Sideshow: Randy Travis still critical; reps deny heart surgery

Randy Travis remained in critical condition at an unidentified Dallas hospital on Tuesday, two days after he was admitted for viral cardiomyopathy, an infection of the heart muscle, NBC reports.

"We are very thankful to the fans for their love and support during this time," Travis' reps said in a statement.

Travis' people denied recent reports that the 54-year-old country superstar had undergone heart surgery. The reports cited his sister-in-law, Teresa Traywick, confirming Travis had surgery.

"Contrary to reports, Randy Travis has not undergone heart surgery," reps said in a statement. Travis did undergo one procedure, "placement of an Impella peripheral left ventricular assist device for stabilization prior to transferring hospitals," the statement said.

Randy Travis' fans and friends are turning to Twitter to offer prayers and support. "Thinking about my friend, @randytravis, tonight. Hope he gets better soon," writes Carrie Underwood.

Keith Urban tweets, "Sending healing strength and love to you this morning."

Tracy Lawrence says, "Sending a get well message out to my buddy @randytravis tonight."

It'll be a big day at the White House Wednesday. The Guy Who Lives There will be passing out the National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal while Michelle Obama looks on and wonders why he can't dance. It's a glittering list, with some great locals. Among National Medal of Arts honorees are music man Herb Alpert, unearthly chanteuse Renee Fleming, filmmaker George Lucas, funnylady Elaine May, writer Ernest J. Gaines, playwright Tony Kushner, and music great Allen Toussaint. Two Philly wonders are here: landscape architect Laurie Olin and Philadanco founder Joan Myers Brown (see stories on Page One).

Among the 2012 National Humanities Medal winners are urban photog Camilo José Vergara, whose work has appeared in The Inquirer; former Princeton scholar Natalie Zemon Davis; sports opinionator Frank Deford, writers Joan Didion and Marilynne Robinson; wonderful, wonderful poet Kay Ryan; Bowling Alone sociologist Robert Putnam; and actor-writer Anna Deavere Smith. What a stellar bunch!

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Northeast Philly's Val Keil has caught the Los Angeles bug: The MaST Community Charter School alumna is settling down in the City of Angels to pursue a modeling career.

It ain't a pipe dream: Val has been named Playboy's Playmate of the Month in the mag's July/August double issue.

"I never want to go back" home, Val, 22, says in a phone chat. "I love Philadelphia, but it's been so much fun out here."

Val was discovered when she sent the mag a series of pics. "They flew me out to Los Angeles and I stayed a week at Hugh Hefner's mansion," she says. "It was awesome to be there."

Val hasn't forsaken us for good. She'll be in town this weekend to sign autographs at one of her old haunts, Reedy's Tavern at 9245 Frankford Ave., on Saturday from 2 to 10 p.m.

Eldest Jonas Brothers bro Kevin and his wife Danielle are expecting their first baby, the star tells E! News. "It's been the most exciting thing in my life so far," he says. . . . A Manhattan Criminal Court judge on Tuesday ordered Amanda Bynes to return to court Sept. 26 in her bong-tossing case. Bynes showed up to court wearing an aqua-blue wig. The new date was set when prosecution refrained from offering a plea deal to the somewhat attractive walking disaster. . . . Even Nicki Minaj must grow up some day. "I want to be a mom one day," the rapper tells Marie Claire, "and I want to start becoming the woman who I want to parent my child." . . . Nick Cannon on Tuesday told the Today show his wife Mariah Carey was in real pain after dislocating her shoulder Sunday while filming her "#Beautiful" video. She will recover.