Celebrity news

A1966 magazine signed by John Lennon containing his remark that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus has sold for $12,713.

An orthopedic surgeon at New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center had the winning bid yesterday in a 17-day online auction. Lennon signed "John C. Lennon" above his photo in the September 1966 "Datebook," even though his middle initial is W. for Winston.

His comment provoked anti-Beatle sentiment in the United States, where some people burned Beatles records.

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• Kevin Skinner, the singing chicken farmer from Mayfield, Ky., was awarded the $1 million "America's Got Talent" grand prize and a headlining spot at a Las Vegas show. He received the most viewer votes on Wednesday's season finale, overcoming runner-up Barbara Padilla, an opera singer.

The residents of a North Carolina community where much of "Dirty Dancing" was filmed are planning a memorial service for star Patrick Swayze, who died Monday evening of pancreatic cancer. The town of Lake Lure will remember the actor during a memorial service at 7 p.m. tomorrow. -- From Wire Reports