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Days of Our Lives star Mary Beth Evans has shared a rare glimpse into her home life on social media as the beloved daytime icon shows off one of her favorite roles, grandmother.

Evans took to Instagram to share a photo of herself with her six grandchildren. Captioning the photo, “Oh man summer fun! #lovebugsX6.”

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Evans made her Days of Our Lives debut in 1986 as Kayla Brady, taking over the role from Catherine Mary Stewart, who played the part in 1982.

Evans’ interpretation of Kayla quickly became a fan favorite opposite her love interest Steve “Patch” Johnson (Stephen Nichols).

The 1988 wedding continues to be one of Days of Our Lives’ most iconic and most-watched episodes. During the wedding, Kayla was temporarily mute due to an explosion caused by Harper Deveraux. She began her vows by signing them, with her sister Kimberly reciting them aloud. Midway through, she began to struggle; only when Steve signed “courage” was Kayla able to find her voice and finish her vows out loud.

Kayla would go on to remain part of the Days of Our Lives fabric until 1992, when she left Salem, only to return in 2006 and has remained part of the series ever since. Kayla’s current storyline sees her running Salem University Hospital, combating its owner, E.J. DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel), for proper patient care, and being a supportive mother to her daughter, Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein), as she navigates her adult life.

For her role on Days of Our Lives, Evans took home the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2016.

Evans professional television credits began in 1982 with Madame’s Place. Her daytime career actually began in 1984 with the role of Dakota Lane on the syndicated soap opera Rituals. Following her exit from Days of Our Lives, she made appearances on General Hospital and As the World Turns.

Days of Our Lives streams brand new episodes weekdays exclusively on Peacock.

Prime Video has definitely found the genre that audiences love. After the success of Every Year After, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and Maxton Hall, it shouldn’t be that surprising that fans immediately gravitated toward Sterling Point.

The streamer is so happy with the Canadian summer series that it’s already renewed it for a second season. All eight episodes of the first season dropped on Aug. 5, 2026, so it’s one of the faster renewals we’ve seen for a while across the streaming platforms. It can sometimes take a couple of months for news.

While many other YA successes on Prime Video have been based on a book, Sterling Point has not. However, it brings an authentic look to the teen way of life, with the first season just scratching the surface of personalities and layers.

Megan Park, creator of the series and co-showrunner, shared that authenticity was important, and she’s happy that it resonated with the viewers. TVLine reported that with the renewal, she shared, “It’s been an absolute joy to see the appreciation and love for the show. We worked so hard to make the show as authentic as possible and to see audiences respond to that has been thrilling. We cannot wait to dive deeper into these characters and deliver the best second season ever!”

The 2026 YA series follows Annie Jacobson, played by Ella Rubin, who was raised in New York City with her twin brother Connor. They’re both adopted, and they love their father. Sure, they have their ups and downs, and Annie’s relationship with Steven is strained by the secrets that he has held after adopting her, but there is a lot of care and love between them.

However, things take a turn when Annie inherits an island in Canada owned by her mysterious grandfather. That takes her to a completely different world from the one she’s grown up in, leading to new friends and budding romances, but the family secrets also start coming out.

There are no details on the second season just yet. Sterling Point will need to pick up with the big paternity twist for Ramona, which was a cliffhanger shocker at the end of the Season 1 finale. It’s clear that the series has room to grow just based on that final episode, and now it has time to do just that.

With the renewal just coming in, we’re probably going to see Sterling Point Season 2 in the 2028 schedule.

Related: Prime Video Canceled 4 Shows in 2026, Plus Axed a Highly-Anticipated Sci-Fi Reboot

Despite how much winter makes you long for summer weather, it almost always feels like fall can’t show up fast enough once you’ve had your fill of hot and humid days. And while the cycle inevitably continues, one thing fall has going for it is the perfect combination of crisp autumn days and some of the best foods, decor and scents of the year.

Kicking the season off with a stylish yet spooky twist, Five Below just restocked its popular coir doormats, inspiring shoppers to start their seasonal refreshes a little early. Retailing for just $7, the Ghosts Halloween Coir Mat stands out as an immediate favorite, sporting a retro-inspired trick-or-treating scene perfect for giving your entryway the festive Halloween upgrade it deserves.

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Ghosts Halloween Coir Mat, $7 at Five Below

Five Below

Blending charming Halloween themes with a practical use, Five Below’s Ghosts Halloween Coir Mat comes from a long line of dependable entryway accents, serving as an affordable alternative to higher-priced options sold elsewhere. Featuring a whimsically eerie scene of a family of ghosts trick-or-treating, it has all the creature comforts of a festive Halloween aesthetic. 

Related: Hobby Lobby’s Vintage-Inspired $14 Home Accent Instantly Elevates Any Room

Complete with spider web, bats, pumpkins and an adorable ghost dog detailing, this mat checks all the boxes for a friendly yet spooky home upgrade. But don’t let its $7 price tag fool you—this isn’t just some cheap doormat. It’s made with coarse, natural coir fibers that help scrape dirt and debris off your shoes while also standing up to everyday wear.

While Five Below doesn’t specify the exact size of this particular mat, similar designs from the popular discount retailer measure roughly 28 inches long and 16 inches wide, which is an ideal fit for most doorways or entryways. This mat also features an anti-slip grip underneath, keeping it securely in place while also helping protect hardwood floors and tile from unwanted scratches and scrapes.

Add it to your front door, back patio, mudroom, garage entryway or garden shed and immediately elevate the setting with a retro-inspired Halloween scene. While you’re there, keep your eyes peeled for Five Below’s $15 boho area rug and $20 three-tier metal rolling cart as well.

Related: Sam’s Club Is Selling a Stylish Lineup of $15 Cozy Candles That Double as Home Decor

Congratulations are in order for Post Malone and Christy Lee. The couple is engaged!

The country singer and rapper reportedly popped the question on Tuesday, August 18, in Utah after Lee was seen wearing a diamond engagement ring in a video posted to Instagram.

The dazzling oval diamond is estimated to weigh around 15 carats and is valued at $1 million or more.

“Christy Lee’s engagement ring is absolutely stunning and appears to feature an elongated oval diamond estimated at approximately 15 to 17 carats, or possibly larger, in a classic solitaire setting,” Katie Zimmerman, SVP Merchandising, Jared Jewelers and Diamonds Direct, told Parade. “Based on the apparent size, I believe the ring could be valued between $1.5 million and $2 million.”

Olivia Landau, Founder of The Clear Cut and part of Blue Nile, estimated that the ring would be between 10 and 15 carats and cost between $1 million and $2 million. She added that her ring is on-trend with other celebrities’.

“Just a few weeks ago, Madison Beer debuted her elongated cushion-cut engagement ring and just before that, Kylie Jenner was pictured in a large pear-shaped pinky ring,” she told Parade. “While these rings share certain characteristics, each celebrity has found a way to reflect their own personal style.”

Zimmerman shared that the ring might be an “old mine cut.” She explained that these diamonds “are especially prized because they are hand-cut” and give each stone “its own unique personality and a softer, more romantic glow than many modern cuts.”

Post Malone and Lee started dating in early 2025 but broke things off in the summer. It is currently unclear what brought them back together.

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Summer is still in the air, but it’s never too early to get a head start on fall decor. If you’re already thinking about how you’re going to spruce up your porch, garden, or patio for the months ahead, Walmart has a new seasonally inspired deal that you’ll want to check out. Right now, the Scidweet Faux Flower Bundle is on sale for 43% off in the stunning orange-yellow color that’s perfect for autumn. 

The 18-piece bundle comes with a diverse selection of fall-inspired flowers, including six orange violets, six yellow violets, and six fern plants. It also comes in five other color options, including multicolor, orange-red, and yellow-white-red, currently available at varying discounts. 

Scidweet Faux Fall Flower Bundle, $17 (was $30) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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The gorgeous faux flower set adds a beautiful pop of color to any space, whether you’re adorning a windowsill, framing your front door, or pairing it with other fall foliage in a garden or terrace. Constructed from durable plastic and iron wire frames, the adjustable stems can be effortlessly bent and shaped for a more lifelike appearance. Each stem measures 14 inches long, and you can combine them all to make one colorful bundle or divide them up to create smaller bouquets. 

The best part of this set is that it requires little-to-no maintenance. There’s no need for watering or fertilizing, and they’re designed to resist fading even in direct sunlight. Though they arrive in a compressed package, they easily fluff up once opened. Simply place them in a pot of your choice with dirt or filler, then display them wherever you want a pretty autumnal touch.   

Related: Walmart’s $22 Solar Brick Light 4-Pack Is ‘Bright,’ ‘Beautiful,’ and ‘So Pretty’ at Night

The Scidweet faux flowers have earned plenty of praise, with over 200 five-star ratings from Walmart shoppers. “These faux flowers are beautiful!” one reviewer wrote, adding that they bring “lovely” color to their front porch. Others agreed, highlighting their “bright and cheerful” look. Another buyer noted that the stems are “very realistic-looking,” writing, “My neighbors think I have a green thumb!” 

Shop More Deals

• Scidweet Artificial Fall Hanging Flowers, $15 (was $26) at Walmart
• Lyacmy 6-Piece Eucalyptus Stems, $13 (was $22) at Walmart
• Patiojoy Wooden Wagon Planter, $34 (was $40) at Walmart

If you’re looking for an easy and affordable way to spruce up your deck, patio, or yard for fall, this stunning 18-piece faux flower set is an excellent buy. It’s effortless to care for, and at under $20, you can even buy more than one bundle to arrange around your home. Don’t hesitate to add to your cart before this limited-time flash deal ends. 

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.

Singer Raye may not be releasing another album anytime soon.

While speaking on NBC’s Today, following her performance on the plaza, the singer shared why there are no plans on the horizon to come out with more music.

“I’m on strike from like making an album until until I fall in love, basically,” she shared.

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The “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” singer went on to explain that she needs a “perspective” shift ahead of recording anything new.

“You know what it is. I’ve written so many songs, right?” she said to Dylan Dreyer, Al Roker, and Craig Melvin. “And my perspective has largely just been, ‘Oh, this didn’t work out,’ or ‘This sucks,’ or ‘I’m alone,’ or you know, ‘Oh my ex that time,’ and ‘My ex that time.’ So I’m very just bored of that perspective, and so I think I’m just really excited to like find another project, see what happens in life, and just enjoy the twists and turns, do shows, do all of that stuff.”

And when Melvin asked the singer, confirmed the fact that she won’t release music until she finds “Mr. Right,” she responded, “Absolutely.”

“I’m like a hard set,” she doubled down. “It could be 10 years, guys.”

However, Roker chimed in with a brighter outlook saying, “It could be shorter!” to which Raye replied, “That’s an optimist’s perspective Al, and I’m going to hold that.”

Related: Taylor Swift and Madonna Lead 2026 MTV VMA Nominations: See the Complete List

Most recently, Raye released her second album, This Music May Contain Hope in March which includes “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” and “Click Clack Symphony” featuring Hans Zimmer. As of Wednesday, both tracks were nominated for an MTV Video Music Award.

Notably, “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” was nominated for Song of the Year.

This isn’t the first time Raye has spoken about wanting her third album to have a bit more of an uplifting feel to it.

Per People, the singer said on TikTok following the release of “This Music May Contain Hope” that her next record will be called And Then She Fell in Love.

“I will fall in love and I will write an album,” she said at the time.

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Hayden Panettiere’s estranged mom, Lesley Vogel, responded after receiving backlash for her remarks following her daughter’s death.

“Hayden was a beautiful and talented young woman who unfortunately became involved with the wrong person, and although her family tried to extricate him from her life, we were unable to be successful,” Vogel, 70, told Entertainment Tonight on Thursday, August 20.

She added, “Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love. It was due to the involvement of a toxic individual who I believe led to her death.”

While she did not identify the alleged “toxic individual” in Hayden’s life, Vogel previously commented on the Ice Princess actress’s on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson.

“This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death,” she told NBC News on August 18. “And that was Brian Hickerson.”

Vogel added, “I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments, and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry—it is a struggle and it’s a very challenging industry and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path.”

Her comments were met with criticism from stars including Gayle King and Holly Robinson Peete.

“You know guys, you read this and all I can think is ‘Thanks mom, for nothing,'” King said after reading Vogel’s statement live on CBS Mornings.

Peete tweeted, “If you’re not gonna take accountability for the fact that you put her in the business that eventually messed her up, then nothing you say has any integrity. She didn’t even say, ‘I will miss my daughter’ or ‘I loved my daughter the best way I could.'”

Panettiere was found dead inside an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, August 16. An investigation into her cause of death remains ongoing.

Justin Hartley is sharing his support for his This Is Us co-star Chrissy Metz.

During an August 17 interview with Extra TV, Hartley was asked to respond to Metz’s recent revelation that she’s been taking GLP-1s and is on a health journey.

“She’s wonderful. She knows what I think of her. She’s terrific. And anytime I hear her doing well in any way, shape, or form is a great thing for me because I love her. I love her dearly,” said Hartley, who played Metz’s on-screen brother, Kevin Pearson, on the NBC six-season family drama, which ended in 2022.

Metz explained why she began taking GLP-1s in an August 10 interview on the TODAY show. She said while she had been “very skeptical of GLP-1s for like years,” one of her friends “gave [her] like a thesis” in regards to the medication that convinced her. In addition, the 45-year-old actress said “there was some complications with [her] father’s health” that she felt she “should try to get ahead of.”

Metz, who confirmed she has “a partnership with RO,” a telehealth company, went on to say that her doctors believed GLP-1s would be “beneficial” for her health.

“It’s been really wonderful for me,” said Metz during the August 2026 interview.

Metz also said that she is focusing on strength training to up her energy levels, especially while she’s been starring in the Broadway show, & Juliet.

“It’s a whole lifestyle change. It’s not just, ‘Oh, I’m going to take a medication because it’s not the easy way out.’ I think a lot of people think, ‘Oh, it’s a magic wand,’ and no, in fact you have to be more diligent,” continued the actress during her TODAY appearance.

In addition, Metz said she wants to “try not to focus so much [on]” the amount of weight she’s lost.

“Because that can be overwhelming. And I think that that becomes the new obsession,” explained Metz.

Brian Hickerson has broken his silence following the death of his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Hayden Panettiere, releasing a statement through his attorney.

“Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” his attorney Sloan Ellis told TMZ. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play.”

“Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time,” the statement concluded.

This comes after Hickerson was spotted on Wednesday, August 19, for the first time since her passing, seen in South Carolina wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap. That same, day police were also seen visiting the home of Hickerson, but Page Six reported that it was not connected to the investigation. A spokesperson for the Greenville Police Department told the outlet later in the day that officers had “responded to a call for a welfare check at a home belonging to Brian Hickerson’s family on Wednesday morning.”

Brian Hickerson was in the apartment at the time of Panettiere’s passing, but it was his brother Zach who discovered her unresponsive and in cardiac arrest as Brian was sleeping in the other room. First responders tried to save her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Police also said that Brian was emotional when he learned she had died and also poitned them to a bag of medication the actress was taking.

An investigation into Panettiere’s death is being conducted by the police, the coroner’s office, and now the DEA.

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Struggle with decision fatigue in the morning? If so, you may want to invest in a capsule wardrobe. It’ll help you effortlessly pull together an ensemble without needing to question if it looks cohesive. Filled with a small, curated collection of versatile pieces, a capsule wardrobe allows you to create numerous outfits with less. These clothes should be timeless and high quality, ensuring they last you for years to come. 

@leia_ku

It’s finally hereee! Here’s my fall capsule wardrobe as we are stepping into August!! you don’t need more clothes, just better combinations:)) 2 outerwear – leather jacket – trench coat/funnel neck coat 7 tops – basic tee – button-up – lightweight sweater – chunky knit – long sleeve ribbed top – vest – cardigan 3 bottoms – trousers – dark wash jeans – midi/maxi skirt Accessories – sunnies – scarfs – hats – bag – hair accessories – statement jewelry – belt – tights #capsulewardrobe #fallcapsulewardrobe #fallfashionessentials #autumnfashion #capsulewardrobetips

♬ Stylish cheerful jazz piano (Loop)(1567082) – Ponetto

Ideal for both casual and dressy occasions, a basic tee is a key component. You can wear it on its own during the warmer months, and just as easily layer outerwear on top when the temperatures start to drop. If you’re looking for a quality piece but don’t want to splurge, the Gap Favorite Crewneck Tee at Amazon is a fabulous choice. Right now, you can score it on sale for up to a whopping 60% off. It normally retails between $15 and $25, but it’s now marked down to as low as $8 for a limited time. 

Gap Favorite Crewneck Tee, From $8 (was $20) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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This tee is available in 29 styles, with sizes ranging from XXS to XXL, as well as petite and tall options. You can choose from a plethora of colors, including neutrals like black and white, pastels like lavender and light yellow, vibrant hues like pink and red, and deep tones like plum and olive green. Prices vary depending on size and style. The bright hyacinth blue has the best deal, as it’s currently on sale for just $8. For just $2 more, you can snag this tee on sale in black, Hawaiian red, and Walden green styles. Sale prices for the other colors range between $13 and $20, while select options remain at full price. 

Made of 100% cotton, this tee delivers all-day comfort. Cotton is soft and gentle on the skin, making this top an ideal choice for those with sensitive skin, eczema, or psoriasis. Reviewers raved about the quality of the material, describing it as “superior.” 

This tee is lightweight and breathable, allowing air to flow through the fabric to help regulate your body temperature. It’ll prevent you from overheating and also draw sweat away from your body to keep your skin dry. Thanks to the cotton fabric, this tee is easy to care for. Whenever it needs a refresh, you can toss it into the washing machine with cold water. 

Gap Favorite Crewneck Tee, From $8 (was $20) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

Featuring a relaxed silhouette, this top gives you plenty of room to move around. The short sleeves are wide, keeping the fabric from clinging to your arms. Whether you’re running errands, shopping, or hiking, you should feel unrestricted. While this tee has a loose fit, it drapes straight down, offering more of a polished feel compared to oversized tees. 

This basic tee features a standard crew neckline that curves right above your collarbone. The hem ends around the hips, giving you different styling options. You can tuck the entire hem into your waistband for a refined look, partially tuck it in for a slouchy yet chic vibe, or leave it untucked for a laid-back feel. 

One reviewer commented that this top is “cute and casual,” and a second shopper noted that it feels “super soft.” A third customer called the shirt a “must-grab” and a “staple.” 

Simple with no frills, this tee is the definition of versatility. It’ll complement nearly anything in your closet. Throw it on as loungewear and wear it with leggings, sweatpants, or shorts. For casual days out and about, you can style it with some jeans or jorts. You could just as easily dress this tee up with some accessories and pair it with slacks or a skirt. 

Shop More Deals 

• Gap Ribbed Tank Top, From $6 (was $8) at Amazon
• Gap Logo Zip-Up Hoodie, From $20 (was $60) at Amazon
• Gap 90’s Low Rise Loose Jeans, From $53 (were $90) at Amazon

Related: Knit Ballet Flats Are Having a Moment, and JCPenney’s ‘Breathable’ Fall-Ready Pair Is Over 30% Off

If you want to simplify your morning routine and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day, don’t hesitate to snag the Gap Favorite Crewneck Tee at Amazon while it’s still on sale for as low as $8! 

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

The Challenge Season 42 is here! Throughout the season, Parade.com will speak with the challengers who were eliminated from Cutthroat.

Nurys Mateo came into her fourth season of The Challenge hoping to stay out of the drama. Not only was she hoping to rebound after an early exit to make another deep run, but, in the midst of a breakup with Horacio Gutiérrez, the opposite sex was the least of her concerns. It seems, however, no matter how much she may avoid the spectacle, she’s fated to be involved — with plenty of conflict to boot.

After laying low the first couple of rounds, Nurys rose to prominance when she was brought into a back-and-forth involving one of the many showmances forming this season. When Adrienne Naylor saw that Josh Goldstein was sitting rather close to Nurys, the Married at First Sight alum was not happy with the sight she took in. Nurys was confronted about flirting with Josh, which both parties vehemently denied. In that moment, the Are You the One? alum was adamant that she was only focused on the game, not any hookups. And we saw that the very next day, as she deliberated who to send into elimination. When her team stalemated between Chris Underwood and Leo Dionicio, Nurys had all the power, and she chose to keep the Survivor winner safe. Unfortunately, as she would soon find out, he would not return the favor.

Even if Nurys didn’t know how to dive, her game was about to take a major one. At the next deliberation, the Grey team near-unanimously sent her into elimination, feeling she was the group’s weakest link. Never one to stay quiet, especially with her back against the wall, Nurys began to call out some of the biggest betrayals. Most notably, she went after Sydney Segal multiple times, calling her “the fakest bitch in the house.” And those would wind up being some of her final words of the season. While she had the advantage of experience against Anna Leigh Wilson, the rookie’s brains and “farm strength” put Nurys’s game out to pasture.

Read on for our full interview with Nurys. New episodes of The Challenge: Cutthroat drop Wednesdays on Paramount+.

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To be candid, Nurys, I was a bit surprised to hear you would be back. The rumor among the fanbase was that you had gotten in the doghouse with the show after calling out what you believe was the wrong result in Horacio’s elimination in Season 40. Was that actually the case? What was your reaction to getting the call to come on this season?
So I actually got called pretty early on into the casting for 42, and I was super shocked about that. Actually, no, not even super early because I was hearing through the grapevine [that] everybody was getting called. Honestly, I was completely okay with not coming back because I was like, “Okay, I made my bed, I gotta lie in it.” But there was still a part of me that was praying and hoping that, for some reason, I get another chance. And then when I finally got the call, I think I got the call about five months before we went to go film, and I just couldn’t believe it. And a couple weeks passed after that. I honestly was like, “They gave me the availability call, but I’m probably not gonna actually get on.”

And then a couple weeks went by, and I went to Olivia’s baby shower. And when I was at the baby shower, every single Challenge castmate that was there was talking about their calls and talking about how they had all gotten the calls. But I didn’t tell anybody because I literally was like, “People prey on my downfall. I don’t want to have anybody know this and possibly take my blessing away.” So I kept my mouth shut. I told everybody I hadn’t gotten called. Everybody was upset. They’re like, “They’re still mad at you,” and I was like, “Yeah, I guess they are!”

I just kind of pretended to everybody, and I kept my mouth shut up until I got the official “hey you’re on” call. And even then, I kept my mouth shut. I think the only person I really talked to was maybe Michele, and I think I talked to Nelson a little bit briefly. Aside from that, I was like, “I’m gonna keep my mouth shut. I’m gonna go into this season, and just gonna be me.” And hopefully, I can continue to get calls back after this season.

Was anyone feeling a particular way after they found out you had not told them you were gonna be on ahead of time?
So Adrienne had actually reached out to me in the DMs, and she had asked me if I was going on. But I was telling everybody that I wasn’t. So I told her I wasn’t going on. So when I saw her, I know for a fact that it put a bad taste in her mouth because it probably looked to her as if I was lying to her. But genuinely, I hadn’t told anybody just because I didn’t want my blessing to get taken away. But I know that in that moment when she first brought it up to me and Izzy, they were like, “Yeah, you told me you weren’t coming here.” And I was like, “I know, I’m so sorry. But I really can’t say anything.” But I know, when you don’t really know somebody, now someone’s probably like, “I don’t know if I can really trust her.” So that already was a bad thing for me for sure. But I’m glad I didn’t tell anybody because I made it on!

Well, let’s take a deep dive — only figuratively, don’t worry — into the drama you were involved in this season. We have to start with what happened between you, Josh, and Adrienne. Josh has said on social media that we didn’t see “the full story,” and then you responded that he himself didn’t tell the full story, including “all the weird s—t you told Adrienne.” What exactly went down with you and him?
Nothing! That’s the thing. It was nothing. We had three conversations total. One of the conversations is the seat conversation that you see where Adrian gets upset. The other was two conversations on the bus. The first conversation we ever had was about 25 minutes long because that’s how long the bus ride was, and it was the first conversation we ever had. So it’s very much a getting to know each other conversation.” Hey, how was your season of your show? How was the girl you dated on the show?” Little just random conversations, literally getting to know you conversations, and that was about it. I didn’t see it as anything more.

Now I can be honest and say, maybe I should have been extra stone cold hard. I wouldn’t say I was flirty at all, to be honest. But I think my personality is naturally just one that I’m like, “Ha ha ha! Let’s talk.” But even then, I don’t want to say that I was ever flirting with him because I don’t really think it was that. It was actually just me being me.

The second conversation I ever had with him, I then realized that I might have made him feel as if I was interested. I straight up had to tell him, “Hey, just so you know, I’m still in love with my ex.” And actually, I didn’t even ask him. I didn’t tell him that. He asked me! He said, “Are you still in love with Horacio?” And I straight up told him, “Yes, I am, and it’s not gonna go away. If you’re looking for someone that you’re trying to talk to like that—” And this is hand on the Bible, which is why I’m annoyed that he even speculated that I wanted him. I literally told him, “If you want somebody that you’re trying to talk to like that,” I pointed to Adrienne, “go to Adrienne. It’s not me. I’m not trying to get to know you like that.”

I straight-up said those things. I am in love with my ex. There’s no confusion. There’s no nothing. If someone tells you, “Hey, they’re still loving their ex,” I think you should know what that means. Like I didn’t know that I had to straight up say, “Hey, just so you know, I love my ex, and I also don’t want to talk to you, and I don’t like you, and there’s no interest.” Like I didn’t know I had to say all those things, but apparently I did. And so that was that.

Now the third conversation is the one that you guys see where Adrienne gets upset. I had seen Adrienne walking from upstairs on our balcony. And I was like, “Wow! Your girl looks good. She looks so beautiful.” Which is why, when you see me and her arguing, I said, “I had your back behind your back.” Because I was sitting there telling him, “Adrienne looks beautiful.” And he goes, “Will you sit down real quick?” And I said, “Sure.” And he says, “Okay, why is it that now since me and her have made out, everyone keeps calling her my girl?” And I said, “Because this isn’t Love Island!”

It’s true! That’s the environment he’s accustomed to.
I said, “This isn’t Love Island. This is The Challenge. And in this environment, when you kiss somebody, it kind of solidifies that you’re with that person now.” And he was like, “I just don’t understand. Everyone today has been saying [she’s] my girl, and that’s not my girl.” And I literally tapped him on the shoulder. I said, “Well, you made your bed, lay in it. I’m leaving this conversation.”

I instantly ran and told Cara too, and I said, “Girl, did you just see? She said, “I just saw you sitting there. What happened? I told her the whole conversation. I was so grateful that I have all my friends there because after all these conversations, I always ran back and told my friends. That’s why my friends are sitting there, like, “Are you dumb?”

What they don’t show actually is that after me and Adrienne went off on Josh in that scene, Michele and Cara then ripped him a new one in person. They actually ripped him a new one to his face in front of everybody because he had the audacity to say something along the lines of, “Nurys said she wasn’t thinking about Horacio.” I had said that, but I didn’t say it in that context. Everybody knew I was going through a breakup. Everybody knew that my mind was consumed on the breakup. Me saying, “Hey, I’m not thinking about him,” was not saying, “Oh my God, I don’t think about him. I don’t give a f—k about him.” No, it was “I’m finally here, and I’m able to lock into the game. My mind is not on what is on the outside world.”

And I said that same exact comment to everybody, which is why when he mentioned it, Michele went off on him. Michele was like, “Yeah, she did say that. She said that to all of us.” And then he started saying something else, and then Cara went off on him. Cara was like, “Have you seen Horacio?! You do even compare! You’re the Temu Paulie! Nurys would never want you.” And they all read him to filth. When I tell you to filth, I didn’t even have to say anything. Everybody went off on him because he was spewing lies.

And so that’s why me and Adrienne went to go talk, and we like figured everything out. And me and her were great because we realized all the lies that he had said. He had thought I was crying over him on the bus, and gaslighted her, and told her, “I think Nurys is crying over me on the bus.” Mind you, I’m crying because I’m going through a breakup. I’m sitting there with Nelson, and I’m telling Nelson, thank goodness, why I’m actually crying. And then, the whole time in the background, Josh is telling Adrienne, “I think she’s crying over me. I think she wants me. She’s sad because I’m sitting with you on the bus.” What kind of woman do you think I am that I would be weak enough to ever cry over a man that I’m not even talking to because you’re sitting with another woman on the bus? Are you delusional?

Well, you talk about being there to lock into the game. Let’s talka bout the big game decision you made last week as a captain. What made you decide to send Leo into the sand instead of Chris, and how do you look back on the decision?
So Bananas was going around telling everyone that he wanted Chris. It was a very much-known thing. And not only that, but he was having conversations with people trying to do reverse psychology, trying to find a way to have Chris be an option. He was going so hard around the house, trying to find a way to get him in. And for me, knowing that I had power and knowing that I could purposely piss off Bananas to not give him what he wanted was everything I wanted to do. I said, “You want Chris? I’m not giving him to you. You want him? That’s too bad.” And so in that moment, it was an “I want to spite Bananas” type of situation.

But also being close with Chris, I knew from my team he had Sydney above me, then me, then Cassidy. And I always knew Sydney was his number one. This is not something that Chris lied to me about or ever hid. This was very much an unknown thing. But Sydney was lying. They had a Season 41 alliance, and Sydney was lying to her alliance because they didn’t know she was in an alliance with Chris. They didn’t know that Chris was her number one. They didn’t know that she had told Chris, “I actually don’t give a f—k about my Season 41 alliance” — that she made up, by the way!

So I knew in those moments, I said, “I can’t tell these Season 41 kids because they’re not going to believe me. It’s hearsay. I have to find a way to show them this girl is not having your back. And maybe if I show them that she’s actually a snake, maybe I could be higher on their list.” And so that was part of my plan: To say, “You know what? Let me show people that Sydney is actually working with Chris, and then I can basically blow up their alliance.”

And I was gonna take one on the chin, being like, “Alright, I’m gonna have to say Leo’s name. But Leo’s not going in.” I knew that for a fact because he had heard the conversation throughout the house. Bananas had already told everybody it’s not gonna be Leo. He was never gonna choose Leo. He really wanted to be either Keanu or Chris. So I told Leo, “I know I said your name. And I feel bad because it gave you the possibility to possibly be thrown in. But we knew that wasn’t gonna happen. There’s a possibility, but you’re safe. I said your name kind of as a throwaway vote because you’re not going into elimination. You’re gonna have to stand there in the sand real quick, but you’re not going in.”

So how did what you knew about Sydney’s alliances feed into you feeling she was the “fakest bitch in the house”?
Well, it’s so funny. Obviously I watched Season 41, and I just didn’t like her, if I’m being honest, just [from] everything that I had to see then. But I went into the season saying I can’t watch someone on a TV show, and instantly feel like that’s [how] I’m gonna treat them that same way in person. No, I’m gonna give you a fair chance. So I went in there, open-hearted, being like, “I’m just gonna get to know her. Maybe she’s different. Maybe it was just an edit. Maybe that’s just her trying to be funny.” And for the most part, I wasn’t too bothered by her. There were just little comments that she would make about other people, where I’m like, “Damn!”

So production reads us rules, and they’ll be like, “Alright, do you guys have any questions?” Most of the time, we’re just like, “No, we don’t have questions. Let’s just go. We just want to do the challenge.” Cassidy was always the person to be like, “I have a question,” and she would ask very obvious questions. And Sydney would always look behind her back and be like, “Ugh!” and make faces and do things like that. I could tell your character and who you are from those moments. Because all the girl’s doing is asking a question, and you’re looking so disgusted that the girl’s even asking the question. So [there were] little things like that, where I could tell, “I don’t really like who you are behind other people’s backs.”

But I didn’t think that she was doing that s—t to me until Cassidy told me, “Yeah, whenever you walk into the room, she laughs. She talks s—t about you.” She had told CT that I over-explained myself, and she didn’t like me because I over-explained myself. Like a lot of weird, random things that were all personal. Like I said, if you want to say I suck at swimming or I’m the weakest one on the team, fine, I don’t give a f—k. That has to do with the game.

But when you turn it into something personal, like even like the preview for next week, talking about a woman’s body and trying to put somebody down, that’s where I’d be like, “I don’t f—k with you outside of the game. I don’t care about who you are. You’re trash. You’re actually a trash human.” Because that’s so weird for you to do that in this environment.

Because I’ve always said this, maybe because I’ve done so many more TV shows than her. But I don’t try to say things about people that could make the public start attacking that person for those things as well. Me calling her fake-ass bitch, we know she’s a fake- ass bitch. The fans could call her fake-ass bitch; those are true things. But I would never go out of my way to be like, “Hey, your body is this” or “your face looks like this.” Because then the fans could possibly also start body-shaming you.

I stay away from those things. And because she is that type of nasty human, I don’t f—k with it. I cannot f—k with someone who moves like that. Like you’re actually nasty. The fact that you think you’re above everyone, and you’re not built like America’s Next Top Model. You’re not this amazing person that you come out to be, and yet you try to talk so down on everybody else. People who are minding their business at that, nobody that’s paying you any mind.

So, yeah, I don’t like her in the show. Don’t like her outside the show. I think she’s disgusting. Actually, I really do. And mind you, there’s not many people that I feel that way about, in and out of the game. But she’s gotten to that point. When I saw the preview for next week, I think that also just solidified it even more for me. That is so mean to just say such nasty things about a girl for no reason. And then double down and say, “I did say that,” you don’t give a f—k that you said it. I’m like, “Yeah, you’re disgusting.”

Let’s loop back around to where we started this interview. What’s been your reaction to the fan response to your return?
I’ve been so happy to see the feedback lately. Because normally I’m getting roasted and hated. But I think my favorite thing has been not even necessarily that people are loving me, that people are liking that I provide what they want to see on TV. And I love that because I’m like I’ve been such a fan of this show that I would hate to be the person where people are like, “She here. She’s boring. She doesn’t provide nothing for the show.” And mind you, I don’t go out of my way to do any of those things. So it really does make me feel good that I’m just being me. I don’t try to orchestrate anything. And you guys love it! And I’m happy that me being me provides entertainment for people.

Related: ‘The Challenge’ Star Brad Fiorenza Reveals 103-Degree Fever Before Brutal Elimination (Exclusive)

The Great British Baking Show is the unofficial start of fall in the eyes of its fans, with the beloved reality TV show returning to screens soon. A fresh batch of amateur bakers will be heading to the tent to work on their best show-stoppers, hopefully without any soggy bottoms.

This week, the show shared its first look at the new season, which features a shake-up in its judges line up.

“Life is about to get sweeter. Bake Off is coming soon…” Channel 4’s official Instagram account shared in a caption alongside a photo of the hosts and judges.

Fan-favorite duo Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding are returning to the tent as judges, while Paul Hollywood will be joined by new judge Nigella Lawson, who has replaced longstanding judge Prue Leith.

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“This has been a dream this year, thanks Gang,” Hollywood wrote in the comments, while newcomer Lawson agreed: “I love being part of this gang!”

In May, Hammond shared a sneak peak into the new season, including the gossip on how Lawson was settling into her new role.

“Obviously we’ve started, so I’ve been watching. I’m telling you, the chemistry between her and Paul is unbelievable,” she told TV presenter Lorraine Kelly during an appearance on Lorraine. “Look, you can feel it, can’t you? Don’t they look good-looking? Look at them!”

She continued: “Honestly, they’re so good together. Because I’ll be honest with you, they don’t always agree, and it’s so good!”

Lawson took to Instagram on Aug. 18 to reveal the series returns next month, though no official premiere date has been announced yet. Per People, a representative for Netflix confirmed that it will air on the streamer in the U.S. after the U.K. Channel 4 broadcast weekly, just as it has in previous years.

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In January, Leith announced her exit from the Bake Off tent after nine years. Later explaining her decision, she said that it was something that she had been thinking about for some time.

“I have been dithering for a couple of years now,” the Michelin-starred restaurateur explained during an appearance on The Shift with Sam Baker. “I just thought, you know, I’d like to have more time off in the summer. So, two years ago, I wrote to them just saying, ‘Look, I need more time off and I need I haven’t had a summer holiday for eight years or something. So, I really think I better if I stop.'”

Related: Beloved ’70s Sitcom, TV’s Longest-Running, Returns After 16 Years With New Special

Rock singer Fred Durst has an impressive resume that spans far beyond his multi-platinum music career, and today he celebrates his 56th birthday.

Durst, born Frederick Allen Mayne III (and later renamed William Frederick Durst), was welcomed into the world on Aug. 20, 1970. He formed the nu metal band Limp Bizkit in 1994 alongside bassist Sam Rivers, drummer John Otto, and later, guitarist Wes Borland.

“We were actually in a room riffing at the moment,” he explained of the band’s name, per Loudwire. “We were just trying to think of something, and we don’t take ourselves so seriously all the time, but we like things that are a little left of center and sometimes really quirky and corny.”

The three-time Grammy-nominated band fuses various genres, including metal, hip-hop, and rap, with this unique edge being something that it has always been proud of.

“We want to have all of these sides and we really enjoy and get into all these different kinds of music, whether I’m singing soft, rhyming, screaming, or anything,” Durst told MTV News in 1998. “And we want to be able to be the first band to be able to do it all and be respected for it all.”

Limp Bizkit’s second studio album, 1999’s Significant Other, was the band’s first No. 1 record, taking the top spot on the Billboard 200, where it stayed for four weeks. “Rollin’,” one of the band’s most popular songs, reached No. 1 in the U.K. in 2001. The track has proved it stands the test of time, entering the Billboard Hard Rock Digital Song charts for the first time ever in 2025 — over 20 years since its initial release.

In 2001, Durst had his first taste of the acting world with a cameo in Zoolander. In 2006, when the band went on hiatus, he tried his hand at indie filmmaking, directing 2007’s The Education of Charlie Banks and 2008’s The Longshots. His love for film didn’t fade once the band reunited, with the singer going on to direct the 2019 psychological thriller, The Fanatic, starring John Travolta.

The early 2020s saw the “Break Stuff” hitmaker return to acting with roles in I Saw the TV Glow and Y2K.

Related: Founding Member of Influential ’80s Rock Band Turns 68

David Geffen’s 454-foot Rising Sun does not do drop-ins; it operates as a floating fortress with a drawbridge higher than any medieval structure. This season, the 82-room, $400 million megayacht dropped anchor along Mallorca’s southwest coastline, serving as a private offshore playground for Hollywood’s heaviest hitters. The German-built luxury vessel includes five decks and accommodations for dozens of guests and crew.

The vessel’s 2026 passenger list has brought a bevy of high-profile figures to Balearic waters. This season alone, the guest list has included Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Pedro Pascal, Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Kris Jenner, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, and Geffen’s ex-husband David Armstrong alongside Jim Curtis.

Because of its 138-meter length, Rising Sun cannot dock in smaller regional marinas, anchoring in deep outer bays and deploying custom tender boats to transport guests to shore. A primary entry point on the southwest coast is Port d’Andratx.

The draw of Andratx comes down to an unwritten Mediterranean rule: while Saint-Tropez and Ibiza run on public spectacle, this southwest pocket operates as an anti-paparazzi stronghold. The topography does the heavy lifting. The limestone walls of the La Mola and Mon Port peninsulas allow billionaires to build cantilevered, zero-sightline fortresses that telephoto lenses cannot reach from sea or land. Brad Pitt bought into the cliffs above the port for €3.5 million to escape public visibility, while Claudia Schiffer spent years fortifying her private headland in neighboring Camp de Mar. The area is also where James Bond goes on his night off: the locale has ties to the iconic film franchise: director Guy Hamilton lived in the hills of Port d’Andratx until his death, and actor Pierce Brosnan often rents villas along the same ridge.

What makes Andratx unusual is that the A-list army has not pushed out the public. Balearic coastal laws prevent private developers from walling off the waterfront, so high-speed launches from Rising Sun drop celebrities at marina slips while local fishermen unload wooden trawlers fifty yards away.

Vacationers can sit at outdoor cafes, order three-euro cortados, and watch million-dollar tenders shuttle back and forth to megayachts in the outer bay. During my own stay in Andratx this summer, the mashup of quiet luxury and accessible charm was impossible to miss.

Visitors stay across valley and coastal spots like the luxury resort Zafiro Palace Andratx in Camp de Mar or the waterfront Hotel Brismar directly on the port. Along the quayside, restaurants are open to anyone walking the strip, from classic wood-fired paella at Barlovento and Nikkei seafood at Sumailla to the cafe tables of Cappuccino Grand Café and the saltwater perches of Beach Club Gran Folies in Cala Llamp. And they all share the exact same water views as the superyachts moored in the channel.

The current season’s roster builds on a two-decade history of stars who have traveled on Rising Sun across the Mediterranean. Previous summers have seen the decks host Leonardo DiCaprio, Steven Spielberg, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Jeff Bezos, Bradley Cooper, Karlie Kloss, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Chris Rock, Diane Sawyer, and Maria Shriver.

Yesterday came the bombshell announcement that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to the U.K.

With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex set to relocate from California by the end of this month with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, attention has turned to Prince William and Kate Middleton with everyone wondering how they will react to this news.

Apparently King Charles III only learned the news of the Sussexes’ plans to move back to the U.K. days before the announcement was made, and William is said to have been “blindsided” by the news.

However, as Hello!‘s royal editor Emily Nash pointed out, overall there has been “complete radio silence” from the Waleses regarding Harry and Meghan since the publication of Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare in 2023.

It was at that point that William reportedly felt he had “lost his little brother […] quite possibly for life.”

Nash said that having Harry and Meghan back in the U.K will be a “very, very difficult hill” for William and Kate to climb.

Related: King Charles Keeps Wearing This Tiny Gift From Princess Charlotte—Here’s Why

She said, “So much has been said and done that has damaged that relationship almost beyond repair. I can’t see a world in which they would be welcoming them back with open arms.”

Relations between the two royal brothers were deteriorating even before the publication of Spare, with rumors of a rift emerging in 2018 that they had had a falling out the previous Christmas.

A source told Cosmopolitan that Harry felt William wasn’t making enough effort to make Meghan feel included in the royal family, and that Charles “stepped in and asked William to make an effort.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to have subsequently offered an olive branch to Harry and Meghan in the form of an invitation to spend Christmas with them at their country estate of Anmer Hall in Norfolk.

But apparently that wasn’t enough to mend the fractured relationship between the two couples, with Harry admitting in October 2019 that he and his brother were on “different paths.”

“As brothers, you know, you have good days, you have bad days,” he said.

2020 was the year of Sussexit, when Harry and Meghan stepped away from their roles as senior working royals. In 2021, having relocated to California, they had their infamous interview with Oprah Winfrey, which apparently left William and Kate “in total shock.”

William in particular was said to have been “devastated” by his brother’s allegations of racism in the royal family.

Related: This Is What Princess Charlotte’s New Title Will Be When Prince William Becomes King

In 2022 the Sussexes’ ten-part Netflix series Harry & Meghan dropped, with William reportedly “very, very angry” about certain anecdotes that Meghan recalled during the documentary.

She at one point talked about meeting Kate for the first time, when the Prince and Princess of Wales came to the Sussexes’ for dinner.

“I remember I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot,” Meghan said, and implied that her greeting Kate with a hug was “jarring” for the princess.

She went on, “I guess I started to understand really quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside.”

The series was soon after followed by the publication of Spare, which contained the bombshell revelation that William and Harry had had a fight about Meghan. He said that William had described Meghan as  “difficult”, “rude” and “abrasive.”

Harry recounted how William “grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor.

“I landed on the dog’s bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out.”

Shortly after the release of Spare a source told US Weekly that William’s feeling was that Harry “is all smoke and mirrors and is not to be trusted.

They said that William was now focused on “trying to move on with his life.”

In 2024 it seemed that Harry was willing to take on some royal duties to help out King Charles in the wake of his cancer diagnosis. But William was reportedly very against the idea.

Related: Meghan Markle Prayed For These Two Things On Her First Visit To Princess Diana’s Grave

A source told the Mirror, “it is absolutely and categorically clear that he would not allow Harry to return.”

July 2026 saw the much-hyped return of the Sussexes to the U.K.—their first trip back to the country as a family in since 2022.

During their trip Harry and Meghan and their children met with Charles and Queen Camilla, but not William and Kate.

It now seems that the Prince and Princess of Wales will have no choice but to see more of Harry and Meghan than they might wish—once the Sussexes are back in the U.K. it is quite possible that they will rejoin the royals for traditional family gatherings such as Christmas at Sandringham and Easter service at Windsor.

Next up, Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Surprise Family Outing Had Everyone Noticing One Unexpected Detail

You may have used up a ton of psychological bandwidth choosing your wedding party members—and, frankly, maybe your future spouse, too. Using whatever you have left on wedding color psychology can feel like a big ask, given that you still need to choose a dress, attire for the wedding party and the seating chart (always a pleasure). However, one color psychologist does recommend considering wedding colors before delving into these details.

“Wedding colors do far more than set an aesthetic,” explains Michelle Lewis, a color psychology expert, certified color analyst, author and the founder of ColorAnalysis.com and The Color Institute. “They shape the emotional experience of every person in the room—from the moment guests walk in to the last dance of the night.”

Lewis, who is also the author of Color Secrets: Learning The One Universal Language We Were Never Taught, points out that color can influence our heart rate, stress hormone levels and feelings on a neurological level, even if we’re not consciously aware of it.

“A thoughtfully chosen palette creates an environment where joy, connection and celebration feel natural and effortless,” she says. “A poorly chosen one—or no real choice at all—can flatten the emotional energy of a room in ways guests feel but can’t articulate.”

When considering how to choose wedding color, Lewis says you’ll want to ensure at least three factors align: the personal palette of the couple and wedding party, the emotional intention of the celebration and the environment (venue, season and light).

“When those three are working together, the result is a wedding that doesn’t just look beautiful in photographs; it feels like an intentional experience,” she notes.

With that in mind, Lewis shares that these are some popular colors to avoid at weddings.

Related: Color Psychology Experts Say These 5 Colors Are Worn Most by Authentically Happy People

The ‘Sad Beige’ Epidemic: Why Psychologists Beg You To Drop the All-Neutral Palette

Lewis isn’t a fan of the monochromatic wedding palette. Despite the popularity of the “sad beige” wedding trend, she says it’s not emotionally generous.

Monochromatic neutrals are among the worst wedding color schemes because they’re seasonally challenging, don’t communicate emotional intention and rarely flatter a range of skin tones.

Related: From Finalizing the Budget to Overspending on Flowers, Here Are 50 Wedding Planning Do’s and Don’ts

The Science of Celebration: How Monochromatic Neutrals Suppress Joy

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When you understand the psychology of gray and beige, you’ll understand why they’re listed in some “worst wedding color schemes.”

For starters, let’s get into how we got to the “sad beige wedding trend.”

“Sad beige is the term that’s emerged for the all-neutral, monochromatic wedding aesthetic—ivory, cream, taupe, greige, champagne, linen—that dominated celebrations for the better part of a decade,” Lewis explains. “It photographs beautifully. It’s safe.”

However, she describes it as “the color equivalent of no decision at all (safety) dressed up as minimalism.”

It also misses the mark on the three-way alignment test, as these colors rarely fit into summer or winter color hues and don’t communicate a clear emotional intention.

“Neutral and near-neutral color environments consistently produce lower emotional arousal than chromatic ones,” she states.

Indeed, Lewis points to a 2025 study indicating that low-saturation environments elicit neutral emotions. Meanwhile, moderate-saturation warm-toned environments usually trigger positive emotions.

“A wedding is a celebration—emotionally one of the highest-emotion events in a person’s social life,” she explains. “Designing that environment in colors that produce the lowest emotional response is, at best, a missed opportunity and at worst, actively working against the mood you’re trying to create.”

Also, Lewis notes that celebrations are more than emotional states—they’re physiological ones.

“When we experience joy, connection and festivity, our nervous systems are activated in specific ways: heart rate elevates slightly, cortisol drops and positive neurochemical responses follow,” she shares. “Color is one of the environmental inputs that can either support or suppress that state.”

Yet another 2025 study suggested that light and medium gray triggered the lowest arousal levels of any of the 15 colors tested and scored significantly lower than warm and saturated options.

“When a wedding room is designed entirely in beige, ivory and greige, the nervous systems of every guest in that room are receiving the lowest possible arousal signal at the exact moment they’re supposed to be feeling the most alive,” she notes. “The experience may feel strangely underwhelming, and guests often leave without being able to say why it only felt ‘OK.'”

Related: Color Psychologist Says if Your Favorite Color Is Blue, You Likely Have These 7 Traits

The Overcorrection Trap: Why You Shouldn’t Just Flood the Room With Yellow

High-energy wedding colors can certainly lean into the “dopamine decor” trend. Yet, Lewis says you’ll still need to be mindful with “happier” hues. Overcorrecting for the “blah” of monochromatic is not how to choose wedding colors, so avoid going ham with yellows.

“Yellow is the peak excitement the eye experiences as our red and green cones are at their peak sensitivity,” Lewis shares.

Think about it: Caution signs are often yellow.

“It says ‘WARNING!'” she points out. “That makes it a powerful antidote to sad beige in theory, but in practice, flooding a wedding room with saturated yellow creates its own problem.”

There’s also such a thing as too much of a sunny thing.

“In large doses, at high clarity, yellow stops feeling celebratory and starts feeling destabilizing,” the color analyst shares. “Even terrifying. The same neurological activation that makes citrus an inspired wedding accent makes wall-to-wall saturated yellow genuinely overwhelming and destabilizing.”

You can use yellow and other bright colors, but Lewis advises using strategic restraint.

“[Use it] as an accent, in the right saturation for the season and venue and in alignment with the natural coloring of the people wearing it,” she remarks.

Related: I Work 50+ Weddings a Year as a Hired Bridesmaid for Strangers—Here’s What I Remind Every Bride To Do Before the Ceremony

High-Emotion vs. Low-Emotion Wedding Palettes

Yes, it’s your day, your way. But you want to throw a good party, right? Whether you’re going with high-energy wedding colors or tons of neutrals, you’ll want to consider how the guests will perceive your scheme choices. Lewis discusses the psychological signals of popular wedding color palettes and how guests usually experience them.

The Color Palette

The Psychological Signal

The Resulting Guest Experience

Oxblood and navy

Depth, authority and intensity

Dramatic and memorable

Crisp shades of pink, yellow and white

Optimism, lightness and joy

Uplifting and celebratory

Peach, lavender and beige

Soft warmth and gentle calm

Pleasant but emotionally quiet

Orange, cobalt and pink

Energy, boldness and connection

Vibrant and immersive

Black and white

High contrast and formality

Striking but emotionally neutral

Violet, tangerine and cerulean

Creativity, depth and vitality

Rich and emotionally alive

Griege

Minimal stimulation

Flat and forgettable

Navy and white

Trust, clarity and classic

Clean and composed

Related: Color Psychologist Says Wearing This Color Makes You Appear Instantly More Confident

3 Ways To Keep Your Neutrals Without Killing the Vibe

Wedding trends come and go. Yet, you may find yourself with surprisingly strong opinions on neutral, monochromatic wedding palettes: You love them. It’s possible to “stay neutral” and design a fun party your guests will love, too. Save the blue vibes for your “something blue.” Here are three “[I] do’s” for using neutrals in your wedding scheme.

1. Use neutrals as the foundation, not the feature

Not every wedding palette needs to scream “let’s get loud” to get a party started.

“Ivory linens, cream stationery and champagne candles create a quiet backdrop that allows chromatic colors to do their emotional work,” Lewis shares. “When neutrals are the canvas rather than the palette, the room gains warmth without losing energy.”

She says the critical piece here is to ensure that at least one chromatic color “has enough presence to register neurologically.”

“A single accent color that’s too small to be felt doesn’t do the emotional work the space needs,” she explains.

2. Bring chromatic life through the people

People are there to celebrate the couple, but Lewis says they may have their eyes and minds on the wedding party.

“Wedding party attire is one of the most powerful color delivery systems in the room because people move through the space, carrying color with them,” Lewis explains. “Neutral decor paired with bridesmaids in a considered chromatic palette—sage green, dusty rose, warm terracotta—gives the room both the visual calm of neutrality and the emotional warmth of color without requiring a full palette overhaul.”

3. Use lighting to activate neutral spaces chromatically

Lewis says research suggests that moderate-saturation warm-toned lighting can evoke positive emotions, even in otherwise neutral settings.

“Warm amber, golden or soft pink lighting transforms a room’s emotional register without changing a single element of the decor,” she states. “Color temperature in lighting is one of the most underused wedding design tools, and from a color psychology standpoint, it’s doing real neurological work.”

She loves how warm light stimulates the same emotional association as warm color, even in a room that reads neutral in daylight.

“If you have a space transitioning from day to night, consider adjusting the lighting alongside it,” she notes. “It creates a pivot from vows to dinner to party, all by visual cues.”

Up Next:

Related: Color Psychologist Says if Your Favorite Color Is Gold, You Likely Have These 7 Traits

Sources:

• Michelle Lewis is a color psychology expert, certified color analyst, author and the founder of ColorAnalysis.com and The Color Institute. She is also the author of Color Secrets: Learning The One Universal Language We Were Never Taught.
• Emotional responses to colored lighting in realistic environments. (2025) Building and Environment.
• Colour Perception in Immersive Virtual Reality: Emotional and Physiological Responses to Fifteen Munsell Hues. (2025) Virtual Worlds.

The rock industry is grieving the loss of ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard, who passed away at 77 after spending more than five decades with the iconic Texas rock band.

Following the news of his death, Lynyrd Skynyrd, a fellow rock legend, is among those who mourned and remembered Beard not only for his contribution to the industry but also as a “great friend.”

In a Facebook post, the ’70s band delivered a heartfelt message, expressing their deep grief over Beard’s death and highlighting how their relationship with him went beyond music.

“Frank was one of a kind,” Lynyrd Skynyrd captioned the post along with a series of photos with him backstage. “A hell of a drummer, a true original, and most importantly to us, a great friend. Our hearts are with Frank’s family, Billy, and the entire ZZ Top family.

Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Billy Gibbons of ZZ top perform onstage during the 2024 CMA Music festival at the Nissan Stadium on June 06, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

We’re gonna miss you, brother. Give Dusty and all our brothers & sisters hugs for us. Rest easy, Frank. Until we meet again.”

The post sparked emotional reactions from fans who were also mourning Beard’s passing while sharing their first encounters with the iconic drummer.

“I still feel the drums in my chest. I was front row about 12 yrs ago in Rockford, Illinois,” one wrote.

“I loved Frank’s drumming; great guy. Been playing his stuff and ZZ’s stuff for about 50 years. I’ll definitely be thinking about him every time I play a tune from ZZ,” a commenter said.

“I saw both ZZ and LS together at Ford Center in Evansville in 2024. Great show. RIP Frank,” another echoed.

“Rest in Peace Mr. Beard,” a fan said.

The same goes for a commenter who wrote, “Thanks for all the great music, Frank and family!!! Rest in peace!!!”

Lynyrd Skynyrd has shared a close friendship with ZZ Top members for decades and has shared the stage with them on different tours, including the Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour in 2023.

“We love those guys and they’ve been friends of ours for years. We did eleven months back in 2000 together, so we all became friends,” Johnny Van Zant, the vocalist of Lynyrd Skynyrd , told Ultimate Classic Rock in an interview. “We opened up in West Palm and from the first [note], I went, ‘The crowd’s here and they want to see some good rock and roll tonight.’ It was an amazing show. Last night, Billy was on the side of the stage during ‘Free Bird,’ both him and his wife. Hell, I was out watching them — they opened up last night in Tampa. So I was watching those guys play last night. We’re fans of each other and not only that, they’re brothers too.”

Beard had been with ZZ Top since 1969, joining the band after original drummer Dan Mitchell departed.

In 2025, Beard temporarily stepped away from the tour to focus on recovery from his undisclosed health and ankle issues.

Beard’s death was confirmed by the band and his publicist, noting that the late drummer “was in hospice care when he passed away at his ranch in Richmond, TX with family members at his side.”

Related: ’70s Rock Legend Once Refused $1 Million Offer to Change Iconic Look

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You can never have too many earrings, but you also won’t need too many if you find a pair that’s appropriate for just about every occasion. It’s tricky to find the right balance when you want something that’s both subtle enough for the workplace yet dressy enough for a night out. If you’re looking for a pair that fills that gap in your jewelry box, have a look at the Teardrop Crystal Stud Earrings from Anthropologie.

These dazzling little accents make quite a statement, adding a delicate finishing touch to more reserved looks and bringing just the right amount of flash to a more formal outfit. Because of their dainty silhouette, they’re perfect for daily wear — and they’re also an awesome deal right now, reduced from $38 to just $25.

Teardrop Crystal Stud Earrings, $25 (was $38) at Anthropologie

Courtesy of Anthropologie

Shop at Anthropologie

They’re available in two colors, including a luminous clear version and a peach-toned gem that adds just a hint of soft color to your lobes. Both are set in 14-karat, gold-plated brass, which nicely complements the dainty teardrop shape. A simple post closure ensures they’ll stay put through the day and into the evening.

At just half an inch long, the earrings give you a simple way to dress up even the most basic outfits without going overboard. Even basic jeans and a tee feel a little more special when your earrings shine as bright as these do. The teardrop puts a fun twist on the standard stud, giving the piece more visual intrigue than traditional round stones.

They’re versatile in other ways, too. You can add them to your stack and punctuate your look with a cute little gleam. And if you’re wearing other statement pieces, like a showy necklace or an armful of bangles, a pair of understated earrings like this is just the right complement. They’re also ideal if you simply love a more petite accessory but don’t want something microscopic.

Shop More Deals

• Crystal Tennis Bracelet, $25 (was $38) at Anthropologie
• Stacked Chain Necklace, $35 (was $58) at Anthropologie
• Deux Crystal Open Ring, $20 (was $32) at Anthropologie

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

You don’t have to spend a fortune to update your collection. Anthropologie’s Teardrop Crystal Stud Earrings offer a premium look minus the high-end price tag, making this a sweet little treat for yourself or a special gift for the jewelry lover in your life. Pick it up in your preferred color while it’s on sale!

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.

Sosa steps out.

Former MLB superstar Sammy Sosa made a rare public appearance on Thursday, Aug. 19 giving fans a chance to see what he looks like these days. Sosa, 57, attended The Pump Group VIP Summer Soiree at Gravitas in Beverly Hills, California, and was all smiles in the photos from the event.

Sosa, who became one of baseball’s biggest names during his legendary career, has largely kept a lower profile in recent years. Of course, longtime baseball fans haven’t forgotten the slugger’s larger-than-life presence on the field. Sosa spent 18 seasons in Major League Baseball, most famously with the Chicago Cubs, and became one of the sport’s most recognizable stars during his historic home-run race with Mark McGwire in the late 1990s.

Sammy Sosa attends The Pump Group VIP Summer Soiree at Gravitas on August 19, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California.

Arnold Turner/Getty Images for The Pump Group

Since his retirement in June 2009, Sosa has lived much of his life out of the public eye. In fact, his appearance at Thursday night’s event was the first time he’s been seen in public in more than a year. In June 2025, he made an emotional return to Wrigley Field for the first time in 21 years.

He is active on social media, though he only posts to Instagram occasionally.

“I was born in the Dominican Republic… where many kids grow up with only two choices: sugar cane or baseball,” he captioned a post on May 22. “I chose baseball… and with humility, discipline, and big dreams, my journey began. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this story,” he added.

More than 15 years after his retirement, Sosa’s words make it clear that he hasn’t forgotten where it all began—or the game that changed his life.

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While Stephen King is widely considered the master of literary horror, he’s also proven he can effectively write outside of the spooky genre. For instance, he’s published quite a few thrillers over the years, including Dreamcatcher (2001), Billy Summers (2021), and Misery (1987).

Despite being published almost 40 years ago, King is still receiving accolades for Misery, which focuses on author Paul Sheldon, who has the misfortune of coming across Annie Wilkes, a deranged fan who is very passionate about his book series. The publication Collider recently named King’s novel “the most intense thriller book of all time.” The ranking, published on August 17, also included suspenseful works like Ripley’s Game by Patricia Highsmith from 1974, 2000’s House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, and The Big Nowhere by James Ellroy, published in 1988.

Misery has a score of 4.22 out of 5 from 854,838 readers on Goodreads.

Stephen King Shared What His 1987 Book Was Really About in a 2014 Interview

In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, King said that Annie represented his substance abuse issues, referencing that he battled with a cocaine addiction until the mid-’80s. He explained that as a father to three young children and a best-selling author in the ’70s and 80s, he tried “to balance things out” while using drugs.

“But little by little, the family life started to show cracks. I was usually pretty good about it. I was able to get up and make the kids breakfast and get them off to school. And I was strong; I had a lot of energy. I would’ve killed myself otherwise. But the books start to show it after a while. Misery is a book about cocaine. Annie Wilkes is cocaine. She was my number-one fan,” said King to Rolling Stone.

Late filmmaker Rob Reiner, who directed the acclaimed 1990 Misery movie based on the 1987 novel, said that King was inspired by a real-life crime while penning the book during a May 2025 panel for Turner Classic Movies. According to Reiner, who died in December 2025, Annie “is based on a real person,” who “was a nurse.”

“There was a woman who used to have this Munchausen by proxy kind of attitude, and she would get in this maternity ward, and these babies would get sick, and she would make them sick and then try to bring them back, and she couldn’t. And then she would go to the funerals of these little infants,” said Reiner during the panel. “And then she got, you know, shifted from hospital to hospital. They finally figured out this is a woman that’s, you know, doing that. And Stephen King read that, and he based the character on that woman.”