Mickey Rourke’s beloved Chihuahua dies

New York — Mickey Rourke is headed to the Academy Awards both as a nominee and a grieving pet owner after the death of his 17-year-old Chihuahua, Loki.

A representative for Rourke, Judy Woloshen, said the actor’s beloved dog died Monday night.

Says Rourke: “Loki is deeply missed but with me in spirit. I feel very blessed that she fell asleep peacefully in my arms.”

Rourke, who’s having a career comeback with his acclaimed performance in “The Wrestler,” was especially close to Loki and is a longtime owner of chihuahuas.

Rourke thanked all his dogs — living and dead — after winning the Golden Globe for best actor last month, saying “sometimes when a man’s alone, all you got is your dog.”

Usher’s wife checks out of Brazil hospital

Sao Paulo, Brazil — The wife of R&B singer Usher was released from a Sao Paulo hospital after spending 11 days recovering from a cardiac arrest she suffered shortly before undergoing plastic surgery, a hospital spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Tameka Raymond left the Sirio-Libanes Hospital Monday night, said the spokeswoman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, per hospital policy.

Ellen Dastry, a spokeswoman for the doctor who was to perform the operation, said last week that Raymond suffered a cardiac arrest while being anesthetized ahead of a “simple liposuction” at Sao Paulo’s Sao Rafael Hospital.

Harry Connick Jr. to attend Mardi Gras

New Orleans — Harry Connick Jr. is going home for Mardi Gras. The New Orleans native and co-founder of the Krewe of Orpheus is returning home to celebrate Carnival with his family, friends and krewe mates.

Connick has been busy promoting “New in Town,” the romantic comedy starring Connick and Renee Zellweger, and his spokeswoman originally said he would not be able to attend Mardi Gras festivities this year.

But on Wednesday, Orpheus officials were thrilled to learn Connick’s plans had changed.

“We are so excited Harry will be joining us this year,” Captain Sonny Borey said in a statement. “His schedule has been so intense, and I know it was difficult for him to clear. It was a great surprise.”

Connick will ride in the Orpheus parade, which rolls through the city Monday night, and he will attend the glitzy ball that will follow, said krewe spokesman Ardley Hanemann.

‘Hannah Montana’ movie excludes Parton

Oxon Hill, Md. — It’s all over the Internet that Dolly Parton will be in the upcoming “Hannah Montana” movie, but Parton says she didn’t make the cut.

“I’m not in the movie,” she said. “I wish I had been.”

According to Parton, producers had asked her early on if she would revisit her recurring TV role as Aunt Dolly in the film, due out April 10, starring teen sensation Miley Cyrus.

“I said I would love to! I assumed that they were gonna be writing me a part,” she said in a recent interview.

But her character was not included in the script.

Even though she’s disappointed, Parton said little kids still come up to her all the time, saying “Hi, Aunt Dolly!” The 63-year-old singer called doing the TV show “probably the best move” she’s ever made, since it introduced her to an entire new generation.

Parton is now blogging on her Web site and is active on her Facebook and MySpace pages.

“I feel like I came from the dark ages into the light ages. When I first started out, we didn’t even have electricity,” she said. “I was singing on TV before we even owned one. Now here I am in this high tech world. I don’t even know half of what the stuff means. But I’m on it.”

Hendrix estate wins trademark dispute

Seattle — A company that promoted “Hendrix Electric” vodka is paying $3.2 million to the estate of rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix, which claimed the spirit infringed on the Hendrix trademark and was created in poor taste.

A federal judge last year sided with Experience Hendrix, the company that controls the trademark, in determining that Seattle businessman Craig Dieffenbach and his Electric Hendrix LLC didn’t have permission to use the guitarist’s image or name.

A trial was scheduled for this month to determine how much Dieffenbach should have to pay in damages. Instead, the sides negotiated an agreement by which Dieffenbach and Electric Hendrix would pay $3.2 million.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Zilly entered a judgment for that amount last week and ordered Dieffenbach and his companies to stop selling and marketing the vodka or any other products branded with the Hendrix name.

“This judgment recognizes our family’s long-standing commitment to preserve the Jimi Hendrix legacy and artistic vision,” Jimi’s stepsister, Janie Hendrix, said in a written statement.

First lady hosts Black History Month gathering

Washington — Foot-stomping music filled the East Room of the White House on Wednesday as first lady Michelle Obama hosted nearly 200 schoolchildren for a Black History Month celebration featuring Sweet Honey in the Rock, an award-winning female a cappella ensemble.

Obama seemed a bit surprised when the sixth- and seventh-graders from three local schools said yes, they knew slaves helped build the White House, that President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation upstairs in a bedroom named for him, and that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders met in the building with Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson to discuss the end of segregation.

“So you guys know your history. That’s a good thing,” she said. “That means your parents and teachers are doing their jobs.”