CNN and longtime talk show host Larry King are cutting ties 14 months after his prime-time series ended.

King did four specials for CNN within the past year. But CNN said in a statement on Wednesday the network and King have mutually agreed to end the specials.

The 78-year-old King says he has “nothing but respect for CNN.” He says he’s “looking forward to all the wonderful business opportunities” to which he’ll now dedicate his time.

Kimmel gets Oprah

Oprah Winfrey is the latest celebrity to join Jimmy Kimmel’s seventh post-Oscar special.

ABC made the announcement Thursday.

Winfrey is making a rare late-night appearance at a time when her year-old cable channel, OWN, is trying to attract viewers after a rocky start. She’s been more visible on the channel as well, with a new weekly series, “Oprah’s Next Chapter.”

Billy Crystal, who is hosting the Oscar ceremony, will help kick off “Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Academy Awards.” Nominees Meryl Streep, George Clooney and Martin Scorsese will be among the stars on hand.

A performance by Coldplay will wrap up the show.

Minaj to perform

The NBA All-Star players will be getting quite the introduction this year: Nicki Minaj will sing a medley of her hits as the players are announced to the crowd.

Minaj is part of a celeb lineup for the All-Star game Feb. 26 in Orlando, Fla. Mary J. Blige will sing the U.S. national anthem and the group Neverest will sing the Canadian anthem. Pitbull, along with Ne-Yo and Nayer, will perform at halftime.

Will.i.am, Flo Rida and “The Voice” winner Javier Colon are expected to perform at All-Star pregame events Feb. 25.

Common, Ne-Yo, Kevin Hart and other stars will participate in the Feb. 24 All-Star celebrity game.

Houston funeral

Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder will sing at the private funeral Saturday in Newark, N.J., for Whitney Houston in what promises to be a musical service.

Publicist Kristen Foster also confirms that invitations went out to Houston’s ex-husband, Bobby Brown; her co-star in “The Bodyguard,” Kevin Costner; and Oprah Winfrey.

Houston’s longtime musical mentor, Clive Davis, will speak at the funeral. The eulogy will be given by gospel singer and longtime family friend Marvin Winans.

Happy birthday

Among celebrity birthdays today: Actor Hal Holbrook is 87. Singer Bobby Lewis is 79. Comedian Dame Edna is 78. Singer-songwriter Johnny Bush is 77. Actress Christina Pickles is 77. Actress Mary Ann Mobley is 73. Actress Brenda Fricker is 67. Actress Rene Russo is 58. Actor Richard Karn is 56. Actor Lou Diamond Phillips is 50. Comedian Larry the Cable Guy is 49. Guitarist Tim Mahoney is 42. Actor Dominic Purcell is 42. Actress Denise Richards is 41. Singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong is 40. Actor Jerry O’Connell is 38. Country singer Bryan White is 38. Actor Jason Ritter is 32. Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt is 31. Actor Chord Overstreet is 23.