Carrie Underwood donates to Oklahoma victims

Plus: Stone Temple Pilots in dispute; Gaga is back on her feet; Trip to space with DiCaprio is auctioned; and Beyonce's new fashion line.

Carrie Underwood has donated US$1 million to the American Red Cross' relief efforts in her home state of Oklahoma, which was hit by a tornado last week. Jason Merritt / Getty Images / AFP

Underwood donates to Oklahoma victims

Following the devastating tornado that hit her home state of Oklahoma last week, the singer Carrie Underwood has donated US$1 million (Dh3.67m) to fund the American Red Cross' relief efforts. The Grammy award winning songstress, who rose to fame after winning the 2005 series of American Idol, offered her condolences over social media before announcing her donation that will come from proceeds of her recent Blown Away Tour. "With the help of my fans, who attended my concerts over the past year, we can offer the Red Cross a little extra help in comforting those affected by the recent tornadoes," she said. – AP

Stone Temple Pilots in dispute

The members of the Stone Temple Pilots (STP)
are suing their former frontman Scott Weiland for misusing the band's name to further his solo career. They filed a lawsuit on Friday asking the judge to strip the rocker of his ability to use the group's name or songs. The suit claims that Weiland "violated his duties" and has been "misappropriating" their name to further his solo career. The suit specifically targets STP's 2012 20th anniversary tour during which they claim Weiland's actions such as continued lateness and struggles with addiction damaged the group. Weiland left the band in February and in a message posted on his website this weekend said his former band mates shouldn't call themselves Stone Temple Pilots either. – AP

Gaga is back on her feet

The pop star Lady Gaga, who underwent a hip operation earlier this year and was diagnosed with synovitis, a condition that effects the joints, is likely to perform at Beyoncé's show in New York in August. If the news turns out to be true, it will be her first major gig following the operation on her hip in February. Beyoncé and Gaga are good friends and previously worked together on the 2010 hit Telephone. Rumours emerged after an email was reported to have been sent by the concert listings website Songkick, saying she will perform with Beyoncé in Brooklyn on August 3. – IANS

Trip to space with DiCaprio is auctioned

"You don't get to go to outer space every day with a handsome movie star," said Sharon Stone at the 20th annual charity fund-raiser for amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research on Thursday. The actress was speaking after it emerged that Leonardo DiCaprio was the mystery guest on a Virgin Galactic flight into space that was auctioned off for €1.2 million (US$1.5m, Dh5.51m)) at the event. The winning bid came from Vasily Klyukin, 37, a Russian living in Monaco. Now, he and The Great Gatsby star will be among the first 1,000 people to leave the planet when the space flight takes place. The auction raised €25 million – more than double last year's sum. – Reuters

Another string to Beyoncé’s bow

Beyoncé Knowles has created a fashion range named Beyoncé Boutique for a fashion rental website. Rent the Runway, which lets people hire designer wear at affordable prices, has a series of Beyoncé designs such as sequinned dresses, sleek lace pieces and jumpsuits. "Making women feel confident and beautiful is something I've always been passionate about. That's why joining forces with Rent the Runway was so organic," she said. Beyoncé Boutique items are priced between $200 and $4,000 (Dh734 and Dh14,692). – IANS

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