To reach the small town on Penobscot Bay, we flew from New York to Portland, and our friends picked us up from the airport for a two-hour drive up the coast.

Belfast was incorporated as a town in the 1700s, but it started to prosper in the 19th century as a hub for maritime workers, the city's website says. For about 100 years, Belfast residents built wooden sailboats, operated steamships, and transported goods, from ice and apples to hay and fertilizer.

Then, in the 1980s, creatives flocked to the town, transforming it into an artists' oasis with galleries and warehouse studios.

The waterfront town has about 7,000 residents.

The architecture in Belfast combines traditional New England-style homes with old-world styles from the Italian and Greek Revival eras, the Boston Globe reported. This gave the town a European twist on the classic New England aesthetic.

My friends said Belfast gets tourists in the summer, but it didn't feel crowded. We never waited too long for a table at a restaurant, and I didn't see many large groups.

I saw more historic inns than traditional hotels, which could be because tourists visit for unique accommodations.

The inns looked like gigantic mansions, and seeing them up close made me wish I'd booked just one night in a place like the Jeweled Turret Inn. The bed and breakfast, decorated with antiques, is a 19th-century Victorian landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

There's also the Alden House Inn, a Greek Revival building dating back to 1840. I spotted its porch filled with guests on a weekend afternoon and longed to hang out there.

Belfast is pedestrian-friendly, scoring 71 out of 100 on Walk Score.

From my friends' apartment, we reached hiking trails, the waterfront, and the downtown area — all on foot.

My friends also live steps away from a farmers market and the Belfast Armistice Bridge, which pedestrians use to cross the Passagassawakeag River.

My friends live less than 5 minutes from the Rail Trail that runs along the Passagassawakeag River.

I spent one day working remotely from Belfast, and we took a quick hike during my lunch break.

I was impressed by the hillside views and the landmasses in the distance, covered in rich green trees. It was an ideal place to refresh in the middle of a shift.

My friend told me one of the coolest things about Belfast is that there are so many local shops. There's no Walmart, Target, or Costco in town. The only brand-name stores I saw were Walgreens, CVS, and Dollar General.

The Press Herald reported that Maine towns are known for their small businesses. Belfast, in particular, has a plethora of locally owned retailers, from a general store and a DVD rental store to shops selling vintage dollhouses and handmade clothing and furniture.

We went to a farmers market selling local produce and foods during my trip, and my friends cooked up a feast.

We had a watermelon and feta salad, roasted duck, lobster mac and cheese, and potato salad with duck fat and herb-infused dressing: dill, parsley, and garlic scapes.

The ingredients tasted so fresh, as did the local pastries and bagels we got for breakfast.

Acadia National Park is just a 90-minute drive from Belfast. We took a day trip there on a Saturday, and I was surprised to find it wasn't as crowded as most national parks I've visited on weekends.

The coastal park, surrounded by islands, looked majestic in the hazy weather. We hiked through forests to the rocky coastline, where we went tide-pooling and found a massive cave. It was even more picturesque than the trails in Belfast, and it helped me see how the state of Maine inspired my favorite American writer, Stephen King.

My friends in Maine have a super sweet, active dog named Zeus. He accompanied us on nearly every adventure during our trip, from restaurants to the Rail Trail to Acadia, one of the most dog-friendly national parks in the US, according to the NPS.

Having Zeus with us made the trip so much goofier and more fun. It wouldn't have been the same without him.

Aside from being a unique town with so much to offer, Belfast would be an ideal destination for tourists looking to travel sustainably. Eco-travel experts have said that supporting local businesses and getting around without a car are responsible practices for the health of our planet.

During my next trip to Belfast, I'll spend more time browsing local shops, book a stay at a historic inn, and take more day trips to places like Portland. Plus, I'd love to see Acadia on a day with clear skies.

One of the most successful bands of all time, Alabama has sold over 56 million records, per the The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has scored 43 No. 1 hits. It also has 11 multi-platinum albums and two Grammys. The band, which formed in Fort Payne, Alabama, sold more records during the '80s than any other band. Not only is their success impressive by any measure, but they also did a lot to make country music popular in the mainstream.

Jeff Cook, a founding member, lead guitarist, and fiddler for the band, died at 73 in 2022, at his Florida home, leaving behind a legacy as a key architect of the group's signature sound.

Alaska was far away from the rock 'n roll scene that defined the late 1960s and continued into the '70s in the continental United States, and rarely have any bands found success beyond the state's borders. That is, until Portugal. The Man exploded into the alt/indie rock scene.

Since releasing its debut album "Waiter: You Vultures!" in 2006, the band from Wasilla, Alaska, has become an indie-rock phenom, hitting major stops on the festival circuit and collaborating with artists including "Weird Al" Yankovic, Tom Morello, and Danger Mouse.

The band's biggest claim to fame is its 2017 hit single "Feel It Still," which dominated the airwaves and earned the group its first and only Grammy Award for best pop duo/group performance.

The first of the many shock-rock bands of the '70s, Alice Cooper kept fans entranced with their gender-bending outfits and dark onstage theatrics — concert-goers could expect performances to include stunts like Cooper's faux-beheading via guillotine.

But it's the music that kept fans coming back for more, and their riff-heavy brand of hard rock produced a string of hits, including "School's Out" and "Be My Lover." Alice Cooper was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.

Despite the goth-metal style that now defines Evanescence, they got their start as a Christian rock band after forming in Little Rock, Arkansas. In fact, their 2003 debut album, "Fallen," which produced hits "Bring Me to Life" and "My Immortal" and won the band two Grammys, was released during their religious days, reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Christian chart.

However, following a profanity-laden article in Entertainment Weekly in which band founders Amy Lee and Ben Moody renounced their affiliation with Christian music, polarizing many Christian fans, Evanescence turned toward a more secular fan base.

The band has released a total of five studio albums, with a sixth in the works, and they announced a worldwide tour that will start in summer 2026.

During the '60s and '70s, the Laurel Canyon scene in Los Angeles was home to some of the rock world's biggest hits, including Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, The Eagles, and The Byrds. Then you had the Bay Area, the epicenter of the counterculture movement, which spawned the careers of Janis Joplin and Jefferson Starship.

But no one was quite as popular as the Grateful Dead.

In addition to some of the best songwriting in rock history, the band's free-flowing jams, Jerry Garcia's epic guitar solos, and the cosmic drum duets from Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart earned the Dead one of the most devout fanbases of all time: the Deadheads. Unlike other bands on this list, The Dead didn't win stacks of awards or sell a record-breaking number of albums. For Jerry and the band, it was all about the live experience; there was just this spiritual energy of seeing the Dead live that no other band has matched since.

Other major bands from California include The Eagles, Van Halen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Go-Go's, Green Day, No Doubt, and Maroon 5.

In 2015, OneRepublic's third album, "Native," reached 1 million in sales, Billboard reported, following the example of their 2007 debut, "Dreaming Out Loud," which also hit 1 million. In 2024, they released their sixth studio album, "Artificial Paradise."

They were nominated for a Grammy for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals for their single "Apologize," with Timbaland, in 2009.

The band, which formed in Colorado Springs, is best recognized for singles "Stop and Stare," "Good Life," and "Counting Stars," all of which became Top 40 hits.

Brother and sister team Richard and Karen Carpenter, who were born in New Haven, endeared themselves to the world throughout the 1970s with classic hits like "Top of the World" and "Rainy Days and Mondays."

The pair went on to win three Grammys and host their own variety show on NBC for a short period.

Though Karen died in 1983, her legacy lives on through a previously unreleased solo album released in 1996.

Though often looked down on by blues purists, George Thorogood and the Destroyers' catchy blues-pop sound earned them widespread popularity and five gold albums throughout the '80s, including 1982's "Bad to the Bone." And they can thank their home state for launching their career — the band's first gig together was a show at the University of Delaware in 1973.

The band will be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville as part of the 2026 class.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' career spanned almost 40 years and included classic hits like "American Girl," "Refugee," and "Don't Do Me Like That." Their third album, "Damn the Torpedoes," went platinum and cemented the Gainesville band as bona-fide rock stars.

Petty, who died in 2017, was also known for taking a stand against the music industry, most notably by declaring bankruptcy to get out of a contract in 1979 and later threatening to withhold his new album until the label lowered its price, per History.com.

Other famous bands from Florida include Lynyrd Skynyrd, NSYNC, and the Backstreet Boys.

Hailing from Athens, Georgia, R.E.M. was founded in 1980 after drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe all met as students at the University of Georgia.

Between 1982 and 2012, when the band amicably broke up, R.E.M. released 15 albums, six of which went platinum; many others reached gold. The band has won three Grammys from 13 nominations and has released countless songs that have broken into the Billboard Top 10 and Top 40, including "Losing My Religion" and "The One I Love."

Thanks to Buck's iconic 12-string arpeggios, Stipe's cerebral lyrics, and efficient yet catchy rhythms from Berry and Mills, R.E.M. is celebrated as a pioneering alternative rock band that paved the way for '90s grunge and post-punk icons, including Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and The Smashing Pumpkins.

Pepper might be from Hawaii, but don't expect any classic island tunes from the alt-rock trio. The band combines elements of pop, reggae, and punk for a raw yet lively sound.

Pepper released its first full-length album, "Give'n It," in 2000, but found mainstream success with 2002's "Kona Town" and its breakout hit "Give It Up."

Built to Spill formed in Boise in 1992 and first gained critical attention with 1994's "There's Nothing Wrong with Love."

After signing with Warner Brothers in 1995, they released "Perfect from Now On," which diverged from the band's signature short, poppy sound. But the band continued to plug away, and, despite a rotating cast of members and a short hiatus, they're still making music.

In 2022, they released their ninth album, "When the Wind Forgets Your Name."

Earth, Wind & Fire is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed bands of the '70s. The band's breakthrough album, "That's the Way of the World," released in 1975, introduced the hit single "Shining Star" and was followed by a stream of five consecutive multiplatinum albums. Earth, Wind & Fire has also taken home six Grammys out of an impressive 17 nominations, and the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Earth, Wind & Fire has lost several key members over the years — including founder Maurice White, drummer Fred White, saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk, and guitarist Sheldon Reynolds — but the band continues to perform and tour, carrying on its legacy with longtime members, such as Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson, and Verdine White, and other long-serving bandmates.

Other famous bands from Illinois include Chicago, The Smashing Pumpkins, Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon, and Styx.

Composed of five brothers — Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, Tito, and Michael — the Jackson 5, from Gary, Indiana, made music history in 1970 as the first recording artist whose first four Motown singles all became No. 1 hits.

The brothers immediately rose to stardom and sold out 20,000-seat venues within the year, performing hits like "ABC," "I Want You Back," and "I'll Be There."

One of the most prominent nu-metal bands of the '90s, Slipknot was known as much for its image as its music. The band, which is from Des Moines, performed in matching black jumpsuits and horror-themed Halloween masks and used numbers as stage names.

Their self-titled debut album went platinum in 2000, making them the first band on their label, Roadrunner Records, to do so. The band's annual festival, Knotfest, has turned into the world's most popular hard rock and metal festival.

Best known for hits "Carry on Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind," Kansas formed in Topeka in 1973. Throughout their 40-year career, the rock legends have sold over 23 million records, per RIAA, and produced 12 gold albums and five multi-platinum albums.

A fun fact: "Dust in the Wind" has been played on the radio more than 3 million times.

My Morning Jacket formed in Louisville in 1998 and released their alt-country debut album, "The Tennessee Fire," the following year.

Their 2005 album "Z" marked a major turning point in the band's history: "Z" laid the foundation for the dreamy jams off "Evil Urges" and the two "Waterfall" albums and paved the way for My Morning Jacket to become one of the most successful contemporary rock bands.

The Jacket is also known for its legendary live performances and made history in 2008 after delivering a nearly four-hour show at Bonnaroo.

The Neville Brothers are an R&B group famously known for embracing their hometown of New Orleans. They won a Grammy in 1989 for best pop instrumental performance and have closed out the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival for years.

Though their last record together was released in 2004, the brothers reunited for a farewell show in NOLA in 2015, USA Today reported. Charles Neville died in 2018, and Art Neville died the following year.

All Portland natives, the Rustic Overtones formed over 30 years ago and released their third full-length — but first commercially successful — album, "Rooms by the Hour," in 1998.

Its 2007 album "Light At The End" was the fastest-selling local album in the state of Maine's history, the Portland Press Herald reported at the time. Perhaps Rustic Overtones' biggest claim to fame is being the first band ever broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio.

The band has a unique style of indie rock pulling from blends of soul music, punk, and jazz. Rustic Overtones has worked with an array of artists over the years, including Imogen Heap and Funkmaster Flex.

In more recent years, The Ghost of Paul Revere, a Portland-based folk trio, has risen to prominence in the state, with its song "Ballad of the 20th Maine" becoming the state's official ballad in 2019.

Good Charlotte is a pop-punk band from Maryland that rose to prominence in the early 2000s with their catchy hooks and angst-driven lyrics.

Formed by brothers Joel and Benji Madden, the group broke through with their 2002 album, "The Young and the Hopeless," which featured major hits such as "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous," "The Anthem," and "Girls & Boys." The RIAA certified it as quadruple platinum in 2025.

The band's awards over the years have included an MTV Video Music Award and Teen Choice Awards, indicating their mainstream success.

Other Maryland bands include The Orioles and All Time Low.

Aerosmith might be known as the "bad boys from Boston," but since they actually got their start in New Hampshire, arena-rock band Boston is the most famous band formed in Massachusetts.

The group released their eponymous debut album in 1976, which sold more than half a million copies in just a week, jumping straight to the top of the charts and spawning several hits, including "More Than a Feeling" and "Peace of Mind." The album was so successful that Boston became the first band in history to play its debut concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Tommy DeCarlo, Boston's lead vocalist who rose from devoted fan to frontman after Brad Delp's death, died at 60 on March 9, following a brief battle with brain cancer.

One of the most successful Black vocal groups of all time, the Temptations, originally known as the Elgins, formed in Detroit in 1961 when two groups merged — Otis Williams and the Distants and the Primes.

Now considered a classic example of Motown's signature sound, the group rose to prominence with hits like "My Girl" and "Since I Lost My Baby," produced under the inimitable Smokey Robinson. Taking a nod from Sly and the Family Stone, the group released the 1968 psychedelic soul hit single "Cloud 9," which won the group and Motown their first Grammy Award.

During its heyday with Motown in the 1960s and '70s, The Temptations produced 37 Top 40 hits, 15 Top 10 hits, and four No. 1 hits. And that was only on the pop charts; the group dominated the R&B charts with 15 No. 1 singles and 17 No. 1 albums.

Several members of The Temptations' classic lineup have died over the years, including David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Dennis Edwards.

Though Prince and the Revolution had achieved considerable success beforehand, it was the 1984 film release of "Purple Rain" — and Prince's accompanying soundtrack — that launched the group into superstardom. The "Purple Rain" album sold over 13 million copies, spent 24 weeks at the top of the charts, and produced hits "When Doves Cry," "Purple Rain," and "Take Me with U."

Prince was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, his first year of eligibility. He died in 2016, aged 57, at his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota.

Three Doors Down, from Escatawpa, Mississippi, hit it big in the early 2000s with radio-friendly singles "Here Without You," "Kryptonite," and "When I'm Gone."

The post-grunge band saw three albums go multi-platinum, including 2000's "The Better Life," which has gone platinum seven times and became one of the best-selling albums of the year, per Billboard.

Ike and Tina Turner were a wildly successful duo for nearly 20 years, topping R&B and pop charts, touring with the Rolling Stones, and winning a Grammy for their song "Proud Mary." In 1976, Tina left what she described as an abusive relationship with Ike and went on to build her own successful solo career.

Tina Turner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2021. She died in 2023, at age 83. Ike Turner died in 2007.

The nearly 20-year career of Silkworm, who formed in Missoula, was cut short in 2005 when their drummer, Michael Dahlquist, was killed in a car accident.

In February 2013, filmmaker Seth Pomeroy released "Couldn't You Wait?" a documentary that tells Silkworm's story from their start as childhood friends to their final days together.

The remaining band members went on to form a new band called Bottomless Pit.

Bright Eyes is the main creative vehicle for Omaha-born Conor Oberst. The band has had some notable success on the charts: In 2005 its album "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and its 2007 album "Cassadaga" peaked at No. 4. A

After a nine-year hiatus, the band released a new album, "Down In the Weeds, Where the World Once Was," in 2020. In 2024, it released "Five Dice, All Threes."

In 2015, Imagine Dragons earned its first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart with "Smoke + Mirrors."

The Las Vegas band entered the spotlight with their Grammy Award-winning single "Radioactive," from their 2012 debut album. The song held the record for the longest time on the Hot 100 — 87 weeks, or almost two years — until The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" overtook it in 2021.

Other famous bands from Nevada include The Killers and Panic! At The Disco.

Aerosmith is one of the most recognizable '70s rock bands and one of the biggest comeback stories in rock history. Aerosmith was flying high and on its way to rock royalty after the release of "Toys in the Attic" and "Rocks" in 1975 and 1976, respectively.

But the band's struggle with drug and alcohol abuse took its toll, leading guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford to temporarily leave the band. Aerosmith seemed to be on the brink of no return until Run-D.M.C. released a cover of "Walk This Way" and catapulted the band back to the mainstream.

Though they're billed as the "bad boys from Boston," many people don't know that Aerosmith formed in New Hampshire before making it big. Lead singer Steven Tyler and Perry spent summers together as children, and the band played at small venues and high school proms throughout the state before making a name for themselves nationally.

Bruce Springsteen himself inducted the E Street Band into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, in celebration of the 40 years they spent working together. One of America's most beloved musicians, Springsteen — also known as "The Boss" — is most famous for the work he did with the E Street Band, whom he met in Asbury Park.

Springsteen has released multiple albums that have gone platinum — including his first, 1972's "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." — and achieved global fame after the release of the 1975 album "Born to Run." He got his own biopic in 2025, "Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere."

Other famous bands from New Jersey include Bon Jovi, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, My Chemical Romance, and The Jonas Brothers, who were recently inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Frontman James Mercer started The Shins as a side project in 1996 in Albuquerque, but it quickly evolved to be the state's most notable rock band.

After the soundtrack of the 2004 film "Garden State" included the songs "Caring Is Creepy" and "New Slang," the Shins began earning a significantly larger audience. The band's next album after the movie, 2007's "Wincing the Night Away" peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, cementing The Shins as the Southwest's indie darlings.

Other famous bands from New Mexico include The Fireballs and Xit.

There are plenty of famous bands from New York — The Beastie Boys, The Velvet Underground, and KISS, to name a few — but few have the influence and reputation of The Ramones, who have innumerable hits, including "Blitzkrieg Bop," "I Wanna Be Sedated," and "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker."

There's even a street in Manhattan named Joey Ramone Place, after the lead singer who died of cancer in 2001.

Wilmington's The Charlie Daniels Band, with its rotating cast of musicians, has been an icon of country music since the 1970s.

Their eclectic blend of Southern rock and hardcore country has earned them numerous awards and recognitions, including a Grammy Award.

The band's most famous contribution to the annals of rock and country music is without a doubt "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," which features one of the best fiddle solos ever performed.

Bobby Vee and The Strangers, originally called The Shadows, first performed publicly on "The Day the Music Died" — the group filled in for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper at a gig in Moorhead, Minnesota, after the three famous musicians were killed in a plane crash in 1959.

The then-15-year-old Vee would go on to earn two gold albums, 38 songs in the Billboard Top 100, six gold singles, and 14 Top 40 hits.

Twenty One Pilots, from Columbus, Ohio, is made up of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun. They are known for fusing alternative rock, hip-hop, and electronic elements.

They broke into the mainstream with the 2015 album Blurryface, which produced major hits like "Stressed Out," "Ride," and "Heathens." The band has earned significant recognition, including a Grammy Award for best pop duo/group performance in 2017 for "Stressed Out," as well as multiple Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards.

Other famous bands from Ohio include the Isley Brothers and The Black Keys.

The Flaming Lips, formed in Norman, Oklahoma, in 1983, have only had one hit single in the US, "She Don't Use Jelly," released in 1993.

However, they have earned three Grammy Awards, multiple hit singles in the UK and Europe, and a large indie following.

The band is known for its energetic live performances that feature mesmerizing light shows and wacky stage props like giant robots and laser hands.

No band embodies the woodsy vibe of Portland, Oregon, better than The Decemberists. Since forming in 2001, the band has earned a Grammy nomination and performed at Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign stop in Portland.

The Decemberists' sonic architecture — founded on strong lyric writing and a diverse range of folk textures — and whimsical live performances, which usually feature a historical reenactment of sorts, have helped the band become darlings of folk-pop music.

Frontman Colin Meloy and co. scored their biggest success to date with the 2011 studio album "The King Is Dead," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Duo Daryl Hall and John Oates formed Hall & Oates in the early '70s and released their debut album, "Abandoned Luncheonette," in 1973.

Hailing from Philadelphia, the pair garnered national attention throughout the '70s and '80s with hits such as "Maneater" and "Sara Smile."

The band won three American Music Awards in the early '80s. More recently, both members released solo albums amid a now-resolved but lengthy legal battle.

Best known for their hits "Psycho Killer," "Life During Wartime," and "Once in a Lifetime," Talking Heads were successful with audiences and professional critics.

Though they rose to fame in New York, the three founding members, David Byrne, Chris Frantz, and Tina Weymouth, began practicing together at the Rhode Island School of Design before becoming Talking Heads.

The band added their fourth member, guitarist Jerry Harrison, shortly before releasing their first single, "Love Goes to Building on Fire"/"New Feeling," in 1976.

Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim Sonefeld formed Hootie & The Blowfish after meeting in the late 1980s at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Over the next 10 years, they attracted a following throughout the East Coast before releasing their 1994 debut album, "Cracked Rear View," which sold over 16 million copies in the US.

Formed in Sioux Falls in 2002, the pop-punk quartet The Spill Canvas has toured with big-name acts including Motion City Soundtrack, Plain White T's, and OneRepublic.

After a nearly two-year hiatus, The Spill Canvas funded their 2012 comeback album, "Gestalt," with the help of fans on Kickstarter.

The Tennessee Three began as the Tennessee Two, with Luther Perkins and Marshall Grant backing Johnny Cash, and expanded to the Tennessee Three with the addition of drummer W.S. Holland in 1958.

During the 1980s, the band's lineup changed and expanded, and they were called The Great Eighties Eight. Though Johnny Cash participated in various group and solo ventures throughout his long career, with the Tennessee Three, he achieved mega-hits such as "I Walk the Line" and "Folsom Prison Blues."

The band played with Cash through 1999. After the singer's death, the group reformed and released the tribute album "The Sound Must Go On." They've toured the globe playing to Cash fans and in 2012, released the album "All Over Again." Cash won a myriad of awards for his music, most of which feature the Tennessee Three as the backing band.

Other famous bands from Tennessee include Kings of Leon, Paramore, Little Big Town, The Band Perry, and Lady A.

Hailing from Houston, ZZ Top was one of the biggest rock acts of the '80s, with huge hits such as "Legs," "Sharp Dressed Man," and "Gimme All Your Lovin'."

In 2004, the bearded, sunglasses-wearing duo, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill, and their drummer, Frank Beard, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The four older siblings from the Mormon musical group from Salt Lake City made their big debut on the "Andy Williams Show" in 1962, with the others joining later.

Some of the Osmond siblings, most notably Donny, Marie, and Jimmy, dabbled in solo careers, yet continued to collaborate with the group. The Osmonds have reportedly sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.

Jam band Phish has a cult following that rivals that of the Grateful Dead. The original members — Jon Fishman, Trey Anastasio, and Jeff Holdsworth (who left the band in 1986) — met at the University of Vermont and were later joined by bassist Mike Gordon and keyboardist Page McConnell. The band was officially formed in 1983.

In 1997, the band hosted The Great Went, a music festival in Limestone, Maine, which drew a crowd of 62,000 and was the top-grossing concert of that summer.

The Charlottesville-based Dave Matthews Band quickly grew a strong fan base after releasing their live debut album in 1991. "Remember Two Things," their 1993 independently released live album, debuted at No. 1 on the college charts and was later certified platinum.

Today, Dave Matthews Band has sold over 30 million records worldwide and became the first band to have six consecutive studio albums that debuted at No. 1 on Billboard, Billboard reported.

Nirvana rocketed to fame with their single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" off the 1991 album "Nevermind," which brought grunge-rock to the mainstream.

The band officially formed a few years earlier, in 1987, when guitarist and vocalist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic began performing at local parties in the Seattle region.

In 1990, Dave Grohl joined Nirvana as the drummer. The band's tragic end came in 1994 with Kurt Cobain's suicide, though their music continued to inspire and impact the grunge movement.

Other famous bands from Washington include Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters.

Minor Threat's song "Straight Edge" pioneered (and named) the drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle — one that goes against the wasted-punk-rocker stereotype. The band formed among a wave of punk bands in Washington, DC, and though Minor Threat's career lasted only three years, its influence can still be found in punk music to this day.

After the band's dissolution, frontman Ian MacKaye played with numerous groups before forming Fugazi in 1987.

Asleep at the Wheel got their start in Paw Paw, West Virginia, in 1970, when they opened for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna.

Since then, they have continued to dominate American country and Western music, winning eight Grammy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement in Performance, not to mention a few chart-topping songs along the way. They continue to tour.

When the Violent Femmes released its critically acclaimed eponymous debut album in 1983, the band was nothing more than an underground sensation — in fact, it took eight years for the album to go platinum, Pitchfork reported. But over the years, the band has evolved into one of the most important and popular post-punk groups, as proven not only by its music but also by the fact that the Femmes' acoustic style inspired the MTV show "Unplugged."

In 2015, the Femmes released their first album in 15 years, "We Can Do Anything" — though the critical reception was not too warm — and followed it up with 2019's "Hotel Last Resort."

Teenage Bottlerocket released their debut album, "Another Way," in 2002 on Laramie's communal label, One Legged Pup.

The twin Carlisle brothers behind the group — Ray on bass and vocals, and Brandon on drums — cycled through various guitarists before finding Kody Templeman.

The band has become a pop-punk mainstay over the years, playing major events like Warped Tour, and is known for its iconic skull-and-rocket logo.

Editor's note: A version of this story was first published in 2022 and was most recently updated in March 2026.

For this recipe, I used thin-cut, bone-in pork chops. After patting them dry, all I needed to do was coat each one with a drizzle of olive oil and give it a little massage.

Next, I had to season the chops. The recipe suggests using the McCormick chipotle-and-roasted-garlic seasoning. However, you can easily create your own blend depending on what you like.

I made one with salt, pepper, roasted garlic, onion powder, and chipotle pepper. (This technically meant I used a little more than three ingredients, but I didn't mind at all.)

The only other prep I had to do for the recipe was preheating my air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

No matter what type of air fryer you have, though, just be sure to give each pork chop enough room in the basket. This will help them to cook evenly.

My air fryer has two baskets, so I cooked one pork chop in each basket for 10 minutes on one side and five minutes on the other.

Because the meat was sliced thin, my pork chops cooked up very quickly. This recipe works with thicker chops, but you'll need to increase the cooking time.

Whether you choose bone-in or boneless pork chops is up to you, but I find bone-in pork chops to be more flavorful.

Within about 15 minutes, my meat was cooked. And, as the recipe said, the pork chops retained their moisture thanks to the olive-oil coating.

This coating also helped the seasoning stick to the meat better, creating a nice crust on the chop.

This simple recipe took very little time and effort, and the result was absolutely delicious. Minimal dishes were required, and I loved not having to monitor the chops on the stovetop or preheat my oven, either.

I can't see myself making pork chops in anything but my air fryer after this, and I will definitely be making this quick, easy air-fryer recipe again.

This story was originally published on September 22, 2022, and most recently updated on March 16, 2026.

Arkapaw, who won for "Sinners," was only the fourth woman to ever be nominated for the award and the first to win.

In a heartwarming moment, she asked every woman in the audience to stand up as she thanked them for paving the way.

Madigan received her first (and until this year, only) nomination in 1986 for best supporting actress in the film "Twice in a Lifetime." Forty years later, she finally won for playing the villainous Aunt Gladys in "Weapons."

Buckley, who won best actress for playing Agnes Shakespeare in "Hamnet," became the first Irish person to win best actress — she thanked the country for paying for her family's flights to the ceremony.

The teams from "The Singers" and "Two People Exchanging Saliva" took turns at the podium to accept their respective Oscars for best live-action short film.

This has happened six other times: in 2013 for best sound editing; in 1995 for best live-action short film; in 1987 for best feature documentary; in 1969 for best actress; in 1950 for best documentary (short subject); and in 1932 for best actor.

Baker won for writing, directing, editing, and producing "Anora," which took home another Oscar for its leading lady, Mikey Madison.

In one night, in 1954, Disney took home the Oscars for best documentary feature for "The Living Desert," best documentary short subject for "The Alaskan Eskimo," best short subject (cartoon) for "Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom," and best short subject (two-reel) for "Bear Country."

That means the two are tied, but Baker had a clean sweep of "Anora" wins. The only award it lost was for best supporting actor.

Williams has won five times, for his work on "Fiddler on the Roof," "Jaws," "Star Wars," "E.T. the Extra Terrestrial," and "Schindler's List."

He was nominated for the 54th time in 2024 for "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."

He's been nominated at least once a decade since his first nomination for 1968's "Valley of the Dolls."

His 2023 nomination made the then-90-year-old the oldest nominee ever — he broke his own record one year later.

He was nominated for 58 during his lifetime, from 1932 to 1964. He received a final posthumous nomination (and win) at the 1968 ceremony — best short subject (cartoon) — for "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day."

Gascón was nominated for best actress for her performance in "Emilia Pérez," making her the first trans actor to be nominated for an acting Academy Award. She lost to Mikey Madison.

In 2022, Kotsur took home the best supporting actor award for his role in "CODA" as supportive, yet stubborn, father Frank Rossi.

In "CODA," his wife was played by Marlee Matlin, who was the first deaf actor ever to win an Oscar. She won the best actress statue for "Children of a Lesser God."

She was 21 at the time of her win.

Brody was close to 30 when he won in 2003. In 2025, he won his second Academy Award for his role in "The Brutalist."

Brody has now also joined an elite club of 10 other actors who have won best actor more than once — he's now peers with Spencer Tracy, Jack Nicholson, Marlon Brando, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Cooper, Tom Hanks, Fredric March, Anthony Hopkins, and three-time winners Daniel Day-Lewis and Sean Penn.

Chalamet received his first Oscar nomination in 2018 for his role in "Call Me By Your Name" when he was 23. Seven years later, he was nominated once again for playing Bob Dylan in "A Complete Unknown" at age 29.

He was nominated for his third Academy Award this year, for "Marty Supreme," just a few weeks after he turned 30.

The last time an actor had two best actor nominations to his name before turning 30 was in 1957, when James Dean (posthumously) received two nominations in 1956 and 1957. He died in September 1955 at the age of 24.

DeBose also became the first Afro-Latina woman to win.

In her acceptance speech, she called herself an "openly queer woman of color, an Afro-Latina who found her strength in life through art. And that's what I believe we're here to celebrate. Anybody who's ever questioned your identity ever or find yourself living in the gray spaces? I promise you this: There is indeed a place for us."

Brando portrayed Vito Corleone as an old man with adult children and grandkids, while De Niro played him as a young man who had just emigrated from Italy.

When Joaquin Phoenix won for "Joker," it marked the second time this happened, as Heath Ledger posthumously won for his performance as the Joker in 2008's "The Dark Knight."

Moreno won for playing Anita in the 1961 film "West Side Story" at the 1962 Oscars. Sixty years later, DeBose took home the Oscar for the same role in Steven Spielberg's 2021 remake.

The last time this happened was in 2009, with "Slumdog Millionaire." Here are the other 10 movies this has happened to.

There are two best picture nominees this year that would've joined this list if they had won: "F1" and "Train Dreams."

"Parasite" was also the first foreign-language film to win best picture. Two international films were also nominated this year ("Sentimental Value" and "The Secret Agent"), but they lost to "One Battle After Another."

Streep has won best actress twice, for "Sophie's Choice" and "The Iron Lady." She won best supporting actress for "Kramer vs. Kramer."

Most recently, Italy won for "The Great Beauty," or "La grande bellezza" in 2014, directed by Paolo Sorrentino. He was nominated again in 2022 for "The Hand of God," but lost to Japan's entry, "Drive My Car."

"I'm Still Here," based on the real story of Eunice and Rubens Paiva, was also nominated for best picture and best actress for its star, Fernanda Torres.

"Sentimental Value," which was also nominated for best picture, won best international feature at the 2026 Academy Awards. The film was directed by Joachim Trier, who was previously nominated in this category in 2022 but lost to Japan's "Drive My Car."

This is the first time Norway has taken home this award. "This is a historic moment for Norwegian cinema," Norwegian Film Institute CEO Kjersti Mo told Variety.

Overall, he's been nominated 10 times for "Raging Bull," "The Last Temptation of Christ," "Goodfellas," "Gangs of New York," "The Aviator," "The Departed," "Hugo," "The Wolf of Wall Street," "The Irishman," and "Killers of the Flower Moon."

He's only won once, for "The Departed."

Spielberg's "West Side Story" earned a best director nod. In total, the movie secured eight nominations, winning one. He was nominated again in 2023 for "The Fabelmans," and in 2026 for producing "Hamnet."

His previous best director nominations were for "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1978), "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981), "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982), "Schindler's List" (1993), "Saving Private Ryan" (1998), "Munich" (2005), and "Lincoln" (2012). He won for "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan."

Before "West Side Story," he and Scorsese shared the record for a director nominated in five decades. After "Killers of the Flower Moon," the two are tied once again.

Hopkins' win was one of the most shocking moments of the night — almost everyone had considered Chadwick Boseman in his final performance a shoo-in.

Hopkins took the record from Plummer, who was 82 when he won for "Beginners" in 2012.

He was also nominated in 2010 for "The Last Station."

Plummer died in February 2021 at the age of 91.

Ivory won for the "Call Me By Your Name" screenplay, based on the novel of the same name by André Aciman.

Henry is now 54 and acts sporadically.

O'Neal co-starred in "Paper Moon" with her father, Ryan O'Neal.

She continues to act.

Other notable winners in this category included Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Bobby Driscoll, and Margaret O'Brien.

Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, who married in 2010, were both nominated: Cruz for best actress in "Parallel Mothers," and Bardem for best actor for "Being the Ricardos."

A second couple, Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons, both secured best supporting acting nominations for their roles in "The Power of the Dog."

Cruz and Bardem lost to Jessica Chastain and Will Smith, while Dunst and Plemons lost to Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur.

That record hasn't been broken in over 20 years.

It ended up winning four: best original screenplay, best actor, best cinematography, and best score.

Three movies are tied for second place with 14 Oscar nods: "All About Eve" (1950), "Titanic" (1997), and "La La Land" (2016).

As previously stated, "Titanic" went on to win 11 awards. "All About Eve" and "La La Land" each took home six statues.

That's even longer than the notoriously long "The Brualist," "The Irishman," or "Killers of the Flower Moon."

"'The Broadway Melody' is interesting as an example of an early Hollywood musical, but otherwise, it's essentially bereft of appeal for modern audiences," wrote Rotten Tomatoes.

This year's winner, "One Battle After Another," has a 94% critics score and a 85% audience score.

Prior to Bigelow, just three women had been nominated for directing: Lina Wertmüller for 1975's "Seven Beauties," Jane Campion for 1993's "The Piano," and Sofia Coppola for 2003's "Lost in Translation."

This year, Chloé Zhao was the lone woman nominated for best director. She directed "Hamnet."

She won for "Nomadland." She was nominated once again this year for "Hamnet."

While Yeun lost the award to Anthony Hopkins, his nomination for "Minari" was still a record-breaking moment.

It was mainly rated X simply because it wasn't suitable for kids — the "X" rating was almost brand new in 1969 and didn't have the same connotations as it does today. However, MTV does point out the film has "a fair amount of nudity and some brief scenes of sexual activity."

When it was later re-rated, it earned an R rating.

In total, 10 sequels have been nominated for best picture — "Dune: Part Two," "Avatar: The Way of Water," "Top Gun: Maverick," "Toy Story 3," "Mad Max: Fury Road," "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," "The Godfather Part III," and "The Bells of St. Mary's," plus the two winners.

You may be wondering, what about "The Silence of the Lambs"? The Anthony Hopkins/Jodie Foster joint could be considered a sequel to "Manhunter," but it's really more of a reboot.

She's not the only actor to win an Oscar for portraying an icon, but she was the first to win an Oscar for portraying an Oscar winner.

Renée Zellweger became the second when she won for playing Judy Garland in "Judy" in 2020.

Hepburn won in 1933, 1967, 1968, and 1981 for "Morning Glory," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "The Lion in Winter," and "On Golden Pond," respectively.

Though, famously, she never attended an awards show to collect her statues in person, per The Hollywood Reporter.

McDaniel won the best supporting actress award for "Gone with the Wind," in which she played Mammy, a role that has since been mired in controversy, per the Jim Crow Museum.

Poitier had previously been nominated for his role in 1958's "The Defiant Ones."

He died in January 2022 at 94.

Davis, an EGOT winner, has been nominated four times: twice for best supporting actress for "Doubt" and "Fences" (which she won), and twice for best actress for "The Help" and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."

"For me, it's a reflection of the lack of opportunities and access to opportunities people of color have had in this business. If me, going back to the Oscars four times in 2021, makes me the most nominated Black actress in history, that's a testament to the sheer lack of material there has been out there for artists of color," said Davis in a February 2021 interview with Variety.

Octavia Spencer is right behind her with three nominations ("The Help," "Hidden Figures," and "The Shape of Water"). Whoopi Goldberg, with two, is the only other Black actress with more than one competitive Oscar nomination ("Ghost" and "The Color Purple").

He has been nominated 10 times between 1988 and 2022, earning nods for best supporting actor ("Cry Freedom," "Glory"), best actor ("Malcolm X," "The Hurricane," "Training Day," "Flight," "Fences," "Roman J. Israel, Esq." and "The Tragedy of Macbeth"), and best picture ("Fences").

He has won twice: He won best supporting actor for "Glory" in 1990 and best actor for "Training Day" in 2002.

Warren was nominated in the best original song category for "Dear Me" from the documentary "Diane Warren: Relentless" this year.

In 2026, she lost out on a statue following her 17th nomination.

She won an honorary Oscar in 2022, but she still hasn't taken home a competitive statue, making it the longest losing streak in Academy history.

Tazewell won for his stunning costumes in "Wicked."

Carter won for her work on both "Black Panther" films. She was nominated again in 2026 for "Sinners," but lost.

Joaquin Phoenix thanked Ledger in his 2020 SAG Awards acceptance speech, calling Ledger his "favorite actor."

They shared the award with Sergio Lopez-Rivera, as well.

Pickford wore a bedazzled dress, a large diamond bangle, and a few strings of pearls when she won for "Coquette."

There were actually two Academy Awards in 1930; one in April and then another in November.

Shearer wore a jacket with fur-lined sleeves over her dress when she won the Oscar for her role in "The Divorce."

She finished her outfit with red lipstick, wavy hair, and several pieces of dainty jewelry.

Dressler received the Oscar for her part in "Min and Bill." She wore a dark shift dress and a long necklace.

Hayes wore a classic black dress paired with a pearl necklace and gloves to win best actress for her performance in "The Sin of Madelon Claudet."

Colbert won best actress for "It Happened One Night." She wore a gray suit with a large flower pinned to the lapel and a black hat.

Davis wore a patterned ensemble when she took home the award for best actress for her work in "Dangerous."

She was so convinced that she wouldn't win the Oscar that she wore "an old costume" to the ceremony, Harper's Bazaar reported.

Rainer wore an elegant white coat and styled her hair in an updo to win the Oscar for her portrayal of Anna Held in "The Great Ziegfeld."

Yes, Rainer won back-to-back Academy Awards. Her second win came for her performance as O-Lan in "The Good Earth." For her second win, she wore a high-necked gown with bell sleeves.

Bette Davis won her second best actress Oscar for her role in "Jezebel." She wore a black gown with a cloud-like collar embellishment.

Leigh wore a patterned dress while accepting the Oscar for playing Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind." She completed her outfit with a single pendant, dark lipstick, curled hair, and tons of mascara.

Rogers accepted the Oscar at the 13th annual Academy Awards for "Kitty Foyle" in a brown dress with lace details.

In 1921, attendees were advised to wear "muted tones" because of the ongoing war, The Telegraph reported.

Fontaine won best actress for "Suspicion." She wore a lacy black dress, which she paired with a matching hat and several pearl necklaces.

Jones (second from left) won her Oscar for "The Song of Bernadette." She wore a unique dark gown with white, puffy sleeves and a flower embellishment at the collar.

Bergman wore a dark skirt and blouse when she won the Oscar for her role in "Gaslight." The star finished her outfit by sweeping her hair away from her face.

De Havilland took home the gold for her role in "To Each His Own."

The actor wore a strapless floral gown, complemented by large curls and a pearl necklace.

Young wore a green satin gown with matching gloves to accept the award for "The Farmer's Daughter." Her tiered dress had plenty of ruffles.

Wyman kissed her best actress Oscar for her role in "Johnny Belinda." She wore a white gown with an embellished collar.

De Havilland (second from left) embodied '50s style when she accepted the Oscar for her role in "The Heiress." The actor paired her flower-embellished gown with matching gloves.

Booth won best actress at the 25th Academy Awards for her performance in "Come Back, Little Sheba" in a patterned, long-sleeve dress with matching gloves.

This ceremony was held simultaneously in Hollywood and New York City, and was also the first to be televised.

Hepburn wore a belted Givenchy dress as she accepted the award for her performance in "Roman Holiday." She finished the look with classic eyeliner and lipstick.

Kelly accepted the award for her role in "The Country Girl." The future princess of Monaco topped off her pale-green ensemble with elbow-length gloves, dainty earrings, and an updo.

Woodward, Oscar winner and wife of Paul Newman, accepted her award for "The Three Faces of Eve" in a strapless gown embellished with sewn-on flowers. She kept her hair and makeup simple, allowing her outfit to stand out.

Hayward wore a black dress to take home the Oscar for "I Want to Live!" She also sported a voluminous blowout, white gloves, and red lipstick.

Signoret won the Oscar for "Room at the Top," wearing an off-the-shoulder black dress.

Taylor went floral in a Christian Dior gown to accept her award for "Butterfield 8." Her high-volume hair and white gloves added some serious glamour to her outfit.

Julie Andrews hugged her Oscar for "Mary Poppins" in a pale-yellow gown. The "My Fair Lady" actor topped off her simple dress with a statement necklace and gloves.

Christie wore a shiny gold dress to match the Oscar she won for "Darling." She finished her outfit with a feathery blowout.

Streisand didn't realize her Arnold Scaasi pantsuit was see-through under the lights as she accepted the Academy Award for "Funny Girl." She finished her sequined pantsuit with a sleek bob and lots of eyeliner.

This year featured a rare tie: Streisand shared her award with Katharine Hepburn for "The Lion in Winter," but Hepburn famously attended the Academy Awards only once, to present.

Fonda accepted the Oscar for "Klute" in a black Yves Saint Laurent suit. She parted her sleek, shoulder-length hair to the side to complete her mod ensemble.

Minnelli shone in a bright-yellow Halston dress to accept the award for her role in "Cabaret." She paired her outfit with a colorful choker and a matching bracelet.

Jack Nicholson and Fletcher posed together after their Oscar wins for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Fletcher wore a delicate Champagne-colored gown by Alfred Fiandaca.

Dunaway wore a black Geoffrey Beene dress with a rope belt to accept her award for "Network." She finished her dark outfit with several pieces of gold jewelry.

Keaton accepted the award for "Annie Hall" in a unique Ruth Morley suit. She went for a muted color palette with her layered outfit.

Fonda wore a gorgeous James Reva gown to accept her trophy for "Coming Home." The two-time winner embraced the trends of the '70s in a flowy floral dress.

Field embodied spring in a white Bob Mackie dress with sheer floral cover as she accepted the award for "Norma Rae." She added to the look with lots of eyeliner and teased, voluminous hair.

Spacek took the award for "Coal Miner's Daughter" in a black jumpsuit and kept the rest of her look simple.

Streep won the Oscar for "Sophie's Choice" in a gold Christian Leigh dress while she was pregnant with her second daughter, Mamie (familiar to fans of "We Were Liars"). She finished her outfit with a pink-brown shade of lipstick and curled hair.

MacLaine wore a Fabrice pale-pink suit when she won for "Terms of Endearment." The suit was embellished with an intricate embroidered pattern.

Field cried out her famous, "You like me! You really like me!" in a strapless black dress as she won for "Places in the Heart," her second win in five years. She finished off her outfit with a necklace that looked like a bow.

Page, who won the Oscar for her work in "The Trip to Bountiful," layered a deep-purple velvet cape over her dress. She completed her outfit with chandelier earrings and a warm shade of lipstick.

Matlin paired her pink dress with a floral headpiece when she won for her role in "Children of a Lesser God." She paired her mixed-material gown with peachy lipstick.

Cher famously wore a sheer Bob Mackie ensemble to accept the award for "Moonstruck." From her headdress to her sandals, the star sparkled.

Foster wore a light-blue gown when she took home the Oscar for her role in "The Accused." She kept her hair and makeup simple, letting the ruched gown speak for itself.

Tandy sparkled in a two-piece getup by Giorgio Armani as she accepted the award for her performance in "Driving Miss Daisy." She finished her outfit with a pair of statement earrings.

Bates wore a black gown with shoulder pads to accept her award for "Misery." Her earrings matched the glitzy details on her dress.

Foster took home the gold statue again for her role in "The Silence of the Lambs." This time, she opted for a cream Armani jacket and paisley crystal-encrusted trousers, and went old school with matching gloves. Foster also wore a red pin on her lapel for HIV/AIDS awareness.

Thompson wore an emerald Caroline Charles jumpsuit when she won for "Howards End." She completed her look with red lipstick and curled ringlets.

Hunter wore a black and gray Vera Wang dress with a hint of sparkle when she won for "The Piano." She matched her earrings and bracelet to the glimmering details on her dress.

Lange wore Calvin Klein when she won the award for "Blue Sky." She added a touch of color to her dark, mesh-paneled gown with her bright lipstick.

Sarandon wore a bronze Dolce & Gabbana gown when she was recognized for "Dead Man Walking." She finished off her outfit with tousled hair.

McDormand wore a simple blue dress when she won for "Fargo." She kept her accessories minimal, opting for just one ring and a pair of earrings, a style she still goes by to this day.

Hunt stunned in a strapless blue dress by Tom Ford for Gucci when she won for "As Good as It Gets." She finished off her outfit with a matching wrap, frosty makeup, and a diamond bracelet.

Paltrow wore a baby-pink Ralph Lauren princess gown when she took home the Academy Award for "Shakespeare in Love," one of the most iconic Oscar looks of all time. She topped off her dress with a sheer, tulle wrap, a statement necklace, bright-pink lipstick, and a touch of blush.

Swank wore a strapless green Randolph Duke dress when she accepted the award for "Boys Don't Cry." She glammed up her dress with a dazzling statement necklace.

Roberts wore a black Valentino gown with white accents when she won for "Erin Brockovich."

Berry wore one of the most memorable Oscars dresses when she accepted her award for "Monster's Ball" in a floor-sweeping Elie Saab gown. Her dress had a mesh, floral-embroidered top and a contrasting satin skirt.

Kidman accepted her Oscar for "The Hours" in a black Jean Paul Gaultier dress that had an unexpected, edgy neckline.

Theron rocked a glittering Gucci dress when she won for "Monster." The actor looked very old Hollywood with her hair styled in glamorous waves.

Swank accepted her Oscar for "Million Dollar Baby" in a fully backless Guy Laroche dress. She completed the look with shimmering makeup and a sleek hairdo.

Witherspoon looked radiant in a Christian Dior gown when she won for her performance in "Walk the Line." She completed her outfit with a smoky eye, a simple hairdo, and earrings that matched her dress.

Mirren wore a Christian Lacroix gown when she accepted the Oscar for "The Queen." It looks like she layered a patterned tulle skirt over her lacy, embellished gown.

Cotillard took home the Oscar for "La Vie En Rose." The actor looked glamorous, with sleek curls and a mermaid-inspired dress by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Winslet took home the Oscar for "The Reader" in a one-shouldered, blue-gray Yves Saint Laurent gown. Winslet complemented her two-toned dress with a smoky eye.

Bullock wore a silver Marchesa dress as she accepted the award for her role in "The Blindside." The actor brought some color to her look with bright-pink lipstick.

Portman wore an off-the-shoulder Rodarte dress while accepting the award for "Black Swan." Portman's shoes and earrings perfectly matched her dress. Fun fact: She was four months pregnant at the time!

Streep matched her Oscar for "The Iron Lady" in a gold Lanvin dress. From her accessories to her makeup, she appeared to be dripping in gold.

Lawrence, who won for "Silver Linings Playbook," may have tripped on her way to the stage, but she still looked flawless in this white Christian Dior gown.

Blanchett wore an embellished Armani Privé gown when she took home the award for "Blue Jasmine." She completed her look with delicate curls and large sunburst earrings.

Moore wore a strapless Chanel gown when she accepted the award for "Still Alice." The custom, detailed gown took over 900 hours to make, according to People.

Larson accepted the Oscar for "Room" in a belted, royal-blue Gucci dress. The intricate gown was in the works for two months, per ABC.

Stone wore a vintage-inspired gown when she won the award for her performance in "La La Land." She finished her golden-toned dress with big waves and classic red lipstick.

McDormand won the award for her role in "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," wearing a black dress with a gold pattern. During her acceptance speech, McDormand asked every female nominee in the audience to stand and discussed the importance of inclusion riders.

Colman wore an emerald-green Prada gown that took months to create as she accepted the award for "The Favourite." Colman's gown was draped with a silk organza cape, tied into a giant bow at the back, and covered in Swarovski crystal flowers.

Zellweger won her second Oscar — her first best actress Oscar, for "Judy" — in a custom white Armani Privé gown.

Though tough to see, according to Entertainment Tonight, the gown was covered in beads with pale pink and blue thread.

McDormand wore a navy-blue gown with a feathered bottom and feathered sleeves to win her third acting Oscar for "Nomadland."

With her win, McDormand tied Meryl Streep and Ingrid Bergman with the most Oscar wins for acting. Katharine Hepburn holds the record with four best actress statues.

Chastain dazzled in a sparkly ombré Gucci gown that transitioned from rose gold to lavender as she accepted her first Academy Award for "The Eyes of Tammy Faye."

Feathers accented the angelic Dior Couture gown. The "Everything Everywhere All At Once" star paired the look with a Moussaieff diamond headband and earrings, along with a Richard Mille watch.

Stone accepted her second best actress Oscar (this one for "Poor Things") in a mint-green peplum gown designed by Louis Vuitton, but she made sure to point out during her speech that the zipper had broken at some point during the ceremony.

She blamed Ryan Gosling's spirited performance of "I'm Just Ken."

Madison, who won for "Anora," went for an Old Hollywood look at the 2025 Oscars, wearing a two-toned pink and black satin dress with a bow. It was designed by Dior.