Confusion over Joni Mitchell’s condition

Also family gather for Redford honour; movie stars dominate Tonys and writer sues Courtney Love

Singer Joni Mitchell has been in hospital since March 31 with undisclosed health problems. Aaron Vincent Elkaim / The Canadian Press

Conflicting information about singer Joni Mitchell’s health emerged on Wednesday. Leslie Morris, a long-time friend, said in a court filing that the singer was unconscious and unable to care for herself, but the Grammy winner’s website said she was alert and expected to make a full recovery. Mitchell has been in hospital since March 31 with undisclosed health problems. On Wednesday, Morris filed a petition to become Mitchell’s guardian because the singer does not have any family who can assist with her care and medical decisions. A court hearing was scheduled for July 8. – AP

Family gather for Redford honour

Robert Redford says getting his entire family in one place at one time is a challenge. "We don't come together that easy," the actor said at the Film Society of Lincoln ­Center's Chaplin Award gala ceremony in New York, at which he was honoured with the prestigious career prize as his wife, three children, their spouses and lots of grandchildren looked on. "It's the only time I can get everybody together," the 78-year-old actor said ahead of Monday's event. "All of them coming here was a shock, but a wonderful shock." Redford said the Manhattan ceremony held a special meaning for him. "I think it has a lot to do with the fact that this is where my career started – in New York City, in the theatre – and because that's the root of my beginnings." After tributes from a host of stars, including Jane Fonda, John Turturro, Elisabeth Moss and Quentin Tarantino, the award was presented to Redford by his The Way We Were co-star, Barbra Streisand, herself a past Chaplin recipient. – AP

Tonys dominated by movie stars

Hit musicals An American in Paris, adapted from the classic Oscar-winning film, and Fun Home, a coming-of-age tale, led the way in the nominations for Broadway's Tony Awards on Tuesday. Each got 12 nominations, including Best Musical. British imports Wolf Hall, Skylight and The Audience scooped eight, seven and three nominations respectively. Author Hilary Mantel, who won the Booker Prize for Wolf Hall and its sequel Bring Up the Bodies, was nominated as co-author, with Mike Poulton, for Best Play. Movie stars dominated the best-actor categories. Bradley Cooper won one of four nominations for The Elephant Man, while Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss was nominated for The Heidi Chronicles. Helen Mirren was nominated for her role as the Queen in The Audience and Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan for Skylight. There were nine nominations for the Broadway revival of The King and I and six nominations for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Winners will be announced on June 7. – AFP

Writer sues Courtney Love

A journalist who worked on Courtney Love's memoir has sued her, saying that the rock singer had failed to pay him. Anthony Bozza, known for his articles in Rolling Stone magazine and his biography of rap giant Eminem, said that Love, the widow of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, owed him more than US$200,000 (Dh734,630). In a lawsuit filed in New York, Bozza said that Love has received $400,000 of a $1.2 million advance from publisher HarperCollins and that he sent drafts of the introduction and first two chapters to her in 2012, which she described as "beautiful". But last year, Bozza said Love told him that she was working with a new writer. Bozza said new writers were using his work as a base. – AFP