Natalie Cole returns to the stage for the first time since kidney transplant surgery

September 30th, 2009 Conductor Levine withdrawing from upcoming showsNEW YORK — Conductor James Levine is withdrawing from upcoming performances with the Metropolitan Opera and Boston Symphony Orchestra to have surgery for a herniated disk in his back. Levine has had a series of health problems in recent years.

September 11th, 2009 WASHINGTON - R andB singer Natalie Cole made a comeback to the stage and performed at a concert in Hollywood after fighting severe health conditions for almost a year. "I really do have to say ...

September 10th, 2009 NATALIE COLE wowed fans on Wednesday night (09Sep09) when she made a triumphant return to the stage for the first time since receiving a successful kidney transplant. The 59-year-old singer performed at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, and stepped onstage to a standing ovation.

September 10th, 2009 JERMAINE JACKSON's Austrian tribute to his late brother MICHAEL has been rocked by another controversy - NATALIE COLE won't be there. The singer becomes the third big name to 'pull out' of the show after Jackson named his line-up for the Vienna concert on 26 September (09) earlier this week (beg07Sep09).

September 9th, 2009 CHRIS BROWN has not signed up to lead the musical tribute concert to MICHAEL JACKSON in Vienna, Austria - despite the tragic icon's brother JERMAINE backing him as the main headliner. At a press conference in the European city on Tuesday (08Sep09), the Jackson 5 singer told reporters that disgraced Brown would take centre stage at the star-studded tribute for the late Thriller legend on 26 September (09).

September 8th, 2009 British model LILY COLE has laughed off reports she's set to wed her actor boyfriend. The 21 year old has been dating Without A Trace star Enrique Murciano since last year (08).

September 8th, 2009 Blige, Cole to perform at Vienna Jackson tributeVIENNA — Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole and Sister Sledge will headline a Sept.

August 18th, 2009 Rapper DRAKE is preparing to undergo knee surgery after injuring himself on stage last month (Jul09). The rising star tore an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee in June (09) while playing basketball, but he defied doctors' orders by hitting the stage as part of Lil Wayne's Young Money Presents America's Most Wanted Music Festival tour last month (Jul09).

August 14th, 2009 NATALIE COLE will be eternally grateful to the anonymous fan who donated a kidney to her - because the new organ has totally transformed her life. The star has battled ill health since she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 2008.

August 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Fox is all set to get "Booksmart" as they have roped in actress Natalie Portman to produce the high school comedy for them. Portman will produce the flick with her partner Annette Savitch under their Handsomecharlie Films banner, reports Variety.

August 9th, 2009 LONDON - Renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli is set to team up with "The Muppets" this Christmas. The Italian tenor, who has previously shared the stage with Celine Dion and Christina Aguilera, was said to be recording a cover of Jingle Bells with Kermit, a Muppet, one of puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous creations, first introduced in 1955, and pals.

July 14th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Natalie Portman has been cast as the female lead in 'Thor, Marvel Studios' adaptation of its comic book.he 28-year-old Portman has been cast as Jane Foster, who was a nurse and first love of the title character in the Marvel Comics, reports Variety. According to Marvel Studios, the character is being updated for the movie version of 'Thor,' in which the Norse warrior is cast down to Earth to live among humans.

June 9th, 2009 Natalie Cole announces first post-surgery concertNEW YORK — Natalie Cole is preparing for her comeback performance less than a month after a successful kidney transplant. The Grammy-winning singer says she'll perform Sept.

May 23rd, 2009 NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES - For US singer Natalie Cole, life and death came as two sides of a coin this week. While the performer and former drug addict sat comforting her cancer-sickened sister, Carol "Cookie" Cole, she got an urgent call from her own doctors saying a kidney was available for her own life-prolonging surgery, the New York Post reported Friday online.

May 21st, 2009 WASHINGTON - Ailing singer Natalie Cole recently underwent a life-saving kidney transplant surgery in Los Angeles, and was "resting comfortably," according to her representative. The 59-year-old has been suffering from kidney failure, caused by the hepatitis C she contracted during her time as an intravenous heroin user.