
Role Model's a rising star, but he's still homesick for Maine
Apr. 29—Tucker Pillsbury was working on his latest album when he got very homesick for Maine.Pillsbury, known as Role Model to music fans, had already been in Los Angeles for several years, establishing himself as a pop singer and songwriter. But he began thinking a lot about his childhood home in Cape Elizabeth and the music his parents played, by artists like Jackson Browne and Neil Young.
"I just hit a point where I was missing home a lot and my whole taste in music was kind of shifting. I started listening to the music my parents would play around the house, a lot of Americana and folk, and it inevitably started to bleed into my songwriting," said Pillsbury, 27. "I just wanted to think about things that reminded me of home."
His album — "Kansas Anymore" — came out last July and he's been touring the world since. His feel-good TikTok video for the song "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out," showing Pillsbury dancing through a Los Angeles mall, has more than 4 million views, and he made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon Monday night, performing the song.
He'll also join Gracie Abrams on some of her summer tour, including July 23 and 24 at TD Garden in Boston, and will headline his own tour of Europe beginning in November.
@rolemodelSALLY VIDEO OUT NOW DIVA♬ sally when the wine runs out — tucker
Pillsbury came upon his musical voice by accident. He didn't sing in a school chorus or play any instruments growing up, but displayed his creativity by writing and making videos. After graduating from Cape Elizabeth High School in 2014, he went to Point Park University in Pittsburgh to study film. While there he started playing around with some recording equipment left in his room one day. He started performing raps for a while, but decided he'd rather sing. By early 2017 he was performing and under the name Role Model, picked because he loved the Paul Rudd 2008 comedy film "Role Models."
Pillsbury has several tattoos to remind him of Maine, include the script P from the Portland Press Herald logo, on his right hand. Others include a sack of potatoes, a box of strawberries and a lobster trap.
@gq so sweet and sentimental ? #rolemodel #kansasanymore #tattoo ♬ original sound — GQ
With his hectic tour schedule, Pillsbury says it's been harder for him to get home as often as he'd like, but says he has some trips to Maine planned throughout the summer. Sometimes family and friends come to him when he's performing nearby. When he played MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston on April 23, his mom, Susan Pillsbury, danced on stage with him.
"Everyone kept telling me that he was blowing up. I didn't always understand its magnitude until I stepped on stage with him the other night. This very emotional feeling came over me as I joined him on stage and felt the immense energy from his fans," said Susan Pillsbury, a retired special education teacher. "It was truly a dream for me to experience that with him."
@sarahlicciardi just two iconic divas @tucker @noplaceliketour #boston #rolemodel ♬ original sound — sarah
While on tour in April, Pillsbury took a few minutes to talk to the Press Herald about his career so far and the role Maine has played in it.
Where was the video for "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out" filmed?
We didn't have much time to explore different malls and different places. We had about two days and it was Valentine's Day, so we just went to the Beverly Center here in LA. The idea was from the TV show "Impractical Jokers," the time they had one of the guys dancing through a mall with headphones on, kind of disrupting things. I thought, why not make that into a music video and use real people in the mall, and get them to sign waivers, so we could have real reactions. I wanted genuine reactions and that was a cool way to do it.
Had you ever danced through a mall before? Like the Maine Mall in South Portland?
I mean, the Maine Mall is a very special place. I feel like for anyone in their late middle school or early high school years, that was the only place we could hang out with girls and hang out with people from different schools. I'm sure there was dancing going on. There was flirting, first dates and everything. I don't know if I would have had the confidence (then) to dance around.
You've said that the songs on the album were inspired by a break-up, yet "Sally" is so upbeat. Why is that?
The original album was very much about that, the ending of a relationship that I had been in. A few months after the album came out, we were starting to talk about putting out a deluxe version. We had two songs I knew I wanted to put on the deluxe and I thought I should probably write some more, too. I was just in a very different place then, so the song wasn't about heartbreak, it was about my re-entry into dating, kind of finding myself again. It was celebratory, from a more joyous time in my life, for sure.
What are some of the things you like to do when you come home?
I will never miss a Fourth of July in Maine, that's always on my calendar. I love the fireworks and everything on the Eastern Prom (in Portland.) I like to go strawberry picking. I grew up very close to the the strawberry fields and spent a lot of time there. I heard one of them (Maxwell's) closed last year. That's a bummer. Hopefully somebody else will take it over.
I like to go the beach just about everyday. The Old Port at night is my favorite thing ever. I always say, I'm at the point where I have seen a lot of the world, but there's still nothing that comes close to Maine in the summer.
When you toured with Gracie Abrams last year, did you guys talk much about Maine? Her family's from here, right?
I've known Gracie for a long time. She was one of the first people I met when I came out to LA. She found out that I was from Maine, and we talked about it. Her mom is from Maine, and they have family up there. It's beautiful to have someone on tour to talk (about Maine) to. She embraces it in a cool way.
What's the thing you like most about touring and what's the biggest challenge?
Being on stage is truly one of my favorite parts of this whole thing. I don't think there's been a time when I got on stage and didn't have a smile on my face. No matter how bad my day was, as soon as I'm on stage and performing, it will change my mood.
Everything else about touring can be pretty hard on your body and your mind. Not being able to settle anywhere for more than 24 hours and being in a different bed every night, going from hotel to hotel and living out of a bag. It is cool to see new places every day. It's just a unique way to live your life. I have an amazing group of people I tour with, and they make it fun.
Do you think there were things about growing up in Maine that help you deal with the celebrity and touring and all you're going through now?
I think there's a lot. I've always talked about my friends. My best friends in the world are people that I grew up with, that we have been friends since kindergarten. They ground me every time I go home. We plan our trips together, and we hang out the same way we did in high school. Those friends, when I 'm with them, we never, ever talk about my career or anything that's going on with music. Our conversations are pretty much the same as they were when we were 18. I love that, because when I'm in LA I feel like all I'm talking about is myself and my career. I get excited for that, for just the normalcy of Maine.
Copy the Story Link
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Post
26 minutes ago
- New York Post
Meet the lip liner taking over TikTok (and our beauty editor's makeup bag)
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. There are beauty products that go viral, and then there are beauty products that go viral and actually earn their place in your everyday routine. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Liner? It's both. With more than 1,600 glowing reviews and a growing number of celebrity makeup artists, beauty editors (ahem, moi) and TikTok creators singing its praises, this humble pencil is proving one thing: the best tools don't need bells and whistles. They simply need to work— and work well. Listen, I've tried dozens of glossy balms, defining sticks and stains and soft-focus lip formulas, and ABH's Lip Liner is a throwback in the best way possible. It brings back crisp definition and precision, the kind that turns your lip look from 'meh' to 'wow' in 30 seconds flat. This pencil is here to remind you why using a lip liner is a step you shouldn't ignore. Advertisement Anastasia Beverly Hills The formula is magic, and one of my favorites to use. It's creamy enough to glide across your lips without tugging or skipping, but matte and structured enough to stay put. Seriously, it doesn't fade, bleed or smudge, even after my second coffee. It holds that elusive just-right texture that somehow feels effortless and high-performance all at once. This isn't your average twist-up liner. It's a classic wooden pencil that's the unsung hero of my makeup bag. The square-shaped barrel helps keep the pencil from rolling off my vanity and onto the floor (you know it's happened). Plus, it can be sharpened to a razor-fine point, which means I get clean, exact lines when I'm over-lining, contouring or adding to the shape. And, let's talk wearability. This liner locks in. It'll give your lipstick a boundary to hold on to, or it can fly solo for a softly defined, matte lip that still looks put-together. Basically, it's your lip's new best friend. Not to mention, I've tried nearly all of ABH's products and this is one of my go-to picks. Let's be real: not all lip liners are created equal when it comes to shade range. But, ABH understood the assignment. The line includes 22 versatile, real-world shades that include everything from barely-there neutrals to rich berries and bold browns. One of the top fan-favorites is 'Baby Rose,' a light rosy pink that screams, 'your lips, but better.' Impressively, the shades were crafted with undertones in mind. That means there's something flattering for everyone, whether you're fair, deep, warm, cool or somewhere in between. No guessing games, here; just good, honest color that works with your natural beauty, not against it. There's something quietly powerful about a product that doesn't scream for attention, but earns it anyway. ABH's Lip Liner is just that. It's not flashy. It doesn't come with LED lights or scented caps. But it delivers. It's a quiet luxury item that shows up and performs without needing a spotlight. The feel-good factor is very much present, too. The formula is vegan and cruelty-free, and it's made without parabens, sulfates or mineral oil. So, while you're creating the perfect pout, you're also making a clean choice that aligns with modern beauty values. About the brand Behind every great product is a brand that knows what it's doing, and Anastasia Beverly Hills is that brand. Founded by the iconic Anastasia Soare, ABH has been shaping the beauty world (and our brows) for over 25 years. You've seen their magic on some of the most famous faces in the world, including JLo, the Kardashians, Hailey Bieber, and Michelle Obama — and now that same high-level performance is in the palm of your hand, disguised as a simple, square-shaped pencil. I had the opportunity of meeting the lovely Soare and, let me tell you, her makeup was a-glowing. The entire ethos of her brand is providing Hollywood glam at an accessible price point, but without all the fluff. Her products are long-wearing and skin-enhancing, while dabbling in sparkle and fun color every now and then. How I use the lip liner The best part? You don't need to be a makeup artist to use this lip pencil. It's designed to deliver pro-level results even if you're just swiping it on in your car mirror before a coffee run. It sharpens easily, applies smoothly, and lets you control the shape and depth of your lip look with ease. I love over-lining a bit for extra volume to define my cupid's bow. You can also fill in your entire lip region for a soft matte lip. Or, just use it to make your go-to gloss pop. However you wear it, this liner gives you options without overwhelm. At this point, it's not just a product — it's a movement. From Instagram reels to beauty podcasts, the buzz around this pencil is only growing. But the hype isn't based on trends or gimmicks. It's based on consistent, reliable performance. A product that shows up, shows out, and slots effortlessly into every routine. If you've been looking for your 'forever' lip liner — the one you'll rebuy and recommend. The bottom line Anastasia Beverly Hills The Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Liner is one of those rare products that's gone viral for all the right reasons. It's smart, stylish, and functional. It feels luxe, wears like a dream, and pairs beautifully with literally everything in your collection. It's a lip addict's staple. If it's not already in your bag, on your vanity or your lips, it's time to change that. This article was written by Victoria Giardina, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what's truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria's latest conquests include testing the best vitamin C serums on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat review of the best shampoos of 2025. Victoria, who received a beauty industry essentials certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored. Looking for a headline-worthy haul? Keep shopping Post Wanted.


Newsweek
30 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Border Collie in 'Stare Down' at Vets, Then Owner Realizes What He Can See
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A dog has gone viral for his intense reaction to spotting an artwork of a cat while on a visit to the veterinarian's office. Kelsie, who posts to TikTok under the username @kelsieg23, is the proud owner of a border collie, a working breed known for their intelligence, durability—and famous "herding eye," according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). This intense stare intimidates sheep to move through the fields, according to a vet-reviewed report from Wag!. Originally bred to work as herders on farms, border collies kept as family pets have retained their herding eye due to instinct—as proven by a viral video to Kelsie's account. Posted on June 5, and receiving close to 4 million views, the clip shows the blue-eyed collie sitting on the ground and looking upwards, wide-eyed and unblinking. Not moving a muscle, the collie stares intensely at something above him—and the camera then pans to show what's triggered this response. And, rather than prey or any farm animal waiting to be herded, it's revealed to be an artwork of a black cat, its face and paws just visible above the door. When Kelsie pans the camera back to the dog, he's changed his stance—he now stands, closer to the door, with one paw off the ground in a pointing gesture, and still not taking his eyes off the fake cat. Kelsie added to the intensity of the short clip by pairing it with dramatic music from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake," and added as a hashtag in the caption: "Stare down." It proved massively popular, racking up more than 585,0000 likes. "The craziest part is that paper cat will blink first," one commenter joked, as another wrote: "Not him using his eye lasers, pointing leg, and whole body making sure you see it too." Another said the collie was "doing mental calculations on the angle of the ladder he will build and then climb." One praised "the music, the acting, the cinematography" of the video, and yet another predicted "he'll be there for hours." Another commenter, a fan of border collies, wrote: "The tension is outrageous, gotta love herding breeds." The border collie stares intensely at artwork of a cat with the breed's herding eye. The border collie stares intensely at artwork of a cat with the breed's herding eye. TikTok @kelsieg23 In a later video posted to her account, Kelsie proved her pup isn't affected just by artwork of cats, but the real thing, too, as she shared a clip of the border collie having an intense stare-off with her cat in their home. As one commenter summed it up in the original video: "One thing bout collies is they be looking." Newsweek has contacted @kelsieg23 via TikTok for comment on this story. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.


Cosmopolitan
33 minutes ago
- Cosmopolitan
Which colour season are you? How seasonal colour analysis can help you find out whether you're a Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter
The hashtag #coloranalysis has amassed 1.2 billion (yes, billion) views on TikTok alone, and with celebs from Robert Pattinson to Zoey Deschanel hiring professional style consultants to decipher their colour seasons – we can officially report that getting a seasonal colour analysis in 2025 is key to creating your personal style. Ever since TikTok designed their own colour season filters, I've been fixated on finding out which season I fall under. Am I a 'True Autumn' or a 'Dark Winter'? Do I look best in muted earth tones or bold brights? After being categorised as a Soft Autumn by asking ChatGPT to analyse a selection of pictures of me, I revamped my wardrobe with muted greens, rusty oranges, and mellow mustards, but something still felt off. Frustrated and determined to get it right, I visited colour analyst and style consultant Sandy Lancaster at House of Colour to see if seasonal colour analysis lived up to the hype. What is Seasonal Colour Analysis? Popularised by Carole Jackson's Colour Me Beautiful book in the '80s, seasonal colour analysis is a method that categorises individuals into four main seasons—Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter—based on two key factors: undertone (cool or warm) and depth and clarity. Each season has three sub-seasons, refining your palette to focus on the shades that bring you to life. 'Contrast also plays a key role in determining your sub-season,' says Sandy Lancaster, Colour Analyst and Style Consultant at House of Colour. 'Some people shine in high-contrast, bold combinations, while others are better suited to blended, softer transitions.' Undertone: Warm Jewellery: Gold Contrast: Low - Medium Best colours: Coral, turquoise, buttercup, lime green, caramel, khaki If you're always investing in new jewellery but it never seems to mesh with your wardrobe, you might be wearing the wrong finish. 'Springs and Autumns tend to suit gold jewellery better.' says Sandy Lancaster, so if you're a Spring, you'll want to opt for yellow-gold jewellery that mirrors your warm undertone and light and clear colouring. Springs also often present golden or peachy tones and look great in bright, playful colours. Also called 'Warm Spring', people in this subseason are golden, bright and warm and suit vibrant warm tones like coral, scarlet and sunset pink. Light Springs lean warm-neutral, medium bright and very light. They're best suited to soft and fresh colours like warm pastels like light apricot and butter yellow. Think: warm-neutral, high contrast, very bright. These people look great in bold, striking colours like cobalt, true red, lemon yellow and lime green. If you're thinking, 'Hang on a minute, these all sound so similar, could I fit into multiple seasons or sub seasons?', that's where the professionals come in. 'Some people may show traits of more than one season, especially if their features sit on the border between warm and cool or light and dark,' Sandy notes. 'However, a professional analysis narrows it down to one dominant season and the sub-season that brings the most harmony.' One of the top tips for Springs? Stay away from black. Undertone: Cool Jewellery: Brushed or matte silver jewellery and soft pastels. Contrast: Low - medium Best colours: Rose, lavender, eggshell blue, sage green, taupe, soft plum, cool beige Where Springs are soft, warm and bright, Summers are soft, cool, muted and often have rosy or blue-based undertones and light eyes. 'Lighting, preconceptions and online tools can be misleading,' Sandy warns. 'A trained consultant uses precision drapes and natural daylight to see how colour truly interacts with your skin. Most clients are surprised by the results-and delighted once they see the difference wearing their colours can make.' True summers are very cool with lots of lightness and softness and tend to have medium contrast. They look best in colours balanced with a hint of grey, like bluebell, sea green and wisteria purple. Light Summers are soft, light, delicate in colouring with a cool undertone and low contrast. They glow in soft light neutrals like light beige, cool grey and soft white. This subseason is characterised by calm and harmonious, muted, cool and neutral tones. Soft Summers look great in muted neutrals, dusty blues and greens and soft rose and lilac. Undertone: Warm Jewellery: Gold Contrast: Medium Best colours: Gold, rust, olive green, plum, teal, chocolate brown Finally, we have Autumn – the season I was desperate to be a part of but it was just not to be – who have warm undertones, rich and earthy colouring and golden or olive tones. Autumns tend to look incredible in burnt oranges, mossy greens, and brass or copper jewellery. I'm not jealous at all... Okay, maybe I am. In fact, I was so keen to be an Autumn that I asked Sandy whether I could borrow colours from my neighbouring season... 'Your core season will always give the most consistent coordination. It's best to stick to your palette's undertone and clarity level for the most flattering effect,' says Sandy. 'If you do dip into a neighbour's tones occasionally, try wearing those pieces away from your face, like trousers, boots, shoes, etc.' True Autumns are the heart of the season. The palette is entirely warm and yellow-toned with lots of earthy depth and softness. A True Autumn's best colours are gold, butterscotch, salmon, plum and rosemary. Dark or 'Deep Autumns' have lots of depth in their colouring, lean warm and dark and can present contrast. Their best colours are earthy tones like mustard and olive and warm jewel tones like emerald green and maroon. Easily confused with Soft Summers, Soft Autumns share light and muted traits but lean warm instead of cool. They look great in dusty earthy tones like rose and moss and soft neutrals like taupe and light camel. Undertone: Cool Jewellery: Silver Contrast: Deep and high Best colours: Icy brights, jewel tones, high-shine silvers, gunmetal If you assumed people with warm overtones would fall into the warm seasons – Autumn and Spring – think again. 'Finding your colour season is all about undertone, not how light or dark your skin is,' says Lancaster. 'Both cool and warm undertones can exist across all skin depths. It's not about ethnicity or complexion shade-it's about how your skin reacts to and refracts colour.' So, you can imagine my surprise then, when I was categorised as a True or 'Jewel' Winter. Also called 'Jewel Winters' are high contrast, cool and bright and shine in stark black, white and regal jewel tones. These people lean cool-neutral and share traits with True Winters but are more saturated in tone. They look best in deep, dark shades like midnight blue, charcoal grey and royal purple. Again, this subseason's characteristic lean, cool-neutral with extremely crisp contrast. Bright winters often have extremely light or extremely dark hair and look amazing in clear, crisp colours like white, sapphire and ruby. I'm a lover of warm neutrals and love to wear ivory for special occasions, so I won't be culling my wardrobe of my beloved autumn hues. I will, however, trial styling outfits in my new palette, especially using my best colours closer to my face, to see if they really do make my features pop more. Fuchsia is a no from me, but you might catch me rocking more navy and burgundy from now on. Follow Shadé on Instagram. Shadé (pronounced sh-ah-day) is the Senior Fashion & Lifestyle Ecommerce Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. From what to shop in the latest Revolve flash sale to how to style the hottest new trends, she shares shopping advice, reports on new collabs and reviews your fave fashion brands.