I want to repaint my fireplace, but have been told you can’t paint a fireplace-is this true?

you can paint a fireplace!I painted my fireplace with brick-anew, and it looks awesome. actually my wife did it when i was out of town-its several shades of paint to make the bricks still look like bricks, but without remodeling-check them out:
www.brick-anew.com
mw