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NewsApril 19, 2002

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The remaining legal challenge over the death of country music star Tammy Wynette has been resolved in a secret, out-of-court settlement between her daughters and a Pittsburgh doctor. Lawyers for both sides confirmed on Wednesday that they had reached a confidential agreement over claims by the singer's four daughters that Dr. Wallis Marsh contributed to Wynette's death in 1998...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The remaining legal challenge over the death of country music star Tammy Wynette has been resolved in a secret, out-of-court settlement between her daughters and a Pittsburgh doctor.

Lawyers for both sides confirmed on Wednesday that they had reached a confidential agreement over claims by the singer's four daughters that Dr. Wallis Marsh contributed to Wynette's death in 1998.

"Both parties are quite happy that it's over and done with," said Wilbur McCoy Otto of Pittsburgh, Marsh's attorney.

Wynette, best known for her hit "Stand By Your Man," died at 55 of heart failure caused by chronic blood clots. She suffered for years with painful stomach ailments and was treated for addiction to painkillers.

Marsh prescribed the painkiller Versed to the singer. The daughters were seeking $50 million, claiming that he mismanaged her case. They also sued the pharmacy Care Solutions of Nashville for delivering the painkiller and Wynette's last husband, George Richey, for helping to administer it.

Andrews' touring life becomes couples' affair

RENO, Nev. -- Four years ago, an unknown kid named Jessica Andrews launched her first tour with Faith Hill.

In June, a much better known Andrews will be touring with Hill's country music superstar husband.

Tim McGraw is keeping concerts to a minimum while he works on a new album and helps tend to a new daughter at home. But he added a handful of tour dates and asked Andrews to join him.

"It's awesome," the 18-year-old said Wednesday.

"We're managed by the same company, so it was, 'Hey, why don't you get Jessica to do some dates?' and Tim was really cool about it. I'm very excited to be doing it with him. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else this summer."

She'll open for McGraw but may sing with him on a song or two if they can work in the rehearsal time.

Their current June dates are in Lincoln, Neb.; Grand Forks, N.D.; Billings, Mont.; Boise, Idaho, and Oshkosh and Cadott, Wis.

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Andrews' album "Who I Am" went gold three weeks after its release. The title song was her first No. 1 country hit.

O'Donnell gives praise to beauty industry

NEW YORK -- Rosie O'Donnell praised the beauty industry's commitment to charities that support women with cancer at the Cosmetic Executive Women's Beauty Awards.

O'Donnell took the stage Wednesday at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel immediately after Crest Whitestrips, a teeth-whitening product, won a "Best in Beauty" honor. She joked that she's "still waiting for the Procter & Gamble fat strips."

But she also said the industry's commitment to charities that support women with cancer was outstanding, citing the CEW's Cancer and Careers Web site as a helpful resource.

Scholarship fund made in Robert Urich's name

SALT LAKE CITY -- A scholarship fund will be established at Park City High School in the name of Robert Urich.

Urich, an Emmy-winning actor best known for his starring roles in sleuth series such as "Vega$" and "Spenser: For Hire," died Tuesday at a California hospital of cancer. He was 55.

For most of the 1990s, he split his time between Los Angeles and a sprawling home in Deer Valley.

Urich and his wife, Heather Menzies, were active in the Utah arts community, raising money to help build the 1,200-seat Eccles Performing Arts Center at Park City High School.

Teri Orr, executive director of the Eccles Center, said Tuesday the high school would establish a scholarship in Urich's name.

"The center probably wouldn't have gotten off the ground without him lending his presence to the effort," Orr said. The center opened in 1998 with a gala event with Urich as host.

The Urichs organized a celebrity ski event and were the hosts of fund-raising dinners at their home, she said. "He was very generous with his time."

--From wire reports

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