Jessica Simpson, along with her "Dukes of Hazzard" co-star Willie Nelson, will treat U.S. troops stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California, to a special screening of their new flick on July 29. The duo will host the event and spend some quality time with service members and their families, tour the facilities, and field some questions from the crowd about the film. Fellow "Dukes" co-stars Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott will join Simpson to visit troops Tuesday at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, and Wednesday at Fort Hood, Texas. ...

Prosecutors in the Michael Jackson trial were ordered Thursday to return the singer's seized possessions -- including his extensive porn collection -- since a verdict was returned of not guilty on all counts in his child-molestation trial. The items seized also included computers, books, and what Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon referred to as "contraband" -- syringes, Demerol and prescriptions for various drugs in different people's names -- which the prosecutor argued should remain confiscated. ... Though Courtney Love had to visit a hospital early Thursday morning, her fainting spell was not drug-related, a Los Angeles court decided on Friday. The singer's status report on her progress in her drug-rehabilitation efforts was "routine," according to the Los Angeles city attorney's office, which noted that Love had successfully completed her program and passed all drug tests, saying that she "seems to be on track." Love is due back in court for a separate status hearing on August 10, and then again on January 27. ...

Snoop Dogg has recruited the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ice Cube to join him at a benefit concert for his Snoop Youth Football League, which requires kids to maintain certain academic requirements to remain eligible. The concert, which will also include other, as-yet-unannounced artists, is set for August 25 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. ... Would you like a celebrity with that order? Clay Aiken, Nick Lachey, Moby and Fat Joe were among a slew of stars who participated in a special 10-day promotion to celebrate Amazon.com's 10th anniversary. Over 10 days, 23 of the online retailer's customers received surprise visits from a celebrity associated with their purchase, The Associated Press reports. So Lachey hand-delivered "Newlyweds" on DVD to one lucky buyer, Aiken dropped off his memoir, "Learning to Sing," to another, and so on. ...

New Found Glory's Ian Grushka wants the band's fans to enter an Oscar Mayer essay-writing contest to use the Wienermobile (a giant hot-dog-shaped bus) for one day -- and then put it to what he calls "good use," i.e. spreading vegetarian and animal-rights messages with the help of PETA. The bassist posted a letter to fans on his Web site, iangrushka.net, asking them to use their "creative talents" to come up with ideas that would appeal to Oscar Mayer's judges so they can hijack the contest. "With a bus this big, there's no shortage of colorful ways PETA can use the Wienermobile to tell everyone how bad eating meat is for people and animals," he wrote. The contest ends on Thursday. ... Nick Carter's sister's former roommate is suing the famous musical family, claiming that Nick and his father, Bob, failed to supervise 23-year-old Bobby Jean, and that Bobby Jean abused her roommate via various physical altercations. The Backstreet Boy's lawyer called the claims "fictional" and "absolutely without merit," and said that Kate Kelly only named Nick in her suit against his sister Bobby Jean "so that she could get publicity." Bobby Jean's lawyer -- who also called the claim "frivolous" -- said that they have hired private investigators to look into the matter, while Nick plans to countersue. Meanwhile, Bobby Jean is suing other members of her family -- her mother, Jane, and sister Leslie, claiming Leslie conspired with their mother to take away her Escalade, by forging her signature, taking ownership and refusing to return the car. ...

"American Idol" junkies who've been jonesing for more will have to wait until November 22 for their next fix, when some new DVDs are expected to hit stores, featuring the best and worst moments of the hit series. "The Worst of American Idol: Seasons 1-4" and "The Best of American Idol: Seasons 1-4" will set you back $20 apiece; the two will also be packaged together as a collector's-edition set for $35. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the DVDs will include the show's most breathtaking performances and well as all of the best car-crash auditions from all four seasons. ... It looks like Bonnaroo is hitting Sin City. The producers behind the Birkenstock-friendly music festival have confirmed that they will stage an event in Las Vegas around Halloween. The multi-day fest, dubbed Vegoose, will be held from October 28-31, according to its official Web site. An eclectic mix of musicians are expected to attend, but no one has been confirmed as of yet. ... M.I.A. plans to headline a U.S. tour this fall. The Sri Lanka-born artist's 11-city trek will kick off on September 19 in Athens, Georgia, and wrap up on October 5 in San Francisco. ...

07.21.2005

Carrie Underwood has inked a deal with the Hershey Company, according to The Associated Press. The "American Idol" champ will belt out some of the candy company's classic jingles in a new TV ad campaign, including the famed "sometimes you feel like a nut ... sometimes you don't" for Mounds and Almond Joy; "give me a break" for Kit Kat, and of course, "Hershey's is the great American chocolate bar."...

A federal court in Los Angeles on Wednesday denied 50 Cent's motion for an injunction against further distribution of "The Infamous Times - Volume I: The Original 50 Cent" DVD. The court also refused the rapper's request for the DVD's sales data. 50 is alleging that the use of his name in the title infringes on his trademark. ... Mixtape DJ Sickamore held a party Tuesday night at club T-NY in New York to celebrate the launch of his marketing and consulting company, I Can Make You Famous. Sick's firm is designed to help up-and-coming artists break big in the music industry. Just Blaze DJed, and street MCs such as Bad Boy's Ness, Tru Life, Saigon, Stack Bundles and the legendary Melle Mel were among the guests who came out. ...

Fresh on the heels of their Mercury Music Prize nomination for their debut album, Silent Alarm, Bloc Party are releasing the dance-rock-friendly version, Silent Alarm Remixed, on September 13. Remixers include Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ladytron, Pretty Girls Make Graves, M83, Mogwai, Four Tet and Death From Above 1979. "It's really tough," Bloc Party drummer Matt Tong said of DFA79's version of "Luno." "It's a really aggressive take on our music. It makes me want to punch people." Initial pressings of Remixed will also include a limited-edition bonus disc with three B-sides previously unavailable in the U.S. and acoustic versions of "Plans" and "Storm and Stress." ... Pennywise, Death by Stereo, the Dead Kennedys, Bif Naked, the Wylde Bunch and DJ Z-Trip will perform at the X Games, taking place August 4-7 at the Staples Center and Home Depot Center in Los Angeles. ...

Long thought dead, New York's Nada Surf enjoyed a revival with 2003's Let Go, which made its way onto a whole lot of music fans' year-end lists. Now, with a new album, The Weight Is a Gift, due September 20, they're looking to build on that momentum. They're also launching a North American tour; the 16-date trek starts October 4 in Washington, D.C., and runs until October 23 in San Diego. Brooklyn, New York, art punks Say Hi to Your Mom will serve as the opening act on most of the dates. ... Southern California rockers Smile Empty Soul will release their sophomore album, Anxiety, on September 27. The group worked, once again, with producer John Lewis Parker on the disc, which will feature 15 cuts, including "Holes," "California's Lonely" and the album's first single, "Don't Need You." ... David Gray's next album, Life in Slow Motion, is due September 13. Gray will preview the new material, including first single "The One I Love," with a 10-date tour beginning August 1 in Toronto. ...