'N Sync member encourages students to read and realize a dream
www.the-daily-record.com3.21.08
By RACHEL JACKSON
DALTON DISTRICT -- School is so important that a big-time star returned to his small-town roots Thursday to encourage students to stick with their studies.
Chris Kirkpatrick, a member of 'N Sync and a voice on "The Fairly OddParents," spoke with classes at Dalton Elementary and Intermediate schools as part of Right to Read Week. The 1990 DHS graduate also met with the show choir at a downtown cafe.
He described his experiences as a teenager -- he too was in show choir -- and told of his efforts to make a living through music.
"It all started here," he said.
Kirkpatrick acknowledged it's easy to get discouraged in a small town such as Dalton.
"I always thought, famous people, they come from Hollywood and New York. I didn't think they actually came from Dalton," he said.
He used to walk through the alley and think, "I'm going to be famous -- and then I'd laugh at myself," he said.
"God works in mysterious ways, and here we are," he said.
He sought to encourage the students to persevere, and to keep learning.
"The more you start to figure out what you want to do and where you belong ... you can focus on what you love. You can specialize a lot more," he said.
Music always was something he loved to do, so he learned everything he could about it and continues to take classes, he said.
"I immersed myself in it. I swam in it," he said.
Although he's returned to Dalton many times, Thursday was the first time he visited classes.
"It's weird because that's it -- I was in that same place. ... I'm an idiot kid who grew up in Dalton and barely graduated," he said.
And he knows what it's like to not quite fit in, he said. Even now, he prefers to ride with the crew than with other celebrities, he said.
"I don't hang out with celebrities because they make me nervous," Kirkpatrick said.
He felt it was important to spend time with the students to give them a wider perspective on their studies.
"You don't get, why do I have to read or why do I have to do math. You need all the basics and then you can specialize," he said
.Musicians need to be able to read music and read various industry publications, for example.
"You need the whole bubble of education. A little of everything," he said.
And although he joked about how school can be a "pain," he hoped students would take seriously the message that reading and learning are important.
"It's cool to come back to see how excited they are," he said. "... The littlest thing can mean a lot to people."
Students were excited to spend their lunch break with Kirkpatrick.
"Anytime someone that grew up where you did makes it big-time somewhere, that's cool," said senior Katelyn Pike, whose sister sent a folder to be autographed.
Senior Scott Geiser said it's good to know Kirkpatrick was willing to come back to his hometown.
"It's cool to know he's from a small town and is able to do a lot with music," Geiser said.
Juniors Hannah Smith and Brittany Gardner and sophomore Hannah Wald said they didn't realize Kirkpatrick was a Dalton grad.
Media outlets often give his hometown as being in Pennsylvania because that's where he was born and went to elementary school, he said.
"It's a unique experience, getting to see someone that grew up in your hometown," junior Sven Isaacson said.
Students need good role models, particularly to remind them that being from a small town shouldn't stand in the way of their goals, Superintendent Scott Beatty said.
"Anything you want to do in your life is possible," Beatty said.
Comments (0) 04.06.2008. 18:38
Miss USA Contestants Visit Nellis Air Force Base (Joey)
www.ktnv.com
3.31.08
Reigning Miss USA Rachel Smith made stops across the Valley Monday with the women competing for the crown this year.
On Monday, the contestants spent some time with people at Nellis Air Force Base.
When the contestants for the Miss USA hit the stage next month, they will have some big names sizing them up.
Heather Mills, comedian Rob Shneider, Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard and singer Joey Fatone will all serves as judges.
Donny and Marie Osmond will host the contest April 11th at the Planet Hollywood resort.
Stay tuned to Action News as we monitor the contestants and their race for the crown.
Comments (0) 03.31.2008. 17:57
Justin Timberlake Brings Sexy to Whataburger Field
www.kiiitv.com
Fans filed into Whataburger Field turned movie set for the film The Open Road who were eager to see the film's star Justin Timberlake.
"I hope so, the last time I saw him was like 7 years ago at an 'NSync concert," says JT fan Stephanie Garcia.
Yep, that's the music mogul turned actor dressed in a Hook's uniform. Our camera caught this glimpse of Mr. JT as he walked onto the field shaking hands with writer/director Michael Meredith right before the filming began.
The Open Road has Timberlake playing fictional hooks player Carlton Garret, the son of a baseball legend.
"It's definitely been a crazy day. We've been working really hard to get ready for this day, and its really something else to think Whataburger field will be featured in a film," says Hooks General Manager Michael Wood.
Inside The Hook, Line and Sinker souvenir shop, T-Shirts are flying off the racks. They're sporting the number 3 - The number of Justin Timberlake's fictional character. Officials say it might just be the best selling jersey for the Hooks.
"We've sold a couple of hundred. I think we brought in 400. They're going to be gone by the start of the game, also the custom Garrett jersey have been selling really well too," says souvenir shop worker Brooke Milam.
During the Hooks' exhibition game with the Round Rock Express, a helicopter in the air caught the attention of fans, who are also getting a chance to become movie stars for the day. Hook fans say they were excited to become apart of the movie as extras.
"For a city like Corpus Christi, I think this is so fortunate so exciting," says devoted Hooks fan Rhonda Lawson.
Whether it was to watch the Hooks in action, to be in a movie, or to try and catch a glimpse of Timberlake, Hooks officials say the crowd and the team will be hitting a home run in Hollywood.
Bill Churchwell, 3News
Comments (0) 03.31.2008. 17:45
Justin Timberlake inspires art exhibition
www.thaindian.comWashington, Mar 30 (ANI): All artists have a muse to inspire them, and for New York art curator Nicholas Weist it was Justin Timberlake.
The American pop singers music and good looks has inspired Weists “If I Told You You Were Beautiful Would You Date Me on the Regular?” exhibition, on display at New York’s Oliver Kamm 5BE Gallery.
The exhibition is open for only one night and it features everything from sculpture to photography and site-specific installations, reports People.
Meanwhile Timberlake gave back a little love to his hometown with a 200,000 dollars donation.
The 27-year-old singer made two separate donations of 100,000 dollars each to the Memphis Rock ‘N’ Soul Museum and the Memphis Music Foundation in his hometown.
The donation will be used for advancing music education for local students and for achieving the foundations mission of “telling the story of Memphis Music and perpetuating its legacy.” (ANI)
Comments (0) 03.30.2008. 19:04
Madonna speaks out about Britney, hubby and Justin Timberlake's rear
www.nzherald.co.nz
11:30AM Monday March 31, 2008
Madonna has spoken out about troubled singer Britney Spears, and revealed she works out to Spears' new album Blackout.
"I actually love Britney's new album, she said in an interview with New York radio station Z100 FM.
"I usually work out to her record. I do a combination of Pilates and dance aerobics.
"They (the media) need to step off. For real, let's go save her."
Madonna, 49, said her daughter, Lourdes, 11, feels the same way.
"She knows Britney, (but) she doesn't really watch TV or read gossip stuff," the pop star said in the interview.
"I think she sort of gets the drift of what's going on, and I think she feels very protective of Britney."
Madonna also revealed she will only perform Like A Virgin again for $30 million.
The star, who is set to embark on a tour this autumn, is tired of singing her early hits and has no desire to include them in her set lists.
She said: "I'm not sure I can sing Holiday or Like A Virgin ever again. I just can't - unless somebody paid me like $30 million or something. Like if some Russian guy wants me to come to the wedding he's going to have to a 17-year-old, you know it."
The singer, who gave Justin Timberlake a vitamin injection in his butt while they were recording 4 Minutes after he complained of a cold, insists she asked him to drop his trousers for purely professional reasons.
Madonna said: "First of all, I've seen enough butt. The reason I gave him a B-12 shot is because we only had a certain amount of days in the studio and I didn't want him to use that as a lame-a** excuse not to come to work.
"It's got nothing to do with butt. I promise you. Listen, I don't need to give him a shot to see his butt!"
Madonna denied her marriage to director Guy Ritchie is in trouble calling the speculation "ridiculous", but admitted the couple have to work hard at their relationship like everyone else.
She said: "We still have to take turns to compromise. It's not easy."
Comments (0) 03.30.2008. 18:56
JC Chasez says bro-mance rumors are ‘stupid’
Access Hollywood
updated 12:10 p.m. CT, Fri., March. 28, 2008
Ex-’N SYNCer says that he, 'Gossip' star Chace Crawford are friends
LOS ANGELES - Former ’N SYNCer JC Chasez is tired of the “Gossip” that he and Chace Crawford are more than just friends. The former boy-bander-turned-“Dance Crew” judge, said the rumors about him and the “Gossip Girl” star are just plain “stupid.”
After being spotted hanging out quite a bit lately, rumors ran rampant online of a possible bro-mance between the two stars.“You know what, it’s laughable the first time. I think the 10th time, it gets annoying,” Chasez told People at the live finale of “Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew” on Thursday.
Chasez, the former boy-bander-turned-“Dance Crew” judge, said the rumors about him and the “Gossip Girl” star are just plain “stupid.”
“I don’t care about (people’s) assumptions or anything, but when people outright lie, that’s wrong,” he added. “So I think that part of the rumor is outright stupid.”
In addressing the speculation, the 31-year-old JC (who previously dated the likes of Eva Longoria) said while he and Crawford are good friends — that’s all it is.
“The fact of the matter is I’m a straight guy,” Chasez insisted. “And I’m allowed to have (guy) friends.”
Crawford recently split from country cutie Carrie Underwood.Comments (0) 03.30.2008. 18:46
Lovett and Stanton hit "Open Road"-(Justin)
reuters
By Gregg Goldstein
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Country singer Lyle Lovett and Harry Dean Stanton are traveling with Justin Timberlake and Jeff Bridges on "The Open Road."
Stanton will play the grandfather of Timberlake's character, a young man trying to reconcile with his father (Bridges) as he heads home to his ill mother's bedside. Lovett will play a Memphis bartender who lends a helpful ear to Timberlake.
Writer-director Michael Meredith ("Three Days of Rain") is shooting the project in Louisiana and other Southern locales.
Stanton and Timberlake co-starred in the suburban crime drama "Alpha Dog." Lovett appeared in "Three Days of Rain."
Reuters/Hollywood ReporterComments (0) 03.26.2008. 18:36
Justin Timberlake to Host the ESPYs
Associated Press
3.26.08
NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Timberlake is hosting an awards show — and it's not the Grammys.
ESPN has lined up the 27-year-old singer-actor to host its annual ESPY Awards show this summer, celebrating some of the best and funniest moments in sports over the past year.
The ceremony, to be held at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on July 20, will be televised live on ESPN, the network said Wednesday.
Timberlake says he's a sports junkie.
"I'll do my best to deliver a great show, as I do not want to be roughed up backstage by these athletes who are bigger, faster and stronger than me," he said.
Timberlake will be in the summertime movie, "The Love Guru," with Mike Myers and Jessica Alba. He recently showed a different kind of stage presence when he inducted Madonna into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Comments (0) 03.26.2008. 18:29
N SYNC - CHASEZ DENIES GAY LOVE AFFAIR WITH CRAWFORD
contactmusic.com
3.26.08
Former 'N SYNC star J.C. CHASEZ has dismissed "stupid" reports he's dating actor CHACE CRAWFORD - because neither man is gay. Chasez is fed up with tabloid magazines romantically linking him to any girl he stands next to, but the 31-year-old admits he was surprised by speculation he's romancing Gossip Girl star Crawford, 22. Chasez says, "For the record, we're both straight. We're not dating. "The only time people usually see us together is in some type of photograph, so they just assume that it's like that." He continues, "If I'm dating a girl and I'm standing next to another girl, I'm having an affair. So now, since there hasn't been any of that smoke out there, if I'm hanging out with a guy, they're going to make up a rumour. It's just stupid."
Comments (0) 03.26.2008. 18:05
“Studio” Crippling JC’s Love Life
queerty.com
3.26.08
Like so many courageous people before him, JC Chasez gathered his strength, put on a brave face and had a heart-to-heart with Tyra Banks.
The girls had some small, publicist-approved talk about the singer’s dance show, career history and the like, but things soon veered toward the queer when Banks brought up Chasez’s former bandmate, Lance Bass.
Like the self-proclaimed pro she is, Banks repeatedly presses Chasez on whether he suspected Bass like boys. Chasez is for more experienced, however, and rebuffs her efforts by saying he never likes to make presumptions. Well played!
Having struck out on the gay angle, Banks then delves in Chasez’s much gabbed about love life. He claims not to have a girlfriend at the moment, but makes sure to mention that he has had girlfriends. Yeah, so have we.
Chasez goes on to say that he would potentially have a “partner” if he could get dragged out of “the studio”. Indeed…
Comments (0) 03.26.2008. 17:58