Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It helps to know a bit about a certain popular country song if you want to answer 5-Down. Read on if you need help solving the puzzle today.

The Mini Crossword is a nice break from the tougher puzzles, and it takes only a fraction of the time of the vaunted, regular New York Times Crossword puzzle.

CNET publishes daily answers and hints for Wordle, The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Old-fashioned business?
Answer: BAR

 4A clue: Start of a tennis point
Answer: SERVE

6A clue: Basic bagel variety
Answer: PLAIN

7A clue: Like the most famous Hollywood celebrities
Answer: ALIST

8A clue: “Hoo-boy!”
Answer: MAN

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: It’s in your head
Answer: BRAIN

2D clue: Car rental option
Answer: AVIS

3D clue: Monthly expense
Answer: RENT

4D clue: Many a call from an unknown number
Answer: SPAM

5D clue: ___ Langley, singer with the 2026 #1 hit “Choosin’ Texas”
Answer: ELLA

CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of “Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the ’70s and ’80s,” as well as “The Totally Sweet ’90s.” She’s been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She’s Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she’ll be first in line.

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