Ellen DeGeneres's Beverly Hills mansion sells for $49 to Ryan Seacrest

The 'American Idol' host - who is dating 'Rock of Ages' star Julianne Hough - is thought to have paid within a few million dollars of the massive asking price with the deal agreed and set to close this week, according to gossip website TMZ.com.

Ellen - who spent one season on the judging panel of 'American Idol' - and Portia have sold the property at a loss after spending $48 million assembling the huge estate.

They bought the $30 million 9,500-square-foot single-story house and spent millions more on the surrounding properties, before beginning extensive renovation work.

The home sits on 2.87 acres just off Coldwater Canyon - near the Santa Monica Mountains - behind gates on its own street and also includes two guesthouses totaling 15,000 square feet, a three bedroom house, and according to official listings "every conceivable amenity and state-of the-art security".

Portia previously revealed the pair fell in love with the property - which previously belonged at different times to Laurence Harvey, Joan Collins and 'Will & Grace' co-creator Max Mutchnick - when they went to watch a screening of Ryan's show 'American Idol'.

She told Architectural Digest: "We'd heard how beautiful it was and then we came over to watch 'American Idol'. We pulled into the driveway and we just knew before we even walked through the gate."

Lady Gaga, Ellen DeGeneres & Jane Lynch commend Obama on his support of gay marriage

Lady Gaga & President Obama

President Obama's endorsement of gay marriage led to a massive response on twitter with many gay and lesbian stars as well as LGBT campaigners posting their thanks.

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres tweeted: "Thank you President @BarackObama for your beautiful and brave words. I'm overwhelmed."

While Chris Colfer retweeted Ellen's comment and added his own words of praise.

His 'Glee' colleague Jane Lynch said: "Pretty darn happy today. Thanks Mr President, for supporting the dignity of my family and so many others!"

'Born This Way' singer Lady GaGa added: "Obama, congratulations on being the first sitting President to support marriage equality. Feels like the future, and not the past. #NoFear"


The US President revealed in an interview on Wednesday that he had changed his mind about same-sex couples legally committing.

In an interview with ABC News he said: "There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we're talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn't dawn on them that somehow their friends' parents would be treated differently.

"It doesn't make sense to them and frankly, that's the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective."

Could JC Penney’s fire Ellen DeGeneres for being 'openly gay'? - VIDEO

Ellen DeGeneres

A group called OneMillionMoms.com has called for Ellen DeGeneres to be axed from her new JC Penney spokesperson role, only weeks after she was appointed.

The group, which is a project of the American Family Association, told it’s readers to petition against the talk show host being named the new spokeswoman for the department store, as she is openly gay.

“Funny that JC Penney thinks hiring an open homosexual spokesperson will help their business when most of their customers are traditional families,” reads a statement on the sites official website.

“DeGeneres is not a true representation of the type of families that shop at their store. The majority of JC Penney shoppers will be offended and choose to no longer shop there,” the statement warned.

“Ask JC Penney to replace Ellen DeGeneres as their new spokesperson immediately and remain neutral in the culture war,” it advised supporters.

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Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (Glaad) came out in defense of the bigotry.
“While designated hate groups try to start ‘culture wars,’ it’s clear that a vast majority of Americans today support Ellen as well as their LGBT friends and family members,” Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs and Communications said in a statement.

“Selecting an out performer who has inspired and entertained millions, is not only a smart business practice, but a reflection of how LGBT Americans today are an integral and valued part of the fabric of our culture.”

Speaking about her new role last month, DeGeneres revealed to her audience that it was not the first time she has worked for the department store.

“One of my first jobs ever was working at the JC Penney in Louisiana in ladies’ apparel. It was the 70s so if you were looking for tube tops or flared trousers then I was your girl.

“This is a full circle moment because I am excited to announce my partnership with JC Penney,' she said.

She added: “And most importantly, I'm gonna get my employee discount again. Hello new pillows!”

JC Penney CEO, former Apple executive Ron Johnson, explained why the company chose DeGeneres to the Associated Press: “I think Ellen is someone we all trust. She's lovable, likable, honest and funny, but at her soul, we trust her”.

Here's E!'s report:

Melissa McCarthy starstruck by Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Meryl Streep - VIDEOS

Melissa McCarthy

The always endearing Melissa McCarthy stopped by Ellen DeGeneres’ show ‘Ellen’ yesterday and chatted about her her star-struck meetings with Hollywood A-listers like Brad and Angelina, and Meryl Streep. The Irish American actress also shared her disbelief in finding out that she had been nominated for an Oscar for her hilarious role in this summer’s hit ‘Bridesmaids.’

While meeting with the gorgeous Hollywood duo Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, McCarthy admits to being a little overwhelmed by the power couple. “They're so nice and chatty and really bubbly. Finally, I got a little weird and I was like, 'You have to stop for a minute because it's a lot visually to take in,” said McCarthy.

“They just kind of laughed. I said, 'no really. It is a lot visually to take in.' She's like weirdly glowing. She's so beautiful. He's kind of cute too. And then I was like, 'Okay, I'm sorry.' I needed to like regroup because they're kind of of a lot."
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And, as if meeting the famed Brangelina wasn’t enough, McCarthy ran into another superstar, one that’s she’s always dreamed of meeting.

"As I'm talking to them somebody is pulling on my hand and I hear, 'Melissa, Melissa.' And I turned around and she said, 'Hi, I'm Meryl.’ Literally like my brain snapped in two. And then I really didn't know what to say. I just kept going 'Oh my God. You're Meryl Streep!' And she was chatting like a normal human being.”

McCarthy also shared with Ellen the disbelief she found herself in when she found out earlier this week that she had been nominated for an Academy Award for her role in ‘Bridesmaids.’

“I never expected anything,” said McCarthy of receiving the coveted nomination.

“I got real weird. I just kept saying ‘What are you watching, what are you watching?’” said McCarthy of her and husband watching the live presentation of the Oscar nominations.

“It’s a different show! It’s a different show!” said a very confused and shocked McCarthy after hearing her name announced for Best Supporting Actress.

Melissa talking with Ellen about meeting Brad, Angelina and Meryl:



Melissa talking with Ellen about finding out she had been nominated:

Lindsay Lohan will debut her nude Playboy pictures on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’

Linsday Lohan in her 'Playboy' shoot

The troubled actress – who appears naked in a Marilyn Monroe-inspired spread in the men’s magazine’s January and February issue – has chosen the US chat show host above all other media outlets to get the first sneak peek of the shoot.

A representative for Playboy magazine – which reportedly paid the 25-year-old star $1 million for the pictures – said: “Lindsay has agreed to do one media interview during the on-sale period of her issue, and has chosen Ellen. Lindsay will not be doing any additional interviews to promote her pictorial."
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Playboy boss Hugh Hefner recently explained the pictures of Lindsay - who was released from jail yesterday after serving just four-and-a half hours of a 30-day sentence – are a “classic tribute” to Marilyn Monroe.

He said: "It's a classic tribute inspired by the original Tom Kelly nude pictorial of Marilyn Monroe, a portion of which was the original playmate in the very first issue of Playboy. Oh, yes, she's naked. And classy, very classy."

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are set to buy Brad Pitt's Malibu home

Porita De Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres

The couple have just put their $49 million Beverly Hills compound on the market as they want to buy something smaller. So they now have their eyes on the actor's $14 million property, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

The property consists of two separate houses, a pool, a tennis court and expansive lush gardens.
The sprawling 4,100 square foot estate also has private beach access and is set back off the Pacific Coast Highway by a long private driveway.

The main house has four bedrooms and four baths, a large chefs kitchen with stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, three fire places and a top of the range security system.

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Brad – who also has homes in Los Angeles, New Orleans, France and Italy with partner Angelina Jolie – put the house on the market earlier this year and at one point Reese Witherspoon was keen on purchasing it.

Ellen and Portia put their Beverly Hills mansion up for sale last month although they will make a loss on the property.

The talk show host and her actress spouse spent $48 million assembling the huge estate - including buying the $30 million 9,500-square-foot single-story house and spending millions more on the surrounding properties - before beginning extensive renovation work but listed the compound for $49 million.

Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi and Chrissie Hynde invest in vegan eatery

Portia de Rossi and her wife Ellen DeGeneres

The chat show host and her wife Portia de Rossi have joined The Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde and film producer Steve Bing in investing in the eatery.

The menu will be created by celebrity chef Tal Ronnen – who prepared Ellen and Portia's wedding menu - and the restaurant's interior design will be designed by Waldo Fernandez, who has decorated homes for stars including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and Tobey Maguire. The name of the restaurant has yet to be revealed.

Earlier this year Ellen also launched a diet advice webpage, 'Going Vegan with Ellen', with recipes and resources to help users adopt an animal free diet.

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Ellen is also juggling her new restaurant plans with the latest series of her self-titled TV show, which she says she continues to work on in the hope of making people "feel good" about themselves and others.

She told Parade magazine: "I think we’ll get a new audience that maybe didn’t watch me because they only watched 'Oprah', and they have a void now. But it’s the same goal whether we have 10 people or 10 million people watching. If we adjust in any way, it’s so we can top ourselves."

On the message she hopes to promote with his show she added: "The world is filled with negativity. I want people to watch me and think, ‘I feel good, and I’m going to make somebody else feel good today.’”

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi selling their $49 million Beverly Hills mansion

Portia and Ellen

The talk show host and her actress spouse spent $48 million assembling the huge estate - including buying the $30 million 9,500-square-foot single-story house and spending millions more on the surrounding properties – before beginning extensive renovation work but have now listed the compound for $49 million.

The home sits on 2.87 acres just off Coldwater Canyon - near the Santa Monica Mountains - behind gates on its own street and also includes two guesthouses totalling 15,000 square feet, a three bedroom house, and according to official listings "every conceivable amenity and state-of the-art security".

Portia revealed the pair fell in love with the property – which previously belonged at different times to Laurence Harvey, Joan Collins and 'Will & Grace' co-creator Max Mutchnick.

She told Architectural Digest: "We'd heard how beautiful it was and then we came over to watch 'American Idol'. We pulled into the driveway and we just knew before we even walked through the gate."

The couple have recently sold a $16 million Hidden Valley compound and although Ellen can't remember how many homes she has bought and sold over the years, she says her love of renovation came from her father, who could never afford to buy his own home.

She said: "We never had a house when I was growing up. We always rented. But my father would dream, and we used to look at houses all the time. The first thing I did when I made money was buy a house."

Ellen DeGeneres called paramedics after experiencing chest pains

Ellen DeGeneres

The 53-year-old talk show host was suffering from discomfort all evening on Sunday, and when the pain continued into the next day she called the ambulance service.

Within minutes paramedics arrived at the Warner Bros. studios in Los Angeles where she records her series and also a crew from the Burbank Fire Department.

Speaking in a segment which will be aired on the 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' today, she said: "What happened was last night I was having chest pains. So this morning the paramedics came to look at me.
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"First of all, I'm fine … I woke up in the middle of the night. I was feeling like a tightness of my chest and all the scary things ... like something was heavy on my chest and it was a cat so I moved it. I still felt the tightness and heaviness so there was another cat under that cat. There were two cats on my chest.

"Then I got to work and it was still happening. I was still feeling the pains. So I was like, 'You know, I should check this out. It's better to be safe than sorry. Who doesn't want to see a fireman occasionally? …

We called the paramedics here on the Warner Bros. lot and about 50 trucks and ambulances, like one marching band short of a parade showed up outside of my office. Then they come in with an axe. Break the door down. It was open. I don't know why they did that. They came in, they asked me all the questions, 'How are you feeling? When did it start? Family history? … All the questions that they would ask but everything is fine."

Ellen – who is married to Portia de Rossi – has also thanked the paramedics for being so attentive and joked she has a particularly strong heart.

She said: "I have a baboon heart that I had put in earlier … It's not true. But I want to say thank you to all the paramedics and the nurses who showed up and everybody for caring so much … I appreciate it."

Ellen DeGeneres was a parent to her own mom - kicked 'horrible' boyfriends out of the house

Ellen DeGeneres

The talk show host was 13 when her parents split after almost 20 years of marriage and she admits she took on the parental role with her mum and had to get rid of some of the "horrible men" who came into the lives.

She told Good Housekeeping magazine: "My mom had some really bad things happen in her life, and she’s a trouper. She’s tougher than I am, I’d say. When my parents divorced, it was my mother and me, by ourselves in an apartment. At that point, we kind of became roommates. I was 13 years old. She’d been married for almost 20 years, and I watched her go through a tough time, trying to date, trying to figure things out.
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"She dated some horrible men whom I had to kick out of the house. So, at 13, I kind of became an adult and was taking care of her … watching her struggle. It made me go, 'Oh, you’re my mom, but you’re just a human being.' I saw her in a different role all of a sudden.”

While her childhood wasn't always idyllic, Ellen – who is married to actress Portia de Rossi – says she's never been happier than she is now.

The 53-year-old revealed: "Well, I’m definitely happier than I’ve ever been. I assume tomorrow I’ll be happier than today, because things are great. I have a great career and I have wonderful fans who really are supportive and loyal - because I’m not hiding anything from them. So, on the spectrum of happiness, I’m pretty high up there."