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Some rock careers are defined by one band, while others stretch across decades of unexpected turns.

Jimmy Crespo belongs in the second group. The guitarist, best known for his years with Aerosmith, turns 72 on July 5 after building a career that placed him alongside some of rock's biggest names.

Crespo was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1954 and went on to become one of the guitarists who helped carry Aerosmith through a difficult but important chapter. He served as the band's lead guitarist from 1979 to 1984, stepping in after Joe Perry's departure and contributing to the group's 1982 album Rock in a Hard Place.

That period put Crespo in a rare position. Aerosmith had already become one of the biggest American rock bands of the 1970s, and joining the group meant entering a legacy that was still very much alive, even as the band was going through major changes.

Still, Crespo's playing helped define that era of Aerosmith's sound. His guitar work brought a hard rock edge to the band during a transitional stretch, demonstrating the kind of skill and confidence needed to stand out in a group already known for its powerful guitar presence.

His work also earned praise from one of rock's most recognizable frontmen. According to Vintage Guitar, Steven Tyler once called Crespo "One of the best guitarists I've ever known," while the publication described his playing as "a textbook study in classic hard rock."

Beyond Aerosmith, Crespo built the kind of career that made him more than just a former member of one famous band. Vintage Guitar noted that he performed or recorded with artists including Bernie Taupin, Stevie Nicks, Julian Lennon, Billy Squier and Rod Stewart. His official website also lists work with Meat Loaf, Dee Snider and Lita Ford, showing how widely his guitar work traveled across rock.

That long list of credits reflects what made Crespo's career so durable. Whether he was stepping into a massive band, supporting major artists or continuing his own projects, he remained connected to the sound of classic hard rock.

Now turning 72, Crespo's legacy stands as a reminder of the musicians who helped keep rock moving through its most unpredictable eras. His time with Aerosmith may be the chapter fans know best, but his decades of work across rock show a guitarist whose influence was never limited to one band.

Related: Founding Member of Iconic '70s Rock Band Turns 70

From the star-studded cast of George Michael’s iconic “Freedom! ‘90” music video to countless Sports Illustrated covers, supermodels of every era have become an unquestionable part of the zeitgeist. Whether you grew up looking up to Cindy Crawford, Iman, or Jerry Hall, these powerful women have informed beauty standards and made their mark on pop culture forever. And while they might have rocked the trending styles of their respective moments in time, they were each known for a unique aesthetic and energy. Which best matches your own, based on your birth month? Read on to find your supermodel match, based on your personality, preferences, and perspective.  

Read on to learn which timeless supermodel connects to your point of view and spirit, based on the month you were born.

Born as a new year was just beginning, you came into the world as the sun made its way through goal-oriented Capricorn or future-minded Aquarius. Both signs are ruled by Saturn, the planet of hard work and commitment, and are go-getters who really have no interest in quitting once they’ve begun working toward well-deserved recognition. This theme is undeniably a part of Lauren Hutton’s journey as a model and an actor. Initially rejected by agents for a signature gap in her teeth, she ultimately signed a contract with Revlon that was the biggest contract in the history of the modeling industry. Now in her 70s, she continues to model for brands like H&M, Lord and Taylor, Alexander Wang, and more.  

Born when the sun was moving through either innovative, progressive air sign Aquarius or creative, empathic, mystical water sign Pisces, you’re equally future-minded and artistic. This vibe matches that of Naomi Campbell, one of the members of the “Big Six” supermodels of the 1990s. Iconic for her signature runway walk, she has worked across industries—in music, television, and advocacy, which reflects how February-born people have diverse interests. They’re also revolutionaries, and Campbell became one of the first Black models to be featured on the covers of Time and Vogue France.  

Because you were born while the sun was in poetic, empathic water sign Pisces or competitive, impulsive fire sign Aries, you’re a spiritualist who’s as action-oriented and dynamic as you are dreamy and deeply creative—an energy that mirrors Iman’s. An inspiration to designers like Donna Karan, Yves Saint Laurent, and Gianni Versace, Iman made her debut in 1975. A philanthropist with two high-profile marriages—to Spencer Haywood in the ‘70s and ‘80s and David Bowie from 1992 until his death in 2016—Iman is quoted as having said,“[Modeling] is truly one of the very professions, like being an athlete, that you can become better at by keeping your eyes open and constantly learning on the job and, most importantly, off the job. Immerse yourself in fashion history by looking at vintage magazines, photos, poses, lighting, et cetera.” Spoken like a March-born go-getter. 

Born when the sun was moving through either playful, pioneering fire sign Aries or Taurus, the grounded, practical earth sign, you’re lighthearted, romantic, and have a way of making the most of everyday moments in life. That joyful vibe mirrors Christie Brinkley’s M.O. Famously called America’s sweetheart when she was rising to fame in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Brinkley appeared on three consecutive covers of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues in 1979, 1980, and 1981, spent 25 years as the face of CoverGirl, and has also worked as an actress, illustrator, entrepreneur, activist for human and animal rights and the environment among other ventures. Her versatility, longevity, and likability make her a force to be reckoned with, just like those born in April.

FURTHER: These 4 Birth Months Radiate a Nurturing Aura

Whether you were born when the sun was moving through sensual, pragmatic earth sign Taurus or buzzy, curious air sign Gemini, you’re a social butterfly who comes off as grounded, friendly, and present, much like Brooke Shields, who was born on May 31. Though you might think of Shields for her acting more than modeling, she kicked off her modeling career at just 11 months old. In 1980, she was the youngest model to appear on the cover of Vogue at 14, and then starred in a wildly successful, iconic Calvin Klein ad. Her resilience, intelligence, and ability to overcome adversity reflects your own. 

As a person who came into the world when the sun was in either bubbly, social air sign Gemini or loving, nurturing water sign Cancer, you’re innately creative, intuitive, and self-expressive, which feels very aligned with who Linda Evangelista is as a model. Known as a master of reinvention, aka the “chamelon” of the fashion industry, she was one of the “Big Six” in the 1990s. Karl Lagerfeld once said of Evangelista, "She's a true model, pure and simple. She doesn't pretend or aspire to do anything else. She's just brilliant at what she does,” and that dedication to her craft feels very in tune with how you move through life. 

NEXT: Beloved ’90s Supermodel, 59, is Nearly Unrecognizable in Rare Outing: Stunning Transformation

Born when the sun was in either maternal, intuitive water sign Cancer or theatrical, dramatic fire sign Leo, you radiate sunlight and glamour, much like Cindy Crawford. Always one to soak up the spotlight in a variety of ways, Crawford was one of the “Big Six” of supermodels in the 1990s, starred in music videos, posed for Playboy, and hosted and produced TV shows like MTV House of Style. Known for being warm, down-to-earth, and magnetic, not to mention a proud mama to Presley and Kaia Gerber, her caring, genuine M.O. matches your own. 

Whether you were born under dynamic, spotlight-loving fire sign Leo or communicative, tech-loving, service-oriented Virgo, you’re capable of wearing many hats and excelling at all the roles you take on, much like Kathy Ireland who made her mark as a model in the 1980s and 1990s but went on to become a major multi-hyphenate success. In addition to being a supermodel, she’s also an actress, author primarily of children’s books, entrepreneur, fashion designer, and philanthropist. Like Ireland, you are industrious and have the ability to claim center stage in many ways. 

You were born under either sensitive, detail-oriented earth sign Virgo or partnership-loving, elegant air sign Libra—signs that mirror Christy Turlington’s down-to-earth, beauty-loving energy. Widely regarded as one of the original supermodels of the 1990s, Turlington’s career has evolved over the years. Her ayurvedic skincare line, clothing lines, and bylines (she’s written for Marie Claire, Yoga Journal, and Teen Vogue) and contributions as a guest correspondent on NBC’s Today Show are all in tune with your creativity, cerebral nature, and talent for storytelling.

The sun moved through balance-seeking air sign Libra and fearless water sign Scorpio during the month you came into the world, which means your energy best mirrors Pat Cleveland’s. Considered one of the most influential runway models of the 1970s, Cleveland was also one of the first Black supermodels, and she made a major impression with her dance-like runway walk. Like Cleveland, you’re magnetic, powerful, and full of life, eager to pursue your ambitions and make history. 

EXPLORE: Truth About ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Photos Revealed: ‘The Whole Thing Was Orchestrated’

Whether you were born under the dynamic, mysterious water sign Scorpio or adventurous, wanderlust-fueled fire sign Sagittarius, you can appreciate Elle Macpherson’s drive, introspectiveness, and flair for being a highly successful international entrepreneur. Nicknamed "The Body” by Time in 1989, Macpherson would go on to become the founder, primary model, and creative director for various companies, such as Elle Macpherson Intimates and The Body, a line of skin care products. She also hosted and executive produced Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model and is an executive producer of NBC's Fashion Star and was the host for the first season. Like Macpherson, you’re goal-oriented and take pride in being truly authentic. 

MORE: These 4 Birth Months Are Known for Being Deeply Nostalgic

Born with your sun in either adventurous, party-loving fire sign Sagittarius or industrious, dutiful earth sign Capricorn, you’re most aligned with Jerry Hall who made waves as a supermodel of the 1970s and kicked off her acting career in the late ‘80s with her appearance in 1989’s Batman. She is also known for being the longtime partner of Mick Jagger, with whom she has four kids. In 1978, Hall told Interview magazine, “I love to work. If I don’t for two weeks I go nuts,” which mirrors your own work ethic, and her charisma, unapologetic adoration of glamour, and no-nonsense wit is also reflective of your style. 

UP NEXT:

Nate Smith says losing more than 70 pounds has changed far more than just the number on the scale.

The country singer opened up about his ongoing weight loss journey in and article shared by People on Sunday, July 5, revealing that after shedding the weight, everyday activities have become dramatically easier.

"I don't sweat anymore, which is amazing," Smith, 40, said. "I used to be totally out of breath tying my shoes. I can jump around a lot more."

The changes have extended beyond his daily life and into his performances, too. Speaking with the outlet while attending the Sports Illustrated and Tight End University's Tight Ends & Friends Concert in Nashville back on June 23, Smith said staying in shape helps him give fans the best show possible. "Keeping the energy on stage and making sure I do that, because I think that takes care of the fans," he explained.

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The "I Found You" singer also admitted one of his favorite perks has been rediscovering his wardrobe. "I just feel better. It's nice to be able to wear clothes that I like," Smith said before pointing to his outfit for the evening. "This is a large. I've been double X for the last five or six years, so I'm feeling really good."

Although he's already made incredible progress, Smith isn't done yet. "I think I want to get under 200 lbs.," he shared of his ambitious goal. "So I was like 275 lbs., somewhere in that world. But I want to get down to like 185 lbs. again."

The milestone comes just weeks after Smith celebrated losing 71 pounds on social media. In May, he posted side-by-side before-and-after photos on Instagram and wrote, "Another milestone reached today….. 😭😭😭😭😭," with fans filling the comments to congratulate him on his transformation.

Smith has previously revealed that his health journey began in November 2024 after battling a severe upper respiratory infection, an experience that prompted him to reevaluate his eating and drinking habits.

Related: Beloved Country Star Reveals He Secretly Got Married

Some of rock's most enduring songs never become chart hits.

That was certainly true for Kiss' "Detroit Rock City." Released in 1976 on the landmark album Destroyer, the hard-driving anthem has become one of the band's signature songs despite having zero chart history.

The reason is simple: while "Detroit Rock City" was originally issued as the A-side of a single, its B-side, the heartfelt ballad "Beth," became the unlikely hit. As "Beth" caught fire, it ultimately reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 while "Detroit Rock City" was left without a chart run of its own.

The song captured Kiss at one of the most creative moments of its career.

Written by Paul Stanley and Bob Ezrin, "Detroit Rock City" was inspired by the real-life death of a fan who was reportedly killed in a car accident while driving to a Kiss concert.

"Bob Ezrin at the time really wanted us to push ourselves in terms of our lyrics and perspective," Stanley told Ultimate Classic Rock. "And I remembered that a fan going to our show in Charlotte got killed, was hit by a car, and I just remember thinking about the idea of somebody traveling to see something that celebrates life, and in the process losing their life. So the song became about somebody traveling to a Kiss concert and not making it. It was still championing Detroit but also memorialized somebody who didn't get there."

The song became one of the band's most cinematic and emotionally layered recordings. Musically, it also showcased Kiss' evolution.

Produced by Ezrin, Destroyer featured a more ambitious sound than the band's earlier albums, and "Detroit Rock City" reflected that growth with layered guitars, dramatic production and one of Ace Frehley's most celebrated guitar solos.

"Bob and Paul came up with the intro riff," Frehley told Rolling Stone in 2016. "I just put the icing on the cake, with my inverted rhythm guitars. If you listen to a lot of Kiss songs, I'm always playing an octave above Paul to make it thicker sounding. It seemed to work over the years."

The song's opening sound effects and seamless transition into "King of the Night Time World" helped establish the album as one of the defining rock records of the 1970s.

Although "Beth" became the commercial phenomenon, "Detroit Rock City" gradually emerged as the song fans most closely associated with Kiss' live shows. Its explosive opening riff and arena-ready chorus made it a concert staple, while generations of listeners embraced it as one of the greatest hard rock songs of its era.

The song's reputation has only grown with time. It has appeared on numerous greatest-rock-song lists, inspired the 1999 film Detroit Rock City and remains a fixture on classic rock radio to this day.

More than 50 years later, "Detroit Rock City" stands as proof that chart positions don't always determine a song's legacy. Overshadowed commercially by its own B-side, the Kiss classic has ultimately become one of the band’' most enduring recordings and one of hard rock's definitive anthems.

Related: 1977 Rock Classic, Originally Inspired by Iconic Tour, Became a Fourth of July Anthem

Kane Brown, one of modern country’s hottest artists, was recently featured on The Pivot Podcast, a popular sports and entertainment show hosted by former NFL stars Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder. There, he got candid about being lonely despite his fame.

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Sharing that he’s had to overcome adversity and bouts of depression every now and then, the “Miles on It” singer also said he considers himself socially awkward and a loner. As a result, he doesn’t feel he has close friendships in the music industry, despite being one of the most popular artists on the music charts with more than a dozen No. 1 hits.

“I feel like I have more athlete friends than I do musician friends,” he said. “I feel alone in the music world.”

Shocked, Clark asked if there was some kind of country music superstar group chat that Brown was involved with, to which Brown said, “If there is, I ain’t invited.”

Brown went on to explain that, though he knows plenty of artists, the friendships don’t really extend beyond text messaging.

“Morgan [Wallen], he’d probably text me the most,” Brown said. “Shaboozey, Chris Young … [Jason] Aldean has been my guy. There are other artists that I could text, but there’s a difference between texting somebody and being boys with somebody. … When you don’t have somebody that you can talk to about that, and have a brothership over it, I don’t know if I could really say we’re friends.”

Turning his attention to anyone who may be watching online, he made an honest plea for potential buds to reach out, saying, “If anybody’s watching this … I just want a friend in the industry that we can just chill, come over, hit the golf sim, have a few beers, talk.”

The topic of friendships came up again as the “Heaven” singer shared insights into his friendship with NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“I think it’s awesome that my job’s got me where I can hang out with Pat and just be friends with him,” Brown said. “Pat’s a cool dude. He’s normal. That’s another thing that I also love, because a lot of people have egos. … I shut down around that.”

Though he might not have that many pals in the industry, he does have several besties at home, per People. In addition to his other half, wife Katelyn Brown, who is also an artist, he has three kids: daughters KingsleyRose (born October 2019) and Kodi Jane (born December 2021), and son Krewe Allen (born June 2024).

Related: 1969 Soundtrack, Ranked Rock’s Greatest of All Time, Became a Cross-Generational Anthem

Adam Sandler may have officiated Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding, but it was one simple piece of marriage advice that stood out—at least to Andy Reidanyway.

During an appearance at an event in Salt Lake City on Sunday, July 5, the Kansas City Chiefs head coach reflected on the couple's lavish Madison Square Garden wedding and revealed one memorable moment from Sandler's ceremony.

According to Reid, Sandler's biggest piece of advice for the newlyweds couldn't have been simpler. "Adam Sandler conducted the service there and he told them to, 'Keep kissing.' In its simplest form. That's a good thing," Reid recalled in a video shared by Deseret. "It's hard to argue when you give your wife a kiss or your wife gives you a kiss… And make sure you do it every day, every minute that you have an opportunity to. Knock it out, and you won't have any problems."

Andy Reid talks Taylor Swift’s and Travis Kelce’s wedding, shares his — and Adam Sandler’s — best marriage advice

I asked Andy Reid and his wife, Tammy Reid, what advice they’d give to the newlyweds after attending their wedding this weekend. Here’s what he said: pic.twitter.com/TJwSb1HM6e

While joking that the actor is "crazy," Reid also praised him for being "phenomenal" and said he "did a great job" officiating the ceremony "with a lot of humor."

Reid's wife, Tammy, who has been married to the coach since 1981, also confirmed that her husband already follows the advice. "He does that," she said.

Sandler knows a thing or two about long-lasting relationships himself. The actor has been married to his wife, Jackie Sandler, since 2003, and the pair share two daughters, Sunny and Sadie.

READ MORE: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Wedding Featured Performances by Two Music Legends

The advice was just one memorable moment from Swift and Kelce's star-studded wedding celebration. The reception reportedly featured surprise performances from Paul McCartney, who sang the Beatles classic "I Want to Hold Your Hand," as well as Stevie Nicks. 

Even fans outside Madison Square Garden found themselves joining the celebration. Videos circulating online appeared to show one lucky Swiftie receiving a pastry box that many believed had come from the wedding reception, turning an ordinary dessert into one of the weekend's most talked-about souvenirs.

Related: Taylor Swift Fans Turn Their Frustration Toward the Singer Over White House Posts

The Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood is remembering the late Amy Winehouse and the words they exchanged.

While speaking to The Sunday Times about The Rolling Stones’ new album, Foreign Tongues, the 79-year-old recalled speaking to the singer before she died in 2011, aged just 27.

“She would go: ‘Oh Ronnie, what am I going to do?' I said: ‘Look, everyone knows you've got vodka in the water bottle. Get it together and get on stage.' But if you could get her up there and she stayed there, it'd be great,” he said in the interview published Saturday, July 4.

“I'm sad because she didn't do her full span,” Wood added. “It was like saying goodbye to Billie Holiday again.” Winehouse struggled with addiction throughout her career, battling drug and alcohol addiction along with bulimia.

The Rolling Stones recently covered her song “You Know I'm No Good” on their new album, Foreign Tongues. According to The Times, frontman Mick Jagger's harmonica replaces horns as the lead instrument on the track.

According to The Sunday Times, frontman Mick Jagger's harmonica replaces horns as the lead instrument on the track. “Mick expresses himself on harmonica probably in the fullest way that he can, even better than as a vocalist,” Keith Richards explained to the British newspaper.

Richards admitted his regret at not spending more time with the "Back To Black" singer before her untimely death. “I was always sort of ‘well, I'm bound to meet her down the road.’ You expect things to happen, and unfortunately no,” he said. “But that's what records are for.”

“I'm just very glad and honored to have played with her at least once,” the guitarist added. The Rolling Stones performed with Winehouse at England's Isle of Wight Festival in June 2007.

Foreign Tongues is out on July 10.

Related: Amy Winehouse Wrote One of Her Biggest Hits in 'Like 10 Minutes,' Legendary Producer Reveals

July 5 marks a special milestone for one of classic rock's pioneering guitarists.

Michael Monarch, the original lead guitarist and a founding member of Steppenwolf, turns 76 today. Best known for helping define the band's hard-hitting sound during its formative years, Monarch also went on to perform with the all-star supergroup World Classic Rockers, extending his legacy well beyond Steppenwolf's earliest success.

Monarch was there from the very beginning.

After co-founding Steppenwolf in the late 1960s alongside vocalist John Kay, keyboardist Goldy McJohn, bassist Rushton Moreve and drummer Jerry Edmonton, the young guitarist quickly became an essential part of the band's distinctive blend of blues, psychedelic rock and hard rock. His powerful guitar work helped establish Steppenwolf as one of the defining rock acts of the era.

During Monarch's tenure, the band released several of its most enduring songs, including "Born to Be Wild," "Magic Carpet Ride," "The Pusher" and "Rock Me."

"Born to Be Wild," in particular, became a cultural phenomenon after its inclusion in the 1969 film Easy Rider, helping popularize the phrase "heavy metal" through its famous lyric, "heavy metal thunder."

"I was using my Fender Esquire guitar into a Fender Concert Amp, kind of like a Super Reverb, but without the reverb, with four ten-inch speakers," Monarch told Guitar World of the recording session for the hit song. "It had white, round knobs and was covered in brown Tolex. I had turned everything to ten, as there was no eleven back then. Engineers Ritchie [Podolor] and Bill [Cooper] asked me to turn it down because it was too distorted. I don't think I did, and eventually, they thought it blended with the organ in a cool way."

Although Monarch left Steppenwolf in 1969, his contributions to the band's earliest recordings helped lay the foundation for its lasting influence. The group's music continues to be celebrated on classic rock radio, while songs like "Born to Be Wild" remain synonymous with freedom, motorcycles and the open road.

"After Steppenwolf, I worked on building a studio in my house," Monarch recalled in an interview. "I had a lot of musician friends coming over to play; some of the guys from Little Feat came by a few times. I was also thinking of starting a new band. I ended up selling the house and moving to England in '73, and I started a band there backed by the Robert Stigwood Organization. The drummer was Herman Rarebell, who later went on to play in the Scorpions."

Monarch later reunited with fellow classic rock veterans as a member of World Classic Rockers, a touring supergroup featuring musicians from some of the biggest bands of the 1960s and 1970s. The lineup has included members of Steppenwolf, Journey, Santana, Boston, Toto, Lynyrd Skynyrd and other legendary acts, giving audiences the opportunity to hear some of rock’s most iconic songs performed by the artists who helped create them.

"There's a big market for this band in the corporate world. We started it in '96, and it's still going strong; we play great venues all over the world," Monarch said. "We played in Monte Carlo, the Bahamas, Bermuda, South Africa, Ireland, and all over the U.S. and Canada. We play Hawaii often. We also do the fair circuit, but corporate shows more."

More than five decades after helping launch one of rock's most influential bands, Monarch's impact continues to resonate with fans around the world. As he celebrates his 76th birthday on July 5, his work with Steppenwolf and the World Classic Rockers stands as a reminder of the enduring power of classic rock’s golden era.

Related: '60s Rock Legend and Founding Member of Beloved Supergroup Turns 82

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A pearl necklace is one of those rare accessories that never really goes out of style. No matter how trends change, pearls always manage to feel polished, timeless, and easy to wear. They work with casual outfits just as well as dressier looks, which is exactly why they’ve remained a staple for decades.

If you’re looking for a chic everyday piece that feels elevated without being flashy, the Adornia Freshwater Pearl Necklace is a beautiful option. Right now, it’s on sale for 75% off during Nordstrom Rack's Clear the Rack sale, bringing the price down from $140 to just $35. For a genuine freshwater pearl necklace with a classic look, that’s an especially impressive deal.

Courtesy of Nordstrom Rack

The necklace features a delicate strand of luminous freshwater pearls designed to add a soft, elegant finish to any outfit. It measures 14 inches long with a 4-inch extender, making it easy to customize the fit depending on your neckline. The pearls measure between 5 and 5.5 millimeters, and the piece is finished with a lobster-clasp closure along with stainless steel plated with 18-karat gold.

What makes this necklace especially versatile is its understated design. Instead of feeling overly formal or gaudy, the smaller pearl size gives it a modern, minimalist feel. It works seamlessly with aesthetics like quiet luxury, coastal-grandmother style, bohemian looks, or coquette-inspired outfits.

This necklace looks chic whether you layer it or wear it solo. Its slim profile makes it perfect for stacking with other chains and pendants without looking bulky. You can pair it with chunkier gold necklaces for contrast or mix silver and gold jewelry together since pearls naturally balance mixed metals beautifully. If you prefer to wear the necklace on its own, it creates a clean and refined focal point.

This is the kind of accessory you can wear to the office, out to dinner, on vacation, or even to formal events like weddings and graduations. It’s lightweight enough for all-day wear and elegant enough to transition easily from daytime outfits to evening looks without feeling out of place.

It also makes an especially thoughtful gift. Pearls have always carried a sense of timeless luxury, and this necklace feels far more expensive than its $35 sale price suggests. The adjustable extender chain also makes sizing easier, which takes away some of the guesswork when shopping for jewelry as a present.

One shopper said the necklace is “great for layering,” writing, “I bought this mainly to stack with my gold necklaces, and it works perfectly.” Another described it as “delicate and very pretty,” writing, “It adds a soft touch without overpowering an outfit.”

• Saachi Charm Pendant Necklace, $30 (was $52) at Nordstrom Rack
• Adornia Freshwater Pearl Pendant Necklace, $20 (was $125) at Nordstrom Rack
• Ettika Pebble Pendant Necklace, $22 (was $82) at Nordstrom Rack

Related: Dolce Vita’s $32 Woven Straw Tote at Nordstrom Rack Adds the Perfect Dash of Coastal Grandmother Charm

For a jewelry staple you’ll wear for years instead of just one season, the Adornia Freshwater Pearl Necklace is hard to beat. And thanks to Nordstrom Rack’s current 75% discount, you can save more than $100 on this timeless piece right now. Add it to your cart before the Clear the Rack event ends July 9!

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Belinda Carlisle was just in her twenties when she skyrocketed to fame as the lead singer of the ’80s girl band The Go-Go’s, but the legendary singer is thriving in her sixties.

Carlisle, 67, and The Go-Go’s smashed onto the scene with hits like “We Got the Beat” and “Vacation.” She later had a successful solo career with hits like “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” and “Mad About You,” and is still touring like crazy. Carlisle released her new album, “Once Upon a Time in California,” back in August. But in a new photo taken while in Paris, the music queen stunned fans and followers as she posed in a white dress with black sunglasses. Looking absolutely ageless, the star made it clear that she's simply getting better with age.

"Out and about in Paris - @juliedelibranthank you - i feel like a princess 👑👑👑👑," Carlisle captioned the photo.

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While Carlisle is doing great these days, it wasn’t always the case. In addition to struggling with imposter syndrome as a young singer, Carlisle struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. Looking back, the singer told Rolling Stone Australia this fall that she’s grateful there was no social media during the time she was struggling so prominently.

“I would’ve been the Lindsay Lohan of my time!” she said. “Oh my God, yeah. And even when everybody had a cell phone, they didn’t have a camera yet. So that would’ve been the end of me, that’s for sure. Jesus! We were really lucky. None of that was around, so you could behave badly and chances were that no one ever heard about it.” 

After years of relapse, Carlisle ultimately found sobriety. She opened up in a recent interview with The Sunday Times about her lengthy journey.

“I thought, I’ll just drink wine, and I won’t do coke. I realized that in order to continue with my career — which was in the toilet — the most important thing was to get sober. I remember playing this little club in Northampton at the end of my drinking and using. There were 12 people in the audience, and my dressing room was a closet for cleaning materials, mops, and brooms. I thought, Wow. I was able to turn things around, but I wouldn’t have been able to if I had been behaving in the way I was before I got sober,” she recalled.

These days, things look a lot different for Carlisle.

“I get up at 3:30 am. Then I chant for 40 minutes. I love chanting. It’s not airy-fairy; it’s scientific,” she explained.

No matter whether she’s chanting or singing, Carlisle still knows how to rock. Here’s a throwback from one of her most legendary tunes:

Related: ‘80s Pop Queen Belinda Carlisle, 67, Makes Waiting at the Airport Look Glamorous in Beautiful Selfie

It's hard to think of too many songs that have captured the bittersweet emotion of letting someone go quite like "Wild World."

When Cat Stevens released the song in 1970 on his landmark album Tea for the Tillerman, its gentle acoustic melody and heartfelt lyrics immediately resonated with listeners. More than two decades later, rock band Mr. Big gave the classic a fresh interpretation, turning it into one of the biggest hits of its career and introducing the beloved ballad-turned-soft-rock-hit to an entirely new audience.

The original showcased Stevens at the height of his songwriting powers.

Written by Stevens, "Wild World" is a tender farewell from someone wishing the best for a departing loved one while acknowledging the uncertainties that lie ahead.

"'Wild World' was really my parting song with my girlfriend Patti D'Arbanville," Stevens told Billboard. "We'd had some great times together, but I started recording and she was doing her modeling and it just became like two different worlds. And because I’d had such an experience of almost falling off the planet, I knew there were a lot of dangers out there so it was kind of me talking to myself about the second career I was about to embark on and also talking to her about her career. We'd basically split at that point, and that was the ode to our parting.

Built around acoustic guitar, subtle percussion and Stevens' warm, conversational vocal, the song became one of the defining singer-songwriter ballads of the early 1970s.

"I was just following my heart, and the music was coming out and was being dressed absolutely appropriately with the musicians that I had, and kept very sparse and pure," Stevens told Louder. "It was a very purist period of songwriting and recording. I had a feeling there was something special but I didn’t know how people would take it."

"Wild World" became one of Stevens' signature recordings and has remained a staple of classic rock, folk and soft rock radio for more than 50 years.

In 1993, Mr. Big took the song in a different direction.

Fresh off the global success of the acoustic ballad "To Be With You," the band recorded "Wild World" for its album Bump Ahead. Rather than recreating Stevens' stripped-down folk arrangement, Mr. Big surrounded the melody with polished electric guitars, richer harmonies and a fuller rock production while preserving the song's emotional core. Eric Martin's soaring vocal delivery also gave the lyrics a more arena-ready feel, contrasting with the intimacy of Stevens' original performance.

It was risk that was ultimately worth taking.

Mr. Big's version became a major international hit, charting in several countries across Europe and Asia while earning significant radio airplay. For many younger listeners in the 1990s, it served as an introduction to one of the most beloved songs of the previous generation. The song became a staple of the band's live sets.

"I think when I wrote 'To Be With You' and I brought it into Mr. Big, I started playing acoustic guitar and singing [and doing] the token 'white boy on the acoustic guitar' thing where I did 'To Be With You' and the ballad kind of stuff with 'Wild World' and the more stripped down stuff," Mr. Big frontman Eric Martin told Pop Dose."We kind of had the [part of the show] where we’' play the heavy rock and then we’d have a little B-stage and play the little acoustic songs."

The enduring appeal of both recordings speaks to the strength of Stevens' songwriting. While the original remains admired for its understated honesty and folk-inspired simplicity, Mr. Big's cover demonstrated how the same song could thrive in a contemporary rock setting without losing its emotional impact.

More than 50 years after Cat Stevens first recorded "Wild World," the song continues to resonate with audiences around the world. Reimagined by Mr. Big 23 years later, the timeless ballad proved that great songwriting can transcend genres, generations and musical eras while remaining every bit as moving as the day it was written.

Related: 1978 Rock Song, Originally a Soft Rock Ballad, Remains a Classic on the Fourth of July

Matty Healy's ex-girlfriend Gabriella Brooks was just one of the 1,000 attendees at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding.

The model, who dated The 1975 frontman four years before Swift's brief romance with him in 2023, attended the star-studded affair alongside her fiancé, Liam Hemsworth.

Brooks, 30, took to Instagram on July 5 to share some photos from the "Love Story" singer's nuptials, which were held inside Madison Square Garden in New York City on July 3. Giving her followers a look at the pair's date night, Brooks called the wedding "the night of our lives."

"Congratulations T&T, you are a match made in heaven," Brooks captioned the post.

In the photo carousel, Brooks showed off the stunning mauve halter-neck gown she wore for the occasion, adorned with feathered details. Hemsworth, 36, meanwhile, kept things simple, wearing a stylish black tuxedo.

In addition to sharing a look at her and The Last Song actor before Taylor and Travis' wedding, Brooks snapped a photo of her and Hemsworth's highly accessorized hands. Brooks also included a photo of the sweet party favor Taylor and Travis gifted their wedding guests: a custom-made handkerchief emblazoned with the letter T and the couple's wedding date.

The gift also featured an Easter egg from Taylor's hit "Blank Space," with the lyrics "So it's gonna be forever" written below the couple's monogram.

Brooks and Taylor have grown close since her breakup from Healy, who is now engaged to fiancée Gabbriette. While Taylor only dated the "Somebody Else" singer for a few months in early 2023, following her breakup from Joe Alwyn, the split had a lasting impact on the singer. So much so, that several tracks on Taylor's 2024 album, The Tortured Poets Department, are rumored to be about Healy.

Taylor's heartbreak didn't last long, however, with the Grammy winner coupling up with Travis following his appearance at the Kansas City stop of her Eras Tour.

Brooks and Hemsworth were also among the many stars to attend the record-breaking tour, with the couple, who have been together since 2019, following Hemsworth's divorce from Miley Cyrus, supporting the "Fortnight" singer at one of her London concerts in June 2024.

Dancing to the music alongside Travis and other celebrities in the VIP tent, Brooks raved about the concert in a post after the show.

"Taylor we love you!!" Brooks shared in the June 2024 Instagram post, which featured photos and videos from her and Hemsworth at the show. "Best night ever."

Princess Catherine, 44, just shared a heartwarming set of photos on the Royal Family's  Instagram from the recent National Three Peaks Challenge to highlight the incredible fundraising effort for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. This is important news in light of Kate Middleton’s recent forthright remarks about her battle with cancer. But fans couldn't help but notice something else entirely: Prince George is nearly as tall as his mom.

In one of the photos, Princess Catherine can be seen with one arm around Prince George while chatting with youngest son Prince Louis and George is meeting her almost exactly at eye level. In another shot taken from behind, the Princess of Wales is seen patting George on the back, with the future king appearing to be at or very near her height. *Cue every royal fan collectively gasping and saying "when did THAT happen?"

"This time last week, completing the National Three Peaks Challenge," Catherine wrote alongside the photos on Sunday, July 5. "A huge thank you to everybody who has supported The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. To find out more or donate, please visit link in bio."

The mountaineering challenge - which takes place across mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales - was clearly a family affair, with Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis all featured in the stunning photos.

For Catherine, the challenge was about more than just the physical feat - the princess has spoken openly about wanting to push herself beyond her comfort zone following her cancer journey, making this milestone a momentous occasion.

The charity work is absolutely worth celebrating but we have a feeling royal fans everywhere are also going to be having a moment, talking about how Prince George is all grown up. Where does the time go?

Some songs never lose their intrigue. The 1979 song "Sara" by Fleetwood Mac is one of those rare ballads that continues to spark conversation nearly 50 years later. With its dreamy sound, emotional lyrics, and tumultuous backstory, many questions still linger about the song's inspiration.

By the time Fleetwood Mac began recording their third album Tusk, Stevie Nicks' relationship with Lindsey Buckingham had ended, she had embarked on a brief romance with Mick Fleetwood, which overlapped with Fleetwood falling in love with Nicks' close friend Sara Recor, whom he then married. Around the same time, Nicks also dated Eagles drummer Don Henley.

In other words, there was a lot going on. Nicks was writing songs, which included "Sara," amid all the emotions of this period, and the band continued to record together.

In a 2011 interview with The Independent, she said, "Sara was banished from the studio by the rest of the band ... No one was speaking, and I wouldn't even look directly at Mick. That went on for months. And it was great fodder for writing! The songs poured out of us."

There have been different explanations over the years about the song's inspiration — even from Nicks herself.

About the aftermath of Fleetwood and Recor's affair, Nicks said, "They fell in love, and the next thing, Sara's husband is calling me to say, 'Sara moved in with Mick this morning. And I just thought you might wanna know.' That was three months into a 13-month album. So I lost Mick, which honestly wasn't that big of a deal because that was a rocky relationship. But losing my friend Sara? That was a huge blow."

In a 1994 radio interview with The Tommy Vance Show, Nicks revealed that the two women reconciled eventually and that Sara indeed was, in part, an inspiration behind the song.

She recalled, “I remember the night I wrote it. I sat up with a very good friend of mine whose name is Sara, who was married to Mick Fleetwood. She likes to think it’s completely about her," Nicks continued, "but it’s really not completely about her. It’s about me, about her, about Mick, about Fleetwood Mac. It’s about all of us at that point.”

Related: 1979 Love Ballad, Written in Just 45 Minutes, Became a Timeless Anthem of Hope

In 1998, Nicks directly attributed one lyric to Fleetwood specifically, saying, "Well. 'Sara' was pretty much about Mick. So, he was the 'great dark wing.' And it was about everything that was going on at that particular time, too. But he was the reason for the, you know, the beginning of it."

Another long-discussed interpretation involves Don Henley. According to the Eagles biography by Marc Eliot, Henley said that Nicks got pregnant while they were dating and that Sara was the name she gave "the spirit" of the unborn child.

In a 2014 interview with Billboard, Nicks filled in the blanks on Henley's claim, saying, "Had I married Don and had that baby, and had she been a girl, I would have named her Sara. But there was another woman in my life named Sara, who shortly after that became Mick’s wife, Sara Fleetwood."

The sweeping production, Nicks' vocal performance, and the song's reflective tone all contributed to the song's success. The six-minute, dreamlike arrangement and drifting, stream-of-consciousness lyrics stood apart from many late-'70s rock hits.

"Sara" was released in December 1979 as the second single from the album, peaked at No. 7 by February 1980, and remained on the charts for 14 weeks.

Almost 50 years later, fans may still wonder about the song's meaning, but the questions only contribute to the mystique. And the lyrics and the song certainly resonate for fans even without a definitive answer. Rolling Stone ranked the song at No. 13 among "Fleetwood Mac’s 50 Greatest Songs." And to date, the song has almost 128 million streams on Spotify alone.

There's a good chance all of the song's mysteries are a little bit true. Perhaps that's why "Sara" has endured. Rather than pointing to a single moment or relationship, the song seems to capture an entire chapter of Stevie Nicks' life — one defined by love, friendship, loss, and change.

Heartbreak rarely comes with clear answers, and neither does "Sara." That's what gives the song its lasting power: listeners continue to bring their own experiences to its lyrics. Nearly five decades later, it remains one of Stevie Nicks' most moving and enigmatic songs.

Watch Fleetwood Mac's "Sara" music video:

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It's never too late to curate your dream space. Some would say it's even better to update your home little by little, so that you can focus on pieces that you actually love. Thanks to Amazon, you can shop for home finds that are unique and budget-friendly, spanning from sideboards to patio sets. Our eye is currently on the Awasen Small Side Table, which is 26% off and marked as Amazon's Choice. 

The table originally cost $43, but has been reduced to just $32 during a limited-time sale. The piece is being sold in four colors: brown walnut, black, natural wood, and rustic brown. The black and brown walnut hues are best for modern homes, while the natural wood and rustic brown offerings are perfect for farmhouse-inspired decor. The table is 11.8 inches long, 11.8 wide, and 21.8 inches tall. 

Courtesy of Amazon

Due to the sizing, this table is perfect for those who live in compact spaces and want additional decor and table space. The furniture is made of water-resistant engineered wood and features a wide circular base to prevent tipping and a rounded top with a raised edge that will prevent drinks and other items from falling over the side. The stem features a vintage bubble design that will effortlessly add dimension to your space.

You will have to assemble the table upon delivery, but setup should take more than a few minutes with no tools required. Over 100 customers have purchased this style in the past month, describing it as the "perfect size," "easy to assemble," "very nice-quality," "functional," "sturdy," "sleek," and "elegant." Most shoppers are placing it next to a couch or accent chair to upgrade the look. 

"It's a perfect accent table to add to any room in your home including the living room, bedroom, sitting room, and can be used as an accent table or small nightstand for a guest room," one reviewer said of the "beautiful" piece. Plus, depending on your area, Prime members can receive the piece in just one day, so you won't have to wait through the weekend to make your space look chic.  

• HomeHacks 2-Pack Laundry Baskets, $12 (was $20) at Amazon
• Releany Area Rug, $80 (was $90) at Amazon
• Bedsure Queen Comforter Set, $28 (was $42) at Amazon

Related: Dolly Parton's Garden-Inspired Water Bottle Is the Prettiest Way to Beat the Heat for Under $10

Your dream space is waiting for you, and it starts with this adorable side table. This special deal won't be available for long though, so make sure to shop it while you can. Add the piece to your Amazon cart while it's just $32! 

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.

The Eagles’ Hotel California is known as one of the biggest rock albums of all time. Nearly 50 years after its release, the title song from the No. 1 hit album repeatedly re-enters the Billboard charts, and the album is one of the best-selling rock albums ever.

But one of the most powerful songs from the album was never released as a single, yet became a concert staple that fans still relate to.

Written by Don Henley and the late Glenn Frey,“Wasted Time” was the final song on the first side of the Hotel California album. The piano-driven ballad featured Henley delivering emotional lyrics about the pain of a lost love and the hope for healing amid fears that the relationship had “all been wasted time.”

“Wasted Time” was inspired by Henley’s real-life breakup with jewelry designer Loree Rodkin, according to Rolling Stone. “Nothing inspires or catalyzes a great ballad like a failed relationship,” Henley told the outlet. “It’s a very empathetic song.”

Not only was "Wasted Time” the last song on side one of the album, but it continued as a lush instrumental, titled ”Wasted Time (Reprise)” at the start of side two.

Frey once spoke about “Wasted Time” and its instrumental reprise, noting that the short orchestral string arrangement was composed by Jim Ed Norman, an old college friend of Henley’s.

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“It’s a Philly-soul torch song,” Frey said of “Wasted Time,” per a post on journalist Cameron Crowe’s website. “I loved all the records coming out of Philadelphia at that time…. and I started creating my own musical ideas with that Philly influence.”

“Don was our Teddy Pendergrass,” the Eagles legend added of the vocals. “He could stand out there all alone and just wail. We did a big Philly-type production with strings — definitely not country rock. You’re not going to find that track on a Crosby, Stills & Nash record or Beach Boys record. Don’s singing abilities stretched so many of our boundaries. He could sing the phone book. It didn’t matter.”

Related: 1981 Classic, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Rock Duets of All Time,’ Became the Biggest Hit Ever for Both Artists

Forty-five years after launching one of heavy metal's most influential careers, Loudness is getting ready to release another album.

The legendary Japanese metal band has confirmed that it plans to record a new studio album later this year as part of its ongoing 45th anniversary celebration. The follow-up to 2021's Sunburst is already well underway, with guitarist Akira Takasaki having amassed dozens of ideas for the project.

Speaking at Finland's Tuska festival, frontman Minoru Niihara revealed just how much material the band already has to work with.

"[Akira] wants to make a new album for 45th-anniversary something," Niihara said in an interview. "He's got ideas, 30 songs already. And then he will make more. Yeah, we will [record] maybe 10 songs from 30 songs. But [it will be released] pretty soon. Maybe end of this year."

Formed in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi, Loudness quickly emerged as one of Japan's first heavy metal bands to achieve significant international success. Alongside vocalist Minoru Niihara and bassist Masayoshi Yamashita, the group helped introduce Japanese metal to audiences around the world with albums such as Thunder in the East, Lightning Strikes and Hurricane Eyes.

During the mid-1980s, Loudness became one of the few Japanese rock bands to break into the American mainstream, touring extensively and earning airplay on MTV with songs including "Crazy Nights." Their technical musicianship, blistering guitar work and melodic songwriting helped pave the way for countless metal acts that followed.

"Creating songs is as natural as playing concerts for rock musicians," Niihara told Sleaze Roxx in 2018."

The upcoming album will be the band's first studio effort since Sunburst, a 16-song double album that celebrated the group's long history while showcasing that its signature blend of melody and power remained firmly intact.

Loudness officially launched its 45th anniversary celebration in late 2025 and has continued commemorating the milestone with international touring and festival appearances. The announcement of another studio album demonstrates that the celebration isn't simply about looking back, it's also about creating new music for longtime fans.

"There are musicians who create one new band after another, but I wanted to stick with one band," Takasaki said in a 2022 interview. "Maybe I'm clumsy in a way. But that's the way I live my life."

More than four decades after helping put Japanese heavy metal on the global map, Loudness shows no signs of slowing down. With dozens of songs already written and a new album on the horizon, the pioneering band is proving that its next chapter may be just as exciting as the first.

Related: '90s Rocker Announces New Album 37 Years After Beginning Career

Punk rock history would not sound quite the same without Terry Chimes.

The drummer and founding member of The Clash turns 70 on July 5, marking another milestone for a musician whose work helped shape one of the most influential rock bands of the 1970s.

Chimes was part of The Clash's original lineup, joining Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Keith Levene as the group began taking form in London in 1976. Though his time with the band came in multiple stretches, his place in its story was established early.

He played drums on the band's 1977 self-titled debut album, which helped introduce The Clash's raw, urgent sound to a wider audience. On the album, Chimes was credited under the name Tory Crimes, a play on his own name that was fitting for the band's early punk-focused image.

The Clash quickly became one of the defining bands of the punk era, known for combining rock, reggae, ska, dub and social commentary into a sound that stretched far beyond one scene. While later albums brought the group even more attention, the band's first record remains a key part of its legacy.

Chimes later returned to The Clash in the early 1980s, joining the band again after Topper Headon's departure. His second major run with the group included touring during the Combat Rock era, when The Clash reached a massive international audience.

Outside of The Clash, Chimes also built a multifaceted rock career. He played with Generation X, Hanoi Rocks, The Cherry Bombz and Black Sabbath, showing a range that extended well beyond the punk movement he helped launch.

However, after years of playing with major rock acts, Chimes eventually found that the success came with a lifestyle he no longer wanted.

Speaking on The Chris Moyles Show, he said that "after 15 years of that," he "kind of had enough of being on the road and traveling and all the craziness." He also joked that the music business was "full of crazy people," while his own health-focused lifestyle made chiropractic work feel like a better fit.

In 2003, Chimes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Clash, solidifying his place in rock history alongside the band he helped form.

Though he eventually stepped away from the music industry and pursued a career in chiropractic care, Chimes' impact remains tied to one of the most important groups of the 1970s. As he turns 70, his work with The Clash continues to stand as part of the sound that changed rock music for generations.

Related: '80s Glam Metal Icon and Lead Singer of Beloved Supergroup Turns 70

Some songs become so synonymous with an artist that it’s impossible to imagine anyone else performing them. Garth Brooks’ “The Thunder Rolls” is one of those songs. But the truth is that the controversial country classic that became one of his biggest hits was originally intended for another country superstar entirely.

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As it turns out, Brooks’ landmark second album,No Fences, wasn’t the song’s original destination. The song was first recorded by Tanya Tucker in 1989, after being written by Brooks, then a struggling artist, and Pat Alger, the Nashville songwriting legend behind Hal Ketchum’s “Small Town Saturday Night” and Kathy Mattea’s “She Came From Fort Worth.”

According to Songfacts, Tucker’s rendition remained unreleased for several years before finally appearing on her 1995 boxed set. Meanwhile, Brooks was riding high off his 1989 self-titled debut and its hit single, “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old),” and asked for the song back.

“She obliged,” the outlet shared, and “Garth recorded it for his second album, No Fences, which went on to sell about 18 million copies.”

While working on a song for Kathy Mattea, Alger said Brooks came up with the idea for “The Thunder Rolls.”

“There's a line about thunder rolling in the song,” Alger said, via Songfacts. “Garth had been listening to that song … and said, ‘What if we write a song about somebody who’s cheating on his wife, and every time he does it, the thunder rolls.’ And I kind of laughed. I thought it was kind of a joke.”

As the two got deeper into the verses, however, the song became “less of a joke and more of a cool thing.”  

“When we wrote it, I really did think it was kind of different. And, of course, we were trying to pitch that song immediately. We were trying to get Reba McEntire and Tanya Tucker to record that.”

Brooks’ experience writing the song is a little different. Paying tribute to Alger when he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010, the country star told a story about how he was throwing a ball against the wall to get the creative juices flowing, with Alger ready “to kill” him.

“Alger's sitting there, about ready to kill me, coming up with all these wonderful lines, thousands of 'em that you never use,” he said. “It's the first time I've ever been in a record label. I was scared to death. Pat was kind of like my mentor/buddy--who was scared to death, too, if the truth be known.”

Needless to say, the song was a smash multi-chart hit. Released in April 1991, “The Thunder Rolls” became Brooks’ sixth No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart that summer. It also helped propel its parent album to No. 1 on the country album survey, where it reigned for 41 weeks. Brooks and Alger also received credit for topping the Hard Rock Songwriters chart when State of Mine’s cover featuring No Resolve hit No. 1 in 2021.

The track’s music video starring a soaked Brooks was another commercial and critical success. Although both CMT and TNNrefused to air the video because of its domestic-violence ending, it won the CMA Award for Music Video of the Year in 1991.

Fans of Brooks are keen on the song’s secretly omitted verse. The song itself is a ballad about a cheating husband whose wife is “pacin’ by the telephone in her faded flannel gown” before getting a whiff of “a strange perfume” on her man that confirms her fears that he’s been unfaithful.

Garth Brooks - The Thunder Rolls #countrytiktok #countrymusicland #foryoupage #countrymusic #garthbrooks

The omitted verse shares that she “Reaches for the pistol kept in the dresser drawer / Tells the lady in the mirror he won’t do this again / ‘Cause tonight will be the last time she’ll wonder where he’s been.” That verse was included in Tucker’s original, as well as on Brooks’ Double Live album from 1998 and in just about every show he does live.

What was once considered too dark for country music has since become an essential part of the song’s legacy. And in the end, “The Thunder Rolls,” one of Brooks’ most enduring hits, found the stage it was ultimately meant for.

Related: 1982 Rock Anthem Everyone Knows Was Created by a Music Legend Few Can Name

After doomscrolling on social media (usually not the best idea to begin with), it can be hard to walk through the personal care aisle at your local grocery store or pharmacy. Is there anything on the shelves that doesn't raise cancer risk? Can we feel good in our skin without fearing that we will develop the disease?

The answer is yes, but it's still important to have the correct information so that you can make confident choices based on facts, not fear. Social media isn't usually the world's greatest hub for nuanced, accurate health advice.

"With the abundance of information across social media and the entire internet, real scientific evidence can be diluted across the multitudes of opinion and misinformation," Dr. Adeel Khan, MD, an academic hematologist/oncologist and epidemiologist in Dallas, tells Parade. 

Importantly, there's only so much you can do to lower your cancer risk, but knowing what you have agency over can help you feel more empowered.

"Simply put, there are some things we can control and some things we cannot," Dr. Khan says. "Modifiable risk factors for cancer include avoiding tobacco, alcohol, industrial and agricultural chemicals, as well as ionizing radiation, while optimizing diet and exercise."

He adds that while we can't control our age, genetics, race, ethnicity or past exposures, we can control some of our future exposures, including ones that may be lurking in our bathrooms. Oncologists share the one bathroom product they're begging people to throw out, plus healthier alternatives to try.

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Three oncologists agree that it's worth ditching talc-based powders, noting they're linked to cancer risk, especially if they're contaminated with asbestos. Talc is a naturally occurring mineral composed primarily of magnesium, silicon and oxygen.

"It has been used for decades in products such as baby powder, body powder and deodorizing powders because it absorbs moisture, reduces friction and creates a smooth texture," Dr. Sudarsan Kollimuttathuillam, MD, a medical oncologist at City of Hope Orange County, tells Parade.

He adds that talc-based powders are also sometimes in face powders, blushes and eye shadows. The World Health Organization assessed talc as "probably carcinogenic to humans" in 2024.

"That doesn't mean talc has been proven to cause cancer in everyone who uses it, but it does mean there is enough evidence for experts to continue studying the potential risks," Dr. Kollimuttathuillam clarifies.

The issue isn't necessarily with the talc itself, but rather how (and where) it's mined.

"The primary controversy surrounding these powders stems from the fact that talc deposits can be naturally contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen, because the two minerals are often mined in close proximity," explains Dr. Ami Vaidya, MD, the co-chief of the division of gynecologic oncology at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center.

The contamination risk—and even labeling rules and regulations—can make it tricky to pick products. Dr. Khan reports that there's "no known safe dose" for talc-based powders. "Cosmetic-grade talc is supposed to be asbestos-free, but contamination has been documented, and the presence of any asbestos raises concern," he says.

Related: Oncologists Are Begging People To Stop Doing This One Thing in the Shower

Oncologists' biggest concern with talc-based powders is that talc, the soft mineral, is often contaminated with asbestos because the two are frequently mined near one another. Dr. Vaidya points out that asbestos is a known carcinogen.

"When inhaled, these asbestos-contaminated particles can lodge in the lungs and cause inflammation that leads to mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer for which the link is very strong," Dr. Vaidya says.

Dr. Vaidya adds that there's also a major concern about the potential link between asbestos, including in talc-based powders, and ovarian cancer.

"It is theorized that particles from long-term genital application travel to the ovaries and cause inflammation, though the scientific evidence for this connection remains debated," Dr. Vaidya notes.

Dr. Vaidya notes there are also less conclusive links between lung cancer (mostly in talc miners) and endometrial cancer. Still, she points out that the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies asbestos-contaminated talc as "carcinogenic to humans" and the genital use of talc as "possibly carcinogenic to humans."

It also sounds pretty scary, especially if you've been using talc-based powders for years.

"If you have been using talc-based powder, you are not alone, as these were popular for decades," Dr. Khan says. "What is done is done, and previous exposures cannot be undone, but future exposures can be avoided. So if you are still using talc-based powder, it may be worthwhile to reconsider."

Related: Oncologists Are Begging Women To Ditch This Common Hair Product

You can't go back in time and change previous use of talc-based powders, but you can control what you use on your body moving forward. Dr. Vaidya shares a few alternatives to talc-based powders that do not seem to pose a cancer risk.

• Cornstarch. This fine powder is made from corn kernel endosperm. Dr. Vaidya says it's easy to find in stores, absorbent and inexpensive. "It's the most common and direct substitute for talc in both commercial baby powders and body powders for adults. It effectively keeps skin dry and helps prevent chafing," she notes.

• Arrowroot powder. Light, fine and soft, this plant-based powder is loved for its absorbency and gentleness. "Many natural and organic brands prefer arrowroot powder because it's perceived as a more 'natural' or premium ingredient than cornstarch," he says. "It also has a silky, smooth texture."
• Rice starch/powder. As the name implies, this fine powder is made from finely milled rice and has been favored for centuries in Asian beauty routines. "It is excellent at absorbing oil and moisture, which is why it's often found in finishing powders for makeup," Dr. Vaidya says. "It leaves a smooth, matte finish on the skin."

Up Next:

Related: Oncologists Are Begging People To Throw Out This Common Laundry Product

• Dr. Adeel Khan, MD, an academic hematologist/oncologist and epidemiologist in Dallas
• Dr. Ami Vaidya, MD, the co-chief of the division of gynecologic oncology at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center
• Dr. Sudarsan Kollimuttathuillam, MD, a medical oncologist at City of Hope Orange County
• Volume 136: Talc and acrylonitrile. International Agency for Research on Cancer.
• Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention of Mesothelioma. American Cancer Society.
• IARC Monographs evaluate the carcinogenicity of talc and acrylonitrile. IARC Monographs Volume 136.
• Carcinogenicity of talc and acrylonitrile. Lancet Oncology.
• Talcum Powder and Cancer. American Cancer Society.