Top ten celebrity stories of the week

Donna Summer dies, aged 63

Disco diva Donna Summer, born LaDonna Adrian Gaines in Massachusetts in 1948, has died at the age of 63 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Summer’s era-defining hits included Hot Stuff, Bad Girls, She Works Hard For The Money, and the seminal and influential I Feel Love. She released 17 studio albums, after beginning her career as a backing singer, and won five Grammy Awards in the course of her career.

Among celebrities paying tribute was Sir Elton John, who has criticised the lack of respect Summer was shown by the music industry during her lifetime, saying: “Her records sound as good today as they ever did. That she has never been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a total disgrace, especially when I see the second-rate talent that has been inducted.’

Jennifer Lopez named Most Powerful Celebrity 2012

Who’d have thought lil’ ole Jenny from the block would top the Forbes World’s Most Powerful Celebrities List? The rocks that she got these days come courtesy of a $20 million fee for being a judge on American Idol, plus a resurrected pop career and a seemingly limitless capacity for launching fragrances named after herself.

Last year’s number one Lady Gaga fell to fifth position this year, with her earnings having nosedived from $90 million in 2010 to $52 million last year, proving times are tough for us all.

Also in the top ten are Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian (thanks to that lucrative/heartbreaking 72-day marriage) and Rihanna, while Brits in the 100-strong list include Kate Moss, JK Rowling, David Beckham, Simon Cowell and Adele.

Jack White vs. The Guinness Book of Records

The White Stripes musician has called The Guinness Book of World Records “elitist”, claiming they refused him the record for shortest concert, for a 2007 one-note, one cymbal-clash performance.

Despite the fact that the books compilers have responded thusly: “The White Stripes were in fact recognized in the 2009 edition of the Guinness World Records book for the shortest music concert ever when, on July 16 2007, they played just one note at St John’s in Newfoundland, Canada”, adding that the category had merely been scrapped since then, White has vowed to make it into the book’s pages, announcing this week that he plans to break the record for “most metaphors in a single concert”.

White acknowledges the challenge ahead, saying: “The attempt may prove very exhausting and at times even dangerous, but the results could prove to be glorious and possibly even vainglorious. We are certain that the extremely scientific and intricate analysis of the metaphors that occur will be examined in accordance with Guinness’ usually very thorough methods probably, or at the very least if somebody answers the phone at the pub.”

Lady Gaga banned from playing Indonesia

Gaga has been denied a permit for a concert scheduled for 3 June in the capital Jakarta, after Islamic group The Islamic Defenders Front stated that they opposed her “vulgar” style and claimed she is “the devil’s messenger” and is intent on “satanic teaching.” Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world at 202.9 million, 88 per cent of the total population.

Gaga’s tour promoters Big Daddy took to Twitter to reassure her famously rabidly devoted fans, also known as Little Monsters, that they are “still fighting” and urged them to be patient.

Kelly Preston releases Mother’s Day video in midst of John Travolta sexual assault claims

With a fifth man coming forward this week with claims of sexual assault against Travolta, everyone’s second favourite celebrity Scientologist still found time to make a Mother’s Day video for wife Kelly Preston which, in a totally spontaneous move, she posted on her website this week. Preston said she “loved it so much that I wanted to share it with all of you.”

Two male masseurs initially filed claims of sexual battery against Travolta in US federal court, and although both have now withdrawn those claims, both have also hired celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred who has said: “We believe that the lawsuit should be filed in another court.”

The first accuser has been widely discredited after saying he got the date of the alleged assault wrong, when it was found Travolta had been in New York on the day he alleged the incident took place in Beverley Hills.

Britney Spears revealed as US X factor judge

Spears was named this week by Simon Cowell as the fourth judge in a line up that includes Cowell, producer LA Reid and Disney princess Demi Lovato.

Her appointment had to be sanctioned by an actual judge, as Spears is still under the conservatorship that was imposed following a very public breakdown. Spears’ fee for the gig will be $15 million, beating the $10 million Christina Aguilera is paid for her judging role on rival show The Voice.

Prince Harry to join Gary Barlow in recording Jubilee Song

The party prince is to follow in the illustrious footsteps of The Happy Mondays’ Bez, becoming the most famous member of a musical group to play a minimal role within it, by playing tambourine on Gary Barlow’s commemorative Jubilee Song, which will also feature actual musicians from around the Commonwealth, including artists from Jamaica, Australia, Kenya and the Solomon Islands, as well as the Military Wives.

Aishwarya Rai criticised in Indian media for post-pregnancy weight

In a heart-warming display of female solidarity, online commenters in India have criticised Rai, Bollywood’s biggest star and a former Miss World, for having failed to lose all traces of pregnancy weight a whole seven months after giving birth to her daughter.

Rai, who is in Cannes this week representing L’Oréal, is currently the subject of discussion in her home country over whether she has an obligation to her fans to lose the weight, after pictures of her with her new baby showed her with a double chin.

The debate was sparked after an online video entitled ‘Aishwarya Rai’s shocking weight gain’, complete with elephant sound effects, received more than half a million hits and comments including: “She is a Bollywood actress and it is her duty to look good and fit,” and “She needs to learn from people like Victoria Beckham who are back to size zero weeks after their delivery.”

Jackie Chan announces retirement from action movies

The 58-year-old actor announced at the Cannes film festival that his latest Hollywood movie and his 100th film, Chinese Zodiac, would be his last action role, citing a distaste for violence among his reasons.

He said: “I’m not young any more. I’m really, really tired. And the world is too violent right now. It’s a dilemma - I like action but I don’t like violence.”

Chan has no plans to give up acting altogether, saying he’d like to move into more serious roles as “an Asian Robert De Niro.” He began his career as a stuntman on Bruce Lee films, and is known for performing all his own stunts in his own films.

Kerry Katona to open rehab centre

Katona, who has said that at one point cocaine was her best friend, has started a boot camp-style rehab scheme. The reality star claims that exercise was the key to her own recovery from drug addiction, saying: “I went to boot camp and the first time I turned up there as high as a kite. A week-and-a-half through it, it was like coming out of a coma, the fog being lifted. Silly as this sounds, exercise changed my life. It was the first time I had a natural high.”

She now wants others to feel the same benefits, and is reportedly keen to work with the NHS on her project.

Katona is also keen to start an acting career, or as she sees it, continue one, saying: “People don’t realise how much acting I’ve done. I was in a comedy drama Showbands, which was only shown in Ireland, and obviously there’s the Iceland adverts.”