News | Entertainment
28 Nov 2025 5:04
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."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     27 Nov: Billy Bob Thornton considers Angelina Jolie to be a "great friend" of his
     27 Nov: Chadwick Boseman's widow paid a glowing tribute to the late actor at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony
     27 Nov: Khloe Kardashian is determined to have a healthy co-parenting relationship with Tristan Thompson - but she has no intention of rekindling their romance
     27 Nov: Ariana Grande has tested positive for COVID-19
     27 Nov: Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger went to a barn on their first date
     27 Nov: Ron Howard thinks AI can "help filmmakers get more of what's in their mind's eye onto screens"
     27 Nov: Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly are "closer than ever"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Eden Park wants to replace its outer oval with 1500 carparks More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Finance Minister's celebrating record export numbers, despite a turbulent environment More...



     Today's News

    Golf:
    The familiarity of playing across the Tasman has golfer Ryan Fox upbeat after his opening round at the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane 4:57

    Environment:
    Another warm start after yesterday's record breaking temperatures, but relief is on its way 4:47

    Environment:
    Death toll rises to 55 as Hong Kong blaze continues to burn, three arrested 23:07

    Business:
    The Finance Minister's celebrating record export numbers, despite a turbulent environment 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Billy Bob Thornton considers Angelina Jolie to be a "great friend" of his 21:38

    Accident and Emergency:
    Ongoing efforts in Southland and Otago to control multiple vegetation fires 21:37

    Entertainment:
    Chadwick Boseman's widow paid a glowing tribute to the late actor at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony 21:08

    International:
    United States says it has stopped processing all immigration requests from Afghan nationals 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Khloe Kardashian is determined to have a healthy co-parenting relationship with Tristan Thompson - but she has no intention of rekindling their romance 20:38

    Entertainment:
    Ariana Grande has tested positive for COVID-19 20:08


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd