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Hip-hop mogul JAY-Z is lending his support to top London soccer club Arse= nal - he’s offered the players an all-expenses paid trip to New York if t= hey win a trophy this season.
The rapper previously confessed his love for the team and was sent VIP = tickets to an Arsenal game the last time he visited the British capital.
And he is hoping to return the favour by flying the team to his native = city - as an incentive for them to win games.
Jay-Z says, "I’d like to thank the club. I’m glad Arsenal now know it’s= them I support.
"I want them to party in New York, my city. I will look after them and = make sure that they have some amazing nights out.
"The next time I’m playing in England I would like the Arsenal players = to come and watch my gig and then come backstage afterwards. I know how h= ard professional sportsmen work so I want to offer an incentive for the g= uys."

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Grammy-winning composer EARL WILD has died, aged 94.
Wild, who suffered from congestive heart disease, passed away on Saturd= ay (23Jan10) at his home in Palm Springs, California.
He was the first pianist to perform a recital on U.S. television in 193= 9, and the first to stream a performance over the internet in 1997. He al= so served as a staff pianist for NBC and ABC networks through the 1960s.
In 1997, he won a Grammy for his album Earl Wild: The Romantic Master.
Wild’s last concert performance was at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in = Los Angeles in February 2008, when he was awarded the President=E2=80=99s= Merit Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
His memoirs are due to be published later this year (10).
He is survived by his companion of 38 years, Michael Rolland Davis. (JM=

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KRISTEN STEWART and DAKOTA FANNING whipped crowds into a frenzy at JOAN J= ETT’s concert in Utah on Saturday (23Jan10) when they joined the rocker o= nstage to celebrate their new movie biopic, THE RUNAWAYS.
Twilight star Stewart rocks out as Jett in the film, about the singer’s= 1970s band The Runaways, with Fanning portraying bandmate Cherie Currie.
The actresses were the guests of honour at the Joan Jett & The Blackhea= rts show in Park City at the weekend and the I Love Rock N’ Roll hitmaker= surprised fans by bringing the stars up onstage to thank them for their = work on The Runaways, prompting the audience to break out into cheers and= applause.
Stewart and Fanning enjoyed the rest of Jett’s concert backstage.
The Runaways premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday (24Jan10= ).

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British soul singer CORINNE BAILEY RAE refused to listen to music or spen= d any time alone for a year after her husband’s tragic death in 2008.
The Put Your Records On hitmaker was devastated when 31-year-old saxoph= onist Jason Rae was found dead in an apartment in Leeds, England, with tr= aces of cocaine and ecstasy in his blood.
The singer shied away from the spotlight and admits she was so overwhel= med by her grief behind closed doors that she couldn’t pick up her guitar= , write or listen to music without wanting to "destroy" everything in her= home.
She explains, "I didn’t hear anything. Nothing came in. It’s hard to ex= plain. (All I wanted to do) was destroy things. I felt so much had sort o= f been… destroyed. I guess I can’t lie about stuff, so there it is. You= can’t play it down. I felt extremely, extremely destructive, and I’ve ne= ver felt that before…
"I was really sad. I was really nervous. I didn’t want to go to any air= ports. I didn’t want to go anywhere on my own. I didn’t want to be in the= house on my own. I needed people around me, constant people. I couldn’t = make any plans - I couldn’t even imagine the next day. It’s an awful time= - you can’t do anything. It’s possibly an endless time. That’s all you c= an see: time." The 30 year old is currently preparing to release her second album, The= Sea, which was partially inspired by her partner’s death.
She adds, "Even at this particular point right now, I don’t feel like (= Rae’s death) actually happened. At other times I can feel it much more. I= feel totally destroyed. I feel totally cut off from my favourite person = in the world. But I just feel like this is the right time (to release the= album). I definitely don’t want to be seen as like, ‘Oh, wow, she’s sold= iering on!’ Because I don’t feel like I am. At this particular point, I’m= finding it to be the right thing to do."

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Actress LUCY LAWLESS is calling on movie bosses to adapt XENA: WARRIOR PR= INCESS for the big screen - because she fears fans will lose interest in = the fantasy series if it’s revived for TV.
The New Zealand-born star is best known for playing the warrior pin-up = in the cult programme, which she is desperate to see brought back to life= as a feature film.
She tells Out.com, "I love that character. I would do it if it was a mo= vie. I doubt I would do it as a TV series. I can’t see how you would make= it fresh.
"By the time somebody does come up with that I’m just going to be too o= ld. And I’m really sad about that. I feel like it’s a completely wasted f= ranchise."

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Teen actress SAOIRSE RONAN has quit a boarding school in Ireland - blamin= g some of her teachers for giving her a "hard time" over her movie succes= s.
The Lovely Bones star received critical acclaim for her Oscar-nominated= performance in 2007’s Atonement and is tipped as one of Hollywood’s most= promising young stars.
But the 15 year old is already discovering the downsides of fame - she = has walked away from school over her teachers’ and fellow pupils’ negativ= e attitudes towards her.
Ronan, who now has lessons at home, tells the U.K.’s Guardian newspaper= , "The reason was teachers giving me a hard time. Teachers and students. = Some of the students were, you know, mean. But I only stayed a while. It = wasn’t really working out. You know, the school is a good school and the = people who go there are good people. But when your schoolmates recognise = you before they’ve met you, and the teachers do, too, it can make things = very awkward and difficult. It’s a shame."

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GLEE star JANE LYNCH is preparing to marry her longterm partner in a same= -sex ceremony this spring (10), according to reports.
The actress, who plays cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester in the musical = TV series, will tie the knot with her psychologist girlfriend, Dr. Lara E= mbry, in May (10), according to the New York Times’ Carpetbagger blog.
Last year (09), Embry made headlines when she was honoured with the Nat= ional Center For Lesbian Rights’ Justice Award in recognition of her triu= mph in a landmark same-sex custody case in Florida.

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American soap star JAMES MITCHELL has died following complications from p= neumonia.
The actor, who became known for his role as ruthless tycoon Palmer Cort= land on longrunning U.S. TV series All My Children, passed away at Cedars= -Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Friday (22Jan10) at the age of 89= ..
His partner Albert Wolsky confirms Mitchell had been suffering from chr= onic obstructive pulmonary disease for years and was recently hospitalise= d after experiencing problems when he was struck down with pneumonia.
Mitchell joined the popular soap opera in 1979 and stepped down as a se= ries regular in 2008. However, he returned to the small screen earlier th= is month (Jan10) to help the cast and crew celebrate its 40th anniversary= episode.
Before establishing himself on the show, Mitchell - who started out as = a dancer - had a stint on Broadway in plays like Billion Dollar Baby, Bri= gadoon and Carousel, and appeared in movies including Deep In My Heart (1= 954), Oklahoma (1955) and The Band Wagon with Fred Astaire in 1953.
He also shared his skills with younger generations by teaching classes = at the prestigious Yale University in Connecticut and Drake University in= Iowa.

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Former Olympic figure skater NANCY KERRIGAN is in shock after her brother= was arrested in connection to the sudden death of her father following a= mysterious incident at the family’s Massachusetts home.
Police found Daniel Kerrigan, 70, unconscious in the kitchen of his Sto= neham property on Sunday (24Jan10) after receiving an emergency call repo= rting a "sudden death".
The athlete’s brother, Mark - who was also at the house - was hospitali= sed for an unspecified injury and police are now looking to charge him wi= th assault and battery on an elderly person, reports the New York Daily N= ews.
Reports suggest there was a struggle between father and son before Dani= el collapsed.
His wife, Brenda, is convinced her husband suffered a heart attack but = authorities have yet to verify her claim.
She tells the Boston Herald, "My husband had a massive heart attack. Th= is is a very difficult time for me." Mark Kerrigan, 45, is expected to be arraigned on Monday afternoon (25J= an10).

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Prison drama A PROPHET is leading the way at France’s most prestigious pr= ize-giving ceremony - garnering a massive 13 nominations at the upcoming = Cesar Awards.
The film leads categories including Best Picture and Best Director, for= Jacques Audiard, as well as garnering nods for its star Tahar Rahim, who= is up for Best Actor and Best Newcomer.
Philippe Lioret’s immigrant drama Welcome scored nine nominations and w= ill go up against A Prophet in the Best Picture category, and Vincent Lin= don will compete with Rahim for the Best Actor prize.
Fashion biopic Coco Before Chanel also received five nods, with Audrey = Tautou named in the Best Actress category.
The nominations for Best Foreign Film include James Cameron’s Avatar, M= ilk, Gran Torino and Slumdog Millionaire.
The 35th Cesar Awards will take place on 27 February (10). (LR/WNWCRV/Z=

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PETER ANDRE is calling on the spirit of MICHAEL JACKSON to inspire his up= coming tour - he plans to pay tribute to the late King of Pop as part of = the new roadshow.
The Mysterious Girl hitmaker is set to hit the road next month (Feb10) = as part of his chart comeback, and he’s hoping to channel his musical ico= n in a special sequence during the concerts.
And he’s even recruited one of the Thriller legend’s choreographers to = help him dance just like Jackson.
He tells Ireland Online, "Rehearsals have started for my tour which sta= rts next month. I don’t want to give too much away, but there will be a s= ection of my show dedicated to Michael Jackson.
"I’m working with a choreographer who did some of the late singer’s vid= eos, and Britney Spears’ last tour, so I’m in capable hands. Now I just n= eed to build up my stamina."

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KEITH URBAN was honoured Down Under on Saturday night (23Jan10) - his lat= est album took the top prize at the CMAA Country Music Awards of Australi= a.
The Aussie star was awarded the Top Selling Album of the Year trophy fo= r Defying Gravity. Urban, who was in the U.S. to participate in the Hope = for Haiti telethon on Friday night (22Jan10), accepted the award via a re= corded video message.
The other big winner at the ceremony was another homegrown country star= , Troy Cassar-Daley, who scooped six Golden Guitar statuettes including t= he prize for Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, APRA Song of the= Year and Single of the Year for Big, Big Love.
Felicity Urquhart won the Female Vocal of the Year prize, while country= quartet Jetty Road scored a win for Group or Duo of the Year.
The inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award went to veteran comedic singer= /guitarist Chad Morgan.

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SIR MICK JAGGER is giving health tips to singer JOSS STONE - he keeps ord= ering her to quit smoking.
The Rolling Stones frontman is pals with the You Had Me hitmaker and fr= equently expresses his concern over her tobacco habit, telling her off wh= en she is snapped with a cigarette.
The former hellraising rocker advises her to pour honey in hot drinks f= or the sake of her voice - but goes "mental" over her smoking.
Stone tells Britain’s Mail on Sunday Live magazine, "Mick Jagger is alw= ays having a go at me for smoking. I’ve known him and the rest of the ban= d for years now and I love them. Mick is always on at me about drinking h= oney and buying humidifiers for my voice. I follow his advice, then he se= es me smoking a roll-up and goes mental. I try to stop, I do, but it’s ha= rd."

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Hollywood actress LUCY LIU is following in the footsteps of LINDSAY LOHAN= by jetting to India to direct a documentary about human trafficking.
Lohan flew to the country last month (Dec09) to shoot a film about pove= rty and child trafficking for British broadcast group the BBC.
And now the Charlie’s Angels star is following suit - she’s planning he= r own trip to Mumbai, India to report on similar issues.
Liu will step behind the camera for the production, which will be the f= irst of four documentary movies by Hollywood stars.
Meryl Streep and Angelina Jolie are also rumoured to have signed up to = take part in the project.

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Hollywood actress SCARLETT JOHANSSON has enchanted theatre critics with h= er Broadway debut - reviewers have labelled her performance "perfect." The Lost In Translation beauty is currently starring in Arthur Miller’s= A View From The Bridge opposite Liev Schreiber, playing a 17-year-old gi= rl in 1950s New York.
The opening night at the Cort Theatre on Sunday (24Jan10) was a star-st= udded affair with celebrities including Hugh Jackman, Naomi Watts and Her= oes actor Zachary Quinto filling the aisles.
And Johansson has emerged triumphant, garnering a swathe of glowing rev= iews for her turn.
USA Today critic Elysa Gardner writes, "Johansson - in a brunette wig -= (makes) an enchanting Broadway debut in Arthur Miller’s sobering fable..= .. Only afterward will you likely realise the actress’s youthful sensualit= y and capacity for good-natured goofiness constitute a perfect fit for th= is (role)." The New York Times’ Ben Brantley compared Johansson’s performance to ot= her stars who have appeared on Broadway in recent years, insisting the 25= year old outshone all her contemporaries.
He writes, "In recent years Broadway’s stages have been littered with d= im performances from bright screen stars, including Julia Roberts and Kat= ie Holmes… By comparison, Ms. Johansson melts into her character so tho= roughly that her nimbus of celebrity disappears." While The Washington Post’s Peter Marks adds, "The surprising achieveme= nt belongs to Johansson, who proves to be capable of far more than collab= orating in eyebrow-raising star casting."

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LEONARDO DiCAPRIO has earned the praise of former U.S. Presidents BILL CL= INTON and GEORGE W. BUSH by donating $1 million (=C2=A3625,000) to aid ea= rthquake-ravaged Haiti.
The Titanic star’s generous contribution, made through his Leonardo DiC= aprio Foundation, will help to rebuild the poverty-stricken nation, which= was devastated by a massive tremor on 12 January (10).
And Clinton insists the actor is setting a good example to his fellow A= mericans.
Clinton says in a statement, "I am grateful for the generous gift Leona= rdo DiCaprio and his Foundation have made in support of our Clinton Bush = Haiti Fund. Combined with the outpouring of donations from Americans and = citizens around the world of all means, this support will go a long way t= o help save more lives, reach more people with emergency assistance, and = help the Haitian people build their nation back stronger and more secure = than it was before the earthquake." DiCaprio’s grand gesture has also been hailed by Bush, who adds, "I sal= ute Leonardo DiCaprio for his extraordinary generosity. This donation sen= ds a clear message to the people of Haiti that America’s commitment to he= lping rebuild their country is strong. I thank Leo for setting a wonderfu= l example for all Americans of helping a neighbor in need." The 35 year old joins stars including his ex-girlfriend Gisele Bundchen= and Sandra Bullock, who have also given at least $1 million to charities= aiding the survivors of the devastating earthquake.

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OWL CITY has scored a number one in the U.K. with catchy hit FIREFLIES, s= eeing off competition from pop queen LADY GAGA and the cast of hit TV mus= ical GLEE.
Owl City, a musical project founded by 20-year-old Adam Young, sits at = the top of the U.K. charts with its debut single, while Virgin Island-bor= n rapper Iyaz is in second place with Replay.
The cast of U.S. sitcom Glee is third with a cover of Journey’s Don’t S= top Believin’, reviving the popularity of the rockers’ original 1981 tune= , which is in seventh place.
Pop sensation Lady Gaga clings to her spot in the Top 10 - her anthem B= ad Romance is at nine.
Meanwhile in the album charts, Florence And The Machine keeps a firm gr= ip on the top spot, while Welsh rockers Lostprophets’ new album The Betra= yed debuts at three.

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BERNARD BUTLER has wished his former SUEDE bandmates good luck as they la= unch a comeback - after they neglected to ask him to join their reunion.
The Animal Nitrate hitmakers announced earlier this month (Jan10) they’= ll soon be reforming for a charity gig in the U.K. - but Butler’s name wa= s excluded from the announcement line-up in favour of guitarist Richard O= akes.
Founder member Butler, who was replaced by Oakes when he quit Suede in = 1994, insists he was never approached to play at the charity concert afte= r previously branding Britpop reunions "embarrassing".
He said last year (09), "There’s an awful lot of Britpop reunions going= on at the moment and I find it embarrassing personally. I think it’s got= no relevance to what’s going on at the moment. I’m obsessively opposed t= o nostalgia. I hate the idea of it. It doesn’t work. And it doesn’t inter= est me at all." But now he’s wishing the newly reformed group the best of luck, insisti= ng he’ll be in the front row at their show.
Butler explains, "It’s a shame for them that my name gets dragged into = it to try and stir something up… The honest answer is that I haven’t be= en asked to do it. I saw (singer) Brett (Anderson) the other night social= ly and it’s not really something we’re going to go on about. So, it’s all= in people’s fantasies and imaginations really.
"I think they were really happy without me for quite a while and I thin= k they’d be really unhappy with me now. They were a really successful ban= d and I was with them for 5 minutes, relatively, to the history of the ba= nd. And they get along fine. I think they’ll manage this on their own. I = think it’s a good idea. It’s a great charity and I’ll be on the front row= chucking peanuts at them." Suede, who disbanded in 2003, are scheduled to play at London’s Royal A= lbert Hall in March (10).

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