NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

UFC’s Ronda Rousey to star in biopic based on her memoir

NEW YORK

Fresh off her knockout win, Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Ronda Rousey is headed to the big screen.

Paramount Pictures said Monday that it has acquired the rights to Rousey’s autobiography, “My Fight/Your Fight,” with plans for Rousey to play herself in the adaptation.

The 28-year-old mixed martial artist has emerged as the sport’s top female fighter. She’s already drawn interest from Hollywood, appearing in the films “Furious 7” and “Entourage.” In a bout Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, she won by knockout 34 seconds into the first round.

The film will begin development with Mark Bomback penning the script. His credits include co-writing the screenplays of “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” and “The Wolverine.”

Reba McEntire, Narvel Blackstock announce separation

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Country superstar Reba McEntire and her husband and manager Narvel Blackstock announced they are separating after 26 years of marriage.

The two said in a joint statement Monday that they had been separated for the past several months.

“Despite this being the end of their marriage, they continue to support each other,” the duo said in a statement from Big Machine Label Group. “They have worked together for 35 years and will continue to do so. They have asked that you respect their privacy during this time.”

A representative for Big Machine declined to say whether they had filed for divorce.

The Grammy-winning multiplatinum artist’s career has spanned across music, television, film and theater and she remains one of country music’s most popular artists with No. 1 records in each of the last four decades. The Oklahoma native was the star of the popular “Reba,” television show for six seasons and has appeared in 11 films.

Her latest album, “Love Somebody,” was released in April and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Blackstock runs a management company that represents McEntire, Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson.

The couple has one son together, race car driver Shelby Blackstock; Blackstock has three other children from a previous marriage.

Bieber in compliance with vandalism sentence, judge says

LOS ANGELES

A judge said Monday that Justin Bieber is complying with the terms of his probation in a vandalism case after the singer recently performed part of the community labor requirement of his sentence.

Superior Court Judge Leland Harris made the comments Monday in a hearing in the pop singer’s misdemeanor vandalism case filed after he damaged a former neighbor’s home with eggs last year.

Bieber already has completed the anger management and restitution requirements of his sentence. He was also ordered to complete five days of roadside cleanup, graffiti removal or other manual labor, which is the final component of his sentence.

Bieber’s probation report states the singer completed two days of work at a Los Angeles shelter last month and “displayed a positive attitude with both the staff and residents.”

A prosecutor said Monday Bieber is close to finishing the work and requested one more court hearing to make sure the singer completes his sentence.

Bieber’s progress on the work previously was delayed due to a severe ankle injury.

The Grammy-nominated singer did not attend Monday’s hearing, and he has until July 2016 to complete the work.

He was sued earlier this year by his former neighbors, Jeff and Suzanne Schwartz, who accused the singer of terrorizing them while living in a gated community in Calabasas.

Their home sustained about $80,000 in damage as a result of Bieber’s egg attack, an amount the singer has repaid. Jeff Schwartz also claims the singer terrorized his family with loud driving, unsafe driving and spit in his face during one incident.

Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale file for divorce

LOS ANGELES

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale filed for divorce Monday, seeking to end a nearly 13-year marriage between two members of rock music royalty.

Stefani filed her petition citing irreconcilable difference and Rossdale filed a response shortly thereafter, court records show.

The former couple cited irreconcilable differences for the breakup and said in a statement that they would work to raise their three sons together.

Stefani, 45, is a judge on NBC’s “The Voice” and is the frontwoman for the band No Doubt, in addition to having a successful solo career.

Rossdale, 49, is lead singer of the band Bush and has also worked “The Voice.”

Associated Press