Buzz Briefs: John Cusack, Meat Loaf

Cusack Stalker Accepts Plea Deal

A woman accused of stalking actor John Cusack has accepted a plea deal that will let her avoid state prison.

Emily Leatherman pleaded no contest Friday in Los Angeles to a felony count of stalking Cusack. A judge immediately sentenced her to five years' probation and mandatory psychiatric counseling. The judge ordered her to stay away from the actor, his home and business for the next 10 years.

The 33-year-old Leatherman was arrested outside Cusack's home in March.

In a rambling statement Friday, Leatherman claimed she was the victim of sex crimes and thought Cusack could help her.

Cusack wasn't in court, but prosecutors read a statement from him that stated the actor had never met Leatherman but hoped she received proper psychiatric help.

Meat Loaf Hospitalized In London

A publicist for singer Meat Loaf says the 57-year-old rocker was hospitalized in London for three days following an awards ceremony earlier this week.

Publicist Kirt Webster says Meat Loaf was admitted to a private hospital in central London on Monday, immediately after winning Q Magazine's "Classic Song" award for his rock epic "Bat Out of Hell."

Webster says in an e-mail released Friday that Meat Loaf stayed at The London Clinic for three days for "testing and evaluation." The reason for the hospitalization has not been disclosed.

Webster says Meat Loaf has been cleared to travel back to the United States. He is set to perform Oct. 17 in Clearwater, Fla., and on Oct. 18 in Pompano Beach, Fla.

Sheryl Crow Creates Designer Duds

Grammy-winning singer Sheryl Crow, who says she's always been a girl who likes to wear jeans, has launched a new casual clothing line. It's called Bootheel Trading Co.

The first line is made up of about two dozen pieces developed by Crow's stylist and inspired by clothes from the singer's wardrobe.

The jeans come in styles with names including Nashville, Memphis, Missouri and Kennett. The latter is Crow's hometown in the southeast Missouri region known as the Bootheel.

Cloris Leachman In The Lead

Actress Cloris Leachman has been chosen as grand marshal for next year's Rose Parade.

Leachman, who holds an Oscar and eight Emmys, will head the 120th Tournament of Roses on Jan. 1 in Pasadena. The parade's theme is "Hats Off to Entertainment."

The 82-year-old "Dancing With the Stars" contestant said Friday she's thrilled to be grand marshal of a parade that - in her words - "is older than I am."

She added: "I wonder what my career will be like in the next 60?"

Leachman won an Oscar as best supporting actress for the 1971 film "The Last Picture Show."

Metallica Drummer To Part With Painting

Lars Ulrich, songwriter and drummer for the heavy-metal band Metallica, is selling a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting from his art collection that could set a new auction record for the artist.

"Untitled (Boxer)" was painted in 1982 by Basquiat, a graffiti artist who died of a drug overdose in 1988 when he was just 27. It depicts a black heavyweight fighter with his arms thrust in the air against a graffiti-filled background.

Christie's New York will sell it on Nov. 12. It says the painting is estimated to bring in excess of $12 million. The current auction record for a Basquiat is $14.6 million for "Untitled," a painting of a primitive figure with large hands that sold at Sotheby's last year.

Ulrich has owned the painting for 10 years.