Stars’ hidden talents
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will make her small screen acting debut with a guest role on an upcoming episode of NBC’s “30 Rock,” but Rice is no stranger to performing. Find out her hidden talent and check out other multitalented stars.

Madonna
Known for her wild girl image as a singer and actress, Madonna has turned her attention to a new audience — children.
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney was a member of one of the most famous bands in the world. Which Beatles song is the most covered ditty in the world? He uses his artistic creativity in other ways, too, with this hidden talent.
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice spent four years as Secretary of State and has a background in academia at an Ivy League university.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Oscar-winning star Gwyneth Paltrow recently added singing to her résumé and even rapped on a popular musical TV show. Watch her performance. She’s expanded her talents to the culinary arts, as well.
Hugh Laurie
Hugh Laurie is well-known for his Golden Globe-winning role in a medical drama series. But his talents also extend to the musical variety and he released a blues album this year.
Geena Davis
Actress and activist Geena Davis has had notable roles in classics such as "Thelma and Louise" and Beetlejuice. But she is also shooting bull's-eyes with a bow and arrow.
James Franco
As an actor, director, filmmaker, author and student, James Franco is one of the hardest working men in Hollywood. His many side projects have earned him this nickname. He also has a passion for art.
Stephen King
Award-winning author Stephen King has published more than 50 books, many of which are set in his home state. He and a group of other writers jam together.
Tipper Gore
Former second lady Tipper Gore made headlines as an activist with a music watchdog center when she campaigned to label records with profane language. She has gained attention for another form of media.
Jane Seymour
Television and movie star Jane Seymour finished in sixth place on a dancing competition. Find out her other creative talent.
Source:Specials

Oscar producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer tell the current issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine that the Feb. 27 Oscar telecast will feature a vastly new look this year.

With new assets ranging from a virtual reality set to two vibrant hosts -- James Franco and Anne Hathaway -- the show has been given a facelift that is still respectful to its rich history.

The changes include:

-- Moms of Oscar Nominees: To truly humanize the Oscars, the producers enlisted nine moms and one grandmom (Franco's) to follow along the telecast on their Twitter accounts. Otherwise known as Mominees -- don't expect impartial tweets.

-- The Dynamic Hosts: Hathaway, 28, and Franco, 32, are two of the youngest hosts to front the Oscars. Their youth will invite the viewers along for the ride. "They are not untouchable, they are not unreachable," says Cohen. "We hope they will offer the audience a way in."

-- Two Hosts, Two Sexes: There has never been a male-female duo who physically shared the same Oscar stage in the history of the broadcasts. Although plenty of actresses have shared emcee duties, they've all been part of tag-team groups of three- or four-host combos. Other opposite-sex hosts have been part of bicoastal telecasts -- with one in New York and one in Los Angeles. So having a male-female duo interacting in person would be a genuine first.

-- Virtual Reality Set: The producers abandoned the idea of a traditional set altogether to enter a world of virtual reality via a series of "projections" designed to give the show a constantly-changing look. The virtual end goal is for Franco and Hathaway to take viewers on a trip through Hollywood history with six or seven scenic transitions.

"The hope is that we briefly leave the Kodak in 2011 -- not literally but metaphorically -- and take the audience," says Cohen.

-- One Entire School Choir: The P.S. 22 Chorus, an elementary school chorus from Staten Island, N.Y., will make a joyous musical appearance on the show. The kids will sing "Over the Rainbow."

"This year you get to see what it would be like to be a 10-year-old and to get to perform on the Oscars," says Cohen.

-- No Movie Montages: The directors have jettisoned this familiar element -- like last year's salute to horror films. These have added to the show's seemingly endless running time. There will still be clips from the 10 best picture nominees and brief filmed introductions to certain segments.

-- The Five-Presenter Testimonial: Gone, too, will be the relatively new tradition, established just two years ago, of using five presenters to offer testimonials about each of the best actor and actress nominees. "We're not going to do that this year," Cohen confirms.

-- The Return of Nominated Song Performances: The producers decided to reinstitute a tradition that was scrapped last year: individual performances of the four nominated songs. Randy Newman will perform his "We Belong Together," from Toy Story 3; Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, who sang the duet "I See the Light" on the Tangled soundtrack, will reteam with composer Alan Menken; and Gwyneth Paltrow, who sings "Coming Home" in Country Strong, will reprise it.

Because Dido, who was nominated with Rollo Armstrong and A.R. Rahman for "If I Rise" from 127 Hours, was not available, the producers have drafted Florence Welch from Florence + the Machine to appear with Rahman.
Read More: Yahoo