Elton John Unable to Adopt

Elton John and his longtime partner David Furnish were hoping to adopt a Ukrainian orphan, but have been denied because of a national law that prohibits unmarried couples from adopting. Despite the fact that John and Furnish tied the knot in 2005 in one of the first legal civil unions in the U.K, Yuruy Pavlenko (Ukraine's Family, Youth and Sports Minister) says that Ukraine does not recognize homosexual unions as marriage.

On top of that, another law requires potential adoptive parents to be no more than 45 years older than the child to be adopted. Elton John is 62, making him ineligible to adopt the 14-month-old boy, named Lev. John met the boy while touring a hospital for HIV-infected children as part of a charity project.

While Pavlenko said Ukraine was grateful for John's charity work, he says: "Foreign citizens who are single have no right to adopt children ... and the age difference between the adopter and the child cannot be more than 45 years. The law is the same for everybody: for a president, for a minister, for Elton John."

Katherine Keigl Adopting a Baby Girl

Katherine Heigl and her husband, Josh Kelley, are planning on adopting a baby girl from Korea. The couple had wanted a baby for quite some time, and apparently started the process about six months ago. The little girl, who is approximately ten months old, will be named Naleigh, a combination of Heigl's sister and mother's names, Leigh and Nancy. The adoption pays particular tribue to her sister, who was adopted. Heigl says, "I want to honor her and her part in my life. I think adoption is a hugely important thing." The actress's rep confirmed the happy news.

'Grey's Anatomy' star adopts baby girl

Brooke Smith, who plays Dr. Erica Hahn on ABC's 'Grey's Anatomy,' has adopted a baby girl from Ethipoa with her husband, cinematographer Stephen Lubensky.

The couple also have a five-year-old daughter named Fanny.

"You know, why not?" Smith told People in October about possibly adopting. She said she and her husband had been to Africa several times and filmed a documentary together on conservationists in Zimbabwe. "We still might end up there some time."

Smith, 40, is still probably best known for her role in 'Silence of the Lambs,' but she joined 'Grey's Anatomy' full time in the fall as head of the cardiothoracic surgery department.

Paris Hilton Tries to Adopt

Stars are often attributed with not giving credit to the "little people," but Paris Hilton takes it to the next level. The socialite came across actors posing as Smurfs in front of a candy store in Russia and offered to "adopt" them.

Apparently this holiday season Hilton has been hitting the eggnog a little too hard, and she mistook the little people Smurfs for the actual cartoon. Paris is quoted by an eyewitness as saying "Oh my, real live Smurfs. I always wanted one when I was a kid."

Although not meaning to be offensive, Hilton actually bent down to talk to them and asked in a babyish voice if she could "take them home." In response, one actor who spoke fluent English went off on her and told her that she was being patronizing and that he was a grown man.

Unfortunately, it seems that for now Paris will just have to stick to adopting Chihuahuas.

Weeds star adopts baby from Africa

Mary-Louise Parker, star of Weeds, has adopted a daughter from Africa.

Parker was spotted with the baby over the weekend as she traveled to the Emmys, where she was nominated for two awards.

Her representatives, who revealed the adopton to People magazine, declined further comment.

Parker and her ex, actor Billy Crudup, have a three-year-old son who was born before the couple split.