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Just in time for The Fast and the Furious franchise’s 25th anniversary, Universal Studios Hollywood has been given the green light to open its first high-speed outdoor coaster.

As summer comes to an end, the Hollywood sunset skyline at Universal Studios gets a street-race makeover for fans of the films starring Vin Diesel, the late Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster, who originated their roles in the first installment back in 2001. Since then, Universal Studios has released 11 films in the Fast Saga, including spin-offs starring ensemble members Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham. This ride marks the second attraction inspired by the films on the West Coast, having previously been featured as a simulated high-speed segment on the world-famous studio tour, but now the thrills get real.

When it opens on September 16, 2026, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift promises to hit the NOS to launch its ride vehicles across a 4,100 ft track at 72 miles per hour. And yes, we mean vehicles. Fast Saga fans will recognize Dominic Toretto’s Dodge Charger (for one), the Mazda RX-7, a Nissan Skyline GT-R, and a Toyota Supra, inspired by the cars seen in the film franchise.

The LA race vibes on the coaster will not just pay homage to the aesthetic of the city’s car culture but will also aim to match the high-octane stakes the fast family experiences on four launches, an inverted dive loop, a pretzel loop, and an inverted stall, and will feature 360° drift rotation on each car.

Related: Vin Diesel Honors Dolly Parton In a Suprising Heartfelt Tribute, Leaves Fans in Tears

There’s plenty of fun to have on the West Coast theme park’s first outdoor high-speed coaster. The ride joins the likes of Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge at Super Nintendo World and Jurassic World: The Ride. An all-new film in the saga, Fast Forever, will race into theatres in March 2028. For more information about Universal Studios Hollywood, visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com; follow @UniStudios on Instagram and X and like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook.

Ever since his days as the teenage singer of the Spencer Davis Group in the ’60s, Steve Winwood was one of the most iconic rock stars of all time. That said, his biggest success actually didn’t come until 1986, when his album Back in the High Life spawned a series of hit singles (ultimately attaining triple-platinum status).

One of those singles, the album’s title track, was written in a surprisingly short amount of time. As the song’s co-writer, Will Jennings, told Songfacts, he had the title for “Back in the High Life Again” before anything else.

“We wrote those songs in the fall of ’84, and it was a long spell before he got in the studio in New York,” he said. “We had ‘Higher Love’ and several other songs, including ‘The Finer Things.’ And then it was toward the end of my stay over there and we still needed some other songs.”

“I had ‘Back in the High Life Again’ in this book that I carry with me of titles,” Jennings continued. “I pulled that out and I suddenly found the rest of the song, and I wrote that in about 30 minutes, and left it with Steve to put a melody to. So this is in ’84. And then I went back to California, and it was a year, I guess, before he went in the studio, sometime in ’85. I called one day and talked to Russ Titelman who was producing the album. They were doing it in New York. I asked him how it was going, and he said, ‘Oh it’s going great.’ He said ‘Higher Love’ came out great and ‘The Finer Things.’ I asked him how ‘Back in the High Life’ would come out. There was this little pause, and he said, ‘Steve hasn’t shown me that song.'”

As Jennings went on to explain, Winwood, who was going through a divorce, hadn’t written the music to the song yet.

“Because of the divorce, his wife got everything in the house, this big house in England,” Jennings said. “So he came up from London and went out to this house, which he still lives in and he had for years before he was married, and everything was gone, except there was a mandolin over in the corner of the living room. It was winter and it was dreary. He went over and picked up the mandolin, and he already had the words in his head, and that’s when he wrote the melody. He went back and not only cut a big hit which still is played so much today, but it was the title track of the album. And if I hadn’t asked about it, it would have just gone by, so that’s one that was saved at the last minute.”

Related: 1967 Rock Hit With Iconic Organ Riff Was Written and Sung by an 18-Year-Old

Though Back in the High Life was seen as something of a stylistic departure from Winwood’s previous solo work, he resisted the idea in a 1986 interview with The New York Times.

”Basically, the music doesn’t change,” he said. ”The presentation of it changes, the way it’s marketed changes, and it’s probably a little better technically done, but it always returns to what it basically is — simple rock-and-roll or R-and-B. It’s like the internal combustion engine, which is still the same as it was in 1905 — it’s just refined and it goes a lot better.”

Decades later, “Back in the High Life” — which includes backing vocals from James Taylor — is still a classic rock radio staple, not to mention a streaming hit. At the time of this writing, the song has over 62 million plays on Spotify alone.

Related: 1966 Classic Rock Anthem, Written in 10 Minutes, Was Sung by an 18-Year-Old

Jake Reiner has found a reason to smile again after an unimaginable year. Rob and Michele Reiner‘s son married his longtime girlfriend, Maria Gilfillan, in a small, private ceremony in early August, multiple outlets, including TMZ, reported. 

The wedding comes eight months after Rob and Michele were found dead inside their Brentwood, California, home.

The 35-year-old former news anchor has largely kept his relationship out of the spotlight. Maria, however, accompanied Jake and his family to the New York premiere of Things Like This in May 2025. She later joined them at the Los Angeles premiere of Spinal Tap II: The End Continues that September.

Jake also shared photos of Maria from a friend’s Las Vegas wedding in October 2025.

One black-and-white picture captured the couple kissing on a balcony.

(Photo by London Entertainment/NY Post/GC Images)

“I’m proud to say I have found that person in Maria,” he wrote on Substack in April, “and I couldn’t be more grateful she had the chance to know and love my parents

Rob and Michele were killed inside their Brentwood, California, home on December 14, 2025, TMZ had reported.

Prosecutors have accused their son Nick Reiner of stabbing them to death. Nick pleaded not guilty to murder charges. Months before his wedding, Jake wrote candidly about the milestones his parents would never witness.

“I was robbed of so many things that day,” he wrote on Substack. “My parents won’t be at my wedding, they won’t get to hold their future grandchild, and they won’t get to see me have the successful career I’m still seeking.”

“It simultaneously breaks my heart and enrages me,” he added.

In his first sit-down interview since losing both parents, Jake described how grief has distorted his sense of time.

“It’s been eight months. It feels like eight years at the same time. And it also feels like eight minutes,” he told KABC. “Because every moment that I wake up, I’m reminded of my reality.” He said he and his sister Romy are now navigating the loss together while Nick remains in jail.

Rob had four children in total — Tracy, his adopted daughter from his marriage to Penny Marshall, and three children with Michele — Jake, Romy, and Nick. Rob was an acclaimed director, actor, and producer best known for This Is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally… and The Princess Bride. Michele worked as a photographer and film producer and is best known for shooting the cover of President Donald Trump‘s The Art of the Deal, according to People.

In 1975, Glen Campbell scored the biggest hit of his career with a song that had already been released once and gone nowhere.

“Rhinestone Cowboy” began its two-week reign atop the Billboard Hot 100 51 years ago today, Aug. 31, 1975. The crossover smash also reached No. 1 on the country chart, eventually becoming one of Campbell’s signature songs.

But just a year earlier, “Rhinestone Cowboy” belonged to songwriter Larry Weiss, who wrote and recorded it for his 1974 album Black and Blue Suite. Released as a single, Weiss’ version failed to make a significant commercial impact.

By the time Campbell came across the song, Weiss was so discouraged with his own career that he was preparing to leave the music business altogether.

According to music historian Fred Bronson’s “Billboard Book of Number One Hits,” Campbell first heard Weiss’ “Rhinestone Cowboy” on Los Angeles radio station KNX-FM.

“I think I first heard the song on KNX-FM in Los Angeles,” Campbell recalled in a 1975 Billboard interview. “I called my secretary and said, ‘I’ve got to get a song called “Rhinestone Cowboy” by somebody, I don’t remember who.’”

Then came one of those coincidences that can change two careers at once.

Campbell later walked into the office of Capitol Records executive Al Coury, who told him he had a record he wanted him to hear.

“And he played ‘Rhinestone Cowboy.’”

Campbell had found the song he had been trying to track down.

For Weiss, the timing could hardly have been more dramatic. After his own recording failed, Bronson writes that the songwriter was depressed about his commercial fortunes and preparing to rent a storefront and enter the furniture business.

Then he learned Campbell was recording his song.

Related: 1975 Crossover Hit That Spent 41 Weeks on the Charts Quietly Captured a Legend’s Biggest Inner Turmoil

Weiss wasn’t the only one who needed a hit.

Campbell had spent years establishing himself as one of music’s great all-around talents. Before becoming a star in his own right, he had been an in-demand Los Angeles session musician and member of the legendary Wrecking Crew, playing on recordings by artists including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, the Monkees and Nat King Cole. He even spent several months touring with the Beach Boys as Brian Wilson’s replacement, according to Stereogum.

His solo career eventually produced songs including “Gentle on My Mind,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman” and “Galveston.” He became a television star with The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour and appeared alongside John Wayne in True Grit.

But by the mid-1970s, Campbell’s biggest days appeared to be behind him. His variety show had ended in 1972, and it had been years since he’d enjoyed a major pop hit.

That made “Rhinestone Cowboy” particularly fitting. The song follows a struggling performer who has endured years of rejection and compromise but remains convinced that his moment beneath the lights is coming.

Campbell could understand that story.

Released in May 1975 as the title track and lead single from Campbell’s Rhinestone Cowboy album, the song steadily climbed both the pop and country charts.

On the Hot 100, it became Campbell’s first No. 1 as a solo artist, beginning a two-week run at the top 51 years ago.

Its crossover success was even more remarkable. When “Rhinestone Cowboy” simultaneously topped the Hot 100 and country chart in September, it became the first song to rule both at once since Jimmy Dean’s “Big Bad John” 14 years earlier.

The song ultimately became Campbell’s largest-selling single and one of the recordings most closely associated with him.

And for Weiss, the song he’d nearly left behind instead took on a life of its own. He later pursued plans to turn “Rhinestone Cowboy” into a movie, an effort that eventually led to the 1984 Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone musical Rhinestone.

Campbell, meanwhile, would prove that “Rhinestone Cowboy” wasn’t his last ride at No. 1. Two years later, he returned to the top of both the pop and country charts with Allen Toussaint’s “Southern Nights.”

But “Rhinestone Cowboy” was the one that brought him back when he needed it most, transforming a song whose writer was ready to walk away from music into Campbell’s first No. 1 hit and an enduring centerpiece of his career.

Related: 1977 Hit Song Was No. 1 49 Years Ago Today

While a lot of people think of pop music when it comes to love songs, some of the best love songs are actually from the rock genre. In fact, one of the best rock love songs ever was written and released all the way back in 1987.

The English rock band The Cure released the song “Just Like Heaven” in 1987 as the third single off their album Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. The band’s frontman, Robert Smith, wrote the song earlier the same year in France while recording music there with the band.

The song is an upbeat tune Smith wrote about his love for his then-girlfriend and current wife, Mary Poole. It features dreamy lyrics like, “Spinning on that dizzy edge/ Kissed her face and kissed her head/ Dreamed of all the different ways/ I had to make her glow.”

“Just Like Heaven” was a relative success, peaking on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 40 and the U.K. Official Singles chart at No. 29. But since then, the song’s legacy has only grown.

Related: 1964 Rock Song, Co-Written By Sonny Bono, Is Still a Global Hit 62 Years Later

The track is still a major hit, and almost 40 years after it first came out, Billboard included it on its official staff-created list of the “50 Best Rock Love Songs” of all time. It was listed at No. 4, just behind “Something” by The Beatles, “Maps” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and David Bowie‘s song “Heroes.”

Billboard wrote about “Just Like Heaven,” “The memory of love is still powerful enough to conjure such feeling is the ultimate tribute to its power, and makes this ‘Heaven’ one absolutely worth dying for.”

In 2019, Smith talked about the song in an interview with Rolling Stone, saying, “When I wrote it, I thought, ‘That’s it. I’ll never write something as good as this again.’ I remember saying to the others in the studio, ‘That’s it. We might as well pack up.’ Thankfully, we didn’t.”

Smith and the rest of The Cure continued making music, and only a few years later, in 1992, they released what is arguably the band’s most famous song and another romantic rock track, “Friday I’m in Love.”

Related: 1973 Rock Song, Written by Pete Townshend, Among ‘Greatest Rock Lyrics of All Time’

Foreigner is not done yet. Fresh off taking a bow for the conclusion of Double Trouble, their successful co-headlining tour with fellow legends Lynyrd Skynyrd, the ’70s-era rock band has announced another 30 shows, kicking off this fall.

The upcoming headlining dates begin Sept. 16 in Las Vegas, wrap up Feb. 21 in Miami, and include pit stops in Salem, Virginia; Wichita Falls, Texas; Saratoga, California; and many more.

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Longtime frontman Kelly Hansen stepped away from Foreigner’s touring lineup in 2025 after 20 years with the band. In his place, guitarist and vocalist Luis Maldonado took over behind the mic and helped lead the legendary band forward, along with founding guitarist Mick Jones, who remains closely involved behind the scenes following his Parkinson’s diagnosis.

“These guys are really my brothers, and so for me, my whole motivation was to keep this band together,” Maldonado told The Spokesman-Review. “I just couldn’t see it dispersing.”

The rest of Foreigner’s current lineup includes bassist Jeff Pilson, keyboardist Michael Bluestein, rhythm and lead guitarist Bruce Watson, drummer Chris Frazier, and guitarist/bassist John Roth. The band is pairing the tour extension with an expanded reissue of their 1979 album Head Games in October.

Formed in 1976, the New York City band is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. So, a reflective look back is in order.

After releasing their self-titled debut album in 1977, they followed up the multi-platinum smash featuring anthems like “Feels Like the First Time” and “Cold as Ice” with Double Vision and Head Games. Their 1978 and 1979 albums, respectively, cemented the band as arena-rock titans, while tracks including “Hot Blooded” turned them into radio rock stars.

In 1981, Foreigner released what is widely considered their masterpiece, 4, produced by Mutt Lange. The album spent weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and featured iconic tracks “Juke Box Hero” and “Urgent.”

Three years later, they unleashed what would become one of the greatest power ballads of all time, “I Want to Know What Love Is,” from Agent Provocateur. That one hit No. 1 in both the U.S. and U.K., and has since surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify, joining the platform’s elite Billions Club.

After several lineup changes in the 1990s and early 2000s, Hansen joined Foreigner in 2005 and fronted the band for two decades before Maldonado took over.

Since their founding, Foreigner’s music has found its way into the zeitgeist, with new audiences and generations continuously discovering and rediscovering the band. From Stranger Things and Miami Vice to Arrested Development and Grand Theft Auto, Foreigner’s catalog has continued to find new life in movies and TV.

Now celebrating half a century of rocking out, the band is keeping the Foreigner spirit alive. Ticket, date, and venue information for all upcoming shows is available at foreigneronline.com.  

Related: 2000s Rock Supergroup With King Crimson Legends Announces Tour Ahead of First Album in a Decade

Richard Blade may have been the host of Sunday night’s Lost ’80s Live show at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre, but he was also one of the biggest reasons the night felt like a trip back in time. The legendary ’80s DJ spent the evening introducing acts including The Untouchables, Big Country, The Icicle Works, Dale Bozzio and Missing Persons, while filling the spaces between sets with stories, memories and plenty of opinions about the music that defined the decade.

And honestly, Blade’s interstitials were almost as entertaining as the performances. With his unmistakable British accent and seemingly endless supply of ’80s stories, he brought his legendary countdowns to the stage, sharing his picks for the five best songs from each year of the decade and spilling the tea on some of the era’s most beloved artists.

He also had some very specific opinions, including his pick for the best bassline of the ’80s. His choice? Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s 1984 hit “Relax.” If there’s anyone who knows a great ’80s bassline, it’s Richard Blade.

One of the most enthusiastic champions of bands like Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Spandau Ballet, OMD and Tears for Fears, Richard Blade helped make British music mainstream in the ’80s.

Blade, with his bubbly British accent, popped into listeners’ radios and became as much a part of the story of ’80s music as the artists he championed. Never cynical or a harsh critic, Richard Blade was, at his core, always a fan of the artists he interviewed and whose music he played.

As a DJ for Los Angeles’ KROQ radio station, Blade helped many British new wave acts break through to American audiences. “Relax” was precisely the kind of British new wave record that defined the era Richard Blade helped bring to American listeners.

Related: 1973 Country Classic Written the Same Day as ‘I Will Always Love You’ Named Dolly Parton’s Best Ever by Rolling Stone

Frankie Goes to Hollywood ‘ Relax ‘

Released in 1984, “Relax” eventually reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was voted KROQ’s song of the year. The bass, played on the record by Mark O’Toole, helped create the song’s instantly recognizable groove, one that defines the track and extends throughout the song.

O’Toole’s thumping bassline, alongside singer Holly Johnson’s vocals, resulted in a track that sounded different from the mainstream pop playing on American radio at the time. “Relax” was electronic, aggressive, pulsing and impossible to ignore.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood pushed the envelope with its lyrics and sound in the 1980s, but the era is also defined by DJs like Richard Blade, who had a huge influence on the music Americans heard at the time. The music of the ’80s helped define youth culture, and there was no one more at the forefront of bringing British bands across the pond and into the mainstream than Richard Blade.

Judging by his endless anecdotes and fresh takes and rankings at Sunday’s Lost ’80s Live show, Richard Blade is still just as excited about the British wave of music from the 1980s as ever.

His insider assessments on everything from the best songs of the era to the best bassline of the ’80s are a reminder of just how good the music of the 1980s was—and still is.

Related: 1976 Dolly Parton Performance Was the Rare Time She Sang on TV With Both Parents

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More than 40 years ago, Talking Heads made a concert movie that critics couldn’t stop praising. Today, Stop Making Sense holds a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score and ranks among the “Best Movies of All Time.”

When the film opened in theaters in the fall of 1984, critics were quick to recognize what they were seeing. Directed by Jonathan Demme, Stop Making Sense captured Talking Heads’ expanded nine-member lineup performing 16 songs, allowing the band’s elaborate live show to tell the story.

One critic after another called the film “exhilarating,” while Pauline Kael called it “close to perfection” and described David Byrne as “a stupefying performer.”

Demme kept things stripped down, letting the performance do the talking. There are no interviews or backstage detours, just Talking Heads and the show unfolding in front of the camera.

That decision helped make the film so distinctive. It begins with Byrne alone on an empty stage performing “Psycho Killer” alongside a boombox. One by one, the other musicians join him, with the stage and performance growing increasingly elaborate until the full ensemble is assembled. 

Byrne brought a theatrical sensibility to the show that helped set Stop Making Sense apart. His collaborations with Twyla Tharp and Toni Basil influenced the choreography, while the lighting and his enormous off-white Big Suit added another visual layer to the performance. 

The concert was filmed over four nights at Los Angeles’ Pantages Theatre during Talking Heads’ 1983 tour. The band independently financed the approximately $1.2 million production with help from a record label advance, allowing its members to maintain ownership and creative control. 

By the time Stop Making Sense was filmed, Talking Heads had expanded well beyond their early four-piece setup at CBGB. Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison were joined by Bernie Worrell, Steve Scales, Alex Weir, Lynn Mabry and Ednah Holt.

With the larger lineup, Talking Heads could bring their mix of art rock, funk, soul and Afrobeat to the stage. Songs including “Burning Down the House,” “Once in a Lifetime” and “Take Me to the River” became elaborate performances in their own right. 

The film’s reputation has only grown since its original theatrical release. Talking Heads initially insisted that Stop Making Sense be experienced in theaters, refusing to make it available on videotape or cable television. It eventually became available on VHS, DVD, Blu-ray and streaming, introducing the film to new generations of viewers.

The concert also came at a significant time for Talking Heads. The band continued touring into 1984, though it wouldn’t be long before its years as a live act came to an end. 

In hindsight, that makes Stop Making Sense all the more remarkable. It captured Talking Heads at their creative peak, during the final stretch of their years onstage. The film preserved one of the group’s greatest live moments.

Related: 1963 Girl-Group Song, Originally Written for the Shirelles, Is Still a Major Hit 63 Years Later

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When it comes to small-space storage, the best solutions don’t always have to be large bookcases or bulky cabinets. Sometimes, discreet built-in storage is all you need to tame entryway clutter, keeping everyday essentials like keys, mail, and dog leashes tucked away without taking up extra space.

The Bedeep Fluted Console Table With Hidden Storage is a great option that brings together style and function at a surprisingly good price. Right now, it’s 37% off at Walmart, bringing the cost down from $190 to just $120.

Courtesy of Walmart

Measuring 43.3 inches long, 11.8 inches wide, and 31.5 inches tall, the console has a slim profile that works especially well in narrow entryways, hallways, living rooms, and even behind the couch. Its fluted detailing and walnut finish give it a refined look, while the spacious tabletop leaves room for a lamp, framed photos, plants, trays, or other decorative accents.

The design has a sleek mid-century modern feel with a subtle farmhouse touch, making it easy to work into modern, minimalist, Scandinavian, farmhouse, or transitional spaces. Use it as an entryway table, hallway console, sofa table, or behind-the-couch storage. The open space underneath can hold baskets, shoes, storage bins, or decorative pieces.

The hidden storage is where this console really earns its keep. Both fluted side sections open into cabinets with adjustable and removable shelves, giving you flexibility for everything from books and baskets to bottles and taller items. The concealed compartments are also useful for keeping keys, mail, remotes, chargers, and other small essentials out of sight.

Related: Walmart Is Selling a Tufted Ottoman Bench With ‘Plenty of Storage’ for Blankets, Clothes, and Toys

Despite its slim footprint, it offers plenty of practical storage without overwhelming a room. The tabletop can support up to 65 pounds, while the interior shelves hold up to 25 pounds each. Floor protectors and anti-tip hardware add extra stability, and the smooth surface is easy to wipe clean.

One reviewer said it’s “surprisingly great,” writing, “It’s a good value and looks very nice. I highly recommend it if you need a small table with great storage.” Another shopper described it as “super cute” in a five-star review.

• Gunaito Farmhouse Console Table, From $93 (was $140) at Walmart
• Chic House Fluted Entryway Console Table, From $85 (was $170) at Walmart
• Edx 63-Inch Solid Wood Farmhouse Console, $86 (was $129) at Walmart

For a console that helps maximize storage while adding a stylish finishing touch to your space, the Bedeep Fluted Console Table With Hidden Storage is a great pick. And with Walmart’s current 37% discount, you can save $70 on this versatile piece right now.

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To solve today’s NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, you’ll be exploring sight, common sign-off’s, children, your presence here on earth, popular childhood toys and things that protect your shirt from food while you eat.

Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can’t forget about the NYT’s The Mini Crossword, too!

Although the NYT is known for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.

So, if you’re working on today’s Mini Crossword on Tuesday, September 1, and need some help (I’ve been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both “Across” and “Down” words, followed by “Across Answers” and “Down Answers,” so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!

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Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.

1 Peering pair — HINT: Starts with the letter “E”

5 Across: “Hugs and kisses” sign-off — HINT: Ends with the letter “O”

6 Across: Support, as for a corporate plan — HINT: Ends with the letter “N”

7 Across: Words exchanged at the wedding altar — HINT: Starts with the letter “I”

8 Across: Email sign-off — HINT: Ends with the letter “T”

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

1 Down: Give off strongly — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

2 Down: Toys on strings — HINT: Starts with the letter “Y”

3 Down: Be in the world — HINT: Ends with the letter “T”

4 Down: Prince Archie, to Harry and Meghan — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”

6 Down: Neckwear for a baby — HINT: Starts with the letter “B”

Don’t go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today’s Mini Crossword.

1 Across: Peering pair — EYES

5 Across: “Hugs and kisses” sign-off — XOXO

6 Across: Support, as for a corporate plan — BUYIN

7 Across: Words exchanged at the wedding altar — IDOS

8 Across: Email sign-off — BEST

1 Down: Give off strongly — EXUDE

2 Down: Toys on strings — YOYOS

3 Down: Be in the world — EXIST

4 Down: Prince Archie, to Harry and Meghan — SON

6 Down: Neckwear for a baby — BIB

Related: I Recreated the Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars Every ’90s Kid Loved

Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms, the band’s iconic 1985 hit album, has reached a major milestone after topping the Billboard charts 41 years ago today.

The iconic British rock band, fronted by Mark Knopfler, further cemented its place in music by releasing one of the most memorable records of the decade.

More than four decades ago, Dire Straits, who achieved their breakthrough with their 1978 self-titled debut album and its hit track  “Sultans of Swing,” made another mark on music history with the release of their fifth album, Brothers in Arms.

Driven by the popularity of their lead single “So Far Away,” followed by the second single “Money for Nothing,” the album’s biggest commercial hit and the title track  “Brothers in Arms,” Dire Straits’ album reached the top spot on the charts in no time.

Rob Verhorst/Redferns

Following its debut in May, the album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, which ranks the 200 most popular albums and EPs in the U.S., on Aug. 31, 1985, and remained on the chart for nine consecutive weeks.

It was Dire Straits’ highest-charting and only No. 1 album, followed by their debut record, which peaked at No. 2.

As for Brothers in Arms, the album had the same reception in the U.K. after reaching No. 1 on the U.K. Albums Chart for 14 weeks.

Beyond the U.S. and U.K., Dire Straits also dominated charts in Canada, New Zealand, Finland, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain, Norway, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland, where the album reached No. 1.

In addition to its chart-topping success, the band also made history after Brothers in Arms was among the first albums recorded to 24-track digital tape and became the first album to sell one million copies specifically on CD, as mentioned by Louder.

With the record’s massive popularity and success in the ‘80s, Knopfler recognized how the songs on Dire Straits’ album Brothers in Arms made a huge impact on people.

However, he said that he personally didn’t spend much time listening to his earlier music.

“I don’t sit at home and play my stuff; I think that would be an unbelievably sad thing to do,” he mentioned in an interview as cited by UDiscover Music. “But when I’m on the road I see all these people that want to hear you play some of these songs, and I think that’s just fine. I get into them when I’m doing them.”

Moreover, the guitarist and lead vocalist acknowledged how their songs from Brothers in Arms became part of fans’ and listeners’ lives, whether through relationships, loss, celebrations, growing up or other defining moments.

Related: 1972 Hit by Seals and Crofts Became One of the ‘Greatest Soft Rock Songs’ of All Time

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A simple kitchen refresh doesn’t have to involve a full makeover. Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh set of dish towels to give your space a more polished look. The Martha Stewart Modern Kitchen Towel Set comes in classic striped and plaid patterns that look elegant in any home, and it’s available in three versatile colors that are on sale for under $30 at Walmart right now. 

The set features two plaid towels and two striped towels in waffle and terrycloth fabrics, offering a stylish, versatile look that can complement a range of kitchen styles. Whether you’re cooking dinner, baking something sweet, or tackling a messy countertop, these towels are designed to look good while also helping take care of everyday clutter. 

Courtesy of Walmart

They come in three classic color options: The aqua blue and linen styles are both available at $23, while the navy blue shade is priced at $26. No matter which color you opt for, each towel measures 16 inches wide by 28 inches long, providing plenty of coverage for drying dishes, wiping down surfaces, or handling everyday spills. 

Made from 100% cotton, this towel set is durable, plush, and designed to stand up to frequent use. Its dual-sided construction makes it particularly useful. The textured front can be used for display or cleaning, while the terrycloth back is absorbent enough to quickly dry anything from dishes to wet countertops. The entire set is also machine washable for hassle-free care. 

Related: Walmart’s ‘Bright’ $22 Sunflower Wreath Brings a ‘Warm, Welcoming’ Touch of Fall to Any Home

Multiple Walmart shoppers praised the towels for their superior quality. “Nice fabric and generous size. Plus, they wash up like a dream,” one reviewer wrote. Others highlighted the “plush” and “absorbent” material, with one shopper noting that they’re “very thick and made well.”

• Vintage Floral Kitchen Towel Set, $11 (was $14) at Walmart
• Casa Platino 8-Piece Red Kitchen Towel Set, $15 (was $27) at Walmart
• Mallowex Terry Kitchen Towel Set of 4, $15 (was $20) at Walmart

If your kitchen could use a small yet practical style upgrade, this Martha Stewart towel set is an easy place to start. The extra-large cotton towels add a cute pop of color to any kitchen while also providing plenty of functionality for everyday use. Snag a set for under $30 at Walmart now. 

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.

Al Pacino‘s “The Godfather” is one of those movies everyone just assumes was always destined for greatness. It wasn’t. It started out as a guy trying to pay off his gambling debts.

Mario Puzo owed around $20,000 from gambling when he sat down to write “The Godfather” in the late ’60s. He’d already written two critically acclaimed novels that made basically no money, so this time he had one goal: write something people would actually buy. Funny enough, he’d never met a real-life mobster in his life, the whole thing came from research and imagination. It worked a little better than he probably expected. The book spent 67 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and sold more than 9 million copies in its first two years alone.

Paramount was so confident in the story that they bought the film rights before Puzo had even finished writing the book, for a grand total of $12,500, which is almost funny given what the movie would go on to become.

Burt Lancaster wanted in so badly that he reportedly offered the studio $1 million just to buy the rights himself, specifically so he could play Don Vito Corleone. Paramount said no thanks, and the role went to Marlon Brando instead, which, in hindsight, worked out fine. There was also a version of this movie where the whole story got yanked out of the 1940s and ’50s and dropped into the 1970s instead, and moved out of New York entirely, all because the studio was looking to cut costs. Thankfully, that idea got scrapped too.

When the film finally hit theaters in 1972, it swept Best Picture, Best Actor for Brando, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Since then, it’s been named the greatest movie ever made more than once, Entertainment Weekly called it exactly that in 1999, and a 2014 Hollywood Reporter poll of over 2,100 industry professionals agreed.

The crowded business of sweets has welcomed a new brand. It’s called HallPass, and it launched nationwide this week at Walmart and Walmart.com.

The confectionary brand unveiled three products on Sunday, August 30:

• Peanut Cups
• Peanut Creme Crispy Wafers
• Chocolatey Candy Pieces

Indeed, these offerings sound familiar to all the candy consumers out there — but HallPass’ schtick is that their classic options are just 70 calories and 1 gram of sugar per serving.

The company took to social media to introduce themselves and promote their health-conscious sweets. “Here today. Gone tomorrow. Don’t say we didn’t warn you,” reads the caption of HallPass’ Instagram post on Monday, August 31. See the carousel below.

Fans have already weighed in via the post’s comments section. “LOVE THESE,” said one Instagram user, while another person commented, “Y’all should do an Oreo next, can’t wait to see where yall take epg.”

“Our ambition is to make HallPass the Coke Zero of candy,” Michael Tierney, co-founder of HallPass, said in a statement, per Monday’s news release. “People still love candy. They just don’t want to make the same tradeoffs to eat it. We built HallPass to deliver the taste and experience of classic candy for a fraction of the calories and sugar, without asking consumers to pay a premium for it. You don’t pay more for Coke Zero than classic Coke, but somehow all low sugar and low calorie candies charge a multiple of the national brands. That needed to change.”

In other candy news, Reese’s is continuing to expand its horizons while Halloween fast approaches.

The Nitro Bar, a cult-favorite coffee shop with locations in Rhode Island, has teamed up with the beloved candy brand to offer a limited-time Reese’s Pumpkins PB Whip Latte. Find out more here.

While Tom Petty clearly knew a hit song when he heard one (considering he had plenty of them), there was at least one time when his musical intuition failed him…which he later regretted.

Released as the lead single from Don Henley‘s second solo studio album, Building the Perfect Beast, “Boys of Summer” peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US and #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. But before Henley sang on the track, Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell wrote the music with his bandmate Petty in mind.

“I used to have a 4-track machine in my house and I had just gotten a drum machine,” Campbell explained in a Songfacts interview. “It’s when the Roger Linn drum machine first came out. I was playing around with that and came up with a rhythm. I made the demo on my little 4-track and I showed it to Tom, but at the time, the record we were working on, Southern Accents, it didn’t really sound like anything that would fit into the album.”

“The producer we were working with at the time, Jimmy Iovine, called me up one day and said he had spoken with Don, who I’d never met, and said that he was looking for songs,” Campbell continued.

“He gave me his number and I called him up and played it for him and he called me the next day and said he put it on in his car and had written these words and wanted to record it,” he recalled. “That’s kind of how it started. Basically, he wanted to recreate the demo as close as we could. We ended up changing the key for the voice. We actually cut it in one key, did the whole record with overdubs and everything, and then he decided to change the key like a half step up or something, we had to do the whole record again, but it turned out pretty good.”

During an appearance on Brian Koppelman‘s podcast The Moment, Campbell elaborated on the moment he played what would become “Boys of Summer” for Henley.

Related: 1977 No. 1 Soft Rock Ballad Became a Timeless Ode to the ‘Fleeting Nature of Love’

“It was just me and him,” Campbell said. “We sat at a big table. He sat at the other end like the judge, totally quiet and didn’t bat an eye — just listened with his eyes closed. And then he said, ‘Okay, maybe I can do something with that.'”

Campbell wasn’t sure if Henley was really interested in the song or not, until the former Eagles member called him on the phone.

“He’s like, ‘Oh, I just wrote the best song of my life to your music,'” Campbell said. “‘Really? I’d like to hear that.'”

Henley’s optimism was right on target: “Boys of Summer” won him a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. Decades later, as anyone who’s ever listened to classic rock radio knows, “Boys of Summer” is still a classic. Rolling Stone even ranked the song at #423 on a list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

Nobody was more surprised by the song’s popularity than Petty, who told Campbell, “‘Boy, you know, you were really lucky with that,'” the guitarist remembered. “‘I wish I would have had the presence of mind to not let that get away.’ That was a real ‘brother’ moment we had.”

Related: 1989 Chart-Topping Breakup Anthem Was Rock Icon’s Bestselling Single of All Time

Actor Simon Helberg is sharing what his dynamic with his former Big Bang Theory co-stars currently looks like.

In an August 2026 interview on The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast, Helberg was asked who he “talks to the most out” of his Big Bang Theory co-stars, which include Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar, Johnny Galecki, Melissa Rauch, and Mayim Bialik. Helberg replied, “It’s been a while since I’ve honestly talked to anybody” from the CBS sitcom’s cast. He then explained that “everyone’s busy” and “everybody’s sort of also in different corners of the world.” In addition, he suggested he would like to see his former co-stars more often than he currently does.

“It’s not as much as I guess I’d like to,” said Helberg.

Helberg clarified that he “text[s] with Jim,” who played Dr. Sheldon Cooper, and intends on visiting the actor, who is starring in the Broadway show Titaníque, during his next New York press trip. In addition, Helberg said he and Nayyar, who played Dr. Raj Koothrappali, “were trying to get a drink at some point.”

The 45-year-old actor also said that the last time the “cast hung out together since the show wrapped” in 2019 was during their final press tour for the 12-season comedy. Helberg said that they taped an episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert before going to a dinner.

While recording the podcast episode, Helberg complimented how well the Big Bang Theory‘s ensemble cast meshed together.

“I think that when you’ve got a really great ensemble sometimes, it feels, well, there’s a magical element to it, but it also feels like you’re really, it’s like an extension of just a person,” explained Helberg in the August 2026 interview. “Like you’re basically just getting all of these kind of colors of, like you’ve got the spectrum of a human in all of them.”

Helberg also suggested one of the strengths of the sitcom was watching “different combinations of people together” in any given scene.

Few Westerns have remained as influential as High Noon (and I am not talking about the hard seltzers).

Released in 1952, the classic film follows Marshal Will Kane, played by Gary Cooper, as he prepares to face a group of outlaws returning to the small town he once protected. With his train scheduled to arrive at noon, Kane desperately seeks help from the townspeople — but one by one, they refuse to stand with him. Directed by Fred Zinnemann, High Noon became a landmark of American cinema, earning four Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Cooper. More than 70 years later, its story of courage, fear and standing alone in the face of danger continues to make High Noon one of the most enduring Westerns ever made.

Written by Carl Foreman, the screenplay is based on John W. Cunningham’s short story “The Tin Star,” which was first published in Collier’s magazine in 1947. Upon its release, High Noon received mixed reviews because critics and audiences were expecting the typical Western action, and it was considered controversial at the time because of its political themes. Despite this, it was still deemed a commercial success.

Over time, High Noon has come to be regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. It has a ranking of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer and has been listed as No. 27 on the American Film Institute’s “100 Years … 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)” list and second on their Top 10 Western list. In 1989, the Library of Congress selected the movie as one of the first 25 films for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, and its story has inspired numerous films in the Western genre.

United Artists/Getty Images

The star of High Noon is the legendary Gary Cooper, who was known for his acting in silent films. His career spanned over 30 years, and he was the lead role in 84 films throughout his lifetime. Cooper, who passed away in 1961, was a major movie star from the end of the silent film era through almost the end of the golden age of classical Hollywood, and won his second Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal as Will Kane. The ensemble cast included Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges and Katy Jurado.

Though his portrayal of the character was a success, there was quite a bit of controversy about hiring Cooper to play Will Kane. At the time of filming, Cooper was 50 years old, while his love interest, Amy Fowler Kane, played by Grace Kelly, was only 21 (Though at the time, extreme age gaps like that were extremely normal in Hollywood). Also, the actor’s reputation was going downhill, but his role in High Noon revived his career.

“You’ve got to have a fire under you, and when you’re beginning, you’ve got one all the time. After you get established, you have to create your own fire, and it’s never easy,” Cooper said while promoting They Came to Cordura in 1959. This became one of his most well-known quotes.

The role was originally offered to John Wayne, but he turned it down because of his opposition to the screenwriter Foreman, who had been summoned before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) over suspected communist ties.

High Noon was widely viewed as an allegory for the Hollywood blacklist, which barred hundreds of entertainment professionals suspected of communist affiliations from working in the industry. Foreman, who opposed the blacklist, drew on his own experience with HUAC while writing the film.

Wayne was still happy for Cooper, as the two “have been friends” for years. He accepted Cooper’s Academy Award on his behalf in 1953, calling him “one of the nicest fellows” he knew.

“I’m glad to see that they’re giving this to a man who is not only most deserving but has conducted himself throughout his years in our business in a manner that we can all be proud of him,” Wayne said. “Now that I’m through being such a good sport, spouted all this good sportsmanship, I’m gonna go back and find my business manager, and agent, and producer, and three-name writer, and find out why I didn’t get High Noon instead of Cooper.”

LMPC via Getty Images

More than seven decades after its release, High Noon remains an important part of American cinema. Its story of one man standing his ground when those around him refuse to help has continued to resonate with audiences, while its performances, direction and memorable real-time structure have cemented its place among Hollywood’s greatest Westerns. Whether viewed as a thrilling Western or a reflection of its turbulent era, High Noon has proven that some stories truly stand the test of time.

High Noon can be streamed for free on Tubi and Pluto TV, and rented for $5.99 on Fandango, Apple TV and Google Play Movies.

Related: 1960 Jack Lemmon Movie Ranked Among ‘Greatest American Films of All Time’

Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro wrapped up its competition tonight with the three semifinalists — Adele Zaikman, AJ Pritchard and Selena Hamilton — competing in two rounds for the one spot as a pro dancer in Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars.

The final three partnered with former Dancing with the Stars winners/finalists Charli D’Amelio (AJ), Nev Schulman (Adele) and Adam Rippon (Selena) to perform for a live studio audience and the judges, as they competed for the title of Next Pro.

In the first round, the Top 3 were allowed to select the Latin or Ballroom style they preferred so they could impress the judges, and in Round 2, they went freestyle, so there were no rules and they had complete creative freedom.

Hosted by wildlife conservationist and Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Len Goodman Mirrorball Champion Robert Irwin, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, began with 12 exceptional up-and-coming dancers who moved into one house to compete in a grueling audition process, all vying for a coveted spot as a pro dancer on Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars.

Three-time Mirrorball champion Mark Ballas and his mother, Shirley Ballas “The Queen of Latin” served as judges. For the finale, Witney Carson joined Robert to co-host, and Derek Hough served as guest judge.

Here’s our spoiler-filled recap of the Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro finale, including who won.

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Disney/Vince Valitutti

Here’s our spoiler-filled recap of who went home on The Next Pro finale, and who won.

Related: Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Rumored Cast Features Shocking Names and TV Icons

Mark said: “Selena, you are an electric dancer and performer. Early in the routine, you were side-by-side doing kick, kick pas de bourrée, kick, kick pas de bourrée, but I wanted you to do it more. Don’t stop. Jive is meant to incline the whole time, but I believe in you. Great job.”

Shirley said: “Selena you did a magnificent job with Adam. Over the 7 weeks, we’ve given you constructive criticism and I have to say, you’ve taken it every step of the way. Wow moments you are able to do. In fact, you are Miss Wow. That’s what you are. Well done.”

Derek said: “Selena, you’ve been transparent about lacking in ballroom experience but you have something that can’t be taught, you command attention when you walk on that floor. The camera loves you. We love you. You are a star, Selena.”

Mark said: “Watching you dance is lovely as always, Charli. I am always proud of you. AJ, you are a fantastic ballroom dancer. This dance had plenty of content in it. Something got stuck at the end, because I know this girl can move down the floor. Minor tweaks. All in all, I thought it was a solid performance.”

Derek said: “Charli, it was so good to see you dancing again. You’re exquisite. I could see the trust between the two of you so quickly is a huge asset because trust is key on Dancing with the Stars, so well done for getting that.”

Shirley said: “First let me say, you must have thought you won the lottery when you got this young lady. Charli, you are everything when it comes to excellence. And AJ, every heel and every toe you do is absolutely on form, but did you get the most out of this young lady? You had one wow moment in there, but with this type of dancer, it could maybe have had one at the beginning and one at the end. I wish you the best of luck.”

Derek said: “Nev, you said this is my redemption night. That was fantastic. Bold move dancing the Samba for the finale. That’s a hard one, especially for someone who hasn’t danced the Samba before. Well done, but Dancing with the Stars is a dance show with ballroom and Latin being the fundamentals. It’s important when we choreograph routines in the future, that there’s more to it, there’s more creativity. Listen, when it comes to quality, you’re that girl. You’re it.”

Mark said: “Last week, Adele, I compared you to a cobra and the queen cobra struck again tonight. And Nev, you’re a clutch performer. The side-by-side section, you had the whisk, you had the stationary Samba walk, but with that music, I wanted to see you a little more [he demonstrates] wild, crazy, and then back into the refined. Things to work on. Great samba.”

Shirley said: “Adele, you are a magical teacher for sure. When Nev started on the stage alone that was already ambitious, but your use of musicality in Samba when it comes to slows and quicks was second to none. Well done to both of you.”

Mark said: “It started with danger, coming in with that lift and the side-by-side was so awesome, you guys were so connected. The roll on the floor, the amount of power you were able to generate, this is your wheelhouse. Selena Hamiltion, I am going to quote Hamilton right now. I am going to say, ‘Let’s get this girl in front of a crowd.’”

Shirley said: “I am in awe. If this was done on Dancing with the Stars for the finale, it would be ranked one of the best. That’s how good you did. Everything was synchronized, coordinated and together as a unit. Selena, you are one of a kind. Well done.”

Derek said: “The choreography, the execution, the confidence, the musicality, if you were a pro on Dancing with the Stars tomorrow, you would be a fan favorite.”

Related: Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro: A Shocking Semifinals Elimination Sets Up the Finale — See Who Went Home (Spoilers)

Shirley said: “They say go big or go home and you definitely went big on this freestyle for sure. Upbeat, fun, wild in places, meticulously danced. Some Jive, some Charleston and some Quickstep, you jampacked this routine, which is always what I wanted you to do, AJ. Both of you, well done.”

Derek said: “This Freestyle had it all. The side-by-side group section looked like something out of a Broadway show. It looked so-so good. You challenged Charli. That was a difficult routine and she was fantastic. AJ, to have you as a pro on the show would be so valuable. We would be lucky to have you my friend.”

Mark said: “AJ, I have to commend you on how little time you had to put this together and the grandness that this had. It just shows how good you are and what a great way to button your journey by doing a number that shows what a freestyle should look like on Dancing with the Stars.”

Disney/Vince Valitutti

Derek Hough said: “That dance was on fire, pun intended. Literally, that was so good. It was powerful, it was controlled, it was grounded, it was intense. I love that you picked that style because it contrasted with the other two styles. It made you guys standout. Adele, you could just walk across the floor and be captivating. There is a quality to what you do, a maturity, if you became a pro, you wouldn’t just fit in, you would elevate the rest of the Dancing with the Stars cast. I really believe that.”

Mark said: “I love the choice of the style. It had elements of the Argentine Tango, it had ferocity in that side-by-side section, I love that we saw some Paso Doble. It captivated me again to watch Nev. That was two ambitious routines tonight, so that shows what you can do. The fire, the drama, Adele, giving them hell. Loved it.”

Shirley said: “Adele, you believe in making your partners work hard. It is so easy to stand a man there while you dance all around him, but you chose in both numbers not to do that. Two excellent numbers from you today. Well done.”

After eight weeks of hard work and deliberations, the judges came to their decision as to which dancer would make it into Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars as the newest pro.

Shirley announced that Selena was in third place, AJ was the runner-up and Adele won the competition.

“I feel like this is a celebration of all the sacrifices that I have done,” Adele said. “It’s a big, ‘I made it!’ moment.”

Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Season 1 episodes are available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.

Next, Everything to Know When Dancing with the Stars Returns for Season 35

Below Deck Mediterranean deckhand Max Salvador decided to take his chances to get his father to safety, despite Captain Sandy Yawn warning him that doing so would put him in dangerous territory.

Max’s father sent the deckhand a series of urgent texts pleading for help after becoming trapped in Tunisia, telling him, “I need money or I will be hurt.” Although Max had been estranged from his father, he felt a sense of duty to help rescue him from the grips of a criminal group.

The problem was that Max would have to travel through Libya to reach him. Sandy warned him about the risks, telling him, “Libya has a warning: do not travel to Libya for any reason due to crime, terrorism, and unexploded land mines.”

“Doing what you’re doing is not smart,” Sandy told Max.

Max ultimately decided to go anyway. Sandy described his decision as being driven by “raw emotion” and called it “reckless,” while reminding him, “You’re not Rambo.”

Still, Sandy did what she could to help Max prepare. She told him to know the location of the closest embassy in case something went wrong and urged him to be “smart” about how he went about getting his father out of the country. As they hugged goodbye, Max told Sandy he would text her if he got into trouble, something she welcomed.

“My primary concern is Max, of course,” Sandy said in a confessional. “But the other part I’m thinking about is I’m going to be down a deckhand.”

Sandy’s concerns are understandable, especially because Max had only recently arrived aboard Akira One. The crew has already endured a revolving door of deckhands this season.

After deckhand Luke Brumer quit, Sandy had to scramble to find a replacement. She temporarily moved Chief Stew Aesha Scott to the deck, and during that time, bosun Nathan Gallagher suffered a back injury and was forced to leave the boat. Max’s arrival finally helped fill the gap, leaving the deck team just one person short.

Now, with Max gone, Sandy once again has to find someone to fill the position.

Max, who appears to be safe and sound today, addressed his decision in an Instagram post, writing, “Captain Sandy told me it wasn’t the right choice… but I followed my heart and chose to help my father. Since then, I’ve received so many incredible messages from you guys.”

With Aesha returning to the interior and the deck team already stretched thin, Sandy reaches out to staffing professional Norma Trease with a surprising request: She needs yet another deckhand.

And amid the already tense relationship between Nathan and lead deckhand Joe Bradley, a new crew member has been found. Nathan is tasked with picking up the new deckhand—but, in typical Bravo fashion, the identity of the newcomer is being kept under wraps.

So, who is the mystery deckhand? Could the new arrival shake up an already complicated team, and is there any chance Max could return to Below Deck Mediterranean this season?

Below Deck Mediterranean is on Monday at 8 pm ET/PT on Bravo.

Miley Cyrus changed her name. Really. Just ask Google. Go ahead, we’ll wait. Supposing you just googled “Miley Cyrus” right now; you now know that Google defiantly asks, “Did you mean…just: Miley.” Now take a look at her socials. 

That’s right, Miley Cyrus is now Instagram-officially just Miley. Not only did the 33-year-old singer drop her last name, but she also shared what could be new artwork ahead of the release of her 10th album. 

While Cyrus, scratch that, Miley, has remained mum on when her next project will drop and whether her name change is permanent, fans certainly have thoughts about the star’s apparent rebranding. 

“I’m having a visceral reaction to this,” wrote one commenter on Miley’s latest Instagram post. 

Apple Music commented, “New era incoming,” and Instagram (which apparently comments on very special posts, like this one) added a simple, “YES.”

The praise for Miley’s new name and her maybe, possibly new album kept coming as fans responded with, “Miley the legend”, “My idol”, “She’s just being Miley,” and “She doesn’t even need her last name to be recognizable. She’s just being MILEY. 20 years into her career and she keeps evolving as an artist and breaking records. She’s one of a kind.”

In July, Miley opened up to actress Daryl Hannah during an interview for Wonderland Magazine, saying, “This album is a love story, but love stories are never one-dimensional. They’re always layered. There is definitely a romantic thread weaving through it because, like all my records, it’s a reflection of where I am in my life.” 

Romance is certainly in Miley’s life right now. The singer and musician Maxx Morando were first linked in 2021. While they didn’t go public with their relationship immediately, the private couple confirmed their engagement in December of 2025. 

Like Miley, Morando also spoke to Wonderland Magazine in July. The drummer shared the story of his proposal, explaining, “We were in Kyoto, Japan. For some reason, you’ll find this as crazy as I did, she’d never been to Japan before. Neither had I, and we’d both wanted to go for a really long time. There were talkies before we went about me popping the question, but I was trying to keep it a secret.”

He added, “I had to be really sneaky about it.” So how did he propose? According to Morando, they went for a walk on the hotel grounds, found what he called “this beautiful Japanese forest-y situation,” and “That’s when I got on one knee and tapped her on the shoulder.”

As of now, there’s no solid info on when Miley’s new album will drop, when she’ll tie the knot with Morando, or whether she’s sticking with the one-word Cher-esque moniker.