News Headlines

November 2002

Page 10

• Click on story below:

• Nick Carter Surprises Wish Kids

• Carters thrill students at Poinciana

• No chance of a split: Backstreet's back!

• The Backstreet Baby

• Carters thrill students at Poinciana      back up
  Source: Keynews.com
  
  By: J.J. HYSELL 
  KEY WEST -- The questions posed to pop singing stars Nick and Aaron Carter by Poinciana Elementary school students Thursday weren't your usual television talk show-style inquiries. 
  But they gave the students and faculty -- who long-anticipated the impromptu visit from the Carters and popular teen girl group No Secrets -- an inside look at the Keys' most famous hometown heroes of the entertainment world. 
  "Do you know my sister Debbie?" 
  "What kind of car do you drive?" 
  "Do you guys play football?" 
  "Can you sign these for the ladies in the office?" 
  The Carters appeared to take it all in stride -- even the tall young man who disavowed any hint of idolatry. 
  "This isn't for me, really. It's for my sister," he said as he nonchalantly handed Backstreet Boy Nick Carter a sheet of paper to be autographed. 
  No shriek was left unheard when the blonde brothers made a splashy entrance through the side door of the school auditorium. They arrived at the height of lunchtime, and many students abandoned their forks and turned away from their plates to battle for a good glimpse at the teen idols. 
  One by one, anxious students filed across the stage where Nick, decked out in a white T-shirt and navy board shorts, and a Hawaiian-print T-shirt-clad Aaron sat, posing for pictures and engraving their John Hancock on a myriad of paraphernalia. There were the usual yearbooks, pictures and T-shirts, and then there were the collectibles that elicited a smile from Nick -- such as the faded leather football that appeared to have seen generations and the worn-paged "Captain Underpants" book that belonged to 8-year-old India Rojas. 
  "We like reaching out to everybody who likes our music," Nick Carter said. 
  The fact that the Carters had to leave the 45-minute autograph session early didn't trouble Marquis Roberts. He enjoyed meeting No Secrets, a four-member group of young ladies who have made a name for themselves on the Disney Channel. 
  Jade, a member of No Secrets, said the outpouring of support from the young fans was "overwhelming." Devotees gave the group gifts such as candy and teddy bears adorned with sweaters toned in their favorite colors. 
  "It's so nice that they took the time to do that," she said. "They're so young and so cute." 
  The word for the day at Poinciana must have been "cute" as girls, asked to describe why they so adored Aaron and Nick, didn't hesitate to use it often. Third-grader Margarita Monogyios, 9, held a poster of Aaron as she waited for her chance to meet the young star. When asked what she wished to tell him, she said, "I wish he would come to our school every day." 
  Lauren Foltz, 7, boasts a slew of CDs and posters, and said she wishes she could ride in Aaron's limousine. 
  "It takes us back to this level," Aaron Carter said. "We used to be here in the same position." 
  The elation wasn't limited to schoolchildren. Third-grade teacher Kim Knowles took her place in line beside her students and captured a special memento -- a group picture of her class autographed by the teen stars -- along with, well, an autograph for herself. 
  "This is one of the most exciting things to happen for young people in our community," she said. "They are role models for the kids." 

• No chance of a split: Backstreet's back!     back up
  Source: Tennessean.com 
  
  From the Entertainment - Celebrities section: 
  I know you're incredibly frightened that boy band The Backstreet Boys might be splitting up. 
  After all, they haven't put out an album of new music since 2000's Black & Blue. And now the Boys are suing their record label, Jive Records, to get out of their deal. 
  The Boys are particularly peeved because they feel they were blocked from putting out new music because the label was so busy launching Nick Carter's solo album. 
  Is this the beginning of the end for Boys? Will they be tearing up our hearts? 
  ''Definitely not,'' says Nashville entertainment lawyer Jordan Keller, who represents Backstreet Boys (and Kentucky natives) Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson. ''They're writing and ready to go.'' 
  Jordan says the label drove a wedge between Nick and the rest of the Boys, but, Jordan adds, ''The boys have since shaken hands and said, 'Hey, let's move on and do this.' '' 
  They just hope to do it on another label. Stay tuned. 

• The Backstreet Baby    back up
  Source: E! Online
  
  By: Marcus Errico 
  Meet the newest Backstreet Boy: Baylee Thomas Wylee Littrell. 
  
  Baby Baylee, the spawn of Backstreeter Brian Littrell and wife Leighanne, made his grand entrance Tuesday at 7:41 p.m. in Atlanta, tipping the scales at 6 pounds, 7 ounces. 
  According to band spokeswoman Sonia Muckle, "both Mom and baby are doing well." 
  In a brief statement, the newbie parents said, "God has blessed our family in so many ways, and we are proud and very excited to welcome our new healthy baby boy into the world." 
  Littrell, 27, becomes the first Backstreeter with his very own brood. 
  He and Wallace, 33, have been married for two years. They met while shooting the band's 1997 video "As Long As You Love Me," in which she was an extra. 
  She has also appeared in such TV series as Silk Stalkings and One Life to Live. They became engaged in 1999 and reside in suburban Atlanta. 
  His bandmate (and cousin) Kevin Richardson is the only other married Backstreeter, tying the knot with dancer Kristin Willits just three months before Littrell. 
  A third member, A.J. McLean, will tip the Backstreet balance from bachelor- to hitched-heavy in January, when he's scheduled to walk the aisle with his steady, singer Sarah Jo Martin. The two became engaged last December. 
  Nick Carter and Howie Dorough are the remaining unbetrothed Boys. 
  Aside from making babies, Littrell has been plotting two big projects with his bandmates: the follow-up to 2000's Black & Blue and a just-filed $100 million lawsuit against their record company seeking to void their contract. 

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