initial release, but the song and the band’s music have shown incredible staying power over the years.

In 2018, 40 years after the song was first released on the band’s fourth studio album, Road to Ruin, the single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for equivalent sales and streams of 1 million units.

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On Spotify, the song is second to only the band’s 1976 classic “Blitzkrieg Bop” (more than 476 million streams) with more than 315 million streams.

In 2003, “I Wanna Be Sedated” came in at No. 145 on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs of All Time with the magazine calling it “the greatest God-does-the-road-ever-suck song.”

And now the song has been re-recorded by one of the hundreds of punk bands that sprung up in the Ramones’ wake.

The Offspring announced on Aug. 28 in an email to fans that the band has released a new studio version of their take of the Ramones classic.

“We’ve been playing this live on tour, so we thought we’d record a proper studio version for you. Listen to our cover of the Ramones’ ‘I Wanna Be Sedated’ now,” reads the announcement, which includes a mash-up of the Ramones and Offspring logos and links to several streaming options to hear their version of the song.

The Offspring version is faithful to the original, although at 2:25, it’s four seconds shorter than the Ramones original.

Though this may be the first time that the Offspring has released the song as a single, it’s not the first time they’ve recorded a version of the song. Their version of the Ramones classic appears in the 1999 horror/comedy film Idle Hands but was not included in the film’s officially released soundtrack. However, a version of the song by the Offspring was included in the 2003 album, We’re a Happy Family: A Tribute to Ramones, alongside versions of Ramones songs by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rob Zombie, Metallica, U2 and others.

In an interview with news.com.au, Offspring singer Dexter Holland cited the Ramones as the most important punk band of the ‘70s. “They were fantastic and people don’t realize that they started as early as they did and they were amazing in the ‘70s. A lot of people didn’t discover them until later, but I think that’s where a lot of it started for many punk fans,” he said.

One of the greatest adventure stories of all time has also just been named one of the funniest books ever to hit the shelf. The Princess Bride, William Goldman’s 1973 novel published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, is a swashbuckling saga, a fairy tale, a romance, and a running joke about all three.

It’s also the third-most hilarious read of all time, according to Collider, right behind Douglas Adams‘ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy at No. 1 and John Kennedy Toole‘s A Confederacy of Dunces at No. 2.

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Goldman’s book is a bit different from the top two, though. He achieves his humor through a literary prank, structuring his novel as a sustained satire of 19th-century epics and the very act of storytelling itself. He interrupts his narrator, comments on the narrative, and plays with the conventions of traditional adventure and romance, all while using Westley, Buttercup, Inigo, Fezzik, and Vizzini to balance genuine high stakes with comedic absurdity.

“William Goldman comments on the book as something he discovered and then abridged,” Collider wrote. “It’s got that meta aspect to it, even if it’s not as aggressively postmodern as previously mentioned books like White Noise and Inherent Vice.”

Goldman began writing in the ’50s, eventually taking his storytelling talent to the screen and winning two Academy Awards: one for 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and the other for 1976’s All the President’s Men. In the ’80s, he adapted his own Princess Bride novel for the screen, with the legendary Rob Reiner directing and a certain actor in mind to play one of his most beloved characters.

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“André the Giant. He was the only one,” Goldman said during a book chat hosted by CNN. “He was the most popular figure on every movie set I was on. During the shooting of Princess Bride, small children used to climb on André and sit in his hands or on his head during the filming.”

The film transformed The Princess Bride into a cross-generational sensation. Though it received only a modest response when it first hit theaters in September 1987, it has since become a revered cult classic and an enduring film in the canon of great comedies, with fans digging up the novel and either discovering or revisiting the masterwork with new eyes.

“The Princess Bride was a well-liked novel before it was also a well-liked movie, with both being worth seeking out, since they take slightly different approaches to being loving parodies of fairy tale stories,” Collider added. “The Princess Bride … manages to be a great comedy while also being a pretty solid fantasy/adventure/romance novel at the same time.”

Another one of the novel’s biggest fans is Celeste Ng, author of the bestselling Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere. According to the author, her older sister began reading The Princess Bride to her before leaving for college; Ng has since described the fantasy novel as an important part of her literary life.

“Goldman is just making up the book within the book, and every time he tells us he’s omitting a boring section, he puts in all this snarky commentary on what he’s leaving out, and makes himself and his father and his family into characters,” Ng said, via Entertainment Weekly. “It’s an incredibly clever book, and a genius adaptation.”

With the story’s popularity growing with every passing year, the absence of a sequel becomes more and more glaring. Goldman did, however, leave readers a tantalizing piece of a next chapter, called Buttercup’s Baby. Later editions of The Princess Bride include the first chapter, which picks up with Westley and Buttercup’s baby, Waverly, and sends Fezzik on a wild rescue mission.

“The first fiction I’ve written in 12 years is the chapter of Buttercup’s Baby that’s included in the edition of The Princess Bride,” Goldman, who died in November 2018 at 87, said, per CNN. “And it was just a wonderful experience.”

As is the legacy of his story: a 1973 novel that became a beloved 1987 movie, inspired generations of readers, and is still being rediscovered, nearly five decades later, as a book worthy of its place among the funniest titles ever written.

Related: 1985 Pop-Rock Hit, Which Closes a Kilmer Cult Classic, Became One of the Greatest ’80s Movie Songs

Three days after Dolly Parton‘s death, the entertainment icon was “laid to rest” in her native Tennessee on Friday, August 28. Her niece, Lainey Mae Parton, confirmed the news in a heart-wrenching social media post the next day.

“This is a really hard post for me to make,” Lainey captioned a series of photos with her famous aunt, whom she called “granny.” She continued, “I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words.”

Following the country music legend’s death on August 25, her nephew, Bryan Seaver, told TMZ that Parton would be buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, next to her late husband Carl Dean, who died in 2025. The outlet also noted that Parton would be “buried in her signature high heels and a comfortable cotton dress.”

The confirmation of Parton’s burial site did not come as a huge surprise, given that a spot was reserved for Parton next to Dean, as seen on a plaque erected in the mausoleum where his body was entombed.

Dolly Parton’s emotional loved ones gather at Nashville burial site 3 days after her death https://t.co/UBoZ3gu0X6 pic.twitter.com/eEGmuOlJZu

— New York Post (@nypost) August 28, 2026

On August 28, the New York Post published photos of Parton’s family members arriving at the burial site, but there was no confirmation at the time of the reason for their gathering.

Dolly Parton’s Niece Says She Treated the Kids in Her Family ‘Like We Were Hers’ View this post on Instagram

Parton’s niece, Lainey, wrote in her August 29th post that she was a high school freshman when she sang a duet with her “granny” for her 2024 album Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables. But she didn’t have designs on following in her famous aunt’s footsteps.

“When I told her I wanted to go to beauty school, she never questioned why I wasn’t going to college,” Lainey wrote. “She told me she couldn’t see me doing anything else. She financially supported me through school and helped me get my career started. She didn’t just tell me to chase my dreams, she helped me get there.”

Lainey also shared that she felt “incredibly lucky that I got to call her my granny.” Of the many kids in their family, Lainey wrote, “Because she couldn’t have kids of her own, she always made us feel like we were hers. She loved us that way, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”

Forty-eight years ago, soft-rocker Walter Egan released “Magnet and Steel,” a career-defining moment for him that was brought to life by another ’70s rock legend.

Released in March 1978 as the lead single from his second solo studio album, Not Shy, “Magnet and Steel” became a major success. By August, the song had climbed up the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 8. In total, it spent 22 consecutive weeks on the tally, serving as a dominating force throughout the summer and marking his first and biggest commercial breakthrough.

Egan’s single not only proved itself on the charts, but through sales as well. Since its release, the song has sold over 500,000 copies in the U.S. alone, earning a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The track also preformed well on a global scale, moving over 1 million estimated units.

Guitarist and singer Lindsey Buckingham of British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac in a recording studio in New Haven, Connecticut, in October 1975.

Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images

Creating “Magnet and Steel”

“Magnet and Steel” was the product of an iconic collaboration with members of the massively popular ’70s rock band Fleetwood Mac. Lindsey Buckingham, lead guitarist and a co-lead vocalist of the group, helped co-produce the track alongside Egan and Richard Dashut—a notable record producer who worked on several of Fleetwood Mac’s biggest albums.

The single was inspired by Egan’s developing crush on Fleetwood Mac’s lead signer Stevie Nicks, who had previously recorded backing vocals on his track “Tunnel o’ Love.” He penned the song in just 15 minutes after returning home from a studio session with her.

“On the night when Stevie did the background vocals for my song ‘Tunnel o’ Love,’ my nascent amorous feelings toward her came into a sharper focus—I was smitten by the kitten, as they say,” he said in an interview with Songfacts. “By the time I pulled into my driveway I had formulated the lyrics and come up with the magnet metaphor. From there the song was finished in 15 minutes.”

Nicks went on to aid in the process of bringing “Magnet and Steel” to life, singing background vocals alongside Buckingham. Egan reflected on the process, stating “It was especially satisfying to have Stevie sing on ‘Magnet,’ since it was about her.”

“Magnet and Steel” utilized a similar production approach to many of Fleetwood Mac’s late ’70s works. Buckingham and Dashut’s touch added lush instrumentation and layered harmonies that mirrored the band’s signature sound so many have grown to love. Accompanied by its lyrical themes of inevitable attraction, the song’s shimmering soft-rock sound made it a deeply resonant track that has endured long past its release date.

Nearly five decades later, Egan’s hit remains timeless among ’70s soft-rock lovers. On Spotify, “Magnet and Steel” has accumulated over 27 million streams, attesting to its perseverance in the modern digital era.

Related: 1977 Hit, Written by David Allan Coe, Ranked Among ‘Best Country Songs of All Time’

During the 1970s, the Eagles put out an impressive amount of soft rock hits, including 1975’s “Take It to the Limit,” penned by Glenn Frey, who died in 2016 at the age of 67, Randy Meisner, who died in 2023 when he was 77, and Don Henley, now 79. The tune appeared on Ultimate Classic Rock‘s list of the “top 40 soft-rock songs.”

The publication ranked the song, off the One of These Nights record, in the list’s 28th spot. Ultimate Classic Rock reported that Meisner was the 1975 track’s main vocalist, despite being primarily the band’s bassist. According to the publication, “Take It to the Limit” had a part in the musician’s 1977 Eagles departure.

Far Out magazine reported that some of the higher notes throughout “Take It to the Limit” caused Meisner a great deal of stress prior to live performances. According to Far Out, Henley said Meisner declined to do the hit at a concert on what ended up being his last Eagles tour in 1977.

“We were backstage and the crowd was going and our encore was ‘Take It to the Limit’. Randy didn’t want to do the song that night,” said Henley, as reported by Far Out.

Henley stated that Meisner “had been partying all night,” making it difficult for him to provide the vocals for “Take It to the Limit.”

“Glenn [Frey] kept saying ‘You’ve got to do it’ and he kept saying no. And by the third or fourth time Randy refused, Glenn just took a few steps back and said, ‘Well f–k you then,'” said Henley, per Far Out.

Far Out reported that Meisner discussed the situation in a conversation with Marc Eliot, the author of To the Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles.

“I was too sick and generally fed up. I decided I wasn’t going back out,” said Meisner.

The publication also reported that Meisner “developed stomach ulcers” and “had been ill” while on the 1977 tour.

Following Meisner’s death, the Eagles’ official website shared a tribute to the bassist, which included a statement from the band, honoring his memorable contribution to “Take It to the Limit.”

“Randy was an integral part of the Eagles and instrumental in the early success of the band. His vocal range was astonishing, as is evident on his signature ballad, ‘Take It to the Limit,’” read the Eagles statement, published on their website on July 23, 2023.

Maren Morris had such a good time at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding that she went home wearing someone else’s shoes.

During a recent radio interview that was shared on TikTok, the country singer, 36, revealed that she and fellow wedding guest Miranda Lambert accidentally swapped their black heels during Swift and Kelce’s July 3 nuptials at Madison Square Garden.

“Miranda Lambert and I accidentally took each other’s shoes home,” Morris explained. “We don’t wear the same shoe size, and the shoes did not look the same at all. They were both just, like, black heels.”

@alanathegreat

that has to be a sign of a really good time 🫶 #marenmorris #mirandalambert #taylorswift #traviskelce #wedding

♬ original sound – Alana D

Morris didn’t notice the mix-up until the following day, explaining that she had slipped them on because walking out of the wedding barefoot wasn’t exactly an option. As it turned out, Lambert had Morris’ shoes. Morris learned about the other half of the mix-up after Lambert’s stylist mentioned that the singer had somehow ended up with size 6 heels that didn’t fit.

READ MORE: Beloved Country Singer Appears to Hard Launch New Romance After Revealing Major Career Announcement

“When we realized we had taken each other’s shoes home, of course I’m like dying laughing, but I’m also relieved,” Morris said. She had initially worried that whoever owned the mystery shoes might think she’d deliberately taken them. Once she figured out Lambert was the culprit, Morris reached out directly. “I was like, ‘That has to be the sign of a really good time.’”

The two country stars were among the many celebrity guests who watched Swift and Kelce exchange vows in New York City.

Morris has had plenty happening in her personal life since the star-studded wedding, too. Days later, she and fellow country singer Cassadee Pope fueled romance speculation with a series of affectionate social media posts.

After Morris shared a photo of the pair getting cozy, Pope reposted it and wrote, “Trying to get bb to move here, everyone help.” She turned up the heat with another photo showing the two kissing, captioning it, “she won’t go out with you because she’s out with me, silly.”

Related: Taylor Swift Fans Outside Madison Square Garden Seemingly Walked Away With This Unexpected Souvenir

The age-old adage “first impressions are everything” may seem overused at this point, but that doesn’t mean it’s outdated (or wrong). Now more than ever, etiquette experts stress that a first impression can really stick, for better or worse.

For example, classy people with exceptional etiquette skills often use certain techniques in conversations, especially when they first meet people. For starters, they always make another person feel seen and heard by bouncing the conversation back to them. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s the key to avoiding what etiquette expert Jenny Dreizen considers the ultimate first impression ruiner. In fact, she is practically begging people to stop doing one specific thing when they first meet someone.

She says that the first few seconds you meet someone activate what’s called “the primary effect.” More on that later, but what you do need to know is that your willingness (or unwillingness, for that matter) to get to know someone better can really stand out in someone’s mind.

While there are a few things you’ll need to consider if you want to make a good first impression, Dreizen shares the most important thing to avoid when meeting someone below, along with other common etiquette mistakes she spots more often than not.

Related: Asking This Type of Question Can Make You Seem ‘Unclassy’ When You First Meet Someone, Etiquette Expert Warns

The Ultimate First Impression Ruiner: What Etiquette Experts Want You to Stop Doing

According to Dreizen, there’s no faster way to make a bad first impression than doing this: not focusing on the person you’re meeting.

“A lack of focus on the person you’re being introduced to or meeting,” she tells Parade. “It’s not hard to recognize when someone isn’t giving a meeting the appropriate respect.”

There are also smaller things that can indicate someone’s attention is elsewhere.

“Think lack of eye contact, looking over your shoulder, quick, clipped replies,” she continues. “It doesn’t do what good etiquette strives to: make people feel seen, welcome and appreciated.”

The Psychology of the First 7 Seconds: Why Early Blunders Stick

Dreizen also shares a bit about the “primary effect.” The idea behind this is that your brain tends to remember the first piece of information it receives better than information learned later on. In terms of etiquette, the primary effect definitely applies to the first impression you give off when you meet someone new.

“[It’s] kind of like the old expression, ‘You can’t make a second first impression,'” she explains. “It’s very difficult to come back from what the brain imprints upon. It takes a lot of concerted, consistent effort for reasons I imagine are deeply rooted in our evolutionary biology. Negative experiences are weighted more heavily in our brain than positive—so undoing that damage is not easy.”

Related: This Phrase Makes You Instantly Approachable, Psychologist Explains

5 Other Common Introduction Mistakes To Avoid

While Dreizen mentioned some of these common introduction faux pas previously, here’s a breakdown of why you should avoid these smaller mistakes. Overall, they all tend to indicate the same thing, making the same mistake: your focus isn’t on the conversation at hand.

1. Closed-off body language

Body language can say a lot, and Dreizen says there are key indicators that convey you’re not interested in meeting someone or having a conversation. Perfect examples of this include having your arms crossed, a slight frown on your face or your shoulders turned away from someone.

“It’s like you’re saying ‘I am uninterested in this conversation,'” she adds.

2. No face-to-face connection

Having that face-to-face connection with someone is the key to making someone feel comfortable. It subtly indicates you’re listening and want to connect. Without this, someone might get the idea that you’re uninterested.

“Eye contact is not for everyone (for some neurodivergent folks it’s tough!),” Dreizen notes. “But gently moving your eyes across someone’s face while they’re speaking will make them feel seen and respected.”

3. Looking over someone’s shoulder

This mistake goes hand-in-hand with avoiding face-to-face connection. If your eyes are wandering elsewhere, the person you’re meeting might think you’re losing interest in the conversation or worse.

“[You may appear like] you’re waiting for someone better to walk in,” Dreizen adds.

4. Short, clipped responses

Overly short responses to someone are an obvious indicator that you’ve checked out of the conversation. While it isn’t great to do to anyone, Dreizen shares that it’s especially rude when you first meet someone.

“It won’t feel like you truly want to engage with someone if you can’t muster more than one-word answers,” she explains.

5. Interrupting

Interrupting someone while they’re talking is a no-no in general, but if you constantly do it to someone you just met, they might get the wrong impression of you. It may signal a few things, like you’re impatient, you don’t care about what someone else has to say or you don’t really listen.

“Not letting someone else get a word in makes it seem like you’re more interested in an audience than a connection,” Dreizen adds.

Related: 11 Habits That Make You ‘Instantly Unlikable’ in Group Settings, According to Etiquette Experts

The Golden Rules of a Perfect Modern Introduction

Now that we’ve gotten the first meeting blunders to avoid out of the way, here’s Dreizen’s guide to the perfect introduction every time.

• If you can, make eye contact and have a gentle face, if not a smile.
• Take a breath and a beat when they introduce themselves. There’s no rush, and it will help you remember their name.
• Ask them what brought them here today, and offer your answer as to why you’re there as well.
• Ask an open-ended, circumstance-appropriate question (i.e., What’s been lighting you up recently? What are you looking forward to?)
• Really listen!

Up Next:

Related: How to Politely End a Conversation With Someone Who Won’t Stop Talking

Source:

• Jenny Dreizen is an etiquette expert as well as the co-founder and COO of Fresh Starts Registry and author of Simple Scripts to Support Your People.

Carrie Henn was just a little girl in Aliens, but the former child star has found a new career in adulthood.

Henn, 50, rose to stardom as Newt in the 1986 film, a sequel to the 1979 classic, Alien. Starring the iconic Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, Aliens follows the duo as they battle for survival. Directed by James Cameron, the film went down in history as a science fiction classic. But Henn, who is set to appear at the upcoming Stealth Con, decided to say goodbye to the entertainment industry after skyrocketing to fame as Newt. Check out a shot below to see what Henn looks like now:

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Henn Wanted To Be A “Normal Child”

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While Henn skyrocketed to stardom in Aliens, she longed for normalcy.

“I ultimately wanted to be a normal child,” she told the Alien vs. Predator Galaxy podcast in 2019, Hello! reported. “I just wanted to assimilate into American life and make friends. It was difficult at first because I was obviously different; not only had I been in a major movie, but I also had an English accent. I just pushed forward with my normal life and eventually got my education to become a teacher.”

Henn Found Her Passion in Teaching

After heading to college, Henn pursued a career as an educator.

“They don’t understand that [acting] wasn’t my passion. It wasn’t my dream. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Was it an amazing experience? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Of course. But it wasn’t my passion. Teaching was.”

Memories From The Aliens Set:

Just 9 years old while filming Aliens, Henn has good memories of her time on the set.

“I wasn’t nervous about being on set, because I knew everybody, and they were very friendly,” Henn told WIRED in 2016 while the film celebrated its 30th anniversary. “The aliens were all my friends, wearing suits. I was actually most nervous about going to the cafeteria for lunch, because I had to go in-character as Newt, and I thought everybody would be staring at me. I didn’t have any concept that everybody else was going to be dressed up, too. My tutor actually gave me a big pair of sunglasses to wear when I went in. But it turned out not to be such a big thing.”

If you’d like a reminder of Henn’s acting skills, watch her alongside Weaver in this mashup from Aliens:

Related: ‘Jurassic Park’ Child Star Ariana Richards Is 46—Here’s What She Looks Like and What She’s Doing Now

I’m all about treating yourself, and your bathroom deserves nice things, too. You might spend plenty of time obsessing over the “fun” stuff in your home—fluffy bedding, pretty throw pillows, candles that make the whole room smell expensive—but towels? Somehow, those tend to get treated like an afterthought. As long as they’re technically capable of drying you off, they make the cut.

But have you ever wrapped yourself in a genuinely great towel? One that’s soft, substantial and feels more like a little luxury than a piece of laundry? Next thing you know, the humble bath towel starts getting the respect it deserves. And why shouldn’t it? Your towel is part of your daily routine, whether you’re starting the morning, winding down after a shower or emerging from the pool on a hot afternoon.

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Purely Organic Organic Cotton Towel Sets, $26.99 at Costco

Costco

Upgrading your towels is such an easy way to make your bathroom feel a little more special without changing a single thing about the room itself. Just retire those sad, scratchy towels you’ve been hanging onto for reasons even you can’t explain. And Costco makes that upgrade easy with a new two-pack of organic bath towels from Purely Organics.

The towels feature a two-ply loop construction, which basically means the tiny loops that give a towel its soft, absorbent texture are made with two strands of yarn for extra durability. In other words, they’re designed to withstand plenty of showers and trips through the washing machine without looking worn out quickly.

Related: Target’s New 6-Tier Arched Bookcase Is Perfect for Blending Farmhouse Style With Vintage Appeal

What you’ll really love are all of the color options available—there’s that dusty pink shown above as well as cream, light gray and tan. Each one has a calming, spa-like vibe and also serves as a neutral of sorts to complement whatever your bathroom’s existing color scheme happens to be.

There are a lot of different towel materials out there—linen, microfiber, bamboo… the list goes on. But for most folks, 100 percent cotton (and organic cotton at that) is one of the best all-around materials for bath towels. Just know that “organic” only refers to how the cotton was grown, not necessarily how soft or absorbent a towel is. In this case? These organic cotton bath towels feel super plush while getting the absorbency job done.

Related: Aldi’s 2-Piece Glass Cake Dome Set Is Giving Pottery Barn Vibes on a Budget

Just weeks ago, Universal released the Halloween Horror Nights menu for Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. As of yesterday, Halloween Horror Nights is officially open at the Orlando parks, with it coming to the Hollywood parks next week on September 3rd. With the Sinners house already open, horror fans and passholders are getting an exclusive first look at Halloween Horror Nights, and people are already posting videos and pictures on social media. 

Related: Universal Releases Halloween Horror Nights Menus for ‘Sinners,’ ‘Stranger Things’ and more

Inspired by Smoke and Stack’s Juke Joint in the film, the “You’re In For One Bluesy Bloodbath” haunted house will have bloodthirsty vampires crash the party. And of course you’ll see Smoke, Stack, Mary, Annie, Remmick and Preacher Boy. The haunted house is essentially a maze that you walk through and includes flashing lights, performances and fan-favorite characters. 

While the Sinners house at Universal Studios Hollywood isn’t open yet, fans already have a sneak peek of what will be shown in the maze, saying that it captures the vibe of 1930s Mississippi in Smoke and Stack’s juke joint. 

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Sinners Lights On Preview for Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood!#sinners #halloweenhorrornights #universalstudioshollywood #hhn#themepark

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And, of course, the house at the Orlando parks also captures the vibe of the film and the juke joint. The Sinners soundtrack is also played throughout the house, which means you’ll hear Miles Canton’s I Lied to You and Last Time (I Seen the Sun), along with Ludwig Goransson’s Mound Bayou/Proper Black Folks and Jack O’Connell’s Rocky Road to Dublin. 

Along with the Sinners haunted house, fans can also enjoy horror-themed food and experiences from Stranger Things, Hellraiser, Ozzy Osbourne, Evil Dead Burn and more. Halloween Horror Nights runs from August 28 to November 1 at Universal Orlando Resort and from September 3 to November 1 at Universal Hollywood Studios.

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Carole King had already written hits for The Shirelles and Aretha Franklin before she recorded “It’s Too Late,” giving the hitmaker a chance to sing one of her own stories.

The track landed on her 1971 album Tapestry, alongside staples like “You’ve Got a Friend,” “I Feel the Earth Move,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” The record went on to define an entire era of singer-songwriters.

King had recently left New York for Los Angeles, hoping for a fresh start. She settled in Laurel Canyon, where she became part of a music scene that included James Taylor and Joni Mitchell. It was also there that she met Toni Stern, who would become an important songwriting collaborator.

The story behind the song hit close to home for King. She had divorced her husband and longtime songwriting partner, Gerry Goffin, in 1968. The pair had spent years writing some of pop’s biggest hits together. 

This time, King wasn’t handing the song off to someone else to perform. She put her own voice behind it, accompanied by her piano and a restrained arrangement. King recorded the song at A&M Studios in Los Angeles with Lou Adler producing. Adler had also founded Ode Records, the label that released Tapestry. 

King’s understated vocal sits at the center of the track, while the piano, drums and guitar help carry the song’s story of a relationship coming to an end. Even the Tapestry cover reflected King’s new chapter. 

The songstress is pictured sitting at her Laurel Canyon home with her cat beside her, holding a handmade tapestry. After years of writing hits for other performers, she was now the one behind the microphone. 

Tapestry took home four Grammys, including Album of the Year, while “It’s Too Late” won Record of the Year. The single hit No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts and went Gold.

More than three decades later, the song picked up one more honor, induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003. It also found new life in the early ’90s, when British electronic duo Quartz took a cover of “It’s Too Late,” featuring vocalist Dina Carroll, into the U.K. Top 10.

Related: 1964 Rock Song, Written by Carole King, Launched a 16-Year-Old Singer’s Career

The Cheesecake Factory has always been popular, but lately the restaurant has been trending on social media. Between debates about the Skinnylicious menu and the dress like a Tuscan mom and eat at The Cheesecake Factory trend, the restaurant has been everywhere on socials lately. With summer coming to a close in a few weeks and fall quickly approaching, The Cheesecake Factory has officially released its new menu. Among the new menu items are delicious brunch plates, appetizers and bites, dinner items and a new cheesecake flavor.

The Cheesecake Factory has a wide variety of menu items. From Skinnylicious salads to pizzas to steak, there’s something for every kind of eater, even the picky ones. There are 33 cheesecake flavors on their menu, including fan favorites like the red velvet cheesecake, cookie dough lover’s cheesecake and the Godiva chocolate cheesecake. For the ones who like it plain, you can also order original, fresh strawberry and vanilla bean cheesecake flavors. Aside from cheesecake, they also offer desserts like carrot cake, chocolate tower truffle cake, tiramisu, warm apple crisp, hot fudge sundae and strawberry shortcake. 

Related: Regal Announces It’s Bringing Back the Popular Butterbeer-Inspired ICEE

The Cheesecake Factory serves Saturday and Sunday brunch until 2 pm, with omelettes, waffles, pancakes, French toast, breakfast sandwiches, and eggs benedict. Aside from brunch and dessert, choose from a long list of appetizers, small plates, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, salads, pastas, steaks, seafood, chicken and specialties for lunch and dinner. View The Cheesecake Factory’s new menu items below. 

The Cheesecake Factory New Menu Items: 

• Chicken and Waffle Skewers: Cheddar cheese and green chile waffle, crispy fried chicken, hot honey and maple-butter syrup.
• Double Smash Cheeseburger Bites: Double patties, double cheese, grilled onions, special sauce. 
• Pigs in a Blanket: Pastry-wrapped all-beef hot dogs served with honey mustard.
• Sweet-Soy Glazed Ribs: Tender ribs glazed with soy-garlic chili sauce and topped with sesame seeds.
• Mediterranean Bowl: Charbroiled chicken kabobs with rice, tomato-cucumber salad, feta cheese, garlic, onion, cilantro and pita bread.
• Crispy Factory Fish Sandwich: Fried Pacific swordfish, cheese, coleslaw and tartar sauce on a toasted sesame seed bun.
• Blackened Factory Fish Sandwich: Blackened Pacific swordfish, cheese, coleslaw and tartar sauce on a toasted sesame seed bun.
• Modern Cheesesteak: Sliced steak with melted cheese and grilled onion on a toasted sesame roll. 
• Shakshuka Omelette: Roasted peppers and onion, spinach, feta cheese and spicy tomato sauce in an egg. Served with pita bread. 
• Brownie Crunch Choc-a-lot Cheesecake: Milk and white chocolate marbled cheesecake on a crunchy toffee brownie.
• Pineapple Coconut Dream: Pineapple, coconut and sweet cream. 
• Lava Flow Punch: Strawberry-infused Planteray 3 Stars and pineapple rum with banana liqueur and coconut. Served on the rocks. 
• Peach Bellini Spritz: Giffard Peach Liqueur and Prosecco over ice.
• Raspberry Sour: High West Bourbon with raspberry and fresh lemon.
• White Sangria: Sauvignon Blanc with peach, elderflower and pineapple.

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Related: Universal Releases Halloween Horror Nights Menus for ‘Sinners,’ ‘Stranger Things’ and more

Losing a friend comes with a lifetime of ache. But accepting that loss hits different when the friend walked you through every season of your life. For Liza Minnelli, Dolly Parton‘s death is exactly that kind of blow.

The Cabaret star honored the late country icon in an emotional Instagram tribute on Friday, August 28, three days after Parton’s death at 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Minnelli, 80, vulnerably admits that she is struggling to accept the news as she reflected on Parton’s kindness and the private friendship they shared.

What Did Liza Minnelli Say About Dolly Parton?

Parton’s loss had left people around the world heartbroken, Minnelli wrote. “The sound we hear isn’t thunder; it’s hearts cracking all over the world. No. It can’t be true,” she shared.

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“I love Dolly,” Minnelli continued. “And she was always a truly supportive friend. We cheered each other on many times. When I was in trouble? Dolly knew it.” The Liza with a Z and Arrested Development alum celebrated her own 80th birthday on March 12.

Also read: Dolly Parton’s Sister Stella Reveals Their Weekly Tuesday Coffee Ritual in Tearful Tribute

How Did Liza Minnelli and Dolly Parton Become Friends? Musician Dolly Parton and actress Liza Minnelli

(Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage for Tony Awards)

Minnelli credited former agent Sam Haskell with bringing Parton into her life. Singer Michael Feinstein also became part of their close circle. “Because of Sam, our tribe has special & beautiful memories of Dolly,” she wrote.

“Sam brought Dolly into our lives in powerful ways. Michael sang ‘Love Is Here To Stay’ with Dolly for his Gershwin Country album, which I Executive Produced. Of course, it was a hit.”

Feinstein’s collaboration with Parton appeared on his 2022 album. For Minnelli, however, the friendship extended far beyond music.

What Will Liza Minnelli Miss Most About Dolly Parton?

Minnelli said she would especially miss their private conversations and the time they spent together away from the spotlight.

She recalled the “spicy girl gossip during great meals, after visiting each others’ concerts.” “There’s much to say at this moment,” Minnelli concluded. “I can’t get any words out. My throat … my heart … are full.”

Tributes have continued since Parton’s death. Her younger sister, Stella Parton, remembered the singer with a message about her unmistakable sparkle.

“If anyone gets to heaven I’m sure she made it right on time,” Stella wrote. “I know she’s showing out big time, in all her sparkles and shine. That was my sister’s way.”

Days of Our Lives fans rejoice! After a months-long absence, Daytime Emmy winner Suzanne Rogers is returning to the beloved Peacock streaming soap opera.

Rogers has portrayed Maggie Horton on the series since 1973 and was written out of the soap opera in April of this year.

Back in October of 2025, it was revealed that Rogers was battling stage II colorectal cancer. The actress confirmed to People the following month in November that she was in remission.

As a result of her battle with cancer, Rogers took some time off from the soap opera. Speaking to TVInsider, the actress explained how supportive those behind the scenes of the show were when they heard the news. “I got calls from Ken [Corday, executive producer] and Noel [Maxam, coexecutive producer] and Sara [Peterson, producer] and they all said, ‘Don’t worry about a thing, take care of yourself, get yourself well. That’s the most important thing. We are here.’”

On-screen, Maggie left Salem to visit her daughter, Melissa, during a time of need.

Maggie has been absent from a few major storylines involving her daughter, Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey), and granddaughter, Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis). In addition, her stepson Philip (John-Paul Lavoisier) has returned to gambling and has floated the idea of selling the Kiriakis family home to pay back E.J. DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel). So, to say Maggie is going to have her hands full upon returning would be an understatement.

Due to Days of Our Lives’ advance filming schedule, Rogers’ return was actually filmed back in November of 2025.

When Will Maggie Return to Days of Our Lives?

Spoilers for next week on Days of Our Lives indicate that Maggie will make her return as Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) reaches out to her beloved friend and family member. This will happen on September 1, 2026.

Earlier this year, Rogers spoke with Digital Journal, where she sent a direct message to her supporters, sharing, “I am very grateful to the fans. They have stuck with me through thick and thin, and they are still there, and they still love the character of Maggie!”

Days of our Lives streams brand new episodes weekdays exclusively on Peacock.

Best-selling romance author Jenn McKinlay is still pinching herself after witnessing her 2020 novel, “Paris Is Always a Good Idea,” become a TV series starring rom-com queen Lacey Chabert.

With all six episodes of the limited series now available to stream via Hallmark+, McKinlay celebrated with the cast at a Los Angeles party thrown by Hallmark Media on Wednesday, August 26.

‘Paris Is Always a Good Idea’ executive producer Carrie Stein, Rebecca Hanssen, Scott Michael Foster, author Jenn McKinlay, Lacey Chabert, Julien Marlon Samani and Barbara Niven attend the Hallmark+ limited series “Paris is Always a Good Idea” finale screening and celebration at The Luckman Club at Soho House West Hollywood on August 26, 2026.

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for Hallmark Media

In a video posted to the streamer’s Instagram Stories that night, McKinlay gushed, “Having the story of my heart turned into a TV series was the most amazing thing to ever happen to me. And I can’t thank Hallmark, the actors, the cast, the crews, the fans, the viewers, the readers, who all showed up for this show. It meant everything to me and I’m so very grateful.”

Filmed in France and Spain during the spring of 2026, Paris Is Always a Good Idea follows nonprofit executive Chelsea Martin, played by Chabert, on a last-minute business trip to Paris. The unexpected trip is fraught with emotion, because she hasn’t returned to Europe since racing home 10 years earlier upon learning of her mom’s battle with cancer and subsequent death.

With her dad (Mission Impossible star Henry Czerny) and sister (Rebecca Hanssen) accompanying her for moral support, Chelsea is inspired, thanks to a message left behind by her late mom, to revisit three past love interests from her prior travels to Europe in hopes of finding her one true love.

Jenn McKinlay Visited Lacey Chabert on Set of Paris Is Always a Good Idea

McKinlay was thrilled to visit the set of Paris Is Always a Good Idea in the spring, witnessing her novel adapted into a series. While there, Chabert interviewed her about the experience for a video that Hallmark+ posted on August 28.

Though the actress and author had exchanged messages about the TV adaptation, Chabert excitedly shared that it was their first time meeting in person. She asked McKinlay what it was like to see the story and characters she originally envisioned come to life on set.

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“When I heard you were cast as Chelsea, I cried,” McKinlay shared, telling a clearly touched Chabert that she was “perfect” for the role. She went on to say that for a writer, characters are “in your head, you know them so well, but then when they become real, and they’re walking around you, it’s just, as the kids would say, next level.”

Even after reading the scripts and watching the Paris Is Always a Good Idea shoot from the sidelines, McKinlay wrote on her Substack blog of the “pure, undiluted thrill I felt when seeing my first screen credit.” She also gave the finished product an enthusiastic stamp of approval, gushing, “Holy Banana Balls! This show is so great! I love, love, love it!”