Recently, Miley Cyrus interviewed lesbian rocker Joan Jett for V Magazine, according to a People.com item. Cyrus, 18, had nominated the Runaways singer, 52, for the publication's September "Heroes" issue. The two expressed mutual admiration, with Cyrus telling Jett, "I love that you never apologized for who you were. It's something I had to learn. ... I'm sick of feeling as if I owe someone an apology for being who I am."
J. Edgar—Clint Eastwood's take on the life of controversial FBI director J. Edgar Hoover—will have its world premiere at the opening-night gala of the 25th edition of the American Film Institute Fest 2011, according to Deadline.com . The movie ( which will open in limited engagements Nov. 9 ) stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Hoover, along with Naomi Watts, Judi Dench and Armie Hammer. The gala will take place Nov. 3 at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Joe Manganiello—who plays werewolf Alcide on True Blood—is comfortable being naked on camera. According to Digital Spy, Manganiello, who will play male stripper Big Dick Richie in the Steven Soderbergh movie Big Mike, told the Huffington Post, "I'm the one coming from True Blood. It's not that different from what I do on set on True Blood. I wonder if some of the other guys have done it before—taken their clothes off on camera." Manganiello, who also said he once exhibited full-frontal nudity for an off-Broadway show, recently revealed that he was "depressed for months" after losing the lead in the film Superman: Man of Steel to Henry Cavill.
Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi has said that an Italian priest called her a whore, according to Digital Spy. The Jersey Shore star said that a priest was upset by the ensemble she wore on church grounds: "The priest was like, 'Cover up when you come to my church.' He basically just called me a whore. ... In my church they'd be like, 'Oh, nice outfit!' God likes my tits! God made my tits."
Rosie O'Donnell has said that she is not an angry person anymore, according to Digital Spy. She said that she was consumed by "rage" for a long time but added that estrogen treatments have helped her be a happier individual: "I'm not cut off from my emotions anymore. … The rage has gone away. … There's been a healing. I had, like, zero estrogen. Since I got some, I've been able to function more normally. I've stopped being so angry."
Fashion designer John Galliano has been found guilty of coming hate crimes after making anti-Semitic and racist remarks, People.com reported. The court imposed a suspended fine of 6,000 euros ( $8,500 ) ; the ex-Dior designer was also ordered to pay a symbolic one-euro fine to one of the plaintiffs. The $8,500 fine is suspended on one condition: that Galliano is not found guilty of any crime in France for five years.
Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon was rushed to a hospital after being hit by a car Sept. 7, according to E! Online. Witherspoon sustained minor injuries and was resting at home that evening. The car that hit the Legally Blonde actress, who was running within an unmarked crosswalk, was going approximately 20 mph. The driver was an 84-year-old woman, who was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
Activist Larry Kramer is joining Dustin Lance Black's play, 8, which is based on the trial in the federal legal challenge to California's Proposition 8, according to Advocate.com . Kramer, the playwright of The Normal Heart, will play civil-rights attorney Evan Wolfson, also the founder and president of Freedom to Marry. Others in the one-night-only benefit, scheduled for Sept. 19, include Marisa Tomei, Cheyenne Jackson, Matt Bomer, John Lithgow and Morgan Freeman.
The 2011 Kennedy Center Honors will go to actress Meryl Streep, soprano Barbara Cook, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, singer Neil Diamond and saxophonist Sonny Rollins, the Washington Post reported. Cook said she cried when told of her selection: "This is a validation of my work and career." Streep, 62, has had 16 Oscar and 25 Golden Globe nominations so far, winning the Academy Award twice and the Globe seven times. The program will run on CBS in late December, but the actual ceremony will take Dec. 4.
Elizabeth Taylor's renowned jewelry collection will be auctioned off in December at a two-day sale expected to raise more than $30 million, according to the L.A. Times. The Dec. 13-14 sale, organized by Christie's, will follow a global three-month tour that will also include the late star's fine art, couture and memorabilia. Among the baubles up for auction in December is the 33.19-carat white diamond ring then-husband Richard Burton bought for her in 1968.
Kate Winslet said she's glad her son knows he may be gay. According to Jezebel.com, the Oscar-winning actress told V magazine, " [ My son ] Joe turns to me the other day and says 'One day I will have a girlfriend or a boyfriend, darling. Which would you prefer?' And I said 'My Love, that would be entirely up to you, and it doesn't make any difference to me.' But that he knows!" Winslet stars in the upcoming film Carnage with Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly and Christoph Waltz.
Jersey Shore's Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino has reportedly started legal proceedings against clothing company Abercrombie & Fitch, Digital Spy reported. Sorrentino's lawyers issued a cease-and-desist letter, claiming the company has infringed on his legal copyright by printing clothing inspired by his slogans. Recently, A&F claimed it had offered Sorrentino money not to wear its brand; however, he said he never received an offer.
On Anderson Cooper's new talk show, Anderson, Amy Winehouse's father said that the late singer may have overdosed on a powerful anti-anxiety drug and suffered a seizure, according to USA Today. In his first interview since the musician died, Mitch Winehouse told Cooper that traces of the prescription drug Librium—used to treat withdrawal symptoms during detox from alcoholism—were found in her body. "She drank to excess and did detox to excess," Mitch said of Amy. Mitch appeared on the show with Amy's mother, Janis Winehouse; Reg Traviss, Amy's boyfriend when she died; her stepmother; and her aunt.
At the Sept. 10 dedication of the first phase of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa.—where one of the four planes hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001, slammed into a field—Sarah McLachlan performed her Grammy-winning song "I Will Remember You," according to USA Today. Former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton spoke at the event. Clinton said of the 40 passengers and crew who thwarted plans to crash the plane into the White House or the Capitol. that "they gave the entire country an incalculable gift."
Add Cyndi Lauper to the list of singers who have botched the national anthem. The "Time After Time" singer sang the song just before the U.S. Open women's semifinal involving Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki, which Williams won. Lauper mistakenly sang, "O'er the ramparts, we watched as our flag was still streaming." Audience members booed her but cheered her as she ended on a high note.
The Wendy Williams Show kicked off its third season with Kate Gosselin as its guest, according to AceShowbiz.com . The famous mom was invited to Williams' show because her reality show was ending its run on TLC the same week. Other guests slated to be on the daytime chatfest include Jane Lynch, Antonio Banderas, Charlie Sheen and Levi Johnston.
Justin Timberlake and Gwyneth Paltrow were among the winners at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards Sept. 10 in Los Angeles, Digital Spy reported. Paltrow won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Holly Holliday on Glee, while Timberlake received Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on NBC's Saturday Night Live. In addition, a group of four ( Katie Hetland, Kevin O'Dea, Bill Deronde and Michael Polito ) won for editing Lady GaGa Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden.
Andy Whitfield, the former lead of the Starz show Spartacus: Blood and Sand, died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Sydney, Australia, at the age of 39, according to E! Online. The Welsh-Australian actor was relatively unknown before landing the lead role in Spartacus. While preparing for the show's second season, Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in March 2010; two months later, he was declared cancer-free after completing treatment. In September 2010, Whitfield left the series to resume treatment.
Dancing with the Stars' Mark Ballas said he is rooting for Chaz Bono on the show, according to Digital Spy. Ballas, who is dancing with The Hills' Kristin Cavallari, said of Bono, "He's a lovely person. He's putting himself out there. He's going to go for it. I'm rooting for him." Recently, Ballas said that the gay stereotyping of male dancers is ridiculous, adding that only one of the male professionals on that show is gay.
NBC has picked up a comedy project from Ellen DeGeneres' production company that will star her wife, Portia de Rossi, according to Digital Spy. The network has ordered a pilot episode of the untitled project, which centers around two sisters who dislike each other. This is de Rossi's first TV project since Better off Ted was cancelled.
Larry David is being generally praised for the season finale of his HBO show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, despite a couple controversial storylines, according to the Hollywood Reporter. In one storyline, David accuses guest star Michael J. Fox of using his Parkinson's disease to harass him; in another, David suspects a "flamboyant" 7-year-old of being gay—which the kid's mother takes as an insult. In a recent episode, David and guest Rosie O'Donnell fought for the affections of the same bisexual woman.
Out celebrity blogger Perez Hilton has launched a new website, Perezitos.com, that focuses on celebrity families and children, according to the L.A. Times. Hilton ( real name: Mario Lavandeira ) will offer parents advice from pediatricians and so-called "mommy experts." Perezitos.com joins Hilton's growing list of spin-offs such as CocoPerez.com, which focuses on fashion news and FitPerez.com, which looks at health and fitness. Hilton has also released a children's book, The Boy with Pink Hair.
The rumored Sex and the City prequel will probably run as a television show on the CW, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The network will move forward with the project based on The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell's book series that follows lead character Carrie Bradshaw during her senior year of high school in the early 1980s. Michael Patrick King, who produced the long-running HBO series Sex and the City, recently told reporters last month that he was "not working on any Sex and the City prequel."
Rapper The Game has claimed that fellow musician 50 Cent is "gay," according to Digital Spy. The Game—who recently talked about not liking closeted individuals—made the claim while sending defensive tweets to TMZ.com . Replying to TMZ, Game posted, "Look @TMZ its simple: if your GAY be GAY!!! I don't have a problem with GAY people… I like Elton John's music a lot #StraightTweet ( sic ) .. My girl hair stylist is GAY & he cool. @50cent GAY n we was cool." Game and 50 have been feuding for years.
Mariah Carey is seeking unknown producers to work on her 14th album, That Grape Juice, according to Digital Spy. An agency posted, "Mariah Carey is working on her new Studio album. Her Label is looking for songwriters and producers that have impeccable talent to collaborate with. Please submit mastered material only." Carey is slated to join Simon Cowell for the Judges' Houses stage of the U.S. version of The X Factor.
