The family’s united appearance carried extra weight this year. Just three months earlier, in February, a source had told Us Weekly that Pink and Hart had split after 20 years together. The Grammy winner, 46, wasted no time shutting down the chatter herself.

“I was just alerted to the fact that I’m separated from my husband,” she said in an Instagram video at the time. “I didn’t know.”

She added in her caption, “If you don’t hear it from me, don’t believe the hype. Stay tuned though! Who knows what could happen next!?!”

What happened next, it turns out, was a string of sweet family moments — and one very big night on Broadway.

A family affair on the red carpet

Pink and Hart, 50, walked the Tonys red carpet Sunday with daughter Willow, 15, son Jameson, 9, and Pink’s mom, Judith Moore, by their side, according to Us Weekly. The retired motocross racer beamed alongside his wife as she prepared to take on one of the most high-pressure hosting gigs in entertainment.

It was a quiet but powerful answer to the speculation that had swirled around the couple earlier in the year. And it came after months of small, public signs that the family was doing just fine, thank you very much.

In March, Pink and Hart took both kids to a Broadway performance of & Juliet in New York City. The family of four was spotted hanging out with the musical’s cast and crew in an Instagram post shared by the show’s official account that same month.

In April, Pink and Willow shared a rare mother-daughter red carpet moment at the Broadway premiere of The Lost Boys, holding hands as they posed for photos together.

Then came Mother’s Day in May, when Hart paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife on Instagram.

“Happy Mother’s Day @pink,” he wrote. “The kids are so lucky to have an amazing mother in you.”

He added, “Raising some amazing humans who will change the world.”

How Willow convinced her mom to say yes

The story of how Pink ended up hosting the Tonys in the first place is, fittingly, a family one. Earlier this year, the singer revealed that her family had recently relocated to New York City — and that the move was driven by Willow’s love of theater.

“We actually moved here because I am an amazing mom,” Pink explained on The Kelly Clarkson Show in March. “And also so Willow could study theater and experience more Broadway.”

So when Pink was approached about hosting Broadway’s biggest night, she did what any thoughtful mom of a theater-loving teen would do: she asked permission.

“When I was asked to host the Tonys, I immediately thought, ‘I have to get permission from my daughter,'” Pink shared in an April statement. “I’ve never been on Broadway, and shouldn’t you have to have been on Broadway in order to host? That seems fair and right. But when I asked my daughter, she was really excited about being able to have a ticket to go to the Tonys, so I’m hosting the Tonys and I’m really, really excited and very nervous because that girl is a tough crowd!”

During a June 2 appearance on CBS Mornings, Pink couldn’t stop gushing about her daughter.

“She’s more talented than I ever was at her age. And she’s also just really earnest, she’s a hard worker, she’s an A-plus student. She once said, ‘I want to get Broadway out of the way so I can be a trauma surgeon,'” Pink noted. “She’s so confident, and she walks through the world with such poise and grace. I’ve seen her on stage and I’m like, ‘Who is that person?'”

A love story more than 20 years in the making

For longtime fans of the pop star, Sunday’s family showing was a reminder of just how much road Pink and Hart have traveled together.

The couple first met in 2001 at the Summer X Games in Philadelphia, according to Us Weekly‘s relationship timeline. After a brief split in 2003, they reconciled — and Pink famously took matters into her own hands when it came to popping the question.

In 2005, she proposed to Hart while he was competing in the Pro 250 class finals at a motocross event in Mammoth, California. The two married in Costa Rica in 2006.

Their road hasn’t always been smooth. Pink revealed in 2008 that the couple had called it quits after two years of marriage. But they found their way back to each other, and Pink confirmed their reconciliation in February 2010.

The family grew soon after: daughter Willow arrived in 2011, and son Jameson followed in 2016.

So when the February 2026 split reports surfaced — more than two decades after their original separation — fans had reason to be hopeful that, once again, the couple might write their own ending.

What Pink brings to Broadway’s biggest night

While Pink may not be a traditional Broadway veteran, her musical fingerprints are already on the Great White Way. Two of her hits are currently featured in Broadway shows: “Raise Your Glass” appears in Moulin Rouge!, and “F—in’ Perfect” is part of & Juliet.

“It is the honor of an entire lifetime to host a night celebrating the literal hardest working people in showbiz,” Pink said in a statement ahead of the ceremony. “Broadway has shaped my life and how I put my own shows together — it is a community that is supportive and inclusive, and full of talent and love. These people give magic every single day, and I cannot wait to celebrate them with the entire world.”

This year’s ceremony at Radio City Music Hall, which aired at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+, was led by two breakout shows: The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon!, each earning 12 nominations, according to Woman’s World.

For Pink, though, the night was about more than nominations and performances. It was about standing on a stage her daughter dreams of one day, with the people she loves most cheering her on — and quietly, beautifully, putting any lingering questions about her family to rest.

Between The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! leading the nominations with 12 nods each, the whole night had a built-in throwback vibe. But it was the red carpet that really turned into a parade of familiar faces—the kind of stars who have grown up right alongside us, and who somehow still look incredible doing it.

*NSYNC fans, this one’s for you

Let’s just start with the moment that broke the internet for anyone who used to call TRL to vote. Joey Fatone and JC Chasez showed up together, looking dapper and clearly thrilled to be there. If you spent any portion of your formative years memorizing the choreography to “Bye Bye Bye,” seeing these two side by side on a Broadway red carpet is the kind of full-circle pop culture moment that just hits different. They’re aging like fine wine, and the smiles say it all.

Speaking of pop royalty, Usher brought the smolder with his wife Jennifer Goicoechea on his arm. The man simply does not age. If you remember exactly where you were when “Confessions” dropped, you’re not alone—and seeing him glide down a Broadway carpet is its own kind of joy.

Broadway legends doing what they do best

If pop stars weren’t your lane, the theater royalty turned out in full force. Bernadette Peters, an absolute Broadway icon and the woman who has been giving us showstoppers for decades, looked positively radiant. Her presence alone is reason to tune in.

Andrew Lloyd Webber—yes, the man behind Cats, Phantom, Evita and basically half the cast recordings your mom played on repeat—was also in the building. Considering Cats: The Jellicle Ball picked up nine nominations, it was a fitting night for him to be there.

And then there’s Nathan Lane, who arrived with husband Devlin Elliott. From The Birdcage to The Producers to literally every scene-stealing moment in between, Lane is one of those performers who feels like an old friend. The two looked classic and coordinated, which is exactly what we want from them.

Laurie Metcalf was also on hand, because of course she was. Whether you know her best as Jackie from Roseanne, Sheldon’s mom on The Big Bang Theory or one of the most decorated stage actresses working today, she’s the kind of presence that makes you sit up a little straighter.

The TV stars we never stopped loving

Emily Deschanel—our beloved Dr. Brennan from Bones—made the rounds with husband David Hornsby. If you spent your late twenties and thirties watching every single episode of Bones (no judgment, same), seeing Deschanel back in the spotlight feels like running into a friend you haven’t seen in ages.

Jim Parsons brought his quietly elegant energy to the carpet, while Jesse Tyler Ferguson and husband Justin Mikita were among the night’s most stylish couples. Ferguson, who you may remember as Mitchell from Modern Family, is also slated to perform during the 30th anniversary celebration of Chicago according to Us Weekly, alongside Pink, Queen Latifah, Julianne Hough, Whitney Leavitt and more.

Sarah Paulson, who has been quietly building one of the most impressive resumes in the business, also made an appearance and looked, as always, like she was born for the spotlight.

The OG legends we will always show up for

Get ready for the heavy hitters. Sting and Shaggy—yes, that Sting and that Shaggy, in the same place at the same time—were spotted on the carpet. If your high school playlist had “Fields of Gold” and “It Wasn’t Me” within five songs of each other (and let’s be honest, whose didn’t?), this is a deeply satisfying sighting.

Billy Crystal, beloved by anyone who has ever quoted When Harry Met Sally, City Slickers or Princess Bride, brought his signature warmth to the proceedings. There is something deeply comforting about a Billy Crystal sighting.

And Rosie O’Donnell—talk show host, Broadway champion and Gen X talk-time staple—was there too, reminding us just how much she has always loved this world.

Fashion, family and a few delightful surprises

Lea Michele, who Xennials will know best from Glee (or her musical-theater pedigree), brought serious red carpet polish.

Ella Beatty, daughter of Hollywood royalty Annette Bening and Warren Beatty, made an appearance that reminded us how time really does fly.

Designer Christian Siriano showed up with wife Bronwyn Newport, and Siriano’s fashion fingerprints were undoubtedly all over multiple looks of the night.

And Stacy London—forever the queen of What Not To Wear, the show that quietly taught half of us how to dress ourselves in our twenties—was a welcome sight on the carpet.

Meanwhile, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, beloved power couple and co-hosts of Live with Kelly and Mark, were all loved-up smiles.

A night of magic and memory

In a statement before the ceremony, Pink summed up the vibe perfectly. “It is the honor of an entire lifetime to host a night celebrating the literal hardest working people in showbiz,” the 46-year-old singer said. “Broadway has shaped my life and how I put my own shows together—it is a community that is supportive and inclusive, and full of talent and love.”

She also admitted she was a little nervous—mostly because she had to get her daughter’s permission first. “I asked my daughter, she was really excited about being able to have a ticket to go to the Tonys, so I’m hosting the Tonys and I’m really, really, excited and very nervous because that girl is a tough crowd!”

Add in a 15th anniversary reunion of The Book of Mormon‘s original cast, and the 2026 Tonys felt like one big, glittery thank-you to the artists who have soundtracked our lives. Cue the nostalgia—and the kleenex.

What are the 8 hiking trails AllTrails recommends for 2026?

The 8 hiking trails AllTrails selected for 2026 span three continents and include the Tatra Mountains, the Julian Alps, France’s Massif Central, Canada’s Kluane National Park and Reserve, Australia’s Margaret River, New Zealand’s Queenstown region, England’s Northumberland and North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest.

Inside the Inn-to-Inn Walking Tour Trend Drawing Walkers to Scotland, Spain and Vermont’s Scenic Trails

AllTrails, an online platform that specializes in curating trails for nature lovers, released its Travel-Worthy Trails list earlier this year. The roundup blends well-known parks with under-the-radar destinations on the Polish-Slovak border, the Yukon and beyond.

“We searched the world using real experiences from AllTrails members and insights from our local partners to select these special spots,” Carly Smith, the chief marketing officer of AllTrails, told USA TODAY 10 Best. “These once-in-a-lifetime destinations will inspire you to plan a trip or just get outside closer to home.”

The picks lean into variety. The Tatra Mountains, which form the natural boundary between Poland and Slovakia, offer breathtaking trails on both sides of the border, plus access to the historic mountain resort town of Zakopane and the untouristed Pieniny Mountains. Slovakia’s High Tatras add mountain lakes, waterfalls and flocks of sheep among rocky crests. Travelers can extend the trip with a visit to Kraków, a UNESCO World Heritage city.

The Julian Alps, stretching across Italy, Slovenia and Austria, are described as ecologically rich and a hidden gem. The Alpe-Adria Trail moves through Austria’s glacial valleys and alpine meadows, Slovenia’s dense forests and Italy’s rolling hills. Slovenia’s Soča Valley carries World War I history, with a museum in Kobarid documenting clashes between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces. Austria’s highest peak, the Grossglockner, delivers turquoise lakes and glacier edges.

France’s Massif Central rounds out the European picks with dormant volcanoes, deep river gorges and lush plateaus. The crown jewel is the Chaîne des Puys, a chain of geologically young volcanoes that have been inactive for roughly 10,000 years. The terrain is difficult and recommended for experienced, intensive hikers only.

Which 8 hiking trails on the AllTrails 2026 list are in North America?

Two of the 8 hiking trails AllTrails highlighted for 2026 are in North America: Kluane National Park and Reserve in Canada’s Yukon, and Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina.

Kluane National Park and Reserve features 14 trails, including old mining roads, the perimeter of Kathleen Lake and Thechàl Dhâl, also known as Sheep Mountain. According to Parks Canada, hiking is the most popular activity among visitors. The park is defined by high mountain peaks, massive valley glaciers, boreal forests and sparkling lakes, and travelers can encounter iconic northern wildlife along with the cultural heritage of the Southern Tutchone people.

Nantahala National Forest is the largest of four national forests in North Carolina and part of the Appalachian Trail, which AllTrails calls one of the best hiking spots in the U.S. The region is the second wettest in the continental U.S. after the Pacific Northwest and sits within the Appalachian temperate rainforest. That climate fuels rewarding trails and river activities, with options ranging from a six-hour day trip to a six-month thru-hike depending on experience.

Margaret River in Australia also lands on the list. Best known for legendary wineries, the area’s scenic hiking is equally impressive, and its most famous route, the Cape to Cape Track, takes five to six days to fully hike.

Where can hikers find the rest of the AllTrails 2026 picks?

The remaining destinations on the AllTrails 2026 list take hikers to New Zealand’s Queenstown region and England’s Northumberland, two stops that round out the platform’s global roundup.

Queenstown sits in the Queenstown Lakes District, near Mount Aspiring National Park and the Remarkables Conservation Area. Casual walkers can take the Queenstown Gardens Loop, while serious hikers can tackle the Ben Lomond Track, which climbs more than 3,316 feet in elevation gain. The mix gives travelers an easy option and a serious challenge in the same destination.

Inside the Inn-to-Inn Walking Tour Trend Drawing Walkers to Scotland, Spain and Vermont’s Scenic Trails

Northumberland, in the United Kingdom, weaves trails through important medieval sites, including castles, moorland and rugged coastlines. Hikers can move from sandy beaches to coastal castles to remote wilderness in a single trip. AllTrails also calls the region “Europe’s best Dark Sky destination,” making it a prime spot for stargazing after the trails close down for the day.

Together with the Tatra Mountains, the Julian Alps, the Massif Central, Kluane, Margaret River and Nantahala, these picks complete the 8 hiking trails AllTrails wants travelers to prioritize in 2026. The common thread: each destination pairs a marquee trail with cultural, historical or wildlife experiences that reward travelers who plan beyond the hike itself — whether that means a UNESCO city after the Tatras, a WWI museum in the Julian Alps or a Dark Sky night in Northumberland.

“What’s going on here?” Frederick, Maryland, police officer Wade Milyard asked, hoping to diffuse the heated situation with a smile.

Wade had been called to the homeless camp where a couple was loudly arguing.

Wade was able to calm them down, and he felt confident it was safe to move on.

Life

She Changed Lives by Making Car Repairs Affordable for Those in Need

When Cathy Heying realized that a single auto repair could make or break someone’s life, she opened a nonprofit garage to keep folks behind the wheel. Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World. Working as a social worker in the early 2000s, Cathy Heying started to see a pattern play out in the communities […]

But as Wade walked away, an unfamiliar voice, clear as day, filled his thoughts.

Ask them about laundry!

Wade spun around. The message was unmistakable, as if it were straight from God.

Wade returned to the couple and said, “Where do you do your laundry?”

The woman shrugged. “Mostly in the creek. Why?”

“I was just wondering,” Wade replied, and the thought stayed with him.

Over the next few weeks, when he’d meet other unhoused people, he would ask them the same question.

“A laundromat would cost $20, and that’s money I need for food,” one man told him.

“I don’t even bother anymore,” said another. “No one’s going to hire me anyway.”

Wade felt a tug on his heart. He was nearing retirement — maybe he could use his free time to find a way to help.

That’s when Wade remembered the old shuttle bus behind the stationhouse.

“I have a plan,” he told his captain, and the department decided to donate the bus to help.

Soon, Wade enlisted friends to give the bus a makeover by removing seats. He bought three washers and dryers and installed them inside, along with a tank to hold the greywater. Wade connected with shelters to use their hoses and began spreading the word.

“Bring your laundry and we’ll wash, dry and fold it for you!”

Life

9-Year-Old Raises $1,000 for Homeless Shelter With Handmade Jewelry

When Darya Haija asked her mom where unhoused people sleep, her answer jump-started the 9-year-old’s mission to help those in need—and the crafty kid found a way to make a big difference! Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World.  Parisima Taeb and her 9-year-old daughter, Darya Haija, were heading home from their local Fort […]

The first day, Wade and his volunteers did 10 laundry loads. But word quickly spread, and soon they were doing up to 20 loads every Tuesday and Thursday.

The thank-yous poured in.

“If you’re clean, you just feel better,” one woman said.

Wade set up a nonprofit and named it Fresh Step Laundry because that’s what he hoped it would provide.

Recently, laundry regular Tom began including uniforms in his laundry.

“I wore my clean clothes to an interview and got a job as a security guard,” he said.

Wade is now hoping to fund a second bus so he can do laundry for unhoused school kids.

“I feel like I was called to do this,” he says. “It’s a small thing, but giving someone a ‘fresh step’ makes me feel like I’m truly making a difference.”

The link between bedtime and heart health

A 10-year Finnish study followed adults who routinely fell short on quality sleep and tracked their cardiovascular outcomes over time. The surprising findings: Among those who regularly skimped on rest, the people who stuck to a consistent bedtime cut their risk of major cardiac events in half compared with those whose bedtimes bounced around from night to night.

That’s a meaningful difference, especially for women navigating midlife, when cardiovascular disease risk begins to climb. Also worth noting: Wake-up time didn’t seem to matter much. It was the bedtime (specifically, the regularity of it) that made the difference in study participants’ heart health.

Wellness

3 Heart-Healthy Habits That Don’t Involve Diet or Exercise

Keeping your heart healthy not only protects you from a multitude of issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, but it also helps you stay energized and able to keep up with your busy days. Fortunately, reducing your risk of heart trouble doesn’t have to involve overly-strict diets or grueling exercise routines. […]

Why bedtime consistency matters so much

Your body runs on an internal clock known as the circadian rhythm. This 24-hour cycle helps regulate everything from hormone release to blood pressure to how your cells repair themselves overnight. When you go to bed at wildly different times—midnight one night, 9:30 the next, 1 a.m. on the weekend—that internal clock gets confused.

An erratic bedtime disrupts the body’s circadian rhythms and can increase stress, blood pressure and inflammation. Over time, those changes can raise the risk of heart disease and negatively impact your cardiovascular health. Inflammation is a known driver of heart disease, and elevated blood pressure puts extra strain on arteries year after year.

The takeaway is empowering: Even if you can’t always get a perfect night of sleep, you can still give your heart a powerful gift simply by going to bed at the same time most nights.

A realistic approach to bedtime for busy women

We know life doesn’t always cooperate with your bedtime goals. Hot flashes, anxious thoughts, a snoring partner or a demanding work schedule can all throw off your routine and trigger poor sleep. But protecting your bedtime and heart health doesn’t require perfection. Try these gentle starting points to improve both your sleep and heart health:

• Pick a window. Aim for a 30-minute bedtime range, such as 10:30 to 11 p.m. It feels more doable than rigidly hitting one exact time.
• Set a wind-down alarm. Instead of an alarm to wake up, try one that reminds you it’s time to start getting ready for bed at night.
• Keep weekends close to weekdays. Hitting the hay at midnight on Saturday after a Friday bedtime of 10 p.m. is the kind of swing that confuses your circadian rhythm most.
• Create a simple pre-bed ritual. A cup of caffeine-free tea, dim lighting and putting your phone in another room can cue your body that sleep is coming.
• Be patient with yourself. Missing your bedtime occasionally won’t undo your progress. Just work toward getting back on track the next night.

Wellness

How Much Sleep You Actually Need For Your Age, According to a Doctor

We receive messages about the importance of sleep beginning in childhood. You may remember mandatory naps enforced by adults in your family and early check-ins about how much sleep you were getting. In adulthood, messages about how much sleep we need, and the idea that there’s a perfect number for everyone, are the norm. But […]

The bigger picture on bedtime and heart health

For women in midlife and beyond, every small habit that supports cardiovascular wellness matters. Sometimes it’s the simple, repeatable choices—like turning off the lamp at roughly the same time each night—that add up to the biggest rewards. Your heart will thank you for the routine, even if your sleep quality isn’t always picture-perfect.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

Life

Your 2026 Horoscope Is Here! Planet Shifts, Eclipse Drama and a New Era

As we step into a whole new year, it’s easy to find your imagination running wild as you consider what your 2026 horoscope will bring. No matter your goals, you can’t help but acknowledge that the next 12 months are sure to host highs and lows, twists and turns, dreams fulfilled, as well as challenges […]

Aries: March 21 to April 19

Life: You have cosmic support to take bold steps toward a fresh financial goal.

Love: A playful mood helps you surprise your partner in delightful ways.

Wellness: Try a new energizing routine to spark motivation.

Your lucky days: June 7, 10, 12

Your lucky numbers: 2, 7, 16

Life

Your Guide to Mercury Retrogrades in 2026—Learn Which Signs Most Affected

Every new year brings its fair share of highs, lows, challenges and opportunities. How you’ll experience them is bound to change, in part because the astrology of each 12-month cycle is truly unique. But you can count on certain astrological events to occur annually, and in 2026, Mercury will go retrograde three times. The planet […]

Taurus: April 20 to May 20

Life: Meaningful conversations help smooth over lingering tensions.

Love: A heartfelt gesture deepens your emotional connection.

Wellness: Laughter with friends boosts your mood.

Your lucky days: June 8, 11, 13

Your lucky numbers: 4, 6, 15

Gemini: May 21 to June 20 

Life: Curiosity leads you to an exciting new opportunity—say yes to reap the benefits!

Love: Breaking routine together reignites your spark with someone special.

Wellness: Support from your social circle inspires you to make a healthy shift in your everyday routine.

Your lucky days: June 7, 9, 12

Your lucky numbers: 3, 5, 13

Cancer: June 21 to July 22

Life: Celebrate how far you’ve come before setting your next goal. It will lead you on a path to success.

Love: A shared adventure and sweet memories bring you even closer together.

Wellness: Guidance from a trusted expert enhances your wellbeing journey.

Your lucky days: June 8, 10, 12

Your lucky numbers: 4, 12, 18

Leo: July 23 to August 22

Life: Open up to invite warm encouragement and helpful insight.

Love: Teamwork around a shared goal strengthens your bond.

Wellness: Exercising with a friend lifts your spirits and keeps you on a healthy path.

Your lucky days: June 7, 11, 12

Your lucky numbers: 3, 8, 14

Virgo: August 23 to September 22 

Life: A small, practical step sets a bigger plan in motion.

Love: Dreaming about the future together builds closeness.

Wellness: Try to slow down to restore your energy and clarity.

Your lucky days: June 9, 10, 13

Your lucky numbers: 2, 7, 11

Libra: September 23 to October 22 

Life: Collaboration with friends and colleagues leads to inspiring new possibilities.

Love: Renewed confidence helps you create joyful moments with someone special.

Wellness: Explore fresh wellness ideas for truly invigorating results.

Your lucky days: June 7, 11, 13

Your lucky numbers: 5, 6, 9

Scorpio: October 23 to November 21

Life: Step into the spotlight to bring well-earned recognition from higher-ups.

Love: Your charm is absolutely magnetic right now, drawing in sweet experiences.

Wellness: Quiet reflection helps you feel balanced and strongamid the hustle and bustle.

Your lucky days: June 8, 10, 13

Your lucky numbers: 1, 9, 17

Sagittarius: November 22 to December 21

Life: Trust your instincts when an unexpected twist appears.

Love: Honest sharing deepens emotional trust within your closest bond.

Wellness: Updating your routine will quickly bring renewed vitality.

Your lucky days: June 7, 9, 11

Your lucky numbers: 6, 10, 15

Capricorn: December 22 to January 19 

Life: Explore new interests to open doors to growth.

Love: Speak your truth to further strengthen your connection.

Wellness: A lighthearted approach makes self-care more enjoyable.

Your lucky days: June 8, 10, 13

Your lucky numbers: 3, 8, 16

Aquarius: January 20 to February 18

Life: Gather insights from others to help you make a smart financial move.

Love: Prioritize clear, honest communication to resolve tension and restore harmony.

Wellness: Trust your instincts as you refresh your habits and welcome new changes.

Your lucky days: June 9, 11, 12

Your lucky numbers: 7, 11, 18

Pisces: February 19 to March 20 

Life: Share your vision to earn well-deserved admiration and support.

Love: Creative plans together boost your chemistry and send sparks flying.

Wellness: Let go of habits that are no longer serving you to feel lighter and rejuvenated once again.

Your lucky days: June 8, 10, 13

Your lucky numbers: 5, 9, 14

This article originally appeared in the June 8, 2026 print version of Woman’s World. 

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond! 

But there was one enormous loose thread—so big it’s almost funny how calmly the movie walks away from it—and that would be that the alien Probe that nearly destroyed Earth simply… left. No explanation. No origin story. No “here’s who built it.” It just turned around and headed back into deep space, and the film trusted audiences to live with the mystery. And honestly, that’s part of why it works. In great sci-fi, the thing you don’t explain can stay lodged in your brain for decades.

Late author Margaret Wander Bonanno was one of the people who couldn’t let it go, because once you start pulling at that thread, the questions multiply fast. What happened after the Probe departed? What became of the whales it had been searching for? What did Gillian Taylor’s life look like after she abandoned everything she knew? And, most of all—what was the larger story behind the visitor that crossed the galaxy and nearly wiped out a planet just to find humpbacks?

Entertainment

Inside 'Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home' With Cast and Crew (Exclusive)

Until the release of J.J. Abrams’s 2009 reimagining, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home—currently celebrating its 40th anniversary—was the most successful Star Trek film of them all. With little violence and humor that harkened back to classic episodes like “The Trouble With Tribbles” and “A Piece of the Action,” Star Trek IV brought with it […]

Those questions became the foundation of her Star Trek IV sequel, Music of the Spheres, a novel commissioned as a follow-up to The Voyage Home. And here’s where the story becomes very “lost Trek”: most fans never had a real shot at reading Bonanno’s book the way she wrote it. After extensive editorial revisions—and a rewrite by another, uncredited writer—her manuscript was transformed into the 1988 novel Probe, while Music of the Spheres quietly slipped into legend.

Nearly 40 years later, it’s still one of the most fascinating “what if?” chapters in Trek history—not because it’s merely unpublished, but because it’s a complete, finished adventure that took a different road than the one the official timeline chose.

Not ‘the next mission’

One reason Music of the Spheres still intrigues fans is that Bonanno didn’t approach it like a standard tie-in assignment. A lot of Trek novels function like extended episodes: drop the crew into a crisis, resolve it, restore the status quo, roll credits. But Bonanno’s instinct seems to have been the opposite. Instead of racing ahead to “the next adventure,” she looked backward—right at the mystery the film deliberately left unanswered—and started tugging on it.

The manuscript opens immediately after the movie, with the galaxy still absorbing what just happened. Starfleet wants to move on (understandably), but Spock can’t. The crisis may be over, but to him, the central question hasn’t been answered. And that’s a very Spock way to build a sequel: where others see a solved problem, he sees an incomplete explanation.

The Gillian Taylor problem

The other big strength is the one the franchise itself mostly dodged: Gillian Taylor (portrayed by actress Catherine Hicks in the film). Looking back, it’s kind of astonishing how quickly Star Trek moves on from her. Gillian makes one of the most dramatic choices in the series—leaving her century behind and stepping into a future she barely understands—and then the films largely treat that as “happily ever after.”

Bonanno clearly thought there was more story there, so rather than treating Gillian like a temporary guest star, Music of the Spheres keeps her tied to George and Gracie, and to the future of Earth’s humpback whale population. As a result, she becomes a part of the aftermath.

And Bonanno was very clear about what she wanted to do: “I wanted to write about what happened to the Probe after it left Earth in STIV, trace it back to its planet of origin, and describe who had created it,” she recalled in an online essay.. “My editor, Dave Stern, suggested the Probe angle after I had been pitching Romulan stories to him for several years.”

That quote is basically the DNA of the whole project: the Probe mystery plus a Romulan story Bonanno had already been eager to tell.

Why Romulans? 

Bonanno didn’t treat the Probe as a one-off monster-of-the-week. She saw it as a doorway into a larger political and diplomatic story—one that could ripple outward through the Trek universe. As she put it: “I wanted to write about Romulans. They had been neglected in the novels, and I thought there was a lot of room to develop them. I decided to combine the Probe story with a Romulan story involving the Neutral Zone and the beginnings of diplomatic relations between the Federation and the Romulan Empire.”

That’s a bigger swing than “Kirk and crew solve another crisis.” It’s also the kind of swing that feels oddly prophetic. Years before The Undiscovered Country made diplomacy and fragile peace the point of a Star Trek movie, Bonanno was already thinking in those terms—what would it actually look like if a decades-long cold conflict began to thaw? And that broader scope helps explain why the manuscript makes room for elements beyond a straight Probe investigation—like Kevin Riley from the original series and a political storyline unfolding inside the Romulan Empire. More than just writing a sequel to The Voyage Home, Bonanno was using the film as a launchpad.

The title isn’t just poetic

Bonanno also made the title do real work. It wasn’t a random poetic phrase—it was her way of telling readers what kind of story she thought she was writing: “Thematically, the book had a lot to do with music, and I also wanted the title to refer to Pythagoras’ theory that the universe had its own music,” she wrote.

That’s significant because it points to what Music of the Spheres seems most interested in: communication and understanding. The Probe isn’t a conventional villain seeking territory or attempting conquest, but instead is trying to reach a species it believe is gone. It isn’t trying to conquer Earth. It’s trying to reach a species it believes is gone. Bonanno takes that idea and pushes it outward—toward the ways intelligence recognizes intelligence, and the misunderstandings that happen when two civilizations don’t even share a baseline. In that sense, the manuscript feels less like a “Part Two” and more like a continuation of the film’s real question: “What is it saying and what does it do when it hears an answer?”

How a sequel became a ‘lost Trek’ legend

Of course, the reason Music of the Spheres has the reputation it does isn’t only the story it tells. It’s what happened to it. Bonanno delivered one version and the publishing process produced another. Extensive revisions were requested and by the time the book reached shelves in 1988, it appeared under a different title: Probe. Not a completely different story built from scratch—readers have long noted the overlap—but not, in Bonanno’s view, the book she set out to write.

That’s the moment where this stops being “a Trek novel” and becomes “lost Trek history,” because it raises the kind of question Trek fans can’t resist: what if Bonanno’s original version had reached readers intact? What if fans had gotten her direct continuation of The Voyage Home—the one built to chase the Probe to its point of origin, while also expanding the Romulans—rather than the heavily revised version?

Entertainment

The Lost Eddie Murphy Version of ‘Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home' (Excl)

Forty years ago, Star Trek crossed over to the mainstream with the 1986 film The Voyage Home, in which Captain Kirk and his crew must travel to present day Earth to retrieve a pair of humpback whales to bring back to the future so that they can communicate with a probe that is threatening all […]

And unlike a lot of lost Trek, this isn’t purely hypothetical. Music of the Spheres survived. Copies circulated, fans compared it to Probe and Debates started. Decades later, those conversations still haven’t stopped—because the Probe itself hasn’t stopped haunting the franchise.

Whether readers ultimately prefer Music of the Spheres or the published Probe is a matter of taste. What isn’t really debatable is the manuscript’s place in Trek lore. It’s a completed adventure that somehow slipped out of the official timeline—and for fans who have spent decades wondering what became of the whale Probe, it remains the closest thing to the sequel that almost was.

Salt and pepper shakers 

I’ve seen some truly unique salt and pepper shakers over the years, but few capture the farmhouse vibe quite as well as these! The set ($12.98) comes with two egg-shaped shakers in a holder that looks like a carton. With a quick glance, you’d probably think these were the real deal! 

Shopping

Stop Scrolling! These $3 Dollar General Farmhouse Finds Are a Steal

If you’re looking to create a space that feels both inviting and lived in, consider the farmhouse decor trend! It turns your home into a cozy sanctuary, and you can get the look without spending too much money—especially if you shop at Dollar General. Wander through the dollar store’s aisles and you’ll encounter everything from […]

Spoon rest

If you’re as messy as I am in the kitchen, a spoon rest is a must. Tractor Supply’s find is absolutely adorable and will help keep your countertops clean. You can snatch this one up for $7.98. 

Farmhouse painting

As soon as I saw this $19.98 farmhouse print, I instantly felt transported to the countryside. The charming piece features an image of chickens exploring a flowering meadow near their coop. And since it already comes in a rustic frame, it will be ready to hang or display in your home. 

Doormat

A cherished welcome mat means instant joy when you return home or when guests come to visit. This spring, I snatched up the too-cute bunny mat that was calling my name, but there are other options to choose from if you’re not a fan of rabbits. You can also grab a coir mat with silly silhouettes of farm animals or a beautiful floral design—all three are available for $19.99! 

Shopping

Dollar Tree Products For 'Little House on the Prairie' Lovers Under $1.50

If Little House on the Prairie  has completely taken over your evenings while you wait for Netflix’s new adaptation to arrive, you’re probably not alone in suddenly wanting your home to look a little more like the Ingalls family cabin. Between the cozy quilts, weathered wood, simple kitchenware and warm prairie charm, it’s easy to […]

Animal peeker sign

Most of us picture chicken-inspired when we think of farmhouse decor, so seeing a sweet cow in the mix put a smile on my face. This animal peeker sign ($14.99) is doubled-sided, so you can see the design from both sides. Plus, it’s made of a durable tin material—perfect for installing on a porch, patio or barn exterior. 

Chicken statue

Chicken lovers, this one’s for you! For just $16.98, you can snatch up a life-size resin chicken that’s decorated with exquisite detail. Display it on your porch or in an interior room for instant farmhouse whimsy. 

Wind chime

There’s something so magical about the sound of wind chimes on a breezy day. Tractor Supply has plenty of options to choose from, but this duck wind chime caught my eye! Not only do you get to enjoy the traditional wind chime sound, but the duck’s wings spin for extra amusement. During the flash sale June 5 to 7, you can get it for just $15. 

Egg holder

You can display your farmhouse fresh eggs in the most lovely way with this ceramic holder. It has spots for up to six eggs and includes a convenient handle to effortlessly transport the entire holder. With the beautiful design and luxurious looking handle, I was surprised to see this is priced at just $14.39.

Whether you have your own backyard animals or simply love the farmhouse style, Tractor Supply offers plenty of hidden decor gems at prices that won’t break the bank.

Looking for more? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

Historical fiction books being turned into movies and TV shows

From Greek mythology to classic Westerns, here are the best historical fiction books being turned into movies and TV shows in 2026. 

‘Little House on the Prairie’ 

More than 40 years after the original show’s debut, Netflix is rebooting Little House on the Prairie. The new show will stay true to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s bestselling book series, following the Ingalls family through their heartwarming 1870s adventures in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. In the new show, Alice Halsey will play Laura Ingalls, Luke Bracey will play Charles Ingalls, Crosby Fitzgerald will play Caroline Ingalls and Skywalker Hughes will play Mary Ingalls. 

“I am absolutely thrilled with the brilliant cast we have assembled,” showrunner and executive producer Rebecca Sonnenshine told Tudum earlier this year. “Each one of them brings something special to the Little House universe and will help make this story come alive for a whole new generation.”

“I fell deeply in love with these books when I was 5 years old,” she continued. “They inspired me to become a writer and a filmmaker, and I am honored and thrilled to be adapting these stories for a new audience.”

Little House on the Prairie premieres on Netflix on Friday, July 9, 2026. 

Entertainment

From Page to Screen: Summer 2026's Must-Watch Book Adaptations

Grab your popcorn and get ready! It’s an exciting summer for big screen book adaptations and TV shows adapted from books, with something for almost every mood—a beachy friendship story, a con-artist thriller, an ancient epic and a post-apocalyptic Ridley Scott film. The streaming options alone could keep you busy through August, and there are […]

‘The Odyssey’ 

Christopher Nolan’s rendition of Homer’s The Odyssey is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. In it, Odysseus, king of Ithaca (Matt Damon) embarks on a treacherous journey home after the Trojan war. The film stars Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and more, and tickets for the film recently broke the AMC Theaters app for a couple of minutes.

“He [Damon] was an incredible leader for us. He was just there out on the boats, up the mountains, in the caves, in beating sunshine, in sideways rain and wind, so many different places that we went to,” Nolan said at CinemaCon in April of this year. “We went all over the world to make this film because this is The Odyssey. You’ll be pleased to hear how difficult it was for us because it’s meant to be difficult. That’s the nature of the story.”

“At the core of this story, this is a story about family,” he added. “This is a story about a father’s desperate journey to return home.”

The Odyssey premieres in theaters on Friday, July 17, 2026. 

Entertainment

The 20 Best Books Adapted Into Movies and TV Shows, Plus Where to Stream Them

From 'Little Women' to 'Percy Jackson and The Olympians,' these are the best ones.

‘Sense And Sensibility’ 

Jane Austen fans, it’s time to celebrate, because we’re getting another Sense and Sensibility adaptation. In it, Elinor Dashwood (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Marianne Dashwood (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) deal with money and family problems in 18th-century Georgian England. 

Sense and Sensibility hits theaters on Friday, October 16, 2026. 

Ready for more? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

Keep reading to discover latest on the Fourth Wing TV series (like, has the casting process started yet?), the new director at the helm of one of Yarros’ standalone adaptations, Yarros’ favorite book out of all her novels—and more!

But first, what is ‘The Things We Leave Unfinished’ about?

In 2021, Yarros released The Things We Leave Unfinished—and it remains a reader-favorite among fans who describe it as “an emotional masterpiece.” The dual-timeline story follows Georgia Stanton as she navigates the aftermath of a painful divorce. Now, she’s back home at her late great-grandmother’s estate in Colorado. When she meets Noah Harrison—the bestselling and arrogant romance author—she’s less than thrilled that he’s the one her grandmother’s publisher chose to finish her final novel. 

Meanwhile, Noah is at the peak of his career when the opportunity to finish his favorite author’s final novel presents itself. He’s honored to attempt this project in honor of the legendary Scarlett Stanton—his only problem is dealing with her cynical, beautiful great-granddaughter Georgia. As they work together on Scarlett’s manuscript, they learn the story was unfinished because it was based on a real-life love story with a WWII pilot. Georgia knows love stories rarely if ever end happily so she’s determined to keep this project away from Noah at all costs. A heartbreaking, romantic story about the risks we take for love.

Entertainment

Michael B. Jordan Reveals Rare Update on 'Fourth Wing' TV Series!

Dragon riders, rejoice! In recent years, Rebecca Yarros’ romantasy bestseller Fourth Wing has taken the world by storm. Skyrocketing beyond BookTok, The Empyrean series has sold more than 12 million copies and the third installment, Onyx Storm, was the fastest-selling adult novel of the last two decades. Now, fans finally have an update on the […]

Rebecca Yarros reveals an adaptation update and her favorite book she wrote

“Been sitting on this one for a second and I’m thrilled to finally say that Thea Sharrock will be directing the film adaptation of The Things We Leave Unfinished,” Yarros shared with followers on Instagram. 

“I constantly say that The Things We Leave Unfinished is my favorite book, but it’s also one of my favorite adaptation projects,” she continued. “Guys, this team leads with such love, such a spirit of collaboration and joy, and I know that’s going to shine through on the big screen.”

Even better? Yarros is executive producing The Things We Leave Unfinished through her own production company, Full Measures Productions. It’s no surprise Yarros—and readers—are also happy about this director update. Sharrock has had proven success with past page-to-screen dramas including Me Before You—the Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin tear-jerker based on the Jojo Moyes novel of the same name. 

Yarros details how the process is different from ‘Fourth Wing’ 

During an interview with Variety, Yarros was asked how exactly the process between adapting a series like Fourth Wing is different from her standalone novels. “It’s just different because whatever book I’m in has my full attention,” she said.  “I have ADHD and I hyper focus in that book. It’s how I can write them so quickly,” she continued. 

“So when that adaptation process happens, it’s very much speaking to the writer and talking to the writer about what’s important to me in that world, and how I built it, what playlists I use, things like that. It’s just a smaller snippet, because it’s more confined, it’s a standalone compared to Fourth Wing.”

Entertainment

Rebecca Yarros Reveals 'Fourth Wing' TV Secrets Fans Have Been Waiting For!

Calling all Fourth Wing fans! Whether it’s the tension-filled moment Violet Sorrengail meets Xaden Riorson or the electrifying moment she manifests her signet power, romantasy readers are obsessing over how these high-stakes scenes in Rebecca Yarros’ global bestseller, Fourth Wing, will translate on TV. In case you missed it, Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society is […]

Fourth Wing TV series updates: Has casting started yet?

We couldn’t provide a thorough Rebecca Yarros adaptation update without doing a little detective work on the current status of the Fourth Wing TV series! Questions are swirling like crazy in fandom forums and online daily: Has the casting process started? Who is playing Xaden? Is it Josh Heuston or Emilio Sakraya?

Various bookish blogs and social media accounts are reporting that Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society—the production company bringing the romantasy hit to the screen—has “quietly” started the behind-the-scenes casting process. Though Heuston and Sakraya are top fan picks for Xaden, we have no official word yet on who will play the enigmatic “shadow daddy.”

Entertainment

Is This Our Xaden Riorson? We Fancasted the Coveted 'Fourth Wing' Role! Thoughts?

It’s an excellent month to be a Fourth Wing fan! In case you missed it, Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society is officially bringing Rebecca Yarros’ dragon-rider series to Prime Video. Plus, Yarros herself is serving as executive producer on the Fourth Wing TV series and has already read—and loved—two versions of the script. Thank gods. […]

A few weeks ago, Jordan confirmed the project’s main ambition at Amazon’s Upfront event.  “This project required the right creative partner,” he said. He also added that executive producer Lisa Joy—who is directing Fourth Wing’s pilot episode—had articulated the goal as building “a cinematic world” designed “to deliver the series this fandom deserves,” per Deadline. In the words of Violet Sorrengail, thank gods.