Celebs

Walters discusses long-ago affair with former senator

   After three decades of keeping mum, Barbara Walters is disclosing an alleged affair with married
U.S. Senator Edward Brooke, whom she remembers as "exciting" and "brilliant."

   Appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" scheduled to air Tuesday, Walters shares details of her supposed relationship with Brooke that lasted several years in the 1970s, according to a transcript of the show provided to The Associated Press.

   A moderate Republican from Massachusetts who took office in 1967, Brooke was the first African-American to be popularly elected to the Senate. Both he and Walters knew that public knowledge of their affair could have ruined his career as well as hers, Walters says.

   At the time, the twice-divorced Walters was a rising star in TV news and co-host of NBC's "Today" show, but would soon jump to ABC News, where she has enjoyed unrivaled success. Her affair with Brooke, which never before came to light, had ended before he lost his bid for a third term in 1978.

   Brooke later divorced, and has since remarried.

Cher talks of date with Cruise

   Cher says she dated Tom Cruise when he was just a "shy boy." The singer-actress discussed the relationship on an episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" taped in Las Vegas before a crowd of 4,000 people, according to Harpo Productions.

   The episode, which also features Tina Turner, will air May 8. Winfrey told Cher that when she was at Cruise's Colorado home recently, the actor stressed that Winfrey should say hello to Cher for him.

   "So how much of a date was that?" Winfrey asked.

   "Oh, that was a long date," Cher said. "Really. I lived in his apartment."

   Cher is now 61, Cruise 45.

   "He was so wonderful. And I was so crazy about him," said Cher. "He was a shy boy. He didn't have any money."

   In a similar interview in February to "Entertainment Tonight" Cher indicated it occurred after Cruise made "Risky Business," in 1983 but before "The Color of Money," in 1986.

Tina Turner back on tour

   Tina Turner says she's hitting the road again for her first tour in the United States in seven years.

   The 68-year-old singer announced on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that it will begin Oct. 1 in Kansas City. Tickets for Turner's tour go on sale May 12.

   Winfrey asked Turner how she feels about getting older in show business. "That number doesn't mean a thing. It just doesn't," said Turner.

Second nanny sues Rob Lowe's wife

   A second former nanny of Rob Lowe filed a countersuit Wednesday in a Los Angeles court, accusing the actor's wife of sexual harassment, according to documents obtained by People.

Laura Boyce, who worked for the couple for seven months in 2007, claims that Sheryl Lowe created an "extremely sexually offensive and hostile work environment . . . behaving in a . . . perverted, disgusting and crude manner." Boyce also alleges that Sheryl used the N-word in reference to Boyce's boyfriend, who was an NBA player.

Sheryl also allegedly "walked around naked, completely exposing herself" to Boyce, asked about her boyfriend's private parts and talked about Sheryl's sex life with Rob. Boyce also claims wrongful termination against both Rob and Sheryl, in addition to unpaid wages and other labor code violations. Larry Stein, the Lowes' attorney, said the lawsuit "seeks to drag (Lowe's) wife and children into the fray" with "false allegations."