People: Sep. 18, 2006

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At 65, BOB DYLAN is more plugged in than he has been since he amped up at the Newport Folk Festival more than 40 years ago. Modern Times, Dylan's latest album, beat out new releases by Jessica Simpson and Christina Aguilera, making the folk-rock icon the oldest living artist ever to launch an album at No. 1. Notoriously reclusive, Dylan lately even seems to be enjoying his public, publishing a memoir, deejaying a show on XM Satellite Radio and endorsing a Broadway musical. "They say, 'Dylan never talks,'" the singer told Rolling Stone. "Well, what the hell is there to say?" How about, Welcome back, Bob?

YEP ... I'M HOSTING

Get ready for Chuck Taylors on the red carpet. ELLEN DEGENERES, the comedian and talk-show host known for her casual style, has just been announced as M.C. of Hollywood's most glamorous night, the Oscars. "Ellen completely fits the bill," says the show's producer, Laura Ziskin. By that we assume she means that, like former hosts Billy Crystal and Jon Stewart, DeGeneres is funny and warm and not that, like Crystal and Stewart, she's hardly ever in good movies.