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Published May 18, 2015
After winning the hearts of "American Idol" audiences, Kellie Pickler enhanced her female assets. But the country crooner says there's more behind her success than her appearance.
"My grandparents had such a huge impact on my life — they took me under their wing and made me the woman that I am today, and without them I could have easily been put into foster care," Pickler said before explaining that her mother abandoned her when she was a little girl and her father struggled with alcoholism and a drug addiction which saw him in and out of prison.
But rather then being upset by her challenging start in life, the Louisiana-born beauty believes it was all for the better.
"It’s great to be open about everything I’ve had to overcome and this turned out to be the best thing — I am so, so blessed. My grandma filled that void of not having my mom in my life, so she was like my grandma, my mom and my best friend all in one," Picker said, adding that she's written a very personal song dedicated to her grandmother who passed away when she was 15.
The singing sensation has also teamed up with the AARP Foundation, which builds awareness and supports the 4 and a half million American children being raised by their grandparents.
But even though Kellie didn't have any siblings to squabble or sing with growing up, fellow "Idol" contestant Katharine McPhee seems to have helped her make up for lost time.
"Katharine has been like a sister to me," Pickler said. "So I was very, very honored when she asked me to be a bridesmaid at her wedding."
Sin City: Federline Honored as Father of the Year, Britney Turns Animalistic
Flanked by over 30 friends, including his attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, Kevin Federline eventually decided to make an appearance at Prive Las Vegas just before 1 a.m. on Saturday morning.
The father of four was honored as the hotspot's Father of the Year, and he apparently set a good example for all the young partygoers by drinking only water at the VIP banquettes. K-Fed even ignored the leggy lingerie ladies strutting in the provocative Ed Hardy Intimates fashion show that was taking place in the packed club — although he did apparently puff away while he was there.
Ironically, Federline’s ex-wife Britney Spears also spent the weekend in Vegas with her father and co-conservator of her assets, Jamie Spears.
Spears reportedly spent her Friday night partying at Palms Place followed by a particularly adventurous Saturday afternoon. We’re told the reformed rehabber was all smiles as she swam with the dolphins in a private pool at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat situated in The Mirage.
Accompanied by a female friend, Brit reportedly then gushed over Siegfried & Roy’s 6-week-old tiger cubs and even posed with them for pics before leaving the habitat’s gift shop with a plush lion and tiger.
So with mom and dad both on The Strip, where were Spears' two baby boys?
According to an insider, a tussle was likely to have gone down on Friday in the Los Angeles Superior Court regarding whose turn it was to nurture Sean Preston and Jayden James. The attorneys for both parties apparently came to an undisclosed agreement behind closed doors at the custody hearing.
Also spending Father's Day in Sin City was Duane "Dog" Chapman, who chose boogying over bounty hunting at PURE on Friday night.
Kendra Wilkinson Celebrates Her 23rd Birthday With Warren Beatty
Hugh Hefner’s girlfriend Kendra Wilkinson (as well as his two other leading ladies Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt) stepped out in old Hollywood style on Thursday evening to pay tribute to the iconic Warren Beatty, who received AFI’s 36th Lifetime Achievement Award .
But it just so happened to be Wilkinson’s 23rd birthday. So rather than bunny-hopping in the Playboy Mansion she calls home, Kendra donned a beautiful ball gown on her big day — schmoozing amid the A-list circle that included Jane Fonda, Eva Mendes, Annette Bening, Faye Dunaway, Dustin Hoffman and Jack Nicholson.
The busty blonde also told Pop Tarts she celebrated "Kendra-style" with Lakers tickets and clubbing at Coco de Ville two days earlier.
"That night was so, so fun," she said. "Oh, but I don’t remember much."
As for her magazine mogul man, he has stepped out in support of Obama for president.
"One thing Warren and I always shared together was our support of Democratic candidates," Hef said.
Tidbit
George Clooney's former flame Sarah Larson has just been chosen as the face (and body) of a new line of couture dresses designed by Christian Audigier (the mastermind behind the Ed Hardy label).
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https://www.foxnews.com/story/pop-tarts-kellie-pickler-blessed-to-have-been-abandoned-by-parents