Critics have hailed Bette Midler following Wednesday's opening night of "I'll Eat You Last: A Chat With Sue Mengers." The actress plays the real-life star, who died in 2011, in a new one-woman play from "Skyfall" screenwriter John Logan.

It's Midler's first appearance on Broadway in 30 years. One of Mengers' clients, Faye Dunaway, was in the audience along with singer Sting, music mogul David Geffen and actress Ellen Barkin.

According to the New York Times: "Ms. Midler... gives the most lusciously entertaining performance of the Broadway season... (She) cradles a spellbound audience in th...

Actress Bette Midler helped raised $1.8 million for the New York Restoration Project (NYRP) on Wednesday, just two days after the state was ravaged by superstorm Sandy.

Each year the veteran entertainer hosts her extravagant Hulaween bash to raise funds for the organization she founded in 1995 to improve Big Apple parks and outdoor spaces, and this time the event took on a deeper meaning as the city struggled to pick up the pieces from the post-tropical cyclone.

She tells Us Weekly, "There's never been a time where our organisation is needed more... Every public park is closed because it'...

With or without little kids by their sides, many celebrities celebrated Halloween on Wednesday. Sandra Bullock went with a "Toy Story" theme, dressing up as cowgirl Jessie in a red cowboy hat and cow-patterned pants. Her son Louis wore a Buzz Lightyear costume.

Singer Chris Brown, never one to shy away from controversy, dressed as a member of the Islamic fundamentalist terrorist group the Taliban to attend a party hosted by Rihanna at Greystone night club in Hollywood.

Avril Lavigne wore a sexy sailor costume to dinner with friends at BOA Steakhouse in Beverly Hills. Earlier this week sh...

Ringo Starr, Bette Midler and Christina Applegate were among the stars who offered their congratulations to Danny Boyle as his spectacular show opened the Olympic Games in London on Friday night.

The festivities kicked off with a stunning opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford and the show, directed by moviemaker Boyle, was watched by an estimated 4 billion people across the world.

A number of celebrity sports fans were among those watching the extravaganza on TV and they took to Twitter to share their thoughts on Boyle's efforts.

Joe Jonas tweeted throughout the ceremony a...

The Beastie Boys were forced to scrap a planned performance at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday night when rapper Adam 'MCA' Yauch pulled out of the event.

The trio was saluted by rap heavyweights Chuck D and LL Cool J but only Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz were on hand to accept the accolade.

Hours before the ceremony the group's publicist released a statement which read: "Beastie Boys regret that Adam 'MCA' Yauch will be unable to join Mike 'Mike D' Diamond and Adam 'Adrock' Horovitz at the band's induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame...

Bette Midler is to be honored for her career achievements with a special award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The veteran singer/actress will be handed the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony in New York later this year to recognize her vocal talents and long-running career.

She follows in the footsteps of previous recipients including Neil Diamond and Tony Bennett.

Songwriters Hall of Fame chairman Jimmy Webb praised Midler for her "stylish presentation and unmistakable voice, making each song her own."

Midler will receive the honor on June 14th at a ceremony du...

"Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria was named Woman of the Year at a glitzy gala held annually by the Nevada Ballet Theatre yesterday.

The actress was the guest of honor at the dance company's Black & White Ball in Las Vegas, where she was recognized by bosses for her philanthropy and "dedication to the world of arts and entertainment."

She took to Twitter on the morning of the event to tell fans about her latest trophy, writing, "Off to Vegas to attend the Nevada Ballet Black & White Ball. Thank you for honoring my work!"

Past recipients of the Nevada Ballet Theatre's prize include...

Bette Midler has laughed off her Twitter "feud" with Lady Gaga after the veteran entertainer accused the hitmaker of copying her mermaid in a wheelchair performance during a recent concert.

Gaga took the stage at a show in Australia in July wearing a mermaid tail while sitting in a wheelchair, but the move appeared to infuriate Midler, who logged onto her social networking blog to remind fans that she came up with the gimmick first - way back in 1980.

She tweeted, "I'm not sure Lady Gaga knows that I've performed my mermaid in a wheelchair for millions of people - and many of them are sti...

Bette Midler is throwing a star-studded Halloween costume party on Friday to raise money for charity.

A whole host of famous faces - including Debra Messing, Alan Cumming and Thalia - will dress up in outfits inspired by Mexico's Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) holiday for Midler's Hulaween extravaganza at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.

Soul star Stevie Wonder will provide the entertainment for the evening, while fashion designer Michael Kors will judge the costume contest.

All cash raised at the gala will benefit Midler's New York Restoration Project, which helps th...

Marisa Tomei is joining the "Us & Them" family.

The "Crazy, Stupid, Love" star is now part of the clan that will bicker, battle and probably eventually reconcile in the multi-generational comedy, according to Variety.

"Us & Them" stars Crystal and Midler as a feuding couple forced to call a truce when they find themselves living under the same roof as their three grandchildren. As they struggle to come to terms with the kids' modern ways (we're sure there will be a bit of dialogue along the lines of, "What's an iPad?"), they look to reconcile not only with each other but with their daught...

Veteran entertainers Billy Crystal and Bette Midler are set to team up as husband and wife in the new film Us & Them.

Midler, who recently dropped out of a biopic about disgraced music mogul Phil Spector due to a back injury, has signed on to play Crystal's estranged spouse in the new comedy, which will be directed by You Again's Andy Fickman.

In the film, Midler and the When Harry Met Sally star find themselves living together again and trying to parent their three grandchildren - one of whom will be break-out child star Bailee Madison of Brothers and Just Go With It fame.

Production is...

Bailee Madison should really spend more time outdoors, 'cause there seems to be nothing but trouble whenever she's in the house.

The "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" star will trade mischievous little demons for good old-fashioned cross-generational conflict in the new family comedy, "Us & Them," according to Variety.

"Us & Them" stars Billy Crystal as a baseball broadcaster who's going through a separation from his wife (Bette Midler), though they soon find themselves under the same roof again when they're forced to live with their three grandchildren, one of whom will be played by Madison...

Helen Mirren has ignored calls to drop out of an upcoming biopic about disgraced music mogul Phil Spector.

The veteran British actress prompted outrage among friends of Spector's victim, murdered actress Lana Clarkson, after signing up to play the famed producer's attorney, Linda Kenny Braden. She stepped in to replace an injured Bette Midler in the role.

The Friends of Lana Clarkson campaigners sent a letter to warn Mirren she faces "serious consequences" if she doesn't quit the controversial film, which they fear will portray Spector in a sympathetic light.

The group's spokesperson, Ed...

Lady Gaga is adamant she did not copy Bette Midler's mermaid in a wheelchair performance, as she had "no idea" the veteran entertainer pulled a similar stunt 30 years before her.

The Poker Face hit-maker performed at a show in Australia last week wearing a mermaid tail and sitting in a wheelchair - a move which infuriated Midler, who took to Twitter.com to remind fans she came up with the gimmick way back in 1980.

Gaga has now spoken out to deny she had any idea Midler had beaten her in the originality stakes, telling Access Hollywood's Billy Bush, "I had no idea that she did that and I...

Bette Midler has accused Lady Gaga of stealing her ideas, insisting the pop superstar's controversial wheelchair stunt in Australia was copied from her own stage show.

The Poker Face hit-maker sparked outrage among disability rights groups by taking to the stage at a show in Sydney last week dressed in a mermaid's tail and sitting in a wheelchair. Midler has now spoken out to insist she invented the routine in the 1980s and has used it at many of her own concerts.

In a series of posts on Twitter.com, she writes, "I'm not sure Lady Gaga knows that I've performed my mermaid in a wheelchai...

Shania Twain is set to stage her musical comeback in Las Vegas after landing a two-year deal to perform on the Caesars Palace stage built for Celine Dion.

The country star's Still The One show will open at the Colosseum on December 1st next year. Announcing the big news at a press conference on Wednesday, Twain said, "I will let my imagination run wild. I'm going to go nuts creatively."

The residency comes as the singer bounces back from heartbreak, divorce and voice-loss to record a new tune with Lionel Richie, which she will debut during the season finale episode of her reality TV sho...

James Franco has hit back at Bruce Vilanch after the long-time Oscars writer criticized his Academy Awards hosting turn last month.

The Spider-Man actor teamed up with Anne Hathaway to present the Hollywood ceremony, but the young stars' gig was poorly received by critics and audiences alike.

Vilanch recently suggested that Franco's busy schedule kept him from performing well, telling NY Magazine's Vulture Blog, "He has so many balls in the air, he didn't get to town till Thursday before the show on Sunday. And so we emailed a lot... But he didn't get there."

Now, Franco has hit back a...

Veteran crooner Neil Diamond stunned the audience at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Monday by delivering a rambling speech as he accepted his prestigious honor.

The singer became rock royalty as part of the Class of 2011, receiving the accolade at New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel alongside other stars including Alice Cooper, Tom Waits and Dr. John. Speaking before the big bash, Diamond revealed he had made a dash from Australia to the U.S. to accept the honor in person - and it appeared the jetlag had caught up with him as he stepped onto the podium after being intro...

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" songwriter Hugh Martin has died. He was 96.

Martin is best known for composing the score to the 1944 musical Meet Me In St. Louis, in which Judy Garland famously performs the song that became a seasonal classic. Martin and songwriting partner Ralph Blane received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for writing the film's "The Trolley Song."

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Barbra Streisand has confirmed reports she's returning to the big screen to star in the film adaptation of musical Gypsy - about stripper Gypsy Rose Lee.

The singer/actress admits the news leaked "a little early" but she is on board.

She tells the Los Angeles Times, "I am not sure about directing it. It may just be too much. I know I will be playing the part."

Arthur Laurents, who wrote The Way We Were for Streisand, let slip about the new movie project, telling the New York Post last month Streisand was in "deep in negotiations to direct, produce and star in a movie version of Gypsy."

...

There's still time for Christmas shopping and spreading the holiday spirit, why not enjoy it by loading up that iPod with some great holiday tunes? Spike your coffee with a little Bailey's Irish Cream or enjoy a Hot Toddy (not the Usher and Jay Z version, although we love that song too) put on your Yule tide shoes and take that mall by the antlers.

You may still encounter long lines, screaming children running away from Santa Claus and a crap-load of unruly holiday sweaters, but with your holiday playlist grooving in your ears, at least you can smile while doing so. Here are a few of our f...

Sagittarius Celebrities are numerous, and as November 22nd marks the beginning of the Sun in Sagittarius now is the perfect time to spotlight some of the most famous—and stereotypical—Sag A-Listers. Whether you are a Sagittarius looking for more information on your Sun Sign, or you merely want to know more about the driving force behind your favorite Celebrities, here is nearly a month’s worth of famous Sagittarius Celebrities. Interested in wooing a Sagittarius? Click here to read about first date ideas for Sag and other Signs.

Sagittarians, symbolized by the Archer and Centaur, are born ...

Pop star P!nk has depicted a same-sex wedding in her latest music video - after watching her lesbian best friend's "heartbreaking" blessing ceremony.

The singer features gay couples in the new promo for her single Raise Your Glass and admits the idea was inspired by her own pal, who recently 'wed' in a commitment ceremony. California law forbids homosexual couples from legally marrying.

Pink explains, "I threw my best friend's wedding in my backyard. She is gay and it was a beautiful ceremony. At the end of it, her mom said, 'Why can't that be legal?' and started crying. It was the most...

Already a massive star in her native U.K., with one million singles sold, two No. 1 hits, and three No. 1 Airplay records to her credit, soulful pop singer and actress Pixie Lott is ready to unleash her talent Stateside this summer. Her debut U.S. single, "Boys and Girls," is available at all digital service providers this week via Interscope Records.

The high-energy dance-pop jam "Boys and Girls" is 19-year-old Lott's second consecutive No. 1 single in the U.K., and it's just a taste of what's to come when Lott releases her debut album, Turn It Up, in the U.S. in early 2011. Already cert...

Bette Midler already left her mark on New York when she dominated Broadway. Now she’s thought of a more permanent fixture. She’s part of an incentive to plant trees throughout the city.

“A couple years ago I teamed up with the New York City department of parks and recreation to plant a million trees in New York City,” Midler said. “We’ve planted about 375,000 so far in the last two years.”

This is only the latest in Midler’s social work in New York. “I also am the founder and chairman of an organization called New York Restoration Project and we clean abandoned parks and public places. We...

2010 has been a big year so far for celebrity authors. Big-screen actors, reality TV stars, musicians and other celebs have been pimping their self-help tomes, novels, and children's books.

Most recently, "Real Housewives" star Bethenny Frankel released "Skinnygirl Dish: Easy Recipes For Your Naturally Thin Life," Hugh Hefner's ex Kendra Wilkinson publicized "Sliding Into Home" and "American Idol" runner-up David Archuleta pimped "Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song and the Power of Perseverance."

But there have been so many more just this year alone! Check 'em out!

Jennifer Love...

Comedienne Margaret Cho has a lot to be thankful for. The San Francisco native who grew up among ex-hippies has transformed herself from budding stand-up opener to Jerry Seinfeld to cultural icon. At 41-years-old, Cho has become everything from best-selling author to a sex kitten on her own glitzy burlesque tour.

Having made thousands of fans laugh worldwide, as well as advocating human rights for women, Asians, and the LGBT community, Cho is a star in her own right. Just when one would expect her to step off the spotlight to relish her fame, she continues to get more bellies aching with h...

British pop star Pixie Lott has landed her first major movie role - replacing Britney Spears in Sweet Baby Jesus, a modern retelling of the Nativity story.

The Toxic hit-maker had been due to play the Virgin Mary in the new film, but walked away from the role with producers citing pressure from her family as her reason for quitting the project. Movie bosses have now cast 19-year-old Brit Lott in the role, opposite Sam Rockwell, Bette Midler and Kim Cattrall, who have all been linked to parts in the comedy, according to Deadline.com.

Garfield director Peter Hewitt will helm the movie, wh...

Revered bassist Tom Wolk died of an apparent heart attack on Saturday night, just days before he was scheduled to join longtime pals Daryl Hall and John Oates on late-night TV.

Wolk, 58, played bass for Hall & Oates for almost 30 years and was due to join the duo for an appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on Monday.

He recorded with Bette Midler, Carly Simon, Elvis Costello and Billy Joel and also played bass on Kurtis Blow's rap classic "These Are the Breaks", according to Billboard.com.

Superstar Barbra Streisand has turned down a massive $100 million offer to take up a residency in Las Vegas, according to reports. The Woman In Love singer, 67, has allegedly been approached to follow in the footsteps of Cher, Celine Dion and Bette Midler by signing a three-year contract with a Sin City promoter.

A source tells PopEater.com, "After Celine Dion left Vegas; no one has been able to replace her. Bette Midler failed; Cher is trying; only Barbra is guaranteed to succeed. She's an international star and the only performer in the world that would make people flock to Vegas year...