Susan Boyle says fame ‘can flatten you’

Susan Boyle’s publicity train is back on track. The Scottish singer is addressing her difficulties with sudden fame before she performs on “Dancing With The Stars” in Los Angeles later this week.

“You have to understand, my life ceased to be normal when ‘Britain's Got Talent’ went live,” the talent-show finalist told the Scottish paper The Daily Record. “There were phone calls 24 hours a day. They kept me awake for three weeks until I changed my number. It was totally out of control, like a steamroller. It just got bigger and bigger and bigger until, eventually, it can flatten you.”

Boyle also discussed the final week of the show, when she lost to dance act Diversity, and ultimately was hospitalized for exhaustion.

“I hadn't eaten properly for about a week, hadn't slept properly,” she said. “The feeling was one of extreme exhaustion that manifested itself in firing off at everyone. I don't remember much else. I just know someone sent for an ambulance and I went to (north London clinic) the Priory. I needed to sleep. I was too tired to even think straight.”

On “Dancing With the Stars,” Boyle is expected to perform a song from her debut album, “I Dreamed a Dream,” which will be released Nov. 24.

Hudson bails on Yankee celebration
Although Kate Hudson dutifully cheered on boyfriend and Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez during his team’s playoff season, her support ended abruptly hours after the Yankees won the World Series.

Hudson, Rodriguez and several teammates headed to New York nightclub 1Oak to celebrate, and Hudson, was among the first to leave.

“She left around 2 a.m., and looked pissed,” said an eyewitness. Her sudden departure didn’t phase A-Rod, though. “He stayed until 5,” said the source.

Jackson reality show gets premiere date
A&E reality show miniseries “The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty” is scheduled to premiere Dec. 13.

Slideshow: Celebrity Sightings Although the network has said that the show focuses on brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Tito and Marlon as they prepare to reunite for a concert tour, the series will also examine the Jackson brothers’ lives in the days and weeks after Michael died.

The A&E cameras were the only cameras permitted to film Michael Jackson’s private memorial service, according to family members.

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The network’s plan is to air six, one-hour back-to-back episodes. It’s not clear yet if Michael’s three children will appear in the series.

‘Christmas Carol’ tops box office, but disappoints
Even though Disney’s new big-budget release, “A Christmas Carol,” came in No. 1, it only made $31 million its opening weekend at the box office.

This falls short of Disney’s estimates, which were nearer to $40 million. And considering “A Christmas Carol” ran with an increased ticket price because of 3-D premiums in some theaters, the take is even more disappointing.

George Clooney and Cameron Diaz also had tough weekends; their films, “The Men Who Stare at Goats” and “The Box,” came in Nos. 3 and 6 respectively.

The biggest buzz is around Oscar-hopeful “Precious.” It only played in 18 theaters, but is expected to make $1.7 million.

Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com. Follow Scoop on Twitter @courtneyatmsnbc