| |
Folks in Britney Spears' hometown don't see the humor in her weekend wedding joke |
|
Spears' 55-hour marriage to fellow Kentwood resident and childhood friend Jason Alexander has engulfed the town in an unwanted media frenzy and it has rekindled an old question: What's she done for Kentwood lately?
"It's embarrassing to have the worldwide media attention with the buildings in such rundown, decrepit conditions," said Tammy Shaffett, a co-owner of The Hair Studio on Avenue F, the main street that once had traffic and a movie theater.
The wedding had the makings of a great yarn. Alexander — a hulking former high school football player — and Spears, wearing a white baseball cap, midriff-bearing shirt and torn jeans, jumped in a limousine and got hitched at the Little White Wedding Chapel on the Strip at 5:30 a.m. Saturday.
Hours later, the 22-year-olds renounced their wedding by calling it a prank that went too far, and wrote the whole thing off with an annulment. Joke over.
But the stunt turned into an embarrassment for Kentwood — population 2,200 — as Alexander returned home to his family with a flock of reporters, television crews and paparazzi following.
Since getting home, the Southeastern Louisiana University junior was "kind of hibernating" and collecting his thoughts, said his father, Dennis Alexander.
The media hunt for Alexander overwhelmed Kentwood as reporters questioned the town's residents to find Spears' groom. Reporters staked out his family's home and sheriff's deputies were called in two days in a row to disperse the crowd.
"Yesterday it really caused chaos," said Robert Alexander, Jason's grandfather. He said Dennis Alexander, an auto mechanic, had to close his garage Monday because of the intrusion.
Downtown, television satellite trucks set up near the main intersection, causing locals to rubberneck all day.
Some said they want to be proud of Spears and her success, but think the pop star hasn't shared her wealth with her hometown, which is languishing from a dying dairy farming industry.
|
|
|
|
|
Westlife singer Shane celebrates marriage with Gillian |
|
Westlife singer Shane Filan has been celebrating his marriage to his childhood sweetheart at one of Ireland's most
exclusive hotels. Shane wed Gillian Walsh at historic Ballintubber Abbey in County Mayo on Sunday.
They later celebrated along with more than 350 guests in the lakeside splendour of the nearby Ashford Castle hotel.
His elder brother Finbar acted as best man at the ceremony in Ballintubber, which dates back to the 13th century,
and was once left a wreck by the army of Oliver Cromwell.
It was reported that Shane had popped the question while he and Gillian were on holiday together in Dubai last year.
The event marked the first Westlife wedding since last summer's occasion in a French village, when Nicky Byrne married
Georgina, one of Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's two daughters. It was reported that the couple had struck
a $1m (£622,000) deal with celebrity magazine Hello! to cover the ceremony.
About 200 of Westlife's noisy, but devoted following stood in the cold weather outside the Abbey on Sunday to catch
a glimpse of the band and cheer them into and out of the church.
Like his bride, Shane was dressed in white and the happy couple arrived for the ceremony in a white, horse-drawn coach.
|
|
|
|
|
'Lord of The Rings' Film Heads Toward $500 Million |
|
Hobbits held sway at movie theaters around the world over the Christmas holiday weekend as the final installment
in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy powered toward $500 million after less than two weeks.
According to studio estimates issued on Sunday 28 Dec., "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" has grossed $492.1 million
from North America and 38 countries elsewhere. The epic fantasy is outpacing both its predecessors and should reach
$1 billion, said Rolf Mittweg, president of worldwide marketing and distribution at New Line Cinema which is a unit of Time Warner Inc .
The new film's foreign haul of $268.4 million includes $48 million from Britain, $45 million from Germany
and $30 million from France. The film opened on Friday in Australia, and has already pulled in $8.7 million.
"With the release of each film, the emotional resonance and dramatic impact have only increased," Mittweg said.
Despite its success, the film has a long way to go before unseating all-time champ "Titanic," which grossed
about $1.8 billion worldwide. The first film in the "Rings" series, "The Fellowship of the Ring" earned $865 million worldwide.
|
|
|
|
|
Robbie biggest winner of 2003 |
|
This year's (2003) world's biggest winner is Robbie Williams.
According to a new list of the all-time greats, he is now at 46th in the top
100 and this thanks to hits such as 'Come Undone and 'Something Beautiful'
in the past year.
The list, compiled by British hit singles experts, is based on the
number of weeks spent on the chart and is again topped by Elvis Presley.
Although much of the list remains unchanged, Robbie saw the highest climb (20 places).
The chart will appear in the 17th edition of the book of British Hit
Singles, published by Guinness, next year.
The full Top 10 (w: weeks, woc: weeks on chart):
No (W) Artist (WOC)
1 (1) Elvis Presley (1193)
2 (2) Cliff Richard (1152)
3 (3) The Shadows (771)
4 (4) Elton John (623)
5 (5) Madonna (606)
6 (6) Diana Ross (560)
7 (7) Michael Jackson (509)
8 (8) Rod Stewart (477)
9 (9) Beatles (456)
10 (10) David Bowie (452)
|
|
|
|
|
Lauryn Hill vs Catholic Church |
|
Lauryn Hill criticized the Catholic Church during a concert at the
Vatican on the weekend and now an American religous advocacy group, The
Catholic League, has fired back.
Catholic League president William Donohue has called Hill "pathologically miserable"
implying that she has no control over her life. He also says that the church expects
Hills' career will "continue to head south."
The Catholic League also urged Columbia Records to cut her loose from her record deal.
|
|
|
|
|
Pop Idol goes global |
|
On Christmas day we watched on BBC the rest of the world's winners of Pop Idol.
Simon Cowell and Pete Waterman are two of the judges. Ant and Dec are
hosting - but they admit they're going to have to change their style slightly.
Eleven countries were taking part, and contestants included a plumber
from Norway, a former bodybuilder from Belgium and a Dutch bloke who has
his own waxwork at Madame Tussauds in Amsterdam.
The South African contestant Heinz Winkler has been named one of the
sexiest men in Cosmpolitan's 2003 calendar.
Other countries taking part include Australia, Canada, Germany, Poland and Jordan.
US entrant Kelly Clarkson is favourite to win and our Will Young is
currently 2nd favourite.
The winner will be announced on New Year's day.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Justin time off in 2004 |
|
After the success of his album "Justified" and his worldwide tour,
Justin Timberlake is considering a year off in 2004. He would like to spend
more time with family, friends and his girlfriend, Cameron Diaz.
Justin has been working non-stop since the age of 16 and he now needs
time to appreciate the other areas of his life.
"I didn't expect my album and tour to do so well," he said. "And
although it's been a brilliant trip for me, I really miss being at home for a
while and being with the people I love."
"I've two little brothers and I've hardly seen them as I've been away
so much," the 22-year-old star went on. "So, I'm planning to make 2004
the year for me to be at home with them and my friends."
According to reports in a British tabloid newspaper today, Timberlake
may be planning to marry Diaz next year.
|
|
|
|
|
Usher's new album |
|
Usher will be releasing a new album titled 'Confessions' in March 2004.
He has been working with with producers including Jimmy Jam and Terry
Lewis, R. Kelly, Rich Harrison, Pied Piper, The Neptunes and Jermaine
Dupri, the R&B singer claims to have made his "most personal album."
"Hopefully it'll be a little bit of what everybody wants to hear right
now; a little bit of R&B, a little bit of hip-hop/R&B-feeling type
records. But this is definitely a classic R&B album."
"Every album you gotta' grow," he explained. "You gotta' look for
something different. This one is a take on vocals as well as entertainment.
'Can he do it again? Can he open it up? Can he push the envelope?'
That's what this one is all about, the next step."
Usher is aslo considering the idea of collaborating on tracks with
singers such as Prince, Stevie Wonder and Ashanti. However, he has not yet
confirmed if any of those names have made the record.
The album's first single of the new album will be, 'Burn'.
|
|
|
|
|
50 Cent: Biggest selling album in the US |
|
50 Cent's debut album, 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin' has been named the
biggest selling LP in the US in 2003.
The album went platinum six times over, with 50's huge commercial
appeal being further bolstered by the emergence of his side project crew
G-Unit, who attained a further two million sales.
Outkast come second in the poll of the previous 12 months, with
'Speakerboxxx' / 'The Love Below' in second place, after also going platinum
six times over.
Linkin Park's 'Meteora' and 'Fallen' by Evanesence are next up in the
chart, having gone platinum three times each in 2003.
The Top 10 albums of 2003 in the USA accounted for around 30 million sales
|
|
|
|
|
Sheriff Denies Jackson Was Roughed Up |
|
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department has denied manhandling Michael Jackson during his arrest and asked prosecutors to investigate the pop star's complaint, threatening to charge Jackson if the accusation is deemed false.
Attorney General Bill Lockyer said Wednesday he would investigate the matter, the same day Sheriff Jim Anderson asked for a probe and defended his deputies' actions during Jackson's Nov. 20 arrest.
"He was in no way manhandled or abused," Anderson said, adding he would seek to have Jackson charged with filing a false police report if the entertainer's allegations aren't substantiated.
Anderson also released audio and videotapes indicating Jackson was treated respectfully by deputies. One video showed Jackson shaking hands with the officers who met him at Santa Barbara Airport when he arrived from Las Vegas on Nov. 20.
The deputies then handcuffed Jackson and put him in a car for a trip to the county jail, where he was booked for investigation of child molestation. He has declared his innocence.
In an audio recording from the car, Jackson could be heard complaining that the handcuffs hurt. An officer advised him to "scoot forward a little bit," and later asked him, "Is that OK for you, Mr. Jackson?"
"It's wonderful, thank you. Thank you very much," Jackson replies.
Jackson's parents expressed skepticism about the tapes in a statement issued Wednesday night.
"The tapes do not address any of the allegations that Michael made but only paint a portrait of what the sheriff's men did when the cameras were on them, not what they did when no one was looking,"
Joseph and Katherine Jackson said. "We look forward to a further investigation when all the facts come out in due course."
In a "60 Minutes" interview broadcast Sunday on CBS, Jackson said he was manhandled while in custody and locked in a feces-smeared restroom for 45 minutes after he asked
to use the facilities. He showed what he said was a bruise on his right arm and said his shoulder was dislocated.
Anderson said Jackson was not put in a restroom, but a cell designed to hold seven prisoners and equipped with a toilet. He said it had been cleaned just before Jackson arrived and the singer was there for 15 to 20 minutes.
"At no time during this process did Mr. Jackson complain of any injury incurred during the course of the arrest or mistreatment by jail staff," the sheriff said.
TV news cameras also recorded Jackson waving with both arms to fans as he left the jail. "I think Mr. Jackson has seriously hurt his credibility," Anderson said.
Jackson attorney Mark Geragos said his client "absolutely" stands by his allegations.
"We not only welcome an investigation by the attorney general of California, but will ask that the entire case from the inception be investigated by that office," he said.
One legal expert praised the attorney general's decision to investigate.
"It's the only way to clear up what happened and I'm not sure they can ever really clear up what happened. They don't have the entire time on videotape," said Loyola University law professor Laurie Levenson.
She also questioned whether Jackson could be charged with making a false report even if his accusations aren't substantiated.
"I think it's a stretch to say that his verbal complaints in an interview are the same as a formally filed complaint that would expose him to criminal liability," said Levenson, a former federal prosecutor.
|
|
|
|
|
Norway's 'Pop Idol', Kurt Nilsen, Wins World Title |
|
Norway's "Pop Idol" Kurt Nilsen moved a step up to "World Idol" on Thursday when he triumphed in a singing competition with winners from 10 other nations
"American Idol" Kelly Clarkson won second place, and Belgium's Peter Everard came in third when the vote was announced on Britain's ITV
television Friday evening following a Christmas Day broadcast of the international singing competition.
"This is totally amazing," said a thrilled and tearful Nilson. "I love you guys," he told the 10 other competitors.
The competitors are all winners of the first season of the "Idol" series in their respective countries.
Nilson, a 25-year-old plumber, won the Norwegian version of "Pop Idol" in May. His single, "She's So High," went straight to No. 1 in the Norwegian
singles chart and is the country's biggest-selling single to date.
The young Norwegian won maximum points from nine of the 11 countries that voted in the contest for his rendition of the U2 track "Beautiful Day."
Clarkson, a former Texas cocktail waitress, won the first American title in September 2002 and scored a No. 1 single with "A Moment Like This."
Shows patterned after the original series, Britain's "Pop Idol," now are seen in more than 20 countries.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
BluePink 
