Oklahomans write song for state’s centennial

Oklahoma City – Vince Gill and Jimmy Webb have written a song to celebrate Oklahoma and its people as the state nears its centennial.

Gill wrote the music and Webb wrote the lyrics for “Oklahoma Rising,” which is intended to complement the state’s official song, “Oklahoma!” from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.

The song remembers Oklahoma’s early days and explores the promise of the 21st century. It also touches on difficult periods, from the Dust Bowl to the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

“Oklahoma Rising” will debut Sept. 11 at a private event at the Civic Center Music Hall, said Centennial Projects and Events Chairman Lee Allan Smith. The 100th anniversary of the state’s admission to the union is Nov. 16, 2007.

Anchor to get early start on ‘Good Morning America’

New York – Chris Cuomo will be working the early shift as news anchor of “Good Morning America” starting next month.

Cuomo, who is also an anchor of ABC News’ “Primetime,” will begin his dawn duties Sept. 5, joining anchors Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts at the “GMA” studio in Times Square, ABC announced Monday.

Along with delivering “news block” reports throughout the weekday broadcast, Cuomo will serve as principal substitute anchor, the network said. He also will contribute news reports and travel to cover breaking news.

Cuomo, 36, will remain at “Primetime,” where he became co-anchor in April 2004, and continue as ABC News’ senior legal correspondent.

He will relieve Roberts, who has continued her news-anchor role since being promoted to an anchor of the broadcast in May 2005.

Didn’t read the book

Hong Kong – Ziyi Zhang didn’t reread “Hamlet” while preparing for the upcoming film “The Banquet,” loosely based on the Shakespearean play.

“I didn’t want to be affected by the original. After all, this is an adaptation. The characters have similarities, but they’re not identical,” the 27-year-old actress says in an interview posted Sunday on the Chinese Web site Sina.com.

Zhang, whose screen credits include Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” says she appeared in “Hamlet” while a student at China’s Central Academy of Drama.

“The Banquet,” directed by Xiaogang Feng and set in ancient China, is due for release later this year.