Olsen twin suing for libel

Los Angeles — Ashley Olsen is suing the National Enquirer for $40 million in damages over a story alleging that she was involved in a drug scandal.

The lawsuit filed in Superior Court on Monday alleges libel and false light invasion of privacy by the tabloid. The publication and its parent companies, American Media Inc. and National Enquirer Inc., were named as defendants.

The lawsuit said that while a story in the National Enquirer’s Feb. 21 issue didn’t refer to her using or selling drugs, it implied that Olsen was doing so with a misleading headline and cover picture depicting the actress with her eyes half-shut.

“Freedom of the press is a valuable right, but it is not a license for gossipy tabloids to tar and feather innocent celebrities and destroy their reputations and businesses for the rags’ profits,” the lawsuit said.

Olsen, 18, most recently starred alongside twin sister, Mary-Kate, in the 2004 comedy “New York Minute.”

Wham! End of an era

Berlin — George Michael says he’s closing a chapter in his two-decade pop music career with his new autobiographical film, “George Michael: A Different Story.”

The reason?

“I think my own genre is dead,” Michael said Wednesday as he presented the movie at the Berlin International Film Festival. “I don’t really think that there is anyone in the modern pop business who I feel I want to spar with.”

Michael, 41, said he wants to “try to move my career into a different form — I don’t know what that’s going to be yet.”

In the new film, directed by Southan Morris, Michael takes viewers through the highs and lows of his career, from his rise to fame as half of 1980s British pop duo Wham! to his 1998 arrest for lewd conduct at a public rest room in Beverly Hills, Calif. — an episode that forced his homosexuality into the public domain.

“Having been so private and not explained myself for the last 15 years or so, I thought that my fans deserved to know what those songs were about,” Michael told reporters.

Stylin’ I

London — Cate Blanchett has two more honors to add to her Oscar nomination.

Blanchett, nominated for best-supporting actress for her role in “The Aviator,” was named most stylish actress and woman of the year at the Elle Style Awards Tuesday.

She wore a black strapless Christian Lacroix dress to the fashion awards ceremony at Spitalfields Market in London.

Fellow Australian Kylie Minogue, wearing a black Chanel dress and patent leather high heels, won the lifetime achievement award.

Daniel Craig won the Elle style actor award, and model Helena Christensen was honored as a style icon.

The Oscars will be presented Feb. 27 in Hollywood, Calif.

Stylin’ II

New York — Katie Couric is going crazy for sharp-dressed men.

Esquire is launching a nationwide search for “The Best-Dressed Real Man in America,” with the five finalists to appear on the “Today” show, co-hosted by Couric.

Beginning March 15, Esquire will sift through contestants in 10 U.S. cities. A panel of editors and “local celebrities” will judge who is a cut above the rest.

“In every city in America there are men who express their ambition and their personality in the way they dress every morning,” Esquire Editor-in-Chief David Granger said in a statement Wednesday. “Right now, men in the U.S. are showing more originality in personal style than ever before.”

The five finalists will appear on the NBC morning show in September. Viewers will be able to vote for their choice through Esquire’s Web site.

The contest will take place in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles.

Esquire has in the past rated the best-dressed male celebrities. Last year, Andre 3000 of OutKast was chosen for his “soulfully preppy” look.

Tribute to B.B. King

Jackson, Miss.– Blues great B.B. King wiped away tears and spoke a few words of thanks at the Mississippi Capitol as the state House and Senate declared B.B. King Day.

Lawmakers and Gov. Haley Barbour honored the 79-year-old Delta native, whose hits include “The Thrill Is Gone,” during a ceremony Tuesday in the Senate chamber.

King pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away tears.

“I never learned to talk very well without Lucille,” said King, speaking of his black guitar. “But today, I’m trying to say only God knows how I feel. I am so happy. Thank you.”

He said the last time he cried was at Ray Charles’ funeral.

“That was tears of sorrow,” King said. “Today, it was tears of joy.”

Kid Rock arrested on assault charges

Nashville, Tenn.– Kid Rock was arrested Wednesday by Nashville police on charges that he punched a disc jockey at a strip club.

The 34-year-old rapper was released after posting a $3,000 bond on a charge of simple assault, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.

His arraignment was set for March 30.

Authorities said he was charged after a 2:50 a.m. altercation at Christie’s Cabaret near downtown Nashville.

Police said 30-year-old Jerry Campos of Cedar Hill, Tenn., was in the DJ booth when he exchanged words with someone in the audience. Believing his friend had been insulted, Kid Rock demanded an apology.

Campos refused, and Kid Rock struck him in the face twice, police said.