CELEBRITY WATCH
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From staff and wire reports

Today's buzz stories:

• LeAnn's back and not feeling 'Blue'
• Rockers sample 86 proof at distiller's 150th birthday
• Texas town honors native son Jimmy Dean

RENO, Nevada -- After being waylaid by health problems, singer LeAnn Rimes is getting down to business again.

"God, it feels so good to be back," she said during a concert Friday night. "I am back now and I'm here for good."

The 18-year-old, who hit it big in 1996 with the single "Blue," had to cancel 30 shows over the summer because of tonsillitis and mononucleosis. An intense schedule put extra strain on her voice, she said.

Jimmy Bedford, the master distiller at the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, gives the members of Third Eye Blind a tour. The group later played at the distillery as part of the 150th birthday celebration of Jack Daniel

LYNCHBURG, Tennessee -- The Wallflowers and Third Eye Blind flew to Tennessee last weekend to wish Jack Daniel a happy birthday.

The famous distillery kept about 1,000 guests in the dark about who'd supply the entertainment for the party Saturday celebrating the founder's 150th birthday.

"Y'all should be proud of yourselves, because rock `n' roll would not have been invented without your product," said Third Eye Blind lead singer Stephan Jenkins.

Guests got two free glasses each of Jack Daniel's whiskey.

PLAINVIEW, Texas -- On Saturday, the sausage guy came home.

Country entertainer and sausage maker Jimmy Dean was in Plainview Saturday for the unveiling of a section of sidewalk bearing his image and the words "Hometown of Jimmy Dean."

Dean, whose Top 40 hits included "Big Bad John," founded the Jimmy Dean Meat Co. in Plainview in 1968. He later sold it to Sara Lee, but still serves on the board and is a product pitchman.

"I assure you that if you get out there and believe in yourself, you can do whatever you want to do," he said.