People in the news

The latest news on today's hottest celebrities ...

OPRAH WINFREY: Oprah Winfrey revealed on her U.S. talk show she discovered in November she has a half-sister who was put up for adoption as a child.

Winfrey said her mother, Vernita Lee, kept the secret for decades and only confirmed she had a sibling at Thanksgiving.

The media mogul was born to teenage parents who broke up shortly after her birth. Winfrey was raised in poverty alternately by her mother, grandmother and father.

Winfrey said on the show she learned her younger half-sister, Patricia, was put up for adoption shortly after her 1963 birth. Patricia spent time in foster homes and was adopted when she was 7. Winfrey was 9 at the time and living with her father.

"Patricia is my half-sister who I never knew existed," Winfrey said.

Patricia, whose last name was not disclosed, appeared on Monday's edition of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," while Lee told her part of the story in a pre-recorded segment.

The identity of Patricia's father was not disclosed.

Lee admitted she gave up her baby because she couldn't afford to raise her and wanted to get off of public assistance. She said she tried to get the child back but she had already been placed with a family.

Patricia said she always hoped her biological mother would come back for her.

"I always had a feeling that she didn't need to give me up and her saying that she came back to get me, it means a lot," Patricia said.

Winfrey said she became aware of the family connection after Patricia and her two children reached out to Winfrey's mother and niece, and underwent a DNA test.

AARON CARTER: Aaron Carter's manager said the U.S. singer and actor has checked into a treatment facility to work on some emotional and spiritual issues.

"He has chosen to enter a facility where he feels he will get the guidance and cleansing he needs, which in turn will help him on the music journey he's about to take," his manager, Johnny Wright, said in a statement issued to People.com.

People.com said the statement didn't offer details regarding the problems Carter, 23, is trying to address or where exactly he is seeking help for them.

E! News said Carter, who was arrested in 2008 for investigation of marijuana possession, checked into a Southern California center this month for "addiction issues."

The brother of Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys is best known for his work on the reality shows "Dancing with the Stars" and "House of Carters." Aaron Carter also made appearances on "Lizzie McGuire," "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" and "7th Heaven."

MACAULAY CULKIN: Former child star Macaulay Culkin says reports claiming he has been dating Spanish porn star Irene Lopez are untrue.

Culkin and his longtime girlfriend, "Black Swan" actress Mila Kunis, recently broke up.

Lopez was quoted last week as saying she and the 30-year-old actor, who was 10 when he rocketed to fame as the star of "Home Alone," have since been spending time together. However, Culkin disputed her remarks Monday.

"As I do with many fans, I briefly met and took a photo with Irene Lopez at her request," Culkin told E! News. "I have had no contact with this woman in any capacity, social or otherwise before or since that picture was taken. Any reports to the contrary are false."

His publicist reiterated his denial.

"The reports that Macaulay Culkin is dating Irene Lopez are completely false. We are disappointed that Ms. Lopez has told E! Entertainment fictitious stories regarding Mr. Culkin," Culkin's representative, Michelle Bega, told E!

JAY LENO: Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals announced it has selected U.S. comedian and talk-show host Jay Leno its 2011 Man of the Year.

The roast and award ceremony honoring the host of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" will take place Feb. 4.

The Ivy League school's drama company said last week it had chosen "The Kids Are All Right" actress Julianne Moore as its Woman of the Year.

The parade and roast for Moore will be Thursday, organizers said.