A Swift holiday ‘miracle’

At age 96, Cyrus Porter is a devoted Taylor Swift fan. He’s traveled from his rural Missouri home to St. Louis and Memphis to see her in concert. On Monday, the concert came to the World War II combat veteran, a surprise visit from the singer and her parents. He had hosted 72 people for a family Christmas a day earlier. Many of his relatives were still there when a van pulled into the driveway of his home in New Madrid. ‘‘My daughter opened the door and said, ‘It’s Taylor Swift!’’’ Porter said Tuesday. ‘‘I couldn’t believe it. It’s not a miracle but I’d say it’s pretty close.’’ Swift spent about an hour talking with Porter and family. Then, on the enclosed back porch, she sang her 2014 No. 1 hit, ‘‘Shake It Off,’’ with dozens of Porter’s relatives joining in. It wasn’t clear how Swift came to find out about Porter’s fandom, but he said that he was ‘‘proud of her to take the time out to do something like that for an old country boy.’’ (AP)

Shandling death report

Garry Shandling died from a blood clot in his heart, coroner’s officials said Tuesday, more than seven months after the 66-year-old comedian’s unexpected death March 24. Los Angeles coroner’s officials delayed their ruling until a review of medical records and toxicology tests were completed. (AP)