People
Cancer claims ‘Queen of Disco’
NEW YORK — Like the King of Pop or the Queen of Soul, Donna Summer was bestowed a title fitting of musical royalty — the Queen of Disco.
Yet unlike Michael Jackson or Aretha Franklin, it was a designation she wasn’t comfortable embracing. READ
Prolific Mexican novelist, essayist Carlos Fuentes dies at 83
Author Carlos Fuentes, who played a dominant role in Latin America’s novel-writing boom by delving into the failed ideals of the Mexican revolution, died Tuesday in a Mexico City hospital. He was 83. READ
Transgendered contestant wants pageant prize
Vancouver’s transgendered Miss Universe Canada contestant feels like she’s already triumphed by earning the chance to compete at this weekend’s pageant. But make no mistake: she also plans on making a serious run for the ultimate prize. Jenna Talackova said this morning that the beauty competition will be “a great battle” and that she’s “in it to win it.” READ
Actress accused of stalking Alec Baldwin upbeat about case
A Canadian actress accused of stalking Alec Baldwin was upbeat Monday about the case as her lawyer said she had a legitimate reason for contacting the star. “I’m confident that my lawyers are going to solve this,” Genevieve Sabourin said after a brief, procedural appearance in a Manhattan court. READ
‘Modern Family’ star Hyland has kidney transplant
Modern Family star Sarah Hyland has had a kidney transplant after a lifetime of pain and fatigue. The 21-year-old actress, who plays big-eyed teenager Haley Dunphy on the hit ABC comedy, told ABC’s Good Morning America or a report aired Monday that she had the surgery in April, READ
Young cancer patients’ video a big hit; Kelly Clarkson calls effort amazing
A video featuring cancer-stricken children, their nurses, doctors and parents lip-synching and dancing to the popular Kelly Clarkson song “Stronger” has become an online sensation. READ
Bass player Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn of Booker T. and the MGs dies in Tokyo
Bass player and songwriter Donald “Duck” Dunn, a member of the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame band Booker T. and the MGs and the Blues Brothers band, has died in Tokyo. He was 70. READ
Revolutionary author roars his last
Maurice Sendak didn’t think of himself as a children’s author, but as an author who told the truth about childhood. “I like interesting people and kids are really interesting people,” he explained to The Associated Press last fall. “And if you didn’t paint them in little blue, pink and yellow, it’s even more interesting.” READ
Allman tells it all in new memoir My Cross to Bear
Gregg Allman thinks about his late brother Duane every day. And once in a while, he can feel his presence. “I can tell when he’s there, man,” Allman said. “I’m not going to get all cosmic on you. But listen, he’s there.” The untimely death of the game-changing rock ’n’ roll guitarist is a central theme in Gregg Allman’s life and a big part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member’s new memoir, My Cross to Bear. READ
Theo Fleury still ‘Playing with Fire’
With his painful past out in the open, his abuser behind bars and his addictions held in check, it’s tempting to believe Theo Fleury has put his demons behind him. READ
Elton John lands at Centrium
The Rocket Man touched down in Red Deer on Wednesday night for a red-hot concert at the sold-out Centrium. READ
Rufus Wainwright takes turn into pop
Rufus Wainwright is touting the release of what he calls his most pop-leaning album yet, but the eclectic singer-songwriter is far from quitting his ambitious foray into the classical world. READ
Cowell got revenge on music biz
He gets colonic irrigations, Botox injections and vitamin drips, and insists on black toilet paper in his home. READ
Chaz Bono wins pair of trophies at GLAAD Media Awards
Chaz Bono picked up a pair of trophies at the GLAAD Media Awards. READ
Peters' Christmas variety show a real family affair
When it comes to Christmas, Canada’s comedy giant Russell Peters is a traditionalist at heart. The standup superstar throws together an old-fashioned TV variety special this week featuring plenty of carols, mirth by the fire, wishes for Santa, and unabashedly cheesy skits involving his mother, Maureen, and baby girl, Crystianna. READ
Jackson's doctor jailed four years
The doctor convicted in the overdose death of Michael Jackson was sentenced to the maximum four years behind bars Tuesday by a judge who denounced him as a reckless physician whose actions were a “disgrace to the medical profession.” READ
Beyonce worried baby secret would be revealed at concert
It’s tough to keep a pregnancy a secret when you’re in the public eye, and for a while, Beyonce thought the jig was up. READ
Bronze sculpture by Giacometti fetches world record $104 million
LONDON — A life-size bronze sculpture of a man by Alberto Giacometti was sold Wednesday at a London auction for 65 million pounds (US$104.3 million) — a world record for the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction, Sotheby’s auction house said. READ
British reality TV star Jade Goody battles cancer on camera
LONDON — A brash British reality show star whose ups and downs captivated the nation is approaching her death the same way she has lived — on television. READ
