Ne-Yo flying high, set to go higher

Ne-Yo's musical career has been a rocket ride. Next on the horizon, another opportunity to test his wings as an actor.

The three-time Grammy winner from Las Vegas has signed up to join the cast being assembled by "Star Wars" creator George Lucas, who is producing "Red Tails," a WWII movie about the legendary Tuskegee Airmen.

Ne-Yo, who has already written songs for Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Enrique Iglesias, will co-star with Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. and Oscar nominee Terence Howard as the famed African-American fighter pilots.

The 29-year-old R&B singer-producer, who was born in Arkansas and raised in Las Vegas as Shaffer Smith, was nominated for six Grammys in 2009 and won two for his hit single "Miss Independent." He won his first in 2008, taking home Best Contemporary R&B Album for "Because of You."

Lucas, who will be the executive producer with Anthony Hemingway making his film-directing debut, told the Hollywood Reporter last week, "I've been wanting to do 'Red Tails' for 20 years, and we've finally got the means to showcase the skill of the Tuskegee pilots. We're working on techniques which will give us the first true look at the aerial dogfighting of the era."

It would be Ne-Yo's fourth film as an actor.

His debut came in "Save the Last Dance 2" in 2006, and he appeared in "Stomp the Yard" in 2007.

In his next film, "Venice Beach," he will star and executive produce and write the soundtrack.

He launches a six-city UK tour on July 11 at London's 02 Arena, site of Michael Jackson's comeback on July 8. Ne-Yo has been writing songs for Jackson.

SIGHTINGS

Justin Timberlake, in town to promote his new tequila brand, made stops Friday at Southern Wine & Spirits, Blush Boutique Nightclub at Wynn, XS at Encore and the Playboy Club the Palms. Las Vegas is one of four stops on his campaign to boost his new 901 tequila, which gets its name from the area code of Memphis, where Timberlake grew up. ... Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played Rudy Huxtable in "The Cosby Show," at Planet Hollywood Resort to celebrate her 30th birthday with dinner at Strip House, "Peepshow" and Privé nightclub. ... At Red Rock Resort, for a three-day UFC photo shoot, current champions: welterweight Georges St. Pierre, heavyweight Brock Lesnar and light heavyweight Rashad Evans, in addition to Rampage Jackson, Thiago Alves, Michael Bisping, Dan Henderson and Brian Stegeman. Also spotted at Red Rock Resort: Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and their kids as well as 10-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Johnny Chan. ... World Chess Federation champion Stan Vaughan, getting hitched at Little White Wedding Chapel on Thursday to Tatiania Honek (nee Basilkevich). Vaughan is slated to be playing Varuzhan Akobian starting in September for the defense of his WCF title, possibly at Hard Rock Cafe in a best of 21 decisive games, draws not counting. ... At XS (Encore) on Friday: Lesnar, with UFC president Dana White and friends. Also at the club: Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens, Golden State Warriors standout Corey Maggette, former NBA star Antoine Walker, and boxer Zab Judah. ... At Tryst nightclub (Wynn) on Thursday: UFC stars St.-Pierre, Henderson, Jackson and Bisping and Suggs. ... David Spade, at The Bank nightclub at Bellagio on Friday. Boxer "Sugar" Shane Mosely had dinner at Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar. ... At N9NE Steakhouse (Palms) on Friday: Cleveland Browns linebacker Willie McGinest Jr., St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson, and funnyman Anthony Anderson, all in separate groups. ... At Rain nightclub (Palms) on Friday: San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis; Heather West, winner of the second season of the "Hell's Kitchen" television show, celebrating her birthday. ... At Nove Italiano (Palms) on Friday: former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian

THE PUNCH LINE

"Instead of following golf ball in air, camera now pans crowd looking for dumbest hat." -- From David Letterman's "Top Ten Ways to Make Golf More Interesting"

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.