New York offers tours with celebs

A volunteer tour organization called Big Apple Greeters is offering free tours in New York led by celebrities. Former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber and “Sopranos” star Dominic Chianese were at City Hall on Wednesday to advertise their services.

Barber says he showed a Colorado couple around town and had lunch with them at one of his favorite spots.

Chianese says he wants to show visitors a good time.

Organizers say celeb hosts will be randomly assigned.
Witching hour delivers

Warner Bros. says “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” took in $22.2 million from midnight screenings in the U.S. That breaks the record set by “The Dark Knight,” which grossed $18.5 million from midnight showings last summer.

The sixth “Harry Potter” installment also topped the midnight haul of this year’s “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” which pulled in $16 million on its first day in June.
Obamas to hear stars

Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss will play a high-profile gig at the White House.

Paisley’s spokeswoman said that he and Krauss, who had a hit duet with “Whiskey Lullaby,” will play in the White House Music Series hosted by first lady Michelle Obama.

On Tuesday, the country stars will assist an educational workshop for 120 middle school and high school students. At night, they’ll play for President Obama and his wife, White House staff and Congress members.

The series, launched by Michelle Obama, featured jazz last month and will continue in the fall with classical music.
‘Survivor’ can’t attend

A federal judge in Rhode Island says “Survivor” winner Richard Hatch cannot leave home confinement early to star in a 10th-anniversary edition of the reality show filming in Samoa next month.

Hatch was convicted in 2006 of failing to pay taxes on the $1 million he won in the first season of the CBS reality show. He spent three years in federal prison and is serving the final 90 days of his sentence on home confinement in Newport, R.I.
Country star sets gig

Carrie Underwood will headline a Salute to the Troops Concert next month at Fort Campbell, which straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee state line.

Underwood’s spokeswoman says the Aug. 14 show is one of a handful of live performances she is doing this summer as she works on a new album for this year.

The concert for the soldiers and their families also features John Rich and Jake Owen.
Happy birthday

Among celebrity birthdays today: Drummer Stewart Copeland of The Police is 57. Dancer Michael Flatley is 51. Actress Phoebe Cates is 46. Actor Will Ferrell is 42. Actor Corey Feldman is 38.