Steve Persall, Times Film Critic
In Print: Saturday, January 8, 2011
from the St Petersburg Times

Dunedin native on screen

Perhaps the only reason for local moviegoers to see Country Strong is a brief appearance by Dunedin native Lari White, playing the hairdresser of Gwyneth Paltrow's character, singer Kelly Canter.

White, 45, is seen before Kelly's first comeback concert, when a package arrives with a shocking reminder of the baby she lost during pregnancy after falling down drunk on stage. White has three lines of dialogue including a scream when the contents are revealed.

Like fellow recording artist Tim McGraw, White appears but doesn't sing in Country Strong. Three songs from her six albums reached the top 10 on Billboard's country music chart.

White's previous role in a major Hollywood film also involved a delivered package: In Cast Away, a FedEx employee (Tom Hanks) dropped off a mailing he protected for months while marooned on a deserted island.

Steve Persall, Times film critic