Justin Guarini

Justin Guarini was born in Columbus, Georgia, on October 28, 1978.

Dad Eldrin Bell is a former Atlanta police chief,now Clayton County (Ga.) Commission Chair. Chief Bell is first cousins with acclaimed actor Samuel L. Jackson's wife, LaTonya.

Stepfather Jerry Guarini is a retired Navy physicist.

Mom Kathy is a former TV journalist and anchor at CNN and is now a freelance broadcast journalist and Realtor in Doylestown. Then president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, called in - from Airforce One--his best wishes to Kathy Guarini, whom he knew from her CNN association, upon hearing the news of Justin's birth. (Justin's godparents are Prince Faisal and his former wife, Princess Azia of Saudi Arabia.)

Raised in central Bucks County, Pennsylvania, by mom Kathy Pepino Guarini and step dad Jerry Guarini, Justin was born in Columbus, Georgia, where his mom was an anchor for the local 'Action 9 News' on WTVM. Kathy also anchored news programs in Philadelphia and Atlanta (CNN), where she met Justin's father, Eldrin Bell, who rose through the ranks of the Atlanta police department to become its commissioner.

Justin was accepted into the Atlanta Boys Choir at four years old. The Choir generally does not accept children under six years of age.

With a mother in the television industry, and a father always in the public spotlight, Justin's drive to entertain came naturally. His sister says that he imitated Michael Jackson's style and was known to 'moonwalk' around the house. His first concert was The Jacksons' "Victory Tour." Justin met his idol, Stevie Wonder, at Quincy Jones' birthday party held at Spago restaurant in LA on March 15, 2003.