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Chesney Urged Fan Support But Criticizes ACM Voting

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 20, 2008

Kenny Chesney may not have wanted online voters to decide one of country music's top awards, but he still asked his fans to click for him.

Chesney criticized the process Sunday night after his supporters propelled him to a fourth straight entertainer of the year win at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

"I don't think it's right that they pick the one award that means the most, that all the artists sacrifice the most for," Chesney told reporters backstage after thanking fans for voting for him as he accepted the award onstage.

But that didn't mean Chesney hadn't played along. His MySpace page still carried a large banner Monday urging fans to "bring it home for KC," with links to the academy's online page and messages from fans lower on the page.

The page also included a May 1 posting urging fans to vote, with a video of Chesney saying that awards are important for history's sake - so people can see what musicians had accomplished.

Like, Speak Properly, McCullough Urges

Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough has a suggestion for what young people can do for their country.

"Please, please do what you can to cure the verbal virus that seems increasingly rampant among your generation," McCullough implored Boston College's class of 2008 at commencement ceremonies Monday.

He said he's particularly troubled by the "relentless, wearisome use of words" such as like, awesome and actually.

"Just imagine if in his inaugural address John F. Kennedy had said, 'Ask not what your country can, you know, do for you, but what you can, like, do for your country actually," he said.

Takei Plans To Marry Longtime Partner
First it was Ellen DeGeneres. Now George Takei wants to take advantage of California's gay marriage laws and tie the knot with his longtime partner Brad Altman.

"Our California dream is reality. Brad Altman and I can now marry," the 71-year-old "Star Trek" actor posted on his Web site Friday. "We are overjoyed! At long last, the barrier to full marriage rights for same-sex couples has been torn down. We are equal with all citizens of our state!"

Sutherland's Divorce Is Officially Final

Stop the marriage clock: Kiefer Sutherland is officially divorced.

A divorce judgment was filed Friday for the "24" actor and wife Elizabeth Kelly Winn, according to court documents.

Sutherland, 41, filed for divorce from his wife of nearly eight years in 2004, citing irreconcilable differences.

Today's Birthdays

Singer Joe Cocker is 64. Singer-actress Cher is 62. Actor Dean Butler is 52. Ron Reagan is 50. Actor Bronson Pinchot is 49. TV personality Ted Allen is 43. Actor Timothy Olyphant is 40. Rapper Busta Rhymes is 36. Actor Matt Czuchry is 31.

Sources: Associated Press, Zap2it

CORRECTIONS

It is the policy of The Tampa Tribune to correct all errors of fact. To report an error, call (813) 259-7600 or e-mail news@tampatrib .com.

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