American Idol Ruben Studdard weds in Alabama

Former "American Idol" Ruben Studdard last Saturday married Surata Zuri McCants at a church in a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. But there was no singing during the 30-minute ceremony — just an exchange of vows, prayers and music provided by a string ensemble. A reporter from The Birmingham News attended the ceremony.

The groom, nicknamed the "Velvet Teddy Bear" on "Idol" for his big frame and sonorous voice, wore a black tuxedo with white bow tie for Saturday's ceremony. His bride wore a white and ivory wedding gown.

Alabama will be their home as the 29-year-old-singer gets set to release a new album later this year. (AP)

Angie Stone On Being Dark Skinned In Entertainment

"Well, you know it goes back to the very beginning. If you were light skinned you were in, if you were dark skinned you were out. It very well works that way in the industry. You see very [few] dark skinned people on top of the game.

Most of the superstars are very fair or mulatto people. You can check your stats. It works that way in the film world too. I have lost almost every single opportunity to star in a film to Macy Gray or Jill Scott because they're light and I'm dark. I've been told so many times that it's a certain look that they're looking for. So you can't even use weight anymore. You can't use age because everybody's over 35 that's running around doing it. It comes down to what is more appealing. I'm only good for the pro political stuff that will afford all of my people from the hood to vote for the right president - or to support whatever because I'm more on their level, so to speak. So to me it hasn't changed much. Slavery has just taken on a whole new different direction but it's the same process."

R&B singer Angie Stone talks about being dark skinned in the entertainment industry in Bill Vaughn's Tasty Clips column.

Comedian George Carlin Dies in Los Angeles at 71

George Carlin, 71, the much-honored American stand-up comedian whose long career was distinguished by pointed social commentary that placed him on the cultural cutting edge, died two Sundays ago in Santa Monica, Calif. He had long struggled with health problems and a heart condition dating to the 1970s, and, according to Associated Press and other reports, he had checked into the hospital after experiencing chest pain. Carlin's comedy career spanned a half-century, starting with years as a disc jockey in the 1950s and culminating with his selection last week by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to receive this year's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, a lifetime achievement award.