newsmakers

newsmakers

Nicolas Cage films ‘Ghost Rider’ sequel

ANKARA, Turkey

Nicolas Cage is filming the sequel to “Ghost Rider” in Turkey. Turkey’s Anatolia news agency says the Hollywood actor arrived at the film set Thursday in the town of Goreme in the Cappadocia region, which is famous for caves, houses made of rock and unusual stone formations.

Tourists from around the world visit subterranean cities carved out of soft stone in Cappadocia or ride in hot-air balloons above the mushroom-shaped stone formations. Anatolia says some parts of the movie also will be filmed in the Turkish province of Denizli, where white limestone terraces formed of calcium deposits also draw tourists.

Lady Gaga, Eminem to perform at Grammys

NEW YORK

Lady Gaga, Eminem and Katy Perry are set to perform at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards.

The Recording Academy announced Thursday that the nominees will hit the stage at the awards show. It airs live Feb. 13. Arcade Fire, Cee Lo Green and Miranda Lambert also will perform.

Eminem leads this year with 10 nominations. He’s won 11 Grammy awards throughout his career. Lady Gaga is up for six awards, and Green and Perry are up for four. Arcade Fire and Lambert each have three nominations.

Other top nominees include Bruno Mars with seven and Lady Antebellum and Jay-Z, who each have six.

The award show will air on CBS from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Sales jump for book featuring slain girl

NEW YORK

A book featuring the 9-year old girl slain in last weekend’s Arizona shootings jumped into the top 200 on Amazon.com after President Barack Obama mentioned it in his speech at Tucson.

Christina Green was among 50 children in “Faces of Hope,” a paperback collection of photographs of babies born on the day of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The book was ranked No. 8,288 before Obama’s speech Wednesday night at the University of Arizona and was No. 154, and out of stock, by Thursday morning.

Peter Fonda finds body in car

LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles police say actor Peter Fonda discovered a body in a car, and they are investigating the death. Sgt. Carlton Cook at the West Los Angeles Community Police Station says the “Easy Rider” actor called 911 on Wednesday after he spotted a car parked on the side of Sunset Boulevard. Cook says the 70-year-old Fonda is absolutely not a suspect but did not have any more details.

The call was first reported by TMZ, which says Fonda got out of his car and found the man slumped over in the front seat.

Husband seeks control of Etta James’ money

RIVERSIDE, Calif.

Ailing R&B singer Etta James is gravely ill, and her husband of 41 years is seeking a California court order to control more than $1 million of her money.

The 72-year-old singer is best known for the 1961 hit “At Last.” Court documents show she lives in the Woodcrest area of Riverside County, has been diagnosed with dementia and is undergoing treatment for leukemia.

Beverly Hills Dr. Elaine James, who isn’t related, says in court documents that the singer cannot sign her name and she needs help with feeding, dressing and hygiene.

The Riverside Press- Enterprise says a court hearing today will consider a bid by husband Artis Mills to control her finances.