Six-time Grammy nominee Keys, who recently won two American Music Awards, will perform one of her hits on the special show. Spears will perform "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman," and teen rap superstar Lil' Bow Wow will sing "Take Me Home," the new single from his smash sophomore album, "Doggy Bag," which has already been certified gold less than a month after its release.
Carson Daly of MTV's "Total Request Live" and host of NBC's "Last Call with Carson Daly" and Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominee Frankie Muniz, who will star in the upcoming feature film "Big Fat Liar," will discuss the importance of reading and how critical it is to future success.
NBA Inside Stuff host and executive producer Ahmad Rashad and co-host Summer Sanders will host the special from the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Dave Aizer, host of Nick GAS and Nickelodeon's Slimetime Live will serve as entertainment sideline reporter.
This event is a celebration of reading and a highlight of the NBA's Read to Achieve program, the centerpiece of the league’s community relations efforts. Launched in May 2001, Read to Achieve is a year-round, league-wide initiative supported by all 29 NBA teams, 16 WNBA teams, and eight National Basketball Development League teams that promotes the value of reading and on-line literacy and encourages families and adults to read regularly with young children.
Thousands of students from the greater Philadelphia area will earn special invitations to the Pennsylvania Convention Center for the Celebration as reward for their participation in local reading programs. The students and television audiences in the U.S. and Canada will be entertained by some of today’s top music acts, NBA and WNBA players, and television and movie stars.
The NBA All-Star Read to Achieve Celebration is part of NBA All-Star 2002, which is hosted by the Philadelphia 76ers and takes place in Philadelphia from February 8-10. NBA All-Star 2002 includes NBA All-Star Saturday Night on February 9 and the 51st Annual NBA All-Star Game on February 10.
