Judd savors Senate talk, but itch unclear
Actress Ashley Judd isn’t ruling out a run for U.S. Senate in Kentucky. The former Kentuckian is an active supporter of Tennessee Democrats. She said in a statement Friday that she’s honored to be mentioned as a potential candidate, but she sidestepped the question of whether she would get into the race.
“I cherish Kentucky, heart and soul, and while I’m very honored by the consideration, we have just finished an election, so let’s focus on coming together to keep moving America’s families, and especially our kids, forward,” she said.
Judd lives in Tennessee and would have to re-establish a residence in Kentucky before she could challenge Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell in his 2014 re-election bid. No Democrats have stepped forward to challenge McConnell, a political powerhouse who already has $6.8 million in the bank for his re-election.
Victims of Sandy get help from Ray
Rachael Ray is donating $500,000 to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to help pets and families who are struggling to rebound from Superstorm Sandy.
The Emmy-winning chef said Friday that her pet food brand, Nutrish, is also shipping 4 tons of wet and dry dog food for Sandy animals, and her Yum-o! organization is donating $100,000 to City Harvest and the Food Bank for New York City.
“When you make your living in food, you have to give back in the same way,” said the host of “Rachael Ray,” the syndicated CBS Television show.
That’s now Sir Kenneth, thank you
Kenneth Branagh, who has played royalty on stage and screen, has been made a real-life knight by Queen Elizabeth II.
The British actor, best known as a Shakespearean actor and as TV detective “Wallander,” said he was pleased to be honored in the year of the queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics. He said that “it’s been a hell of a year for the U.K. and I feel very honored to be a tiny part of it.”
Belfast-born Branagh was knighted at a Buckingham Palace ceremony Friday for services to drama and for his charity work in Northern Ireland.
The birthday bunch
Actor Russell Johnson is 88. Country singer Donna Fargo is 71. Rock singer-musician Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake and Palmer) is 65. Actress-dancer Ann Reinking is 63. Actor-comedian Sinbad is 56. Actress Mackenzie Phillips is 53. Actor-comedian Tracy Morgan is 44. Actress Ellen Pompeo is 43. Country singer Miranda Lambert is 29. Actress Mackenzie Foy is 12.