http://www.sunherald.com/160/story/568334.html
Brooks, Yearwood as builders
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood stopped to talk with media and took pictures with fans backstage following the opening ceremony for the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, but it was clear that taking part in the Habitat for Humanity Gulf Coast project meant a lot more than a photo op to the stars.
Now, after doing the Local Buzz this long, I know that whenever one of my columns includes a celebrity or two coming to the Coast, it will be promptly followed by phone calls from assorted friends who want to know, "What are they really like?"
So let me just tell ya.
After spending a little time watching and talking to Brooks and Yearwood, I left with two impressions. The first - these are two people who really love each other.
The second - they came here knowing their celebrity status can bring attention to the needs of the Gulf Coast, and while some notables would stop there, these two also came to swing hammers and sweat and help with their hands. In other words, they are genuine.Both Brooks and Yearwood said they were inspired by the hands-on hard work and dedication of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, and that like the Carters, both have some building skills of their own to put to use.
Yearwood said she's been swinging a hammer since she was 6 years old, when she helped her dad put the floors down in their family home. "I can be a girlie girl, too, but it feels natural (working with tools and building.) I want to be foreman," said Yearwood, "and this is the first time we've been on a build together."
"That's right," added Brooks. "Normally she's somewhere across the street and I can only catch a glimpse of her now and then."
"If people (outside of the area) notice what is happening here because of us or Jimmy Carter, then that's great. It's like all the attention goes away after a time. The Gulf Coast, you rarely see news stories about it now, and things are different, but they are moving slowly," Yearwood said.
"We went to New Orleans (for a Habitat build) and that was wonderful, but we didn't want to just do New Orleans, we wanted to be here, too.
"And we love the build. It's kind of cool if someone thinks you are a good singer, but if you can swing a hammer, now that's cool."
Brooks added that as lead singers, they are used to being "out front" in the spotlight, but here, they just wanted to be part of the team, and part of something much bigger.
The team this past week was something much bigger, including about 70,000 volunteers from more than 10 countries and possibly every state in the nation, according to Habitat CEO Jonathon Reckford.