Vanishing Into Texas

By Rebecca Winters

Perhaps he meant to hide behind the big hair. In February reclusive pop singer GEORGE MICHAEL told the press he planned to retire from the music industry and "disappear" from the public eye. TIME found Michael last week standing by his man, Kenny Goss, his partner of nine years, at the opening of Goss's new art gallery in Dallas. Yep, Dallas. "There is a refreshing lack of cynicism here," Michael said of his part-time hometown. Despite saying he would call it quits after his 2004 effort Patience, the former Wham! star is rumored to have a new album in the works, about which he's keeping mum. "My stuff can wait," he said. Funny, it was so much easier for Andrew Ridgeley to vanish.