MELISSA ETHERIDGE - ETHERIDGE IS ONCE STAR'S GOOD LUCK CHARM

MELISSA ETHERIDGE turned out to be a lucky charm for ONCE star MARKETA IRGLOVA after a chance meeting in the days before the Oscars. Irglova and partner Glen Hansard's Falling Slowly was the surprise winner of the Best Song category at the Academy Awards on Sunday (24Feb08) - the honour Etheridge won in 2007. And the Once star knew she was in for a chance of winning the award after meeting Etheridge in a restaurant last week (ends22Feb08). Irglova says, "I asked, 'Can I hold the hand that won last year?' It was a very amazing moment for us."