People: Is he becoming a graven Idol?
Chris Sligh, the “American Idol” contestant known for his curly mop of hair and soulful voice, has a few people in his hometown of Greenville, S.C., concerned with his departure from Christian music.
“We really are somewhat disappointed with the direction he has gone musically,” says a spokesman for the fundamentalist Bob Jones University that Sligh attended for several years.
Others say he remains clear about his faith.
“He’s not going to back away from the fact that he’s a Christian,” says Chris Surratt, pastor of Seacoast Church, where Sligh serves as music leader. “He’s going to let that shine through in what he does.”
Local fans – some wearing fake glasses and curly wigs and calling themselves the “Fro Patro” – gather each week to cheer him on.
Sligh, a 28-year-old son of missionaries who grew up overseas, kept his spot among the finalists last week despite what judge Simon Cowell called an “unemotional” and “uninspiring” rendition of “Endless Love.”
From shame to fame
Many predicted Vanessa Williams would fade into obscurity when she gave up her Miss America crown after a nude photo scandal.
But that was all in the distant past on Monday as she received the 2,331st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Williams stepped down as the first black Miss America in 1984 after Penthouse published sexually explicit photographs of her. She went on to a successful career as a singer and actor, currently playing a villainous magazine editor on TV’s “Ugly Betty.”
Unsafe at any speed?
California police are investigating an accident Monday in which a Porsche driven by Keanu Reeves allegedly grazed a celebrity photographer standing in the sports car’s path.
Paramedics were called and the photographer was treated for unspecified injuries at a local hospital.
It wasn’t known how fast the Porsche was traveling, police said.
Reeves’ films include “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” “My Own Private Idaho,” “Speed” and “The Matrix.”
His crowning glory
Bernie Mac plans to bring down the curtain on his stand-up comedy act after 30 years.
Mac, one of the Original Kings of Comedy, says he’ll retire after he finishes a tour and a concert film, “The Whole Truth, Nothing but the Truth, So Help Me Mac,” this fall.
His latest film, “Pride,” hits theaters Friday.
Pushing the envelope
Ellen Degeneres has signed with American Greetings for a line of 32 greeting cards that will feature illustrations of the comedian/talk host along with her quirky observations.
“I like to be up in the middle of everything and doing it this way is much easier than crashing parties,” says Degeneres, who hosted this year’s Oscars.
The cards are expected to be available in stores this summer.
The birthday bunch
Singer Solomon Burke is 67. Actor Timothy Dalton is 61. Singer Eddie Money is 58. Actress Sabrina LeBeauf (“The Cosby Show”) is 49. Actor Gary Oldman is 49. Actor Matthew Broderick is 45. Actress-comedian Rosie O’Donnell is 45.