Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees Dead at 62

RobinGibb.comRobin Gibb of the Bee Gees has died.  The 62-year-old member of the famed brothers Gibb passed away on Sunday, May 20. A statement from his rep reads:

"The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery. The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time."

Last month, Gibb was comatose for more than a week after being hospitalized for pneumonia.

Gibbs' health had been in serious decline for years.  In 2010, he underwent a series of surgeries for a life-threatening intestinal condition, the same that killed his twin brother, Maurice [Morris], in 2003.  Earlier this year, he announced that he'd been battling liver cancer and was in remission.  But then in March, he underwent further intestinal surgery.

Formed in Australia with brothers Robin, Barry and Maurice, the Bee Gees were a hit as early as 1960, while still in their teens.  However, it wasn't until they sent a demo tape to then-Beatles manager Brian Epstein in 1967, who in turn passed it on to their eventual longtime producer Robert Stigwood, that their career took off.

The Bee Gees' first hit was the 1967 single "New York Mining Disaster 1941," though international stardom came in the 1970s, when they locked in their now-familiar sound with hits like "How Do You Mend a Broken Heart," "Lonely Days," "Run to Me,"  "Jive Talking'," "Nights on Broadway"  and "You Should Be Dancing."

The Bee Gees were catapulted to international super-stardom with the 1977 release of the soundtrack to the John Travolta movie Saturday Night Fever.  The album ultimately went 15 times platinum on the strength of number-one Bee Gees hits "Night Fever," "How Deep Is Your Love" and the signature track, "Stayin' Alive."  It earned the Bee Gees Grammys in both 1978 and 1979 and made them the most sought-after songwriters and producers in the industry.

Such was the popularity of Saturday Night Fever, and the Bee Gees, during that era, that on March 25, 1978, five songs written by the brothers Gibb were in the U.S. top ten simultaneously: Their own "Night Fever," "Stayin' Alive" and "If I Can't Have You," plus "Emotion," which they wrote for Samantha Sang, and "Love Is Thicker than Water," a hit they'd written for their little brother Andy Gibb.  That level of chart domination hadn't been seen since 1964, when the Beatles locked down the top five spots on the U.S. singles chart. 

Saturday Night Fever proved to be a mixed blessing for the Bee Gees.  The trio was caught in the eventual 1980s backlash against disco, with Saturday Night Fever's success casting the brothers as the embodiment of disco culture.  In the follow years, while continuing to write and produce hits for other artists, including Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, Dionne Warwick and Diana Ross, the Bee Gees kept a low profile as a group -- at least in the U.S. -- until the 1990s, when it became cool to like them again.  They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

After the death of Maurice, Barry and Robin Gibb said initially that they intended to carry on as the Bee Gees, but then decided to retire the name, which they felt represented all three of them as a group.  Still, they continued to perform on and off together at special events, and Robin continued to write, produce and perform as a solo artist, despite his health issues.  He joined Barry Gibb in 2009 for a performance on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, in celebration of their 50th anniversary, and in 2010 for a widely-praised performance on American Idol.  In April, the Fox show Glee saluted the Bee Gees with an episode devoted to their music.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Kristen Wiig: Emotional Sendoff for ‘Saturday Night Live’ Favorite

ABC/Rick Rowell(NEW YORK) -- There were plenty of laughs, a few tears and a whole lot of dancing as Kristen Wiig was given a Saturday Night Live sendoff to remember.

In the final sketch of the night, host Mick Jagger, who played a high school principal, called Wiig, who was in a cap and gown, up to the stage.

“Many of you are moving onto college, but I’d like to take a moment to say goodbye to one particular student who is leaving this summer to become a nun,” Jagger said.

Wiig then shed her cap and gown and danced with Jagger, each cast member and executive producer Lorne Michaels to the Rolling Stones song “She’s A Rainbow,” followed by the band’s hit “Goodbye Ruby Tuesday.”

The popular cast member, who appeared on the show for seven seasons, wiped away tears as she danced and hugged cast members all the way through the closing credits.

Wiig, who played everyone from Nancy Pelosi to the obnoxious Aunt Linda and the overly excitable Target lady on the show, was nominated for an Academy Award earlier this year for writing Bridesmaids. Wiig also starred in the film.

“It will be a huge blow to the show,” a source told Us Weekly. “Kristen was talking about leaving a while ago. With her movie success, it’s no surprise.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Missing 'Terminator 3' Star Nick Stahl Reportedly Contacts Friends

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Nick Stahl, the Terminator 3 actor who was reported missing by his estranged wife nearly a week ago, sent an email to friends on Friday indicating that he would enter a 30-day rehab program, his wife reportedly said.

"I'm relieved," Stahl's wife, Roseann Murphy Stahl, told People magazine, but she added that she was "also skeptical that he was really in rehab."

She said he sent friends an "unemotional and unapologetic" email about 10 p.m. Friday, telling them that "he's OK," that he'd be entering a month-long stay at a rehabilitation program and that he planned to make arrangements to pick up some of his clothes, according to People.

Early Saturday, Roseann Stahl tweeted, "I cannot thank you all enough for the love and support. So i will share that There is a new solid lead that nick is possibly ok.."

She was not among the recipients of her husband's email, but was able to access his email account because she knows the login and password, People said. The email did not indicate whether Stahl was using drugs on Skid Row, as his wife had suspected, or why he had disappeared on May 9, according to the magazine.

Attempts to reach Roseann Stahl via Facebook and Twitter were not immediately successful.

A spokesman from the Los Angeles Police Department said that it had not received any updates from its Missing Persons Unit implying that it would be closing its case for Nick Stahl. The LAPD's Missing Persons Unit did not immediately return a call for comment from ABC News.

TMZ.com reported that a source from the unit said Stahl's file would remain open for now because an email didn't constitute sufficient evidence to close it.

Stahl's wife notified the LAPD when she hadn't heard from him since May 9, and said he had been spending time in Los Angeles' Skid Row area.

The Carnivale actor, 32, was rumored to be dabbling in drugs, according to custody paperwork his wife filed in February, TMZ.com reported. The couple have one child together.

Stahl took over the John Connor role from Edward Furlong, whose own career was sidetracked by drug addiction after 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

New Bobby Brown Song Not About Whitney, Says Rep

Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic(NEW YORK) -- When Bobby Brown debuted a new song titled "Don't Let Me Die" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Wednesday night, some media outlets assumed it was a tribute to his late ex-wife, Whitney Houston.

The reports highlighted certain lyrics, including, "I didn't realize that every breath I took was from you, you were my air." Bobby also sang, "I guess I [messed] up pretty bad, I didn't know who you were, I didn't know what we had, now I'm stuck living in the past, trying to get the pieces back, but I guess now you're gone."

However, Bobby's rep denies to E! News that the song refers to Whitney. The song reportedly was written before Whitney died in February.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Will Smith Smacks Amorous Reporter

ABC News(NEW YORK) -- A Ukrainian reporter who tried to kiss Will Smith on the mouth was instead met with a backhanded slap to the face.

Russia’s Life TV caught overly affectionate reporter Vitalii Sediuk and the actor on camera at the Moscow premiere of Smith’s new film, “Men In Black 3.”

After a hug and a pat on the back, Sediuk leaned in toward Smith’s face and started going for kisses, prompting the star to push him away.

“He tried to kiss me on my mouth,” Smith said on camera seconds after the incident. “This joker, he’s lucky I didn’t sucker punch him.”

It turns out kissing interview subjects is part of Sediuk’s schtick and he is known as quite the prankster, TMZ reported.

Before the kiss seen around the world, the reporter, who posed as a fan, was known for presenting Madonna with a bouquet of hydrangeas. She graciously accepted the flowers despite the fact she had said in previous interviews she did not like them.

Moments later, the singer was caught on an open microphone at a press conference telling the person next to her she “absolutely loathes hydrangeas.” The video went viral and garnered millions of views.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Lady Gaga 'More Nervous Than I've Ever Been' While Taping Sunday's Simpsons Role

Alo Ceballos/FilmMagic(NEW YORK) -- It's Lady Gaga to the rescue on this Sunday night's episode of The Simpsons, which is also the season finale.  In the episode, Gaga arrives in Springfield and ends up helping Lisa, who's become a social outcast.

In an attempt to boost her social standing, Lisa anonymously writes positive things about herself on the school blog, but the plan backfires and she becomes even less popular.  Gaga is the one who helps Lisa realize that being yourself is much better than trying to be like everyone else.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Gaga says she was "really excited and surprised" to be invited to lend her voice to The Simpsons, and notes that she had been "sort of itching to do some TV again" -- bonus points for if you remember Gaga's 2009 guest spot on Gossip Girl.  Gaga calls the script for her Simpsons episode "incredible," and adds, "It's so funny.  I come to Springfield on a train...I come to make the people of Springfield happy."  Once there, she says, "I run into Lisa and I decide that it's my mission to pull Lisa out of her slump and give her hope again."

Gaga says that participating in the long-running show was actually a bit intimidating for her.  "They're so wonderfully talented," she tells ET.  "I think I was more nervous than I have ever been because I have so much respect for them I just wanted to do a good job."

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Sarah Jessica Parker to Host Obamas for Fundraiser

ABC/Ida Mae Astute(NEW YORK) -- Get ready, New York. A “starmageddon” of presidential fundraisers is about to hit town.

The Obama campaign announced Friday that actress Sarah Jessica Parker will next month host President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and an expected star-studded cast of donors for an event dubbed “A New York Night” at her private Manhattan home.

Joining the crowd will be several lucky grassroots supporters and winners of an online sweepstakes by a contribution of “$3 or whatever you can,” Parker said in a fundraising email.

“As a woman, a mother, and an entrepreneur, I need to believe our country can be a place where everyone has a fair shot at success,” she wrote.

“This November’s election will determine whether we get to keep moving forward, or if we’re forced to go back to policies that ask people like my middle-class family in Ohio to carry the burden -- while people like me, who don’t need tax breaks, get extra help.”

Parker says of the event, “it should be fabulous.”

Earlier this month, the Obamas attended a similar event at the Los Angeles home of actor George Clooney.  Ticket sales for the event and the online sweepstakes raised more than $12 million for the 2012 campaign. It was the president’s single most lucrative fundraiser ever.

The 150 tickets sold for the event went for $40,000 apiece. The online haul for the Clooney event alone was in the “millions,” an Obama campaign official said.

The campaign has regularly promoted contests to court grassroots cash, including chances to win an all-expenses-paid trip to have lunch or dinner with the president. The initiatives are reportedly highly lucrative.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Star-Studded 2012 Billboard Music Awards Set for Sunday in Vegas

Jamie McCarthy/WireImage(LAS VEGAS) -- This year's Billboard Music Awards, set for Sunday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, will be quite the star-studded affair.  The telecast, which will air on ABC, will feature performances from Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Justin Bieber, LMFAO, The Wanted, Nelly Furtado, Usher, Linkin Park and Chris Brown.

In addition, Katy Perry will be debuting a new song, "Wide Awake," on the telecast, and Whitney Houston will be posthumously honored with the Billboard Millennium Award.  Jordin Sparks and John Legend will perform a tribute to Whitney, and her daughter Bobbi Kristina and sister-in-law, Pat Houston, will be on hand to accept the award.

As if that weren't enough, Stevie Wonder will also be be presented with the prestigious Icon Award during the ceremony and will be saluted with an all-star tribute during the show.

Of course, there also will be some awards handed out -- lots of them, since Billboard has so many different charts.  Adele, LMFAO, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne are the top nominees for the awards, with Adele leading the pack as a finalist in 18 award categories, including Top Artist, Top Female Artist and Top Billboard 200 Artist.  LMFAO are finalists in 17 categories, while Rihanna is nominated in 13 categories and Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne are each nominated in 10 categories.

Taking a look at just a few of the top categories, the nominees for Top Artist overall are Adele, Gaga, Wayne, Katy Perry and Rihanna.  The nominees for Top Billboard 200 album are Adele's 21, Michael Buble's Christmas, Lady Gaga's Born This Way, Drake's Take Care and Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV.  The nominees for Top Billboard Hot 100 song are "Rolling in the Deep," "Party Rock Anthem," "Give Me Everything," "Moves Like Jagger" and "E.T."

Competing for Top Female Artist are Adele, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj.  The Top Male Artist category pits Bruno Mars and Chris Brown against Drake, Justin Bieber and Lil Wayne.

The nominees for Top Duo/Group are Coldplay, Lady Antebellum, LMFAO, Maroon 5 and The Black Eyed Peas, and the Top New Artist nominees are Foster the People, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Scotty McCreery and Bad Meets Evil, featuring Eminem and Royce da 5'9.

Presenters at Sunday night's awards include Taio Cruz, Gavin DeGraw, Gladys Knight, Natasha Bedingfield, Julianne Hough and actor Jeremy Sisto.  The show will be hosted by Modern Family stars Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell.

The 2012 Billboard Music Awards will air Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Donna Summer Died of Cancer 'Not Related to Smoking'

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage(NEW YORK) -- Donna Summer died of lung cancer, but her condition was “not related to smoking,” according to a statement released by her publicist Friday.

“Although she lost her battle to lung cancer at the age of 63, it was not related to smoking,” the statement said. “Ms. Summer was a non-smoker. Obviously, numerous factors can be attributed to the cause of cancer in general, but any details regarding the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of Ms. Summer’s case remain between her family and team of doctors.”

Summer, popularly known as the Queen of Disco, died at her Naples, Fla. home on Thursday.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Russell Brand Says of Katy Perry: ‘I Still Love Her’

MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- After dodging questions about his notably public divorce from pop star Katy Perry, and heckling a fan who taunted him about his ex at a recent stand-up show, comedian Russell Brand has broken his silence about his failed marriage with a pointed confession.

“I still love her as a human being, but sometimes when you’re in a relationship, I suppose it doesn’t work out, does it,” he said Thursday during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

“I was very happy to be married to her. She’s such a beautiful human being and I just have only love and positivity for her,” Brand added.

The 36-year-old comedian filed for divorce from Perry, 27, in December, citing irreconcilable differences. The two had been married for 14 months, and it was rumored he wanted her to cut back on her partying.

“The interesting thing about what Russell said now is this is what I’ve been hearing all along from sources,” Ian Drew of Us Weekly magazine told ABC’s Good Morning America. “That Russell and Katy didn’t really have this big crashing animosity, that what really was at fault in the relationship … Russell realized she wasn’t at a place where he was in his life.”

Fresh off the divorce, Perry expressed her pain freely in February on stage at the Grammy Awards, performing the song “Part of Me.” Many believe the lyrics were aimed at Brand.

Up until now, Brand has been quiet about the split, but it has been rumored that he sent her an email expressing regret about the breakup.

But Drew said Brand never reached out to Perry.

“We should hang up the notion that Katy and Russell are going to reconcile,” he said. “They are doing what many people should be doing, which is splitting and ending things on a good note.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio