PCN

PCN

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has announced she will be stepping down from her post as the state’s highest-ranking official on July 26 and will not seek re-election to a second term in 2010.

In a press conference held in her Wasilla, Alaska, hometown Friday, Palin — who has 18 months left in her first term of office — said she would be devoting more time to her family, though political insiders also speculate she is shifting her focus onto a 2012 bid for president.

“I never believed that I nor anyone else needs a title to do this, to make a difference,” Palin, flanked by her husband, Todd, told reporters. “I’m determined to take the right path for Alaska, even though it is unconventional and it’s not so comfortable.”

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Palin, 45, announced that the state’s Lt. Governor Sean Parnell would assume the role of Alaska’s chief executive at the end of the month.

Earlier this spring it was announced Palin — who served as Arizona Sen. John McCain’s vice presidential running mate in 2008 — inked a book deal with the HarperCollins imprint to detail her Alaskan childhood through last year’s presidential campaign and beyond.

The as-yet-untitled tome is expected to cover her political beliefs and her family life, including the pregnancy of her teenage daughter, Bristol Palin, who gave birth in December to a son, Tripp.

“In fairness to my family, this is going be a good opportunity for them, too, because there have been so many misperceptions out there about who we are and what we believe in, and I’m excited to get to put my journalism degree to work and tell my story as it relates to my family,” Palin said.

Although financial terms were not disclosed, Palin is expected to get a multimillion-dollar contract.

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Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint has contracted swine flu, but is expected to be well enough to attend the London premiere of the new Potter installment on Tuesday, his publicist confirms.

Grint, 20, who stars in the franchise as kid wizard Ron Weasley, called in sick to the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — currently filming in London and set for a 2010 release — but has since recovered.

“It has just been confirmed that Rupert Grint has taken a few days out of filming due to a mild bout of swine flu,” his publicist said in a statement Saturday.

“He has now recovered and is looking forward to joining his fellow cast members at the junket and premieres this week and will then return to filming directly afterwards,” she reports, adding that filming was able to continue as scheduled in Grint’s absence.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens in U.S. theaters July 17.

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What is going on with Adrien Brody’s outfit?!?? – DListed

Reese Witherspoon takes a shopping break – Pop Sugar

Lady Gaga’s magazine streak continues – Pop Eater

Debbie Rowe is protected by the power of the wolf – IDLYITW

Jude Law is having one happy summer! – Lainey Gossip

Entourage season six trailer! – Hollywire

Is Cheryl Cole’s boobs hanging out? – The Superficial

Cobie Smulders welcomes a daughter – Celebrity Baby Scoop

Samantha Ronson joins Lindsay Lohan for her birthday party – ASL

Inmates fight over Michael Jackson – Popsquire

Michael Jackson’s home videos – Allie Is Wired

Justin Timberlake’s friends think Jessica Biel is clingy and annoying – Celebitchy

Ryan Phillippe spotted after an intense workout – I’m Not Obsessed

Michael Jackson vs. Britney Spears mashup – Popbytes

Estee Lauder introduces two new fragrances – Make Her Up

Ryan Eggold needs a haircut – SOW

Poor guy! We’d give him a lift!

Brad Pitt broke down while riding on his motorcycle and had to hitch a ride with surrounding paparazzi. Wanna talk about awkward?!?

Bauer-Griffin

Beyonce Knowles wants to star in ‘Sister Act’.

The ‘Single Ladies’ singer is so desperate to dress up as a nun for a remake of the 1992 movie – which was recently turned into a sell-out musical in London’s West End theater district – she is begging Disney bosses to take up the project.

Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper reports: “Beyonce has asked her representatives to persuade Disney to develop the show into a film vehicle for her. If this comes to pass, she would take on, in musical form, the part Whoopi Goldberg creates in the 1992 ‘Sister Act’ film, although the stage version moves the action from the West Coast to Philadelphia.”

The 27-year-old beauty recently took a break from her UK ‘I Am Sasha Fierce tour’ to watch the show at the London Palladium theater.

If the movie project goes ahead, Beyonce will play sexy singer Deloris Van Cartier – the role previously portrayed by Hollywood actress Whoopi Goldberg – who is forced to dress up as a nun while fleeing a group of gangsters.

Beyonce is also in talks about releasing ‘Take Me To Heaven’, one of the musical’s well-known hits.

Filming will not start until after 2011, following the musical’s move to New York’s Broadway theater district in late 2010.

Patina Miller is currently playing the lead character in the West End musical which was co-produced by Whoopi.

Source, Bauer-Griffin