Whitney Houston Murdered Claims PI

The coroner's report and police ruled that there was no foul play and that her official cause of death was accidental drowning. However, the private investigator claims "Whitney's body shows classic defense wounds that would have occurred while she was battling for her life," he told the Enquirer. more on this story

Dallas Cowboys Josh Brent Indicted For Accident That Killed Jerry Brown

A Texas Grand Jury indicted Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent yesterday (Dec. 26) on a charge of intoxicated manslaughter in relation to the death of a teammate in an auto accident earlier this month.

Brent has been accused of drunk driving on December 8th when he was in an accident in Irving, Texas that resulted in the death of his teammate Jerry Brown.

The NFL star now faces a second-degree felony charge that carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, according to Dallas News.

The paper reports that "police found an unopened bottle of Pierre cognac in or near Brent's white four-door Mercedes S600, which flipped and caught fire as he was headed west on the service road of State Highway 114 near Loop 12."

He remains free on $100,000 bail. You can read the Dallas News report for more details here.

Jennifer Lopez's $20 Million Extortion Lawsuit Dismissed

A judge has dismissed a $20 million extortion lawsuit filed by Jennifer Lopez against her former driver.

Lopez filed the countersuit against former employee Hakob Manoukian, who had sued the pop star, claiming he was forced to resign after being publicly berated by her manager Benny Medina, reports Starpulse.

Lopez claimed that Hakob demanded $2.8 million from her to not talk to the media about secrets he may have heard while working for her.

A judge dismissed the countersuit by Lopez after Hakob's attorney filed a motion to dismiss where it was claimed Lopez was trying to punish the former employee for filing his lawsuit against her, according to the report. more on this story

Mumford and Sons May Go Electric On New Album

(Gibson) Mumford and Sons are suggesting they could ditch some acoustics for their next album. The folky quartet are enjoying huge success with their second Grammy-nominated album Babel, but are already hatching their third.

According to NME, Marcus Mumford told The Times: Style Magazine that the band plan on changing much on their third album, and revealed that they are considering going in a new electronic direction. He says: "We'll do whatever feels soulful next, whether that's with an electric guitar or a synthesizer."

"It's dangerous for us to talk about what we've been discussing for the third album, but we do have greater ambitions not to just stay within certain sonic confines," added Ben Lovett. "We're not going to be the band that stands for folk music or organic music." more on this story

Demi Lovato Tributes Sandy Hook Victims In Christmas Video

Demi Lovato posted a new video online on Christmas Eve which she dedicated to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings.

The new video clip features Lovato performing the 1993 Alabama Christmas song "Angels Among Us" with a pianist and guitarist.

"We can never imagine what the families in Newtown, Conn., are experiencing right now," says the video's opening message, according to Billboard. "And while there is nothing we can do to replace their loss, we can stand together and support them during this difficult time. This song is in honor of those angels we lost on Dec. 14." Watch the video at Billboard.

Lady Gaga Documentary Planned

Lady Gaga shared the big news with fans on Christmas Day that she will be the subject of a new documentary film.

The pop star posted a series of Christmas messages on Twitter, two referenced her plans to work with long-time collaborator and famed photographer Terry Richardson to make a documentary.

She first wrote: "Thank you for being so patient waiting for my new album ARTPOP I hope this gets u excited for things to come. I love you with all my heart!"

Then she announced: "Merry Christmas little monsters! Terry Richardson @Terry_World is making a #LadyGagaMOVIE documenting my life, the creation of ARTPOP + you!"

A short time later, she added: "i love you @Terry_World thank you for believing in me and my fans, I have looked up to you and your work for so long, its a dream come true!" more on this story

Taylor Swift Reflects On The Best Christmas Gift She Ever Received

(Gibson) Taylor Swift says she was given the best ever Christmas gift when her father presented her with the long-lost guitar she first learned to play as a young girl.

Swift was 12 years old when she first picked up the guitar, and years after she shot to fame her dad Scott managed to track down the instrument and surprised her with it.

She tells People magazine, "The (best gift I ever received was) guitar I learned to play on. It belonged to the guy who fixed my computer — he taught me a few chords on it when I was 12. Years later my dad tracked him down and bought it. It was such a touching gift." more on this story

Dixie Chicks Replace Lady Antebellum at Craven Country Jamboree

(Webster) Organizers of the 2013 Craven Country Jamboree have recruited The Dixie Chicks to replace Lady Antebellum as a headliner at the music festival.

"We knew we had to find something extra special to replace Lady Antebellum when the band canceled their summer dates due to Hilary Scott's pregnancy," said Kim Blevins, director of marketing.

"We are extremely excited that we can offer a taste of country music royalty to the Craven Country Jamboree. And it won't be a regular show - not only will our fans see Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Robison, the three original members, this is a greatest hits package. The Craven date will be one of the only opportunities fans of the band will have to see them live. This is an incredibly special moment for Chicks fans and the Craven Country Jamboree."

The Dixie Chicks join country superstar headliners Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, Scotty McCreery, Phil Vassar, Brantley Gilbert, Doc Walker, Sawyer Brown, Chad Brownlee, Gloriana, High Valley, Small Town Pistols, Jason Blaine, and country legends Randy Travis and Bill Anderson. Also returning is the funniest duo in comedy - Williams and Ree. more on this story

Former Yankees Star Andruw Jones Arrested For Domestic Violence

Former New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves star Andruw Jones was arrested early Christmas morning for an alleged domestic violence incident involving his wife.

Jones wife accused him of dragging her down a staircase, grabbing her neck and saying he wanted to kill her, according to police records, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

Police were called to Jones' home in Duluth, GA at approximately 1:30AM to investigate a domestic dispute, reports Starpulse.

Jones was arrested and booked for battery and then released on a $2,500 bond, according to Gwinnett County jail records.

Lindsay Lohan Uses Charlie Sheen Donation To Pay Down Tax Debt

Lindsay Lohan has used Charlie Sheen's $100,000 check to pay off one of her tax bills, reports Starpulse.

Lohan has paid her outstanding 2009 tax bill for $93,701 in full according to official IRS documents.

The actress reportedly used the check from Sheen to make the payment and then applied the remaining $6,300 to her 2010 tax bill for $140,203, according to sources said to be connected to Lohan.

Sheen sent Lohan the check out of proceeds from his appearance in the latest Scary Movie film. Read the Starpulse report here.

Singled Out: Novi

Today Novi tells us about her new single "The Ad" which comes from the forthcoming new EP "Now I'm There". Here is the story:

It was Easter, and I had this hook in my head.... "pick me up by my bootstraps."

I found it to be ridiculously "grabby." I started singing some ideas over an older yet in progress track that Lee Miles (my producer) had created.

I got the idea of a guy just oozing with such bodacious sex appeal, that all the girls are just fainting and sighing as he walks through the room!

I loved this picture I was mocking up... so the lyrics came effortlessly. "I'm in love with the boy in the ad." Bam.

This guy was far too slick to be real. But, in reality, based somewhat on my boyfriend, who happens to be on a popular TV show. These young gals are panting "in heat" over him, and the concept that you can be so in love with the "idea" of a person just makes for some real good materiel!! It's so funny, we've all been there, drooling over some too hot to trot actor or what not. I sure had my fantasy... Thanks Brad;) So thats a little background.

But the best part is that I finished the demo on "Garageband" mind you, and sent it to my producer Lee. He happened to be at an Easter party. He jammed the track to the whole party over the speakers, once he heard it.

I went over to the same party a little later, and everyone there was like "OMG I love your Song"!!! So I new it was a goodin!!

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album right here!

Top 12 of 2012:

Music news is slow during the holidays, so for the rest of the year in addition to the latest news, we will be looking back at the top 12 stories for each month of 2012. Today we look back at the top stories from February and March.

Tupac Resurrected at Coachella (Top 12 of April 2012)

Tupac Resurrected at Coachella was a top 12 pop story of April 2012: Tupac's famously protective mother Afeni Shakur agrees with the rest of the planet -- the rapper's resurrection at Coachella this weekend ... in the form of an incredibly lifelike hologram ... was mind-blowingly awesome.

A rep for Afeni tells TMZ, she was absolutely positively THRILLED with Tupac's virtual performance -- when he appeared alongside Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg during the headlining show at Coachella last night ... walking back and forth across the stage like he was actually present.

Afeni didn't attend the performance -- but we're told she watched it unfold live on the Internet ... but while it was thrilling, the entire experience was bittersweet.

The rep says Dr. Dre asked Afeni for approval to incorporate Pac into his performance -- and she said yes. As a thank you, we're told Dre made a donation to the rapper's charity ... The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation.

TMZ also spoke with Dre's crewmate Daz Dillinger -- who tells us, Nate Dogg was originally supposed to appear as a hologram as well, but the decision was made at the last minute not to use him. Nate got a video tribute instead.

Courtney Love Apologizes To Daughter For Dave Grohl Allegation (Top 12 of April 2012)

(TMZ) Courtney Love Apologizes To Daughter For Dave Grohl Allegation was a top 12 pop story of April 2012: Courtney Love has once again taken to her Twitter account and this time she issued a public apology to her daughter after making allegations that Dave Grohl hit on the 19-year-old.

Frances Bean, Love's daughter with Grohl's former Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain, issued a statement last week responding to the allegation. She said: "While I'm generally silent on the affairs of my biological mother, her recent tirade has taken a gross turn. I have never been approached by Dave Grohl in more than a platonic way. I'm in a monogamous relationship and very happy. Twitter should ban my mother."

Grohl himself responded with, "Unfortunately Courtney is on another hateful Twitter rant. These new accusations are upsetting, offensive and absolutely untrue."

On Saturday, Love tweeted: "Bean, sorry I believed the gossip.. Mommy loves you"

Jack White Already Ready For Next Album (Top 12 of April 2012)

(Gibson) Jack White Already Ready For Next Album was a top 12 pop story of April 2012: Jack White's solo debut, Blunderbuss, just came out this week, but apparently the indie guitar star already has his eyes set on the follow-up. White spoke to BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe (via NME) about his stash of new tunes.

"We had enough for an album at one point, but I just kept going… I've got another 12 songs that I haven't finished yet," he said.

White is promoting Blunderbuss with a big tour, which he said is allowing him to perform all sorts of different material. "There's songs that White Stripes never really played live, or Raconteurs never really got that into, or songs that I brought to the table in a band – songs like 'Buffalo' – and now I can elaborate on them," he said, before clarifying that the tour has nothing to do with nostalgia. "It needs to be alive in the moment. It has to be something new to everybody on stage, it can't be some recreation of something from years ago. I don't wanna waste my time doing that." more on this story

Boyband The Wanted Slam Christina Aguilera (Top 12 of April 2012)

(TMZ) Boyband The Wanted Slam Christina Aguilera was a top 12 pop story of April 2012: Two days after calling "Voice" judge Christina Aguilera "a b*tch" on the radio in New York, one of the guys from The Wanted seemingly apologized in one breath ... and then took another shot in her in the next.

After a guest appearance on the show, the band went on 92.3 NOW in NYC and said, "She's a total b*tch. She might not be a b*tch in real life, but to us she was a b*tch."

Talking outside the Mondrian Hotel in Hollywood, the one who calls himself Todd was asked about his Xtina comments ... and in back-to-back sentences he said, "We shouldn't have said it, to be honest with you. We just think manners cost nothing, you know what I mean?"

Thirty Seconds To Mars Working On New Album, Not Breaking Up (Top 12 of April 2012)

Thirty Seconds To Mars Working On New Album, Not Breaking Up was a top 12 pop story of April 2012: Thirty Seconds To Mars are not breaking up or going on hiatus as many have speculated. In fact, the band is planning a new album which will be a change of direction musically. EMI sent over these details:

Thirty Seconds To Mars are currently working on their 4th studio album, the follow-up to 2009's global hit This Is War.

The new album is a "dramatic departure from the past", says singer and songwriter Jared Leto, describing it as being "very orchestral, narrative, interactive and even more electronic than previous projects".

Leto is once again producing the album along with several other talented producers including the return of Steve Lillywhite (U2, The Killers). The trio are working out of their studio in the Hollywood Hills dubbed 'ICAASS' (International Center for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences of Sound) or 'The Lab' for short, as well as incorporating site specific recording in locations as far reaching as India, Africa, Yosemite, the California desert and Europe.

Rihanna Addresses Marijuana Controversy (Top 12 of April 2012)

(popmusiclife) Rihanna Addresses Marijuana Controversy was a top 12 pop story of April 2012: Reports and photos of Rihanna smoking pot at the Coachella festival last weekend have made some headlines for the pop singer. Billboard reports the headlines have forced Rihanna to respond.

On Thursday, the uptight folks at MTV tweeted "Yikes. @Rihanna's marijuana photos from Coachella spark controversy," posting shots from the singer's Instagram feed and drawing a barbed response from Rihanna herself.

"@MTV Yikes… @rihanna ran out of f***s to give," she tweeted back. MTV has since deleted its tweet, though the story remains posted.

"I'm crazy, and I don't pretend to be anything else," Rihanna tweeted on Tuesday, in response to fans concerned by the photos. more on this story

TLC Launching Reunion Tour That Will Include Left Eye (Top 12 of April 2012)

(TMZ) TLC Launching Reunion Tour That Will Include Left Eye was a top 12 pop story of April 2012: For the first time in nearly a decade, TLC will be reuniting for a U.S. concert tour later this year -- and TMZ has learned, the late Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes will be making a special appearance.

The group's rep tells us, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas are currently in the planning stages of a massive 2012 reunion tour in the U.S.

So far, we're told 5 major cities have already been booked -- and even more are in the works.

But the big surprise ... we're told the group plans to pull a Tupac -- incorporating their deceased former member Left Eye in the shows, projecting her image on a big screen and working her vocals into the live performances.

Lindsay Lohan In Nightclub Fight (Top 12 of April 2012)

(TMZ) Lindsay Lohan In Nightclub Fight was a top 12 pop story of April 2012: Lindsay Lohan was the instigator, aggressor and drink-tosser in the fight at The Standard Hotel Wednesday night ... this according to a witness who was with the other girl involved in the altercation.

The witness tells us ... the incident began after a major misunderstanding between the two sides while they were partying at the Smoke and Mirrors nightclub inside the hotel.

We're told the girl was hanging out at the booth next to Lindsay's ... when Lohan tapped her on the shoulder aggressively and asked, "Did you bump into me?"

The girl denied the bump ... and suggested the real culprit could have been one of the guys in Lindsay's group. She then pointed to one of the men.

Lindsay replied, "That's my dad ... why would he bump me?"

The girl shot back, "You go clubbing with your dad?"

That's when Lindsay snapped ... so says the witness ... who claims Lindsay began cussing at the girl and then threw a drink at her face.

We're told Lindsay's dad realized what was happening .... grabbed his daughter ... and bailed.

Michael Lohan appeared on "TMZ Live" Wed and adamantly denied his daughter chucked any beverage that night ... claiming it was Lindsay who was the real victim and the recipient of the liquid projectile.

Either way, the other girl is currently weighing her legal options.

Sources close to Lindsay tell us LiLo is adamant -- her dad is telling the true story.

Jason Mraz Almost Tops The Charts (Top 12 of April 2012)

Jason Mraz Almost Tops The Charts was a top 12 pop story of April 2012:

Jason Mraz's new album, "Love Is A Four Letter Word," has debuted on the SoundScan/Billboard 200 at no 2, with sales in excess of 100,000, his biggest sales week and highest debut to date.

Mraz's hit single from the album, "I Won't Give Up," also hit platinum status this week, surpassing one million in sales. more on this story

Marc Anthony Files For Divorce From Jennifer Lopez (Top 12 of April 2012)

(TMZ) Marc Anthony Files For Divorce From Jennifer Lopez was a top 12 pop story of April 2012: Marc Anthony has finally filed for divorce from Jennifer Lopez ... TMZ has learned. Marc cites "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for divorce.

In the papers, filed April 9 in L.A. County Superior Court, Marc is asking for joint legal and physical custody of the couple's twins, Emme and Max -- who are 4 years old.

Marc wants the judge to shut the door on Jennifer if she asks for spousal support. Marc does not list a specific date of separation, but the couple announced their split back in July.

They married in 2004. This will be Jennifer's 3rd divorce and the numero dos for Marc. He wants each party to foot the bill for their own attorney's fees.

Fred Durst Vs Limp Bizkit Members? (Top 12 of April 2012)

(TMZ) Fred Durst Vs Limp Bizkit Members? was a top 12 pop story of April 2012: The Limp Bizkit comeback might be over before it begins ... because TMZ has learned Fred Durst is gunning hard to axe two of the original members.

The "Nookie" band recently signed a deal with Cash Money Records ... and had been planning to put out a new record in the very near future.

But we're told plans came to a grinding halt recent;y ... when original members DJ Lethal and drummer John Otto were informed that Fred had a "new vision" for the group ... and they weren't part of the vision.

Sources tell us ... Fred has been upset with the guys for a while ... claiming their partying habits didn't fit with his lifestyle.

We're told the guys have not been officially 86'd from the group ... but they feel it might be headed in that direction unless they work out their issues, stat.

TMZ reached out to DJ Lethal ... who told us, "We've worked together the last 4 years to bring Limp Bizkit back to where it is today ... and to just be thrown out on the street after the band gets a new deal and a new chance at life isn't cool."

He adds, "You can't push away the people who helped you get there. The fans should know that if 2/5 of the original band are not playing at the concerts, it wont be truthful to them."