Frank Sinatra memories keep coming
Wow. As of this morning 160 of you have shared personal stories of your connection with Frank Sinatra in response to the cover story in the magazine this weekend. (Click here to read our original blog post and share your own memories, or here to read the cover story in the magazine.) It's amazing how many of you saw him personally, or included his music in special moments in your lives. I understand completely. I was born in Kearny, N.J. — not far from Hoboken, Sinatra's home. My mother tells tales of being in high school, waiting in long lines to get tickets to see Sinatra at venues in New York when he was a teen hearthrob. My father, born and raised in Jersey City, had blue eyes and perfect pitch and could sing all of Sinatra's songs without missing a lyric, I swear, from memory. So it was fitting that we played nothing but Sinatra at my father's memorial service. I grew up with Sinatra on the hi-fi and, later, the stereo; I could sing High Hopes at the age of 6. I never met Sinatra, but I did interview his Rat-Pack buddy, the now deceased Joey Bishop, whose stories of their time together were fascinating.
Click here to add your comments to the original Who's News Sinatra remembrances posting
May 01, 2008
Sinatra: Remembrances on the 10th anniversary of his death
USA WEEKEND's cover story this weekend is a special collection of thoughts about Frank Sinatra. Believe it or not, it's been ten years since he died. Our special tribute includes short essays by everyone from Bill Clinton to Frank's daughter Nancy.
How about you? Do you have any special memories stirred by a good Sinatra tune -- even if you weren't yet born when his songs were at the top of the charts? Share your thoughts here and let's celebrate the continuing legacy of his great music.
SIDENOTE: Here's a link if you'd like to read the full version of Gay Talese's historic magazine piece, Frank Sinatra Has a Cold. (Gay Talese is also one of the essayists in our USA WEEKEND cover story.)
April 24, 2008
Ashlee Simpson texts with us
Singer Ashlee Simpson (sister to Jessica Simpson, fiancée to and rumored mom-to-be with Fall Out Boy frontman Pete Wentz) is doing away with the SNL hoe-down, dancing instead to the tune of hip-hop producer Timbaland on her third album, Bittersweet World, released Tuesday. Our reporter, Reyhaneh Fathieh, traded texts with Ashlee a few weeks ago as she jetted across the country on her busy promo tour doing photo shoots and radio shows. They texted about everything from Ashlee’s future reality TV plans to those pesky relationship rumors, and Ashlee even showed off her hot new red hair via picture message (at left). Check out their whole convo below.
USA WEEKEND: Ashlee! Hi! What r u doing??
Ashlee: Hey, I just did Ryan Seacrest’s radio show in LA to play my new single [Outta My Head].
USAW: Exciting! Who r u with? Pete? Jess? Parents?
Ashlee: I’m riding in the car to another radio interview with my friends Nicole and Mary.
USAW: Not “TWD” [texting while driving], we hope. :)
Ashlee: I don’t really drive much.
USAW: Last 5 ppl u txt ed?
Ashlee: My mom, my friends Stephanie, Lauren and Nicole, and Pete.
USAW: Your mom? So the Simpson parents are hip w/ the tech!
Ashlee: My mom it totally cool with texting.
USAW: R u a big txter? Ever been dumped or dumped a bf over phone email or txt?
Ashlee: I don’t know anyone that’s been dumped by text – that would be terrible!
USAW: It happened to K-Fed... What do u say to the engagement rumors about you and Pete?
Ashlee: Haha, they are just rumors, I’m not engaged.
(That was her answer in March; she announced her engagement on April 9)
USAW: We used to watch u on the Ashlee Simpson Show when u were dating Ryan Cabrera. And now Pete — what is it about the rocker boys?
Ashlee: I love music, so it’s always fun when guys are into music too.
USAW: Would u do another reality show? What would it be like?
Ashlee: I probably wouldn’t do another reality show now. I truly appreciate what the first one did for my career though.
USAW: It helped u book gr8 producers! How do u think workin w/ [super-producers like] Timbaland and The Neptunes affected ur sound?
Ashlee: It was fun working with Timbaland and Chad Hugo because it was the first time I wrote songs to beats.
USAW: R u goin for a certain image w/ this new album? Will we see any Xtina-like reinvention w/ u?
Ashlee: It’s a new sound for me. The album is fun, upbeat album that hopefully everyone can dance to!
USAW: Its good to hear u’r still goin, despite set backs. How do u feel about the online petition 2 stop u from singing?
Ashlee: I have awesome fans. If you don’t like my music. It’s pretty simple…don’t listen to it!
April 14, 2008
Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith arrive for CMT Awards
As the hour for the show draws closer, the big stars arrive and Dennis talks country music video memories with most of them. Well, not Keith Urban and wife Nicole Kidman. Dennis reports that Nicole looks stunning in red; they made no stops for the press.
Chuck Wicks (at left) one of the nominees for our USA WEEKEND Breakthrough Video of the Year award for his video Stealing Cinderella, told Dennis that while he toured with video master Brad Paisley last year they didn't talk tips on production. Paisley IS, however, known for his pranks and Wicks kept waiting for one to happen. Paisley finally got him on their last night. During Stealing Cinderella, two men in long white beards dressed like fairy godmothers came out on stage and began hitting Wicks on the head with their fairy godmother wands.
Superstar Toby Keith said it would be hard for him pick his own breakthough video. "I've had so many that people remember me for. If I had to pick one, it would be I Want To Talk About Me. It was the first one where we learned we could do some really cool editing tricks...we used some fish-eye lense (shots) and really went over the top."
Taylor Swift (at right), last year's Breakthrough Video of the Year award winner, gave our Dennis a big hug when she saw him because he wrote last weekend's cover story on the award and her. She said because the award was her first, and because it is voted by fans, it will always be the most special. But what do you do to follow-up? "Something completely different," she said. You don't want to get pegged as doing the same old things.
Speaking of people who remember Dennis, Josh Turner, always one of the most gracious and pleasant of any of the stars we talk to, remembered that Dennis wrote our USA WEEKEND cover on which Josh posed with Martina McBride. He said he has it hanging on his wall. His own favorite video was for Long Black Train. He liked that it was shot in black and white - he says he wanted it to look dark and serious; that it represented evil and hope.
Former American Idol contestant Bucky Covington, nominated tonight for his video A Different World, confessed he had to learn the chords to the song for the video shoot. "They told me they were going to shoot me doing the guitar," he said, 'I told them I hadn't learned the chords yet." He did, but he says "if you look at the video closely, I guarantee I got the chords wrong."
Dierks Bentley (at left), who won the video award for his What Was I
Thinking, said it was a surefire winner because "it had a girl, an
overprotective father, a shotgun and an El Camino." Indeed, what more
could a country music video need?
Alan Jackson said his pick would be Here In The Real Word. "It was our first big hit and it got a lot of feedback from fans, but boy it wasn't anything like the videos today. Back then we were just trying to get our faces known."
Big Kenny from Big & Rich, said that for them the breakthrough video would have been for Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy.) "That video, man, was our big comin' out party. It had pmarching bands, helicopters flying in the air...it was the craziest video we could possibly do."
Phil Stacey arrives for CMT Awards show
First up the purple carpet tonight was former American Idol contestant Phil Stacey, who told Dennis his daughter, Chloe, 4, definitely prefers country music to rock 'n roll. "She can't get enough of Miley Cyrus," Stacey said, pulling out his iPhone to show Dennis a picture of the Hannah Montana Barbie his daughter had just emailed. But, poor Chloe. Dad doesn't think he'll be able to get Miley's autograph. "She's a bit too huge for me to get anywhere near," he said of the teen star who is co-hosting tonight's show with her dad, Billy Ray.
Martina McBride and more will walk the purple carpet
It's hours before the show but the fans are getting the party started in Nashville and our Dennis McCafferty is in his spot on the purple carpet at the Country Music Television Awards. The show is at Belmont University and Dennis reports that there has been a definite college atmosphere to things today; lots of students hanging out of dorm windows to see the stars and their entourages unpacking gear for tonight's performances.
Among the stars Dennis hears will be heading up the purple carpet tonight are some of the biggest names in country music: Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisely, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban (no word on pregnant wife, Nicole Kidman). He'll also be watching for Paula Abdul, Snoop Dogg, Bobby Brown, Joe Walsh from The Eagles and Jewel.
Little Richard spotted in CMT Awards hotel
What is Little Richard doing in Nashville today? Our Dennis McCafferty spotted the legendary rock 'n roller being escorted to his room at the Hilton, the designated hotel for tonight's Country Music Television Awards. And, Dennis says he has it on good authority that there will be at least one surprise guest performance tonight. Putting one and one together, could it be that Little Richard will be giving a surprise performance?
Miley Cyrus and dad host tonight's CMT awards
Our country music expert Dennis McCafferty is in chilly Nashville today for tonight's Country Music Television Awards. Our USA WEEKEND Breakthrough Video of the Year award will be given during the televised ceremony, which begins at 8 p.m. ET on CMT. Plus, there will be all kinds of big names starting with Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus, co-hosts of the evening. Dennis reports that temperatures in the 40s, with possibilities of the 30s, led to a decision to tent the purple carpet (yes, purple, not red) on which the stars will promenade. We wouldn't want the ladies to have to cover up those strappy dresses. You can watch the pre-show arrivals on line at CMT.com and you can keep checking back here because Dennis will be filing reports from the purple carpet, too. I'll be looking for Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and Dancing with the Stars cutie Julianne Hough.
April 02, 2008
Trisha Yearwood on country cookin'
Trisha Yearwood has got all the charm of a Southern lady but, to the surprise of our young writer Reyhaneh Fathieh, no Georgia drawl. Reyhaneh talked with Trisha about her latest venture — and it's not country music. Here's Reyhaneh's report:
Soft-spoken and polite, the multi-platinum country star told me cooking stories with such enthusiasm it was obvious she genuinely loves food. So much so in fact that her mother, Gwen, and sister Beth thought it fitting to compile a notebook of Trisha’s favorite recipes for her birthday a few years ago. The gift inspired what is now Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen, a collection of over 120 “comfort foods” the Yearwood gang “grubs” on, out in stores April 8.
Ever since college, when she “opened [her] first can of canned vegetables” and “decided [she] really needs to learn how to cook,” Trisha has been holding down the fort in the kitchen. But even a seasoned cook “has cooking disaster stories all the time, continually,” Trisha says. For instance, once when making her annual German chocolate cake in honor of husband and fellow country singer Garth Brooks’ birthday, Trisha “did something very wrong and the cake fell into a million pieces.” She says, “It looked so bad, I was in tears! And of course, Garth said, 'Serve it anyway, it’s just for me. I don’t care what it looks like.'” The episode didn’t hinder Trisha. She says, “I still like to give baked things as a gift, because to me, it says, 'I think a lot of you.'” I’m sure Garth would agree.
Clay Aiken talks music, acting and talk
I have some disappointing news for all the true Clay Aiken followers out there — the man is going to take some time off. His run in Spamalot comes to an end May 4 and his new album, On My Way Here, comes out May 6. He'll do some album promotion and, yes, he will eventually tour in support of it, but not anytime soon. Because my time with him was limited I did not take all the specific questions I got from you (we got more than 350 posts). So I organized the relevant ones by topics. Here's what he said on:
ACTING: "I enjoy being myself more than I enjoy being somebody else." In other words, he has enjoyed working in Spamalot but he's not looking for another Broadway role, nor is he looking to do movies, as some of you wanted to know. Clay always leaves the door open — so he says that if the right opportunity came along he would look at it — but made clear he is not actively pursuing acting.
TOURING OTHER COUNTRIES: Those of you who want him to come to Australia, Norway, Singapore and more are out of luck. Why? Clay says his record label doesn't release his albums in those places. He is actually surprised he has fans in some the places he does. He laughed and said folks can call the Sony-BMG offices in their region to tell them they want Clay's records released there. Or, "They can spam them like they spam you," he said in a nod to the internet following he has.
TOURING IN GENERAL: "I'm taking a break," Clay said. He knows that you all want to see him again, and acknowledged that there were some press reports that he would tour this summer but "we never said we were planning on touring this summer. Do we plan on touring for this (new) album? Yes. But not this summer." Clay says he hates to be "a bubble-burster" for those of you looking forward to it but, for one thing, "there hasn't been enough time to put (a tour) together."
PRODUCING OTHERS: He knows that those even younger than he have produced the work of other talented people and he admires that but "it's not necessarily a plan."
TALK SHOW: Now, here is something he clearly would like to do. "We put feelers out for this, that or the other...we make known what we think we're interested in doing," Clay says, using We meaning He. And he says they've made it known that talk is something he's interested in doing. But, like Spamalot, he says, sometimes it's a matter of ideas and opportunities coming together at the right time. Bottom line: nothing in the works right now.
NYC vs. N.C.: "NO," he says, when I ask if he would like to relocate to New York permanently. "I prefer New York to a lot of other places. But living here, I don't think I could do. Living here for short spurts of time is fine." He says, "I need my back yard," and then we got into how he had to send his two dogs back to Raleigh because "New York is not a place to be a dog," and how it's never quiet in NYC and rents and mortgages are outrageous and...you get the picture.
THE NEW ALBUM: "I know a lot (of the fans) like to like everything I do," Clay says, but on the new album there will be something everyone won't like, but also something everyone WILL like. A lot of you want Clay to rock out, or as he calls it "do rockin' songs" — and he says on the new album he does — but it's hard for him to find such songs. "I can't find one I'm comfortable with." He was reluctant to pick a favorite or signature song from this album but eventually said the song Something About Us could be it.
MUSIC VS. LYRICS: For Clay, it's all about the words. He says 90 percent of the songs on the new album were chosen for the lyrics: "In some way, on all of those, I connect." But he's not going to tell us how or why he connects to each specific song. Why? "Because you want people to connect for their own reasons." In other words, he doesn't want us reading into each song the possible applications to his life when we should be finding meaning in them for ourselves.
Look for my shorter print piece on Clay in the May 11 issue of the magazine, and you can read about my previous interview with Clay here.
(photo courtesy clayaiken.com)
April 01, 2008
No more Clay questions, please
OK Clay Aiken fans, I just got off the phone with him and had about 20 minutes to discuss the best and mosts relevant of your questions. Don't leave any more, please. I'll post some of the interview tomorrow, and look for the piece in USA WEEKEND magazine on May 11.
March 31, 2008
Clay Aiken interview coming
Clay Aiken fans already know that his role in Broadway's Spamalot comes to an end on May 4. But, because Clay has the vitality of the Energizer bunny, he's been working on a new album at the same time and plans to release it on May 6. I'm going to talk to him about it tomorrow, so send your questions today. Just post them in the comments section below. If you'd like to have me use your question in the magazine, please leave a full name, city and state with it.
March 17, 2008
Carrie Underwood gets Opry invite
Former American Idol Carrie Underwood just keeps getting bigger. Saturday she was invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Underwood will be formally inducted into the Opry on May 10.
March 05, 2008
Gamble & Huff get Hall of Fame honor
I just got off the phone with songwriters Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff (at left), aka Gamble & Huff, who will be inducted Monday into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with Madonna, John Mellencamp, The Dave Clark Five, Leonard Cohen, The Ventures and Little Walter. The festivities happen at the famous Waldorf-Astoria in New York and you can be sure the party will begin over the weekend.
The duo, who began writing together 45 years ago, created the Philadelphia sound, which included hits such as Love Train, Me and Mrs. Jones and Use Ta Be My Girl for artists like The O'Jay's, Patti LaBelle, Lou Rawls and Teddy Pendergrass. Two new CDs, one of their hits and one of "forgotten wonders," were released by Sony yesterday.
So, what does it take for a partnership to work as long as that of Gamble & Huff? "Respect and trust," Huff tells me. They met on an elevator in a Philadelphia building where one worked on the second floor and the other on the sixth. "We were the only African-Americans going in and out of the building every day so we had to say something to each other." They discovered that Huff was a piano player and Gamble a lyricist and melody-maker. They got together one day and wrote half a dozen songs and a partnership was born.
Gamble says the Hall of Fame honor "has given us a new boost." A new generation is discovering their work and talent. Michael Bublé performs the Gamble & Huff classic Me & Mrs. Jones on Call Me Irresponsible and Keyshia Cole included a sample of their' She's Only A Woman on Just Like You, her contemporary R&B album. "It's exciting," says Gamble, who'd like to write for Cole and American Idol winner Fantasia. "It makes us remember what it was like."
February 20, 2008
Bette Midler's back - now in Vegas
I wish I were in Vegas, at least for tonight. Why? Because I love Bette Midler (at right) and tonight she opens her Caesars Palace show, The Showgirl Must Go On. She did a full dress rehearsal last night for a crowd of more than 4,000 but tonight is the official first of the 200 performances she will give in the next 2 1/2 years. Midler is 62 but she performs with her usual gusto and includes many of her signature numbers from early in her career. Of course, she makes an arresting entrance, arriving in a sparkly silver pant suit sitting on a burro
then breaking into a classic showgirl number.
(photo by Kevin Mazur/courtesy bettemidler.com)
February 12, 2008
Blake Shelton opens Daytona 300
Maybe you rooted for him on NBC's Clash of the Choirs. Now look for Blake Shelton to open this weekend's Daytona 300 Nationwide race. He'll rejoin his choir, the 20-person group from his hometown of Oklahoma City with whom he recorded Home, to be used as ESPN's song for NASCAR's 2008 season. And apparently Shelton likes "home." His choir performed this version of Home (written by Marc Broussard) on Clash of the Choirs, but it's not the same as Shelton's current single (written by Michael Buble) of the same name.
Reba McEntire ready for Valentine's Day
We're getting down to the wire when it comes to Valentine's Day plans. If you haven't figured out what you're doing yet, well, you may not be doing much. If you're looking for some music to get you in the romantic spirit,
check out Reba McEntire's special Valentine's Album, Love Revival. I'm not telling you this just because I like Reba, though I do. She once was kind enough to host my whole book club backstage after one of her local shows. Talk about making me look good! But there are four new songs on the 10-song album, including McEntire's new version of Restless Heart's No. 1 song from 1987, I'll Still be Loving You, and McEntire's own No. 1, The Heart Won't Lie, with Vince Gill. The CD is only available at Hallmark Gold Crown stores until Feb. 28, but you can go here to listen to samples of a few of the tracks.
January 18, 2008
Alison Krauss on Grammys, AC/DC
"Alison Krauss is certainly down-to-earth for someone who's won 20 Grammys," says our intern Caren Oppenheim, who recently had a chance to talk with the singer for a piece in the magazine. She's won more than any other female in the awards show’s history (she's pictured at right backstage at the 2004 Grammys). She's clearly a veteran at winning, but she told Caren that the nominations never get old. "How can they get old? You know, you make a record and it’s like the only record you’ve ever made. You don’t really look back, you’re only looking ahead."
Here's what else Caren learned:
"Krauss laughed when I reminded her of a previous USA WEEKEND interview in which she said that her parents, who have a few of her Grammys, would store them in the dirty laundry when they went out of town. ‘I’ll tell you, if you hid something in that laundry room, you’d never find it again,’ she said. Krauss, whose passion for music comes through in everything she’s saying, is nominated this year for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Simple Love and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)' with Robert Plant (who she'll be touring with this spring, they just announced). She said she assumes she’ll attend the ceremony as long as it’s not affected by the WGA strike. Also on the horizon for Krauss is the airing of her CMT Crossroads with Plant, on Feb. 11.
When I asked Krauss who’s on her iPod these days, she said she’s recently been listening to older artists such as Nick Drake and Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, but that you can also find hard rock bands like AC/DC. She said you'd be more likely to find her without music on than listening to it because of how consuming it is for her. ‘If I’m gonna listen, I can’t just kind of half-heartedly listen, so if I have something else to do it will always fall to the wayside if I have music on. So, it’s something I kind of set time aside for unless you’re driving and nobody is talking.’”
(photo courtesy alisonkrauss.com)
December 17, 2007
Clay Aiken on Spamalot, stage fright and sequels
Can you think of any better revenge on that high school musical director who cut you from the cast than to end up in a hit Broadway show? I can't. And that's just what has happened for Clay Aiken — the Broadway part, not the revenge, necessarily. He got cut from the musical when in high school in Raleigh, N.C. and next month he'll make his Broadway debut.
I just got off the phone with Clay, who was so full of energy and good conversation, he was better than a cup of coffee to jump start my afternoon. He was happy to answer questions from Blog readers, though there was not time to do them all. Thanks for sending them, everyone. You are informed followers indeed.
The American Idol alum, who is in Cleveland today, confessed that he was talking to me while he was still in his pajamas; he was waiting backstage to do the sound check before the show there tonight. He'll go to Minneapolis for three days, then Omaha and Chicago before he leaves with UNICEF to work in Mexico for the holidays.
He says he won't even have time to think about Spamalot until Jan. 2 and he has not ever seen the movie, Sylvie. In fact, he only saw the show a year ago. "The first time I saw it, I thought, 'This is stupid.' It was lost on me." But about six months later, on a second viewing, he saw that it is "irreverant, silly, silly, silly and it's all it's supposed to be. I laughed so hard. It's the funniest show in New York." He IS a little worried about the dancing, or as he put it, "God help us with the dancing part." He'll have just about two weeks to learn it before his debut on Jan. 18. And he's curious about what it will be like to do eight shows a week all in the same place. Spamalot, he says, "is the closest to a 9 to 5 job I've ever had in my life." And, Lissa, it sounds like he'll work on the new album primarily after the show is wrapped up in May.
Clay does not experience stage fright but he did remember for me that the last time he had it was the first week he was on American Idol. As for what other musical or play he might like to do someday, there seems to be no question - Huck Finn in Big River. He recalls seeing that musical in Raleigh when he was very young and realizing "Oh wow. These people are making a living singing. It seemed more attainable." The cool part of that story is, the young actor playing Huck that day that Clay saw it, was Martin Moran. And it is Moran, currently playing Sir Robin in Spamalot, who Clay will replace.
I asked about writing a sequel to his book Learning to Sing, and at first he laughed about it being called Learn to Shut Up. But Clay says he doesn't see a sequel. He says the first book felt right because he had so many experiences to share that might benefit someone else. Though he's grown much and "there would be a lot to get in" he doesn't see how it would benefit anyone else.
I did get to ask how he relaxes, wondering if he had a hobby or sport. But Clay says the best way for him to relax is to be alone. He likes staying on the tour bus when everyone else is gone, or just going to the mall by himself. He says he recharges best by himself. No doubt he is going to love New York.
Clay Aiken chat coming up
This morning I've been mulling over questions for American Idol's most famous runner-up, Clay Aiken. He is getting ready to make his Broadway debut in the popular musical Spamalot. If you have questions you'd like me to ask, post them below. Clay will play Sir Robin, the role originated by David Hyde Pierce, beginning on Jan. 18.
December 11, 2007
Fergie, Maroon 5 top iTunes bestsellers of 2007
The online music store iTunes released its list of the best-selling albums and songs of 2007. Maroon 5's It Won't Be Soon Before Long was the No. 1 best-selling album of the year; Fergie's Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal) was the best-selling song. The High School Musical 2 and Hairspray soundtracks made the top 10 albums, as did Kanye West, Amy Winehouse and John Mayer. Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavigne and Timbaland were among those with top 10 best-selling songs.
December 07, 2007
Kanye West is Grammy's top nominee
Over Coffee...TGIF! Make it a movie weekend. The Golden Compass and Atonement, both well-liked here at the Who's News Blog, are opening. Atonement should be an Oscar magnet. As much as anything is at this point.
Kanye West had eight nominations and Amy Winehouse six when the Grammy nominees were named Thursday. Others included Bruce Springsteen, Tim McGraw, and Jay-Z.
Speaking of awards, the National Board of Review named No Country for Old Men
best picture this week. It's an odd year for serious award watchers as
there is no strong front runner in almost any category at this point.
This board gave best actor to George Clooney and best actress to Julie Christie.
Teri Hatcher says she did not violate an agreement with a company called Hydroderm to promote its products. Well, actually, her attorney says.
Ray Liotta has pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge; he drove into two parked cars last February.
Ryan Phillippe and Abbie Cornish are indeed a couple, says The NewYork Daily News. You'll recall she denied any involvement when they were making a movie together and he was married.
An "aw-w" moment on Ellen DeGeneres' show Wednesday when Jenna Bush picked up the phone to call her dad. Asked, "Are you mad?" the president was diplomatic. "No, not at all," he told her, "I'm excited to talk to you. I'm glad to talk to Ellen."
Hilary Duff, not all that many years away from her old Disney role of Lizzie Maguire, sounds wise at the age of 20. She tells Cosmo she's not ready for marriage. "I think a reason that people in this business get married young is that they feel like everything comes to them sooner in life. It's normal to be like, 'Okay, what's next?' "
The Sex and the City movie trailer is out. Take a look at it below.
November 13, 2007
Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest host New Year's Eve
Is Ryan Seacrest the new Dick Clark? Clark and Seacrest will co-host Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on ABC Dec. 31, the 36th consecutive year that Rockin' Eve has been on the air. Clark, 77, missed the show in 2004 when he suffered a stroke. He has
been back the past two years with Seacrest as co-host. Seacrest, 32, is expected to eventually succeed Clark as host of the show. Is he right for the job? Tell us what you think. Post a comment below.
November 08, 2007
Olivia Newton-John leaves a message
Just picked up my voice mail messages and who do I find but Olivia Newton-John. The two of us had talked Tuesday about her new Christmas CD but touched on health issues, too, because she's a breast cancer survivor who takes wellness seriously. She had called me to tell me the specifics on some herb therapy I expressed interest in. She's in the U.S. this week, heading to Philadelphia for a concert over the weekend.
November 07, 2007
Early arrivals begin on CMA red carpet
Tonight is Nashville's equivalent of Hollywood's Oscar night so it's no wonder that the media is out in full force. Our Dennis McCafferty has sharpened his elbows and his questions, has his notebook and digital camera at his side, and has staked out his spot on the red carpet. It's 5 p.m. ET and he's already there. He's not alone. CMT and ABC have the biggest red carpet presence, but along with them are Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, Entertainment Weekly, the TV Guide channel, the Fox News Channel, CNN, and more. There even are outlets from Canada and the U.K. and photographers are there from all over the planet.
Dennis reports that the arrivals have begun with some of the lesser-known personalities, though the crowd in the bleacher seats doesn't care. They cheer for them all the same.
It's high school musical for Brad Paisley
The latest from Dennis on the streets of Nashville:
"I went to get my credentials for the show and, outside the arena, everyone on the street was doing double takes as a school bus pulled up and unloaded an entire high school marching band! ‘Ummmm, hey kids, did you show up at the wrong place? There’s no high school football game going on at the Sommet Center tonight …’ Well, they
were in the right place, because they’ll be onstage tonight to perform Online with Brad Paisley. It’s a funny, quirky song, so the marching band from nearby Brentwood High fits right in. Check out the photo. The tuba player, Alex Levy, 18, says, unlike other country music stars tonight, it only took him a minute to get properly ‘styled’ for the event. But that doesn’t make him any less excited. 'It’s definitely THE musical highlight of my career,' he told me. 'So far, at least.' His folks will be TiVo-ing from home. With Alex, to the left, is Nicole Negrete and, center, Daniel Bradley.