Woman: James Brown never divorced me

Woman: James Brown
never divorced me

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A Georgia woman who claims to have married James Brown in 1953 says in court papers they were never divorced and she wants to be part of his estate. Velma Warren Brown, 73, filed a sworn statement in Aiken County court Wednesday claiming she was never served with divorce papers and didn’t sign any agreement severing her marriage to the late soul singer. Brown died Christmas Day at age 73. Attorneys involved in disputes over Brown’s estate and trust she had remarried. “If Ms. Brown believed that she was not divorced, she’s admitting to having herself committed bigamy,” said Louis Levenson, an attorney representing several of the singer’s children. Bell has said his client married the “Godfather of Soul” on June 27, 1953, had three children and lived with him for 17 years.

Spears to provide number

LOS ANGELES — Britney Spears must provide a single, working telephone number to be called in for drug testing, a court commissioner ruled Thursday after her ex-husband’s attorney said she has repeatedly failed to respond to calls for the court-ordered screenings. Of the 14 such calls placed to Spears, she failed to respond eight times, Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon earlier in the day. Spears lawyer Anne Kiley argued that Spears hadn’t responded within an hour, as ordered by the court, because she was sleeping, and asked that she be given a six hour time-frame instead. But Gordon said time wasn’t the problem, noting Spears had lost telephone numbers and changed numbers.

Lopez: I’m pregnant

MIAMI — Jennifer Lopez has confirmed what has become increasingly obvious: She’s pregnant. Lopez, who is touring with her husband, Marc Anthony, made the announcement to South Florida concertgoers Wednesday night. “Marc and I are expecting,” the 39-year-old singer told the crowd in Miami. Lopez and Anthony, 38, were married in 2004.

Today’s birthdays

Singer Mary Travers is 71. Actor Charlie Robinson (“Night Court”) is 62. Actor Robert David Hall (“CSI”) is 59. Actor Lou Ferrigno is 55. Rock musician Dee Plakas (L7) is 47. Rapper Pepa (Salt-N-Pepa) is 38. Rapper Scarface (Geto Boys) is 38. Blues singer Susan Tedeschi is 37. Actor Eric Dane is 35. Singer Nick Lachey (98 Degrees) is 34. Rhythm-and-blues singer Sisqo (Dru Hill) is 29. Actress Nikki Blonsky (Film: “Hairspray”) is 19.