Tributes Flood In for Elizabeth Taylor

TRIBUTES FLOOD IN FOR ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Tributes have flooded in for the late Elizabeth Taylor in the wake of her death, with Elton John describing her as a ''Hollywood giant.''

The screen legend passed away at 1.28am on Wednesday morning (March 23, 2011) at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - where she had been receiving treatment for the last few weeks for congestive heart failure - surrounded by her four children, Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton.

Since the news, numerous stars who knew her, or admired her during her life have paid their respects.

Elton, 63, wrote on his twitter page: "We have just lost a Hollywood giant; more importantly, we have lost an incredible human being."

Whoopi Goldberg mourned the loss of her "diamond loving" friend on her Facebook page, thanking the "Cleopatra" star for helping her during her career.

She wrote: "Today my friend Elizabeth Taylor passed away. Oddly, we all knew this day was coming but still her passing took my breath away. She was a funny, loud, joke tellin', diamond loving, fantastic woman. She played a big role in shaping my life as Whoopi Goldberg. It really is the end of an era."

Michael Caine - who starred in the 1972 movie "Zee and Co" with Taylor - paid tribute to the person rather than the actress.

He tweeted: "So sad to hear about my beautiful friend Elizabeth Taylor she was a great human being."

The double-Oscar winning actress' representative has revealed her final moments were peaceful, and although her condition worsened at 6pm on Tuesday night (March 23, 2011) doctors had been positive about her illness.

The rep' said: "She died peacefully. Though she had recently suffered a number of complications, her condition had stabilized and it was hoped that she would be able to return home. Sadly, this was not to be."

As well as her four children, Taylor - who was married eight times to seven different men - is survived by 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

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Elizabeth Taylor Laid To Rest

ELIZABETH TAYLOR LAID TO REST
Elizabeth Taylor's funeral has taken place.

The 79-year-old screen legend - who died of congestive heart failure on Wednesday (March 23 ,2011) was laid to rest in a private Jewish ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in California this afternoon (March 24, 2011) shortly after 2pm local time.

Rabbi Jerry Cutler - who had met Elizabeth through John Voigt - conducted the service at the request of the actress' family.

The body of the actress was to be interred into the Great Mausoleum, which is also the final resting place of her close friend Michael Jackson, as well as fellow acting legends Clark Gable and Jean Harlow.

Though the service was for family and close friends only - including Elizabeth's four children and 10 grandchildren - fans gathered at the gates of the cemetery to pay their respects to the star.

A fleet of limousines were seen arriving at the cemetery around 10 minutes after the service had been due to commence.

Jewish customs require burial to take place as soon as possible after death, ideally within 24 hours.

Elizabeth - who married eight times to seven men - converted to Judaism in the 1950s.

It is believed a public memorial will take place in the coming weeks.

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Elizabeth Taylor Buried in $11K Casket

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Kim K: Elizabeth Taylor Will Always Be My Idol

KIM K: ELIZABETH TAYLOR WILL ALWAYS BE MY IDOL
Kim Kardashian has described Elizabeth Taylor as her ''idol.''

Kim Kardashian and Elizabeth Taylor The socialite paid tribute to the screen icon -who died of congestive heart failure aged 79 in the early hours of yesterday morning (March 23, 2011) - admitting she was devastated by the passing of the actress, who she spoke with just weeks ago for Harper's Bazaar magazine when she did a photoshoot inspired by Elizabeth's classic role as the Egyptian queen in "Cleopatra."

She tweeted: "I am so saddened about the passing of Elizabeth Taylor! She will always be my idol."

Kim was one of many celebrities to use the social networking website to express their sadness at the star's passing.

Denise Richards posted: "Rest in peace Elizabeth Taylor. Thoughts and prayers to your family and loved ones. You will be missed..(sic)"

The sentiment was echoed by singer-and-actress LeAnn Rimes, who also paid tribute to the star's "legacy."

She tweeted: "RIP Elizabeth Taylor. It's so amazing how someone has left such a legacy that will forever live on. I am really, truly saddened this morning."

Kirstie Alley said: "Elizabeth ? thank u for the lessons u taught me about life..suffering and Joy ? you are the BRIGHTEST STAR in the universe ? Eternal love"

Zooey Deschanel acknowledged Elizabeth's humanitarian efforts in her tribute.

She wrote: "RIP elizabeth taylor, a great actress and a great beauty, who's formidable contributions to both film and charity will always be remembered. (sic)"

Talk show host Larry King is mourning the passing of a "great friend."

He said: "Elizabeth Taylor was a great friend, a great star and one gutsy woman. She was so special. You won't see the likes of her again."

Meanwhile, Steve Martin praised the star's wit.

He wrote: "I met Elizabeth Taylor several times. She was witty and self-deprecating, which I found surprising and delightful. She loved to laugh."

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Elizabeth Taylor Struggled With Aging

ELIZABETH TAYLOR STRUGGLED WITH AGING
Elizabeth Taylor found getting old ''really s**t.''

The actress - who died of congestive heart failure yesterday (March 23, 2011) at the age of 79 - was in a lot of pain towards the end of her life, but did her best to "hang in there," says her friend Debbie Reynolds.

Recalling their final conversation a few weeks ago, Debbie - whose husband George Fisher left her for Elizabeth in 1957 - told "Access Hollywood": "I said, 'Getting old is really s**t. And she said, 'It certainly is. It certainly is, Debbie. This is really tough.'"

"I said, 'Well, you just hang in there now, Elizabeth.' And she said, 'I'm really trying.'"

Though Debbie, 78, is sad her friend - who she has known since they were both 17 - has passed away, she thinks her death was a "blessing in disguise" because she was in so much pain.

She said: "God bless her, she's on to a better place. I'm happy that she's out of her pain because she was in a lot of pain. This was a blessing in disguise, you know, she's in heaven and she's in a heavenly place and she's happy."

The "Singin' in the Rain" actress believes the "Cleopatra" star's memory will live on forever, thanks to her huge body of work and charity endeavors.

She said: "She was the most glamorous and sexual star of our generation. No one else could equal Elizabeth's beauty and sexuality. Women liked her and men adored her, and her love for her children is enduring."

"She was a symbol of stardom. Her legacy will last."

Elizabeth was just as famous for her colorful private life as she was for her glittering career and was wed eight times to seven different men - Conrad Hilton, Michael Wilding, Michael Todd, Eddie Fisher, Richard Burton, who she was divorced from twice, John Warner and Larry Fortensky - during her lifetime.

She had four children, Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton.

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Joan Collins Had Marriage Competition with Elizabeth Taylor

JOAN COLLINS HAD MARRIAGE COMPETITION WITH ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Joan Collins and Elizabeth Taylor competed over who could have the most husbands.

Joan Collins and Elizabeth Taylor The 77-year-old actress - who was a close friend of the screen legend, who died at Cedars-Sinai hospital aged 79 yesterday (March 23, 2011) - has revealed her divorce from Peter Holm in 1987 prompted Elizabeth, who was married eight times to seven different men, to write a letter boasting about her own conquests.

She joked: "The last time I got a divorce, she sent me a note and she said, 'I'm still ahead by three.' I sent one back saying, 'Don't worry Liz, I'm going to catch up.'"

"I actually didn't call her Liz. I always called her Elizabeth because she didn't like being called Liz. But I think people have a huge amount of respect for her. And the thing that was so amazing about her is that most women really liked her."

Joan - who is now married to theater company manager Percy Gibson - was a fan of Elizabeth before she knew her, and she kept scrapbooks containing pictures of the "Cleopatra" star.

During an appearance on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight," she revealed: "I remember when I first saw her, everybody wanted to look like her. When I first saw her, when she did 'A Date with Judy' when she was about 15 and everybody - all my friends, all of us at school, we all wanted to look like her. We all wanted to have the big eyebrows and we all wanted to have the black hair and the beauty mark."

"She was phenomenal and I kept a scrapbook on her, which is why it was so fascinating for me a few years later in Hollywood to actually meet her at MGM in the make-up room, and she was so sweet."

"I think that's something that a lot of people didn't know about her. She liked to salty turn of phrase but then us English actresses always did do that."

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Taylor Momsen Does What She Wants

Taylor Momsen is a far cry from the adorable little girl who melted our hearts as she fixed the Grinch in the 2000 remake 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas.' Her time on 'Gossip Girl' could potentially be over as she was benched from the show back in November, and she has since been on tour with her band, The Pretty Reckless.

The platform buckle boots she is strutting down the street in must have been keeping her warm as the 17-year-old star apparently thinks pants are optional in New York City during winter.

She is seen here out grabbing coffee Wednesday, hours before she and her band did a show at Santos Party House in NYC, where she once again pushed the limits on what is considered an appropriate public appearance outfit.

Take a look at some shots of Taylor's performance after the jump.

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AP Interview: Taylor Swift relishes Asian success (AP)

HONG KONG – Wrapping up the Asian leg of her world tour, Taylor Swift is relishing her growing international appeal as the singer-songwriter steadily gains fan outside the U.S. with her combination of confessional lyrics and country sound.

Shortly before taking the stage at Hong Kong's AsiaWorld-Expo arena late Monday, the 21-year-old received a long line of Universal Music executives from across Asia who presented her with platinum sales plaques. Swift's previous album, "Fearless" sold 400,000 copies in the region. Her latest release, "Speak Now," is also performing well, achieving platinum status in Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines.

"Some of them were really surprising to me. I wasn't aware of every single certification we have in Asia. It really blew my mind," Swift told The Associated Press backstage.

It's testimony to the growing crossover appeal of the country star on foreign shores. Having just released her third album in October, the four-time Grammy winner can already boast a considerable global following. The initial Asian leg of Swift's "Speak Now" tour has taken her to Singapore, Seoul, Osaka, Tokyo and Manila.

Swift said she's proud to be an international ambassador for country music.

"I love country music, and I love the fact that it's being accepted all over the world. That is so exciting for me," she told the AP.

"I have heroes who have taken country music internationally. You have Garth Brooks and Shania Twain. They really did a lot for country music because they brought an awareness to it. The fact that I have the opportunity to do that too and go to other countries where I've never been before and play music — it's what I've always dreamed of doing."

"The international success has been the most beautiful and pleasant surprise. Being welcomed by countries that speak a different language from the language I speak is an honor," Swift said.

"It really touches me every time I look down and I see all the fans singing the words to my songs, having written the lyrics, knowing that they connect in countries where English really isn't spoken by everyone. It means the world to me."

It hasn't been all work and no play on the Asian tour. Swift said she has taken in the local cuisine and sites. She visited Singapore Chinatown, visited a beach in Hong Kong and shopped and was dressed up as a geisha in Tokyo.

She said she relaxes on tour by ordering room service and watching the TV show "Friends." She also uses down time to compose — "Speak Now" was almost entirely written during her previous tour, she says.

Swift next returns to the U.S. before kicking off the European leg of the tour in Brussels on March 6. The American leg begins on May 27 in Omaha, Nebraska. She will tour Australia and New Zealand later in the year.

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Online:

http://www.taylorswift.com

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Elizabeth Taylor improving but still hospitalized (AP)

LOS ANGELES – Elizabeth Taylor's health is improving, but the Oscar winner is still hospitalized in Los Angeles.

A spokeswoman for the 78-year-old actress says Taylor "has continued to show great improvement, and her family and friends are very pleased with her progress."

Publicist Jamie Cadwell said Friday that Taylor will remain under observation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center "for the time being." She was admitted more than a week ago.

Taylor is being treated for symptoms of congestive heart failure, a condition she disclosed in November 2004.

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Adam Young delighted Taylor Swift: You’re beautiful and very charming girl with a beautiful heart

Adam Young, singer of Owl City, wrote a little love song to musician Taylor Swift. She is alleged dedicated a song to him, and when he understood it, was enthusiastic and decided to write her a kind of response. In the meantime, they met, and he wrote on his blog that Taylor was honored for his writing such a beautiful song. “Suffice it to say that I remained speechless when we first met and did not stop smiling,” wrote on his blog Adam.

“You’re beautiful. Very charming girl with a beautiful heart. You have more elegance than anyone whom I met. You are a princess from a fairy tale, a modern Cinderella. I’m sorry I took so long to answer, but Valentine is the right day for it. I must tell you that I’m just delighted that we met,” wrote Adam for the lovely Taylor.

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