Rue McClanahan, who played sexy Southern belle Blanche Devereaux on "The Golden Girls," was recovering yesterday from heart bypass surgery at a New York City hospital.

The surgery took place Wednesday and went "very, very well," said friend and colleague Del Shores. McClanahan, 75, said in a statement that she regretted missing a tribute to her set for this month at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. She co-starred with Beatrice Arthur, Betty White and Estelle Getty in "The Golden Girls," which aired from 1985 to 1992 on NBC.

RIHANNA AMONG STARS FEATURED AT AMAS

Rihanna, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Green Day and Carrie Underwood will be among the diverse roster of performers planning to take the stage at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles, show producers said yesterday.

Producer Larry Klein said Jay-Z, Shakira, Mary J. Blige, Adam Lambert, Kelly Clarkson and Alicia Keys also are slated to perform on the 37th annual show, to be held at the Nokia Theatre on Nov. 22 and broadcast live on ABC.

CALLE 13 WINS BIG AT LATIN GRAMMYS

Puerto Rican duo Calle 13 went five for five at the Latin Grammys last night in Las Vegas, with their innovative collaborations and politically charged reggaeton that crosses genres.

Lead singer Rene Perez, who raps as "Residente," dedicated the golden gramophone for album of year to Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa, who died in October at age 74. Residente and his half brother Eduardo Cabra, who goes by "Visitante," also won best urban album for "Los de Atras Vienen Conmigo" and best short-form video for their work with salsa legend Ruben Blades on "La Perla." Calle 13 also won recording of the year and best alternative song for "No Hay Nadie Como Tu," a collaboration with Mexican rockers Cafe Tacvba.

MIDLER'S SHOW WON'T GO ON AFTER JAN. 31

Bette Midler will perform her Las Vegas show "The Showgirl Must Go On" for the last time on Jan. 31.

Midler's show has had a home for nearly two years at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Her stint at Caesars began on Feb. 20, 2008. The Radford High graduate said in a statement yesterday that her run has been fabulous. She thanks both Caesars Palace and AEG Live for "the best partnership a showgirl could imagine."

'OFFICE' OFFENDS SUICIDE PREVENTION GROUPS

Some suicide prevention groups aren't laughing over a scene in "The Office" where Steve Carell's character tries to scare young children by struggling in a noose.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention worries that depiction of a method of suicide might encourage mentally ill people to take their own lives.

"The Office" episode last Thursday opened with the paper company hosting a haunted house for children. Carell's socially clueless office manager Michael Scott pops out with his depiction of a hanging. Afterward, Scott says: "Kids, just remember, suicide is not the answer. It is the easy way out."