A.J. McLean: I Believe in Britney Spears 110%

FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2008 01:20 PM EST

Britney Spears is getting another offer of help – this time from Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean

"I believe in her 110 percent, but she needs to call [me]," the pop star, 30, told PEOPLE Thursday at the Hysteric Glamour VIP preview party. "If her publicist or somebody can get in touch with me, I just want to sit down with her and have it out."

Asked what he'd offer to Spears, McLean says, "First I would say, 'What the hell is wrong with you?' Second I would say, 'What is really wrong with you? What are you not saying to everybody else?' "

McLean, a recovering alcoholic who also happened to rise to fame around the same time as Spears, says he thinks he knows part of what the 26-year-old star is going through.

"She has given people hints of her troubles, but fear is a really big thing, and depression. ... I've been through it. I'm coming up on six years sober," he said at the party hosted by Tracey Ross at her Sunsent Plaza store in West Hollywood. "I just want to sit her down and pick her brain."

'Do You Want to Die?'

Ultimately, McLean says he believes the troubled singer wants to – and can – get her life back in order. " [I want to be] just someone who can tell her straight. I'll say, 'Hey, do you want to die? Is that what you want?' If that is what she really wanted, she would have done it already. I know that is not what she wants," he says.

McLean also said Spears's pregnant 16-year-old sister Jamie Lynn has had a rough go but will be okay.

"You look at Jamie Lynn now and it is like, of course, she has no one to look up to," McLean says. "But I think she has a chance. Everyone has a chance to turn it around."

Ellen DeGeneres Gets Protective of Joe Jonas

FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2008 11:45 AM EST

Ellen DeGeneres wants to make sure pop star Joe Jonas – who took a spill onstage last year – is safe.

On her show, which airs Monday, the talk show host presents the singer with a helmet to wear onstage.

"I hate to cover up that hair," says DeGeneres, "because it¹s good hair, but it's more important that you stay safe."

Accepting the gift, Jonas quipped: "I can pick up some cute chicks."

On the show, DeGeneres plays footage of Jonas falling on broken glass at the American Music Awards last year. Jonas, 18, cut his hand when he tripped over an exploding-glass window prop at the start of the group's hit "SOS."

Earlier this month, Jonas also ended up in the emergency room due to a fall after a concert in Atlantic City.

In that accident he suffered a small cut when he tripped and hit his forehead on a grate while taping one of the group's popular YouTube videos, according to his Hollywood Records rep Lillian Matulic.

George Clooney Appointed U.N. Messenger of Peace

FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2008 05:00 PM EST

George Clooney had gotten a lot of honors over career – from an Oscar to the title PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive – but now he is being honored for his humanitarian work.

The actor, who is also an advocate for refugees in Darfur, has been named a United Nations "messenger of peace," it was announced Friday.

The actor is being "recognized for focusing public attention on crucial international political and social issues," according to U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas.

Clooney, 46, joins Michael Douglas and musician Yo-Yo Ma as previous celebrity U.N. honorees. Clooney and friend Don Cheadle were given the Peace Summit Award by a group of Nobel Laureates Dec. 13 for their work for Darfur.

With Cheadle and Brad Pitt, Clooney has raised money for refugees through the "Not On Our Watch" charity and helped draw attention to the crisis in Darfur in western Sudan

Paula, Randy & Ryan Unveil Her New Single

FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2008 02:50 PM EST

A gathering of American Idol regulars took place on Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM radio show Friday – with one major omission, though he did briefly speak over the phone from England.

Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson were there for the world premiere of Abdul's new single "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow," which will appear on the upcoming album, Randy Jackson’s Music Club, Vol. 1. (Listen to it here.)

Seacrest called it "an historical moment," while Jackson said of the debut, "This is a big moment, dude."

Before unveiling the bouncy number – which listeners called in to say they couldn't wait to dance to – Seacrest played bits of some of Abdul's old songs from the '80s and '90s.

"These used to make me melt," he said, explaining that he heard them when he was with his girlfriend in high school.

Seacrest also joked that Abdul's new song "was inspired by the love these two [Abdul and Jackson] have for each other." He later said that while the song was playing on the air, Abdul walked over in the studio and gave Jackson a hug and then held the embrace for a long time.

"It just seemed the right time," Abdul said of creating the new record, given that her last single was released in 1993. "The timing just came together."

Also on Grammy-winning producer Jackson's album, which will be released March 11, will be Mariah Carey, Joss Stone, Travis Tritt, Richie Sambora, Idol contestants Katharine McPhee and Elliot Yamin.

Boyfriend Carries Purse

During the KIIS visit, much was also made about Abdul's boyfriend, restaurateur J.T. Torregiani, carrying her purse when she arrived for the interview.

Another lengthy conversation was devoted to a photo of the trio's Idol colleague Simon Cowell that appears in Heat, a U.K. publication Seacrest called "a gay magazine." In the shot, according to their conversation, Cowell is bare-chested and labeled "Torso of the Week."

Getting Cowell on the phone over in England, Seacrest told him that he was missing Abdul's single premiere in L.A. Frankly, Cowell didn't seem to give a damn.

Next Stop for Lindsay Lohan: The Morgue

FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2008 09:10 AM EST

Lindsay Lohan is entering the next phase of her sentence for misdemeanor drunk driving – and the good news is, she'll be prepared if she's ever up for a role on CSI.

After fulfilling several requirements set by her DUI plea agreement – including rehab, community service and 84 minutes spent in jail – Lohan will next have to spend some time in a morgue, her lawyer, Blair Berk, told a judge Thursday at a hearing in a Los Angeles court, the Associated Press reports.

In an effort to illustrate the potentially fatal consequences of drinking and driving, she's set to spend two, 4-hour days in a morgue. After that, she'll spend two days working in an emergency room.

The actress, 21, reached a plea agreement in August based on charges from two separate DUI incidents, one in May in Beverly Hills and one in July in Santa Monica.

Lohan did not attend Thursday's hearing, which was held to gauge her progress in meeting the terms of her deal.

Morgue duty will certainly be a comedown from Lohan's usual world of red carpets and events. On Wednesday, she stole the show at the Hollywood premiere for Cloverfield, where she shone in a black Hervé Léger cocktail dress – and stuck to Red Bull and water.

Amy Winehouse Shouts 'I Love You' to Jailed Husband

FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2008 08:15 AM EST

Dispelling rumors of an impending divorce, Amy Winehouse declared her devotion to incarcerated husband Blake Fielder-Civil Friday. "I love you handsome, you gorgeous one," she shouted across the packed courtroom as he was led back to jail.

Winehouse – who has been photographed recently with ex-boyfriend Tyler James – then snapped to the press: "I'm not talking to you."

Looking dazed, the 24-year-old singer arrived more than an hour late to a hearing in her husband's case at London's Snaresbrook Crown Court. (Fielder-Civil, 25, has been accused of attempting to manipulate a witness in his upcoming assault trial.) Accompanied by two minders, she turned up five minutes before the hearing's end and at first stood outside the court, peering through a panel of glass in the door. The court usher then escorted her in alone while her companions waited outside.

She then took a seat next to Blake's mother, Georgette Civil. Despite reports that Civil has been urging her son to divorce the chanteuse, there appeared to be no tension between the two women, with Winehouse kissing her mother-in-law, then holding her left hand between her own.

Winehouse blew kisses to her husband of eight months, who was seated with the other defendants behind glass. She mouthed "love you" several times, and Fielder-Civil mouthed: "Are you OK?" Winehouse nodded, blew him another kiss and playfully stuck out her tongue.

Winehouse wore a wrinkled cream denim skirt with red marker scribbles on the back. Her newly platinum hair was disheveled, but her trademark eye makeup was perfect. At the end of the hearing – which was mostly administrative – Georgette Civil escorted an unsteady-on-her-feet Winehouse into the witness waiting room. The pair then left the courthouse, Civil with her arm around Winehouse's waist.

Miley Cyrus Stops Traffic in Hollywood

FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2008 01:05 PM EST

A newly brunette Miley Cyrus stopped rush-hour traffic Thursday night when her Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best Of Both Worlds Concert 3-D film opened on Hollywood Boulevard.

"I like being myself, doing my thing!" Cyrus, 15, told PEOPLE at the El Capitan Theatre, which had been closed off for blocks to accommodate thousands of fans lining the sidewalks around it.

"I'm so excited to be here. It's the first time I've ever been at my own premiere," she said.

The concert movie is expected to set box-office records, say industry analysts. It was already No. 1 on MovieTickets.com on Dec. 1 – the first week tickets went on sale – and sold more over that weekend, a spokesman for the Web site told the Associated Press.

On Fandango, the Miley movie accounted for 30 percent of all tickets sold, behind only Cloverfield. "It's the best-selling concert movie in Fandango's seven-year history," said company CEO Rick Butler.

Strong Role Models
Also at the premiere: celebrities whose kids are fans of the teen sensation. Speaking to PEOPLE, Ugly Betty star Vanessa Williams said Cyrus "has energy, is smart, is talented. She writes her own music, she records it. There's no tricks and she gives you your money's worth."

As a parent, Williams says about Miley's relationship with father Billy Ray Cyrus, "Watching the dynamic with her and her dad is amazing. She moves you."

Speaks Up About Britney
At the premiere, Cyrus weighed in on the travails of Britney Spears, telling Extra, "I think that she needs help. If I didn't have [my family], I'd probably be in the same position."

For support, says Cyrus, "You just got to know who your true friends are, and I think, for me, [that] is my mom. If you have sisters, I mean any girls that are in your family, that can understand and relate to you, I think is the best."

But when it comes to herself, Cyrus tells PEOPLE, her real treat after being on tour for three months (and having to be in Las Vegas for a Friday night appearance): "I get to sleep in my own bed tonight."

Christina Ricci: I'm 'Obsessed' with Gambling

FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2008 07:00 PM ESTSpeed Racer's new Trixie says she gets plenty of thrills at the track – with only a 1-horsepower engine.

"I've learned to love gambling," Christina Ricci told PEOPLE at the grand opening party for the Palazzo Las Vegas. "I was in Australia for a few months and gambling is like a national pastime there, so I learned to love betting on horses, and now I even put in a few football bets and I'm kind of obsessed and into it. Gambling is pretty good."

Thursday night, blackjack was her game of choice. When she wasn't sitting on her boyfriend's lap, Ricci was doubling down and splitting aces with Angie Harmon, her hubby Jason Seyhorn and Jerry O' Connell.

Ricci, 27, seemed to find a way to win at Palazzo's blackjack tables. Horse racing was another matter.

"I have no strategy (with horses) and I never pick winners," she says. "But it's still fun."

Coroner: Dogs Didn't Kill Ving Rhames's Caretaker

FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2008 05:20 PM EST

Ving Rhames's caretaker died due to a bad heart, the Los Angeles Department of Coroner concluded after a five-month investigation into an August incident at the actor's home.

Rhames's "dogs didn't kill Mr. Adams," said coroner spokesman Ed Winter. "He died because of a preexisting heart problem. The dog bites found on him were determined to be non-fatal."

The caretaker, Jacob Adams, 40, was found dead on the front lawn of the actor's Brentwood home on Aug. 3. Rhames was filming a movie in Bulgaria at the time.

It was initially reported that the actor's four dogs – three mastiffs and one bulldog – had bitten Adams to death.

However, on the day of the body's discovery, Capt. Matt Blake of the LAPD told PEOPLE that although Adams was "definitely mauled" by the dogs, "there [was] no solid evidence that they were the cause of death."

Two weeks later, Rhames released a statement, describing the incident as a "shocking and terrible tragedy."

"Jacob Adams was not just a devoted employee – he was also a dear friend," said the Mission: Impossible III star, 48. "I want to offer my heartfelt condolences to his family."

Rhames's dogs, which were initially quarantined by officials, have since been returned to the actor.

Britney Spears to Host Beverly Hills Party

THURSDAY JANUARY 17, 2008 08:00 PM EST

Britney Spears will host a party, The Scandinavian Style Mansion, at a private residence in Beverly Hills on Feb. 16, PEOPLE has learned.

Britney last hosted the event – at which Scandinavian brands are showcased – on Dec. 1. At that party, she was presented with a birthday cake and bumped into her one-time BFF Paris Hilton.

"Britney has said 'yes,' to hosting it," Claus Hjelmbak, the Danish businessman who founded the event, tells PEOPLE. "I am beyond excited because the experience she gave everyone in December was amazing. She absolutely made my event."

Hjelmbak, who was at Spears's side when she and Sam Lutfi went on an early morning shopping spree Jan. 17 at Kitson in L.A., told PEOPLE of the outing: "I know people will say it's weird she was shopping at 2 a.m., but [Kitson] said you guys can always come when you want. I just called the owner and said can we come over and they said 'sure.'"

Hjelmbak also has kind words for Lutfi, saying, "He's the most down-to-earth, easy-going guy. He doesn't have a bad bone in his body." As for Adnan Ghalib, he said, "I don't know him."

As for online reports claiming Spears has multiple personalities, Hjelmbak, who first met Britney in 2006, says, "I have only seen one person and that's the Britney I first met and seen every time. She's a very sweet person."

Tom Cruise & Jerry Seinfeld Pal Around in New York

THURSDAY JANUARY 17, 2008 03:00 PM EST

Tom Cruise and Jerry Seinfeld have been spending some quality time together in New York lately.

On Tuesday night, the pals went on a double date with their wives at the exclusive Upper East Side eatery Sfoglia, where they enjoyed a three-hour meal.

The next day, Seinfeld, Cruise and his daughter Suri were spotted together again, and paid a visit to Seinfeld's garage. (The comedian is a car enthusiast.)

As for how the friends became close, "[Jerry] and Tom Cruise both have homes in Telluride, Colo., which is their connection," says a rep for Seinfeld, who last year revealed that he'd dabbled in Cruise's religion, Scientology.

"I did some Scientology courses about 30 years ago," the comedian told Access Hollywood while promoting his Bee Movie. "I didn't do very much. I don't know that much, I just did a little but I liked it."

But Seinfeld left his study of the religion long ago. (He also said he's explored meditation, Aikido, karate and yoga.)

"He is not studying Scientology in any way at this time," his rep tells PEOPLE. "He did attend a course 30 years ago that he found interesting but he is Jewish and not changing his religion or faith in any direction."

Cruise has been very vocal about his beliefs, and earlier this week a video of him talking about Scientology hit the Web.

Britney's Bizarre Comments from the Shower

THURSDAY JANUARY 17, 2008 02:30 PM EST

During a strange radio interview with one of Britney Spears's friends on Thursday, the pop singer's voice suddenly came on the line, speaking from the shower.

"Get out, I'm naked, get out!" Spears is heard telling pal Sam Lutfi as he carries the phone toward her during an interview from her house with KIIS-FM's Ryan Seacrest.

When Lutfi asks why she's taking a shower, Spears replies: "I stink, 'cause I'm a human being. Shut the door, I'm nasty!"

The latest bizarre episode came as Lutfi was knocking down recent rumors about the pop star, including reports she's trying to have a baby. Word of that started when she was seen shopping for a home pregnancy test with her paparazzo pal Adnan Ghalib.

"I don't know if they even bought one," Lutfi said. "I think they were just [expletive] around."

Lutfi said she doesn't want to get pregnant. "No, no, no, no, no, no," he said. "No, not at all." Asked if she plans to marry Ghalib, Lutfi said: "No, that's not true."

Other Voices on Phone

A recent addition to the Britney entourage, a friend of Lutfi's named Chad Hardcastle, also got on the phone to explain the impetus for their after-hours shopping trip to the Kitson boutique in West Hollywood early Thursday morning.

"Boredom," said Hardcastle.

Asked where Hardcastle fit into Spears's world, he said, "I'm still trying to figure it out myself, man. I don't really know."

Beyoncé, Foo Fighters to Attend Grammys Despite Strike

THURSDAY JANUARY 17, 2008 06:00 PM EST

Beyoncé and the Foo Fighters said Thursday they'll attend the Grammy Awards on Feb. 10, despite the threat of picket lines by striking Hollywood writers.

"The work of The Recording Academy is vital to the music industry, and we have every intention of being with the entire music community to celebrate," said Mathew Knowles, manager/father of Beyoncé, who's nominated for record of the year. "Beyoncé has been asked to participate and will do so. We have an incredible performance that will be announced soon. We wish the Grammys the best."

Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, who are nominated for album and record of the year, said he and his band are still planning on participating in the second installment of My Grammy Moment, a competition on YouTube in which unsigned musicians vie to perform with the Foo Fighters on the telecast.

"We're participating in My Grammy Moment because it creates opportunities...to write, compose, play and study music – skills that absolutely need to be passed on to generations to come," said Grohl.

The Writers Guild of America has said it will picket the awards ceremony and ask Screen Actors Guild members to boycott the show as well. (Like Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé, many music stars are also actors.)

Appeals Court: Pause the Camera on Lindsay's Testimony

THURSDAY JANUARY 17, 2008 09:15 PM EST

Lindsay Lohan found support – for now – from an appeals court in her effort to bar a video camera from her deposition testimony in a car-crash lawsuit.

The three-judge panel of California's Second District Court of Appeal has ruled that the trial judge must explain why he's allowing the testimony to be captured on video. A hearing is set for March 26.

In the meantime, the camera ban is in place, according to papers released Thursday.

In November, L.A. Superior Court Judge Michael L. Stern denied Lohan's no-video request for her upcoming deposition in a civil lawsuit involving a car accident two years ago.

The ruling came over the strong objections of Lohan's attorney, who says he feared the video would be sold by one of the many people who'd have access to it.

Brody Jenner Denies Smooching Paris Hilton

January 17, 2008

Despite rampant Internet rumors — and some ambiguous photos — The Hills star Brody Jenner says he has never smooched Paris Hilton.

“I’ve never made out with Paris Hilton so that’s false. False rumors!” Jenner declared at the Stoli Hotel Opening in Miami Wednesday.

The photos of the alleged hookup are from a New Year’s Eve party at LAX in Vegas, where Hilton is seen apparently kissing a man dressed in a gray t-shirt and baseball hat. In another picture from the same night Jenner is seen wearing a gray shirt and a baseball hat while hanging out with Hilton.

But Jenner maintains that there was no New Year’s lip-lock. “I swear to God I’ve never kissed Paris ever in my life,” he said.

Instead, he says he’s just close friends with the heiress. “We’re friends but never, never ever, ever was it a romantic thing, ever,” he said. “I would love to see proof of us kissing because that’s never happened. I swear.’

Asked if there is someone special in his life, Jenner was coy, saying just, “I’m not allowed to talk about it but yes I do have a girlfriend and no her name is not Lauren Conrad!”

Report: Lily Allen Suffers Miscarriage

THURSDAY JANUARY 17, 2008 09:00 PM EST

Lily Allen has suffered a miscarriage, the U.K.'s The Sun newspaper reports, quoting a rep for the British pop star.

According to the rep's statement, "We can confirm that Lily Allen has suffered a miscarriage. She and her partner Ed Simons will be making no further comment and we ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time."

In December, the singer, 22, had confirmed her pregnancy with her boyfriend Simons, 37, of the electronic music duo the Chemical Brothers.

Daniel Baldwin & His Wife Have a Girl

THURSDAY JANUARY 17, 2008 03:55 PM EST

Daniel Baldwin and his wife, Joanne Smith-Baldwin, have welcomed a daughter, PEOPLE has learned exclusively.

Avis Ann Baldwin was born Thursday at 12:59 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 10 oz.

"Thank god she looks like her mother," Baldwin, 47, tells PEOPLE.

Mom, 38, is a former British fashion model turned chef, who tells PEOPLE. " I'm ecstatically happy. Daniel wasn't as nervous as me. He's a little used to this sort of thing. I'm glad he's got some experience in this area."

The newborn is Daniel's fourth child and Joanne's first. "The fourth time's a charm," says Baldwin. "We feel blessed."

The couple met last year during Baldwin's stint in an exclusive drug and alcohol rehab facility in Malibu. At the time, Joanne worked as a chef at the facility. They were married last July 28.

In between gearing up for night-feedings and diaper duty, the couple says they're currently grappling with a question that many new families face. "Do we have another one right away or do we wait a while?" says Baldwin. "We're still not sure, but practicing is gonna be fun."

Kiefer Sutherland to Get Out of Jail Monday

THURSDAY JANUARY 17, 2008 02:55 PM EST

After 48 days behind bars, Kiefer Sutherland will be released from incarceration Monday morning, a Glendale City Jail rep tells PEOPLE.

"He'll be let out the front door just like everyone else," Officer John Balian says. "I have no idea who'll be picking him up."

In jail for his second DUI conviction and for violating probation, Sutherland, 41, will have served his entire sentence. He spent his birthday, Christmas and New Year's at the Los Angeles-area facility.

"Throughout his stay, he never griped, never complained," Balian added. "He never wanted preferential treatment from the get go, and we respect him for that."

Wearing an orange jumpsuit, Sutherland is housed alone in an 8 by 10 foot cell, but is not confined to it, having access to a larger day room with a TV.

Thus far, Sutherland was only visited once by his attorney. The 24 star did not include any family or friends on his visitor request list. (His doctor was the only other approved visitor).

The actor spent his days on laundry duty, and occasionally did clean-up work, such as emptying trash bins and mopping up.

As for reading material, Sutherland only brought two books with him. Although the jail was deluged with fan mail for its star prisoner, all of it was rerouted to his publicist.

Sutherland did not make an excessive amount of phone calls either, Balian says, and kept largely to himself, having scant contact with other inmates.

Although actor Gary Collins is incarcerated for DUI at the same facility, the two are housed in separate areas.

Jenna Bush Planning May 10 Wedding

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16, 2008 06:45 PM EST

Jenna Bush and her fiancé Henry Hager will marry in a ceremony on May 10, two sources confirm to PEOPLE.

One of the sources says the wedding will be held at the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

"It's going to be a small wedding," the source tells PEOPLE, adding that Jenna has already selected her bridesmaids. "She's very excited. They make a great couple."

The couple's engagement was announced in August. First Lady Laura Bush told PEOPLE in November that she "of course" fancied the idea of a White House wedding herself. It "would be a lot of fun," said Mrs. Bush. "But I also know it wouldn't be very private. And of course we want to do what Jenna wants to do."

At the Bushes' gated, 1,600-acre Prairie Chapel ranch, the ceremony and reception could be held far from the prying eyes of the White House press corps and paparazzi.

Hager, 29, a former Commerce Department staff member who's in his final year of the MBA program at Virginia's Darden School, first consulted Jenna's twin sister, Barbara, about his intentions to propose to the 26-year-old.

"That was really sweet, because they have such a close relationship, Barbara and Jenna do," Mrs. Bush told PEOPLE. Then, on the overlook outside the president's cabin at Camp David, Hager asked the president and first lady for their daughter's hand. They kept the plan secret from their daughter for more than a month until Hager proposed to Jenna on Aug. 15.

"I am thrilled for Henry and Jenna, knowing how great marriage can be," said the president.

Eddie Murphy, Tracey Edmonds Suddenly Split

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16, 2008 05:20 PM EST

Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds have called it quits just two weeks after their intimate wedding, PEOPLE has learned exclusively.

"After much consideration and discussion, we have jointly decided that we will forego having a legal ceremony as it is not necessary to define our relationship further," Murphy and Edmonds tell PEOPLE in an exclusive statement. "While the recent symbolic union in Bora Bora was representative of our deep love, friendship and respect that we have for one another on a spiritual level, we have decided to remain friends.”

The couple exchanged vows in a sunset ceremony on New Year's Day on a private island off Bora Bora in French Polynesia. But, according to a source, the honeymoon got off to a rocky start.

"Eddie started yelling at Tracey in front of people," says one of Edmonds's wedding guests. "He did it on a few occasions and it was very embarrassing."

Since the couple's nuptials took place in a foreign country, the wedding was purely ceremonial – not legal. Murphy, 46, and Edmonds, 40, originally said they planned to have a legal ceremony in the United States, but that is now off.

Murphy and Edmonds started dating in the fall of 2006 and got engaged last July.

Marion Jones Opens Up to Oprah About Her 'Mistakes'

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16, 2008 02:20 PM EST

In her first interview since being sentenced to six months in prison for lying about her steroid use and check fraud, Marion Jones accepts responsibility and says she has no regrets.

"I think that I absolutely should have to accept responsibility for breaking the law," she says on the Oprah Winfrey Show in an episode airing Wednesday. "I have no regrets for doing what I did on October the 5th and pleading guilty and admitting to the world that I lied, that I've made mistakes."

After her October admission, Marion was stripped of her Olympic medals – something much easier to deal with than the pain of upsetting her loved ones, she says.

"[It pales] in comparison to seeing my husband cry," she tells Winfrey. "They [pale] in comparison to seeing my mother have to stand there in the courtroom and bawl. You know, those things to me are what mean the most."

Jones, who has a 4-year-old son at home, admits she is disappointed to be serving time instead of just being on probation, but says, "I have to live with it. My family has to live with it." And she and her husband have yet to find the way to explain the situation to their young son.

"It's a very sensitive topic, and we're not dealing with a 15-year-old here who perceives things a different way," she says. "We're talking about a 4-year-old who was upset this morning that I couldn't drop him off at school, you know? It's going to be challenging."

Right now, getting her through the challenges are her supporters whose "prayers have really allowed me to get through it and be strong."

Jones adds: "Everybody strays at some point in their life, and I strayed and I made mistakes and I am no different than anybody else except for the fact that you see me on the front page of the paper."

‘New York’: ‘Tailor Made’ Helped Me Through Sex Tape Scandal

January 16, 2008

Tiffany “New York” Pollard survived her sex tape drama with her usual moxie — and her new fiancé’s love and support.

The I Love New York star is relieved and thrilled that MediaTakeOut.com yanked the grainy, explicit tape from its website. “We understand that New York is now claiming that it’s not her in the tape,” the website says in an editor’s update. “In fairness to New York, the video has been removed.”

Says Pollard: “I’m so happy they pulled it. As I’ve said again and again, it wasn’t me in that tape and this proved it.”

That doesn’t mean the ordeal was easy to endure. When a friend called the VH1 star on Sunday to tell her that the site had posted what it claimed was a sex tape of Pollard, she immediately turned to her Prince Charming — fiancé “Tailor Made” (a.k.a. George Weisgerber). “Oh, my George,” Pollard sighed to PEOPLE in a recent interview. “I told him what happened and he said, ‘I stand by you.’ He didn’t question me. He helped me relax about it.”

Not an easy feat, considering she “blew a gasket” when she learned about the tape. “I was floored,” she said. “I thought, ‘I have to clear this up.’ It saddened me as a woman and as a black woman. (MediaTakeOut.com calls itself ‘the most visited black website in the world.’) I feel violated because it’s not me. If that were me, I would stand by it. They crossed the line.”

Besides the support she got from Weisgerber, who proposed on I Love New York 2’s Jan. 6 reunion show, she dealt with the scandal with her typical “New York” take-no-prisoners attitude. “I’m not going to let this (put) me in a state of being sad or feeling beaten up. I’m gonna be a big girl about it. I’m gonna stay strong.”

Still, she adds: “It’s a disgusting thing to have to go through.”

Britney Spotted Shopping for Pregnancy Test

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16, 2008 02:25 PM EST

Britney Spears is making more news – with a trip to her local drug store.

The troubled pop star and mother of two, was photographed shopping for a pregnancy test Tuesday at a local Rite Aid store in Studio City, Calif.

Photos show Spears and her new beau, 35-year-old photographer Adnan Ghalib, at the store together, and Spears scanning the shelves of pregnancy tests. (The photos were released by Ghalib's own photo agency, FinalPixx.)

All told, it's been another week full of rumors involving Spears, who recently lost visitation rights with her two children, Jayden, 1, and Preston, 2, after being hospitalized.

As for a report that Spears had written a suicide note on the night of her meltdown, "There was no suicide note, and it's completely untrue that she tried to commit suicide," her longtime friend Sam Lutfi tells PEOPLE. "She is not suicidal."

Additionally a Spears family friend tells PEOPLE, "She's going through a lot right now. Having her children taken away, which she really didn't expect and all this attention around her, it really takes a toll. There's no truth to her being suicidal. She has problems that she needs to address and that's it. She'll pull through this. She just needs some time and space."

Susan Sarandon Speaks Out on Brad Renfro's Death

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16, 2008 04:00 PM EST

Susan Sarandon is speaking out following the death of 25-year-old actor Brad Renfro, with whom she starred in 1994's big-screen adaptation of John Grisham's The Client.

"I had the pleasure of working with Brad when he was eleven in THE CLIENT. It was obvious to everyone that he was the sweetest, most incredibly gifted young actor to come along for some time. My heart goes out to the family for their tragic loss."

An autopsy is planned for Thursday to determine how Renfro died. Renfro, who has battled drug problems over the years, was drinking Monday night, according to roommates who discovered his dead body Tuesday morning and made the 911 call. Los Angeles County coroner's office Lt. Cheryl MacWillie says the autopsy will be done on Thursday, but toxicology results normally take several weeks.

Faith Hill Recovering from Knee Surgery

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16, 2008 05:40 PM EST

Faith Hill recently had surgery to repair an old knee injury but isn't letting up on her busy schedule.

"Who has time to slow down?" the country star said in a statement. "Doctors had told me to stay off my feet for a bit and now I’m following their rehab program. I intend to be back better and stronger."

Hill, 40, underwent an operation called chondroplasty to realign her kneecap, which she first injured playing softball in high school.

Still, the singer is pushing right ahead with her plans to participate in the MusiCares tribute to Aretha Franklin next month and to continue recording a Christmas album, due for release later this year.

Steve Zahn: Matthew McConaughey Will Be an 'Awesome' Father

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16, 2008 05:10 PM EST

Matthew McConaughey will be "an awesome dad," his Sahara costar Steve Zahn tells PEOPLE. But there's just one problem.

"[Babies] like to bite and grab your shirt, so he'll have to wear a shirt," Zahn jokes. "But now he'll have an excuse to take it off, because they'll throw up on it."

McConaughey, 38, announced Tuesday that girlfriend Camila Alves, 24, is three months pregnant. Zahn suggests McConaughey will have to work extra hard to maintain his famous abs.

"It's easy to work out when you're single and you've got time and money. When your kids are screaming and you're up from 2 to 5 a.m., it's a little harder to work out," the Strange Wilderness actor and father of two says. "It's great having kids, but man, those first two years are tough! It's a big transition. It's just endurance."

The toughest part? "All of the sudden nothing you do is that important anymore," says Zahn, 40. "It's all about your kids. It's just a tough adjustment at first, but it's a beautiful thing."

Kimora Lee Simmons & Djimon Hounsou Talk About Romance

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16, 2008 06:30 PM EST

Although Kimora Lee Simmons, who split from husband Russell Simmons last year, wasn't looking for romance when she met actor Djimon Hounsou she last February, she found it – and then some.

"I have a lot of hang-ups in life with men. I'm not very trusting," the model and fashion mogul says in an interview in the February issue of Harper's Bazaar. "After my breakup, I thought, I don't need anything. But now I have someone who has the heart, the soul, and the hotness."

Adds the Life in the Fab Lane star: "When you’re not looking, that's when it happens."

On their first date, a dinner with friends at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills, Simmons found the West African model-turned-movie star of Blood Diamond "deeply compelling and utterly sweet. I immediately got into 'Are you dating?' 'You married?' 'You want kids?' I asked all the things you would never ask someone if you really were trying to date because you would scare them off."

But Hounsou says he wasn't deterred. "My first impression has always been the same, that she's a very beautiful lady, very capable and intelligent and smart with great family values. She's the least high-maintenance lady I've ever dated."

Hounsou praises Simmons’ skills as a businesswoman and a mom, calling daughters Ming Lee, 8, and Aoki Lee, 5, "great kids. I take my hat off to Kimora for the way she's carried them along with her business."

Simmons, in turn, raves about her boyfriend, calling his Calvin Klein underwear ads "hot as hell" and his gym-sculpted body "sick."

Rosie O'Donnell Compares Britney to Princess Diana

TUESDAY JANUARY 15, 2008 01:35 PM EST

In what reads like a cautionary tale, Rosie O'Donnell, who before has risen to the defense of Britney Spears, is again back in the corner of the troubled pop star.

This time, O'Donnell, 45, suggests that being a paparazzi magnet could cause the 26-year-old singer to meet the same tragic fate as Princess Diana.

"There are only inches of separation between vulnerability and disaster," observes O'Donnell.

Writing on her own blog for an entry Tuesday, the former View host writes (with "she" obviously referring to Spears, who is never named in the entry, and "they" meaning the paparazzi):

"I'm scared," she told them yesterday, when they later mobbed her at court. "Move back," she said. "I'm scared. Stop it. Stop it. I want to get back in the car. Just stop it. Let me get in the car, please."

Referring to Spears's quick stop at a church Monday, O'Donnell writes: "She will be trying to get away, but they will chase her, just as they chased her into that church yesterday ... Even her last-minute, folded-hand prayers can't be kept sacred."

Painting a sympathetic portrait of Spears, O'Donnell notes: "At eight years old, she bravely stood before a microphone. By 17, she had sold 25 million records."

With Spears having been robbed of a typical childhood, O'Donnell asks on her behalf, "Where were the sidewalk-skinned knees, the chalk-stained hands, the monkey bars, the passed notes? A Disney set is not a childhood, no matter how many bright colors they use, or how cheerful the script."

Casey Affleck Welcomes a Second Child

Casey Affleck and wife Summer Phoenix welcomed a second child, a son, the actor's rep says.

No other details have been announced.

Affleck, 32, and Phoenix, 30, who were married in June 2006, also have 3-year-old son Indiana August.

Affleck stars in Gone, Baby, Gone, directed by brother Ben Affleck. Phoenix is the younger sister of actors Joaquin and the late River Phoenix.

Kevin Federline: Our Problems Make People Feel Normal

TUESDAY JANUARY 15, 2008 02:45 PM EST

Although the paparazzi follow their every move, Kevin Federline says his struggles with ex-wife Britney Spears are nothing unique.

"People put it up on this pedestal when it's really the same way that everybody else goes through their stuff, you know?" he tells Interview magazine in its February issue. "It's not really any different."

The only difference, he says, is the media attention.

"Even though everything is so publicized and everybody is looking at it, it's normal for us," he says. "I think the infatuation with the whole thing is that watching us go through things makes other people feel normal."

Asked if he's now America's most famous father, Federline laughs and says, "I don't know. Brad Pitt's pretty up there, too."

After testifying at a hearing on Monday focusing on Spears's recent meltdown, Federline, 29, retained sole legal and physical custody of sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1.

His ex-wife, Spears, 26, didn't attend the hearing. After arriving at the courthouse, she told a crush of photographers, "I'm scared. I want to get in the car," and drove away, ending up at a church and a restaurant. Another hearing is set for Feb. 19.

Brad Renfro Dies at 25

TUESDAY JANUARY 15, 2008 08:00 PM EST

Actor Brad Renfro has died at age 25, PEOPLE has confirmed.

Renfro died Tuesday at a Los Angeles apartment where he spent the night with friends, Craig Harvey, chief investigator for the Los Angeles county coroner, tells PEOPLE.

Renfro was heard snoring overnight, but found not breathing later Tuesday morning, and the friends called 911. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene at about 9 a.m., Harvey says.

A cause of death was not immediately determined, but Renfro had a history of drug problems.

Drug overdose is a "possibility considering his history, but right now all we have is the history of his drinking the previous night," Harvey says. "All that we have is that he was last known to be alive during the morning hours and he was snoring."

The actor, who starred in The Client and Apt Pupil, had recently completed a movie with Winona Ryder and Billy Bob Thornton.

Film director Joel Schumacher discovered Renfro at age 12 and cast him in the 1994 John Grisham movie The Client (which also starred Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones). The following year, PEOPLE named the young screen hopeful one of its "Top 30 Under 30." The actor's other credits include Tom and Huck, Ghost World and Deuces Wild.

But Renfro had a troubled life off-screen, going back to 1997 when he was sentenced to two years of probation after he tried to steal a yacht.

In 2005, Renfro was busted again, this time in a police sting in which he was charged with a felony count of attempting to possess heroin. In a separate incident, he was charged with a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence and two counts of driving with a suspended license.

In January 2006, he entered a rehab program. At the time, Renfro's attorney, Richard Kaplan, told the Los Angeles Times that his client was doing well and "looks forward to doing whatever is necessary to take care of his personal and legal issues." Renfro eventually plead guilty to the heroin charge and was sentenced to three years' probation.

Most recently, in June 2007 Renfro was found to have violated his probation by not enrolling in a long-term drug treatment program. A judge warned him that if he violated probation two more times, he could be sentence to a live-in rehab program or to jail time.

Renfro's death was first reported by TMZ.com.

New Grandpa Lionel Richie 'Extremely Proud' of Nicole

TUESDAY JANUARY 15, 2008 05:55 PM EST

Lionel Richie is a proud new grandfather – though he's still getting used to his new status, the singer said in a statement Tuesday.

"While it may take me a moment to adjust to being called grand dad, I am extremely happy and proud of Nicole and Joel," Richie says, referring to the birth of his granddaughter.

"Harlow Winter Kate Madden, the newest and most beautiful addition to the Richie clan, is a lucky little girl," he added. "She was surrounded by a great deal of love at that hospital as she entered the world. Nicole and Joel are going to be wonderful parents."

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden welcomed their daughter on Friday.

Madden, 28, posted a message on his Web site Monday, saying that their daughter "looks so much like her mom its crazy," and expressing appreciation for all the well wishes they have received.

Matthew McConaughey: I'm Going To Be a Dad

TUESDAY JANUARY 15, 2008 09:45 PM EST

Matthew McConaughey and girlfriend Camila Alves are expecting a child, the actor announced Tuesday on his Web site.

"My girlfriend Camila and I made a baby together," McConaughey writes. "It's 3 months growin in her womb and all looks healthy and lively so far. We are stoked and wowed by this miracle of creation and this gift from God, and so excited for the adventure that will come in raising this child, being mother and a father, and shepherding him or her through this life."

McConaughey adds: "Wish us the best, keep us in your prayers, and God bless evolution. Thanks for being fans of me and my work and now this new and miraculous chapter in my life, as me and Camila and our child do our best to just keep living."

PEOPLE's "Sexiest Man Alive" from 2005 signs his message, "Wow, McConaughey."

McConaughey, 38, met Alves, 24, a Brazilian model whose family moved to L.A. when she was young, more than a year ago. Since then, they have been together constantly – and often in the Ocean – riding the waves last year from Australia, where he filmed Fool's Gold, to the Bahamas, where he shot the comedy Surfer Dude.

"He is euphoric. He couldn't be happier," says his rep Alan Nierob.

Longtime McConaughey pal Mark Gustawes, who is producing Surfer Dude, says the couple are "incredibly happy."

"I can only hope that one day the love I have with the woman carrying my child is equivalent to the love Matthew and Camila share," says Gustawes. "That's a tall bar. In my opinion, the child will be raised with more love than it knows what to do with."

Songwriters 'Completely Exonerate' Avril Lavigne

Two songwriters who had accused Avril Lavigne of plagiarizing their song now say she did nothing wrong.

Tony Dunbar and James Gangwer had filed a lawsuit claiming the hit "Girlfriend," by Lavigne and writing partner Luke Gottwald on her album The Best Damn Thing, was ripped off from the 1979 song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" by Dunbar and Gangwer's new wave group the Rubinoos.

But in a statement Tuesday, Dunbar and Gangwer said: "We are satisfied that any similarities between the two songs resulted from Avril and Luke's use of certain common and widely used lyrics. We therefore completely exonerate Avril and Luke from any wrongdoing of any kind in connection with the claims made by us in our lawsuit."

The statement follows the disclosure that a confidential settlement had been reached in the federal lawsuit filed by Dunbar and Gangwer.

Idol Premiere: The Oddest Auditions

January 16, 2008

As we’ve come to expect from the annual return of American Idol, the first episode of season 7 highlighted several standout voices, a few attractive faces and the inspiring, golden ticket-waving scenes we hope play out in Hollywood and in the final rounds of America’s favorite singing competition.

But the most entertaining segments of the early episodes of the show are the ones that bring us the awkward, the unusual and the downright creepy contestants from all over our great nation. And last night’s crop from Philadelphia was no exception.

In fact, with the writers’ strike in full force, the premiere episode featured some of the most unique and creative writing on television these days — and not in a good way. Milo Turk, 39, of Absecon, N.J., weaseled his way into the judges chambers — despite being ten years too old to be eligible for the competition — to sing his original song, “No Sex Allowed.”

Zac Efron Hospitalized for Appendectomy

TUESDAY JANUARY 15, 2008 06:15 PM EST

Zac Efron was hospitalized Tuesday for an appendectomy, his rep tells PEOPLE.

The 20-year-old High School Musical star was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for the surgery.

"Zac had his appendix removed and is recuperating," the rep says.

Efron, who just signed on for a third installment of High School Musical, is currently shooting the feature Seventeen with Matthew Perry.

The surgery was first reported by TMZ.com.

Atonement, Sweeney Todd Take Home Golden Globes

Tim Burton's macabre musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street won big at the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards, announced during a live press conference from Hollywood on Sunday, while the film's star, Johnny Depp, picked up best actor in movie comedy or musical.


Atonement, a leading contender with seven nominations, was named best motion picture drama. And Daniel Day-Lewis picked up the best actor in a movie drama category for his commanding performance in the historical Western There Will Be Blood.


Usually characterized by free-flowing champagne, off-the-cuff speeches and glamorous parties, the Golden Globe Awards often serve as a predictor for the Academy Awards. (The Oscar nominations will be announced Jan. 22.) This year, though, the show was stripped of its pomp and glitz – due to the continuing Writers Guild of America strike. With no nominees in attendance, the awards were announced during a live press conference by a panel of TV hosts and journalists.




Surprises in Store

Flying by in 30 minutes, the broadcast offered several major surprises. One big upset: Marion Cotillard was named best actress in a movie comedy or musical. (Many speculated that Juno's Ellen Page would walk away with the award.)


For Billy Bush, a host of NBC's edition of the telecast, Cate Blanchett's win (for best supporting actress in I'm Not There) was a surprise. The host announced his preference – Amy Ryan for Gone Baby Gone – while remarking on Blanchett's Bob Dylan-inspired performance, "At the end of the day, it's a woman imitating a man."


And while no celebrities were on hand to offer acceptance speeches, presenter Giuliana Rancic offered one of the evening's most memorable quips. Before announcing several awards, the television host said, "I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd be up here. First, I want to say I support the WGA – and no, not because without the strike there would be no way I would ever be standing up here at the Golden Globes presenting."


No Country for Old Men's Javier Bardem was named best supporting actor. In a statement, the grateful star expressed his thanks, saying, "It is a great honor to have been recognized with this award in a time when there are so many outstanding performances in this category." 



Other big winners: Ricky Gervais's Extras was named best TV comedy series, and 30 Rock's Tina Fey was awarded best TV comedy series actress. For the dramas, newbie Mad Men was named best TV drama series.




No Glitz, No Parties


With all official parties canceled, what would all the nominees be doing Sunday night? Days earlier, many confessed they were anticipating watching the press conference from home – or just tuning into other programs.


Nominee George Clooney's rep Stan Rosenfield joshed that the actor would be "watching Bonanza on color television," while Juno star Allison Janney told PEOPLE that she was considering catching the special with her castmates. Said Janney: "If something good happens we can all go out and spontaneously celebrate somewhere." (Janney and her cast could stay put, though; Sweeney Todd won best motion picture comedy or musical.)

GLOBES 2008: NOMINEES & WINNERS

Best Motion Picture Drama

• American Gangster
• WINNER Atonement
• Eastern Promises
• The Great Debaters
• Michael Clayton
• No Country for Old Men
• There Will Be Blood

Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical

• Across the Universe
• Charlie Wilson's War
• Hairspray
• Juno
• WINNER Sweeney Todd

Best Actress in a Movie Drama

• Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
• WINNER Julie Christie, Away From Her
• Jodie Foster, The Brave One
• Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart
• Keira Knightley, Atonement

Best Actor in a Movie Drama

• George Clooney, Michael Clayton
• WINNER Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
• James McAvoy, Atonement
• Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
• Denzel Washington, American Gangster

Best Actress in a Movie Comedy or Musical

• Amy Adams, Enchanted
• Nikki Blonsky, Hairspray
• Helena Bonham Carter, Sweeney Todd
• WINNER Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose
• Ellen Page, Juno

Best Actor in a Movie Comedy or Musical

• WINNER Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
• Ryan Gosling, Lars and the Real Girl
• Tom Hanks, Charlie Wilson's War
• Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Savages
• John C. Reilly, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Best Supporting Actress

• WINNER Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
• Julia Roberts, Charlie Wilson's War
• Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
• Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
• Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

Best Supporting Actor

• Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
• WINNER Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
• Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
• John Travolta, Hairspray
• Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton

Best Director

• Tim Burton, Sweeney Todd
• Ethan Cohen and Joel Cohen, No Country for Old Men
• WINNER Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
• Ridley Scott, American Gangster
• Joe Wright, Atonement

Best Animated Film

• Bee Movie
• WINNER Ratatouille
• The Simpsons Movie

Best Foreign Language Film

• 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (Romania)
• WINNER The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (France and U.S.)
• The Kite Runner (U.S.)
• Lust, Caution (Taiwan)
• Persepolis(France)

TV Drama Series

• Big Love
• Damages
• Grey's Anatomy
• House
• WINNER Mad Men
• The Tudors

TV Drama Series Actress

• Patricia Arquette, Medium
• WINNER Glenn Close, Damages
• Minnie Driver, The Riches
• Edie Falco, The Sopranos
• Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
• Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
• Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

TV Drama Series Actor

• Michael C. Hall, Dexter
• WINNER Jon Hamm, Mad Men
• Hugh Laurie, House
• Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Tudors
• Bill Paxton, Big Love

TV Comedy Series

• 30 Rock
• Californication
• Entourage
• WINNER Extras
• Pushing Daisies

TV Comedy Series Actress

• Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
• America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
• WINNER Tina Fey, 30 Rock
• Anna Friel, Pushing Daisies
• Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

TV Comedy Series Actor

• Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
• Steve Carell, The Office
• WINNER David Duchovny, Californication
• Ricky Gervais, Extras
• Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies

Christina Aguilera & Jordan Bratman Have a Boy

SUNDAY JANUARY 13, 2008 05:15 AM EST

Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman welcomed a baby boy on Saturday at 10:05 p.m., PEOPLE has confirmed exclusively.

This is the first child for the 27-year-old singer and her music executive husband.

"Christina and Jordan are proud to announce the birth of their son Max Liron Bratman. He is a beautiful, healthy baby boy!" a rep for the couple tells PEOPLE. "Mom is resting and doing well!"

Despite various media reports that Aguilera had her baby on Friday, Max – 6 lbs. 2 oz. and 20.5 inches long – arrived late Saturday night in L.A.

In a message later posted on her official Web site Sunday, Aguilera tells fans, "Today is a very joyful and special day for Jordan and I as we welcome our first son into this world."

The singer also posted a special video of her song "Save Me from Myself," with footage from the couple's personal wedding video.

"Just a little something to say 'thank you' for your undying love and support," writes Aguilera. "It is in no small part because of you that I live such a blessed and wonderful life!"

Paris Hilton First Confirms Pregnancy

Although Aguilera didn't announce the gender of her baby while she was pregnant, she celebrated the bundle of joy's pending arrival with a blue-themed baby shower in November.

The singer, who was mum on her pregnancy for months despite rumors and a visible bump, officially confirmed she was expecting in November – eight weeks after Paris Hilton prematurely spilled the beans at the LAX nightclub in Las Vegas. "Congratulations to the most beautiful pregnant woman in the world. You're gorgeous," Hilton announced to a crowded room, stunning Aguilera and Bratman.

Later in November, Aguilera bared her growing belly on the cover of Marie Claire. In the article, she revealed that although she'd wanted to have a baby, it happened sooner than she'd expected, following a visit from Bratman while she was on tour last April.

"You've heard it takes some time – except with Power Egg and Super Sperm here," she said. "I'm like, 'Oh my God, can you believe it just happened?' "

Aguilera also addressed her silence on the matter in the earlier stages of her pregnancy, telling the magazine, "Because I hadn't said anything, people thought I was trying to keep it this big, bad secret, and that's not the case at all. I just wasn't commenting. I'm not being like, 'Hey, everybody, I'm pregnant!' I'm not that girl."

Married to Bratman since November 2005, Aguilera had babies on her mind back in July 2006, when she said on Britain's GMTV morning show, "In five years' time I'd probably like to start thinking about a child." Now, she's gotten her wish – just a little bit earlier than she expected.

Photo Special: See Christina's Baby Bump Style

For more news, go to www.christinaaguilera.com

Britney Steps Out – in Her Old Wedding Dress

SATURDAY JANUARY 12, 2008 05:00 PM EST

Something borrowed, something ... leased?

Revisiting her wedding look, Britney Spears donned one of two dresses from her Kevin Federline nuptials to go to a car dealership last week with her new paparazzi friend.

Spears, 26, and Adnan Ghalib, 35, arrived at the Keyes Mercedes-Benz dealership in the San Fernando Valley on Friday afternoon, surrounded by the now-familiar pack of photographers that once contained Ghalib.

The twist was the pop singer was wearing the same lacy, short dress from her 2004 wedding to Federline – her second walk down the aisle following her 55-hour marriage to Jason Alexander.

Spears's own Mercedes was impounded last week after she abandoned it on the road when it blew a tire, but this trip to the dealer was for Ghalib, her constant companion since her meltdown.

"They came in to get an estimate for a new car for him," a sales associate says. "He drives a rental car now. ... He was looking into the different lease and purchase options for sport cars."

By the time they started talking business, Spears had covered up with a trench coat, the sales person says.

"She didn't talk at all and it didn't seem like she was getting the car for him," the sales associate says.

Joel Madden: 'We Are Very Blessed

SATURDAY JANUARY 12, 2008 12:40 PM EST

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden greeted the arrival of their daughter with joy and thanks.

"We are very blessed she's healthy and beautiful and so good already," Madden told PEOPLE on Saturday. "We are very happy."

Richie, 26, and Madden, 28, welcomed 6-lb., 7-oz Harlow Winter Kate Madden on Friday, the couple's rep at Handprint Entertainment says, and the Hollywood congratulations started flowing.

"It's just amazing. I'm so excited," Richie's friend, The Hills star Lauren Conrad, told PEOPLE while at the grand opening for Jimmy Choo's Flagship store in Beverly Hills. "I want to see the baby! I bet it's beautiful."

Lauren Conrad: I Was Not Fired from Teen Vogue

January 12, 2008

Did The Apprentice head for The Hills?

Lauren Conrad has parted ways with Teen Vogue, where she worked as an intern, but the 21-year-old reality star says nobody told her: “You’re fired.”

“No, no, it was a decision I made because I was kind of done,” she told PEOPLE on Friday at the opening of the Jimmy Choo Flagship store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. “I’ve been doing it for about two years, so I’m kind of done.”

Conrad hasn’t found another part-time job — “Honestly, I can’t tell you because I haven’t decided yet. I’m looking,” she said at the opening, which raised money for the Entertainment Industry Foundations’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund — but is leaning toward something in the fashion world. “I really like working backstage at fashion shows, so I’m looking kind of in production,” she says. “I love it. It’s like the most amazing high. It’s like the best feeling.”

Of course, she also has her day job — being Lauren Conrad on MTV’s popular The Hills, which is returning for another season.

So, will we see her with a guy on the show? “I hope so!” she says