Comments

There are no comments yet. Click here to start the conversation!

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Printer friendly

More Celebrity News

• Saints Super Bowl prediction earns Mantegna Super Sage Award
• Morrow: Will locals make cut on 'Idol'?
• Commentary: Why not Ellen? She loves music and she’s sane

Share and Enjoy

With fewer than six weeks left in the year, local major celebrity events are already busy being planned for 2010:

DANCING WITH THE STARS. A few local celebrities are being approached as plans for the second annual "Dancing with the Knoxville Stars" are being developed.

This year's event raised $27,000 for Children's Hospital of East Tennessee and was a collaborative effort with radio station WWST-FM, 102.1 (Star102.1). Tickets sold out quickly so the 2010 event promises to be even bigger.

Lori Tucker, veteran Knoxville TV personality and prime co-anchor at WATE, Channel 6, and her local professional dancing partner J.W. Becker, won this year's "Dancing" by raising $4,415 for East Tennessee Children's Hospital.

Star102.1 midday personality Gretchen Bartlett was also awarded for her dancing skills.

At "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" benefit screening more than a week ago, WBIR, Channel 10, anchor Robin Wilhoit was asked, and she said she'd like to do it - but her station bosses will have to approve the invitation.

Sen. Tim Burchett was asked, but rumors are that he will not accept. The reason? He says he has two left feet.

VARIETY BENEFIT. Yes, Variety of Eastern Tennessee's annual celebrity-driven fundraiser just happened a week ago, but plans for next year are already starting.

No names or even a game plan have been touted yet - it's far too early for that. However, Variety, which partners with Regal Entertainment for the gala, is making the event bigger and bigger each year. Expectations are high.

This year's show will be hard to top. How can you get a movie much hotter than "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" and stars Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart?

DOLLYWOOD. The Pigeon Forge theme park will mark its 25th anniversary in 2010, and Dolly Parton is formulating a bigger-than-normal way to mark the occasion.

Rumors are that Parton will invite a few of her close celebrity pals to be at an event in May to celebrate the anniversary. (Dollywood will officially open for business in March, though.)

Undoubtedly, an invitation has gone out to Kenny Rogers, her former duet partner. Who else might be on the list?

It's no secret that Miley Cyrus is close to Parton and even themed a "Dolly" party for her birthday this year. Parton is pals with fellow Tennessean Reese Witherspoon, too.

So far, though, no names have been officially announced as being invited.

Terry Morrow may be reached at morrowt@knoxville.com or 865-342-6445. His blog can be found at http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/. He contributes to "Live At Five At Four" on WBIR, Channel 10, and "The Marc & Kim & Frank Show" on WWST-FM, 102.1.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel
Want to use this article? Click here for options!