Country star John Rich reports he and Big Kenny (Alphin) are taking a break from their group Big & Rich — but fans can expect new music next year.

"We've done three Big & Rich albums right in a row with no breaks so we decided to take a break off of the road and out of the studio. I don't know of any other artists out there that have worked as hard as we have the last five years and not taken a break. I think it's smart to step back and take a breath every now and then," notes Rich. "I know he's right in the middle of a huge Broadway play he's writing. My solo album will be coming out in a few months. I'd say in 2009 you'll see another run with Big & Rich."

Rich admits it's not easy putting out his own record, but he's looking forward to sharing his hard work. "I always feel pressure in the studio regardless. Anytime you put an album out you look at it as your last record. You think Elvis knew his last record was his last? You never know when your last work is happening so it always needs to be better than the last thing you did."

Fortunately for him, Rich has a lot to fall back on, including producing, which he has been doing a lot this year. "Jewel's album came out, which I produced. It's a really creative record that debuted at number one on the sales chart. I just produced a track for Kenny Rogers for his 50th anniversary album. To produce something on Kenny Rogers is like a lifetime achievement award for a record producer," he gushes. "I actually just produced two tracks on Ruben Studdard's new record. I got to dabble with a little bit of R&B and give it a little country flair. I'm getting all kinds of opportunities I never thought in a million years I'd have."

WI___ER, WI__ER, WI__ER!: Newlywed Michelle Loewenstein's win last week as "Wheel of Fortune's" first million dollar winner ever had a profound effect on Vanna White.

"The best thing about doing the show," says Pat Sajak's "Fortune" co-host, "is seeing people win and making them happy. It's surprising how many contestants hit the big numbers on the bonus wheel. But Michelle's win was remarkable and I was truly thrilled for her. She had one chance in 24 to hit the million-dollar mark. She was so sweet and I was so excited for her. It was truly heartwarming."

This marks the 25th year Vanna has been a letter turner on "Wheel" — and as far as she's concerned, her job constitutes the greener pastures others might dream of.

Not only is the atmosphere warm and fuzzy, but she and Sajak are buddies, and, best of all, the show only takes up 35 days of her time each year, leaving her "'to have a normal life," to spend much quality time with her 10-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son. "I get to drive my kids to school, to be there for them."

Much of the rest of her time is spent keeping in body-perfect shape. She exercises five days a week, "Spinning for 45 minutes a day," she says, "and also doing sit ups and push ups and walking uphill."

She adds, "I try only to eat when I'm hungry. I definitely have a sweet tooth, but I've trained myself to watch it. They put me in those tight dresses every couple of weeks that keep me from going overboard."

Vanna is now 51, "and that's fine with me," she says. "Turning 49 almost freaked me out because it meant I was almost 50. But once I turned 50 it was fine."

HELLO, AGAIN: It's been quite awhile since we've heard much of songstress Helen Reddy being involved in show business. After all, she retired from performing in 2002 and moved from California to Australia and into a career as a hypnotherapist — after having served as California's Parks and Recreation Commissioner. (How's that for an eclectic life?) Anyway, now comes word that Reddy will be seen in the indie film, "Perfect Host," in which David Hyde Pierce stars. Shooting is to get underway by month's end on the flick in which Pierce plays an urbane sophisticate who has a double life as a deranged criminal mastermind.

WE CAN ENVISION IT: Patricia Arquette will no doubt be interested in the fact that her "Medium" series is apparently going to have a kind of reality TV counterpart on — of course — the Sci Fi channel. We're told a casting notice went out last week seeking real mediums, psychics, prosecutors and homicide detectives who'll utilize their expertise to reopen and solve cold cases. They hope.

With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.