Arts & Lifestyle Of Interest ... N.C.'s latest 'Idol' Shaw alum publishes first book makes chart Friendship. Love. Drugs. Jealousy. Glamour. history Danger. Money and much more. It's all in author SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE SaVette Brown's self-published premier fiction novel "Boss Lady: The Legend of North Carolina's Scotty McCreery, the winner of the latest season of Syckiey Donovan Begins." "American Idol, has made country music history with his first single, "I Love The book's main character You This Big." The song is the highest-charting debut for a new artist in more is a gorgeous, determined than two decades. woman given the opportunity The song was sent to radio late last month after McCreery debuted the song to live a glamorous life that is on American Idol. also filled with danger. The song, which hit No. 1 on iTunes, reached No. 3 on the Billboard Digital Houck Medford's "worm's eye" Accompanied her closest Songs chart with 171,404 units sold, while a compilation by ' ' 1 A Uii. fmm ' ' I(tlI ro ¦!/. V, a/1 girls, Sytfciey takes her throne ttlUUMl Itaiui 111^ 1 t \_M 111,1 pel iv/1 in anwj uum *v*_» i ivaviivu at the top of the chig game and No. 12 on the Billboard Top 200 all-genre albums chart and rhotos discovers there is a cost to be No. 3 on the country albums chart with 23,196 units sold, j capture the "Boss." "1 am humbled and shocked by this news," says I Brown graduated from Brown McCreery, who is from Garner. "I can't tell you what it d Forsyth County's Shaw University with a BS means to me to be on the same charts as my degree in sociology/criminal justice. For quite some musical neroes. i warn to manK my ians aiiu architectural time, she says she has observed life and mentally col¬ especially country radio for their support, beauty lected environments, behaviors, smells and feelings, continue to be amazed by everything that CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT them to them into her work. "I has to me in such a short time.' storing incorporate happened victo¬ will not allow myself to become the type of writer McCreery won Season Ten of Local novice photographers have scored ries a contest 'society' thinks I should be," said Brown, a Laurinbu^g "American Idol" on May 25. A record- in sponsored by preservation organi¬ native who lives in with her two children. "I 122.4 million votes were zation Preserve Historic Forsyth. Raleigh breaking Architecture write about how 1 see the world as it is today." cast for Scotty and Lauren Alaina, the The winners of the Modernist The book is available at AuthorHouse.com and runner-up, and 38.6 million viewers Photo Contest were announced on Wednesday. May other online retailers. For more information, visit tuned in to see the winner's name 25 at Reynolda House Museum of American Art, www.SaVetteBrown.com announced. f.10111towing The 17-year-old singer is receiv a lecture ing big love from WQDR in on mod- Raleigh,which is located e r n i s t miles north of Garner. Not architec¬ only is me station leaaing ture by all Billboard panelists with architect more plays in the first David E. week, but it has dubbed Gall, itself "Scotty 94.7" and whose incorporated the new name firm spon¬ into an American Idol- sored 'the inwni r*»H lrtort contest , Photo Fred"IWatkins feel like the words 'thank you' aren't enough," McCreery says. "I wish I with by along Above: Heubel's Holder, Pierce, Sohn and True-Frost. could find more words to express my gratitude to everyone. I still can't believe S h a r p e John photo how people are supporting me in so many ways." Images. Below: Scott Sturdy 's entry 'Wire' actors visit D.C. McCreery will travel to Nashville next week to begin recording his debut Houck album. He will make his Grand Ole Opry debut on Friday, June 10 and perform M edford (From NNPA) The three actors from "The on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on June 15. He will be featured on the won the American Idols Live tour that 6 in Salt Lake Utah. He will Wire," a hit series that once aired on HBO. took part in begins July City, first-place on ABC's "Good America" on 12. a recent panel discussion with Attorney General Eric perform Moming Aug. prize of Holder at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. McCreery is the latest high-profile Idol contestant from North Carolina and $200 for the second winner the state. The first was Point's Fantasia Barrino. Actors Wendell Pierce. Sonja Sohn and Jim Tnie- from High h i s Fiost helped Holder launch a new public awareness "worm's campaign aimed at bringing attention to the challenges Braxtons Open Up eye" view faced by childien and families affected by chig abuse of the and highlight the work being done across the country R.J. to address these issues. Reynolds Set in Baltimore. "The Wire" depicted the effects of Building the dug scene through the eyes of dug (fcalers, law and enforcement and the community as a whole. Winston "Protecting youth from exposure to dug abuse is a Tower, key priority for this department, and we are unwaver¬ formerly ing in our commitment to raising awareness about this Wachovia. vital mission and our efforts to assist the continuing Both buildings are in downtown Winston-Salem. most vulnerable victims of the illicit drug industry," The of went to John Holder said second-place prize $100 Heubel for his of the new Milton Rhodes Last the Justice established the study year, Department Center for the Arts. Third of $50 was award¬ Children Task Force to the mil¬ prize Drug Endmgered help ed to Scott Sturdy for a photo of the spire of the lions of childen living in dug environments. R.J. Reynolds building contrasted with Winston Tower. Honorable mentions were awarded to Katie WE lv Photo Bond-Ford, Kenneth John Heubel, Houck Beer Festival slated for Aug. 13 Talk show host Wendy Williams (center) will host WE tv's one- Byrd, " Medford, Anna Marie Smith and hour special Braxton Family Reunion" on Tuesday, June 14 to Joseph The Twin craft beer festival the season the hit show "Braxton Wroblewsky. inaugural City Taps cap off first of reality Family The three and the honorable will be held at BB&T Ballpark on Saturday, Aug. 13 Values." Williams will ask singer Toni Braxton (third from winning photos from noon to 6 p.m. The festival will feature sam¬ right), her sisters Traci, Towanda, Trina and Tamar and mom mentions will be displayed at Forsyth County plings from North Carolina craft breweries and will Evelynma wide variety of probing questions . Public Library branches through March 2012. benefit the North Carolina Brewers Guild, a not-for-profit organization comprised of brewers, vendors, retailers, and craft beer enthusiasts focused Aged to Perfection on promoting North Carolina beer. honored at "Twin City Taps is another Longtime Aggies ceremony example of the high-caliber CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT events that we like to host at BB&T Ballpark," Geoff It was indeed a festive for four of North Carolina A&T Lassiter, of the homecoming recently IMstiter president State University's most senior alumni. Winston-Salem Dash, said. Emma Morgan McAdoo, William Matthew Little. Ester McNeill "We look forward to Huntley working and Dr. Alvin Blount were the of honor at a Reunion and Induction with the Brewers Guild, the Downtown guests closely SECCA Photo ceremony lor Winston-Salem and other * Partnership local groups to Dr. Lawrence J. Wheeler congratulates F. A & T s make the first TWin City Taps a highly successful Borden Hanes Jr. (far right). Also pictured Society of event for the entire community." is J. Keith Crisco (center). Golden Tickets go on sale June 15. General atimission tickets are $35 and include beer and a com¬ Aggies, samples the which is for memorative cup. For more information about Twin Longtime supporter of City Taps, please visit www.TwinCityTaps.com. those who arts accepts surprise honor have been CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT alums of the Beauty awards honoring Shange school for at Longtime arts advocate F. Borden Hanes Jr. was least 50 The Covergirl Queen Collection, a line of products presented with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine on years The inspired by Queen Latifah for women of color, will June I during a surprise reception in his honor at four are present the 2nd Annual Blackout Award, on Sunday in SECCA. among the Newark, N.J. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine - one of the oldest mem¬ "Each year we set the bar most prestigious awards presented by the governor of bers of the higher because this awards cer¬ North Carolina - goes to individuals who have a Society. Each emony is about giving back proven record of extraordinary service to the state. of them was through philanthropy and Hanes has been a life-long advocate for the arts in presented appreciating the artists who North Carolina. Hanes serves on numerous boards, with an A&T work so diligently," said including that of the SECCA Foundation. He recent¬ afghan during awards Founder Yancey ly completed his service as co-chair of the the AAT PI**" Edwanck, an acclaimed hair¬ Individuals division of The Arts Council ceremony, jEmma Morgan McAdoo, William Matthew Little and Leadership which was jEster stylist.