Esquire names Halle Berry sexiest woman alive

A-list women celebrate their own in Hollywood

By Matt Sayles (AP)

In the year of Sarah Palin and \"Sex and the City,\" perhaps it\'s no surprise that an event honoring women drew some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

Nicole Kidman, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Lopez, Diane Keaton and Halle Berry joined dozens of other stars at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills on Monday for Elle magazine\'s 15th annual Women in Hollywood tribute, honoring seven noteworthy women in entertainment.

Chelsea Handler, the evening\'s host, cracked a few jokes at the Republican vice presidential candidate\'s expense.

Said Handler: \"We are more than just a...

R. Kelly seeks $3.4 million from tour promoter

By M. Spencer Green (AP)

R. Kelly has won a $3.4 million award against his former tour promoter and is asking a Los Angeles judge to help him collect.

R. Kelly Touring, which represents the singer, filed court documents on Monday seeking a judge\'s confirmation of the award granted against Georgia-based Rowe Entertainment last month.

Kelly\'s company claimed that Rowe Entertainment and owner Leonard Rowe failed to pay him in full for shows scheduled for late last year and early 2008.

An arbitrator agreed with Kelly\'s claims. Documents show Rowe disputed the arbitration, but did not offer an...

Idol singer Paris Bennett gives birth to girl

By BRANIMIR KVARTUC (AP)

Former \"American Idol\" contestant Paris Bennett has given birth to a daughter named Egypt.

Bennett was in labor for five hours before her 5-pound, 15-ounce baby was born Monday.

The first-time mother is reportedly doing well.

In a news release, the 20-year-old says she\'s \"so excited to finally see my little angel.\" Bennett adds, \"Man, does she have lungs on her. I guess she\'s gearing up to be the next American Idol.\"

Bennett is scheduled to release her first Christmas CD, \"A Royal Christmas,\" on October 14th.

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Doh! Ex-Simpsons writer wins $5,000 prize

By Steve Ruark (AP)

Larry Doyle, a former TV writer-producer for \"The Simpsons,\" was named the winner Monday of this year\'s Thurber Prize for American Humor. He was cited for the novel \"I Love You, Beth Cooper.\"

\"Clearly Larry Doyle was not the BMOC (Big Man On Campus),\" Thurber judge Firoozeh Dumas said in a statement. \"Had Larry been cool, he could have never written `I Love You, Beth Cooper,\' a hilarious yet painfully accurate account of high school in all its pimply glory.\"

Doyle will receive $5,000. The two other finalists were Patricia Marx, for the novel \"Him Her Him Again The...

Madonna gives fans a treat with "Sticky & Sweet"

By Mel Evans (AP)

In a show defined by throbbing dance music, tight choreography, spectacular stage sets and stunning visuals, perhaps the most stirring moment during the kickoff concert to Madonna\'s \"Sticky & Sweet\" tour came when the Material Girl stood onstage with just her guitar and a few musicians for an acoustic set.

As she sang the emotional song from her movie \"Evita,\" Madonna couldn\'t help but wink and smile at the roaring sold-out crowd as she sang the song\'s main refrain and title: \"You must love me.\"

Maybe that\'s because she knew she was right. Even the superstar\'s most...