Aerosmith cancels tour as singer goes under the knife

Los Angeles – Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler will undergo throat surgery this week for an undisclosed medical condition, forcing the band to cancel the remaining dates of its North American tour.

The band’s publicist, Marcee Rondan, said Tuesday that Tyler was “doing fine” but declined to elaborate on his condition.

“Despite Aerosmith’s desire to keep the tour going as long as possible, Tyler’s doctors advised him not to continue performing to give his voice time to recover,” Rondan said in a statement.

Tyler, who turns 58 on Sunday, can’t perform for an extended period of time, Rondan said, adding that the band was on hiatus.

Postal glamour

Smithfield, N.C. – The Smithfield Post Office is now the Ava Gardner Post Office.

President Bush signed legislation Monday to rename the post office in honor of the Oscar-nominated actress, who grew up in Johnston County.

“Ava Gardner was a small-town girl who became a big-time celebrity,” said Rep. Bob Etheridge, D-N.C., who sponsored the bill to rename the post office.

Gardner was nominated for a best-actress Oscar for 1953’s “Mogambo.” Her films also include “The Night of the Iguana” and “On the Beach.”

She had a series of high-profile marriages, to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw and Frank Sinatra. The actress died in 1990, at age 67.

The one that got away

New York – The one big interview Mike Wallace regrets never landing was with Pat Nixon.

Wallace, 87, who was given a lifetime achievement award by the New York Press Club on Tuesday night, said he learned while traveling with the Nixons in 1968 that she was a brave, smart woman – not the “plastic Pat” as she was sometimes portrayed.

“She was a genuine, lovely, fine woman who was bruised by what happened to her husband,” he said. “(She was) intelligent, loyal and raised wonderful kids.”

Wallace, who said last week he was retiring from CBS News’ “60 Minutes” this spring, also said he turned down an offer to become Nixon’s press secretary at the White House.

Asked who was the best president he had seen in his years as a reporter, Wallace – who considers Nancy Reagan a close friend – said it was her husband.

“Ronald Reagan knew who the hell he was,” he said. “He had his convictions. He was comfortable in his skin. I thought he was a superb president.”

Neil Labute play features Fran Drescher

New York – Fran Drescher is going from “The Nanny” on television to playing one of Eric McCormack’s ex-girlfriends in Neil Labute’s play “Some Girl(s)” off-Broadway.

Drescher will portray a Boston professor in the American premiere of the play, which opens June 8 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. In it, McCormack, whose TV series “Will & Grace” is now in its final season, plays a soon-to-be engaged man saying goodbye to four ex-girlfriends as he prepares to get married.

The other three women in “Some Girl(s)” will be portrayed by Maura Tierney, Brooke Smith and Judy Reyes.

Preview performances begin May 17 for the MCC Theater production.

Plays by LaBute, who received a master’s degree in theater in 1989 from Kansas University, include “Fat Pig,” “The Distance From Here,” “The Shape of Things” and “The Mercy Seat.” His films include “In the Company of Men,” “Your Friends & Neighbors” and “Nurse Betty.”

From worst to first

London – The wife of Britain’s Prince Charles said she was “lost for words” at being named “Spouse of the Year” by a satirical magazine for older readers.

The former Camilla Parker Bowles said Tuesday she regretted being unable to attend the awards ceremony organized by The Oldie magazine because she was on “spousing duties” in “some far-flung corner of the globe.” Her speech was read by friend and author Jilly Cooper.

The royal couple began a tour of the Middle East on Monday.

The citation said the 58-year-old Duchess of Cornwall had shown strength and conviction under the public gaze.

Her marriage last April has thrust the home-loving duchess into the spotlight as she has carried out a variety of royal duties with her husband.