newsmakers

newsmakers

Singer Randy Travis in critical condition

nASHVILLE, Tenn.

Country-music star Randy Travis was in critical condition Monday in a Texas hospital, a day after he was hospitalized with viral cardiomyopathy.

A news release from the singer’s publicist says Travis was admitted to the hospital Sunday in Dallas and is in critical condition. Kirt Webster, Travis’ publicist, said no other details about Travis’ condition were available Monday.

Viral cardiomyopathy is a heart condition caused by a virus.

The illness is a continuation of a tough run for the 54-year-old “Three Wooden Crosses” singer.

Travis pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated in January after his arrest last year when he was found naked after crashing his Pontiac Trans Am.

Travis was sentenced to two years’ probation, fined $2,000 and given a 180-day suspended jail sentence. He was required to spend at least 30 days at an alcohol-treatment facility and complete 100 hours of community service.

The Mayo Clinic website describes cardiomyopathy as a disease that weakens and enlarges the heart muscle, making it harder for the heart to pump blood and carry it to the rest of the body. It can lead to heart failure. Treatments range from medications and surgically implanted devices to heart transplants.

Lauryn Hill starts prison sentence

DANBURY, Conn.

Grammy-winning singer Lauryn Hill began serving a three-month prison sentence in Connecticut on Monday for failing to pay about $1 million in taxes over the past decade.

Hill reported to federal prison in Danbury, said Ed Ross, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Prisons. Inmates at the minimum-security prison live in open dormitory-style living quarters and are expected to work jobs such as maintenance, food service or landscaping.

Hill, who started singing with the Fugees as a teenager in the 1990s before releasing her multiplatinum 1998 album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” pleaded guilty last year in New Jersey to failing to pay taxes on more than $1.8 million earned from 2005 to 2007.

Kings of Leon join in to help tornado relief

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

When tornadoes devastated parts of Oklahoma earlier this year, members of Kings of Leon decided to help out the people of the state that’s been a huge part of their lives over the years.

“It just felt like something we could lend a hand to,” Jared Followill said. “We talked about just donating some money. But you know, we just all started talking, and we realized we’d probably raise more money by doing a show, and it would probably be more fun for us than just writing a check. We can go there and be with the people, be with our family. It was one of those things that we didn’t realize that it could happen. The people that we work with just made it happen really quickly.”

The Kings of Leon’s Rock for Oklahoma: A Benefit Concert for Oklahoma Tornado Victims will take place July 23.

The Followills invited Oklahoma City residents The Flaming Lips and Jackson Browne and Built to Spill to participate in the concert at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Andrew becomes first royal on Twitter

LONDON

Twitter is now a bit more royal.

Britain’s Prince Andrew has joined the micro- blogging service as @TheDukeOfYork.

Within hours of opening the account Monday, Andrew had more than 10,000 followers — but also had received several abusive comments.

The son of Queen Elizabeth II has served as a navy helicopter pilot and a British business ambassador, and is following charities, arts organizations and the Hunstanton Golf Club on Twitter.

Vindicator wire services