Emma Watson: People Said I Had ‘Lesbian’ Hair

After the final Harry Potter film, Emma Watson decided to cut her long hair into a pixie cut. Unfortunently, first reaction from journalists not  was not what she was hoping for. “I had journalists asking me if this meant I was coming out, if I was a lesbian now,” she tells the U.K.'s Independent. "That haircut did make me realize how subjective everyone’s opinion is. Some people were crazy for it and some people just thought I’d lost my [mind].” After Harry Potter, Emma was ready to experiment with her style, but she got a lot of negative responses. She now says that she thinks a little more carefully about what she wears, but doesn't consider any of her formal outfits a mistake. “I’m a multidimensional person and that’s the freedom of fashion,” she says, “that you’re able to reinvent yourself through how you dress and how you cut your hair or whatever.”

After being part of Harry Potter for most of her life, Emma Watson is happy to have the freedom to choose her own style and look. I respect that Emma continues to choose her own look, even after journalist disagreed with her choices in style. Emma Watson is a beautiful girl and if she wants to try a new hair style, then I think she should have the freedom to try what she likes. She shouldn't automatically be accused of being a lesbian, or an edgy person, because thats not who Emma is. Growing up and watching her on Harry Potter, I could see that she was a strong young girl who wanted to live life to the fullest. Now that the films are done, she should have the freedom to have what ever style she wants.


Harman, Justine. Emma Watson: People Said I Had ‘Lesbian’ Hair. 21 February 2012. 26 February 2012 <http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2012/02/21/emma-watson-haircut-lesbian-rumors/?xid=rss-topheadlines>.

Taylor Swift's Surprising Response to Prom Invitation

"Taylor Swift was asked to the prom, but she's taking her date to an awards show instead." Kevin McGuire, a high school football player, was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of thirteen. Unfortunently, at the age of eighteen, the cancer has come back. Kevin's family and friend wanted to make Kevins dreams come true by making a Facebook page asking Taylor to the prom. Over 87,000 people viewed the page and the news spread to Taylor herself. "Kevin, I'm so sorry but I won't be able to make it to your prom. But I was wondering, the ACM Awards are coming up. Would you be my date?" the singer asked via Facebook." Kevin told USA Today that he obviously said yes, saying that going to the ACM is a lot better than a senior prom. Due to his sickness though, he is unsure if he is able to attend the award show.

I wish that all celebrities could be like Taylor Swift. She is a true role model for all her fans and she wants to make her fans happy. I'm glad that the headlines for Taylor is about her helping someone instead of doing something contriversial, which is what so many healines for celebreties have now. It's really cool that Taylor wants to make a total strangers dream come true by givinghim a night of a lifetime. I'm sure that Kevin's friends and family are thrilled that Kevin gets to fulfill his dream. I hope that this gives Kevin the encouragement he needs to continue to fight through his cancer and try to fulfill all his life goals. This is a great encouragment for other teenagers that have cancer and want to try to fulfill their own dreams.



Nicholson, Jessica. Taylor Swift's Surprising Response to Prom Invitation. 24 February 2012. 26 February 2012 <http://www.countryweekly.com/news/taylor-swifts-surprising-response-prom-invitation>.

J.K. Rowling Working on a New Novel – Not for Kids

J.K. Rowling is writing again! Though her Harry Potter series was aimed for all ages, her new nevel is specifically toward adult readers. "Although I've enjoyed writing it every bit as much, my next book will be very different from the Harry Potter series, which has been published so brilliantly by Bloomsbury and my other publishers around the world," Rowling, 46, said in a statement released by Little, Brown."  Rowling is excited to expore new territory that she gained from her success with Harry Potter.

Though many people think that a children's author changing her style to an adult audience might not be a smart move, but J.K. Rowling is not your ordinary author. Coming from a very poor life, and living off of welfare, Rowling changed her life by persuing her Harry Potter series, which we all know was a huge success. All fans of Rowling will surely read her new book when it comes out, no matter what age you are. Most of us that grew up reading Harry Potter is now at an age where we can read the new book that she is writing. I am very excited to hear what her new book is about and I can't wait to jump into another story writen by J.K. Rowling.



Raftery, Liz. J.K. Rowling Working on a New Novel – Not for Kids. 24 February 2012. 26 February 2012 <http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20573343,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines>.

Savannah Hardin, 9, Dies After Being Forced to Run for 3 Hours

Savannah Hardin, a 9-year-old girl, died after allegedly being force to run for three hours. She was forced by her grandmother and stepmother to run as a pushiment for lying about eating a candy bar. "According to the Birmingham News, her stepmother, Jessica Mae Hardin, called 911 at 6:45 p.m. and reported that Savannah was having a seizure and was unresponsive." Savannah was taken to the Children's Hopital in Birmingham, Alabama, where she was taken off of life support. The third grader's death has been ruled a homicide by a state pathologist. Reports indicate that Savannah was extremely dehydrated and very low sodium levels. "According to AP reports, Savannah had a very common bladder condition and could not handle the caffeine in a chocolate bar. It is not believed, however, that the bladder condition contributed to her death." Savannah's stepmother and grandmother are both being charged with murder. If capital murder charges are pursued, they may face the death penalty.

Reading this article, I felt very grateful for being blessed with a loving family. I know that many people have family problems, but after reading this article, I feel bad that a little girl had to experience this kind of abuse. Being a runner myself, I can understand the feeling of being dehydrated, but I could never imagine being so dehydrated that you have to be hopitalized as a result. I can understand that a parent can be mad about a child eating a candy bar, but punishing them to the extent of making a child do some kind of excerise that most people don't do, is a little excessive. Though running is a very common excerise, and though many people don't usually die from running, running for three hours is a little over the top even for very athletic people. Running for cross country, my longest running is a little over an hour long. Now I know that if I worked up to a run that last three hours I would probably be fine. The key word is "worked up", not many people can just go out a run for three hours without having some kind of training for that kind of excerise. Especially for a 9-year-old, doing this kind of extreme excerise probably contributed some to her death.

Orloff, Brian. Savannah Hardin, 9, Dies After Being Forced to Run for 3 Hours. 24 February 2012. 26 February 2012 http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20573491,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+people%2Fheadlines+%28PEOPLE.com%3A+Top+Headlines%29&utm_content=Google+Reader.

Taylor Gets Grammy Revenge on “Mean” Critics

Taylor Swift has done it again! Many Taylor Swift fans know about the meaning behind her song, "Mean", about the critic that said she wouldn't make it in the music world. Taylor  to achieved revenge on the critic after winning two grammys for the song that tells it all. "Not only that, but Taylor performed the song, and put in the words Someday I'll be singing this at the Grammys. . . . The crowd rewarded the performance with a standing ovation." This shows how true Taylor is to her music. She writes about her life and what she believes. Taylor always feels blessed to be able to attend the grammys and is always grateful to be nominated or to even win one.

When I first hear the song "Mean", my first thought was, "Oh man, what ex-boyfriend is it this time. Until I heard on the radio that the song was actually about a critic that dislike Taylor and said she would not make it in the music business. Wasn't he wrong! Taylor has been an inspirational singer for my fans and will continue impressing us in the years to come. I'm excited to hear and see all that she has to offer in new music and performances. I am sure that all her fans will need something a little bigger than a mean critic to stop listening and loving Taylor Swift songs.



Schmitt, Brad. Taylor Gets Grammy Revenge on “Mean” Critics. 13 February 2012. 26 February 2012 http://www.countryweekly.com/news/taylor-gets-grammy-revenge-mean-critics.

Update: Sugarland Was Never Asked to Delay Indy Show

Country group, Sugarland, has been in the spotlight lately for the controversial concert disaster in Indiana. As a result of very bad weather, the stage at the outdoor concert collapsed. Many people were hurt and seven people died. It was said that Sugarland had been asked to delay the concert until the weather passed, but the group refused because they needed to get to their next show. New insight has been made, claiming the musical group was never asked to postpone the concert. "Furthermore, in a response to a lawsuit, Sugarland says it had nothing to do with the tragic accident, saying instead "a gust of wind of unprecedented intensity" caused the staging to blow over onto the crowd, and that the incident was "a true accident or act of God," WRTV reports." Unfortunately, it is very hard to find the true problem with what happened at this concert. Though many people do blame Sugarland, the most important thing to the musical group is their fans.

After hearing about this tragic event on the televison and in the paper, it's really sad to think that so many people are wrapped up in blaming others for something that is very uncontrollable. In the end, it doesn't really matter if Sugarland did or did not try to postpone the concert. There was still a very tragic event that happened and we need to think more about the families of the people who were hurt or died due to this event, than trying to blame someone. My hope is that the true fans of Sugarland will continue to support them during this hard time. Sugarland is still the same fun loving country group that we enjoy singing with and listening to often.



Schmitt, Brad. Update: Sugarland Was Never Asked to Delay Indy Show. 21 February 2012. 26 February 2012 http://www.countryweekly.com/news/update-sugarland-was-never-asked-delay-indy-show.

Zac Efron Jokes He'll Spend Valentine's Day with Taylor Swift

Rumors have been made stating that Taylor Swift and Zac Efron are dating. "The two were spotted being "flirty" at a dinner together last month in L.A., and the web blew up from there." In an interview with Zac, he was asked about Valentine's Day, he said that he would probably just stay home. When he was told that Taylor would probably be doing the same thing, he joked that they should "team up" on the holiday. When he realized what he had just said, he commented, saying, ""Wait a sec. Uh, no, we're really good friends. She's trying to teach me how to play the guitar." Taylor and Zac can be heard on the big screen in the upcoming animated film, The Lorax, which opens March 2.

Poor Taylor, can never get a break about her dating life. Or just be able to go out with a friend for dinner without everyone thinking that she is dating him. Now maybe in the end, Taylor is actually dating Zac Efron, but that is still her business until she wants everyone to know. It maybe partly her fault for these rumors also, since Taylor is so famously known for her boyfriends, and writing songs about them, especially break-up songs. I still feel bad that she has to go around with people talking about her boyfriends, what songs shes writing about them, or what guy she will be going for next. It almost feels like a game sometimes. The press makes it feel like Taylor doesn't really care about the relationship or that there actually wasn't a relationship in the first place. I will have to say though, it is kinda fun trying to guess what songs are written for which boyfriend...

Schmitt, Brad. Zac Efron Jokes He’ll Spend Valentine’s Day With Taylor. 10 February 2012. 10 February 2012 <http://www.countryweekly.com/news/zac-efron-jokes-hell-spend-valentines-day-taylor>.

David Nail Celebrates No. 1 Song

Newcomer, David Nail, is still in shock from his number one hit song, "Let it Rain". He celebrates his hit with a party at the Nashville Offices of performance rights organization ASCAP. David still has a hard time realizing that his song is a number one hit. Along with his other 2009 hit "Red Light", David feels completely blessed for coming so far. He has toured with Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum.

He is now on tour with pop singer Gavin DeGraw. David comments on the tour, saying, "I'm a huge Gavin fan and have been since his very first record. We've covered one of his songs in our show off and on for a couple of years now. It seems like he has a strong appreciation for Nashville and for our format here. It's funny, for the last six to 12 months, I would hear people comment on 'How come a country act doesn't [tour] with a pop act?' or vice versa and I always thought in the back of my mind that, given the opportunity, that that would be a cool thing. What better way to bring country listeners to Gavin DeGraw and pop listeners who have never really entertained the thought of country music [to country]? Hopefully we can do that together. At the end of the day, hopefully, we can kind of convert some people over, to not just me, but to recognize that there's a whole host of artists over here that they should pay attention to."

I am a big country fan, and I love that when my cell phone goes off, it plays "Let it Rain" by David Nail. My friend and I enjoy going to the B-93 Birthday Bash in the summer because it is a concert specifically for new coming artist to be heard. Though we have never heard David Nail there, we have seen The Band Perry, the Jane Dear Girls, and Eric Church. I love listening to new country artist to see how there songs compare to artist that have been in the business for most of my lifetime. Being a big Rascal Flatts fan, I love listening for different sounds and instruments the artist experiment with in their music. I also enjoy listening to Taylor Swift. Taylor, being closer to age with me, is an inspirational singer that most teenage girls look up to as a role model. I also love the fact that so many people have come to country music through her so they can hear the great music of this genre, like David Nail. I am so happy that David can gain the title of having a number one song. His song "Let is Rain" and "Red Light", from 2009, are some of my favorite songs, and I am very excited to hear his next number one hit.

Nicholson, Jessica. David Nail Celebrates No. 1 Song. 7 February 2012. 10 February 2012 <http://www.countryweekly.com/news/david-nail-celebrates-no-1-song>.

Billionaire, 48, Adopts Girlfriend, 42, as Daughter

                                           

When you think things couldn't get any weirder...a man decides to adopt his girlfriend instead of just popping the question. John Goodman faces civil trial for the death of Scott Patrick Wilson, who was 23-years-old. Police say that Goodman was driving his car when he ran a stop sign and slammed into Scott Wilson's car. "Attorneys for Wilson's parents, who are suing the billionaire, speculate the adoption may be designed to protect Goodman's children's trust, estimated to be worth "several hundred million dollars." As Goodman's legal child, a third of the beneficiary interest in the trust would be entitled to Hitchins.

Why does our world have to be so strange? Or the real question, why do people have to do weird things? If you have a girlfriend that is almost the same age as you, it should not be legal to adopt her. Either pop the question, or find someone that you actually want as a partner in life. Also, if your boyfriend was being convicted for killing a man and was going to spend life in prison, why on earth would you want anything to do with him? This was probably a result of wanting his money and since he is going to be in jail for the rest of his life, someone might as well use the money...

Shira, Dahvi. Billionaire, 48, Adopts Girlfriend, 42, as Daughter. 2 February 2012. February 7 2012http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20566900,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines.

The Band Perry Throws First Prank Punch at Paisley

If you are a country music fan or a Brad Paisley fan, then you know the well known stories of the many pranks Brad is know for doing on his tours. After just kicking off his new tour, The Band Perry, who is the opening for the concert, decided to throw the first punch towards Brad. "The trio, asked to join Brad onstage for the dark "Whiskey Lullaby," decided to lighten things up by wearing pointy Spock ears onstage for the song. Brad couldn't help but laugh."

This is just one of the many reasons why I love country music. It is fun to hear about the singers having fun and enjoying the concert that they perform. It's hard to remember sometimes that even though this is partly their jobs to perform in concerts, but to also enjoy themselves while on the road. When Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler went on tour with Brad, they pulled a prank on him during one of his concerts. While Brad was singing "Ticks", Taylor and Kellie came out on stage in huge tick costumes that Taylor had bought off the internet. It's good to know that the artists are having just as much fun at their concerts. I have personally been to one of Brad Paisley's concerts, and though there were no recgonizable pranks during the concert, it was still one of the best concerts I have ever seen. Brad, The Band Perry, and Scotty Mccreery, all showed how much they enjoyed their opening night for the new tour through the songs they sang and their awesome performances.

Schmitt, Brad. The Band Perry Throws First Prank Punch at Paisley. 31 January 2012. 1 February 2012 <http://www.countryweekly.com/news/band-perry-throws-first-prank-punch-paisley>.