Paul McCartney has confirmed an Olympic-sized rumor, saying he’ll be the closing act at the London 2012 Olympics’ opening ceremony.
Earlier this year, the former Beatle disclosed that he was in talks to play a role in the celebrations.
On Monday, he confirmed: “I’ve been booked.”
He told BBC radio station 5 Live that he would be “closing the opening” of the games.
The lineup for the ceremony, overseen by “Slumdog Millionaire” director Danny Boyle and themed “Isles of Wonder,” is a closely guarded secret, but many had suspected Mr. McCartney would be involved.
The Olympic Games take place July 27 to Aug. 12.
Trial opens in suit against Costner over BP deal
Kevin Costner’s fame is the only reason fellow Hollywood actor Stephen Baldwin and another person sued Mr. Costner over their investments in an oil cleanup device tried out after BP’s spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Mr. Costner’s attorney said as the trial in the multimillion-dollar business dispute opened Monday.
According to the Associated Press, Mr. Baldwin and friend Spyridon Contogouris claim Mr. Costner and business partner Patrick Smith duped them of their shares of an $18 million deal for BP to buy oil-separating centrifuges after the April 2010 oil spill.
Mr. Costner’s attorney, Wayne Lee, said his client played no role in Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Contogouris’ decision to sell their shares in a company that marketed the centrifuges to the energy company.
Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Contogouris are seeking more than $21 million in damages. Mr. Costner and other defendants also are seeking damages in counterclaims.
Olsen twins take home top prize at fashion awards
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen took home the biggest prize at the annual Council of Fashion Designers of America awards. The former child TV stars were selected Monday night as the country’s top womenswear designers for their collection called the Row.
“I’d like to thank you — you,” Mary-Kate, wearing an all-black ensemble, said, turning to her purple-clad twin, as she accepted.
Jessica Chastain, who wore a sparkly white dress by Prabal Gurung, announced the 25-year-olds as winners at Lincoln Center in front of an audience that drew not only from the fashion world but also from Hollywood.
“Mad Men’s” Jessica Pare gave Reed Krakoff his trophy as best designer of accessories, and “White Collar’s” Matt Bomer gave menswear designer Billy Reid his.
The previously announced style icon award went to Johnny Depp, but he was on the set of “The Lone Ranger” and didn’t attend. He sent an email — and filmmaker friend John Waters — in his place.
Standing in front of a collage of Mr. Depp’s outfits over the years, Mr. Waters said, “This man can’t look ugly no matter how hard he tries.”
In presenting Tommy Hilfiger with his lifetime achievement award, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour said the designer could be pretty funny, especially in his imitations of famous people such as Karl Lagerfeld, Donna Karan and even Mick Jagger.
“As long as you’re not imitating me, we’re all good,” the famously serious Ms. Wintour said.
The CFDA also presents a series of awards sponsored by Swarovski to up-and-coming talent: Joseph Altuzarra won in the women’s category, Phillip Lim in men’s and Tabitha Simmons in accessories.
Whitney Houston’s mother has deal for daughter’s story
Whitney Houston’s triumphant, heartbreaking life is being remembered in a book by her mother, singer Cissy Houston.
Miss Houston has a deal with HarperCollins for a memoir it says will reveal the “unabridged and unbelievable story” of her Grammy Award-winning daughter, who died in a Beverly Hills, Calif., hotel bathtub in February at age 48. HarperCollins announced Monday that the currently untitled book is scheduled to come out next February.
“When I lost my daughter Nippy [Houston’s nickname], the world lost one of the most beautiful voices and an extraordinarily beautiful and charitable woman,” Miss Houston said in a statement released by HarperCollins. “In sharing our story in this book, I hope to give her fans something to treasure, the way we all treasured Whitney. We are still receiving thousands of letters each day from her fans, and I hope reading this book will provide a deeper understanding into my daughter’s true story.”
Financial terms haven’t been disclosed. A portion of the proceeds reportedly will be donated to New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., where the late singer, whose many hits included “The Greatest Love of All” and “I Will Always Love You,” sang as a child and where her funeral was held. Ms. Houston had met with several publishers, and the book deal could be worth seven figures.
According to HarperCollins, Miss Houston will write with “candor, honesty and respect” about her daughter’s remarkable career and about her drug problems and her marriage to Bobby Brown. She also will reflect on her own grief.
Miss Houston recently released a new album of gospel tunes, her first new music in more than a decade. “Walk on By Faith” was released by Harlem Records on iTunes last month and includes songs such as “Living Shall Not Be In Vain.”
• Compiled from Web and wire reports
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