CELEBRITY EXTRA
By Cindy Elavsky
Q: Can you please tell me who sings the song about having a bad day on the NFL commercial for fantasy football? — Linda M., via e-mail
A: The song is called “Bad Day,” and it’s by Canadian singer Daniel Powter. It was a single from his second album, “Daniel Powter” (2005). The song grew in popularity in the States when it was played during the farewell video package during the fifth season of “American Idol”; as contestants were voted off the show, the song was played to a montage of memories of their time spent on the show. Daniel, who turns 38 in February, released his third album, “Under the Radar,” in 2008.
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Q: I was shocked and saddened to recently hear that John Travolta and Kelly Preston’s young son had passed away. What happened? — Sophie L., Hamilton, Ohio
A: Jett Travolta, the 16-year-old son of John and Kelly, was diagnosed as a toddler with Kawasaki syndrome, an illness that leads to inflamed blood vessels in young children. He also had a history of seizures, which may or may not have been related to his illness.
The Travoltas were celebrating the new year in the Bahamas when, according to preliminary reports, Jett suffered a seizure in the bathroom and fell and hit his head on the tub. He was found by a caretaker and rushed to the hospital, but the doctors were unable to revive him.
John and Kelly have released this statement: “Jett was the most wonderful son that two parents could ever ask for and lit up the lives of everyone he encountered. We are heartbroken that our time with him was so brief. We will cherish the time we had with him for the rest of our lives.”
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Q: I am writing to find out if the HBO series “Big Love” will be back on the air. This is one of my favorite shows, so I hope it will be returning. — Sandy A., via e-mail
A: The popular HBO drama series about a Mormon fundamentalist family that practices polygamy returned on Jan. 18 for its third season. The show, which stars Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Chloe Sevigny, is set in Sandy, Utah, and focuses on the daily lives of Bill Hendrickson and his three wives, Barb, Nicki and Margene. The show, while being a success with viewers and critics alike, has drawn fire from the Mormon Church, which condemns the show for glamorizing a practice that the church renounced in 1890.
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Q: Whatever happened to actor Joe Penny? — Trisha in New Jersey
A: Joe Penny, 52, best known for his starring roles in “Riptide” and “Jake and the Fat Man,” recently finished a stint on “Days of Our Lives” and has had guest-starring roles on “CSI” and “CSI: Miami.” He also co-starred in the “Jane Doe” movie mystery series with Lea Thompson.
Have a question for Cindy? E-mail her at [email protected], or write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.
© 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.