Maya Angelou Throws Garden Party

Poet Maya Angelou celebrated her birthday in the backyard garden of her North Carolina home.

Angelou was joined for her 82nd year by friends, including singers Martina McBride, Naomi Judd and Common and producer/director Lee Daniels.

The celebration Thursday is more than a month late - Angelou's birthday was April 4.

McBride and Judd sang a duet of "Happy Birthday to You," while Common improvised a hip-hop song to honor her.

Angelou says her next project is a cookbook of healthy foods based on recipes that helped her lose 40 pounds. She says an "attitude of gratitude" keeps her motivated.

But Angelou also says she finds the political divisiveness in the country both sad and tragic.