Rihanna To Play Whitney Houston in New Movie?

Rihanna is in the running for the lead role, as is Jennifer Hudson, actress Vivica Fox, and American Idol singer Jordin Sparks; also being considered for the movie is Will Smith's 11-year-old daughter Willow, who is thought to be portraying the actress as a child. more on this story

Jennifer Lopez Laughs Off Oscars Wardrobe Malfunction Drama

(TMZ) Jennifer Lopez couldn't contain her laughter when she learned about the drama surrounding her maybe/maybe not nipple moment at the Oscars Sunday night ... this according to her personal stylist.

TMZ spoke with Rob Zangardi ...who personally zipped J.Lo into her Oscars dress ... and then helped her change into another low cut outfit after the show.

Rob tells us ... he and fellow stylist Mariel Haenn personally informed Lopez about the buzz surrounding her areola during the outfit change ... and J.Lo simply laughed it off.

Rob says ... Lopez then assured the team she was so tightly packed into her dress, there was no possible way a nip could've slipped.

So what WAS the mysterious object that appeared on Jen's chest? Rob's convinced it was a shadow from the lighting. Convinced?
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Madonna Denies Girls Gone Wild Dispute

(TMZ) Madonna did NOT change the name of "Girls Gone Wild" because of threats from "Girls Gone Wild" creator Joe Francis -- this according to her manager, Guy Oseary.

Oseary tells TMZ ... he found it laughable that Francis claimed victory after allegedly sending Madonna a cease and desist letter, ordering her not to perform her single "Girls Gone Wild" at the Super Bowl. In fact, Oseary says no one from team Madonna ever received the letter.

As for Madonna changing the name of the song to "Girl Gone Wild," Oseary says they've been tweaking the album for weeks, and decided to make the word "Girl" singular because that's the way Madonna sings it in the song.

Oseary says they have tweaked other titles on the album as well.

And Oseary scoffs at Francis' claim that he owns the title, "Girls Gone Wild," citing a Billboard story that claims there are 50 records called "Girls Gone Wild," including songs by Ludacris, Jagged Edge, T Mills, Lee Kernaghan, Lil Rick and Jackie Kashian.

And finally, Oseary says Madonna doesn't even know who Joe Francis is ... and claims she's completely unaware he's been making threats.
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LMFAO Set For Sorry For Party Rocking Tour

(popmusiclife) LMFAO are bringing their party to stages across North America this summer. The band have announced their 2012 "Sorry For Party Rocking" tour, which is set to hit 26 cities across the continent.

Billboard reports the tour starts up May 22 in Columbus, OH, with dates running through July 4 in Toronto.

Along with LMFAO and the "Party Rock Crew," the tour will feature special guests like Far East Movement, Quest Crew (who absolutely dominated season 3 of "America's Best Dance Crew"), Sidney Samson, Eva Simon and Natalia Kills.
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Gavin Degraw For Dancing With the Stars

(TMZ) Gavin Degraw is up for some serious double duty -- he's joining the cast of "Dancing With the Stars" ... but TMZ has learned he will also continue his current U.S. tour.

Multiple 'DWTS' sources confirm the "Not Over You" singer has signed on for the new season -- the full cast will be announced on Tuesday morning.

Degraw's taking on a major work load -- his current tour continues through mid April ... but the show premieres on March 19th.

We're told Gavin's dancing pro will most likely join him on tour so they can keep practicing -- but none of his tour dates conflict with 'DWTS' airdates.

As TMZ first reported ... Jack Wagner, Sherri Shepherd, and Melissa Gilbert will also compete for the mirrored ball.
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Coldplay Play Jimmy Kimmel's Oscars Special

(popmusiclife) Coldplay added some live music to Jimmy Kimmel's post-Oscars show Sunday night. The UK band performed two tracks from their latest album, "Mylo Xyloto," including "Paradise" and the current single, "Charlie Brown."

Coldplay continue to tour in support of the album, and are gearing up for their North American tour, which starts April 17 in Edmonton.

Joining Coldplay as openers on the tour will be Metronomy, The Pierces, Robyn, Wolf Gang, Marina and the Diamonds, and Emeli Sandé; the artists will rotate during the trip.
Watch the band's performance here.

Jim Jones Released From Jail After Second Arrest This Week

(TMZ) Jim Jones is once again a free man ... TMZ has learned the rapper has been released from police custody in New York.

TMZ broke the story ... Jones was arrested yesterday after cops say he was driving on a suspended license.

But a rep for the rapper tells us ... it's all a HUGE misunderstanding ... explaining, "Jim does not have a suspended license."

The rep insists there must have been a mistake in the computer system ... and says Jim's lawyers have already been dispatched to remedy the situation.

The worst part ... Jim claims he was originally sitting in the PASSENGER seat of the car ... when his driver stopped in front of a store to pick up a few items. Jim claims cops approached him and told him to move the car ... so he did ... and shortly after Jim got in the driver's seat, he was pulled over. During the stop, cops were informed he had a suspended license ... and took him into custody.

Still, the rep tells us ... the cops were "very cool and respectable" during the incident ... and adds, "It'll all be thrown out."

It's the 2nd time Jim has been arrested in 3 days ... as we previously reported Jones was cuffed following a massive brawl at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Friday night.
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Whitney Houston's Final Movie Coming Real Soon?

(TMZ) Whitney Houston's final movie is on the fast track to hit theaters much earlier than originally planned ... and TMZ has learned it's partly due to fears that people will leak Whitney's scenes and music ... spoiling the flick for everyone.

Sources connected to the production tell us ... the people working on "Sparkle" -- starring Whitney and Jordin Sparks -- are working "around the clock" to finish post-production work on the movie as quickly as possible.

We're told the building where the film is being edited is also under tight watch -- with ramped up security in the hopes of preemptively clogging a leak.

According to various reports, Sony was hoping to release the movie in August.

We called Sony for comment -- so far, no response.
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John Mayer Album and Tour Coming

John Mayer plans to kick off his first North American tour in two years on April 9, stopping in 18 cities through May 6.

The tour leads into Mayer's upcoming fifth album Born and Raised, which will be released soon thereafter.

Mayer produced Born and Raised with Don Was, who worked on albums for acts such as the Rolling Stones, B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt. more on this story

WWE Icons Dancing For New Reality Show?

(TMZ) You can't teach old wrestlers new tricks -- and several WWE icons proved it last week, during a hilariously left-footed Zumba class ... and TMZ has obtained the clumsy footage.

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan ... along with WWE legends like Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Hilbilly Jim, Pat Patterson, "Mean" Gene Okerlund, Howard Finkel, and Tony Atlas all hit the dance studio in Palm Springs ... and shocker, we're told it's for an upcoming reality show.

Sources tell us the show still doesn't have a home ... but we're told the WWE is hoping to run it on its upcoming network.
more on this story

Big Time Rush Announce North American Tour

Nickelodeon's boyband Big Time Rush will kick off "Big Time Summer Tour," where they will be performing in over 50 cities across North America including stops in New York, Chicago, Boston and Toronto.

The tour kicks off on July 5th in Columbus, OH, the Nickelodeon will perform songs off their latest album Elevate including "Music Sounds Better With U," "All Over Again" and "Elevate."

During select dates, emerging Australian pop phenomenon Cody Simpson and X-Factor finalist and newly signed Nickelodeon talent Rachel Crow will open for Big Time Rush. Additional acts will be announced shortly.
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Little Big Town Live Web Event Tomorrow For New Album

Little Big Town are heading into the recording studio this week with new producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church/Wallflowers) to record their new album which will be the group's fifth studio album.

Karen, Kimberly, Jimi and Phillip will be giving fans a glimpse inside the studio and the recording process this Wednesday via Livestream.

The band will fill fans in on exciting details about the new record beginning with a live chat at 5:45pm CST and then leave the stream open for the rest of the night. Use the link below for access to the live feed (compatible with most smartphones).
Go here.

American Idol Scotty McCreery Strikes Gold Again

(Umusic) American Idol champ Scotty McCreery's second single, "The Trouble With Girls," has been certified gold for reaching sales of 500,000 units, becoming his third consecutive release to receive a gold or higher certification by the Recording Industry Association of America.

"The Trouble With Girls" is his second consecutive gold single, following his debut single, "I Love You This Big." His Mercury Nashville/19 Recordings/ Interscope debut album, Clear As Day, was certified platinum for sales of more than 1 million units in just three months. Clear As Day debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and Top Country Albums charts, making him the youngest man in history to open at the top of the all-genre chart with a debut release. It also garnered the highest sales of any country solo album released last year and held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for six weeks.

"Having the first single go gold was crazy, but having the second single go gold and to see the response it is getting in our shows is incredible," he says. "I wish I could come up with better words than 'wild' and 'incredible,' because this is really special. more on this story

Brooke Mueller May Avoid Jail For Drug Bust

(TMZ) Brooke Mueller will NOT go to jail for cocaine possession and possession with intent to distribute, because her lawyer and the prosecutor are "deep" in plea bargain negotiations and the issue of confinement is not on the table.

Sources connected with the case tell TMZ ... Brooke's lawyer, Yale Galanter, and Pitkin County, Colorado prosecutor Arnie Mordkin have been meeting, and we're told they're talking about a deferred prosecution ... meaning Brooke will probably have to take some drug ed classes and perform community service and then the charges will be formally dismissed.

Brooke was arrested December 2 and charged with felony possession of cocaine, felony possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, as well as misdemeanor assault.

Brooke's next scheduled court date was set for March 5, but we're told it's been moved to April 2. During that hearing, Brooke will be present and -- unless negotiations fall apart -- she will enter her plea and the judge will impose his sentence. more on this story

Eric Hutchinson New Album and Tour Coming

Eric Hutchinson will release his latest album, Moving Up Living Down, on April 17th and will be hitting the road in support of the effort.

Hutchinson's North American headlining tour will kick off that evening at Denver's Bluebird Theatre and will also include shows at Highline Ballroom in New York City (May 2) and at Los Angeles' legendary Troubadour (May 19).

Hutchinson recorded Moving Up Living Down with producers Mike Elizondo (Eminem, Regina Spektor) in Los Angeles and Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, James Morrison) in London. more on this story

Dancing with the Stars Pro Vs Dance Mom

(TMZ) "Dancing with the Stars" pro Mark Ballas has a MAJOR problem with the "Dance Moms" reality show -- telling TMZ, the angry screaming dance coach is verbally abusing the kids ... and she doesn't know jack squat about dancing.

In case you haven't seen the show ... dance company owner Abby Lee Miller has become famous for berating the children ... once telling a crying little girl, "You save those tears for your pillow, in your room, alone."

Mark tells us, "She's not dancing, she's just yelling at them" ... adding, "I just don't think it's the correct way to teach somebody ... Those kids are 6 years old. They're learning. They're babies ... They need to be treated the correct way."

Ballas adds, "Those kids should not be afraid to go to dance." more on this story

Joey Buttafuoco's Reaction To Mary Jo's Wedding

(TMZ) Joey Buttafuoco says he's happy his infamous ex-wife got re-married this weekend, but in news that should shock absolutely no one ... he describes his relationship with Mary Jo as "strained."

Our photog bumped into Joey and his current wife in Beverly Hills yesterday, where he said he's actually met Mary Jo's new hubby and described him as "a really nice guy."

But when it comes to him and Mary Jo these days, Joey told us, "Mary Jo and I, we still speak. It's strained, but you have to understand why … unless you've been under a rock." more on this story

Inspiration For Johnny Depp's Blow Character Has Cancer Scare

(TMZ) George Jung -- the prolific cocaine smuggler portrayed by Johnny Depp in the movie "Blow" -- got a temporary get out of prison free card recently ... after doctors spotted a potentially cancerous growth on his face.

For those unfamiliar, Jung -- who's currently serving a 15-year stretch in Texas federal prison -- is credited with sparking the '80s cocaine frenzy ... even netting him a cool $100 million at one point.

TMZ has learned ... Jung was allowed to leave the confines of the prison in December ... and was transported to a nearby facility so doctors could remove a suspicious mole on his nose.

One source tells us Jung believes the mole is a direct result of the long hours he spent lingering in the Mexican sun -- hobnobbing and negotiating with the country's top drug lords.

Prison officials are refusing to comment on Jung's current health status, but our sources say the surgery was a success ... even though Jung remained shackled during the entire hospital procedure.

Jung was tossed back into the pokey afterward and is scheduled for release on Thanksgiving Day, 2014. more on this story

Hugh Hefner and Crystal Harris' First Meeting Since Canceled Wedding

(TMZ) It could have been awkward -- Hugh Hefner coming face-to-face with Crystal Harris for the first time since she canceled their wedding plans -- but it was quick and friendly ... sources tell TMZ.

As you'll recall, the 25-year-old Harris broke off her engagement to the 85-year-old Hef last June, just five days before they were set to walk down the aisle.

According to our sources, a friend of Crystal's was invited to the Playboy Mansion last week and asked Crystal to tag along. Not wanting to create a scene, we're told Crytal phoned ahead to make sure it was all right ... and Hef said he would love to see her.

Our sources say the meeting was brief -- a quick and friendly hello, not much more.

Maybe it is possible to be friends with your ex. more on this story

Octomom's Drivers License Suspended

(TMZ) Someone has finally suspended Octomom's license to do something -- but unfortunately it isn't her license to procreate ... it's just her license to drive.

Octo got a ticket for driving the wrong way down a one-way street in Beverly Hills last September.

She was supposed to either appear in court or pay the ticket by December 20, but she missed her court date ... resulting in her license getting suspended. more on this story