Sunday Rose and Elias Like Books
Celebrities live in Nashville. An unwritten rule if you live in Nashville is that you leave celebrities alone. No autographs. No pictures. No weird, “I’m your biggest fan” conversations.
In the five years I have lived here, I have seen only a few big celebrities – Big Kenny (at a charity dinner), Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman (out to lunch), Amy Grant (out to lunch), Al Gore (at Starbucks). Supposedly Nicole Kidman works out at my gym, but since I, a-hem, never go to the gym, I have not seen her. I guess this doesn’t matter though since she and Sunday Rose were at the bookstore yesterday. And I talked to her. You want the juicy details?
Well, don’t twist my arm.
I walked into the children’s area to pick up a few books as gifts for a friend. I rarely go into this bookstore’s children’s section (mostly because I buy so much from Amazon), but it is quaint and I look forward to taking Elias to story-time there. I didn’t know where to find the books I wanted to purchase, so I was looking for an employee. I thought the woman across the way might be an employee doing story-time. She had a little hat on (similar to this one) that I thought may be like a costume or something, she was holding a book and a baby.
I then realized I was wrong.
It was Nicole and Sunday.
You might remember that Sunday was born about a week before Elias, so I was much more curious to see her than Nicole.
I shopped around some more, careful not to stare, but trying to sneak some glances now and again.
Of course, I wanted to take a picture, but I refrained. See above rules of Nashville.
Nicole casually walked around the store, talking to Sunday, letting her touch things, etc. She walked over to the board books, where I was.
I took a chance and said, “does she have any of these books?”
Nicole looked up and said, “no, what are they? She loves books.”
They are Elias’s favorite books –That’s Not My… 
I showed her That’s Not My Monster… and mentioned that my son, who is about her age loves the texture in this one, and that I have read reviews from people saying it helped their kids not be afraid of monsters.
Nicole picked it up, read a page or two to Sunday and said, “we’ll get this monster book for you Sunday,” and walked away.
So, that is my big star sighting from yesterday. I was a bit star-struck, but also quickly remembered that she is just a mommy like me. She just happens to be known by most of the world. I can’t imagine what it must be like. Even in Nashville, where everyone leaves stars alone, you could certainly FEEL that everyone in the store knew she was there. And that must be hard.
Do you have any fun celebrity stories to share?
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JESSICA WHAT A GREAT STORY!WOW!I HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY BLESSED DAY!
That’s so cool!! I get star struck by everyone! My last *star* sighting was when I saw Selah in concert and I got to have my photo taken with Todd, Alan, and Amy! *happy sigh*.. I just love them so much!! lol.. Now if I ran into you I’d get all star struck too!!
Have a wonderful day!!! God bless!
I met CeCe Winans in my office elevator a few months ago. She is endorsing one of our products and was here for a meeting. I wouldn’t have known her face, but someone introduced us and of course I knew the name.
When I first moved to Nashville, I daydreamed that I ran into Faith and Tim and became their kids’ babysitter, but alas I have yet to have any random star sightings in my almost six years here!
I would be star struck if I met her! I ADORE Nicole Kidman. And the book looks so cute. I’ll have to check it out for our daughter!
I had a REAL sit down lunch with Tom Hanks while on the set of The Green Mile. I was there with (well I will leave his name out of it)…. but he had access in and out at his free will to Warner Bro. Studio in LA. So he took me on the set of The Green Mile and I got to stand behind the lady with the script while Tom Hanks filmed a very deep jail scene. They took a break and it was time for lunch. I got mine and sat down at a table, and before I know it Tom Hanks sat two chair next to me. He struck up the conversation and was a very nice person.
I have met MANY celebrities being that I used to host a nationally televised travel show, and have been acting and modeling for x-amount of years….. including attending The Grammys 3 years ago where I saw hundreds of celebrities…but for whatever reason the Tom Hanks one has been my favorite.
Oh I am in the music video with Kenny and Uncle Cracker “When The Sun Goes Down”…. my friend dated him soon after he split with Renee Z.
I can tell you some juicy celebrity stuff…. HA!
Great story…..
Have a great day.
I met Jon Foreman of Switchfoot on the boardwalk. :)Granted, it was before a concert, but he was just walking around, eating ice cream, and was nice enough to talk with us and take pictures. 🙂
I have met Kt Tunstall. She was in a music shop in London and she said to me that the CD I had picked up of another artist was ‘rockin’ lol. I also met Natasha Bedingfield at a festival. She was lovely and asked me all about my nursing studies etc.
I think ym biggest celebrity was when I met the Queen a couple of years ago, although she was my least favourite encounter because you could just tell she didn’t want to be there.
@ Misty – Tom Hanks, super jealous!!!
Fun story, how exciting!!
My husband is in a christian rock band, and tours also with secular bands so I’ve met a lot of other bands. I usually try to play it cool when I meet them by not asking for autographs or picutres. Although when we went to the Grammy’s a couple of years ago I was star struck at the after party. I ran smack into Beyonce as soon as I walked into the door. (like physically bumped into her. I was thinking…gosh I’m a nerd!) ha! I did get the nerve to have my picture taken with Carrie Underwood, and she was actually pretty nice. Jessica Simpson’s dad wouldn’t let anyone near her but I did get to see her and John Mayer cuddling on the couch. tee hee!
My biggest “star” moment that I remember though was last year I got to be an extra in Garth Brooks “Midnight Sun” video. I asked him if I could take a picture with him, and he was sooo nice! I’ve liked him since I was a kid! 🙂
I work in radio…so I've been blessed to have had the opportunity to meet quite a bit of Christian artists. However, Jimmy Needham (& wife Kelly) seemed to stand out in my mind. What down-to-earth/friendly people!
my only celebrity encounter was the one i blogged about on February 1. http://amykiane.typepad.com/ordinarily_extraordinary/2009/02/traveling-encounters-v-2.html
Well dang. She should’ve told you how brilliant and helpful you were! lol.
No star sightings. Unless you count Bill Clinton before he was president. He was our governor for a long time. And I was behind him in the line for a movie. My Dad talked to him.
I met Barry Williams (Greg Brady). He was in a play and came out to the lobby of the theater when the play was over. He was friendly and had a nice sense of humor.
Now, I think my next one is celebrity by association, but back in the mid-70s I met Lucille Ball’s third grade teacher. I was a teenager and she came to my aunt and uncle’s campground. She said Lucy was a bright and funny child.
I worked in politics, so most of my “celebrities” are politicians. I worked for a major Presidential campaign in 2008 so I met all of the “serious” candidates and a very many not so serious ones! Of them all, Mike Huckabee and John Edwards were the friendliest, maybe it’s a southern thing 🙂
During the 2006 elections I worked on a gubernatorial race and as a “thank you” for our work we got to meet President Bush (EXTREMELY briefly, as you can imagine). His accent was stronger than I thought it would be 🙂
I’ve never *met* a Hollywood-type celebrity, but I saw Sophia Coppola and Alan Rickman while I was studying in Paris last year.
As for music, well, I went to high school youth group things with the guys in Falling Up (not that we’re friends…). We never thought that the hand photocopied fliers for concerts at the Boys and Girls Club would lead to them “making it”!
Thanks for sharing, I’m vicariously excited you met Nicole Kidman (and enjoy hearing all the other celeb encounters as well!)
Fun story, Jess! I love Nicole Kidman as well. Something about her just fascinates me. What I love is that she is just as beautiful in person as she is on the cover of a magazine. I sat behind Keith and her at the CMA's one year which was fun…I kept staring at her huge diamond. ha! Then, I have run into them a few different times either at Whole Foods or Peter's Sushi. Oh, one of my other favorite sitings was Taylor Swift & Miley Cyrus in FIDO. They were cute. Anyway I agree with your Nashville rules. Just observe, no pictures, no staring… 🙂 They are people just like us, usually just glad to be home.
That is so cool! My only celeb story is pretty lame and most people don’t even remember the celebrity! It was the british lady from the show “Fashion Emergency” she came up and started talking to my sister and I at FAO Schwartz in NYC
hilarious!! love it!!
Jessica, did Nicole smile and chat easily as you showed her the books or was she more reserved (hopefully not snobby)? Did Elias and Sunday look at each other? A few more details please!!
My only real celebrity story is that we went to a charity auction and concert at Ronnie Dunn’s house. Both he and Kix Brooks are awesome…very welcoming and friendly. My son did see Nicole (before Sunday) coming out of Green Hill mall. He was excited! He thinks she is hot! (he’s 21)
Awesome story! And nice job on keeping it cool!
I work in a tourist shop, and a couple of times, I have had customers that I’m pretty sure were celebrities. The main one that sticks out in my mind was one of the guys from CSI. But other than that, I haven’t really had any spontaneous sitings.
I swear, I'm such a loser… I was telling everyone who called me yesterday about your book consultation with Nicole!!! 🙂 I really need to get my own life someday, but for now I'll just keep borrowing yours 🙂
I'm pretty celebrity-less. I met Gopher from the Love Boat when he was campaigning against a friend of my family's for a Congress seat. He obviously won… and is a poor substitute for Nicole Kidman in the celebrity department.
Oh! And I called into one of those A&E concert things years ago and talked to Gloria Estefan… she dedicated a song to me. Again… not as cool as Nicole.
Yep, that's it. I need to move to Nashville.
wow…no I have nothing on that…that’s awesome!
That’s too funny – but pretty neat that she was friendly to you!
My dad shoots commercials and I remember one day Paulette Carlson was in our kitchen – but funny thing, I have NO idea who she really is – I was a teenager though so someone told me she was a “star” so I was obviously star-struck. Oh – and I stalked Charlie Corsmo’s backyard all the time. Two people whom I am sure you have NO clue who they are….that makes two of us! 🙂
One of my very favorite books for my eight month old boy!!! love your blog…
Anne Marie
OH ! I love this post & topic !!
OK. How about this ?
My son, who has lived in Nashville for just a year (age 26), held the door open for Miss Kellie Pickler, coming out of a Cracker Barrel, just 2 weeks ago !
He was excited. Of course, the one he REALLY wants to meet up w/ is the one & only Carrie Underwood.
Yes, I would take her as my daughter-in-law. HA !
He has "spotted" others on the street….Chris Daughtry, Lisa Hartman Black, Martina, etc.
Um…for me…I'm a CRAZY fool for Mr. ALAN JACKSON.
I have 3 autographs from different concerts.
My husband has shook his hand.
I have "dreamily" looked up at him, when he was handing back my autograph to me and said "thank you". 🙂 Just like a teen-age star-struck girl.
I can't help it, to me he is sooo lovely !
My husband & I are IN ALAN's Precious Memories DVD, taped at the Ryman. We are on the 2nd row ! We had seats for the balcony, but before the show, we got asked to move down front for camera panning of the crowd. (They were being selective as to who showed up on the screen & I guess we passed). HA ! What a suprise !
I was so excited. I couldn't even speak. We were 2 rows AHEAD of ALAN's wife, mother, daughters & sisters ! TEE!HEE!
I have been up close to many at concerts, from sitting on the 1st or 2nd rows. We go to concerts all year long, but I guess I can't say I have talked to any of them.
I touched the toe of Toby Keith's boot once. Does that count ? HA ! I was up at the stage & the toe of his boot was hanging off the edge.
OH ! And, can't leave out this one, I have my picture taken w/ Little Jimmy Dickens ! He was standing on the back steps of the Ryman, on the back alley. My husband & I were in town visiting & just happened to be walking down the alley & there he was. I boldly (which is totally out of character for me) just walked up & asked if I could have my picture taken w/ him. He was so kind & didn't mind at all.
It was fun, even though he is now 88. I think he was 85 when this took place. Still a legend.
OK. I took up more than enough space on your comment list…just to go on & on….
Have a great day & week-end !!
That might be one of the sweetest celebrity sightings. I love that she was just looking at books with her.
I was marching in the Inaugural Parade and met Kelsey Grammer (SP?).
I love this story!
I once sold socks to Reba McEntire when I worked part-time at Macy’s when it was Castner Knott a million years ago.
My husband and I drank wine at the downtown wine festival with actor Charles Durning (he was in Oh Brother Where Art Thou.)
Great little story! So many ‘celeb’ stories… sorry I can’t add to them. There just doesn’t seem to be any ‘celebs’ around here. What’s so wrong with good ol’ Nebraska?? 😉
OOOOOOOMG!
You’re sooo lucky… I must confess I’m a little jealous! I live in Brasil and the chance I have to ever know Nicole is like, zero. You lucky!
Before getting a job as a paralegal I waited tables at 2 different Longhorn’s and a J.Alexander’s – so I have seen/ waited on many celebrities – “Pre-Sunday” Keith and Nicole were “regulars” at J’s. very very very sweet! Martina McBride and her husband and kids also regulars and GREAT tippers!
David Alan Coe (country singer)
– creepy and WEIRD as you would imagine.
But one of my fav moments was a few years ago after Keith Urban did a brief stint in rehab for alcohol abuse, he came in J.Alexanders and I waited on him and when taking his drink order he asked for decaf hot tea – and the words that fell out of my mouth next – were just that they fell out uncontrollably
– I said “Oh, you giving up caffeine too now?” Then I wanted to crawl under his table – could not believe I just said that outloud – but you know what – he cracked up, and I mean really laughed not the polite ha ha laugh either – he was really tickled…
and said “yup I’m trying..thanks Brittany”
Good story 🙂