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When Michelle Kwan stepped onto the ice, fans could expect elegance, grace, beauty and a refined artistry that made her stand out. One of her most memorable routines was her 2001 “East of Eden” performance, which leaned into a side of performance she particularly loved: drama.

The Olympic legend is looking back on the magical performance, writing on social media:

“Reflecting on my 15-year-old self, skating to the enchanting ‘East of Eden’. Everything about the program felt ethereal especially having a replica of World Champion Linda Fratianne’s costume flowing as I glided across the ice. The magic of that moment still lingers to this day.”

@michellekwann

Reflecting on my 15-year-old self, skating to the enchanting ‘East of Eden’. Everything about the program felt ethereal especially having a replica of World Champion Linda Fratianne’s costume flowing as I glided across the ice. The magic of that moment still lingers to this day ✨#fyp #michellekwan #figureskating

♬ original sound – 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗸𝘄𝗮𝗻

Kwan had previously used “East of Eden,” composed by Lee Holdridge for the 1981 film, in exhibitions in 1996 before bringing it back for her competitive short program. Choreographed by Lori Nichol, the routine allowed Kwan to embody a character on the ice and immerse herself in the music rather than simply skate from one element to the next.

Michelle Kwan’s “East of Eden” Performance

When she took the ice at the 2001 U.S. Championships, Kwan wore a replica of one of Linda Fratianne’s famously dramatic costumes, which helped cement the character and tied the entire performance together. The look helped. Michelle Kwan received seven perfect 6.0 marks for presentation and finished the program with a standing ovation.

For Michelle Kwan, like Linda Fratianne, a costume wasn’t just something beautiful to wear on the ice. The costume helped create the atmosphere of the performance she wanted to deliver. The connection is perfectly fitting. Linda Fratianne had been one of the first skaters to establish the idea that women’s skating costumes could be an important part of the performance—not just something functional.

Related: Olympic Skating Legend, 62, Who Created Magic at the 1988 Winter Games, Can Still Make the Ice Sing

Linda Fratianne’s Dramatic Skating Costumes

Through her elaborate costumes, Linda Fratianne brought glamour to the ice, featuring designs using beads, sequins, feathers and chiffon. Linda Fratianne became a fashion legend on the ice, influencing generations of skating costumes for generations.

Michelle Kwan wasn’t just seeking inspiration from the past. She was drawing on the visual language of a skater who had helped change what female figure skating could look like.

Linda Fratianne won the World Championship in 1977 and again in 1979 and captured four consecutive U.S. titles from 1977 through 1980. At the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, she won the silver medal behind East Germany’s Anett Pötzsch.

Linda Fratianne’s Lasting Impact on Figure Skating View this post on Instagram

A fashion and skating influence, Linda Fratianne’s legacy continues through the generations of skating performances she inspired. Her influence can still be seen in the way skaters use costumes to enhance their characters and bring their programs to life.

For Kwan, wearing a replica of Fratianne’s costume for “East of Eden” created a connection between two generations of skating champions. Decades later, the magic of that performance still lingers for Kwan—and the influence of the skater who inspired her remains part of its story.

Related: Olympic Skating Legends, Who Defined Figure Skating’s Golden Age, Made the Ice Sound Like Tap Dancing

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Before it became one of the most successful sci-fi trilogies ever made, Back to the Future almost never made it to theaters at all. Writers Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale conceived the time-travel story in 1980, but their script was turned down 44 times over the next several years. Columbia dismissed it as “too sweet,” Universal initially argued time-travel movies didn’t make money, and Disney passed as well, reportedly uneasy with the plot point of Marty McFly’s mother falling for her own son back in 1955.

The tide turned once Zemeckis scored a hit with 1984’s Romancing the Stone. That success finally got Universal on board, with Steven Spielberg signing on as producer through his Amblin Entertainment banner. Even then, the production wasn’t smooth. Eric Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly, and the crew shot five weeks of footage with him before Zemeckis decided the tone wasn’t working and pushed to recast Michael J. Fox, an expensive last-minute swap that meant reshooting much of the film.

The gamble paid off. Back to the Future opened on a $19 million budget in July 1985 and held the No. 1 spot at the box office for 11 of its first 12 weeks. It finished its run with $215.6 million domestically and $173.2 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $388.8 million. Two sequels followed in quick succession, Back to the Future Part II in 1989 and Part III in 1990, earning $332 million and $245 million worldwide, respectively. Bob Gale later admitted a follow-up was never part of the original plan, telling The Hundreds in 2015, “We had no idea that there was ever going to be a sequel.”

Four decades after nearly two dozen studios said no, it remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring what-ifs and is still growing with its own unofficial holiday, Back to the Future Day, every October 21.

In 1969, Neil Diamond released a song that would eventually become so much bigger than he ever imagined.

More than half a century later, “Sweet Caroline” is arguably Diamond’s most universally recognizable song, heard everywhere from his own concerts to sporting events and celebrations around the world. But according to the singer-songwriter, there came a point when he realized the song didn’t really belong to him anymore.

In a new interview with Billboard, Diamond reflected on the remarkable second life of “Sweet Caroline” and what the song has come to mean to the millions of people who sing along with it.

For Diamond, its transformation is about “happiness, unity, joy and togetherness.”

And witnessing that transformation ultimately changed the way he thought about one of his own creations.

“It no longer was my song,” Diamond said. “It belonged to the world.”

Neil Diamond Says ‘Sweet Caroline’ ‘Came Through Me and Not From Me’

Diamond’s relationship with “Sweet Caroline” is especially fascinating because he doesn’t entirely take credit for creating it.

He described the song as something that “came through me and not from me,” suggesting that even at the beginning, there was something about “Sweet Caroline” that felt bigger than its songwriter.

The song was released in 1969 and became one of Diamond’s early breakthrough hits, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Yet its original chart performance only tells a fraction of its story.

Related: 1971 Hit, Which Took Neil Diamond 4 Months to Write, Remains His Favorite Song 55 Years Later

Over the ensuing decades, “Sweet Caroline” became a communal singalong, with the audience-supplied “so good, so good, so good” refrain becoming so closely associated with the song that Diamond himself eventually incorporated it into performances.

Its reach has extended especially far into sports. The Boston Red Sox famously made “Sweet Caroline” a Fenway Park tradition, while the song has also been embraced by English soccer fans and heard at countless other sporting events.

That communal life is what appears to fascinate Diamond now. A song written and recorded by one man has become something thousands of strangers can sing together, often with little connection to the circumstances in which it was originally created.

‘Sweet Caroline’ Has Followed Neil Diamond for More Than 50 Years

The song’s longevity is even more remarkable considering the enormous catalog Diamond built around it.

He went on to score major hits including “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Song Sung Blue,” “I Am… I Said,” “Love on the Rocks” and “America,” selling more than 130 million records worldwide and earning induction into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

But “Sweet Caroline” developed a cultural identity all its own.

Diamond has watched generations who weren’t alive when the single was released learn its words, its pauses and even the extra chants that weren’t part of his original recording.

And that helps explain why, when Diamond talks about the song today, he doesn’t simply describe it as one of his biggest hits.

Instead, he talks about what happened when everyone else got hold of it.

What began as a Neil Diamond song in 1969 became a ritual shared among stadiums full of people, something capable of creating a few minutes of the “happiness, unity, joy and togetherness” Diamond now associates with it.

More than 55 years after its release, perhaps that’s why Diamond’s assessment feels so fitting.

“Sweet Caroline” may have come through Neil Diamond, but somewhere along the way, as he puts it, “it belonged to the world.”

Related: 1972 Album, Called ‘Magic in a Bottle,’ Is Still Neil Diamond’s Favorite 54 Years Later

Few songs stand the test of time, and “Always on My Mind” — written in the early 1970s by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James — is one of them. In 1982, Willie Nelson put his own spin on the classic, which had previously been recorded by artists ranging from Brenda Lee to Elvis Presley. 

Nelson’s version struck a chord with both the pop and country music communities, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles (now Hot Country Songs) chart (where it spent two weeks at the top and 21 weeks total), and peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track swept three trophies at the 1983 Grammy Awards, including Best Male Country Vocal Performance for Nelson, alongside Song of the Year and Best Country Song for its writers.

RELATED: 1990 No. 1 Garth Brooks Hit, Reimagined by a Rising Star, Ranked Among the ‘Greatest Country Songs of All Time’

Now, the beloved song has taken on new life thanks to rising artist Ty Myers, who just released a brand-new version featuring emerging singer-songwriter Carter Faith. 

Out via RECORDS Nashville/Columbia and produced by friend and longtime collaborator Brandon Hood, Myers’ version introduces the classic ballad to an entirely new generation. Designed as a tribute to Nelson, it preserves the remorseful love song’s emotional weight while incorporating a symphonic sweep of strings before stripping back to a delicate backdrop of piano and steel guitar, played by Nashville session legend Bruce Bouton. 

RELATED: 1970 Country Ballad, Written by Kris Kristofferson, Became a Young Singer’s Only No. 1 Hit

Faith enters during the second verse, intertwining her tender vocals with Myers’ to create a beautiful blend of harmonies. Their collaboration of “Always on My Mind” offers listeners a preview of Myers’ upcoming album, the follow-up to Heavy On The Soul. 

The release comes just before Myers takes the stage with Nelson & Family for two performance dates alongside Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, CT, on Sept. 22, and the TD Pavilion at the Mann in Philadelphia, PA on Sept. 24. Days later, on Sept. 26, the 19-year-old artist — recently named to Billboard’s 21 Under 21 Class of 2026 and the Fender Next Class of 2026 — will perform at Farm Aid 2026 in Virginia Beach, VA.

Related: 2004 Country Hit, Reimagined by Ella Langley, Is Still as Iconic as Ever 22 Years Later

Fans who’ve watched Barry Manilow work a stage for six decades know the legendary voice by heart. A voice that still holds up at 83. That’s what made Thursday night at Westgate Las Vegas so jarring. About 40 minutes into his set, the video screens malfunctioned and his in-ear monitors failed, and he had no choice but to head backstage.

The following night, his team confirmed the fallout in an Instagram statement, announcing that Friday and Saturday’s performances at the Westgate residency were being scrapped entirely. “Due to technical and vocal problems, we’re unable to put on our show,” the post read, adding that ticket holders would be automatically refunded.

It’s the second time in a month a Manilow show has come apart without warning. Earlier in August, he abruptly postponed a Lexington, Kentucky, concert at Rupp Arena, an announcement that came with no explanation and left a rescheduled date still unconfirmed.

In December 2025, Manilow revealed that doctors had found a cancerous spot on his left lung, requiring a lobectomy that altered the texture of his voice. He has since been declared cancer-free, and by February he was back onstage. That comeback included a milestone few artists ever reach: his single “Once Before I Go” cracked the Top 10 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, extending a run that began with “Mandy” in 1974 across six consecutive decades.

Related: Alice Cooper Reveals the “Scary” Reason He Has No Tattoos

That history is likely why fans reacted to Thursday’s malfunction with concern rather than frustration. Broadway star Audra McDonald wrote “Feel better, Barry!” in the comments, joining a wave of well wishes from listeners who’ve tracked his recovery since the surgery. Some questioned whether running a Vegas residency alongside a farewell arena tour, billed as The Last Concerts, is asking too much of a voice that is undoubtedly still adjusting.

Manilow hasn’t addressed the cancellations beyond the initial statement, and no new dates for the missed Vegas shows have been announced. His arena tour is set to resume with stops across the South before the Westgate residency continues into December, a schedule he has described as central to his plans even as recovery keeps dictating the pace.

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For more than a decade, Mike D couldn’t sit down and write a song. The Beastie Boys rapper opened up to The Guardian about the grief that swallowed his creative life after bandmate Adam Yauch died of cancer in 2012, describing how even the act of opening his laptop became painful, saying he’d open a computer file, and he’d just feel sadness.

The loss ended the Beastie Boys for good. The trio, who’d been friends since childhood in New York and rose to fame with 1986’s Licensed to Ill before reinventing themselves on the sample-heavy Paul’s Boutique, disbanded rather than continue without Yauch. Mike D spent the years afterward producing records for other artists, including Soft Play and the Hives, while quietly stepping back from making music of his own.

He told The Guardian the grief tapped into loss he’d never fully processed. Growing up in New York’s club scene in the 1980s, he watched the AIDS crisis take friends and acquaintances, and he was just 15 when his own father died. All of that had stayed buried until Yauch’s death forced it back to the surface, leaving him unable to separate old sorrow from new.

What eventually pulled him out wasn’t a plan to return to music professionally, it was simply playing around at home with his sons, Skyler and Davis, both musicians in their own right as part of the indie duo Very Nice Person. Those informal jam sessions became the foundation for his debut solo album, Thank You, out August 28, which he says let him finally write honestly about aging, mortality, and the people he’s lost along the way.

The album’s themes circle back to that same grief throughout, including reflections on Yauch’s Buddhist faith, which partly inspired the record’s title. For an artist who spent years unable to face a blank file without feeling overwhelmed, finishing an entire album represents its own kind of emotional milestone, one he says finally feels less like carrying a weight and more like a release.

Starbucks is offering customers a free drink add-on through Monday, Aug. 24!

From now through Monday, customers can get mango-pineapple flavored popping pearls at no extra cost in any iced or blended beverage.

The mango-pineapple-flavored popping pearls are a sweet combination of the two fruits with a thin, gel-like outer layer that pops when you bite into it, releasing juice into your mouth.

Here’s everything you need to know about the promotion before it ends.

How to get free mango-pineapple-flavored popping pearls from Starbucks

The offer is available to all customers! Starbucks Rewards members can add the complimentary pearls when ordering ahead through the Starbucks app, while customers ordering in store can ask a barista to apply the offer at checkout.

The promotion is part of Starbucks’ “Summer for the Fans” campaign and applies to all customized iced and blended beverages.

In addition to this offer, the “Summer for the Fans” campaign includes limited-time promotions and merchandise, including a Pink Drink 10th-anniversary Bearista cup collection and the weekend return of the Unicorn Frappuccino.

RELATED: Wendy’s Is Offering $1 Frostys—Here’s How to Claim Yours

More Starbucks news

Starbucks also added the Mango Pearly Frappuccino to its secret menu on Thursday, Aug. 20 which will also be available through Monday!

Customers can order the beverage by asking for:

• A grande Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino
• Vanilla Sweet Cream instead of whole milk
• Three pumps of mango syrup
• Two scoops of Mango-Pineapple Pearls

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Toys are supposed to be fun, but sometimes, they fall a bit short in the safety department. These days, products typically undergo extensive testing before their release to ensure that manufacturers aren’t unleashing dangerous toys into homes across the country. However, safety standards weren’t always so robust in the past.

As part of our Parade Rewind series over the last few months, we’ve been recapping some of the most influential toys of the 20th century, decade by decade. We’ve also explored a few toys from different decades that would be considered too dangerous now. Today, we’re taking a look back at a 1950s outdoor toy that was responsible for thousands of emergency room visits, but stayed on shelves for three decades.

We’re talking about lawn darts, one of the most well-known dangerous toys from the 1950s. Whether you grew up playing with lawn darts (also known as Jarts) or you’ve simply heard stories about lawn darts emergency room visits, the toys are pretty notorious.

If you’ve ever wondered about lawn darts history, you’ve come to the right place. We consulted Christopher Byrne, aka The Toy Guy, to learn more about Jarts lawn darts and the looming question on everyone’s mind: Why were lawn darts banned?

Related: 25 Popular Toys Every Kid Wanted in the 1990s

The Forbidden Yard Game: What Were Lawn Darts or Jarts?

Lawn darts made their debut in the late 1950s. The popular lawn game was sold under several brand names, but none were as famous as Jarts.

The game featured 12-inch-long, heavy metal-tipped spikes that were meant to be thrown into plastic target rings on the grass. The spikes would dig into the earth, so you’d know where they landed.

“Several companies made them in different configurations,” Byrne, a toy analyst, researcher and consultant, tells Parade. “Some were more hefty and heavy (the ones that caused injuries). Others were lighter and more like a sized-up version of traditional darts.”

The sale of lawn darts is currently banned in the United States and Canada, per the CBC. 

The Shocking ER Statistics: Why Lawn Darts Were So Dangerous

What was meant to be a fun outdoor game quickly proved to be quite dangerous.

“Lawn darts were dangerous because, like so many toys, they were used incorrectly. They were not designed to be thrown at people, and kids who got in the way of the flying dart were likely to be injured,” Byrne explains.

In 1988, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported that an estimated 670 lawn dart injuries were treated each year in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.

“Three quarters of the injured are under 15 years old,” the post read.

In 1990, the National Library of Medicine reported that the people injured ranged in age from 1 to 18 years old and were “predominantly male.”

“The most common sites of injury were head (54%), eye (17%), and face (11%). Hospitalization was required for 54% (41/76) of these patients. Sequelae included unilateral blindness and brain damage. The case fatality rate was 4%,” the post read.

Related: The 2 Most Popular Toys of Every Decade from the 1930s On, According to a Collector

The Loophole: How a Lethal Toy Stayed on Shelves for 3 Decades

If lawn darts were so dangerous, why did they remain on store shelves for three decades? It’s a complicated story, to say the least.

“Because they were originally sold as a sporting goods item, they bypassed many of the safety measures that would have applied to toys,” Byrne states.

Per the CPSC, the sale of lawn darts was banned in toy stores and toy departments in 1970. However, they were still sold for adult use in sporting goods stores and departments. In those cases, they had to include the following label on the front of the package: “WARNING: Not a toy for use by children. May cause serious or fatal injury. Read instructions carefully. Keep out of reach of children.”

In 1988, an episode of 60 Minutes reported on the dangerous toys. Reporter Diane Sawyer spoke with the man who was responsible for enforcing regulations on lawn darts: CPSC Chairman Terrence Scanlon. During the interview, Scanlon said “current compliance is good” but noted that it “was not good” a year beforehand.

60 Minutes discovered that a third of retailers violated the compliance rules in 1987 and continued selling lawn darts with toys. The show also reported that the CPSC published a report saying all 14 dart manufacturers violated requirements on the warning labels. While visiting stores, 60 Minutes learned that some store managers and retail workers weren’t even aware of the rules.

Related: 25 Popular Toys Every Kid Wanted in the 1960s

The Crusade of David Snow: The 1988 Unconditional Ban David Snow holds a lawn dart similar to one that killed his 7-year-old daughter Michelle, in 1987 in Riverside, CA.

Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images

A California man named David Snow is known for leading the efforts to ban lawn darts after the tragic death of his 7-year-old daughter, Michelle.

In 1987, a stray lawn dart hit Snow’s daughter in the head while she was playing outside. She died three days later, per The New York Times. From there, he was determined to prevent other fatal injuries.

Snow took several trips to Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to ban lawn darts for good. It took quite some time, but he was eventually successful. In October 1988, the CPSC voted to ban lawn darts, effective December 1988.

While announcing the ban, the CPSC noted that it had records of three deaths associated with lawn darts since 1970. At the time, the organization said lawn darts were associated with “an estimated 700 hospital emergency room treated injuries each year.”

Per The New York Times, the ban did not include a recall of darts that were previously purchased.

Related: 7 Inventions That Failed Spectacularly

Is It Illegal To Own or Sell Original Lawn Darts Today?

In 1997, a 7-year-old boy experienced a brain injury after a lawn dart pierced his skull, prompting the CPSC to issue a press release titled, “Following Recent Injury CPSC Reissues Warning: Lawn Darts Are Banned and Should Be Destroyed.”

The press release included the following message: “‘CPSC banned lawn darts in 1988, but some of these dangerous products may still be in garages, basements, or second-hand stores,’ said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. ‘Parents should destroy these banned lawn darts immediately.'”

With all this in mind, it begs the question: Are vintage lawn darts illegal to sell?

Per the 1988 ban, retailers are no longer allowed to sell original lawn darts today. Naturally, some original lawn darts are bound to exist in some homes across the country. It’s not illegal to own them in this case. However, the CPSC urges people to destroy them.

Original lawn darts are no longer made or sold in the US, but you can find the lawn toy in other forms.

“Today, lawn darts are still made, but they all have weighted plastic tips and very specific directions,” Byrne says.

Some brands even sell glow-in-the-dark varieties.

Up Next:

Related: 7 Cult-Classic ’90s Cars You Completely Forgot You Wanted

Source:

• Christopher Byrne, aka The Toy Guy, is a toy analyst, researcher and consultant.
• Childhood lawn dart injuries. Summary of 75 patients and patient report. (1990) American Journal of Diseases of Children.

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When your interior decor needs a refresh, who better to count on for home decorating inspiration than Martha Stewart? The television personality has amazing collections that will easily spruce up your living space at a budget price. We’ve been shopping at Wayfair lately for big discounts on the mogul’s most popular items, like the Martha Stewart Verbena Stripe Blue Duvet Cover Set, which is up to 58% off now.

The cottagecore-inspired set originally cost $150, but has been reduced to as low as $63 in the twin size. The set is also on sale in two more sizes: queen ($88) and king ($95). The larger sets include one duvet cover and two matching pillow shams, while the twin size only includes one standard size pillow sham. The bedding is made from 100% cotton, so it’s breathable enough to be used all year round. 

Martha Stewart Verbena Stripe Blue Duvet Cover Set, From $63 (was $217) at Wayfair

Courtesy of Wayfair

Shop at Wayfair

Due to the material, the soft duvet set is machine washable. This makes it the perfect option for families too (especially those with kids who are living in dorms this school season). The duvet cover has four inner corner ties and an oversized button closure that you can fasten to the insert so it doesn’t shift significantly while you’re sleeping. One of our favorite features, however, is the fact that the bedding is reversible, so you’re essentially getting two designs in one. 

One side features blue and white floral graphics with polka dots and stripes, while the other side follows the same color profile but is decorated with small flowers. Plus, the end of the duvet is tailored in a straight edge to look extremely elegant and clean. Shoppers described the bedding as “very pretty” and “great quality.” 

The beauty of this duvet is that it’s unique enough to stand out, but also minimalist enough that you can place it anywhere in your home. You can use it for the master bedroom, kid’s bedrooms, and guest bedrooms. If the blue coloring isn’t necessarily your style, Martha Stewart’s collection also includes this stunning cotton green quilt set, which is on sale and selling fast. 

Shop More Deals 

• Ryden Upholstered Faux Leather Counter Stool with Wooden Legs, $239 (was $500) at Wayfair 
• Godina 2-Drawer Solid and Manufactured Wood Nightstand, $279 (was $329) at Wayfair
• 12-Piece Stoneware Dinnerware Set, $79 (was $99) at Wayfair

If you’re looking to incorporate countryside vibes into your home, then this striped duvet set is a great choice. Thanks to Martha Stewart, it’s comfortable and luxurious at a reasonable price. Add the bedding to your Wayfair cart while it’s up to 58% off! 

Related: Joanna Gaines’ Washable Rug Looks Like a Vintage Farmhouse Heirloom, and It’s Nearly 60% Off

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.

Ken Jennings just revealed his wife’s favorite Jeopardy! host. And no, it isn’t him. 

Jennings recently shared the answer with PEOPLE, explaining that his wife, Mindy Jennings, actually prefers Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 

When asked about her choice, Jennings said, “He was a solid guest host.” The current permanent Jeopardy! host continued, “When I tried to figure out why, I was like, ‘Honey, you know I was a guest host, too.’ And she was like, ‘ Well, he’s very handsome.’” 

Aaron Rodgers. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Rodgers’ first appearance on the game show was in 2015, when he won Celebrity Jeopardy!, defeating Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary and astronaut/U.S. Senator Mark Kelly. He later guest-hosted the show (in 2021) following the death of Alex Trebek. 

Before Rodgers’ stint as guest host, he told Jeopardy!, “When I came on the show in 2015 and got to do Celebrity Jeopardy!, I just saw how special this environment was.” He added, “I remember thinking, this would be like a dream job.”

Of course, Rodgers wasn’t new to the show. He also shared, “There’s a lot of nostalgia, I think, wrapped up in this show for me because I used to watch it when I was a kid…The voice of Alex, it was one of those voices of my youth.” Rodgers had the opportunity to meet Trebek during Celebrity Jeopardy! in 2015, musing years later, “When he came into the room it was like everything kind og got quiet. It was like, ‘Oh my God, there’s Alex Trebek.” 

The NFL star also compared hosting to playing football, saying, “The key to being football smart is the focus. And the key to being really good at this game, or good at hosting, is that same focus.” 

Even though Jennings isn’t his wife’s top pick as guest host, he does hold the record for the longest victory streak in the show’s history—with 74 wins (totaling $2.52 million) in 2004. He told PEOPLE, “ I was pushing 30 when I went on Jeopardy! And we were kind of doing okay. My wife and I had just had our first baby, and we’d just bought a little starter home right outside Salt Lake City, Utah.” 

Ken Jennings. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images)

Jennings went on to say, “I was a computer programmer—it was going okay. The only thing is I didn’t love my job. Like, I wasn’t a very good programmer.”

 Luckily, Jeopardy! Came along and gave him a chance to do something he truly loves. After guest-hosting in 2021, he was named a permanent co-host (with actress Mayim Bialik) in 2022, and in 2023 it became a permanent solo gig.

Bret Michaels was forced to cancel all upcoming performances just hours after his opening show due health issues.

“Following Bret Michaels’ comeback show at The Bowl at Sugar Hill, doctors and paramedics determined immediately after the show that he still needs additional rest and recovery from his recent surgeries. Bret will be taking the next several months off to heal and get back to 100 percent,” a statement shared via Michaels’ Facebook profile on Saturday, August 22, read.

According to the statement, the decision was made by Michaels’ doctors.

“We will be pulling Bret off the road for the time being. He wanted to attempt this show, but we feel there is a much-needed period of rest and slow recovery ahead, especially considering the heat and humidity during the summer months and the effect it can have on his blood sugar levels,” his doctors said.

Michaels and his company, Michaels Entertainment Group, apologized to fans who were excited to see the Poison artist live.

“Our deepest apologies from Michaels Entertainment Group, as we were truly looking forward to the rest of this year’s shows, including The Mountain Music Festival, private events and all the great shows coming up,” the statement continued. “We now look ahead and to Bret being able to return healthy, strong and ready to rock.”

The “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” rocker, 63 — who recently underwent multiple kidney stone surgeries — was scheduled to perform at Mountain Music Festival on Saturday.

Just one day prior, Michaels claimed he was “excited” to return to the stage after a series of medical issues.

“For the first time ever, and after the recent surgery, I may be wearing the infamous black travel rock ‘n’ roll sweatpants 🎸 But I will be giving 100% of everything I’ve got!” he shared via Facebook on Friday.

On Aug. 18, 1984, Van Halen’s “Panama” peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Mainstream Rock charts. It also appeared on their landmark album, appropriately titled 1984. That’s a lot of numbers to essentially say one thing: The band had a certified hit on its hands.

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In fact, Van Halen loved the song so much, they returned to it at least 22 times over the years, with their many lead singers, solo projects, and high-profile collaborations giving fans all the “Panama, oh-oh-oh-oh” they could handle.

View this post on Instagram

According to Rolling Stone, which recently highlighted 22 different versions of the song, “Panama” is the “perfect distillation of the Van Halen sound in just three minutes and 30 seconds. If someone who has never heard Van Halen before wanted to understand the band, this is the song to play for them. It’s a sleek showcase for the talents of all four members.”

From the original studio recording in 1984 to former lead singers Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth bringing the song back to the stage in 2026, “Panama” has continued to get a ton of play. But the song also marked the end of something: It was the final Top 20 hit of the David Lee Roth era.

The song, which Roth said he and his bandmates wrote in response to accusations that Van Halen sings only about beautiful women, good times, and fast cars, sounds like it might wade into politics. But in reality, Roth’s answer was a cheeky mishmash of mixed metaphors, all of them pointedly circling back to beautiful women and fast cars.

As rock lore tells it, “Panama” has been linked either to a drag racer named Panama Express or a 1969 Opel Kadett station wagon featured on the wall of one of Roth’s homes, with lyrics such as “Here she comes, full blast and top down,” “Don’t you know she’s coming home to me?” and “Out an on-ramp coming through my bedroom,” all cleverly scripted to mean multiple things.

Truth is, as Rolling Stone noted, the song’s precise origins remain impossible to pin down.

Released in June 1984 as a single, “Panama” is the third track on Van Halen’s sixth studio album, 1984. It spent the summer climbing the Billboard charts, with a healthy boost from MTV playing the official music video on heavy rotation. Featuring Roth’s real-life customized 1951 Mercury and revving sounds from Eddie Van Halen’s actual 1972 Lamborghini, the song’s impact shifted into high gear.

As “Panama” became the last hit for the band before Roth left to pursue a solo career, it bookended an era that produced six albums and hits like “Jump” (their only No. 1), “I’ll Wait,” “Hot for Teacher,” and “Panama,” beginning with their debut, “You Really Got Me,” a cover of The Kinks’ foundational rock anthem.

In 1986, Van Halen ushered in their Sammy Hagar era with 5150, which delivered its own set of hits including “Why Can’t This Be Love,” “Dreams,” “Love Walks In,” and “Best of Both Worlds,” all of which tamp down the theatrics for more melodic delivery courtesy of Hagar’s vocals, but still stay true to the rock backbone of the band.

But according to Ultimate Classic Rock, the Red Rocker has a favorite, and it’s not anything he produced himself. It’s “Panama.”  

“‘Panama’ is my favorite,” he told the outlet in October 2025. “It’s a really fun song to play and sing. It’s badass.”

It’s also a Hollywood favorite, with “Panama” appearing in movies and television shows including Superbad, Family Guy, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The song, per Songfacts, even soundtracked a 2025 Super Bowl commercial for Ram Trucks starring Glen Powell.

More than four decades later, “Panama” isn’t just a Van Halen classic with more than 20 different versions; it’s the everyman’s everysong that keeps finding new places to roar.

Related: 2000 Song, Featuring a Tool Legend, Voted Greatest Heavy Metal Duet of All Time

Meghan Markle has reportedly been dropped from Guy Ritchie‘s The Gentlemen.

According to Tina Brown, former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, the decision was made due to backlash in the U.K.

“I learned this morning that the casting of Meghan Markle in season 3 of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen has been withdrawn,” Brown wrote on Substack on Saturday, Aug. 21. “The backlash in the U.K. was so intense, it became untenable to go forward. This does not bode well for Meghan’s acting comeback in the U.K.”

One day earlier, The Hollywood Reporter claimed that the former Suits actress was in “advanced discussions” to join season 3 of the series, which films in the U.K. The Gentlemen has not yet been renewed for another season.

The news comes just days after Meghan and Prince Harry made the shocking announcement that they, along with their children Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, would be moving back to the U.K. while retaining their home in Montecito, Calif. Brown reported that Markle’s potential acting role was a significant factor in the decision.

Season 2 of The Gentlemen premieres on Thursday, Sept. 3, and stars Theo James as Edward “Eddie” Horniman, the estranged second son of a British Duke who unexpectedly inherits the massive family estate after his father’s death. Ritchie adapted the series as a spin-off of his 2019 film of the same name.

The Duchess of Sussex’s potential role in The Gentlemen would have marked her first return to acting after she left Suits and stepped away from the profession in 2017 when she got engaged to Prince Harry.

So far, there is no official word from Markle or Netflix on whether the reports are true.

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The hazy days of August bring slower weekends, a break from the sweltering heat and a reminder that autumn is just around the corner. Pumpkin spice lattes (and pumpkin-flavored everything) are already hitting shelves, along with Halloween candy and holiday advent calendars. (Hot take: advertising those in August is way too early. Give me a few more weeks of summer, please.)

That’s where Voodoo Doughnut and Captain Morgan come in, inviting fans to take one last trip to paradise with a limited-edition doughnut inspired by the flavors of a piña colada. According to Sporked, The Piña Colada Paradise doughnut will be available for just one week, from Aug. 24 through Aug. 30, at nine participating Voodoo Doughnut locations across Colorado, Florida and Texas.

And this is not exactly a minimalist doughnut. The $4.50 treat starts with piña colada-flavored frosting, followed by a strawberry frosting drizzle, pineapple fluff and toasted coconut. It’s finished with Captain Morgan’s signature crossed-swords logo.

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The tropical creation was inspired by Captain Morgan’s Sliced Colada Variety Pack, which features piña colada, strawberry colada, mango colada and passionfruit colada flavors. But honestly, the doughnut sounds like a vacation all on its own, albeit a very short one.

Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 2003, Voodoo Doughnut has become known for its extra and over-the-top creations, making this doughnut feel right at home.

Summer is winding down, and this doughnut is disappearing even faster. If a tropical treat sounds like the perfect way to squeeze out the last bit of summer, you’ll want to make your move before August 30.

Anne Hathaway is shaking things up. The actress rocked a pixie cut in the September cover issue of Vogue China.

The 43-year-old was dressed in a white Louis Vuitton blazer with black details and a chunky Bulgari necklace.

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Hathaway’s new look comes after a very busy year. She has been booked and busy with press tours for her many projects this year, including Mother Mary, The Odyssey, The End of Oak Street, The Devil Wears Prada 2, and soon Verity.

This is the shortest hair the actress has had in over a decade. Back in 2012, Hathaway shaved her head on camera while playing Fantine in Les Misérables. The role earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. As her hair grew back, she wore a short pixie cut into 2013.

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 11: Anne Hathaway attends the Stella McCartney Spring 2012 Presentation at Stella McCartney Store on June 11, 2012 in New York City.

(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage)

The Brokeback Mountain actress told Glamour in a 2012 interview that she was “shaking like a leaf” when she shaved her head, but soon that fear made her feel like the “coolest girl in the world.” Hathaway added that she noticed, “People are warmer to me.”

“Also, I’m a fairly shy person, and [in the past] on days when I didn’t want to deal with the world, I’d wear a hat and pull my hair around me and hide,” she continued. “I can’t do that now. I have to be me all the time.”

It is unclear if her new chop is actually the work of a wig.

If you have wide feet, finding shoes that fit comfortably can definitely be a bit of a challenge. Well, if that is you and you need new sneakers but don’t want to break the bank to find a solid pair, Costco has you covered with these sleek sneakers from the brand Khombu.

Khombu’s Women’s Sneakers retail for $14.97 per pair and come in two colors: white or black. Constructed out of a breathable material that feels super lightweight and comfortable to wear, these shoes are perfect for walking, jogging and running.

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Khombu Women’s Sneaker, $14.97 at Costco

Costco

These sneakers also boast a memory foam insole that adds extra support. You will feel nice and stable wearing these. These will be comfortable to wear, whether you’re running errands all day long or heading out on a walk or to the gym. These will help you go the distance.

Related: This Walking Pad at Best Buy Is a Sleek Upgrade for Any Home Office

Costco shoppers love these shoes, giving them an average rating of four stars on Costco.com. Fans appreciate them for their comfortable fit, especially for wide feet.

“Great sneaker!! Very comfortable and affordable. If you have wide feet, the fit will be perfect. The only reason I gave a four-star rating is because I didn’t like the shoe string,” wrote one fan in a four-star review on Costco’s website.

“I bought these shoes for my daughter that has plantar fasciitis. Most shoes have been hurting her feet, so we decided to give these shoes a try and they are great. She hasn’t been complaining any more about her feet hurting. She is able to walk and run for longer periods of time. The shoes are comfortable, wide and offer great support where needed. I would buy these again,” said another happy Costco shopper in a five-star review on Costco.com.

You can find these comfy sneakers on Costco.com or in select Costco stores. The shoes are available in women’s whole sizes six through 11 and women’s half sizes 6.5 through 8.5. Each pair retails for $14.97.

Related: Costco Is Selling Chic Strappy Sandals That Feel Like ‘Walking on a Cloud’

Usain Bolt just turned 40 with a big bash to make the occasion — but the birthday celebration wasn’t the night’s only big milestone.

The eight-time Olympic gold medalist surprised longtime girlfriend Kasi Bennett by getting down on one knee during his birthday celebration and asking her to marry him. The couple shares three children: daughter Olympia Lightning Bolt, 6, and 5-year-old twin sons Saint Leo and Thunder Bolt.

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In a video shared by an onlooker to Instagram, the romantic proposal took place in front of family and friends, with Bolt telling the crowd that the pair had been together 14 years and that Bennett had given him “three wonderful kids,” adding that he had been “promising” to marry her.

He then fell to one knee and presented the stunning diamond ring to a visibly shocked Bennett, who quickly accepted his proposal as Bruno Mars‘ hit “Marry You” blared over the speakers.

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The engagement came during what was already an emotional weekend for the sprinting legend. Ahead of the proposal, Bennett celebrated Bolt’s milestone birthday with a heartfelt tribute on social media.

“Happy 40th Birthday to my forever,” she wrote alongside a collection of family photos. “Thank you for being the best partner, father and best friend. Here’s to celebrating you today and always.”

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The surprise proposal marked the latest chapter in one of sports’ longest-running celebrity relationships.

Bolt and Bennett have largely kept their romance out of the spotlight despite years of public appearances together. Over the years, Bolt has spoken about not rushing into marriage, previously explaining that he wanted to build a strong foundation for their family before taking that next step.

Bolt previously said he never wanted to rush into marriage. In a 2016 interview with People, he explained that he hoped to build the same kind of lasting relationship his parents have.

“I want to have what my parents have,” he said. His parents dated for a decade before getting married. “I want to take my time to make sure everything is perfect.”

When Netflix‘s Outer Banks premiered, Chase Stokes was 27 years old but playing a 16-year-old. As often happens with TV series, the show’s timeline didn’t track real-world years — sometimes only weeks or months passed between seasons. So while Stokes kept aging in real life, his character, John B. Routledge, barely did.

JONATHAN DAVISS, MADISON BAILEY, CHASE STOKES, AND RUDY PANKOW IN OUTER BANKS

Netflix

By the time Season 5 wrapped, Stokes was 33, but John B. was still just 18 or 19. That gap took a real physical toll. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the Valiant One actor revealed he walked away from the show having uncovered a number of serious health problems after years of playing the role.

Chase Stokes’ Health Wake-Up Call

“I left that show… My liver was failing, my kidney was failing,” he explained. “I had so many health issues that I had to figure out, and my brain was all out of whack. It was a really important time for me to get my bearings right versus just go back into work and mask it.”

That meant therapy, plus visits to a doctor of internal medicine, where he learned his testosterone levels were “alarmingly low,” among other findings. He wanted to get himself right—physically and mentally—before committing to his next project.

Looking back, Stokes was candid about how serious things had gotten, suggesting that without making changes, his long-term health could have been in real jeopardy.

Reflecting on ‘Outer Banks’ Legacy

The series finale aired August 20, and Stokes says he’s proud of what Outer Banks meant to fans. “I truly never in a million years thought that I would ever be a part of something that had the impact that this character, and this universe, has created,” he admitted. “I’m so grateful that I was a part of something that gave people hope in a very confusing time in human history.”

Carlacia Grant as Cleo, Madelyn Cline as Sarah Cameron, Chase Stokes as John B, Jonathan Daviss as Pope, Madison Bailey as Kiara in Outer Banks.

Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

As for what’s next, Stokes is already looking ahead. Fans hoping to see more of him won’t have to wait long—he has a lead role in AMC‘s NASCAR series, Thunder Road, and he’s made it clear this new chapter is about longevity—both in his career and in taking care of himself along the way.

Anthony Michael Hall is crediting director John Hughes with launching his career, opening up about their creative partnership — and the falling-out that followed — during a candid conversation on Danielle Fishel‘s Teen Beat podcast.

Hall began acting at just eight years old, but it was Hughes who transformed him into one of the defining teen stars of the 1980s. After being cast in National Lampoon’s Vacation (which Hughes wrote), Hughes cast Hall for his next three films in quick succession: Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Weird Science.

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The partnership hit a snag when Hughes later approached Hall about starring in both Pretty in Pink and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Hall passed on both projects, a decision that would strain his relationship with Hughes for years.

Why Anthony Michael Hall Turned Down ‘Pretty in Pink’ and ‘Ferris Bueller’

“I think that those films, they were great,” he told Fishel as they reminisced. “You know, I think Jon Cryer is a very nice guy, I’ve met him since. I’ve met Andrew [McCarthy]. I just chose not to make that film.”

“And then with Ferris Bueller, that had actually been written for me by John,” the Brat Pack star continued. “Unfortunately, what happened was, he wanted me to do both films at the time. And I just felt it was important that I kind of move forward.”

“I think that was kind of heartbreaking for him in a way,” Hall added.

Looking back, Hall believes his choice genuinely wounded Hughes, whom he described as far more sensitive than people realized. The two didn’t speak again before Hughes died in 2009 — a “rupture,” as Hall called it, that lasted two decades.

“He was a very sensitive guy, even though he was a so-called adult at the time,” the Reacher star explained. “So I think that hurt his feelings in a way that I didn’t anticipate.”

Life After Hughes: Anthony Michael Hall Joins SNL

Rather than remaining Hughes’ go-to leading man, Hall pivoted to Saturday Night Live — and found himself reunited with former castmates in the process. Robert Downey Jr. (his Weird Science co-star), Joan Cusack (from Sixteen Candles), and Randy Quaid (National Lampoon’s Vacation) all joined SNL the same season.

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Looking back now, Hall seems at peace with how it all played out. Hughes may not have gotten his Ferris Bueller, but Hall’s detour to SNL set him on his own path, one that would eventually lead to standout roles in everything from Edward Scissorhands to The Dead Zone to Reacher.

While not every excellent film can be considered fun, largely due to its subject matter, there are several masterful movies that continue to delight audiences. For instance, the publication Collider recently released a list of the “the 8 most fun movies of all time.”

The ranking, published on August 20, included entertaining films like 2008’s Mamma Mia!, Some Like It Hot, released in 1959, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl from 2003. According to Collider, the second film in the Shrek franchise, 2004’s Shrek 2, is the “most fun movie of all time.” The publication complimented the DreamWorks animated film, co-directed and co-written by Andrew Adamson, for its exploration of Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona’s (Cameron Diaz) struggles and worries following their fairytale wedding while still being timelessly funny.

The Oscar-nominated film currently holds a score of 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Antonio Banderas Discussed Not Interacting With His Castmates While Working on ‘Shrek 2’

Despite the chemistry between the characters in Shrek 2, the film’s voice actors did solo recording booth sessions. In a 2004 interview, Eddie Murphy, who played Donkey, and Antonio Banderas, who played Puss in Boots, noted that they rarely interacted with their Shrek 2 castmates. Banderas said the lack of interaction with the film’s cast and crew made watching the finished film that more impressive.

“You realize how wonderful is the team that is working behind, you know, that’s what you realize. Unbelievable, you know, how they put together, not only just the animation, which I think improved totally the first one [2001’s Shrek] and I was totally impressed with the first one already,” said Banderas during the 2004 interview. “But the relationship between the characters because we are not together when you see all of that thing together saying, ‘Oh man, it makes so much sense.’ So they know very well what they’re doing.”