Insiders: Barnstable-Brown party getting its mojo back with multiple A-list Derby celebs for 2012

Patricia Barnstable Brown and Priscilla Barnstable celebrating The 135th Kentucky Derby at Barnstable Brown manse. (Photo by Daniel Warren / WENN.com)

(Editor’s note: This post was updated at 4:25 p.m.)

There are two things I sincerely do NOT care about – sports and celebrities.

So everywhere I go, everyone is talking about sports and celebrities. Oy!

But I know good dish when I hear it, and I’ve gotten an earful over the last 24 hours, especially from local restaurateurs and hotel insiders.

Insiders are buzzing about the Barnstable-Brown Party’s comeback.

Instead of – or at least in addition to – the B-list stars of the last few years, the 2012 version will have a HUGE star who is signed, sealed and delivered for the 24th annual diabetes fundraiser. Think police lines holding back paparazzi.

The big star … you know, him. You love him. But we’re sworn to secrecy. Though we should be cleared to reveal his name WAY before the Courier-Journal gets the final list next week.

(For those who’ve asked the obvious question, we can say, ” No, it’s not George Clooney.” Who’s not coming – as far as we know ….)

There are two other stars pending. Names you’ve likely heard already. And a whole bunch of celebs everyone wants to come, but who are 50-to-one long shots at this point.

Names we’re sure about … country music star Miranda Lambert (“Me and Charlie Talking”), Brownstable regular Kid Rock (“Picture”). Tennis couple Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf. Cyndi Lauper, obviously, who’s the Pegasus Parade grand marshall.

“Flyover States” singer Jason Aldean. (Great song, so we included the vid here.)

Celeb Chef Guy Fieri.

But here’s where it gets interesting … we hear a certain young movie star is a huge Kentucky basketball fan, and stars could align if certain people from the team show up at the party, as well.

Last year, the CJ infamously promised the Jonas Brothers. And our sources confirm they were coming, but had to bow out at the last moment.

Same for this year … Brownstable party organizers don’t have total control over whether celebrities actually show up. Which is why so many sources want to name names, but are reluctant because a last-minute commitment or an arrest warrant could intervene.

Since I don’t really have much info, I’ll make it up to you with one of my best absolutely true stories.

Business First sent me to photograph the Brownstable Pary in 1996. Boy, did they pick the wrong reporter. I had no idea who half the “celebrities” were. There was this country-music singer with a big hat. There was another hillbilly with a hat. And one of them was Kentucky native Dwight Yoakam. Who, it turns out, is absurdly handsome.

That same year, James Earl Jones – the nicest man on the planet – was there, as was the late Dennis Hopper.

So, I’m taking photos of Hopper as he’s walking up the long driveway off Spring Drive, making his movie-star entrance at the Brownstable mansion.

Right behind him comes Brooke Shields, up from the bottom of the driveway. I rush down, then do my backward jog back up the driveway, with motordrive whirring. Trouble is, Dennis Hopper had stopped to talk to someone. BANG, I nail Hopper at full speed, and we both go down. Trying to get untangled, I glance over and see that disturbed face from “Blue Velvet” sneering at me. Chilling.

He did not help me up.

More names as soon as we can post them without getting anyone fired ….