Things I Heard

SIMON AND ELLEN ARE AT ODDS! There have been reports about American Idol judges Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres not having the best relationship, and RadarOnline.com is saying that the situation has escalated. A source told the Web site that “there’s two camps on the show this season…It seems as if Ellen has decided to try to take control since Simon is on his way out and that’s created problems.” Learn more at www.RadarOnline.com.

WRESTLERS ARRESTED! Two wrestlers were arrested this week after they allegedly got drunk and violent. TMZ reports that WWE stars Greg “Hurricane” Helms and Chris Jericho were nabbed in Kentucky after an early morning cab ride during which they lost their cool. Helms reportedly struck three people in the taxi, including Jericho, but no one has pressed charges so Greg wasn’t arrested for the alleged assault. However, Helms and Jericho were arrested for being drunk in public. The passengers who were hit are still considering pressing charges.

J.D. SALINGER DIES. Catcher in the Rye author J.D. Salinger passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 91. The New York Times reports that the acclaimed writer died of natural causes at his New Hampshire home.

ZELLWEGER’S CAR HIT! TMZ reports that yesterday morning in California, Renee Zellweger opened the door to get into her Prius and an elderly woman in a BMW side-swiped the car, striking the door and nearly taking the actress out. Thankfully, Renee was unscathed but her car suffered some damage. To see photos of Renee’s Toyota, head to www.TMZ.com.

PAULY D: A $25,000 DJ! According to TMZ, Pauly D from MTV’s Jersey Shore is looking to make big bucks by DJ’ing various parties. Club promoters have reportedly paid the reality star ten to 25-thousand dollars per gig! This is a huge step up for a man who was previously making one-thousand bucks a night in Providence, Rhode Island.

ASHLEY JUDD TO WRITE BOOK! Ashley Judd is going to write her autobiography. According to www.PerezHilton.com, the actress dealt with depression while growing up because her mother, country singer Naomi Judd, was on tour so much. Ashley spoke about deciding to write the book, saying, “By sharing my own story along with those of the beautiful and resilient people I’ve met in the most desperate places, I want to show how the change we seek in the world must start within us.” Learn more at www.PerezHilton.com.

MICHAEL DOUGLAS’ SON ADMITS DRUG DEALING! People.com reports the eldest son of Michael Douglas, Cameron, has pled guilty to drug dealing and heroin possession. He confessed to a judge that he began supplying crystal meth on a regular basis in 2006 and knows what he did was wrong. Cameron entered a plea agreement to reduce his chances of serving ten years in state prison. Details surrounding the deal were not disclosed. His sentencing date is on April 27th.

GAGA APOLOGIZES

Earlier this month, Lady Gaga had to cancel her show at Purdue University because she got sick. But the pop star was back in West Lafayette, Indiana on Tuesday night to make it up to all the students. Head to www.PerezHilton.com right now to see video of Gaga apologizing for letting down her fans.

· DIRECT LINK:

http://perezhilton.com/2010-01-27-lady-gaga-apologizes-at-purdue-university

KATY PERRY WANTS TO HOST IDOL FOR GOOD

Katy Perry was a guest judge on this past week’s American Idol, and it seems that the singer really enjoyed herself. So much so that she told MTV that she would give up her career as a singer to be a part of it. Perry said that if she was offered a permanent position, she would “ditch” being a pop star. Perry called being on the hit show “fun” and “easy.”

CHRISTINA AGUILERA PUSHED TO APRIL

According to RCA Records, Christina Aguilera’s fourth studio album, tentatively titled Bionic, has officially been pushed back. The project was initially scheduled to hit shelves in early March but fans will have to wait an additional month for the set, which is now due out sometime in April. Fortunately, the singer’s lead single, “Glam,” is expected to hit airwaves in the coming weeks, with a video to follow.

JAKOB DYLAN TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

Jakob Dylan has just announced via press release that he will be releasing his second solo album. It’s titled Women and Country and will hit shelves on April 6th. The record is set to have 11 tracks and will be produced by GRAMMY and Golden Globe Award-winning producer T-Bone Burnett, who also produced Dylan’s group the Wallflower’s 1996 hit album Bringing Down The Horse. Get all the details at www.JakobDylan.com.

Carrie Underwood Chosen to Sing National Anthem at Super Bowl

Carrie Underwood has been chosen to sing the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium in Miami on February 7th. The performance will be televised live by CBS Sports. In addition, Queen Latifah will sing “America the Beautiful.” Carrie is the fifth country artist to sing prior to a Super Bowl game, following the Dixie Chicks (2003), Faith Hill (2000), Garth Brooks (1993) and Charley Pride (1974).

from "The Lovely Bones"

AVATAR IS THE TOP-GROSSING FLICK! Avatar has become the highest-grossing movie of all time. Hollywood.com reports that the film has earned 1.859 billion dollars worldwide in just 39 days, enough to take the title away from Titanic. In fact, not only is the film also expected to break Titanic’s domestic revenue record in the coming weeks, but it might even break the two-billion dollar worldwide profit mark too.

HEROES STAR BUSTED FOR DUI! After driving reckless on a Los Angeles freeway, Heroes star Adrian Pasdar was arrested on DUI charges on Wednesday morning. TMZ reports the 44-year-old, who plays “Senator Nathan Petrelli” on the NBC series, was clocked doing over 90 mph and failed to stay in his lane. He refused to take a breathalyzer and was put behind bars. Pasdar’s bail was set at 15-thousand dollars.

SUTHERLAND SCAMMED! Kiefer Sutherland got scammed out of 869-thousand dollars. The Associated Press reports that the 24 star was one of many victims to pay a con artist to buy steers in Mexico and sell them for a profit in the U-S. That man, Michael Wayne Carr, never even bought the cows and is now charged with 12 felonies including grand theft and forgery. If convicted, he’ll face 18 years in prison.

NBC PICKS UP CONAN’S SHOW! It seems as though NBC doesn’t have any bad blood with Conan O’Brien, even though they recently fired him from his job as host of The Tonight Show. The network has just picked up a pilot called Justice, made by Conan’s production company, Conaco. According to MTV.com, the series follows a Supreme Court justice who quits so he can start his own legal practice. Conan and his company were reportedly shocked when they heard that the show was picked up.

TILDA SWINTON WILL PLAY CONAN! In Conan O’Brien’s final monologue as host of The Tonight Show, he made a joke about Tilda Swinton playing him if a movie was to be made about his life. Well apparently, the actress is more than happy to do just that! In an interview with www.MovieLine.com, Swinton joked that she “would just be only too happy…Yes, yes, yes, absolutely.”

WILL FERRELL HAS THIRD SON! Comedian Will Ferrell and his wife Viveca welcomed a baby boy on Saturday morning. The child was born just hours after Will and his wife performed “Free Bird” on Conan O’Brien’s last appearance as the host of the Tonight Show. This is the third child and third boy for the couple. They named him Axel and he joins his five-year-old brother Magnus and his three-year-old brother Mattias. Learn more at www.People.com.

POLTERGEIST STAR PASSES AWAY. Zelda Rubinstein, the tiny actress who is best known for her role as “Tangina,” the medium in Poltergeist, has died. RadarOnline.com reports that Zelda died of natural causes yesterday. Rubinstein had ongoing health issues, most recently suffering a mild heart attack two months ago. She was 76.

IDOL CONTESTANT’S MOM MISSING! American Idol contestant Angela Martin’s mother is missing. Martin’s mother disappeared on December 26th from the Chicago area. Police recovered Viola Brown Martin’s car on New Year’s Eve, but there has been no sign of her since. Fans saw Angela audition for Idol in Chicago this year and she is currently in Hollywood for more Idol tryouts. For more info, check out www.TVWatch.People.com.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER IS COMING BACK! How I Met Your Mother is coming back for a sixth season this fall on CBS. And not only that, but according to USA Today, the show, which stars Neil Patrick Harris, will have country sensation Carrie Underwood make a guest appearance in the episode airing March 1st.

UGLY BETTY CANCELLED! ABC has cancelled Ugly Betty. The series will be able to finish out its fourth season but with 20 episodes instead of 22. Entertainment Weekly reports that since the producers have a heads up, they can assure fans a “satisfying conclusion” to the series. Betty had some pretty bad ratings recently, which no doubt led to its cancellation.

SEE MICHAEL FRANTI’S STUDIO

Michael Franti is in San Francisco working on his new album, which he hopes to have out by summer, and the singer-songwriter has been posting a series of video blogs online in an effort to keep his fans up to date with what he’s doing. In the latest installment, Franti gives a tour of his studio, The Sugar Shack. See what goes down there at www.MichaelFranti.com.

BE A VIP AT DAUGHTRY/LIFEHOUSE

Were you waiting to learn more information on how you can be a VIP when Daughtry and Lifehouse come to your town? Well wait no more, because the info is up on the band’s official Web site now. The package includes a bunch of great stuff, like a meet-and-greet with the group and getting to watch the band’s soundcheck before the show. Become a VIP now at www.DaughtryVIP.com.

SEND UNCLE KRACKER A TEXT

Ever wished you could send Uncle Kracker a text message to tell him just how you feel? Well now you can through his official Web site. www.UncleKracker.com has a widget that makes it really easy to write to the “Smile” singer, and they say that he’ll read “every single one.” Head there now to start texting!

WIN A SIGNED COLDPLAY PASS

Friday’s Hope For Haiti Now telethon was an unparalleled fundraising event and now, Coldplay are giving fans a chance to have a piece of that special. The band is giving away an artist pass signed by all four members. To win, e-mail your name and address to www.Competitions@Coldplay.com before February 10th. While you’re at your computer, head over to iTunes to buy Coldplay’s performance during Hope For Haiti Now telethon. Proceeds will be donated to the Haiti relief effort.

ALICIA KEYS IS ENGAGED?

www.UsMagazine.com reports things between Alicia Keys and her boyfriend, Swizz Beatz, have apparently escalated quickly. The private couple is rumored to be engaged! The hitmaker reportedly proposed to the singer with a seven-carat diamond on her birthday. A close friend reveals “they are currently in Hawaii celebrating the engagement and her birthday. She feels blessed. She is thrilled. She is with the man who has inspired so much of her music and her new album [The Element of Freedom]." Alicia has denied the claim, however she was spotted rocking new a diamond ring on her left hand.

NO DOUBT TWEET ABOUT NEW ALBUM

No Doubt are in the studio working on their new album. Guitarist Tom Dumont has been updating fans via his Twitter account about how the new album is coming along. In a tweet yesterday, Dumont revealed singer Gwen Stefani and bassist Tony Kanal “are rocking the synth” and that their “little studio is warm and candlelit.” Follow the progress of No Doubt’s first studio album since 2001’s Rock Steady, over at www.Twitter.com/NoDoubt.

ROCKERS AS AVATAR’S NA’VI

Avatar has become the highest-grossing film of all time and to mark the occasion, RollingStone.com has shown what some of your favorite rock stars would look like if they belong to the Na’vi tribe that appears in the film. Check out how Bono, Bruce Springsteen and The Beatles would look if they lived on Pandora. Head to RollingStone.com to see all the photos.

· DIRECT LINK:

http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/31896192/pandoras_music_box_rock_stars_n

GRAMMYS TOP TEN SHOCKING MOMENTS

Billboard.com has listed the top ten most shocking GRAMMY moments. Remember when ODB stormed the stage before Shawn Colvin accepted the Song of the Year award in 1998? How about J.Lo’s green Versace dress with the plunging neck in 2000? Other moments that make the list: Elton John and Eminem’s collaboration on “Stan” back in 2001, Chris Brown’s assault of Rihanna the night before last year’s GRAMMYS and Milli Vanilli having their 1990 Best New Artist GRAMMY revoked after they admitted they did not sing on the track. The number one most shocking moment was in 1998 when Bob Dylan was performing “Love Sick” and a bare-chested man stormed onstage and danced with “Soy Bomb” written on his chest.

Craig, Kate, and Justin out at Carey Lake

Guiness Book of World Records' Tallest and Shortest Men pose for photo!