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People in the news

By United Press International
Singer Whitney Houston died at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on February 11, 2012 it was announced. She was 48 and the cause of her death was unknown. She is shown with her husband Bobby Brown at Disneyland in Anaheim, California on August 7, 2004 file photo. UPI/Jim Ruymen/Files
1 of 2 | Singer Whitney Houston died at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on February 11, 2012 it was announced. She was 48 and the cause of her death was unknown. She is shown with her husband Bobby Brown at Disneyland in Anaheim, California on August 7, 2004 file photo. UPI/Jim Ruymen/Files | License Photo

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

BOBBY BROWN: R&B singer Bobby Brown says he isn't the reason his ex-wife, recording star Whitney Houston, died in Beverly Hills, Calif., after years of drug abuse.

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Houston, the mother of Brown's 19-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina, was found dead in a hotel bathtub Feb. 11. A coroner determined she drowned accidentally after using cocaine and drinking alcohol.

During an interview scheduled to air Wednesday and Thursday on NBC's "Today" show, Brown was asked how he feels about speculation he was to blame for getting Houston hooked on drugs.

"It makes me feel terrible," he answered.

"But you know, I know differently. I think if anyone ever knew us, if anybody ever spent time around us instead of time looking through the bubble -- they would know how we felt about each other. They would know how happy we were together … . And the reality show ['Being Bobby Brown'] gave us a wake-up, because we saw each other in -- we looked at the bubble and saw ourselves. We was able to see what other people were saying about us, you know? We was able to see that our drug use had affected our relationship, had affected the love that we felt for each other."

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Brown said he never used narcotics before he met Houston.

"It's just unexplainable -- how one could, you know, [say that I] got her addicted to drugs. I'm not the reason she's gone," he said.

Three of Brown's children who were close to Houston -- Landon, Bobby Jr. and La'Princia, and Brown's fiancee also were interviewed for the program.

Brown said he's "very much clean and sober from narcotics," despite his recent no-contest plea for driving under the influence last month.

Brown also discusses the last time he saw Houston, how he found out about her death and his relationship with their daughter, NBC said.


MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL: Maggie Gyllenhaal's publicist said Monday the actress gave birth to a second daughter in New York.

The girl, Gloria Ray, was born April 19, the publicist told People.com.

Gyllenhaal has been married to film star Peter Sarsgaard since 2009. They also have a 5-year-old daughter, Ramona.


JOHN LEGEND: Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter John Legend has joined the cast of the U.S. singing competition series "Duets," ABC said Monday.

Legend and fellow recording stars Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles and Robin Thicke will individually search the country for two singers each thinks is worthy of being their duet partners.

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The stars will then compete alongside the newcomers each week before a live studio audience. The winning duet partner will be awarded a recording contract with Hollywood Records.

Lionel Richie initially was announced as a cast member of "Duets," but his name wasn't mentioned in a news release ABC issued Monday and no explanation was given for the casting change.

The show is to premiere on the network May 24, with TV personality Quddus serving as host.

"I'm thrilled to be part of 'Duets' and I'm looking forward to finding an undiscovered gem out there. This is going be a lot of fun," Legend said in a statement Monday.


PRINCE CHARLES: Britain's Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, are planning a three-day visit to New Brunswick, Toronto and Saskatchewan, Canadian officials said Monday.

The Department of Canadian Heritage said the royal visit will begin May 21 as part of Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee celebrations, the Postmedia News reported. Prince Charles is the monarch's son and heir to the British throne.

He and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, are scheduled to begin their tour by flying into Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in Oromocto, New Brunswick.

"We are delighted that Their Royal Highnesses will join Canadians in celebrating the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty's reign as Queen of Canada," Heritage Minister James Moore said in a statement issued to the Postmedia News. "We welcome the royal couple and look forward to showing them some of the best of what Canada has to offer."

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