Rich Heldenfels writes about popular culture for the Beacon Journal and in the HeldenFiles Online blog for
Ohio.com : Northeast Ohio's source for local news, sports, jobs, cars, homes. He can be reached at 330-996-3582 or
rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com.
Kellie and Me. Not long ago, I talked by phone to former American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler, who is among the performers featured in CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock, airing at 9 tonight on ABC. (She's also scheduled for Good Morning America today.)
While riding on her tour bus and between bantering with her fellow travelers, Pickler said she had a great time at the festival, including a lot of time spent with a fan also named Kellie. Among other things, she took the fan over to her record company to talk to executives, since the fan wanted to know how to make it in the music business.
``I told her, `I don't know anything. Don't ask me,' '' Pickler said. But the dumb-bunny act that was part of her Idol stint -- remember her struggle with the word salmon? -- just doesn't fly anymore.
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Cutting Back Comedy. Late last year, Fox announced plans to develop a sitcom with Pickler. Apparently her interest has waned.
``The sitcom's on the back burner,'' she said. ``Country music's my whole life now. I want to establish myself as a country artist while I have the chance.
``If I was working on a TV show, that would take 14, 15 hours a day. When would I fit my music in? When would I tour?''
She didn't rule out doing a comedy eventually, but she mentioned Reba McEntire as setting the right kind of path: country stardom first, then a TV show down the road.
But one thing she'd jump at right now: A guest-starring role on House, ideally as a doctor who solves a case Hugh Laurie can't. Suspecting a question about her ability to play such a role, she said, ``Believe it or not, I used to take nursing classes.''
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Kellie and Me and Them. Last season, Pickler paid a return visit to Idol and generated comments on the air and off about her new, uh, look. There's been considerable speculation that she had some kind of breast enhancement. After much hemming and hawing, I managed to ask her what the deal was -- and she declined to answer.
``I've always enjoyed being the center of attention, and I was,'' she said. With a laugh, she added, ``Maybe I should say `we' were the center of attention. And as soon as I say yes or no, then I wouldn't be.''
Beacon Journal | 07/23/2007 | Kellie and Me. Not long ago, I talked by phone to former American Idol...
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