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'80s Actor and United States Veteran Turns 88

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 12:49pm

Though many may not know his name, many will recognize his face, especially since he was on many TV screens throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Britt Leach is best known for his character work, playing funny, blue-collar workers and tough cops in classic 1970s and 1980s movies. He is best known for his work on The Great Outdoors, playing Reg, a man who was struck by lightning 66 times, playing Anthony Michael Hall's plumber dad in the show Weird Science and his recurring role as Easy Jackson in The Waltons. In addition, he guest-starred on various hit shows like The Brady Bunch, Murder, She Wrote, Sanford and Son, The Partridge Family and more.

Britt Leach as a trucker, Lee Van Cleef as John Peter McAllister in the seventh episode of The Master.

George Faber/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Leach was born on July 18, 1938, in Gadsden, Alabama, before attending college at Northwestern University in Illinois, but he didn't finish and instead worked in Army intelligence. Throughout his college years at Birmingham Southern College and Northwestern, he was very active in college theater.

He started his acting career in the early 1970s, making various appearances in various TV shows and movies, including Jackson County Jail, Night Warning, Silent Night, Deadly Night, The Last Starfighter, Weird Science and The Great Outdoors. In the fall of 1976, Leach was cast in the role of airplane mechanic Mickey "Wig" Wiggins in the CBS adventure series Spencer's Pilots, starring Gene Evans, Christopher Stone and Todd Susman.

His last role in a movie was in Father of the Bride, where he played a supermarket assistant manager who confronts Steve Martin's character for making a scene in the grocery store and has him imprisoned for it. He left acting altogether in the early 1990s and became a co-editor and publisher for Country Connections, a magazine that covered ecology, politics and environmental and progressive social issues.

After Country Connections shut down due to a lack of funds, Leach started writing poetry and became a freelance writer for various sites. In an interview from 2014, Leach told Kickin' it Old School that he and his wife, Catherine, left Los Angeles and moved to the mountains up north. Catherine is a photographer and they raise a cat named Alex. In an interview in 1987, Leach revealed that he and Catherine have two kids together, and is now a grandfather.

Related: Iconic '80s Actor With Major Grammy Award Turns 65

This Iconic Rocker's Hometown Honors Him on Anniversary of Death

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 12:34pm

A year after his passing, Birmingham isn't ready to say goodbye to its most famous son. The city has announced plans to honor Ozzy Osbourne with its first-ever "Ozzy Day" on July 22, marking the anniversary of the Black Sabbath frontman's death. According to Rolling Stone, the day will feature a "free program of live music, public art, special performances and shared moments" celebrating Osbourne's life and deep roots in the city, effectively turning Birmingham into what officials describe as "a living tribute" to the Aston-born rock legend. It's a fitting next chapter for a city that's long embraced its connection to Osbourne, from the Black Sabbath Bench to murals scattered throughout town - proof that his influence never really faded to black.

The day's lineup includes pop-up performances from the Bostin Brass band, who played in Osbourne's 2025 funeral procession, alongside a lunchtime concert from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The Birmingham Music Archive and OPUS (Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces) are also set to share tributes and short films spotlighting Osbourne's ties to the city that shaped him. Fans can pick up a limited-edition shirt sold only on Ozzy Day, featuring an image from his Back to the Beginning farewell concert, with all 52 Birmingham shows he played (both with Black Sabbath and as a solo artist) listed on the back.

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"Ozzy Osbourne is one of Birmingham's foremost cultural figures, and we continue to honour his legacy here in the city, where his journey began," City Councillor Deborah Harries, the city's Cabinet Member for Culture, said in a statement. She noted that Black Sabbath's own connection to Birmingham was formally recognized when the band received Freedom of the City in June 2025, adding that the anniversary events give residents and visitors alike a chance to celebrate the legacy while highlighting the creativity that makes the city, in her words, so special.

Osbourne died on July 22, 2025, following a heart attack at age 76, just 17 days after taking the stage for his emotional Back to the Beginning farewell show in the very city now honoring him. A year later, it's clear Birmingham isn't just remembering its Prince of Darkness, it's making sure his legacy won’t ever be forgotten.

This Oscar-Award-Winning Director Still Doesn’t Have a Cellphone — Here’s How He Makes It Work

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 12:13pm

Christopher Nolan has no problem getting by without a device nearly everyone owns. Despite being one of Hollywood’s busiest directors, Nolan still manages to get his job done without carrying a cellphone around with him.

Matt Damon, who stars in Nolan’s new film The Odyssey, spoke out about the writer’s traditional way of doing business while discussing the film with People, sharing that it’s Nolan’s wife, Emma Thomas, who alerts people that her husband is going to call them.

Recalling how he found out that Nolan wanted him to be a part of the movie, Damon shared that Thomas sent him a text that read, “‘Are you around for a call today?’”

“Because Chris famously doesn’t have a phone,” he added, explaining that it’s Thomas who is "always" the one to give actors a heads-up that Nolan's going to call. “And then you get a phone call from a nondescript number, because he’s just picking up a line at Universal Studios.”

Nolan spoke about his decision not to carry a cellphone — or communicate by email — during a July 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

“My kids would probably say I’m a complete Luddite,” he told the outlet. “I would actually resist that description. I think technology and what it can provide is amazing. My personal choice is about how involved I get. It’s about the level of distraction. If I’m generating my material and writing my own scripts, being on a smartphone all day wouldn’t be very useful for me.”

Earlier this year, Nolan admitted that not carrying a smartphone has started to make things a bit trickier in 2026.

"The return of the QR code has been quite... quite tricky," he said during an appearance on 60 Minutes. "QR code had sort of gone away, but COVID brought it back and now it's kind of everywhere. And if you don't have a smartphone, you can't do much with a QR code."

Beloved Metal Band Announces New Album 21 Years After Forming

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 12:00pm

More than two decades after forming, In This Moment is preparing to unleash its next chapter.

The Grammy-nominated metal band has announced its ninth studio album, Witch, which arrives Aug. 28 via Better Noise Music. Alongside the announcement, the group released the album's latest single, "Crawl," giving fans another taste of what’s to come.

Frontwoman Maria Brink described the new album as one of the band’s most personal and transformative releases to date.

"Witch is my declaration of inner transformation," frontwoman Maria Brink said in a statement. "It's about embracing the duality within—taking pain, persecution, and struggle—and alchemizing them into strength and power. The album reflects both ancient trials and my own journey, where being a 'witch' means being a creator, connected to the universe, manifesting my own reality."

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The newly released single "Crawl" continues those themes.

Brink called the song "a reckoning," explaining that it reflects the belief that "those who dominate and cause pain will ultimately reap what they sow." Co-founder and guitarist Chris Howorth added that the track examines "powerful entities dominating and abusing the weaker and compromised masses," while ultimately delivering a message of resilience and standing up against oppression.

Witch follows 2023's Godmode and marks the band's first full-length release for Better Noise Music. The 11-track album will also feature guest appearances from Dayseeker, Kim Dracula, and Kat Von D, who joins the band for a cover of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall."

Formed in 2005 by Brink and Howorth, In This Moment has become one of modern metal's most recognizable acts thanks to its theatrical live shows and blend of heavy riffs, industrial textures, and melodic hooks. Over the years, the band has earned multiple platinum and gold certifications, amassed more than two billion career streams, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance for "The In-Between."

The announcement continues a busy new era for the band, which previously previewed Witch with the single "Sleeping With the Enemy."

"With 'Sleeping With The Enemy' and our upcoming album, we're confronting the darkness — whether it's inside us or external," said Brink in a press release. "It's about looking that darkness in the face and transforming it into empowerment. We feel so exhilarated and ready to show the world what we've conjured up."

With "Crawl" now available and the album just weeks away, In This Moment is set to begin another chapter in a career that has steadily evolved over the past 21 years while remaining true to its signature blend of spectacle, vulnerability, and crushing metal.

Related: '70s Rock Legend Announces Retirement Amid 2026 North America Tour

Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley Recorded the Same Song Before a Big Change

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 11:51am

Covers can give music lovers a new interpretation of the same lyrics. This happens because a music label gives the same song to multiple artists. That's a great thing if there are icons on their roster. Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley released covers of the same song before they left to pursue different genres.

Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley Sang 'I Forgot to Remember to Forget' Elvis Presley making his first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in Los Angeles, Calif., on September 9, 1956.

CBS

Presley recorded "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" in 1955 at Sun Records. The country song's lyrics are from a tortured man who is missing a woman.

"I forgot to remember to forget her/I can't seem to get her off my mind/I thought I'd never miss her," the song starts.

The future King of Rock and Roll wasn't a fan of the song because of the genre. The love sick song became No. 1. He left Sun Records for RCA Records in 1955. Sun Records founder, Sam Phillips, explained their differences to NPR.

"But I can tell you, the only time that we possibly had what you might say a difference of opinion in what we were doing is that I really did not want to do some of the, quote-unquote, 'more poppish' things that Elvis truly did like," he said.

"But at the same time, he also had a certain intrigue about his voice, and I knew that, and I knew that we needed to feel our way around between great gutbucket blues and country," the founder later said.

Cash later recorded "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" and "Down the Street to 301" as his final songs at Sun Records. He left for Columbia Records in 1958 and continued to embrace country.

Related: Why Country Legend Denied Elvis Presley’s Request for Her Iconic Song

Another Elvis Presley Song Inspired the Songwriter Elvis Presley on the set of his film "Love Me Tender" in August 1956 at the 20th Century Fox Ranch

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

"I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" inspired cowriter Stan Kesler to write Presley's first chart topper. That song is also about two people going their separate ways. However, the singer admits he didn't listen to someone's advice that they were too different to work.

"Most of my songs are the love songs, the hurting tear-jerkers," Kesler told Commercial Appeal in 2014. He also described his inspiration as "They just bubble up like boiling water sometimes, and I have to do something with them."

Cash and Presley's connection lasted beyond their career's starting point. They were different artists but admired each other.

Related: A 1968 Remix Named Better Than Elvis Presley’s Original

27-Year-Old World Record, Set in 1999, Just Broken by a 28-Year-Old

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 11:33am

Josh Kerr just rewrote the record books in one of track and field's most storied events.

The British runner clocked 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds in the mile at a Diamond League meet in London on Saturday, breaking a world record that had stood since 1999. The previous mark, 3:43.13, belonged to Moroccan runner Hicham El Guerrouj, set nearly three decades earlier in Rome.

Kerr, 28, finished more than three seconds ahead of the field, with American Yared Nuguse crossing next in 3:45.69. Afterward, the Edinburgh native took a celebratory lap around London Stadium.

Kerr described the final stretch of the race as an out-of-body experience. "It was just me, my shoes and the track," he told the BBC. "I was absolutely deaf in that last 110 meters." He said he could feel himself easing up near the finish line, in the best possible way. "I started to glide, and I was like, 'Oh wow, this feels incredible,'" he said, adding that simply seeing "42-something" on the clock as he crossed the line was exactly the goal he'd set for himself.

The record breaks Kerr's own previous personal best of 3:45.34, set in 2024, by nearly three full seconds. Ahead of the race, Kerr told Yahoo Sports he felt ready for the moment: "My body is capable of the mark, and so my job tomorrow is to have my mind to be available to let my body do its job."

Behind the scenes, Kerr's preparation reportedly had a name: "Project 222," a nod to the 222 seconds it would take to break the record. His sponsor, Brooks, built him a custom racing suit designed with laser-cut perforations to manage heat and humidity, along with a pair of spikes engineered around Kerr's specific running mechanics, including his stride pattern and push-off style.

The mile isn't an Olympic or World Championship event, but it holds a legendary place in track history, most notably as the distance Roger Bannister famously broke the four-minute barrier in back in 1954, another milestone credited to a British runner.

Amazon's 'Elegant' $34 Floor Lamp With Built-in Shelves Adds a 'Cozy Vibe' to Any Space

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 11:30am

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If your bedroom, entryway, or living space doesn't feel quite complete, an elegant standing lamp might be the stylish finishing touch you're looking for to help round out the space. Amazon's top-rated Gupuzm Floor Lamp With Shelves has a sleek, space-saving design that blends in effortlessly with all styles of decor, and it's on sale for up to 32% off right now. 

The modern accent piece is an ideal blend of function and style, with a white 9-watt LED bulb that you can set to three different color temperatures and a built-in bookshelf on the bottom. Originally $50, it's now available for just $34 in the brown frame, while the black, white, and gray styles are also on sale at varying discounts. It also comes in two-pack sets or RGB bulb options if you prefer a more colorful glow. 

Gupuzm Floor Lamp With Shelves, $34 (was $50) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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Measuring 10.2 inches wide, 10.2 inches deep, and 63 inches high, the lamp has a tall, slim frame that's designed to fit easily into tight areas. It weighs just 8.2 pounds, making it easy to move from room to room, and the compact square base is ideal for positioning in corners or next to beds without taking up too much floor space. Assembly is also hassle-free, thanks to the included hardware and detailed instructional guide. 

It comes with an energy-saving bulb that switches between three different color temperatures, allow you to set the mood you want: Use the 3000K warm light for a soft, relaxing glow at night, opt for the 4500K natural light for everyday activities, and switch to the extra-bright 6500K white light while reading or working on a laptop. The lamp also adds storage to any room, with three sturdy fiberboard shelves designed to hold up 500 pounds each. 

Related: Amazon's $19 Solar Elephant Statue Adds an 'Adorable' Whimsical Touch to Patios and Gardens

Amazon shoppers raved about the lamp's "beautiful" and "functional" design. One reviewer noted that it brings a "cozy vibe" to her home, while another wrote, "It looks modern, elegant, and fits perfectly in the corner of my living room." A third buyer said it gives off a "warm and cozy glow" that brings just the right amount of brightness to their space. 

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Brighten up your bedroom, living room, or hallway with this stylish and practical standing floor lamp. It's sleek, slim enough to fit in a wide range of spaces, and comes with handy built-in storage. Snag one for up to 32% off at Amazon before this 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.

1971 Folk Rock Hit, Originally 8 Minutes Long, Was Inspired by the Death of This Music Legend

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 11:05am

On February 3, 1959, iconic American musicians BuddyHolly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper were involved in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, with pilot Roger Peterson. All four were killed in the crash.

Singer and songwriter Don McLean was a 13-year-old newspaper delivery boy at the time of the fatal accident saying, "I first found out about the plane crash because I was a 13-year-old newspaper delivery boy in New Rochelle, New York, and I was carrying the bundle of the local 'Standard-Star 'papers that were bound in twine, and when I cut it open with a knife, there it was on the front page."

Inspired by the iconic deaths, McLean wrote a song about "the day the music died" for his 1971 album of the same name, "American Pie."

"American Pie" is not solely about the deaths of the lauded musicians. The lyrics also speak to McLean's mourning of his childhood heroes and the loss of innocence of his generation. For many years, McLean declined to explain the lyrics, explicitly saying, "They're beyond analysis. They're poetry."

In 2022, when celebrating the song's 50th anniversary, McLean explained the song was heavily influenced by impressionism and the changing of society that took place throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

The album length of "American Pie" clocks in at 8 minutes and 42 seconds, with the radio/single versions both being just over 4 minutes. At the time of release in 1971, McLean's full version was the longest song to enter the Billboard Hot 100. For more than 50 years, it held the record for being the longest song to reach No. 1, with the record being broken by Taylor Swift's "All Too Well (10-Minute Version)" in 2021.

In 2017, McLean's original recording of "American Pie" was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress. Additionally, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002, and the RIAA ranks it as the 5th greatest song of the 20th century.

While the interpretation of the song has been up for debate for decades, the legacy of "American Pie" is undeniable.

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Related: 1968 Controversial Rock Hit Was Inspired by Some of the Greatest Atrocities in Human History

This Nostalgic 1940s Food Chain Is Quietly Making a Comeback

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 11:03am

Before Amazon took over the country, people used to head to the mall for everyday essentials and weekend splurges.

Somewhere in between was the obligatory stop at the food court, where you always knew that one Asian spot would be handing out free samples you'd grab whether you were hungry or not.

Another longtime mall staple wasn't just recognizable for its food, but for the eye-popping rainbow-striped uniforms worn by employees: Hot Dog on a Stick.

But the reality is you may not have noticed them in a long time as the once-common mall chain has shrunk dramatically over the years — though a new owner has now taken over with lofty goals to revive the classic eatery that started out as a simple food stand.

From Muscle Beach To A Town Near You

Photo By Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

You've heard the story before. It's pure Americana: a humble, no-frills small vendor exploding in popularity, just like Whataburger and Shake Shack.

Back in 1946, Hot Dog on a Stick was a simple oceanfront food stand along Santa Monica's legendary Muscle Beach. It eventually grew to more than 100 locations before declining in the years leading up to and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, there are still dozens of locations, mostly in California.

The new owner, Stephen Siegel, founder of Amazing Brands, is planning to expand the chain beyond its mall roots with new flagship locations and international growth over the next several years.

Related: Top In-N-Out Rival Expanding With 60 More Locations

Next Stop: The Vegas Strip?

Is there anything the Strip doesn't have?

Turns out there is: a Hot Dog on a Stick.

As the initial rollout kicks off, the Strip tops the list for the chain's future plans all while celebrating 80 years in business.

“While Hot Dog on a Stick has been predominantly a West Coast success story, we believe the time has come to bring it to the rest of America and ultimately to the world,” said aforementioned Amazing Brands founder and CEO Stephen Siegel.

Related: Trader Joe’s Fans Will Be Drooling Over Cult-Favorite Fast Food Chain’s New Item

The probable Vegas location is slated to be a flagship restaurant, but the scout team is leaving no stone unturned, targeting 'company-owned and franchised growth, with a focus on high-traffic locations such as street‑front restaurants, drive‑thrus, tourist areas, airports, stadiums, amusement parks and resort markets.'

Planning a San Diego Trip? The Zoo Just Welcomed Rare 'Prehistoric' Twin Babies

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 11:03am

It's not solely pandas drawing people to the world-famous San Diego Zoo — it's an array of new upgrades and rare animals, including being the only zoo outside Australia showcasing platypuses.

But there's another rare "prehistoric" critter that could be the next Axolotl-level obsession on the cuteness scale: echidnas, sometimes referred to as "spiny anteaters."

What visitors may not be aware of is there are actually two San Diego zoos; the other being in nearby Escondido, dubbed the 'Safari Park', which is home to the echidnas.

The newborn "puggles" are a rarity because echidnas typically lay just one egg per breeding season, making twin arrivals an extraordinary milestone for these unusual creatures that are practically the Tinder rejects of the animal kingdom.

The Wait Begins: Why The Echidna Babies Aren't On Display Yet

Unfortunately, don't expect to see these tiny 'prehistoric' cuties during your next Safari Park stroll just yet. One of the puggles is still being raised naturally in the underground nursery burrow by mom, while the other needed a little extra help after not gaining enough weight and was brought to the Safari Park's state-of-the-art Harter Veterinary Medical Center for some around-the-clock TLC. 

The good news?

The little fighter is growing stronger each day thanks to the dedicated wildlife team, whose work has even led to new discoveries about how to better care for echidnas moving forward.

Related: San Diego Zoo on Alert After Unexpected Animal Discovery at Popular Restaurant

Unlike most mammals, echidnas are monotremes — a rare group of egg-laying mammals that also includes the equally unusual platypus.

Per USA Today, echidnas are considered 'one of the world's oldest surviving species' with a lineage dating back to 'prehistoric' times.

Despite being around for hundreds of millions of years, these unusual creatures are just the tip of the iceberg at the Safari Park, where visitors can experience everything from an up-close Cheetah Run to safari-style excursions surrounded by giraffes and overnight Roar & Snore sleepovers that can be even more affordable than many San Diego hotels at $205 per night.

Annette Bening and Warren Beatty’s Stunning Daughter Ella Beatty Is Eyeing a Major Literary Adaptation

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 11:01am

Ella Beatty, the stunning daughter of legendary actors Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, is about to score a role in the film adaptation of The Bell Jar.

The rising theater star, 26, is in final talks to join Billie Eilish and Carey Mulligan in the film adaptation of Sylvia Plath's iconic novel, Deadline reported. While it’s not yet clear who Beatty will play in The Bell Jar, we know that Eilish will make her acting debut in the role as protagonist Esther Greenwood, while Mulligan will play her mother. Sarah Polley is set to direct.

Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

The 1963 novel, which mirrors Plath's personal story, was previously adapted for the screen in 1979, and starred Marilyn Hassett in the role of Greenwood. A 2003 film, Sylvia, starring Gwyneth Paltrow in the role of the iconic poet, chronicled the writer's life and tragic death by suicide.

What Does Ella Beatty Star In?

A Juilliard-trained actress, Beatty made waves starring alongside Hugh Jackman in Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre. In the play, Beatty’s character is a college student who becomes involved with her older, successful professor, played by Jackman.

Despite the world knowing him as a megastar, Beatty previously said she didn’t feel the least bit starstruck by Jackman.

“There is nobody less movie-starry in the world than Hugh Jackman,” Beatty said recently in a piece in Interview. “He’s the most generous, loving, open, kind, hardworking person. He’s done so much musical theater, and you can see that in the way that he shows up to work. Nobody works harder than musical theater performers—they’re such athletes. You can see that in his sensibility around learning lines. So I was intimidated, but when we sat down to do the first reading of the play in the fall, it was so animated immediately that it became about the play very quickly.”

What’s Next for Ella Beatty?

In addition to her role in The Bell Jar, Beatty has another big role in the works. She’s set to play Lizzie Borden, who was tried and acquitted of the 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, MA, in the fourth installment of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s Monster true-crime franchise for NetflixDeadline reported last year.

Related: Ella Beatty, Daughter of Annette Bening and Warren Beatty, Is a Red Carpet Beauty at the Tony Awards

Chipotle Is Giving Away $1 Million in Free Burritos During World Cup Final

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 11:00am

Chipotle is giving away $1 million worth of free burritos during the FIFA World Cup final!

On Sunday, July 19, Spain and Argentina will face off to become the World Cup champion.

The deal is bound to go fast—here's how to claim yours before the offer ends.

How to get a free burrito from Chipotle

During the match's second hydration break, head to Chipotle's Instagram account and look for their most recent post.

The post will challenge viewers to follow a lemonade-filled cup as three identical Chipotle water cups shuffle across the screen. At the end of the video, the lemonade-filled cup will reveal a text-to-win code.

The first 100,000 people to text the code to 888-222 will score a free entrée!

RELATED: Chipotle Just Started Testing Crispy Chicken—and Fans Already Want It Nationwide

More Chipotle deals ahead

Chipotle has been giving away 80,000 free entrées since July 8 and the offer will continue until Wednesday, July 29!

The chain has partnered with the PGA TOUR 2K25 video game for the Chipotle Hot Streak Quest, giving customers a chance to score codes for free entrées and double protein.

First, you’ll have to buy the PGA TOUR 2K25 video game, if you don’t own it already, and complete the three themed chapters in MyCAREER mode. The chapters include in-game rewards like a taco-head putter and foil-themed golf attire.

The first players to finish the quest can claim one of 80,000 free entrée codes and double protein codes—available while supplies last through July 29.

The promotion is open to U.S. residents aged 18 or older, and winners can redeem their code in the Chipotle app until Sept. 30, 2026.

Chipotle fans can buy PGA TOUR 2K25 digitally on their PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and more or physically at local retailers.

Chipotle Rewards members can also enter the Chipotle Golf Collectible Sweepstakes for a chance to win a pitch mark repair tool—the tool golfers use to fix the small crater a golf ball leaves when it lands on the soft putting green.

The sweepstakes runs from July 8 until Wednesday, July 22, and the 100 winners will be selected randomly.

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British A-List Actor Names Corn Dog as America's Worst Food, and He's Never Even Tasted It

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 10:47am

Tom Holland has played an American superhero for nearly a decade, but that doesn't mean he's fully sold on American cuisine.

During a Complex interview alongside his The Odyssey co-star Matt Damon, Holland was asked to name the worst American food out there. His answer: the corn dog. Holland explained that anything served on a stick should be "sweet or icy" in his book, closer to a popsicle than a hot, fried, savory snack. There's just one catch: Holland admitted he's never actually eaten one.

Damon didn't hold back either, calling the corn dog "a horrible idea, from the idea to the execution."

The clip has since racked up hundreds of comments on Instagram, and one joke in particular kept popping up from multiple commenters: that a corn dog is basically a beef Wellington in disguise. One commenter called it "portable American Beef Wellington, " while another took it even further, inviting Holland and Damon to the Texas State Fair to try what they called the best corn dog on the planet.

Plenty of commenters also took issue with Holland ranking a food he's never tried. "So he's never had one but he says it's the worst," one person wrote, while another added, "I don't like them either, but at least I've eaten it." Several others echoed a version of the same sentiment: you can't fully condemn a food you've never put in your mouth.

Plenty of Americans jumped in to defend the honor of the corn dog, too, pointing Holland toward specific regional versions he might not have encountered, including Minnesota's "Pronto Pup" and Korean-style corn dogs, both of which commenters insisted might change his mind entirely.

Whether Holland ever works up the nerve to actually try one remains to be seen. For now, the corn dog holds the dubious honor of being the one American food he's most confident he doesn't want, untested, unbothered, and apparently un-Wellington enough for his taste.

The Bear's Abby Elliott Splits From Husband Bill Kennedy

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 10:46am

A decade of staying out of the tabloids ended with a single court filing.

Abby Elliott, known to Bear fans as Natalie "Sugar" Berzatto, filed for divorce from husband Bill Kennedy on Friday, July 17, according to court documents obtained by TMZ. The filing lists July 8 as their date of separation and cites irreconcilable differences after nearly ten years of marriage.

The pair met in 2014 on the set of Sex Ed, a film Kennedy wrote and in which Elliott starred. Kennedy, a writer and producer whose credits include The Morning Show, House of Cards, and Tell Me Lies, proposed in October 2015 using his grandmother's ring, a detail Elliott has described fondly in past interviews. They married in September 2016 and went on to have two children together.

Court documents show Elliott is seeking joint legal and physical custody of the kids, along with spousal support, while asking that Kennedy not be awarded any support himself and that he cover her attorney's fees. Neither Elliott nor Kennedy has made a public statement about the split, and by most accounts, that seems consistent with how they've handled their relationship. Unlike many industry couples, they largely avoided red carpets together and rarely discussed their marriage in the press.

Related: Shania Twain Reveals Why She Skipped Taylor Swift's Wedding

Elliott just finished a run on one of television's most decorated shows, earning acclaim across five seasons for a role built partly on family strain and resilience. She has spoken openly about filming an episode centered on childbirth alongsideJamie Lee Curtis, describing it as one of the more personal experiences of her career. Now she's navigating a real-life family transition of her own, just as that chapter of her professional life comes to a close.

Divorce filings rarely tell the full story of a marriage, and this one is no exception. What's clear is that a relationship that was built away from the industry is ending in a similar way, namely with few public words and a lot left unsaid. Fans who followed her work on The Bear are left with the same information everyone else has, filtered through a legal filing rather than a public interview.

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1978 Pop Rock Song, A Major Radio Success, Became a Cross-Generational Anthem

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 10:45am

The Carswere ready to make themselves known in the music world with their self-titled debut album, and their hit track "Just What I Needed," which some consider an anthem that still holds up decades later.

While "Just What I Needed" was released as the band's first single in 1978, it was already a hit on radio stations as a demo track in 1977. Written by lead singer and rhythm guitaristRic Ocasek, he had given the track to some Boston radio station DJs like Maxanne Sartori. The DJ remembers having also played their follow-up single "My Best Friend's Girl" during her weekday slot. To her surprise, "Just What I Needed" led to an onslaught of calls with positive comments, and even a record deal.

The track would shift the band's trajectory into high gear when it was finally released the following year as a single before the album. It peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, their first Top 40 single of their career. In 2019, it regained popularity and entered the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart at No. 9.

According to UltimateClassicRock, keyboardist Greg Hawkes admitted that he knew there was something special about the track when he first heard it.

"I remember hearing 'Just What I Needed,' the first time I heard it, thinking, 'Wow, that's pretty cool. It's got something unique about it. It's nice and concise, a fairly short pop song format.' I still remember hearing that for the first time," he said.

It's reported that Ocasek wrote the track while in the basement of a commune where he was living at the time. The song's opening riff was also borrowed from "Yummy Yummy Yummy" by the Ohio Express, and even borrowed lyric references to "Sister Ray" by the Velvet Underground. When it came to who would sing the track, Ocasek turned over the reins to Benjamin Orr.

"I think it was pretty casual between Ben and I," Ocasek explained in an interview. "When we played songs we just went, 'Oh, you sing this, I'll sing that, you sing this.' It wasn't any big deal -- although I did keep in mind if it needed to have a good voice, it needed to be Ben... 'This is a song that has a lot of melody and needs a good voice, so Ben should sing this one.'"

The lyrics to "Just What I Needed" would be a hit among critics and fans who felt it explored "romantic indifference" and even tagged it an anti-romance anthem. It would add to the wave of the power pop genre, and became the inspiration behind another rock classic.

In 2003, the pop-punk band Fountains of Wayne would take the track's popular riff and give it their own spin for their popular hit "Stacy's Mom." The Cars song would be covered by other artists like the Strokes, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and many more.

Related: 1972 Soft Rock Classic, A Major Radio Breakthrough, Became a Hit Summer Anthem

1985 No. 1 Rock Hit Featured a Surprise Superstar Who Sang Just Four Words

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 10:26am

In 1985, Dire Straits had a massive hit with ”Money for Nothing.”

Originally written by Mark Knopfler for the album Brothers in Arms, the song ended up with a last-minute songwriting credit—to Police legend Sting.

“Money for Nothing” was a satirical look at the “easy” lifestyle of rock stars. Before its signature guitar riff played, the track kicked off with one of the most popular catchphrases of the era: "I want my MTV.” That line, which was part of an ad campaign for the growing all-music channel, was a last-minute addition recorded by Sting.

Knopfler explained how Sting’s cameo came about in a video posted to Instagram.

“I’d seen on MTV, The Police doing an ad for ['I Want My MTV'], and I thought, ‘Well, if I stick that to ‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me’, those notes, that would fit,’” he recalled.

“We were recording ‘Money for Nothing,’ and I said to somebody, ‘I wish Sting was here,’ and somebody said, ‘Well, he is here, he is on holiday’,” Knopfler continued. "I told him ‘Great, get him up here because I can hear him singing on this thing.’.. Sting came up to the studio, and we already had the track in place, and he just sang it.”

RELATED: 1981 Rock Duet Became the Biggest Hit Ever for Both Artists

Sting noted that his wife, Trudie Styler,  predicted the song would be a huge hit, and it certainly was, shooting up the charts to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1985.

“Of course it was the biggest hit of that year,” Sting said. “I was very proud to have been on that, but it was purely a function of being in the right place at the right time.”

Knopfler previously told The Guardian that the Dire Straits hit was a product of “a whole bunch of fortunate incidents that collided with each other.”

The idea for the song came after he overheard workmen complaining about rock stars on MTV. And the Sting piece was a complete stroke of luck.

“While we were recording the Brothers In Arms album at AIR Studios on Montserrat, I remember thinking: ‘Wouldn’t it be great if I could ask Sting to sing that line?’” Knopfler recalled. “We were on this tiny speck in the middle of the ocean, but suddenly someone said: ‘Sting’s here on holiday! He’s on the beach!’ So he came up to the studio, and when he walked in, the first thing he said was: 'What’s wrong?’”

Sting had assumed the Dire Straits bandmates were arguing as The Police often did.

There was no fight, but Dire Straits alum Alan Clark has disputed Knopfler’s recollection of how Sting’s “I Want My MTV” line came to be a part of “Money for Nothing.” The keyboardist once claimed that opening the song with MTV’s catchphrase was his idea.

“In rehearsals when Mark first played ‘Money For Nothing’ to the band, there was no intro and no ‘I Want My MTV,’” Clark claimed in an interview with Music Radar in 2022. "It started with an early version of that guitar riff. During a break in rehearsals, when most of the band were out of the room, I started creating the intro on my keyboards, singing 'I want my MTV’. By the end of the day, the track had an intro."

"That’s the short version," he added. "For the record: the idea was mine.”

Regardless of who had the idea first, Sting received the songwriting credit alongside Knopfler on “Money for Nothing.” And all he had to do was take a beach break to sing four words set to notes from a classic 1980 Police song.

Related: 1985 No. 1 Pop-Rock Hit Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts Exactly 41 Years Later

Zendaya’s Sparks Backlash With Jewelry Choice When Promoting The Odyssey

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 10:25am

Zendaya recently sparked backlash after wearing 3,000-year-old Iranian gold medallions as earrings when promoting Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey in London.

The actress, who plays Athena in the new blockbuster, accessorised her white Jacquemus gown at the London photocall with large gold earrings.

These earrings were made from Iranian gold medallions dating back to the 1st millennium BC, making them around 3,000 years old. They were mounted by Glen Spiro, a London-based jeweler, with 18k yellow gold diamonds, as part of his line of turning artefacts into jewelry.

Historians, archaeologists, and social media critics condemned Zendaya's look, calling it "colonialism chic. People report that the priceless artefacts belong in museums rather than on a red carpet.

London-based writer Zirrar Ali called out celebrities, particularly in the Western world, as being “largely deaf to questions of ethics and history when it comes to the Global South.”

The stunning gold medallions were part of the Ziwiye hoard, or Ziwiye treasure, which Britannica describes as a “collection of Median-period art dating to the 7th century BCE.” They were discovered in Northwest Iran in 1947, per CNN, when locals found a coffin packed with treasure.

Because the finds were not professionally excavated, the pieces were broken up and sold individually. You can find pieces from the collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre and the British Museum.

According to Hyperallergic, The Forensic Archive of Iran has launched a petition requesting transparency around the gold discs’ provenance.

“You can wear something around your neck that dates back thousands of years but is still contemporary and cool,” the earring's designer, Glen Spiro told Galeria magazine in a 2025 interview.

Zendaya promoting new movie 'The Odyssey' on July 05, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Neil Mockford/GC Images)

The earrings were acquired by fine jewelry brand Barron London in 2020, which told CNN that the discs are held in a “simple noninvasive” claw setting so as “not to alter or damage the original objects in any way.”

“Cultural heritage rightly inspires important conversations, and we welcome informed dialogue about provenance, preservation and the appreciation of exceptional craftsmanship,” the brand told CNN. The earrings are not for sale, and remain part of the company's private collection.

This isn't the first controversy linked to Zendaya's outfits. While she is known for being a style icon, and The Odyssey press tour has brought us some of her most beloved looks, fans are concerned with the ethics that go into making her look so good.

Social media was up in arms when it was revealed that her stylist, Law Roach, flew her Schiaparelli dress from Paris to London on a private jet after it debuted at Paris Haute Couture Week hours earlier.

Brittany Cartwright Breaks Silence on Ex-Publicist Dating Her Ex

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 10:23am

Breakups can be painful enough behind closed doors, but throw in a betrayal that plays out in front of millions of Bravo fans, and it's a whole different kind of heartbreak. That's the situation The Valley star and former Vanderpump Rules personality Brittany Cartwright now finds herself navigating after estranged husband Jax Taylor's reported romance with the couple's former publicist, Lori Krebs.

While Brittany isn't ready to tell the full story just yet, she made it clear she has plenty to say. During the Friday, July 17, episode of her When Reality Hits podcast, Cartwright hinted that she's preparing to share her side of the story but only when the time feels right. "All I'm going to say about this at this moment is I will be speaking my truth (the truth) on this matter very soon whenever I'm ready," Brittany said. She continued, "I'm just trying to protect my son and my peace and very soon I will be telling [my story]." The Bravo star also suggested fans already have an idea of what's unfolding. "I mean, I think everybody kinda understands what's going on," she added.

Fans have watched Brittany and Jax's relationship unfold for years - from their romance on Vanderpump Rules to their wedding and eventual separation on Bravo's The Valley. The former couple, who split in 2024, share 5-year-old son Cruz. Brittany's comments come shortly after Us Weekly exclusively reported that Taylor was spotted celebrating his birthday with Krebs in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. According to the outlet, the pair were seen showing PDA while relaxing poolside, fueling speculation about their relationship.

The reported romance surprised many Bravo fans because Krebs had previously worked closely with both Brittany and Jax while they were together. For now, though, Brittany says she's keeping her attention where it matters most. "As of right now," she said, "I am focusing on me and the most important thing in my life, which is my beautiful son."

Based on her latest comments, however, it sounds like viewers of The Valley may not have to wait much longer before hearing what she calls "the truth." 

6,700+ Cases of 'Explosive Diarrhea' Parasite Reported Across 34 States

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 10:23am

More than 6,700 confirmed or probable cases of a parasite-linked intestinal illness have been reported across the United States this year as health officials continue investigating multiple outbreaks, according to Today.

The illness, called cyclosporiasis, is caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. While infections typically increase during the summer months, health officials say the number of reported cases in 2026 has been unusually high.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 1,644 cases across 34 states since May 1 and is investigating an additional 5,100 illnesses, bringing the nationwide total to more than 6,700 confirmed or probable cases. At least 141 people have been hospitalized, though no deaths have been reported, according to the CDC.

One of the largest outbreaks has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia. However, the CDC says that the investigation applies only to that specific outbreak, and officials are continuing to investigate other clusters of illnesses across the country.

According to the CDC, Cyclospora spreads through food or water contaminated with the parasite and infects the small intestine. Symptoms can include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and weight loss. Although the illness is generally not life-threatening, symptoms can last for weeks if left untreated, and antibiotics are available to treat many cases.

Despite the growing number of illnesses, experts are not advising people to avoid fresh fruits and vegetables. Instead, they recommend washing produce thoroughly, practicing good hand hygiene and staying informed as investigators continue working to identify the sources behind the outbreaks. Anyone who develops persistent diarrhea or other symptoms consistent with cyclossporiasis should contact a healthcare provider.

John Denver’s 1971 Signature Song Remains One of His Most Misunderstood Classics

Sat, 07/18/2026 - 10:15am

One of John Denver's most beloved songs is widely considered one of the most comforting, nostalgic anthems in American music history.

It's a song that practically everyone can sing by heart. Yet, despite being a timeless staple of radio airplay and family road trips, Denver's 1971 signature masterpiece remains one of his most deeply misunderstood classics. While millions of listeners assume it is a celebration of West Virginia, the unexpected reality of its true meaning tells a completely different story.

"Take Me Home, Country Roads" is famously associated with the Mountain State and mentions it prominently in its opening verse. However, Denver never actually visited the area at the time the song was written.

According to Country Living, “neither Denver nor his co-writers Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert had ever actually set foot in the in West Virginia when the song was written. In fact, the winding road that inspired ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ was really a two-lane stretch in Gaithersburg, Maryland.”

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“Take Me Home Country Roads” ultimately became the official song of West Virginia in 2014. The song reached the number two spot on the Billboard charts by August of that same year. The Library of Congress reported that the song was certified Gold by the Recording Industry of America in 1971 and reached platinum status in 2017.

However, the twist to "Take Me Home, Country Roads" that makes it misleading for most listeners is that although West Virginia is the song's key setting, the location could be anywhere the listener feels is home to them.

CBS News discussed the track with West Virginia University assistant professor Sarah Morris, who shared her thoughts on the track's true meaning. She said, "People take the song and re-appropriate it so that it's about the place that's home to them."

Morris added, "Change the geographic references, change the lyrics, change the location. But it doesn't really change the song, and it doesn't change the meaning of the song."

Songwriter Danoff agreed. "The place really is immaterial. It's 'the place I belong.' I think that's the key line. That's what people are looking for in their lives."

Sarah Morris told West Virginia Public Broadcasting, “It’s this deep, internal, fundamental longing for a place we can never go. And I think there’s an element of that in country roads, too.”

While the song's famous lyrics paint a picture of a specific state, the song’s real magic lies in how it captures a universal human longing for a place to belong. It proves that the concept of home isn't just a physical spot on a map, but a feeling of safety and connection.

"Take Me Home, Country Roads" remains an absolute masterpiece more than 50 years later because it is far more than just a catchy nostalgic nod to a single state. It remains a timeless tribute to all who are trying to find where they fit in.

Decades after John Denver first shared it with the world, the song stands as a beautiful reminder that no matter where the road takes us, we are all just looking for a comforting feeling of home.

Related: John Denver Wrote His Most Romantic Song in Just 10 Minutes—In the Most Unexpected Place

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