Reel to Real

You might've seen in the news that Grammy winning country music singer/songwriter Brad Paisley and his actress wife Kimberly Williams (According to Jim) are expecting their second child in April.

Although Brad has been trilling lately that he's been "Waitin' on a Woman," (see below) in reality, the duo has been happily married for five years – not an easy proposition when you can clock most showbiz unions with an egg timer.

Hearing that Williams is pregnant reminded me of when Dave and I, years ago, sat down with the little pixie for a mid-morning coffee and a couple of mutant scones at Mani's Bakery in Santa Monica, CA.

Williams had just broken out as the titular "bride" in Father of the Bride, the 1991 remake of the Spencer Tracy/Elizabeth Taylor classic with Steve Martin, this time, starring as the harried father.

Way back then (she used to drive a Saturn, she told us, to save money), Kimberly whispered that she had just started dating tennis legend Pete Sampras but that the relationship was in "the early stages" and hadn't progressed to the point where she would be seen on TV cutaways rooting him on in Grand Slam finals from the players' family box.

Although Kimberly and Pete's love match lingered about as long as an Andy Roddick first serve at love, each has gone on to find their soul mate; Sampras with another blonde actress stunner, Bridgette Wilson (The Wedding Planner), and Williams with Paisley.

During our chat, Kimberly talked about the pain of being rejected during movie and television auditions. It became so debilitating, she said, that at one point she almost gave up acting in favor of a career in journalism.

"Right before Father of the Bride I just broke down and said 'I can't subject myself to this anymore,'" she said. "I went to journalism school at Northwestern and said, 'Make me a journalist!' I was even mapping out my courses and looking into summer internships when I received a callback for Bride and my agent said I better rethink my decision to become a reporter."

If hindsight is 20/20, then journalism's loss is sitcom's gain and proof positive for Brad that good things come to those who wait …

FYI: Paisley is set to co-host the CMA Awards November 12 with Carrie Underwood. He's up for four awards: Male Vocalist, Song, Music Video and Entertainer of the Year.

Check out Tom's article, "A Couple of Good 'Ol Boys," featuring his music video (with Andy Griffith) "Waitin' on a Woman."  Discuss Brad and his music on the Talkin' 'bout My Generation's Music board.  Discuss Kimberly and Bridgette on the Actors/Actresses board.