Gotti kept cancer news from her sons, producers

Gotti kept cancer newsfrom her sons, producers
NEW YORK -- When Victoria Gotti learned she had breast cancer, she kept the news to herself -- hiding her draining treatments from her three sons and the producers of their reality show, "Growing Up Gotti." With the show set to begin its third season on the A & amp;E network this week, the daughter of late mob boss John Gotti revealed the details of her struggle to the New York Daily News. The 42-year-old said she learned she was sick after a mammogram in November. She told her sons about the cancer earlier this month, after going through months of cancer treatments in silence. "I lost 25 pounds," she said. "I was so exhausted, I could barely lift my arms. My producers were asking questions," as were her sons -- Carmine, 18, John, 17, and Frank, 14. "I wasn't able to tell them," she said. "I just wanted the boys to be OK and not get crazy and think that Mommy is dying." She said her treatment has gone well: "They caught it early and the prognosis is good."
Garth, Wal-Mart sign deal
BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Country superstar Garth Brooks has signed an exclusive multiyear contract with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. No details of the agreement were released by Wal-Mart officials Friday, but Billboard and the Los Angeles Times reported the deal will make Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and their online outlets the only places where Brooks' music will be commercially available. Brooks, among the all-time best-selling recording artists, retired from performing in 2001. Brooks' hits include "Friends in Low Places," "Shameless" and "Longneck Bottle."
Trump show in China
HONG KONG -- Communist mainland China will soon have its own version of "The Apprentice" -- Donald Trump's reality TV tribute to capitalism. Trump will be the executive producer of the Chinese show, which will be hosted by Beijing property mogul Pan Shiyi, the South China Morning Post reported Sunday. The newspaper said China's version would closely follow the U.S. original, in which contestants compete for a job with Trump. Details of the deal are under negotiation. The show will run in direct competition with "Wise Man Takes All" -- which was inspired by "The Apprentice" and backed by Trump's business partner, Vincent Lo Hong-sui. That show offers a cash prize of about $123,400.
McCarthy files for divorce
LOS ANGELES -- Jenny McCarthy and her husband, John Asher, have filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, her publicist said Friday. The TV star and former Playboy playmate had been married to Asher for six years. McCarthy, 32, and Asher, a 34-year-old film director, met when Asher directed McCarthy in the 1999 film "Diamonds." They have has a 3-year-old son, Evan. McCarthy is starring in the new UPN sitcom, "The Bad Girl's Guide."
Notable death
Dennis Lynds, whose tautly written mysteries featuring the one-armed Dan Fortune were praised for reflecting contemporary political and social issues, has died. He was 81. Lynds, who wrote under the name Michael Collins, among others, died Friday.
Today's birthdays
Author Ray Bradbury is 85. Heart surgeon Dr. Denton Cooley is 85. Retired General H. Norman Schwarzkopf is 71. ABC newsman Morton Dean is 70. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Carl Yastrzemski is 66. Actress Valerie Harper is 65. Football coach Bill Parcells is 64. CBS newsman Steve Kroft is 60. Actress Cindy Williams is 58. Musician David Marks (The Beach Boys) is 57. Country singer Holly Dunn is 48. Country singer Collin Raye is 45. Rock singer Roland Orzabal (Tears For Fears) is 44. Rock musician Debbi Peterson (The Bangles) is 44. Rock musician Gary Lee Connor (Screaming Trees) is 43. Singer Tori Amos is 42. Country singer Mila Mason is 42. Rhythm-and-blues musician James DeBarge is 42. Actor Rick Yune is 34. Rock musician Paul Doucette (Matchbox Twenty) is 33. Singer Howie Dorough (Backstreet Boys) is 32. Actress Jenna Leigh Green is 31.