Court lets Anna Nicole’s ex-boyfriend leave with infant

Nassau, Bahamas – A Bahamian court cleared the way Friday for Anna Nicole Smith’s ex-boyfriend to leave with their baby daughter, rejecting an appeal by the mother of the former reality TV star.

The judges ruled that a U.S. court would likely have the final say in the custody dispute between Virgie Arthur and Larry Birkhead, who was confirmed as the

7-month-old baby’s father after undergoing DNA testing.

Arthur was challenging a judge’s decision this week to let Birkhead leave the island chain with Dannielynn.

Birkhead, a 34-year-old Los Angeles photographer, picked up a revised birth certificate at the Nassau registry later Friday. A court ordered the name of Smith’s last companion, Howard K. Stern, removed and the girl’s last name changed to Birkhead.

Stern, who has been caring for the girl in the oceanfront home he shared with Smith, patted Birkhead on the back after the ruling and said he was preparing himself emotionally to hand over custody.

“It’s difficult for me, but since paternity tests made it clear that Larry was the father, I knew it was inevitable,” Stern said. “I just want Dannielynn to have a good life, and I’m confident Larry will give it to her.”

Jazz Fest honors Ed Bradley with funeral parade

New Orleans – CBS newsman Ed Bradley was a big fan of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. On Friday, the Jazz Fest honored his memory and his two decades of support with an opening day jazz funeral procession, complete with two brass bands, above.

Bradley, who died in November, had wanted to be remembered at the festival with a “second line” parade, so-called because watchers often fall in to form a second line of paraders.

“He put it in his will. He wanted a second line and a New Orleans brass band and Quint Davis to put it all together,” said his widow, Patricia Blanchet.

That’s what I want: McCartney fortune ranks 3rd

London – Paul McCartney is ranked third on an annual list of Britain’s richest musical figures, with a fortune estimated at $1.4 billion.

The Sunday Times’ annual Rich List, released Friday, said the former Beatle’s fortune was down $200 million from last year, due to the estimated cost of his upcoming divorce from Heather Mills.

Clive Calder, the former Zomba records label boss whose acts included Britney Spears and ‘N Sync, was at the top of the music list, with a fortune estimated at $2.6 billion.

Andrew Lloyd Webber was in second place at $1.5 billion. The composer has had a good year thanks to his role as producer of a West End revival of “The Sound of Music.”

The list also includes theater producer Cameron Mackintosh; “American Idol” impresario Simon Fuller; pop queen Madonna and her husband, Guy Ritchie; Elton John; Mick Jagger; entertainment entrepreneur Robert Stigwood; crooner Tom Jones; and Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.

Silverman says host gig a pre-MTV dream come true

New York – She’s fulfilling a lifelong dream, jokes Sarah Silverman, host of this year’s MTV Movie Awards.

“Ever since I was a little girl, before it even started in 1980 – MTV – I said, ‘Someday, I want there to be an all-music channel that gives out awards for movies. And I want to host that show,”‘ the 36-year-old actress-comedian said in an interview.

The show will air live June 3 from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.

Despite her experience in front of an audience, it’s “starting to sink in” that the 16th annual ceremony will be live for the first time, she said.

“I mean, I’m not a big swearer or anything, but I still seem to say things that you can’t say on basic cable, so : we’re gonna have to have, like, a plan,” she said.