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Still a star at 84

The indomitable Cloris Leachman on acting, gay marriage and her March 19 Atlanta show

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Interview: Takeover artist Tabatha Coffey turns her infamous scrutiny on herself

Tabatha Coffey stars on Bravo's 'Tabatha's Salon Takeover'

From the first moment audiences encountered Tabatha Coffey on Bravo’s “Shear Genius,” she has never been shy with an opinion. Her reputation as the dominatrix of deep-conditioning led to her own series on the network, “Tabatha’s Salon Takeover,” now in its third season.

Each episode features Coffey in a struggling salon, doling out tough love to the owner and staff. In each installment, it is absolutely guaranteed someone will cry, Tabatha will be gobsmacked by someone’s incompetence, and at least one person will call her a bitch. Sometimes this all happens in the same scene.

In her new memoir, “It’s Not All About The Hair: The Honest Truth About Life, Love and the Business of Beauty,” Coffey opens up about growing up in the dressing rooms of drag queens, coming out at fifteen, the nearly fatal experience of getting breast implants, and why it doesn’t matter if the truth hurts. She talked to the GA Voice while packing to leave Hollywood, following her TV Guide Channel coverage of the Academy Awards.

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Clay Aiken remains ‘Tried and True’

American Idol finalist Clay Aiken returns to Atlanta Feb. 16

Performing in Atlanta has been special for singer Clay Aiken. It’s not his birthplace — that would be Raleigh, N.C. — but he feels partial to the city.

“I auditioned for ‘American Idol’ in Atlanta so it’s full circle when I return,” says Aiken, who brings his “Tried and True” tour to the Cobb Energy Centre on Feb. 16.

Aiken was featured on the second season of “American Idol,” where he eventually was runner-up to Ruben Studdard. On the show, he was an audience favorite, never once appearing in the bottom three for viewer votes. It helped him, he feels, that he was able to sing songs he was familiar with.

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Come on, Cher — accept you have a transgender son

One thing important to transgender people is being called the correct pronoun. Having others recognize you and respect you enough to call you by the pronoun you identify with is a validation of existence for many.

So when you have gay icon Cher calling her transgender son, Chaz Bono, "she" and a "lesbian" on the David Letterman Show, it's really a tragedy not only to Chaz but to all people in mainstream society — and the LGB world, too — who are still learning the issues transgender individuals face.

According to an article on the Huffington Post, "Cher also said she considers Chaz a lesbian, even though he has described his relationship with his girlfriend as heterosexual."

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The B-52s still rock the ‘Love Shack.’

B-52s perform at Chastain Park

Almost 35 years after the B-52s formed, the seemingly ageless group is still kicking it. Openly gay Keith Strickland and his fellow B-52s colleagues Fred Schneider (also gay), Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson will perform at Chastain Park next week alongside Blondie, combining classics hits such as “Love Shack” with newer material.

Although the band still tours regularly, they decided a few years back to do a new album.

“I think the idea was to come up with ideas to sing live,” says Strickland. “We needed new material and just decided to do it.”