MICHAELS NAMED CELEBRITY APPRENTICE
Rocker BRET MICHAELS showed he’s the ultimate survivor when he appeared o n the live finale of U.S. reality TV show THE APPRENTICE on Sunday (23May 10) just days after suffering a minor stroke and overcoming a near-fatal brain haemorrhage - and won the big prize.
Michaels had to briefly pull out of the show when he first fell ill in April (10) and underwent an emergency appendectomy - but that was just th e beginning of the diabetic rocker’s health nightmare.
On 21 April (10), a severe headache sent him to hospital, where medics diagnosed bleeding on the brain.
For five days, the Poison star fought for his life at a hospital in Ari zona, and then, as he was at home recuperating he suffered a mini-stroke.
Last week (ends21May10), he was diagnosed with a hole in the heart.
But, after discharging himself from hospital, he jetted to New York for The Apprentice finale after a final health hiccup - he was forced to mak e a stop over in Nashville, Tennessee after complaining of "a headache, l ower back pain and some cramping in his legs" on the flight.
After medical attention, he reboarded the private jet bound for New Yor k.
The Apprentice host, businessman Donald Trump, had no idea if Michaels would make it to the Big Apple until just hours before the show.
He kicked off the live finale by telling the studio audience and fans a t home, "I’m happy to announce Bret Michaels is here with us tonight." The rock star and actress Holly Robinson Peete beat out 12 other celebr ities, including Sharon Osbourne and Cyndi Lauper, to compete in the fina le.
Reigning Celebrity Apprentice winner Joan Rivers, who was a special gue st on the finale, admitted she was impressed with Michaels’ spirit. She s aid, "Bret, you talk about no sick days… (He had) the determination to come back from death’s door. To say, ‘I’m gonna be here and this is where I have to be…’ I find this extraordinary." The rocker gingerly hobbled onto the show’s live stage to hugs from his fellow contestants and a standing ovation from the studio audience, and revealed his doctors didn’t want him to be on the show.
He joked, "Lately, it seems that me just standing up is risking my life …. It’s been crazy for about a month and a half. I thought I was healthy …. It’s been a risk, but I wanted to be here tonight." The rocker won $250,000 (=C2=A3156,250) for his diabetes charity from b everage company Snapple.
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
