Janet Jackson denies ‘secret child’ accusation

New York – Janet Jackson says she is not a mother.

In a terse statement released Wednesday, the 39-year-old singer denied a former brother-in-law’s claim that she has a “secret” 18-year-old daughter.

“I do not have a child and all allegations saying so are false,” Jackson said in a statement released to the syndicated “Access Hollywood” TV show.

On Friday, Young DeBarge, the brother of Jackson’s ex-husband, James DeBarge, said Jackson and his brother had a child named Renee who was living with Rebbie Jackson, Janet’s oldest sister.

“James and the Jackson family kept everything real close, real tight,” Young DeBarge said on a New York radio station.

A call to Jackson’s publicist by The Associated Press on Wednesday wasn’t immediately returned, nor was a message left with Young DeBarge’s manager. A manager for James DeBarge said the singer would not comment.

Jackson and James DeBarge, a singer in the former R&B family group DeBarge, were married for three months in 1984, when Jackson was just 18.

Jackson secretly married Rene Elizondo Jr. in 1991. They separated in 1999. She is now dating Jermaine Dupri.

Young DeBarge, 28, is promoting his debut album.

Actor writes memoirs about being in the closet

Washington – Tab Hunter writes about being a closeted gay actor in the spotlight of 1950s Hollywood in his new memoir, “Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star.”

Teens of that era loved Hunter’s blond, surfer-boy good looks, and he rose to stardom with roles in films such as “Island of Desire,” “Battle Cry” and “Damn Yankees!” He also had a pop-music hit single with “Young Love.”

When Confidential magazine published a story in 1955 that implied he was gay, “I wasn’t angry, I was more fearful,” Hunter told AP Radio in a recent interview. “I had very, very few close friends and even a smaller number knew what my sexuality was.”

Hunter was able to hide his sexuality from the public, but his acting career hit a dry spell in the 1960s. Then filmmaker John Waters offered him the role of Todd Tomorrow in 1981’s “Polyester.”

“He said, ‘How do you feel about kissing a 300-pound transvestite?’ And I thought about it for a minute. I thought, ‘I’m sure I’ve kissed a heck of a lot worse,”‘ Hunter recalled with a laugh. “Divine was one of my favorite leading ladies.”

Writing the memoir was difficult, the 74-year-old actor said, “because I’m a really private person. I grew up full of denial. I just didn’t like any suggestions or questioning of my sexuality.”

Duchess of Cornwall dons tiara at royal banquet

London – A diamond tiara worn by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, was front-page news in Britain as royal-watchers noted another first for the new wife of Prince Charles.

Camilla wore the tiara – lent by Queen Elizabeth II – at a royal banquet in honor of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway. It was the first time she had worn a tiara since her marriage to Charles in April.

The tiara, a circle of diamonds mounted in gold and arranged as forget-me-nots and lyres, was made by Garrards in 1911 and worn by Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar to celebrate the coronation of King George V.

The so-called Durbar Tiara previously included five of the Cambridge cabochon emeralds, but Queen Mary had those removed for inclusion in another tiara.

Actress wants ‘Housewives’ characters to connect again

Beverly Hills, Calif. – You can count Marcia Cross among the fans of “Desperate Housewives” who want the characters’ stories to connect again.

“I think it would be nice if we start spending a little more time together,” said Cross, who plays Bree on the hit ABC series.

“I think in the first few episodes (of the second season) we weren’t, but that wasn’t anything sort of set in stone, it’s just sometimes things just evolve,” the 43-year-old actress told AP Radio recently.

Cross said there are scenes that haven’t aired yet, and she’s not worried about the backlash from viewers and critics.

People’s Choice Awards to be hosted by Ferguson

Los Angeles – Craig Ferguson is adding another hosting gig to his TV duties.

Ferguson, host of the “Late Late Show,” will preside over the 32nd annual People’s Choice Awards, to be televised Jan. 10 on CBS, it was announced Tuesday.

The show will honor performers in television, movies and music. New and revamped categories include “Favorite On-Screen Match-up,” “Favorite Female Action Star” and “Favorite Family Movie.”

CBS will broadcast the show live from the Shrine Auditorium.

‘Will & Grace’ actress to have syndicated talk-variety show

New York – Megan Mullally’s daytime syndicated talk-variety show has been sold in four top markets for a fall 2006 launch.

The not-yet-titled series has been picked up by NBC owned-and-operated stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution announced this week.

Mullally has “unique talents as a host, singer and Emmy Award-winning comedic actress,” Barry Wallach, president of NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution, said in a statement.

Mullally’s daily, one-hour show will air from Los Angeles.

The 46-year-old actress won an Emmy in 2000 for her role as Karen Walker on NBC’s “Will & Grace,” now in its eighth and final season.