Clarkson enjoys shining ‘Moment’

New York First she beat 10,000 aspiring pop stars to become the “American Idol.” Now, Kelly Clarkson has set a record on the Billboard singles chart.

Clarkson’s “A Moment Like This” jumped to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 this week from its debut at No. 52, the biggest leap to No. 1 in the chart’s history.

The song sold 236,000 copies in its first full week in stores, the first time a song has sold more than 200,000 copies in one week since 1999, said Geoff Mayfield, Billboard’s director of charts.

The 20-year-old former cocktail waitress from Burleson, Tex., won a coveted recording contract when she took the “American Idol” competition this month on Fox. Millions watched the series and called in to cast votes for their favorite singers.

Bartender tops on ‘Big Brother’

Los Angeles A 26-year-old bartender from Los Angeles walked out of the “Big Brother 3” house with the $500,000 top prize.

Lisa Donahue said she missed her cat, Herman, the most during her stay at the Studio City home. She credited her job with preparing her to get along with people from all walks of life and win the prize Wednesday night.

“I am a great team player who can get along with all types of people,” she said.

But Donahue said she was surprised to win against the last housemate, Danielle Reyes of Fairfield. “I was nervous. I was like, ‘OK, she’s a good player.’ But she’s a great, wonderful person.”

Father newest role for Fraser

Los Angeles “The Mummy” star Brendan Fraser is a daddy.

The 33-year-old’s wife, Afton, gave birth to a son last week, the actor’s publicist, Kelly Bush, said Wednesday.

Griffin Arthur Fraser was born Sept. 17 in Los Angeles, she said.

It was the first child for Fraser and his wife, who married in 1998.

Fraser starred as a desert adventurer in 1999’s “The Mummy” and its 2001 sequel, “The Mummy Returns.” Other credits include “School Ties,” “George of the Jungle” and “Gods and Monsters.”

His upcoming films include a live-action role opposite the animated Bugs Bunny in “Looney Tunes: The Movie.”

Fergie thankful for U.S. kindness

Albany, N.Y. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, said she hopes more countries embrace the United States, just as the American public embraced her after she divorced Prince Andrew.

“It is very important that countries embrace the United States to bring much more togetherness and much more working for world peace, literally,” she said this week at New York’s state Capitol.

“I want to thank the American people, because some time ago, I came to these shores, having made a bit of nonsense in the U.K.,” she said. “And the American people embraced me, and gave me my life back and gave my children their mom back.”