Cash’s daughter says new screen bio crosses the line
Kathy Cash was so upset about how her mother is portrayed in the upcoming movie “Walk the Line” that she walked out of a family-only screening – five times.
She thinks the movie, which opens Friday, is good and that performances by Joaquin Phoenix as her dad and Reese Witherspoon as her stepmother, June Carter Cash, are Oscar-worthy.
But she also said the film unfairly shows her mother – Cash’s first wife, Vivian Liberto Distin, for whom he wrote the song “I Walk the Line” – as a shrew. Distin died earlier this year as a result of complications from lung cancer.
“She loved his career and was proud of him until he started taking drugs and stopped coming home,” says Kathy Cash, one of four children from Cash’s first marriage.
John Carter Cash – Johnny and June’s only child together and an executive producer for “Walk the Line” – says his half-sister’s criticisms have some merit.
“I’m compassionately understanding,” he says, adding: “The point of the film is my parents’ love affair.”
A post-graduate performance
Tommy Lee is returning to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the site of his recent TV reality show – and he’s bringing his bandmates with him.
Motley Crue will perform March 31 at the school’s Pershing Auditorium on their “Carnival of Sins” tour.
“I know he had a good time there,” said Crue bassist Nikki Sixx.
Some of the scenes from “Tommy Lee Goes to College” showed 43-year-old drummer in uniform, stepping out with the UNL marching band.
Feast for the ears
Mariah Carey will perform two songs at halftime at the nationally televised Thanksgiving Day game between the Detroit Lions and the Atlanta Falcons.
Carey was the big winner at Saturday’s Vibe Awards, taking home trophies for artist of the year, R&B voice of the year, best R&B song for “We Belong Together” and album of the year for “The Emancipation of Mimi.”
Toni Braxton will sing the national anthem for the Lions’ 66th Thanksgiving Day classic, airing at 9:30 a.m. on Fox.
Nothing but good vibes
Speaking of the Vibe Awards, among the other winners:
•Best Rapper: Kanye West
•Next Award: Keyshia Cole
•Coolest Collabo: “Oh,” Ciara featuring Ludacris
•Street Anthem: “U Don’t Know Me,” T.I.
•Club Banger: “1 Thing,” Amerie
Best of all, there was no violence – unlike last year, when a melee erupted after an audience member punched rapper/producer Dr. Dre during the ceremony
The prince, Your Highness
Former Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne will skip a scheduled appearance at Spike TV’s Video Game Awards this weekend to make time for Queen Elizabeth II.
Osbourne, 56, will join an international slate of entertainers that includes Andrea Bocelli and the Blue Man Group at the annual Royal Variety Performance in Cardiff, Wales. His wife, Sharon, also will participate.
He also was invited in 2004, but a scheduling conflict kept him from attending.
“I cannot turn down this incredible honor twice,” said Osbourne, whose “Prince of Darkness” box set was released earlier this year.
The birthday bunch
Actor Ed Asner is 76. Singer Petula Clark is 73. Comedian Jack Burns (Burns and Schreiber) is 72. Actor Sam Waterston is 65. Singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad (ABBA) is 60. Actress Beverly D’Angelo is 51. Bandleader Kevin Eubanks is 48. Singer Chad Kroeger (Nickelback) is 31.