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Soprano Elisabeth Soderstrom dead at 82

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Swedish soprano Elisabeth Soderstrom, who suffered a stroke several years ago, has died at the age of 82, her family said.

The Telegraph reported the Stockholm native died Nov. 20. The cause of her death was not specified.

She was best known for her portrayals of the Countess in Tchaikovksy's "The Queen of Spades," the Marschallin in Strauss's "Der Rosenkavalier" and Marguerite in Gounod's "Faust."

The singer also won raves for her interpretations of Leonore in Beethoven's "Fidelio" and another Countess in Strauss's "Capriccio," as well as for her work in the operas of Leos Janacek, the newspaper said.

During her career, Soderstrom performed with the Swedish Royal Opera, Britain's Glyndebourne and the Metropolitan Opera company in New York.

Appointed official court singer to King Gustav VI Adolf in 1959, she also penned a memoir "In My Own Key," which was published in English in 1979, and served as a judge at the Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 1989. She was the director of the Drottningholm Opera Festival from 1991 to 1997, as well.

The Telegraph said Soderstrom is survived by her husband, Sverker Olow; and their three sons.

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Swift, MJ win big at American Music Awards

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Taylor Swift won five awards including Artist of the Year and the late Michael Jackson won four awards Sunday at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles.

Swift -- who was named entertainer of the year and won three other Country Music Association awards Nov. 11 -- added to her collection Sunday with AMA honors for favorite female rock-pop artist, female country artist, adult contemporary artist and country album for "Fearless."

Jackson, who died June 25 at 50, won for favorite male pop-rock artist and male soul-R&B artist. His "Number Ones" won for favorite pop-rock album and soul-R&B album.

The Black Eyed Peas won two AMA honors, for favorite pop-rock and favorite soul-R&B band, duo or group. Jay-Z also won twice -- his "Blueprint 3" was named favorite rap or hip-hop album and he won for favorite male rap or hip-hop artist.

Beyonce won for favorite female soul-R&B artist. Keith Urban was named favorite male country artist and Rascal Flatts won for favorite country band, duo or group.

The "Twilight Soundtrack" won for favorite soundtrack album and Green Day was named favorite alternative rock artist. Aventura won for favorite Latin artist, Mary Mary took the honor for favorite contemporary inspirational artist and Gloriana was named breakthrough artist of 2009.

The awards were presented Sunday at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles in ceremonies televised by ABC.

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A.J. Jewell's body to be exhumed

ATLANTA, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- The remains of A.J. Jewell, the former fiance of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kandi Burruss, will be exhumed for a second autopsy, officials said.

CNN reported Jewell's relatives pressured authorities to re-open their investigation into the man's death because they were not satisfied with the medical examiner's findings.

Fredrick Richardson was arrested on a voluntary manslaughter charge after he and Jewell got into a brawl in the parking lot of an Atlanta strip club last month.

Police said Jewell, a father of six, died from blunt force trauma, but a medical examiner said sickle cell disease also was a factor.

Jewell's family has denied he had sickle cell and insisted other circumstances are to blame for his death, CNN said.

Jewell's father, the Rev. A.B. Jewell Sr., told the news network his family needs to know exactly what happened to A.J.

"I want the public to know my son did not have sickle cell disease, and I hope this next autopsy will prove that my son was murdered," the elder Jewell said.

"There were other things that led up to A.J.'s death, and there are other things that we believe were criminal, that happened after A.J.'s death," family spokesman Markel Hutchins told CNN without offering further details.

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Bulls escape from Cruise-Diaz film set

CADIZ, Spain, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- The escape of seven bulls from the Spanish set of Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz's new big-screen action-comedy has halted production, officials said.

The BBC reported two women were injured during the weekend after the animals took off from the Cadiz film set and stampeded through streets before being captured on a beach. It is still unclear how the bulls escaped, and the nature and extent of the women's injuries were not reported.

Scenes for "Knight and Day" were slated to be shot Monday, however production has been suspended until further notice, the British broadcaster added.

Cruise and Diaz, who co-starred in the 2001 movie "Vanilla Sky," weren't on set when the bulls escaped. The stars reportedly are scheduled to begin filming their scenes for "Knight and Day" next weekend.

"Nothing will be filmed in Cadiz until we have a new plan that guarantees the safety of local residents," a spokesman for the city's mayor told the Diario de Cadiz newspaper.