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Canadian opera star MAUREEN FORRESTER has died, aged 79.
She passed away in Toronto, Canada on Wednesday night (16Jun10) after s uffering from dementia for several years.
An operatic contralto, she made her New York City debut in Town Hal in 1956, and later performed with the New York City Opera and the Metropolit an Opera, and toured extensively in Canada and Europe.
She made some 130 recordings throughout her career, and was immortalise d in Toronto with a star on Canada=E2=80=99s Walk of Fame.
In 1986, Forrester co-authored an autobiography entitled Out of Charact er with journalist Marci McDonald.
She is survived by her five children.

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JOHN MAYER bounced back from his recent illness to play a late-night surp rise show in New York City in the early hours of Thursday morning (17Jun1 0).
The rocker scrapped his European tour last month (May10) after he fell sick with a mystery ailment but he proved he is fit and well again with t he impromptu gig in Manhattan.
Mayer took to his Twitter.com page late on Wednesday night (16Jun10) an d told fans to make their way to the Village Underground venue for an int imate show at 3am. Tickets were sold for just $10 (=C2=A36).
Mayer later thanked the fans who turned out to see him play, writing in a post on Twitter, "Thanks all for coming… XO".

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Country music star RANDY OWEN has confirmed he’s been diagnosed with pros tate cancer, but insists he’s winning his battle with the deadly illness.
The Alabama frontman began treatment last month (May10) after doctors d iscovered the cancer during a routine check-up.
Owen underwent an ultrasound procedure in a bid to beat the disease, an d he is now said to be recovering well.
The star’s medic, Dr. Woody Fritz, tells CountryStandardTime.com, "We a re happy with the successful outcome of the treatment. Randy is doing gre at and is just about fully recovered." Owen, who hopes to resume touring in September (10), adds, "After my ro utine six-month physical… I feel very good and positive about my future .. I look forward to seeing the fans and doing what I do." (LR/WNWCCMT/PAW

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JAY-Z has scrapped plans for a surprise concert in his native New York af ter city officials voiced concerns about security and refused to grant th e rapper permission to perform.
The Brooklyn-born hip-hop star planned to pack the streets of midtown M anhattan for a surprise performance atop the marquee of the Ed Sullivan T heater during rush hour on Monday (21Jun10).
Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and rock groups Phish and Audioslave h ave previously been granted permits to put on concerts at the legendary v enue.
But officials at the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting h ave abruptly axed Jay-Z’s show, ending weeks of negotiations, after word of the performance leaked on Thursday (17Jun10).
A spokesperson for the film office confirms: "There was discussion of a concert, and ultimately it was decided there would be no permit.
"Many permits are granted on the condition that the event is not made p ublic beforehand for capacity and security reasons. This event was made p ublic." The decision comes just days after rapper Drake’s free concert at the c ity’s South Street Seaport was cancelled when over-crowding led to violen t outbursts. Six people suffered minor injuries and two people were arres ted.

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Classic 1980s film THE BLUES BROTHERS has been given the official seal of approval by the Catholic Church - the movie has been added to the Vatica n’s list of must-see pictures.
The music movie, starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, sees the onscre en siblings embark on an odd-ball road trip to raise money for the church -run orphanage where they grew up.
And the heads of the Catholic faith have now praised the movie’s spirit ual undertones and recommended it as a "Catholic classic", according to t he Vatican’s official newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.
The Blues Brothers joins films such as Mel Gibson’s The Passion Of The Christ and It’s A Wonderful Life on the Catholic Church’s list of recomme nded movies.

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KATE WINSLET was saved from an embarrassing banking experience on Thursda y morning (17Jun10), when a kindly customer stepped in to help the star c ash her change after the teller refused to serve her.
The Titanic star visited a New York branch of Chase bank with her two c hildren to hand in their loose coins in exchange for dollar bills.
But after realising the Oscar-winner did not hold an account at the bra nch, the bank clerk refused to process the transaction.
However, Winslet was saved from dragging the bucket of change home when a Chase customer offered to swap the coins for notes.
According to the New York Daily News, the generous patron was stunned w hen Winslet removed her sunglasses to thank him.
A bank source tells the publication, "(He asked) ‘Are You Kate Winslet? ‘ Winslet smiled and nodded."

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EMMA WATSON threw a dinner party for her HARRY POTTER co-stars during the last week of filming - to mark the end of the franchise and reminisce ab out their time on-set.
Watson, along with Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, has spent over a decade working on the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s books and the ca st filmed their last scenes for the final movie in London this month (Jun 10).
And Watson ensured they bid farewell to one another in style by throwin g a lavish bash at her U.K. home, according to actor James Phelps - who p lays Fred Weasley.
He tells People.com, "The last week of filming Emma had a dinner at her place, and we spoke about the best moments of filming.
"Our secret crushes on set - all kinds of random questions. But all the answers to these questions will stay in that room!"

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Newly-engaged AMERICA FERRERA has visited U.S. troops serving in the Midd le East as part of a morale-boosting charity trip.
The former Ugly Betty actress and her fiance Ryan Piers William jetted out to Iraq earlier this month (Jun10) to spend time with soldiers statio ned there.
The star signed autographs and posed for pictures with the service men and women in conjunction with The United Service Organizations (USO) befo re flying straight to Scotland this week (beg13Jun10) for the Edinburgh I nternational Film Festival.
And Ferrera admits the experience was made more poignant because of her role in new movie The Dry Land, in which she plays the wife of a soldier who has recently come home from war.
Ferrera tells WENN, "We actually flew from Iraq to Edinburgh. It was a really incredible experience especially having spent a couple of years wo rking on The Dry Land… So then going to Iraq and meeting these soldiers and knowing in the back of our minds what struggles lie ahead for them c oming home… Having those conversations with them, a lot of them were op en to talk to us about their time there…
"It was really interesting to be welcomed by them. We were very well re ceived and they were grateful for the distraction and (it was) kind of a little bit of homecoming to them. We were just grateful to have that expe rience and be in an environment and gain a lot of perspective that most p eople will never have."

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TRUE BLOOD star STEPHEN MOYER was not shocked when his fiancee ANNA PAQUI N told the world about her bisexuality - because the actress confided in her lover during the first few days of their romance.
The actress announced her sexual orientation earlier this year (10) in a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for Cyndi Lauper’s gay rights charity , and the clip was so popular when it was posted on the internet, the web site hosting the footage crashed.
Paquin laughed off the fuss, insisting she has never tried to hide her sexuality, and Moyer has praised his partner for her honesty.
He tells Playboy magazine, =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99ve never been in a relati onship before in which, literally within the first three days, all the ca rds were laid out=E2=80=A6 It wasn=E2=80=99t something that was kept from me. I condone what she has done 100 per cent, and it=E2=80=99s her busin ess to talk about it, not mine. It doesn=E2=80=99t change anything. I=E2=80 =99m proud of who she is… I have never trusted anybody like I trust Ann a.=E2=80=9D

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KRISTEN STEWART has fuelled reports she is to replace ANGELINA JOLIE in a WANTED sequel - insisting she would "definitely" accept the role as long as the movie is as "good" as the original.
The Twilight actress is the favourite to take over from the Oscar-winne r as the follow-up’s female lead opposite James McAvoy, after Jolie ruled out a return to the assassin action drama.
Stewart admits she is excited by the prospect of stepping into Jolie’s role - but only if the script meets her expectations.
She tells MTV.com, "(I would) definitely (take the role), as long as it was good and I mean, it’s really exciting to see (that as an opportunity ).
"Wanted was a great movie. James McAvoy makes that movie different from most other action movies because he’s a real guy - you’re so with him.
"I feel like most action movies don’t have that. So if it had that, def initely. But I wouldn’t just want to be in a mindless blow-up movie. I’m not into it."

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AMERICA FERRERA missed out on a romantic proposal from her fiance RYAN PI ERS WILLIAMS - the actress has described the magic moment as "more of a c onversation".
The Ugly Betty star confirmed the happy news this week (14Jun10) after she was seen sporting a diamond on her ring finger.
But the actress admits her partner didn’t surprise her by dropping to o ne knee with a traditional proposal - the couple talked about marriage an d decided on the engagement together.
Speaking ahead of the Edinburgh International Film Festival screening o f The Dry Land, she tells WENN, "We’d been together five years so it was more of a conversation (than a proposal)." Ferrera subsequently kept the news quiet - and most of her friends only found out about the engagement when the news spread online.
She adds, "I didn’t see all the sites that picked it up but it’s really happy and good news so it’s nice. I’ve been getting a lot of e-mails fro m my friends who didn’t know but they do know now so that’s good. Everybo dy kind of found out at the same time from reading about it!" (LR/RXM/PAW

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Cult rockers VAMPIRE WEEKEND have scrapped their gig at a British music f estival just days before it was set to take place.
The New York group was slated to headline the Eden Sessions at the famo us bio-dome venue in Cornwall, England on 24 June (10), but organisers ha ve now scrapped the entire day due to the cancellation.
Rock group Broken Bells - which features Gnarls Barkley star Danger Mou se - was also on the bill.
Vampire Weekend has not cited a reason for the scrapped gig.
A statement posted on the Eden Project’s website reads, "We’re terribly sorry, but regrettably we have to announce that Vampire Weekend’s appear ance at this year’s Eden Sessions has been cancelled. We will of course r efund everyone who bought tickets to this session."

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Former BLUE star LEE RYAN has credited his fiancee with "saving his life" - insisting fatherhood and falling in love helped him find his "place in the world." The British singer was renowned for his wild partying and womanising wa ys during Blue’s heyday, and recently shocked fans by admitting he took p art in group sex sessions with his bandmate Duncan James.
And Ryan is convinced he would not be alive today if he hadn’t met his partner Samantha Miller, the mother of his son Rayn.
He tells Britain’s Daily Record, "If it wasn’t for Samantha I wouldn’t be alive today. It is as simple as that. You can say that she saved my li fe. I probably would not be around if it hadn’t been for the fact that sh e has helped me to find my place in the world.
"Now that I am a father, I am in a different space. I’ve calmed down a lot and enjoy being a dad. I do the nappies. I don’t get away with not do ing anything like that." Ryan is also adamant he now shuns the party circuit in favour of stayin g home with his family, adding, "I hate all that red carpet stuff. It jus t isn’t me."

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SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS has issued a fresh plea to AMERICAN IDOL bosses to hir e him as a replacement for SIMON COWELL - he’s offered to take a five per cent pay cut on the music mogul’s massive salary.
The hip-hop star has previously insisted he is the perfect choice to ta ke over from the outspoken Brit, now he has quit his role on the show’s j udging panel to bring his U.K. talent show The X Factor Stateside.
And Combs is now talking money, revealing he would gladly accept a redu ced pay packet to join the series.
He tells Britain’s GMTV, "As a matter of fact I have a new negotiation, I would take a five per cent cut on what he was getting. He was on somet hing like $34 million, and that’s peanuts."

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JAKE SHEARS is glad the forthcoming SCISSOR SISTERS album has been leaked online - because the response from fans has been "amazing".
The band’s third studio release, Night Work, isn’t due to go on sale un til 28 June (10), but the tracks have already been illegally uploaded ont o the internet.
However, Shears remains upbeat about the album’s early outing, insistin g the group’s followers will help boost sales by creating an online "buzz " about their new material.
He tells Britain’s Daily Star, "I’m actually really excited about the l eak because the response has been so amazing. I went on the internet and had a look around and I haven’t seen any negative comments.
"The people downloading it will be our hardcore fans who will want to h ear it =C2=ADbefore everyone else. If they like the album it means they’r e going to tell =C2=ADeveryone that it’s good so it will get a buzz going before the record comes out."

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Jailed rapper LIL BOOSIE has been indicted on a first degree murder charg e in connection with a 2009 shooting.
The hip-hop star was convicted on gun and drugs charges last year (09) and is currently serving a four-year prison sentence after violating his parole.
The Wipe Me Down hitmaker - real name Torrence Hatch - is now facing a murder charge in relation to the killing of Terry Boyd, who was shot to d eath at his home in Louisiana last October (09).
Six other men have been charged over their alleged involvement in the k illing, and two of them are also facing a first degree murder charge.
Hatch was indicted by the East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury in Louisia na on Thursday (17Jun10), when he was also charged with drug possession a nd conspiracy to smuggle illegal substances into jail, along with a woman and a former prison guard.
If convicted of first degree murder, the rapper could face the death pe nalty, according to prosecutors. A plea is reportedly yet to be entered.

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ANNA PAQUIN regrets her decision to drink sugar-free fake blood on the se t of her vampire TV show - because the low-calorie substitute left her fe eling sick.
The actress plays a vampire’s girlfriend in True Blood and the show’s s torylines often see her feasting on a red corn syrup mixture which has lo ng been used in movies and TV.
Paquin admits she was delighted when producers offered her a sugar-free alternative, but soon regretted her decision.
She tells Self magazine, "I get a kick out it, but the actual blood mak es me want to gag! It’s kind of a sweet corn syrup, I think, with an afte rtaste that’s less than pleasant after the 10th take. In season one, they asked me if I wanted sugar or sugar-free. I was like, ‘Sugar-free blood? Sounds great!’ "It only tastes like the latex tubes it’s coming through. By the next s cene I was feeding ravenously… so I drank probably a gallon. Never agai n!"

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SARAH JESSICA PARKER is reportedly looking to move house - she has been s potted viewing a massive $24 million (=C2=A316 million) townhouse in New York.
The Sex and the City star, who already owns several properties in the c ity, recently admitted her current home in Manhattan is "bursting at the seams", but vowed never to relocate to "the suburbs" even though there wo uld be more space for herself, her husband Matthew Broderick and their th ree children.
Parker has now sparked rumours the family is preparing to move to a lar ger home in Manhattan after she was seen checking out a huge nine-bedroom house in the trendy West Village.
The $24.9 million (=C2=A316.6 million) property also has nine bathrooms , 10 wood-burning fireplaces and is situated on the same block where Jimi Hendrix once lived, according to New York Daily News.

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