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Robin Roberts and her stunning wife, Amber Laign, were the cutest couple at D23.

Roberts, 65, a beloved anchor on ABC’s Good Morning America, and Laign, 51, a massage therapist, were photographed with bright smiles on their faces at the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: Legends this weekend in Anaheim, California. While Roberts looked sunny in a bright yellow suit, Laign went for a muted look in a long, black dress. However, her long blonde hair was the perfect contrast. Together, the couple was one of the most stunning duos at the major event.

Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

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How Long Have Robin Roberts and Amber Laign Been Together?

The couple has been together since 2005, but just married in 2023.

“I could not have imagined as a young girl growing up in Mississippi that I’d be sitting here with you in New York City, with my fiancée who is a woman, and freely, openly and passionately talking about it,” Roberts told the New York Times in 2023. “For it to be received as is is a gift.”

After the couple wed in their Connecticut backyard, Roberts spoke about how momentous the occasion was.

“The fact that people are so happy for us is a gift,” Roberts said. “And it’s not just a gift for us. It’s a gift for those who are in areas of this country who may have a parent or grandparent who doesn’t quite see it like this, but they see us, and they see that we just love each other. We’re very boring, but we just love each other.”

The Couple Has Faced Health Battles Together

Both Roberts and Laign have faced challenging health battles together. Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. In 2012, she was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome.

“I was like, ‘Of course I’m going to be by your side.’ I would never, ever leave her,” Laign told the Times.

Upon Laign’s diagnosis with breast cancer in 2021, Roberts cared for her in the same loving manner.

“She taught me how,” Roberts said.

Related: Robin Roberts, Serena Williams Launch Docuseries on This All-New Women’s Franchise

Tomorrow night, the reigning Mirror Ball Champion arrives on Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. And she’s got plenty of wisdom at her disposal.

Witney Carson is the latest pro to appear on the new DWTS spinoff, reuniting with her Season 34-winning partner Robert Irwin. The 32-year-old kicks off a three-week stint that will keep her on the set through the finale, when one contestant will be given a spot on this fall’s edition of the hit ABC reality series. And watching and judging the remaining five dancers compete for a spot in this fall’s roster, the 32-year old admits that she couldn’t help but have deja vu from her own reality TV origin story: So You Think You Can Dance.

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“I was having flashbacks,” Carson tells Parade in an exclusive interview. “As I was watching these kids go through all of these challenges, I was having flashbacks. Because it’s very much So You Think You Can Dance. You are on your own. You are fighting for your life, essentially. And that’s what these kids were doing. And each week they had, they were presented a different challenge.”

The challenge in tonight’s episode is by and far the most applicable to the DWTS experience. Carson serves as a mentor and judge for the hopeful pros as they get their first taste of teaching notable names, tasked with choreographing a ballroom routine with a celebrity superfan. It’s an opportunity to get an unvarnished look at how the samba sausage gets made, creating a stunning routine while also spotlighting someone who feels far from comfortable in this environment.

“I love the reality part of it,” Carson says. “Because we get to see really behind the scenes of what their mental state goes through. For us pros, that’s half the battle. When we go into choreographing, [there’s] all of this pressure of making sure our celebrity looks the absolute best. There’s a lot of mental struggles that come with that and a lot of stress that comes with that. I think people will get a real insight to what we actually go through week to week.”

Related: ‘Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro’ Gets a New Frontrunner — See Who Went Home

Getting to watch these dancers compete for a coveted spot on the pro cast, of course, has Carson thinking back to her own DWTS origin story. As mentioned before, her on-screen debut came on Season 9 of So You Think You Can Dance, where she made a run all the way to third place at just 18 years old. As she recounts, the DWTS producers saw her on the FOX show and called her for an audition. And before she could even unlace her dancing shoes, she was off to L.A., ready for the biggest gig of her life to begin.

Carson spent two years in the DWTS troupe, providing support for all the action on the dance floor. And in 2014, she was given the ultimate promotion: The call to officially become a pro, partnered alongside singer-songwriter Cody Simpson. But, outside the ballroom, a horrifying diagnosis was threatening to stop the job before it even began.

“Right when I got the call to be a professional on Dancing With the Stars, I also was dealing with melanoma,” she reveals. “I had gone into the doctor. They found a small mole on the top of my foot. Both my parents had melanoma, so it was something that all of the kids got checked for. And the doctor was like, ‘If you don’t take care of this, you’re going to have to go through chemo.’ And I was like, ‘Hold on. My dream is about to happen. I’m about to be on Dancing With the Stars. I don’t have time for this!'”

Despite her initial protestations, Carson ultimately listened to her doctor’s advice. She underwent surgery to remove the mole, as well as take out some lymph nodes on her hip. And, while the panic of melanoma had subsided, the anxiety of missing out on the upcoming season because of the treatment ramped up. And so, shockingly, she told nobody on the show about the surgery she had undergone. Not the judges, not Simpson, not even the producers.

What didn’t help, however, was what happened during her very first rehearsal as a DWTS pro.

“No one knew. So I was hiding this big scar on my foot. I had wraps on,” she recounts. “I remember I had not gotten cleared to dance yet, but of course I was going to move. So I did anyway. And I looked down at my foot. And I just had a big pile of blood. My tennis shoe was completely soaked in blood.”

Related: Witney Carson Teases 3 Major ‘DWTS’ Announcements Coming Soon

She continues, “Every time after the live show, I had to go to the doctor and get it wrapped and fixed. And no one knew.”

To make this story even more unbelievable, Carson made it a whopping five weeks into her debut season alongside Simpson. That’s almost a month and a half of bloody footwear, trips to the doctor, and likely excruciating pain. All the while, she put on a brave face, not telling a soul involved with the show what was actually happening until much later, when she had become much more established as a pro.

While Carson’s first steps as a pro were far from ideal, she would get a much better run later that year. Four months after getting eliminated, she returned to the ballroom alongside Alfonso Ribeiro. And for any DWTS devotees, you know what happened next. She dominated the competition alongside the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor, earning the Mirror Ball Trophy in only her second season. And it was only fitting that, over a decade later, Ribeiro would be alongside her again for her next victory, serving as host while she put on another masterclass of a season with Irwin. Carson’s wins serve as bookmarks of two very different eras in her life: A fresh-faced teenager harboring an incredibly taxing secret on her own, and a wife and mom who now gleefully sports an entire support system every week she hits the dance floor.

New episodes of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro air Mondays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Related: ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Casting Director Breaks Down the First Season 35 Contestants — And the One Rule to Get Cast (Exclusive)

According to astrology, your birth month can reveal the friendship that was written in the stars for you. Do you have a sense of what kind of person makes your most compatible friend?

Some connections take real effort to maintain, while others feel effortless from the very first conversation. Per astrologers, certain personality pairings are naturally suited for that second kind of friendship — the kind where two different energies balance each other out instead of competing.

Find your birth month below to see who your most compatible friend is.

Each Birth Month’s Most Compatible Friend

Check for your birth month below.

Learn more about your birth month:

Born in January | Born in February | Born in March |

Born in April | Born in May | Born in June | Born in July |

Born in August | Born in September | Born in October |

Born in November | Born in December

January Needs a Friend Who Brings the Heart

Born under disciplined Capricorn or a forward-thinking Aquarius, you lead with structure and reliability, but may struggle with being reserved at first and showcasing vulnerability and emotion. Your most compatible friend is someone whose warmth and empathy pull you out of your head and into your feelings. In return, you give them the grounding and consistency their big emotions sometimes need. You keep them steady while they keep you soft.

February Needs a Friend Who Brings Confidence

You’ve never needed the room’s approval to feel like yourself — that’s the gift of being an independent Aquarius or a dreamy Pisces. But there’s a difference between not needing approval and never quite taking up the space you deserve. Confidence to be loud and proud brings you out of your detachment and into your heart. The right friend activates your passion without even trying. What you give back is intentional reflection — something real for their bigger personality to stand on.

March Needs a Friend Who Brings Structure

Ideas and imagination come easily to you. Mundane follow-through? Not quite as exciting. Whether you carry Pisces imagination or Aries impulse, you’re often better at dreaming something up than actually finishing it. Precision fixes that. A friend who brings structure turns your half-built visions into something real — and you return the favor by loosening them up, showing them not everything has to be planned within an inch of its life to matter.

April Needs a Friend Who Brings Depth

Bold Aries or steady Taurus, you move first and ask questions later, which works right up until it doesn’t. This birth month needs someone who slows the moment down enough to examine what you’d rather skip. A friend who embodies such patience and mindfulness can test your fiery personality. However, their disposition also helps sharpen your instincts. In return, you’re the one who finally gets them to stop weighing every option and just choose from their gut.

May Needs a Friend Who Brings Intensity

There’s a version of “settled” that starts to look like stuck, and May-born Taurus or Gemini energy can slide into it fast. What jolts you loose is a friend with real intensity. Someone whose strength makes staying in your comfort zone feel a little less appealing. In return, you give such a friend patience, which is the one thing their all-or-nothing approach to life usually runs short on.

June Needs a Friend Who Brings Focus

Focus was never your strong suit — not with Gemini’s curiosity or Cancer’s sensitivity pulling your attention six different ways at all times. You need a friend with concentrated direction, someone who can take your scattered energy and actually point it somewhere. What you offer them back is levity — proof that seriousness doesn’t have to mean rigid.

July Needs a Friend Who Brings Discipline

You love hard. That’s just what happens when Cancer’s intuition or Leo’s warmth is running the show. The problem is what happens after — all that feeling with nowhere solid to land. A disciplined friend helps direct your passion, giving it somewhere to go. You’re the one who reminds them, in return, to take risks and wear their heart on their sleeve to find deeper bonds.

August Needs a Friend Who Brings Self-Awareness

People are drawn to you before you’ve said a word — Leo’s confidence or Virgo’s precision tends to do that. What doesn’t come as naturally is turning that same attention inward. A quietly self-aware friend gives you permission to be seen as more than magnetic or entertaining. What you hand back is cheerleader confidence — the kind that lets their own light finally boldly shine without apology.

September Needs a Friend Who Brings Spontaneity

Getting it right matters more to you than it probably should, whether that’s Virgo precision or Libra’s need for balance talking. Somewhere in there, “right” started costing you the ability to be present in the moment. An easygoing, imaginative friend interrupts that spiral, reminding you good doesn’t have to mean perfect. You return the favor by actually helping them finish what they start.

October Needs a Friend Who Brings Decisiveness

People born in October carry Libra’s fairness or Scorpio’s depth. Either way, you’ve never met a decision you didn’t want to examine from six more angles first. What you need is a friend who trusts their gut without the deliberation. Watching them just decide teaches you something. What you give back is the perspective they overlook or skip when they’re moving too fast.

November Needs a Friend Who Brings Ease

Scorpio’s depth or Sagittarius’s philosophy, you feel things at a volume most people can’t match — which makes something as simple as relaxing into a friendship harder than it sounds. A steady, unhurried friend gives that intensity somewhere calm to exist. They remind you that ease is just as important as examining complexities. In return, you teach them to feel things more deeply than their comfort zone usually allows.

December Needs a Friend Who Brings Accountability

Vision was never the issue for you — not with Sagittarius’s optimism or Capricorn’s ambition fueling every idea you’ve ever had. Finishing what you start, though – that’s the part that quietly falls apart somewhere between the big talk and the follow-through. What you need is a friend who won’t let you forget what you said you’d do, someone steady enough to hold the line when your enthusiasm moves on to the next thing. In return, you’re the one who convinces them to dream a little bigger than what feels safe.

UP NEXT:

Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 classic, The Ten Commandments, is back in the spotlight. Once chosen as one of the American Film Institute’s greatest epics of all time, the sprawling period piece is now also one of the most enduring, with viewers hitting play so often it’s now appearing prominently on Pluto TV’s streaming charts.

A free, ad-supported streaming service, Pluto TV is a wellspring of classic fare, with films like The Godfather, Top Gun, This Is Spinal Tap, and Point Break serving as frequent go-tos for fans. But for the last nearly two months, according to FlixPatrol, The Ten Commandments has been streamed way more than all the above.

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A biblical retelling of the story of Moses and a remake of his own 1923 film of the same name, DeMille’s epic follows the adopted Egyptian prince on his journey from being found in a basket in the Nile River, to the royal court where he was raised, to his discovery of his Hebrew heritage and eventual mission to free his people from slavery.

Charlton Heston stars as Moses, with Yul Brynner as Pharaoh Ramses II and the inimitable Anne Baxter as Nefretiri (see above).

Supporting roles include Edward G. Robinson as Dathan, Yvonne De Carlo as Sephora, Debra Paget as Lilia, John Derek as Joshua, and others in supporting roles. A colossal box-office smash, it raked in more than $120 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful films of its time.

That success translated to awards, too, with the film receiving seven Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Picture. In the end, it won for Best Effects, with top prize going to Michael Anderson’s Around the World in 80 Days.

The Ten Commandments marked DeMille’s final film, serving as its own cinematic closing to a career spanning 70 films and several Academy Award nominations, with one Oscar win for The Greatest Show on Earth. DeMille was one of the founding fathers of American cinema and went on to become the most commercially successful producer-director in film history.

The epic is frequently cited as one of the greatest movies of all time. According to the AFI, the film is the 10th-greatest epic of all time.

“The film was named, appropriately, No. 10 on AFI’s list of cinema’s greatest epics and appears at No. 79 on AFI’s list of the most inspiring movies of all time, with Charlton Heston’s performance as Moses ranked No. 43 on AFI’s list of the greatest heroes in movie history,” the film institute wrote.

DeMille’s epic is in good company on the Pluto TV Top 10.

Currently, the No. 1 most popular film, per FlixPatrol, is Quentin Tarantino’s 2012 revenge masterpiece Django Unchained, followed by Seth MacFarlane’s 2012 raunch comedy Ted and the ever-enduring 2022 action epic Top Gun: Maverick taking spots two and three, respectively. Maverick has actually been gracing the chart now for more than 100 days, cementing it as the longest-charting movie in quite a while.

DeMille’s epic, celebrating its 70th anniversary with high-profile 4K digital restorations, is finding new audiences decades later—some nostalgic for the grand, practical filmmaking, others embracing its unmatched scale over modern CGI. Either way, all are discovering DeMille’s and Heston’s mastery from the comfort of their couches.

The Ten Commandments is steaming for free on Pluto TV.

Related: New Retro Thriller From JJ Abrams, Featuring ’80s Rock Hits, Becomes the Best of Its Kind in 33 Years

Children growing up in the 1980s are often described as the generation raised by television. From The Dukes of Hazzard to Dallas, Gen Xers’ childhood memories are filled with iconic TV moments. There are few as memorable as Debbie Allen’s “Fame Costs” speech featured in the 1982 pilot of the TV show Fame, which was actually titled “Metamorphosis.” From the opening shot of Allen’s Lydia Grant’s leg warmer-clad feet to her infamous wooden teaching stick, everything about this speech is pure ’80s nostalgia at its finest. More than 40 years later, this TV speech remains one of the definitive inspirational TV moments of the ’80s.

When Fame premiered on NBC in 1982, it brought the world of the performing arts to primetime TV. Inspired by the 1980 movie of the same name, the series followed a group of young students at the New York City High School of Performing Arts as they pursued their dreams of becoming dancers, singers, actors and performers.

@ladivafina77

Thank you #DebbieAllen The movie and TV show #FAME shaped my life and this speech here became my mantra and #LivesRentFreeInMyHead #YouWantFame #Dancer #NYC #Class #Auditions #RememberMyName #PayInSweat

♬ original sound – Jose Covarrubias

The only thing harder than getting famous was pleasing the school’s taskmaster dance teacher, Lydia Grant, played by Debbie Allen.

Allen’s Grant wasn’t solely a hard-driving, fame-at-all-costs dance teacher. Lydia Grant was tough and demanding, but her discipline was rooted in her desire to see her students succeed. Allen’s “Fame Costs” speech is one of the most remembered TV moments from the ’80s, with the indelible line, “You’ve got big dreams. You want fame. Well, fame costs, and right here is where you start paying,” often repeated and referenced in speeches, pop culture moments and social media memes.

Debbie Allen’s “Fame Costs” Speech Became an ’80s Mantra @layla_.mckenzie

Miss Grant is the bomb! #debbieallen #geneanthonyray #loveisthequestion #dancemovie #moviedance

♬ Halloween Mashup by 917Josh – 917JOSH

The speech was excerpted in the show’s opening sequence and is one of the most recognizable and frequently quoted ’80s TV moments. Fans around the world continue to recite the speech to Allen herself decades after the series ended. Allen’s speech wasn’t just good TV; it became an iconic message about chasing a dream and understanding what it takes to achieve it.

The enduring reaction demonstrates just how deeply the show connected with fans. For viewers watching Fame in the 1980s (proudly raises hand), Allen’s words became more of a mantra than a scene from a TV show.

Allen, who also starred as Lydia Grant in the 1980 version of the film, was heavily involved with the production of the TV show, assisting with choreography and storylines. Having been a successful dancer and actress herself, she brought a unique authenticity to Fame, making her and Lydia Grant seemingly interchangeable.

Related: 1986 Song Inspired by ‘Itsy Bitsy Spider’ Became Carly Simon’s 12th Top 40 Hit

Fame Captured the Hopes and Dreams of the ’80s

Filmed against the backdrop of the grittiness of ’80s New York and featuring a diverse cast of personalities, highlighted by the standout Gene Anthony Ray, who portrayed the beloved dance student Leroy Johnson, Fame captured the essence of the ’80s: aspiration, big dreams and hard work.

Allen’s Lydia Grant became the heart of the show, seamlessly embodying the life of a dancer. She was one. She knew what it took. She brought the firsthand knowledge of someone who had lived the highs and lows of life as a dancer to every episode, highlighted by her infamous “Fame Costs” speech.

More than four decades after Fame premiered on TV, Lydia Grant’s speech still resonates. We children of the ’80s may not be able to find our glasses (on your head, likely), but we can recite just about every word of Debbie Allen’s speech.

That’s because Fame was more than a TV show. Fame was the encapsulation of the hopes and dreams of an entire era, with Allen’s speech summarizing the sentiment.

Related: John Fogerty Has the Sweetest Reaction to Hearing ‘Proud Mary’ Playing at a Gas Station

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Ali Louis Bourzgui had never seen The Lost Boys.

When Bourzgui first heard that a musical adaptation of the 1987 cult classic was being developed for Broadway, the movie hadn’t crossed his path. Then his friend, actor Drew El Hamalawy, told him about an upcoming workshop.

Bourzgui was appearing in the show We Live in Cairo with El Hamalawy, who often worked with The Lost Boys‘ director, Michael Arden. Drew knew that Bourzgui played guitar and sang with a band, similar to the characters in The Lost Boys. “Drew started putting pieces together and thought, ‘This guy plays guitar and is in a band. And Drew knew what the show was,’” recalls Bourzgui. “So he said, ‘You should tell your agents to look out for this Lost Boys workshop that’s about to start soon.’”

His agents sent him audition material for both Michael, a teenager trying to find his place in a new town who becomes entangled with a group of vampires, and David, a charismatic vampire who leads the Lost Boys. Bourzgui learned both roles, but there was one character he was immediately drawn to.

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“I like this David material better, just for me,” he says. “Not that it was better, I thought, ‘I’m more interested in this character.’ Because it was something I hadn’t quite done before.”

At the time, Bourzgui had been playing what he describes as a young, naïve sweetheart in We Live in Cairo. David offered the chance to go in the completely opposite direction. “I thought, ‘It would be cool to completely switch it up and play the villain,’” he says.

He then watched the film. And it was love at first watch.

“It was my ideal movie,” says Bourzgui. “I love sort of the campy ’80s sci-fi thing.” He had seen all the other films in that genre, like The Goonies. “I don’t know how I had missed it, but I immediately fell in love with the movie,” he recalls. “I watched it twice in one week. Once I saw what Kiefer did with the character, I was even more interested.”

Ali Louis Bourzgui poses with his Tony award for The Lost Boys at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, Radio City Music Hall, June 07, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) How Ali Louis Bourzgui Made David His Own

Kiefer Sutherland’s David is one of those performances that seems to have seeped into pop culture. Yet Bourzgui noticed something fascinating about the character: David isn’t actually in the original film all that much.

“In the movie, when you watch it, David doesn’t actually have all that much to do. It’s who you remember because his performance is so iconic and the character’s so good,” says Bourzgui. “But he doesn’t actually really have all that many lines, and he’s not in the movie all that much, and you don’t really get to figure out what’s going on with David.”

That became one of the things Bourzgui found most exciting about the musical. He could help answer the questions the movie leaves unanswered. “I thought it would be such a cool journey to see in the musical version if there was more we could find out about him,” he says.

And because The Lost Boys was still being created during the workshop, Bourzgui helped build David adding his own personal input. “In many ways I got to build this character alongside the writers, [David Hornsby and Chris Hoch], the director, [Michael Arden], and the whole creative team.”

From the beginning, Bourzgui could see how Hornsby and Hoch wrote him so well. “They are brilliant writers. When I got that first packet [to audition], I could tell that they knew who this guy was.” Not only was he totally enamored with the script, he also loved the songs from The Rescues. “I could tell that the team was already firing on all cylinders to make something really cool,” he shares. “And I wanted to be a part of that.”

Bourzgui was particularly interested in making sure David wasn’t simply a two-dimensional villain. “I knew that the only way to make him realistic and tangible was to find the hero inside of him,” he shares. “And that he has to think that he is the hero and human. While at the same time, he is a monster and a vampire.”

Related: The Complete Winners List from the 2026 Tony Awards

For Bourzgui, that meant going deep. Before the Broadway production, he spent months constructing a history for David: imagining what his life had been like before he became a vampire, what he had experienced as a young person, the people he had lost and the wounds that shaped him.

“You have to figure out where a person has faced trauma and what drives them to do the things they do,” says Bourzgui. “And David went through so many hard things and lost so many people, he really never received a lot of real love.”

That loss, Bourzgui believes, is at the center of David’s warped relationship with love. “Because he has lost so much of it, he has decided to control it. And he doesn’t understand that you can’t do that with love. You can’t lock it down.”

How Kiefer Sutherland, David Bowie and Tim Curry Inspired His David

Bourzgui’s David is also shaped by three very different performers: Sutherland, David Bowie and Tim Curry. He studied each for something different. With Bowie, he found an otherworldly quality and a willingness to challenge convention. With Curry, it was the combination of creepy and alluring from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. And from Sutherland, he studied the voice and the character’s almost unnerving stillness.

“Kiefer’s thing is that he’s super stoic, and so I use the stoic moments to contrast to certain points where I’ll just be really still, and just use my eyes to hone in on something like a predator, which has been fun.” Plus, he borrowed how Sutherland said “Michael” in the film. “It’s a total homage to how he did that,” says Bourzgui. “Plus, I kick it in a little extra weird.”

But Bourzgui was determined not to simply imitate the actor who originated the role.

“Doing what I did in creating a really personalized version of the character in my head allowed me to have my own thing,” he says. “So I never felt like I was taking the reins, or taking the character that already existed. It felt like I was creating something new, and then thinking, there’s this other David that is similar, and they share these certain traits. But my version is a totally different person than that version.”

What Kiefer Sutherland Thought of Bourzgui’s ‘Lost Boys’ Performance

That philosophy became particularly meaningful when Bourzgui finally met Sutherland who has seen the show. Some actors might be intimidated performing a role made famous by the person who originated it. Bourzgui says their encounter felt much more like two actors comparing notes.

“Some people ask me, ‘Oh, is it weird when Kiefer is there? Does it feel like you’re trying to do justice?’ But it’s more just that we actually appreciated each other’s versions, and we got to share a little bit and talk to each other about what we found.”

Now a producer on the musical, Sutherland has been supportive of Bourzgui’s interpretation. “No one really owns the character,” says Bourzgui. “The entity exists and we both got to sit in his mind for a little bit and share in that, which is cool.”

Sutherland created the David who became an indelible part of ’80s movie history. Nearly four decades later, Bourzgui is taking the character into an entirely new world.

The Story Behind David’s Platinum-Blond Mullet

And then there is the mullet.

The famously platinum-blond wig was created for the show by hair and wig designer David Brian Brown. Bourzgui also had the chance to offer his input on the look. The wig was cut directly on Bourzgui’s head. He suggested, “What if we had one little Billy Idol kind of lick coming down the front into that little hair that hangs in front?”

The result has become part of his transformation. “It really helps me with the transformation,” he says. “I feel different when I’m in the wig and feel a little outside of Ali.”

How ‘The Lost Boys’ Changed Ali Louis Bourzgui

For Bourzgui, the ability to transform has been part of his life since he was a child growing up in the Berkshires, surrounded by Tanglewood, Jacob’s Pillow, Barrington Stage and other artistic institutions. “I got to be inspired from a really early age, which gave me the permission to explore and to be a sponge.”

But his theatrical journey almost didn’t begin. When Bourzgui was 10, his mother drove him to an audition for The Wizard of Oz. They had made it to the theater when Bourzgui suddenly realized what was about to happen.

“We got all the way there, we were in the lobby. I thought, ‘Wait, I’m gonna go up and sing in front of people?’ And I said, ‘Absolutely not.’ My shyness kicked in. I said, ‘Let’s go home right now.’ My mom said, ‘No, we came all the way here. You’re doing this.’”

He did it. And he got the role of one of the Munchkins in the Lollipop Guild.

That little boy who nearly turned around in the lobby eventually discovered that theater wasn’t simply something he loved. It could be his life’s work. After graduating from Ithaca College, he joined the national tour of The Band’s Visit as a swing, covering seven tracks before stepping into a principal role. “It happened really fast,” he says. “I graduated in May, and then I joined the tour in August.”

Then he made his Broadway debut with a bang, starring as Tommy Walker in The Who’s Tommy. His other credits include Paul in the U.S. National Tour of Company, Amir Off-Broadway in We Live in Cairo, and Orpheus on Broadway in Hadestown. And Bourzgui plays guitar with his own band, Resident Lightweight, bringing another side of his musical life into his work.

The Lost Boys has now added another remarkable chapter to that career. This past June, Bourzgui won a Tony Award for playing David. Bourzgui says that the role has opened him up and helped him be less shy. “It has given me a bit more confidence in my real life.”

David has also inspired Ali to think about how he engages with love. “I’m learning lessons from the things David has done wrong,” he says. He is more inspired to be empathetic and care for people so that they are comfortable being themselves and loving them in the process.

“One of the best things in life is letting people blossom and giving them the space to turn into themselves. That they don’t have to stay where they are,” he says. “As life continues and they learn more about themselves, they can grow. And you’ll still love them. I have learned that from him.”

Currently playing at the Palace Theatre, The Lost Boys earned four Tony Awards, including Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for Bourzgui, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for Shoshana Bean, Best Scenic Design of a Musical for Dane Laffrey, and Best Lighting Design of a Musical for Jen Schriever and Michael Arden.

For Bourzgui, the music is another important connection to the original film. The Rescues—Kyler England, Adrianne “AG” Gonzalez and Gabriel Mann—created the musical’s original music and lyrics. He also adores the original soundtrack of the movie. “I listen to it a lot,” says Bourzgui. “Those songs are great, and it’s cool that they’ve kind of taken little pieces of them and put it into the score, which is fun.” In fact, Atlantic Records just released the show’s original Broadway cast album with The Rescues’ music and lyrics.

The Rescues also bring a cinematic quality to the musical, something Bourzgui particularly appreciates. “They have written film scores, and I know Gabriel has done some video game scoring,” he says. “There is something really fun about the fact that they know how to make not only good songs, but also good underscoring.”

The result, he says, captures the atmosphere of The Lost Boys while giving the musical its own sound. “The music is just unlike anything I’ve ever really heard,” says Bourzgui. “It has been fun for me because I nerd out about music and albums. I’m a big fan of them.”

The Heartbreaking Story Behind Bourzgui’s Tony Award Dedication

And when Bourzgui accepted his Tony, one person was very much on his mind: Ralph Petillo, his longtime mentor. In his acceptance speech Bourzgui dedicated his Tony Award to Petillo.

Petillo had known Bourzgui since he was that shy 10-year-old auditioning for The Wizard of Oz. Petillo played the Wizard. The next year, Petillo played Fagin in Oliver!, while Bourzgui was one of the orphans. They worked together again on Seussical, with Petillo as the Mayor of Who-ville and Bourzgui as JoJo.“He was always the father figure in the show as well as the community,” says Bourzgui. “There were all these kids, and he would be so supportive to all of us, and he’d make sure that we were doing okay, and would check in.”

But Petillo did something even more important: He saw Bourzgui.

“For me and a few other people, he would come up to us and say, ‘You know, you are really special, and I see the work you’re doing, and I think you could really make a life out of this,’” says Bourzgui who keeps a photo of Petillo in his dressing room. 

For a young actor, those words can change everything. “He made me feel really seen, that I had a place.  I’m not sure if he knew the magnitude of the way that made me feel,” he shares. Petillo remained in his corner through college and beyond. They would talk on the phone and have lunch when Bourzgui came home. Petillo was also deeply involved in his community and, says Bourzgui, “just put the most insane amount of love out into the world.”

Then, just two weeks before The Lost Boys opened on Broadway, Petillo died.

“He was always rooting for me and my successes,” shares Bourzgui. “And this is the first thing where a lot of these big things happened and he wasn’t here. That was really sad that he was not here for those moments.”

When Bourzgui won his Tony, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. “He always told me that these things were going to happen for me, and he was part of the team manifesting this for me,” says Bourzgui. “So to speak his name into the world when that win happened felt like, of course.”

And what would Ralph think of his performance in The Lost Boys? “I imagine he would be so proud,” says Bourzgui. “He would love it.”

And there is another reason Bourzgui thinks Petillo would have connected with the role. Petillo himself had played some wonderful villains, including Fagin and Captain Hook. “I feel like a lot of his performances are probably subconsciously in this as well. He also would be in tears because the sweet thing is that he always would cry.”

It is a beautiful image to hold onto when thinking about Bourzgui’s David. Yes, he is the vampire with the platinum mullet. Yes, he channels the swagger and stillness of Sutherland, the otherworldliness of David Bowie and the delicious sensual swagger of Tim Curry. But underneath all of that is an actor who understands that the most compelling villains aren’t simply evil. They’re human beings who have made very different choices.

And perhaps that is also why Ralph Petillo’s belief in him mattered so much. Long before the Tony, long before Broadway, long before the mullet, there was a 10-year-old boy suddenly too shy to audition, and a mother who told him he was going to do it anyway. Then there was a mentor who kept telling him he was special and that he could make a life out of this.

For Bourzgui, that belief became part of the journey. And perhaps it is also the key to understanding the David he has created: not as a copy of Kiefer Sutherland’s iconic vampire, but as a fully realized person with a history, wounds and a heart buried somewhere beneath the monster.

Next, Beloved ’80s Cult Classic Vampire Movie Resurrected on Broadway: Take a First Look

If you’re lucky enough to have a home with an outdoor seating area, you’ve likely thought a lot about the way it’s lit. These days, there are endless options for lighting a backyard, front porch or patio, from fun elements like string lights and LED strips to more practical elements like warm lighting and floodlighting.

That said, there are a number of ways homeowners can go wrong when outfitting their outdoor space with lighting.

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To find out some of the most common outdoor lighting pitfalls, Parade spoke with two designers and lighting specialists who shared five outdoor lighting elements they never recommend: Seymen Usta, Interior Design Specialist, Founder and CEO of Modern Chandelier and Co-Founder of Seus Lighting; and Kaitlin Desbiens, Director of Interior Design at Olson Lewis + Architects.

“Lighting is often misunderstood as an expensive luxury, when in reality, it is one of the most impactful investments a client can make,” Desbiens tells Parade.

Keep reading to learn more!

Related: Amazon’s Magical Cottagecore Lamps Start at Just $20, and They Add Instant Cozy Charm

Why Is Lighting So Important for Outdoor Spaces?

“It is common knowledge that many homeowners consider the outdoor styling of their home to be a mere two-dimensional composition on a floor plan with an emphasis on horizontal features without any consideration of the vertical plane,” Usta tells Parade. “The only decorative element capable of affecting the perception of space is light.”

“Lighting is often misunderstood as an expensive luxury, when in reality, it is one of the most impactful investments a client can make,” adds Desbiens. “A thoughtfully lit outdoor area can extend the walls of a home, making living and entertaining in that zone more enjoyable both during and after sunset.”

Designers Say Homeowners Should Avoid These 5 Outdoor Lighting Elements 1. Floodlighting

bin kontan / Getty Images

If you’re looking for the most “bang for your buck” when it comes to lighting your outdoor space, you may have thought about floodlighting, which essentially involves “using the brightest light source you can find and directing it at the area you want to illuminate,” per Desbiens.

For some more context, floodlighting is the sort of lighting you might see in a football stadium or on the outside of a building for security. So, yeah, not very cozy.

Unsurprisingly, Desbiens is anti-floodlighting when it comes to designing a home’s outdoor space. “While floodlighting can provide a lot of coverage, it rarely provides the best quality of light,” she explains.

“We generally avoid using broad floodlights as the primary source for outdoor living areas because they tend to wash out an environment instead of creating depth, warmth or atmosphere,” she adds. “And most importantly, no one looks good under harsh light. It’s more of a shotgun approach that lights everything equally, rather than helping people focus on the features that make the design unique.”

2. Exposed Edison bulbs at eye level

Gregory Kopylov / Getty Images

“While the vintage industrial style is still extremely popular, the installation of bulbs that are totally unshielded and high wattage bulbs that resemble Edison bulbs mounted directly at eye level to an outdoor seating area is a huge mistake,” warns Usta.

That’s because “the bulbs tend to have complex filaments, and looking at them continuously for a while from this position causes instant eye strain and temporary blindspots.”

If you really love the vintage look of exposed Edison bulbs, Usta suggests instead mounting the bulbs “far from the line of sight and used with good dimmers.”

3. Over-illumination

Witthaya Prasongsin / Getty Images

Desbiens also recommends avoiding “over-illumination, or lighting everything.”

“Instead of illuminating an entire façade or landscape, we prefer to use lighting selectively to highlight a beautiful tree, an architectural detail or a focal point,” she says. “Thoughtful lighting gives your eye somewhere to land, making the overall design feel more intentional and balanced.”

4. Color-changing LED strips

Roman Budnyi / Getty Images

“I highly recommend against installing simple and unprotected LED tape lights that change colors and are installed below railings or steps,” says Usta.

“While the idea of adding light to your backyard with a bright green or neon purple color might be fun when hosting an event, such a decision automatically makes your house look commercial and arcade-like, not sophisticated,” he says.

Basically, colorful LED tape lights can look, well, tacky. Not only that, but these tape lights are not a very durable choice against the elements.

“Unprotected tape light installations are susceptible to quick degradation due to rain and sunlight, leaving you with half-lit, destroyed parts that will affect the appearance of your property,” says Usta.

5. Inconsistent color temperatures

welcomia / Getty Images

Without consulting a professional to design your outdoor lighting, you may wind up with inconsistent color temperatures, which essentially happens when you combine bulbs with various measurements across the Kelvin scale.

“Like interiors, outdoor living and gathering spaces usually feel best and users look best when the lighting is warm and consistent across all fixtures,” says Desbiens.

She recommends keeping exterior lighting between 2200 Kelvin and 2700 Kelvin if you want a “warmer, more natural glow.”

“Some areas can handle 3000K, but going too cool or mixing ranges can make the space feel less cohesive and less inviting,” she warns.

Up Next:

Related: The Most Overlooked Outdoor Decorating Element, According to Designers—and It Can Completely Transform Your Backyard

Sources:

• Seymen Usta, Founder and CEO of Modern Chandelier and Co-Founder of Seus Lighting.
• Kaitlin Desbiens, Director of Interior Design at Olson Lewis + Architects.

Despite having mere years in the spotlight due to his death in 1970 at the age of 27, Jimi Hendrix managed to cement himself as a rock and roll icon. So, it’s not all that surprising when one of his many guitar-heavy hits gets featured in a “best of” ranking regarding the genre.

For instance, in July 2026, Entertainment Weekly included The Jimi Hendrix Experience‘s 1968 tune, “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” off the Hendrix-produced album Electric Ladyland, on the publication’s list of “the 25 greatest rock songs of all time.” Other songs featured on Entertainment Weekly‘s ranking were The Ronettes‘ 1963 tune “Be My Baby,” “A Day in the Life” by The Beatles from 1967, and 1969’s “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin.

Hendrix penned “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” the final track on Electric Ladyland, which was The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s third album. In a behind-the-scenes interview about the album, uploaded by the official Jimi Hendrix YouTube account, Hendrix discussed recording the record, which also featured memorable tunes like “Voodoo Child,” “All Along the Watchtower,” and “Crosstown Traffic.”

“The whole LP means so much. It wasn’t just slapped together. Every little thing you hear on there means something. It’s not a little game that we’re playing,” said Hendrix.

He also said that he and his band considered their albums “like personal diaries,” suggesting the songs had autobiographical qualities to them.

“That’s why I like all the other songs we did. I’m not saying they’re better than anything else, but I just like them. I have personal feelings for anything that we recorded that we released,” said Hendrix.

In separate behind-the-scenes interviews, the band’s bassist Noel Redding, who died in 2003 at the age of 57, and the album’s engineer, Eddie Kramer, now 84, stated that Electric Ladyland is both timeless and reinvented rules within the rock genre.

“Electric Ladyland, I would say, even if you play it now, it was well ahead of its time. And it’s still valid, musically,” said Redding.

Kramer, who described Electric Ladyland as a “beatiful” and “balanced album,” also said it “definitely broke some rules.”

“It pushed the boundaries way, way out there. It was probably the most experimental album Jimi had ever done,” continued Kramer.

The path to becoming a rock classic isn’t always a smooth one.

For The Kinks, that journey included an unexpected run-in with the BBC. Released in 1970, “Lola” became one of the band’s signature songs despite being temporarily banned from BBC airplay, a setback that ultimately did little to slow its remarkable success.

The controversy had nothing to do with the song’s subject matter, which tells the story of a man drawn to a woman who is later revealed to be a gender non-conforming person.

“In Lola’s journey, I did a bit of research with drag queens,” Davies said in an interview with The New York Times. “I admire anyone who can get up and be what they want to be.”

But that wasn’t the reason for the ban. Instead, the BBC objected to one lyric that mentioned “Coca-Cola,” enforcing its longstanding policy against broadcasting commercial brand names. To secure radio play, songwriter Ray Davies famously flew from New York to London during the band’s U.S. tour to rerecord a single line, changing “Coca-Cola” to “cherry cola.” The revised version was then approved for broadcast.

The unusual episode became part of the song’s legend.

Built around one of Davies’ most memorable melodies, “Lola” tells the story of an unexpected romantic encounter and challenged social conventions in a way that was remarkably progressive for its time. Its witty storytelling, catchy chorus, and distinctive acoustic guitar riff helped make it one of the most recognizable songs in The Kinks’ catalog.

“It was a real experience in a club,” Davis told Louder. “I was asked to dance by somebody who was a fabulous looking woman. I said, ‘No thank you.’ And she went in a cab with my manager straight afterwards. It’s based on personal experience. But not every word.”

Listeners embraced “Lola” around the world.

Released as the lead single from Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One, the song reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and climbed to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The hit revitalized The Kinks’ commercial fortunes and introduced the band to a new generation of fans.

“I wrote ‘Lola’ to be a great record, not a great song,” Davies later recalled. “Something that people could recognize in the first five seconds. Even the chorus, my two-year-old daughter sang it back to me. I thought, ‘This must catch on.'”

Davies was right, and its reputation has only grown in the decades since.

“Lola” has become a staple of classic rock radio and remains one of Ray Davies’ most celebrated compositions. Frequently appearing on lists of the greatest rock songs ever recorded, it continues to be praised for its unforgettable songwriting, humor, and willingness to explore themes that were uncommon in mainstream pop music at the time.

“I didn’t think the song would be so ahead of its time,” Davies told The New York Times. “But time has proven it so.”

Fifty-six years after its release, “Lola” remains one of The Kinks’ most beloved recordings. What was once briefly banned by the BBC over a single lyric ultimately became a timeless rock classic, proving that a great song can overcome even the most unexpected obstacles.

Related: 1972 Soft Rock Song, Inspired by Warren Beatty, Became a Career-Defining No. 1 Hit

Yungblud’s latest photos have fans wondering what exactly happened to his leg.

The 28-year-old rocker surprised fans on Sunday, August 16, when he shared photos on Instagram showing him on crutches and his left leg in a massive cast.

In the first photo, Yungblud (whose real name is Dominic Harrison) sat atop two kegs while wearing shorts and boots, making the extent of his injury hard to miss. His left leg is wrapped in a cast that appears to extend from his foot all the way up to his thigh. The post appropriately featured the song “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John.

While Yungblud didn’t explain exactly what happened, he made it clear he has no intention of letting the injury derail his upcoming performances. “Leg f*ked. Still giggin. Still standin (sort of),” he captioned the post. “Portugal and Belgium I’m comin and it’s gonna be fking mad. See you next week. Let’s ride.”

View this post on Instagram

Naturally, the sight of the singer on crutches prompted plenty of reactions from fans.

“Get well soon, take care of yourself please ❤️‍🩹” one wrote in the comments.

“What did you do? Wish you a Quick recovery,” another wrote.

“Maybe Dave Grohl will loan you his throne from when he broke his leg lol,” a third said.

“oh Dom….ugh! Heal soonest once you can! Get your throat procedure n leg may be indicating NOW is time to slow your roll, sweet Superstar!” said a fourth.

READ MORE: Bruce Springsteen ‘Heartbroken’ Over Death of ‘Irreplaceable’ Friend

The injury comes during an already demanding year for Yungblud. In June, he was forced to pull out of Norway’s Tons of Rock festival after recurring tonsillitis flared up following a packed touring schedule. At the time, he told fans he had been taking antibiotics and that his doctor warned him to be particularly careful with his voice. The rocker also revealed that he plans to have his tonsils removed in October after repeated bouts of tonsillitis.

His physical health hasn’t been the only challenge of life on the road. In July, Yungblud revealed that he experienced an emotional breakdown shortly after performing at Bludfest Czechia. “I’ve been really struggling,” he wrote at the time, explaining that the relentless pace of touring and his career had left him little time to process everything happening around him.

He added that he knew he needed “to do a bit of work on myself” to find the strength to maintain his pace.

Get well soon, Yungblud.

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With fall on the horizon, the weather can be expected to take a few unpredictable turns. As rainy summer evenings turn into brisk autumn mornings, there’s more than enough reason to keep a reliable outer layer always within reach. 

Fortunately for you, Old Navy has just the piece for the job: the V-Neck Pullover Windbreaker. Perfect for the transitional weeks when heavier layers would otherwise be overkill, this sporty pullover offers a first line of defense against the year’s first temperature drop. Currently on sale for just $34.99, it’s the perfect fall layer to stock up on in every color.

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V-Neck Pullover Windbreaker, $34.99 at Old Navy

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Shop It!

Whether you’re getting in some laps on the track, playing a round of tennis or simply trying to look the part, Old Navy’s V-Neck Pullover Windbreaker keeps you looking great and feeling unrestricted along the way. Featuring a classic V-neck collar, long sleeves with elastic cuffs and an elastic drawstring hem at the waist, it offers an athleisure-inspired style that’s easy to incorporate into a variety of outfits.

Normally priced at $50, snagging it online now will save you 30 percent, giving you all the more reason to grab both the Plant Life and Pacific Blue colorways. Best of all, its loose fit sits higher on the hip, and its 100 percent polyester construction is unlikely to shrink in the wash, meaning it’s safe to stick with your normal size despite the slightly baggier fit.

Related: Shoppers Say Old Navy’s Stylish Workwear Staple Is ‘Bringing Back the ’90s’

Lightweight and Breathable for Every Occasion

Old Navy

With an average five-star rating online, it’s clear shoppers have enjoyed this versatile fall fit.

One fan, praising its “great color,” left a review calling it “perfect for cool summer nights and fall,” while another said they “absolutely love it” for its “perfect” baggy fit.

“Stylish and durable for many occasions,” a third shopper shared. “Green being the lucky color of the Irish, it’s serving me well on cool evenings on ‘The Links.'”

Perhaps the most important review, however, is a short and sweet assessment that proves it to be a solid transitional-weather pick: “Lightweight and breathable. Stylish, but not too oversized.”

While supplies last, you can expect to find regular and tall cuts available in sizes XS through XXXL. But if your size is unavailable online, don’t forget to check with your local store first before writing it off entirely. And while you’re there, keep an eye out for Old Navy’s Denim Coach Jacket and Structured Loose Non-Stretch Jeans for a couple of styling options to go with it.

Related: Uniqlo’s Versatile $40 Sweatpants Are a Must-Have Back-to-School Staple

There are some songs whose lyrics stick with you longer than the tune, and that’s often the case with Joni Mitchell‘s music. Fans love the singer-songwriter’s poetic lyrics, and one of her songs was even said to have some of the best song lyrics of all time.

The particular Mitchell song that earned this title is “A Case of You,” one of the tracks on the 1971 album Blue. The song tells the story of a love that she knows is bad for her but can’t seem to give up.

The chorus of the song goes, “Oh, you are in my blood like holy wine/ You taste so bitter and so sweet/ Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling/ Still I’d be on my feet.”

But one particular verse in the song was spotlighted as standout lyrics by Forbes in an article about “The Greatest Rock Song Lyrics Of All Time.” The publication highlighted the lines that read, “Oh, I am a lonely painter/ I live in a box of paints/ I’m frightened by the devil/ And I’m drawn to those ones that ain’t afraid.”

The writer declared, “Any song from Blue should be required in any master class on songwriting.” They continued to commend Mitchell as one of the best lyricists, calling “A Case of You” “perfect” and possibly the “second best-written song of all time.”

Other well-known singer-songwriters that they ranked Mitchell alongside were Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan.

Related: 1974 Rock Song, Blue Swede’s One-Hit Wonder, Is Still a Global Hit 52 Years Later

“A Case of You” has earned high praise from many others over the years. It is ranked at No. 26 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Best Songs of All Time.” The song has also been covered over 500 times, and it continues to be a favorite of younger songwriters and artists.

Blue was Mitchell’s fourth studio album and she was only 27 years old when it came out. It was a huge success at the time and has been certified platinum for having sold over 1 million copies.

Many people believe it’s her best album, even though she’s released 19 studio albums throughout her career, along with live and compilation albums.

Related: 1973 Rock Song, 3 Years in the Making by the Doobie Brothers, Is Still a Global Hit 53 Years Later

Anne Hathaway brought her whole family out for one of the biggest honors of her career.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 star’s husband, Adam Shulman, and their two sons showed up in full support as Hathaway was inducted as a Disney Legend at D23, the company’s biennial fan event. 

As per a video shared by ET on Sunday, August 16, Jonathan, 10, and Jack, 6, joined their dad in cheering their mom on, a rare public moment for two kids Hathaway has spent years keeping out of the spotlight.

View this post on Instagram Anne Hathaway Joins Hollywood Icons as a Disney Legend

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest hosted this year’s Disney Legends Awards ceremony, which honors individuals who have made a lasting mark on The Walt Disney Company.  Hathaway joins a class of honorees that has included Miley Cyrus, Kelly Ripa, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis and Harrison Ford, along with past legends like Julie Andrews, George Lucas and Robin Williams, according to ABC News.

Hathaway’s history with Disney stretches back more than two decades. She made her big-screen debut in 2001 as Mia Thermopolis, the awkward teen who discovers she’s secretly a princess, in The Princess Diaries, alongside fellow Disney Legend Julie Andrews.

Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway during The Princess Diaries Premiere After Party

(Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)

She returned to the role in 2004 for The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, and fans have been waiting ever since for word of a third film. One day before her induction, Hathaway finally confirmed it’s in the works.

She got a little sentimental about that history, too. Speaking at the Disney Entertainment Showcase just before the ceremony, Hathaway thanked fans for sticking with her over the years, joking, “Please never stop reciting your favorite lines to me, because I still can’t spell Gabbana.”

Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman Keep Their Two Sons Out of the Spotlight

Hathaway and Shulman, married since 2012, are notoriously private about their two boys. Jonathan arrived on March 24, 2016, with a middle name, Rosebanks, honoring both Hathaway’s grandmother Roseline and Shulman’s mother’s maiden name.

Jack followed in November 2019, though Hathaway didn’t share his name publicly until he was 11 months old. She’s since described the boys’ bond warmly, telling Live with Kelly and Ryan there was “no coping, just love” as Jonathan adjusted to becoming a big brother.

Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman Are Preparing to Welcome Their Third Child View this post on Instagram

Hathaway and Shulman announced this summer that they’re expecting their third child. During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, guest host Anthony Anderson took a guess at the baby’s sex, telling Hathaway, “I consider myself to be a baby whisperer… It looks like it’s a boy. Am I correct, or you’re waiting?” Hathaway kept the answer close, replying, “We know [but] we’re not saying.”

Hathaway has spoken candidly about how becoming a mother reshaped her. “I didn’t feel fully landed and fully here until I was a mom,” she told WSJ Magazine in 2022, adding that motherhood pushed her to be “completely, on every level, true to my word.”

The legend of Babe Ruth recently made headlines when current MLB player Pete Crow-Armstrong jokingly entertained a wild conspiracy theory, after being questioned about an “unpopular opinion,” that the icon, known as The Bambino, was so ahead of his time, maybe he wasn’t even real…

As if grainy game tape, stat books and a Hall of Fame plaque weren’t enough, one historic Florida restaurant that began as a simple, no-frills café in Tampa’s Ybor City offers further proof, serving the very steak Babe used to devour — not once, but sometimes twice in the same meal.

‘Florida’s oldest restaurant,’ Columbia Restaurant, now has seven locations across the Sunshine State, including one in Sarasota’s ritzy roundabout, St. Armands Circle. Open since 1959, it’s also the oldest eatery in the city — a place where you can’t help but wish the walls could talk.

Sam Sears

Diners can still savor the flavor of his Columbia tradition by ordering “The Bambino,” a 14-ounce “wet-aged boneless strip steak” the baseball legend used to enjoy during his visits to the storied restaurant nearly a century ago. And for those visiting nearby Siesta Key — often ranked as America’s best beach — the Sarasota location is just a short trip away.

Ruth’s fame has spanned more than a century, from The Sandlot references to record-breaking MLB feats, but many may not know just how deep his Florida ties run. The Yankees legend spent considerable time in St. Petersburg, where he attended spring training and even lived in a home in the city’s Old Northeast neighborhood.

For a literal taste of history, Columbia’s extensive menu offers not only “The Bambino,” but two tableside traditions: sangria mixed in colorful, hand-painted Spanish pitchers and its “1905” Salad, topped with a hefty helping of grated Romano cheese where you’ll happily take your time saying “when.” The salad is an ode to the restaurant’s founding year and the immigrants who shaped Tampa’s Ybor City, combining culinary influences from the region’s Sicilian and Cuban communities.

Sam Sears

Of course, being in Florida, wrapping up an epic meal with a slice of Key lime pie is practically an unwritten rule. And there’s no better excuse to peruse the restaurant’s old-school gift shop while pretending to burn off a few calories.

Joanna Gaines is making the internet cry, one Instagram caption at a time.

The Fixer Upper star’s latest message for parents in the thick of college move-in season struck a chord instantly. Still, underneath the wholesome words, Gaines is also offering something more: comfort for every parent navigating their own goodbye this month.

On Sunday, August 16, 2026, the mom of five shared a carousel post on Instagram for families in the thick of college move-in season, with notes every parent will relate to. The Reel then unfolds like a string of quiet admissions. 

Joanna Gaines Opens Up About the Bittersweet Reality of Letting Kids Go

“To all the parents sending their kids off to college…” she begins, before adding, “I’m feeling it with you.” She goes on to write that “there’s nothing more fulfilling than watching your kids grow beyond you,” even as she admits to “feeling proud of who they’re becoming and wishing time would slow down.” 

By the end, the message softens into something closer to a confession: “Holding on a little tighter before letting go.” Her final line lingers the longest: “I know that feeling all too well.”

View this post on Instagram

The message comes as families across the country prepare for the same milestone, with college campuses opening their doors to a new class of first-year students this month.

In her caption, Joanna reflected on having been through move-in day herself and wrote that “there’s nothing more fulfilling than watching your kid grow beyond you.” She closed her message by wishing her followers joy, comfort and gratitude as they navigate the season of letting go.

How Are Fans Reacting to Joanna Gaines’ Message?

The post quickly struck a chord, pulling in more than 20,000 likes within its first hour, including one from Today co-host Hoda Kotb. Fans flooded the comments with their own stories of letting go. One wrote: “Sending one to college was hard. Sending the other to bootcamp was unbearable. Hardest thing I’ve ever done as a mom. It hasn’t gotten much easier. No one warns us about this stuff!!!”

Another added: “Just wait until you are a grandma and all your grandkids are launching at once. You are so thrilled for them, and yet you want them to do it right in front of you instead of far away, so you can watch!”

A third wrote: “Yes, its hard to cut those apron strings (I had really dull scissors!), but the pride you have in them as they grow and tackle life, worth every tear you shed. You will love your relationship with your adult child. You become more of a mentor – of course when they ask your opinion!! Just my two cents!!”

Another wrote: “Every year your off to college posts make me shed a tear…❤️”

Yet another shared: “Boy did I need this… It’s the hardest part of parenting 💔 will be sending my youngest on Wednesday. The quietness of an empty house, especially at night, is what’s the hardest.”

This isn’t the first time Joanna has opened up about the ache of an empty nest. In an August 2022 essay for Magnolia Journal, she wrote that sending her oldest son off to school came “with a lot of gratitude and excitement,” even as it reshaped her family’s day-to-day life.

How Many Kids Do Joanna and Chip Gaines Have? Hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines’ portrait in the finished house, as seen on Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House

Magnolia Network

Joanna and husband Chip Gaines share five children: Drake, 21, Ella, 19, Duke, 18, Emmie, 16, and Crew, 8. Earlier this month, the family spent a few days together at their renovated Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House, fishing, hiking and building forts.

The couple, who has mostly kept their kids out of the spotlight, shared a rare glimpse of all five in a video captioned, “A few days in the mountains with the whole fam,” which Joanna posted to Instagram on August 3, adding that the getaway made her heart happy.

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Between the mountain trip and her latest college message, Joanna continues to show fans that no matter how much her family grows and changes, showing up for each other still comes first.

Two decades after Homer nearly wiped Springfield off the map on the big screen, the long-awaited sequel finally has a name. At Disney‘s D23 Expo in Anaheim, signage at the film’s pavilion revealed that the movie fans have been calling The Simpsons Movie 2 is now The New Simpsons Movie.

The reveal arrived on the show floor. A new logo and poster carried the updated title alongside the September 3, 2027 release date.

The announcement graphics included one of the internet’s favorite Simpsons images. Built around a hedge motif, they recreated the “Homer in the hedges” meme, the clip from the 1994 Season 5 episode “Homer Loves Flanders” in which Homer backs slowly into a bush until he disappears. Guests could step into the gif themselves, and the carpet was colored after Homer’s pink, sprinkle-topped donut.

A title swap fits a show that has spent decades mocking everything in the entertainment industry. A plain “2” never quite matched a franchise whose first film opened with Homer scolding the audience for paying to see something they get free on television. The new name keeps the property front and center while dropping the numbering entirely.

The original Simpsons Movie arrived in July 2007 under 20th Century Fox and became a global hit, grossing more than $500 million worldwide and earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature. Disney absorbed the studio, and the Simpsons library with it, in 2019. The company announced the sequel in September 2025 with a teaser showing a donut topped with “2” sprinkles and the line “Homer’s coming back for seconds.” The release later moved from July 23, 2027 to September 3, which the studio branded “Labor D’Oh Weekend.”

Plot details remain under wraps, and the studio has not confirmed which cast members will return, though the core voice ensemble has anchored nearly 800 episodes since the series premiered in 1989.

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In November 1969, Elvis Presley released another smash that climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, just as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “All Shook Up,” and so many more did before it. But this one was special: It was his first in seven years, and little did he know at the time, it would also be his last.

The King of Rock and Roll died on Aug. 16, 1977, at the age of 42. During his music career, he reigned over all genres with 17 No. 1 songs on the Hot 100 and its predecessor, Best Sellers in Stores, according to Billboard.

His final song to reach Hot 100 history, “Suspicious Minds,” hit the pinnacle of the chart for one week. And despite the song’s identity becoming synonymous with Presley, this one was actually a cover.

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Written by future hitmaker Mark James (“Always on My Mind,” “Hooked on a Feeling”), the song is about a married man who’s in love with a former sweetheart and now has a suspicious wife, with its central conflict pulled straight from real life. As James found himself “caught in a trap,” he grabbed his guitar and channeled the love triangle into an emotional chart-topping song.

James initially recorded the song himself for Scepter Records, giving it a country-tinged sound, but his 1968 version went nowhere. That’s where Presley came in.

According to American Songwriter, Presley was hunkered down in Memphis’ American Sound Studios for a 10-day recording session to follow up on his 1968 Comeback Special with From Elvis in Memphis, an album with studio producer Chips Moman and RCA producer Felton Jarvis.

While there, Presley got wind of James’ “Suspicious Minds.”

“I played him Mark’s Scepter record, and he was crazy about it,” Moman told The Wall Street Journal. “He wanted to hear the song over and over again, and learned it on the spot.”

A soulful pop ballad-slash-rock anthem, “Suspicious Minds” became part of Presley’s rediscovery of his musical identity and marked a significant shift away from the film-soundtrack grind and toward more contemporary material. This song is widely considered an absolute masterpiece and a defining peak of Presley’s late-career musical comeback.

But, per AS, the song that would become Presley’s final Hot 100 No. 1 almost didn’t happen. A negative take from Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and publishing rights tried to get in the way. “However, Elvis went ahead with his recording against Colonel Parker’s issues,” the outlet said. “He recorded the song between 4:00 and 7:00 in the morning.”

Presley’s version of “Suspicion Minds” features a dramatic, building arrangement with the King’s passionate vocals supported by intense gospel backing harmonies. Moving beyond his traditional sound and into something hipper, the track blends soul, pop, rock, and R&B influences, all working together to draw Presley back into its trapped musical cycle.

The song climbed to the peak of the Billboard Hot 100, dislodging The Temptations’ “I Can’t Get Next to You” from the top spot. It would receive the same treatment weeks later courtesy of The 5th Dimension’s “Wedding Bell Blues.”

Although “Suspicious Minds” was Presley’s final No. 1 on the Hot 100, it wasn’t his last chart-topper.

In February 1977, just six months before his death at Graceland, “Moody Blue” reached No. 1 on the publication’s Hot Country Songs chart. And while both songs became especially important markers in Presley’s career, “Suspicious Minds” was something more, solidifying the final time the King reached the summit of America’s main singles chart while alive.

“Way Down,” another posthumous No. 1 hit on the country chart, peaked in the week of Presley’s death, while it continued climbing on the Hot 100 after he was gone. This is just further proof that the King was, and still is, chart royalty.

Related: 1960 Ballad, Covered by The Guess Who, Launched a 15-Year-Old Singer’s Career

Ninja is reminding CREAMi owners to give their machines a thorough cleaning after one woman’s stomach-turning discovery went viral.

The controversy began after a woman shared a TikTok last week claiming she found what appeared to be maggots inside her Ninja CREAMi after making a batch of ice cream. The clip has since racked up more than 1 million likes, while other users have shared videos alleging they discovered mold and other buildup in their own machines.

According to the original poster, she initially noticed something resembling a maggot on her spoon after taking a few bites of her ice cream. She and her partner then inspected the milk, almond milk, protein powder, and other ingredients she’d used without finding the source.

Eventually, their attention turned to the CREAMi. “We look at the blender, which I clean every single night, because I make these Ninja CREAMis every night,” she explained before showing what appeared to be maggots trapped inside part of the appliance.

She claimed they couldn’t figure out how to remove the affected section to properly clean underneath it, adding, “Ninja CREAMi, please, I’m freaking out.”

On August 14, Ninja Kitchen seemingly responded to the viral post with their own instructional video. The brand shared an Instagram carousel with step-by-step video instructions on how to properly clean the CREAMi, writing, “We need to talk about cleaning your CREAMi. Here’s how to keep your machine clean.”

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The company instructed owners to remove and clean the Creamerizer Paddle after rinsing the outer bowl lid. Ninja also noted that the paddle, pint, outer bowl, and lids are top-rack dishwasher safe. For the lid, owners should run warm water through the paddle-release lever and drain holes and separately remove and wash the gray rubber seal underneath. Ninja also recommended wiping the spindle beneath the control panel after every use.

However, some viewers aren’t convinced the instructions address the specific concern raised in the original viral video.

“But how are we supposed to clean INSIDE the lid mechanism?! There is visible gunk trapped around an internal spring and another area that is completely inaccessible. I’ve followed the recommended cleaning process and it STILL cannot be reached,” one IG user claimed.

READ MORE: Las Vegas Hotel Accused of ‘Catfishing’ Guests With Fake Name and Photos

“The issue is that you can’t take this lid apart and it’s really hard to get all the water out when u do clean it. I just feel like it can’t dry 100% bc the lid doesn’t come apart 🫠,” said another.

A third pleaded, “please just change the design. the lids are a pain to clean and dry.”

Others thought that maggots were the original poster’s fault.

“I’ve had mine for more than a year and no maggots. She be filthy,” a user commented.

“It’s user error and leaving things out where insects and microorganisms can thrive,” another chimed in.

Shortly after the instructional video was shared, the company gave Parade the following statement: “At SharkNinja, the quality and safety of our products is our top priority. We reached out to the consumer directly to better understand what happened and discussed proper cleaning instructions with her. We recommend our consumers follow the provided cleaning guidelines to maintain their machines. We also encourage anyone with questions to reach out to our customer service team for support if needed.

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There’s no shortage of reasons to spend as much time outside as possible during the summer. Maybe you’re floating in the pool, hosting a backyard barbecue, or having dinner out on the patio. But as much as we love those long, warm summer evenings, early fall might actually be the best time to be outside. Once the heat of July and August starts to ease, the cooler temperatures make lingering in the yard feel a lot more comfortable.

The only downside is that the sun starts clocking out earlier, too. That’s where having outdoor lighting makes a difference. Right now, Amazon has Starsoul Solar Hot Air Balloon Lantern for $19, down from $24 when you clip the on-page coupon, discounting it by 21%. It adds a decorative glow to your space during the evening without requiring an outlet, so you can keep enjoying the patio, porch, or backyard even after daylight starts disappearing earlier.

Starsoul Solar Hot Air Balloon Lantern, From $19 (was $24) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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Priced at just $19, the dragonfly version of this lantern is the most affordable of the 12 nature-inspired designs, which range from floral motifs to frog-themed variations. The shape is modeled after a miniature hot-air balloon, with a rounded glass chamber suspended between a metal cap at the top and a tapered metal section at the bottom. A series of black metal ribs runs vertically around the glass, dividing it into individual curved panels and giving the piece a stained-glass-lantern look. A chain attaches at three points around the upper rim, while three additional lengths of chain hang from the bottom to suspend a small metal basket underneath.

The dragonfly-and-flower artwork covers nearly the entire glass body. Large dragonflies appear across the panels with elongated, dark bodies and translucent-looking wings, surrounded by oversized blossoms in saturated pink, red, and yellow. The flowers have layered petals and raised-looking yellow centers, while curling green stems and leaves fill the spaces between them. Some of the artwork overlaps the seams between the glass panels, so the motifs don’t read like isolated decals; instead, the garden scene appears to wrap continuously around the rounded form.

The 5.9-inch-wide globe is compact, but the hanging chains extend the overall height to nearly 18 inches, giving it a long, suspended silhouette rather than the squat shape of a traditional lantern. Below the glass balloon, the dark metal section narrows toward the bottom before meeting three chains that hold the openwork basket. The basket has its own decorative construction, with a repeating scroll-like metal pattern and a small circular opening at the top, creating the visual impression of a miniature passenger compartment beneath the balloon.

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Inside, a solar-powered light source was designed to create a flickering flame effect after dark. The solar panel charges during daylight hours, with the manufacturer estimating that it will offer six to eight hours of illumination at night. Because it operates without wiring, the entire piece can hang from a tree branch, porch, or pergola without needing to be positioned near an outlet. 

The “whimsical” and “beautiful” design earned plenty of attention in the reviews section, with Amazon shoppers saying this lantern makes a “gorgeous addition” to any yard, providing “hours of illumination at night.” One reviewer wrote, “This solar hot air balloon is so cute, and you will be mesmerized by the flame at night.”

Related: Amazon’s ‘Powerful’ $25 Solar Light 2-Pack Is Perfect for Brightening Up Late Summer Nights

If you’re planning to squeeze every last bit of outdoor time out of the season, this little hot air balloon is an easy place to start. Clip the on-page coupon and shop the Starsoul Solar Hot Air Balloon Lantern for $19 at Amazon while it’s 21% off!

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Jay Weinberg, the son of Bruce Springsteen’s longtime E Street Band drummer, Max Weinberg, was just 18 years old the first time he sat behind the kit for the band himself, filling in for his father on a European tour in 2009.

That early brush with one of music’s biggest stages eventually led him somewhere very different: Slipknot. Weinberg joined the masked metal band in 2013 and spent the next decade behind its drums, becoming one of its most visible members before being let go in 2023.

It’s that decade with Slipknot that Weinberg says came with a hidden cost. In a recent interview, he opened up about the restrictions built into his contract, revealing that for years, he wasn’t legally allowed to collaborate with other artists outside the band. “Not having the legal ability to play music with other people was definitely difficult,” he said, describing music as something meant to be shared, not boxed in.

The toll went deeper than missed opportunities. Weinberg said the inability to create freely left a part of him fading. “A little part of my creative self, it was dying for sure,” he admitted.

Since leaving Slipknot, Weinberg has been making up for lost time. He’s released a string of collaborative songs with a range of artists, joined Suicidal Tendencies for nearly two years, and returned to the E Street Band stage once more in 2024, filling in for his father again during a show in Barcelona, 15 years after his first time standing in.

Looking back, Weinberg doesn’t frame those years of restriction as regret so much as material he’s still working through. Songs he first imagined back in 2013, before Slipknot ever came into the picture, are only now making their way into the world, proof that the ideas he couldn’t chase back then never really left him.