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Shawn Mullins back making music his way
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In 1998, local singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins became a big shot for about a year with his breakthrough hit “Lullaby” and platinum-selling album “Soul’s Core.”
But life calmed down after modest sales of his follow-up CD and the ill-fitting trio the Thorns. Now he’s back as a solo artist on a smaller label with “9th Ward Pickin’ Parlor.” Buzz caught up with him by phone Sunday:
On what he’s trying to say with his new rootsy CD: “Even though I’ve never been gone, I’m back. I feel like I’m where I want to be, making music I want to make.”
On seeing a recording studio he used in New Orleans flooded by Katrina: “It was a shock. I saw it on TV. People were standing on the roof. It was a 100-year-old house. Now that area is ‘Road Warrior’-ville.”
On the brush with worldwide fame: “It was nutty. At a zoo in Sydney, Australia, I had to run away from a group of Catholic schoolgirls. It was like ‘Hard Day’s Night.’ ”
On meeting Kiss at the American Music Awards in 1998: “Leaving the performance area, I run into this big black leather thing. It’s Gene Simmons’ back. He turns around in full makeup and says, ‘Hey, that was really good, man.’ And Paul Stanley is giving me the thumbs up. It was like a dream.”
On his friend and fellow singer-songwriter Kristen Hall quitting touring with Sugarland: “She never liked the road much. She wants to be home to create and write music. I can totally understand her. It takes real strength to pull out of that.”
Nick seeks help from Jessica
Nick Lachey is seeking spousal support from Jessica Simpson and wants his jewelry back. In court papers filed Friday in response to Simpson’s Dec. 16 divorce filing, Lachey cited irreconcilable differences for the dissolution of the three-year marriage. Lachey, 32, also asked for “miscellaneous jewelry and other personal effects,” part of Simpson’s earnings from after the separation and other assets. The couple had no prenuptial agreement, and in her petition, Simpson asked the court not to grant Lachey spousal support.
Closer look at 2 ‘Idol’ finalists
Paris Bennett of Fayetteville, a high school senior, used to be a “tomboy” who loved football and wrestling but says she’s “become a princess.”
Kinnik Sky, 28, of Duluth is a recent divorcée and actress who used to go by Kinnik but added the name Sky because it sounded good. (She won’t reveal her real last name.)
Buzz last week spoke with the two metro Atlantans in the final 24 of “American Idol.”
“I want to be versatile,” Bennett said. “I try to keep people guessing.” The granddaughter of Ann Nesby loves everyone from Dolly Parton to Beyoncé, from Gladys Knight to Bette Midler.
She attended Starr’s Mill High School until “Idol” came along and will probably graduate via online courses. She also does a variety of dancing and “loves choreography.” (We might see some moves during her upcoming “Idol” performances, starting Tuesday.)
“I don’t have a nervous bone in my body,” she added. “I’m ready for this.”
Sky said she has done plays for Kenny Leon and Tyler Perry and improv work with the group Laughing Matters. She most recently worked at the Buckhead restaurant Twist. “I love singing and acting,” she said. “This gives me a platform to leverage my career and open myself to more opportunities.”
Sky said she’s not concerned she didn’t get as much airtime as Bennett and other semifinalists. “We’re going to be given our time to do our thing regardless,” she said.
Don’t send in those clowns
Hannah Ellis, a 19-year-old student at Gordon College in Barnesville, will be on a future episode of “The Tyra Banks Show,” where Ellis tries to exorcise her fear of clowns. Part of the therapy included a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show Saturday night at Philips Arena. “It went a lot better than I thought,” she told Buzz. “I freaked out for a minute during the preshow. The clowns were all around me and I started crying, but I calmed down and enjoyed the show. It was amazing!”
Around the radio dial
While in Houston for the NBA All Star Game, 790/The Zone’s the 2 Live Stews won a celebrity billiards tournament, defeating the likes of Atlantan Ludacris, actress Regina King and NBA players Alonzo Mourning and Paul Pierce. …
V-103 has hired a replacement for Magic Man: Osei “The Dark Secret,” formerly at WKYS-FM in Washington, D.C. …
99X’s Fred Toucher, former 99X stunt guy Rich Shertenlieb and ex-99X traffic guy Crash Clark did a tryout at Phoenix’s FM talk station KZON-FM late last week. …
Pete Davis, sportscaster and fill-in host at 640/WGST-AM, was let go last week. “I saw it coming,” he told Buzz. “They want to get away from a more abrasive style.” A fixture for 17 years, Davis said he had survived nine program directors “and only one didn’t like me. That’s pretty good in radio.” That ninth program director, Randall Bloomquist, declined to comment, citing personnel policies.
Celebrity birthdays
Movie director Robert Altman is 81. Actor Sidney Poitier is 79. Jazz and soul singer Nancy Wilson is 69. Actress Sandy Duncan is 60. Model Cindy Crawford is 40. Local singer Brian Littrell of Backstreet Boys is 31.
Contributing: news services. If you have a tip, call 404-526-5688 or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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