The 44-year-old female politician, who was elected governor just two years ago after serving as mayor of Wasilla, will be the first woman nominated by the Republican Party to run on a national ticket.

John McCain revealed at a rally attended by 15,000 flag-waving supporters at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio: “She’s exactly who this country needs to help me fight the same old Washington politics of me first and country second.”

Sarah Palin reached out to Hillary Clinton’s supporters in her remarks, saying: “It was rightly noted in Denver this week that Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America. But it turns out the women of America aren’t finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all.”

Palin was born in Idaho and a graduate of the University of Idaho as well as the first female governor of Alaska and its youngest. She is also a pro-gun rights social conservative who opposes abortion and gay marriage. She is the mother of five children, the youngest of whom was born in April and has Down syndrome. Both Palin and McCain both have children in the military.

In a statement, John McCain revealed: “Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. [She] has the record of reform and bipartisanship that others can only speak of. Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today.”

Meanwhile, Palin’s parents were advised to “listen to the radio” by her husband, Tim.

Chuck and Sally Heath described the choice as “a wonderful surprise.”

Sally revealed: “I am shocked!”

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman were all considered to be on McCain’s short list.

A source revealed: “She is shooting now. We are not giving any specifics on her character.”

Stephen Huvane, who is Jennifer Aniston’s publicist, confirmed that the actress is currently filming a guest appearance on the network’s comedy, “30 Rock.”

There were no immediate details on Jennifer Aniston’s role or the episode’s air date. The series, which begins its third season in October, stars Tiny Fey and Alec Baldwin. Jennifer Aniston’s fellow “Friends” co-star, David Schwimmer, had a “30 Rock” guest shot last season.

Since “Friends” ended four years ago, Jennifer Aniston has concentrated on films. She previously appeared in one episode of the FX series “Dirt”, a show about celebrity journalism starring Jennifer Aniston’s Friends-mate — and real life pal — Courteney Cox, in 2007.

The new season of the Emmy-winning 30 Rock premieres October 30.

Joe Jonas, 19, and Taylor Swift, 18, have getting close since she made a cameo in the Jonas Brothers concert film while Disney star Selena Gomez, 16, has been coy about her relationship with Nick, 15.

Nick Jonas previously revealed in a radio interview earlier this month: “Well, she’s an amazing girl, and anybody would be lucky to be dating her.”

Last month, Rolling Stone published a photo of the couple embracing backstage.

Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez, the star of “Wizards of Waverly Place”, left the restaurant holding hands. Kevin Jonas, 20, and their bodyguard Big Rob were also there.

The television rating shows that more people watched him accept his party’s nomination on Thursday night than the Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing, the “American Idol” finale or this year’s Academy Awards.

His speech was also the most-watched convention in history. In comparison, John Kerry’s speech in 2004 drew 24.4 million viewers and George W. Bush’s was watched by 27.5 million.

Emotional stars like Oprah Winfrey had nothing but praise for the historic event.

Oprah Winfrey revealed: “Just seeing him on stage, I cried my eyelashes off. I’ve never experienced anything like this… I think that what he had to offer the country tonight will make us all better.”

Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for president in front of 80,000 people Thursday night by proclaiming: “America, we are better than these last eight years.

He revealed in a 42-minute speech at Invesco Field in Denver: “We are a better country than this.” The Illinois senator described his life as the result of the “American promise” and slammed Republican opponent John McCain for being out of touch.

He continued: “I don’t believe that Senator McCain doesn’t care what’s going on in the lives of Americans — I just think he doesn’t know. John McCain doesn’t get it.”

Obama also responded to McCain’s charge that he’s more like a celebrity than a leader by recounting his humble roots, adding: “Now, I don’t know what kind of lives John McCain thinks that celebrities lead, but this has been mine.”

The prince, who is third in line to the throne, had a successful first tour of duty in the war zone earlier this year. Now he is desperate to go back for another encounter with hostile Taliban forces.

The 23-year-old prince and members of his Blues and Royals regiment will resume training at Windsor’s Combermere Barracks next week. He will not immediately prepare for war but concentrate on normal regimental duties.

Meanwhile, top brass will try to decide if — and how — he can return to Afghanistan to fight.

A Blues and Royals source revealed: “[Prince] Harry has made no secret of the fact he wants to be there when the regiment returns to the front line next year.

The source added: “He said the experience of leading his men into battle is one he hopes he can repeat. And with one mission under his belt, he has the skills and experience which will make him an extremely valuable member of the battle group.”

The Prince will begin work almost immediately with a two-week exercise on Salisbury Plain.

Then early in 2009, he is expected to take part in a full-scale live firing exercise in Canada.

The Blues and Royals will continue building their skills until April when they will go on full battle footing and begin six months of intensive tactical training to prepare for Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Defence struck a deal with the media to allow Harry the chance to fight in secret last year. However it is thought this arrangement was a one-off that is unlikely to be repeated.

The reality television star revealed: “I’m hoping that it’ll firm it up and shape it up. Everyone is asking if I’m worried it’s going to go away. No, it’s going to tone it up. I can use that.”

Is she going to flaunt what she’s got in sexy and slinky ballroom costumes? The socialite dishes that she expects to show off more than a little skin as the competition moves forward. She replied: “Today the costume that I tried on wasn’t as crazy, [but] the better shape that I get into they will be a little more sexy and risqué. I’m starting off with maybe a ball gown, something a little bit more elegant and a little bit more covered up.”

Kim Kardashian, who got fitness regime in preparation for the competition, is now dancing eight hours a day with pro partner Mark Ballas, explaining: “I’m seeing a slight change [in my figure]. I realize that when I would try to work out really fast, that I would be burned out. I would work out for two days and then wait a few weeks and then workout for a few days again. I decided to stay focused and continuous and I started to see a major change. So, I think I’ll start to see a slow progress throughout the whole show.”

The socialite recently encountered a foot injury after she cut her toe in a hotel room. She said: “My toe is hurting me a little bit more than I thought. We switched to an open toe … We cut off some of the straps to make it a super-open toe on one foot so that I can [dance].”

On her chances of winning the dancing competition, Kim Kardashian added: “I do feel the competitive spirit and he’s been helping me to feel better by telling me that every female celebrity that’s won Dancing With the Stars, their name started with a ‘K’: Kelly Monaco and Kristi Yamaguchi. So I’m a little bit luckier there.”

Tim Gunn, who is a style guru, feels that the actress’ wardrobe reveals a very different story during the Manhattan launch party for Tide and Downy Total Care.

He explained: “Sometimes I think she has ‘desperate character’ written on her. The clothes we wear send a message. And I think that’s the message — I don’t think that’s her intention though.”

The “Project Runway” star, who recently ripped into Miley Cyrus for being “too tarty,” didn’t have all bad things to say about the former Friends actress. He described the actress as “a gorgeous woman and she understands her fashion.”

He also added: “I can’t help but think that’s she’s pretty high-maintenance.”

John Law, a critic who wrote in the Niagara Falls Review, revealed: “It might be unfair calling Jessica Simpson’s show at the Avalon Ballroom Wednesday a train wreck — at some point, a train knows where it’s going.”

He also said the singer, who is making the transition from pop to country with a new album (out September 9), is “still living in a reality show, convinced everyone is so fascinated with her personal life, they’d rather hear her talk than sing.”

He also wrote that the concert was more like a “therapy session” for her because she “needs to explain in exhausting detail what every single song is about.”

Jessica Simpson, 28, dedicated a song called “You’re My Sunday” to beau Tony Romo — and she even discussed flatulence.

She joked: “I do pass gas a lot. I guarantee it smells like roses.”

John Law concluded that “Simpson can’t deliver a concert worthy of her new record.

He also wrote: “It’s hard to take her [seriously] when she declares how much she loves “Destiny” Springfield, and then performs a version of “Son of a Preacher Man” so devoid of soul, Dusty would disown it.”

Kathleen Hensley Portalski, who is Cindy McCain’s half sister, revealed: “I’m not voting for McCain. I have a different political standpoint.”

The Phoenix resident explained: “I’m voting for Obama. I think his proposals to improve the country are more positive and I’m not a big war believer.”

Kathleen Portalski, 65, and the potential first lady Cindy McCain, 54, shares the same father: Jim Hensley, the founder of the beer distributor Hensley and Co. that Cindy McCain now chairs.

In an interview with NPR News’ All Things Considered last week, Kathleen Portalski said she felt “like a non-person” after Cindy McCain described herself as an “only child.”

Kathleen Portalski’s mother is Hensley’s first wife; Cindy McCain’s mother, Marguerite Hensley, also had another daughter from her first marriage.

Kathleen described her half-sister as “kinda cool, standoffish.” She also doesn’t expect Cindy McCain to make an effort to reconcile their relationship, adding: “She never has, and I doubt that she ever will.”

Kathleen Portalski’s son Nathan, a 45-year-old aerospace machinist, is also backing Obama.

Nathan said: “I wouldn’t vote for John McCain if he was a Democrat. I would not vote at all before I’d vote for him. I question whether Cindy is someone I’d want to see in the White House as first lady.”

The 39-year-old singer, who has had high-profile relationships with Sean Combs and Ben Affleck before her marriage to singer Marc Anthony, revealed that she doesn’t want to talk about her former boyfriends “only because I think it’s disrespectful to my husband.” She added that she also doesn’t want him to talk about his ex-girlfriends.

The “Love Don’t Cost A Thing” singer also opened up about firing her former manager years ago for telling her to diet so she could look like Heather Locklear, simply explaining, “He was an idiot.”

J. Lo, who gave birth to twins Emme and Max in February, has something to say about pressure, saying she knows how uncomfortable and destructive life is.

She added: “It’s a tricky thing - the tabloids know that a lot of people read them, and they gauge who’s hot and who’s not by who is on the cover. If that’s what being hot right now is, I don’t want to be that.”

Jennifer Lopez appears on the cover of Easy Living September issue, which hits newsstands this week.