Today's Entertainment

November 2 - 8, 2015 Page 3 ACROSS 1. 1978-83 Danny DeVito sitcom 5. "Shark __" 9. Julia in the kitchen 10. Glowing coal fragment 12. "... __ the ramparts we watched ..." 13. Delany or Carvey 16. Actress Larter 17. Initials for Jethro Bodine's portrayer 18. "__ Family" 20. Initials for Hot Lips Houlihan's portrayer 21. Jai __ 23. Cartoon dog 25. Ninth-grade math, often: abbr. 26. Cabin wall piece 27. Actor Gulager 28. Prefix for angle or cycle 29. "__ From Muskogee"; Merle Haggard song 30. Actor George 32. Role on "Married ... With Children" 33. "Friday Night __" 38. 1988 Martin Sheen movie 39. Kept out of sight 41. "Let's Make a Deal" contestant's choice 42. Nonexistent 43. "The __ Suspects"; 1995 Kevin Spacey film 45. Meredith Baxter's role on "Family Ties" 47. "Who Wants __ __ a Millionaire" 48. "__ Dawn I Die"; James Cagney movie DOWN 1. Series for Megan Boone (2) 2. "Up in the __"; 2009 George Clooney film 3. Angelina Jolie's age 4. "__ __ Anything"; song from "Oliver!" 5. "Ninja: Shadow of a __"; 2013 Scott Adkins movie 6. "I __ Legend"; 2007 Will Smith film 7. Organization for Bulls and Bucks 8. Amanda Rollins' portrayer on "Law & Order: SVU" (2) 9. 1978 Michael Douglas thriller 11. "__ of the Planet of the Apes"; 2011 film 14. Commercial 15. Henry Fonda's state of birth: abbr. 18. Ferrer of "NCIS: Los Angeles" 19. Nick's family 22. "__ __ Have to Do Is Dream"; Everly Brothers hit 24. Cartoon explorer 29. Setting for "Magnum, P.I." 31. "__ of the Century"; game show of old 34. Eric of Monty Python 35. "__ On" (2012-13) 36. Entertainer Don 37. "One __ Hill" 40. Singing couple 42. Setting for "Blue Bloods": abbr. 44. CD forerunners 46. "__ Femme Nikita" Solution on page 2. By Jay Bobbin © Zap2it To say the past year has been good for Little Big Town would be one of the understatements in country music. After their induction into the Grand Ole Opry last fall and the release of their hit album "Pain Killer" — and a huge, and somewhat controversial, success with its song "Girl Crush" — the group now is tied with Eric Church for the most nominations (five) in the 49th Annu- al CMA Awards. ABC televises the event from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 4, with Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood teamed as its hosts for the eighth time. "I'm telling you, it keeps getting better and better, and more interesting," Little Big Town member Kimberly Schlapman says of the group's times of late. She cites Grand Ole Opry membership as "the pinnacle. That was our first public performance, on that stage, in 1999. We had never sung outside a conference room before that." Schlapman recalls country icon Little Jimmy Dickens being part of the group's induction, "just a little bit before he passed. He was not feeling well that night, but he came. We loved and adored him." Though Schlapman says she doesn't know "what could top that," she allows that being one of the top CMA Award nom- inees with fellow Little Big Town members Phillip Sweet and spouses Karen Fairchild and Jimi West- brook comes close. "I've always had a se- cret desire to be the most nominated," Schlapman admits. "I'd never voiced it before, but every time it comes around and some- body is the most nomi- nated, I think, 'Oh, that's such a cool thing. I hope we get that someday.' And this year, we got it! It's just a thrill. Because of our journey, we are grate- ful for any nomination that comes our way, because we have lived on both sides. We know what it is to not have anyone even notice you." Very noticed has been "Girl Crush," which by itself accounts for two of Little Big Town's five current CMA nominations ... for single and music video of the year. (The others are for vocal group of the year, album of the year for "Pain Killer," and musical event of the year — with Miranda Lambert — for "Smokin' and Drinkin.") Some radio stations reportedly pulled "Girl Crush" in response to listener beliefs that it was about lesbianism, but Little Big Town fans and fellow artists rallied and helped the tune reach No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Songs chart. "The first time we heard it, we knew that song was very special," Schlapman says. "It just stood out. We didn't know it would have a chance on the radio; we hoped it would, because people would so relate to it. Who hasn't been in a relationship where someone wins out over you? "Of course, we know it's a provocative song ... but we also knew that at its core, it's just about jealousy. Because of our artist friends and our fans, and our friends in radio who played it anyway, that song was able to get past that controversial moment to where people were actually listening to the words and making it their own." Though Little Big Town intended to have a Christmas album out this year, Westbrook's recent vocal-cord surgery post- poned that. "He's doing so well," reports Schlapman, who adds, "We've never taken time off (before), and it ended up being a really good thing. We all were able to spend a lot of time with our families, and it probably was good for us to have a little break." Little Big Town is a nominee in the 49th Annual CMA Awards, airing Wednesday on ABC. CoverStory Little Big Town celebrates a big year at 49th CMA Awards DON'T STAY DON'T STAY … IN THE DARK. CALL 574-533-2151 OR 800-487-2151 ext. 393 TODAY ! Start your newspaper subscription today and see the light. Stay up to date on all the latest business, entertainment, sports, local news and more! 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