The February issue of Vanity Fair, on newsstands today (if you can get to one), includes a cover story on teen idol Justin Bieber, who says his global popularity is due not only to his talent, but his good looks: “Not trying to be arrogant, but if I walked down the street and a girl saw me, she might take a look back because maybe I’m good-looking, right?”

He tells VF that his influences include Michael Jackson and the Beatles, that he does not read much, and that he’d like to travel to the moon one day.

“I’m crazy, I’m nuts,” he says in the piece. “Just the way my brain works. I’m not normal. I think differently—my mind is always racing. I’m just … nuts.”

The same issue includes a “Spotlight” item on local writers Kathryn Stockett, Susan Rebecca White, Karin Slaughter, Amanda Gable, Sheri Joseph, Joshilyn Jackson, Natasha Trethewey, Emily Giffin, and Jessica Handler, who were photographed in front of the Swan House.

Stockett, whose runaway hit “The …

Continue reading Justin Bieber, Atlanta writers featured in Vanity Fair »

Well here’s a power trio for you.

R&B artist Usher and teen sensation Justin Bieber will take the stage of the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Aug. 6 for the World Leadership Awards, a fundraiser concert benefiting Usher’s charity, the New Look Foundation. Joining them: former President Bill Clinton.

Information posted on Usher’s Web site says that the event supports the foundation’s ”mission to mentor youth as global leaders,” and promises an evening of special surprises.

World Leadership Awards chairs are Cammie R. Rice, who sits on the New Look Foundation’s board of directors, and her husband GE Vice Chairman John Rice.

The host committee includes a number of Atlanta’s philanthropic power hitters along with business, civic and political leaders: Gov. Sonny Perdue and wife Mary, former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn and wife Colleen, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, political pundit Phil Kent, Roger and Kathy Penske of the Penske Automotive Group; …

Continue reading Usher, Justin Bieber, Bill Clinton to rock Atlanta »

"Mama Jan" Smith and two of her famous clients

Pop idol Justin Bieber’s summer tour means plenty of fun and hard work for Jan Smith.

The renowned local vocal coach, known lovingly in the industry as “Mama Jan,” keeps a close watch over the vocal chords of her young charge. “If you think about it, it’s like working with an athlete,” Smith told us during an interview the other day.

“It’s important that he warms up and cools down.” Working with a young singer is always a challenge, she said. “He’s 16, going through puberty,” said Smith, whose client list has included Rob Thomas, Ciara, Usher and Trey Songz. “We’re having to work around things that hormones are causing that we can’t do anything about.”

She predicts a seamless transition as he and his voice age, though, and said he’s a joy to work with. “He’s really a good boy,” Smith said. “He likes to play basketball, he’s kind of a prankster, he likes video games. In some ways he’s a …

Continue reading Local vocal coach keeps Justin Bieber singing like an angel »

Teen pop star Justin Bieber will grace the cover of People appearing on newsstands this Friday.

“What I have is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Bieber told the mag. “And I’m having a blast.”

The Ontario native was discovered on YouTube by Atlanta music industry mogul Scooter Braun and headed south to work with artists such as Usher.

He has chatted up Jay Leno and David Letterman, visited American Idol and performed for the president.

He hits the Gwinnett Arena Aug. 9.

Continue reading Justin Bieber on the cover of “People” »