Opryland’s FUSE: Hottest ticket in town proves lukewarm

Indeedy, the big VIP opening for Gaylord Opryland Resort’s “Vegas-style nightclub,” FUSE, kinda fizzled.

Yes, host Kid Rock and special guest (and reality TV star/model/one-time Playboy pin-up) Kim Kardashian — both paid to be there Sunday night — did show up for the gig. And I thought Kim was particularly sweet during her first visit to Nashville.

And a shout-out to Kid Rock’s Nashville publicist-to-the-stars, Kirt Webster, who hooked up an early interview so we could make deadline.

But about half of the “confirmed” Nashville celebs were no-shows (at least on the red carpet).

That includes Backstreet Boy Nick Carter (in town making a solo album), one-time Titans star Eddie George, model/TV host Niki Taylor and singers Billy Ray Cyrus, Keith Anderson, Jay DeMarcus from Rascal Flatts, Emmylou Harris (can’t really see her in da club anyway), Keith Anderson, Hal Ketchum, Lorrie Morgan, Chuck Wicks (Stealing Cinderella) or Joe Nichols.

And let’s not even talk about the list of alleged “maybe” invitees like Snoop Dogg, Mario Lopez, Whitney Houston or Daily Fuentes. Not one showed, again, not on the red carpet anyway.

Who was there, besides Kid and Kim? Placekicker Rob Bironas and several other Titans; a couple of guys from Lonestar; American Idol alum Diana DeGarmo (looking hot!); Ty Herndon; Intern Adam from 107.5 The River; HGTV personality Sparkle Josh Johnson (who indeed was sparkly); country singer Danielle Peck; Michael Tait (who reports dc Talk is on indefinite hiatus); and Miss America 2004 Erica Dunlap, among others.

Oh, and let’s not forget some News 2 posse, including morning anchor Julie Kroenig, Amy Napier Viteri, Tiani Jones, Stephanie Langston, and others.

More, including lots o’ pictures, coming in later….

UPDATE

I’ve heard from several folks who saw Nick Carter there. I didn’t spot him on the red carpet, but, in fact, the Backstreet Boy was in da house.

Kim Kardashian, Niki Taylor, Billy Ray to be at FUSE

This VIP opening for Gaylord Opryland’s new “Vegas-style club,” FUSE, is getting to be quite the buzz.

Confirmed, fer sure: Kim Kardashian, Niki Taylor, Billy Ray Cyrus, Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus, Eddie George and Backstreet Boy Nick Carter.

And Joe Nichols, Lady Antebellum, American Idol alum Diana DeGarmo, Titans kicker Rob Bironas, Chuck Wicks (Stealing Cinderella), Danielle Peck and Lorrie Morgan are confirmed.

But it’s the “maybe” list that’s really interested. Invited and considering:

Snoop Dogg (who just made a country music video with Willie Nelson), Whitney Houston, Mario Lopez, Daisy Fuentes, Gabrielle Union and all the A-list Nashville country singers.

Kid Rock is set to host.

And you’re invited — after 11:30 p.m. Sunday. That’s when the public can come.

3 Doors Down to rock All-Star game’s home run derby

Yes indeed, new Nashville rock band 3 Doors Down, that is.

The guys will play two songs as part of the ome run derby at Yankee Stadium on Monday, the day before the MLB All-Star game.

And yes, that’ll be part of the ESPN coverage of the event.

The guys will do their new single, It’s Not My Time.

Song No. 2 will be 3 Doors Down classic Kryptonite. (If I go crazy, would you still call me Superman?)

‘People’ puts up the first Sara Evans wedding photo

And here it is, courtesy People.com, and Ann Carroll, Jen Cook, Molly Hahn: ThePhotographix.com.

Yes, there is the beautiful pic and, as usual, Sara Evans is on top, yo!

Sara tells People that she and her new hubby, Jay Barker, gathered all their kids and grilled some steaks the day after the wedding.

“We wanted this week to be just us together as a family because next week we go on our honeymoon,” she said.

After that, Sara moves her crew to Birmingham, Ala., where Jay is a sports radio show host.

Worlds collide! Luke Bryan and Joe Dubin hang out

So what would bring together the All My Friends Say singer Luke Bryan with News 2 sportscaster and one-time On the Go personality Joe Dubin?

It’s Nashville, so the obvious answer is a charity event. Today’s annual Ultimate Country Golf Classic raised more than $70,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Kellie Pickler, Keith Bulluck at Music Row Ladies Golf

The Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament is one of the most fun annual fund-raisers in town, with teams of ladies putting on costumes, having some drinks and generally being rowdy. They’ve also managed to raise more than $1 million for United Cerebral Palsy.

These pics were taken today (Monday) at the Old Natchez Country Club in Williamson County. If you see a guy or two in the pics, it’s because they’re allowed to caddy. For a fee, of course.

Sara and Jay got married Saturday at a Franklin farm

Sara Evans got married to her former Alabama star quarterback Saturday night at a Franklin farm near Sara’s house, Sara’s manager confirmed to me today.

People.com broke the story this morning.

Sara wore an ivory silk taffeta Vera Wang gown with a halter neck and Jay Barker, now a Birmingham sports radio personality, wore a Dolce and Gabbana suit.
 
Songwriter Marcus Hummon sang the Rascal Flatts wedding song he co-wrote, God Bless the Broken Road.

We first told you that Christian minister/former Nashville radio personality Joe Beam introduced Sara to Jay, and Beam performed the ceremony.

Mazel tov!

Sara’s peeps say no pics of the wedding are being released yet.

Jessica and Tony were at the wedding together….

I know you’ve been breathlessly following the are-they-or-aren’t-they-broken-up story of Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo.

After all, Nashville’s guys wanna know if they can try their best moves the next time Jessica is in town working on her upcoming country album.

Well, here’s some more info for ya.

People magazine was at the wedding of Jessica’s sis, singer/ex-reality TV star Ashlee Simpson, to rocker Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy.

Yes, there is at least one pic of Jessica and Tony together.

BUT, that may not mean anything. There are reports are that Papa Joe Simpson asked Tony to come to the wedding to be Jess’ date.

So, as usual, I have only served to further muddy the waters.

Jessica/Tony split is supposedly confirmed

The Dallas Morning News is one of a couple of media outlets that swears it has iron-clad sources saying part-time Nashvillian/future country star Jessica Simpson and Dallas QB/Carrie Underwood ex Tony Romo are done.

“After taking several oaths not to divulge my sources, two people close to Tony and Jess have told me that the glam couple is splitsville, kaput, over, put a fork in it,” a Dallas columnist writes.

This comes despite Jessica’s rep tells E! Online on Wednesday: “Not true, not true! I spoke to Jess yesterday and the day before. They are still together.”

And TV’s Extra, which airs right here on News 2, reported Tuesday, after talking to Jess, that split rumors are false.

So who really knows….

I’ll tell ya who. Our very own 10 p.m. news producer extraordinaire, Texas native Denise Killian, who also worked in Dallas for three years. Denise spent enough time around news sources that she SWEARS that her sources KNOW that Jessica and Tony are broken up.

So there! Denise is never wrong.

53 ladies try out to be Titans cheerleaders 2008

The place: City Hall. The noise level: Through the roof.

I got to be one of the 12 judges (yeah, yeah, tough gig, but anything for the community), as did former Titan Benji Olsen. Good times!

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