Paisley gives back with scholarship
Brad Paisley’s country music career started in earnest at Belmont University. He’s taking steps to make sure someone else gets the same chance.
Paisley has endowed a scholarship at the Nashville, Tenn., school’s Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, where he graduated in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration after majoring in music business.
The West Virginia native got his first taste of Nashville at Belmont and met many of the friends who would become collaborators over the course of his career. He’s gone on to win Grammy Awards and Country Music Association entertainer of the year in a hit-filled career that’s taken him to the pinnacle of country music.
Paisley said in a news release that “this is the least I can do in appreciation.”
Houston’s mom proud of her
Cissy Houston says in her first interview since daughter Whitney Houston’s death that she’s “very proud” of her and did the best she could raising her.
The interview took place at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., where Whitney first wowed a congregation as a girl and where her funeral was held Feb. 18.
Cissy Houston said her daughter “accomplished a whole lot in the short time that she had here” and “was a very wonderful person.” She said she doesn’t blame herself for what happened to her because she knows she did the best she could.
Whitney Houston’s death has been ruled an accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors.
‘Funky’ artists donate mural
The men behind the “Funky Winkerbean” comic strip celebrated its 40th anniversary by donating a 96-foot mural for a new student lounge at their alma mater, Kent State University.
The Akron Beacon Journal reports the full-color border mural features strip characters and students throughout their college careers. It was unveiled recently by artists Tom Batiuk and Chuck Ayers.
Batiuk’s “Funky Winkerbean” debuted March 27, 1972. Ayers joined him as illustrator in 1994.
The strip at first focused on gags about teenagers at the imaginary Westview High School. Over the years, it explored sensitive topics such as dyslexia, alcoholism, teen suicide and cancer.
The birthday bunch
Singer Leon Russell is 70. Actress Linda Hunt is 67. Singer Emmylou Harris is 65. Actor Ron Palillo (“Welcome Back, Kotter”) is 63. Actress Pamela Reed is 63. Actor Christopher Meloni is 51. Guitarist Greg Camp (Smash Mouth) is 45. Guitarist Tony Fredianelli (Third Eye Blind) is 43. Actor Michael Fassbender (“Shame,” “Inglourious Basterds”) is 35. Keyboardist Jesse Carmichael (Maroon 5) is 33. Singer Lee Dewyze (“American Idol”) is 26.