Rock band’s frontman survives plane crash

Rock band’s frontman survives plane crash

TORONTO — Barenaked Ladies frontman Ed Robertson and three others have survived a float-plane crash near Bancroft, in southeastern Ontario, the band’s manager, Adam Smith, said in an e-mail. The private float-plane went down Sunday afternoon.

Robertson’s friend Gord Peel told The Intelligencer that the other passengers were Robertson’s wife, Natalie, and their friends Julie and Jeff Jones. Smith said Sunday night in an e-mail that everyone was fine, but would make no other comment. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada was assessing the scene of the accident, spokeswoman Julie Leroux said Monday.

‘American Idol’ adds judge for next season

NEW YORK — Scoot over, Simon Cowell. “American Idol” is adding a fourth critic to its panel of judges.

Grammy-nominated songwriter Kara DioGuardi will sit alongside Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson when the eighth season of “American Idol” premieres in January, the Fox network said Monday.

“For the past seven seasons, Paula has had to endure the experience of being the only woman at the judges’ table,” said Mike Darnell, president, alternative programming of Fox, in a statement.

“With Kara by her side, Paula has some backup and now there is going to be a lot more ‘girl power’ on the show,” Darnell said.

DioGuardio’s songs have been recorded by Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood and Pink, among others.

Lucci, Braxton, Bass on ‘Dancing With Stars’

NEW YORK — Susan Lucci, Toni Braxton and Lance Bass will hit the floor on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.”

They are among 13 celebrities slated to compete on the new season of the top-rated dance contest, premiering Sept. 22.

The other contestants are Cloris Leachman, Kim Kardashian, Ted McGinley, Brooke Burke, NFL champ Warren Sapp and two Olympic athletes: Misty May-Treanor, who won her second gold medal for beach volleyball at this year’s summer games in Beijing, and Maurice Greene, who won two gold medals in track at the 2000 games in Sydney.

Rounding out the cast are chef Rocco DiSpirito, Cody Linley of “Hannah Montana” and comedian Jeffrey Ross.

The names were announced Monday on ABC News’ “Good Morning America.”

Today’s birthdays

Singer Valerie Simpson of Ashford and Simpson is 62. Singer Bob Cowsill of The Cowsills is 59. Bandleader Branford Marsalis is 48. Singer Shirley Manson of Garbage is 42. Guitarist Dan Vickrey of Counting Crows is 42. Actress Melissa McCarthy (“Gilmore Girls”) is 38. Actor Macaulay Culkin is 28. Singer Cassie is 22. Actress Keke Palmer (“Akeelah and the Bee”) is 15.