Celebrity News
Tom Cruise feels at home on a movie set
A movie set is one of the places Tom Cruise feels most at home.
The 45-year-old actor appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on Monday to celebrate his career. It's been 25 years since the release of Risky Business -- and the iconic scene of him dancing in his underwear.
It was the second of a two-part appearance with Winfrey.
Cruise said when he starts a new project, he's nervous beforehand, but that quickly subsides.
"There are some places that I know I belong, and on a movie set is one of them. And I get really excited, because it's something that I want to be great. I want to entertain that audience. I want the movie to work," he said. "I love every aspect."
For Friday's broadcast, Winfrey visited Cruise at his Telluride, Colo., home. That interview centered on more controversial subjects, including his belief in Scientology, critical remarks he's made about antidepressants, and rumors about his family.
During both appearances, Cruise appeared calm and relaxed -- a far cry from his May 2005 appearance on the show, when he jumped on Winfrey's couch as he proclaimed his love for Katie Holmes, who is now his wife.
Monday's broadcast featured clips from Cruise's movies and taped well-wishes from people who have worked with Cruise throughout the years, including Steven Spielberg, Jamie Foxx, Renee Zellweger and Dustin Hoffman, who starred with Cruise in Rain Man .
"It's a tribute that they thought you handsome enough to be my brother in that film," Hoffman said.
Winfrey asked if Cruise's career is now bigger than he ever dreamed it could be.
"Way bigger," he said. "As you go along you think, 'OK. How can I keep challenging myself more?' There's always something else. ... And I so love being on that movie set."
Cruise has received Oscar nominations for his roles in Born on the Fourth of July , Jerry Maguire and Magnolia .
"I'm actually surprised how much I've accomplished, and I feel really privileged to be able to do what I do. And I thank you all for allowing me to entertain you," he told the audience.
Avril Lavigne postpones concerts due to illness
Avril Lavigne has laryngitis and has postponed shows on her national tour this week.
The 23-year-old singer, whose hits include Complicated and Girlfriend , backed out of performances in Los Angeles and Anaheim last weekend. She was supposed to perform in Santa Barbara on Tuesday, San Jose on Wednesday, Spokane, Wash., on Friday and Everett, Wash., on Saturday.
"My sincerest apologies to all of my fans," Lavigne said in a message posted Saturday on her Web site. "My intention was to complete the rest of the tour but tonight at sound check in Anaheim I realized this wasn't possible. Even though I have been resting my voice for days, when I tried to sing nothing came out."
Laryngitis also forced Lavigne to cancel dates last week in Phoenix and San Diego.
Court denies media motion in R. Kelly case
The Illinois Supreme Court has denied news organizations' emergency motion seeking sealed court records and transcripts related to R. Kelly's pornography case.
The court denied the motion without comment Monday. The 41-year-old R&B singer's trial is scheduled to start Friday.
The motion was filed by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and The Associated Press. A request by WBEZ to join the case was denied by the court as moot.
The news organizations wanted the Supreme Court to order the Cook County Circuit Court to unseal the records immediately.
Judge Vincent Gaughan has said he's trying to protect Kelly's rights and prevent information from influencing prospective jurors.
Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges that he videotaped himself having sex with an underage girl.