This is an update of a piece I wrote over the weekend: Mariah Carey will sing a medley of her hits– and there are a lot of them– on the season finale of “American Idol” on May 16th. Carey hasn’t performed on “Idol” this season yet. But she will debut her new single featuring Miguel, called “#Beautiful,” on Wednesday’s “Idol” May 8th. The single is already a huge hit after just a day or more in release. “Beautiful” was picked up 65 Top 40 stations and a bunch more today. You can hear it literally in every major market right now, which means by the “Idol” finale “Beautiful” may be another Mariah Carey number 1 song.

Elton John and Rod Stewart were best friends once upon a time, until they weren’t. So it was startling to see them in the same room this past Friday night at the 20th Annual Race to Erase MS at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City. It was even nicer when Sir Elton, during a seven song mini concert, gave Rod the Sod a shout out.

“Rod and I have been battling around for 40 years or so, and we’re still around and at the top of our game,” Elton declared. “I love him very much, we’ve had our differences, but in the heart we’re great mates.”

Elton entertained the star studded crowd with many of his hits including “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,’  “I’m Still Standing,” “Circle Of Life,” and ended with “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” as well as “Your Song,” “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues,'”and “Rocket Man.”

Honored at the event were Elton’s friend of 35 years, Sharon Osborne and her son, Jack, newly diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The intrepid Nancy Davis, who founded the group and is also afflicted with MS, has been unstoppable to find a cure, and as she told the VIP crowd, “Ten years ago there were no drugs on the market, now there are nine drugs with FDA approval. This is a disease that can be cured and everyone wants to join in on the miracle.”

The biggest applause Nancy Davis got was when she introduced her much beloved, “amazing adorable mother Barbara Davis.” Kelly Osborne introduced her own mother Sharon who quipped, “I always wanted a medal on a ribbon, who thought it would come from MS?  I thought it would come from The Queen.”  Jack said, “Wow, this is like the bar mitzvah I never had.” There was no mention of the missing Osbourne, Ozzy, who is battling his own demons at the moment.

Others attending were a smattering of local celebs from Cybill Shepherd, Ray Romano, Anne Heche, and Amy Yasbeck to “Dallas” star Linda Gray, Josh Hopkins, new “Mad Men” star Harry Hamlin with wife Lisa Rinna, Nikki Haskell, Cat Deeley, and so on. The dinner raised $1.8 million for MS research.

Rod Stewart’s new album, called “Time,” is released tomorrow. I’d like to say I’ve heard it, but I haven’t since no one has sent it or even sent a press release about it. I’ve asked three times for it, and it just never arrived. Legacy artists complain about the record business, but this is the situation. It’s a find-it-yourself deal now. So you can listen to Rod’s album streaming live on Amazon.com right now, the whole thing for free. I’m doing it now, and really enjoying it. There are a couple of very commercial tracks, like a lovely ballad “It’s Over” and a nice mid tempo “She Makes Me Happy.” Rod co-produced and co-wrote the album, so it’s a change from his last decade of ballads. There’s a lot of mandolin and guitars. I’m digging “Brighton Beach” right now. Rod is forever. Think of this as a live blogging review. Also thumbs up on “Beautiful Morning.” Good work, Rod! Now: will fans buy new music from older stars? They did with David Bowie. Based on what I’ve heard of “Time,” they should try Rod out.

Here’s Rod Stewart’s show from the Troubador recently. I just discovered that it was also streaming live on YouTube. Maybe they should hire a publicist:

Leonardo DiCaprio could learn a thing or two from Jay Gatsby about throwing parties. Last night’s “Great Gatsby” party at the Top of the Standard was obnoxious and ridiculous, a waste of time for anyone who wanted to be home watching “Mad Men.” The party followed a screening at the Museum of Modern Art for celebrities who either didn’t make the premiere at Lincoln Center or were suddenly in town to attend Anna Wintour’s daft “Punk” party tonight at the Met. Director Baz Luhrmann and actress Carey Mulligan attended and introduced the film, but Leo couldn’t have been bothered– he was absent totally from MoMA. And Tobey Maguire was simply AWOL without explanation.

“Gatsby”–which cost at least $150 million– opens Friday in a crowded field with “Iron Man 3” booming and “Star Trek” looming.

Then to the party, where Di Caprio’s p.r. decided the Reserved section of the club wasn’t reserved enough. So he moved it to the back corner of the room, and stationed large bodyguards at the entrance. Still, the hoi polloi could see in to the space, which is like a big sunken living room facing windows, where Luhrmann chatted with Oliver Stone, Gwen Stefani and Katy Perry hung out with Kristen Wiig, and Mulligan made small talk with someone. A crowd formed including the photos who were hired for the night. Everyone gaped and stared. One journo observed: “I feel like we’re watching animals in the zoo.”

I didn’t feel like playing the Lou Grant surprise birthday game last night. That’s the one where Mary keeps asking Mr. Grant if certain individuals may be allowed entrance. “You know Rhoda. Can Rhoda come in?”

Ironically, a few stars either didn’t want to go into the celeb pen or weren’t invited. David Schwimmer and Michael Shannon, who’ve been promoting “The Iceman,” remained in the public area and seemed quite contented. Schwimmer introduced me to his lovely wife, Zoe, and was a lot of fun. Oliver Stone actually hung out by the bar for most of the night. Perry commanded her own section, with no restrictions, in a far corner until she was invited into LeoLand.

Newly minted Tony nominee Billy Magnussen, from “Vanya and Sonia,” stopped in and had a glass of Champagne to toast his cast. Cuba Gooding, Jr., also on leave for the night from his Broadway show, “The Trip to Bountiful,” came by with “Game Change” and “The Butler” writer Danny Strong. Dan Stevens, of “Downton Abbey” fame, introduced me to his wife. Russell Simmons, looking a little dazed by the disorganization, wandered about and left.

Two very tall, lithe models from Sweden, real beauties, said hello in unison.

“Did you like the movie?” I asked.

“What movie?” they said.

UPDATE THURSDAY May 8th 3:30pm Jeanne Cooper has passed away. Please see updated story on the front of the website.

Soap star Jeanne Cooper’s life is turning into a soap opera: “The Young and the Restless” star didn’t pass away yesterday–despite a blogger’s mistaken announcement that was picked up Cooper’s former castmate on Twitter. Victoria Rowell, who was on the show for many years, sent out a Tweet based on something she saw, that Cooper had died. This prompted the show’s other stars, Eric Braeden and Melody Thomas Scott, to send out their own Tweets deny it. Then Cooper’s actor son, Corbin Bernsen, responded angrily from the set of the TV show “Psych” in Vancouver, where he’s stuck filming while his family undergoes this tragedy in Los Angeles.

Bernsen wrote on Facebook: “I had promised to stay silent for a bit but I feel it is necessary to make sure all know that a RUMOR of my mom’s passing earlier today that had been spread by someone on Twitter is false! I want to confirm: This is NOT TRUE. I’m not going to elaborate on mom’s status beyond this – she is still very much with us. Period. I vowed to give my mom and God the time and space – “a holiday from all our personal needs and feelings” to work through this quietly, together and I will continue to do that here now – respectfully. You can be assured that I will continue to be truthful with you as I have been from the beginning regarding her condition – the good, the bad and the ugly at the right time and place.

@victoriarowell my mother has NOT passed!shame on you! U R offensive! 2all mom is still with us and this idiot has broken our peace.

— Corbin Bernsen (@corbinbernsen) May 5, 2013

A special lady & great Native American actress @bravomaxine: RIP Jeanne Cooper (1911-2013) Dead @ebraeden @melodythomassco @victoriarowell

— Victoria Rowell (@victoriarowell) May 5, 2013

“Please trust that. Rumors will fly in our tabloid hungry – rush to conclusion society, and part of my connecting with you here is to make sure we are all respectful of this incredible woman, and her present journey, wherever it takes her. …. Always good for the soul. Lastly, I did lash out the person spreading misinformation today, I was upset, understandably. I know my mom would be the first to say, “let it go,” make peace. So I offer that before I head off to sleep. The pillow is much softer in doing so.”