S. Carolina first lady’s book on sale in February

S. Carolina first lady’s book on sale in February

CHARLESTON, S.C. — South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford’s memoir about dealing with her husband’s infidelity will be published next month instead of in May as originally planned.

The 240-page “Staying True” goes on sale Feb. 5, according to the Web site for Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House Inc.

Jenny Sanford filed for divorce from Gov. Mark Sanford last month and a final hearing on the petition is scheduled for late February. But Random House spokeswoman Theresa Zoro said moving up the publication date had nothing to do with the divorce.

“The book was done, and we wanted to get it out there,” she said.

The governor, once a rising star in the Republican Party and a possible 2012 presidential contender, disappeared for five days last summer and returned to publicly confess an affair with an Argentine woman. His staff told reporters he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, but he was actually in Argentina.

The publisher’s Web site says the memoir will reveal Jenny Sanford’s private ordeal over her husband’s public betrayal.

Kevin Bacon to receive critics’ Joel Siegel Award

LOS ANGELES — Hollywood’s awards season is just beginning, and Kevin Bacon has already won.

The 51-year-old actor, nominated for Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe awards for his starring turn in the TV movie “Taking Chance,” will receive the Joel Siegel Award from the Broadcast Film Critics Association. The award recognizes an entertainer’s charitable efforts.

Meryl Streep will present the honor to Bacon at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards on Jan. 15.

Bacon is being honored for his Web site SixDegrees.org, which invites visitors to contribute to their favorite causes with a few clicks of the mouse. Playing on the trivia game that bears his name, Bacon created SixDegrees.org to connect donors and volunteers with the charities that interest them. The site has attracted nearly $3 million in donations since its launch three years ago.

Producers Guild nominates several for top film honors

LOS ANGELES — The sci-fi smashes “Avatar,” “Star Trek” and “District 9” are among nominees for top film honors from the Producers Guild of America.

The group representing Hollywood producers also handed best-picture nominations to the animated blockbuster “Up,” the World War II hit “Inglourious Basterds” and the critical favorites “The Hurt Locker,” “Precious,” “Up in the Air,” “An Education” and “Invictus.”

“Up” also is nominated for best animated film, along with “9,” “Coraline,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “The Princess and the Frog.”

Winners will be announced at a Jan. 24 ceremony in Hollywood.

Siegfried, Roy miss fans, but no comeback planned

BERLIN — Illusionists Siegfried and Roy have retired for good, but miss their fans.

Siegfried Fischbacher is quoted in Tuesday’s edition of German magazine Neues Blatt as saying that “Roy and I miss our audience. But there will not be a comeback.”

Siegfried said that his partner Roy Horn, who was mauled by a white tiger during a 2003 performance at The Mirage in Las Vegas, is still battling the long-term effects of the attack.

Today’s birthdays

Country singer Earl Scruggs is 86. Actress Bonnie Franklin is 66. Singer Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds is 59. Guitarist Malcolm Young of AC/DC is 57. Actor-comedian Rowan Atkinson (“Mr. Bean”) is 55. Singer Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge is 51. Singer Eric Williams of BLACKstreet is 50. Director John Singleton is 42. “Early Show” co-host Julie Chen is 40. Actor Danny Pintauro (“Who’s the Boss”) is 34.