Nicki Minaj Thinks American Idol Producers Set Up Mariah Drama?

There's just one problem with her theory -- we know "Idol" producers were genuinely shocked and upset by Tuesday's outburst. Our very connected "Idol" sources tell us the big wigs were completely flat footed and they are doing everything they can to restore peace -- which they successfully did Wednesday. more on this story

Real Housewives Star Assaults Homeless Man

(TMZ) "Real Housewives of Miami" star Peter Rosello -- the son of housewife Alexia Echevarria -- appeared to have assaulted a homeless man on camera this week, then posted the video online ... and now, police are looking into the footage.

The video was shot in South Beach Monday night -- you can see Peter looking into the camera, and introduce the "prank" by saying, "Punching a hobo in the nuts."

Peter then walks up to a sleeping homeless man and tells him, "I was gonna give you five dollars" ... before dropping his fist into the man's crotch.

Peter and his cameraman then run to a nearby car and make their escape.

A rep for the Miami Beach PD tells TMZ, the department is currently trying to identify the victim in order to open an investigation. more on this story

Police Investigating Ashton Kutcher Home Invasion Prank

(TMZ) The alleged home invasion robbery at Ashton Kutcher's house today was a prank -- a case of "swatting" -- and cops are now on the hunt for the culprit ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... someone called 911 and reported they were hold up in the bathroom and that there were shots fired inside the house and people were either injured or dead.

There were indeed 3 people inside the house -- people working on Ashton's crib, but there was no one in the bathroom and no injured people or dead bodies.

Our law enforcement sources say cops have closed the "home invasion" investigation and now know it's a case of swatting -- where a caller tricks 911 and reports a phony crime of a serious nature, which happened recently with Miley Cyrus.

Our sources say cops believe the culprit or culprits were scoping out the home because they knew 3 people were inside. None of the 3 workers are suspects.

Ashton was not home at the time.

Cops are 'aggressively" looking for the culprits. more on this story

Emergency at CBS Over Suspicious Package

(TMZ) The LAPD and the L.A. Fire Department responded to CBS studios in Hollywood yesterday, TMZ has learned -- after receiving a call about a package containing a suspicious substance.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, investigators are currently on scene, trying to figure out the nature of the substance.

Lucky for CBS, we're told the LAPD and L.A. Fire were already on the lot doing training exercises ... so they were able to respond in record time.

We're told everyone at the lot is fine. There were no injuries. more on this story

Justin Bieber's Car Towed During Concert

(TMZ) More bad news for Justin Bieber's chromed out Fisker Karma -- the ridiculous car was TOWED Tuesday night in L.A. while Bieber was performing a concert ... but it wasn't the singer's fault.

TMZ has obtained pics of the parking humiliation at the Shore Hotel in Santa Monica. A rep for the towing company tells us the car was towed because it had been occupying a 15-minute parking spot ... for over 4 hours.

Sources tell TMZ, someone in Bieber's camp had left the car there while the singer performed at the Staples Center in Downtown L.A. ... several miles away.

Bieber's concert kicked off at 7pm. The car was towed around 8pm and stowed away at a nearby impound lot.

We're told the car has since been picked up. more on this story

Lil Scrappy Released From Jail

(TMZ) TMZ has learned ... Lil Scrappy has been released from an Atlanta jail after being arrested on Monday for violating his probation.

Scrappy's attorney, Mawuli Mel Davis tells us the judge has put Scrappy back on probation -- the kind where he is required to frequently check in with his probation officer. He had previously been on a "non-reporting" probation.

As we first reported, Scrappy was arrested Tuesday for failing to check in with his probation officer last month. Scrappy also allegedly failed to tell his P.O. that he changed addresses.

Scrappy -- who's on probation stemming from a 2008 weed possession case -- has insisted it was an honest mistake -- and he's been an otherwise model probationer. more on this story

Billy Ray Cyrus Releasing New Album

Billy Ray Cyrus has set an October 23, 2012 release date for his 13th studio album, Change My Mind.

"My songs come to me when I'm dealing with heavy stuff," Cyrus says. "If I'm going through something emotional, the songs pour out of me. It's the only way I know how to express myself. I have lived through every emotion on every one of these songs. I'd just write it all down and tell myself, 'Lean into the music.'"

The album was recorded in Los Angeles over three months with Grammy nominated, multi award-winning producer Brandon Friesen and the title track and first single is now available at iTunes and other digital retail sites. more on this story

Psy Sets World Record and Performs On Kimmel

(popmusiclife) Psy has taken the world by storm with his infectious hit, "Gangnam Style" and performed the track on Jimmy Kimmel's show.

The video for the song was recently named the most-like video in the history of YouTube by the Guinness World Records.

"Gangnam Style," which has only been available to view since July 15, has been 'liked' in excess of 2,141,758 times, making it the most liked video in YouTube history. Watch the Kimmel performance.

Cher Lloyd Performs On Dancing With The Stars

(popmusiclife) Cher Lloyd released her debut album, "Sticks & Stones," in North America on Tuesday.

The former X Factor contestant is promoting the project, which was originally issued in her native UK last November, with a series of high-profile US television appearances.

On Monday, Lloyd stopped by the Ellen DeGeneres Show to perform her current US single, "Want U Back" and on Tuesday, Cher sang the single on Dancing With The Stars. Watch it here.

RuPaul's Drag Race Star Sahara Davenport Dead At 27

Producer Entertainment Group sent over the sad news that Antoine Ashley, also known as Sahara Davenport, from the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race passed away due to heart failure on October 1, 2012, at John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. He was twenty-seven years old.

Antoine's mother, Angela Ashley Reddish, spoke on behalf of the family. "I thank God for giving me an Angel Antoine Ashley to share with the rest of the world. My family and I would like to thank everyone for their condolences and support. We know that our Angel is now dancing in heaven. May God bless each and everyone."

Boyfriend of six years and fellow drag entertainer Karl Westerberg (aka Manila Luzon) had this to say: "Antoine lived to entertain the world as Sahara Davenport, and the world was in awe over his extreme talent. But his heart is what made us all fall in love with him. To me he will always be my best friend, my hero, my Diva, and I have always considered myself more than lucky to have him be forever a part of my life. Thank you, hon, for bringing so much beauty to all of us. Your legacy lives on in me and all of us you've touched." more on this story

Aaron Lewis Set For Charlie Daniels Scholarships for Heroes

Charlie Daniels Scholarships for Heroes a charity event benefiting Sentinels of Freedom and veteran students of Lipscomb University is set to take place on Tuesday, October 9.

Charlie Daniels, along with his wife Hazel will be joined by special celebrity guests Sal Gonzales and Aaron Lewis.

The benefit, emceed by GAC's Storme Warren, begins at 6:00 p.m. with a VIP cocktail reception, with doors opening and the silent auction beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Valet Parking Smashes Nicky Hilton's Range Rover

(TMZ) Nicky Hilton got screwed at valet parking when her Range Rover was returned with a massive dent and scrape -- and oddly enough ... Nicky took it like a champ.

Nicky got the bad news after walking out of dinner at Craig's ... the valet brought around her sweet black Range with a few improvements -- the right rear quarter panel was smashed in and the paint job was destroyed.

Nicky's friend Jeff Beacher handled the paperwork for Nicky, but we gotta hand it to her -- most people would go OFF on the parking attendant, but then again most people don't have Hilton money.

Nicky's reaction to her wrecked ride is best described in one word ... namaste. more on this story

Former WWE Star Rescues Train Passengers?

(TMZ) Former WWE Star Shawn Daivari says he used a REAR NAKED CHOKE HOLD to save a train full of people last week ... after an unruly passenger allegedly threatened to kill them.

TMZ spoke to Daivari ... who says the incident went down last Thursday on an airport bound train from Minneapolis. The WWE star says an uncontrollable passenger in his car became violent ... shouted racial slurs and threatened to kill his fellow passengers.

Daivari says multiple people pressed the emergency button to call for help -- but NOTHING happened.

The pro-wrestler then took matters into his own hands telling TMZ, "I wasn't going to wait any longer to see if a cop showed up." Daivari says he threw the guy down, slapped on a rear naked choke hold on him and then threw his ass out at the next stop.

One witness, who was on the train when it all went down, tells us Daivari choked out the passenger so hard ... he peed his pants.

A rep for the Metro Transit Rail tells TMZ ... "Metro Transit police responded after being alerted by the train operator to a fight on board. The investigation is ongoing." more on this story

Steel Magnolias Producer Suing Over Lifetime Remake

(TMZ) The woman who produced "Steel Magnolias" ... is suing over the upcoming Lifetime TV remake of the film -- claiming she's not getting the credit or the cash she deserves.

Victoria L. White -- executive producer of the 1989 film starring Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, and Shirley MacLaine -- filed suit today against Sony Pictures and Lifetime Television ... which is producing the new TV movie starring Queen Latifah and Phylicia Rashad.

In the documents, White claims she has a "Television agreement" that entitles her to a co-producer or co-executive producer credit on any TV project based on her hit film.

According to the suit, White also says she's entitled to some cash for the Lifetime remake -- including a $15,000 fee, plus up to 3.75% of net profits from the movie.

White further alleges Sony is fully aware of her TV deal ... because it gave her a co-producer credit and compensation the first time this happened. For those who don't remember (as in all of us), there was already a 1992 CBS TV movie based on "Steel Magnolias."

White is suing for compensation on the Lifetime remake -- and she wants an injunction to stop the film from airing ... unless she gets her on-screen credit. The movie is scheduled to air Oct. 7. more on this story

Michael Vick Spent Almost $30 Million In Four Years

(TMZ) Michael Vick has blown through nearly $30 million since filing for bankruptcy in 2008 -- nearly 95% of his total income -- TMZ has learned.

According to legal docs filed in his bankruptcy case, Vick made $31 million since he went belly up -- that includes his Eagles salary and various endorsements and other business ventures.

The math is pretty simple -- Vick had to pay a total of $29.6 mil -- of that, $10.9 went to taxes, $9.2 mil went to creditors, $2.7 went to lawyers and accountants, and the rest is for various things, including child support and living expenses.

All tolled, Vick is now left with around $1.5 mil. That's nothing to sneeze at, but considering what he made it's pretty shocking.

Things are looking up for the NFLer. Vick signed a 6 year, $100 million contract in 2011 ... with almost $40 mil in guaranteed money, so he won't be poor -- in rich terms -- for much longer. more on this story

Jason Aldean's Walk of Shame Caught On Video

(TMZ) Jason Aldean wasn't lying ... the married country star WAS a drunken mess on that night he was with "American Idol" contestant Brittany Kerr ... and TMZ has the video that proves it.

We shot the footage last week ... showing Aldean and some of his buddies stumbling out of "The Den" bar and grill on the Sunset Strip and into a waiting taxi.

At the time, we had no idea the guy had been making out with the "Idol" singer ... we just knew he was hammered ... so, nothing special.

But now it's another piece of the puzzle that could explain what went down in the bar. Watch the video here.

Lil Wayne Proud Of Hilarious Deposition Tapes

(TMZ) Lil Wayne ain't fazed one bit by the hilarious deposition tapes that surfaced last week -- telling friends, the footage makes him look like a BOSS ... and he's glad people got a taste of his twisted sense of humor.

TMZ posted the amazing clips last Tuesday ... in which Weezy answers multiple questions by a lawyer for Quincy Jones III -- the guy who Wayne's suing over a documentary film about the rapper ... a film Wayne called "scandalous" and wants to eradicate.

During the deposition, Wayne spouts off hilarious one-liner after one-liner -- calling one of the lawyer's questions "the stupidest ever," and recalling his own performance at some "crazy stupid thick" girl's birthday party.

Sources close to Wayne tell us, everyone in the rapper's camp thinks the tapes are hilarious.

We're told Wayne believes he answered the questions astutely -- and if anyone looks dumb, it's Quincy's lawyer ... who asked all the wrong questions in the depo.

As one source put it, Wayne "is still winning." more on this story

Domingo Zapata Denies Romance With Lindsay Lohan

(TMZ) Lindsay Lohan is absolutely not in a committed relationship with the rich and famous artist who lets the actress drive his expensive cars whenever she wants ... this according to the artist.

In case you forgot, Lohan was driving Domingo Zapata's fancy Porsche in NYC last month when she allegedly struck a pedestrian in front of the Dream Hotel ... where she was later arrested for fleeing the scene of an accident.

Rumors immediately spread that Lindsay was dating Domingo -- but this week in L.A., Zapata made it clear, it just ain't true ... the two are "just friends." more on this story