Curtains Open on Heath’s Hometown Honor
While excitable critics are abuzz about a possible posthumous Oscar nomination for Heath Ledger’s Joker, there’s a more immediate honor for the late star.
Ledger’s hometown of Perth, Australia, has named an $88 million playhouse after the actor.
West Australian Premier Alan Carpenter, accompanied by Ledger’s father Kim, this morning announced plans for the 575-seat Heath Ledger Theatre.
“Heath Ledger was an extremely talented actor, totally dedicated to his craft and internationally respected,” Carpenter said. “Honoring his memory in this way will ensure his acting achievements will continue to inspire young [Australian] artists.”
Kim Ledger was on hand for the tribute announcement, and said the Ledger family not only supported the naming decision but was quite touched by it:
“We feel so honored and intensely proud to know the government and people of West Australia are prepared to attach Heath’s name to this new theater project, which will provide Perth with an outstanding venue for years to come.
“Heath was deeply committed to his personal life within the arts environment the world over and an extraordinary giver of his time, kindness and money to aspiring or struggling artists from Australia and overseas. I have no doubt he would be pleased we are accepting the attachment of his name to such a worthy theater project.”
Idol Champ Says "I Do"
American Idol champ Ruben Studdard has something to sing about.
The season two winner married Surata Zuri McCants, his girlfriend of two years, in his hometown of Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday. It’s the first marriage for the Velvet Teddy Bear.
The ceremony took place at Canterbury United Methodist Church and Studdard reportedly had 20 groomsmen by his side. The newlyweds had just filed for a marriage license in Alabama on Monday.
Studdard, 29, and McCants, 30, met in October 2006 at a Wal-Mart in Atlanta where he was signing CDs. He followed her to the toy aisle and got her phone number.
Now if only he could have the same success with a record label…
Move Over, Clay: Ruben’s Got a New Tag-Team Partner
Looks like the Velvet Teddy Bear has found a long-term snuggle bunny.
American Idol season-two champ Ruben Studdard obtained a marriage license in his hometown of Birmingham, Ala., Monday morning.
According to the Birmingham News, the 29-year-old “Flying Without Wings” singer and his 30-year-old fiancée, Surata Zuri McCants, obtained the paperwork in Shelby County just before noon.
While Studdard has not publicly confirmed a date for the nuptials, the document is good for 30 days.
Here’s hoping his proposal wasn’t too pitchy.
Auntie Britney Spears Arrives Home
Auntie Britney Spears Arrives Home
It looks like she got her life back on track just in time to become an aunt. And Britney Spears was spotted arriving back home in LA following her niece Maddi Briann’s birth.
The “Gimme More” songstress arrived at LAX International Airport after spending three days in her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana. She was accompanied by her father/co-conservator Jamie Spears.
According to sources, Brit spent as much time with her sister/new mother Jamie-Lynn as she could before having to return to Los Angeles to continue work on her new album/comeback.
Swarmed with paparazzi, the father-daughter Spears team made their way slowly through the terminal to a waiting car. And the “Toxic” babe looked cute in a blue and black psychedelic hippie-style dress with UGGs and a pair of shades.