Looks like four-time Grammy winner Carrie Underwood will give her fans more of what they love with her very own variety special! Carrie-lovers can tune in on December 7 on the very method they came to love her: television.

Before the fame, Carrie Underwood was raised in Checotah, Oklahoma, on her family’s farm. It wasn’t long before she was performing at talent shows and the local Baptist church. By 1996, she was signing a deal with Capitol Records, which unfortunately was canceled due to management changes at the label.

Carrie went on to focus on her studies and graduated from Checotah High School as their 2001 salutatorian. She then attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and an emphasis in journalism. Although her studies were her main priority, she performed summers in her college’s Downtown Country shows, beauty pageants, and even won Miss NSU runner-up in 2004.

2004 was also the year that Carrie auditioned for American Idol, the vehicle that marked the beginning of her success. After winning the fourth season of the show, she went on to release albums Some Hearts and Carnival Ride.

Her third album will be released on Arista Nashville and is reported to be named Play On. No doubt that Carrie fans will be waiting for the November 3 release date!

[photo: Jyle Dupuis]

Who is your favorite American Idol winner?

Paris Hilton may have been born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but she’s no less grateful for the return of most of her jewelry, stolen when her house was robbed in December of 2008. Think Paris is just another party girl, famous for doing nothing? Learn more about how this cute kid has been making her own way since childhood.

Paris Hilton was born in New York City into the family who founded the Hilton Hotels. Her child modeling career began with charity events but, as a teen model, she signed with Donald Trump’s modeling agency, T Management. She’s also worked with modeling agencies such as Ford Models, Models 1 Agency, Nous Model Management, and Premier Model Management. I wonder if Paris’ cute kid looks would have gotten her far in the GAP baby and kids casting call, currently underway? (See http://www.thecutekid.com/casting-calls.php for more info.)

Paris attended many schools during her high school career, including Marywood-Palm Valley School, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Dwight School, and Canterbury Boarding School, eventually earning her GED.

Her acting credits can be attributed to several cameos, although Paris has come to earn the respect of the directors she’s worked with in minor and supporting roles in films such as Nine Lives, Raising Helen, and House of Wax. Her most recent film credit can be seen in Repo! The Genetic Opera as Amber Sweet.

Paris is no stranger to reality TV either. Her series The Simple Life with friend Nicole Richie lasted several seasons, but the strained relationship between the two led Paris to reality shows of her own, starting with Paris Hilton’s My New BFF.

Paris also conquered the music world, founding Heiress Records, a sub-label of Warner Bros. Records, to drop her self-titled album called Paris. Whether or not you think she can sing, act, or model, she’s had no problem keeping her status with the cream of the crop both in and out of the tabloids.

[photo: © Glenn Francis, www.PacificProDigital.com]

Do you think that Paris Hilton is model material or in the business because her family knows the right people?

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz may be seeing her character Violet on Melrose Place coming to an end, but it’s not because of any lack of acting ability. Producers have praised Ashlee for her talent… which could mean more acting for the dancer turned actress turned singer turned wife and now mom. But Melrose Place wasn’t her first TV role.

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz was born in Waco, Texas, and began studying ballet at only three years old. She attended Prairie Creek Elementary in Richardson, Texas, but was accepted in the School of American Ballet in New York City by the time she was 11-years-old.

After sister Jessica Simpson signed a record deal, the family moved to Los Angeles, California, where Ashlee became one of Jessica’s back-up dancers, but also began landing roles in commercials. Her newfound acting career began to blossom as she appeared on shows like Malcolm in the Middle and 7^th Heaven. Her film credits include the movie The Hot Chick and an independent film called Undiscovered.

Following the success of her sister’s music career, Ashlee began a career of her own in music with Christmas songs and movie soundtrack titles, and finally signed a deal with Geffen Records.

Documenting the launch of her first music album was the reality-TV show The Ashlee Simpson Show, which lasted two seasons. Albums Autobiography and I Am Me both debuted at number one, proving her a vocalist in her own right. However, a botched appearance as a music guest on Saturday Night Live made the public question her talents as she was “caught” lip synching.

Her third album, Bittersweet World, was produced with such talents as Timbaland, Kenna, and Chad Hugo, but Ashlee has since put her musical career on hiatus with the birth of her son.

She has, however, appeared in commercials for Canadian retailer Zellers and, until her character officially exits the show, plays Violet on the new Melrose Place. Once her role has ended, there’s no telling which talent Ashlee with pull out of her bag of tricks. Although her posts and pictures on Twitter will confirm that she’s most proud of her role as a mommy.

[photo: Glenn Francis]

Did you write off Ashlee Simpson as a singer following her disastrous appearance on Saturday Night Live?

The 2009 Spike Scream Awards aren’t scheduled to air on Spike TV until October 27, but you don’t have to wait until then to see smokin’ hot Megan Fox when she was a teenager! Unibrow? Perhaps she might not have won the CuteKid Halloween contest (it is free to enter and the grand prize is $500), but never mind her awkward years, this brunette model turned actress is now topping all the “hottest women” lists in men’s magazines everywhere.

Megan Fox was born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and began taking classes in dance and drama at the Kingston, Tennessee, community center by the time she was five years old. She was a member of the Kingston Elementary School chorus and Kingston Clippers swim team, but by the time she was 10, she moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. When she was 13 years old, Megan became a teen model, thanks to her wins at the 1999 American Modeling and Talent Convention in South Carolina. She attended middle school at a private school called Morningside Academy and St. Lucie West Centennial High School to complete her education.

During her high school career, Megan made her acting debut in a movie called Holiday in the Sun, but her major film debut came with Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. Although several TV  roles, including ABC sitcom Hope & Faith, boosted her career, it was the movie Transformers where she played the character Mikaela Banes that rocketed her career into the Hollywood limelight. Most recently, she held the leading role in Jennifer’s Body and is working on a project called Jonah Hex. It’s her modeling roots, combined with her Transformer character Mikaela that will keep her in the lockers and as the screen saver of teen boys and men long after her movies have gone to video.

Do you think Megan Fox’s comments about the unimportance of an education make her a bad role model?

[photo: Bruce Moyle]

It seems that Pamela Anderson is catching some flack for her nine-year-old girl “accessory” at the Hollywood Style Awards on October 11. It is reported that the little girl carrying Pam’s dress train on the red carpet was her make-up artist’s daughter, who not only had her mom’s permission to walk but wanted to do so eagerly. Looks like the tabloids will have to find another angle to bash poor Pam for!

Model, actress, and author Pamela Anderson was born in Ladysmith, British Columbia. She was thought to be the first baby born on Canada’s Centennial Day (giving her the title “Centennial Baby”) but her fame was short lived as another baby was reported to be born on the same day but earlier.

Pam moved to Vancouver, Canada after graduating from Highland Secondary School to work as a fitness instructor. At a BC Lions game, her stadium-screen attention for a Labatt T-shirt led to a modeling contract with Labatt at age 21. The same year, she posed for Playboy magazine and moved to Los Angeles to further her career.

Her first acting gig was as the “Tool Time girl” on the TV show Home Improvement. She went on to play C.J. Parker on the television show Baywatch which rocketed her star into the Hollywood limelight. Pam tried her luck on the big screen with the movie Barb Wire in the role of Barbara Rose Kopetski, but she had better success when she returned to the television audience as Vallery Irons in the show V.I.P.

Pam co-wrote two books, Star and Star Struck, and even boasted her own reality TV show Pam: Girl on the Loose. Despite her rocky (and very public) love life, she’ll always be known to fans as the lifeguard in the red bathing suit, C.J.

[photo: Glenn Francis]

What message is Pam sending with her underage fashion accessory at the fashion awards?

It looks like Rihanna has Katy Perry as a Fashion Week pal in Paris. The two were spotted hanging at the Karl Lagerfeld fashion show this week, looking chummy. Rihanna has shown an interest in acting by taking classes recently, but perhaps this Barbados-born singer will make the catwalk her next big success!

Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty in Saint Michael, Barbados, attended Charles F. Broome Memorial School and Combermere School in Barbados. At 15 years old, she formed a musical trio with two of her classmates. Friends introduced the trio to record producer Evan Rogers, and Rihanna and her mother spent the next year traveling back and forth between the U.S. and Barbados.

Before relocating to the U.S. at age 16, Rihanna tried her hat as a teen model and won the Miss Combermere Beauty Pageant and was an army cadet with the military of Barbados. But, it was clear that music was where she belonged.

Under Rogers’ support, she auditioned for Jay-Z, who was head of Def Jam Recordings at the time. The audition landed her a contract and she’s worked with producers such as Carl Sturken, Stargate, J.R. Rotem, Ne-Yo, Timbaland, and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, and continues to enjoy her success.

Do you think that teens are influenced by how stars like Rihanna handle their personal turmoil, such as her serious issues with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown?

[Photo: Gemma Mary]

Alternative rock star Marilyn Manson isn’t rocking anything except the swine flu these days. Although the possibility still remains that this report may be a ploy for attention, like his extreme style choices and shocking persona, he reports on his Facebook page that it has been confirmed by a “real doctor.” Let’s hope his recovery is as successful as his career!

Marilyn Manson was born in Canton, Ohio with the moniker Brian Hugh Warner before taking on the persona of the rock star he’s known as today. He attended Heritage Christian School, Cardinal Gibbons High School in Florida, and Broward Community College. While earning a degree in journalism, he wrote music articles for lifestyle magazine 25^th Parallel to gain experience.

He soon formed the band Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids (soon shortened to Marilyn Manson), along with two other small band projects along the way. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails noticed the band and produced Marilyn Manson’s first album, titled Portrait of an American Family on Nothing Records label. The band gathered a cult-like following and continues to have success today.

Music isn’t Marilyn Manson’s only talent. He made his big screen debut in Lost Highway, and continues to enjoy small acting parts and cameos in movies such as Jawbreaker. He also prides himself as an artist, with his first show, The Golden Age of Grotesque, at the Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions Centre.

Now at age 40, this shock rocker continues to enjoy the music scene, is currently working on adding director to his resume with project Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll, and focuses on shaking his case of the swine flu.

Do you let your cute kids listen to this shock rocker? Or is he banned for his extreme lifestyle?

The problem of obesity is a hot topic these days, so it’s about time that Hollywood stars like Renee Zellweger start seeing themselves as examples of good health. It has been reported that Renee will not be gaining weight for her sequel to the Bridget Jones movies; instead she’ll be donning a “fat suit.” Other Hollywood stars should put their foot down, too, and set a good example for their cute kid fan base!

Renee Zellweger was born in Katy, Texas, where she attended school. She actively participated in sports such as soccer and baseball in junior high school, but took up cheerleading, gymnastics, and drama club at Katy High School. She began acting in several school plays and went on to attend the University of Texas at Austin (majoring in English) where she took a drama class to fill her credits requirements. Despite her Dean’s List grades and model student status, she realized her love of acting and began to waitress to support herself.

While still living in Texas, she landed her first acting gig in a beef commercial and began auditioning for roles around the Houston area. Renee appeared in several films such as A Taste for Killing and 8 Seconds, but her first major movie role came with her part in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation.

Renee moved to Los Angeles, California, and won roles in movies such as Empire Records and her career-boosting role in Jerry Maguire. In 2008, she produced Living Proof on Lifetime Television, but movies such as Bridget Jones’s Diary, Chicago, Cold Mountain, and her latest film My One and Only continue to secure her place in Hollywood.

[photo: AP Photo/Peter Kramer]

Do you feel that actors and actresses gaining weight for movie roles sets a bad example for today’s children?

Jude Law’s fourth child is due in a month’s time, and baby’s mommy Samantha Burke — who he is no longer dating — is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her bundle of joy. Luckily, Jude is more known for his ability to act, and less for his personal infidelity.

Jude Law was born in Lewisham, South London. He attended school at John Ball Primary School in Blackheath and Kidbrooke School in Kidbrooke. Jude spent his high school years at Alleyn’s School in Dulwich. By age 15, he was on stage acting with the National Youth Music Theatre, earning him several awards for his performances.

Jude soon found his way to Broadway, where he earned a Tony Award nomination and the Theatre World Award. Jude also dabbled in television with a movie, series, and soap opera roles, until his break-through role on the big screen in the movie Wilde. Movies such as Gattaca, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and Road to Perdition secured his place in Hollywood among the stars.

Acting, directing, and producing have kept Jude’s resume filled with projects, both stateside and abroad, and he’s even found time to be the face of Dior. Now with fatherhood just around the corner once again, let’s hope that he makes time for his most important role as Daddy.

Do Jude Law’s indiscretions affect your view of him as an actor?

According to hubby Dean McDermott’s Twitter page, Tori Spelling has been readmitted to the hospital this week for continued stomach pains. Earlier in the week, Tori was admitted to the hospital, then released, but has returned for further tests to pinpoint what’s causing her severe stomach pains. Wishing a speedy recovery for the famed 90210 star!

Victoria Davey “Tori” Spelling was born in Los Angeles, California, to proud parents. As the daughter of the super-famous and powerful TV producer Aaron Spelling, Tori was born with one toe in the Hollywood spotlight.  It is no surprise that she had guest spots on shows such as The Love Boat, T.J. Hooker, and Fantasy Island at such a young age.

But before she was known as Donna Martin on the show produced by her father, Beverly Hills, 90210, she attended Beverly Hills High School before graduating from Harvard-Westlake School. Tori’s career then saw a period of made-for-TV movies before the 90210 series ended and she starred in many independent films.

Now the mother of two, Tori is better known as a reality TV star, with shows such as So NoTORIous (a sitcom starring as herself), Tori & Dean: Inn Love, and Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood. Although she didn’t have a hard time making her way onto the Hollywood scene, she’s managed to stay in the spotlight with the help of the reality TV trend.

Tori: better as an actress or reality star?