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South African opera star SIPHIWO NTSHEBE has died at the age of 34 - just weeks before he was scheduled to sing at the opening ceremony of the soc cer World Cup.
The singer was admitted to hospital in Port Elizabeth, South Africa las t week (beg17May10) after falling sick with meningitis and he succumbed t o the illness on Tuesday (25May10).
Ntshebe, who studied at London’s Royal College of Music, performed exte nsively throughout Europe during his career and was due to release a new album next month (Jun10).
He had been hand-picked by former South African president Nelson Mandel a to perform at the World Cup opening ceremony in Johannesburg on 11 June (10).
The boss of Ntshebe’s Epic Records label, Nick Raphael, has paid tribut e to the star, calling his death "a tragedy for all those who believe in the power of music" and adding: "He had a truly wondrous voice and his mu sic was unique in its melodies and its messages of hope and compassion." Lebo M, who is organising the opening ceremony for the upcoming soccer tournament, says, "(Ntshebe was) a true South Africa World Cup legacy, go ne too soon. May his spirit lead us to 11 June 2010. May his soul rest in peace and may Siphiwo’s spirit of hope centre us all."

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Rocker BRET MICHAELS wants to make the most of his second chance at life by having another child with his girlfriend KRISTI GIBSON.
The Poison frontman is recovering from a triple health crisis which saw him suffer a mild stroke last week (ends21May10) and diagnosed with a ho le in the heart, just as he was bouncing back from a near-fatal brain hae morrhage.
Michaels’ brush with death has made him rethink his priorities in life and put family first - he recently revealed he was contemplating marrying Gibson, the mother of his two daughters, and now wants to cement their l ove with a new baby.
A source tells the National Enquirer, "He realises now the most importa nt thing is Kristi and his girls - and he wants to add to that family now .. He wants a little boy." Michaels reportedly told a pal, "It would be so amazing to have a son - a little rocker dude! I know my girls would love a little brother." The couple shares daughters Raine, nine, and Jorja, five.

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DAMON ALBARN is preparing to headline Glastonbury for the second year in a row - his virtual band GORILLAZ has stepped in to replace U2 at the leg endary British music festival.
The Irish rockers were forced to pull out of their headlining slot at n ext month’s (Jun10) event, as well as the next leg of their world tour, a fter frontman Bono was admitted to hospital on Friday (21May10) for emerg ency back surgery.
Rumours were rife over who would take U2’s place at Glastonbury, with o nline reports suggesting Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, AC/DC or even Led Zeppelin could step in to the coveted slot.
But festival organiser Michael Eavis has now announced Albarn will be r eturning to the famed Pyramid Stage with Gorillaz a year after he perform ed there with his reformed band Blur in 2009.
Eavis says, "It’ll be a massive audio visual spectacle which will reall y ignite the Pyramid Stage on the Friday night, with Muse, then Stevie Wo nder to follow (on Saturday and Sunday respectively)." Gorillaz have already headlined California’s Coachella festival in Apri l (10) and will head to Spain’s Benicassim on 18 July (10). (LR/WNWCCB/ZN

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SARAH JESSICA PARKER will never leave New York - despite struggling to fi nd space in her packed home.
The actress has lived in the Big Apple since her family relocated from Cincinnati, Ohio after she landed her first role on Broadway as a child.
And Parker can never imagine moving away from the bustling metropolis - even though it would mean more room for her husband and three children.
She says, "I will never live anywhere else than New York because I just simply cannot leave the heartbeat of the city. I cannot do it.
"We have no space in our house in Manhattan. We’re bursting at the seam s. I know there are homes with more than two or three bedrooms in the sub urbs, but I just couldn’t move there, even to get extra room. I love New York too much."

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PARIS HILTON has signed up to launch a charity scheme to give every U.S. soldier serving in the Middle East a free MP3 music player to keep their spirits up.
More than 180,000 American troops are currently stationed in Iraq and A fghanistan, and the Song For Soldiers initiative aims to provide them all with their own music device pre-loaded with songs donated by famous arti sts.
The socialite has offered to become an ambassador for the cause, and sh e will launch the scheme with a party in New York on Wednesday (26May10).
It will include more than 100 sailors who are in New York as part of Fle et Week, an American tradition which sees military ships dock in a variet y of major cities for seven days so the crews can see the sights.
Hilton tells Fox News, "I think there is nothing more worthwhile and pa triotic than supporting our troops. It’s so easy to take for granted our freedom and happiness and forget about those who are endangering their li ves every day to make it possible. Songs for Soldiers is a simple way to show you care. What’s great about the program is that it’s not about whet her or not you support war, it’s about being thankful and showing we care to those who risk their lives.
"I’m not looking to make a political statement with this cause, but ins tead send a message of love and hope to those on the front line." And the star reveals she is already planning a trip to the Middle East to visit the troops stationed there: "I would love to visit our troops! I hope that once we meet this goal I can personally be a part of the trip overseas to deliver these players into the hands of the troops. I would f ind that very rewarding, it is something I have always wanted to do." To donate to the cause visit www.songsforsoldiers.us.

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British actress ALICE EVE was left in excruciating pain on the set of SEX AND THE CITY 2 - because she was forced to wear high-heeled shoes every day.
The blonde beauty was thrilled to land a role as a nanny working for Kr istin Davis’ character in the highly-anticipated sequel, but didn’t reali se the cast’s dedication to fashion until she arrived on-set.
Eve was convinced she would be able to remove her painful designer shoe s in-between takes - but was shocked to see the main castmembers kept the irs on at all times.
She tells Britain’s Daily Record, "They were those shoes, the ones with the really high heels, all day long. I kept expecting them to put on Ugg s (flat, sheepskin boots) at some point between takes like everyone else.
But no." And Eve was left in agony after trying out a runway-style walk in her h igh heels: "I had watched models walking down the catwalk. It looks incre dibly easy, just like tennis looks easy. So I copied them - and I had the sorest legs the next day."

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ALICE IN WONDERLAND is set to become the only film released in springtime to make $1 billion at the global box office.
The Disney 3D adventure, which sees Tim Burton take on the classic Lewi s Carroll tale, has pulled in a staggering $996 million (=C2=A3664 millio n) across the world since its release in April (10). It is expected to pa ss the $1 billion mark on Thursday (27May10) due to its current success a t the Japanese box office.
The film is the second highest-grossing Disney movie in history - the s tudio’s previous Johnny Depp film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s C hest, garnered $1.7 billion in 2006.
Alice In Wonderland will be the only billion-dollar film release to hit cinemas outside the usual Christmas or summertime blockbuster periods.
Disney executive David Kornblum says, "It’s an amazing result. Alice in Wonderland has reinvented the culture of cinema-going in a big way.
"This was a truly unique result, given the time period, and validates t hat the movie business is a 52-week business." Other than Disney’s two billion-dollar movies, Avatar, Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King are the only other films to hit the mark.

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Voiceover artist CYNTHIA SONGE, who worked on hit children’s movie STUART LITTLE, has died at the age of 58.
The actress passed away on 19 May (10) in Arroyo Grande, California aft er suffering a brief illness.
Further details were unavailable as WENN went to press.
Songe established herself as a voice actress with roles in a variety of TV cartoons, including Extreme Ghostbusters, Ben and Izzy and The Life a nd Times of Juniper Lee.
She is survived by her husband, Blu, and a sister, reports trade paper Daily Variety.

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SARAH JESSICA PARKER will pay tribute to ALEXANDER MCQUEEN next month (Ju n10) when the fashion world bestows a posthumous award on the late design er.
The tragic couturier was found dead after an apparent suicide at his Lo ndon apartment in February (10).
The following month (Mar10), his peers at the Council of Fashion Design ers of America announced him as the recipient of the Board of Directors’ Special Tribute Award.
Parker, who has become a fashion icon through her role in Sex and the C ity, has been chosen to take to the stage at the annual gala in New York on 7 June (10) to honour the tragic Brit.
The actress worked with McQueen many times throughout his career and ha iled him as an "unrivalled talent" following his demise. (LR&MJ/WNWCVG/ZN

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Actor RYAN O’NEAL has found love with former supermodel CHERYL TIEGS, alm ost a year after losing his longtime partner FARRAH FAWCETT to cancer.
The Love Story star, 69, reconnected with old pal Tiegs last June (09) when they paid their last respects to the tragic Charlie’s Angels star at her funeral.
But their relationship soon took a romantic turn as the 62-year-old bea uty comforted a grieving O’Neal and they are now an item, according to th e National Enquirer.
The stars went public with the romance earlier this month (May10) when they attended the Hollywood launch of Raquel Welch’s new book, Beyond the Cleavage, together at an event co-hosted by Fawcett’s best friend, Alana Stewart.
An eyewitness tells the tabloid, "He had his arm around Cheryl’s waist, and it was clear that they were very happy together.
"They both are in their 60s and have been around the block - but they a re thrilled to have found each other." Fawcett died on 25 June (10) after a battle with anal cancer. (MT/NE/LR

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NICOLAS CAGE’s financial woes are stacking up - he has been hit with a de mand for allegedly unpaid taxes owed to the state of California.
The Con Air star has been named in several tax claims recently, with In ternal Revenue Service (IRS) bosses making a $6.2 million (=C2=A33.9 mill ion) demand in August (09) in relation to allegedly unpaid taxes in 2007.
Cage is also facing other claims of unpaid tax related to his earnings between 2002 and 2004, and he was accused of defaulting on a $2 million ( =C2=A31.25 million) loan in October (09).
Now California authorities are chasing the star for a further $3.8 mill ion (=C2=A32.5 million) in delinquent taxes, according to the Detroit New s.
The lien was filed against Cage and his wife Alice in Los Angeles on 14 April (10) but a spokesperson insists Cage has already made plans to pay back the debt.
His representative says, "All entities are aware that this is in proces s and, from my understanding, all the parties are satisfied that everythi ng will be paid back. Nicolas is doing everything that he needs to do to get these monies owed paid back." The actor blamed financial mismanagement for his money woes and is curr ently embroiled in a legal wrangle with his former business manager Samue l Levin.

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British director MICHAEL WINTERBOTTOM is "surprised" by the negative reac tion to the graphic violence in his shocking new movie THE KILLER INSIDE ME - insisting he didn’t deliberately set out to offend cinema-goers.
The film, which stars Casey Affleck as psychotic killer Lou Ford, has d ivided audiences with its gory content, including one disturbing scene in which Jessica Alba’s character is beaten until she is no longer recognis able.
A review of the film’s screening at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year (10) by Damon Wise, a critic for Empire magazine, reads, "What’ s not very standard, however, is the violence… The cruelty in this film goes way beyond the endurance level of the average viewer… There is no artful surrealism, just bleak, bloody and unjustifiable punishment, most of it (but not only) directed against women." But Winterbottom is baffled by the furore over the film, insisting he d idn’t include the shocking scenes just to provoke "controversy".
He says, "I’ve been a little surprised that people have found it so har d to watch the two main violent scenes. I don’t think they are that visua lly graphic compared to other films. I think it’s more to do with Casey’s performance and the character of Lou and the intimacy of those scenes." And the moviemaker is adamant he was just trying to remain faithful to the 1952 pulp novel of the same name by Jim Thompson, on which the film i s based.
He adds, "I was trying to make a very literal version of the book, and the scenes are shocking in the book - they make you stop. So should it be shocking when Lou punches (Alba’s character) Joyce. It should be as shoc king as it would be in real life. But not in the sense that, ‘Oh this’ll be great because it’ll cause a lot of controversy’."

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TOM CRUISE is glad he mended his broken relationship with his father befo re his death - because he didn’t want to "live in blame and regret".
The Hollywood actor endured a turbulent childhood and has previously ac cused his dad, Thomas Cruise Mapother III, of being a "bully" before his mother walked out on him and took the star, then aged 12, and his sisters with her.
Cruise was estranged from his father for many years, and had gone a ful l decade without seeing him when he discovered his dad was dying in hospi tal in the early 1980s.
The actor decided to make up with his father and visit him in hospital - and the meeting gave them both the chance to put the past behind them.
Cruise tells Esquire magazine, "I hadn’t seen my father in about 10 yea rs. I found out he was dying, and I went to see him in the hospital. He k new… that he’d blown it. There was deep regret. I think he was torturin g himself. We tend to do that. All I could do was tell him, ‘Look, it’s o kay.’ I wasn’t going to live in blame and regret."

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British rockers THE FUTUREHEADS are considering writing a musical - becau se they want to add more of an "arts element" to their work.
The musicians, who released their fourth studio album The Chaos last mo nth (Apr10), want to steer their career in a new direction and are consid ering scrapping the idea of a "traditional" record in favour of a more un conventional project.
Guitarist Ross Millard tells Clash magazine, "We want to focus on thing s that aren’t Futureheads, or maybe not typical Futureheads and release i t on the label. It won’t be a traditional album next time. We’ve talked a bout doing a musical even. Something a little bit more outside of the cyc le of recording and releasing album.
"We want something with more of an arts element, with more of a perform ance element."

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Aussie pop star PETER ANDRE was left red-faced at the unveiling of his la test fragrance in London on Tuesday (25May10) - after only nine fans turn ed up to the meet-and-greet, according to a report.
The singer made a special appearance at the launch of his new aftershav e, Conditional, at the British capital’s Westfield shopping centre, where hundreds of fans were expected to flock to the event.
But the launch was left lacking when only a handful of dedicated follow ers turned up, according to Britain’s Daily Star.
Fan Tania McIntosh told the publication, "Where is everybody? Obviously it’s better for me because I’ll get longer with him but I can’t imagine he’s happy. I think the thing with Jordan affected his popularity a lot." Andre split from model Katie Price - also known as Jordan - last year ( 09). The pair went through a bitter divorce, which was finalised in Septe mber (09).

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T.I. has praised pop sensation LADY GAGA for contributing vocals to one o f his rap tracks - insisting she is a "phenomenal talent" in the studio.
The hip-hop star has teamed up with the Poker Face hitmaker for the son g, tentatively titled Lick It, which he hopes will be included on his nex t album, King Uncaged, due to hit stores in August (10).
He tells MTV.com, "(Gaga is a) phenomenal talent. Extremely proud (to w ork with her). She’s definitely that good. She knows what she’s doing. Sh e knows exactly what she wants people to think and say. She does everythi ng that she needs to be done to ensure it happens (sic). I think she’s an entertainer, in all aspects of the word. She’s a classic, all-round ente rtainer. A global star." And T.I. is already making plans to work with Gaga again in the future, adding: "We gonna go back in and record some more songs… I think we bo th have a tendency to shock the world in a lot of different ways." (PAW/W

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Rapper COMMON and tennis pro SERENA WILLIAMS have called time on their tw o-year relationship, according to a U.S. report.
The hip-hop star and the sportswoman are said to have ended their roman ce and gone their separate ways after they "just grew apart", according t o American magazine In Touch Weekly.
The couple made a red carpet appearance together in April (10), but Com mon’s mum was his date to the premiere of his romantic comedy movie Just Wright on 4 May (10).
Common spoke openly about his love life earlier this month (May10) when he appeared on U.S. TV, telling talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, "I defin itely want to get married. I would love to get married and have kids." (P

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German opera legend ANNELIESE ROTHENBERGER has passed away at the age of 83.
The popular soprano died on Monday (24May10) at a hospital in Munsterli ngen, Switzerland after a short illness.
Rothenberger landed her first job in 1947 at the Hamburg Opera House in her native Germany and she went on to wow audiences around the world wit h her vocal talents.
She moved on from the stage to carve out a highly successful career on German TV, starring in her own show as well as several musical films.
Rothenberger retired from the limelight in the 1980s after she was diag nosed with bowel cancer and refused to return to the stage even after she had recovered. She was awarded a lifetime achievement honour at Germany’ s Echo Awards in 2003.

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