Taking Names

Oh, brother

A biography by Madonna’s younger brother claims to lift the lid on her sexual conquests, love affairs, drug taking and rows with husband Guy Ritchie — including her reported flirtation with Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow at a glamorous New Year’s party thrown by fashion designer Donatella Versace, London’s Sun newspaper reports.

In his tell-all book, “Life With My Sister Madonna,” Christopher Ciccone says the pop star was dancing on a table at 4 a.m. when she dragged Miss Paltrow up to join her. Then, he writes, the pair started dancing together and, as partygoers watched in amazement, Madonna grabbed Miss Paltrow and kissed the stunned Hollywood star full on the mouth.

Miss Paltrow, who is happily married to Coldplay singer Chris Martin, is not the first woman to be smooched by the Material Mom. She French-kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera at the MTV Movie Awards in 2003.

According to the Sun, Mr. Ciccone’s book — due in stores July 15 — also will tell of lesbian flings and other secrets of Madonna’s past. Sources told the Sun that Mr. Ciccone, a 47-year-old interior designer, will reveal how Madonna, 49, took drugs with leading showbiz executives.

The explosive book reportedly discusses her rocky marriage to Sean Penn and also will spill the beans about her rows with film-director hubby Mr. Ritchie. Mr. Ciccone claims the pair are locked in explosive rows and split by growing differences. He says their seven-year marriage is kept together only by the intervention of a rabbi who travels to their homes to act as informal counselor.

Mr. Ciccone, one of five of Madonna’s siblings, has worked closely with his sister in the past.

The book’s publication by Simon & Schuster could not come at a worse time for Madonna, who is fighting off rumors of an affair with baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez.

Mrs. A-Rod seeks divorce

Although Madonna has denied a romantic involvement with Mr. Rodriguez, claims of infidelity against the Yankees’ 32-year-old third baseman have been cited by his wife, Cynthia, who filed for divorce on Monday, calling her husband an adulterer who “emotionally abandoned his wife and children.”

“The marriage of the parties is irretrievably broken because of the husband’s extramarital affairs and other marital misconduct,” says Mrs. Rodriguez’s petition for dissolution of marriage, filed in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court.

The couple married in November 2002. Mrs. Rodriguez has asked for primary custody of their two daughters — Natasha Alexander, 3, and 2-month-old Ella Alexander — as well as child support and alimony, Associated Press reports.

It’s a girl for Kidman

Nicole Kidman and her husband, Keith Urban, have welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, born Monday morning in Nashville, Tenn., People magazine reports.

Video: Nicole Kidman welcomes baby ’Sunday’

“Husband Keith was by Nicole’s side, and mother and baby are very well,” said spokesman Paul Freundlich. He also said the baby girl weighed 6 pounds, 7.5 ounces.

Miss Kidman and her former husband, Tom Cruise, adopted two children, Isabella, 15, and Connor, 13.

Diva on the mend

Opera legend Joan Sutherland is recovering well after breaking both legs during a fall at her Swiss home, her agent said Monday.

“She had an accident while doing the gardening and somehow managed to break both her legs,” agent David Sigall said.

The 81-year-old soprano is in a Swiss hospital undergoing rehabilitation, Mr. Sigall told AP.

The accident occurred June 24.

Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse from Web and wire reports