Britney has a hit in ‘Gimme More’

Britney has a hit
in ‘Gimme More’

NEW YORK — Britney Spears is finally catching a break. Her new song, “Gimme More,” is now a success on the music charts — despite the pop star’s turbulent personal life and the humiliation of her much-panned performance at MTV’s Video Music Awards. This week, “Gimme More” — released to radio stations in August — topped Billboard’s Hot Digital Songs chart at No. 1 with 179,000 downloads, and jumped from No. 68 to No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot 100. The song is the first single from her new album, set for release Nov. 13. Earlier this week, a judge ordered the 25-year-old singer to temporarily hand over custody of her two sons to ex-husband Kevin Federline. On Wednesday, a Los Angeles court commissioner granted Spears some visitation rights, but Federline, 29, remains full-time dad to Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1. Another custody hearing is scheduled for Oct. 26.

hOldest Hanson brother
remains hospitalized

DALLAS — Isaac Hanson, the oldest member of Hanson, remained hospitalized in Dallas on Thursday after suffering chest and shoulder pain following a performance earlier this week.

Baylor University Medical Center spokeswoman Maria Carpenter said the family had requested that no information by released on the 26-year-old singer’s condition.

He was taken to the hospital Tuesday night after a show at the House of Blues.

Dallas-Fort Worth television station KDFW reported that Hanson was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, which occurs when a blood clot in the extremities breaks away and travels to the lungs.

Taylor Hanson, 24, told the TV station that his brother was doing well. Hanson, which also includes 21-year-old brother Zac Hanson, is best known for their 1997 hit single, “MMMBop.”

Sinead says she once
attempted suicide

CHICAGO — Sinead O’Connor said before being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she struggled with thoughts of suicide and overwhelming fear. She’d often wake up crying for no reason, the 40-year-old Irish singer said on Thursday’s broadcast of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” “It’s like being a bucket with holes in it. Just leaking tears from every pore,” said O’Connor, her closely cropped hair now gray. O’Connor said she attempted suicide on her 33rd birthday, but gave no details. She was diagnosed nearly four years ago as having bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depression. She now takes medications that serve as a mood stabilizer and antidepressant, as well as help her sleep. The drugs have helped her become more balanced, she said, but “it’s a work in progress. I’m not going to sit here and claim that I’m kinda perfect or anything. Anything is an improvement when you’ve been in desolation ... to be out of that place is brilliant. It doesn’t mean you don’t have lumps and bumps.” The medications also have provided a “scaffolding” to help her to work on recovering from abuse she suffered as a child, O’Connor said.

Cannon, girlfriend split

NEW YORK — Months after a public proposal in Times Square, Nick Cannon and Victoria’s Secret model Selita Ebanks have parted ways — for the time being. “Selita and Nick are taking a break to focus on their careers but still very much love each other and remain the best of friends,” Ebanks’ publicist, Melissa Raubvogel, said Thursday. Cannon popped the question in May. The 26-year-old rapper-actor got down on bent knee as the words “Selita will you marry me?” flashed on a giant TV screen in Times Square.

Today’s birthdays

“Family Circus” cartoonist Bil Keane is 85. Singer-musician Steve Miller is 64. Rock singer Brian Johnson (AC/DC) is 60. Writer-producer-director Clive Barker is 55. Rock musician David Bryson (Counting Crows) is 53. Rock singer and famine-relief organizer Bob Geldof is 53. Comedian Bernie Mac is 50. Actor Daniel Baldwin is 47. Rock singer-musician Dave Dederer (Presidents of the United States of America) is 43. Actor Guy Pearce is 40. Rock musician Brian Mashburn (Save Ferris) is 32. Actress Kate Winslet is 32. Rock musician James Valentine (Maroon 5) is 29. Rock musician Paul Thomas (Good Charlotte) is 27. TV personality Nicky Hilton is 24.