Celine Dion’s sons baptized in Vegas
With the doctors who delivered them among 200 VIPs on hand, the twin sons of Celine Dion were christened in Las Vegas on Saturday.
After the baptism at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Summerlin, a private reception was held for 4½-month-old Nelson and Eddy Angelil in the Garden of the Gods pool at Caesars Palace. Oldest son Rene-Charles, 10, served as one of the three godfathers.
Their father, Rene Angelil, confirmed a Twitter report by Vegas Confidential and provided the first details, including news that Dion's first rehearsal will be held today in front of 4,000 employees, cabdrivers and local concierges.
He said the guests included the Rev. Monsignor Kevin McAuliffe, pastor at the church, and Monsignor John Feraz of Lebanon, Celine's Dr. Zev Rosenwaks, who did the in vitro fertilization that produced the three sons; Florida delivery Drs. Ruel Stoessel and Ronald Ackerman and the half dozen doctors who treated Rene Angelil's throat cancer about 12 years ago.
Dion's family members were there as well as Angelil's.
The christening was held in Las Vegas because of the family's long ties here, Angelil said.
"Our son grew up here from age 1 to age 7 and we've had a home here" since 2003, he said.
The reception was held under sunny conditions, with temperatures reaching 70.
Joining Rene-Charles as godfathers were Angelil's sons Patrick and Jean-Pierre. Angelil's daughter, Anne-Marie Angelil, and Celine's sister, Linda, were godmothers.
DANICA'S DAY OF REDEMPTION
It wasn't a good day for Danica Patrick doubters and haters.
Only weeks into her second NASCAR season, Patrick made history Saturday with a fourth-place finish in the Sam's Town 300, making her the highest-finishing woman in NASCAR history.
The milestone finish left her critics eating crow.
One of her loudest naysayers, NASCAR blogger Jeff Gluck of SBNation.com manned up quickly, saying he was wrong.
"Since even IndyCar champions Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr. couldn't succeed in NASCAR," Gluck wrote, "I figured all along that Danica would be an even bigger flop."
A Danica basher, who goes by @GoBuschBoys on Twitter, congratulated winner Mark Martin in a tweet but added he was so "totally disappointed in this race world coming too when Danica (ho) Patrick can finish 4th, yuk."
Keeping it classy, he added, "she sells her body on everything she does," a reference to her racy GoDaddy.com commercials
Veteran Kenny Wallace, who scored his second Top 10 finish with 10th place Saturday, sent a congratulatory tweet to Patrick, saying she "CAN DRIVE a race car! She is the REAL DEAL."
SIGHTINGS
Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, courtside Friday at the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena ... Actor Don Cheadle, dining at Spago at the Forum shops on Friday. ... Spotted at Saturday's tribute for Rao's host Robert "Bubbles" Ubriaco at St. Anne Catholic Church: Caesars Palace president Gary Selesner, who had attended the baptism of Celine Dion's twins earlier; CNN senior White House correspondent Ed Henry and his wife, Shirley, a CNN producer; comedian Bobby Slayton, Rao's owner Frank Pellegrino Jr. and Antoinette Giancana, daughter of slain Chicago Mafia boss Sam Giancana. Henry and Slayton were among the speakers. Ubriaco, a larger-than-life legend, died in January.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Charlie Sheen is on every show, except the one he should be on: 'Celebrity Rehab.' " -- Jay Leno
Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
