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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Richie’s reality coming to TV show

From Wire Reports

Nicole Richie is going back to reality.

The former star of “The Simple Life” with her childhood bestie Paris Hilton headlines her own show “Candidly Nicole” debuting Thursday on VH1.

The eight 30-minute episodes are based on Richie’s AOL online web series of the same name. Richie created the show and is an executive producer, calling the shots in a way she never did during the five-year run of “The Simple Life” early in the last decade or as a mentor on “Fashion Star.”

The 32-year-old designer, who runs her House of Harlow 1960 fashion line, includes her singer-father Lionel Richie and her 15-year-old stepsister Sofia in the new project.

Brooks keeping tight rein on e-music

Garth Brooks is finally embracing digital music, but he’s doing it his own way.

Brooks, one of the last holdout big-name musicians still refusing to put his music on iTunes, said he will make his back catalog of hits and his new music available for download, but only through his own website. He said the digital downloads of previous music would be available in a few weeks to tide fans over until a new album comes out later this year.

The 52-year-old country star remains one of music’s top-selling artists, with 134 million albums sold, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. He has said in the past that he had no animosity toward Apple, but disagreed with its approach to selling music.

“So, we’ll be doing our digital the best way we can, the only way we know how, because we are the only ones who kind of play our own way,” Brooks said at a press conference Thursday in Nashville.

He also announced a new deal with the Sony Music label, which will put out an album of his first new music since 2001. Brooks said it would likely be issued sometime around Black Friday. The first city on his tour will be announced on July 15, according to Sony.

Brown drops out of New Edition tour

Bobby Brown is leaving a reunion tour with the group New Edition to focus on his health.

A spokeswoman for the R&B group said group members Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant wish the 45-year-old singer a speedy recovery. No other details were provided.

Brown was seen struggling to keep up with fellow New Edition members during a dance routine before leaving the stage in a video posted online of the group’s July 2 show in Southaven, Mississippi.

The birthday bunch

Comedian Bill Cosby is 77. Singer-musician Christine McVie is 71. Actress Denise Nicholas is 70. Fitness guru Richard Simmons is 66. Actor Jay Thomas is 66. Actress Cheryl Ladd is 63. Gospel singer Sandi Patty is 58. Actress Mel Harris is 58. Actor Topher Grace is 36. Country singer-musician Kimberly Perry (The Band Perry) is 31.