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Barbara Mandrell, Robert Vaughn, Dennis Farina, Rudy Galindo, CMT Music Awards

Whatever happened to Barbara Mandrell, one of the most talented entertainers ever?
—Patricia Prather, Mabank, Texas

After 38 years in the public eye, the multitalented Mandrell retired from performing in 1997. These days she exercises her creativity through gardening, mosaic-tile art and faux painting. "I’ve painted three ceilings," she happily reports. She also enjoys going to hockey games. "My husband and I are hockey nuts, but he tells me that if there is not a hockey game, it’s hard to get me out of the house." The former superstar, who was voted Entertainer of the Year two times by the Country Music Association, has no plans to return to the spotlight. "Now I sing in the pew at church like everybody else."

What can you tell me about a show that used to come on in the 1960s featuring Robert Vaughn and the man who plays on NCIS? It seems like it was a spy show.
—Carolyn Wells,Winnsboro, La.

Yes indeed, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command for Law and Enforcement) was an extremely popular TV spy series starring Robert Vaughn as suave Napoleon Solo and David McCallum (who now plays Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard on NCIS) as his Russian sidekick, Illya Kuryakin. The two super-agents were a hot prime-time crime-fighting team for almost four years.

Can you tell me about Dennis Farina on Law and Order? I remember him from a TV series about La Vegas back in the 1980’s, but I can’t recall the name. What other shows has he been in?
—Otto Eredman, Albuquerque, N.M.

In the late ’80s, Dennis Farina played Lt. Mike Torello on TV’s Crime Story series, which was set against a ’60s Las Vegas backdrop. Aside from Law & Order, Farina—who was a Chicago policeman before breaking into show business—has starred in such other TV series as In-Laws and Buddy Faro, and in dozens of movies, including Get Shorty, Snatch, Big Trouble, Midnight Run and Out of Sight.

I’m a big fan of ice skating. What happened to Rudy Galindo? I never see him anymore.
—Elsie Archer, Peoria, Ill.

After Galindo’s success as the winner of the 1996 U.S. National Figure Skating championships, he faced several serious health obstacles. He was diagnosed HIV positive in 2000, and two years later found out he had AVN (avascular necrosis), a degenerative bone condition for which he underwent replacement surgery on both hips. But 2004 found him again on the ice, and he is skating on an extensive 2006 Olympic tour that will cover 77 cities beginning this month. He’s also a judge on the Women’s Entertainment Network’s new reality show, Skating’s Next Star. Currently his HIV is under control and he is in excellent health.

TV Viewers to Vote on CMT Music Awards

Music takes center stage for the live telecast of the 2006 CMT Music Awards, Monday, April 10, 8 p.m. (ET) on Country Music Television. Featured performances by many of today’s top country stars, including Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and Trace Adkins, will rock the Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tenn., and comedian Jeff Foxworthy will once again handle hosting duties. TV viewers will select the Video of The Year winner through online voting at www.cmt.com during the live event.

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