Crystle Stewart Wins Miss USA Pageant

Posted on April 11th, 2008 10:54 pm

Crystle Stewart is the new Miss USA.

The 26-year-old Miss Texas conquered 50 other aspiring beauty queens in the pageant televised live from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Almost immediately, the contestants were narrowed down from 50 to 15. The finalists included Miss Missouri - and sister of Chace Crawford - Candice Crawford. But even her sibling’s star power was not enough to deny Stewart from her destiny.

At the end of the night, Crystle overcame runner-up Leah Laviano and second runner-up Tiffany Andrade to succeed Rachel Smith as Miss USA.

“I want to talk to people about how to set a goal and achieve it,” she told The Associated Press after the show. “Because I just achieved my goal.”

Nude Carla Bruni is Worth $91,000

Posted on April 12th, 2008 10:25 am

Who says you can’t put a price on beauty?

A nude photo of French first lady Carla Bruni sold for $91,000 last week. The shot of President Nicolas Sarkozy’s wife was taken by photographer Michel Comte 15 years ago.

A buyer for a Chinese art collector purchased the black-and-white 1993 photo and, we can only assume, plans to display it next to the most scantily clad Michelle Obama picture he can find.

Follow the jump to see the Carla Bruni nude pic in question now.

Heidi Montag Debuts “Heidiwood” Clothing Line

Posted on April 12th, 2008 11:24 am

In breaking celebrity fashion news, Heidi Montag debuted her clothing line, entitled Heidiwood, at a Friday evening fashion show in Hollywood, Calif.

Breathe, people. Breathe.

Models hit the catwalk to model Heidi’s fashion label as “music” from her upcoming, as-yet-untitled pop album blared over the sound system.

So sorry we had to miss this event.

Heidi Montag, 21, worked the runway in sky-high black stiletto platform pumps, short black shorts and a midriff-baring, zebra print halter top.

“I love zebra print!” she said. “I’m obsessed with it!”

Somehow we don’t see Heidi-wood sales skyrocketing.

The real head-turning moment of the night came when Spencer Pratt popped on stage and gave Heidi Montag two dozen long-stemmed pink roses before kissing her on the lips. You may vomit at will, fans of The Hills.

“I mean, you know, we’re up, we’re down,” Montag said of her relationship with Spencer after the show. “It’s just the routine.”

Though they are not living together, “the bottom line is that we love each other,” the former best friend of Lauren Conrad added. “We always have and we’re just trying to figure out our stuff, like every other couple.”

FIRST LOOK: Matt Damon Stands Up (and Breaks Toys) for Darfur

Originally posted Saturday April 12, 2008 09:30 AM EDT

Matt Damon and Thandie Newton have lent their famous faces for a London photo shoot – but these were no glamour shots. The stars (along with Joely Richardson and other celebs) were photographed destroying toys – meant to symbolize the destruction of childhood in Darfur. We got a sneak peek at two of the pics.

April 13, named "Global Day for Darfur," marks the fifth anniversary of genocide in the Sudan region – so some children who live there have known nothing but killings for as long as they've lived. "If it had been my childhood that was under attack I would have expected help," Newton, 35, who was depicted blow-torching a Barbie doll, said in a statement. "Five years is five years too long."

Damon, 37, destroyed a dollhouse with a baseball bat in his shots. "After the genocide in Rwanda we all shook our heads and said never again," said the actor. "Today, as killings mount in Darfur we need to make never again a priority and demand protection for the most vulnerable."

For more information, check out www.SaveDarfur.org.

Heather Mills Booed, but Parties On in Vegas

Originally posted Saturday April 12, 2008 12:25 PM EDT

Never mind the boos: Heather Mills is just out to have a good time.

After the Miss USA audience booed the judge's introduction Friday night in Las Vegas, the former Mrs. Paul McCartney let loose at a pageant afterparty at hot spot Prive.

Mills hit the dancefloor for a couple of hours and showed off some of her Dancing with the Stars moves shortly after midnight (and after a long conversation with Penthouse exec Marc Bell). At one point, Mills – who settled her $50 million divorce deal last month – grooved to the Donna Summer classic "She Works Hard for the Money."

At 2 a.m., Mills, 40, finally left the club and retreated to her suite at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

The controversial Brit can rest assured she ended her night in Vegas with at least one fan in the States. Earlier, Miss USA pageant co-owner Donald Trump told a source : "I think America wants more Heather Mills."

It's Official: Prince William Is a Top Gun

Originally posted Friday April 11, 2008 12:00 PM EDT

Prince William received his coveted flying "wings" at a Royal Air Force graduation on Friday, while girlfriend Kate Middleton looked on with pride.

Britain's Air Chief Marshall – who happens to be his dad, Prince Charles – presented 25-year-old William and 32 other graduates with their "wings" during a 45-minute graduation ceremony at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire on Friday morning.

The young prince is following in the footsteps of his father, who also earned his RAF "wings" at the same flight school back in 1971. William's uncle, Prince Andrew, is also a pilot, having flown helicopters in the South Atlantic during combat operations in 1982's Falklands War.

Also in attendance at the graduation for Flying Officer Wales – his Air Force rank and name – was his stepmom Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. Middleton, meanwhile, continued to show her support – having also attended William's Sandhurst army college graduation in 2006.

Inside William's Training

William has spent the last four months on attachment to the RAF, spending one month learning to fly a basic learner plane, Tucanos, before a five-week intensive course at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire where he learned to fly Squirrel helicopters.

"He fitted in incredibly well," Martin Locke, Community Relations and Press Officer at RAF Shawbury tells a source . "He was a natural pilot and a very quick learner."

Prince William began his pilot training in early January and was soaring the skies solo after only eight days of tutoring.

Dressed in his full RAF "No. 1" dress uniform, William proudly showed his father and Camilla the helicopter he learned to fly in. Says spokesman Locke: "To have your wings presented by Prince Charles is very special, I'm sure none of these graduates will forget today."

Michael Johns ‘Shocked’ by Idol Elimination

April 11, 2008

Michael Johns‘ version of Aerosmith’s “Dream On” during “Inspirational Song Week” didn’t inspire enough votes to keep him on the show, resulting in the most shocking elimination night on American Idol so far. “Nothing has sunk in quite yet,” Johns told reporters during a conference call Thursday. Still, the Australia native is feeling the love of fans, including Dolly Parton, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban — and PEOPLE.com readers. Johns also spoke about being compared to Chris Daughtry, Ryan Seacrest’s misleading comment about eliminations during Idol Gives Back and which Mariah Carey song he planned to sing next week.

How did you feel when you heard that you were eliminated?
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t shocked. I hadn’t been in the bottom three and I thought definitely the last two or three weeks had been my strongest.

Ryan played a little trick on you and the audience. He said last year no one got kicked off after Idol Gives Back but you’re going home. How did you feel about that?
I get the television aspect of this competition but it was tough because I thought, “Okay, I’m going home.” And then they say that, and I’m like, “Oh, wait a second. I’m not going home. Maybe they’re just having a good laugh.” And I hadn’t been in the bottom three before so I’m thinking that’s a possibility. But when reality set in and Ryan gave me a look as if to say, “Look, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry I had to do that,” you get it. You’re in this business and you get it. I don’t hold it against Ryan.

Which Mariah Carey song were you planning on doing next week if you had stuck around?
A really cool soul, blues/soul version of “Vision of Love.”

What do Australians do to drown their sorrow?
Pick your poison — beer or whatever. We’re pretty good beer drinking at our country so that’s probably what I’ll do here in a bit.

How was it working for you with Dolly Parton?
Absolutely amazing. I even got to speak to her this morning and she was just saying what a fan of mine she was. It’s just so surreal to hear Dolly Parton saying that, “I can’t wait to sing a duet with you someday.” That’s just awesome.

Did she call out of the blue?
I was on the line with Fox and Friends, I think, this morning doing an interview and then they were on an interview with Dolly and Lily [Tomlin] talking about the Nine to Five musical. I don’t know how she was made aware of it but all of a sudden Dolly was talking to me saying, “Michael, I can’t believe you got voted off. That was really shocking to me.” And the fact that she loved what I did with her song was amazing to me and that she said she would love to write and maybe do a duet one of these days, so that was pretty cool.

Where did you get that Dolly Parton T-shirt?
I’m glad someone recognized it. I was backstage getting dressed for the show, putting our outfits on and everything and one of the stylists just hung up this vintage Dolly Parton T-shirt just on the door for a gag. And I said, “What is that?” And he said, “It’s a Dolly Parton T-shirt.” And I said, “Can I wear it?” and he said, “No, no. It’s just a gag.” And I said, “Oh no, I’m going on TV and wearing it.”

Have you heard from any other famous fans?
I got a reach out from Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman saying that I was their favorite and they watched every week. It’s just amazing how far this show reaches.

In what form was the message? Did they call? Email?
It was a message passed on to me at an event we went to on Wednesday night after Idol Gives Back. It was the last thing I was expecting to here but any time you can get two great Australians saying that to you is an honor.

There have been some comparisons between you and Chris Daughtry and how you were eliminated way before your time. Do you see yourself at all as the Daughtry of this season?
I’ve been hearing that a bunch actually this morning and what an honor. Chris is an amazing artist and a great guy above that. I’ve gotten to meet him a few times and everyone has nothing but good things to say about him so to be put in that category I feel very fortunate.

Thousands of PEOPLE.com readers commented about how much your elimination shocked them. How does that feel?
Nothing has sunk in quite yet. The backlash [against the elimination] that I’m seeing — snippets of the press and talking to you guys — means a lot. It means that I’ve struck a nerve somewhere and this year more than any other year, I believe, especially with this Top 8, you can’t let the person that’s your favorite go. “Oh, he had a great week,” or, “She had a great week,” and “I’m going to give them half of my votes and then I’m going to do the other one that didn’t do so well.” A split vote like that could happen and unfortunately the people that you thought were going to be safe, go home.

Anything you want to say to those who have been supporting you?
It’s been overwhelming. I’ve been getting letter and flowers and all sorts of gifts and stuff. Thank you. I’ll see you on tour. I’m going to give you guys a good record to buy next year.

Elisabeth Röhm Welcomes a Baby Girl

Originally posted Friday April 11, 2008 06:00 PM EDT

It's a girl for Elisabeth Röhm and fiancé Ron Wooster, a source confirms .

The former Law & Order star, 34, and Wooster, 40, an entrepreneur, welcomed their first child – and future flower girl – Thursday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Easton August Anthony arrived early – Röhm said the due date was her own birthday, April 28 – and weighed 6 lbs, 13 oz, and was 18 inches long.

"I've been dreaming about her for the last nine months, I'm so thrilled she's finally here," Röhm tells a source . "Ron and I cannot wait to take her home and begin our life together as a family."

Röhm and Wooster plan to marry in October in Palm Springs.

"Our daughter may be in a bassinet, but she'll be the prettiest flower girl. I can't wait," Röhm told InStyle Weddings last December.

Sarah Larson: How I Met George Clooney

Originally posted Friday April 11, 2008 02:25 PM EDT

From cocktail waitress to A-list girlfriend – Sarah Larson is living the dream.

Now the former Fear Factor winner is opening up about how she snagged George Clooney, one of the planet's most eligible bachelors.

Although it's been widely reported that the two met at the June 2007 Ocean's Thirteen premiere at the Palms Casino Resort on Las Vegas, she says they actually met much earlier.

"It was on his birthday three or four years ago at Whiskey at [Vegas's] Green Valley Ranch," Larson says, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.

The actor was with a group of pals, including Whiskey Bar owner Rande Gerber (Cindy Crawford's husband). "I was with some friends. We were all dancing, taking pictures, being silly."

At the time, Larson worked as a cocktail server at the venue – but she was dating someone else.

Then, when Clooney arrived in Vegas for the Ocean premiere last summer, "he heard I was working at Moon [nightclub]." The actor tracked her down, she says, and "we hung out." A month later, he invited her to go to Italy.

Road to Romance

As their one-year anniversary approaches, Clooney and Larson can certainly look back on a very eventful year.

They've survived a motorcycle crash. They've ruled the red carpet at film festivals and the Academy Awards. And, the Review Journal reports, she's even met his parents.

Next up for the couple? Clooney, who turns 47 next month, will whisk Larson away for a vacation at his Italian villa.

It's a trip, she said, that could help her burgeoning modeling career. (The 28-year-old recently strutted her stuff in a swimsuit in an Ashley Paige fashion show. She also modeled a Pucci gown – and $500,00 worth of diamonds – in Los Angeles this week.) "We'll be in Como," she says, "which isn't that far from Milano."

The Leatherheads star is very supportive of her career, she added.

"Your boyfriend better be," she noted. "If they aren't, you gotta kick 'em in the butt and walk away."

It's Official: Prince William Is a Top Gun

Originally posted Friday April 11, 2008 12:00 PM EDT

Prince William received his coveted flying "wings" at a Royal Air Force graduation on Friday, while girlfriend Kate Middleton looked on with pride.

Britain's Air Chief Marshall – who happens to be his dad, Prince Charles – presented 25-year-old William and 32 other graduates with their "wings" during a 45-minute graduation ceremony at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire on Friday morning.

The young prince is following in the footsteps of his father, who also earned his RAF "wings" at the same flight school back in 1971. William's uncle, Prince Andrew, is also a pilot, having flown helicopters in the South Atlantic during combat operations in 1982's Falklands War.

Also in attendance at the graduation for Flying Officer Wales – his Air Force rank and name – was his stepmom Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. Middleton, meanwhile, continued to show her support – having also attended William's Sandhurst army college graduation in 2006.

Inside William's Training

William has spent the last four months on attachment to the RAF, spending one month learning to fly a basic learner plane, Tucanos, before a five-week intensive course at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire where he learned to fly Squirrel helicopters.

"He fitted in incredibly well," Martin Locke, Community Relations and Press Officer at RAF Shawbury tells a source . "He was a natural pilot and a very quick learner."

Prince William began his pilot training in early January and was soaring the skies solo after only eight days of tutoring.

Dressed in his full RAF "No. 1" dress uniform, William proudly showed his father and Camilla the helicopter he learned to fly in. Says spokesman Locke: "To have your wings presented by Prince Charles is very special, I'm sure none of these graduates will forget today."

Jessica Simpson 'Couldn't Be Happier' for Ashlee and Pete

Originally posted Thursday April 10, 2008 10:40 PM EDT

The day after Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz announced their engagement, their loved ones say they couldn't be happier about the news.

"My sister is overflowing with joy," says Ashlee's older sibling, Jessica Simpson. "Pete is an incredible soul. They naturally bring out the best in each other. I couldn't be happier."

And their dad, Joe, weighed in from Augusta, Ga., where he is in town watching the Masters golf tournament with Jessica's beau, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. He confirms that Wentz, the bassist for Fall Out Boy, asked his permission to propose to Ashlee.

"[Pete] did ask me," says Joe. "I told him that I would be honored to have him as part of my family."

Yesterday the newly engaged couple posted a statement on friendsorenemies.com saying, "We are thrilled to share that we are happily engaged. Thank you for all of your support and well wishes – it means the world to us. We consider this to be a very private matter, and we wanted to be the first to tell you and to hear it straight from us."

Jay Leno & Ryan Phillippe Still 'Friends' After Interview Controversy

Originally posted Friday April 11, 2008 10:00 AM EDT

There's no hard feelings between Jay Leno and Ryan Philippe, the TV host insisted Thursday night – after the recent controversy in which Leno asked the actor for his "gayest look."

When asked if there's any tension now between him and Phillippe, he replied, "That's all silly, of course."

"He's terrific," Leno, 57, told reporters at Thursday's One, Two, Many premiere in Hollywood.

Leno apologized last week after drawing fire from gay-rights group GLAAD for his on-air remarks, in which he asked Phillippe to pretend the camera was his "gay lover." Phillippe's first role was as a gay character on a soap opera. Leno later said he was "wrong" and that it "was a dumb thing to say."

Asked if he's spoken with Phillippe, 33, since the late-March interview, Leno said, "No, we talked about it before. We're friends. I mean, it's a talk show. That's what you do."

Tonight Show announcer John Melendez, who wrote and stars in the straight-to-DVD comedy One, Two, Many, also weighed in on the controversy: "Jay doesn't have a bad bone in his body. If people get angry at something he said, they just can't take him that literal. He's just a good guy. In this day and age, everyone is so PC. As soon as Janet Jackson shows a bit of her boob, the whole country goes crazy. It's sad."

As for Leno's future on the tube, he's mum. "I'll find a job somewhere," says the host, who leaves The Tonight Show next year after 22 years. As to whether he's met with ABC execs about a possible new project, he says, "I don't know, we'll see what happens ... ."

Vanilla Ice Released From Police Custody

Originally posted Friday April 11, 2008 02:35 PM EDT

Rapper Vanilla Ice was released from a Palm Beach County, Fla., jail Friday after being arrested Thursday night for alleged domestic battery.

A judge ordered the musician (real name: Robert Van Winkle) not to have contact with his wife Laura, except by phone.

The rapper, 40, was released on his own recognizance.

Sheriffs responded to a call from a Wellington, Fla., home Thursday night about a domestic dispute. According to an arrest report, Laura Van Winkle allegedly told a deputy that her husband only pushed her, although she initially told a dispatcher she'd been "struck" and "kicked."

The rapper is due back in court May 5.

Rihanna Shocked (Shocked!) by Jay-Z & Beyoncé's Wedding

Originally posted Friday April 11, 2008 06:00 AM EDT

Like many of Jay-Z and Beyoncé Knowles's friends and colleagues, Rihanna had no idea about the happy couple's hush-hush nuptials last week.

"I didn't know!" Rihanna told the Escada Moon Sparkle/Island Def Jam benefit for her Believe Foundation and DKMS, the world's largest bone marrow donor center. "No one knew!"

(Although the wedding has not been officially confirmed, sources tell ceremony did take place April 4 and Knowles has been spotted wearing a huge ring.)

Among those in the audience at Manhattan's Highland Ballroom were L.A. Reid and Rihanna's "friend" Chris Brown. "Chris said it was a good show," the 20-year-old said of her rumored beau. "He really enjoyed it."

After the show, Rihanna met with several young bone marrow transplant patients. "You are so beautiful," she told 15-year-old Camila Mera.

Heather Mills on Paul McCartney's Gal Pals: 'Better Them Than Me'

Originally posted Friday April 11, 2008 08:00 AM EDT

It'll take more than a gag order to silence Heather Mills.

Under the terms of her recent divorce deal – valued at around $50 million – she's forbidden to discuss ex-husband Paul McCartney. But that didn't stop Mills from weighing in on the new women in his life.

"I think he's got three different girlfriends," she told Britain's GMTV morning show on Friday. "So I wish all the girls the best of luck."

For the record, McCartney, 65, has recently been linked to two women – actress Rosanna Arquette and American businesswoman Nancy Shevell (who accompanied the former Beatle on a recent Caribbean getaway).

And, Mills sniffed, "Better them than me."

The 40-year-old Dancing with the Stars alum – who did the interview via satellite from Las Vegas, where she'll judge this weekend's Miss USA pageant – also said she has "no regrets" about her now-infamous water attack on McCartney's divorce attorney. (On the day the ruling was announced, Mills poured water over Fiona Shackleton's head in the courtroom.)

"Mrs. Shackleton said something under her breath, so I cleansed and baptised her," the former model told GMTV. "I thought she looked fantastic – I thought it did her a world of good."

The divorce may be over, but Mills's court battles continue, she said – explaining that she's fighting to have the full transcripts of the trial made public. She also wants to be able to speak publicly about the marriage.

"I'm fighting to be able to clear my name," Mills said.

First Look: The Racy New Gossip Girl Promo

April 10, 2008

OMG! What would Gossip Girl say?

Take a first look at the steamy new promo for CW’s sexy drama about New York’s most beautiful and privileged group of prep schoolers. But don’t get the wrong idea — Gossip Girl isn’t all about sex. When they’re not fooling around they’re shopping for couture, stirring up controversy, engaging in cat fights, sipping cocktails, and spending cold, hard cash.

Jessica Simpson 'Couldn't Be Happier' for Ashlee and Pete

Originally posted Thursday April 10, 2008 10:40 PM EDT

The day after Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz announced their engagement, their loved ones say they couldn't be happier about the news.

"My sister is overflowing with joy," says Ashlee's older sister, Jessica Simpson. "Pete is an incredible soul. They naturally bring out the best in each other. I couldn't be happier."

And their dad, Joe, weighed in from Augusta, Ga., where he is in town watching the Masters golf tournament with Jessica's beau, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. He confirms that Wentz, the bassist for Fall Out Boy, asked his permission to propose to Ashlee.

"[Pete] did ask me," says Joe. "I told him that I would be honored to have him as part of my family."

Yesterday the newly engaged couple posted a statement on friendsorenemies.com saying, "We are thrilled to share that we are happily engaged. Thank you for all of your support and well wishes – it means the world to us. We consider this to be a very private matter, and we wanted to be the first to tell you and to hear it straight from us."

Nicole Richie: Motherhood 'Beyond Amazing'

Originally posted Thursday April 10, 2008 04:00 PM EDT

When it comes to motherhood, observes Nicole Richie (who is still fairly new to the game), "It's definitely like nothing I could have imagined."

Appearing with her father, musician Lionel Richie, at the 25th Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards in Los Angeles, Nicole, reports Extra, says life with daughter Harlow, who was born in January, is "beyond amazing, and my family has been supportive. And I go to my dad's house all the time."

Nicole, 26, says Lionel, 58, is also meeting his grandfatherly obligations as well. "He actually babysat the other day – him and Joel [Madden, Nicole's finacé] – and they were amazing. I mean, she slept the whole time."

Added Lionel: "It's when the baby wakes up that I freak out!"

Honored with an ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award, the patriarch also said of his daughter: "She went from, 'Dad, I don't care. Whatever you say.' To 'Wash your hands, Dad' and 'Be quiet Dad.' It's a whole new sound of the house."

Speaking of sounds, there was the matter of how he was to be addressed now that his child has had one of her own.

"I went to Nicole and said, 'Grandpa,' how does that sound? Does that fit me?' She said, 'Dad, that sounds old.' So I kind of searched out ... G-Pa sounds a lot better."

Mischa Barton Sentenced to Probation in DUI Case

Originally posted Thursday April 10, 2008 01:25 PM EDT

Mischa Barton was sentenced to three years of unsupervised probation in a Beverly Hills courtroom Thursday in her DUI case.

The former O.C. star pleaded no contest to drunken driving in a plea deal reached with prosecutors and which will spare her jail time.

In addition, a marijuana possession charge against Barton was dropped (due to the small amount found, a source said ). Another charge of driving without a license was reduced to an infraction.

The actress did not attend the hearing. Her attorney, Anthony V. Salerno, was there on her behalf. "The DAs were very fair in handling this case," Salerno said outside the courtroom. "Mischa's glad the case has been resolved."

Barton, 22, was ordered to complete a three-month alcohol-education class and pay a fine of approximately $2,000.

Legal experts say such a deal is common for first-time offenders.

In a statement released after the hearing, her lawyer added: "Ms. Barton understands the seriousness of this situation and assumes full responsibility for her actions. She and I are grateful to the Court and the District Attorney’s Office for the prompt and respectful resolution of the case."

The actress was arrested for DUI in Los Angeles on Dec. 27, after sheriff deputies spotted her weaving between two lanes of traffic and she failed to signal when making a turn.

On Jan. 10, Barton said on Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-F.M. radio show: "Obviously I'm 100 percent responsible for my actions in this case. I'm really disappointed in myself. I don't know what to say about it, except that I'm not perfect, and I just don't ever intend to do something this stupid again."

Gwyneth Borrowed Designer Dress for Beyoncé's Nuptials

Originally posted Thursday April 10, 2008 02:10 PM EDT

The guests wore white – and Gwyneth Paltrow was no exception.

When Beyoncé Knowles wed longtime boyfriend Jay-Z in New York City April 4, good pal Paltrow donned a bone silk gazar minidress with full sleeves, which she borrowed from top designer Proenza Schouler.

"It was arranged last minute," a rep for the designer tells a source , adding that the frock was a sample from the fall/winter 2008 collection and is not yet in stores.

Did the 35-year-old actress mention that she'd be wearing it to the top-secret nuptials (which have not yet been confirmed by the couple, although Knowles has been spotted wearing a ring)?

"No, we had no idea," says the rep. "We just knew it was for a private event. No one knew about the wedding until day of."

POLL: What Should Katie Couric Do?

Originally posted Thursday April 10, 2008 01:15 PM EDT

After a year and a half, America's former morning sweetheart, Katie Couric, has failed to lure viewers to her CBS Evening News broadcast, and late Wednesday came a report that the TV anchor may depart her news desk as early as right after next January's presidential inauguration.

While media observers are pointing fingers of blame at various targets – from CBS head Les Moonves, who wooed Couric away from NBC's Today with a large paycheck, to network executives for even thinking they could get set-in-their-ways older news viewers to adapt to change – the question remains: What could be next for Katie?

Ashlee Simpson & Pete Wentz Get Engaged

Originally posted Wednesday April 09, 2008 10:00 PM EDT

Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz are getting married, they announced Wednesday.

"We know there has been a lot of speculation recently about Pete and I, and we wanted our fans to be the first to know, because you guys are the best," Simpson said in a statement posted on friendsorenemies.com. "Yes, we are thrilled to share that we are happily engaged. Thank you for all of your support and well wishes – it means the world to us. We consider this to be a very private matter, and we wanted to be the first to tell you and to hear it straight from us."

Simpson's father, Joe, tells a source , "totally happy" and "so excited to have Pete as part of (our) family."

"We are blessed," he says.

Simpson, 23, and Wentz, 28, the bassist for Fall Out Boy, have been a linked since the fall of 2006, when they were spotted kissing at a New York nightclub

Friends First

"I think the first day that we met that we were attracted to each other," Simpson recently told a source .

Because they were with other people, "Neither one of us did anything," said Wentz. "That was good." But they quickly became friends, even as Wentz found that "I was into everything about her." Simpson felt the same way.

"He's a cutie," said Simpson, "and he has an awesome personality and kind of brings out the best of me and I knew that even before we were dating. There was just like an awesome connection we had."

A year later, they were still going strong. "We're past the honeymoon period," Wentz told a source the time. "The truth is, it's crazy to be able to kiss your best friend. It's just a really awesome thing."

Speculation that they were engaged began last February when Simpson, the little sister of Jessica Simpson, was seen wearing a diamond ring on her engagement finger. At the time, she said it was a promise ring and that, "It just means that he hasn't asked my dad yet."

Report: Katie Couric May Leave CBS News Early

Originally posted Wednesday April 09, 2008 11:00 PM EDT

Despite a contract due to run until 2011, Katie Couric is expected to end her anchor job at CBS Evening News possibly as soon as the January 2009 presidential inauguration, reports the Wall Street Journal, relying on information from CBS News executives and Couric's inner circle.

The potential move comes as a result of continual low ratings for the nightly newscast, a high (estimated $15 million a year) salary for Couric and pressure at the network to slash costs and attract more viewers.

For the last week in March, Couric's broadcast was watched by an average of 5.9 million viewers – compared to 8.3 million who tuned in NBC's Nightly News With Brian Williams and 8 million for ABC's World News With Charles Gibson.

In a statement Wednesday, a spokeswoman for the program told the Journal, "We are very proud of the CBS Evening News, particularly our political coverage, and we have no plans for any changes regarding Katie or the broadcast."

In another statement provided by another spokeswoman, Couric said, "I am working hard and having fun. My colleagues continue to impress me with their commitment to the newscast, and I am very proud of the show we put on every day."

After leaving NBC's Today show, Couric, 51, began at CBS in September 2006 amid much ballyhoo, but after an opening week of promising ratings, the numbers quickly slipped and then leveled off in distant third place behind the rivals.

Couric's only job salvation at CBS, the Journal suggests, is if the ratings suddenly surge. Another prospect for Couric, says the paper, might be as successor to 74-year-old interviewer Larry King, whose CNN contract expires next year.

King declined comment through a publicist.

Angelina Talks About Pregnancy for the First Time

Originally posted Wednesday April 09, 2008 04:55 PM EDT

Maybe it was all the talk about children, but while Angelina Jolie was discussing Iraq education policy Tuesday in Washington D.C., she "felt kicking suddenly," she tells a source .

And though it was "in the middle of the event," the expectant mother of four didn't miss a beat as she talked about her two visits to Iraq and her new initiative, Education Partnership for Children of Conflict.

Jolie, 32, says EPCC will be "a center that helps raise awareness and coordinate all the various efforts of people working towards education for children of conflict."

Even after an exhausting couple days in the nation's capital, Jolie, who brought sons Maddox, 6, and Pax, 4, with her, shows no signs of slowing down. She'll continue her work in D.C. all week before re-joining Brad Pitt and their daughters Zahara, 3, and Shiloh, 1.

Most of all, Jolie says, she's savoring this period – unexpected kicks and all – adding, "It is a very special time in our lives."

Gwyneth Paltrow: Break-Up Rumors Are 'Ridiculous'

Originally posted Wednesday April 09, 2008 03:15 PM EDT

Gwyneth Paltrow calls the rumors concerning her marriage "ridiculous" – in fact, it's her role as a wife and mom that gives her the most joy.

"Having a family has made me feel whole," Paltrow, 35, tells British Glamour in its May issue. "I used to always be searching and always lonely. I never feel like that any more."

And she's quick to quash those break up stories circulating: "You will never see us out publicly," she states referring to her husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. "We just don't want to be one of those couples."

"It evolved that way," she explains, admitting she has been known to let her guard down, much to the disappointment of her husband of five years. "He gets furious if I say something about him."

Referring to a recent incident where she declined to reveal her husband's whereabouts to the press, she recalls: "They were like, 'You're breaking up.' ... Ridiculous."

Paltrow has kept a low profile since giving birth to her son, Moses, who celebrated turning 2 with a fiesta Tuesday. But reveals she's happy to talk about her kids and their personalities.

"Apple is an open person," she says of the almost 4-year-old. "She's Taurus; grounded, calm, funny. Moses is Aries, he's the most sweet, sensitive thing but then he'll kick and karate-chop and spit and tumble. He's a real boy."

Rob Lowe's Nanny to Answer Extortion Claim in Court

Originally posted Wednesday April 09, 2008 05:00 PM EDT

Rob Lowe's nanny will use the courts to answer his claims she's trying to extort $1.5 million from him, the nanny's rep says.

"Our complaint will speak for itself. Everything in the complaint is true. We do not need the media to win the case," her rep tells Extra.

In a preemptive action, Lowe claimed in a blog post Monday that the woman is demanding the money from him and his wife "or she will accuse us both of a vicious laundry list of false terribles," including false claims of sexual harassment.

Lowe, 44, has also filed lawsuits against nanny Jessica Gibson and two other former employees.

Sean Penn & Robin Wright Stop Divorce Action

Originally posted Wednesday April 09, 2008 03:35 PM EDT

Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn have halted their divorce proceedings, court papers show.

In a one-page document filed Tuesday in Marin County Superior Court, the clerk dismissed the couple's divorce petition at their request.

Penn, 47, and Wright Penn, 42, filed divorce papers in December after 11 years of marriage,.

Penn and his wife were also spotted at an Eddie Vedder concert in San Francisco Tuesday night, according to Extra, which first reported the withdrawal of divorce papers.

(Penn and Vedder are close pals, and Vedder wrote music for Penn's movie Into the Wild.)

A rep for the actors declined to comment.

Penn initially filed for divorce from his wife on Dec. 7 in Marin County, Calif., Superior Court, though his petition was later dismissed. Three days later, Wright Penn filed her own paperwork. Their first hearing was scheduled for April 21.

The couple has two children, Hopper Jack, 14, and Dylan Frances, 17.

Beyoncé Wears Huge Rock at Jay-Z's Atlanta Show

Originally posted Wednesday April 09, 2008 12:00 PM EDT

Beyoncé and Jay-Z may not be talking about their wedding, but her bling certainly seems to be.

Beyoncé happily flashed a whopping hunk of diamond on her left-hand ring finger Tuesday night at her new husband's concert with Mary J. Blige at Atlanta's Phillips Arena.

Wearing a short black dress and big hoop earrings, the newlywed singer sat in a VIP area with buddy Usher. The two leapt to their feet to groove hard when Jay-Z launched into his hit "PSA," with its lyrics, "I got the hottest chick in the game wearing my chain."

Usher threw up the diamond Roc sign, while Beyoncé showed off a telltale diamond rock of her own and waved her arms to the beat.

During the show, Beyoncé also relaxed backstage on a plush red couch, sporting shades and singing along to Blige's songs as Jay-Z made last-minute costume changes.

On Monday night, Jay-Z celebrated without his wife – or a wedding ring – at his 40/40 club in Manhattan, where he cheered during the NCAA men's basketball championship game with friends including rapper Tru Life.

An unlit cigar dangling from his hand, Jay-Z was in a good mood as he coyly evaded wedding questions. "I don't know what you're talking about!" he said with a laugh when congratulated by patrons.

Gwen & Gavin Keeping Baby's Gender a Surprise

Originally posted Wednesday April 09, 2008 05:40 PM EDT

Don't expect Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale to be stocking up on baby items in pink or blue just yet. The couple, who are expecting their second child, will find out if they're getting a boy or a girl on delivery day, Rossdale said Wednesday.

"We don't know [the baby's gender]. It was a surprise last time so we're kind of working on that this time," he told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show. "There are some [names] floating around the house, bouncing around the walls."

But will the new baby's name measure up to his brother's? "Not too crazy," said Rossdale, 42, who added that compared to a name like Kingston, "there's so much pressure on the poor guy or poor girl. Kingston set a pretty intense standard!"

The big brother-to-be, who turns 2 next month, has also been entertaining his parents with his growing vocabulary. "He speaks now," said Rossdale. "It's pretty cute. He's got a funny way of saying things and a funny voice. He's pretty vocal."

Stefani, 38, has described her son as a "chilled-out little guy ... he's super-cute and super-entertaining."

Lawyer: K-Fed Getting a 'Bad Rap' on Expenses

Originally posted Wednesday April 09, 2008 02:25 PM EDT

Whether it was a $1,100 tip at an L.A. restaurant or a $2,000 tip at a Vegas strip club, Kevin Federline's 2007 spending – detailed in recently released financial documents – has critics buzzing over his lavish lifestyle. But his lawyer says they need to look at the bigger picture before passing judgment.

"He's totally getting a bad rap here," according to Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, who says the "court of public opinion" is focusing on a few outstanding expenditures. "It seems like an unnecessary attempt to knock him when there's really no basis to do that."

Kaplan claims that even the $2,000 Scores strip club tip has a logical explanation. "That was for a group of people for a friend's bachelor party," says Kaplan, who adds that it wasn't a tip: "That's just how the club categorized it."

Many of Federline's tips are less extravagant. During a September trip to Fat Tony's Italian Restaurant in North Carolina, he tipped $10.00 on a $41.69 bill.

Federline's Double Life

The papers show two sides to K-Fed. Last August, he spent $304.30 to fly to Las Vegas on low-cost Southwest Airlines. ("He doesn't fly private and more often he drives," says Kaplan.) But once he was there, he didn't cut corners. Over the next three days, he spent $3,038.69 at the Hard Rock Beach Club, $3,863.50 at Tao, and $10,220.65 at The Venetian.

Still, some of his spending is less rock star and more suburban dad. Routine charges at Target ($115.10), IKEA ($246.66) and Albertson's grocery store ($405.75) fill his credit card statements, interspersed with occasional shopping sprees at toy stores. (In May, he dropped $2,167.52 in one day at Toys R Us and Babies R Us.)

Kaplan also disagrees with Britney Spears's legal team's argument that the larger expenses suggest Federline should foot some of the custody-battle legal bills that he's asked her to pay.

"Don't focus on whether he spent too much money going on a vacation or going to a restaurant," says Kaplan. "Focus – as the court does – on was he reasonable having to incur these [court] fees? The answer is a resounding yes." Kaplan says that the legal fees were "built up quite frankly by the conduct of [Spears]" during some of her court-delaying, widely-publicized antics.

"I don't think the court should be distracted by the fact that he went to Las Vegas and spent $1,000 or $5,000,” says Kaplan. "It's not relevant."

Mary-Louise Parker, Fiancé Break Off Engagement

Originally posted Tuesday April 08, 2008 09:00 PM EDT

Mary-Louise Parker and her Weeds co-star Jeffrey Dean Morgan have broken off their engagement, a source confirms .

Parker, 43, who plays a pot-dealing mom on the Showtime series, and Morgan, 41, who plays her deceased husband (and Denny on Grey's Anatomy), were engaged earlier this year after a two-year on-again, off-again relationship.

Reps for Parker and Morgan declined to comment.

Parker adopted a baby girl last fall. She also has a son with actor Billy Crudup.

The breakoff of the engagement was first reported by the Associated Press.

Patrick Swayze 'Thrilled' by His Response to Cancer Treatment

Originally posted Tuesday April 08, 2008 02:30 PM EDT

Patrick Swayze has had an "excellent" response to treatment for pancreatic cancer, the actor and his doctor said Tuesday.

"We're thrilled and grateful for the positive response Patrick has shown towards his treatment," the Dirty Dancing star and wife Lisa Niemi tell a source .

"Also, we can't help but feel that all the prayers, meditations and good thoughts sent his way by everyone has made a difference. Thank you!" said the couple.

His physician, Dr. George Fisher, added: "Patrick Swayze continues to respond well to his treatment for pancreatic cancer. Because of his excellent response, he will continue the same therapy at Stanford."

Swayze, 55, announced last month he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of the most serious of the cancers. He has been undergoing chemotherapy but not radiation treatment, according to his rep.

Rosie: Hasselbeck a ‘Little Republican Who Scared Me’

April 8, 2008

Nearly a year after their blow-up, Rosie O’Donnell is still sore at Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

“I tried my best but it’s hard for me when I’m not the boss,” O’Donnell, 46, said on The Martha Stewart Show Tuesday, reflecting on her experience on The View. “There was people there telling me what to do. There was a little Republican who scared me.”

During O’Donnell’s final weeks on the show, the Republican Hasselbeck, now 30, and the liberal O’Donnell famously sparred in May 2007 over the Iraq war.

Whoopi Goldberg, 52, later took over O’Donnell’s spot.

Angelina Jolie Honors Mariane Pearl

Originally posted Tuesday April 08, 2008 05:30 PM EDT

Angelina Jolie was radiant as she awarded her friend, journalist Mariane Pearl, with the Fern Holland Award Monday night at the Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards gala in Washington, D.C.

Jolie, who played Pearl in the film version of her book A Mighty Heart, spoke of Pearl's special gift as a mother and called her an example of "courage, hope and tolerance," reports the Washington Post.

Pearl, the wife of slain reporter Daniel Pearl, called Jolie "a sister" during her acceptance speech, and the two spent the day together, as their kids – Maddox, Pax and Adam – played.

On Tuesday, Jolie participated in a Council on Foreign Relations event in Washington D.C. The event was to help launch Jolie's new venture, the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, which will focus on the work of prominent charity organizations as well as tell the stories of the children in need.

Toni Braxton Hospitalized for Chest Pains

Originally posted Tuesday April 08, 2008 03:55 PM EDT

Grammy-winning singer Toni Braxton is in "good condition" after being admitted to a Las Vegas hospital for chest pains Monday night, says a spokeswoman for a hotel-casino where the singer has been performing.

The singer, 40, is expected to be released from the St. Rose Dominican Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Flamingo Hotel-Casino rep. She has been headlining her live show "Toni Braxton: Revealed" five days a week at the Flamingo since 2006.

The singer has spoken in public about her heart condition, pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart.

"I found out about five or four years ago" the artist told a source in February. "I've also been diagnosed with hypertension."

This year, Braxton became a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.

She was not scheduled to perform Sunday or Monday night. Tuesday's show has been canceled to give the singer time to recover.

"We wish Toni a quick recovery and would like her to take the time she needs to regain optimal health," said president of Flamingo Las Vegas, Don Marrandino. "We are looking forward to her return at the end of the week."

Calls to Braxton's publicist have not been returned.

Simon Cowell Donates Paycheck to Idol Gives Back

April 8, 2008

While Simon Cowell isn’t known for being generous with his praise, he puts his money where his mouth is when it comes to charity. The American Idol judge is donating a day’s pay to Idol Gives Back .

After traveling to Africa and touring sites in the US last year as part of the inaugural Idol Gives Back campaign, “Simon saw first-hand children in extremely impoverished conditions,” a source close to Cowell says. “He donated his paycheck then and he had no hesitation in donating his paycheck again this year.”

Charities receiving donations as part of this year’s Idol Gives Back include: The Children’s Defense Fund, Children’s Health Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More, and Save the Children.

Yesterday, a source close to Idol host Ryan Seacrest revealed he too, was donating a day’s pay, saying, “When he and Simon went to Africa last year and saw the children, it was really life-altering for him.”

Idol Gives Back will air on FOX Wednesday, April 9.

Harrison Ford: Calista Best Mother in the World

Originally posted Tuesday April 08, 2008 02:50 PM EDT

After nearly 20 years, Harrison Ford is returning to the role of Indiana Jones. But at home, he's reprising a part he played earlier in his 65 years: father.

Being a parent again, the leading man tells Reader's Digest for its May issue, has "made me just a bit less self-centered."

The actor's companion since 2002, Calista Flockhart, 43, adopted the youngster in Ford's life, son Liam, in 2001.

"She's brought a child back into my home," Ford says of Flockhart. "My youngest, other than Liam, is 17. It's a wonderful opportunity to be part of a child's growing up, which is always an endless springtime. You see the blossoming and the growing and the nurturing and the payoff."

Ford, who was PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive in 1998, also has four older children – Benjamin, 40, and Willard, 39, his two sons with first wife Mary Marquard (to whom Ford was married from 1964 to 1979), and a boy and a girl with his second wife, E.T. screenwriter Melissa Mathison (to whom he was wed from 1983-2004): Malcolm, 21, and Georgia, 17.

Asked what sort of mother Flockhart is, Ford replied: "The best in the world. She's a mother by choice – she adopted Liam before we met, as a single parent, which is an awesome responsibility to take. She's devoted herself to Liam and has done a really wonderful job raising him. I'm happy to now have a part of the job."

But is he different with Liam than he was with Benjamin, Willard, Malcolm and Georgia? "Naturally enough," Ford replies, "I'm a little bit more mature."

Bachelor Speaks Out About Romance With Marla Maples

April 8, 2008

Former Bachelor Andy Baldwin and Marla Maples — a.k.a. the former Mrs. Donald Trump — have a “blooming romance,” the Naval officer said .

“We met (last year) and I found her to be very sweet, positive,” he said of the 44-year-old Maples. “She’s polite and respectful and has a great heart.”

Although the two were spotted together in New York City over the holidays — prompting rumors of a love connection — Baldwin said their relationship didn’t became romantic until February, when he returned home from an overseas military mission.

Baldwin, who’s in his early 30s, is in the process of relocating from Hawaii to Washington, D.C., for a new job assignment. He’s currently vacationing in Los Angeles, where he’s been logging quality time with the California-based Maples.

The two have been spotted frolicking on the beach, attending a youth camp supported by their friend Deborah Gibson and arriving arm-in-arm at Monday’s Dancing with the Stars.

“It takes someone special for me to spend time away from my daughter (14-year-old Tiffany), because she’s my priority,” Maples told us the show. The two held hands through the evening, and spoke earnestly of their love connection.

“There’s a lot of sweet, cute people in the world, but it’s what’s in here,” Maples said, gesturing to Baldwin’s heart, “that counts.”

So is the age difference an obstacle? “She has the mind, body and energy of a 25-year-old,” insisted Baldwin. “When you have a connection with someone, age goes out the window.”

As for social worker Tessa Horst — to whom he proposed in the Bachelor finale — they called it quits last September. “I definitely care for her a great deal,” said Baldwin, who added that they have kept in touch. “I have no regrets about that experience or the relationship that we had.”

Rob Lowe Sues Three Ex-Employees in Extortion Claim

Originally posted Monday April 07, 2008 11:50 PM EDT

Rob Lowe, who accused a former nanny of trying to extort $1.5 million from him and his wife, went a step further on Monday, filing three separate lawsuits against two of his former nannies and his former chef.

Lowe, who wrote an article on The Huffington Post condemning the nanny for what he described as an "attempt to damage and humiliate" his family, filed court papers in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties accusing the ex-employees of breach of contract, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Accusations Against Ex-Nanny

In a 26-page complaint against the longtime former nanny, Lowe's lawyers say the woman claimed to have "a personal and intimate relationship (with Lowe), and, in effect, accusing Rob Lowe of infidelity." The Lowes also learned that the nanny repeatedly expressed romantic interest in Rob and told people that "she wished he would divorce Sheryl Lowe."

On at least one occasion, the nanny "bragged" about giving Lowe a massage during a trip with the Lowe family, according to court papers. (The couple claims it never happened.) The woman also allegedly claimed that Lowe sexually harassed her and that Sheryl Lowe was an "overly demanding" and "abusive" employer, who made "inappropriate comments of a sexual and racial nature" to her.

In the 19-page filing against the former chef, Lowe claims the ex-employee had sex on their bed "with third parties" when the family was out of town, stole prescription drugs from their medicine cabinet that he later distributed to his friends, broke several security cameras and overcharged them for food. According to the suit, he also allegedly made statements to various people that Sheryl was heartless, cold and "unclean."

The suit against the other ex-nanny accuses her of engaging in a scheme to hurt the couple by spreading "malicious lies" about both Rob and Sheryl. While at work, she also allegedly used "profane and vulgar" language to describe the "intimate and salacious" details of her personal life.

Lowe, 44, said earlier Monday that the former nanny is demanding $1.5 million from the actor and his wife "or she will accuse us both of a vicious laundry list of false terribles."

Idol David Cook's Family Crisis

Originally posted Sunday April 06, 2008 02:00 PM EDT

David Cook quickly bounced back from his brief hospitalization due to high blood pressure and heart palpitations, but the American Idol finalist is coping with more than the weekly eliminations.

His older brother Adam Cook is battling cancer, sources confirm. David hasn't spoken about it, the sources add, out of respect for his brother – and because he didn't want to seek sympathy votes. But he has performed with an electric guitar emblazoned with his brother's initials "A.C."

Cook is not the first idol to compete while dealing with a personal crisis.

"The week before we came up for the Top 24, my best friend passed away, and I was just like, 'I don't know if I can go out there,'" last year's champ Jordin Sparks says . "I went to the funeral and came back and then my uncle passed away – and then my grandma ... and so I had three deaths go on during the show."

The blows tested Sparks physically as well as mentally, she said last week at a Hollywood PSA shoot for DoSomething.org and Staples School Supply Drive To Do Something for students who can't afford school supplies.

"It's hard because you have to go out there and put this smile on your face," says the singer. "It's very exhausting, and it's very overwhelming and kind of gets to you. I mean I got sick a couple times, just because I was so tired and kept trying to do all this stuff and it was crazy."

Still, if personal matters were to become very serious, it's possible that Cook would be allowed time off from the competition to be with his family.

"It's only ever happened once and that was in the U.K.," Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe told reporters in a conference call. "We gave them a week out."

Dancing’s Cheryl Burke Opens Her Own Dance Studio

April 6, 2008

Two-time Dancing With the Stars champion Cheryl Burke celebrated the opening of her own dance studio Friday night in San Francisco.

“San Francisco’s my hometown, so I felt like I needed to give back,” Burke, 23, said . “I want this to be the new, hip place to go to for ballroom dancing.”

The Cheryl Burke Dance Center will take all of Burke’s time — once the Dancing season’s over.

“I’ll be here as much as I can for the rest of the year,” said Burke. “I really want to be able to put my foot in the air and be with everybody and support everybody.”

Also on hand to celebrate were Dancing host Tom Bergeron and Burke’s current and former Dancing partners Cristian de la Fuente and Drew Lachey.

Though Burke and Lachey have denied tabloid reports they had a relationship that extended beyond the dance floor, Lachey says they have remained close.

“I’ve known her since the end of 2005,” Lachey, 31, says . “We’ve definitely stayed in touch. Since then, I’ve come back and hosted, we’ve done tours together.”

“At the end of the day,” adds Burke, “our sport is so close and if you don’t have the chemistry on the floor, you’re not doing a good job. But someone will always believe that there’s something going on behind closed doors when there really isn’t. It’s our job to be this way, like actors. And I think rumors are rumors, and you have to surround yourself with great people and just keep your head up.”

Mary J. Blige's Concert Shout-Out to Jay-Z & Beyoncé

Originally posted Sunday April 06, 2008 12:00 PM EDT

Mum was the wedding word from Jay-Z as he hit the stage in North Carolina on Saturday – a day after a friend says he married Beyoncé Knowles – revealing nothing about a ceremony and wearing no ring.

But co-headliner Mary J. Blige on the "Heart of the City" tour couldn't maintain the same level of silence, shouting to the sold-out Greensboro audience: "Congratulations to my man, Jay-Z, and my girl B," before starting her set with "You're All I Need."

Otherwise, it was musical business as usual for Jay-Z, who stuck to the concert script, performing on his own and doing duets with Blige. Beyoncé was nowhere to be seen, and his only reference to her came when he played a few notes of "Crazy in Love," then cut it off, saying, "Sorry, B." But this is something he does at every show.

A couple since 2002, Jay-Z, 38, and Beyonce, 26, have long kept quiet about their relationship, and their reps are still not comfirming a wedding. But a friend says : "It happened earlier (Friday) evening. Jay wanted it to be a really private affair – close friends and family."

The ceremony was followed by a lavish party at the rapper's Tribeca apartment that drew Beyoncé's mother Tina Knowles, her father/manager Mathew, her sister Solange, her Destiny's Child mates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, and the couple's friend Gwyneth Paltrow.

Brandon Davis Goes Off on Celebrity News Media

Posted at April 6th, 2008 9:42 am

Wow.

Getting taunted by the celebrity news media sucks, fo’ sho’ - but retaliating with the most disgusting slurs in the English language? Gosh.

The only person happy about Brandon Davis’ rant Thursday night may be Michael Richards, who was just dethroned as king of the offensive tirade.

A member of the celebrity gossip press was definitely laying into Brandon Davis at Foxtail on Thursday night, but Greasy Bear took it to whole ‘nother level by calling the African-American photographer a “n!gger.”

The pack of celebrity news photographers was stunned by this - and ripped back, calling Davis “Greasy Crotch” as well as a “d**chebag.”

Brandon Davis: Possibly the worst human in Hollywood.

An hour later, cameras caught the pathetic scumbag oil heir fuming outside another club, Villa, where he called a TMZ photographer “a f@ggot.”

That was just Thursday.

On Friday evening, the ever-disgusting Brandon Davis showed up at the nightclub / scene of the crime - and was arm-and-arm with some random, unidentified black man who told the paps, “I’m a n!gga man, he likes me.”

How anyone would choose to hang out with Greasy Bear for any reason is beyond comprehension to us, but that’s by no means anything new.

Ever the coward, Davis refused to say a word. No apologies, nothing. Guess he’s the same guy who went on the legendary firecrotch rant.

Charlton Heston Dies at 84

Originally posted Sunday April 06, 2008 12:00 AM EDT

Oscar winner Charlton Heston died Saturday night at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 84 years old.

He died with Lydia, his wife of 64 years, at his side, the Heston family said in a statement.

No cause of death was released. In 2002, in a moving videotaped announcement, the star confirmed he had been diagnosed with symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer's disease.

Heston won the Academy Award for best actor in 1959's “Ben-Hur.” He also played Moses in The Ten Commandments in 1956. Later in life, he was known as much for his political work than acting, serving as president of the National Rifle Association.

"Charlton Heston was seen by the world as larger than life," said the family statement. "He was known for his chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and resonating voice, and, of course, for the roles he played. Indeed, he committed himself to every role with passion, and pursued every cause with unmatched enthusiasm and integrity.

"We knew him as an adoring husband, a kind and devoted father, and a gentle grandfather, with an infectious sense of humor. He served these far greater roles with tremendous faith, courage and dignity. He loved deeply, and he was deeply loved.

"No one could ask for a fuller life than his. No man could have given more to his family, to his profession, and to his country. In his own words: 'I have lived such a wonderful life! I've lived enough for two people.'"