Vanessa Minnillo and Nick Lachey
Photo: Todd Williamson/ WireImage

Singer Nick Lachey and former "TRL" host Vanessa Minnillo have broken up after three years together, according to People.com.

"They have amicably split but remain good friends who still greatly care for one another," a rep for Minnillo told the magazine.

A rep for Lachey, a former member of 98 Degrees, also confirmed the news.

Lachey and Minnillo began dating in 2006, but rumors of a breakup had dogged the couple recently. Earlier in June, Minnillo told People that her relationship was "very much still on."

MTV News most recently caught up with Lachey, 35, and Minnillo, 28, in May on the red carpet at the Maxim Hot 100 party in Los Angeles, where the pair joked together and compared memories of their high school proms.

Lachey and Minnillo started a relationship after Lachey's high-profile 2005 split from wife Jessica Simpson. Following the breakup of his marriage, which had been chronicled on the MTV reality show "Newlyweds," Lachey released the first single off his solo album, "What's Left of Me." Minnillo starred in the video.

A source told People that Lachey and Minnillo are "still friends. It was the right thing for both of them to do."

• Three Years Of Vanessa And Nick

• Nick Lachey

Jessica Simpson
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/ Getty Images

Jessica Simpson, who was battered by media coverage about her weight earlier this year, is apparently aiming to make lemonade from lemons: The singer/actress is reportedly shopping around a new reality program that focuses on society's scrutiny of women's bodies.

According to Us Weekly, Simpson recently paid a visit to several unnamed networks to pitch a reality show titled "The Price of Beauty." The premise, according to an anonymous source, is that Simpson and a friend "set off on a road trip around the world in search of what people find beautiful and why."

The source said that Simpson, 28, whose marriage to ex-husband Nick Lachey was famously chronicled on MTV's own "Newlyweds" reality show, will be very hands-on with this series, including trying some "shocking things that women do to make themselves beautiful. Picture 'Fear Factor.' "

A spokesperson for Simpson could not be reached for comment at press time.

An unnamed rep for the singer told the magazine, "Jessica is indeed working on a new show, but network details have not been finalized at this time."

Simpson, who attempted to relaunch her music career last year with a country album, was recently on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine, in which she discussed the difficulty of the fallout from those unflattering concert photos and the criticism of her up-and-down weight throughout her career. "It comes with what I do," she told the magazine. "And I know that every day the media's going to challenge me."

• A Slim Jessica Simpson Performs In San Antonio

• Jessica Simpson
• Nick Lachey

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo
Photo: MTV News

It's May — you know what that means. It's getting warm, the flowers are blooming and the time-honored tradition of prom is back again. So get your corsages, turn up the cheesy music and fuel the limos, because this week we're catching up with your favorite stars and helping them relive their favorite prom memories.

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo seem to have had very different prom experiences back in high school. Minnillo, who grew up all over the country as an Army brat, had a full-on glamorous prom experience, while Lachey, who grew up in Cincinnati, had a more low-budget prom night.

"I always feel like prom was fun, but it was always a little bit of a let-down from all the anticipation and all the butterflies," Lachey told MTV News. "You get all dressed up and it's like, 'This is it?' I didn't spring for a limo. I took a rusted-out Toyota — that's how we did it in Cincinnati."

Meanwhile, Minnillo's aggravation came from having to hear her date complain about spending a lot of money to take her to the prom. "The guy wastes a lot of money," she recalled. "I had to hear about it. 'I spent money on the limo, money on dinner' ... I'm like, 'The whole point of prom is to have a good time.' "

Despite her date's complaining, she did call him out on being a bit stingy on the limo rental. "It was a six-person limo," she said. "And it had 12 of us in it!"

We'll have lots more celebrity prom stories rolling out throughout the week (and check out even more celebrity prom coverage on the MTV Buzzworthy Blog)!

• Nick Lachey

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo at the <i>Maxim</i> Hot 100 party on Wednesday
Photo: Todd Williamson/WireImage

Vanessa Minnillo knows a thing or two about beauty pageants. The former "TRL" host was Miss Teen USA back in 1998, and she thinks that Miss California USA Carrie Prejean is getting a tough break for making comments on gay marriage and then for the leak of her topless photos.

"This poor girl!" Minnillo told MTV News at the party for Maxim's Hot 100 list, before her longtime beau Nick Lachey cut her off to wax poetic on the controversy.

"Of course she should have kept her crown. This is what makes America America," he said. "Everyone's entitled to their opinion, and you should be able to say your opinion and not be criticized or penalized for it."

He added that people shouldn't have been so upset that Prejean told the Miss USA judging panel that she felt marriage should be between a man and a woman, because she was specifically asked what she thought. "If you don't want to know someone's opinion, don't ask the question," he said. "How is someone's opinion wrong?"

As for the topless photos that caused such a stir when they were released? Lachey has an equally positive opinion about that. "And she takes good pictures!"

On Wednesday, former Miss USA Shanna Moakler resigned from her post as Miss California Pageant Director after it was announced that Prejean would get to keep her crown. Moakler said she disagreed with the fact that Prejean got to keep her title after she didn't disclose the fact that she had taken the controversial pictures.

"Since the press conference yesterday, I had a chance to think about what has taken place, and I feel that at this time it is in my best interest to resign from the Miss California USA organization," Moakler said in a statement to MTV News. "I cannot with a clear conscience move forward supporting and promoting the Miss Universe Organization when I no longer believe in it, or the contracts I signed committing myself as a youth."

• Maxim's Hot 100 Celebration With Ciara, Speidi And More

• Nick Lachey

Nick Lachey
Photo: MTV Staff

HOLLYWOOD — It's too soon to say exactly what to expect from Nick Lachey's follow-up to What's Left of Me, but the singer says fans can definitely count on something a bit lighter.

"It was such a hypersensitive point in my personal life, I had a lot to say in that regard," Lachey said of his 2006 album, which chronicled his divorce from Jessica Simpson. "I always write from a personal place and clearly this time around, this point in my life, that's a very different perspective than I had last time. So I do anticipate the album will be slightly different and have a few more colors that the last one didn't."

At the same time, he also offered a warning about both albums.

"It's not always a literal, personal experience that you're putting out there," continued Lachey, dressed in his studio attire of track pants, sleeveless T-shirt and ball cap. "You're certainly motivated by things in your life, both good and bad, but it's never a literal representation of life and what you're going through as an artist, it's just kind of a starting point."

Speaking of starting points, for Lachey's yet-untitled third solo album, his first steps lead to the Underdogs, the red-hot production duo behind the "Dreamgirls" music and hits from Omarion and Fantasia.

"Their track record speaks for itself," Lachey said. "We've known each other for a long time now and it's kind of one of those things where one of these days we're gonna work together and I'm glad it finally happened on this record."

"[We're doing] big radio records with big, huge choruses," Underdog Harvey Mason Jr. said of their work with Lachey. "His voice is really strong and we hope to try and give him a chorus that can support that, a message-type of song with good lyrics, some emotion behind it, 'cause he can really pull off those type of records."

On Thursday, the three were working out a ballad — titled "She's Gone," oddly enough — with Lachey changing around some of the Underdogs' pre-written lyrics.

"I love to be a part of the writing process and I feel like I can contribute in that way," Lachey said. "But at the same time, I've never been one to say, 'Oh it's a great song, but I didn't write it so I'm not gonna do it.' Man, I've learned early and often that a great song's a great song and they don't always come along, so you snatch them up when you can."

Along with the Underdogs, Lachey is planning to record with many of the same collaborators from What's Left of Me. From there, he's keeping an open mind.

"I started out the last album in one place and ended up in another," he said. "It's kind of a journey, so until you've finally reached your destination, you never know what route you're gonna take. That's the one thing I've learned: Don't try and plan it out so much, just write honestly and perform honestly and whatever comes, comes."

Nick definitely plans to include several of those ballads, but beyond that is anyone's guess.

"One of the best parts about working on a new project is the experimental phase of figuring out how you want your sound to evolve," Lachey said. "That's always important to challenge yourself as an artist and a singer to grow and move in slightly different directions, while at the same time not losing the fanbase you've worked so hard to build up."

With recording under way, Lachey has set aside other projects, including the television and movie roles he has pursued in recent years.

"The acting stuff is something that will always interest me and hopefully the opportunities will continue to be there, but right now I feel like I re-established myself as a singer and re-established myself in the music business, so I want to continue to build on that and get back out there with another project," he explained. "Being on tour this past year and seeing the success of this record kind of reminded me and reiterated to me how much I enjoy the music business. That will always be, first and foremost, my passion."

• Nick Lachey's Studio Experiment

• Nick Lachey

Antonella Barba, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton
Photo: Getty Images/ Bauer-Griffin.com

Not that long ago, dancing in a Catholic schoolgirl uniform was naughty. Tabloid gold was a picture of a pop star smoking a cigarette. And the cardinal rule for a young celebrity was to never, ever admit to having lost your virginity.

Not that long ago a topless picture got you booted from "American Idol."

"Oh, how times have changed" is usually said of generational gaps, but it suddenly applies to a span of five years or less. Now going panty-less is barely naughty (and not that unusual). Pop stars boast in interviews about smoking marijuana. And forget about virginity in a world where a sex tape can launch a career.

And on "American Idol," well, pictures that show you holding your bare breasts — or your friends' breasts — or even sitting on the toilet will not only not get you booted, but will build you an instant fanbase.

Comparing Antonella Barba's situation to Frenchie Davis' is not entirely fair — Davis was paid by an adult Web site for her pictures, Barba was not — but it's certainly interesting to contrast the context in both cases (see "Frenchie Davis Wonders Why 'Idol' Gave Her The Boot, Spared Antonella Barba" and "Antonella Barba: 'I Want To Be Known For Singing, Not In Any Other Way' ").

"Frenchie's situation happened in 2003, Antonella is happening in 2007, and the landscape is different," said Michael Slezak, a senior writer for Entertainment Weekly. "Different rules do somewhat apply. I think the MySpace phenomenon, the access to digital cameras, the fact that a photo isn't just a photo anymore, it can be all over the Internet in 30 seconds, it all makes a difference."

As does the behavior of our current idols, when they are the standard to which our homemade "Idol"s are compared.

"To some degree, the threshold of what shocks the American public has been lowered a little bit. Paris Hilton had a sex tape before she had a record deal. We've now seen parts of Britney Spears that we wouldn't have expected to see," Slezak said (see "Britney Speaks: 'Thank God For Victoria's Secret's New Underwear!' "). "So the fact that those things have happened have made us less shocked about Antonella in a bikini bottom and a wet T-shirt, even if it is in front of one of the WWII memorials."

And with reality-TV stars capturing so much attention with their scandals — Barba's name was more searched on the Web last week than Britney Spears' (see "The Antonella Barba Black Market: T-Shirts, CDs ... Poop Art?") — celebrities have to do that much more to make headlines.

"I think reality TV changed everything," said Evanescence singer Amy Lee, who recently defended Spears' bad behavior. "And the Internet is changing a lot of things. I miss seeing people really working."

As the president of Mantra Films, the company behind "Girls Gone Wild," Scott Barbour is somewhat of an expert on racy behavior. And Antonella Barba's pictures, at least the ones that are definitely her (see " 'Idol' Hopeful Antonella Barba's Pal Says X-Rated Pics Are Fake"), are hardly shocking in his book.

"If you really are going to hold youth to those kinds of standards, every other girl who has a page on MySpace would be disqualified from everything," Barbour said. "There's probably an awful lot of girls at home who look at her and say, 'That's not so bad.' It's hypocritical for people to pretend that girls and guys don't go on spring break and have fun. That's part of society right now."

Maybe so, but shouldn't celebrities, knowing their every move is being followed by incessant bloggers and paparazzi, be more careful than a 19-year-old sorority girl in Cancun?

"Act with respect," advised Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine, whose personal life provided tabloid fodder in recent years. "Be a lady or a gentleman. Whether you are on camera or not, don't be stupid."

Nick Lachey, also no stranger to tabloids, sees the other side. "I don't think you can look at it in terms of musicians and singers and performers being role models and held accountable for those things," he said. "There's always been an element of certain risqué behavior when you talk about the entertainment business. The old adage 'No publicity is bad publicity' is true in a lot or respects. It gets your name out there. I myself have tried not to go that route, but you see it time and time again. It's unfair to create expectations of what you expect from performers. You have to appreciate their craft, what they do for a living, but to look too much into their personal lives and put too much stock into that is a bit unfair."

Debra Whiting Alexander, author of "Loving Your Teenage Daugher (Whether She Likes It or Not)," believes "what is expected and accepted from idols in our culture has changed" in recent years, and she's worried about the impact it could have.

"A wide range of unhealthy, dangerous choices are promoted in the media, and when a young girl's idol lowers the bar for standards, she's more likely to feel OK about lowering hers too," Alexander said. "I think most teenage girls strive to emulate the culture that surrounds them. The actions of celebrities simply reflect the culture they live in too."

As Lachey noted, celebrity bad behavior is nothing new, dating back to the parental outrage at Elvis Presley shaking his hips on TV. But Alexander believes this is different.

"The shock factor in behaviors we see all over the Internet are not unlike other generations' rites of passage with one important distinction," she explained. "Today we seem to be a culture addicted to sensationalism. Because we have grown desensitized to so much already, behaviors keep pushing new limits to gain the attention and publicity intended. It takes more to shock us, so like any addict, we crave behaviors that keep growing more extreme.

"In the '60s we heard, 'If it feels good, do it,' " she continued. "Today the message might be 'Anything goes.' And I think many parents are now realizing how far 'Anything goes' has actually gone."

So where does that go from here?

"What kind of revelation will it take for someone to gasp or clutch their pearls, it's really hard to say," Slezak said. "You never know if the next generation will be reactionary to that and say, 'We wanna take the line back a hair,' or if it will just keep moving in the other direction."

"I see great hope for this generation," Alexander said. "I know they are smarter than the way culture currently portrays them. I'm waiting for the uprising."

• Not That Innocent: Pop's Racy Makeover

• Britney Spears' Nonstop Night Life
• "American Idol" Season 6 Performances

• Britney Spears
• Paris Hilton
• Nick Lachey

Jessica Simpson
Photo: Nancy Ostertag/ Getty Images

Jessica Simpson was "hurt" by ex-husband Nick Lachey's early dating after their marriage dissolved, she told Elle magazine for its March issue, due to hit newsstands February 13. "Two or three weeks later? Yeah, I'd say it kind of hurt me," she said. ...

After weeks of Internet leaks, the dates for the Honda Civic Tour — headlined by Fall Out Boy and featuring (+44), Cobra Starship, the Academy Is ... and, uh, Paul Wall — have finally been confirmed. The trek kicks off April 18 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and runs until mid-June, with a pair of homecoming gigs in FOB's Chicago hometown on the 10th and 11th. Fans who purchase the band's Infinity on High album when it hits stores Tuesday will receive an access code for a special ticket presale. The general presale begins February 17. For more info, check out HondaCivicTour.com ...

Kim Mathers, now twice-divorced from Eminem, appeared on ABC's magazine show "20/20" Friday to discuss her tumultuous relationship with the multiplatinum superstar. In a segment titled "Lovers' Revenge," Mathers described her second marriage to Eminem as "rushed," claimed the rapper's fame destroyed their marriage and revealed that their relationship ended for good over an argument she had with his younger brother. Mathers also discussed her affairs, her failed suicide attempt and Em's role as a father and husband. Through his representatives, Eminem declined to comment for the segment. ...

Jennifer Lopez is getting a human-rights award — and it's not for the performance she gave (with hubby Marc Anthony) at a Super Bowl party in Miami over the weekend. The Associated Press reports that the singer/actress will receive the Artists for Amnesty award for her work producing and starring in "Bordertown," a soon-to-be-released film about the murder of hundreds of women in a Mexican town. J. Lo will be presented with the award February 14 at the Berlin Film Festival, where the movie is debuting. There's some good news for J. Lo fans too: The wait for her Spanish-language album just got a bit shorter. The release of Como Ama Una Mujer has been moved up one week to March 27. ...

No Doubt's Tom Dumont joined former You Hear It First artist Matt Costa onstage at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California, Saturday night. Dumont provided backup vocals during "Miss Magnolia," a new Costa tune that closed his opening set for G. Love and Special Sauce. Look for it to surface on Costa's new Dumont-produced album, which the singer/songwriter will record later this year. The No Doubt guitarist told MTV News that the band's new material could be out by 2008. "[Guitarist] Tony [Kanal] and [drummer] Adrian [Young] and I have been writing music for the next No Doubt album, to be ready when we resume to record with [singer] Gwen [Stefani]," Dumont said. In the meantime, Dumont has also been keeping busy producing New York indie band ModRocket and scoring an in-the-works animated short for the Disney Channel. ...

Bam Margera married Missy Rothstein, a childhood friend, on Saturday, AP reports. Iggy Pop performed at the festivities, and Tony Hawk and former Smashing Pumpkin James Iha were in attendance. The wedding was filmed for Margera's MTV reality show "Bam's Unholy Union." ... LL Cool J will host the 38th NAACP Image Awards, which will air live March 2 on Fox. Bono will be presented with a special award for his humanitarian efforts, while Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia are among the nominees in the running for NAACP prizes honoring entertainers. ...

A federal judge issued a temporary injunction against ParisExposed.com, the Web site that's been offering its subscribers access to personal pictures, videos, diaries and other documents Paris Hilton had in storage, AP reports. The site purchased the contents at auction after Hilton failed to pay her storage fees. Hilton sued the operators of the site last week, charging that its very existence exploited her private personal belongings for commercial gain. The injunction, issued Friday, bars the site from posting Hilton's Social Security number, health records and other personal information. ... Turner Broadcasting Systems and marketing company Interference Inc. have agreed to pay $2 million in compensation for the "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" promotional campaign that set off a terrorism scare in Boston last week. AP reports that $1 million of the settlement will be used to reimburse local agencies that responded to the electronic signs mistaken for bombs, while the remaining $1 million will be used to fund homeland-security programs. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said the agreement will resolve any potential civil or criminal claims against the companies. ...

The long-running dispute between computer maker Apple Inc. and the Beatles' record company, Apple Corps, was resolved Monday (February 5), potentially paving the way for the Beatles' music to finally be offered for download on iTunes. In a joint press release, the longtime rivals announced that they've entered into a new agreement about the use of the name "Apple" and apple logos that replaces their 1991 agreement — and allows Apple Inc. to own all the trademarks related to "Apple." The computer company will license certain, unspecified, trademarks back to Apple Corps for their use. The settlement also quashed the ongoing trademark lawsuit between the companies. "We love the Beatles," Apple CEO Steve Jobs commented, "and it has been painful being at odds with them over these trademarks. It feels great to resolve this in a positive manner, and in a way that should remove the potential of further disagreements in the future." Though the agreement did not bring any word on the holy grail of music downloads — the Beatles on iTunes — Apple Corps manager Neil Aspinall did say that "the years ahead are going to be very exciting times for us. We wish Apple Inc. every success and look forward to many years of peaceful co-operation with them." ...

When rumors first surfaced last year that Brody Dalle's punk band the Distillers had called it quits, the singer wouldn't confirm the split. But now it's official. Dalle and guitarist Tony Bradley have moved on with a new band, Spinnerette. No explanation has been offered for the Distillers' breakup. ... None More Black have decided to go on an indefinite hiatus. The band issued its sophomore LP, This Is Satire, last year. The group hasn't provided a reason for the split. ... P.O.D. have signed with INO Records/ Columbia Records, and are currently in pre-production for their forthcoming album, which is expected out late this summer. ... Godsmack bassist Robbie Merrill and his wife, Heather, welcomed the couple's first child, Nianni Chay Merrill, on January 18. ...

Joe Hunter of legendary Motown session musicians the Funk Brothers was found dead in his Detroit apartment late last week, AP reports. The cause of death is not yet known, although the pianist was a diabetic. Hunter earned three Grammys and was featured in the 2002 documentary "Standing in the Shadows of Motown." He was 79. ... Noted singer/actress Barbara McNair — who starred alongside Elvis Presley in "Change of Habit" and Sidney Poitier in "They Call Me Mr. Tibbs" — has also passed away, AP reports. She died at age 72 on Sunday after a battle with throat cancer.

02.02.2007

50 Cent is teaming with Pocket Books for a new volume called "The 50th Law." The book will be a collaborative project by 50 and strategy guru Robert Greene, whose "The 48 Laws of Power" is a popular pick in the hip-hop world. "50 Cent and Robert Greene will focus on how 'The 48 Laws of Power' have helped a new generation of successful power brokers achieve today's version of the American Dream," Pocket Books Executive Vice President and Publisher Louise Burke said. The book will also highlight 50's background and his ability to reconcile his street appeal with corporate savvy. " 'The 50th Law' will capture and create a visible parallel between street life and corporate America standard and structure," 50 said in a statement. The hardcover book, to be published through MTV/ Pocket Books, is due in February 2008. ...

My Chemical Romance have announced the second leg of dates on their Black Parade tour, which will feature Muse in the opening slot. The new run will begin April 14 in Houston and will make stops in San Antonio; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; Pittsburgh; and Seattle before wrapping up May 22 in Portland, Oregon. ...

Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Terrence Howard and others will convene for the ninth annual Grammy Foundation Music Preservation Project Thursday in Los Angeles. The event, dubbed "The Soul of Country," will showcase footage from Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum archives and help to bring attention to the deterioration of historical music-related content. ... Lindsay Lohan has dropped out of the film "A Woman of No Importance," the actress' representative told People magazine. Lohan, who entered a Los Angeles rehabilitation facility last month, is currently filming the thriller "I Know Who Killed Me" and was set to co-star with Annette Bening in "Importance," based on an Oscar Wilde play. "She doesn't want to just yes everyone and compromise herself anymore," Lohan's publicist Leslie Sloane told People. "She's doing this so she can focus on getting better." ...

"Viva La Bam" co-star Vincent "Don Vito" Margera, uncle of Bam Margera, was ordered Thursday to stand trial on felony charges that he groped three underage girls at a promotional appearance at a skate park in August. According to The Associated Press, prosecutors presented evidence in a preliminary hearing that included statements from the girls — two 12-year-olds and a 14-year-old — as well as photos from their camera phones as evidence of their claims that Margera, 50, fondled them. Margera was charged with three counts of sexual assault on a child. If convicted, he could face anywhere from probation to six years in prison. Margera, who remains free on $50,000 bail, will have a chance to enter a plea when he is arraigned March 5. ... Macy Gray has set March 27 as the release date for her next LP, Big. The CD will feature collaborations with Justin Timberlake, Nas, Natalie Cole and Black Eyes Peas' Will.I.Am and Fergie. ...

Despite what you may have heard, Linkin Park's long-awaited new album will not be hitting stores April 30. This is according to the band's publicist, who told MTV News that while LP have settled on an in-store date for their third studio album, they are not announcing it yet — though they plan to do so in the near future. Earlier this week, the band posted on its MySpace page that the first single from the Rick Rubin-produced album would hit airwaves in March, though no title was given for the track. ... Kool G Rap, Large Professor and Masta Ace are giving Toronto newcomer Marco Polo a boost on his maiden disc. Marco's self-produced Port Authority drops May 1 and is the first 2007 release for Rawkus Records. ...

30 Seconds to Mars have booked several gigs they'll play during off-dates on their impending Taste of Chaos run. The band will play Portland, Oregon (February 16); Las Vegas (February 24); Albuquerque, New Mexico (February 28); New Orleans (March 6); St. Louis (March 14); Cleveland (March 19); Hartford, Connecticut (March 21); Des Moines, Iowa (April 1); and Fargo, North Dakota (April 2). ... Alkaline Trio, the Vandals, Boys Like Girls, Hot Rod Circuit, Norma Jean and the Spill Canvas have been added to this year's Warped lineup, joining previously announced acts Bad Religion, Coheed and Cambria, Bayside, Pennywise, the Almost and a host of others. ...

Mike Patton's Peeping Tom project has announced a run of spring dates. The trek begins March 30 in Dallas and will run through April 27, when the band performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California. ... Attention accordion enthusiasts (and fans of guys named Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz): Book your tickets for the Bamboozle Festival now! On Friday (February 2), event organizers announced that none other than "Weird" Al Yankovic will appear at this year's fest, to be held May 5-6 at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. My Chemical Romance and Linkin Park will headline the two-day event, and more than 70 others will perform, including Cute Is What We Aim For, Brand New and Yellowcard. ...

Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff was found guilty Thursday of murder conspiracy and drug dealing in a federal death-penalty case in which prosecutors said he paid $50,000 to have two rivals killed in 2001. AP reports that McGriff, who has ties to the Inc. label head Irv "Gotti" Lorenzo, looked at supporters and smiled when the verdicts were read. During the trial, the defense said that after a prison sentence for drugs, McGriff began a movie-producing partnership with neighborhood friend Lorenzo. But prosecutors countered that McGriff actually resumed selling drugs and used Lorenzo's label, then known as Murder Inc., to launder more than $1 million in proceeds and that he paid a hit team to kill a little-known rapper named E-Money Bags and another man in retaliation for Bags' shooting and killing one of McGriff's friends. The jury in the case will return on Tuesday to deliberate the death penalty against McGriff, who will face a minimum sentence of life in prison without parole.

• Jessica Simpson
• Nick Lachey
• Fall Out Boy
• Eminem
• Jennifer Lopez

Kelly Clarkson
Photo: Gareth Cattermole/ Getty Images

Kelly Clarkson has become the new face of NASCAR. The pop star has made a season-long deal with the organization and will perform a concert before the Daytona 500, appear in TV spots, become involved with NASCAR's charitable efforts and perform at other NASCAR events. Look for the Grammy winner to be the spokeswoman for NASCAR Day on May 18 and wrap up the season with a performance at the Nextel Cup Series' Champions Banquet on December 3. ...

Lindsay Lohan spent her first night in rehab doing the same thing that a whole lot of Americans did at home, OK! magazine reports. "I'm actually watching 'American Idol' and laughing so hard," the singer/actress said from a Los Angeles treatment center on Wednesday. "I'm fine," Lohan told the magazine in the interview. "Nothing to worry about. Thank you so much for checking in, I do appreciate it." ...

Usher has been fined $425 for speeding in Georgia on July 4, The Associated Press reports. The singer, who was caught driving 103 mph on Interstate 75, was also ordered to perform 20 hours of community service. He signed autographs for a half-hour inside the Cartersville courthouse. ... Taylor Hicks will release "Just to Feel That Way" as the second single from his self-titled debut album. Hicks' tour kicks off February 22 in Tampa, Florida. ...

Austrian construction-industry magnate Richard Lugner has a wish — to dance with Paris Hilton — and he plans to make it come true. The 74-year-old entrepreneur has invited the celebutante to be the star guest at the Vienna Opera Ball, AP reports, and he expects to waltz with her. In past years, Pamela Anderson, Sophia Loren and others have also been personally invited to join Lugner in his private box at the events. ... Nick Lachey has been named Cosmopolitan's Fun, Fearless Man of the Year. The singer leads a pack of 13 honorees, including Ludacris; actors Brandon Routh, Jeremy Piven and Chris Evans; and New York Mets third baseman David Wright. Carmen Electra will emcee a luncheon for the men on Monday at New York's Cipriani 42nd Street. ...

Korn's forthcoming MTV Unplugged album will now hit stores March 6, two weeks after the originally scheduled February 20 release date. The album will feature 11 tracks, including a cover of Radiohead's "Creep" as well as guest appearances by Evanescence's Amy Lee on "Freak on a Leash," and the Cure on a collaborative mash-up of the British band's "In Between Days" and Korn's "Make Me Bad." ... Avenged Sevenfold have a DVD due this year, the band confirmed to fans. "There is definitely going to be an Avenged Sevenfold DVD out this spring," an update from the band reads, "but we can't say much more other than filming just wrapped here in Huntington Beach [California] and we're super pumped for you to see it." Avenged have begun writing material for the follow-up to 2005's City of Evil and will enter the studio in May. ...

During an impromptu banter Q&A session at a Jeff Tweedy show Wednesday night in Nashville, the Wilco frontman confirmed the release date and title of the Chicago alt-country experimentalists' sixth studio album. Sky Blue Sky, the follow-up to 2004's A Ghost Is Born, will be out May 15. ... Think Switzerland is "beautiful"? So does James Blunt, apparently. The British singer is moving to an exclusive Swiss ski resort, according to AP. ... Yo La Tengo have eked out an EP that's available exclusively on iTunes. The simply titled Live Session EP boasts four songs: a new track, "El Es Gay"; live versions of two I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass cuts, "Pass the Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind" and "The Weakest Part"; and "Luci Baines," a cover of a song by the American Four, a band that featured late Love frontman Arthur Lee. ...

Hanson are slated to appear on the game show "Deal or No Deal," and they have Jackie Munroe to thank — NBC apparently tapped the brothers after learning the contestant is a big fan of them. The show will air Wednesday. The band is also planning to issue a new album, The Walk, May 22. The LP will consist of 14 tracks, including "Great Divide," "Running Man" and "Something Going Round." ... Placebo fans who have been aching for the band's Meds to reach the States: Your overseas shipment is about to arrive. The album — which came out internationally last year and includes guest spots by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe and the Kills' Alison Mosshart — will be available in U.S. stores Tuesday. The revitalized edition will feature three added cuts: "Lazarus," "Uneedmemorethanineedu" and a cover of the Kate Bush track "Running Up That Hill." ... MtvU regulars Cute Is What We Aim For will co-headline Alternative Press' Bands You Need to Know Tour with Circa Survive. The jaunt runs March 16 through April 22 and will also feature As Tall as Lions and Envy on the Coast. ...

Reunited hardcore heroes Lifetime — who are signed to Pete Wentz's Decaydance imprint — will play seven shows in February to support their eponymous February 6 LP. The band will open the trek at Washington, D.C.'s Black Cat on February 9 and bring it to a close at Middlesex County College in Edison, New Jersey, February 24. ... Orchestral Texas rockers Explosions in the Sky — best known for their score to the film "Friday Night Lights" — will release their fifth album, All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone, February 20. The band will hit the road for a 24-date trek in support of the release, its first studio album in four years. The tour begins February 19 in Brooklyn, New York, and wraps up April 2 in Denton, Texas. ... The Draft — a band comprising former members of Hot Water Music — will continue to support their first LP, In a Million Pieces, with 10 West Coast shows that begin Friday and run through January 27. After that, they'll head to the U.K. to tour with the Bouncing Souls.

01.16.2007

Lindsay Lohan is in rehab, The Associated Press reported Wednesday (January 17). "I have made a proactive decision to take care of my personal health," the singer said in a statement through her publicist, according to the news outlet. "I appreciate your well wishes and ask that you please respect my privacy at this time." AP did not disclose why Lohan had entered rehab, although in December her publicist revealed that Lohan had been voluntarily attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. ...

In more positive news for the singer, Lohan is participating in a new Miu Miu ad blitz. Photos from the campaign that leaked online portray the actress with very large, very red hair, striking pensive and provocative poses atop a red silk cube. The ads — which will feature the Miu Miu spring handbag and shoe collection — are set to hit March issues of magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, W and Harper's Bazaar, due on newsstands in February. A spokesperson for the Miucci Prada-designed line verified that Lohan is modeling in a Miu Miu campaign launching in March, but wouldn't confirm that the leaked photos are a sneak peek at the ads. "It's confidential," the spokesperson said. "They shouldn't be out yet." ...

"American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee will play a guest role in Lonelygirl15's online series on Friday. An early fan of the fictional serial about a 16-year-old girl named Bree, McPhee told AP that her management contacted the creators about the guest spot. A cut from McPhee's self-titled debut LP, which is slated for release January 30, will be utilized as background music in the episode, and the singer will portray an unnamed lassie who meets Bree and her friends. ...

Foxy Brown received a positive probation report in a New York court on Wednesday, AP reports. The rapper, who was punished for fighting in a nail salon in 2004, told the outlet the sentence "is making me grow up." "This is only the first time in two years that I'm pleased with [Manhattan Criminal Court] Judge [Melissa] Jackson," Brown said. She's due back in court March 15. ...

"American Idol" losing steam? Hardly. The Tuesday night premiere was the biggest one yet in the show's six-year history, drawing an estimated 37.3 million viewers, according to AP. That's a 5 percent increase over last year's premiere, which drew 35.5 million viewers. ... Kanye West, Fergie and John Legend will perform as part of the Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash, a concert that will be taped in Miami on February 1, three days ahead of the year's big game. Hosted by Taye Diggs, the one-hour show will air February 3 at 10 p.m. on VH1. ...

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. has recruited Britney Spears' soon-to-be-ex-husband Kevin Federline to star in an ad that will run during next month's Super Bowl. According to the insurer's Web site, the 30-second spot is the latest installment in the company's "Life Comes at You Fast" campaign, which has previously featured Fabio and MC Hammer. In the ad, Federline's life takes a drastic turn as he goes from filming a rap video with a bevy of lovelies to working in a fast-food joint. "Our partnership with Kevin shows the world that he has a great sense of humor," Nationwide Vice President Steven Schreibman said. "He's poking fun at himself, and in the process gets to have the last word." ...

R&B icon Diana Ross is set to become the latest music luminary to sprinkle some stardust on "American Idol" contestants. Ross, 62, told David Letterman during a Tuesday night appearance on the "Late Show" that she is planning to be a mentor on the singing competition. Between helping budding singers and planning a tour in support of her new album, I Love You, Ross said she hasn't yet had time to see the Golden Globe-winning movie version of "Dreamgirls," which is loosely based on her life as a Motown star. When asked whether she's curious about the movie, Ross quipped, "Yes, I've heard a lot about it. I'm going to see it with my lawyers." ... Jennifer Lopez is working with "Sex and the City" producer Alexa Junge to develop a sitcom for Showtime, Variety reports. The Los Angeles-set series, which is currently being called "Ayuda" — Spanish for "help" — will focus on Latina nannies. ...

"The Departed" is scooping up awards left and right in the U.S., but China is just saying no to Martin Scorsese's latest flick. The country's movie censor will not approve the film for domestic release because there is a mention in the script of China planning to purchase military equipment, Reuters reports. ... The Sundance Film Festival isn't just for movie stars anymore. Babyface is hosting Where Music Meets Film, a four-night acoustic showcase to be held at Zone Bar Tuesday through January 27. Joss Stone, Sean Lennon, Daniel Powter, Joan Osborne and Kenneth Edmonds himself will perform at the session, partial proceeds of which go to the nonprofit Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. ... The Panic Channel, which features former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, have a new bassist in Siggy Sjursen, formerly of Powerman 5000. The band's original bass player, Chris Chaney, was forced to leave the group "due to family obligations" that will prevent him from touring, a statement from the band read. ...

MySpace is planning to release software that would allow parents to monitor their children's use of the site — even minors who are using false information to gain access, The Wall Street Journal reports. The free parental-notification program, called "Zephyr," will reveal what name, age and location kids are using to represent themselves on MySpace, but it will not give parents access to their child's MySpace messages or profile. The software would also alert the MySpace member that their information was being shared. ... You can stop leaving Pepper Potts casting suggestions on Jon Favreau's MySpace page — the position has been filled. Gwyneth Paltrow will play the right-hand woman to Robert Downey Jr.'s unlikely hero in "Iron Man," co-starring Terrence Howard. ... In other casting news, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Terence Stamp are joining Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway for "Get Smart," according to Variety. The Rock will portray Agent 23, a peer of Maxwell Smart, while Stamp will play a villain. ... A Los Angeles federal judge has scheduled jury selection in the murder trial of producer Phil Spector to begin March 19, AP reports. Testimony is expected to begin the following month. Spector, who is charged with the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson in February 2003, is free on $1 million bail and faces life in prison if convicted.

• Kelly Clarkson
• Lindsay Lohan
• Paris Hilton
• Nick Lachey
• Taylor Hicks

Jennifer Lopez
Photo: Mark Mainz/ Getty Images

She's a film, fashion and music superstar now, but it wasn't so long ago that Jennifer Lopez was making her living as a dancer. The former "In Living Color" Fly Girl and backup dancer for New Kids on the Block told MTV Tres that with the MTV reality show "Dancelife," she's out to show the world how hard dancers work. "I really know what it is to be a dancer, and what those struggles are and what it is, day to day, to be auditioning and have your feet hurt and your legs aching," Lopez explained. "It's a real hard life, and it's really underappreciated as an art form. ... We're following different dancers and their struggles and their lives." "Dancelife" premieres January 15 on MTV. ...

She may have already ditched partying partner and best-pal-for-a-minute Paris Hilton, but despite vowing to clean up her act, Britney Spears began 2007 much as she left 2006: in a nightclub amid controversy. Spears was the host of New Year's festivities at Las Vegas' Pure club, and, according to reports on gossip sites, she collapsed shortly after midnight and was carried out by bodyguards. Spears' manager Larry Rudolph, however, told The Associated Press that the singer "was not drunk. She was just tired and falling asleep." He denied reports that she passed out or had to seek medical attention. ...

Having reached an agreement regarding how to split their assets, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey have taken the final step in their divorce proceedings, People magazine reports. While the couple were legally free to marry other people as of June, this resolution brings the couple's marriage to an official end. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. ... Will Ferrell's wife Viveca Paulin gave birth to the couple's second son, Mattias, early Saturday morning, AP reports. ...

Ashley Parker Angel is joining the Broadway cast of "Hairspray," a representative for the show confirmed. In a post on his MySpace page, the singer announced that he'll be playing heartthrob Link Larkin. "At a very young age I discovered my love of performing through the experience of live theater, so I am totally thrilled to be moving to New York and getting back to my roots!" the singer wrote. "This new direction has made me feel inspired in a way that I have not felt in a long time. ... This last year has brought me much success and I expect 2007 to be even better." Parker Angel will participate in the production from January 19 through April 15. ...

Don't send a wedding gift for Kate Moss and Pete Doherty just yet. A representative for the supermodel has denied reports that Moss married the troubled rocker on New Year's Day. Britain's Daily Mail had reported that the couple married in a Buddhist ceremony in the private garden of their $11,000-a-night luxury seaside villa in Phuket, Thailand, in front of a few family members and friends. "Contrary to various entirely false media reports today, there has not been any kind of marriage ceremony in Thailand," the model's representative said in a statement. "She is on holiday." British tabloid The Sun, which also reported about the Phuket ceremony, claimed the wedding was not legally binding and named January 18 as the couple's official wedding day. ...

Deftones frontman Chino Moreno and drummer Abe Cunningham will serve as guest DJs Tuesday night (January 2) on Sirius Satellite Radio's Octane channel, beginning at 6 p.m. ... Guitarist Jason Truby has left P.O.D., according to the band's MySpace page. Truby, who replaced Marcos Curiel back in 2003, said his "decision to depart as a member is personal" and preceded last month's announcement that Curiel would rejoin the band. "I believe in P.O.D. and will be a part of P.O.D. forever," he wrote. "They are lifelong friends. Sometimes you have to follow the wind even when you don't know where it's leading." P.O.D. performed with Curiel for the first time in four years on New Year's Eve in New York as part of a "Jimmy Kimmel Live" broadcast. ... Victory Records has confirmed that frontman Mat Bruso has indeed left Massachusetts metalcore act Bury Your Dead "for personal reasons." The label claims there are "no bad feelings" over the move, but the departure has forced the band to pull off a U.K. tour with Killswitch Engage and Shadows Fall. Bury Your Dead, who have had three singers within the last five years, plan to begin their search for a replacement soon. ...

George Michael will appear in a London court January 11 to answer charges that he was operating a vehicle while unfit to drive, AP reports. The singer was arrested October 2 after being found passed out inside his car, which was blocking an intersection in north London. The singer, who was released on bail for the unfit-to-drive charges and was also cited for possessing marijuana, had previously received a warning for marijuana possession in February, and hit three parked cars in an April driving incident. ... The sons of two music legends are going at it in court. In a complaint filed last week, Lou Rawls Jr. claims four large dogs owned by Marvin Gaye III attacked him when he visited Gaye's Hollywood home in 2005, according to AP. In the suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Rawls Jr. says the dogs "bit, clawed and physically and mentally injured." He is seeking unspecified damages. ...

Hinder are stretching out their early 2007 a little longer. The band, which sets out with a January 13 show in Ketchum, Idaho, will now be on the road through March 3 in New Orleans. ... The Queers have posted two new tracks — "Houston We Have a Problem" and "I Think She's Starting to Like Me" — on the band's MySpace page. The tunes will appear on the punk act's forthcoming album, Munki Brain, due next month. ... Florida hard-rock act Endo have split due to "drama" within the band, according to frontman Gil Bitton's MySpace page. Endo performed on the second stage during Ozzfest 2003, and released their last LP, Songs for the Restless, in 2003, before being dropped by Columbia Records.

12.29.2006

Britney Spears may have dumped K-Fed, but now it's her turn to get the boot. Ruben Garay, the founder of the six-year-old Spears fan site WorldofBritney.com, has announced that he's closing up shop because "as Britney keeps losing her identity and credibility within fans and industry people, so is [WorldofBritney.com]." A disappointed Garay wrote that Britney is "done" and "no matter what anyone thinks or how they may disagree, it's very hard to maintain the respect needed to keep things going." ...

Christina Aguilera and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton are teaming up to host a New Year's Eve bash at New York's Hudson Hotel. The Sunday night celebration kicks off at 9 p.m. ... Don't expect to see Nelly Furtado at any shindigs, though — not in this country, at least. The singer will be kicking it abroad with a headlining gig at Andheri Stadium in Mumbai, India. ...

Lily Allen needs your help. In a message posted on her MySpace page Thursday, the singer wrote: "I am beside myself with worry because someone has stolen my dog Maggie May this morning. I am in Jamaica, [and] while I am here Maggie has been looked after by a friend she was stolen out of his van." She's offering a reward, and photos of the dog can be seen on MySpace.com/LilyAllen. ...

For the second year in a row, the Rolling Stones were the top concert draw in North America, according to Pollstar magazine. The hard-touring British legends sold $138.5 million worth of tickets for 39 shows across the United States and Canada, giving them the third-biggest total in Pollstar history — behind their own 2005 tour and that year's U2 outing. Second on the list was Barbra Streisand, whose first tour in a dozen years hauled in $92.5 million for 20 shows, with an average ticket price of $298. Country couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were #3 with $88.8 million for 73 shows, followed by Madonna with $85.9 million for 34 shows. Ticket sales for the top 100 shows rose about 13 percent to $2.3 billion, breaking last year's record of $2.1 billion, mostly thanks to an 8 percent jump in the average ticket price from $56.88 to $61.45. ...

Paul McCartney's split with Heather Mills is getting nastier. On Thursday night, Mills McCartney reported the theft of two prized paintings, after which police went to Paul McCartney's country estate, according to The Associated Press. But a police spokesperson later confirmed that, after speaking with Mills McCartney and checking the premises, the paintings had in fact not been stolen and that the issue was a civil matter. ... Mike Tyson was charged with possession of cocaine and driving under the influence of drugs in Arizona early Friday morning (December 29), Reuters reports. The former boxing champ, who is due in court Friday, almost struck a sheriff's vehicle as he drove out of a driveway. ...

Finger Eleven will release their forthcoming LP, Them Vs. You Vs. Me, March 6. Fans can catch the band next month on the road with Hinder and Black Stone Cherry; that tour kicks off January 14 in Spokane, Washington, with dates scheduled through March 3 in New Orleans. ... Aqualung has set a March 6 release date for his second Stateside album, Memory Man. The British singer (a.k.a. Matt Hales) has sold more than 250,000 copies of his debut in the United States, thanks to the single "Brighter Than Sunshine." ...

Jay Farrar, Dar Williams, the Klezmatics and others will hail the Grateful Dead as part of the American Beauty Project. The artists will perform selections from the band's American Beauty and Workingman's Dead albums, both of which turn 35 next year, at New York's Arts>World Financial Center on January 20-21. ... Dead guitarist Bob Weir will take his Ratdog project to Bridgeport, Connecticut, for the Gathering of the Vibes fest August 9-12. The 12th installment of the event will also feature Los Lobos, Buddy Guy and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. ... And in yet more Dead news, the band's January 23, 1976, performance at the Cow Palace in San Francisco will be available Sunday and Monday as a free stream to mark the 30th anniversary of the concert. Head to Dead.net for details. ...

Family Values Tour alums Dir en Gray have aligned dates for their first U.S. headlining tour, Inward Scream. The Japanese metal band will head out February 1 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and wind down the trek February 25 in San Francisco. Dir en Gray will issue an EP, Agitated Screams of Maggots, exclusively to For Your Entertainment stores in January, and their second U.S. LP will drop in the spring. ... Despite perceptions of a slump, box-office sales were actually stronger this year than last, according to Reuters. Thanks to the record-breaking opening of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and the year-end blockbuster "Happy Feet," the year-end total is an estimated $9.42 billion. Last year's sum was $8.99 billion. ...

Radio broadcaster Entercom Communications has agreed to pay a $4.25 million fine to settle a payola lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, according to Bloomberg News. The suit claimed that the Pennsylvania owner of more than 100 stations paid kickbacks for playing certain songs on its stations. $3.5 million of the settlement will go to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, which will distribute it to nonprofit New York state companies to help finance musical education and appreciation programs. Entercom did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

• Jennifer Lopez
• Britney Spears
• Nick Lachey
• Jessica Simpson
• Pete Doherty

Raekwon
Photo: Matthew Peyton/ Getty Images

Even though it's at the top of the Billboard albums chart, Raekwon doesn't seem to be feeling Jay-Z's Kingdom Come. At the New York stop of the Rock the Bells tour on Tuesday night, the co-headliner told the audience in the middle of his set that he didn't care for Hova's new LP adding, "I don't give a f--- about him." The Chef did say he respects Jay's business acumen, though. Opening act Smif-N-Wessun brought out the whole Boot Camp Clik during their set, while Redman, the last performer of the night, took it all the way back to 1992's Whutt? Thee Album. He also played some new material with his Gilla House crew as Julito McCullum from "The Wire" and others stood in attendance. ...

Britney Spears will host New Year's Eve at the nightclub Pure in Las Vegas. "She's going to do the countdown, a champagne toast and watch the fireworks from the terrace," a club rep said. Nick Lachey will be holding the mic at Pure the night before to host a "goodbye 2006" party. Cheers. ... And while conflicting reports suggested Spears and Paris Hilton were in line to co-host the 2006 Billboard Music Awards, the show's spokesperson said late Wednesday (November 29) that neither is confirmed. In the meantime, however, Pharrell and Young Jeezy will join previously announced performers Gwen Stefani, Ludacris and the Killers for the ceremony, set to air Monday at 8 p.m. on Fox. ...

There's more Lachey news too: The sports enthusiast now has a professional team to call his own. On Wednesday, Lachey was announced as part of the new ownership group for the Tacoma Rainiers, the Washington state AAA affiliate of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners. Lachey was introduced at a press conference along with other representatives of the Schlegel Sports Group, a Dallas organization that already owns minor-league teams in Texas and Iowa. "When I was given the opportunity to purchase the Rainiers with [SSG founder] Kirby Schlegel, I jumped on it," Lachey said in a statement. "Baseball is a true passion of mine, Tacoma is a growing city and I have every intention of playing an active ownership role in the Rainiers as we continue to grow." ...

"Destiny's Child Groove" — a mobile-phone game featuring images of Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — will pit players against game characters in a dance battle. The game — which includes "Survivor," "Bug a Boo," "Say My Name" and "Lose My Breath" — is due to roll out on cellular carriers in the winter. ... Tyrese is trying to put together a collaboration between himself, Mary J. Blige and Lauryn Hill that, he said, would find them "singing and rhyming all on the same record." In the meantime, his half-rap/half-R&B album, Alter Ego, is due December 12 and will feature Game, Lil Jon, David Banner, Method Man and R. Kelly, among others. ...

Chris Brown has been working on his second album for the past three weeks, including sessions with production team Dre & Vidal. "I think I am going to name the next album Graduation because I'm 18, last year of high school and stuff like that," he told MTV News. "I am still going to keep it so my younger fans can continue to listen to my music, but I got a couple of joints on there that's for some of the older people." ... Celebrity-covered tote bags featuring the faces of Ludacris, Avril Lavigne and Good Charlotte's Joel and Benji Madden are currently available for $5 at Aldo stores and YouthAIDS-Aldo.org. Proceeds from the bags — along with Hear, See, Speak campaign tag necklaces — support the efforts of the YouthAIDS initiative. ...

Hanson have released an Internet-exclusive song in recognition of World AIDS Day. "Great Divide," which was recorded on the group's trip to Africa this summer and features a South African children's choir, is available for download via iTunes. Proceeds from the song, priced at 99 cents, will benefit the Perinatal HIV Research Unit at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa. ...The massive electronic-music gala Giant is returning to Los Angeles for its annual New Year's Eve. Now called Giant Maximus, the eight-hour event will boast three "big tops," under which Sasha & John Digweed, Armin van Buuren and other electronic heavyweights will spin. ...

DJ Clue will release The Professional, Part 3, the long-awaited follow-up to 2001's The Professional 2, on December 19. Kanye West and Fabolous appear on the first single, "Like This," while Snoop Dogg, Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Game, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, M.O.P., Mobb Deep, Beanie Sigel, Cassidy, Styles P. and Jagged Edge also guest on the disc's tracks. ... Human-rights groups that expressed concern over Madonna's adoption of 1-year-old Malawian boy David Banda will have a say in the court's decision, The Associated Press reported. The judge who granted Madonna and husband Guy Richie an interim adoption last month — allowing the couple to take custody of the child and bring him to their London home — ruled Wednesday that rights organizations will have a say in the court's assessment of the couple, which is due in May. Under Malawian law, adoptive parents must remain in the country for an 18-month evaluation, a process that the rights groups say they are trying to protect in an effort to combat child exploitation. ...

The winners of YouTube's underground-band contest were announced on "Good Morning America" Wednesday morning. Nashville pop quintet Greenland nabbed Best Song honors for their tune "The Way It Is"; Maldroid's A-Ha-inspired "He Said, She Said" clip earned them Best Music Video; Los Angeles hip-hop/soul collective Ostrich Head notched Best Creative Work for "Freak Show Carnival"; and Philadelphia rockers Pawnshop Rose landed Best Live Performance for "Gets So Hard." Among the prizes were Gibson instruments, trips to NYC and more. ... The Matches, I Am Ghost, Escape the Fate and the Higher are heading out next year to support the punk label the bands currently call home. The 2007 Epitaph Tour starts February 1 in San Diego and winds down March 18 in Las Vegas. ...

"Pelt-wearing party girl" Nicole Richie tops the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' worst-dressed list for 2006. Actresses Ashley Olsen, Christina Ricci and Eva Longoria were also named for wearing fur. Missing from this year's list is PETA's 2005 worst-dressed celebrity, Paris Hilton, who said she's had a change of heart since watching a fur-trade exposé, according to the organization. ... My Morning Jacket, the New Pornographers and Cat Power have been added to the fifth annual Langerado Music Festival, held in Sunrise, Florida, from March 9-11. O.A.R., Matisyahu, Cut Chemist, the Hold Steady, Widespread Panic and former Phish frontman Trey Anastasio are also on the bill.

11.28.2006

Hilary and Joel are no longer an item. Madden confirmed to MTV News on Tuesday (November 28) that his relationship with Duff is over. He said there are no hard feelings between the two, and that he is focusing his energy on Good Charlotte's Good Morning Revival, due next year. ...

Game and Snoop Dogg are in talks to co-headline a second How the West Was One Tour. "We have to get the paperwork right and the money and the promoters and the agents and all that stuff, but once we figure that out, we will hit it," Game said. And speaking of the rapper, he's thrilled with the reviews Doctor's Advocate has earned. "As long they love the record then I'm good," he said. "I don't care about being #1 or #2, it's just about making a good record, making classic music and having longevity in hip-hop." The album recently opened at #1 on the Billboard albums chart, with 358,000 copies sold. ...

Fergie will perform on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2007" as well as host the Hollywood portion of the event. Natasha Bedingfield and Meat Loaf will also perform in Hollywood. ... Another Black Eyed Pea, founding member Apl.De.Ap, is using his birthday celebration Tuesday night in Hollywood to support a worthy cause. Apl and his indie label, Jeepney Music, announced that proceeds of his bash will go to Operation Smile, an international medical charity that originated 24 years ago in Apl's home country, the Philippines. The Peas play Los Angeles' Staples Center on Friday. ...

A book report from Britney Spears' junior high days can be in your hands Monday if the price is right. No, the singer isn't going into the term-paper business, but she has donated her take on a translation of Sophocles' "Antigone" — which scored her an 88 and a reminder to "write more neatly" — to be sold via a Christie's auction. One of 170 items Spears donated to go up on the block, the single page is expected to draw a winning bid ranging from $500-700, with proceeds benefiting the singer's charity foundation. ... Christina Aguilera has commissioned Italian designer Roberto Cavalli to exclusively design the '40s- and '50s-style costumes for her Back to Basics tour, according to a report in Women's Wear Daily. Think white satin tuxedos, white fox stoles and silk bustiers with tails for the onstage look of Aguilera's U.S. run, which kicks off in February. ... In other fashion news, young startlets' takeover of the modeling world continues, with Lindsay Lohan recently shooting the spring 2007 ad campaign for Miu Miu, the girlier, lower-price line from Italian fashion label Prada. ...

New Jersey's Eyeball Records will reissue My Chemical Romance's debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, on December 12. The updated version of the 2002 LP, which was produced by Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly, will feature two previously unreleased videos from the band. ... A Guns N' Roses concert scheduled to go down Tuesday at Milwaukee's Bradley Center has been canceled due to Axl Rose suffering an ear infection and strep throat, according to a press release. Doctors have ordered the singer to rest for several days. "I have been fighting this off for a long time but the doctor told me tonight that the only way not to jeopardize the balance of the tour is immediate rest," Rose said in a statement issued Monday. "We will now have three days off before continuing Friday. We are sorry to miss the fans in Milwaukee." ...

Connecticut state police arrested two men Tuesday in connection with the shooting of a 21-year-old man waiting to purchase a PlayStation 3 earlier this month, The Associated Press reports. William J. Robertson and Andrew Patnaude were charged with attempted murder, robbery and assault, and are being held in lieu of $1 million bail pending court appearances. Michael Penkala, who was shot outside a Wal-Mart in the early hours of November 17 when he refused to give up a wallet containing more than $2,500 in cash, is still recovering from his injuries. ... Comedian Tracy Morgan of "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock" note was arrested early Tuesday in New York on charges of drunk driving, AP reports. Police told the news outlet that the 38-year-old failed a breathalyzer test at a police station, after which he was allowed to leave without posting bail but had to surrender his driver's license. ...

The reunited Dinosaur Jr. commence a series of gigs starting Tuesday night in Portland, Maine. The band will stage four more U.S. shows before heading overseas to play the All Tomorrow's Parties "Nightmare Before Christmas" shindig, some concerts opening for Sonic Youth and more. The band also has set a May 8 release date for its first-ever DVD, "Dinosaur Jr.: Live From the Middle East," which was filmed at the Boston club of the same name. The trio's first studio album in 18 years is also due around that time. ... Nirvana's breakthrough single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" has been named the best pop song of the last 20 years by Britain's Q magazine, besting the likes of Madonna, U2 and Britney Spears. "The thing about 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' it was a watershed moment in rock music. It changed everything," Q's deputy editor, Gareth Grundy, said. "It put heavy music back on the map in the early '90s, really, that combination of punk-rock anger and the heavy Black Sabbath '70s metal. It was something new. Sulky kids everywhere loved Nirvana and continue to do so." ...

Metallica's James Hetfield jammed with Alice in Chains during the band's Sunday night set in San Francisco. Hetfield joined the band band onstage for a rendition of "Would?" ... An exhibit curated by Franz Ferdinand guitarist Nick McCarthy will open Saturday at Los Angeles' Lightbox Gallery. Featuring the works of Manuela Gernedel, Celia Hempton, Shana Moulton, Jo Robertson, Niklas Schechinger and Hank Schmidt in der Beek, Lucy Stein and Anna Witt, the exhibit is expected to run through January 20. ... The reunited Glassjaw will play a handful of shows next month, hitting Nashville (December 14); Fort Worth, Texas (December 16); Tulsa, Oklahoma (December 17); Kansas City, Missouri (December 18); Minneapolis (December 19); and New Haven, Connecticut (December 31). ... Buckcherry and Three Days Grace will tour together early next year. The road trip's routing will be announced next month. ... After a few weeks of work, hardcore icons Agnostic Front have written 10 songs for their forthcoming LP. The band will track the effort before February, and have East Coast gigs lined up through January.

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Maxim's Hot 100 Celebration With Ciara, Speidi And More

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Grammy Parties: Scarlett, Christina, Justin, Katharine And More

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Behind The Scenes At Nick Lachey's Tour Rehearsals

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Nick Lachey, Shakira, 50 Cent, Fall Out Boy, More Arrive At The 2006 VMAs

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• AFI
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Jack Black, Lil' Kim, OK Go, Paris Hilton And More Highlight The Big Show

• Justin Timberlake
• Jack Black
• Lil' Kim
• 50 Cent
• LL Cool J

Snoop, Pharrell, Ciara, Danity Kane, Luda, More Mingle At VMA Forum

• Snoop Dogg
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• Method Man
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• Chamillionaire

Jessica Simpson, Dane Cook, Kevin Federline And More At The 2006 Teen Choice Awards

• Jessica Simpson
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The 2006 MTV Video Music Award Nominees

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The 2006 MTV Video Music Award Performers And Presenters

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