Elton John

Like most southern California girls, I grew up watching the Academy Awards. I remember huddling in front of our 13" black and white TV and ooing and awing at the beautiful movie stars. As I grew older the Oscar's either turned into an excuse to go to a friend's house, dress up and drink shamelessly, or they served as the perfect backdrop to pay bills and fold laundry. But this year was different because I was invited to the Elton John Viewing party. This year I was doing it right.

After hours of shopping for the perfect dress it finally hit me ...


that because I am not famous, nobody (let me repeat, nobody) was going to pay any attention to me. Plus being in my mid-thirties I missed the boat of being "discovered" by about 20 years. But I am vain, so I still stressed a bit and ended up wearing a simple dress but had the fortune of the eBay Jewelry Style Director, Sandy Graham on hand to deck me out with great accessories from the eBay Fashion Closet. I actually scored three compliments on my get-up (yes, I kept track).

Once I was coiffed and fake eyelashes applied I was ready for my grand entrance to the party which consisted of being shuffled behind the stars on the red carpet as the cameras clicked away. During the cocktail hour I looked around anxiously waiting to spot the first star, ooooh there he is, Al Roker! Ok, not the best first sighting but still fun.

We were escorted into the dining room which had about 20 plasma screens strategically placed around the room and about 50 wait staff who were of course all ridiculously gorgeous. As I sat down I started to panic, my God can I really sit through an entire Academy Awards show without simple diversions like laundry? As I spotted Paris Hilton at the next table I realized that yes, indeed I could. And I hate to admit it, Paris is beautiful, there is no denying it. However, Paris' accessory is her phone which was permanently attached to her ear and in my opinion is as tacky as chomping on gum.

As we were eating dinner, Elton John and his darling husband approached our table to say hello. I truly felt star struck. I mean who doesn't love Elton John? He was decked out in diamonds yet his personality was understated. The reason for my being at the party is Elton is auctioning off his famous red piano on eBay (my employer) and his last performance on the piano was at the party singing Rocket Man with John Legend -- wow. I was giddy when he looked at the eBay posse, smiled, waved and said "Hi eBay!" I was so in awe I started mumbling nervously and stared at him without blinking. Charming.

As the evening progressed, I took mental note of more celeb sightings and I have figured out the common denominator, they are all little people! Ben Stiller, Pamela Anderson, Eric McCormack, Prince, Sharon and Ozzie - all tiny! No wonder I never made it. By midnight all that was left were plastic cups and tv celebs so I took my cue, picked up my gift bag and went home. Although I didn't have an Eric Bana sighting, 2006 marks the best Academy Awards ever for me...

Some of music`s hippest artists are lining up to record an album celebrating the 80th birthday of one of entertainment`s original hipsters, Tony Bennett.

Bono, Sting, Michael Buble, the Dixie Chicks, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang and Diana Krall are set to record duets with Bennett, the New York Daily News reported Monday.

In addition, Clint Eastwood is producing a documentary about the crooner, the Smithsonian American Art Museum has put his painting of Central Park into its permanent collection and the National Endowment for the Arts named Bennett a Jazz Master.

Bennett, who turns 80 on Aug. 3, was honored last month at Washington`s Kennedy Center as well.

Scissor Sisters are busy at work on the follow-up to their 2004 self-titled debut album, which they hope to have finished in time for a late spring release, and the newly married Elton John has been helping them.

The group are producing the record in their own New York City studio, and John has dropped in to contribute. A number of other guests have also been recruited to take part. A source close to the band (we're betting it's their damn publicist) told NME.com that making the album has involved:

"Jamming in a Central American jungle with people who have spent time in a studio with Def Leppard, Elton [John] coming by to make tea and lay down some mean Bo Diddley grooves, picking banjos above a hair extension parlor, employing a 25-piece choir comprised solely of unemployed Brooklyn haircutters, a famous glam rock figure [or two] wondering just what they can buy at the Jamaican grocery downstairs and plenty of swimming with and jumping sharks."

"The songs still sound like old friends," the insider added, "but perhaps a slightly different set of friends than you had round the last time."

Among the songs in the running to make the album are "Can't Decide," "Hybrid," "Other Side," "Cher Baby," "Paul McCartney" and "Everybody Wants," which the band debuted onstage at Live 8 last summer.