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Country star TAYLOR SWIFT grew up on a Christmas tree farm.

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TAKE THAT star HOWARD DONALD faces a Christmas dash, so he can spend the holidays with his daughters.
The singer will spend much of Christmas in the air between Germany and Britain.
He explains, "I’ll be in Germany visiting my daughter on Christmas Eve and then I’ll be coming back over (to Britain) on Boxing Day (26Dec08) to see my other daughter."

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Rocker BOB GELDOF takes Christmas "very seriously" because of his "deprived Irish childhood", according to his daughter PEACHES. The 19-year-old has flown back to her native Britain from her home in New York to be with her father and three sisters over the festive season.
And Geldof admits that the former Boomtown Rats star always goes "all out" for the holidays.
She says, "My dad takes Christmas very seriously because he had a very deprived Irish childhood, so he loves to go all out to compensate. I think it’s more for him, but it’s very sweet. He leaves stockings for us all at the end of the bed. It’s like, er Dad, I’m nearly 20. And then he puts all of the presents under the tree and we open them in the morning. My dad does all the cooking and we have a turkey dinner and sit in front of the log fire."

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British singer ESTELLE is looking forward to indulging herself this Christmas because the festive season means she can eat and drink as much as she likes.
The American Boy hitmaker loves meeting up with friends and family during the holiday period and having some much-needed fun.
She says, "Christmas for me is all about the three F’s - friends, family and food (and drink!). I love Christmas and I’ve had so many good ones over the years. It’s great to have everyone come together and have a laugh. I’m so busy all year, but Christmas gives me the time to be able to kick back and party with my family."

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ARETHA FRANKLIN’s first Christmas album gave the Queen of Soul the chance to record another first - a duet with her son EDDIE. Mother and son perform together on This Christmas: Aretha, and the music legend couldn’t be prouder.
She says, "I’ve recorded Eddie, but we’ve never recorded anything together. It was very, very special.. That’s about as special as it gets."

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Singer/actress KRISTIN CHENOWETH will always have painful memories of recording her new Christmas album - because she was bitten by a studio spider.
The former West Wing star has recorded an album of festive standards with an 80-piece orchestra, but the magic was ruined by the insect bite.
She says, "I recorded it at Capitol Records and it was so amazing. But then I got bit by a brown recluse spider there. It was very painful.
"So now I have mixed emotions about this Christmas album."

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Singing sisters KYLIE and DANNI MINOGUE are keen to retain their traditions at Christmas - both women still get a stocking full of presents from their parents.
The pair will both fly home to their native Australia to spend the holiday season with their loved ones, and Dannii admits that their routine hasn’t changed since they were kids.
She tells British magazine Closer, "It’s so exciting. Christmas is all about the kids. Kylie and I love to spoil our nephews, but we still have stockings." And Minogue reveals that their household will be awash with relatives over the holiday season, adding: "It’s a two-day event for Christmas Day and Boxing Day - there’ll be at least four cousins and their partners, uncles, aunts and then the grandparents. It’s like a festival - it should be called Minogue Fest."

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WINTER WONDERLAND has topped a list of the most performed Christmas songs in America for the second year running.
The festive favourite, penned by Felix Bernard and Richard B
. Smith in 1934, has beaten Mel Torme’s The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) on the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers’ (ASCAP) Christmas hits list.
An instant hit for bandleader Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians, Winter Wonderland has also been recorded by the Andrews Sisters, Perry Como, Jewel and Air Supply.
Meanwhile, songwriter Johnny Marks is the king of Christmas - he has three tracks on the ASCAP list - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and A Holly Jolly Christmas.
The top three - Winter Wonderland, The Christmas Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas are unchanged from last year’s (07) list, but Sleigh Ride jumps up from eight to four thanks to the song’s popularity in 2007 and 2008.
The updated top 10 of the most played Christmas tunes on U.S
. radio since 2003 is:
1. Winter Wonderland
2. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
4. Sleigh Ride
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
7. White Christmas
8. Jingle Bell Rock
9. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.
10. Little Drummer Boy
.

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AMY WINEHOUSE has hinted she would like to move to the Caribbean after receiving a warm welcome from locals in St Lucia this week (begs21Dec08).
The troubled singer has been vacationing on the island following a month-long spell in a London hospital after she suffered an adverse reaction to prescription medication.
The star has been snapped by paparazzi looking healthy, chatting with residents at a local music festival, and soaking up the sun on a yacht.
Now Winehouse is reportedly contemplating a longer stay in the Caribbean, suggesting it could have a positive impact on her personal life and her next album.
She says, "I could easily live here. The people are amazing and the local music scene is inspiring." A source tells Britain’s Daily Star, "Amy has been soaking up the local culture. She has attended a music festival and been seeking out bands in the village.
"She’s been talking about recording the album in St Lucia. She’s actually glowing."

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KATE BECKINSALE’s hopes for an Academy Award nomination for new movie NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH may have been dashed after the film’s distributors filed for bankruptcy.
U.S. critics had tipped the actress to get her first Oscar nod for her turn in the drama, in which she plays a reporter who goes to jail rather than name a source.
But Yari Film Group, the studio behind the film, was forced into involuntary bankruptcy earlier this month (Dec08) because of the global financial downturn.
And as a result, Beckinsale’s movie now faces a limited release - and may not even be advertised.
Director Rod Lurie says, "We don’t know if there will even be any ads promoting the film now. Kate’s just heard the news and it’s very frustrating.
This is her best performance ever."

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Hollywood actress LINDSAY LOHAN is urging fans to learn from her mistakes - and cites BRITNEY SPEARS as another example of a celebrity who has turned her life around.
Lohan admits the last few years have been particularly turbulent, with her 2007 arrest on drink driving charges and subsequent stint in rehab among her problems.
She also recalls the shock of finding out that her dad, Michael, had allegedly fathered a lovechild during his marriage to her mother.
And the Mean Girls star hopes other people can follow her lead and begin to sort their life out.
She writes on her MySpace.com blog, "I think that people go through a lot in life. And the things that we go through simply just make us stronger in the long run. If we actually take what it is we have learned from our mistakes and teach ourselves what NOT to do in the future. I have gone through a lot in my past, and to be completely honest, I am still going through a lot right now. My father just let my family and I know that he had another child after my little sister Aliana, or maybe he had it before Aliana?? Either way, he cheated on my mother and that really sucks." And Lohan goes on to praise Spears, who has made a comeback this year (08) after a difficult 2008 which saw the singer hospitalised on a psychiatric hold and lose custody of her two children.
Lohan adds, "Britney Spears is an amazing talent, and she has gone through a lot, (just as I have) in the public eye. It teaches young girls and boys that there are certain things in life that you should not let get in the way of your dreams and accomplishments. Also that you need to take care of yourself before anyone else. You have to look at yourself in the mirror and see who you really are. Stripped of all the distractions in life. So YAY Britney for just being you and still following through with your dreams."

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MADONNA has come face-to-face with GUY RITCHIE for the first time since their divorce to allow the children to spend some time with their father.
The pop superstar wrapped up her Sticky & Sweet world tour on Sunday (21Dec08) in Sao Paulo, Brazil and has now arrived back in Britain ahead of Christmas.
The singer met her former husband on Tuesday (23Dec08) at the London home which the couple previously shared.
And after a 50 minute meeting, Ritchie subsequently left with his sons Rocco, eight, and adopted tot David Banda, three, to spend time with the boys at his Wiltshire, England countryside estate, according to British newspaper The Daily Mail.
Madonna subsequently enjoyed a festive evening with her pals Gwyneth Paltrow and Stella McCartney, who both arrived at the property later in the evening.
The couple announced its split in October (08) and was granted a preliminary divorce on 21 November (08). The union will be officially dissolved in the New Year (09).

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MARISA TOMEI is adamant she could never work as a lapdancer - because she is not talkative enough.
The actress plays a stripper in new movie The Wrestler, but insists real-life topless dancers have to be outgoing and chatty to succeed.
She tells USA Today newspaper, "I could never do it. Not even on the stripping level - on the social level. You have to be a super-social, garrulous, entertaining person, a great storyteller. You have to have a boundless amount of energy.
“I like to have fun, and I go out and have a lot of fun. But I’m not really an entertainer that way. I’m much more shy.”

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French actor GERARD DEPARDIEU ensures his holiday turkey is delicious by caressing and talking to the bird before cooking it.
The Green Card star - who owns La Fontaine Gaillon restaurant in Paris, France - is adamant the key to preparing the perfect fowl is to relax the creature.
He tells Decanter magazine, "Before killing something, I always talk to it.
An animal that’s been caressed before it’s killed dies peacefully, and its muscles don’t contract with adrenalin.
"If an animal is slaughtered in a stress-free way, it tastes better."

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GREY’S ANATOMY star ERIC DANE woke up American TV audiences when he appeared for a morning guest slot wearing his pyjamas.
The smiling actor strolled onto the set of Live with Regis & Kelly on Tuesday (23Dec08) wearing blue plaid pyjamas and a Santa hat before sitting down to chat about his new film Marley & Me.
He joined the show’s hosts Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, who also slipped into their nightwear, pronouncing, "I’m here to spread some Christmas cheer!" But the gag didn’t last long before Dane yanked off part of his ensemble, adding, "I’m going to take this hat off, I’m starting to feel stupid."

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THE GIRLS NEXT DOOR star KENDRA WILKINSON has vowed never to pose nude again so she can concentrate on her new role as a wife.
The blonde beauty, who shot to fame as one of Playboy boss Hugh Hefner’s girlfriends on the U.S. TV series, has announced she will be a summer bride when she walks down the aisle with American football star Hank Baskett on 27 June (09) at the Playboy Mansion.
And the 23-year-old is adamant the ceremony will mark the end of her days as a nude pin-up.
She says, "(I’m) retiring from the whole nudity thing… I’m ready to just get married."

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Funnyman RUSSELL BRAND brought a needy man to tears after generously offering to buy him a ticket home for the holidays.
The British actor was heading into London department store Harrods on Tuesday (23Dec08) when he was approached by a homeless man selling U.K. charity magazine The Big Issue.
And the comedian got into the Christmas spirit by offering him nearly $800 (£500) so he could travel north to be with his parents.
An onlooker tells WENN, "Russell was about to enter Harrods when he was approached by a Big Issue vendor. The man told Russell he wanted to go home for Christmas but couldn’t afford it.
"So Russell dug deep into his pocket, giving him the money to take a train to see his elderly parents in the north of England.
"The man was reduced to tears, telling Russell he had made his Christmas."

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Filming on LOST creator J.J. ABRAMS’ new TV show was disrupted last week (beg15Dec08) due a strike at a New York hotel.
The cast and crew of new series Fringe were due to begin shooting at the Crown Plaza Hotel, near Long Island’s La Guardia Airport.
But when they arrived, TV bosses were informed the venue had been hit by walkouts and they would no longer be able to work there.
Employees at the hotel were embroiled in industrial action over benefits and contracts, prompting the crew to halt filming and move to a new location.
A representative for the Hotel Workers Union tells new York Post gossip column PageSix, "We caught them early in the morning and they promised they wouldn’t film. It’s mostly union folks working on the show, so they understood."

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