Insider: At least his passes are better than his pipes

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess // Buy this photo

Vols quarterback Erik Ainge is a rock star on the field, but not so much when he's singing in the back of a car.

BEING A QUARTERBACK DOES NOT MAKE HIM 50 CENT. When it comes to talent in Erik Ainge’s family, he’s got the athletic gifts but not so much the musical abilities. But the boy tries, that’s for sure.

During a recent ride to the airport, the Vols star quarterback passed the time by singing “Party Like A Rock Star” by the Shop Boyz. How’d he do? Let’s just say that, well, he wasn’t exactly rocking the house with his performance.

“It’s a hard song to do anyway,” says a source that was witness to the performance.

Oh, well. As long as he can still play on Saturday, we’ll give him a pass. (Get it? “Football,” “quarterback,” “pass”? Oh, you’re a tough crowd.)

As for his musical preferences, “I think he is really into anything,” the source says.

He does have a fondness for country music and among the Ainge’s fans are folks like Kenny Chesney, a dyed-in-the-wool Vols football fanatic. We’re not holding our breath that Ken Ken and the Ainge will team up for a duet, but, hey, stranger things have happened.

And anyway, the Ainge does not want to upstage the real musical talent in his family — his sister, Kimberly Ainge, a budding country music performer in her own right.

In fact, it’s because the Ainge came to Tennessee that his sister decided to move here too. She’s now in Nashville pursuing her dreams. Haven’t heard of her? Well, you can soon.

Kimberly will be performing at the Big Orange Blast pep rally at 6 p.m. Thursday at Market Square.

Yes, her brother will be there to give a small speech after her performance. However, the Insider has learned that the Ainge will be at the pep rally in time to hear his sister’s performance.

He’ll just be hidden away as to not take away from her time in the spotlight. This will mark her Knoxville singing debut, after all.

OK. Promise not to tell anyone? The Ainge will be tucked away on the Chamber of Commerce’s balcony to watch the performance. So if you hear tone-deaf singing coming from that direction, you might see if it’s the Ainge.

Don’t feel so bad for him. He knows he’s not the next Justin Timberlake.

“He openly admits his sister got the musical talent, and he got the athletic talent,” says the source.

Whisperings

THANK HER FOR BEING A FRIEND. Television icon Betty White will visit Knoxville in November to support her favorite friends — animals.

Our favorite “Golden Girls” actress will be here Nov. 1-2 to sign ornaments during two holiday mini-cruises to benefit the Morris Animal Foundation. The foundation is supporting protection of and enhancing the health of dogs, cats, horses and wildlife.

The signing events will take place aboard The Volunteer Princess and are sponsored by Joy To The World Collectibles, a Knoxville-based company that designs and distributes upscale European glass ornaments.

Betty has been actively involved with MAF for 40 years and has endorsed ornaments designed by Joy To The World for nine years.

Animal Planet’s “Emergency Vets” personality Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald will be a guest on Nov. 1.

Betty will be signing ornaments at both events, including designs from The Pet Set, a collection of more than 200 breed-specific ornaments distributed internationally by Joy To The World.

Volunteer Princess’ “champagne” cruise will happen Nov. 1 and will be a progressive dinner.

Guests will have hors d’oeuvres and cocktails on the water, dock at Calhoun’s on the River for dinner, and then have dessert on the boat. The Nov. 2 event will be a more casual affair with a 22 hour cruise including heavy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

Tickets are $500 for Thursday’s event and $250 for Friday’s event. Tickets are limited to 100 each night and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are available by calling Joy To The World at 865-470-7148 or ordering online at joytotheworld.com.

WORDS TO LIVE BY. “You know what they say: you can lead a herring to water, but you have to walk really fast or he’ll die.”

— Betty White (as Rose) on “The Golden Girls”

Terry Morrow’s blog is http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/. He reviews for “Style,” Fridays on WBIR, Channel 10, and “The Marc & Kim & Frank Show,” weekday mornings, WWST-FM, Star-102.1. He may be reached at 865-342-6445 and Morrow2@knews.com.