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Former General Hospital star Jeff Kober played the late Cyrus Renault between 2020 and 2025; now the Daytime and Primetime Emmy-nominated actor has opened up about what would bring him back to the ABC soap opera.

People recently interviewed Kober. During the conversation, the question of returning to General Hospital came up. The actor explained that he would consider a return if his story arc involved his on-screen sister Laura Collins (Genie Francis).

Kober shared with People, “I would do anything with Genie. She’s a great actress and a great scene partner.”

On-screen, Cyrus Renault entered Port Charles as a drug runner, attempting to take on Sonny Corinthos for control of the area. Initially, the role was not meant to last, with Kober making his first exit in June of 2021, but he quickly returned in August of the same year and continued to make appearances off and on until 2025.

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Cyrus was responsible for the death of police officer Dex Heller (Evan Hofer), as a result, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) was put in a position to take on Cyrus by the WSB. When Cyrus attacks her with an Axe, she ultimately shot him in self-defense, which triggers a chain of events that sees Josslyn joining the WSB.

Cyrus has a full brother in Martin Grey (Michael E. Knight), and the pair are half-siblings on their father’s side with Laura (Francis).

Kober began his professional acting career in 1985 on the ABC miniseries V. He has consistently worked since then, appearing on series such as China Beach, Sons of Anarchy, NCIS: Los Angeles, and, most recently, The Pitt.

He also has a vast film career beginning in 1986 with Out of Bounds and most recently appearing in Self Reliance in 2023.

For his appearance on both General Hospital and The Pitt, Kober became the first actor to be nominated for both a Daytime and Primetime Emmy in the same year.

General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC and streams weeknights on both Disney+ and Hulu.

Country star Megan Moroney shocked fans by delivering a raw, emotionally heavy live performance, paying an unforgettable tribute to her late hero while making up for a devastating tour cancellation.

The artist, universally referred to by her global fanbase as the “Emo Cowgirl,” was forced to cancel her original July concert at Denver’s Ball Arena just three songs into her set due to a sudden health crisis. Moroney later described the sudden shutdown as her absolute worst nightmare. Exactly 30 days later, she returned to the exact same venue to keep her promise, treating thousands of patient fans to the absolute longest concert of her entire career.

Before the music even started, audience members discovered an unbelievable gesture waiting for them. Moroney had quietly arranged for a free, custom tour T-shirt to be placed on all 18,000 arena seats as a personal apology for the scheduling disruption. The stunning visual of a fully wrapped stadium set the stage for an unprecedented 32-song marathon that lasted over three and a half hours, stretching right up until the venue’s strict curfew.

The emotional climax of the night arrived when the hitmaker paused the high-energy show to deliver a fragile, acoustic cover of “I Will Always Love You” to honor country queen Dolly Parton, who tragically passed away earlier this week. The vulnerability of the tribute deeply moved the crowd, with many taking to TikTok to share videos of the tearful performance. “The shakiness in her voice… her loss is hitting her hard,” one viral comment noted, emphasizing how the crowd openly wept along with her.

The record-breaking make-up concert served as the definitive finale for the North American leg of her tour. Just days before flying across the Atlantic to launch her European dates, country’s favorite “Emo Cowgirl” turned her biggest touring crisis into an immortal piece of live music history.

Twenty years after its first brick-and-mortar store opened, Insomnia Cookies has decided to go big.

The popular late-night bakery has certainly grown over the years, so this week was decidedly the right time to enter the “chunk era.”

On Friday, August 28, Insomnia announced that six fan-favorite cookies are joining the brand’s chunk lineup alongside the already beloved Chocolate Chunk.

The company also took to Instagram to promote its new offerings, with supportive fans posting supportive comments like “Yeeesss 🔥🔥🔥🔥” and “❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️.” See below.

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As of Friday, the bakery is starting to roll out the upgrades to the following products:

• Cookies ‘N Cream
• Confetti Deluxe
• Chocolate Chunk Brownie
• White Chocolate Chunk Macadamia
• Peanut Butter Chunk
• Peanut Butter Cup Deluxe

More specifically, Insomnia has replaced their existing chips with chunks about three times the size of the former chips. The change delivers bigger pockets of melt and a more indulgent bite — all at no extra cost to guests, according to the brand’s recent news release.

Availability will vary by bakery and channel during the transition, with the rollout expected to be complete by October 1.

“The goal was simple: Give the chocolate more impact,” Jessica Murgittroyd, Cookievation consultant for Insomnia, said in a statement. “A warm cookie deserves big, melty pockets of chocolate, and that’s exactly what the chunks deliver. They make the cookies more indulgent and craveable without changing what guests already love about Insomnia.”

Insomnia Cookies Is Giving Away Cookies to Certain Students

Earlier this month, the bakery that’s known for serving warm cookies day and night announced that incoming freshmen at U.S. colleges and universities can claim a free Freshman 6-Pack of cookies. The promotion runs until September 14.

To claim the offer, join Insomnia Rewards and add your school and graduation year to your profile. The first 30,000 eligible students will receive an “acceptance letter,” or a reward for a free Freshman 6-Pack in their accounts. Find out more here.

In 2006, the BBC’s Radio 2 Music Club asked more than 220,000 people to choose the “Best No. 1 Album of All Time.” Their pick was Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles’ groundbreaking 1967 album that had already become one of the most celebrated records of its era.

The poll was a testament to how well The Beatles’ music had endured. Four of the band’s albums made the top 10, while Sgt. Pepper landed at No. 1 nearly 40 years after its release.

That kind of lasting adoration traces back to how ambitious the album was from the start. By the time Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band arrived in 1967, The Beatles were already among the biggest bands in the world. Albums such as Revolver and A Hard Day’s Night had established them as musical innovators, but their eighth studio album gave them a chance to take that experimentation even further. 

The Beatles had stopped touring the previous year, giving them the freedom to make music that didn’t have to be easily reproduced onstage. That gave them room to explore reversed recordings, tape manipulation and distortion in the studio. 

With Sgt. Pepper, the band moved beyond their rock-and-roll roots and embraced a more psychedelic sound. Songs like “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” and “Within You Without You” brought in surreal imagery, spirituality and mysticism. 

Part of what made the album stand out was its concept. The Beatles imagined themselves as the fictional Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, giving them an alter ego that let them take the music in a different direction. 

Paul McCartney later explained how freeing that idea was. “It will mean, when I approach the mic, it’s not Paul McCartney. I don’t have to think this is a Paul McCartney song. So it was freeing. It was quite liberating.” 

That approach also changed the way The Beatles thought about the album as a whole. McCartney recalled, “So the idea was to do a complete thing that you could make what you liked of; just a little magic presentation.”

“A Day in the Life,” which closes the album, may be the best example of how far The Beatles were willing to take their ideas. The song combined different sections, orchestral arrangements and unusual studio techniques to create a standout recording. 

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was both a commercial and critical success, spending 15 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It also changed the way people thought about albums, proving they could be a complete artistic experience rather than just a series of songs. 

In 1968, Sgt. Pepper won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, becoming the first rock album to receive the honor. Its influence continued for decades, helping pave the way for art rock and influencing the progressive rock that emerged in the 1970s.

Related: 1967 Pop Song, Written by Ritchie Cordell, Launched a 15-Year-Old Singer’s Career

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Parade and ShopHQ are both owned by the same parent company. Featured products are selected independently by the editorial team at Parade.

Yes, you’ve got a miniature computer that’s (probably) in your hand right now and can tell you the time, but can it make a fashion statement? As a shopping expert, one of my favorite places to look for deals on fashionable watches is ShopHQ. Right now, the retailer has thousands of products massively marked down during its ShopHQ Days event, including its collection of Invicta watches. I’ve already got my eye on one super unique watch that, if my teenage son is lucky enough, will wind up under the Christmas tree. 

One of the most significant discounts I’ve spotted recently is on this fun and funky Invicta Men’s 52mm Pro Diver Quartz Chronograph Graffiti Bracelet Watch. It normally retails for $1,095, but is now available for a whopping 87% off, dropping the price down to just $140. That’s a savings of $955 — the kind of deal you truly don’t see come around often.

Invicta Men’s 52mm Pro Diver Quartz Chronograph Graffiti Bracelet Watch, $140 (was $1,095) at ShopHQ

Courtesy of ShopHQ

The vibrant, graffiti-inspired design, inspired by early ’90s hip-hop and streetwear culture, is splashed across the colorful stainless steel case, giving the watch true one-of-a-kind style. It almost looks like someone ripped a page out of a comic book and used it to cover the watch casing. 

Beyond its look, this watch has all the durability you’d expect from an Invicta dive watch, powered by a quartz movement and featuring scratch-resistant mineral crystal glass. It’s water-resistant up to 100 meters, so you can wear it while swimming. 

With a 52-millimeter face and 30-millimeter-wide band sized to fit wrists up to 10.25 inches, this men’s watch is considered oversized. But these supersized watches can look super stylish on women, and this giant men’s watch has serious potential to add a fabulous touch to a fun outfit.

One shopper who purchased the watch as a birthday gift for her son gushed about its appearance, sharing that “subtle was not the goal” with this design. “This watch is big, bold, and impossible to ignore,” she said.

“The graffiti design makes it a total standout, and he’s already gotten a ton of compliments,” the same reviewer continued. “It keeps perfect time and makes him look like he has even better taste than I raised him with.”

Score Free Shipping at ShopHQ

You can use the code FREERETURN at ShopHQ for $5 off shipping for a limited time. Because the shipping fee for this watch is just shy of $5, using this code means your shipping is free!

Shop More Deals

• Invicta Women’s 38mm Angel Quartz Special Edition Silicone Strap Watch, $44 (was $395) at ShopHQ
• Invicta Women’s 35mm Wildflower Quartz Crystal Bezel MOP Flower Inlay Dial Bracelet Watch, $80 (was $895) at ShopHQ
• Invicta Men’s 50mm Aviator Quartz Americana Silicone Strap Watch, $45 (was $495) at ShopHQ

Related: Invicta’s Timeless Octagon Quartz Watch Looks So High End, and It’s Now 83% Off

Run, don’t walk — or maybe channel some ’90s energy and do the running man — over to ShopHQ and snag the Invicta Men’s 52mm Pro Diver Quartz Chronograph Graffiti Bracelet Watch while it’s marked down over 87%. Add it to your cart for just $140 before this deal ends — don’t forget to enter code FREERETURN at checkout to save on shipping!

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Kenny Rogers turned a song about a card shark into one of country music’s most unlikely franchises.

“The Gambler,” written by Don Schlitz, spent three weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart after its November 1978 release, while also crossing over to No. 16 on the Hot 100 at a time when country songs rarely broke into the pop charts. Rogers wasn’t the first to record it; Schlitz’s own version had stalled at No. 65, and Johnny Cash cut a take of his own, but Rogers’ rendition became the definitive one, eventually earning him a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male. The song anchored Rogers’ album of the same name, which went on to sell more than 5 million copies in the U.S. alone.

Schlitz has said the song came to him almost fully formed during a 20-minute walk home from a meeting with his mentor, songwriter Bob McDill. Rogers later called it “a career-building song,” telling Rolling Stone in 2014 that despite its title, it was never really about gambling at all: “It’s a metaphor for life and picking yourself up.”

That metaphor turned out to have legs well beyond the radio. The song’s story, about an aging gambler dispensing life advice to a stranger on a train, resonated strongly enough that CBS turned it into a television movie in 1980. Rogers starred as the fictional gambler Brady Hawkes, and the film became a massive ratings success, drawing millions of viewers and winning an Eddie Award along with two Emmy nominations.

Four sequels followed over the next decade and a half, airing in 1983, 1987, 1991 and 1994, each one bringing Rogers back as Hawkes alongside a rotating cast that included Bruce Boxleitner as his young protégé. By the time the saga wrapped, Rogers had spent 14 years playing a character born from a three-and-a-half-minute song.

Thin Lizzy took a classic that every Irishman knows and turned it into one of their most defining hits, with “Whiskey in the Jar” becoming a rock staple for another band as well.

“Whiskey in the Jar” has roots dating back to the 1600s, before the Irish rock band added a heavy metal sound, impressive guitar, and Phil Lynott‘s memorable vocals. It was originally an Irish traditional song that takes place in the southern mountains of Ireland, with specific mentions of Cork and Kerry.

The song is a perfect fit for any musician to make their own, as its lyrics tell the story of a highwayman who’s betrayed by his lover. Over the years, it has been covered by multiple artists and made famous first by the Dubliners and then by the Highwaymen in the U.S. Thin Lizzy’s hard rock version is one that captured the most interest among fans.

The band released the track in 1972 as a single and bonus track on their album Vagabonds of the Western World. It didn’t enter the Billboard charts in the U.S., but landed at No.1 on the charts in Ireland and did well in Europe. Developing the track has some history behind it.

In the summer of 1972, Decca was ready to drop Thin Lizzy due to their previously failed albums. Their manager called the record label to get them another chance, with Lynott developing “Black Boys On The Corner,” but it still needed a B-side track. Lynott didn’t want to use an original song and went back to the Irish ballad that he and guitarist Eric Bell used to play around with in Dublin clubs.

“We were rehearsing in the Duke Of York pub in King’s Cross in London, and Phil picked up the Telecaster and just began singing Whiskey to his own accompaniment, and I found that little riff which announces the song and runs through it now on the disc. Ted Carroll heard us fooling around on it and started enthusing about how good it sounded. So we put it together a little more solidly,” said Bell, according to LouderSound.

Ted Carroll praised Bell’s guitar addition and knew it was going to be a hit. The record label agreed and made it the A-side instead of “Black Boys On The Corner.” It was reported that Lynott was furious due to how much work he put into the other track, but they were in no position to argue due to their debt at the time.

Believe it or not, Thin Lizzy hated the song despite its popularity and saving them with the record label. The band even hated that Decca thoughtlessly misspelled “Whiskey” as “Whisky” on the jacket sleeve. Lynott’s then-girlfriend explains the track was an “embarrassment” for the band.

“Eric had a problem with it,” says Carroll. “None of them really liked it. But Whiskey was a huge hit. The biggest Lizzy ever made, selling more copies even than The Boys Are Back In Town [released later, in ’76]. It was a turning point for the band. They went from playing clubs to fifty people a night to headlining halls to a thousand people a night.”

The track would become a generational hit covered by multiple artists. In 1998, Metallica released their own cover based on Thin Lizzy’s version with a heavier sound. It ended up leading to a win at the Grammys in 2000 for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Related: 1973 Blues Song, With Lyrics by Bob Dylan and Bette Midler, Became a Pop Culture Staple

Taylor Swift has once again proven that her generosity is no act. The pop superstar, 36, donated $50,000 to the GoFundMe for Ashley Taunton, a mother of three who was seriously injured after heroically pushing a stranger out of the path of an oncoming car during a highway accident.

The incident occurred on July 18 during a severe rainstorm on I-95. When Ashley spotted someone in need after a car accident, she pulled over to help and as a hydroplaning vehicle came hurtling toward the group, she pushed the other person out of harm’s way, taking the full impact herself. She is now facing a long recovery.

Swift made the donation on Aug. 28, leaving a message in the GoFundMe comments: “Wishing you the best recovery possible and sending love to your family!” A stunned Ashley shared the moment on Instagram, writing that she had to pull over just to catch her breath after seeing the notification on her phone. She thanked Swift for her “endless generosity and humanity,” while sharing a screenshot of the singer’s message and writing, “Sobbing with so much gratitude!”

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Funds from the GoFundMe will go toward household bills, hospital travel costs, groceries for the kids, and any medical expenses not covered by insurance.

It’s far from the first time Swift has opened her wallet for those in need. The singer famously donated proceeds from her 2014 single ‘Welcome to New York’ to New York City public schools, and has made numerous high-profile charitable contributions over the years, including a $15,000 donation that one fan said saved her family.

A decade later, the recipient of Swift’s generosity isn’t a school system or major charity, but one family dealing with an unimaginable turn of events. Taunton stopped on a highway to help someone else. Now, a $50,000 gift from one of the world’s biggest stars is helping her family while she works toward getting back on her feet.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why Do Ants Keep Coming Back?

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

This is where ant behavior works against the homeowner.

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

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

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

What Kind of Ants Are in Your House?

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

Ant Type

Description

Primary Concern

Typical Control Focus

“Sugar ants”

Small ants found around sweets, sinks or kitchens

Persistent indoor trails

Baits, sanitation and entry-point control

Carpenter ants

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

Wood excavation and structural damage

Finding nests and correcting moisture

Fire ants

Reddish ants and outdoor mounds

Painful stings and persistent colonies

Fire-ant bait plus targeted mound treatment

The term sugar ant causes particular confusion.

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

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

How Do You Get Rid of Sugar Ants?

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

Start with the kitchen.

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

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

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

Why Ant Baits Can Help

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

But placement matters. So does species.

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

How Do You Get Rid of Carpenter Ants?

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

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

Don’t Confuse Carpenter Ants With Termites

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

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

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

How Do You Get Rid of Fire Ants?

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

Fire ants create a completely different problem, though.

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

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

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

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

Do Ant Baits or Sprays Work Better?

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

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

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

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

How Can You Keep Ants From Coming Back?

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

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

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

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

When Should You Call an Exterminator for Ants?

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

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

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

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

The Bottom Line on Ant Control

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

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

The common thread is correct identification followed by targeted treatment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stage Tour Setlist, Confirmed So Far

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Patty Loveless Initially Passed on the Song @cowboymarcuslovescountry

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

♬ original sound – cowboymarcuslovescountry🎵🎵🤠

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

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

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

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

The “Ditty” Became a Breakup Classic

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now, it’s her best.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shop More Deals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Stallone and His Family Ditched California

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

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

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

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

Stallone Wasn’t Thrilled With Leaving California at First

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

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

But Flavin was ready to take on a new pursuit.

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

The Couple Showed Off Their Florida Home in Veranda

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

♬ original sound – Emily 🦋

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You’re amazing 👏,” added another.

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

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

And Langley is having quite a rise.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And Langley may not be finished.

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

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

Country Music Continues to Say Goodbye to Dolly Parton

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

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

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

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

And the tributes will continue Saturday night.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

British Isles Firsts and Baltic Capitals

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

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

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

Fresh Onboard Upgrades for Sea Days

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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