Scientologists John Travolta And Kelly Preston To Be Interviewed At Shriver's Women's Conference - Page 5
Laurie Goldberg, a spokeswoman for the TLC show, declined to comment about Gosselin's decision to attend Shriver's forum.
The show is on hiatus until Aug. 3 so the family can "regroup," according to the network. When it returns this fall, Jon Gosselin has said the show will portray the couple's new arrangement, in which the children live at the couple's sprawling Pennsylvania home while the parents alternate their stays.
Shriver's conference, to be held Oct. 26-27 in Long Beach, has become an annual showcase of women's issues and success stories.
This year's guest list includes well-known women from the world of politics, sports and entertainment, including Olympic swimming champion Dara Torres and race car driver Danica Patrick.
Preston has agreed to be interviewed for the first time about the deathofher16-year-old son with husband John Travolta. Both actors have kept low profiles since Jett Travolta died following a seizure in January.
Shriver said she will interview Preston as part of a panel on grief, along with Elizabeth Edwards and actress Susan Saint James, whose teenage sons were killed in accidents. The panel will be the only session not broadcast on the Internet.
"All three of them lost sons. All are at different stages of the grief," Shriver said.
The women's conference began 20 years ago under former Gov. George Deukmejian to help female small-business owners. Shriver has turned it into a star-studded affair and her signature event as first lady.
Past guests have included exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, U2 frontman Bono, financial guru Suze Orman and Martha Stewart.
The event also has drawn controversy. In 2004, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was criticized after he mocked nurses who unveiled a protest banner during his speech, prompting him to remark that special interests didn't like him "because I'm always kicking their butts." He later acknowledged that he should not have made the comment.
Schwarzenegger, who as governor has struggled to win approval for many of his reforms, also is scheduled to speak at this year's conference, titled "Architects of Change." Shriver said her husband many politicians, business owners and nonprofit groups, are facing tough challenges trying to deal with a national recession.
"There isn't a policy leader in this country at any level that isn't having a challenging time," Shriver said. "To single out Arnold as having a challenging time is not factually correct."
Tickets for the main forum range from $125 to $200 and go on sale July 13.
Associated Press Writer Juliet Williams contributed to this story.
Now a bit off topic, but.....I would kick myself if I didn't mention that Kate Gosselin was also asked to be part of the conference.
What was Maria thinking? She invited Gosselin to the conference because her kids watched the show? WTF? Who's next the Jonas Brothers?
What on earth can Kate Gosselin possibly contribute to a Women's conference? This women who was a complete nobody, who took fertility drugs, had a litter of kids, and then exploited the hell out of them on TV, bitched at everyone in her path, turned into a veritable MONSTER mom, and then lost her spineless husband that she nagged away in the holy grail of all hot messes. Out of all the wonderful and noble women she could have picked from she picks Gosselin? Her choice is very disappointing to say the least, and I am sure she will catch some flack about it.
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