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No matter the size of your space, creative storage solutions will always come in handy. Whether it’s the clutter under your kitchen sink, bathroom toiletries or that pesky pantry you’ve been procrastinating on, the right storage tool can make a big difference in how you organize your home.

Thankfully, Costco has just the tool for the job: the Mesa Two Tier Organizer with Drawers. Currently available online and in select warehouses, this sleek, versatile two-tier organizer is a must-have for tackling clutter. Designed to tuck effortlessly into even the tightest cabinet spaces, it offers easy access to your most important essentials with a modern aesthetic that blends effortlessly with any space.

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Mesa Two Tier Organizer With Drawers, $29.99 at Costco View this post on Instagram

Spotted this week by @costcofam4u, the Mesa Two Tier Organizer with Drawers is currently popping up in stores in both white and black colorways. At $29.99, each one is designed to maximize vertical space with a two-tier, two-drawer mesh metal construction complete with stylish wood handle accents. 

Ideal for spaces like under the kitchen or bathroom sink, pantries, offices, storage closets and dorm rooms alike, it’s built with a sturdy frame and smooth-rolling slider tracks that allow each drawer to pull in and out with ease. Even better, each drawer is a different size, with the upper level perfect for smaller items and the lower level offering plenty of space for larger things. And with each drawer featuring a solid metal front panel, everything stays neatly tucked inside without the risk of spilling out.

Related: Aldi’s New $20 Find Is Strikingly Similar to a Bogg Bag Style 4x the Price

Shoppers Are Obsessed

“I don’t even want to forward this to my wife,” one shopper joked in response to @costcofam4u‘s post, clearly referring to the organizer’s ability to catch the eye of anyone on the hunt for their next home upgrade.

“Love it,” another fan chimed in. “Need this for under my bathroom vanity.””

The reviews continue to pour in on Costco’s website as well. One shopper revealed that they already “bought two,” adding that they “hold a lot of items,” like bags of sugar, spices and more. 

“Love love love how it fits perfectly under the kitchen sink,” a second shopper raved. “I love that you can also take it out to clean,” highlighting the drawers’ removable design and everyday easy access.

A Compact Organizer With Plenty of Room

As for its overall dimensions, the organizer stands 15 inches tall, 11.2 inches long and 14.6 inches deep. It comes with rubber feet affixed to each leg to help keep countertops and cabinets scuff-free and can also be cleaned by hand with a simple wipe-down with a damp cloth. And with plenty of space between each drawer and a super-stable design, you can trust it to operate smoothly even when packed to the gills.

Depending on where you live, it might show up as out of stock online, so you might have to do a little legwork to find it in store if you intend to bring one home. Snag one for yourself, your college-aged kid or anyone in need of some creative storage solutions at home. While you’re at it, check out Costco’s MIU 3-Piece Wood Fiber Cutting Board and Teakhaus Teak Bench for even more stylish and practical home upgrades.

Related: Big Changes Are Coming to Walmart Stores Nationwide, and Shoppers Say It’s ‘About Time!’

Dolly Parton first took the Grand Ole Opry stage at the young age of 13 on July 25, 1959, performing with her uncle Bill Owens. 

Known as the birthplace of some of the most famous country legends, Parton officially became a member of the Opry on January 4, 1969. She later said of the Nashville institution, “They call it the ‘Mother Church,’ because the old Ryman was a church, but it’s sacred to me, wherever it goes—the church of my heart. For me, the Opry is like the song ‘New York, New York,’ if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.” 

Dolly Parton at the Grand Ole Opry. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)

After her passing on August 25 at the age of 80, the Grand Ole Opry posted a loving tribute to the legendary performer, writing on Instagram, “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we say goodbye to a true country music icon, Opry member Dolly Parton.”

The post continues, “There is no doubt Dolly’s mark on the world, and on us here at the Grand Ole Opry, will be deeply felt for generations to come. She taught us to always lead with kindness, generosity, and compassion. May her legacy live on through her songs, the lives she touched, and the countless artists she inspired. There will never, ever be another one like her.” 

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Fans responded to the post with their own memories, honoring the late great queen of country. “No matter who you are, I think she held a place in everyone’s heart,” wrote one commenter. 

Others added, “We lost another national treasure”, “Dolly has a dream and it came true ten fold! She was and is a superstar! She was filled with kindness and love! She will live on in our hearts forever!” and, “A singer, songwriter, entertainer, actress, and humanitarian. There will never be another like her…Thank you for the memories.” 

Parton’s first performance at the Grand Ole Opry earned her three encores. Her last time on the stage was during her 50th anniversary celebration in 2019. 

In January of 2026, the Opry held its fourth annual “Opry Goes Dolly” show to celebrate her 80th birthday. Country stars including Vince Gill and Lainey Wilson appeared, but Parton did not. 

In a video message to her fans, the singer said, “I wish I could be there in person, but I’ll be sending you all my love.” At the time, fans shared their well wishes via the Opry’s Instagram post (of Parton’s message), with sweet sentiments such as, “Happy birthday Dolly you are my favorite country singer,” and  “Beautiful, beautiful Dolly Parton. Love you. Enjoy your birthday.” 

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As a child, nothing tasted quite as gourmet to me as a bowl of canned pasta, especially if it came with meatballs. Over the years, I outgrew my love for mini pasta rings in fun shapes and graduated to boxed pasta, but the sight of this food in the grocery store has always sparked nostalgic memories.

When I first met my husband, it was endearing to see that he still loved two canned pasta brands, and they’ve been a regular staple in our house ever since. So when Parade asked me to do a taste test of several popular canned pastas, I knew it’d be a fun assignment.

Chef Boyardee and SpaghettiOs have always been my husband’s go-tos, and they’re arguably the most well-known canned pasta brands on the market. But there are also a few other brands that make canned pasta, including some generic store brands.

With the help of my husband, I set off to test nine different canned pastas from a variety of brands. We were curious to see if any of the other brands we tasted could measure up to the sense of nostalgia Chef Boyardee and SpaghettiOs offer, and we were pleasantly surprised by several of them. How did the experiment go? Read on to hear our honest thoughts.

Related: A Celebrity Chef Is Begging People To Stop Doing This One Thing With Pasta—and Do This Instead

How I Chose the Canned Pastas

Courtesy Chrissy Callahan

When it comes to canned pasta, Chef Boyardee and SpaghettiOs are the two most established brands on the market. But they’ve definitely got some competition—for example, Annie’s also has several varieties, and both Walmart and Aldi have their own canned pastas as well.

Since Chef Boyardee has the most extensive collection, I included four different canned pastas. Annie’s has three varieties, but two of them are quite similar, so I included only two from the brand. Then, I featured a can from SpaghettiOs, Aldi and Walmart.

Related: I Tried 8 Pure Leaf Tea Iced Flavors—Here’s the One I’d Buy Again

Methodology: How I Tested Them

Typically, you can cook canned pasta one of two ways: in the microwave or on the stovetop. My husband always heats them up in the microwave, so I figured if that method was good enough for him, it’d work well for me too.

I poured each can into a bowl then microwaved it in 30-second intervals, cooking each for a total of one minute and 30 seconds. Then, I let them cool before tasting them.

I judged each canned pasta on the taste and texture of the pasta, the flavor of the sauce and the consistency of the meatballs (if applicable).

Related: We Asked 4 Chefs Their Favorite Pasta Dish, and We Can’t Wait to Make Them Ourselves

Parade

9 Canned Pastas, Ranked Worst To Best

Here’s my ranking of these nine popular canned pasta options.

9. Walmart Great Value Pasta Rings & Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, $1.08

Chrissy Callahan

Shop It at Walmart

How the brand describes it: “This delicious dinner or hearty snack, consisting of round pasta rings, tender meatballs, and rich, savory tomato sauce, has been a favorite of kids for decades. The perfectly al dente pasta rings result in less mess than long, slippery spaghetti noodles, and the meal is ready in less than 5 minutes,” the website reads.

My experience: Out of all the canned pastas I tested, this one’s savory sauce was the most bland. In terms of flavor, it needed more salt or seasoning to jazz it up a bit. However, the pasta’s texture was nice and soft. The meatballs are made of a mixture of beef, pork and breadcrumbs. Similar to the other pastas, they are equal parts soft and firm.

Nothing about this canned pasta particularly impressed me. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t have the flavor I expect from other canned pastas.

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8. Aldi Bon Italia Pasta Rings with Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, $1.09

Aldi

How the brand describes it: Aldi’s website doesn’t list a specific product description for this canned pasta. However, the can describes the product as featuring pasta rings and meatballs in a tomato sauce. The meatballs are made of a mixture of beef, pork, water and breadcrumbs.

My experience: One of the first things I noticed about Aldi’s Bon Italia Pasta Rings with Meatballs was how easy it was to pour into a bowl. From watching my husband cook SpaghettiOs and certain varieties of Chef Boyardee regularly, I’ve noticed that he often has to spoon some of the remaining product out of the can. But this was a clean pour.

Compared to SpaghettiOs, the flavors in Aldi’s canned pasta were a bit more muted. The sauce is slightly sweet, like SpaghettiOs, but the pasta rings were slightly softer than SpaghettiOs. The Aldi meatballs were a bit softer than SpaghettiOs meatballs, which are a bit firmer.

If you grew up eating SpaghettiOs, you’ll notice the subtle differences in flavor and will probably prefer the real deal. However, if you aren’t partial to SpaghettiOs, it’s a solid alternative.

Related: I Tried Every Item on Pizza Hut’s New Throwback Value Menu (Starting at $3)—Here’s How They Rank

7. Annie’s Organic Cheesy Ravioli in Tomato and Cheese Sauce, $2.48

Chrissy Callahan

Shop It at Walmart

How the brand describes it: “Certified USDA Organic and non-GMO, this Annie’s canned food is made with cheese from cows raised without antibiotics or synthetic hormones, so you can feel good about serving it to the whole family. And like all Annie’s organic food, it’s made with goodness. That means no artificial flavors or synthetic colors,” the website reads.

My experience: On the Annie’s website, cheese ravioli is the lowest-rated canned pasta, so I wasn’t sure what to expect before trying it. However, I was instantly impressed with how soft the raviolis were. My husband, who swears by Chef Boyardee’s Beef Raviolis but doesn’t like the brand’s Cheese Raviolis, was also happy with the pasta’s soft texture.

The cheese inside the raviolis was very subtle and not overwhelming. The sauce is slightly tangy, but tasty. However, I did wish that it had a bit more seasoning.

6. Annie’s Organic Bernie O’s, $2.49

Chrissy Callahan

Shop It at Target

How the brand describes it: “Annie’s Organic Bernie O’s are delicious and tons of fun to eat. This canned pasta meal addition is non-GMO and made with certified USDA Organic pasta in a savory tomato and cheese sauce full of scrumptious flavor. There are no artificial flavors or synthetic colors,” the product description reads.

My experience: While pouring this canned pasta into a bowl to heat it up, the contents dropped right out, with no scooping involved. The cute bunny shapes are so fun and they’re ultra soft.

The sauce has a slight sweetness to it, but it’s not overwhelming, and it’s quite good. Similar to many canned pastas, the sauce is slightly watery, but there’s a nice balance of sauce and pasta to make up for it. Since there’s a generous amount of pasta, the can is definitely filling.

This particular canned pasta is certified USDA organic, with no artificial flavors or synthetic colors. While eating it, you definitely feel cleaner, like you’re eating a high quality product.

Related: 7 Keto Pasta Brands, Ranked Worst to Best

5. Chef Boyardee Mini ABC’s and 123’s with Meatballs, $1.19

Chrissy Callahan

Shop It at Walmart

How the brand describes it: “These Mini ABC’s and 123’s are more than just a meal; they are an interactive dining experience for children and a quick, reliable solution for busy parents. Each 15 oz. can is packed with tender alphabet and number-shaped pasta, paired with savory, bite-sized meatballs crafted from a blend of pork, chicken, and beef,” the product description reads.

My experience: Similar to several other canned pastas I tested, this one offers up pint-sized pasta with meatballs. The pasta is shaped like numbers and letters, making it fun for kids, and it’s very soft.

The sauce is slightly sweet, but pleasantly so. The bite-sized meatballs are soft, but have a nice bite to them, and they’re seasoned well.

4. Chef Boyardee Mini Pasta Shells & Meatballs, $1.50 (originally $1.73)

Chrissy Callahan

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How the brand describes it: “Enriched pasta in a hearty tomato sauce and mini meatballs made from beef, chicken, and pork give Chef Boyardee Mini Pasta Shells and Meatballs the timeless flavor that everyone loves,” the product description reads.

My experience: I’ve always loved mini pasta shells. In fact, I regularly make baked ziti, but with mini pasta shells. For a canned pasta, this is pretty good. The pasta is very soft and the savory sauce is flavorful. It also smells good.

The meatballs are a nice addition, and they’re seasoned well. Overall, it felt like a satisfying “adult” version of a canned pasta.

3. SpaghettiOs Super Mario Bros Canned Pasta with Meatballs, $1.69

Chrissy Callahan

Shop It at Target

How the brand describes it: “Each delicious bite of this canned pasta with meatballs features Super Mario pasta shapes to add some fun to lunchtime. This canned pasta puts a yummy spin on original SpaghettiOs with the addition of savory meatballs, making it a delicious part of any meal. One cup of SpaghettiOs with meatballs contains 1/2 cup of vegetables, as well as 9 grams of protein as part of a lunch,” the product description reads.

My experience: Out of all the canned pastas I tested, this one’s sauce was the sweetest, but in a pleasant way, kind of like when you have a pizza with a slightly sweet sauce. My husband is a huge Mario fan so he loved the fun pasta shapes, which were soft and chewy. The meatballs are made of a mixture of chicken, beef and bread crumbs, and they’re soft and well-seasoned.

The portion is filling and I love that the brand often offers fun collaborations with different popular characters like Mario. It’s perfect for picky kids!

2. Chef Boyardee Beefaroni, $0.98 (originally $1.34)

Chrissy Callahan

Shop It at Walmart

How the brand describes it: “Made with enriched pasta smothered in rich, Italian-flavored tomato and meat pasta sauce, this canned food has the timeless flavor everyone loves,” the product description reads.

My experience: When poured out of the can, most of the pasta comes right out, but you do need to scoop a little bit out. The meat sauce gives this canned pasta a great flavor profile. The sauce is thick and features small pieces of meat throughout. Typically, I like a more heavy-handed meat sauce, but it’s great if you don’t want a ton of meat.

The thick, tubed pasta is soft but has more of a bite to it than the spaghetti that took our number one spot below. There’s also no twirling required, so it’s a great, hearty alternative if you’re looking for something similar to the number one spot but without extra effort.

Related: I Tried Every Olive Garden Soup and Ranked Them Worst To Best

1. Chef Boyardee Spaghetti & Meatballs, $1.49

Chrissy Callahan

Shop It at Target

How the brand describes it: “Made with enriched pasta noodles, rich, Italian-flavored tomato sauce, and tasty meatballs made with pork, chicken and beef, this canned food has the timeless flavor everyone loves,” the product description reads.

My experience: It’s been a few decades since I dug into a can of Chef Boyardee Spaghetti & Meatballs, but the minute I caught a whiff of it, I felt like a kid again. The sauce is a bit thicker than the other cans I tested, and it has a nice savory flavor with a kick of tangy seasoning.

The meatballs are perfectly seasoned and soft. They’re also more filling than the smaller meatballs in some Chef Boyardee varieties. The noodles were just like I remembered them: soft, filling and full of flavor. There’s also a generous amount of them in the can.

Chef Boyardee Spaghetti & Meatballs gave me a welcome dose of nostalgia, but it also felt like the most filling option for adults, hence why it earned the number one spot on this list.

More Parade Rankings:

• I Tried 9 Canned Beef Stews and the Winner Won by a Landslide
• I Tried 12 Hippeas Flavors—Here’s the One I’d Buy Every Time
• I Tried 15 Popular Canned Chilis and the Winner Totally Surprised Me
• I Tried 11 Different Brands of Canned Baked Beans and the Winner Had a Surprising Secret Ingredient

Final Takeaways

It’s been many years since I tried a canned pasta, but this taste test was a fun, nostalgic experiment. I still prefer boxed pasta or fresh pasta from a restaurant, but I can understand why my husband likes to keep a few canned pastas in the house for a quick, easy and tasty meal.

None of the pastas I tried were bad. I simply ranked them based on how much flavor they offered. It’s important to note that you can always add your own seasoning/salt to enhance the flavor.

Overall, I was impressed with how many brands now offer canned pasta that’s free of preservatives and artificial flavors. Plus, you can’t beat the price of them.

Up Next:

Related: The Best Way To Make Greek Pasta Salad, According to a Professional Chef

If you have a running list of your next K-Dramas to watch, then add The Remarried Empress to the list. The highly-anticipated K-drama adaptation is set to premiere is set to premiere in November and Hulu just dropped its first teaser trailer and character. Fans are looking forward to this webtoon adaptation that garnered almost 3 billion views worldwide.

So what’s so special about The Remarried Empress? Read on for more about the show including its premiere date, cast, official trailer and more!

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What is The Remarried Empress about?

The Remarried Empress follows the strained relationship of beloved Empress Navier (Shin Mina) and her husband Emperor Sovieshu (Ju Jihoon) of the Eastern Kingdom. With anxieties rising across the kingdom, the couple’s relationship begins to fracture when Sovieshu falls in love with a runaway slave and attempts to move heaven and earth to win her heart. Unwilling to compromise her dignity, Navier acquiesces to the emperor’s requests on one condition — that she be allowed to remarry rival Crown Prince Heinrey (Lee Jongsuk) of the Western Kingdom. What follows is a tale of love, lust and regret that threatens the fate of an entire kingdom as Navier strives to reclaim her power.

Related: BTS’ V Just Added Another Major Name to His Growing Fashion Résumé

Is The Remarried Empress based on a webtoon?

Yes. The Remarried Empress is based on the Naver webtoon of the same name.

Related: Netflix’s New Ghost-Filled K-Drama Is Already Giving Fans Chills

When does The Remarried Empress premiere?

The Remarried Empress premieres on Nov. 4 on Hulu.

Related: Netflix’s K-Drama, ‘Our Sticky Love’ Has a Wild Ending—And That Final Twist Changes Everything

Where can I watch The Remarried Empress?

The Remarried Empress can be streamed in the US on Hulu. It will be available to stream internatonally on Disney+.

Who’s in the cast of The Remarried Empress? Shin Mina as Empress Navier

Hulu

Shin Mina as Empress Navier

Shin Mina is a well-known South Korean actress who is best known for her roles in series such as Oh My Venus, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, and Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. She is married to fellow actor Kim Woo-bin.

Ju Jihoon as Emperor Sovieshu

Hulu

Ju Jihoon as Emperor Sovieshu Lee Jongsuk as Crown Prince Heinrey

Hulu

Lee Jongsuk as Crown Prince Heinrey Lee Seyoung as Rashta

Hulu

Lee Seyoung as Rashta Is there a trailer for The Remarried Empress?

Hulu just dropped the first official teaser trailer for The Remarried Empress below.

Check out character art for The Remarried Empress

Hulu dropped character art for the four main leads in The Remarried Empress. Check them out below.

Shin Mina as Empress Navier

Hulu

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

Lee Jongsuk as Crown Prince Heinrey

Hulu

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

Next, These 47 K-Dramas Are Worth Losing Sleep Over

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It’s amazing what a little twinkle on your earlobes can do to elevate your style. The old adage about accessories making the outfit is especially true when you’re wearing drop earrings. These elegant adornments can instantly take a casual look in a more polished direction or make a formal dress feel even more special. With the Anthropologie Petite Crystal Earrings Set, you’ll get two pairs that are suitable for virtually any occasion.

On top of being beautiful, it’s also priced just right. While you’d normally pay $54 for both pairs, right now you can snag them for only $30. Joining the free AnthroPerks program bags you an additional 50% off, bringing the total down to just $15. It’s worth the few seconds it takes to sign up if you’re eyeing this set — it’ll shave the price down to only $7.50 per pair!

Petite Crystal Earrings Set, $15 (was $54) at Anthropologie

Courtesy of Anthropologie

Shop at Anthropologie

Both pairs are made from 14-karat gold-plated brass and have their own distinctive vibe. One features four cubic zirconia stones in assorted shapes, clustered in a way that lends them an originate, heirloom-esque quality. These wouldn’t be out of place on the lobes of an old Hollywood starlet, and with their mix of geometric crystals they exude an Art Deco vibe, too.

The other pair leans delicate and minimalist, yet even while keeping things simple it still sparkles from every angle. The pear-shaped crystal gives it a little more visual interest than a conventional stud earring, while the dangling chain and micro crystal add a little movement and flash to the design. It’s eye-catching, yet dainty.

Together, the earrings strike just the right balance, giving you suitable options to wear whether you’re stepping out in jeans and a sweater on a brisk fall day or enhancing a little black dress or a festive holiday outfit. No matter where you wear them, you can rest assured they’ll stay put thanks to the secure post-back closure.

One reviewer mentioned the “unique” crystal shapes as part of their appeal, adding that they’re also “easy on the ears.” That can be a rarity in the world of drop earrings, but these are lightweight enough that they won’t weigh down your lobes throughout the day.

Shop More Deals

• Word Play Wine Glass, $7 (was $18) at Anthropologie
• Crystal Resin Cocktail Ring, $12 (was $44) at Anthropologie
• Crew-Neck Sheer Sweater, $40 (was $118) at Anthropologie

Related: Anthropologie’s Dainty Confetti Necklace Pairs Enamel With Sparkling Crystals, Now Nearly 30% Off

You can’t beat such a standout deal on jewelry that can very quickly become an integral part of your everyday wardrobe. Pick up the Petite Crystal Earrings Set from Anthropologie while it’s still in stock for this reduced price!

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.

Iron Maiden‘s 1983 album, Piece of Mind, featured several of the band’s most memorable hits, including “The Trooper,” “Where Eagles Dare,” and “Flight of Icarus.” The album concludes with its ninth song, “To Tame a Land,” written by bassist Steve Harris.

Loudwire reported that Harris used Frank Herbert‘s Dune, published in 1965, as a source of inspiration while penning the 7-minute and 28-second song. In a 1983 interview with Metal Attack Magazine, Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson confirmed that the band had planned on titling the tune “Dune.” When the publication asked, “Is it true that you had problems with Frank Herbert, the author of Dune, because of the song ‘To Tame A Land’ on the new album,” he responded, “That’s right.”

“We first wanted to call the song ‘Dune’, like the book, but he threatened to have the album banned. It’s stupid because he’d already sold us the right at a very high price. Anyway, we stayed true to the book. If he only knew how successful the album is, and what publicity this could have been for him,” said Dickinson while speaking to Metal Attack Magazine.

According to Loudwire, Harris, who also penned “The Trooper” and “Quest for Fire,” shared his appreciation for Piece of Mind, the band’s fourth album, in an interview for the 2001 Iron Maiden biography, Run to the Hills: The Authorised Biography of Iron Maiden by Mick Wall.

“Piece of Mind was just special. We felt like we were on a high, and you can hear that mood on the album. Most of all though, it was just the songs. Between us, I thought we’d really come up with the goods this time,” said Harris to Wall, as reported by Loudwire.

Iron Maiden Fans Shared Their Thoughts About ‘To Tame a Land’

In a 2022 Reddit post uploaded on the Iron Maiden subreddit, fans of the British metal band shared their appreciation for “To Tame a Land.” The original poster started off the conversation by writing, “Dune (To Tame a Land) is an absolute masterpiece. It’s such a good song and deserves the same respect as Hallowed and Fear of the Dark imo”

Several Reddit users took to the post’s comments section to share their thoughts about the 1983 song.

“Indeed i really don’t know why many people don’t love the song it’s so great,” wrote a fan.

“I think it needs an extra verse closer to the end, but it’s still my favorite on Piece of Mind and in my top 15, so no argument here,” added a fan.

“I think it’s incredibly underrated,” shared another.

“No argument from me. TTAL is my #1 Maiden song. Absolute masterpiece,” commented a social media user.

“I’m always surprised by the amount of people I see who say they don’t like To Tame a Land or Still Life. Those are some of the best Maiden songs period, to me anyways,” chimed in a fifth Iron Maiden listener.

Eminem and Dolly Parton never met, but one unexpected message from the country legend stayed with him.

Following news of Parton’s death at age 80 on Tuesday, August 25, the rapper posted a screenshot on Instagram of a note she sent him after they were both inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

In the message, Parton congratulated Eminem (whose real name is Marshall Mathers) on his induction and praised his performance. Despite admitting she didn’t “know a lot about rap music,” she told him she had learned he was “the very best at it.”

View this post on Instagram

Parton also revealed that she had always felt connected to the rapper. “I hope what I have to say will not seem weird or strange to you but I have always felt some unexplained connection to you like I know you somehow,” she penned.

She had hoped they could meet during the ceremony. That meeting, unfortunately, never happened. “I had hoped to meet you at the show but you know how nuts those things are, personally I hate ’em and I missed my chance,” she said.

“I’m sorry we never got a chance to meet, but getting this note from Dolly really had a an impact on me,” Eminem wrote in the caption alongside the screenshot. “She definitely didn’t have to take the time to do it.”

READ MORE: Dolly Parton’s Final Instagram Post Honored a Special Moment With Kenny Rogers

He added that Parton’s influence reached him despite their very different musical worlds. “Even for a kid who mostly listened to rap music, she was an icon. A superstar in every sense,” he continued. “Rest easy Dolly. And thank you for the kind words.”

The two music legends were part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2022 class, alongside Lionel Richie, Duran Duran, Carly Simon, Eurythmics, and Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo. Eminem performed a career-spanning set during the November ceremony before being inducted by Dr. Dre.

Parton’s death was announced by her nephew on August 25. The news followed months of concern surrounding the singer’s health and came just days after she revealed she was still recovering from unspecified health issues.

Related: Dolly Parton’s Health: Country Icon Gives New Update After Recent Cancellation

When 80-year-old Dolly Parton died on Aug. 25, 2026, somehow no one expected it—despite her having health issues—because, well, she’s America’s fairy godmother and an angel. We sure as hell didn’t imagine who would deliver the news (beyond, perhaps, one of four horsemen, because this is surely a signal of the apocalypse).

Bryan Seaver announced the “I Will Always Love You” singer’s death to the world, a move he said she planned years before.

Who is Bryan Seaver and how did he get chosen to break the entire world’s hearts? It turns out, he was much closer to the country legend than many casual fans may have realized—but hardcore Dolly dolls may recognize him.

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Who Is Bryan Seaver? Bryan Seaver was Dolly Parton’s head of security

Bryan Melvin Seaver is the son of Parton’s sister, Cassie Parton, and the head of Parton’s security team, a role he said he took over for his father, Larry Seaver, who had it before him.

“I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, sister, sis, Aunt Granny to one generation, and Gigi to the next,” he said in a video which featured him standing alone in front of a black background. “This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality. As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father, Larry, held before me. I have imagined the heaviness of this moment, but haven’t truly felt it until now.”

Related: Dolly Parton’s Net Worth at Time of Death and the Remarkable Empire She Built

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Seaver continued, “It is an honor—an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens.”

He first toured with Dolly Parton as a kid

Seaver revealed that he went on tour with Parton and his father when he was a child and that Dolly opened doors for not just his entire family, but for generations of artists who came after her.

Related: Your Dolly Parton Song, Based on Birth Month

His sister also worked for Dolly Parton

Seaver’s sister, Rebecca, is the executive director of their famous aunt’s Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum in Nashville.

Related: Did Dolly Parton Have Children? What She Said About Her Decision Not to Become a Mom

Dolly Parton may be gone, but Connie Britton can still hear the wise advice she would have imparted were she still here.

The Nashville and 9-1-1 star will continue to take her words to heart, as evidenced by the sweet tribute shared in the hours following news of her death at 80 years old.

Despite how heavily ingrained Britton became in the country music sphere during her time portraying a country superstar on TV, the two never met until a panel at the 2022 SXSW Conference, where Britton joined a discussion between Parton and author James Patterson about their book Run, Rose, Run: A Novel.

The photo posted by the actress appears to have been taken at the event’s red carpet.

“I keep having these conversations with Dolly in my head today, like I did back in those Nashville days at the Ryman until I actually finally got to meet her in 2022,” she recalled in a brief social media post memorializing the “Jolene” songstress. “So today I’ve been telling her what an inspiration and godsend she has been to me and to so many.”

In response, she imagines Parton saying, “You know honey, God is in you. Know and love every part of yourself. Let it shine as only you can. Use everything you’ve been given, all that you’ve come from. And use it generously, for joy and honesty and fun and service.”

It may not be exactly what Parton would have said in response, but based upon the countless other memories shared from her fellow celebs today, it seems pretty close.

“Thank you Dolly,” Britton concluded, sending a nod to another devastating loss suffered this month when she added, “The blonds [sic] are really taking heaven by storm this week. 💔.”

Related: Cyndi Lauper Remembers Dolly Parton for This Key Attribute: ‘What Would Dolly Do?’

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Britton, of course, also lost her former costar, Hayden Panettiere, earlier this month, when the young actress died just days before her 37th birthday.

She shared a series of photos of the two filming the hit ABC series together, putting a spotlight on the force behind Juliette Barnes.

“This was Hayden. Bursting with brilliance, shining so bright,” she wrote. “I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now. 💔.”

Related: ‘Nashville’ Star Charles Esten Remembers Hayden Panettiere With the ‘Best Tribute Fans Have Ever Seen’

If you’re hunting for ways to elevate your mealtime routine, always look to Aldi for some of the best deals on the market. Along with a constant flow of grocery staples populating the discount retailer’s shelves, the ever-rotating lineup of weekly Aldi Finds always produces something capable of making mealtime a little more enjoyable.

This week, Aldi’s Crofton Acacia Folding Breakfast Tray is finally back in stock for just $12.99, serving as the perfect accessory for breakfast in bed, TV dinners and more. Designed with a beautiful natural wood finish and offering plenty of versatility to boot, it’s just the kind of mealtime upgrade Aldi shoppers tend to snatch up fast.

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Crofton Acacia Folding Breakfast Tray, $12.99 at Aldi

Aldi

Nothing beats sleeping in and getting the most out of a cozy morning in bed. The only thing that could make it better is breakfast, which is where Crofton’s Acacia Folding Breakfast Tray aims to bring your dream morning to life. Made from solid acacia wood, this compact tray features foldable legs that allow it to sit comfortably over your lap, raised edges to keep everything safe and secure while eating and integrated handles on each side for easy transportation.

Whether you’re putting it to use in bed, on the couch or in the backseat of your car for road trips with the kids, this stylish tray is built to be a reliable, portable surface that is just as functional as it is pleasant to look at. Best of all, it can be polished with a wood-safe mineral oil every few weeks to keep its rich, natural shine for years to come.

Related: Sam’s Club’s $14 Freezer Staple Makes It Easy to Ditch the Drive-Thru

Crofton Acacia Curved Tray, $12.99 at Aldi

Aldi

Looking for something more minimalistic with a little extra flair? Aldi is also releasing the Crofton Acacia Curved Tray at the same $13 price point, making it a perfect sidekick to the foldable breakfast tray, only with stylish accents like textured sides that give it a unique finish. Ideal for serving meals, snacks and finger foods to guests, it can also be repurposed as a contemporary catch-all for items like magazines, books, candles and various knickknacks.

At the moment, Aldi has not provided specifics about each tray’s size. However, both are designed to be compact and easy to tuck away between uses. What we do know is that they hit stores starting Wednesday, Aug. 26 and can be expected to be a hot-ticket item for shoppers who may have missed out the last time they were in stock.

Keep your eyes peeled this week for them at your local Aldi store, and while you’re at it, check out the Kirkton House Burgundy Leaves Harvest Wreath and 18×30 Fall Comfort Mat for even more must-have home upgrades.

Related: Aldi’s Nifty $4 Baking Essential Makes the Cutest Little Thanksgiving Treats

If it’s gonna hit No. 1, it’s gotta be a crowd-pleaser. And Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places” is nothing if not a massive, sing-songy crowd-pleaser.

The 1990 country hit was recently named the greatest country song of all time by SiriusXM’s Prime Country, beating out classics by Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton, whose iconic 1973 ballad “I Will Always Love You” landed at No. 4.

Today, Brooks is a giant in country music, but back in 1990, he was starting his rise. Following the success of his March 1989 debut single, “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old),” Brooks released his debut self-titled album, which went on to sell more than 10 million copies, and then made his Grand Ole Opry debut in June 1989.

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In August 1990, Brooks released the lead single from his sophomore album, No Fences. That single was “Friends in Low Places,” and it took him from star to superstar, as well as the highest spots on some of the Billboard charts. The song began a four-week run at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs in October 1990 and earned a Grammy nod, cementing the two—the artist and the song—as one entity.

But despite Brooks becoming synonymous with the good-time anthem, “Friends in Low Places” could have had a very different turnout. Story has it, Brooks sang the original demo for its songwriters, Earl Bud Lee and Dewayne Blackwell, but after the chorus kept running through his head, he asked if he could hold onto the song for No Fences.

“‘Friends in Low Places’ was the last demo session I ever did as a singer,” he said, per Songfacts. “And for the next two weeks, the chorus to this song kept running through my head. … I asked Bud Lee and Dewayne if I could hold onto it, and, without a blink of an eye, they both said yes. Putting that kind of faith into an unknown artist is unheard of. Thanks, Bud and Dewayne, for believing in me.”

In the meantime, the songwriters pitched the song to other singers, including George Strait. Though the exact reason Strait respectfully declined remains unknown, the King of Country Music went on to revel in two No. 1 hits of his own that year: “Love Without End, Amen” and “I’ve Come to Expect It from You.”

Then, there was Mark Chesnutt, a promising young buck who had built a following in Texas honky-tonks. Chesnutt recorded the song for his 1990 major-label debut album, Too Cold at Home, but Brooks’ version ultimately became the hit that turned “Friends in Low Places” into a country anthem. And the rest, as they say, is history in low places.

Part of what makes the song so iconic is the stamp Brooks put on it. The acoustic-guitar intro became an instant signal to a crowd that a sing-along was coming, but Brooks eventually added something else that made the song more personal.

“One day I was driving around back home, and it came on the radio. I said, ‘Garth, would you handle this situation that way?’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t think I would.’ So, I went back and wrote a third verse for this song to make it a little more me,” he said.

That legendary third verse, which includes a little, ahem profanity, was left off the album but became a famous part of Brooks’ live performances.

The SiriusXM music experts got one thing right: Their Top 5 spans generations of country music, from Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash to Dolly Parton, Eric Church, and Garth Brooks. And on the day country music says goodbye to Parton, seeing “I Will Always Love You” alongside these enduring classics is a fitting reminder that the greatest country songs don’t belong to just one generation.

“Friends in Low Places” may have survived a pass from George Strait and taken a detour through Mark Chesnutt, but decades later, it landed in the highest place of all: at No. 1.

Related: Dolly Parton’s Last Released Song, a Sequel to Her 1973 Hit, Became a Cross-Generational Duet

In 1965, Gary Lewis stepped out from behind one of the most famous names in entertainment and landed at the top of the charts.

The 19-year-old son of comedian Jerry Lewis was the frontman of Gary Lewis & the Playboys when “This Diamond Ring” became the group’s breakthrough smash. The song climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, launching a string of hits and giving Lewis a signature recording that would follow him for decades.

“I was only 18 when I started the band,” Lewis told Classic Bands. “I’m asking my mom all these things. ‘Hey mom, buy us these amps. Buy us this set of drums. This is what we need, and we need the microphones.’ She was kind of like scared about having to get that stuff for us. So, I figured my dad was gonna be pretty tough about it. So, when she said don’t tell him, I said, ‘Okay. If we can get the stuff, I won’t tell him.'”

But after a while, he could no longer keep the lid on his burgeoning career.

“When ‘This Diamond Ring’ started climbing the charts, when it was up to about 50 on the Billboard charts and it had a bullet, my mom said ‘Okay. Now we can tell your dad,'” Lewis continued. “I told my dad about it and he said ‘Oh, man. That’s great. I don’t care what you do in life as far as a career, just as long as you love it with all your heart and give it a hundred per cent. I only ask one thing, don’t grow your hair like those damn Beatles!'”

“This Diamond Ring” wasn’t originally written with the young singer in mind.

The song came from Al Kooper, Bob Brass and Irwin Levine, with R&B singer Sammy Ambrose recording an earlier version. Kooper envisioned the composition as a soulful song, but when Gary Lewis & the Playboys tackled it, producer Snuff Garrett reshaped it into the polished pop-rock record that ultimately reached millions of listeners.

Getting the song heard by an even bigger audience required a little help from Lewis’ famous father.

Though the Playboys had formed without initially emphasizing Gary’s Hollywood connection, Jerry Lewis later helped the group secure an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.

The exposure proved invaluable.

“This Diamond Ring” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1965, knocking The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” from the top spot. At a time when British bands were dominating American pop, Gary Lewis & the Playboys suddenly had one of the biggest records in the country.

It was hardly their last.

The group followed its debut smash with an impressive succession of Top 10 singles, including “Count Me In,” “Save Your Heart for Me,” “Everybody Loves a Clown,” “She’s Just My Style” and “Sure Gonna Miss Her.” Lewis had quickly established a musical identity separate from his father’s towering comedy career.

“We were so flipped out and thrilled,” Lewis told Forbes, reflecting on his early success. “But Snuffy said, ‘Boys, calm down. Do you realize how many one-hit artists there are in the world?’ He said that we had to concentrate on a number-two, a number-three – then we might be on our way. That was the most valuable lesson I could have learned. We ended up with seven top-10s in a row. We and The Beach Boys were the only American groups able to stay on the charts during the whole British Invasion.”

More than 60 years later, “This Diamond Ring” remains the song most closely associated with Gary Lewis & the Playboys. At just 19, Jerry Lewis’ son went from an aspiring musician with a famous last name to a chart-topping singer with a defining No. 1 hit of his own.

Related: 1973 Iconic Ballad, Covered by Roberta Flack, Is Still a Powerful Hit 53 Years Later

The world is in mourning with the loss of Dolly Parton, but everybody is making sure that her legacy lives on. With glowing tributes from Blake Shelton, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and even Eminem, musicians and actors everywhere are making sure that Parton’s kind heart is remembered.

However, her heart and music were just part of who she was. Bridgerton author Julia Quinn took to Instagram to thank her for her philanthropic work, especially for helping to get books into the hands of children around the world.

She focused on the “Jolene” singer’s Imagination Library, a worldwide charitable organization that ensures children don’t just learn to read, but also love to read. The 31-year-old organization ensures that children from birth up to the age of five are able to get their hands on books for free, with funding coming from Parton herself, as well as various partners in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Canada, and Australia.

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This was a personal thing for the “9-to-5” singer, as her father wasn’t able to read or write. As she learned that there were still some growing up without that ability, she started the Imagination Library initially in the United States. It’s now grown to five countries, and Quinn noted that it got books into more than 300 million children.

Fans shared their thanks to the icon in the comments, with one user sharing, “Utterly astounding human. She will be deeply missed ❤️”

Another brought up other work that she had done throughout her life, saying, “I’m gutted. I know. She was wonderful. The stuff she did with the reading fountain and Covid jab showed exactly what could be done with billions if you weren’t a 🤐”

There are concerns that the Imagination Library won’t be able to continue without Parton’s funding, with a third user commenting, “Hopefully her Imagination Library will continue. It seemed to be her pride and joy. Rest in peace.”

The site itself is packed with information about how people can join in spreading the love and need for reading. There are both Community Resources and Parent Resources listed on the site, and this initiative continues to gain support from community partners.

It needs to remain. One user was even able to share her own experience, as her son got books from the Imagination Library. He now reads those books to his younger sister, making it clear that Parton’s passion for reading (and enjoying reading) lives on.

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Summer-to-fall weather can be unpredictable, so you need a solid pair of lightweight yet cozy pajamas that will keep you comfortable during fluctuating temperatures. If you’re looking for a stylish yet breathable pair to wear on repeat from now through autumn, Walmart has a top-rated option currently on sale for under $20. The bestselling Dakimoe Pajama Set has a buttery soft feel that’s perfect for lounging and sleeping, and it’s now on sale for over 20% off. 

Originally $24, these cute pajamas are now available for as low as $19 in select styles, including dusty blue flower, army green plaid, and pink ghost. It also comes in 10 other fun prints, such as  black flower, blue butterfly, and pinkish floral, at $20. Sizes range from small to 2XL, although availability depends on the pattern. 

Dakimoe Pajama Set, From $19 (was $24) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

No matter which color you opt for, each set comes with a crewneck short-sleeved tee and a pair of flowy, printed pants. The top has a classic round neckline and a small left-chest pocket, while the bottoms have a stretchy waist with an adjustable drawstring tie that can be tightened or loosened to your preferred fit. Both pieces have a loose, relaxed fit that’s comfy to wear while sleeping, lounging on the couch, or just running out to grab the mail.  

Made of a polyester-spandex blend, these pajamas are designed to feel soft and breathable, with a gentle stretch that moves with you no matter how much you toss and turn. The easy-care fabric also means maintenance is hassle-free; simply machine wash the set in a gentle cycle on cold water, and tumble dry it on low whenever it needs a refresh. 

Related: Walmart’s ‘Soft’ 7-Piece Comforter Set Brings a ‘Clean and Cozy Look’ to Any Room

The Dakimoa pajama set is a well-loved among Walmart shoppers with over 150 five-star ratings online. Multiple reviewers praised the “soft” and “comfortable” fabric. One buyer said that they’re “absolutely stunning” and offer a “cozy and relaxed” feel. Several also noted that they “wash well” and are easy to maintain. 

Shop More Deals

• Dreamfish Sleeveless Tank and Shorts Pajama Set, $18 (was $26) at Walmart
• Dakimoe Silk Pajama Set, $19 (was $24) at Walmart
• Pjsofawear Women’s Pajama Sets, $27 (were $32) at Walmart
  

If you’re looking for cute new sleepwear that’s comfortable enough to wear through the fall, this two-piece pajama set is worth grabbing now. It’s lightweight, breathable, and available in dozens of adorable patterns. Pick up a pair (or two!) while it’s still under $20 at Walmart. 

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Peach cobbler is one of those desserts that seems almost too simple to inspire strong opinions—until you put three pans on the counter and ask everyone to choose a favorite. At its best, peach cobbler is summer in dessert form: juicy, fragrant peaches bubbling beneath a buttery, golden topping, with just enough cinnamon or vanilla to make the whole kitchen smell like somebody’s Southern grandmother has taken over.

It’s humble, comforting and wonderfully unfussy, which may explain why so many beloved cooks and celebrities have their own versions. Celebrity recipes have a funny way of turning familiar dishes into something worth investigating. Sometimes the star ingredient is nostalgia; sometimes it’s an unexpected technique; and sometimes, as I discovered, it’s simply getting the proportions exactly right.

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For this taste test, I put three famous peach cobblers head-to-head: Patti LaBelle’s Wicked Peach Cobbler, Aretha Franklin’s Peach Cobbler and Trisha Yearwood’s Easy Peach Cobbler. We wanted to know which recipe delivered the ideal peach-to-cobbler ratio, the best texture and the kind of flavor that makes you quietly sneak back into the kitchen for “just one more bite.”

Spoiler: I did not expect my winner to be the winner. See which celebrity peach recipe won our taste test, plus chef-approved tips on how to bake with peaches.

How We Tested the Celebrity Peach Recipes

Courtesy Julie Andrews

For this taste test, I made all three recipes as written as closely as possible, paying attention not only to flavor, but also to texture, the ratio of peaches to cobbler, sweetness, spice and how the finished desserts actually ate. I also wanted to judge each cobbler as a home baker would, based on sheer enjoyment and desire to make it again.

There were some unavoidable differences. Patti LaBelle’s version was the only one of the three that used fresh peaches, while Aretha Franklin’s and Trisha Yearwood’s relied on canned peaches.

Franklin’s recipe also had the most dramatic presentation, with pie crust forming the bottom and a lattice top. Yearwood’s was the simplest, using a batter-style topping poured over melted butter with peaches sprinkled in. LaBelle’s was the middle ground—a double-crust cobbler layered with fresh, spiced peaches.

Related: The Genius Way to Make Strawberry Shortcake 10x Better, According to an Award-Winning Chef

The Celebrity Peach Recipes, Ranked Worst to Best

All three peach cobbler recipes look great on paper, yet they were different enough to spark intrigue for which one would come out on top. Other than peeling and chopping peaches in Patti LaBelle’s recipe, each peach cobbler recipe was incredibly simple and didn’t take long to prep. Read on to see which recipe won our taste test.

3. Trisha Yearwood’s Easy Peach Cobbler

Courtesy Julie Andrews

Trisha Yearwood’s Easy Peach Cobbler is the minimalist of the group. The recipe uses canned peaches in syrup, butter, self-rising flour, sugar and milk. I melted the butter in a baking dish, mixed the flour, sugar, milk and reserved peach syrup into a batter, then poured it over the butter and arranged the peaches on top before baking. The original recipe calls for about an hour in a 350-degree oven, with whipped cream for serving.

On paper, I loved the simplicity. In the pan, though, I wasn’t convinced. The cobbler developed a pleasantly crisp, golden top, but underneath that crust was a wetter texture than I wanted, even after roughly an hour of baking.

More importantly, it didn’t have enough peaches for my taste. The flavor was pleasant, but it lacked the spice and depth that made the other two versions more memorable. Perhaps if it were baked in a smaller dish, the ratio would have been more to my taste.

2. Aretha Franklin’s Peach Cobbler

Courtesy Julie Andrews

Aretha Franklin’s cobbler was the one I expected to love most—and visually, it certainly made the strongest first impression. Her peach cobbler recipe combines canned peaches with butter, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, then, oddly enough, uses plain breadcrumbs to thicken the peach filling. Two refrigerated pie crusts form the structure—one underneath the peaches and one cut into a lattice for the top.

I didn’t have the specified 10-inch square baking pan, and because the recipe uses four cans of peaches, I knew an 8- or 9-inch square pan wouldn’t comfortably hold everything. I used a pie dish instead, and it fit beautifully. In fact, the finished dessert looked gorgeous and ate more like a peach pie—which isn’t exactly a complaint.

The filling was buttery, cinnamony and delicious, but the breadcrumbs made me nervous from the beginning. I had never thought of breadcrumbs as a dessert thickener, and unfortunately, I could detect a slightly gritty texture in the finished filling.

I also love a peach pie overflowing with fruit, but for a cobbler, I wanted more crust in proportion to the peaches. Still, this was a very good dessert, and I would absolutely eat it again.

1. Patti LaBelle’s Wicked Peach Cobbler

Courtesy Julie Andrews

And then there was Patti LaBelle’s Wicked Peach Cobbler, my surprise champion.

The recipe calls for fresh peaches tossed with sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and cinnamon, plus butter. The peaches are layered into a buttered square baking dish with pastry between the layers—peaches, crust, more peaches, then a generous top crust. After baking until golden and bubbling, the crust gets a final dusting of cinnamon.

That layering technique was brilliant. It created exactly the balance I wanted, giving me enough buttery cobbler in every bite without overwhelming the peaches. And because this was the only recipe I tested with fresh peaches, the fruit tasted especially bright and summery.

I was honestly a little surprised by how much I loved it. In the square pan, it looks fairly understated compared with Aretha Franklin’s dramatic lattice-topped version. But once I took a bite, appearances became irrelevant. The sweetness was just right, the peaches tasted fresh and the cinnamon provided the perfect amount of warmth without hijacking the fruit.

This was the one I kept going back to. Then I started recommending it to family and friends. Then I had the less generous thought that maybe I didn’t want to share it with anyone after all. That, to me, is the definition of a winner.

Related: The Greek Way To Make Chicken 10x Better

The Unbeatable Winning Peach Recipe (and Why It Works)

Courtesy Julie Andrews

What makes Patti LaBelle’s version so effective is balance. The fresh peaches are the star, while lemon juice brightens them, cornstarch helps keep the filling cohesive and cinnamon adds warmth. The double-crust construction is the real stroke of genius, though. Instead of putting all the fruit underneath one blanket of pastry, the recipe sandwiches the peaches between layers of crust, creating a much more satisfying fruit-to-cobbler ratio.

For readers who want to make it themselves, I recommend following the original recipe for the exact ingredient amounts and baking directions rather than improvising. The published version calls for about three pounds of peeled, sliced peaches and an 8-inch square baking dish.

Expert Tips for Baking With Fresh Summer Peaches

Courtesy Julie Andrews

To get a professional perspective on what makes a peach cobbler work, I turned to Chef Lauren Grant, and her advice helped explain exactly why LaBelle’s version stood out above the rest.

“Peach ripeness will impact quite a few things, most importantly sweetness and texture,” Grant says. Riper peaches are sweeter and release more liquid during baking, while underripe fruit will be less sweet and less peachy. Her ideal peach is “ripe but firm”—ready to eat but sturdy enough to slice easily. She also recommends avoiding peaches with bruises or soft spots. The peaches I used in Patti LaBelle’s recipe were perfectly ripe and in the best shape for baking in a dessert.

That advice made perfect sense when I tasted the fresh peach cobbler. The fruit had a more vibrant character than the canned versions, and the individual peach slices still had personality rather than disappearing into a syrupy filling.

Grant also cautions home bakers against going overboard with spices. “When in doubt, go light on the spices,” she says, recommending a dash of cinnamon and vanilla for warmth and depth without allowing either flavor to dominate.

There are a few other traps to avoid. Grant says cooking peaches too long, or slicing them too thin, can make them lose their texture. She also warns against adding excessive sugar because peaches are naturally sweet. For roughly two pounds of ripe peaches, she says, about a quarter cup of sugar is generally plenty. (All three recipes used much more sugar than this recommendation.)

And when it comes to flavor pairings, peaches have plenty of friends—almonds, cinnamon, cream, lemon, berries, brown sugar and vanilla all play nicely with the fruit.

After three celebrity cobblers and several extremely enthusiastic tastings, I came away with one clear lesson—the best peach cobbler doesn’t need to be the fanciest-looking one.

Aretha Franklin’s was beautiful, and Trisha Yearwood’s was wonderfully simple, but Patti LaBelle’s had the thing I couldn’t stop thinking about after the plates were cleared. It tasted like summer, and more importantly, it made me want another serving, which is probably the highest compliment I can give a peach cobbler.

Source:

• Lauren Grant is a professionally trained culinary food scientist and journalist, and the founder and editor-in-chief of Zestful Kitchen. She holds degrees in Culinary Food Science and Journalism and Mass Communications from Iowa State University, with experience in renowned test kitchens including America’s Test Kitchen and Better Homes & Gardens. Grant specializes in creating expertly tested, trustworthy and approachable recipes, while also working as a freelance food writer and recipe developer for leading food publications and brands.

Related: The Easy Way To Make Sweet Corn 10x Better

“Alright, partner. Keep on rollin’, baby! You know what time it is!”

Those iconic lyrics are the opening lines to Limp Bizkit’s top hit, “Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle),” which recently hit one billion streams on Spotify. The tune was the second single released from their 2000 album Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water.

“Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)” marks their second song to achieve this amazing feat. It was added to Spotify’s “BILLIONS CLUB” playlist on Monday, along with “Here Without You” by 3 Doors Down, “Chanel” by Frank Ocean, “Imitadora” by Romeo Santos, “Yo Voy (feat. Daddy Yankee) by Zion & Lennox, “Ella y Yo (feat. Don Omar)” by Aventura, and “Renegades” by X Ambassadors. The playlist has over 1300 songs and is frequently updated whenever a tune officially crosses one billion streams and is processed by Spotify’s editorial team.

https://open.spotify.com/track/3IV4swNduIRunHREK80owz?si=54fdd59872ec4083

There are Two Versions of the Track: Hip-hop and Hard Rock

“Rollin'” was originally produced by Swizz Beatz. Titled “Rollin’ (Urban Assault Vehicle),” the original is sometimes referred to by fans as the hip-hop remix of “Air Raid Vehicle” and appears on The Fast and the Furious soundtrack.

There was some frustration when the band was presented with the hip-hop version, and Limp Bizkit felt it might work as a rock song, which led to the creation of the “Air Raid Vehicle” version.

“We liked both versions so much that that’s what it ended up being two versions — a hip-hop version of the song and a rock version of the song,” guitarist Wes Borland told Songfacts.

American rapper and singer Fred Durst in 2000 in Hollywood, California.

Gregory Bojorquez/Getty Images

‘Air Raid Vehicle’ Music Video Was Filmed at an Iconic New York City Landmark

The “Air Raid Vehicle” version of the song had a music video which included many stars such as Ben Stiller, Stephen Dorff and Mr Wiggles. Some scenes were filmed in front of the Roxy Hotel in Lower Manhattan, and parts of the music video were shot on the rooftop of the South Tower of the original World Trade Center, in July 2000.

The music video of “Rollin'” won Best Rock Video at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards. To congratulate the band, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey sent a card and fruit basket to Limp Bizkit, thanking them for featuring the Twin Towers in their music video on Sept. 10, 2001, a day before the 9/11 attacks and the collapse of the World Trade Center. After the attacks, the video was taken off the air, but it can still be watched on YouTube.

The Impact of ‘Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)’ and Limp Bizkit

Since its release in September 2000, “Rollin'” was featured on a variety of listicles. Some media sites slightly poked fun at the song, as VH1 did by including it on their “50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs” list in 2004, while others such as Louder Sound and Kerrang ranked “Rollin” as one of the top 10 songs Limp Bizkit ever created.

As for the charts, the song peaked at No. 65 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for 17 weeks. It also reached No. 60 on the Radio Component Chart. Internationally, “Rollin'” topped the charts in Ireland and the United Kingdom and peaked within the top 10 of the charts in Austria, Finland, Germany, Norway, Portugal and Sweden.

Sam Rivers, DJ Lethal, John Otto, Wes Borland and Fred Durst at the Grammy Awards, Los Angeles, California, February 23rd 2000.

Vinnie Zuffante/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Formed in 1994 by Borland, Fred Durst, John Otto and Sam Rivers in Jacksonville, Florida, Limp Bizkit became one of the most successful nu metal bands of the 1990s and early 2000s. They released their debut album, Three Dollar Bill, Y’all, in 1997 via Flip Records, but their mainstream success came from Significant Other and Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, their second and third albums released in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Limp Bizkit has won several awards, including Best Hard Rock Performance twice, and a Best Rock Album Grammy nomination for Significant Other. However, the band’s momentum began to decline around 2001, while Borland’s departure created further uncertainty.

After breaking up in 2006, Limp Bizkit reunited in 2009 and has since released two more studio albums: Gold Cobra (2011) and Still Sucks (2021). As of now, Limp Bizkit is currently experiencing a major career resurgence, driven by social media and newer generations discovering them online. Nu Metal Show shared on Facebook on Friday that Borland confirmed with the publication that they are heading back into the studio.

“Speaking in a recent interview, Borland revealed that the band has accumulated a wealth of riffs and ideas from previous sessions and has scheduled dedicated writing time in August 2026 to develop fresh material,” Nu Metal Show teased. “New Limp Bizkit music is officially on the way.”

“Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)” and all of Limp Bizkit’s discography can be listened to on all streaming platforms.

Related: Popular 2000s Band Fuels Speculation With Cryptic Post

The late legendary country singer Dolly Parton was known for both her songwriting abilities and her bold, glamorous aesthetic.

In a 2013 interview with 60 Minutes Australia, Parton, who has died at the age of 80, shared that her grandfather, Reverend Jake Robert Owens, didn’t approve of how she presented herself or her career as a musical artist until she released her 1970 hit, “Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man,” off of her and Porter Wagoner‘s album, Once More.

“My grandpa thought I was going to hell in a handbasket in the early days,” said Parton, of her mother, Avie Lee Owens’ father, during the interview. “But after I became popular, one of the songs I wrote was called ‘Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man.’ It was about my grandpa. Oh, he thought I was fine after that.”

According to Parton, the Sevierville, Tennessee-based preacher would proudly tell strangers he was related to her after “Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man” came out.

“After that, he’d just meet people on the street. ‘You know, Dolly Parton, that’s my granddaughter. You know that song, ‘Old Time Preacher Man?’ Well, that’s about me.’ Because after he saw that, you know, I was going to be okay, I was going to make a living. And that I wasn’t as trashy as I looked, that was just the way I looked, I guess he just prayed, ‘Lord, forgive her. She knows not what she does.’ And just let it go,” said Parton.

Dolly Parton Said Her Parents Didn’t Approve of Her Look When She Was Younger

During the 60 Minutes Australia interview, Parton confirmed that she modeled her iconic look after a “woman in [her] town,” who she saw during her childhood and believes may have been a sex worker. Parton said she noticed the woman, whom she deemed “beautiful,” as “she walked up and down the street.”

“She had all this yellow beautiful hair, and I tell this story, but it is the honest truth. But she had her red lipstick. She looked like me. I’m serious, I mean she had the look that I have, it’s that overexaggerated, overdone. But I thought she was beautiful. She had the tight short skirts and the high heel shoes with the little plastic goldfish that moved around inside. I just thought she was beautiful,” said the musician during the interview.

The “9 to 5” singer also said her parents, especially her father, Robert Lee Parton Sr., didn’t approve of her modeling her look after said woman when she was younger.

“I got whipped all the time. All the time. You know, like saying that I look cheap and I couldn’t wear this, I couldn’t wear that. I would do it though. I wasn’t afraid. You know, I would do it. Even if I had to take it off, I’d still do it again. And then my mother was more understanding,” said Parton.

Parton said that her mother gave her even more grace when she “started singing on radio and TV” and “wanted little outfits that were a little lower.”

“She’d say, ‘Now, you know, you’re going to get me and you in trouble with your daddy.’ Or whatever. But she would help me with that,” said Parton while speaking to 60 Minutes Australia.

In 1995, Dolly Parton started sending free books to children in her native Sevier County, Tenn., with a dream of inspiring them to love reading. More than 30 years later, the final message she sent to children who graduated from her Imagination Library is taking on heartbreaking new meaning.

Parton died in Nashville on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the age of 80, following a period of unspecified health issues that had forced her to curtail public appearances and ultimately cancel a planned Las Vegas residency.

In the hours following the news, one parent’s post about the final book her daughter received from Parton’s Imagination Library began going viral.

“This note in the final book from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library wrecked me last year when my daughter turned 5,” she wrote on X. “Tearing up again reading it now.”

As of this writing, the post has received more than 40,000 likes and over 500,000 views.

The reason is easy to understand once you read Parton’s message.

Dolly Parton’s Final Message to Imagination Library Children

Children enrolled in the Imagination Library receive a free, age-appropriate book every month from birth until they turn 5. When that journey comes to an end, their final book includes a goodbye from the woman generations of young readers came to know simply as “The Book Lady.”

Parton’s complete message reads:

Dear Imagination Library Graduate,

Wow, how time flies! It seems like only yesterday when your family signed you up for my Imagination Library. You were just a little baby, and now you’re 5 years old and about to go to school. How exciting!

This may be your last book from my Imagination Library, but you have to promise me you will keep on reading. If you go to your local public library, you will find a great number of books just for kids your age. Every book is a treasure, and every time you open one up, you will meet new friends and take wonderful journeys to magical places.

I hope you have a great time in school. I bet your school will even have a library where you can check out books.

You and all your friends are very special. There is no limit to what you can do or how far you can go. Just remember the lessons my family taught me: Dream big dreams, learn everything you can and care for those who care for you. You do all of these things and you can be anyone you want to be.

You are terrific!

Remember, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU!

Dolly
The Book Lady

Parton’s choice of those final words, of course, carries even more weight. “I Will Always Love You” was one of her signature compositions, a song she wrote as a farewell to Porter Wagoner when she decided to leave his organization and strike out on her own. Parton’s original recording reached No. 1 on the country chart in 1974, and she took it to No. 1 again with a new recording in 1982.

Now those same words are serving as a farewell of a very different kind.

Dolly Parton Had One More Goodbye for Her ‘Graduates’

The letter wasn’t Parton’s only message for children aging out of the program.

Imagination Library graduates are also directed to an unlisted YouTube video featuring Parton herself congratulating them on turning 5. The video has quietly accumulated roughly 300,000 views, and following her death, its comments have become a place for parents to mourn the woman who had been sending books to their children for years.

One parent’s comment is particularly poignant because her daughter received Parton’s goodbye on the day Parton died.

“We literally got this today on my daughter’s 5th birthday,” she wrote. “Same day you have gone on and left this world. Thank you Dolly for everything you’ve done, for being an inspiration, and for striving to give kids more opportunities than what you had when you were that age. May we all go on to live up to your example.”

Three parents replied that their sons were also celebrating their fifth birthdays on Aug. 25.

“It’s my son’s birthday too and she just left us like this,” one wrote.

Another added, “Today is my son’s 5th birthday too! Dolly will definitely be missed and the world needs more people like her.”

Why Dolly Parton Started the Imagination Library

The program was deeply personal for Parton.

She launched the Imagination Library in 1995 in Sevier County, where she was born and raised. Parton created it in honor of her father, Robert Lee Parton, who could not read or write. What began as a local effort eventually expanded far beyond Tennessee, providing free books to children regardless of their family’s income.

That mission became one of the defining achievements of Parton’s life outside music. Her philanthropy through the Imagination Library ultimately provided books to millions of children, while Parton’s charitable work also included a $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University Medical Center that helped fund life-saving research.

But perhaps nothing explains what Parton wanted the Imagination Library to accomplish quite as well as the message she recorded for the children leaving it behind.

In the graduation video, Parton tells them that although their final Imagination Library book has arrived, their reading journey is only beginning.

“Every book is a treasure,” she says, encouraging them to visit their public and school libraries. “Every time you open one up, you’ll meet new friends and take wonderful journeys to magical places.”

Then comes her final lesson.

“Dream big dreams and learn everything you can, and care for those who care for you,” Parton tells them. “You do all of these things and you can be anyone you want to be.”

And finally, the goodbye that thousands of families are hearing differently today:

“You are terrific. And remember that I will always love you. It’s the Book Lady signing off.”

Related: Linda Ronstadt Mourns ‘The Most Extraordinary’ Dolly Parton

The beloved singer-songwriter and actress Dolly Parton has died at 80.

She was known for an incredible 70-year career that included music, acting, and philanthropy. Parton released 50 studio albums, won 11 Grammys, earned three Emmys, wrote 25 No. 1 hits, and received an honorary Academy Award.

The adored country music star is remembered for memorable performances in films such as 9 to 5. Here is how to watch the cult classic.

The 1980 comedy is streaming for free, with ads, on Philo. Viewers do not need an account to access the film.

9 to 5 is available for purchase on digital platforms such as Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango, and YouTube TV. It costs $3.99 to rent and $4.99 to buy.

The screwball comedy was Parton’s feature film debut. She wrote the theme song “9 to 5” for the movie, which became one of her biggest hits winning two Grammy Awards. The film starred Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton.

It is often called one of Parton’s best acting roles before she passed.

Parton’s death was announced by her nephew Bryan Seaver in an Instagram video shared on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he said. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”

“It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly,” Seaver continued. “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens.”

“Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly,” he concluded the video. “May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all. She will always love you.”

In the first half of 2026, Survivor commemorated over a quarter of a decade on the air with its monumental 50th season. The historic installment of the iconic CBS reality series covered a wide breadth of legacies, as well as created new moments that had everyone talking. It’s a firm reminder of how truly revolutionary the series is, not only in popularizing the entire reality TV genre in the summer of 2000, but also in creating something that has remained a fixture of the medium for so many years.

And there’s no signs of stopping! In fact, Survivor will be returning for its 51st season this fall, taking us back to the island for another round of beachside blindsides. How will the game look after all the brand-new twists that were infused into Season 50? Will we be seeing returning players again? Here’s what we know about Survivor 51 so far.

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When does Survivor 51 start in 2026?

Survivor 51 will premiere with a special two-hour episode on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

How long are episodes of Survivor 51 in 2026?

Survivor 51 will continue to air 90-minute episodes, a permanent change for the show starting in Season 45. While first instituted to fill time due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the longer episodes have been one of the most positively received changes of the past few years, encouraging the network to keep the longer episodes. Though occasional episodes of Season 50 ran two to even three hours, so it may be possible we could get some extended episodes as well.

When is the finale of Survivor 51 in 2026?

Given the typical schedule of a fall season, we should expect Survivor 51 to come to a close in mid-December 2026. The latest a season finale has occurred is December 20 (with the exception of Africa, which had its premiere delayed until October due to the events of September 11).

Who is in the cast for Survivor 51?

At this time, the cast of Survivor 51 has not been announced. But you can see who’s making up the 51st group of castaways with a video reveal hosted on CBS’s YouTube channel, starting at 1:00 p.m. ET/PT on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

When did Survivor 51 film?

Compared to filming scheduled for previous fall seasons, we expect Survivor 51 filmed at some point from March to May 2026. The season will likely continue with the “new era” tradition of running for 26 days rather than the 39 days of the first 40 seasons.

Related: Remembering Sonja Christopher and Kim Johnson! Here’s Every Survivor Contestant Who Has Died Since Competing

What is the theme of Survivor 51?

If there is a theme for Survivor 51, it’s the ushering in of the “open era.” As coined by Jeff Probst, this new phase of the show’s motto is that any twist, advantage, or structure from a previous season can appear at any time. While all of this is anchored in 50 seasons of the familiar, it’s intended to keep players on their toes, as they know anything — and likely everything — can happen.

What is the Survivor diversity news?

In June 2019, inspired by the events surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement and discussions around anti-racist practices, a group of Black Survivor alumni spoke up about their experiences and difficulties they faced as minorities on the show. Known as the “Soul Survivors Organization” and consisting of contestants from seasons 1 to 40, they released a widely-circulated petition that calls upon the show to institute several anti-racist initiatives, including casting BIPOC for at least 30% of each cast, hiring more BIPOC as part of the crew, and actively supporting the cast, including mental health resources following the season.

“The entire culture is in a beautiful upheaval,” Probst says about the petition, “and our job is to respond to it to make sure that Survivor continues to reflect our culture and our behavior and how we’re interacting with each other. Everything that’s happening is going to inform the future of Survivor.”

As a result of the initiative, CBS announced in November 2020 that it would be instituting new rules for its unscripted shows in the pursuit of increased diversity. That includes a requirement for at least 50% of every show’s cast to be contestants who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), as well as allocating a minimum of 25% of its annual unscripted development budget to projects created or co-created by BIPOC producers.

In 2025, Paramount co-CEOs George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins put forward a memo saying that the company would be making changes to its diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Despite this, however, Survivor casting producer Jesse Tannenbaum said in an interview with Deadline that, even if casts do not specifically hit the previous 50% threshold, “nothing has changed” in terms of their mission to create ethnically diverse groups.

Related: Survivor, Big Brother and Amazing Race Casting Director Responds to Diversity Initiative News: ‘Nothing’s Changed’

Who won Survivor 50?

Aubry Bracco took home the two-million-dollar prize! Her victory comes full circle across a four-season, decade-long journey, which started with her finishing just short at the Final Tribal Council. After two more mixed performances, and a good number of years away from the show, Aubry laid low until the last couple of weeks, when she kicked her game into gear to take down some of the biggest threats of the season. And she was rewarded handily by the jury for her work.

What happened to Dan on Survivor?

In a positive stand for the #MeToo movement, contestant Dan Spilo was removed from the game due to multiple incidents involving unwanted touching.

Related: What Really Happened When Dan Spilo Was Removed From Survivor

How many seasons of Survivor are there?

Survivor premiered on May 31, 2000, and has aired a spring and fall season each year until fall 2020, picking back up in 2021. There are 50 completed seasons of Survivor. When all is said and done, there are a little over 700 episodes of Survivor total.

Where was Survivor 51 filmed?

Season 51 was likely filmed in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji. The show has been filming in that location since its 33rd season in 2016.

Where to watch Survivor

Survivor airs Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Episodes are made available the next day via the Paramount+ app.

What time is Survivor on?

Survivor airs in its usual time slot at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Wednesdays on CBS.

Is Survivor on Netflix?

No, Survivor is not currently available on Netflix.

Is Survivor on Paramount+?

Jeff Probst‘s 2020 appearance in a Super Bowl commercial for Paramount+ gave us a hint of the joy that would come soon: All 50 seasons of Survivor are available for streaming on Paramount+!

Is Survivor on Amazon Prime Video?

Yes! But you won’t be able to binge all 50 seasons of Survivor. Only select seasons are available.

How to watch Survivor online

If you really want to watch all 50 seasons, you’ll need to stream them on Paramount+.

Is there a sneak peek trailer for Survivor 51?

Yes! You can get a first look at Survivor 51 in the trailer below.

Related: 25 Celebrities You Never Knew Were on ‘Survivor’