Jonathan Ross secures exclusive interview with Barbra Streisand

London, Sep 10 (ANI): American singer Barbra Streisand is to be interviewed by Brit film critic Jonathan Ross for an episode of his BBC One chat show.

An entire show, which has been branded as ‘Friday Night With Streisand and Ross’, will be dedicated to 67-year-old Streisand, reports the BBC.

The singer/actress will be discussing her career and also perform some of her classic hits and material from her new album, ‘Love Is The Answer’, on the programme which will be broadcast on October 2.

A spokeswoman for Streisand said the BBC One show would be the star’s first studio interview in the UK since she spoke with Des O’Connor in the 1980s.

Streisand’s new album is set for release in the UK on September 28.

It has a collection of jazz standards, which will show the singer performing tracks including ‘Smoke Gets In Your Eyes’ and ‘In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning’. (ANI)

Barbra Streisand’s ex to auction tapes of her earliest performances

New York, Aug 22 (ANI): Singer Barbra Streisand’s ex-boyfriend will soon have three recordings of her earliest performances auctioned.

Barry Dennen, who claims to have convinced her to become a singer, had made the tapes almost 50 years ago.

It includes the actress singing “A Taste of Honey” and “Two Brothers” in Dennen’s apartment, with him accompanying on guitar.

There’s also a Sept. 17, 1960, rehearsal at the Bon Soir nightclub, where Streisand sang “Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now,” “A Sleepin’ Bee,” “I Want To Be Bad,” “When Sunny Gets Blue,” “Lover Come Back to Me,” “Nobody’s Heart” and “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?”

He will now be selling it, with bids starting at 1 million dollars.

“I’m a little trepidatious. I don’t know what the fallout will be. I don’t like upsetting Barbra, and I don’t want her fans angry at me,” the New York Post quoted him as saying.

Dennen revealed that he first met Streisand in 1959 as castmates in a Broadway play, “The Insect Comedy.”

Soon they began dating and started living together at Ninth Street and Sixth Avenue in California.

Barry mentioned that Barbra had asked him for the tapes in 1965 as they had broken up but he had refused to give it to her.

He recollected: “I said ‘No. They are the only thing I have left of our collaboration.’ ”

The auction will happen on Web site, MomentsInTime.com

Meanwhile, Streisand reps said: “Our lawyers are dealing with this.” (ANI)

Eerie pictures show Michael Jackson rehearsing on stage for London comeback gigs just 48 hours before he died

These are the last pictures of Michael Jackson on stage, taken just two days before he died.

The images of the singer hard at work rehearsing for upcoming tour This Is It give a glimpse of what was in store for fans at his planned gigs in London’s 02.

Jackson was due to begin the first of 50 dates at the arena on July 13, but died on Thursday after being rushed to hospital in Los Angeles.

Putting on a thriller: Michael Jackso strikes a familiar pose as he practises his routine in the Staples Centre, LA,  for the This Is It comeback concerts

Putting on a thriller: Michael Jackso strikes a familiar pose as he practises his routine in the Staples Centre, LA,  for the This Is It comeback concerts

Eerie pictures show Michael Jackson rehearsing on stage for London comeback gigs just 48 hours before he died

Eerie pictures show Michael Jackson rehearsing on stage for London comeback gigs just 48 hours before he died

In one of the newly-emerged images, taken on Tuesday at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, the singer points towards the audience as backing dancers perform in front of a huge This Is It banner.

Despite looking frail, the star strikes a familiar pose and appears to be in full flow during the rehearsal.

In another photo, he smiles broadly, microphone in hand, dressed in a long shimmering mac over a top and trousers.

Man in the mac: Microphone in hand, the singer appears to be enjoying himself as he rehearses

Man in the mac: Microphone in hand, the singer appears to be enjoying himself as he rehearses

More than 800,000 tickets costing up to £1,000 had been sold for the concerts at London’s O2 arena which were hailed as the most ‘expensive and technically advanced’ live shows ever.

The concerts, which were due to start in two weeks’ time, had been expected to be the highest grossing pop production of all time.

Hundreds of thousands of fans who bought tickets for the cancelled gigs have been told they will be entitled to a refund.

ON DVD, THE FINAL PERFORMANCE

Footage from Jackson’s final rehearsals is already being compiled for a DVD and album.

The star is believed to have been filmed running through his songs and dance routines the day before he died.

In the groove: Footage of star rehearsing could be released on DVD although it's unclear who owns the rights

In the groove: Footage of star rehearsing could be released on DVD although it’s unclear who owns the rights

It is expected that when released this could become one of the star’s biggest selling works.

It is understood filming took place last Wednesday during Jackson’s rehearsals at the Los Angeles Staples Centre for the 50-date This Is It tour.

It remains unclear who has official ownership of the footage. A spokesman for concert promoter AEG
declined to comment. It is expected that the star’s estate will make more money in the next year from his music than he did in the last decade of his life.

The king of pop’s family will release a series of posthumous albums, starting this Christmas. It is understood Jackson wrote a number of songs for his three children, which were not to be released until after his death.

There are also songs left over from his last album, Invincible, released in 2001.

A tribute show is planned for September with Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and Barbra Streisand said to be in talks to appear.

Source By – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1196369/New-pictures-Michael-Jackson-hard-work-rehearsing-just-days-died.html

Salma Hayek blasts claims of being Jon Peters’ mistress

Washington, June 25 (ANI): Salma Hayek has blasted speculation suggesting that she was once romantically involved with Barbra Streisand’s alleged ex Jon Peters.

The Mexican-American actress was reported to be in the list of Peters’ conquests in his racy new autobiography.

The Lonely Hearts star slammed the reports in a statement, dubbing them untrue.

“I have never dated nor had a romantic relationship with Mr. Peters. My name has been continually linked to his romantic liaisons, and I want to put a stop to this lie,” Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

Peters pulled the plug on his explosive tome in May after the original transcript was leaked and some stars mentioned in the book threatened to sue if it went on sale.

He said at the time: “I have been besieged by lawsuits and threatened litigation by some of the most important figures in showbusiness.” (ANI)

Has Barbra Streisand seen off ex-lover Jon Peters’ ‘kiss and tell’?

London, May 24 (ANI): American singer-actress Barbra Streisand is believed to have seen off an ex-lover who planned to publish a “kiss and tell”.

Hollywood producer Jon Peters, who made a deal with HarperCollins regarding his memoirs earlier this month, has had a change of heart now.

The deal was said to be worth 490,000 pounds.

“I must decline your current kind and generous offer to publish my autobiography. Circumstances far beyond my imagination have caused me to remove the project from the marketplace at this ime. “Somehow this proposal has become a kind of holy grail of gossip, and I have become Hollywood’s ‘Man Who Knows Too Much,’” the Telegraph quoted him as having written to Michael Morrison, of the publishers Peters adds: “I have been besieged by potential lawsuits and threatened litigation by some of the most important figures in the world of show business. What’s worse… is the fact that I consider all these people my friends.” (ANI)

Barbra Streisand’s assistant busted on drug charges

New York, May 11 (ANI): Barbra Streisand’s assistant landed herself in trouble after cops arrested her on drug charges.

Tina Fortenberry was taken into custody after police in Malibu discovered cocaine, methamphetamines and a dangerous weapon inside her car.

A report published on the celebrity web site TMZ says that the 52-year-old was pulled over after officials spotted expired tags on her vehicle, according to the New York Daily News.

Cops, after searching the car, allegedly found drugs along with a “sap”, a blackjack-style weapon.

Fortenberry was also collared for driving with a suspended license.

She was later released on bond, and is slated to appear in Malibu Supreme Court in July. (ANI)

Katherine Jenkins’ surprise b’day song for Barbra Streisand

London, May 4 (ANI): Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins has revealed that she was recently called to sing as a surprise guest at singer Barbra Streisand’s birthday bash.

Jenkins, 28, was invited to attend Streisand’s recent 67th birthday bash, just hours after touching down in Los Angeles.

“I got invited on the spur of the moment,” the Daily Express quoted her as saying.

“I had jet lag and thought I would have an early night. When the call came, of course I said yes,” she said.

When she arrived, it soon became clear that she would be expected to perform.

“I went to this house in Bel Air where one of her friends was throwing her a private soirée and everyone was there from Warren Beatty to Hugh Jackman,” she recalled.

“All of a sudden her friend said to me: ‘You really should sing something for Barbra’s birthday’,” she said.

A somewhat flustered Jenkins hastily decided on the opera aria O Mio Babbino Caro, followed by Happy Birthday.

“I couldn’t believe it happened. How nerve-racking was that? She told me I had a lovely voice,” she added. (ANI)

Barbra Streisand’s never seen her films, heard her music

Washington, Mar 16 (ANI): Barbra Streisand has admitted that she’s never seen or heard some of her greatest entertainment achievements.

The screen legend has admitted that she spends so much time working on projects that she can’t bear to indulge herself in her films and albums once they’re wrapped.

“I never watch my things again. I make an album and then maybe 10 years later, I hear a thing or two. If I walk into somebody’s house or a department store, I always say, ‘Can you please turn that off?’ Contactmusic quoted Streisand, as telling Newsweek.

“Because I spend so much time on it, before it’s released, that once it’s released it’s on its own. I really don’t want to listen to it,” she added. (ANI)

Charlie Chaplin’s son passes away at 82

Washington, Mar 6 (ANI): Sydney Chaplin, the Tony Award-winning son of film legend Charlie Chaplin, has died at his home in California. He was 82.

Sydney, who once starred on Broadway opposite Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl, passed away on Tuesday at his Rancho Mirage home after a long struggle with a stroke.

The young Chaplin appeared in two of his father’s films, Limelight and The Countess From Hong Kong, reports Contactmusic.

He won a Tony for musical Bells Are Ringing in the mid-1950s.

He quit the show before Streisand took the musical to the big screen – and Omar Sharif took on the role Chaplin made famous on Broadway.

Sydney is survived by his wife, Margaret, of Rancho Mirage, and his son from a previous marriage, Stephan, now living in Europe. (ANI)

Charlie Chaplin’s son passes away at 82

Washington, Mar 6 (ANI): Sydney Chaplin, the Tony Award-winning son of film legend Charlie Chaplin, has died at his home in California. He was 82.

Sydney, who once starred on Broadway opposite Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl, passed away on Tuesday at his Rancho Mirage home after a long struggle with a stroke.

The young Chaplin appeared in two of his father’s films, Limelight and The Countess From Hong Kong, reports Contactmusic.

He won a Tony for musical Bells Are Ringing in the mid-1950s.

He quit the show before Streisand took the musical to the big screen – and Omar Sharif took on the role Chaplin made famous on Broadway.

Sydney is survived by his wife, Margaret, of Rancho Mirage, and his son from a previous marriage, Stephan, now living in Europe. (ANI)

Charlie Chaplin’s son passes away at 82

Washington, Mar 6 (ANI): Sydney Chaplin, the Tony Award-winning son of film legend Charlie Chaplin, has died at his home in California. He was 82.

Sydney, who once starred on Broadway opposite Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl, passed away on Tuesday at his Rancho Mirage home after a long struggle with a stroke.

The young Chaplin appeared in two of his father’s films, Limelight and The Countess From Hong Kong, reports Contactmusic.

He won a Tony for musical Bells Are Ringing in the mid-1950s.

He quit the show before Streisand took the musical to the big screen – and Omar Sharif took on the role Chaplin made famous on Broadway.

Sydney is survived by his wife, Margaret, of Rancho Mirage, and his son from a previous marriage, Stephan, now living in Europe. (ANI)

Streisand, Wonder, Springsteen among Obama’s picks for Inaugural balls performances

Washington, January 6 (ANI): Barack Obama’s Inaugural committee has reportedly asked musicians to perform at the Inaugural balls.

The first African-American to be elected President of the United States was said to have invited toy band Jonas Brothers and possibly ‘Hannah Montana’ star Miley Cyrus to play at particular events around Washington on January 20th – the day when he begins his term of office.

The 10 official Inaugural balls would also see Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, and Bruce Springsteen, sources told FoxNews.

Alicia Keys was also reportedly scheduled to impress all with her vocal chords in a yet to be announced concert.

Other musical guests allegedly included rockers Grateful Dead and Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul and her band playing Dionne Warwick’s show, (ANI)