France Awaits The Verdict On First Lady's New Record

It's a big day for the first lady of France, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Her new album hit the music stores on Friday.

The top model turned singer - who married President Nicolas Sarkozy in February - has become a popular first lady. But will her third album be a hit like the first in 2002, which sold 2 million copies, or a flop like the second, out in 2006?

She has been an image-booster for troubled Sarkozy, so the album's success, or failure, could be critical to the president.

The Italian-born Bruni composed and wrote the lyrics for most of the songs on her new album, "Comme si de rien n'etait" (As If Nothing Had Happened), and sings them with her trademark softly sexy voice, accompanied by guitar and other instruments, be they violin or harmonica. She uses her maiden name on the album.

Bruni, 40, married Sarkozy just months after his messy, high-decible divorce from Cecilia Sarkozy. The new couple was initially criticized as too unpresidential. But Bruni, with her high society upbringing and easy elegance, quickly won hearts.

Her curtsy before Queen Elizabeth II when her husband made his first state visit to Britain in March was the clincher. What has been called "Carla mania" took over, with the first lady upstaging her husband on official visits.

Bruni's label Naive has said that album royalties will go to charities. Bruni said she will not be touring to promote her album as concerts involve too much security because of her status. However, she has vowed to remain a thoroughly modern woman who makes her own decisions and maintains her career despite her husband's job.

Chan To Be Given His Own Museum

Jackie Chan's Web site says construction has begun on a museum for the action movie star in the Chinese financial capital Shanghai.

A statement published Friday says the 54-year-old attended a ceremony marking the start of work earlier this week.

The museum will house props and costumes from Chan's movies, photos and other memorabilia, the Web site said. Construction is scheduled to finish in October 2009.

Soap Star To Visit The 'Hospital' Again

Genie Francis is checking back into "General Hospital."

The 46-year-old actress will reprise her role as Laura on the ABC daytime soap beginning Aug. 26.

The character's 1981 fairy-tale wedding to Luke (played by Anthony Geary) was watched by 30 million viewers and landed the couple on the cover of Newsweek magazine. Francis began playing Laura in 1976.

"This is a short visit," Francis said. "It's a mother-daughter story. Years ago when I started playing the character as a 14-year-old girl, it was a mother-daughter story, only I was the daughter. So it's kinda cool this is full circle. It's nice to come back for visits. 'General Hospital' is my home."

Laura was last seen slipping in and out of a catatonic state in 2007. The upcoming appearance will feature Laura in a story line with daughter Lulu. Francis, who now runs a home-furnishing shop in Belfast, Maine, said she was told that Laura wouldn't be killed off during her latest guest stint.

"I would stay on, but 'General Hospital' honestly doesn't seem to want that relationship with this character at the moment," said Francis.

Today's Birthdays

Artist Andrew Wyeth is 91. Comedian Bill Cosby is 71. Fitness guru Richard Simmons is 60. Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi is 37. Actor Topher Grace is 30.

Source: The Associated Press