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OPRAH WINFREY is embroiled in a legal battle with the bosses of an insurance company over the use of her signature catchphrase, the "Aha moment".
The media titan is known for using the phrase to describe a revelation on The Oprah Winfrey Show and in her O magazine.
But the catchphrase is now at the centre of a dispute between the mogul and executives at Mutual of Omaha Bank, after Winfrey took issue to their advertising campaign featuring the slogan, "Official sponsor of the aha moment".
The mogul’s lawyers fired off a cease and desist letter to the bank, claiming Winfrey owned the rights to the catchphrase and demanding they call off plans to run their promos, fearing the star’s fans may be misled into thinking she was affiliated with them.
However, the Mutual of Omaha Bank has hit back with a lawsuit, alleging Winfrey "abandoned" any rights she may have to the phrase by failing to "police the alleged mark" when other businesses used it beforehand.
The suit was filed in a federal court in Nebraska on Wednesday (22Apr09) and bank lawyers have requested the judge allow them to press ahead with their promotional campaign, according to TMZ.com.

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Rap superstar SNOOP DOGG has been named and shamed as the latest celebrity indebted to the state of California - he’s failed to pay more than $284,000 (£195,860) in back taxes.
The Drop It Like It’s Hot hitmaker, real name Calvin Broadus, had a tax lien filed against him last month (Mar09), which accused the rapper of owing $284,053.59 (£195,899.03), reports TMZ.com.
He’s not the only musician not up to date with his taxes - soul star Dionne Warwick was recently listed in California’s top 10 worst offenders, while rappers Xzibit, Method Man and Lil’ Kim have also run into trouble with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

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BEYONCE KNOWLES was a hellraiser as a teen and even tried to run away from her strict parents.
The singer reveals she changed her mind when her mum Tina called her bluff.
Knowles says, "I definitely ran away and she definitely told me, ‘Holla!’ (Goodbye!) She was watching and I had made the decision (to run away) and I was like, ‘Maybe I won’t run away.’ She tested me." But the star insists her mum would never have let her run away for real, adding, "I’m from Houston (Texas). I’m a southern girl, so I was raised like that… but she wouldn’t have left me on the side of the road, definitely not."

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Rapper BOW WOW is desperate to find the woman of his dreams and settle down - because he’s tiring of living life as a bachelor.
The Like You hitmaker, real name Shad Moss, has been romantically linked to Reverend Run’s daughter Angela Simmons in recent months, and appeared to confirm the rumours by declaring her the "love of (his) life" in a recent Giant magazine interview.
Simmons immediately dismissed Bow Wow’s claims - and now he’s on the look out for a new love to spend the rest of his life with.
Bow Wow acknowledges his search for ‘The One’ at the age of 22 might be surprising to some - but he insists starting his career so young means he’s had more experience with women than most of his peers.
He tells Vibe magazine, "I’ve calmed down so much. Even though I’m young, I got spoiled early. In Atlanta, with Jermaine Dupri, I was in the strip clubs at nine years old. All this stuff is old to me. I just want to find the one, want her to move in with me, and go hard for her." But Bow Wow, who’s previously dated R&B beauty Ciara, won’t be settling for just any girl. He adds, "Let’s say she gives it up on the first night. That’s not going to bring me closer to her. When a girl tells me ‘no’, now you’re making me chase you - which I don’t mind."

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BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’s singer wife PATTI SCIALFA was forced to skip the rocker’s concert in Boston, Massachusetts on Wednesday (22Apr09) after falling off a horse.
Scialfa is a member of Springsteen’s E-Street Band and was due to join the singer on stage at his TD Banknorth Garden show this week.
But when fans noticed Scialfa’s absence, The Boss revealed she was resting at home in New Jersey, recovering from a recent equestrian accident.
A source tells People.com Springsteen’s wife of 18 years is suffering from bruising but did not break any bones in the tumble, which took place near the couple’s house on Saturday (18Apr09).
Scialfa is expected to sit out of a number of Springsteen’s upcoming shows until she is back to full health.
The couple has put on a united front since allegations of Springsteen’s infidelity surfaced earlier this month (Apr09). New Jersey businessman Arthur Kelly claims his wife Ann "committed adultery" with Springsteen on numerous occasions after meeting at the gym - accusations which have been vehemently denied by Springsteen and Scialfa.

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Rocker PAUL WELLER has halted his U.S. tour to mourn the death of his father and former manger, JOHN.
The British star announced earlier this week (begs20Apr09) that he had pulled out of a New York City concert on Friday night (24Apr09), citing "personal reasons" for the late cancellation.
But now it’s been revealed Weller scrapped the show to fly back to the U.K. to be at his dying dad’s bedside.
John Weller passed away on Wednesday morning (22Apr09) at the age of 77.
A source close to the family tells Music Week Weller Sr. "took a turn for the worse", adding, "He had been ill for some time." Weller Sr. took charge of the singer’s career from the start, guiding him to worldwide success as frontman of The Jam.
He held the position for more than three decades, continuing as manager throughout the rocker’s stints in The Jam and Style Council, before ill health forced him to step down from the role in 2006.
The Big Apple show at the Nokia Theatre has not been rescheduled and fans have been offered refunds.

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MILEY CYRUS has fuelled reports she’s rekindled her romance with ex-boyfriend NICK JONAS after spending another intimate evening with the JONAS BROTHERS star.
The pair met for a lunch date one week after Cyrus teamed up with Nick and his brothers Joe and Kevin Jonas to record a music video for Disney song Pass It On earlier this month (Apr09).
The date prompted rumours she’s heading for a split from her 20-year-old model/singer boyfriend Justin Gaston to reunite with Jonas - and according to the New York Daily News, the Love Bug star is pressuring Cyrus to break the news to Gaston sooner rather than later.
A source tells the newspaper, "Miley and Nick want to get back together. Because they’re working together (on a new video), they’ve been put in close proximity to each other. They’re now spending more and more time together, and they’re constantly on the phone.
"Miley was over at the Jonas house recently, and they were smooching. Nick’s parents have this rule that when a girl is over, the door has to be open, but that didn’t stop Nick and Miley from making out.
â��She doesnâ��t know how to tell Justin that theyâ��re over, but Nick is being very firm with her. Heâ��s a good, stand-up kind of guy, and is making Miley tell Justin very, very soon. Heâ��s being tough about it.â�� Cyrus, 16, split from the Jonas Brothers star last year (08). She’s been dating Gaston for the last eight months.
A spokesperson for Jonas has refused to comment on the reports, stating, �We have no comment on our client�s personal life.�

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STEPHEN DORFF is stripping off to play a porn star in an upcoming comedy co-written by funnyman ADAM SANDLER.
Dorff will star as adult actor Dick Shadow in the sex industry comedy Born to Be a Star.
Christina Ricci is signed to co-star.
Sandler, who co-wrote the screenplay, is also producing.
Filming is scheduled to begin next week (begs27Apr09), reports Variety.

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JAMIE FOXX’s teenage daughter has written a letter to MILEY CYRUS to apologise for her dad’s crude joke about the young star.
The actor/comedian provoked outrage when he urged 16-year-old Cyrus to "make a sex tape… do some heroin… and become a lesbian" on his Foxxhole radio show earlier this month (Apr09).
Foxx has publicly apologised to the teen, insisting his comments were made in jest - but Cyrus’ country star dad Billy Ray has yet to offer his forgiveness, dubbing the Oscar winner’s comments "hurtful".
The country star complained, "There wasn’t nothing (sic) funny about it. And, quite frankly, I think if I said those things about his daughter, he might not find it so comedic." Foxx admits his remarks were "insensitive", and has now enlisted his 14-year-old daughter Corinne to write a letter to the teen star in a bid to end the feud.
He says, "I don’t want to defend my position as a comedian to be further insensitive to Miley on (U.S. late night show) Jay Leno. We apologised to Miley and reached out to her.. and so we’ll move on.
"My daughter has written a letter to her. We’re going to get that to her and like I said, I don’t want to defend it.. you can’t defend it."

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The father of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE star RUBINA ALI has officially been cleared by Indian police over allegations he attempted to sell his young daughter.
Rafiq Qureshi was quizzed by police in Mumbai earlier this week (20Apr09) after British newspaper News of the World alleged he offered to auction off the nine-year-old for $300,000 (£200,000).
Rubina’s mother Khurshida, who abandoned the family in 2001, claimed she learned of the sale two weeks ago and alerted police to investigate.
Qureshi protested his innocence throughout the scandal, telling People.com the story was a "lie made up by foreign journalists playing games with me".
And authorities have failed to find any evidence to back up the claims - announcing on Thursday (23Apr09) that they had dropped their investigation into the case.
Senior police inspector Rahim Shaikh says, "There is not any crime. The matter is closed. No money changed hands. Rubina is here. There is no crime."

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ROBERT PATTINSON fears he’ll never be able to find love - because he doesn’t want to drag a girlfriend into his crazy life.
The actor has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame after landing the lead role of Edward Cullen in cult vampire movie Twilight.
Despite becoming one of Hollywood’s hottest hunks overnight, Pattinson insists fame and fortune haven’t come without a price - because the constant interest in his life has made him a "paranoid wreck".
And the actor isn’t sure he could bring a partner into his spotlight because the pressure of having a famous boyfriend would be too hard.
He admits to Entertainment Tonight, "I’m always really worried about ruining their (girlfriends) lives.
"Especially with people that aren’t famous. It’s such a massive change. I’m kind of a paranoid wreck.
"It’s getting photographed. You have people who analyse your facial expressions to the tiniest degree. So you’re just trying to avoid getting photographed. You’re like, ‘Jesus, you can’t win.’"

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Actress MISCHA BARTON is determined to land a role in a Shakespearean play - and has even taken a course on the playwright to improve her chances.
The former O.C. star has decided to take a break from pursuing movie roles to concentrate on a stage career.
And Barton insists gaining a part in one of the Bard’s works is her top priority.
She says, "I recently did a Shakespeare course because they don’t teach Shakespeare properly in American schools. But I suppose as with any play it is about finding the right cast and actors and script for you."

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GREY GARDENS co-stars DREW BARRYMORE and JESSICA LANGE have dismissed reports of a rift over the upcoming Emmy Awards nominations.
Internet gossip began circulating this week (20Apr09) suggesting the two actresses, who star in the new HBO TV movie, were feuding over which one will be considered for a Best Actress nomination at the Prime Time Emmy Awards.
Studio bosses are said to have suggested Barrymore should run for the coveted prize, leaving Lange to compete in the Best Supporting actress category - reportedly causing a spat between the two stars.
HBO executives subsequently agreed to let the pair go head-to-head in the lead category, according to New York Post gossip column PageSix..
A source tells the publication, "(Lange’s) immediate reaction was that she’s won two Oscars, and that she has equal screen time to Barrymore. She felt she wasn’t a supporting character in the film, and that it’d be dishonest and a manipulation of votes. She didn’t want a part of it." But a representative for HBO says, "HBO would never presume to dictate which category an actor chooses for award submissions. We do engage in a dialogue with actors and filmmakers to facilitate the process, but the actor’s decision is always final." Lange also hit back at the claims - insisting the decision was never contested.
The spokesperson adds, "Prior to the decision being made, there was lots of discussion between Drew, the studio and Jessica. Obviously people wanted a scenario where everyone was happy. At the end of the day, HBO was the one who looked at the screen time and made the call." The Emmy Awards will take place in September (09).

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The European Union (E.U.) has voted in favour of a scheme which will extend royalty rights for musicians following a high profile campaign by stars including SIR PAUL McCARTNEY, ROGER DALTREY and U2.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) backed plans to increase the number of years artists can receive payments for their work from 50 to 70 during a vote on Thursday (23Apr09).
The proposal had promised rights of 95 years, but the total was decreased in order to gain the support of all E.U. member states.
McCartney and Daltrey, Irish rockers U2, and Sir Cliff Richard have all spoken out in support of extending the copyright term.
E.U. International Market Commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, says, "Some might argue that European creators are overprotected. Those who rely on copyright would beg to differ. If artists stay in the music recording business because it pays to do so, consumers would enjoy more variety as a consequence. This proposal ensures that performers can, in their late life, recoup a share in the income they generate."

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British rockers IDLEWILD have come up with an innovative scheme to fund their new album after their record company went bust - the project will be paid for by fans.
The band was left devastated when their music label, Sanctuary, closed in 2007 shortly after the release of their sixth studio album, Make Another World.
But the group was determined not to give up - and enlisted the help of their fans to ensure they continued to make music without the backing of a major label.
Fans were asked to donate $21.75 (£15) to fund studio time and production costs in return for an advanced copy of the new CD, exclusive artwork, and extra access to the band’s website.
Frontman Roddy Woomble explains, "Our old label Sanctuary folded just as our last album was coming out, which was pretty frustrating. So we had to look for new ways of getting a record out. The industry is changing and lots of bands are looking at different approaches.
"We decided to ask fans to pay £15 up-front so that we had enough money to record the album. We asked them to buy it before we recorded it which was a bit strange. People as far away as Paraguay and Israel have all paid up and pre-ordered.
"Doing it this way means we will keep all the copyright of the songs and we can licence it to another record label at a future date."

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Gospel singer REVEREND TIMOTHY WRIGHT has died. He was aged 61.
The Grammy-nominated vocalist and composer passed away on Thursday (23Apr09) at the Bronx Veterans Hospital in New York.
The cause of death was not released as WENN went to press, but the star had been suffering ill health since he was seriously injured in a car crash in Pennsylvania in July (08).
The accident claimed the life of his wife, Betty, 58, and their 14-year-old grandson, D.J. Wright.
Wright served as pastor at Grace Tabernacle Christian Center Church of God in Christ, in Brooklyn, New York, and shot to fame with his 1994 record Come Thou Almighty King, which was subsequently nominated for a prestigious Grammy Award.
He received a second nomination in 1999 for Been There Done That and released more than 12 albums throughout his career.

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A backlash from politicians has failed to stop THE FLAMING LIPS’ hit DO YOU REALIZE?? becoming Oklahoma’s official anthem - the state’s governor BRAD HENRY has overruled a vote to dump the track.
The rockers’ popular single topped a poll asking members of the public to name the song they thought best represented the southern state.
But the decision caused outrage among some local politicians who insisted the band’s reputation for "using obscene language" and wearing "offensive" t-shirts was not good for the state’s image.
Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted 48-39 in favour of rejecting the public ballot - but governor Henry has sided with the people and announced he will sign an executive order overriding the ruling.
In a statement, he says: "For more than 20 years, Oklahomaâ��s own Flaming Lips have produced creative, fun and provocative rock music. The music of the Flaming Lips has earned Grammys, glowing critical acclaim and fans all over the world. A truly iconic rock â��nâ�� roll band, they are proud ambassadors of their home state. They were clearly the peopleâ��s choice, and I intend to honour that vote.â�� In a posting on their MySpace.com page, the band wrote: "As many people around the world know, the Flaming Lips are proud to be from Oklahoma… The facts are that ‘Do You Realize’ won over 50 per cent of the popular vote in the original poll, passed unanimously in the Senate… The Flaming Lips remain proud ambassadors of the state. We are honoured that the majority of the people who voted, hoped to have ‘Do You Realize’ be the Oklahoma State Rock Song."

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DUKE D’MOND, the former lead singer of comedy music group the BARRON KNIGHTS, has died at the age of 66.
D’Mond - real name Richard Palmer - collapsed at his home in Burcott, in Buckinghamshire, England.
He suffered a heart attack in hospital and died on 9 April (09) after developing pneumonia.
The singer shot to fame with the group in the 1960s, scoring a string of hits with their unique musical style which parodied other major artists of the time.
The group toured with both the Rolling Stones and The Beatles and continued until 2008. Palmer was forced to give up his role fronting the band in 2005 after suffering a fall.
A tribute on the Barron Knights’ website paid tribute to the singer: "All of us are devastated at losing a member of the band for 46 years. He had a great singing voice."

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