Bedazzled Clarkson to lead Muses krewe
Actress Patricia Clarkson received a brass band reception when she arrived Wednesday in New Orleans, setting the stage for the all-women Krewe of Muses parade to roll tonight.
Muses kicks off a string of celebrity-studded parades leading up to Mardi Gras on Tuesday. The parades are held by individual krewes – social clubs that spend all year putting together the elaborate floats and costumes.
“I am so honored to be the lady leading all of this,” the New Orleans-born Clarkson said at the Windsor Court Hotel, where Muses krewe members draped her in beads. “This is how I want to wake up every day, to a jazz band and ladies with goodies and trinkets greeting me.”
The pop-rock band Maroon 5 rides with the Krewe of Endymion on Saturday night, comedian and actor Will Ferrell rides as king of Bacchus on Sunday night, and rocker Bret Michaels will join Grammy-winning singer Cyndi Lauper in Orpheus on Monday.
CNN cuts ties with Larry King
CNN and Larry King are going their separate ways. Though King gave up his daily prime-time talk show on CNN in December 2010, he still had a deal for several specials. The last of those – “A Larry King Special: Dinner With the Kings” – aired in December.
In a statement Wednesday, CNN said it had “the greatest respect for Larry,” and wished him “the best of luck with his new endeavors.” King added that he has nothing but love for CNN.
King, 78, was replaced by British media personality Piers Morgan.
Wallenda to fly across Niagara Falls
Daredevil Nik Wallenda is set to walk a 1,800 foot tightrope across Niagara Falls this summer, a feat the seventh-generation member of the famed Flying Wallendas said has been his childhood dream.
The Niagara Parks Commission, which months ago refused even to consider the idea, voted unanimously Wednesday to allow the walk. Wallenda has until the end of March to work out details of the walk.
The birthday bunch
Singer Patty Andrews is 94. Actor William Katt is 61. Rhythm-and-blues singer James Ingram is 60. Actor LeVar Burton is 55. Actor-rapper Ice-T is 54. Tennis hall of famer John McEnroe is 53. Rock musician Andy Taylor is 51. Rock musician Dave Lombardo (Slayer) is 47. Rock musician Taylor Hawkins (Foofighters) is 40. Actress Elizabeth Olsen is 23.