Simon Cowell Wants To Oust Britney Spears From The X Factor?

L.A. Reid had previously announced that he will not be returning for another season.

Miley Cyrus Christmas Photos Spark Wedding Rumors

An online Christmas posting by Miley Cyrus has sparked speculation that the young singer had secretly married Liam Hemsworth during the holiday.

Cyrus posted a photo on Instagram of her posing with Hemsworth in front of a Christmas tree.

Fans soon noted the Hunger Games actor was wearing a large ring on his left hand, which some speculate may be a wedding band.

Other photos posted by Cyrus show two bands on her ring finger (see one here.) , and Hollywoodlife.com reported that she was seen on Christmas Eve with no rings on her finger. See some of the photos here.

Taylor Swift Trespasser Won't Be Prosecuted

Criminal charges have been dropped against the man that was arrested for trespassing at Taylor Swift's Nashville home earlier this month.

Tennessee prosecutors decided not to pursue criminal charges against 24-year-old Jacob Kulke, according to a report published by Starpulse.

As we previously reported, Kulke was arrested at 1:45 AM December 14th after being detained by security that reportedly saw him climbed over a fence at Swift's home. Swift was not home at the time.

Various reports indicate that Kulke told police that he was the boyfriend of the homeowner and had spoken to someone at Swift's home via social media before traveling to Nashville from Wisconsin by bus to visit the country star on her birthday. Read more.

The X Factor Winner Replaces American Idol For Fox New Year's

The Fox Network has changed plans for their New Year's Eve special, swapping an American Idol for a winner of The X Factor.

"American Idol" season 11 champ Phillip Phillips will be replaced by The X Factor winner Tate Stevens.

The network's New Year's Eve Live! special will be broadcast from Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

Rescue Me Singer Fontella Bass Dead At 72

Fontella Bass, best known for the 1965 hit "Rescue Me," died on Wednesday in St. Louis.

The Music's Over reports: In 2005, Bass suffered her first of a series of strokes, and in December of 2012, she suffered a heart attack.

Fontella Bass was 72 when, on December 26, 2012, she died of complications from that heart attack. more on this story

Nicki Minaj Two and Half Hours Late To Christmas Show

Nicki Minaj reportedly took the stage two-and-a-half hours late at a show on Christmas because she was said to be 'resting her vocal cords'.

Minaj was scheduled to host a party at New York City nightclub Webster Hall beginning at 1.30am on December 25 but didn't take the stage until 4am.

A source told New York Daily News Minaj was delayed because she was 'resting her vocal cords'. more on this story

Top 12 of 2012: May

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 May.

Rihanna Goes Topless For Magazine (Top 12 of May 2012)

(popmusiclife) Rihanna Goes Topless For Magazine was a top 12 pop story of May 2012: Rihanna is featured topless on the cover of the July issue of Esquire's UK edition.

The pop superstar is the feature interview in the new issue, which goes on sale Monday, June 4.

The singer was shot for Esquire by acclaimed photographer Matt Irwin in East London; there's a mix of video and photos from the session here.

Justin Bieber Causes Near State Of Emergency (Top 12 of May 2012)

(TMZ) Justin Bieber Causes Near State Of Emergency was a top 12 pop story of May 2012: Police in Norway were on the verge of declaring a state of emergency in Oslo, after tens of thousands of unruly Justin Bieber fans overran the city -- and now, they're begging the singer for help.

Justin's was scheduled to perform 4 new songs last night outside Oslo's famed opera house as part of his "Around the World" TV special -- and we're told crazed Bieber fans from all over Europe descended on the city for the event.

We're told the crowds have swelled to such overwhelming numbers, the police lost control -- and are pleaded with Bieber to take the stage early ... before all hell breaks loose.

Bieber was aware of the situation -- he tweeted, "...for the show to happen u must all listen to the police. we are all concerned for your safety and i want what is best for u. please listen."

Lady Gaga Cancels Concert Due To Threats From Extremists (Top 12 of May 2012)

(popmusiclife) Lady Gaga Cancels Concert Due To Threats From Extremists was a top 12 pop story of May 2012: Lady Gaga has canceled her concert in Indonesia due to threats by religious extremists.

Billboard reports Islamist hard-liners threatened violence, claiming Gaga's sexy clothes and provocative dance moves would corrupt the youth.

Fans were devastated, despite the promoter's offer of full refunds. Some accused police - who refused to issue a permit over concerns about security - of buckling to the will of a small group. more on this story

Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch Dead at 47 (Top 12 of May 2012)

(Gibson) Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch Dead at 47 was a top 12 pop story of May 2012: Beastie Boys MC and bassist Adam Yauch (a.k.a. MCA) has passed away from cancer, according to TMZ. He was 47.

Yauch helped form the Beastie Boys in 1981, and they were initially a hardcore punk band. Soon, the group – including Mike Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) – became a hip-hop act, releasing their landmark debut, License to Ill, in 1986. It was the first hip-hop album to top the Billboard charts.

During their career, the Beasties became known for pushing hip-hop's boundaries: taking sampling to new heights (with the help of the Dust Brothers) on Paul's Boutique and merging rock and rap in a groundbreaking way on Check Your Head and Ill Communication. In addition to rapping and playing bass on Beasties hits such as "Sabotage," Yauch directed many of the band's videos under the name Nathaniel Hornblower. He also ran an independent film production company and organized the Tibetan Freedom Concerts.

Yauch was diagnosed with cancer in his salivary glands. His illness forced the cancelation of the band's summer tour and their album Hot Sauce Committee. However, he was well enough to help the group complete and release Hot Sauce Committee Part Two in 2011. Word spread last month that Yauch's illness had taken a turn for the worse when he was not present at the Beasties' induction ceremony into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. more on this story

Brad Paisley and Merle Haggard Duet With Hank Williams, Jr. (Top 12 of May 2012)

Brad Paisley and Merle Haggard Duet With Hank Williams, Jr. was a top 12 pop story of May 2012: Hank Williams, Jr. has set a July 10, 2012 release date for his new album, "Old School, New Rules."

The album features a duet with Brad Paisley on "I'm Gonna Get Drunk And Play Hank Williams" as well as a new duet with the legendary Merle Haggard on his classic "I Think I'll Just Sit Here and Drink."

"I'm excited about this new album," Hank said. "I'm definitely 'Old School', and I am making music with 'New Rules'. People know I'm gonna say exactly what I think and this album is exactly that."

Williams' first single in several years, "That Ain't Good", has just been shipped to radio with a companion video being produced in coming weeks.

"Old School, New Rules" is the first album on Hank Williams, Jr.'s new label imprint, Bocephus Records, with a licensing deal with Blaster Records under a Warner Music Nashville distribution deal.

OneRepublic Drummer Arrested After Destructive Rage (Top 12 of May 2012)

(TMZ) OneRepublic Drummer Arrested After Destructive Rage was a top 12 pop story of May 2012: The drummer for the band OneRepublic was arrested in Denver, CO Tuesday morning ... after cops say he flipped out in a destructive rage.

TMZ has learned ... Edward Ray Fisher was booked for destruction of private property, disturbing the peace and assault. The details surrounding his arrest are unclear.

According to his booking sheet, the 38-year-old rocker -- who lives in Denver -- is 5'8" and weighs 155 pounds.

Fisher is scheduled to appear in Denver County Court this afternoon.

FYI -- OneRepublic was nominated for a Grammy in 2009 for their smash hit, "Apologize." mug shot.

Taylor Swift Donates $4 Million To Country Hall of Fame (Top 12 of May 2012)

(Gibson) Taylor Swift Donates $4 Million To Country Hall of Fame was a top 12 pop story of May 2012: Country music's biggest-selling superstar Taylor Swift has donated a cool $4 million to Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Washington Post reports that this is the largest artist donation ever given to the Hall of Fame and the money will fund the Taylor Swift Education Center that will open at the museum in 2014.

Museum director Kyle Young said: "It will allow us to do what we do better, serve more people, develop new programs and I'm happy to say that as we talked through this opportunity with Taylor, she very much wants to be involved in an advisory capacity in what we do. Is there a better person out there who's in touch with a young audience? more on this story

Bee Gees Legend Robin Gibb Dead at 62 (Top 12 of May 2012)

Bee Gees Legend Robin Gibb Dead at 62 was a top 12 pop story of May 2012: Legendary Bee Gees star Robin Gibb died on Sunday after a battle with cancer and a brief coma following a surgery and a case of pneumonia.

His official website had this statement: "The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery. The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time."

Gibb went into a brief coma last month after coming down with pneumonia. "He woke up while we were playing the track which is a movement from the Titanic Requiem we have just written," his son Robin-John Gibb told ITV News at the time.

He fought both liver and colon cancer two years ago and thought he had made a "spectacular recovery", but a new tumor had recently developed according to MSN. more on this story

Jessica Simpson Gives Birth To Baby Girl (Top 12 of May 2012)

(TMZ) Jessica Simpson Gives Birth To Baby Girl was a top 12 pop story of May 2012: Jessica Simpson gave birth to a bouncing baby girl who weighed 9 pounds 13 ounces and measured in at 21.75 inches!!!

The kid's name is Maxwell Drew Johnson -- which is pretty normal by celebrity baby naming standards.

Jessica and her fiance Eric Johnson decided to use the name Drew because it's Jessica's mother's maiden name. more on this story

Real Biker Challenges Sons of Anarchy Star To Fight (Top 12 of May 2012)

(TMZ) Real Biker Challenges Sons of Anarchy Star To Fight was a top 12 pop story of May 2012: The star of "Sons of Anarchy" just got an invitation to get his face bashed in by a real-life member of a motorcycle club who has a SERIOUS beef with the creator of the show.

It's all over some pretty incendiary comments made by "Sons" creator Kurt Sutter -- aimed at the stars of "The Devils Ride" ... a Discovery Channel reality show about the Laffing Devils motorcycle club in San Diego.

Sutter's tweet read, "Watched Devils Ride. Probably get in trouble for saying this, but I'm pretty sure my SOA actors could kick the sh*t out of this 'real' MC."

Obviously, the Devils weren't happy about the statement.

TMZ spoke with a guy named Sandman -- a very scary member of the club -- who tells us, "I am concerned that Kurt's creative mind is stuck in make-believe land with his recent comment on twitter."

Sandman adds, "Here's a reality check for ya Kurt ... I am sending a personal invitation to your pretty faced Kurt Cobain look-alike star Jax to come down to San Diego and prove your point."

Yes, Sandman just challenged Charlie Hunnam to a fight.

And he ain't done yet ... Sandman continues, "And tell him to wear those shiny white kicks too. I hope he's a size 11, I could use some new shoes."

Sandman even mentioned Sutter's wife -- actress Katey Sagal -- saying, "I am a big 'Married with Children' fan, can you have Peg send me an autographed picture? I would appreciate it."

NFL Star Junior Seau Dead From Suspected Suicide (Top 12 of May 2012)

(TMZ) NFL Star Junior Seau Dead From Suspected Suicide was a top 12 pop story of May 2012: Junior Seau's family does NOT believe the NFL legend shot himself in the chest to spare his brain ... TMZ has learned.

Seau family sources tell us ... Junior never complained about concussion-related medical problems and didn't appear to be suffering from depression.

We're told Seau never really spoke about the ongoing legal battle between the NFL and retired players who claim the league concealed critical information about the long-term effects of concussions.

One family source was adamant ... if Junior was passionate about preserving his brain, he would've mentioned something to his family. The family is still unsure why Junior would want to end his own life.

Seau's death instantly drew comparisons to the death of former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson -- who left a suicide note explaining he shot himself in the chest because he wanted his brain to be sent to the "NFL brain bank" for study. more on this story

Disco Queen Donna Summer Dead at 63 (Top 12 of May 2012)

(Gibson) Disco Queen Donna Summer Dead at 63 was a top 12 pop story of May 2012: Disco superstar Donna Summer has died after a battle with cancer, according to TMZ. She was 63.

Known as the "Queen of Disco," Summer had numerous hits in the late '70s and '80s, including "Love to Love You Baby," "I Feel Love," "Last Dance," "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls" and "She Works Hard for the Money," among many others.

Summer won five Grammy Awards and became a member of the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2004. She has been nominated for inclusion into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, although she has not yet been chosen for induction. more on this story