Everything is "flantastic" in Mariah Carey's world these days, she says in a new voicemail message on her Web site. She tells fans she recently bagged a 10th track for the follow-up to The Emancipation of Mimi, hopes to squeeze out the effort by the end of the year and is heading to Atlanta to work with "JD" -- most likely Jermaine Dupri -- on a "stone groove/ smash-hit wonder -- or at least a stone groove, hopefully." Carey said she'll be holed up in the studio working on the effort for the next few months; she didn't elaborate on her new movie "Tennessee," though, "because [I want] the performance to speak for itself." ...

Britney Spears shot her first video in years at a warehouse in Los Angeles on Thursday (July 19). The song, "Get Back," leaked online this week. ... Eve showed up to court a day early and met all the conditions of her probation on Thursday, Los Angeles' KNBC reports. The rapper, whose real name is Eve Jihan Jeffers, pleaded no contest to a DUI charge last month and was sentenced to 36 months' probation. ...

Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Common, Mos Def, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, Saigon and Queen Latifah held an impromptu jam session at S.O.B.'s in Manhattan on Wednesday night following the Pepsi DJ battle hosted by Hot 97's DJ Enuff and DJ Kast One. 'Ye got things hot for the crowd when he kicked into "Can't Tell Me Nothing," and Mos and Kweli reunited onstage. Drag-On and Rah Digga also popped in for performances, and Just Blaze was in the house as a judge of the DJ battle. ...

Zac Efron and Amanda Bynes celebrated the premiere of "Hairspray" on Wednesday night in Baltimore, the city that inspired the film -- and is home to its creator, John Waters. "It's very flattering," Efron said amid screaming fans, according to The Associated Press. "It feels great to be bringing this movie back to Baltimore." Waters also cropped up at the event, and when asked about the screaming teen girls, he remarked, "I look over there and many of them could be arrested if they saw my other movies, so times have changed."...

Say it ain't so -- the Los Angeles Times reports that Nirvana music will be featured in the background during an entire episode of TV's "Cold Case." ... The Mitch Schneider Organization, the publicity firm that represents the Smashing Pumpkins, has issued a sarcastic response to a phony letter purportedly from Billy Corgan that appeared in last week's edition of The Stranger in Seattle. "Although this 'open letter' is apocryphal, there are some references and statements in it that do in fact make a few interesting points that should be pondered," the statement reads. "The letter states in Billy's words that there would be no My Chemical Romance or Panic! at the Disco without the Pumpkins. While this isn't so, it is a little-known fact the Pumpkins' music is responsible for the swing dance craze of 1997." ...

You've heard Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" covered by everyone from Guns N' Roses to Wyclef Jean to Avril Lavigne -- now it's Babyface's turn. The R&B legend redoes that song -- as well as Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight," Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle" and other rock classics -- on his 11th album, Playlist. The set will christen the relaunched Mercury Records when it drops September 18. ... Michael Jackson took his children on a tour of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space and American Indian Museums on Wednesday, before either museum opened to the public. ...

Elliott Smith is anything but forgotten, with his posthumous LP New Moon debuting at #24 on the Billboard album charts not too long ago. Now his friend Autumn de Wilde is hoping to enrich the singer/songwriter's legacy with a new book filled with rare interviews and photographs. Simply titled "Elliott Smith" and due in November, the tome will also contain contain forewords by Beck and Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla, personal ephemera, handwritten lyrics, as well as a CD featuring five unreleased songs recorded at small L.A. gigs in 1997 -- including covers of "All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down" by Hank Williams Jr. and "Clouds" by Quasi, the indie-rock duo who occasionally backed up Smith. A portion of the proceeds will go to two charities: Austin, Texas' Sims Foundation in Austin and Portland, Oregon's Outside In. ...

Wanted dead or alive: the makers of energy drink Mijovi. Well, the situation isn't that dire, but all the same, Jon Bon Jovi wants the owner of the coffee-based beverage to change its name, since he claims it's too similar to his, AP reports. A letter Jovi's lawyer sent to Marcos Carrington highlights the company's marketing terms "itsmijovi" and "itsmilife," the latter being the name of a Bon Jovi song. Carrington replied that the words are meant to mean "it's my jovial life" and that he named the drink after his girlfriend Jovita. ... The Reverend Al Sharpton, who had insisted that shock-jock Don Imus be fired for making racist comments, told AP in a telephone interview Wednesday that he wouldn't object if Imus were to return to the airwaves. "He has a right to make a living," Sharpton said, adding that he hoped any station that would hire Imus would make sure he wouldn't make insensitive remarks about race or gender. ...

M.I.A. is playing a smattering of festivals this summer, and along the way she's making a few pit stops and small clubs. She'll hit up Brooklyn, New York's Studio B (July 25); San Francisco's Rickshaw Shop (July 28); Los Angeles' Echoplex (July 30-31); and, after playing Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 3, she'll perform at the city's House of Blues the following day. ... Underground hip-hop prince Aesop Rock will tour heavy in support of his August 28 LP, None Shall Pass. He'll head out with Cage and Blockhead September 8 in Philadelphia and stay on the road with them through September 11 in Pittsburgh, after which he'll hook up with Octopus Project and tour with them and Blockhead from September 13 in Chicago through September 26 in Burlington, Vermont. Finally, he'll set out for his longest stretch, with Black Moth Super Rainbow and Blockhead, in San Francisco on October 10 and bring that run to a close November 20 in Atlanta.

07.19.07

Gwen Stefani has filed a lawsuit against Forever 21, claiming the retail chain stole a design from her Harajuku Lovers line. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, claims that Forever 21 is marketing, promoting and selling products featuring a design that is "virtually indistinguishable" from the cutesy heart logo used by Stefani's L.A.M.B. offshoot -- with "Harajuku" simply changed to "Forever" and "Lovers" to "Love." Since the small text change is "inconspicuous," the lawsuit claims, it's "unlikely to go unnoticed by a consumer" and is "confusingly similar." Well, unless you look at the price, that is. Harajuku Lovers alleges false destination of origin, trademark infringement, dilution and unfair competition against the chain, and seeks not only monetary damages but also Forever 21's profits and gains, since the company claims the co-opting of design caused the originals to lessen in value. ...

50 Cent has a few words of advice for Nas in the new issue of XXL: put down the book. When asked, "What percentage of MCs in hip-hop do you think are actually intelligent?" 50 replied: "You have different kinds of people. You have people that are extremely book-smart that lack common sense, so they don't know what's going to affect their audience. ... For instance, Nas is a really smart guy. He reads books constantly. We were around him on the Nastradamus tour. He was almost weirder than me 'cause we would go to breakfast and he'd be there reading a book. Conceptually, I think that's what made him drift away from what his initial audience enjoys from him and why he's not hot right now." In the interview, 50 also insisted Jim Jones should be running Dipset -- he's "a more credible artist than Cam'ron is," 50 said -- revealed that he's been trying to hook up with M.O.P. and admitted that he doesn't eat cookies because he's looking after his weight. ...

Pras tells Billboard.com the forever-delayed Fugees reunion CD is now off the table altogether -- and he's not afraid to point fingers, either. "We went in the studio and recorded a couple records that were incredible," he said. "But, to put it nicely, it's dead. Me and [Wyclef Jean], we on the same page, but Lauryn [Hill] is in her zone, and I'm fed up with that sh--. Here she is, blessed with a gift, with the opportunity to rock and give, and she's running on some bullsh--? I'm a fan of Lauryn's, but I can't respect that." ... Time to kick off those kicks -- Lily Allen's Nike Air Max 90 is on the way. The limited-edition shoe will be available through exclusive promotions in the U.S. this summer and be colored red, white and blue. She's not the only one with new Nikes -- underground rapper MF Doom has designed his own Dunk High Premium SB, which is on sale in very limited form. ...

Crisis averted, Fall Out Boy fans: Looks like the rumors of an engagement between Pete Wentz and his girlfriend Ashlee Simpson aren't true. And neither is the gossip that she's pregnant. Initial, uh, "reports" had Wentz proposing to Simpson before FOB's Live Earth gig at Giants Stadium (New Jersey = romance) and suggested that Ash was seen refusing to drink anything and rubbing her belly. But according to a spokesperson for Wentz, those reports are false. ... Blood spatter left by deceased actress Lana Clarkson is once again being contended in the Phil Spector trial. On Wednesday (July 18), defense witness James Pex, a blood expert, challenged the prosecution's claim that spatter can travel more than 3 feet, according to the Los Angeles Times. In other developments, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Larry Paul ruled Tuesday that convicted Hollywood madam Jody "Babydol" Gibson's testimony was "inadmissible and irrelevant" to the trial. ...

Though Avril Lavigne didn't directly address the plagiarism claims that have dogged her over her "Girlfriend" hit, she posted a message on her MySpace page on Tuesday thanking fans for their support and urging them to check out the new disc by her hubby's band, Sum 41. "I wanted to take this time to thank you, my fans, for all your undying support," Lavigne wrote. "You have been amazing and I can't express how much I appreciate it. Thank you all so much. I am so proud of this record and grateful for the response it has been getting from all of my fans. You made it go [#] 1." ... The White Stripes promised to play a show in every Canadian province and territory on their current tour and, technically, they now have. After secret gigs in bowling alleys, buses, flour factories and parks, the duo wrapped up their unconventional Great North experiment with a blink-and-you-missed-it surprise afternoon gig in St. John's, Newfoundland, on Monday before playing a real show that night. Taking the stage in front of a few hundred fans, the pair plugged in, hit a single note and then took a bow, with Jack White grinning as he said, "We have now officially played in every province and territory in Canada." According to reports, fans were clued into the gag. ...

Zach Braff working for Dunkin' Donuts? Wake up and smell the coffee -- it's really happening. The "Garden State" director has helmed two ads for the chain, one featuring Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley and another featuring Naomi Campbell. ... Rilo Kiley's Under the Blacklight is still about a month away -- it drops August 21, to be precise -- but the band has already fleshed out a tour in support of the release. The indie-rockers hit the pavement September 6 in San Francisco and wind down the trek in their Los Angeles hometown on October 16. ... The title of the upcoming book "Would Someone Please Explain? The Best of Duran Duran's Ask Katy" pretty much says it all, so long as you're aware that "Ask Katy" is the fan-letter section of the band's Web site. Due in November, the tome features what Duran Duran consider to be the most outstanding questions fans have sent in since the site's inception 10 years ago, with answers from the band. ...

Comedian Dave Chappelle was briefly hospitalized over the weekend for exhaustion, checking into an emergency room on Saturday and checking out a few hours later after receiving fluids and a meal. Chappelle's publicist Carla Sims confirmed the ER visit to The Associated Press, saying the funnyman had been traveling and was suffering from exhaustion but is now "fine." She did not specify what hospital Chappelle visited or give any other details about his condition. ... Winona Ryder is finally speaking out about her shoplifting bust six years ago -- and she says painkillers were the real culprit. "Two months prior to [the December 2001 incident], I broke my arm in two places and the doctor was giving me a lot of stuff and I was taking it at first to get through the pain," she said. "And then there was this weird point when you don't know if you are in pain but you're taking it. ... It isn't a reckless [state], like you're out of your head. It's just confusion." The actress added that she was especially embarrassed about the incident because it drew attention in the wake of 9/11.

07.17.07

That purported Britney Spears track floating around the Internet is the real deal, the song's producer, Nate "Danjahandz" Hills, has confirmed to MTV News. In May, the producer revealed to MTV News that one song set to be featured on her upcoming LP sounded like it belonged in a video game, and "Get Back" matches that description. "It's weird! It's catchy, but it's weird. It's hot," he said, adding that the hook and chorus made him laugh. But it isn't all laughs for Spears these days -- the Humane Society of the United States has fired off a stern letter to Spears after it caught wind that she had reportedly dropped $3,000 for a Yorkshire Terrier puppy from Pets of Bel Air in California after spending less than 30 minutes in the shop, according to "Entertainment Tonight." "Choosing a dog is a major lifestyle decision that should not be taken lightly," HSUS Director of Outreach for Companion Animals Stephanie Shain said in a press statement. "We suggest that people take time to choose a member of their family and to be sure they are working with a reputable breeder ... Ms. Spears is setting a damaging example to the public. Most dogs sold in pet stores come from puppy mills -- factory-like facilities, churning out purebred and 'designer' puppies in large numbers." Brit also bought a Chihuahua puppy from Pets of Bel Air in January. According to "ET," the store is adamant that it buys from top breeders, not puppy mills. ...

The first benefit for the Kanye West Foundation will take place August 24 in the rapper/producer's Chicago hometown. The $125-a-ticket show will rock the House of Blues with a theme encouraging kids to stay in school. ... Snoop Dogg, Whodini and Missy Elliott are among the artists to be hailed at the fourth annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors. The show will be taped October 4 at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom and premiere October 8 at 10 p.m. ET. On Monday, VH1.com will launch the online contest "The Score" -- the winner will create and produce the score for the event. Those interested can post their minute-long beats for consideration right here. ...

Not everyone loves "The Simpsons." In fact, England's pagan community is madder than a dog with bees in its mouth over a giant painting of Homer Simpson brandishing a donut. The painting, made to promote "The Simpsons Movie," was hung on a field in Dorset opposite a famous 17th century fertility symbol: the club-wielding, clearly excited Ceme Abbas. According to the Daily Mail, the giant underwear-clad Homer was painted with biodegradable paint that will dissolve when it rains, so some local pagans have vowed to unleash some "rain magic" to erase the drought. ... A Los Angeles Police Department officer who videotaped the Game in a holding cell waving a wad of cash and throwing hand signs after the rapper's arrest in May is under investigation by the department's internal-affairs division. The Associated Press reports that the unnamed officer could face disciplinary action for making the video on his cell phone; the footage was posted on the TMZ.com web site on May 12. ...

Smashing Pumpkins fans probably didn't expect to find photos of Paris Hilton inside copies of the band's Zeitgeist reunion CD, but just in case Billy Corgan didn't confuse them enough, a shot of the heiress is also featured on the cover of the band's new "Tarantula" U.K. single. So what gives? In an interview with Launch Radio, Corgan said he took the photos with Hilton, who he had met previously. "The original idea was we were gonna see if Lindsay, Britney and Paris would all shoot ... [but] Paris I knew personally, and hung out with her a few times, and so I asked her. ... And God bless her, she came, she showed up at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning, sat in the chair, got made up and [I] shot her." Hilton recently told E! Online that she has been meeting with producer Scott Storch to hammer out plans for her second LP. ...

Speaking of sophomore efforts, Carrie Underwood's forthcoming, yet-untitled album will street on October 23. The effort will succeed her 2005 debut, Some Hearts, which earned her a heap of awards. ... Brandon Flowers is a dad, People reports. The Killers frontman and his wife Tana welcomed a boy over the weekend. ... Producer Polow Da Don launched his Interscope Records imprint Zone 4 Inc. Monday night at Opera in Atlanta. The star-studded bash was presented by Zune and Universal Publishing, and featured performances by Polow's artists Rich Boy, Keri Hilson and i15. Also in attendance were Lil Wayne, Andre 3000, Young Jeezy, DJ Unk, Jim Jones, Soulja Boy, Jermaine Dupri and Ciara, who hosted the festivities. ...

Asda -- the British arm of Wal-Mart Stores -- apologized Tuesday (July 17) for criticizing "Harry Potter" publisher Bloomsbury of "blatant profiteering" for charging the U.S. equivalent of roughly $36 for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Bloomsbury had nixed the delivery of a half-million copies of the book to the stores, but Asda says the volumes will be on its shelves after all. Also in the U.K., copies of the book will come with a photo of a missing 4-year-old girl and a yellow ribbon in an appeal to help find her, Agence France Presse reports. Author J.K. Rowling has also asked that bookstores in 200 countries receive posters of the girl, who went missing at a Portuguese resort in early May. And on Tuesday, Britain issued seven postage stamps featuring the covers of the books. Roughly 340,000 people had pre-ordered them, snapping the record of 300,000 pre-orders set by a set of Beatles stamps in January. Meanwhile, on U.S. shores, Barnes & Noble is holding copies of the volume at a secret warehouse somewhere in the Northeast, Reuters reports. Security is being maintained around the building 24/7. ...

A friend of Lana Clarkson testified Monday in the Phil Spector murder trial that the actress had called her days before the shooting and said, "I can't take it anymore. I'm sick of [Hollywood]. I want out." Punkin Irene Elizabeth Laughlin, who cried while recalling the exchange, was due to continue testifying Tuesday. ... Michael Jackson must hand over more than $250,000 to a Southern California firm, a judge determined late last week, according to AP. Ayscough & Marar handled side issues for the singer during the 2005 child-molestation trial. ... Ricky Martin will soon be all over Dominican TV and radio -- but he won't be singing. Instead, the artist will be issuing public-service announcements warning about sexual exploitation and human trafficking. ... Sting and his wife Trudie Styler must fork over $51,000 to compensate a former chef for sexual discrimination, AP reports. Jane Martin, who had worked for the singer for eight years, had claimed she was fired after she became pregnant. ...

The good news for concertgoers is that average ticket prices are only up about 50 cents (or 1 percent) over last year, according to mid-year numbers released by Pollstar. The scary news, though, is that tight-trousered '70s icon Rod Stewart is the top draw so far this year, with $48.1 million in ticket sales, beating out Justin Timberlake, who landed just behind at $42.3 million. Reunited rockers the Police were #3 at $41.9 million and are expected to top the list by year's end with a tour predicted to generated $100 million in North America. Christina Aguilera landed at #7 on the list with $30.6 million, just after former Pink Floyd leader Roger Waters and before a Cirque du Soleil show. ...

Iman has caused a stir or two with her graceful looks over the years, but if you ask the supermodel who she thinks is about to make a stir, she says it's Lenny Kravitz/ Lisa Bonet offspring Zoe Kravitz. Iman raved about Zoe in the new issue of Trace, which is on newsstands this week -- Iman guest-edited the magazine's annual "Black Girls Rule" issue. [article id="1564905"](Check out pictures of Zoe in the mag.)[/article] "When I met her for the first time, with her dad and her late grandfather, I literally took her under my wings like she was my own daughter. Self-effacing, knowing and grounded is what makes her truly the new 'It' girl." Zoe Kravitz, who is set to act alongside Terrence Howard and Jodie Foster in this fall's "The Brave One," opened up in the mag about her Hollywood ambitions and what it was like to work with Foster. "Every time we did a take I would check if it was OK," Kravitz said. "[Jodie] would tell me to let go and just do it. She [just] taught me to be comfortable on set."

[This story was originally published on 7.18.2007 at 1:45 p.m.]

07.17.07

That purported Britney Spears track floating around the Internet is the real deal, the song's producer, Nate "Danjahandz" Hills, has confirmed to MTV News. In May, the producer revealed to MTV News that one song set to be featured on her upcoming LP sounded like it belonged in a video game, and "Get Back" matches that description. "It's weird! It's catchy, but it's weird. It's hot," he said, adding that the hook and chorus made him laugh. But it isn't all laughs for Spears these days -- the Humane Society of the United States has fired off a stern letter to Spears after it caught wind that she had reportedly dropped $3,000 for a Yorkshire Terrier puppy from Pets of Bel Air in California after spending less than 30 minutes in the shop, according to "Entertainment Tonight." "Choosing a dog is a major lifestyle decision that should not be taken lightly," HSUS Director of Outreach for Companion Animals Stephanie Shain said in a press statement. "We suggest that people take time to choose a member of their family and to be sure they are working with a reputable breeder ... Ms. Spears is setting a damaging example to the public. Most dogs sold in pet stores come from puppy mills -- factory-like facilities, churning out purebred and 'designer' puppies in large numbers." Brit also bought a Chihuahua puppy from Pets of Bel Air in January. According to "ET," the store is adamant that it buys from top breeders, not puppy mills. ...

The first benefit for the Kanye West Foundation will take place August 24 in the rapper/producer's Chicago hometown. The $125-a-ticket show will rock the House of Blues with a theme encouraging kids to stay in school. ... Snoop Dogg, Whodini and Missy Elliott are among the artists to be hailed at the fourth annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors. The show will be taped October 4 at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom and premiere October 8 at 10 p.m. ET. On Monday, VH1.com will launch the online contest "The Score" -- the winner will create and produce the score for the event. Those interested can post their minute-long beats for consideration right here. ...

Not everyone loves "The Simpsons." In fact, England's pagan community is madder than a dog with bees in its mouth over a giant painting of Homer Simpson brandishing a donut. The painting, made to promote "The Simpsons Movie," was hung on a field in Dorset opposite a famous 17th century fertility symbol: the club-wielding, clearly excited Ceme Abbas. According to the Daily Mail, the giant underwear-clad Homer was painted with biodegradable paint that will dissolve when it rains, so some local pagans have vowed to unleash some "rain magic" to erase the drought. ... A Los Angeles Police Department officer who videotaped the Game in a holding cell waving a wad of cash and throwing hand signs after the rapper's arrest in May is under investigation by the department's internal-affairs division. The Associated Press reports that the unnamed officer could face disciplinary action for making the video on his cell phone; the footage was posted on the TMZ.com web site on May 12. ...

Smashing Pumpkins fans probably didn't expect to find photos of Paris Hilton inside copies of the band's Zeitgeist reunion CD, but just in case Billy Corgan didn't confuse them enough, a shot of the heiress is also featured on the cover of the band's new "Tarantula" U.K. single. So what gives? In an interview with Launch Radio, Corgan said he took the photos with Hilton, who he had met previously. "The original idea was we were gonna see if Lindsay, Britney and Paris would all shoot ... [but] Paris I knew personally, and hung out with her a few times, and so I asked her. ... And God bless her, she came, she showed up at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning, sat in the chair, got made up and [I] shot her." Hilton recently told E! Online that she has been meeting with producer Scott Storch to hammer out plans for her second LP. ...

Speaking of sophomore efforts, Carrie Underwood's forthcoming, yet-untitled album will street on October 23. The effort will succeed her 2005 debut, Some Hearts, which earned her a heap of awards. ... Brandon Flowers is a dad, People reports. The Killers frontman and his wife Tana welcomed a boy over the weekend. ... Producer Polow Da Don launched his Interscope Records imprint Zone 4 Inc. Monday night at Opera in Atlanta. The star-studded bash was presented by Zune and Universal Publishing, and featured performances by Polow's artists Rich Boy, Keri Hilson and i15. Also in attendance were Lil Wayne, Andre 3000, Young Jeezy, DJ Unk, Jim Jones, Soulja Boy, Jermaine Dupri and Ciara, who hosted the festivities. ...

Asda -- the British arm of Wal-Mart Stores -- apologized Tuesday (July 17) for criticizing "Harry Potter" publisher Bloomsbury of "blatant profiteering" for charging the U.S. equivalent of roughly $36 for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Bloomsbury had nixed the delivery of a half-million copies of the book to the stores, but Asda says the volumes will be on its shelves after all. Also in the U.K., copies of the book will come with a photo of a missing 4-year-old girl and a yellow ribbon in an appeal to help find her, Agence France Presse reports. Author J.K. Rowling has also asked that bookstores in 200 countries receive posters of the girl, who went missing at a Portuguese resort in early May. And on Tuesday, Britain issued seven postage stamps featuring the covers of the books. Roughly 340,000 people had pre-ordered them, snapping the record of 300,000 pre-orders set by a set of Beatles stamps in January. Meanwhile, on U.S. shores, Barnes & Noble is holding copies of the volume at a secret warehouse somewhere in the Northeast, Reuters reports. Security is being maintained around the building 24/7. ...

A friend of Lana Clarkson testified Monday in the Phil Spector murder trial that the actress had called her days before the shooting and said, "I can't take it anymore. I'm sick of [Hollywood]. I want out." Punkin Irene Elizabeth Laughlin, who cried while recalling the exchange, was due to continue testifying Tuesday. ... Michael Jackson must hand over more than $250,000 to a Southern California firm, a judge determined late last week, according to AP. Ayscough & Marar handled side issues for the singer during the 2005 child-molestation trial. ... Ricky Martin will soon be all over Dominican TV and radio -- but he won't be singing. Instead, the artist will be issuing public-service announcements warning about sexual exploitation and human trafficking. ... Sting and his wife Trudie Styler must fork over $51,000 to compensate a former chef for sexual discrimination, AP reports. Jane Martin, who had worked for the singer for eight years, had claimed she was fired after she became pregnant. ...

The good news for concertgoers is that average ticket prices are only up about 50 cents (or 1 percent) over last year, according to mid-year numbers released by Pollstar. The scary news, though, is that tight-trousered '70s icon Rod Stewart is the top draw so far this year, with $48.1 million in ticket sales, beating out Justin Timberlake, who landed just behind at $42.3 million. Reunited rockers the Police were #3 at $41.9 million and are expected to top the list by year's end with a tour predicted to generated $100 million in North America. Christina Aguilera landed at #7 on the list with $30.6 million, just after former Pink Floyd leader Roger Waters and before a Cirque du Soleil show. ...

Iman has caused a stir or two with her graceful looks over the years, but if you ask the supermodel who she thinks is about to make a stir, she says it's Lenny Kravitz/ Lisa Bonet offspring Zoe Kravitz. Iman raved about Zoe in the new issue of Trace, which is on newsstands this week -- Iman guest-edited the magazine's annual "Black Girls Rule" issue. [article id="1564905"](Check out pictures of Zoe in the mag.)[/article] "When I met her for the first time, with her dad and her late grandfather, I literally took her under my wings like she was my own daughter. Self-effacing, knowing and grounded is what makes her truly the new 'It' girl." Zoe Kravitz, who is set to act alongside Terrence Howard and Jodie Foster in this fall's "The Brave One," opened up in the mag about her Hollywood ambitions and what it was like to work with Foster. "Every time we did a take I would check if it was OK," Kravitz said. "[Jodie] would tell me to let go and just do it. She [just] taught me to be comfortable on set."