Zellweger, Chesney wed

Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands — Oscar-winning actress Renee Zellweger and country music star Kenny Chesney were married Monday in a small ceremony on the Caribbean island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The ceremony took place in front of close friends and family, Los Angeles-based publicist Nanci Ryder said in a statement. It was the first marriage for both.

Chesney, 37, grew up in east Tennessee and now lives on the island of St. John, while Zellweger, who turned 36 two weeks ago, is from Katy, Texas.

The couple met at the Concert of Hope tsunami relief benefit Jan. 15, where Chesney was singing and Zellweger was answering telephones, the syndicated television news magazine “The Insider” reported.

Monday night’s reception was being held at Peter Bay, an affluent gated community on the north shore of the island, residents said. The couple and about 45 guests gathered Sunday night at Rhumb Lines restaurant in downtown Cruz Bay, the main town on the island, according to restaurant employees.

Zellweger appeared at a recent Chesney concert in Jacksonsville, Florida, presenting him with a margarita and a kiss on stage, Country Weekly magazine reported.

Christopher Reeve awarded honorary degree for film work

New York — Christopher Reeve will be posthumously awarded an honorary degree at Stony Brook University’s commencement on May 20.

Reeve, who starred in four “Superman” films from 1978-87, died Oct. 10 at age 52 of complications from an infection caused by a bedsore. He became a spokesman for spinal-cord injury victims after a 1995 horse riding accident left him a quadriplegic, using his celebrity to lobby for more funds for biomedical research and aid to the disabled.

His doctor of humane letters degree will be accepted by Stony Brook graduate student Brooke Ellison, whose own struggle with paralysis was the subject of a 2004 TV movie directed by Reeve.

Jackson defense witness disputes claims by maid

Santa Maria, Calif. — A former employee of Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch took the stand Monday to dispute the testimony of a maid who claimed the pop star inappropriately touched actor Macaulay Culkin and other boys.

Francine Contreras, who worked at the ranch from 1991 to 1993, said that while working with maid Adrian McManus she never heard her say anything bad about the singer.

McManus testified for the prosecution that she saw once Jackson kiss Culkin on the cheek while his hand was on Culkin’s bottom.

McManus’ credibility was attacked by the defense, which showed that she and her husband were found to have defrauded three children of more than $30,500.