Country artists Luke Bryan of Leesburg, Mark Wills of Blue Ridge and The Kinchafoonee Cowboys, a Georgia band with roots in the Albany area, all will perform during inaugural festivities, the office of Gov.-elect Nathan Deal announced.

“We are so pleased to have Georgia’s own Luke Bryan performing at the Inaugural Celebration,” said Tricia Pridemore, co-chair of the Inaugural Committee. “Luke is a rising star in country music and is making Georgia proud.”

Bryan will perform at a Jan. 10 event at Philips Arena. It’s invitation-only.

Wills and Kinchafoonee Cowboys will perform at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at a “Day of Service” concert for volunteers who participate in “With a Servant’s Heart,” a statewide day of service that kicks off the inaugural weekend. Sign up to volunteer and they’ll give you a ticket to the show.

For information see the incoming governor’s web site.

Continue reading Country artists to perform for Deal inauguration »

The blogosphere is alight with chatter suggesting NeNe Leakes is pregnant, but her response, via Twitter, is pretty adamant: “PREGNANT? I’ve said it b4 & I’ll say it AGAIN…I WON’T B HAVIN A CHILD WIT NO MAN! SHOP IS CLOSED! WRONG HOUSEWIFE.”

929 Dave FM’s Jimmy Baron piped up with a little info just now, saying he sat with NeNe last night at a Hawks game, where she had a cocktail.

NeNe Leaks, left, and Jimmy Baron at the Hawks game.

“NeNe was very pleasant and actually better looking in person, if you ask me,” said Baron, whose show “Jimmy & Yvonne” is on from 5 to 9 a.m. weekdays (Wonder what they will discuss tomorrow?)

Numerous blogs, including The Beat of Philly, and Media Takeout, have been posting items about  the supposed pregnancy, where paternity is a mystery. It’s not clear whether there are various sources behind these multiple online articles, or if they’re all just repeating what the other has posted.

It’s just the latest preggo chatter surrounding the “Real …

Continue reading “Housewife” NeNe disputes pregnancy rumor »

If you’re finishing (or, ahem, just starting) your Christmas shopping today, here’s a little good news.

You can meet Falcons players Coy Wire and Tony Gonzalez at Phipps Plaza this evening.

They’ll be in the “Monarch Court” area, meeting and greeting from 7 to 8 p.m. tonight. For a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama, they will sign an autograph for you.

(By the way they aren’t set up to process credit cards or deal with checks so you actually need to slap down some green).

Wire has been involved with Make-A-Wish before. He and quarterback Matt Ryan hosted a charity mini-golf tournament this fall to benefit the organization.

See www.seasonofwishes2010.org for more information about charity.

By Jennifer Brett, jbrett@ajc.com, The Buzz

Continue reading Falcons players Coy Wire, Tony Gonzalez at Phipps today »

Amy Leigh Andrews, aka Miss April

Playboy’s Miss April, Amy Leigh Andrews of Conyers, is in the running for Playmate of the Year.

You can vote for her at pmoy.playboy.com.

The 26-year-old Georgia State University communications grad now lives in Los Angeles, where she stays busy going out on casting calls when not traveling to make appearances for Playboy. She plans to complete a graduate degree and would love to be an on-air host of some sort.

Amy Leigh is a communications grad from GSU

We talked to her by phone the other day.

Q: What have you learned as a result from your experience with Playboy?

A: It’s made me a more well-rounded person. It’s brought me out of my shell. I’m not afraid to get up and speak in front of crowds.

Q: You probably aren’t bothered by those see-through scanners at airports either, huh?

A: Not at all! I always seem to get picked for [more thorough screenings].

Q: Were there people who were mean to you in high school? Do you love running …

Continue reading Conyers native in the running as Playboy’s Playmate of the Year »

NeNe: "I have to call my people!"

Rodney Ho is on vacation this week so we’ll do our best to recap last night’s episode of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” (Hurry back RoHo!)

NeNe Leakes, who has landed an on-air role with WXIA doing celebrity bits, snags an interview with artist-producer Jermaine Dupri with the help of publicist Saptosa Foster. (By the way Saptosa is awesome. We work with her all the time on celebrity coverage. She’s very kind and professional. Here’s her website.)

When Saptosa tells NeNe the good news the budding entertainment broadcaster is elated and says, “I’ve got to call my people over at the news station!” Sort of reminds us of all the times we finish a phone call with Saptosa and then say, “I’ve got to call my people over at the AJC newsroom!” Oh wait. That never happens.

Cynthia Bailey also nabs a gig, modeling in a swimsuit fashion show in Miami. While on the phone with the fashion director she says she isn’t sure she’ll be bikini ready but never …

Continue reading “Housewives” recap »

Cheers from Ludacris!

Artist and entrepreneur Ludacris will sign bottles of his Conjure Cognac line from 4:30 to 6 p.m. next Thursday, Dec. 23, at Camp Creek World of Beverage. The address is 3780 Princeton Lakes Pkwy SW.

The owner of Straits restaurant and founder of the Ludacris Foundation, he created and launched Conjure with cognac house Birkedal Hartmann in 2009 and is an equal partner in that enterprise.

In other Luda news, he and some friends had dinner at Two Urban Licks Thursday night, enjoying a spread of fried oysters, empanadas, lamb lollipops, and calamari before moving onto ravioli and ribs.

Continue reading Want to meet Ludacris? »

Former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush signed their books and met hundreds of fans, many of whom started lining up hours ahead of time in the early morning drizzle, today at the Buckhead Borders.

Here is a gallery of photos from the event.

Despite the weather the event started on time and went very smoothly. Security was very tight, and guests went through a metal detector and had their bags searched. (A K-9 detective sniffed over the press early on to make sure we were all OK).

Former President Bush signed his book, “Decision Points,” while Mrs. Bush signed “Spoken From the Heart.” Both chatted amiably with the people who had stood in line yesterday to purchase the books and again this morning to have them signed.

“Good morning! Happy holidays! Good to see you!” Mrs. Bush said as guests filed by to have their books signed.

One woman got choked up at the sight of the former president.

“Aw, come on,” President Bush said. “If you cry, I’ll cry.”

Lisa …

Continue reading A visit from former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush »

Who’s braving the ice to see former President George W. Bush and wife, Laura, today?

The former first couple is scheduled to be at the Buckhead Borders at 11:30 a.m. We will be there and will tweet live from the appearance.

On Wednesday, hundreds of people lined up to buy “Decision Points” and “Spoken From the Heart,” the titles of the former president and first lady’s books. The advance purchases enabled patrons to obtain wristbands that will be necessary to attend today’s signing.

If you didn’t get a wristband yesterday, don’t bother showing up today.

Also, if you do go, leave your bags, purses, phones and other gear in the car. Security will be tight and you won’t be able to bring a bunch of stuff inside.

Continue reading Are you going to see Former President Bush today? »

Well here’s a want ad you don’t see every day: WANTED: BARE BEHIND.

“The Change Up,” the Ryan Reynolds-Jason Bateman buddy flick that’s been filming all over town, evidently is going to include some racy scenes. The movie needs a comely backside to serve as an extra.

The movie also stars Olivia Wilde and Leslie Mann, but we have no idea if either of their characters is going to lose her laundry. We can tell you that the movie needs a Caucasian woman in her late 20s to early 30s who stands 5′ 5″ to 5′8″ and is ready for her close-up from behind.

“Frankly, you must have great assets,” a post for the unique gig reads. That’s not actually exactly how it reads. Use your imagination.

If selected you won’t have to worry about your anatomy ending up on YouTube. Filming for this scene will take place on a closed set amid tight security.

So, interested in getting naked for a film starring the newly single sexiest man alive? E-mail changeupatl@gmail.com.

By Jennifer Brett, …

Continue reading Ryan Reynolds-Jason Bateman flick seeks naked extra »

Former President George W. Bush and wife, Laura, will be here Thursday.

Former President George W. Bush, who has been making the rounds in support of his new book, “Decision Points,” will be here in Atlanta to sign it on Thursday.

Former First Lady Laura Bush, who was in town not long ago supporting her book, “Spoken From the Heart,” will return to Atlanta accompanying her husband. (Here’s a blog post from her visit earlier this year, during which she dined at South City Kitchen and made time for some antiques shopping.)

The former first couple will appear at 11:30 a.m. this Thursday at the Buckhead Borders, at 3637 Peachtree Rd. In order to meet them, you need to obtain a wristband in advance. Wristbands are available beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday at that Borders.

To receive the wristband you need to purchase both “Decision Points” and “Spoken From the Heart.” (Limit of two books per person). It sounds like security will be tight during their visit. During the appearance, …

Continue reading George and Laura Bush will be here Thursday »