Post by 1kennychesney on Jun 16, 2007 19:18:05 GMT -5
Kenny look a likes!!
Here's to faces I have seen
A carnival of those who dream
Rodeos seekin' fame
Table dancers I can't name
Willie T. in Abilene
Karaoke's all-time king
And every six-string wannabe
Dreamin' big and livin' free like me
-- "Like Me," Kenny Chesney
HEY GOOD-LOOKIN'. Sevierville resident Dennis Murphy is getting the perks of being Kenny Chesney without doing the dirty work — like singing and stuff.
How'd he do that? He's a dead ringer for the Luttrell superstar.
Murphy, who is the drummer for the gospel group the Kingdom Heirs, performs at Dollywood for his day job. But dozens of times a year, he wings his way to conventions and public appearances as a Kenny Chesney impersonator.
Murphy has already been seen on the impersonation competition "The Next Best Thing: Who is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator?" It airs 8 p.m. Wednesdays on WATE, Channel 6.
He got past the preliminary round and is on to the semifinals in Los Angeles. He auditioned in New York City.
The show is still airing preliminary auditions from its four-city tour. Once that is complete in a couple of weeks, Murphy and the other semifinalists will return to perform.
Celebrity judges will determine who will go on to compete in the next round of auditions, while America will vote for the final winning impersonator through a viewer voting system.
The winner will receive a grand prize of $100,000.
Because of his uncanny resemblance, Murphy is mistaken for the real deal often. He gets fans gawking at him in airports and people wanting to meet him.
Murphy gets great perks by accident, too — like free meals and upgrades to first class on planes.
Such gifts are nice, but Murphy says it also puts him in an uneasy position. Do you decline the gift and tell them they are mistaken after such grand gestures are offered?
"You almost feel worse about telling them the truth," Murphy tells the Insider. So, yes, he accepts the freebies.
He's met the real Chesney, too. The real Ken-Ken approves of the copycat.
"Life is pretty good in first class," Murphy says with a laugh.
Whisperings
DOLLY DUTY. Our other superstar — Dolly Parton — will become a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts during a ceremony being held today at Dollywood. In turn, she will honor East Tennessee's 28 Gold Award Girl Scouts with "a special gift" commemorating their achievement.
Gold Award winners earn the status by performing at least 100 hours of service, such as providing business attire for the homeless or building an equestrian jump course for a local college.
Now on to more-pressing matters: Will someone be able to find a place for Parton to pin her merit badges? And will Dollywood employees be required to buy a box of cookies from her next winter?
WORDS TO LIVE BY. "Kenny's dad comes to see my show at Dollywood. He's like, 'Dennis, you didn't ask for any of (the mistaken-identity situations).' He says don't worry about it."
— Dennis Murphy, Kenny Chesney impersonator.
A carnival of those who dream
Rodeos seekin' fame
Table dancers I can't name
Willie T. in Abilene
Karaoke's all-time king
And every six-string wannabe
Dreamin' big and livin' free like me
-- "Like Me," Kenny Chesney
HEY GOOD-LOOKIN'. Sevierville resident Dennis Murphy is getting the perks of being Kenny Chesney without doing the dirty work — like singing and stuff.
How'd he do that? He's a dead ringer for the Luttrell superstar.
Murphy, who is the drummer for the gospel group the Kingdom Heirs, performs at Dollywood for his day job. But dozens of times a year, he wings his way to conventions and public appearances as a Kenny Chesney impersonator.
Murphy has already been seen on the impersonation competition "The Next Best Thing: Who is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator?" It airs 8 p.m. Wednesdays on WATE, Channel 6.
He got past the preliminary round and is on to the semifinals in Los Angeles. He auditioned in New York City.
The show is still airing preliminary auditions from its four-city tour. Once that is complete in a couple of weeks, Murphy and the other semifinalists will return to perform.
Celebrity judges will determine who will go on to compete in the next round of auditions, while America will vote for the final winning impersonator through a viewer voting system.
The winner will receive a grand prize of $100,000.
Because of his uncanny resemblance, Murphy is mistaken for the real deal often. He gets fans gawking at him in airports and people wanting to meet him.
Murphy gets great perks by accident, too — like free meals and upgrades to first class on planes.
Such gifts are nice, but Murphy says it also puts him in an uneasy position. Do you decline the gift and tell them they are mistaken after such grand gestures are offered?
"You almost feel worse about telling them the truth," Murphy tells the Insider. So, yes, he accepts the freebies.
He's met the real Chesney, too. The real Ken-Ken approves of the copycat.
"Life is pretty good in first class," Murphy says with a laugh.
Whisperings
DOLLY DUTY. Our other superstar — Dolly Parton — will become a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts during a ceremony being held today at Dollywood. In turn, she will honor East Tennessee's 28 Gold Award Girl Scouts with "a special gift" commemorating their achievement.
Gold Award winners earn the status by performing at least 100 hours of service, such as providing business attire for the homeless or building an equestrian jump course for a local college.
Now on to more-pressing matters: Will someone be able to find a place for Parton to pin her merit badges? And will Dollywood employees be required to buy a box of cookies from her next winter?
WORDS TO LIVE BY. "Kenny's dad comes to see my show at Dollywood. He's like, 'Dennis, you didn't ask for any of (the mistaken-identity situations).' He says don't worry about it."
— Dennis Murphy, Kenny Chesney impersonator.
