Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe DYLAN SINGS FOR 'GODS' According to a report in Daily Variety, Bob Dylan -- who won an original song Oscar for "Things Have Changed" from "Wonder Boys" -- is writing a song for the upcoming Civil War drama "Gods and Generals." Advertisement Writer-director Ron Maxwell told the paper Dylan's song will play over the closing credits and will be included on the soundtrack album -- and also will be available for Dylan to include on a future album of his own. "Gods and Generals" is a prequel to Maxwell's 1993 Civil Ware movie "Gettysburg." CHARLIE ROSE IN SICK BAY Charlie Rose ("The Charlie Rose Show," "60 Minutes II") is recuperating from open-heart surgery on Tuesday. The New York Daily News reported that Rose "sounded strong" one day after undergoing the procedure -- an elective operation to repair a congenital defect. Advertisement "I've been monitoring it for about 15 years," Rose told the paper from his hospital room. "I made a decision to do it now." The 60-year-old TV talker said he expects to be back to work in about two weeks. 'OVERINDULGENCE' LED TO JOEL'S HOSPITAL STAY Billy Joel -- who checked out of a substance abuse and psychiatric center in Connecticut Wednesday -- has told People magazine why he put himself in rehab in the first place. In an interview during his stay at Silver Hill Hospital, Joel said that days after walking away from a June 12 car wreck, he decided to enter the program on June 17. He was also bothered -- "very depressed," as he put it -- over having to cut short a tour after a March gig at Madison Square Garden, because of a respiratory infection. "I've been touring for 30 years and have only had to cancel a handful of shows in my life, so I took this really hard," he said. "I then began what I ultimately realized was a prolonged period of overindulgence. I don't want to get any more specific." The 53-year-old Grammy-winner is scheduled to resume his tour with Elton John in September. He told People that his 16-year-old daughter with ex-wife Christie Brinkley, Alexa Ray, was his inspiration for seeking help. Advertisement "I told my daughter that I recognized I was having a problem," he said. "And my gift to her for Father's Day was going to be cleaning up my act." PEGGY LEE LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT A judge in Los Angeles approved a settlement this week in a lawsuit brought by more than 150 recording artists, led by the late Peggy Lee, demanding millions of dollars in unpaid royalties from Universal Music. The $4.75 million suit accused Decca Records -- which was eventually acquired by Universal -- of using questionable accounting practices to avoid paying royalties to the recording artists. Lee died of a heart in January at 81. Her lawyer, Cyrus Godfrey, estimated that 90 percent of the co-plaintiffs are dead, so their share of the settlement will go to their families. The roster of plaintiffs included the Andrews Sisters, Louis Armstrong, Pearl Bailey, Patsy Cline, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Haley and the Comets and Billie Holiday. Some of the plaintiffs -- including "Dallas" star Larry Hagman, on behalf of his late mother Mary Martin -- objected to the settlement, arguing that it was to low. Advertisement HANKS SPECIAL DRAWS A GOOD CROWD According to Nielsen, "The AFI Salute to Tom Hanks" on USA Network Monday attracted 4.6 million viewers -- more than last year's AFI tribute to Barbra Streisand drew on Fox. The two-hour special featured appearances by Steven Spielberg ("Saving Private Ryan"), Ron Howard ("Splash"), Helen Hunt ("Cast Away"), Meg Ryan ("Sleepless in Seattle," "You've Got Mail") and Tim Allen ("Toy Story") -- some of Hanks' most famous collaborators.
