newsmakers

August 5, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

newsmakers

Salahi sari on sale

WASHINGTON

Michaele Salahi is going to auction off the red sari she wore when she and her husband allegedly crashed a White House state dinner last November.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Salahi said she plans to put the dress up for bid around the time the scandal is addressed in “The Real Housewives of D.C.”

There’s no airdate yet for the episode. Salahi said the auction proceeds will go to victims of the Haitian earthquake and people with multiple sclerosis.

Salahi is one of five women starring in the series that premieres tonight on Bravo.

Much of the first episode features the other four housewives criticizing Salahi behind her back for being too skinny and allegedly not paying her bills.

Salahi said watching the episode hurt for “a minute,” but she got over it.

Songz on a roll

ATLANTA

Singer Trey Songz, whose star rose this past year with the R&B chart-topping smash “I Invented Sex” and other hits, says he wants to continue building on his momentum with new material.

Songz is gearing up to release his new album “Passion, Pain and Pleasure” on Sept. 14. But until its release, he’ll introduce some of the new album’s songs during his upcoming concert tour that kicks off Friday.

“It was something missing for me. I needed something more,” Songz said in a recent interview. “No matter how much you love the songs. I need something new.”

Four of his songs, including “Say Aah” and “Neighbors Know My Name,” reached the top 10 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart. His gold-selling album “Ready,” which was released last year, helped him win BET’s best male R&B artist this year.

But the 25-year-old Songz says he needs to produce more than one successful album to be considered in the same class as his idols — singers R. Kelly and Usher.

Smith trial

LOS ANGELES

A defense attorney for Anna Nicole Smith’s boyfriend says his client relied on Smith’s doctors to prescribe drugs for the former Playboy model.

The comments from Howard K. Stern’s attorney came during opening statements of the drug conspiracy trial involving Stern and Smith’s two doctors in Los Angeles.

Attorney Steven Sadow stressed to jurors that Stern was unaware it was improper to use pseudonyms on Smith’s prescriptions. He also said Smith was dependent on drugs for pain but was not an addict.

Earlier in the day, a prosecutor alleged Stern and the co-defendants provided massive amounts of drugs to Smith despite being warned she was an addict.

All three have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy. They are not charged with her drug overdose death in 2007.

Streisand selected

NEW YORK

Barbra Streisand will be honored as the 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year.

The Recording Academy and the MusiCares Foundation said Wednesday that Streisand will receive the award Feb. 11 at a dinner and concert in Los Angeles.

The annual gala is among the festivities that will lead up to the 53rd annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 13. The awards show will air on CBS.

The 68-year-old Streisand has won eight Grammy Awards. She is being honored for her creative accomplishments and philanthropic work.

MusiCares was established by The Recording Academy in 1989. It helps people in the music industry during times of need.

James Taylor and Aretha Franklin are among those who previously have been honored with the award.