Taking Names

Miss Crow went on to adopt a son, Wyatt, in May 2007. Last December, Mr. Armstrong announced that he and his girlfriend Anna Hansen are expecting a baby in June.

Carreras staying put

A manager for the tenor Jose Carreras tells the New York Times that a British newspaper had misrepresented the singer’s remarks in an interview and that Mr. Carreras was not retiring from opera appearances, the BBC News reported.

In an interview with the Telegraph in advance of the Classical Brit awards in London, Mr. Carreras, 62, seemed to indicate that his opera career was at an end and was quoted as saying: “If I can do concert recitals, adapting the repertoire to my needs, then no problem. But with operas, unless the right circumstances come up, my career is done.”

However, Michael Storrs, the singer’s international manager, told the BBC that Mr. Carreras would continue to perform opera if the right role came along. “It’s a complete nonstory,” Mr. Storrs said.

Mr. Carreras is to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Classical Brit ceremony on Tuesday.

Braxton exposed

A concert promoter accused of trying to pass off a Las Vegas-based entertainer as six-time Grammy winner Toni Braxton has confessed to arranging the scheme in Suriname, his attorney said Thursday.

The promoter, Angel Ventura, told a judge he scammed people into paying up to $53 thinking they would hear the famous singer at a much-hyped show in this poor South American country more than two months ago, defense lawyer Lamure Latour told Associated Press.

Prosecutor Duncan Nanhoe, who also heard the confession, stressed that Mr. Ventura’s admission during questioning by Judge Ingrid Lakicharanhe did not necessarily clear Trina Johnson-Finn, 40, of attempting to pass herself off as the real Miss Braxton, best known for the hit song “Un-break My Heart” and appearances on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.”

The case heads to court May 26, when Miss Johnson-Finn is scheduled to go on trial, charged with defrauding the nearly 3,000 people who bought tickets.

It was not immediately clear if Miss Johnson-Finn, dubbed “Phony Toni” by local media, and Mr. Ventura would be tried together, AP said.

Miss Johnson-Finn’s disastrous Feb. 28 performance prompted the disappointed crowd to jeer and pelt the stage with trash. She was rushed off the stage to a loud chorus of boos after she hit a sour note at the beginning of the second song.

Her husband, Raymond Finn, says she has augmented her 20-year singing career by impersonating various stars as a “tribute artist.” He said Mr. Ventura, without his wife’s knowledge, aggressively promoted her as being the real Miss Braxton for weeks.

The show was the first time she had performed as a Braxton look-a-like, Mr. Finn said.

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