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Today’s New York Times Connections puzzle covers everything from descriptions of things lacking depth to concepts from science fiction, movies based on an iconic author’s books and ways to order a sweet treat.

There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as the feeling of completing the daily New York Times Wordle, Strands, Mini Crossword and Connections Sports Edition word games in one fell swoop. But sometimes that can be easier said than done. If you need help with today’s Connections puzzle, keep reading.

Spoilers ahead! We’ve warned you. We mean it. Read no further until you really want some clues or you’ve completely given up and want the answers ASAP. Get ready for all of today’s NYT ‘Connections’ hints and answers for #1171 on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

Today’s NYT Connections Puzzle for Tuesday, August 25, 2026 / New York Times

The New York Times

If you’ve been having trouble with any of the connections or words in Tuesday’s puzzle, you’re not alone, and these hints should definitely help you out. Plus, I’ll reveal the answers further down.

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

Hints About Today’s NYT Connections Categories on Tuesday, August 25

1. Not deep.
2. Think Star Trek.
3. Master of horror.
4. I scream, you scream…

Related: 300 Trivia Questions and Answers to Jumpstart Your Fun Game Night

Ready for the answers? Scroll below this image (the image that represents your very appreciated patience!).

iStock

Today’s Connections Game Answers for Tuesday, August 25:

1. SURFACE-LEVEL: COSMETIC, ONE-DIMENSIONAL, SKIN-DEEP, SUPERFICIAL
2. SCI-FI PHENOMENA: HYPERSPACE, PARALLEL UNIVERSE, TELEPORTATION, TIME WARP
3. STEPHEN KING FILM ADAPTATIONS, WITH “THE”: GREEN MILE, LONG WALK, RUNNING MAN, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
4. ENDING IN ICE CREAM ORDERS: HARLEM SHAKE, INSIDE SCOOP, LICKETY-SPLIT, TRAFFIC CONE

How’d you do?

Up Next:

– 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day
– Hints, Clues and Answers to the NYT’s ‘Mini Crossword’ Puzzle

Did You Miss a Few Days? Let’s Catch You Up With Recent Connections Answers

Related: NYT ‘Connections’ Hints, Clues and Answers Today, Monday, August 24, 2026

Revisit some of your favorite episodes of The Office — the early ones, obviously — and you’ll see Mindy Kaling has writing credits on a whole mess of them.

Then came her hot streak with The Mindy Project, followed by Never Have I Ever, The Sex Lives of College Girls and the ongoing Netflix hit Running Point.

The talented 47-year-old also launched a comedy series at Hulu recently, with a similarly raunchy title as some of her past hits. But sadly, it was just met with a grim update.

Variety reports that Not Suitable for Work will not be getting a second season at Hulu. The show launched in June and ran for nine episodes. Warner Bros. TV, which produces the series, plans to shop it to potential new homes, Variety also noted on Monday, August 24.

Ella Hunt, Avantika, Will Angus, Jack Martin, Nicholas Duvernay and Jay Ellis make up the ensemble of NSFW, which follows “work-obsessed 20-somethings striving for professional success and, if they have time, personal happiness in Manhattan’s most glamorous neighborhood, Murray Hill,” per the official logline.

The comedy program only holds a 54% average critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though its audience “Popcornmeter” is more promising at 82%.

Kaling Is Out on the Prowl as a ‘Shark’

In other Kaling news, the beloved Office scene-stealer made headlines last month when she was announced to be among the guest Sharks for Season 18 of Shark Tank. Kendra Scott and Rashaun Williams are stepping into expanded roles as permanent Sharks, meanwhile.

The multi-Emmy Award-winning unscripted series has become a culturally defining series and inspires a nation to dream bigger has amassed over $11 billion in retail sales from deals offered in the Tank. The Sharks will once again give people from all walks of life the chance to chase the American Dream and potentially secure business deals that could make them millionaires.

Today’s NYT Wordle answer is the noise your seatbelt makes when you buckle up.

But the day just isn’t complete until I’ve solved all of the free word games from the New York Times, including Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Strands, and Mini Crossword. If you’re stuck on today’s Wordle answer, we’re here to help—but beware of spoilers for Wordle #1893 ahead.

Let’s start with a few hints.

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How many vowels are in today’s Wordle?

There is one vowel and one sometimes vowel in today’s five-letter word.

What kind of letter does today’s Wordle start with?

Today’s Wordle begins with a consonant.

Are there any double letters?

There are double letters in today’s Wordle.

Can you give another hint about today’s Wordle

A hint for today’s Wordle is: it can refer to the action of pressing a computer mouse button.

OK, that’s it for hints—I don’t want to totally give it away before revealing the answer!

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

We’ll have the answer below this friendly reminder of how to play the game.

SPOILERS BELOW—do not scroll any further if you don’t want the answer revealed.

The New York Times

Today’s Wordle Answer for #1893 on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

Today’s Wordle answer on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, is CLICK.

-If you missed it, catch up with the answer to yesterday’s Wordle.

Related: Every 5 Letter Word Wordle Hasn’t Used Yet (Updated Daily)

There are so many ways to improve your blood pressure through diet, including limiting salt intake to 2,300 milligrams daily (OK, ideally 1,500 milligrams). That common advice may leave you rather…salty, though. What can you eat for lower blood pressure? Dr. Lauri Wright, Ph.D., MS, RDN, a registered dietitian and associate professor with USF Health, says loading up on fruits is “one of the easiest and tastiest ways to support heart health.”

“I like to call [fruit] nature’s grab-and-go snack,” Dr. Wright says. “It’s portable, naturally low in sodium, packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, and satisfies a sweet tooth without added sugars.”

That’s probably welcome news if you’re one of the nearly 120 million U.S. adults living with hypertension (almost half of the adult population). While all whole fruits can have a positive effect on your heart health, Dr. Wright says that those high in potassium are especially useful for blood pressure management.

“One of the biggest heart-health superstars in fruit is potassium,” she says. “Potassium helps counteract the effects of sodium by encouraging the kidneys to flush out excess sodium and by helping blood vessels relax. Both support healthy blood pressure.”

Julia Zumpano, RD, a Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian, says another bonus with fruit: You don’t have to put too much thought into portion sizes. However, she clarifies that some people may want to be mindful of their fruit intake, such as those living with obesity, pre-diabetes or diabetes.

“Fruit contains natural sugars, some more than others,” Zumpano says. “Fruit can cause blood sugar to rise too high if eaten alone or in large amounts.”

Ensuring you’re consuming whole fruits (rather than low-fiber, high-sugar juices) that aren’t canned or sweetened is one way to limit blood sugar spikes. She adds that eating smaller portions (about a half-cup or 4 ounces of fruit) is another. Otherwise? It’s OK to go ham with fruit, especially one that registered dietitians agree is the best one for lowering blood pressure.

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The Best Fruit To Lower Blood Pressure, 4 Registered Dietitians Agree

Four registered dietitians agree that bananas are the best fruit for blood pressure management because they contain key nutrients for heart health, most notably potassium. Most people don’t get enough potassium, but a medium banana contains 422 milligrams. Increasing your potassium intake through bananas might lower blood pressure within about a month.

“For blood pressure management, bananas are helpful as they have a significant amount of potassium,” says Dr. Elizabeth Klingbeil, Ph.D., RDN, an assistant professor at the University of Texas-Austin and a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. “Potassium has been associated with decreased blood pressure as part of a healthy diet. So, in the short term, an increase in banana consumption could decrease one’s blood pressure slightly.”

You can reduce blood pressure even more—and sustain these results over several months to years—if you add bananas to your regular diet long-term.

“Bananas can help relax the blood vessels because potassium and magnesium help ease the tension in blood vessel walls,” Zumpano says. “This wider vessel diameter allows blood to flow freely, relieving pressure on the cardiovascular system.”

She adds that the antioxidants in bananas, such as catechins, also help dilate blood vessels, reducing inflammation and preventing artery damage and plaque buildup that can contribute to long-term hypertension (and other heart health issues, like high cholesterol).

 Bananas may not seem like the juiciest fruit, but they are made up of 70% to 80% water. So, they can help you feel more hydrated immediately and improve blood pressure over time if you make a habit of eating one.

“Bananas support hydration and muscle function because potassium is an essential electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance and supports proper muscle function, including the heart muscle,” Dr. Wright says.

Johannah Katz, RD, a dietitian from Consumer Health Digest, says fiber in bananas can also help your heart health in the short and long term.

“Using fruit like bananas to replace salty snacks, sweets, or refined carbohydrates can help improve the overall quality of the diet, because blood pressure is influenced by the whole diet by the whole eating pattern, not just one food,” Katz says.

As great as bananas can be for your blood pressure, Zumpano notes that people with certain conditions, like kidney failure or disease, may be on a potassium-restricted diet. If you fit that bill, talk to your doctor or registered dietitian about whether it’s a good idea to incorporate bananas into your diet, plus other ways to lower blood pressure through food.

Related: Here’s Exactly What Happens to Your Cholesterol When You Eat Avocado

How Many Bananas Should I Eat a Day To Lower My Blood Pressure?

“There is no clear ‘banana recommendation’ for blood pressure management, but including one medium-sized banana as part of your daily diet may be beneficial for those trying to manage their blood pressure,” Klingbeil says.

Zumpano offers similar advice. Remember, a balanced diet is the best way to lower blood pressure—there are no superfoods.

“One a day will do, along with other food sources of potassium like watermelon, beets, broccoli, oranges, avocado, potatoes, leafy greens and beans,” she says.

Related: Here’s How Eating Salmon Actually Impacts Your Heart, According to Cardiologists

The Best Ways To Enjoy Bananas

Registered dietitians say that bananas are a great fruit for lowering blood pressure. They’re sweet and filling, so you may enjoy one on its own, but RDs offered some other simple ideas.

• Bananas with oats/oatmeal. This breakfast-friendly food is one of Klingbeil’s favorite ways to go bananas. “By adding the banana to your oats, you get not only the benefits of the banana, but also the heart-healthy components of fiber in the oats themselves,” Klingbeil raves.
• Banana nicecream. Zumpano loves mashing bananas and freezing them to make “nice cream,” a delicious ice cream alternative. “If I am craving a frozen treat in the warmer months, this is a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth without added sugar,” she notes. “You can top with chopped nuts and/or shaved dark chocolate.”
• Bananas with Greek yogurt and sliced almonds. Katz is a fan of the crunch, potassium, healthy fats and protein this dish contains. “It makes it more balanced and satisfying than eating the banana alone,” Katz shares.

Related: Here’s Exactly What Happens to Your Liver When You Eat Bananas

Other Fruits That Can Lower Blood Pressure

Bananas aren’t the only fruit that helps lower blood pressure, and RDs stress that getting a variety of foods in your diet is critical to support your overall health. Here are a few of Klingbeil’s favorite fruits that can lower blood pressure (besides potassium-rich bananas).

• Berries. Klingbeil says that berries have anthocyanins and other polyphenols that can improve blood vessel function and reduce oxidative stress. Plus, they’re high in fiber—all wins for your heart.
• Kiwi. Klingbeil calls kiwi an “underappreciated powerhouse.” “It’s packed with vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants, and regular kiwi consumption may support healthy blood pressure,” Klingbeil says.
• Oranges. Citrus isn’t just for boosting immunity! “Oranges provide potassium and vitamin C, which help support healthy blood vessel function,” Klingbeil reports. “They’re refreshing, portable and easy to incorporate into meals or snacks.”

Up Next:

Related: The ‘Healthy’ Breakfast Staple That’s Silently Raising Your Blood Pressure, According to Cardiologists

Sources:

• Dr. Lauri Wright, Ph.D., MS, RDN, a registered dietitian and associate professor with USF Health
• Julia Zumpano, RD, a Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian
• Dr. Elizabeth Klingbeil, Ph.D., RDN, an assistant professor at the University of Texas-Austin and a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
• Johannah Katz, RD, a dietitian from Consumer Health Digest
• Shaking the Salt Habit to Lower High Blood Pressure. American Heart Association.
• High Blood Pressure Facts. CDC.
• Effect Evaluation of Banana on Improving Hyperglycemia and Hypertension in Diabetic Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. Sage Journals.
• Using food to stay hydrated. Harvard Health Publishing.

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It may still be August, but the first signs of fall are already starting to sneak onto dinner tables. The Certified International Sunflower Bouquet Deep Serving Bowl is $35 on Amazon, down from $45, and its bright yellow flowers, leafy details, and scalloped edge make it an easy way to bring warmer autumn colors into the kitchen without covering everything in pumpkins just yet.

The ceramic bowl holds 82 ounces and measures 9 inches across by 5 inches high, giving you plenty of room for a big salad, pasta, or another family-style side. It’s made from durable earthenware and is dishwasher-safe, so there’s no need to save it only for special occasions. The deep shape also makes it handy for serving a crowd, while the floral artwork has a hand-painted look that makes it pretty enough to earn a spot right in the middle of the table.

Certified International Sunflower Bouquet Deep Serving Bowl, $35 (was $45) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

There are plenty of ways to keep using it after dinner, too. You could add apples, bananas, or other fall fruit and leave it on the kitchen counter, fill it with snacks before guests arrive, or use it as a mixing bowl while baking. It would also make a great housewarming gift for someone who loves florals.

One shopper who gave one as a gift said it’s “beautiful” and noted that they also use theirs for mixing and displaying fruit. Another called it “sturdy” and said it’s “very well made,” adding that “the colors are bright, and the size is perfect.” A third reviewer praised its “great size” and even uses the bowl to hold items on a side table, which proves it doesn’t necessarily have to stay in the kitchen.

Related: Kohl’s Cheerful $20 Woven Sunflower Storage Basket Is the Cutest Way to Ease Into Fall Decor

And if the bowl’s charming sunflower print inspires you to add onto the tablescape, you can find matching pieces on Amazon as well. The Sunflower Bouquet collection includes dinner plates, a larger serving and pasta bowl, dessert bowls, and other matching dishes.

Shop More Deals

• Acellegic Ceramic Sunflower Spoon Rest, $10 (was $12) at Amazon
• Eboot 24-Piece Gold Floral Coffee Spoon Set, $17 (was $20) at Amazon
• Hahafelt 2-Pack of Faux Fur Sunflower Pillow Covers, $10 (was $14) at Amazon

The Certified International Sunflower Bouquet Deep Serving Bowl is an easy $35 update for anyone ready to start easing into fall decorating. It can handle weeknight salads and sides now, then move right onto a Thanksgiving table later in the season, so be sure to grab the bowl on Amazon while it’s still on sale.

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Taylor Swift has the highest-grossing concert tour in history, and it is not close.

Adjusted for inflation, her 2023 Eras Tour finished $631 million ahead of the tour in second place, according to a new ranking from Visual Capitalist. The stranger thing sits further down the list. Every one of the top 20 happened this century. Not one of them started in the 1900s.

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The Oldest Tour on the List Began in 2005

That would be the Rolling Stones’ A Bigger Bang, at No. 7. Everything above it is newer. The figures are adjusted for inflation to July 2026, so this is not a case of old money being undercounted. Touring simply did not pay like this until record sales fell away.

Only Five Tours Have Passed $1 Billion

Swift’s Eras Tour leads at $2.2 billion across its 149 dates, the only tour ever to clear $2 billion. Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres follows at $1.6 billion and stands as the most attended tour in history. U2’s 360° Tour takes third at $1.1 billion. Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road and Ed Sheeran’s Divide Tour round out the club at roughly $1 billion apiece. All five started in 2009 or later.

Paris Felt It More Than the Olympics

Swift played across Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas before finishing in Vancouver in December 2024. The tour reportedly added around $4 billion to the US economy. Economists predicted a boost of roughly 0.2 percent to Singapore’s GDP. Paris reportedly saw a bigger economic impact from her shows than from the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Springsteen, Beyoncé and Metallica All Made It

Guns N’ Roses’ Not in This Lifetime sits at No. 8 with $758 million. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band land just behind at $754 million for their 2023 to 2025 run. Harry Styles’ Love On Tour is No. 13, Roger Waters’ The Wall Live is No. 15 and Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour is No. 16 at $629 million.

Four acts appear twice. Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, the Rolling Stones and Metallica each placed two tours in the top 20. Rammstein, at No. 18, is the only act on the list that isn’t from an English-speaking country. Metallica took the last two spots outright, at Nos. 19 and 20.

There’s no question that the ’60s produced some of the most unique bands in rock history, and the 13th Floor Elevators were definitely among the most distinctive of the era. For one thing, the pioneering psychedelic rockers manage to get a song featuring an electric jug on the Billboard Hot 100. For another, that song — called “You’re Gonna Miss Me” — was written by singer-songwriter Roky Erickson when he was just 15 years old.

Erickson got his start in music early, according to the Southwest Review, beginning piano lessons when he was just four years old at his mother’s suggestion.

“My mom always encouraged everybody to sing,” the late Erickson explained in his last interview. “She’d say, ‘If you’re not going to do anything constructive around the house, the least you could do is sing! Sing a happy song.’”

Growing up in Austin, Texas, Erickson was a big fan of musicians like Buddy Holly, Little Richard, and James Brown. The influence of those idols can certainly be heard on “You’re Gonna Miss Me,” which Erickson first recorded with his local group the Spades. Like many teenage rock bands, the Spades didn’t last for very long, and Erickson went on to form the 13th Floor Elevators with University of Texas psychology student Tommy Hall in 1965.

As drummer John Ike Walton recalled years later, the 13th Floor Elevators came together as a group fairly quickly.

“We went to Tommy’s house. Tommy got Roky over and we were jamming. Next thing, we’re playing at the Jade Room,” he told The Austin Chronicle.

Showcasing Erickson’s one-of-a-kind voice (often described as a primal scream or howl) and Hall’s trademark whoop-whooping jug, “You’re Gonna Miss Me” was the opening track on the band’s 1966 debut album, The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators.

Ruby Ray / Getty Images

While “You’re Gonna Miss Me” was only a modest hit commercially, peaking at #55 on the Billboard Hot 100, it’s still considered to be one of the most influential songs of the era, credited with helping to shape the sound of psychedelic and garage rock. Nearly 50 years later, in 2014, Paste ranked “You’re Gonna Miss Me” at #2 on a list of the “50 Best Garage Rock Songs of All Time,” with music journalist Eric R. Danton calling it a “significant milestone” and the 13th Floor Elevators’ “defining statement.”

While the 13th Floor Elevators never had another song on the charts, they did release a few more albums (despite such complications as run-ins with the law, substance issues and Erickson’s severe mental health struggles). As for Erickson, though his condition would continue to deteriorate over the years, he didn’t let that stop him from making music.

“He was the most electric performer I’ve ever seen, and that includes Hendrix,” former Warner Bros. executive Bill Bentley said of Erickson. “He was possessed, so vivid and mesmerizing. His voice was so sharp and cutting — sometimes he’d get lost in his screams.”

In 2005, Keven McAlester‘s documentary You’re Gonna Miss Me explored Erickson’s music and life (including his schizophrenia diagnosis and onstage comeback). Erickson died in 2019 at the age of 71.

Related: 1964 Garage Rock Anthem, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Songs of All Time,’ Was Written by an 18-Year-Old

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When it comes to interior design, it’s not always about the furniture and decor pieces. Sometimes, it’s the little things that make all the difference in your space. A cohesive dinnerware set is a prime example. While it may seem like a mundane, everyday product, a proper set can instantly elevate your daily meals and bring elegance to the dining table. 

If you want every at-home meal to feel like you’re dining at a beachside ranch, this Vancasso 16-Piece Vine Stoneware Dinnerware Set at Walmart fits the bill. Nailing the trendy coastal farmhouse aesthetic, this set brings a touch of quiet luxury to your dining room table. 

@sallismandel

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♬ Summer Rain – Zimmer90

Right now, you can score this 16-piece stoneware set on sale for a limited time with a Walmart flash deal. It normally retails for $90, but it’s now marked down to just $59, which means that you’re getting each piece for less than $4! 

Vancasso 16-Piece Vine Stoneware Dinnerware Set, $59 (was $90) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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Featuring light blue and white hues inspired by coastal living, this dinnerware set has af breezy, relaxed feel. The design boasts an embossed vine pattern and decorative borders, blending the coastal vibe with farmhouse charm. The pieces have a weathered finish, giving them a rustic appeal. 

This set comes with everything you need to serve a complete meal to four people. It includes four dinner plates, four side plates, four bowls, and four mugs. For size reference, the dinner plates have a 10.6-inch diameter, the side plates have a 7.8-inch diameter, and the bowls have a 6-inch diameter. The mugs can hold up to 12.3 ounces, which is around the same size as a standard soda can. 

The dinner plates offer plenty of space for your main course so you can thoroughly enjoy your food without it feeling cramped. They have a slightly concave silhouette that curves towards the middle, preventing foods, sauces, and liquids from spilling over the sides. You can use these larger plates for anything from omelets to sandwiches and pastas. 

Shop More Deals 

• Vesteel 12-Piece Speckled Stoneware Set, From $38 (was $73) at Walmart
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Ideal for your side dishes, the smaller plates are the ideal size for appetizers and desserts. Offering a generous depth, the bowls serve a variety of purposes. They’re undoubtedly great for cereals, stews, and soups, but you can also use them as a vessel for snacks as you work or lounge around. No meal is complete without a beverage, and these mugs are great for any drink you see fit, whether it’s water, juice, coffee, or tea. 

Made of FDA-certified stoneware, these dishes are non-toxic and free of lead and cadmium. They’re durable and chip-resistant, so they should last you for years to come. Designed for convenience, this dinnerware set is microwave-safe and dishwasher-safe, making it a breeze to reheat food and clean up. The plates and bowls are stackable, so they shouldn’t take up unnecessary space in your cabinets and pantries when stored. 

Shoppers loved everything about this dinnerware set, from its high quality to its appearance. One reviewer described it as “beautiful and heavy” and said that it has a “vintage” look. A second customer commented that it’s “rustic and elegant” and “perfect for guests and everyday use.”

This 16-piece set is intended to serve four people. If you have more people in your family or plan on hosting a large gathering, you can snag a 32-piece set for eight people. It normally retails for $150, but is now on sale for $123. 

Related: Shoppers Say This 12-Piece Mediterranean-Inspired Stoneware Dining Set Evokes ‘Joy and Happiness’

From casual brunches to fancy dinners, the Vancasso 16-Piece Vine Stoneware Dinnerware Set will make every meal feel like laid-back luxury. Be sure to grab it at Walmart while it’s still on sale for just $59 to add a bit of coastal farmhouse charm to your dining room!

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The Doors had just been fired.

Management at the Whisky a Go Go cut them loose on Aug. 21, 1966, over the way Jim Morrison was performing “The End,” and three days later the band walked into Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood and started making their first album anyway. That was 60 years ago today. Eight days after that, the whole thing was finished.

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Eight Days, Four Tracks

The sessions ran Aug. 24 through 31. Paul Rothchild produced and Bruce Botnick engineered. The whole record went onto four tracks of tape, one of them held back for overdubs, and almost everything you hear was played live in the room together. Rothchild later said they stopped a take not when it was perfect but when it had “the muse in it.”

The Band Had No Bass Player

Not one. Ray Manzarek played the bass lines with his left hand on a Fender Rhodes Piano Bass, a 32-note keyboard stacked on top of his Vox Continental organ, and worked the organ with his right. On five tracks they quietly brought in Larry Knechtel on bass guitar, uncredited, among them “Soul Kitchen,” “Back Door Man” and “Twentieth Century Fox.”

The Song That Got Them Fired Closed the Record

Morrison had started “The End” as a breakup song, then stretched it night after night onstage at the Whisky until it became the thing that ended the residency. It went on the album anyway. Last, and uncut.

The First Single Stalled at No. 126

The album arrived Jan. 4, 1967, 11 tracks on Elektra. “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” had gone out three days ahead of it as the first single, and it stalled at No. 126. The one that actually broke them was “Light My Fire,” out that April, written mostly by guitarist Robby Krieger but credited to all four of them.

Collider named the record the greatest classic rock debut ever made earlier this year, with Led Zeppelin second and Black Sabbath third. By that September the band had gotten itself banned from The Ed Sullivan Show, and their second album landed a week after that.

If you asked me to choose the most relaxing way to start each morning, I’d quickly reply with, “Curling up on my front porch and sipping a homemade latte in my PJs.” This peaceful quiet time would lead to a hot shower with my favorite Jo Malone London body wash. I can confidently say that my answer would not include climbing into an ice bath or cold plunge of 50-degree water at 6 a.m. 

That said, I’ve watched my husband devotedly dip into his Plunge several mornings each week for the past three years, and he’s become a major fan. He’s convinced that this ritual improves his focus, supports better sleep and helps him recover quicker after a full day of yard work or a long bike ride.

To be honest, I can’t understand how he would choose to step into a tub filled with chilling water when our nice, warm shower and plush bath towels are just steps away. Yet cold plunging is one of the most popular self-care trends right now. There are endless articles about the potentially amazing cold plunge benefits, including improved insulin sensitivity, inflammation reduction and mental clarity.

Between much positive buzz, my husband’s praise and the fact that this is my “year of wellness,” I felt inclined to see for myself if I’m missing out on something good. Hence, I tried cold water immersion every morning for two weeks, and here’s what I learned. Read on for my cold plunge results.

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Why I Decided To Take the Plunge: Benefits and Expectations

I learned cold plunging can be a great wellness habit to include in your routine—and science backs this up. Research shows that cold water immersion could provide potential health benefits like improved sleep quality, better immunity and reduced stress. In fact, participants who took cold showers experienced a 29% reduction in sickness absence.

Cold water immersion may also serve as an effective tool for fitness enthusiasts and athletes who need speedy recovery between workouts or competitions, says Dr. Mark Kovacs, PhD, FACSM, CSCS, sport scientist and longevity and human-performance expert.

Although more research is needed on cold water therapy in general, as current evidence is limited to a small number of randomized controlled trials, modest sample sizes, and a lack of diversity among study populations, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular.

Potential benefits aside, I was honestly skeptical that this habit would stick in the long-term. That said, I’m always game to try new wellness hacks, and I was eager to kick off my two-week cold water immersion journey.

Related: I Tried the Viral ‘Dark Showering’ Trend for Two Weeks—and My Sleep Tracker Was Shocked

Alexa Mellardo

My 2-Week Setup: Temperature, Duration and Rules

The first week, I eased into my cold water immersion journey by plunging each morning around 8 a.m. for 30 seconds, submerging myself up to my chest. The water was set to roughly 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

During week two, I took the plunge—quite literally—by completely covering my shoulders. This teeny bit of extra skin submerged makes the experience feel even more intense. I stayed in the tub for approximately 40 seconds per day.

For first-timers, Dr. Kovacs says you don’t need near-freezing water to reap the rewards. He recommends starting with 55 to 60°F for 30 to 60 seconds and slowly progressing to one or two minutes as your tolerance improves. For cold showers, wrap up a warm shower with 20 to 30 seconds of cool water and gradually increase the duration from there.

“There is no scientifically established minimum exposure that guarantees general health benefits. Colder and longer are not automatically better. A moderate stimulus that can be controlled safely is preferable to pursuing an extreme temperature for social media. Prolonged or very cold immersion increases cardiovascular strain and the risk of hypothermia, nerve injury and loss of physical control,” Dr. Kovacs stresses.

Related: I Ate Dinner at 5PM for a Month—Here’s What Happened to My Belly Bloat

Week 1: The Initial Shock and Mental Barrier

The first time I cold plunged, I knew I was in for a chilling experience the moment I slipped my legs into the water. If you’ve ever done cold water immersion before, you know the shock factor is all too real. Throughout weeks one and two, it was challenging to get myself in the right frame of mind—or shall I say, ready—to step into the “tundra,” the nickname I gave our plunge pool. I knew I had to immerse myself quickly, otherwise I would have talked myself out of it.

It didn’t get any easier once I was submerged. It’s safe to say I was definitely hyperventilating and counting down the seconds until I was finished.

After I got out of the plunge and wrapped myself in a towel, I wondered what was really going on inside my mind and body during and after that initial shock factor.

“The initial sensation is the cold-shock response,” explains Dr. Kovacs. “Rapid cooling of the skin activates sensory receptors and produces an involuntary gasp, hyperventilation, increased heart rate and a sharp rise in blood pressure. This is a protective survival response, but it is also the most dangerous phase because a person may temporarily lose control of breathing or inhale water.”

I learned that repeated cold exposure can decrease this response, which makes perfect sense because the body learns how to adapt to the “shock.” I know it will take ample time for me to conquer this mental hurdle.

Related: ‘I Tried Alo Wellness Club for 3 Weeks—Here’s My Honest Review’

Week 2: What Happened to My Energy, Focus and Recovery

Most mornings, I still feel groggy—even when I’ve had a good night’s rest. A cold plunge first thing in the a.m. proved to be the jolt of energy I needed—and I felt it immediately. While it was definitely far less enjoyable, cold plunging helped me wake up even better than my cup of joe—and it seemingly set me up for mental success. I felt more prepared and focused to tackle my emails, tasks and deadlines.

As far as cold plunge recovery is concerned, since I don’t perform high-intensity workouts and did my plunging in the morning, this isn’t the most relevant benefit for me. (I prioritize lower-impact forms of movement, like Pilates and brisk walking.) That said, I do think adding cold plunging to my routine might have helped me fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly at night.

Cold Plunge vs. Cold Shower: Can You Get the Same Results?

If you’re comparing a cold plunge vs cold shower, there are a few things to consider, including whether you’ll get the same results from each.

According to Dr. Kovacs, cold plunging involves immersing a much larger portion of the body in cold water, which can lead to quicker heat loss and a stronger cardiovascular and respiratory response. A shower, on the other hand, exposes less of the body’s surface area to the water and allows you to tweak the temperature as desired.

“Cold showers may still provide a temporary increase in alertness and an opportunity to become accustomed to cold, with substantially less equipment and generally lower risk. However, they are unlikely to create the same degree of tissue cooling or post-exercise recovery effect as full-body immersion,” explains Dr. Kovacs.

Related: I Tried Jane Fonda’s ’80s Aerobic Workout for 2 Weeks—Here’s How It Holds Up Today

Potential Risks and Who Should Avoid Daily Cold Water Therapy

Brief, controlled exposure to cold water therapy can be tolerable for many healthy adults, but daily exposure has not been proven to be necessary or provide additional benefits. Dr. Kovacs recommends progressing gradually, avoiding cold plunging alone and never plunging while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

In addition, be mindful of these cold water therapy side effects. Stop ASAP if you experience any chest pain, dizziness, faintness, uncontrolled breathing, confusion, severe shivering or numbness, Dr. Kovacs stresses.

It’s always wise to speak with your healthcare provider before adding a new wellness habit like cold plunging to your routine. This is especially important for those with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, seizure or fainting disorders, heart rhythm abnormalities, uncontrolled hypertension, peripheral artery disease, Raynaud’s phenomenon or a history of heart attack or stroke, Dr. Kovacs says.

If you are pregnant or taking medication that impacts your heart rate, blood pressure or body temperature regulation, discussing cold exposure with your physician is also crucial.

“Sudden cold exposure constricts blood vessels, raises blood pressure and increases the workload placed on the heart,” Dr. Kovacs explains. “The main message is that cold exposure can be a useful wellness or recovery tool, but it is not a substitute for exercise, sleep, nutrition or medical treatment. Most potential benefits can be achieved without extreme temperatures or prolonged immersion.”

Related: I Tried the Evening Walking Trend ‘Passeggiata’ That Italians Swear By

Final Verdict: Is a 2-Week Cold Plunge Challenge Worth It?

Cold plunging is definitely not for everyone. Some people love it, while others fear it. My husband does it all the time and genuinely loves how it makes him feel afterward.

As for me, will I continue to do a cold plunge every day? Most likely not—especially during the colder months of the year. But as my body continues to adapt, I’d like to think I might become a more experienced cold plunger, weaving it into my routine every so often. Only time will tell. 

For now, it has been challenging for me to break through that mental barrier and completely calm my breathing, which is a crucial part of the puzzle I’m still working on mastering.

Up Next:

Sources:

• Esperland, D., de Weerd, L., & Mercer, J. B. (2022). Health effects of voluntary exposure to cold water—a continuing subject of debate. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 81(1), 2111789.
• Cain, T., Brinsley, J., Bennett, H., Nelson, M., Maher, C., & Singh, B. (2025). Effects of cold-water immersion on health and wellbeing: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 20(1), e0317615.
• Dr. Mark Kovacs, PhD, FACSM, CSCS, sport scientist and longevity and human performance expert.

In 1965, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles released one of Robinson’s most enduring ballads, “Ooo Baby Baby,” a song he would later call his “national anthem.” But more than six decades later, it isn’t the Miracles’ original recording, or even Linda Ronstadt’s hugely successful 1978 cover, that’s suddenly finding a new audience.

It’s The Five Stairsteps’ version of “Oooh, Baby Baby,” and it’s currently climbing TikTok’s Top 50 Songs chart, where it has reached No. 32.

The Chicago family group, best remembered for their 1970 Top 10 hit “O-o-h Child,” recorded their version of the Robinson and Pete Moore-penned song early in their career. Released in 1967, their rendition reached No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 34 on the R&B chart.

Now, nearly 60 years after The Five Stairsteps recorded it and 61 years after Robinson first released the song, TikTok is giving that lesser-known version an unexpected second life.

The Five Stairsteps Put Their Own Spin on ‘Ooo Baby Baby’

The Five Stairsteps were a true family affair. The Chicago group originally consisted of siblings Alohe Jean, Clarence Jr., James, Dennis and Kenneth “Keni” Burke, five of Betty and Clarence Burke Sr.’s six children. Their mother reportedly came up with their name because the children resembled stair steps when lined up by age.

After winning a talent contest at Chicago’s Regal Theater, the siblings were introduced to Curtis Mayfield through Fred Cash of the Impressions and signed with Mayfield’s Windy City label. Their first charting single, “You Waited Too Long,” arrived in 1966.

The following year brought “Oooh, Baby Baby,” their take on the song Robinson and Moore had written for the Miracles.

The original was already a major hit. The Miracles’ recording reached No. 16 on the Hot 100 and No. 4 on the R&B chart in 1965. Built around Robinson’s wounded lead vocal and the group’s intricate harmonies, the song finds its narrator admitting his infidelity and pleading for forgiveness.

Rolling Stone later ranked the Miracles’ version among its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, praising Robinson’s delicate, wounded vocal and noting the remarkable staying power of a song that has been covered by generations of artists.

Robinson himself understood just how deeply “Ooo Baby Baby” connected with listeners. He once told rock critic Dave Marsh that he considered the song his “national anthem” because “wherever we go, it’s the one song that everybody always asks for.”

Marsh, who ranked “Ooo Baby Baby” No. 329 in his book “The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made,” believed its power went well beyond its popularity. He praised the way its lyrics flow effortlessly from one vernacular phrase to another and wrote that Robinson’s singing “just about defines the soul music version of rubato.”

Marsh was particularly struck by the way Robinson could stretch one phrase and double-time another while still hitting his marks, writing that a listener could spend a lifetime trying to figure out exactly how he did it and what Robinson’s smallest vocal quavers meant.

Six decades later, the song’s pull clearly hasn’t disappeared. What’s changed is the recording listeners are finding.

The Five Stairsteps’ version never approached the commercial heights of the original, but the group soon scored the song that would define its career. “O-o-h Child” reached No. 8 on the Hot 100 in 1970 and sold more than 1 million copies.

Linda Ronstadt Took ‘Ooh Baby Baby’ Back Into the Top 10

More than a decade after The Five Stairsteps recorded “Oooh, Baby Baby,” Ronstadt introduced the song to another generation.

She recorded “Ooh Baby Baby” for her 1978 album Living in the USA, with producer Peter Asher and a memorable opening saxophone solo from David Sanborn. Her rendition became one of the song’s biggest covers, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Ronstadt eventually performed the song alongside Robinson himself. The pair sang both “Ooh Baby Baby” and another Miracles favorite, “The Tracks of My Tears,” on the 1983 television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.

The song has been covered by numerous other artists over the decades, including Ella Fitzgerald and Todd Rundgren, but it’s now the Five Stairsteps’ comparatively overlooked recording that’s having its turn in the spotlight.

Why ‘Oooh, Baby Baby’ Is Suddenly Everywhere Again @yeathatsjh ♬ Ooh Baby Baby (Buddha Remastered 2001) – The Five Stairsteps

There’s no single TikTok trend driving the Five Stairsteps’ resurgence. Instead, the song has found its way into two very different corners of the platform.

One is unabashedly romantic. In one video, a man covers his face in disbelief while text on the screen ticks through everything he’s “obsessed” with about someone, from their eyes and smile to their voice, laugh and sense of humor. Another pairs the song with a slideshow of memorable movie romances.

Then there’s the considerably hungrier side of “Oooh, Baby Baby” TikTok.

@audreybakes

Biscoff Cinnamon Rolls 🤎 (makes ~8 rolls) Dough: ¾ cup (180g) warm milk 1 packet instant yeast (2¼ tsp/7g) *if using active dry yeast, gently stir it in with the warm milk and sugar then let sit 5-10 min until foamy) ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar 1 egg + 1 egg yolk, room temp ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter, melted 3-3½ cups (360-420g) all purpose flour (start with 3 cups and only add more if it’s super sticky) ¾ tsp salt optional: ⅓-½ cup warm heavy cream to pour over the rolls before baking Biscoff cinnamon filling: ⅓ cup (76g) unsalted butter, softened ⅓ cup (~80g) Biscoff spread/cookie butter ¾ cup (165g) brown sugar, packed 1½ tbsp cinnamon + crushed Biscoff cookies Cream cheese icing: 6oz (170g) cream cheese, room temp (block style, not spreadable) ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter, room temp ⅓ cup (~80g) biscoff spread 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar ½ tsp vanilla Instructions: Combine the warm milk and instant yeast. Add sugar, eggs, and melted butter, mix. Stir in salt and flour. Mix until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough for 8-10 min. Place in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1-1½ hrs or until doubled. For the biscoff cinnamon filling, mix the soft butter, biscoff spread, brown sugar, and cinnamon until combined and spreadable. Roll dough into about a 9x14in rectangle. Spread biscoff cinnamon filling evenly and scatter the crushed biscoff cookies on top of it. I like to use a pizza cutter or knife to first slice 8 pieces then roll them each up tightly. (Or you can tightly roll the whole thing then slice) Place in greased 9×13 pan (it could also probably fit tightly in a 9×9). Cover and let rise 35-45 min. Pour warm heavy cream over the rolls right before baking. Bake at 350°F for 22-28 min until golden. (tent with foil towards the end if the tops are browning too quickly) To make the icing, beat cream cheese, butter, and biscoff spread together until smooth. Then, beat in powdered sugar and vanilla until fully combined. Spread over warm rolls and sprinkle extra crushed biscoff cookies over the top. Enjoy! biscoff/cookie butter and cinnamon rolls are my new favorite combo 🤭#bakingrecipe #cookiebutter #cinnamonrolls #bakingszn

♬ Ooh Baby Baby (Buddha Remastered 2001) – The Five Stairsteps

The dreamy soul recording has become a soundtrack for decadent recipe videos, including warm chocolate chip banana bread being sliced open, Biscoff cinnamon rolls pulled apart and gooey Twix cookies. The creators pair all that slow-motion food temptation with the Five Stairsteps crooning in the background, then provide the recipes in their captions.

It’s an unlikely combination, but apparently “Oooh, Baby Baby” works equally well for falling hopelessly in love and staring helplessly at a cinnamon roll.

More than half a century after it first appeared on the charts, The Five Stairsteps’ version is finally getting a moment of its own.

Related: 1976 Linda Ronstadt Deep Cut, Written by a 24-Year-Old Newcomer, Helped Launch the Songwriter’s Career

As one of the most legendary guitarists of all time, Jimmy Page influenced countless musicians over the years…bringing his own interpretations of the music that inspired him to millions of fans in the process.

While it’s no secret that Page borrowed quite liberally from greats like Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson, blues wasn’t the only genre that shaped his sensibilities. While still with The Yardbirds, Page wrote the instrumental “White Summer” (which would later become a Led Zeppelin live favorite), based on an Irish folk song, when he was just 23 years old.

According to biographer Keith Shadwick‘s Led Zeppelin: The Story of a Band and Their Music 1968–1980, “White Summer” was “specifically derived from ‘She Moved Through the Fair’ in the 1963 version by [Davey] Graham, which he in turn credited to Padraic Colum.”

“White Summer” was released on The Yardbirds’ last album, 1967’s Little Games. By October of 1968, the band had gone through a major lineup shift and transformed into Led Zeppelin; eventually, “White Summer” became a fixture of the group’s live concerts, often performed with the instrumental Zeppelin song “Black Mountain Side,” according to Dave Lewis‘ From a Whisper to a Scream: The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin. (“Black Mountain Side” was also adapted from a traditional Irish folk song, “Down by Blackwaterside.”)

A performance of the two songs recorded during Led Zeppelin’s U.K. Tour of Summer 1969 was released in 1990 on the Led Zeppelin Boxed Set with the combined title “White Summer/Black Mountain Side.”

In a 1993 interview with Guitar World, Page reflected on how his work with The Yardbirds evolved with Led Zeppelin.

“I had a lot of ideas from my days with The Yardbirds,” Page explained. “The Yardbirds allowed me to improvise a lot in live performance and I started building a textbook of ideas that I eventually used in Zeppelin. In addition to those ideas, I wanted to add acoustic textures. Ultimately, I wanted Zeppelin to be a marriage of blues, hard rock and acoustic music topped with heavy choruses — a combination that had never been done before.
Lots of light and shade in the music.”

As Page recalled years earlier in a 1977 interview with Modern Guitars Magazine, his time with The Yardbirds was complicated.

“One thing is it was chaotic in recording,” he said. “I mean we did one tune and didn’t really know what it was. We had Ian Stewart from The Stones on piano, and we’d just finished the take, and without even hearing it [producer] Mickie Most said, ‘Next.’ I said, ‘I’ve never worked like this in my life,’ and he said, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ It was all done very quickly, as it sounds.”

“It was things like that that really led to the general state of mind and depression of [Keith] Relf [singer, harmonica player] and [drummer] Jim McCarty that broke the group up,” Page continued.

“I tried to keep it together, but there was no chance; they just wouldn’t have it,” he added. “In fact, Relf said the magic of the band disappeared when [Eric] Clapton left. I was really keen on doing anything, though, probably because of having had all that studio work and variety beforehand. So it didn’t matter what way we wanted to go; they were definitely talented people, but they couldn’t really see the woods for the trees at the time.”

Thankfully for music lovers everywhere, Plant and Clapton of course went to achieve even greater success after The Yardbirds.

Related: 1965 Classic Rock Hit, Written by an 18-Year-Old, Was Rejected by Record Label Before Topping the Charts

Europe has entered the final countdown.

It is now T minus four weeks until the Swedish hard rock legends release their long-awaited new album, Come This Madness, slated for release on Sept. 25.

Recorded at RMV Studio in Stockholm, which was founded by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and his son Ludvig Andersson, the album features guest appearances from Tobias Forge of Ghost and Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth.

Related: 1976 Disco Smash, Covered Later by Rock Legends U2, Has Spent 50 Years Making People Happy

Meanwhile, Tom Dalgety produced the record, with Mike Fraser on mixing.

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In a chat with We Go to 11, longtime drummer Ian Haugland dished even further on what fans can expect from the forthcoming 12th studio album, sharing details about its songwriting, sound, and evolution.

“When we started all over again in 2004 [with] Start From the Dark, we decided that we were not gonna become a novelty act, just relying on the ’80s stuff and the big hits,” Haugland said, via Blabbermouth. “To do this for real, we said that it needs to be driven by the force of music. … Just let the music flow, and it becomes what it becomes.”

He added that this new evolution of the band “still has that signature Europe mark to it—melodic, heavy, but also dynamic, with balance.”

Formed in 1979 in Upplands Väsby, Sweden, under the name Force, the band changed their name to Europe in 1982. Active until 1992, they reunited for a one-off performance in 1999, and then for good in 2003. And although nine years have passed since their last studio album, 2017‘s Walk the Earth, they haven’t exactly been sitting around.

Related: 1980 Metal Hit, Reimagined by Anthrax Legend, Rocks Even Harder 50 Years Later 

“The funny thing is that we haven’t been unemployed during this time,” Haugland explained. “Every year, we were out doing all the festivals around Europe, and we’ve been touring in Asia and in South America. … And then the pandemic hit, so there was another year that went by. … Time flies, it’s weird.”

Haugland also dove into details about the album and the band’s recently released new singles, “One on One,” released in April, and “The Cult of Ignorance,” dropped in June–the latter of which has a music video starring Fargo‘s Peter Stormare that has already surpassed a million views on YouTube.

“It’s an adventurous album,” he said, “but it also has elements from the ’80s with very melodic guitar solos and strong hooks and melodies in basically every song, but still some heavier elements that we might have been used to with the later Europe albums. So it’s the old and the new.”

The album’s heavier sound is rooted in the band’s longstanding love of ’70s hard rock, with Haugland citing Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, and Rainbow, among Europe’s influences.

“Since we come from that ’70s rock era, and we loved Black Sabbath and those bands as well, I think we all carry with us a lot of heavy riffing and heavy melodies and stuff like that,” he said.

Luckily, the new Europe and the classic Europe, who gave the world “The Final Countdown” and “Rock the Night,” aren’t competing versions of the band. If Haugland’s teasers are any indication, they actually work together.

“I’ve heard a lot of demos before when we recorded this album,” he said. “So I know there are a lot of great ideas still in the can that we will be working on. And so, hopefully, it won’t be another almost 10 years before the next album comes.”

Related: 1987 Rock Song, Once an i-Ten Flop, Ranked the Greatest Power Ballad of the ’80s

While The Raspberries never exactly made it to household name status, the ’70s rock/power pop band was hugely popular with other musicians of the era, like John Lennon and Keith Moon. They had plenty of fans, too: The Raspberries’ biggest hit, “Go All the Way,” went all the way to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was later ranked among Spin magazine‘s “100 Greatest Singles of All Time.”

Another classic Raspberries track, “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record),” didn’t break the Top 10, but it did manage to peak at #18…and inspired a number of covers, including one by former Runaways’ lead singer Cherie Currie and her twin sister, Marie Currie, on their 1980 album, Messin’ With the Boys.

According to Eric Carmen, lead singer for The Raspberries (who later had a huge solo hit with “All By Myself”), the inspiration for “Overnight Sensation” came to him almost like scenes from a movie in his mind.

“‘Overnight Sensation’ was like the first video that I ever saw in my head,” Carmen explained in the liner notes for The Raspberries’ compilation album, Greatest.

“It was written very theatrically,” he continued. “The first scene was, you can picture Abbey Road Studios, this great, huge dark room with a real high camera and this one spotlight on the singer and it was like this guy singing in his living room, thinking about the music business: ‘I know it sounds funny but I’m not in it for the money…'”

“So, he gets through the first verse and the first group of background vocals come in and the room lights up and gets a little bit bigger, and by the time you get to the first full-blown chorus it’s like, ‘Baboom!’ Visually, I was trying to get on a record what I was seeing in my head,” Carmen added.

Years later, the Raspberries’ original version of “Overnight Sensation” is still considered a classic. Ultimate Classic Rock‘s David Swanson described the song as “epic,” calling it “probably the Raspberries’ most adventurous record.”

“Taking a somewhat Phil Spector, kitchen sink approach, it’s a mini-symphony packed into a five minute song,” Swanson continued. “Overflowing with vocals, percussion, guitars, drums, saxophones, pianos, you name it, the song is a majestic slice of pop music.”

Six years after The Raspberries released “Overnight Sensation,” the song was recorded by the Currie sisters. Cherie was pursuing a post-Runaways solo career at that point, and after Marie joined her onstage during a Japanese promotional tour, they had the idea to make an album together.

In an interview with People in 1980, the sisters opened up about the project and growing up in the fast lane (they were nicknamed “Double Trouble” in high school).

“We smoked in the bathroom like normal kids, but got caught more often,” noted Cherie, with Marie admitting, “We’ve learned more out of school than in.”

Unfortunately, the Currie sisters didn’t have a huge hit with “Overnight Sensation” (or anything else, really).

Related: 1972 Hit Song, Featured in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Almost Famous,’ Became One of the ‘Greatest Singles of All Time’

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword puzzle has a few words that end with the same letter, one of the names from a popular Cartoon Network show and a nickname for a generation of people.

Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can’t forget about the NYT’s The Mini Crossword, too!

Although the NYT is known for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.

So, if you’re working on today’s Mini Crossword on Tuesday, August 25, and need some help (I’ve been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both “Across” and “Down” words, followed by “Across Answers” and “Down Answers,” so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!

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Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: Cohort born between 1965 and 1980, for short — HINT: Ends with the letter “X”

5 Across: Shipping giant with a purple-and-orange logo — HINT: Ends with the letter “X”

6 Across: Section at the end of a textbook — HINT: Starts with the letter “I”

7 Across: Dry, as the desert — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”

8 Across: “___ it high and let it fly” (golfer’s mantra) — HINT: Starts with the letter “T”

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: Pop, rock or jazz — HINT: Starts with the letter “G”

2 Down: Comedian Murphy — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

3 Down: Requirement — HINT: Starts with the letter “N”

4 Down: Winning line in tic-tac-toe — HINT: Starts with the letter “X”

5 Down: Italy’s largest automaker — HINT: Ends with the letter “T”

Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Don’t go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Answers

1 Across: Cohort born between 1965 and 1980, for short — GENX

5 Across: Shipping giant with a purple-and-orange logo — FEDEX

6 Across: Section at the end of a textbook — INDEX

7 Across: Dry, as the desert — ARID

8 Across: “___ it high and let it fly” (golfer’s mantra) — TEE

NYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: Pop, rock or jazz — GENRE

2 Down: Comedian Murphy — EDDIE

3 Down: Requirement — GUANO

4 Down: Winning line in tic-tac-toe — NEED

5 Down: Italy’s largest automaker — XXX

Related: NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Monday, August 24, 2026

It’s rare to say a show’s format would forever be changed in its 26th season. But that’s exactly what happened with Big Brother in 2024. That summer, the hit CBS reality series introduced the “BB Block Buster” (then known as the “A.I. Arena”), an opportunity for the nominees to compete on eviction night for one last chance at safety.

Through two-and-a-half years, the new competition has seen a handful of clutch wins leading to shocking evictions. The fact that any configuration of the three nominees can face the vote has the players’ minds scrambled, as they think through myriad options — and sometimes use it as an opportunity to stage power plays. Yes, some Big Brother fans may see the downsides (particularly its tenure, considering last year ran the competition all the way down to the Final Seven). But the Block Buster has by and large been the most positively received twist the show has gotten in years.

And one of the most memorable eliminations in Big Brother history was its origin story.

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In an interview with Variety in anticipation of the show’s 1000th episode (airing this Thursday), producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan discussed a slew of topics spanning decades of the show. One of the more modern talking points centered on the Block Buster, which they revealed was sparked eight years ago, during one unforgettable night on Big Brother 20.

On Day 37, Kaitlyn Herman was evicted near-unanimously. But she didn’t immediately walk out the front door, as every one of her houseguest colleagues would. Instead, she was quickly ushered into another room, giving an immediate chance to stave off execution. This came from the “Bonus Life” power that Sam Bledsoe had received in the “BB App Store,” giving her the chance to come back should she get voted out. With the advantage going unused, it was automatically put into play in Week 4, making Kaitlyn the lucky recipient of this redemption competition.

As is the case with Big Brother as a whole, the concept was simple in principle and apparently complicated in execution. To come back into the game, all she had to do was disassemble a puzzle of herself, then reassemble it on the other side of the room. If she did that in under two-and-a-half minutes, she would succeed. What would follow in real time was an excruciating, yet exhilarating 150-second experience. As time ticked away, it became increasingly clear to both Kaitlyn and the fans that she would be unable to reconstruct herself.

Kaitlyn Herman attempts to solve a puzzle that can get her back in the game on ‘Big Brother 20’

Screenshot courtesy of CBS

Related: Meet the ‘Big Brother’ Season 28 Cast — Including the Surprising Reality TV All-Stars!

Soon enough, it was all over. Kaitlyn sat against the wall, curled up in a ball, weeping. The audience, both live in the studio and in homes across America, sat shocked. So were Grodner and Meehan, for the record. But they also saw opportunity.

“It captured so much energy, and it was fun to watch,” Meehan recounts. “We were like, ‘How can we do that in the live show? It’s super simple, but hey, increase the nominees and you’re making more enemies in the house, which creates more drama. And then also, we have this great ‘can’t miss’ sporting event that you have to watch. You don’t know who the final two up for eviction are until that moment.”

The Block Buster was an immediate hit in its debut season, helping contribute to the chaos that defined the first two-thirds of that summer. Grodner and Meehan were so happy with the results, in fact, that they chose to extend the twist another couple of weeks. Then another couple of seasons. And, at this point, it doesn’t look like it’s disappearing anytime soon.

“The current idea is that it’s like a new format piece for the live show,” Meehan reasons. “So I think, at least in the near future, it’s for sure something we’re going to continue to stick with, unless for some reason it stops working or generating.”

And we’ll get to see yet another Block Buster play out during Big Brother‘s 1000th episode, airing as a special 90-minute installment on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Related: ‘Big Brother 28’ Spoilers: The Veto Results Flips the Nominations to a New Target

Carrie Underwood was on the bill to deliver four sets at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., over the weekend. But that’s not all. 

During her two-date stay, which took place on Friday, Aug. 21, and Sat., Aug 22, the country music superstar, 43, celebrated Randy Travis, 67, who was honored for his 40-year legacy with the Grand Ole Opry.

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The special surprise celebration, which happened on Saturday during the first of two shows, was bittersweet for the two stars as Travis was the one who invited Underwood to join the Grand Ole Opry in 2008. With Travis looking dapper in a black suit and seated center stage inside the historic circle, Underwood walked out to present him with a commemorative scarf embroidered by Nashville celebrity designer Manuel Cuevas. 

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“You are so special to all of us, certainly to me, to country music, to the Grand Ole Opry,” Underwood told Travis during the moment, as shown in a video posted on Instagram by the Grand Ole Opry. “We celebrate you and your legacy, your incredible talent, but anybody that knows you knows that you’re great because of your heart and because of the person that you are.” 

She added, “On behalf of all of us, we are so glad to celebrate you tonight, and your 40 years.” 

Further sharing her appreciation for the “I Told You So” legend — who is no longer able to perform, having developed aphasia after surviving a near-fatal stroke in 2013 — Underwood took to her Instagram page, sharing two photos with Travis along with the caption: “I still can’t believe this man even knows my name. It was an honor to honor him tonight at the @opry. I love you @therandytravis …always and forever.”

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“Thank you for always taking the time and being so kind. The years have flown by, but it seems like only yesterday the world heard the voice of an angel on American Idol – one of my greatest honors to watch your journey!” Travis replied in the comment section of Underwood’s post. “Love you forever and ever…”

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Travis went the extra mile to show his mutual respect for Underwood, sharing a slideshow on Instagram highlighting the evening. 

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“Proof that I’m @carrieunderwood ’s biggest fan! 🙌” He captioned his post. “What an incredible night at the @oprysurrounded by friends & family ….Lots of laughs, dancing and memories made that I’ll treasure Forever and Ever… Thank you, Grand Ole Opry, for this family that I’m blessed to be a part of. 🤎”

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The Firm, the British rock supergroup, released several memorable songs during its short-lived run, among them was the 1986 track “All the King’s Horses.”

Composed of musical virtuosos including former Led Zeppelin and The Yardbirds guitarist Jimmy Page, ex-Bad Company and Free vocalist Paul Rodgers, bassist Tony Franklin and former Manfred Mann’s Earth Band and later AC/DC drummer Chris Slade, the quartet, which was recognized as one of the greatest supergroups of all time by BBC Music magazine, scored a major radio hit that has since become a forgotten gem.

Loudwire unveiled a list of “forgotten 1986 rock radio hits” highlighting songs that performed well on the radio but have faded from mainstream memory.

First on the list was The Firm’s “All the King’s Horses,” from its album Mean Business.

According to the publication, the band got off to a strong start with its debut album, but its sophomore record experienced a more modest reception.

The Firm members Paul Rodgers and Jimmy Page.

Brian Rasic/Getty Images

Despite this, the final album’s lead single, “All the King’s Horses,” proved to be the lone bright spot on a second album that’s often gone overlooked in the years after 1986.

Written by Rodgers and with Page among the co-producers, the track features tight riffs and strong, energetic beats, along with Rodgers’ powerful, blues-influenced vocals that helped make it a radio-friendly hit.

Following its release, the song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in February 1986 and remained there for four consecutive weeks.

Unfortunately, it received only a lukewarm response from the general public after peaking at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Following the second album’s modest impact with listeners, The Firm officially disbanded in the summer of 1986, ending the two-year-old project.

However, Rodgers shared that the band was intended as a two-album project while leaving the door open to a possible reunion that never took place.

“By the end, I felt that Jimmy was up and running and in great shape – he was in fantastic form,” he mentioned in an interview with Classic Rock magazine, via Louder. “And I sort of thought, ‘Well, job done’, really. We left it on a high note, thinking, ‘Well, we’ll come back at some point and do something’. But we haven’t actually done that. Maybe we will, who knows? It’s always on the cards.”

Even decades later, the song remains a memorable entry in the supergroup’s catalog and is well worth revisiting.

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In 1972, David Gates transformed the loss of his father into one of Bread’s most poignant recordings.

“Everything I Own” appeared on the band’s fourth album, Baby I’m-a Want You, and became another major success during Bread’s remarkable early-’70s run. Although its lyrics could easily be heard as the aftermath of a romantic breakup, Gates later revealed that he had written the song about his late father.

“My father died in 1963 and I wanted to write a song in memory of him,” Gates told The Guardian. “He did live to see some of my early progress towards success, but not the major songs or stardom with Bread. As with all my songs, the music led and the words tried to keep up, but they came pretty quickly.”

That meaning was deliberately tucked beneath the surface.

Rather than explicitly writing about grief, Gates framed “Everything I Own” around the longing to have someone back again. The lyrics reflect on everything another person has given you and what you would surrender for the chance to spend one more moment with them. Its universality allowed listeners to attach their own experiences of love and loss to the song.

The understated approach resonated.

Released as a single in 1972, “Everything I Own” climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It joined songs including “Make It With You,” “If” and “Baby I’m-a Want You” in establishing Bread as one of the era’s defining soft rock groups, with Gates’ gentle vocals and melodic songwriting at the center of the band’s sound.

The composition soon began traveling through other artists.

Jamaican musician Ken Boothe transformed “Everything I Own” into a reggae recording in 1974, taking his version all the way to No. 1 on the U.K. Singles Chart. His interpretation gave Gates’ ballad a dramatically different rhythmic character and helped establish the song with another audience.

More than a decade later, Boy George returned it to the top.

“When Boy George wanted to do it he called Ken Boothe and said he was going to record that song he’d written,” Gates later shared in an interview. “Boothe said, ‘No, no, it’s a David Gates song’. I thought he did a good version.”

The former Culture Club frontman recorded “Everything I Own” for his 1987 debut solo album, Sold. Drawing heavily from Boothe’s reggae interpretation, George’s version reached No. 1 in the U.K., becoming a major solo success as he began a new chapter outside his famous band.

Fifty-four years after Bread first released “Everything I Own,” the song’s ability to move between artists, genres and generations remains part of its remarkable legacy.

“My records are still being played around the world and maybe they are somewhat timeless in that you can hear them over and over and not get tired of them,” said Gates. “And there’s no one writing anything quite like that now. As long as there’s a uniqueness to what I am doing, and what a lot of artists out of the seventies and eighties have done, they will continue to be played. If you want to hear that kind of music you pretty much have to go to those artists.”

What began as David Gates’ deeply personal reflection on his father became a soft rock favorite and, through voices including Boy George’s, a song capable of finding entirely new lives long after 1972.

Related: 1971 Folk Rock Song, Written by Jonathan Edwards, Is Still a Beloved Hit 55 Years Later

After actress Mayim Bialik joined the Big Bang Theory cast during its third season, which premiered in 2009, fans were eager to watch the blossoming of her character, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler’s relationship with Dr. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons).

During an appearance on an August 2026 episode of The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast, hosted by Jessica Radloff, Bialik was asked to share what scene from the series she’d like to reshoot “for fun.” Bialik replied that she would like to revisit Season 7, Episode 15, wherein Sheldon and Amy finally kiss while on a train. She explained that Parsons “had the flu” while filming the romantic scene, but clarified that’s not the only reason she would like another shot at the moment.

“It was a very technically complicated scene because we were literally on a train car. They brought the train car onto the stage, but it was very technical, and we had to film from all these crazy angles,” said the actress.

Radloff then mentioned her delight at a scene from Season 9, Episode 11, wherein Sheldon determines he’s ready to be physically intimate with Amy as a way to celebrate her birthday after conferring with Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch). After Penny and Bernadette reveal Sheldon’s plan to Amy, she excitedly blurts out, “You shut your damn mouth!”

Bialik then said she wasn’t interested in reshooting the scene where Amy expresses her delight, as filming the moment was “stressful.” She then explained that she felt pressure because she and the showrunners were aware of what the scene meant for viewers who were invested in Amy and Sheldon’s relationship.

“Those were stressful. Scenes that had a lot of kind of buzz about what it meant were stressful,” said Bialik during the August 2026 podcast interview. “Meaning, they carried a lot of weight in terms of ‘How exactly do we want this?’ And, ‘Let’s do a version like this.’ And let’s do a version like that.’ You know, there’s a lot more input, which means as an actor you’re sometimes asked to switch it up and like, ‘Okay, do this.’ And ‘Try this.’ And so yeah, it just has a lot more weight to it.”