Archived Articles

Jason Aldean: A Golden Year



What a year it's been for country newcomer Jason Aldean! A top ten hit with "Hicktown," a Gold debut album and an opening spot on one of the biggest tours around, and that's just a few of his accomplishments!

Jason's debut single, "Hicktown," had more adds at radio in its first five weeks than any other debut single since Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman." It was also a top ten song on Billboard and the R&R country singles charts. Jason comments on the success of the tune, "I like the song but I would be lying if I said I thought it was going to do what it did. We just wanted something that was going to put us on the map and set us up for some other songs. I'm not going to say it was a surprise but it was a little unexpected."

The self-titled debut album hit stores in July 2005, and after only twelve weeks on the charts it had reached Gold status. Where was Jason when he found out this good news? He says, "I believe I was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and had just gotten off a plane. We knew it was getting close so my manager called and told me it had happened and we had a big party that night. It was quite a little throw down in Pittsburgh, PA. It's something I had been waiting on for a long time so when it finally happens you really don't know what to do. To me it wasn't real until I got the plaque. Then that solidified it for me. It's awesome."



In February 2006, the rising star headed out on his first big tour. He kicks off each night of Rascal Flatts "Me and My Gang" show which is a welcomed change for the Georgia native. "We've started that and are going to be out with them I believe through March. It's my first major tour so it's a little different from playing clubs to playing those big arenas like that but it makes me not want to go back and playing clubs anymore. It makes me want to stay in there. I can get used to that. We're having a lot of fun and I've gotten to hang out with those guys and get to know them pretty well, better than I did before. And it's just cool. I get to go out on stage with them and do a song so it's been a really cool experience."

This is just the beginning and only a few of the major events that have happened to the Broken Bow Records recording artist. It's been quite a Golden year for Jason and we imagine in the near future he will be seeing Platinum.

For more from this interview, check out the Third Annual Country Music Edition of EnterTeenment News due out in June. Also make sure you check out www.JasonAldean.com for all things happening to this impressive rising star!











Lisa Foiles: "All That" and so Much More!!!
by: Susan J. Yeager

Nickelodeon fans will probably recognize Lisa Foiles right away as one of the seven cast members of the wildly popular series, "All That!" The Spokane, Washington native has spent the last four years playing a variety of different characters on the sketch comedy show that is often called a kid's version of "Saturday Night Live."

Becoming a performer on the series was a dream come true for the natural born performer who has been honing her entertainment skills for over 12 years. "I have actually been a fan of the show ever since it came on," Lisa says. "My friend Heather would just watch the show all the time and always pretend to be the characters on the show. So when I moved out here, my manager called me and said 'Hey, they're doing a nationwide search for this show called All That. Have you ever heard of it?' I was like 'OH MY GOSH! I love that show!' So I went and auditioned and I had six callbacks. [It was a] HUGE process! Then they told me I got it. It was a dream come true."

Having spent so much time working on the show, Lisa has undoubtedly made memories that will last a lifetime. So what stands out most to the multi-talented performer? "The reunion show, which I just did, it's already far and above my favorite thing that we've done," she says excitedly. "Not counting that, we had Britney Spears and P. Diddy, Amanda Bynes, and all these people that are such big stars right now that came on our show. Just meeting them was such a thrill. Of course, my favorite is the reunion show that we just did where all of the old cast on All That, that I used to watch and look up too, all came to the show. I got to be in scenes and sketches with them. I just loved telling everybody 'I used to watch you every time you were on. I really look up to you!'"

Fans can credit Lisa's parents for discovering their daughter's talents early and helping her develop a life that she loves. "Ever since I was a little, little girl I used to just sing and dance around the house," Lisa recalls when asked about her early start in show business. "I used to watch The Sound of Music constantly. My parents just looked at me and said 'We need to get this girl in some lessons to get her professionally trained. So I did a lot of dance competitions and a lot of singing performances and then I did some theater. I really enjoyed the theater. It was so much fun for me. So my supportive family packed up and moved to California."

Once in California, the actress/singer/dancer started (like most young actors do) in commercials. "My first professional acting job in California was a Dunkin' Doughnuts commercial. This is every little girl's dream okay… I booked a doughnut commercial! It actually was my first wake up call that Hollywood really isn't all that glamorous," she says candidly. "It was about 100 degrees outside but it was a winter commercial so we had to wear parkas and these really thick, heavy clothes. I ended up eating 40 doughnuts in one day. Since it was my first job, I was afraid to use the spit bucket, because I wanted to look cool. I ate every doughnut! I was sick for a few days and of course I was like 'I'm never eating a doughnut again.' And then like a week later, I ate another doughnut!"

The hard-working youngster somehow managed to juggle academics, dance and singing lessons and working on commercials, guest appearances on TV shows and theater and singing performances before landing "All That" and throwing that into the mix. "I wouldn't have been able to do it if I hadn't been home-schooled. That's really the bottom line. I could have tried to go to regular school but I would have been overwhelmed. My Mom was so helpful in home-schooling me that I could handle it all and juggle it all and still be a real kid. Everybody always says 'Oh home-schoolers don't get the whole social scene.' That's so not true. I made so many friends at dance and singing and acting. I get a little bit of all of it. I have no regrets about being home-schooled. It's one of the best things I ever did."

Between classes and lessons and working and performing, there isn't much downtime for this performer on the go, but she does slow down every once in a while to play a game of tennis with her Dad or go swimming. She listens to classical music ("I really love listening to Josh Groban, that's kind of my style right now"), which she is trained to sing and is also big on classic rock. "In every day life and when I'm driving down the street, I love listening to classic rock. Like Aerosmith and Journey is my favorite. I love Journey and I love Styx and Hall and Oats. I love classic rock. It's so great!"

The future is wide open for this energetic, young entertainer who sets her sights high. "I would really take an interest in writing. I think writing is so much fun," she states about moving behind the scenes one day. "I've played around with it. I've written sketches for the show and I've given them to the writer's just to get feedback. And they're like 'Oh yeah, this is so good and we love it.' I really like writing. I think it would be so fun to move into later." She also would love to appear on Broadway one day. Keep in mind that this is the girl who sat in her Spokane, Washington home and dreamed of performing on a Nickelodeon series. Well, she's already accomplished "All That" and so much more!



Steven Anthony Lawrence:
There’s more to this funny guy than “Beans”

By Amy Robinson

Though Disney’s “Even Stevens” ended several years ago, 14-year-old Steven Anthony Lawrence is still constantly recognized as Beans, the bacon-obsessed, annoying neighbor character he played on the show.

“Beans is kind of like Dennis the Menace. He’s so annoying that you love him,” Steven said, explaining his character’s popularity. “People just think he’s adorable.”

However, “Even Stevens” isn’t Steven’s only acting credit – far from it. He’s guest starred on shows ranging from “Fraiser,” “ER” and “Married…with Children” to “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “The Amanda Show” and “That’s So Raven.”

He’s also starred in movies like “Cheaper By the Dozen,” “The Cat in the Hat” and “Kicking & Screaming” with comedic greats like Steve Martin, Mike Myers and Will Ferrell.

“It’s not intimidating. It’s great,” Steven said of working with such actors. “I’m a huge SNL fan, so getting to work with [them] was just a great experience in my career.”

He said of his “Kicking and Screaming” co-star, “I really admire Will Ferrell. He’s just a great actor, and you’d think really big actors like him would have a huge ego and wouldn’t be able to get their head through the door, but Will is the complete opposite. He is the nicest, funniest man you’ll ever meet in your entire life. It’s just a great honor and pleasure to work with him.”

In 2006 he’ll be re-teamed with Steve Martin in “Cheaper By the Dozen 2,” but in the meantime, he’ll star with Martin Lawrence in July’s “Rebound.”

Steven explained the plot of “Rebound,” a basketball comedy. “Coach Roy McCormick (Martin Lawrence) is kind of like a Bobby Knight character in a way,” he said. “He throws this big fit during a NCAA game and gets banned from coaching. The only way he can start coaching college teams again is if he coaches the middle school team where he grew up without losing his temper.”

In addition to his comedic acting skills, Steven also performs stand-up comedy.

“It’s more of a hobby than a job,” he said. “It’s a lot harder [than acting], I think. When you’re in front of a camera, you don’t know if the person watching is going to laugh or not – you just hope so. But, when you’re standing in front of them telling jokes and they’re booing you off the stage, you kind of get the hint.”

He named Carrot Top among his favorite stand-up comics. “Me and my dad and some friends went to see him in Las Vegas a while ago. His routine was so funny; I recommend everyone go see it.”

But Steven’s life isn’t all about acting. Like any other 14-year-old, he also has to worry about school.

“I love PE and lunch,” the high school freshman said of his favorite subjects. “Then, I really like history and science, and I love my foreign language that I’m taking this year – it’s sign language. I’ve been taking it for three years now, and I’m pretty fluent in it. It’s really cool.”

As for the future Steven isn’t quite sure what it will hold, but he has some ideas. “I want to executive produce, direct and maybe even write my own movie -- maybe be the next George Lucas or Ron Howard.”

Or, perhaps, he’ll be the next Fred Savage, another of his inspirations. “He’s actually doing what I want to do. He was a young boy on a TV series (“The Wonder Years”), and then he got into directing. He actually directed a couple of the “Even Stevens” episodes, which was pretty cool.”

He also said he would love to work with Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, who he calls a great comedic and dramatic actor, and possibly guest star on a criminal investigation show like “CSI” or “Without a Trace.”

However, Steven says comedy will always be in his future. “I really love comedy. It has always just come a little bit easier for me.”




Dierks Bentley: New Music... Same Great Attitude
by Susan J. Yeager



Sometimes it seems like just yesterday that country music fans cranked up their radios, shouted something about "little white tank tops," and pondered who is this guy singing?? There was no escaping hearing "What Was I Thinkin'" on the radio or seeing the video on CMT or GAC, but then again... who didn't want to hear it and sing along? However, Dierks Bentley fans are incredibly aware that the singer's self-titled debut album was actually released two long years ago. Though the Arizona native has done his best to be everywhere his fans want him to be (on the radio, on the video channels, at the awards shows, at the CMA Music Fest and most importantly, on the road over 200 dates this year) the fans still can't wait to get their hands on new music from the talented singer/songwriter. The wait is almost over.



On May 10, Dierks will release his sophomore effort titled "Modern Day Drifter." The 11 track collection has already produced one hit in the first single "Lot of Leavin' Left To Do." "It's kind of just a disclaimer on my life right now," Dierks says about the song's premise of not being able to get in a serious relationship because a singer is always on the road. "I wrote that with the same guys that I wrote 'What Was I Thinking' with. I just wrote it about being out here so much. It's hard to date someone when you've got a lot of leavin' left to do. We leave town every night. We're just always travelin'. It's just an honesty to the situation that we're in."


Being completely honest in a song is not a new concept to the writer who says he isn't afraid to pour too much of himself into his music. Referring to a song on his first album Dierks says "'Distant Shore' is probably the saddest song I've ever written. I was going through that at the time. I'd asked this girl to marry me and she said no. I still had the engagement ring... there was a thirty day return policy so I was pretty much just wearing it on my pinky for thirty days. [I was] just a wreck! Doing things I just shouldn't have been doing. Just a loser. Ground zero. That song is right there. The lowest that you can possibly be. It's always going to be one of my favorite songs. That's pretty much me exposed completely on that. Then [there are] songs like 'How I'm Doing' where I was over her and I got back on my feet and having fun. You want to write a song [to] announce to the whole world 'I'm back and rockin' and life is good again!' If I've lived it, it's on the album. I'm not afraid to put it in a song."

Having that attitude is one of the many reasons that fans flock to Bentley and his "leans towards traditional" sounding country. "It just, I think, brings them closer to you because they just feel like they know you," he says about basing songs on his real life experiences and putting so much of himself on the line. "Even if they haven't met you. Even if they've never seen you play a show they feel like they know you through the records. I can relate to that because I never got to know Bill Monroe or Lester Flatt or these guys but listening to their songs over and over and over again, you can tell what kind of person they are. If I were to see them... if I were to see Frank Sinatra, I never met him but I know his music so well that I would be like 'Hey man, what's going on? Haven't seen you in awhile. What's happening?' He'd be like 'Have I ever met you before?' 'Don't you remember that night we listened to Saturday Night'?"

Fans will get more of a glimpse into the Dierks' life as he co-wrote 7 of the new album's tracks. His contributions include "Cab of My Truck," "Come A Little Closer," and the wistful "Settle For a Slow Down." "It's a song about a girl's leaving you and you know she's going to leave you and she's not coming back And it's like 'I know you're leaving, but I'd settle for a slow down. Just tap your brake once or twice on the way out of town... just make it look like it hurts a little bit.' Great idea for a song," he adds as an after thought.



Though some artists spend years on an album that might never even see the light of day, the actual recording process of "Modern Day Drifter" was completed in ten of the 65 days of 2004 that Dierks didn't have a concert date. "Well, when you're on a bus 300 days a year, that leaves 65 days... and then there's travel. I had ten days to make this record," he states about the production process. "At the beginning of the year, I blocked off September 1 through September 10. [We] wrote on the road. Brett [Beavers his co-writer and producer] would come out here and write. We'd just get it done out here. When we went in the studio, we had the ideas already worked out. [I] used a lot of the same players I used the last time. Tracked for two days, and then started overdubs. I slept at the studio every night. I'd sing in between overdub sessions and just knocked it out. With a little bit of luck and some blessings from up above, it's a really great record. The first one will always hold a special spot but I just think this record is better. I think I'm singing better. We just got blessed with some really great moments."

The album features guest appearances by Alison Krauss on the track "Good Things Happen" and the Del McCoury Band on "Good Man Like Me." His goals for the records didn't stray much from the formula that made the first album a platinum selling success. "Keep it the same," replies Dierks when asked what his goals were going into the project. "Cut great songs with good melodies. Keep the production acoustic based but still make it a big sounding record. There's no filler. It's mostly an acoustic based record. So the goal's just to expand on what the first record was and just to take it to the next kind of level without losing what made the first record great."



Fans can already check out an exclusive Dierks' performance on AOL and keep checking back to see and hear more songs from "Modern Day Drifter." You can also visit the artist's official site at Dierks.com for a complete track listing. "Great songs and great melodies," says Dierks of what fans have in store for them. "It's an awesome record!" We can't wait to hear for ourselves!

Dierks Thoughts On:



The Success of "What Was I Thinkin'":

"I wrote that with Brett and Deric Ruttan. I knew when we finished it that it was a hit. I grabbed my guitar; I called the A&R girl at Capitol. I tracked her down at some bar, sat her down on the tailgate and played it for her right there in the parking lot. We went and recorded it, I think the next day."

On Bowling:

"I used to love bowling. I sold my house last year because we were so busy. I sold my house when I was on the road and I had the movers come while I was on the road and I came back to no home. I haven't had a home in Nashville for going on a year now. But when they moved, they moved all my stuff into some storage facility that I've been to once. I didn't have much stuff but they got too small of a facility and it's like boxes all the way to the roof… all the way back. I didn't know where to begin. I opened up the thing, looked at it. I was like "Ooo - Kay!" Put it back down, locked it. I lost my bowling ball. It's in there somewhere. Who knows where it is?"

On Extravagant Purchases:

"People ask me 'What have you done since you wrote these songs and some money has been coming in?' I haven't bought anything. My life is like the opposite of MTV Cribs. I sold my house. I have the same truck that's got 200,000 miles on it. I haven't bought anything!"



Check out our review of the George Strait Tour featuring Dierks on the Events Page

Photos Provided by: Front Page Publicity




Lila McCann: Back on the Charts





Lila McCann hasn't had a record out in a couple of years but she's back now and ready to rule the country charts again. "Go Easy On Me," the first single off her upcoming album (her first with the Broken Bow Record Label) has been released to radio and Lila is ready to make a mark on the country scene once again. The twenty three-year-old could already be considered a music veteran with three records and a string of accomplishments under her belt. A Platinum record (her self-titled debut album on Asylum Records), hit songs ("I Wanna Fall In Love" went all the way to number 1!), TV appearances and a group of loyal fans make Lila the accomplished musician she is today.

What does Lila consider her biggest accomplishment so far? "I guess having a Platinum record is a pretty big accomplishment. That was really exciting. I have had the opportunity to do a lot of really, really neat things. I was on the George Strait tour my first year out and toured with Tim and Faith and Kenny Chesney. Also having successful records but also making really good friends with other artists and learning from them. That kind of thing has been very fortunate," Lila said.





Photo Credit: Broken Bow Records

Although the star has had much success already, she still pushes herself to do more and has set goals she hopes to accomplish. She commented, "I think when you quit setting goals for yourself and you quit having things you want to accomplish or obtain you kind of loose track of what you are doing. No matter how successful you are I think there is always still something you can do one step farther."

The fans are what keeps Lila on the charts and she talks about the loyalty of them. "It is absolutely amazing. Especially I think fan fair is a really great example of them coming back every year and not knowing what to expect. Year after year I've always got a long line and people are always buying the records and just being really supportive. Even when I don't have a whole lot going on they are still emailing my fan club and checking the Web site and I feel very, very fortunate that I have such good fans. They are really loyal."





Photo Credit: Luck Media

Most country fans know the name Lila McCann, but what does Lila want you to think of when you hear her name? "Hopefully someone who is good with fans, releases great music and is always loyal to my fans and is a really nice person all around," she says.

Keep your eyes open for her new album to hit stores sometime this summer, and request "Go Easy On Me" at your local radio stations right now. This girl is back and ready to climb up the music charts one hit single at a time. For more information on Lila visit her Web site at LilaMcCann.com and check out the 2nd Annual Country Music Edition of EnterTeenment News due out in June for the complete scoop on the new album.

Trent Willmon: From Rancher to Recording Artist





Growing up in West Texas, it looked like Trent Willmon was headed for a life on the ranch. Active in 4H and FFA, Trent won an agricultural scholarship to South Plains College and started working towards an Agriculture degree. But soon he started taking music classes and realized that was what he wanted to do. Shortly after that he started playing regularly around Texas when he decided it was time to move on. Trent states, “I was actually playing with a bluegrass band out of Austin, or out of that area… I guess it’d been about a year and I decided that it was probably time for me to go see what the Nashville thing was all about. I had nothing to lose. I owned a bass guitar and an amp and a telecaster and an acoustic that I’d built, so I threw everything I owned into the back of my Chevy pickup and drove to Nashville by myself…within a couple of weeks I realized that I wasn’t a musician and I sold my amps and my guitar and kept the one I built, but I sold everything else and decided I was going to be a songwriter.”

In 1998, while working at record producer’s Scott Hendricks’s ranch, Willmon met Chris DuBois and signed a songwriting deal with Sea Gayle Music, a newly formed company started by DuBois, Brad Paisley, and Frank Rogers. Luckily, during this time he also rediscovered his performing ability.

In 2003, a record-label showcase resulted in a record deal with Sony Columbia and his self-titled debut was released in 2004. The first hit off the album was “Beer Man.” Remembering the first time he heard the song on the radio without a friend calling him and telling him to turn to a certain station, Willmon recalls “We were out roping at this pen…just practice roping, and me and my buddies decided it was time to go back to the pickup and get another beer. So we go back to the pickup and my buddy Casey sticks a key in the pickup, turns on the radio, and right as we’re popping the top on a beer “Beer Man” comes on and it was just kind of pretty surreal to be honest with you.”





Trent credits his years in the dance halls and honky tonks for teaching him to be an entertainer. “You learn what songs don’t work and what songs do work. Our album has more ballads on it. We don’t play a lot of ballads live. The tempo would drag down a show ….in an hour and a half show I’ll play 3 ballads. You just want to keep it rockin’. Keep it fun. We do a lot of cover tunes. As a new artist you don’t have the luxury of people knowing your songs, so throwing in cover tunes makes it funner for the audience to sing along with something that they already know. But on the other hand you don’t want to do cover tunes that everyone else does, see, so you try to find obscure cover tunes and we branched out into the Southern Rock world and gathered up songs here and there that weren’t necessarily country but we’ve made ‘em country. We’ve made ‘em our own. Anything we can pull off live and entertain ….”

With the writing and performing abilities that Trent Willmon has shown, it looks like ranch work is going to remain a hobby for his down time and not the full-time job he once thought it would be.

For more information on Trent Willmon, please visit his Web site: Trent Willmon





Meet Jason Aldean





Persistence is the Key

Jason Aldean went through many musical rejections before signing with Broken Bow Records, but his persistence and hard work paid off in the end. His first single "Hicktown" was released to radio April 4th and the CD will drop later in the year. The guy who almost gave up and went home is now realizing that dreams really do come true.

Jason acquired a love for music at a very young age. Playing guitar chords his dad taught him (to keep Jason busy while dad was working) later lead to deciding to perform at local talent contests and fairs during his teenage years. While playing at a club in Atlanta in 1998, he met a guy that offered him a publishing deal in Nashville as soon as he could make the move. Jason quickly moved to Nashville in November '98. While working on his publishing deal, he was still pursuing the dream of becoming a singer. After years of no luck and having thoughts of moving back home to Atlanta, something happened that changed his mind.





"The summer of 2003 I was on the verge of loosing my publishing deal. I had a record deal and ended up loosing the record deal and nothing was working out. I was getting frustrated and thinking about moving back home to Georgia and kind of the last straw was… I played a showcase and a certain label was supposed to show up and never did. My now manager Lawrence Mathis, who I didn't know at the time, came up to me after the show and was really into what I was doing and asked me what was going on. I said I was getting ready to move back home, so I met with him a couple of days later and we talked and he said give me a year to work with you. I said I will probably starve in a year, I don't have a year, I have like six months at best and we decided to start working together. About a month and a half later we had an offer from Broken Bow Records, and I ended up signing my deal with them in January 2004. For the last year we have been cutting the record and we actually just finished.”

“We went in and cut five songs and then went in and cut six more a few months later so this whole year we have been getting the album ready," Jason recalls. This singer/songwriter had a lot of input on the new album. "I was pretty involved in it. I guess I had a little more say so than I probably should have had at this point in my career. Every song on my record I brought to the table. I wrote three of them but the rest were songs that I found. As far as the making of the record, my producer and I have been working together for six years and it's a good chemistry. He listens to what I have to say, and not that it's always right but he's not always right too, so it's a good chemistry there. I probably had a little more say so in it than most people do with their first record."





Influences ranging from Alabama and Tracy Lawrence to Guns 'N Roses and AC/DC shine through when you listen to the new album. Having a wide range of musical tastes is one of the elements that makes Jason's music so unique. Jason comments, "I think all of those influences is what created my sound. I think every artist has different influences that make them what they are. As much as I love country I love other stuff too."

A natural born entertainer with a stand out stage presence, catchy tunes and a knack for having an all-around good time is what makes Jason Aldean a performer to keep an eye on. He's traveled a long road from the club days in Georgia, and we think he's in it for the long haul. Find out more about Jason at his Web site Jason Aldean and don't miss the second part of our interview in the 2nd Annual Country Music Edition of EnterTeenment News due out in June.




Jill King: Traditional Country Feels Right





Growing up in the tiny town of Arab, Alabama, Jill King learned early on that she loved to sing. At age 3 she was singing in church, and by the age of 10 she was playing the guitar and trying her hand at songwriting. In 1984, after a couple of years of pageants she won the title of “World’s Our Little Miss.” Winning the title gave King her first look at Nashville. Remembers King, “I had just won this pageant. Kind of Little Miss America – it’s “World’s Our Little Miss,” and I came up to Nashville for Fan Fair and I had my crown. My crown had all these rhinestones, this little red velvet stuff and I just thought, “Man, this is cool. I’ve won this pageant and I’m gonna get to go to Fan Fair because of it and I came up and I had on my crown. I remember walking down the aisles. I got to meet everybody, and this is so bad, but I got to cut all the lines. Back then … it was at the Fairgrounds. The lines were long and it was really hot, and I just thought I had made it! That night I went to my first honkytonk…. We knew the people that were playing at the club, so I got to go in even though I was underage. I was 10… And I got to get up there and sing “Cheatin’ Heart” with the people. I remember the smoke. I could hardly breathe. My throat was hurting, but I had that crowd right in the middle of the honkytonk. How funny. 10 years old. Singing “Cheatin’ Heart” no less! Like I knew really what the song meant. It was fun. It was great.”

By the time she was applying to college, King knew she wanted to go to school in Nashville. “I always thought of going to college, but I knew I wanted to come up here because I wanted to sing. I wanted to learn more about the business that I wanted to be in and just make sure I kind of liked it because I thought ‘well, what if I get in this and hate the business side of it?’”

After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a B.S. in English, King started working as a songwriter for Gate to Gate Music in 1997. Like most songwriters she often works with other writers, but “a lot of the songs I love the most are songs that just kind of fell out of my mind…. at midnight or something. Those are kind of cool, though, because it’s kind of like they don’t come from you. You don’t really know where it’s coming from and it feels really special. It’s different than sweat of your brow, looking for a rhyme for orange or something…”

In 2003 Blue Diamond Records released Jill’s first album “Jillbilly” a very traditional sounding country record and in 2004, she was named Music Row Magazine’s “Independent Breakout Artist of the Year.” Her second CD, due to be released in June, 2005, will be along the same lines as “Jillbilly”. States King, “It’s a different step but it’s in the same direction. I’m always going to be a country music singer. That’s what I want to be known for for the rest of my life. It’s definitely a traditional country record.…It’s a lot more countrified than most female artists are doing right now, but that’s just kind of what feels right to me.”

After listening to King sing, it sounds right to us as well. For more information on Jill King, please visit JillKingMusic.com.



Meet the Drew Davis Band





Winner of the 2003 Colgate Country Showdown, the Drew Davis Band was visiting Nashville when they had a chance meeting with singer/songwriter/producer Jeffrey Steele in line at Southwest Airlines. A year later they've just released their first single, a Jeffrey Steele/Steve Robson cut called "Back There All The Time." Made up of six extremely talented musicians, the guys blend into a highly energetic group playing self-described "country that rocks."

So who are the members of the Drew Davis Band?



Drew Davis

- Lead singer and guitar player
- Grew up in Missouri
- Performed in church and bars before working with several legends of country music in Branson.
- Moved to Los Angeles several years ago
- Performed at The Sugar Bowl, the Academy Awards, and The Emmy Awards
- Instrumental in getting the other members to join the band.



Michael Drake

- Guitar, fiddle, and harmonica player
- Jokes that he's "from a small town about 1800 miles out of Chicago called Palm Springs"
- States that his family wasn't particularly musical "…although my dad did play the radio."
- Toured the U.S. playing guitar and sax.
- Became a member of the California Bar in 2003



Loren Ellis

- Banjo, guitar, and mandolin player
- Born in Malibu, CA - "The Home of Country Music" as he jokes
- Grew up in a musical household - his father was a professional musician
- Began playing piano at age 3
- Earned a Bachelor of Music from USC
- Played guitar on numerous TV shows and movies



Jaysen Hawks

- Drummer
- From a small farm town in Illinois about 60 miles outside of Chicago
- Started playing when he was six years old
- Graduated from Musicians Institutes Percussion Institute of Technology in Los Angeles
- Played with Wayne Brady and Nelson
- Played on TV commercial jingles



Mo Levone

- Bass player
- Grew up in musical household - his father plays bass professionally in New York City
- Received a Masters of Music from USC
- Former faculty member at USC
- Played in the bluegrass band Honeywagon with Loren



Roger Malinowski

- Keyboard, accordion, and guitar player
- Grew up in a musical family - Dad was a drummer
- Raised in Chicago
- Played with De La Soul, The BoDeans, and many others
- Received 5 Grammy nominations for session work

For more information on the Drew Davis Band check out our Events Page, stop by our Photo Gallery
or visit their web site, Drew Davis Band



Introducing Miranda Lambert


Photo Credit: Front Page Publicity

Singer/Songwriter Miranda Lambert knew she loved country music from the time she was four years old. Growing up in a musical household kick started her dream to one day pursue a career in music. Singing in talent competitions and bars while still a teenager to going all the way to top three on Nashville Star have all contributed to this Epic Recording Artist’s debut CD "Kerosene" which lands in record stores March 15.

Miranda doesn't want to just be known as a singer though. The twenty-one-year old Texas native wrote/co-wrote eleven out of the twelve songs on her album, and feels that was very important for her to do. "I'm just a songwriter and that's what I want to be known as, a singer/songwriter. It's a big part of who I am as an artist. It's definitely important that I put that out there and not be known as just a singer," Miranda states. Most songs on "Kerosene" were written when she was between the ages of seventeen and twenty. Miranda commented, "I had some started from when I was seventeen and then I sorta finished writing while I was recording the album. So there were about three years where I wrote most of the material."

While she enjoyed playing honky tonks around Texas, Miranda attributes her time on Nashville Star to helping jump start her career. "I was on Nashville Star at nineteen so I was a little apprehensive at first because I had never left home. I didn't know what to expect when I first got on the show. I thought it may be cheesy since it was a reality show, I didn't know. But it ended up being the best decision I have ever made probably for my career. It was like a nine-week audition for all the record executives in the town. I think that really kicked my career and saved me about five more years of playing clubs, so I am lucky. I have been blessed to sign with Epic and make the record I want to make," Miranda said.

Wise beyond her years, Miranda took total control over her debut album. Going into the studio and recording the songs of her choice without any record company input has proved to be a smart decision. "Me and Charlie Talking," the first single off "Kerosene," entered the Billboard's Top 40 at number 40 to set an all-time record for female single debut. Other power songs on the album include the true country, giving up on romance song "Kerosene," an emotional ballad about a failing relationship called "There's a Wall," a cutting edge song about a relationship that could "be the death of her" called "I Wanna Die" and a leaving home and forgetting about your past tune written about fellow Nashville Star contestant Travis Howard called "What About Georgia." These four along with eight other foot stomping, fun loving, or power ballad, heart wrenching songs make up a diverse must buy CD for country music fans.

Coming a long way from winning talent competitions in Texas to recording her first CD, Miranda Lambert is a newcomer that has staying power. Living by the advice given to her by country hit maker Colin Raye who said "enjoy this part, the beginning, because it does fly so fast and this is the fun part when everything is new and exciting," Miranda is sure to have many years to soak up the country music scene. Pick up Miranda's CD "Kerosene" on shelves now, and watch for her to hit a city near you soon. Also check out the 2nd Annual Country Music Edition of EnterTeenment News out in June for more information on this rising star.






Angel: In Her Own Words
By Amy Robinson



Photo Credit: Luck Media

Seventeen-year-old singer Angel has as much on her plate as any adult. She’s wrapping up a tour promoting her album “Believe in Angels…Believe in Me,” planning her next album, designing a clothing line, creating a perfume and studying for her SATs.

Still, she found time to chat with “EnterTeenment” about everything from the importance of education to her favorite fashionista. Here, in her own words, are her thoughts on some of the topics discussed.



on her musical history: “It started out really, really young. My mom put me in lessons when I was like 3. After that I just grew up a little and she put me in something a little more serious, and I’d show that I wanted to keep going with it and she’d put me in something else.

“Once I was 10 I started joining performance groups and traveling. I guess that taught me a lot, and it also got me out there. When I was 10, I had an offer for a record deal, but it didn’t seem like the right time. It wasn’t the type of music I wanted to do – they wanted me to do country – and also, 10 is extremely young. Who really knows what they want to do when they’re 10 years old? Who really knows what they want to do as a teenager, but it’s just more difficult to tell when you’re even younger.

“So I held off on that one, and when I was 13 I went on an audition and I got put in this girl group [No Secrets] and things started moving really quickly. We were being shopped to different labels, recording an album and before I even knew it, we had three different major record labels fighting over us – we had Jive, A&M, Dreamworks. It was nuts. Who really thinks that that’s going to happen?”



Photo Credit: Luck Media

on what she learned from No Secrets: “I learned a lot about myself. During that time, it was pretty difficult. There were issues, and I learned a lot about how to deal with things, how to handle different situations, about taking care of myself, about making sure that I’m getting my work done and I’m working as hard as I can and that in the end it’s all going to work out. I learned that it’s no fun to have to depend on other people, especially when you don’t want to and when they’re not dependable. I think that I really am very thankful for what I have now because I had to go through what I did then.”



Photo Credit: Luck Media

on her musical inspirations: “I’m amazed with the people that I’ve listened to over the years whose talent just blows me away, like Mariah Carey, for example. I just think that she is the most amazing female vocalist that I have ever heard. She has a beautiful voice. I don’t know how she does it. She has some sort of gift, and I admire that.

“I also like Whitney Houston and Beyonce. I like a lot of the boy groups – Boys II Men, 112, Jagged Edge. I like the Temptations, the Supremes, Brian McKnight. I’m going through an R&B phase, but I don’t know how long that’s going to last. I’m probably going to play it out over and over and over again and then get sick of it because that’s what I do with everything.”

on the difficulties of being a teen artist: “I think that different things are difficult. I don’t know what it’s like being an adult artist, but I can assume some of the problems that you would have. As a teen, you go through, “Oh my God, look at her outfit – that’s so ugly.” “Wow, she doesn’t think drugs are cool. She’s not cool; she’s a goody-goody.” “She doesn’t really sing.” “She’s this. She’s that.” It’s really hard.

“It seems as you get older, people take you more seriously. But at the same time I think that you’re still under a microscope, and it’s just different things that people are criticizing you for.”



Photo Credit: Luck Media

on media scrutiny: “I really don’t [get it] that much except for on small scales. I guess [comparisons] to me are more offensive than “Oh my gosh, you’re showing too much stomach.” I mean, really, who cares? There are so many worse things in the world than showing too much stomach. There’s all these kids doing drugs and misbehaving. There’s so many problems right now, and people are coming after me for showing too much midriff, that’s just silly to me. But as you get more successful, it’s something that’s inevitable.”

on lip syncing: “I don’t lip sync. I refuse. When I was with No Secrets, I was forced to. None of the other girls sang and nobody wanted to take the chance for it to sound bad, so the record label made us lip sync. Once I got out of that, I decided I was never going to do it again. I do not like the feeling of miming your way through a performance. To me, I’m a singer. I’ve been training my whole life, that’s what I love doing, so why not do that if that’s what I’m getting credit for?”



For Angel's thoughts on Ashlee Simpson, her VH1 Save the Music Tour, keeping music education in schools, her fashion style, and much more, click here: Angel Continued

Also visit www.angelfaith.net for more information on Angel!







Hope 7 has a radio "Breakthrough"
By Amy Robinson





Photo Credits: d. baron media



Hope 7 is a gambling term, but don’t expect Kristi McClave to appear on “Celebrity Poker” any time soon. The 22-year-old frontwoman for the pop-rock band Hope 7 isn’t much of a gambler.

Instead, she chose the name because she liked the sound of it. “It’s in the game of craps, like you hope for a 7. It’s a lucky number, and I always liked that number. I thought it sounded good.”

And perhaps the number has brought Kristi and her crew some luck. The group’s single “Breakthrough” has appeared on the soundtracks for “Legally Blonde 2” and the made-for-Disney movie “Cheetah Girls,” on which it went platinum. (Kristi also sings “End of the Line” on the “Cheetah Girls” album, and another of the band’s songs, “I Want Everything,” appears on the “Sleepover” soundtrack).

The song, which can be heard on Radio Disney, recently entered the Billboard Top 100 chart, and the video, directed by acclaimed video director Nigel Dick (who’s worked with Britney Spears and Cher, among others), is currently in rotation on the Disney Channel.

Prior to Hope 7, Kristi had soundtrack success with the all-girl group 3Gs. Their song “Crush” was featured on “The Princess Diaries” soundtrack. The group also toured with Destiny’s Child, 3LW and Jessica Simpson on the MTV TRL tour in 2001.

However, things weren’t all good with 3Gs. “It was very manufactured -- sing this, dance this. [The music] didn’t grab me.”

“I learned a lot,” she said of the experience. “I learned a lot about the direction that I really wanted to go, and it was really hard work. I got a taste of success with that, going on the MTV tour, and it was definitely something that I wanted to do, but it didn’t feel right to be doing it with a group. I wanted to do something that had more of my creative input.”

After her stint in 3Gs, Kristi took a break and went back to school, which she say was “really enriching for me.” (She still tries to do on-line courses when she can.) However, singing still beckoned.

“I just missed singing,” she said.

Starting Hope 7, though, was merely coincidental. “It happened when I was going to school. My producers from 3Gs had a song that they wanted me to sing for “Legally Blonde 2,” so I went in and sang it and it ended up just taking off. From there, I developed with my producers the direction that I wanted to go in.”

The project became a band, as opposed to a solo outfit, because “after I did the song “Breakthrough” and I recorded a couple others, I just wanted a band,” Kristi said.

“I wanted the camaraderie with people,” she continued. “I wanted to be able to bounce ideas off of each others. And when we play, it’s just so real. It’s not just getting up there and singing to a track and doing our choreography. Every night the show could be different, so it’s really fun creatively for me.”

Another thing that she enjoys creatively is being able to have songwriting input. “[“Breakthrough”] was written by our producers, but the rest of the stuff on the album I’ve co-written with them.” “In the meantime, the band and I are having a ton of writing sessions together, doing our own stuff, which is really awesome,” she said.

“The band” is bassist Chevy Martinez and guitarist Dave Noble, whom Kristi had known briefly prior to Hope 7 and drummer Chase Duddy, who replaced the original drummer in the group.

Currently, Hope 7 has plans to release an EP sometime in early 2005, which will include “Breakthrough” and the other Hope 7 songs that have previously appeared on soundtracks. After that, they plan to release a full-length album.

“That’s why we’re doing so much writing right now,” Kristi said.

Soon, the band will also hit the rood for a promo tour. In the meantime, the single “Breakthrough” is available for purchase in stores or on-line at www.amazon.com.

For more on Hope 7 go to www.hope7music.com.



JUST THE FACTS:
Kristi McClave, Hope 7 singer

* As a child, she was a competitive ice skater

* Growing up, she did musical theater and television commercials in addition to singing, and she is still interested in acting.

* She put together the outfit that she wears in the “Breakthrough” video.

* She relaxes by doing yoga and dancing, and she’s also learning meditation.

* On “End of the Line” on the “Cheetah Girls” soundtrack, she is credited as Kristi Mac.

* Her favorite artists include everyone from Gwen Stefani (both solo and with No Doubt) and Usher to Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Billy Joel and U2. Right now, she’s hooked on the band Keane.







Brittany Wells: Breaking on to the Country Music Scene and Loving Every Minute Of It!
By Amy Robinson

There may already be one superstar Britney in the music world, but Texan Brittany Wells is hoping to find room for another. Named for the country in which she was born, this 19-year-old former Miss Teen Texas is gaining notice for "From Harms Way," the first single off her debut CD "Loving Every Minute of It." Explaining her name, she said, "I was born in Ipswitch, England, and England is also known as Great Britain, so I was named after Great Britain." Brittany's family, headed by her Air Force fighter pilot father, returned to the States -- specifically Wichita Falls, Texas -- when Brittany was 2, and during her childhood, Brittany was more focused on her tennis career than her singing career.

"In my family we've always had this thing where you have to be playing a sport all the way through high school," she said. "So I actually started when I was 4." She was nationally ranked at age 12 (#1 in Texas and #36 in the nation), but by age 14, her interest in the sport began to wane as her focus shifted to her singing career. "Tennis was taking up all my time," she explained. "One weekend I'd be in Michigan and the next weekend I'd be in California, so I just didn't have time to do both. I had to pick one or the other. It was a really difficult choice." Helping to kickstart her career was Brittany's reign as Miss Teen Texas in 2002. She was encouraged to compete in the pageant by her first vocal coach because it provided many opportunities for the young singer to showcase her talent.


"It's really hard when you're young to be able to perform different places. You really don't start to perform in any of the clubs until you're around 18. So when you do [the pageant] you have a lot of opportunities to perform," she said.

One of the most unique performance opportunities Brittany had was when she was being recognized on Texas' House of Representatives floor. "They were like "Do you want to sing the National Anthem?" So I sang on the House floor. You have to be ready [to perform] at any moment."

During her reign, Brittany balanced her public appearances with her final year of high school. "That was really hard because I was doing varsity cheerleading and I was involved in so many things and I was also traveling all over the state every weekend. It was just really crazy." She also had to learn how to deal with the jealousy that came with the title -- and not from disgruntled runners-up. "The girls that were my friends [at school] ended up becoming some of my worst enemies. They would talk about me behind my back just because the guys would talk [my title] up a lot." "I never said anything about it, but the girls still had a really hard time with it. They were really nice to me to my face, but I would hear they were saying different things about me when they weren't with me," she said.

Now that she has launched her singing career, though, some of her former classmates are changing their tunes. "It's really funny because everyone started finding out that I have the album coming out and so I'm getting emails from all these people who were talking about me," she said. "They're coming back around. It's funny how that happens."



Brittany's album, "Loving Every Minute of It," hits stores Nov. 16. She worked with producer and songwriter Wyatt Easterling (who has worked with the likes of John Michael Montgomery, Joe Diffie and Keith Urban) to produce the 15-song CD.

Though Brittany didn't write any of the tracks on this album, she plans to pen some in the future. "I'm really interested in writing. I just haven't ever been around it."

Balancing school and work, Brittany recorded her album during numerous trips to Nashville. "A lot of the work I do in Nashville is in the summer time," she said. "I'll stay up there for a few weeks at a time like three or four times in the summer. During the school year I'd go three or four days at a time, not very often, but enough to get what I needed to get done. We just cram everything we can into the time that we're there."



Though, Brittany has graduated from high school, she still has to balance her education with her career. Currently enrolled at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, she is double majoring in advertising and marketing. However, she plans to take a break at the end of this semester to focus on her career. "I'm planning on doing a radio tour starting in December. Then, I'm going to lay off next semester and focus on the singing," she said.

Right now, her main focus (besides school!) is the album's first single "From Harms Way," an ode to the soldiers overseas from the perspective of a military wife. The accompanying video was filmed in part at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. "At first I didn't want to do this song," she said, "but once I read about [the Nicholas Berg beheading], it really touched me and I couldn't not record the song." She said since the song's release, she has received emails from soldiers' family members and friends. "I know this song is touching people, and it's really having the impact that I wanted it to have."

For more info on Brittany, visit www.brittanywells.com. You can vote for "From Harms Way" on GAC at www.gactv.com.


EnterTeenment Introduces You to the Stars of "Degrassi: The Next Generation!"



Photo By: Barbara Cole/Epitome Pictures, Inc.

Degrassi: The Next Generation is vastly becoming known as the little cable show that could. Being broadcast in the United States on "The N" Network, Fridays at 8:00PM (check your local listings to see when and where the show airs in your area)the realistic teen drama features an ensemble cast that is sure to be a who's who of the stars of tomorrow. Get to know some of the talented thespians by reading on!

ADAMO RUGGIERO - "MARCO"
By Amy Robinson


Photo By: Barbara Cole/Epitome Pictures, Inc.

Adamo Ruggiero has only been acting professionally for about four years, but that's not to say he's only recently been bitten by the acting bug.

"I've been acting for basically my whole life, like since I was five or six," he said. "I started like any kid would start, really. I did shows around my school, then I did community theater stuff in my city - Mississauga, which is near Toronto. Then, as I did the little things, I just became progressively interested in acting, so then I got myself an agent, and as I was getting myself an agent, I went to an arts high school, so I kind of pursued acting in school as well as outside it."

At his arts high school - Cawthra Park in Mississauga - Adamo shared the halls with fellow "Degrassi" star Deanna Casaluce (Alex), who just joined the cast this season. He said that going to an arts school was a positive experience.

"There are lots of actors and actresses in the school who are working towards a career, and so being in the school and being on the show, a lot of people are excited. It's an awesome environment because it's kind of like we represent everybody because we're kind of a united group as to our ambitions towards acting."

Adamo graduated from high school in June, but rather than head straight to University this fall like many of his friends and peers, he elected to wait until January to start his studies.

"Doing high school and the show at the same time was definitely a stress that took a toll on me, so right now I'm just trying to focus on finishing the show," he explained. "I'll finish it until the end of this [season] and then I'm starting school at the University of Toronto in January. I just made it a priority to split it up because doing it together in high school was really stressful and I'm kind of a perfectionist."

Adamo said he'll attend school from January until April, while the show is on hiatus. Then in September, he'll make a decision as to whether or not he'll try to juggle his acting and academic careers once again. "It's one step at a time. I have to see how everything works out."

He'll pursue a double major in English and communications. "It somewhat deals with the television industry but not directly acting. I kind of want to learn something new," he said.

He noted that it's difficult to remain in Toronto while almost all of his friends have already gone off to school, but he said that's one of the sacrifices he's made for his career.

"That's the hard part. Being a kid in this industry you've got to really love it because there's a lot of things that you give up. Sometimes you do sit there and question, 'Is this something I really want to do?' You've just got to really remind yourself that you love it."

He urges aspiring actors to take acting classes in "a completely fun and neutral environment" and to look beyond the glamour of the business.

"You think [television is] all good and all glamorous, but at the end of the day, when the initial excitement of being in front of the camera and seeing yourself on television subsides a little bit, it's a real job. Kids who are interested should know that it is a real job, and you are going to find yourself up late working on scripts and having frustrating days and sometimes questioning, 'Can I do this?' It's very stressful. The main thing that you have to be sure of is that you love it."


MIRIAM MCDONALD - "EMMA"
By Amy Robinson


Photo By: Stephen Scott/Epitome Pictures, Inc.

Of ETN's three "Degrassi" interviewees, Miriam McDonald is the only one who has been on "Degrassi: The Next Generation" since the beginning, and her character has roots dating back even farther than that - her mom on the show (Amanda Stepto, "Christine 'Spike' Nelson) was on "Degrassi" in the 80s.

"I wasn't a major fan of the [original] because I was a little bit younger than the target audience," said Miriam, "but I'd seen a couple episodes. Before we started shooting, they gave us a couple of tapes so we could kind of get caught up on the tone of the show and what the feeling was going to be."

Because she has been on the show since the beginning, Miriam has spent most of her teenage years in front of "Degrassi"'s cameras. "I started the show when I was 13 years old and I'm now 17," she said.

In addition to doing "Degrassi," Miriam also took part in this summer's "Degrassi: Unscripted," where cameras followed several of the show's actors around in their daily lives.

"It's my personal life, but at the same time, even as hard as you try to be completely natural and completely normal, I'm not," she explained. "When cameras are in front of me, I'm not going to be entirely, 100 percent myself. I hope fans don't hate me for it, but that's the truth. Even though it says it's unscripted, in my mind it's all scripted out."

She went on to call the show a fun experience, saying, "It's kind of strange the things that people watch because I didn't do anything completely interesting, but I think it's really neat that the fans took an interest in my life. It was fun and I liked doing it."

Another thing Miriam likes to do is flex her acting chops. Besides "Degrassi," she has several other roles on her resume, most recently in the Lifetime movie "She's Too Young."

"That was a lot of fun for me because I played a character completely different from Emma, and I got to go off for a month out of town and stay on my own. I really learned so much about myself and the business, and that was an incredibly memorable experience," she said.

And she plans to have many more memorable experiences in the future.

"There's so many roles I'd like to explore," she said. "I'd like to do absolutely everything. I can't right now think of a role that I would turn down just because in my career I want to have said I've tried everything."

Her desire for a diverse acting resume also makes it difficult for her to choose actors and directors with whom she'd like to work in the future. "Honestly, I would want to work with absolutely anyone I can get the opportunity to work with," she said.

One director she definitely wouldn't turn down, though, is Quentin Tarantino. "I would like to play Uma Thurman's daughter in "Kill Bill" in like the third installment when her girl grows up a bit. That'd be a lot of fun."

Though she's been working professionally from such a young age, she isn't worried about being typecast as a teen actor.

"I think that when I choose my roles I will just try to choose as much diversity as I possibly can. I think that the way you approach your work will define you as a teen actor or as a mature actor, and I like to think that the way that I work will sort of chart my path and the direction I want to take."

Just as Miriam is passionate about her career, she urges aspiring actors to be as well.

"Just have passion for what you do," she said," because if you have passion for what you're doing then it will really come across in your performance and people will enjoy watching you."

JAKE EPSTEIN - "CRAIG"
By Amy Robinson, with additional reporting by Susan J. Yeager


Photo By: Barbara Cole/Epitome Pictures, Inc.

Before he was an actor, Jake Epstein was a jock. He played soccer, tennis and basketball. But all that changed when he was in Grade 3 and saw an audition sheet for an arts school.

"At first I didn't want to audition," he said, "but I realized that I got to miss a day of school, so I was like, 'All right, I'll do that.' All my friends and I, kind of as a big joke, we went down and auditioned, and I got in! It was a total shocker! It was crazy!"

At the new school, a drama teacher noticed Jake's talent and urged him into acting. He sent Jake on his first audition, and Jake landed the role. From there, things have only gotten better.

His first professional job was pulling double duty as Si and Joe Crowell in Thornton Wilder's classic play "Our Town" at the Royal Alex Theatre in Toronto. He recalls the experience with joy. "I was like 11 years old. I was so excited!" he said. "I was freaking out. I thought I was such a superstar."

His other major theater role has been a turn as the Artful Dodger in a production of "Oliver!," a musical re-telling of the classic Charles Dickens story "Oliver Twist." Jake says this was his favorite acting job.

So how did he get from the stage to "Degrassi?"

"I'd heard about "Degrassi" because I had a couple of friends that were on the show - like I knew Lauren Collins (Paige) and Jake Goldsbie (Toby)," he said. "I got this audition for the part, I went in and I was really lucky."

He said he found out he'd landed the role while he was at school. "I think I knew that it was down to two, so I was kind of waiting for a phone call. My mom called me and told me I got the part. I just took off down my hallways at school screaming, "I'm on "Degrassi"! Yeah!" It was really funny."

But for Jake, the lure of the theater is still strong. Last year, he wrote his very first play, and he also directed a play at his school.

Regarding his stint as a director, he said, "I really know nothing about that. I just think directing is so cool. I love being in charge and telling other people what to do.

"But it's really weird directing your friends," he continued. "That's what makes it really annoying - because you want to make sure that they do a good job, but you want to take control. It's kind of a weird mind game, but it was so much fun! I really loved directing."

It's not just directing, though, or even writing - Jake loves everything about theater.

"You learn everything doing theater," he said. "Learning to find the character and be true to yourself and all that along with having 2,000 people watch you do it - it's such a rush. I think if you can do that, you can do anything."

But if things get to be too much for him on the acting front, Jake can always take a break and focus on his music. Yep, just like his character on "Degrassi," Jake can also be a music-minded guy.

"I play in a couple of bands, so we'll go and jam and play gigs [on the weekends]," he said.

And if you're out there considering a career in either music or acting, Jake offers this advice: "Do it for the right reasons. Don't go into it to be famous, go into it because you love it. The whole fame part is a totally different, stressful thing that can come into play. But if you really love what you're doing, you can't go wrong."


DEGRASSI TRIVIA

1. Adamo originally auditioned for the role of Craig.

2. Miriam attends school with four of her "Degrassi" castmates - Aubrey Graham (Jimmy), Sarah Barrable Tishauer (Liberty), Cassie Steele (Manny) and Jake Goldsbie (Toby).

3. Jake says his acting influences include Edward Norton, Geoffrey Rush and Tom Hanks, but he considers the whole "favorite actor" thing "such a cliché [because] there are so many good people out there."

4. Miriam wants to do an action film someday.

5. Jake's favorite type of music is classic rock. He's a fan of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix.

6. During his audition for Marco, Adamo had to breakdance.

7. Jake claims the early call times for "Degrassi" (between 7 and 8 a.m.) have gotten him - a self-proclaimed "terrible morning person" - addicted to coffee.

8. Miriam loves to travel. Her favorite place is "anywhere I can get a ticket to."

9. Sometimes when he's out on his own and fans come up to greet him, he gets "just as nervous as they are."

10. All of the episode titles are names of songs from the 1980s. (The only exception is the episode "Jagged Little Pill," named for Alanis Morissette's 1995 album.)

Student's Rejoice! Nickelodeon's "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" is Going to Help You Make it Through Middle School!



Photo by: Janet Van Ham/Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon has heard the cry for help from preteens and teens everywhere who face the daily trauma that is middle school. Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide follows the adventures of "Ned Bigby" (played by Devon Werkheiser) and his two best friends "Moze" (Lindsey Shaw) and "Cookie" (Daniel Curtis Lee) as they navigate the ins and outs of trying to survive middle school.

Dealing with everything from the first day at a new school to where to sit in the lunchroom, the series takes a hilarious look at the problems real students are facing. "Ned" often looks at the camera and talks straight to the audience while offering helpful advice on how to and how not to react to certain situations.

With Nickelodeon famous for launching amazing talent like Amanda Bynes and Nick Cannon, it's no surprise that "Ned's" three young cast members are down to earth talents who seemed poised on the edge of great futures in the entertainment industry. "EnterTeenment News" was excited to talk with Devon, Lindsey and Daniel before the show's premiere.

Devon Werkheiser


Photo by: Janet Van Ham/Nickelodeon

"It's fun, educational TV," quips Devon about the series in which he plays the title role. "This show gives tips to kids on how to survive middle school and have fun doing it! It's a hilarious show because they get in crazy situations to depict the tips."

Thirteen-year-old Devon's life has been pretty crazy too but the level headed teenager has managed to find a balance between a normal life in his home state of Georgia and the hectic pace of life as an actor.

He attends regular middle school and confesses to doing normal teenage activities with his friends. "I do the normal video games, movie, TV stuff," Devon states. "We swim. I've got a pool in my backyard. We hang out. Go to the mall. We've got very loud sense of humors," he laughs.

A sense of humor has always been important to Devon as he first exhibited his natural talent at age five after seeing the Jim Carrey movie "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" and began reciting entire bits and dialogue from scenes from the movie. Once his parents realized this wasn't typical of most five year olds, they started their son in local theater, which eventually led to commercials and then a small role as Mel Gibson's son in the movie "We Were Soldiers."

With his love of acting growing, the eager hopeful began making trips to Los Angeles to try to get more movie and television work. It didn't take long before his natural comedic ability won him the part of "Ned."

It's no surprise that many of Devon's influences are the top comedians of the past decade. He sites Jim Carrey, Mike Meyers, Adam Sandler and Chris Farley ("A comedic genius," Devon raves!) among his role models, as well as, Hollywood heavy weights Johnny Depp and of course, Mel Gibson.

"Any audition is a goal," he says in a matter-of- fact tone when asked if he sets goals for himself. He says he is always thinking, "I hope I make this." It also doesn't surprise us to learn that one of Devon's biggest goals right now is to host Saturday Night Live. "My two biggest goals, which aren't going to happen any time soon," he says wistfully "are to host Saturday Night Live and win an Oscar. Those are my biggest goals!" As ambitious and as talented as this teen is… we believe they just might happen sooner than Devon thinks!

Lindsey Shaw


Photo by: Janet Van Ham/Nickelodeon

Lindsey ended up in Hollywood via Lincoln, Nebraska, a town far from the "Movie Capital" of the world. It was good enough, however, to provide her with acting experience in grade school plays and get her noticed by a talent agency. From there she ended up in Omaha and Kansas City doing commercials and print work before a trip to the Dallas Agent Expo landed her a New York agency and a summer in the Big Apple.

" I actually went there to act," Lindsey says of the life changing experience. "But it was only there that I really realized that I wanted to do it. That's when I definitely knew that this is what I need to do."

Realizing that there were more opportunities for girls her age in Los Angeles, Lindsey and her mother decided to try relocating. "My family was a little more cautious," she states about her diving into the L.A. acting scene. "They had some concerns. They weren't as outwardly supportive," she reasons when comparing them to her core group of friends that were excited about her move. "Eventually they got on the bandwagon! They got used to the idea."

Lindsey got used to going on countless auditions and ended up doing commercials, print work and voice-overs before auditioning for the new Nickelodeon show. Her manager was the one who gave her the good news. "It had been a while since I had heard anything," she recalls. "'Lindsey, remember that Ned's thing?'" she says her manager questioned. "And she brings out my resume. She's like 'Well, here you go.' She gives me my resume and it has Ned's on it. First I screamed and jumped up and down," the actress laughs. "I was so excited."

On "Ned's," Lindsey plays best friend to two crazy guys. Does that mirror real life? "Not at all!" she stresses. "That is the biggest difference between me and 'Moze' is that she has guy friends and can't get girl friends. It is exactly the opposite for me. I have tons of girl friends."

When not working or going to school, the high school freshman loves to play sports. "I love to go do anything athletic, especially volleyball. I love to go movies with friends. I love to read and write. Just be a kid, you know? Have a great time."

TV viewers will have a great time watching Lindsey bring "Jennifer Ann 'Moze' Mosely" to life every Sunday night. Be sure to tune in to see what kind of trouble her character manages to find.

Daniel Curtis Lee


Photo by: Janet Van Ham/Nickelodeon

A few years ago, Daniel Curtis Lee was a Mississippi student with one thing on the brain… football. Though his older sister was a hit in Community Theater, the young athlete had little interest in acting. That is… until his older brother signed up for theater too. "If your brother is doing something, you want to do it," Daniel reasons. "So I kind of fell into the community plays. We were just doing it for fun. We really didn't think much of it."

Apparently, a casting director thought "a lot of it" when seeing Daniel's brother Nathaniel in a play. She promptly cast the elder Lee in the movie "My Dog Skip" along side Frankie Muniz and Kevin Bacon. It was then the Lee family thought maybe the kid's talents would be better utilized in California. So they moved.

Eventually Daniel began to see more of the appeal in acting and decided he might as well try to move to on camera roles. He went to an audition for the feature film "Friday After Next" and got the part! "That was the first audition that I really ever did and I got the part! I guess I got bit by the acting bug!" he deadpans.

Though his brother and he have gone in for the same roles… there is no room for jealousy in the Lee family. The boys are very practical when it comes to sharing in each other's career success. "I would have to say friendly competition, not really competing for a role," explains Daniel about sibling rivalry. "Because, I mean, if it's your part… then you'll get it. If it's his part… then he'll get it."

He goes on to explain in more detail. "We might both go out on something, and me and my brother both do realize that we're not competing against each other… there's no competition in acting. It's just who they like. If they like him then it's his part. Whereas when you're racing or something and competing then it's whoever has the best physical ability."

The part on "Ned's Declassified" ultimately became Daniel's but believe it or not… he wasn't the first actor chosen for the job. "I felt pretty good about it but I didn't get the part," he tells us when asked about the audition process for the show. "I really felt kind of down about that but I just decided 'Oh well, I didn't get that part just move on to the next thing.' They filmed the pilot and everything and I thought they had already finished doing the show. Then a few months later they called again and said that they were looking for "Cookie" again and I went to another audition." A few callbacks later, Daniel was added to the cast. After you watch a couple of episodes, you won't be able to imagine anyone else as "Cookie."

We were hoping the cast could share some helpful hints to our Web site visitors about those awkward first few days back to school and they dished out some pretty good advice. "I'm not saying suck up to your teachers… but you want to set a good example the first couple of days," Devon says while advising to make a good first impression. "If you're going to be loud, don't be your loudest on those [first] three days. Appreciate your teacher in those days just so they get a feel for you and get to like you. Don't totally blow that throughout the year but then you can start becoming a normal kid and talking to your friends."

Daniel echoes the importance of making a good first impression. "Don't tell stale jokes!" he warns. "That's one thing… like when you're making new friends. It's a transition from elementary to middle school, so you don't know too many people. Don't make a bad name for yourself. Not even just with the jokes, but being mean to people. Then you're stuck with a name that you don't want to have. You'll end up being called a bully. You'll be called an idiot or maybe even a geek if you just do one thing. Just watch out for bad names!"

"Usually when I went back from a summer break I wasn't really myself," Lindsey says. "I didn't know if I thought I was cooler or something. My main advice is… just be yourself. Stay true to your friends. Stay awake in math class. The same ole cliché things that everybody always says to you, but it's true. It's what got me through these nine years successfully. Just latch onto your friends and be true to them."



Photo by: Janet Van Ham/Nickelodeon

It's all good advice! The cast of Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide are really looking forward to the show finally being seen by TV viewers. It premiered on September 12 at 7:30PM on Nickelodeon and is sure to be one of the best parts of Sunday nights for a long time to come. Be sure to check it out. We know you will laugh… that's a given… but you just might learn a thing or two at the same time.

For more information on the show and its cast… visit Nickelodeon.com. Also, be sure to check out the Fall issue of "EnterTeenment News" to find out how Lindsey, Daniel and Devon describe each other, juggling school and acting and so much more!


"EnterTeenment News" Dishes Out More on Your Favorite Soap Stars!

Admit it! You can't get enough of your daily Soap Opera! We feel your pain. That's why we decided to start digging and see what all we could find out for you about the TV characters we love to love or love to hate, but most importantly... love to watch!!! First up are "Days of Our Lives" actress Heather Lindell and "Passions" star Danica Stewart.

Crazy "Days" For Heather Lindell


Photo Provided by NBC

Last April, Heather Lindell was a typical UCLA senior with one thing on her mind… graduating. One particularly hectic day, she not only had her final musical theater performance (she had to do well, she was a theater major), she had also managed to snag an audition for one of television's hottest daytime dramas "Days of Our Lives." So impressive was her audition that morning, the show called and asked if she could come back that same day for the screen test.

Proving that she can stay cool under pressure, the San Fernando Valley, California native managed to fit everything in and land a job the very day she graduated college. What great timing.

Heather learned that she would be taking over the role of "Jan Spears," a character that originated five years ago and has been played by two other actresses. "At first I was apprehensive," she confesses about bringing to life a person that fans already loved to hate. "There is always that urge to compare yourself to someone else, but Steve Wyman told me that I shouldn't look at the old Jan's performances so I never did. Instead of focusing on what she did, I just went with my interpretation of the character and tried to make it my own."

Applying her acquired studying skills, the actress who once considered being a psychologist or anchor woman, set out to make sure she was as prepared as possible for this new beginning. "I prepared by researching her past and I found out that most of it wasn't all that good. Jan has hurt a lot of people in Salem because she is so blinded by her love for Shawn and will do whatever it takes to get him. I concentrated on the most dominant aspect of her personality… her obsession for Shawn. Whenever the writing permits, I try to find some vulnerability in her because while she's a bit demented, she's just looking for someone to love her, and experiences the pain of rejection like anyone else."

"Soap fans seem to be drawn towards passionate and driven characters," she continues. "Whether they're driven towards good or evil is irrelevant, they become matchable because they want something and wont let anything get in their way. So while I play evil I focus on Jan's will to achieve at any costs, and that is at the heart of her attractiveness."

Heather was thrilled to participate in a "fan weekend" recently where she played basketball and signed autographs afterwards. She is also very excited that her Web site (www.xactlymedia.com/heatherlindell) will be up and running soon. Soap fans can also check her out in person… she tells us she will be playing in a celebrity baseball game in South Carolina in September.

Just don't confuse the UCLA grad with the character she plays on TV. "My character and I are like night and day," she assures us. "We are polar opposites. Except for this one time when I kidnapped this guy and enslaved him in my wooden cottage - KIDDING!"

Smart, talented and she has a sense of humor too? No wonder she went straight from graduating college to being employed. We'll have to keep an eye on this one. She's probably going to be around for a while.


Acting on "Passions" is a Dream Come True For Danica Stewart!


Photo Provided by NBC

Danica Stewart grew up in the small town of Tri-Cities in Washington State. It's still home to everyone from her great grandparents to her immediate family. A meeting with an agent in Seattle when she was 14 years old set the wheels in motion for a career in the entertainment industry and the eager teenager jumped right on board.

The agent suggested the aspiring actress head to New York to meet with the Wilhelmina Agency's acting department. "My mom and I went for three weeks," Danica tells us. "I had the time of my life, and decided to pursue my acting in Los Angeles."

On her 18th birthday, the ambitious teenager packed her bags and headed for the City of Angels. Not every member of her family was supportive. "My mom was really supportive of anything I was passionate about. I couldn't have done it without her," she gushes. "My mom only wanted me to be happy and fulfill my life to the fullest. The rest of my family was a little apprehensive about me moving to Los Angeles because of all the stereotypes the entertainment business has. I knew I had to be strong and with my mom as my backbone I have been able to handle the ups and downs of my career."

It didn't take long for Danica to start working. After landing guest spots on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "CSI Miami" she went on to do a pilot for Aaron Spelling and briefly played the part of "Maxi" on General Hospital.

Last July, she took over the role of "Jessica Bennett" on "Passions" and couldn't have been more thrilled with the job. "I have watched 'Passions' since it first began and have been a fan ever since," she says. "So when I got the role of 'Jessica' it was a dream come true!" This actually made taking on an already established character a little less nerve-wracking to the actress. "I already knew about all the characters and knew Jessica's background so stepping into the role was a little easier.

When not working, you can probably find Danica hiking, rollerblading or shopping. "In my spare time I love to go to the movies," she says about her other favorite hobby. "I try to see as many movies as I can. It's definitely one of my favorite pastimes."

For the fans whose favorite pastime is watching "Passions," they are thrilled to have Danica's talent and enthusiasm grace the small screen every afternoon on NBC. We hope the family in Tri-Cities is breathing a little easier. Their girl is doing just fine.

For more on Danica, visit www.NBC.com/Passions/ and be sure to check out the Fall issue of "EnterTeenment News" in October!

Tony Lucca One Step Closer
By Susan J. Yeager

In a time when the public is wanting and deserving of the truth in everything from our political leaders to the labels on our food containers, finding a performer who emits pure honesty in a performance is a very special gift. For fans of Tony Lucca, it must seem like Christmas everyday. The singer/songwriter has bubbled under the surface of mainstream success for years now and it's just a matter of time until the masses discover what audience members of clubs in New York and Los Angeles have known for almost a decade, this guy is talented and more importantly… he's real.

It's probably hard for the Michigan native to pinpoint a time in his life when he wasn't expressing himself by writing his thoughts down and adding music to create the musical poetry that pierces listener's hearts via the sound systems that played his two independent releases. So impressive were these musical collections that the performer found himself opening shows for *NSYNC and Marc Anthony and sharing the stage with musicians as varied as Sheila E. and Alanis Morrisette.

Recently, Tony has moved one step closer to mass notoriety by releasing his third album titled "Shotgun." Thanks to the collaboration with OME and WEA, the 14-track disc is readily available in music stores and various outlets on-line whereas his previous efforts were only available via tonylucca.com. In March, Tony had a whirlwind week of celebrating the album's release and doing promotional events such as in-studio radio appearances and CD signings.

Though it is certainly not what he should be known for (his music is too good for that), it's almost impossible not to mention the singer's stint as one of the many talented performers who got their professional start on "The New Mickey Mouse Club." The only reason it's imperative to point this out now is because the friendships that were formed during Tony's teenage years are professional and personal ties that still bind. "Shotgun" credits former co-stars JC Chasez and Dale Godboldo as co-producers and several of the former Mousketeers were present at the release party.

Former Mouseketeer, Josh Ackerman, stopped by to show support for Tony's new album.

Actor Josh Ackerman arrived at the March 29, 2004 event (the album was released the next day) to celebrate the new music from his former cast mate and teacher of sorts. "Behind the scenes we were working with top of the line acting coaches, dance coaches and vocal teachers so we grew a lot on that show," he commented on how the Mickey Mouse Club served as a training ground for the young actors and musicians. The fact that so many of the cast is still involved in the industry comes as no surprise to the former NYU student. "I was there from the beginning to the end and I think over the course of that time there was probably about maybe 40 or something … I don't know the exact number but I think each one of those people brought a certain talent to the show that we learned from."

Musician, Chase Hampton, reminisced about his days on the "Club" with Tony.

Musician Chase Hampton echoes Josh's sentiments. "There was so much talent there. Matt Casella, the original casting director went all over the United States to find the best at that time. Everyone was really skilled and awesome performers. Everyone next to you in line there at the Mickey Mouse Club was just as talented or better, there was something to learn so you were the best at your game. We were all kind of the best in our little region, I came from Oklahoma and then you get to the Mickey Mouse Club and here everyone beside you is awesome. You've got Christina Aguilera who could sing that amazing at 12. We kind of fed off each other. Kind of in a little competition way… help each other and make each other even better and stronger."

OME co-founder Dale Godboldo walked the red carpet with their artist Jillian.

The aforementioned Dale Godboldo is not only Tony's co-producer; he is also one of the founders of OME, Tony's record label. Walking the red carpet at the album release party, he praised Tony's ability to be an all around musician. It's this kind of talent that inspired starting the company. "I really wanted to change the way pop music was perceived," Dale stated. "I wanted to take real singer/songwriters and bring them to the forefront and do what was done in the 60's and 70's with Janis Joplin, Crosby Stills and Nash, all the way to the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. These guys were artists; they were singer/songwriters but that was pop. In my opinion that's what the next wave is."

Lifetime's "Division" actress and fellow singer, Amy Jo Johnson, has been friends with Tony for years.

Celebrities like Kevin Costner and Amy Jo Johnson joined Tony's friends, family and fans inside the Key Club on Sunset Boulevard to get a sneak peak of the new material before it hit the shelves. Tony and his band members took the stage and delivered a solid, emotionally wrought set that started off with "Lost Angeleno," a musical tribute to Tony's adopted city of Los Angeles ("Don't get me wrong it's so good to see you" the song says. "Those wings of yours outstretched on high. Even better just to watch them return, falling from a California sky.")

Tony performed songs from "Shotgun" at the event held at L.A.'s famed Key Club.

"This is the title track of the record that comes out tomorrow," Tony deadpanned before launching into "Shotgun." Feeding off the crowd's enthusiasm and gaining momentum, the musicians segued into "Roller Coaster," a song that could have easily been inspired by a relationship or the ups and downs that the singer/songwriter has experienced in the ever-changing music industry ("It's the feeling of this ride we're on, making me crazy, like a roller coaster we've been on too long.").

The guys let the guitars do all the talking.

Slowing it down, Tony brought "Bad Guy" to life for the audience and painted the picture of the confusion and arguments we have with the people we love the most. Next up were "By a Thread" and then the first single off the album called "Catch Me." The audience couldn't wait to hear the song again, even if they had just been treated to seeing the video an hour earlier. The song, which depicts the lonely life of a musician who is longing for the love he had to leave behind, is ready to be requested at your local radio station.

Songs included "Bad Guy" and "Catch Me."

Unfortunately the night had to end sometime and it did so with Tony thanking the crowd and his support crew and then he invited everyone to grab a copy of the CD a few hours early. After such an amazing performance, who was going to say no to that?

THE BIG DAY

Left: singing! The next day, Tony performed at Wherehouse Music; Right: OME co-founders, Dale Godboldo and Kuo Yang stopped by to congratulate their artist.

Tony's loyal listeners and new fans followed the pied piper-like sounds to Wherehouse Music on La Cienega in Los Angeles on March 30th, to get their copies of "Shotgun" autographed and to hear more of the music live. Taking advantage of the more intimidate setting, the musician showcased some of the album's slower tracks like "She's True." Shaking his head in disbelief, Tony told the crowd he had been invited to nine weddings between then and September. In honor of that fact, he treated the audience to "Happily Ever After," which he had performed at a friend's wedding recently.

He slowed things down a little and sang "She's True" and "Happily Ever After."

Surveying the scene at the record store, one couldn't help but wonder how one voice and one guitar could completely overpower such a large and crowded space. That's the beauty of Tony Lucca. Of course, being the good mainstream artist that he is… he finished the set with "Catch Me" and reminded everyone to call their radio stations.

Left: Meeting with his fans makes this guy smile! Right: The line was never rushed as Tony signed autographs and chatted with the crowd.

The autograph lined was formed and the fans were anxious to share their thoughts with Tony on the CD, the show the night before and random personal things that probably have nothing to do with anything. Having waited for this day for a long time, Tony welcomed the comments and chatted with everyone for as long as they wanted. Just in case you're wondering… he did mention that yes, he "went out and got the record." "I've had a fun day," he laughed.

Listening to "Shotgun" and knowing that the artist had a hand in writing all the tracks, gives the assumption that we know a lot about Tony Lucca. We know that he's been in love ("She's True" and "Happily After Ever") and that it hasn't always been easy ("Bad Guy" and "By A Thread") and that he's on a journey full of ups and downs ("Roller Coaster"). Music fans should be grateful for his experiences though. Good, bad or ugly at least he his sharing them and his talent with us and that's a real, good thing.

More photos from the album release party:

(1) Tony chatted it up with reporters at the event. (2) I'm with the band! Tony brought the guys who played on the album to share in the night's festivities. (l. to r.) Martin Flores, Tony, Andy Abad and Cees Van Der Linden. (3) He also brought his beautiful girlfriend Gaby. (4) ) "What's Happening!" star Ernest Thomas is a new Tony Lucca fan and compared Tony's music to Sting.

Photos by Melanie DeWitt

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Fresh New Face: Anneliese van der Pol
By Amy Robinson

Anneliese with Raven (Disney)

Anneliese van der Pol is used to having people mispronounce her name. It’s pronounced AH-nuh-LEE-zuh, but people often say ANN-a-LISA or ANN-a-LEECE.

"It’s Anne Frank’s real name" she said. "I was born in Europe, in the Netherlands, and when I was still in my mother’s tummy she went to visit Anne Frank’s attic, where she hid during the war. And she saw the name Anneliese – Anne Frank’s name -- on a statute that was near the house and decided that that would be my name. So that’s how I got my name, and I love it!

Anneliese also loves acting. Though she may have gotten her big break in front of the camera playing Chelsea on the Disney Channel comedy "That’s So Raven," she was acting on the stage long before that.

She has a number of theater roles on her resume, including performing "Oklahoma" in Texas and playing the title role in "Evita." At 15, she was the youngest actress ever to play that role in a professional production.

Anneliese (Disney)

Now theater has fallen by the wayside for Anneliese, though, primarily because of the demanding shooting schedule for "That’s So Raven." The show shoots five days a week, with rehearsals Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tapings Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

"It’s difficult because of the whole rehearsal process and shows and then with the show ("Raven") we work on Thursdays and Fridays from 8 to 10, and that would completely interfere with any theater work I wanted to do."

For those who haven’t seen it, "Raven" is about a psychic teen, whose visions never turn out quite the way she sees them. Anneliese and Orlando Brown play her two best friends who are always willing to go along with whatever wacky scheme she imagines.

Anneliese said Chelsea’s loyalty to her friends is one of the traits she shares with her character. "I’m like Chelsea in the way that she’s very caring for her friends," she said.

"And she’s an environmentalist. She tries to help out her community in ways she sees possible, which I try to do too, maybe not in an environmental way. Plus, she’s kind of kooky and likes puns and I like puns, so I guess that’s how I’m like her."

However, Anneliese’s real-life kookiness doesn’t extend quite as far as Chelsea’s. "I’m probably different because in the way that she’s kooky, she’s kind of off and doesn’t get everything. I hope I’m a bit quicker than her when it comes to getting it right away in jokes and all that."

To catch the jokes for yourself, tune in to "That’s So Raven" weekends at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Disney Channel, as well as 10:30 a.m. on ABC.

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Duo Brings Odd Couple Humor to Teen TV
By Amy Robinson

"Drake and Josh," which debuted in January, is a show about mismatched teens who find themselves thrown together as stepbrothers when their parents marry. The show stars "The Amanda Show" alumni Drake Bell and Josh Peck.



(Photo courtesy of Nickelodeon)

 

 

 

 

Meet Drake …

"It's an exaggerated version of myself," Drake said of his character on the show.
He said the reason for such a close mirroring of his true personality is that the show was created specifically for him and Josh. Explaining how the show came about, the seventeen-year-old said, "They started putting us together a lot more (on "The Amanda Show"), and Dan (Schneider, executive producer) just kind of took us aside and asked if we'd like to do our own show. Of course, we said yes."
In addition to "The Amanda Show," Drake's resume also includes the movies "Jerry Maguire" with Tom Cruise and "High Fidelity" and HBO's "The Jack Bull," both with John Cusack. He has also guest starred on shows like "Seinfeld," "The Drew Carey Show" and "Home Improvement."
Besides acting, Drake also loves to play music. He writes and performs all of his character's music on the show, and he wrote its theme song as well. A huge Beatles fan, Drake also admires singer/songwriters like John Mayer, Ben Folds, Ben Beck, Ben Kweller and Rufus Wainwright.

… and Josh

Josh has been performing stand-up since age 9. "Having a Jewish mother and Jewish grandmother kind of gave me all the material that I would ever need," he joked, explaining how he got started.
"I was living in New York, and I showed such an interest in acting that my mom was like, "Why don't we find you an agent?" he said.
They did, and the agent suggested he get a comedy act together. Once he did, things just took off from there. Throughout his comedic career (which he still continues), he has performed at places like Caroline's Comedy Club in New York and The Improv in Hollywood.
Josh also has an extensive film and television career. He has appeared in movies like "Snow Day," "Max Keeble's Big Move" and "Spun" and guest starred on "ER," "The Guardian" and "The Sopranos." He's also lent his voice talents to the cartoons "Fillmore" and "Whatever Happened to Robot Jones?" To see more of this duo, check out "Drake & Josh" Sundays at 7:30 p.m. on Nickelodeon. You can also learn more about them in the Spring Issue of "EnterTeenment News" on-sale in March!

Fefe Dobson Was Born to Sing
By Amy Robinson

“I really don’t remember (when I first realized my talent),” said 19-year-old singer Fefe Dobson, who hit it big with her self-titled debut album featuring the singles “Take Me Away” and “Everything.”

Fefe has been acknowledged for her voice as early as kindergarten, but she really got her career started when she was 11. Then, her mom, whom she calls her biggest influence, bought her a karaoke machine for her birthday, which the industrious Fefe used it to make demo tapes. She sent them to record companies in Canada and the United States, and finally when she was 15 she got some response.

The year before that, when she was 14, Fefe was influenced by Silverchair singer Daniel Johns’ lyrics on the album “Neon Ballroom,” and she began putting her own words on paper. She has admitted to writing lyrics and sending them to the band to be put to music.

“I was such a nerd. I wrote the lyrics and I was like, ‘Well, maybe you could put music to these lyrics and use these’,” she said. “I didn’t send them because I couldn’t find a stamp or something. Then I was like 18 and I found it in a box. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m SO glad I didn’t send this! It was so bad.’ The lyrics weren’t bad, but the letter was just SO pathetic.”

In addition to Silverchair, her influences span the musical spectrum from Nirvana to Michael Jackson (for a while when she was growing up, she was convinced she was him – she even wore the white glove!). She also loves Cyndi Lauper and David Bowie, as well as The Beatles and John Lennon’s solo work.

Fefe was signed to Island Def Jam in New York in 2003. According to her, the label signed her on a fluke. She was singing the first song in her set, “Stupid Little Love Song,” but they thought she was singing “Stupid Little Buzzsaw.”

“They didn’t know what I was talking about, they really didn’t,” she said. “They were like, ‘I don’t know what she’s saying, but she’s great!’ I was like, ‘OK, fine. Wanna sign me now?’”

They did and now after a successful album debut, she’s a bona fide star. If you don’t believe it, just ask Justin Timberlake. He took her on the road for a two week tour in the UK, a major development for the self-proclaimed NSync addict.

“It was great,” she said. “I mean, it was with Justin Timberlake. He’s just such a great guy, so talented.”

As her popularity increases, so does her visibility. She said one of her favorite perks of being a star is “getting lots of guys’ numbers.” Unfortunately, the one that she really wants – that of actor Owen Wilson – still eludes her. “I love that guy. But I’m still waiting on his number. I should say that on TRL.”

Besides meeting guys, Fefe’s career has afforded her other fun opportunities. In January, she played in MTV’s Rock and Jock football game, which took place among other Super Bowl festivities.

That game wasn’t her first time on the gridiron, though -- Fefe used to be a pretty good football player as a kid. She said the guys were eager to have her on their team…until they started playing tackle football. As she started maturing, none of the guys wanted to tackle her.

“I hadn’t played in a while,” she said about the Rock and Jock game. “I was like, ‘What do I do again?’ I was still a little rusty.”

Fefe is also testing the waters as an actress. She recently played a young Tina Turner on “American Dreams.” “Music’s my first priority, but I would love to do some films,” she said.

For more on Fefe and all her activities, visit www.fefedobson.com.


Photos provided by Island Def Jam

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Checking In With Rhett Akins
By Karen Nelson

"That Ain't My Truck," "Don't Get Me Started," "She Said Yes," "I Brake For Brunettes" …. In the mid-90's Rhett Akins burst on the scene, moving up the country charts and playing 150 - 200 shows a year around the country. While missing from the charts for the past few years, Rhett has remained busy, releasing an album on Audium Records entitled "Friday Night in Dixie," looking for a new record deal, and going out on the popular Honky Tonk Tailgate Party Tour with Daryle Singletary, Chad Brock, and David Kersh. While on the tour he's traveling in what is most likely the only camouflaged tour bus on the road!
A big hunter in his free time, Akins wanted to do something different and cool, and with RealTree being a sponsor he figured that a camouflage tour bus would bring interest from fans seeing it on the road. "I just thought it would bring a lot of attention to the bus and the people would look at it and go, 'Who's in that bus?' cause you see so many tour buses and always wonder. So I just thought it would be cool since my personal hobby is to hunt and I thought it would be good for advertising, too."

 

 

Asked how he got together with the other artists on the Honky Tonk Tailgate Party, Akins responded, "Well, Daryle Singletary and I have been together now for 4 years. We've been the mainstay of the Tailgate Party. We actually came up with the idea for it, and Chad Brock was out with us last year. We thought we'd keep him again this year and then David Kersh, this is his first time with us and it's his first time really on stage in about 5 years so he's just kind of been out of it. It's pretty exciting. I mean you've got 4 guys who all came out roughly the same time period. I think it's just fun for the fans to get to hear 4 different styles in one show."
Even after a decade of touring, Akins is still amazed at the loyalty of country music fans. "I get emails on my Web site from people…even people who say 'I haven't been to one of your concerts in 5 years, but I just remembered tonight was the night I saw you 5 years ago and I just want to say hi and I had a good time.' I mean that people just sat around and still remember that." We predict that he'll be receiving many more emails of that type in the years to come.

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SHILOH: Music Done the Right Way
By Susan J. Yeager

There's a new country vocal group called SHILOH that is poised on the edge of greatness. The five group members not only trade off lead vocals smoothly and easily, they are accomplished musicians as well. Watching them perform is like experiencing the biggest sugar rush you can imagine, their energy is that infectious.

Jason Minor, Brian White, Jason Fitz, Joe Zampelli and Jason Carson are the five voices behind SHILOH.

Jason Carson, Jason Fitz, Jason Minor, Brian White and Joe Zampelli bonded over their love of music and performing and came together about five years ago to see if their collective talents would blend into a harmony that could be appreciated by country music fans worldwide. It hasn't been an easy road but because of their patience and persistence, the guys have created a unique and powerful sound that is sure to captivate audiences everywhere.

The first person to jump on the bandwagon was Kenny Rogers, Jr. who believed so much in the group that he became their manager, producer, writer and biggest fan. Securing a professional manager was the first step in a long musical journey that is still in the beginning stages.

Their self-titled debut album is available for purchase at Shilohtheband.com and their first single "You're the Reason" is often the most requested song on the Los Angeles radio station KZLA's nightly countdown.

We recently sat down with the guys to get some insight into how the album came together and to see if there is harmony when deciding on what songs should go on the album and into the live show?

Fitz puts his thoughts on tape while Brian thinks about his answers.

Fitz (The Jason's go by their last names within the group to avoid confusion) says that the process begins when a song is brought to the table as a potential album cut or live performance possibility. "The arranging is a pretty unique process for us," he states about how the group approaches new material. "Kenny will bring us a song in a lot of instances, and then just kind of let us go wild with it and do whatever we want. This isn't like a situation [like] so many of the 'Beach Boys' types of bands where one guy sits in and does all of the arranging. When it comes to the arrangements, we sit in a room and we just keep singing it for hours. Everybody keeps making up parts. We're really fortunate and blessed to have guys that all have pretty strong ears and creative ideas. So we'll just sit there and flesh out parts over and over again until it comes together. That also helps us know if the song is going to be right. One guy can sing a song and it can sound great but when you put all five of us on it a lot of times it doesn't carry over and vise versa. The arrangements are a huge part of the process."

Joe is either listening intently to the others or falling asleep during the interview. We think he's listening.

Just listening to a song usually doesn't work for this crew who says that singing is believing. "Sometimes we've added songs that we weren't sure we were going to like until we started singing them," Carson tells us explaining the process a little further. "Then we started singing them and we're like 'Hey this is really cool.' It feeds off of itself in a snowball effect because once we all hear each other singing a song, then we start to inspire each other and feed off each other to try new parts and do new things, and put our own spin on the song. Like in our live set, we cover a few songs but we've made each one of them uniquely our own in the way we arrange them and the way we perform them."

Carson and Minor do a quick rehearsal before show time. This is a reunion of sorts for the two musicians who both starred on the Disney Channel's "New Mickey Mouse Club."

But what if one or two of the guys still aren't feeling it? "I think luckily for us, we really do it by democracy. It's got to be more than a not just three to two. It really has to be a four to one," Minor says of voting to keep a song or throw it out.

So far, the system seems to be working. The album boasts a collection of 11 songs that adequately showcases each individual's talents. The covers in their live show explode under the weight of five more than adequate voices and turn them into songs that you seem to be hearing for the first time.

Perfect Harmony! The group doing what they do best.

After years of pounding the musical pavement, the five guys that make up SHILOH seem to be on the road to success. They have the talent and the work ethic to not only survive the madness that is the music industry today but to conquer it as well.

For more information on the group, watch for the Country Music Edition of "EnterTeenment News" in June, and visit SHILOHtheband.com.

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Jeffrey Steele: Following The Road Where It Takes Him
By Karen Nelson
Songwriter. Solo Artist. Producer. Lead Singer. Musician. Those are just some of the titles that can be applied to Jeffrey Steele. First known to the public as the lead singer and bass player for Boy Howdy back in the early '90s, Jeffrey has spent the years since writing songs such as "The Cowboy In Me," "My Town," "Speed," "Big Deal," "Unbelievable," "These Days," "I'm Tryin'," "When The Lights Go Down," and many more. Over 200 of his creations have been recorded in the last three years, and his songs have been played on the radio over 17 million times. Recently named BMI and NSAI's Songwriter of the Year and signed to Lofton Creek Records, Jeffrey is heading back to the studio to record again.

The youngest of 5 children, Jeffrey was born into a musical family. His mother was a jazz singer and his father was an aspiring country songwriter. As he got older he started playing in bands while working at his father's machine shop. When his father left the machine shop to one of Jeffrey's brothers he was devastated, but over the years he grew to realize that working there wasn't where the road was meant to take him. He was meant for a career in music.

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