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Combine a Broadway show with Southern sass and a whole lot of special effects and you’ve got the Smoky Mountain Opry. The incredible eponymous variety show in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, at the Smoky Mountain Opry from The Dollywood Company, returns for its ninth season on February 28th, and we couldn’t be more excited. The live variety show features a range of musical genres including gospel, country, and classic movie soundtracks, all performed by talented musicians and dancers who will captivate your mind long after curtain call....

It’s been a busy few years in the Napier household in Laurel, Mississippi. Not only did HGTV Home Town stars Ben and Napier welcome their second daughter Mae in 2021, but they’re also hosted a second successful show, a spinoff of their original, Home Town Takeover, in which they brought new life into the town of Wetumpka, Alabama. Amidst all the hustle and bustle of daily life, Erin often carves out some time out to take a look back and reflect....

Weekends are for omelets. Spinach omelets. Mushroom-and-cheese omelets. Whatever-herbs-are-in-the-garden omelets. But perhaps you’ve heard of the French omelette (or French-style omelette) and wondered what that’s all about. If you’re anything like I am, perhaps you picture a classy omelette oozing with brie, leeks, and Herbes de Provence. Not quite. As I learned in culinary school at the Natural Gourmet Institute, three years and approximately 9,136 eggs ago, a French omelette actually refers to the style you make and present it....

It’s a Christmas miracle! McDonald’s elusive and delicious Holiday Pie has returned this season, a representative for the fast-food chain confirmed to Southern Living. First introduced in 1999, the “mouthwatering pastry” features creamy vanilla custard nestled in a flaky, buttery crust glazed with sugar and topped with festive rainbow sprinkles. The Holiday Pie is now available at participating locations in select regions across the country until early January. According to CNN, the pies have been spotted in Oregon, Illinois, and Texas so far this year....

In the South, peach season is a much-anticipated occasion. Peaches, also known as the jewels of Southern produce, start to appear at farmers’ markets as early as June, but peak peach season runs through the late summer months—from July to September. Georgia might be known for its particularly fantastic fruits, but you’ll find wonderfully juicy varieties all across the South. Peach season is short and remarkably sweet, which is why this year, we’ve resolved to make the absolute most of our summer peaches....

Jo Dee Messina has moves! The country star showed a flair for choreography during a recent appearance on Walker Hayes’ iconic Tennessee front porch. Joined by Hayes’ oldest daughter (and frequent TikTok collaborator) Lela, the trio was all smiles as they recorded a dance to Messina’s catchy 90s hit, “Heads Carolina, Tails California.” “Look who stopped by the porch today,” Hayes captioned a video of the performance on TikTok. Messina, who only recently joined TikTok, shared the video on her page....

Joye B. Moore is a sixth-generation sweet potato pie baker, using a recipe passed down from great-great-great-grandmother, Susan-Mae Howell, to the women in her family. Moore spent 30 years baking sweet potato pies to give as gifts during the holidays. “I was always told ‘girl, you need to sell these pies,’ and I would always counter with ‘one day!’” she told Southern Living. That one day came for Moore in the summer of 2019 when she was laid off from her job....

It may only be October, but we are definitely already thinking about that most magical time of year. No, we aren’t talking about Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas, we are talking about the moment the most beloved seasonal snack cake returns to store shelves. We are, of course, talking about Little Debbie’s Christmas Tree Cakes! But this year, Walmart has upped the holiday cheer and have announced that the delightful tree-shaped sugary delicacies are being turned into ice cream....

On January 3, a winter storm brought eight inches of snow to Washington D.C., and with it, the first sighting of a majestic snowy owl that seems to have taken up residence in the nation’s capital. For fans of Harry Potter, this is the same species as Harry’s sidekick and trusty letter carrier Hedwig. Over the past week, local birdwatchers have been on high alert hoping for a glimpse of this extremely rare breed that traveled from its home in the Arctic to the mid-Atlantic....

The original: A sophisticated French confection that became très chic in America when Julia Child was the crème de la crème of cooks. We love the classic yeast recipe—except for its whopping 6 hours of prep time! The revival: A shortcut rum cake from scratch that’ll earn “ooh la las” from your luncheon or teatime crowd. Whipped egg whites give it baba au ruhm’s signature airy crumb, the perfect texture to soak up a divine rum syrup....

In the weeks before Thanksgiving, you can find intense steals—up to 78 percent off—and stock up (or splurge!) on products you’ve been eyeing. Best Early Black Friday Kitchen Deals Nothing’s more appetizing than these early deals from Lodge, KitchenAid, Keurig, and more. Start with 50 percent off a mini coffee maker to get the day started, then beef up your meat prep with a jack of all trades cast iron grilling pan from Lodge....

Friends don’t let friends eat at chain restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the dependable fare of an established chain as much as the next omnivore. But when you’re in Charleston, the Holy (Smokes! This Place Has a Lot of Restaurants) City, choosing chains over exploring the local flavor is a transgression as unforgivable as slurping oysters out of season. I’ll admit I’m burdened with a pretty substantial bias—I grew up in the area and my family still lives there—but even out-of-towners and one-time visitors won’t disagree with me that Charleston is one heck of a food city....

Today, US News & World Report announced their highly coveted Best Places to Live in the United States list for 2022-2023 and a Southern city has earned top billing. Huntsville, Alabama, went from third place last year all the way to first place in this comprehensive assessment. The list is compiled by ranking 150 of the country’s most populated metropolitan areas based on three main categories: affordability, desirability, and quality of life....

You’ve made your holiday gifting list, you’ve checked it twice, and you’re still stuck on what to buy some of the most important people in your life. The good news is, you don’t even need to get out of your cozy PJs to send a thoughtful (and affordable) gift to your loved ones this year. Bouqs’ farm-to-front door flowers and mini plants will bring holiday vibrance and a touch of decor into their home — and you’ll save 25 percent with our secret code....

If watching Virgin River feels like a bit of déjà vu to you, that’s because it is: Vernon “Doc” Mullins in the Netflix original series is played by the same actor who portrayed another fictional doctor you likely recognize, Dr. Brick Breeland from The CW’s Hart of Dixie. The repeat role, while strange to some, has been far from a bother to us — we’ve actually found an odd sort of comfort in seeing him in this familiar role in the Netflix smash hit....

Simply put, Coca-Cola tastes better when had out of an old-fashioned glass bottle. It’s not a silly myth. We’re not here to argue, nor are we interested in making too many concessions—pun intended. It’s a fact that pretty much anyone who has ever tried all the different options (bottles, cans, and fountains) won’t deny, especially my Southern grandpa with a penchant for carbonation. It’s the Coke he drank in the 1960s and the only one he is going to drink now, he says—but he swears he’s not stubborn....

Erin Napier’s daughter Helen reached a milestone recently that left the HGTV personality in tears, but it’s not one you would expect. The Home Town star shared on Instagram that she and her husband Ben took three-year-old Helen to the movie theater for the first time over the weekend to see Steven Spielberg’s 1982 classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial at Prytania Theatre in New Orleans. “We’ve waited before taking Helen to see her first movie in the theater because we wanted to wait for the right one....

You don’t have to ride a horse to experience the romance and style of the equestrian world at the new Equestrian Hotel in Ocala, Florida. Nor do you need to be familiar with Ocala, the sleepy central Florida town known as “Horse Capital of the World,” to appreciate its legacy for producing some of the finest champions in equestrianism. The 248-room, $800-million hotel opened in summer 2021 as part of the 380-acre World Equestrian Center....

New Year’s Eve is a time for celebrating and letting loose, but it’s still important to be a thoughtful party guest. From bringing drinks and snacks, to playing music, to making sure guests get home safely, there are plenty of ways to be a good New Year’s Eve party guest. Read on for our best advice. 1. Respond to the Invite Either Way Promptly let your host know you’ll be attending, this not only shows your enthusiasm, but it also helps your host with planning....

Darius Rucker grew up in a small house in Charleston, South Carolina, with his mother, grandmother, three sisters, and two brothers. The family sometimes struggled to make ends meet, but Rucker has fond childhood memories thanks to his mom, Carolyn, who worked as a nurse at the Medical University of South Carolina. “She came home, and no matter how tired she was, if you wanted some time or attention, she was always there to give it to you,” he told me last fall on our Biscuits & Jam podcast....