Bret Michaels and Cyndi Lauper will reign over Mardi Gras

Bret Michaels and pop veteran Cyndi Lauper will help to get the 2012 Mardi Gras carnival celebrations started as the grand marshalls of crooner Harry Cocciak, JR's annual parade in New Orleans, Louisiana.
 
The singers will reign over the Orpheus parade as the celebrity king and queen of the event, which will take place on 20 February.
 
Previous stars who have led the celebrations include actresses Whoopi Goldberg and Sandra Bullock, and singer Stevie Wonder.
 
The Orpheus Parade was founded by Connick Jr. - a New Orleans native - in 1993. The star-studded parade will hit the streets of the city on the Monday night before Mardi Gras.