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American Morning

Showbiz Today Reports: Sisqo Hopes for Acclaim on Second Album

Aired July 20, 2001 - 10:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: A Hollywood legend is still hospitalized, but the word today is that she is feeling better.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: That's good news indeed. That tops our "Showbiz Report" today.

And here is CNN's Michael Okwu.

Hi, Mike.

HARRIS: Morning.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi guys, hello, everyone.

Screen legend Katharine Hepburn is suffering from a minor infection, and could be home as early as this weekend; definitely very good news. A spokesman for a Hartford hospital in Connecticut said yesterday that Hepburn was up and around and physically showing improvement in her overall appearance and her spirit. The 94-year-old actress was hospitalized yesterday to undergo tests for the infection.

Hepburn, one of America's most celebrated actresses, holds the record for most Oscar acting wins: four, and the most nominations: 12. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Speaking of Oscars and legendary actresses, Bette Davis' Oscar for her role in the 1938 film "Jezebel" went on the auction block yesterday, and brought in a lot of gold. "Variety" reports that Steven Spielberg was the high bidder, paying $578,000 for the statuette. That's more than twice what auctioneers at Christie's auction house thought it would fetch. The director reportedly plans to present it to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and -- as he has already done when he acquired Clark Gable's Oscar for "It Happened One Night."

Davis, who died in 1989, won the best actress Oscar for her portrayal of a Southern belle.

Now, in a complete change of direction, pop singer Sisqo rose to the top with a thong and a song. Now he's hoping to repeat his success with his second solo album. If you thought it's too early to talk thongs, you're wrong.

CNN's Paul Vercammen caught up with Sisqo, and has more. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sisqo burned up the record charts the "Thong Song," but Sisqo's anthem of attire hardly brought about a single strand of award recognition.

SISQO: I thought through my efforts, and through the success of the "Thong Song" being one of the biggest songs in the world that maybe I would obtain a Grammy, an American Music Award, even a Soul Train award, for that matter. However, at the end of the day, I didn't receive any of those awards.

VERCAMMEN: With his new record, "Return of the Dragon," a reenergized Sisqo aims to kick -- you know -- and take names.

SISQO: I hope to have my name written on the wall of fame and, you know, hopefully people look at myself as an iconic figure like, you know Michael or Janet or Madonna, instead of trying to constantly dismiss my talent as luck or a gimmick.

(MUSIC)

VERCAMMEN: After breaking off from the R&B quartet Dru Hill, Sisqo turned his hair metallic and went six times platinum with his first solo CD, "Unleash the Dragon."

Sisqo was on a roll. He developed a sitcom for NBC, but the network killed the show.

SISQO: My feelings was hurt for about a minute, but my mansion didn't change, or my house in Baltimore, you know. So my bank account ain't really change, but it definitely hurt my pride a little bit.

(MUSIC)

VERCAMMEN: Sisqo is once again swinging and singing full-time.

SISQO: I would invite anybody who listens to my album to just take that extra second, because it's kind of like one big smart joke. And if you're not listening and you're not paying attention, you might not get it right off the bat.

VERCAMMEN: But even the most cynical record label executives must pay attention with Sisqo's 6 million albums sold.

(MUSIC)

VERCAMMEN: Paul Vercammen, CNN Entertainment News, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OKWU: I've got to update my look. Coming up on our next "Showbiz Today Reports": Will "America's Sweethearts" be sweet or sour at this weekend's box office? Our movie man Peter Travers will join us at 11:35 to give us his take on the Julia Roberts film. His answer may surprise you. I'm Michael Okwu in New York.

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