
If you're aching to know what Anderson Cooper is listening to on his iPod currently, we've got the scoop. In the past he enjoyed working out in the gym to The Clash, Johnny Cash, and The Hives. But lately he's been growing fonder and fonder of Mary J Blige, and can't get enough of her music in the gym and on his way to and from work. He's so enamored with Blige that he' trying to talk his mother Gloria Vanderbilt into inviting Mary to sing at her next big party. We hear that Mary knows about her famous fan and she's delighted.
Anderson Cooper bumped into Regis Philbin in front of the Reebok Gym in Manhattan and they were chatting when an eager young woman approached clutching a pen and paper. Regis stepped back, saying "I think someone wants your autograph, Anderson." The girl said "I want YOURS, Mr Philbin. This is my first time in New York and I couldn't get in for a taping of LIVE!" Regis was delighted, and after he signed the paper he suggested Anderson sign it. Regis pointed out to the girl "This is CNN's Anderson Cooper." The girl squealed and lifted her sweater and asked Cooper to sign her body! Regis laughed and called Anderson "A ROCKSTAR." Modest Anderson agreed to sign the paper but not the skin.

Anderson Cooper was startled when a huge long package arrived at CNN's New York office addressed to him. Inside he found a life size cardboard cutout of himself! (Like the one here) A fan had won it on eBay and asked him to sign it. The only problem was the sender forgot to include return postage and that was nearly $50. CNN wouldn't cough up the postage so Anderson signed it and promptly sent it back at his own expense. He confessed it made him uncomfortable just having it around!

Anderson Cooper is considering doing his own clothing line. (After all, he WAS voted into Vanity Fair's Best Dressed Hall of Fame.) He got the idea from Tom Ford when Tom was trying to talk him into promoting a fragrance he was releasing. CNN has been getting a lot of emails and letters from viewers who like the way Anderson dresses on camera and out at events and they want to know where he gets his clothes. Actually, Anderson picks out most of his own stuff and chooses things from a number of designers and sometimes off the rack. He has definite opinions about fashion and wouldn't mind dabbling in the clothing biz.

Anderson Cooper has his fans and admirers abuzz with his new muscular physique. He's been relentlessly working out in the gym to buff up his slender body and the results are highly visible. This new look and the fact that he's been strapping on guns and flying around the planet filming perilous documentaries, has changed his image. But in a way his self improvement backfired- many of his fans say they prefer his pasty white waifish look and his quietly intelligent non-aggressive persona. So he's informed his personal trainer that he's cutting back on his workout routine.

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For some reason, we just can't get enough information about Anderson Cooper - even the most trivial details are intriguing. So naturally we leapt at the opportunity to find out what he listens to on his iPod. It's not very exciting. According to a source, he has several Mary J Blige songs, and even a few by Michael Feinstein. In fact, Anderson has been known to hang out at Feinstein's at the Regency Hotel on Park Avenue. When he's there, Cooper avoids attention by virtually disguising himself. Diahann Carroll performed there recently and was surprised and disappointed to learn that he was there and she didn't recognize him.

Every once in awhile, popular newsman Anderson Cooper apparently gets the impulse to do something absurdly nice for no good reason. He was going through his CNN emails not long ago and found an admiring message from a midwestern couple who had just had twins and named the boy Anderson after HIM. He decided to give them a real surprise and obtained their address in Madison Wisconsin. Anderson sent them a $2,500 gift certificate from the famous FAO Schwartz toy store in New York to keep their babies entertained. We wonder what nice thing he did to incite the fan above to get his face tattooed on her leg...
There's still a chance that Anderson Cooper will have a scent of his own. We recently revealed that Tom Ford asked Anderson to become the spokesperson for a new cologne he's creating that he wanted to name after Cooper, but Anderson turned him down. Anderson told his fashion maven mom Gloria Vanderbilt about the offer and she LIKED the idea and pushed her son to give it some more thought. That's exactly what Anderson is doing, and if Tom Ford gets his way, "Coop" could be out by the holiday season.
Anderson Cooper and Tom ford have been seen having lunch in Manhattan and they got New Yorkers buzzing overtime about WHAT they might be talking about. Actually Tom ford was offering Anderson a job as spokesman for his new cologne line coming out later this summer. Cooper was impressed with the scent and flattered to be considered for such a gig, but explained he already had plans for the summer. He's made promises to people that he'll return to Iraq, the Sudan, and Indonesia, and has no time for jobs on the side. Ford immediately sweetened the deal by offering to send Cooper's salary to charities in Africa. Cooper thought about it, but ended up saying no to Tom Ford. And THAT doesn't happen often.

Anderson Cooper flew his usual route from NYC to LA to work at CNN and the flight was crowded but he managed to get a first class seat. During the flight he happened to notice attendants talking to a very pregnant woman in coach who was obviously uncomfortable in the tight quarters. There were no empty seats to move her to so the chivalrous journalist offered to switch seats with her even though she was in coach. The woman was grateful and flabbergasted. Cooper proceeded to chat politely with his seatmates and he was friendly with the children. He even played with a toddler in the aisle for a few minutes before the flight attendant advised him to take his seat. A few passengers good-naturedly booed her.

Another great mention on Page Six in the NY Post! It's a gossip bloggers dream come true!



