Miley Cyrus Rolls Past Justin Bieber to Become 2011 Inductee Into the Celebrity Bowling Hall of Fame

ARLINGTON, Texas, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In a dramatic come-from-behind victory, Miley Cyrus has secured her induction into the Celebrity Bowling Hall of Fame.  Thanks to overwhelming support from her fans, Cyrus secured 42 percent of votes cast during the month-long race to be voted into the Celebrity Wing of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame. For the second consecutive year, fans were empowered to vote for their favorite celebrity nominee at GoBowling.com.  Justin Bieber, who was defeated by 2010 inductee Taylor Swift in the final hours of the last year's competition, once again fell short of obtaining bowling immortality despite once again jumping to an early lead in the 2011 competition.  

"We knew that with mega stars such as Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber in our line-up that this year's race would be a close one," said Steve Johnson, executive director of the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America.  "Fueled by the passion and support of her supporters and bowling fans worldwide, Ms. Cyrus rose to the occasion scoring an incredible comeback victory.  We are honored to welcome her into the Hall of Fame and grateful for her support of the great sport of bowling."

Added Johnson, "From pop musicians and Hollywood stars to professional athletes and hip hop artists, this year's class of inductees represent the surging popularity, diverse appeal and inclusive experience that is bowling today."  

Voting for 2011 Celebrity Hall of Fame induction took place on GoBowling.com between July 12 and August 6, 2011.  Cyrus and Bieber were among ten nominees that were selected for their public support of bowling over the past year.

Below are the final vote tallies among the ten Celebrity Bowling Hall of Fame nominees:

Below is bowling background information on the celebrity nominees:

1.  Miley Cyrus – Mega-hit TV show, check!  Chart-topping music career, check!  A-List movie star, check!  Celebrity Bowling Hall of Fame inductee, check!  At only 18, Miley Cyrus is certainly a busy girl, but when she's not filming or recording, she's been spotted at various bowling centers with celebrity friends, including fellow nominees Nick Jonas and Justin Bieber, and charity bowling events.

2.  Justin Bieber – Bieber, a bowling enthusiast, filmed the music video for his smash hit single "Baby" in a bowling center. The video has since garnered more than 550 million views on YouTube. In a closely contested 2010 Celebrity Bowling Hall of Fame race, the teenage heartthrob was edged by 2010 HOF inductee Taylor Swift.  Bieber returned to the 2011 ballot looking for redemption and induction, but was once again defeated by his female pop star counterpart.  

3.  Nick and Joe Jonas – The uber-popular Jonas Brothers, Nick and Joe, have been spotted battling it out on the lanes by celebrity magazines during their downtime from touring.  There hasn't been an official word on who's the better bowler of the two, but Jonas friends can rejoice that they share a nomination for HOF induction in 2011.

4.  Jeff Bridges – Oscar award-winning actor Jeff Bridges reinvented "cool" when he starred as "The Dude" in the 1998 critically acclaimed bowling film "The Big Lebowski."  The movie has since become a cult classic amongst bowling fans and has spurned an annual "Lebowskifest" circuit nationwide.

5.  Lady Gaga – Lady Gaga has risen to the top of the pop charts behind her risqué persona and hit songs, garnering an army of "Monsters" who follow and cheer her every move.  Popular culture has even begun to refer to anything "cool" as "Gaga."  Often spotted by celebrity magazines on the bowling lanes, she has done her part to help elevate the sport and make people go "Gaga" for bowling.    

6.  Bill Murray – Like fine wine, some things just get better with age, none being truer than comic genius Bill Murray's performance as the infamous Ernie McCracken in the 1996 comedy "King Pin."  Since his role as the flamboyant McCracken, Murray has been a bowling icon with the popularity of his character living on through millions of internet views.

7.  Lil Wayne –A multi-talented hip hop artist, Lil Wayne has certainly earned his share of street cred through his smooth lyrics and poetic rhymes, but who knew that his skills extended to bowling?  Lil Weezy paired with PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke at NBA star and 2010 HOF candidate Chris Paul's Annual Celebrity Bowling Invitational in 2011, earning a spot in the finals before being defeated by Paul and Jason Belmonte.  Since, rumor has it that Wayne has been spotted on the lanes practicing for their rematch.

8.  Michael Jordan – In 2010, Michael Jordan was inducted into pro basketball's Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame as the greatest basketball player of all time.  Known for his unmatched competitiveness, leaping ability and athletic skill, His Airness is also an excellent bowler, according to Chicago Lucky Strike Lanes general manager Michael Porn, who dubbed Michael "the best (celebrity) bowler," he had ever seen.

9.  Jimmy Fallon – Late night talk show host and former Saturday Night Live star Jimmy Fallon looks to rebound from his last place showing in last year's HOF competition and celebrate a "worst to first" success story in 2011.  Fallon regularly conducts zany segments with celebrity guests including Grapefruit Bowling with Jennifer Anniston, paying Drew Barrymore $10 to lick a bowling ball and a perennial show favorite - Human Bowling.

10.  Kim Kardashian – The beautiful Kim Kardashian certainly has a way of gracing bowling centers with her beauty, style and grace.  A bowling enthusiast, Kardashian's photos have graced the pages of celebrity magazines and tabloids nationwide hitting the lanes and featured bowling on the smash hit "Keeping Up With the Kardashians." One of the 2010 candidates, Kardashian lobbied for her fans to vote her into the HOF.

About Bowling Proprietors' Association of America

The Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA), founded in 1932, serves as the voice of the bowling industry.  Headquartered in Arlington, TX at the International Bowling Campus, the BPAA provides it's more than 4,000 member centers with group purchasing programs, business and educational seminars, legislative representation and proactively promotes the association and bowling industry.  The BPAA's mission is to enhance the profitability of its member centers and raise the profile of Bowling, America's top-ranked participatory sport.  For additional information please visit www.bpaa.com or call 1-800-343-1329.

About International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame

Located at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, TX, the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame collects, preserves and researches bowling's history, provides a suitable home for bowling's major halls of fame, and makes the museum's information and collection available to interested parties globally for education, promotion and entertainment.

SOURCE Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA)