Music: {allcanada} No degrees of separation between Bieber, Smiths

Thursday, February 3, 2011

{allcanada} No degrees of separation between Bieber, Smiths

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http://i.usatoday.net/life/_photos/2011/02/04/bieber-smithx-large.jpg

Justin Bieber's family is not large. His parents separated while he was an infant, though he remains close with his father, Jeremy.

But in recent months, the singer has been embraced by a surrogate family of sorts — and a famous one at that. The Smiths, as in the entertainment force that is Will, Jada, Jaden and Willow.

"We're really close now, yeah," says Bieber. Jaden, 12, made his rapping debut at a Bieber concert, an event captured in the new 3-D movieNever Say Never. Singing sister Willow, 10, will open for Bieber during his upcoming world tour, which features stops in Australia, China and Europe.

"Their dad is definitely a great role model for me," says Bieber of the rapping/acting Smith patriarch. "He's gone from music to movies and back and been really successful. He just says to me, 'You gotta stay humble and remember where you came from.' He's right. And I do."

Smith has imparted to Bieber the importance of making decisions that respect the hard work part of becoming a star.

"One time I slept over at their house, because we kids were all going out to the movies, and Will was like (here Bieber breaks into a respectable Will Smith impersonation), 'You have to come right back afterwards because Justin has to shoot a music video in the morning, understand? You're friends and you have to look out for each other.' "

And? "Oh, we came back," Bieber says, busting out a big grin. "There's no way I'm going to disrespect Will Smith."