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On June 1, 1972, four musicians from Linda Ronstadt's backing band released their first album together as the Eagles.

More than five decades later, the self-titled record still stands as one of the strongest debuts in American rock, with some critics arguing it helped define the "soft-rock highway sound." 

Before forming the band, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner were all part of Ronstadt's backing group. The four musicians worked together on her third solo album, and after David Geffen founded Asylum Records, he quickly signed them as one of his first acts.

A month before the album came out, the Eagles released their first single, "Take It Easy." It hit No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 by July 22, 1972, which was a strong start for a new band trying to break into a market dominated by acts like The Doobie Brothers and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

The second single, "Witchy Woman," peaked at No. 9, making it the highest-charting hit. "Peaceful Easy Feeling" followed later that year, reaching No. 22. The album also landed at No. 22 on the Billboard 200. 

While the record was a commercial success in its day, critics are still talking about it decades later. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked it No. 207 on its updated “500 Best Albums of All Time” list, alongside several other Eagles records. 

"This debut created a new template for laid-back L.A. country-rock style," Rolling Stone wrote at the time. "Behind the band’s mellow message — ‘Take It Easy,’ ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’ — was a relentless drive."

Fans feel the same way, too. One post in the subreddit r/LetsTalkMusic made the case that the debut "Still Defines the Soft-Rock Highway Sound,” calling it one of those "strange historical moments" where a band “arrives fully formed.”

“These weren’t songs designed to overwhelm you,” the user wrote. “They were designed to move with you.” 

Despite their chart success, the Eagles broke up in 1980 after six studio albums and ten years together. They reunited more than once over the years, going through lineup changes and a few hiatuses. 

In 2007, they released Long Road Out of Eden, their first album of new material in nearly 30 years.  

As of today, Henley continues the Eagles’ touring lineup with Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, and Vince Gill. Their most recent run was the 2023 “Hotel California Tour,” where the band played the entire 1976 album live every night. 

Related: '70s Rock Band's Concert Leaves Fan Baffled: 'I've Seen More Movement at the DMV'

Florida’s Delray Beach has just won Best Beach for the third year running, but that’s only part of what makes this stretch of sand a retirement haven. This Palm Beach County city offers award-winning beaches, healthcare, and a vibrant 55+ community, which is why seniors are obsessed with this slice of paradise. Read on for all the details on what makes it so special.  

Related: This Is One of the Most Affordable Retirement Beach Towns in America, and No, It’s Not in Florida

The Beach

For the third year running, Delray Beach in Palm Beach County has been named the Best Beach by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards. A recent $19 million renovation expanded and strengthened the beach, which may be part of the reasonit’s won the International Blue Flag award two years in a row.

The International Blue Flag award has some pretty strict guidelines for those hoping to qualify. “In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained,” says the website. 

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Award-Winning Healthcare

But a clean and stunning beach isn’t all this city has to offer. Delray Medical Center has been named One Of America’s Best 250 Hospitals in 2025 by Healthgrades. It also has a special 2026 award for America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery.

Access to excellent healthcare should be a top priority when searching for a place to spend your retirement. Delray Beach has the awards to prove it can provide that access.

Related: This Top Florida Retirement Destination Has Majestic Manatees, Stunning River Views, and Breathtaking Springs

Vibrant 55+ Community

The walkable downtown isn’t just accessible; it’s also idyllic. It centers around a main street with historic buildings that haven’t been renovated out of recognition. In a story last year by the Florida Rambler, the downtown area is described as having a myriad of restaurants and bars, interesting and eclectic shops, and unusual extras like a serene Japanese garden and a “birding boardwalk” that’s easily accessible. 

You’ll also find farmers’ markets, golf courses, and an art trail. Since Florida gets an average of 230 days of sun per year, the weather won’t keep you from exploring. There’s so much more community and history for retirees to discover once they move to Delray Beach.

If your retirement goal is to spend more time at the beach, Delray’s award-winning stretch of sand more than proves it deserves your attention. It’s clean, exciting, and also provides the services and entertainment you’ll want as you enjoy your third chapter. 

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

Amy Schumer is celebrating her 45th birthday with some new bathing suit photos.

The actress and comedian, who turned 45 on Monday, transitioned from stand-up standout to Comedy Central fame with her beloved series, Inside Amy Schumer. She went on to film roles in projects like Trainwreck and I Feel Pretty. In recent years, Schumer has spoken out about her weight loss transformation, including her use of GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro. After dropping 50 pounds, Schumer is showing off her confidence while enjoying her birthday.

Sporting a strapless black bathing suit and sun hat as she stand-up paddleboarded on vacation, Schumer looked happier than ever.

"I got bounded today thanks ma and dad," Schumer captioned the photo set.

View this post on Instagram What Has Amy Schumer Said About Using Weight Loss Medications?

One thing fans can always expect from Schumer is honesty. The actress and comedian has spoken candidly with the press about her health. Back in 2023, she appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen and revealed that while she tried using Wegovy several years ago, the side effects were horrific, and she became devastatingly ill as a result. Schumer told Cohen the drug made her “so sick” that she couldn’t even play with her son and had to ditch the medication.

“Like, a year ago, I tried it. I was one of those people that felt so sick and couldn’t play with my son. I was so skinny, and he’s throwing a ball at me and [I couldn’t],” she shared.

More recently, Schumer said she’s been having a “really good experience” with a different drug called Mounjaro.

 “My symptoms of being in perimenopause have disappeared. My hair is fuller, my skin is better, I have more energy. I want to ‘get down’ more, if you know what I mean,” Schumer shared in a video taken while sitting in her car. “I’m talking about sex.”

View this post on Instagram

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What Has Amy Schumer Said About Losing Weight?

Schumer has previously spoken out on social media about why she decided to lose weight. In a now-deleted Instagram reel, she said she did so to “survive” Cushing syndrome, a condition caused by too much of the hormone cortisol in the body, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

“I didn’t lose 30 lbs, I lost 50,” Schumer explained. “Sorry for whatever feeling it’s giving you that I lost that weight.” She went on to say that she’s now able to play tag with her son, Gene.

She also said that “whatever ends up happening” in her marriage to Chris Fischer has “nothing to do with” her weight loss. “Fingers crossed,” she shared. “He’s the best.”

However, Schumer announced her split from her husband of 7 years shortly after.

What Has Amy Schumer Said About Using Weight Loss Medications?

One thing fans can always expect from Schumer is honesty. The actress and comedian has spoken candidly with the press about her health. Back in 2023, she appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen and revealed that while she tried using Wegovy several years ago, the side effects were horrific, and she became devastatingly ill as a result. Schumer told Cohen the drug made her “so sick” that she couldn’t even play with her son and had to ditch the medication.

“Like, a year ago, I tried it. I was one of those people that felt so sick and couldn’t play with my son. I was so skinny, and he’s throwing a ball at me and [I couldn’t],” she shared.

More recently, Schumer said she’s been having a “really good experience” with a different drug called Mounjaro.

 “My symptoms of being in perimenopause have disappeared. My hair is fuller, my skin is better, I have more energy. I want to ‘get down’ more, if you know what I mean,” Schumer shared in a video taken while sitting in her car. “I’m talking about sex.”

Related: Amy Schumer Says She Had a ‘Botched' Medical Procedure as She Shows off 50-Lb Weight Loss

While we can all foster independence, there's no denying that some people seem to effortlessly take initiative, maintain confidence, and act with autonomy. According to Psychology Today, emotional independence is "the ability to manage your life and your stress levels, even under difficult circumstances." Taking it further, expert astrologers note which three zodiac signs stand out as the most likely to be independent: Aries, Sagittarius, and Aquarius. Read on to discover more about these star signs and how they navigate the world.

Which Zodiac Signs Are The Most Independent?

Check for your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs.

Aries

As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries is a true trailblazer. They are filled with passion, determination, and fiery willpower. Aries individuals take no orders and live their lives on their own authentic terms. As natural-born leaders, they are known for their unapologetic independence. Why try to fit in when you're born to stand out?

While their blunt nature can sometimes lead to misunderstandings, they generally have good intentions behind their honesty. Rather than comforting you with a lie, they ask you to bravely confront the truth. In doing so, they set others free from self-imposed limitations. Their pride keeps them active and agile as they conquer challenges and achieve their goals. When others feel helpless, Aries is often the first to step up and take proactive, inspired action. A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor, after all.

FURTHER: These 4 Birth Months Are Anti-Drama

Sagittarius

Known as "The Archer", Sagittarius confidently aims for their highest potential. They refuse to settle. As a true fire sign, they embody ambitious hope and passionate warmth. Philosophy, spirituality, and clear moral reasoning take center stage in their lives. When faced with distractions, they rely on their values for unwavering courage to do what is right. Instinctively, they take swift action that aligns with their innermost truth.

As a mutable sign, they demonstrate flexibility and dynamism during unpredictable times. While others cling to false security, they set themselves free to explore uncharted territory. Their independence shines through in their ability to motivate not only themselves but also others during turbulent moments. This adventurous star sign keeps their eye on the prize and takes the initiative to make things happen.

MORE: How to Know If You Have a Stellium in Astrology (And What It Means)

Aquarius

Aquarius is known for its unconventional charm and willingness to innovate. Gifted at thinking outside the box, this star sign carves out a unique path. Fitting into a mold is not for them; they understand that simply following in others' footsteps won't lead to true satisfaction. Those who dare to dream big tend to achieve the greatest feats, after all.

Aquarians remain true to their innermost desires, needs, and overall sense of purpose. When faced with external pressures, they don’t crumble. Instead, they turn inward to find answers and gain insight into what truly resonates with them. While this ability to remain emotionally regulated during a crisis can make them appear detached, they aren't necessarily. Rather, they know how to apply reasoning to resolve tense situations, allowing logic to guide them rather than emotional panic.

UP NEXT:

Noah Brown is sharing the last words he said to his brother Matt Brown before the former Alaskan Bush Peoplestar died suddenly.

Matt, who appeared on the Discovery Channel reality series alongside the Brown family, was found dead in the Okanogan River in Washington state on Saturday, May 30. He was 43.

In a new interview with Us Weekly, Noah opened up about the final time he saw Matt and the last real conversation the brothers had before his death.

"I actually saw him the day before [Matt went missing], just in one of those, like, driving by, wave-type situations," Noah told the outlet. "I wish I had more time when I drove past. It was stopped, but … it is what it is."

Noah said his final conversation with Matt happened "probably two or three weeks" before Matt died, when the two ran into each other at a grocery store.

"I ran into him in the grocery store, [and] the last thing I said to him was, 'OK, love you more, man,' which was our thing," Noah said.

"You never know when the last time you're going to see someone is, so [our family] always [says] how you feel right before you say goodbye, because it could be the last thing," he said. "Then that was it."

View this post on Instagram Noah Brown Says He and Matt Brown Were 'Good'

Noah also reflected on his relationship with Matt in the years leading up to his death. While he said the brothers were not especially close in Matt's later years, Noah made it clear that there was no major conflict between them.

"We were good; we just kept our distance," Noah told Us Weekly. He explained that, over time, he came to feel it was best to let Matt live his own life. Still, Noah admitted that the loss had left him wishing there had been more time.

"He and I were good, and I'm very, very thankful for that," Noah said. "I do wish, though, that there could have been more, but in the end, that's kind of always how it is. You always wish that you could have done more, no matter how much it was that you were doing."

Related: 'Alaskan Bush People' Star Feared Dead

The Brown Family Remembers Matt Brown

Alaskan Bush People followed Billy Brown, Ami Brown, and their children as they lived in Alaska's remote wilderness before later moving to Washington state. The Brown children featured on the series included Matt, Noah, Joshua "Bam Bam" Brown, Bear Brown, Gabe Brown, Bird Brown, and Rain Brown.

After Matt's death, the Brown family shared a statement with Us Weekly remembering him as "our beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend." "To millions of viewers, Matt was known as one of the original stars of Alaskan Bush People. To us, he was so much more," the family said.

The family also remembered Matt as "intelligent, curious, creative, and endlessly fascinated by the world around him," adding that he was a gifted outdoorsman who felt comfortable on the water and in the wilderness.

"He was an accomplished fisherman, an experienced boatman, and served as the radar operator on our family's vessels," the statement continued. "He loved adventure and never stopped exploring new ideas." Noah also told Us Weekly that he was among the people involved in recovering Matt's body from the river.

"Right now, all I can say is that he was lost in the river," Noah said. "He was lost in the river, and we found him."

The family's statement also encouraged anyone who is struggling or in crisis to call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

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WhenJohn Lennon wrote "Give Peace a Chance," the anti-war song was a cry for one thing only: "All we are saying is give peace a chance," the track echoed throughout its nearly five-minute runtime. Recorded 57 years ago today on June 1, 1969, it was released on July 4 in the U.K. and July 7 in the U.S., and became a historic peace anthem—without ever hitting No. 1 on the charts.

Despite never reaching the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, the song peaked at No. 14, enjoying a nine-week tenure on the chart overall. It spent four weeks within the Top 20 and six weeks in the Top 40, records show.

Credited to the Plastic Ono Band, the track itself was created in the moment during one of Lennon's and wife, Yoko Ono's, famous "bed-in" protests, sparking a movement during the anti-Vietnam War era of the late 1960s/early 1970s.

"Lennon and Ono were well-known members of the anti-war movement. They even created the method of protest known as a “bed-in,” involving occupying a hotel room for a week at a time as they did on their honeymoon in Amsterdam. This song was actually recorded during one of their “bed-ins” in Montreal," according to Genius.

While the Montreal bed-in was in progress, the Beatles band member got the idea after inviting celebrities and media representatives into the hotel room to discuss the political climate. It is reported that Lennon kept repeating the phrase "give peace a chance" in various interviews, sparking what became the tune, which was recorded live by producer André Perry, per Song Facts. "Using four microphones and a portable 4-track cassette recorder he borrowed from a local studio," the song came together, featuring a chorus of contributors including Petula Clark, Allen Ginsberg, and Timothy Leary.

"Give Peace a Chance" still stands as a landmark moment in popular music history, marking the first solo single released by a member of the Beatles while the group was still active.

Related: 1979 Ultimate Classic Ranked Among 'Greatest Duets in Rock History' Never Hit No. 1

You've likely heard the phrase golden years before. This is a common way people refer to retirement in America, giving it a glowing name to represent the exciting part of your life when your time is once again your own.

And while many people use these years to travel, spend more time with their children and grandchildren, or even learn another language, experts say that the idea that retirement is a magical, golden time of our lives is actually making some people miserable. That's because we've put this chapter of life up on a pedestal, framing it as a stress-free period when you don't have a care in the world. Psychologists say that's causing issues for those who discover that retirement doesn't actually live up to the hype. So, what can we do? These experts share what you can do if your golden years have you feeling blue instead.

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What Are the 'Golden Years'

If you're curious as to the idea behind the golden years, Dr. Ken Martz, Psy.D., MBA, a Professor of Psychology, a Licensed Psychologist, and author explains that it has to do with what many working Americans are told during their career, which is that if they work hard for 40 years, they will be able to cash out and take a well-deserved vacation. "Travel, golf, grandchildren. A long, leisurely exhale," he explains. "It emerged in the mid-20th century alongside Social Security and pension plans, and it became deeply embedded in how people structured their entire life goals. Retirement wasn’t just a financial milestone. It was the finish line, the reward, the point of it all."

Related: This Is One of the Most Affordable Retirement Beach Towns in America, and No, It’s Not in Florida

Why Are People Unhappy in Their 'Golden Years'

All of what Dr. Martz says sounds like a dream. He says that the promise of that extended break hasn't exactly lived up to reality, and the gap between what we are told during our working years and what we face when we retire is causing people to feel anxious.

"The financial picture alone has shifted dramatically," he explains, noting that rising costs, depleted nest eggs, and staggering healthcare expenses mean many people arrive at retirement "hoarding" their resources rather than enjoying them. "The uncertainty of longevity makes this worse: If you might live to 95 or 100, that’s 30 to 35 years [from] a typical retirement age of 65," he continues. "How do you budget for a stretch of life you can’t predict? The answer for most people is: you don’t spend, you freeze. The vacation never starts because you’re terrified of running out of money before you run out of years."

​Dr. Connie McReynolds, a Licensed Psychologist, notes that the pressure to live up to the retirement we've pictured in our minds can also cause issues, especially when the expectation doesn't align with reality. "Add in financial pressures and health concerns, and ​t​hat blue sky moment can cloud over fast," she says. "​We also have social media and advertising ​that present a fantasy of retirement as endless travel and relaxation, ​and if that's not you, it's one more disappointment and knock to your confidence."

Related: Retirement Shock Is Real—Psychologists Say Most People Never See It Coming

How to Handle the Letdown of Your Golden Years

Curious how you can avoid those blue golden years? Dr. Martz says we can start by retiring the word "retirement." "Then retire the idea that stopping is the goal," he says. "The healthiest transitions I see clinically look less like a hard landing and more like a controlled descent: Gradually reducing hours, strategically shifting roles, deliberately building the next chapter before the current one closes. Pilots don’t cut the engines at 30,000 feet and hope for the best and neither should you."

Dr. McReynolds seconds that approach, saying that we need to see retirement not as an end, but as a new chapter to enjoy on your own terms. "Joy ​comes in many guises and that could be connection, curiosity, and purpose​ for this new way of living," she says. "​Y​ou may want to volunteer, mentor, learn new skills,​ take up some creative hobbies​ or even find part time work​."

While there are all kinds of ways you can spend your retirement, Dr. McReynolds says the most fulfilling path is the one that works for you. "There is no schedule or score card, so try things out and see what fits you, not others."

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

Once again, Southwest Airlines is changing its seating policy for plus-size passengers. Passengers will no longer need to buy an extra seat due to their size. This is a change from a January decision that required them to buy an extra seat if they needed it. Many passengers criticized that policy, feeling alienated and fat-shamed. The move also came under fire from the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), which called the January move more restrictive.

Related: Southwest Airlines' New Rule Could Affect How You Pack Your Carry-On

What the New Policy Means for Plus-Size Passengers

Now, Southwest airport agents can provide an extra seat at no additional cost when space is available. If no adjacent seats remain, passengers will be rebooked on a different flight. While the new policy does not require customers to buy an extra seat, it is strongly encouraged that customers who may need extra room reserve an additional seat before traveling. If they wait until they get to the airport and no adjacent extra seats are available, they could be forced to rebook their flight, leading to major delays and frustration.

It’s important to note that Southwest remains the only major U.S. airline to offer any refund for eligible plus-size passengers after their flight. After a trip, passengers can request a refund for the extra seat by submitting a request to Southwest within 90 days of travel if they meet certain criteria. To qualify, the flight must have departed with at least one open seat, and both seats must have been booked in the same fare class. Other major U.S. carriers do not have formal post-flight refund programs for additional seat purchases for comfort.

Related: Southwest 'Priority Flyer' Claims Airline Tried to Force Him to Buy Second Seat

Another Controversial Policy

The seating policy for plus-size passengers is not the only controversial measure Southwest has implemented. Last year, it ended its free checked-bag policy, which irked many loyal customers. Now, this year, it increased the fees by $10, making the first checked bag $45 and the second $55. The airline attributed the change to rising oil prices due to the Iran conflict.

Despite the controversies, Southwest remains financially stable. During an April earnings call, the company noted an increase in revenue. 

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When it comes to poignant stories, Zoulfa Katouh quickly proved herself to be an endearing and important voice with As Long as the Lemon Tree Grows. Now she’s back with her second novel, The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue.

The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue is the story of a Syrian American girl, struggling to deal with cultural bias and simply trying to fit in. It’s an issue for so many who come from other cultures and parts of the world, as they cling onto the identity they once knew while assimilating with the new world around them.

Jihad Dabbagh is a 17-year-old girl with a gift. She sees the world with a heightened sense of colors, a magical blessing for all the women in her family. However, that gift changes depending on her mood, and when she’s struggling mentally, she only sees the world in black and white, a colorless oasis.

That’s the world she currently lives in, ever since the death of her mother. Her world is now a permanent shade of grey, and things are made worse when she finishes out high school at the elite Braxton Academy. Both her name and her hijab make her a target for bias, misunderstanding, and outright prejudice, and all Jihad wants is a way to escape.

Jihad knows that there is only one way to escape, and that’s to paint. It’s something she hasn’t done since her mother’s death, but she soon finds her voice and style, even if it does come with the threat of legal consequences.

It’s a beautiful tale of love, loss, and identity. We don’t even need to look at events in just America to know that this is a tale that is important. It’s one of acceptance and of standing out when everything seems to be against you.

Courtesy of Little, Brown Books

We have a beautiful exclusive excerpt to shine a light on just the start of Jihad’s story, and it’s sure to have you hooked for the rest when it is released on June 2, 2026.

I see a speeding car from the corner of my eye. I shiver as if feeling the rumble of the pavement from behind the register.

When I blink, a colorless world unfurls in front of me. For more than a year now, I have been able to see only in gray; all the color has disappeared from my universe.

The gas station Baba works at sits on the precipice of I‑80, which connects New Jersey to the beaches of San Francisco. One straight line that leads to the Opus School of Art— the college of my dreams.

It was founded by a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature who used her earnings to open and fund the school. Those who have graduated from it have gone on to make their mark on the world through photography, painting, and museums. Sometimes during the quiet, boring moments here, I take out my phone, open Google Maps, and follow the line with my finger, trying to imagine the way there. But I can’t fully visualize it. Everything has become dulled, vague, like a pencil smudge.

The only thing that’s been consistent is the burning need inside me to be in San Francisco. Even if I can’t see the blue of the ocean when I reach it, it won’t matter.

Every dashing car is a promise. A wish made on a birthday cake with a flickering candle. I focus on the wishes. The big ones first, then the small ones.

I wish Opus would admit me.

I wish Amal and her husband would find jobs in San Francisco and move with me.

I wish Baba would look at me. Like, actually look at me.

I wish I could finish senior year quickly.

I wish I could see color again.

Once, my life was a burst of color in shades of sunlight yellows, burning reds, forest greens, galaxy purples. My sketchbooks reflected that, painting what my eyes could see and others’ couldn’t. The colors danced. They swirled around me— hues reflected on my skin. They rippled like waves and splashed like waterfalls.

They were my entire life. And now they’re gone, leaving behind an eternal gray.

The swishing sound of the sliding door breaks the train of wishes, and I straighten up. Sam, one of the regular truckers who comes into this gas station, heads straight to the fridge to get his usual four-pack of Red Bulls before coming to the register.

“Evening.”

I ring up the Red Bulls. “Long night?”

He nods, thick eyebrows knitting together. He’s in different shades of gray, but his beard and mustache are a lighter shade than his hair. I can’t seem to remember if his hair is brown or auburn. If his eyes are brown or blue.

I pinch my thigh to focus.

“Have a delivery to Pennsylvania,” he says gruffly before squinting at me. “Don’t you have school tomorrow?”

“School isn’t for another two weeks.” The register clangs. “That’ll be ten dollars and ninety-eight cents.”

He nods absently, taking out his wallet and handing me a couple of wrinkled bills. I watch him walk out, climb into his truck, and drive out the lot, joining the other blurs speeding by.

One day, I think, that will be me.

I rub my eyes. I’ve been here all day, helping Baba with the gas station.

Although the real reason is to stare at I‑80. It calms my thoughts, quiets the loud emptiness inside me. It’s the only hope I allow myself.

Besides, if I’d stayed home, I’d have been in bed all day. Exactly how I spent the first few weeks of summer break, until my best friend, Alexis, pulled me out of my blanket fort.

Baba walks out from the storage room, ruffling his jacket.

“Yalla?” he asks in the same monotone voice he’s adopted for the past year. One that says he hasn’t been healing, doesn’t want to heal. One that says he’s been operating in survival mode for months. His hair is pale gray, and I wonder how that happened.

Helping around the gas station used to be fun. Baba helped build our fantasies until they became an intricate world that stretched as far as the eye could see. He came from the same town as Mama. His family was of the more practical type. But Mama came from something much more magical. It’s one of the reasons he fell for her. The way she expanded his life to be more than a monotony of going through the motions. She took his hand and showed him her world. His imagination was tentative but strong, and Amal and I spent many days fighting sea serpents and rescuing bags of chips from high ladders here.

We’re the last stop before travelers go on their journey, he used to say. It’s our duty to help them make it to where they need to go, and in a way, it’s like we’re going with them.

In moments like these, words splashed my world in color. They became animated, not frozen. They danced like waves on the sea, shimmered like diamonds, and became alive. The chipped red paint of the gas station became lava, bubbling and moving with the wind. The dull yellow of the walls became as bright as stars, actually spilling to the floor. I could taste the colors.

When I told my parents how the colors whispered their stories to me, how they pulsed and breathed, I was worried they wouldn’t believe me. That this was a figment of a hyperactive imagination. But Mama said the blessing was awakening in my blood.

There are stories in my family. Blessings that brush the line between reality and magic. Passed down through the generations of women in my family like a gift. My great-grandmother’s house in Syria was the only one with sunflowers blooming all year. Through snow and hail, they had their petals stretched out toward the sun just because she grew them. Her daughter, my grandmother, could catch clouds with her bare hands and squeeze the moisture from them for the freshest, coldest water you’d ever drink. The village never went thirsty. Her sister could talk to the trees. They told her of battles never written in books and lost love stories never known. She knew how Arwad and Tartus came to be and when the lemon trees would release one final bountiful crop before passing away.

Mama was the one who could speak to everything that lived in the sea. She knew how to swim before she could walk. The jellyfish were her childhood friends and the Mediterranean her confidant.

And even though Baba had never seen her speak to the jellyfish—she’d told him they were shy— he believed every word.

And I could see the colors.

The ones that make up a person, how the character of the person influenced the shades. I could sense sorrow on a stranger’s gray jacket. Taste the joy on a tree’s brilliant green leaves. A song on a daffodil’s yellow petals. Forgotten promises on a faded pink jewelry box. Every shade of every object danced and flared like musical notes, bleeding into one another. I could see people’s cores, the colors that made up their souls and if they were dimmed or bright.

Amal and I grew up with stories from our village. Of vast endless fields and a horizon that stretched on forever. We tried to visualize it in our small two-bedroom Queens apartment. Peaches so sweet you can still taste them hours after you’ve had one. Sun so warm in autumn that a light jacket is the only thing needed. Mountains that rumbled, joining the Athan prayer from centuries-old mosques.

It’s these stories that shaped me, that kept the pain away.

Now it’s these stories that bring the pain.

Now the colors are leeched, stripped forcefully from my sight. All I see are shades of gray. It happened after Mama was gone more than a year ago. I thought I was still stuck in a nightmare. I was too shocked to say anything, praying and hoping the colors would come back. It took me a whole week before I brought it up to Baba. The guilt gnawed at me when he took me to the optometrist because our co‑pay is horrible. Even more when the optometrist couldn’t find anything wrong with me and declared it was probably all in my head. I don’t think he believed that.

So this is the world I see.

Baba gets into the car while I close up the gas station. He’s been spending more time at the gas station than at home these days.

I put on my headphones and press play on my playlist before jogging to the car. As soon as I get in the passenger seat, Baba puts the car in reverse and drives out into the road, taking us back into the belly of New York City.

I used to love my town. I was born here, grew up here. This place is all I’ve known. Our neighborhood promised the American dream. A mesh of cultures all coming together from different parts of the world to find opportunity in this land of the free. While everyone spoke English, it wasn’t the most prevalent language. It was a symphony of Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese, and Romanian. And I loved it. I loved how I knew where each creaking stone in the pavement outside my apartment building was. I knew the stray ginger cat in the alley who has given birth to a litter of kittens every single year for the past five years. One that I wanted to adopt but Mama—

I turn up the volume on my headphones until it’s over the recommended range. I don’t listen to the words. They’re a garble against my ears as I lose my thoughts to the drumbeats and guitar strings.

We’re caught in the evening traffic for a solid hour. If there was no traffic, it would have been ten minutes.

The whole ride is silent aside from the buzz of the music I’m listening to.

Finally, finally, we’re home.

I get out, slamming the door, and hurry up the steps of our six-story building. I don’t even look back to see if Baba is following. We’ve become our own islands.

This has been my parents’ home ever since they came to the United States. The building is crammed between others like they are scared children, leaving no room to breathe. It might seem like the building is about to fall, knees wobbling, but I realized long ago this building will be here years after I die. The illusion of weakness doesn’t extend to its insides.

The salon run by our neighbor, Mrs. Gomez, and her daughters, is still open, and the sounds of rapid Portuguese flit out the open windows. My heart hurts, and I push back more memories threatening to play in front of my eyes.

The elevator isn’t working, which isn’t a surprise. I climb up the five flights of stairs, reaching our front door.

Stepping inside, praying I hear her voice. A prayer, a hope bursting in my heart unbidden every time I come home.

Praying the past year was just a nightmare.

But it wasn’t. Of course it wasn’t.

Related: Leigh Bardugo and Liz Climo Have Teamed up for Something You Wouldn’t Expect — And They Share Why! (Exclusive)

The rainbow flag is probably the most well-known flag of the LGBTQ+ community and one of the best-known symbols that show support. With Pride Month in June, you'll probably see a lot more Pride flags, including more than just the rainbow Pride flag or even the Progress Pride flag.

Nearly every identity and label that falls under the LGBTQ+ community has its own flag, including bisexuals. So, what does the bisexual flag look like?

Considering bisexuality makes up the "B" in "LGBTQ+," the bi flag is one of the more well-known Pride flags. Even if you can't think of what it looks like right off the bat, once you see it below, you'll definitely recognize it.

But even if you know what it looks like, do you know where it came from or what the colors mean? Read on to find out.  

Related: What Does Bisexual Mean? What You Should Know About the 'Invisible Majority' of the LGBTQ+ Community

What Is the Bisexual Flag and What Does It Represent?

We already established that there's a rainbow Pride flag—pretty common knowledge—but the bisexual flag has far fewer colors. 

First off, what does bisexual mean? A bisexual person is someone who has the potential to be attracted to more than one gender, or their gender and others. There are different ways that bisexual people can describe their sexuality, but that's typically the general description. 

The bi flag—which consists of pink, purple and blue—represents the bisexual and bi+ community who identify as bisexual or under the bisexual umbrella. And before the flag came about, a triangle bi-pride symbol with bisexual colors came first, per Pride.com.

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What Does the Bisexual Flag Look Like?

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As stated above, the bisexual flag has three colors: pink, purple and blue. They're situated in three horizontal sections, with the top pink section being the biggest, the purple section in the middle being the thinnest and the bottom blue section being slightly thinner than the pink.

There are, of course, different variations of how thin or thick the colors are on the flag, but that's pretty standard. And again, the colors are always the three we mentioned before.  

Related: What Does 'Sapphic' Mean? Here's What the Word Means and How It Relates to 'WLW'

What Do the Bisexual Flag Colors Mean?

If each color in the rainbow Pride flag means something, you can guess correctly that all three colors in the bisexual flag mean something significant, too.

1. Pink

According to USA Today, the pink in the bisexual flag represents same-sex attraction.

2. Purple

The purple color in the middle is a mixture of pink and blue and represents "more than one type of attraction," per USA Today.

The creator of the bisexual flag, Michael Page (who we'll introduce you to in a minute), wrote on his now-archived blog that the purple "pixels of color" blending together from the pink and blue is purposeful and represents how "most bi people blend unnoticeably into both the gay/lesbian and straight communities" in the "real world."

3. Blue

The bottom blue color in the bisexual flag represents attraction to the "opposite sex" or genders other than your own (if you're bisexual, of course).

The bisexual flag colors are great symbols for the bisexual and bi+ communities on their own. In fact, they even inspired the term "bisexual lighting," which is more a meme than anything, as the BBC reported. But that doesn't stop bisexual viewers from noting when a show, movie or music video uses these specific colors in their lighting or color schemes.

Who Created the Bisexual Flag?

The current bi flag was designed by Michael Page, a Florida-based bisexual activist, according to Queer Art History. They reported that Page released the flag's design on Dec. 8, 1998, on his blog, BiCafe.com (which no longer exists). He came up with the bisexual flag as a way to "create a prominent symbol for the bisexual community."

Biangles (bi triangles) are a very underappreciated symbol of bisexuality pic.twitter.com/uzQMq7550K

— Балкански Janez 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏴 (@BalkanAvis) October 15, 2022

As mentioned before, the bisexual flag designed by Page is the first and only bi flag, but it was influenced by the "biangles," according to INTO. Visually, these are two upside-down triangles—a pink and a blue one—that overlap with the blue triangle's top left corner to create a smaller purple triangle.

INTO reported that the biangles were created by Liz Nania for the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1987. Similar to the significance of the colors on the bisexual flag, Nania's biangles also represented things: the pink and blue triangles were representative of boys and girls and the purple represented the Lavender Menace.

Whether you like the biangles or the straightforward bisexual flag, or you want to use the bi flag colors in your own way, the bisexual community has a vibrant way to represent themselves. 

Related: What Does the Lesbian Flag Look Like? Here's Why You Might See So Many Variations of It

More than five decades after Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory first delighted audiences, several of the film's original stars reunited in Connecticut—and fans could hardly believe how much they had changed.

The reunion took place at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, where cast members who once played Wonka's young golden-ticket winners came together to meet fans, sign autographs, and reminisce about the beloved 1971 classic.

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The cast members, including Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket), Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt), Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee), and Rusty Goffe (Oompa-Loompa), were on hand for the Chocolate Expo held at the resort and casino—and even tried their luck on a Willy Wonka slot machine.

Fans were delighted to see some of their favorite stars from the film in person, while those who couldn't make it to Mohegan Sun over the weekend enjoyed following the reunion on social media. Many couldn't get over just how different the cast looks more than 50 years after they starred in the beloved film.

"So fun!!! This is amazing," one Instagram user commented on one of the posts shared on Mohegan's official Instagram page. "I was visiting like a month ago and was so bummed they had removed almost all of their Willy Wonka machines. There's only like one left in either casino. It’s the best series of slot machines! At least these guys got to play before they were all gone!"

View this post on Instagram

"Omgggg! OG cast members!!! That’s amazing! I wish didn’t just break my leg so I could go!! That’s one of my top 10 favorite movies and can quote almost the whole movie," someone else added.

"Omg stop. This is so awesome," a third comment read.

The original Willy Wonka& the Chocolate Factory was released in 1971 and starred Gene Wilder in the leading role.

In astrology circles and conversations, you'll often hear people chat about stelliums, or concentrated energy in their natal charts. Astrologers define a stellium as a grouping of three or more planets located in the same zodiac sign or astrological house. This creates a powerful concentration of energy within a birth chart. The intensified energy amplifies the astrological influences, making them more significant in an individual's life and personality. Read on to learn more about what a stellium means in astrology, how it impacts your life, and how to harness its potential.

How to Find a Stellium in Your Chart

To start, you'll need to calculate your birth chart. Astro.com is an excellent free online resource for this. After entering your birth date, time, and location, you will receive your astrological natal chart. Look for any sign or house where three or more planets are grouped closely together; this is known as a stellium. A stellium represents the most dominant energy center in your chart.

What Does a Stellium Mean in Astrology?

This checklist will help you define if you have a stellium in your birth or natal chart, as well as your stellium's meaning.

• 3+ planets: You have three or more planets in the same sign or house. However, while some astrologers count the Sun or Moon as potential stellium-making planets, others don't. Furthermore, some experts do not count the outer planets — Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter, and Pluto — as they are generational or slower-moving. Your astrological philosophy, your choice.
• Close grouping: These three or more planets are within 8–10° of each other.
• Sign or house focus: A sign stellium means multiple planets are in the same star sign; a house stellium means they’re in the same astrological house.
• Meaning: Creating an intense concentration of energy, there's more emphasis on this zodiac sign's or house's expression in your life path.
• Which planets count in a stellium?: Some astrologers include the Sun and Moon in a stellium; others exclude them or Mercury (since it’s often near the Sun).

Is a Stellium Good or Bad in Astrology?

A stellium in astrology is neither inherently good nor bad; its influence is neutral. The effect of a stellium in your life depends on how its energy is integrated over time. Stelliums concentrate and focus energy in your birth chart, amplifying the significance of a particular area or zodiac sign. This heightened energy makes that aspect of your personality or life path more dominant. The overall "positive" or "negative" impact of the stellium relies on your relationship with the planets, signs, or houses involved in your individual stellium.

How Do You Find a Stellium in Your Birth Chart?

You are likely wondering, "Do I have a stellium?" To decode if you have a stellium in your natal chart or not, look at the planets in your astrological makeup.

1. Sign-Based Stelliums: Do you have three or more planets in the same sign?

Whether it's the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto, if you have three or more planets in the same zodiac sign, most astrologers would consider it a stellium. For example, if you have a Leo Moon, Mercury, and Mars placement, you have a Leo stellium.

2. House-Based Stelliums: Do you have three or more planets in the same house?

Even if you don't have three or more planets in the same star or zodiac sign, planets placed within the same astrological house can also form a stellium, placing importance on this area of your life. For example, if you have three or more planets in the 2nd house, you'll have a 2nd house stellium, focused on money, resources, possessions, or career.

3. Stellium Degrees: How Close Together Must Planets Be to Form a Stellium?

If three or more planets are placed within the same sign or house, you have a stellium. However, if you want to get more advanced in your definition, the strength of your stellium can be further determined by how tightly the planets are grouped. Planets within 8-10 degrees of each other are more intense, allowing the planets' energies to merge and coexist as one. LEARN MORE: What Degrees Mean in Astrology (And Why They Matter)

Stelliums in Each Zodiac Sign or House

Whether you have a sign-based or house-based stellium, read on to discover your stellium personality traits. The meanings of a stellium in Aries through Pisces or in the 1st through 12th houses are listed.

LEARN - The Modalities in Astrology: Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable Zodiac Signs

Stellium in Aries or 1st House Stellium

Your soul is here to explore self, independence, initiative, and the development of a strong, core identity. Intensely driven, you carry a bold, confident energy. Your destiny calls you to remain authentic to your core self.

Stellium in Taurus or 2nd House Stellium

You're destined to develop groundedness, focusing on security from the inside out. Self-worth and esteem must be prioritized. You value predictability, stability, and material comforts. You're meant to harness autonomy with your money, possessions, resources, and values.

Stellium in Gemini or 3rd House Stellium

With natural curiosity, your mind seeks high intellectual stimulation. Learning, socializing, and expanding upon lived experience keep you active and on the go. Your relationships with community, siblings, cousins, local networks, and daily exchanges are part of your soul contract.

FURTHER LEARNING: Zodiac Signs and Their Elements: Full Guide to Fire, Earth, Air & Water

Stellium in Cancer or 4th House Stellium

You're intuitive, nurturing, and require emotional security. Craving depth, you seek family units, chosen communities, and close-knit connections, and you deeply care for loved ones. Your ancestry, bloodlines, home, and domestic matters are deeply karmic and central to your soul's development.

Stellium in Leo or 5th House Stellium

Your inner child is meant to run free with creativity, talent, self-expression, charisma, and theatrical flair. You're drawn to celebrating life, joy, and expansion. Developing confidence, cultivating romance, engaging in art, nurturing children, and pursuing hobbies helps keep your youthful spirit alive.

Stellium in Virgo or 6th House Stellium

Your life is deeply intertwined with serving others, characterized by practicality, methodicalness, and attention to detail. You're a great worker, problem-solver, and helper. Your health, routines, work, and responsibilities are central to your life and personality.

Stellium in Libra or 7th House Stellium

Relationship-oriented, you seek harmony, peace, and connection with others. You're a diplomatic and charming person who is meant to focus on developing interpersonal relationships. Marriage, partnerships, contracts, and one-on-one relationships are your soul's priority.

Stellium in Scorpio or 8th House Stellium

You're known to have a magnetic, mysterious, and intense aura, hard to ignore despite your quiet power. Seeking depth, answers, and utmost soulful clarity and connection, you don't settle for anything less than a purely passionate, resilient, and fulfilling experience. You're meant to tap into society’s taboos, develop intimacy, embrace sexuality, foster healthy dependencies, and build shared resources.

Stellium in Sagittarius or 9th House Stellium

Your philosophical nature is adventure-seeking, craving expansion of the mind, body, and soul. You have strong integrity, ideas, and principles about the world. You also have a desire to focus on the optimistic aspects of life, gain experiences, pursue education, and travel.

Stellium in Capricorn or10th House Stellium

Your ambitious energy and no-nonsense attitude make you skilled at building anything. Successful, disciplined, and strategic, you are motivated to leave a legacy you're proud of. Your career, reputation, public life, and skills may place you in a position of respect or in the spotlight.

Stellium in Aquarius or 11th House Stellium

You're here to change the collective, shifting outdated ideas and bringing visionary hope. You are full of quirks, unconventional in what you want your life to look like. You foster community, friendships, and social causes to amplify important messages for the underdogs. However, you also need your independence.

Stellium in Pisces or 12th House Stellium

You're an empathetic person, deeply artistic, compassionate, imaginative, and spiritually attuned to the invisible facets of life. Your purpose lies in solitude, the subconscious, psychological healing, mystical connection, healing others, and creative endeavors.

FAQ About Stelliums in AstrologyHow rare is it to have a stellium?

Stelliums aren't necessarily the rarest astrological occurrence to find in a birth chart. However, they are not present in every natal chart either. Many people will have a small grouping of planets, as planets naturally cluster together when they transit at the same time. However, having a very strong stellium, three or more planets in the same house or sign within tight degrees, is less of an everyday occurrence and is more noticeable to expert astrologers.

LEARN: Zodiac Signs and Their Elements: Full Guide to Fire, Earth, Air & Water

Can you have two stelliums in your chart?

Although it's rare, it is possible. If you have two stelliums, both energies will be dominant within your life. For example, if you have an 8th house stellium and a Virgo stellium, both archetypal themes will dominate your path, even if conflicting.

Do nodes, asteroids, or Chiron count in a stellium?

Astrologers tend to only utilize planets in a stellium. Since Chiron is not a planet, and the Moon's Nodes (North and South Nodes) are not planets either, they are usually not considered planets. Some modern practitioners will utilize these influences if they are very tightly conjunct, or blend energy with planets, but they typically play a supporting role rather than a main-character stellum-making role.

UP NEXT:

Thirty years of Girl Power, and the thing standing between the Spice Girls and the reunion the world keeps asking for is not money, not schedules, and not Victoria Beckham. It's love.

Speaking with Zach Sang, Melanie C ('Sporty Spice') was candid about why a full five-member comeback remains elusive even as the group's popularity remains. 'What stops us from doing the thing, the big thing,' she said, 'is that it's so precious to us. And we all have a different idea of what the right thing is.'

The milestone birthdays have played their part in heightening that feeling. All five Spice Girls are now around 50, with Emma Bunton ('Baby Spice') being the last to reach the milestone. Mel C described the effect of that shared moment: 'You get to this age and you're like, 'Wow, if it wasn't for these people, I would not be in this position.' And it's bringing us closer together.;

Related: Travis Kelce Liked a Post About Taking Taylor Swift's Last Name and Fans Lost It

That closeness is real, but unity on the creative question is harder. Plans for a 30th anniversary reunion fell through earlier this year after the group failed to reach an agreement, with Mel C confirming in March, 'No, there is no reunion.' The Zach Sang interview, filmed in May, found her in a more reflective mode, not closing any doors, but being honest about the logistics. 'This is why we need this unity to go, 'Yes, that's it,' she said. 'All agree and then we can fly.'

The 2019 Spice World stadium tour, which grossed an estimated £55 million and sold out Wembley Stadium, though without Victoria Beckham ('Posh Spice'), showed Mel C what's at stake. 'It was a moment to be present and to really acknowledge and take in how we'd affected so many people.' she said. The evidence is everywhere. During a signing appearance in Australia, a four-year-old girl approached her in a Spice Girls T-shirt. Mel C pointed to herself. The girl said, 'I know.' 'Isn't that great?' Mel C said. 'That is timeless.'

For Mel C, opinions have shifted over the years. Performing used to be something she did for herself. 'It used to be very selfish, I used to do it because I loved it,' she said. 'And then it got to this point where I realized the joy I'm bringing to people. Once I discovered that, I was like, the Spice Girls have this ability to bring so much joy to people. It's almost like you have to do it.'

Mel C has said the five members are communicating constantly and that she remains optimistic about a future Spice Girls appearance, even without a fixed timeline. Meanwhile, her ninth studio album Sweat (released May 1, 2026, via Virgin Music Group) is gaining its own momentum. During the interview, the host hit the nail on the head: 'you've hit this intersection of something that matters to you so deeply, but will also resonate and matter to the masses.'

When the Spice Girls do find that unanimous 'yes,' Mel C's answer is already clear. Nobody else gets to define what the right thing looks like. 'That's always in your control,' Sang reminded her. 'Yeah,' she said. 'And that's a beautiful thing.'

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Billy Eichner is not promising a full Billy on the Street revival, but he is not ruling out a return entirely.

The comedian, actor, and writer recently discussed the future of the viral pop culture series during an appearance on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, where he reflected on the show's surprising staying power online. The series, which featured Eichner running through New York City asking pedestrians rapid-fire pop culture questions, originally aired from 2011 to 2017 and later continued in shorter digital installments.

Eichner admitted that he once felt he had to abandon the project entirely.

"For a while, I was like: 'I can never do it! I have to draw a line in the sand,'" Eichner said during the interview, according to Deadline. But his feelings have become more complicated as fans continue to rediscover old clips on social media and ask for more. Eichner said the response to Billy on the Street videos is unusually positive compared with much of the internet, where celebrity commentary can quickly turn critical.

Why fans still want 'Billy on the Street' back

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Billy on the Street became a cult favorite thanks to its chaotic street interviews, celebrity guests, and deeply specific pop culture games. The show aired for three seasons on Fuse before moving to truTV for two additional seasons, with digital episodes following later.

Part of the show's appeal was how quickly it turned ordinary sidewalk encounters into strange, high-energy comedy, with Eichner getting louder and louder as the episode went on. Eichner's "For a Dollar" segments, celebrity cameos, and unfiltered New York reactions helped the show find a long second life through YouTube, TikTok, and other social platforms.

Eichner said he is touched by how much the series still means to fans, especially because many see it as joyful during a difficult cultural moment.

"The people who get it, it's like their favorite thing," he said. "And they're always: 'Please do more. Please bring the show back. The world is so awful. Please do this.'"

Still, he also made it clear that returning to the exact same format would not necessarily satisfy him creatively these days.

He explained that Billy on the Street is not fully aligned with the kind of acting work he wants to do now, even though he remains proud of the show and understands why people still connect with it.

Related: 'Friday Night Lights' To Celebrate 20th Anniversary With New Behind-the-Scenes Docuseries

What a revival could look like

Eichner was direct about one thing: fans should not expect a traditional revival of Billy on the Street.

"I'm never going to do half-hour episodes of Billy on the Street again," he said, according to Deadline.

However, Eichner said there have been ongoing conversations about what a new version could look like, though he does not yet know the answer.

That leaves the door open for shorter digital pieces, one-off specials or another version of the street-interview format that fits where Eichner is creatively now. He previously brought the format back briefly with Will Ferrell during the 2024 election cycle.

"For me, I want to have a more eclectic career," Eichner said. "But what I'm always trying to sort of figure out is, 'Oh, OK, I can do both.'"

Related: Iconic Talk Show Host Maury Povich Is Still Working at 87—and Looks as Sharp as Ever

Billy Eichner is also looking back with Billy on Billy

The comments come as Eichner is promoting Billy on Billy: An Audio Memoir, which looks back on his childhood, career, and the process of creating the loud, pop culture-obsessed persona that made Billy on the Street so recognizable.

After Billy on the Street, he starred in Hulu's Difficult People, appeared on Parks and Recreation andAmerican Horror Story, voiced Timon in 2019's The Lion King, and co-wrote and starred in the 2022 romantic comedyBros.

For now, Eichner seems to be at a crossroads with Billy on the Street. He is not promising a full revival, and he is not interested in returning to the exact old version of the show. But after years of fans asking for more, he is also not closing the door.

"Never say never," he said. "I don't know."

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Zendaya just broke her silence after her character Rue's shocking death in the Euphoria Season 3 finale.

On Sunday, May 31, the final episode of the HBO series aired, marking the end of an era for the award-winning series that premiered in 2019. Unfortunately for the show's main character, it also meant the end of her life following an overdose.

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In a clip that aired following the finale, Zendaya addressed the Euphoria cast and crew members after wrapping up filming. “I want to say thank you," she said. "I’m really grateful for every single one of you."

The actress, 29, continued, while struggling to maintain her composure, "Many of you have been here from the beginning and watched me grow up. It's been such a pleasure and an honor. Thank you so much."

Rue went this WHOLE season being sober and Alamo just got her to relapse JUST LIKE THAT??? #Euphoria pic.twitter.com/k9gHMO3eES

— ໊ (@wandasattorney) June 1, 2026

Euphoria creator Sam Levinson added, “Zendaya’s performance has been so wonderful and layered over the course of these seasons. We fell in love with this character, this girl who's flawed, f---ed up, and has a good heart, and trying to do right, at least sometimes.”

He added of her character's death, "It just felt like the honest ending. The honest ending is people like Rue don't make it."

Additionally, Levinson confirmed that Season 3 is Euphoria's last. “In terms of the story that we set out to tell, which is a story about addiction and its consequences, this feels like the end to me,” he told The New York Times in an interview published on May 31.

Euphoria, Seasons 1 to 3, are now streaming on HBO Max.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available 24 hours a day through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Hotline at 1-800-662-4357.

Next: Outlander Ending Explained: Does Jamie Die in the Finale?

In the mid-60s, Cher made a breakthrough with her folk duo track "I Got You Babe" that helped define the era. By the 1970s, Cher and her record label were on the hunt to revive her music career and turned to Bob Stone to develop a No. 1 track.

Cher became a household name rather quickly in her career, but the release of "You Better Sit Down Kid" in 1967 became her last charting top ten hit for the next four years. By 1971, Kapp Records was looking for the perfect single to become Cher's big comeback hit as an artist. They found her next No. 1 hit with the track "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves."

Cher's career was at a standstill before the release of the track, and her partner, Sonny Bono, wasn't doing the job of putting her back in the spotlight. Instead, Kapp Records turned to Snuff Garrett to produce a track, and he recruited Stone to develop a song that would cater to Cher's adult audience.

"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" became a standout hit that topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 1 and on Cash Box. It would also rank high on European charts, with it landing at No. 1 in Canada. The song spent two weeks at the top of the charts, even knocking out Rod Stewart's "Maggie May" from its five-week stint.

The song's lyrics and storyline are what caused listening buzz as Cher sang from the point of view of a 16-year-old Romani girl who grew up in a traveling show. It tackled themes of teen pregnancy and prostitution, which led it to earn a Grammy nomination for Cher.

According to Billboard, songwriters had to be coy about topics of sex, with the track having originally been titled “Gypsys and White Trash.” Garrett had Stone revise the track's title and lyrics to be more subtle in context, but the message remained the same.

Despite "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" being Cher's career comeback, she often admitted to disliking it. During concert performances, she's sung a short 90-second version of the over 2-minute track. She's even reported that "It was a song I recorded in, like, an hour" and said that Garrett hated recording more than two takes. “With Snuffy, you had to crank out an album in a weekend," she said.

The track achieved what it was created for as Cher would return to the charts with hits like "Half-Breed," "Dark Lady," and "The Way of Love," and many more that made her a '70s icon.

Related: 1967 Folk-Pop Ballad, Written by a Teenager, Became a Melancholy Anthem Decades Later

Danny Bonaduce has long admitted he wasn’t always the easiest kid to work with as a child actor on the 1970s sitcomThe Partridge Family. But there was a time when he pushed one of his co-stars too far.

During a May 2025 appearance on the Pop Culture Retro podcast, Bonaduce, 66, recalled a moment when he was being such a brat on set that his TV sister, Susan Dey, took action.

“I was a kid, man,” Bonaduce shared. “I was a kid. Things were going my way. I was a kid, I got seven dollars a week allowance, and I had a minibike. Things were going my way. And apparently I was acting like a d--- and was kind of unaware of it. There's a scene, you won't see it on TV ...I'm trying to do my line over the breakfast table, and Susan Dey dumps a gallon of milk on my head in the middle of the scene. I stop for a second, and I'm about to be flipped out furious. And I realize, ‘Oh, this is endearing, she likes me.'"

That wasn't the case. It turns out that the rest of The Partridge Family cast was in on the prank. In her book Shirley Jones: A Memoir, Partridge Family matriarch Shirley Jones revealed that the rest of the cast put Dey up to the trick. “Once, when [Bonaduce] was getting too big for his boots, we all ganged up on him and convinced Susan to pour a pitcher of milk over his head, just to put him in his place,” Jones wrote in her 2013 tell-all.

In an interview with the C’mon Get Happy blog, Bonaduce acknowledged that Dey’s milk moment was completely ad-libbed. "It wasn’t cut, it wasn’t part of any episode,” he said. “I think I was screwing up my lines a lot and being an a--. The fact of the matter is that I was an extraordinarily ill-mannered young man, and she just got tired of it."

RELATED: Danny Bonaduce Shares Details of On Set Clash That Got ‘Partridge Family’ Star Fired

But there was more to come. On the new podcast, Bonaduce noted that he had already been called out about his behavior more than once before Dey dumped the milk on his head.

“I thought it was some kind of bit, but they put me in my chair, it said my name on it and all that cool stuff,” he recalled. “And then people from out of nowhere started running in with duct tape and rope, and they tied me to that chair. Now dig this, because I can't see how this is even legal. So they tie me in the chair. Then [Director of Photography] Fred Jackman hoists it into the air. Maybe 10 feet in the air. All weird, all fun and games. And then they left, and this is how I remember they all went to lunch and came back. ...I think they were startled to see me still there, like I should have gotten out of this or something. I'm 10 years old, 11 years old, 12 years old, and I'm floating in the air on a Danny Partridge chair. I didn't get out.”

Bonaduce previously looked back on his bad behavior in an interview with Classic Bands, where he revealed that Jones would sometimes reprimand him on set.

“I would be doing something that she would find inappropriate, and she'd go ‘Danny, you go to your room right now!’ And I was like, "Shirley, I don't really have a room here,’” The Partridge Family alum said.

Related: ‘Partridge Family’ Star Danny Bonaduce Gives Rare Update on Susan Dey and Shirley Jones

This story contains spoilers from the season three finale of Euphoria.

The iconic HBO series Euphoria came to an end with the epic Season 3 finale. And at the screening of the finale on Sunday, May 31, creator Sam Levinson paid tribute to Angus Cloud, who passed away at the age of 25 in 2023 from an accidental overdose.

Cloud played drug dealer Fezco, and despite his death before the filming of the final season, he remained a presence in the show with his character Fez serving a 30-year prison sentence. He was brought up in many conversations throughout, despite not appearing physically on screen.

“Moments like these are rare. This season we lost Angus. Many of you loved him the way I did. He deserved more time, a longer, fuller life," Levinson said at the screening. “But he was taken, like far too many people in this country, by fentanyl.”

The finale had Zendaya’s character, Rue Bennett, dying of an accidental overdose, which divided fans, who were hopeful for a happier ending. However, Levinson said that this was the most “honest ending” as “people like Rue don’t make it.”

“There’s no reason to sugarcoat it," he added. "I wanted to tell this story for Angus and for people who weren’t granted a second chance.”

While she was dying, the scene included a show of Rue and Fez together, which Levinson said was a scene that "never made it into the show."

“I thought, oh, it’d be great to use that footage and just see him again—and see the two of them," the show creator explained. "I really wanted to dive into that this season and deal with fentanyl, and deal with the consequences and how it’s taking away young people’s opportunity for a second chance. When I was growing up and doing drugs, sure, you could O.D. on something, but it wasn’t like it is today where you make one wrong move and you’re dead.”

The English language is a funny thing. A word can mean something hundreds of years ago, then it gets twisted into something horrible, only to make a comeback in the modern day. That's basically the TL;DR history of the word "queer."

It's most commonly used to describe someone in the LGBTQ+ community—it is what the "Q" in LGBTQ+ means, after all—but it was also a slur for gay people not that long ago. So, what does queer really mean, and who can use it? Let's get into queer's meaning and how it got to where it is now. 

Related: What Does 'Sapphic' Mean? Here’s What the Word Means and How It Relates to ‘WLW’

What Does 'Queer' Mean?

As Planned Parenthood puts it, queer is a term used to describe "a sexual or gender identity other than straight and cisgender." While labels like gay and lesbian are typically designated for sexualities, and transgender can refer to someone's gender identity, queer can be a label someone uses for either of these things. 

Just like the label bi+ is an umbrella term to encompass anyone with a sexuality that includes more than one gender—bisexual, pansexual, etc.—queer is an umbrella term that covers "a spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities," Them reported. 

"Queer" is great for people who don't want to stick to one label. It's also great for people who don't feel the need to specify just one part of themselves. It's also a nice term when referring to the LGBTQ+ or gay community because it can be such an inclusive term for gay people as a whole.

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Again, queer can refer to anyone who doesn't fall under the cisgender, heteronormative gamut (a.k.a. those that aren't straight). And while queer can be used for someone's gender identity, it's also really common to use it to describe someone's sexuality.

Someone can use the label queer if they're sexually attracted to multiple genders or all genders but don't feel the need to specify, or maybe they don't feel like the terms bisexual or pansexual fit for them. Maybe someone is a lesbian but also loves to use queer sometimes because it's easier and feels just as right. There is no right or wrong reason to use the label queer (except as an insult). Queer can mean different things for everyone as well. 

Related: 80 LGBTQ+ Quotes for Pride Month and Coming Out

Where Did the Word 'Queer' Come From?

If you look at the word "queer" in Merriam-Webster's dictionary, there are several definitions. Just like the usage of the word "gay" in "Deck the Halls"—"Don we now our gay apparel"—the word "queer" wasn't always used for gay people. 

The first definition that comes up is "differing in some way from what is usual or normal" with synonyms like odd, strange, eccentric and unconventional. A popular use of this version of the word is in Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland when Alice comments on how "queer it seems" being in Wonderland, talking to a rabbit. 

This all came about in the 16th century, with the first use of "queer" being in 1513.

When Did the Meaning of 'Queer' Change?

While queer can mean something different for different people, it does, unfortunately, hold a bad taste in the mouths of older gay people or those who remember when "queer" was used as nothing but a slur for people in the LGBTQ+ community. Women's Health reported that the early 16th-century meaning of queer was really its only meaning until the late 19th century or so when "queer" became a slur thrown at gay men.

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With the original meaning of the word—odd, unconventional, strange—you can see why this word became a hateful term for gay men who were not accepted or weren't living a "normal" life. It was in the '90s when people in the LGBTQ+ community started to reclaim "queer" for themselves. 

Again, a lot of people now use queer as a label or in a celebratory way when describing themselves or their sexuality. But it took a lot to get here. 

Related: What Does Bisexual Mean? What You Should Know About the ‘Invisible Majority’ of the LGBTQ+ Community

Can You Use the Word ‘Queer'?

Because so many people use queer to label themselves now, and the word "queer" has shown up on a lot of modern-day Pride Month merchandise, it obviously doesn't hold that hatred the slur once did. However, it's important to remember the history of the word and how harmful it was to the LGBTQ+ community just a couple of decades ago. 

This might mean that older people in the community might still take offense if anyone uses the word, especially non-gay people. So, it's always essential for non-queer people to respect the queer people around them and listen if they call them in.

With that said, people within the community can, of course, use queer however they choose. They can also choose not to use it. Straight people aren't banned from using it in its newer sense of the word, but again, being respectful is a must. And, of course, never use queer as a slur or an insult. That's so…girl-wearing-a-skirt-as-a-top.

What Does the Q+ Stand for in LGBTQ+?

The "Q" and the "+" are separate parts of the acronym "LGBTQ+." The "Q" stands for queer/questioning, and the "+" represents all other identities within the LGBTQ+ community that aren't specifically mentioned in the acronym, such as non-binary and gender non-conforming.

Related: 55 Pride Month Trivia Questions & Answers To Test Your LGBTQ+ Trivia Knowledge & Honor Queer Communities

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Hair oils are some of the most versatile haircare products out there—they smooth frizz, add shine, promote hydration and soften split ends. Just a few drops makes hair look instantly healthier in the short term and improves hair quality in the long term.

If you haven't tried a hair oil because you're concerned it will make your hair look greasy or weighed down, read on. Hairstylists say all hair types can benefit from hair oil, you just need the right formula and application technique to level-up your haircare routine.

To match the best hair oils to different hair types and hair needs, we spoke with three celebrity stylists: Kenna Kennor, who has worked with Victoria Beckham, Gigi Hadid and Lily Collins; Eddie Parra, who has worked with Olivia Wilde and Kate Walsh, and TerraRose Puncerelli, who has worked with Sara Waisglass and Julia Duffy. That's a lot of star power (and good hair)!

Together, they provide details on how to use oils properly and reveal 12 formulas that deliver especially beautiful results.

Related: 7 Best Hot Oil Treatments for Hair, According to Celebrity Stylists

What Do Hair Oils Actually Do?

Unlike leave-in conditioners or masks, hair oils primarily work to help seal the cuticle and create a sleeker, glossier appearance. The hair cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair strand, and its job is to protect the hair and regulate moisture.

So when you apply a hair oil to the cuticle, it can help the cuticle cells to lay flat, making the hair look smooth and shiny. Oils can also protect the cuticle against heat and humidity, which reduces frizz, Kennor says.

Related: The 18 Best Hair-Growth Oils for Stronger, Thicker Strands, Tested by Trichologists Themselves

Top Hair Oils

• Best Overall Hair Oil:Blu & Green Solid Oil
• Best Hair Oil for Shine:May 11 Hair Oil
• Best Hair Oil for Hydration:Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hydrating Hair Oil
• Best Hair Oil for Frizz:Verb Ghost Oil
• Best Hair Oil for Blow Dry Prep:shu uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil
• Best Hair Oil for Medium to Thick Hair :Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil
• Best Hair Oil for Thin Hair:Bumble and bumble Invisible Oil
• Best Hair Oil for Curly Hair:Ouidad Mongongo Oil Multi-Use Curl Treatment
• Best Hair Oil for Coarse Hair:Mr. Smith Luxury Oil
• Best for All Hair Types: OUAI Hair Oil
• Best Budget Hair Oil:OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco
• Best Luxury Hair Oil:Rahua Elixir

When Do Hair Oils Work Best?

“Hair oils work best on fully dry hair, right after heat styling, or to help smooth and control texture on day two or three after wash day,” Kennor tells Parade.

They’re especially effective for taming humidity-related frizz, refreshing dull ends and adding shine to styled hair.

Related: The 14 Best Scalp Serums for 2026, According to a Dermatologist

What Are the Biggest Mistakes People Make When Using Hair Oil?

One of the most common mistakes is applying too much product too quickly.

“Start with a little—always apply it to the ends first,” Kennor says. “It’s easier to add more than remove excess.”

Another major mistake? Applying traditional hair oils to soaking wet hair.

"Never put hair oil on wet hair unless it's specifically formulated for wet hair application," he adds. "Generally, oil will sit on top of water—it's pure chemistry—so you won't get the product's benefit and it can leave hair looking greasy."

Applying oil too close to the roots can also weigh hair down and create buildup—especially for fine hair types.

How Much Hair Oil Should You Use?

The amount of hair oil you need depends entirely on your hair texture and density.

Fine hair usually only needs one to two drops, while thicker or curlier hair types can often handle more product.

“Use it whenever your hair needs smoothing or shine, which could be daily for some hair types or just a few times a week for others,” Kennor says.

The key is building slowly and focusing on mid-lengths and ends rather than the scalp.

Related: 10 Best Dry Shampoos, Tested by Celebrity Stylists

Can Hair Oils Make Dandruff or Scalp Issues Worse?

If you struggle with dandruff, dermatitis or scalp irritation, experts recommend being cautious with oil placement.

“Some dryness is actually caused by too much natural oil production, so adding more oil can worsen the problem,” Kennor says.

For people with scalp concerns, hair oils should generally only be applied to the lengths and ends—not directly onto the scalp.

Anyone dealing with severe dandruff or dermatitis should consult a dermatologist before incorporating scalp oils into their routine, he adds.

Related: We Asked 4 Dermatologists Which Brand New Anti-Aging Product Is Changing the Game—They All Said the Same Thing

What Are the Best Practices for Applying Hair Oil?

Using hair oil correctly can make the difference between glossy, healthy-looking hair and greasy strands.

Here are Kennor's top tips:

• Start small. Always begin with less product than you think you need.
• Apply to the ends first. Concentrate oil on dry ends and damaged areas before working upward.
• Avoid the roots. Unless your hair is extremely coarse or dry, avoid applying oil directly to the scalp or roots.
• Use on dry hair. Hair oils typically perform best on dry, styled hair.
• Wash hands after applying. “Always wash your hands after using hair oil,” the stylist says. “You can easily transfer oil onto your face or scalp, causing unnecessary buildup.”

12 Best Hair Oils for Shine and Frizz Control, Tested by Celebrity Stylists1. Best Overall Hair Oil: Blu & Green Solid Oil, $35

Blu & Green

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Melt this solid formula between your palms before working it through the hair. "This is my absolute favorite,” Kennor says. “It won’t become greasy, gives incredible separation and shine and smells delicious."

The 100% natural formula works especially well for curly, textured and thicker hair types but can be customized to thinner hair, just use the product sparingly.

Related: How To Transition to Gray Hair Without the Awkward ‘Skunk Stripe’ Phase, According to Celebrity Hairstylists

2. Best Hair Oil for Shine: May 11 Hair Oil, $80

May 11

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For anyone with fine or medium hair, this Brooklyn-made oil delivers shine without heaviness.

“This is a unique, 100% natural hair oil with a luster that no other oil I’ve used can deliver,” Kennor says.

Because the formula is ultra-lightweight, it adds gloss and softness without flattening the hair or leaving behind residue. “It’s perfect for fine to medium hair that needs shine without heaviness,” he adds.

Related: 13 Best Hair Gloss Treatments for 2026, Tested by Stylists

3. Best Hair Oil for Hydration:Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hydrating Hair Oil, $32

Sephora

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Parra tells Parade, "This oil is extremely hydrating and nourishing. I love this product for curly or thicker hair. The brand also offers refillable packaging for it."

4. Best Hair Oil for Frizz: Verb Ghost Oil, $22

Sephora

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This cult-favorite formula provides a shield against humidity. “This is really hard to beat for frizz control,” Kennor says. “It’s incredible for a New York summer when humidity is at its worst.”

The lightweight formula smooths flyaways and adds softness without making hair feel coated, making it a good option for all hair types.

5. Best Hair Oil for Blow Dry Prep:shu uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil, $72

Sephora

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"This product is amazing for blow-dry prep to help polish the ends of the hair," Parra says. "It is also a good heat protector and fights frizz."

It's infused with Japanese red camellia oil, which nourishes the hair and helps to prevent breakage.

Related: 11 Best Blow-Dryer Brushes To Simplify Your Beauty Routine, Tested by Stylists

6. Best Hair Oil for Medium to Thick Hair :Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil

Sephora

Shop It at Sephora

This oil is infused with Mirsalehi Honey, a humectant rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. Plus, "this really delivers great frizz control,” Kennor explains.

The formula helps boost shine and moisture while keeping hair smooth and manageable. “It works beautifully on medium to thick hair,” he adds.

Related: What Is a Brazilian Blowout? Professional Hairstylist Shows 6 Before and After Pics

7. Best Hair Oil for Thin Hair:Bumble and bumble Invisible Oil, $47

Sephora

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Parra says this professional salon oil "is ultra lightweight." This makes it great for thinner hair, since it won't weigh it down or leave a residue.

"I always use or suggest it for prepping the hair or finishing since you can use it on wet or dry hair," he says.

8. Best Hair Oil for Curly Hair:Ouidad Mongongo Oil Multi-Use Curl Treatment, $38 

Sephora

Shop It at Sephora

This formula is made especially for the curly hair cuticle, which tends to be more porous. "This oil is really fast absorbing and very hydrating. It helps smooth frizz and flyaways and locks in moisture," Puncerelli says.

9. Best Hair Oil for Coarse Hair:Mr. Smith Luxury Oil, $65

Mr. Smith

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Puncerelli loves that this oil is lightweight, so it doesn’t weigh down the hair. However, it's best for thick, coarse, dry hair and better avoided by those with thin hair.

"It’s formulated to nourish," she says. The heavier oils will soften thicker strands that need moisture.

10. Best for All Hair Types: OUAI Hair Oil, $32

Sephora

Shop It at Sephora

Got a household with multiple hair types? This hair oil is a crowd-pleaser that will work for any and all hair.

"This oil is super lightweight, which makes it great for finishing the hair after styling," Parra says. "I love how it leaves the hair shiny no matter the hair type or texture."

11. Best Budget Hair Oil:OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco, $11

Ulta

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“This has a unique spray application, which I love because it allows you to cover a bigger area with frizz control,” Kennor says.

The lightweight argan oil formula smooths hair, boosts shine and helps tame flyaways without feeling heavy. “At a $10.99 price point, it’s an incredible value,” he says.

12. Best Luxury Hair Oil:Rahua Elixir, $176

Rahua

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This fancy-pants elixir is pure oils and no fillers. It's primarily made of rahua oil from the Amazonian rainforest, which has superfine molecules that strengthen hair and help scalp health. It's sustainably harvested, and Parra calls "super nourishing." He shares that the bottle comes with a dropper making it easy to measure out. 

Up Next:

Sources:

• Kenna Kennor, celebrity stylist who runs the salon Kennaland.
• Eddie Parra, senior stylist at BENJAMIN Salon, New York
• TerraRose Puncerelli, celebrity stylist