1975 Ultra Classic Was a No. 1 Hit 51 Years Ago Today

1975 Ultra Classic Was a No. 1 Hit 51 Years Ago Today Madz DizonThu, March 12, 2026 at 5:35 AM UTC 0 More than five decades ago, a groovy soul anthem helped bring legendary singer Ben E. King back to the top of the charts. In March 1975, his discosoul hit "Supernatural Thing" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, according to BirthdayJams, marking a major comeback moment in the singer's long and influential career. The upbeat track, released in January 1975 through Atlantic Records, blended smooth soul vocals with the rising disco sound of the mid1970s.

1975 Ultra Classic Was a No. 1 Hit 51 Years Ago Today

Madz DizonThu, March 12, 2026 at 5:35 AM UTC

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More than five decades ago, a groovy soul anthem helped bring legendary singer Ben E. King back to the top of the charts.

In March 1975, his disco-soul hit "Supernatural Thing" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, according to BirthdayJams, marking a major comeback moment in the singer's long and influential career.

The upbeat track, released in January 1975 through Atlantic Records, blended smooth soul vocals with the rising disco sound of the mid-1970s. Its success proved that King's voice, already famous from classic hits like "Stand by Me," still had the power to connect with a new generation of music fans.

Singer Ben E. King performs during the 34th Annual John Lennon Tribute Benefit Concert at Symphony Space on December 5, 2014.Photo by Noam Galai/WireImage (Photo by Noam Galai/WireImage)

"Supernatural Thing," often listed as "Supernatural Thing, Pt. 1," also climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming King's highest pop-charting single since the early 1960s.

By 1975, King was already known as one of the most important voices in rhythm and blues. Born Benjamin Earl Nelson in North Carolina in 1938, he first rose to fame as the lead singer of The Drifters.

Per Britannica, King helped deliver major hits such as "There Goes My Baby" and "Save the Last Dance for Me," during his time with the group from 1958 to 1960.

After leaving the group, he launched a successful solo career. His early solo hits included "Spanish Harlem" and the beloved classic "Stand by Me," which he co-wrote and recorded in 1961.

But as music trends shifted during the late 1960s, King's chart presence slowed. The arrival of the British Invasion and changing pop styles made it harder for many earlier soul artists to stay on top. That changed when "Supernatural Thing" arrived in 1975.

Written by songwriters Patrick Grant, also known as Patrick Adams, and Gwen Guthrie, the track mixed funky bass lines, bright horn sections and disco rhythms. King even sang the song in a higher vocal register than his usual deep baritone, showing how he could adapt to the evolving sound of the decade.

The gamble paid off. The single became one of the biggest hits of his later career and reintroduced his voice to radio listeners across the country.

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"Supernatural Thing" did more than reach No. 1 on the R&B chart. It also became a staple on dance floors and soul playlists thanks to its infectious groove.

The track appeared on King's 1975 album Supernatural, which featured the song split into two parts. Combined, the full version runs for around seven minutes, highlighting the extended grooves popular in disco-era recordings.

The album also included tracks such as "Your Lovin' Ain't Good Enough" and "What Do You Want Me to Do," further showcasing King's blend of classic soul and emerging disco influences.

The success of "Supernatural Thing" helped launch another strong single from the same era, "Do It in the Name of Love," which also landed in the Top 5 on the R&B chart.

The recognition didn't stop with the charts. "Supernatural Thing – Part I" later earned King a nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards in 1976.

Across his career, King recorded dozens of hits and helped shape the sound of modern R&B and soul music. From the late 1950s through the 1980s, he scored five No. 1 songs, 12 Top 10 hits and 26 Top 40 singles.

King's influence was also formally recognized when Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted The Drifters in 1988. The singer passed away in 2015 at age 76, but his music remains a cornerstone of soul and R&B history.

And while "Stand by Me" is often the song most people remember first, the success of "Supernatural Thing" in 1975 showed that Ben E. King's talent could shine across different eras of music.

Related: 1963 Timeless Classic Was a No. 1 Hit 63 Years Ago Today

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1975 Ultra Classic Was a No. 1 Hit 51 Years Ago Today

1975 Ultra Classic Was a No. 1 Hit 51 Years Ago Today Madz DizonThu, March 12, 2026 at 5:35 AM UTC 0 More than five decad...

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Woman accused of shooting at Rihanna's house charged with attempted murder, faces life in prison ...

Ivanna Ortiz was arrested several miles away from the singer's Beverly Crest residence shortly after the March 8 incident. Woman accused of shooting at Rihanna's house charged with attempted murder, faces life in prison if convicted Ivanna Ortiz was arrested several miles away from the singer's Beverly Crest residence shortly after the March 8 incident. By Kathleen Perricone March 10, 2026 9:08 p.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/Rihanna0302248dcd2912ca7a44ddb4ea3b18a22375f7.jpg) Rihanna and her family were not hurt in the shooting.

Ivanna Ortiz was arrested several miles away from the singer's Beverly Crest residence shortly after the March 8 incident.

Woman accused of shooting at Rihanna's house charged with attempted murder, faces life in prison if convicted

Ivanna Ortiz was arrested several miles away from the singer's Beverly Crest residence shortly after the March 8 incident.

By Kathleen Perricone

March 10, 2026 9:08 p.m. ET

Rihanna and her family were not hurt in the shooting. Credit:

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

The Florida woman accused of shooting at Rihanna's home over the weekend has officially been charged with attempted murder.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced that Ivanna Lisette Ortiz was charged with one count of attempted murder, 10 felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and three felony counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or camper.

If convicted as charged, Ortiz faces up to life in state prison.

A police officer is seen outside of Rihanna's home in Beverly Crest on March 8, 2026.

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The *Los Angeles Times* reports the 35-year-old defendant, who is from Orlando, was in court wearing a blue jail jumpsuit "with her hair tied into two blonde braids."

Ortiz's bail has been set at $1.875 million and additionally she was ordered to stay away from Rihanna and her partner A$AP Rocky. She's due back in court on March 25 for arraignment.

Woman who shot at Rihanna's home identified, booked on suspicion of attempted murder

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"Opening fire in any populated neighborhood is extremely dangerous, puts lives at risk and will be fully prosecuted," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement. "Thankfully, no one was injured in this shooting, but this careless violence will not be tolerated in our community. Such shooters will find their next destination to be our jails and prisons."

On March 8, at about 1:20 p.m., Ortiz is accused of driving up to Rihanna's residence in the Beverly Crest neighborhood and firing a semiautomatic weapon multiple times in its direction. Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, their three young children, Rihanna's mother, and two staff members were all home at the time of the incident, "but no one was struck by gunfire," confirmed the D.A.

A law enforcement official told *The Times* that Rihanna and her loved ones "easily could have been hit."

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky in 2025.

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Ortiz fled the scene, but was arrested a short time later in Sherman Oaks, several miles away from Rihanna's Beverly Crest home.

"The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office has been appointed to represent Ivanna Ortiz, who has been charged in connection with an alleged shooting incident near the residence of Rihanna," the Office said in a statement to **. "Because this matter is pending before the Court, our Office cannot comment on the allegations at this time. As in every case, we will work to ensure that our client receives the full protections guaranteed under the Constitution."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

** reached out to representatives for Rihanna and A$AP Rocky for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

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1996 Record Among the 'Best-Selling Albums of All Time' Cemented This Pop Star’s Legacy as a Global Icon

1996 Record Among the &x27;BestSelling Albums of All Time&x27; Cemented This Pop Star's Legacy as a Global Icon Melinda LorgeThu, March 12, 2026 at 5:33 AM UTC 0 (Getty Images) 30 years ago today, on March 12, 1996, Celine Dionreleased her landmark album, Falling into You, in the United States via 550 Music and Epic Records. The project had begun its international rollout earlier that month, arriving in Australia on March 8 and in the UK and across Europe on March 11, giving the collection a gradual, worldwide launch before its US debut.

1996 Record Among the 'Best-Selling Albums of All Time' Cemented This Pop Star's Legacy as a Global Icon

Melinda LorgeThu, March 12, 2026 at 5:33 AM UTC

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(Getty Images)

30 years ago today, on March 12, 1996, Celine Dionreleased her landmark album, Falling into You, in the United States via 550 Music and Epic Records. The project had begun its international rollout earlier that month, arriving in Australia on March 8 and in the UK and across Europe on March 11, giving the collection a gradual, worldwide launch before its US debut.

By the time Dion had dropped the album, she was already 13 albums in and found success with her previous two collections — 1993's The Colour of My Love and 1995's D'eux (a French-language album). Despite having released over a dozen projects, this particular collection solidified the Canadian star as a major global icon.

RELATED: 1974 No 1. Hit Ranked a Greatest 'Love Song of All Time' Turns 52 Years Old Today

The Album Took Home Two Grammy Awards in 1997

The scale of Falling into You's commercial success was astronomical. It went on to sell over 32 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling albums in history. Dion would also be named a best-selling artist of all time, per a list by Business Insider.

The Diamond-Certified body of work also won two Grammy Awards in 1997. They were for Album of the Year and Best Pop Album. Among several other major accomplishments, Falling into You belongs on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Definitive 200 list.

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At a time when vocal pop powerhouses were prominent, Dion was dominating mainstream radio with her singles from the album. Featuring 16 tracks, Falling into You spawned six No. 1 hits in the US and internationally, including "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," "Because You Loved Me," "All by Myself" (an Eric Carmen cover), "If That's What It Takes," "I Don't Know," and "River Deep, Mountain High."

The Project Was Highly Collaborative

Several songwriters and musicians, along with 14 producers, collaborated on the album, lending their expertise to craft a masterpiece with a wide sonic landscape. Each song was carefully shaped with hand-picked musical elements, blending pop synths, soft rock influences, orchestral arrangements, sweeping stringed sections, and radio-friendly sensibilities.

But above all, the album positioned Dion's remarkable voice at the center, showcasing her dynamic vocal delivery to the world, and she could rise to towering notes, such as a sustained high F, and hold it with control and power. Moments like these helped cement the album as a showcase for a once-in-a-generation vocalist whose voice continues to resonate decades later.

Related: 2001 Crossover Classic, Among the Most Powerful Funeral Songs, Was a No. 1 Hit 25 Years Ago Today

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1996 Record Among the 'Best-Selling Albums of All Time' Cemented This Pop Star’s Legacy as a Global Icon

1996 Record Among the &x27;BestSelling Albums of All Time&x27; Cemented This Pop Star's Legacy as a Global...

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Why Nicole Kidman was disgusted by Alexander Skarsgård in Big Little Lies kissing scene: 'Yikes, ...

No matter how gorgeous you are, the Oscarwinning actress will have some thoughts on your lunch order. Why Nicole Kidman was disgusted by Alexander Skarsgård in Big Little Lies kissing scene: 'Yikes, I'm out' No matter how gorgeous you are, the Oscarwinning actress will have some thoughts on your lunch order. By Derek Lawrence :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/derek160e1b72b3389c74b8ca03743731e346949.jpg) Derek Lawrence is a former associate editor at . He left EW in 2022. EW's editorial guidelines March 11, 2026 12:36 p.m.

No matter how gorgeous you are, the Oscar-winning actress will have some thoughts on your lunch order.

Why Nicole Kidman was disgusted by Alexander Skarsgård in Big Little Lies kissing scene: 'Yikes, I'm out'

No matter how gorgeous you are, the Oscar-winning actress will have some thoughts on your lunch order.

By Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence is a former associate editor at **. He left EW in 2022.

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March 11, 2026 12:36 p.m. ET

Alexander Skarsgard and Nicole Kidman on 'Big Little Lies'. Credit:

Here's a free piece of advice to Nicole Kidman's future costars: stay away from falafel sandwiches.

Appearing on the latest episode of the *Las Culturistas* podcast, Kidman shared her personal "I don't think so, honey" with hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.

"I cannot stand bad breath," the Oscar-winner revealed. "This is a deal-breaker for me. You could be the most gorgeous, gorgeous guy, and if you came at me with bad breath, I'm like, no. If I say, 'Breath on me,' and I have to recoil, yikes, I'm out. You could not offer me enough money."

And Kidman puts her money where her mouth is, calling out a gorgeous, gorgeous guy from her past.

"When Alexander Skarsgård ate a falafel sandwich before we did the scenes in *Big Little Lies*, I'm like, 'No, no, no, Alex. I'm meant to be into you and kissing you — put away the falafel now,'" she recalls. "I'm sure he did not eat a falafel ever again. I said, 'No more falafel. Not before you kiss, not before you make love.'"

Alexander Skarsgard and Nicole Kidman pose in the press room at the 69th annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Kidman and Skarsgård starred opposite each other in season 1 of the HBO sensation *Big Little Lies*, playing Celeste and Perry Wright, who, from the outside, look like the perfect couple and family, but Perry was constantly physically and verbally assaulting his wife. Kidman and Skarsgard managed to overcome falafel gate and both deliver Emmy-winning performances.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

Kidman further revealed that she was "relieved" when she temporarily lost her sense of smell after COVID.

"Finally, I was free," she said. Unfortunately, it came back, but that has allowed Kidman to appreciate the person who she believes smells better than anyone else alive — and it's the least surprising news ever.

"Rihanna," Kidman declares. "We don't need to unwind it or decipher it, just know that it's all true. It's intoxicating, like I will follow you around. "

The 15 best Nicole Kidman movies and TV shows, ranked

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Listen to the the full Kidman episode of *Las Culturistas *below.

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Wonder Years star Danica McKellar was 'embarrassed' by how much she loved the taste of her placen...

McKellar is the mother of 15yearold Draco, her son with ex Mike Verta. Wonder Years star Danica McKellar was 'embarrassed' by how much she loved the taste of her placenta after giving birth McKellar is the mother of 15yearold Draco, her son with ex Mike Verta. By Raechal Shewfelt :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RaechalShewfeltauthorphotoc49d3a3b6aa442f588f2bbc0de804e09.jpg) Raechal Shewfelt Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at . She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American Journalism Review and The Shreveport Times.

McKellar is the mother of 15-year-old Draco, her son with ex Mike Verta.

Wonder Years star Danica McKellar was 'embarrassed' by how much she loved the taste of her placenta after giving birth

McKellar is the mother of 15-year-old Draco, her son with ex Mike Verta.

By Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American *Journalism Review* and *The Shreveport Times*.

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March 10, 2026 6:37 p.m. ET

Danica McKellar in 2026. Credit:

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Danica McKellar didn't go into childbirth thinking she was going to taste her placenta, but it sounds like she's glad she did.

The* Wonder Years* actress explained her surprising postpartum culinary experience in a conversation with Bobby Bones on *The BobbyCast*.

"My doula said, do you want to taste the placenta? I'd just given birth," said McKellar. "And I'm like, sure. I mean, you're not even, you're not in your right mind. She gave me a piece of it. Bobby, it was like the best filet mignon that I have *ever *tasted. But more."

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"I was embarrassed about how much I loved it," she added. "It was bizarre. I thought, what is this, some sort of weird satanic.... Am I a cannibal?" McKellar said. "We are meant to have that."

Danica McKellar reveals '80s love triangle with Candace Cameron Bure

Danica McKellar asked to be paired with Derek Hough on 'DWTS'

What McKellar has endorsed unequivocally is parenthood. She's the mom to 15-year-old son Draco Verta, who she shares with her ex-husband, composer Mike Verta. McKellar married Verta in 2009 and filed for divorce in 2012.

Just after she gave birth , McKellar and her then-husband said in a statement to PEOPLE, "We are humbled, overjoyed, and so grateful for this miraculous gift. It's like we've only now just learned the true meaning of love."

The actress also noted that she couldn't remember most of the labor, although she opted not to have an epidural.

Danica McKellar and Fred Savage on 'The Wonder Years'.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

"If I had known it was going to be 36 hours," McKellar said, "I'm not sure I would've been able to do it."

Once she met her little one, there was an instant bond.

She recalled, "There was so much joy in the room and so much relief! It was instant love. It was an amazing, amazing evening."

Since playing Fred Savage's love interest Winnie Cooper in six seasons of *The Wonder Years*, McKellar has appeared on the series *The West Wing* and voiced several characters in animated projects. She's also made a niche for herself starring in holiday movies for TV, previously for Hallmark and now for Great American Family.

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South Korean lawmakers pass law to manage Seoul's pledge of $350 billion in US investments

South Korean lawmakers pass law to manage Seoul&x27;s pledge of $350 billion in US investments KIM TONGHYUNG Thu, March 12, 2026 at 6:53 AM UTC 0 1 / 0South Korea US TariffsThe National Assembly passes a law to implement hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. investments at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, March 12 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Youngjoon) () SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean lawmakers on Thursday passed a law to implement a pledge of $350 billion in U.S. investments Seoul made last year to avoid the Trump administration's highest tariffs.

South Korean lawmakers pass law to manage Seoul's pledge of $350 billion in US investments

KIM TONG-HYUNG Thu, March 12, 2026 at 6:53 AM UTC

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1 / 0South Korea US TariffsThe National Assembly passes a law to implement hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. investments at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, March 12 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) ()

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean lawmakers on Thursday passed a law to implement a pledge of $350 billion in U.S. investments Seoul made last year to avoid the Trump administration's highest tariffs.

Government officials had urged lawmakers to quickly pass the contested bill, submitted in November, as uncertainty mounts for the country's trade-dependent economy, already rattled by President Donald Trump's protectionist swing and now fearing the fallout from his war on Iran.

The bill's passage came hours after the Trump administration increased pressure on trade partners by opening a new investigation into manufacturing in foreign countries, including China and U.S. allies South Korea and Japan, which could result in new import taxes if U.S. officials see their practices as unfair.

Trump and his team have made clear they're seeking to use new tariffs to recoup lost revenue after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated his sweeping tariffs issued with emergency powers.

The South Korean law, which passed 226 to 8, calls for establishing a public corporation to manage the promised U.S. investments, including reviewing and selecting projects based on input from South Korean and U.S. trade authorities.

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Some lawmakers spoke against the bill ahead of the vote, expressing frustration over Trump's new trade investigations and the potential impact of the war in the Middle East, which has exposed the vulnerability of South Korea's export-dependent economy and reliance on imported fuel.

"We cannot be the money machine Trump wants us to be," said Son Sol, a member of the minor opposition Progressive Party. She said the bill does not give the legislature sufficient power to review and reject investments that could go against South Korean business or public interests.

Following months of tense negotiations, South Korea finalized an agreement with the United States in November to invest $200 billion in U.S. semiconductor and other high-tech industries and another $150 billion in shipbuilding in exchange for Washington lowering reciprocal tariffs on Seoul from 25% to 15%.

The agreement, which followed a breakthrough at an October summit between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, also caps South Korean investments at $20 billion a year to protect the country's foreign currency reserves.

Lee's liberal Democratic Party introduced the legislation in November but faced resistance from opposition lawmakers worried about the economic impact. The legislative holdup frustrated Trump, who in January threatened to raise tariffs on South Korean autos, pharmaceuticals and other goods back to 25%, increasing pressure on the opposition to move the bill forward.

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South Korean lawmakers pass law to manage Seoul's pledge of $350 billion in US investments

South Korean lawmakers pass law to manage Seoul&x27;s pledge of $350 billion in US investments KIM TONGHYUNG Thu, ...

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As war spikes gas prices, drivers wonder how long it will last – and if they should go electric

As war spikes gas prices, drivers wonder how long it will last – and if they should go electric ALEXA ST. JOHN and TAMMY WEBBER Thu, March 12, 2026 at 7:19 AM UTC 0 1 / 0Climate Oil Prices ElectricityElectric vehicles charge at a station Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Lincolnwood, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) () When Kevin Ketels bought an electric 2026 Chevrolet Blazer last year, he wasn't thinking about the cost of gas. He just thought EVs were better and "wanted to be part of the future.

As war spikes gas prices, drivers wonder how long it will last – and if they should go electric

ALEXA ST. JOHN and TAMMY WEBBER Thu, March 12, 2026 at 7:19 AM UTC

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1 / 0Climate Oil Prices ElectricityElectric vehicles charge at a station Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Lincolnwood, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) ()

When Kevin Ketels bought an electric 2026 Chevrolet Blazer last year, he wasn't thinking about the cost of gas. He just thought EVs were better and "wanted to be part of the future." Now that the Iran war is spiking prices at the pump, the Detroit man is happy he is no longer filling up his 11-year-old gas-powered SUV.

"Electricity can go up, but it won't go up nearly as much as gas will and it won't go up nearly as fast, either," said Ketels, 55, an assistant professor of global supply chain management at Wayne State University.

Experts say prolonged high gas prices may drive some EV interest and sales, especially if drivers assume their electricity prices won't be affected by the crises.

But many factors influence consumer EV purchases — and electricity rates.

Are EV owners truly insulated from price hikes?

Drivers of gas-powered vehicles are much more vulnerable to fluctuating prices that result from global conflict than those who charge their cars. The national average for a gallon of regular gas this week was $3.57, up from $2.94 a month ago, according to AAA.

Meanwhile, "residential electricity prices are regulated and are much less volatile than gasoline prices," said University of California, Davis economics professor Erich Muehlegger. "As a result, EV owners are largely unaffected by oil price shocks."

But experts say electricity prices have been increasing nationally for a variety of reasons, including surging power demand from new data centers.

"This is an inflationary event," Holt Edwards, principal in Bracewell's Policy Resolution Group, said of the war. "Is this the driver in electricity prices? I think probably not. But it's certainly a contributing factor."

To what extent oil and gas conflicts could translate to the electricity sector is yet to be seen.

What about how different grids are powered?

When it comes to the electricity an EV owner is tapping, much of the cost depends on which sources of electricity are in a local grid's power mix, experts say.

Because regulators set residential electricity prices annually, most households are sheltered from month-to-month changes in natural gas costs. Though experts say higher natural gas prices can increase the cost of generating electricity, natural gas prices haven't risen as quickly or as much as oil prices have recently.

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Those are just two of many energy sources — including coal, nuclear and renewables — that power the electric grid.

"The energy component varies depending on the energy you're using and the price of the energy that you're using to generate electricity," said Pierpaolo Cazzola, an energy expert at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy. "What happens is that in the U.S., the variation of the price of the energy component is smaller than it is elsewhere."

The experts said persistent war could affect electricity bills in the future. And that is all the more reason for countries to transition to clean power, they said.

"Clean power and electrification combined is what provides the most security," said Euan Graham, an analyst at energy think tank Ember.

Michael B. Klein, a 56-year-old software developer in Evanston, Illinois, has driven EVs for the past eight years to save on fuel costs and because of environmental concerns.

Every time electrical grid efficiency improves — especially as renewables are added — "I get that benefit no matter what," said Klein, who drives a Chevy Bolt. "They can improve the efficiency of gas engines, but you have to get a new car in order to reap the benefit of that."

So will EV demand rise?

Several experts say high gasoline prices are a strong driver of EV sales, particularly if high prices persist. Drivers also consider more gasoline-efficient hybrid vehicles during these times.

Car-shopping resource Edmunds analyzed consumer shopping data for the week starting March 2, after the Iran war had begun. They found that interest in hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery EVs accounted for 22.4% of all vehicle research activity on their site that week, up from 20.7% the previous week. Analysts also looked back at the last major nationwide fuel price surges in 2022, and they saw that consideration of electrified vehicles consideration rose sharply then, too.

But whether this means more EV purchases depends on whether buyers expect to save not just now but in the future, experts say.

Adding to the complexity: A sudden increase in EV demand could drive up prices, Graham said.

"I think the real step change would be in whether this causes governments to shift tax, tariff policies around EVs," Graham said. Doing so would help reduce fossil fuel dependence, he said.

Does driving electric really save money?

Pretty much.

People who buy EVs have a "really substantial" gas savings over the life of their vehicles even without government tax credits, said Peter Zalzal, an attorney with Environmental Defense Fund.

"We're talking about thousands and thousands of dollars" in savings, Zalzal said. "And as gas prices increase, those savings are only greater. Fuel costs are a big piece of overall vehicle costs, and increases in fuel prices have significant impacts on people."

However, the upfront cost of a new EV is still more than that of a gasoline-powered vehicle; new EVs sold for an average of $55,300 last month, while new vehicles overall sold for an average $49,353, according to auto-buying resource Kelley Blue Book. Some experts also expressed national security concerns with EVs because China dominates significant parts of the EV supply chain.

Ketels, the EV owner and professor, said he believes EVs and renewable energy should be a strategic priority for individuals and the U.S. because they could be produced domestically "and we don't have those fluctuations and those worries."

But because the federal government has withdrawn many incentives for both, "it puts us at a disadvantage globally," Ketels said. "I think it's been a terrible mistake to withdraw these incentives and to attack the sustainable energy industry," and the war "is just making it that much more obvious."

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Source: Breaking

Published: March 12, 2026 at 03:54AM on Source: PRIME TIME

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March 12, 2026

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