hWal-Mart hires Brooks, Destiny's Child for ads

hWal-Mart hires Brooks,Destiny's Child for ads
BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- In a first for Wal-Mart, the retailer has recruited celebrities such as Garth Brooks and Destiny's Child to appear in holiday television and print ads.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. started its holiday campaign this week, the first time the world's largest retailer has run ads this early in the season, company officials said.
Celebrities in the ad campaign also will include Martina McBride, Jesse McCartney and Queen Latifah. The ads feature celebrities in their own homes to fit with the theme, "Home for the Holidays."
The campaign is part of Bentonville-based Wal-Mart's continuing effort to be seen as up-to-date, said John Fleming, Wal-Mart's chief marketing officer.
"This campaign corresponds to our overall objective of being more relevant to the broad range of customers who shop in our stores," Fleming said. "We expect our focus on familiar celebrities who are enjoying themselves at home with family and friends to resonate well with everyone who is looking forward to being home for the holidays this year."
The celebrities will be featured in print, TV, radio and Internet ads as well as on posters and signs in Wal-Mart stores.
Blues musician Cray filmsvideo for anti-war track
ROLLINSFORD, N.H. -- Surrounded by fall foliage and hundreds of military boots, Robert Cray filmed a video for "Twenty," the anti-war title track of his latest album.
"I just want people to see what I deem as a war for no reason, but only for greed," the 52-year-old blues musician said Tuesday. "There's been nothing proven about weapons of mass destruction or anything like that and all these boots out here are of innocent victims."
Cray was standing in a hayfield, surrounded by 2,027 pairs of black military boots supplied by the American Friends Service Committee traveling exhibit, "Eyes Wide Open." Each pair represents a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq.
"Twenty" is about a 20-year-old man who signs up to go to war against his wishes and is killed after his tour of duty is extended.
"This isn't going to be on MTV or VH1," Cray said, adding that the video will be more like a mini-film that he hopes will be played at festivals or on the Web.
It's a boy for 'Big,' wife
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- "Big" Kenny Alphin, of the country music duo Big & amp; Rich, and his wife are the parents of a baby boy.
Lincoln W.H. Alphin was born Wednesday morning to Alphin and his wife, Christiev, according to a spokeswoman at the singer's record label, Warner Brothers Nashville.
Big & amp; Rich's debut album, "Horse of a Different Color," mixed country with rap and rock beats and included the hit "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)."
The duo's second album, "Comin' To Your City," is set to be released Nov. 15.
Notable deaths
Fred S. Fox Sr., a veteran comedy writer who worked for some of Hollywood's most legendary entertainers, including Bob Hope and George Burns, has died. He was 90. Fox died Oct. 23 in Los Angeles of pneumonia, said his daughter, Jan Fox.
Michael Piller, a writer and producer best known as one of the creative forces behind the "Star Trek" television franchise, whose scripts brought a human touch to the intergalactic saga, has died. He was 57. Piller died Tuesday of cancer at his home in Los Angeles, his family said.
Today's birthdays
Former CBS news anchorman Walter Cronkite is 89. Actress Doris Roberts is 75. Actress Loretta Swit is 68. Blues singer Delbert McClinton is 65. First Lady Laura Bush is 59. Actress Markie Post is 55. Pianist Yanni is 51. Actor Ralph Macchio is 44. "Survivor" host Jeff Probst is 44. Actor Matthew McConaughey is 36. Rapper-producer Sean "Puffy" Combs is 36.