Eminem made an undisclosed donation to Hip Hop 4 Habitat on Thursday to help launch the project through his Marshall Mathers Foundation, The Detroit News reports. The program, which helps families in need of homes, is seeking to raise $75,000 to build a house in the city's East Side in October. Local rapper Trick Trick is also involved -- he'll play a concert for volunteers once the home is constructed. ...

In case her recent surprise concert wasn't enough indication, Britney Spears isn't in hiding anymore. The singer showed up with her cousin Alli at the Equinox gym on West Hollywood, California's Sunset Strip on Thursday evening for a quick workout and to check out a spin class, according to "Access Hollywood." She reportedly wore a wig with a trucker hat and a tank top that read "Malibu." ...

Mary J. Blige recently filmed a guest spot for "Entourage," and she told us that she got to know her character intimately. "I play Mary J. Blige!" she laughed, discussing the cameo as she accompanied her children to the "Shrek the Third" premiere in Los Angeles. "It was fun working with Jeremy [Piven]. ... Other than that, I'm back in the studio, which is also fun." The R&B icon is a longtime admirer of the Adrian Grenier-starring program and has joked that she knows a thing or two about keeping an entourage herself. An HBO rep said Mary J.'s episode will air next year during the show's fourth season. ...

Gwen Stefani, Yung Joc, Jagged Edge and Big Boi came out Thursday night in Atlanta for two shindigs christening Cee-Lo's new record label, Radiculture Records. At the first event, held at the Lambert Place reception hall, video screens showed different excerpts of Cee-Lo's career, from the Goodie Mob to Gnarls Barkley. Partygoers walked down a yellow brick road and were greeted by actors dressed as Beetlejuice and Lurch from "The Addams Family." An afterparty was held at the Lotus Lounge and had a Cirque de Soleil motif. Dancing went on there until 3 a.m. ...

Panic at the Disco are hard at work on the follow-up to their smash 2005 debut, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, according to their manager. The Vegas dandies have written eight songs so far for the yet-untitled album and are slated to start tracking the new tunes June 1. No release date has been set yet for the LP. ...

What on earth does Snoop Dogg have in common with Holocaust denier and widely discredited historian David Irving? Australian Prime Minister John Howard made the bizarre comparison once again on Thursday, saying the federal government's blocking of Snoop from entering the country last month due to recent convictions on gun and drugs charges is similar to Australia's refusal to allow Irving into Australia in 1994, according to The Daily Telegraph. The prime minister told a student at a school in Canberra that Snoop is a man of poor character and that "we have to take a stand on those issues." Howard previously made the comparison when the rapper was denied a visa to visit the country for the MTV Australia Music Video Awards. ...

Sheryl Crow has adopted a boy and named him Wyatt Steven, the singer/songwriter announced on her Web site Friday (May 11). "We are enjoying some very private family time. Just wanted to let you know," read the post. The boy, who Crow said was born two weeks ago, is her first. ...On Friday, Boston prosecutors dropped criminal charges against the two men behind the infamous "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" guerrilla-marketing campaign that led to a series of bomb scares in January, The Boston Globe reports. Peter Berdovsky and Sean Stevens completed their community service, creating a mural for the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and helping maintain its sailing docks on the Charles River. The men apologized for the incident in court. ...

Mel Gibson won praise from a judge in Malibu, California, on Friday for adhering to his court-mandated alcoholism treatment after being arrested for drunk driving in July, according to The Associated Press. The director/actor did not attend the hearing, but Superior Court Judge Lawrence Mira said he wanted to see him in court at some point "to ensure we are all on the same page." Gibson's lawyer Blair Berk said she filed a report with the court claiming he was complying with his rehab program. ... Jason Wahler has been charged with misdemeanor counts of assault, criminal trespass and a minor exhibiting the effects of alcohol stemming from an incident last month in Seattle, TMZ.com reports. The Seattle city attorney wants the "Laguna Beach" star to serve 10 days in jail, pay a $4,500 fine and enter a rehab program. Wahler, who has been arrested three times since September, had been caught passed out drunk in a hallway after punching a hotel security guard. He was 20 when he was arrested in April. ...

Linkin Park and Maroon 5 are getting the last laughs. The hard-rockers will perform on this weekend's "Saturday Night Live" episode, which is being hosted by alumna Molly Shannon, while Adam Levine's crew will sidle up to Zach Braff for the season's final program on May 19. ... PBS' "Soundstage" series has lined up performers for its fifth season. Expect to see Macy Gray (July 5), Dashboard Confessional (July 12) and Jewel (July 19 and 26). ...

Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard has a new "Office" mate, apparently. John Krasinski -- who stars as Jim Halpert on the TV show -- made a brief onstage appearance with Gibbard Thursday night at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 club, USA Today's "Pop Candy" blog reports. The two briefly dabbled with a Wilco song, according to fan accounts -- Gibbard has a role in Krasinski's upcoming film "Brief Interviews With Hideous Men." ... The Decemberists have made a name for themselves by delving into everything from prog-folk to klezmer sounds and beyond. But how about classical music? The group will appear with an orchestral accompaniment at five shows this summer, which will feature the band's songs with new arrangements. The dates begin July 7 at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, then proceed to Atlanta's Chastain Park Amphitheater (July 13); Baltimore's Merriweather Post Pavilion (July 14); Philadelphia's Mann Center (July 15); and Chicago's Millennium Park (July 18). ...

What do Mariah Carey, Destiny's Child and the Spice Girls have in common with underground artists like Will Oldham, Superchunk and Jim O'Rourke? Something, finally: The latter artists cover the former ones on the unusual compilation Guilt by Association, due August 28. Also featured on the set is Devendra Banhart covering Oasis' "Don't Look Back in Anger," Mooney Suzuki's version of the Cher song "Just Like Jesse James," Mike Watt tackling Blue Öyster Cult's "Burning for You," as well as renditions of Fall Out Boy's "Sugar, We're Goin Down," System of a Down's "Chop Suey" and "Breaking Free" from "High School Musical." ... An expanded deluxe edition of Sonic Youth's 1988 masterpiece, Daydream Nation, will be reissued June 12 as a two-CD set. The revamped set packs the original album onto one CD and adds a "Live Daydream" disc -- with concert cuts of each album track, plus covers of Beatles, Mudhoney, Neil Young and Captain Beefheart tunes -- as a bonus. ...

Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello and Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid are featured on Queen V's Death or Glory, due June 19. Morello, who invited Queen V to perform on his Axis of Justice Tour after seeing her play in Los Angeles, handles guitar on the track "My Machine," while Reid contributes a solo to "One and Only." ... Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello and Billy Bob Thornton are among the artists featured on Anchored In Love: A Tribute to June Carter Cash, due June 19. A biography written by her only son with Johnny Cash, John Carter Cash, hits shelves the same day. ... Pearl Jam will issue a box set of the band's performances at the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington. Titled Live at the Gorge, the set is a compilation of three different concerts, spread across seven CDs, and will hit stores June 26. ... The reunited Luscious Jackson are busy working on a new LP -- a children's album, no less -- but co-founder Gabby Glaser is still finding time to step out with her own solo debut. Her fuzzy garage-rock effort Gimme Splash is due June 26 on Latchkey. ...

Michael Moore is lashing out at the Bush administration over a U.S. Treasury Department investigation that is scrutinizing a trip he took to Cuba earlier this year. The controversial Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker took ailing 9/11 rescue workers to the country for treatment and plans to include a segment on the trip in his upcoming health-care exposé, "Sicko." "I understand why the Bush administration is coming after me -- I have tried to help the very people they refuse to help, but until George W. Bush outlaws helping your fellow man, I have broken no laws and I have nothing to hide," Moore said in a post on liberal Web site DailyKos.com. "For five and a half years, the Bush administration has ignored and neglected the heroes of the 9/11 community. These heroic first responders have been left to fend for themselves, without coverage and without care." According to AP, Treasury officials would not comment on the letter.

05.10.2007

Mariah Carey will be honored for her dedication to VH1's Save the Music Foundation at the group's 10th anniversary gala, to be held September 20 at New York's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Jon Bon Jovi has also been added to the event -- he will perform as part of a tribute to founder John Sykes -- which will be co-headlined by John Mayer. ...

Justin Timberlake recently revealed to MTV News that he had written and produced a new song for Reba McEntire, but he didn't let us know that he'll be singing with the country crooner as well on the yet-unnamed track. Kelly Clarkson joins McEntire on "Because of You," the first single from Reba Duets, due September 18. ...

Speaking of Clarkson, we already knew she was going to be hitting the road hard this summer in support of her upcoming third album My December (due July 24), but now she's finally revealed the venues for the outing. After an appearance at the U.S. portion of the July 7 Live Earth event -- which will take place at New Jersey's Giants Stadium -- the 36-date tour will kick off July 11 at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon, and take her to cities including Denver, St. Louis, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Dallas and Los Angeles in August before wrapping up at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on September 28. ...

Paris Hilton might not have to serve her full 45-day sentence due to jail overcrowding and a state requirement that grants inmates time off for good behavior, The Associated Press reported Thursday (May 10). "It's possible that it could be 21 days, 23 days," Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore told the news service. "It's a complicated formula that the state sets down. It's possible that she could do less time." He said the amount of time the heiress will spend in jail will be determined when she is booked into the county system. ...

Amy Winehouse stopped by New York's Aer on Thursday night to celebrate the U.S. gold certification of her Back to Black album. The Bombay Sapphire-sponsored bash included appearances by Mos Def, Talib Kweli and L.A. Reid. ... Meanwhile, producer Nate "Danjahandz" Hills was honored Thursday night at a dinner held at Manhattan's Gin Lane. The Timbaland protégé was recognized for his contributions to multiple hit singles and presented with his two Grammy Awards. ...

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" hasn't even opened yet, but Johnny Depp is already saying he's open to the idea of starring in a fourth installment, according to an Entertainment Weekly interview, Reuters reports. "As long as you're doing it for the right reasons, why not?" he says in the magazine, which hits newsstands Friday. "If we came up with a story where we could explore something absurd or funny or totally insane." ...

According to Little Rock, Arkansas, radio station KHTV, Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee got married over the weekend to her therapist/fiancee Josh Hartzler -- the same weekend news of guitarist John LeCompt's firing and drummer Rocky Gray's resignation went public. A spokesperson for Lee would not confirm the nuptials on Wednesday, but John Lee -- Amy's dad -- confirmed to EvanescenceFan.net that his daughter tied the knot Sunday during a very private ceremony. ... Korn frontman Jonathan Davis and wife, Deven, welcomed their second son, Zeppelin, two weeks ago, according to various reports. The child joins the couple's other son, Pirate, as the newest member of the Davis kith. ...

As expected, Static-X have been added to the bill for this summer's Ozzfest, alongside headliner Ozzy Osbourne, Lamb of God, Lordi and others. Of course, this year's fest will be free for fans, and the news comes just days before the distribution of ticket codes begins Saturday. Ozzfest launches July 12 in Seattle. ... English rockers New Order are no more, according to bassist Peter Hook. In a post on Hook's MySpace page, he wrote that revealing the band's demise was a relief and that he hated keeping the split a secret. Hook appears on the debut LP from Perry Farrell's Satellite Party, Ultra Payloaded, which hits stores on May 29. He has also formed a new band, Freebass, with former Smiths bassist Andy Rourke and Stone Roses/ Primal Scream member Mani. ...

This year's Austin City Limits (September 14-16) festival is packed with major talent. The Texas fest will feature White Stripes, the Killers, Björk, Amy Winehouse, Queens of the Stone Age, Muse, Bloc Party, Arcade Fire, Wilco, Bob Dylan, My Morning Jacket, Arctic Monkeys, Joss Stone, Spoon, Heartless Bastards, Yo La Tengo, Joseph Arthur, Peter Bjorn & John, the Decemberists, Paolo Nutini, Regina Spektor, M.I.A., Butch Walker, Ben Kweller, Kaiser Chiefs, LCD Soundsystem and about 100 other acts ranging from bluegrass to jam band, techno, country and gospel. ... Hot Hot Heat's forthcoming LP, Happiness, LTD, has been slated for a September 11 release. The album was produced by the band, along with Rob Cavallo (My Chemical Romance, Green Day), Butch Walker (Pink, Avril Lavigne) and Tim Palmer (Ozzy Osbourne, H.I.M.). ...

Tool have added several new dates to their touring schedule. The band will make stops in Cape Girardeau, Missouri (June 16); Evansville, Indiana (June 17); Sioux City, Iowa (June 25); Cincinnati (June 29); Youngstown, Ohio (July 1); Grand Rapids, Michigan (July 5); Huntington, West Virginia (July 7); and Mansfield, Massachusetts (July 12). ... Chevelle have been forced to postpone their current tour until further notice following the theft of the band's equipment trailer. Containing all the band's gear, the trailer was stolen Wednesday from the Clarion Dallas Park Central Hotel in Dallas. Most of the stolen goods were labeled "Chevelle," and the band has asked that anyone who notices the gear being sold on eBay report the matter to police. ...

Tim Roth is bulking up the cast of "The Incredible Hulk." The actor, who will play the green-eyed monster Abomination in the summer 2008 flick, joins Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/ the Hulk and Liv Tyler as Betty Ross. ... "The Terminator" is returning, but Arnold won't be back -- and neither will director James Cameron, Variety reports. Halcyon Co. has bought out the franchise for an undisclosed sum from feuding producers Andy Vajna and Mario Kassar and is targeting "Terminator 4" for a summer 2009 release. Castmembers and a director have not been hired yet, but "Terminator: Rise of the Machines" scribes John Brancato and Michael Ferris have already penned a script. "T3" executive producer Moritz Borman will produce the fourth installment as well. ...

No thanks for smoking: The Motion Picture Association of America announced Thursday that smoking will be factored into movie ratings, the Los Angeles Times reports. "There is broad awareness of smoking as a unique public-health concern due to nicotine's highly addictive nature, and no parent wants their child to take up the habit," MPAA Chief Executive Dan Glickman stated. Depictions that glamorize smoking may receive a higher rating, according to the organization. ... During Wednesday night's "American Idol" results show, host Ryan Seacrest announced an upcoming spinoff contest that will seek the best band in the land. Groups of all ages and styles hoping to vie for that title were encouraged to send in their demo tapes for the tentatively titled "The Search for the Next Great American Band," with information on submissions available on the official "Idol" Web site. No airdate for the show has been announced. ...

Sculptor Daniel Edwards, who famously made a life-size nude of Britney Spears giving birth, now has Paris Hilton in his sights. According to Reuters, he has crafted a sculpture of the heiress dead, naked and holding a cell phone in one hand. "It's really kind of a wakeup call for anybody who really pays attention to Paris Hilton close enough that they might end up emulating her," Edwards said of the piece, which is called "The Paris Hilton Autopsy." ... The New York Dolls will play a full set for their fallen comrade at the seventh annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash, to be held May 19 at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza. Slinky Vagabond, featuring members of the Sex Pistols, Blondie and David Bowie's touring band, will also perform. ...

Brad Pitt's green building project in New Orleans began construction Thursday, AP reports. An environmentally friendly house, based on the winning design in a competition Pitt staged, is expected to be finished in August and is intended to serve as a model for redevelopment in the area. "I'm crying out for one of our leaders to really make this a priority," Pitt, who is in Prague, said in a statement. ... Jason Wahler has checked into rehab, according to People. The "Laguna Beach" star was sentenced to 60 days in county jail and 36 months' probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor-battery charges in March. ...

Michael Moore, who has been unabashed in his disdain for the Bush White House, is facing an investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department over his latest film, the health-care exposé, "Sicko." AP reports that the Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker is under scrutiny for taking ailing 9/11 rescue workers to Cuba for treatment earlier this year, allegedly without the proper clearance from the government. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control notified Moore in a May 2 letter that it was conducting a civil investigation for possible violations of the U.S. trade embargo restricting travel to Cuba, AP reports. "Sicko" premieres May 19 at the Cannes Film Festival and hits U.S. theaters on June 29.