People: Politics makes strange relatives
Just when you thought you knew everything about the Democractic presidential candidates comes this bit of ancestral trivia:
Barack Obama is a ninth cousin of Brad Pitt, and Hillary Rodham Clinton is a ninth cousin, twice removed, to Pitt partner Angelina Jolie.
Those are among the findings from researchers at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, who also announced that, if you go back far enough:
“Obama can claim six U.S. presidents as cousins, including George W. Bush and his father, George H.W. Bush, along with Gerald Ford, Lyndon Johnson, Harry S. Truman and James Madison.
“Other Obama cousins include Vice President Dick Cheney, British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and Civil War General Robert E. Lee.
“Clinton also is a distant cousin of beatnik author Jack Kerouac; Camilla Parker-Bowles, wife of Prince Charles of England; and singers Madonna, Celine Dion and Alanis Morissette.
“You’d think with all that singing talent in the family she’d be able to carry a tune,” said senior Clinton adviser Philippe Reines.
Not-so-bon voyage
Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora was arrested late Tuesday for investigation of DUI after Laguna Beach, Calif., authorities noticed his black Hummer weaving in traffic lanes.
Sambora, the ex-husband of actress Heather Locklear, is a founding member of the band.
For whom the bells toll
Among the latest developments on the celebrity matrimonial front:
“Comedian Robin Williams and his wife, Marsha Garces Williams, are calling it quits after nearly 19 years of marriage. They met when she worked as a nanny for his son, Zachary, by a previous marriage.
“Country singer Sara Evans, who went through a bitter divorce last year that caused her to pull out of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” is engaged to former University of Alabama quarterback Jay Barker.
“Britney Spears‘ pregnant 16-year-old sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, reportedly is set to marry longtime boyfriend Casey Aldridge. An anonymous source tells People.com she’s been flashing an engagement ring.
K-fed and clothed
Britney ex Kevin Federline says he’s been on full-time daddy duty since getting custody of their two toddler sons – Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 18 months – early this year.
“I spend most of the day chasing my kids around the house,” he tells In Touch Weekly. “Their needs define my schedule every day.”
He could’ve been KIA
Celebrity chef Paul Prudhomme was grazed in the arm by a falling bullet Tuesday while setting up his cooking tent at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans golf event.
“He thought it was a bee sting,” a police spokesman said of the owner of K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen. “Within five minutes, he was back to doing his thing.”
The birthday bunch
Actor Michael York is 66. Director Quentin Tarantino is 45. Singer Mariah Carey is 38. Actress Elizabeth Mitchell (“Lost”) is 38. Singer Fergie (Black Eyed Peas) is 33. Actress Taylor Atelian (“According to Jim”) is 13.