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Everyone, it seems, is trying to get more protein. There are good reasons for that. Protein is important for feeling energized and satiated. It’s important for metabolism support and building muscle. While it is possible to consume too much protein, the amino acid is crucial for maintaining health.

It’s not just the nutrient itself that matters; how you’re getting your protein is important too. Not all sources impact the body the same way. This is especially true when it comes to heart health. This is because foods are made up of more than just one component: Some foods with protein have other nutrients that are scientifically linked to supporting the heart. But the inverse is true too. Some protein sources contain elements that are not-so-great for heart health.

With this in mind, a new scientific review shows how different protein sources impact the heart. Researchers found that making one protein swap in particular was greatly beneficial for heart health. To learn more, Parade talked with the review’s lead author and researcher, as well as a cardiologist.

Related: Looking to Get More Protein In Your Diet? These 10 Foods Pack More Protein Than An Egg

The scientific review, which came out last month and was published in Academia Nutrition and Dietetics, found that replacing red meat with poultry was linked to a lower risk of several heart and metabolic conditions, especially heart disease. 

“This is probably mostly because poultry has less saturated fat and heme iron than red meat. Unprocessed poultry also lacks many of the compounds in processed meats, like nitrates and nitrites, which can harm blood vessels and heart health,” says David Goldman, RD, a registered dietitian and the paper’s lead author.

Related: 25 Foods That Are Good for Your Heart, From Fruits and Veggies to Heart-Healthy Nuts and Seeds

To this point, other scientific studies have shown that the nitrates in red meat can be detrimental to heart health. For example, a 2025 scientific review published in Current Nutrition Reports found that nitrates in red meat are carcinogens and impair both cardiovascular and metabolic function. It’s important to know that this is different from nitrates in plant-based foods, which are linked to lowering inflammation, increasing good bacteria in the gut and supporting heart health.

“This study about poultry replacing red meat seems to corroborate the existing science that eating less red meat, and especially less processed red meat, can decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease, even if you are replacing red meat with poultry,” says Dr. Brandon Rafison, DO, MPH, a preventive cardiologist and the medical director of SimonMed Longevity at SimonMed.

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Though swapping red meat out for poultry may support your heart, that doesn’t mean you should eat chicken for dinner every night. In fact, researchers found an even more beneficial swap than replacing red meat with poultry: replacing red meat with plant-based proteins.

“In general, poultry is better for heart health than red or processed meat, but it’s not as healthy as plant-based foods like nuts, beans or whole grains,” Goldberg says. He emphasizes that beans, lentils, nuts and whole grains had the best results in their analysis. “These foods provide fiber, healthy fats and plant compounds like phytosterols, which aren’t found in meat. Studies show that eating these plant-based foods leads to much lower levels of harmful cholesterol compared to eating red or white meat, which both raise cholesterol to a similar degree.”

Dr. Rafison says that it’s important to know that both authors of the analysis previously consulted for the Soy Nutrition Institute Global, but even with that caveat, he adds that there is a connection between a diet high in plant-based proteins and lower LDL cholesterol, which supports cardiovascular health.

Additionally, plant-based protein sources don’t have the cholesterol that meat has, which is one reason why they’re so good for the heart. Plus, plant-based proteins have lower saturated fat and higher fiber content, which are both beneficial for heart health.

Related: 7 Foods Cardiologists Always Eat for Heart Health

Okay, so replacing red meat with chicken is good for the heart, but replacing it with plant-based proteins is even better. What about fish? “Fish is generally similar to poultry in terms of risk, but the effects depend on the specific health outcome,” Goldberg explains of what the analysis found.

For example, he says that swapping poultry for fatty fish was linked to a lower risk of heart attacks in women. “However, we also found that replacing poultry with fish was linked to a much higher risk of cardioembolic stroke. So, fish and poultry are not always interchangeable when it comes to stroke prevention.”

With all that in mind, Goldberg emphasizes that food choices exist on a spectrum. “Asking, ‘compared to what?’ is usually more helpful than simply calling foods healthy or unhealthy,” he says.

Both experts add that poultry should be seen as a transitional food away from eating red meat as a primary source of protein; not the ultimate destination.

“Poultry is best seen as a step in the right direction when moving away from red meat, not as the final goal. Making small, realistic changes, like switching out some of the red meat we eat to poultry or from a portion of the poultry we eat to plant proteins, can have real benefits for long-term health,” Goldberg says.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a steak or burger once in a while. But the science is clear that red meat shouldn’t be your main source of protein night after night. There are so many other delicious—and beneficial—proteins to experiment with.

Up Next:

Related: ‘I’m a Cardiologist, and This Is the One Supplement I Actually Take for Heart Health’

• Goldman, D. and Nagra, M. (2026). Poultry consumption and chronic disease risk: evidence from substitution analysis. Academia Nutrition and Dietetics. doi:10.20935/AcadNutr8436.
• David Goldman, RD, registered dietitian, visiting researcher with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Helsinki and the Director of Research and Development at Metabite, Inc.
• Sokal-Dembowska, A., Jarmakiewicz-Czaja, S., Tabarkiewicz, J., et al. (2025). Nitrate and Nitrite in the Diet: Protective and Harmful Effects in Health and Disease. Current Nutrition Reports. 14(1):89.
• Dr. Brandon Rafison, DO, MPH, preventive cardiologist and the medical director of SimonMed Longevity at SimonMed.
• Richter, C. K., Skulas-Ray, A. C., Champagne, C. M., et al. (2015). Plant Protein and Animal Proteins: Do They Differently Affect Cardiovascular Disease Risk? Advances in Nutrition. 6(6):712-728.

When Nirvana burst onto the scene in 1991 with “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” people were utterly blown away. It conveyed a feeling only briefly captured by Alice in Chains just a year earlier with “Man in the Box”—a raw, grungy, angry feel that awakened an entire movement. No one would really ever consider that it could be influenced by Boston‘s 1976 classic rock, almost pop, jam “More Than a Feeling.” But the two are more linked than you may realize.

In the ’90s, Nirvana pioneer Kurt Cobain appeared to reject “the mainstream” as fervently as possible, but made a conscious decision to pop-ify their breakout hit, as reported by Ultimate Classic Rock.

Related: ‘90s Alt-Rock Legend Opens up About His ‘Mysterious’ Purple Hand

“It was such a cliched riff,” Cobain told Rolling Stone in a 1994 interview. “It was so close to a Boston riff or ‘Louie Louie.’ When I came up with the guitar part, Krist Novoselic looked at me and said, ‘That is so ridiculous.’ I made the band play it for an hour and a half.”

He even admitted that when writing the hit, his goal was to write the “ultimate pop song.”

Two years earlier, Cobain really played into the comparison, starting “Smells Like Teen Spirit” with the opening riff from “More Than a Feeling,” a sly smile etched across his face.

As for the composer of “More Than a Feeling,” Boston band member Tom Scholz, he never took offense to it whatsoever. In an interview with MusicRadar, Scholz said that whether the nod was intentional or a direct diss to Boston, he was still rather flattered.

“Regardless, Nirvana was, from what I’ve heard, a great band. I was really impressed by the couple of things I heard. Regardless of what the context was, it’s an honor to be heard in the same airspace as Nirvana.”

Overall, the riff strategy worked; the song has been etched into the minds and hearts of rock music fans ever since, and despite his reputation as a “whiny, sad” rock star, Cobain was extremely thankful for the life it afforded him at the time.

“I still see stuff, descriptions of rock stars in some magazine — ‘Sting, the environmental guy,’ and ‘Kurt Cobain, the whiny, complaining, neurotic, bitchy guy who hates everything, hates rock stardom, hates his life.’ And I’ve never been happier in my life. Especially within the last week, because the shows have been going so well — except for tonight. I’m a much happier guy than a lot of people think I am,” he claimed in the Rolling Stone interview.

He tragically died from a reported suicide just months later.

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Camp Rock 3 premiered on Disney Channel and Disney+ this week, 18 years after the original film introduced the world to Mitchie Torres and Shane Gray. Fans have plenty of thoughts on how the threequel holds up, and they’re split right down the middle.

5 Reasons to Skip It

The pacing feels rushed. The most common complaint centers on how much the movie tries to cram in. One fan described it as “very rushed and overall all over the place,” with too many characters and not enough time spent on any of them.

The new songs don’t stick. Several viewers said none of the original tracks felt memorable, with one calling a key number “boring on the chorus.”

The editing is disorienting. Fast cuts and choppy transitions left more than one fan feeling unwell. “I felt like I was watching Cocomelon,” one viewer wrote, while another said the pacing left them “dizzy like I was motion sick.”

The mean-girl trio falls flat. Fans compared them unfavorably to genre classics like Mean Girls‘ Plastics, calling the new group “annoying and uninteresting” and lacking any real charm.

The autotune is heavy-handed. Multiple viewers flagged the vocal processing as a letdown, with one calling it “borderline unbearable” in places.

4 Reasons to Watch It

Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers are back. For longtime fans, seeing the original stars return was the emotional high point of the movie. “I loved seeing Demi Lovato back… and the Jonas Brothers,” one fan wrote.

“One Beat Away” is a genuine standout. Multiple commenters singled out the track as the best original song in the film, with one calling it “by far the best song from this one.”

Liamani Lopez is turning heads. Her performance as Lumi during the Final Jam sequence won over skeptics, and fans are already comparing her to Ariana Grande, saying Disney would be “stupid not to” push her further.

Desi and Sage’s sibling duet delivers. Their onscreen chemistry and shared performance were called out as one of the film’s best moments, with fans saying the pair “carried the whole movie.”

Given the divided reception, Camp Rock 3 looks likely to spark debate for a while yet, especially among the generation that grew up on the original.

Joey Fatone is sharing exactly why he thinks his iconic boy band group, NSYNC, won’t reunite anytime soon.

“All of us have to be on the same page, which we are not, and that’s not a negative thing,” he shared during a recent interview, along with band member Lance Bass on Today on SiriusXM, explaining that they’re all in different stages when it comes to their personal lives.

“I have two daughters, 25 and 16. I’m ready to party and have a great time,” he said. “[Bass has] got young kids. Justin [Timberlake]‘s got young kids. Chris [Kirkpatrick] has a young child.”

He then joked that JC Chasez “is the smartest one” because “he has a dog, no kids.”

“But the thing is, is when I was young, when I was 23 years old, touring with NSYNC, I had my child, and it wasn’t easy,” he recalled. “So I can only imagine if the three of them were to go on tour with multiple [kids]…Yes, it would be fun. Yes, it would be great. But then you have your your spouses and your other people saying, ‘You need to come home because I need your a– here, because you need to help me with this, this, this, this, this, this.'”

“It’s very tough,” he added.

Related: Joey Fatone and Lance Bass Just Reunited on Broadway—and Fans Are Losing It Over Their ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’ Singalong

The 49-year-old, also shared that by the time he had his second daughter, the band was not together at the time and he “spent a lot more time” with his family. “So I would never take those years away from them,” he said. “And that is the honest truth for me.”

However, Bass chimed in with a possible remedy for bringing the group, and their families, together.

“Or you just do a summer tour and bring them on the road,” he said.

While rumors of a reunion have been floating around for years, and members of the group have come together for appearances, — Fatone and Bass have also taken on projects together, including their upcoming hosting gig of E!’s Cocktail Wars — a reunion tour has never come to fruition.

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The professional golf world is in mourning following the death of rising talent Jessica Bang.

The 18-year-old Australian golfer collapsed on Aug. 1 as she was preparing in Bangkok, Thailand for a tournament and was quickly transported to a hospital, where she underwent emergency brain surgery.

Sadly, she passed away on Thursday, August 13, from the brain hemorrhage.

“Jessica was an outstanding young talent who made a significant impression in her short time on the Tour, winning the Ford Women’s NSW Open Regional Qualifying Event at Moss Vale in February in just her fifth professional start,” the WPGA Tour of Australasia said in a statement.

“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the WPGA Tour of Australasia and the broader Australian golf community are with Jessica’s family, friends and all those who knew and loved her at this incredibly difficult time.”

The WPGA Tour of Australasia and the broader Australian golf community is deeply saddened by the passing of young Tour member Jessica Bang in Thailand.

Jessica was an outstanding young talent who made a significant impression in her short time on the Tour, winning the Ford… pic.twitter.com/iMNQEqp7y7

Prior to her passing, Bang’s cousins started a GoFundMe page for the aspiring athlete, sharing that Bang was in the ICU on life support following her surgery. The family was attempting to raise money to transport her back home to Australia.

Following her death, her cousins thanked everyone for their support and shared that the fund raised would be used by her parents to pay for medical expenses. At the time of this publication, more than $50,000 was raised by the campaign.

“We are truly heartbroken by this news. However, we would like to continue to remember Jessica and celebrate her achievements, passion, and dedication to golf,” they wrote. “Her sense of humour, together with her cheerful and vibrant personality, will always be remembered and treasured by our family.”

Bang qualified in November to start her rookie season in the WPGA, according to BBC Sport. Our thoughts are with Bang’s family and friends during this difficult time.

In 1965, a 19-year-old singer who had spent her teenage years singing backup for some of the biggest names in pop music stepped into the studio to record a song that would change her life.

That singer was Cher, and the song was “I Got You Babe.”

On Aug. 14, 1965, Sonny & Cher’s signature duet began a three-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would become the duo’s only No. 1 hit in the U.S. and help transform two struggling young artists into international stars.

Related: 1963 Bob Dylan Song, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Songs of All Time,’ Went to No. 1 For Beloved Folk Trio

Cher had only turned 19 on May 20. She and future husband Sonny Bono recorded “I Got You Babe” at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood on June 7, just 18 days after her birthday. The three-hour session featured an arrangement by Harold Battiste and members of the famed Wrecking Crew backing band.

The song was written and produced by Bono, who had spent years working with legendary producer Phil Spector. Cher had also sung backup on Spector productions, including the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” and the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.”

But the path from Gold Star Studios to No. 1 wasn’t nearly as obvious as the song’s eventual success might suggest.

Related: The Woman Bob Dylan Called ‘Deep & Mysterious’ and Asked Her to Marry Him Turns 87 Today

In “The Billboard Book of Number One Hits,” music historian Fred Bronson recounts that Sonny & Cher had signed with Atco Records after recording together under other names. Their first Atco single was supposed to be “Sing C’est la Vie,” but the label instead released “Just You.”

Then Bono wrote “I Got You Babe” at their Laurel Canyon home. According to Rolling Stone in its readers’ poll of the Greatest Duets of All Time, where “I Got You Babe” is ranked No. 9, Bono wrote it in response to a Bob Dylan hit.

Related: 1966 Hit, After He Faked Celebrity Autographs to Look Successful, Launched Neil Diamond’s Career

“Less than a year after Bob Dylan released his caustic ‘It Ain’t Me Babe,’ Sonny Bono decided to write what’s essentially a response song. He’d recently fallen madly in love with Cher and Dylan’s words just didn’t speak to him,” wrote Rolling Stone. “The song was an enormous smash, hitting Number One in the summer of 1965. It kicked off a long run of hits that eventually lead to a variety series, though they divorced in 1975.”

But while Bono was convinced from the outset that he had a hit on his hands, Cher wasn’t so sure. 

In an interview on The Late Late Show in 2018, Cher recalled how Bono thought he had a hit on his hands, but when he played it for her that night, she thought it was terrible and went back to bed.

“It sounded like not a hit song,” she told host James Corden.

But Bono had other ideas.

Related: 1969 Classic, Featuring Bob Dylan’s ‘Grim Masterpiece,’ Just Named the Greatest Movie Soundtrack of All Time

According to Bronson, Bono recorded the song quickly and was convinced it was a smash. He sent the recording to Atlantic Records executives Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler, but Ertegun preferred another song, “It’s Gonna Rain,” and wanted that released instead.

Bono was convinced they were backing the wrong record.

He took “I Got You Babe” directly to Los Angeles radio station KHJ, where program director Ron Jacobs promised to play it once an hour in exchange for an exclusive.

“He did, and it was an immediate smash,” Bronson writes.

Within weeks, there was little doubt about which song was the hit.

“I Got You Babe” first entered the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1965 before reaching No. 1. It also topped the charts in the U.K. and Canada and sold more than 1 million copies in the United States.

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

Bronson sums up the impact of the record succinctly in “The Billboard Book of Number One Hits.”

“‘I Got You Babe’ changed their lives,” he writes. “Two struggling artists became international superstars, their eccentric, hippy style of dress copied everywhere.”

The success wasn’t confined to one single. Sonny & Cher’s debut album Look at Us reached No. 2 on the Billboard album chart, spending eight weeks in that position later in 1965. By September, the album had sold 1 million copies.

More hits followed, including “Baby Don’t Go,” “The Beat Goes On,” “All I Ever Need Is You” and “A Cowboy’s Work Is Never Done.” At one point, Sonny & Cher had five songs simultaneously in the Billboard Top 50, a feat that had only been achieved by The Beatles and Elvis Presley up to that point, according to the New York Times.

But none of those subsequent Sonny & Cher singles matched “I Got You Babe” at the top of the Hot 100. It remained the duo’s sole No. 1.

Related: Nobel Prize-Winning Songwriter Bob Dylan Just Named America’s Most Essential Musical Artist

Decades after its release, music critic Dave Marsh included “I Got You Babe” at No. 228 in his book “The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made.”

Marsh didn’t pretend the record was sophisticated. In fact, he argued that the youthful simplicity of Sonny and Cher’s performance was part of its appeal. Beneath the young couple’s declarations of devotion, he heard something emblematic of what rock and roll had brought to pop music: “a sense of democracy, fun, and possibility.”

And he distilled the song’s message into one memorable sentence: “Love redeems everything.”

Related: 1977 Hit, Recorded by an 18-Year-Old, Had a 4-Week Reign at No. 1 49 Years Ago for Andy Gibb

“I Got You Babe” continued finding new lives long after 1965. In 1985, UB40 and Chrissie Hynde released their own version, which reached No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Cher revisited the song again in 1993, this time with Beavis and Butt-Head, and that same year, the original Sonny & Cher recording became an integral part of Groundhog Day, waking Bill Murray’s Phil Connors every morning as he found himself trapped in the same day over and over again.

Sonny & Cher themselves had one more memorable chapter left with the song. On Nov. 13, 1987, the former couple unexpectedly reunited on Late Night with David Letterman and performed “I Got You Babe” together. It proved to be their final performance as a duo.

More than six decades after a 19-year-old Cher recorded it, “I Got You Babe” remains the song most closely associated with the partnership that made her a star.

Related: 1966 Hit, After He Faked Celebrity Autographs to Look Successful, Launched Neil Diamond’s Career

Taylor Swift fans are paying close attention to the way Travis Kelce talks about his wife.

In a video shared by the NFL on Instagram, Kelce spoke about his recent wedding to Taylor Swift at Madison Square Garden. While discussing the famous New York venue, the Kansas City Chiefs star casually referred to Swift as “my wife,” and that simple phrase quickly became the part fans noticed most.

Kelce said, “I always told myself I’d go for a for a playoff game when the Knicks were rocking and my wife went, when I was stuck in a training mini camp, so I, I didn’t get my opportunity to go then. So, it’s kind of cool to be able to, you know, live out my childhood dream of being in that venue and, you know, the, the mecca of all sports venues.”

Photo by Aeon/GCImages

For Swifties, the words “my wife” stood out.

Fans flooded the comments with reactions to hearing Kelce use the title so naturally. 

“Ugh I LOVE hearing him say MY WIFE 😍😍😍,” one wrote.

Another focused on his expression, saying, “That smile as he says “my wife” 😍😍😍❤️”

A fan shared, “When Travis said “my wife” hit differently in the most tender hearted way . 🥺❤️”

Other reactions had the same theme. One comment read, “OMG is not Tay anymore. My wife 😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️” 

Another joked, “Saying “my wife” like he’s not dating an international superstar 😂”

One more fan wrote, “My wife…🥹 His eyes were smiling after he said that.”

The reactions came after Kelce gave his first detailed public comments about his wedding to Swift since the couple married on July 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Kelce opened up about the wedding while speaking with reporters during the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp in Missouri.

“It was a fun off-season, man. Wedding was the best night of my life, and I appreciate everybody who came out and celebrated and had fun with us,” Kelce said.

He also described the celebration as “a crazy night” and said he appreciated everyone who came to celebrate with the couple.

The wedding had been kept mostly private. Very few details from the ceremony were publicly shared by the newlyweds. Several famous names were reportedly among the guests, including Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Emma Stone and Brad Pitt. Members of the Kansas City Chiefs were also present.

Actor and comedian Adam Sandler officiated the ceremony.

Kelce also explained why Madison Square Garden had special meaning to him. Before the wedding, he had wanted to attend a New York Knicks playoff game at the arena when the team was having a strong run. However, he was at minicamp at the time and missed the opportunity.

That connection made getting married at MSG even more meaningful for Kelce.

He described the venue as “the mecca of all sports venues” and said the wedding allowed him to live out a childhood dream.

The couple’s July 3 wedding became one of the biggest celebrity events of the year, but much of the ceremony remained out of the public eye. Large screens outside the arena later announced that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were officially married with the words “JUST&T MARRIED!”

Swift has not publicly shared her own detailed account of the wedding, while Kelce has now offered fans a few personal memories of the night.

Kelce returned to the Kansas City Chiefs training camp on July 29 as the team prepares for the new NFL season.

The football star has also made it clear that he remains focused on his career. He said, “I have still got a lot of love for this game,” and added, “I want to go out there and prove to myself that I can play at a better level than I did last year.”

#Chiefs Travis Kelce on his decision to return for a 14th season in the NFL:

“I still got a lot of love for this game…I wanna go out there and prove myself that I can play at a better level than last year.”#ChiefsKingdom @KSHB41 pic.twitter.com/wFij0bocRh

For Taylor Swift fans, however, the NFL video offered a much different moment to focus on. It was not a long speech about marriage. It was only two simple words: “my wife.”

And judging by the comments, those two words were enough to get Swifties talking.

Related: Taylor Swift Stuns as a Wedding Guest in First Newlywed Appearance

After more than six decades onstage, Frankie Valli is reportedly retiring from performing.

The news was shared by Valli’s brother, Bobby Valli, in a Facebook post on Aug. 12, in which he reflected on the singer’s remarkable career and said that Frankie has reached a point where he can focus on his family.

“This picture was taken in 2025,” Bobby wrote alongside a photo of his brother.

“My brother Frankie whom I am so proud of and love him dearly. He has had a wonderful life a dream come true.”

Bobby went on to celebrate Frankie’s accomplishments, calling him “an incredible singer,” “an icon” and “a living legend.”

“He has millions of fans who love him dearly,” he wrote.

According to Bobby’s post, Valli, 92, has sold more than 100 million records, has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and has spent six decades performing.

“He will now retire,” Bobby wrote.

Frankie first rose to fame as the lead singer of the Four Seasons, scoring a string of major hits beginning in the 1960s.

Songs including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” helped establish Frankie as one of the most recognizable voices in pop music.

His career also received new attention through the Broadway musical Jersey Boys, which chronicled the rise of Valli and the Four Seasons. The show was later adapted into a 2014 film directed by Clint Eastwood.

Frankie continued touring well into his 90s, making his brother’s announcement particularly notable.

Bobby ended his post by asking fans to continue showing Frankie their love while emphasizing that his family will now be there for him.

“We appreciate your love and concern,” he wrote.

For a performer whose career has lasted six decades, Valli’s reported retirement marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in music history.

RELATED: The Animals’ ‘It’s My Life’ Has a Surprising Bon Jovi Connection

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Layering dainty gold jewelry has become the style move of the moment, seen everywhere from runways to street style to social media feeds. This trend is all about mixing delicate necklaces, chains, and pendants to create a look that feels personal, effortless, and a little bit luxurious. Whether you like to pile on a few necklaces for a bold look or just layer two or three for something simple, the fun of this trend is how easy it is to make it your own. More and more people are getting into layering, so everyone is on the lookout for those just-right pieces to wear every day.

Some accessories never lose their charm, and Cate & Chloe’s Piper 18 Karat Gold-Plated Heart Swarovski Crystal Pavé Necklace is proof that classic design can still feel fresh and newsworthy. Available now in two colors at Walmart for $25, down from $40, this heart pendant necklace is drawing attention for its blend of delicate sparkle and everyday wearability. 

Courtesy of Walmart

The Piper necklace features a graceful open-heart pendant, adorned with 16 shimmering Swarovski crystals. Its petite heart-shaped pendant, just over a centimeter wide, slips effortlessly into any layered combination, adding a delicate accent without overpowering your other pieces. With its classic 18-inch chain, it sits at the ideal spot for stacking with chokers or longer chains, creating a flattering, feminine look every time.

Courtesy of Walmart

With a choice of yellow gold or white gold plating, it slides seamlessly into any collection, whether you’re dressing for work, a night out, or just adding a little shine to jeans and a tee. Try stacking it with a simple gold chain for a classic effect, or mix it with silver pieces for a more playful, eclectic style. Or you can pair it with textured or beaded necklaces for a boho-chic feel. However you choose to layer it — or if you prefer to let it shine solo — this necklace is designed to be enjoyed for years to come. 

Related: Amazon’s $20 Linen Button-Down Tank Is the Perfect ‘Lightweight’ Summer Travel Companion

The versatility of this necklace can’t be overstated. It works as a romantic gift for anniversaries or birthdays, but it is just as fitting for a simple “thinking of you” gesture. The heart motif is a universal symbol of love and connection, and the delicately set crystals bring a little extra sparkle to any occasion. 

The necklace is made from hypoallergenic materials, so even those with sensitive skin can wear it all day without irritation. Plus, the Piper Heart Pendant is also thoughtfully packaged in a premium jewelry box, making it an easy and impressive choice for gifting.

• Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, $54 (was $64) at Walmart
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Hurry up and grab this Cate & Chloe heart necklace for $25 and create a jewelry stack that’s exclusively you.

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In the summer of 1961, Brian Wilson was thinking about writing rock ’n’ roll songs and putting together a band. His younger brother, Dennis Wilson, suggested that they write a song about surfing. 

Surfing was becoming a major part of Southern California youth culture, but it had barely made its way into mainstream pop music. Dennis, the only serious surfer among the future Beach Boys, saw an opportunity to turn the local pastime into a song.

Brian took the idea to his cousin Mike Love, and the two began working on what became “Surfin’,” a simple, R&B-influenced song that would become the Beach Boys’ debut single and effectively launch the group’s career. 

Brian later recalled how Dennis came up with the idea. “My brother Dennis came home from school one day and said something about how surfing looked like it was going to become the next big craze, and we should write a song about it,” he told Bomp! 

Brian soon brought in Al Jardine, a Hawthorne High classmate who had been encouraging him to form a folk group. Carl Wilson joined as well, adding his voice and picking up the guitar. Dennis completed the lineup after their mother urged them to include him, since the song had started with his suggestion. 

The group initially planned to record a couple of traditional folk songs. But Brian arrived with his new surfing tune, and the session took a different direction. 

Jardine later recalled the early recording process to Rock Cellar. “Brian had come up with this tune shortly before going down to the studio, this surfing idea. The surfing idea was actually Dennis’ idea. Brian prepared this track bed called ‘Surfin’.’ I played stand-up bass on it.” 

The group did not have much money to work with, so they had to piece together the funds for recording. “My mother had to rent the equipment because the Wilsons had gone on vacation to Mexico and the food money was gone,” Jardine continued. “So we had to go and beg, borrow and steal from my mother who came up with three hundred bucks. That was a h*** of a lot of money in ’61.” 

The young group made an early demo of “Surfin’,” which impressed their father, Murry Wilson, enough to take on a management role. Soon afterward, they headed into a professional studio to record the song for release.

“Surfin’” was recorded at World Pacific Studios in Los Angeles in early November. The group reportedly cut the song in eight takes, with the final take selected as the master.

Jardine remembered how quickly the recording came together. “We cut ‘Surfin’’ real quickly. We did it all at one time. We sang and played. We just stood up in front of the microphone and basically played the song for Murry and the publisher and that’s the one they liked.”

Candix Records released “Surfin’” on November 27, 1961, with “Luau” on the B-side. The song received its first radio play on Los Angeles station KFWB on December 2, and by the final weeks of the year, it had sold more than 40,000 copies. 

The single eventually reached No. 75 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, giving the young group its first national chart success and helping set the direction for the music that would soon make the Beach Boys nationally known.

Love later explained to the Washingtonian why he thought the song connected with listeners. “Everyone we hung out with in southern California was into that lifestyle. I think that’s what caught the interest of the people like us — the beachgoers. We didn’t assume anything would be a hit, but we knew it was unique.”

The record also helped Murry get the group in front of Capitol Records. The label signed the Beach Boys and released “Surfin’ Safari” in 1962, opening the door to the much bigger success that followed. 

Related: 1966 Hit Song, Written by Neil Diamond, Turned a TV Band Into Pop Stars

Prichard Colón, the Puerto Rican boxer whose promising career ended in tragedy inside the ring, has died at 33. His father and former trainer, Richard Colón, confirmed the news on Facebook Thursday, writing, “I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard.”

Colón was once one of boxing’s brightest prospects. Born in Florida and raised in Orocovis, Puerto Rico, he built an amateur record of 170-15 and won gold at the 2010 Pan American Youth Championship before turning pro in 2013. He carried a perfect 16-0 record, with 13 knockouts, into the ring on October 17, 2015.

That night in Fairfax, Virginia, everything changed. Colón was repeatedly struck with illegal rabbit punches during his fight against Terrel Williams and told the referee about the blows, only to be waved off. He was knocked down for the first time in his career in the ninth round, and though he told the ringside doctor he felt dizzy, he was cleared to continue.

Colón collapsed in the dressing room afterward and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors found a subdural hematoma and performed emergency surgery. He fell into a coma that lasted 221 days. He never regained the ability to speak, spending the next decade relearning basic communication through physical therapy and a computer, cared for by his parents in Orlando, Florida.

Williams, who never fought again after facing Colón, addressed the aftermath in a 2017 interview, saying, “I pray for Prichard every day. That’s never going to change.” Colón’s parents later filed a lawsuit seeking more than $50 million in damages from the ringside physician and the event’s organizers.

In 2021, the WBC named Colón an honorary champion, a nod to the career cut short before he ever got a shot at a title. His parents’ lawsuit remains unresolved nearly a decade later, a case his mother has said may never be settled.

After months of ongoing speculation, Disney is finally sharing a first look at their highly anticipated Villains Land at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom theme park.

According to the popular Disney-centric account Disney Food Blog, Disney has officially unveiled a glimpse at the mysterious new land at the ongoing D23.

While details about the enigmatic new land remain relatively unknown, Disney’s new expo about the upcoming land confirms the presence of the Dark Forest, a series of unsettling-looking trees seemingly modeled after the infamous forest sequence in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

According to the concept art and display models featured at D23, the Dark Forest trees will take on a variety of unique appearances, all of which are designed to thoroughly haunt visitors as they venture through the aptly-named Villains Land. (In a further nod to Snow White, one tree even features a gaunt vulture on its branch, reminiscent of the grinning buzzards who follow the Evil Queen throughout the film.)

Aside from these initial models and sketches, Disney remains somewhat tight-lipped about the details and specific features guests might find inside Villains Land.

All we know is that the themed area will open in Magic Kingdom just behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, with the entire land inspired by some of the most loathsome villains to appear in Disney’s animated films.

Thus far, we know that the land will include at least two major attractions, an unknown number of dining options and various retail vendors selling merch modeled after the land.

As the Disney Food Blog mentioned previously, Disney has said of the new land, “The evil ambition of all these Villains means that the possibilities are endless for the stories that can be told — and visitors to the dark and thorny land should be prepared for whatever chaos might come their way.”

On the surface, Garth Brooks’ “The Dance” sounds like the ultimate country heartbreak anthem.

The song is a tender reflection on a love that ended too soon. But behind the signature 1990 ballad lies a much deeper, far more surprising origin story.

Long before the song topped the charts and defined an era of country music, its emotional core was born not from a real-life breakup, but from a sudden burst of inspiration sparked by an unlikely 1980s Hollywood movie. The film was Francis Ford Coppola‘s Peggy Sue Got Married, and for songwriter Tony Arata, its theme triggered a sudden epiphany.

Arata realized, after watching the film starring Kathleen Turner and Nicolas Cage, that avoiding pain also meant missing out on life’s greatest moments. By the time the credits rolled, he already had the idea for a track that would soon land Brooks’ hands, whom he met at an open mic night at Nashville’s Douglas Corner, per American Songwriter.

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Arata said, on his official website, “We were both doing whatever we could to stay in Nashville, trying to get our songs heard by anybody. The only folks listening, however, were other songwriters, as no one else was usually at our show.”

“It was at one of those nights at The Bluebird Café that Garth heard this one and swore if he ever got a record deal, he was going to do it. Well, he did, and he did. I will always be grateful that it was a songwriter who made this one his own. The song was doubly blessed because it was also produced by a songwriter, Allen Reynolds,” the songwriter continued.

RELATED: Garth Brooks’ Blockbuster No. 1 Hit Was Inspired by an Unpaid Restaurant Bill

According to American Songwriter, “The Dance” carries a distinct double meaning. While the song addresses the painful end of a relationship, it simultaneously serves as a celebration of the joy that came before the heartbreak.

In the music video, Brooks reflects on the track’s deeper resonance. He explains that he considers “The Dance” to be a song about life itself.

He says, “To a lot of people, I guess ‘The Dance’ is a love gone bad song. Which, you know, that it is. But to me, it’s always been a song about life. Or maybe the loss of those people that have given the ultimate sacrifice for a dream that they believed in, like the John F. Kennedy’s or the Martin Luther King’s. John Wayne’s or the Keith Whitley’s. And if they could come back, I think they would say to us what the lyrics of ‘The Dance’ say.”

RELATED: Garth Brooks’ Surprising Job Before Becoming a Country Superstar

The idea that the good times are worth the heartbreak at the end is why “The Dance” hasn’t aged a bit. What started with a songwriter sitting in front of a movie screen turned into much more than another chart-topping hit for Garth Brooks. Decades later, it remains a rare kind of song that offers real comfort to anyone looking back on a painful ending.

Related: Garth Brooks’ ‘Signature’ Hit Was Rejected by More Than 20 Songwriters

Five Finger Death Punch suddenly paused its Monday concert in Cincinnati, Ohio, after extreme heat and high humidity left some fans showing signs of exhaustion. 

The heavy metal band and its crew responded by sending around 15 cases of water from backstage into the crowd and directing fans to get free water at the concession stands.

The unexpected break happened during the band’s 20th Anniversary World Tour, which is supporting its new album Legacy. According to Loudwire, temperatures onstage reached about 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Rain earlier in the day also caused humidity levels to rise.

Photo by Per Ole Hagen/Redferns

With fans standing near the rail showing visible signs of being worn out by the conditions, the band decided to stop the performance for a moment and focus on keeping people safe.

“Be patient, guys. We’re doing this for you,” singer Ivan Moody told the crowd during the water break.

A fan captured the moment and shared video footage on Instagram. The clip shows members of Five Finger Death Punch and their crew throwing water bottles toward fans gathered in the venue.

The pause was not caused by a problem with the band’s music or equipment. Instead, it was a direct response to the difficult weather conditions inside the concert area.

Moody also directed fans toward the concession stands, where water was reportedly made available to them at no cost. The band also turned the floor fans that had been cooling the musicians toward the audience.

After the water reached the crowd, Moody checked on the fans and said, “That’s a little better, yeah? This is how we take care of each other, it’s the least we could do. You guys have been here for us for 20 fucking years.”

He later joked with the Cincinnati crowd about catching the water bottles, telling them, “You guys are Cincinnati fans, you need to work on your receiving.”

The remark referenced the city’s NFL team and its star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

The Cincinnati incident came during a major tour year for Five Finger Death Punch. The band is celebrating 20 years together while traveling across the United States with Eva Under Fire and Cody Jinks.

The group’s North American tour began in July and includes dozens of dates through Oct. 23 before the next stages of its international touring plans.

Just two days before the Cincinnati show, Five Finger Death Punch performed at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, where more than 20,000 fans reportedly filled the venue. That concert featured a 20-song set and a three-song encore that ended with “The Bleeding,” per WDHA 105.5.

Moody has also been closely involved with fans during other shows on the anniversary tour. In Noblesville, he reportedly took phones from people in the audience to film from their point of view, signed cowboy hats and interacted with flags held near the barricade.

Five Finger Death Punch has built a large following during its two-decade career. The band has released 10 studio albums, with Legacy becoming its latest in 2026. Its catalog includes songs such as “Wrong Side of Heaven,” “Remember Everything,” “Wash It All Away” and “The Bleeding.”

The band’s connection with its audience has also been discussed by guitarist Zoltan Bathory. Earlier this year, Bathory recalled a fan who told the group that its music helped him during a very dark period in his life.

According to Bathory, the fan had once written a suicide note and given the pen to the band. Years later, the fan returned and told the story again. Moody still had the pen, which had reportedly remained in his road case for 15 years.

Bathory said those experiences helped show the band the impact its music can have beyond the stage.

The Five Finger Death Punch tour is scheduled to continue across the United States through October, with the band also planning future shows in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Related: 1987 Guns N’ Roses Song, No. 1 Hit for 2 Weeks, Ranked Among ‘Best Rock Songs’ of All Time

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Gingham is one of those rare patterns that feels trendy and timeless all at once. The classic check has been everywhere lately, but its versatility makes it more than a passing trend, especially in home decor. Depending on the color palette and what you pair it with, gingham can feel light and summery or warm and cozy, making it an especially easy print to carry your bedroom from one season to the next.

One option that nails that balance is the Becky Cameron Gingham Check 3-Piece Duvet Cover Set. Right now, it’s on sale for 40% off at Target, bringing the price down from $63 to just $38 for the full/queen-sized set, making it an affordable way to refresh your bedroom.

Courtesy of Target

The set is available in twin/twin XL, full/queen, and king/California king sizes. The twin/twin XL includes one duvet cover and one sham, while the larger sizes come with two shams. Each set also features a zippered closure and corner ties to help keep the duvet securely in place.

Made from 100% 90 GSM microfiber polyester, the bedding is designed to feel soft and comfortable while holding up to regular use. Each piece is double-brushed for a cozy feel, and the fabric is wrinkle-resistant and designed for durability. It’s also easy to care for, as it’s machine washable and can be tumble dried on low heat.

Related: Coach Outlet’s Charming New Straw Gingham Bags Are the Ultimate Summer Trend

The reversible design gives you two looks in one, with a tan solid color on one side and a brown-and-off-white gingham pattern on the other. That makes it easy to switch things up depending on the season or your mood. Gingham works with a wide range of decor styles, including coastal, farmhouse, rustic, modern, boho, traditional, and mid-century modern.

One shopper described the set as “high quality,” writing, “The fabric is incredibly soft, comfortable, and feels much more expensive than it actually is. The attention to detail and craftsmanship really shows, making my bedroom feel cozy and elegant without spending a fortune.” Another said it’s “beautiful,” adding, “It held up well in the wash with no pilling or fading.”

• Great Bay Home Coastal Reversible Quilt Set, $55 (was $75) at Target
• Becky Cameron Floral Duvet Cover Set, $34 (was $56) at Target
• Bedsure Lightweight Quilt Set, $37 (was $74) at Target

For a cozy, versatile bedding update that won’t cost a fortune, the Becky Cameron Gingham Check 3-Piece Duvet Cover Set is a great pick. And with Target’s current 40% discount, it’s a great time to grab while all three sizes are still in stock. 

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Suzi Quatro has spent more than five decades as a rock star, but one of the biggest missed opportunities of her career involved the man who inspired her to become a musician: Elvis Presley.

In recent interviews surrounding her new album Freedom, Quatro, 76, has revisited her lifelong connection to Presley, including a remarkable phone call she received from him in 1974.

Quatro recalled the story in a recent interview with New Idea, explaining that Presley called her after hearing her version of his song “All Shook Up.”

“He called me in 1974,” Quatro said, recalling that Presley told her he thought her version was the best he’d heard since his own.

Then came an invitation: Elvis asked her to visit him at Graceland.

She didn’t go.

“I was so busy,” Quatro explained, adding that she now feels she may simply never have been meant to meet her idol.

The missed opportunity is particularly meaningful because Presley had inspired Quatro’s entire musical career.

Quatro has recalled watching Presley perform “Don’t Be Cruel” on The Ed Sullivan Show when she was about 5 years old. She immediately knew she wanted to do what he was doing.

That inspiration eventually helped lead to her groundbreaking career as a bass-playing female rock frontwoman, with hits including “Can the Can,” “48 Crash” and “Devil Gate Drive.”

She also became known to TV audiences as Leather Tuscadero on Happy Days.

Now 75, Quatro is still making music. Her 18th studio album, Freedom, includes a version of the MC5’s “Kick Out the Jams” featuring longtime friend Alice Cooper.

RELATED: Bob Marley’s 1976 Concert Just Became a New Album 50 Years Later

Oreo has long remained one of the most popular cookie brands shoppers can find in grocery store aisles, delivering a delicious balance between a crisp chocolate exterior and a gooey cream center.

While there’s no denying just how tasty any of the brand’s classic cookie flavors are, Oreo has just unveiled three new flavors that are sure to catch fans’ interests.

According to a new press release from the company, Oreo is set to debut three unforgettable flavors in the weeks ahead. The new flavors specifically include:

• Oreo Banana Pudding Cookies: featuring “layers of sweet banana and vanilla pudding in a deliciously delectable dual-layered creme, sandwiched between vanilla wafer cookies.”
• Oreo Deep Fried Cookies: featuring the “iconic golden-fried, doughy flavor baked right into the cookie itself, with fried dough-flavored cookies wrapping layers of dark chocolate and fried dough flavored creme.”
• Oreo Chicken & Waffles Cookies: “a first-of-its-kind innovation to the cookie aisle, featuring a signature waffle texture embossment and dual-layered creme, both infused with sweet and savory flavor notes to give that signature fried chicken and maple syrup flavor in each and every bite.”

If that weren’t already exciting enough, shoppers can try each of the three new cookie flavors and then vote on their favorite. The winning flavor will then make a limited-time return later on in 2027.

“For decades, our consumers have supported our wildest, most creative flavor endeavors, and now we want to elevate that relationship from a simple product drop into a dynamic, two-way conversation,” said Matt Foley, Vice President of Oreo.

By dropping three incredibly distinct flavors at once, Banana Pudding, Deep Fried and Chicken & Waffles, we are giving our community true agency to help decide the future of our product lineup,” Foley continued. “We know our fans are incredibly passionate about their favorite flavors, and we can’t wait to see which of these cookies they choose to bring back in 2027.”

Beginning August 17, all three packs of the Oreo flavors will arrive on presale on OREO.com/UnwrapTheCollab, as well as on TikTok Shop.

The cookies will then make their nationwide debut on retail stores on August 24 for a limited time while supplies last.

For 33 years, any Deep Purple reunion felt impossible. The guitarist who wrote one of rock’s most recognizable riffs had walked away from the band that made him a legend, and the band had made clear the door was shut. That changed Wednesday night at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, when Ritchie Blackmore stepped out from the wings with his yellow Fender Stratocaster and stood beside Deep Purple for the first time since 1993.

Blackmore, now 81, had tipped his hand only the night before. During an Instagram Live with his wife, singer Candice Night, he said he would probably join Deep Purple for an encore. He admitted it felt “kind of frightening” after years away. The “fright” was likely due to his recent past on stage. The 2025 Blackmore’s Night tour was cancelled after a bout of vertigo, and he has dealt with a heart issue, gout and four herniated disks, taking a lumbar injection days before the show.

Blackmore co-founded Deep Purple in 1968, left once in 1975, returned for the 1984 reunion, then played his last gig with the band on November 17, 1993, in Helsinki, exiting during the tour for the aptly titled The Battle Rages On. Bandmate Ian Gillan later called the backstage fallout that night “deeply personal” and said the guitarist wrongly believed the band’s success was his alone. The rift was big enough that Blackmore skipped the group’s 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction after learning the lineup would not reunite with him under any circumstances.

Related: ’70s Rock Icon Postpones Farewell Tour Cincinnati Show After Medical Procedure

Things have obviously cooled down. Near the end of the set, Gillan wrapped an arm around his old sparring partner and explained how it came together, telling the crowd that Blackmore had sent word he lived around the corner and simply wanted to jam. Then he introduced “the founder member, the great legend, the immortal Ritchie Blackmore.” Cellphones rose across the amphitheater as the current lineup, with singer Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover, drummer Ian Paice, keyboardist Don Airey and guitarist Simon McBride, launched into “Smoke on the Water.” Gillan closed with a completely rock n’ roll peace offering: “I’ll see you in the bar.”

Deep Purple called it a big moment in rock history. Gillan once summed up the feud by saying both men had behaved badly, adding that reaching Blackmore, who keeps no phone or computer, still takes real effort. Blackmore played only “Smoke on the Water,” with no word of anything more, at a theater a short drive from his Long Island home.

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“You Beat Me to the Punch” was a 1962 hit song from Mary Wells that was co-written by Smokey Robinson. The song reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 1 on the R&B Singles chart. The song also received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock and Roll Recording. This made history as the first Grammy-nominated song released from Motown Records.

Considered the Queen of Motown, Wells had many other hits throughout her illustrious career, including “Two Lovers” and “The One Who Really Loves.” Both of these songs were written and produced by Robinson.

In an interview with Paul Du Noyer, Robinson was asked whether it was challenging to adopt another singer’s persona to create songs for them. “Oh no,” he said. “Not really, because a songwriter should be able to write about anything. I look at the world, and I see what’s going on. I could not possibly have experienced all the things that I’ve written about but it’s easy to see what goes on in a woman’s life because, you know, I have a woman, and I’m around women all the time and I grew up in a house with my Mom and two sisters and I have a bunch of nieces, so it’s easy to see a girl’s point of view. Mary Wells was my personal project at Motown.”

Related: 1970 Heartbreaking Jimmy Buffett Song, Made After His Grandfather’s Funeral, Was Written in a Day

To this day, fans still love “You Beat Me to the Punch.” As one YouTube comment said, “It’s utterly ridiculous how this woman is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet. One of the truest voices of Motown. To say she’s a legend is an understatement.” Another said, “Listen carefully to this vocal. It’s just so well done. Mary Wells was criminally underrated until later in her life. I rate her absolute top tier of all vocalists of the era. She sings this song to a level of perfect that I’m quite sure put a smile on Berry Gordy’s face.”

Wells died from cancer in 1992 at the age of 49.

If you’ve been secretly waiting for the right moment to set sail with Mickey, Minnie, and the rest of the crew, Disney Cruise Line just dropped a major perk that might make your decision a whole lot easier.

The cruise line has officially expanded and extended its massive per-person savings offer, letting families knock up to $1,500 off their stateroom total on select ocean voyages running from October 1, 2026, all the way through March 26, 2027.

Originally set to expire on dates at the end of the year, the promotion now covers a fresh round of early 2027 departures across three of the fleet’s standout ships: the Disney Treasure, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wonder. Whether you are planning a spooky fall getaway or a warm winter escape, it is one of the best chances to score a deal on a Disney vacation.

Related: 15 Included Extras That Make a Disney Cruise Worth Every Penny

Disney Cruise Line

Disney is knocking a flat dollar amount off the base fare for up to five guests sharing the same room.

If you are eyeing a 7-night sailing, the savings per person really add up depending on the cabin you pick:

• Verandah Staterooms: Save $500 per person
• Oceanview Staterooms: Save $400 per person
• Inside Staterooms: Save $300 per person

For shorter 3- to 6-night cruises, the per-person discount breaks down to $250 off for Verandah rooms, $200 off for Oceanview rooms, and $150 off for Inside staterooms.

What does that look like for a family budget? If three guests book a 7-night Verandah stateroom together, you instantly wipe $1,500 directly off your room total.

Related: Readers Voted This Iconic Fleet the No. 1 ‘World’s Best’ Cruise Line (Again!)

Disney Parks Blog

The newly expanded lineup includes some of the most sought-after seasonal trips on the Disney calendar:

• Disney Treasure: Disney’s newest flagship vessel out of Port Canaveral is packed with eligible 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean routes. That includes festive Halloween on the High Seas trips in October, cheery Very Merrytime holiday sailings in December, and plenty of sunshine-filled winter dates through early spring 2027.
• Disney Fantasy: Also departing from Port Canaveral, offering select 3- to 6-night Bahamian and Caribbean getaways with stops at Castaway Cay.
• Disney Wonder: Perfect for West Coast travelers, with a heavy lineup of 3- to 7-night Baja and Mexican Riviera departures sailing out of San Diego.

Related: Disney Cruise Line’s Halloween on the High Seas: Everything You Need to Know

Even though Disney added three months of new 2027 sailing dates to the promotion, the deadline to book hasn’t changed. You still need to lock in your reservation by August 30, 2026, to take advantage of the discounted rates.

Here’s the best part: unlike a lot of travel deals that only apply to brand-new bookings, Disney is letting guests apply this discount to existing reservations as long as the sailing and stateroom category qualify (stateroom categories 04A through 11C).

If you already booked one of these sailings, you don’t have to cancel and rebook—you or your travel agent can simply call the Disney Cruise Line Contact Center and ask them to apply the offer to your balance. It takes just a few minutes on the phone to shave hundreds off a trip you were already taking.

Related: Disney Reveals Next New Cruise Ship Disney Believe Arriving 2027