Suppose that Simon made Kelly change her tune?
IT’S OFFICIAL: Contestants in the new season of “American Idol” can sing Kelly Clarkson songs after all. Earlier this week, representatives for Clarkson, the first-season “Idol” winner, said she was not allowing any of her material to be licensed for use on “Idol,” or anywhere else for that matter.
That led to a sharp rebuke from “Idol” judge Simon Cowell: “It’s the public who bothered to pick up the phone to vote for her. If she refuses to give songs to be used on the show, it’s like saying to every person who voted for you, ‘You know what? Thank you. I’m not interested in you anymore.’ “
Subsequently, Clarkson’s people said they would negotiate the use of her songs in the show on a “case-by-case basis.”
Clarkson has become a major star in the past year with her hit “Since U Been Gone.” Her album “Breakaway” is up for a Grammy next month.
Tuesday’s fifth-season “Idol” opener had the highest ratings of any premiere episode yet, attracting an estimated 35.5 million viewers. It was the most-watched entertainment program of the TV season so far.
Double feature
Holly Hunter, who voiced the role of superhero mom Helen Parr in “The Incredibles,” will have some practical experience to draw on if there’s a sequel.
The 47-year-old actress has given birth to twins, the first children for her and her partner, actor Gordon MacDonald, People magazine reported.
Name branded
A judge Thursday granted a request by Angelina Jolie to change the names of her two adopted children to reflect that Brad Pitt intends to become their adoptive father.
The names of the children will become Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt and Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt. Zahara, from Ethiopia, celebrated her first birthday on Jan. 8. Maddox, a boy from Cambodia, is 4.
Neither Jolie nor Pitt, who are expecting a child of their own this summer, attended the hearing.
Small French fry?
Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe and his wife are reportedly expecting their second child – and the mayor of a small French town wants to make the baby an honorary citizen.
The mayor of Bonnieux, a hilltop village in southern France where Crowe shot parts of “A Good Year” last fall, was delighted to hear Crowe’s announcement at Monday’s Golden Globe awards that the baby was conceived there.
“I think that … the very pleasant and warm atmosphere in the south of France might have helped give them the necessary inspiration,” Mayor Roger Fenelon said.
“It would give us great pleasure if one day, during a trip to France, they stop by Bonnieux so we can make their baby an honorary citizen,” he added.
Golden oldie
Reese Witherspoon reportedly was none too pleased to find out that the glittery Chanel cocktail dress she wore to the Golden Globes had actually been worn at the ceremony before, by Kirsten Dunst in 2003.
The fashion house, which had initially described the dress as “vintage,” later apologized for “the oversight.”
At least Witherspoon was soothed a bit by winning the Globe for best actress in a musical or comedy.
The birthday bunch
Singer Slim Whitman is 82. Actress Patricia Neal is 80. Comedian Arte Johnson is 77. Director David Lynch is 60. Guitarist Paul Stanley (Kiss) is 54. TV personality Bill Maher is 50. Actor Lorenzo Lamas is 48. Actor James Denton (“Desperate Housewives”) is 43. Country singer John Michael Montgomery is 41.