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MELANIE BROWN is using hypnotism to get up on stage in her racy new Las Vegas revue Peepshow - but insists it has nothing to do with her fears of wearing next to nothing onstage.
The former Spice Girls star is the star of the music, dance and burlesque show, which launched at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Sin City at the weekend (18Apr09).
She has turned to the relaxing therapy to help her prepare for her performances - but not for the reasons many seem to think.
She explains, "I never have a fear of being on stage - I’m very excited, but I will confess I did let a friend hypnotise me to remember my words - but I don’t know if it worked.
"I have a lot of script to learn because I’ve got to sing, dance and improvise."

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The EAGLES star TIMOTHY B. SCHMIDT has lined-up a star-studded cast of guests for his first solo album in eight years.
Expando will feature duets and collaborations with Dwight Yoakam, Kid Rock, Graham Nash, the Blind Boys of Alabama and Van Dyke Parks.
Schmidt, who’ll be part of the Poco reunion at the Stagecoach festival in California this weekend (26Apr09), admits he had no problems lining up his celebrity guests.
He tells Billboard.com, "I didn’t even go through management to get most of these guys. I would call these people myself and just set it all up.
"Everybody came to my house, my studio, and it was really, really great. I thought, ‘Why not just try asking some of these people that I really admire? What’s the worst that could happen - they might say no.’ Some did, but the people I mentioned were all sitting here in my studio and had a lot of fun."

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Veteran entertainer CHER will bring 2009 to a close with the final dates in her Las Vegas residency.
The Believe hitmaker has been wowing crowds at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace since last May (08).
She signed a deal with concert promoter AEG to perform approximately 200 shows at the venue over a period of three years, but Cher will complete the feat just before Christmas this winter.
The superstar, 62, will kick off the final leg of her Sin City stint in September (09) and perform her 90-minute show for the last time on 20 December.

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Christian pop sensation MILEY CYRUS has jumped into the same sex marriage debate, insisting Jesus loves everyone - gay or straight.
Blogger Perez Hilton reached out to top celebrities after attacking Miss California Carrie Prejean for her anti-gay marriage stance at the Miss USA pageant over the weekend.
Hilton, who was judging the beauty contest, asked the San Diego stunner for her thoughts on same sex marriage and was floored when Prejean revealed she believed marriage should be between a man and a woman.
The blogger has been blasting Miss California ever since, and now he has asked celebrities for their thoughts on the controversial issue.
Responding to him via her Twitter.com account, the Cyrus writes, "Jesus loves you AND your partner and wants you to know how much he cares! thats like a daddy not loving his lil boy cuz hes gay and that is WRONG and very sad! like i said everyone deserves to be happy (sic)." But some stars are taking the matter further - and taking aim at Prejean herself.
Former beauty queen Shana Moakler, who helped mentor Miss California before the pageant, admits she was upset by the blonde’s response to Hilton’s question, and has refused to speak with her since the pageant.
In a Twitter.com post, she writes, "I don’t know how you can call a gay man or woman your friend and not want them 2 have the same joys as yourself. In my family we believe in equal rights for all. I am sad and hurt.
"It’s one thing to have an opinion - I am very opinionated and have dealt with backlash from it - it’s another to alienate people who cared about u."

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Country singer JIMMY DEAN and his wife are recovering after a major fire ripped through their Virginia home on Monday night (20Apr09).
Firefighters from the Henrico County Fire Department were called to the Grammy Award winner’s house to tackle the flames, but Dean and his wife escaped unharmed.
The blaze is thought to have started in the couple’s basement; authorities believe the cause was accidental.
Three firemen were injured while attempting to put out the fire.

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U.S. TV mogul LES MOONVES is set to become a dad at 59 - his wife, America’s Big Brother host JULIE CHEN, is pregnant with the couple’s first child.
Chen, 39, is due on 4 October (09) - two days before CBS Corporation President and CEO Moonves turns 60.
The couple has been married since 2004.
Moonves already has three kids from his 25-year marriage to first wife Nancy Weisenfield.

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Lifestyle guru MARTHA STEWART is on high alert at home whenever the skies cloud over - she has been struck by lightning three times while hiding out from storms.
Stewart has lived to survive a series of frightening electrical shocks, while cooking and making crafts around her homes in New England.
Recalling the incidents, she says, "I was hit in a little house in Littlefield, Massachusetts, while I was standing at the sink… I was washing dishes and it hit me in my stomach.
"The second time, I was talking… on the telephone and light came through my skylight in Westport, Connecticut. (Another time) I was holding on to a metal stand. I let go and the lightning came back out through my foot." But Stewart has brushed off the shocking occurrences, and insists her body is simply a bizarre conductor of electricity.
She adds, "Some people attract electrical things, I do… You can get electrocuted and not die."

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JAMIE FOXX is in talks to appear in drag in a forthcoming movie, playing one of the characters that helped launch his career in comedy sketch show IN LIVING COLOR.
Foxx found fame alongside Jim Carrey in the 1990s TV series, playing a variety of characters, including Wanda - an outrageous party girl.
The Oscar winner insists he would love to bring Wanda back, and admits he is in talks to take her to the big screen.
Foxx tells Moviefone.com. "I would do that in a minute… That would be great. We’re actually looking into something like that."

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FARRAH FAWCETT’s doctor has assured fans the actress is "a reasonable weight" after her troubled son alleged her cancer battle had left her with a skeletal frame.
Redmond O’Neal shocked fans of the former Charlie’s Angels star last week (ends17Apr09) when he told the judge overseeing his latest drug charge case that his ailing mother had been reduced to just 86 pounds (39 kilograms).
Fawcett’s pal Alana Stewart has since dismissed "young" Redmond’s comments, and now the actress’ physician insists the actress is as healthy as she can be under the circumstances.
Lawrence Piro tells UsMagazine.com he saw Fawcett last week and "she was 101 pounds - a reasonable weight".
He adds, "She’s continuing to eat and trying to gain weight. It’s a struggle that all cancer patients go through.
"She’s continuing to eat as much as she can, and we’re continuing to have a good array of nutritious food offerings so she can do that. All cancer treatments tend to erode your appetite a little bit. That’s why nutrition is a very active part of any treatment. We’re paying a lot of attention to that with her, and she’s very aware of that." Fawcett was recently admitted to a Los Angeles hospital for internal bleeding not directly related to her battle with anal cancer. She has since checked out.

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Irish actor COLIN FARRELL has refused offers to raise awareness about his young son’s medical condition - because he wants to fully devote himself to fatherhood.
The movie star’s son, James, suffers from Angelman Syndrome, which affects the youngster’s mobility and speech.
Farrell revealed the five year old’s plight in 2007 and has since been inundated with offers to become a spokesman for the condition, but he is wary of becoming a talking head for the affliction and would rather focus solely on his son with ex-girlfriend Kim Bordenave.
He tells Ireland’s Sunday World newspaper, "We did the story and there was a great response to it. I got letters from parents. But then it came around that people wanted me to get involved kind of more full time.
"(U.S. news show) 60 Minutes wanted to do an interview with me and Jimmy and I was like, ‘No, I can’t.’ "It’s a tricky one because there are people who want me to be a lot more public with it to raise awareness. But my responsibility as his father, first and foremost, is to take care of him and do what’s best for him."

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CHRIS BROWN and RIHANNA are set for an awkward reunion at an event to honour a songwriter who has worked with both R&B stars.
Andre Merritt, who penned Rihanna’s Disturbia and Brown’s Forever, is to be feted at an ASCAP Awards after-show party in Hollywood on 22 April (09) - and both former lovers plan on being there to toast him.
If the exes do show up for the Hwood club event, it will be the first time they’ve been out in public since a late-night fight on 8 February (09) landed Brown in legal trouble and Rihanna in the hospital.
The couple briefly reconciled after the incident, but they are now estranged as Brown awaits a 29 April (09) hearing into his alleged attack on his then-girlfriend.
Event promoter Jamie Barren lists Rihanna, actor Columbus Short and Jesse McCartney among the confirmed guests, while Brown is listed as "possibly" attending.

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DEPECHE MODE, TOOL, KINGS OF LEON and BEASTIE BOYS will join Lollapalooza founder PERRY FARRELL’s reunited JANE’S ADDICTION at this year’s (09) festival.
Announced on Tuesday morning (21Apr09), the line-up also features the Killers, Lou Reed, Snoop Dogg, Vampire Weekend, Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs.
This year’s (09) Lollapalooza will take place at Chicago, Illinois’ Grant Park on 7 to 9 August (09).
Jane’s Addiction’s headlining spot will be the first time the group has performed at Lollapalooza since the event debuted as a travelling festival in 1991.

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Reclusive R&B star LAURYN HILL has added a headlining spot at Sweden’s Stockholm Jazz Festival in July (09) as part of a 10-date European comeback tour.
It marks the second time Hill has headlined the festival, which is now in its 26th year.
Past headliners at the revered event have included Sting, Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige and Ella Fitzgerald.
The former Fugees singer has already booked a spot at the 43rd Annual Montreux Jazz festival in Switzerland - her first public appearance since a disastrous concert in London two years ago (07) when she was booed off stage after turning up two hours late.

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Folk rocker RICHIE HAVENS is to mark the 40th anniversary of his iconic Woodstock festival appearance with a concert at the site of the 1969 event.
The singer/songwriter opened the festival in Bethel and he’ll return to the former farm to perform at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts at noon on 14 August (09).
Havens, who has been a regular at Woodstock celebrations and anniversaries, admits he still has fond memories of his performance at the original event.
He tells Billboard.com, "I got up there and felt the whole place rise to the accounting and visibility of ourselves.
"All types of music went on that stage those three days, and all of them had the sense of what was needed." Havens became a major part of Woodstock legend when he was called on to open the festival when heavy traffic heading to the site prevented all the acts billed to perform before him from getting there on time.
He recalls, "It was five o’ clock and nothing was happening yet. I had the least instruments and the least people… but they had to catch me first. I felt like, ‘They’re gonna kill me if I go up on stage first. Give me break. I need those four people in front of me to warm up the crowd.’ "But the people were great. I was supposed to sing (for) 40 minutes, which I did, and from the side of the stage they go, ‘Richie, four more songs?’ I went back and did that, then it was, ‘Four more songs…’ and that kept happening ’til two hours and 45 minutes later I had sung every song I know."

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ELBOW, THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS and little-known singer/songwriter NICHOLAS HEMMING are in the running to claim this year’s (09) Ivor Novello Award for Song of The Year in London.
Hemming’s The Last of The Melting Snow failed to dent the UK’s top 40 when it was released in December (08), but the song was a critical smash and now it’s up for an Ivor Novello opposite My Mistakes Were Made For You by The Last Shadow Puppets and Elbow’s One Day Like This.
Hemming was working part-time in a warehouse when he heard he’d been nominated for a coveted Ivor Novello Award on Tuesday (21Apr09).
Welsh singer Duffy and Coldplay lead this year’s nominations with three apiece - Best Album, Most Performed Work and Bestselling British Song, while Elbow and The Ting Tings have two nominations each.
The awards ceremony will be held in London on 21 May (09).

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THE HILLS star AUDRINA PATRIDGE is animal rights group PETA’s new angel after signing up to play a cherub in a new animal adoption poster ad.
The star will appear in a white bikini and angel wings, holding her rescued dog Speedy Gonzalez, in the new campaign, which debuts in Los Angeles on Wednesday (22Apr09).
The poster aims to alert potential pet owners to give homeless animals a second chance, rather than buy dogs and cats from pet stores.
Patridge cautions, "Buying animals means killing animals… Each year, six to eight million unwanted dogs and cats are turned in to shelters, and half are killed because there aren’t enough good homes." She also urges pet owners to spay and neuter dogs and cats to prevent unwanted births.

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Actress ELIZA DUSHKU is stepping behind the camera to make a new movie about controversial late photographer [ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE].
Dushku is teaming up with her brother Nate for the biopic of Mapplethorpe, who died of AIDS-related illnesses in 1989.
Mapplethorpe was famous for his gay and erotic photographs, as well as images of celebrities like Andy Warhol, Deborah Harry, Richard Gere, Peter Gabriel, Grace Jones and Patti Smith.

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JAMIE FOXX has blasted staff at the Pennsylvania hotel where he was allegedly attacked by an overzealous fan, because they refused to believe him when he called for help.
The Oscar winner was forced to overpower Steven Taliver, also known as Willie Brown, when he knocked on Foxx’s door at the AKA Hotel in Philadelphia last month (Mar09), pretending to be Beyonce’s music producer.
He fled the scene of the incident but was arrested nine days later (31Mar09) and charged with burglary, criminal threats, stalking, false imprisonment and harassment.
And now Foxx is taking aim at the hotel’s concierge after staff failed to respond to his appeal for help.
He recalls, "I open the door and there’s a guy with a beard and braids… He goes, ‘Hey, I’m with Beyonce’, and that’s when I went, ‘Hell, I know this n**ga ain’t hanging with no Beyonce!’ So I’m like, ‘You said what?’ And he goes, ‘I’m with Beyonce, Jamie, you gonna let me in? What’s going on?’ "He’s trying to get in the door, I get him out the door, slam the door on the n**ga, call the front desk, and the concierge, he’s like, ‘Whatsoever did you mean there’s someone trying to get in your room?’ I’m like, ‘Motherf**ker, call the authorities, this s**t is going down! Call somebody!’ "(But) he don’t wanna come up there ’cause he’s thinking it’s some bull. So he don’t come up, one of the cleaner dudes come up there. He (Taliver) gets spooked and runs downstairs." Taliver managed to get close to the star once more before he was finally caught by undercover police.
Foxx adds, "The next day I go to work, the dude comes back dressed as a delivery man. So he comes back in disguise, they let him back in again… We finally get the undercover cops… The dude comes back the last day, the third day… So this time the police chase him down the street, they catch the dude, they take the dude in and now he’s in a mental hospital for a 60-day evaluation, so this motherf**ker was crazy." Taliver is currently undergoing psychiatric evaluation at Norristown State Hospital. A hearing on the status of his mental health is due to take place on 5 June (09).

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