Barry Manilow’s Health Scare Comeback, Chris Noth's Bitter SJP Dig, Jackson Browne's Devastating Loss & More
Plus a brutal aging backlash, a history-making box-office takeover & major Bravo chaos.
Hollywood’s polished illusion cracks once again – as an iconic singer turns a health scare into a triumphant comeback, an iced-out TV star lobs a petty grenade at a former co-star, and a rock legend’s family tragedy returns with grim finality.
Mix in a fierce takedown of age-shaming trolls, a box-office queen quietly rewriting movie history, Bravo-fueled drunken confessions, and a behind-the-scenes network shake-up, and the message is unmistakable: fame still can’t outrun time, controversy, or consequence.
Hollywood 411 by KEEPING TABS has everything you need… let’s dive in.
LOOKS LIKE HE MADE IT!
ICONIC Copacabana crooner BARRY MANILOW - who had to cancel January concert dates while docs removed a spot on his lung - issued great news on his social media for his oodles of fans: “SURPRISE!!! Barry is feeling great... so great that he’s decided to add six additional concerts to his existing March schedule.” The 82-year-old says he won’t have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
He tells fans: “The only follow-up is a month to recover and that means we will have to reschedule the January arena concerts... I’m very sorry.”
But he adds he “will now visit Charlotte, Norfolk, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Nashville and Lexington this March!” The Mandy legend says the “spot” was discovered following a bout of bronchitis when his doctor insisted ho get an MRI. He calls the early discovery “pure luck.” But he previously also confessed he started smoking at age 9 and later on took up vaping.
Now, he vows he’ll be wowing audiences soon, telling fans: “Something tells me February is going to be one big party.” Meanwhile, he warns: “Remember, if you even have the slightest symptom, get tested!”
NOTH'S BIG RIP FOR SJP
CHRIS NOTH and SARAH JESSICA PARKER were lovers in Sex and the City, but there’s no love lost now. The 71-year-old hunk recently posted a pic of himself working out, saying: “F&@k new years - LETS GO!!!!” When a fan responded, “You mean f**k SJP & her award right? lol,” Noth answered: “Right.” He says his post was meant sarcastically, but the messages came a day after Sarah Jessica received the Carol Burnett Award.
Noth was supposed to star in the SATC sequel series, but his character was killed off after he was accused by two gals of forcing them to have sex. The cast came out supporting the women while he insisted the “encounters were consensual” and no charges were brought. However, he’s reportedly since been “iced out” by Parker.
BROWNE SON'S SAD CAUSE OF DEATH
The cause of death of rock icon JACKSON BROWNE’s son ETHAN has been revealed more than two months after his shocking demise - and it was drugs. The 52-year-old died from fentanyl and meth, says a report. On Nov. 25, the social media site for the 77-year-old Running on Empty singer posted the devastating news that Ethan was “found unresponsive” and had “passed away” at his home.
The caused of death was at the time “deferred” by the L.A. County Medical Examiner. Now, celeb website TMZ says the male model and actor’s drug death was accidental, due to fentanyl, methamphetamine and lidocaine, an anesthetic used by dentists. Ethan’s mom was Browne’s first wife, model PHYLLIS MAJOR, who died at age 30 in 1976 - also of a drug overdose.
AGING RACHEL BLASTS CRITICS
RACHEL WARD may have grown wrinkled since she was a drop-dead gorgeous femme fatale opposite JEFF BRIDGES in 1984’s noir flick Against All Odds, but don’t criticize her for looking her age.
Now working an Aussie cattle farm with actor-hubby BRYAN BROWN, 77, who she met while filming 1983’s The Thorn Birds, the mom of three grown kids was slammed for her wrinkles by trolls who spotted a recent picture. “I read she’s 68. Looks way older!” wrote one. Another posted: “OMG what the hell happened to u? U were so pretty???” Tough Rachel shot back: “I just feel sorry for those poor souls who fear aging so much ... it’s ultimate freedom as a woman to let youth and beauty go. It was lovely ... but so much more to life.”
MOVIE HISTORY, A.M. SHAKE-UP... AND MORE!
Having blue skin in Avatar and a green hide in Guardians of the Galaxy has paid off big for ZOE SALDAÑA - the 47-year-old beauty has beaten out action-gal rival SCARLETT JOHANSSON as highest-grossing actor - including dudes - of all time. December’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third of the flicks, has grossed a whopping $1.23 billion, giving Zoe the title. Scarlett, 41, previously held the top spot by starring in four Avengers flicks and the recent Jurassic Park sequel. Zoe has also appeared in three Star Trek outings and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’s WHITNEY ROSE confessed she was a boozy babe at November’s BravoCon. “I own that I was drunk,” she says. “When I drink, I’m a very happy, loving drunk. I love to love on people.” She adds she “apologized” to show mastermind ANDY COHEN, who notes he was “scared” Whitney wasn’t “going to make it across the stage.”
Network brass confirmed ADRIANA DIAZ and KELLY O’GRADY as the new cohosts of CBS Saturday Morning, replacing DANA JACOBSON and MICHELLE MILLER. The shake-up comes as new CBS News editor in chief BARI WEISS and president TOM CIBROWSKI try to boost the network. They recently named TONY DOKOUPIL as CBS Evening News anchor.