Lindsay Lohan Reportedly Lied To Police About Car Crash

Several eyewitnesses at the scene tell TMZ, after the crash Lindsay and her assistant both got out of the car on the passenger side, which means Lindsay had to climb over the console. It appears Lindsay had concocted the lie almost immediately after impact. more on this story

American Idol Phillip Phillips To Leave Hospital Following Major Surgery

(TMZ) American Idol winner Phillip Phillips was in far worse condition than anyone thought before he went under the knife ... TMZ has learned.

The good news ... we're told Phillip will be released from the hospital today after undergoing more than 6 hours of major surgery for massive kidney stones.

It turns out ... the stint that was placed in Phillip's kidney was there way too long -- so long, it became embedded in his body. It became so bad, surgeons had to cut the stint out with a laser.

Doctors say the surgery was successful, so Phillip will be recovering in a Malibu mansion thanks to one of the "American Idol" honchos who is letting the "A.I." winner use his pad.

Phillip is hoping to be fully recovered by July 6th ... which is when the Idol tour officially kicks off in Detroit.

Phillip says, "If I can sing with all those kidney stones in me, I can make the first date." more on this story

No Doubt Set New Album Release

No Doubt have set a September 25, 2012 release date for their new album, which they have entitled Push and Shove . The first single from the effort, "Settle Down," will debut on July 16, 2012.

The music video for "Settle Down" will premiere in early July. The video will be directed by Sophie Muller who has helmed many of No Doubt's music videos including "Don't Speak," "Underneath It All," "Sunday Morning" and "Simple Kind of Life".

The band announced the news to fans yesterday with the following message via their website: Hope you are sitting down because we've got some really big news to share with you! While adding the finishing touches to our new album we realized it was time to name it…so we did, and the name is…(drum roll please)…Push and Shove !!! more on this story

Kris Humphries Gives Extortion Evidence To FBI

(TMZ) Kris Humphries' lawyers had a telephone conference with FBI agents yesterday TMZ has learned ... and they handed over evidence allegedly proving his ex-flame Myla Sinanaj attempted to extort him.

TMZ broke the story ... Kris' camp reached out to the Feds after Myla allegedly demanded a large sum of money in exchange for her silence ... regarding incriminating details about her relationship with Kris.

Sources tell TMZ, Kris' lawyers had the conference with FBI officials in Minnesota this AM and turned over multiple recorded messages from Myla which Kris' people say proves extortion.

A rep for the FBI would neither confirm nor deny an investigation was taking place. more on this story

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Divorce Called Off?

(TMZ) Vanessa Bryant will NOT sign documents to make her divorce final ... at least for now ... because TMZ has learned, she and Kobe are working on a full reconciliation.

We've learned Kobe and Vanessa are trying to work out the issues that caused her to file for divorce back in December. They spend a lot of time together but he has not officially moved back in with her.

Under California law, Vanessa has to wait 6 months before she can file final docs making the divorce official. The 6-month mark hits this weekend, so Vanessa could end the marriage as early as Monday ... but we know she won't.

Now here's the deal. We're told Kobe and Vanessa have had their ups and downs since she filed for divorce ... and there's nothing stopping her from filing final divorce papers at some point in the future if things don't work out.

One more thing. If Kobe and Vanessa end up living together ... it will be in one of her 3 mansions, because he signed over all the deeds to her while they were working out divorce details. more on this story

Jersey Shore Stars Claim Self-Defense In Bar Fight

(TMZ) The guys from "Jersey Shore" who got into a bar fight this weekend are claiming it was all self-defense and they were NOT the ones who swung first ... sources close to the show tell TMZ.

As TMZ first reported, two guys claim they were on the receiving end of an unprovoked attack from Ronnie and Roger and are now planning on suing.

But our sources tell a different story -- claiming the two guys were taunting the cast all night and security at the club even tried to get them to leave. Our sources say the guys refused and proceeded to get into the face of Roger and of a friend of Pauly D's named Ryan Labbes.

Our sources say the two guys then threatened to "knock them out" and that's when someone took a swing at Pauly D and all hell broke loose. We're told Ronnie and Roger (along with Pauly D and The Situation) were simply coming to the aid of their guido friend.

We might not find out what really happened ... until the show premieres. more on this story

Brad Paisley Wins CMA International Artist Achievement Award

(Gibson) Gibson playing country star Brad Paisley was presented with the prestigious CMA International Artist Achievement Award during CMA Music Fest last week.

CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore said: "Brad is an outstanding ambassador for Country Music around the globe. CMA is proud to present him with our International Artist Achievement Award."

Brad Paisley has performed in Canada, Europe, and Japan. In 2010, he played in London for the first time and performed in front of two sold-out audiences at the Shepherd's Bush Empire before travelling to Norway for the Notodden Musikk Festival. more on this story

Tori Amos To Revisit The Past With New Album

Tori Amos is eying an October 2012 release date for her next album release, which is billed as Tori re-imagining a personally handpicked collection of songs spanning her entire. We were sent these details:

Produced by Amos with arrangements by long-time collaborator John Phlip Shenale, the new album features reworkings of songs in orchestral settings which Amos recorded with the renowned Metropole Orchestra, conducted by Jules Buckley.

"The 20 years is about celebrating different times that have happened – all the blessings, all the conversations which have taken place and inspired these songs. This is a collection of new studio recordings of where they are now and who they have become," comments Amos. more on this story

Tammy Wynette Remixed For 70th Birthday

Epic/Legacy will celebrate what would have been Tammy Wynette's 70th birthday with the digital release of two Dave Aude remixes of her hit song "Stand By Your Man" on June 15th.

The remixes are "Stand By Your Man - Dave Aude Radio Remix" (3:21) and "Stand By Your Man - Dave Aude Club Remix" (5:16).

Stand By Your Man" is the signature track by Wynette (b. May 5, 1942 - d. April 6, 1998), acknowledged as "The First Lady Of Country Music" by The Country Music Hall of Fame. It remains an American classic in 2012, more than a third of a century after its release in October 1968. more on this story

Taylor Swift Receives Honorary Star of Compassion Award

Country music star Taylor Swift has received the 2012 Honorary Star of Compassion Award by Northwest Tennessee Disaster Services, a Tennessee nonprofit group dedicated to disaster relief and education.

"Taylor Swift has inspired the small community of Northwest Tennessee with her uplifting words and music of encouragement and has become a positive role model for the young and old alike here. It is with great honor and appreciation that we present this one of a kind, jeweled award to such an outstanding individual on behalf of our organization." - said Rob Adcock, Director of Northwest Tennessee Disaster Services during a presentation at Big Machine Label Group in Nashville, TN.

Northwest Tennessee Disaster Services, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers, provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. The organization's official website is: www.togetherforall.org

Kacey Musgraves To Tour With Lady Antebellum

Kacey Musgraves will be hitting the road with Lady Antebellum in select cities this summer for the group's Own The Night 2012 World Tour in Europe.

"I feel so lucky and excited to be going out on the road - and halfway around the world - with Lady Antebellum," exclaimed Musgraves. "I'm gonna bring my Lady-A game!"

"Kacey is a really talented singer/songwriter, and we're just big fans of her music," said Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley. "Keith Urban was gracious enough to invite us to Australia with him a few years ago, so we know what a big opportunity it is for a new artist to be able to go tour overseas. We're excited to take Kacey with us!" more on this story

Glen Hansard Streaming New Solo Album Online

Glen Hansard of The Frames and The Swell Season is streaming his new solo album online ahead of its June 16th release.

NPR are giving fans a full stream preview of Hansard's first solo album, Rhythm and Repose, right here.

Rhythm and Repose is Hansard's first album of new material since his 2009 release Strict Joy with The Swell Season. Hansard will continue to support the new record with a U.S. tour this fall. more on this story

Slightly Stoopid's Forthcoming Album Filled With Special Guests

Slightly Stoopid have set an August 14, 2012 release date for their new studio album, Top Of The World.

The band continues to explore a variety of styles on the new record, with help from some of their biggest influences and heroes.

Reggae legends Barrington Levy and Don Carlos of Black Uhuru are present on the tracks "Ur Love" and "Marijuana," respectively. Longtime band friend and touring partner G. Love appears on "G Man Blues," and Fishbone frontman Angelo Moore appears on "Ska Diddy." more on this story

A Bad Think Releasing New Album This Month

A Bad Think has set a June 26, 2012 release date for their fourth studio album, Medicine.

A Bad Think is the project of long time musician and producer, Michael Marquart, who plays most instruments and provides lead vocals on many of the tracks.

In describing the imaging behind the lyrics, Marquart says "some of the simplest things in life inspired this album, such as watching trees do their own unique dance back and forth to the unpredictable wind in 'Comforts Me' to the simplicity of the words that just say, 'Tell Me.'" Medicine also features a rare cover for A Bad Think, an updated rendition of the Hollies 1966 classic, "Bus Stop". more on this story

Lee Greenwood Reacts To School Pulling God Bless The USA

Lee Greenwood has reacted to the news that a NYC school pulled his hit "God Bless The USA" from a kindergarten graduation ceremony.

Webster PR sent over the following statement from Greenwood: I wrote 'God Bless the USA' about the love I have for this country and the struggle we have gone through to remain free. Our country was founded on the principle that it welcomes people of all cultures and gives them the same rights we have as citizens.

However, I feel compelled to echo the faith or our forefathers who all believed in God and a respect of a higher authority. Personally, denying the children of PS 90 to sing "God Bless the USA," offends me as a Christian. more on this story

The Trishas To Go High, Wide & Handsome This Summer

(conqueroo) The Trishas have set an August 7th release date for their debut full-length album, High, Wide & Handsome.

For the effort, The Trishas recruited an all-star team to back them during sessions at Nashville's Sound Emporium: guitarist Kenny Vaughan and drummer Harry Stinson of Marty Stuart's Fabulous Superlatives (Stinson and daddy Welch were Dead Reckoners together); bassist Viktor Krauss (Lyle Lovett, Elvis Costello); fiddler Tammy Rogers (another Dead Reckoner); and steel guitarist/"utility player" Russ Pahl. Veteran engineer Mike Poole produced.

The album's title comes from a line in the album track, "Mother of Invention." Jamie Wilson explains, "That song is about what we do," says Wilson. "It's about when something happens, you make do and get creative to find solutions. Like when our drummer quit; we just brought drums up front and we play them now." more on this story

NFL Star Warren Sapp Trying To Keep His Home In Bankruptcy

(TMZ) Former NFL superstar Warren Sapp didn't shed too many tears when he lost his Super Bowl ring, but when it comes to losing his home ... he won't go down without a fight, TMZ has learned.

HSBC bank is on the attack, claiming Sapp -- who recently filed for bankruptcy in Florida -- owes them $781,879.39 from before his filing. They are asking a judge to allow them to foreclose on his beachfront condo to help settle the score.

The football legend filed a response this week, pleading with the judge to let him keep the fancy digs. Sapp claims he's still living in it ... despite not making payments on it since May 2011.

Sapp vows to cough up the cash as soon as he sorts out the bankruptcy.

A judge has yet to rule. more on this story

Biggest Loser's Dr. H Separating From Wife

(TMZ) The wife of Dr. H from "Biggest Loser" is dropping some serious weight -- as in her own husband -- she's filing for legal separation after almost 33 YEARS of marriage.

Wanda Huizenga filed the papers in L.A. County Superior Court against the good doc -- real name Robert Huizenga -- citing "irreconcilable differences."

The couple was married in August 1979 and split in May this year. They have no minor children.

Wanda wants spousal support. Calls to Dr. H were not returned. more on this story

Rob Dyrdek Hates Using The Name Rob Dyrdek

(TMZ) Rob Dyrdek hates the name Rob Dyrdek -- this according to Rob Dyrdek. The MTV star made it clear on Twitter -- he's sick of using his full name on the social media site, and instead offered to buy the far more abbreviated ... @rob from some dude named Rob Bertholf.

Dyrdek tweeted on Tuesday -- "@rob Do you have any interest in selling your twitter name?" Then added, "You need a vacation? Maybe a nice watch?"

Dyrdrek better think bigger -- much bigger -- because Bertholf tells us he ain't selling for less than 6 FIGURES!!!

The current @rob says he turned down a $25,000 offer two years ago for the handle -- and you gotta love his explanation for the inflated price: "It wouldn't be worth my time to rebuild all of my profiles that are linked to my twitter handle." more on this story

Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs Loses $420 In Legal Fight

(TMZ) Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs can add one loss to his nearly-impeccable fighting record -- because he just suffered a trouncing in court ... for nearly half a million bucks.

Shannon's ex-publicist Kali Bowyer sued the boxer, claiming she helped him earn $2.8 million back in 2009 -- but was never paid commissions.

Bowyer claimed Shannon owed her $420,000 for her services -- and according to a South Carolina court, the boxer blew off the lawsuit.

The court issued a default judgment against the boxer this week for the full amount ... ordering him to pay up stat. more on this story

Kardashian Sisters Fighting Back Over QuickTrim Lawsuit

(TMZ) The Kardashian sisters did NOT sell bogus diet pills to millions of gullible consumers ... they just coaxed 'em into buying them -- this according to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ.

Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe Kardashian just filed their response to a $5 million lawsuit that accuses them of peddling lies to the public about the diet pill QuickTrim. The product's main ingredient is caffeine, which the FDA has decided is not an effective weight-loss drug.

But Kim & Ko. are now firing back -- claiming they're NOT the sellers of QuickTrim, they're just the pretty faces promoting the product ... so they shouldn't be held responsible for QuickTrim's lies.

The sisters claim there's currently no law that holds spokespeople accountable for false advertising -- and it should stay that way.

The Kardashians want their names dropped from the lawsuit. more on this story

Evander Holyfield Loses Millions On Mansion Auction

(TMZ) Good news: Boxing legend Evander Holyfield recently sold his house for $7,500,000!!!

Bad news: It was at a public auction, he actually owes the bank twice that amount ... and he also owes over $200,000 in back taxes.

According to docs filed in Georgia, Holyfield's massive mansion -- 54,000 sq. ft on 234 acres -- outside Atlanta sold at public auction on March 6 ... but part of the money will go directly to Uncle Sam to pay off his back tax bill.

As for the rest ... according to the documents, Holyfield owed more than $14,000,000 on the house -- plus more than $2500 in foreclosure expenses. It's unclear whether the bank is going after him for the balance.

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

The Platters' Herb Reed Funeral Details Announced

The funeral for The Platters legend Herb Reed is scheduled for Saturday, June 16, 2012. The following details were sent out:

Members of the international, national and local music communities will join Reed's music family and friends to celebrate the life of the last remaining member of the historically significant quintet.

The Reverend Dr. Regina Shearer, vice-president of Academic Affairs at Rivier College and former member of Herb Reed's Platters from 1969-1983, will officiate, and nationally renowned preacher Bishop Robert G. Brown will deliver the eulogy. Bishop Brown knew Reed well in the late '60s, '70s and early '80s when the Bishop was the co-owner of the RISE Club in Cambridge where the Bishop also sang/played bass with the Indigos. more on this story

Real Housewives Star Fighting Back Against Witch Doctor Claims

(TMZ) Witch doctors and the law -- leave it to the mother of Phaedra Parks ... from "Real Housewives of Atlanta" ... to bring the 2 together in a $6 MILLION defamation filed in Georgia.

Regina Bell filed the suit against a company called Vibe Holdings for its online book, "Lies of a Real Housewife: Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil" ... in which the author accuses Bell of "witch-doctory" and concocting potions to abort children.

In the docs, Bell says all of the accusations are BS ... claiming she has been a respected preacher in her community for 33 years, and there's no way in hell she ever created any potions, or offered to help abort unborn children.

Now Bell is demanding a retraction and $6 million in damages from Vibe -- saying she is publicly hated and ridiculed because of the book.

The filing comes on the heels of her daughter's $30 million suit against Vibe ... also claiming defamation due to the book.

A judge has yet to rule. more on this story

Miss Universe Vs Ex-Miss Pennsylvania

(TMZ) Donald Trump delivered as promised -- the Miss Universe organization has officially filed a crushing defamation suit against ex-Miss Pennsylvania Sheena Monnin ... for saying the pageant's a fraud.

TMZ broke the story ... Miss Universe owner Donald Trump gave Monnin a 24-hour ultimatum to retract her statements that pageant winners are predetermined -- but Monnin refused.

So this morning, one of Donald's lawyers tells TMZ, the Miss Universe Organization -- Miss USA's parent company -- has filed suit before a private court, and intends to go after Monnin for all she's worth.

The lawsuit was not filed in a public court because of a stipulation in Monnin's contract -- which requires any dispute to be handled through private arbitration.

We're told the Miss Universe team has filed two separate causes of action -- both seeking big bucks. How much? We're told, "Significant damages."

Attempts to reach Monnin were unsuccessful. more on this story

Carla Hassett Plans Summer Album Release

Carla Hassett plans to release her third album, entitled 'Circulo,' this summer. She explains the album title as follows:

"I wanted to take my audience back to the music that defined me as an artist," says Carla, whose music is a blend of sultry samba beats melded with the slow groove of American soul. Singing in both English and Portuguese, Carla invites her audiences to experience the rhythms that made her fall in love with music and captured her spirit forever. Having had her voice compared to Aretha Franklin and Sade, and likened to Bebel Gilberto in her previous album, there is no denying that Carla's music has been defined by her own experiences.

"I grew up in Chicago in a very Brazilian home where we spoke only Portuguese. I fell in love with the samba, bossa nova, and MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) that my parents played, as well as the soul and pop music on the radio; music like Bill Withers, Al Green, Steely Dan and Fleetwood Mac," enthuses Carla. more on this story

Gruff Rhys Plans Summer Investigative Concert Tour

(Sub) Gruff Rhys will launch his second investigative concert tour of the Americas this summer.

The first, which saw Gruff winding his way around South America in a search for his long lost, guitar-playing, poncho-wearing uncle, Rene Griffiths, was documented by Dylan Goch in their 2010 feature film Separado!

In August 2012 Gruff - known around the world for his work with Super Furry Animals and Neon Neon, as well as his collaborations with Gorillaz, Dangermouse, Sparklehorse and Simian Mobile Disco - will be seeking out the final resting place of his relative John Evans, who left Wales in 1792 on a quest to find a mythical tribe of Welsh speaking Native Americans. Gruff will follow the path of John Evans using film, the written word, photo-story, social media and song to create an investigative road movie and album. more on this story

Kimbra Set For First North American Headline Tour

Kimbra will launch her very first North American headlining tour this fall with a month-long trek that kicks off September 25th in Vancouver, BC and runs through to October 27th in Toronto, ON. The Stepkids will support.

The tour will support the release of the US version of her debut album Vows, which was released on May 22nd via Warner Bros. Records. Vows debuted at #14 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts with 21,665 albums sold

For the US edition of Vows, Kimbra recorded additional tracks in Los Angeles, CA with such producers and songwriters as Mike Elizondo and Greg Kurstin. Also included on the release is "Warrior" featuring Mark Foster (Foster the People) and A-Trak, originally recorded for the Converse "Three Artists, One Song" series. Kimbra recently performed "Settle Down" on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and she is currently on tour with Foster the People. more on this story

Robyn Hitchcock Continues Phantom 45 Series With Two New Songs

Yep Roc Records has released the latest offering from Robyn Hitchcock's Phantom 45 series.

Two brand new songs - "There Goes The Ice" and "Twitch 4 Sam Surfer" - are available exclusively from Robyn's website as a FREE MP3 download, and/or .99 cents high-quality FLAC files.

According to Robyn: "'There Goes The Ice' was written in October 2008 off the coast of Greenland on board the Grigor Mikheev, the Russian ship chartered by Cape Farewell to take a collection of artists and scientists up to Disko Bay where we visited a region of the imperilled Arctic. The photographer, Chris Wainwright, had just filmed me spelling out Here Comes The Sun in semaphore, silhouetted on deck against the sunset. Surrounded as we were by icebergs 'calved' from the rapidly melting Arctic ice-cap, I found myself writing There Goes The Ice as a mournful echo of George Harrison's song." more on this story