After years of tabloid gossip claiming marital troubles, country music's top couple Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton announced their divorce after four years of marriage. The news was confirmed in a joint statement on July 20. "This is not the future we envisioned," the former couple said. "It is with heavy hearts that we move forward separately. We are real people, with real lives, with real families, friends and colleagues ... we kindly ask for privacy and compassion concerning this very personal matter." On Saturday, two days before the announcement, Lambert broke down in tears live on stage during the Cheyenne Frontier Days Festival in Wyoming. The multiplatinum stars came together just as their careers were hitting their peak, but constantly denied rumours that the demands of the job were taking a toll on their marriage. There were no obvious signs of trouble when the couple appeared at the Academy of Country Music Awards in April. Grammy-winning Texan Lambert, 31, is one of country music's most lauded female singers with her fiery brand of sass and sincerity on songs such as Gunpowder & Lead. Boys 'Round Here singer Shelton, with his easy likeability, became a ubiquitous star as he juggled his musical and TV career, as a judge on The Voice and a co-host of the ACMs. – AP
Lifetime achievement award for Carol Burnett
The Screen Actors Guild is recognising Carol Burnett for her six decades in entertainment. The actors' union announced on Monday that Burnett will receive its 52nd Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual SAG Awards in January. Union President Ken Howard said the 82-year-old entertainer is "a creative dynamo and a comedic genius". Burnett got her start on stage, where TV talent bookers spotted her. She joined the cast of The Garry Moore Show in 1959. She launched The Carol Burnett Show in 1967, which ran for 11 years and won 25 Emmy Awards. Burnett is working on a book about the success of her show set to be published next year. Her recent TV credits include appearances on Glee and Hot in Cleveland. – AP
Breaking Bad actor runs for county seat
Citing the growth of urban sprawl and a need for more Mexican-American officials, Breaking Bad actor Steven Michael Quezada said he is jumping into a heated race for county commissioner in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Quezada, who played agent Steven Gomez in the hit AMC TV series, said he would soon make a formal announcement that he is seeking a commission seat in Bernalillo County – the state's most populous county. The 52-year-old actor said he feels someone like him can make a difference in the district that includes the historic Hispanic South Valley and an area in Albuquerque's West Side where developers are seeking to build homes. "I think I bring a new face to the Democratic Party," said Quezada, who is a member of the Albuquerque school board. "We need to reach out to ... the young Chicanos, the young Latinos – and get them involved ... and let them know this is important." – AP
Miley Cyrus to host MTV Video Music Awards
Miley Cyrus is twerking back to the MTV Video Music Awards as the show's host. The 25-year-old revealed on her social-media accounts on July 20 that she is helming the August 30 ceremony, by posting a photo of herself in an alien costume with sandwich boards that read "MTV won't let me perform" and "so I'm hosting this year's VMAs". A scantily clad Cyrus shocked audiences with a rump-shaking performance at the 2013 MTV VMAs. Cyrus won the Video of the Year trophy at last year's show and invited a homeless man on stage to accept the trophy. The 2015 awards will be broadcast live on MTV. – AP
Salman Khan’s poaching trial postponed
A court in Jodhpur Court in Rajasthan has adjourned actor Salman Khan's trial in a case related to illegal possession and use of arms while poaching endangered blackbucks in October 1998. The 49-year-old actor had filed an appeal in the high court to recall five witnesses for the prosecution. The poaching incident took place during the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain. Other actors accused include Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam. – IANS
