Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003 | 10:45 a.m.
The first question VegasBeat will ask Elton John when he is town Tuesday to announce his upcoming Caesars Palace engagement is about his voice.
On Wednesday Sir Elton abruptly canceled his appearance tonight at "An Evening With Brian Wilson and Friends," benefiting the Carl Wilson Foundation, at UCLA's Royce Hall.
He also canceled this afternoon's Disneyland gig.
According to the Wilson event's musical director, Henderson resident and former Beach Boys keyboard player Billy Hinsche, Sir Elton pulled out because of "throat concerns."
A different source in Los Angeles said that John this week saw a doctor there who told him that polyps were again developing in his throat. He had similar growths surgically removed several years ago.
The surgery is relatively minor. Other performers from Michael Jackson to George Michael have reportedly had similar procedures.
A separate source close to event organizers and celebrity offspring Jonah Wilson and Justyn Wilson said they had heard John might be facing surgery.
A spokeswoman for John quickly and emphatically shot that down, but would not cite a reason for the double cancellation.
"Elton is fine. He is not having surgery and he will be in Las Vegas as scheduled on Tuesday" to announce his upcoming Caesars Palace engagement, Fran Curtis of powerhouse publicity firm Rogers & Cowan told VegasBeat.
She said John's cancellations were because of a "personal issue," but would not elaborate.
"All you need to know is that he is fine and is very much looking forward to coming to Vegas and performing."
A source close to the Wilson Foundation said that John told him his pipes started clogging up after his Oct. 4 Las Vegas appearance at "The Andre Agassi Grand Slam for Children Benefit." It could be a concern as he kicks off his headliner gig.
To combat the potential dry-throat malady, Celine Dion had a $2 million mister installed over The Colosseum stage -- the same stage where John will begin "The Red Piano" concerts, his 25-concert-per-year, three-year Vegas commitment.
Horn honored
We hear that Siegfried Fischbacher and two of Roy Horn's brothers have OK'd a suggestion by a nurse to rename the UMC Trauma Center after Roy.
The long-term plan is for Roy himself to attend the ceremony dedicating the Roy Horn Trauma Center after his recovery and eventual release.
Also, interviews with Robin Leach, Steve Wynn, Bernie Yuman, Shirley MacLaine, Penn Jillette and publicist Wayne Bernath have been completed by the A&E network as it tries to produce the fastest "Biography" show ever.
A&E is hoping for a Monday broadcast. Also to be included is an exclusive Leach interview with Siegfried he taped for Fox.
Radio material
NBC has asked Madonna to perform at the Oct. 27 "Radio Music Awards," to be broadcast live from the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts, but she hasn't answered yet. Obviously the network is looking for the same attention and ratings' spike that MTV drew after Madonna kissed Britney Spears and then Christina Aguilera on the "MTV Video Music Awards" last month.
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Nelly are the latest stars to confirm their appearance.
Celeb jackpot
Taping starts today at the Palms for the Bravo network celebrity poker series that we first reported last month.
Competitors you might spot around the Palms include David Schwimmer, Tom Green, Don Cheadle, Carrie Fisher, Mimi Rogers, Timothy Busfield, Hank Azaria, Coolio, Sarah Silverman, Shannon Elizabeth, Paul Rudd and Emily Proctor.
Co-producer Josh Malina will also be in the house, with several of his "West Wing" colleagues, including Allison Janney, Martin Sheen, Richard Schiff and John Spencer.
The show, hosted by Kevin Pollak, airs the first week of December.
Record deal
U2 publicist Nadja Coyne e-mailed us from Dublin, Ireland, on Wednesday about our recent report that Bono was miffed at Nancy Sinatra for recording a song he had written for her dad, Frank Sinatra.
"The track has now been covered by Nancy Sinatra with U2's full knowledge and will appear on her forthcoming album," Coyne said.
The song was also covered by Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas headliner George Bugatti.
All's well that end's well.
VegasBits
Hot Grille: There was quite a large turnout for the opening Tuesday night of the Hot Rod Grille in Henderson. Revelers included Frank Marino, The Amazing Johnathan, Monti Rock III, Rebecca Zisch from the Lied Children's Discovery Museum, various "Midnight Fantasy" and "Thunder From Down Under" cast members and Somer Hollingsworth from the Nevada Development Authority. The party centerpiece was the vintage Shelby Mustang featured in the Nicolas Cage film, "Gone in 60 Seconds" ...
TV star: Canyon Ranch Spa director Michael Boychuk was on Oprah Winfrey's show Tuesday. The taped segment was about socialite and hotel heiress Paris Hilton, who went to Boychuk to make her look even better before heading out to various Vegas events a few weekends ago, including the "Zumanity" premiere and Playboy's 50th anniversary parties ...
No mystery: "American Pie" star Jason Biggs and a few friends attended the Monday performance of "Mystere" at Treasure Island ...
Studio: Few people spotted rapper-turned-"Law & Order" actor Ice-T in the VIP lounge at Studio 54 (MGM Grand) on Tuesday night. Easier to notice was 7-foot NBA star Dikembe Mutombo ...
Call me: VegasBeat is back for its weekly radio call-in bit with "Las Vegas Today" host Andy Vierra on KNUU 970 AM (K-NEWS) today at 4 p.m. Call the studio line at (702) 735-6397 and we'll dish. It is also available online at Knews970.com. Also, we're back with Melanie & Tom on LITE FM, KMZQ 100.5-FM on Friday at 7:30 a.m.
From Sun wires
Former "Law & Order" actress Angie Harmon and her pro football player husband, Jason Sehorn, are the parents of a baby girl.
Finley Faith Sehorn was born Tuesday morning at a Dallas hospital. Harmon, 31, and Sehorn, 32, married in Dallas on June 9, 2001, a little more than a year after he proposed to her on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."
archive
