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Published: February 12, 2009
■ Actor Will Smith was voted the most bankable star in Hollywood in a survey of industry professionals by Forbes.com. The financial magazine's Web site gives Smith a score of 10 out of 10 for his bankability in its first "star currency" list, compiled by surveying more than 150 industry professionals. Following Smith on the list: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, who all tied for second with a score of 9.89. Rounding out the top 10: Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson.
■ Prosecutors in Los Angeles said Tuesday that they want more evidence before determining whether to press charges against singer Chris Brown, who is accused in a domestic dispute that apparently involves pop superstar Rihanna. Police presented a case regarding Brown on Tuesday but did not release any of its details, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney. Brown was arrested Sunday night after surrendering to police, who were looking for him after a woman identified him as her attacker during a fight the night before. Numerous media outlets, quoting sources and police officials who were not named, have identified the woman as Rihanna, Brown's longtime girlfriend.
■ Singer Brad Paisley leads all finalists for the Academy of Country Music Awards with six nominations. The finalists were announced in Nashville, Tenn., yesterday, and Paisley garnered nods for entertainer of the year and male vocalist. He is also a finalist for record, song and video of the year for "Waitin' on a Woman." Paisley is also up for vocal event of the year for "Start a Band" with Keith Urban. The winners will be announced during the Academy of Country Music Awards show on CBS from Las Vegas on April 5.
■ The district attorney's office in Alameda County, Calif., has dropped charges against a member of the group Saving Abel and an employee of the band accused of forcing a 17-year-old girl to perform a sex act after a concert in Oakland. Prosecutors and defense attorneys for 33-year-old Jason Null of Corinth, Miss., and 21-year-old Brandon Danger of Tampa, Fla., said that a video recording contradicted the girl's claims. The charges were dropped Tuesday. Assistant District Attorney Tom Rogers said that the video taken after a concert in Oakland last week showed that the girl led people to believe that she was older and was not forced into the sex act with Danger. Null, a guitar player with Saving Abel, and Danger, a guitar stringer, were facing felony sex charges.
Deaths
■ Molly Bee, 69, of complications from a stroke, at a hospital in Oceanside, Calif. She became an overnight country-music star when she recorded the novelty hit "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" in 1952.
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