Cooper Kupp tips cap to 'script writers' after personal win over Rams

RENTON, WA — One man's treasure is another man's … treasure? It's about as apt a way as possible to sum up the last year or so forCooper Kupp.

It was readily apparent followingSunday's NFC championship game winthat Kupp'sSeattle Seahawksteammates were thrilled for him. It was readily apparent following Sunday's NFC championship game loss that Kupp's formerLos Angeles Ramsteammates were nearly as thrilled for him.

As for the man himself? It was fairly clear Monday that Kupp still isn't quite able to fully revel in the thrill of another Super Bowl trip with his new team given that it came at the expense of his former one.

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

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Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

"It's hard because those guys – a lot of those guys that were across the field last night – are my best friends, you know, lifelong friends of mine," Kupp replied when asked by USA TODAY Sports.

"It's just a weird conflict, a weird thing to work through."

Give him credit for working through it effectively Sunday. Kupp's 13-yard touchdown catch from Sam Darnold late in the third quarter provided Seattle's final points – and what turned out to be the decisive margin – in a31-27victory, theSeahawks' second over their NFC West rivals in the past five weeks.

"I'm most happy for Coop," said Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV, anotherRamscastoff who helped recruit Kupp to Seattle followinghis releaselast year.

"I've been in that position. I've been there. I've left that place. I know everything he went through. I know this feels good for him, and I'm happy we were able to do it."

Said Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald: "Some whispers before the game like, 'How cool would it be if Coop scored a touchdown today? And he did. I mean, we love him. He's the best."

The Rams clearly don't disagree.

Kupp finished his 2021 season for LAwith Super Bowl 56 honors, the capstone of a campaign during which he had 178 catches for 2,425 yards – NFL records when combining a single season and postseason.

But his production dipped in subsequent years, in part because Kupp was often injured but also because Puka Nacua instantly emerged as a No. 1-caliber receiver as a rookie in 2023. Kupp's sagging numbers, which didn't align with his salary, led the Rams to the agonizing decision to release him last March. And though he was effectively replaced by free-agent acquisition Davante Adams, a "gone but not forgotten" vibe emanates from Kupp's ex-mates.

"My mentor, a friend to me, and I know I wanted to see him and be able to congratulate him on the game he had and then also congratulate him on the opportunity to go out there and play for another Super Bowl," Nacua said following Sunday's loss.

"I love that dude. I'm super proud of him, and I can't wait to watch him."

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford also remained on the field at Lumen Field in order to wish Kupp luck inSuper Bowl 60against theNew England Patriots.

"Obviously just so much love for him as a friend," Kupp said of Stafford, with whom he'd spend countless hours watching film for the Rams.

"And so for him in that moment, to be able to like just linger on the field, and come find me means a lot. Yeah, that was a pretty cool moment."

Kupp, whose crucial – if questionable – third-down catch in Sunday's fourth quarter also proved deadly to the Rams, extending a drive that allowed Seattle to drain most of the final five minutes from the clock, now heads to his third Super Bowl. (He was injured and didn't play inthe Rams' Super Bowl 53 lossto the Patriots.)

Yet Kupp also isn't a man living in the past. Asked where his Super Bowl MVP trophy is, he replied, "I believe it's down in LA. So who knows?"

Now it's full speed ahead as preparations begin totake on New England on Feb. 8in Santa Clara, California. And though the Patriots are the final stepping stone to what would be a second Super Bowl ring for Kupp and the Seahawks franchise, he couldn't help but marvel at the path he and his new team have taken.

"For this story to be what it was, had to be through the Rams to be able to get to where we wanted to go, NFC championship in that moment," he said.

"Yeah, script writers did a good job with that one, tell you that."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Cooper Kupp returns to Super Bowl, this time with Seahawks

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January 27, 2026

Cooper Kupp tips cap to 'script writers' after personal win over Rams

RENTON, WA — One man's treasure is another man's … treasure? It's about as apt a way as possible to sum up th...

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Australia sizzles in blistering heat wave with temperatures as high as 120

Parts of Australia sweltered in record temperatures of close to 122 degrees Fahrenheit Tuesday as the country sweated through a prolonged heat wave even asbitter cold covered much of the U.S.

The rural towns of Hopetoun and Walpeup in Victoria state registered preliminary highs of 120 degrees that if confirmed overnight would top records set on the day in 2009 when 173 people were killed in the state's devastating Black Saturday bushfires.

No casualties were reported from Tuesday's heat wave, but Victoria authorities urged caution as three forest fires burned out of control.Melbourne, the state's largest city, also came close to its hottest day. Nowhere perhaps was the searing heat more evident than at Melbourne Park, where the usual crowds thronging outside the Australian Open tennis tournament dwindled to a ghost town as temperatures soared.Inside, organizers enacted extreme heat protocols, forcing closure of the retractable roofs over the main arenas and postponement of matches on the uncovered outer courts. During Tuesday's quarterfinal between Aryna Sabalenka and Iva Jovic - the last match played under scorching sun - the players held ice packs to their heads and portable fans to their faces during breaks in play.Photographers shooting the match were supplied with cushions by organizers to avoid heat-related injuries when they sat down and covered their cameras with towels to prevent the devices malfunctioning in the heat or burning their hands. Fans lined up to stand in front of giant misting fans or sought shelter in air-conditioned areas of the venue.

Crowds at the event, which has registered record-breaking turnout days so far, dropped from 50,000 from Monday's daytime session to 21,000 on Tuesday as people heeded health warnings from officials and stayed home.Temperatures were expected to drop Wednesday, although the heat wave was due to linger until the weekend. The heat wave followed another earlier this month amid one of Australia's hottest summers ever.On Monday, parts of New South Wales and South Australia states hit record temperatures, some exceeding records set during a destructivesummer of forest fires in 2019. At that time as now, temperatures approached 122 degrees in some places.

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January 27, 2026

Australia sizzles in blistering heat wave with temperatures as high as 120

Parts of Australia sweltered in record temperatures of close to 122 degrees Fahrenheit Tuesday as the country sweated thr...

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Alysa Liu Quit Figure Skating to Focus on 'Living' Life. Now She's ‘More Excited’ Than Ever About the 2026 Olympics (Exclusive)

Mike Coppola/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Alysa Liu is ready for her second Winter Olympics

• The 20-year-old tells PEOPLE she is "more excited" than ever to compete, after taking a break following the 2022 Beijing Olympics

• "I was checked out. I was just there for the Olympic experience," she says about being a member of Team USA four years ago

Alysa Liuhas been here before — but not like this.

The U.S. figure skater, 20, will make her return to the Olympic stage next month with a newfound drive and sense of purpose after the shocking announcement following the 2022 Beijing Games that she would retire from the sport entirely.

Liu's unexpected announcement caught many around the skating world off guard, since she was seen a rising star in the sport at just 16 years old. The California native had already medaled at the World Figure Skating Championships and was only expected to get better.

But after more than a year away from ice skating, Liu now tells PEOPLE exclusively that she's "more excited" about figure skating than ever before — especially the last time the Olympics came around.

"I was not there for the skating at all in my head," Liu tells PEOPLE exclusively, looking back four years ago. "I was checked out. I was just there for the Olympic experience."

But as Liu has explained in a number of media appearances in recent weeks, she had grown exhausted of the all-consuming lifestyle Olympic-level figure skating asks of its competitors and wanted a chance to step back and live what she described toNBC Newsas a "normal, teenage-girl, older-sister life."

"I really had nothing going on with my life, you know? Just training," Liu said in a recent interview with theAssociated Press. "I would live at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado, in a dorm by myself. I would eat their food. I went to the rink, skated, ate lunch there, skated some more. Went back to the dorm. I didn't go anywhere. I didn't see anything. I was just there," she said. "And so all that, I was like, 'Skating is not worth it.' Like, this is not worth it.' "

Tang Xinyu/VCG via Getty

By 2022 in Beijing, Liu says she was already over figure skating in her mind.

So after finishing short of the podium in 2022, Liu moved out of the Olympic Training Center in Colorado and moved on from figure skating. Or so she thought.

For nearly more than a year, Liu returned to a semi-normal teenage life: She went on vacation, spent time with family, graduated high school and began attending UCLA, where she now studies psychology. But during a 2024 ski trip with her family to Lake Tahoe, Liu found herself falling back in love with the adrenaline rush of winter sports, as she told NBC Sports, and felt a pull back to get back on the ice.

It wasn't until early 2025 when Liu felt like she was fully invested in the sport for the first time.

"That's when I was like, 'I'm doing this for real,' " she tells PEOPLE with a reawakened excitement for the upcoming Winter Games in Italy.

Liu says living her life and "doing a ton of other things," including "trying out every hobby in existence" made her realize that her true calling was figure skating all along. "It made me realize what I like to do," Liu says. "A lot of aspects in figure skating actually follow in line with my interests."

One of which includes fashion design, something she's taken the reins of herself after years of letting others consult and pick her outfits for her. The UCLA student says she'll find herself up until 2 a.m. some nights after practice working out ideas for new costumes to wear on the ice. "In figure skating, we have these gorgeous dresses and I love to design them," Liu says. "I work really closely with my dress designer on them, so that part of figure skating I like."

Tang Xinyu/VCG via Getty

Liu's redetermined grasp on figure skating has already proved fruitful with a stunning gold medal finish at the 2025 World Championships.

"She hates this term, but we almost call it Alysa 2.0," Phillip DiGuglielmo, Liu's coach, told NBC. "It's like a reboot, in a way." Liu's "reboot" already has critics listing her as a top contender to medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, alongside a strong Team USA that also includes Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito.

Liu says her confidence level feels "more or less the same" as it did when she first stepped into the Olympic spotlight at 16 years old.

"But I'm more excited for the figure skating part of it all now," she says, thinking ahead to the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Gold or not, for Liu, simply getting back to the point of excitement has been an achievement far beyond what she might have imagined just four years ago.

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come topeople.comto check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan-Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.

Read the original article onPeople

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January 27, 2026

Alysa Liu Quit Figure Skating to Focus on 'Living' Life. Now She's ‘More Excited’ Than Ever About the 2026 Olympics (Exclusive)

Mike Coppola/Getty NEED TO KNOW Alysa Liu is ready for her second Winter Olympics The 20-year-old tells PEOPLE she is "more excited...

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Ryan Seacrest Addresses 'Big Question' About His Legacy After 24 Years Hosting “American Idol” (Exclusive)

Monica Schipper/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Ryan Seacrest discussed the notion of legacy with PEOPLE at the Nashville American Idol Season 9 press line

• "In terms of what I hope people expect from me, or get when I'm on any show, is that they feel comfortable watching it. They enjoy it. It doesn't seem like it's too difficult. They can have anybody of any age watch the show," Seacrest shared, in part

• Seacrest added that his "energy" to remain the show's host comes from "seeing new people every year from all over the country, many of them, now, have grown up watching the show and waited all their lives for this moment to audition."

After almost a quarter-century at the helm ofAmerican Idol,Ryan Seacrestis looking back on his time on the world's most famous singing competition, but he's not too concerned with the notion of legacy just yet.

"That's a big question. I haven't thought about legacy yet," Seacrest told PEOPLE at the NashvilleAmerican IdolSeason 9 press line, which took place in November 2025.

The star continued, "In terms of what I hope people expect from me, or get when I'm on any show, is that they feel comfortable watching it. They enjoy it. It doesn't seem like it's too difficult. They can have anybody of any age watch the show. People can get together as a family watch the show. And for me to make them feel comfortable, and as if we've known each other for a long time, even if we've never met. And if you were a host, that's the idea."

Ray Mickshaw/WireImage

Though Seacrest has been withAmerican Idolfor virtually the entirety of its existence, he noted that a few things have remained the same about his perspective towards the competition, no matter what set of judges and participants come and go.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"You just listen to the room, and go with the flow of what the show is — you can't plan out too much of it. And I think that's the beauty of it. When we get into our live shows, we have an idea of how it's going to go, but it never really goes that way. And you follow the ball, and make people feel as comfortable as they can on the stage, and have fun with the judges and that's the equation," he revealed.

Seacrest added that his "energy" comes from "seeing new people every year from all over the country, many of them, now, have grown up watching the show and waited all their lives for this moment to audition."

On top of that, the host has "recently" recognized that many contestants "say, 'I never thought I would be the person that would try out for this show, but I saw an artist, or a contestant like me that was not in this quintessential cookie-cutter kind of way. And I thought, wow, it could be me' and they do it. So I think that's the evolution of this."

Jeff Neira/American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. via Getty

American Idolpremieres Monday, Jan. 26, at 8 p.m. ET.

Read the original article onPeople

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January 27, 2026

Ryan Seacrest Addresses 'Big Question' About His Legacy After 24 Years Hosting “American Idol” (Exclusive)

Monica Schipper/Getty NEED TO KNOW Ryan Seacrest discussed the notion of legacy with PEOPLE at the Nashville American Idol Season 9 press...

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Bella Hadid and Boyfriend Adan Banuelos Split After 2 Years of Dating

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NEED TO KNOW

• Bella Hadid and her boyfriend Adan Banuelos have reportedly split

• Entertainment Tonight broke the news with a source sharing that the model and actress is "doing her best" to distract herself amid the breakup

• Hadid and Banuelos dated for a little over two years and shared glimpses of their relationship on social media while also attending multiple public events together

Bella Hadidis walking down the runway newly single.

The 29-year-old supermodel and her boyfriend of two years, decorated equestrianAdan Banuelos, have called it quits, a source confirmed to PEOPLE.Entertainment Tonightwas first to report the news on Jan. 26.

A source told the outlet that Hadid is "doing her best to stay positive and distract herself since their split." The insider added, "She's been staying busy with work and spending time with close friends. She is still processing the breakup since it was a very serious relationship."⁠

A rep for Hadid did not immediately return PEOPLE's request for comment.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

As recently as this past December, Hadid and Banuelos, who began dating in October 2023, attended aDallas event together for her fragrance brand, Orebella.Photos shared byBritish Vogueshowed the now-exes loved-up and cozying up at the pop-up.

This past October, Banuelos also made a rare comment about their fairly private relationship through aseries of PDA-packed Instagram photoscelebrating their anniversary and her Oct. 9 birthday.

The post included sweet images of the two kissing, holding hands and cuddling in many of the pictures.

"October's become a special month. It's the month God sent you. Even with all the chaos and ugliness, He gave us something pure and beautiful. Love you, baby. I'll keep reminding you every day just how much," he captioned the post.

Adan Banuelos/Instagram

In an May 2025 cover interview withBritish Vogue, Hadid shared thesweet story of how she met Banuelosafter moving to Texas, where her mom,Yolanda Hadid, and her stepdad were building a house. The Orebella founder said she was struggling withchronic illnessand "self-love issues," prompting her to relocate.

"I'm with my stepdad," she recalled. "We move cows, we're on trail rides, and I'm starting to feel a little better, but just still dealing with my own stuff. Then, the next day, I meet my boyfriend."

The actress also revealed that Banuelos didn't have any concept of her fame when they first met. She recalled him telling her, "'I never knew who you were until I saw your face for the first time.'" Her reaction? "For me, that wassucha breath of fresh air," Hadid said.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Adan Banuelos/Instagram

Recently, Hadid has been promoting her latest acting gig in Ryan Murphy'sThe Beauty, which also starsAshton Kutcher,Anthony RamosandJeremy Pope.

Speaking with PEOPLE at theshow's New York City premiere, she revealed the "words of wisdom" her A-list castmates shared with her. They were able to "explain to me that even being crazy and weird is still positive," Hadid said of the advice she was given. "And sometimes things are embarrassing and at the end of the day, it's not embarrassing."

"We're all able to be different versions of ourselves and that's what was most important for me on this set," she added.

Read the original article onPeople

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Bella Hadid and Boyfriend Adan Banuelos Split After 2 Years of Dating

Kevin Mazur/Getty NEED TO KNOW Bella Hadid and her boyfriend Adan Banuelos have reportedly split Entertainment Tonight broke the news wi...

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Ricki Lake, 57, Reveals Stunning Transformation and Health Journey on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show'

Ricki Lakehas had a tough year, but the former talk show host is doing better than ever.

Lake, 57, rose to fame at just 20 years old in the role of Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 filmHairspray. However, it was her beloved '90s daytime talk show,Ricki Lake, that made her a household name. In recent years, Lake went on a health journey, experiencing weight loss in pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. In an appearance this week onTheKelly ClarksonShow, the beauty showed off her svelte figure, as well as her fullgray hair. She looks better than ever!

While Lake looks incredible, she has faced significant challenges recently, including losing her home in the Palisades fires. That's why it's so wonderful to see her joyful during her interview with Clarkson, during which the duo fangirled over each other.

Lake Speaks Openly About Having a Facelift

Never one to shy away from the truth, Lake revealed that she underwent a deep plane lower face and neck lift, as well as a mild CO2 laser.

"I had lost 40 lbs and did not like the extra skin that hung from below my chin," Lake shared on social media.  "It was never going to tighten up on its own. Not at 55. Trust me, when I tell you, I still felt extra cute and loved myself regardless, especially after working so hard to get in the best shape of my life."

Looking back on the decision to go under the knife, Lake called it "one of the best decisions I ever made for myself."

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Her Weight Loss Journey

Lake detailed how she lost 40 pounds thanks to a health and wellness regimen that includes pilates four days a week, as well as hiking outside "every single day" with a weighted vest. She follows a "very strict"ketodiet that includesintermittent fasting.

While she frequently fields questions about whether she used medications likeOzempic, Lake said it wasn't for her.

"I did not go on any drug because I wasn't prediabetic," Lake toldUS Weekly. "There's nothing wrong with those drugs. They're actually game changers for so many people. But for me, I did not want to be reliant on a drug if I could help it."

"I wore a glucose monitor. I wore my Oura ring. I prioritized sleep and overall, a low-stress lifestyle. And it worked," she continued. "It continues to work."

Lake went on to say that she "took what was once a chore, you know, every day having to work out and get on the elliptical and hate every minute of it," and changed her mindset. "Now it's a privilege and a joy to be able to move my body, to not be in pain, to see the results and to fit in my size 4 jeans."

Related: Ricki Lake Shocked to Find 'Priceless' Family Photos at Flea Market After Losing Everything During LA Fires

This story was originally published byParadeon Jan 26, 2026, where it first appeared in theNewssection. Add Parade as aPreferred Source by clicking here.

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January 27, 2026

Ricki Lake, 57, Reveals Stunning Transformation and Health Journey on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show'

Ricki Lakehas had a tough year, but the former talk show host is doing better than ever. Lake, 57, rose to fame...

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Indian tourist state of Goa weighs social media ban for children

NEW DELHI, Jan 27 (Reuters) - India's top tourist state of Goa is considering a social media ban for children similar to one implemented in ​Australia, as concerns grow over mental health risks in a nation with ‌more than a billion internet users.

Among the top markets for tech giants such as Meta, Google's ‌YouTube and X, India is thought to have many users aged under 18 but has imposed no national curbs on social media and there are no indications the federal government plans to do so.

Authorities in Goa are examining Australia's law to study how ⁠to regulate minors' access to ‌social media platforms, said Rohan Khaunte, the state's infotech minister.

"If possible, (we will) implement a similar ban on children below 16 for usage ‍of social media," he told reporters this week. "Details will follow."

The southern state of Andhra Pradesh, with a population of more than 53 million, has said it is looking into similar measures. ​Goa, by contrast, is the smallest state by area, with a population estimated ‌at over 1.5 million.

India's IT ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Google and X also did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the plan.

Meta said it supports laws which require parental oversight but that "governments considering bans should be careful not to push teens toward less safe, ⁠unregulated sites."

"We'll comply with social media bans, but ​with teens using ~40 apps weekly, targeting a handful ​of companies won't keep them safe," a Meta spokesperson told Reuters in an email.

Andhra Pradesh recently set up a panel of senior ministers ‍to make recommendations within ⁠a month after studying such global regulation efforts, media said.

Last year, Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, deactivating ⁠4.7 million teen accounts in the first month.

France, Indonesia and Malaysia are among other countries watching ‌the Australian rollout with a view to adopting similar laws.

(Reporting by Arpan Chaturvedi; ‌Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Timothy Heritage)

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January 27, 2026

Indian tourist state of Goa weighs social media ban for children

NEW DELHI, Jan 27 (Reuters) - India's top tourist state of Goa is considering a social media ban for children similar...

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