News | Entertainment
9 Jan 2026 4:39
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Carmen Electra has officially changed her name

    The 51-year-old actress was born Tara Leigh Patrick but adopted her stage name on the advice of late singer Prince and in January, she submitted paperwork to formally adopt the moniker she is known to millions as


    According to a decree obtained by 'Entertainment Tonight', there were no objections to the proposed change and the 'Baywatch' star's request was granted on 9 January.

    Carmen previous how she first met the 'Purple Rain' singer when she auditioned for a female group he was putting together, and though she wasn't chosen, she was stunned to receive a phone call afterwards, in which Prince offered to give her a song she'd written - but urged her to change her name.

    She told OWN: "I received a call from Prince saying I think you should be your own artist and not back up anyone else. I'm going to write you a song and if you like it, you can record it.

    "The name of the song was 'Carmen on Top.' My name is Tara, so I was confused. I loved the song. I loved it, but he said, 'You're not a Tara. You're not Tara. You're Carmen."

    The 'Scary Movie' star was happy to give up "control" to her mentor.

    She told E! News: "He controlled everything, but I loved that about him. How I dressed, the music, hairstyles. He was genius at all that."

    The pair dated but ultimately split in the early 1990s because Carmen wanted to stay in Los Angeles when Prince urged her to return to Minnesota.

    She previously explained: "I told him I wanted to live in LA and he spent as much time here as he did in Minnesota. He wanted me to move back to Minnesota and I said no. I broke it off with him and stayed in LA.

    "I gave up everything with him to live here and make my own career. It was a hard time. I ended up calling him and he hired me to dance at his club in LA. I made $90 a week.

    "I wasn't his girlfriend anymore, but I was one of his girls. This was after we split."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     08 Jan: Matthew Perry's grave has been marked with a nod to Friends
     08 Jan: Dove Cameron has got engaged to Damiano David
     08 Jan: Nikki Glaser has pledged not to tell predictable jokes about Leonardo DiCaprio at the Golden Globe Awards
     08 Jan: Kit Harington and Rose Leslie's home has been broken into
     08 Jan: Jacob Elordi found spending 10 hours in the make-up chair for Frankenstein "the greatest blessing"
     08 Jan: Lucy Hale has described hitting "rock bottom" as the "greatest gift" of her life
     08 Jan: Evangeline Lilly has been left with brain damage following an accident earlier this year
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Kiwi Ben Robb will be throwing stress-free at the professional darts tour qualifying school in Germany starting overnight More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Christchurch has been named the country's most turbulent airport for the second year running More...



     Today's News

    International:
    Donald Trump says US oversight of Venezuela could last for years 4:36

    Law and Order:
    Police arrest suspects after armed heist at airport believed to be Vanuatu's first organised robbery 22:17

    Politics:
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins says Shadbolt was a passionate advocate for his community, a tireless public servant, and a voice for those often unheard 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Matthew Perry's grave has been marked with a nod to Friends 21:53

    Entertainment:
    Dove Cameron has got engaged to Damiano David 21:23

    Politics:
    Patients caught-up in the Manage My Health cyber breach are being urged to be vigilant 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Nikki Glaser has pledged not to tell predictable jokes about Leonardo DiCaprio at the Golden Globe Awards 20:53

    Entertainment:
    Kit Harington and Rose Leslie's home has been broken into 20:23

    Entertainment:
    Jacob Elordi found spending 10 hours in the make-up chair for Frankenstein "the greatest blessing" 19:53

    Entertainment:
    Lucy Hale has described hitting "rock bottom" as the "greatest gift" of her life 19:23


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd