People talk 3/27/03

Russell Crowe cheers Kidman's Oscar win

SYDNEY, Australia -- Russell Crowe cheered fellow Australian Nicole Kidman's Oscar win for "The Hours," saying her "dedication, brilliance, resilience and generosity has been lauded, applauded and finally handsomely rewarded."

Kidman, 35, became the first Australian to win the best-actress Oscar. She won the award, which was presented Sunday at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., for her performance as Virginia Woolf.

"I couldn't be happier for her, her family, her pets, everyone," said Crowe, who won the best-actor Oscar in 2001 for his role in "Gladiator."

Kidman said she was shocked when Denzel Washington announced her name.

"I just am very proud to have been nominated and to have actually won and I'm very proud to represent my country," she said in an interview during post-Oscar celebrations.

Kravitz teams up for peace song release

NEW YORK -- Lenny Kravitz is the latest singer to release a song in response to the war in Iraq.

"We Want Peace," available only on the Rock the Vote Web site, also features Iraqi pop singer Kadim Al Sahir, Palestinian musician Simon Shaheen and Jamey Hadded of Lebanon on percussion.

"I came to Rock the Vote because of its strong stance with young people as defenders of free expression," Kravitz, 38, said Tuesday. "This song for me is about more than Iraq: It is about our role as people in the world and that we all should cherish freedom and peace."

The rock star, whose hits include "Let Love Rule" and "Are You Gonna Go My Way," is among several artists who are speaking out through song about the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

John Mellencamp recently released "To Washington," which criticizes the war, and the Beastie Boys also have posted a new song on their Web site.

The hard rock group System of a Down released an anti-war video, while another rock group, 3 Doors Down, released a video in support of U.S. troops.

Rolling Stones' show will go on despite flu...

SINGAPORE -- The Rolling Stones were going ahead with a concert in Singapore Wednesday despite an outbreak of deadly flu in the city state that has claimed one life and pushed more than 700 people into quarantine.

"It's not canceled," said Ben Munroe, head of Cazbaa, the promoter of the Stones' Licks World Tour in Singapore.

Earlier Wednesday, Singapore's Health Ministry reported the first death here as a result of the mystery illness known as severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.

According to the band's Web site, the Stones also will perform Friday and Saturday in Hong Kong, where many have been wearing surgical masks in public hoping to avoid the disease.

...but Williams' concert won't go on in Hong Kong

LOS ANGELES -- Andy Williams has postponed an April concert in Hong Kong because of a flu-like disease that's spreading through the Asian city.

Williams, along with a troupe of 20 musicians, singers and dancers, had been scheduled to perform April 12 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

But he postponed the show until June 6 because of the severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, that has sickened hundreds of people.

"In deference to my band and the others traveling with us, I just didn't want to take any health risks," Williams said.

Williams, 75, was in Las Vegas Tuesday for the opening of Celine Dion's new show and theater at Caesars Palace. He was the first headliner to perform at the casino in 1966.

-- From wire reports