He was tired and calling in from another time zone, but given the past week and a half he had, you would never know Omi was a little worse for the wear.
Let’s rewind to August 29. Taylor Swift is performing in front of a sold out crowd at San Diego’s Petco Park. In true T-Swift form, she brings out a surprise guest; the Jamaican-born artist. They perform the summer-smash “Cheerleader” together, and the place goes nuts.
“I was honored that she would ask me to come through and do that,” Omi, nee Omar Pasley, told me of the chance to share a stage with the world’s biggest pop star. “She’s such a good person. She’s a real person, and I think that’s most important.”
The following evening, Omi found himself among music’s biggest stars at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
“Being in the same environment with all of the different stars and people in the business who have really paved the way and who have really left a mark … just sitting in the same room with them is such an honor,” he remarked of his first VMA experience. “I’m just humbled by the experience, man.”
And Omi was eventually bestowed quite the honor, but not before turning 29 on September 3.
“I didn’t do much,” the singer replied when I asked how he celebrated the birthday. “I’m not really much of a party guy.”
Oh, the irony – just five days later Billboard named “Cheerleader” the “Song of the Summer,” as it topped the chart of singles monitored from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
“There’s so much to remember, but most of all, what position the fans and my team put me in,” he said of the memories he’ll carry from this past summer. “That’s the greatest thing I’m going to remember – just being in this position but because of the people who put me there.”
Omi’s follow-up to his worldwide platinum hit is another fun number called, “Hula Hoop.” It serves as the second single from his debut album, Me 4 U, due out October 16.
MISS GEORGIA CROWNED MISS AMERICA
Betty Cantrell was crowned Miss America on Sunday in Atlantic City at Boardwalk Hall. The Georgia native beat out 51 other contestants to claim the title on the pageant’s 95th anniversary.
While the 21-year-old stunned in the bikini, evening gown and talent portions of the event, Cantrell nearly stumbled on the interview question. Judge and country music star Brett Eldredge asked her if she believed Tom Brady was guilty in the “Deflategate” scandal.
“Did he cheat? Um, that’s a really good question,” responded Cantrell after asking Eldredge to repeat the inquiry (in her defense, it did get quite loud in Boardwalk Hall when Brady was mentioned). “I’m not sure. I’d think I’d have to be there to see the ball.”
Cantrell eventually took a more firm stance, saying if there was a question of whether Brady cheated or not then he did.
Thankfully for Cantrell, it was the question of least substance lobbed in the competition; other topics included Planned Parenthood, gun control and Donald Trump.
Among the prizes for scoring the crown, Cantrell receives a $50,000 scholarship to continue her education; she began her studies at Mercer University.
