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Country music legend LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS has been moved to a U.S.
rehabilitation centre to recuperate following brain surgery.
The Country Music Hall of Fame member, 88, has been in a Tennessee hospital since undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot last week (13Jan09) following his diagnosis of a subdural hematoma; a form of brain injury.
He hopes to make a speedy recovery with a "short stay" in the rehab centre, according to Grand Ole Opry spokesperson Jessie Schmidt.
Dickens was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983 and recently celebrated his 60th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

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Jazz musician DAVID ‘FATHEAD’ NEWMAN has died at the age of 75.
The star died of pancreatic cancer in a Kingston, New York hospital on Tuesday (20Jan09).
Newman rose to fame playing with various jazz and soul stars including Herbie Mann, Aretha Franklin and Aaron Neville. He also played saxophone in the Ray Charles Band for 12 years after joining in 1954.
Newman, who was nominated for a Grammy in 1990 for his work with Art Blakey and Dr John, also carved out a successful career as a tenor sax soloist.

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LILY ALLEN has reconciled with her estranged sister SARAH thanks to a song on her new album.
After hearing Back To The Start from Allen’s It’s Not Me, It’s You, the pop star’s older sibling realised the song was all about her and decided it was time to patch up her differences with her sister.
Allen says, "We haven’t always got on very well. We’re at the stage where we either carry on the nightmare or solve it.
"She’s 29, very beautiful and charismatic and social, which is something I envied. She is tall and thin and had lots of friends, and I wasn’t and didn’t.
"She knows the song is about her, and it’s fine. She comes and stays now. I lend her my clothes. The battle is over."

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Hollywood actresses DIANE KEATON, MICHELLE PFEIFFER, SANDRA BULLOCK and MANDY MOORE have teamed up to file a lawsuit against companies using their images without their permission.
The stars have joined forces to sue CompUSA, Systemax, TigerDirect and several other companies for using their images to advertise products, without authorisation to do so.
Court documents filed on Tuesday (20Jan09) in Los Angeles Superior Court indicate that the defendants used the stars’ pictures and personas "repeatedly and continuously" to sell various products online and in their retail outlets, reports E! Online.
Pfeiffer, Keaton, Bullock and Moore are requesting unspecified damages.

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MARIAH CAREY is keeping it in the family - the singer is reportedly teaming up with husband NICK CANNON’s half-brother REUBEN for an upcoming record.
The R&B superstar is planning a duet with her brother-in-law for a track on his debut album, which is slated for release later this year (09).
An industry source tells E! Online, "They are meeting at the end of the month with Mariah’s record label, Universal Music Group, to seal the deal, and Reuben is thrilled."

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TOM CRUISE was originally selected for JAMES BROLIN’s acclaimed role in GUS VAN SANT’s new biopic MILK.
Brolin plays the part of Dan White, a Vietnam veteran and former police officer and firefighter.
But filmmaker Van Sant’s first wanted Cruise for the role - because he thought the megastar’s involvement in the movie, alongside fellow Hollywood actor Sean Penn, would get the controversial project off the ground.
He says, "I thought if I connected those two guys (Cruise and Penn) at the time I could go into the studio and say, ‘Look, I have these two guys’ and they would do it.
"There was always the problem with the gay community aspect of the film so they needed a reason to overcome that fear that they had of making a film that wasn’t going to have a very big return money wise, so that was my plan." Milk has grabbed a clutch of awards since its release, and is tipped to feature heavily at the Oscar’s next month (Feb09).

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GEORGE CLOONEY has reportedly agreed to return to medical drama E.R. for the show’s final series.
The Oceans Eleven actor starred as Dr. Doug Ross from 1994 to 1999 in the long-running series before leaving to pursue his blossoming movie career.
But now the show is coming to an end after 15 seasons, Clooney has agreed to return for an unspecified number of episodes, according to People.com.
Clooney is reported to start filming his scenes on Thursday and Friday this week (22/23Jan09) on the Warner Bros. set in Los Angeles.
And he won’t be the only returning E.R. original - his former TV lover Julianna Margulies is also reportedly coming back for the final shows.
Insiders tell U.S. magazine Life & Style Margulies, who played Nurse Carol Hathaway during the show’s first six seasons, will be joining him on the set for one final episode.
The source says, "They are the last two of the original cast to make one last appearance. It’s part of an effort to wrap up all of the original characters’ storylines." George and Julianna’s episode is expected to air at the end of February (09).
The pair’s former castmates Eriq LaSalle, Noah Wyle and Anthony Edwards have already returned for episodes as the medical drama prepares for its final shows.
Show creator John Wells has revealed in this week’s TV Guide magazine he has had an offer to revive the show on America’s ABC network after the series ends on NBC. He admits the move is unlikely, but adds, "Never say never."

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Oscar winner WILLIAM H. MACY has created a carpentry shop at his Colorado retreat, so he can show off his woodwork skills.
The Fargo star has become a keen carpenter in his spare time and loves turning bowls and making chairs.
But he admits that’s about the extent of his talents.
He explains, "I’ve finally faced up to the fact that I’m the worst carpenter I’ve ever met. I do love it and I’ve got some very fancy tools.
"I hire people who sort of act as my assistant, but I’m actually their assistant, and I’ve made some lovely pieces of furniture.
"Slowly but surely I’m getting better. I built a real kick-ass shop in Colorado. I go in there and turn the rock ‘n’ roll up really loud.
"I love to turn bowls. I have a big lathe at home and I turn bowls, mostly practical bowls, salad bowls, bowls that you can eat with."

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Moviemaker TERRY GILLIAM will think twice before working with BENICIO DEL TORO again - because the intense actor was such a distracting force on the set of FEAR & LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.
The British director feared Del Toro was "out of control" for much of the odd 1998 movie.
He tells Rolling Stone magazine, "He gets pretty deep into his character, and sometimes I thought he was out of control. What I found out is he’s frightening.
"He required a lot of handling, and, after a while, his need to be so intense wore a lot of us out. I think he felt he wasn’t getting as much attention from me as he wanted, but, as far as I was concerned, I was giving him more than anybody else got. It was frustrating. Always." But Gilliam refuses to knock the end result: "You’ve got this incredible performance."

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Former Secretary of State CONDOLEEZZA RICE has landed a new showbusiness gig with the William Morris Agency.
Rice’s deal will focus on books, lecture appearances and new business initiatives in the media, sports and communications sectors, according to Daily Variety.
The politician will also pen two books under the WMA banner.

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DAKOTA FANNING has been offered the role of a bloodsucker in the TWILIGHT sequel, according to Internet reports.
The teenage actress is in talks to play an Italian vampire opposite Kristen Stewart and brooding Brit Rob Pattinson in New Moon.
If she accepts the role, the I Am Sam star will play Volturi vamp Jane, according to Eonline.com blogger Marc Malkin.
A source says, "There were no auditions. They just offered it to her outright, and now they’re in negotiations." The casting news will delight Twilight fans - one devotee of Stephenie Meyers’ books recently started an online petition calling for the powers that be to sign up Fanning as Jane because she would be "perfect" for the role.
Filming on New Moon is scheduled to begin in Italy this spring (09).

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A shot of AL PACINO’s watch in movie RIGHTEOUS KILL has sparked a lawsuit after the watchmaker allegedly refused to cough up money to advertise their timepiece on screen.
The production company behind the movie, Millennium Films, filed a suit Wednesday (21Jan09) in Los Angeles County Superior Court claiming that watch company Tutima USA has failed to pay the arranged $50,000 (£35,000) fee to show a three-second close-up shot of one of their watches.
The film company is also claiming $1,000,000 (£700,000) in advertising that Tutima allegedly said they would purchase, reports TMZ.com.
No further details were available as WENN went to press.

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BRANDY regrets her tattoo collection - because she fears they’ll look terrible when she’s 80.
The R&B star was shocked when her six-year-old daughter announced she wanted a little skin art, and as she tried to talk her out of the idea, she realised she’d made a mistake in getting her own.
She tells Sister 2 Sister magazine, "I told her, ‘Guess what? When mama gets 80 or 90 years old, these tattoos are going to look terrible. They’re going to be wrinkled, they’re going to look ugly. Mama wishes I never got a tattoo because I didn’t think about when I turn 80, how they’re going to be.’ "She just got a kick out of that. She said, ‘Well, you know what? I’m never going to get a tattoo because I don’t want my body to shrivel up when I get (to) 80 and my tattoos look a mess.’"

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PETE TOWNSHEND has paid tribute to THE WHO bandmate ROGER DALTREY - thanking his fellow rocker for standing by him in the face of child pornography allegations.
Townshend was arrested on suspicion of accessing child pornography websites in 2003, but was eventually cleared of the charge after claiming he viewed the pages for research purposes.
And now the star has thanked Daltrey for sticking by him during the troubled period.
He tells U.K. newspaper The Daily Express, "Roger bravely stood by me when I really couldn’t speak for myself. He took a chance, as did Jerry Hall and some other people who spoke up for me. They made their public statements of belief in me several months before it was established there was no evidence against me."

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Former L.F.O. frontman RICH CRONIN has hit out at his ex-manager LOU PEARLMAN branding the disgraced music svengali a "creepy guy" who was desperate to seduce him.
Pearlman was once a prominent force in the music business, credited as the mastermind behind successful boybands Backstreet Boys, ‘NSYNC and L.F.O.
But the music mogul is now serving a 25-year prison sentence after being convicted of fraud last year (08), and has also been dogged by rumours of initiating inappropriate relationships with the boys and young men he worked with.
And Cronin has now spoken out about his former manager, claiming he was only interested in his acts’ looks.
He tells radio show host Howard Stern, "He wanted to (seduce) everyone. He wanted to (seduce) everyone there… He’s disgusting. He needed you to sing a little bit, but really he just wanted you to be good-looking.
"I’ve had to go to therapy … he’s really a creepy guy." Cronin also revealed he was hit on by Pearlman and that some aspiring singers allowed the shamed manager to take advantage of them in a bid to further their careers.
He adds, "Eventually he did (try and touch me sexually)… Some other dudes went for it. And if you did, he took care of you. He’d buy ‘em cars."

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Veteran rocker DAVID BOWIE is back in the studio after a six-year break to record a new album.
The legendary pop star has travelled to Berlin, Germany - the city where he recorded previous albums Heroes, Low, and Lodger - to find inspiration for new tracks.
A post on Bowie’s social networking Twitter website reads, "Cheers from a snowy Berlin! Working on some new material!" Bowie’s last album was the acclaimed 2003 LP Reality.

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LILY ALLEN’s actor dad KEITH has urged his daughter to "shut up" in a new magazine tribute piece.
The British tough guy was asked to comment on his pop star daughter’s wild life for a new Spin magazine article in America, and after defending her over accusations she parties too much, Allen insists the candid Smile singer has to learn what not to say in interviews.
He says, "I don’t mind say this, because I’ve told her already: she needs to know when to f**king shut up." The comment comes just days after his daughter told the British media she retreated to a "nuthouse" after suffering a miscarriage just over a year ago.
Before Allen blasts his daughter for talking too much, he takes time to support her lifestyle.
He tells Spin, "As a man, I could drink, snort (drugs), and f**k to my heart’s content without any detriment to my career. A girl cannot do that.
"The tabloids (in Britain) are shameless in trying to create a race-to-rehab between any girl and out there who has a drink.
"Lily’s learning what daddy learned long ago: fame is a pain in the f**king arse."

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FOREST WHITAKER will cap off an amazing week at the SAG Awards on Sunday (25Jan09) by presenting JAMES EARL JONES with his Lifetime Achievement prize.
The Oscar winner was in Washington, D.C. for the inauguration of new U.S.
President Barack Obama on Tuesday (20Jan09), and he’ll read the Academy Award nominations at a press conference on Thursday morning (22Jan09).
And then Whitaker will honour the voice of Star Wars’ Darth Vader at the SAGs.
Whitaker joins a growing roster of actors who will honour their colleagues at the 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards; these include Christina Applegate, Angela Bassett and William Shatner, who will open the prizegiving with a champagne toast.
The Screen Actors Guild is honouring James Earl Jones for his career achievements and humanitarian accomplishments. Past recipients of SAG’s Life Achievement Award include Charles Durning, Julie Andrews, Clint Eastwood and Elizabeth Taylor.

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