People: Michelle Obama, Tom Cruise, Russell Brand, Merle Haggard, Miranda Lambert

People: Michelle Obama, Tom Cruise, Russell Brand, Merle Haggard, Miranda Lambert

First lady Michelle Obama is headed to Jay Leno's stage later this month, the Associated Press reports.

NBC announced Thursday that the first lady will appear on "The Tonight Show" on Jan. 31, where she's expected to talk about life in the White House, her fitness initiative for children and her upcoming book about the White House kitchen garden.

She was a guest on the program in 2008 when her husband was a candidate and also appeared via satellite hookup from the White House on "The Jay Leno Show" in 2009, the host's perch before returning to "The Tonight Show."

Step aside, Tom Cruise. Make room, J.C. Chasez. A new celeb hero has joined the inspiring ranks.

Zoe Saldana jumped to the rescue of a visibly injured elderly woman in Culver City, Calif., Thursday after witnessing a particularly heinous car accident that left the driver with a scratched and bloodied face, E! News reports.

According to reports, without missing a beat, the 33-year-old "Avatar" star sprang from her car and, with the help of a fellow bystander, assisted the clearly shaken woman from her vehicle to the curb, where she helped her take a seat before phoning an ambulance.

Saldana then waited with the woman until paramedics and officers arrived on the scene and even went back to the victim's car at one point to collect her purse and sweater and bring it back to the jarred woman.

Later, the actress was seen speaking to police officers and fireman who responded to the scene, not leaving the unidentified woman's side until she had received medical attention.

British actor-comedian Russell Brand will interview former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr for Sirius XM Radio, the Associated Press reports.

"Town Hall With Ringo Starr" will air live from Los Angeles on Jan. 30.

Music producer Don Was will moderate the Q&A, and Starr will perform at the event.

A day later, Star! r will r elease his 17th solo album, "Ringo 2012."

Brand said in a statement Thursday that he's a "massive fan" of Starr, "but like most people I am ignorant as to his life before he rose to prominence with 'Thomas the Tank Engine.' " He added: "Now we can unravel the enigma of Ringo."

nHere's hoping Merle Haggard's fightin' side is out in full force.

The country-music legend is suffering from pneumonia and was hospitalized Tuesday night in Macon, Ga., forcing him to cancel all of his scheduled performances this month, according to his reps, E! News reports.

Haggard's tour manager said that the 74-year-old artist had been ill since leaving his California home last week but had hit the road in hopes of being able to play.

Sure enough, Haggard didn't officially pull the plug on his Macon show Tuesday until seven minutes before the scheduled 7:30 p.m. start time, according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, after which Wednesday's concert in Columbus, Ga., and Sunday's show in Columbia, S.C., were also canceled.

Ticket holders were eligible for full refunds, promoter Mike Blackwell said.

Haggard, an epic smoker for decades, underwent surgery to have part of his lung removed after being diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in November 2008. He started recording and touring again less than two months later and announced that he was trying to kick both his tobacco and marijuana habits.

Miranda Lambert has rescheduled weekend shows in Kentucky and North Carolina following the death of her father-in-law, the Associated Press reports.

Dick Shelton, father of "The Voice" judge Blake Shelton, died Tuesday in Oklahoma with his family after a year of declining health. Lambert, who just kicked off her "On Fire" tour, rescheduled shows in Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C., and Lexington, Ky.

Lambert thanked fans for their prayers and support in a news release: "This is a really difficult time for our family, and the most important thing is being together. Tell y! our love d ones you love them."

First published on January 20, 2012 at 12:00 am