Buzz Briefs: Norman Whitfield, Thomas Jane

Motown Writer, Producer Norman Whitfield Dies

Norman Whitfield, who co-wrote a string of Motown classics including "War" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," has died. He was 67.

A spokeswoman at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center says Whitfield died there Tuesday. He suffered from complications of diabetes and had recently emerged from a coma, The Detroit Free Press reported.

Whitfield was a longtime Motown producer who during the 1960s and '70s injected rock and psychedelic touches into the label's soul music. Many of his biggest hits were co-written with Barrett Strong, with whom he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.

Actor Thomas Jane sentenced For DUI

Actor Thomas Jane has pleaded no contest to drunken driving after he was clocked doing 120 mph in a Maserati in Kern County, Calif.

The star of last year's movie "The Mist" and 2004's "The Punisher" pleaded no contest Tuesday in a Shafter courtroom to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence. Jane wasn't in court but made the plea through his attorney.

He was sentenced to a year of probation, $1,700 in fines and must take alcohol abuse classes. Two other alcohol and drug charges and two speeding tickets were dismissed.

Jane is married to actress Patricia Arquette. Police stopped the 39-year-old actor twice on Interstate 5 last March for speeding. After a third stop, he was arrested for drunken driving.

Sir Paul, Girlfriend Step Out

Paul McCartney officially unveiled his new girlfriend last night - as his daughter Mary displayed her photography.

The former Beatle took Nancy Shevell along to support the exhibition - it's the first time the couple have attended a public event together.

In a grey suit, trainers and a stripy tie, Macca and his latest love strolled into the event at the Natural History Museum in London - taking the stairs separately to avoid being snapped with each other.

McCartney and Shevell have been dating since last year and have been spotted on holiday together before last night's official appearance.

His divorce from his former wife Heather Mills was settled in March.

The exhibition itself is a study of 30 photographs on British style by Mary McCartney.

Carlo Bruni-Sarkozy Sings Live On BBC

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has shared the world stage with the Queen, the Pope and the Dalai Lama.

But Tuesday night the French first lady appeared on a stage of a different kind, this time with rock royalty - the Kings of Leon and Metallica.

Introduced simply as Carla Bruni, she sang live on the British Broadcasting Corp. television program "Later Live ... With Jools Holland" and was interviewed by the pianist.

Bruni-Sarkozy's new album, "Comme si de rien n'etait" ("As If Nothing Had Happened"), was released in July. It went to the top of the charts in France.

Sitting at a grand piano, Bruni-Sarkozy was asked how she managed to balance her work as a musician with her duties as wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The former model replied simply that she doesn't mix the two, performing when she can and going with her husband when he needs her.

Popular Author To Pen Novel/Movie For Miley

The same guy who wrote "The Notebook," "A Walk to Remember" and "Message in a Bottle" is writing a book that will become a movie for Miley Cyrus.

Variety says Nicholas Sparks is writing the novel and working on the screenplay adaptation at the same time. The novel is expected to be released next year. There's no word what it's about or what the title is.

Streisand Helps Raise $9 Million For Obama

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama partied with Hollywood
celebrities Tuesday night and, with the help of Barbra Streisand, raised an eye-popping $9 million for his presidential campaign and the Democratic Party.

The night was split into two glitzy events, a reception and dinner costing $28,500 each at the Greystone Mansion, followed by entertainment by Streisand at the nearby Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Will Ferrell Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Lee Curtis and Steven Spielberg were on hand.

Students Win Visit From Jessica Simpson

For once, the teachers at Weber High School in Pleasant View, Utah, let kids send text messages in class, and it won them Jessica Simpson.

The Ogden Standard-Examiner reports Weber High students sent 571,795 text messages to a radio station in Salt Lake City last week to win a visit from Simpson. They beat the nearest competitor by about a-quarter million messages.

Simpson dropped by the school Monday to talk about high school, singing country music and pop music, her boyfriend Tony Romo and dealing with fame. A few students got hugs and kisses from her. The teachers normally don't allow texting during school hours but let kids do it for the contest.

Applegate Returns To "Samantha" Set

Christina Applegate is back at work. Her publicist tells People.com that Applegate is back taping "Samantha Who?" after having a double mastectomy in July. She's expected to present an award at the Emmys on Sunday. She's also up for best lead actress in a comedy series.

DeGeneres New Face Of CoverGirl

She hates wearing dresses, but Ellen DeGeneres does like some girly things, like makeup. And now she's the new face for CoverGirl.

DeGeneres showed a video on her talk show having lip-liner put on her. She jokes it took "hours and hours." Her first ad will pop up in January.

Sign Up For Oscar Bleacher Seats
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is giving fans another chance to breathe the same air as movie stars on Oscar night. Get ready to apply for bleacher seats outside the Kodak Theatre that overlook the red carpet.

Applications are being taken at Oscars.org from Sept. 22 - 28th. Only 300 seats are available. But, in previous years, up to 20,000 fans have applied.

If you decide to camp the night before the Oscars in hopes of getting into the bleachers, forget it. The Academy will not let you in. The Oscars are Feb. 22.