Lawrence.com

Fender receives daughter's kidney

San Antonio � Musician Freddy Fender had successful kidney transplant surgery, with his daughter providing the necessary organ for the award-winning singer and songwriter.

The two-hour procedure was performed Thursday at University Hospital in San Antonio. Fender, 64, who is nominated for a Grammy this year, was in stable condition.

Marla Huerta Garcia of Jacksonville, Fla., Fender's 21-year-old daughter, had one of her kidneys removed earlier in the day to donate to her father, who had been undergoing kidney dialysis for more than a year. Garcia was in good condition Thursday. She was expected to be released in a day or two.

Fender, expected to remain in the hospital for a week, has diabetes, which could be responsible for his kidney failure.

Not so wonderful world for Stevie

Los Angeles � A Superior Court judge has ordered mediation in the $30 million palimony lawsuit filed against Stevie Wonder by an ex-girlfriend who also accuses the singer of giving her a sexually transmitted disease.

Angela McAfee filed the suit in October, claiming the singer-songwriter promised to support her for life. In court documents, she charges that Wonder gave her herpes, a claim Wonder's attorney denied.

In a countersuit, the 51-year-old Wonder accused McAfee of taking more than $160,000 worth of property after the couple split last year.

Judge Emilie Elias ordered the two on Thursday to try to settle things out of court.

Birth bittersweet for 9-11 widow

Trenton, N.J. � The widow of Flight 93 hero Todd Beamer said the birth of their daughter earlier this month was a bittersweet moment, but the labor went so quickly that there was little time to be emotional.

Lisa Beamer is the widow of Todd Beamer, who cried, "Let's roll!" as passengers prepared to confront hijackers on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania on Sept. 11.

She gave birth to Morgan Kay on Jan. 9 at Princeton Medical Center. Her husband's older sister was with her during the birth, which Lisa Beamer said went well.

"(Morgan Kay) looks so much like Todd and ... obviously it was a very bittersweet moment," Lisa Beamer said on CNN's Larry King Live Thursday night. "But I'd say probably more sweet than bitter."

That's Dr. Loretta Lynn to you

Lexington, Ky. � The Coal Miner's Daughter soon will receive a new moniker � Dr. Loretta Lynn.

The University of Kentucky's board of trustees has approved an honorary doctorate for the country singer and Johnson County, Ky., native.

Lynn, 66, will receive the honorary doctorate in arts at a ceremony during the Society for American Music's 28th annual meeting March 6-10 on the university's Lexington campus.