Afternoon Greg: Marie Osmond: “So what if my daughter is gay?” Natalie Cole recovering; Jane Lynch on “Glee”

This is ladies day it seems. Wanted to share with you three items on some real showbiz survivors as you still try and process Adam Lambert’s American Idol loss or wonder if Dick Cheney is ever going to stop talking.

AT LAST, GAY OSMOND: With that many kids and grandkids, somebody had to be gay, right? I always thought it was Jimmy and hoped it was Donny. But it turns out, at least in the confirmed category, that Marie’s daughter, Jessica, is a lesbian.

Marie made headlines when she discussed her daughter on a radio show but elaborated this week in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.

“I love my daughter! She’s my baby girl, come on,” she said. “So what if she’s gay? She’s my daughter and she’s an amazing woman and a good kid. I raised her, she better be good.”

She said her Mormon faith does not keep her from loving her daughter as she is.

“I think it’s sad when we have to separate something from society. Whether it’s, ‘Oh you’re Jewish,’ and then it was ‘Oh you’re a Mormon,’ or ‘Oh you’re gay.’ I love real people,” Marie said. “A lot of women out there have gay children. Who cares? I want love. I’m a Christian and Christ loved everybody.”

Well said Marie. I am curious to know Marie’s thoughts on if Jessica wanted to get married.

NATALIE COLE HEALTH UPDATE: When I saw Natalie Cole at the Grammy Awards in February (she won her ninth!), she was alarmingly thin! She had been undergoing kidney dialysis three times a week and continued to perform and promote her album Still Unforgettable, an album of standards what was a follow-up to her 1991 effort, Unforgettable, which featured a duet with her dad, Nat King Cole.

Well, Natalie had a successful kidney transplant this week and is now recovering. I hope all continues to go well for this great star. You now, she may have had drug problems in the 70s and for part of the 80s, but for the past 20 years or so, Natalie has been an exemplary star. She is down-to-Earth, extremely professional, and a role model to those young singers trying to find their way.

She has proven that you can get your act together.

JANE IS GLEEFUL: The PopWrap blog caught up with the cast of Glee following a live performance this week including the great Jane Lynch who plays Sue Sylvester, the tough-as-nails cheerleading coach:

I caught up with the cast following a live performance yesterday to get their take on this tremendous new show and find out what fans should prepare their ears — and iPods — for in upcoming episodes!

PopWrap: Why “Glee”?
Jane: The character of Sue. She’s pure evil and doesn’t hide it. She says exactly what she’s thinking, doesn’t pretend to be a good person — why bother? I love the contrast between her and the kids, who are pure in their desire to excel — and I just crush their spirits!
PW: Can you sing?
Jane: I loved choir [in high school]. That was when I was the happiest. It was last period, so most people would go home and we’d sing.
PW: Does Sue get a chance to sing?
Jane: I don’t know. I hope so. We’re filming episode eight right now and so far I haven’t.
PW: What’s your favorite “Sue-ism?”
Jane: The one I loved saying was, “your resentment is delicious.”