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U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama applaud the crowd during the Inaugural Ball January 21, 2013 at Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. President Obama was sworn-in for a second term as the 44th President of the United States. UPI/Alex Wong/Pool
U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama applaud the crowd during the Inaugural Ball January 21, 2013 at Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. President Obama was sworn-in for a second term as the 44th President of the United States. UPI/Alex Wong/Pool 
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Published: Jan. 22, 2013 at 7:10 AM
By United Press International

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

MICHELLE OBAMA: First lady Michelle Obama wore a custom ruby chiffon and velvet gown by designer Jason Wu at the inaugural balls in Washington Monday night.

UsMagazine.com said the stylish 49-year-old mother of two also wore a handmade diamond embellished ring by Kimberly McDonald paired with Jimmy Choo shoes.

Wu previously created the one-shouldered white frock Mrs. Obama wore in 2009 to the first inauguration celebration for her husband, President Barack Obama.

The president, who looked dapper in a black tuxedo and white bowtie, hit the dance floor at the Commander-in-Chief ball for military families Monday night as Oscar-winning entertainer Jennifer Hudson sang her rendition of Al Green's classic "Let's Stay Together," UsMagazine.com said.

The first couple were also expected to drop by a larger celebration open to the public later in the evening.


LUPE FIASCO: Hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco sang a song criticizing the Obama administration and others at a private Washington event held to celebrate startups and innovation.

Roll Call said the rapper performed "Words I Never Said" over and over for more than 30 minutes Sunday night, prompting some audience members to boo and shout at him or leave the venue in protest.

His song said the "war on terror" is "a bunch of [expletive]. Just a poor excuse for you to use up all your bullets."

The lyrics talk about "coverups" and budget cuts that hurt children.

Fiasco said if you turn on the TV "all you see's a buncha ... dude is dating so and so, blabbering 'bout such and such and that ain't the Jersey Shore, homey, that's the news."

His song calls talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck racists and says the "Gaza Strip was getting bombed -- Obama didn't say [expletive]. That's why I ain't vote for him, next one either. I'm part of the problem, my problem is I'm peaceful. And I believe in the people."

The organizers of the StartUp RockOn event issued a statement to Roll Call saying Fiasco left the stage "earlier than we had planned," but was not "kicked off stage" for an "anti-Obama rant," as some media reports suggested.

"We are staunch supporters of free speech and free political speech. This was not about his opinions. Instead, after a bizarrely repetitive, jarring performance that left the crowd vocally dissatisfied, organizers decided to move on to the next act," the statement said.

Roll Call cited unnamed sources as saying StartUp RockOn has stopped payment on Fiasco's paycheck for the show.


RICCARDO MUTI: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra says music director Riccardo Muti was "resting comfortably" after hernia surgery Monday in his hometown of Milan, Italy.

"Maestro Muti's surgery went smoothly and he is already resting comfortably, scheduled to go home tomorrow," orchestra spokeswoman Maggie Berndt told the Chicago Tribune Monday.

Muti, 71, had scrapped his Chicago appearances with the orchestra this month to fly to Milan to be treated for the flu; however, he was soon diagnosed with an inguinal hernia and underwent emergency surgery, the Tribune said.

The Italian conductor's poor health also forced him to drop out of the orchestra's 10-day tour of Asia scheduled to begin Friday, the newspaper reported.


'ONE LIFE TO LIVE:' Actors who joined the cast of "General Hospital" when "One Life to Live" was canceled are temporarily leaving their new U.S. show, Daytime Confidential said.

Michael Easton, Roger Howarth and Kristen Alderson began reprising their "OLTL" roles of John McBain, Todd Manning and Starr Manning on "GH" when ABC canceled their soap in 2011, alongside "All My Children."

However, Prospect Park's The Online Network is developing an Internet version of "OLTL" and wants to bring back McBain and the Mannings, Daytime Confidential said. The characters are expected to remain on "GH" until at least February.

"Prospect Park realizes these three characters could initially help draw fans to the new 'One Life,'" a source told the soap opera news website. "There are ongoing talks between ABC and Prospect Park about the characters returning to 'General Hospital' at some point, which could be fine with [Prospect Park] as they eventually want to go much younger with their soaps."

Topics: Al Green, Barack Obama, Ed White, First Lady Michelle Obama, Gaza, Glenn Beck, Jennifer Hudson, Jimmy Choo, Lupe Fiasco, Rush Limbaugh
© 2013 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

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