Bullock cancels appearance at London premiere
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sandra Bullock canceled her appearance at the London premiere of "The Blind Side" days after Internet reports alleged she was having trouble in her marriage and that she had left the couple's Southern California home. Calls and e-mails to representatives for Bullock and her husband, celebrity motorcycle builder Jesse James, weren't immediately answered.
First 'American Idol' finalist booted
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lacey Brown is down and out on "American Idol." The 24-year-old event coordinator from Amarillo, Texas, was the first finalist eliminated from the ninth season of the Fox singing competition Wednesday. Brown, who turned in a lackluster rendition of the Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday" on Tuesday's performance show, failed to impress the judges with a last-minute performance of Brandi Carlile's "The Story."
US fashion designers pick McQueen for NYC honor
NEW YORK (AP) — The fashion world has announced one more tribute to designer Alexander McQueen. McQueen, who died in an apparent suicide in London last month, will receive the Council of Fashion Designers of America's special board of directors honor at the industry's annual celebrity-studded gala this summer. The announcement was made Wednesday.
Atty: Ex-NY art dealer to admit nearly $100M fraud
NEW YORK (AP) — A lawyer for a once-high-flying Manhattan art dealer says his client plans to admit swindling nearly $100 million from his star-studded clientele. Attorney Charles Ross says former gallery owner Lawrence B. Salander (SAL'-an-duhr) expects to plead guilty Thursday to grand larceny and scheme to defraud. Victims include tennis great John McEnroe and the estate of actor Robert De Niro's father.
Brief this: Captain Underpants is back
NEW YORK (AP) — Break out the briefs and red cape, if you dare. More tales of "Captain Underpants" are coming. Author Dav Pilkey has agreed to write four more of the multimillion-selling series that helped establish the giggly genre known as "poop fiction." The first book, "The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future," comes out in August with a worldwide printing of 1 million copies, Scholastic announced Thursday.
Hollywood and Bollywood join arms to fight piracy
MUMBAI, India (AP) — Hollywood and Bollywood linked arms Thursday to fight piracy, with the announcement of a coalition among the Motion Picture Association of America and seven Indian companies to tackle counterfeiting in one of the world's largest film markets. The alliance comes as Hollywood tries to tap global markets more aggressively and as Indian movie studios grow in size and stature — narrowing the gap between Indian and U.S. filmmakers, who have not always seen eye-to-eye on intellectual property issues.
World music champion Charlie Gillett dies at 68
LONDON (AP) _Charlie Gillett, a DJ and music historian who helped bring music from around the world to wider attention, has died at the age of 68, his employer, the British Broadcasting Corp., said Thursday. The BBC said Gillett died in a London hospital on Wednesday. He had an autoimmune disease and last week suffered a heart attack.
Influential Big Star member Alex Chilton dies
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Singer and guitarist Alex Chilton, who topped the charts as a teen with "The Letter" and later became a cult hero with Big Star, died Wednesday. He was 59. Chilton died at a hospital in New Orleans after experiencing what appeared to be heart problems, said his longtime friend John Fry.
Marie Osmond cancels Las Vegas shows for the week
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Donny and Marie Osmond are canceling their shows this week at the Flamingo Las Vegas hotel while she copes with the death of her son. Marie Osmond's publicist Alan Nierob said Wednesday that it's been a difficult time for the Osmonds, and the performer felt like she needed to spend more with her family.
Country music impresario Johnnie High dead at 80
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Johnnie High, a north Texas country music showman who gave such performers as LeAnn Rimes and Boxcar Willie their early exposure, has died at the age of 80. High's daughter, Luanne Dorman, says her father died Wednesday after battling heart disease.
