Spears pays surprise visit to sick kids in hospital

March 9, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

MIAMI — Just hours before taking the stage, pop singer Britney Spears made a surprise visit to a group of sick children at Miami Children’s Hospital.

The 27-year-old Spears posed for photos with the children Saturday.

She’s also donating $100,000 to the Big Apple Circus Clown Care program, which brings clowns to young hospital patients.

Spears played at the American Airlines Arena in Miami as part of her “Circus” tour.

Coolio released on bail after drug arrest

LOS ANGELES — Authorities say rapper Coolio has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of drug possession.

He was arrested and booked on felony narcotics possession after being stopped at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday.

The 45-year-old Coolio, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr., was released after posting $10,000 bail.

Rihanna to testify against boyfriend, lawyer says

LOS ANGELES — Rihanna’s attorney says the singer would testify against Chris Brown if called as a witness in her boyfriend’s assault case.

Donald Etra, who is representing the 21-year-old Barbados native, said Friday that Rihanna would be required by law to testify if prosecutors subpoena her.

Etra appeared in court Thursday when Brown made his first appearance on charges of assaulting and making criminal threats to his superstar girlfriend. Brown’s arraignment was postponed until April 6.

Etra said Rihanna did not want a “no contact” order issued against Brown but that she will report any violations of an order prohibiting the 19-year-old singer from threatening, harassing or harming his girlfriend. A court order grants her the authority to record any violations of the order.

Etra said Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, wants the case over with quickly. “She wants to get along with her life and career,” he said.

Brown was arrested Feb. 8 stemming from an altercation that police say he had with Rihanna in LA.

Today’s birthdays

Singer-actress Keely Smith is 77. Singer Lloyd Price is 76. Actress Joyce Van Patten is 75. Actor-comedian Marty Ingels is 73. Country singer Mickey Gilley is 73. Actress Trish Van Devere is 68. Singer Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders is 67. “Good Morning America” host Charles Gibson is 66. Guitarist Robin Trower (Procol Harum) is 64. Guitarist-harmonica player Jimmie Fadden of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is 61. Singer Jeffrey Osborne is 61. Actress Linda Fiorentino is 49. Actress Juliette Binoche is 45. Actor Emmanuel Lewis (“Webster”) is 38. Actor Kerr Smith (“Dawson’s Creek”) is 37. Rapper Chingy is 27. Actress Brittany Snow (“American Dreams”) is 23. Rapper Bow Wow is 22. Actor Luis Armand Garcia (“George Lopez”) is 17.