Country Stars In Starring Roles

Julianne Hough is lined up to co-star in next year’s remake of Footloose says the Hollywood Reporter. She will act alongside Chace Crawford, of Gossip Girl fame, who will play the Kevin Bacon role from the 1984 original. Though some reports say Hough has scheduling conflicts, filming will take place in March 2010 with Paramount Pictures set to turn the production around in time for a June 2010 release. Kenny Ortega (High School Musical) is producing and directing the feature. Hough will play “Ariel Moore,” which originally was cast with actress Lori Singer. At age 11 while living in London, Hough worked as an extra in a Harry Potter film.

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Tim McGraw has a significant role in an upcoming film starring Sandra Bullock. The movie is based on the bestselling novel by Michael Lewis called The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game, which chronicles the life of Ole Miss football player Michael Oher who comes from a hardscrabble background but is helped by an affluent family. McGraw, who will play “Sean Tuohy” in the Nov. 20 release, has been on location in Atlanta recently. He is always searching for new roles he told Women’s Wear Daily. “It’s like finding songs,” he said of the script reading. “You have to have a strong feeling for the role, and of course it has to match up with the time available. But acting makes you better at everything else creative you’re doing. It’s another outlet.” In the article, McGraw also noted that he, Faith and family will be moving into a new home in the Nashville area this fall.

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Willie Nelson has appeared in several movies and was recently honored by the 2009 Maui Film Festival, held June 17-21 in Kahului. The Maverick Award celebrates Nelson’s willingness to speak his mind, stand up for his convictions, and fight to protect the freedom of artistic and political expression. His new album American Classic, a collection of standards, will be released Aug. 25.