Posts Tagged ‘Jeff Timmons’

Michael Jackson Had ‘Unbelievable Energy’

June 30th, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff

98 Degrees singer Jeff Timmons was lucky enough to perform for Michael Jackson twice.

“We did a show in NYC for Z100, and it was us [98 Degrees] and Beyonce, and they came back in the green room and said ‘rumor has it, Michael Jackson’s gonna be there, and they want you guys to sing a cover of Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,’” Jeff, 36, whose vocal group hit it big with hits including The Hardest Thing, Because Of You, I Do (Cherish You) and True To Your Heart, tells me.

“We all got up onstage and sang it, and then he came out and introduced himself to the crowd, and obviously the place erupted. The energy that came in with him when he stepped on the stage was unbelievable.”

What was Michael really like?

“He was a very nice guy, and polite,” Jeff says. “He was not a bit weird, like we had heard and seen him depicted as on television. He was just a nice guy. He was just really quiet.”

He also performed for Michael during VH1’s Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special, The Solo Years filmed at NYC’s Madison Square Garden on September 10, 2001 – the last time 98 Degrees performed together.

WATCH 98 DEGREES, USHER AND LUTHER VANDROSS PERFORM ‘MAN IN THE MIRROR’ FOR THE KING OF POP:

“It was an honor,” Jeff says. “We met him briefly, and he thanked us for being part of the event. I was hoping for my next project, I’d have the opportunity to work with him, but unfortunately that’s not going to happen.”

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF MICHAEL JACKSON:

Jeff’s solo album, Emotional High, will be released in October.

Posted to: 98 Degrees, Award Shows, Hunks, Interviews, Jeff Timmons, Michael Jackson, Parties, Reality TV, Red Carpet, Scandal, Television

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Camping With Deborah Gibson

July 5th, 2008

Woo-hoo! Monday is the first day of camp for those attending Deborah Gibson’s Camp Electric Youth. Geared for those ages 7-17, the students are immersed in performing arts classes for ten days.

“It’s basically not only to teach kids about singing, dancing and acting, but also the mental side of the business, too, and how to emotionally navigate being a young performer,” she tells me. “There will also be courses for the parents involved so that they can learn the business end and how to look out for their child’s emotional well-being. This is my idea, and I really love kids. I want to mentor.”

98 Degrees singer Jeff Timmons, Wayne Brady and Dancing With The Stars finalist Marissa Jaret Winokur will also make appearances.

In this interview, Deborah, 37, talks about dealing with stardom at a young age.

How is fame different for today’s stars than it was for you?
The obvious is the Internet. You can’t make a move without people knowing. You can’t make a mistake without people knowing. I have no skeletons in my closet. I don’t think I made any major mistakes, but that’s my point. I don’t think I did. But people can capture any little thing and make something of it, and I think that’s really daunting. It doesn’t allow for much room for kids to be kids. That’s probably the biggest thing. The paparazzi.

It’s like I don’t know which came first — the chicken or the egg. On one hand, the paparazzi is more present. On the other hand, I didn’t give them anything to write about or follow. Where were they going to follow me? To the skating rink in Long Island? I was living such an innocent, true, young person’s life that I wasn’t feeding them, but they weren’t as present either.

So now it’s become a combination of kids wanting to grow up too quick and the paparazzi being right there.

So many child stars are getting into trouble. Do you think starting out at a young age is a good thing or a bad thing?
It’s definitely not for everybody. I would never say it’s good or bad, it’s just simply not for everybody. And it’s not for everybody’s parents either. The parenting is where it really comes in to play. I’m lucky my parents never got more caught up in it than me. I never got caught up in it at all, but you see some of these parents who are enjoying the fame and the perks even more than the kids are, which is very scary, because kids need parents to be solid and to be just parents.

I definitely think there are some people cut out for it. Neil Patrick Harris is a friend of mine. He’s a prime example of a survivor. He’s a survivor. He was always a real actor and a real singer. Kids who are in it from the right reasons, who have a passion for it, who have a work ethic at a young age, will be OK. But the kids who get in it because they simply want to be famous to be famous, those are the ones who get into trouble.

Miley Cyrus got into trouble for Vanity Fair. What’s your take?
On one hand, it’s a big deal out of nothing, but on the other hand it’s a brilliant example of … parents cannot leave their kids alone at 15 and assume they can make adult decisions. That’s the lesson that every parent and kid can take away from it.

The picture itself I don’t think is that awful or scandalous. She’s showing her back. But on the other hand, I have a fifteen-year-old niece, and I couldn’t imagine my fifteen-year-old niece being comfortable. She barely wears makeup.

This is again a case where a kid is in the business and being treated like an adult. Miley employs people — and I was that age and employing people so I can understand it. People really do forget that emotionally she’s 15 and you’re not prepared to deal with the ramifications that come from such a photo or the male attention that comes from such a photo. That’s the bigger issue.

Your camp is called Electric Youth, and you also had a perfume called Electric Youth. What’s your favorite celebrity fragrance these days?
I don’t have any celebrity fragrance. One that I use is Victoria’s Secret Love because it’s just fresh and it’s kind of like a new version of Electric Youth. It’s kind of fruity. [Laughs] I don’t like perfumey kinds of musky perfumes.

Camp Electric Youth begins Monday.

Posted to: 98 Degrees, Beauty and Hair, Deborah Gibson, Hunks, Interviews, Jeff Timmons, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Parties, Reality TV, Red Carpet, Television, Theater, Wayne Brady

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Deborah Gibson Gets Personal

June 28th, 2008

A new pop star will be crowned Sunday when Deborah Gibson and Joey Lawrence choose among six finalists who will win Total Pop Star.

“I just love seeing new talent, giving constructive criticism and trying to nurture that talent,” Deborah, 37, tells me.

In 1988, Deborah, then 17, became the youngest person to write, produce and perform a #1 hit with her song Foolish Beat. In this interview, she talks about love and life.

I saw a picture of you with 98 Degrees singer Jeff Timmons. Are you still dating him?
[Laughs] I wasn’t dating him at all. That was totally fabricated. We’re friends but we see each other maybe 2-3 times a year, and we happened to go to this event together. I only stayed at the event for a few minutes and left, even though the story said ‘he didn’t leave her side.’ I was like ‘Oh my God, I kind of left him there’ and he was there for another hour because I was having back trouble – back pain. I made an appearance and left. He’s a dear friend. He’s helping with my summer camp [Camp Electric Youth] … but he’s one of the people who’s going to be stopping by to do a Q&A and master class. But no, we’re not dating. [Laughs]

Are you dating anyone these days?
Oh my God, it’s one of those funny kinda-sorta seeing someone but I’m at a distance now, and it’s nobody anybody knows. I have a pretty low-key, normal dating life.

What qualities do you look for in a guy?
Somebody who’s very secure because I do travel a lot, and I do go on-and-off of vocal rest, and things that can be seen as eccentric, but they’re just necessary to what I do. I love witty banter. I like people who I can throw the ball to and they can throw it back. I definitely don’t like boring. I like people who are really professional and really dedicated to something – whatever it is that they’re passionate about – but that can also put that aside and be fun and feisty and witty.

What’s the best way to meet a man?
I’ve met people so many different ways. I think just being open and keeping your eyes open and realizing it can happen anywhere at anytime. I don’t think there’s a formula or a place. Giving off the vibe of being open is the most important thing. If you have your guard up and you’re skeptical or you feel like you’ve been hurt in the past, I think people sense that. If you are open and friendly and realize it can happen anywhere, that’s the best way.

You’re an aunt. Do you want kids of your own?
I do want kids of my own. It’s funny ‘cause I’m 37, and we see a lot of showbiz women … J.Lo is like 39, and Marcia Cross is in her 40s. That gives me hope because I do want kids, but I still don’t feel quite ready yet.

I will definitely be an older mom, which is fine with me. I want to make sure that when I do it, I do it right and I can fully dedicate myself to being a mom. I have three sisters who are awesome moms, and my mom has always been an awesome mom. I want to be very hands-on.

How do you like to relax?
Ahhhh! I’m very bad at relaxing admittedly but I do like reading, writing, swimming, and you’re going to laugh – bowling. I’m a Long Island girl.

Any pets?
I have two dogs, Rosie and Daisy, and a cat named Gleason. I found him in an alley at the Jackie Gleason Theater when he was a kitten.

How do you spoil them?
Oh my goodness, I break all the rules and let them sleep on the bed. That’s how I spoil them. They run my house. Because I’m away so much, it’s out of guilt. When I come home, I let them do whatever they want. [Laughs]

That’s all for now. Next time, OK! will head to Camp Electric Youth.

Posted to: Couples, Daisy, Deborah Gibson, Fitness, Gleason, Homes, Hunks, Interviews, J.Lo, Jeff Timmons, Marcia Cross, Parties, pets, Reality TV, Red Carpet, Rosie, Television, Theater

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Gifting Miley Cyrus

May 23rd, 2008

Miley Cyrus sweeps into the Izod Fragrance Artist Gift Lounge backstage at Z100’s Zootopia wearing a huge smile on her face, a Topshop dress and a jacket so expensive she would never buy it herself.

Shocking? Nah. The Hannah Montana star, 15, is a penny-pincher. “She had a Blackberry but she lost it, and she’s too cheap to get another one,” I hear. Luckily, she receives a Blackberry Pearl in her stash of goodies.

Miley curls up on the couch to chat with Z100 before taking inventory of her new accessories. She raids the stainless steel jewelry line from Black and Blue taking one of everything. She’s eager to schedule her new Roomba to vacuum her room while she’s away on tour. And, during a round of The Box Girls Box of Questions Conversation Starter Games, she says, “I’d sit in my boxer shorts and play video games all day if I was a boy.”

Well, if she was a boy she might be just like half-brother Trace Cyrus, who is in the electro-pop band Metro Station. Miley joins him onstage during the pre-show, and the crowd goes wild.

“She was chilling,” he tells me. “She was sitting there watching it.”

One thing Trace has that Miley doesn’t is a body filled with tattoos. His favorite? “This one right here,” he tells me, flexing his arm. It says ‘This time here will never last.’ It’s lyrics to one of my dad’s [Billy Ray Cyrus] songs.”

Lunchtime! I grab a meal ticket and scope out the catering section, where I bump into New Kids On The Block. I’m enjoying my roast beef sandwich, French fries, potato salad and sugar cookie when the guys roll through. “It’s too crowded in here,” Donnie Wahlberg laments. “Let’s eat in the dressing room.” (Bummer!)

The guys roll into the gift lounge. The highlight is the Roomba. Danny Wood, who is a single dad, is excited to get housework help from the gadget. And Jordan Knight says the device will free up the time his wife would spend vacuuming. Joey McIntyre walks up and announces “We are in the future.”

Here’s Gavin DeGraw. I’ll never forget the first thing he said to me years ago when we met in a club: “Are you married?” And then, he had the hit single I Don’t Want To Be. I have the worst luck with this. Anyone whose advances I’ve dismissed always hits the big time. (Hello, Bill Rancic.) Gavin’s still got it. “Hi gorgeous,” he says. Hm, is he dating anyone now? “I’m too busy right now to fail at a relationship.” I see…

Another fun guy is Simple Plan’s Chuck Comeau. He’s up there – he cracks me up, and his Quebecois accent makes me smile. I once interviewed Simple Plan on a bed at The Time Hotel in NYC. (Not my idea – theirs.) He remembers. What’s his status? “Single and open for business,” he tells me. I was also there when he asked Kelly Clarkson out a few years ago at a Z100 event. “Nothing ever happened with that. I thought I had an ‘in’ – I thought I was in, but it’s OK. I’ve moved on. I’m stalking other people now like Megan Fox. She’s so hot … she has an amazing talent at acting. She’s absolutely gorgeous.” (Ooh, he’ll have to fight Jesse McCartney.)

Whoa! Love Song singer Sara Bareilles is getting lavished with praise by each member of Danity Kane. Sara is loving the adoration – she’s on top of the world.

Does Sara ever get tired of performing her megahit?

“I have my moments of not being so excited about it, but overall it’s so very fun,” she tells me. “It’s at the point now where people are knowing the words and singing along. That’s very rewarding.”

Danity Kane’s Aubrey O’Day admits she loves to buy handbags. “I’m disgusting about purses,” she tells me. “There’s a purple Prada bag that I really want right now. I just feel like a couple more shows and I’ll feel like I deserve it.”

Here come the Jonas Brothers! Shhh …

For more behind-the-scenes moments, check out Backstage at Z100’s Zootopia.

Pick up the OK! on stands now for more coverage of the Izod Fragrance Artist Gift Lounge backstage at Z100’s Zootopia. Angelina Jolie: Four Weeks To Go! is the cover line.