Jailed singer’s mother worried

Celebrity impersonator Trina Johnson-Finn, jailed in Suriname, is suffering from dehydration and anemia, but told her mother, "Don't worry about me."

Wanda Madlock had her first contact on Thursday with her daughter, who was jailed March 1 in Paramaribo, Suriname's capital.

During their 10-minute conversation, the Las Vegas entertainer said she was in a cell with six other women and had hopes she would be transferred to a nearby prison where conditions were said to be an improvement.

"She's anemic. She had surgery recently," Madlock said from her home in Kansas City, where Trina grew up.

A U.S. embassy official told Madlock, " 'You have a strong daughter.' And I said to myself, 'I know.' "

Johnson-Finn, 40, is being held on charges that she was in cahoots with a promoter who billed her as Toni Braxton. Two songs into the concert, the crowd of about 1,500 got ugly, and she was taken to safety by her husband, Raymond Finn, who was jailed for two weeks.

Madlock said efforts are under way to get Oprah Winfrey involved to bring more attention to the "unjust treatment" of her daughter.

Johnson-Finn was on "Oprah" about 20 years ago as a backup singer for rapper MC Hammer. She also was a backup singer for Barbra Streisand's "Timeless" tour about five years ago, when she and her husband moved to Las Vegas so she could pursue her entertainment career.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Steve Wynn and girlfriend Andrea Hissom were spotted in the Los Angeles area last weekend, reportedly on a house-hunting mission. They were seen dining at Café 14 in Agoura Hills with Sylvester Stallone and director Brett Ratner, who produced Wynn's on-the-ledge commercial for his Encore hotel. ...

Many responses came in about the Leonard Bernstein photo mentioned Friday. R-J reader Milt Irvin wanted to know why the legendary director of the New York Philharmonic orchestra was greeted by the Las Vegas High School Rhythmettes in 1960. Several readers said he was here for a convention center concert. One said the photo was taken as he came off a TWA flight. Rhythmettes in the photo from page 192 in "Leonard Bernstein: American Original" included: Sandy Craig, Cheryl Henry, Sheila Skoglund, Joan Fisher and Nancy Atkinson.

SIGHTINGS

"Sopranos" star Michael Imperioli and wife Victoria at Tao (Venetian) on Friday, celebrating his 43rd birthday. ... Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Ray Romano, partying at Revolution Lounge (Mirage) on Friday after Romano's show at The Mirage. Earlier, they dined at Stack. ... Hilton headliner Barry Manilow, with friends at Tryst nightclub (Wynn) Friday. ... At Rain nightclub (Palms) on Friday: actress Jaime Pressly, wearing a 1970s-style afro wig at a bachelorette party. ... At "Tony 'N Tina's Wedding" on Friday: Coley Laffoon, Anne Heche's ex, and Raymond Cruz of "The Closer" and "Breaking Bad." ... Dwight "Doc" Gooden, having lunch at the Palms pool with N9NE Steakhouse chef Barry Dakake. Gooden was in town for a memorabilia signing Saturday at Field of Dreams (Forum Shops at Caesars). ... On the red carpet Thursday at Monster Circus' opening at the Las Vegas Hilton: featured performer Dee Snyder of Twisted Sister, Tony Montana, Fred Coury, Bruce Kulick, Rudy Sarzo, John Corabi, Jennifer Elise Cox (Jan Brady in the "Brady Bunch" movies), "La Cage" headliner Frank Marino, and L.D. Miller (formerly of "Buck Wild" and the first season of "America's Got Talent").