Gwen Stefani won't be showing much skin in Malaysia, thanks to Muslim students opposed to the singer wearing sexy outfits at her August 21 performance in the country, The Associated Press reports. Responding to charges from the National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students, Stefani "will abide by the Malaysian authorities' guidelines to ensure that her show will not be offensive to local sensitivities," reads a statement issued by show organizer Maxis Communications Bhd. The company hopes to attract 9,000 people to the show. ...

Christina Aguilera has nixed the last two shows on her Back to Basics tour. The gigs were slated for Thursday (August 2) and Friday in Auckland, New Zealand. The singer, who has been under the weather with the flu, issued a statement similar to the one she sent out after canceling a pair of shows in Australia earlier in the week: "This is my first time in your beautiful country, and I have really been looking forward to performing for you all. Unfortunately, I caught a bad flu virus and I have not been able to recover in time. Thank you all for your continued love and support, and I can't wait for the next time." ...

Common was joined by Swizz Beatz, Solange Knowles and De La Soul Wednesday night as the rapper celebrated the release of his new album, Finding Forever, at Marquee in New York. The party made it two nights in a row for Com: Tuesday in Los Angeles, Tracee Ellis Ross, Lauren London and Serena Williams came out to support his Cali album-release party. ...

Nicole Richie is looking more like her "Simple Life" co-star Paris Hilton every day — the pregnant socialite will serve her time at the same jail where Hilton was two months ago, People reports. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department told the magazine that Richie's request to spend four days at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, California, will be honored. Richie had asked the Sheriff's Department to spend her jail time in county lockup rather than city jail via a request submitted by her lawyer Shawn Chapman Holley earlier this week, AP reported. Holley didn't provide any additional details to the news outlet, including when the socialite would surrender to start her sentence, which must be finished by September 28. The Sheriff's Department spokesperson did not reveal her expected surrender date to People either. ...

In related news, Richie told ABC's Diane Sawyer that she's already a changed person. "I would really want to be someone my child would look up to," the pregnant socialite said in the interview, the first part of which aired Thursday on "Good Morning America." Richie added that her four-day sentence has left her "afraid of the unknown," but, "This is my way ... of being an adult." Good Charlotte's Joel Madden, who was at Richie's side and is the father of her child, said seeing images on TV of children who had been killed by drunk drivers "was our first real parent moment." Madden also revealed that Richie's arrest almost ended their relationship. He said he remembered thinking, " 'This is a great time to walk away' ... 'Nicole, it's been great, but you just freaked me out.' " Instead, he said he went with "my gut ... [Nicole is] a great woman." ...

Chingy, who recently quashed his beef with Ludacris and returned to the Disturbing Tha Peace fold, has split Capitol for Island Def Jam, Billboard.com reports. The rapper's Hate It or Love It is due before the end of the year, and his new DTP single "Celebrity Chicks" will crop up on the collective's Strength in Numbers set, due September 18. ...

Andy Samberg says "Di-- in a Box" pal Justin Timberlake is "obnoxious" — because he can be a hilarious comedian, in addition to everything else he does. "He's brilliant at it, actually," the "SNL" castmember told People about JT's comedic abilities. "It's a little obnoxious. He's really good at what we do — as we are — and also really good at everything else." ... Scholastic reports that "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" has sold a record-breaking 11.5 million copies in the U.S. in its first 10 days on sale. More than 8.3 million copies of the volume were snatched up within the first 24 hours of its release. ...

"A New Day Has Come" indeed for Celine Dion. The singer plans to enlist Timbaland to produce her next album, which will also reportedly feature cuts from R. Kelly and Ne-Yo, RollingStone.com reports. ... Norah Jones graces a cover of Joni Mitchell's "Court and Spark" on Herbie Hancock's tribute LP River: The Joni Letters, set to street September 25. Corinne Bailey Rae, Leonard Cohen, Tina Turner and Mitchell herself also chime in on the disc. ...

Nirvana's entire 1991 landmark LP, Nevermind, has been licensed for use in the upcoming Electronic Arts video game "Rock Band." Players will be able to download the album and play along to it with the game, which hits stores November 20. ... Snow Patrol keyboardist Tom Simpson was supposed to stand before a judge in Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday, but was a no-show for what was the start of his drug-possession case. No reason was offered for Simpson's absence, but his lawyer did manage to postpone the hearing until August 28. Simpson was arrested last month and charged with cocaine possession back in 2006. ... Jimmy Eat World have set an October 16 release date for their forthcoming album, Chase This Light, which was recorded over a period of about a year in the band's Arizona studio. ...

Brace yourself — Simon Cowell is making a movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The "American Idol" judge's "Fame"-inspired "Star Struck" feature will follow 10 contestants in a fictional TV singing competition. Sound familiar? Like "Idol," open auditions for roles in the film will be held across the U.S. Cowell will produce the flick, which is slated for a summer 2008 release. ... While Cowell is switching from music to the big screen, Scarlett Johansson is heading in the opposite direction — she's ganged up with members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and TV on the Radio for her debut album, Lafayette, Louisiana's The Daily Advertiser reports. TVOTR's Dave Sitek is reportedly producing the effort — which doesn't have a title or release date yet — and members of the YYYs and Celebration are set to appear. ...

Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Barry — who made for an unforgettable couple in 2001's "Monster's Ball" — are set to star in another racially charged flick, Variety reports. "Tulia," to be directed by John Singleton ("Boyz N the Hood," "Four Brothers"), will revolve around a small Texas town that drew criticisms of racism in 1999 after blacks were arrested for drugs and later pardoned. ...

Would you like to have your mug appear on the cover of an upcoming Hold Steady single? Well, now's your chance. The band has invited fans to send in scans of photo-booth pictures of themselves, to be considered for inclusion in the cover art for the band's next, yet-unannounced single from 2006's Boys and Girls in America. Check out the Steady's Web site for more details. ... Rob Zombie is gearing up for the September 18 release of his first-ever live album, simply titled Live. The 18-track set was recorded over several nights during Zombie's Educated Horses tour and will contain a 36-page book of never-before-released live pictures, as well as a DVD of live footage and animated videos. ...

The Mars Volta are looking at a tentative September/October release date for their new album, The Bedlam in Goliath. Meanwhile, guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez will release a collaborative EP with Lydia Lunch, Omar Rodriguez Lopez & Lydia Lunch, this summer on the Dutch label Willie Anderson Recordings. ... Sean Penn appears to be buddying up with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez over their mutual disapproval of President Bush. AP reports that, in a recent televised speech, the socialist leader welcomed Penn to come to Venezuela, saying, "He's one of the greatest opponents of the Iraq invasion." Chavez also said he has talked with the actor over the phone and will soon meet him in person.

08.01.2007

Maybe the biggest surprise about Beyoncé's spill last week is that it didn't happen sooner. "The easiest part is dancing in the heels. I don't even think about it anymore; it's just second nature," she told The Associated Press in an interview published last week. But, she added, "It is difficult to dance [and] sing at the same time. I have to make sure I'm in shape and I'm hydrated ... I don't want to wear myself out and get exhausted." She also revealed to the outlet that — sorry, Jay-Z — she loves hanging with the ladies. "Everyone is so supportive of each other," she said of her all-female touring band. "We do things together, like yesterday we went skating; I rented out a roller-skating rink for all of us and everybody's families to come. Also, I have eight female dancers and four males ... they are the only men on the tour, I feel bad for them being around all us women!" ...

He's no Rob Schneider, but Nick Cannon will help Hilary Duff with hosting honors at this year's Teen Choice Awards, slated to air August 26 on Fox. Duff, who has earned a pair of surfboards and a heap of nominations in the past, co-hosted with Schneider in 2005. For his own part, Cannon — who hasn't won one of the trophies yet — is up this year for Choice