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Soul singer ROBIN THICKE can’t wait to tour with JENNIFER HUDSON at the end of the month (Mar09) - because he’s convinced the six-week trek will be "cathartic" for his pal as she attempts to bounce back from the murders of her mother, brother and nephew.
After performing at the Super Bowl and the Grammy Awards last month (Feb09), Thicke insists the Oscar winner needs to get behind a microphone every night - to make her comeback complete after last October’s (08) tragedy sent her into hiding.
He says the tour will be "the perfect thing for her to do, to get out there and get outside her head and feel the love she’s been getting".
And he insists Hudson deserves every bit of support she receives: "She’s a special lady." Thicke might just break a performance habit for his touring partner - and play with her.
He tells Eonline.com, "Normally, by the time I leave the stage, I like to leave the stage, but I don’t know. I might come back and play piano and sing backup."

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NINE INCH NAILS rocker TRENT REZNOR has blasted bosses of concert ticket sales websites - accusing them of failing to stop fans from getting ripped off.
Reznor claims official websites like Ticketmaster allow touts (scalpers) to buy gig tickets in bulk, which are then sold on to genuine fans for heavily-inflated prices.
The rocker insists the practise would stop if sites limited sales and printed fans’ names on tickets.
He writes online, "As we approach on-sale dates for the upcoming tour, I’ve noticed lots of you are curious / concerned / outraged at the plethora of tickets that somehow appear on all these reseller sites at inflated prices - even before the pre-sale dates.
"Ticketmaster has essentially been a monopoly for many years. They could have (and can right now) stop the secondary market dead in its tracks by doing the following: limit the amount of sales per customer, print names on the tickets and require ID / ticket matches at the venue.
"We know this works because we do it for our pre-sales. Why don’t THEY do it? It’s obvious - they make a lot of money fuelling the secondary market. Ticketmaster even bought a re-seller site and often bounces you over to that site to buy tickets (TicketsNow.com)!"

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Rapper T.I. has fuelled rumours he is ghostwriting for hip-hop icon DR. DRE’s comeback record after refusing to confirm or deny the allegations.
The Live Your Life hitmaker, real name Clifford Harris Jr., has been in the studio with the former N.W.A. legend and is featured on Dre’s new track Topless, alongside Nas.
But T.I. is remaining coy about the full extent of his collaborations with Dre for his long-awaited Detox disc.
When asked about the ghostwriting rumours, he tells RapRadar.com, "Hey man, I cannot confirm nor deny any of those allegations." And T.I. further alludes to the claims that he is responsible for Dre’s rhymes by admitting it would be an honour to have worked with the veteran star.
He says, "Well, I mean, if I had been or if I am in fact writing for Dr. Dre, it would definitely be a pivotal moment and highlight in my career. It would definitely be an absolute honour to work alongside such a musical genius, specialising in gangsta s**t, as I do myself. But that’s if I am in fact - if I had ever written for Dr. Dre, you know. But I cannot confirm or deny."

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Police in Detroit, Michigan are standing by their report that alleges rapper TRICK TRICK was a victim of a club shooting on Sunday (15Mar09) - despite the star himself denying the claims.
Eminem’s rapper pal, real name Christian Mathis, was rumoured to be one of two men injured at the Esko Lounge on Sunday night, with online reports claiming he had been shot in the thigh.
Detroit native Trick Trick spoke out about the reports on Monday (16Mar09), insisting he was at home at the time.
Calling into a local radio station on Monday morning, he said, "I’m at home. I ain’t left this house since Saturday (14Mar09). I’m still trying to figure that (how the rumour started) out." But the incident has now turned into one big mystery - with authorities insisting a local artist going by the name of Trick Trick was injured in the scuffle and had been treated at a nearby hospital.
Sergeant Eren Stephens Bell says, "We did speak to this individual. His musical performance name is Trick Trick. I’m confirming he’s a local rapper." The identity of the second man shot during the brawl has yet to be revealed.

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HEROES actor JAMES KYSON LEE and pop star AARON CARTER are taking their celebrity basketball team to Hawaii - to challenge soldiers stationed in the Pacific.
The pair is regular members of the Hollywood Knights, who play charity games across the U.S.
The Knights have been drafted by United Services Overseas (USO) to take on armed forces teams during a week of matches from 16 to 22 March (09).
And Lee - who plays Ando in the hit series - can’t wait to hit the court. He tells Starpulse.com, "I’m playing with the Hollywood Knights, which are a basketball team made up of entertainers. We’re visiting the U.S. troops in Honolulu and Waikiki so I’m very excited because it’s my first time travelling with the team. Also I’ve never been to Hawaii so it’s my first time there. So (I’m) super excited and it’ll just be great to see the troops and get to visit them at their location and play some ball." The actor is grateful a stroke of luck means the tour fits nicely around his Heroes shooting schedule. He adds, "I’ve been invited by them before because I think they heard I really like basketball, but my schedule means I just never had the window to travel with them. We wrapped Friday (13Mar09) and then we leave Monday (16Mar09) for Hawaii so it just worked out perfectly." Besides Carter, Lee’s teammates include Las Vegas TV star James Lesure and American Gladiators Wolf and Venom.

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SUSAN SARANDON’s return to Broadway reminds her she’s an ageing star in a youth-obsessed industry.
Sarandon, 62, will take to the New York stage this month (Mar09) for a three month run of Eugene Ionesco’s drama Exit The King.
And she admits playing the elder ex-wife of a dying monarch, portrayed by Aussie actor Geoffrey Rush, has heightened her fears about competing for work with young showbiz starlets.
She tells New York magazine, "Everyone calls her (my character) a b**ch and a cow, and it isn’t easy to be in that place all day. And how about for an ageing actress? That’s even worse! You’re constantly being reminded that you’ve been replaced in the kingdom.
"I’m discovering that I’m vainer than I thought. My ego has completely gotten ahold of me. This has been a shock!" But Sarandon has no regrets about taking on the role, adding, "Anything this unsettling has to be worthwhile." The play will mark Sarandon’s first trip to Broadway since she appeared in Gore Vidal’s An Evening With Richard Nixon and… in 1972.

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Actor ERIC ROBERTS is preparing for the passing of his beloved pet dog, just a month after the death of his best pal MICKEY ROURKE’s own canine companion.
Roberts, who comforted Rourke at the Oscars as he grieved pet pooch Loki, is nursing 14-year-old Muddy through the final stages of cancer.
And the actor - who starred with Rourke in 1984 movie The Pope of Greenwich Village - expects the half pit bull, half German shorthair to pass away this week (ends20Mar09).
Roberts tells BlogTalkRadio’s Spiritual Warriors, "We have his lungs drained about twice a week. And we’re keeping him alive because he still wags his tail.
"But I believe this will probably be (Muddy’s) last week here, because he’s starting now to get unhappy. So when he gets uncomfortable, I’m gonna put him to sleep.
"I’m his best pal. But we’re trying to keep him happy. And I’ll keep him with me all day long, up until that happens."

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A sci-fi writer is suing STAR TREK TV bosses, accusing them of making millions from an episode he wrote and failing to pay him a share of the profits.
Harlan Ellison wrote City on the Edge of Forever, which was aired back in 1967, featuring Joan Collins as a guest star.
In a suit filed in Los Angeles on Friday (13Mar09), Ellison claims CBS Paramount "exploited" his installment for merchandising and publishing purposes.
It reads, "Paramount has earned millions exploiting the ‘City’ teleplay since it was aired in 1967. Yet Paramount has not accounted to Ellison or paid him for such exploitations as it is required to do under the 1960 MBA (minimum basic agreement) and 1966 Amendment." In a statement released to Daily Variety, Ellison himself says, "It ain’t about the principle, it’s about the money. Pay me." The disgruntled writer is also suing the Writer’s Guild of America for $1 (£0.70), accusing WGA bosses of failing to act on his behalf in his battle with CBS Paramount.

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Actress MARISKA HARGITAY has been forced to quit the current season of LAW & ORDER: SVU after suffering a collapsed lung.
The Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner, who has played Detective Olivia Benson on the cop series for the past decade, will not be returning for the rest of season 10, according to a show insider.
Hargitay suffered a collapsed lung in January (09) and tried to work through the pain, but she was admitted to hospital in February (09), and underwent surgery last week (ends13Mar09).
A set source tells In Touch magazine, "They have written her out of the rest of the season." In a recent blog to fans, Hargitay wrote, "Presently, I am focused on resting and getting stronger."

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Superstar 50 CENT has stepped up his hip-hop rivalry with RICK ROSS - by posting a pornographic video allegedly featuring the HUSTLIN’ rapper’s ex-girlfriend online.
The In Da Club hitmaker, real name Curtis Jackson, has been embroiled in a war of words with Ross for several weeks, with each MC looking for ways to discredit and humiliate the other.
But 50 has taken the battle to another level and released the X-rated clip on the internet for all to see. The 13 minute video features a woman only identified as Brooke, thought to be the mother of Ross’ daughter, and was posted on boobootv.com on Friday (13Mar09).
The film features the G-Unit frontman adopting his comical alter ego, Pimpin’ Curly, as he gives a running commentary on the sex acts the female performs with an unidentified man, allegedly shot while Ross was away on tour.
50 says, "Yo, check this s**t out man. I’ma show you my b**ch man. Here go your baby mama Ricky. Oh man, you ain’t gonna believe this s**t." As the woman flashes a tattoo of Ross’ initials on her chest, 50 adds, “Double R? Does that stand for Rick Ross in the middle of her motherf**king chest man. Oh, this is cold blooded."

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Oscar winner PENELOPE CRUZ has signed up for a new movie re-teaming her with the director who made her a star.
Five years after Cruz’s breakthrough role in Sergio Castellitto’s Don’t Move, the actress will this year (09) begin work on his latest project, Venuto al Mondo (Into the World).
The Spanish beauty - who lifted the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award last month (Feb09) for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona - will play a single mother in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The movie is based on a book written by Castellitto’s wife Margaret Mazzantini.
When asked about the movie, a coy Cruz tells Daily Variety, "We’re starting to talk but I can’t confirm anything concrete."

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JESSICA SIMPSON was left red-faced at a concert in California on Saturday (14Mar09) when she messed up the opening lyrics to two of her songs.
The singer played her final gig as the support act on Rascal Flatts’ Bob Your Head Tour in Irvine at the weekend, but her last show was dogged by mishaps as she forgot the lines to Remember That and Still Don’t Stop Me.
After getting the lyrics mixed up for Remember That, a track about being in an abusive relationship, she told the crowd, "Oops! I said whiskey too early! I messed up! "I’m so embarrassed! But I’m starting over again because I really want you guys to hear the lyrics the right way." And she nervously giggled when she got the lines wrong during Still Don’t Stop Me, before saying: "I messed up again! I do this all the time!"

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Actress CHRISTINA RICCI has upped security at her California home, after discovering directions to her posh pad are printed on a tourist map.
Ricci was stunned to find her Los Feliz home featured on a tour of celebrities’ homes, as well as a laminated ‘where the stars live’ map.
She says, "The map has better directions to my house than I could ever give. It is alarming." But Ricci isn’t too concerned - she has a collection of trusty guard dogs to keep her safe: "We have three dogs and one of them is very large. Walter is half German shepherd, half boxer."

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Rapper LIL’ KIM is working to pay off almost $1 million (£719,425) in back taxes.
The Lady Marmalade star, real name Kimberly Jones, owes thousands in unpaid taxes in three different states, racking up a total debt of $979,090 (£704,380).
According to a report obtained by DetNews.com, Jones - who is currently starring in U.S. TV show Dancing With The Stars - is on record as owing $12,599 (£9,065) to the state of New York, $4,089 (£2,940) in a tax lien to California and $916,982 (£659,700) in various liens to the state of New Jersey, all dated between 2004 and 2008.
The hip-hop star’s representative says, "(Jones) is paying her tax debt and will continue to do so."

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Romance rumours linking YOUNG JEEZY and KHLOE KARDASHIAN have been slammed by the reality TV star.
The Recession rapper was linked with Kim Kardashian’s sister after they were first snapped partying in Miami, Florida together, and then Khloe was spotted backstage at a gig he performed in the city.
But a publicist for the Keeping up with the Kardashians star insists, "Khloe and Jeezy are not an item, they just know each other." Single Jeezy previously dated R&B singer Keyshia Cole.

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EMINEM’s rapper pal TRICK TRICK has blasted reports he was shot in a nightclub brawl in Michigan on Sunday (15Mar09), insisting he was nowhere near the venue when the incident took place.
The Detroit star was alleged to be one of two men injured at the Esko Lounge at the weekend, with online reports claiming he had been hit in the thigh.
But Trick Trick, real name Christian Mathis, is baffled by the claims - and was only notified of his ‘involvement’ in the shootout when his mother called in a panic having seen a news report about it on TV.
Calling into a local radio station on Monday (16Mar09) morning, he says, "I’m at home. I ain’t left this house since Saturday (14Mar09). I’m still trying to figure that (how the rumour started) out."

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Rockers KISS boosted a sick fan’s spirits last week when they gave the 11-year-old a surprise phone call after learning of his battle with leukaemia.
Christopher ‘Critter’ Smith was undergoing chemotherapy at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio last Wednesday (11Mar09) when he received the call from singer/guitarist Paul Stanley.
Smith was so stunned to hear from his favourite star, he thought it was a joke, reports NKY.com.
He says, "At first, I thought it was just my dad messing with me. When I realised it was really him, I was like, ‘Oh my God!’" The group is currently touring South America, but that didn’t stop drummer Eric Singer from putting in another call to Smith later that night and extending a personal invitation for the boy to attend one of KISS’ summer (09) shows.
An ecstatic Smith adds, "I was like, ‘Woooow!’ I’ve never even been to a concert at all. This is just so cool!"

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Actress MENA SUVARI is having her wedding gown customised so it hides her tattoos - to please her future mother-in-law.
The 30-year-old American Beauty star will wed music producer/promoter Simone Sestito in his native Italy next year (10).
Suvari has numerous pieces of body art, including a large tattoo of a lion on her neck and upper back, but she’s determined to cover them up to prevent offending her fiance’s conservative family.
She tells the New York Daily News, "I think it would be considerate to (Sestito’s) family to have my tattoos covered, since there are two nuns on his mother’s side of the family." (JMA/NYDN/IG) WENN - FOURTH - INTERNATIONAL MUSIC NEWS - 16 MAR 2009

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