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Miracles singer Bobby Rogers dead at 73

DETROIT, March 4 (UPI) -- Motown musician Bobby Rogers has died of complications from diabetes in his Southfield, Mich., home, his friend Jeanne Sorensen told The Detroit News.

He was 73.

Rogers was a founding member of the Miracles, the group once led by singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson, who quit the band to go solo in 1972.

Rogers was the only original member of the band left performing with the Miracles when he retired in recent years due to illness, the News said.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Miracles last year, but wasn't well enough to attend the April ceremony.

"My cousin Bobby, who was like a brother to me, lost his battle and succumbed today," former Miracles member Claudette Rogers Robinson said in a statement to the newspaper Sunday. "He has gone on to be with his Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. Bobby will be missed and mourned by many."

Rogers is survived by his wife Joan, and children Bobbae Rogers, Gina Hughes, Kimberly Hughes and Robert Rogers III. He was predeceased by his daughter Robin Yopp, the News said.

Queen Elizabeth out of hospital, cancels public events for the week

LONDON, March 4 (UPI) -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has been released from the London hospital where she was treated during the weekend for a stomach illness, palace officials said.

"The queen has left The King Edward VII's hospital, having been admitted briefly as part of the assessment of symptoms of gastroenteristis," Buckingham Palace said in a statement Monday afternoon, local time.

Although the 86-year-old monarch is feeling better than she was when she was admitted to the hospital Sunday, all official engagements for this week will either be postponed or canceled, People.com said.

Barbara Walters beats chicken pox, returns to 'The View'

NEW YORK, March 4 (UPI) -- Barbara Walters returned to her chat show "The View" in New York Monday after recovering for weeks from a concussion and the chicken pox.

At the beginning of show, Joy Behar held Walters' arm to help her on to the raised platform where they sit with co-hosts Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd, Walters was greeted by a standing ovation from the audience. Show moderator Whoopi Goldberg had the day off.

"They're treating me like: 'Be careful. Don't walk too fast.' I am fine. How did you expect me to look? Everybody's been saying, 'You look good.' What did they expect?" Walters said when she appeared on the program Monday morning.

"I have not been on the air -- maybe you noticed -- for six weeks," she said. "So, today after a lot of scratching and rest, I am fine and healthy. It all began in January when I was visiting a friend in Miami and she had as another guest a well-known actor, who shall be nameless, and I gave him a New Year's hug and kiss on the cheek. The next day, he left and what he didn't know then and what I didn't know at all was he was about to develop a bad case of shingles. Now, if you have never had chicken pox you can get it from someone with shingles. I didn't know that. Most people have chicken pox as kids. Except me."

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg then appeared on stage and presented Walters with a bouquet of roses to welcome her back to work.

"I can't let you come back without flowers. I do this for everyone who gets sick in the city of New York," Bloomberg quipped.

The 83-year-old ABC News veteran has been absent from "The View" since Jan. 22 when she was first briefly hospitalized after a fall in Washington where she was attending a party ahead of President Barack Obama's second inauguration.

Walters has said she fainted and hit her head while at the British ambassador's residence, cutting her temple. She was taken to the hospital where she received six stitches. The following week, "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg announced on the show Walters had been diagnosed with the chicken pox.

During her first day back to work, Walters lifted her hair up to show she had one chicken pock left on her face, as well as a scar on her forehead from where she received stitches after the fall.

Bret Michaels first contestant fired from all-stars edition of 'Celebrity Apprentice'

NEW YORK, March 4 (UPI) -- Rocker Bret Michaels was the first contestant fired on the all-star edition of the business-themed reality series "The Celebrity Apprentice" in New York.

The surprise ousting of the popular musician came on the show's season premiere Sunday night.

Still in the competition are La Toya Jackson, Omarosa Manigault, Gary Busey, Lil' Jon, Lisa Rinna, Dennis Rodman, Claudia Jordan, Trace Adkins, Brande Roderick, Penn Jillette, Dee Snider, Marilu Henner and Stephen Baldwin.

Michaels is the only cast member who had won a previous edition of "The Celebrity Apprentice," for which real-estate mogul Donald Trump serves as host, judge and executive producer.