Matthew McConaughey birth to bear more fruit

New York – Matthew McConaughey says the birth of his son will help bring a little joy to others in the world someday.

The actor kept the placenta from the July birth of his son and plans to plant it in an orchard, he tells CNN’s “House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta” in interview scheduled to air in two parts Aug. 9 and Aug 16.

McConaughey says he hopes it will fertilize the land, a ritual long followed in several cultures.

“It’s going to be in the orchards and it’s going to bear some wonderful fruit,” he says, according to an interview transcript. “When I was in Australia, they had a placenta tree that was on the river … and all the placentas of all that tribe, all that clan, whatever aboriginal tribe that was, all the placentas went under that one tree and it was this huge behemoth of just health and strength.

“This tree was just growing taller and stronger above the rest of Mother Nature around it. It was gorgeous.”

McConaughey also says he and his girlfriend Camila Alves have enjoyed integrating their new baby, Levi Alves McConaughey, into their lives. Already they’ve started introducing him to the “sights and the sounds” of the world – including a John Mellencamp concert.

“You’re never told in our house, ‘Shh, Levi is sleeping.’ No. Get used to the ambiance. Come with us. That’s how I was raised,” he says.

Clay Aiken now a father

Raleigh, N.C. – Former “American Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken is a father.

The 29-year-old crooner from Raleigh announced the birth of Parker Foster Aiken on his Web site’s blog Friday.

“No hyphens. One first name,” he wrote. “One middle name. One last name.”

Aiken’s mother, Faye, told Raleigh TV station WRAL the child was born in North Carolina.

Aiken was a favorite of fans during the second season of “American Idol,” where he finished second to Ruben Studdard.

His album “Measure of a Man” went double platinum in 2003, and he made his Broadway debut this spring in “Monty Python’s Spamalot.”

The baby’s mother is Jaymes Foster, Aiken’s friend and record producer whom he met while performing on “American Idol.” Their son was born at 8:08 a.m. Friday, and weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces and was 19 inches long, according to the statement on the Web site.

“The little man is healthy, happy, and as loud as his daddy,” Aiken wrote. “Mama Jaymes is doing quite well also.”

Pregnant soprano leaves Met’s ‘Boheme’

New York – Soprano Anna Netrebko is extending her pregnancy leave and has withdrawn from performances of Puccini’s “La Boheme” at the Metropolitan Opera in December and January.

Netrebko, 36, announced in February that she and her fiance, Uruguayan baritone Erwin Schrott, were expecting, and the Met said Friday she is due to give birth next month.

“She has decided that she will need a few more weeks than originally planned to be ready for her return to the stage,” the Met said.

Netrebko’s final performance before her maternity leave was a June 27 concert in Vienna, Austria, and she withdrew from a highly anticipated new production of Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette” at Austria’s Salzburg Festival.

A Met revival of Massenet’s “Manon” was changed to “La Boheme” after she became pregnant, and she withdrew from the first four performances while still planning to sing on Dec. 29, and Jan. 3, Jan. 6 and Jan. 10.

Hoffman to direct play

London – Producers say Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman will direct a play in London’s West End later this year.

“Riflemind” tells the story of a rock band getting back together 20 years after its members split up.

The play is by Australian writer Andrew Upton, husband of Hollywood star Cate Blanchett. The production will star Scottish actor John Hannah, whose films include “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “The Mummy” series.

Hoffman is co-artistic director of New York’s LAByrinth Theater Company. He won a best-actor Oscar in 2006 for “Capote.”

Producers announced Friday that “Riflemind” will open Sept.18 at London’s Trafalgar Studios.

Sugarland founder files $1.5M suit against band

Atlanta – A founder of the country band Sugarland is suing the two current members of the popular group for $1.5 million.

According to a lawsuit filed late last month in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, Kristen Hall was to get a cut of the group’s profits even after she left in 2005 for a solo career. The lawsuit says Hall, who founded the band in 2002, has an agreement with Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush to equally share profits and losses.

Hall says in the lawsuit that she has been excluded from the group’s profits since she left.

Sugarland’s publicist referred calls to the band’s attorney, Gary Gilbert, who was unavailable for comment.

The band’s album, “Love on the Inside,” released last month, is No. 1 on Billboard music charts.