Las Vegas Weekly

November 13, 2009 · 3:35 PM

Strip Scribbles: Julianne Hough, Chuck Wicks to announce break-up

By Robin Leach

Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough at the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

No sooner had the gossip gurus gone gaga over the busted romance between country singer Chuck Wicks and our gorgeous Las Vegas Academy graduate Julianne Hough than they were seen holding hands at the CMA Awards in Nashville on Wednesday night. Julianne was a presenter and Chuck was on red carpet duty for Entertainment Tonight (Julianne didn’t walk the red carpet.)

I’ve learned Chuck and Julianne will make a public statement in the next 48 hours, but the truth is they have split. Chuck has said little but acknowledges that the couple has been having a difficult time because they are spending more time apart than together, and what time they have together also includes work and recording sessions.

Photo: ABC TV

Julianne Hough and Chuck Wicks.

“It’s time for them to take a break,” one of my best sources told me. “They simply have been separated already because of all the work. It all literally exploded for her overnight, and she’s only 21. Trying to fit in a romance with a movie, new album, touring, it’s all too much.”

We’ll have details of Julianne’s possible return to Dancing With the Stars in our preview on Monday of the semifinal showdown with Donny Osmond, Mya, Joanna Krupa and Kelly Osbourne.

*The rooftop fireworks are back! The New Year’s Eve celebration America’s Party 2010 will include a spectacular fireworks show fired from seven rooftop locations along the Strip. The firing locations will be at MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Aria at CityCenter, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, The Venetian and the Stratosphere. Fireworks by Grucci of New York will coordinate the pyrotechnic celebration and work directly with the Clark County Fire Department and Building Services to ensure fire and structural safety guidelines. Last year’s fireworks were canceled after a rooftop construction fire at the Monte Carlo that led to an inquiry of all our casino rooftops by the Fire Department.

Photo: TVT

Andre Agassi and Michael Mina.

*One of our favorite Las Vegas chefs, Michael Mina, who has restaurants in MGM, Bellagio and Mandalay Bay, is on the cover of the Nov. 30 issue of Wine Spectator. Inside, there’s a 15-page article about him and his 20-strong restaurant chain. Michael is one of the guests this weekend at The Venetian with chef Emeril Lagasse honoring chef Mario Batali.

*While on the subject of food and wine, let’s run down the three days of events at The Venetian and Palazzo with Emeril. Tonight, Emeril kicks off the Emeril Lagasse Carnivale du Vin at his Lagasse’s Stadium in the Palazzo for the chefs, vintners and VIP sponsors of his Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s fundraiser. Chefs from Emeril’s 12 restaurants are here preparing the cuisine. Tomorrow, star chef Mario will be honored at the chef’s dinner and wine auction by such fellow chefs as Wolfgang Puck, Daniel Boulud, Charlie Palmer and Nancy Silverton. After the fifth anniversary Carnivale du Vin, there will be a wine auction with exclusive culinary experiences and travel packages. The Neville Brothers will provide the musical entertainment, and funds raised support children’s culinary, arts and education programs in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. For the first time, a Las Vegas beneficiary will be announced. On Sunday, chef, author and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich will host a book signing of her new A Feast of 175 Regional Recipes From the Heart of Italy at her son Joe Bastianich and Mario Batali’s Carnevino in the Palazzo.

Photo: EmerilLagasse.com

Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse at Carnivale du Vin.

*After landing in the bottom the previous week, our Miss America 2004 Ericka Dunlap and husband Brian Kleinschmidt improved to third place last Sunday on CBS’s Amazing Race. With only five teams left, the excitement and tension are picking up. Ericka will be back here in Las Vegas for the Miss America Pageant on Jan. 30.

*Remember Samson, the 66-million-year-old T.Rex specimen on display at The Venetian for the recent Bonhams and Butterfields auction? It was sold within the guideline pricing of $5 million to $8 million. The auction house tells me that arrangements are being worked out for it to be displayed at an institution, while the buyer’s identity will remain confidential.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Phil Hellmuth.

Star surveillance

Mirage headliner Terry Fator will host 180 veterans as his guests tonight in honor of Veterans Day as part of their four-day “Wounded Warriors” visit. … Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg filmed a sequence of their new action comedy The Other Guys with the Jersey Boys in their Palazzo theater. Directed by Adam McKay, the movie is about a dysfunctional team of New York City detectives. … America’s Got Talent Live host Jerry Springer met Miss USA Kristen Dalton when their paths crossed at Planet Hollywood. … St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa watched Santana’s resident concert at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel. … Poker legend Phil Hellmuth dined at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms and enjoyed a rib eye steak with a glass of beer. … NBA legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving stopped by Blush in the Wynn for a Manny Pacquiao pre-fight celebration. … Houston Texans wide receiver David Anderson met Holly Madison at her meet-and-greet after watching her Peepshow in Planet Hollywood.

Photo: Planet Hollywood

Jerry Springer and Miss USA Kristen Dalton.

*There are three nights of preliminary shows (Jan. 26-28) for the judges of the Miss America Pageant before the live telecast Jan. 30, and the Miss America Organization has revealed this January’s show hosts. The first night of judging will be emceed by Indy 500 sports anchor Brad Brown, who also hosts the Miss Indiana Pageant. Ex-Denver Broncos running back Reggie Rivers will emcee the second round, and the final night of competition will be hosted by comedienne and Miss New Jersey 1995 Dena Blizzard for the second year in a row. The 52 contestants have a night off after the preliminaries for the Dinner of Dreams before the TLC broadcast from Planet Hollywood’s Theater for the Performing Arts hosted by Mario Lopez.

*We’ve got all the contestants in place for this weekend’s pageantry in Las Vegas, and every one of them is a winner, too. We have them all made up in a pretty package we affectionately refer to around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Friday, Nov. 13

* TV comedy stars Ray Romano and Kevin James perform solo and as a duo at The Mirage for two nights.

*Before Pure at Caesars Palace opens for clubbing, Third Eye Blind performs a mini-concert in support of its new album Ursa Major.

Third Eye Blind.

*Stryper is at Santa Fe Station, Sha Na Na celebrates its 40th anniversary with its yesteryear hits at South Point, and Terri Clark puts on her Stetson to sing her country hits at Silverton Casino Lodge.

*Mixed Martial Arts takes to the ring for the best of the amateurs in competition at the Las Vegas Hilton.

*Martin Nievera, one of Asia’s top singers, stars for three nights at Suncoast.

Saturday, Nov. 14

*Chelsea Lately namesake comedienne Chelsea Handler headlines at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace with her hilarious humor and pop culture commentaries.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Comedienne Chelsea Handler performs at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel.

*Shaken but not stirred, The Gin Blossoms are at Silverton Casino Lodge, music legend John Fogerty is at the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, and B.J. Thomas is at the Cannery.

*Comedian Norm MacDonald of Saturday Night Live fame headlines at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.

*Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance quicksteps its way to The Orleans Arena, and all Top 10 finalists will perform.

*The Hilton salutes screen goddess Marilyn Monroe with a free evening of art -- on canvas, guitar and screen -- titled “An Evening With Marilyn” in the Tempo Lounge. Guests will be able to view the “Marilyn Series” art exhibit by painter and sculptor Ludvic. Entertainment will be provided by jazz guitarist Robert Conti before the free screening of her classic film Some Like It Hot.

*Tickets go on sale today for Brad Paisley’s American Saturday Night Tour pulling into the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Feb. 20 with Miranda Lambert and Justin Moore. And also for the just-added second Lady GaGa concert at the Palms on Dec. 17, which precedes the original concert.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.

Party patrol

Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and 50 Cent have a noontime radio station party at the new Strip Hard Rock Cafe. … 90210 star Jessica Lowndes celebrates her 21st birthday at Lavo in the Palazzo. … Hip hop heavyweight Fat Joe hosts at Prive in Planet Hollywood. … Reality TV star and model Amber Smith is at Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile.

Sunday, Nov. 15

Terry Fator continues his charitable gift-giving hosting the benefit concert “Voices for a Cure” to honor his sister Debi, with proceeds benefiting the Arthritis Foundation’s Southern California chapter. Debi was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when she was 18 and will attend the concert.

Photo: Raul Morales/Cashman Photography

Jim and Heather Murren at the Nevada Cancer Institute's Rock for the Cure gala at The Mirage on Nov. 12, 2009.

Monday’s teases

As Donny Osmond reaches the semifinal showdown on Dancing With the Stars, he reveals that it’s difficult for his wife Debbie to watch him dancing romantically in the arms of another woman! Plus, our hometown dance, country music and acting beauty Julianne Hough mulls a return to the ABC hit show. We’ll also have our sexy photo gallery with Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner’s main squeeze Crystal Harris and our advance look at the huge gaming convention that kicks off here on Monday. Plus, we start the first of our five-part series on CityCenter complete with an interview with MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter HERE.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.

— From Vegas Deluxe

Link Share This