Songbird Supreme Mariah Carey Sparkles in Sydney

THE diva delivered.

Mariah Carey trilled and shrilled her way into Australian’s hearts last night as she stepped onto the Sydney stage for the first time in fifteen years.

Acting ever-the-prima-donna, the 42-year-old was around an hour late to the stage, leaving hubby Nick Cannon to keep the jam-packed Allphones Arena audience at bay before turning up at approximately 10.00pm for an hour-and-a-half set.

But all was forgiven as the opening beats to a remix of Can't Take That Way boomed through the sound system; Carey appearing in all her blinged-up glory in a short, figure-hugging mini-dress, typical of the Carey couture we have come to know.

The songbird supreme did not disappoint, her voice is as powerful as it was twenty years ago, hitting that signature squeak (G#7, think just a few keys from the top of a piano) for her 1991 hit, Emotions.

The playlist was a mixed bag of hits spanning her twenty year career and mixed vocal range, from the oldies (My All, Always Be My Baby) to the newbies (It's Like That, Obsessed, Shake It Off, Touch My Body).

There were a few random tracks, including what Carey described as one of her all-time favourites, 1997's Close My Eyes, along with an off-the-cuff acapella of Can't Let Go/Love Takes Time.

Like an old-pro, Carey casually chatted to her "Lambs" between breaks, sharing personal memories and moments and joining in the Australian experience by eating a spoonful of Vegemite, only to demand a glass of bubbles to wash it down.

"It’s not that bad," she said between pursed lips.

She announced her children's new love affair with the country, where her daughter Monroe spoke her first words – "I’m good girl" - on stage during her New Year’s show at the The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

"So Australia, my children love you!"

But it was the penultimate show-stopper – Hero - that made the crowd melt, before a soaring finale of We Belong Together. Not a note was missed.

She might be a diva, she might be demanding and she might be a little late, but damn, that woman can sing.

Mariah Carey will finish her Australian tour in Melbourne on January 5 at Etihad Stadium.

WHAT YOU THOUGHT

"It was definitely worth the money and she still has it and really made an effort with the crowd. Disappointed with the slow start, but overall it was amazing," - Melanie Bartlett.

"All I can say is that Mariah is the true professional performer, her voice was in crisp condition. 2013 is going to be a great year for Mariah Carey," - Matthew Ross.

"I'm on Mariah fever, I'm mesmerised by her aura. I've been to a lot of concerts and this was something out of this world," - Andrew La Delfa.

"What an experience to witness Mariah live. So much personality, down to earth, great rapport, sounded amazing. Best concert,"

Kim K and Mel B Party Together on Sydney Harbour

Kim Kardashian wasn't lonely without boyfriend Kanye West by her side in Sydney last night, catching up with close friend Spice Girl Mel B for a private speed boat soirée on the harbour.

Earlier in the day, the perpetually busy 31-year-old reality star promoted her new season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians

After attending an E! Channel party at Rushcutters Bay restaurant Neild Avenue, Kim seemed relieved to grab a meal and have a good yarn with The X Factor judge Mel and her husband Stephen Belafonte. The ladies exchanged hugs, air kisses and laughs on the new floating party destination The Island, which is co-owned by Mel's movie producer hubby. The boat left from Rose Bay Wharf and docked at Vaucluse for the evening. According to The Daily Telegraph, celebrity chef Luke Mangan served the meal, but would not comment on Kim's culinary preferences

Miranda Kerr is Striking in Low-Cut Top as She Enjoys a Night Out in Sydney with Orlando Bloom

But tonight it stopped spinning for Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom as they enjoyed an evening  together in Sydney.

The Victoria's Secret model was stunning in a low-cut one-piece pantsuit as she launched the Qantas and Emirates airlines partnerships with her husband by her side.

Doing what she does best: Miranda stopped to strike a pose in front of the Sydney Opera House

The model slicked her hair back into an elegant ponytail, and accessorised with drop earrings, a delicate bracelet and rings, clutching a black purse in hand.

Orlando matched his other half in head-to-toe black, smiling as the pair exited the launch event.

But it seems the pair stopped at least briefly along their way, as Miranda stopped to strike a pose in front of the Sydney Opera House.

The model slicked her hair back into an elegant ponytail, and accessorised with drop earrings, a delicate bracelet and rings, clutching a black purse in hand.


Orlando matched his other half in head-to-toe black, smiling as the pair exited the launch event.

But it seems the pair stopped at least briefly along their way, as Miranda stopped to strike a pose in front of the Sydney Opera House.

A handsome pair: Miranda and Orlando married in 2010

Kerr is currently in her native Australia for modelling duties as a new spokeswoman for Quantas airlines - and will star in campaigns to promote the Qantas Club as it aims to retain its lucrative frequent flyer customers.

The star has had a full schedule while in Australia, also promoting heavily for local label David Jones as well as her Kora Organics skin brand.

Back to work: Miranda, pictured alongside Qantas models on August 30, has been accompanied by Orlando as she attends to her promotional duties in her native Australia

The 35-year-old Lord of the Rings actor meanwhile seems to be enjoying a bit of a break as he accompanies Miranda to her promotional events in her native Australia.

The couple on Sunday enjoyed a rare day off with her husband as the cruised around the eastern suburbs of Sydney in a classic '60s Mustang convertible with baby boy Flynn.
The couple, who married in 2010, welcomed their first son in January, 2011.

 

All together now: The couple, pictured at Sydney airport in January with baby boy Flynn, have been spending quite a bit of time in Australia this year.

Leonardo DiCaprio with Australia's Next Top Models at Sydney's Beach House

HAS Leonardo DiCaprio already moved on from his Victoria's Secret model girlfriend Erin Heatherton? 

Back at his favourite hangout Beach Haus in Sydney's Kings Cross on Friday night, Heatherton - who made her first public appearance with DiCaprio in December last year at a UFC fight at Luna Park - was nowhere to be seen.

Instead it was the usual procession of pretty young things who appeared to capture DiCaprio's attention - particularly last year's Australia's Next Top Model third-place getter Simone Holtznagel.

Joined by her BFF (and ANTM's 2011 winner) Montana Cox, Holtznagel was spied chatting to DiCaprio throughout the night - that was, when The Great Gatsby actor wasn't engrossed with his mobile phone.

Wearing his trademark baseball cap, DiCaprio appeared his usual glum self though he did crack a smile - albeit briefly - when he jumped up on a couch for a quick boogie.

"He seemed pretty chilled. He was mostly texting on his Blackberry but Holtznagel was definitely the standout of all the girls trying to get his attention," said a spy. "And she was one of the few girls he really spoke to."

Never far from at least one member of his famed "pussy posse" entourage (as is its Hollywood nickname), DiCaprio was joined this time by his best pal Lukas Haas.

And like any good wingman, DiCaprio made sure Haas wasn't without female attention, with Cox rarely straying from his side.

"Lukas and Montana left together," said an onlooker. "Leo was a little more discreet. He left unaccompanied just after 3am and a few minutes later Simone left too."

Asked if DiCaprio and Heatherton are now kaput, the actor's rep didn't get back to us.

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Believe it, Victoria, believe it! The New Tennis Queen

Victoria Azarenka poses by the Yarra River today with the trophy for becoming the women's world No.1 tennis player. Photo: Getty Images

''WHAT happened?'' Victoria Azarenka kept asking, as if she did not dare to believe all the questions her performance had just answered.
Yes, the Australian Open has a new champion, and women's tennis its latest queen. Yes, with her emphatic 6-3, 6-0 defeat of Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka earned her first major title, a record winner's cheque of $2.3 million, and another place in history as the sport's 21st No. 1.

What happened? Sharapova was asking that, too, for little had separated the pair in their six previous matches, although this was their first in a grand slam. If there was one expected edge it was thought to be Sharapova's: experience, for this was the sixth grand slam final for the winner of three.

She did it by winning 12 of the last 13 games until closing out the match in just 82 minutes, including just the third 6-0 set in a women's final.

It was a thrashing for Sharapova, the Russian superstar who has now lost two major finals in the past six months - her first two since returning from the 2008 shoulder surgery that threatened her career. The first, at Wimbledon, was to Petra Kvitova, and the four singles slams are now all held for the first time by players who own just the one.

Victoria Azarenka poses alongside the Yarra River today with the Australian Open trophy. Photo: Getty Images

Yet Sharapova was gracious in defeat, and Azarenka buoyant after the shock subsided, thanking her hard-working grandmother ''who inspires me most in my life'', and grinning when she was reminded that her support team must now honour a deal to dye their hair blonde.

Less than a year ago, she was considering whether to continue in the game. ''I think that was just a short moment, and I bounced back again,'' she said.

As the 2005 Australian girls' champion, Azarenka becomes just the third woman after long-retired local pair Chris O'Neil and Evonne Goolagong Cawley to complete the junior-senior double.

She is also the first Belarusian to win a singles major, Natasha Zvereva having reached the French final in 1988, representing the Soviet Union. If the match was an anti-climax, and the most lopsided since the 2006 decider from which Justine Henin retired early in the second set, the atmosphere was also relatively subdued in a stadium with many hundreds of empty seats.

There was little emotional investment in either player, for the reformed hot head and the ice queen can be difficult players to like. How different from last year, when new tournament darling, Li Na, met long-time sentimental favourite Kim Clijsters, a popular winner assured.

Which is not to detract from Azarenka's achievement, although in recent days the women's tournament has been overshadowed by two fabulous evening semis between the four leading men.

So Belarus provides the new champion, the youngest at an Australian Open since 20-year-old Sharapova in 2008, Azarenka joining Li, Kvitova and Sam Stosur as yet another first-timer, and handed the the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup trophy by the youngest of the previous century, Martina Hingis.

What happened? We just saw, and heard it. May she celebrate as long and loudly as she wishes.

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Celebrity Apprentice Australia star David Hasselhoff is Foreman Material

Still boasting the tan he made famous on Baywatch, David Hasselhoff led the all-male team on the new Celebrity Apprentice Australia as they rounded up props and support for their first challenge - a pet pampering service - today.

The 59-year-old led the charge from Cremorne's Orpheum Theatre, where contestants filmed the opening scenes of the new season show.

Ian "Dicko" Dickson and AFL loudmouth Jason Akermanis, not known as wallflower types, appeared awestruck by the towering American.

Having struggled to overcome personal demons, including a battle with alcohol addiction, Hasselhoff has made a career of TV cameos like this one.

He was the first to be booted off the last series of Dancing With The Stars in the US, where he paired with Aussie Kym Johnson.

"He's going to hit the wall at some point," Dickson said about Hasselhoff's fast pace.

Fellow contestant Ben Dark was also impressed by The Hoff's determination to win the challenge. "I'll be his coffee boy if he keeps this up" Dark said.

Teammate and model Nathan Joliffe had some favourable comments for the American after he stripped off at the beach.

"He's not wearing Speedos but looking bloody good if you ask me," he said.
The public are invited to get involved in today's challenge, with Charlotte Dawson texting the details:
"Please come between 1pm-3pm to Sydney Park, car park entrance, corner King St & Princes Highway, Alexandria x Bring your own or steal someone's dog for a pampering. I will be shovelling shit so bring your camera ;)"

Miranda Kerr Strips Down as Australia's Wonder Woman For Grazia

What better way for an Australian magazine to show their patriotism than by dressing up one of our most successful modelling exports as an Aussie Wonder Woman? That’s exactly what Grazia did for their Australia Day special collectors issue (on sale now), starring Miranda Kerr in a custom-made Alex Perry bodysuit and cape. According to Grazia editor Kellie Hush, “Miranda’s an Aussie icon; a businesswoman, a wife, a mum. She is our Wonder Woman.”

If last year looked busy for Miranda, it seems like 2012 is shaping up to be even bigger for the model. On top of her David Jones ambassador role and Victoria’s Secret duties, she recently signed on as a new ambassador for Qantas. And when not working, Miranda’s been either catching up with friends at awards season parties with Orlando Bloom, or spending time with her too-cute 1-year-old son, Flynn.

Celebrities are invading Australia - Dave Grohl and Jack Black the latest stars to travel Down Under

Proving that Australia has become the hot celebrity destination for the world this season, Jack Black and Dave Grohl flew into Perth on the weekend to kickstart their joint tour - The Foo Fighters headlining with the self-described "greatest band in the world" Tenacious D in support.

While Black aped for photographers, Grohl and his band were looking much cooler, refusing to acknowledge photographers in theirs midst.

The two stars have long enjoyed a mutually beneficial arrangement - Black cast Grohl as Satan in his hit comedy film Tenacious D And The Pick of Destiny.

Now the boys are on the same music bill and are headed to Sydney on December 8.

Black's musical offsider Kyle Gass also flew in but slipped almost undetected through the airport.

They are just the latest megastars to accept invitations to play Down Under and join a slew of artists, including actors Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, the cast of The Great Gatsby, Kevin Spacey, Elton John, Stevie Nicks and Dolly Parton in the country at the moment.

George Clooney Turns on Charm for Sydney

GEORGE Clooney's first Sydney appearance yesterday was an understated affair. There was no red carpet to greet the Hollywood star, nor were there crowds of hyperventilating fans.

Instead, a mostly female audience of business executives gathered at the Sydney Convention Centre in Darling Harbour to hear the famously handsome Clooney speak about his humanitarian work in Southern Sudan.

Welcomed with roaring applause, Clooney joked with his audience. "Thankyou for the weather," he quipped, as Sydney's spate of unseasonably cold and overcast days continued.

Clooney held court for about an hour, to the delight of the crowd.

"Any woman on the planet is going to be excited about meeting George Clooney," said Emma Isaacs, CEO of women's networking firm Business Chicks.

"I admire his philanthropic work and that he is using his profile to benefit the world ... his social work is what I'm interested in hearing about today."

Clooney was speaking at the Global Leadership Forum in his capacity as co-founder of Darfur aid organisation Not on Our Watch - which he created in 2007 with fellow actors Don Cheadle, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt - and as co-founder of the Satellite Sentinel Project, which tracks war criminals in Sudan.

Other speakers at the event included entrepreneurs Jeff Taylor, hip-hop magnate Russell Simmons and domestic queen Martha Stewart.

For celebrity chef and author Maggie Beer, there were two good reasons to attend. "I'm here to see Martha Stewart and George Clooney," she said with a laugh.

When asked if she had offered to cook Clooney dinner, she replied: "If I had have been quick enough thinking, I would have."

Merril Skyring, a director at Deloitte, paid $1400 for a VIP ticket to the event. "I'm interested really in leadership and innovation so it's a great day for that ... and George Clooney, of course," Ms Skyring said. "I think people think he's just a movie star but he's actually a really strong political activist and human rights activist.

"I was really pleased to see him represent himself that way and then still be the Hollywood star at the end of it and make all the ladies swoon - it was gorgeous."

Clooney spoke about collaboration and the art of making things happen.

Fashion photographer Leah McQueen, who flew from New York to hear Clooney speak, said, "He kept me captivated for the whole time.''

After paying $1100 for a ticket, and leaving immediately after Clooney's appearance, was it worth it? "Yes, I think so," she said, smiling.

Clooney, who flies out of Sydney today, has made the most of his whirlwind trip. He saw Cate Blanchett in Sydney Theatre Company's Gross und Klein on Sunday, saying the Australian star was "very, very good".

Tony Robinson makes history in Newcastle

TO many he is Baldrick of Blackadder fame, to some he is children’s favourite Fat Tulip and to others he is that documentary-maker from the History Channel.
British television presenter Tony Robinson was filming in Newcastle yesterday for an episode in his next series Tony Robinson’s Time Walks.

In the ten-part series Robinson will uncover the hidden histories, characters and untold stories of some of Australia’s oldest cities, including Newcastle, while walking its streets.

Robinson expects to be in town until Wednesday.

They have already been to Hobart, Woolloomooloo, St Kilda, Carlton, The Lanes, Bendigo and in the new year will visit Brisbane, Adelaide and Fremantle.

The series follows Robinson’s hugely successful Tony Robinson Explores Australia.

Robinson said he had always been intrigued by Newcastle and how it compared to its British namesake.

‘‘I know it’s a coal town but the idea of a Newcastle with a beach did not quite compute,’’ he said.

‘‘When a town is known for one thing there are other histories buried away in there. That’s what I wanted to learn.’’

Robinson said he hoped to teach Novocastrians about their past for example, that a convict wrote Australia’s first dictionary in Newcastle.

‘‘I do know Captain Cook, when he got here found Nobbys but totally missed the magnificent harbour behind it.’’

He said there were similarities with Newcastle, England.

‘‘It’s got the same sense of grittiness about it,’’ he said.

More than 20 years since cult hit Blackadder finished Robinson said people still called out lines to him, which was nice because the show established his career.

People also asked him about his documentaries and the ABC hit archaeological series Time Team, which created demand for his work Down Under.

Crews would also be talking to people on Newcastle’s streets, he said.

‘‘So, if they do see me please do not sneak away.’’

This Celebrity Journey Makes its Way Down Under

HIGH School Musical sweetheart Vanessa Hudgens is bound for Australia with Hunger Games teen Josh Hutcherson.

The pair will be arriving in Melbourne next month before walking the ruby rug for the world premiere of new movie, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D on January 15.

The sequel to Journey to the Centre of the Earth will see Hudgens play the "beautiful, strong-willed" daughter of a helicopter pilot as the pair rescue the lone inhabitant of a strange island.