The latest news on today's hottest celebrities ...
MICHAEL JACKSON: The involuntary manslaughter trial of Conrad Murray, the Texas cardiologist accused of causing Michael Jackson's death, began Tuesday with opening statements.
The singer died June 25, 2009, at age 50 in Los Angeles. Autopsy results showed lethal levels of the anesthesia propofol and sedatives in his system.
Murray is accused of having administered the fatal doses of the drugs in an effort to help Jackson sleep.
People.com quoted Deputy District Attorney David Walgren as saying at the opening of Murray's trial in Los Angeles that Jackson was dead because the doctor "repeatedly acted with gross negligence, repeatedly denied care, appropriate care, to his patient, Michael Jackson, and it was Dr. Murray's repeated incompetent and unskilled acts that led to Michael Jackson's death."
Murray's defense team argued Jackson caused his own death by self-administering a dose of propofol when Murray was out of the room, creating "a perfect storm in his body that killed him instantly," People.com said.
Jackson's brother, Jermaine, and sisters, Janet and Rebbie, were in court with their mother, Katherine.
ANDY ROONEY: Veteran broadcast journalist Andy Rooney is retiring as a regular contributor to the U.S. newsmagazine "60 Minutes" at age 92, CBS said Tuesday.
Rooney, who has worked on the program since 1978, is expected to make this Sunday's edition his last, The Hollywood Reporter said.
CBS plans to air a career retrospective interview with Rooney, conducted by correspondent Morley Safer, before Rooney's final show.
"There's nobody like Andy and there never will be," Jeff Fager, CBS News chairman and "60 Minutes" executive producer, told the entertainment industry trade newspaper. "He'll hate hearing this, but he's an American original. His contributions to '60 Minutes' are immeasurable; he's also a great friend."
Fager went on to say the bushy-browed Rooney, whose "A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney" segments come at the end of each "60 Minutes" program and typically put a satirical or whimsical twist on mundane experiences or touch on political topics, will always be welcome to appear on the program.
The Hollywood Reporter said Rooney, who began his news career in 1942 as a correspondent for the U.S. Defense Department newspaper Stars and Stripes, is not likely to be permanently replaced.
SLY STONE: Funk music icon Sly Stone, who is living out of a van in Los Angeles, says he wants to reassure his fans he's going through a rough patch, but is OK.
Stone, 68, was the front man for Sly and the Family Stone in the 1960s and '70s, but in recent years has been known more for his substance abuse and legal woes than for his music.
He filed a lawsuit last year claiming his former manager stiffed him out of royalty payments for more than 20 years, leaving him penniless and residing in his vehicle.
"Sometimes you have bad times," Stone said on Tuesday's episode of TV's "Inside Edition."
Asked what he wants his fans to know, the singer replied: "I love them. And, I'll be right with them. And, I'm just going through this little thing. And, I'll be OK."
ELISABETTA CANALIS: Elisabetta Canalis and her professional dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy were eliminated from "Dancing with the Stars" in Los Angeles Tuesday.
"It was a great adventure. So, I want to thank everybody," the Italian actress and former girlfriend of film star George Clooney said upon learning her fate.
"Thanks to the public and everybody who voted for us," she said. "It was a great experience."
Canalis and Chmerkovskiy were the second couple booted from the Season 13 competition.
The first celebrity gone was Los Angeles Lakers star Ron Artest whose professional partner was Peta Murgatroyd.
