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WILLIAM BALFOUR has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Oscar winner JENNIFER HUDSON’s mother, brother and nephew.
Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson’s sister Julia, entered his plea during a court hearing in Chicago on Tuesday (20Jan09).
According to reports Balfour, 27, nodded to his family as he entered the Cook County Criminal Court.
He is charged with first degree murder and home invasion, following the triple killings of Darnell Donerson, Jason Hudson and seven-year-old Julian King last October (08).
Balfour is being held without bail and is next scheduled to appear in court on 27 January (09). (IG/WNWA/CL) WENN - BREAKING NEWS - 20 January 2009 ————————————————————————–

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British pop star LILY ALLEN has no confidence in her ability as a singer-songwriter, and is "convinced" she’ll be found out as a fraud.
Allen’s debut album All right, Still sold 2.6 million copies, earned her a Grammy Award nomination and its producer, Mark Ronson, a Grammy win.
But the singer insists she suffers crippling self-doubt.
Allen says, "I convinced I’m not talented at all, and I’m sure people are just about to figure it out.
"I’m not very good, am I? I don’t think what I do is any good. I think I’m awful. I’m not a musician. I don’t play an instrument. I write nursery rhymes" (IG/WNWC/LR) WENN - FIFTH - HOLLYWOOD, SHOWBIZ & PEOPLE NEWS - 20 JANUARY 2009

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KATE BECKINSALE and MICHAEL SHEEN’s daughter LILY has inherited acting skills from her thespian parents - she dazzled an audience of her local drama group by taking on a starring role in musical MAMMA MIA!.
The former couple’s daughter, who turns 10 later this month (Jan09), attends an after school club for budding stars and impressed an assembled crowd when she performed the lead part of Sophie in the ABBA-inspired adaptation.
But the youngster also had to take on a male role during the show - which she ended up enjoying a little too much.
Sheen tells WENN, "Lily did a production of Mamma Mia! with her local drama group before Christmas where she surprised us all by being able to sing brilliantly.
"She played Sophie – the starring role! In one performance she was Sophie and in the other one she played the guy Sophie gets married to, but because it was all girls they just cut all the boy parts.
"She had to draw a moustache on herself for the second performance and get married to Sophie – that was her favourite bit!" But Sheen is convinced Lily won’t make the transition to Hollywood when she is older - because she prefers to be behind the camera.
He adds, "She’s a writer, she wants to write. It’s what she loves doing, so she will probably do a bit of that."

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A teenage movie fan has been stabbed following a New York screening of gruesome horror movie MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3-D.
An unnamed 16-year-old boy reportedly refused to leave the Long Island, New York theatre after the film had finished on Sunday (18Jan09) night and began fighting with security guard Ricardo Singh, 24.
The youngster was stabbed during the tussle and admitted to Winthrop University Hospital, where he received treatment for his injuries and was subsequently released.
Singh was arrested, charged with second-degree assault and is set to be arraigned on Tuesday (20Jan09).

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FROST/NIXON star MICHAEL SHEEN is certain President BARACK OBAMA will lead the world to great things - because the Democrat is a "breath of fresh air".
Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States at a ceremony attended by millions in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday (20Jan09).
The Welsh actor was unable to attend and had to watch the momentous event on television at home in England – but it didn’t quell his excitement at the “historic” appointment.
He tells WENN, "I think between the people on offer, I would have voted for Obama. People talk about historic occasions and that kind of stuff and I go ‘Yeah, I get it’, but this really is – it’s the first time I’ve thought it really is historic.
"The world seems to be a very crucial point in its history and things have gotten extreme and gone over the edge a bit and the idea that there’s a man who might be able to pull things back with common sense." And Sheen is convinced Obama is more than up to the leadership job.
He adds, "Obviously everyone is hopeful about that so it’s a really, really historic moment not just because of the race issue but because of where the world is at and it seems wherever he goes he is the cleverest man in the room, so it’s a breath of fresh air. It’s really a great moment."

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SUSANNA FOSTER, the star of 1943’s PHANTOM OF THE OPERA movie has died.
The singer/actress died of heart failure at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, New Jersey on Saturday (17Jan09). She was 84.
She co-starred with Claude Rains and Nelson Eddy in the remake of the 1925 silent screen version of Phantom, and then enjoyed a clutch of film successes throughout the 1940s.
Foster was a child star on radio before her Hollywood career began, and she landed an MGM contract at the age of 12.
She turned down the leading role in National Velvet, which eventually helped turn Elizabeth Taylor into a star. That decision eventually cost her the MGM contract.
By 1950, Foster had virtually disappeared from Hollywood and the public spotlight. She struggled in her private life and at one point was homeless.
She was to make only one more movie appearance - in 1992’s Detour.

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MACAULAY CULKIN’s sister DAKOTA had alcohol in her system the night she was struck by a car and killed.
Los Angeles coroner Fred Corral has revealed the 29 year old had been drinking and was "more than likely impaired due to alcohol," when the accident took place in the city on 9 December (08).
The medical expert has not revealed how much alcohol was in her system - but confirmed Dakota was undergoing alcohol counselling prior to her death, information provided by the Culkin family.
Dakota’s five siblings - who include Home Alone star Macaulay - were left "absolutely heartbroken" by the death.

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Womanising rocker STEVEN TYLER was so successful and prolific during his band’s 1970s heyday, he was never turned down for sex.
The Aerosmith frontman is one of rock’s most legendary lotharios, with a string of celebrity fans and willing groupies among his conquests.
Now 60 and settled with girlfriend Erin Brady, Tyler insists he has retired his Casanova-status - but boasts he was unstoppable in his prime.
When asked in an interview in Elle magazine if he was ever rejected by a woman, Tyler replies, "Never. I’m a persistent motherf**ker. I’m very sensual and very rhythm-oriented and into poetry. Women can feel that." But Tyler insists he never took his success with women for granted, unlike some of his rivals: "You still think to yourself, ‘My God, I can’t believe this is happening’. You don’t ever take it for granted, unless you’re Gene Simmons and so full of yourself."

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ARETHA FRANKLIN performed for her biggest crowd on Tuesday (20Jan09) when she sang MY COUNTRY, ‘TIS OF THEE at President BARACK OBAMA’s inauguration ceremony.
The soul legend wore a long grey coat and a matching bow-fronted hat for the stirring ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Millions packed the National Mall for the event, which saw Obama sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.
Inaugural music was also provided by a classical supergroup, featuring violinist Itzhak Perlman and cellist Yo Yo Ma.
The quartet performed Air & Simple Gifts, a John Williams composition created for the occasion.

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LISA MARIE PRESLEY expected to experience post-partum depression following the birth of her new baby twins - and was delighted when the condition never materialised.
The 40-year-old star and her husband Michael Lockwood welcomed daughters Harper and Finley in October (08).
The girls are Presley’s third and fourth children, and her first two with Lockwood. Presley is also mother to Danielle Riley, 19, and Benjamin Storm, 15, from her first marriage to Danny Keough.
And Presley admits that prior to the birth, she was convinced she would suffer from some form of depression when the girls arrived - because looking after twins is such hard work.
She tells Hello magazine, "I was expecting to go into some severe post-partum land. I was waiting for it to hit me. I had a couple of episodes of crying but they weren’t unfounded. I’m glad it didn’t actually get me. Everything is so freaky. ‘Are they breathing? Are they OK?’ They’re so fragile. That freaks me out."

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Veteran filmmaker SIR ALAN PARKER hopes to clear punk legend SID VICIOUS’ name - more than 30 years after he was accused of murdering girlfriend NANCY SPUNGEN.
The Sex Pistols bass player was arrested after Spungen was found stabbed to death in their room at New York’s famed Chelsea Hotel in 1978.
Vicious was charged with her murder and released on bail, but died from a drugs overdose just months later in February 1979 before the case came to trial.
And Midnight Express director Parker is set to release a new documentary titled Who Killed Nancy? - to fulfil a promise he made to Vicious’ mother, Anne Beverley, before her death in 1996.
He says, "I just wanted to clear his name. Of course I wasn’t there, I can’t swear on the bible he didn’t do it, but people involved have always told me to keep digging, keep digging and when you do dig it just does not add up." The film examines allegations New York cops ignored sets of fingerprints found in the room where Spungen died, and pursues a theory that a previously-unknown drug addict living at the hotel might have killed Vicious’ lover.
It is due for release in February (09).

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SAMUEL L. JACKSON was called up at short notice to speak at a Washington, D.C.
concert celebrating BARACK OBAMA’s Presidential Inauguration - and had to travel to the capital without anywhere to stay.
Jackson took to the stage at a star-studded bash on Sunday night (18Jan09) and delivered a moving speech to the thousands who have flocked to Washington to welcome President-elect Obama to the White House.
And he reveals he was only told about the gig on Friday (16Jan09) and had to jet in from Los Angeles, without even a hotel room to stay in.
Jackson tells the New York Post, "This only came about on Friday. I suddenly got a phone call. Maybe they were waiting for various people to show up who didn’t.
"I’m still on a waiting list for a room."

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Australian actor HUGH JACKMAN has written a personal letter to X-MEN fans assuring them his upcoming WOLVERINE movie is going to plan - despite growing rumours of problems with the film.
Comic book prequel, X Men Origins: Wolverine, is due for release in May (08) but speculation about the film’s slow progress has been increasing since the cast was recently recalled to the set in Vancouver, Canada to reshoot several scenes.
Many fan forums and internet gossips have voiced concerns that movie bosses ordered the reshoots after the film failed to come up to standard.
But Jackman has now come forward to defend the project - insisting the extra filming does not have any bearing on the quality of the picture.
He writes in a letter to Aintitcool.com, "It’s Hugh Jackman, sending this note from freezing Vancouver. I have read a lot of your online comments regarding the footage that we are currently shooting and I share your passion for the Wolverine character and the movie - I owe it all to you guys! "I wanted to reach out and let you know that due to scheduling conflicts with certain cast members and location/weather considerations, we had to wait until now to shoot a couple of scenes. Please rest assured that Wolverine will be badass and hopefully meet all of your expectations."

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JAMIE FOXX gave political partygoers a treat when he stepped on stage for an impromptu performance celebrating the Presidential Inauguration of BARACK OBAMA.
Foxx took the mic to introduce R&B singer John Legend at the Declare Yourself party on Sunday (18Jan09).
But before Legend could start the show, Foxx began to rap and beatbox, to the surprise of party guests including Jessica Alba, Hayden Panettiere and Adam Levine who later performed with his band, Maroon 5.
An onlooker tells WENN, "He came out and started doing this rap and everyone started chanting Barack’s name." But Legend was quick to ground the crowd’s high hopes for the 44th President, adding: "Just because we love Barack doesn’t mean we don’t have to hold him accountable too."

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The original KARATE KID has lashed out at plans for a big budget remake of the hit franchise - urging Hollywood producers to leave classic films alone.
Ralph Macchio shot to international fame as a teenager when he landed the part of Daniel LaRusso in the first Karate Kid movie.
He went on to star in two sequels before the mantle was passed to a young Hilary Swank in 1994’s The Next Karate Kid.
Now the role is to be taken on by Will Smith’s 10-year-old son, Jayden, in a new version of the original movie, which will be co-produced by the youngster’s famous father.
And Macchio is adamant that the new film won’t be a hit with the public because too many movies are ruined by remakes.
He tells MTV.com, "It feels pretty good that some people are pretty angry that they’re trying to remake The Karate Kid. It feels good that the public feels you don’t touch certain things. Some times you go back to that, and probably shouldn’t.
“From my personal view, the filling the void of what Mr. Miyagi was - and the magic of that character - is going to be the toughest task. I (also) don’t know where the romantic story-arc goes (with Smith’s Daniel) at that age.”

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MARCIA CROSS’ husband TOM MAHONEY has been diagnosed with cancer.
The Desperate Housewives star and her stockbroker partner confirmed the news but refused to disclose any more details about the 50-year-old’s condition.
The actress’ representative, Heidi Slan, tells People.com, "He is currently under treatment and is responding very well." The couple, who wed in 2006, are parents to 23-month-old fraternal twin daughters, Eden and Savannah.

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Rockers IRON MAIDEN are planning to bring their recent world tour to the big screen with a major movie documentary.
Iron Maiden: Flight 666 - The Movie will feature footage from the group’s 2008 Somewhere Back In Time Tour which saw them play 23 shows across the world in 45 days.
The picture will show frontman Bruce Dickinson fly the band between dates on their customised Boeing 747 jet, christened Ed Force One after the band’s graphic mascot, Eddie.
The film will be released in cinemas worldwide on 21 April (09).

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Music legend ARETHA FRANKLIN is pitching for a new job, as one of U.S.
President-elect BARACK OBAMA’s top advisors.
The singer is a huge supporter of the new leader, and has performed in Washington, D.C. as part of his inauguration ceremony.
But Franklin is eyeing a more prestigious post.
In an open letter to Obama, she says, "You should put me on your advisory team. But I am serious if you are interested." And her first piece of advice concerns the presidential diet: "Eat plenty of good soul food, Indian, Hawaiian, Chinese, gourmet etc. "Because as Dr. (Martin Luther) King used to say, ‘After a good soul meal, I could go around the world on a meal like that.’"

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