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Dixie Chicks, Nikki Cox, Gregory Hines, Robert Mitchum

Our family really loves the musical talents of the Dixie Chicks. Why haven’t we heard anything from them lately?
—Kay J., Iowa

The Grammy-winning Texas trio will release a new CD in 2006, says Kathy Best, their publicist. "They are in the studio working on new music and I know they have been writing songs," she says. The group is working in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin, who has worked with artists such as Jay-Z and Johnny Cash. Life has been a whirlwind for lead singer Natalie Maines and sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire since they burst onto the music scene in 1998 with their debut CD, Wide Open Spaces, which sold 11 million copies. They’ve since released three more CDs, which have sold about 17 million copies combined. The women have taken some time off recently to be with their growing families. In April, Emily and husband Charlie Robison, also a singer/songwriter, had twins—Julianna Tex and Henry Benjamin—and they also have a son, Gus, who is 2. Maguire also has twins and Maines has two children. "They are up to seven total children in the band, so they have been being moms and writing," Best says.

What is Nikki Cox doing now? Is her former WB sitcom, Unhappily Ever After, available on DVD or being shown as reruns?
—Tim W., Nebraska

Actress Nikki Cox, 27, plays the role of Mary Connell on NBC’s Las Vegas. While growing up in Los Angeles, Cox knew early on that she wanted to perform and started her career as a dancer at age 10. Her dance credits include the feature film Mac and Me, the Los Angeles Music Center Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet, as well as high-profile music videos such as Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker and Paula Abdul’s Forever Your Girl. From 1995 until 1999, Cox portrayed Tiffany Malloy on Unhappily Ever After, and while it has been shown in reruns since going off the air, it is not currently in reruns nor yet available on DVD. Cox, who is single, lives in Los Angeles.

Someone told me that Gregory Hines passed away. Is that true?
—Diana R., Kentucky

Accomplished tap dancer and actor Gregory Hines, who had a role on NBC’s Will & Grace, died from liver cancer in 2003 in Los Angeles. He was only 57, but he packed a lot into those years. He had his professional debut at age 5 and performed with his brother, Maurice, as the Hines Kids at the Apollo Theatre the following year. The brothers were reunited when they both were hired for Eubie! on Broadway in the late 1970s. Hines was nominated for three Tonys along the way, finally winning in 1992 as Best Actor for Jelly’s Last Jam. He landed more than 30 roles, including that of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson in TV’s Bojangles, and the films Running Scared, Waiting to Exhale, Tap and The Cotton Club. Hines was married twice and had two children.

How many movies did Robert Mitchum appear in? Why wasn’t he ever awarded any Oscars or other nominations?
—Skipp M., North Dakota

Actually, Robert Mitchum was nominated for an Oscar in 1946 for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Story of G.I. Joe, and he also was nominated for a BAFTA Film award (the British equivalent of an Oscar) in 1958 in the category of Best Foreign Actor for Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison. He also received nominations for other awards and received a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. The native of Bridgeport, Conn., was fairly underrated for the length of his career and the amount of work he did—more than 130 roles—but his rebellious attitude and sleepy eyes made him a favorite among men and women. Mitchum, who was married for 57 years and a father of three (including actor sons James Mitchum and Christopher Mitchum), died from lung cancer and emphysema in 1997 in Santa Barbara, Calif.

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