Josh Turner to join the Billy Graham film cast

And who knew that the deep-voiced Josh Turner had the acting bug?

But folks working on the Billy Graham movie, Billy: The Early Years, confirmed to me today that Josh indeed will be in the movie, playing a friend of the famed preacher when he was a young man.

Josh also will contribute some songs for the movie, under the direction of John Carter Cash (Johnny Cash’s son) and former Nashville Star Anastasia Brown, the music supervisors for the movie.

The filming started yesterday in Watertown, Tenn., and there are some Hollywood stars attached to this bad boy.

Martin Landau, 76, perhaps best known for being in Mission: Impossible in the ’60s and the movie Ed Wood in 1994, will play Graham’s mentor, Charles Templeton.

And do you remember the original Bionic Woman, Lindsay Wagner? She’s playing Graham’s mom.

If that’s not random enough, 21-year-old pretty boy Armie Hammer — great-grandson of industrialist/philanthropist Armand Hammer — will play the part of Billy Graham. (OK, I’ve got to say it: Anyone else thinking about baking powder right now?)

So you wanna be in the Hannah Montana movie?

Who doesn’t??

They’re looking for extras Sunday at the Sommet Center. And here’s the thing: You MUST bring a picture of yourself, no bigger than 4 x 6 inches. No picture, no consideration.

They’re looking for extras of all ages, no experience required.

Kids must have a parent with them, and said parent must be willing to work with the child.

The filming starts May 6 in the Nashville area.

This could be absolutely bananas on Sunday, so ya might wanna get there early. It happens 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Good luck! And please lemme know if ya get a role. It’s brad@wkrn.com if you haven’t e-mailed me before.

Worlds collide! Luke Perry and Pickler fly high

Did you love Kellie Pickler on American Idol this week?

She packed her red high heels and headed back to Nashville last night on American Airlines (in coach - shriek!).

Sitting nearby: Beverly Hills, 90210 hunk Luke Perry, once a property owner in Dickson County here in Middle Tennessee. (Maybe he still is. I digress.)

Luke has a full scruffy beard, so lots of folks didn’t recognize him. But his elementary school-aged kids recognized Kellie Pickler.

So Luke asked Kellie if she wouldn’t mind signing autographs for his small fries. She of course did not mind one bit.

William H. Macy is comin' to town

Yes, William H. Macy, the nervous car salesman in Coen Brothers movie Fargo, is heading to Music City.

Macy is taking his latest movie, The Deal, on the film festival circuit, so that means he’ll screen it April 17, the opening night of the Nashville Film Festival at the Regal Green Hills Cinemas. 

The movie The Deal is about a Hollywood producer (Macy) who tries to revive his career by putting an action film star in a biopic about a 19th Century British prime minister. He stars in it with Meg Ryan, L.L. Cool J. and Jason Ritter (Country Music Hall of Famer Tex Ritter’s grandson and the late actor John Ritter’s son).

The Deal director Steven Schachter also will be here for the screening.

Check out ticket info at NashvilleFilmFestival.org.

Toby and CMT give it another movie go

You might recall that Toby Keith and CMT teamed up for the movie Broken Bridges, with John Travolta’s wife, Kelly Preston, as Toby’s co-star.

That had some mixed results: The limited-release opening weekend in theaters was weak, but CMT has sold more than 1.5 million copies of the DVD, and the re-runs on CMT bring high ratings.

Maybe the second time’s a charm. Toby is doing a movie called Beer for My Horses, which, as did the music video, will have Willie Nelson has a star.

Also committed to the project is quite the random collection o’ stars: the beautiful Claire Forlani (CSI: NY, who is pictured), guitar god/bow hunter Ted Nugent, Barry Corbin, (No Country For Old Men, Dukes of Hazzard), and Tom Skerritt (the dead dad in Brothers and Sisters).

Toby wrote the movie with comedian Rodney Carrington, who is also in the film, playing Toby’s buddy.

It’s about, well, I’ll let Toby’s publicist tell you: “Small town deputies and best friends who defy the local sheriff to embark on an outrageous road trip to save one of their girlfriends from drug lord kidnappers.”

I’m told it’s a comedy/action-adventure. Oh, the hijinx.

Sorry, ya won’t see any filming here. That happens through March in New Mexico. The film hits theaters in the summer.

Pig nose ‘Penelope’ has two local ties

So you know about this Penelope movie, with Christina Ricci playing a rich girl with a pig nose?

Did you know that ex-longtime Nashvillian Reese Witherspoon is the producer?

Reese started her own production company, Type A Films, and Penelope is the company’s big debut.

“This was the first film that we found the script, found the director and did all the heavy lifting,” Reese tells People.

“It had a really great female character who was strong, ambitious, but definitely had a journey to go through to get to the place where she would find herself.”

The movie also has a soundtrack song from Nashville Christian sister act everlife, which just came off the road opening for the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus tour.

I talked to the sisters this morning, and they are quite psyched to have a song they co-wrote, Find Yourself In You, in the movie.

‘Hannah Montana’ movie will shoot here

So in case you haven’t heard, looks like Hannah Montana movie shooting in Tennessee is a definite go.

Movie scouts and pre-production folks are in Columbia, Tenn., right now.

At least some shooting will happen in downtown Columbia, the mayor has confirmed.

And the state film commissioner, Perry Gibson, also confirms that Disney will shoot in the Volunteer State.

“The Disney people are already here doing pre-production. They’ve hired a location scout, they’re looking for offices and are setting up telephones,” the commissioner said.

This has been an intense courtship. Tennessee and Louisiana have been in a battle royale to recruit Hannah Montana, and it looks like Tennessee won.

Details of shooting are gonna be top secret so there aren’t tons of screaming tweens following Miley Cyrus around.

Shooting starts May 1.

Nicole is looking Oscar-licious

It’s our first peek at Nicole Kidman since she and Keith Urban announced they would have a child soon.

Nicole’s black dress hid any baby bump that might be around, and she looked lovely. Balenciaga gown and Bottega Veneta clutch, for those of you keeping track at home. Thanks to People.com for the pic.

Former Nashvillian Miley Cyrus also looked lovely in red, the color of the night on the carpet.

Sad to say that the only Nashvillian up for an Oscar, Peter Kurland, for sound mixing for big Oscar winner No Country for Old Men, didn’t get a trophy.

But that movie proved to be a big winner, getting trophies for best picture, director, screenplay and of course, best supporting actor for Javier Bardem.

Best actress proved to be the big surprise: Marion Cotillard won for her portrayal of Edith Pilaf in La Vie en Rose (Life in Pink), beating out Cate Blanchett, Julie Christie and others.

Jon Stewart proved a capable and funny host, with one of the best lines coming after recognizing that Jessica Alba and Cate Blanchett were pregnant.

“Two pregnant women here tonight at the Oscars,” he mused.

“Then again, obviously the night is still young. And Jack (Nicholson) is here. So perhaps, sir, we will re-tally at the end of the night.”

Hollywood couple spotted twice at Loveless

Turns out Chris Klein (American Pie) and his new actress lady friend, Ginnifer Goodwin (HBO’s Big Love, Johnny Cash’s first wife, Vivian, in Walk the Line) are crazy for biscuits!

Then again, who’s not?

Chris and Ginnifer were at Loveless Cafe TWICE, once on Friday morning and again on Monday. Never found out why they were in Nashville. People.com has a picture of them landing at LAX Monday night, so they must’ve headed to the airport after the Loveless feast.

Word is that Chris in particular was very nice at the restaurant.

Here’s my theory: Ginnifer is from Memphis, so the couple flew in to Nashville because it’s a direct flight from L.A., and then they drove to Memphis — fueled by biscuits.

Yummy!

Turns out this was Kimberly’s first rally….

So you heard actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley was at last night’s Barak Obama rally at the Cannery.

Turns out it was an unusual sighting: Kimberly told News 2’s Scott Fralick it was her first ever appearance at a political rally.

In fact, she said:

“I have never been to a political rally before, I have never donated money to a political candidate before. I have never voted in a primary election before. But Sen. Obama has motivated me to do all these things.”

So you think her country singer hubby, Brad Paisley, is of the same mind? His publicist told me yesterday that Brad has made no public primary pronouncements.

As we’ll report in a story around 4:10 this afternoon, that’s not unusual for country artists, who traditionally stay far away from political endorsements, especially on the Democratic side. Many artists fear getting “Dixie Chick-ed”: Shunned by country radio and/or fans for political views.

John Rich of Big & Rich came out early for Fred Thompson, but John is the only country artist with a public endorsement this primary season.

Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry says you don’t want to be on the wrong side of fans — any fans.

“Especially if you’re right wing or left wing. If you go and pick one side, you alienate the other side,” Troy told me.

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