July 1st, 2009
10:09 PM ET

Backstage with Il Divo

Il Divo is a group of hunks with perfect harmony. And tonight, CNN.com is backstage with the internationally renowned quartet at Atlanta's Fox Theater.

Il Divo's Carlos Marin gets ready to hit the stage.

With the theater empty, it's a real treat to stroll the stage with the group. Generous with their time, they took us backstage to see where they quick-change during the show and talked about their healthy habits - sipping fresh juices and munching on carrots and celery in the green room. David Miller, the group's American tenor, keeps his energy up with an energy drink before the show.

Now on stage, before a packed house, their rich harmony is bouncing off the walls. It really does send chills through your body.

And there's one other quality the group's millions of fans are fond of: they're handsome to boot.

The ladies love the operatic quartet, who are dressed in Armani suits and shiny blue patent-leather shoes.

"Absolutely scrumptious," says a die-hard fan at a private meet-and-greet at tonight's Atlanta concert. Fans say it cost them several hundred dollars to attend the quick private reception and snap a photo with Sebastien, Carlos, David and Urs.

Another fan - who's attending her 12th concert  - calls herself an Il Divo Diva.  Marlene Chapman says she first heard the quartet on Oprah the year her husband died and they helped to get her through that tough time.

Brought together by Simon Cowell in 2004, the four singers represent four countries (U.S., France, Spain and Switzerland). Il Divo is currently on the U.S. leg of their worldwide tour, "An Evening with Il Divo."

- Melissa Long, CNN.com Live


Filed under: Music
July 1st, 2009
04:28 PM ET

Karl Malden dies

Stars are dropping like flies... another one today.

Malden

Actor Karl Malden, who starred in the classic films "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "On the Waterfront", has died at the age of 97, we have confirmed.

Malden's manager, Bud Ross, told CNN the actor died in his sleep early Wednesday at his home in the LA area. He didn't know the cause of death.

"It could be a combination of things," Ross told us. "He was 97 years old."

Malden earned two Academy Award nominations, and won for his supporting role in "Streetcar" in 1952.

He also won an Emmy for a TV movie in 1985 and was nominated for another four Emmys for the television series "The Streets of San Francisco".

A trench coat-wearing Malden also appeared in TV ads for the American Express card, imploring viewers, "Don't leave home without it."  Remember those ads?

A memorial service is expected to be held within the next three to four weeks, Ross tells us.

This makes at least seven celebrity deaths within the last week or so... Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, 50s actress Gale Storm, pitchman Billy Mays, comedian/impressionist Fred Travalena and now Karl Malden.

Celebs, check your pulse!  Make sure you have one.

July 1st, 2009
09:03 AM ET

Amy Adams to star in 'The Fighter'

Actress Amy Adams, seen previously as a nun in "Doubt," will star as the love interest in the upcoming film "The Fighter." And Jude Law is moving his rendition of "Hamlet" from London, England, to Broadway. Plus the Academy has invited a few new members to join its ranks... find out who in today's buzz with JD Cargill:


Filed under: movies
July 1st, 2009
01:18 AM ET

New details on Farrah's funeral

Farrah's son Redmond O'Neal DID attend the funeral and WAS seen in public!  His hair was cut so short he looked quite different than before (presumably a jail requirement that he get a buzz cut). 

He served as a pallbearer along with his father, Ryan O'Neal.  Many still photographers and TV crews covering the funeral didn't recognize Redmond.

Among the other attendees were Marla Maples, Penny Marshall, comedian Garry Shandling, Robert Greenwald (who directed Farrah in "The Burning Bed"), actor Bruce Davison (who played Senator Kelly in the "X-Men" sequel) and fellow "Charlie's Angels" star Kate Jackson

We did not spot Angels Jaclyn Smith or Cheryl Ladd.

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