Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

It's a fast-paced fall for country superstar Travis Tritt, who's out touring in support of his "The Storm" album and "adding more dates every day. New things are coming in all the time," he says.

The album, co-produced by "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and Tritt, is giving the singer's career a new wave of energy, he finds. Tritt makes the most of his blue-eyed soulfulness in the R & B, rock and blues-inflected collection. "I love that people are saying, 'We didn't know you could sing like this,'" he says. "After all these years, I'm so lucky to be able to do what I love to do. I would do it if nobody paid me a dime."

As a matter of fact, Tritt adds, "Ray Charles once said to me, 'Travis, I sing for free. The long hours of travel, being away from home, owning a business, dealing with employees — those are the things I get paid for.' I've tried to adopt that attitude myself. Getting up on stage — that's the easiest part, the most fun I have."

Still, he misses wife, Theresa, and their three children. "Last year at this time, we were just back from a big family get-together, a safari in Africa. This year, I'm not around," he says. "The kids realize as they're getting older that when you're in this business and you release an album — OK, it's time to work."

Working on the album online and by phone with his co-producer, Randy Jackson, between Jackson's "American Idol" shows and other duties, required the Hiram, Ga.-based Tritt to adopt a Los Angeles time schedule. "We'd get started at 1 a.m. California time, 4 a.m. Georgia time. A lot of times, I'd be up all night and sleep during the day when the kids came home from school. That went on for three, four months. Thank God my family is extremely understanding."

SHOW US THOSE ABS: Model Albert Reed is promising to take his shirt off by the end of "Dancing With the Stars," and his mom is freaking out. Oh, not about him taking his shirt off; just about him being on the show. "My mom is crying, my dad is crying, my uncles are crying. They're freaking out," says Albert about his family's elated reaction to him wowing the judges with his hot hip action this past week. "I'm from blue-collar blood. My family's hard-working construction workers, so this is a really big deal to them. They're flabbergasted. They don't even know what to think.

Albert certainly recognizes that he's one of the lesser-known competitors, but he's hoping to use that to his advantage. "There are a lot of big moneymakers there, and I'm just the little guy, so maybe people will be able to relate to that more. I think America likes the underdog. I'm kind of the Rocky Balboa story. I was doing construction work and waiting tables to make ends meet," he tells us of life before the show.

Yes, things are not always as glamorous as they seem, even for an Abercrombie & Fitch model. "The print industry is a tough industry. In the '80s, you could make a fortune out of it, but now there are a lot of celebrities who are doing all of the campaigns, so the rates are going down." Thank goodness he's learning how to dance! After all, it's never too late to start a new career. "Really, the sky's the limit."

IN STITCHES:  Vanna White, whose "Vanna Speaks" book became a best-seller when the "Wheel of Fortune" letter-turning hostess released it in 1987, tells us she's considering writing a follow-up — what with the show now celebrating its 25th season. "Maybe I'll do one covering the first 30 years," she says with a laugh — because there is certainly no end in sight on the show. Tops on her non-"Wheel" activity list right now, besides motherhood, is her Vanna's Choice yarn line. "I'm donating half my proceeds to St. Jude Children's Hospital. I chose St. Jude because I have two incredibly healthy children, and there are so many children in this world who need help," she says. "I put my heart and soul into choosing the yarn, the colors — not over-the-top, not too expensive." Her yarn is in major craft stores across the country.

STRETCHING HER WINGS: "Saturday Night Live's" beautiful Kristen Wiig made the most of her summer hiatus break, filming "the closest thing I've ever done to a drama" — the big-screen "Pretty Bird" with Paul Giamatti and Billy Crudup. "It's an independent film. I'm not exactly sure how to describe it," she says of the story, involving a man who thinks he's invented a rocket belt. "I play someone who works for Billy and Paul and ends up being Billy's love interest." Kristen, who also has the wacky "Knocked Up" comedy with Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl newly in DVD release, says she was looking to do something more dramatic. She also moved to a new house recently. And now, she says, speaking of "SNL," "I'm excited to get those juices flowing again, to turn on all the switches."

With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2007 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.