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Country Star, With No. 1 Hit Song, Announces New Song Amid Tour
Zach Bryan is giving fans another preview of what's next.
The country star, whose chart-topping career includes the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit "I Remember Everything" with Kacey Musgraves, has shared a teaser of a new unreleased song titled "Walk Backwards" on his YouTube channel as he continues his 2026 With Heaven on Tour.
The latest preview appears to be another song from Bryan's upcoming EP, Young Manhood andOther Donatable Organs, which he quietly announced earlier this month through the comment section of his YouTube uploads. While the singer-songwriter has confirmed the EP's title, he has not revealed a release date or track list.
"Walk Backwards" is the latest addition to a growing collection of unreleased songs Bryan has been posting online, keeping fans engaged between stadium tour stops despite releasing his sixth studio album just months ago.
Zach Bryan performs onstage during a concert at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as pert of his With Heaven On Tour on June 17, 2026 in London, U.K.Photo by James Klug/Getty Images
Zach Bryan's New EP Continues to Take ShapeBryan first revealed Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs while uploading acoustic performances of the unreleased songs "Lodi When" and "Better Friends." Since then, anticipation has continued to build as fans wait for more details about the project.
His newest teaser, "Walk Backwards," follows the same stripped-down style, featuring Bryan performing with only his guitar.
Bryan has not confirmed whether "Walk Backwards" will appear on the EP, but it joins several recent unreleased songs that fans believe are connected to the project.
Along with "Lodi When" and "Better Friends," Bryan has previously shared "Breakfast in Bed," while songs such as "Pocket Change" and "You'll Get By" have also generated speculation among fans.
Despite the growing list of previews, Bryan has remained silent on when the EP will officially arrive.
Zach Bryan Balances New Music With Stadium TourThe new teaser comes during one of the busiest years of Bryan's career.
View this post on InstagramIn January, he released With Heaven On Top, his sixth studio album, followed shortly afterward by a full acoustic version of the record. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling approximately 130,000 units during its opening week while placing 18 songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
Bryan has spent much of 2026 performing across the United States and Europe as part of his With Heaven on Tour, with more stadium shows scheduled through October.
His remaining tour dates include performances in San Diego, Salt Lake City, Denver, Arlington, Glendale, Dover, Toronto, Foxborough and Auburn, Alabama.
Away from the stage, Bryan has also experienced several personal milestones. He previously shared that he began his sobriety journey in late 2025 and married Samantha Leonard on New Year's Eve before launching his latest album.
Rather than following a traditional album rollout, Bryan has continued to debut unfinished or unreleased songs directly through YouTube, giving fans early access to new material while keeping details about official releases largely under wraps.
Related: Country Star, With No. 1 Hit Song, Announces News Amid 2026 Tour
NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for Monday, July 20, 2026
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle covers all the bases, including everything from hand equipment to Cleveland football. Get excited—there's another New York Times game to add to your daily routine! Those of us word game addicts who already play Wordle, Connections, Strands and the Mini Crossword now have Connections Sports Edition to add to the mix.
So, if you're looking for some hints and answers for today's Connections Sports Edition on Monday, July 20, 2026, you've come to the right place.
Connections Sports Edition is just like the regular Connections word puzzle, in that it's a game that resets at 12 a.m. EST each day and has 16 different words listed. It's up to you to figure out each group of four words that belong to a certain category, with four categories in total.
This new version is sports-specific, however, as a partnership between The New York Times and The Athletic.
As the NYT site instructs, for Connections Sports Edition, you "group sports terms that share a common thread."
Related: The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You'll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle
Hints for Today's Connections Sports Edition Categories on July 20, 2026Here are some hints about the four categories to help you figure out the word groupings.
- Yellow: Like a rivalry or a contest.
- Green: Hand protection.
- Blue: Cleveland top picks.
- Purple: Typically the team's leader.
OK, time for a second hint…we'll give you the actual categories now. Spoilers below!
- Yellow: TERMS FOR COMPETITIONS
- Green: TYPES OF GLOVES
- Blue: PLAYERS BROWNS HAVE DRAFTED NO. 1 OVERALL
- Purple: _____ QUARTERBACK
If you're looking for the answers, no worries—we've got them below. So, don't scroll any further if you don't want to see the solutions!
The answers to today's Connections Sports Edition #665 are coming up next.
Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day
- TERMS FOR COMPETITIONS: CUP, INVITATIONAL, SERIES, TOURNAMENT
- TYPES OF GLOVES: BASEBALL, BATTING, BOXING, GOALKEEPER
- PLAYERS BROWNS HAVE DRAFTED NO. 1 OVERALL: BROWN, COUCH, GARRETT, MAYFIELD
- _____ QUARTERBACK: ARMCHAIR, FRANCHISE, MONDAY MORNING, STARTING
Don't worry if you didn't get them this time—we've all been there.
Shania Twain Reveals the Truth Behind Her Stage Name
Shania Twain may be one of the biggest names in country music over the last three decades, but the story behind the name has always been a mystery — until now!
Twain, 60, sat down with CBSSunday Morning's Seth Doane to discuss her upcoming album, Little Miss Twain, when she spilled the truth about her stage name.
"Every song [on this album] is like a chapter in this journey of life from being Eileen to becoming Shania," the Canadian artist shared on Sunday, July 19. "And the Shania was a request from the label. So, as I'm getting signed, they asked me to change my last name, which I did not want to change because that was my family name, and I felt that I would be betraying my family and an identity that I was clinging to after my parents died."
She went on to explain that she heard the name Shania from "a wardrobe mistress" who was backstage at one of her shows.
"When I heard her name, I'm thinking, 'Oo, that's a good one.' You know, that's a pretty name. I like it. I'd never heard it before. It was very unique, and I just presented it to the label and said, 'What about Shania Twain?' And they loved it," she shared. "I guess it fell into my lap is probably a better way to say it."
Despite being internationally known as Shania, the "You're Still The One" artist revealed that most people in her life still call her Eileen.
Before Shania's latest revelation, rumors had circulated for decades surrounding the meaning behind her name. Many believed Shania was a tribute to the singer's late stepfather's native heritage, an Ojibway word meaning "on my way."
Today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram and Answers for Monday, July 20, 2026
Today's NYT Strands Puzzle answer might require a magnifying glass. Move over, Wordle, Connections, Connections Sports Edition, and Mini Crossword—there’s a new NYT word game in town! The New York Times' recent game, "Strands," is becoming increasingly popular as another daily activity fans can find on the NYT website and app.
With daily themes and "spangrams" to discover, this is the latest addictive game to cross off your to-do list before a new one pops up 24 hours later.
We'll cover exactly how to play Strands, hints for today's Spangram, and all of the answers for Strands #869 on Monday, July 20.
How to Play StrandsThe New York Times
According to the New York Times, here's exactly how to play Strands:
Find theme words to fill the board.
- Theme words stay highlighted in blue when found.
- Drag or tap letters to create words. If tapping, double-tap the last letter to submit.
- Theme words fill the board entirely. No theme words overlap.
Find the “spangram.”
- The spangram describes the puzzle's theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. It may be two words.
- The spangram highlights in yellow when found.
- An example spangram with corresponding theme words: PEAR, FRUIT, BANANA, APPLE, etc.
Need a hint?
- Find non-theme words to get hints.
- For every three non-theme words you find, you earn a hint.
- Hints show the letters of a theme word. If there is already an active hint on the board, a hint will show that word's letter order.
A hint for today's Strands game: Like the spider.
What Are Today's NYT Strands Hints?Warning: Spoilers ahead!
In today's puzzle, there are six theme words to find (including the spangram). Here are the first two letters for each word:
- MI
- TI
- LI
- MI
- MI
- IT (SPANGRAM)
Today's Spangram is a mix of horizontal and diagonal.
NYT Strands Spangram Answer for July 20Today's Spangram answer on Today's NYT 'Strands' Hints, Spangram and Answers for Monday, July 20, 2026, isITSYBITSY.
What Are Today's NYT Strands Answers, Word List for Monday, July 20?- MINIATURE
- TINY
- LITTLE
- MINUSCULE
- MICROSCOPIC
- SPANGRAM: ITSYBITSY
NYT ‘Connections’ Hints, Clues and Answers Today, Monday, July 20, 2026
Today’s New York Times Connections puzzle might make you think about mushrooms, but if you think hard enough, it will all start to click. There's nothing quite as exhilarating as the feeling of completing the daily New York Times Wordle, Strands, Mini Crossword and Connections Sports Edition word games in one fell swoop. But sometimes that can be easier said than done. If you need help with today's Connections puzzle, keep reading.
Spoilers ahead! We've warned you. We mean it. Read no further until you really want some clues or you've completely given up and want the answers ASAP. Get ready for all of today's NYT 'Connections’ hints and answers for #1135 on Monday, July 20, 2026.
Today's NYT Connections Puzzle for Monday, July 20, 2026 / New York TimesIf you've been having trouble with any of the connections or words in Monday's puzzle, you're not alone, and these hints should definitely help you out. Plus, I'll reveal the answers further down.
Related: The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You'll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle
Hints About Today's NYT Connections Categories on Monday, July 20- Heads up!
- What you do with a mouse.
- They make a fabulous necklace.
- Make mine a double!
Related: 300 Trivia Questions and Answers to Jumpstart Your Fun Game Night
Ready for the answers? Scroll below this image (the image that represents your very appreciated patience!).
iStock
Today's Connections Game Answers for Monday, July 20:1. ANNOUNCE: BLARE, HERALD, SOUND, TRUMPET
2. THINGS TO CLICK: BUTTON, ICON, LINK, MENU
3. ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS: BUBBLE TEA, OYSTER, SWINE, WISDOM
4. STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: ALEXA, MEADOW, PORTOBELLO, SAKES
How'd you do?
Up Next:
- 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day
- Hints, Clues and Answers to the NYT's 'Mini Crossword' Puzzle
Did You Miss a Few Days? Let's Catch You Up With Recent Connections Answers
Today’s Wordle Hint, Answers for #1857 on Monday, July 20, 2026
Today's NYT Wordle should be easy to solve if you love getting an up-close look at coral reefs. But the day just isn't complete until I've solved all of the free word games from the New York Times, including Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Strands, and Mini Crossword. If you’re stuck on today’s Wordle answer, we’re here to help—but beware of spoilers for Wordle #1857 ahead.
Let's start with a few hints.
There are two vowels in today's five-letter word.
What kind of letter does today's Wordle start with?Today's Wordle begins with a consonant.
Are there any double letters?There are no double letters in today's Wordle.
Can you give another hint about today's WordleA hint for today's Wordle is: You might need a scuba suit.
OK, that's it for hints—I don't want to totally give it away before revealing the answer!
Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours
We'll have the answer below this friendly reminder of how to play the game.
SPOILERS BELOW—do not scroll any further if you don't want the answer revealed.
The New York Times
Today's Wordle Answer for #1857 on Monday, July 20, 2026.Today's Wordle answer on Monday, July 20, 2026, is DIVER.
-If you missed it, catch up with the answer to yesterday’s Wordle.
Related: Every 5 Letter Word Wordle Hasn't Used Yet (Updated Daily)
1979 Soft Rock Classic Became a No. 1 Hit After One Simple Lyric Change
“If you like piña coladas and gettin’ caught in the rain” might be some of the most familiar lyrics to music fans of the late '70s. But those words to the smash hit, “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” may have never happened had it not been for one simple lyric change.
Written by Rupert Holmes, who also released the track on Sept. 17, 1979, according to Songfacts, “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” originally included the lyrical hook: “If you like Humphrey Bogart / And getting caught in the rain.”
Realizing that he had already made references to various movies in his music, Holmes decided to explore a different lyrical direction, one that led with a feeling of wanting to get away. So he toyed with the idea of going on vacation.
"I thought, 'What can I substitute?'” he explained. "Well, this woman wants an escape, like she wants to go on vacation to the islands. When you go on vacation to the islands, when you sit on the beach, and someone asks you if you'd like a drink, you never order a Budweiser; you don't have a beer. You're on vacation, you want a drink in a hollowed-out pineapple with the flags of all nations and a long straw.”
“I thought, 'Let's see, there's daiquiri, mai tai, piña colada - I wonder what a piña colada tastes like, I've never even had one,'” he continued. “I thought that instead of singing 'If you like Humphrey Bogart,' with the emphasis on 'like,' I could start it a syllable earlier and go, 'If you like Piñ-a Coladas.'"
While the song may inspire listeners to dream of the ultimate beach vacation, with a drink in hand, earning a spot on Billboard’s 2024 list of ‘10 Best Summer Songs About Going to the Beach," “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” is about much more than a carefree summer getaway.
Close listeners will find that “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” actually explores the idea of temptation and marital dissatisfaction, with both partners secretly answering the same newspaper personal ad in search of someone new and exciting to run away with. However, they discover that their mysterious blind date is with each other.
“I was in my apartment, and there was a copy of The Village Voice. Sometimes I look at personal columns to get ideas for songs because people fascinate me,” Holmes recalled how he came up with the idea for the song. “I saw this ad that a woman had placed in which she described herself in such glowing terms that I thought to myself, 'Why on earth, if you're this wonderful, do you need to place an ad in the personal columns?' Trying not to be cynical, I thought, 'Let's be fair, maybe she's just looking for an adventure…. Then I thought to myself, 'What would happen if I answered this ad…With my stupid luck, I would answer the ad and find out it had been placed by the woman I was living with, never realizing that she was bored with me.”
“Escape (The Piña Colada Song),” which served as the lead single from Holmes’ fifth studio album, Partners in Crime, was a major success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming the final song of the ‘70s to do so. The track was also an international hit, charting in countries like Australia, Canada, Ireland, and others.
1991 Rock Song, Written by One of the 'Greatest Supergroups' of All Time, Became a Timeless Anthem
Temple of the Dog didn't just emerge as one of the "greatest supergroups" of all time, but also delivered one of rock's most iconic songs with "Hunger Strike."
Formed by an all-star lineup led by Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell, the band also featured Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron, former Mother Love Bone members Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament, guitarist Mike McCready and vocalist Eddie Vedder.
The supergroup was intended as a one-time project that brought together members of Soundgarden and the musicians who would soon form Pearl Jam, two defining acts of the grunge movement.
Temple of the Dog introduced itself with the release of "Hunger Strike" in 1991, the lead single from its sole, self-titled album.
Written by the late Chris Cornell, he composed the track because he wanted the album to have an even number of songs, according to Louder Sound.
"So I had this other song that I whipped up so we could have ten, because I just have to have ten," he shared.
Jeff Ament, Matt Cameron, Chris Cornell, Stone Gossard and Mike McCready of the band Temple Of The Dog perform onstage at Madison Square Garden in 2016With Eddie Vedder joining Cornell for a duet, the vocal pairing became one of the song's defining features.
As mentioned by the same publication, Cornell recalled the moment Vedder first recorded the song.
“I feel this shadow presence over my shoulder,” the late vocalist shared. “And there’s only one mike, and the chorus comes around again, and he sort of moves his shoulder in just to let me know he’s got a plan. And I don’t know him. We had said hi… So he hit the “Going hungry,” I sang the high part and then he hit it again. All of a sudden, a lightbulb went off in my head and I thought, 'His voice sounds incredible in that deep register.'”
The track became a commercial success, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
View this post on InstagramFurther proving its lasting appeal, "Hunger Strike" has continued to earn recognition decades after its release, landing on several "Greatest Grunge Songs of All Time" rankings. Among those publications is Paste Magazine, which described the song as “one of the most melodic and beautiful soundscapes to come out of the grunge movement.”
On Reddit, users lauded the '90s song as “one of the most beautiful songs ever made” while others called it “the best grunge song.”
Fans also see “Hunger Strike” as a “timeless” song that still sounds meaningful and resonates with listeners even years or decades after its release.
Related: ’90s Rock Band, With Classic Radio Anthem, Ranked Among 'Best Supergroups' of All Time
1983 Song by an English Band Gets Ranked the Greatest Song About Soccer
While it doesn't seem like it would be the case, there are plenty of songs about sports, specifically soccer, AKA football. For instance, in June 2026, The Guardian released a ranking of "the 20 greatest songs about football."
The publication's list featured soccer-themed songs like "Touchline" by Rod Stewartfrom 2021, 2011's "Every Defeat a Divorce (Three Lions)" by Los Campesinos!, and Billy Bragg's 1991 tune "God’s Footballer." The ranking's top five were "Marcus Rashford" by Youngs Teflon from 2017, 2019's "Two Halves" by Richard Dawson, "False 9" by AJ Tracey from 2017, 1999's "England 2 Colombia 0" by Kirsty MacColl, with The Fall's 1983 song "Kicker Conspiracy" securing the number one spot.
Late The Fall Member Mark E. Smith Shared Details About 'Kicker Conspiracy' in a 2000 InterviewDuring a 2000 interview with When Saturday Comes, the vocalist and lyricist of The Fall, Mark E. Smith, who died in 2018 when he was 60, discussed "Kicker Conspiracy," off the English band's sixth album, Perverted by Language. He said that the band's record label, Rough Trade Records, wasn't interested in a song that focused on soccer.
"You couldn’t mention football in the rock world then. We were on Rough Trade and I told them 'This is about football violence' and it was all 'You don’t go to football, do you?' I remember Melody Maker saying, “Mark Smith’s obviously got writer’s block having to write about football,'" said Smith. "About five years later, the same guy reviewed something else saying it was a load of rubbish and 'nowhere near the heights of Kicker Conspiracy.' And now, of course, all the old music hacks are sat in the directors’ box with Oasis."
While speaking to When Saturday Comes, Smith explained why he was a Manchester City F.C. fan. He said one of his reasons was because he wanted "to be contrary" to his father, who was "a United fan."
"Back in the 1950s he’d to go to away games on his bike – he’d cycle to places like Leicester. But I converted him to City," said Smith during the 2000 interview.
'The Odyssey' Inspires 'Epic' New Funko Pop, Leaving Fans Wanting More
The Odyssey is doing quite well at the box office, and experts are now saying the R-rated epic is defying expectations.
Christopher Nolan's latest movie has made $124.5 million domestically over the weekend, Variety reports. It's the Oscar-winning director's biggest debut since The Dark Knight Rises ($160 million) as well as the third-largest opening of the year, following Toy Story 5 ($159 million) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($131 million).
Matt Damon leads the on-screen ensemble, and Funko has followed suit with the film buzz by basing its latest Pop! figure after the actor's protagonist, Odysseus.
Funko recently took to Instagram to showcase its latest release for fans. Check it out below.
View this post on InstagramFans certainly seem tickled by the figure, leaving comments on the post ranging from "I NEED THIS" to "preordered👏." But there were plenty of other posts requesting Pops for other characters — and other franchises, for that matter. "We need Agamemnon with the black armour, that'd be so cool!" wrote one Instagram user, while another person commented, "Funko Pop, where are the new House of the Dragon Season 3 Funko Pops? We're waiting!"
The figure is 5 inches tall — an inch taller than most Pops! — presumably because the height includes the plume on top of his helmet, Forbes reports. It comes in a window box in case collectors choose to display the collectible. In addition to wearing Odysseus’ Greek army gear, the figure also has the character wielding his sword and sporting a greying beard — as worn by Damon’s character — as he nears the completion of his journey home, per Forbes.
Damon dishes on The OdysseyParade recently spoke with Damon, 55, about his experience working on his latest movie. “Odyssey was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done — it’s not even close — for everybody, for the entire crew,” he said. “And that’s what made it so, so great to work on, was — you were working as hard as you ever had, but you realized that every single person around you was, too. And so it was really fun to be a part of that group.”
NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Monday, July 20, 2026
Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can't forget about the NYT's The Mini Crossword, too! Today’s NYT Mini Crossword spans a range of topics including appropriate wedding guests, submarine equipment and even anagrams.
Although the NYT is known for "The Crossword," a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.
So, if you're working on today's Mini Crossword on Monday, July 20, and need some help (I've been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both "Across" and "Down" words, followed by "Across Answers" and "Down Answers," so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!
Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Monday, July 20, 2026Here are additional clues for each of the words in today's Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Hints1 Across: Sound of an online message — HINT: Starts with the letter "G"
5 Across: Underwater detection device —HINT: Starts with the letter "R"
6 Across: Chicago's ___ Presidential Center — HINT: Ends with the letter "A"
7 Across: Appropriate anagram of VENMO, if you change the "V' to a "Y" — HINT: Starts with the letter "M"
8 Across: Potentially awkward wedding guests— HINT: Ends with the letter "T"
Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours
NYT Mini Down Hints1 Down: Destination for mail that doesn't go to your home address, perhaps — HINT: Starts with the letter "P"
2 Down: Ridiculous — HINT: Ends with the letter "E"
3 Down: Things debated by expectant parents — HINT: Ends with the letter "S"
4 Down: Color of an overcast sky — HINT: Starts with the letter "G"
5 Down: '___ assembly required' — HINT: Ends with the letter "E"
Don't go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today's Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Answers1 Across: Sound of an online message — PING
5 Across: Underwater detection device —SONAR
6 Across: Chicago's ___ Presidential Center — OBAMA
7 Across: Appropriate anagram of VENMO, if you change the "V' to a "Y" — MONEY
8 Across: Potentially awkward wedding guests — EXES
1 Down: Destination for mail that doesn't go to your home address, perhaps — POBOX
2 Down: Ridiculous — INANE
3 Down: Things debated by expectant parents — NAMES
4 Down: Color of an overcast sky — GRAY
5 Down: '___ assembly required' — SOME
'90s Music Star Reveals the '80s Boy Band That Inspired Him to Take the Stage
LanceBass reveals which iconic boy band he is a huge fan of.
The NSYNC singer spoke to People about the vocal group he would have loved to be a part of.
“I mean, there are so many. If we go back in the day, of course, The Beatles,” Bass said “That would’ve been incredible. During the ‘60s would’ve been such a cool time. No social media. It was a different time.”
While he loved his time in NSYNC, New Kids on the Block holds a special place in his heart.
“My sister was obsessed. It was one of my first concerts, my first stadium concert I ever went to, and I think it was the first time that I looked on stage and said, ‘I want to do that. That looks amazing,’“ Bass said.
The time period also influenced his interest in the group.
“They got that fun era of the late ‘80s, early ‘90s, where again, it was just such a more innocent time where there were no cell phones or anything like that,” the singer explained. “No one’s taking pictures of you too much. So I think you get away with a lot more back in the late ‘80s. It was just, I don’t know, so much more fun. So I think, yeah, I would’ve been obsessed with being the New Kids on the Block.”
New Kids on the Block was created in 1984 and featured JonathanKnight, JordanKnight, JoeyMcIntyre, DonnieWahlberg, and DannyWood.
Eleven years later, Bass replaced JasonGalasso as the newest addition of NSYNC. The group was created by ChrisKirkpatrick and consisted of JustinTimberlake, JCChasez, Kirkpatrick, and JoeyFatone. The band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2002. They are known for songs such as "Bye Bye Bye," "It's Gonna Be Me," and "Tearin' Up My Heart."
Supergroup With ’90s Rock Legends Returns for First Live Show in 13 Years
Tomahawk, the acclaimed supergroup led by iconic vocalist Mike Patton, made its long-awaited live return.
The experimental rock band composed of Duane Denison of The Jesus Lizard, John Stanier of Helmet and Battles and Trevor Dunn of Mr. Bungle alongside Patton of Faith No More and Mr. Bungle took center stage for its first show in 13 years.
Touring major cities across the United States with sludge metal pioneers Melvins, they are co-headlining the summer tour A Huge Waste of Your Time and Money on a 21-date run.
Kicking off the tour at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville, the four-piece supergroup delivered a nostalgic 18-song set featuring tracks from across its catalog, excluding its 2007 album Anonymous.
Tomahawk also spotlighted its latest album, Tonic Immobility, performing several songs from the 2021 record live for the first time.
Mike Patton of Tomahawk performs live during Berlin Festival in 2013Frank Hoensch/Redferns via Getty Images
In addition, the band brought back its cover of Duane Eddy's 1958 instrumental "Stalkin'" to the live set and closed the show with its signature song, "God Hates A Coward," from its 2001 self-titled debut album.
The supergroup's last live performance was in 2013 during festival performances and headlining shows on the Oddfellows Tour in support of its fourth studio album, Oddfellows.
Following opening night in Nashville, Tomahawk expressed its delight and excitement about returning to the stage after a lengthy hiatus, doing so with its signature deadpan humor.
View this post on InstagramFor the remaining dates of the A Huge Waste of Your Time and Money Tour, Tomahawk and Melvins will continue touring through August, with the run concluding on Aug. 15 in Los Angeles.
Tomahawk and Melvins 2026 Tour DatesJul. 20: Austin, TX - Emo's
Jul. 21: Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
Jul. 23: New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
Jul. 24: Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theatre
Jul. 26: Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
Jul. 27: Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
Jul. 28: Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel
Jul. 30: Boston, MA - House of Blues
Jul. 31: Buffalo, NY - Electric City
Aug. 1: Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
Aug. 3: Detroit, MI - The Fillmore
Aug. 4: Chicago, IL - The Riviera Theatre
Aug. 5: Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
Aug. 7: Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
Aug. 8: Salt Lake City, UT - The Union Event Center
Aug. 10: Portland, OR - Pioneer Courthouse Square
Aug. 11: Seattle, WA - The Showbox
Aug. 12: Seattle, WA - The Showbox
Aug. 14: San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
Aug. 15: Los Angeles, CA - The Belasco
Over 116,000 Popular Step Stools Recalled for a Serious Reason — See If Yours Is Affected
Parents with a little kitchen helper at home will want to check the label.
TOMY International is recalling more than 116,000 Boon PIVOT toddler tower step stools because they can tip over while a child is standing on them.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall this week. The collapsible towers, which let toddlers stand at counter height, can tip over and cause a fall, posing a risk of serious injury or death, according to the agency. TOMY has received 11 reports of the stools shifting or leaning while in use. No injuries have been reported so far.
Which Step Stools Are AffectedThe recall covers the Boon PIVOT Collapsible Toddler Tower, a step stool that folds flat for storage. About 116,000 were sold in the United States, with roughly 2,000 more in Canada. They sold online at retailers including Amazon, Target.com and Babylist between January 2023 and June 2026 for around $150. Owners can match their tower against the official CPSC recall notice to confirm.
Related: Over 12,000 Popular Grills Recalled for Hazardous Reason After Dozens of Reports
What to Do If You Have OneParents should stop using the tower and keep it out of reach until it is fixed. Rather than a refund, TOMY is offering a free repair, sending repair parts and installation instructions. Consumers can reach the company at 866-725-4407 for the kit.
This is the latest in a run of children's product recalls. Fisher-Price recently pulled more than 250,000 toys over a choking hazard, a kids' play kitchen set was recalled for a fatal risk, and regulators keep flagging products tied to serious injury across major retailers.
Next: FDA Issues Nationwide Recall of Millions of Eye Drops–Find Out if You’re Affected
Bettina Trump Is All of Us in World Cup Epic Photo Fail
Bettina Trump may look perfectly polished 99.9% of the time, but Donald Trump’s typically chic, put-together, and poised daughter-in-law had a moment at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
When you’re in the public eye, you can’t always pose for pics. And that means sometimes you get a major photo flub. While attending the World Cup final in New Jersey recently, photogs snapped a group shot of the President’s adult children, and let’s just say, the picture wasn’t exactly flattering.
In the photo, Lara Trump, Eric Trump, Tiffany Trump, Michael Boulous, Donald Trump’s Jr., and Bettina are all enjoying the soccer game. Tiffany is sweetly smiling as she claps; Michael looks somewhat bored; Eric has a quiet intensity about him; Lara shines like she just walked off the cover of a magazine; Don Jr. is serving up some side-eye. And then there’s Bettina…caught with her tongue sticking out of her mouth as she holds onto her phone. Unfortunate to say the least.
The Trump family enjoys the World Cup soccer game. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)But it’s not all bad. Even though this probably isn't the first pic Bettina would have chosen to share, Don Jr.’s new bride has what turns out to be a pretty savage sense of humor.
Trump (Bettina, that is) posted a screenshot of the photo on her Instagram Stories with the title, “Getty got me good,” and the crying laughing emoji, the palm over the face emoji, and the tongue emoji. Of course, Getty is in reference to Getty Images—one of the top editorial photo providers.
As a digital warehouse of celeb pics, Getty has millions of images that websites and other publications can access. So, we did some sleuthing and found the full photo. It also includes Trump Jr.’s children,Ivanka Trump, and her husband, Jared Kushner.
While Bettina was clearly caught off-guard, her husband occasionally creates intentional photo fails. That is, for people other than himself.
Back in June, Ivanka posted a romantic picture of herself and her hubby during Don Jr. and Bettina’s magical Memorial Day weekend wedding in the Bahamas. Even though the cute couple is all smiles, her obviously annoying older brother, well, in his own words, “Not gonna lie…I think I pulled off the best photobomb ever.” This is one photo fans of the family definitely need to see for themselves!
View this post on InstagramOlympic Figure Skating Legend, Born With Clubfoot, Was 20 Years Old When She Won the Gold
Anyone watching Kristi Yamaguchi skate her way to Olympic gold at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, would have guessed that the 20-year-old World Champion had been athletic from the moment she was born. Both graceful and powerful, Yamaguchi was the kind of skater who made the most difficult moves seem effortless. But the truth is, she was born with a condition that can make walking nearly impossible.
Yamaguchi was born in 1971 in Hayward, California, with bilateral clubfoot, a birth defect which causes both feet to twist out of their usual position.
"I was born with clubfeet, and I had plaster casts on my legs from when I was a couple of months old until age one," Yamaguchi said in 2010, per CNN. "When the casts came off, I wore corrective shoes connected by a brace to turn my feet until I was about two."
"The braces hurt my legs a lot, and I remember trying to walk with a bar in between my feet — I had to shuffle," Yamaguchi continued. "I was lucky they corrected it when I was so young. Skating wasn't assigned to me, but when I wanted to skate, the doctors said it would help."
According to Yamaguchi, she expressed an interest in skating after seeing the Ice Follies and the Ice Capades when she was around four or five.
"I remember seeing Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill and wanting to capture the magic of those shows," she explained.
By the time she was in junior high, Yamaguchi was already competing. She won the junior pairs title at the U.S. championships in 1986 with her partner, Rudy Galindo, according to Biography; the pair did the same at the World Junior Championships two years later (where Yamaguchi also won the singles event). Not long after, Yamaguchi decided to focus on singles skating, moving to Alberta, Canada, in 1991 to train with Christy Ness. This turned out to be a wise decision, of course: That same year, she won the World Championships in Munich, Germany.
It was no surprise to figure skating fans when Yamaguchi ended up at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, on the same U.S. team as Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. While Yamaguchi's competitors, including Harding and Japan's Midori Ito, were known for their ability to land extremely difficult jumps (namely the triple Axel), Yamaguchi had a reputation for being a more well-rounded skater who focused on artistry. Her strategy proved to be a winning one when she made history that year as the first Asian American woman to win gold at the Winter Olympics...though the significance of the moment didn't fully hit her at first.
"Honestly I just felt like another California girl that grew up (here), and I had to land a triple Lutz-triple toe,” Yamaguchi explained later, per the official website for the Olympics. “I think it was after when I received so much support and outreach from the Asian American community is when it hit me. ‘Oh wow, what’s going on here?' I was able to really appreciate what it meant, particularly to the Japanese American community. I also gained a deeper appreciation for my family, my ancestors and everything that they had gone through in order for me to live the American dream.”
Though Yamaguchi retired from competing not long after winning the gold medal, she didn't stop skating. She toured with Stars on Ice for over a decade, going on to be inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1998, the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1999 and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2005.
In an interview with the Nob Hill Gazette earlier this year, Yamaguchi reflected on how skating has changed over the years, noting that today's young skaters face a different set of challenges.
"I think it’s harder nowadays because of social media, with how accessible the athletes are and anyone in the spotlight is these days," she said. "We were pretty insulated back in the ’90s, though the traditional press was overwhelming. Still, I can’t imagine nowadays. You see a lot of athletes building their social media presence and getting endorsements and sponsorships, which is great because that helps offset some of the training expenses and things like that. But they have a lot more to deal with in this day and age."
Remembering Nico 38 Years After the Death of the Velvet Underground Singer
In July 1988, model and singer Nico passed away aged 49 after falling from her bicycle in Spain.
Nico had been a model for Coco Chanel in the 1950s and acted for Fellini, but she is probably best known for her work with The Velvet Underground.
Born in Cologne as Christa Päffgen, Nico worked as an actress and model, appearing in Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita and Andy Warhol's Chelsea Girls. Warhol insisted she join The Velvet Underground, despite Lou Reed's scepticism.
Despite his chagrin, Nico lent her haunting vocals to three songs on the band's 1967 debut, The Velvet Underground & Nico: "Femme Fatale," "All Tomorrow's Parties" and "I'll Be Your Mirror."
After releasing their debut album, Nico left The Velvet Underground to pursue a solo career. She would make several critically acclaimed, avant-garde solo albums before passing away.
The Tragedy That Led To Nico's Death Photo of NICO (Photo by Peter Noble/Redferns)Nico struggled with heroin addiction for 15 years. She became involved in exercising as a way to combat cravings after she quit her habit, using this as a way of combating cravings. It's sadly this new love that would lead to her untimely death.
"In the late morning of July 17, 1988, my mother told me she needed to go downtown to buy marijuana," Nico's son, Christian Aaron Boulogne, said in Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk. "She sat down in front of the mirror and wrapped a black scarf around her head. My mother stared at the mirror and took great care to wrap the scarf appropriately. Down the hill on her bike: 'I'll be back soon.' She left in the early afternoon on the hottest day of the year."
The former It Girl fell from her bicycle and hit her head. She was found unconscious by a taxi driver and was taken to a hospital where she passed away from a severe cerebral hemorrhage.
"Her manager, Alan Wise, said she died in a hospital on the island a few hours after the accident," The New York Times reported at the time. "A coroner's report said she had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage."
Nicol is remembered by generations of artists, models and filmmakers, who cite her as their inspiration. Her solo albums paved the way for influential musicians like Siouxsie and The Banshees, The Cure, Björk, and Elliott Smith
1979 Figure Skating Pair Ended 29 Years of American Heartbreak With This Legendary Performance
Nearly 40 years after Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner delivered a gold medal-winning performance at the 1979 World Figure Skating Championships in Vienna, Austria, the routine remains one of the most significant moments in American pairs skating history. Their long program was more than a technical masterpiece; it was a breakthrough moment that ended a decades-long drought for the United States. Their performance was more than a magical moment on the ice—it was an announcement reminding the world that an American pair could compete with the best skaters in the world.
By the time they stepped onto the ice at the 1979 World Championships, Babilonia and Gardner were already regarded as one of the most talented pairs in figure skating. They were athletic and innovative, with exceptional chemistry on the ice. Together since she was 8 and he was 10, the American duo had spent years preparing themselves to challenge the dominance of Soviet pairs skaters who had previously all but controlled international competition.
Skating to a medley that included Igor Stravinsky's "The Firebird," their long program combined difficult technical elements with elegance, speed, and their natural connection on the ice—all hallmarks of what made the pair so special to watch.
The performance earned them gold, making Babilonia and Gardner the first American pair in 29 years to win the World Championship title and only the second U.S. pair ever to achieve the accomplishment.
Why Their 1979 Victory Was So MeaningfulIn 1979, under the backdrop of the Cold War era, international sports carried an added political weight that extended beyond competition. The Soviet Union had dominated Olympic and world figure skating for decades, with Soviet pairs teams considered nearly unbeatable.
For the United States, Babilonia and Gardner earning gold and dethroning the Soviet skaters was a symbolic moment of American excellence, challenging one of the Soviet Union’s strongest sporting legacies.
Figure skating was one of the few sports where the U.S. and Soviet Union regularly competed directly against one another on a global stage, making every victory carry cultural significance and the pride of an entire nation. Babilonia and Gardner’s victory at the 1979 World Championships gave American fans a moment of triumph in a sport where Soviet athletes had long been considered the gold standard.
The Olympic Heartbreak That Followed @stagestarusaAmerican ice dancing darlings of the 70s - do you remember ? #figureskating #iceskating #icedance #figureskatingcouple #rememberingtai #randygardner
♬ original sound - Stage Star 🇺🇸Babilonia and Gardner went on to become two of the most recognizable figures in American skating. Their popularity extended beyond the rink, making them pop culture icons and helping bring greater attention to pairs skating.
Entering the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, Babilonia and Gardner were considered heavy favorites for the gold medal, and an entire nation anticipated them delivering another historic moment for the United States.
Sadly, their Olympic dreams ended in heartbreaking fashion. Gardner suffered a serious injury shortly before the competition, forcing the pair to withdraw from the Games in one of the most disappointing and emotional moments in Olympic skating history.
A Legacy That Still Defines American Pairs SkatingDecades later, their 1979 World Championship performance continues to be a defining moment in U.S. figure skating history. Their legendary routine captured the magnitude of its era and proved that American pairs skating could compete—and win—against the world’s very best.
Women Over 40 Love Isomers' Firming Skin Cream That Targets Crepiness — ‘Perfect for Aging Skin’
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Skimping on something as important as skincare isn't something I'm willing to do as I inch closer to middle age. But with a budget that seems to get tighter every month (thanks, inflation!), anything more expensive than discounted drugstore face cream feels like too much of a splurge to purchase regularly. As a shopping expert, it's my job to find great deals on quality products, and right now, ShopHQ is one of my new favorite places to find premium skincare products at a steal.
ShopHQ's beauty selection is vast, with an array of cosmetics, haircare, and skincare from brands like Yensa, Dermaclara, and Isomers available for less than you'd typically find elsewhere. Take, for example, the Isomers Skincare Re-Densify Contouring Cream. It normally retails for $58 at ShopHQ, but the retailer recently slashed the price by over 30%, dropping it to just $40. The same 50-milliliter jar retails for $81 at Isomer, so even before it went on sale, you'd still be getting a better deal buying this firming cream at ShopHQ. Dubbed "perfect for aging skin" by reviewers, this cream is beloved for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, combating crepiness, and hydrating skin for a plump, refreshed appearance.
Isomers Skincare Re-Densify Contouring Cream, $40 (was $58) at ShopHQIf you've noticed a loss of elasticity and volume in your facial skin as you've matured, you're not imagining things. According to the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging, a loss of elastin, decreased collagen production, and hormonal fluctuations are among the many age-related changes that can lead to visible wrinkles and uneven texture.
Made from skin-friendly ingredients powered by plant-derived volufiline and progeline, Isomers' hydrating face cream was designed to stimulate adipose cells and promote lipid storage, which can naturally enhance hyaluronic acid levels in aging skin. Formulated specifically for women over 40, these ingredients can give skin a fuller, firmer appearance by contouring sagging areas to create a sculpted look.
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The Real Reason Fast-Food French Fries Tasted So Much Better in the '90s
Ask almost anyone who grew up in the last millennium about fast-food french fries, and chances are you'll hear the same thing: they just don't taste the way they used to.
For years, that sentiment has been chalked up to nostalgia. After all, childhood memories have a way of making everything seem a little better. But when it comes to fast-food fries, nostalgia is only part of the story. The fries themselves really were different.
During the golden age of the drive-thru, many of America's biggest fast-food chains relied on animal fats, prepared potatoes with different cooking techniques and served super-sized portions that would be almost unimaginable by today's standards. As health concerns over saturated fat gained momentum in the late 1980s and early 1990s, those practices began to change. Beef tallow gave way to vegetable oils, massive portions got downsized, and many chains streamlined kitchen operations in the name of efficiency and consistency.
That doesn't mean today's fries are bad. In fact, many restaurants have spent decades trying to recreate the rich flavor and crispy texture that customers remember so fondly. But between changes in ingredients, preparation methods and even the way our brains connect food with memory, there are plenty of reasons so many people insist fast-food fries tasted better a generation ago.
Here's why those fries left such a lasting impression—and why some restaurants are beginning to embrace old-school cooking methods once again.
The Golden Era of the Fast-Food Drive-ThruThe Washington Post / Getty Images
The 1980s and 1990s were a boom time for the fast-food industry. Drive-thrus became faster, national chains expanded into thousands of new locations and fierce competition sparked what became known as the "burger wars." While flashy new sandwiches grabbed headlines, french fries remained one of the industry's biggest battlegrounds. A great burger could bring customers through the door, but consistently hot, crispy fries kept them coming back.
Back then, many chains still cut, blanched and fried potatoes using methods that prioritized flavor over shelf life. Animal fats—including beef tallow at McDonald's and other chains, as well as pork lard at many restaurants, diners and local fast-food establishments—were very common. Those fats produced fries with a deeply savory flavor, crisp exterior and fluffy interior that many customers still remember today.
Fast-food companies weren't just selling a side dish—they were selling an experience. Pulling into the drive-thru after a Little League game, grabbing fries on a family road trip or sharing a supersized order with friends became ingrained in everyday life. Those memories are one reason the fries of that era continue to occupy such a special place for so many.
The Secret Ingredient We Lost: Beef Tallow© Andrew Dolph / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Long before canola, soybean and other vegetable oils became the standard for commercial frying, many restaurants relied on animal fats to cook french fries. Diners often used pork lard, while numerous fast-food chains turned to beef tallow, prized for its high smoke point and the rich, savory flavor it imparted to everything from french fries to fried chicken.
No company became more closely associated with beef tallow fries than McDonald's. For decades, the chain fried its iconic fries in a blend that was approximately 93 percent beef tallow and 7 percent vegetable oil, creating the crispy exterior and unmistakable flavor that many customers still describe as the gold standard for fast-food fries. The method wasn't unique to McDonald's, but because of the chain's enormous popularity, it helped define what millions of Americans expected a french fry to taste like.
Beef tallow offered practical advantages as well. It remained stable at high frying temperatures, produced a crisp exterior while helping the inside stay fluffy and could withstand repeated use better than many oils available at the time. It also added a subtle beefy richness that vegetable oils simply couldn't replicate on their own.
Today, many chefs argue that beef tallow creates a more flavorful fry because it contributes both texture and taste. That's one reason why it's enjoying a resurgence at some restaurants, even as most major fast-food chains continue using vegetable oils. While the debate over the "best" frying fat is ultimately a matter of personal preference, there's little question that switching away from beef tallow fundamentally changed the flavor profile of America's favorite fast-food side.
Related: Fast Food Fans Are Debating the Best French Fries, and These Chains Came Out on Top
The 1990 Health Crusade That Ruined the FryWhat kind of cooking fats or oils are most common in your country?
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By the late 1980s, the conversation around nutrition had shifted dramatically. Health experts and advocacy groups were increasingly warning Americans about the risks associated with saturated fat and cholesterol, putting fast-food chains under growing pressure to rethink how they prepared some of their most popular items.
One of the loudest voices in that movement was Phil Sokolof, an Omaha businessman who became a passionate health advocate after surviving a heart attack. Sokolof spent millions of dollars on a national advertising campaign criticizing fast-food chains for cooking with animal fats, taking out full-page newspaper ads urging companies like McDonald's to change their recipes. His campaign generated widespread attention and helped intensify public scrutiny of the industry.
In July 1990, McDonald's announced it would replace its longtime beef tallow-based frying blend with 100 percent vegetable oil, saying the move reflected changing consumer preferences and nutritional recommendations. Other major chains soon made similar changes, marking the beginning of a new era for fast-food fries.
More than three decades later, the tallow debate continues. For some people, the switch represented a necessary step toward healthier eating. For others, it marked the moment America's fast-food fries lost the flavor that had made them legendary. Either way, the industry's move away from animal fats remains one of the most significant changes in fast-food history.
How Chains Tried to 'Fake' the Original FlavorSwitching from animal fats to vegetable oils solved one problem for fast-food chains, but it created another: customers could tell the difference.
Over the years, many restaurants looked for ways to recreate the savory, satisfying flavor people associated with the old fries without returning to beef tallow. Some experimented with different blends of vegetable oils, while others adjusted frying temperatures or added coatings to help fries stay crisp longer. McDonald's famously added natural beef flavor to its fries after making the switch, a decision that remains part of the recipe in the United States today.
Preparation methods evolved too. Frozen fries became more consistent, allowing chains to deliver nearly identical products from one restaurant to the next. Advances in food science also helped fries retain their crispness longer, an important advantage in the drive-thru era. The result was a fry that was more consistent and easier to produce at scale, but many longtime customers felt something was lost along the way. While today's fries are engineered for consistency, fans of the old-school versions argue they lack some of the rich flavor and texture that made earlier generations so memorable.
Other Reasons '90s Fries Hit DifferentlyWho remembers McDonald’s super size meal?
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Ingredients weren't the only thing that changed. The fast-food experience itself looked different in the 1990s.
Many chains still finished more of the cooking process in-house, and some restaurants relied on double-frying techniques that helped produce an especially crisp exterior and fluffy interior. Portion sizes were also significantly larger than they are today. McDonald's iconic Super Size option, introduced in the 1990s, became synonymous with an era when "large" wasn't large enough.
Then there's the factor no fryer can replicate: memory.
Researchers have found that taste and smell are among the strongest triggers of autobiographical memories, a phenomenon often referred to as the "Proust effect." A familiar flavor can instantly transport people back to childhood road trips, Friday-night football games or family vacations. In other words, part of what people remember isn't just the fries themselves—it's everything that came with them.
That doesn't mean the golden potatoes weren't genuinely different. Between beef tallow, different preparation methods and larger portions, there were real changes to how fast-food restaurants made their fries. But nostalgia may also be adding a little extra seasoning to those memories, making the fries of the '90s seem even more unforgettable.
Related: 10 Discontinued McDonald's Items We Need Back Immediately
Where Can You Still Get Beef Tallow Fries Today?Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com
While most major fast-food chains continue to use vegetable oils, beef tallow has been making a quiet comeback in recent years. A growing number of independent restaurants, steakhouses and burger shops have embraced traditional frying methods, arguing that beef tallow produces a richer flavor and crispier texture than modern alternatives.
Some regional chains have also leaned into the trend. Earlier this year, Steak 'n Shake announced it would transition its fries to 100 percent beef tallow, citing customer demand for a more traditional cooking method. The move generated renewed interest in beef tallow fries and introduced a new generation of diners to an ingredient that was once commonplace throughout the fast-food industry.
Of course, not everyone agrees that beef tallow is the superior choice. Nutrition science has continued to evolve, and many restaurants prefer vegetable oils for health, cost or operational reasons. But for those looking to recapture a little of the flavor they remember from decades past, a growing number of restaurants are once again giving beef tallow a place in the fryer.
Why We Still Crave the Fries of the Pastpicture alliance / Getty Images
Ask a group of people whether fast-food fries tasted better in the 1990s, and chances are you'll hear plenty of passionate opinions. The answer, however, isn't as simple as nostalgia—or as simple as beef tallow.
The fries really were different. Animal fats, changing preparation techniques, and larger portions all helped shape the flavor and texture many people still remember. At the same time, those fries became part of countless everyday moments, from family dinners to late-night drive-thru runs, making them as much a memory as a menu item.
Whether today's fries are objectively better or worse is ultimately a matter of taste. But one thing is certain: the fries that defined the golden age of the drive-thru left an impression that's proven remarkably difficult to replace.
Related: This Fast-Growing 'Clean Cooking' Brand Is Now Hitting Stores Nationwide