Sideshow: Aretha at 69 proves she's still divine
Aretha Franklin proved her voice is still divine at 69 as she gave a brief but rousing performance at a swank birthday party in her honor.
Aretha Franklin proved her voice is still divine at 69 as she gave a brief but rousing performance at a swank birthday party in her honor.
Tony Bennett, Smokey Robinson, music mogul Clive Davis, Bette Midler, and Gayle King were among the celebrities on hand to pay tribute to the Queen of Soul at a late-night birthday party at a Central Park hotel Friday.
"It's a fabulous moment," Franklin said. More than 100 friends and family gathered to celebrate Franklin, who just a few months ago underwent surgery for an ailment she has declined to disclose. At the party, Franklin seemed full of energy, greeting guests and dancing to the music.
Box office
A wimpy kid delivered a knockout punch to a band of warrior vixens at the weekend box office. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules debuted as the No. 1 movie with $24.4 million, while the girl-power action fantasy Sucker Punch opened at No. 2 with $19 million.
The previous weekend's top movie, Relativity Media's sci-fi thriller Limitless, slipped to third with $15.2 million, raising its total to $41.3 million.
Letterman, Fey hailed
David Letterman and Tina Fey were among the laugh-getters honored Saturday night at the first Comedy Awards in New York.
At the presentation held by Comedy Central, Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) and Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live) won as best comedy actor and actress in television. Fey (Date Night) and Zach Galifianakis (Dinner for Schmucks) netted best comedy actress and actor in film honors. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart won for best late-night comedy series, and Letterman received the night's highest honor as the first recipient of the Johnny Carson Award for Comedic Excellence.