Saturday, June 11, 2005
Anthony, Lopez markanniversary with a ring
MIAMI -- Marc Anthony gave Jennifer Lopez a $1 million engagement ring to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the couple's super-secret wedding, World Entertainment News Network says.
Will Chappelle be back?
NEW YORK -- Talent-rich comedian David Chappelle has taken the next baby-step to reclaim his job on his Comedy Central show. The network says Comedy Central President Doug Herzog has met with Chappelle, who abruptly abandoned taping of the third season for a spiritual retreat in South Africa. Beyond that, network spokesman Tony Fox is not telling anybody anything.
Cash home on the market
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. -- Johnny and June Carter Cash's lakeside home, where the couple lived for 35 years, is on the market. Asking price: $2.9 million. The 13,880-square-foot house and 4.6-acre property is on the edge of Old Hickory Lake. Seven pieces of antique furniture, including their bed, are included in the sale. "No one in the family was in a position to live there," said Cathy Sullivan, the estate's co-trustee. "That home has so many happy memories, for anyone to stay there it would not have seemed the same." The house needs some maintenance work but is otherwise in "very good condition," said Johnny Cash's brother, Tommy Cash, who is the acting real estate agent.
Nashville opens its doorsfor Carrie Underwood
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- American Idol winner Carrie Underwood is becoming a Nashville idol. Underwood was to perform on the first day of the Country Music Association's annual festival Thursday in a lineup that included stars like Dolly Parton, Keith Urban, and Lee Ann Womack. "I'm from Oklahoma and grew up listening to country music. I think it's the most cheerful music," said the 22-year-old singer. On American Idol, Underwood sang songs by Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride, the Dixie Chicks and Shania Twain. She was crowned in May after performing the Rascal Flatts hit "Bless the Broken Road." The last time she attended the CMA Music Festival, Underwood said she was 15 years old and waiting in line for autographs. Now, people are waiting in line to see her. Thousands of fans arrive every year at the CMA Music Festival to listen to live music and get autographs from artists. The festival runs through Sunday. Today, Underwood was scheduled to make her debut on the Grand Ole Opry radio show. She admitted she felt a little anxious about the Opry appearance. "It's such a sacred place. So many people have played there," Underwood said.
They're powerful women
NEW YORK -- Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Queen Latifah and Missy Elliott are among the 20 most powerful women in music, according to Billboard magazine's Women in Music issue.
Seagal faces lawsuit
LOS ANGELES -- Steven Seagal has been sued for $14 million on allegations that he delayed production on two movies. Seagal showed up late and left early while shooting "Today You Die" and "Mercenary," routinely rewrote and changed scripts on the set, and brought an entourage that interfered with film crews, alleged a lawsuit filed Monday in Superior Court by Kill Master Productions and its sales agent, Nu Image. The 54-year-old actor is best known for his martial-arts moves in films such as "Under Siege" and "Exit Wounds." A message left with Gerry Harrington, who has served as Seagal's manager, wasn't immediately returned Wednesday night. In one instance, Seagal allegedly arrived 45 minutes late while filming "Today You Die" and left the location 3 1/2 hours early. Because of his actions, planned scenes were never shot, leaving the movie with a "material and irreparable problem with story logic," according to the lawsuit, which also seeks unspecified damages.
Notable death
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Simon Waronker, founder of the pop music label Liberty Records that scored major hits in the 1950s and '60s with the novelty recordings of Alvin and the Chipmunks, died of natural causes Tuesday. He was 90. Waronker died at his home in Beverly Hills, his family said. Alvin and the Chipmunks, a fictional musical group comprised of three singing chipmunks, was created by Ross Bagdasarian under the stage name David Seville. Bagdasarian supplied the voices for the chipmunks.
Today's birthdays
Opera singer Rise Stevens is 92. Actor-producer Richard Todd is 86. Author William Styron is 80. Actor Gene Wilder is 72. Actor Chad Everett is 68. Comedian Johnny Brown is 68. Former auto racer Jackie Stewart is 66. Singer Joey Dee is 65. Actress Adrienne Barbeau is 60. Rock musician Frank Beard (ZZ Top) is 56. Rock singer Donnie Van Zant (.38 Special) is 53. Actor Peter Bergman is 52. Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana is 49. Actor Hugh Laurie is 46. Country singer-songwriter Bruce Robison is 39. Country musician Smilin' Jay McDowell is 36. Rock musician Dan Lavery (Tonic) is 36. Rock musician Tai Anderson (Third Day) is 29.