This is Emma Terry’s year.

The Leeds native, 22, was crowned as Miss Alabama 2025 on June 28 at Samford University’s Wright Center in Birmingham. Terry, a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, competed as Miss Hoover, impressing the judges and besting 42 other women for the title.

You’ve heard the expression “third time’s the charm”? That’s definitely true for the new Miss Alabama, who earned runner-up status to two previous winners, Brianna Burrell in 2023 and Abbie Stockard in 2024.

Now the crown is hers, and Terry is ready to meet the public, work hard and make an impact during her 12-month reign. She’ll move on to compete for Miss America in September, but Terry says her top priority is to serve with kindness and grace as the state titleholder

READ: Miss Alabama 2025: Emma Terry, Miss Hoover, wins the crown

“My goal is to be a good Miss Alabama,” Terry said during a recent interview. “Part of being a good Miss Alabama is representing my state with pride on the Miss America stage.”

AL.com caught up with Terry a few days after her win, sitting down with her for a wide-ranging interview at the Tutwiler Hotel. As it turned out, Terry was extremely forthright and willing to tackle any subject, including difficult moments from her past. She bonded closely with her mother after her parents’ divorce, for example, and became a devoted caregiver to her grandfather during his struggle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS.

Terry’s community service initiative, Stomping Out ALS One Step at a Time, was prompted by her grandfather’s illness, and she’s determined to raise awareness and support research for the neurodegenerative disease, which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

“The smallest steps can make the biggest differences,” Terry said. “That’s what I advocate for, because there is a cure for ALS. We just haven’t found it yet.”

Here are excerpts from our two-hour conversation with the new Miss Alabama, which covered everything from her career goals to her taste in literature to her thoughts on Southern women. (“There is strength, there is grit, and there is resilience,” Terry said.)

(The interview below has been edited for length and clarity.)

You were crowned Miss Alabama on a Saturday night at the Wright Center. When you woke up the next morning, what was your first thought?

Emma Terry: I went to bed at 2:30 that morning and my alarm went off at 5. I just thought for a second, “Where am I?” I looked and I was like, “I am in the most comfortable, pillowy, cloudy, soft bed in the presidential suite at the Tutwiler. And Abbie put the Miss Alabama crown on my head last night. This does not feel real.” I have heard Miss Alabama say that year after year. But now I get it. I get that feeling of it being so surreal.

Did you feel any extra pressure at the pageant this year because you had been the runner-up two years in a row?

I had to surrender, and trust timing, and trust the Lord’s plan. I threw myself into everything. I gave it all I had. Instead of succumbing to the pressure, I had a choice. I said, “Nope. I’m going to keep working hard, and keep working so that I can present my best self on that stage — and so that I can show that panel of judges and that entire audience who Emma Terry is.“ And lead with kindness, grace, and a heart wide open. And that is what I did.

What were you thinking and feeling in that moment on stage, just before your name was called as the winner?

Standing up there, holding hands in the top two, I felt this immense feeling of peace because I knew that I had done everything that I could. I don’t like to interpret a “no” as a “no” or rejection as rejection. I like to think of “nos” as “not yets,” and rejection as redirection.

To be fully transparent, there were moments where I doubted myself (in the competition). And I would call my best friend or call my mom, and I would be like, “I need a pep talk” … But I have worked hard for this. I know that I can do this, and serve the state, and execute the roles and responsibilities of Miss Alabama. Not only that, but I am good enough. I am good enough for my goals and my dreams and this organization has proven that to me.

Your mother, Amy Terry, came up to the stage when you won, and it seemed like an emotional moment for both of you. Tell us about that.

My mom and I have such a special relationship and bond because of how much we’ve been through together. Not just through (my parents’) divorce, but taking care of my grandfather, Stewart Simpson, who had ALS. We had to support each other so much through that, and just really leaned on each other. That moment where mom ran up to me in the crowd, it was just one of the most special things. I looked at her and I said, “We did it.” … All those times that I experienced “not yet,” now’s not your time, Mom was right there to keep helping me push, keep pushing me through self-doubt, and keep telling me I can do this. Even when I didn’t believe in myself, she did.

You’ll compete at the Miss America pageant is September, just two months after winning Miss Alabama. Are you ready for that?

I am 100% ready to compete at the national level. But I also know that my goal is to be a good Miss Alabama. Part of being a good Miss Alabama is representing my state with pride on the Miss America stage. So regardless of what the results are, I just want to represent Alabama with pride.

You were born and raised in Leeds. What makes your hometown special?

Everybody knows everybody. That is my favorite thing about Leeds. You can walk down Main Street or be in the Three-Eared Rabbit eating lunch, or shop in Mum & Me or the Pants Store, and you see five different people that you know. That’s the atmosphere that I love so much. It’s just you know everybody. And while it’s a large community and a very fast-growing community, there’s still such a tight-knit nature and family orientation about Leeds that I just love.

We’re also known for Charles Barkley. Charles Barkley is from Leeds. We have the statue of him in front of the high school. But it’s just a fabulous community, and I’m really excited to see how fast the schools are growing. How many people want to come to Leeds? It’s difficult to buy a house because so many people are just buying up property and houses, and it’s great.

Leeds also has Buc-ee’s, right? What’s your favorite thing at Buc-ee’s?

That’s our new claim to fame, I think. And there are these little Beaver Nuggets. Those are delicious. It’s like eating air. They’re so good. It’s a little sweet treat.

I’ll tell you something else that I love about Buc-ee’s. Everybody talks about the food, but I love the gift section. You can go in there and find some of the cutest things. My grandmother loves roosters. That’s her theme in her house. We walked in there and we found about 10 different rooster plates, rooster statues. I never thought that I would walk into to a glorified gas station and find the cutest little gift items and just cute country things. That’s also a fun part of Buc-ee’s.

Leeds has Barber Motorsports Park. Any thoughts on that?

Yes! I have a fundraiser race at Barber Motorsports Park every year, Stewart’s Race, in honor of my grandfather. I partner with a national organization called Racing for ALS. They host races across the country everywhere, from California to Virginia and North Carolina, and now Birmingham. For the past two years, we’ve raised $48,000 that has gone to Duke University’s ALS Therapy Development Institute, and their patient assistance fund.

You graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in May, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting. What’s your career goal?

My ultimate goal is law school. Right now I’m Miss Alabama; that’s my priority. But ultimately I want to be an attorney specialized in public finance, specifically in the area of bonds. I’d like to be an attorney for school districts and municipalities, so that I’m still being an advocate for community organizations that aren’t necessarily the most advocated for. Sometimes, when you think of attorneys, you might think of big companies who are being navigated through financial loopholes. But I’d like to help navigate those organizations — school districts, municipalities, even non-profits — through the legality of their finances.

Do you have any law school in mind?

I would love to go to Cumberland (School of Law at Samford University). I love Birmingham, and Cumberland has produced some of the most fantastic attorneys. And I would love to stay in Birmingham. I’m an Alabama girl.

Accountants and lawyers seem like people with precise and logical minds. Are you like that?

You know how there’s people who are Type A and Type B? I am Type C. I am definitely a Type C person because I have so many parts of me that are type A. I want to be organized. But then I have learned through my life experiences to let go of so much, and to just go with the flow and be truly adaptable. In a role like this as Miss Alabama, you have to be. You don’t know what’s coming next. For the year ahead, I have my goals. I have things that I want to do. But I know that there’s things that I can’t plan for, and that is OK.

When you have free time, what kinds of things do you like to do?

I love to spend my free time with my family and my friends. I love to watch a good movie. My favorite movies of all time are “You’ve Got Mail” and “Tombstone” with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer.

I love to exercise. I love to be active. I love to spend my free time taking a yoga class or a Pilates class. I’m also a True40 ambassador; I love their workout classes. I love to go on a walk. I love to read. I love to rest and take time for myself. I love to do all of those things.

What do you like to read?

I hope this doesn’t sound pretentious or anything, but I love classic literature. I took AP classes in high school, so I love a good Jane Austen. I love the Bronte sisters. “Wuthering Heights” is one of my absolute favorites. I love “Jane Eyre.” That’s probably my favorite book of all time. I could talk days about how revolutionary the book is for its time, because (the main character) made this decision to go off on her own. And at the time that was incredibly revolutionary for a woman and for the main character of a book to do that.

“Persuasion” is my favorite (by Jane Austen) because that’s another example of a woman taking a different path. It still ended up with a happy ending, but it was a different path for someone at the time.

Your talent for Miss Alabama was dance, performing a ballet en pointe routine to “Flashdance.” What makes dance important or satisfying for you?

It is a space for me to let go. I don’t have to think about anything else. I can just let everything go. When I walk into the dance studio, you just let go and do it and have fun doing it. It’s hard and it hurts sometimes, but that’s the fun in it. There is is no feeling like nailing a turn, nailing a jump, or balancing for longer than you did the last time. That’s where the joy is in dance for me. It’s a space for me to just really be free, express myself.

That was why this year’s piece was so special to me. It’s a story of perseverance and continuing to chase your dream. That was what was running through my mind as I performed that piece: This is my dream, this is my moment, and I am going to dance for my life on this stage.

Miss Alabama and Miss America both place an emphasis on health and fitness. What are your thoughts on that?

There isn’t an ideal body in my mind. There is only healthy. What is your algorithm to health? That’s the campaign that I’d like to push and have in partnership with the Miss America Fit campaign. I have an imperfect balance in my life. I’m not perfect all the time. People ask me all the time, “What do you eat? What do you do?” And I’m like, “Well, I eat, first of all.” I make sure that my body is fueled. I’m not just eating lettuce and chicken all the time. I ate pasta last night at dinner, but I paired it with a protein.

Diet culture is so pervasive in today’s society. Don’t even get me started on things I have seen on TikTok and how scary it is, because I know that I was influenced by figures in the media and by what I saw — TV, movies, even social media as I got older. That influenced how I saw myself and how I saw my body image. I just I really hope that a more positive culture surrounding wellness is more pervasive than the diet culture that is running rampant in our society.

It’s not just about being a certain size or a certain weight. It is about taking care of yourself mentally and physically. I struggled with an eating disorder throughout middle and high school. It took me so long to retrain my brain to think differently about health and wellness. I am very encouraged that I’ve had this platform, to share a more balanced lifestyle than what you would typically think of with a titleholder.

You’ll have a yearlong reign as Miss Alabama. What are some things you’d like to accomplish during that time?

One of my big goals as Miss Alabama is recruitment. We have to focus on bringing more young women to the organization so that we can propel ourselves for the next century of supporting and empowering women. Service is something else that’s really important to me, just continuing to advocate for the ALS community.

I have a partnership with Dr. Richard Bedlack and Duke University, and we’re working on establishing a fundraiser and event to celebrate Stomping Out ALS Day in the state of Alabama. That’s in honor of my grandfather. I worked with Rep. Susan DuBose and the (Alabama) House of Representatives to have Feb. 11 designated as Stomping Out ALS Day. Stewart’s Race 3 is happening in November, so I’ll be able to do that as Miss Alabama this year. And I really want to establish that legacy of service and kindness and recruitment.

What qualities do you have that will make you an effective Miss Alabama?

I am an adaptable person. I am respectful, resilient. And there are my life experiences — being a caregiver, being from a single-parent household, someone that’s overcome an eating disorder.

I had heart surgery in March, and that was hard. I had a (cardiac) ablation. I was the youngest patient there that day. They found an extra concealed pathway that was causing deathly high heart rates. If I had let the problem go on, my heart could have exploded. Even though it’s a fairly common procedure, it was a challenge for me to overcome because I didn’t expect that to happen.

All of that came together and it showed me that the Lord put those obstacles and those challenges in my path purposefully, so that I could overcome those and become a resilient and adaptable person.

Miss Alabama winners tend to be achievers. Would you describe yourself as an achiever?

Yes. There are people that can’t sit still and always have to do something. But I have learned over time that I have to take that time for myself. I have to take that time to watch a movie with my best friend, Shelby (Harrison), and take that time to rest. I have learned how to balance always going and achieving and striving for more with that rest.

I believe success is not a peak. I don’t want to reach the peak. Miss Alabama, for me, is not the peak of my success. I’m 22 years old. This organization is a springboard and propels me into my future. I will never look at someone and say I am successful. Because if I am successful, then what’s after that? There’s only down from there. I want to always be working for more and constantly achieving. So for me, success doesn’t mean a peak, but it means striving for more. That is the type of achiever and the type of person I am.

How did it feel to be among a group of women who are also achievers, as part of the Miss Alabama organization?

One unique thing about the Miss Alabama experience that is so special: You have this sisterhood. I did not have a typical childhood. I grew up as a caregiver. My grandfather started experiencing symptoms of ALS when my mom was pregnant with me. I didn’t do the typical Friday night thing as a teenager. I didn’t always go to the football games. I didn’t always have time with my friends. Friends would call me like, “Hey, you want to go do this?” And then I would have to say, “I can’t, we have a crisis.” Or “My mom has taken my grandmother to the grocery store. I’m the only person that can be with my grandfather.”

So when I entered this organization, I found a sisterhood of people. I found my friends and my family here. The beautiful part of it is that not only did I find my friends, but I found a group of like-minded young women who want to achieve, and understand (being) busy, and understand that there’s so much going on.

You have a close relationship with Miss Alabama 2021, Lauren Bradford. She was there to see you win the crown. What kind of encouragement did she give you?

She texted me all week. She was praying over me, and she was like, “I’m praying you through it. You don’t have to respond. I know you’re busy, but I love you so much, sister.” That’s what she tells me. She looked at me (after the finale) and both of us were crying like babies. I called her the next morning and said, “I woke up and I’m Miss Alabama.” And she said, “Yes, you are. You deserve this.”

She set such an incredible example as Miss Alabama, and set the bar so high. She is a role model for me, always has been. And genuinely a sister, like the big sister that I never had. I love her so much.

Miss Alabama and Miss America talk about nurturing strong, empowered women. Do you think of yourself as a feminist?

I believe there’s a connotation surrounding feminism that could be politically misconstrued or controversial. But when I think of feminism, I think of empowerment and I think of strong female role models. I have been surrounded by that my entire life. When I think of empowering women and what the Miss America organization stands for in my definition of feminism, I am a feminist. I am absolutely for empowering women. Empowering women to achieve. Empowering women to excel at life. So that’s what feminism is to me. That’s why I’m going to continue to be involved with this organization, because I believe in empowering great women for the world and empowering the world for great women.

Is this a good time to be a woman in the state of Alabama?

I think this is a very positive time to be a woman in the state of Alabama. (U.S. Sen) Katie Britt, whether you agree with her politics or not, she’s a woman working at the national level to represent her people and her state. And I think she’s doing a very good job at that. I respect her for the scrutiny that she’s under, and for the scrutiny that she faces as a woman in politics.

I think there are so many incredible things that you can do as a woman in the state of Alabama. Not only can you be recognized for your Southern characteristics and your mannerisms, but there’s something to be said about being a Southern woman. There is strength, there is grit, and there is resilience. I think that is still true today. It’s a fantastic time to be a woman in the South.

What would be your response to people who say Miss Alabama is outdated and irrelevant, or that it’s all about being pretty?

First of all, I would tell them that is a stereotype and that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I also think I would approach them with my story of how I have been able to excel in life because of this program — not because I’ve learned how to do my makeup or because I’ve learned how to operate a curling iron, but because I’ve learned how to interview. I’ve learned how to develop an opinion on very difficult topics, and learned how to have hard conversations about difficult topics, and learned how to meet someone in the middle when they don’t agree with me or when I don’t agree with them.

This organization prepares you for life and being on a stage. It goes back to that quote, “Greatness happens on the edge of discomfort.” You don’t have to win to be great. You don’t have to win Miss Alabama to reap the benefits of this organization. That’s when you see people’s minds change. You can see them tilt their head and they say, “Oh, I had no idea that Miss America was the largest provider of scholarships for young women in the world.” “I had no idea that you had to interview. I had no idea that they were allowed to ask you about current events.” “I had no idea that you had to have a community service initiative.” All of these things are just not widely known.

Part of my year as Miss Alabama is going to be about sharing my personal story, my experience with this organization, and showing people that the Miss Alabama experience is about more than what’s on the surface. It truly is this life-changing, deep experience that changes your perspective on the world.

Our state seems very polarized right now. There are many social and political issues that divide us. How can Miss Alabama be a force for unity when the people you’re going to meet are so divided?

When you say “divided,” my mind immediately goes to politics and the things that really are dividing our country right now. I was asked in my Miss Alabama interview: “Is it Miss Alabama’s place to speak on politics and political issues?” I said, “No, I don’t believe it’s Miss Alabama’s place to speak on political topics, or make her personal opinions known outside of the interview room or even outside of the organization. Everyone should be involved.”

That is the thing about Miss Alabama. She can unify people because she can talk about scholarships, empowering women, and giving young women opportunities to succeed in life. Who can’t get behind that? Who isn’t going to be unified behind that, unified behind community service initiatives? You may not have a direct connection to ALS, but you may have a connection to cancer. You may have a connection to someone else’s platform, and you can support them. That’s where the unity comes in. I believe there’s so much kindness and service at the heart of our organization, and that’s how Miss Alabama can be a unifying figure.

People are usually excited to meet Miss Alabama. You’re a public figure now. Are you going to be on point with everything — your clothes, your makeup, your hair, whatever else — when you walk out the door?

Even before being crowned Miss Alabama, it was always a rule that I wanted to be ready and look the part for the job I wanted. Obviously, I’m going to be real. I’m not going to be leaving the house in a full face of makeup with fake eyelashes and curled hair every day. But I want to be put together, because I recognize that as Miss Alabama, I’m a role model. Not only am I a role model, but I’m representing the Miss Alabama class of 2025. I’m the face of the organization, our brand ambassador. So I may not be full glam at all times, but I am going to be put together.

How do you feel about heels?

I love heels. I mean, I’m a ballet dancer. I dance on my toes. I can wear some heels, but I do keep an extra pair of tennis shoes. If I’m in-between things, between appearances, doing errands, I’m not wearing the heels. I’m throwing on the Nike Air Maxes.

Do you have a celebrity role model?

Obviously, I think of Miss Americas as celebrities. I think my most recent celebrity role model is Eric Dane from “Grey’s Anatomy.” Eric Dane is especially a role model to me now, because of how open and transparent he has been about his ALS diagnosis, and how he is bringing awareness to a cause that is near and dear to my heart. He did a fantastic interview on “Good Morning America” about his ALS.

He’s not letting it stop him. He’s being open. What bravery and what courage it takes to share that after being this Hollywood star, being seen as this heartthrob and this strong character on a very prominent show. To be so open and vulnerable about his diagnosis is incredible to me.

This may seem like a strange question, since you were born and raised in Alabama, but do you feel Southern?

I am Southern through and through. I was raised by two strong Southern women, and I love it. I’m proud to be a Southerner, and I am proud to be from Alabama. I think it goes back to that resilience and grit. As a Southern woman, you find a way and you learn to do things with elegance and with grace. A previous generation would cover up stuff, but now we’re in a day and age where we can share our stories. I’ve learned how to take things in stride and be elegant and graceful and polite through all of it.

What is the one thing you would like people to know about you as the new Miss Alabama?

I want them to know that I am a normal person. I am somebody who prioritizes transparency and vulnerability. But I’m also somebody who prioritizes kindness. There’s a very famous quote from Maya Angelou: “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” I want my kindness and my service to make a difference, because I genuinely want to make a difference in the state of Alabama. I want to impact people to make a difference in their lives.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Every day until Aug. 29, Creg Stephenson is counting down significant numbers in Alabama football history, both in the lead-up to the 2025 football season and in commemoration of the Crimson Tide’s first national championship 100 years ago. The number could be attached to a year, a uniform number or even a football-specific statistic. We hope you enjoy.

Alabama’s Derrick Thomas set the standard for individual defensive dominance in 1988.

The Crimson Tide’s senior linebacker totaled an astounding 27 sacks, 39 tackles for loss and 44 quarterback pressures that season, when he was named SEC Player of the Year and overall Male Athlete of the Year, a consensus All-American and won the Butkus Award as the country’s top linebacker. Seemingly every week, he did something that amazed his teammates and coaches.

“Derrick Thomas was not a regular mortal,” Alabama coach Bill Curry told AL.com many years later. “… He was the best football player I ever coached, by far.”

Thomas’ 1988 season didn’t exactly come out of nowhere. He’d been a first-team All-SEC pick and totaled a school-record 18 sacks as a junior in 1987.

But the Miami native took it to another level as a senior. After getting off to a relatively slow start — just three total sacks in the first two games of the season, blowout wins over Temple and Vanderbilt — he exploded in an Oct. 1 game at Kentucky.

Despite battling a case of sinusitis most of the week, Thomas totaled 14 tackles, four sacks and blocked both a punt and a field goal as Alabama rallied for a 31-27 victory. He was named National Player of the Week by The Sporting News.

“I didn’t practice hardly all week,” Thomas told the Mobile Register. “I came into the game today not feeling good. … Once I got into the game, things started flowing.”

Thomas totaled 11 tackles and two sacks the following week vs. Ole Miss, an infamous 22-12 Alabama loss in which the Crimson Tide failed to complete a pass. Alabama bounced back with a 28-20 victory over Tennessee in Knoxville on Oct. 15, though Thomas was shut out in the sack department after suffering bruised ribs early in the game.

The Crimson Tide then welcomed Penn State to Legion Field in Birmingham, and Thomas again had an otherworldly game. In an 8-3 Alabama victory, Thomas posted what CBS commentator Brent Musburger called “the most dominating performance I’ve ever seen by a college player.”

Thomas totaled eight tackles, eight quarterback hurries, three sacks and a pass breakup. On a day neither team scored an offensive touchdown, he sacked Nittany Lions quarterback Tony Sacca for a safety in the fourth quarter and pressured him into a game-clinching interception in the final minutes.

“He was everywhere,” Penn State fullback John Green said of Thomas, who was named national Defensive Player of the Week by The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and College & Pro Weekly a few days later. “He had a dominating-type game. We just couldn’t handle him at key times.”

Thomas totaled two more sacks in a 53-34 shootout with Mississippi State on Oct. 29, then three in a 19-18 loss to LSU on Nov. 5. He totaled three again — raising his season total to 20, breaking his own program record — in a 17-0 victory over Southwestern Louisiana (now Louisiana) on Nov. 12.

Alabama lost to Auburn 15-13 in the Iron Bowl on Nov. 25, but Thomas rang up 13 tackles and two more sacks. A week later at Texas A&M, he had the last of his three monster games.

The Alabama-Texas A&M game was postponed from September due to (unfounded) concerns over Hurricane Gilbert striking the Texas coast, and many in College Station dubbed the rescheduled game the “Hurricane Bowl.” In a 30-10 Crimson Tide victory, Thomas totaled nine tackles, seven tackles for loss, a season-high five sacks and both forced and recovered a fumble on the Aggies’ opening possession.

“He had a great game, there’s no question,” Texas A&M coach Jackie Sherrill told AL.com in 2023. “He, by himself, really dictated the game.”

Thomas had one game left, against Army in the Sun Bowl on Christmas Eve in El Paso, Texas. Bowl statistics didn’t count toward season totals in those days, though the option-based Black Knights weren’t likely to give Thomas many opportunities for sacks anyway.

Army threw the ball only five times in a 29-28 Alabama victory, though Thomas made an impact in other ways. He blocked two field goals, in addition to six tackles and two tackles for loss as the Crimson Tide completed a 9-3 season.

Counting the bowl game, Thomas finished his senior year with 94 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 44 quarterback pressures, four blocked kicks (three field goals and a punt), four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in addition to the 27 sacks. Along with his single-season numbers, Thomas’ 52 sacks and 68.5 tackles for loss remain program records more than 35 years after his final game at Alabama (Will Anderson is second in career sacks with 34; Wallace Gilberry in tackles for loss with 60.5).

If you weren’t around the see it, here’s a highlight reel of Thomas during his career at Alabama:

Thomas was the No. 4 overall pick by the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, and became an instant star at the pro level. He was NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1989, and in 11 seasons totaled 126.5 sacks and 41 forced fumbles and made the Pro Bowl nine times.

Thomas’ football career ended abruptly when he was paralyzed from the chest down in an automobile accident in January 2000. He died a little more than two weeks later at age 33 due to a pulmonary embolism (blood clot).

Thomas was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014. With John Hannah, Don Hutson, Joe Namath, Ozzie Newsome, Bart Starr and Dwight Stephenson, he is one of seven Alabama players so honored.

Coming Monday: Our countdown continues with No. 54, when a Crimson Tide star was “too full of Alabama.”

Dear Eric: My 31-year-old daughter, Lauren, is relocating to California and taking only what fits in her car. She’s embracing a minimalist lifestyle and recently told me there’s nothing she wants me to pass down to her. I’ll admit I was shocked. She’s the youngest in my bloodline, and I always imagined certain heirlooms or sentimental items going to her.

I have two granddaughters from my stepdaughter, Rachel (age 32). I’m very close with both girls and have spent a lot of time with them throughout their lives. Rachel, the girls and their grandmother (my stepdaughter’s mom) all live together. I also have a 5-year-old granddaughter from my stepson.

I plan to box up Lauren’s personal mementos and let her decide what to keep or discard – that feels like a reasonable boundary. But I’m struggling with what to do about my heirlooms, the things I imagined would carry forward as part of my family’s story. Do I offer them to Lauren first out of respect for her place as my biological daughter, even if she seems uninterested? Or is it OK to start thinking about passing things on to the step-grandchildren I feel close to, who might actually value them?

I’m not dead yet, but I’d rather see these things appreciated than left in limbo. How do I navigate this without forcing sentiment where it’s not wanted, but also not letting meaningful items disappear unceremoniously?

– Looking Ahead

Dear Looking Ahead: Thinking about this in advance is a wonderful idea and a beautiful sentiment. It’s also quite loving that you’re acknowledging what Lauren needs/wants and you aren’t taking it personally. It can be hard when kids don’t want or don’t have room for heirlooms or mementos. I’m glad that you’re finding other ways of honoring your family history.

Because you’ve laid such a healthy groundwork, you can move forward with giving them to your stepchildren and grandchildren. As you do, chat with Lauren about your plan. It’s good to check in, so that she doesn’t feel blindsided, but, more importantly, it’s good to express your own needs – the need to distribute heirlooms. This way, the inheritance becomes clear channels of communication that allow you both to make informed decisions and to help you to support each other.

Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

Dear Eric: I am writing for advice concerning a 20-year-old problem. I am one of six friends who gather each summer. We are life-long friends in our late 60s who live all over the country. We treasure these annual gatherings of connection, laughter, support and love.

One person consistently and completely takes over group conversations with long-winded stories that focus on her life and people we don’t know. The situation has become a burden, so much so that two of the group want to stop coming to our annual reunions.

Over the years we have tried to gently stop the soliloquies by encouraging topics to include everyone, but this does not last long. In recent years, our patience has been wearing thin. One year one of us brought a box of “deep life questions” for us to discuss during the week and established the rule that no one could talk while the one person was answering. This helped, but felt a bit artificial for people who have been friends for more than 55 years.

The “conversation buster” is very sensitive and gets her feelings hurt easily. We care for her and value our friendship but have grown weary of her dominance. The five of us have discussed the situation at length and recognize our own responsibility in letting this happen over the years. What advice do you have for us to restore the conversation equilibrium and enjoyment of our time together?

– Ear-Weary Friends

Dear Friends: I have good news and bad news. The bad news: after 20 years, I’m not sure that equilibrium restoration is possible. Was it ever present? It sounds like the group has formed around your sixth friend’s loquaciousness, or at least in spite of it. Is it realistic to hope that your sixth friend will completely change the way she interacts with you? She may have decided, all evidence to the contrary, that this is what you like.

The good news: after 20 years, you have a lot of goodwill banked. Now, yes, she is sensitive, but I believe you can be a little less gentle without being less kind. You can have a one-on-one conversation with her before your next gathering and use “I” statements like “I sometimes find it hard to get a word in or to feel like we’re in conversation.” You can ask her if she’d feel all right about you being more assertive about a redirect. And should all else fail, the group can call it out in the moment and directly ask her to change course.

Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

DEAR ABBY: Today, I asked a man with a black mole on the side of his face if he had been checked for skin cancer because I come from a family with a great deal of skin cancer. The man was very patronizing and told me I should just go sit down. My husband previously ignored my concerns, but he did listen to a friend who was concerned that his dark mole could be pre-cancerous, which it was.

Was I wrong for bringing this to the stranger’s attention? — PROACTIVE IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR PROACTIVE: If you said it in the context of explaining that your husband had something similar that turned out to be cancerous, I don’t think what you did was wrong. It may have been presumptuous but it was also well-intentioned.

He may have reacted the way he did because it made him self-conscious.

Read more Dear Abby and other advice columns.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

There are many differences between being a mid-major college basketball coach and leading a Southeastern Conference program like Auburn.

New women’s basketball coach Larry Vickers is in the midst of that adjustment at Auburn. He became the Tigers’ head coach in March following a nine-year stint at Norfolk State.

Despite becoming a powerhouse in the MEAC, coaching in the SEC is a different experience, and Vickers has already felt that on the recruiting trail.

“Some of the AAU coaches pick up on the first ring now‚” Vickers said at Auburn’s AMBUSH event in Alexander City. “Most coaches pick up pretty early in the process when it says Larry Vickers Auburn next to it. I’m calling the same people. The difference is I was calling for their sixth-best player before. Now I’m calling for their best player.”

Vickers was hired to lead the program after former head coach Johnnie Harris was fired following the 2024-2025 season. Harris’ departure led to most of the roster turning over, as Auburn’s 2025-2026 team will feature just two returners from last season.

That meant Vickers’ first couple months on the job were busy with both roster construction and building a coaching staff. Since he was hired, Vickers signed seven players out of the transfer portal, one JUCO transfer and three freshmen. Kaitlyn Duhon and Syriah Daniels are the lone returners.

“Coach Johnnie had some terrific players on the team that were willing to stay it might didn’t necessarily fit with what we’re looking to do with Auburn moving forward,” Vickers told AL.com at SEC spring meetings. “So, that’s helping them find a new home, and then that’s us finding new players to kind of fit that style of play.”

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m

“Fried Green Tomatoes” author Fannie Flagg is an optimist by nature, one who has spent a career as an actor, comedian and author making people laugh. The Birmingham native hopes her new book, a collection of short stories to be released Aug. 11, 2025, will spread positivity and bring smiles to any grumpy Americans who might need one.

“I think that one of the greatest traits Americans have always had is our ability to laugh at ourselves,” Flagg told AL.com. “But now with all the negativity we see in the news night and day, it worries me that we have all started taking ourselves far too seriously. Goodness, it seems some people are only happy when they’re mad.”

“Something to Look Forward To,” published by Penguin Random House, is Flagg’s first collection of short stories. It is available for pre-order here.

Flagg, now 80 and living in Santa Barbara, Calif., has also written 11 novels and one cookbook. She has tried to retire from writing but fans keep bringing her back.

“I did retire … I think I first announced that right before I wrote ‘Redbird Christmas’ four or five books ago, so I guess I wasn’t quite ready yet,” she said.

Before she kicked off her writing career in 1981 with the coming-of-age novel “Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man,” Flagg acted in such films as “Grease,” “Five Easy Pieces” and “Crazy in Alabama,” as well as numerous stage and TV productions. She was a regular on the game show circuit throughout the 1970s and ’80s, most often appearing on “Match Game” and “Password.” Flagg co-wrote the screenplay for the film version of “Fried Green Tomatoes,” for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. See her screen credits on IMDb.

Read More: 2 legendary Southern redheads join forces to make movie set in Alabama

Flagg said this collection of short stories allowed her to “write something fun and positive to try and give my readers (and myself) a little cheering up.”

The author always wanted to try writing a short-story collection. Her favorite author, Mississippi writer Eudora Welty, was a “brilliant” short-story writer, she said.

“In this fast-paced world we live in, I think it has become harder and harder to find time to sit down and read an entire novel,” Flagg said. “I know it is for me. So this is a book people can pick up and read a quick story, come back when they want and read another entirely different one. Also, I love short stories.”

She stored up plenty of story ideas by people-watching. “I love to observe people,” she said. “I think my characters are based on a combination of people I have met or were related to.”

Flagg says some of her characters “just appear” in her mind, so she listens to what they have to say.

“I love all my characters, of course. They make me laugh at the silly things they do,” she said. “And just the other day a character named Juanita Pickens, who is on the lam from the law with her 26 chihuahuas, jumped in my head. I think chihuahuas are hilarious!”

Does she have a favorite character? “Maybe because she is among the most recent, I guess I would have to say that my favorite character – the one that I would hope to be most like – is Velma Vanderhoff, the Kansas farm lady from the new book.” Velma is a character who finds joy in life’s small moments – which is something she feels we all should do.

She feels Americans are so focused on reading the constantly available negative headlines, they can find it difficult to stay positive.

“The only way I see that we can ever reach common ground is to try and not focus on what we disagree about, but to focus on the one thing we do have in common,” she said. “No matter where we live or what we believe, underneath the fussing and fighting, we are all Americans.”

Readers are sure to find something in common with the fictional characters in “Something to Look Forward To.” From the greedy members of the Womble family of Pot Luck, Ark., who find out it’s always best to be sure someone is dead before clearing out her house, to sweet and hopeful Velma and her anxiety-ridden daughter Cathy – Flagg gives us portraits of ordinary people we might meet in our own lives … except for one character who’s a little otherworldy.

MORE: This small town is home to the ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ house and bridge

She writes in her preface: “Dear Reader…I just wanted you to know that one of the great joys of my life is observing other humans as they go about living their daily lives. And as a result, I’ve become a huge fan of the human being.”

So … will Flagg finally retire after this book?

“I dare not say that this is my last book, as you know I have said it so many times before… Honestly I am afraid I’m the last to know,” she said.

Hopefully, Flagg will be able to host some book signings in Alabama for the upcoming book. “Traveling now is so hard,” she said. “But I miss Alabama and all my friends. I truly believe one of the luckiest experiences of my life has been being raised in Alabama. I have always been so proud of my home state. I love doing book signings there and meeting all the sweet people.”

A lunar opposition to Venus crashes International Kissing Day, recalling the versatility of a kiss. It can reanimate the girl asleep for a century, turn the frog to a prince, betray the holy. A kiss can cross into risky territory, seal fate, put the power in a spell, be the heart in a ritual, or the reason for a head cold. The point is, what starts with a kiss rarely ends there.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). What people project in social settings often doesn’t match what they’re actually feeling. A lively group or a flashy party might seem joyful on the outside, but underneath, the dynamics could be very different. Make no assumptions or comparisons.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Even when you’re doing it right, life can get uncomfortable. Overwhelm is the ticket price for having a mind that sparkles in every direction. Your brain is a full-color projector in a world full of black-and-white Xerox machines.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ll find joy in maintenance, beauty in routine. Taking care of the little things turns into a kind of devotion. A simple task becomes more meaningful when you connect it to a bigger reason.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Normally, life demands choices — if you want one thing, you have to give up another. But not today. You don’t have to sacrifice to receive. You can have the old and the new, stability and adventure, familiarity and excitement.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The image of a dessert case emphasizes variety and delight. It suggests that multiple appealing options are available at once, and you’re allowed to enjoy more than one without guilt or loss. Have your cake and eat it, too.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You know what you wish someone would’ve told you back then. That advice still matters — to someone else now. Say the words. It heals them a little, and it reminds you how far you’ve come.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’re juggling a lot — maybe too much. But stay loose. It’s rhythm, not tension, that keeps it all in the air. Trust your timing. You’re a dancer with tasks instead of steps.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll be tempted to grumble about a commitment, but something in you shifts mid-task. There’s meaning in the effort. Later, you’ll look back and be proud — not because it was easy but because you kept your promise anyway.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You have a cause you believe in so much that it doesn’t matter who takes the win as long as the cause is served. You could bring home the goal, or someone else could. Either way, it’s a thrill because the world is better for it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Remembering regrettable things you’ve said means you’re awake. Sensitive. Honest. It means you care deeply about the impact you’ve had and the choices you’ve made. That already puts you in rare company.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The day offers an unusual clarity: You’ll see something exactly as it is, without your hopes or fears fogging the view. From here you may decide to watch a little longer until you see the secret door that eluded you when you were less aware.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). People won’t naturally give you the room to figure out what you want. They’ll fill in any space you leave open. So, you’ll have to make a conscious effort to feed your own appetites and hear the tiny voice of your inklings, and it will be worth the effort.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 6). You’re used to people being drawn into your warmth, but this year’s spotlight on your boldness and originality will have them also admiring your spark, your edge, your vision. More highlights: One lucky connection ties you into an entire network including a special relationship that colors your world. This season brings public praise you will leverage into next season’s successful venture. A contract opens new financial territory. Leo and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 14, 48, 6 and 20.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: “Who is Merv Griffin?” is the correct response to a “Jeopardy!” clue, of course — and also the answer to who was born July 6. The media mastermind behind “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune,” Griffin had a Cancerian genius for sensing what people wanted at home: comfort, routine, connection. His knack for creating cozy rituals millions could enjoy together made him a quiet architect of American evenings. Known for his generosity, he supported education, the arts and LGBTQ+ causes — a legacy of heart as well as entertainment.

Holiday Mathis’ debut novel, “How To Fail Epically in Hollywood,” is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

Former Auburn All-American Johni Broome got his first action in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform on Saturday night in a 93-89 loss to the Utah Jazz in the Salt Lake City Summer League.

A second-round draft pick by Philadelphia on June 26, Broome started at power forward for the summer-league Sixers. He had 13 points, five rebounds, one steal and one blocked shot in 24:12 on the court. Broome made 4-of-11 shots, including 2-of-4 3-pointers, and 3-of-5 free throws.

Broome scored his first points for Philadelphia 41 seconds into the game when he sank a 3-point shot.

Alex Reese (Pelham, Alabama) had two points and three rebounds for the Sixers.

The 76ers play the Oklahoma City Thunder at 6 p.m. CDT Monday and the Memphis Grizzlies at 8 p.m. Tuesday. ESPN will televise the Monday game.

Philadelphia starts play in the NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas against the San Antonio Spurs at 9 p.m. Thursday. ESPN also will televise that game.

Another second-round pick with Alabama basketball roots also made his first pro appearance on Saturday in the Salt Lake City Summer League. Forward Brooks Barnhizer (Alma Bryant) had nine points, 13 rebounds, one steal and one blocked shot in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 92-80 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Rookie guard Chris Youngblood (Alabama) had five points, three rebounds, one assist and three steals for Oklahoma City.

The California Classic Summer League also tipped off its schedule on Saturday in San Francisco. In the starting lineup for the Miami Heat, guard Kira Lewis Jr. (Hazel Green, Alabama) had four points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in a 82-69 victory over San Antonio.

In Golden State’s 89-84 victory over Los Angeles, Warriors guard Jaden Shackelford (Alabama) had 11 points, one rebound, two assists and one steal and Lakers center Trey Jemison (Hoover, UAB) had three rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

Seven people were left injured after a fiery boat explosion on Lake Lanier, a notorious body of water in Georgia where hundreds of others have perished, according to authorities.

Of those hurt, five were hospitalized, including a child who was airlifted to a nearby medical facility following the blast.

The incident occurred Friday, with first responders racing to the so-called cursed lake, located 60 miles north of Atlanta, around 7 p.m., according to 11 Alive.

See also: Fourth of July fireworks explosion at Lake Martin leaves 6 people injured

Police said the 23-foot cabin cruiser was heading for the Margaritaville resort at Lake Lanier Islands when it suddenly exploded.

Video from the scene shows flames as high as five feet tall overwhelming the boat, sending thick plumes of black smoke over the nearby shoreline.

“The operator towing the boat rescued all seven people and took them to waiting paramedics at Margaritaville,” the state’s Department of Natural Resources said in a statement.

None of the victims have been identified and their exact conditions were not provided. They range in age from 5 to 45 years old, many of them suffering severe burns.

Lake Lanier is a man-made body of water, built in the 1950s atop the once-thriving Black neighborhood of Oscarville. It was created by flooding valley communities, which contained a cemetery, a fact that has fueled beliefs that the waters are cursed. And while the Marine Corps at the time worked to remove and relocate the marked graves, experts speculate there were plenty of unmarked burial plots in the area.

In the decades since, more than 200 people have died on the lake, with incidents ranging from boating accidents and drownings to explosions, according to state data. Locals have also reported strange disappearances, ghost sightings and even alien encounters.

The tragedies and mysteries of the lake have recently been featured in the Netflix docuseries “Files of the Unexplained,” as well as the Prime Video documentary “Surviving Lake Lanier.”

An investigation into the cause of Friday’s blast is ongoing.

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