Joel Madden in "Head Case"
Photo: MTV News

Joel Madden needs to see a shrink — in an upcoming episode of the new Starz comedy "Head Case," that is. The Good Charlotte frontman and new dad will appear on the February 13 episode of the show, which revolves around a judgmental psychotherapist (Alexendra Wentworth) who sees celebrity clients when she isn't out shopping. If you're already psyched for the show, go to Amazon.com's Unbox section to check out the original short-form episodes that launched it. ...

Thank your lucky stars — the Grammy Awards ceremony will go on this year as planned, according to an interim agreement announced Monday (January 28), The Associated Press reports. While the Grammy telecast was still good to go following last week's announcement that the striking Writers Guild of America would not protest it, the interim agreement means content for the show will be written under a WGA contract. "In the interest of advancing our goal of achieving a fair contract, the [WGA West] Board felt that this decision should be made on behalf our brothers and sisters in the American Federation of Musicians and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists," WGA West President Patric Verrone reportedly said in a statement. "Having our talented writers on the team further ensures the highest level of creativity and innovation, something our audience has come to expect every year," Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow reportedly said in a statement of his own. ...

Miley Cyrus' Saturday show in New Orleans had a bit of a hiccup when the singer otherwise known as Hannah Montana announced that she wasn't feeling well and left the stage, according to a video posted on TMZ.com. Cyrus returned to finish her set, albeit in a seat, and dad Billy Ray sang with her. ...

Rivers Cuomo, Adam Sandler, Tony Hawk, baseball player Nomar Garciaparra and Andy Samberg kicking around a soccer ball together on a Saturday afternoon? According to ESPN.com, that was the scene over the weekend when the celebs took the field at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, for Garciaparra and wife/ ex-soccer pro Mia Hamm's charity Celebrity Soccer Challenge. Cuomo scored his team's first goal, and he later reportedly said, "It was a dream come true. Passing with [the L.A. Galaxy's] Landon Donovan and going against Mia Hamm — it's just unreal. I was terrified, but I was so excited that the excitement overcame the terror." Milo Ventimiglia, Elisabeth Shue, Seth Meyers and others also participated in the event, the proceeds of which went to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. ...

Jim Jones is reissuing his Harlem's American Gangster mixtape, hosted by Dame Dash and featuring the Byrd Gang crew, February 19. Fans are already familiar with the tape, which was previously available in limited form, but it has since been remixed, remastered and bolstered with new tracks, including "Rockefeller Laws." "Some people do soundtracks to the movies about Harlem," he said in a statement. "We do soundtracks to the streets of Harlem, which made us who we are today." His new studio LP will drop in the summer. ...

Modest Mouse and the National have something special to jot down on their calendars: opening dates for R.E.M. The tour will launch after the release of Michael Stipe and the gang's April 1 album, Accelerate. The cities are as follows: Vancouver, British Columbia (May 23); Los Angeles (May 29); Berkeley, California (May 31); Morrison, Colorado (June 3); Chicago (June 6); Toronto (June 8); Raleigh, North Carolina (June 10); Columbia, Maryland (June 11); Mansfield, Massachusetts (June 13); Wantagh, New York (June 14); Philadelphia (June 18); New York (June 19); and Atlanta (June 21). ... Hot Chip, Spank Rock, Peaches and others are liberally reworking classic tracks by the Pharcyde, Masta Ace, Tone Loc and others for a new collection, Delicious Reimagined, due early this year. Raunchy electro-clash singer Peaches — who has collaborated with everyone from Pink to Iggy Pop — remixed Loc's "Wild Thing" almost 20 years after the song originally came out, adding her own new vocals along the way. ...

Hayden Panettiere spoke about the warrant for her arrest — which she was slapped with in the fall after confronting Japanese fishermen to protest the hunting of dolphins — at a related demonstration in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. According to The Washington Post, the "Heroes" actress and Save the Whales Again! Campaign spokeswoman told a crowd, "I was wearing a wetsuit and shoes. I was like, if I'm going to jail, I ain't going to jail in a bikini." ... peta2 has a few new friends you might know: MTV News' own John Norris, as well as the stars of "Rob & Big." Norris stars in a new online video for the youth animal-rights organization that explains why he went vegan, while Rob Dyrdek and Chris "Big Black" Boykin appear in an ad with their dog, Meaty, along with the statement "Have the Balls to Spay or Neuter Your Dog." ...

Black Lips have drooled out an exclusive iTunes Live Session EP that the so-called "flower punk" band recorded over the summer in San Francisco. The Lips are also in the running for Yahoo's User's Choice program, the winner of which will play a performance in the company's studio in Santa Monica, California. And they've also lined up a run that will start February 4 in Seattle and end March 22 in Atlanta. ... The second half of Thrice's four-disc concept album will be in stores in the spring. The Alchemy Index, Vols. III & IV: Earth & Air, is scheduled for release April 15. ... From Autumn to Ashes drummer Jeff Gretz recently suffered two broken bones in his foot and will be forced to sit out the band's tour for the next few months. Flood of Red's Graham Griffith will fill in for Getz for most of the tour's remaining stops. ...

New Kids on the Block fans are going to have to keep "Hangin' Tough" — despite reports over the weekend, the old-school boy band is not planning to stage a comeback. While the once-hugely popular teen heartthrobs' Web site has apparently relaunched, bandmember Danny Wood wrote on his MySpace page on Monday morning, "I wanted to address the rumors of the NKOTB Reunion Tour. There has been no talk of this and you are getting it from the source directly. ... You can't believe everything you read." Still, he added, "Never say never!" Let's keep our hopes up.

1.25.08

Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Whoopi Goldberg and Jessica Biel are among the celebs captured in a new Disney installment of work by esteemed Vanity Fair photographer Annie Leibovitz. In the images, Lopez is portrayed as Jasmine and Anthony as Aladdin in a "Whole New World" scene, while Biel is dressed as Pocahontas, running through a forest. "I was a huge Disney fan growing up as a kid, and Cinderella, Snow White, Pocahontas, Ariel — all those characters were huge for me," Biel said in a statement. The "Disney Dream Portrait Series" will be featured throughout the year at Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida. ...

Gnarls Barkley don't have a release date or name yet for their second album, but it's nearing completion, according to Billboard.com. Danger Mouse is busying himself with other projects in the meantime, including lending production to the Black Keys' Attack & Release; Martina Topley-Bird's The Blue God; and Shortwave Set's new LP, which is tentatively titled Replica Sun Machine. ...

Mary J. Blige recently spoke with MTV Base about the ongoing New York steroid probe in which she was recently named. "I really don't want to clear anything up, because I've been spoken about for so many years — rumors I'm pregnant, I'm a man, I'm this, I'm that, why? At the end of the day, I have nothing to prove to anyone. I am Mary and that's that." A report that surfaced in the Times Union last week claimed Blige was among tens of thousands of people who might have used or received prescribed shipments of steroids and injectable human-growth hormone in recent years, although law-enforcement officials said they don't have any evidence that laws were violated. ...

Krist Novoselic, the former Nirvana bassist who has been politically active in Seattle in recent years, has voiced his support for a 2008 presidential candidate, and it's ... Ron Paul? Novoselic alluded to the Republican long-shot candidate in his Seattle Weekly column earlier this month, saying, "The Internet is already doing this with campaign phenomenon like Howard Dean in 2004, and this year with Ron Paul." The Web site PoliticalBase.com shows that he made a $250 contribution to the candidate in mid-September. ...

Björk has nixed her planned appearance at the Big Day Out on Friday night (January 25) in Sydney, Australia. "Doctors have advised Björk to rest due to swelling of the vocal cords," Ken West and Vivian Lees, who produce and direct the festival, said in a statement posted on the Icelandic singer's Web site. "This is a great disappointment to Björk, who is on her first tour of Australia in 12 years." She is slated to rejoin Big Day Out on Monday for a show in Melbourne, followed by performances February 1 in Adelaide and February 3 in Perth. ...

The Reminder (Feist), Kala (M.I.A.), Neon Bible (the Arcade Fire), Cross (Justice) and Sound of Silver (LCD Soundsystem) have all made the cut as finalists for the Shortlist Music Prize. Also in the running are In Our Bedroom After the War (Stars), Sky Blue Sky (Wilco), Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Spoon), Businessmen and Ghosts (Working for a Nuclear Free City) and Untrue (Burial). The winner will be announced in February. ... Dem Franchize Boyz will bounce back on April 1 with their third effort, Da Point of No Return, which is anchored by the first single, "Talkin' Out Da Side of Ya Neck." Also look for featured appearances by Mannie Fresh on "Mr. Feel Good" and Blaze on "Turn Heads." ...

Marvel Studios is the latest company to reach an agreement with the striking Writers Guild of America, it was announced Friday. "Marvel Studios' signing of an interim agreement with the Writers Guild is more good news for our membership," WGA East President Michael Winship and WGA West President Patric Verrone said in a joint statement. "Marvel is committed to fairly compensating their writers and now they can move forward with their planned production schedule." ... Yes! Will Ferrell has received the James Joyce award in Ireland, where he has been traveling with his dad and brother to trace their family roots, according to The Associated Press. The "Blades of Glory" actor accepted the award — which has been given to Jesse Jackson and others in the past — on Wednesday night and addressed more than 1,000 students at the University College Dublin. "As I perused my leather-bound volumes of 'Ulysses,' 'Finnegans Wake,' 'Dubliners,' 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,' standing in my mahogany library, a lot of feelings ran across my mind. Like: 'Damn, I should have read these books,' " he reportedly said. ...

My Morning Jacket — who sold out their June 20 show at NYC's Radio City Music Hall in just over 20 minutes — have arrived at a title for their new album. Evil Urges, the band's fifth LP, is due June 10. ... Bono hailed Bill Gates on Friday when the Microsoft chairman announced that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will spend $306 million on environmentally friendly technology and farming techniques to help aid millions of impoverished Africans. "It's a very special moment in time, I think, for Davos, and people here," Bono said in the Swiss city, according to The Associated Press. "This is Bill Gates' last trip to Davos as Microsoft leader, and I think it is an extraordinary thing that this man has not just changed the world once, but has now set aside the next act of his life to change the world again, and I think we should just mark this moment." ...

The summer music-festival scene just got a bit less crowded. Less than two months after announcing their plan to host a three-day camping music festival on a 500-acre farm in Vineland, New Jersey, the forces behind Lollapalooza (C3 Presents) and England's Reading Festival (Festival Republic) have announced that they've pulled the plug on the event. Originally scheduled for August 8-10, the Vineland Festival, which never announced a lineup and had faced considerable opposition from area residents concerned about noise and traffic, will now attempt to launch in 2009. Organizers cited "overall festival traffic in the Northeast"— apparently referring to the just-announced All Points West Festival, which is scheduled for the same weekend in Liberty State Park, New Jersey, and is being coordinated by the people who bring you Coachella every year. Organizers also noted big bands touring the area around the same time as the reason for scrapping the event. ...

Heads up, straight-edge hardcore fans: Ex-Minor Threat drummer Jeff Nelson has thrown up for auction on eBay a bunch of rare and unique items from the band and other hardcore acts. Items include fliers, posters, 7-inches and more. ... Want your name to appear in a Saosin release? The band is launching a contest with mobile marketing company Mozes that will give fans the chance to have their name featured in the credits of the booklet that will accompany their forthcoming "Saosin Live" DVD/CD package. Interested? Text SAOSINDVD to 66937 and join the band's mobile list and follow the prompt. ... UB40 might want to rename themselves "UB39," at least for the time being: The British group, which was huge in the '80s, has lost its frontman. "No words can express how upset I feel today that I have been forced to make this decision," Ali Campbell wrote in a Friday post on his Web site. UB40 said in a statement of their own that they will continue without Campbell, a founding member of the band.

• Joel Madden
• Good Charlotte
• Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)
• Black Lips
• Rivers Cuomo

Britney Spears on the cover of September's <i>Allure</i>
Photo: Michael Thompson/ Allure

Allure magazine didn't get its scheduled interview with Britney Spears, but it did complete its photo shoot, which features the star topless. (Check out excerpts right here.) The accompanying article is an amusing meditation on Britney's past, Dick Cheney (!) and the writer's experiences waiting for the interview to happen. For more, check out allure.com/go/britney. ...

Always bank on Jay-Z: The hip-hop mogul has topped Forbes.com's list of "Hip-Hop Cash Kings" after earning an estimated $34 million in 2006. 50 Cent ranks second with an estimated $32 million, and is followed by Diddy ($28 million), Timbaland ($21 million), Dr. Dre ($20 million), Eminem ($18 million), Snoop Dogg, Kanye West ($17 million), Pharrell ($17 million), Scott Storch ($17 million), Ludacris ($16 million), T.I. ($16 million), Outkast ($14 million), Lil Jon ($14 million), Ice Cube ($13 million), Jermaine Dupri ($12 million), Swizz Beatz ($12 million), Chamillionaire ($11 million), Game ($11 million) and Yung Joc ($10 million). ...

Joel Madden was caught in an interesting predicament on "Live! With Regis and Kelly" on Thursday morning (August 16) when Philbin let a little secret slip: the Good Charlotte frontman has a "surprise" for girlfriend Nicole Richie. "You're going to present her, maybe, with — did I hear the right thing, or should I not even talk about this?" Philbin said on the program, to which Madden, who was appearing on the show with his band, coyly replied, "Uh, what?" After Philbin clarified by saying, "A little ring or something," Madden answered, "I was hoping it would be a surprise, but now. ..." Philbin tried to change the subject after that, turning to Joel's brother Benji and asking who he is dating. Nicole is four and a half months pregnant with her and Joel's child. ...

A judge is allowing the four parties who are suing Brandy over the fatal multi-car crash she was involved in late last year to combine their civil-court cases, TMZ.com reports. The trial will start January 28. ...

Rock the Bells just got a little quieter. The show that was slated for Sunday at Sacramento, California's Sleep Train Amphitheatre — but wasn't set to feature Nas, Rage Against the Machine and the Roots, among others — has been scrapped due to poor ticket sales, The Sacramento Bee reports. The Saturday gig at San Francisco's McCovey Cove parking lot is still a go, and promoters just released 5,000 more tickets for the show. ...

Mike Jones, OK Go and the Rapture are getting a kick out of "MLS Represent," a new Major League Soccer/ Adidas campaign that is asking artists to come up with theme songs for MLS teams. The Polyphonic Spree, Meg & Dia, Barenaked Ladies, Kinky and Bad Brains are also involved in the effort, the results of which can be heard here. ... Elvis Costello covering Christina Aguilera? Why not? The esteemed singer/songwriter has contributed a rendition of Xtina's "Beautiful" to the "House" soundtrack, due September 18. ...

Serj Tankian recently debuted his new solo track "The Unthinking Majority" and accompanying video on his Web page, and now his System of a Down pals Daron Malakian and John Dolmayan are following suit by getting their Scars of Tomorrow project rolling. "Accompanied by some great musicians, we are preparing to go into the studio really soon to record our debut album," Malakian wrote in a post on the band's just-launched MySpace page. ...

Blaqk Audio are setting out to prove that CexCells on the road. AFI's Davey Havok and Jade Puget will bring their recently released project to the masses with 13 North American dates starting August 30 in San Francisco and ending September 27 in Los Angeles. And in the event that you're in Southern California this week, the group will sign copies of its debut LP at Best Buy stores in West Hollywood and Oceanside on Friday and Saturday, respectively. ...

Seether have canceled two upcoming concerts — in Idaho Springs, Idaho (Saturday), and Southaven, Mississippi (August 24) — after frontman Shaun Morgan's brother Eugene passed away Monday. In a MySpace post, the band said Morgan's brother "was an awesome human being, the type of person you want to be around. He never failed to put a smile on the face of all who he met and left a lasting impression on all whose lives he touched." ...

A new Pearl Jam release? No way. The band got together with famed photographer and rock-doc director Danny Clinch for "Immagine in Cornice (Picture in a Frame)," a film that provides highlights of five concerts Eddie Vedder and the gang played in Italy last year. The flick also follows PJ as they travel through the country, and includes interviews and more. Fans who preorder the DVD on the band's site during a pre-sale on August 22 will get a bonus limited-edition tee. ...

Violent Femmes have a new blister to pick at: Founding bassist Brian Ritchie has sued Gordon Gano, claiming the singer wrecked the band's reputation by allowing its best-known song, "Blister in the Sun," to be used in a Wendy's commercial. Ritchie also alleges that he wasn't given credit for, and proper account of, some of the band's songs. Gano told The Associated Press that the suit was "a complete surprise. ... We just played a really, really good tour [in South Africa]." Ritchie is seeking unspecified damages, a ruling that would declare him to be half-owner of the Femmes' catalog, and an accounting of royalties. ...

Bruce Springsteen will release his first album in five years with the E Street Band on October 2. The 11-song Magic was produced by Brendan O'Brien (Velvet Revolver, Red Hot Chili Peppers), and features "Radio Nowhere," "You'll Be Comin' Down," "Livin' in the Future," "Your Own Worst Enemy," "Gypsy Biker" and "Girls in Their Summer Clothes." ... Eric Clapton dropped $120,000 this week for 12 paintings by graffiti artist Lee Quinones, RollingStone.com reports. Each painting portrays the artist shoplifting a different '70s album, from James Brown's Sex Machine to Isley Brothers' Get Into Something. ...

And the remakes keep coming: "The Shield" producer Kurt Sutter will write and direct a new take on Bruce Lee's landmark martial-arts flick "Enter the Dragon," to be called "Awaken the Dragon." The cast and shooting schedule have yet to be revealed. ... Phil Spector murder-trial defense witness Dr. Michael Baden's credibility was called into question on Wednesday when prosecutors scrutinized the fact that the forensics expert is married to defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden. ...

Legendary jazz drummer and bebop founder Max Roach died Wednesday night in New York. Roach, considered to be one of the greatest jazz drummers of all time, worked with everyone from Duke Ellington and Sonny Rollins to Miles Davis and Charles Mingus.

08.15.07

Lindsay Lohan may be in rehab, but that hasn't stopped Maxim from featuring her on the cover of its 10th anniversary issue, which hits newsstands Tuesday. In the interview — which was conducted in mid-May, before both her DUI arrests — Lohan cites the obscure track "It's for You" by Out Hud as her go-to DJ song and shares her guilty pleasures: "Larry King Live," "Oprah" and junk food. When asked what she would bring to a remote island, she said: "I'd take an iPod, a good book and a friend, because I wouldn't want to be alone." While the Maxim shot dates back a few months, TMZ.com has posted a photo of a smiling Lohan the site says was taken Tuesday at the Cirque Lodge rehab center in Orem, Utah. The pic shows the actress on her way to a tanning center. ...

Foxy Brown turned herself in to New York police on Tuesday and was charged with assaulting her neighbor with a cell phone last month, according to authorities. The rapper was formally charged with felony assault, menacing, harassment and criminal possession of a weapon. Brown — who was charged for assault at a beauty-supply store in Florida in February and claimed to have been a victim of assault herself in June — is scheduled to appear in court September 26. Nonetheless, despite the legal issues, Brown still managed to find room on Tuesday to announce her departure from longtime recording home Def Jam in favor of Koch Records. A representative from Koch confirmed Brown has signed with the indie powerhouse and is scheduled to release her next album, Brooklyn's Don Diva, December 1. ...

Another subpoena was issued late Tuesday in the Britney Spears/ Kevin Federline child-custody battle, this one for former Spears assistant Shannon Funk. The singer's cousin Alli Sims and bodyguard Daimon Shippen have also been served with depositions. ... Paris Hilton's Hollywood Hills mansion was recently sold for $4.25 million, Us Weekly reports. ...

Remy Ma (born Remy Smith) appeared in a Manhattan, New York, courtroom on Tuesday in connection with a July 14 incident in which she is alleged to have shot her longtime friend Makeda Barnes-Joseph after a disagreement over money. Ma, who has been charged with attempted murder, assault and weapons possession, will remain free on $250,000 bail until November 29, according to her lawyer, Ivan Fisher, who said the prosecution is expected to hand down an indictment by that point. ...

If you've had enough of the "Chocolate Rain" shower, you might want to grab an umbrella — Tay Zonday and his notorious song are heading to the stage. The YouTube phenom will open for laptop wizards Girl Talk and Dan Deacon at Minneapolis' First Avenue on October 5. ... Hungry for new Jimmy Eat World material? The band will churn out Chase This Light — the follow-up to its 2004's gold effort, Futures — on October 16. The album's first single, "Big Casino," goes to radio later this month. Jimmy Eat World just wrapped their first trek through South Africa and are heading to Europe to play festivals, including Reading and Leeds, this week and next. ...

Jermaine Dupri is all too familiar with being in the recording booth, where he has created countless hit records for himself and others. But the legendary music man will soon been shown in a different type of booth — the ticket booth. Dupri recently shot a TV commercial for Dunkin' Donuts' "ordinary-people campaign" as a parking-lot attendant at Rutgers university. In the ad, Dupri simultaneously takes tickets and hosts a crunk party in his booth. ... Now he's really smiling: Jimmy Fallon got engaged to girlfriend Nancy Juvonen in New Hampshire over the weekend. It will be the first marriage for both. ...

Sorry, Radiohead fans — the band's next studio effort has bumped to 2008, RollingStone.com reports. ... Superdrag have reassembled their original lineup for six gigs in October and November, but before they play those shows, the band will hit up the Midpoint Music Festival in Cincinnati on September 27. Superdrag frontman John Davis will double up by delivering the keynote address at the festival as well. ... Frank Black just put out his 93-03 retrospective release and has a new album due September 11 from his Black Francis alter ego, but he's not through yet — the Pixies frontman also recently recorded covers of Tom Waits; Roxy Music; and the Good, the Bad & the Queen songs for an exclusive live iTunes EP. The five-song session, which also features the Black originals "Massif Central" and "Manitoba," is available now. ...

Don Imus was sued by a member of the Rutgers university women's basketball team on Tuesday, the same day he settled a breach-of-contract suit with CBS — which now allows him to make a bid for a comeback at a new radio station. Kia Vaughn alleges slander and defamation of character in the suit, claiming Imus' inflammatory comments about the Rutgers team damaged her reputation. ... Michael Jackson was also sued on Tuesday, by his former entertainment lawyers who claim the singer owes them $113,750. Jackson agreed in arbitration last year to pay Lavely & Singer $180,000 in three installments, according to the law firm, but he didn't make the last payment before the July 31 deadline indicated in the settlement. ...

Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler said Tuesday that Phil Spector's defense violated discovery laws by withholding information after a pathologist introduced a new theory in the death of actress Lana Clarkson on Tuesday. Fidler cleared the jury from the courtroom after Dr. Michael Baden, who could be the defense's last witness, testified that Clarkson's spinal cord was not completely severed when she was shot, which supports the defense claim that she spit blood onto the music producer's jacket after shooting herself. But because Fidler declared that the defense had violated the rules of discovery, Baden's testimony was rendered inadmissible.

• Britney Spears In The September Issue Of 'Allure'

• Britney Spears
• Joel Madden
• Christina Aguilera
• Blaqk Audio
• Seether

Nicole Richie
Photo: Marsaili McGrath/ Getty Images

Nicole Richie's not-so-simple life has apparently gotten a lot more complicated.

The socialite and reality-TV mainstay is pregnant with a child by Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden, TMZ.com reported Tuesday (July 3). The 25-year-old Richie has reportedly been dating Madden for more than six months.

Rumors of the pregnancy have circulated for several months — spurred, no doubt, by Richie's noticeably swelled belly. Neither her nor Madden's representatives would confirm the news at press time.

There may be more good news for the expecting couple: The pregnancy comes on the heels of recent reports from In Touch Weekly that Madden and Richie are to wed this summer as well.

The adopted daughter of singer Lionel Richie, Nicole has been romantically linked to entrepreneur Brad Salyn and DJ AM, with whom she was previously engaged (see "So Who Exactly Is This Guy Nicole Richie's Marrying?"). Madden previously dated singer/actress Hilary Duff.

Richie was already expecting an eventful summer: She is scheduled to appear in court on July 11 for her DUI trial, which stems from a December incident in which she was arrested after driving the wrong way on a freeway in Los Angeles. Police say she failed a sobriety test and admitted to having smoked marijuana and taken Vicodin. According to Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, Richie faces a minimum punishment of 90 days in jail if convicted, as she had been previously convicted for driving under the influence in a separate incident.

• Joel Madden
• Good Charlotte

Justin Timberlake
Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images

The news happens all the time, even while you're catching up on beauty sleep. Check out this brief rundown to bring you up to speed this morning — a quick heads up from your friends at MTV News.

Here's what we've got:

Lil Wayne told us that he's in no hurry to put out Tha Carter, Vol. 3, and if his projected 2008 release is too far off for you, blame all the artists he's been working with — "A lot of people want to use the songs I'm on as singles. That would be a quick, 'No, reject,' if my album was out." — plus the leader of the St. Lunatics. "I was given advice by my big brother Nelly about how to do that," Wayne explained. "He said, 'You gotta make them want you.' " ...

Glenn Danzig assures us that his Lost Classics of Danzig LP is a more than just a collection of "throwaway songs" — and while his word should be enough (who'd argue with him?), the effort he's put into the disc may prove his point. "This whole record was a real pain in the butt," he said. "There were a lot of surprises along the way and a lot of work." ...

Another warm weekend, another special-effects propelled blockbuster — check out "Kurt Loder's review of "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" — but we checked out a preview of the kind of film that premieres during awards season. "August Rush" has all the key Oscar ingredients, starring Academy favorites (Terrence Howard and Robin Williams), centering on a cute kid in a bad spot (Freddie Highmore plays an exploited musical prodigy), and accompanied by earnest, heartfelt music (courtesy of Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik). ...

Quote of the Day: "She came off as too cool for school ... but she was the most caring person in the house." — ""Real World: San Diego" housemate Jamie Chung remembers Frankie Abernathy

Here's what everyone else is talking about:

Who is more powerful than Oprah Winfrey? No one, according to Forbes magazine's annual Celebrity 100 Power list. Winfrey elbows last year's winner Tom Cruise down to #8, while Tiger Woods comes in second, Madonna finishes third, Rolling Stones take #4 and Brad Pitt scores #5. Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton didn't make the cut due to "diminished brand value," editor Lea Goldman told Reuters, while Jay-Z (#9), 50 Cent (#32), Justin Timberlake and (#34) Diddy (#43) rank. ...

Confused about the end of "The Sopranos"? You're not alone. Even the guy who played the boss isn't sure about the finale. "I don't know what happened to Tony," James Gandolfini told New York's Daily News. "Smarter minds than mine know the answer to that. I thought it was a great ending. You decide." ...

Ludacris and Nick Cannon are teaming up onscreen for "Ball Don't Lie," an indie drama starring streetball champ Grayson T. Boucher (a.k.a. the Professor) as a basketball prodigy, Variety reports. ...

New York Post's Page Six is getting in on the "Is Nicole Richie Pregnant?" action, reporting that she is definitely carrying Joel Madden's baby, according to a "close friend," who added, "Nicole is kind of hoping her pregnancy will keep her out of jail." ...

The White Stripes have lined up a small New York show to preview Icky Thump — but unlike the L.A. date, this one won't be at an old Tower Records store. Instead, Jack and Meg will take the stage at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza on Tuesday. Tickets for the gig go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m, and will only be available at the venue's box office. ...

Lily Allen is striking back at reports that she's a "hot mess" — the choice phrase a gossip site used to describe her Tuesday gig at NYC's Roseland Ballroom, which allegedly started two hours late. "Anyone who thought I was going on earlier, I'm sorry you were misinformed," Allen wrote in her MySpace blog. "I would never turn up two hours late for a gig .......EVER." But don't expect the singer to continue to set the record straight via her blog. "I'm not going to write here so often now," Allen explained. "This used to be one of my favourite things to do. I could come on here and vent how I feel honestly and get feedback from you guys . But the tabloid f---s have ruined it." ...

Nicky and Kathy Hilton told People magazine that it's hard to see Paris in jail — "It's like right out of the movies," Nicky said. "The glass partition, the orange jumpsuit. Everything." — but they hope that her time behind bars can serve a greater purpose. I hope this will shine a light on everybody [in those jails], Paris' mom said, explaining that the facilities "need financial help, and it's very sad to see what's going on in there." ...

Al Pacino answers readers' questions in Time and says that he probably won't compete on "Dancing With the Stars" — not because he's got two left feet ("All due respect and trying to be as modest as I can be, I am a dancer."), and not even because he's far too A-list for a reality show. "I don't think I would be on ... mainly because I would be too shy," he explained. Check out our report for more from big Al, including Pacino's thoughts on working with Robert De Niro and the cut that cost him a lot of points with critics. ...

E! Online's Planet Gossip reports that the long-rumored — and denied — Spice Girls reunion could turn into a six-month run in Las Vegas. E!'s source notes that the five singers, who have six children between them and another on the way, "can all walk away with a lot more money without having to travel." ...

Seven convicted sex offenders were arrested by Texas authorities after MySpace provided details about the former members of the social-networking site, Reuters reports. MySpace started cooperating with state authorities last month after questioning whether revealing users' identities is legal.

• Justin Timberlake
• Britney Spears
• Ludacris
• Nick Cannon
• Joel Madden

Madonna
Photo: Dave Hogan/ Getty Images

Madonna recently told the International Herald Tribune that she has a new project in mind — and it's all about her. "I'm thinking about doing a 25-year retrospective — multimedia, with video and photographs of me by Mario Testino, Herb Ritts, Steven Klein and Steven Meisel," she told the paper. ...

Black Eyed Peas' Taboo was arrested Tuesday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence, The Associated Press reports. The 31-year-old rapper, whose real name is Jaime Luis Gomez, was taken into custody after a collision in Industry, California. He was released later that day with citations for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, possession of a prescribed medication without a prescription, and driving under the influence. Police did not disclose a court date. ...

Foxy Brown pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor battery and resisting-arrest charges in a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, court on Wednesday (March 28), according to South Florida's Sun-Sentinel. The charges stem from a beauty-shop scuffle that took place February 15 in Pembroke Pines. "I am going to stand up and fight and take care of this," she said after the hearing, according to the newspaper. Broward County Judge Joel Lazarus withdrew the previously issued arrest warrant, and he set a trial date for June. ...

Beastie Boys are planning a new album, summer shows and some additional instrumental gigs. One of the latter sets will be staged May 26 at the Sasquatch! Music Festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington — that's in addition to the group's previously scheduled regular set the following day. After that, the act will head overseas for 18 appearances at European festivals, from a June 10 performance at the Alive Festival in Lisbon, Portugal, through a two-night stand September 8-9 at the U.K.'s Bestival. As for Sasquatch!, more acts have been added to that roster: Mixmaster Mike, Clinic, the Polyphonic Spree and others will join already announced participants Arcade Fire, Björk and Interpol. ...

Hilary Duff said splitting from Joel Madden was the right thing to do, but it wasn't easy. "We had a great relationship," she told MTV News. "I don't look back and wish we weren't together." Duff explained that the couple ended things on good terms, but feelings were still hurt. "I didn't know why I didn't want to be in a relationship anymore. I was still, like, what am I doing? I love this person." The singer/actress said the breakup resulted in a creative boost that inspired songs with many emotions, including tracks that Duff describes as "a little bit angry and some that are a little bit hurt and lonely and sad." Her album Dignity, due Tuesday, features those songs — as well as ones that are about the good times. "I was really scared [to] put these songs on the record about us being happy, but then I was like, 'Why?' Those were my experiences too." ...

Speaking of breakups, New Jersey rockers Thursday have split with Island Records. Confirming months of rumors, the band revealed the divorce through its MySpace page. "It was a difficult decision and it took us the better part of six months to come to an agreement with the label, but now that we have, both of us are very happy with how things have turned out," the statement read, adding that the decision was mutual. The band plans to complete its current tour, after which it'll "start writing for a new record. We have not decided where this new record will be released yet. Although we've had several wonderful offers already, we're just enjoying our freedom for now. It's very exciting to have the opportunity to start again." Thursday's Island debut, 2003's War All the Time, has sold 364,000 copies since its release. The follow-up, 2006's A City by the Light Divided, has scanned a mere 132,000 to date. ... Saves the Day drummer Pete Parada has left the band after a four-and-a-half-year tenure. "It saddens me to report that I have decided to leave the band," he wrote in a statement. "I wish them all the best of luck and look forward to starting fresh with a new band." Before Saves the Day, Parada logged kit time with Face to Face. ...

The re-formed Smashing Pumpkins will make their onstage debut in Paris on May 22, the band announced on MySpace. Tickets for the show, which will take place at Le Grand Rex, go on sale April 11. ... Scott Weiland's wife, Mary, has released a statement responding to reports of an altercation that the couple had at Burbank, California's Graciela Hotel as well as her arrest on Monday for allegedly setting fire to the Velvet Revolver singer's belongings outside their home. She explains that the incidents were brought on by a "reaction to an imbalance in medications" she takes to treat a bipolar disorder. "Reports that we were fighting at the Graciela Hotel are untrue," the statement reads. "Scott was simply trying to help calm me down. I want to make it very clear that he did not hurt me in any way." The couple have made amends with the hotel and have paid for damages, according to Mary Weiland. "Most importantly, neither of our children were witness to any of these events and they have been in the care of a family member," the statement concludes. "We appreciate all your concerns and how supportive people have been." ...

"Star Wars" fans will have a new reason to make pen pals this summer: The U.S. Postal Service is unveiling a set of stamps commemorating the sci-fi franchise, AP reports. The 15 stamps — featuring Darth Vader, Yoda, Luke Skywalker and many more likenesses — will be released May 25 at the cost of 41 cents apiece — the two-cent increase from stamps' standard 39-cent cost takes effect May 14. ... Morrissey is plotting his first U.S. tour in three years. The exhaustive trek will carry him from an April 27 gig in Stockton, California, all the way through a July 21 show in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The former Smith will be supported by Kristeen Young, who also acted as opener on last year's Ringleader of the Tormentors jaunt. ...

David Bowie will curate the inaugural H&M High Line Festival, a 10-day mix of music, film, comedy, visual art and performance that begins May 9 and will be held in venues near New York's High Line, a defunct elevated railway. Bowie's handpicked participants include musical acts Arcade Fire, Polyphonic Spree, Air and Laurie Anderson, as well as comedian Ricky Gervais, art from the Claude Cahun Public Art Exhibition and 10 Spanish-language films from the last 100 years. A portion of each ticket sale will benefit Friends of the High Line, an organization working to transform the 1930s rail structure into a park. ... Fishbone have unveiled a string of spring dates to promote the April 24 release of their new LP, Stuck in Your Throat, the band's first record in more than six years. The tour kicks off Saturday in Malibu, California, and dates are scheduled through a May 19 stop in Seattle.

03.27.2007

Justin Timberlake is extending his North American FutureSex/LoveShow with a second leg. The 15 additional dates begin with an August 6 performance at FedExForum in his Memphis hometown and end with a September 16 gig at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Here are the venues he'll play in between: the Gwinnett Center in Atlanta (August 7); TD Banknorth Garden in Boston (August 10); Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey (August 13); Madison Square Garden in New York (August 15); Bell Centre in Montreal (August 18); Air Canada Centre in Toronto (August 20); MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba (August 25); Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas (September 1); GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia (September 5); Rose Quarter in Portland, Oregon (September 7); Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington (September 8); ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California (September 10); and HP Pavilion in San Jose, California (September 12). ...

In other JT news, he doesn't have much to say about ex-girlfriend Britney Spears these days, but he does have an opinion about the gossip magazines that keep a close watch on her — and on him and ex Cameron Diaz. "I despise what they do," Timberlake said in the April issue of Details, on newsstands Tuesday (March 27). "They create soap operas out of people's lives. [Britney and I] had our thing and it's over." ...

Avril Lavigne and Spears may not be linked in the tabloids, but they do have a connection — fans who enjoy Lavigne's live show can thank Britney for her influence. "My mom made me go to a Britney Spears concert when I was young," the singer said in an interview published in the April issue of Jane (on newsstands Tuesday). "I was like, 'No, I don't want to!' She was like, 'You're going to be a performer, you need to see other people!' " ... Jessica Simpson visited a Mexican orphanage in Nuevo Laredo on Tuesday, showing up to a throng of cheering children, according to The Associated Press. The singer/actress, who was accompanied by her mother, donated a new 2007 Chrysler minivan to the orphanage. She stayed there for about 40 minutes, having her photo taken and signing autographs. ...

Jessica Smith, a former "Laguna Beach" castmember, has been arrested for investigation of felony driving under the influence of alcohol following a late-night freeway crash Monday, AP reports. The 19-year-old crashed into another car, the driver of which sustained minor injuries. A passenger traveling with Smith also suffered minor injuries. The actress, who has remained in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail, is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday. ...

Just a day after Eminem and ex-wife Kim Mathers agreed in court to stop criticizing each other in public for the sake of their daughter, Kim was interviewed on New York radio station Hot 97 Tuesday morning and spoke about Em, including his recent legal action to stop her from speaking about their relationship. "How many songs has he done about me?" Kim — who has served as subject matter for tracks including "Cleaning Out My Closet" and "Mockingbird" — asked radio host Miss Jones. "How many interviews has he done where he's talking about freedom of speech? ... I do a couple of interviews and he's crying like a little girl." Kim accused Em of being "disconnected from reality," revealed that she has no contact with him despite only living a mile away — and shot down any chance that the twice-divorced couple would eventually find their way back to each other. "We don't work good together," she said. "It's not good for the kids." ...

On Monday nights, West Hollywood, California's Keyclub is home to cover band Metal Skool, and they bring '80s classics, big hair and tight spandex. So the last thing you'd expect to see there is one of today's big-name guitarists taking the stage — behind a drum kit. Earlier this week, those who paid the $20 admission got much more than they bargained for when Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello took a seat at the kit, joining the entire crew of Disturbed and Anthrax's Scott Ian to rock the house with a rendition of AC/DC's "Highway to Hell." Looking a little uneasy at first, Morello gradually took control of the drums over the course of the performance. ...

Akon is featured on "Never Never," the first single from Brick&Lace. The track was made available Tuesday on iTunes, while the Jamaican sister duo's debut album, Love Is Wicked, is due June 26 on Akon's Kon Live Distribution imprint through Geffen Records. ... LOX rapper Styles P has signed with Koch to release his next project, 5 Star General, tentatively due in July. The album will mark his first release since parting ways with Interscope late last year. The rapper had previously announced his intentions to partner with Koch during a New York radio interview, but now the paperwork is complete. "It feels good to be a part of a team that appreciates hip-hop in its truest form," Styles said in a statement. "I am ecstatic about being in control of my own destiny." ...

The All-American Rejects will be honored with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers' Vanguard Award at the 24th annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards on April 18 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. The Rejects will perform, as will the Fray and Nick Lachey. Melissa Etheridge, Kelly Clarkson, Jermaine Dupri and Johnta Austin will also be honored. ... The White Stripes have unveiled the track list for their upcoming Icky Thump album, which is due in June. According to a post on WhiteStripes.com, Thump will span 13 tracks, with titles like "300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues," "Prickly Thorn, but Sweetly Worn" and "A Martyr for My Love for You." Of course, this being the Stripes, the announcement also came with a crossword puzzle and a series of track descriptions, which run the gamut from cautionary ("If you're looking for hot water, don't be shocked when you get burned a little bit") to straight-up nonsensical ("They got a white pony in a stable and ride him when the doggie isn't able.") ...

Female-fronted metallers In This Moment have been added to this summer's Ozzfest rotating lineup, securing a slot on the tour's second stage alongside Hatebreed, Nile, the Showdown, Daath, Circus Diablo, Ankla, Mondo Generator and 3 Inches of Blood. According to guitarist Chris Howorth, the band is "very proud and honored to be a part of this year's Ozzfest. Not only are we huge Ozzy fans and excited to be playing with him every day, but this year's festival is free, so everyone has a chance to come out and be a part of this amazing experience. It's going to be a great chance to reach out to an entirely new audience. We are also looking forward to playing with and getting to know all the rest of the bands on the tour. It's so surreal because not too long ago we were watching the Ozzfest as fans out in the crowd, and now we are performing." ...

Sammy Hagar and Linda Perry have been selected to receive Recording Academy Honors awards for the San Francisco chapter. The ceremony is scheduled for April 29 at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco's Union Square. ... Saves the Day and Say Anything are heading out on a 32-stop co-headlining tour that kicks off April 10 in San Diego and hits cities including Los Angeles, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston and Atlanta before wrapping up May 17 in Dallas. Saves the Day will follow the tour with a trip to the studio, where they will work on their sixth LP, Under the Boards, due in the fall. ... Kings of Leon will tour North America in support of Because of the Times, due April 3. The trek begins April 28 at Coachella and ends June 16 at Bonnaroo.

• Ultimate Madonna: Interviews From The Vault
• MTV News RAW: Hilary Duff

• Madonna
• Black Eyed Peas
• Hilary Duff
• Joel Madden
• Scott Weiland

Joel Madden
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

Good Charlotte's Joel Madden is facing questioning from police over a run-in with a paparazzi photographer on Saturday night outside Los Angeles' famed Mr. Chow restaurant.

According to Beverly Hills Police Department Lieutenant Mitch McCann, a photographer filed a report on Monday in which she claimed that Madden struck her on the left breast with the heel of his hand as he was escorting girlfriend Nicole Richie from the back door of the restaurant to his car. The photographer, whose name McCann declined to reveal, reportedly told TMZ that she suffered a welt on her chest from the incident that required medical attention.

In a video clip on TMZ that reportedly shows the confrontation, Madden, with his head down, holds Richie's hand as he leads her through the scrum of snapping flashes. He is heard repeating "Get out of the way!" as he brushes past the alleged victim; the photographer steps to the side but does not appear to fall or stumble as a result of contact with Madden. Seconds later, Madden is seen pushing a male photographer away from the car, more forcefully this time, as he and Richie get ready to speed away.

McCann said an investigation into the incident is ongoing and he did not know if Madden had been questioned. A spokesperson for Good Charlotte said there was no information on the incident at press time.

The incident occurred a day after E! reported that Richie was rushed to the hospital after feeling faint on the set of "The Simple Life." She was treated for dehydration and released that same day.

• Good Charlotte
• Benji Madden
• Joel Madden

Good Charlotte
Photo: Epic

LOS ANGELES — The City of Angels is known for a lot of things, but the Los Angeles River isn't one of them.

Still, the flood-control channel, immortalized in all its garbage-lined cement beauty in movies like "Grease" and "The Italian Job," was the inspiration for Good Charlotte's "The River" and the location for the new single's video.

"The symbolism of the L.A. River in the song is that it's concrete, polluted, graffitied, and when you think of 'baptism in the river' [the chorus of the song], you think peaceful and serene, and that's the whole vibe of the song," guitarist Benji Madden explained on the set Tuesday. "This was the visual in our heads while we were writing the song."

"The River" isn't so much about the L.A. River or even L.A., but both serve as larger metaphors. "L.A. is the metaphor of how in life you can choose two roads, and L.A. kinda symbolizes [one of them]," singer Joel Madden said.

"When you start writing songs, you start thinking about your life and you start thinking about where it's taking you," Benji added. "It's kind of a redemption song. At times we felt lost, and on this record we really feel like we found ourselves, all four of us as a band. After everything we've experienced in the last eight years since we've put out the last three records, we really feel like we've found solid ground again."

Since Good Charlotte wrote the song in Vancouver, British Columbia, earlier in the year, it's been a band favorite. So when their label wanted it as the first single, the guys happily obliged. "For us, to put out the first single as a song with real substance is really special," Benji said. "It was cool because it wasn't just a catchy thing."

That's not to say "The River" isn't commercially friendly — especially since it features guest vocals from Avenged Sevenfold singer M. Shadows and a guitar solo from Synyster Gates.

"At first you hear M. Shadows and you're like, 'What?' " Joel said. "But it works because of the verse and what he's talking about. It's the part of the song where we're talking about all the trappings and going into that dark place. It's like the devil on your shoulder, and he plays that so well because, in my life, he's like the devil on my shoulder anyway, saying, 'Just do it.' "

Shadows and Gates will also appear in the video. "It's a little bit of an odd pairing, but we're so similar as bands," Joel added. "We're really close to them, we've spent a lot of time with those guys, and it was very natural. I think kids like to see band collaborations, and this is a cool one. We're both young bands that love what we do."

The video, which features performance footage along the L.A. River as well as green-screen shots placed over various other Los Angeles scenes, was directed by Marc Webb.

"He did cool stuff with [My Chemical Romance] and AFI, and he just has a cool style and great eye," guitarist Billy Martin said. "So we thought, 'Let's just go with Marc 'cause we know we're gonna get something good.' "

Early in his career, Webb also directed two videos for Good Charlotte's first album, so the two parties had history. "This whole record, Good Morning Revival, feels like back to square one for us," Benji said (see "Good Charlotte Celebrate Happier Sound, Sober Outlook on Good Morning Revival"). "We went back with [producer] Don Gilmore, back with Marc Webb. It feels like this could be our first album. And it feels really good."

Good Charlotte plan to keep that philosophy in mind as they head into both the album's March release and their next tour, whatever that may entail. "We wouldn't mind getting back into a supporting slot with a band that's been around a lot longer than us," Benji said. "Taking lessons from veterans again. We see a lot of younger bands come up and look at us, and we feel like we still have a lot to learn."

In the meantime, the guys are debuting Good Morning Revival in a different sort of setting — nightclubs. Benji and Joel are mixing tracks into their own DJ sets, and acts like Junior Sanchez and the Faint have done their own remixes of songs from the album.

"We have a lot of support from that community, which makes us feel good," Joel said.

• MTV News RAW: Good Charlotte

• On The Set Of Good Charlotte's "The River" Video

• Good Charlotte
• Avenged Sevenfold
• Joel Madden
• Benji Madden

Good Charlotte's Joel Madden
Photo: Scott Gries/ Getty images

They may not have selected a title or a firm release date for it yet, but that hasn't stopped Good Charlotte from announcing a slew of tour dates in anticipation of their fourth album.

The trek kicks off on September 27 at the Fillmore in San Francisco and wraps on October 22 with a gig at Sonar in Baltimore (which kinda makes it a homecoming gig for the GC guys, whose hometown is Waldorf, Maryland). Glammy Nashville pop punks and You Hear It First band the Pink Spiders will serve as support on all dates (see "You Hear It First: Pink Spiders").

The tour announcement comes a little more than a month after news of GC's upcoming album first broke (see "Good Charlotte Busy Blogging, Making Acronyms, Cranking Out Demos For Fourth LP"). In the weeks following the announcement, a publicist for the band confirmed that the still-untitled album would be in stores in early 2007, and that songs set to appear on the disc include "Misery" and "Victims of Love."

Good Charlotte tour dates, according to Epic Records:

• 9/27 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
• 9/29 - Ventura, CA @ Majestic Ventura Theatre
• 9/30 - Hollywood, CA @ The Avalon
• 10/1 - Santa Ana, CA @ Galaxy Theatre
• 10/2 - San Diego, CA @ SOMA
• 10/4 - Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
• 10/5 - Omaha, NE @ Sokol Auditorium
• 10/6 - Minneapolis, MN @ Quest Club
• 10/8 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
• 10/9 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
• 10/10 - Pontiac, MI @ Clutch Cargo
• 10/11 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
• 10/13 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
• 10/14 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
• 10/15 - Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock Cafe
• 10/16 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
• 10/17 - Sayerville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
• 10/18 - Boston, MA @ Avalon
• 10/20 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
• 10/21 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
• 10/22 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar

• Good Charlotte
• Benji Madden
• Joel Madden

Hilary Duff
Photo: MTV News

A huge gossip vacuum has suddenly been filled now that it's clear Hilary Duff and Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden are, in fact, an item.

They've been denying it for a while, of course — even as they've been collaborating on the pop princess's new album, Most Wanted, and been spotted swanning around in public together. Madden told MTV Asia several months ago that it was hard figuring out their relationship, which he characterized as friendship, amid all the media scrutiny (see "Good Charlotte Strive To Be Punk-Rock Outkast; Joel Says Marriage Comment A Joke"). But when Madden accompanied Duff during a visit to MTV last week and called her "baby" in front of a camera crew, well, the jig was up. So Duff, as her song says, had to come clean.

"I'm really happy right now," she said. "I think and hope he is as well. I feel really lucky to have him, but we try not to talk about it too much. We both think it's so weird that people put their relationship out there. It's not even about the work anymore. It's not about music or acting or whatever. It's about the relationship. It's not really what I got into this business for, and I know it's not what he got into it for, so why? We both have this same mentality that the more you let people know about it, the more they want to know about it."

But while the couple may want to take the Beyoncé/Jay-Z route, Duff can't help but sing Madden's praises. She said she has grown "so much" as a person and an artist thanks to her association with him and his twin brother, Benji (see "Cheaper By The Duo? Hilary Duff Teams Up With Madden Brothers For New LP"). Duff views them as "an inspiration" because they work hard, believe in themselves, and don't "let anyone control them." Duff's been dealing with this particular issue as she grows into adulthood. She was "feeling really controlled," she said, and was trying to figure out how to bust loose. Working with Madden without first informing her label was one such step. "Joel told me stories about scaring people into not messing with them. I can't do that," she laughed. "Look at me. I'm a little blond girl. But they can."

She also admires Joel's talent, claiming he has the ability to whip out a song, "even as a joke," in 10 minutes flat. "I learned so much more about music," she gushed. "Joel has totally changed my taste in music, friendships and loyalty. He's changed me and my friendships."

Duff hopes this particular friendship won't become tabloid fodder. "I'm pretty absent from a lot of what goes on," she said. "It's a choice. When you're a young person in the public eye, it's a real easy one. I go to clubs, but there's a front door and a back door, and it's how you want to be seen. A lot of people complain, but you don't have to [make your private life public] if you don't want to."

Still, the are-they-or-aren't-they nature of their relationship long gave people enough to gossip about even if she didn't want them to, especially since Duff is only 17 while Madden is 26. Many speculated this was the reason they were keeping it quiet: Duff is underage for another two months.

"Everything you do is talked about, picked apart, put on a little perch, or trashed," she said. "There's so much controversy over so much, even if it's not scandalous, even about what you're wearing. People make so many comments; it's hard to deal with. I'm just trying to figure out who I am."

• Hilary Duff
• Joel Madden