Billy Graham makes Most Admired list for 58th time
For a record 58th time, evangelist Billy Graham has made the Gallup Poll’s annual list of the men Americans most admire.
The 96-year-old Graham, who rarely leaves his North Carolina home anymore, tied with former President George W. Bush at No. 4 in the 2014 list of the most admired men.
Leading that list, for the seventh year in a row, was President Barack Obama.
The most admired woman, meanwhile, was former Secretary of State – and likely 2016 presidential candidate – Hillary Clinton. She has now led that list 17 times in 18 years. (Former first lady Laura Bush took the top spot in 2001.)
Most Admired Women: Hillary Clinton (12 percent mentioned her); Oprah Winfrey (8 percent); Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan (6 percent); Condoleezza Rice (4 percent); Michelle Obama (3 percent); Angelina Jolie (2 percent); Sarah Palin (2 percent); Princess Kate (2 percent); Sen. Elizabeth Warren (1 percent); and Laura Bush (1 percent).
Most Admired Men: Obama (19 percent); Pope Francis (6 percent); Bill Clinton (3 percent); the Rev. Billy Graham (2 percent); George W. Bush (2 percent); surgeon Ben Carson (1 percent); Stephen Hawking (1 percent); Bill Gates (1 percent); Bill O’Reilly (1 percent); Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (1 percent); and Russian President Vladimir Putin (1 percent).
Renner’s wife files for divorce
Model Sonni Pacheco has filed for divorce from actor-husband Jeremy Renner after 10 months of marriage, according to court documents filed in Los Angeles.
The petition cites irreconcilable differences as the reason for the separation. Pacheco, in the petition, also seeks return of her stolen passport, birth certificate and Social Security card, as well as invalidation of their prenuptial agreement based on fraud.
Pacheco and Renner have one child, Ava Berlin Renner, who is 20 months old. The two wed in secret on Jan. 13, 2014, and only confirmed their union to the press in September.
Chris Brown cancels New Year’s show
American recording artist Chris Brown canceled a New Year’s Eve concert in the Philippines at the last minute, reportedly because of a lost passport. Brown tweeted that “Due to unfortunate circumstances I can’t bring in the new year with you.”
The organizers, Maligaya Development Corp., said they were informed by Brown’s local representatives Wednesday afternoon that he was still in Los Angeles.
Brown was set to perform along with other musical acts at the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena in the New Year’s Eve concert.
The birthday bunch
Actor Frank Langella is 77. Rock singer-musician Country Joe McDonald is 73. Writer-comedian Don Novello is 72. Rapper Grandmaster Flash is 57. Actor Verne Troyer is 46.