Billboard Bits: Garth Brooks, Eminem, 'N Sync

12/17/2001

Stories on Garth Brooks, Eminem, and 'N Sync.

Country superstar Garth Brooks and his wife of nearly 15 years, Sandy, are officially divorced. A spokesperson for Brooks would not comment beyond confirming that the singer's divorce is final.

The 39-year-old country singer cited irreconcilable differences in a complaint filed in November 2000 in Davidson County Circuit Court. The couple, which has three daughters, ages 8, 6 and 4, and homes in Tennessee and Oklahoma, had been separated since March 1999, according to court papers.

Brooks' latest album, "Scarecrow" (Capitol) is in its fourth week at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. His latest single, "Wrapped Up In You" is at No. 8 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, while Brooks duet with George Jones, "Beer Run," is at No. 29.

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"The Eminem we're putting on screen is so not the Eminem the public thinks they know," director Curtis Hanson ("L.A. Confidential," "Wonder Boys") tells the Detroit Free Press of the rapper's performance in the upcoming film "8 Mile."

"I don't want to jinx him by comparing him to icons like (Marlon) Brando and (Montgomery) Clift," Hanson continues, "but the best version of this movie would have the same emotional power as something like 'East of Eden' or 'Splendor in the Grass.'"

Shooting on the drama will wrap next month. Formerly known as "The Untitled Detroit Project," the film about a young white man's search for identity in a predominantly black culture is loosely based on Eminem's life. "8 Mile" co-stars Kim Basinger and Brittany Murphy, and is due for U.S. release in summer 2002.

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For the second year in a row, 'N Sync tops online search engine Lycos list of most searched music groups. The boy band beat out the likes of Destiny's Child (No. 2), Backstreet Boys (No. 3), Limp Bizkit (No. 4), and the Beatles (No. 5) for the honor.

Britney Spears leads the list of top women searched for in Lycos' 2001 Web's Most Wanted wrap-up (she's No. 2 on the overall most searched list, behind the animated Japanese show "Dragonball"). Eminem pulls in at No. 2 on the top men list, behind terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden. On the overall list, Eminem is at No. 34, down from last year's No. 15 ranking.

A lot of searching led alternative rock act Linkin Park to earn the biggest new band of the year crown, pulling in at No. 10 on the list. For more lists, visit the Lycos 50 web site.

-- Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.