Published Monday, June 29, 2009

Jackson to get his Hollywood star

By Winston Skinner

The Times-Herald

What do Alan Jackson, Emma Thompson, Peter Graves and Andrea Bocelli have in common?

The British actress, "Mission Impossible" actor and the Italian tenor -- as well as the Newnan-born country music legend -- are slated to get stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next year. The Walk of Fame is a sidewalk in Hollywood, Calif., featuring five-pointed stars honoring entertainers in several categories.

With more than 2,000 stars put in place starting in 1958, the Hollywood Walk of Fame has become a major tourist destination. Formal presentations of the stars are often attended by the entertainers and other luminaries.

The star of actress Cameron Diaz was the 2,386th when it was unveiled during her star ceremony Monday.

"Hollywood's class of 2010 has been selected. After much consideration, the Walk of Fame committee has selected 28 of our 'most talented' from more than 200 nominations," said Earl Lestz, chairman of the Hollywood Walk of Fame Committee.

The individuals were chosen at a meeting held June 15, and ratified by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's directors.

"Fans and tourists worldwide will enjoy seeing their favorite celebrities receive this rare accolade. What is even more exciting is that these particular recipients will have the distinctive honor of being selected during the year that celebrates the Walk of Fame's 50th Anniversary," Lestz said. Even though the first stars were installed in 1958, the Walk officially began in 1960.

Jackson is nominated in the recording category -- along with Bryan Adams, The Funk Brothers, Chaka Khan, Van Morrison, Marco Antonio Solis, Ringo Starr, ZZ Top and -- posthumously -- Roy Orbison.

In addition to Thompson, motion picture nominees were James Cameron, Russell Crowe, John Cusack, Colin Firth, Gale Ann Hurd, Alan Menken, Randy Neuman, Adam Sandler and Mark Wahlberg. Nominated in the television category were Graves, Chris Berman, Jon Cryer, Jimmy Kimmel, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Bill Maher and Sam Waterston.

Waterston has also been to Newnan. He played the lead in the "I'll Fly Away" television series filmed locally in the early 1990s.

Bocelli and Cirque Du Soleil/Guy Liberte were nominated in the live performance/theater category.