The British government won't allow Kelly Clarkson to take Jane Austen's ring out of the country
Even though she dropped £150,000 (almost $200,000) on it at an auction last year, Kelly Clarkson has been barred from taking Jane Austen's gold and turquoise ring out of Britain. Ed Vaizey, the country's culture minister, says Austen had few personal belongings, and their presence in the country is important. The ring is one of three pieces of jewelry known to have belonged to the author and Vaizey has thus placed a temporary export ban on the ring, and even expresses hope that a British citizen will buy it out from under Clarkson.