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In 1971, one of the most celebrated albums of the decade produced another hit when a wistful ballad about distance made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100.

Carole King’s “So Far Away,” from her landmark album Tapestry, entered the chart on Aug. 22, 1971, 55 years ago today.

King may be the unmistakable voice at the center of the song, but another singer-songwriter legend can be heard on the recording: James Taylor plays acoustic guitar, alongside King on piano, Russ Kunkel on drums, Charles Larkey on bass and Curtis Amy on flute.

And when “So Far Away” was released as a single in 1971, one contemporary review had a particularly prescient prediction for the song: “instant gold.”

“So Far Away” originally appeared on Tapestry, which was released in February 1971 and transformed King from an enormously successful behind-the-scenes songwriter into one of the era’s defining singer-songwriters.

The song was subsequently released as the B-side of “Smackwater Jack,” although “So Far Away” became a hit in its own right.

In its 1971 review, Cash Box praised the song as a “magnificent ballad,” singling out King’s melodic phrasing, piano playing and producer Lou Adler’s work before predicting that the track “should turn into instant gold.”

That assessment wasn’t far off.

Related: 1971 Smash Ranked One of the ‘Best Albums’ of All Time Still Holds a No. 1 Record 55 Years Later

“So Far Away” eventually climbed to No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. Decades later, the recording was certified gold by the RIAA.

At its heart, “So Far Away” is a song about longing for someone who isn’t there. But the physical distance separating two people is only part of the story. The lyrics gradually turn toward something less tangible: the emotional distance that can grow between people even when geography isn’t the only thing keeping them apart.

King’s restrained performance allows that loneliness to do most of the work.

Taylor’s presence on the recording is particularly fitting given his role in King’s emergence as a performer of her own material.

King had already spent years writing hits with her former husband and songwriting partner Gerry Goffin before Tapestry. Her compositions had been recorded by artists ranging from The Shirelles and Little Eva to The Monkees and Aretha Franklin.

But Taylor encouraged King to step into the spotlight herself.

When Rolling Stone ranked Tapestry No. 25 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, the publication recalled King’s explanation that Taylor made performing her own material “look so easy,” inspiring her to approach Tapestry in the same spirit.

Related: Beloved ’70s Singer, With 6 Grammys and a No. 1 Hit, Turns 78

King was candid about what she believed separated her from powerhouse vocalists of the era. Rather than trying to compete with singers such as Franklin or Barbra Streisand on sheer vocal ability, she focused on conveying the emotion of a song through an honest interpretation.

That approach is particularly apparent on “So Far Away,” where Taylor’s acoustic guitar blends with King’s piano rather than demanding attention of its own.

Taylor wasn’t King’s only famous friend to contribute to Tapestry. He and Joni Mitchell also provided backing vocals on King’s new version of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” a song King and Goffin had written for The Shirelles more than a decade earlier.

More than half a century later, “So Far Away” remains one of the most acclaimed songs in King’s catalog.

In 2017, Paste ranked it No. 4 on its list of King’s 12 greatest songs, behind only “It Might as Well Rain Until September,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”

The publication described “So Far Away” as both a song about life on the road and a go-to song for long-distance relationships, while highlighting the interplay between King’s keyboard and Taylor’s guitar.

Related: Only Song in History to Reach the Top 3 in 3 Different Decades — By 3 Different Artists

The ballad has also taken on meaning in the lives of other musicians.

“So Far Away” was one of Amy Winehouse’s favorite songs, and friends and family performed it at the late singer’s funeral in 2011.

Rod Stewart later put his own stamp on the song for the 1995 tribute album Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King. His version reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart and was subsequently included on his 1996 collection If We Fall in Love Tonight.

The original has also endured on screen, appearing in Sofia Coppola’s 1999 film The Virgin Suicides.

“So Far Away” was only one piece of an album packed with songs that became inseparable from King’s legacy.

Tapestry also included “It’s Too Late,” “I Feel the Earth Move,” “You’ve Got a Friend” and King’s own versions of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”

The album became a cultural phenomenon and helped establish the blueprint for the confessional singer-songwriter boom of the 1970s. Decades later, Rolling Stone placed it at No. 25 among its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

For all of Tapestry’s enormous legacy, “So Far Away” remains one of its quieter pleasures: King at the piano, Taylor on guitar and a deceptively simple meditation on how difficult it can be to remain close to the people we love.

Fifty-five years after “So Far Away” first appeared on the Hot 100, Cash Box’s “instant gold” prediction looks remarkably good in hindsight.

Related: James Taylor, 77, Brings Son Henry Onstage for Emotional Opry Debut

Kacey Musgraves‘ highly-anticipated Middle of Nowhere Tour is officially underway. Opening night went off without a hitch on Friday night (Aug. 21), which also happened to be the star’s 38th birthday.

She kept her attire pretty low-key. There were no outfit changes or glittery dresses, just Musgraves in a cowgirl hat, white tank and a pair of fitted jeans — though she did dress those up with some rhinestones and a large, shimmering belt buckle.

In addition to fan-favorites from previous albums — “Space Cowboy,” “Follow Your Arrow,” “High Horse” — Musgraves stayed true to the tour name, delivering several songs from her 2026 Middle of Nowhere album.

Fan videos from the kickoff show include a good look at an elaborate set design, as well as a circular stage that spins, allowing her face-to-face time with every fan in the arena as she sings. There’s also, ahem, this:

@kaceymusgraves Is a visionary. Disco balls can never be taken too literally. #kaceymusgraves #middleofnowhere #chicago #countrymusic

• “Everybody Wants to Be a Cowboy”
• “Dry Spell”
• “Justified”
• “High Horse”
• “Merry Go ‘Round”
• “Butterflies”
• “Abilene”
• “Back on the Wagon”
• “I Believe in Ghosts”
• “Uncertain, TX”
• “Horses and Divorces”
• “(Hey Baby) Que Paso”
• “Golden Hour”
• “Loneliest Girl”
• “Rhinestoned”
• “Mexican Honey”
• “Middle of Nowhere”
• “Slow Burn”
• “Space Cowboy”
• “Follow Your Arrow”
• “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”

An ode to Musgraves’ home state of Texas closed the show (she’s from the small town of Golden). As she sang one of her favorite covers, George Strait‘s No. 1 hit from 1987, “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” red, white and blue stars bobbed up and down above her, and a Texas flag hung behind her. Mr. Strait is known as the King of Country, especially in the Lone Star State, so the cover was an appropriate nod.

@kaceymusgraves is a texas girl through and through! #middleofnowhere #kaceymusgraves #countrymusic #chicago #texas

The Grammy winner’s tour was initially scheduled to start one night earlier, but that date was canceled without an explanation from Musgraves’ team. Her next Middle of Nowhere Tour date is Aug. 24 in Toronto, Ont.

The Sixth Sense was a psychological thriller released in 1999, directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The film, which was nominated for 6 Academy Awards, starred Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment. It was the second-highest-grossing film of the year, only behind Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

In 2024, during the 25th anniversary of the film, Osment spoke about the creation of the movie with NPR. “One of the best things my dad said to me when I was, you know, rehearsing for the audition was saying, this is a movie about communication, not a movie about ghosts,” he said. “And that’s where I think the real horror and emotion comes from, is there’s no greater fear than not being able to communicate with the people you love.”

Related: Lori Petty Revealed Actors Would Faint All the Time When Filming This Legendary 1992 Movie

Osment also spoke about the atmosphere when shooting, explaining that it helped make his acting feel more authentic. “It was a great kind of haunted house environment shooting,” he said. “There were these repeated scenes where we draped the set in tarps and then pump in cold air so that you could see our breath. This was not a time when people were using CGI for that effect. It was really a freezing temperature. And so something like that, with great material and having, you know, spent a lot of time rehearsing it, it really – a lot of these decisions really came naturally.”

During his interview, he also spoke about the most famous line in the film: I see dead people. “I’m still shocked at how many times I see the line out there,” he said. “This was a while ago. I remember Tiger Woods rolling down the window of a Buick van in a commercial and saying the line while I was watching golf on TV. That was a surprise. I remember seeing Yasiel Puig say it on the big screen at Dodger Stadium for some player movie quiz that they did in between innings. I mean, the fact that it’s on – I believe it’s on the AFI list of quotes right behind Peter Finch’s I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore, that’s – it’s a big honor to be attached to something like that.”

Related: 1962 ‘The Twilight Zone’ Episode Was Ranked as Having the Best Plot Twist in the Entire Series

Collider recently ranked The Sixth Sense as one of the thriller movies with the best plot twists ever. Some other movies included on the list were The Prestige, Gone Girl, The Handmaiden, The Game, Fight Club, and The Invisible Guest.

Actor Michael Wright, who is best known for his roles in The Five Heartbeats, Sugar Hill, V, and Oz, has died at the age of 70 on Aug. 19 in Los Angeles.

“It is with profound sadness and an unimaginable heaviness in my heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Michael Wright,” his wife, Susan Wright, shared on Instagram (per Variety).

TMZ further reported that he died after suffering “heart failure coupled with complications of a rare degenerative neurological disease called Marchiafava-Bignami.”

Throughout his career, he appeared in more than 50 movies and television shows. One of his most famous roles was in The Five Heartbeats, which was a 1991 movie directed by Robert Townsend and was about a fictional Motown group. In the movie, Wright played the lead vocalist, Eddie King Jr., who deals with alcohol and drug addiction that ultimately forces him to leave the band.

“Michael was a husband, a father (Manon Wright, Byron Barr, Brittney Briggs, Brianna Barr, Sir Barr, a grandfather (Yoko), loved one, a friend, and an extraordinary artist whose work touched generations,” Susan’s statement continued. “Many knew and loved him through ‘The Five Heartbeats,’ ‘The Wanderers,’ ‘V,’ ‘The Principal,’ ‘Streamers,’ and the many other characters he brought to life throughout his remarkable career. His talent, presence, and contributions to film and television will live on, but to those of us who loved him personally, he was so much more than the roles the world knew him for.

 “Our family is grieving an enormous and deeply personal loss. We understand how much Michael meant to so many people, and we are grateful for the love, prayers, memories, and condolences already being shared. … In the coming days, when we are ready, we will share additional information regarding Michael’s life, legacy, and how we intend to honor and celebrate him.

“Michael, your work will live forever, but your love will live even longer in the hearts of those who knew you best. Rest peacefully, my love. You will be missed beyond words.”

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Comfort is a non-negotiable factor when it comes to footwear. It’s an added bonus if you can find a style that happens to be fashionable, too. In a pair of Dr. Scholl’s Reverie Boots, you’ll feel the difference with every step — and you’ll love the way these versatile shoes blend right into your existing wardrobe.

That’s the beauty of clean, no-frills boots like these. With their streamlined silhouette and neutral colors, they’re effortlessly stylish. On top of that, these Dr. Scholl’s booties also happen to be an awesome deal at Nordstrom Rack right now. Normally between $90 and $100, they’re on sale for just $60 right now. That means you can save up to 40% on trendy fall-ready footwear from a comfort-first shoe brand. Shoppers can choose from black, walnut brown, and honey brown hues.

Courtesy of Nordstrom Rack

With their low-profile design, these boots will instantly elevate your fall and winter wardrobe. They feature cushioned foam insoles for a soft, cloud-like feel and arch support for stability. They also have subtle stacked block heels that are practical for daily wear at about an inch high. Whether you’re running errands or headed to the office, you can feel comfortable wearing them no matter what your day brings. 

The almond toe adds to the boots’ classic look, while a side zip closure allows for easy wear and removal. Finished with a small metallic-tinged charm, the zipper adds an interesting focal point to the shoe. Delicate perforation enhances the smooth microfiber uppers, lending these timeless boots a chic edge. 

Available in whole and half sizes ranging from 6 to 11, the boots earned high praise from reviewers for both the way they feel and their aesthetic appeal. “I worked a whole 12-hour shift standing on my feet most of the time, and these shoes didn’t hurt my feet at all, which I was so impressed by!” one reviewer shared. “They have a great design and are very comfortable.”

Another shopper agreed, stating that they’re “really cute” and perfect to “wear all year.”

Related: Walmart’s Fall-Ready Knee-High Boots Look So Similar to an Iconic Premium Leather Style for Way Less

Simultaneously polished and casual, a pair of Dr. Scholl’s Reverie Boots can dress up your most laid-back looks without feeling overdone. At up to 40% off, they’re an excellent value for a shoe style you might find yourself wearing all the time! Pick them up now while your preferred size and color are still in stock at Nordstrom Rack.

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.

If your idea of travel hell is sitting in a crowded boarding area for two hours nursing a $19 airport sandwich, the latest viral travel craze might sound like a dream come true.

Dubbed “airport theory” on TikTok and Instagram, the challenge dares flyers to treat airport arrival like an extreme sport by walking through the terminal doors just 15 to 20 minutes before boarding begins—or before departure gates close—in an attempt to breeze directly onto the jet bridge with zero wasted downtime.

While a handful of content creators have posted triumphant clips of sprinting straight from the security line onto the plane, the reality for most travelers attempting the stunt has been far less glamorous. Between frantic dashes to the gate, begging fellow passengers to cut in line, and staring down dreaded “flight closed” monitors, the trend has caused chaos across major hubs.

The stunt quickly caught the attention of the Transportation Security Administration, which took to social media to issue a dry, candid reality check. In a post addressing the phenomenon, the agency quipped that it is a “0/10 recommend trying the ‘airport theory,’” warning travelers that “you’re more than likely missing your flight, if you arrive 15-20 minutes before it departs.”

Related: TSA Toiletry Hack Frequent Flyers Swear By

0/10 recommend testing the “airport theory” but it’s going to be extra awkward if you try it on Sunday and you forgot to spring forward…

While testing your luck might occasionally work at a quiet regional airport on a Tuesday morning with TSA PreCheck and no checked bags, trying the challenge at major hubs like Atlanta, Denver, or Los Angeles is practically an invitation to get stranded.

As travel journalist Brittany Anas points out, a single terminal concourse at an airport like Denver International stretches nearly a mile and a half long on its own. When you factor in baggage drop queues, tram rides between satellite terminals, and random bag screenings, 15 minutes evaporates before you even clear the magnetometer.

“There are a lot of great tips to come from social media, however, ‘airport theory,’ is one hack you can happily skip over,” says Katy Nastro, travel expert at the Going travel app, told Anas. “This concept is born from most people’s desire to spend as little time in the airport as possible before their flight departs. And look, we get it. Airports these days can be crowded and feel like they can cost you an arm and a leg each time you step inside one.”

Nastro emphasizes that standard arrival recommendations exist for a reason: “Even despite airport arrival times being suggested figures, they aim to give travelers ample time to get a bag checked (if needed), navigate through security and then find their gates. Some airports require a healthy 15-to-20-minute walk or tram ride just to get to the correct terminal area.”

Related: The Carry-On Hack That Never Fails Me After 5 Years of Travel

The biggest danger of playing beat-the-clock at the terminal isn’t just the embarrassment of sprinting in socks through security—it’s the financial fallout.

While many airlines have informal “flat-tire” policies that allow gate agents to accommodate passengers who run late due to unexpected road emergencies, deliberately cutting your arrival to the wire won’t earn much sympathy if you get bumped. If the next flight out is fully booked, or if you are flying a route that only operates once a day, missing boarding means losing an entire vacation day or purchasing an expensive last-minute ticket out of pocket.

“If you’re looking to make a connecting flight on the other hand, you’re complicating the matter even further and may face an outright cancellation of your entire itinerary when you are counted as a ‘no-show,'” Nastro warns. “This could be a very costly mistake as you then may be faced with paying for a new, same-day ticket altogether, which is likely not cheap.”

The general industry rule of thumb remains sticking to arriving two hours before domestic departures and three hours ahead for international trips. If you want to shave down your wait time safely, investing in tools like mobile boarding passes and expedited security programs will get you to the gate faster—without risking your entire vacation for an algorithm thrill.

Related: TSA’s Four-Word Note on a Star Wars Blaster Prop Is Winning Fans Over

Drummer Debbi Peterson has enjoyed an extremely successful career as a founding member of one of the most influential female pop rock bands of the 1980s — The Bangles. Today, Aug. 22, 2026, she celebrates her 65th birthday.

Born Aug. 22, 1961, in Los Angeles, Peterson grew up in the San Fernando Valley and began drumming at a young age. According to The Bangles website, she only had one formal drum lesson and picked up the craft easily through mirroring other drummers. Founded in 1981 by Peterson and her singer-slash-guitarist sister Vicki alongside vocalist and guitarist Susanna Hoffs and early bass player Annette Zilinska, the band went through various name changes before settling on its iconic moniker.

“We record an EP as the Bangs. All the artwork is virtually done. But on the eve of that record going to print in 1982, Miles [Copeland III, music executive and The Bangles’ original manager] is notified that a boy band on the East Coast called the Bangs is insisting that we change our name … or pay,” explained Hoffs in an interview, per Grunge. “So, we have 48 hours to come up with a new name. That’s how we became the Bangles.”

Prior to this, the band was called The Colours.

The Bangles’ breakthrough came in 1986 following the release of “Manic Monday,” written by Prince under a pseudonym — Christopher.

“Prince really liked our first album. He liked the song ‘Hero Takes a Fall’, which is a great compliment, because we liked his music. He contacted us, and said, ‘I’ve got a couple of songs for you. I’d like to know if you’re interested,’ and of course we were,” explained Peterson of the collab, per Smooth Radio.

“[‘Manic Monday] was a Banglefication of a Prince arrangement,” she continued. “He had a demo, that was very specifically him. It was a good song, but we didn’t record it like ‘This is our first hit single! Oh my God! I can feel it in my veins!’ We just did the song, and the album, and then sat back and thought about it.”

The track, featured on the band’s second album Different Light, soared to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Also featured on the album is “Walk Like an Egyptian,” which was The Bangles’ first-ever U.S. No. 1.

Related: ’70s Singer Behind One of the Disco Era’s Defining Hits, Written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, Turns 69

“Sweet Pea” was a soft rock song by Tommy Roe that was released in 1966. It went all the way to No. 1 in Canada and New Zealand. In America, it rose to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also ranked as No. 44 on Billboard’s top songs of the year.

In an interview with Gary James, Roe said, “’Sweet Pea’ was a song I wrote to change my style to be different from all the British Invasion bands that were pushing the American acts off of the charts. It was a matter of survival. I believe that I managed to continue having hits during this period simply because I could write my own material.”

Roe expounded on that thought during an interview with Rebeat Mag. “I consciously made a decision to start writing what I called at the time ‘soft rock,’ which turned out to be what the DJs would call ‘bubblegum music.’ So I wrote ‘Sweet Pea’ when I was in the Army, and when I got out, I went to LA and recorded it with that soft-rock sound. I think that’s how I was able to continue having hits in the ’60s, because I had to maneuver my sound so it wasn’t like everyone else’s. The bubblegum thing was fresh and new and fit right in with everything because no one else was doing it at the time. After a while, they started calling me the ‘King of Bubblegum.’”

Related: 1950 Mambo Song Inspired Lou Bega’s Biggest Hit, Then Caused a Copyright Trial

He went on to explain how he didn’t love being called “the King of Bubblegum” at the time. However, his opinion has changed over the years. “Today, I walk on stage and sing ‘Sweet Pea’ and see a smile on the faces of the audience, and I think, ‘What’s wrong with that?’” he said. “I mean, they’re having a good time, and they love this little song I wrote, so call it whatever you want to call it. If it makes people happy, that’s what it’s all about. That’s part of entertaining.”

Roe was also known for his hit songs “Dizzy” and “Sheila,” which both hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1986, he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

Roe is currently 84 years old.

65 years ago, Patsy Cline recorded her iconic hit song “Crazy.”

Written by Willie Nelson in 1958, the song, recorded by the wAug. 21, 1965, quickly struck a chord, reaching No. 2 on Billboard’s country charts and No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard even named it one of the best country songs of all time, ranking it at No. 2 — only behind Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” However, the song almost never came to be.

When Cline walked into the studio to record “Crazy,” she was still on crutches from a near-fatal car accident that happened two months earlier. Her broken ribs hadn’t fully healed yet, and she struggled to hit the high notes, American Songwriter wrote. In fact, Cline tried singing like Nelson when she first got to the studio.

“It almost didn’t happen because Patsy, who recorded it in a Nashville studio, tried singing like me,” Nelson wrote in his book Energy Follows Thought: The Stories Behind My Songs. “Big mistake. No one should ever try to follow my style of phrasing. Not that I don’t like my style. I do. I believe it’s natural, at least for me. But it’s offbeat. I tend to kick way back behind the beat or hurry up ahead of the beat.”

Nelson recalled that Waylon Jennings once said, “Willie wouldn’t know where the beat is if it bit him in the butt.”

But a short time later, Cline returned to the studio, recorded “Crazy” in her own style, and it was released in Oct. 1961. Although Cline passed away only two years after the song was released, “Crazy” is what helped launch Nelson into his still-thriving career.

“Crazy is as crazy does, and this particular ‘Crazy’ convinced me, at a time when I wasn’t a hundred percent sure of my writing talent, that I’d be crazy to stop writing,” Nelson said. “Craziness can be a pretty good strategy for survival.”

There are a lot of different factors that go into making a good song, including the tune, the instruments used, the vocal tone, and the lyrics, to name a few. The last part plays a huge role, with lyrics essentially a form of poetry for the songwriter, and there are some songs out there with lyrics too beautiful to forget.

That seems to be the case with the beloved 1984 song “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, an acclaimed singer-songwriter with plenty of hit songs. But this one creation might be the best-written song ever created, at least according to some music experts.

The well-known track, released on Cohen’s Various Positions album, has grown to huge heights over the decades since its release, with hundreds of covers performed by various artists. While the entire song is an accomplishment of music, the lyrics especially stand out.

According to Forbes, Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is one of a few songs that feature the “Greatest Rock Song Lyrics of All Time.”

The publication declared the song the “best written song ever,” spotlighting the final lines that read, “Well, maybe there’s a God above/ As for me all I’ve ever learned from love/ Is how to shoot somebody who outdrew you/ And it’s not a cry that you hear at night/ It’s not somebody who’s seen the light/ It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah.”

“You literally could pick any line from this song and there would be no argument,” said Forbes, adding, “Strictly from a writing standpoint, there is no more literate, poetic, beautiful or haunting song from start to finish than Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah.'”

Related: 1939 Hit Song, Featured in Shawshank Redemption, Became One of the Best-Selling Singles of All Time

While this is only one publication’s declaration of the song’s lyrical accomplishment, “Hallelujah” has been hailed as a true classic by many over the years.

In a feature showcasing the song’s backstory, Rolling Stone called it Cohen’s “oft-covered masterpiece.” The publication highlighted the complicated and layered message in the lyrics as it said, “Critics may have fixated on the gloom and doom of [Cohen’s] lyrics, but this is his offering of hope and perseverance in the face of a cruel world. Holy or broken, there is still hallelujah.” Rolling Stone also ranked the song at No. 74 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

Along with the thought-provoking, layered lyrics, other standout parts of the track are the melody and Cohen’s singing. After over 40 years, music fans still see “Hallelujah” as an unforgettable classic.

Related: 1971 Rock Song, Written by a Young Joni Mitchell, Among ‘Greatest Rock Song Lyrics of All Time’

“Mambo No. 5” was a 1950 song that was released by Pérez Prado. The recording was preserved in the National Recording Registry after being selected by the Library of Congress in 2026.

The song was famously sampled by Lou Bega and turned into the hit song of the same name, which was released in 1999. The version released by Bega hit No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Unfortunately, the song resulted in a copyright trial between Prado’s estate and Bega’s producers, which lasted for years. The court ended up ruling that the copyright for the music belonged to Prado, but Bega’s lyrics made it an original work, so both Prado and Bega should be credited.

When asked how he came up with the lyrics to his hit song, Bega told Thrive Time Show, “I was sitting in the English garden. It was garden is a fabulous park in Munich, Germany. Well, summertime, all these students and girls passed by on their bicycles. It was just a beautiful scenery.” He continued, “So I started thinking about my own past and names and faces that I met and then started sending them in. So I would say it started in the English park and was a garden underneath a tree. I’m just hanging out, watching the girls pass by. Yeah.”

He also spoke about how he created a melody to go along with the lyrics. “We started crafting, we started sampling it at, at the beginning we, we bought all these old old classic records from Paris,” he said. “So we started hearing it, and we started understanding that this is a sound that the new generation totally misses out on. Right. And I found out that these songs were basically instrumentals all the time. So when I have to the words and the melody, we started recording and, uh, we started putting in a few modern touches so that people would understand that it’s a modern version of a song.”

Related: 1980 Song, With the Most Expensive Music Video Ever Made at the Time, Was a Sequel to ‘Space Oddity’

Prado, who was known as the King of the Mambo, recorded several other hits throughout his career. They include “Patricia,” “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White,” and “Mambo Jambo.”

Prado died in 1989 at the age of 72. He was posthumously inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.

Before A Different World became one of television’s most beloved college sitcoms, it was conceived as a surprisingly different show.

And Meg Ryan was nearly at the center of it.

The NBC sitcom, which debuted in 1987 as a spinoff of The Cosby Show, eventually became known for characters including Whitley Gilbert, Dwayne Wayne and Freddie Brooks and for its storylines about life at the fictional historically Black Hillman College.

But the show’s original concept looked considerably different.

When A Different World was first being developed, the series was not initially built around Denise Huxtable, played by Lisa Bonet.

The original idea focused more heavily on a white student attending a historically Black college. Ryan, 64, was originally cast as Maggie Lauten, a character who would experience life at Hillman as one of the school’s white students.

Ryan ultimately left the project as she pursued a film career, and Marisa Tomei took over the role of Maggie. The character was subsequently shifted into a supporting role as Denise’s roommate.

That casting change was just one piece of a much larger evolution for the sitcom.

The show’s creators ultimately decided to make Denise, the daughter of Cliff and Clair Huxtable from The Cosby Show, the central character. The result was a series that followed Denise as she adjusted to college life at Hillman.

Even that version of the show didn’t last.

After its first season, Bonet, 58, left A Different World because of her real-life pregnancy. NBC announced in 1988 that Denise would leave Hillman and return to The Cosby Show.

The departure gave the show’s producers an opportunity to rethink the series once again.

Debbie Allen came aboard for the second season and helped overhaul the sitcom, bringing a stronger focus on the HBCU setting and the experiences of its students. The series gradually shifted away from Denise and toward an ensemble led by characters including Dwayne Wayne played by Kadeem Hardison, and Whitley Gilbert, played by Jasmine Guy.

The change was significant. A 1989 Washington Post profile quoted Allen, 76, describing the job as more than a simple makeover, saying the series needed “real internal restructuring.”

The revamped show also became more willing to tackle subjects involving race, class and other social and political issues that were rarely explored on sitcoms at the time. The Television Academy notes that the series became the first American sitcom to immerse viewers in student life at a historically Black college and earned a reputation for addressing issues that other television shows often avoided.

By the time A Different World ended in 1993, it had evolved far beyond its original concept.

What began as a Cosby Show spinoff centered around Denise and her roommates became an ensemble series about students at Hillman. And the alternate version of the sitcom is fascinating to consider.

Had Ryan stayed with the project, Tomei, 61, would not have become Maggie, and the show may have looked very different from the one viewers ultimately came to know.

Instead, Ryan left to pursue her burgeoning film career, Tomei stepped into the role, Bonet eventually departed, and Allen helped reshape the series.

RELATED: ’60s Rock Legend From Kentucky Turns 85 Today

Tori Amos turns 63 today, and one of the boldest moments in her catalog remains her nine-minute reimagining of a Beatles classic.

In 2001, Amos included a cover of ‘Happiness Is a Warm Gun’ on her covers album Strange Little Girls, and it’s far from a straightforward tribute. John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the original for the Beatles’ 1968 self-titled album, reportedly after Lennon spotted the phrase in a gun magazine left in the studio by producer George Martin. Amos’s version strips away that irony and goes somewhere much heavier, layering in spoken audio clips about gun violence, the Second Amendment, and Lennon’s own 1980 murder.

The track weaves in real voices, including radio-broadcast snippets discussing Lennon’s death alongside commentary from George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Amos’s own father, a Methodist minister, all weighing in on gun violence. Amos has said the connection was impossible to ignore once she decided to include the song. She’s pointed to the tragic irony that the man who once wondered why a “warm gun” would even be dangerous ended up killed by one, saying the song was written by “a man who didn’t know he was going to be killed by a gun.” 

In a separate interview, Amos was direct about her politics on the subject, saying “we have a gun culture. Yes, we have a second amendment.” 

The gamble paid off commercially. Strange Little Girls debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, Amos’s third album to crack the U.S. top 10, built entirely around 12 songs originally written and performed by men, each one reinterpreted from a female perspective.

More than two decades later, Amos remains one of alternative rock’s most fearless voices, still known for turning other artists’ songs inside out and finding something entirely her own in them.

Fresh off the heels of D23—the ultimate Disney fan event where a slew of major announcements about new rides, expansions, and reimagined lands had theme park lovers buzzing—Disneyland welcomed some serious Hollywood royalty to Main Street, U.S.A.

Matt Damon officially went full “Disney Dad” on Thursday, August 20, hitting the Anaheim park alongside his wife, Luciana, and their four daughters to celebrate daughter Gia’s milestone 18th birthday.

Naturally, the family did not show up in ordinary streetwear. Getting completely into the theme park spirit, the crew coordinated in custom matching graphic T-shirts. While the birthday girl stood out in a shirt featuring an outline of Sleeping Beauty Castle flanked by Mickey Mouse ears that read “birthday girl,” the rest of the crew—including Damon, Luciana, and sisters Alexia, 27, Isabella, 20, and Stella, 15—wore shirts proudly stamped with “birthday crew.”

The group made sure to stop for a classic photo op right in front of the giant Mickey Mouse pumpkin on Main Street, U.S.A., stepping into the park just ahead of Disneyland Resort’s official Halloween Time kickoff, which runs through October 31.

Related: Matt Damon Makes Rare Red Carpet Appearance With His Stunning Family

The festive trip offered a rare moment of downtime for Damon following an intense production schedule. While balancing major career projects can pull him away from home, the actor has spoken openly about staying grounded as his four daughters grow up. “I think about it a lot, especially as my kids are getting older: really trying to be here now,” Damon shared recently regarding his perspective on family life.

Navigating hectic itineraries is nothing new for the Damon household, whether they are walking international red carpets or hitting rope drop at Disney.

Related: Matt Damon’s Daughter Isabella, 20, Just Signed a Modeling Contract—and Fans Are Doing a Double Take

“We are seasoned travelers in our family, just because I work all over the world. So my kids love to travel,” Matt said in June.

As his daughters mature, they are beginning to carve out their own creative spaces. Per People.com, 20-year-old Isabella recently joined the roster at IMG Models, while eldest daughter Alexia is making a name for herself behind the lens in film production—recently working in the camera department for Matt and Ben Affleck’s 2024 feature, The Instigators.

Still, no matter how busy work gets or where their individual careers lead, the Damon crew proved that nothing brings the family together quite like custom matching tees and a celebratory day at The Happiest Place on Earth.

Related: The One Disney Parks Reveal at D23 Everyone Should Be Paying Attention To

Line dancing wasn’t a new phenomenon when Brooks & Dunn released “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” to country radio in 1992. But it had never been like this.

The duo of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn set the dance floor ablaze with their hit song, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Country Songs chart in August of 1992.

The song wasn’t new, technically — though Dunn wrote it, Asleep at the Wheel had previously released it, and that’s the version that caught the attention of professional choreographer Bill Bader in Canada (via Wide Open Country).

He got to work on a dance to go with the song, but it wouldn’t be until Brooks & Dunn dropped their version in May of 1992 that the public would take the boogie baton and run with it.

And boy, did they. It can’t really be overstated how massive the dance craze was, bringing folks out to their local country and Western bars in droves to try out these new moves with their best buddies.

The Boot Scootin’ Boogie is a four-wall, 32-count line dance that is still extremely popular in bars around the world to this day, probably because it’s so easy to learn that just about anyone can do it (instructions here if you want to give it a whirl).

It even lit the spark for the Macarena, the Cha-Cha Slide, the Cupid Shuffle … you get the idea.

Brooks & Dunn would certainly give a hat tip to Billy Ray Cyrus for his help in spreading the trend. “Achy Breaky Heart” came out that same year, and many of the “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” line dance moves were copied over to use when dancing to that song, too.

Brooks & Dunn still tour their hits to this day, though they did go on hiatus as a duo for several years. A reboot (actually, Reboot and Reboot II) album came in 2019 and 2021, with modern country hitmakers joining the iconic 1990s duo on their biggest songs to help younger country fans learn a little country music history. Country trio Midland had the honor of being the featured act on “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.”

Forget the UFO talk! One could argue we already have aliens in our oceans.

Jellyfish may appear harmless, but man, can they pack a punch. And you know the old adage: You wouldn’t pee on your worst enemy if they were on fire, but would you offer a friend some relief after a nasty jellyfish sting?

Hopefully not. Despite what Friends may have taught us, that age-old remedy is actually a myth — and could make matters even worse. That’s why it’s best to observe from a distance.

Yes, you’ve likely seen jellyfish on exhibit at your favorite aquarium. Until now, there hasn’t been a U.S. museum dedicated solely to these otherworldly creatures, which have been on Earth longer than dinosaurs — more than 500 million years, to be exact.

Next time you find yourself in Florida, especially if you’re near Miami, you can hop over to nearby Pompano Beach to visit America’s only jellyfish museum, rightfully named — you guessed it — The Jellyfish Museum.

Tickets start at $23 for general admission and are discounted for Florida residents. Your experience can be reserved online ahead of time, including a unique ‘romantic private dinner’, surrounded by candlelight and the backdrop of jellyfish gracefully floating by.

You’ll find 25 different species of jellyfish on display, no matter if you decide to wander around on your own or book an insightful guided tour.

Related: This Popular Beach Destination Is Running Out Of Water 

If you’re local, you can score an annual pass for $65, making just four yearly visits well worth the price of admission.

Rave reviews are already pouring in. One recent visitor from the last 24 hours stated on Google, “Beautiful experience, very informative and captivating. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and made lots of memories.”

Another claimed it’s especially worth visiting if you need to keep your kiddos busy, “Very cool little museum and definitely worth checking out if you have little ones.”

The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with final entry 30 minutes before closing.

Does that mean a cockroach museum is next? You probably won’t see that pitch on Shark Tank…

Related: Planning a San Diego Trip? The Zoo Just Welcomed Rare ‘Prehistoric’ Twin Babies

Even jellyfish tattoos are surging in popularity nowadays, often serving as an artistic symbol of “resilience and adaptability”.

Despite annoying stings—and even fatal ones, depending on the species—jellyfish are undeniably captivating to watch when there’s a nice thick pane of glass between you and them.

David Bowie released the new wave song “Ashes to Ashes” in 1980. It was a sequel to his hit song “Space Oddity,” which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The lyrics to “Ashes to Ashes” revolve around Major Tom regaining communication with Ground Control. The song reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. However, it didn’t make it onto the Billboard Hot 100 at all.

In an interview with Performing Songwriter, Bowie admitted that the song was inspired by a song performed by Danny Kaye called “Inchworm.” “I loved it as a kid, and it’s stayed with me forever,” Bowie explained. “I keep going back to it. You wouldn’t believe the amount of my songs that have sort of spun off that one song. Not that you’d really recognize it. Something like ‘Ashes to Ashes’ wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t have been for ‘Inchworm.’”

He continued, “There’s a child’s nursery rhyme element in it, and there’s something so sad and mournful and poignant about it. It kept bringing me back to the feelings of those pure thoughts of sadness that you have as a child, and how they’re so identifiable even when you’re an adult. There’s a connection that can be made between being a somewhat lost five-year-old and feeling a little abandoned and having the same feeling when you’re in your twenties. And it was that song that did that for me.”

The music video for “Ashes to Ashes” cost about £250,000, which made it the most expensive music video ever produced at the time. It was filmed in multiple locations, including Beachy Head and Hastings in East Sussex. Since that time, more expensive videos have been made by artists like Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Guns N’ Roses.

Related: 1981 Rock Song, Whose Video Was Banned and Heavily Censored, Was Duran Duran’s First Top 10 Hit

Bowie has released several other hits throughout the years, including “Heroes,” “Life on Mars?” and “Starman.” In 1996, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Bowie died in 2016 at the age of 69.

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If you’ve been wanting to give your room an easy and affordable upgrade before the end of summer, Walmart’s bestselling Catami 7-Piece Comforter Set delivers a full bedding refresh in one neat package. The top-rated set comes with everything you need to spruce up your sleep space, and it’s on sale for a limited time. 

Right now, the queen-sized bedding is currently marked down to just $40 in gorgeous beige and sage green colors that are perfect for late summer and early fall. It’s also available in several other color options, including blue gray, clay pink, and deep brown, ranging from $50 to $60. You can shop it in full, king, and California king sizes as well, although availability varies depending on color. 

Courtesy of Walmart

The stylish set comes with a comforter, a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, two pillowcases, and two pillow shams, providing an elegant, coordinated look that will spruce up any room. Made of soft polyester material, the comforter is plush, pillowy, and lightweight enough for all seasons. The fabric is Oeko-Tex certified, making it a safe and reliable option for everyday use. 

The cloud-like comforter features a sleek quilted design that complements any style of decor. There’s a handy hidden pocket on the flat sheet that’s ideal for stashing remotes, magazines, and other items. It’s also easy to care for, thanks to the machine-washable design. To keep the bedding set fresh, wash it in cold water on a gentle cycle, and tumble dry it on low heat. 

The seven-piece comforter set has earned high praise from Walmart shoppers. One reviewer called it “very elegant,” while another said the fabric is “so soft” and “lightweight.” Others said it brings a “clean and cozy look to any room,” with one writing, “It’s comfortable, looks nice, and feels durable enough for everyday use.” 

Related: Walmart’s ‘Adorable’ $18 Pumpkin Glasses Are the Ultimate Summerween Kitchen Find

If you’re looking for a cute and comfy bedding set to revamp your room, this seven-piece comforter set is worth considering. It’s soft, easy to maintain, and available in a range of versatile colors. Grab one while it’s still on sale starting at $40 at Walmart. 

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The see-through dressing is here to stay.

Margot Robbie has been embracing the sultry trend, whether on the red carpet, at fashion events or even during casual outings. One of her most recent appearances was during her trip to Paris.

The Hollywood star was spotted in the French capital while filming her upcoming movie, the Ocean’s Eleven prequel, which is scheduled for release in June 2027.

Amid her busy schedule, she has found time to squeeze in a little downtime with husband Tom Ackerley, who is also a producer on the anticipated film.

The couple was seen leaving the set and heading to The Ritz, with The Wolf of Wall Street star looking sexy yet classy in a jaw-dropping ensemble.

Ben Montgomery/Getty Images

Robbie looked effortlessly stunning with her take on the “boho chic” revival.

With the trend shifting toward maximalism and the resurgence of the boho aesthetic, the actress embraced the look with a mix of earthy tones, flowing textures and a subtle hint of skin in her see-through, beaded, flowy vest top with a matching scarf from Zara, which retails for $59.90.

The 36-year-old actress paired it with the low-rise, midi-length Lila Skirt from the Australian brand With Jean in taupe, priced at $178.

Completing the outfit, she added an edgy touch with her black calf-length leather cowboy boots, which perfectly matched her black quilted Chanel 25 shoulder bag.

Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley get a picture-perfect Paris backdrop as a rainbow appears during their outing 🌈

Margot paired a Zara embroidered lace top and a matching scarf with a taupe-colored With Jéan skirt, a Chanel bag and Khaite boots.

The couple are currently in the… pic.twitter.com/97dDIzA0PA

As mentioned, this is not the first time that the Australian star has wowed the public with her subtle, daring take on fashion by sporting see-through looks.

During Tropfest 2026 in February in Sydney, the actress brought out her inner goth-chic in an all-black look but made it red-carpet-ready with a transparent ensemble by Matthieu Blazy for Chanel Couture.

Over a black triangle bra and matching silk shorts, she wore a sheer black fabric that billowed around her body.

The Barbie star went all-out daring in a sheer Armani Privé Spring 2025 couture gown during the London premiere of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.

At that time, the bold design left little to the imagination as the actress stunned in a plunging gown featuring crystal-encrusted fabric and an open-back detail, styled with a beaded thong that complemented the sheer design.

Related: Margot Robbie’s Baby Adorably Interrupts Interview

At 80 years old, you would think it would give the country legend a good reason to slow down, but time isn’t stopping her. Dolly Parton is continuing to build her Nashville empire, with a new hotel and museum among the major projects on her horizon.

Parton recently updated fans on her health, acknowledging that she has been dealing with some issues while also making it clear that she’s still very much focused on what’s next. “Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’,” Parton exclusively told PEOPLE. (*A new mantra.)

That work includes the upcoming SongTeller Hotel, which is set to open in downtown Nashville in September 2026. But the hotel will offer more than a place to stay: It will also house Parton’s forthcoming Life of Many Colors Museum, which is being billed as the largest exhibit celebrating her life anywhere in the world.

Parton explained how the museum came together after she and her team found what she felt was the perfect location in downtown Nashville. *She discovered a copy of her book Songteller in the lobby of what had once been an office building and knew she had found the right space.

 “I wanted to join all my Nashville friends downtown, but I didn’t just want it to be another bar,” Parton told PEOPLE. “So we found a way to bring in my museum on the third floor and make it really special.” The SongTeller Hotel will also feature two live music venues, a speakeasy and a café, turning the property into a full-fledged entertainment destination.

The hotel isn’t Parton’s only project in the works, either. She’s also developing a new line of dog treats with Purina and preparing to launch Cup of Ambition Coffee, a partnership with Community Coffee inspired by a lyric from her iconic song “9 to 5.” “That’s a dream I’ve had for over 40 years,” Parton said of the coffee brand, which will be available for nationwide shipping starting in September.

Between a hotel, a museum, a coffee brand, and a new pet treat line, Parton’s latest chapter is inspiring proof that even after eight decades (and a few health setbacks along the way), her creative ambition shows no signs of slowing down. The hotel might be a gift to Nashville but Dolly is a gift to us all.