Carrie doesn't make any bones about her belief in Jesus and this rendition of How Great Thou Art are no exception.
Carrie Underwood is one of the most recognized faces in
country music. This female artist began her rise to fame in 2005 when she dropped
out of college to enter the American Idol competition. She took a big chance
when she decided to do that, but it paid off in ways that she could have never
dreamed possible when she was growing up in Checotah, OK. The 31-year-old recently
returned to college to complete her education.
Carrie wins American Idol
Underwood graduated from Northeastern State University with
a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication. Her concentration was in
journalism and she walked across the stage with approximately 1800 other
students that day. When asked to do an interview, Carrie refused because she
did not want to take away from the attention that the other graduates were
getting. She is humble by nature and that is one of the things that fans love
so much about her.
Carrie is not afraid to have fun as well as shown here singing Good Girl
Underwood sends out a big message to young girls all across
America with her decision to return to school to finish her degree. She was
only three credits shy of earning it when she dropped out and she really did not
need to return in order to be successful. The message to young girls is loud
and clear. Finish what you started, no matter how successful or rich you become
in the process. A good education means something in today’s world and having something
to fall back on is never a bad thing.
Jesus Take the Wheel
Congratulations to Carrie Underwood for graduating college
along with the other students who persevered in order to get their degrees. And
thank you for letting girls know that you can have it all and then some.
Ann B. Davis is one of the most recognizable faces in
America because she played a maid on a seventies sitcom. The sitcom, of course,
was the Brady Bunch and many people simply remember her as Alice. The show
continues to draw millions of viewers each year, though it hasn’t aired since 1974.
Davis died yesterday, June 1, 2014, after she fell and hit her head. She was
88-years-old. I have my own memories of the Brady Bunch and Alice, but since
most of America does, I’ll just share some videos in her memory.
Alice takes a spill while getting towels
Alice helps the kids with a petition drive to save the park
Alice resigns
The kids made a terrible mistake and now they must get Alice back
Alice sprains her ankle and Sam goes to the dance without her
In keeping with today’s homeless theme, I choose a celebrity
that is well-known for helping the homeless in his hometown. Danny’s Grace is
more about child abuse than homelessness, but the subject is touched on in one
or two chapters of the book. There are hundreds of thousands of people going
homeless in the United States today, so it is an important subject to confront.
In Danny’s Grace, the homelessness takes place on the streets of Los Angeles.
Jon Bon Jovi’s story starts in New Jersey.
Jon Bon Jovi offers real hope for the homeless
John Bon Jovi set up the JBJ Soul Foundation to help people in
the United States who have become homeless and/or hungry. The foundation covers
a wide array of areas that help with each problem. It is one of the most
impressive homeless foundations that I have come across and deserves as much
attention as possible. Instead of simply handing out meals, the foundation
allows people to earn meals so that everyone contributes in some way.
Bon Jovi explains the restaurant concept
The Soul Kitchen is a restaurant setting with an unusual
twist. Everyone is welcome to eat at the establishment. The cost of a single
meal is $10 for those who can afford it. The money is then turned back over
into the program to help provide the free meals that some people are in need
of. The meals are not free for those who do not pay though. People who are
unable to pay can work for their meals and there are several volunteer
positions available to fill the need. No one is ever turned away and no
reservations are necessary.
Jon Bon Jovi talks about how WE work together to end homelessness
Soul Homes is another project that is currently in the works.
The project will provide affordable homes for low income people and the formerly
homeless and will be located in Philadelphia and New Jersey. Resources will be
made available to those who move into the new apartments. This project will
enable people to get a fresh start so that they can live a more productive
life.
Why is Bon Jovi’s foundation one to look at as an excellent
example of real help? The foundation offers something that a free hand out does
not. It offers hope for the future instead of the immediate. Although the
restaurant is an immediate help to those seeking it, it also requires that the
person be willing to work for their food. That’s hope and it will be there for
a very long time to come.
Celebrities who use their power and money to help others are
not uncommon. Some of those celebrities shine far more brightly at it than
others do though. Bon Jovi is one of them and our hats are off to him and his
organization for a fabulous program that actually helps eradicate hunger and
homelessness.
Is Shaun Cassidy just another teen idol from the seventies
that has long been forgotten? Maybe some people feel that way about him, but he
will always hold a special place in my heart because he was the only one that
left many fans feeling good about him. He wasn’t perfect, though you couldn’t
convince some people of that, including me. Cassidy is about as close to it as
you can get though. He made all the little girl’s hearts beat a little faster,
and their parents and brothers would go insane listening to Da Doo Ron Ron a
hundred times a day. From all appearances, he was one teen idol that didn’t
fall into the snares so many others have fallen into.
I went to see Shaun Cassidy in concert, oh so many years
ago. I was an avid fan who had his photos splashed all over the back of my
bedroom door. I drove my brother insane because I played the same album over
and over again and usually the same songs. Like many other girls around the
world at the time, I was going to be his wife someday. That never happened
obviously, but, oh, just to daydream about it. I waited patiently for every
second Sunday at 7:00 PM to watch Shaun play the role of Joe Hardy on the Hardy
Boys series. I was so disappointed when the show was not aired because of a
golf game that took precedence. It was a good time, an easier time for most,
but there was more lurking in Shaun’s life which was hidden from the world. He
doesn’t, nor did he ever make a big deal out of anything bad that happened to
him; not publicly anyway. There has to be something that lurks in to ruin that
picture perfect image though, and for me, it came some thirty-eight years
later.
Did I mention that Shaun has a bazillion kids? (I think the count is up to seven now, but who knows, there could be more additions since then.)
Shaun saw his share of troubles; after all, he has been
married three times. That’s a track record that nobody wants to contend with,
but it is what it is, so I hear. That seems to be the norm in Hollywood, so it
isn’t as alarming as it would be if he were just a normal person living in some
other town in the United States. In fact, scratch that, it is becoming the norm
all over, so it just makes him like everyone else.
Shirley Jones, Jack Cassidy and Shaun Cassidy
There were troubles along the way for Shaun while he was
growing up though. Several books point out the fact that his father was not an
easy man to live with. Jack Cassidy was a stage actor who was killed in
December of 1976 after a fire swept through his penthouse apartment. He was
deeply troubled and is said to have had bi-polar disorder and suffered from alcoholism.
Shaun’s mother is Shirley Jones who was also an actress, but much more
successful than Jack was. Patrick and Ryan are his younger brothers and David
Cassidy is his half-brother.
Shaun Cassidy, Shirley Jones, David Cassidy, Ryan Cassidy and Patrick Cassidy
Jack Cassidy was far from the perfect role model, as
outlined in books written by Shirley Jones, Marty Ingels and David Cassidy. He
was prone to rage and often took his anger out on his family members. That is
not to say he was physically abusive, as I have not read that he was, but he
was certainly verbally abusive to them. It was also said that he frequently
cheated on his wife, Shirley, during their marriage. Rumors sometimes fly
without any backing, however; these allegations came from the people who knew
him best, his family.
With all of that said, Shaun’s family had nothing but glowing
reports about him. They said that he was always older for his age, taking on
the role of caretaker in many instances. He helped his mother through very
difficult times, according to Shirley. After his father left the home, Shaun
took on the role as man of the house, helping guide his two younger siblings.
It is only a guess to say that he took on teen idol status as a way to help
care for his family. It was a good move and when the time came, he bowed out
gracefully, never looking back with anger or distaste. Always humble about
where he had been and smiling because he had the opportunity to do it. That is
why it is easy to still love Shaun Cassidy. For all we know, he could have had
the exact same problems as everyone else in his position. He didn’t talk about
it though, and that squeaky clean image continued to emanate from the minds of
those little girls who are now grown women with families of their own.
When Shaun appeared on Oprah, he played the piano and sang
one of his hit songs from the seventies. He was somewhat shy about it, a good
quality to see in someone who once stood in front of thousands of fans live to
belt out the tunes that helped make him a success. He appears to be happy and
well adjusted for someone who had seen that type of fame. His success didn't go
to his head. That may be what attracted a longer standing fan base than others
might have.
As much as we like to follow what is going on in the lives
of those we once loved to listen to and watch when their lives go wrong, it's
more satisfying to see someone become a great success and then settle nicely
into normal life. Shaun had a plan that included learning how to be successful
in life rather than successful at fame and fortune. Though some people think
those things are one in the same, they are polar opposites.
Thanks for the memories Shaun. I was an avid fan then and
then moved on. Now I am a fan again, but with a greater understanding of life.
My innocence is long gone like everyone else growing up at the time. Now, I am
a fan because you put a little faith back in me. I have a great deal of respect
for Mr. Cassidy. May all Hollywood kids of today find the same kind of success
that Shaun Cassidy has found in his "after teen idol" life.
The sixties was a time of change and those who lived it can
tell tales of Vietnam, the first astronaut to land on the moon and most can
tell you where they were when President John F. Kennedy was shot. The face of
television was changing as well. More and more people had televisions in their
homes and programming took a different turn. The sixties gave us a decade of
great child actors who are still remembered over fifty years later.
Top Child Stars of the 1960's:
Ron Howard (Ronny Howard)- His name is a legend among child
actors. He is still well-known and well-loved as the little boy who began
playing the role of Opie Taylor in the sixties sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show.
He took the role in 1960 when he was just five-years-old. He continued in that
role for eight seasons, nearly the entire decade. He was the red-headed child
that everyone fell in love with. In later years, he became well-known for his
role in the seventies television sitcom, Happy Days. He played Richie
Cunningham, another loveable character with a heart of gold. Howard has starred
in several films, including the blockbuster hit, American Graffiti, and
eventually went behind the scenes to direct.
Kurt Russell- Kurt was a little bit older than Ron when he started
his career. He was most well-known for his roles in some of the Walt Disney’s
Wonderful World of Color in the sixties when millions of little girls fell in
love with his handsome face and hoped they would see more of him as time went
on. Their dreams came true as Kurt grew from child actor to adult actor, making
a smooth transition and sometimes a big splash. Goldie Hawn had the good
fortune to hook up with Kurt and meet him at the altar though.
Jay North- He played the role of one of America’s favorite
blond-headed boys and the character, along with Jay’s face made him a
television icon that will be remembered for an eternity. In recent years, North
opted out of the business and lives a quiet life and has not donned overalls
and a cowlick for many years. He is forever a part of the American heart and
re-runs of the hit sitcom will continue long after the original fans have
passed from the world.
Johnny Whitaker and Anissa Jones- These two played a set of
twins in one of the best sitcoms of the time. Johnny and Anissa played adorable
orphans who, along with older sister Sissy, played by Kathy Garver, moved to
the city to live with their Uncle Bill and his Gentleman's Gentleman, Mr.
French. This family taught America about what true family is. Anissa died in
1976 but Johnny went on to act in many more television shows including Sigmund
and the Sea Monster. He currently works helping other stay sober and clean.
This pair of childhood actors will continue to give fans a warm fuzzy feeling
every time they think of them.
There were many child actors that came and went in the sixties.
The above named are some of the most popular of the time and with good reason.
They brought joy to our hearts and gave us something to look forward to when a
new show was coming on. Those same shows continue to spread joy across the United
States and span five generations of fans.
Parts of this article were taken from an article I wrote years ago. I just revamped it and made it a little more interesting than when it was on the other site. Enjoy.
Toby Keith, what more can a person say? He’s been treating
fans to new music since 1993 and shows no signs of slowing down. He’s taken on
the big dogs of Nashville and mopped up the floor with them. Now he’s known as
the Big Dog Daddy with his own record label, more than twenty albums and several
side businesses to boot. And it all started because he visited his grandmother
in the summer. What makes him the sexiest man in country music? Too many things
to count, but let’s give it a shot anyway.
Toby making his fans part of his videos is becoming a common occurrence.
Music- Toby loves creating music and his performances
show it. Fans are rarely disappointed by the lengths Keith will go to in order
to show his appreciation for his fan base. That’s a super-plus in a time and
place where too many artists take their fans for granted. If you want a great
fan experience, then Toby Keith is the man to look for.
Nice guns! Can't find the photo of him fishing, so you just have to take my word for it that he has some might strong legs.
He’s kind of cute- He stands at 6’4” in height, has great
calves, hard arms and an ornery grin that tells you trouble just walked in the
room. To be quite honest, it’s hard to tell if he is a tough guy or a great big
teddy bear, so the best guess is that he is mixed with both, depending on the
circumstances. Just don’t pour beer on his equipment and don’t mess with his
family.
You absolutely must blame it on the worm.
Strong sense of business- TK has a strong sense of
business and has been very successful in starting a chain of restaurants called
the Toby Keith I Love This Bar and Grill and his own brand of mezcal called
Wild Shot. He started his own label in 2005, Show Dog Universal, after he
butted heads with other labels. He wanted a place where he could make his music
without interference from those who thought they knew it all. And did I mention
he also owns a golf club where he and his wife frequently play the game?
Toby talking about the tornado that went through Moore in 2013.
Proof that Toby can poke fun at anything. Can't beat 'em? Join 'em.
Sense of community- Toby is a big fan of his hometown in
Norman, Oklahoma. He resides close-by, forgoing a move to Nashville. Moving to
Nashville might save on travel considering his line of work, but Keith likes
being an Okie and he prefers to keep his feet firmly planted in the soil there.
He is right there with help for those in the community when they are in
trouble. When a tornado blows through, Toby and his family members are among
the first to go out and about to see what they can do to help.
Bonnie Hunt interview. That's what a happy man looks like.
How does a man always look that daggone happy?- Other
than album covers meant to make him look tough, Toby Keith always looks happy
and satisfied with his life. No doubt that he is because he figured out how to
make things happen his way and he’s got a great family to share it all with.
Toby Keith talking about the OK Kids Korral on opening day.
Charity- Toby Keith and his wife Tricia have a foundation
that helps children, more specifically, children with cancer. The charity makes
donations to other charities such as the St. Jude’s Hospital and the Make a
Wish Foundation. On top of that, the foundation is now concentrating on the OKKids Korral that offers a safe and convenient haven for families and children
who are dealing with childhood cancer.
From left to right: Krystal, Toby and Tricia. Knockout family!
Left to right: Toby, Stelen and Tricia
Left to right: Krystal, Toby and Shelley before he was famous.
Toby and Krystal after singing Mockingbird in a television appearance.
Family love- One of the sexiest things about Toby is that
he loves his family more than life itself. From his mother and father to his
wife and kids, Toby has a deep commitment to his family ties. He has a
beautiful wife who he adores, Tricia. His three children, Shelley, Krystal and
Stelen and two grandchildren (that number may have risen?), take priority over
anything else, including his music. His middle child, Krystal, has followed in
his footsteps and is fast becoming one of country music’s greatest female
artists.
Toby loves bringing attention to the soldiers and frequently brings them up on stage to sing with him.
The Angry American was written after the 9/11 attacks and drew a great deal of controversy. Toby says F' 'em. :-)
Love of country- There isn’t another artist alive that
does more to show his love for the United States than Toby Keith. He has been a
constant presence in the USO tours for more than a decade. He focuses a great
deal of his lyrics on the troops and their commitment to keeping the United
States safe, including songs like American Soldier, Courtesy of the Red, White
and Blue, Ballad of Balad and Call a Marine.
Kids- He loves ‘em. Nuff said.
1.Jesus- Toby might be caught with a red solo cup
in his hand at every concert and he might have a few choice words to share
every now and again, but Toby Keith loves Jesus. He says a thank you to Jesus
on his albums and makes no bones about the fact that he’s a praying man. Jesus
keeps him grounded in a business that might otherwise eat him alive.
Toby Keith has a rare combination of traits that make him
the sexiest man in country music. He’s serious enough about business to make
things happen without taking himself or the things around him too seriously and
that shows through his lyrics which are often self-deprecating and hilarious.
He’s the kind of man that millions of women wish they had, but can’t. Tricia
has his heart hands down.
Pretty sure this is Tricia's song. You are not the woman behind the man, you are the reason I'm who I am
