PL loves the cheesy goodness that is "Dancing With the Stars." So when we heard Julianne Hough was coming to town with Brad Paisley, we jumped. She's a two-time champ (who is only 19!) on the show, with speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno and race car driver Helio Castroneves. We're guessing being paired with lead-footed deejay Adam Corolla -- and that early departure -- gave the Utah native plenty of time to work on her country-pop debut disc.

PL talked to Hough about "Dancing With the Stars," fame and what it's like to be a triple threat.

PL: What's your show going to be like?

JH: I'm not going to give you the samba when I come in. I will move around the stage, but I will be singing.

PL: You can sing, act and dance. What's your favorite way of entertaining?

JH: I've always wanted to do it all. I love doing different things but this [singing] is my true love. This is a passion of mine. But it is great to be a triple threat. I love that I can do all three things.

PL: Do you mind being known as someone from "Dancing With the Stars," even though you're trying to carve out a career as a singer?

JH: No. I'm proud of doing "Dancing With the Stars." It's been a great opportunity. People know me because of that show. A year ago nobody knew my name.

PL: What's it like being on the cover of magazines and getting noticed by fans?

JH: It's crazy. When I go to an airport, I see my face on the covers of all these magazines and I just look away. It's crazy how much has happened in my life but this is what I wanted.

PL: Part of your childhood went by the boards since you trained so intensely to become an entertainer. Any regrets?

JH: This is what I wanted to do. When I was 10 to 15, I was away from my family and I trained like an Olympian.

PL: Are you ready to try your luck acting?

JH: I would love to get my feet wet in that world. But I don't want to look too far ahead. I'm focusing on the music and enjoying the dancing side of things when I have the opportunity. But I couldn't ask for a better situation than going on tour with Brad Paisley. It's a great way to learn and that's the thing I've been doing so much over the last two years. I've picked up a lot on "Dancing With the Stars" and on this tour. This is awesome. I get to express myself in so many ways. I've worked so hard for this but I've been incredibly fortunate.

Ed Condran

Julianne Hough opens for Brad Paisley on Saturday at the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek. Learn a bit more about singer Jewel, who is also on the bill, on page 10.

Call him Snoop Puppy Dogg

Fifteen years ago, Snoop Dogg was one of the most controversial figures in popular culture. Accused of violence, misogyny and even accessory to a real-life murder, Snoop was the hottest of buttons back then. Even after he was acquitted on murder charges in 1996, Snoop's name frequently came up through the rest of the '90s when angry pundits were cataloging examples of scurrilousness.

Nowadays, Snoop still slings plenty of blue language on his latest album, "Ego Trippin'" (Geffen Records). Yet Snoop's image has evolved into a latter-day equivalent of "Cheech and Chong." Whether he's doing a reality show or touring with pothead band 311 (a show that plays Raleigh on Wednesday, see page 12), Snoop's persona is a warm, fuzzy caricature of stoner jargon and appetites.

"Ego Trippin'" even takes a shot at following Kid Rock's lead into redneck hip-hop country with "My Medicine" -- which Snoop dedicates to Johnny Cash, "a real American gangsta." Over a strummed acoustic shuffle, Snoop and cameo guest Everlast hold forth on the joys of recreational pill-popping. (What, you thought the "Medicine" of the title was Advil?)

"The more dedicated, the more medicated," Snoop drawls. And just in case anybody missed the point, he's wearing a cowboy hat in the video, which features a cameo from noted ganja enthusiast Willie Nelson.

Can a walk-on part in the next "Harold and Kumar" stoner comedy be far behind?

David Menconi

Relive your nightmare

Remember the one who locked you out of the room at exam time? Or the one who stole your car? College roommates, we remember them well. Oh sure, some have become best friends. But others ... Those are the ones we want to hear about. For our upcoming college issue, we are looking for your worst college roommate experiences. Send your stories to phillip.crook@newsobserver.com by 5 p.m. Aug. 4.

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