Jonas Brothers and Taylor Swift to rock in the new year in Times Square

December 9, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

NEW YORK — Rock idols The Jonas Brothers, country music star Taylor Swift and pop veteran Lionel Richie will ring in 2009 from Times Square on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.”

They will perform live during the ABC broadcast, joining Clark in New York along with his co-host Ryan Seacrest, the network says.

Country music artist Kellie Pickler also will be on hand in Times Square with live reports on the festivities.

As previously announced, Natasha Bedingfield, Fall Out Boy, Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, Pussycat Dolls, Solange and Robin Thicke will perform during the Hollywood Party segments, which will be hosted by Fergie.

A New Year’s Eve tradition, the show will begin Dec. 31 at 10 p.m.

Family accepts award for Heath Ledger

MELBOURNE, Australia — Heath Ledger’s family paid a teary tribute to the late actor as they accepted a top Australian film industry award on his behalf.

Ledger was posthumously given the Australian Film Institute’s international award for best actor for his role as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.”

His father, Kim; mother, Sally; and sister Kate accepted the award.

“It’s been without a doubt the most difficult year, losing such a loved family member,” said Kate Ledger, fighting back tears.

“We are so proud of him and humbly accept this award on behalf of his beautiful daughter, who we will cherish forever,” she said, referring to Matilda, his 3-year-old daughter with actress Michelle Williams.

Ledger’s performance in the Batman blockbuster is regarded as having a solid chance for a posthumous Academy Award for best supporting actor.

“It was this swaggering, psychopathic clown that turned his career into a legacy and the name Heath Ledger into an ongoing inspiration to actors everywhere,” the Australia Film Institute said at the awards ceremony Saturday night in Melbourne.

Sally Ledger thanked the film institute for the tribute to her son, who died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in New York in January. He was 28.

Krall says record reflects happiness

Diana Krall describes her new CD as intimate, sensual — and erotic.

Says Krall: “I’m not a coy single girl singing ‘Peel Me A Grape.’ I love that song but I don’t love it for me any more. I feel more womanly.”

“Quiet Nights” is scheduled to be released March 31. It’s Krall’s first CD of new material in three years. The sultry jazz vocalist and pianist had twin sons with husband Elvis Costello in 2006; they turned 2 last Friday. Krall says she’s never been happier, and the record reflects that.

In addition to finishing “Quiet Nights,” Krall is producing a new Barbra Streisand record that is slated to be completed in January and released sometime in 2009. Krall intends to tour in April.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Kirk Douglas is 92. Actor Dick Van Patten (“Eight Is Enough”) is 80. Actor-writer Buck Henry is 78. Actress Judi Dench is 74. Actor Beau Bridges is 67. Singer Dan Hicks is 67. Football player-turned-actor Dick Butkus is 66. Actor Michael Nouri is 63. Singer Joan Armatrading is 58. Actor Michael Dorn (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) is 56. Actor John Malkovich is 55. Country singer Sylvia is 52. Singer Donny Osmond is 51. Bassist Nick Seymour of Crowded House is 50. Actor Joe Lando (“Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”) is 47. Actress Felicity Huffman (“Desperate Housewives,” “Sports Night”) is 46. Country keyboardist Jerry Hughes of Yankee Grey is 43. Singer-guitarist Thomas Flowers of Oleander is 41. Guitarist Brian Bell of Weezer is 40. Singer-guitarist Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers is 39. Actress Allison Smith (“The West Wing,” “Kate and Allie”) is 39. “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi is 38. Country singer David Kersh is 38. Drummer Tre Cool of Green Day is 36. Rapper Canibus is 34. Actor Jesse Metcalfe (“Desperate Housewives”) is 30.