Dee Snider Vs Clay Aiken For Celebrity Apprentice

The cast of 18 will also feature Dayana Mendoza, Teresa Giudice, Victoria Gotti, Aubrey O'Day, Wayne's World Tia Carrere, Patricia Velasquez and Lisa Lampanelli. More info on the cast here.

X Factor's Melanie Amaro Inks Epic Deal

Epic Records has inked a deal with the champ of season one of the American version of X Factor, Melanie Amaro.

Amaro prize includes the $5 million deal, the largest prize in television history, and a staring role in a Pepsi commercial.

"I joined The X Factor to be able to discover undeniable talent such as Melanie," comments L.A. Reid. "I am pleased that she is now signed to Epic Records because I believe we have only scratched the surface on uncovering her talent and her inevitable journey to super-stardom."

Simon Cowell adds, "We all agreed that Epic would be the right fit for Melanie. L.A. made it clear that he wanted the opportunity to work with her and with his track record, you can't say no to that."

"I am so excited to start recording my debut album for Epic under the guidance of L.A. Reid and Simon Cowell," says Amaro. "This is a dream come true for me." more on this story

Nas Wants To Help Kidnapped Promoter

(TMZ) Rapper Nas is extremely concerned about the safety of a concert promoter who was abducted in Angola ... and says he's ready to cut a bigtime check to help get the guy back to the USA.

TMZ broke the story ... the concert promoter, Patrick Allocco, claims he was kidnapped at gunpoint by a local "concert impresario" who was FURIOUS when Nas no-showed at a heavily promoted New Year's Eve show.

The "impresario" demanded Allocco fork over the $315k advance ... or else. Allocco was eventually freed from captivity with help from the US Embassy ... but he's currently holed up in a local hotel.

Now, sources close to Nas tell TMZ ... the rapper wants to help out ... but refuses to shoulder the entirety of the blame.

We're told ... Nas and his team DID initially agree to perform the NYE show ... but made the decision to call it off due to a "miscommunication" about travel plans.

Sources tell us ... Nas never intended to keep the money, but his team is unclear about where to send the check. We're told Nas' team is currently working on a solution ... and intends to help resolve the matter ASAP.

One source tells us ... "The key is getting Patrick Allocco home safely." more on this story

Death Cab For Zooey Deschanel's Marriage

(TMZ) Zooey Deschanel has decided to end her marriage ... two months after separating from her rock star husband Ben Gibbard ... TMZ has learned.

The "New Girl" star filed the divorce docs in L.A. County Superior Court on December 27 -- blaming the split on "irreconcilable differences."

She also lists the official date of separation as October 31 ... Halloween. Deschanel and Gibbard -- lead singer for the band Death Cab for Cutie -- were married in 2009. They have no kids. more on this story

Lindsay Lohan Intruder Convicted

(TMZ) The man who refused to leave Lindsay Lohan's doorstep on New Year's Day has been convicted of trespassing ... and a judge has ordered him to stay the hell away from the actress for two years ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... cops arrested Lonnie Short on Jan. 1st after the guy showed up to Lindsay's Venice Beach pad and demanded to speak to the actress.

According to the L.A. City Attorney, Short pled no contest to one misdemeanor count of trespassing today ... and was sentenced to 24 months probation and 8 days time served in county jail.

Short was also hit with a restraining order -- prohibiting him from contacting Lohan or going within 100 yards of the actress or her home until 2014. more on this story

Mike Tyson Woken By Intruder

(TMZ) Talk about having a death wish -- TMZ has learned, someone broke into Mike Tyson's Vegas hotel room this weekend while the ex-boxing champ was sleeping ... but lucky for the intruder, dude escaped before Tyson could break his face in.

Sources tell TMZ, Mike was staying at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Saturday night -- where he and his fam crashed after attending Stevie Wonder's New Year's Eve concert.

We're told Tyson was sleeping like a baby ... when all of a sudden, he awoke to rustling sounds and saw a flashlight. But by the time Iron Mike realized what was happening, the intruder had already run out of the room.

According to sources, security at the hotel was called and they are currently investigating the situation. Nothing was reported stolen from the room.

A rep for the hotel tells TMZ, "We have received a report of an incident that is currently under investigation. As always, guest safety is of the utmost importance." more on this story

Shooter Jennings Releasing New Album in March

Entertainment One Music Group have set a March 13th release date for Shooter Jennings' new album Family Man. 42 West sent over these details:

As the title suggests, Family Man is Shooter's most personal and introspective album to date, focusing on his home life with Drea de Matteo and their two children, the endless temptations of life on the road, his Southern heritage and upbringing, and his unique position among today's country musicians.

"Working with Shooter again and representing the great new country music he is writing and recording feels great. I can't wait for music fans to hear the new songs on Family Man and get to experience his concerts in 2012. Entertainment One welcomes shooter to our music, film, and TV family!" says Van Fletcher, VP Music, Entertainment One Nashville more on this story

Rick Nelson and Mark Lindsay Lead Real Gone Music Reissues

Real Gone Music have announced their reissue campaign for next month will include releases from Ricky Nelson, Mark Lindsay, Sean Bonniwell, Hank Thompson, McGough & McGear (from Scaffold), funk star Eddie Hazel and Red Bird Records girl groups.

Conqueroo sent over these details: Rick Nelson's The Complete Epic Recordings and Mark Lindsay's The Complete Columbia Singles headline the February release schedule for Real Gone Music, the new indie label helmed by reissue veterans Gordon Anderson and Gabby Castellana. The February rollout will include the late Sean Bonniwell's only solo album, Close (recorded under the name T.S. Bonniwell) and Hank Thompson's classic Songs for Rounders on 160-gram vinyl, plus CDs by Eddie Hazel and McGough & McGear. Also in February is the anthology The Red Bird Girls: Very First Time in True Stereo, a collection of early '60s girl group recordings from Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's label.

Rick Nelson's short, late-'70s tenure at Epic Records was a creative and productive period for him, but one might not know it from what has been released in the U.S. He recorded three albums worth of material but only 1977's Intakes was released during his lifetime. The next Epic album, the Al Kooper-produced Back to Vienna, was never released at all. And its follow-up, Rockabilly Renaissance, a return to Nelson's rockabilly roots and a forerunner to the alt-country movement, was released posthumously in heavily overdubbed form as Memphis Sessions. The Real Gone compilation The Complete Epic Recordings, due out February 28, 2012, will mark the first time 11 of the 41 tracks will be released in the U.S., and the first time these three albums have appeared on CD in the U.S. The volume was produced and annotated by Rick Nelson expert James Ritz, and Rockabilly Renaissance restored to its original sound by Richard Weize. more on this story

Pittsburgh Steelers Antonio Brown In Custody Battle

(TMZ) Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown ran off with his child and is refusing to give the kid back to his mother ... so says Antonio's baby mama -- but the NFL player claims she's flat out LYING in a soulless scheme to make a quick buck.

Shameika Brailsford filed docs in Miami, claiming Antonio has had custody of their 4-year-old son in Pennsylvania for months, while he plays with the Steelers -- and she's worried to death he's not being taken care of.

Shameika says 23-year-old Antonio took the child -- also named Antonio -- without her permission, and she hasn't had contact with the kid since Antonio took him away.

Now, Shameika's asking the court for an emergency child pick-up order -- which would require law enforcement to pick up her child and bring him back to her in Florida ... asap.

But Antonio's lawyer Jason Marks says Shameika is lying through her teeth -- telling us, "None of that is true. The mother consented to the child living with Mr. Brown back in February."

The lawyer adds, "The mother obviously knew where the child was the entire time and, in fact, Mr. Brown recently arranged for the mother to visit with the child in Pittsburgh. This is nothing more than a classic attempt to shake down a professional athlete for money."

A judge is expected to rule on Shameika's request in the near future. more on this story

Tiger Woods Ex Levels $12 Million Dollar Mansion

(TMZ) Elin Nordegren is a human wrecking machine ... who just LEVELED her brand new $12 MILLION Florida mansion ... because, well, she can afford it.

Elin bought the 9,000 square foot North Palm Beach home in March ... right after she struck a $100 million divorce settlement with Tiger Woods.

Apparently, Elin felt the modest 6 bedroom, 8 bathroom pad wasn't quite up to her standards ... so she did the only reasonable thing -- KNOCKED THE WHOLE PLACE DOWN!

We're told Nordegren has hired a high-priced architect to build her dream home ... and sources say every single worker is required to sign a confidentiality agreement.

No word on how long the project is expected to take -- but we're told Elin is living in a nearby mansion inside the private community while the new place is under construction. more on this story

Terrell Owens' NFL Career Over?

(TMZ) Terrell Owens was just told his NFL career is in the toilet, with little prospect for a turnaround -- and he got the word from a judge handling his paternity cases.

T.O. was in L.A. County Superior Court yesterday, asking Judge Marc Marmaro to reduce his child support payments in 2 of his 4 ongoing paternity cases, because he's just not pulling in the bucks.

T.O.'s lawyer made it clear -- his client is a man without a team and therefore a man without a paycheck. The judge went one step further, telling T.O. his prospects for a comeback are bleak.

Judge Marmaro said, "His NFL career seems to be over. I mean no disrespect." T.O. nodded his head in acknowledgment.

And get this ... the judge apparently felt sorry for the beleaguered parent, offering him a ray of hope by noting that Kurt Warner went from an Arena League player to a Super Bowl champ. There's a buzz that T.O. may get picked up by an Arena team.

As for reducing his child support ... the judge wants to noodle on it before making a decision. more on this story

The Darcys and Bombay Bicycle Club North American Tour

The Darcys will be hitting the road with Bombay Bicycle Club for a North American tour.

The trek is set to kick off on Valentine's Day in San Diego, Ca and will wrap on March 10th in Philadelphia, PA.

The Darcys are touring in support of their self-titled debut which was produced by Murray Lightburn of The Dears. more on this story

Chad Ochocinco's Marriage To Basketball Wives Star In Doubt?

(TMZ) Chad Ochocinco's famous fiancee has slammed the brakes on the couple's wedding plans, TMZ has learned ... all because she suspects the NFL star has been messing around behind her back.

Sources tell us ... "Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada recently confronted Ocho after she became suspicious about his behavior ... and she isn't convinced he's been faithful.

The two are set to be married in the summer -- and while Evelyn hasn't "officially" cancelled the wedding yet, we're thinkin' the priest should start making other plans.

Plus, Chad and Evelyn were supposed to begin shooting their new reality show in just three weeks ... we're told that plan is also up in the air.

Calls to Ocho's rep were not returned. more on this story

Teen Mom Facing Eviction

(TMZ) Amber Portwood's landlord is tossing her out in the street -- a fact the "Teen Mom" star might care more about ... if she hadn't been cooling her ass in jail for the last 17 days.

The company that owns Amber's rented home in Anderson, Indiana filed notice with the court on Tuesday that it wants her out ASAP.

According to the docs, Portwood somehow violated her lease agreement -- no specifics are listed -- and the landlord delivered a "notice to vacate" on Dec. 20 ... the day AFTER Amber got hauled off to jail for alleged probation violations.

Portwood's attorney tells TMZ he didn't know about the notice, so couldn't comment. If Amber misses a Jan. 25 court date she could be evicted immediately.

2012 ... not looking up for Amber. more on this story

Allo Darlin Announce New Song, Album and Tour

(Sub) "Capricornia" the first single from Allo Darlin' sophomore album, Europe, is due for US release on March 6, 2012 with the full-length due on April 17.

The band will also be embarking on a full US tour to accompany the album release in April.

"Capricornia is the area in Queensland that I'm from. It has imaginary state lines, roughly around the Tropic of Capricorn, which runs directly through my hometown. There's a nice 70s monument that marks the spot where the line passes, out on a lonely dirt road where all the kids learn how to drive. My family have lived in this area for over 6 generations but none of my generation remain. It's a beautiful place. more on this story

Modern Family Star To The Rescue

(TMZ) Sofia Vergara began 2012 by rushing to the aid of a young woman who collapsed on the floor of a Las Vegas casino ... TMZ has learned.

The "Modern Family" star was leaving Hyde nightclub at the Bellagio around 3 AM on New Year's Day ... when Sofia saw a woman hit the deck.

Sources at the scene tell us ... Sofia and a girlfriend rushed over to the woman to help. We're told Sofia's friend had medical training and was seen checking the woman's pulse.

Both Sofia and her friend tried to keep the woman calm ... and waited by her side until security personnel and paramedics arrived to the scene. We're told the woman was eventually transported to a nearby hospital.

A rep for Sofia had no comment on the situation ... but we do ... BAD. ASS. more on this story

Lakers Head Coach Caught Speeding

(TMZ) L.A. Lakers head coach Mike Brown had a run in with the California Highway Patrol on Tuesday ... after officers witnessed the guy BLAZING down an Orange County freeway in a brand new badass ride.

TMZ has learned ... Brown was pulled over on the 91 Freeway for pushing his new Audi near the 85 MPH mark ... in a 65 MPH zone.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... Brown was "very cool" with the officer ... and was let off with a stern warning. more on this story