Katy Perry (Sort Of) Steals Spotlight at Bruce Springsteen Pre-Grammy Tribute

By Patrick Gomez and Marisa Laudadio

02/09/2013 at 11:45 AM EST

Katy Perry at the MusiCares Person of the Year gala

Lester Cohen/WireImage

It may have been a tribute to Bruce Springsteen but Katy Perry seemed to be the main attraction for some at Friday's MusiCares Person of the Year tribute at the Los Angeles Convention Center before Sunday's Grammy Awards.

The singer, who arrived at the charity event which raises money for musicians in need sans beau John Mayer, was interrupted by two young fans who asked to take a picture with her as she was talking to director J.J. Abrams. But that wasn't all: the pop star, who later hung out with Elton John, was approached by even more fans in the lobby at the show.

Other MusiCares attendees included Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, who arrived hand-in-hand before the dinner began. (McGraw and Hill later performed "Tougher Than the Rest" during the concert.)

As for the man of the hour, when the auction slowed The Boss offered up the ultimate prize: himself.

While composer David Foster urged the crowd to bid on a guitar signed live by many of the music stars in attendance, Springsteen grabbed the mic himself and threw in a few very personal extras to amp up the bidding.

First, he offered a one-hour guitar lesson and a ride in the sidecar of his Harley Davidson. Next, he added eight tickets to an E Street Band show of the bidder's choice, plus backstage passes and a backstage tour he promised to conduct personally.

"So dig in you one-percenters," he urged the audience with a smile. Springsteen raised the winning bid to a whopping $250,000 by making it a family affair, promising to also include "a lasagna made by my mother!"

Auction winner Tracey Powell, a "full-time mom," was so thrilled that she ran to Springsteen and kissed him on the lips – twice!

"I'm a Jersey girl and that's why I did it," Powell, who now lives in California, tells PEOPLE of her generous bid. "He's an amazing musician and I've followed him for years. Plus it was for an amazing cause that I'm so happy to support."

Jon Stewart hosted the evening's entertainment, a the Springsteen tribute concert that featured artists Elton John, Mumford & Sons, Sting, Neil Young (who sang "Born in the USA"), John Legend, Natalie Maines, Ben Harper, Emmylou Harris, Kenny Chesney and others, who performed some of Springsteen's classics.

John Legend performing at the MusiCares pre-Grammy tribute to Bruce Springsteen

For more behind-the-scenes photos of your favorite stars, follow @peoplemag on Instagram.

Read More..

Mariska Hargitay Loves Her Curves from Motherhood

By Andrea Billups

02/08/2013 at 11:15 AM EST

Mariska Hargitay

Courtesy Ladies Home Journal

Motherhood and the perspective of age have helped Mariska Hargitay become a more confident – and fulfilled – woman and actress.

The longtime Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star, 49, answered candid questions about life and aging from readers for the Ladies' Home Journal's March cover story, on newsstands Feb. 12.

"I love my curves because they scream, 'I'm a mama!' I'm the girl who started wearing maternity pants about an hour after I found out I was pregnant because I was so excited about becoming a mom " Hargitay, a mother of three, happily offers, noting that while she runs to stay fit, it's carrying toddlers up the stairs in her home that now add strength training to her daily workouts.

While her late mother, the actress Jayne Mansfield, was known for her vavoom pin-up body, Hargitay eschews that sexualized image, saying women should not be defined by their shapes.

"There's this picture of her in a director's chair with her measurements on the back: 40-21-35. When I look at that picture part of me says, 'Mom, I love your sense of humor.' But the other part of me says, 'No, your name is supposed to go there. Your body is not who you are," says Hargitay who lost her famous mom at age 3 and who was raised by her father and stepmother.

"I don't think women should label themselves based on the way they look," Hargitay says. "What about defining yourself by a different kind of measurement? What about your heart, your soul, your compassion, your generosity, your strength, and your power? There are so many other things to focus on besides your waistline."

She confesses: "Some days having that extra bowl of pasta and a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup means more to me than being thin."

Although she was raised to look natural – her late father, bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay, didn't like makeup – Hargitay says she supports any woman who might consider plastic surgery to freshen their appearance and make them feel better about themselves. For now, she is happily embracing her age.

"Things are sagging a bit – I'm not going to lie. But am I going to be upset about the sag or am I going to look at my three gorgeous kids and my husband and count my lucky stars?" she says. " I try to focus on who I am rather than who I'm not."

Read More..

Cam Gigandet Welcomes a Son - Rekker Radley

Mom & Babies
Celebrity Baby Blog

02/07/2013 at 11:00 AM ET

Pacific Coast News

It’s a boy!

Cam Gigandet and his fiancée Dominique Geisendorff welcomed their second child on Wednesday, Jan. 23, his rep confirms to JustJared.com.

Son Rekker Radley Gigandet, who weighed in at 9 lbs. 9 oz., joins the couple’s daughter Everleigh Rae, 3½.

“All are happy and healthy,” the actor’s rep says in a statement.

Gigandet, 30, and Geisendorff confirmed that they were expanding their family in July.

The new dad has a number of upcoming films set for release later this year, including Red Sky, Free Ride, Johnson, In the Blood, One Square Mile and Plush.

– Anya Leon

Read More..

Nate Berkus Told His Dad That He Was Born Gay - It Wasn't a Choice

Design star Nate Berkus says gaining his father's trust and respect as he explained that he was born gay – and it wasn't a choice – changed their relationship and helped him move forward in his life.

Berkus, speaking candidly to his mentor, Oprah Winfrey on her Super Soul Sunday series, opened up in a two-part interview, sharing the emotional moments that came with discussing his sexuality.

"I asked my father: 'Do you trust me? Do you respect me? Do you think I'm smart?' He said, 'Yes,' " Berkus, 41, tells Winfrey.

"I said, 'Why would I choose to make my life more difficult – why would anyone choose to make their life more difficult? Do you think I would choose to have this hair? Do you think that I would choose to be 5'9"? I would have been 6'1". It's the exact same thing. The truth of the matter is being gay is the way I was born. I believe this to the core of my being.' "

Berkus continued: "I said, 'Dad, we are never going to have a real relationship if you don’t believe me.' He said, 'If you say you are born this way, and you didn't have a choice, then we are good.' That was really the moment. Then, I knew if I had this base level of respect that I could move forward."

The Chicago-based interior designer, whose latest book is The Things That Matter, rose to national prominence after he was invited in 2002 to do a makeover on a space for The Oprah Winfrey Show, where he become a frequent and charismatic guest. He was later given his own program, The Nate Berkus Show, which aired from 2010 to 2012.

Berkus also speaks to Oprah about the death of his longtime partner, Fernando Bengoechea, who was swept away from the beach resort where the couple was vacationing during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

The show, Oprah & Nate Berkus, The Things That Matter, will air on Feb. 10 and Feb. 17 on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

Read More..

Kate Winslet Shows Off Her Wedding Ring From Ned Rocknroll

Stylewatch
Style News Now

02/05/2013 at 11:22 AM ET

Bauer-Griffin

When Kate Winslet married Ned Rocknroll in December, she got a killer new family name — and it turns out the ring that came with it isn’t half-bad either!

While grocery shopping in Hampshire, England, the actress, 37, gave the first glimpse of her engagement ring since Rocknroll, 34, proposed last summer — plus the wedding band she received from him in early December. It appears to be a simple yellow-gold setting with a solitaire stone and a matching band.

It would seem that Winslet has a preference for bold, chunky rings; her previous wedding ring (from her marriage to Sam Mendes) consisted of thick silver-colored bands with inlaid stones.

Tell us: What do you think of Winslet’s rings from Ned Rocknroll?
–Alex Apatoff

PHOTOS: SEE MORE STAR MEMBERS OF THE ‘GINORMOUS CARAT CLUB!’

Read More..

Richard III's Remains Confirmed After Being Found Under a Parking Lot

By Stephen M. Silverman

02/04/2013 at 11:25 AM EST

"Off with his head!"
– Shakespeare's King Richard III, Act III, Scene IV.

In a stunning archaeological discovery, British scientists announced Monday that DNA results confirm "beyond reasonable doubt" that the human remains found under a parking lot in Leicester, central England, are those of the nation's King Richard III – who was killed two years into his reign, at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. He was 33.

"We're certain now, as certain as you can be of anything in life," said Richard Taylor, the University of Leicester registrar who coordinated the team of archaeologists, historians, genealogists and geneticists who, since the bones were discovered five months ago, set out to identify the remains, reports The New York Times.

Archaeologists say Richard – one of the most reviled monarchs in history, scheming, murderous, and physically deformed, as Shakespeare's play reminds audiences to this day – met his own violent death. As shown in his remains, he received two severe blows to the head, and that's not all, reports CNN.

The lead archeologist on the project, Richard Buckley, said it looks like Richard, who suffered curvature of the spine, was buried with his hands tied.

"The skull was in good condition, although fragile, and was able to give us detailed information," added Jo Appleby, a university lecturer in human bioarchaeology involved in the project.

The DNA tests were conducted with matches from the skeleton – found when archaeologists used ground-penetrating radar – and from Michael Ibsen, a Canadian who is a direct descendent of Richard's sister Anne of York.

Ibsen, a cabinetmaker, told CNN he reacted with "stunned silence" when told the top-secret results on Sunday. "I never thought I'd be a match, and certainly not that it would be so close, but the results look like a carbon copy," he said.

Next up for Richard, once his remains are more closely examined: a reburial, this time in Leicester Cathedral, in a memorial service likely to take place early next year.

Read More..

A Visual Guide to the Right and (Oh, So) Wrong Way to Bare Your Midriff

Stylewatch
Style News Now

02/01/2013 at 06:00 PM ET

FilmMagic; Getty; Startraks

What made its way on our fashion radar this week? A classic pattern that’s making a strong comeback and a sweater style we haven’t worn since middle school. We expect to see more of these looks at all the various awards season parties and events. What we hope we don’t spot: A certain frock that reveals way too much skin.

Up: Polka Dots. The retro print made a major comeback this week. Emmy Rossum stepped out in a navy-and-white Stop Staring number (it’s just $170!) and Amy Adams slipped into an elegant black-and-white peplum Jenny Packham design.

Up: Cropped Sweaters. We prayed this moment wouldn’t happen but it looks like ab-baring tops are back and celebs like Dakota Fanning, Amanda Seyfried and Jessica Biel are wearing them with everything from skirts to skinnies. If you don’t have a six-pack, pair a shrunken sweater with a high-waisted bottom or layer over a longer shirt like Biel did. 

Down: X-Rated Slits. Actresses take note: Slits that show this much skin are best left for the legs. And that’s why we don’t expect to see stars sporting awkward cleavage slashes like Adrienne Bailon’s anytime soon. (Not to mention party dresses with clunky booties!)

For more on up-and-coming trends, check out our thoughts on furry accents, slits and red accessories.

Tell us: What types of trends are you hoping to see more of on the red carpet? Vote in our poll below! 

–Jennifer Cress

PHOTOS: SEE OUR FAVORITE DRESSES OF AWARDS SEASON — SO FAR!

Read More..

Tracy Morgan Reveals How He's Celebrating the 30 Rock Finale ... and His Baby on the Way

TV Watch

By Lesley Messer

02/01/2013 at 12:00 PM EST

Tracy Morgan and Megan Wollover

Theo Wargo/WireImage

Thursday was a busy day for Tracy Morgan: not only did he and his fiancée Megan Wollover announce that they're expecting their first child together, but his long-running NBC sitcom, 30 Rock, came to an end later that night.

"It's sad because all your friends and your people, you're not gonna see anymore, but at the same time, it's feeling good because we know we did seven years of good television," said the actor, who admitted that he's keeping his character's "TJ" chain. "We're feeling great about what we've accomplished."

To celebrate the finale, Morgan, 44, who is in New Orleans for the Super Bowl (his commercial for Mio Fitt, a sports drink, will air immediately after halftime on Sunday) said that he and Wollover, 25, were planning to lay low.

"Me and my lady are gonna go out to dinner, watch the finale and go to sleep," he said. "She's looking forward to grabbing a plate of soul food. Collard greens – I think she's in love with macaroni and cheese."

As for the announcement that they're expecting a child later this year, Morgan says, "We are feeling great about it – to have a new addition to our family and our life. I want my fiancée, my soon to be wife, to have a healthy and a safe childbirth, that's the most important thing and we are just delighted to have a bundle of joy on the way."

Though they don't know the gender yet, Morgan says they'll possibly find out a little later into the pregnancy. For now, they're just enjoying the moment.

"We're really feeling blessed," he said. "We're planning on being the best parents that we can be."

Read More..

Diem Brown Blogs: How I Cope With My Anxiety

In her PEOPLE.com blog, Diem Brown, the Real World/Road Rules Challenge contestant recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer for the second time, opens up about her desire for a child and the ups and downs of cancer and fertility procedures.

The waiting game.

We have the technology to put a man on the moon, and the President and the Pope Tweet us in real-time updates. But when it comes to medical test results, it feels as if things move at a snail's pace. After waiting since Jan. 4 to supposedly find out on Jan. 25 about the "suspicious," "concerning" spot on my liver after my last CT scan, I come to find out these test results aren't as instant as I had imagined.

The waiting game is one that can – no lie – drive you mad! If I allow my anxiety to take control, I can immediately feel the tension all around me like a boa constrictor that is seemingly taking up the slack every time I let out an exasperated breath.

I know it hasn't been that long since Jan. 25, but it's been a long time in my mind, as I've been waiting since Jan. 4 to hear if I am in the final chapter of this cancer book or am I just starting "book one" of a very long series.

This may seem funny, but I have the same coping mechanism when I'm pissed off as when I'm anxious ... I organize and clean! So weird, I know, especially because, I swear, my dad, boyfriend and sister piss me off sometimes just to get me into cleaning mode! I guess that, for me, organizing is a way to be productive and in control when I feel I have neither.

Diem Brown

Matt Sayles / Invision

I will rearrange a whole apartment, changing the furniture direction in every room. I will raid the "junk" drawers, coat closets, filing cabinets, garages and anything else that will take me at least a good half-day to accomplish. This, my friends has becomes my magic anxiety release pill.

Funny enough, because it's tax season now, I started making piles of old receipts I found in some random purse. Then, glancing up at the TV, I saw the most amazing aid to my crazy arsenal ... The NeatDesk. It was like a beautiful bright light was shining directly on my TV in between Bravo Housewives marathons. So, logically, I bought the machine and now I'm on a scanning mission!

I want to get all my medical crap in order – including bills, test results, prescription receipts, doctor's notes, etc. so I am using this NeatDesk thingamajig and getting some order and control back into my weird medical world.

I have also realized (especially as I read my logic) that stress kept indoors can make ya even more crazy than you have already become. That said, I've been trying to say yes to everything and get my compulsive booty outdoors to socialize with actual people other than those lovely ladies that reign on my TV.

I was so wrapped up and content in my apartment; my comfort with my weird organizing ways had turned me into a hermit. Girls' nights in are amazing but ... you need to get out!

I think winter in general can have that "hermit" effect on most people, as you tend to get so lazy and make excuses to not do things because you are too cold or feel just plain winter frumpy.

But since I realized and addressed my lazy, crazy ways instead of fretting about what news my test results will bring, I am choosing the word "yes!"

Diem Brown

Matt Sayles / Invision

I have always believed in the power of positive thinking, but sometimes when you have gotten knocked down or disheartened it takes more effort to stick with the positive mindset. So for that I say follow that old Jim Carrey movie and say "yes" to whatever social offers are out there. Being social, laughing, dancing, having fun, etc. helps you not dwell on a test result or an outcome that you have no control over.

I hate the waiting game but I'm not going to let the waiting game chain me to my crazy mind and allow me to think of the negative "what ifs." That's just not me. However, as humans, those negative thoughts relentlessly try to creep into your mindset ... but, as the powerful human that you are, you have the power of choice and can choose to turn that negative channel off.

Whether you need to distract yourself with other projects to keep your mind at ease or make yourself be social (friends, support chat rooms, dates, etc.) give yourself the green light to have fun and enjoy the moment.

The news will eventually come, no matter what you do while you wait. If it's bad news, have faith you can handle it. If it's good news, you will kick yourself for stressing over something nonexistent.

As I "patiently" wait for my results to come in, I'm feeling good! I'm visualizing the scan being clear and imagining my doc saying I am at the finish line to my second bout with cancer. I just need him to call me – stat – before I start knocking on neighbors' doors asking if they want their closets cleaned!

Thank you all so very much for your comments, prayers and Tweets. I have never felt more supported in my life and I'm very aware of how very lucky I am to have y'all back me. Thank you and hope you are all having a wonderful week!

Read More..

Karolína Kurková: Why I Chose Natural Childbirth

Target Presse Agentur Gmbh/Getty

For Karolína Kurková, there was no place like home to welcome her first child.

Setting up a birthing suite in the comforts of her Tribeca apartment, the model mama admits her motivation behind her decision to deliver naturally was simple: childbirth is nothing new.

“Of course we had the midwife, we had the doula, but that’s something we really did a lot of research on and we wanted to do,” Kurková, 28, tells Access Hollywood Live.

“Centuries women have been giving birth naturally and I think your body adjusts to it and you get into a zone.”

Her active labor lasted 2½ hours — a process she calls “quite quick” — and, by keeping her concentration on seeing her son, little time was left to think of the pain.

“It’s not like, ‘Oh my God, it’s a pain. I’m dying, I’m dying,’” the supermodel coach of The Face says. “It was so gradual you just kind of deal with it. You get in a zone, you really focus.”

With her husband Archie Drury preparing “green juice and coconut water” to keep his wife hydrated, it wasn’t long before Kurková’s midwife let her know baby boy was on his way.

“I really wanted to do it in the water because it’s better for the baby to be born in the water — from water to water — and it’s less painful for the mom,” she explains of her decision to deliver in a birthing pool.

“When he’s born in the water, there’s still that umbilical cord so until you clip it they can still breathe through it. He was born in the water [then] we put him on my chest.”

Recalling the big day as an “incredible experience” Kurková will “absolutely” do it all over again — eventually. Until then, 3-year-old Tobin Jack has all his mama’s attention.

“I want to enjoy [Tobin] first and learn everything and really spend time with him,” she explains.

– Anya Leon

Read More..

Jason Priestley Jokes Jennie Garth's Weight Loss Was the Result of 'Heartbreak'

By Becky Randel

01/29/2013 at 11:40 PM EST

Jennie Garth and Jason Priestley

Kevin Winter/Getty

Is it a makeover ... or a breakover?

According to Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth's recent body makeover may have gotten a boost from good old-fashioned heartbreak.

"You spend a little time in Heartbreak Hotel, that's what happens. Heartbreak Hotel diet is a good one," Priestley joked with PEOPLE at the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) convention in Miami on Monday, where he is promoting his new comedy Call Me Fitz.

But when asked if a real life romance between Garth and Luke Perry – who the actor caught up with during last summer's Old Navy commercial shoot – might be a possibility, Priestly joked, "I have no idea ... but you can always hope!"

Priestley calls his new alter-ego Richard Fitzpatrick, a used car salesman turned politician, "the antithesis of Brandon Walsh," and says of his twisted story lines (one episode has him sleeping with a nun in a church), "I sort of feel like I'm in this very high stakes game of chicken with our writers." 

Ironically, Jason claims any personal similarities to Fitz are old news. "Back when I was playing Brandon Walsh I was a lot more Fitz and now that I'm playing Fitz, I'm a lot more Brandon," he says. He calls his life during the 90210 days, "not normal" and confesses, "I'm just glad we went through it before there was a TMZ and everyone had a video camera on their cell phone."

Read More..

Tom Brady & Gisele Bündchen's New Home Has a Moat

01/28/2013 at 12:00 PM EST

Home is where the heart is. Not to mention the moat!

It will soon be moving day for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his supermodel wife Gisele Bündchen, whose new $20 million Los Angeles home is finally finished after three years of construction.

That's apparently how long it takes to build a home of 22,000 square feet, a resort-style swimming pool in the back yard, a castle-like custom play area for the kids, a moat that runs across the front of the house and a bridge over it.

The abode, which sits on an $11 million lot in the Brentwood area of L.A., also includes eight bedrooms, a six-car garage, a wine cellar and a state-of-the-art gym, according to the U.K.'s Daily Mail.

"We are excited to be using solar power as the main source of electricity in our home," Bündchen told PEOPLE of the home, which she says will also have eco-friendly water supply and heating and cooling systems. "And we are planting our own herbs, fruits and vegetables, which will be my favorite part of the house."

Brady, 34, and Bündchen, 31, purchased the property in 2008 before they married in February of 2009.

They have two kids together – Benjamin, 3, and baby Vivian, who was born Dec. 5 – plus Brady's son from a previous marriage, 5-year-old John.

Better get to baby-proofing that moat!

Read More..

Go Inside Jason & Molly Mesnick's Baby Shower

With pops of yellow and mint green, the former Bachelor star and his wife throw a stylish affair for family and friends

Credit: Lisi Wolf Photography

Updated: Thursday Jan 24, 2013 | 06:00 AM EST
By: Shanelle Rein-Olowokere

Subscribe Now

Read More..

The Surprising Style Item Adam Levine Likes to Wear

Stylewatch
Style News Now

01/25/2013 at 02:00 PM ET

Courtesy Men’s Health

While some stars are repeat Fashion Faceoff offenders (we’re looking at you, Kim Kardashian), Adam Levine is determined to never be one of them. (Though the man really never should say never.)

In fact, his desire to have singular style is so strong that he won’t even pick up a plain old tee at a regular store for fear that another dude owns it. “I don’t want to buy a T-shirt and then go out to lunch and see someone else wearing the same thing,” Levine says in the new issue of Men’s Health. “I want my clothes to be unique. Not necessarily expensive, just one of a kind.”

So with that in mind, Levine puts a lot of thought into selecting those T-shirts. And even though they might look like basic Hanes to everyone else, what’s important to him is that he knows they’re not. The singer usually finds the tops at vintage shops because, “I also want them to have a story, a history, some meaning.”

In addition to his tees with history, the Maroon 5 frontman loves formalwear, saying, “[At] night I’ll throw on a suit and go out looking like a businessman.”

But it’s what he wears when he’s not on the red carpet or taping The Voice that really left us surprised — when he relaxes at home, Levine prefers something a bit, well, tighter. “I love waking up, throwing on some yoga pants, and hanging out all day looking like a psycho,” the singer reveals. His words, not ours.

For more Levine, pick up the March issue of Men’s Health, on newsstands Feb. 5. Tell us: Do you like Levine’s style? What do you think of guys wearing yoga pants?

Courtesy Men’s Health

–Jennifer Cress

PHOTOS: SEE MORE STAR STYLE IN ‘LAST NIGHT’S LOOK’

Read More..

Katy Perry Causes a Total Audience Freak Out at Ellen

TV Watch

By Andrea Billups

01/25/2013 at 11:55 AM EST

Katy Perry and Ellen DeGeneres

Michael Rozman

It's hard to tell who's more enthusiastic – a mustachioed Katy Perry (and more on that facial hair in a minute) or two breathless audiences members at The Ellen DeGeneres Show, who were plucked from their seats and grilled on just how well they knew the talk show host.

The prize? A trip to Australia for the one who could answer the most questions, though judging from both women's borderline hyperventilation as they stood there, it seemed like they had already won just standing next to the two stars.

Perry showed off her comedy chops in a plaid carnival barker's suit, plus that mustache and a boy's haircut – "I asked for the Anne Hathaway," the pop star, 28, quipped about her pixie cut – in an apparent celebration of DeGeneres's 55th birthday Saturday.

"I'm actually a second cousin to Bob Barker," Perry, fresh off of her trip to the Obama inauguration with beau John Mayer, joked as she presided over the game she called Grab Ellen's Bust.

Who won the trip to Australia? Who cares! Check out the clip (below) for a good laugh – and lots of tears from one very, very excited contestant!

Read More..

Bethenny Frankel's Ex Wants Primary Custody of Their Daughter: Report

Buzz

By Tim Nudd

01/24/2013 at 11:45 AM EST

Bethenny Frankel and husband Jason Hoppy with daughter Bryn

Jae Donnelly/INF

Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy are not seeing eye to eye as they begin divorce proceedings – most notably because both sides reportedly want primary custody of daughter Bryn.

Hoppy has responded to Frankel's divorce petition by demanding from the reality-TV star almost exactly the same things she is demanding from him, TMZ.com reports.

Both are seeking primary custody of Bryn, who will be 3 in May, as well as child support from their ex, along with money for other expenses, including insurance.

Both sides also want exclusive rights to their marital residence.

The Skinnygirl mogul, 42, who first became famous on The Real Housewives of New York City, split with Hoppy late last year after almost three years of marriage.

She later said she felt like a failure for not being able to make it work.

Hoppy has not commented publicly on the split, and neither his lawyers, nor Frankel's reps, immediately returned calls for comment.

Read More..

See Bachelor Alum Helene Eksterowicz's Engagement Ring!

Stylewatch
Style News Now

01/23/2013 at 11:00 AM ET

Courtesy Helene Eksterowicz

She may not have found true love during her time on The Bachelor in 2002, but Helene Eksterowicz certainly has now.

The winner of the second season of the hit ABC show, which starred bachelor Aaron Buerge, is engaged to her boyfriend, Andrew Goodman.

Goodman proposed to the former reality show contestant with a stunning emerald-cut ring, which he designed with a little help from Max Weiner Jewelers in Philadelphia.

And the bride-to-be couldn’t be happier with her fiancé’s taste in jewelry. “The ring is perfect,” Eksterowicz tells PEOPLE. “It’s exactly what I’ve always wanted.”

Goodman popped the question during a jaunt to the Poconos to celebrate Eksterowicz’s birthday, and the couple plans to tie the knot this summer. Tell us: Do you like Eksterowicz’s ring?

–Aili Nahas

PHOTOS: SEE MORE MEMBERS OF THE GINORMOUS CARAT CLUB HERE! 

Read More..

Kelly Clarkson & Fiancé Brandon Blackstock Attend Inaugural Ball

By Maggie Coughlan

01/22/2013 at 11:35 AM EST

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock

Courtesy Kelly Clarkson

After helping President Barack Obama begin his second term with a powerful rendition of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," Kelly Clarkson celebrated in style.

The singer – who is engaged to Nashville-based talent manager Brandon Blackstock – attended the inaugural ball with her fiancé on Monday.

Sharing her political partying experience with her 2.6 million followers, Clarkson, 30, chronicled her evening on Twitter.

"My dress barely fit in the car for tonight's festivities. I feel like Cinderella! Thank you Oscar De La Renta!" she Tweeted, revealing a photo of herself wearing a floral patterned gown.

Then it was time to pose for photos with Blackstock. "Me and Brandon in our 'fancy' attire :) Fun night!" she later Tweeted.

Though Clarkson assured followers she was having a ball, she credited the First Lady with getting the festivities going.

"Just partied at the White House ....I kid you not, Michelle Obama stood up and got the party started ....seriously cool First Lady :)," she Tweeted.

Read More..

James Franco Is 'Hit of the Party' at Sundance

01/21/2013 at 11:15 AM EST

James Franco and Mario Lopez and Courtney Mazza

Neilson Barnard/Getty; Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

The stars arrived by the dozens to Park City, Utah, for the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and PEOPLE has the details of their busy weekend.

James Franco was one of the last to arrive to the Stella Artois-hosted dinner for his documentary Kink on Saturday evening. Later, the Lovelace star hosted a large 1 a.m. "after, after party" at The Everest Mansion high up in the nearby mountains. The actor still managed to be up in time to surprise the guests at the Outfest Queer Brunch at Grub Steak Restaurant in Prospector Square Sunday morning with his Interior. Leather Bar. co-director Travis Mathews.

"James was the hit of the party," one brunch attendee tells PEOPLE. "Everyone wanted their picture with him."

Daniel Radcliffe may have been seen snuggling with Kill Your Darlings costar Erin Darke Friday night, but he went solo to the Next Generation Filmmaker dinner Saturday, where costar Michael C. Hall and his novelist girlfriend, Morgan Macgregor, were the last to leave while the most of the diners danced the night away at The Westway.

Glee star Jane Lynch turned the Festival into a family affair by taking her wife Lara Embry and daughters Haden and Chase to the New Era Chalet at the Lift in Park City.

Lynch was overheard stating she had "a peanut head" as she and her family picked out New Era Chicago caps – which lead to a lighthearted debate about the White Sox and the Chicago Cubs. While Lynch lobbied hard for the Cubs, her daughters were more interested in checking out the Nintendo Lounge nearby.

Newlyweds Mario Lopez and Courtney Mazza enjoyed a mini-honeymoon in Park City, or possibly a baby-moon?

The couple stopped by the TR Suites and enjoyed Lipton teas while perusing the Sears Lounge, where Mazza was overheard saying she and Lopez are "trying and hoping" for a second child. The couple later hit the Miami Lounge where, once again, they drank Hint Water rather than cocktails.

– Patrick Gomez

Read More..

Allison Williams of Girls: I'm Nothing Like Marnie, But I Root for Her

TV Watch

By Tim Nudd

01/20/2013 at 11:15 AM EST

Allison Williams wouldn't masturbate in a public restroom. But that's not the only difference between her and Marnie Michaels, the character she plays on HBO's hit comedy Girls.

"There were moments reading the script that I thought, 'WOW, okay!' " the actress, 24, tells Company magazine's February issue and digital edition. "It's the most private thing anyone can do, but being an actress can make you feel vulnerable."

She adds: "My grandparents watch the show. I don't know why I was so concerned, though. They have been alive for virtually 90 years, so who am I to presume that sex never existed before me?"

Girls was a huge hit at Sunday's Golden Globe Awards, winning best comedy and best actress in a comedy for Lena Dunham. Williams plays Dunham's sidekick and best friend, a character who seems responsible at first, though her insecurities soon become clear.

"We're really different," Williams says of she and Marnie. "I've known I wanted to be an actress since I was 4, but Marnie still has no idea what she wants. But I'm so in her corner, even when she's wrong."

She adds: "In season two, Marnie goes through some real downs. I was shocked at how emotionally drained I felt from that."

Asked what makes Girls so special, Williams tells the magazine (which offers behind-the-scenes footage of her cover shoot") that the show captures the zeitgest for many young people these days.

"There is nothing alienating or too hipster about it," she says. "We're not dating handsome boys. They're weird. We don't have jobs you dream about. In fact, not all of us have jobs. It feels accessible. And the relationship between the girls is brilliant. It's like a digital time capsule – people will watch it in 20 years time, and it will sum up a certain generation."

Williams says she's dealing with her newfound fame mostly by not Googling herself, and shrugs off criticism that she got a head start in the business because she's the daughter of NBC newsman Brian Williams.

"At the end of the day, even if all these wonderful doors are open for you, you have to stride through them," she says.

Read More..