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Atlanta actor and comedian Chris Tucker will host this year’s BET Awards. The network announced Tuesday that the comedian-actor will host the show June 30 from the Nokia Theater L.A. Live. Tucker is riding high off of his supporting role in the Oscar-nominated film “Silver Linings Playbook,” which starred Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. The 41-year-old is best known for starring in the “Rush Hour” film franchise opposite Jackie Chan. He said in a statement that he’s honored and “looking forward to being part of a really great show.” The BET Awards is part of three-day event the network is putting on that weekend dubbed “BET Experience at L.A. Live.” It kicks off June 28 with a Beyonce concert. Other performers throughout the weekend include Kendrick Lamar, Miguel, The Jacksons and R. Kelly.
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Hilary Mantel, Barbara Kingsolver and Zadie Smith are among three British authors and three Americans shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for fiction.
Mantel’s “Bring Up the Bodies,” Kingsolver’s “Flight Behavior” and Smith’s “NW” are finalists for the award, previously known as the Orange Prize.
The other contenders announced Tuesday are A.M. Homes’ “May We Be Forgiven,” Kate Atkinson’s “Life After Life” and Maria Semple’s “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?”
Mantel, Smith and Atkinson are British, while Homes, Kingsolver and Semple — a former writer for TV shows including “Saturday Night Live” and “Arrested Development” — are American.
The award, in its 18th year, celebrates writing by women in English from around the world. The winner will receive 30,000 pounds ($45,000).
The winner will be announced in London on June 5.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actress Olivia Hussey is 62. Singer-guitarist Pete Shelley of The Buzzcocks is 58. Actor Sean Bean (“Lord of the Rings”) is 54. Actor Joel Murray is 51. Singer Maynard James Keenan of Tool and of Puscifer is 49. Actress Lela Rochon is 49. Actress Kimberly Elise is 46. Singer Liz Phair is 46. Rapper-actor Redman is 43. Actress Jennifer Garner is 41. Singer Victoria Beckham of the Spice Girls is 39. Actress Lindsay Korman (“Passions”) is 35. Actress Rooney Mara (“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”) is 28. Actress Dee Dee Davis (“The Bernie Mac Show”) is 17. Associated Press
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