People talk 03/04/03

Anastacia to undergo treatment for cancer

NEW YORK -- Anastacia is scheduled to undergo radiation therapy after having surgery to remove cancer from her breast, her publicist said Monday.

The 30-year-old pop singer, who also had reconstructive surgery on her breast, underwent a seven-hour operation last month at an undisclosed hospital in New York. Her cancer was detected during a routine checkup in January.

Her doctor said the cancer was aggressive and had been caught before it developed into a "more immediate life-threatening condition."

"Although what Anastacia has is serious, she is very lucky," said Dr. Alexander Swistel. "Her prognosis is good, as are her spirits, which figures into any patient's successful recovery."

The singer is scheduled to begin six weeks of radiation therapy in the coming weeks.

In a statement, Anastacia thanked well-wishers and vowed to keep battling the disease. She also urged women to get a mammogram early.

Anastacia's latest song, "Love Is a Crime," is on the soundtrack to the Oscar-nominated jazz musical "Chicago."

Seinfelds announce birth of baby boy

NEW YORK -- Jerry Seinfeld and his wife, Jessica, are the parents of a son, Julian Kal Seinfield.

The baby, who weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces, was born Saturday, said Elizabeth Clark, a spokeswoman for the 48-year-old comedian and his wife.

The couple's daughter, Sascha, is 2 years old.

"Mom, dad, Sascha and baby are all happy and healthy," Clark said Monday.

Madonna plans to write children's storybooks

LONDON -- "The English Roses" will be the first of five illustrated storybooks for young readers by singer-actress Madonna, each featuring a different celebrated illustrator, the Penguin Group said.

"The English Roses" will be published in hardcover in September and distributed simultaneously worldwide, the Penguin Group said Monday. There were no additional details.

"Madonna is an artist with a universal appeal and these books will touch children of all backgrounds everywhere in the world," said chairman and chief executive John Makinson.

Penguin Group has bought the English language rights from Callaway Editions, the New York-based publisher of illustrated books, which will publish the books in the United States.

In all other English language markets, the books will be published by Puffin, the children's imprint of Penguin Group (UK).

Nicholas Callaway, founder and publisher of Callaway Editions, added that the singer "has drawn on a lifelong passion for and deep familiarity with literature and children's books to create contemporary classics that combine great storytelling with ravishing art."

The target readership will be ages 6 and older.

Civil rights pioneer Parks might not attend Oscars

DETROIT -- A documentary about Rosa Parks has been nominated for an Oscar, but the civil rights pioneer hasn't decided whether she'll attend the ceremony.

She's been invited to attend the ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on March 23 by civil rights attorney Morris Dees.

The 90-year-old Parks will make a decision later this month, said Elaine Steele, co-founder of the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Improvement.

Parks is the subject of "Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks," which is nominated for a best-documentary (short subject) Oscar.

She made history in December 1955 when she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Ala., city bus, triggering a 381-day boycott. The protest led to the desegregation of public transportation nationwide and turned its leader, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., into a national figure.

Sheen: NBC fears fallout from his war opposition

LOS ANGELES -- Martin Sheen said NBC executives fear his opposition to a United States-led war against Iraq will hurt his popular TV series "The West Wing."

Sheen, who plays President Josiah Bartlet on the NBC series, told the Los Angeles Times for a story Sunday that the show's staff has been "100 percent supportive" but top network executives have "let it be known they're very uncomfortable with where I'm at" on the war.

The 62-year-old actor helped lead a "Virtual March on Washington" last week that flooded the White House with thousands of anti-war e-mails and has spoken out against the potential war in public.

But NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks told The Associated Press on Sunday that she knows of "no concern among top management at NBC regarding Mr. Sheen's stand against the war or fear that it could impact the show."

Tickets in demand for Springsteen homecoming

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Bruce Springsteen's homecoming has broken a record.

Fans snapped up tickets to seven July shows in Giants Stadium, the first time in Ticketmaster history that a performer had sold tickets for seven stadium dates in a single day.

Ticket demand for three announced shows on July 15, 17 and 18 was so extraordinary that two more dates were added on July 21 and 24. When the press for tickets continued, two more shows -- July 26 and 27 -- were tacked on, said officials at the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

More than 300,000 tickets were expected to eventually trade hands for the Springsteen extravaganza. The tour again features Springsteen with the E Street Band.

Springsteen, who won three Grammy Awards last week for his Sept. 11-inspired "The Rising," also extended his record as the top-selling concert attraction at the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

-- From wire reports