People in the News

Sullenberger to lead Rose Parade

PASADENA, Calif. - Hero pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger has been named the grand marshal of the 121st Tournament of Roses parade.

Sullenberger will ride a flower-festooned float in the New Years' Day parade, themed "2010: A Cut Above The Rest."

He'll also toss the coin before the 96th Rose Bowl Game hosted by Citi, which will feature two of the top college football teams in the country.

Brown 'had no soul in his eyes'

NEW YORK - Rihanna today described the horror she felt as her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown was biting and punching her during a violent argument in February, saying she saw "no soul in his eyes."

"There was no person when I looked at him," the 21-year-old singer recalled during the second installment of an interview airing on ABC's "Good Morning America." "He had no soul in his eyes. Just blank."

Brown was arrested Feb. 8, hours after he was accused of beating Rihanna after the two argued over a text message he had gotten from another woman. He later pleaded guilty to felony assault.

In the interview, Rihanna, who is no longer with Brown, described him as "definitely my first big love." She said their relationship was intense.

Elton John resuming tour dates

LONDON - Elton John has been released from a London hospital after being treated for flu and an E. coli bacterial infection.

The singer's spokesman Gary Farrow said John was at home today and was feeling fine. He left the hospital early yesterday.

He says John planned to resume his suspended tour and would play scheduled U.S. dates with Billy Joel starting in Oakland, California on Nov. 14.

Stars screen film in Big Easy

NEW ORLEANS - Actors Tom Hanks, Patricia Clarkson and James Cromwell walked the red carpet last night before a private screening of the Hanks-produced war film "Beyond All Boundaries" held at the World War II Museum in New Orleans.

The film, which includes "4-D" elements such as props and shaking seats, opens to the public today and will be shown exclusively at the museum's new Victory Theater. The theater is part of the museum's $300 million expansion project that will continue through 2015.

'Golden Girl' has bypass surgery

LOS ANGELES - Rue McClanahan, 75, who played sexy Southern belle Blanche Devereaux on "The Golden Girls," was recovering today from heart bypass surgery at a New York City hospital.

The surgery took place Wednesday and went "very, very well," said friend and colleague Del Shores. "She's going to be great and up and entertaining us all very shortly."

Freeman settles suit on car wreck

JACKSON, Miss. - Morgan Freeman has settled a lawsuit related to a 2008 car accident that seriously injured him and a passenger, according to court records posted yesterday. Terms of the settlement were not released.

Demaris Meyer filed a federal lawsuit against the Academy Award-winning actor in February, claiming Freeman had been drinking the night of the accident last summer and was negligent when the car ran off the side of a rural highway near his Mississippi Delta home.

Lansbury to get Sondheim award

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Actress Angela Lansbury will be the first recipient of the Stephen Sondheim Award from a Washington-area theater that has produced more of the composer's works than any other U.S. theater.

Signature Theatre announced yesterday that it will honor Lansbury, 84, in April at a gala celebration and fundraising event for the Arlington, Va., theater.

Midler has end date for Vegas show

LAS VEGAS - Bette Midler will perform her Las Vegas show "The Showgirl Must Go On" for the last time on Jan. 31.

Midler's show has had a home for nearly two years at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. She said in a statement yesterday that her run has been fabulous. She thanks both Caesars Palace and AEG Live for "the best partnership a showgirl could imagine." "The Showgirl Must Go On" runs from Nov. 7-15 and Dec. 30-Jan. 31. There are no performances on Mondays, Thursdays and some Fridays.

Today's birthdays

Director Mike Nichols is 78. Actress Sally Field is 63. Actor Ethan Hawke is 39. Actress Thandie Newton is 37. Model-actress Rebecca Romijn is 37. Actress Emma Stone is 21.