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BRITNEY SPEARS has thanked her celebrity pals for helping her raise over $200,000 (£125,000) for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts at her California charity event on Wednesday (11May11).
The Toxic hitmaker hosted An Evening of Southern Style at a private residence in Beverly Hills to benefit the St. Bernard Project, an organisation which helps those made homeless by the devastating storm which ripped through her home state of Louisiana in 2005.
During the evening, Spears served her own "homemade sweet tea", while her father Jamie catered a traditional southern menu for celebrity guests including Hilary Duff, Selena Gomez, Kelly Osbourne, Kellan Lutz and Kim Kardashian.
The pop superstar has now thanked the stars for showing their support and revealed the evening was a big success.
In a post on Twitter.com, she writes, "Thank you everyone who came out to support my charity event last night with St Bernard Project. With your help we raised over 200k! - Britney." Spears then named and thanked her celebrity guests for their attendance.

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Entertainer NICK CANNON is playing down press reports about his renewed war of words with EMINEM, insisting he’s not poking fun at the rapper in his upcoming TV comedy special - but the fuss over their feud.
New dad Cannon took aim at his rap rival in 2009 when he accused the superstar of disrespecting his wife Mariah Carey in the lyrics of Relapse album track Bagpipes From Baghdad.
In the tune, Eminem opens up about an alleged romance with Carey, rapping, "Mariah whatever happened to us/Why did we ever have to break-up?" But when he turned on Cannon in the song, urging him to "back the f**k up," adding, "I’m not playing, I want her back, you punk…." and "I wish you luck with that whore", the entertainer decided it was time to fight back.
In a post on his blog, Cannon wrote, "(Eminem is) still obsessed with my wife, the same female that wouldn’t let him get to second base from eight years ago." Cannon called Eminem "Slim Lamey" and offered him a challenge, writing, "Man to man, let’s meet up and deal with this like adults… This is my invitation to you, whenever and wherever you like, sir. So when you come out of your introverted hiding place and ask your bodyguards if you can go out and play by yourself, I’m here Pimp!" And he further teased Eminem by stating, "Your legacy has now been tainted from this day forth! You will now be known as the rapper who lost to corny-a** Nick Cannon!" The angry post was later removed, but sources at U.S. cable network Showtime recently revealed the comedian would take aim at Eminem again in his special, which debuts in America on Saturday (14May11).
He insists that’s not the case, stating, "I’m not taking him on. When you watch it (the special), you see what it is. It’s really me talking about how silly the entire thing was.
"I kinda come from… the character of my grandfather… and how he felt about me ‘beefing’ in hip-hop… It wasn’t really a real beef.
"He’s (grandfather) kind of an old-school gangster, so (he’d) talk about how he would have handled it."

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BLINK-182 rocker MARK HOPPUS is moving to London this summer (11) after spending years dreaming of living in the British capital.
The musician has often travelled to the U.K. to perform gigs and admits he has always wanted stay in the country for a longer amount of time.
After spending last Christmas (10) in London, Hoppus has decided to move his wife and eight-year-old son Jack to England from California.
He tells Britain’s Kerrang! magazine, "Each time I’ve been to the U.K., I always want to move there. My family spent last Christmas in London for the whole Mary Poppins experience, and my wife and I finally decided that we were going to try it and go there for a year. We’re planning on moving over there in the summer. We want to experience it for what it is and feel like locals." Hoppus is already looking forward to being able to support his chosen British soccer team, Chelsea, when he becomes a London resident: "When I move there, I’m going to learn a lot more about their history and go to the games. I don’t want to be a fairweather fan.
"The thing that sucks about watching football in the U.S. is that on the weekends, I have to get up at five in the morning to watch them play - now that’s dedication."

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Blues singer ETTA JAMES has checked into a California hospital with a potentially deadly infection.
The 73 year old was admitted earlier this week (beg09May11) and is being treated for sepsis, caused by a urinary tract infection.
The singer, who suffers from leukaemia, dementia and kidney problems, was hospitalised for the same problem last year (10).

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LADY GAGA is constantly struggling to overcome a "fog" of exhaustion which "hovers over" her during her gruelling touring schedule.
The Poker Face hitmaker has been touring non-stop over the last 18 months with her Monster Ball shows and in early 2010, she sparked fears for her health by cancelling a number of concerts due to fatigue.
Gaga admits her constant tiredness is a serious concern, but she is determined to continue her punishing work routine for the sake of her fans.
In an interview with Sir Elton John for V magazine, she says, "At a certain point exhaustion becomes a state of being, and mentally I have to be strong and overcome it. It’s like a cloud, a fog really that hovers over me. But in a way I will never ever escape it. Art is my whole life.
"The monsters (fans) are my medicine. They heal me, physically and emotionally, every night at the show. I feel God through their love. I worship little monsters. They’re my religion."

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STEVIE WONDER surprised students at a university in New Orleans, Louisiana with an impromptu performance on Thursday (12May11) as he was handed an honorary degree at the facility.
The Superstition hitmaker, who turns 61 on Friday (13May11), was handed the certificate at Tulane University, with Nobel Laureate Walter Gilbert and journalist Cokie Roberts also receiving degrees.
Wonder stunned the crowd at the ceremony when he started singing along to Michael White’s Original Liberty Jazz Band and singer Topsy Chapman, before breaking into a rendition of his hit You Are The Sunshine of My Life.
The superstar also recited the words to his new track, Ten Billion Hearts, reports the Associated Press.
Spokesperson for the university, Michael Strecker, says the students were given an "unexpected treat".

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THE PROPOSAL star RYAN REYNOLDS and screenwriter ALAN LOEB have joined forces to launch a TV production company.
The venture, DarkFire, will operate under the umbrella of 20th Century Fox, according to Deadline.com, and will focus mostly on comedies and animated series.
Loeb will write several pilot scripts and Reynolds will lend his support to the projects.
The Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps scriptwriter insists he has the perfect partner, telling the website, "Ryan is an incredible resource of comedy and the funniest person I know."

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Actor MATT DILLON is attempting to shut down plans for a new Latino restaurant near his New York home, insisting the diner would ruin the vibe of the neighbourhood.
The There’s Something About Mary star, who lives in the posh Upper West Side of the city, showed up to a community liquor-license hearing on Wednesday (11May11) to campaign against the eatery’s plans to open its doors in a vacant building nearby.
The actor complained Calle Ocho’s loud atmosphere would disrupt peace in the area.
Dillon said, "This restaurant is different than a number of restaurants. It’s more of a bar crowd. It’s more of a nightclub vibe." The superstar, who went nearly unnoticed by other community members, donned a hat and sunglasses as a disguise.
The board will make a decision next month (Jun11).

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ASHTON KUTCHER has fuelled rumours he is set to announce a deal to replace CHARLIE SHEEN in sitcom TWO AND A HALF MEN by posting a cryptic clue on his Twitter.com page.
The Just Married star hit headlines this week (beg09May11) when his name was linked to the popular sitcom, which is currently without a lead actor following Sheen’s dismissal earlier this year (11).
Hugh Grant is rumoured to have pulled out of talks to replace Sheen and the spotlight has now turned on Kutcher, who stepped up the gossip by posting a maths problem on his Twitter page which is answered by the number "2.5".
He writes, "What’s the square root of 6.25?" Two and a Half Men creator Chuck Lorre is said to have already scripted a storyline to introduce Kutcher to the show, with a source telling the Hollywood Reporter, "It’s really funny. People are going to love it…." Another insider adds, "Chuck’s really happy." The Wall Street Journal reports Kutcher’s TV deal is worth an estimated $1 million (£625,000) per episode. Sheen reportedly made around $2 million (£1.25 million) per episode in a deal which also included royalty proceeds.
Kutcher previously appeared to deny the reports linking him to the show, by writing on Twitter, "I’m starting to become convinced that people put my name in articles just to improve their SEO (search engine optimisation) or hoping I’ll Tweet it." But that message appeared to have been removed shortly after it was posted.

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Stars including JACK WHITE, NORAH JONES and DANGER MOUSE have spoken of their pride after finally completing an album inspired by classic Spaghetti Westerns.
The former White Stripes rocker has joined forces with a number of artists, also including composer Daniele Luppi, to create music in homage to films such as The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and A Fistful of Dollars.
The project, titled Rome, was recorded with many musicians who played on the original film scores by Italian composer Ennio Morricone, famed for his Spaghetti Western soundtracks.
Rome was the brainchild of Gnarls Barkley star Danger Mouse - real name Brian Burton - and has been five years in the making.
The album is now set for release later this month (May11) and White admits the record has been a labour of love for all of the artists involved, telling Britain’s The Sun, "Rome was one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done even though Norah and I were only there for part of the ride (by just recording vocals)…" Jones adds, "I never would’ve thought to do something like this without a movie but I think it’s a great idea. It all flows so well. The album is a whole complete piece. And the musicians were so great. It’s so exciting that we got to record with the real people who started all of this." The project also reunited the Cantori Moderni choir, which sang on 1966’s The Good, The Bad and The Ugly score, and Danger Mouse admits it was an intense experience: "It was quite emotional. They’d not seen each other in decades and are now in their seventies. They were moved that we had recognised how important their sound was and it took them back." The artists are now in talks to turn the album into a series of live shows.

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FLEETWOOD MAC star STEVIE NICKS has confirmed the band will reunite next year (12).
The group last toured in 2009 and their most recent album, Say You Will, was released in 2003.
The singer and her bandmate Lindsey Buckingham are both busy working on solo material, but they plan to resurrect the band in 2012 once they wrap up their side-projects - and Nicks reveals they are considering recording a new album.
She tells Perez Hilton, "When (my new) album and Lindsey’s album come to a stop then Fleetwood Mac will gather again and we’ll either make another record or we won’t and we’ll just go on tour."

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One of the producers behind LINDSAY LOHAN’s upcoming mobster movie has confirmed the "talented and beautiful" actress is still onboard the Gotti biopic despite her looming prison sentence.
The Mean Girls star recently signed a two-picture agreement with Fiore Films, with her first role starring alongside John Travolta, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci in Gotti: Three Generations, based on the real-life crime family.
Her involvement had been thrown into doubt after she was sentenced to 120 days behind bars for violating her probation stemming from a 2007 DUI charge. She will begin her jail stint next month (Jun11), but producer Marc Fiore is adamant Lohan’s prison time won’t have an impact on her planned work schedule.
He tells reporters at the Cannes Film Festival in France, "Lindsay Lohan is a talented and beautiful actress, she is in the film and will be playing the role of Kim Gotti. She will also be co-starring in our next film, Mob Street." Lohan broke her probation when she was accused of stealing a necklace from a California jewellery store earlier this year (11). She pleaded no contest to the charge.

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British rocker MILES KANE was outraged when a record label executive invited HARRY POTTER star CLEMENCE POESY to provide vocals on his new album, because he was convinced the actress was "not going to be able to sing".
The Last Shadow Puppets musician launched his debut solo album, Colour of the Trap, this month (May11) and reveals he was left fuming when former Gossip Girl castmember Poesy was invited to help record his song Happenstance.
He tells Scotland’s Daily Record, "We were looking for a girl for my son Happenstance then someone from the label met her at a party in Paris. He mentioned that I had a song and would she be up for doing it. Then he got back to me and I asked him, ‘What’s an actress going to be able to do? She’s not going to be able to sing!’ I was like, ‘What are you doing asking her, you stupid p**ck!’" But Kane had to backtrack when he realised Poesy is actually a talented singer.
He adds, "She demoed the track and it sounded great so I got her over to the U.K. We met for a coffee and a few weeks later we went into the studio and did it live. It was amazing. It really suits the tune." Kane is now convinced Poesy, who also starred in Colin Farrell comedy In Bruges, has a bright future ahead of her: "I had never heard of her. When I got told about her I went and checked out In Bruges. She’s amazing and is going to do really well."

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MOTLEY CRUE rocker NIKKI SIXX cleared the way for a joint tour with POISON by apologising to BRET MICHAELS for derogatory comments they made about the idea.
Poison frontman Michaels first suggested hitting the road with Motley Crue, but the concept was dismissed and scoffed at by some members of the rival rock group.
The two bands later stunned fans by announcing the joint tour and scheduling the dates for this summer (11), and Michaels admits the plan was put into action after Crue star Sixx approached him and apologised for their previous remarks.
Michaels tells The Arizona Republic, "There was a lot of controversy between Motley Crue and Poison, just some comments they had made about how ‘We’re not gonna do that kind of tour’. I had said something on stage, like ‘Wouldn’t it be awesome if for Poison’s 25th Anniversary and Motley Crue’s 30th, for there to be a tour we did together?’ And a couple of the members of their band made some pretty derogatory comments.
"I just said, ‘The hell with it. I’m gonna do my own tour.’ Then, Nikki (Sixx) said, ‘I’m really sorry about some of the comments some of the members made. I really want to do this’. So I think it’s gonna be a great tour."

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U2 frontman BONO has met with the president of Mexico to discuss poverty and drug-related crime in the country.
The Irish rocker has been in the country with the band’s 360 Degree tour, and celebrated his 51st birthday in Mexico City on Tuesday (10May11). He performed with the band on Wednesday (11May11) and then met with President Felipe Calderon on Thursday (12May11).
The outspoken activist visited the presidential residence Los Pinos and talked with the country’s leader about the problems facing the nation, as well as global warming. Calderon reportedly thanked Bono for talking about Mexico’s drug violence on stage at the band’s show on Wednesday and congratulated him on his birthday, according to the Associated Press.

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Rapper GUCCI MANE is to be released from prison by the end of June (11), his publicist has confirmed.
The troubled hip-hop star, real name Radric Davis, was detained last month (Apr11) after a warrant was issued for his arrest over allegations he pushed a woman out of a moving vehicle.
Prosecutors filed counts of misdemeanour battery, reckless conduct and disorderly conduct relating to the alleged incident and he was held in custody as the arrest constituted a violation of his probation stemming from a 2005 assault conviction.
Mane was expected to be handed a hefty 17-month jail sentence for the violation, but on Monday (09May11) Mane appeared in court in Fulton County, Georgia and was told he will be released by the end of next month (Jun11), when his probation will also finish.
His representative tells MTV News, "Gucci, appeared in a Fulton County courtroom on Monday afternoon and in less than an hour, our attorney Mark Issa prevailed. Gucci will not only be released in 45 days, but will also end his probation by the last days of June upon his release from jail.
"Gucci looks forward to getting back into the studio and on with his life. Gucci thanks all his fans for the overwhelming love and support they have given."

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LADY GAGA has blamed her hectic work schedule for her "miserably pathetic" love life because she doesn’t have time to date.
The Poker Face pop star is single again after splitting from her longtime boyfriend, heavy metal drummer Luc Carl, and admits she is struggling to move on following the break-up.
Gaga has taped a interview for Britain’s The Graham Norton Show and she appeared on the set wearing an elaborate wedding dress, complete with veil and a tiara, as she opened up about her disappointing love life.
She tells the host, "I’m miserably pathetic in my wedding dress. I haven’t been on any dates recently because I have been working so hard and I get very bored very quickly with men…" She subsequently lightened the mood by joking, "I guess they would get freaked out by this wedding dress." The full interview with Lady Gaga airs in the U.K. on Friday (13May11).

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A portrait of late screen icon DAME ELIZABETH TAYLOR by famed artist ANDY WARHOL has sold for nearly $27 million (£16.9 million).
The colourful picture, titled Liz #5, was one of a number of pieces created by Warhol in celebration of the Hollywood star, and it generated massive interest when it hit the auction block in New York on Thursday (12May11).
The 1963 silkscreen sold for a staggering $26,962,500 (£16,851,563), surpassing the previous total for another of Warhol’s Taylor prints, 1963’s Liz, which sold for $23 million (£14.4 million) in 2007.
Taylor died of congestive heart failure in March (11).

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