Ahead of her special day, the Oscar-winning actor uploaded a series of steamy pictures to Instagram that showed her spending time with beau Van Hunt.

While donning a lace-trimmed red and black robe and seemingly nothing else, Berry posed for the camera as she enjoyed a day in the sun filled with chocolate-covered strawberries and what looked to be a mimosa.

The post also included a selfie that revealed some of her skincare products and a sweet picture of her sharing a kiss with Hunt while she held a peach in her hand.

“Today….don’t give a f—!” she cheekily captioned the seductive slideshow.

On her actual birthday, Aug. 14, Berry shared a selfie of her smiling widely as she wore oversized white sunglasses and held a card that read, “Happy 60th.”

“Thank you from my (heart) for all the birthday love and well wishes. I’m grateful to still be here!!” she told fans in the caption.

Celebrity friends, like Jamie Foxx, Nia Long, Busta Rhymes, Arsenio Hall and more, wished her a happy birthday and left compliments in the comments.

Prior to her birthday, Berry stopped by TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle last month and revealed how she felt about entering the next decade of her life.

“Great, because, you know, the opposite would be tragic if I weren’t here,” she told Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones about her then-upcoming birthday.

Still, she said she wasn’t feeling how she expected to at this point in her life.

“I feel different than I thought I would feel at 60. What is 60? What is age anymore? It’s a feeling,” she explained.

The “Monster’s Ball” star continued, “I feel stronger, smarter, wiser, more myself, more in control. I’m the best version of myself at this time in my life and I am so glad that I’m still here and healthy.”

During their chat, Berry also reflected on working in Hollywood and making movies for 35 years. She said she is appreciative she still gets the opportunity to tell stories that matter to her while also balancing being a mom and taking time for herself.

“I’m still alive in it. I haven’t gone off into the sunset. I haven’t fallen off. I’m still here doing it on my own terms,” she proudly shared.

She added that she finished shooting a movie called “Fleur,” which allowed her to say “what I want to say for a middle-aged woman.” The thriller is currently in post production, per IMDb.

Berry noted that her current slate of projects are reflective of topics that are particularly meaningful to her.

“I am all about women’s health and female empowerment right now and aging gracefully, not turning ourselves into a monster, but staying who we are and knowing that (it) is a privilege to age,” she said.

Berry shared that she wants women to realize “that we are more than this shell.”

“The real good is what’s come from our life experience,” she concluded.

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During the showcase at Disney’s D23 convention in Anaheim, California on Aug. 14, audience members were able to see a teaser for the film, which will be a retelling of the 2010 Disney animated movie. The clip included a look at Teagan Croft in the lead role of Rapunzel as well as Kathryn Hahn as the villain Mother Gothel. And people truly cannot handle Hahn’s sinister look.

The film, which is based on the German fairy tale “Rapunzel” by the Brothers Grimm, is slated to hit theaters March 31, 2028, Disney announced at the event.

In the teaser, Croft’s Rapunzel appears on screen with her lengthy, blonde locks. Hahn’s Mother Gothel is later heard, calling out to Rapunzel, before dissolving into wicked laughter.

Mother truly couldn’t be more chilling.

Hahn — who’s cemented her status as a queen of all things spooky due to her performance as witch Agatha Harkness in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe — received quite the reception from the audience in addition to social media users, who have described her casting as “perfect.”

“shes serving the exact unhinged maternal menace that made the original gothel iconic,” one X user said.

Another fan said that Hahn was “BORN FOR THIS.”

The “Tangled” segment of the showcase also featured a message from Croft and Milo Manheim, who plays the dashing Flynn Rider. The pair, who filmed the message from Spain, shared some views from their shooting locations in the country, including monasteries and cathedrals.

In an interview with E! News, Hahn gushed over the experience on the film.

“The cast is so delicious,” Hahn said. “I can’t believe I’m singing and dancing at this stage in my life.”

The D23 event also included several other big moments. Disney debuted a first look at “The Bluey Movie,” based on the beloved kids’ television show. The movie is slated to hit theaters on August 6, 2027.

Fans also got to see the stars of the upcoming “X-Men” film, that’s scheduled for a 2028 debut. In addition to Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Marvel introduced Kit Connor as Scott Summers, Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue and Maya Boyd as Storm. Adam Driver will play villainous geneticist Mister Sinister.

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Digital media and the people who star in it have been cultural mainstays for teens’ entire lives, so creating social media, video or podcast content seems a natural, albeit nontraditional, career path. And now they can earn a college degree in that very field.

Arizona State University recently launched a new bachelor’s degree in content creation, offered through its Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The curriculum overlaps with that of ASU’s mass communication and media studies degree, with the major departure being a slate of specialized electives on podcasting, studio production and on-camera presence.

ASU’s announcement was met with swift criticism from many sides — from people who feel content creation is not a legitimate profession to those who question the value of a college degree in launching a social media career.

But the ASU program is not the first of its kind.

And the university, which declined an interview request about the new program, is not the first to offer content creation courses.

Universities, eager to compete for a shrinking student population, are rolling out new majors intended to prepare students for today’s careers. Whether they lead to jobs can be up for debate.

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College courses in content creation have riled critics

Many higher education institutions have started offering classes focused on the burgeoning content creation industry over the past couple years, and several have certificate or minor programs. Syracuse University, Quinnipiac University and Colorado State University offer minors, and St. Bonaventure University announced a content creation major last winter.

To Brooke Erin Duffy, a communication professor at Cornell University, these college programs represent an inflection point. During the past year, Duffy said, institutions in education and beyond have been acknowledging content creation as a viable career path — even if the term “influencer” itself hits a nerve.

On social media, influencers are everywhere, sharing shopping recommendations and lifestyle content or promoting beliefs about health or politics. Because even influencers with relatively small followings have loyal audiences, brands also often pay them to talk about products.

The image of a prototypical influencer, Duffy said, is usually a “young girl who is snapping selfies and just reaping in tremendous rewards for seemingly not doing anything.”

But that’s not the reality for many content creators, who are working on media production, audience retention strategies, brand partnerships and business relationships associated with their online presence.

“It is a time-consuming, labor-intensive job that often doesn’t pay well — at least in the beginning,” Duffy said. “But a lot of that gets concealed behind … this assumption that it’s a dream job.”

The creator economy is booming, but not everyone reaps the riches

Even if someone has the skills to make it in content creation, it isn’t easy to break in.

Social media is already a crowded field, and it’s going to get even more competitive in the coming years, said Max Willens, a principal analyst at Emarketer who covers the creator economy.

Emarketer forecasts that social media creator revenue in the U.S. will climb above $20 billion this year, but Willens said it’s important to contextualize what that means for individual creators.

“The overwhelming majority of that money is not going into creators’ pockets,” he said, even though their content and their followers form the foundation of the lucrative field.

Influencers can earn money from social media platforms, which reward high engagement, and some earn commission if people buy a product they’re promoting. But the largest share of influencers’ earnings comes from sponsored content — getting paid to talk about a brand or product. Willens said he expects the amount brands spend distributing and amplifying creator content will eventually surpass the amount creators earn making it.

The idea that a specialized college degree will “suddenly turn people into viral content machines deserves a bit of a reality check,” Willens said.

Duffy noted that becoming an influencer often is perceived, incorrectly, as a path to get rich quick. Colleges that introduce content creation degrees may be hoping to attract new students — and their parents — who are looking for “a job that will pay off,” Duffy said. “Whether or not it does is another story.”

A degree’s price is also a factor: At ASU, base tuition for Arizona residents is about $12,000 per academic year, excluding scholarships, but the total cost of attendance can exceed $37,000 after factoring in room, board and other fees. For students from outside of Arizona, tuition is more than $35,000 and the total cost of attendance is around $60,000 before scholarships.

Creators see value and transferable skills in these programs

While many content creation students may be hoping to become viral sensations, Phoenix-based creator Aiesha Beasley said she could see programs like ASU’s being valuable even to those without that dream.

“Having a digital presence and a personal brand is very important nowadays,” Beasley said. Building a platform and sharing that personal brand online can help a person network and gain entry to settings they may not have had access to otherwise, she said.

Beasley, who has been a full-time content creator for three years after more than a decade posting online, works with small businesses to help optimize their social media presence. She noted that ASU’s courses would teach several transferable skills in fields such as communications and marketing.

Content creator and actor Sammy Cristerna graduated from Arizona State University this spring with a degree in sociology and political science, but said he “absolutely” would have taken classes in the content creation program and considered the major if it had been available.

The courses, Cristerna said, would have been useful in learning how to negotiate brand deals, maximize monetization opportunities and cultivate and keep an audience. Some of those skills can be self-taught through experience, he added. Still, “it’s nice to have that formal education.”

The one thing Cristerna said he isn’t sure will translate in the classroom is personality.

To connect on camera, a person needs to have “good energy,” he said. “That’s hard to teach.”

___

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Driver and Navarette were among the new cast members announced Friday night at Disney’s D23 convention by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, along with Driver’s “Girls” castmate Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier and Maya Boyd as Storm. The film is slated for release in May 2028.

The announcements were the biggest news to emerge from Disney Entertainment’s D23 presentation that also brought updates on its forthcoming “Star Wars” titles and a song-and-dance that went sideways from the stars of “Frozen 3.”

Driver’s name was often rumored and often dismissed as an “X-Men” possibility. Many thought he’d be playing the antihero Magneto. The rest of the cast appeared on stage at the Honda Center arena in Anaheim, California, while Driver appeared on a big screen.

“Kevin and I had been talking for years about my joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I think we finally found the perfect film,” Driver told the crowd of 12,000 via video. “So I’m very excited to be playing the role of Maaagneto!” he said before pausing, taking it back and saying, “even better, Nathaniel Millbury,” an alias for Mister Sinister.

Also on stage were previously announced cast members Samara Weaving, who is playing Emma Frost; Kit Connor, who is playing Scott “Cyclops” Summers; and Sadie Sink, whose role as Jean Grey was revealed by her appearance in this summer’s Marvel megahit “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

The castmates were as new to each other as they were to the fans.

“They’ve just met backstage for the very first time,” Feige said.

Navarette had also been heavily rumored to have a role after fast becoming one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors for her striking performance as a spellbound girlfriend in the indie horror hit “Obsessed” earlier this year.

The “X-Men” joining the MCU became possible with Disney’s 2019 acquisition of Fox’s film studio.

Director Jake Schreier is heading the reboot. and two writers from prestige TV — “Beef” creator Lee Sung Jin and “The Bear” co-showrunner Joanna Calo — are working on the script.

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Gosling cosplays as Kade Auberon in ‘Star Wars’ presentation.

Ryan Gosling and director Shawn Levy headlined the “Star Wars” part of the night with a presentation on their film “Star Wars: Starfighter,” which is getting a May, 2027 release.

Gosling’s appearance on stage was preceded by clips of him as a child cast member of “The Mickey Mouse Club.”

“I owe a lot to Disney,” Gosling said. “Had they not looked far and wide and come to my hometown I would not be here today. Now, 30 years later, I’m back and it’s changing my life again.”

Shawn Levy put on Gosling a leather jacket with his “Star Wars” character Kade Auberon’s skull-and-bones symbol.

Gosling described Auberon as “a guy from the wrong side of the galaxy, whose fate is intertwined with the fastest starfighter ever built,” before showing clips from the film.

Disney announced earlier this summer at its San Diego Comic-Con presentation that Gosling will play the character Ghost Rider in the MCU, first in a “Black Panther” sequel, then in a “Ghost Rider” film that Levy will also direct. Both are set for release in 2028.

“Star Wars: Ahsoka” star Rosario Dawson also appeared to promote the Season 2 return of her Disney+ series, as did Hayden Christensen, who will return as a force-ghost version of her mentor Anakin Skywalker.

More Marvel with classic stars Downey, Evans, Atwell and Bettany

Marvel veterans also took the D23 stage as past and future “Avengers” stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. and Hayley Atwell introduced a new trailer for “Avengers: Doomsday,” to be released Dec. 18.

The footage shows Downey, now playing Dr. Doom having shed his Iron Man suit, beating back Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and his hammer, and shows Evans, who is returning as Captain America, holding a baby. And it shows Ian McKellan as a long-haired, haggard, struggling version of Magneto.

Hugh Jackman appeared on the big screen to tell Feige he’s willing to appear in “Doomsday” as Wolverine. Whether he’ll be in the movie has led to heated fan speculation. His answer wasn’t definitive, but most bets are now switching to yes.

Fans also got a glimpse of the soon-to-drop Disney+ series “Visionquest.” Paul Bettany, who returns to his Marvel role as Vision, and James Spader, who returns to playing Ultron, showed a trailer with oddly human and ordinary versions of their cybernetic characters. Bettany said it’s been a pleasure to play multiple versions of Vision, who has “rather inconveniently died several times.” But, he said, “I’m told in the Marvel Universe that no one is ever really dead.”

“Frozen 3” stars serenade fans, sort of

Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel sang an eerie new arrangement of “Frozen Heart” from their first film playing princess sisters Elsa and Anna as they introduced the forthcoming “Frozen 3.”

Or they tried to, anyway. The segment was plagued with malfunctioning audio, video, and a set of doors that failed to open.

They ad-libbed their way through it like pros.

“Should we go back and try it again?” Menzel asked at the song’s end.

Bell described for the crowd everything that was supposed to happen and said, “You guys were gonna freak out.”

They found their way back to the script.

“Doesn’t it kind of feel like the world of Frozen is a bit different?” Bell said. Menzel added, “Maybe a little bit more mysterious?”

“Yes, OK, we’re back on track,” Bell said, to big laughs.

Their castmate Josh Gad followed with a rendition of “Oooh, Samantha,” a love song his snowman character Olaf will sing in “Frozen 3.”

The night’s other big musical set pieces included songs and dance from the cast of “The Greatest Showman,” the stage musical adaptation of the 2017 Jackman film that is premiering on London’s West End next year.

His daughter, Amy Rydell, told The Hollywood Reporter that her father died Thursday of natural causes at a retirement community for the entertainment industry in the Woodland Hills section of Los Angeles.

“Hard to put into words how much I loved my dad,” she posted Friday on her Instagram account. “He was truly one of a kind. Funniest and most talented person I’ve ever known.”

‘On Golden Pond’ earned 10 Oscar nominations

“On Golden Pond,” which teamed Fonda with Hepburn and his daughter, Jane Fonda, was nominated for 10 Oscars. Henry Fonda and Hepburn won leading acting honors and the film won for screenplay, which Ernest Thompson adapted from his play of the same name. Rydell was nominated for directing but lost to Warren Beatty for “Reds.”

It earned over $119 million at the box office, making it the second-highest grossing film of 1981 behind “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

“On Golden Pond” was Henry Fonda’s final movie role. He starred as Norman Thayer, an emotionally brittle and distant father who becomes more accessible at the end of his life after his teenage grandson spends the summer with him and his wife, Ethel (played by Hepburn), at their cottage in New England. The film’s story resembled Fonda’s real-life relationship with daughter Jane, who said working on the movie together helped resolve some of their issues. The elder Fonda died at age 77 months after winning his only Oscar.

Rydell’s other Oscar-nominated films were “The Fox” in 1967, “The Reivers” with McQueen in 1969, “Cinderella Liberty” with James Caan and Marsha Mason in 1973, “The Rose” with Bette Midler in 1979, and “The River” with Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek in 1984.

Born Mortimer Harold Rydell on March 23, 1929, in New York City, he studied with jazz pianist Teddy Wilson at the Julliard School of Music. During a stint in the Army, he spent two years in Japan developing entertainment for military personnel. He majored in English and philosophy at New York University.

Early acting career opposite Steiger, Cassavetes, Mineo

He turned to acting when he won a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. Among his early roles were on the CBS soap operas “The Edge of Night” and “As the World Turns.”

Rydell made his Broadway debut in “Seagulls Over Sorrento” with Rod Steiger. In 1956, he made his movie acting debut opposite John Cassavetes and Sal Mineo in Don Siegel’s “Crime In The Streets.”

Among his film acting credits were Robert Altman’s “The Long Goodbye” in 1973 and Woody Allen’s “Hollywood Ending” in 2002.

Rydell moved into directing television, helming episodes of “Mr. Novak,” “Ben Casey,” “I Spy,” “The Wild Wild West,” “The Long, Hot Summer,” “The Fugitive” and “Gunsmoke.”

He made his feature-film directorial debut with 1967’s “The Fox” starring Sandy Dennis, and it was a hit.

Two years later, Rydell directed McQueen in the comedy-drama “The Reivers.”

Teaming with Sydney Pollack

Rydell and Sydney Pollack, who became friends during their acting days, formed Sanford Productions in 1971. Among their efforts were the films “Jeremiah Johnson” starring Robert Redford and “Scarecrow” with Al Pacino and Gene Hackman, which won the Cannes Film Festival’s top honor, the Palme d’Or.

Rydell directed Wayne in 1972’s “The Cowboys.” He reunited with Caan for the 1976 flop “Harry and Walter Go to New York.”

He scored a major hit with 1979’s “The Rose,” with Midler in her Oscar-nominated role as a self-destructive rock star loosely based on Janis Joplin.

Rydell re-teamed with Caan and Midler in “For the Boys” in 1991, but it wasn’t successful.

“He was an actor of note before he became a director, and I was so lucky to have met him when I did; he taught me so much on The Rose and later on For The Boys,” Midler posted on Instagram. “Two Oscars nominations both because of him. He was the actor’s whisperer; just a few words was all it took to understand what was needed. Devoted to Meisner. So many happy memories.”

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TV movies and series among his credits

Rydell directed the pilot of the hit ABC drama “Family” in 1976.

Among his TV movie directing credits were “McBride and Groom,” “Crime of the Century” with Isabella Rossellini and Stephen Rea, and “James Dean,” which earned actor James Franco a Golden Globe award. Rydell also appeared in the movie as Warner Bros. chief Jack Warner.

He directed the movies “Intersection” in 1994 and “Even Money” in 2006.

In 2009, Rydell, Oscar-winning actor Martin Landau and screenwriter Lyle Kessler taught a film workshop at UCLA. Rydell and Landau were co-artistic directors of The Actors Studio West, teaching and coaching actors, writers and directors.

“All great art rests on telling the truth,” Rydell told UCLA’s student newspaper The Daily Bruin. “The real pursuit of an artist is to tell the truth.”

Besides his daughter, he is survived by son Christopher. The siblings who went into acting were from his first marriage to actor Joanne Linville. He had another son, Alexander, from his second marriage to producer Esther Rydell.

Wondermind, which was co-founded by Gomez; her mother, Mandy Teefey; and Daniella Pierson in November 2021, touts mental fitness practices and tools.

The suit accuses Wondermind and its founders of falsely representing the company’s infrastructure, leadership and partnerships to investors and concealing the alleged fraud for more than three years.

The founders told investors they would build a Wondermind app, boasted advertising deals and secured celebrity cover stories, none of which came to fruition, the complaint says.

Investors poured nearly $1.2 million into Wondermind, but the trio falsely represented the company’s plans to make it profitable, the suit says.

It alleges that investors were kept in the dark until two bombshell media reports portrayed Wondermind as a company in utter disarray.

The suit was filed in federal court in Delaware by Wondermind SRS 44 LLC and Bespoke Wondermind SPV I LLC, limited liability companies that invested in the startup.

They accuse the company and the founding trio of securities fraud, common-law fraud, and breach of contract, and are seeking rescission — meaning a legal cancellation of the investment contract — as well as damages.

In a statement, Pierson says she categorically denies the allegations against her and “welcomes the opportunity to present concrete documentation and financial records that establish the facts.”

“To be clear, she has never used investor funds for personal expenses. Quite the opposite: Daniella invested her own money into the business and did not draw a salary from the company,” she said in a statement.

Representatives for Wondermind, Gomez and Teefey did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.

No products, no updates — and no Selena

Investors say in the suit that they believed the money they gaveWondermind would rapidly scale and build a full suite of company products, including an app, a podcast, an editorial publication and other wellness products.

They also believed that the company’s value lay in Gomez’s involvement as a celebrity with a massive, loyal fan base. The suit alleges that Wondermind had indicated that Gomez would be “intimately involved in the Company” as head of marketing and involved in publicity.

But none of those things happened, the suit says.

“Gomez purported to sign a contract obligating her to perform and then ignored it. The partnerships did not exist. The initiatives never materialized. The app was never built,” it says. “And for three years, while the Company quietly collapsed around them, not one of its founders, officers, or directors said a word to the investors whose money was funding the collapse.”

The investors also allege in the suit that the defendants did not provide timely updates about the status of their investments and the company’s operations unless they were pressed.

In the limited updates they did provide, “they both affirmatively misrepresented the status of the Company’s operations and concealed material information about ongoing issues at the Company,” the complaint says.

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Media articles allege a company in disarray

Investors were kept in the dark, the suit alleges, for more than three years.

Then came an August 2025 Forbes article focused on Pierson with the headline “‘Smoke And Mirrors’: How This Entrepreneur Exaggerated And Self-Promoted Her Way Into Turmoil.”

Pierson was described to investors as a millionaire executive whose past business, the daily newsletter The Newsette, of which she was CEO, generated $40 million a year, the suit says. Investors were also told she had secured partnerships with JPMorgan and Fidelity.

But the Forbes report cast scrutiny and said Pierson exaggerated her readership and the valuation of her newsletter.

The suit says that investors contacted Teefey for an explanation after the article published and that she responded that Pierson had allegedly “misappropriated investor funds — including the Plaintiffs’ funds — to fund her lavish lifestyle,” including her $60,000 monthly rent for her New York City apartment and monthly expenses, before she was ousted from the company in January 2023.

Yet Teefey had never informed investors about the alleged misappropriated funds before the article was published, the suit says.

An article in The Cut published Sept. 3 titled “What Happened at Wondermind?” based on interviews with current and former employees, alleged the company was falling apart.

“The accounts in the Cut article collectively show that, from the outset, Wondermind had no plan for its future — much less a plan for achieving a multi-billion dollar valuation,” the suit says.

That article alleged that Teefey had a long-running substance abuse problem that impeded her capacity to helm the company, that Gomez sought to distance herself from Wondermind “based on a long-running family dispute” with Teefey and that Pierson had been ousted from the company based on a dispute with Teefey, the suit says.

The article, the suit claims, proved that the company was “in a state of financial calamity” and that “there was no legitimate enterprise in the works.”

Two months later, in November, investors sent the defendants a notice of rescission, demanding the return of their funds, they say in their suit. The defendants did not respond “in substance” to the notice, the suit says, but “continued to lull and mislead the plaintiffs.”

After the notice of rescission was sent, Teefey allegedly contacted Bespoke’s representatives suggesting that investors should not file a suit claiming the company had an escrow account to return the investments, this week’s lawsuit says. When Andrew Resnick, part of Bespoke, followed up for details of the account and the return of funds, “Teefey disappeared,” the suit says.

“In short, there was no ‘escrow account’ or a plan to return the Plaintiffs’ investments,” the complaint says.

Misleading updates

The suit details several allegations of investors’ being given updates that ended up being misleading or false.

In June 2022, it says, Pierson told the plaintiffs that Wondermind had grown to more than 150,000 subscribers in one month, that she had met with executives at other companies regarding “large advertising deals” and that she anticipated closing “at least $5M in ad revenue this year.” She also said the company had “interest or confirmation for ‘Cover Story’ features from major celebrities including Camila Cabello, Tim Cook, Elton John, Drake, Megan Thee Stallion and more,” the complaint says.

She said the company was starting to build its “online editorial experience” and an ambassador/referral program, the complaint says. She is alleged to have touted that the company had a potential future value of more than $4 billion.

That led the investors to believe the company had the foundation to operationalize, the suit says.

The suit says that from 2022 to 2025, the plaintiffs “proactively” contacted Teefey and Pierson for updates.

“When the Defendants would provide updates — either by email or on a phone call — they concealed the significant operational and financial issues at the Company. Indeed, the Defendants affirmatively misrepresented that the Company was performing well,” the suit says.

Overall, the suit accuses Wondermind and all defendants of securities fraud, alleging they misrepresented the company’s finances, Gomez’s involvement, Pierson’s business background and Teefey’s fitness (as she had never held a similar startup CEO role). They are further accused of common law fraud and equitable fraud.

Pierson in addition is accused in the suit of securities fraud for what it alleges were misstatements to investors, conversion for wrongfully using investment funds and unjust enrichment.

Wondermind is also accused in the suit of breach of contract-use of investor proceeds, rescission-failures to satisfy conditions precedent, and breach of contract-breach of express representations and warranties.

On Aug. 12, the chicken chain announced that its new Chicken & Waffles Sandwiches will be launching in restaurants nationwide on Aug. 24.

Customers can enjoy two versions of the dish, depending on the time of day: a Chicken & Waffles Sandwich during breakfast hours (6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.), and a larger Chicken & Waffles Sandwich throughout the rest of the day.

There are also two campfire-inspired treats arriving for a limited time.

Here are all the fall offerings:

• Chicken & Waffles Sandwiches feature chicken, applewood-smoked bacon and honey butter spread, sandwiched inside maple-flavored waffles, with a side of syrup. It comes in both breakfast and entrée portions, with the choice of an Original, Spicy or Grilled filet.
• S’mores Milkshake features the flavors of toasted marshmallow, graham cracker and chocolate, hand-spun with Chick-fil-A’s vanilla Icedream soft serve.
• S’mores Frosted Coffee features the flavors of toasted marshmallow, graham cracker and chocolate, hand-spun with cold-brewed coffee and vanilla Icedream.

Over a decade ago, in August 2014, Chick-fil-A tested chicken and waffles as part of a potential expansion of its breakfast menu. While not a sandwich, the menu item featured boneless chicken and a Belgian-style waffle baked with maple-flavored batter.

The chain only tested it in four markets — Memphis, Philadelphia, Middle Georgia and California’s Inland Empire — and it never launched nationwide.

Before this drop, Chick-fil-A tested Chicken & Waffles Sandwiches in Baltimore and San Antonio from December 1, 2025, through January 24, 2026.

At the time, fans demanded that the item go nationwide, with one Instagram user writing, “Testing?? Why does THIS need testing? Full send already!!”

Thankfully, the chicken chain decided to oblige, and folks celebrated the news on social media.

“Like the weight I just lost over summer was for nothing 😂,” joked one Threads user.

“If you thought those lines were long before, ohhhhh just you wait,” wrote another.

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The Olympic champion posted a series of Instagram stories from inside World Champions Centre, the Texas gym owned by her parents where she trained for years to became an 11‑time Olympic medalist.

In her first photo, Biles stands in front of a pit filled with red foam cubes, surrounded by beams, mats, a trampoline and a banner that reads, “The World is Yours.”

The next image shows her locker, still stocked with items from her competitive days: a goat stuffed animal, heel cups, Aquaphor, perfume, Sol de Janeiro spray and other self‑care products, plus a hand‑drawn poster with her name.

“Just how I left it,” Biles wrote over the photo.

Naturally, the internet is spiraling over what her visit could mean, especially with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon.

A Reddit thread quickly filled with speculation. 

One fan wrote, “I won’t get my hopes up…I won’t get my hopes up…” Another replied, “Too late! My hopes are up. I am bracing for heartbreak if she was just cleaning out her locker.”

A third added, “‘Just how I left it?!’ Don’t play with our hearts, Simone😭.”

Someone else chimed in, “I honestly cannot see simone playing with people by teasing and then ripping the rug out from under her fans.”

Biles was asked whether she planned to compete at the Los Angeles Games in 2025, and she responded, “I’m really trying to enjoy life, to spend time with my husband [Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens], go support him at his games, live my life as a woman. I’ve accomplished so much in my sport. For me to come back, it would really have to excite me.”

Biles has said she will be in Los Angeles in 2028, but she isn’t sure in what role.

“Whether on the apparatus or in the stands, I still don’t know that,” she told L’Equipe. “But 2028 seems so far away, and my body is aging. I felt it in Paris.”

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In July, Biles told fans she was receiving medical treatment in what appeared to be a clinical setting, only weeks after saying she “almost died” during a health scare.

She didn’t share details about the procedure or what prompted it, and information about her condition remains unclear. Despite the circumstances, she appeared upbeat in the photo, with Owens by her side as she underwent the undisclosed operation.

Turns out the final jam wasn’t all that final, because camp is back in session with “Camp Rock 3.”

“Camp Rock 3” premiered on Disney Channel Aug. 13, 18 years after the 2008 release of the original, with “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” just two years after.

The original musical served as a catapult into stardom for original cast members Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers. The fictional camp, meanwhile, has always been a place for similarly aspiring young performers to come together and learn what it takes to be a rocker.

This new reboot inducts rising stars Malachi Barton, Disney’s newest male lead from the popular “Zombies” franchise, and Liamani from “Descendants: Wicked Wonderland.”

“Camp Rock 3” picks up many years after the sequel, with the Jonas Brothers reprising their role as the members of the fictional boy band Connect 3: Shane Gray (Joe Jonas), Jason Gray (Kevin Jonas) and Nate Gray (Nick Jonas). When Connect 3 loses the opening act of their “Reconnected” reunion tour, they turn to the place they went from reluctant campers to pivotal counselors in search of the next greatest voice.

Maria Canals-Barrera reprises her role as Connie Torres, mother to Lovato’s character Mitchie Torres.

Unlike her former co-stars, Lovato was listed solely as an executive producer of the film. However, fans online weren’t so convinced — and the instincts were right! Lovato makes a surprise cameo towards the end of the movie, making for a full-circle moment with both old and new castmates. News of Lovato’s return was revealed Aug. 10 across social media, including a post from the star herself.

“She’s an amazing producer,” Canals-Barrera tells TODAY.com about reuniting with Lovato. “She’s so talented. Even at 15, she just grabbed people’s hearts and they never let her go through all the ups and downs in her life and her success.”

Here’s everything to know about “Camp Rock 3,” from Lovato’s surprise appearance, all the new Disney Channel faces and how the movie expands on the beloved franchise’s legacy.

What happens in ‘Camp Rock 3’?

“Camp Rock 3” combines nostalgic callbacks to the glory days with the introduction of some new voices.

Comedian and actor Sherry Cola comes in as Lark, Connect 3’s tour manager who has little patience for their brotherly band drama. Competition is always an element of Camp Rock, and when campers are faced with a series of challenges to determine who will open for Connect 3, Lark is roped into judging. Despite being hesitant to spend tour prep time in the woods, the catchy songs grow on her, and the excitement of the contest wins her over.

Barton’s character, Fletch, wears the “bad boy” shoes of Shane Gray, as he mysteriously shows up late to camp in a cop car. Fletch, like Shane, immediately bumps into the outgoing aspiring frontwoman Sage, played by Liamani. The two align on their shared passion for using music as a cathartic means of connectivity during times of uncertainty.

Liamani, 17 — just two years older than Lovato was when she first stepped foot on camp — nearly manifested her leading role in “Camp Rock 3.” Three years ago, during her time on “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” she covered Lovato’s iconic ballad “This is Me” from the original film. Sage is the girl who always has a plan, but influenced by the spontaneity of her brother Desi (Hudson Stone), she discovers newfound anchors of confidence and direction.

One of Sage’s discoveries includes an iconic reference to the first “Camp Rock.” Looking for inspiration, Sage stumbles upon Mitchie’s songwriting notebook, left under the floorboards of her cabin. When Connie spots Sage writing her own songs in the notebook, she gives Sage some words of wisdom.

Another familiar Disney Channel face (new to the “Camp Rock” universe) is Milo Manheim, the lead of Disney’s “Zombies” franchise and upcoming star in the live-action “Tangled” movie. Manheim portrays a former camper turned counselor who helps mentor campers through the various workshops and challenges.

Key newbies include Rosie (Lumi Pollack), who seizes the opportunity to break free from her parents’ classical expectations, Cliff (Casey Trotter), who finds friends who let him beat to his own drum, and Callie (Brooklynn Pitts), a dancer who discovers leadership skills as Lark’s assistant.

This summer, Connie trades in her chef coat for the camp director’s desk, and has the difficult job of enforcing a new rule: No phones. Like old times, when the competition turns up the heat, the campers must decide if certain rules are worth being broken and when revenge is necessary.

When does Demi Lovato make her surprise cameo?

At first, “Camp Rock 3” seems to focus solely on the return of Connect 3 and Connie. Fans are in luck, however, because by the last 20 minutes of this trilogy film, Mitchie Torres indeed makes an appearance.

Once the five finalists are narrowed down — Sage, Fletch, Rosie, Desi and Cliff — and Final Jam approaches, Mitchie surprises Connie and Connect 3.

“This is their night, not mine,” Mitchie says to Connie about wanting to stay on the sidelines rather than make a big entrance during Final Jam.

Mitchie, who took a break from a tour to witness Final Jam, stays backstage and reminisces with her mom about how much camp still means to so many kids, who, like her, came here to discover their sound and kick off their dreams.

Mitchie also chats with Shane, Jason and Nate, and convinces them they don’t have to pick just one Final Jam winner. The former campers see themselves in these young newcomers, and Mitchie reminds them one of the greatest talents isn’t individual star power, but how artists can help each other shine.

After the announcement that all five campers will get to open for Connect 3 as a group, Mitchie and Shane fans get their moment.

“You think they know what they just got?” Shane asks.

“Not yet,” Mitchie responds. “But they will.”

As the new generation gears up to perform a finale duet of “We Rock” with Connect 3, Sage catches a glimpse of Mitchie, who gives the young (and starstruck) performer a wave and a smile before walking off camera.

Will there be a ‘Camp Rock 4’?

While there is no major cliffhanger moment, the end of the scene between Lovato and Joe Jonas does leave open the possibility of a future for the franchise.

“So, same time next summer?” Joe Jonas’ character poses, to which Lovato answers back, “You’re on.”

“Camp Rock 3” will stream on Disney+ on Aug. 14.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Maria Canals-Barrera Raised Generations of Disney Channel Kids. This Is Her Story
• Rob Gronkowski Reveals He Played Matchmaker for Julian Edelman at Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce’s Wedding
• Travis Kelce Breaks Silence on Wedding With Taylor Swift: ‘The Best Night Of My Life’

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Her father, Charles Dunn, said she went into cardiac arrest after experiencing a severe asthma attack, according to the New York Times.

Knowings, who was born in the Bronx, grew up singing and dancing. Her father told the outlet that she did not consider pursuing entertainment professionally until she reached high school.

Knowings joined the cast of “All That” in 1997 and stayed for three seasons. She appeared in more than 30 episodes, portraying characters including Penny Lane, Brenda Stone in the “Channel 6 1/2 News” sketches and Jessica in the “Whateverrr!!!” segments. The series ran for 10 seasons and helped introduce several performers who went on to broader careers, including Nick Cannon, Amanda Bynes and Kenan Thompson, who later joined “Saturday Night Live.”

Thompson posted an Instagram on Thursday acknowledging Knowings’ death. In his post, he wrote, “Man this one hit hard!!! Rest well Christy!!! Never could have imagined this day!! Sending so much love to her family!! She was a real one and one of the funniest people out here!!! Gonna miss you buddy!!! Show @christyknowings some love y’all!!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾❤️❤️❤️😢”

She also appeared with her twin brother, Christopher Knowings, in episodes of “Sesame Street.” Her additional credits included a guest role on the 1990s police drama “New York Undercover,” a writing credit for the 2009 film “Mother and Child” and a folk single titled “To the World,” released in 2020.

In addition to her father and her twin brother, Knowings is survived by her mother, Rénee Knowings Dunn and siblings Charles Dunn Jr., Ashley Dunn Ledger, Yavonka Vega, Tamea Dunn and Lee Elder.

Barbara Lavandeira told Page Six that Aug. 4 “will forever be one of the darkest days my family and I have ever experienced.”

That was the evening Hilton, who rose to fame in the early 2000s as a celebrity gossip blogger, appeared to engage in self-harm during a livestream.

Police responded to his Miami home, and Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, was hospitalized for treatment.

Lavandeira was staying with her brother at the time and noticed his bedroom door was closed and locked, which she said “wasn’t like him,” Lavandeira told the outlet.

She called out to him, but he stopped responding.

“When I knocked, he said he was fine, but I could barely hear him,” she said. “After I knocked a few more times and asked him to open the door, he stopped responding. I tried calling his cellphone in case he couldn’t hear me, but he wouldn’t answer. Something just felt wrong.”

She said she unlocked the bedroom door, saw he was inside the bathroom, and when he didn’t answer, she unlocked that door, too.

“When I opened the door, my nightmare became a reality,” she told Page Six. “Mario was standing in front of the shower, naked, cut up, covered in blood, with a box cutter in his hand.”

“What I can say with certainty is that I didn’t recognize my brother when I looked at him. I saw it in his eyes. They didn’t look the same. Then, a split second later, he smiled at me. It felt like I was staring at someone else,” she continued.

Lavandeira said she left the bathroom and corralled her daughter and Hilton’s three children out of the home, put them in the car and called 911.

“The first call I made was to the police. Then I messaged my best friend, who lives nearby, while I was on with dispatch, and asked her to please come get the kids and take them away from the scene,” Lavandeira said.

With the kids safe, she tended to her brother.

“Eventually, I was able to go back into the house while I waited for the ambulance and place towels over Mario to help stop the bleeding. He had already lost a significant amount of blood, yet he was somehow still able to speak, although his voice was very faint,” she explained.

Finally, an ambulance arrived and took him to a hospital.

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She explained Hilton had checked himself into a hospital for “severe depression” shortly before the Aug. 4 incident, Lavandeira said. That came on the heels of “an extremely difficult year” of health issues, she said.

About two weeks earlier, Hilton approached her and their mother and opened up about his mental health.

“He told us that a few days earlier, he had felt empty, hopeless and like he was a burden on everyone. He then admitted that one night when he couldn’t sleep, he had taken the remaining painkillers from his surgery in March. He said he just wanted to sleep,” she told Page Six.

Lavandeira told her brother he needed “proper psychiatric help.” Hilton agreed and she took him to the hospital that same day.

“He went voluntarily,” she said. “After several days of evaluation and treatment, the facility determined that he could be discharged.”

Hilton seemed to be on the up, spending time with the family and using coping mechanisms and grounding techniques he learned at the hospital, she said.

On Aug. 3, Hilton had returned to his regular therapy sessions and the next day he “completed an intake call for an intensive outpatient program and was supposed to begin outpatient group therapy the following week,” his sister said.

“Later that same afternoon, our lives changed forever,” she added.

In March, Hilton said in a series of posts that he was hospitalized for three weeks with an ulcer and sepsis. Hilton said in a YouTube video addressing his hospitalization that his condition was a result of taking medication without eating.

“He was hospitalized for close to a month. Doctors initially didn’t know what was wrong. His body became septic, he coded and he nearly died several times,” Lavandeira explained.

“He underwent abdominal surgery, had fluid drained from around his lungs twice and then had to recover from surgery and begin physical therapy,” she said.

Hilton was back in a hospital a few weeks later for deep vein thrombosis, he said in an interview with NBC South Florida last month.

After he was released, “he began struggling with depression, anxiety, stress and overwhelming thoughts,” Lavandeira said.

She said the family took those signs seriously, and he saw a therapist and a psychiatrist to get better.

He moved from Las Vegas to his hometown of Miami in June to be closer to family.

“Soon after arriving in Miami, Mario started having doubts. He worried that moving had been a mistake, a financial drain and an impulsive decision. He wondered whether he should have stayed in Las Vegas, and those thoughts wouldn’t leave his mind,” Lavandeira told Page Six.

She said Hilton was prescribed a low dose of antidepressant.

She said while things “seemed to be looking better,” when it came to Aug. 4 “my brother was not well that day. He needed help, and he still needs help.”

She said that Hilton remains hospitalized and the family’s priority is the health and safety of Hilton and his children.

“His physical and mental recovery is going to take a lot of time, but we remain hopeful,” she said.

“He did sustain cuts to his face and other areas, but it’s still far too early to know the extent of any lasting damage or scarring,” she told Page Six. “What I can say is that he has a long road ahead of him, both physically and mentally.”

She said he has no cellphone or internet access in the hospital.

Lavandeira said she decided to speak out as the “only person who witnessed what happened from the beginning to the end,” she said.

“I’m talking now for everyone who cares about him and has been sending their best wishes, but also because of all the rumors, false reporting, fake exclusives and made-up quotes going around,” she told Page Six. “I can only share what I personally witnessed and experienced, but I want people to hear directly from someone who was actually there.”

Lavandeira stressed that Hilton’s kids love their father and the family’s goal is for him to get better and care for his children again.

“In the meantime, our mother is caring for them, and our entire family is helping provide the love, stability, privacy and professional support they need,” she said.

Lavandeira also stressed her brother isn’t the same person he was when he launched his gossip website and condemned people who were casting judgment or making jokes about his experience.

“I don’t believe someone should be reduced forever to the worst things they did in their past, especially when they’ve admitted the harm and genuinely tried to grow.”

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

That’s what Rob Gronkowski gave to Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift for their wedding gift. It’s not that Gronk is a bad gift giver, he was simply giving the newlyweds exactly what they asked for.  

“Didn’t get him anything,” Gronkowski told NBC Sports’ Eddie Scheidler about his fellow tight end. “You weren’t supposed to get them gifts, so it’s a good thing I didn’t. I don’t want to break the rules.”

The former New England Patriots star and current FOX football analyst was one of many celebrity guests invited to Madison Square Garden in New York on July 3 for what’s been called the wedding of the year by some – and the wedding of the century by Swifties.

“It was top notch, and it was popping,” Gronkowski said while promoting T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights, which gives cash prizes to small-town high schools across the country. “It was really popping, the wedding, and it was just great, all the different backgrounds, occupations there and everyone just mingling together like everyone belonged.”

The four-time Super Bowl champion attended the wedding with his girlfriend Camille Kostek — and one of Gronk’s former teammates.

“Julian Edelman was the third wheel, so we were kind of looking for some girls for him,” Gronkowski said on “TODAY” earlier Thursday. “He was going, ‘Who’s that? Is she single?’ I’m like, ‘Go for it, Julian.’

“Camille and I were trying to play matchmaker, but no luck,” he added. “But Julian doesn’t need any luck. He’s a beautiful looking kid.”

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Gronkowski, a 2027 candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Kelce are among the top tight ends in NFL history, with their playing careers overlapping for eight seasons. Kelce is entering his 14^th season needing 10 touchdowns to match Gronkowski’s total of 92 for third most all time by a tight end.

Their tight-end ties, shared Pro Bowl experiences and 2021 Super Bowl matchup helped lead to Gronk getting an invite to Kelce’s wedding.   

Kelce, at training camp on Wednesday, made his first public comments about his wedding.

“The wedding was the best night of my life,” he told reporters. “I appreciate everybody who came out and celebrated and had fun with us. That’s about all I got for that night. It was a crazy night.”

Even with no gifts.

Gronkowski was asked if Kelce and Swift sent him a thank you card.

“They didn’t need to send me anything,” he said. “I should be sending them a thank you card for inviting me.”

Opening statements at the murder trial in Las Vegas are expected to begin Monday.

Family members and fans of the legendary rapper have been waiting for decades to learn the truth behind the 1996 drive-by shooting that left Shakur dead at the height of his career.

Shakur was just 25 when he was shot near the Las Vegas Strip at a time when he was in the middle of a fierce battle for dominance in a music scene shaped by rival gangs.

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Authorities three years ago charged Duane “Keffe D” Davis with murder, describing him as the “shot caller” who orchestrated the killing. Davis has pleaded not guilty and could be sentenced to life in prison if he’s convicted.

Sixteen jurors were picked for the trial, which is expected to last about a month. During the selection process, potential jurors were asked about their favorite books and movies, if they had any strong feelings about gangs, and whether they had listened to Shakur’s music.

Shakur still is considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. With hits like “California Love” and “Dear Mama,” more than 75 million of his records have been sold worldwide, including seven albums released after his death.

He was in the passenger seat of a BMW driven by Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight on Sept. 7, 1996, when shots were fired from a Cadillac at a red light. Knight survived but Shakur died six days later.

Prosecutors have not accused Davis, now 63, of pulling the trigger that night, instead saying that he made the calls that led to Shakur’s death and provided the gun.

In Nevada, a person can be convicted of murder for helping another person commit the crime.

Davis is the only person still alive who was in the car where prosecutors said the fatal shots originated.

The case against Davis was revived when Davis published the book “Compton Street Legend,” about the shooting and his time in the Crips, in 2019 as well as his statements during police and media interviews.

Davis’ attorneys unsuccessfully fought to block from the trial details written in the book and said during a 2008 police interview. They argued the book was fictionalized and had a co-author, making it impossible to know which parts Davis wrote.

They also argued Davis’ previous interview with a federal task force was supposed to be confidential and not used against him.

Among those who could be called to testify in the trial is Knight, the rap music mogul whose label represented Shakur. He continually has said that he wants no part in the trial.

Knight, who is serving a 28-year sentence for running over and killing a Compton businessman in 2015, is the only surviving person who was in the car with Shakur at the time of the shooting.

Prosecutors expect to call between 35 and 45 witnesses, ranging from people who saw Shakur moments before he was shot to those who were associates of both Shakur and Davis at the time. Sean “Diddy” Combs, who Davis claimed wanted Shakur and Knight dead, will not be one of those witnesses, attorneys said.

Associated Press writers John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, and Rio Yamat in Las Vegas contributed to this report.

Speaking to British Vogue for the magazine’s September 2026 issue, Nicole Kidman said the marriage “thrust” her into new levels of fame in her early 20s.

Kidman was 23 when she married Cruise, then 28, in a 1990 ceremony in Telluride, Colorado. The couple met while co-starring in the film “Days of Thunder,” which also came out in 1990. Within five years, they had adopted two children, Isabella and Connor. They co-starred in “Eyes Wide Shut” in 1999.

“Suddenly I was 22, 23 years old and I had this huge movie star husband. But it just seemed completely natural. We just fell madly in love and it was that simple,” she said.

The actor said she received some cautionary advice before the wedding, which she ignored.

“I remember people saying to me, ‘OK, well this is really going to affect your career.’ I’m like, ‘I don’t care. I’m in love. I want to be married,’” Kidman said. “And then I was his ‘wife’ and they were like, ‘See, we told you.’ I’m like, ‘So what? I wasn’t meant to marry the man I love? Of course I’ll throw my career away. I don’t care.’”

Kidman, 59, did not throw her career away in the slightest, going on to win an Academy Award, six Golden Globes, two Emmys, and a BAFTA. This year alone, she’s starring in the sequel to “Practical Magic” and the TV shows “Lioness,” “Scarpetta” and “Margot’s Got Money Troubles.”

Kidman and Cruise shared they were separating in 2001. Kidman went on to marry Keith Urban and have two daughters with him, Sunday Rose and Faith. Last year, Kidman and Urban shared they were splitting after 19 years together.

Kidman has spoken about her relationship with Cruise sparingly. During an interview with New York Magazine for their Women in Power series in 2018, Kidman said she married Cruise for both love and “protection.”

“I got married very young, but it definitely wasn’t power for me — it was protection. I married for love, but being married to an extremely powerful man kept me from being sexually harassed. I would work, but I was still very much cocooned. So when I came out of it at 32, 33, it’s almost like I had to grow up,” she said.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Maria Canals-Barrera Raised Generations of Disney Channel Kids. This Is Her Story
• Rob Gronkowski Reveals He Played Matchmaker for Julian Edelman at Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce’s Wedding
• Travis Kelce Breaks Silence on Wedding With Taylor Swift: ‘The Best Night Of My Life’

As Theresa Russo, Canals-Barrera gave words of wisdom to her “Wizards of Waverly Place” daughter Alex Russo, portrayed by Gomez. Her nurturing nature also extended beyond the screen to real life, Canals-Barrera tells TODAY.com.

“She asked me for relationship advice a couple of times during the show,” Canals-Barrera recalls. “And that was really honoring to me because I play her mom. I’m not her mom … So when (Gomez) asked me a couple of times about marriage and stuff, that was really touching to me.”

The two entertained audiences as mother and daughter for four seasons between 2007 and 2012, a time Canals-Barrera tells TODAY.com she remembers fondly.

So when Canals-Barrera attended Gomez’s wedding to Benny Blanco, she couldn’t help but get emotional. The couple got married in September 2025.

Years later, Canals-Barrera says she didn’t need to give her former on-screen daughter any advice. “Now, at her wedding, I think she figured it out,” she says.

Canals-Barrera posted a video on her Instagram that showed a side-by-side of her with Gomez on “Wizards of Waverly Place” and then at her wedding. Canals-Barrera shares that it was a moving celebration.

“(The wedding) was so beautiful. The vows that they wrote for each other were just so incredible. I mean, we all cried,” she says. “It was really beautiful. So I’m very happy that she found love.”

“She deserves the best and so does he,” she adds. “I wish them the best.”

The two would reunite again in the “Wizards” spinoff, “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.” Canals-Barrera reprised her role as the Russo matriarch for two episodes, including the Aug. 4 finale.

Reflecting on working with Gomez over the years, she called her “a born talent.”

“She was on set knowing her lines, completely emotionally prepared and a singer to boot,” she says.

Also returning to her role of Connie Torres in “Camp Rock 3,” Canals-Barrera is forever grateful and honored to be the TV mom for many.

“It’s very encouraging as an actor, as a mother in real life, that the mothering moments mean something to (fans),” she says. “Even when it’s not our own mother. It’s very touching to us. The nostalgia vibe that’s happening right now. I’m so grateful to be part of it.”

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Travis Kelce Breaks Silence on Wedding With Taylor Swift: ‘The Best Night Of My Life’
• Is Phil Collins A Swiftie? Music Icon Says Taylor Swift ‘Deserves’ To Be ‘Hugest Thing In The World’
• Rob Gronkowski Reveals He Played Matchmaker for Julian Edelman at Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce’s Wedding

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The fast-food chain is launching a new Hello Kitty & Friends x Godzilla Happy Meal, which combines characters from the Sanrio universe with monsters from the iconic “Godzilla” film franchise.

The meals will be available at participating McDonald’s locations nationwide for a limited time starting Aug. 18.

Everyone knows the most important part of a Happy Meal is the toy, and McDonald’s has created eight exclusive collectible toys as part of the collab.

The chain teased its newest Happy Meal on Instagram Aug. 10 by sharing a short clip of Hello Kitty eyeing a Happy Meal in the ocean. But she didn’t look quite like herself and had what appeared to be a monster suit on, complete with a fierce head and tail.

McDonald’s captioned the post, “cute meets kaiju 08.18.”

On Aug. 12, the fast-food chain made things official by sharing a photo of the toys customers can look forward to when they open up their Hello Kitty & Friends x Godzilla Happy Meal.

McDonald’s captioned the post, “cosplaying right into our hearts. Hello Kitty and Friends x Godzilla Happy Meal out 8.18.”

The @snackwire Instagram account gave social media users a closer look at the Happy Meal toys, which include the following characters:

• Cinnamoroll x Destoroyah
• Badtz-Maru x Rodan
• My Melody x Mothra
• Keroppi x King Ghidorah
• Chococat x SpaceGodzilla
• Pompompurin x Gigan
• Hello Kitty x Godzilla
• Kuromi x Mechagodzilla

After seeing the new toys on the McDonald’s Instagram page, social media users quickly weighed in to express their excitement.

“Who put cinnamaroll i(n) that costume he is not destroying anything 😭😭😭😭😭,” one joked.

“Pompom Gigan is speaking to me,” another wrote.

“YALL BETTER GIMMIE CINNA FIRST TRY,” one commented.

One social media user called it “the cutest crossover” and another commented, “I guess I know my dinner august 18th.”

This is hardly the first time Hello Kitty has been featured in a Happy Meal. In 2025, McDonald’s released 12 toys as part of its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Hello Kitty and Friends Happy Meal.

The Hello Kitty & Friends x Godzilla Happy Meal is the latest in a continuation of global partnerships, specifically in East Asia.

In July, the chain announced its latest BTS collab, the BT21 Happy Meal, which hit restaurants nationwide on July 14 for a limited time. McDonald’s previously partnered with the band in 2025 to release Happy Meals with TinyTAN toys inspired by each of the group’s seven members, and in

Fans of “KPop Demon Hunters” were treated to dueling adult meals inspired by the movie and a Derpy McFlurry in April 2026.

In 2025, McDonald’s also re-created one of its Japanese dipping sauces for U.S. restaurants in a collab with anime series “Jujutsu Kaisen.” The Special Grade Garlic Sauce was inspired by McDonald’s Japan’s Black Garlic Sauce.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Travis Kelce Breaks Silence on Wedding With Taylor Swift: ‘The Best Night Of My Life’
• Is Phil Collins A Swiftie? Music Icon Says Taylor Swift ‘Deserves’ To Be ‘Hugest Thing In The World’
• Kylie Kelce Shares the Moment That Made Jason So Emotional at Travis and Taylor Swift’s Wedding

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The couple was exchanging vows along a river when guests realized they had an unexpected audience drifting behind them. Within moments, they recognized the figure in the tube floating downstream. The bride froze in disbelief, the groom broke into laughter and guests erupted as the musician who was shirtless, wearing a trucker cap and sipping a beverage, smiled for the camera while passing through.

Wedding planner K. Rose Events made clear the encounter was entirely unplanned.

“POV: You’re getting married on the Owens River in Mammoth… and SHABOOZEY floats by 😱 Not a styled shoot. Not a setup. This actually happened,” she wrote in the Instagram post documenting the moment.

Shaboozey later chimed in on the post, writing, “CONGRATULATIONS! From Shabozzey and @thewoollyrun !! 😂,” misspelling his own stage name.

The Woolly Run, the event Shaboozey said he was part of, is a multi‑day outdoor trip where participants spend several days riding, floating the river and gathering around campfires in a relaxed, adventure‑focused setting, according to trip’s website.

The Instagram post has gone viral with more than 13.1 million views.

The legendary tight end and current Fox NFL analyst shared on TODAY Aug. 13 that he and girlfriend Camille Kostek took Edelman along to the wedding of the year in July.

The couple tried to facilitate a spark with the single ladies for the former Super Bowl MVP, who was scoping out the star-studded crowd of attendees at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

“Julian Edelman was the third wheel, so we were kind of looking for some girls for him,” Gronkowski said. “He was going, ‘Who’s that? Is she single?’ I’m like, ‘Go for it, Julian.’

“Camille and I were trying to play matchmaker, but no luck,” he added. “But Julian doesn’t need any luck. He’s a beautiful looking kid.”

While Gronkowski, 37, couldn’t find a potential love interest for Edelman, 40, he did bring his trademark zeal to the dance floor.

“The dance floor energy was top notch, and the wedding was top notch as well,” he said. “You couldn’t have painted a better picture of how the whole wedding went down. There’s no doubt about that. Everyone was on the (dance) floor, there was DJs, there was magicians going.”

It was a mini Patriots reunion, as another one of his former teammates, legendary quarterback Tom Brady, was also in attendance.

Taylor Swift Aug 12

Travis Kelce makes first public comments after Taylor Swift wedding: ‘The best night of my life'

Celebrity News Aug 1

Jason Kelce spills details on Travis and Taylor Swift's wedding, including his favorite moment

Taylor Swift Jul 23

Inside Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's '30 minute vows' and ‘massive castle' reception

Kelce made his first public comments about his wedding during a press conference on Aug. 12 at the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp.

His reflections came more than a month after the Chiefs star tight end and the global music superstar wed on July 3 in front of a star-studded guest list estimated to include 1,100 attendees.

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

There have been scant details that have trickled out about the wedding, which isn’t surprising considering attendees were required to sign non-disclosure agreements. Sources told NBC News that the bride and groom, who both wore white, each wrote their own vows in a “secret garden”-themed wedding.

The family has also shared only brief comments on the nuptials. Jason Kelce, Travis Kelce’s brother, said in an interview he “probably cried more at this wedding than I cried at my own wedding, which probably is not acceptable.”

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Travis Kelce Breaks Silence on Wedding With Taylor Swift: ‘The Best Night Of My Life’
• Is Phil Collins A Swiftie? Music Icon Says Taylor Swift ‘Deserves’ To Be ‘Hugest Thing In The World’
• Kylie Kelce Shares the Moment That Made Jason So Emotional at Travis and Taylor Swift’s Wedding

And unlike traditional college admissions, there’s no application, essay or prerequisites required.

As of Aug. 11, eligible students graduating in 2030 can “enroll” by joining Insomnia Rewards, or updating an existing Rewards account with their university and expected graduation year.

The first 30,000 eligible students in the U.S. will automatically receive a reward for a free freshman 6-Pack in their Insomnia Rewards account.

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Once accepted, students can head to a participating Insomnia Cookies location with a valid student ID to claim their six cookies through Sept. 14. The offer is available for in-store redemption only and cannot be used for pickup or delivery orders.

“I started Insomnia as a college student looking for a better late-night option, and college has been core to our brand ever since,” Seth Berkowitz, founder and CEO of Insomnia Cookies, said in a statement. “We’re excited to welcome the Class of 2030 with six warm, delicious cookies on us.”

How to enroll in Insomnia University

1. Join Rewards: Sign up for Insomnia Rewards or update an existing profile with your university and expected graduation year of 2030.

2. Get your acceptance letter: If you’re among the first 30,000 eligible students, the free Freshman 6-Pack reward will automatically appear in your Rewards account.

3. Attend “orientation”: Bring your valid student ID to a participating Insomnia Cookies bakery through Sept. 14 to redeem your six cookies. The offer expires at 3 a.m. PT on Sept. 15.

And if you miss the freshman freebie, Insomnia Cookies has plenty of experience keeping college students fueled. The company was founded in 2003 by then-University of Pennsylvania student Seth Berkowitz and now has more than 350 locations across the country.

The headliners, announced Thursday, are a fitting choice. The annual gathering in New York’s Central Park rallies attendees to pressure world leaders to fund a range of antipoverty initiatives at the end of the United Nations General Assembly ‘s yearly high-level meetings. Joining them on Sept. 26 are rocker Lenny Kravitz, R&B-pop singer John Legend, country music star Lainey Wilson, chart-topping Grammy winner Shaboozey and K-pop group TOMORROW X TOGETHER.

The two Fugees are fresh off several performances marking the 30th anniversary of their landmark album, “The Score.” They were in London, where Hill also brought her music festival celebrating the sounds of the African diaspora, and Rio de Janeiro, where they closed out Global Citizen’s weeklong climate programming.

It’s also the first festival since Global Citizen produced the World Cup’s first halftime show. That collaboration helped raise more than $60 million for the education fund launched with FIFA. Global Citizen co-founder Hugh Evans hopes to leverage next month’s gathering to shore up some outstanding commitments.

Festivalgoers gain entry by taking actions such as petitioning countries to dip into their international development budgets. This year’s priorities include mobilizing $100 million to provide 2 million children with access to education, nutritious food and healthcare; gathering $100 million to improve food security for 1.5 million smallholder farmers; and moving $1.5 billion to expand clean energy in the Indo-Pacific region.

The countries facing asks this year include Spain, Norway, Ireland, Kenya, Japan, Denmark and Australia. Evans specifically called on France to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, Gavi, Education Cannot Wait, or any of their other education partners. “Macron will often talk a lot about their leadership on issues of education,” Evans said of the French president. “But I think, when the rubber hits the road, are they actually stepping up?”

One country that isn’t on the list? The United States. Once the world’s single largest aid donor, the U.S. now provides for Evans “an example of a country that should be a leader on the global stage that is such an incredible laggard at this point.” The U.S. wasn’t worth targeting, according to Evans, given that the administration “butchered its entire foreign aid budget” and “dismantled the entire apparatus” of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Still, while acknowledging a “world of shrinking foreign aid,” Evans expressed optimism that the pendulum will shift.

“I believe that the future belongs to political leaders who are willing to understand the nuance of how power works,” Evans said. “Power doesn’t have to be a negative thing. It can be a very positive thing if you’re wielding it for good. As Spider-Man taught us: with great power comes great responsibility.”

This year’s festival offers a new way for people to gain admission. Fans can still enter the free ticket lottery by completing calls to action on the Global Citizen app. But they can also get automatic entry by making a $25 charitable donation. The funds raised will go toward New York’s City Parks Foundation and organizations that serve those experiencing homelessness.

Evans hopes that artists such as Wilson and Shaboozey, both country music acts, can bring a new audience to his movement. He noted that Wilson, who expressed interest in the festival’s support of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, comes from a family of farmers.

“It’s been quite some time I’d say since we had this level of a country presence in our lineup,” Evans said. “So, I’m super excited about that. I’m hoping that the fans are, too.”

Such refuge was probably never more welcome than on the heels of this past summer.

It was just over a month ago that Kelce exchanged vows with Taylor Swift in a star-studded wedding that tied together one of the best tight ends in NFL history with the biggest pop star on the planet. At the intimate gathering in cavernous Madison Square Garden, Adam Sandler served as the surprise officiant, Stevie Nicks performed to a crowd of sports and entertainment icons, and fans lined the New York City sidewalks outside the historic venue hoping to catch a glimpse of it all.

“The wedding was the best night of my life,” Kelce said Wednesday, speaking for the first time at camp. “I appreciate everybody who came out and celebrated and had fun with us. That’s about all I got for that night. It was a crazy night.”

The guest list included actors Bradley Cooper, Zoë Kravitz, Hugh Grant and Ethan Hawke; models Gigi Hadid and Karlie Kloss; comic Chris Rock; film director Steven Spielberg; and plenty of NFL players, including retired quarterback Tom Brady and several of Kelce’s teammates with the Chiefs, like his best friend and quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.

Taylor Swift Jul 28

Inside Travis Kelce's instant reaction as Taylor Swift walked down the aisle

Taylor Swift Jul 23

Inside Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's '30 minute vows' and ‘massive castle' reception

Taylor Swift Jul 21

Inside Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's high security wedding invite and 4 a.m. venue reveal 

The Swift-Kelce relationship began with his failed attempt at giving her a friendship ring at a concert. Kelce invited Swift to watch him play at Arrowhead Stadium, she took him up on the offer, and the rest of their courtship has been a celebrity fairytale.

Right down to the nuptials at Madison Square Garden, which has always captured Kelce’s imagination, and where Swift has played to plenty of sold-out shows; she also turned up there to watch the Knicks play the Spurs in the NBA Finals in June.

“I always told myself I’d go for a playoff game when the Knicks were rocking, and my wife went when I was stuck in minicamp,” Kelce said with a wry smile. “It was kind of cool to live out my childhood dream to be in that venue. I can’t thank the owners of MSG enough for allowing us the opportunity to do that, knowing we wanted a private event.”

Besides the wedding, Kelce has been busy pursuing several business opportunities since the end of last season, including his decision to buy a small share of David Blitzer’s stake in his hometown Cleveland Guardians.

That puts him into rivalry territory with Mahomes, who owns his own small stake in the Kansas City Royals.

Yet on the field, the quarterback and tight end continue in lockstep, and never has it been more important for them to lift each other up. Mahomes is coming off a season-ending knee injury that required surgery in December, and Kelce is trying to prove that at age 36 — he turns 37 in October — he can still get it done in a young man’s game.

“I still got a lot of love for this game. I still think I can go out and play at a high level,” Kelce said. “I want to go out there and prove to myself that I can play at a better level than last year. I think that’s the biggest thing for me.”

There are few things that Kelce has not accomplished over 13 seasons on an NFL field. He’s won three Super Bowl rings, was voted first-team All-Pro four times, and he has been invited to the Pro Bowl each of the last 11 seasons.

He contemplated retirement prior to last year, but the fact that Kansas City had just been blown out by Philadelphia did not sit well with him. So, Kelce came back for another go-around, catching 76 passes for 851 yards and five touchdowns while playing in every game — numbers that would represent a career year for most tight ends.

The Chiefs scuffled to a 6-11 finish, though. And if Kelce wasn’t going out on a Super Bowl loss, he certainly wasn’t quitting after a season like that.

“The fact that we didn’t make the playoffs,” he said, “I moved on pretty quick.”

He moved onto wedding planning, to be sure. But also into preparing for the upcoming season, which most believe will be his last, one way or another. Kelce was ever-present throughout the offseason, whether it was voluntary workouts or mandatory minicamp, and he has been a constant source of energy during the hot, humid practices that are the hallmark of training camp.

“This is always going to be my sanctuary. I think St. Joe has a special place in my heart,” Kelce said. “You need to have these days. You need to have this time of grinding with the guys, being around them all day, starting to create that chemistry and standard for how we are going to do things. This year it’s ramped up even more.

“I think that’s a big thing,” Kelce added, “just enjoy these moments with these guys I’ve built this culture with.”

Four Winds Craft Guild, a store that sells handmade arts and crafts, recently installed a sign that reads “No Influencers,” inspiring a heated debate when they shared a photo of the sign on Instagram. Fans of the sign say it’s a cheeky reaction to the rise of influencer culture, while critics say it’s dismissive of social media content creators, many of whom are women.

John Sylvia, the owner of the store, told The New York Times that the sign was meant to be “tongue-in-cheek” and a reference to the rising popularity of influencer culture.

“I feel sometimes my store is used as someone’s background, a stage,” he said.

When Sylvia’s partner, Jessica Jenkins, initially shared a photo of the sign on Instagram, many influencers had strong feelings about the post. The social media platform later removed it.

How are fans and critics of the sign reacting? NBC’s Kaylee Hartung explored the brewing controversy in a segment for TODAY. Here’s everything you need to know.

Why did the shop put up a ‘No Influencers’ sign?

In an interview with The New York Times, Sylvia said the sign wasn’t intended to be an attack on influencers.

“I don’t have this hatred toward influencers,” he said. “It was more of a joke. It is a problem we should look at as a society.”

The shop owner went on to say that many visitors come into the store to take photos and videos for social media and don’t speak to him or make purchases.

After Instagram removed the shop’s post, Jenkins shared a second post on July 27 with the following cheeky caption: “TAKE TWO 🎬.”

While speaking with The New York Times, Jenkins, a year-round resident on the island, described how influencers have impacted the culture on Nantucket. For starters, she said she notices an influx of “people creating videos on corners of themselves sipping an iced coffee and looking over their shoulder and doing a shoe kick or whatever.”

“I feel that whenever I open Instagram, I see someone show me a guide of what to wear, a guide of where to eat, a guide of what to buy, a guide of how to pack for Nantucket,” she said.

Nantucket has faced increased tourism over the years, with long lines at businesses. Former “Real Housewives of New York City” star and influencer Bethenny Frankel said in a social media video Aug. 1 the island has become an “absolute zoo.”

According to Nantucket’s government website, the island has a year-round population of around 11,000 but peaks in July and August to more than 50,000.

Why is the ‘No Influencers’ sign so controversial?

The shop’s post instantly drew criticism from many influencers.

“How stupid can you be to put a sign in a store that prohibits basically free marketing?” TikTok user @kristinacanale asked in a recent video.

TikTok user @ivyynielsen shared a similar sentiment, saying, “It sent the message that creators aren’t welcome, and I don’t think that’s fair.”

Instagram user @levicoralynn offered the following take in a video, saying, “I think hating influencers has become a socially acceptable way to hate women.”

Though Four Winds Craft Guild made no mention of women in its sign, women make up a large percentage of lifestyle influencers, leading some critics to interpret the sign as an attack on women.

Lifestyle creator Paige Lorenze, who opened a boutique in Nantucket earlier this summer, commented on the original Instagram post, saying the sign was an attempt to “delegitimize” and “mock” women.

“It’s just a strange message coming from a store that celebrates a craft with such a rich history of women shaping the island and its economy,” she wrote.

But despite the backlash, some social media users saw the humor in the sign.

“This sign is funny!” Instagram user @lawyerlimor said in a video. “It’s funny!”

TikTok user @thedanahaffner shared the following reaction: “What happened to humor?? It’s just a little bit of like local humor.”

TikTok user @tiesyn supported the shop owner in a video, saying, “Don’t come in here acting entitled. More stores need to have a sign like that.”

Other areas have attempted to restrict influencers

The rise of influencer tourism has led some vacation destinations to place restrictions on visitors in recent years.

In 2023, neighbors living near Sleepy Hollow Farm in Vermont created a petition to close nearby roads and prevent influencers from inundating the streets to snap photos of fall foliage.

One island in Finland also declared itself phone-free and started giving tourists stickers to cover their screens in an effort to help them enjoy nature.

Portofino on the Italian Riviera established “no-waiting zones” in 2023, with potential fines up to €275 to curb what the town’s mayor called “anarchic chaos” — tourists stopping to take selfies, per the BBC.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

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The “Wednesday” star and former Disney Channel actor told Esquire in an interview posted Tuesday that she learned at a young age to make herself as unobtrusive as possible while working on set, a mindset she now recognizes that came at the expense of taking care of herself.

“I wasn’t asking for a sip of water,” she recalled. “I would go all day without eating, drinking, whatever, because I wanted so badly to not be in the way of anybody.”

“Maybe that was my mistake, was not actually looking after myself,” she added.

Ortega also reflected on the perfectionism she developed early on in her career.

“I really had it going for me as a child ‘cause I can’t think of one mistake I made,” Ortega said. “I feel like I make mistakes now all the time, but as a child, I was so grateful and so excited to be there that my game face was on.”

Part of putting on that “game face” was never asking for anything on set, Ortega explained.

When asked about the stereotypes surrounding child stars, Ortega suggested there may be some truth behind them. “Is it wrong to say that a lot of them are true?” she said. “And do with that what you will.”

Ortega’s career began at just 7 years old, after she told her parents she wanted to become an actor.

“My parents laughed at me when I told them that I wanted to do it, and then that was kind of the root of everything. The motivation,” Ortega said. “And I never really stopped, because I’m very stubborn. And then I never questioned it.”

At 13, Ortega landed her breakout role in the Disney Channel series “Stuck in the Middle.” Other notable appearances as a child actor include roles in “Richie Rich” and “Jane the Virgin.” She’s since become an international star thanks to the success of the “Wednesday” series on Netflix and film roles in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and the “Scream” franchise.

Ortega’s admission about not eating as a child actor comes in the wake of Ariana Grande stepping away from the industry as people expressed concern her weight.

Reiner was brought to a 13th floor courtroom at the Criminal Courts Building in downtown LA, to answer to the new charges, which will replace the original murder case filed in 2025.

The indictment accuses Reiner of two counts of first-degree murder with additional special circumstances allegations of multiple murders and lying in wait, plus the special allegation he personally used a deadly weapon.

Special circumstances allegations can increase potential penalties in the sentencing phase of a trial, including the possibility of a life-without-parole term.

Reiner’s appointed defense attorney, LA deputy public defender Kimberly Greene, was in court but did not comment on the day’s events.

The indictment speeds the case toward a jury trial, bypassing the need for a public preliminary hearing, which had been expected to take place sometime in the fall. Reiner is scheduled to return for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 15 in Los Angeles, when it’s likely the judge will set dates for a trial.

Reiner was arrested Dec. 15, a day after his parents’ bodies were discovered in their bedroom.

The initial charges alleged he used a knife.

The deaths of Rob Reiner, a celebrated director whose long list of successful films included “When Harry Met Sally…,” “A Few Good Men” and “This Is Spinal Tap,” and Michele Reiner, a talent photographer and producer, stunned the Hollywood community and led to an outpouring of tributes from entertainment industry colleagues, political figures and more. The family’s challenges with Nick, including battles with drug addiction, were well-documented.

In September, the family appeared together at the Los Angeles premiere of “Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues.”

Nick Reiner has spoken publicly over the years about his struggles with drug addiction, which began in his teens. He told People in an interview in 2016 that he cycled in and out of treatment facilities with bouts of homelessness and relapses in between.

Reiner has also filed a lawsuit against his family’s trust, demanding the trustee release to him more than $1-million that – Reiner says in court papers – was due to him on his 30th birthday.

A hearing on the trust lawsuit is set for Aug. 17.

“The Jonas Brothers will headline the halftime show during the Melbourne, Australia game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams on Friday, Sept. 11 at 10:35 a.m. AEST and Thursday night Sept. 10 at 8:35 ET,” Adam Schefter shared on X.

The Jonas Brothers, formed in the 2000s by Nick, Kevin and Joe Jonas, got their big break as Disney stars before taking a hiatus from 2013-19. Getting back together in 2019, the band has released three more studio albums, with arguably their most famous album – Happiness Begins – peaking at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

While international games have been a very common practice for the NFL over the years, recent seasons have seen the league expand its international ambitions to new countries such as Germany, Spain and Brazil. But by adding Australia to the mix, it is the furthest-ever game from American soil.

The game itself will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a stadium with a capacity of 100,000, and will be broadcast live on Netflix. Kicking off on Sept. 10 at 5:35 p.m. (PT)/Sept. 11 at 10:35 a.m. (AEST), there will be a multi-day Kickoff Festival in the days before, featuring live music, fan events and watch parties among plenty of other festivities.

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It turned out to be an ultrarare collection of 97 “absolutely pristine” copies of Super Mario Brothers Duck Hunt, a popular Nintendo game that was released in 1988, Ganos said.

After some initial research, Ganos found that the cartridges he held were not only a new variant of the game, but also the last known production date of it.

Most of the cartridges will go up for sale Friday in an online auction that will run until Sept. 9.

“I still don’t quite believe that any of this is happening,” Ganos said. “I just think it’s kind of serendipitous that this happened. It’s just still very bizarre to me.”

Ganos, a hard-core fan covered in Nintendo tattoos and who has operated Nintendo Wire, a news service for Nintendo announcements and nostalgia for over 10 years, said he would not venture to guess how much the games are worth.

But when he saw the box, he immediately knew it was special.

“It’s like pulling out like a Holy Grail,” Ganos said, later adding, “They’re gorgeous.”

The discovery came after the owner, Kevin Braun, of One Stop Wonders in Waukesha, outside Milwaukee, asked Ganos to help him sell some stuff, including common Nintendo games and Pokémon cards.

Braun mentioned the box of Mario cartridges that had been sitting in storage for years. He recalled buying them from a customer whose family had kept them for metal scraps but thought they were not worth much.

The cartridges of Super Mario Brothers Duck Hunt he had were made in 1993, long after the company discontinued the bundle in 1991. Braun and Ganos still aren’t sure why the copies they possess were made but assume they were either warranty replacements or part of a bundle with a box retailer that never panned out.

Knowing the potential significance of the possession, Ganos booked a flight immediately.

“I flew down to California with 97 carts in my carry-on luggage, sweating bullets going through TSA, like why do you have 97 little circuit boards in your carry-on?” Ganos recalled thinking nervously.

He anxiously made it through airport security to meet with video game experts to have the cartridges verified and graded, giving them a perceived value.

There had never been a cartridge rated a perfect 10 at Professional Sports Authenticator video games, Ganos said.

Five of the 97 Ganos possessed received a perfect score.

“I think there’s going to be historic significance to the tens,” Ganos said when talking about how much the games may sell at the auction. “Like number one, it’s so many people’s childhoods, and number two, there’s never been a 10 in an NES cart before.”

Ultrarare video game cartridges, especially ones with unique production history, can be sold for six- to seven-figure prices in the collector’s market. Ganos said the 97 carts are also unique because of their perfect condition, which, much like comic books or sports cards, often sell higher.

Ganos can’t estimate the ultimate worth of the cartridges because they are incomparable to other video game collectibles he has seen before. They could be worth hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands, he said.

Ganos and Braun are only auctioning off three of the perfect 10 scored cartridges at Golden Pop’s Culture Auction beginning Friday. They are both keeping one copy with a score of a 10, and a few others rated in the higher 9’s.

The games can be played if the buyer wants. But because they are pristine, Ganos hopes to keep them that way.

“Finding uncirculated stuff for me is just like super exciting,” Ganos said. “This game was the first video game I’ve ever played. Mario Duck Hunt was just such a big part of my life growing up.”

Braun and Ganos also plan to do a charity auction after they are finished with the current one.

Miami-Dade court records showed the 48-year-old’s mother filed for temporary custody of his three children.

“My main concern and objective, as well as the family’s, is to protect the children and make sure they are safe. We want them to have some sense of normalcy as they begin their journey of healing after the tragic events that occurred last week,” the statement read.

Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, livestreamed what appeared to be self-harm from his Westchester home on Aug. 4.

The video, which was streamed on TikTok before the platform pulled it, appeared to show Hilton covered in blood, with visible cuts and holding what appeared to be a knife, NBC News reported. In the video, viewers pleaded with him and asked for his phone number so they could alert authorities.

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The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded after they received “multiple calls regarding an individual who was livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media.”

The sheriff’s office later confirmed that person was Hilton and that he was Baker Acted.

Hilton’s family released a statement on Saturday that said he remained hospitalized in serious condition and had been stabilized, but said his injuries would require surgery.

The family said it “remains focused on Perez’s treatment and recovery.”

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

Stewart canceled his Tuesday night performance at Rocket Arena in Cleveland shortly after postponing his Sunday concert in Cincinnati at Riverbend Music Center. The latter venue said at the time that it was due “to an unforeseen but minor medical procedure that required prompt attention.”

Stewart also canceled a few dates earlier this year, including two in Las Vegas and one in San Diego.

“Following further medical evaluation, Sir Rod Stewart has successfully undergone a routine coronary stent procedure. Doctors are pleased with his recovery, and Rod is doing very well and has returned to his normal daily activities,” a statement from his publicist read. “On the advice of his doctors, he will take the next four weeks to recuperate and regain full fitness before returning to the stage. Unfortunately, this means he will be unable to continue his current tour dates.”

It added that “information regarding affected performances will be communicated by the respective promoters and venues.”

Stewart, 81, was scheduled to appear through Sept. 3 in North America, including his six-night residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and a few dates in Mexico.

“I’m already feeling better and very much on the mend. I want to thank the doctors, nurses and everyone who has taken such wonderful care of me,” Stewart said in the statement. “I’m deeply disappointed to miss these shows and sorry to let my fans down, but I look forward to getting back on stage and having a good time with you all again soon.”

The Grammy Award-winning Stewart, whose signature rasp made him a rock ‘n’ roll legend, has sold millions of records across his career’s many decades. Perhaps best known for hits like “Maggie May” and “Tonight’s the Night,” he has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice.

Other charges were dropped. After entering the plea by video, Haddish was placed on 12 months’ probation and told to avoid drugs and alcohol and complete a substance abuse evaluation. She was credited for the brief time she spent in jail following her arrest.

Haddish’s films include the comedy “Girls Trip,” “Night School,” “Like a Boss” and “The Kitchen.” She wrote the New York Times bestseller “The Last Black Unicorn,” which earned a Grammy nomination for a subsequent audiobook she narrated. In 2018, she won an Emmy for her appearance on “Saturday Night Live” and a Grammy in 2021 for her special “Black Mitzvah.”

At around 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 14, 2022, someone called 911 to report seeing a person who appeared to be asleep in the driver’s seat of a white Ford Explorer with their foot on the brake in Peachtree City, about 30 miles south of Atlanta, according to a court filing. An officer spotted an SUV that matched the description given by the caller and stopped Haddish as she pulled into a neighborhood, according to a police report.

Haddish’s lawyers in May asked a judge to dismiss the case, arguing that waiting more than four years for the case to be resolved had caused personal and professional difficulties and violated her right to a speedy trial. Fayette County State Court Judge Jason Thompson rejected her arguments.

The judge found that Haddish and her attorneys had requested some of the delays, including a request for a delay so she could attend a fashion show in Morocco and a request to leave a hearing early to catch a flight. He wrote that she also did not show any evidence of having missed specific performing opportunities or of actual financial harm because of the delay.

Haddish also was arrested in November 2023 in Beverly Hills, California, on suspicion of driving under the influence after police received a call and said Haddish appeared to be slumped over the wheel of a vehicle while the engine was still running.

Haddish reached a plea deal with prosecutors in that case in February 2024, pleading no contest to a vehicle code violation, and the two misdemeanor DUI charges against her were dropped, according to the Los Angeles Times.

They married Tuesday in a civil ceremony described by the public relations team that represents the Portuguese soccer star as “a private and intimate moment attended by their five children.”

The ceremony took place in Cascais, a coastal town in western Portugal near the capital Lisbon, the Brunswick Group said in the announcement.

The couple posted a picture on their Instagram accounts showing their rings.

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They have been together for the past decade after meeting in Madrid.

The 41-year-old Ronaldo, a five-time world player of the year and one of the most high-profile sports stars, is coming off playing in his record-tying sixth World Cup for Portugal.

His Saudi team, Al Nassr, starts its domestic season on Saturday.

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Davis, 63, is accused of orchestrating the drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip that also wounded rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight. Jury selection for Davis’ trial began this week, nearly three years after he was arrested in 2023. He pleaded not guilty.

Crime and Courts Aug 10

Man accused of orchestrating Tupac Shakur's 1996 killing is on trial. What to know

Crime and Courts Aug 5

Duane ‘Keffe D' Davis, charged with organizing killing of Tupac Shakur, is on trial

On the night of Sept. 7, 1996, Shakur was in the passenger seat of a black BMW that Knight was driving when a white Cadillac pulled up on their right side and gunfire erupted. Knight was wounded but survived. Shakur died a week later at the age of 25.

Police and prosecutors say the shooting stemmed from a fierce competition for dominance in a musical genre that pitted East Coast members of a Bloods gang sect against West Coast members of a Crips sect that Davis has said he led in Compton.

That night, three others were with Davis in the Cadillac, but none of them faced charges in Shakur’s killing before they died.

Here’s what we know about who was in both vehicles from authorities, court records, grand jury testimony, interviews and Davis’ 2019 tell-all memoir, “Compton Street Legend.”

Tupac Shakur

Shakur is considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. He had five No. 1 albums, was nominated for six Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. He received a posthumous star in 2023 on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and he will appear in the upcoming video game “Stranger than Heaven.”

His death came as his fourth solo album, “All Eyez on Me,” remained on the charts, with some 5 million copies sold. He also used the stage names 2Pac and Makaveli. As an actor, he starred in several films.

Shakur was born Lesane Parish Crooks in New York in 1971, and his name was changed a year later. His late mother Afeni Shakur, and late stepfather Mutulu Shakur, were active in the Black Panther Party in New York. Tupac Shakur was not close with his biological father, William “Billy” Garland.

Two of the rapper’s siblings, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur and Maurice “Mopreme” Shakur, have criticized authorities for inaction and slowness in charging anyone with their brother’s death.

Marion “Suge” Knight

Knight founded Death Row Records, a Los Angeles-based music label that represented Shakur at the time of his death. Knight’s moniker was shortened from “Sugar Bear,” his nickname growing up in Compton.

Knight and Shakur were headed to a nightclub when their car was shot at near the Las Vegas Strip. Knight was grazed by a bullet or shrapnel.

Now 61, Knight is serving a 28-year prison sentence in California for running over and killing a Compton businessman outside a burger stand in January 2015. The case capped the former rap music mogul’s downfall from his heyday as one of the biggest — and most feared — names in the music industry.

Davis said he and Knight knew each other growing up and even played on the same youth football team in Compton. Knight went on to play college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Briefly, during the 1987 NFL players’ strike, he was a replacement player for the Los Angeles Rams.

In his memoir, Davis describes Knight and himself as the “only living eyewitnesses to what truly happened.”

“Like two rams locking horns, Suge and I looked each other dead in the eye,” he writes when describing the moments right before the shooting.

Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson

Law enforcement authorities long suspected that Anderson was the gunman. He was 22 at the time. Though Davis was his uncle and 12 years older, he described their relationship as that of brothers, friends and even father-son.

Shortly before the drive-by shooting, Anderson was beaten in a brawl at the MGM Grand casino involving Shakur and his associates, including Knight. Authorities, authors and Davis himself say the shooting was an act of retaliation for beating up Anderson.

“Them jumping on my nephew gave us the ultimate green light to do something,” Davis writes in the book.

Davis said he obtained a handgun from an associate and tossed it into the back seat of the Cadillac but did not say who fired the fatal shots. Anderson was sitting in the backseat of the car, behind his uncle.

Neither the Cadillac nor the gun used in the shooting were recovered, according to retired Las Vegas police Detective Clifford Mogg, who was assigned to the investigation in early 2018.

“We were never able to identify the person who rented the car, where it was rented from, and then when it comes to the gun, we have never recovered as of this date, the weapon that was used in the murder,” Mogg said in testimony to the grand jury.

Anderson, who denied involvement in Shakur’s killing, died two years later in what police said was an unrelated shooting at a Compton car wash.

Deandrae “Freaky” Smith

Also known as “Big Dre,” Smith was in the back seat of the car that night, sitting next to Anderson.

Although authorities have said they believe Anderson pulled the trigger, the grand jury testimony challenged that theory.

Denvonta Lee, a former associate of Davis, told the grand jury that it was Smith who shot Shakur and Knight. He said Anderson tried reaching over Smith but didn’t have a “clear shot” out the left-rear passenger window.

The former associate, who wasn’t in the car but recounted a conversation he had with Smith days after the shooting, said Smith took the gun from Anderson, opened fire and let Anderson take credit for Shakur’s death.

Smith was 30 when he died in 2004 of natural causes, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

Terry “Bubble Up” Brown

Brown was driving the Cadillac from which the shots were fired.

Davis said in his memoir that they were driving toward Las Vegas Boulevard that night but spotted Shakur “hanging out of the window” of the BMW and waving to fans. Davis told Brown to make a U-turn, and they drove slowly past the rapper’s convoy until Davis said they “found who we were seeking.”

Brown died in a 2015 shooting at a medical marijuana dispensary in Compton.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office said his full name was Terry Tyrone Brown, although Brown has been referred to as both “Terrence” and “Terrance” in investigative records.

“Music is such a wonderful way for people to bond, for parents to bond. I know from the minute my kids were born, we’re singing to them,” Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, said.

Ms. Rachel launched her mega popular YouTube channel in 2019 with her husband, known online as Mr. Aron.

“I am a music educator, so I get excited about kids hearing a real clarinet on ‘Icky Sticky Bubble Gum’ and kids getting excited about hearing more real instruments,” said Ms. Rachel.

But that isn’t the only education they’ll get from the album. A song like “I Could Be Your Friend” gives kids a script for bolstering their social skills. “We’re always thinking about all kinds of kids, whether they have disabilities, whether they’re autistic,” she said. “We just want the world to feel like it’s helpful to all children and the musical worlds as well.”

The songs aren’t limited by genre, either. Take the single “I Love a Rainbow” as an example: It’s a big bossa nova number. Their take on the classic “Old McDonald” leans bluegrass.

“Music is at the heart of our show,” added Aron Accurso. “And so, we’ve always wanted to release the music and have families experience the music away from the screen.”

Big arrangements and simple songs

“I’m So Happy” was co-produced by Aron Accurso and Grammy winner Scott Riesett and principally arranged by Mr. Aron as well. Aron Accurso reimagined a number of Ms. Rachel’s fan favorite songs and childhood classics with a team of 19 vocalists and 42 instrumentalists.

“It’s songs that people know from the show, but we decided to expand them and elevate them with new arrangements and reproducing them,” Aron Accurso explained. “It was a process of, you know, looking at them and saying, ‘OK, what else can we do to this to make it sparkle more? What can we add to it? What does it need to be on the album?’”

He says they most hope that the album will inspire “living room dance parties, because that’s what we love with our children,” he said. “We love to put on an album and dance around.”

An album next to advocacy

Ms. Rachel has made headlines over the last few years for using her social media platforms to advocate for global humanitarian crises, with particular attention given to the plight of children in Gaza and those detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Most recently, she shared comments about the mysterious death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells in Mississippi, a case shadowed by the state’s fraught racial history and lingering distrust in law enforcement.

“We know the investigation and everything that followed would have been different if Nolan Wells were white and his friends were black. Nolan and his family deserve justice,” she wrote on Instagram.

Ms. Rachel says she knows her album may bring attention to her advocacy and vice versa. “I view myself as an advocate for children’s rights so anytime they’re being violated by anyone anywhere, I want to be speaking out,” she said. “I want families to be happy and safe and healthy, and I think that’s a wonderful thing. So, if it’s brought up with the album, that’s great.”

‘I’m So Happy’ Tracklist

1. “I’m So Happy” 2. “I Love a Rainbow” 3. “Icky Sticky Bubble Gum” 4. “Phonics” 5. “Hop Little Bunnies” 6. “Caterpillar” 7. “Up and Down” 8. “Bubble Pop” 9. “Walkin’ at the Zoo” 10. “Open Shut Them” 11. “I Could Be Your Friend” 12. “I Listen to My Body” 13. “The Wheels on the Bus” 14. “Dino Play” 15. “Pop Those Bubbles” 16. “Old MacDonald” 17. “If You Should Meet an Elephant” 18. “Counting to 20!” 19. “B-I-N-G-O” 20. “Lobby Loo” 21. “Big Feelings” 22. “Together” 23. “I Love You to the Moon”

Fans have been doing double takes for days after footage from a recent “The R&B Tour” concert has convinced many of them that the man performing on stage was a fake.

Sunnya Sultan, who saw the tour in person Aug. 7 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, shared a TikTok video questioning if the 47-year-old “Yeah” singer was truly the one dancing in front of her.

The performer wears a white with lime green and pink ensemble, ball cap and sunglasses as he sings and dances.

Sultan tells TODAY.com she believes she did see Usher perform. She’s also convinced an Usher look-alike also took the stage during a portion of the show.

“Usher came out. The real Usher came out but then he sang like half a song, maybe for like 40 seconds,” Sultan recalls. “Then he goes into this darkness and he comes out, and as he’s walking, I think everyone really thought that was Usher.”

“But as the first song finishes, I think everyone started getting confused because the way he was moving wasn’t really Usher,” she continues.

When she looked closely, she believed something was off about the Usher who now appeared onstage. She noted that his jawline that was “a little too chiseled” and the performer “seemed a little too stiff.”

Also, he was dressed differently. The “real” Usher, she says, came out shirtless and wearing a fur coat.

The Usher who later performed in front of her, she adds, was “fully covered,” as seen in her TikTok video.

“Everything was just kind of weird,” Sultan says. “He looked like him, and then at certain angles he definitely did not look like him.”

Sultan said concertgoers all around her were suspicious.

Usher addressed the rumors in a video posted on the tour’s official Instagram Aug. 9.

“Usure? Wesure,” reads the caption.

The video showed Usher performing onstage in the same white ensemble. It also included screenshots of Usher replying to comments made about the alleged imposter.

“Ya’ll are funny…clone? They can’t clone this??” the singer wrote alongside a laughing emoji.

“How ya’ll come up with this? AI ain’t that advanced,” he added along with more laughing emoji.

Liz Calvario contributed.

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The 62-year-old Hollywood icon made a short reference to his family situation in an interview with Esquire published on Aug. 10 in which he talked about “oppressive” pain that led him to a dark place where he could “understand suicide.”

In the Esquire interview, Pitt initially shared his thoughts about going to dark places in life, unconnected to any question about his family.

“I was never suicidal in any way,” he said. “It just was not my makeup. In fact, if I have any afflictions, it’s probably being a congenital optimist,” he said.

He reiterated he’s “never been suicidal,” before adding, “except for one little period.”

“And in that one little period, I just thought — I just couldn’t — just didn’t see a way out,” he said. “The pain was so oppressive that — I wasn’t going to act on this, but I could feel — I could feel the cold steel of the bullet in my head, and it felt like relief. And I thought, Oh, okay, now I understand — I understand suicide, in the sense that it’s just relief. It’s just looking for relief from the pain. But I also think we have incredible survival instincts. And for me, that immediately kicked in, but it was just …”

Pitt was asked what could have provoked him to think about suicide in that way. The reporter questioned if it was “kid stuff,” per the Esquire article.

“Family stuff,” Pitt said. “We could leave it at that.”

Pitt and his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, have six children. The couple reached a divorce settlement in 2024 after Jolie accused Pitt of verbal and physical abuse, which he has denied. Their daughter Shiloh, 20, legally dropped “Pitt” from her last name when she turned 18 in 2024. Two of his other children have also considered ditching “Pitt” from their last name, according to a court filing in California cited by CNN in July 2026.

The “F1” star was later asked how he endured the difficult period he referenced.

“I don’t see it as climbing out of it,” he said. “It’s going through it and trying and trying and trying and trying to the point of exhaustion and then trying again. I don’t want to ignore the place where you run up against the wall. But I just one day woke up, and it just felt a little sunnier and the air felt a little sweeter. Just microdoses of it.”

Pitt does not make it clear in the interview what “little period” he is referring to in his life. Elsewhere in the interview, he discussed the death of his mother in August 2025 and said, referencing his father, “Let’s just say it’s better to be the one who goes first.”

Once Hollywood’s most famous couple, Pitt, and Jolie, 51, met on the set of the 2005 movie “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and got married in 2014. Jolie filed for divorce in 2016.

In 2022, amid already contentious divorce proceedings, Jolie accused Pitt of physical and verbal abuse on a 2016 flight from France to Los Angeles, during which he allegedly choked one of their children, which prompted her to file for divorce, according to a court filing from Jolie.

“Brad has owned everything he’s responsible for from day one — unlike the other side — but he’s not going to own anything he didn’t do,” a lawyer for Pitt said in 2022.

No criminal charges were ever filed against Pitt. In 2016, both the FBI and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services closed an investigation into allegations of abuse onboard the flight.

The acrimony since their split has also included Pitt filing a lawsuit in 2022 accusing Jolie of intentionally harming him and the French winery business they once shared by selling her stake in it. The former couple purchased shares in the 148-acre French vineyard Chateau Miraval together in 2008.

Following Pitt’s lawsuit about the winery, Jolie filed the 2022 cross–complaint that alleged Pitt subjected their family to verbal and physical abuse aboard the aforementioned 2016 flight from France to Los Angeles.

Their divorce was settled in 2024, and the dispute over the winery remains ongoing. 

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

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The “This Is Us” actor, 45, was wary at first, she recalls to TODAY.com. “I’m just not a girl who just wants to do something because some of my friends are doing it.”

But when a friend told her about the various ways the increasingly popular medications can improve health, Metz, who witnessed her father’s obesity-related complications, thought, “Oh, maybe I can get ahead of it.”

Once her doctors signed off, she decided to take the leap.

Now, she’s partnered with health care company Ro, which provides medications, such as GLP-1s, through telehealth. The class of drugs works by mimicking a hormone the body produces after eating, reducing cravings and creating a sense of fullness.

Metz says she knows GLP-1s don’t transform health immediately, but she decided to try something new after countless diets since age 9 and stints in group therapy, neither of which ever led to lasting weight loss.

“If nothing changes, nothing changes,” she says.

The changes, however, have already begun.

Most notably, Metz’s mind is no longer preoccupied with thoughts of food. “It’s, like, unbelievable,” she says.

She admits she didn’t believe it when people said they didn’t deal with food noise, the preoccupation with eating and their next meal, after starting the medications. But she’s finally discovering the creative spaces her mind goes to when her thoughts have the space to roam.

“It’s a whole lifestyle change,” Metz said during her August 10 TODAY segment. “It’s not just, ‘Oh, I’m going to take a medication because it’s not the easy way out.’ I think a lot of people think, ‘Oh, it’s a magic wand,’ and no, in fact you have to be more diligent.”

“It’s good for me because I’m really putting myself first, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but I have to really put into practice now,” she added.

In her latest role as Angélique in Broadway’s “& Juliet,” Metz has noticed a boost in her stamina performing eight shows per week. Her menstrual cycle has regulated; she’s less inflamed; her joints “feel better,” she says; and her measurements have already changed, requiring costume adjustments.

As for the number on the scale, Metz isn’t concerning herself with that. “I try not to focus so much (on) a number because that can be overwhelming. And I think that that becomes the new obsession,” she says.

Instead, she’s finding herself opting for a wider range of things to consume, from food to music and television, her mind now zeroed in on, “What’s going to benefit me in the long run?”

She’s discovering her physical strength, too. In addition to the walking and dancing she does on stage, Metz began strength training under the guidance of a trainer a year ago, a critical choice, she says, as she enters perimenopause. The World Health Organization also recommends it for those taking GLP-1 drugs.

For anyone considering a GLP-1, she encourages doing your research first. “Nothing is for everybody, and I think it’s important to be skeptical about anything we consume, put in our bodies, watch, listen to,” she says.

She suggests speaking to your doctor or another trusted health professional before making your final decision — and bracing yourself for the possibility that people might talk.

Metz is sure of it in her case. She says she knows she’ll be the subject of scrutiny because of her medication choice.

“No matter what I do, people are going to talk, but nobody’s in my body every day. Nobody is in my life every day. Nobody’s gone through the trauma I’ve gone through,” she says.

Do what’s right for you and your own health, she adds.

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“The Hunger Games” actor has teamed up with Hill’s Pet Nutrition to support Clear The Shelters, NBCUniversal Local’s annual pet adoption and donation campaign.

It marks an encore for Hutcherson, who also took part in the 2025 campaign. His efforts last year included volunteering at a Pasadena, California, shelter.

“After seeing the impact of last year’s campaign, I couldn’t wait to come back,” Hutcherson said in a release. “I’m proud to be back for an encore with Hill’s to help more shelter pets find deserving homes.”

Hutcherson has two large rescue dogs, Driver and Manchi, who “have given me more love than I could have imagined,” he said.

Large dogs are among the harder-to-place shelter pets; they spent 70% more time in shelters than small dogs on average in 2025, Hill’s State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report found.

“Helping shelter pets is a cause that’s close to my heart,” Hutcherson said. “I know there are so many incredible animals in shelters waiting for the chance to form that same special bond [like I have with my dogs].”

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Clear The Shelters is in the midst of its 12th annual campaign. The donation initiative kicked off July 15 and runs through Sept. 15, while the adoption push is being held for the entire month of August.

The 2026 campaign features the return of several partners, including Hill’s. This is the ninth straight Clear The Shelters campaign for Hill’s, but its first as the presenting sponsor.

“[Hutcherson’s] platform and passion for helping animals in need will play an important role in inspiring communities to take action,” said Carrick Massey, senior VP of U.S. marketing at Hill’s.

“Shelters and rescue organizations do extraordinary work every day, yet many continue to face capacity and resource challenges,” Massey added. “We’re proud to be part of this collective effort to help remove barriers to adoption and give more people the confidence to welcome a pet into their family.”

For more information on Clear The Shelters, including participating shelters, along with details on local events and television programming, visit ClearTheShelters.com and the Spanish-language site DesocuparlosAlbergues.com. Follow Clear The Shelters on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. 

Jones had a heart attack in his home Sunday in Washington, Virginia, as he was waiting to watch his beloved Atlanta Braves play baseball, his wife, Alma Viator, said on social media. Rappahannock County Sheriff Connie Compton confirmed his death.

Jones’ fame came from his role as Cooter Davenport, the mechanic who got the Duke boys out of jams as they tried to do the right thing and fight the corrupt Boss Hogg in the fictional Hazzard County, Georgia.

After playing Cooter for all seven seasons of the series from 1979 to 1985, Jones turned to politics and was elected to the U.S. House from a district near Atlanta in 1988. The Democrat served two terms before he was redistricted out of the seat.

Jones was born in North Carolina and in college got involved in acting and civil rights, he wrote in his autobiography “Redneck Boy in the Promised Land: The Confessions of ‘Crazy Cooter.’”

Acting took over his life. Jones performed in numerous stage productions and had a few minor TV and movie roles in Atlanta during the 1970s before his life-defining break came on a TV show Jones defended as a modern-day morality tale and a fine example of Southern values.

For seven seasons, Jones was one of a small band of friends and family helping Bo and Luke Duke in “The Dukes of Hazzard.” The brothers were on probation for running moonshine and were constantly trying to clear their names and stop the crooked and powerful Boss Hogg from stealing or cheating.

The Duke boys drove a modified 1969 Dodge Charger called the General Lee with a Confederate flag on its roof. Cooter owned “Cooter’s Garage” in the town square. Nearly every episode involved a car chase with jumps and stunts and a patrol car badly in need of repairs.

Cooter was often on the CB radio in his pickup truck saying “Breaker one, Breaker one. I might be crazy but I ain’t dumb. Crazy Cooter coming at you.”

“The Dukes of Hazzard” was a hit for CBS and its popularity never waned. It went into syndication and later became of prominent fixture on cable’s The Nashville Network.

Jones also credited the series with pulling him out of a self-destructive, alcoholic lifestyle that led to the failure of several marriages.

″It was like being in a Beatles movie,″ Jones said. ″Our lives changed.″

After “The Dukes of Hazzard,” Jones went into politics. He kept his aw shucks personality, but took the issues seriously. In his four years in Washington, Jones was known as a Democrat who could buck his party. He was liberal on social issues and conservative on economics.

But even in politics, he made a splash. After losing in 1992 in his redrawn district, Jones ran for Congress again in 1994. He lost to Newt Gingrich in the elections that elevated the Republican to the Speaker’s Office.

Jones would file an ethics complaint that Gingrich used tax-deductible donations to fund his partisan college course leading to a House reprimand and Gingrich’s decision to leave the body.

Jones always embraced his role as Cooter. After moving to Virginia, he would open at least three “Cooter’s” country stores in Nashville and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and near his home. They sold plenty of T-shirts, key chains and insulated tumblers and included Dukes of Hazzard memorabilia like one of the 300 or so General Lee cars used and abused in the TV series.

The show and Cooter lived on because it was funny, had plenty of action and car chases and had a good, family-friendly heart, Jones told the Richmond Times-Dispatch at a 2001 car show where he played in a band, signed autographs and met fans.

“The show reflects the values of the heartland of America. The good guys always win,” Jones said.

The case of rap icon Tupac Shakur’s killing has been unresolved for decades. Now, the man charged in his 1996 killing in Las Vegas is going to trial.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63, faces one charge of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang in Shakur’s death. Jury selection begins Monday, with the trial scheduled to last about a month.

The trial will bring to a head one of the biggest mysteries in the hip-hop world that gripped the public for decades. Shakur, who also went by the stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, is considered one of the most influential rappers of all time.

Shakur was shot in Las Vegas on Sept. 7, 1996. He was in a black BMW with music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight on their way to Club 662, where Shakur was scheduled to perform, when a white Cadillac pulled up beside them. Gunfire erupted. Shakur, who was in the passenger seat, was shot multiple times and died six days later, while Knight survived.

The case went cold until recent years, when public statements and a tell-all memoir from Davis revived the case. He was a leader of South Side Compton Crips at the time of Shakur’s death. Davis was arrested in 2023 and pleaded not guilty.

Here’s what to know about the trial.

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Duane ‘Keffe D' Davis, charged with organizing killing of Tupac Shakur, is on trial

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Witness threat claim delays bail hearing for ex-gang leader held in Tupac Shakur killing

When and where the trial will be held

It will take place in Clark County District Court in Las Vegas, with Judge Carli Kierny presiding over the case.

Jury selection starts Monday. That’s expected to take a few days. Then, the prosecution and defense will give opening statements and witness testimony will begin.

Inside the courtroom, seats for the public will be in short supply, with a daily lottery for a chance to get one. A room on the second floor of the court will be open to the public and will show a live feed of the trial.

The trial likely won’t answer ‘who pulled the trigger’

Prosecutors are not arguing that Davis is the one who pulled the trigger that night, and the trial likely won’t confirm who fired at Shakur. Instead, prosecutors plan to prove that Davis made the calls that led to Shakur’s death and provided the gun used to shoot Shakur.

Davis is the co-author of the memoir “Compton Street Legends,” which describes his exact role in the shooting. The book says that Davis obtained a handgun from an associate and tossed it into the back seat of the Cadillac but did not say who fired the fatal shots.

Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, Davis’ nephew, has long been considered the suspect who pulled the trigger, but charges were never brought against him in the killing. He died two years after Shakur’s death in an unrelated gang shootout in Compton, California.

Two others — Deandrae “Freaky” Smith and Terry “Bubble Up” Brown — were in the car with Davis and Anderson, but they have since died as well.

Who is expected to testify

Prosecutors expect to call between 35 and 45 witnesses during the trial, ranging from people who saw Shakur moments before he was shot to people who were in both Shakur and Davis’ orbits at the time.

Their witness list includes former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and members of Shakur’s family. However not everyone on the list will necessarily testify. Rather, attorneys may ask potential jurors if they’re familiar with certain names.

Leonard Jefferson, a California resident who pulled up next to the BMW and snapped a photograph, which became the last known photo of Shakur, is expected to testify.

The state is also expected to call Denvonta Lee, who was affiliated with the South Side Crips.

In grand jury testimony, Lee testified that rival gangs, the Crips and Mob Piru, were tied to dueling record labels Death Row Records and Bad Boy Records.

Though he wasn’t there that night, Lee also testified that Anderson didn’t have a clear shot, so Smith took the gun and did the shooting. He also said Davis was in charge and gave the gun to Anderson, who gave it to Smith.

The witness list includes others who previously testified to the grand jury, including Malcolm Greenidge, a friend of Shakur’s who was traveling in his entourage that night. Reggie Wright, who grew up in Compton and did security for Death Row Records, is also expected to testify.

But other witnesses will be new, including a former member of Death Row’s security team and a former member of Mob Piru who was at Club 662 the night Shakur was shot.

Witnesses also include former police officers and detectives, as well as gang experts.

Davis’ defense attorney is expected to call less than a handful of witnesses, including one expert in the area of false confessions and coercive interrogation techniques.

Celebrities could be at the trial

Prosecutors requested to have multiple out-of-state witnesses testify, and it’s unclear who those people are.

One of the witnesses is in prison in California, according to court records. Knight is serving a 28-year prison sentence in California for running over and killing a Compton businessman outside a burger stand in January 2015. He previously said he would not testify in Davis’ case.

As the only other living eyewitness who was in one of the two vehicles that night, Knight’s testimony could make or break the case.

Davis’ defense attorney Michael Sanft told The Associated Press that Knight would be a good witness for Davis’ defense if he did testify.

Fans have also speculated whether Sean “Diddy” Combs will testify. Combs is currently serving a four-year prison sentence in New Jersey following his conviction of prostitution-related charges.

In his book, Davis alleged Combs wanted Knight and Shakur dead and offered Davis money to kill them. Combs has long denied having any involvement in the shooting.

A spokesperson for Combs did not return emailed requests asking whether he plans to testify and his name does not appear on any witness list.

When actress Brooke Shields, 60, visited Studio 1A in May, Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones asked how she felt about her oldest daughter Rowan Henchy, 23, joining the cast of Peacock’s “Next Gen NYC” reality show.

“Oh, I was sick to my stomach!” Shields said at the time. She said that she reminded her daughter to be “the voice of reason” on the show.

Halfway into Henchy’s first season, it looks like Henchy has been following her mom’s advice.

TODAY.com caught up with Henchy the morning after the cast of 20-somethings filmed their reunion episode. Everyone gathered at Henchy’s New York City family home afterward, and the afterparty lasted until 3 a.m.

Despite being up late, Henchy was punctual for her interview with TODAY.com. She seems to have inherited a strong work ethic from Shields and her husband, director and screenwriter Chris Henchy.

“Mom told us that you treat the janitor with as much respect as the president of the company, that you make eye contact and say thank you, that you lead with respect,” Henchy explains.

As for her mom’s anxiety about her joining a reality show, Henchy laughs, “She was afraid that I was going to come in here with a camera crew, and they were going to be damaging her hand-painted dining room.”

The “nepo baby” of it all

“I love the term nepo baby. I am obsessed with the term nepo baby. I think it’s genius. I will never shy away from it,” Henchy says, both acknowledging and downplaying her privilege.

“However, I do think in the entertainment industry, when you approach someone with a resumé and your name flags that maybe you are a nepo baby, it causes more harm than opportunity,” she says. “Does it help in certain situations? Of course. But at the same time, people don’t want to deal with it.”

After Henchy graduated from college a year ago, she started “throwing my resumé to anyone who walked past me,” she says. She ended up finding a job, but when the opportunity to join “Next Gen NYC” appeared, she couldn’t say no to the chance to broaden her horizons and meet new people.

“And my mom said to me that every single time I was talking about it, I lit up with excitement,” Rowan says.

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Having her cake and eating it too

Henchy is proud to be an example for other young people living with type-1 diabetes.

“There is not one thing in my life that I have not indulged in because of diabetes,” she says. “Do I have to calculate the carbs and give myself five units of insulin? Yes. But can I eat the entire cake? Of course.”

She first realized something might be wrong while on vacation with her family. She begged the flight attendants for gallons of water, ate more than one entrée at dinners and she was still losing weight.

She was 15 before she received a diagnosis. Now 23, she’s amazed at the way innovations have made it easier to control her condition. She uses wearable automated insulin technology, like Omnipod, that make it virtually effortless to track her glucose and insulin.

“I always had a bag that needed to be filled to the brim with needles and insulin pens and test strips, and now everything is controlled and monitored with one device,” she says. “Now I leave the house with just my phone.”

NYC, sweet NYC

“I’ve lived in New York City my entire life,” Henchy says. She has no plans to leave the area, but she might consider moving out of her childhood home.

“I am really playing and flirting with the idea of me moving into a three bed, two bath in Chelsea with my best friends from high school,” Henchy says. But with her mom and dad both working out of town, someone has to take care of the house and the family’s three dogs.

It’s clear that although Henchy has grown up with privilege, she also exhibits the very relatable qualities of a helpful eldest daughter.

“That’s Brooke Shields. It’s all my mother,” she says. “She put so much emphasis on raising us to be down-to-earth, respectful, loving and caring people — and that’s because she is all of those things.”

(Disclosure: Peacock is owned by NBCUniversal, TODAY’s parent company.) 

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Lambert, 69, unexpectedly departed the convention due to a “personal issue,” Steel City Con announced on Facebook, adding that his photo op had been canceled and his return time was yet to be determined.

TMZ reported that Lambert suffered a sudden medical emergency and collapsed while signing autographs, before being taken from the convention hall by ambulance. According to the outlet, Lambert’s representative said his blood sugar had dropped because he hadn’t eaten much that day.

The Pittsburgh-area convention, running Friday through Sunday, had shared a photo of Lambert posing with a fan at a meet-and-greet over the weekend, where he signed posters of himself as the immortal Scottish warrior Connor MacLeod from the 1986 cult classic “Highlander.”

Steel City Con initially said in a Saturday night update that Lambert would return Sunday for more autographs and his delayed photo op, but not his scheduled panel. On Sunday, however, organizers announced he would not attend after all.

“Christopher Lambert is unable to come today,” the convention wrote on Facebook. “He sends his regrets.”

Fans responded in the comments with well wishes, saying his health and recovery comes first.

Steel City Con and representatives for Lambert did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Lambert, who is best known for his iconic role in “Highlander,” rose to global fame in 1984 starring as Tarzan in “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes.” He has also played the god Raiden in the 1995 film adaptation of “Mortal Kombat” and Methodius in the 2011’s “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.”

Last year, the actor drew some ire from Swede’s popular SciFi World convention after abruptly canceling his scheduled appearance there.

Lambert is expected to attend other conventions this month, including Fan Expo in Chicago next weekend and Mad Monster Expo in North Carolina the weekend after.

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The Sony-Marvel release has accrued $1.67 billion worldwide in just 10 days of release, putting it on a trajectory to be among the biggest blockbusters ever. Domestically, no movie has racked up a higher total faster. In U.S. and Canadian cinemas, “Brand New Day” has grossed $655.1 million thus far. Overseas, it’s already surpassed $1 billion.

It took only seven days for “Brand New Day” to become the highest grossing movie of the year, easily displacing “Toy Story 5” ($1.07 billion worldwide). No Sony film has ever cleared $100 million in its second weekend before. It came close to toppling the best sophomore frame on record: “The Force Awakens,” with $149.2 million in 2015.

Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” also crossed $1 billion. In its fourth weekend, the Universal Pictures release added $31.5 million domestically to bring its global total to $1.1 billion.

Nolan’s Homeric epic is the director’s first movie to reach that threshold since 2012’s “The Dark Knight Rises.” It now ranks as Nolan’s biggest box-office hit ever, not accounting for inflation, eclipsing both “The Dark Knight Rises” ($1.08 billion) and 2009’s “The Dark Knight” ($1 billion). Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” ($975 million) ended just shy of the milestone.

A big part of that success, of course, has been on IMAX. With $147.3 million domestically on the company’s large-format screens, “The Odyssey” now ranks as IMAX’s highest grossing domestic release of all time.

“The Odyssey” still has one major market left. It opens in China on Friday.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey” have helped drive Hollywood to its best box-office year since the pandemic. Ticket sales are running 18.5% ahead of last year, according to Rentrak. There have already been five $1 billion movies — more than any year since 2019. The other two were “Michael” and “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.”

Rentrak forecasts that the overall summer theatrical revenue will reach $4 billion on Monday. That seasonal mark has long been a sign of thriving business for Hollywood. Since the pandemic, the only summer to surpass $4 billion was 2023, when “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” drove ticket sales.

According to Rentrak, summer revenue is just $14.8 million shy of $4 billion through Sunday.

A pair of comedies tried to provide some counterprogramming to the blockbusters but made little impact.

“One Night Only,” a Will Gluck-directed romantic comedy where premarital sex is outlawed except for one night a year, opened with $5.7 million. The Universal release, starring Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner, cost about $25 million to make. Reviews weren’t good (46% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) but audience scores (a “B+” CinemaScore) were better.

Coming in fourth was Fox Searchlight’s “Super Troopers 3,” the third in the long-running comedy series from the comedy troupe Broken Lizard. It debuted with $4 million.

Two new limited releases packed theaters. A24’s “Tony,” starring Dominic Sessa as a young Anthony Bourdain, grossed $348,955, good for one of the best screen-average openings of the year: $58,159 per theater. Mubi’s “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,” from “I Saw the TV Glow” filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun, debuted with a per-location average of $50,300 across five screens.

Top 10 movies by domestic box office

With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:

1. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” $145 million.

2. “The Odyssey,” $31.5 million.

3. “One Night Only,” $5.7 million.

4. “Super Troopers 3,” $4 million.

5. “Toy Story 5,” $3.9 million.

6. “Minions & Monsters,” $3.5 million.

7. “Moana,” $2.8 million.

8. “Ice Cream Man,” $2 million.

9. “The Invite,” $717,568.

10. CatVideoFest 2026, $568,414.

The band issued a statement on Weverse, announcing that Laforteza will be “temporarily unable to participate in upcoming promotional activities” and noting that it’s “imperative that her mental health and wellness are prioritized.”

“Sophia has been receiving the utmost support, and following thorough consultations with medical professionals, it has been advised that she take dedicated time for extended rest and ongoing care to ensure a full recovery,” the statement read. “While Sophia herself is eager to perform alongside her members, the health, safety, and long-term well-being of our artists will always remain our highest priority.”

The statement continued, explaining that the band will “closely monitor (Sophia’s) progress and support her journey.”

“We plan to reassess her condition in September and will share a further update with fans at that time,” the statement read.

Laforteza addressed her fans directly in her own Instagram storypost.

“It truly breaks my heart to have to miss out on a lot. You know how much I love being on stage, performing, and sharing these moments with you,” she wrote. “Making this decision wasn’t easy, but I’m learning that health has to come first. I’m realizing that if I don’t take care of my mind and body now, I won’t be able to keep doing what I love the most for so long.”

The 23-year-old thanked her fans for being “patient” and “understanding.”

“It means more to me than I could ever say. I promise I’m going to work as hard as I can to get through this, heal properly, and come back stronger,” she wrote.

The singer ended her post by urging her fans to “be kind” and give KATSEYE “all your love and support.”

Laforteza did not attend the premiere of the “KATSEYE: Wild Hearts” documentary on Aug. 5. While addressing her bandmate’s absence, Lara Raj told Variety, “She’s not feeling well, but she says hi.”

Another member of KATSEYE, Manon Bannerman, revealed in February that she would be taking a temporary hiatus to “focus on her health and wellbeing,” per Variety.

“KATSEYE remains committed to showing up for one another and for the fans who mean everything to us. The group will continue scheduled activities during this time, and we look forward to being together again when the time is right,” the band’s statement read.

The group is scheduled to perform live on the TODAY Plaza on Aug. 14 as part of the Citi Concert Series.

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A restaurant in Hollywood, Florida, is offering patrons a new way to wine and dine, and the only thing that’s not required is clothes.

And the goal is simple: keep the business going in a tough economy.

“C.L.A.S.S. is an acronym for culinary, luxury and superb service,” Murad Ali said.

Ali is the owner and chef at C.L.A.S.S. and said that they’ve been running for about eight years, and while patrons can enjoy a meal any day of the week, there is one night a month where things look a little different.

“The first Monday of every month, we have our nude dinner, when guests can take their clothes off and enjoy a great dinner,” he said.

Ali said that when the blinds go down, the clothes come off

“It’s legal because the windows are completely blacked out,” he said. “No one can see from outside. Our staff are fully clothed, so there’s no entertainment from us. It’s just dinner. That’s what makes it legal.”

“Once the event was finished, my idea said, ‘Let’s do it ourselves,’” he said.

Now, the experience is open to adults, with a five-course meal and a few extra layers of cleanliness.

“We have a robe that everyone is offered, we have a leather seat cushion, which is sanitized, and we also have a lap towel,” he said.

The concept may not be for everyone, and Ali said that’s exactly the point.

“This is not your grandpa’s steakhouse, this is chef Ali’s experience for people who want to do something different,” he said. “The goal is to survive in this economy.”

The next nude dining experience is set for Sept. 7.

“Traveling with kids is a whole new world,” said Dr. Shannon Thompson, a pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic Children’s, adding that it’s important to “enjoy your kiddo on your trip” as much as you can.

Here are some tips and tricks for parents to travel safely with young children — and have fun with them, too.

Look for amenities like cribs and high chairs before you book

Before you decide where to stay, consider your options for baby-proofing.

Check whether items like portable playpens, cribs and high chairs are offered to guests. If you are staying somewhere with stairs, a balcony or a pool, inquire about baby gates; if they are not provided, see if they are available for rent nearby or consider bringing travel-friendly foldable mesh gates. Pack electrical outlet covers and wipes to clean any dirty surfaces your kiddo might touch.

For babies, safe sleeping is still essential on vacation. Children younger than 1 should sleep on their back on a flat, firm surface such as a mattress in a bassinet, crib or playpen with nothing more than a fitted sheet, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The organization also recommends babies sleep in the parents’ room — but not in the parents’ bed — for at least the first six months.

You should also consider how you will get to your lodging: Will you fly in and rent a car or take a taxi, or take public transit from the airport? Will you mostly be driving or walking? For parents, these factors can determine whether you want to bring a stroller and a car seat, both of which you can gate check for free when you fly, or rely on using a sling or baby carrier.

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Plan for snacks and diaper changes on the plane

“Flying with kids is one of those big, intimidating things,” said Thompson, the pediatrician. “I think the biggest thing to think about is always safety and then of course their comfort.”

While children under two can fly in their parents’ lap, the Federal Aviation Administration recommends securing them in their own safety seat, such as a car seat certified for use on planes. This requires buying a seat for your child.

For long-haul or international flights, ask the airline if they have bassinets available.

Food and drink for babies and toddlers, including breast milk, formula and puree pouches, are considered medically necessary liquids by the Transportation Security Administration. That means they are not subject to the standard 3.4-ounce (100-milliliter) limit for carry-on liquids. The same goes for ice packs used to keep such liquids cool. Let the TSA officer know if you have these in your carry-on when you go through security screening.

In addition to snacks, don’t forget to carry on diapers, wipes, a portable changing pad and sealable plastic bags for disposal. Bring extra clothes to layer or change in case of accidents or messy spills.

Swallowing and chewing can help with ear pressure, so nursing little ones or giving them a bottle or pacifier can ease discomfort during take-off and landing.

Speak with your pediatrician beforehand if your kiddo is prone to ear infections, and before traveling abroad, ask them what vaccines may be recommended.

Keep kids entertained on and off the plane

For flights with young kids, Christy Slavik, owner of the travel agency Mom Approved Travel, recommends “having little surprises that you can distract them with” — such as sticky mats for travel-sized Play-Doh, suction cup toys and other games that are small and light to pack.

If sightseeing once at your destination, think about ways to make activities more fun and interactive. For art museums, bring notebooks that kids can draw in, or ask them what types of animals they can find in the paintings, Slavik said.

“Kids need a mission. They need games,” she said. “You have to get creative sometimes when you’re traveling.”

Exposing children to other cultures, foods and languages can also be fun. Some may enjoy picking out snacks at markets, for example, or learning foreign words for their favorite dishes and activities.

There are options for places to stay that are family-friendly, with amenities such as pools or games. For those traveling abroad on a budget, many hostels offer private rooms for families so they don’t have to share a dorm-style room with bunk beds. Hotels and hostels provide the opportunity to meet other travelers, including fellow children who can become playmates.

The perks of traveling with extended family

Helping moms actually enjoy their vacation — and relax amid the stress that can come with planning and traveling — is a core goal of Slavik’s travel agency.

One way parents can get a break is by planning trips with grandparents or other family members. This helps with babysitting duties, while also allowing loved ones to have special bonding time with kiddos. Just make sure they also have their own downtime and aren’t wearing themselves out, Slavik said.

“When you bring grandparents to a vacation, you’re giving them the opportunity to experience those moments together,” she said.

Emree had spent part of the summer carefully building a prized collection of NeeDoh stress toys with money from her grandmother while vacationing in Portland, Maine. The colorful, squishy balls and cubes, filled with a soft gel that slowly oozes under pressure, have become one of the year’s hottest toys, with children swapping them at camp, hunting for rare designs and displaying them to friends.

None of that mattered at the security checkpoint.

“The TSA guy felt so bad,” Glassheim tells TODAY.com. “He said, ‘I’m so sorry. We have to take it. You can’t take it on the plane.’”

Emree had packed the toys in her backpack so she could play with them during the flight.

“I promised her we’d buy new ones when we get home,” says Glassheim, who lives in North Dakota. “She was upset, but she didn’t have the tantrum fit that I thought she was going to have.”

Across TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, similar scenes are playing out daily. Parents post videos of children crying as TSA officers confiscate their NeeDoh collections. Others describe feeling blindsided by a rule they never knew existed.

A Toy That’s Mostly Gel

NeeDoh, made by Schylling, is a palm-sized sensory toy designed to be squeezed, stretched and slowly squished back into shape. While marketed as a stress-relief fidget toy, it has become a playground obsession among kids, who scour store shelves for limited-edition colors and shapes.

The very thing that makes NeeDoh satisfying to squeeze is also what creates problems at airport security.

According to TSA, gel-filled toys are allowed in carry-on luggage only if they contain 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) of gel or less and comply with the agency’s liquids rule. They must fit inside a quart-size bag alongside a traveler’s other liquids. Larger gel-filled toys belong in checked luggage. TSA also notes that “the final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.”

TODAY.com reached out to TSA for additional comment but did not immediately receive a response.

“It Didn’t Cross Our Minds”

Like many parents, Vanessa Leon had no idea.

“It didn’t cross our minds at all whatsoever,” says Leon, who lives in Washington State.

A TSA agent in Colorado flagged her 8-year-old son Kohen’s carry-on bag .

“TSA in Denver explained that the gel inside the NeeDohs and squishies exceeded the amount of liquid allowed through security,” she says. “They said they make absolutely no exceptions.”

Five toys were discarded.

Kohen had spent weeks searching for them. In Washington, Leon says, the toys are almost impossible to find.

“We’ve been setting alarms Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings to run to Target because they’re usually sold out,” she says. “We found a lot more in Omaha, and he was so excited to bring his little stash home and show his friends.”

Instead, he watched airport security throw them away.

“He looked at me and said, ‘Mommy, we can’t take them? They’re putting them in the trash?’”

Leon explained that it was a safety rule.

“He understood after we talked about it,” she says. “But he was still pretty bummed.”

To adults unfamiliar with the craze, the emotional reactions can seem outsized. One girl was recently seen in an Instagram video crying after an entire backpack filled with NeeDohs was taken.

“It’s not just that they love them,” Glassheim says. “It’s the hunt to find them.”

Leon agrees.

“I feel like people without kids just see it as something silly,” she says. “But for them, it’s super exciting that they found a NeeDoh that isn’t common. He absolutely loves searching for NeeDohs and building his collection.”

Most Exceed TSA’s Limit

Paul Weingard, president of Schylling, said many parents are surprised by the rule because the toys don’t feel like traditional liquids.

“Most NeeDoh contain a gel or liquid and exceed 3.4 oz., except our NeeDoh Teenies, which are all under the limit,” he said in an interview with Parade. “Also, our Snowball Crunch is filled with cornstarch and not a liquid so that’s acceptable.”

Weingard also pointed out an irony in TSA’s social media post: although the agency illustrated its carry-on rules with a photo of the Peace O’ Cake NeeDoh, that particular product actually exceeds the carry-on limit.

For families heading to the airport before summer vacation ends, the lesson is simple: If the toy contains more than 3.4 ounces of gel, pack it in checked luggage, or risk watching one of the season’s most coveted toys disappear into a TSA bin.

For parents who have already lived through it, that’s a mistake they won’t make twice.

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The 56-year-old actor updated fans about the recent car crash in a video posted on Instagram Thursday, Aug. 6, sharing that she is currently in London after returning from France, where the accident occurred.

“I’m sorry about the filter I put on this, but honestly, without it, I just looked appalling. Even the dog wouldn’t look at me,” said Driver, who was lying on her side and wearing a neck brace.

“I got into a really bad car accident a few days ago with my friend Ben, and we somehow walked out of it. Well, we didn’t walk out of it. We crawled out of it, but we did get out of it alive,” she continued.

The “Good Will Hunting” star said she and her friend were not at fault. She said the two of them were “driving on a country road in the middle of France” when they slammed into another vehicle.

“A car didn’t stop at an intersection and was going at speed, and we just T-boned it,” she said.

She assured fans she is OK before adding she had a sprained neck and is dealing with the emotional aftermath of the scary incident.

“I’m really in shock and sort of cry all the time,” Driver said.

Driver, who also revealed she had never been in an accident before, added that it was “astonishing” she and her friend were not completely crushed upon impact.

“I’m a Minnie Driver, pun intended,” she said. “I need to celebrate the car that saved us, because we’ve got families and people who love us. And I am so grateful to be alive.”

She thanked Kia, the manufacturer of the car they were driving, and included a picture of the crumpled vehicle at the end of the video.

In the caption, Driver provided more details about the accident. She expressed her gratitude to a good Samaritan that pulled over to help the pair before an ambulance arrived.

“Special mention to the car who slowed down took in the scene and drove off without stopping. I guess this is the Dao of the world, the light and the dark,” she wrote.

Driver said she continues to replay the accident in her mind as she processes what happened.

“Weeping too, feels good and helpful. Thank you to my friends, my family, all the people at work and especially my friend Ben and his family. I love you,” she concluded.

Fans and friends left supportive messages in the comments, emphasizing how grateful they were that Driver is fine. They also wished her a speedy recovery.

Despite the severity of the situation, Driver still managed to have a sense of humor. She posted a message on her Instagram story that read, “Even though I wasn’t driving, I’m still changing my name to Kia Driver.” 

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The 26-year-old’s family announced Thursday on her Instagram that she passed away the day before. A graphic reads, “An endless ray of sunshine. A daughter, sister, and friend to so many.” The caption then reads, “We will always love you so much Sydney. I am so proud of how hard you fought. I love you.”

On TikTok, Towle’s family shared a message with her supporters: “She fought really hard, and we’re so proud of her,” said Austin Towle, her brother. “And we thank all of you for your support over the years.”

Her mother added, “We love you and thank you for all of your kind messages of support and love. We really appreciate it and she will not be forgotten.”

In a statement shared with TODAY.com, the Towle family added: “We are so proud of how hard Sydney fought and for sharing her journey with so many people. She wanted to raise awareness for rare cancers and was passionate about promoting self-advocacy. We will continue her legacy and honor her in every way we can.”

News of Towle’s death comes three years after her cancer diagnosis.

In 2023, then-23-year-old Towle noticed a lump and a burning sensation in her abdomen. What she and doctors thought was a hernia was later discovered to be cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer that forms in the group of tubes, called ducts, that connect the liver, gallbladder and small intestine, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Five months of chemotherapy and immunotherapy reduced the size of the mass, then most of what remained of the tumor was removed in surgery, Towle told TODAY.com in a November 2024 interview. Some of the cancer the surgeons couldn’t remove still lined her liver, so doctors said they’d monitor it for growth with regular scans.

An MRI a few months later revealed a lesion. A month later it had doubled in size.

“I don’t think I’ve processed it,” Towle told TODAY.com. “I’ve kind of disassociated from it.”

Following her move to New York City, Towle teamed up with new doctors to develop a new treatment plan.

On TikTok, she regularly shared updates about her treatment and well-being with followers.

“I’m bringing light to this, and so that has encouraged me to continue posting and sharing, especially when I am not doing well or when I receive good news,” she told TODAY.com. “It always seems to help people feel less alone, like, they’re not the only ones that are going through something that’s very challenging.”

Following the subsequent rounds of treatment, Towle updated her followers in a TikTok post on May 17, 2026, explaining the cancer had spread to her peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdomen and pelvis. Two days later, she revealed her oncologist’s decision to no longer treat her and instead transition her to end-of-life care.

“I said, ‘No.’ So, we are switching hospitals,” Towle said in the video. “We’re not at the point where we’re giving up.”

On June 8, Towle documented a day at the hospital during which she learned she had developed lung tumors.

On June 29, she posted about having had surgery and said, “I think we’re on the come-up.” On July 12, she’d posted about chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments she’d received. And by July 21, she noted she’d been hospitalized for about a month and was now waiting to see if her treatments were working.

Towle’s account went quiet shortly after that.

On Tuesday, her brother, Austin Towle, posted a photo on TikTok of loved ones standing next to a hospital bed. “Sydney has been moved to hospice and is surrounded by her friends and family. Thank you all for your love and support❤️,” he wrote.

She died a day later.

“People always ask why I’m so positive,” Towle said in a June 2026 TikTok post. “Why would I not envision the best-case scenario, the best way of things working out?

“Nobody knows for sure what’s going to happen; like, miracles happen every day.”

What is cholangiocarcinoma?

Cholangiocarcinoma is also known as bile duct cancer, as it forms in the tubes throughout the body that carry a type of digestive fluid called bile. The bile ducts connect the liver, gall bladder and small intestines, according to the Mayo Clinic.

It’s most commonly diagnosed in people older than 50. When it is diagnosed, it is usually in later stages, which means it is more difficult to treat.

Symptoms include:

• Yellowing of skin and eyes
• Itchy skin
• Light-colored stools
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fever
• Sweating at night
• Dark-colored urine

Existing bile duct conditions, chronic liver disease, smoking, diabetes and certain genetic conditions, like Lynch syndrome, can increase risk of cholangiocarcinoma.

According to Mayo Clinic, treatment typically includes surgery to remove the cancer, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, liver transplant and more.

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Micah Sykes also faces a special allegation of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a crime, which can increase potential penalties during the sentencing phase of a trial. The charges against him include an allegation that he inflicted great bodily injury upon a vulnerable victim 60 years of age or older.

Prosecutors alleged that Micah Sykes used a dagger, garden shears and barbell in the Dec. 8 attack. Jubilant Sykes, 71, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crime, where his son was found and taken into custody.

A preliminary hearing, when a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence for a trial, was scheduled for Sept. 2. Sykes remains jailed without bail, a condition prosecutors argued for at a court appearance in December.

If convicted as charged, Micah Sykes faces up to life in state prison.

“Our community continues to mourn the senseless loss of Jubilant Sykes whose renowned baritone and legacy of music brought joy to the world,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “This horrific act of violence is a painful reminder of how older adults remain vulnerable to violence, even from those closest to them. Our elders deserve to feel safe and the office’s Elder Abuse Section is committed to holding those who harm them fully accountable.”

Jubilant Sykes was a renowned baritone who has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Deutsche Opera Berlin, Arena di Verona in Italy, London’s Barbican Center to the New Orleans Jazz Festival, the Apollo Theater and Hollywood Bowl, according to his bio. He has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and other orchestras.

He was nominated for a Grammy for best classical album for his performance as the Celebrant in the 2009 recording of Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass.” He appeared in the 2014 film “Freedom” and on stage in the play “Breath and Imagination.” He also had roles in the musicals “Bloomer Girl” and “1776.”

Sykes lent his voice to the soundtrack for the 1990 baseball drama film “Pastime.”

According to the biography, he and his wife Cecelia have three sons.

From no-tie shoelaces for younger students to rolling totes built for college move-in day, brands are introducing new and practical products for every stage.

Here are some standout back-to-school finds for 2026:

Hulken

Move-in day just got a lot easier. Hulken’s cult-favorite rolling totes are now available in exclusive Target colorways, including a Large Rolling Tote in Forest Green with Midnight Blue handles ($125) and a Medium Rolling Tote in Midnight Blue with Forest Green handles ($110). The fold-flat bags are designed to haul everything from laundry and groceries to dorm essentials, making them a practical companion throughout the school year.

The Lad Collective

Anyone who has wrestled with dorm bedding knows how quickly fitted sheets can pop off a Twin XL mattress. The Lad Collective aims to solve that problem with its One-Minute Bed collection. The bedding features labeled corner straps for easy setup, deep pockets and heavy-duty elastic to keep sheets in place, plus a JoeyPouch that stores the entire bedding set inside itself. Each bundle also includes matching pillowcases, an eye mask and a seven-week supply of laundry sheets. Twin XL sets start at $160.

Mustard Made

Looking for a stylish way to corral backpacks, lunch boxes and sports gear? Mustard Made’s Twinny locker doubles as a mudroom organizer or home drop zone. The $599 locker includes adjustable shelves, hanging rails, hooks, locks and magnetic doors, providing plenty of space to keep school essentials neatly organized all year long.

Naturepedic

A good night’s sleep can make all the difference during the school year. Naturepedic’s Adagio 2-inch Organic Latex Mattress Topper adds extra comfort to dorm mattresses while using organic latex instead of conventional foam. The topper starts at $399 and is designed for students looking to upgrade their sleep setup.

PlanetBox

Families looking to reduce single-use plastics may want to check out PlanetBox’s recycled stainless steel lunch box. The bento-style container features compartments to help keep lunches organized, is dishwasher safe and fits neatly inside most lunch bags and backpacks.

Staples

Staples is helping families save throughout back-to-school season with a series of weekly freebies available through Sept. 12, while supplies last. Customers can score a free item with a qualifying purchase both in stores and online, alongside school supplies starting at 25 cents, technology deals and exclusive teacher savings.

Here’s the freebie schedule:

• July 12-18: Free Astrobright Solar Spark colored paper (100 sheets)
• July 19-25: Free Sharpie S-Gel pens (2-pack)
• July 26-Aug. 1: Free Post-it Pop-up Notes Dispenser
• Aug. 2-8: Free Eccolo Password Journal
• Aug. 9-15: Free Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens (2-pack)
• Aug. 23 (Sunday only): Free NeeDoh Groovy Glob with a qualifying purchase of $50 or more in stores or $100 or more online. The squishy sensory toy has become one of the hottest toys of the year, making this one-day giveaway one parents and kids won’t want to miss.
• Sept. 6-12: Free Staples Tote Bag

TickTalk

Parents who aren’t quite ready to hand over a smartphone may find a middle ground with the TickTalk 5 smartwatch. Priced at $159.99, the wearable lets children make approved calls and send messages while giving parents GPS tracking and safety controls. The smartwatch is available through TickTalk, Amazon and Walmart, with the next-generation TickTalk 6 expected to launch this fall.

uLace Kiddos No-Tie Shoelaces

Teachers may appreciate one less shoelace to tie during the school day. uLace Kiddos No-Tie Shoelaces transform traditional sneakers into slip-ons using stretchable elastic laces that stay securely in place. Designed for children but suitable for adults as well, the $15.99 accessory makes getting out the door a little faster while giving kids more independence.

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Following Season 29’s “The Voice: Battle of Champions,” it appears the NBC singing competition is undergoing another makeover for 2027.

On Aug. 4, it was revealed that NBC has started production for “The Voice: Celebrity,” where stars ranging from actors, musicians, influencers and more will compete to become the first “Voice” celebrity champion.

“The Voice: Celebrity” will feature new and returning coaches, as well as a new host.

Before the revamped edition airs, Season 30 of “The Voice” — with returning coaches Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson and newcomers Queen Latifah and country music singer Riley Green — will premiere on Sept. 21.

Read on to learn more about “The Voice: Celebrity,” coming in 2027.

Who will host ‘The Voice: Celebrity’?

Giving host Carson Daly a break for this celebrity edition is Keke Palmer. The multi-hyphenate will take the helm, bringing her charisma and energy to “The Voice” stage.

Who are the coaches for ‘The Voice: Celebrity’?

“The Voice: Celebrity” will have Joe Jonas making his coaching debut this season. He will be joined by Queen Latifah and Riley Green, who will be returning to their red chairs after participating in Season 30.

Who are the celebrities competing on ‘The Voice: Celebrity’?

The celebrities that will be part of the inaugural “The Voice: Celebrity” will be revealed at a later time.

However, NBC shared that the stars competing will be actors, musicians, influencers, athletes, comedians and reality television stars.

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What is the new format for ‘The Voice: Celebrity’?

“The Voice: Celebrity” will follow the same format as the original “The Voice.” The contestants will participate in the blind auditions, hoping for a coach to turn their chair.

They will then be placed into teams and mentored by their coaches to try and make it to the next round as viewers vote for their favorites.

When does ‘The Voice: Celebrity’ premiere?

A premiere date has yet to be announced, but expect to see “The Voice: Celebrity” in 2027. 

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