HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

K.T. Oslin is 67
(Sopranos actress) Jaime-Lynn Sigler is 27
(Former Dallas Cowboys star) Emmit Smith is 39
(Baseball Hall of Famer) George Brett is 55
(Former Secretary of State) Madeleine Albright is 71
Eddy Arnold would have been 90


 

The Nitty Gritty...

GRETCHEN THE GRADUATE.
Gretchen Wilson donned a graduation cap and gown last night as she received her GED at the age of 34. She made it a personal goal to complete her high school education when she realized she wouldn’t be allowed to home school her daughter Grace without it. Her daughter has since decided to go to public school, but Gretchen still had a mission and is glad to mark it off of her “to-do” list.   Gretchen made the educational experience a family affair. Her cousin Matt also went through the program with her. Looking ahead, Gretchen is thinking about college. If her daughter does decide she wants to be home schooled, a college degree is required to home school someone from the 7th grade on.  

 

EDDY ARNOLD LAID TO REST.  
Eddy Arnold was laid to rest yesterday afternoon in Nashville. His funeral service was held at the Ryman Auditorium where he was surrounded by fans, friends, and family. CMT.com reports he was brought from the Country Music Hall of Fame museum where his body lay in state for fans and friends to pay respects. The coffin was covered by a pall designed by Sally Arnold and was used at her funeral service. Vince Gill sang his own song, “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” as well as Eddy’s 1956 hit “You Don’t Know Me,” during the service. He remembered Eddy as "the most successful man in country music history, and he taught us how to be kind and how to be a gentleman." A private family burial followed at Woodlawn Memorial Park, where his late wife Sally is buried. Eddy died last Thursday at the age of 89.

 

DOLLY DEFENDS HERSELF AND IS READY TO SUE.
An outraged Dolly Parton defended herself yesterday over the airing of a segment on the Howard Stern radio show. On the program, her voice was electronically manipulated to create racist and sexually vulgar comments. In her statement, Dolly says she’s never “been so shocked, hurt and humiliated,” in her life. She goes on to say she would never “in a blue million years,” have said such vulgar things. “Please accept my apology for them and certainly know I had nothing to do with this. If there was ever going to be a lawsuit, it’s going to be over this,” her statement read before closing with how this has completely devastated her.

 

GONE COUNTRY 2 GAVE FINAL PERFORMACE.
The cast of Gone Country 2 taped their final performance in Nashville last night. Cast members Jermaine Jackson of the Jackson 5, actress Sean Young, N*SYNC’s Chris Kirkpatrick, American Idol’s Mikalah Gorden, actor Lorenzo Lamas and Skid Row’s Sebastian Bach all performed original songs to compete for a chance to record their own country single. Host John Rich got the crowd ready before the competition performing “Lost in This Moment” and “Save a Horse Ride A Cowboy.” John also debuted two new songs – one called “The Man” which was inspired by his late grandfather and a drinking song called “Drive Myself to Drink.” Country newcomer James Otto was also in the audience for the performance.

 

 
ALWAYS THE GENTLEMEN.
It was headline news when Sugarland broke Brooks & Dunn’s CMA Duo of the Year winning streak of 8 years by taking home the honor last year. The two duos are up against each other again this Sunday for the ACM’s and Jennifer Nettles says if they happen to win this award too, she knows Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn will be just as nice as ever. Brooks & Dunn took home Top Vocal Duo last year at the ACM Awards, and Sugarland took home Top Vocal Duo or Group in 2006.

 

TAYLOR AND JULIANNE ARE HOT.
Taylor Swift and Julianne Hough have managed to make Maxim’s Hot 100 list. The teenagers are the only women making the list when it comes to country artists. Taylor came in at 57 just behind The Hills star Lauren Conrad. And Julianne Hough lands at number 30 just behind actress Shannon Elisabeth whose most recognizable role was in American Pie. Topping their list is Victoria’s Secret model Marisa Miller with actress Scarlet Johansson coming in at a close second. At number three and four respectively are actresses Jessica Biel and Eva Longoria. Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar rounds out the top five. Carrie Underwood has been named on similar lists recently, but surprisingly was left off of this one.

 

CARRIE BREAKS THE BANK.
Officials at East Tennessee State University have frozen the school’s concert account after overspending on a Carrie Underwood show in March by 200-thousand dollars. A school administrator says someone misread a computer screen and thought there was more money available than there really was. The concert cost the school 534-thousand. It was free to students and faculty members.

 

NICE PAT ON THE BACK.
When Miranda Lambert heard her name called as a nominee in the ACM Album of Year category, it was music to her ears and validation that she’s on the right track professionally. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, is her sophomore album which has the reputation of being the album that kills most careers. But for Miranda, the CD has earned her a lot of respect and attention from the music industry. She’s nominated along with Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Rodney Atkins, and Taylor Swift for the award.

 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN.
Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry have mapped out a tour this summer behind their upcoming album, Back When I Knew It All. Eddie and Troy will work their own headlining and festival dates, beginning May 17th in Las Vegas, around a run of support dates for Toby Keith which kicks of June 19th in Pelham, Alabama. Their new album Back When I Knew It All features contributions from Toby on “I Pick My Parties” and Jypsi’s Lillie Mae on “God Knows Who I Am,” and hits stores on June 10th.

 
 

KELLIE’S PICK.
Kellie Pickler has been busy touring, but she’s been trying to keep up with this season’s American Idol as much as possible. Before she got the boot, Kellie’s favorite girl was Carly Smithson. And her guy pick from the beginning is still in the running. Archuleta and David Cook are the final two contestants in the competition. Syesha Mercado was sent home last night.

 


THIS DAY IN HISTORY
In 1718, James Puckle of London patented the world’s first machine gun
In 1905, the City of Las Vegas was founded
In 1928, “Mickey Mouse” made his first appearance in Steamboat Willie
In 1940, nylon stockings went on sale for the first time
In 1941, Joe DiMaggio began his historic 56-game hitting streak
In 1963, Peter Paul and Mary won their first GRAMMY for “If I Had A Hammer”
In 1972, George Wallace was shot while campaigning for President in Maryland
In 1973, Nolan Ryan pitched his first no-hitter, beating Kansas City 3-to-0
In 1993, John Michael Montgomery had his first number one – “I Love The Way You Love Me”
In 2003, June Carter Cash, wife of Johnny Cash, died




ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

CMT MOVIE MINUTE: SPEED RACER
Speed Racer brings the ‘60s cartoon of the same name to life with real people playing the animated characters. Emile Hirsh is featured as the main character, “Speed.” The actor, who has starred in films like The Girl Next Door and Into the Wild, said filming Speed Racer was a whole new experience. John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Christina Ricci and others make up the rest of the film’s cast and Ricci revealed they had a great time working together. Check out the silliness by seeing Speed Racer.  It’s in theaters now.

 

SPEARS IN ANOTHER FENDER BENDER.
Britney Spears got into another fender bender Tuesday in Los Angeles. Papparazzi were on hand to capture most of the accident as Spears rolled her white Mercedes-Benz into a red Ford Explorer. The Associated Press reports no one was injured during the incident. Spears’ bodyguard who was riding in the passenger seat exchanged insurance information with the other driver involved.

 

REYNOLDS SPEAKS OUT ABOUT DIVORCE.
Star Jones’ ex-husband Al Reynolds recently responded to slanderous media allegations regarding the couple’s divorce. The Los Angeles Times reports Reynolds broke his silence about the proceedings by posting a blog on his social network website. Reynolds complains media reports branded him as a “freeloading gigolo.” “People on television, radio and the Internet have spoken disparagingly of my life, my sexuality, my career and my integrity,” Reynolds says. He hopes the public would recognize him as a complex and intelligent individual in the future.

 

WASHINGTON COMPLAINS ABOUT GREY’S.
Actor Isaiah Washington recently filed a complaint with the Screen Actors Guild claiming Grey’s Anatomy producers used his image without permission in a recent episode. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Washington’s character “Dr. Preston Burke” was featured in a newspaper article during the show announcing he’d won a surgeon’s award. The article also included a picture of the actor as “Dr. Preston Burke.” Washington believes the producers have the rights of the character to advance the story but not the image. Washington is currently filming Patriot in New Orleans.

 

MOORE DEVELOPS FAHRENHEIT SEQUEL.
Director Michael Moore is developing a follow-up to his 2004 documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project is described as a sequel but it won’t pick up where the first Fahrenheit movie left off. Instead, the film will focus on America’s place in the world after the eight-year presidency of George W. Bush. Production has already begun and it is set to be released sometime in mid to late 2009.

 

CAGE IN BAD LIEUTENANT REMAKE.
Actor Nicolas Cage is set to star in the remake of 1992’s Bad Lieutenant about a police officer who was heavily involved in drugs, gambling, sex and stealing. Variety reports the original film starred Harvey Keitel and received an NC-17 rating. Cage is currently working on Knowing in Australia and Bad Lieutenant is scheduled to start production in late summer.

 

JONES TAKES ON HEMMINGWAY.
Actor Tommy Lee Jones is taking on the work of Ernest Hemmingway. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jones will adapt, direct, produce and star in the author’s novel Islands in the Stream. Actors Morgan Freeman and John Goodman are also in discussions to act in the film adaptation of the book about the various life stages of a reclusive painter after he moves to the Bahamas. Before Hemmingway’s death, he took out a piece of Islands and turned it into a novella which became The Old Man and the Sea. The Islands movie is not scheduled to start production until next March in Puerto Rico with a 30-million dollar budget.

 

RICCI, HUSTON IN LONG TIME GONE.
Actors Christina Ricci, Angelica Huston, Josh Lucas and Justin Bartha are confirmed to star in Long Time Gone based on the 1994 novel Angel Angel. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ricci will play a mysterious woman who enters the life of a dysfunctional family and turns it upside down, one member at a time.

 

VARDALOS & CORBETT REUNITE FOR ROMANTIC COMEDY.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding actors Nia Vardalos and John Corbett are reuniting for another film. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Vardalos is set to direct and star opposite Corbett in the romantic comedy I Hate Valentine’s Day. Vardalos plays a florist who convinces a reluctant restaurant owner to date without fear of entering in to a relationship. Production is scheduled to start in June and the movie marks Vardalos’ directorial debut.

 

‘THRILLER’ ADDED TO LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was among 25 recordings added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” by Kitty Wells, “Oh, Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison, “Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robison and the Miracles and “For the Roses” by Joni Mitchell were also included in the list. The Associated Press reports radio broadcasts like the first trans-Atlantic broadcast in 1925, Harry S. Truman’s speech to the 1948 Democratic National Convention and Ronald Reagan’s radio broadcasts from 1976 to 1979 also made the cut.

 

LOST STARS FIT TO BE ON THE ISLAND?
Last week on Lost, “John Locke” was told he needs to “move the island.” Since it’s Lost, you can guarantee that the phrase is open to interpretation. Terry O’Quinn, who plays “Locke,” says it’s tough to deal with some of the show’s physical demands. A new episode of Lost airs tonight on ABC.

 

GARNER SUFFERS MINOR STROKE.
Actor James Garner is currently in the hospital recovering from a minor stroke. The 80-year old actor was admitted Friday and underwent surgery Sunday. According to the Associated Press, he is doing well and will be going home soon.

 

KERRIGAN WELCOMES BIRTH OF THIRD CHILD.
Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan welcomed the birth of her third child with husband Jerry Solomon. People magazine reports it’s a girl and it’s also the couple’s first daughter. The couple has yet to name their new baby who joins brothers 11-year old Matthew and three-year old Brian.

 

ARTIST ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG DIES.
Artist Robert Rauschenberg recently died of heart failure at his home in Florida after a brief illness. According to the Los Angeles Times, the 82-year old is best known for his hybrid works of painting and sculpture which changed the course of American and European art in the 1950’s through 70’s. Two of his most famous creations are 1955’s Bed and Monogram. For Bed, he scribbled pencil and smeared paint on a well-worn pillow, sheets and a quilt which hang on a wall like a traditional painting. Monogram is a floor piece featuring a stuffed Angora goat with a used automobile tire around its middle. But most of his works can bee seen in the collections of almost every important museum worldwide. Rauschenberg is survived by his son Christopher, his sister Janet Begneaud and his companion and frequent collaborator Darryl Pottorf.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

(iCarly star) Miranda Cosgrove is 15
(Joan of Arcadia actress) Amber Tamblyn is 25
(Actress) Cate Blanchett is 39
(New Kids On the Block member) Danny Wood is 39
(Actor) Tim Roth is 47
(Director) Robert Zemeckis is 57
(Star Wars director) George Lucas is 64
(Entertainer) Bobby Darin would have been 72

 

THE NITTY GRITTY...



SPONTANEITY FOR KEITH.
Keith Urban is one of the artists that will perform at Sunday night’s ACM Awards live from Las Vegas. He recently wrapped his co-headlining tour with Carrie Underwood and says it’s always difficult to turn that same live feeling from a concert into an award show performance. Keith is up for Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year on Sunday. Other artists that will take the stage include Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, George Strait and Kenny Chesney.

 

TAYLOR THE FACE OF CLOTHING LINE.
Taylor Swift will be the face of L.e.i clothing’s 2008 back-to-school print, mobile and online advertising campaign called This is L.e.i. Country. The fall clothing line for girls and teenagers will be available starting in July and will be sold exclusively at Wal-Mart stores, reports the PR Newswire. The campaign will be shot by world famous photographer Peggy Sirota, and will debut in August issues of select fashion and entertainment magazines, including Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen and US Weekly.

 

BRAD’S TROPHY MAINTENANCE.
Brad Paisley’s many musical accolades can’t usually be found at his homes in Nashville and Los Angeles. In fact, most of his trophies are at his parent’s house in West Virginia. Countryhound.com reports that Brad enjoys winning the awards, he just doesn’t have the time for the upkeep. “Nor do I have time to dust or polish the statuettes, so my parents take care and display most of them at their house. Somehow they keep track of it all," he said.

 

IN GOOD COMPANY.
Carrie Underwood was in good company Saturday night as she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Garth Brooks and Vince Gill, both fellow Oklahomans, were part of Carrie’s big night. And having them there made her day that much more meaningful. Carrie says her Grand Ole Opry trophy will have a special spot in her award case.

 

GARTH AND TRISHA HELP PRESIDENT CARTER.
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood were on hand to help President Jimmy Carter over the weekend on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. The former President and his wife hosted their annual Habitat for Humanity Work Project to the Gulf Coast and Garth and Trisha lent a hand and their support for the project that hopes to build some 250 homes for those displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The campaign, that also got help from Senator John Edwards and actress Emily Bergl, will continue all week.

 

WINE ALWAYS MAKES A GOOD TIME.
LeAnn Rimes is following up her hit song “Nothin’ Better To Do,” with another hit – “Good Friend and a Glass of Wine.” She says the idea for the song came out of a weekly ritual with her best friend who also happens to be her backup singer.  LeAnn says she doesn’t have much time to watch to T-V, but recently she was flipping through the channels and got hooked on The Hills. At first she had no clue what the show was, and while trying to figure all the drama out – became enthralled in it.

 

ARNOLD MEMORIAL SERVICE TODAY. A public viewing and memorial service is scheduled for the late Eddy Arnold today in Nashville. The viewing began last night at the Country Music Hall of Fame and will continue this morning. Then, this afternoon, the service will be held at the historic Ryman Auditorium with a private burial to follow. The Country Music Hall of Famer passed away last week, just short of his 90th  birthday.

 

DON’T HATE MY KIDS.
Jake Owen is one of the nominees for New Vocalist of the Year Sunday night at the ACM Awards. He earned the nomination because of the success of his debut album Startin’ With Me. He’s currently writing and working on his sophomore project and carries around an iPod to test out news songs on people. And says he holds his breath each time waiting to hear what they think about them.Jake is nominated along with Jack Ingram and Luke Bryan for the award.

 

THIS DAY IN HISTORY


In 1607, the first permanent English settlement in North America was built at Jamestown, Virginia
In 1787, the U-S Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia
In 1796, the first smallpox vaccination was administered
In 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition began its historic journey up the Missouri River
In 1853, Gail Borden patented his process for condensed milk
In 1870, the first rugby game was held in New Zealand
In 1878, Vaseline was first sold
In 1904, the first Olympics hosted by the United States opened in St. Louis
In 1939, Lina Medina became the youngest confirmed mother in history at the age of five
In 1949, Eddy Arnold’s number one single “One Kiss Too Many” charted
In 1973, Stevie Wonder had his third chart-topping hit “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life”
In 1989, the final episode of Family Ties aired on NBC
In 1998, Frank Sinatra died of a heart attack at age 82
In 1998, the last original episode of Seinfeld aired on NBC




ENTERTAINMENT NEWS


WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS
What Happens in Vegas was the number two movie at the box office over the weekend, taking in 20.2-million dollars.  Every year, thousands and thousands of people get married in Sin City and Ashton Kutcher, who stars in the film, isn’t sure if that’s a good thing.  Cameron Diaz also stars in the movie and she talks about the phrase, “Whatever Happens in Vegas.” What Happens in Vegas is in theaters now.

 

SEX AND THE CITY: THE MOVIE PREMIERES IN LONDON.
The cast of Sex and the City: The Movie invaded London’s Leicester Square Monday night for the film premiere. The Associated Press reports stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon all wore designer gowns their characters would be proud of. Parker was dressed in a pale green Alexander McQueen dress with a towering floral hat complete with grasses and butterflies. Cattrall wore a red dress designed by Vivienne Westwood while Nixon chose a Calvin Klein gown and Davis wore a vintage fuschia dress. During red carpet interviews, the cast glossed over rumored problems onset which reportedly delayed production. Instead, acknowledged the show as a career boost. Parker says it was the best 10 years of her professional career. The film opens in the U-S May 30th.

 

BARRYMORE IN HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT.
Actress Drew Barrymore was the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Los Angeles Tuesday. CBS News reports Barrymore was not injured during the car collision and the rogue driver remains at large. According to TMZ, Barrymore followed the hit-and-run vehicle after her car was rear-ended and got its license plate number.

 

NAILED FILMING RESUMED.
Filming for Nailed resumed after actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel walked offset Friday. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Screen Actors Guild encouraged Biel and Gyllenhaal to stop working after producers failed to pay its deposit with the union to cover the actors’ payrolls. Apparently, most independent film producers are required to make deposits with the union if payroll can’t be met.

 

SINATRA DOCUMENTARY CONSIDERED.
Frank Sinatra’s children, Nancy, Tina and Frank, Junior, are at odds over a proposal to produce a film documentary about their late father’s life. The World Entertainment News Network reports the film would be directed by Martin Scorsese who has directed movies about Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. Tina supports the project but Nancy is concerned the documentary would only focus on the “negative and ugly moments.” Frank, Junior complains he’s been kept out of the loop by his sisters about the film and wishes for more involvement regarding decisions of their father’s image and estate.

 

TAUTOU PLAYS CHANEL.
The Da Vinci Code actress Audrey Tautou is confirmed to play Coco Chanel in a biopic about the designer. E! Online reports Tautou also recently signed on to replace actress Nicole Kidman as the new spokesperson for Chanel’s Number Five fragrance.

 

HATHAWAY'S BOYFRIEND ESCAPES CHARGES.
Bad check charges have been dropped against actress Anne Hathaway’s boyfriend. Developer Rafaello Follieri reportedly repaid the 215-thousand dollars he owed to John Morrongiello. According to the New York Daily News, the 29-year old was arrested on a misdemeanor charge in early April.

 

ABC GETS SCRUBS AND NEW LINEUP.
ABC recently acquired Scrubs from NBC in their new lineup of series for the upcoming fall season, reports Entertainment Weekly. The network will also be launching a yet untitled reality show from Ashton Kutcher and Tyra Banks, a new animated comedy from King of the Hill’s Mike Judge, a new dramedy titled Life on Mars and a new reality show called Opportunity Knocks. Returning to the network are Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Desperate Housewives, Boston Legal, Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, According to Jim, The Bachelor and Brothers & Sisters. Men in Trees, Miss Guided, October Road and Oprah’s Big Give were not picked up for the fall season.

 

MULLALLY ADDED TO ABC PILOT.
Will & Grace’s Megan Mullally has joined the cast of the ABC comedy pilot Bad Mother’s Handbook. Mullally plays the mother of the main character which is played by Alicia Silverstone, reports Entertainment Weekly. In the plot, Silverstone has to take care of both her mother and 16-year old daughter. Mullally hosted a daytime talk show during the 2006-2007 seasons and currently stars in the Broadway production of Young Frankenstein.

 

THE ELECTRIC COMPANY RETURNS TO AIR.
The 1970’s kids’ show The Electric Company is returning to PBS. Variety reports shooting for the program started this week in Manhattan for a possible premiere in January 2009. The original show featured Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno and ran from 1971 to 1977.

 

REAPER RETURNS FOR SECOND SEASON.
CW’s dramedy Reaper will return to the network for a second season. The series about a retail slacker/bounty hunter joins the programming schedule which also includes Aliens in America, Gossip Girl, Supernatural and Smallville. According to The Hollywood Reporter, fans launched a campaign to save Reaper from cancellation by sending socks to the network in honor of one of the character’s names. The first season finale airs Tuesday, May 20th.

 

AMERICA’S MOST WANTED NABS 1000TH FUGITIVE.
America’s Most Wanted recently put its one-thousandth fugitive behind bars. New York real estate agent Dwight Smith was taken into police custody for allegedly murdering a friend over a deal gone bad. The Associated Press reports an anonymous caller tipped officials off as to Smith’s whereabouts after seeing his picture on the show’s website. Smith has been targeted on the show since April 1998.

 

FRAGGLE ROCK RETURNS.
Fraggle Rock’s “Gobo,” “Wembley,” “Boober,” “Mokey” and “Red” are reuniting for a big-screen adventure. E! Online reports the Weinstein Company secured rights to develop a movie that will take the characters outside their home to interact with humans which they believe to be aliens. Fraggle Rock debuted on HBO in 1983 and ran for five seasons.

 

SETH ROGEN WAS JUST PLAYING A DUDE. Knocked Up is up for three golden popcorns at this year’s MTV Movie Awards.  Actor Seth Rogen is nominated for two of them and he says he really wasn’t too nervous taking on his role in the film. Rogen is up for Best Comedic Performance as well as Breakthrough Performance. The 2008 MTV Movie Awards will broadcast live on Sunday, June 1st at 8 PM Eastern. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Kix Brooks is 53

Eddie Kilgallon of Richochet is 43

(Actors, Everybody Loves Raymond) Sullivan and Sawyer Sweeten are 13

(Actor, “Walt” on Lost) Malcolm David Kelley is 16

(Actor, American Pie) Jason Biggs is 30

(Actress,“Lexi” on Melrose Place) Jamie Luner is 37

(Actress“Tootie” on The Facts of Life) Kim Fields is 39

(Skateboarder, First Skateboarder to land a “900”) Tony Hawk is 40

(Actor) Stephen Baldwin is 42

(Actor) Emilio Estevez is 46

(Actor “Marcellus Wallace” in Pulp Fiction) Ving Rhames is 49

(Comedian, First person to ever host Saturday Night Live) George Carlin is 71

(Former baseball player, amateur philosopher) Yogi Berra is 83

(Talk show host) Tom Snyder would have been 72

The Nitty Gritty...

CARRIE OFFICALLY JOINS THE OPRY.

Carrie Underwood was officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by fellow Oklahoman and Opry member Garth Brooks Saturday night. Before handing her the official trophy, he told Carrie “Nothing will last as long or be more important than this award right here tonight.” Dressed in a gold, short, beaded dress Carrie then kissed the award and said ”this is going to have a very special place in my award case.” Just as it was the night Randy Travis asked her to join the Opry, the induction was also very emotional. (Cut #1) "You think of all the people that have come before you, and you're standing on that stage and it's just... it's exciting and nerve-wracking feeling to think, 'I'm here! I'm here at the Grand Ole Opry - the thing that I watched growing up, [where] I learned who was who and what was what in country music. It was an amazing night." Singing at the Grand Ole Opry was one of the first things she did after winning American Idol.



JOHN MICHEAL MONTGOMERY ENTERS REHAB.

John Michael Montgomery has voluntarily checked himself into a rehabilitation treatment center at an undisclosed location for substance abuse. Severe anxiety attacks and sleep disorder are believed to be the cause. He has cancelled all appearances for the next thirty days as a result of his treatment. In a statement he says, “I will be disappearing for a while to try and defeat the demons that have stripped me of my energy of life and good health for so many years now.” And he promises fans he will ”…fight this until the end” and “come out stronger” than before. His new single is “If You Ever Went Away” and his album Time Flies is expected in September.



DIERKS’ MOM DISHES ON SON.

In and candid interview with People magazine, Dierks Bentley’s mother Cathy opens up about her son. She admits to being a strict mom not allowing gum or soft drinks. Being only allowed Shredded Wheat for breakfast cereal, Dierks did own up to going to his friends house to eat Fruit Loops from time to time much to his mother’s surprise. And it seems Dierks found himself in trouble with the law a few times. Instead of the traditional lemonade stand, Dierks and his friends got creative and sold vodka lemonade instead. The police gave them a warning the first time, but when they came back and found the teens hammered and hauled them off to jail. Overall, Cathy says her son was and is “great boy.” And so far her most favorite Mother’s Day gift is when Dierks let her record “Blue Bayou,” in Nashville. “I was dripping I was so nervous,” she says. Dierks says she cried the same way she did when he gave her a computer and a digital camera. And the computer has paid off. “She’s emailing me now, which is a first, “he says.



STICK A FORK IN IT, IT’S DONE.

Sugarland has managed to squeeze in enough studio time to have recorded their next album. And this time around, they went home to record it and say they are extremely proud of the outcome. (Cut #2) “[Kristian] Okay, well we just finished the basic recording of our new album and we did it here in Atlanta. And we had never recorded here in Atlanta, we’ve always recorded in Nashville. [Jennifer] Which was so neat to do. [Kristian] It was a beautiful thing and I can’t say how excited I am about this. We’re about to mix it so we can see whether it turns out.” Jennifer has said in recent interviews this is by far her favorite album thus far because of the live feeling it has behind it. They will debut their first single from the CD during their performance at the ACM Awards.

CMT CROSSROADS CAST JUDGES FOR JOHN.

The newly announced cast of Gone Country 2 switched roles Friday night. Instead of being judged by John Rich, they were the judges at John’s Get Rich Talent Search held in Nashville periodically. The second season cast includes another colorful mishmash of players: Skid Row voice Sebastian Bach; "What A Feeling" singer Irene Cara; American Idol finalist Mikalah Gordon; Jackson 5 member Jermaine Jackson; former N'Sync member Chris Kirkpatrick, actor Lorenzo Lamas and actress Sean Young. The show is already taping in Nashville and will premiere in August.

SWIFT GETS STAR STRUCK.

According to People.com, Swift met Mayer at the Metropolitan Costume Institute Gala earlier this week. The young singer said Mayer came up to her and introduced himself. Taylor tells the magazine website she was acting like any typical teenager saying, "I was like freaking out!" She respects Mayer and is a fan of his writing so when she met him she started quoting things he had written on his blog. She laughed and said, "…he was probably like thinking that I'm a stalker. But he was amazing and sweet."

PAINTING A PICTURE.

Craig Morgan has always tried to record songs that give people a mental picture as they listen to them. It’s an ability he feels is unique to country music and he’s pleased his new song “Love Remembers” is another tune that accomplishes his goal. (Cut #3) "And the way we do that, I think country music, the format of country music, does it better than any other genre of music, is that we describe those things in such detail that you close your eyes, and when you're listening you can see everything you're hearing. And I think that we've done that. I feel like we've done that with this new record." Craig’s new album will be released later this year. And he’ll play the CMA Music Festival June 7th.

HELP A BROTHER OUT.

Being three young adults not tied down to any serious relationships, the three members of Lady Antebellum try to help each other out in the dating world. But as Charles Kelley says, having Hillary Scott doesn’t always work to his and Dave Haywood’s advantage. (Cut #4) “[Hillary Scott] Charles is Dave’s ‘wing man’ all the time. [Charles Kelley] Oh totally, totally. [Dave Haywood] (laughs) Friends help friends find. [Hillary] I’m not really a good ‘wing man’ so I just kind of [Charles] Nope [Hillary] Stay away. [Charles] Nope, you’re certainly what they call a block. [Hillary and Dave] (laugh) [Hillary] I wasn’t going to go there but you sure went for it.” The group’s debut album took the number one spot on the country album chart its first week in stores. And they are nominated for an ACM Award in the Top New Duo or Group category so they’ll be heading to Las Vegas to see if they take home the award next weekend.






THIS DAY IN HISTORY

In 1780, Americans suffered the worst defeat of American Revolution at Charleston

In 1831, Edward Smith became the first indicted bank robber in the U-S

In 1847, William Clayton invented the odometer

In 1938, Robin Hood premiered

In 1950, The American Bowling Congress abolished its white males-only membership restriction after 34 years

In 1970, Ernie Banks hit his 500th home run

In 1978, The Commerce Department announced that hurricanes would no longer be named exclusively after women

In 1990, Travis Tritt scored his first number one single

In 1992, Robert Reed, who played the father on The Brady Bunch, died of colon cancer at the age of 59. It was later revealed that AIDS contributed to his death

In 1994, Garth Brooks made a cameo appearance on Mad About You.

In 1999, George Jones pled guilty to driving while impaired and violating Tennessee’s open-container law. He is fined $550

In 2002, former President Jimmy Carter arrived in Cuba for a visit with Fidel Castro. It was the first time a U-S head of state, in or out of office, had gone to the island since Castro's 1959 revolution

In 2003, Fifty-nine Democratic lawmakers in Texas went into hiding over a dispute with Republican's over a congressional redistricting plan

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN
The “Pevensie” siblings return to Narnia in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the follow-up film to The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Director Andrew Adamson is back at the helm and William Moseley once again stars as “Peter Pevensie,” but this time, as he explains, his character is a bit different. (Cut #5) “For this one, Andrew (Adamson) said to me at the beginning, ‘Your character's going to be very different you know. He’s not going to be the selfless character he was in the first film.’ So I thought, ‘Well I’d love to work on that,’ so here in New York I worked with Shelia Grey, an acting coach out here, and I really got in touch with the darker, deeper stuff of my character and also in myself.” Ben Barnes makes his big screen debut as the title character, “Prince Caspian.” He gave us a little insight into his character’s relationship with “Peter.”(Cut #6) “Neither of them are quite sure where they fit in this world. One was a ruler and then came back and my character is very ambivalent about where he finds himself and you know he doesn’t feel he’s ready to be a king or a leader or a man yet really. And yet he’s forced into this situation.” The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian finds its way to theaters Friday.

NICK HOGAN SENTENCED TO SERVE TIME. Nick Hogan has been sentenced to serve eight months in jail for reckless driving. TMZ reports the 17-year-old pleaded “no contest” to charges stemming from the August 2007 car crash that left his friend, John Graziano, comatose. On top of the prison sentence, Hogan will have to complete 500 hours of community service and undergo five years probation during which he must remain alcohol free. Additionally, the teen’s driver’s license will be suspended for three years and he’ll have to attend mandatory DUI classes.

“CHLOE” LEAVING SMALLVILLE? TV Guide is reporting that Allison Mack may be leaving the cast of Smallville. The cast just lost Michael Rosenbaum, who played “Lex Luthor.” Insiders say Mack is attempting to leverage the loss of Rosenbaum into more money per episode, but that the shows producers just don’t have the budget to meet her demands. Losing “Chloe” could doom Smallville, says one insider. “That would leave the show with just Lois and Clark,” this insider noted, “and that shows been done before.”



BETTY CREW BLAMING ARNOLD. The 300 crew members of Ugly Betty that are losing their jobs are blaming Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for letting the production escape to New York City. The now-jobless crew members took out a full-page ad in Friday’s Daily Variety to blast California’s chief executive for allowing New York’s tax incentives to steal the show away to the East. The ad called on Governor Schwarzenegger to enact similar tax incentives in California to “level the playing field” and “bring our jobs back to California.”



TYLER, LANGDON SPLIT. Actress Liv Tyler is splitting with her British rock husband Robert Langdon. The couple was married in 2003 and had a son, Milo, in 2004. People magazine reported the split, which was confirmed by a representative for the actress. In a statement, the couple said they “remained good friends” and, as is customary these days, asked for privacy during this “difficult time.”



CASTRO RELIEVED TO BE OFF IDOL. Jason Castro admitted to TV Guide that he was “relieved” to have been voted off American Idol last week. Castro says he was “freaking out” about having to sing three songs had he advanced to the final three. “I can’t even do two right,” he said. Castro says he made it farther than he ever imagined and that he gained a lot of confidence as a performer during his three months on the show.



JESSICA TO STAND UP FOR SISTER. Plans for the wedding of Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz are hush-hush – but big sister Jessica has confirmed one detail: she’s the Maid of Honor. The older sister let the news slip to People magazine while performing for the troops at Camp Pendleton in California last week. Ashlee and Wentz have been mostly mum about plans for their wedding – and about her pregnancy. But Ashlee was making the rounds of British television last week showing off her engagement ring.



MATT TO TOM: LET’S DO IT, AGAIN. Matt Lauer says there are no hard feelings toward Tom Cruise because of their epic Scientology debate on The Today Show three years ago. Lauer tells People magazine “It was an interview. It was a great moment on television.” The tension-filled interview was something Cruise told Oprah Winfrey he regretted when he appeared on her show last week. Lauer says he’d like to interview Cruise, again. “The doors are open,” Lauer said.



UMA GOES BACK TO COURT. With her stalker convicted, Uma Thurman is turning her sights to cosmetics giant Lancome. The Associated Press reports the huge, multi-national firm has filed a countersuit to her demand for one million dollars in damages. Thurman says the company used her image in advertisements around the world after her contract with them expired in 2004. The company argues it wasn’t them that used her images on billboards in Canada and across Asia, and the contract they had with Thurman excuses them from abuses by “third parties.” Thurman’s lawyer says he welcomes the fight and looks forward to taking the case to a jury.



BIOSHOCK TO THE BIG SCREEN. Universal is turning the video game Bioshock into a movie. The studio has tapped Gore Verbinski – who directed Pirate of the Caribbean – for the project. Bioshock takes place in an underwater city that adheres to the free-market principles of author Ayn Rand. Game players take the role of a pilot who crash-lands at a secret gate to the city and discovers his “free will isn’t as free as he thought.” Verbinski says, “The whole utopia-gone-wrong story that is cleverly revealed to players is just brimming with cinematic potential.” There is no release date set for the film.



PORTMAN DROPS FROM HEIGHTS. Natalie Portman has dropped out of the film adaptation for Wuthering Heights. The Hollywood Reporter says the decision by the actress – famous for her role as “Padmay Amidalah” in Star Wars – is a blow to producers who had hoped to sell the film to distributors at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. The decision also creates an intense debate as to who should replace Portman in the role of “Catherine Earnshaw.” Director John Maybury prefers an American actress, but the press in Britain is clamoring for an English actress to take the role. The story is set in Britain.

MADE OF HONOR IN REAL LIFE.Michelle Monaghan and Patrick Dempsey star in the romantic comedy Made of Honor. Much like the plot of the film, Michelle had a male maid of honor for her wedding. We asked her if she got any flashbacks to her nuptials during filming. (Cut #7) “Not really, mine was really, really different and mine never donned a dress and Patrick does for a slight, brief moment in the film. Yeah, he looks very pretty in pink, I must say.” Made of Honor is in theatres now.

LOST AND FOUND. ABC has found those two hours Lost lost to the writer’s strike. The Hollywood Reporter says the extra two hours will be added as one episode each in 2009 and 2010. That will complete the shows 34-hour run as planned. The show aired 14 hours this season, and will air 17 the next two years to make up for lost time. Co-creator David Lindelof says any rumors the show would be extended beyond that are false. “To do so would be a betrayal of everyone involved with the show – mostly the audience,” he said.



CLOONEY STUNG BY FLOP. Leatherheads was a flop for George Clooney. The man who directed and starred in the film tells IMDB.com that he was “stung” by the failure of the film to catch on. The movie reached as high as third at the box office, but a month after its release has earned only 38-million dollars. That’s 22-million less than the movie cost to produce. Clooney says the movie “bombed” and he was disappointed because he’d worked on the project for a couple of years. But, he says, “The trick is how you handle things when things don’t go great. I’ve been a fan of watching people go through cycles. Not just winning cycles.”



It's Monday!
We feel your pain...

Kris & Tom