Entertainment Briefs for May 13, 2010
Lambert, Shelton get engaged
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, two of country music's hottest singles, are off the market.
People.com is reporting that Shelton asked Lambert to marry him on Sunday. Kathy Best, Lambert's publicist, confirmed the news Tuesday.
Lambert tells People the proposal came as a surprise. She says Shelton proposed to her in the woods near her Tishomingo, Okla., home.
She answered yes.
Shelton went old-fashioned, calling Lambert's father, Rick, to ask permission.
It's been quite the year for Lambert. She scored her first No. 1 with "White Liar," won three Academy of Country Music Awards, including album of the year, and now she's marrying her boyfriend of five years.
There's no word on when the wedding will be.
Agents ask judge to nix monitor
LOS ANGELES - Agents for a Mexican-born actress accused of having a sham marriage say her court-ordered ankle monitor is hurting her career.
Five agents for Fernanda Romero, who is facing a charge of marriage fraud, filed letters Tuesday to a federal judge requesting the removal of the monitor. Their reason - the bracelet clashes with her wardrobe for auditions, photo shoots and other gigs.
A hearing on whether the ankle monitor stays or goes will happen May 17 in Los Angeles.
Romero pleaded not guilty Monday to federal marriage fraud charges and could face five years in federal prison if convicted.
She has had roles in several small films, including last year's "Drag Me to Hell," but is better-known in Mexico, where she appeared in the TV Azteca soap "Eternamente Tuya."
Banks writing fantasy series
NEW YORK - Tyra Banks wants to spread some truth, and a little fantasy.
The talk show host and former model has agreed to a three-book deal with Delacorte Press for a fantasy series for young people. It's about a girl trying to keep up with the beauty game at an elite school for supermodels, or Intoxibellas.
Delacorte said Tuesday that the first novel, "Modelland," comes out in the summer of 2011.
Delacorte is an imprint of Random House Children's Books.
Handbag designer Camerino dies
MILAN - Giuliana Coen Camerino, designer of handbags carried by Grace Kelly, Liz Taylor and others, has died at age 90.
Camerino died in Venice, home of the fashion house she founded in 1945 called Roberta di Camerino.
Camerino is credited with making handbags a fashion item. Her distinctive and timeless handbags typically sport brass clasps created by Venetian craftsman and might be made of velvet woven on antique looms.
She started designing handbags while in Switzerland during World War II after she fled Italy to avoid persecution of Jews. Her talents were recognized by the Whitney Museum of American Art with an exhibit in 1980.
Camerino will be buried in Venice's Jewish cemetery on Thursday.
Writers organization create sports award
NEW YORK - ESPN and a leading writers organization agree: Sports stories can be literature.
The Bristol, Conn.-based cable television sports network and the New York-based PEN American Center announced Tuesday the formation of the PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing. The award will be given annually for the best nonfiction sports book.
Eligible works "should be of a biographical, investigative, historical or analytical nature and of the strongest literary character."
The author of the winning book will receive $5,000.