Hearing held in Spears conservatorship case

Los Angeles – The court commissioner who placed Britney Spears under conservatorship held a closed-door hearing on an unspecified emergency motion Thursday, a day after the troubled pop star was suddenly released from a psychiatric hospital and ended up being pursued through the city by paparazzi.

The motion was brought before Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz by the singer’s father, James Spears, and lawyer Andrew Wallet, who is part of the conservatorship, court spokesman Allan Parachini said.

Parachini said that the motion was unopposed but that he could release no details.

“Everything about this matter is sealed,” Parachini said after the hearing.

Present in court were attorneys for James Spears, along with Wallet and a court-appointed attorney for Britney Spears.

The singer was taken to a psychiatric hospital at UCLA Medical Center on Jan. 31 under police escort but was discharged Wednesday over the recommendation of her treating psychiatrist and against the wishes of both her parents.

“We are deeply concerned about our daughter’s safety and vulnerability, and we believe her life is presently at risk,” the statement from James and Lynne Spears said. “We ask only that the court’s orders be enforced so that a tragedy may be averted.”

Goetz last week named James Spears as conservator of his 26-year-old daughter and named him and Wallet conservators of her estate. The commissioner has ordered the conservatorship to last until at least Feb. 14.

Theron named Hasty Pudding Woman of Year

Cambridge, Mass. – Before Charlize Theron could pick up her Woman of the Year award, she had to prove she was worthy.

That meant dancing to disco music, striking modeling poses and wooing someone wearing an elephant suit and a pink sparkly bra – all to delight of the cast members of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals at Harvard University, the nation’s oldest undergraduate drama troupe. Theron’s efforts landed her a gold-colored pudding pot.

“I hope you all know I’m a high school dropout. I just thought I’d be clean with you guys,” Theron said Thursday.

Actor Christopher Walken is to receive the Hasty Pudding Man of the Year Award on Feb. 15, before the opening night performance of “Fable Attraction.”

Cher to be headline act at Caesars Palace

Las Vegas – She has released 25 albums that have sold more than 100 million copies and has enjoyed a career that has included concerts, recordings, Broadway, TV, film acting and directing, and books. Now she’s taking her show to Vegas.

Cher announced Thursday she’ll be one of the headline acts at Caesars Palace.

“I started in Vegas at Caesars, so I’ve come full circle,” she said. “I’m back, and I plan to give my fans the best experience yet. I think everybody knows I only do things in a big way.”

The Oscar, Emmy and Grammy award winner said in a statement that she will begin a three-year, 200-show engagement May 6.

“Cher at The Colosseum” is scheduled to include hit songs from her career of more than 40 years, with choreography, costumes and special effects. It is a partnership with AEG Live.

Cher will alternate performances at the 4,300-seat Colosseum with other headline acts Elton John and Bette Midler.

Winehouse visa denied, won’t attend Grammys

London – Amy Winehouse will not attend this year’s Grammy Awards because her request for a visa was denied, but she will perform by satellite at Sunday’s ceremony in Los Angeles.

Winehouse and her acclaimed “Back to Black” album are nominated for Grammys in six categories. She will perform material from the album, an executive close to the Grammys told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Thursday.

The Outside Organization, which counts the troubled retro-soul sensation among its clients, said in an e-mail that Winehouse – who shot to fame with the autobiographical single “Rehab” – was disappointed that her request for a visa had been turned down by the U.S. Embassy.

“Amy has been progressing well since entering a rehabilitation clinic two weeks ago and although disappointed with the decision has accepted the ruling and will be concentrating on her recovery,” the Outside Organization said.

The statement didn’t say why her application was rejected. The U.S. Embassy in London and the State Department in Washington declined to comment late Thursday. Shane O’Neill, Winehouse’s spokesman, said he had nothing to add.

Ex-beauty queen released from jail

Las Vegas – A former beauty queen who was stripped of her tiara after racy photos of her appeared on the Internet has been freed from jail following her arrest on traffic offenses.

Katherine N. “Katie” Rees, 23, a former Miss Nevada USA, was held for about 12 hours at the Clark County jail after police said she was stopped while driving about 3 a.m. Wednesday and became physically aggressive toward a Las Vegas police officer.

Mario Torres, Rees’ attorney in Tampa, Fla., denied Rees was aggressive, and said she chipped or lost a tooth when she was forcefully pushed against her vehicle.

“Based on the information I’ve received, the officer was very aggressive with her,” Torres said. “They used aggression against her.”

Rees was charged with speeding, driving with a suspended license, operating a motor vehicle with suspended license plates, failure to produce proof of insurance and resisting a police officer, police said.

She was released without bail and is due to appear in Las Vegas Justice Court on March 8.