People talk 8/14/03

'Storm Aid' features GIll, Grant in concert

JACKSON, Tenn. -- About 6,000 people braved foul weather to hear country stars Vince Gill and Darryl Worley, along with Christian music singer Amy Grant, perform for a community still trying to recover from deadly weather in May.

Tuesday night's benefit concert, dubbed "Storm Aid," raised about $600,000, organizers said. The money will help families devastated by tornadoes that killed 11 in Madison County and damaged or destroyed nearly 2,000 homes and businesses in Jackson on May 4.

The benefit was organized by the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation, a partner with the community-wide Disaster Recovery Services.

During Worley's performance, a storm system brought rain and lightning, delaying the performances of Gill, Grant and others for about an hour. Still, fans were excited that such big-name stars had come to Jackson to help.

After the rain stopped, the husband and wife team of Gill and Grant appeared, taking turns at center stage.

"What we want to do more than anything is raise people's spirits," said Gill.

Singer Mary J. Blige to perform at awards show

NEW YORK -- Mary J. Blige is among the latest stars lined up to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The queen of hip-hop soul joins previously announced performers 50 Cent, Coldplay, Christina Aguilera and Good Charlotte.

MTV also said Wednesday that the original five members of Duran Duran will be presenters at the ceremony, along with Drew Barrymore, Avril Lavigne, Ben Stiller, Nelly and Pamela Anderson.

The 20th annual awards show is scheduled to air live at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 from Radio City Music Hall. Chris Rock is the host.

Missy Elliott has the most nominations -- eight -- for her "Work It" video.

Former partner sues actor Alec Baldwin

LOS ANGELES -- Alec Baldwin's former business partner is suing him, claiming the actor owes her $125,000 of his earnings from a recent television movie.

Corrinne Mann and Baldwin formed El Dorado Pictures in 1995, agreeing to develop productions for film and television and split producer fees and profits from any joint projects, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The 45-year-old actor never paid Mann half of the $250,000 he or the production company collected in fees from the movie "Second Nature," according to the lawsuit. Although the film aired on TNT in June, Mann had helped develop it before she and Baldwin severed their relationship in 1998, said her attorney, Ken Nathanson.

Mann, who later formed her own production company, accuses Baldwin of fraud and breach of contract. Her lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Sean Connery keeps word to Czech Republic

PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- Sean Connery returned to Prague for the European opening of his film "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" -- and to keep a promise.

Connery had been forced to leave his Prague hotel because of historic floods while shooting the movie last year.

At a brief ceremony, Connery said he had met with then-President Vaclav Havel during the floods "and on a handshake I said that if the film was any good that I would bring it to Prague" and support Havel's foundation.

"This is a check ... for 845,000 Czech koruna ($59,500) that's going to the foundation," the 72-year-old actor said Tuesday when handing the check to Havel and his wife.

The money will be used to help those affected by the floods, Dagmar Havlova said. Prague Mayor Pavel Bem received a check for the same amount.

White Stripes guitarist details finger injury

DETROIT -- Jack White of the White Stripes has posted on the band's Web site photos of his recent finger injury, which he suffered in a car crash in his hometown of Detroit.

The photos include a graphic shot of medical personnel prying apart White's skin on the damaged finger of his left hand.

Concert dates from July 9 through mid-September have been canceled.