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A great food festival should make you want to plan the whole trip around just one bite. Sure, there are the West Coast and island headliners that boast celebrity chef after celebrity chef, and cost close to $500 just for tickets, the ones you read about in every travel magazine. And, even though we have one on this list that has worldwide notoriety, there's one distinct difference with the fests on this list: they're all in the Midwest.

And that bite? It could be peach-bourbon pork belly burnt ends, smoked pulled lamb with mint salsa, al pastor pork belly fried rice, or miso hot honey bacon burnt ends at Windy City Smokeout. Or, in Des Moines, it might be Burmese coconut rice with chicken curry, Bosnian sarma, Laotian naam khao, Gambian peanut butter stew, or a bite-size poke bowl. In other words, these are not places you go for just a corn dog and bucket-o-cheese curds.

Related: 19 Best Food & Wine Festivals

What Counts as a Food Festival? view angle looking down on a table full of tacos, bbq, lumpia, and other various eats from a taco food truck event

A food festival does not have to mean white tents, tasting glasses and tiny portions. It can be a chef-led weekend with wine pairings and reservation-only dinners, or it can be a smoky, sauce-slicked block party where the best thing you eat comes wrapped in foil. It can have bands, beer tents, cooking demos, family activities, and long lines for something fried, grilled, smoked or stuffed.

As Erik Wolf, founder of the World Food Travel Association, said, “Food and beverage are an attraction. Sell a memory, not just a meal.” At a true food festival, that's the draw, at least for me. The music may set the mood, and the crowd may bring the energy, but the food is what most people go for. People are not just eating while they are there—they are there to eat.

Related: This Is Disney's Best Food Festival—And It's Not In A Theme Park

Why the Midwest? The skyline of the city of Chicago shot via helicopter from about 1000 feet over Lake Michigan.

As a born and bred Midwestern, why not? The land of state fairs, church festivals, neighborhood block parties, rib cook-offs, fish fries, farmers markets and summer street parties are already part of the culture. So really, a food festival is just taking those vibes and amplifying them. Plus, the welcoming hospitality means everyone feels welcome, whether they're from the Midwest or not.

Maxwell Robbins, Culinary Director for Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant Group, says that history is exactly why Chicago and the larger Midwest work so well for a festival like Windy City Smokeout. “I think most people recognize Chicago as one of the world’s great food cities, but historically speaking, the midwest actually has a rich history of festivals as community gatherings dating back to the late 1800's, as the second state fair in the US history actually took place in Michigan in 1849," he said. "On any given weekend summer weekend you can find multiple noteworthy street fests featuring great food and music, so this culture is very much engrained in Chicago—becoming almost a right of passage for people both visiting and living in the city!”

Our Favorite Fests this Year1. Windy City Smokeout, Chicago, IL

If your idea of a perfect festival includes barbecue, country music, craft beer and close access to some of the world's best restaurants, this is the one for you. Windy City Smokeout returns July 8 to 12, 2026, outside the United Center, with a five-day lineup of music and barbecue in Chicago.

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The food lineup is what makes it more than just a country music weekend with a few good snacks. “I always answer this question by saying that I believe that the Windy City Smokeout is the best representation of BBQ in America today—if you come eat you can try food from the up and coming pitmasters who will be winning awards in the coming years—legends of BBQ who have been drawing long lines for decades—Competition circuit BBQ teams and Memphis in May Winners," Robbins said. "Plus, you have direct access to the restaurants who are currently featured on various award lists like Michelin, James Beard, and Texas Monthly Top 50. We try to have the best overall balance of national and local talent anywhere in the world,” Robbins says.

That means you can try the kind of barbecue people usually plan entire trips around without actually booking a flight to Texas, Tennessee, or Missouri. “Festival dishes give you a chance to eat that bite that you have been salivating over on social media for years without booking a whole trip to do it. We try to offer each Pitmaster’s signature dish, as well as something exciting, creative and unique made just for our festival," Robbins said.

Make it a full Chicago food weekend by staying at The Hoxton, Chicago, in Fulton Market, which puts you close to the festival grounds, the West Loop restaurant scene, and a rooftop pool for recovering between brisket rounds. For dinner that'll blow you out of the water, book Smyth, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant from chefs John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, which was named the best restaurant in North America by North America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2026. For something more casual and less painful on the wallet, go to The Publican, chef Paul Kahan’s Fulton Market beer hall devoted to oysters, pork, beer and farmhouse-style cooking, which keeps the meat-and-smoke mood going without requiring a tasting-menu budget.

Related: Why Martha Stewart Won't Miss This Cozy Wisconsin Food & Wine Weekend

2. Traverse City Food & Wine, Traverse City, Michigan

Traverse City Food & Wine is one of the Midwest’s biggest up-and-coming food festivals, and for good reason. Long known as the Cherry Capital of the U.S., Traverse City also sits near some of Michigan’s most exciting wine country, giving the festival a built-in mix of local flavor, regional wine, and lake-country charm. Returning August 19 to 23, 2026, the festival celebrates the Traverse City region’s agriculture, craft, and creativity, with over 100 tents featuring bites from chefs and restaurants, local wines, craft beverages and foods that distinctly celebrate the region's bounty. Tickets cost around $145 for the entire weekend, with VIP available for over $300.

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To turn it into a full weekend, stay at Delamar Traverse City, a waterfront hotel on Grand Traverse Bay with floor-to-ceiling windows, a heated outdoor pool, and Artisan Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern on-site for Great Lakes-inspired dining. If you're still hungry after the festival, stop into The Cooks’ House for dishes like butter-roasted walleye with wild mushrooms, cabbage, foie gras cream, and sunflower sprouts, or braised beef cheek with bone marrow mashed potatoes and shallots. For something more relaxed, head to Farm Club, where the menu is built around farm-grown vegetables, fresh pasta made with regionally grown grains, pozole made with nixtamalized farm corn, and drinks like Leelanau cherry lemonade and iced tea.

Traverse City Cherries

And because this is Traverse City, save room for cherry pie. Grand Traverse Pie Company’s Grand Traverse Cherry Crumb is made with tart Michigan Montmorency cherries and is the signature pie of the National Cherry Festival, which makes it an easy final stop before you leave town.

3. Des Moines World Food Festival

Des Moines’ World Food & Music Festival brings flavors of the entire world right smack into the Midwest. The free three-day festival returns to Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines from August 28 to 30, 2026, with international food vendors, live music, cultural experiences, interactive activities, and more than 90,000 attendees expected based on 2025 turnout. The 2026 vendor lineup has not been announced yet, but the festival says vendors will represent 25 countries and culinary regions, with bite-sized samples, full meals, and drinks available from each.

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In 2025, festival goers could try everything from half-size Venezuelan queso empanadas and mini quesabirria to Ecuadorian sancocho, Jamaican jerk rice and beans, Dutch stroopwafels, Ukrainian pelmeni and pierogi, and Burmese coconut rice with chicken curry, all in one day. Even though the festival is free to attend, each vendor has a separate cost.

A focal point of The Principal Riverwalk, this iconic bridge spans the Des Moines River.

Make it a full weekend by staying downtown at Surety Hotel, a 137-room hotel in the heart of Des Moines with Mulberry Street Tavern, a coffee bar, a lounge, and an outdoor courtyard. For a taste of Des Moines outside of the festival, head to Harbinger, where Des Moines native Joe Tripp, a seven-time James Beard Best Chef:Midwest nominee, serves vegetable-focused small plates inspired by Southeast Asia and Iowa growers. For something more splurgy, book Oak Park, where Executive Chef Ian Robertson and Executive Pastry Chef Jess Robertson build seasonal, modern dishes around local farmers, garden ingredients, and a serious wine program. Or keep the local-food thread going at HoQ, where chef-owner Suman Hoque’s farm-to-table restaurant in the East Village focuses on Iowa ingredients with global flavor.

Related: This Under-the-Radar Food & Wine Weekend Stars Big-Name Chefs, Cliffside Cabanas and Sunken S'mores Fire Pits

If I had to narrow down the qualities that make me click "add to cart" on a new kitchen gadget, two things rise to the top every time—it has to save space and make my kitchen look a little happier. I'm a sucker for anything that nests neatly inside itself, folds away or pulls double duty instead of hogging precious cabinet real estate. When it comes in bright, cheerful colors, it just makes opening a cabinet or walking into the kitchen feel a little more fun.

Of course, good looks only get a product so far. Anything that enters the kitchen also has to earn its keep. All flash and no function just isn't going to work. That's why I have heart eyes for Aldi's new 8-piece Mix & Prep Set.

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Crofton 8-Piece Mix & Prep Set, $9.99 at Aldi Crofton 8-Piece Mix & Prep Set

Aldi

The first thing you notice about this Aldi Find is how satisfyingly it all nests together. Instead of eight separate pieces rattling around your cabinets, the mixing bowls and measuring cups stack neatly into one compact bundle that takes up about as much room as a single large bowl. There's even a mesh strainer tucked in there too, because Aldi really thought of everything with this grouping.

Related: Costco's Hunter Crossbody Bag Is the Rainy-Day Essential You'll Reach for All Summer

With the multicolor colorway, you get a soft palette of dusty blue, sage green, lavender and creamy ivory, which gives it a modern, yet slightly retro feel that looks far more expensive than you'd expect considering its $9.99 price tag. Then there's also a blue gradient colorway that's chic and calming. It's the kind of kitchen set you won't mind leaving out on the counter because it doubles as a pretty pop of color.

You'll see a lot of affordable kitchen gear in the Aldi Finds aisle this week. There's a sweet little rice cooker for $14.99 and a five-piece cookware set that's also designed to be space-saving for only $29.99. And perhaps the biggest kitchen workhorse available now is a four-pack of flexible cutting mats that are perfect for chopping, dicing and any other knife skills you want to show off while prepping dinner.

If you know a college student about to move into their first apartment, all of these finds make an ideal kitchen starter kit—and a colorful one to boot.

Related: Target Is Selling the Sweetest Hooded Throw Blanket Perfect For Getting Cozy While Your AC Is Cranked

Written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, the pop sensation "Be My Baby" was noted at the time for being a "bold" piece of music. Unlike other pieces at the time, "Be My Baby" focused on a woman wanting the attention from a sweet man, rather than the opposite.

Spector had originally auditioned a girl group comprised of sisters Veronica (Ronnie) and Estelle as well as their cousin, Nedra, in 1963. The group, known as the Ronettes, vocally impressed Spector, particularly Ronnie. However, he felt they needed more time to develop as artists and develop their act.

On July 29th, 1963, Spector recorded the track "Be My Baby" with a full orchestra, "determined to make his most towering production yet" according to sources. Ronnie—the only member of the girl group to actually appear on the recording—overdubbed her lead vocal just a day later onto the track. Ronnie said of recording the song that "the band went nuts. I was 18 years old, 3,000 miles from home, and had all these guys saying I was the next Billie Holiday."

"Be My Baby" was released the following month in August of 1963. By the end of the summer the song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart. "Be My Baby" would become the biggest hit for the Ronettes during their tenure as a girl group.

The "Be My Baby" chorus is noted for the climatic build towards it and how much it hits once the song arrives there. Author and musician Virgil Moorefield said, "The words are sung against the backdrop of a sonic landscape suggestive of fantasy and desire as the song builds toward the climactic chorus." This has rung true over the years and on a recent list for Spotify, NME listed the song as number one on their list of tracks with the "Most Explosive Choruses" in music.

Many consider "Be My Baby" to be one of the best songs in all of musical history. Cited as a major influence on the likes of The Beatles and The Beach Boys, the track was included on a compilation of some of the greatest additions to pop music. Notably, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song as number 22 of its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

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Related: Breakup Ballad, With Over 300 Covers, Didn’t Become a Hit Until Elvis Presley’s 1972 Version

Finding a vacation that perfectly balances tropical exploration with a sophisticated, unhurried pace is the ultimate travel goal.

If you're starting to map out your upcoming winter travel calendars, Holland America Line just unveiled its highly anticipated 2027–2028 Caribbean season, and it reads like a wishlist custom-built for travelers who want to skip the frantic, high-octane theme park crowds and settle into true vacation bliss.

Sailing from October 2027 through March 2028, the freshly announced season features 29 distinct itineraries designed to give you more time to explore each destination at a rewarding, stress-free pace.

In fact, Holland America is offering more Caribbean itineraries of nine days or longer than any other cruise line in the region. These extended voyages mean fewer rushed mornings, longer port stays to truly connect with local culture and more unhurried days spent watching the sunset from the deck.

Related: Holland America Just Announced Its First-Ever Year-Round Europe Season—Complete with Festive Christmas Market Cruises

Holland America Line

One of the biggest highlights of the upcoming season is the spectacular upgrade coming to the line's award-winning private island, RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay. Featured on nearly every single Caribbean itinerary, the pristine island is debuting an exclusive, upgraded beach club complete with premium seating, priority tendering, and attentive beachside waiter service.

You can stroll along the soft white sand to find a refreshed Lobster Shack, island-exclusive dining menus, and whimsical new additions like Aperol spritz tricycles and Bacardi beach buggies. For travelers who love to stay active, the island has also added brand-new pickleball courts alongside its classic beachside horseback riding and kayaking excursions.

The onboard experience is getting an equally luxurious upgrade through the line's massive new "Evolution" fleet investment. Beginning in December 2027, guests can step aboard the completely reimagined Oosterdam—the very first ship to undergo this modern transformation.

The vessel is introducing purpose-built Solo Verandah staterooms featuring private balconies and dedicated workspaces, making it an incredible layout option for solo travelers who love having their own sanctuary at sea. Groups and families can also book the brand-new panoramic Bridgeview Suites or premium Vista Suites.

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Holland America Line

Related: Holland America Line Brings Back Beloved Cruise Tradition Fans Say They Missed

One of the highlights of the ship's transformation, however, is the debut of the Grand Dutch Café. Inspired by European café culture and the line's historic roots, this all-day social hub is the perfect spot to meet up for specialty coffees, traditional Dutch pastries and light bites. Paired with Holland America's signature adults-only aft pool area—where you can enjoy live music and cold-towel delivery away from the main Lido deck noise—this upcoming season promises a sophisticated, deeply relaxing Caribbean escape that lets you savor every single moment.

If you're ready to turn these vacation dreams into an actual booked itinerary, Holland America has lined up several specific voyages that perfectly capture this slow-travel, luxurious approach to the islands.

For those looking to completely redefine how they celebrate the winter season, the line is offering eight distinct holiday cruises that take the stress out of planning. You can spend the holidays aboard the Rotterdam on a 7-day Eastern Caribbean Holiday itinerary departing December 22, 2027, from Fort Lauderdale, which features stops at Grand Turk, St. Thomas, and a late-night stay in historic San Juan.

If a longer holiday escape on a freshly updated ship sounds perfect, the newly reimagined Oosterdam departs the same day on an 11-day Southern Caribbean Holiday voyage, taking you to Grand Cayman, Colombia, and the stunning ABC islands with late-night stops in Aruba and Curaçao. On board, the ships are beautifully decorated and feature festive dining, live music, and global holiday programming that lets you simply enjoy the traditions without any of the hosting cleanup.

The absolute crown jewel of the new season, however, is a historic bucket-list sailing that throws it back to the golden age of aviation and travel. The 28-day Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage aboard the Zuiderdam departs October 30, 2027, roundtrip from Miami. Developed in an official partnership with Pan Am, this incredible 4-week journey traces the airline’s historic Clipper flying boat routes across the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America, visiting 19 ports in 13 countries. You will follow the footsteps of travel icons with stops in early aviation hubs like Nassau and San Juan, alongside consecutive port days in the Southern Caribbean that give you unprecedented time to slow down and immerse yourself in the local culture.

If you are looking for a slightly shorter sweet spot that still prioritizes that slow-paced luxury, the line's 9- to 12-day itineraries offer the perfect solution. You can opt for a 10- or 11-day Southern Caribbean exploration of the ABC Islands aboard the Oosterdam, which lets you island-hop through Half Moon Cay, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao with zero rush.

For a touch of bucket-list adventure, the 12-day Panama Canal Discovery itineraries combine tropical relaxation in Costa Rica and Grand Cayman with a partial transit of the iconic Panama Canal and Gatun Lake. No matter which route you choose, the focus remains exactly where it should be: on deep relaxation, spectacular service, and making memories at a pace that lets you savor every single port.

Related: This New Holland America Line Cruise Hits Every Bucket-List Port In One Trip

In numerology, repeating digits are associated with heightened energy, commonly referred to as angel numbers. The 7/7 portal is no exception. This numerological portal offers insights into our spiritual journeys, enhancing luck and intuitive wisdom. Read on to explore the meaning of the 7/7 portal in numerology and discover which birth dates are likely to experience the most abundant luck from this energetic activation.

What Does the 7/7 Portal Mean?

July 7, or 7/7, is a time of heightened spiritual activity. This date carries significant numerological meaning, serving as a gateway to activating our intuition and awakening our higher consciousness. Numerologists note that 7 is associated with intuition, introspection, and spiritual wisdom. While the energy of this numerological event will peak on this day, you can expect its lingering effects to last for weeks afterward.

TRENDING: 4 Birth Months Destined To Have the Best Summer Ever

@golden_alchemist

Tomorrow is 7/7, and here's why it matters ✨️ #numerology #manifestation #abundance #divinetiming #fyp

♬ HOLY FOREVER (Instrumental) - Glorify & CHILLØUT Which Birth Dates Are Attracting Abundance on 7/7?

The following birth dates are most affected by the 7/7 numerological energy: 7, 16, and 25.

Born on the 7th — Answers Finally Arrive

If you were born on the 7th, you will find auspicious energy on 7/7. The numerology supports your natural tendency toward introspection, helping you unlock solutions to problems that have obscured your vision for months. Expect increased trust in your own judgment as you move forward with greater precision, tact, and clarity. The answers you seek already lie within. Abundance will come your way through your self-trust. Take a leap of faith if a calculated risk outside your comfort zone presents itself.

MORE: We All Have a Comfort Show—Your Birth Date Reveals Your Perfect One

Born on the 16th — Hard Work Pays Off

Born on the 16th? You’re set for intentional healing under the 7/7 portal. July 7 and the weeks following offer you a rare opportunity to turn your higher ideals into reality. Expect your desires to take material form. So long as you remain level-headed and consistent, your hard work finally pays off. While you may need to let go of people-pleasing habits to achieve what you seek, know that it’s okay to choose yourself in this situation. You’re ready to welcome expansion into your world; don’t let others' negativity get in your way!

FUN: Your Ariana Grande Song, Based on Your Zodiac Sign

Born on the 25th — New Doors Open

If you were born on the 25th, expect transformation. This period encourages you to unlock greater abundance as you pursue your deepest passions. The universe supports your dreams, so think big. It’s time to stop shrinking yourself to fit into a box; you’re ready to embrace your true potential and trust your natural evolution. While you may need to say goodbye to some things that once served you, trust that these farewells will lead to more fulfilling new beginnings.

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You know the work of the "best drummer of all time" before his name is actually said.

For more than six decades, Ringo Starr has remained one of the most prolific percussionists in rock and roll history. First with The Beatles and later, a long and steady solo career.

Starr's talent once earned him a spot on a list of the best drummers of all time, as ranked by Rolling Stone's readers. The recognition reflected the lasting impact of his steady, understated style behind the drum kit.

While Starr was never the flashiest percussionist in rock and roll, he had an instinctive feel for what each song needed. That subtle approach helped shape some of the most recognizable songs in music history, including "Rain," "A Day in the Life," "Come Together, "Ticket to Ride," and "Tomorrow Never Knows."

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Starr first joined The Beatles in August 1962, replacing the band's original drummer, Pete Best. He played his first gig with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison at Hulme Hall, near Liverpool, England.

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One month later, he was recording with the band at EMI Studios at Abbey Road. However, producer George Martin wasn't satisfied with Starr's timing, and so, he was given a tambourine to play while session player Andy White played the drum parts on "Love Me Do."

That was one of the few recordings in The Beatles' history on which Starr did not appear. He became known for his ability to lock into the groove of McCartney, Lennon, and Harrison and his own compositions, providing a steady backbeat that elevated the songs without overshadowing them.

In fact, it wasn't until the latter part of The Beatles' tenure that he played his first drum solo. It was on the group's last song, "The End," on their last recordings together as a four-piece group, 1969's Abbey Road.

In the 2008 documentary Off the Record, Starr told Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart why his drum style was so unique. "I'm left-handed. And I'm playing a right-handed kit."

"Drummers usually go 'round the drums this way (left to right). I can't do that. Everyone thought 'he's a genius,' but all I'm doing is trying to play backwards."

According to his official website, Ringo Starr will celebrate his birthday at noon PST by continuing to promote Peace and Love. This movement has "grown to include events all over the planet and into the stars with support from NASA. Ringo will celebrate again this year from Los Angeles."

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Birthstone jewelry is one of those rare accessories that feels both personal and timeless. Whether you’re shopping for a loved one or treating yourself to a new everyday piece, choosing a truly unique design makes all the difference. It gives you the freedom to experiment with distinct style aesthetics while keeping that meaningful, sentimental touch close to your heart.

For an affordable option that still feels gift-worthy, the Cate & Chloe Luna Birthstone Necklace is a standout choice. Right now, it's on sale for 84% off at Walmart, dropping the price from $125 to just $20.

Cate & Chloe Luna Birthstone Necklace, $20 (was $125) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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The necklace features an 18-inch chain and an 18-karat white gold-plated brass crescent moon pendant measuring 10.8 millimeters wide and 16.4 millimeters high. 13 Swarovski accent crystals adorn the crescent, adding subtle sparkle without feeling over-the-top.

At the center sits a 5.2-millimeter round-cut birthstone. With 12 birthstone options available, it's easy to choose a stone that marks a birthday, anniversary, or another meaningful occasion. The necklace arrives beautifully packaged in a luxury gift box, making it ready to give right out of the package. 

Designed for everyday wear, the necklace features a secure lobster-claw clasp and is made from hypoallergenic, lead-free, and nickel-free materials. That makes it a comfortable option for those with sensitive skin.

The celestial-inspired design feels both trendy and versatile. The colorful birthstone contrasts beautifully against the bright silver-tone finish and sparkling crystals, creating a piece that works just as well with casual outfits as it does for dressier occasions. It also pairs nicely with whimsigoth-inspired fashion trends (which centers on moody, celestial, and mystical motifs) while remaining classic enough for everyday wear.

One shopper described the necklace as “very pretty” and “good quality” in a five-star review, writing, “ I love the birthstone selection and the crescent moon design. The pendant does not look too large for a child, but not too small for an adult either.” Another reviewer shared, “This is stunning. It’s the first day of wearing it and I got so many compliments.”

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• JeenMata Birthstone Pendant Necklace, $19 (was $99) at Walmart
• Apsvo Gold-Plated Love Heart Necklace, $14 (was $110) at Walmart

Related: Nordstrom Rack Has a ‘Delicate’ and ‘Pretty’ $35 Pearl Necklace That’s ‘Great for Layering’

For a personalized piece that feels thoughtful, stylish, and surprisingly affordable, the Cate & Chloe Luna Birthstone Necklace is an easy pick. With Walmart's current 84% discount, you can save more than $100 on this beautiful necklace.

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There are few names more well-known than Maya Angelou’s. As the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM) reported, Angelou was a poet, dancer, singer, activist, scholar and “a world-famous author.” She was most well-known for her autobiographical style, and she accomplished many firsts; she was the first Black woman to make the nonfiction bestseller lists with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and the first Black woman to direct a major motion picture with Georgia, Georgia. She was even the first Black, female streetcar conductor in San Francisco at the age of 16, per NBC Bay Area. As you can tell, despite hardships and setbacks, she achieved so much. And our quote of the day from Angelou reflects the mindset that likely drove her to persevere and succeed.

Per the NWHM, Angelou was born Marguerite Ann Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, MO. Her parents had a “tumultuous” relationship, which led her to live with her paternal grandmother in Arkansas. After going back and forth between her mother’s and grandmother’s care, and experiencing a horrifying event at seven years old, she ended up with her mother in Oakland, CA for high school. She wrote poetry, essays and more all throughout her adolescence, graduated from high school in 1944 and had her first child soon after. She had odd jobs, got married and then divorced by 1952, but kept a version of her former husband’s last name, Angelos. 

According to the Poetry Foundation, Angelou worked for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X as a civil rights activist, and went on to teach as the Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University. She published I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in 1969, which was an autobiography of her early years. Many credit this book for helping abuse survivors share their stories, as she did. One of her poetry books, Just Give me a Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1972, and in 1993 she won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for her spoken poetry album, “On the Pulse of the Morning.”

She achieved so much more than we can write in her long life; she died on May 28, 2014, at the age of 86. At her memorial service, her son Guy Johnson said that Angelou "left this mortal plane with no loss of acuity and no loss in comprehension," per History’s Women. And as today’s quote highlights, she believed in determination and putting into life what you want out of it.

Related: Quote of the Day: Poet Edgar Allan Poe on the Power of Creativity, Imagination and Daydreaming

Quote of the Day by Maya Angelou

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“Life is going to give you just what you put in it. Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you can wait.”

This is a quote from the 1989 book Conversations with Maya Angelou. It’s a collection of conversations with Angelou, where she tells “of her impact upon a difficult world and ultimately her triumph.”

This line is in the chapter titled “Westways Women: Life Is for Living, Judith Rich.” As The Marginalian reported, it is a 1977 interview with Rich, who was a journalist. In it, Angelou shares that she’s very fortunate, even though she had a very hard upbringing. She reflects more on her life as, including how she'd be dead if she accepted the negative things people said about her looks early on and how she only tries to represent herself when out in the world.

Early in this chapter, when Rich writes the quote above, it’s after she notes that “it’s [Angelou's] capacity to transmit this warmth and humor, together with the inherent pain, through her work, that has made her a leading figure in writing and the performing arts.” She then lists off all of Angelou’s accomplishments.

Rich then writes that Angelou says her mother always told her this: “Life is going to give you just what you put in it. Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you can wait.”

She follows that up by talking about how busy Angelou is and how she isn’t “one to rest,” listing projects she was currently working on.

Related: Quote of the Day: Political Activist Angela Davis on Uplifting Others as We Succeed

Deeper Meaning of Maya Angelou’s Quote—You Get What You Put Into Your Life

As mentioned above, Angelou’s life was hard, and she grew up having to experience some traumatic events. But as her life and all that she’s accomplished have shown, she persevered and went out and achieved her dreams. And it really does go back to what her mother told her, which she remembered all those decades later in the interview with Judith Rich.

The sentiment that “you get what you put in” is a pretty common one that many of us have heard before. But, as she tends to do, Angelou finds a way to make it feel new and, given the fact that she embodies what the quote is saying, gives it even more meaning. 

She simply states that you’re going to get back from life as much as you put into it. So that means the effort you give your work, your ambitions, your schooling, your partner, your family, etc. will come back to you eventually. If you want to accomplish something in life, you need to persevere and do hard things, but what you can succeed because of your work and dedication is worth it. 

Angelou reminds us to put our “whole heart in everything” we do, which is a good lesson to remember for quite literally everything in life. No one likes a haphazard attempt, and it’s always noticeable. So put your all into things, pray or hope for the best, and wait for the good things to fall into your life.

Related: Quote of the Day: Writer George Orwell on Happiness—‘Men Can Only Be Happy’ When They Aren’t Searching for Happiness as Life’s Main Point

More Quotes from Maya Angelou

• "We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."
• "The most called-upon prerequisite of a friend is an accessible ear."
• "Life loves to be taken by the lapel and be told, I am with you kid. Let's go!"
• "All knowledge is spendable currency, depending on the market."
• "You only are free when you realize you belong no place - you belong every place - no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great."
• "Human beings are more alike than unalike, and what is true anywhere is true everywhere, yet I encourage travel to as many destinations as possible for the sake of education as well as pleasure."
• "Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning."

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Related: Quote of the Day: Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau—‘What Wisdom Can You Find That Is Greater Than Kindness?’

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If the unofficial start of summer has led to an excess of pool toys, gardening tools, and lawn care equipment cluttering your deck or patio, now is the perfect time to invest in extra storage to tidy up outdoors. A storage shed can help protect your gear year-round, but it's especially handy in the summertime when spending more time outside creates an excess of extras that you can't fit anywhere else. Permanent structures can be costly and cumbersome to build, but Amazon has a deal on a super practical outdoor storage option right now.

Normally $270, the Aoxun Triple Door Outdoor Storage Shed is currently discounted to $190. If you've been waiting to enjoy your yard this summer without tripping over random toys or tools, now is your chance to save $80 and do just that. With its easy-to-build design and spacious interior, this shed can give all of your outdoor gear a designated home, keeping the rest of your outdoor space clutter-free. 

Aoxun Triple Door Outdoor Storage Shed, From $190 (was $270) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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Measuring 7.5 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 6 feet tall, this storage shed is perfectly sized for storing everything from bicycles and all-terrain vehicles to snow blowers, rakes, and shovels. The triple-door design offers more convenient access to the shed than traditional single or double-door options. Shoppers were impressed by how easy it was to move larger items like riding lawn mowers and patio furniture stored in the winter in and out of this shed. 

Not only does this shed make a great spot to store tools, but the ability to open up the doors and let air flow through the structure makes it an excellent workspace for home improvement projects. During assembly, the door hinges can be flipped either direction, so you have some flexibility to make the design work best for your specific space. Reviewers said the shed is "easy to install" with "straightforward" assembly, taking on average two hours to build. 

Made of powder-coated galvanized steel, reviewers raved about how "sturdy" this shed is. Rust-resistant and weatherproof with a sloped roof, you can rest assured that anything you store inside will remain protected year-round.

"It was the perfect size for storing my garden tools, pool supplies, and a few random outdoor items that were taking up space in the garage," one shopper said. Reviewers also said this shed's "spacious" design is "incredibly convenient," calling it "a worthwhile purchase" and a "good little storage shed for the backyard." 

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

With free shipping for Amazon Prime members, a durable design, and easy setup, the Aoxun Triple Door Outdoor Storage Shed is definitely worth adding to your cart. You won't want to miss this upgrade to your outdoor experience.

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Right around the turn of the 20th century, Tiffany Studios forever changed the way people thought about lighting. The company transformed functional lamps into works of art, introducing richly colored stained glass shades that have since become some of the most recognizable home decor pieces in the world. With their intricate mosaic patterns, warm jewel tones, and unmistakable glow, Tiffany-style lamps have remained timeless for decades — but authentic vintage pieces often sell for thousands, and sometimes even tens of thousands, of dollars.

For anyone who loves the look, Walmart has a convincing alternative. The Sunmory Stained Glass Tiffany-Style Table Lamp captures much of the same vintage charm for a fraction of the cost, and it's currently marked down 40%, dropping the original price from $150 to just $90. Whether you're styling a cozy reading nook, adding character to an entryway, or giving your living room a classic finishing touch, it's an easy way to bring the iconic Tiffany-like aesthetic home.

Sunmory Stained Glass Tiffany-Style Table Lamp, $90 (was $150) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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This lamp feels like something straight out of the Arts and Crafts era. Standing 18.5 inches tall, its generously domed shade is pieced together from dozens of hand-cut sections of painted stained glass, each bordered by dark metal leading that outlines every curve and geometric shape. Bold six-petal flowers in saturated cobalt blue anchor the design, while warm amber, creamy ivory, soft peach, and crisp white glass create contrast throughout. 

Pops of ruby red and emerald green resemble tiny gemstone inlays scattered between the floral motifs, giving the shade extra depth and dimension. Along the bottom edge, ornate metal scrollwork forms a decorative border that's finished with jewel-like red glass accents, while the sculpted resin base features turned details, fluted contours, and embossed botanical motifs that echo the organic patterns above for a cohesive look.

Equipped with an LED bulb, the stained glass shade filters light into a warm, colorful glow that highlights the texture and richness of every individual glass panel. The 6.56-foot cord gives you flexibility when placing it on a bedside table, living room end table, office desk, or entryway console, while the toggle switch makes it easy to turn on for reading or ambient lighting. Weighing 5.5 pounds, its substantial build keeps the lamp stable on tabletops, and the tool-free assembly takes just a few minutes — simply attach the shade to the base.

Shop More Deals

• Mehoom Tiffany-Style Table Lamp, $60 (was $86) at Walmart
• Enjoy Decor Tiffany Mini Table Lamp, $96 (was $120) at Walmart
• Dale Tiffany Poelking 2-Light Blue Lily Table Lamp, $168 (was $198) at Walmart

With a near-perfect star rating, this “stunning,” “gorgeous,” and “very sturdy” lamp earned plenty of praise in the reviews section for its "elegant" and “elaborate” design. One shopper wrote that it “looks very expensive” and “can be used anywhere in the house” with its timeless look.

Related: T.J. Maxx Is Selling a Cordless Lamp With the Most Elegant Scalloped Capiz Shade

If you've always admired the look of authentic Tiffany lamps but not the price tag, the $90 Sunmory Stained Glass Tiffany-Style Table Lamp is a fabulous alternative. Shop it now for 40% off before this Walmart flash deal ends!

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Def Leppard is giving fans a fresh update on its next studio album while continuing its 2026 European tour with special guest Extreme.

During a new interview with France's Oüi FM, lead singer Joe Elliott confirmed that the legendary British rock band is still working on the follow-up to its 2022 album, Diamond Star Halos. 

He also revealed that the band's latest single, "Rejoice," will open the upcoming record, expected in early 2027.

"The single is the lead-off track, if you like, from the new album. The song is called 'Rejoice'. We released it in time for the Vegas residency. We did a Vegas residency in February, and we wanted to play a new song, so it made sense to actually put it out," Elliott said.

Joe Elliott and Phil Collen of Def Leppard perform onstage during Radio 2 In The Park at Hylands Park on Sept.r 7, 2025.

Photo by Katja Ogrin/Getty Images

"The album won't be out until early '27, 'cause we're still recording it. We were actually recording parts of it in Vegas on days off. We would go down into the basement of the casino and set it up as a studio, and we would record. So we're still actively recording now and mixing."

The update comes as Def Leppard continues its European tour, its first major run of solo shows since its sold-out 2023 tour with Motley Crue. Extreme is joining the band as the special guest on most of the dates.

The tour has already included performances in Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Germany and the United Kingdom. During the band's July 2 concert at London's O2, Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt surprised fans by joining Def Leppard onstage for a performance of "Slang."

Upcoming tour stops include Birmingham and Manchester before the band heads to Germany for Wacken Open Air and later performs in Dubai.

Elliott said the band has recorded about 18 songs so far, giving the members plenty of material to choose from before deciding on the final track list.

"We've got about 18 songs. So we've kind of got nearly two albums. We're not gonna put all 18 on the album. We're gonna pick and choose which 10 or 11 we think are the right ones."

The singer also hinted that fans should expect plenty of surprises when the album arrives. He added that the band plans to continue working on the record between tour dates before finishing the project later this year for its planned early 2027 release.

Guitarist Phil Collen recently shared a similar message while discussing the band's progress. He explained that "Rejoice" represents only one side of the new album's sound and suggested listeners can expect a wide range of styles.

"There's some stuff on there that's, like, 'Whoa.' You'd go, 'This is really wacky.' And so, I like that," Collen said.

Beyond recording new material, Def Leppard has remained active with several releases in recent years. In 2025, the band recorded a cover of Ben E. King's classic "Stand By Me," with all proceeds benefiting FireAid, which supports people affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. The recording also appeared in the Netflix film Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger.

Before that, the group released the 2024 single "Just Like 73," featuring a guest guitar solo from Tom Morello.

The upcoming album will be Def Leppard's first full-length studio release since Diamond Star Halos in 2022. In 2023, the band also released Drastic Symphonies, which reimagined many of its best-known songs with London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. The album spent 15 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Current Classical chart.

Formed in Sheffield, England, in 1976, Def Leppard became one of rock music's biggest acts through albums including Pyromania, Hysteria and Adrenalize. The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

As the 2026 European tour continues with Extreme, Def Leppard is balancing live performances with studio work. While fans still have several months to wait for the band's next album, Elliott's latest update makes it clear that recording is well underway, with the group aiming to complete the project later this year ahead of its planned early 2027 release.

Related: ’70s Rock Legend Dismisses Farewell Tour 64 Years After Beginning Career

The American disco group know for its costumes, plays on masculinity, and mainstream dance hits the Village People was formed in 1977. Originally formed around the demo tapes by Victor Willis, the first Village People album became an international hit and composer and producers Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo quickly worked to compile a group of dancers to support Willis.

The producers took out an ad in a theatre trade paper which read:"Macho Types Wanted: Must Dance And Have A Moustache." Three men responded: Glenn Hughes, Randy Jones, and David Hodo. Hodo took the role of the construction worker in the original Village People permanent grouping, and the rest is disco history.

And on July 7th, 2026, David Hodo turned 79 years old. He was born in California in 1947 and graduated from California Sate University, Sacramento in 1969 with a degree in speech while also acting in several plays. Hodo moved to New York City following his collegiate days before making his Broadway debut in 1975. Some of his musical credits include Funny Girl, Pal Joey, andThe Red BlueGrass Western Flyer Show.

The six members of the Village People were as follows:

• Victor Willis as the policeman/naval officer
• Felipe Rose as the Native American
• David Hodo as the construction worker
• Alex Briley as the soldier
• Glenn Hughes as the biker
• Randy Jones as the cowboy

The group catapulted to fame with the single "Y.M.C.A" from their 1978 album, Macho Man. Their rise continued throughout 1979 with a three-month North American tour, multiple TV appearances including those on The Merv Griffin Show, and even going so far as to perform with Bob Hope for the troops. The group also were on the cover of Rolling Stone in April of 1979.

Hodo kept his role of the construction worker all throughout the peak of the Village People's heyday. He continued his role within the group in the 1980 musical filmCan't Stop the Music and the television special Magic Night which featuring Cher and Hugh Hefner.

While he did leave the group in 1982, he returned in 1987 and stayed on until his retirement in 2013. Hodo was present when the group received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008.

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Related: Legendary ‘70s Band Charts a Brand-New Hit After a Founding Member’s Death

Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle brings together mystery, sports, surprises and some familiar faces. 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 Tuesday, July 7, 2026, you've come to the right place.

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Today's NYT Connections Sports Puzzle for Tuesday, July 7, 2026 / New York Times

The New York Times

What Is Connections Sports Edition?

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

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

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

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

Hints for Today's Connections Sports Edition Categories on July 7, 2026

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

• Yellow: Places in a classic mystery game
• Green: Honors for standout players
• Blue: Different kinds of unexpected turns
• Purple: Words hiding familiar Muppets

Here Are Today's Connections Sports Edition Categories

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

• Yellow: ROOMS IN CLUE
• Green: STUDENT-ATHLETE DESIGNATIONS
• Blue: ___ TWIST
• Purple: ENDING IN "SESAME STREET" CHARACTERS

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 #652 are coming up next.

Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day

What Are the Answers to Connections Sports Edition Today?

• ROOMS IN CLUE: CONSERVATORY, HALL, KITCHEN, STUDY
• STUDENT-ATHLETE DESIGNATIONS: ALL-AMERICAN, JOCK, LETTERMAN, TEAM CAPTAIN
• ___ TWIST: FRENCH, LEMON, OLIVER, PLOT
• ENDING IN "SESAME STREET" CHARACTERS: BERNIE, COLBERT, DISCOUNT, SAN ANSELMO

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

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

Related: NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for Monday, July 6, 2026

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Packing for a summer trip always starts the same way — light layers, easy outfits, and enough options to get you through a few different types of plans. Somewhere between the lounge sets, breezy dresses, and “just in case” extras, your suitcase starts filling up fast. And then come the shoes, which somehow take up the most space while being the hardest to narrow down.

The easiest way to make it all work? Find a pair that can handle just about everything on your itinerary. The Vionic Uptown Sunset Slide Sandal at Nordstrom Rack is on sale for as low as $19 during the retailer's Clear the Rack event. Discounts vary slightly by color, but the most you'll pay for any style is $34. Designed with supportive comfort and a slightly elevated look, they can move from daytime exploring to dinner out without needing a swap.

Vionic Uptown Sunset Slide Sandal, From $19 (was $135) at Nordstrom Rack

Courtesy of Nordstrom Rack

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These slides may just take over your shoe rotation, considering that they'll go with everything in your closet and feel a notch more pulled together than the usual throw-on pair. The wide, crisscross straps wrap across the foot in a way that feels secure but still easy, with a softened feel and a woven, richly grained leather look. They have that slightly pebbled, matte texture that adds dimension without feeling overly polished, while the clean, minimal stitching keeps the focus on the shape of the straps themselves. Altogether, it gives the sandal a subtle, pulled-together feel that’s easy to dress up or down.

The cushioned footbed has a soft, suede-like finish with built-in arch support, offering comfort that actually holds up through long days out. A lightweight, flexible sole helps absorb impact while still feeling easy to walk in, and the platform design — featuring a 2-inch heel, 1.25-inch platform, and 0.75-inch slope — adds height without throwing off your balance. Finished with deep grooves along the sole for added traction and a slightly sporty edge, they manage to feel both styled and practical at the same time.

These slides come in seven color options, ranging from easy neutrals to metallic finishes and soft pastels, making it simple to match whatever direction your warm weather wardrobe takes this season. Sizing runs from women’s 5 through 12, with select half sizes and wide-width options available for a more customized fit. 

While shoppers loved this “supportive” and “stylish” pair, travelers in particular really put them to the test, calling them “lightweight” and “convenient.” One shopper who brought them along on a trip to Cape Cod wrote, “These sandals are extremely comfortable to walk a lot in and look good, too.”

Another shopper who wore them on a cruise shared that “they were perfect for evening wear and comfortable enough to wear for traveling.”

Shop More Deals

• Vionic Uptown Marin Sandal, From $13 (was $125) at Nordstrom Rack
• Vionic Renie Knit Slide Sandal, $70 (was $125) at Nordstrom Rack
• Vionic Elaine Slide Sandal, From $34 (was $125) at Nordstrom Rack

Related: Nordstrom Rack Has a ‘Delicate’ and ‘Pretty’ $35 Pearl Necklace That’s ‘Great for Layering’

Starting at $19, the Vionic Uptown Sunset Slide Sandal makes packing and getting dressed on the go a whole lot easier. Grab them at Nordstrom Rack before the Clear the Rack sale ends!

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The death metal and grindcore band Misery Index is revisiting its early music in a special way.

The four-piece band is sparking major nostalgia after announcing the reissue of its 2001 EP Overthrow.

In an Instagram update, Italian independent record label Time to Kill Records proudly revealed the upcoming reissue, which will be available on Dec. 15.

“Time To Kill Records is proud to announce the vinyl reissue of Overthrow, the landmark 2001 debut EP from deathgrind pioneers Misery Index,” the caption reads.

To improve the sound quality of its original release, Virtalähde Mastering, the renowned Finnish studio, handled the remastering process while the record label oversaw the vinyl reissue.

In 2001, the band self-released the five-track EP without a major record label, but it still managed to capture the genuine sound and “uncompromising vision” of Misery Index.

“More than two decades later, this essential release returns to vinyl, newly mastered specifically for the format by Virtalähde Mastering, and expanded with 3 bonus tracks originally recorded in 2002 for the band’s split with Commit Suicide,” as mentioned in the post.

View this post on Instagram

Twenty-five years after its original release, the quartet is bringing back the original songs from the 2001 EP, including "Manufacturing Greed," "Your Pain Is Nothing," "Blood On Their Hands," "Pulling Out The Nails," "Dead Shall Rise" (Terrorizer cover), "My Untold Apocalypse" and the bonus tracks "Alive?" and "Reality Distortion" (Disrupt cover) from the band’s 2002 split EP with Commit Suicide.

Following the announcement, Misery Index has also invited fans to join its upcoming European and U.K. summer tour.

The Epitaph for Endtimes EU + UK Summer Tour 2026 kicks off on July 28 in Finland, followed by performances in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and more before the U.K. leg begins on Aug. 8. The band will then return to Germany during the second week of August for a string of festival appearances.

Misery Index's E.U. and U.K. Summer Tour 2026

July 28 - Helsinki, Finland - Kult
July 30 - Wacken, Germany - Wacken Open Air
Aug. 1 - Dortmund, Germany - Dortmund Death Fest
Aug. 2 - Saint Maurice de Gourdans, France - Sylak Open Air
Aug. 4 - Deinze, Belgium - Elpee
Aug. 5 - The Hague, Netherlands - Musicon
Aug. 6 - Schlotheim, Germany - Party.San Open Air
Aug. 8 - Swansea, United Kingdom - Sin City
Aug. 9 - Manchester, United Kingdom - Rebellion
Aug. 11 - Bridgwater, United Kingdom - The Cobblestones
Aug. 13 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
Aug. 14 - Dinkelsbühl, Germany - Summer Breeze
Aug. 15 - Sulingen, Germany - Reload Festival

Related: '80s Rock Band, Disbanded for Seven Years, Ranked Among 'Greatest Supergroups' of All Time

Big Brother 28 is going to be taking us through many eras gone by with its "Time Trip" theme. But, when it comes to the new group of houseguests on the CBS reality series, there's no time like the present. The 14 players run the gamut, from a Jumbotron engineer to an MMA fighter to a rocket scientist. And we're also in store for a bit of a reality TV crossover, as two-time RuPaul's Drag Race competitor Salina EsTitties will be stepping out of drag and into the house.

Scroll down below to see photos, bios and video interviews with the cast of Big Brother 28 And tune into the premiere on Thursday, July 9 at 8:00 p.m. to watch them enter the house, as well as discover some additional houseguests possibly joining the fray.

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Big Brother 28 Cast: Meet the HouseguestsAshley Trail Ashley Trail on 'Big Brother 28'

Evan Mulling/CBS

Age: 24
Hometown: Alton, IL
Current City: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Bartender

Describe yourself in 3 words: Outgoing, bubbly, and an oversharer! [Laughs.]
How does it feel to be on Big Brother? Oh my gosh, to be on Big Brother, I'm actually jumping up and down. I'm so still right now, but internally, I’m oh so very excited, and like a little nervy. There is some competitive players, but I might be one of them! [Laughs.]
What’s your history with Big Brother? So I've watched Big Brother for oh so very many years now. Whenever I was a little girly girl, me and my fam would make special dinners to view it. Total live feed watcher, all of the shebang. But as I got older, I started being like, “Oh my gosh, I'm doomscrolling on my phone.” And I watched a little less. But recently I got my head back in the game, and it's where it needs to be.
What’s your strategy going into the house? My strategy for the game will, in fact, heavily rely on my social ability. I'm a chitter chatter. I'll make BFFs with people in the house, make them like me, and hopefully win some comps. I also want to have one of the strongest alliances that are just like powering through everything. That's kind of my goal in the game.
What are you going to bring to Big Brother that we’ve never seen before? What I'm gonna bring to the Big Brother game is truly just the energy. I'm there to have fun, but also, I would love to do backstabbing. Because in my everyday life, I have great morals. I'm not fibbing, I'm not lying. So I would love to backstab, but while having such a blast of a time.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? The biggest misconception that people have about me is that they think I am “box of rocks” dumb. They think I'm a little ditz, they think I'm a little airheady. But it's just because I'm having a blast.
Are you a hero or a villain? Doesn't everybody like to say that they are a hero in the story? I think I am a hero more so than a villain. I guess it just depends on whenever I get there, and if people really grind my gears. The people grinding your gears, you're gonna be a villain. If people grind my gears, the villainess might come out. I would hope, honestly, for the excitement of it all, I want to be in my villain era.
Why are you going to be the next winner of Big Brother? I feel like I am in fact going to be the next winner of Big Brother because my game face is on! I'm really quite literally locked in. And I will do anything that I need to do to get the $2 in my bank account to be at least $100, 200, maybe $700,000! [Laughs.]

Barrett Pfeiffer Barrett Pfeiffer on 'Big Brother 28'

Evan Mulling/CBS

Age: 27
Hometown: Benton, AR
Current City: Austin, TX
Occupation: Jumbotron Engineer

Describe yourself in 3 words: Giggly, charming, and spicy.
How does it feel to be on Big Brother? It feels incredible to be on Big Brother. In fact, I don't think I will process that I'm actually on my favorite show until maybe [when] I'm winning the game. It is the best feeling. It's been a long time coming. I feel like I need to redo this answer already. [Laughs.] But I feel being on Big Brother is like a dream come true. I've applied to this show for so many years now, I've watched this show since I was eight years old, I've experienced so many moments from my couch. And now I can't wait to be a part of all these moments in the house and walk out $750,000 richer.
What’s your history with Big Brother? I am chronically online with this show. I've watched the live feeds since I was eight years old. Literally I watched Keesha's birthday play out literally in my living room on Big Brother After Dark. So I'm way unhealthily into the show. So to be a part of it is insane to me.
What’s your biggest strength and your biggest weakness? I think my biggest strength is my sociability. My biggest strength is my ability to make friends, my ability to talk to people, my ability to be kind of like this soothsayer in a way. I think people are going to feel really good about me. And I think my biggest weakness is definitely going to be that if my mouth is not talking, my face is talking. So I don't think I'm going to be able to hold in a lot of that reactiveness, a lot of that emotion, because I wear my emotions on my sleeve. So that's going to come out, and in a game like this, I think that would be a weakness.
What’s your strategy going into the house? My strategy is to basically be everybody's best friend. My strategy is to showmance the entire house if I entirely could do that sort of thing. I want everyone to see me as not only a number but their friend and someone that they want to keep in this house. I'm going to be someone that they want to keep living with, at the very least. And I know that's going to carry me all the way to the end.
What are you going to bring to Big Brother that we’ve never seen before? I think I'm the biggest superfan that's ever been on this show. For someone that's been watching the show for two decades, I don't think a lot of people can walk in here and say that they've not only been watching the show but been watching the live feeds, been on Twitter watching this show, kept up online in a very unhealthy way, like I have. I think that's never happened before. And I don't think people are going to be expecting that from me, walking to the house and competing against them.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? Oh, that's a great question. I think people are going to underestimate my intellect. I think that my mouth can get ahead of my brain sometimes, and I ask really dumb questions, so I kind of come off like a dumbass. And I think people are going to assume that that is a big part of who I am. But really, they don't know that I am not only a big fan of this show, but I am thinking five steps ahead of what they even are.
Are you a hero or a villain? I would love to think that I would be a hero. But in actuality, I think I'm going to be a villain. Because I have a way better ability to smile in your face and stab you in the back than I think other people in this game will have. So I think that's not going to bode well with the houseguests. It may not bode well with America. So, if I had to take a guess right now, villain is what I would fall into.
Do you have a secret you plan on keeping about yourself in the game? My secret is my superfandom. My secret is my knowledge of this show. My secret is going to carry me in this game, I believe, because if I let people know just how into this show I am, I think I'm gonna be pretty doomed from the start. So, I have to be careful. I'm gonna let them know I'm a fan, but I'm not gonna let them know that I'm as big of a fan as I am.
Have you thought about creating a fake identity for the game? I haven't. I don't think I'm going to create a fake identity. I am going to be pretty authentically myself now. I'm not going to tell them how much of this game that I have studied and I have watched my entire life. So, if there's a fake identity in that somewhere, that could be it.
Are you open to showmances? So I know showmances are gonna ruin my chance at $750,000. But I can't help but flirt. I will flirt with the wall, I'll flirt with the hammock, I'll flirt with everybody in this house. Like I said, this house is going to be my showmance, I think. And so I'm not afraid what comes with it. And it's a small house, so I know my abilities to maybe reign that in are terrible. So I could definitely see a showmance playing out, for sure.
Why are you going to be the next winner of Big Brother? I'm gonna be the next winner because I feel like I've been underestimated my whole life. And I feel like even with my six-foot stick stature and loud personality and loud voice, I think people are still gonna underestimate my ability to backstab and get my way all the way to the end. So I think this game is going to be a breeze for me.

Chuk Anyanwu Chuk Anyanwu on 'Big Brother 28'

Evan Mulling/CBS

Age: 27
Location: Dallas, TX
Occupation: Supply Chain Analyst

Describe yourself in 3 words: I would describe myself as someone who is one I have like this bubbly personality, but I'm also super calm, and I'm also just super fun and easy going. So, whenever you're around me, you just kind of can feel so nice and relaxed. So I'm super fun, I'm super easy going, and I'm also super bubbly whenever you meet me.
How does it feel to be on Big Brother? Being on Big Brother feels insane right now! One, it does not feel real. There's the one end where there's so much money that I can win, and there's a whole other end where I'm about to be in a house with insane people. So it feels crazy and unreal to be on Big Brother.
What’s your history with Big Brother? I definitely would consider myself a casual viewer. I grew up with women; I grew up with four sisters, so they love watching reality TV. So I'm someone to where I'd watch it off and on. I'd always be behind the couch whenever my parents and sisters would be watching, trying to take a sneak peek in. And then eventually I just started watching it and became just a casual fan. I'd say I've been a fan of Big Brother and watching the seasons casually for five years now.
What’s your strategy going into the house? So my strategy going to the house is going to be, one, play a masterful social game. I truly feel like I can talk to anyone. And within like the first five minutes, they kind of feel like, “Do I know you?” And I'm like, “You do!” [Laughs.] But they actually don't know me, and I'm going to use that to my advantage. I'm going to also lie. Again, I grew up with a house full of women to where if you tell one person the other, the other person is low-key hearing you in the other room. And so you have to lie and not steal, but you have to lie and make someone believe a truth that's not their truth or my truth. And so that's going to be my strategy going into the house, play the best social game. On top of that, I'm a built guy, so I know I can win those challenges, but I don't want to put a target on my back. So the social game is going to help me get to that money.
What are you going to bring to Big Brother that we’ve never seen before? Oh, so good! What I'm going to bring to the show that you guys have never seen before is I'm not going to come into the house like the guys who kind of are good looking and they also have all the muscles. They love to go full-on full-force whenever they get to that first challenge, and showcase their body whenever they're working out, when they're just laying by the house. I'm gonna do something different. I'm going to try and go into the house and win the women over first. Because once I have that trust in those alliances, their alliances, they never really break them. Sometimes with the guys, they're kind of going back and forth across many alliances, so many alliances here and there. But I know if I can win the women over and they trust me and they feel like, “Oh, Chuck, you're one of us,” I know that is going to be something the viewers have never seen before. Because when you look at me, you just see a “bro’s bro,” you just see a guy's guy. But that truly isn't my strength whenever I am in just a large group setting.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? So the first misconception people have about me before they get to know me is that “you’re going to be someone who is conceited, you're going to be someone who isn't that smart, and you're also going to be someone who only cares about yourself, super selfish.” And then they meet me, and within those first 10 minutes, they're like, “Wait, you're actually super chill and you're super cool.” And that has been something I've always had to have my whole life, getting people to not have those misconceptions about me. So it's going to be one of those things that I know that I'm going to have to face when I'm in the house. But literally within one to two days, I know I should be able to win 70% of people over. Maybe not 100% because there's no way you can do that. But I truly feel that that's going to be the biggest misconception about me is that I'm just this muscular guy who knows nothing when I really have a nerd job back at home.
Why are you going to be the next winner of Big Brother? I'm going to be the next winner of Big Brother, because, one, I have a data-driven job. In all my life, I've always been in so many things academically, like Academic Decathlon. And now, leading into my job being an analyst, now I deal with so much data. But I also have an insane social game, I have so many friends from all different walks of life. I'm a first-generation immigrant, so I have that to be able to play for me. And I'm also from Texas, so I have that to play for me as well. Then I grew up around a lot of women. So being able to win the women over and also being a guy's guy is like the best combination of why I think I'm gonna put it all together into one and have the ultimate masterful social game to win Big Brother.

Related: Julie Chen Moonves Reveals ‘Controversial People’ Will Shake Up the ‘Big Brother 28’ Premiere

Drew Campbell Drew Campbell on 'Big Brother 28'

Evan Mulling/CBS

Age: 22
Location: Temecula, CA
Occupation: Surgical Dental Assistant

Describe yourself in 3 words: Outgoing, fun — which is kind of a boring word, and unpredictable,
How does it feel to be on Big Brother? Dude, it's so fun to be on Big Brother! I'm so excited. I've watched this show since I was eight years old, and my mom learned how to speak English watching the show. So it's actually just bizarre. I feel like I'm living in a fever dream.
What’s your history with Big Brother? I've been watching Big Brother since I've been eight. And I'm kind of like a hybrid [fan]. I'm a casual fan, because I watch all the episodes. But I do like to dabble in the live feeds. So don't kill me if I'm not the biggest fan watching the live feeds! But I like to say I'm a hybrid fan. I'm gonna classify a new one.
What’s your biggest strength? I would say my biggest strength is connecting with people. I mean, my job, I sit there with patients, and we just connect. And I feel like at the end of it, I just made a new friend. So I'm going in there, hoping that I could just make 15 new friends. And I feel like that's going to help me pull on the heartstrings a little bit,
What’s your strategy going into the house? I don't love the question of what your strategy is going to be. Because I feel like every season you have to know who's going to be there. I have no idea who's going to be there, and it has to adapt. So I would say my strategy going in there is just going to be fluid. Do I have to win competitions, or is it going to be a big guy winning everything? Do I have to be more of a social guy, because everyone doesn't like me? So I think I'm gonna do a little bit of both. I don't feel like you should classify yourself into one avenue of that. So I'm gonna read the room, and that's what I'm gonna try to do best.
What are you going to bring to Big Brother that we’ve never seen before? What would I bring to the show that people have never seen before is my awesome hair routine. I don't think you guys are ready for this! I'm gonna be upside down, hanging off the bed. And I'm gonna classify a new style. We're gonna call it the “Drewth,” and everyone's gonna be rocking after the show. So just get ready for it. It's gonna be the new TikTok haircut.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? The biggest misconception people have about me when they first meet me is, “This guy’s just a beach bum who doesn't have a lot of brains.” But I actually graduated college with summa cum laude. I mean, I don't really know what that means, but I know it means I'm smart. So people aren't ready for all the brain behind this hair!
Are you a hero or a villain? I think I am going to be…let's just say villain. Because then I'll be surprised after the fact when people think I'm a hero. I think I'm just going to do what it takes to win. So, in my mind, I'm going to be a hero.
Do you have a secret you plan on keeping about yourself in the game? I feel like if there is a secret that I'm going to withhold, it's going to be maybe how smart I am, maybe my job. I mean, being a surgical dental assistant kind of has like a smart person connotation to it. And I want people to perceive me as like the young kid who's just here to have fun. Maybe there's not a lot of brains behind him, but he's just happy to be there.
Have you thought about creating a fake identity for the game? Absolutely not. I feel like the less lies that you tell in this house is gonna serve you better in the long end. I'm not gonna be a guy who's gonna lie about my job. I'm not gonna tell people I'm a “secret gamer.” I think I'm just gonna go in there and be myself, which I feel like people are gonna appreciate. And if they don't, then I know where they lie.
Are you open to showmances? I mean, my mom's gonna be watching this. But I feel like my mom would be happy if I came home with the girl, even if I didn't come home with the win. So, am I gonna say no? No. I'm gonna say maybe. Maybe there's somebody in there waiting for me. 
Why are you going to be the next winner of Big Brother? Because I've seen everything! I could write a book on this show. I mean, I feel like I'm just gonna get along with everybody, but I'm gonna cut people when I have to. So this is a game of making friends, but also knowing when to get rid of them.

Haley Thogmartin Haley Thogmartin on 'Big Brother 28'

Evan Mulling/CBS

Age: 29
Hometown: Neosho, MO
Current City: Wildwood, MO
Occupation: Telemedicine Executive

Describe yourself in 3 words: Outgoing, bubbly, and fun
How does it feel to be on Big Brother? Being on Big Brother feels like a surreal experience, something that you would have never have dreamed of. It feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And what better show to be on than Big Brother?!
What’s your history with Big Brother? I actually haven't been a long-term Big Brother fan. Growing up, TV was a privilege. So it was up until recently that I started watching. And now I've watched like 10 seasons.
What’s your biggest strength and your biggest weakness? My biggest strength is probably my heart. I think that I will always stand true to good alliances that are showing me who they are, and then what they bring in the table. But my biggest weakness is again going to be my facial expressions, and how true and honest I am. You call a spade a spade, so we'll play that game.
What’s your strategy going into the house? My strategy is to come in and not only just be friends with people, but a lot of people, after being sequestered for X amount of days, just want to be heard; they want to talk. So I'm going to do a lot of listening. I make friends with a fly on the wall, as it is. So I think it'd be a good strategy to come in, kind of listen, kind of be everyone's friend, but kind of turn up the noise a little bit as the days go on, and kind of see where that gets me.
What are you going to bring to Big Brother that we’ve never seen before? Something that I will bring [to] the show that you've never seen before is true brutal honesty with good integrity. I feel like a lot of people play a big game where they want to be the center of the show, and they say things they don't truly mean. But I think a lot of the things that will come out of my mouth are very honest. And I think I'll probably think about it a little bit more than what I say, but just brutal honesty. And maybe a little bit of drama, but in a good, fun, clean way. We'll see. 
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? The biggest misconception I would say that people have of me is I'm intimidating. Some of it's a little bit true. I come with a full leg sleeve. I'm also like 5’9”, so I would imagine that'd be a little intimidating. But once you get to know me, peel back some layers, I'm just a big bubbly person that doesn't shut up. [Laughs.]
Are you a hero or a villain? I don't feel like I'm always everyone's cup of tea, but I'm fun to be around. I'm not saving anyone, but I think I will bring enough to the table that can maybe do a mix of both the hero and the villain side.
Do you have a secret you plan on keeping about yourself in the game? I do not have a secret that I am withholding.
Have you thought about creating a fake identity for the game? I don't think I would come with a fake identity. I feel like it's really hard for me to fake who I am. I think also coming in as a very ditzy, bubbly person probably isn't on my agenda, because the first time somebody says something stupid, I'll probably look at them sideways. But I think my facial expressions might be my downfall. But I'll probably just stay true to who I am.
Are you open to showmances? [Snorts.] Oh, gosh! Somebody needs something to look at! So, yeah, we'll just see how it goes.
Why are you going to be the next winner of Big Brother? I'm going to be the next winner of Big Brother because I not only bring good strategy and intelligence, I'm also fit for the competitions. I also can connect with people on a deeper level, more than a surface level. And so I think that'll be a good strategy to come into the game with.

Jason De Puy Jason De Puy on 'Big Brother 28'

Evan Mulling/CBS

[NOTE: In addition to Big Brother, Jason also competed on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15 and RuPaul's Drag Race All StarsSeason 11 under his drag name "Salina EsTitties."]

Age: 35
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Current City: West Hollywood, CA
Occupation: Drag Queen

Describe yourself in 3 words: Sweet, mischievous, and fun. She's fun!
How does it feel to be on Big Brother?It feels crazy to be on Big Brother! [Laughs.]
What’s your history with Big Brother? I'm low-key a superfan. I watch live feeds when I'm bored and I need something to watch. And I've been watching since Season 16, so I've been around. 
Talk about your previous reality TV experience on RuPaul’s Drag Race. I've been around! I've played the game before. And listen, I played the game in a way where it did not work in my favor. So this time I'm really trying to come in and win this thing. So I've done my research, I've done my homework. And I'm going to play it really smart, and I think a game that will get me to the end.
So you were eliminated in sixth your first season of Drag Race, and then Episode 6 of All-Stars. Do you believe in curses? Oh my god! I was eliminated in sixth. I went home on Episode 6 on All Stars. And listen, 666 maybe if I get a six this Big Brother round, maybe it means six with six zeros, you know what I mean? Big money, big prize, third time's the charm. Let's go!
How do you think Big Brother will differ from Drag Race?Big Brother is so different from Drag Race. Because Drag Race is about my drag. These are talents in a different pocket that I have that a lot of people haven't seen. Salina’s out the door, Jason gets to play this game. And I'm excited for the world to get to know me, and for me to even get to know myself, and for the houseguests to get to know me too.
What’s the biggest difference in your prep? This has been so much cheaper! [Laughs.] Drag Race is so expensive. I'm still in debt from being on All-Stars, so hopefully I win some money here, so I can pay that off still, okay?! It’s so much more exciting that I don't have to shave, or [that] I get to have chest hair. We get to see my chest hair! It's very exciting. 
Will Salina be making an appearance in the house? Listen, y'all have seen Salianca already, but I may have to whip her out if I need to. I brought her with me; she's in my suitcase. So don't you worry, she's here. But I'm gonna make her come out when the time is right.
Have you ever gotten into drag on a live feed before? I've never gotten into drag on a live feed before, no. Oh my god, it's gonna be like a makeup tutorial for free for the live feeders! [Laughs.] There's gonna be a bunch of little Salinas running around the world. 
What do you think will be harder: Walking into a house filled with a camera or a Werk Room field with queens? A Werk Room filled with queens is so much harder than a room full of cameras, baby! Give me a room full of cameras any day! Get the queens out of here.
What’s your strategy going into the house? Listen, if you watched All-Stars, baby, you saw I was the alliance queen! I had the Pek Pek Alliance; I had the Tres Leches Alliance. I had an alliance with the cameraman, okay?! I was ready to play. So here we come into this game. I have to be a little smarter about my alliances. But listen, I might bring the Pek Pek Alliance back, okay? I'll see if someone's down and go with me. I really want to get in with the straight boys. I want them to work me out and make me their little muscle god. I want to have a body this summer because of them, and let it think it's their fault. Win competitions, be like, “Oh my god, you guys have been training me so good! You see what's happening?” So I definitely feel like I want to work that angle. And then, of course, I got the girls. Because I'm a drag queen, they're going to love me!
What are you going to bring to Big Brother that we’ve never seen before? I've been mischievous and not work out in my favor, so I want to be mischievous in a very smart way. Let it work in my favor this time around. We've never had a drag queen on Big Brother. Hello, this is gonna be crazy!
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? I think when people first meet me, they don't necessarily know or believe that I would be a drag queen. And then I think once they get to know me, they start to see the drag queen come out a little bit
Are you a hero or a villain? I think the people at home might think I'm villainous. But the people in the house are going to think I'm a hero, and that's how you win Big Brother.
Why are you going to be the next winner of Big Brother? I think I'm going to be the next winner because wouldn't it be iconic if a gay, first-generation Latino drag queen won Big Brother right now in 2026? Let's go! 

Related: Julie Chen Moonves Reveals the 5 ‘Big Brother’ Moments She Wishes She Could Relive — and One Explains a Massive Rule Change (Exclusive)

Kamu Kirk Kamu Kirk on 'Big Brother 28'

Evan Mulling/CBS

Age: 32
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Occupation: MMA Fighter

Describe yourself in 3 words: I think I'd go with ambitious, driven, and laid-back. I know “laid-back “might be two words, but I combine that into one. 
How does it feel to be on Big Brother? Being on Big Brother is absolutely surreal. I grew up watching this show from the time I was around 16 or so. I started watching Season 14, and ever since then, I've wanted to go on the show. And to finally be here is incredible.
What’s your history with Big Brother? I first started watching Big Brother when I was around 16 years old. The first season that I watched was Season 14, and I was introduced to the show really with Dan Gheesling when he did Dan's Funeral. And ever since then, I was obsessed with the show. I would occasionally tune into the live streaming as well. But for the most part, I've been somewhere in between a casual fan and a super fan. I won't miss an episode, but I'm not always watching the live streams.
What’s your biggest strength and your biggest weakness? My biggest strength is my ability to form relationships with people. On the opposite side of that, I'd say my biggest weakness is that I tend to be a little bit too trusting of people. I give people the benefit of the doubt. So I have to understand moving forward that although I'm going to want to form real relationships, in the back of my mind, I have to remember that they're playing this game for themselves too. So I can't be overly trusting in the Big Brother house. I've seen that happen too many times with people, and they end up having to take the knives out of their backs.
What’s your strategy going into the house? My strategy going into the house is going to be to play a good social game. I want to get along with everybody. That's kind of my personality anyways; I tend to get along with everybody from different walks of life. And I want to play a good social game and win the comps that I need to win without being seen as overly competitive or too big of a physical threat. I know my cauliflower ears and my crooked nose are a dead giveaway that I am a fighter, and I have seen competition. But I want to show that I'm not a huge physical threat. I want to get along with people and be easy-going in the house.
What are you going to bring to Big Brother that we’ve never seen before? That is a good question. I think something that maybe you guys have never seen before that I could bring into the house is the ability to compete at the highest level in the world, at a world-class level. To be able to deal with pressure, to be able to deal with the ups and the downs, and deal with the adversity. As well as maintaining my cool and focusing on good social alliances, winning strategic comps when I need to, and making the right moves, working with the right people, doing the right things, and saying the right things at the right times.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? I think the biggest misconception that people may have about me when they first meet me is that I am kind of a mean guy. I think that I have a little bit of a rough exterior between my ears and my nose and the tattoos. And I think that once people get to talk to me and get to know me a little bit, they realize that I have a heart for people, and I'm actually a really, really nice dude.
Are you a hero or a villain? I guess you'll have to just watch and find out! I'm willing to do whatever it takes to win the game. That is priority number one for me. Whether that means I need to be a hero or whether that means I need to stab some people in the back and be a little bit of a villain to make it further, I'm going to do whatever I have to do in order to make it to the end and win the title of Big Brother champion.
Have you thought about creating a fake identity for the game? I have thought about whether or not I want to create a fake identity, and I partially want to withhold some information about the truth. I'm going to let everybody know that I have fought. I'm not going to let people know that my family owns the gym that I train at, and that I fought in the UFC. I don't want people to look at me as more of a physical threat by realizing that I fought at the highest level in the sport. I don't want people to think that I come for money because my family owns the gym that I train at. So yeah, so I'm gonna be pretty honest, but I am not going to be totally honest.
Are you open to showmances? I don't want to do anything that's gonna get in between me and my first love, which is winning. So first and foremost, I got to make sure I keep my eyes on the prize. And if I make some good connections in the house, then we can explore those after the game. Showmances are dangerous because immediately two people are seen as a pair, right? They're seen as one, they're going to vote the same way, and their loyalties with each other are always going to be stronger than their loyalties to their alliances, typically. So I want to make sure that I avoid that. I don't want to paint any unnecessary targets on my back.
Why are you going to be the next winner of Big Brother? I am going to win Season 28 of Big Brother because I believe that I've really been battle-tested with my career as an MMA fighter. And after fighting in the UFC, I have been through all the ups, all the downs. I faced every sort of adversity you can imagine. I've had 11 or 12 MMA-related surgeries, and I've still managed to maintain a winning record in the sport. And I don't think that the other houseguests are going to be able to boast the same type of resume as I have, and as I can, coming into the house.

LaTrice Verrett LaTrice Verrett on 'Big Brother 28'

Evan Mulling/CBS

Age: 57
Hometown: Kankakee, IL
Current City: Maplewood, NJ
Occupation: Boutique Salesperson

Describe yourself in 3 words: Absolutely fantabulistic fantastic! [Laughs.]
How does it feel to be on Big Brother? Oh my gosh, it feels so amazing to be on Big Brother. I'm still pinching myself. I cannot freaking believe it. I'm so excited. I'm ready to get this game going!
What’s your history with Big Brother? I have been watching Big Brother since the second season. I was really heavy and hot into it for many, many years. I used to watch the overnights, the live feeds. I mean, I was in it. And then, I fell off a little bit. And now, for the last couple years, I've been back into it, and now I'm in it myself! What?! [Laughs.] I’m so stoked!
What’s your strategy going into the house? I'm a real social game player, because of the fact that I have never met a stranger. I'm always very vested in people, and I have a very big discerning spirit. So I'm really social, but I really think I'm gonna surprise a lot of people, because I'm very physical as well. So, try to put me on the block, I'm getting off with a Veto win. Try to get me out of the house, I'm coming out with a Head of Household win. So I've got little different things that I'm going on. But you never really know until you get in there and you see who else is in the house, how you got to work it. I’m playing like football. You know calling an audible? I'll call an audible in a second.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? The biggest misconception people have about me when they first meet me is that I'm not as down-to-earth as I am. Because they see me when I walk in, I'm always pulled together, I'm always cute. I've always got my little makeup on, cute little outfit, and they probably think I'm a little snooty. But I am the least snooty person you would ever want to be in your life. I am so down to earth, I'm from a country town, so I’m a country girl; I'm very, very sweet. So that's one of the things I think they're very surprised at: How nice I am. I can be a bitch though, but anyway… [Laughs.] 
Are you a hero or a villain? Oh my gosh! By nature, I'm such a hero. I am so much more a hero than I am a villain. However, I do have that side that if you really push me, I can definitely bring out some devilishness. And I got some claws, so I can make that happen too! But I try to keep that at bay.
Why are you going to be the next winner of Big Brother? First of all, we are about to create history in Big Brother, because I'm going to be the oldest winner in Big Brother history. 58 years old, walking out that door with confetti, because I'm going to make it happen, baby! I'm a social game player, and I also get down physically, so watch out!

Lyric Medeiros Lyric Medeiros on 'Big Brother 28'

Evan Mulling/CBS

Age: 25
Location: Honolulu, HI
Occupation: Attorney

Describe yourself in 3 words: Outgoing, positive, and funny. I’d like to think that I'm funny.
How does it feel to be on Big Brother? It feels amazing to be on Big Brother! I am so excited. I've been watching this show for forever. And it's also really special to me, because my grandma was the biggest fan. She passed away this December; she lived on the island of Kauai. And I know that she's cheering me on from heaven now.
What’s your history with Big Brother? I've been a Big Brother fan for a couple years now. I've loved it because of my grandmother, but I'm definitely a loyal fan. So, yes, I am watching those live feeds. I want to see what's going on before the things happen. I want to be on the in. I am the big Big Brother fan in my family.
What’s your strategy going into the house? My strategy is to be a little bit of a comp beast and to be a very strong social game player. My dad gets along with any kind of person, and my mom is super athletic. And so if I combine the strengths of both my parents, we're going to be golden. Win the competitions that I need to win, throw the competitions that I need to throw, but also be friends with everyone in the house. In Hawaii, we're known for our aloha spirit, and I think I radiate that. So, if I can bring that into the Big Brother house, I think we can have a great social game and combine the comp beast. Winner, winner! [Laughs.]
What are you going to bring to Big Brother that we’ve never seen before? I think when a lot of people first meet me, they think that I'm just this sweet, kind girl. But I'm very competitive. A lot of people don't think that I'm athletic too when they first meet me, but I'm super athletic. I go to the gym every single morning at 5:00 a.m., and after work I go back to the gym at 5:00 p.m. Can you tell that I'm single? [Laughs.]
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? When people first meet me, they think that I'm just this sweet princess girl with nothing else going on; I'm just very sweet and kind. And yes, I am that. I am very sweet and kind. But there's more to me than that. I went to the University of Notre Dame. I graduated in three years, so I graduated a year early, went into law school really quick, graduated law school early. Passed the bar at 23, the youngest in the state of Hawaii, and I'm an attorney as well. So I work really hard, and I have a lot of other things that I do on the side. I'm also a singer at a luau show; I perform every week. There's a lot of things that a lot of people don't see when they first meet me. A lot of my friends like to call me a “jack of all trades” because I literally can't say no to anything, and I do anything and everything!
Are you a hero or a villain? Lyric is definitely a hero. But if I need to be, I think I can be a villain. But I will do it in the kindest way possible.
Are you open to showmances? I'm absolutely open to a showmance, but if it doesn't affect my game. Because I know watching Big Brother, if you're in a showmance, sometimes it can mean  a huge target. So if this gorgeous man is not going to ruin my game, we can work something out,
Why are you going to be the next winner of Big Brother? I'm going to be the winner of Big Brother, because I think a lot of people underestimate me when they first meet me. They think I'm just this princess girl who's very happy and bubbly. And yes, I am those things. But I'm also very hard-working and driven. And I think that when people underestimate me, it's gonna work to my advantage in the Big Brother house. They won't see me coming!

Related: ‘Big Brother’ Alumni Reveal the One Change They’d Make to the Show (Exclusive)

Mallory Aurichio Mallory Aurichio on 'Big Brother 28'

Evan Mulling/CBS

Age: 24
Location: Township of Washington, NJ
Occupation: Rocket Scientist

Describe yourself in 3 words: Funny, hard-working, and outgoing
How does it feel to be on Big Brother? I am so excited to be on Big Brother! This has been a dream for pretty much my whole life. I can't even believe it's happening. It doesn't even feel real.
What’s your history with Big Brother? I've been watching Big Brother for pretty much as long as I can remember. My mom has always been watching the show. Before I even could speak, I was watching Big Brother, basically. So my whole life I've been watching it. I'm more of a casual viewer. I just watch the episodes. I've seen some of the live streams, but the episodes are what I mostly watch.
What’s your strategy going into the house? So, going into the game, my strategy is going to be to rely a little bit on my social game, because that has always been one of my natural strengths. But then also I am pretty athletic and smart as well. So I'm going to have a little bit of all three that's going to get me pretty far.
What are you going to bring to Big Brother that we’ve never seen before? I think I'm going to bring a type of fun, outgoing, energetic energy to the show that has never been seen before by someone that is also a logical and smart thinker.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? I think when people first meet me, they assume that I'm a little bit ditzy and a little bit of an airhead, because I'm very fun and I can be a little clumsy. But that is a big misconception.
Are you a hero or a villain? So I would like to think that I'm a hero, because I don't like to think that I am inherently bad. But there definitely is a side of me that can be a little bit villain when push comes to shove. Yeah,
Do you have a secret you plan on keeping about yourself in the game? So, going into the house, I think I'm going to keep a little bit under wraps how smart I am. And I'm not going to tell the truth about what I do for work. I think it puts a little bit of an unnecessary target on my back.
Why are you going to be the next winner of Big Brother? I'm going to be the next winner of Big Brother because people are going to underestimate me. They're going to see my fun, outgoing, energetic personality, and not know that I'm a smart, logical, strategic thinker. They're never going to see me coming.

Melody Morris Melody Morris on 'Big Brother 28'

Evan Mulling/CBS

Age: 24
Hometown: Thornton, CO
Current City: Maricopa, AZ
Occupation: Corporate Game Show Host

Describe yourself in 3 words: I would describe myself as ambitious, bold, and funny.
How does it feel to be on Big Brother? Being on Big Brother feels amazing!
What’s your history with Big Brother? My mom will tell you that I've been watching Big Brother since I was in her womb. And then I came out the womb, and I started watching it. So I've been watching it for a very long time.
What’s your biggest strength and your biggest weakness? I think my biggest strength would be relatability. Just getting to know people, I'm a great listener. I feel like I know a lot of people from different walks of life, and I also come from a very wide range of growing up, so I think that'll be really great for me in the house. And I think my biggest weakness will be I'm really sensitive. So if people are being mean to me, or if I can like sense that I'm being left out, I think it might get to me a little bit.
What’s your strategy going into the house? I think my strategy is to align myself with the right people, because, duh! I guess that's everybody's strategy. But I think it will be ideal to kind of play into how I look and kind of have people underestimate me at first. And then when it's go time, I can show everybody that I kick ass and win some stuff.
What are you going to bring to Big Brother that we’ve never seen before? I think I'll bring some interesting quirks to Big Brother. I know we've seen that before, but I don't know. A weird variety of things are on the way!
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? I think the biggest misconception people have of me is I'm just some dumb, typical blonde sorority girl. And some of those things are true. But I am very intelligent, I'm very quick-witted, and I know how to get what I want.
Are you a hero or a villain? It depends on who you ask!
Do you have a secret you plan on keeping about yourself in the game? I think the only secret that I'll not reveal is that I'm a game show host. Everything else I think will be an open book about. I think relatability will be a really big strength of mine.
Have you thought about creating a fake identity for the game? I'm not gonna create a fake identity. I'm not gonna tell anybody that I'm a game show host, though. I'm just gonna stick to waitress, which is also technically true. I just don't want them thinking that I have like a one-up on anything. But everything else, sure! I'm not a super great liar. I'm better at just keeping my mouth shut.
How do you normally handle conflict? The way I handle conflict really depends on the situation. I can either be very loud and in your face or I can be very sly and quiet and then bite you when you weren't looking.
How will you crush your enemies? I think I will crush my enemies in the game by being very quiet and sneaking up on them when they least expect it, and pouncing.
Are you open to showmances? I'm not open to showmances. I think they're a bad idea, especially for a little blonde girl like me. I'll get caught up, I'll catch too many feelings, and then game over! I'm here to win some money.
Why are you going to be the next winner of Big Brother? I am going to be the next winner of Big Brother, because it's something that I'm hungry for. When I set my mind to something, I usually get it. And I want to win Big Brother!

Related: ‘Big Brother’ Legends Name the Greatest Player of All Time — and Their Answers Prove the Debate Is Far From Over (Exclusive)

Rome Seymour Rome Seymour on 'Big Brother 28'

Evan Mulling/CBS

Age: 28
Hometown: Traverse City, MI
Current City: Delray Beach, FL
Occupation: Pickleball Coach

Describe yourself in 3 words: Bashful, extroverted, and extremely excitable
How does it feel to be on Big Brother? To be on Big Brother is a dream. I've never felt anything as exciting as this before. This is something you can only dream of, and it's coming true in this very moment.
What’s your history with Big Brother? I'm actually a new fan. I just started watching it not that long ago, and I've already blistered through about three seasons of it.
What’s your biggest strength and your biggest weakness? My biggest strength is that I'm extremely competitive. I'm going to try and win all the challenges, or at least the ones I need to. And I think my weakness is I have a loud mouth and I'm not going to back down from anyone in that house.
Are you a hero or a villain? I see myself as a hero. But I think a lot of people in the house are going to see me as a villain just because I'm so competitive that I want to win, and I talk a lot of trash.
Have you thought about creating a fake identity for the game? I actually have a fake identity already. My real name's not actually Rome, it's Jack. My best friends have been calling me Rome since before I can even remember. So I went into the house, saying, "Hey, the new best friends I'm gonna make are gonna call me Rome. But my mom, if you ask her, will never call me anything but her sweet Jack.”
Do you have a secret you plan on keeping about yourself in the game? I think I'm not going to tell everyone my real name right away. I think I want everyone to know me as Rome first. And then the people that are closest to me that I trust can really know that I trust them by calling me Jack.
How do you normally handle conflict? Conflict resolution is one of my best qualities. I know when to talk to people softly, and I know when to be a little bit more expressive towards them. So, when it comes to conflict, I'm fine with that. But I won't back down for anyone. If they come into my face, I will not be stepping back from them. 
Do you have a secret talent or quirk you think will help you in the game? I tell people I'm a huge nerd, but no one really knows what that means. One of my biggest things is I collect trading cards in my free time, so it really shows that I'm not just the jock and the athlete that I do actually have that nerdy side that people can trust and say, “Oh, he actually isn't as we expected.”
How will you crush your enemies? I'll crush my enemies by being more confident than them. The way I present myself is everything to me. I walk into every room thinking that I'm the most confident person there, and I can get anything
Are you open to showmances? I am open to a showmance. I've been single for a long time now, and it's hard finding love in the real world. So why not do it in the house?
Why are you going to be the next winner of Big Brother? I’m gonna be the next winner of Big Brother because my competition matches no one else's. I'm beyond everybody when it comes to competing. I'm the most competitive person I've ever met, and I never give up.

Taylor Brown Taylor Brown on 'Big Brother 28'

Evan Mulling/CBS

Age: 27
Hometown: Deerfield Beach, FL
Occupation: Elementary School Counselor

Describe yourself in 3 words: If I had to describe myself in three words, it would be “all in one.”
How does it feel to be on Big Brother? It feels amazing to be on Big Brother! It is literally a dream come true.
What’s your history with Big Brother? I am a big fan of Big Brother. I've been a casual viewer of Big Brother since I was a young girl. I fell off a little bit when I was in college, but because of a really bad breakup, for some reason, Big Brother was the only thing I could binge-watch for like six months. I watch episodes. I am not a live streamer.
What’s your strategy going into the house? My strategy going to Big Brother is called the “Big B Blowout.” I have this weird game plan that makes sense only in my head, but I'm very excited to see if it works out. The Big B Blowout is basically having a three-part team where there's a team captain for the floaters, and there's a team captain for the two tethered teams. And with that, we're just going to use each other where there's going to be a Final Three, and then we're going to all work together with our teams to maneuver the house, the votes, and the competitions.
What are you going to bring to Big Brother that we’ve never seen before? I think I'm going to bring realness to the show. I think I'm going to bring light to the show, and I also think I'm going to bring love to the show. Something that viewers at home want to see, someone who can be relatable, someone who feels like I'm your sister, maybe even your cousin.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? The biggest misconception people have about me is that I'm all sweet and innocent until I open my mouth!
Are you a hero or a villain? I am a hero at heart. But actually, I'm just coming out of my villain era, so I might have to go back in. [Flexes and grunts.]
Why are you going to be the next winner of Big Brother? I am going to be the next winner of Big Brother because I am that girl! I am able to be strategic, I am able to be social, and not only that, I am also able to be very competitive.

Yash Patel

Taylor Brown on 'Big Brother 28'

Age: 24
Hometown: Monroe Township, NJ
Occupation: Financial Analyst

How does it feel to be on Big Brother? It feels fantastic! It feels like I was born for this, competing, socializing, having fun. That's what I do.
What’s your history with Big Brother? I'm more of a casual viewer when it comes to Big Brother. But recently I've been a Big Brother merchant. Every night, five hours a day, you name it, I'm watching.
What’s your strategy going into the house? When it comes to my strategy, I would tell you, except I'm not gonna. That's top secret!
What are you going to bring to Big Brother that we’ve never seen before? Yash Patel. Silly question! Come on now.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? I think, because I'm very fun, people might not think I'm smart. But I'm actually secretly a nerd. Before I had this nice haircut, this nice beard, and this outfit, I had textbooks and pencils. That's just the way it is.
Are you a hero or a villain? Asking whether or not I'll be a hero or a villain is kind of tough, because I think I'll be exactly what I need to be based on the situation.
Do you have a secret you plan on keeping about yourself in the game? So I don't know if I actually want everybody to know that I'm a finance analyst. I might have to lie, say that I worked in marketing or something, because I don't need people getting all insecure on me.
Are you open to showmances? Oh, of course I'm open to a showmance! You're telling me I could win 750,000 and find a wife? Sign me up! 
How do you normally handle conflict? There's a lot of different ways I would handle conflict. I think it depends on the situation. If someone's trying to get at me, I'll most likely brush it off, but if there's a conflict going on amongst other people, I'm in there making opportunity.
Do you have a secret talent or quirk you think will help you in the game? One of my hidden talents is that I'm really good at mazes. Ever since I was a kid, I've been very good at just putting a pencil on the paper and getting myself out of a maze. So, that's one of those things where if there's some sort of maze competition, maybe I could put that to use. 
How will you crush your enemies? I will crush my enemies any which way, you name it. Socially, competitively, mentally, physically. Any way they need to be crushed. I could do that.

Related: CBS Announces 'Big Brother 28's 'Time Trip' Theme: See First-Look House Photos

The Beach Boys popularized Today's NYT Strands Puzzle answer back in 1964, and it’s all about staying on the move. Speaking of, 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 #856 on Tuesday, July 7.

How to Play Strands

The New York Times

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

Find theme words to fill the board.

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

Find the “spangram.”

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

Need a hint?

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

What Is Today's Strands Hint for the Theme: "Hitching a ride"

A hint for today's Strands game: Ways to travel.

What Are Today's NYT Strands Hints?

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

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

• CA
• BU
• WA
• SL
• CA
• ST
• IG (SPANGRAM)

NYT Strands Spangram Hint: Is It Vertical or Horizontal?

Today's Spangram is a mix of vertical and horizontal.

NYT Strands Spangram Answer for July 7

Today's Spangram answer on Today's NYT 'Strands' Hints, Spangram and Answers for Tuesday, July 7, 2026, isIGETAROUND.

What Are Today's NYT Strands Answers, Word List for Tuesday, July 7?

• CART
• BUGGY
• WAGON
• SLEIGH
• CARRIAGE
• STAGECOACH
• SPANGRAM: IGETAROUND

Related: Today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram and Answers for Monday, July 6, 2026

Johnny Cash is remembered as one of country music's most beloved and influential stars, but even "The Man in Black" had his share of run-ins with authority.

On July 7, 1956, Cash achieved one of country music's highest honors when he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. At the time, the rising star was riding the success of early hits like "I Walk the Line" and "Folsom Prison Blues," cementing his place among Nashville's biggest names.

But less than a decade later, his relationship with the legendary institution came to an abrupt end.

In 1965, Cash was expelled from the Grand Ole Opry after a backstage incident that has since become part of country music lore.

Before taking the stage for a performance, Cash reportedly asked for extra stage lights to be turned on. When his request was denied, he became frustrated. During the show, he swung his microphone stand and smashed several of the footlights lining the front of the Opry stage.

The damage reportedly cost hundreds of dollars to repair, and Opry management responded by dismissing Cash from its membership.

The incident occurred during one of the most turbulent periods of Cash's life, when he was struggling with addiction while maintaining a relentless touring schedule. Although the episode became one of the defining stories of his career, it ultimately wasn't the end of his relationship with the Grand Ole Opry.

After turning his life around, Cash reconciled with the organization in 1968 and was welcomed back into the fold. He remained an Opry member for the rest of his life, going on to enjoy one of the greatest comeback stories in music history.

Cash's remarkable career would include 13 Grammy Awards, induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame—an achievement shared by very few artists.

RELATED: The Kinks Founders Reunite Thanks to One Unforgettable Photo

"Find a happy place, find a happy place..." Ever find yourself repeating the mantra?

If that's ever been Jesse Eisenberg's, he seems to have "found it" in a commercially successful film franchise that shows no signs of quitting. Fans of magician-centric movies probably know all about a trio of crime thrillers led by the 42-year-old Academy Award nominee.

“Honestly, I’d love to do Now You See Me 4 more than anything else,” Eisenberg told TheWrap in an interview article published Sunday, July 5. “I’ve never felt happier than when playing that part."

Eisenberg continued, "Normally I play depressed people, which makes me depressed, but playing that confident, arrogant magician, I walk away everyday thinking, ‘That was amazing.’ It’s the only character where I get to stand up straight and wear a nicer outfit. It’s my happiest place.”

He reprised his performance as Atlas in last year's Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, reuniting with Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, Lizzy Caplan, Morgan Freeman and Mark Ruffalo.

Before that, the ensemble starred together in Now You See Me (2013) and Now You See Me 2 (2016), which saw the team of magicians known as the Four Horsemen carry out large-scale illusions in their mission to take down a corrupt and powerful few, as Deadline noted on Sunday.

Director Ruben Fleischer confirmed at last year's CinemaCon that a fourth installment is now in the works, per The Hollywood Reporter.

“Ruben has delivered all of the twists and turns and sleight-of-hand that audiences expect from this franchise while upping the stakes and scale in every way,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said at the time. “We can’t wait for audiences to discover what he’s done with the third film and thrilled he’ll be making even more magic with us.”

In the meantime, the recent threequel is racking up success on the streaming front. ScreenRant reported on Sunday, July 5 that Now You See Me: Now You Don't climbed to the fourth spot on Prime Video's global streaming chart.