Pop star Mariah Carey engaged to Australian mogul James Packer

SYDNEY | U.S. pop star Mariah Carey and Australian casino tycoon James Packer are engaged to be married, according to friends who said Friday they were over the moon for the lovebirds.

The couple has been dating for several months and celebrated New Year’s Eve at billionaire Packer’s Crown Casino in Melbourne, where the singer took to the stage to perform before an intimate audience that included Packer’s mother.

“I’m so excited to be in Melbourne with James for New Year’s Eve,” the husky-voiced songstress reportedly said at the fete.

A close friend of the couple confirmed the upcoming nuptials to AFP and saying she was “over the moon that James has found such happiness with Mariah”.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Packer proposed to his girlfriend in New York on Thursday.

Sources close to the Packer family said “the family is overjoyed that they have found each other”, the newspaper reported.

“Mariah has made James a very happy man, she is a very special person and the family wholeheartedly approves,” it added.

E News entertainment website described her engagement ring as “breathtaking” and said the rock weighed in at a whopping 35 carats.

Carey, famous for her five-octave range, was previously married to rap artist and actor Nick Cannon with whom she had fraternal twins. Her five-year union to legendary music producer Tony Mottola ended in divorce in 1998.

The singer who is around 45 but whose date of birth is a matter of dispute, is best known for smash pop hits “Hero,” “We Belong Together” and “Someday.”

Packer, 48, has three children from his marriage to his second wife, Erica Baxter.

The tycoon runs a worldwide gambling empire Crown, one of Australia’s largest entertainment groups.

source: interaksyon.com

Cher Causes Controversy With eBay Listing For Australian City Key

In a move more reminiscent of a downtrodden, retired NFL player, Cher is (allegedly!) hawking an exceptional item from her personal collection on eBay: an honorary key to the city of Adelaide, Australia, which was presented to her by the city's mayor, who is not exactly thrilled with the discovery of the auction.

Either Cher or a trusted confidante of the singer, put the key up for auction, which has left the mayor “exceptionally disappointed” with the iconic pop star.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the auction appeared a few days ago and the high bid as of this moment is a whopping $95,900 with only a few hours left. The key was presented to Cher in November 1990, as labeled on the key’s plaque, when she performed at the Australian Grand Prix formula one race. The description touts it as a “very unique item from Cher’s own personal collection!” and adds that the key will come with the original box, a hand-written sticky note and certificate of authenticity.

Mayor Stephen Yarwood isn’t happy about it, saying, “It must be very embarrassing for her if she is selling it because she needs the money.” (Editor’s note: Ouch! Editor's note 2: We doubt Cher needs any money following her recent, very lucrative Las Vegas residency.)

"I would have thought that getting the key to a city like Adelaide would have had some value to her, but obviously it doesn't because she wouldn't have got rid of it," he lamented.

Cher has been quick to react, suggesting through a tweet that it must be some kind of accident, writing, “Im upset 2& trying 2get2 bottom! I Think my office fkd up?” in response to a fan’s question.

That’s all Cher has mentioned of the incident. However, the actual eBay seller, known as "Linda," commented with further clarification. "Cher receives many awards and gifts from all over the world," the seller wrote. "At certain times she goes through her huge collection and decides to share many of these special treasures with her fans, with all the proceeds going to Cher's Charitable Foundation.”

The text begins to read quite defensively as the seller continues, "I think the city of Adelaide should be proud of what this plaque & key are doing for those in need or suffering. Cher is incredible, kind and generous and in no way meant to slight the people of Adelaide. Thank you for your understanding."

The auction is still up, so apparently it’s not too much of a mix-up for Cher to actually end its sale.

source: http://newsroom.mtv.com/2012/04/25/cher-causes-controversy-with-ebay-listing-for-australian-city-key/