Russian president praises baritone

Russian presidentpraises baritone
NOVO-OGARYOVO, Russia -- President Vladimir Putin thanked Russia's most famous baritone, Dmitry Khvorostovsky, on Saturday for his performance on Red Square.
Putin attended part of Khvorostovsky's Friday night concert with his guest, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
"I think your numerous admirers in Russia will join in the words of my gratitude," Putin said Saturday during a meeting with Khvorostovsky at Novo-Ogaryovo, the presidential residence outside Moscow.
Khvorostovsky called the concert "one of the biggest achievements" of his life.
"I'm thankful to you that my dream has come true," he told Putin. "The impression from singing at such stage was striking."
The opera singer was born in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. He got the nickname "Siberian Express" for quickly winning the admiration of audiences worldwide.
Sleeping, 'Shrek,'an album for 'Idol'
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Fantasia Barrino, the newly crowned "American Idol," says her greatest desire now is to simply get a good night's sleep.
After the adrenaline rush of the show and the media blitz after her big win, Barrino said Friday she needs a little rest. Once that's out of the way, the 19-year-old plans to hit the studio to record her first single, "I Believe," and start working on her debut album.
"It's gonna be hot," she promised in a telephone interview from Los Angeles.
Barrino said she hopes her first album will showcase all types of music and is looking forward to writing some of her own material.
"I always said I have a story to tell, and now I can do it through my music," Barrino said.
That story includes coping with teenage motherhood and learning to provide for her 2-year-old daughter, Zion.
After winning the "Idol" title on live national television Wednesday, Barrino made brief appearances at post-finale parties, but said she was soon back on "mommy duty," and watched "Shrek" with her daughter.
Crosby, Stills & amp; Nashto launch summer tour
NEW YORK -- Crosby, Stills & amp; Nash will launch their three-month summer tour in Prior Lake, Minn., on July 1.
"The evening will showcase songs from Stephen Stills' new solo CD and the soon to be released Crosby & amp; Nash CD as well as gems from the group's amazing catalog of hits," manager Gerry Tolman said in a prepared statement Thursday.
Graham Nash will promote his first photography book, "Eye to Eye," throughout the tour, which will include stops in Boston, Atlanta, Denver, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, with the final show set for Sept. 22 in Woodinvale, Wash.
Today's birthdays
Prince Rainier of Monaco is 81. Actress Elaine Stewart is 75. Actor-director Clint Eastwood is 74. Singer Peter Yarrow is 66. Former Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite is 65. Singer-musician Augie Meyers is 64. Actress Sharon Gless is 61. Football Hall-of-Famer Joe Namath is 61. Actor Tom Berenger is 54. Actor Gregory Harrison is 54. Comedian Chris Elliott is 44. Actor Kyle Secor is 44. Actress Lea Thompson is 43. Singer Corey Hart is 42. Rapper DMC is 40. Rapper Kid Frost is 40. Actress Brooke Shields is 39. Country musician Ed Adkins (The Derailers) is 37. Actor Colin Farrell is 28. Rock musician Scott Klopfenstein (Reel Big Fish) is 27. Actor Curtis Williams Junior is 17.