NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Walters announces retirement on ‘View’

NEW YORK

Barbara Walters said Monday that retirement from her epochal television career is near, but it’s not happening right away.

Walters, who began in television news as a “Today” girl in 1961, became the medium’s best-known interviewer and invented a daytime talk show at an age many people would be going fishing, said on “The View” that she will step away from the camera next summer.

Before that, her retirement tour will include TV specials looking back at her work.

The announcement brought the 83-year-old Walters to tears. While not necessarily a surprise — reports about the plan leaked out about a month ago and it was confirmed by ABC on Sunday night — the discussion was alternately saucy and emotional.

“In the summer of 2014, I plan to retire from appearing on television at all,” Walters said.

‘Today’ show host Guthrie is engaged

NEW YORK

Bradley Cooper presented her with a dozen roses on the air but, oddly enough, that isn’t why “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie is so happy.

Guthrie reported Monday that her boyfriend, Mike Feldman, had proposed during a tropical vacation, and she said yes. Guthrie and Feldman, a consultant at a strategic-communications firm in Washington, have been dating for four years. It’s the second marriage for Guthrie, who is 41, and Feldman’s first. He’s 44.

Despite a tropical sunset and champagne, she said she didn’t realize what was happening until Feldman handed her the ring.

She accepted congratulations from all during Monday’s show. The couple hasn’t set a wedding date. Despite Al Roker’s prodding, don’t expect an on-air ceremony.

Swift, Bryan, Hayes to perform at CMTs

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Taylor Swift leads a list of country’s hottest stars set to perform at the CMT Music Awards next month.

Swift, Miranda Lambert’s Pistol Annies, Luke Bryan, Hunter Hayes and Little Big Town are the first performers announced for the June 5 awards show.

Jason Aldean and Kristen Bell are set to host the fan-voted awards show when it’s broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Lambert, Bryan and Eric Church are this year’s top nominees. Fans can vote in all categories at the music channel’s website through June 2. Six finalists for top honor video of the year will be announced at the top of the broadcast and fans can vote on a winner during the show.

Grammys scheduled Jan. 26 in Los Angeles

NEW YORK

If you’re a fan of the Grammy Awards, you can mark your calendar for Jan. 26, 2014, and Feb. 8, 2015.

The Recording Academy and CBS announced the dates Monday. The 2014 event will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Both shows will air live on CBS.

This year’s awards show was seen by 28.4 million people, according to the Nielsen Co.

Last year, 39.9 million people tuned in to see how the industry would react to Whitney Houston’s death just before the awards and celebrate the coronation of its hottest star, Adele, who won six Grammys.

Vindicator wire services