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Wednesday, March 03, 1999 6:08:57 PM EST

• Phyllis Diller receives pacemaker
• Will Smith sends message to terminally ill fan
• Backstreet Boy uses hometown talent for new album
• Boxcar Willie battles against leukemia

Diller

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Following a heart attack at her home last month, comedienne Phyllis Diller was fitted with a pacemaker Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

"A pacemaker was inserted last night and she's doing well," her manager, Milt Suchin, said Tuesday. "We expect her back and working soon. I'm still booking engagements."

Diller, 81, is schedule to perform on March 27 at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio.

Smith

JANESVILLE, Wisconsin (CNN) -- Movie star and Grammy winner Will Smith sent a secret videotaped message about his upcoming film to a 28-year-old fan who suffers from Huntington's disease after learning about the fan through the Dream Foundation, a California-based group that grants the wishes of terminally ill people.

In his message, Smith told Stacey Taylor about his new movie, "Wild, Wild West," due to be released in the spring. He showed pictures of a prototype told of him as his character in the film, James West.

"No one -- no one -- has seen this," he confided. "This is like a top-secret, confidential, Warner Bros. in-house secret. Even more than the 'Men in Black' stuff."

Knowing Taylor is a fan of Smith's, her nurse sent a request to the Dream Foundation. The Janesville Gazette quotes Taylor as saying, "Tell Will Smith I appreciate what he did for me and thank him for giving me his time."

Huntington's is a progressively debilitating brain disorder which effects about 25,000 Americans. Victims gradually lose control of mental and physical functions.

Backstreet Boys

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (CNN) -- Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell returned to his hometown high school Monday to direct a 45-member chorus, mostly made up of current or former students, which will sing a song for the group's next album, "Millennium."

The tune, "Perfect Fan," was written by Littrell's mother; He said having Tates Creek High School students and alumni sing the song was a gesture of appreciation toward choir teacher Barry Turner. Turner encouraged Littrell to pursue his musical career.

The Backstreet Boy's self-titled album has spent 77 weeks on Billboard's top album list. Their hits include "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)."

BRANSON, Missouri (CNN) -- Country singer Boxcar Willie regained enough strength to go home Tuesday, after being hospitalized for two weeks while recovering from cancer treatments that left him ill and weak.

First diagnosed with leukemia in 1996, the 67-year-old was found to be cancer-free in 1997 and returned to performing until the disease returned in April 1998.

Boxcar Willie was to return to Branson's BoxCar Willie Theatre this month to begin his 14th year performing there, but his shows have been cancelled.

"We're hoping that he can come back sometime this year and do some guest appearances, but at this time we're not able to determine when," said his daughter, Tammy LaCore.

Reuters contributed to this report.