September 7, 2007 5:05

Lohan Family Reunion

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

One day the Maestro dies, the next Lindsey Lohan's dad visits her in rehab seeking "closure". Oh how fickle and yet so profound the entertainment news cycle can be, no?

Okay no. So let's dispense with the gravitas and move straight to Britney Spears who'll be performing on a stage for a change at MTV's VMAs. Brit will be singing "Gimme More" - will the audience be in agreement?

This may come as somewhat of a surprise to the inhabitants of America's prim and proper land but even High School Musical students take their clothes off sometimes.

September 6, 2007 4:52

Pavarotti Dead at 71

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Luciano Pavarotti the Italian tenor who became "the most celebrated opera singer in modern times" has died aged 71. Pavarotti had been suffering from pancreatic cancer.

The world's media is full of eulogies for the great singer this morning. Here are a few:

[His] ringing, pristine sound set a standard for operatic tenors of the postwar era" - NYT

"He was known for the unforced beauty and thrilling urgency of his voice, his vibrant high Cs and ebullient showmanship," - The Times

"The public adored his enormous bulk, wide grin and trademark white handkerchief as much as they thrilled to his wonderfully lucid, even-toned and open-throated singing." - The Daily Telegraph

- He "combined a lustrous lyric tenor voice with a radiant and expansive personal charm to win the largest and most diversified audience ever accorded an opera singer." - The Washington Post

On hearing the news of his passing, Mount Etna erupted with grief....at least we think the two events are related.

In other celebrity news, Jude Law has been arrested outside his London home for allegedly attacking a photographer. No details on whether he employed the Hugh Grant tin of beans method.

September 5, 2007 5:11

Halle Berry's Baby in Waiting

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Baby-in-waiting news from Halle Berry. The 41-year old actress told Access Hollywood she is pregnant saying: "Gabriel [super hunky model boyfriend] and I are beyond excited and I've waited a long time for this moment in my life."

Shaquille O'Neal is calling a final timeout on his five-year marriage.

Tobey Maguire, meanwhile, has tied the knot with partner Jennifer Meyer in Hawaii.

Jerry Lewis is apologizing for using the anti-gay slur "fag" during his live Labor Day telethon.

Bill Murray isn't apologizing for his late-night golf cart escapade in Stockholm last month. The police "asked me to come over and they assumed that I was drunk and I explained to them that I was a golfer," said Murray sort of confirming the police's suspicions we imagine.

September 4, 2007 5:37

Brad Pitt Fights Off Fan

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Brad Pitt may be ready for another child but he was certainly unprepared for the lunging advances of an over-amorous fan at the Venice Film Festival.

One star missing from the festival is Owen Wilson but his friend Wes Anderson - in Venice to promote The Darjeeling Limited, which he directed and stars Wilson and Adrien Brody - says the comic actor is "doing well".

Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams have called it a day and so have soccer star heartthrob Thierry Henry and his model wife Claire Merry.

Finally, just as new research suggests that rock stars are twice as likely to die young as the rest of us along comes news that the keyboardist for Edie Brickell & New Bohemians was shot dead yesterday.

August 31, 2007 5:24

Princes Remember Diana

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Princes William and Harry will lead a memorial service for Princess Diana today on the 10th anniversary of her death. But the ceremony has already been overshadowed by a furor over whether Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince Charles' second wife (and mistress during the Diana marriage) should have been invited or not.

Britney Spears has a new single out but might not need the cash as much as some people have speculated. TMZ reports she rakes in a cool $737,868 a month according to court papers.

David Beckham has a knee injury that will sideline him for six weeks....about the time left in the LA Galaxy's season. Good job they sold a lot of replica Becks shirts already.

August 30, 2007 7:00

Sadr Calls Six Month Ceasefire

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

The Iraqi government has applauded militant cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's decision to suspend all activities of his Mahdi army for the next six months. Sadr's ceasefire comes in the wake of violent intra-Shi'ite clashes that threatened to rip Shi'ite communities apart.

U.S. commanders had a "wait and see" reaction to Sadr's announcement yesterday but the main beneficiaries might well be UK forces as a ceasefire will allow them to withdraw from Basra without being targeted by Mahdi units.

Iraq has "failed to meet all but three of 18" benchmarks laid down by Congress to judge the success of funding the Iraq war says a new Government Accounting Office report. The negative report will undermine the much-anticipated September Surge report the White House is placing its hope in says the Washington Post.

As the Army starts investigating $3 billion-worth of Iraq contracts to weed out fraud and corruption, it might want to check with the Pentagon about its own probe into why thousands of weapons given by the US to Iraq security forces are being used in violent crime in Turkey?

August 30, 2007 5:13

Leona's Puppy Love

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Who cares about the damn grandkids when you've got a pooch with $12 million needs? That must have been hotelier Leona Helmsley's thinking when she left a chunk of her fortune to her white Maltese, Trouble, while overlooking two of her grandchildren. It's not all good news for Trouble though - when the dog dies it will be buried with her.

Around the time Helmsley was making her Manhattan midtown fortune, Hilly Kristal was launching a downtown mecca that would become as famous an icon as any Helmsley hotel. The founder of the original punk club CBGB has died aged 75. The Ramones, Blondie, New York Dolls, Patti Smith - they all made a name there.

Health related artistic withdrawals now: Owen Wilson has pulled out of the new Ben Stiller-directed movie Tropic Thunder and Amy Winehouse won't be appearing at MTV's VMA awards.

August 29, 2007 5:20

Wilson Attempted Suicide Says Cops

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Owen Wilson update: Cops officially call it "attempted suicide".

Still on spiraling stars: Amy Winehouse's in-laws urge fans during a live BBC radio broadcast to boycott buying her music as a way of cutting off the funds she and her husband Blake Fielder-Civil are using to buy drugs.

Humanitarian celeb news next. Jim Carrey has recorded a PSA in support of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under arrest or house arrest by the Burmese government for 11 of the last 17 years.

And Angelina Jolie is in Iraq visiting refugees as part of her UN goodwill ambassador role.

Back home, while Hillary Duff makes the transition from former child star to adult entertainer by playing live gigs in NY (the NYT is pleasantly surprised to learn she can sing...sort of), CBS continues to hit pre-ratings gold with new uproar over its Kid Nation series. Was the network breaching Hollywood labor laws by putting the little Lord of the Flies wannabes to "work" asks the LA Times?

August 28, 2007 5:18

Michael Vick Apologizes

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick faced reporters just minutes after pleading guilty to dogfighting charges yesterday and apologized for what he called "a mistake in using bad judgment and making bad decisions" and saying, "I need to grow up". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has video of his statement. Vick will be sentenced in December and the Falcons are looking to reclaim up to $20 million in bonuses from the disgraced player.

Owen Wilson has asked for privacy while he recovers in a Los Angeles hospital from an undisclosed condition. Reuters and People both cite media reports that claim the comedy star attempted suicide.

They've just finished a mammoth two-year world tour but the Rolling Stones aren't about to hang up their guitars, sprightly 60-year old Ronnie Wood tells the Sun. After all, why stop when all you need to do to maintain a rock 'n roll rebel image nowadays is smoke indoors?

August 27, 2007 4:21

Owen Wilson in Hospital

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Owen Wilson was rushed to hospital in Los Angeles yesterday after emergency services were called to his Santa Monica apartment. No official details have been released about the star's condition but the supermarket tabs and celeb blogs are rife with rumors.

Hulk Hogan's son suffered serious injuries Sunday when his car hit a palm tree in Florida. Nick Bollea, 17, and a friend are believed to have been driving at high speed when the Toyota Supra left the road. The car was totalled in the accident.

Ten years after the car crash death of Princess Diana, her husband's new wife won't be attending her memorial service. The Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, has decided to skip the event after protesters threatened to pelt the woman blamed for the break-up of Diana's marriage with eggs if she turned up, says the Guardian.

August 24, 2007 5:45

Richie Does Sprint In Slammer

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

So Nicole Richie spends just 82 minutes in jail for DUI.

That will make Lindsey Lohan mad. Lohan's plea bargain for her various recent brushes with the law netted her a one-day sentence. She obviously needs Richie's lawyer.

Lohan also took the occasion of her plea bargain to announced (through a spokesperson of course) that she is addicted to alcohol and drugs.....which we guess is what the Sun is trying to get Amy Winehouse to admit to through its voyeuristic watchdog/hounding of the singer as she seemingly spirals out of control. Sure she needs friends to keep a lookout for her but is the Sun one of them?

August 23, 2007 5:11

Bill Murray Misses the Fairway in Stockholm

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

A semi-sporting theme to today's celeb news. First up is Bill Murray who's run into a spot of legal bother while attending a golf tournament in Sweden. He was stopped by Stockholm police in the early hours of Sunday for what we can only call GUI - Golfcarting Under the Influence.

Next up - Barry Bonds' record-breaking home run ball is going up for auction online. If you've got a spare $500,000 you might fancy your chances at grabbing a grabbed piece of history.

Patriots QB Tom Brady is a daddy - his ex Bridget Moynihan gave birth to a baby boy yesterday.

Finally short-tempered rapper Foxy Brown is sent to jail for violating her probation. Her latest fracas? Assaulting a Brooklyn neighbor with a Blackberry. Guess it really does pack more multitasking weight than an iPhone.

August 22, 2007 4:44

Lohan Sniffs an Escape from Jail Time

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Lindsey Lohan might yet escape felony charges for cocaine possession stemming from her two DUI arrests earlier this year. That's the skinny from TMZ. If the Los Angeles County District Attorney doesn't file felony charges then Lohan might only face four days in jail for her crazy driving escapades....but that should deter her from getting behind the wheel for a long time to come, shouldn't it?

Gwen Stefani covered up for a concert in Malaysia this week following months of complaints by local student groups that "her revealing outfits and cheeky performances clashed with traditional Islamic values [and were] corrupting the nation's youth," according to People. Stefani called her decision to cover up "a major sacrifice". Good to see she has the world in a proper perspective.

And talking of covering up, Hotelier and infamous tax fraud Leona Helmsley is being laid to rest in a $1.4 million mausoleum she had commissioned especially for her passing. Understated to the end....

August 21, 2007 5:00

Vick Cops a Plea

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Michael Vick's NFL career lies in tatters this morning after he agreed to plead guilty to dogfighting charges. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback will admit his guilt on August 27th as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid a tougher sentence. The Washington Post looks at how Vick got caught up with the wrong crowd of friends, while the Atlanta Journal-Constitution looks at the rise and fall of "Icarus with shoulder pads instead of wings." Most of the media's coverage though is obsessed with that most pressing question: Will Vick play again?

The Tom Cruise popularity tour of Germany hit another roadblock yesterday when 11 extras involved in his new film Valkyrie were injured when they fell off the back of a truck during filming.

Hillary Duff wasn't at the wheel but by the way Duff describes her own driving skills she could have been.

And Leona Helmsley is dead, aged 87. The feel-good 1980s are truly over then.

August 20, 2007 5:10

Lohan's Divorce Settled

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Lindsey Lohan's parents have finalized their divorce....now there's just the other twisted reality of being a serially media-stalked, booze-addled former child star for her to worry about.

Talking of child stars, Disney scored a record cable TV hit this weekend with High School Musical 2, though the NYT's "Move Over Mickey: A New Franchise at Disney" headline seems to be doing little big-ears a bit of a disservice don't you think?

Access Hollywood offering an endorsement for La Leche League? Just nine weeks after giving birth, AH host "Nancy O'Dell has lost 24 of her 30 lbs. of pregnancy weight," gushes People and she has breastfeeding to thank. Speaking of motherly curves, the Sun is getting all MTBILF (you work it out) over Charlotte Church and Christina Aguilera.

Finally Al Sharpton says he won't get in the way of a Don Imus return to the airwaves....as long as Imus talks regularly on air with an ombudsman. Let's just hope for ratings sake it isn't Byron Calame.

August 17, 2007 4:08

White House Wedding

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Jenna Bush is engaged, the White House announced yesterday. The Prez's 25-year-old daughter will wed her long-time boyfriend Henry Hager, 29, a soon-to-be MBA student whose dad is Republican Party chairman in Virginia. There's no date or venue selected yet, according to a spokeswoman for the First Lady. But it seems the White House is a nice spot to get married: Presidents Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, and Teddy Roosevelt have all hosted wedding receptions there for their daughters.

No wedding bells for Jennifer Aniston—or not on screen at least. The Break Up actor is finalizing a contract to star in He's Just Not That Into You, a comedy based on the best-selling relationship-advice book by that name. In the film, Aniston plays a woman whose long-term boyfriend refuses to get married.

But the big movie tonight, of course, is High School Musical 2. The sequel to High School Musical—that unlikely made-for-TV smash hit and teen-culture phenomenon—makes its TV premiere today on the Disney Channel. And if you thought it was just a wholesome, feel-good sing-a-long, you were be wrong. "It is impossible to overstate the importance of this event in so many young lives," reports the LA Times today.

August 16, 2007 3:47

Britney's Toxic Tabloid Coverage

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Who knew things could get more embarrassing for Britney Spears? Following last week's Us Weekly cover story—that's where a college student claims he and Spears hooked up poolside last month—"Practically every tabloid in America is going on a bash Britney rampage," says Hollyscoop. The evidence? Star Magazine's cover this week, "Britney to her kids: You were both mistakes." Then there's Life & Style's "Brit's Losing the Babies," and, of course, OK's "Britney's New Lover: And Yes, It's a Woman!" Meanwhile, the AP reports, "this week's Us Magazine is running a cover story based on some wild accusations by several ex-nannies who claim the pop star drinks in front of her kids, strips in front of staffers, and invited one nanny to sleep in the same bed as her and her baby son, Sean Preston." None of it is likely to help Spears in her custody battle with Kevin Federline.

Happier times in L.A. for David Beckham: Still fighting off a nagging ankle injury, the soccer star made his first start of the season for the L.A. Galaxy. Beckham also scored his first goal of the season, and then set up a second goal early in the second half for a 2-0 win over D.C. United. And the family seems to be settling in nicely. "I've never seen the kids and Victoria so happy," he told the AP the day before the game. "That's the best part for me, to have a happy family, happy children."

Tens of thousands flocked to Graceland last night for a candlelit vigil: Today is the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. To help commemorate, the managers at Graceland will endorse the first official Elvis impersonator—but only a tasteful one, understand, a "tribute artist." Qualifying rounds in the "Ultimate Elvis" contest began in March, and the winner will be chosen Friday. Prizes include $3,000 for a dream jumpsuit.

August 15, 2007 3:41

Lindsay Lohan Sued

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

An L.A. woman is suing Lindsay Lohan for negligence and assault, claiming the actor instigated a high-speed car chase while drunk on July 24. Tracie Rice, the plaintiff, says she was riding in a car with Michelle Peck (the mom of a Lohan assistant), when the actor started tailing them. Rice says Lohan's alleged behavior was "extremely dangerous and reprehensible." She also seeks emotional damages (amount undisclosed): Peck and Rice were terrified "they had to outrun the pursuing car or they might be killed," the lawsuit alleges. They survived just fine. Peck smashed straight through a barricade and drove to a Santa Monica police station. On arrival, Lohan was charged with DUI, possession of cocaine, and driving with a suspended license.

But celebrities can bounce back from just about anything. Radio host Don Imus has settled with former employer CBS, which dropped him this year—mid-contract—after Imus made inflammatory and racist comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team. Imus had been threatening a $120-million breach of contract suit, according to CNN. Details of the settlement now aren't public, but Imus has let it be known he plans to rebuild his career. He's negotiating a contract with WABC radio in New York.

Sadder news for that city: Baseball Hall of Fame star Phil Rizzuto has died. Rizzuto, who played 11 seasons as a Yankees shortstop, was an American League MVP in 1950. He then went on to become a broadcaster for the Yankees, a job he kept for nearly four decades. "Phil was a gem, one of the greatest people I ever knew," said Yogi Berra, a friend and former teammate. At 89, Rizzuto was the oldest living Hall of Famer.

August 14, 2007 4:03

If He Does It, Here's How O.J. Will Publish

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

O.J. Simpson has struck a deal to publish "If I Did It," FoxNews reports. That's the infamous book—scheduled for release last year and then canceled—in which Simpson explains how he would have killed his ex-wife and Ron Goldman if he'd committed the crimes of which he was found not guilty in 1995. The one-time NFL star aborted publication late last year, faced with public consensus that the whole thing was a tad tasteless. But last month a federal bankruptcy judge transferred the book rights to Goldman's family, ruling it would help cover the massive sum Simpson still owes them from his lost wrongful-death suit. The Goldman family then secured an L.A. literary agent, who secured the publishing deal, and, voila, the book is back—with the Goldmans' commentary. Expect the agent to announce full details today.

News now from a current NFL player: Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart settled his custody dispute with ex-girlfriend, Brynn Cameron, yesterday. Leinart will see their 10-month-old son at least once a week during football season. Though the court hearing was brief, it was still long enough for Cameron to get passionate: "Britney and Paris aren't allowed to be around the baby!" TMZ claims she said in the hallway of the court. (That's not part of the custody deal.) Leinart, apparently, has spent time with both partying celebs in the past.

New York City socialite and philanthropist extraordinaire Brooke Astor has died, the family's lawyer announced Monday. A "fixture of New York high society," says the AP, Astor gave away nearly $200 million from her husband's family fortune, sponsoring cultural institutions like the New York Public Library and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as social causes, like furniture for homeless people moving into apartments. Astor was 105.

August 13, 2007 4:11

TV Impresario Merv Griffin Dead at 82

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Merv Griffin—talk-show host, game show producer, and business mogul—has died of prostate cancer in L.A. From his unremarkable start singing with a 1940s big band, Griffin moved into TV, and launched the massively popular Merv Griffin Show in 1965. It ran more than 20 years. But Griffin will perhaps be best remembered for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, the hit game shows he invented and produced. Their success gave Griffin the start-up cash to build the business and real-estate empire that made him one of America's richest men. He was 82.

The wire reporters seem in a reflective mood today. They examine the legacy of Elvis Presley, as we approach the 30th anniversary of his death (that's Aug. 16). As Reuters notes, these last few decades have treated the King pretty well—better, probably, than the last few years of his life, in fact. Even "remixes of lesser-known songs "Rubberneckin'" and "A Little Less Conversation" [have been] No. 1 hits in the last five years," Reuters says. And fans can cash in on the success, too. Two people have bought the Presleys' old five-bedroom holiday home in Palm Springs, the AP reports. They plan to build it into a tourist attraction. Call it the second Graceland. "We may have our names on the deed, but we are the caretakers," said Reno Fontana, co-owner. "This house belongs to Elvis fans around the world."

Tiger Woods need have no fears about his own legacy. The golf star won his 13th career major title yesterday, with a win at the U.S. PGA Championship. That leaves him just five championships off the record of Jack Niklaus, who won 18 majors.

August 10, 2007 3:55

Pavarotti in Hospital

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Opera star Luciano Pavarotti was hospitalized Thursday morning in his hometown of Modena, Italy. The 71-year-old tenor, who hasn't performed since last year's surgery to treat pancreatic cancer, was admitted with a fever—possibly pneumonia. He is apparently in stable condition.

Britney Spears, on the other hand, seems ever-more unsettled as the days go on. Paparazzi caught the singer on film earlier this week as she banged her black convertible against a parked Mercedes in a Studio City lot. Spears, who was driving with a puppy on her lap, appears in the videos a little too preoccupied to check whether she'd damaged the other car. "What kind of person wouldn't realize that this [would] be on TV?" asked Kim Robard-Rifkin, the self-described "sort of amused and sort of shocked" owner of the Mercedes. She filed a police report Thursday, but says she expects nothing more from Spears than insurance cash to get the car repaired.

Getting a bit tired of all the hype around the Bourne Ultimatum? You wouldn't be alone. Even lead actor Matt Damon has a massive billboard—nearly five stories tall—stuck on the side of his Manhattan apartment building, the Smoking Gun has discovered. The billboard's slogan? "Bourne Comes Home." As the website says, the ad actually intended for "home" to refer to "the United States, not the 3500-square-foot loft occupied by Damon, his wife, and their daughter."

August 9, 2007 4:19

Britney v. K-Fed: The Custody Wars

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Kevin Federline filed yesterday for primary custody of his infant sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James. The would-be rapper and his ex-wife, Britney Spears, had agreed to split custody 50/50, according to People.com. But now Federline is worried the boys' erratic party mom—who recently had a stint in rehab—puts the boys at risk. "Kevin is convinced she’s not fit to raise the kids,” one anonymous "insider" told Life & Style. Not going to help her chances: Today, the Sun in the U.K. has photos of Britney topless, making out in a hot tub with one of her music-video extras.

It's wedding bells for Spice Girl Melanie Brown. She married her music-producer boyfriend, Stephen Belafonte—in secret, two full months ago. PerezHilton.com uncovered the marriage, and others confirmed it yesterday, digging up records of the happy couple's Nevada marriage license. Brown's rep says Brown and Belafonte "are deeply in love." But let's hope the groom is good with kids, too. Brown was scheduled to appear last night on CNN's Larry King Live to talk about her very public spat with Eddie Murphy over the paternity of daughter Angel. TMZ reports Brown missed the appearance, however, because mom and baby were sick.

Jennifer Lopez proves it can be lucrative to take an ex to court. Lopez won nearly $545,000 from ex-hubby No. 1, Ojani Noa, court papers revealed this week. An arbitrator filed the decision back in April, the AP reports, with a ruling that Noa's plans to publish a tell-all book about J-Lo breached a previous court settlement. So what will Jenny from the Block do with an extra half million bucks? Not very much, it seems. All but $200,000 goes to cover lawyer fees and arbitration costs.

August 8, 2007 4:05

Anna Nicole's Surgical Tape

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

A California judge has temporarily blocked the distribution of a 1994 video showing Anna Nicole Smith's breast-enhancement surgery. Smith's surgeon had tried to sell the tapes to a memorabilia collector, the AP reports, but the executor of Smith's will is trying to bar the transaction. He says the tape was made without Smith's consent. According to the AP, the doctor claims he routinely tapes surgeries—with permission—telling everyone that tapes will remain confidential "during the patient's lifetime." Smith died in February of a drug overdose.

Over now to videos you might actually want to see. The MTV Music Video Award nominees were announced Tuesday. Justin Timberlake and Beyonce lead the pack with seven nominations each, including nods for video of the year and, respectively, male artist and female artist of the year. Kanye West and Rihanna each picked up five nominations. The Awards show is Sept. 9.

And on TV: Charlie Sheen claims his ex-wife, Denise Richards, requested a sperm donation so that she could bear their third child. At least that's what the Two and a Half Men actor told TV's Entertainment Tonight. He won't consider donating, though. "I would sooner, in exactly what I'm wearing, walk on the surface of the moon," he said. Sheen and Richards divorced last year.

August 7, 2007 4:08

Matt Damon, Star Investment

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Matt Damon is the best bet in Hollywood, according to a new listing in Forbes magazine. Every actor has his box-office flops. But for every dollar Damon was paid in his last three roles, the movies earned $29 in box-office revenue and DVD sales. That's more than twice the return on Tom Cruise ($12), according to Forbes—and presumably producers don't worry about whether Scientology is a cult before Damon films in Germany, either. Jennifer Aniston is the top-ranked female on Forbes's list, placing fifth overall with a return of $17. And rounding out the Top 5: Brad Pitt at $24, and Vince Vaughn and Johnny Depp, both at $21.

Keen to cash on what's left of their fame, the reunited Backstreet Boys (minus Kevin) release a sixth album this fall: Oct. 30 in the U.S. The first single, "Inconsolable," made its radio debut yesterday on New York's Z100. Hollyscoop has the free mp3 download, while bloggers the world over revel in their "Backstreet's back" puns.

And Paris Hilton is back, too... to her old ways. Hilton—who was conspicuously toting a Bible around after her jail stint this summer—was caught gallivanting in her undies over the weekend. The Sun in the U.K. runs racy photos today of Hilton at a Playboy party, dressed in lingerie and (at times) a silver coat.

August 6, 2007 3:59

Usher's Quiet Wedding

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Pop sensation Usher married his girlfriend, Tameka Foster, in a quiet ceremony Friday—less than a week after canceling their extravagant Hamptons nuptials last-minute. For the planned wedding, People.com reports, the happy couple had spent $10,000 on invitations alone, with singer Robin Thicke and chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten lined up to provide entertainment and eats. Usher and Foster now say, however, that the wedding had to be postponed because Foster, who is pregnant, had a "scare" (details unspecified) and was rushed to hospital. All's well that ends well.

There's no such happy ending for Lindsay Lohan. The actress is back in rehab, according to TV's "The Insider." Sources say she checked into Cirque Lodge drug and alcohol rehab in Sundance, Utah, and will stay at least 30 days, though her reps have not confirmed the news. If true, this would be Lohan's third rehab stint this year.

And in case somehow you missed it, Barry Bonds tied Hank Aaron's home-run record Saturday night, hitting his 755th homer in the Giants' 4-3 loss to the San Diego Padres. The embattled slugger, still under scrutiny for alleged steroid use, was greeted with cheers and boos—but mostly cheers.

August 3, 2007 4:04

Nicole Ritchie Chooses a Jail

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Nicole Ritchie will serve her four-day DUI sentence at the same California facility where Paris Hilton did time earlier this summer, says People.com. The Simple Life star, who pleaded guilty to the Dec. 11 charges on Friday, apparently requested the location. She might stay in the medical ward, says People, since she announced this week that she's four months pregnant. Or like Hilton, she could just stay in the segregated unit for high-profile inmates.

Further south, Sean Penn is warming up to Venezuela's outspoken socialist prez, Hugo Chavez, the AP reports. With the actor in Caracas earlier this week, Chavez read aloud a letter that Penn wrote to the White House, claiming Bush should be impeached. Chavez and Penn also spoke on the phone, according to the Venezuelan. He called Penn "well-informed about what is happening in the United States and the world, in spite of being in Hollywood." Ouch. With friends like these...

But politicians need to watch what they say. Barack Obama, for example, tells Vibe magazine he's worried about the influence of hip-hop culture. "I think that if all our kids see is a glorification of materialism and bling ... then they are getting an unrealistic picture of what the world is like," Obama says. Didn't he hear? "Only white people and older black people say 'bling' now," Kanye West told the NY Post's Page Six yesterday.

August 2, 2007 3:55

R Kelly to Have His Day in Court

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

R&B star R Kelly will face trial for his 14 child-pornography charges starting Sept. 17, the AP reports. Kelly was charged in 2002 after the leak of now-infamous videos that allegedly show him having sex with a young teen. But the case was postponed a couple times for medical emergencies (one was Kelly's; one was the judge's)—long enough, at least, for Kells to release six best-selling albums, says the AP. Kelly has pleaded not guilty.

Melanie Brown hopes to have her own day in court. The former Spice Girl filed a petition to legally establish Eddie Murphy as the father of her four-month-old baby, Angel Iris Murphy Brown, the AP reports. Oh, yes, and she's also seeking "reasonable child support." People.com notes Brown's lawyer didn't hold back from a dig or two at Murphy's fiancée, producer Tracey Edmonds. "He bought a big diamond ring for [her]," she said. "But what about his own baby?" Perhaps he could take a page from the ever-admirable Kevin Federline. With the divorce finalized, K-Fed's lawyer is making the rounds to say his client is "focused right now on being the best parent that he can be."

And, finally, it's official. Whoopi Goldberg will indeed follow Rosie O'Donnell as co-host of the TV's The View. Goldberg's new full-time gig begins after Labor Day. She dropped by the set yesterday for an official welcome and some warm banter.

August 1, 2007 3:58

Nicole Richie Pregnant Shocker

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Ending what TMZ called the worst kept secret in Hollywood Nicole Richie confirmed she is four months pregnant. Richie will reveal all (so to speak) in a Good Morning America interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer tomorrow. She'll also talk "candidly about why this particular constellation of young female stars - [Paris] Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears, among others - have behaved badly so publicly," according to the press release. Now that's some insight worth getting up for.

Alternatively you could just keep reading about Britney acting out and getting mad at paparazzi. Yesterday, two photographers in Las Vegas complained that Spears threw a baby bottle at them and threatened them before one of her bodyguards attacked one of the photogs. They intend to sue, of course.

It's not just the young celebs that have a bit of a temper about them. Pete Doherty reveals to the Sun that the last weeks of his relationship with Kate Moss "became like the Vietnam War.....I was always dodging bullets". For her part, Moss is looking for a clean break from her serial drug user ex. "Kate has also been having Turkish baths to “cleanse' herself of Pete’s grubby influence on her life," says the paper.

July 31, 2007 4:07

Brit Finally Splits With K-Fed

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

It's official: Britney Spears and Kevin Federline are now divorced. Yesterday the couple agreed to share of custody of the children on a 50-50 basis. The couple had agreed a preliminary divorce agreement back in March but Brit's increasingly erratic behavior caused K-Fed to hesitate on inking the settlement, says People.

There's a new edition to the seriously silly celebrity baby name stakes. Welcome Story Elias Elfman, newborn son of actress Jenna and husband Bodhi.

Gwen Stefani is normally a big hit with the student crowd but she could get a rough reception when/if she plays Kuala Lumpur. The 10,000-strong National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students has called for her "Sweet Escape" gig to be canceled because of "her indecent dressing and obscenity," writes Reuters.

July 30, 2007 4:29

Steve Martin Gets Hitched, Eddie Murphy Makes Wedding Plans

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

We're hearing wedding bells this morning. First there's Steve Martin who has married his journalist girlfriend, Anne Stringfield, in a surprise ceremony (for the guests at least) at their home in Los Angeles. Invitees such as Tom Hanks, Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton thought they were just coming for a party.

It must be the season for veteran comic nuptials because Eddie Murphy is also getting married. People tells us that the actor is engaged to movie producer Tracey Edmonds, just weeks after he sorted out that messy little paternity issue with Mel B. (aka Scary Spice). Edmonds was formerly married to singer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.

No such nuptial luck for singer Usher though. He and fiancee Tameka Foster mysteriously canceled their wedding just hours before it was meant to take place in the Hamptons. Depending on whom People talked to, either Usher's mother was against the wedding, or Usher himself got cold feet or the betrothed couple argued over details. "For example, the bride wanted barbeque, [and] he wanted to have [renowned chef] Jean Georges cook," a source says.

July 27, 2007 4:18

Vick Pleads Not Guilty

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick pleaded not guilty to federal dog fighting-related charges yesterday. The indictment says Vick and three co-defendants "set up a business called Bad Newz Kennels to raise and train pit bulls for fighting," reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Vick could face up to five years in jail if convicted. Vicks has requested a full-jury federal trial that is unlikely to take place until mid-November, halfway through the NFL season.

Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber are the proud parents of a baby son. Alexander Pete Schreiber was born yesterday in LA and weighed into the world at 8lbs, 4oz. We get this news from People but it would like to point out that Life & Style first broke the "story".

Finally, to the Lohan news du jour. Police released the recording of the 911 call made by the mother of Lohan's assistant (if you're new to this story you're gonna have to do some catching up). "Oh my God, sir, they're following us. We need help," the distraught mom tells 911, unaware that it is Lohan who is pursuing her. Hollyscoop has a skimpily sourced story about Lohan being nearly broke while TMZ has interviewed the three young guys who were in the SUV with Lohan during the chase. They describe how the actress drove at speeds around 100mph down the Pacific Coastal Highway and allegedly told them, "I can't get in trouble. I'm a celebrity. I can do whatever the f**k I want."

July 26, 2007 4:25

Lohan - I'm Innocent

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

"I am innocent ... did not do drugs they're not mine." That's what Lindsey Lohan wrote in an e-mail to "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush, which was then reported on the show's website. Lohan, accused of drink-driving and cocaine possession, "joins a long list of young Hollywood talents who've faced high-profile battles with drugs and alcohol. Some went on to enjoy healthy careers. Others died young," CBS Showbuzz intones.

Editors at OK! Magazine must be licking their lips at the number of special "Britney meltdown" copies they'll sell this week. After all, the mag has spent most of the week dribbling a steady stream of gossip about its interview with Brit. Today has Reuters quoting excerpts from the "exclusive" including details that "she let her new puppy poop on a $6,700 (3,267 pounds) Zac Posen gown, wiped her greasy hands on a pink silk Alisha Levine dress, took repeated bathroom breaks without closing the door and fled after four test shots still wearing more than $14,000 of OK!'s borrowed clothing".

Finally, let's move to onto Jessica Alba, a young actress who is doing a much better job of keeping it all together. Apart from her relationship that is. US magazine tells us that Alba split up with longtime beau Cash Warren last week during a long-distance phone call.

July 25, 2007 4:46

Lohan Falls Off the Wagon, Out of SUV Into DUI Charge

Category: Celeb-u-Gossip

So much for that ankle bracelet then. Troubled starlet Lindsey Lohan was arrested early Tuesday morning on a cocktail of DUI charges, driving with a suspended license and cocaine possession. (The Smoking Gun has the mug shot.) If this sounds all too familiar, it's because this new arrest comes just three months after her last drink-driving arrest, an incident that prompted a lengthy stay in rehab. There are lots of conflicting versions of the arrest, including reports that Lohan had been chasing the mother of one of her assistants who had quit her job hours before (the LA Times says yes,