Jimmy Fallon Marries Producer Girlfriend

SATURDAY DECEMBER 29, 2007 08:30 PM EST

Former Saturday Night Live regular Jimmy Fallon and girlfriend Nancy Juvonen, a Hollywood producer who worked on Fallon's 2005 romantic comedy Fever Pitch, were married Saturday on Necker Island in the Caribbean, a publicist announced.

Fallon, 33, and Juvonen, 40, had "family and close friends in attendance" at the ceremony, according to the statement from representative Ina Treciokas, the Associated Press reports. No further details were released.

The proposal took place in New Hampshire last August "on the dock at sunset at the Junoven family home in Wolfeboro on Lake Winnipesaukee, where On Golden Pond was filmed," a friend of the couple's told PEOPLE at the time.

"He presented her with a one-of-a-kind ring designed by Neil Lane," the friend added.

It is a first marriage for both.

Fallon: 'Coolest Girl in World'

The bride has been a close friend and producing partner of Drew Barrymore's for more than a decade. This summer, Barrymore threw Juvonen a 40th birthday party, where guests included Eva Mendes, Kathy Griffin, Courtney Love, Jason Bateman and Fred Savage.

Movies that Juvonen has produced include 50 First Dates, Music and Lyrics, Charlie's Angels and the upcoming He's Just Not That Into You.

Fallon is being talked up as a possible Late Night successor to Conan O'Brien (who takes over NBC's Tonight franchise in 2009). He left SNL in 2004, in 2004, but the following year he and Tina Fey staged an on-air reunion – and a mock custody battle over their supposed love child.

In October, Fallon was at no loss for words when it came to describing his then-bride-to-be, telling PEOPLE: "She's the coolest girl in the world."

Oscar de la Hoya & Wife Have Baby Girl

SATURDAY DECEMBER 29, 2007 09:00 PM EST

Oscar de la Hoya and Millie Corretjer have welcomed their second child together, Nina Lauren Nenitte de la Hoya, born Saturday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the couple have announced.

The girl arrived at 4:36 p.m. local time, weighing 7 lbs., 13 oz., and measuring 20.5".

"We are so excited and blessed with the new addition to our family!" boxing champ de la Hoya said in a statement.

The pregnancy was first announced in May – an hour after de La Hoya lost a major match in Las Vegas to "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather.

Nina is De La Hoya's fourth child and Corretjer's second. The couple welcomed a son, Oscar Gabriel, on Dec. 29, 2005.

De La Hoya, 34, and Corretjer, a 33-year-old pop singer, were married Oct. 5, 2001. The couple met in 2000, when both were signed to the same record label. (De La Hoya's debut CD that year earned a Grammy nod.)

The boxer has two other children from previous relationships: Jacob and Atiana. Atiana's mother is former Dancing with the Stars contestant Shanna Moakler.

Miley Cyrus: Pics with Friend 'Nothing Bad'

SATURDAY DECEMBER 29, 2007 09:00 AM EST

Photos of Miley Cyrus, shown frolicking on a hotel floor with a female friend and sharing a piece of candy, have been circulating the Internet this week, but the 15-year-old pop sensation insists that the candid shots and what took place are strictly innocent.

"They're nothing bad!" Cyrus told Z100 New York on Friday, right before her sold-out Best of Both Worlds concert at Nassau Coliseum.

"At first, I was really upset. It really sucks," said the Hannah Montana star, who at one point exclaimed, "Look at me getting all upset!"

Not that she simply plans to shrug off the controversy, or the fact that the photos were even leaked. "It's not something I'm going to let slide," she said. "I'm really upset about it, 'cause it was, like, not even a big deal."

As for the blonde with her in the shots, Cyrus calls her "a friend of mine that's a normal girl. ... That's one of my best friends. I have all these girls who I hang out with all the time."

'Two Girls at a Sleepover'

While Cyrus says she's used to all the attention, both good and bad – "I have to deal with that anyways," she said – her friend is not. "This girl doesn't even have to deal with that, and it's so hard," said Cyrus. [Now] she has to go to school and deal with this crap."

Concerning the photos themselves, Cyrus said, "It's two girls at a sleepover, and if all of a sudden that's bad, then what is the world coming to?"

Cyrus also says that she's into the tour for the fun of it – and once the fun goes away, so will she.

"What I decided before I came out to L.A. and started working," she told the radio station's Niko, "was the minute I didn't have fun was the minute I go home. I don't want to go home, and I don't want to not do what I do, because I love it, but this ... it's Satan attacking."

Ryan Seacrest Ready to Find Romance in 2008

SATURDAY DECEMBER 29, 2007 06:00 AM EST


One New Year's resolution for the multi-tasking Ryan Seacrest, who is single, could be to find a Mrs. Seacrest – or, at least, make time for a personal life.

"I think, in a way, my goal is to focus on a little bit more balance," a smiling Seacrest 33, told PEOPLE at a recent photo shoot for Crest and Scope's tooth-whitening products. "I really haven't been out with anybody. ... This week I'll literally work seven days, and I'll get home at 10 p.m."

So, how will he make more time for romance?

"I don't know," Seacrest says. "I haven't figured it out yet."

As for his busy schedule this week, Seacrest will be in New York's Times Square to bid farewell to 2007 with his New Year's Rockin' Eve co-host Dick Clark – whom Seacrest tells PEOPLE is "doing better and better" after suffering a stroke in late 2004.

"He's doing alright," says Seacrest. "He and Fergie and I were doing a photo shoot, and Fergie couldn't have looked better. Dick gave some vintage looks to [the] camera when he saw her gorgeous legs and body in this little skirt."

Meanwhile, Seacrest is also prepping for American Idol's upcoming seventh season (premiering Jan. 15). "This year, you will see us go back to our roots," Seacrest says. "We're going to focus more on the kids – where they came from, the background, what they did for a living. We also have more rockers this year."

Heidi Klum Is Sued by Jewelry Company

FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2007 01:00 PM EST


Forget the Runway. Heidi Klum's next project could be in the courtroom.

Van Cleef & Arpels filed suit against the Project Runway host in Manhattan's federal court last week, claiming that her jewelry line ripped off their clover design.

The papers claim that the designs created by Heidi Klum GmbH and Mouawad USA are so similar to Van Cleef & Arpels's vintage Alhambra line, they create "confusion in the marketplace." (The suit, first reported by TMZ.com, also cites an Oct. 21 New York Times article, which states "Heidi Klum appropriated the clover design for jewelry she designs for Mouawad.")

The luxury jewelry house is suing Klum, 34, for copyright infringement and asks for damages in excess of $25,000.

Designer Pascal Mouawad, head of Mouawad USA, dismisses the claim, telling PEOPLE: "We believe this claim has no merit. It's clear that shapes like clovers, hearts, crosses, etc, are universal symbols and are commonly used in jewelry."

He adds, "Heidi has been wearing her pieces on Project Runway and we've seen them become quite popular. The clover has always been in fashion and you can see that many other luxury jewelry houses have their own interpretations of this wonderful shape such as Louis Vuitton and Chopard. "

Divorce Papers Filed in Sean & Robin Wright Penn Separation

FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2007 04:25 PM EST


Divorce papers have been filed in Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn's separation – with the actor and actress both filing papers on separate occasions.

Sean Penn initially filed for divorce from his wife in Marin County, Calif., Superior Court on Dec. 7 – but the petition was later dismissed. No exact reason was given for the case being disposed before trial.

Three days after that, Robin Wright Penn filed her own paperwork.

Penn's divorce papers list Nov. 30 as the date of their separation. Wright's petition, filed Dec. 21, say they separated Dec. 1. Both list "irreconcilable differences" as the reason and ask for joint legal and physical custody of their two teenagers, Hopper Jack, 14, and Dylan Frances, 16.

The couple are scheduled to have a hearing on the case April 21.

A rep for the couple first confirmed their plans to divorce to PEOPLE on Thursday.

Penn and Wright were married in April 1996.

Giada De Laurentiis: Will My Baby Know How to Cook?

FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2007 10:35 AM EST


Food Network chef and Today show regular – and expectant mom – Giada De Laurentiis isn't expecting her baby to be the Next Iron Chef.

"I hope I can pass on the love of food to my child the way my family did to me," De Laurentiis, 37, tells Redbook" for its January issue. "We spent a lot of warm, loving times in the kitchen.

"But watch, I will probably end up with a child who not only doesn't care about food, but doesn't ever want to set foot in a kitchen!" she says.

De Laurentiis announced her pregnancy on Today Nov. 5, revealing that she's expecting a daughter in April. It will be the first child for De Laurentiis and husband of four years, Todd Thompson, a clothing designer.

Husband 'Extra Protective'

Asked how she and Thompson stay in touch when she's traveling, De Laurentiis says, "A lot of texting! A lot! The key is, whatever I'm doing, he loves to know: Who am I working with? Where am I staying?"

De Laurentiis adds: "He needs to know that to feel connected to what I'm doing, even if he's not there every day … He's been extra protective and worried about how I'm feeling, how I'm eating. And I'm like, 'God help me.' "

The food-minded couple has even come up with culinary nicknames for her bun in the oven.

"We call the baby 'the lemon,' " De Laurentiis says. "It started off as 'the lima bean,' but now we've moved to 'the lemon,' and pretty soon, it'll probably be 'the melon.' "

Gymnast Dominique Moceanu Has a Baby Girl

FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2007 02:25 PM EST


Olympic gold-winning gymnast Dominique Moceanu and her husband, Dr. Michael Canales, welcomed their first child, daughter Carmen Noel Canales, on Christmas Day, the couple tell PEOPLE exclusively.

Born just after 3 p.m. on Dec. 25 at Cleveland's MacDonald Women's Hospital, the baby weighed 7 lbs., 7 oz. upon delivery and measured 18.5 inches.

Mother and baby are doing well and are now home.

"We are so excited," Moceanu said in a statement to PEOPLE. "Mike and I have talked about starting a family for so long – it's really a dream come true."

She added, "The miracle of baby Carmen being born on Christmas Day makes this wonderful time all the more special to us. This is the best Christmas present we could have ever received!"

The brand new parents have been married for 13 months.

Moceanu, 26, who won her medal at the 1996 summer Olympics as part of the U.S. women's gymnastics team dubbed the Magnificent Seven, and Canales, 30, a former nationally ranked collegiate gymnast who now practices podiatric surgery in Cleveland, started dating in 2001.

Married ... With Children's David Faustino Divorce Is Final

FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2007 06:50 PM EST


The 3-year marriage of Married ... With Children star David Faustino and his wife, Andrea, is officially over.

After filing divorce papers in Feb., their petition was granted Friday on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.

In the original papers, Faustino stated that he did not want to pay spousal support. Court papers released Friday reveal that a settlement has been agreed to between the parties, but was "not being attached to the judgment for privacy purposes."

Faustino, 33, met Andrea Elmer, 31, at a spiritual center in Los Angeles in 1999. They had a quickie wedding on Jan. 24, 2004, in the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, and separated in May 2006.

Letterman, Ferguson to Return – with Full Writing Staffs

FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2007 07:10 PM EST


Just in time for the New Year, some fresh laughs will soon be back on late night television.

The Writers Guild and David Letterman's company, Worldwide Pants, which produces Late Night with David Letterman and The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, reached an independent agreement Friday.

Those two shows will be allowed "to return to the air with their full writing staffs," according to a statement from the Guild. "This is a comprehensive agreement that addresses the issues important to writers, particularly New Media," which refers to the use of their work on the internet.

"I am grateful to the WGA for granting us this agreement," Letterman said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight. "We're happy to be going back to work, and particularly pleased to be doing it with our writers."

No Criminal Charge for Brandy over Fatal Car Crash

FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2007 03:30 PM EST UPDATED


R&B singer Brandy will not be charged with a crime for a fatal car crash last year, authorities said Friday.

"The City Attorney's Office has decided not to file misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charges against Brandy Norwood in the case stemming from a Dec. 30, 2006, traffic collision," that office's spokesman Frank Mateljan said in a statement.

"After conducting a thorough investigation, which included consulting with some of the top accident reconstruction experts in the country, City prosecutors concluded that there was insufficient evidence from which a jury could find Ms. Norwood guilty of such a charge beyond a reasonable doubt," he said.

The case had been under review by prosecutors for nearly a year.

Brandy's attorney Blair Berk also issued a statement on Friday. It said, in part: "We are extremely pleased that after a more thorough and extensive investigation by authorities ... Brandy Norwood should not be charged with any crime whatsoever relating to the accident back in 2006."

The statement added: "These past 12 months have posed an extraordinary hardship for Brandy and her family, who have been unfairly forced to live under a cloud of suspicion initially caused by the ill-advised and premature press release sent out by the California Highway Patrol accusing Brandy of wrongdoing before the police investigation was even finished."

She concluded, "Brandy continues to be mindful that she was so fortunate to be uninjured in this accident and there was a life lost that should be remembered."

On Dec. 30, 2006, Brandy rear-ended a 2005 Toyota Corolla while traveling on an L.A. freeway, setting off a chain-reaction crash that involved two other cars.

The driver of the Toyota, Awatef Aboudihaj, a 38-year-old mother of two, died the following day from injuries she had sustained.

Wrongful-Death Lawsuits

Police said the singer, 28, was not distracted or under the influence at the time of the accident.

Investigators initially recommended a charge of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, which carries a penalty of up to a year in jail.

Brandy still faces four wrongful-death lawsuits filed on behalf of Aboudihaj's parents, her widower, her two children and another victim of the crash, Mallory Ham.

A civil trial date is set for Jan. 28.

Paris Hilton's Inheritance Goes to Charity

THURSDAY DECEMBER 27, 2007 08:35 AM EST


Paris Hilton's future bank account has just taken an enormous hit – on account of her grandfather.

Barron Hilton, the 80-year-old son of the founder of the worldwide hotel chain that carries the family name, has earmarked 97 percent of his vast fortune – nearly $2.3 billion – to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, to help the homeless with housing, find safe water in developing countries and assist other good causes around the world, it has been announced.

To Barron's heirs – who include Paris – will go the remaining three percent: some $69 million, which is said to be taxable.

According to calculations by New York's Daily News, Paris, who once foresaw a $100 million inheritance, is now likely looking at $5 million.

In a statement, Barron Hilton said that his father, Conrad, had set the example and bequeathed 97 percent of his money to the charitable foundation, which the elder Hilton founded in 1944, "and I am proud to follow my father's example."

Hilton has eight children and numerous grandchildren in addition to the 26-year-old celebrated Beverly Hills socialite.

Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn Divorcing

THURSDAY DECEMBER 27, 2007 10:15 PM EST


Sean Penn and wife Robin Wright Penn are divorcing, their rep, Mara Buxbaum, confirms to PEOPLE exclusively.

No other details were immediately available. The couple, who've been married 11 years, have two children together, Hopper Jack, 14, and Dylan Frances, 16.

Penn, 47, and Wright, 41, began dating in the early '90s and married in 1996. They also have starred together in several films, including 1998's Hurlyburly and 1997's She's So Lovely, directed by Nick Cassavetes.

"Marriage ain't easy, but it's great most of the time," Penn told Entertainment Weekly in 1997. "I love Robin. I've always loved her."

In the same article, Cassavetes was asked about working with the couple. "The beginning and the end of every day is how Sean and Robin are getting along," he said. "If they have a bad morning, Sean's broken up about it."

Penn's most recent film, Into the Wild, which he directed, is drawing awards buzz, with four SAG Award nominations and two Golden Globe nods

Jessica Alba Engaged!

THURSDAY DECEMBER 27, 2007 03:45 PM EST


Mom-to-be Jessica Alba was spotted over the Christmas holiday with a rock on her left ring finger – and the rumors are true: She and boyfriend Cash Warren are engaged, her rep confirms to PEOPLE.

"I can confirm that they are engaged," says publicist Brad Cafarelli.

Earlier this month, the couple announced to PEOPLE that they are expecting a baby. Alba, 26, has been dating Warren, 28, since the fall of 2004, after they met on the set of her movie, The Fantastic Four, on which Warren was a director's assistant.

Alba has also starred in Sin City and the recent Awake.

Jessica Alba, wearing a ring as she leaves the gym on Dec. 26

Elisabeth Röhm's Baby 'Will be the Prettiest Flower Girl'

THURSDAY DECEMBER 27, 2007 06:00 AM EST

Elisabeth Röhm's fall wedding to clothing entrepreneur Ron Wooster will be a small affair, but the daughter she's expecting in April will top the guest list.

"Our daughter may be in a bassinet, but she'll be the prettiest flower girl. I can't wait," Röhm, 34, tells InStyle Weddings in its winter issue of the child she plans to name Easton.

Röhm and Wooster, 40, will marry next September in the backyard of their 1897 farmhouse on the bay in the Hamptons on New York's Long Island.

"I want a formal but laid-back vibe," says Röhm, who's deciding between a strapless and fitted or spaghetti strap style gown. "I know Badgley Mischka will be able to make a dress for me that's hot and sexy. Since my body's already changing, I'll probably wait until after the baby's born to do my fittings."

The former Law & Order star will accessorize with the five-carat stackable band diamond ring Wooster gave her when he proposed three months after they moved in together – and heels she plans to kick off. "I hope guests dress glamorously for our wedding, but I'll probably want to pull off everyone's high heels at the front door and say, 'Get real,' because I'll be barefoot!"

A Male Maid of Honor

Röhm's maid of honor will be a male friend, Lash Fary. "When you choose a guy," she explains, "Your girlfriends can't get jealous."

Something to be envious of is the couple's passionate relationship. Röhm, who met Wooster about two and a half years ago in his clothing store, says, "We're like Ricky and Lucy! We have a little fight every week, and it's hilarious and loud, and it's over as quickly as it started, and no one remembers it."

Amy Winehouse Summoned to Court in Norway

THURSDAY DECEMBER 27, 2007 05:35 PM EST


She may not want to go to rehab, but Amy Winehouse will need to appear in a Norway court if she wants a marijuana charge dropped.

According to Bergen police, Winehouse, 24, must appear in person to appeal a fine for marijuana possession, stemming from an October arrest.

"I can confirm that she must appear in court," Bergen police spokeswoman Liv Karlsen told the Associated Press Thursday. "If one appeals a conviction, it's the rule that one has to appear in person, so this is not surprising."

Winehouse and husband Blake Fielder-Civil were arrested and detained Oct. 18 in Norway for illegal drug possession, before paying a fine and being released the next day.

The singer later said she had been deceived about signing papers agreeing to pay the fine, which in Norway is equivalent to pleading guilty. Police say that Winehouse knew what she was signing, and was helped by English translators.

Winehouse's lawyer says a conviction could hurt the singer's ability to get work in the United States

Mischa Barton Arrested for DUI

THURSDAY DECEMBER 27, 2007 01:30 PM EST UPDATED


Mischa Barton was arrested in West Hollywood early Thursday morning, authorities confirm to PEOPLE.

The former star of The O.C., 21, was pulled over at 2:46 a.m. after her vehicle was seen straddling two lanes of traffic and she failed to signal when making a turn, according to an L.A. County Sheriff Department statement released Thursday. She was arrested for DUI and driving without a valid license.

"During Ms. Barton's detention, it was determined that she was an unlicensed driver and was driving while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage," according to police. "Ms. Barton was arrested and transported to West Hollywood Sheriff's station where the booking process was completed without incident." The investigation is ongoing.

Shortly after 10 a.m., a West Hollywood deputy told PEOPLE: "Ms. Barton has been released from sheriff's custody after she posted $10,000 bail."

Initially, police also said she'd been arrested for possession of illegal narcotics, but no more details were available.

Best known for playing bad-girl Marissa Cooper on the TV drama, Barton has since moved on to movies, including parts in three upcoming films: St. Trinian's, Virgin Territory and Closing the Ring.

Her arrest was also reported by TMZ.com and Hollyscoop.com.

Barton is currently scheduled to host the opening of the new Las Vegas restaurant and lounge, CatHouse, over the weekend.

A representative for Barton did not immediately return a request for comment.

Jay-Z Leaving Def Jam Post

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 26, 2007 11:45 AM EST

He's been "big pimpin" as president of Def Jam Records since 2005, but Jay-Z is stepping down at the end of the year.

"Now it's time for me to take on new challenges," he said in a statement Monday. "I am pleased to have had the opportunity to build upon the Def Jam legacy." Not to mention more time with long-time girlfriend Beyoncé.

Jay-Z (real name Shawn Carter), 38, whose contract expires at the end of the year, will continue recording for Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam, Variety reports.

During Carter's brief tenure, Def Jam had success with blockbuster releases from himself, Kanye West and Rihanna.

99 Problems and a Job Ain't One

The hip-hop mogul also founded several Roc-a-Fella spin-off companies, including Roca Wear clothing, which he sold in March for $204 million, films, the 40/40 nightclub and a Reebok sneaker line.

Last month, Carter's latest album, American Gangster, opened on top of the charts and moved 784,000 copies. Its predecessor, Kingdom Come, sold about 1.5 million copies in 2006, according to Variety. He has the prestigious record of 10 number one albums in 10 years – tying him with Elvis Presley for the most chart toppers by a solo artist.

He is up for five Grammy Awards, which helped steer Def Jam to a total of 26 nods this year.

Reports have stated that he will now focus on his expanding the franchise of 40/40 Nightclubs – already in New York and Atlantic City – with a Las Vegas location and a new spot in Macau.

There has been no announcement of a replacement or even if there will be one.

Caught in the Act!

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 26, 2007 06:00 AM EST

• Tom Cruise dining with five friends (including his agent Rick Nicita and producing partner Paula Wagner) at Cut in Beverly Hills. Looking dapper in a black suit, the actor lit up the dining room during a festive business meeting when he presented a tablemate with a silver package tied up with a big red bow. Cruise then flashed his trademark smile when his pal jokingly turned suspicious, putting the present up to his ear and shaking it.

• Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, Idol-izing host Ryan Seacrest at his birthday celebration at L.A. hotspot Les Deux. The last to arrive, Abdul, clutching two gifts, made a B-line for Seacrest and Jackson as her '80s hit "Cold Hearted" blasted over the speakers. Despite the occasional blonde clubgoer stopping to say hello, Seacrest kept the celebration intimate, focusing on his gathered friends and family instead.

• Sex and the City's Jason Lewis, making a studly entrance with a mystery date at the Global Green 3rd Annual San Francisco Party. Caught up in the moment, the actor spontaneously grabbed the microphone, urging people to donate for the silent auction. His other eco-friendly contribution? Sipping a "green"-inspired VeeV cocktail. Michelle Branch did the same before taking the stage later.

• The Hills star Heidi Montag, spending quality time with her almost sister-in-law Stephanie Pratt. Dining together at Katsuya in Hollywood, the ladies left the restaurant laughing as Montag hugged Pratt from behind. Earlier in the week, the new BFFs had a run-in with Montag's ex-pal Lauren Conrad at new Hollywood lounge Goa. As the cameras rolled, the girls were on their best behavior, keeping to their separate tables the whole night.

• Vanessa Williams, treating her 7-year-old daughter Sasha to the L.A. premiere of the play The Color Purple. With a few more episodes of Ugly Betty left in the season, the actress remained coy about plot points but promised they "will be tasty."

Fergie: Give Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan a Break

Fergie – no stranger to tabloid attention – says she can relate to what Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan are going through.

And what the 20-something stars need, says the 32-year-old Black Eye Peas singer, is some breathing room so they can help themselves.

"They're young," Fergie (real name: Stacy Ferguson) said at a Conde Nast Fashion Rocks event in New York. "I was young when I went through my stuff. Leave them alone. If they want to get better, they're going to get better on their own."

Spears, 25, has returned to Los Angeles to rejoin her sons, Jayden, Sean Preston, who are respectively turning 1 and 2 this week, after a disappointing comeback performance Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas. Earlier this year, she spent a month in rehab.

Lohan, 21, is in her third rehab program, this one in Utah, following her DUI arrest last month, for which she was sentenced to a day in jail. In a statement, she said she was addicted to alcohol and drugs and had relapsed.

Fergie, whose own time in rehab was for a crystal meth addiction, says that Spears and Lohan should ignore the media attention and focus on their problems.

"If somebody is going to change, they have to want to do it themselves," she says. "I think it is really unfair to them when they are trying to get help. We're all watching as a nation and commenting day by day on their rehabilitation. It's not fair. You're supposed to have a sanctuary, a place where you can go and not be pressured every day."

Will Smith Explains Hitler Quote

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 26, 2007 08:25 PM EST

After this week's firestorm over Will Smith's remarks on Hitler, which he explains were taken out of context, the Anti-Defamation League has welcomed and accepted his clarifying statement.

The I Am Legend star was quoted in the Daily Record, a Scottish newspaper as saying, "Even Hitler didn't wake up going, 'Let me do the most evil thing I can do today.' I think he woke up in the morning and using a twisted, backwards logic, he set out to do what he thought was 'good.'"

What got left out in the firestorm was that the quote was used as an example to back up the journalist's hypothesis that, "Remarkably, Will believes everyone is basically good," and it was not an assessment by Smith that Hitler was a good person, as many Web sites alleged.

On Monday, Smith issued a statement regarding the misrepresentation of his remarks: "It is an awful and disgusting lie. It speaks to the dangerous power of an ignorant person with a pen. I am incensed and infuriated to have to respond to such ludicrous misinterpretation."

He goes on to state, "Adolf Hitler was a vile, heinous, vicious killer responsible for one of the greatest acts of evil committed on this planet."

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, praised Smith for taking "immediate steps to clarify his words and unequivocally condemn Hitler as an evil person. We would have expected no less from a celebrity of his standing in the strata of Hollywood stardom.

"If anything, this episode serves as a reminder of the power of words, and how words can be twisted by those with hate and bigotry in their hearts to suit their own world view. This is why all celebrities bear a special responsibility to weigh their words carefully, and an obligation to speak out against racism and bigotry whenever even a whiff of it appears, as Will Smith has done in this instance."

I Love New York star engaged to Tailor Made

December 26, 2007

Tiffany “New York” Pollard — the outspoken star of VH1’s hit reality show I Love New York 2 — is going to become a Mrs. after all, PEOPLE has learned.

Pollard, 25, weeded through 20 eligible bachelors in season 2 of her dating reality show before she finally found a keeper. Her Mr. Right? “Tailor Made” (real name George Weisgerber), a 32-year-old retail planner from Queens, New York.

Weisgerber proposed on the Dec. 17 finale, but Pollard turned him down, saying she wanted to wait 24 months before making any decisions about marriage. “I respected that,” Tailor Made told PEOPLE. “I cherish her. She’s what I need.”

On season 2’s reunion show that airs Jan. 6, he proposes to her again and, this time, “she says yes,” a source told PEOPLE exclusively. “They are madly in love. They are a great couple.”

Pollard originally competed for rapper Flavor Flav’s affection on his hit VH1 show, Flavor of Love. When he chose a woman named “Deelishis” over her, she looked for love her own show, I Love New York. In the freshman season, Pollard chose “Tango,” who, after a few months, called off their engagement, and a sequel was born.

Weisgerber, who was separated while taping the show and is currently finalizing his divorce, admits he “always had a crush” on Pollard, and thought it fate when casting for season two began. “She needs a guy who will treat her right and respects her and values her for who she is, he told PEOPLE recently. “Our personalities complete each other. I cherish her and want to cater to her every need. But I’m not a doormat. We have a good balance.”

Who Will Be the Next Big 'Tween Star?

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 26, 2007 10:55 AM EST

Among some of her fans and their parents, Nickelodeon star Jamie Lynn Spears may have lost some of her status as a 'tween idol. But there are many other young actors, actresses and singers whose talent could soon make them household names.

Already a superstar, of course, is Miley Cyrus of Hannah Montana fame. Here, PEOPLE looks at the next group of tween stars who we'll likely be talking about in the years to come:

• Miranda Cosgrove, 14. CREDENTIALS: She broke through as the smarty-pants band manager in School of Rock, then got her own Nickelodeon TV series, iCarly, about a girl who starts her own webcast. Still, she told PEOPLE recently that she's just a normal teen: "I IM people constantly. My mom is always yelling at me because I'm always talking with my friends. I'm constantly on the Internet, on YouTube."

• Selena Gomez, 15. CREDENTIALS: She stars in Wizards of Waverly Place, a Disney Channel series about kids with magic powers. She told PEOPLE recently that she gives her parents credit "for my not being irresponsible or getting in trouble a lot or hanging with the wrong crowd."

• The Jonas brothers – Kevin, 20, Joe, 18, and Nick, 15. CREDENTIALS: The heartthrob bandmates have been touring with Cyrus and have two Disney Channel projects in the works for 2008 – a movie called Camp Rock and their own TV series, J.O.N.A.S!

• Demi Lovato, 15. CREDENTIALS: She's a regular on the Disney Channel short series As the Bell Rings, and next summer she'll be the envy of girls everywhere when she stars in a lead role opposite the Jonas brothers in Camp Rock.

• Emily Osment, 15. CREDENTIALS: The younger sister of actor Haley Joel Osment, she got into acting several years ago with Spy Kids 2 and now stars with Cyrus in Hannah Montana. She told PEOPLE in 2002 that if she and her brother "tried to act like big shots, my family wouldn't allow us to go out in public."

Emma Roberts, David Henrie and Alyson Stoner

• Emma Roberts, 16. CREDENTIALS: The daughter of actor Eric Roberts (and niece of Julia), she appeared in the movie Blow when she was just 9, starred in Nancy Drew, and is also the lead in the Nickelodeon series Unfabulous. Asked about other young celebs' partying ways, she told PEOPLE this year: "It doesn't freak me out. I'm not the kind of person who would fall into that kind of stuff."

• David Henrie, 18. CREDENTIALS: He has starred in the Disney Channel series That's So Raven and Wizards of Waverly Place.

• Alyson Stoner, 15. CREDENTIALS: She starred in the movies Cheaper by the Dozen and Cheaper by the Dozen 2. Another That's So Raven vet, she also has a voice role in the upcoming animated series Phineas and Ferb and stars in Camp Rock.

Fergie and Josh Duhamel Engaged

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 26, 2007 07:40 PM EST

They are known to bring good luck in the new year, but one Black-Eyed Pea got lucky early. After 3 years of dating, Fergie and Josh Duhamel are engaged, his rep confirms to PEOPLE.

"Fergie called a lot of her girlfriends today to tell them the news," a source close to the singer told PEOPLE. "She said they don't know what kind of wedding they want yet, but that she is the happiest girl on earth."

The Las Vegas star's rep would say only that they got engaged "recently," but not on Christmas. TMZ.com first reported the engagement news Wednesday.

Fergie was seen sporting a diamond ring on her all-important digit back in November, during the American Music Awards, but her rep denied the engagement rumors then. The couple celebrated Duhamel's 35th birthday last month with lots of love and little fanfare.

The Beckhams' Merry Holiday Messages

TUESDAY DECEMBER 25, 2007 12:10 PM EST

They're juggling jet set lives and three kids but Victoria and David Beckham aren't too busy to blog for the holidays.

"As the festive season is upon us, I want to wish everyone a very merry (and of course fashionable) Christmas and a Happy New Year," Victoria posted Friday. "I would like to thank all of you for your amazing support during this extremely exciting time. My family and I wish you and yours a New Year of much health and happiness."

Also on Friday, her soccer star hubby wrote about his "roller coaster ride" of an "amazing year" playing in Spain, England, and, ultimately, Los Angeles with the Galaxy.

"We were made to feel really welcome by everybody. In fact, everywhere I traveled in the U.S., the people were really welcoming which was great," he wrote. "Unfortunately, the year didn't pass without a few injuries and I didn't play as much as I wanted to, plus we just missed out on the playoffs, but we've a good team and I feel I've settled in well, so I hope to build on that next year and help the Galaxy to challenge for the title."

Beckham noted other highlights, including the second anniversary of his Academy for kids and the Galaxy's tour of Australia and New Zealand. "The reception from the fans was incredible and both countries were very beautiful and I would love to go back one day," he said, signing off with holiday wishes. "I hope you all have a wonderful time and peaceful time with your families and each other."

How Stars Celebrate the Holidays

TUESDAY DECEMBER 25, 2007 12:00 PM EST

They may be celebrities, but at the holidays, stars have down-home traditions of their own. It's all about relaxation and quality family time away from the cameras.

When asked about their holiday plans, here's what these stars said:

• Marcia Cross: "We just don't know yet. It's all new. It's our first Christmas together as a family, and it's probably going to be sort of quiet. I want to go out and take a hike in the woods and have kind of an outdoorsy day. Just all kids, all day. It's just fun."

• Regina King: "I'm going to Cincinnati to spend it with my family. I really hope my house sells, that would be the greatest Christmas gift ever ... I've been blessed so much, someone pointed out that I work a lot and I was like, 'No, I don't work a lot,' and they're like 'No, I IMDb'ed you and from the years 2000 to '07 you've done 17 projects.' And I was like, 'Oh, maybe I have worked a lot,' so I'm going to sit back this Christmas and this New Year's and take the time to be grateful and have that gracious moment with my family."

• John Mayer: "I'm going to hang out with my family. I'm going to forget about all this stuff for a minute, if you don't mind. And then, you know you got to work harder these days to disappear, so I'm going to try a little harder, which basically means I won't leave the house or the studio.

• Shar Jackson: "Just to stay home and relax and enjoy each other that's all we ever do. ...You just have to understand that that's what comes first – your family comes first. All the stuff, all the glitz and glamour, its all nice and everything but at the end of the day the only thing that makes me truly, truly happy is my family and my babies, and they're amazing and the more time I get to spend with them the better."

Andrea Bowen, Kelly Preston and Carmen Electra

• Andrea Bowen: "It's my first holiday in L.A. I've lived her for five years and I've never actually spent a Christmas here so it should be fun. ... I'm the youngest of six kids, and even though ... everyone's much older now, we still every Christmas Eve all have to sleep in the same room no matter where we are, what we're doing, we have to sleep in the same room. And whoever wakes up first has to wake up everyone else up first, and I seriously think that we act like we're 4 years old but I love it."

• Kelly Preston: "We go to our home in Maine every year, first spring, first snow. I take the kids sledding, Johnny comes, we all love to sled down the backyard. Sledding down the backyard or we go to the golf course. I'm huge on Christmas, I love Christmas."

• Carmen Electra: "My friends come over – all my friends that live here but their families live in a different state – we all get together, we cook, we play games, board games, Scategories, and now Guitar Hero and Rock Band. So it's fun. I always look forward to it. I have great friends."

• Joely Fischer: "I'm spending Christmas at home with the family, in our new house. And I'm going to Wales for the first time over New Year's. I'm going to be there for my 11th wedding anniversary and going to a wedding the same day!"

• Kathy Griffin: "It's important to separate yourself from your family as much as possible, so I like to send them to a resort where they can drink on someone else's dime. I'm actually going to go to Manhattan, and I'm going to do New Year's Eve with Anderson Cooper in Time Square." As for what she wants from her billionaire boyfriend, Steve Wozniak: "I want an island. Like Kim Basinger had that town. I want a town actually. I want him to get me a town. And I was actually thinking New York City would be a good town."

• Rebecca Gayheart: "You know what, [husband Eric Dane and I have] changed our plans so many times, I'm not even sure what we're doing for the holidays. But we'll definitely be spending it with family and friends."

Brad's Christmas Gift to Kids: Toy Helicopters

MONDAY DECEMBER 24, 2007 12:00 PM EST

Brad Pitt is just a big kid at heart.

"I like helicopters," Pitt, 44, said Monday morning, on Live with Regis and Kelly, when asked about his favorite childhood holiday toy. "[I'm] going to try to push them on the kids."

This is the first year Pitt and partner Angelina Jolie are celebrating Christmas with their adopted son, Pax, 4, from Vietnam. Pax will join sisters Zahara, 3, and Shiloh, 1, and brother Maddox, 6, in New Orleans.

"The Jolie-Pitts will be in one big assembly," Pitt said, when asked about the family's holiday plans, adding that they will be keeping the paparazzi at bay.

Pitt called this year their kids' "first introduction to Christmas," hoping that "they retain the memories" in years to come.

Celebrating with the kids would "reignite the excitement" he had for the holidays as a child, Pitt added.

The couple bought a home in New Orleans last spring, when Pitt was shooting The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

While there, Pitt and Jolie, 32, have worked to raise money for areas of New Orleans, where Hurricane Katrina left thousands of people displaced. Pitt's charity, Make It Right, aims to build new houses for affected families.

"I'm telling you, it's cool," Pitt told Regis and Kelly. "It's really exciting."

Posh: Soccer Mom?

MONDAY DECEMBER 24, 2007 09:00 AM EST

Sporty Spice, she ain't.

David Beckham tells BBC Radio 2 that his wife, Victoria (a.k.a. Posh Spice), plays backyard soccer with their three kids – Brooklyn, 8, Romeo, 5, and Cruz, 2. But it doesn't sound like Victoria will be going pro any time soon.

In fact, she's "not great at goalkeeping," he says in the upcoming interview (previewed in Monday's Daily Mirror).

Not that she doesn’t try: "I'm constantly getting soccer balls kicked at me," she recently told Larry King.

The true talent in the Beckham family? Eldest son Brooklyn. "He's got a great strike on him, a great right foot," the proud papa is quoted as saying. "And he kept the ball up 64 times. Pretty good for his age."

The two-hour interview with Beckham, the British-born star of the L.A. Galaxy, will air on Christmas day following the Queen's annual speech.

Nicole Richie proves herself a real 'deer' at kids' party

Nicole Richie proves herself a real 'deer' at kids' party


The big-hearted mum-to-be and her musician boyfriend Joel Madden hosted a festive-themed charity party for children in LA this weekend

Lindsay Lohan seeks the perfect festive frock

With holiday season celebrations already well under way, the Mean Girls star has been picking up a few new pieces for her party wardrobe

Caught in the Act!

THURSDAY DECEMBER 20, 2007 06:00 AM EST

• It was Project Shopping for model Heidi Klum, who was all smiles as she enjoyed a chilly afternoon in Aspen with her mother Erna. Bundling up in a wool sweater and knit cap, the mother of three's snowy trek wasn't in vain: she left a local jewelry store clutching a bag full of goodies.

• Paris Hilton, making a late-night stop at new Hollywood lounge Villa with an entourage of 20, including sister Nicky, Nicky's boyfriend David Katzenberg and Brandon Davis. Trading in tabletops for a more low-key option, the heiress danced on her chair and bobbed her head to Feist's 1234.

• Celebrating his recent Nobel Peace Prize win in style, former Vice President Al Gore stopped in for a family dinner at Beverly Hills eatery Crustacean. "He came in with his son, two daughters, and son-in-law," says a source. The environmentalist was also generous with his order. "They had garlic noodles, tiger prawns, and a large spread of appetizers."

• Jennifer Love Hewitt, throwing a holiday party with her mom at Arnie Morton's The Steakhouse in Burbank. Seventy guests packed the restaurant's boardroom, indulging in crab cakes, lamp chops and Morton's legendary Hot Chocolate Cake. The evening's highlight? Hewitt's impromptu bluesy performance with the band followed by a round of mini cheeseburgers at the bar with friends.

Everybody Loves Raymond star Ray Romano rung in his birthday a few days early with former costar Brad Garret at the Playboy Club. Stopping in for the Sunday night Playboy After Dark party, the two had a great time hanging out with friends and playing $200 rounds of blackjack.

Katherine Heigl Weds Josh Kelley

SUNDAY DECEMBER 23, 2007 07:15 PM EST

With a light snow falling outside, Katherine Heigl exchanged vows with musician Josh Kelley in scenic Park City, Utah.

The private reception was witnessed by Grey's Anatomy costars T.R. Knight – who told PEOPLE it was "incredible and beautiful" – and Sandra Oh, as well as Private Practice star Kate Walsh and new husband Alex Young.

Taking place in a small, private tent at the Stein Eriksen Lodge, the nuptials lasted about 30 minutes in an area decked out in white flowers and white candles. A walkway from the tent to the nearby reception was lined with white candles, illuminating the fresh snow.

The ceremony was officiated by Unitarian minister Tom Goldsmith. Heigl walked down the aisle to an acoustic song written by Kelley and performed by a cello and guitar players. According to a source, the bride and groom wrote their own vows. The bridesmaids wore red.

The two met in 2005 when Heigl, 29, appeared in a video for Kelley's song "Only You." Kelley, 27, an Augusta, Ga., native, told PEOPLE in November that he was excited about marrying the actress. "It's about showing someone you love that you're actually capable of the ultimate commitment," he said. "We're madly in love and she makes me excited to become married and to have a family and spend my life with someone. We're fairly opposite but we also share a lot of the same values."

The couple spent the week before their wedding making last minute preparations. On Wednesday, they spent the day running errands in Los Feliz, Calif. and Heigl got her nails done at Fancy Nails. While there, she happily posed for photos before deciding on fire engine red polish for the big day. Afterwards, the two lunched at French bistro Figaro with Heigl's mom Nancy and Grey's costar T.R. Knight. On Friday, they met with Rev. Goldsmith at his church in Salt Lake. "Two friends were with them," says a source. "Katherine and Josh seemed happy and relaxed."

Guests for the wedding began arriving in Salt Lake on Thursday and prior to the ceremony, Heigl enjoyed a "really feminine and small" bridal shower with 15 friends. A rehearsal took place on Saturday. The actress recently told Vanity Fair that she had no misgivings about marriage. "It's a crapshoot. The odds are really bad, especially in this town," the actress says. "But I have a lot of faith in Josh, and I wanted to have that one day when I stand in front of my friends and my family and honor him and how important he is in my life."

Jessica Simpson: No-Show at Cowboys Game

SUNDAY DECEMBER 23, 2007 11:00 AM EST

Jessica Simpson knows when she's not wanted.

The starlet was an apparent no-show at Saturday's Dallas Cowboys game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C. – a week after fans criticized her presence as a distraction to her boyfriend and Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.

Romo, 27, had a great game this time, rebounding from his Dec. 16 performance, when Simpson, in a pink Cowboys jersey, watched from a luxury box.

After the 20-13 win over the Panthers, Romo told reporters that Simpson, 27, was indeed watching the game – and even hinted that she may have been in attendance.

"I know she saw all of that tonight," Romo said after the game, when asked if Simpson had seen fans wearing masks of her face. "She was at the game tonight, so I don't know."

He added, "I don't talk about my personal life."

After Romo endured the worst game of his professional career last week, fans of opposing teams started the Web site RuinRomo.com, which offers a Simpson mask that visitors can download, print and wear to games in an effort to jinx the star quarterback.

This week, Romo told the NFL Network that Simpson was bothered by the negative attention.

"I don't care how the perception is of me," Romo said. "But it hurts me when it hurts people that are close to me . . . That's part of being in the public eye."

Dr. Phil: Lynne Spears is a 'Great Mother'

SUNDAY DECEMBER 23, 2007 02:00 PM EST

concerning the Spears family, Dr. Phil McGraw commends matriarch Lynne Spears – despite the current controversy regarding her 16-year old daughter's pregnancy.

"We know the Spears family, particularly the parents," he tells PEOPLE at Adrienne Maloof and Dr. 90210 Phil Nassif's holiday party in Beverly Hills on Saturday. "An asset that Britney and Jamie Lynn both have is a great and dedicated mother."

McGraw admits that his friend is "troubled right now" but is "really looking for the positives in this." As her daughters live under the glare of public scrutiny and criticism, Lynne has "her feet squarely and solidly on the ground," he says.

"They're a very strong, close-knit family," says Dr. Phil's wife Robin, "They're relying on each other." And with her book recently put on hold, Lynne is also drawing strength from her faith. "I talked to Lynne yesterday and she said they're turning to prayer, asked that I pray for them. That's how they're going to get through it."

Michelle Rodriguez Reports to Jail

MONDAY DECEMBER 24, 2007 12:30 AM EST

Michelle Rodriguez reported to jail Sunday in Lynwood, Calif. to begin serving her six-month sentence for violating probation in a DUI case.

According to the L.A. County Sheriff's Web site, the former Lost star was booked at 4:33 p.m. in the same facility where Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, and Lindsay Lohan did their time.

Although Superior Court Judge Daviann L. Mitchell forbid an early release for Rodriguez, the sheriff may have no choice but to override that order due to jail overcrowding, legal experts say.

Rodriguez may also get out early for good behavior, which is granted by state law.

The actress was sentenced on Oct. 10 after she "admitted violating her probation by failing to provide proof of completion of her community service and for consuming alcohol three times while wearing an alcohol-monitoring device," the L.A. City Attorney's office said.

Rodriguez, 29, had been serving an extended probation term for several driving infractions.

In May 2006, she served only four hours and 20 minutes of a two-month sentence at the Lynwood Jail for violating probation from a DUI arrest in Hawaii in December 2005.

She served just over two days in a Honolulu jail for that case.

In June 2004, Rodriguez had been placed on three years probation after pleading no contest to DUI and driving with a suspended license from two separate incidents in the Hollywood area in 2003.

Britney Spears 'Still Shocked' By Sister's Pregnancy

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2007 08:35 AM EST

Things are even more hectic than usual for Britney Spears. On Thursday, after spending a cozy afternoon at her Beverly Hills home with sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, the singer scheduled – then canceled – a session at Millennium Dance Complex.

"She wanted to try out a new dance routine," says a source. But, in the wake of her 16-year-old sister's surprise pregnancy announcement, the studio was swarmed by hoards of photographers.

When Spears, 26 – who had been kept in the dark about the baby news until the story broke on Tuesday – saw the crowd, "she freaked out and just kept driving," says the source, who was on the scene.

"Britney said that she doesn't want to deal with the media because she is still shocked [about Jamie Lynn's pregnancy news]," adds the source. "She feels that she needs peace and quiet."

Spears, however, was friendly with the photogs during a shopping trip after the scene. Although the area offers plenty of great shops, Spears stopped at a random souvenir store on Hollywood Boulevard, where she picked up (and posed with) a Tinkerbell T-shirt and a pink bedazzled onesie.

On the way home, Spears also hit Carl's JR for a late night snack: cheeseburger with a large fries and coke

Britney's Wild Weekend

MONDAY DECEMBER 24, 2007 04:00 PM EST

Oops, she did it again.

In the wake of her little sister Jamie Lynn’s headline-grabbing pregnancy announcement, it seems Britney Spears has made every effort to turn the spotlight back on herself.

The singer filled another weekend with late-night shopping trips, run-ins with paparazzi and wild driving – but still found time for her kids.

The adventure began just after midnight on Saturday morning, when she and a friend, her assistant Carla, left her Beverly Hills home in the singers Mercedes – its headlights off and trunk open – and made the first of several stops at a Rite-Aid store in Hollywood, where Spears parked in a disabled-designated parking spot.

"I have stuff I have to buy for my babies," Spears told photographers on her way in.

After testing – but not buying – deodorant sprays, she emerged, spending a total of $57.46, with Lucky Charms cereal, Purex laundry detergent, Mrs. Field's chocolate chip cookies and a 32-inch plush horse (regular price $29.99, marked down by 50 per cent) labeled "For ages 4 and up."

Her "babies," Sean Preston and Jayden James, are 2 years and 15 months, respectively.

Spears then headed to Japanese restaurant Miyagi's on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. "Britney came here around 1:15 a.m. with a friend," restaurant manager Gator Lee told PEOPLE. "We had just closed the kitchen, but we opened it so she could get some food. She had chicken teriyaki and shrimp tempura. She didn't have anything to drink, no alcohol . . . She seemed fine, actually great."

Spears ended up taking the food to go because the restaurant was closing, Lee said, and drove to her Malibu home. Spears and her friend were later back at the Beverly Hills house by 5 a.m.

The next night, Spears drove a white Mini Cooper to Tony Taverna restaurant in Malibu. After dinner, she made a sudden stop to take a picture of a graffiti mural in Malibu with a digital camera. There, Spears had an angry encounter with paparazzi. "Move so I can take a picture. I'm just like you," she's heard saying photographers in a video clip posted on TMZ.com. But when the cameramen wouldn’t get out of the way, Spears screamed, cursed and slammed her camera on the hood of a nearby car before driving off.

Minutes later, she returned. Apparently, Spears lost the camera's memory card and was back to find it. Luckily, one of the photographers had the card and returned it. Then, Spears slipped into the passenger side of a silver Mercedes belonging to a photographer and sped off, her assistant following her boss's Mini Cooper.

The photographer and Spears – now dressed in a tight leopard-print dress and a pink wig – reappeared in separate cars later that night at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, where they spent several hours inside before he left without Spears.

After checking out from the Peninsula Hotel at 9 a.m. on Sunday, the late-night antics were over. Britney returned to her Beverly Hills house with her assistant to await the arrival of sons Sean Preston and Jayden James, who were dropped off with at noon for a previously scheduled visit. Spears and her boys spent the afternoon inside the gated community in Beverly Hills.

The singer's sons were scheduled to return to Kevin's Tarzana home at noon on Sunday.

Brad and Angelina bring happiness to Katrina's young victims

24 DECEMBER 2007

Christmas magic came early for youngsters in New Orleans when not one but two Tinseltown legends came to visit. Caring campaigners Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were in town to raise awareness of the tens of thousands of youngsters still affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The glamorous couple, who have made the city their home, were mobbed by grinning youngsters, all eager for a photograph of the special guests during a press conference for the Children’s Health Fund. And Angelina was clearly impressed with the plucky children, describing them as "feisty, fun and full of pride".

"They know where they're going and what they're going to do. It's that kind of spirit that will help everyone get through this," added the A Mighty Heart actress.

Both stars are helping the area recover after the devastation of 2005. "We're focused on community building," says Ocean's Thirteen actor Brad, who has pledged more than $5 million to a project to rebuild 150 homes in one of the city's most badly damaged neighbourhoods.

"It's not just about homes. It's not just about building. It's about the lack of focus on education and health care too."

Diana's journalist friend reveals secrets of final phone call to inquest

Hours before the fatal crash in which she lost her life on August 30, 1997, Princess Diana phoned her closest journalist confidant to discuss her present concerns and plans for the future, the inquest into her death has heard.

Former royal correspondent Richard Kay revealed how the Princess told him in the conversation - which lasted between 20 and 30 minutes - she was considering leaving Britain for a life on foreign shores, saying: "Perhaps my destiny is to go abroad".

While the manager of the Mohammed Al Fayed-owned Ritz Hotel in Paris had previously told jurors Dodi planned to settle in Paris at the Villa Windsor with a "girlfriend", the journalist said Diana had made it clear it was not a place she would consider living. He told the court she felt the building was "full of old ghosts" and "more like a museum".

Mr Kay, who apparently struck up a close friendship with the Princess after she contacted him in 1992 to thank him for a series of articles, also stated his belief that Diana and her companion Dodi Al Fayed were not about to announce their intentions to get married. She had mentioned nothing about such a major development in the relationship during the call, he explained.

When he'd asked Diana earlier in the month about the possibility of an engagement, she replied: "Absolutely not. I have just got out of one marriage and I am not going to get into another one."

Another subject raised during the conversation were her plans of possibly setting up a worldwide hospice network, which Dodi was prepared to financially underwrite. "It was to be a major announcement," said Mr Kay, "It was something she wanted to do, rather than things other people wanted her to do."

It's a beautiful life as pop princes take home ₤17 million

Gary Barlow and his band mates won't have to worry when the Christmas bills are settled in January. The comeback kings have reportedly earned a staggering ₤17 million in the last year – around ₤4.2 million each.

So not surprisingly the four crooners were on excellent form as they partied in Manchester to mark the end of their Beautiful World tour. The lads wowed fans with a spectacular hysteria-inducing last performance at the city's MEN arena on Wednesday night.

Celebrating along with the guys and their partners was Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who's been the support act during the guys' stint on the road.

Take That have had a sensational year, topping the charts and selling out their European tour in under 40 minutes. The lads also performed Rule The World, the theme tune for Hollywood fantasy film Stardust.

Kylie and Macca make music magic to see New Year in with style

The bill for Jules Holland's traditional end of year shindig was as star-studded as ever, with Lulu and Grace Kelly singer Mika lined up. But there was one act that really had the Hootenanny audience dancing in the aisles - Kylie's duet with musical icon Sir Paul McCartney.

The electric pair teamed up for the BBC2 show - which airs as part of the network's December 31 countdown - to sing Dance Tonight, one of the tunes on Macca's latest album.

Shimmying and clapping on stage as the former Beatle played the guitar, the pop princess was clearly enjoying every minute of their performance.

The dimunitive singer also sent temperatures soaring by writhing on the piano during for a show-stopping slow version of her hit I Should Be So Lucky.

Afterwards petite Kylie joked she was wishing for "a growth spurt" in 2008.

Also enjoying the entertainment were Lenny French, John Simms and Kylie's new friend, Dr Who actor David Tennant.