People: Madonna releases six songs after leak
In a surprise preview of her new album, Madonna released six songs Saturday on iTunes and various streaming services.
The songs were released because several in-progress demos were leaked earlier this week, publicist Liz Rosenberg said.
Madonna said in a statement that she had wanted to wait until a different holiday season.
“I was hoping to release my new single ‘Living For Love’ on Valentine’s Day with the rest of the album coming in the spring,” she said. “I would prefer my fans to hear completed versions of some of the songs instead of the incomplete tracks that are circulating. Please consider these six songs as an early Christmas gift.”
Songs available Saturday also include the plaintive, anti-drug “Devil Pray”; the secretive, name-checking dance track “Illuminati”; and a duet with Nicki Minaj, “B—-h I’m Madonna.”
The full album, “Rebel Heart,” is Madonna’s 13th and is set for release in March. Producers include Madonna, Diplo and Kanye West.
Dog adoption telethon encouraging
Producers say more than 4,400 people filed adoption papers for homeless dogs during “Cause for Paws: An All-Star Dog Spectacular,” billed as the first all-star dog adoption telethon.
Executive Producer Michael Levitt said it would be huge even if only half the applications result in adoptions. Levitt also said he thinks anyone who watched the show would strongly consider a rescue next time they get a dog.
Seventy dogs from rescues across the country were featured on the two-hour Thanksgiving night telecast. More than 4 million people tuned in to the program, co-hosted by actresses Hilary Swank and Jane Lynch on the Fox Network.
Ferguson wraps up ‘Late Late’ gig
Craig Ferguson will spend tomorrow’s future yesterdays (as his theme song proclaims) somewhere other than “The Late Late Show.” Friday was his last hoorah after a decade as host of the CBS talk show.
Ferguson’s going-away party featured former “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno as his sole guest.
“Just two guys with nothing to do,” summed up Ferguson.
Ferguson’s send-off followed by a day the splashy exit of Stephen Colbert and his series “The Colbert Report” from Comedy Central after nine years on the air. Colbert is headed to CBS to take over “Late Show” from David Letterman, who retires May 20.
Taking Ferguson’s place as host of “The Late Late Show”: British actor-writer-comedian James Corden, who debuts March 23.
Now 52, the Scottish-born Ferguson came to “The Late Late Show” in January 2005. Ferguson will continue as host of “Celebrity Name Game,” a weekday syndicated game show launched this fall.
The birthday bunch
Country singer Freddie Hart is 88. Talk show host Phil Donahue is 79. Actress Jane Fonda is 77. Actor Samuel L. Jackson is 66. Movie producer Jeffrey Katzenberg is 64. Actor-comedian Ray Romano is 57. Actor-comedian Andy Dick is 49. Actor Kiefer Sutherland is 48. Actress Karri Turner is 48. Actress Khrystyne Haje is 46.