Paul McCartney can now add one more honor to the numerous awards, accolades, and the knighthood he has received. The former Beatle yesterday was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Yale University. In granting the honorary degree to McCartney - Sir Paul McCartney since he was knighted in 1996 - the university said no one compares with the legendary songwriter. Yale said the 65-year-old McCartney awakened a generation, giving a fresh sound to rock, roll, rhythm, and blues. A band played "Hey Jude," a Beatles hit, as McCartney walked on stage to accept the honorary degree. New Haven was the site of a British invasion of sorts on Sunday, as McCartney and former Prime Minister Tony Blair were in town for Yale's 307th commencement. Blair's eldest son, Euan, is completing a master's program in international relations, and the former prime minister, who is to teach a course in the fall, gave a speech on foreign relations to Yale students. McCartney on Sunday toured a downtown art gallery and dined with Yale dignitaries. (AP)
The book on Love
Courtney Love's handlers tried to convince her to have an abortion while she was pregnant with Kurt Cobain's daughter, the now 15-year-old
Frances Bean Cobain, according to the New York Post. The tabloid's Page Six column got its hands on a copy of "Bumping Into Geniuses," a new memoir from former Warner Brothers Records CEO and Nirvana manager
Danny Goldberg, which claims that, during the Hole singer's pregnancy with her daughter, friends grew so concerned about the consequences of her heroin abuse that they tried to talk her out of having the baby. Goldberg tells the story of one of Love's visits to Cedars-Sinai's chemical dependency program, where a doctor advised Love that it "was not a great idea to have a baby while dealing with addiction," wrote Page Six, quoting from Goldberg's book.
'Indy' tops $300m
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" chased down $311.1 million from moviegoers around the world, as nostalgic fans brought along their children to watch
Harrison Ford's latest escapades, distributor Paramount Pictures said yesterday. The tally, according to the studio, included $151.1 million from the United States and Canada - the second-highest Memorial Day holiday weekend opening in history, behind only "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" which made $153 million domestically from Thursday to Monday last year. The film also brought in $160 million from No. 1 launches in 61 other countries, the studio said. (Reuters)
'Potter' actor slain
Rob Knox, 18, who plays a small role as student Marcus Belby in the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" was fatally stabbed outside a bar in Southeast London Saturday morning, according to Us magazine. The BBC reported that police were still questioning a 21-year-old male suspect yesterday. Knox had just completed filming of the latest Harry Potter (which is due to be released in November) and had signed on to appear in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the seventh film in the franchise.
Star power
"I do think about it...but, right up until that Monday after the movie opens and I have 100 percent approval rating and it's like no politician is ever going to have the approval rating."
- Will Smith to Ellen DeGeneres on running for office
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