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People in the news

By United Press International
Actor Charlie Sheen arrives for the taping of the "Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen", at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California on September 10, 2011. UPI/Jonathan Alcorn
Actor Charlie Sheen arrives for the taping of the "Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen", at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California on September 10, 2011. UPI/Jonathan Alcorn | License Photo

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

KITTY WELLS: Kitty Wells, known as the Queen of Country Music, died in Madison, Tenn., Monday from complications of a stroke, her grandson, John Sturdivant Jr., said.

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She was 92.

Wells, who was born Ellen Muriel Deason in Nashville, released several Top 10 Billboard Country Albums throughout the 1960s, including "The Kitty Wells Story" (1964), "Lonesome Sad and Blue" (1965), "Burning Memories" (1965), "Country All the Way" (1966) and "Queen of Honky Tonk Street" (1968).

The Recording Academy, which hands out the Grammy Awards, said her biggest hit came in 1961 with "Heartbreak U.S.A.," which reached No. 1 on Billboard's Country Singles chart. Wells was awarded the Academy Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 1991. She also was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The New York Times said singer Johnnie Wright, Wells' husband of more than seven decades, died last year. She is survived by a son, Bobby, a daughter, Sue Wright Sturdivant, eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter, Ruby, in 2009.

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CHARLIE SHEEN: The United Service Organization confirmed TV star Charlie Sheen has pledged to donate at least $1 million to help support injured troops and their families.

CNN said Monday Sheen's donation will be based on 1 percent of the profits from his new sitcom "Anger Management" and will be at least $1 million.

"It's an honor for me to be able to give back to these men and women of the military who have done so much for all of us," Sheen said in a statement. "They put their lives on the line for us every day, and I'm just happy that my work on 'Anger Management' can bring a little bit of relief to the troops and their families."

The donation will go toward the USO's Operation Enduring Care campaign, which supports injured troops and their families, Gena Fitzgerald, vice president of communications for the group, told CNN.

"His support is greatly appreciated, especially from our wounded warriors and their families," said John Pray Jr., a retired Air Force brigadier general and the USO's executive vice president.


MADONNA: France's far-right political party says it will sue Madonna for superimposing a swastika on a video image of Marine Le Pen shown during the pop star's show.

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Radio France Internationale reported the Front National warned the U.S. singer after she used the image during her May 31 Tel Aviv concert that legal action would be taken if she repeated the gesture when she performed in Paris.

However, Madonna ignored the party's caution and replayed the video clip of Le Pen, the party's president, during her Saturday show in the French city and the party said it now plans to take her to court.

Madonna is scheduled to return to France for a concert in Nice Aug. 21.


UMA THURMAN: Uma Thurman's publicist says the 42-year-old U.S. actress has given birth to her third child, a daughter.

People.com said the "Pulp Fiction" and "Kill Bill" star's baby was born Sunday.

"Mom and baby are doing well," Thurman's representative told the celebrity news magazine.

No other details regarding the birth such as where it took place and what the baby's name is were immediately released.

The actress is engaged to financier Arpad Busson and has two older children with her ex-husband, actor Ethan Hawke.

Busson, 49, has two children with his ex-fiancee, supermodel Elle MacPherson.

Thurman and Busson began dating in 2007.

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