Top Gun Director Tony Scott Commits Suicide By Jumping Off Bridge

His body has since been turned over to coroner officials. more on this story

Willie Nelson Hospitalized

Willie Nelson was hospitalized on Saturday before a planned appearance in a suburb of Denver, reports a local TV station.

The 79-year-old country legend was scheduled to perform at a benefit in Castle Rock, Co at the Castle Pines Village on Saturday, and while his band did arrive, Nelson never made it to the event site.

An announcement was made to the audience that Nelson was "suffering from breathing problems due to the high altitude and emphysema" and taken to a near by hospital, according to Colorado NBC affiliate 9news. Read their full report here.

Diddy As American Idol Judge?

(TMZ) If you thought "American Idol" forked over big bucks to land Mariah Carey ... they're going to have to back up a bank truck to Diddy's front door to get him to sign on for next season.

Diddy is the latest person rumored to be joining the show since the departure of Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez.

We spotted Diddy at JFK yesterday and while he professed his love for "Idol," he gave a very telling answer when asked how much it would cost to get him to sign on the line which is dotted. more on this story

Wynonna Judd Postpones Tour Dates Following Motorcycle Accident

(MSO) Wynonna Judd has postponed her scheduled concerts in Canada next week due to a serious motorcycle accident involving her husband and drummer, Michael Scott "Cactus" Moser.

Moser and Judd went for a ride together on separate bikes before her scheduled concert in Deadwood, SD yesterday. Moser collided with an oncoming vehicle and was transported to a local hospital. He is being treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries. Wynonna was not involved in the accident.

"The outpouring of prayer and support from friends, family and fans has been a blessing to both Cactus and I. Cactus is a champion. I love him deeply and I will not leave his side," said Wynonna. They were married this past June in Tennessee.

Nicki Minaj Cancels Live Date Due To Vocal Injury

(popmusiclife) Nicki Minaj canceled her weekend dates at UK's V Festival due to an injury to her vocal chords.

The Daily Mail reports festival organizers released a statement advising fans of the news. "Miss Minaj's band and crew have all arrived in the UK ahead of the performance at the festival this weekend, however as the artist herself boarded her flight from New York on Friday 17th August, she felt unwell again," said organizers.

"This is despite having thought she had overcome her vocal cord issues from earlier in the week. Having revisited her doctor she has now been advised to rest for a week, which unfortunately means that she is no longer able to perform at V Festival." more on this story

Rihanna Stalker Sorry

(TMZ) A man convicted of stalking Rihanna spent 277 days behind bars after showing up at her L.A. home and scaring the singer ... and now he's out and living in the same city as Rihanna ...TMZ has learned.

Zentil Vanzellas was convicted of stalking the singer back in 2010 ... after pleading no contest to allegations he was harassing the singer.

According to court records, the judge deemed Vanzellas a "credible threat" and acknowledged that Rihanna had reason to fear him.

Vanzellas -- now 26 -- was sentenced to 365 days in L.A. County Jail ... but was released in June 2011 after serving 277 days.

As part of his sentence, Vanzellas was put on 3 years probation and ordered to stay at least 500 yards away from Rihanna for 10 years!!

We spoke with Vanzellas who told us he's "sorry" for all of the trouble he caused for the singer ... and insists he will leave her alone. The question ... is it safe taking his word? more on this story

Real World Star ODs on Viagra, Cocaine and Alcohol?

(TMZ) "Real World" star Joey Kovar died after taking what could turn out to be a lethal mixture of Viagra, cocaine and alcohol... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

Our sources say ... Thursday night, just before midnight, Joey went to a woman's house in Chicago Ridge, Illinois, told her he'd been doing cocaine ... and asked her to drive him to a location where he could score more coke. The woman, Stacey Achterhof, rebuffed his request, and asked him to stay at her place.

We're told Joey, who was also fueled up on alcohol, took "some Viagra" and messed around with Stacey ... but they did not have sex. At some point Stacey fell asleep, and when she awakened early Friday morning she found Joey bleeding from the nose and ears.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... his eyes were also "blackened" -- something that frequently occurs when someone ODs. Law enforcement sources tell us they suspect Joey had an aneurysm.

Stacey was interviewed extensively by cops on Friday. We're told she says she saw Joey take Adderall and Xanax in recent weeks -- and multiple sources close to Joey tell us although they were prescribed, he often took more than called for by doctors.

There's no indication, at this point, Stacey will be charged with a crime.

As for Joey, toxicology results will take weeks, but our law enforcement sources say they believe the results will show a fatal combo of Viagra and cocaine and alcohol. more on this story

Mariah Carey and No Doubt Helping To Kick Off NFL Season

(popmusiclife) Two music acts - Mariah Carey and No Doubt - are helping the NFL kick off its new season.

The two will perform live from Rockefeller Plaza before the New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys game at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The hour-long pregame show will air Wednesday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC. more on this story

Chad Johnson's College Domestic Battery Victim Wants To Talk To Evelyn Lozada

(TMZ) Chad Johnson's college girlfriend -- whom the ex-NFL player was convicted of slapping in 2000 -- wants a pow wow with Chad's latest alleged battery victim ... his wife ... and TMZ has learned, it's all in an effort to find closure.

Sources close to the former girlfriend tell TMZ, the woman has been attempting to reach out to Chad's wife Evelyn Lozada on Twitter and Facebook -- ever since news broke last weekend that Chad had allegedly attacked her.

We're told the ex-GF believes she and Evelyn have a lot to talk about and can help each other heal in the process.

According to our sources, the GF has had no luck in reaching Evelyn thus far..

And how's this for irony ... TMZ has obtained Chad Johnson's certificate of completion from a domestic violence batterers' treatment program back in 2002, following his domestic battery conviction. more on this story

Iron Chef Cat Cora Cooks Up Plea Deal For DUI Case

(TMZ) "Iron Chef" and Food Network star Cat Cora won't be going to jail for DUI -- as long as she behaves herself -- because TMZ has learned, she just struck a sweet plea deal with prosecutors.

A rep for the Santa Barbara County District Attorney tells TMZ, Cat pled "no contest" Friday to driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher, stemming from her June arrest. The remaining DUI count was dropped.

Cora was sentenced to 3 years probation and 9 months of DUI school. She paid $2,386 in fines.

Cora also received a 120-day suspended jail sentence -- but she won't spend a day behind bars ... as long as she fulfills her probation and DUI school obligations.

Cora was arrested for DUI on June 17th in Santa Barbara. According to police, she admitted to drinking 3 beers and later blew a .19 on a breathalyzer ... more than twice the legal limit in California.

Cat later apologized for the arrest, saying, "I deeply regret my decision to drive that evening after my designated driver became unavailable."

Just moments after the crash, the other driver began videotaping her. Cat angrily responded by calling the driver and his passenger "nerds" with no life. TMZ posted the footage. more on this story

Marvin Hamlisch Died From Lung Failure

(TMZ) Legendary Hollywood composer Marvin Hamlisch -- one of the few people in the world to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award -- suffered from brain damage in the weeks before his death but ultimately succumbed to lung failure, this according to his death certificate.

TMZ obtained the document, filed in L.A., which shows Hamlisch died on August 6th primarily from respiratory arrest (lung failure) ... caused by a combination of anoxic brain encephalopathy (failure of oxygen to reach the brain) and hypertension (high blood pressure).

The document shows Hamlisch suffered from A.B.E. in the weeks before his death, though it's unclear if he was aware of the condition or exhibiting symptoms.

Hamlisch won 2 Academy Awards for composing the music for "The Way We Were" and one Oscar for "The Sting." He also worked on music for "Sophie's Choice," "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "A Chorus Line."

He was 68. more on this story

Playmate Arrested For Alleged Human Smuggling

(TMZ) Colleen Shannon -- a 2004 Playboy Playmate -- was ARRESTED last week after allegedly trying to smuggle an unidentified male into the U.S. through the Canadian border.

Law enforcement tells us ... as of Friday, the 34-year-old blonde is currently locked up in Clinton County Jail in Upstate New York, where she was booked for "violating a federal statute prohibiting bringing in and harboring aliens."

If convicted on the charge, she could face up to 10 years in prison. Shannon (34-25-34) -- who now works as a sexy nightclub DJ. Story developing ...

Thomas Haden Church Saves Man's Life

(TMZ) Thomas Haden Church is not the kind of guy to save a human life and then go brag about it on camera ... he's the kind of guy to save a life and then play it off like it's no big deal ... on camera.

According to our sources, Church was having lunch Thursday at the Soho House in Los Angeles, when a guy at a nearby table started choking. We're told Church sprung into action, administered the Heimlich Maneuver and saved the guy's life. HERO!!!

Our photog caught up with Church later in the day and asked about his lifesaving maneuvers, but the actor was just too damn humble to get into the details.

Church did get his props at lunch, however ... the Soho House comped his meal. more on this story

Rapper To Tell Ryan Lochte To Cease and Desist? Jeah!

(TMZ) U.S. Olympic hero Ryan Lochte might have an unexpected speed bump on his way to trademarking the phrase "Jeah!" in the form of 90s rap star MC Eiht, who claims the phrase was his long before it was Lochte's.

Eiht tells TMZ he coined the phrase back in 1988 and is insulted to hear Lochte is trying to claim it as his own now. Eiht tells us, "Why try and trademark something his ass didn't even create? I am mad that he isn't giving me proper recognition for taking my saying. He is just disrespectful."

The Compton's Most Wanted rapper tells TMZ he's not so much concerned about the money as he is the "respect and the truth."

Eiht says he plans on sending a cease and desist letter urging Lochte to stop using his phrase.

Lochte's manager tells us, "Ryan has been using JEAH for years," adding, "This is the first I have heard of this claim by MC Eiht." more on this story

Ice-T Loses Almost A Quarter Million On Condo

(TMZ) It's a good thing Ice-T knows how to act, rap, and carry a reality TV show ... because dude just took it in the shorts -- selling off his Miami condo for almost a quarter million LESS than he paid for it, TMZ has learned.

Ice-T -- real name Tracy Marrow -- bought the 1,956-square-foot beachfront Miami pad back in 2007 for a whopping $1.53 million.

But Ice just sold the 3-bedroom, 3-bath, stark white crib for a measly $1.29 million ... which our sharp math mind calculates to be a $240,000 hit.

The condo's got ocean views, marble floors and other awesome amenities ... like concierge service, pool, spa, gym ... and of course a sauna AND steam room. more on this story

Vanessa Bryant Would Have Married Kobe Without Championship

(TMZ) Vanessa Bryant claims she's not a shallow gold-digging, championship-hoarding basketball wife ... insisting she would have married Kobe Bryant even if he NEVER won an NBA title.

Bryant is finally responding to critics who skewered her for the interview she did with New York Magazine in which she said, "I certainly would not want to be married to somebody that can't win championships."

Now, Vanessa tells TMZ ... "I'm sad to hear that comments in my New York Magazine interview are being misconstrued and taken out of context. I have and will continue to support my husband's dreams."

Vanessa continues, "I have been with Kobe for 13 years. I accepted his marriage proposal PRIOR to him winning any of his 5 championships with his teammates."

"For anyone to think otherwise is wrong. It is not about being married to a 'winner' it is about our sacrifice as a family. "

FYI -- Kobe and Vanessa got engaged in May 2000 ... and he won his first championship in June of 2000. more on this story

Gabby Douglas Vs College Kid Over Flying Squirrel Trademark

(TMZ) If Gabby Douglas wants to cash in on her "Flying Squirrel" nickname ... she's gonna have to battle a college kid who locked up the trademark while Gabby was still competing in the Olympics.

TMZ has learned ... Fordham University business student A.J. Rotonde filed to trademark the phrase on August 6 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office for a mere $325.

Rotonde tells us he decided to scoop up Gabby's handle after watching her destroy the competition in London.

A.J. has NO connection to Gabby or U.S. gymnastics, but tells us he plans to slap "Flying Squirrel" on T-shirts and other merchandise -- but before he cashes in the USPTO has to approve his application ... which could take several months.

Gabby can still challenge A.J.'s filing and apply to trademark the phrase herself.

A.J. tells us he'd be happy to sell the TM back to the gymnast ... for the right price, of course.
more on this story

Lady Gaga Releases New Monstervision Video

(popmusiclife) Lady Gaga has released her latest Monstervision video. Entitled "Little Paris," Monstervision No. 6 is a vintage-film styled clip features the singer and her dog, Fozzi, as they tour the streets and parks of Paris.

Some behind the scenes footage of the shoot has also been posted by Romanian television, showing the singer and her crew – including some hefty security types – wandering through the city, as they are followed by some interested members of the public.

Gaga is currently playing the European leg of her Born This Way Ball tour, with shows this week in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Watch the new video here.