COUNTRY COMES TO HOLLYWOOD
Faith Hill, Reba McEntire and tim McGraw are leading the cavalcade of stars who've spread their wings to the big screen. Here's a look back at the mutual attraction between coutnry music and Hollywood over the last 10 years -- and beyond.
If the last decade is any indication,
there's no stopping the love affair between
Nashville and Hollywood.
Faith Hill, who's making her debut in The Stepford
Wives this summer, may be the latest star to grace the
big screen, but it was George Strait who jump-started
the modern-day country-movie connection in the
early '90s when he starred in Pure Country. George's
natural charisma and easygoing charm - along with
a hot soundtrack - helped lift the small, unpretentious
film to box office success. That paved the way
for stars like Reba McEntire, Dwight Yoakam and
Tim McGraw to hunt for good movie roles. Reba had
already appeared in the cult hit Tremors, and she went
on to score big-screen roles in North, The Little Rascals
and One Night at McCool's, while Dwight has put his
eccentric, rebel image to perfect use in Sling Blade,
Panic Room and others.
Just this year, Tim is showing up in a couple of
movies - Black Cloud and Friday Night Lights. He
has also dropped hints that he and wife Faith Hill
might one day star in a movie of their own. And
Kris Kristofferson, an actor for over 30 years now,
recently enjoyed major roles in several blockbusters,
including Blade and the big-budget
remake of a sci-fi classic, Planet of the Apes.
So what's the big attraction? No doubt, there's
the glamour of starring in a Hollywood movie.
But beyond that, stars simply want to see how far
they can stretch their talents.
"I wanted to see if I could do it," declares Tim,
who spent time searching for the right role before
settling on Black Cloud, the story of a Native
American boxer.
Reba also confessed that she was in the market
before taking on her first movie, Tremors, in 1990. The
campy science fiction feature provided Reba with a
part that would tap into her nonmusical side.
"I was looking for movie and television roles,"
says Reba. "But every script had me as a girl
singer in a honky-tonk band, which is what I did
for a living." In other words, why play yourself?
That's essentially what George did in Pure Country -
but with the noted distinction of portraying a burned-out
country singer. But he wasn't aiming to stretch or
fulfill some empty spot in his career.
"I thought if I could do it and not come off looking
like a beginner, that's all I wanted," George declared.
"I'm sure I did look like a beginner, but not so much
that people would laugh at it. I think I accomplished
that, hopefully."
Clint Black relished the challenge of the big
screen
Western comedy Maverick, as well as the
lead role in the TV movie Still Holding On: The
Legend of Cadillac Jack.
"Acting is another way for me to expand my
creative canvas," Clint remarked. "I love to challenge
myself. There's nothing like looking at
something new and being a little afraid, a little
anxious ... and then doing it!" Clint had so much
fun making movies that he vowed, "I'm ready to
do this again."
And Clint has kept his word. Since Cadillac Jack, he
scored a major role in the TV movie Going Home, as
well as a cameo in the recent Adam Sandler/Jack
Nicholson movie, Anger Management.
It's a surefire bet that more country stars will
light up the silver screen in years to come. Here's
a look back at the decade's top films starring
country's finest. We'll also take you back to the
early days of country music movies and revisit
some classics - and a few clunkers, too. It's all
part of our 10th-year anniversary salute to country's
own brand of movie magic.
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10 Years of Rascal Flatts
Keith Urban Duets With Kentucky 8-year-old
Martina McBride: Sharing the Table
Kris Kristofferson: Highwayman
From the Vault: Little Big Town
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