Ukulele virtuoso  You’ve been playing ukulele since you were 4. How did your journey with the instrument start? I first started learning basic chords from my mother. Immediately, I was hooked. My parents didn’t have to remind me to practice. In fact, they would have to take the ukulele away from me so that I […]

‘American Idol’ finalist and founder of SongSight The world got to know you as a contestant on the eighth season of “American Idol.” Looking back, what was that experience like? Ever since I was a kid, I had a vision for sharing my music with the world, and “American Idol” made that possible. To this […]

1. You recently opened Luna by Giada at the new Caesars Republic Scottsdale. Why did you decide to be part of the project? Scottsdale is a great market. My cookbooks have always done very well there. Plus, there’s a strong economy with a great restaurant scene, so it felt like a natural fit. It was […]

1. How does a performance artist, comedian and actor become an artist-in-residence at ASU? Well, truth be told, ASU Gammage and I have been dating for a while. Back in 2010, I performed “Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” at the Beyond Series. A few years later, I performed “The Wong Street Journal.” So when […]

1. How did you become a fashion designer? Early on, I would reimagine what I would see celebrities wearing. I would sit with a sketchpad and reimagine what I would see people on “The Sonny & Cher Show” and other shows wearing. That was the beginning of the design process for me. I went to […]

1. You started piano lessons as a young boy. Whose choice was that? My family wasn’t musical, and they weren’t sure what to do with me. They thought, well, he seems musical. Let’s sign him up for lessons. So, I found my own way, but I was drawn to it from the beginning. 2. When […]

1. What was your “aha” moment when you realized you were meant to be a performer?   I was 7 years old and given a solo in the kids’ church choir. I had to stand up, turn around, face the congregation and sing the solo. I remember the butterflies in my stomach before I sang […]

Phoenix Mercury guard  You’re from Columbia, Mo. How different is it living in the Valley?  I never knew I would miss the color green so much! But there’s a huge Missouri crowd out here and a lot of people from Mizzou (the University of Missouri). The people here are awesome, and our fan base is […]

Rock star and philanthropist You’re 74 and still rocking strong. Any tips to share? I got sober 40 years ago, and I never smoked cigarettes. That has a lot to do with longevity. Plus, if you love what you do, it’s not really a job.  When you started out, did you think your career would […]

Describe the journey from being a contestant on a reality cooking show to becoming a culinary media star. When I was on “Top Chef,” I did it as a personal challenge. It had nothing to do with television. Almost 15 years later, it is my job to be on television. I lived the journey and […]