Angelou writing a poem about Barack Obama

Raleigh, N.C. – Upon his election in 1992, Bill Clinton – affectionately referred to as the nation’s first black president – asked Maya Angelou to compose a poem and read it at his inauguration. Angelou feels a new poem welling up inside her following Barack Obama’s election, but she does not expect another command performance.

Angelou raised some eyebrows when she decided to support Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primary over a fellow African-American. But when Clinton withdrew, the writer threw her support behind Obama, “thumping the drum” on his behalf and introducing his wife, Michelle, at an event in Greensboro in September.

The poet and author of such books as “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” said she had a visceral, physical reaction when Obama was declared the winner late Tuesday.

“First I laughed,” she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “Before I could finish laughing, I wept. Then I shook. I mean, I trembled. You know, the old meaning of the word ‘thrill’ has a physical aspect. It’s like, ‘Brrrrr!’ My body started shaking.”

But the experience was also cerebral. Images of slavery and the civil rights movement and of her slain friend Martin Luther King Jr. raced through her mind, and in that moment, she realized that the United States was finally “growing up.”

Angelou said Obama is “a clear and clean wind, a breeze. … There is some poetry in him, yes.”

Britney, Justin perform at Madonna show

Los Angeles – Britney and Justin still share one bond: Madonna.

In separate appearances, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake performed Thursday night during Madonna’s show at Dodger Stadium. The former pop power couple did not take the stage together, and it wasn’t clear if they’d crossed paths.

Rumors of the guest appearances swirled Thursday, making it a can’t-miss event for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars: Elizabeth Banks, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez and Lucy Liu were among those in the first few rows.

Madonna took a moment from her turn onstage to lament the passage of a gay-marriage ban in California.

“I am the luckiest girl in the world,” Madonna said, “but am sad because African-Americans are equal finally, but gay marriage is not.”

Michelle Monaghan gives birth to baby girl

New York – “Eagle Eye” star Michelle Monaghan and her husband Peter White have welcomed a baby girl named Willow Katherine in Los Angeles.

“Everyone is doing great,” Monaghan’s publicist, Jennifer Allen, said Friday.

Willow, who was born Wednesday, is the couple’s first child. The 32-year-old Monaghan married White, a graphic designer, in August 2005. They began dating after meeting in a New York City bar.

Monaghan co-stars with Shia LaBeouf in the thriller “Eagle Eye.” Her screen credits also include “Made of Honor,” “Gone Baby Gone,” Mission: Impossible III,” “North Country,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and “Constantine.”

Prince ordered to pay editor $58,000

Los Angeles – A judge has awarded nearly $58,000 to a man who claims Prince failed to pay him for editing work and unreturned equipment.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gregory Alarcon issued the judgment on Wednesday after conducting a brief trial last month that included testimony from the video editor, Ian C. Lewis.

The judgment fell well short of the $1 million in exemplary damages that Lewis was seeking. Documents show Alarcon also denied Lewis’ claim that Prince and his company broke a $25,000 computer because no receipts were provided.

Lewis sued Prince and his company, Paisley Park Enterprises, in October 2007.

Prince’s attorneys withdrew from the case and he was not represented during the trial.

Police: Katt Williams in weapons arrest

New York – Comedian Katt Williams has been arrested on weapons charges in midtown Manhattan after police say they pulled him over for driving a car without license plates.

The 35-year-old performer was released on bail Thursday in time to make it for his show at Carnegie Hall. He told the audience that he “just got out of jail.”

Police say a handgun was found in Williams’ car after he was stopped for the alleged traffic violation.

His attorney, Charles Ross, did not immediately return a call requesting comment early Friday.

Williams is best known for his role in the movie “Friday After Next” and for his appearances in rap videos. He also voices “A Pimp Named Slickback” in “The Boondocks” animated television series.

Civil trial of former ‘Hills’ star ends

Los Angeles – A jury has awarded $15,000 in punitive damages to a tow truck driver who was slugged by former “Laguna Beach” personality Jason Wahler.

In all, Dario Stevenson won a $20,000 judgment against Wahler after a weeklong trial.

Jurors awarded Stevenson $5,000 on Thursday after finding that Wahler committed battery and inflicted emotional distress on the 41-year-old driver after punching him and hurling racial slurs at him in 2006.

The award was drastically lower than the $1 million that Stevenson’s attorney wanted. He said the award amounted to jurors condoning Wahler’s conduct.