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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

Roseanne Barr’s son, Jake Pentland, has a message to Michael Fishman, the actor who played her son in the original Roseanne series for 10 seasons.

After Fishman claimed Roseanne was “rightfully canceled” in 2018 due to Barr’s controversial Twitter posts, Pentland accused the actor and other co-stars of conspiring to take over the show that bore his mother’s name.

According to TMZ, Pentland noted that while his mother acknowledged her mistakes, cast members took her controversial 2018 tweet about former Barack Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett out of context and “prevented her from publicly defending herself.”

Of Fishman, who played Barr’s son DJ Conner since he was six years old, Pentland told the outlet, “I wish him good luck in finding work one day. Hopefully selling the woman responsible for his career out was worth it for him.”

RELATED: ‘Roseanne’ Star Reveals Storyline He Pitched as a Kid

Barr was fired from Roseanne on May 29, 2018, the same day that she compared Jarrett, who is Black, to a character from Planet of the Apes. Her longtime co-stars Fishman, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Lecy Goranson, and Sara Gilbert continued on in the spinoff The Conners, but Barr’s character was killed off.

The Conners aired on ABC for seven seasons, ending in April 2025. But cast members continue to face the fallout of Barr’s firing, and in August 2026, Fishman had enough.

In a lengthy Instagram video, Fishman disagreed with a commenter who said “America decided to backstab Roseanne” after she made a joke as a comedian.

“Dehumanizing people is never a joke,” Fishman said. “The brilliant comedians help us laugh at the darkest, darkest topics. Sadly, in this case, there was no joke. And the show was rightfully canceled. … And the only people who are backstabbed were the people who were targeted by the statements. And those who became collateral damage from it.”

Fishman added that he still has love for Barr and “always will.”

“Good people make mistakes,” he said. “And I love the one who made this mistake. I always will.”

ABC Photo Archives / Getty Images

In 2018, Fishman addressed the cancellation of Roseanne in a social media post, writing that he felt “devastated” for the cast, crew, writers and production staff who had strived for inclusiveness “with numerous storylines designed to reflect inclusiveness.”

“The words of one person do not exemplify the thinking of all involved,” he added. “I condemn these statements vehemently. They are reprehensible and intolerable, contradicting my beliefs and outlooks on life and society.”

Barr fired back at Fishman on Twitter, writing, “I created the platform for that inclusivity, and you know it. ME. You throw me under the bus. Nice!”

Fishman then responded to Barr directly, writing, “You fought, built, and designed Roseanne for inclusiveness. That is why yesterday was so out of character with the last 30 years. It was in your hands from the beginning to the end. No one can deny that.”

 In 2025, Barr told Fox News Digital she felt betrayed by her co-stars.

“I sent out the tweet on Memorial Day after I found out that they had really screwed me over and they had stolen my show,” she claimed. “And I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m not going to go back.’ So I thought, ‘Well, I’m going to go out with a bang.’ … I’m not friends with none of them. They’re all in the past. And no, we don’t talk.”

Related: Beloved ‘80s TV Couple Named One of the ‘Best Sitcom Couples’ of All Time — But Their Ending Was Shocking

Over the years, there have been plenty of hit rock songs. But sometimes, despite fans going wild over the music, the songwriters themselves actually weren’t big fans of the song. This was the case with one of the Beach Boys’ many hits, “Heroes and Villains.”

The song was the lead single on the Beach Boys’ 12th studio album, Smiley Smile. Initially envisioned to be a follow-up that would surpass “Good Vibrations,” the track was the first time Brian Wilson collaborated with Van Dyke Parks. While it finally made it on the album, “Heroes and Villains” had a rough journey to get there.

It was one of the songs the band worked on for the Smile album project that was never finished. There were reportedly over 12 versions of the song recorded during this period, and Wilson didn’t use any of them.

What ended up becoming the final version of “Heroes and Villains” released in 1967 was a shorter version recorded in Wilson’s home studio. The other Beach Boys were allegedly disappointed in the song and the previous Smile project overall, so the final version of Smiley Smile was a disappointment to both the band and fans at the time.

Despite this, the song was still a hit for the Beach Boys, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 on music charts in the U.K. The album also did relatively well, although it wasn’t as successful as their past records.

The Beach Boys quickly moved on to their next record, but the unfinished Smile project was still a dream for Wilson. In 2004, he was finally able to bring his dream to life with the album Smile, including a new version of “Heroes and Villains.” Although it was 37 years later, Wilson at last got his chance to release a cut of the song he was happy with.

Related: On This Day in 1961, a Legendary Rock Band Played Their First-Ever Paid Gig

Although the recordings from Smile were said to be adandoned, in 2011, fans finally got to hear a version of the entire scrapped album. Many of the past recordings were compiled together into an album as close to the original plan as they could get.

The compilation album was aptly named The Smile Sessions, and it includes a few different versions of “Heroes and Villains,” including a “Part 2” cut compiling different snippets from the original recording sessions.

Related: 1991 Rock Ballad, 8 Years in the Making by Guns N’ Roses, Is Still a Masterpiece 35 Years Later

Danielle Steel is celebrating a birthday milestone today, as she turns 79. However, that’s not all there is to celebrate.

Just three days ago, Steel released her newest hardcover, The True Meaning of Love. The novel follows four women in Ukraine navigating impossible choices as war upends their lives, told through the lens of ordinary people trying to protect the ones they love. Her next book is already locked in, too: Ruthless, a thriller about two powerful, secretive businessmen and the journalist determined to expose them, hits shelves October 8.

That kind of pace is nothing new for Steel. She’s published more than 210 books since her 1973 debut, Going Home, and sold roughly a billion copies worldwide, enough to make her the fourth best-selling fiction author in history, trailing only Shakespeare, Agatha Christie and Barbara Cartland.

Her breakout came a few years into her career. The Promise, released in 1978, is widely credited as the novel that turned Steel into a household name and set the template for the family dramas that followed. Kaleidoscope, Zoya and The Gifthave stayed reader favorites for decades since, and every one of her books has gone on to hit the bestseller list, an unbroken streak few authors can claim.

She’s said the key to that staying power is refusing to look away from hard subjects. She told Harvard Business Review she writes honestly about “the things that hurt us or scare us,” a habit that carries all the way through her newest release about women caught in wartime.

That willingness to sit with difficult stories has followed Steel from her earliest books to her latest, and it’s part of what’s kept generations of readers coming back for more.

With Ruthless already on the calendar and a new release rhythm that hasn’t let up in over 50 years, Steel’s 79th year is shaping up to look a lot like the ones before it, another book, another bestseller, right on schedule.

Long before Bon Jovi released its own massive hit called “It’s My Life,” The Animals had already made a song with that title a rock classic.

The Animals released their “It’s My Life” in 1965, during the height of the British Invasion. Written by New York songwriters Roger Atkins and Carl D’Errico, the song was specifically written with The Animals in mind after producer Mickie Most was looking for material for the band.

Eric Burdon’s gritty vocals helped give the recording its distinctive edge, while the combination of Chas Chandler’s bass line, Hilton Valentine‘s guitar and the band’s organ-driven sound made it feel very different from the polished pop songs coming out of the Brill Building songwriting scene.

The song became a significant hit for The Animals, reaching No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. It followed other major songs from the band, including “The House of the Rising Sun,” “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.”

But decades later, the song found an unexpected connection to another legendary rock band.

In 1992, Bon Jovi performed The Animals’ “It’s My Life” as part of an Animals medley for an MTV performance.

Then, in 1995, Bon Jovi performed the song with Burdon, 85, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert, pairing it with another Animals classic, “We Gotta Get Out of This Place.”

That performance is particularly notable because Bon Jovi would later have a massive song of its own called “It’s My Life.”

But the two songs are not the same song. Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life,” released in 2000, was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Max Martin and has no connection as a composition to The Animals’ 1965 song.

Instead, the connection is a musical one: More than 25 years after The Animals released their “It’s My Life,” Bon Jovi chose to bring the original song back to the stage, and eventually performed it alongside the man who made it famous.

For fans of both bands, it’s a fascinating footnote connecting two generations of rock music through a song that happened to share the same unforgettable title.

RELATED: U2 Book Reveals the Stories Behind Some of the Band’s Biggest Hits 

The 18-year-old nephew of King Charles has hit a big milestone.

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that James, Earl of Wessex, is heading to university. The son of Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, will be attending the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, one of Britain’s top farming colleges.

James will be studying Rural Land & Property Management, but unlike many British teens (including his cousin Prince William), the young royal will not be taking a gap year. Prince Harry skipped university altogether and opted to enter Sandhurst, Britain’s leading military academy instead.

“The Earl of Wessex will be going to the Royal Agricultural University to study Rural Land & Property Management. He will head straight there without taking a year out,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said, per People.

James, who is the youngest grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II, can’t wait to get his hands dirty. According to The Sun, James has been spending his summer on the King’s Sandringham estate “driving tractors.”

Earlier this summer, James’ older sister, Lady Louise, 22, graduated from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland — where Prince William and Kate Middleton famously met — with a degree in English and International Relations. Neither Louise nor James are working members of the royal family, and their mom, Sophie, explained why they were not given royal titles.

“We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living,” she told The Sunday Times in 2020. “Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it’s highly unlikely.”

She continued, “We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living.”

James is expected to start university in September 2026.

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Organizing small items can be surprisingly tricky, whether you’re an avid crafter with a growing supply collection or simply trying to keep office essentials, beauty products, and everyday odds and ends under control. Without a designated spot for everything, little things can quickly become clutter. A storage solution with plenty of compartments can make it much easier to keep everything sorted without taking over your space.

One great option is the Costway 12-Drawer Rolling Storage Cart. Right now, it’s on sale for 54% off at Walmart, bringing the price down from $119 to just $55. With 12 drawers and a compact footprint, it’s a practical way to create more organizational space without committing to a bulky storage cabinet.

Courtesy of Walmart

The cart comes in 11 color options, including clear,bright pink, and several multicolored designs, so you can choose one that best works with your space. The drawers can hold everything from books, files, and stationery to craft supplies, sewing tools, beauty products, kitchen gadgets, and toys. You can even use it as a portable filing cabinet or a general-purpose utility cart.

Measuring 25 inches long by 15 inches wide by 24.5 inches high, the cart is compact enough to fit under or beside a desk while still offering plenty of storage. Each drawer measures 13 inches long by 10 inches wide by 2.5 inches high, giving you enough room to separate smaller supplies instead of tossing everything into one oversized bin.

It features a sturdy metal frame with durable PP plastic drawers designed to withstand regular use. The cart weighs 12 pounds, while the metal tabletop can hold up to 22 pounds and each small drawer can hold up to 3 pounds. That makes the top useful for items you want to keep within easy reach, while the drawers are ideal for stashing smaller essentials.

Related: Amazon’s ‘Darling’ $10 Seashell Trinket Tray Adds So Much Coastal-Charm to Any Space 

Mobility is another useful feature. Four 360-degree swivel casters make it easy to move the cart around your home, and two of the wheels have brakes to keep it securely in place when needed. The removable drawers also make it simple to take supplies directly to your workspace instead of carrying everything back and forth.

One shopper described it as “pretty and sturdy,” writing, “We needed something that would fit under a desk, and this does well. The top metal shelf is wide enough to use as a small table or hold another basket or two!” Another shared, “It’s sturdier than you might think. It holds a lot of paper, ribbon, and crafting supplies.”

• Enogets 8-Drawer Rolling Utility Cart, $40 (was $59) at Walmart
• Spaco 6-Drawer Rolling Storage Cart, $33 (was $66) at Walmart
• Yq Jenmw 4-Tier Book Display Shelf, $30 (was $40) at Walmart

Whether you’re organizing a craft room, home office, bedroom, or another busy space, the Costway 12-Drawer Rolling Storage Cart is an easy way to keep smaller belongings sorted and accessible. And with Walmart’s current 54% discount, you can save $64 and get this practical storage solution for just $55.

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

“The Captain and the Kid” was a 1970 Jimmy Buffett song from his debut album, which he wrote by himself. The lyrics honored his late grandfather, Captain James Delaney Buffett, who died in 1970 at the age of 82.

Although a record producer was interested in this song, he found it too depressing and wanted Buffett to change the ending to let the old man live. When speaking about the request with Jimmy Buffett Official, he said, “[The producer] said, ‘Maybe the old man doesn’t die in the end. Maybe you just kind of have a beer with him.’ And I went, ‘He did die.’ And I went, ‘No, I’m not changing it.’”

Buffett went on to explain the inspiration behind the song. “’The Captain and the Kid’ was written right after my grandfather died,” he said. “He was the inspiration for it. He was a sailor ship captain for a long, long time, and we grew up in that whole kind of environment. I was very close to him. I wrote this song after we went to his funeral.”

When asked how long it took him to come up with the lyrics for the song, he said, “I probably wrote it in a day. That’s the way I wrote back in those days. When you’re by yourself, you just kept going until you had one. When I wrote it, I remember I didn’t really change much about it. Because it was such an emotional and authentic experience for me that I knew it pretty well. And it came very quickly.”

According to his Jimmy Buffett Official interview, he performed the song less than ten times throughout his career. However, he recorded it multiple times, including it on multiple albums.

Related: 1962 Tony Bennett Song, Written for Broadway, Was an A-Side That Got Overshadowed by His Biggest Hit

Although this song isn’t one of his more well-known hits, many fans love it. As one Facebook user said, “I know most people are a fan of Jimmy’s happy and upbeat songs – but I absolutely adore his ballads.” Another said, “This song made me cry the first time I heard it over 30 years ago.”

Fans of Bob Marley can now hear a piece of his history that has been unavailable in full for five decades.

Roots, Rock, Reggae: Live at the Hammersmith Odeon was released Friday, Aug. 14, giving fans a newly mixed recording of Marley and the Wailers‘ historic 1976 London performances. The 18-track live album was recorded during the band’s four-night residency at the Hammersmith Odeon in June 1976 and is being released for the first time.

The timing is fitting: The recordings are arriving 50 years after the concerts took place, offering a new look at a pivotal period in Marley’s rise to international stardom.

Marley and the Wailers performed four consecutive nights at the London venue from June 15 through June 18, 1976, as part of the European leg of the Rastaman Vibration tour.

At the time, Marley’s profile was growing rapidly. His live album Live! had already helped introduce his music to a wider international audience, while Rastaman Vibration would become his first album to reach the Top 10 in the United States.

The Hammersmith shows captured the Wailers at an important moment in that rise.

Yet the recordings remained largely unavailable for decades. The newly released album was assembled from tapes of the performances that had been stored in different locations before being brought together and newly mixed from the original multitracks.

The 18-track collection includes several of Marley’s best-known songs, including “No Woman, No Cry,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Trenchtown Rock,” “Burnin’ and Lootin'” and “Get Up, Stand Up.”

But longtime fans also have some deeper cuts to look forward to.

The album features “Bend Down Low,” a song that was performed only on the final night of the Hammersmith residency. It also includes an extended version of “Crazy Baldhead” and a lengthy version of “Lively Up Yourself.”

The finale is particularly notable: “Get Up, Stand Up” runs for more than 12 minutes, while the encore as a whole stretches to roughly 30 minutes and also includes “War” and “No More Trouble.”

The Hammersmith shows came just months after “No Woman, No Cry” had become a U.K. hit, helping establish Marley as a major international artist.

That makes the newly released recordings more than just another archival concert album. They document Marley and the Wailers at a moment when the band’s audience was rapidly expanding.

50 years later, listeners can finally hear much more of what those London audiences experienced.

Roots, Rock, Reggae: Live at the Hammersmith Odeon is available in formats including 2LP vinyl, 2CD and digital/streaming releases.

RELATED: John Mellencamp Just Wrapped His Greatest Hits Tour With a 26-Song Set

Blue’s Clues was supposed to be the punchline. But there’s one problem with Republicans trying to mock Abdul El-Sayed’s whimsical campaign ad: Steve Burns, the original host from the beloved children’s show, already gave it his seal of approval weeks ago.

Burns weighed in six weeks ago on El-Sayed’s June video, commenting simply, “10/10 skidoo.” The endorsement from the man El-Sayed was channeling adds another twist to Republicans’ attempts to portray the ad as embarrassing or out of touch.

The video features El-Sayed dressed in Steve’s signature green shirt and urging viewers to vote while recreating the show’s iconic “We Just Got a Letter!” mail song to explain how voting by mail works. While Republicans have since seized on the clip to mock the Democratic candidate, millennials online have responded with nostalgia and enthusiasm for El-Sayed’s willingness to fully commit to the bit.

One person reposted the video on Threads, writing, “Republicans are posting this trying to make fun of Abdul El-Sayed as if this completely doesn’t connect with us millennials.”

Another person replied, “They inadvertently made him more loveable. It’s the qualities we like to see in actors like Pedro Pascal and Tom Holland, men who aren’t afraid to show kindness and silliness. And, when you combine that with intelligence, that’s a special kind of man.”

Fox News on X claimed that El-Sayed was getting “roasted” for the video, but even commenters on the thread largely appeared to enjoy the ad. “Makes me like him even more!!!!! Love this guy. I know he’s smart and he’s good dude,” one person wrote, adding that El-Sayed was “clearly not the scary jihadist you want to make him out to be!!!”

Now, what Republicans appear to be presenting as an embarrassing campaign moment has already received a “10/10 skidoo” from the person most qualified to judge it.

“Once Upon a Time” was a 1962 Tony Bennett song that was written by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams. Originally intended to be in the musical All American, it was meant to be an A-side single for his newest album. However, many DJs started flipping it over to play the B-side instead, which was his well-known hit “(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco.”

In an interview conducted by the Library of Congress, Bennett spoke about the release of the song. “I had recorded a beautiful song from the play, ‘All American’ called ‘Once Upon A Time,’ which I was convinced would be a hit,” he said. “So we put that song on the A-side and then ‘(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco’ on the B-side. I was doing a promo tour when the record was released, and at all the radio stations, I was mentioning ‘Once Upon A Time’ in the interview. I then got a call from the promo fellow at Columbia, and he said to me, ‘Tony, turn the record over—‘San Francisco’ is going to be the hit!’”

When asked why his other song has endured for so long, he said, “I think it was beautifully crafted and, again, it has a universal message, so I am very thankful that the public has embraced it for so long–I couldn’t ask for a better signature song.”

Although “Once Upon A Time” wasn’t as popular, many people are still fans of the song to this day. One listener on YouTube said, “Profoundly beautiful and profoundly sad, innocent, and pure. Listen to this over and over and think about every line. Tears will flow.”

Another said, “I get emotional listening to this song. I was a man with my whole life ahead of me, now it’s all behind. This was such a wonderful song, just like Tony and his beautiful music, it will stand the test of time.”

Related: 1959 Brenda Lee Song, Recorded When She Was Only 15, Was Banned by Some Radio Stations

Bennett has had many other hits throughout his career. They include “Because of You,” “Cold, Cold Heart,” “I Wanna Be Around You,” and “Rags to Riches.”

Benett died in 2023 at the age of 96.

We’ve all been there, haven’t we? The hotel room view is absolutely gorgeous and the itinerary is amazing. Then the bill for that big group dinner lands on the table, someone starts debating who should cover the rental car, and suddenly the whole vibe shifts. Money arguments aren’t just a mood killer; they can turn a long-awaited getaway into something stressful, and that tension can be so hard to escape.

According to a recent survey from CIT Bank, this isn’t women over 50, it’s a widespread issue, with 45% of group travelers saying they’ve dealt with financial conflict or discomfort on a trip.

Whether it’s a family reunion, a destination wedding, or that bucket-list trip with your best girlfriends, the pressure to keep up can make us feel stuck choosing between our budget and our relationships. As Jose Castro, head of CIT Bank, notes, “Traveling with a group should feel like a joy, not a financial calculation. What this survey makes clear is that the stress starts long before the trip—in the planning, the social obligations, and the pressure to say yes when your budget says no.”

Related: The One Thing You Should Never Do When Vacationing with Another Couple, According to Relationship Experts

One of the biggest causes of friction is what the survey calls the “Peace Tax”—that quiet cost we pay just to avoid an awkward money conversation. When faced with the discomfort of negotiating costs or admitting a budget limit, a huge 82% of group travelers say they would rather pay more than their fair share than get into a money-related argument. That might seem generous in the moment, but experts say it can easily backfire on us.

When you quietly eat the extra cost, you aren’t just overspending; you’re setting yourself up for frustration later. “Silently absorbing costs without acknowledging, discussing or agreeing to do so creates unspoken expectations,” says Angela Caiazza, a licensed marriage and family therapist at LifeStance Health. “Over time, this can lead to a pattern of feeling taken advantage of, which reinforces beliefs such as, ‘They don’t consider my needs.’”

Sure, paying a little extra might keep things calm for an afternoon. But those little frustrations add up fast, and they usually don’t disappear just because the suitcases are unpacked.

So why does vacation seem to bring out the worst in our money choices? A lot of it comes down to social pressure and that human need to feel included. CIT Bank’s data found that 61% of group travelers have overspent specifically because of social pressure, which says so much about the “people-pleasing” trap we sometimes fall into. None of us want to be seen as the difficult one, the person ruining the fun, or heaven forbid, the one who “can’t afford it.”

Experts say these dynamics have a very real effect on our well-being. “People-pleasing is an attempt to control how other people feel,” explains Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and author of The Mental Strength Playbook. This kind of social comparison—looking around and assuming everyone else has more room in their budget—can push us into choices that hurt us later. Whether it’s trying to keep up with the Joneses or simply avoiding the awkwardness of saying, “That’s not in my budget,” we can end up trading our financial comfort for a short-lived feeling of belonging.

Related: The One Thing Grandparents and Parents Need to Do for a Fight-Free Family Vacation

Once a money fight starts on vacation, it feels so much bigger than the actual dollar amount. We’re away from our routines, patience might be low, and we’re all trying so hard to make the trip “worth it.” An argument that might be manageable at home can suddenly feel huge in a hotel lobby.

“The fight can interfere with making memories and it can also be such an emotionally intense experience that it sticks in the memory more so than the other events of the trip,” Morin continues.

Beyond ruining the immediate vibe, financial arguments on vacation carry a unique psychological weight because they tap into a sense of scarcity. When we’ve invested our limited time, money, and emotional energy into a getaway, any conflict feels like a direct threat to the return on that investment. Instead of enjoying the moment, travelers end up hyper-focused on who spent what, leading to a lingering resentment that often follows everyone long after the suitcases are unpacked and the trip has ended.

The good news is that we don’t have to stop traveling with our favorite people! The remedy is just to talk about money before anyone even thinks about booking. “Communicate early and often. Before booking anything, the whole group should discuss the overall budget and how you’ll split costs, keeping in mind that dividing things evenly isn’t always the fairest approach,” said Castro. If the group can normalize those heart-to-hearts early on, the focus shifts back to where it belongs: actually enjoying the trip, he says.

Avoiding money regret starts with a little honesty and planning. Have everyone privately write down their ideal budget, then share it with the group as the experts recommend. Once that’s out in the open, you can build the itinerary around the lowest budget and make the pricier activities optional. We’re there to make memories, after all, and no overpriced dinner is worth losing the peace we’ve worked so hard for.

Experts also say that if you do decide to cover someone else’s share, it’s better to do it on purpose—not while silently stewing about it. “I recommend taking the time to understand your own needs and not departing from them unless you have a strong and clear reason to do so,” says Caiazza. “Whatever you choose, take full responsibility for your choices.” By being clear with ourselves and our friends, we can get back to what matters—celebrating the stage of life we’re in together.

Related: Why the ‘Micro-Trip’ Is Fall’s Most Viral Travel Trend