Singer Charlotte Church announces pregnancy

London – Welsh singer Charlotte Church, who has performed for President Clinton and Pope John Paul II, announced Thursday that she is pregnant. According to her Web site, Church and rugby star-boyfriend Gavin Henson are “delighted.”

“In an ideal world, we would not have made this announcement so early in the pregnancy,” the Web site said. “However, due to recent speculation and persistent questions from the media about this most private of matters, Charlotte felt she had no choice other than to go public and she was keen to ensure that her fans had the opportunity to read the truth here first.”

Speculation began about Church’s pregnancy when she was seen avoiding alcohol at her 21st birthday party.

Church, who sang at the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, hosts her own show on British television. She was named GQ’s Woman of the Year in 2005.

Miss USA discusses struggle to fight alcohol abuse

Lexington, Ky. – Kentucky native Tara Conner plans to stay in New York after her reign as Miss USA ends March 23.

She might return to her home state to attend the Kentucky Derby, but she won’t be sipping any mint juleps, she told the Lexington Herald-Leader in an interview.

“I’m always going to be an alcoholic addict,” Conner, 21, said. “It’s something I’m going to have to live with. I’m going to have to take actions every day to keep a good, healthy recovery.”

Conner endured intense scrutiny after reports she was frequenting New York bars. She underwent drug rehab in Pennsylvania for her drinking.

“Rehab for me was basically like an awakening,” she said. “I had troubles. We all have issues we have to deal with.

“It humbled me a lot. It taught me how to be honest. It taught me to be the genuine Tara. I didn’t know who she was.”

Anna Nicole’s burial to be lavish, private and ‘very pink’

Nassau, Bahamas – Former Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith will be buried beside her son today in a custom-made gown after an extravagant, private and “very pink” memorial service bringing together the three people battling for custody of her baby daughter.

The memorial service at Mount Horeb Baptist Church, next to a shopping mall west of downtown Nassau, will be “over the top,” with up to 300 guests, a singer and copious amounts of pink flowers, organizer Patrik Simpson said.

Smith, 39, died Feb. 8 in Florida, setting off a battle between her partner, Howard K. Stern; her mother, Virgie Arthur; and her ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead about the burial and custody of her 5-month-old daughter, Dannielynn, who could potentially inherit millions.