Annie Lennox has spinal surgery

New York – Annie Lennox is recovering at her London home after having spinal surgery to release an impinged nerve, according to her representatives.

The singer-songwriter underwent an operation last week following a painful back spasm she suffered while attending the international AIDS conference in Mexico City as an ambassador for Oxfam, according to a statement released by her management and record label Monday.

Lennox, 53, recently launched a campaign called “Sing”, which includes a song she recorded with 23 female singers, including Madonna, to raise money for AIDS.

Her upcoming greatest-hits album “The Annie Lennox Collection” was originally scheduled to be released Sept. 16, but has been postponed until spring so Lennox will be able to promote it following a full recovery.

Islamists want Lavigne concert canceled

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Malaysia’s Islamic opposition party has urged the government to cancel a concert by Avril Lavigne, saying the Canadian singer’s on-stage moves are “too sexy,” an official said Monday.

Lavigne, a Grammy-nominated rock singer who burst to fame with her 2002 debut album “Let’s Go,” plans to start her monthlong Asia tour with a performance in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 29.

The youth wing of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party said Lavigne’s concert would promote wrong values ahead of Malaysia’s Aug. 31 independence day.

“It is considered too sexy for us. : It’s not good for viewers in Malaysia,” said Kamarulzaman Mohamed, a party official. “We don’t want our people, our teenagers, influenced by their performance. We want clean artists, artists that are good role models.”

A spokesman for the concert’s organizer, Galaxy Group, denied that Lavigne’s show had any “negative elements.”

Malaysia requires all performers to wear clothes without obscene or drug-related images and be covered from chest to knees. They must also refrain from jumping, shouting, hugging and kissing on stage.

Still, conservative Muslims often protest Western and even Malaysian music shows that they deem to be inappropriate.

Applegate: I’m ‘100 percent’ cancer free

New York – Christina Applegate says she has a clean bill of health after undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

“I’m clear,” Applegate tells ABC News’ “Good Morning America” in an interview airing today. “Absolutely 100 percent clear and clean. It did not spread. They got everything out, so I’m definitely not going to die from breast cancer.”

Applegate’s interview with “GMA” was taped Monday.

Applegate, 36, says that after the diagnosis she began following a healthy diet of fish, grains, beans and vegetables, and avoiding processed foods.

The actress, whose mother battled breast cancer, says she began getting mammograms at the age of 30.

Applegate is scheduled to appear on a TV special, “Stand Up to Cancer,” to be aired on ABC, CBS and NBC on Sept. 5 to raise funds for cancer research.

Filings: Spears’ custody fight costly

Los Angeles – Britney Spears’ recently resolved custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline wasn’t just messy, it was expensive.

Court documents show legal bills submitted on behalf of two law firms who represented Spears total more than $466,000. That’s on top of the $250,000 the 26-year-old pop singer has agreed to pay Federline’s attorneys.

The largest bill comes from attorney Stacy D. Phillips, who says in court filings that she is owed nearly $407,000 for four months of work. Phillips claims she has written off another $125,000 in fees.

Attorney Laura Wasser, who took over the case in June and negotiated an agreement between Federline and Spears’ camp that allows the singer more time with her young sons, is seeking $60,000. She worked on the case nearly two months.

Federline retains full custody of the children, but Spears has some overnight visits.

Spears and Federline were married in 2004 and completed their divorce last July. She pays him $20,000 a month under an agreement finalized in July.

Donnie Wahlberg and wife file for divorce

Los Angeles – Donnie Wahlberg and his wife are calling it quits after nearly nine years of marriage.

Wahlberg and his wife, Kim Fey Wahlberg, each filed for divorce last Wednesday in separate counties in the Los Angeles area, court records show.

Kim Wahlberg cited “irreconcilable differences” in her filings in Los Angeles Superior Court. Donnie Wahlberg’s petition was filed in Ventura County.

The couple were married in August 1999 and separated earlier this year.

The move comes as Wahlberg, 39, prepares to tour with a reunited New Kids on the Block and appears on the big screen in “Righteous Kill,” which will be released on Sept. 12.

The former couple have two sons, ages 15 and 7.