WQSB Blog

As devastating as the tragic tornado in Oklahoma was, Moore is still home to Toby Keith. “It’s the reason I never moved to Nashville. It’s home. I tried to live other places and always just came back here,” Keith told NBC News on Tuesday (May 21). “I’m very proud to have my name on that water tower.” He also pointed out some of the highlights of the town — like the grocery store on the corner where he got his baseball cards and the bike run down Fourth Street — as he explained why Moore was so special and so resilient. “You see people pitching in and helping the second that it hit,” he said of the tornado. “My son-in-law went right in, turned his truck over getting in there, gets electrocuted climbing in the school, the EMT guys pull him out of there and tend to him, and then he goes right back in and helps with search and rescue. Everybody’s like that.”

Keith also talked with Anderson Cooper and said that the Plaza Towers Elementary School did everything they could to protect the students. “Everyone here [in Nashville] was going, ‘How do you live there? How did they leave those kids in school?’ It’s coming right at us, and you can’t call the parents and say, ‘Come get them now,’” he said. “Oklahoma’s just so resilient, they did the best they could.”

Blake Clark
blake@wqsb.com

Told from an insider’s perspective, the Lifetime TV network will debut Ring of Fire, starring singer-songwriter Jewel as June Carter Cash, on Monday May 27 at 8 p.m. Based on Anchored in Love: An Intimate Portrait of June Carter Cash, by John Carter Cash, the made-for-television film details June’s life, beginning with her rural upbringing in Virginia through her iconic marriage to Johnny Cash.

Matt Ross (American Horror Story, Big Love) plays Johnny, but the film really centers on Jewel’s portrayal of June, featuring her early days performing with The Carter Family and the trials and triumphs of going solo. It features slightly edgy looks at June’s first two marriages, her interaction with her family, with nods to her equally edgy courtship with Johnny. Her heroic help in saving Johnny from his demons and her faith in God is also included in the production.

Shot in Atlanta last summer, Ring of Fire also stars actress Frances Conroy as June’s mother Maybelle, and John Doe of rock band X portrays her uncle, A.P. Carter. Real-life siblings The Peasall Sisters are also on board, playing the Carter Sisters.

Jewel, known to country and pop fans for her impressive string of hit singles and best-selling albums, is also an accomplished poet and writer. Last September, she released That’s What I’d Do, an inspirational children’s book, based on her song “What I’d Do.” After her tour this summer, Jewel will return to her home in Stephenville, Texas, to the ranch where she lives with her World Champion bull-riding superstar husband Ty Murray, and their baby, Kase Townes Murray.

Rod Sisco
rodsisco@wqsb.com

As the tragic news of the tornado near Oklahoma City keeps pouring in, the prayers from country stars keep pouring out. Artists are on Twitter and Facebook sending out condolences — and getting the word out about ways we can all help — to everyone affected by the devastating storms on Monday (May 20).

Miranda Lambert, who lives about two hours south of where the tornado hit, was one of the first to tweet her simple thoughts: “Pray. That’s all we can do. Pray for peace for Oklahoma.” Her husband, Oklahoma native Blake Shelton, had completed a flight to the West Coast when he heard of the tragedy. “Just landed in LA and hearing about all the tornados in Oklahoma right now,” he tweeted. “Get somewhere safe!!!”

Other Oklahoma natives offered messages.

“All my prayers go out to the folks in Oklahoma dealing with these tornados,” Reba McEntire wrote. “Stay safe everyone!!!!”

“Hometown got hit for the gazillionth time,” Toby Keith observed. “Rise again Moore, Oklahoma. Godspeed. Prayin — T.”

Carrie Underwood took two tweets to share her concern.

“Growing up in tornado alley, you always know what could happen,” she tweeted. “It doesn’t change how devastating it is when something does happen. #pray.” She later wrote, “I’m thinking about and praying for my beautiful home state and the people in it tonight.”

Other stars who have sent out thoughts and prayers:

Dierks Bentley: “heart goes out to the folks in moore and oklahoma. #prayforoklahoma.”

Sara Evans: “Oh Dear Lord! My heart is broken for Oklahoma! I’m praying for you. Words cannot even begin to say how sorry I am for you.”

Darius Rucker: “Everybody pray for and do what u can for the folks in Oklahoma.”

Ronnie Dunn: “We got out just before it hit. Those poor people. We will help when and where we can.”

Martina McBride: “Watching this Oklahoma footage. So sad and scary. #prayersforoklahoma”

Joe Don Rooney: “My thoughts & prayers are with my home state of Oklahoma. May God’s love & grace be with all affected by these horrible storms.”

Willie Nelson: “Add’l ways to help & donate to OK text STORM to 80888 for Salvation Army REDCROSS to 90999 FOOD to 32333 for Regional Food Bank #OKTornado.”

Blake Clark
blake@wqsb.com

Darius Ruckers’s latest album, “True Believers” hits stores today!

In addition to his appearance this morning on Good Morning America, he’ll also perform tonight on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

I love Darius Rucker, whose with me?

Mary Kate   mary@wqsb.com

 

Our hearts and prayers go out to the state of Oklahoma.

People who wish to make a donation can support American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps provide food, shelter and emotional support to those affected by disasters like the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas as well as disasters big and small throughout the United States by visiting redcross.org, dialing 1-800-REDCROSS or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

 

 

 

Trace Adkins won the first all-star season of Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice Sunday night (May 19), edging out Las Vegas magician Penn Jillette in a finale that turned out to be a love-fest between the two finalists.

Penn said that Trace has dignity and respect for other people.

“Penn Jillette has dignity and integrity,” Trace said on the show before the winner was revealed. ”He’s a gentleman who played a clean game.”

Trace didn’t feel that way about the British media personality who beat him in the show’s finale five years ago. “I really can’t stand Piers Morgan,” the country star told Trump in the final interview.

Trace defeated Penn in creating and marketing an ice cream flavor for a pharmacy chain, an effort that included a VIP fundraiser party. With his fundraiser, Trace raked in more than $564,000 for the American Red Cross with the help of country stars Wynonna and Thompson Square. He also called on former NY Jets quarterback Tim Tebow to help out . . . and he did. Tim brought a check for $100,000. But unfortunately he was late with the money and it didn’t count toward Traces’s fundraiser tally.

The win earned Trace another $250,000 for the Red Cross, bringing the total donations to more than $1.5 million.

Trace is expected to be on Jimmy Fallon’s late-night TV talk show Monday night (May 20) to talk about the win.

Rod Sisco
rodsisco@wqsb.com

WQSB was proud to broadcast live from Donehoo Elementary School in Gadsden Saturday morning for Impact Gadsden 2013!

If your interested in learning more about Impact Gadsden or would like to volunteer, visit www.fumcgadsden.org/impactgadsden.

Mary Kate   mary@wqsb.com

 

 

 

 

Former NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Richard “Dick” Trickle, 71, died today (Thursday 5/16).

According to a release from the Lincoln County (NC) Sheriff’s Office, Trickle died from an apparent self-inflicted gun shot wound.

The incident occurred at 12:02 p.m. ET at Forest Lawn Cemetery on Highway 150 East in Boger City.

The release states that the Lincoln County Communications Center received a call apparently from the victim that “there would be a dead body and it would be his.” Communications Center workers tried to place a return call to the number but did not get an answer.

The first emergency units arriving on the scene located the body lying near the victim’s pickup truck.

Trickle was a Lincoln County resident and had lived there since the early 1990′s.

Trickle made 303 Cup starts from 1970-2002. He earned 36 top-10 finishes, 15 of them top fives.

Rod Sisco
rodsisco@wqsb.com

I’ve heard of going the distance to get an autograph but this is a bit much.

An obsessed Taylor Swift fan was arrested near the singer’s Rhode Island beach home early Wednesday morning after allegedly SWIMMING to her house.

 Here’s the back story- around 2:20 a.m. Wednesday (5-15), cops spotted a man getting out of the ocean, around 1 mile from Swift’s home. Cops approached the guy and asked him what he was doing in the water and the man allegedly told police he had just completed a swim, in which he intended to meet Swift. Reports say the man told cops he swam all the way to Swift’s beach, but saw her security team and decided to swim back to where he came from (roughly 2 miles round trip in cold water). The man was hauled to a nearby police station where he was booked for trespassing. He’s still in custody. We spoke to the Westerly Police Dept. which tells us, “There is a zero tolerance policy for trespassers.” The cops say they have already met with Taylor’s security to discuss the matter.

Wow.

Mary Kate  mary@wqsb.com

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Statistics show that 64% of people who have mental health issues don’t seek help.

If you or someone you know might need help, visit the Mountain Lakes Behavioral Healthcare webpage at www.mlbhc.com

Mary Kate   mary@wqsb.com