MACAULAY CULKIN says that despite the 22-year age gap, his friendship with MICHAEL JACKSON was “so normal and mundane.” He says that Michael had gone through similar stuff, and wanted to make sure he wasn’t alone.
The Boot has a great story about how different country bands came up with their names. Here are two that most people seem to know about: The Dixie Chicks got their name from the Little Feat song “Dixie Chicken”. And Florida’s Brian Kelley partnered up Georgia’s Tyler Hubbard to form Florida Georgia Line. Lady Antebellum: That name originated at a publicity shoot that featured a pre-Civil War Southern mansion for a scenic backdrop. Little Big Town: They heard about a Nashville music publisher called Little Big Town Music Group, and then got the okay to go ahead and use it. Lonestar: They started out calling themselves Texassee, since the original members were natives of Texas who met in Tennessee. But that was confusing to say and spell, so they wisely changed it to Lonestar. Lanco: They started out as Lancaster & Co. thanks to lead singer Brandon Lancaster. They eventually shortened it to Lanco. LoCash: When Preston Brust was a kid he hung out with a bunch of friends that called themselves LoCash Money Boys. He and Chris Lucas turned that into LoCash Cowboys before settling on LoCash. Midland: Their name comes from the Dwight Yoakam song “Fair to Midland”. The Cadillac Three:started out in a band called American Bang and then split-off to perform as The Cadillac Black. That eventually morphed into The Cadillac Three. Eli Young Band: It’s a combination of lead singer Mike Eli and guitarist James Young. Diamond Rio: They took the name Diamond Rio off the side of a truck.
The BLAKE SHELTON rumor mill was in full form yesterday. Let’s start with “Us Weekly” quoting a so-called source saying that Blake and GWEN STEFANI “are going to be announcing their engagement very soon.” But there was no actual confirmation. Just the same stuff we’ve been hearing. Basically, Blake is ready to make it official, but Gwen isn’t because she’s being cautious around her three kids with ex-husband, Bush singer Gavin Rossdale. But the hair on Blake’s neck WAS seriously ruffled yesterday for a completely different reason. “Billboard” ran a story saying that he and George Strait signed with the Paradigm Talent Agency in Nashville to “represent their touring interests.” He hit up Twitter to shut that down. Quote, “When did fact checking go out of style? My god. One phone [call] would tell them this isn’t true. Please be careful about what you believe on the Internet everybody. Unreal.” “Billboard” had to alter that story. Turns out Paradigm is handling some of his stuff, like appearances, festival bookings, and corporate events. But Messina Touring Group will “continue to book and promote Blake’s arena tour.”
ANNE HATHAWAY will play the Grand High Witch in a remake of “The Witches”. ANJELICA HUSTON played the part in the 1990 adaptation.
MAREN MORRIS hit up Instagram to announce that her new single is called “Girl”. And . . . that it’s out tonight.
There’s a moment at concerts when you recognize a song as soon as the artist starts playing it. The ELI YOUNG BAND is seeing that happen when they kick into “Love Ain’t”. MIKE ELI says, quote, “It’s everything that you do this for. Being the guy on stage where those first few notes come out and the crowd goes crazy, it’s a really cool feeling . . . and it gives you chills.”
There’s a chance that you might see four semi trucks with KANE BROWN’s face on the side of them as you’re rolling down the highway. If you do, you’re watching them haul his equipment to his next tour stop.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy is 39.
Zooey Deschanel is 39.
Kid Rock is 48.
Michelle Obama is 55.
Jim Carrey is 57.
Steve Harvey is 62.
Maury Povich is 80.
James Earl Jones is 88.
Betty White is 97.
