Houston back in rehab
Houston back in rehab
LOS ANGELES -- A year after her first reported stay in rehab, Whitney Houston has again checked into a rehabilitation facility. "Whitney Houston has re-entered a rehabilitation facility today," her publicist, Nancy Seltzer, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. She declined to provide details. The news was first reported by syndicated entertainment TV show "Access Hollywood." In March 2004, Houston checked herself into an undisclosed rehabilitation center. After years of denying drug use, the pop diva said she had used cocaine, marijuana and pills in an interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC's "Primetime" in 2002. She has said she was using the power of prayer to help her get over drugs. In January 2000, Houston left behind a bag at an airport in Hawaii that allegedly held less than half an ounce of marijuana and three partially smoked marijuana cigarettes; a petty misdemeanor drug charge was dismissed when a counselor said Houston didn't need treatment for substance abuse. Houston, 41, has been working with producer Clive Davis on a comeback album.
Does Mario Vazquez havea deal with Combs' label?
NEW YORK -- It seems that "American Idol" quitter Mario Vazquez may have a backstage deal with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' Bad Boy record label. "I can't discuss that right now," Combs told the New York Post on Wednesday. "We're hopefully about to announce our plans for our next era." Vazquez, 27, was mum about it all. He has attributed his "Idol" withdrawal to unspecified "personal" reasons. We think Homeboy doesn't want to be tied to the contract with RCA.
Barker gives a cool $1M
CHICAGO -- Bob Barker has donated $1 million to Northwestern University's School of Law to endow a course on animal rights law. The Bob Barker Endowment Fund for the Study of Animal Rights Law will allow students to earn credits on topics such as how humans interact with and use animals, species protection and international wildlife law, the school announced. Barker, the host of "The Price Is Right" and a longtime animal rights activist, has given similar funds in recent years to law schools at Duke, Stanford, Columbia and UCLA.
DiCaprio helps groupon clean water mission
SAN FRANCISCO -- Leonardo DiCaprio helped environmentalists launch an international campaign to draw attention to the billion people worldwide who don't have access to clean water. "We are here to help raise awareness about what is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today," said DiCaprio, speaking on World Water Day at the Clift Hotel with Global Green USA President Matt Petersen. DiCaprio, who earned a best-actor nomination for playing Howard Hughes in "The Aviator," signed a petition that calls on President Bush and other government leaders to commit to a legally binding United Nations treaty declaring clean water as a basic human right. DiCaprio screened a short film he helped produce that highlights the need to conserve the world's limited supply of fresh water and provide greater access to it for more than 1.2 billion people.
Serena still loves tennis
MIAMI -- Despite her acting career and fashion business, Serena Williams claims tennis is her No. 1 priority in 2005, and she hopes to squeeze a few wins at the Nasdaq-100 Open into her busy schedule. She'll be playing in just her fourth event this year and seeking her fourth consecutive Key Biscayne title. The tournament, which began Wednesday, is held just 90 minutes down Interstate 95 from Williams' home in Palm Beach Gardens. "I'm very eager to get back out there and start playing matches, especially because it's Miami, because it's my hometown and I get to show my stuff," she said.
Newton-John in concert
COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Olivia Newton-John will perform at a concert next month to celebrate the bicentennial of Hans Christian Andersen. Newton-John, star of the 1978 movie "Grease," will be one of several artists participating in the concert that will be televised worldwide from Copenhagen's national soccer stadium April 2, the anniversary of Andersen's 200th birthday.
Notable death
LOS ANGELES -- Barney Martin, a former New York City detective who went into show business and became best known for playing Jerry Seinfeld's father Morty on the comedian's hit television series, has died. He was 82. Martin died of cancer Monday at his Studio City home, according to his publicist, Jennifer Glassman.In "Seinfeld," Martin was the third actor to play the part of Seinfeld's father and became the one most identified with the role of the Florida retiree.He is survived by his wife and son. A daughter died in 2002 of cancer.
Today's birthdays
Modeling agency founder Eileen Ford is 83. Former astronaut James Lovell is 77. Movie reviewer Gene Shalit is 73. Feminist author Gloria Steinem is 71. Singer Anita Bryant is 65. Singer Aretha Franklin is 63. Actor Paul Michael Glaser is 62. Singer Elton John is 58. Actress Bonnie Bedelia is 57. Singer Nick Lowe is 56. Actress-comedian Mary Gross is 52. Actor James McDaniel is 47. Actor-writer-director John Stockwell is 44. Actress Marcia Cross ("Desperate Housewives") is 43. Actress Lisa Gay Hamilton is 41. Actress Sarah Jessica Parker is 40. Singer-musician Jeff Healey is 39. Olympic bronze medal figure skater Debi Thomas is 38. Singer Melanie Blatt (All Saints) is 30.