Rowling once had ‘suicidal thoughts’

London – J.K. Rowling said she contemplated suicide as she suffered from depression before her rise to success, according to an interview with a student journalist.

The Harry Potter author said she had suicidal thoughts in her mid-20s, when she was a single mother and struggling to establish a literary career.

“Mid-20s life circumstances were poor and I really plummeted,” Rowling said, according to an interview posted online by student journalist Adeel Amini.

Rowling said in the interview, parts of which were published in Edinburgh University’s Student magazine, that she sought help from doctors and spent nine months receiving cognitive behavioral therapy, according to Amini.

“We’re talking suicidal thoughts here, we’re not talking, ‘I’m a little bit miserable,”‘ Rowling, 42, was quoted as saying.

Christopher Little, Rowling’s London-based agent, didn’t immediately respond to requests Monday for comment.

Rowling has previously said she suffered depression before her Harry Potter series brought her international success. She has acknowledged that characters featured in the series called Dementors were inspired by her illness.

Corinne Bailey Rae’s husband found dead

London – The husband of Grammy-nominated British singer Corinne Bailey Rae has been found dead.

Police say Jason Rae was found in an apartment in the northern English city of Leeds on Saturday. Officers are awaiting results of toxicology tests to determine the cause of death.

A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of supplying him with drugs but has been released on bail, officials said.

Jason Rae, 31, was a saxophonist with a funk band, the Haggis Horns.

Bailey Rae’s self-titled debut album sold more than 1 million copies in the U.S. after its release in 2006. The 29-year-old was nominated for song of the year at the Grammy Awards in both 2007 and 2008.

Johnny Knoxville’s divorce finalized

Los Angeles – “Jackass” star Johnny Knoxville is officially single.

A judgment finalizing the dissolution of the actor’s 12-year marriage to Melanie Lynn Clapp was entered in Superior Court last Thursday, according to court documents.

Messages left Monday for Knoxville’s publicist and attorney were not immediately returned.

Knoxville, whose birth name is Philip John Clapp, filed for divorce last July citing irreconcilable differences. The couple separated in July 2006.

Knoxville, 37, was seeking joint custody of the pair’s 12-year-old daughter. Custody arrangements and child support were not included in last week’s judgment.

Wham! George Michael announces US tour

New York – Ladies and gentlemen, George Michael is giving North America one more try.

The pop star is gearing up for his first tour of the United States and Canada in 17 years, opening a multicity “25 Live” tour in San Diego on June 17, Michael announced Monday. The tour is scheduled to wrap in Sunrise, Fla., on Aug. 3,

Other stops include Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Boston, Toronto and Montreal.

Michael, 44, sang in the ’80s pop group Wham! before embarking on a successful solo career. He’ll release his greatest hits album “Twenty Five” in the U.S. on April 1.

Timberlake donates to Memphis institutions

Memphis, Tenn. – Justin Timberlake has made two separate donations of $100,000 each to the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and the Memphis Music Foundation.

The 27-year-old area native, who was in Memphis for filming on the independent movie “The Open Road,” presented the checks to the two groups last week at the museum.

Timberlake grew up in the Memphis suburb of Millington. He said he donated the money because music education and keeping Memphis’ music legacy vibrant are important to him.

Tejano singer critical after surgery

Houston – Grammy-winning Tejano singer Emilio Navaira may not survive a severe brain injury suffered when his tour bus slammed into traffic barrels on a Houston interstate, his neurosurgeon said Monday.

“There is a chance he may not make it,” said Dr. Alex Valadka, director of neurotrauma services at Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center and vice chair of neurosciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “That’s how bad it is.”

Valadka and his team operated for two hours to remove a blood clot that was putting pressure on Navaira’s brain after the singer was brought to the hospital following the wreck before dawn Sunday.

The 45-year-old singer and six members of his band and entourage were hurt in the crash. One other band member remained hospitalized Monday.