St. John on the mend after Aspen ski accident

St. John on the mendafter Aspen ski accident
ASPEN, Colo. -- Former James Bond girl Jill St. John fractured her hip in a skiing accident and was transferred earlier this week to a Los Angeles hospital, family spokesman Alan Nierob said Thursday. St. John was hospitalized at Aspen Valley Hospital after the accident a week ago and then transferred Monday, Nierob said. The name of the Los Angeles hospital was not disclosed. The 64-year-old actress, whose screen credits include the 1971 classic "Diamonds Are Forever," underwent successful surgery Tuesday. She is married to actor Robert Wagner.
Sinead O'Connor is back
LONDON -- Irish singer Sinead O'Connor says that after two years of retirement, she is returning to music -- but not the pop scene. "I want to at least aim my records at a more spiritualized market," she told Irish music magazine Hotpress. O'Connor, best known for her song "Nothing Compares 2 U" and for shredding a picture of Pope John Paul II on "Saturday Night Live," announced her retirement two years ago. She said she wanted to concentrate on raising her children. She also disclosed she was battling a fatigue illness called fibromyalgia. In 1999, O'Connor was ordained as a priest in the Latin Tridentine Church by a rebel bishop. She then adopted the name Mother Bernadette Mary. Now, she says her music would have religious qualities. "Religious songs with bad words, that's the best way I could describe it," she said. "I've been thinking for years the religious area of music has a huge gap in it. Needs a bit of punky filling." The 38-year-old singer said she was already working on material for three records and would perform in the next few months in Belfast, Ireland. O'Connor's third son, Shane, was born last March.
Gibbons, hubby separate
LOS ANGELES -- The husband of TV host and producer Leeza Gibbons has filed for legal separation from his wife of 14 years, citing irreconcilable differences. Stephen Meadows has been separated from Gibbons since Jan. 28, according to papers filed Monday in Superior Court. The couple were married Feb. 14, 1991. Meadows is seeking joint custody of their sons Troy, 13, and Nathan, 7. He also is seeking spousal support from Gibbons and a separation of property as outlined in a 2002 postnuptial agreement. Gibbons also has a daughter by a previous marriage.
Torres joins campaignfor dental association
NEW MEXICO -- Dayanara Torres -- former Miss Universe and former Mrs. Marc Anthony -- is all smiles as the spokeswoman for a dental plan for kids called Sonrisas saludables 2010 -- Healthy Smiles 2010. Torres joined the American Dental Association campaign Wednesday, reports the Spanish news wire Agencia EFE, and agreed to appear in a series of radio and TV ads promoting dental disease awareness. The bilingual ads will also give parents tips on how to create good hygiene habits, and a spokesman for the ADA said the organization hoped to reach 50 million families by 2010, when the campaign ends. A premiere date for the ads is still in the works.
Notable death
BRANSON, Mo. -- Robert Spencer, a member of the Sons of the Pioneers western music group in which singing cowboy Roy Rogers got his start, has died. He was 75. He died in Tucson, Ariz., where he had been performing with the group, his family said.
Today's birthdays
Movie director Franco Zeffirelli is 82. Baseball Hall-of-Fame sportscaster Joe Garagiola is 79. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., is 75. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Bill Russell is 71. Actor Joe Don Baker is 69. Author Judy Blume is 67. Rock musician Ray Manzarek (The Doors) is 66. Country singer Moe Bandy is 61. Actress Maud Adams is 60. Actor Cliff DeYoung is 60. Actor Michael Ironside is 55. Rock musician Steve Hackett is 55. Rock singer Michael McDonald is 53. Actress Joanna Kerns is 52. Actor-former talk show host Arsenio Hall is 50. Actress Christine Elise is 40. Actor Josh Brolin is 37. Singer Chynna Phillips is 37. Rock musician Jim Creeggan (Barenaked Ladies) is 35.