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Spears' Dad Empowered To Fire Her Manager

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 9, 2008

A Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner gave Britney Spears' father the power to fire the singer's business manager, according to documents released Friday.

Commissioner Reva Goetz also ordered Howard Grossman to turn over "all documents, records and assets relating to Britney Spears" to James Spears, who is the court-appointed conservator of his daughter and her estate.

The order came the day after Goetz held an emergency closed-door hearing on a motion brought by the singer's father and her lawyer Andrew Wallet, who is part of the conservatorship.

Spears' parents said they feared their daughter's life was at risk after she was released from a hospital psychiatric ward Wednesday.

Spears' affairs were placed under a temporary conservatorship after she was taken to UCLA Medical Center on Jan. 31 under heavy police escort. Conservatorships are granted for people deemed unable to care for themselves or their affairs.

The conservatorship lasts until Feb. 14.

Visa Comes Too Late To Help Winehouse

Amy Winehouse's work visa was approved after all, but the State Department's change of heart Friday wasn't in time for her to make the trip from London to Sunday's Grammy Awards.

Instead, the rehabbing British singer will go ahead with the backup plan concocted while her visa was still in limbo: a live performance, via satellite, from a studio in London where she will also accept any awards that come her way. Winehouse and her acclaimed "Back to Black" album are nominated for Grammys in six categories.

"Unfortunately, due to the logistics involved and timing complications, Amy will not be traveling to the U.S. to perform at the Grammys in person," the Outside Organization said in a statement.

Winehouse's original visa application was denied under U.S. immigration rules regarding the "use and abuse of narcotics," a senior State Department official said Friday, on condition of anonymity because the U.S. Embassy in London's application deliberations are confidential. As a British citizen, Winehouse would not normally need a visa to enter the United States - unless she wanted to work or perform.

The Department of Homeland Security had been "rapidly" processing her appeal, the official said. But the reversal, barely 48 hours before the beginning of the telecast, came too late.

That's A Liberal's Song, Mellencamp Tells McCain

It may be "Our Country," but it's John Mellencamp's song.

When the liberal rocker found out his songs were being played at events for Republican John McCain's presidential campaign, Mellencamp's publicist sent a letter that questioned the campaign's playlist.

"Are you sure you want to use his music to promote Senator McCain's efforts?" said the letter sent to McCain's campaign on Monday. "Logic says that the facts might prove to be an embarrassment, were they to be circulated widely."

McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers in Washington said Thursday that the songs would no longer be played. He declined to elaborate.

The letter explained Mellencamp was a liberal who had supported Democrat John Edwards, who recently dropped out of the race.

Publicist Bob Merlis said Mellencamp told him that the situation made him uncomfortable and he couldn't imagine McCain would want to be associated with him.

Today's Birthdays

Actress Kathryn Grayson is 86. News correspondent Roger Mudd is 80. Singer Carole King is 66. Actor Joe Pesci is 65. Author Alice Walker is 64. Actress Mia Farrow is 63. Singer Travis Tritt is 45.

Source: The Associated Press

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