Category: BUSINESS

Which ‘Survivor’ cast members made cameos in ‘The White Lotus’?
Mike White has been tapping into his “Survivor” roots since the debut of “The White Lotus,” and Season 3 is no different.
“The White Lotus” creator and writer was scheming and competing his way through one of the more popular seasons of “Survivor” three years before the social satire debuted on HBO to widespread critical acclaim.

White, a well-known “Survivor” superfan, made it clear in interviews and confessionals during Season 37 airing in 2018 that appearing on the long-running reality competition series was no mere branding gimmick, but a lifelong dream. A reality television junkie, White had by then already appeared twice on another CBS series, “The Amazing Race,” with his dad Mel.

While White did not win the $1 million prize during the 2018 season and came in second, receiving only three votes at the final tribal council compared to Nick Wilson’s seven, the experience appears to have had a lasting effect on him. In the years following “Survivor: David vs. Goliath,” White has invited a few of his fellow “Survivor” castaways to make cameos on the Emmy-winning show, which he not only created, but also writes and directs every episode.

Here’s who made an appearance on Season 3 of “The White Lotus” from the “Survivor’s” cast.

Mike White on ‘Survivor’: Recapping ‘White Lotus’ creator’s journey (Hint: He almost won)

Natalie Cole

Natalie Cole appeared in the first episode of Season 3 of “The White Lotus” alongside fellow “Survivor” alum Carl Boudreaux.

The duo were seen dining at the hotel’s restaurant with Natasha Rothwell’s Belinda waving to them as she walks by. Later, as Belinda is speaking to her son over the phone, she recalls the moment, excitedly telling him she “saw two Black people tonight, and they weren’t staff!”

On “Survivor,” Cole was a member of the Goliath tribe who was eliminated before the merge, with White casting the deciding vote to send her off.

Carl Boudreaux

Boudreaux was seen dining with fellow “Survivor” contestant Natalie Cole in Episode 1 of Season 3 of “The White Lotus.” When Natasha Rothwell’s Belinda waves to him, he turns his head to acknowledge her as well.

Boudreaux is the first David tribe member to make it to “The White Lotus.” He voted for Wilson to win the season.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Christian Hubicki

Robotics scientist Hubicki and his real-life partner Emily made a quick blink-and-miss-it appearance in Season 3, Episode 5 of “The White Lotus.” The two were seen drinking and laughing at a club outside the resort during a transition scene.

On “Survivor,” Hubicki began as a David, but ended up joining many alliances, including one with White and Merlino called Strikeforce. He eventually voted for White to win in the finale.

Which ‘Survivor’ cast members were part of previous seasons?

Season 1

Alec Merlino as Hutch, a waiter and bartender at the White Lotus Resort & Spa Maui.

Season 2

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
April 10, 2025
Ring it in with Seacrest, Harvey and more

Whether you’re at an extravagant party or home on your couch, you can find a way to rock in the new year.

The major networks will once again ring in New Year’s Day with live shows from Times Square in New York City and plenty of bands to keep the party going all night long, or at least keep you dancing in your pajamas. Or if you want to try do different, plenty movie and TV marathons will pull you into the new year.

So before you commit to your New Year’s resolutions to work out more or eat healthier, say goodbye to 2019 with these TV treats.

New Year’s Eve parties

The networks know how to throw a New Year’s Eve party from Times Square, and this year will be no exception.

Ryan Seacrest is once again hosting “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020” (ABC, 8 EST/PST and 11:30 EST/PST) with co-host Lucy Hale (“Pretty Little Liars”). They’ll be joined by Ciara, who is taking over hosting duties in Los Angeles, and Billy Porter (“Pose”) hosting the party in New Orleans. Artists performing on the show include Post Malone, BTS and Usher.

Steve Harvey is back for a third year as host of Fox’s “New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey: Live from Times Square” (8 EST/PST and 11 EST/PST), with Tyga, The Lumineers, Florida Georgia Line and The Killers. Harvey shares hosting duties with first-time co-host and former NFL star Rob Gronkowski, along with Maria Menounos.

Over on NBC, Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager offer “A Toast to 2019” (8 EST/PST). Later, Carson Daly returns to host “New Year’s Eve Special 2020” (10 EST/PST and 11:30 EST/PST). Performers include Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton and Julianne Hough. Keith Urban anchors coverage from Music City Midnight in Nashville, Tennessee.

If cable is more your thing, check out CNN, which will once again have journalist Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen (“What Happens Next”) helming coverage beginning at 8 EST/5 PST. The show features performances by Lenny Kravitz and Patti LaBelle until 12:30 a.m. EST/9:30 PST, when anchors Brooke Baldwin and Don Lemon take over to ring in the new year for inthe Central time zone with a “Music City Midnight Celebration” from Nashville.

TV marathons

If partying isn’t your thing, there are still plenty of options to watch from your couch.

Catch up on one of fall’s best new series as CBS airs three episodes of “Evil” (8 EST/PST). The show follows a skeptic (Katja Herbers, “Westworld”) and a believer (Mike Colter, “Luke Cage”) who investigate religious oddities.

“Schitt’s Creek,” which earned its first Emmy nominations this year, will have a marathon on Pop (noon EST/9 PST). Catch up on the series about a down-and-out wealthy family living in a small town before its sixth and final season starts on Jan. 7.

A famous – or rather infamous – show this year was “Game of Thrones,” which ended after eight seasons. Relive the last season of the fantasy drama series on HBO2 (noon EST/PST), if you can handle it.

OWN will air the entire first season of its just-renewed drama “David Makes Man” (1 p.m. EST/PST), from Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (“Moonlight”).

With the decade coming to a close, check out one of the most successful movie franchises of the past 10 years with “The Hunger Games” franchise on AMC (9 a.m. EST/PST). The four-movie marathon starts with the first, from 2012, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson as two contestants in a fight to the death.

And if you want to go back further, Syfy hosts a marathon of the classic television series “The Twilight Zone” beginning at 6 a.m. EST/PST, including episodes written and narrated by the legendary Rod Serling.

Rose Parade, more on New Year’s Day

After a night partying, it’s nice to crawl out of bed and snuggle up on your couch in your pajamas with NBC’s “131st Rose Parade” (Wednesday 11:30 EST/8:30 PST) from Pasadena, California, with hosts Hoda Kotb and Al Roker. Floats in the annual parade traditionally are covered with flowers, plants and even seeds, with vibrant colors and incredible displays. Actresses Rita Moreno (“One Day at a Time”) and Gina Torres (“Suits”), and Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez serve as this year’s grand marshals.

Later that day it’s ESPN’s Rose Bowl (5 EST/2 PST) college football game between the Oregon Ducks and Wisconsin Badgers, followed by the Sugar Bowl (8:45 EST/5:45 PST) as the Baylor Bears face off against the Georgia Bulldogs.

And if football isn’t your thing, check out the new season of “Doctor Who,” which kicks off at 8 EST/PST on BBC America. This marks Jodie Whittaker’s second season in the iconic role of the Doctor, who travels through time and space.

Netflix launches two new series on New Year’s Day. “Messiah” follows a CIA agent investigating a cult leader, and “Spinning Out” is a drama series about the world of competitive skating, starring Kaya Scodelario (“Skins”), January Jones (“Mad Men”) and professional skater Johnny Weir.

April 10, 2025
When does ‘Pop the Balloon LIVE’ come out? Premiere date, time, cast
What if a red balloon stood between you and the potential love of your life?
A new iteration of the viral online series “Pop The Balloon Or Find Love” will air live on Netflix this week. In the show, executive produced by original creators Arlette Amuli and Bolia Matundu, a red balloon stands between the hopeful daters and true love.

“Pop The Balloon LIVE” will be hosted by actress and comedian Yvonne Orji.

“After playing the ‘unlucky in love’ Molly Carter for five seasons on ‘Insecure,’ I know a thing or two about looking for love in a hopeless place,” Orji told Netflix. “Hopefully, the singles on ‘Pop the Balloon LIVE’ will have much more success.”

Here’s what we know about “Pop the Ballon LIVE.”

Netflix’s ‘Bad Influence’: Where are YouTuber Piper Rockelle, momager Tiffany Smith now?

When does ‘Pop the Balloon LIVE’ come out?

“Pop the Balloon LIVE” will debut on Netflix on April 10 at 8 p.m. ET and air live on Thursdays weekly.

How does the ‘Pop the Balloon’ speed dating experiment work?

“Pop the Balloon LIVE” is a new take on the popular YouTube series while keeping the familiar format. If a contestant’s balloon is popped, so is the chance for a romantic connection.

“Participants line up, and others ‘pop the balloon’ of those they’re not interested in, essentially eliminating them from the dating pool,” the streaming service said. “The live version will bring eliminations, unpredictable dilemmas, and unfiltered romance straight to viewers.”

Original creators say the ‘Pop the Balloon’ YouTube version ‘will stay the same’

Creators Arlette Amuli and Bolia Matundu(BM) reassure fans that the YouTube version, “Pop The Balloon or Find Love,” will continue.

“Everything will stay the same. The way I produce the show. The way my wife hosts the show will stay exactly the same,” Matundu said.

Amuli added, ” We just ask for you guys to support both of our ventures. ‘Pop The Balloon’ on YouTube and ‘Pop The Balloon LIVE’ on Netflix. We honestly can’t wait to see where this is going to go.”

Who’s in the ‘Pop the Balloon LIVE’ cast?

According to Netflix, fans can expect to see familiar faces on the show from other popular reality shows, including “Too Hot To Handle” and “The Challenge.” The guests include:

Zaina Sesay

Chase DeMoor

Farrah Abraham

Johnny Bananas

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].
April 9, 2025
Sarah Catherine Hook on viral phrase, Piper’s virginity

NEW YORK – Sarah Catherine Hook, the actress who played Piper Ratliff on Season 3 of HBO’s “The White Lotus,” lived in fear for a year and a half. She knew how the season ended, but couldn’t say a word.

Hook, 29, is now free to speak her mind. She immediately addresses a rumor about how show creator Mike White allegedly prevented spoilers

“I knew Lachlan ultimately was not gonna die, even though watching him die for a second was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to see,” Cook says of co-star Sam Nivola. “It was a stunning sequence of a spiritual death. But no, I’m pretty sure there were not multiple endings.”

Fresh off Sunday’s much-talked-about finale and just two weeks shy of her 30th birthday, Cook stops by USA TODAY to dish on viral catchphrases, deleted scenes and her character’s “sobering” finale moment.

Hook reveals the origins of ‘Piper, no!’

Hook says that White and Parker Posey, who played her mom Victoria, created the infamous, “Piper, no!” phrase between takes on set.

“I’ve been so looking forward to talking about this,” she says, before explaining: “While we were there on set, (Posey) was ‘Piper, no’-ing me the entire time. Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) would say a dirty joke, and (Posey would) be like, ‘Ha ha Saxon, oh my God.’ And then she would just look at me out of nowhere. I’m like, ‘What?’ And she’s like, ‘Piper.’ And then Mike would come over and he would just look at me and be like, ‘Piper, no.’

“You guys are all new to ‘Piper, no.’ But this has been with me from the beginning.”

Hook notes that the phrase reveals an interesting dynamic among Victoria and Piper. “Saxon is being so obnoxious, yet he’s getting all of this love,” she says, “whereas Piper is literally just existing and it’s that trope of disciplining her daughter. Like, ‘Sit still, look pretty. Don’t have any opinions. Just be pretty.’ I think it’s great.”

Hook ‘blacked out’ filming spiel about being spoiled

Like many shows, “The White Lotus” was filmed out of sequence. In a pivotal scene in the season finale, Piper comes to the realization that her plan to stay at a monastery for a year and study Buddhism isn’t going to work.

“I know I’m not supposed to be attached to this kind of stuff,” Piper says after listing her gripes with the monastery, including the lack of air conditioning or organic food. “But I think I am.”

It’s a watershed moment for the character (and just as Victoria predicted when she told her daughter to sleep there for the night): Piper is self-aware of her spoiled upbringing but is unwilling to change. For Hook, the scene proved challenging beyond the script.

“It was one of my first few scenes that I filmed,” she says. “I hadn’t even really met the (character) yet. “It was one of the most stressful, anxiety induced days of my life because I was like, ‘This is her biggest moment in the show.’ And I’m still figuring out who she is.

“I think I blacked out that day,” she continues with a laugh. “I was so nervous about the outcome of (the scene) and I feel very proud of it, so thank God.”

Hook addresses Piper losing her virginity

White revealed after the finale that he originally planned for Piper to lose her virginity at the resort to Belinda’s son Zion (Nicholas Duvernay). But the scenes were cut from the episode for storyline and timing reasons. While Hook says she was “gutted” that the moment didn’t make the finale, she agrees with White’s reasoning.

“(White) made the best decision by not putting (the sex scenes) in because it would’ve been a rom-com,” Hook says. “It was her rom-com moment.”

Hook estimates that in all, about seven scenes were cut. “I really hope I get to see the short film of it one day, because they were really funny scenes,” she says. “Piper needs to have her party girl era. It’s time to go for her.”

April 9, 2025
When does ‘Hacks’ Season 4 premiere? Date, time, cast, where to watch
“Hacks” Season 4 returns this week with tensions on the rise between Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) as they “endeavor to get their late night show off the ground and make history doing it.”
The award-winning and critically-acclaimed comedy, which explores the dark mentorship between a legendary stand-up comedian and young, entitled comedy writer, is created by Emmy-award winners Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsk, who also serve as showrunners.

The 10-episode season is expected to pick up from where last May’s shocking finale left off with Ava securing the head writer position on Deb’s new late-night talk show only after threatening to reveal Deborah’s dalliance with the married CEO of the corporation that owns Deborah’s network Bob Lipka (Tony Goldwyn).

USA TODAY TV critic Kelly Lawler gave the previous season ★★★½, writing: “After a slightly lackluster second season in 2022, which seemed to tie up the story in a bow too soon, creators Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky found the right way to continue the series about an aging comedienne and her young writer.”

“And while so many other shows go dark and depressing, ‘Hacks’ has delightfully chosen joy, and (of course) some insult comedy from [Jean] Smart’s Deborah Vance,” she added.

Here’s what to know about the upcoming season including premiere date, time and cast. (P.S. Max promises Season 4 will be full of exciting surprise cameos.)

We’ve got room on the couch! Sign up for USA TODAY’s Watch Party newsletter for more recaps of your favorite shows.

When does ‘Hacks’ Season 4 premiere? Date, time

Season 4 of “Hacks” will premiere with two episodes on Thursday, April 10 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on HBO’s streaming platform, Max.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle

‘Hacks’ Season 4 episode schedule

Season 4 of “Hacks” will have 10 episodes. Here’s what the schedule looks like:

Episodes 1 & 2: April 10

Episode 3: April 17

Episode 4: April 24

Episode 5: May 1

Episode 6: May 8

Episodes 7 & 8: May 15

Episode 9: May 22

Episode 10 (finale): May 29

The Hollywood Reporter reported the schedule has been designed this way to make the full season eligible for this year’s Emmy Awards, the deadline for which is May 31.

How to watch new episodes of ‘Hacks’ Season 4

New episodes of the season will be available to stream weekly at 9 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT on Max.

Max subscription plans begin at $9.99 a month with ads while ad-free subscriptions cost $16.99 a month.

The highest tier, which is $20.99 a month, includes the ability to stream on four devices and offers 4K Ultra HD video quality and 100 downloads. HBO also offers bundles with Hulu and Disney+.

Watch ‘Hacks’ Season 4 with Sling + Max

‘Hacks’ Season 4 cast

Returning cast members for Season 4 of “Hacks” include:

Jean Smart as Deborah Vance

Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels

Paul W. Downs as Jimmy LuSaque Jr.

Megan Stalter as Kayla Schaefer

Carl Clemons-Hopkins as Marcus

Mark Indelicato as Damien

Rose Abdoo as Josefina

Helen Hunt as Winnie Landel

Kaitlin Olson as Deborah “DJ” Vance Jr.

Jane Adams as Nina Daniels

Lauren Weedman as Madam Mayor Pezzimenti

Christopher McDonald as Marty Ghilain

Poppy Liu as Kiki

Lorenza Izzo as Ruby

Johnny Sibilly as Wilson

Tony Goldwyn as Bob Lipka

Paul Felder as Aidan

Luenell as Miss Loretta

Aristotle Athari as Lewis

New cast members include:

Julianne Nicholson

Michaela Watkins

Bresha Webb

Robby Hoffman

Eric Balfour

Danny Jolles

Gavin Matts

Grover Whitmore, III

Holmes

Jasmine Ashanti

Katy Sullivan

Matt Oberg

Sandy Honig

Watch ‘Hacks’ Season 4 trailer

Max dropped the trailer for Season 4 of “Hacks” on March 11.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
April 9, 2025
Prince Harry rushed out of UK court after fan outburst

Prince Harry was rushed out of court in the U.K during a fan outburst Wednesday.

The Duke of Sussex headed to court Tuesday for a two-day appeal hearing surrounding the British government’s choice to strip him of security while in the country after he stepped back from his role as a working royal in January 2020.

The apparent fan made critical comments Wednesday about the press, according to People and BBC News, and Harry was escorted out of the courtroom. Reps for Harry declined to comment Wednesday to USA TODAY.

King Charles III’s youngest son is trying to overturn a decision by the Home Office, which oversees the country’s policing and decided in February 2020 that he would not automatically receive personal security detail while in Britain.

Last year, the High Court in London ruled that the decision was lawful and refused to let him challenge that ruling in a higher court. However, an appeals court agreed to hear the case following a direct application from Harry’s lawyers.

The appeal is just one of several lawsuits or legal issues involving the litigious father of two, 40, who has been entangled in more than a half-dozen lawsuits in both the U.S. and England against various media entities.

Harry has long held a particular grievance against the American and British press, anchored in part to his contention that paparazzi were to blame for the 1997 paparazzi chase and resulting car accident that killed his mother, Princess Diana, who was killed trying to flee photographers in Paris.

The catastrophic event is a catalyst for Harry and wife Meghan’s approach to the media and their handling of the royal exit, which was done in part over the couple’s mental health concerns.

Harry’s lawyers have criticized the decision to revoke his security, pointing to threats from terrorist group Al Qaeda and the couple’s own 2023 paparazzi chase.

In a statement to USA TODAY and other media outlets at the time, Harry and Duchess Meghan’s office said it was a “near catastrophic” event. The chase occurred after the Netflix stars left a charity event in New York City.

Prince Harry’s lawyers say UK government ‘singled’ him out, cite al Qaeda threats

Harry’s lawyer Shaheed Fatima said Tuesday in court that the agency, which protects royal and public figures, had treated Harry on a “bespoke” basis not applied to anyone else.

“It means he has been singled out for different, unjustified and inferior treatment,” she said, saying he was not seeking to be treated as he was when he was a working member of the royal family.

After leaving his role as a working royal, Harry retreated to his mom Diana and wife Meghan’s beloved California, where the latter was born and raised. Their love story and subsequent departure from the royal family, once dubbed by the British tabloids as “Megxit,” was detailed in the hit Netflix documentary “Harry & Meghan” in 2022.

Contributing: Morgan Hines and Marco della Cava, USA TODAY; Michael Holden and Sam Tobin, Reuters

April 9, 2025
'White Lotus': Sarah Catherine Hook on Piper's virginity, sex scenesEntertain This!

‘White Lotus’: Sarah Catherine Hook on Piper’s virginity, sex scenesEntertain This!

April 9, 2025
Want to teach your kids to work together? Read ‘Cartoonists Club’

In a world where kids can become anything, Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud are hoping they become cartoonists.

Telgemeier has become a household name for parents whose kids love her graphic novels “Smile” and “Drama.” She’s been called “The Beatles for children.” But decades ago, she was the kid in grade school with an interest no one else liked.

Her dad noticed her burgeoning talent for cartoons and gave her a copy of “Understanding Comics” by Scott McCloud, a 1993 history and how-to guide. Now, McCloud and Telgemeier have teamed up to publish a new how-to manual for younger kids. With “The Cartoonists Club” (Scholastic, ages 8-12, out now), kids don’t have to feel like Telgemeier did when she was young.

“To be able to give kids something that gets them on that path a little sooner has always been the goal. And kids always ask me anyway. They want tips, they want advice, they want tricks,” Telgemeier tells USA TODAY. “Once I realized no one was going to do it if I didn’t, I thought who better to ask to collaborate with me than the creator of ‘Understanding Comics’ himself?”

In ‘Cartoonists Club,’ librarians and parents are ‘true superheroes’

“The Cartoonists Club” is both a story and a manual – it has both practical, fun exercises for kids (like learning what “plewds” are) and a lovable band of characters who form a deep friendship around comics.

Supporting the after-school club is the school library’s media specialist, Ms. Fatima, who plays a crucial role in teaching and encouraging the young cartoonists. McCloud and Telgemeier say the character is an “amalgam of the amazing librarians that we have met over the last couple of decades.” It’s fitting, then, that the authors kicked off this week as honorary chairs for the American Library Association’s National Library Week, visiting libraries across the country amid sweeping federal cuts from the Trump administration.

Not only are school libraries crucial third spaces for kids to “be silly” and make friends, McCloud and Telgemeier say, but librarians and teachers can be the difference between a kid pursuing their passion or getting discouraged and giving up.

“Just like Ms. Fatima, I had teachers and librarians who understood that work, who understood the value of comics and so I was very lucky that way,” McCloud says. “I’m always cognizant of the fact that not everybody is so lucky to have a Ms. Fatima.”

McCloud and Telgemeier are intimately familiar with the “naysayers” – adults who think cartoons are something to grow out of. But graphic novels are a method of storytelling, the book reminds, and that has no expiration date. In “The Cartoonists Club,” one character’s father is originally dismissive of his son’s passion, calling it “childish.”

“I wanted to offer just a little bit of perspective for that guy, that parent, whoever that is, who sees that their kids love comics and they’re like ‘Eh, it’s not my thing, I don’t really care.’ We want the parent to join the kid in reading the book,” Telgemeier says. She adds, “There’s nothing dumbed down about what kids’ books are. Kids’ books are really sophisticated and they’re really thought-provoking.”

How to draw cartoons: It’s okay to make mistakes and be messy

As the kids in “The Cartoonists Club” prepare for a big comic book conference, they learn plenty of tips and life lessons for drawing and collaborating. Telgemeier says she encourages parents to embrace and make space for boredom to spawn creativity.

The kids also play a teamwork game called “Quanto Comics.” They learn how to make “minicomics” that can be done quickly on just a single sheet of paper. Both are easy for readers to mimic in real life.

In one scene, shy and talented Lynda feels frustrated that her friends can churn out drawings quickly while she spends all her time trying to get a single drawing right. Ms. Fatima and the group help her “mess up” her drawing, teaching her to embrace early, imperfect doodles.

“Blank pages also kinda scare me. What if I ruin them with all my mistakes?” Lynda says in the book. Her friend Howard replies: “Perfect is for robots. Mistakes are where the people are!”

“The message of the book isn’t even just it’s okay to make mistakes – I think we’re almost encouraging kids to make some mistakes on purpose,” McCloud says.

Raina and Scott worked together on ‘Cartoonists Club’: Now they want kids to collaborate too

Neither Telgemeier nor McCloud has co-authored a book of this magnitude. It was a learning experience on compromising and borrowing techniques, not unlike what the kids learn in their club. McCloud, a meticulous planner, praised Telgemeier’s style of discovering the story as you go along.

“It’s really hard to tell where Raina ends and Scott begins,” Telgemeier says. “But that’s the way we wanted it.”

It’s what the characters learn in the book, and also what Telgemeier and McCloud hope kids will learn off the page, too: Stories work better when we tell them together. Telgemeier recalls her own experience of sharing her vulnerable autobiographical comics with people for the first time. Like the character Lynda, she sheepishly refused to share her work because she was “striving for perfection.” But when Lynda opens up her sketchbook and shows her classmates the deeply personal story, they see her more fully.

“That’s one of the beautiful things about writing and art is it makes people feel less alone because they could see themselves on the page,” Telgemeier says. “And maybe that means they can see themselves making something too.”

The ‘best’ children’s book?: Kids, parents, authors on what makes a classic

Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you’re reading at [email protected].

April 9, 2025
Christina Haack reveals anxious attachment style after 3 divorces

Christina Haack is flipping the script on the narrative surrounding her love life.

The “Flip or Flop” star, who’s been the subject of three public splits, revealed that she “recently discovered” she has anxious attachment style in an Instagram post Tuesday.

“As someone who recently discovered I have anxious-attachment (not sure what took me so long 🤪) and for sure a history of co-dependency issues .. things can be challenging and by ‘things’ I mean ‘me,’” Haack captioned the post.

After announcing her split from contractor Josh Hall last year, Haack went public with her new boyfriend, Christopher Larocca, in February.

Christina Haack, Ant Anstead make up after her latest split, ex Tarek El Moussa reacts

“Meeting an unexpected good man who has his own amazing career, life & hobbies (who also happens to have zero jealousy) can at times feel strange for someone who has had the opposite,” Haack continued in the caption. “At 41 I’m finally learning about safe communication, independence during commitment and a relationship that is NOT 0-100.”

She added that “I am for sure guilty of putting pressure on others.”

“Facing my own insecurities has forced me into doing the shadow work I’ve been avoiding,” she said, telling fans “it’s time to break the cycle.”

What is anxious attachment style?

The Cleveland Clinic says adults with an anxious attachment style “may worry that their partners or friends don’t love them” which can cause “a deep fear of rejection or abandonment.” They also say that those with an anxious attachment may “seek validation from someone outside of themselves,” become more prone to codependent behaviors and become distressed when relationships with others end.

Christina Haack exes Tarek El Moussa, Ant Anstead: Where do they stand?

In May 2024, HGTV announced that Haack would star with Hall in “The Flip Off,” a “Flip or Flop” spinoff competition series against ex-husband Tarek El Moussa and his wife “Selling Sunset” alum Heather Rae Young El Moussa.

But last July, Haack and Hall, 44, both filed divorce documents in California, citing irreconcilable differences, according to filings obtained by USA TODAY. The divorce has not yet been finalized. They duo has been married since October 2021.

Despite bitter divorces with both El Moussa and second ex-husband Ant Anstead, she has recently repaired relationships.

Haack and the El Moussas frequently appear in social media videos together and starred in “The Flip Off” as a trio earlier this year, revealing in one episode that she is now on good terms with Anstead, too. Haack and her second husband, who is dating Oscar winner Renée Zellweger, posed in an Instagram post with 5-year-old son Hudson last month.

She also shares two older children — 14-year-old Taylor and Brayden, 9 — with El Moussa.

Contributing: Taijuan Moorman

April 9, 2025
Randy Travis represents a positive use of AI at Grammys on the Hill

WASHINGTON – Nearly 12 years ago, Randy Travis flatlined three times in the midst of a stroke.

The debilitating effects of the medical trauma left him mostly unable to speak and walk.

But the country singer whose career thrived from the ‘80s to the ‘00s with No. 1 hits including “Diggin’ Up Bones,” “I Told You So” and “Forever and Ever, Amen,” made an unexpected return to the charts in 2024 through the use of artificial intelligence.

“Where That Came From” was created using software to recreate Travis’ distinctive twang and merge it with a 2011 recording of the song.

On Tuesday, Travis was hailed as the 2025 Creators Leadership Award honoree at the annual Grammys on the Hill event, which pairs the music industry with Congress to advocate for artists’ rights.

The topic of AI – which also took the spotlight at last year’s gathering – sparked conversation among musicians and producers including Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying, who hosted the event, singer/producer Kenyon Dixon and renowned producer/composer Giles Martin.

But while most discussions focused on the negative aspects of AI – stealing the vocals, notes and likenesses of public figures without permission – Travis represents a productive use of the technology.

With wife Mary Davis holding his arm, a bright-eyed Travis, who still struggles to walk and talk, said it felt “wonderful” to be recognized while Davis expounded on Travis’ return.

“It’s so important for him to give back to music what music gave to him,” she said as the pair stood on the red carpet at The Hamilton in D.C. “I wanted so bad to hear his voice again and when we had the opportunity, not only did I want to do it selfishly, but to see him at the soundboard working elbow to elbow with his producer, there was a whole new energy out of Randy.”

Travis is expected to be on Capitol Hill Wednesday to help reintroduce the bipartisan No FAKES Act (Nurture Originals, Foster Art and Keep Entertainment Safe). First proposed in 2023 by Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the legislation has been tweaked and aims to protect Americans from deepfakes and voice clones, allow platforms to promptly remove unauthorized deepfakes and protect First Amendment use for news reporting and satire.

Along with Travis, Reps. Linda Sánchez, D-Calif., and Ron Estes, R-Kan., were also honored for their efforts to assist independent artists with the HITS Act (Help Independent Tracks Succeed), which allows tax relief for the cost of sound recordings.

The 90-minute event featured performances from several artists including Paul Overstreet, who co-wrote “Forever And Ever, Amen” and urged the crowd of about 200 to sing along as he played guitar; soul/gospel singer DOE, who moved listeners with her tender ode to a friend in need, “I’m So Glad We Met”; and Hoying, who ended the night with an impressive medley of 20 songs that won Record of the Year at the Grammys, including the Eagles’ “Hotel California” and Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song.”

April 9, 2025