Jesse Owens, a record-breaking Olympic sprinter and the best athlete of his time, spent much of his life struggling with issues of race. Unlike other athletes of his era, Owens' day-to-day life was defined—and restricted—by his color. He suffered...
Summer is traditionally a time for road trips, camping and lounging by the shore. But travelers seeking a more A-list getaway can spend their vacation time at high-profile, celebrity-owned destinations, which draw thousands of visitors every year. You...
Do you have the need for speed? May 27th is one of the biggest days on the auto racing calendar. The Indianapolis 500, a race that draws over 400,000 people, is called "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." You can bet that in addition to the world's most...
The Wild West is a part of history that never stops fascinating us. A vast expanse of land free from the law and order of the rest of the country, the Old West was truly wild. The larger-than-life characters who ruled the West took full advantage of its...
This weekend signals the start of the Kentucky Derby. Though we usually think of baseball as "America's pastime," horse racing is a long-standing tradition in much of the country, especially the South. The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the all-important...
Among the many, many artists who struggle to become famous, only a small handful succeed. And an even smaller group succeeds posthumously. Whether it's due to the times they live in, or their own failure to publicize their work, some artists have have...
April 22 is Earth Day. Celebrated in more than 175 countries, Earth Day is a day for appreciating nature and raising awareness of how we can help preserve it. Environmentalism has lately become a popular cause in Hollywood where A-listers use their star...
“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Those words were written by Benjamin Franklin in 1789, and there's still...
Sign up to receive updates from BIO and A+E Networks.
Since April Fools' Day is this weekend, we thought we'd stay away from playing tricks on our readers. Instead, we look at five of the greatest practical jokes of all time. From a musical act that fooled the entertainment world to a radio broadcast that...
In the 21st century, we have many female role models to look up to. Female actresses, politicians, and first ladies are celebrated and profiled. We've come a long way from the times when women's achievements were not celebrated, and women, especially...
Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey and Beyoncé are all household names. Since March is Women's History Month, let's take a look at some famous women whose names are not as familiar. Many courageous women have charted the way for generations to come...
Despite the fact that Ireland is more than 3,000 miles away from New York City, Saint Patrick's Day is widely celebrated in the United States. That's because Irish Americans are one of America's biggest ethnic groups. In fact, nearly 40 million people...
March is women's history month, a time when we remember not just women who star in movies or hold elected office, but women who have made an impact by speaking out about injustice. These female whistleblowers call attention to illegal practices at corporations...
Many people know that Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color barrier, and that Barack Obama is the first black U.S. President. But over the course of American history, many African-Americans have accomplished major firsts, with little recognition....
African-Americans have faced many obstacles over the course of history, but this hasn't stopped bright, innovative individuals from developing inventions that have changed the world. From the traffic light to the blood bank, here are some famous African-American...
Baseball, American's national past-time, has a complicated history. Like much of American society in the 1940s, professional baseball was originally segregated, with whites playing in the Major Leagues and African-Americans in the Negro League. But after...
Believe it or not, even celebrities get older, despite the nips and tucks. A whole group of energetic, famous individuals are turning 50 this year. You might be surprised to learn that Paula Abdul, Jeff Dunham, Tom Cruise, and Anthony Kiedis were all...
The 2012 presidential election is 10 months away. Thanks to the large crop of contenders for the Republican nomination, though, we've already had 15 nights of live, televised debate excitement. In fact, in some ways, debates have a lot in common with...
Law & Order was canceled last year, but 2011 brought enough real-life courtroom drama to keep us from ever getting bored. From Casey Anthony to Lindsay Lohan, here are the five people who found themselves at the center of the year's biggest legal...
Rock stars and artists are known for their hard partying ways, so it's no wonder that some die young and tragically. The curse of the 27 club is a theory that comes from the deaths of several very famous musicians who died at age 27, including Jimi Hendrix...
Two celebrities are better than one—which is why it's so enjoyable to watch stars tie the knot. Celebrity weddings are often lavish and expensive, but the real draw is the happy couple. From a reality wedding to a royal wedding, here are the five...
No year is complete without a full range of celebrity meltdowns. Whether they're ranting or raving, running into trouble with the law, or just generally freaking out, these stars manage to keep it interesting. Here's a look at the top five celebrity...
Celebrities and outrageous behavior have always gone hand in hand. In fact, it's their extravagant lifestyles, ostentatious displays of wealth, romantic scandals, and brazen attitudes that keep us coming back for more. Dressing in slabs of meat, leaving...
Boxing great Joe Frazier died on Monday after being diagnosed with liver cancer in September. In his 67 years "Smokin' Joe" Frazier earned the titles of Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion. Frazier was at the top of his game beginning...