A showbusiness journalist has named the five nicest celebrities he has encountered in two decades of covering the industry. Tom Bryant, who has worked for the Mirror, said that despite a general rule that bigger stars tend to be nicer, some A-listers still surprised him with their down-to-earth nature.
Bryant described meeting Mick Jagger in 2016 while the Rolling Stones were on tour in Mexico City. He admitted being apprehensive before the interview, having heard Jagger could be aloof, but found him self-deprecating and witty. Jagger insisted Bryant join his friends and family on a private bus with a police escort to the gig, and later invited him to watch the show from the sound deck and attend the aftershow party.
Dolly Parton also made the list for her remarkable memory. Bryant recalled that she always remembers names and details from previous conversations. During a visit to her merchandise warehouse in Nashville, she allowed him to fill a trolley with free merchandise, which he likened to the game show Supermarket Sweep.
Olivia Newton-John, who died in 2022, was praised for her hospitality. When Bryant visited her California ranch in 2019, she greeted him with a glass of wine and gave him a personal tour of her garden, despite having learned to walk again after a fractured back caused by cancer. They spent hours drinking on the veranda after the interview.
Rihanna was described as thoughtful, intelligent and hilarious. Bryant first met her in 2007 after a show in Glasgow, where they conducted an interview in a cramped dressing room with no PR handlers present. He noted that she found the close quarters amusing, joking about getting to know him well.
Bryant also highlighted the kindness of other celebrities, including Bon Jovi, but the article focused on the five who left the strongest impression: Jagger, Parton, Newton-John, Rihanna, and an unnamed fifth star.
