Cancer puts pop star’s parenting plans on hold

Melbourne, Australia – Kylie Minogue’s cancer treatment may force her and boyfriend Olivier Martinez to postpone plans to have a baby, New Idea magazine reported.

Minogue was recovering in her hometown of Melbourne after a cancerous lump was successfully removed from her breast Friday. Doctors were confident they had caught the disease early enough to prevent it from spreading.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper in Sydney printed a photo Monday of the singer wearing dark glasses and holding Martinez’s hand as she left a Melbourne hospital.

No details of her follow-up treatment have been released.

Martinez was quoted as saying the couple had been planning to have a child.

“We were going to start working on it after the tour was over,” the French actor was quoted as telling New Idea magazine. “Now it will be put off; not forever – we pray and hope – but for the time being.”

New mom new face of Estee Lauder

New York – Perhaps looking to capitalize on that “new mom” glow, Estee Lauder has named Gwyneth Paltrow as one of the faces of the makeup and fragrance brand.

The Oscar-winning actress has signed a multiyear contract. She will first appear in a new global print and TV ad campaign to begin this holiday season for Pleasures fragrance, Estee Lauder announced Monday.

Elizabeth Hurley, the primary spokesmodel for Estee Lauder since 1995, when Pleasures was launched, will become the new face of the company’s Re-Nutriv skin care line. Models Liya Kebede and Carolyn Murphy remain as representatives of various Estee Lauder products.

‘The Longest Yard’ cast attends charity benefit

University City, Mo. – Hundreds of fans lined a city block in this St. Louis suburb to catch a glimpse of stars such as Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and Burt Reynolds at the premiere of “The Longest Yard,” to benefit rap star Nelly’s charity.

Nelly, who has a role in the film, requested the event. Proceeds will help his JesUs4Jackie campaign, a national bone marrow initiative in honor of his sister Jacqueline “Jackie” Donahue, who lost her battle with leukemia on March 24 at age 31.

Nelly, who emerged from the theater dressed in white with a popcorn box in hand, spoke about the importance of the bone marrow drives and greeted screaming fans, who stood 10 deep in places. A few enthusiastic fans sat on the shoulders of others or peered from the upper levels of a parking garage for a better view.

A donor was never found for Donahue, but Nelly said her legacy continues and others have been helped through the drives.

Actor having hard time adjusting to sitcom success

Radnor, Pa. – Jon Cryer, who plays the uptight divorced father, Alan, on “Two and a Half Men,” says he’s having trouble adjusting to success after having been on four consecutive failed TV series.

“I haven’t really bought into the mind-set of being on a hit show,” Cryer says in the May 22 issue of TV Guide. “Maybe in the ninth season, I’ll finally say, ‘I think this show is a hit.”‘

Cryer says the first season of the CBS sitcom in 2003 was “brutal” because he separated from his wife a few months into production; they later divorced.

“I was thrilled to have the job, but then I’d go to it and have divorce shoved in my face,” says the 40-year-old Cryer, who has a 4-year-old son, Charlie.

His other – more short-lived – TV shows include “Partners,” “The Famous Teddy Z,” “The Trouble With Normal” and “Getting Personal.” His most famous role is as Duckie Dale in the 1986 teen flick “Pretty in Pink.”

Hanks offers grads a little help

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – Tom Hanks told Vassar College graduates that one four-letter word holds the answer to most of life’s problems.

Whether it’s battling gridlock in Southern California or making sense of the world, Hanks said any problem can be solved as long as people are willing to help.

“Help and you will make a huge impact in the life of the street, the town, the country and our planet,” the Oscar-winning actor said Sunday. His daughter, Elizabeth, was among some 670 graduates in the 141st commencement ceremony at the private liberal arts college in the Hudson Valley.

“You will always be able to help, so do it,” Hanks said.

“Make peace where it is precious. Help plant trees. Help embrace diversity and celebrate difference. Help stop gridlock,” said Hanks.

Comedians expected to testify in Jackson trial

Santa Maria, Calif. – One of Michael Jackson’s former housekeepers testified Monday in his child molestation trial that an alarm that sounds when anyone enters the pop star’s bedroom suite had the same volume during a test recorded earlier this year as it did in previous years.

The maid’s testimony was aimed at discrediting an account by the accuser’s brother, who testified he twice entered the two-story master bedroom suite and saw Jackson molest his brother on the upstairs bed.

“Tonight” host Jay Leno was expected to take the stand Tuesday to testify about a call the defense says he received from Jackson’s accuser.

Comedian Chris Tucker was to testify about spending time with the family.