According to GQ Magazine, that is! According to this post from RadarOnline.com, “the 28 year-old singer was quoted in the mag as being inspired to take chances by Kate Moss, who ‘could put a barrel on and it would be some sort of statement.’”

Other entertainers who made the list include Kanye West, T.I. and Jason Schwartzman.

RadarOnline.com also reports that Monday night, Timberlake made an appearance at the Fashion Week tents at NYC’s Bryant Park:

RadarOnline.com has learned that Justin was quickly escorted through the tents, past the Tenjune tent bar without even stopping for a cocktail, and into the backstage of
the show for his clothing line, William Rast. We are told he did, however, wave to the fellow fashionistas by the bar before security “whipped” him away. He is a smooth operator- be it by choice, or security!

The 2009 Folk Alliance Conference starts tomorrow at 11 a.m.  If you’ve never attended the conference, which will be held at the Downtown Marriott Hotel, it’s well worth the $250 per day (or $750 for all 5 days) admission — hundreds of musicians, including John Sebastian, Rodney Crowell, Kathy Mattea, Charlie Louvin, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Albert Lee, Lucy Wainwright Roche, and Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey, are scheduled to play. 

Go here to read CA writer Bob Mehr’s interview with performer/keynote speaker Roger McGuinn — pictured above with his 1960s-era group the Byrds. And go here to read my interview with 17-year old Pennsylvanian Brittany Ann Tranbaugh, who will be traveling more than 1,000 miles to appear at the event.  

While this is an international conference, with musicians from all over the world networking and performing, there’s plenty of Memphis in the mix, including: 

1. Screenings of the Memphis jug band documentary Chasin’ Gus’ Ghost, slated for tomorrow at 3 p.m. and Thursday at 2 p.m. 

2. An open mic set hosted by the Memphis Songwriters Association.

3. The Kids Show, on Thursday at 11:30 a.m., with Memphis host Darin Hillis and a performance from Valerie June and Jason Freeman.

4. An interview with legendary musician — and former Memphian — Charlie Louvin on Thursday afternoon.   

5. An interview with onetime Elvis sideman, guitarist James Burton, on Friday afternoon. 

Also: panel discussions with the likes of new Memphis Music Commission head Johnnie Walker; Memphis International record label owners David Less and Bob Merlis; producers Jim Dickinson,  Jeff Powell, and Scott Bomar; Oxford attorney Tom Freeland,  and performances from Valencia Robinson, Nancy Apple, Valerie June, Jimmy Davis, Blair Combest, Jed Zimmerman, Deering and Down, Holly Cole, Caleb Sweazy, William Lee Ellis, Cory Branan, Susan Marshall, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Dan Montgomery, Andy Cohen, and more. 

In conjunction with the conference, The Folk Alliance will also present a number of concerts and events that will be open to the public at various venues around town.

The Center for Southern Folklore will host a free performance by Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart with special guests Act of Congress and Deering & Down on Feb. 20. On Feb. 21, the Center will welcome The Ebony Hillbillies along with Valerie June and Andy Cohen. Both shows start at 8 p.m. 

The Hi-Tone Café offers a pair of shows starting with a Feb. 20 bill featuring the Duhks, Hoots and Hellmouth and 2 Mule Plow. The following evening, Small Faces legend Ian McLagan brings his Bump Band in for a concert. The bill will also include a performance by Jack Oblivian & the Tearjerkers. 

On Feb. 21 at 3 p.m., Ardent Studios will host a creativity workshop featuring banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck and drummer Amir “?uestlove” Thompson of hip-hop band The Roots. The event is free. For more information, call 725-0855.

Two-and-a-half years after the above article appeared in People magazine, extolling the recipes Justin Timberlake borrowed from his then-64 year old granny, Sadie Bomar, to put on the menu of his New York eatery, Southern Hospitality, this tidbit comes down the turnpike.

From today’s edition of People:

Rumor patrol! Justin Timberlake is not opening another restaurant. For starters, he doesn’t even own a single establishment.

Yes, BBQ fans, contrary to popular belief, Timberlake is not involved in New York’s Southern Hospitality, his rep tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement.

“Approximately three years ago, Justin and his close friends, Eytan Sugarman and Trace Ayala, discussed the idea of bringing Memphis-style BBQ and ribs to the New York City marketplace,” according to the statement.

“The three friends spent a year creating the Southern Hospitality concept and were actively involved in all elements of design, menu offerings, and musical format.”

But that’s where the connection ends. Sugarman now operates and primarily owns the restaurant himself.

“While Justin and Trace continue their friendship with Eytan, and continue to provide fresh ideas and promotion for Southern Hospitality, they are not investors, owners or partners, nor do they have any knowledge of or involvement in the operations of the restaurant,” the statement says.

“Southern Hospitality has been open for over a year now, and is Justin and Trace’s favorite place in New York for truly authentic Memphis-style BBQ and ribs.”

Wow, 30 minutes in, and Memphis is representing! Justin Timberlake and Rev. Al Green combined forces for an incredible version of “Let’s Stay Together,” with back-up from Keith Urban and Boyz II Men.

A few minutes ago, Green lost to Jennifer Hudson for “Best R&B Album,” but he’s still delivering the goods. BTW, I’m a fan of Hudson, but what on earth was she wearing? It looked like a crumpled piece of paper got stuck on her gown.

I’m not a fan of the Coldplay/Jay-Z mash-up either. But when the camera panned into the audience and I saw Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, roots rock’s odd couple, sitting together, I let out a big awwww…

Tonight: Start the weekend off with Girls of the Gravitron’s free show at Shangri-la Records. Also: AC/DC’s “Black Ice” tour at the FedEx Forum; Colourmusic and Good Luck Dark Star at the Hi-Tone Cafe; Van Duren at Central BBQ East; the Heartless Bastards at the Young Ave Deli (go herefor CA music critic Bob Mehr’s interview with frontwoman Erika Wennerstrom); Memphis rapper RI’m Skeem at the Crystal Palace (go here for my interview with the rising star); Thrush, Silent Haze, Distilled Blood, and more, at the New Daisy; Will Graves at Cafe Soul; Or, head down to Tunica for a country music two-fer — the legendary George Jones is at Sam’s Town, while Gary Allan is at Horseshoe.

Saturday: Get your indie rock fix from Snowglobe at the Hi-Tone Cafe, with the Bulletproof Vests opening. Also: 34-year old composer Jonathan Leshnoff will debut a composition with the IRIS Orchestra at GPAC. Violinist Augustin Hadelich, winner of the 2006 International Violin Competition, is also on the bill, performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto and Brahms’ Serenade No. 1. Classical pianist Terry McRoberts is at the University of Memphis’ Harris Concert Hall; Uncle Jungle is at the New Daisy; Down in Tunica, George Jones and Gary Allan wrap up their respective 2-night stands.

Sunday: At 3 p.m., the Germantown Symphony Orchestra makes its 2009 debut at Hutchison School’s Wiener Theater, at the same time that the Ceruti String Quartet and pianist Marsha Evans perform “Conversations Among Friends,” at the Memphis Chamber Music Society. Later, Rob Jungklas and Deering & Down (who have been laying down tracks at Poppa Willie Mitchell’s Royal Recording Studio this month) are at Otherlands. RI’m Skeem is back at the Crystal Palace, with Atlanta MC Yung LA.

So, some of you might be shocked to hear this, but I actually like to watch American Idol. After it’s aired, that is, when I can fast-forward through all the commercials using my DVR. So, the first round of auditions are over with, and, as Christopher Blank reported in the Commercial Appeal last week, 2 Memphis moms are on their way to Hollywood!

Alexis Grace, a 21-year old Midtowner, sang a few lines of Aretha Franklin’s “Dr. Feelgood” at the Louisville audition, while 23-year old Hickory Hill resident Lil Rounds sang Stevie Wonder’s “All I Do” in Kansas City.

Go here for Blank’s commentary on their auditions.

The lovable Girls of the Gravitron, fresh off their first tour, will be playing a free happy hour set at Shangri-la Records, 1916 Madison Ave., beginning at 6 p.m.

If you’re broke, like me, this is a great way to get out and have some fun! See you there…

The fabulously soulful Cee-lo Green, best known for fronting Gnarls Barkley, his collaboration with Danger Mouse, covers Elvis Presley’s “Stranger in the Crowd” (off the 1970 album That’s the Way It Is) for this brand-new Coca-Cola commercial, which is slated to debut during the Super Bowl. Courtesy of the Wall Street Journal, you can watch — and listen — here first!

Tonight: Down in Clarksdale, Miss., the Oxford American magazine celebrates the release of its 10th annual music issue by hosting one heckuva throwdown with Dale “Suzie Q” Hawkins, R.L. Boyce, and Wiley and the Checkmates. It’s all happening at the original Ground Zero Blues Club in downtown Clarksdale. Admission is $15, and showtime is 7 p.m. Go here for more info.

Closer to home: First, kick off the week with a free show from Jump Back Jake at Shangri-la Records. The Ardent recording artist will begin performing at 6 p.m. Later: The New Mary Jane and Vending Machine at the Buccaneer Lounge; Westbound at the Hi-Tone Cafe; Soul Enforcers at the Full Moon Club; One Hour Thursday, Facecast, Chocking On Clarity, Third Gear Pinned, and Searching 4 A Signal at the New Daisy; Preston Shannon at Ground Zero; NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” host Neal Conan, hosting “A Universe of Dreams,” at GPAC; and DJ Steve Ann at Dish.

Saturday: Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha, performed by Opera Memphis, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops at the Orpheum Theatre. Also: Rap showcase at Club Unbreakables with 40Kel, JDogg & T-Won, and more; gospel artist Marvin Sapp at the Cannon Center; Sore Eyes head up a bevy of bands, including Goodbye Monroe and A Study in Scarlet for their CD release party at the New Daisy; Charlie Mars at the Hi-Tone.

Sunday: The Mersey-minded Jeffrey and the Pacemakers play a free show at the Buccaneer, beginning at 5 p.m. Later: New Jersey’s Titus Andronicus and Welsh indie rockers Los Campesinos! are at the Hi-Tone, and FreeWorld play Blues City Cafe.