Millions for her thoughts

Washington — After laying out a seven-figure advance for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s memoirs, her publishers are counting on seven-figure sales.

The account of her years in the White House will have a first printing of 1 million copies, her lawyer told The Associated Press. The 576-page book, titled “Living History,” is scheduled for release June 9. An audio version, read by Clinton, will be released the same day.

The first lady-turned-senator was paid an $8 million advance by Simon & Schuster. Foreign rights have already been sold in 16 countries, from South America to Europe to Asia.

The book, which took two years to write, will be billed as a “complete and candid” accounting of her years in the White House, from the health care debate to impeachment to the launching of her own political campaign in 2000.

Norah Jones to play free concert

New York — Norah Jones and The Roots are among the performers lined up for “100% NYC: A Concert Celebrating the Tribeca Film Festival.”

The free show is planned for May 9 in lower Manhattan’s Battery Park. MTV and VH1 are sponsoring the concert, and will broadcast it on May 17. Other scheduled musicians and comedians will be announced later.

Jones’ debut album, “Come Away With Me,” won eight Grammys this year, including album of the year. The pop-jazz singer also won for best new artist and record of the year for “Don’t Know Why.”

Vandross suffers setback

New York — Luther Vandross contracted pneumonia after suffering a stroke and had to undergo a tracheotomy to help him breathe, but the procedure didn’t damage his vocal cords, his representatives said Monday.

The Grammy-winning singer remains in critical but stable condition.

Vandross, 52, had a stroke April 16 at his Manhattan home; he was alone for hours before being discovered. He’s been hospitalized at Weill-Cornell Medical College.

His business manager, Carmen Romano, said Vandross is minimally responsive neurologically “and we’re waiting for him to regain full consciousness. I am told that this may take some time.”

Steinbeck widow dies

New York — Elaine Steinbeck, the former actress who married John Steinbeck and became a self-described ambassador of the Nobel laureate’s legacy, died Sunday at New York Hospital. She was 88.

John Steinbeck, author of such classics as “The Grapes of Wrath” and “Of Mice and Men,” died in 1968, six years after he won the Nobel prize. Some critics thought the award should have gone to a more contemporary figure, dismaying the author.

During the past 35 years, Elaine Steinbeck was her husband’s greatest supporter, editing volumes of his work, proudly showing off his Nobel medal to visiting reporters and speaking tirelessly on his behalf.

“I travel all over the world, literally all over the world, in the name of John Steinbeck,” she once said