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THE BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES

On top of celebrating the release of their second album, "A Touch of Someone Else's Class," keyboardist John Wesley Myers and Louisville, Ky.-based drummer Van Campbell have been touring heavily around the world.

"This has been a pretty intense year," Myers said. "We've been to England three times, Ireland twice and Scotland twice. We went over to Europe and did five countries (France, Belgium, Holland and Spain) there and just got back last night from Australia."

Considering 2007 was almost as busy, they're starting to feel the strain of the road, but the rewards of their work have been plentiful, Myers said.

Since its release in June, the album, which was engineered and produced by Black Keys guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach, has been doing really well.

"(In Australia) it's even making it on some Top 40 because we have a cover on it of 'Nutbush City Limits' by Tina Turner, which is huge there," Myers said. "They even have their own dance called the nutbush, and everybody knows it."

The Heavies also found time to open two sold-out shows for the Australian rock band, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds in Chicago.

THE BOHANNONS

Marty and Matt Bohannon and Josh Beaver made their international debut this year. They rode The Black Diamond Heavies' coattails across the Atlantic for a nine-date tour of the U.K., including two shows in London at the Dirty Water Club, where the White Stripes and Billy Childish made early career appearances.

The band added drummer Jeremy Edds to the lineup in July.

The plan for next year is for the Brits to return the favor by sending over The Bohannons' musical pen pals, The High Plane Drifters, who they met in Stockton-On-Tees during their last tour. The two bands are planning a tour of the Southeast and Austin, Texas, including potential dates at Austin's annual South by Southwest music festival if the tour comes together soon enough, Marty Bohannon said.

The band has several recording projects in the planning stages and have started work on their second full-length record to follow up 2007's EP "Bright White Light" and their 2006 debut, "Songs of the Disenfranchised."

Alia Crutcher-Zachery

After graduating from Center for Creative Arts in 2000, Alia Crutcher-Zachery "went straight to New York."

She had a job dancing with the Alvin Ailey school before her graduation from Fordham University and has toured all over the United States in the national tour of "Aida."

Crutcher-Zachery performed in the 75th annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular, an experience she described joyfully as "so much fun."

"I met a lot of really, really cool people."

Crutcher-Zachery is trained in classical ballet and continues to take classes but said she mostly performs contemporary or modern dance, including a lot of ground-based work.

She met her husband, dancer and coreographer Andre Zachery, at Ailey. Since April the couple have been under contract with a company in Portugal. Their contract has ended, but Crutcher-Zachery said they plan to return to Portugal and audition throughout Europe. "There are quite a few companies in the Netherlands."

There is a more of a demand for dancers in Europe, she said. "Dance here seems to be one of the least recognized art forms."

CHUCK STILL

Chuck Still says he was no Hepburn buff when he took a job as executive director of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, Conn.

"The thing I liked about the job is where it was," said Still, a Baylor graduate. "I had to become a Hepburn buff. I've made a career out of pro-theater."

He said he ran a theater company in Beryl Beach, Fla., for 10 years and has done repertory work in New England.

The Center, also known as The Kate, is a 250-seat presenting house. Still said the plan is to show films and cabaret. The first floor has been set aside as a museum area.

"Honestly it's not very far along," Still said. He said the goal of the museum is to emphasize Hepburn as a resident of Old Saybrook. "You can see Katharine Hepburn as a movie star anywhere."

Most of the stories he hears, Still said, "are not necessarily stories where she comes off particularly well."

Hepburn was widely known for her brashness and opinionated nature, but, as Still points out, "there's an admiration for that outspokenness" in New England and the Northeast.

Having undergone a crash course in all things Hepburn, Still said he appreciates "The Philadelphia Story," and thinks "Bringing Up Baby" is "kind of fun." His favorite Hepburn movie is 1942's "Woman of the Year," the first of nine films to feature Hepburn's pairing with Spencer Tracy.

Still ponders how the notoriously private actress would respond to the opening of a center in her name.

"I wonder sometimes if she wouldn't be hitting me in the head for us doing this," Still said.

Despite having spent the last decades away from Tennessee, Still says he's from Chattanooga.

"Listen to my voice; I can't hide it," he said. "There are people up here who think you're stupid when you sound like I do, (but) sometimes (my voice is) an advantage. I call agencies in New York, and they recognize my voice."

DENNIS HASKINS

How you know him: Born and raised in Chattanooga, Haskins attended Notre Dame and UTC. He starred in the long-running sitcom "Saved By the Bell" as school principal Mr. Belding.

2008 highlights: "Karaoke With Your Favorite Principal Dennis Haskins aka Mr. Belding" was released this month and features Haskins performing seven karaoke favorites. It also contains the same songs without vocals so fans can sing with Haskins, or on their own. A "making of" DVD is also available.

"I love to sing, and the thing about karaoke is that it is not so much about being the best singer but about having the best time," Haskins said.

2009 plans: "I'm starring in 'National Lampoon's Ratko -- The Dictator's Son' which is being released in February and have completed five films this past year, including another for National Lampoon. My college tour, 'Mr. Belding on Campus,' continues this spring around the country."

George S. Clinton

George S. Clinton is the self-proclaimed "king of ludicrous."

He's composed music for better than 75 films, including some that definitely qualify as ludicrous: Cheech and Chong movies, "Mortal Kombat," "Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanomo Bay" and the direct-to-video series "Red Shoe Diaries."

He's also the man behind the music of Austin Powers and this year enjoyed a dubious reunion with Mike Myers to score "The Love Guru."

On a far prouder note, Clinton joined forces with funk master George Clinton to wish famed record producer Quincy Jones a happy 75th birthday. The two had never met, but upon discovering that Billboard Magazine was orchestrating a tribute to Jones, the two Clintons came together to have a picture made.

Clinton left Chattanooga to go to Middle Tennessee State University in 1965. He's lived in Los Angeles since 1969 but still calls Chattanooga home.

A friend of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, Clinton conducted the Shagadelic Suite as part of the Pops "Hooray for Hollywood" celebration. In the past he has participated in the annual "Home for the Holidays" concert.

"I'm a huge fan of Bob Bernhardt (CSO conductor Robert Bernhardt). I heard he was stepping down. He's a great conductor."

Coming up, Clinton has been working with another Chattanoogan, Sherry Landrum on a musical titled "That Other Woman's Child." The work, according to Clinton, has been accepted at the New Musical Festival in New York.

LESLIE JORDAN

How you know him: Jordan won an Emmy in 2006 for his recurring role as Beverley Leslie on "Will & Grace," the socialite archnemesis of Karen Walker, played by Megan Mullally.

The graduate of Brainerd High School and UTC has had guest roles on more than 55 television sitcoms and dramas, played cross-dressing Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram in the "Sordid Lives" movie and television series, and voices the cartoon character Mr. Beauregard in "American Dad."

2008 highlights: Jordan's long-awaited memoirs, "My Trip Down the Pink Carpet" (Simon & Schuster), came out June 3, selling 3,000 copies its first two months in stores.

Instead of doing just a standard book tour of signings, Jordan capitalized on his acting talent.

"I put the book on its feet and made it into a one-man show and took it in a big, tricked-out, Loretta Lynn-worthy tour bus to 45 cities," Jordan said in a phone interview from Los Angeles.

The good news: Jordan's book tour played to sold-out houses.

The bad news: "The big ol' bus cost $700 a day to fill up with gas," he quipped.

In July, Jordan reprised his iconic character, Brother Boy, in "Sordid Lives, the Series" on the Logo Channel. In the premiere, Jordan played opposite Georgette Jones, who played the ghost of her mother, the late Tammy Wynette. Jones appeared to Brother Boy in a dream asking him to carry on the Wynette legacy.

The actor also had a cameo in the fall on two episodes of the CW Network's new sitcom, "Privileged," playing Dale Dart.

Plans for 2009: Jordan's one-man show was filmed during the book stop in Atlanta, directed by Amanda Bearse, who played Marcie the next-door neighbor on "Married With Children." His goal is to get the show onstage in New York City.

"I'm looking forward to opening the show off-Broadway this spring. We're looking at an April 26 opening. The producers are out here now to see performances," he said.

Logan Manus

This Chatsworth, Ga., native was the principal in a Royal Bank of Scotland commercial for the U.S. Open this past summer and is in post-production for Will Ferrell's latest film, according to Ambiance Models and Talent in Chattanooga, where he received his initial training.

This past summer he also was featured in Ferrell's "Step Brothers," and he has completed filming for "Stacy's Mom," which co-stars Dennis Haskins.

The young actor also has appeared on television's "Zoey 101" and done voice work for "Under Dog," "Bad News Bears," "August Rush," "You, Me and Dupree," "The Triangle" and Zone energy bars.

Montego Glover

A graduate of Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences, this actress and singer has had a busy year, including singing for Barack Obama as a member of Broadway International Voices. Here are a few highlights from her Web site, www.montegoglover.com.

Theater: She played her last Broadway performance of "The Color Purple" on Feb. 24, 2008. "I spent one and a half years playing the roles of Celie and Nettie in this amazing story," she says.

Television: She voiced her first character for Nick Jr.'s "Go Diego Go" for an episode expected to air in early 2009.

"Very exciting," she says. "I play a giraffe who helps Diego and Hippo see over very tall grass."

She was featured in the season finale of "Law & Order." One of her scenes is included in the two-minute replay of the episode online at nbc.com.

She also has been featured on commercials for Subway (the $5 Footlong Forecaster), Charmin (bears with bath tissue) and Wishbone (her voice extolling the joys of Bountiful salad dressing).

Video games: After debuting on "Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron" as Tionne, the Jedi archivist, she completed her second project for the video-game series this year. For "Star Wars: The Old Republic," she voices two characters: Ambassador Asara, a diplomat of the Republic on a mission for peace; and Vye, a Correllian bounty hounter and gangster set on revenge for the death of her brother.

Radio: Her voice is featured on radio ads for Bank of America, Verizon Wireless, Toyota certified used vehicles and Green Mountain Coffee.

SHERRY LANDRUM AND REX KNOWLES

The husband and wife direct the Repertory Theatre and the Professional Actor Training Program at Chattanooga State Technical Community College.

The musical co-written by Landrum and Brainerd High School alumnus George S. Clinton, "That Other Woman's Child," was accepted to the annual New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Festival Executive Director Isaac Robert Hurwitz said more than 400 playwrights across the country submitted entries, and 24 were accepted.

Landrum, Knowles and three more Chattanoogans spent the month of September in New York rehearsing for six shows that opened Sept. 29.

"We had a wonderful time. We had a great show that was an audience pleaser. We got standing ovations at every performance," Knowles said. "Some people came back three times out of the six shows.

"New York audiences, at least those who came to the festival, really embraced the show and had a good time."

Knowles said they are investigating a couple of places for further performances, such as regional theaters as well as places like Branson, Mo., or Pigeon Forge, Tenn. "We made a trip to Branson a week ago to investigate that possibility, and are heading to Pigeon Forge in a couple of weeks."

Lisa Robertson

Online: Hear Lisa Robertson describe working with Donald Trump.

How you know her: Any day of the week, Lisa Robertson's face is beamed into as many as 94 million U.S. households on electronic shopping giant QVC, where she has been an on-air hostess for 13 years.

The Southern Adventist University alumna has become QVC's go-to girl, chosen to introduce new lines, represent the channel on live remotes at locations from New York City's Bryant Park to Vicenza, Italy, and even play "Celebrity Apprentice" when Donald Trump's reality competition held a sales challenge in the studio.

Robertson began her sales career at two Knoxville shopping channels, VIA-TV, then Shop at Home. She was Miss Tennessee 1989 and U.S. Pearl Princess 1990. And did you know she is an accomplished classical violinist?

Jack Comstock, vice president of talent for QVC, said, "Lisa's natural charm, wit, intelligence, humor and beauty not only make her someone our viewers enjoy and trust but someone they love to shop with."

Even company heads recognize Robertson's seal of approval is golden for sales: Bare Escentuals founder Leslie Blodgett created two cosmetics sets bearing her name: "Lisa's Favorites" and Lisa's Day Off."

2008 highlights: Broadcast live from Italy, launched "Posh in the Park" from Bryant Park, introduced new lines such as Brighton accessories and Shu uemura cosmetics, was the QVC celebrity paired with singer Trace Adkins on Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice."

"We had such a great time when 'Celebrity Apprentice' came," said Robertson in a phone interview. "Trace Adkins, who has a voice that is so fabulous, was just fantastic to work with."

Which of the products she pitches does she personally use?

"How long is this article going to be?" she quipped.

"I use a lot of our products. I wear a lot of our jewelry: Robert Lee Morris, Michael Dawkins, Judith Ripka and some Joan Rivers pieces. I always use Philosophy cleanser and eye moisturizer, Dr. Denese Hydroshield and Bare Escentuals foundation. Shu uemura is my new favorite mascara. It's like being a kid in the candy store."

Plans for 2009: Tune in New Year's Eve and catch Robertson broadcasting live from a Viennese palace in Austria.

She'll also be doing remotes from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City in February and return to Italy for sales of Italian gold.

"This is a job where I feel very lucky because the vast majority of people I meet are kind and wonderful. Whether I'm talking (to a shopper) on the phone in the studio or saying hi at the grocery store, it's almost like having met everyone instead of meeting someone for the first time. They spend a lot of time with you."

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

How you know him: Jackson made "Guinness: World Records 2009" for passing up Harrison Ford to become the world's highest-grossing actor. According to the book, Jackson's 68 film roles have grossed $7.42 billion. He was rewarded for this distinction as the honoree of the 23rd annual American Cinematheque Awards in November. The award was presented to him by director George Lucas. His credits include "Pulp Fiction" and "Stars Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones."

2008 highlights: The prolific actor turned 60 on Sunday. His body of work for 2008 spanned six films, starting with "Jumper" (Feb. 14), which was nominated for Best Fight at the MTV Movie Awards and for Choice Movie Villain at the Teen Choice Awards.

"Jumper" was followed by a cameo in "Iron Man" on May 2, vocal work for Mace Windu in "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" on Aug. 15, and lead roles in "Lakeview Terrace" (Sept. 19) and "Soul Men" (Nov. 7).

Jackson made his final film appearance of 2008 Thursday as The Octupus, the villain in "The Spirit," director Frank Miller's screen adaptation of the graphic comic by Will Eisner.

In addition to being its executive producer, Jackson did the vocal work for the titular character in the Japanese anime "Afro Samurai," which is shown weekly on Spike TV. The show's second season debuts in January.

2009 plans: Projects scheduled for release in '09 include "Blown," "Inglourious Basterds," "Afro Samurai: Resurrection," (TV), (Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey" and "Unthinkable."

Toni Poulos

This Dade County, Ga., woman began baking free birthday cakes in 2007 for any child under age 18 whose family needed assistance. She bakes and decorates as many as two dozen cakes a week, buying ingredients and cake toppers all on her own dime. Her generosity has inspired bakers across the country to start Free Cakes for Kids chapters in their hometowns.

In August of this year, Poulos was featured in People after a magazine reporter read a Times Free Press article about her on the Internet. That publicity spawned a baking boom as readers e-mailed wanting to start chapters in their cities. Now more than 400 Free Cakes for Kids have been established across the United States, in Canada and Puerto Rico.

Craig Fleek of Monroe, Wash., called Poulos after reading the article and volunteered his assistance to upgrade her Web site. He's added a chapter map, which is still being updated with new locations by state.

Officials with DecoPac recognized their caketopper in her People spread and invited Poulos to their headquarters in Minnesota in November.

"I got a private session with their baker, and I met the company owner. For me, it was like being in 'Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.'

"When I got home, they sent me an airbrush machine and some decorations. It was an early Christmas," Poulos said.

Poulos said the depressed economy has resulted in an increase in calls since fall.

"I'm getting more requests for cakes where parents tell me this is the only thing their children will get for their birthdays -- I had five of those last week. So I try to put on a cake topper with play value such as cars that actually roll," she said.

She will be featured in Guidepost magazine's spring edition.

Poulos has been contacted by an agency near London that wants to start several Free Cakes for Kids chapters across the United Kingdom.

Cookbook author Patti Daughtry of Florida has dedicated her upcoming cookbook, "Welcome to My Table," to Free Cakes for Kids after reading about Poulos in a Florida newspaper. She will donate 10 percent of her book's proceeds to Poulos' nonprofit. Poulos said a book-signing with Daughtry is being scheduled for January at the Dade County Library.

USHER

How you know him: After moving to Atlanta 18 years ago, Usher has made himself into a television, movie and music superstar. Previous albums such as "8701" and "Confessions" were hit-producing machines.

2008 highlights: Usher Raymond IV celebrated both his 30th birthday this year (Oct. 14) and the release of his fifth studio album, "Here I Stand," on May 27. The album was his second No. 1 debut (after 2004's "Confessions") on the Billboard charts and sold more than 430,000 copies in its first week. "Here I Stand's" first single, "Love in This Club (Part II)," spent three weeks in the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 list. As of June, it sold 2 million copies, according to Billboard stats.

Usher's new single, "Off My Chest" was leaked to the Internet in November. The single was produced by R&B/pop songwriting duo James "Jimmy Jam" Harris and Terry Lewis, whose body of work includes projects with Michael and Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige.

Usher was nominated for a Grammy this year for his collaboration with R. Kelly for the song "Same Girl" off Kelly's 2007 album "Double Up."

This summer, Usher dropped his manager, Benny Medina, replacing him with his previous manager -- his mother, Jonnetta Patton.

Usher was nominated for the 2008 Teen Choice Awards in the categories of Male Artist and R&B Artist. He also posed with his son Usher Raymond V on the cover of Essence magazine's June Father's Day issue.

During November, Usher embarked on his "One Night Stand" tour, a 16-date series of shows that were for "ladies only."

On Dec. 10, Usher's wife, Tameka Raymond, gave birth to the couple's second son, Naviyd Ely Raymond. Tameka has three other children from previous marriages.

2009 plans: He is reportedly set to release a new album early next year.

TOWNSEND ATELIER

North Chattanooga artist-entrepreneurs Stan and Peggy Townsend scored a big hit this month in Martha Stewart's Weddings. Their nontoxic molding putty, Knead-a-Mold, is featured in the current winter 2009 issue. "We're very excited. We're thrilled," Peggy Townsend said. Buy a batch at Art Creations in North Chattanooga or online at www.townsendatelier.com.

MADELINE BELL

The 1972 Brainerd High School graduate, who is in the production end of motion pictures, was a key assistant location manager for the movie "Hancock," which stars Will Smith. She also has completed work, as the assistant location manager, on the television production "Anatomy of Hope" and is working as an assistant location manager and location scout for the 2010 movie "The H-Man Cometh," which is in preproduction. Bell, whose work in television and movie production goes back to 1985, was nominated -- along with Thomas L. Neff -- for a 1987 Academy Award for Best Documentary, Short Subjects, for "Red Grooms: Sunflower in a Hothouse."

Kristol Blanks

Kristol Blanks, a former student and now an acting instructor at Ambiance Models and Talent in Chattanooga, has shot some commercials this past year, according to Don Raymond of Ambiance. One of the commercials, for Oreo, stars Peyton and Eli Manning. She also has been shooting segments of "Snapped" for the Oxygen Network.

JANIE BRYANT

The Emmy Award-winning costume designer from Cleveland, Tenn., continues to style AMC's "Mad Men" actors in knockout clothes. Her chic retro '50s ad men and women launched a fashion trend. This year, Michael Kors, among others, borrowed the show's trim, tailored looks for his new clothing line. "Mad Men" scored 16 Emmys this year, but costume design wasn't among them. But Bryant's 2005 Emmy for "Deadwood" probably won't be lonely for long.

STUN EASLEY

The Chattanooga native, now a resident of Memphis, an executive at a Fortune 500 company and the author of two previous novels, said he is working on several children's chapter books. He has completed two, which probably will be published in 2009 under a pen name, he said. Easley, who earned a bachelor's degree in engineering technology and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Memphis, said he also plans to start another novel along the lines of his first two books, "No Guarantees" (2000) and "The Shake" (2007). At present, he said, neither of the books has been optioned for movies, but he hopes one day they will be. For more information, visit www.seasley.net.

KATE FORBES

The Lookout Mountain-born Shakespearean actress stirred audiences in the role of Portia in "The Merchant of Venice," a 2007 production by England's Royal Shakespeare Company that starred F. Murray Abraham. This year, she shared her polished skills with children, recording such titles for Audible Kids (www.audible.kids.com) as "Judy Moody Goes to College" and "Ginger Pye."

CHRIS GRABENSTEIN

Grabenstein grew up on Signal Mountain and attended Notre Dame High School. During his career, he has worked in advertising and was in an improv group that also included Bruce Willis.

Grabenstein released two books last year. "Hell Hole" is the fourth in his John Ceepak mystery series, and this one finds the former MP working his most personal case. The second is "The Crossroads," his first book targeted to young adults. It's about a tree that has seen its share of accidents and is inhabited by a malevolent spirit that died during a crash involving a car and the tree.

"My children's book, 'The Crossroads,' has been optioned by a movie company in Hollywood, so maybe we'll see it turned into a major motion picture sometime soon. My next John Ceepak mystery is called 'Mind Scrambler' and will be published by St. Martin's Minotaur in May. The next middle-grades ghost story, a sequel to 'The Crossroads,' is called 'The Hanging Hill,' all about a haunted theater, and will be published by Random House in August. In the fall of 2009, the Children's Theatre of Knoxville will produce a play I wrote and donated to them called 'Curiosity Cat.' It's the play being staged at the theater in the new book."

ANDI HANNAH

Andi Hannah, a sophomore at Dalton High School, took part in the January taping of the HGTV remodeling program "Myles of Styles" in South Pasadena, Calif., where her interior decorator mother's best friend's Arts and Crafts-style house was being renovated. While spending a week with Anne and Joseph Cocuzzo, she painted walls, looked after the couple's son and dog, helped out with shopping runs and watched the four days of taping. While there, Andi met host Kim Myles and saw actress Diane Keaton walking her dog.

RAEGAN LAMB

The 8-year-old North Georgia actress appeared in the movie "One Missed Call," and her nose and eyes were used on the movie's promotional art.

In addition to "One Missed Call," Lamb appeared in several Hooked on Phonics videos and "Mrs. Hobbes' House." She also did some catalog modeling.

LANCE LEDBETTER

Originally from LaFayette, Ga., Lance Ledbetter, who founded Atlanta's multi-Grammy-nominated field recording record label Dust-to-Digital, had a busy 2008. He and fellow folklorist Art Rosenbaum were interviewed by New Yorker magazine for an article about field recording folk music in the April 28 issue. At the 15th Annual Living Blues awards, Ledbetter and one of the label's releases, "Desperate Man Blues (Soundtrack)," were nominated for awards for "Producer of the Year -- Historical/Reissue" and "Historical Reissues/Pre-War Album."

Dust-to-Digital's 2007 release, "Art of Field Recording, Vol. I" was nominated for two Grammy awards for Best Album Notes and Best Historical Album. The album's four-CD follow up, "Art of Field Recording, Vol. II," was set to start shipping out later this month and should be in stores by January.

'REDNECK' Newlyweds

Geneva and Kyle tied the knot in 2007. But their Copperhill, Tenn., camo-clothed gala aired on Country Music Television's "My Big Redneck Wedding" this year. The bride arrived in a tractor. Deer meat was served at the reception. The honeymoon took place in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. When last contacted, Geneva planned to attend Dalton State College to become a high school English teacher. Kyle aimed for Phoenix University online, studying liberal arts. Check it out on CMT, 12:30 a.m. ET Jan. 2.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF CHATTANOOGA

Dr. Stephen Golder, a member of the Photographic Society of Chattanooga poses as a soldier standing on a rock outcrop at Point Park in a photo about the Park's living history demo in the Aug. 10 issue of Newsweek.

BESSIE SMITH

Chattanooga's legendary, hotheaded contributor to '20s and '30s blues music joined the ranks of other jazz greats such as Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald and frequent bill partner Louis Armstrong among the inductees to the Nesuhi Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame at the Lincoln Center in New York City. The award was presented to Smith's granddaughter, Beverly Clark, on Nov. 20.

This year, the first annual Bessie Smith Heritage Festival was held along M.L. King Boulevard on the grounds of the Chattanooga African American Museum.

CODY McCARVER

McCarver grew up and lives in Dunlap, Tenn. He has performed with Confederate Railroad for years and began his solo career a couple of years ago, scoring hits in 2007 with "Red Flag" and "Through God's Eyes."

McCarver started PLC Records in 2007 and spent much of last year recording "Karaoke With Your Favorite Principal Dennis Haskins aka Mr. Belding" for the label. In 2008, he also became the first independent country music male artist to have a song ("Tonight's the Night") on Music Row's Top 20 chart. The honor allowed him to walk the red carpet during this year's Country Music Association awards ceremony.

McCarver hopes to grow PLC Records in 2009. "Right now it's me, and Dennis and Amanda Henkel. She has a single out called 'Climbing Up Mount Everest.' " A documentary called "Cody McCarver Behind the Walls," based on "Through God's Eyes," is slated for release in 2009. "It's about my dad, who is in prison, and says no matter who you are, where you came from or what you look like, we all look the same through God's eyes. McCarver is a spokesperson for Big Brothers Big Sisters, which is involved in the documentary.

DOYLE DYKES

Local acoustic guitar virtuoso Doyle Dykes' father, B.A. "Bubba" Dykes, died Nov. 23 at age 79 the day before Doyle was set to celebrate the release of his new album, "Bridging the Gap."

KELLEY LOVELACE

Lovelace co-wrote "He Didn't Have To Be" with Brad Paisley. He also wrote "Don't Forget To Remember Me," which Carrie Underwood turned into a No. 1 hit.

Lovelace had No. 1 hits with Underwood's "All American Girl" and Brad Paisley's "I'm Still a Guy." Lovelace also co-wrote the Brad Paisley-Keith Urban duet "Start a Band," which is No. 5 on the charts this week. Kristy Lee Cook also recorded a Lovelace-penned song. Lovelace is listed at No. 8 in Billboard's Top 100 country songwriters.

Paisley recorded a Lovelace track that will appear on his new album. Lovelace's work is also slated to appear on a Jason Michael Carroll CD. Carrie Underwood is scheduled to record her newest, which should feature more of his work, early in the year.

THE LOVELL SISTERS

The trio of Calhoun, Ga.-based bluegrass songbirds and instrumental titans Jessica, Megan and Rebecca Lovell put serious mileage on the band's odometer this year.

"We've been in 25 states and about six countries, which has been really cool," Jessica said of their fall tour of northern Europe. "We were there for 18 days, and in those 18 days, we had pretty much a show every night and drove almost 5,000 miles."

For those who have started worrying the title of the trio's 2005 debut "When Forever Rolls Around" was prophetically referring to a follow-up, Jessica said the wait for "Time To Grow" is almost over.

The band got in the studio in May and finished up a few weeks ago. Now, the album is in the capable hands of Gary Paczosa, who has engineered and mastered projects for Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek and The Dixie Chicks, among others.

The album will feature guest appearances by veteran musicians like cellist John Catchings, pedal-steel player Paul Franklin and bassist Viktor Krauss.

Even though the wait has been tough for fans, the time has helped season the final product, Jessica said.

"We've let it take its time and grow," she said. "It's been so long since the first record, and we've had a lot of different experiences that have shaped us, from getting signed to the major label and getting ourselves out of that and regrouping to decide what direction we wanted to take."

Even though they're been happily label-free after a brief stint with Lyric Street Records in December 2006, Jessica hinted that the band may soon be taking the plunge into label-hood once again but couldn't elaborate on any details of the negotiations.

For those who can't wait out the several weeks for "Time To Grow" the band has released a rendition of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" for free download on their Web site, www.lovellsisters.com.

RACHEL BOSTON

Girls Preparatory School graduate Rachel Boston starred most recently in TV's "The Ex List." She is living in Los Angeles where she is auditioning for roles in TV and film. She has two movies coming out in early 2009: "500 Days of Summer," and "The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner.

ROGER ALAN WADE

Brainerd-based country singer/songwriter Roger Alan Wade's year started off with a major life change in February when he checked himself into rehab to curb his drinking. The difference has been extraordinary, he said,

"It's the best thing I've ever done in my life, and it just makes everything more precious," he said. "Everything shines now."

This year, Wade also released his second full-length studio album, "Stoned Traveler," which he recorded, like all his music, in his cousin Johnny Knoxville's living room. A video from a weekend performing there also yielded "The Last Time I Saw Waylon Jennings," a song about his musical hero, which was picked up on the CMT Web site.

CMT.com editorial director Chet Flippo mentioned the video on his blog, "Savoring a Few of the Good Things That 2008 Brought," describing it as, "It's not polished and slick. But it is incredibly from the heart and rings true for two or three generations of staunch Waylon fans. This is the way great country used to sound."

RYAN JOHNSON

Ryan Johnson, whose Soddy-Daisy-produced tomahawks are favored by troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, saw his work receive wider exposure in May when the History Channel television show "Modern Marvels" aired a segment on the ax-like devices. The particular tomahawks, also used by law enforcement officers and firefighters, are light and only 14 to 18 inches long but are capable of cutting through Kevlar or chopping the hinges off a car door. Johnson, a 1998 mechanical engineering graduate of the University of Tenessee at Chattanooga, and his father, Bob, have been working together for more than 15 years at their companies, RMJ Forge and RMJ Tactical. The younger Johnson, who also is the UTC Engineering Design Lab supervisor, has been forging knives and tomahawks since age 11. "Not only am I thrilled to be featured on the History Channel," he said when the show aired, "but I am also honored to be recognized as a noteworthy component of the history of American axes. I truly believe that through RMJ Forge and RMJ Tactical, respectively, we are doing two things: We are making tomahawks that made history, and we are making tomahawks that make history." For more information, visit rmjtactical.com or rmjforge.com.

CODY McCARVER

McCarver grew up and lives in Dunlap, Tenn. He has performed with Confederate Railroad for years and began his solo career a couple of years ago, scoring hits in 2007 with "Red Flag" and "Through God's Eyes."

McCarver started PLC Records in 2007 and spent much of last year recording "Karaoke With Your Favorite Principal Dennis Haskins aka Mr. Belding" for the label. In 2008, he also became the first independent country music male artist to have a song ("Tonight's the Night") on Music Row's Top 20 chart. The honor allowed him to walk the red carpet during this year's Country Music Association awards ceremony.

McCarver hopes to grow PLC Records in 2009. "Right now it's me, and Dennis and Amanda Henkel. She has a single out called 'Climbing Up Mount Everest.' " A documentary called "Cody McCarver Behind the Walls," based on "Through God's Eyes," is slated for release in 2009. "It's about my dad, who is in prison, and says no matter who you are, where you came from or what you look like, we all look the same through God's eyes. McCarver is a spokesperson for Big Brothers Big Sisters, which is involved in the documentary.

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR at AMERICAN LEGION POST 106 HWY 11 TRENTON, GA.

Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

HOMEMADE CRAFTS, LOCAL BUSINESS VENDORS, GINGERBREAD CAFE, KIDS ACTIVITIES. SPONSORED BY SOLDIERS FOR GOD ORGANIZATION. Read More

Chattanooga Jingle Bell Run at Tennessee River Park

Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m.

Registration – 9:00 a.m. Run – 10:00 Website: www.chattanoogajbr.org Contact: Virginia Babb, East Tennessee Arthritis ... Read More

UTC THEATRE DEPARTMENT at DOROTHY HACKET WARD THEATER

Saturday, Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m.

ANON(YMOUS) by Naomi Iizuka Anon(ymous) is a modern adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey. This ancient myth ... Read More