The 78-year-old, known for her smoky renditions of Is That All There Is? and Fever, recorded in the 50s, is still recovering from a stroke she suffered last year.

A diabetic, Miss Lee has suffered a string of health problems and underwent double-bypass heart surgery and an operation to open clogged arteries in 1985.

Diff'rent Strokes star due back in court

Former Diff'rent Strokes TV star Gary Coleman is due back in court on 3 August for failing to pay up after he was fined for punching a disgruntled autograph seeker.

Coleman, who played cherubic Arnold in the hit 80s sitcom, was arrested and fined last year for punching a bus driver after she apparently made disparaging remarks about his adult career.

The 40-year-old, who now works as a security guard, was arrested for failing to pay the $400 fine. He spent several hours in a Los Angeles jail before posting the $26,000 bail for his latest court appearance.

The incident is the latest misfortune to hit the cast of the popular sitcom. Dana Plato, who played Kimberly Drummond, commited suicide in May.

Internet deal for Stones and Metallica

The Rolling Stones and Metallica are among groups taking part in a new venture to sell and distribute music on the Internet.

Tom Petty, Dwight Yoakam and Brian Setzer are also included in the 44 artists to sign a deal with online music seller Artistdirect.

In a separate development, music company giant Universal is making music available in formats which can be downloaded from the Internet.

Film stars unimpressed by Kubrick movie

Stars have been voicing their doubts over Stanley Kubrick's last film Eyes Wide Shut, which has received a critical mauling in the States.

Following the premiere, Billy Crystal said "I am not sure" when asked what he thought of the film, which stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

Four Weddings and a Funeral star Andie MacDowell said: "It's something you have to sit with for a while. I want to go home and take a shower."

Cleopatra to follow in Xena's footsteps

The producers behind the hit shows Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess have unveiled their latest project, Cleopatra 2525.

It is about a woman who is frozen after an accident in the year 2001.

Thawed out in 2525, she finds herself in a world where human beings have been driven to live underground to escape evil alien invaders.

Like Hercules and Xena, the series will be shot in New Zealand. The search is on for someone to play Cleopatra.

Pop band 5ive fail to top 'Ricky mania'

Boy band 5ive failed to match the success of Latino pop sensation Ricky Martin when they appeared at a record store in London.

Around 1,000 fans crammed into HMV in Oxford Street to see the band sign copies of their new single, If Ya Gettin' Down.

But unlike the appearance of Martin, whose single Livin' La Vida Loca is currently at No 1 in the charts, the band failed to bring one of the capital's busiest road to a standstill.

Mind over muscles for Stallone's new movie

Sylvester Stallone's latest movie role is a departure from the all-action hero he is usually associated with.

The star, who hasn't appeared in a film for two years, has just finished work on Detox, a suspense drama in which he plays Detective Jake Malloy.

Stallone says he took the role because: "It's a big departure for me. Malloy is is a character who's more mental than physical, and the film has more dialogue than action."

Film's name change makes star 'vomit'

Actress Cloris Leachman has slammed a decision to change the name of a new film in which she co-stars with Hollywood superstar Meryl Streep.

Universal Pictures has changed the name 50 Violins to Music of My Heart.

But Leachman, who plays Streep's mother, says the change is "so stupid it makes me want to vomit".