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Martha Stewart: Nightline anchor Cynthia McFadden exclusive

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Nightline anchor Cynthia McFadden interviews Martha Stewart on the November 19 broadcast and phoned SheKnows exclusively to dish what Stewart said in her first television interview since her 2004 imprisonment. Not only did McFadden score the major network first interview of the domestic diva in over five years, but the news anchor was given unprecedented access to the Martha Stewart world for two entire days.

Cynthia in Martha's home kitchenOne question is quickly answered. How does Stewart do it? McFadden reported the head of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, , only gets three to four hours of sleep a night. What else did McFadden discover in a Nightline interview for the ages? Watch McFadden's entire insightful interview on the November 19 Nightline at 11:35 pm.

Inside Martha Stewart's world

SheKnows: What did you take away personally and professionally from your time with Martha Stewart?

Cynthia McFadden: Martha Stewart was extraordinarily generous with her time. I've profiled plenty of celebrities in folks in her high-profile types of positions. They doll out the time like diamonds.

SheKnows: Yes they do…

Cynthia McFadden: Well, Martha Stewart, when she decided to do this, was generous. She gave us two full days of access to her life, her world, her business and no holds barred. Nothing was off limits. I have to say after spending a good amount of time with her, I woke up on morning three and said, "Where's Martha?"

We both laugh.

Cynthia McFadden: I was surprised how compelling she is, she is both engaged and engaging about the things that interest her. She's a teacher at heart. She wants to explain. She's never happier than when she's explaining to someone how she thinks things should be done. There's only one way to do things – the Martha Stewart way -- but, if you can participate in that world, it's quite an interesting an fun ride.

SheKnows: It sure is especially considering where she started and where she currently sits. It's an inspiring story to both women and men.

'If you want the girl next door. Go next door.'

Cynthia McFadden, Nightline co-anchorCynthia McFadden: Listen, I have to say. She's not woman fuzzy. If that's what you want, if you want the girl next door. Go next door. She's not woman fuzzy. She can be assertive. She is demanding. She can be a perfectionist -- all of those things. But, she's also such an American original. She's so refreshing candid about her likes and dislikes. I was taken aback about her comments on Rachel Ray. But, she calls it as she sees it. She doesn't live in hiding. We had a good go around about how she picks up the pink gravel in her driveway at her house in Maine. It's a mile long driveway. They rake it up, clean it, and store it every winter so it doesn't get muddy.

SheKnows: Oh, of course.

Cynthia McFadden: I'm like, "Martha, who can do this? You do understand that you are not normal?" She looked at me and said, "Well, you're not normal either."

SheKnows: Yes, indeed.

Cynthia McFadden: I copped to that, but most of us aren't going to be picking up pink gravel on our driveways. She doesn't really care about what other people think about that. It's part of a tradition of this beautiful house. I want to preserve. Nobody else has to do this, but this is part of my contribution to making the world more beautiful. She's eccentric, but I have to say I walked away having really enjoyed the time with her.

Up next...McFadden shares a hint of Stewart's views on Bernie Madoff and the SEC

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'Too bad the SEC wasn't looking at Bernie Madoff instead of me'

Martha Stewart back on topSheKnows: Also, Martha Stewart has been through the ringer on many levels. Financially, legally, what did you take away from that aspect of her life. You mentioned she was very honest with you. Did it make her stronger?

Cynthia McFadden: Its' very interesting. Martha Stewart is not a whiner. She's not a complainer. She didn't want to dwell on whether it's somebody else's fault. She also doesn't think it's her fault, I don't think. She said to me, "It's too bad the SEC wasn't looking at Bernie Madoff instead of me during this period?" There are many people who would agree with her about that.

SheKnows: Yes.

Cynthia McFadden: But, you know, I honestly believe that to the extent that someone can move one from an experience like that, she has. I think…she says, what rankles her is the damage it did to the company. She sees it as unnecessarily damage and to the people she employs and to the customers that she serves. And she points that readers and viewers stuck with her through all of that. It was the advertisers that walked away. That created a tremendous financial debacle at the company. She resents that. But, she's not going to dwell on it. She's going to move forward and she believes that, though the company has been hit hard by the recession, she believes her company will come back stronger than ever. After spending all that time with her , I wouldn't bet against her.

SheKnows: Not with that name and that will.

Cynthia McFadden: No…she's a force of nature. Imagine…she gets up before the roosters.

SheKnows: Laughs.

Cynthia McFadden: That's all you need to say.


McFadden: quotes from Martha Stewart interview:

"Crafts are a $32 billion industry," said Stewart. "There is no one standout brand in crafting, and we are aiming to be that brand with this amazing assortment of fantastic crafts. And I plan to be number one."

Did she ever think there was a danger that her company would go under? "Not really," she said, "'cause I'm an optimist. I knew we had a really good thing going. And I really knew that I was not guilty of anything that could possibly harm my company."

But wasn't she scared, after all the hard work she had put in to create her business empire? "Well, I was pissed. OK," Stewart said. "Pissed that something could actually affect that. The company had nothing to do with anything. But yet, because I am the face and the brand, my person -- it certainly had a -- harmful effect. When you are prosecuted in such a way, and a great portion of wealth is dissipated, all I can think, so much, is what I could've done with all of that for the good of mankind. And -- and I hope I can continue."

Read on for more TV exclusive interviews

Kelsey Grammer video interview
Sonya Wagner gets Lost on FlashForward
So You Think You Can Dance producer and head judge Nigel Lythgoe
Gilles Marini dishes Dancing with the Stars and Brothers and Sisters
Why watch Cougartown


Celebrity Halloween costumes

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We all know that Heidi Klum and Seal are the king and queen of Halloween thanks to their annual Halloween bash. However, Halloween is big in Hollywood and the stars never disappoint us with their creative Halloween costumes.

We took a look back in time at some of our favorite celebrity Halloween costumes over the years. Check 'em out!

Top celebrity Halloween costumes

Celebrity Halloween Costumes: Heidi Klum and Seal


Heidi Klum and Seal at their celebrity-packed 2008 Halloween party lead us off as they should. The Hollywood Halloween king and queen bring it, regardless of the year.

Halloween is a terrific time of year to channel your inner angels, demons or movie superheroes.

Provided with deep resources to create the most magnificent of costumes, how does Hollywood respond to the holiday that celebrates creativity?

Get the rest of our favorite celeb Halloween costumes on the next page!

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Celebrity Halloween Costumes: Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway

Celebrity Costumes: Rachael Ray and John Cusimano

Rachael Ray and John Cusimano

Celebrity Halloween Costumes: Dave Navarro

Dave Navarro

Celebrity Halloween Costumes: Audrina Patridge

Audrina Patridge

Celebrity Halloween Costumes: Brooke Shields

Brooke Shields and her daughters

Halloween costimes: Lauren Conrad

Lauren Conrad, Halloween 2008

Top Celeb Halloween Costumes: Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis

Celebrity Halloween Costumes: Kate Beckinsale

Kate Beckinsale and family

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart on Halloween

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart

Celebrity Halloween Costumes: Kendra Wilkinson, Bridget Marquardt, Hugh Hefner and Holly Madison

Kendra Wilkinson, Bridget Marquardt, Hugh Hefner and Holly Madison

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Elisha Cuthbert

Elisha Cuthbert

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Jim Carey

Jim Carey and his Halloween spirit

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis, Halloween 2007

The Today Show crew in costume, Halloween 2007

The Today Show, Halloween

The Today Show crew in costume, Halloween 2008

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Alyssa Milano

Alyssa Milano

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Kathy Griffin, Bette Midler, Gloria Estefan

Kathie Griffin, Bette Midler and Gloria Estefan, Halloween 2008

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Bette Midler

Bette Midler

Celebrity Costumes: Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton in costume, Halloween 2006

The Today Show, Halloween Costumes

The Today Show crew showing their Halloween spirit, Halloween 2006

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Britney Spears and Ali Sims

Britney Spears and Ali Sims, Halloween 2007

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Brittany Curran and Keana Texeria

Brittany Curran and Keana Texeria

Halloween in Hollywood: Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman

Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman at a pumpkin patch

Want a few more celebrity Halloween costumes? Next page, please!

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More of our fav Hollywood Halloween outfits!

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman

Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman in guoulish Halloween spirit, Halloween 2006

The Today Show, Halloween

The Today Show crew, Halloween 2009

Celebrity Costumes: Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton

Celebrity Halloween Costumes: Nicky Hilton

Nicky Hilton

Halloween in Hollywood: Christina Aguilera and son Max

Christina Aguilera and son Max in pumpkin patch

Celerity Halloween Costumes: Teri Hatcher and daughter Hallow

Teri Hatcher and daughter Hallow in paired costumes, Halloween 2006

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse

Halloween duo Cole and Dylan Sprouse

Holloween in Hollywood: David Alan Grier

David Alan Grier and family at a pumpkin patch

Holloween in Hollywood: David Boreanaz

David Boreanaz and family at a pumpkin patch

Celebrity Halloween Costumes: Minnie Driver

Minnie Driver in costume, Halloween 2006

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Dennis Rodman

Dennis Rodman

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Elvira

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Fergie

Fergie

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Rhona Mitra

Rhona Mitra

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale trick-or-treating

The Today Show, Halloween

The Today Show crew in costume

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum and Pink at Heidi's 2008 Halloween party

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Heidi Klum and Seal

Heidi Klum and Seal at their star-studded 2009 Halloween bash

Celebrity Costumes: Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey

Celebrity Halloween Costumes: Martha Stewart and Blake Lively

Martha Stewart and Blake Lively in costume

Celebrity Halloween Costume: Heidi Klum and Seal

Heidi Klum and Seal in paired costumes at their 2006 Halloween party

Halloween in Hollywood: Heidi Klum and the kids

Heidi Klum and the kids at a pumpkin patch

Which celeb's Halloween costume is your favorite?

Heidi Klum wins our vote hands down each year, but tell us your fav!

Martha Stewart & Michelle Obama: New BFFs?

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Martha Stewart and Michelle Obama staged a tribute to military moms for Mother's Day -- and developed a nice little friendship along the way.

Michelle Obama Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart and Michelle Obama met up at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to film a Mother's Day special in celebration of military moms. Martha Stewart Presents: America's Moms -- A Celebration of Military Families aired Sunday, and Martha was thrilled to make a new friend.

In fact, the two already have plans to hang out!

"I'm gonna go down and see the garden, because she finally invited me!" Martha said. "I'm so excited. You know, I love that White House."

What will the pair talk about? "If she has any problems or challenges in the garden, I'm sure I can help her with those," the domestic goddess joked.

Meanwhile, Michelle Obama had lots of kudos for the hardworking military moms out there.

"Watching these men and women who stay behind and do it with such grace and dignity, it just makes me want to do my job even better and take care of my kids, but make sure that I'm contributing to the broader community and juggling like those women are juggling, and doing it without complaining, and realizing the blessings that these positions offer, and not wallowing in the minor inconveniences that come along with it," she said. "Those women show me how to be better at what I'm doing."

Yay for new friends and great moms!

Martha Stewart's daughter reveals her dark side in new book

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Think that Martha Stewart is probably the world's best mom? Think again. Her daughter, Alexis Stewart, claims that her mother was far from an ideal mother.

Ouch! Alexis Stewart, daughter of home maven Martha Stewart, is lashing out against her mother in her new book, Whateverland: Learning to Live Here. In the book -- on shelves Oct. 18 -- Alexis rips on everything from her mother's parenting skills to her bathroom habits.

Martha Stewart was a bad mom, claims daughter

"Martha does everything better! You can't win!" her lookalike daughter wrote. "If I didn't do something perfectly, I had to do it again. I grew up with a glue gun pointed at my head."

She blasts her Mommy Dearest for coming up way short in the parenting department.

"Martha was not interested in being kid-friendly," Alexis, 46, wrote of her 70-year-old mother. "She used to make me wrap my own presents. She would hand me things right before Christmas and say, 'Now wrap these but don't look inside.'"

Stewart's daughter bares all on her mother's dirty ways, including her untrained dogs.

"My mother has a sign on all of her doors to take your shoes off," Alexis wrote. "For god's sake! My mother's dogs [expletive] and [expletive] on her rugs and she's telling people to take their shoes off?"

Martha Stewart and Michelle Obama: BFFs?>>

"[She] always peed with the door open," Alexis added of her mom's bathroom routine. "I remember saying, 'You know, now I have friends over! You can't do that anymore! It's gotta stop! My friends' parents don't do it! Give me a break here! I don't feel like being embarrassed! It's exhausting! I'm a kid! Stop!'"

Does Alexis harbor any ill-will toward her mother? It seems like it, but she dedicated the book to her perfect/unperfect mother. However, Stewart told fans to read Whateverland as a satire, not an autobiography.

"[W]hateverland is my daughter Alexis' book with Jennifer Hutt- it is hilarious, enlightening, and a grand satire on growing up -fun to read!!!" she tweeted on Oct. 1. "the book whateverland should be read as a satire- not an autobiography- it is funny."

Image courtesy PNP/WENN.com

Are you surprised that Martha Stewart's daughter is airing her mother's dirty laundry in public?

Alexis Stewart has a potty mouth

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Alexis Stewart may have written a tell-all about mom Martha, but it's her potty mouth that gets her the most attention! Stewart is well known for cussing a blue streak and her outspoken ways differ her from her prim and proper mother.

Alexis Stewart

Alexis Stewart has stated on more than one occasion that it was difficult growing up with Martha Stewart as a mother. The level of perfectionism that Martha expected from her daughter was impossible to achieve, so Alexis stated in her book she didn't even try.

Read more about Alexis' new book here>>

How she made her mark was by being the anti-Martha. Where her mother was always ladylike and demure on television, Alexis made a career of being bleeped time and again on her television series Whatever Martha and Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer.

The premiere of Whatever Martha was a tongue-in-cheek delivery by Alexis and Jennifer, longtime friends, as they made fun of old Martha Stewart Living episodes and attempted to create one of Martha's crafts or cooking project to see how difficult it was to complete. More than once, Alexis' off-color comments had to be bleeped from the cable show and she soon gained a reputation for stating her mind, whether it was allowed on television or not.

After the show moved to the Hallmark Channel, it was renamed Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer, but the "honesty" from its co-host continued. Finally, when the show moved to Sirrius Radio, Alexis was given a bit more liberty but still had to be reined in by her not-as-colorful co-host.

Just this past June, Stewart concluded her run on Whatever.

Several people have called Stewart out for her raucous behavior, including designer and Project Runway host Tim Gunn in his book, Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making it Work.

Gunn stated of Alexis, "One of the angriest people I've ever met. [She] kept cursing under her breath in anticipation of her mother coming, almost as if she had Tourette's Syndrome. I was so horrified by how she treated her mother in front of a lot of people. Good heavens, you're an adult!"

Photo Credit: WENN

Martha Stewart loves her daughter's book

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Martha Stewart is commenting on her daughter's new tell-all book.

Martha Stewart

The new book by Alexis Stewart seems like she's tearing her famous mom apart -- but luckily Martha Stewart has a good sense of humor and takes it all in stride.

The domestic maven talked about Whateverland: Learning to Live Here on The Martha Stewart Show and addressed the hype.

"Well there's a real buzz in the air, can you hear it? I think so. The studio is buzzing, my blackberry is buzzing. I get a little 'ping ping' like every five minutes. The internet is buzzing and it's all because of my daughter Alexis. She's at it again," Martha said.

"I had heard about a book but, it's all about growing up. And fabulous pictures by the way. And it is hilarious and it is enlightening and it's full of funny stories," Martha gushed. "It's not an autobiography. Let's get that straight right now... It's irreverent and it's lots of fun. Remember that Whatever, [Martha] show that those girls had on TV? That was my idea. You know making fun of good things is a good idea. Well Alexis, I had called her this morning and said 'What is the funniest part of the book?' She had given these answers. She sat for an interview to Us Weekly and they chose not to print her answers for some reason."

Martha then read the question-and-answer session, adding comments of her own.

"One question, 'There was never anything to eat at my house. Other people had food. I had no food… There were ingredients but no prepared food of any kind.' [Alexis'] answer: And that is how my house is today. Turned out to be a good thing.'"

Martha said, "Yes if you wanted to eat when she was growing up. You had to cook something. That was the whole idea. She is a superb cook."

Stewart read the next quote: "'Martha does everything better! You can't win! If I didn't do something perfectly, I had to do it again… I grew up with a glue gun pointed at my head.' And Alexis' answer: 'Obviously what I say in this book is an exaggeration of the truth. I'm not sure if there were glue guns when I was a kid.'"

Martha said, "And she's right, there were not any glue guns. She was twenty something when I first started working with glue guns and making my Christmas book. And she says, 'I definitely prefer to have a mother who is good at things than the alternative.'"

What's Martha's favorite part of the book? The Halloween section.

"The best thing of all is Halloween," says Martha. "She wrote: 'Halloween was also a grim affair: There were no costumes. There was no anything. We turned off all the lights and pretended we weren't home.' And so her answer is: 'Oh ok. I left out the years when my mother made me costumes on the sewing machine. Or let me wear all of my grandmother's fabulous costume jewelry when I was very young and was a gypsy for Halloween. It was kind of fun pretending no one was home. No one else did that or would admit that they did it. And I still do it til [sic]this day.'"

The message? Alexis Stewart's book is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, not a scathing declaration of Mommy Dearest parenting.

"I must have instilled in her some good habits," Martha laughed. "She's tall, beautiful, gorgeous and mother of baby Jude and that's all that counts. The book is out late October wherever books are sold. I encourage you to buy it, read and make it a best seller."

Sounds like Thanksgiving dinner will be a lot less awkward than we thought around the Stewart house.

Image courtesy Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com

Alexis Stewart gets awkward on The Today Show

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Alexis Stewart appeared on The Today Show recently to promote her "tell-all" book about her mother, Martha Stewart. The interview went from cold to awkward as the conversation turned from Whateverland to Alexis' co-author and former best friend. Watch!

Alexis Stewart's TheToday Show appearance on Monday went from bad to worse as the conversation oscillated between her Whateverlandbook about Martha Stewart, to her falling out with co-author Jennifer Koppleman-Hutt.

Alexis Stewart on The Today Show

"It's supposed to be funny," Alexis Stewart tried to explain of her book while appearing on The Today Show, seated next to her ex-best friend . "It's not a book about my mother," she insisted. "It's a book about growing up and learning to live with what happened or didn't happen." Alexis later added, "Everyone can make funny stories up about their families."

Yet as much as the world doesn't seem to be getting the joke about Whateverland, in which Alexis Stewart writes she was raised with "a glue gun pointed at my head" and no food readily available, it was talk of the failed friendship that put an icy chill in the room.

As the pair discussed their friendship "break-up," the daughter of Martha Stewart shared, "If you want to punish somebody, never talking to them again is a really good method," adding, "some people are very clingy and some people like to be by themselves."

The two women, who created the Sirius radio show Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer, often poked fun at Martha Stewart and found success in a show called Whatever, Martha during which they made fun of Martha Stewart Living reruns.

Using the metaphor of a marriage for their friendship Alexis Stewart said, "One day you look at your husband and you're like 'oh -- not anymore.'" To which Jennifer Koppelman-Hutt chimed in, "That's how she looked at me!"

Watch Alexis Stewart on The Today Show here!

What do you think of Alexis Stewart's The Today Show appearance?

Do you have any interest in reading Alexis Stewart's Whateverland book?

MORE ALEXIS STEWART NEWS:

Martha Stewart loves her daughter's book
Alexis Stewart has a potty mouth
Martha Stewart's daughter reveals her dark side in new book

Image via Today Show

Katie Holmes: "My cupcakes are moist"

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Katie Holmes... a domestic goddess? Not quite -- but she does make a mean cupcake! Check out this video clip of her upcoming Thanksgiving interview with Martha Stewart.

Katie Holmes likes to bake

It's probably not surprising that Katie Holmes isn't a domestic diva — she's too busy with her work and managing the closet of her fashion plate daughter, Suri Cruise.

Holmes appeared on Martha Stewart's show to talk about all things Thanksgiving and it's safe to say she won't be cooking a huge dinner this year.

"I did this movie called, Pieces of April and I worked with a turkey," Holmes told Stewart in the interview airing Nov. 15. "And I had to pull everything out." It wasn't exactly a fun time for the actress. "I had to call my mom and say thank you for all the Thanksgivings and I'm never going to make one," she joked.

There is one thing she's good at, though: baking.

"My mom started a tradition where she makes these amazing pumpkin bars almost like a pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting but it's not too spicy," she said. "In my family we travel so much and we're constantly living in hotels so my daughter and I have been in the living room of the hotel with powdered sugar going everywhere making these to keep up the tradition. They're really gooey and moist."

Of course, Stewart wanted to know if her hubby, Tom Cruise, likes them.

"Yes, I haven't met anyone who doesn't like the recipe," she said.

As for the family's Thanksgiving plans? They'll be in Los Angeles. "I'm not a big cook so I usually go to the flower mart in downtown Los Angeles and I make up for my lack of cooking with a good presentation," she joked.

They'll have a turkey, though. "I make sure the fixings are there I just don't tell how they got there," the Jack and Jillstar said.

"That's a good idea," Stewart laughed.

Watch Katie Holmes talk turkey with Martha Stewart

Image courtesy WENN


Buh-bye! The Martha Stewart Show canceled

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The Martha Stewart Show is being canceled after seven seasons, with its final episode airing in April. What’s next for Stewart?

Martha StewartMartha Stewart must pack up her perfectly organized kitchen and craft drawers, as her show on the Hallmark Channel has gotten the ax.

The Martha Stewart Show was averaging only about 225,000 viewers according to the New York Post, which proved to be too costly to produce the live show on a daily basis.

Lisa Gersh, president of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia hinted of this problem last month, saying, "Our expensive studio lease is expiring next year, and we will either bring television in-house or find lower cost space, which will significantly reduce our TV operating margins."

The show will stop production in April, however they will continue to run reruns throughout the summer. "The daytime block on Hallmark Channel demonstrated year over year ratings growth and earned The Martha Stewart Show two Daytime Emmy Awards in its first season on Hallmark Channel," MSLO and Crown Media said in a statement. "That show will continue to air through the end of summer 2012."

What's next for 70-year-old Stewart now that her show is ending? We have no doubt she will land on her feet -- and it sounds like she already has plans for the future. "We love working with The Hallmark Channel and are talking to them about daytime programming in the future as well," a spokesman for MSLO told the Post.

Sources are saying that "Martha's TV family" is already planning a "lavish Oprah-style send-off" for her.

In the meantime, Stewart seems to be handling the news well, writing on Twitter yesterday that she is at a "fascinating jungle/sea property owned by friend Jean Pigozzi" and has been "kayaking, hiking, exploring, horseback riding, picnicking and boating."

Photo: WENN

Martha Stewart pooch wins "Best" bone at Westminster

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Why, Martha, that's a mighty fine-looking dog you've got there! A Chow Chow belonging to domestic goddess Martha Stewart won the Best in Breed milk bone at the 2012 Westminster Dog Show on Monday.

Genghis Khan is the cat's meow… even though he's a dog!

Let's hear a round of "appaws" for Martha Stewart's 2-year-old Chow Chow, who won the Best in Breed title at the Westminster Dog Show in Manhattan on Monday.

The wild-haired Genghis edged out competition from three other Chow Chows for the title. He even managed to advance to the non-sporting group competition before being bested by another pooch.

The winning pet is a replacement for Stewart's late dog of the same name. The original Genghis was one of 17 dogs who perished in a fiery 2009 explosion at Pazzazz Boarding Kennel in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. The blaze, which sent one person to the hospital with severe burns, occurred while the propane tanks at the facility were being refilled.

Canine fans won't get to see reincarnated Genghis advance to tonight's Best in Show competition, but Mama Martha's just as pleased as punch all the same.

"Big deal!" the culinary queen wrote in a celebratory tweet just after Genghis Khan's victory.

Though he's a big star now, Genghis made time in his busy schedule to trot on over to The Today Show on Tuesday for a little early morning barking with Matt Lauer, Ann Curry and Al Roker.

Martha came along to hold the leash and relish in the praise.

Let's face it, Stewart could use the good vibes. After being dissed in print by her own daughter, the domestic diva recently learned that her Hallmark Channel gabfest has been iced.

Ouch...

The Martha Stewart Show will stop taping live episodes in the spring, the network said last month. Repeats are expected to disappear from the airwaves by next fall.

Martha Stewart debuted in syndication in 2005. The one-hour, weekday program has aired exclusively on The Hallmark Channel since 2010.

We hear low ratings and high production costs were at the root of the decision to cancel the series.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Photo credits:  Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com

Which tatted-up A-list actress is Martha Stewart’s style icon?

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Though she dresses so modestly herself, Martha Stewart admires the style of one very risqué-dressing A-list actress. Find out who below!

Martha Stewart at W Magazine party

Martha Stewart was dressed in a classically sophisticated pantsuit when we caught up with her at The Ever Changing Face of Beauty video installation party at New York Fashion Week, hosted by W magazine editor Stefano Tonchi and P&G Prestige .

"I like Hermes, anything I try on fits me," Stewart told SheKnows of her personal style. "You have to find the people that make it for your size and your fit."

But the crafty grandmother threw us for a loop when we quizzed her on her favorite celebrity style icon.

"Angelina Jolie," said Stewart. "She can wear anything. She's so slight, but she still fits clothes and looks good in them."

Well we certainly didn't see that coming! Martha is full of interesting tidbits lately. She also shared with us her pride in her Chow Chow, Genghis Khan, who recently took home gold at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

"He only won Best in Breed but it's still the best in America," Stewart told us. "Chows are untrainable, so I didn't have to train him. He knew what to do."

What does this lady not do?!

Katie Holmes talks moist cupcakes with Martha Stewart>>

She is also in the process of planning a very important birthday party.

"I'm throwing my first grandchild her first birthday party," said Stewart. "I love being a grandma. She came to my studio today and had a great time. She's cute."

Other fashionistas at the bash included Cate Blanchett, Evan Rachel Wood, and soon-to-be mom Sienna Miller.

Photo Credit: Billy Farrell/BFAnyc.com

Skip the baby congrats for "grandma" Martha Stewart

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Alexis Stewart has welcomed a son via surrogate! Congratulatory wishes are in order for the whole family -- just don't call Martha Stewart "grandma."

Martha Stewart

It's a boy for Alexis Stewart! The daughter of crafty mogul Martha Stewart has welcomed a son via surrogate, making her now the mother of two.

Alexis Stewart's son Truman was born via surrogate on March 6, People has confirmed, though no further details about the little boy's birth are yet available. Two days after Truman's arrival he had a party to attend -- the first birthday of big sister Jude!

Martha Stewart loves her daughter's book>>

Martha Stewart's first grandchild was born on March 8 of 2011, also via surrogate. After her arrival 46-year-old Alexis, who struggled through years of fertility treatments before choosing surrogacy, commented, "Getting Jude was lucky. I'm happy, but this has been rough."

Yet while everyone is surely overjoyed to have Truman as the newest member of the family, Martha Stewart isn't too keen on being known as the grandmother of anyone. After word broke Alexis Stewart's baby girl had arrived last year, the new mom shared the news with her morning radio show listeners -- specifically mentioning who was to be called what going forward.

Which tatted-up A-list actress is Martha Stewart's style icon?>>

"Martha is going to be called, 'Martha,'" the Whateverland author shared of the plans for how Jude would come to refer to her grandma. Now that the 70-year-old is technically the grandmother of two, perhaps she'll be ready to own up to the title?

Congratulations to Alexis Stewart and big sister Jude on the arrival of Truman to the family!

Do you think it's time for Martha Stewart to own up to being a grandma?

Image via WENN

Martha Stewart in middle of J.C. Penney, Macy's legal brawl

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Both the ailing J.C. Penney's stores and the equally-limping-along Martha Stewart franchise could have used the deal shot down by the New York Supreme Court on Friday.

Martha Stewart Living deal

In a series of setbacks for craft guru Martha Stewart, who lost her show earlier this year, the court is blocking J.C. Penney from selling the 70-year-old's line of home goods in its stores.

Back in December, the venerable but ailing franchise announced plans to carry Martha Stewart-branded goods, starting in 2013.

But, Reuters reports, Macy's stepped in to put the kibosh on that move. Macy's contends that it was granted exclusive rights to Martha's line of goods until 2018.

The New York Supreme Court sided with Macy's.

While it's a big blow to both Penney's and Stewart's empire-building, the court's decision doesn't mean all Martha products are off-limits.

A spokesperson for Martha Stewart Living told the Associated Press the company still plans to sell products through J.C. Penney stores -- but there appears to be a lot of restrictions.

An analyst with Nomura Equity Research also told AP that many home products are "off the table" now that the court chose Macy's.

It appears that Macy's also felt snubbed, in that many analysts and others close to the proceedings say the chain was the first to stick its neck out for Martha and the "Living" line after she left prison.

Like Penney's, Stewart has waged an uphill battle to revamp her image, following the insider trading scandal that came to light in the early 2000s.

That scandal sent the fallen domestic goddess to prison in 2004.

Image courtesy of Joseph Marzullo/WENN.com

Famous August birthday baby names

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If you are expecting a baby in August or have a birthday this month, you may share a birthday with some of the biggest pop stars that were also born in August, including Madonna and Michael Jackson. President Barack Obama will be celebrating his birthday this month, as will Martha Stewart. Check out our complete list of famous August birthdays.

Whether you are expecting a baby in the month of August or have a birthday this month, it is fun to find out which celebrity you share a birthday with. This month's famous birthdays include designers, pop stars, presidents, movie stars and even world class athletes in our list of famous August birthdays. In fact, you may even be inspired to name your baby after your birthday twin! Check out our list of famous August birthday baby names.

August 1

August 2

August 3

August 4

August 5

August 6

  • M. Night Shyamalan
  • Soleil Moon Frye

August 7

August 8

August 9

August 10

August 11

August 12

August 13

August 14

August 15

  • Ben Affleck
  • Joe Jonas
  • Julia Child

August 16

August 17

August 18

August 19

August 20

August 21

August 22

August 23

  • Kobe Bryant
  • Rick Springfield

August 24

August 25

August 26

August 27

August 28

August 29

August 30

August 31

As far as August horoscopes, if your birthday is July 23 through August 22, you are a Leo. If your birthday falls between the dates of August 23 through September 22 ,you are a Virgo. There are no major holidays in the month of August, however National S’mores Day is on August 10 and Left Hander's Day is on August 13.

The name August is a boy baby name that has both German and English origins and means majestic dignity. In fact, actress Mariska Hargitay has a son named August. The name August could also be considered unisex, if you are looking for a unique baby girl name. You could also consider the name Augusta, which is a beautiful English name that means majestic, grand.

More baby names

Top 100 baby names
Famous June birthday baby names
Famous July birthday baby names

Martha and Emeril sued in international knife fight

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Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse are learning the hard way that while they can slice it and dice it like pros, a person who sells knockoff knives might get sued!

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse are wrapped up in an international knife fight going down in the courts. Have the two celebrities been ripping off culinary arts consumers for years?

Cutting to the heart of the matter, the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid believes the pair are guilty of trademark infringement.

The group has sued Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Emeril Lagasseand Home Shopping Network for "up to $2,000,000 for each time the knives were mentioned" on HSN, reports Forbes.

The lawsuit alleges that Martha and Emeril tricked their television viewers into believing the knives had been made in Solingen, Germany, as was inscribed on the blade. The region in northern Germany is called the "City of Blades" and is known for its world-class cutlery — a far cry from China, where the suit claims the knockoff knives were actually manufactured.

Martha Stewart in the middle of J.C. Penney, Macy's legal brawl>>

A customer complaint included in the lawsuit reads:

"I'm disappointed in the video when Emeril stated that the Santoku knife was made in Germany. This is the main reason I made the purchase. Come to find out it is made in China. That is terrible when a top chef lies to you on TV. Wish I would have known. Emeril cannot be trusted with what he advertises."

Predicting the possibility of a massive payout if the customers win the suit, Forbes reports, "That figure will certainly skyrocket, seeing that HSN runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 364 days a year, and reaches approximately 96,000,000 homes."

At up to $2,000,000 for each mention of the knives, we have to agree!

Should Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse be held responsible for where the knives they sold were made?

Image via WENN

See Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' wedding pics (sort of)

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Martha Stewart, you tease. Her magazine's promise of exclusive pictures from Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' wedding is a little disappointing.

Blake Lively in red

The new issue of Martha Stewart Weddings could almost be called a scam. The cover, graced with a picture of Blake Lively's elegant bouquet from her wedding with Ryan Reynolds earlier this year, boasts that more pictures from their wedding are inside. While they're not lying... it's only a half-truth.

Weddings is mostly a magazine full of pictures of bouquets, decorations and food, we concede. However, with each wedding story the magazine tells, you can always expect a few pictures of lovesick brides and beaming flower girls. Except, of course, for the story of Lively and Reynolds' wedding.

If you want to see a picture of Blake's entire wedding dress or of her smiling tearfully at the end of an aisle... you're going to have to look elsewhere.

Amid pictures of lavish desserts and table settings, only one picture can be found of the couple. It's pretty sketchy, though. All you see is a portion of Lively's beautiful lace grown, some of Reynolds' hip, and their two hands clasped together. Worse still, it's not even Lively's ring hand. The photo, taken at sunset, is lovely and artistic... but not the goods we were hoping to score.

Even in the "sneak peek" on Martha's website, the first photo is just a picture of two black paper silhouettes, presumably of the bride and groom. The lack of an actual photo gives the whole thing a creepy, witness protection program vibe.

There are plenty of other pictures to enjoy, though.

For instance, there's a picture of their dessert table. The actual table is a long, rustic dining room table that looks sandblasted, but will no doubt have Pinterest users swooning. What's on the table is simply drool-inducing. From s'mores bars to coffee-and-cream espresso beans, we want to dive into absolutely everything.

While we can't even begin to imagine what a vanilla-and-sour-cream cake with peach apricot preserves and Earl Grey milk chocolate buttercream icing might taste like, we're willing to give it a try. Another nice touch: Nearly all the desserts on the table were from semi-local restaurants near their wedding location, Boone Hall Plantation, in Charleston, South Carolina.

Here's your warning: Don't buy the magazine if all you want are the usual array of pics from a celebrity wedding. If, however, you want to swoon over bouquets and gasp at the nearly limitless dessert options then, by all means, buy a copy and enjoy.

Photo credit: WENN.com

Manti Te'o and other scandalous celebrity frauds

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In 1990, Milli Vanilli pulled the wool over millions of fans' eyes when the duo reached Grammy-winning status before being outed as lip-synchers. Check out Manti Te'o and the bevy of other celebs who have likewise been caught in a web of lies.

Football Pic Notre Dame Manti Te'oManti Te’o

This story has more twists and turns than a game of Candy Land. When Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o lost both his grandmother and his girlfriend in September, the world embraced the broken-hearted athlete’s commitment to honor his lost loved ones. Then, in January, the sports blog Deadspin dropped a bombshell: They could find no evidence of Manti Te’o’s girlfriend, Stanford student Lennay Kekua, having ever existed. In the light of this shocking revelation, details starting surfacing daily — Manti Te’o was the victim of an elaborate hoax perpetrated by Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, during which the con man duped the football star by using friends and family to pose as the imaginary Kekua. The question, which Katie Couric pointedly asked Manti Te’o in his first televised interview since the whole scandal emerged, is this: did he really not know? He maintains his only lie was about meeting the figment of Tuiasosopo’s imagination in person.

Lance Armstrong on Oprah's Next ChapterLance Armstrong

Leave it to Oprah to get Lance Armstrong to finally divulge his dirty little secret — he did, in fact, rely on doping to win seven Tour de France titles. Oh, Lance. Why must you break our hearts so? Obviously, the issue had come up before. After dominating the event the first few years, the press started poking their nose into the possibility of steroid use. Armstrong, however, vehemently denied any such activity. The proverbial sh*t hit the fan when the USADA stripped the cyclist of his titles, based on doping and other improper behavior . He then came clean about riding dirty to Oprah, asserting he didn’t fess up earlier because he didn’t feel like he was cheating. We’re going to hold onto the hope that the fibber was at least telling the truth when he said he didn’t dope after his inspirational comeback from testicular cancer.

James Frey at a BooksigningJames Frey

Oprah may have gotten Lance Armstrong to admit he doped, but the queen of talk didn’t realize when she interviewed James Frey in 2006 that she was being duped. Frey landed on Winfrey’s radar after she read his alleged autobiography, A Million Little Pieces. When she selected it for her book club, people flocked to their nearest Barnes & Noble or neighborhood bookstore to pick up a copy. Soon, a bestseller was born. At the pinnacle of the book’s popularity, Winfrey had Frey on her show to talk about the hardships he chronicled in the tome but, sadly, it was soon revealed that most of the book was fabricated. Woe to the man who p*sses off Oprah, though — she had him on the show again to call him out on his betrayal and dishonesty, to which he replied that “demons” made him do it. Umm... uh huh.

Former President Bill ClintonBill Clinton

I don’t think anyone will soon forget the response from former President Bill Clinton when asked about his alleged affair with Monica Lewinsky. Now one of the most famous lines in modern politics — “I did not have sexual relations with that woman — ”will go down in history. But, as it turns out, not only did he have sexual relations with Lewinsky, but Bill got his thrills in some lewd and lascivious ways . And since the ol’ Arkansas boy did his fibbing under oath, he earned himself a place in the books as the second president to be impeached by the House of Representatives. Oddly enough, his sex scandal did little harm to his wellbeing — he probably gets paid more for speaking gigs these days than Paris Hilton.

Other famous faces whose white lies had us seeing red: 

Pete Rose on the Set of Extra
Pete Rose
Although Rose initially denied betting on baseball while he played for and managed the Reds, he eventually spilled the beans via an autiobiography.
Martha Stewart at a Nars Launch
Martha Stewart
When asked if she cashed out stock after a tip-off, Stewart infamously stated, "I just want to focus on my salad." She had plenty of time to do so — while under arrest.
Brandy at the American Music Awards
Brandy
The boy is... not mine? At 22, Brandy and her boyfriend pretended to be husband and wife on her reality show. She later admitted the duo never made it down the aisle.
Britney Spears on the X-Factor
Britney Spears
During the glory days when Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake dated, she purported she was a virgin. Alas, JT burst that bubble when he told the world the pair had porked.
Chris Brown at the American Music Awards
Chris Brown
He knocked then girlfriend Rihanna around after the MTV Video Music Awards, but he originally denied any rough-housing. His excuse? He didn't remember the incident.
Tiger Woods on the PGA Tour in Georgia
Tiger Woods
There was a time when the entire world was starry-eyed over Tiger Woods. Then there was that other time we found he was a pathological liar and cheater. Boooo.

More celebrity scandals

Is Rachael Ray's husband a swinger?
Lance Armstrong "deserves to lose everything"
A 2012 timeline of Lindsay Lohan scandals

Images courtesy of: WENN.com , WENN.com , Michael Carpenter/WENN.com , WENN.com , Josiah True/WENN.com , Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com , Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com , Bridow/WENN.com , Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com , Vern Verna/Ai-Wire/WENN.com

Essential tips every baker needs to know

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When baking, it’s the little things that make all the difference. Everything from the tools you use to the brands you choose will affect the end result. To ensure your next baking adventure turns out a success, we’ve rounded up the best of the best of baking tips – including some from Martha Stewart – to share with you today!
Woman baking cookies and cupcakes

Including tips from Martha Stewart!

When baking, it's the little things that make all the difference. Everything from the tools you use to the brands you choose will affect the end result. To ensure your next baking adventure turns out a success, we've rounded up the best of the best of baking tips – including some from Martha Stewart – to share with you today!

In order to be the best baker on the block, it's important to not only follow the recipe exactly, but also know how to measure ingredients properly, place pans in the oven correctly and more. Essentially, there are some tips and tricks of the trade that every baker should know before volunteering to make dessert or even a batch of cookies. One thing's for sure — dessert shouldn't just be good, it should be great.

Let's start with the tools…Rolling pin

Obviously, in order to bake, you need cookie sheets, cake pans and measuring cups. But there are some other essential tools you'll need to invest in to make your life a little easier:

  • A rolling pin. Invest in a good one — one that will keep your dough from sticking to the pin. This helps you avoid using too much flour, which can sacrifice the taste of the dough.
  • A sharp, high-quality knife. We know, you're not carving a turkey here, but you may need to slice a bunch of fruit for a pie or chop chocolate. A high-quality knife allows for a more beautiful presentation.
  • A sifter. Sifters are used for lightening flour after it's sat awhile, removing any clumps and mixing dry ingredients together. If a recipe calls for sifting, it's best not to skip this step, even though it seems minor. The pastry will wind up fluffier if you've sifted.

Essential tools by Martha Stewart

Martha says…"Baking and decorating a great cake starts with having all the right tools," such as:

  • Parchment paper. Provides many uses, including lining pans, practicing piping and making cornets, parchment paper should be in every baker's kitchen.
  • An oven thermometer. This is used for gauging the accuracy of your oven. We love this tip, as oven temperatures can vary significantly from one oven to the next. It's always best to be precise when baking.
  • Toothpicks. Who knew you needed toothpicks when baking?! According to Martha, toothpicks are used "for marking cakes to split evenly and tinting icing with food coloring." Nice!
"Since baking is a science, too much or too little of any one ingredient can throw off the balance of a cake recipe."

A little on measuring…

We all know it's critical to follow the recipe exactly when baking, but if you don't know how to properly measure ingredients, how will you know if you're following it exactly? To make sure you measure correctly, follow these crucial tips:

  • Use dry measuring cups for dry ingredients and a liquid measuring cup for liquid ingredients. This makes a huge difference when talking accuracy.
  • Pack brown sugar firmly into the measuring cup and level off with a knife. When you place it into the bowl, it should retain the shape of the cup.
  • When measuring liquids, place liquid measuring cup on a flat surface to guarantee accuracy. Pour into bowl and scrape the liquid cup with a spatula to get any excess ingredients out.

Essential measuring tips by Martha Stewart

Measuring cups

Martha says… "Since baking is a science, too much or too little of any one ingredient can throw off the balance of a cake recipe." She recommends:

  • Using stainless steel graduated cups for measuring dry ingredients.
  • Always measuring flour correctly.
  • Storing dry ingredients in wide-mouthed canisters for neat and easy measuring. Place measuring cup in canister and lift up one large, overflowing scoop. Level off with straightedge knife, scraping excess back into canister.

Cakes & CupcakesFor more fabulous baking tips from Martha Stewart, be sure to check out The Best of Martha Stewart: Cakes and Cupcakes. Here, she shares more than 50 recipes for her most beautifully decorated desserts and provides detailed tips and instructions on how you can make your own creations look just like hers! Available now through May 13.

More baking tips

Simple baking tips
Tips for baking with kids
How to bake a flat cake and other tips

Photo credit: Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.

Celebrities speak out on gay marriage

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Gay marriage has become a trending topic this week, with the Supreme Court hearing arguments on Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act. As many took to Twitter and Facebook to share their opinions, so did celebrities. Here is what they have to say!

Beyonce

When the Human Rights Campaign made its Red Equals sign, the logo went viral Tuesday morning on all social networks. It was difficult to escape it on Facebook as the red sign continued to catch fire, being used as profile pictures and conversation starters. Beyonce took the color red and ran with it as well. She posted a photo on her Facebook page saying,

"If you like it, you should be able to put a ring on it. We will unite for marriage equality!"

Rascal Flatts

Rascal Flatts

The country band talked about reactions to their song, "Love Who You Love."

"We actually have some gay people that work with us, and we have a lot of friends that are gay, too, and I know that this song has inspired them... I know that coming out was tough on their parents and on them and the whole entire family. For a long time, some of them didn't get to hear 'I love you' from their dads or be accepted in that way. ... It's helped a lot of our friends... We don't judge anybody's lives."

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart

The television icon also had her own take on the logo and posted a picture of red velvet cake on her Facebook page with the caption,

"Equality is truly sweet."

Kristin Chenoweth

Kristin Chenoweth

The Broadway legend has been vocal about her support for gay marriage as a Christian woman.

"Make no mistake — I am a Christian and I believe in God and I don't believe he makes mistakes, so I believe that being gay is not a sin and in fact it's how you're made."

If you like it, you should be able to put a ring on it. We will unite for marriage equality!

Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood

"As a married person myself, I don't know what it's like to be told I can't marry somebody I love, and want to marry... I can't imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love."

Pink

P!nk

"I think that the best day will be when we no longer talk about being gay or straight — it's not a 'gay wedding,' it's just a 'wedding'… It's not a ‘gay marriage,' it's just 'a marriage.' It's not a 'black man' or ‘white woman,' it's just 'a man' and 'a woman,' or 'a human' and 'a human.' I'd just like to get to that."

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington

"People don't think about the fact that when Barack Obama's parents had him, it was illegal for them to be married in several states in this country. So if we start making it OK that certain people can marry and other people can't, it's a slippery slope of civil rights."

Kirk Cameron

Kirk Cameron

"Marriage was defined by God a long time ago. Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve — one man, one woman for life till death do you part. So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage. And I don't think anyone else should either. So do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don't."

Make no mistake — I am a Christian and I believe in God and I don't believe he makes mistakes.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway

The Oscar-winning actress spoke out about gay marriage when she accepted an award at a dinner hosted by the Human Rights Campaign.

"There are people who have said that I'm being brave for being openly supportive of gay marriage, gay adoption, basically of gay rights, but with all due respect, I humbly dissent, I'm not being brave, I'm being a decent human being. And I don't think I should receive an award for that or for merely stating what I believe to be true, that love is a human experience not a political statement. However, I acknowledge that sadly we live in a world where not everybody feels the same. My family and I will help the good fight continue until that long awaited moment arrives, when our rights are equal and when the political limits on love have been smashed."

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga

"I feel the denial of gay marriage sends a prejudice message. Our youth deserve a fair and hopeful future with government that values us equally."

More on gay marriage

Christian Carrie Underwood supports gay marriage
Hillary Clinton records video showing support for gay marriage
Carly Rae Jepsen cancels Boy Scouts appearance

Photo credits: Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com, Nikki Nelson/WENN.com, Joseph Marzullo/WENN.com, Dan Jackman/WENN.com, WENN.com, FayesVision/WENN.com, FayesVision/WENN.com, Rachel Worth/WENN.com, Apega/WENN.com, Anthony Dixon/WENN.com

Martha Stewart joins Match.com

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The 71-year-old domestic goddess is single and looking to mingle. And like everyone else you know, she's looking online for Mr. Right.
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