People: She’s one of the lucky stars
The Material Girl is a Hall of Famer.
Madonna was announced as a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee on Thursday along with John Mellencamp, The Ventures, Leonard Cohen and The Dave Clark Five.
A panel of 600 industry figures selected the five acts to be inducted at the annual ceremony, to be held March 10 in New York.
From rosaries and bare midriffs to cone-shaped bras, Madonna Louise Ciccone‘s reinvention of herself has been as prolific as her chart dominance, which included seven No. 1 hits and three No. 1 albums in the ‘80s alone.
Mellencamp hit the scene as John Cougar in the early ‘80s with “Jack and Diane” and “Hurts So Good.”
He later became John Cougar Mellencamp – and the voice of America’s heartland – with hits like “Pink Houses” and “Small Town.”
Cohen went from acclaimed poet to folk rock icon with “Suzanne” in the late 1960s.
The Ventures defined instrumental guitar rock in the ‘60s with surfer anthems like “Walk Don’t Run,” and The Dave Clark Five were one of the most successful British invasion bands with “Glad All Over.”
Madonna with child, for good
Speaking of Madonna, In Touch Weekly reports that she and direcor hubby Guy Ritchie have received the government of Malawi’s blessings in their bid to adopt 2-year-old David Banda for good.
Madonna has been David’s foster mother since October 2006, when she took him from an African orphanage.
“This is the best Christmas gift (Madonna has) ever received,” an anonymous “pal” told the magazine.
Still living in sin
“Sin City” star Jessica Alba and her producer boyfriend, Cash Warren, are expecting a baby in late spring or early summer.
Alba, 26, met Warren on the set of “The Fantastic Four” in 2004.
No double dribble?
Actress Eva Longoria (“Desperate Housewives”) and her husband, pro basketball star Tony Parker, have issued a statement denying a French model’s claims that she had an affair with Parker in September.
Alexandra Paressant made the allegations in an interview with celebrity gossip Web site X17.
Ring of truth
Songbird Patti LaBelle says she was once offered Paula Abdul‘s judging job on “American Idol” but turned it down because she didn’t want to be mean.
“I didn’t want to be someone giving bad news by saying ‘You didn’t make it,’ ” LaBelle tells Newsweek.
Not so idyllic
Meanwhile, former “Saturday Night Live” writer Tina Fey has less than fond memories of the time Paula Abdul was guest host.
“She was awful,” Fey tells Playboy. “I remember thinking, ‘She’s a disaster! I gotta prop this lady up and get her on TV.’ “
The birthday bunch
Jazz trumpeter Clark Terry is 87. Actor Hal Williams (“227,” “Sanford and Son”) is 69. Actress Patty Duke is 61. Actress Cynthia Gibb (“Fame”) is 44.