Search Results for: blog the betty ford center 25 years later

Jack Osbourne Diagnosed with MS

Jack Osbourne, son of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, recently announced that he has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). While I guess there is no time to be diagnosed with an illness like this, this seemed to come at a particularly bad time. Osbourne, like his sister Kelly, had struggled with addiction. But, he cleaned up his act, lost a lot of weight, and recently became a father. His fiancee, Lisa Stelly gave birth to the couple’s daughter Pearl Clementine on April 24th. Osbourne told PEOPLE, “I was just angry and frustrated and kept thinking, ‘Why now? I’ve got a … Continue reading →

In Memoriam 2011 – Part 4

No recent celebrity splits – more memoriams! July 2011 Former First Lady Betty Ford passed away on July 8th at the age of 93 from natural causes. Ford was known for her outspoken stance on women’s rights and breast cancer awareness during her husband’s tenure as president. But, she is probably most famously known for her post-Whitehouse struggle with addiction and subsequent founding of the famed Betty Ford Center. Television producer Sherwood Schwartz gave us such fun shows as “Gilligan’s Island” and “The Brady Bunch.” Great television? Probably not, but definitely endearing and enduring 40+ years later. Schwartz was 94. … Continue reading →

More on Elizabeth Taylor

Earlier this week, we lost a true legend – Elizabeth Taylor. I blogged briefly about her star as a child star then her transition to adult roles. I had just touched on her first four marriages when I mentioned Eddie Fisher. Oh, the Eddie Fisher thing caused quite a scandal. Fisher was good friends with Todd and when the young producer died in a plane crash, he offered consolation to Taylor, the young widow. Maybe too much consolation considering Eddie was married to Debbie Reynolds at the time. Although it was a sticky situation at the time, Reynolds and Taylor … Continue reading →

Greatest Musical Feuds Ever – Part 2

Okay, there is no way I could list all the great musical feuds of the past. After all, all that music and all those egos are just too explosive. But, here are a few more of the great ones: Notorious B.I.G. vs. 2Pac Sadly, we all know how this one turned out. When Tupac was shot, all eyes turned to Biggie since the two had had an ongoing feud in which, among other things, Tupac claimed to have had intimate relations with Biggie’s wife. Tupac was killed on the Vegas strip in 1996, Biggie was killed outside the Petersen Automotive … Continue reading →

Sean Young Enters Rehab

With much of young Hollywood using rehab like a revolving door, I was a bit surprised today to hear that actress Sean Young has entered rehab for alcohol abuse. Sean was removed from the Directors Guild of America award show Saturday after she heckled the director of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Julian Schnabel. While Julian was giving his speech, he began to falter, pausing, and running his hand through his hair. Sean hollered out “Get on with it!” Julian had a great rebound though, asking “Who said that to me?” Once he saw it was Sean, he replied … Continue reading →

Roe Messner Remarries

The husband of Tammy Faye married on December 7th in Las Vegas and some thought it a bit shocking. Roe Messner is best known as the second husband of Tammy Faye Bakker. Tammy Faye was the well known and beloved wife of televangelist Jim Bakker – best known as the mastermind behind the PTL Network and the Christian theme park Heritage USA. Roe Messner was the contractor who built the popular Heritage USA resort and a friend of the Bakker’s. But things turned ugly in March 1987, when Jessica Hahn said Bakker had raped her then staff member Messner paid … Continue reading →

Celebrity Rehab – Who’s In and Who’s Out

In case you have not heard the news, Lindsay Lohan left the Cirque Lodge Treatment Center this week. That is right – after almost two months, Lindsay is out of rehab. He father helped her pack up to leave. Formerly estranged from his daughter, Michael, who has had his own addiction problems, said he is blessed to have his daughter back in his life. He said Lindsay is in a “stronger place” than ever before and that she just needs to divert herself from bad influences. She was photographed at the treatment center partaking in healthy activities such hiking and … Continue reading →

The Betty Ford Center: 25 Years Later

I don’t even think I knew what a rehab center was until the Betty Ford Center came into being. Former First Lady Betty Ford decided to open the drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Rancho Mirage, California along with Ambassador Leonard Firestone. It opened its doors in 1982, which makes this year the 25th anniversary of its opening. Why would someone so visible in the public eye open such a center? The First Lady decided to do it because she had fought an addiction and wanted a center that emphasized the needs of women as well as men. The center … Continue reading →