FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, February 14, 2005

GENIUS LOVES GRAMMYS: The late Ray Charles dominating the 2005 Grammy Awards, winning five awards for his duets album Genius Loves Company, including the coveted Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "Here We Go Again," his collaboration with Norah Jones. All told, the album won a record-tying eight trophies, counting technical categories. Charles had previously won 12 career Grammys.

MUSIC TO NETWORK EARS: The 47th Annual Grammy Awards leading CBS to ratings victory Sunday night, winning its time slot in all major demographics. However, only 18.8 million viewers tuned in to the telecast, compared to 26.4 million last year, per Nielsen Media data.

FRIEND IN NEED: Matthew Perry hospitalized in Los Angeles last week following a bad reaction to prescription medicine, according to People. Perry spent a day in the undisclosed facility before being allowed to check out.

WHAT A GIRL WANTS: Christina Aguilera getting engaged to her boyfriend, music exec Jordan Bratman, People magazine reports. The couple were betrothed Friday but haven't set a wedding date.

CONTENDER DOWN: A contestant on NBC's forthcoming reality series The Contender, 23-year-old Najai Turpin, committed suicide today in Philadelphia, according to the New York Times. NBC executives told the paper The Contender will air as planned, despite Turpin's passing, starting March 7.

JACKSON WATCH: Attorneys on both sides of Michael Jackson's child-molestation trial beginning the process of winnowing the jury as questioning of potential jurors resumes Monday.

FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES: Elizabeth Taylor and Kobe Bryant making the list of celebrities whom Michael Jackson's defense team may call to testify on the singer's behalf. Ed Bradley and Nick Carter were also on the list, which was released Monday.

BLAKE WATCH: The prosecution in Robert Blake's murder trial resting its case Monday after more than seven weeks of testimony by more than five dozen witnesses. The defense begins its presentation Tuesday.

THE FINAL FRONTIER? Star Trek fans planning a Feb. 25 rally outside of Paramount Studios to protest UPN's cancellation of Star Trek: Enterprise during the show's fourth season.

TUNING UP: Vanessa Williams set to sing the national anthem at NASCAR's Daytona 500 on Sunday. Williams will also perform "America the Beautiful" during pre-race festivities.

HITCH RULES: Will Smith's new romantic comedy, Hitch, earning a whopping $43.1 million to dominate the weekend box office. Hitch ranks as the best Valentine's weekend opener ever.

REMEMBERED: Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover attended Friday's public viewing for Ossie Davis, while Harry Belafonte and President Bill Clinton were among the many celebrities and friends at funeral services Saturday eulogizing the 87-year-old actor and civil-rights activist, who was found dead in his Miami hotel room on Feb. 4.

PREEMPTING THE PAPARAZZI: Julia Roberts and husband Danny Moder have released the first photos of their nearly three-month-old twins, Finn and Hazel, to People magazine. The pictures were taken by Moder near the couple's Taos, New Mexico, ranch.

TAKING FLIGHT: The Aviator winning the British Oscar, or BAFTA, for Best Picture Saturday in London. Jamie Foxx won Best Actor for Ray, and Imelda Staunton was named Best Actress for Vera Drake.

WEDDING BELLS: American Idol alum Kimberly Locke telling Extra she's engaged to her high school sweetheart, Don Campbell. The twosome have not set a wedding date.

DR. QUINN PLEDGES ALLEGIANCE: Jane Seymour becoming a U.S. citizen on Friday in Los Angeles. The 53-year-old British-born actress was one of 9,000 new citizens naturalized.

BASIC INSTINCT: Sharon Stone teaming with socialite-songwriter Denise Rich to produce the all-star single "Come Together Now" for tsunami relief. Aretha Franklin, Lindsay Lohan and Peter Gabriel are among those contributing vocals.

HEAVEN-LY PICKUP: The WB picking up 7th Heaven for a 10th season, making the wholesome sitcom the longest-running family drama in television history.

PULLED: Danish stores pulling Missy Elliott's streetwear line because its logo was too close to that of Danish monarch Margrethe II.

NOTHING COMPARES 2 A COMEBACK: Sinéad O'Connor announcing that she plans to return to the spiritual music scene, and that she's working on material for three different records. The Irish singer quit making music two years ago to raise her three children and battle a chronic illness called fibromyalgia.

MOTLEY JUSTICE: Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx winning a lawsuit against sneaker maker Vans for using his photo in a national ad campaign without permission. Sixx should recoup close to $1 million, his lawyer says.