Quick Takes: Museums open their doors to military

Museums free for troops

The National Endowment for the Arts has helped organize a summer-long program called Blue Star Museums that will offer free museum admission to active-duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day “to show their appreciation for those who are serving this nation.”

The Los Angeles art museums set to participate in the program are the UCLA Hammer Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Others that include art as part of a larger program are the Autry National Center of the American West and the Japanese American National Museum. The Getty’s two museums are already free.

The effort has been coordinated with Blue Star Families, a support organization “by military families for military families,” and 600 U.S. museums of all kinds and in all 50 states have signed on.

—Christopher Knight

Aguilera tour postponed

Christina Aguilera, who was set to tour this summer in support of her new album, “Bionic,” alongside Leona Lewis, has pushed back the outings for a year.

In a statement Monday from Live Nation, Aguilera announced that the summer tour has been moved to 2011 because of commitments she had to make for promoting the album, set to hit stores June 4, and her upcoming film debut, “Burlesque,” which is slated for a November release and costars Cher.

“The singer felt she needed more time to rehearse the show, and with less than a month between the album release and tour date, this wasn’t possible,” the statement said.

Refunds for tickets to Aguilera’s Aug. 19 show at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine are available at point of purchase.

—Gerrick D. Kennedy

Bret Michaels soldiers on

Bret Michaels says he’s not 100% healthy but is looking forward to going back on the road and performing.

Despite life-threatening illness, the 47-year-old rocker appeared on the season finale of “The Celebrity Apprentice” Sunday night and was rewarded with $250,000 for charity.

The Poison frontman’s appearance had been in question after he suffered a brain hemorrhage in April and was hospitalized recently after what doctors called a warning stroke. He faces surgery for a hole in his heart.

In an appearance Monday on NBC’s “Today” show, Michaels said that despite the problems, he’s going “to do a show and see how it goes.”

—associated press

Gershwin Prize to McCartney

Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Jack White, Jerry Seinfeld, the Jonas Brothers and other musicians will pay tribute to Paul McCartney at the White House on June 2 when the ex-Beatle is feted as the latest recipient of the Library of Congress George Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

The performance will be hosted by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama and also will include performances by Faith Hill, Herbie Hancock, Corinne Bailey Rae, Dave Grohl and McCartney himself during a presentation that will be recorded for airing July 28 on PBS stations.

McCartney is the third recipient of the Gershwin prize since its inception in 2007 to recognize “the profound and positive effect of popular music on the world’s culture.” He follows Paul Simon and Wonder as the first two honorees.

—Randy Lewis

Rip Torn clears DUI charge

A judge has dismissed a drunken-driving charge against Rip Torn after the Emmy-winning actor completed a court-ordered alcohol education program.

Torn was arrested in December 2008 near his home in Salisbury, Conn. He was stopped while driving in the breakdown lane with a Christmas tree tied atop his car.

A judge dismissed the charge Friday because Torn completed a program that gives drunken-driving defendants a chance to clear their records. But another case is pending against the 79-year-old: charges that he broke into a bank in January while intoxicated and armed.

—associated press

Finally

Sing on: Before even finishing its freshman season, Fox’s hit show “Glee” has received a pickup through its third season, the network said Monday.

Tony host: Sean Hayes, the former “Will & Grace” star who is on Broadway in a revival of “Promises, Promises,” will be the host of the Tony Awards June 13.