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Competition can complicate friendship. Alysa Liu knows that firsthand.

After her historic performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the 21-year-old spoke about her early years in the sport in a new interview with Harper’s Bazaar shared on Tuesday, August 18. Liu revealed how competing against the same people she considered friends created a difficult environment.

“When I was younger, I had a whole skating group,” Liu explained. “We were all friends, but we were also all [competing] against each other, but we only had each other, so it was a weird, toxic dynamic.”

The experience changed the way Liu approaches friendships today. Now close with fellow Team USA skaters Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn, Liu said she has learned to prioritize those relationships over competition. “I learned from that, and ever since, I really started to value my friends,” the athlete said. “They are what matters. I’m here for the memories.”

READ MORE: Alysa Liu Has a Massive Back Tattoo With a ‘Really Personal’ Meaning — See Pics

Liu says that “figure skating was all [she] knew” during her childhood. After being homeschooled beginning in middle school, her schedule was dominated by practices and competitions, with disappointing performances often leading to even more hours on the ice. Eventually, that led to burnout. Following the 2022 Beijing Olympics and World Championships, she retired at just 16 and enrolled at UCLA, where she began building a life outside skating.

When she eventually returned to competition in 2024, Liu was determined to do things differently. Creative freedom became nonnegotiable, including choosing her music, having input on costumes and maintaining control over her training schedule and even her signature dyed hair. “A lot of why I skate is to get to express myself, so without that, it’s like, ‘Why would I skate?’” she explained. “I just skate because I like to skate.”

That independence also extended to Liu’s relationship with her father, Arthur Liu, who had been heavily involved in her skating career from an early age. Ahead of the Olympics, Arthur told 60 Minutes that he spent between $500,000 and $1 million supporting his daughter’s career. “I spared no money, no time,” he said. “I just saw talent.”

When Liu returned to competitive skating after retiring, however, Arthur took a step back and allowed his daughter to have more control over her career.

It’s safe to say the switch-up has helped her thrive. At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Liu won gold in both the team event and women’s singles, becoming the first American woman to win two figure skating gold medals at a single Olympics.

Related: Alysa Liu Stands Up For Fellow Olympian Eileen Gu Amid ‘Hypocritical’ Backlash

There’s a quiet corner of Portugal where the trees may be doing more than simply making the landscape beautiful — and most travelers probably haven’t heard of it yet.

Tucked away in the town of Luso, in central Portugal, the ancient Mata Nacional do Buçaco, or Buçaco National Forest, has just earned a distinction that puts it in an extraordinarily exclusive category. On July 17, the forest officially became the first certified Therapeutic Forest in the Iberian Peninsula — and just the fourth in the entire world.

The certification comes from the Germany-based Healing Forest International Certification Office, which recognizes forests specifically designed to support therapeutic interventions. Buçaco now joins certified forests in Austria and Germany, making Portugal home to one of only four officially recognized healing forests on the planet.

The 400-Year-Old Forest Hiding in Portugal

At about 250 acres, Buçaco National Forest is already remarkable before adding its new wellness designation. The lush forest contains around 400 native species of the Portuguese Atlantic coast and around 300 of which come from other climates, making it one of Europe’s richest dendrological collections.

The forest is also steeped in history. Its landscape includes the Arboretum, gardens, and Vale dos Fetos, the Relic Forest, and the Pinhal do Marquês, creating a collection of distinct environments within the sprawling woodland.

Located in Luso, in Portugal’s Mealhada municipality, Buçaco is roughly an hour and 20 minutes south of Porto, making it a potential detour for travelers looking to get beyond Portugal’s better-known cities and beaches.

But the new certification isn’t simply an award for having beautiful trees.

View this post on Instagram What Makes a Forest a “Healing Forest”?

While spending time in nature has long been associated with relaxation, a certified therapeutic forest has to meet specific criteria. According to the Healing Forest certification organization, these spaces are designed for therapeutic use and include features such as protection from noise, visual and wind barriers, trails with different levels of difficulty, and designated areas for therapy and relaxation exercises.

That makes Buçaco particularly interesting for the growing wellness travel movement, where travelers are increasingly seeking experiences centered on nature, mental well-being, and slowing down rather than simply checking destinations off a list.

The forest’s new designation could also strengthen Portugal’s position in health and wellness tourism. The certification is intended to support both patients and forest therapists, giving the historic woodland a new role alongside its natural, cultural, and architectural importance.

The news that Nashville and Heroes star Hayden Panettiere died on Aug. 16 at just 36 years old has continued to shock and devastate fans, co-stars and many others who knew and loved her. This grief has turned into action for some, however, as the star’s passing has renewed frustrations with—and, in some cases, outright outrage over—a story about the late actress’s former partnership with cosmetics brand Neutrogena.

In the days following her death, a clip of Panettiere discussing her Neutrogena partnership on the Jay Shetty podcast began making the rounds online. In it, she says, “Neutrogena I was with for 10 years, and, I mean, they have morals clauses, which had a huge impact in my life because I was a teenager, and I had all the paparazzi around me catching all of these gory moments. Like, every moment, every cigarette that I smoked or bad outfit or, oh, she’s looking chunky in a bathing suit…I went through all of that, you know?”

She continued, “[Neutrogena] caught absolutely everything, and of all the things that they would fire me over, this was the last thing that I thought they would ever fire me over. And when I actually went out onto stage, it was Live With Kelly and Michael, I had no intention of or plan to talk about postpartum depression. It just came up, and I was just being honest. And never for a second did I think that anyone or cared that anyone would have a bad reaction to it. It was my truth. So, when I got that call that Neutrogena wanted to fire me over that, and my representative at the time said, ‘That’s illegal. You can’t do that.’ And even though she saved the day that year, I knew that was going to be it.”

Panettiere then spoke about not being asked back the following year and not hearing from anyone on that team.

It didn’t take long for Neutrogena to be hit with a wave of intense backlash online, with TikTok, Reddit and Instagram users in particular taking to their social media accounts to advocate for a boycott of Neutrogena. It seems that these efforts temporarily had an effect, as The Independent reported that Neutrogena’s stock was down 2% on Monday. However, in the time since, it seems to have recovered.

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Picture this: It’s summer 1998, and it’s the dog days of summer. You and your friends are tired of watching TV, so you decide to play outside for a little while. The only problem? The blazing sun is so harsh, and you’re looking for a little relief. Sadly, none of you have a pool, but you all have one toy that can cool everybody down while you run around: the Super Soaker.

If you grew up in the 1990s, you likely have fond memories of Super Soaker battles in the hot summer sun. The toy defined summer 1998 and still flies off the shelves today, with new versions being dreamed up all the time.

When we were kids, Super Soakers were one of the best water guns for summer, and they’ve become one of those ’90s nostalgic toys we’ll never forget. Now that we’re adults, it’s cool to hear about Super Soaker history and who invented it.

As part of our Parade Rewind series, we recently took a look back at the 25 most popular toys every kid wanted in the 1990s. Super Soakers were featured on the list, so we decided to do a deeper dive and explore what made the toy so iconic.

Related: 15 1980s Toys That Would Be Considered Way Too Dangerous Today

The Neon Giant of Summer 1998: What Was the Ultimate Water Gun?

When it came to the best backyard water toys in the summer of 1998, the Super Soaker definitely reigned supreme. After the product hit the market in 1990, it quickly solidified its icon status. Throughout the decade, the product evolved and began to dominate the toy landscape.

According to the Strong National Museum of Play, Super Soakers had a “big impact on neighborhood play.”

“The small squirt guns of the past had required close-in work to engage the opposition. The long, drenching reach of Johnson’s invention requires a quick retreat from a soggy assault or a good chase, meaning that kids with Super Soakers do some serious sprinting,” the museum’s website reads.

Super Soakers were incredibly fun, but they were also somewhat educational.

“Calculating the distance to target and the physics of velocity and arc requires kids to use their brains. Contemplating strategies and tactics and puzzling out plans forces kids to analyze the best approaches to triumphal ends. And if kids get soaked in the process? It’s all good clean fun,” the museum’s website reports.

As pressurized blasters began to replace cheap, leaky squirt pistols in the ’90s, the Super Soaker rose in popularity. By 1998, the brand’s legendary CPS (Constant Pressure System) series ruled backyard battlefields.

Christopher Byrne, aka The Toy Guy, is a toy analyst, researcher and consultant. He tells Parade most water guns were single-pump action before the Super Soaker.

“When the pressure of pulling the trigger was exhausted, you had to pull it again. The streams weren’t that forceful, nor were they that big,” Byrne explains. “What the Super Soaker did was build the air compression into an entire chamber by repeated pumping of the handle, which allowed for a longer, more forceful stream of water. This made water battles more dramatic and more competitive, and the larger volume of water was incredible for kids.”

From Rocket Scientist to Backyard Legend: The Genius Behind the Super Soaker

Some of the best inventions are accidentally discovered. This was the case with the Super Soaker, which was invented by Lonnie Johnson, a nuclear engineer who worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the Galileo mission to Jupiter, per History.com.

Byrne tells Parade that Johnson stumbled upon the idea for the Super Soaker while developing a heat pump that could use pressurized water instead of freon for cooling.

“As it happened in some of his experiments, he was surprised by the force of water that came out of one of the tools he created. From that, he decided to see if the non-working heat pump could instead be a toy,” he shares.

According to the Strong National Museum of Play, Johnson hooked a nozzle up to his bathroom faucet while designing the pump. When water shot across the room, it sparked an idea for a “high-powered water blaster.”

“From PVC pipe and an empty soda bottle, he improvised a model he called the Power Drencher that featured an air pressure chamber and a water reservoir. Johnson later enlarged the tank and moved it to the top of the blaster, making the prototype look even more like a prop in a science fiction movie,” the museum’s website reads.

Smithsonian Magazine previously described Johnson’s original prototype, which was a ” far cry from the squirt gun available on store shelves.”

“The array of white PVC pipes and bulbous reservoir gave it a Star-Wars-ray-gun look. But as jury-rigged as it looked, the prototype could shoot: a compressed blast of water could carry up to nearly 40 feet,” the magazine shared.

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Johnson first developed his idea for a collection of toy water guns in 1982. Four years later, Johnson secured a patent for his invention.

Flash forward to 1989, and he met with the Vice President of the toy company Larami Corporation.

“He visited the company headquarters in Philadelphia with a new version of his toy gun with the water bottle on top of the device,” the USPTO wrote. “In front of the president of Larami, ‘I took it out and pumped it up and fired it across the room,’ said Johnson. The president was wowed. ‘It was like they had never seen a gun perform like that,’ said Johnson.”

When the first Super Soaker hit the market in 1990, it was originally called the Power Drencher, per the Strong National Museum of Play. Due to a trademark infringement claim, the name was changed.

According to the USPTO, the Super Soaker has earned more than $1 billion in sales since its initial release. In its first two years on the market, it was the bestselling toy in the United States.

Throughout his career, Johnson invented and received more than 200 patents for a range of inventions, including batteries, spacecraft and engines.

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

The 1998 Arms Race: Why the CPS 2000 Was Almost Too Powerful

When the Super Soaker CPS 2000 was released in 1996, it revolutionized the world of water guns.

According to Wirecutter, the wildly popular model is “widely considered the most powerful mass-produced water gun in history.”

The CPS 2000 had a “50-foot range and a 30-ounce-per-second output.” They reported that the Super Soaker hasn’t released a more powerful version since the CPS 2000.

Byrne shares that the product’s name stood for “constant pressure system.”

“The 2000 allowed kids to empty an entire chamber of water (more than 3 liters) all at once,” he says.

However, it also had a powerful recoil.

“The force with which the water could come out could knock small kids over, or cause bruises. It was taken off shelves for that reason,” Byrne explains.

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

Why Modern ‘Super Soakers’ Still Rule the Toy Aisles Today

Larami Corporation originally produced Super Soakers. However, Hasbro acquired Larami Corporation in 1995.

“After Hasbro acquired the Super Soaker, they continued to make a lot of innovations in it,” Byrne says. “Hasbro has continued to evolve and innovate with the brand. But they’ve also faced a lot of competition from companies like Zuru, which has done its own innovations, notably the Fast-Fill, which allowed kids to open the chamber and scoop water into it. Super Soaker copied that later.” 

In 2010, the Super Soaker and Nerf brands came together for a Nerf-branded Super Soaker line that included four water blasters with technologies from both brands. To this day, the two brands are still partners.

These days, children have access to a wide range of toys that incorporate technology of the sort. However, Super Soakers are still wildly popular. Byrne believes this is because water guns are a form of social play, and what he describes as “allowed naughtiness.”

“In other words, it was a chance to get your friend wet without doing something ‘bad.’ Super Soakers have competition and active play built in,” he says. “There’s still nothing like a water battle. For competition, fun, ‘getting’ your friends and the sheer joy of being wet on a hot day.” 

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

The Best Retro-Style Super Soakers You Can Buy Right Now

Feeling nostalgic? Consider picking up one of the Nerf Super Soaker retro designs below.

Nerf Super Soaker XP50-AP Water Blaster, $26.20 (originally $29.99) at Walmart

Walmart

Shop it at Walmart Shop It on Amazon

Made of recycled plastic bottles, this water blaster’s tank can hold up to 24 fluid ounces of water. Similar to the original designs, the Nerf Super Soaker XP50-AP Water Blaster features a classic look and a distinctive pressure mechanism.

Nerf Super Soaker XP100-AP Water Blaster, $22.99 (originally $29.49) at Walmart

Walmart

Shop it at Walmart Shop It on Amazon

With its retro packaging and classic design, the Nerf Super Soaker XP100-AP Water Blaster is a fun nod to the Super Soakers of the ’90s. It has a removable tank that can quickly be refilled and can hold up to 42 fluid ounces.

Nerf Soa Super Soaker XP35, $9.99 at Target

Target

Shop it at Target

The color palette of the Nerf Soa Super Soaker XP35 is giving us total ’90s vibes. The water blaster has a removable tank that can hold up to 9 fluid ounces of water and an air-pressurized continuous blast of water.

Up Next:

Related: 8 Kitchen Gadgets Every ’90s Mom Had on Her Counter (That Actually Worked Better)

Source:

• Christopher Byrne, aka The Toy Guy, toy analyst, researcher and consultant

A certain two-time Oscar winner is keeping ever busy in Hollywood these days.

Deadline reports that Tom Hanks is now in talks to portray the title character in the upcoming feature film adaptation of Allen Levi‘s breakout novel Theo of Golden, which the media outlet describes as a “word-of-mouth juggernaut bestseller” that established the newly crowned author as a phenomenon while he turns a whopping 70 years old.

Hanks, 70, will serve as a producer on the movie, and the author will be an executive producer.

Here’s the novel’s synopsis, per Simon & Schuster: “One spring morning, a stranger named Theo arrives in the small Southern city of Golden. He doesn’t explain much about where he came from or why he’s there—but when he visits the local coffeehouse, where pencil portraits of the people of Golden hang on the walls, he begins purchasing them, one at a time, and giving each portrait to the person depicted. In exchange, he asks only for the person’s story.”

The synopsis continues, “And so portrait by portrait, person by person, secrets are revealed, regrets are shared, and ordinary lives are profoundly altered. A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is an unforgettable novel about the power of generosity, the importance of connection, and the quiet miracles that happen when we choose kindness and wonder.”

Theo of Golden was initially self-published in 2023 by the first-time author, who veered from a law career to making music, Deadline also noted on Wednesday, August 18.

The novel caught on slowly through word of mouth, and when Oprah Winfrey featured Levi and his book on her podcast, things really took off.

Theo of Golden was then published by Simon & Schuster last year and has sold over 3.5 million copies stateside, per Deadline. It has even been published in more than 40 languages!

KATSEYE‘s new single “Hootie Frutti” has racked up more than 26 million views since its Aug. 14 release, and an even bigger pile-up in the comments.

“How did we go from touch to this,” one top comment reads, riffing on the group’s 2024 breakout single “Touch.” Dozens of replies picked up the same thread, comparing the group’s earlier, softer image to the video’s rain-soaked choreography and close-up camera work. One commenter put it more bluntly: “We went from bold and sleeky to literal freaky real fast.”

A recurring complaint had nothing to do with wardrobe at all. Several viewers pointed out the video’s product placements, including a kids’ slime brand and a Tic Tac tie-in, sitting awkwardly next to a much more grown-up visual style. “The shamelessness of product placement in this MV is crazy,” one comment read, while another called sponsoring “kids’ toys” in that kind of video “genuinely crazy.”

Not every comment was critical. Several fans pushed back on the backlash entirely, with one telling critics to “stop talking about the clothes” and appreciate the group’s work, and another arguing people would “have a heart attack” watching 2000s-era music videos by that standard. A third defended the choreography outright, writing that people were “clutching your pearls over nothing.” Others simply said they missed KATSEYE’s earlier “SIS era,” joking that “pants existed in their wardrobe” back then.

The discourse hasn’t slowed the song down. “Hootie Frutti” debuted at No. 6 on Spotify’s U.S. Streaming Chart and No. 12 globally, the top new entry on both charts. Cardi B has publicly thrown her support behind it too, dancing along during a recent Instagram Live with her daughters Kulture and Blossom, telling fans, “Y’all hating on the song [but] me, Kulture … and Blossom love it.”

Between the streaming numbers and Cardi’s endorsement, KATSEYE doesn’t seem too worried about the noise, even as the debate over how “Hootie Frutti” fits the group’s image keeps going.

One unforgettable chorus was all it took to introduce The Cowsills to millions of listeners.

Released in 1967, “The Rain, the Park & Other Things” transformed the Rhode Island family band from regional performers into national stars. At the heart of the recording was 19-year-old Bill Cowsill, whose lead vocal helped turn the dreamy pop rock single into the group’s biggest and most enduring success.

The song almost went to another artist.

Written by the prolific songwriting team of Artie Kornfeld and Steve Duboff, “The Rain, the Park & Other Things” was offered to The Cowsills as the band searched for the right follow-up to its early recordings. With its lush harmonies, orchestral flourishes, and memorable “flower girl” storyline, the song perfectly matched the group’s bright, family-friendly image.

Listeners quickly embraced it.

Released as the band’s breakthrough single, “The Rain, the Park & Other Things” climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of the biggest pop hits of 1967. Its polished production and infectious melody helped establish The Cowsills as one of the defining acts of the sunshine pop era.

“Some of my brothers had trouble with that image,” Bob Cowsill told Classic Bands years later. “We were a family. We looked good. I see things in retrospect and look at old films and go ‘Wow, we were a bunch of cute, little kids. No wonder that thing sold.’ See, underneath, we were all serious musicians. For awhile there, we were not taken that seriously as musicians, and that can get under your skin a bit. Our age had something to do with that.”

The success changed the band’s trajectory almost overnight.

The hit led to national television appearances, extensive touring, and a string of additional charting singles, including “Indian Lake” and “Hair.” The family’s remarkable story also served as one of the primary inspirations for the hit television series The Partridge Family, further cementing The Cowsills’ place in pop culture.

“You couldn’t read a Partridge Family article for years after that without reading about the Cowsills,” Cowsill told Best Classic Bands. “We were very grateful for that because it kept our name out there. David Cassidy said, ‘Please don’t ask me about that family [the Cowsills] anymore in these interviews.’ So they took our [songwriting] team and ran with it, had the hit, kept our name in the press.”

More than half a century later, the song continues to enchant new generations.

Its soaring harmonies and nostalgic charm have kept it in steady rotation on oldies playlists, while its unmistakable chorus remains instantly recognizable to fans of 1960s pop music. For many listeners, it remains the definitive recording in The Cowsills’ catalog.

“I’m finding out that it’s pretty well respected,” Bob Cowsill said. “Some of our music stood the test of time. I like that. It sounds real good still. People tell me that. So, I appreciate that.”

Fifty-nine years after its release, “The Rain, the Park & Other Things” continues to capture the optimism and innocence of late-’60s pop. Featuring a 19-year-old singer from Rhode Island, the 1967 classic became the career-defining hit that forever changed The Cowsills’ story.

Related: 1965 Rock Song, With 19-Year-Old Singer From California, Became a Major Hit

The Pitt star Patrick Ball is well aware that some fans of the HBO Max medical series believe his character, Dr. Frank Langdon, should date Dr. Melissa “Mel” King (Taylor Dearden).

During an August 2026 interview with Vanity Fair, Ball was asked how he felt about the Mel and Langdon shippers of the world.

“I think that’s great. I’m so glad everybody’s having so much fun,” said Ball with a laugh.

He then noted that fans on social media have paired other Pitt characters, like Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) with both Dr. Dennis Whitaker (Gerran Howell) and Dr. Jack Abbot (Shawn Hatosy).

“The fandom has taken on a life of its own, where everybody has gotten all these spin-off fan fiction things that they’re writing. They really want Langdon and Mel to get together. They seem to really want Robby and Whitaker [Gerran Howell] to get together. They really want Robby and Abbot [Shawn Hatosy] to be a thing. And so that is great. That has nothing to do with me, but I’m glad everybody’s having a lot of fun,” continued Ball while speaking to Vanity Fair.

While Ball is supportive of viewers who are interested in a romance blooming between Mel and Langdon, he previously stated he views the two characters as platonic. For instance, in a March 2026 interview with CBS Morning, the actor reacted to “the chatter about [Langdon] and Dr. Mel King becoming a couple” by stating he appreciated that the co-workers have a close, platonic bond. Ball also referenced that his character has a wife.

“I think it’s rare that you get to see a completely platonic and healthy friendship between the genders like that. I think it’s a really lovely friendship that they have,” said Ball, who has appeared on The Pitt since its first season, which premiered in January 2025.

The third season of The Pitt is currently in production.

Heavy metal fans may have another reason to look forward to next year as one of the major music festivals, Hell’s Heroes 2027, rolls out an exciting update.

After unveiling the official dates for the three-day event scheduled for March 18 to 20, the organizers surprised fans by revealing the band lineup for next year’s highly anticipated event.

The long wait is over for fans as Hell’s Heroes 2027 will feature thrash metal icons Overkill and black metal pioneers Beherit as headliners.

The ’80s thrash metal band is billed to perform a special “old school” set for the crowd, while the Finnish band will return to America for a rare performance.

Overkill’s Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth performing on stage

Christie Goodwin/Redferns

Apart from the headliners, the lineup also showcases top-billed acts such as Armored Saint, Metal Church and Omen, with Omen set to deliver its final-ever U.S. performance.

For the complete list of bands set to play at Hell’s Heroes 2027, see below.

Overkill
Beherit
Armored Saint
Metal Church
Bulldozer
Exumer
Gallowbraid
Titan Force
Thor
Omen (Final USA show w/ special guests)
Steroid
Hellwitch
Concillum
Thangorodium
Fire Magic
Fortress
Accuser
Woe Bather
Wanted
Zorn
Street Tombs
Sacred Steel
Ebony Pendant
Show n Tell
Gudsforladt
Grozov
Living Fast
Coffin Hunters

Following the announcement, the organizers also teased fans by revealing that “a couple more bands to be announced” soon.

The update sparked major excitement among fans who couldn’t wait to get their hands on tickets and watch a slew of heavy metal bands performing in one location.

“That Overkill set is going to destroy, but having Exumer on there it’s pretty wild!” a fan added.

“Overkill, Exumer, Metal Church, Armored Saint, and many more! Thanks for bringing sick lineups to TX! Excited for the bottom bands too! All we need now is No Barricade on the inside stage,” a follower said.

“WE NEED TYRANN, ICON AND A PEARCY/DEMARTINI RATT SET!!” one wrote, expressing their desire to see the bands take the stage.

The same goes for another who said: “I need Midnight and Eternal Champion like previous years.”

The upcoming event will take place at White Oak Music Hall in Houston, Texas, which has hosted Hell’s Heroes for several years.

However, this time, the ninth edition is going back to its original indoor-stage format, meaning the festival will have a limited capacity, and tickets are expected to sell quickly.

Related: Major Heavy Metal Festival Announces 2027 Dates for Highly Anticipated Return in Ohio

These 3 birth months never do anything halfway, and honestly, they’d probably take that as a compliment.

There are people who are fine putting in half-hearted efforts and calling it a day as long as it gets done. However, those born in January, May, or October don’t have the personality to settle for second best. Once they’re in on something, they’re all the way in, and anything less than their full effort feels wrong to them, even when nobody’s asking for it.

Of course, half-effort never occurs to them. But the moment they consider it, something in them rejects the idea outright. Cutting corners doesn’t save them time the way it might for others. It just leaves these birth months stewing over the thing they didn’t finish properly, usually costing more energy than doing it right the first time would have.

Which Birth Months Never Do Anything Halfway?

Check for your birth month below.

January

Whether you’re a disciplined Capricorn or a forward-thinking Aquarius, you don’t know how to phone it in, even on the stuff nobody would notice if you did. If you’re cooking dinner, it’s a full spread. If you’re helping a friend move, you’re the one still there at midnight, breaking down boxes and hanging pictures they hadn’t even asked about.

Half-effort just isn’t in your vocabulary. That’s why people trust you with the important stuff. All in all, there’s a comforting consistency in how you operate. Nobody has to double-check your work, because you already overlooked it three times before they thought to ask.

RELATE?: 4 Birth Months Attracting a Lucky Break Before Summer 2026 Ends

May

You commit hard once you’ve decided something’s worth your time. The problem is getting you to that decision in the first place. But once you’re in, you’re all the way in. Researching, planning, showing up early, reading the extra article nobody asked you to read. There’s no version of you that does anything without 100% effort, whether you’re a steady Taurus or a curious Gemini.

If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right, and you genuinely can’t operate any other way. This shows up in the small things too, not just the big commitments. A weekend trip becomes a fully mapped-out itinerary. A new hobby becomes something you’re suddenly disturbingly knowledgeable about within a month. Once your curiosity locks onto something, there’s no casual version of you left.

READ: The Quote That Mirrors Your Heart, Based on Your Birth Date

October

You take things personally in the best sense. If your name’s attached to something, it has to be beyond good. You aim for excellence. It’s like this birth month to rewrite the email four times, double-check any plan twice, and circle back to make sure everyone’s actually okay. With diplomatic Libra or intense Scorpio energy, it’s not perfectionism exactly.

You’re mostly concerned that doing something halfway feels like lying about how much you care or what you’re capable of providing. People sometimes mistake this for anxiety or overthinking, but it’s really just values and standards. You’d rather spend the extra twenty minutes getting it right than live with the nagging feeling that you let something slide, even something small.

UP NEXT:

3 Doors Down is climbing the charts again as fans return to the band’s biggest songs following the death of frontman Brad Arnold.

The rock band’s compilation album, The Greatest Hits, has re-entered the Billboard 200 at No. 23, marking a major return for a collection first released in 2012. The album has now spent 46 weeks on the chart.

The renewed interest in 3 Doors Down’s music comes after Arnold died in February 2026 at age 47 following a battle with cancer. In the weeks after his passing, listeners returned to the band’s catalog, leading to a rise in streams and sales for its best-known songs and albums.

The Greatest Hits has become one of the clearest signs of that renewed interest. The collection brings together many of the songs that helped make 3 Doors Down one of the biggest rock bands of the early 2000s.

The album includes fan favorites such as “Kryptonite,” “When I’m Gone,” “Here Without You,” “It’s Not My Time,” “Let Me Go,” “Be Like That,” “Loser” and “Away from the Sun.”

Earlier this year, The Greatest Hits appeared on several Billboard album rankings as listeners revisited 3 Doors Down’s music. According to Forbes, the compilation debuted on the Top Streaming Albums chart at No. 28, giving the band its first appearance on that ranking with the collection.

The album also climbed from No. 16 to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums chart. It became the group’s second leader on that ranking after Time of My Life, which spent four weeks at No. 1 beginning in 2011.

Elsewhere, The Greatest Hits reached the top 10 on Billboard’s Top Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts. The collection placed at No. 3 on both the Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums rankings and reached No. 4 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart.

The album also returned to the Top Album Sales chart at No. 34.

Several 3 Doors Down songs have also returned to Billboard rankings. Among the tracks seeing new chart activity are “Here Without You,” “Kryptonite,” “When I’m Gone,” and “It’s Not My Time.”

These songs represent some of the band’s biggest moments. “Kryptonite,” the group’s breakout hit, helped launch 3 Doors Down into mainstream success in 2000. “When I’m Gone” and “Here Without You” later became major hits from the band’s second album, Away from the Sun.

“Here Without You” has continued to find an audience long after its original release. In 2025, the official music video for the song reached one billion views on YouTube, more than two decades after the single was released in 2003.

The song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became 3 Doors Down’s third top 10 hit. It was also certified six-times platinum by the RIAA as of December 2024.

3 Doors Down formed in Mississippi in 1996 and became one of the defining rock acts of the early 2000s. The group scored major hits with songs including “Kryptonite,” “Loser,” “Be Like That,” “When I’m Gone” and “Here Without You.”

Its 2000 debut album, The Better Life, became a major commercial success, while later albums Seventeen Days and 3 Doors Down both debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Related: Rising Hardcore Band From New Jersey Announces 2026 Tour

A career built on staged executions has never rattled Alice Cooper. A blood test still does.

In a new Instagram reel, the shock rock godfather answers a question you might have had yourself: after six decades of horror-movie theatrics, why does he still not have a single tattoo? “I don’t have one tattoo because needles and I don’t get along at all,” Cooper says in the clip, adding that he can wear a 15-foot boa constrictor or lower his own head into a working guillotine without flinching, but a routine blood draw sends him “right out.”

It’s a contradiction Cooper has alluded to before. He told Forbes in 2025 that boredom and needles are the only two things that genuinely scare him, explaining that he can put his head in a guillotine with a 40-pound blade that misses him by eight inches every night without a second thought. Back in 2013, he gave Vegas Rocks! magazine an even more direct answer when asked to name his greatest fear. He replied “needles” without pausing, then explained that he can’t do a blood test, that he can put on a show where “everybody gets stitches,” but that a blood test has nothing to do with pain and everything to do with the idea of a needle entering his arm.

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In the new clip, Cooper also makes clear the fear has never dulled his love for performing. “I never ever get tired of the music,” he says, pointing to “Eighteen,” “School’s Out,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy” and “Poison” as songs he could play every night for the rest of his life. “As soon as you start to love, the audience goes crazy, and that’s what you work for.”

Fans flooded the comments with their own needle horror stories. “I’m an LPN of 35+ years, and I STILL HATE NEEDLES,” wrote one fan. Another longtime fan wrote that he has been a Cooper devotee since his first concert in 1973 and shares the same phobia, adding he has “no tattoos” either. Another simply said: “I have the same issue. Needles. I don’t get along with them either.” One fan pushed back gently reminding Cooper and everyone else that needles used in tattooing bear little resemblance to the kind used for a blood draw.

Related: Ritchie Blackmore and Deep Purple End Their 33-Year Feud on Stage

Cooper is closing out a packed 2026, having toured behind The Revenge of Alice Cooper, the first album to reunite him with his original surviving bandmates in more than 50 years. At 78, he remains one of rock’s most consistent stage performers, still willing to hang from a noose or duck under a blade for a crowd. What he won’t do, by his own account, is sit still for a needle.

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Kendra Wilkinson and her daughter have fans seeing double in a recent selfie.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, The Girls Next Door alum, 41, shared a sweet snap with her 12-year-old, Alijah Baskett, to commemorate the start of the school year.

“First day of 7th grade and I couldn’t be more proud of Alijah,” Wilkinson captioned the pic. “Made her a chicken quesadilla for lunch lol. Time to fly my love. Good luck my amazing daughter. I love you.”

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The mother-daughter-duo, both sporting blonde hair with middle parts and similar facial features, immediately garnered attention from fans who couldn’t help but see the resemblance between the two.

“She’s your clone! Wow,” one said.

“She’s your twin, Kendra! Pretty girl,” added another, while a third, among many, echoed, “She is beautiful! She’s your twin!”

“She looks [like] the double of you,” said another.

Related: Former Playboy Model Kendra Wilkinson Shares Positive Update After Emotional Breakdown on Social Media

Along with Alijah, Wilkinson is also mom to Hank Jr., whom she shares with ex-husband, former NFL player Hank Baskett. The parents were married from 2009 to 2018.

While Wilkinson’s life played out in front of reality TV cameras on The Girls Next Door — which followed her time as a Playboy Playmate and Hugh Hefner‘s girlfriend, living at the Playboy Mansion along with Bridget Marquardt and Holly Madison — her personal life was also television fodder in her own show Kendra on Top. The latter reality show followed her marriage and subsequent divorce from Hank.

The Girls Next Door aired from 2005 to 2010 while Kendra on Top aired from 2012 to 2017.

The couple also appeared on Season 3 of Marriage Bootcamp: Reality Stars in 2015 in an effort to save their relationship.

Wilkinson, now a real estate agent, is living out of the spotlight but continues to document her life on social media.

Most recently, she’s opened up about her recent weight loss journey and also shared the challenges of her career in an emotional update when she revealed she was dropped by a client.

“I know that we’re living in a world of struggle right now, I know that. But it’s just … it’s so hard. It’s so hard right now,” she said, per Page Six in July. “I feel like I’m doing everything right in my life — I’m raising my kids and putting them first … I’m doing everything good — I’m a good person. It’s just such a struggle right now.”

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Gayle King had some harsh words in response to Hayden Panettiere’s estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, after she issued her first statement following the actor’s death over the weekend.

A few days after it was announced that Panettiere died from an apparent drug overdose at the age of 36, Vogel told NBC News her daughter was an “amazingly talented person in so many departments.” Her statement took a turn to berate her daughter’s on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickson, as she claims her daughter went down the “wrong path”

During Wednesday’s episode of CBS Mornings, King read Vogel’s statement and called her words “sad.” She added that after reading the statement, all she could think was “Thanks, Mom, for nothing.”

“It makes me so sad of the opportunity that you have after your daughter’s death. That that’s what you choose to leave us with,” she continued.

The journalist also brought up her interview with Panettiere that took place in May, where they discussed the actor’s estranged relationship with her mother. Panettiere called it a “complicated” relationship, but it was still a “work in progress.” While King added it’s now “still very much a work in progress” following the actor’s death, her co-hosts agreed Vogel should have ended her statement at “she’s amazing, and she’s talented.”

In her statement, Vogel said, “I think it becomes very difficult to be true to yourself and I think Hayden sadly lost her way and I wish it were different. I wish she had stayed true to herself because she had many incredible attributes.”

Host Vladimir Duthiers responded by pointing out that Panettiere had spent “years publicly acknowledging her own failures, her own struggles.” The actor was open in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, about the reality of growing up a child star, the trauma of her childbirth, postpartum depression, drug use, and even inappropriate incidents in Hollywood.

Related: Ethan Suplee Recalls Heroin Use at ‘Remember the Titans’ Premiere While Honoring Hayden Panettiere

“She cannot respond now, and for her mother to use these days after Hayden’s death to just remind the world just how much trauma she caused, it’s unseemly. You would hope a mother’s instinct is just mourn your daughter,” said Duthiers.

Panettiere was candid about her relationship with her mother in her memoir, and ended her professional relationship with her as her manager when she was 19. Vogel, at the time, slammed the actor’s memoir and decided to go no contact, claiming it was a “painful observation of watching the self-destructive paths they sometimes choose.”

It’s been more than two decades since The Calling released a new album, but that’s about to change.

The multi-platinum rock band behind the massive early-2000s hit “Wherever You Will Go” has announced Before the World Turns to Dust, its first new album in 22 years.

The 15-track collection will arrive Sept. 25 via TLG | Virgin Music Group, marking The Calling’s first full-length release since 2004’s Two and coming 25 years after the band’s debut album Camino Palmero.

“If you like The Calling, you’re going to like this,” founding singer, songwriter and guitarist Alex Band said in a press release. “It’s in the same vein of what we’ve done since day one. We keep it simple. After all of this time, we still write big and anthemic rock-pop songs that uplift and make you feel something.”

Band is joined on Before the World Turns to Dust by Daniel Damico on lead guitar and keyboards and Dom Liberati on bass and backing vocals. Produced by John Fields, the album was recorded in Nashville and Minneapolis.

Rather than reinventing the band for 2026, Band says The Calling intentionally embraced the sound that first made the group famous.

“We aren’t trying to chase any current trends or change our sound,” he explained. “We’re just hoping that our big, anthemic sound resonates and that we can connect with people around the world.”

The Calling has already offered a preview of the album with its first single, “Dust,” which was the seventh most-added song at Hot AC radio for the week of Aug. 12. It marks the band’s return to the format after more than two decades.

“We were initially writing ‘Dust’ as a timeless love song set in an apocalyptic world—kind of like what ours feels like at the moment—but then the song got a bit deeper,” Band said of the new track.

The band’s 22-year absence from the album charts wasn’t necessarily part of the plan.

After Two was released in 2004, label and music industry complications stalled The Calling’s momentum. Band eventually released the solo album We’ve All Been There in 2010.

“When we finished our second record, I thought I would do my solo thing for two years and go back to The Calling,” Band recalled. “I never imagined all of the ensuing drama.”

The Calling ultimately returned to the road, and Band began writing again, setting the stage for the band’s first new album since 2004.

“The Calling is what I wanted from the beginning,” he said. “When we got back on the road, it was crazy to see all of the fans who stuck by me.”

Those fans have had plenty of time to keep the band’s biggest hit alive.

“Wherever You Will Go,” which Band wrote when he was just 15, reached the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 23 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Pop Airplay chart. It has since surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify.

The Calling has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide, according to the release, while its music has accumulated billions of streams.

The band will support Before the World Turns to Dust with its 2026-2027 tour, including an Aug. 27 performance at the New York State Fair and a Sept. 25 album release show at Dreamland in Malibu, Calif.

Before the World Turns to Dust will be released Sept. 25.

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If you’ve ever tried to eat dinner on the couch while simultaneously finding somewhere to put your drink, phone, remote, and napkin, you already understand the value of an extra table. The same goes for hosting. There’s always that one casserole, pitcher, bowl of chips, or stack of plates that somehow doesn’t have a designated place to go. Rather than crowding the surfaces you already have, sometimes you just need to create another one.

The Mainstays Solid Rubberwood Folding TV Tray Tables give you that flexibility without making your home feel more crowded. Pull the tables out for TV time, entertaining, game nights, or to make an impromptu workspace, then fold down and store them once everything is cleared away. Walmart currently has the set of two for $20, down from $25, so you can add some much-needed surface space without making a major furniture investment.

Mainstays Solid Rubberwood Folding TV Tray Tables, $20 (was $25) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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The Mainstays set includes two folding tray tables, each made from solid rubberwood, measuring19 inches long by 14.5 inches wide and 26 inches high. That should give you enough room for a dinner plate, drink, remote, and maybe a book without needing to balance everything on your lap. They can also come in handy for working from the couch, setting up a laptop for a movie night, giving kids a spot for coloring or homework, or creating a temporary surface for puzzles, card games, and crafts. Each table supports up to 25 pounds, so they’re useful for more than just a cup and a snack.

Mainstays Solid Rubberwood Folding TV Tray Tables, $20 (was $25) at Walmart

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The three finishes also make them easy to work into different spaces. The black version has a simple, traditional look, while the light wood-grain finish appears a little warmer and more casual. A coastal-inspired option with white legs and blue tabletops has a more relaxed, beach-house feel. Since you get two tables in the set, they can be used separately around the house or brought out together when you need more surface space. Put one beside the sofa and another beside an armchair, use both for a family movie night, or set them up around the room when you have friends over and need somewhere for everyone to put their drinks. 

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• Chitooma 2-Pack Folding Height-Adjustable TV Tray Table Set, $60 (was $119) at Walmart
• Mainstays XL Oversized Rubberwood Folding TV Tray Table Set, $38 (was $42) at Walmart
• Wasuhe Small Camping Folding Table, $28 (was $69) at Walmart 

The folding construction is especially useful for anyone living in small spaces. Each tableone folds down to 19 inches deep by 29 inches high and just 2 inches wide, so you can slide them behind a sofa, alongside a cabinet, under a bed, or into a closet between uses. At 7.5 pounds each, they’re also manageable to carry from room to room when you suddenly realize you need another surface somewhere else. When you’re done using them, a quick wipe with a dry cloth is all they need before going back into storage.

Over 3,000 Walmart shoppers awarded these “sturdy” and “stable” tables a five-star rating for being “convenient” and “reliable,” saying that they are “perfect for gatherings, crafting, fun puzzles, and date nights.” One reviewer wrote that the “very versatile” duo “store neatly and are easy to clean.”

Related: Hobby Lobby’s Modular Coffee Table Is a ‘Charming’ Home Upgrade

Whether your coffee table is constantly overloaded, your living room doubles as a dining room, or you just like having a backup surface ready to go, the Mainstays Solid Rubberwood Folding TV Tray Tables are an easy way to create more usable space without adding more permanent furniture. Pick up the set for $20 at Walmart, down from $25.

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Alani Nu fans know that the seasonal flavor Witch’s Brew is coveted. In fact, within a week of the festive flavor’s return, boxes of the drink were flying off the shelves. This year, however, it isn’t just Witch’s Brew that Alani and Halloween lovers can enjoy. The brand is sweetening the season even more with the newly released Witch’s Brew collection.

Joining the caramel apple-inspired Witch’s Brew are two new drinks, Ruby Apple and Voodoo Vanilla. As a fun twist, while all three flavors can be enjoyed separately, Voodoo Vanilla in particular can be mixed in with either Witch’s Brew or Ruby Apple to make them even more creamy and delicious.

The specific flavor profile and nutritional information for each drink are as follows:

• Witch’s Brew: A tart green apple and warm caramel flavor available in a 12 oz. or 8.4 oz can. The 12 oz. can contains 200 mg of caffeine and 15 calories, and the 8.4 oz. can contains 100 mg of caffeine and 10 calories.
• Ruby Apple: A candy apple-inspired drink pairing crisp red apple and rich caramel flavors. This flavor is exclusively available in the Potion Pack variety pack, sold with Witch’s Brew, and only comes in a 12 oz. can. The 12 oz. can has 200 mg of caffeine and 15 calories.
• Voodoo Vanilla: Alani Nu’s first-ever energy elixir blends sweet whipped cream and marshmallow flavors and comes in an 8.4 oz. can, containing 65 mg of caffeine and 5 calories. The Voodoo Vanilla elixir can be consumed on its own, added as a flavor topping or added to a beverage of your choice to provide an energy boost. However, Alani Nu cautions consumers to consider their daily caffeine intake when combining Vanilla Voodoo with other beverages, including other Alani flavors.

All Alani Nu energy drinks are also vegan, gluten-free and contain zero sugar. However, Alani Nu highlights that they are not intended for consumers who are under 18 years old, sensitive to caffeine and/or pregnant or nursing.

Alani Nu’s Witch’s Brew collection is available now. Witch’s Brew and the Potion Pack variety pack, which includes Witch’s Brew and Ruby Apple, are available nationwide at grocery, convenience and specialty retail stores. Voodoo Vanilla is available exclusively through AlaniNu.com, Amazon and The Vitamin Shoppe while supplies last.

The cable news channel MS NOW is launching its first subscription service next month.

The Versant-owned outlet will begin offering its “Membership” on Wednesday, September 9, for $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year.

MS NOW describes the “Membership” as an additional experience to what is currently accessible to users.

“Our Membership is the first step in a long-term strategy to deepen our relationship with audiences in ways that build on what they already value about MS NOW, while addressing what consumers told us was missing from the news experience,” said Rebecca Kutler, president of MS NOW, in a statement to Variety.

The network intends for subscribers to have a closer relationship with reporters, anchors, and contributors. The service will offer original content and new verticals that examine how news and politics impact daily life. Users will also gain 24/7 access to live streams and television programming.  

“We will continue to research, test, and refine this experience because we want it to be something that our loyal MS NOW fans genuinely love, as well as something that future fans genuinely need,” Kutler shared.

Kutler wrote in a memo to staff that the outlet started researching what a member model might look like a year ago. They solicited “18,000 survey responses and one-on-one conversations with consumers, iterative rounds of product prototype and concept testing,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. The service is meant to attract “super fans” and “future fans” on the channel.

MS NOW is the final of the three main cable news outlets to offer a subscription service. The $7.99 “Membership” lands right in the middle of prices. CNN’s “All Access” subscription charges $6.99 per month, compared to Fox News Media’s Fox Nation, which costs $8.99 per month.

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Buying new bedding for every season can get expensive. And even if you’re willing to spend the money to do it, with our swiftly evolving climate, swapping out lightweight blankets for a hefty duvet every time the temperature changes sounds pretty unrealistic. A lightweight quilt set can provide a solid middle ground, keeping you covered but cool when it’s hot out and adding warmth as the weather cools down. As we transition from summer to fall, now is the perfect time to invest in a quilt set that you can use year-round.

Right now, the Vivilinen 3-Piece Scalloped Patchwork Quilt Set is on sale at Amazon for as low as $32 with a limited-time deal. The lowest price is on the queen-sized blue version, but it also comes in green, light pink, soft pink, and gray for just a few dollars more. This bedding set is on sale in king, oversized king, and Alaska king sizes as well, though color availability and prices vary by style.

Vivilinen 3-Piece Scalloped Patchwork Quilt Set, From $32 (was $38) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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The best part about this quilt set isn’t the multi-seasonal appeal, but its adorable aesthetic. Floral, gingham, and paisley prints fill each square within the patchwork design, with sweet ruffle detailing in between, lending itself to the cottagecore style. The soft colors and perfectly weathered polyester fabric give this quilt its distinctly vintage-style appearance. 

Did we mention the quilt is reversible? The flip side features the dainty floral pattern more prominently, without the busyness of the patchwork design, allowing you to switch up your look without buying a new set. The set comes with a quilt and two matching pillow shams, giving you a complete bedding refresh at an affordable price. 

Vivilinen 3-Piece Scalloped Patchwork Quilt Set, From $32 (was $38) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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Boasting nearly 1,800 five-star ratings on Amazon, shoppers were impressed by this quilt set’s weight, noting that it’s “lightweight but still warm enough for cooler nights.” Speaking to the patchwork design, one reviewer called the bedding “perfect farmhouse decor,” adding that “the little ruffles add charm.” Another customer shared that it “could pass for grandma’s quilt”

Shop More Deals

• Dinjoy Reversible Patchwork Floral Bedding Set, $29 (was $32) at Amazon
• Cmfshape Summer Floral Quilted Bedspread Set, $32 (was $33) at Amazon
• Dobuyly Farmhouse Patchwork Quilt Set, $40 (was $53) at Amazon

Related: Walmart’s 7-Piece Seersucker Comforter Set Is ‘Lightweight for Warm Months and Comfortable During Cool Seasons’

Now priced as low as $32, the Vivilinen 3-Piece Scalloped Patchwork Quilt Set offers a blend of affordability, style, and comfort you won’t want to miss. Add it to your Amazon cart now before this limited-time deal ends!

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Sandra Bullock is opening up about her late partner, Bryan Randall, and his “traumatic” diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that led to his death in 2023.

The Speed actor has kept quiet about the reality of Randall’s death and ALS, with her comments giving a much fuller picture of their relationship and what she experienced during his illness. Randall died on Aug. 5, 2023, with his family having announced the news days later, and Bullock now reveals he deliberately chose to keep his diagnosis private.

Appearing on the SmartLess podcast, the 62-year-old Oscar-winning actor explained, “He asked me not to share. I know why he asked me not to.”

The couple met in January 2015 when Randall, a professional photographer, was hired to photograph her son Louis’ birthday party. Bullock and Randall began dating a few months later, with the two having made their red carpet debut that October for the premiere of Our Brand Is Crisis. The actor’s two children and Randall’s daughter from a previous relationship soon became part of a blended family.

Amid their relationship, Bullock kept details private, but often reported Randal to be “the love of my life,” and their family was “the best thing ever.” The actor also commented that she felt no need to officially marry on paper.

The actor admitted in the podcast that while she respected his wishes to keep his ALS diagnosis private, it also “isolated [her] in the process.” Her sister, Gesine Bullock-Prado, was the only person who knew, and Bullock believed she could handle the reality of the illness.

Related: Jenna Fischer Sends Message to ‘The Office’ Star Lucy Davis Amid Her Cancer Diagnosis: ‘Love You Lots’

Bullock also explained that dealing with Randall’s ALS and taking care of their children through COVID-19 was “a trifecta that was pretty dark.” Unable to cope on her own, she decided to confide in longtime friends Jennifer Aniston and podcast co-host Amanda Anka. She adds that, sadly, a shift occurred that had her accepting Randall’s death much earlier.

“I think where he was in his journey, both physically and mentally, I started grieving Brian four years before he passed,” she shared. “There was something that had shifted. My person left a lot earlier than the body left. I don’t think I ever dealt with that until after he passed, because you’re just on this treadmill.”

The Gravity star calls ALS a “traumatic disease.” At the time of his death, Bullock’s sister wrote on Instagram, “ALS is a cruel disease but there is some comfort in knowing he had the best of caretakers in my amazing sister and the band of nurses she assembled who helped her look after him in their home.”

Randall was 57 when he died, with his family’s statement thanking the “tireless doctors” and “astounding nurses,” as well as his close family doing their “best to honor his request.”