May 23, 2006

50 Cent was just one among the many top honorees at the 23rd Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards celebration held Monday May 22nd at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by ASCAP President & Chairman, Marilyn Bergman, the event was attended by more than 700 leading songwriters, recording artists and music industry leaders.

As of Fiddy, the rapper was named Songwriter of the Year thanks to his contributions to five award-winning songs in 2005, like "Candy Shop" and "Disco Inferno" to name some. Meanwhile, Song of the Year award resulted in a tie between Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "We Belong Together," written by Johnta Austin, Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal.

"It's really exciting. The Hilton has given us an opportunity to play more than once a year," Kix Brooks said speaking on the two-year contract duo Brooks & Dunn has reached with the Las Vegas Hilton. "I'm really looking forward to a little more Las Vegas", he added.

In addition to their National Finals Rodeo performance Dec. 4-6, Brooks said he and Ronnie Dunn would perform at the Hilton hotel-casino in March and July next year before then return for the rodeo in December 2007.

And there they come exciting days for Jack Black and wife Tanya Haden. The couple is expecting their first child together, a boy, which is due early next month.

The actor broke the news this weekend during which he was doing publicity for his new movie, "Nacho Libre," which opens June 16 later this year.

"Lost" star Michelle Rodriguez was sentenced to 60 days in Los Angeles County jail Monday May 22nd, 2006 for violating her probation she was sentenced to in 2004 on DUI-related misdemeanor charges. This has been confirmed by the Los Angeles city attorney's office.

Besides being put in jail, Judge Rex Heeseman, moreover, also sentenced the star to 30 days of community service for the L.A. Sheriff's Department and an extension of her probation by two years.

Eat the vegetable, be healthy and still sexy. It is a known fact that Prince really is a strict vegetarian, nonetheless he's been chosen the "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" in PETA's annual online poll, the animal rights group announced Monday May 22nd, 2006.

Runners-up in the poll, which PETA said received over 40,000 votes, include Kristen Bell, Natalie Portman, Nicollette Sheridan and Joaquin Phoenix among others.

As if what she's been doing for the length of her career in entertainment industry has yet enough, Oprah Winfrey is giving hand at a new job. The talk show queen has signed a deal with the publisher Simon & Schuster to write a book about weight control which reportedly is due for a January release.

The deal, announced at the annual Book Expo America in Washington, is claimed to be the biggest signed for a non-fiction work, though the amount was not disclosed. One thing for sure Oprah is assumed to exceed the $12 million Bill Clinton received for his 2004 memoir, "My Life."

Hollywood on-off couple, Nicole Richie and Adam Goldstein, is planning to marry. At least that is what the socialite's famous father Lionel Richie has revealed.

And while rumors on the street claim the couple had split for the second time in five months, Lionel told reporters in London they will marry and he will provide the entertainment.

It's been 8 years since Pearl Jam unveiled their 1998 clip for "Do the Evolution". And now the music act is about to launch their new music video.

Dubbed "Life Wasted," which actually is the title of the second single from the band self-titled album, the set is the first clip directed by visual artist Fernando Apodaca.

Numbers of notable names have been added to the star-studded cast of presenters at the "2006 MTV Movie Awards." The newly tapped celebrities among others are Colin Farrell, Jessica Simpson, Kevin Spacey, Samuel L. Jackson, Amanda Bynes and Dane Cook.

Will have actress Jessica Alba to host, the prestigious event will be aired by June 3rd at Sony Picture Studios in Culver City, CA, and premiere to audiences nationwide on Thursday, June 8th at 9pm ET/PT on MTV.

Rumors are abuzz that Heather Locklear has split up with actor boyfriend David Spade. The reason that prompted the break-up is that Locklear has yet ready to embark on a new romance.

Locklear is currently divorcing Bon Jovi rocker Richie Sambora after they called time on their 11-year marriage in February. That's for everybody to know.

A South African photographer named John Liebenberg was taken into custody on Friday afternoon May 19th, 2006 for trespassing while on a quest to take the picture of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Liebenberg was taken into custody after driving into the back of a police barracks in search of a vantage point to take a photograph of a nearby private hospital in the port town of Walvis bay where he heard Jolie had been rushed to give birth.

Put in a communal jail cell for three days, Liebenberg appeared in court Monday May 22nd, 2006 to face the charges. While prosecutors recommended that he serve one year in prison or pay the equivalent of a $152 fine, Liebenberg's lawyers had suggested a fine.

Keith Richards is back home and thus The Rolling Stones line up is complete.

"Keith Richards has arrived back home in the U.S. from New Zealand," read a posting on the band's official Website. "He is feeling great, happy to be home and looking forward to getting back on the road with the Rolling Stones next month."