QUICK TAKES

Usher's wife released

After spending 11 days in a Sao Paulo, Brazil, hospital, the wife of R&B singer Usher has been released. According to a Sirio-Libanes Hospital spokeswoman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Tameka Raymond was released Monday night. Ellen Dastry, a spokeswoman for the doctor who was to perform the operation, said Raymond suffered cardiac arrest while being anesthetized at Sao Paulo's Sao Rafeal Hospital before a "simple liposuction." According to Dastry, she was revived in less than a minute and placed in an induced coma. She was transferred to the better-equipped Sirio-Libanes to recover.

Hendrix estate wins

In a trademark infringement lawsuit against a company that promoted Hendrix Electric vodka, the estate of guitarist Jimi Hendrix says it has emerged victorious. Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix, both family-owned companies, filed the lawsuit in 2007 against Seattle businessman Craig Diffenbach. The companies say the won a $3.2 million federal court judgment that orders the vodka to be pulled from the market.

Connick set for party

New Orleans native and co-founder of the Krewe of Orpheus Harry Connick Jr. will return to his hometown for this year's Mardi Gras celebration. His spokeswoman initially said he wouldn't be able to attend the festivities this year, but on Wednesday, Orpheus officials learned Connick's plans had changed. According to krewe spokesman Ardley Hanemann, Connick will ride in the Orpheus parade on Monday night and he will attend the ball that follows. Also slated to participate in the Orpheus festivities are Jim Belushi, Bryan Batt from "Mad Men," Joan Rivers, country crooner Josh Gracin and the cast of Comedy Central's "Reno 911."

Go ahead and laugh

"There's not a hoax. Might I be ridiculous? Might my career in music be laughable? Yeah, that's possible, but that's certainly not my intention." -- Joaquin Phoenix, on giving up acting to become a hip-hop musician.

Compiled from wire reports by Melissa Sullivan