August 08, 2008

As the official sponsor of the U.S Olympic Team in Beijing, AT&T brought 16 artists together to record exclusive tracks for the AT&T Team USA Soundtrack in order to inspire and support the athletes. Artists involved in the compilation of exclusive rock, pop, R&B, rap and country music are 3 Doors Down, Army of Me, Colbie Caillat, Clique Girlz, Sheryl Crow, Chris Brown, Flipsyde, Luis Fonsi, Goo Goo Dolls, Josh Kelley, Lady Antebellum, Queen Latifah, Mere, Nelly, Taylor Swift and Kate Voegele.

Gathering together for the soundtrack, some of the artists shared their feeling on making the tracks and how important was the project for them.

In about a week, "Tropic Thunder" will be screened in numerous theaters across the country. Hypening up fans' excitement about the Ben Stiller's comedy, DreamWorks Pictures have unleashed a batch of new videos related to the upcoming film. Two out of six new videos, a clip and a behind-the-scene featurette are taken from the movie, while the rest are made in the format of its mockumentary "Rain of Madness".

Telling the story of a group of actors involved in a real war-like situation while filming a Vietnam War movie, "Tropic Thunder" focuses on five completely different actors, pampered action star Tugg Speedman, overweight gross-out comedian Jeff 'Fats' Portnoy, multiple Academy Award-winner Kirk Lazarus, African-American actor Alpa Chino and unknown actor Kevin Sandusky. Dumped by their fed up director in the middle of a jungle, they soon realize that they have to fight for their life when they accidentally cross the territory of a heroine cartel.

Having a very full plate on her agenda nowadays, Paris Hilton apparently can never have enough of more task that she's adding a new project into her pipeline. Hard at work promoting her latest movie, "Repo! The Genetic Opera", she has recently revealed that she's teaming up with comic legend Stan Lee to develop a cartoon superhero character for her for a new undisclosed TV series.

Making an appearance at Stingaree, the Downtown nightclub to promote the flick, the celebrity socialite told San Diego City Beat she's been working on an animated likeness of her with Marvel Comics chairman Lee, who created famed characters such as Spider-Man and the X-Men. Her cartoon character reportedly is set to hit TV screens in the near future.

Selena Gomez surprisingly reveals that she is in the middle of working on a musical project. She says that the album will carry pop and rock tunes. However, though she plans on creating her own sound, she refuses to go single. Instead, she wants to join a band without her name attached to it. "I'm going to be in a band-no Selena Gomez stuff," she said in an interview. "I'm not going to be a solo artist. I think that I don't want my name attached to it."

Furthermore, she also plans to play instruments on some of the album's tracks. "I basically want to make music that is fun and that parents and kids can jump around to and have a good time to," she said. "I will be singing, and I'm learning drums and playing electric guitar."

There is some light shed for Nicole Richie's debut album. An industry insider said that the album will include among others a cover of Prince's 1982 classic "Do Me, Baby" plus two tracks specially dedicated to her young family, boyfriend Joel Madden and daughter Harlow Winter Kate Madden who was born in January this year.

The song for Joel will be called "Me and You". A source told Life & Style, "She wanted to do something sweet. Right now, Nicole's working on a lullaby for Harlow." The album has been baked since 2005 but there has been no update made for its release date or the details regarding who will produce the songs. However, the insider revealed that as many as seven tracks have been laid down to be the tracks in the not-yet-titled album.

Hollywood hunk Channing Tatum is going to throw off his assault rifle and do something that he probably never did before, jumping from one rooftop to another. That happens because the 28-year-old actor has been signed to star in a new yet untitled action film for New Line Cinema, "Parkour".

In the movie, Tatum will be playing an undercover New York cop who goes into the world of Parkour to investigate a sneaky bank robbers' group. He will be working under the direction of first time director Richie Smyth.

Having been together for merely two months, it is fast that they are reported to have engaged. Albert Hammond, Jr. of the garage rock band The Strokes is engaged to his model girlfriend Agyness Deyn, reports said.

A source close to the couple tells US Weekly the musician and catwalk beauty "just got engaged!" Still according to the same source, their engagement took place "within the past few days."

Having had "Sahara" helmer Breck Eisner attached, "Flash Gordon" is moving ahead with Alex Raymond's comic strip adaptation. In the latest report concerning the action adventure film, it is revealed that Sony Pictures have picked up screenwriters Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless to pen the script.

The pair of scribblers, who have worked together in writing Universal's "Dracula Year Zero" and Zack Snyder's "Cobalt 60", have been signed in a few months after Sony won the screening rights from Hearst Entertainment. They are expected to bring a new take to the outer space tale that has once been brought to the big screen in 1980 by Mike Hodges.

Wolfmother have finally released a statement that they are splitting up after being previously reported to have a serious dispute for a long time. Bass/keyboard player Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett have decided to leave the band, leaving just singer/guitarist Andrew Stockdale. A statement issued by their label Modular said, "Please understand that in spite of their best efforts over a long period of time, they just could not find a harmonious way to work together."

According to a source, the break-up happens because of musical differences that they have failed to manage. This then results on emerging an apparent clash of egos and differing visions in the band. In an interview, the source said, "Apparently there were some ego problems between Andrew Stockdale, the singer, and the other two guys, as often happens when a band reaches international success."

Despite the fact that "The Dark Knight" has dominated the record-breaking story with its continuous success, stoner flick "Pineapple Express" has created a history of its own. The David Gordon Green's comedy has landed itself atop of the list of the best-ever Wednesday opening at the domestic box office in August.

Debuted in the theaters on Wednesday, August 6, the Seth Rogen and James Franco-starring movie has grossed as much as $12.1 million on the particular day only. By that it means that "Express" has overtaken the previous record held by "Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" set in 2004 with $8.9 million.

Pop singer and actress Christina Milian has reportedly decided to bring her manager Poli Paul to the court. She has sued Poli for giving her an illegal sample for single "Dip It Low" which is then used in her 2004 album "It's About Time".

As this case surfaced in the media, Christina has been in court battle with Thomas Turino, Larry Crook and Dan Dickey. These guys have claimed that a portion of "Dip It Low" was illegally taken from their 1983 track "La Sirena".

Recently, David Goyer, the man behind "The Dark Knight" script, has opened up about his forthcoming projects to MTV. With "Magneto" and "The Invisible Man" laying on his sleeves, he revealed that he is faced with a hard fact to choose which from the two he will do first.

Suggesting that he may do the "X-Men" spin-off first saying, "That may be next", the considerably sought-after scribbler also confessed that he is working on the new version of "Invisible Man". "I'm in the process of doing ['Invisible Man'] right now, and I'm working with some conceptual artists in tandem with writing the script," he explained. "I'm actually working with one of the artists from 'Batman Begins' and 'The Dark Knight'."

The official track listing of New Kids On The Block's comeback album "The Block" has been unleashed. From the list, it can be seen that the revived '80s pop group have collaborated with several current musicians such as The Pussycat Dolls, Lady GaGa, Ne-Yo and Akon as well as with a group of their generation, New Edition. This at the same time put down rumors that Michael Jackson and Madonna will be included in the album.

Ne-Yo in particular takes the honor to be the collaborator of the second single, aptly titled "Single". "Ne-Yo is one of the most sought-after songwriters, so we were really pleased he wanted to be on the track as an artist too," said Joey McIntyre. The song has been added to iMeem in late July and will be available on iTunes on August 12. "Single" is preceded by "Summertime" that was released in May.

New report has just surfaced by the hour that Jewel Kilcher has married her longtime boyfriend Ty Murray. The lovebirds, according to People as being informed by her representative, "eloped to the Bahamas and exchanged vows in a private ceremony" on Thursday night, August 7.

Detailing on the wedding ceremony, the representative revealed to the magazine that the singer "wore a traditional wedding gown, while Ty wore his favorite blue jeans, white shirt and cowboy hat." The representative added, "The couple is very happy and look forward to enjoying their honeymoon."

Universal have secured European license deal for Miley Cyrus' "Breakout" album from Disney Music Group. This then gives them full rights to release and promote the star's album across Europe.

The deal has been announced by Universal Music Group International executive vice president Max Hole on August 7. Speaking about the deal, Max says, "Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana is already a TV and music superstar around the world; her solo debut is off to a fantastic start in the US and we are thrilled to be working with Disney to build her solo recording career in Europe."

Trying her hardest to maintain the sexual image she has been building, Christina Aguilera is the latest to join the club of Hollywood female celebs whose naked pics surface online. A vintage revealing picture of the singer and mother of one is doing rounds on Internet.

The pic is believed to be shot a few years back by photographer and director David LaChapelle when she was still working with him and indeed features some other people who've also worked with him. Allegedly, the shot will be used as the cover page for an upcoming issue of Interview magazine.

Turns out upcoming album, "Theater of the Mind". The recently house-jailed rapper contributes his vocal in the track called "Wish You Would" which has garnered a heavy spin since its leak.

The new track is not yet confirmed as a single but it's known that DJ Toomp was the producer. Meanwhile, the first single lifted from "Theater" has been outed earlier this month, titled "What Them Girls Like" and featuring Chris Brown as well as producer Sean Garrett who is now bridging himself to be a performing artist.

If Disney Channel bring aspiring musicians to a prestigious and expensive camp to rock their heart out, MTV will take theirs simply to a place where most teens could call a home away from home, a local shopping mall. From the executive producers of the hit series "High School Musical", Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush, comes a new upbeat musical comedy "The American Mall".

To be premiered on MTV channel on Monday, August 11 at 9:00 P.M. ET/PT, the television movie stars Nina Dobrev, Rob Mayes, Autumn Reeser, Yassmin Alers, Al Sapienza, Max Huxley, Bianca Collins, Neil Haskell and many others. Using the teleplay by Margaret Oberman from a story by Tomas Romero and P.J. Hogan, Shawn Ku directs, while "HSM" Bonnie Story choreographs the musical numbers.

Another controversy is rolling towards rapper R. Kelly. He is accused for sabotaging his rapper friend Joe. In a surprising interview, Joe says that R. Kelly has applied a pattern of stalled promotion by pressuring radio DJs, asking them not to play his record when it has started getting fans' attention.

Earlier this year after Jive Records has pushed back the release of his 2007 LP, "Ain't Nothin Like Me" for several times, Joe has decided to leave the label. Joe believes that his rival R. Kelly has been the one to blame, claiming that R. Kelly has put pressure on label executives to stall his album. "R. Kelly was very instrumental in making a lot of decisions when it came to my records being played on the radio," Joe said during the interview. "He would make a call to the radio station or to the label and say, 'Hey, this Joe record is too hot right now. Yall need to pull that back.' And they would oblige."

She's all her own now, literally. Heather Graham is back on the single market as she has split from boyfriend, club owner Charles Ferri, the New York Post reports. The lovebirds who've been dating for two years blame distance for their split.

A source close to both Graham and Ferri said, "They found no time for their relationship." Blaming the long distance for their break up arguably is understandable as the actress is busy working on her acting career in Chicago whereas Ferri, who's the owner of the New York club Star Room, has been working hard prepping to launch Star Vodka in New York.

Adding to the many celebrities that have experienced wardrobe malfunction, Lily Allen is the latest. The British singer and TV presenter had the embarrassing moment of herself when her low-neck top slipped over and accidentally exposed her breasts during an outing in London on Thursday, August 7.

Lily was making her way out of her BMW, reportedly to meet ex-boyfriend Ed Simons of The Chemical Brothers, when her white sheer top unexpectedly exposed one of her breasts, much to her surprise. Her other boob popped out in separate occasion on the same day that was when she had just returned home.

American R&B/soul singer Mary J. Blige will be heading to court room. A New York production company called Dream Family Entertainment has filed a legal action against her for stealing song "Work That" used in her 2007 album "Growing Pains" from the company.

To make matter worse, the fact that Mary's name is listed as a songwriter on the track opens an indirect claim for the song. Besides that, the alleged stolen song is also used as a commercial ads of iPod from Apple Inc. However, the diva becomes the only one who is named in the lawsuit because Apple's name isn't in the paper.

Apart from following another adventure of the boy wizard, Harry Potter, the sixth installment of J.K. Rowling's adaptation novel series, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", will introduce a new character to the movie franchise, Regulus Black. Though the character won't be the center of the story, an interesting tidbit about him has been shared.

Posting a scan of a French magazine article about the forthcoming action fantasy movie, Harry Potter's Page revealed a possible spoiler related to the younger brother of Sirius Black. In the article, it is noted that the movie will have more of Regulus' story than the book it is adapted. It is further explained that in the series of flash-back scenes, it will be displayed how he joined the Death Eaters and killed by Voldermort in the end. Although reporting the story, the site insisted that the truth of the report is yet to be proved.

Morgan Freeman is a hospital patient no more. He's been discharged from Memphis' Regional Medical Center Thursday, August 7, just four days after he was sent there following a car accident in Mississippi over the weekend.

Speaking on his hospital release to E! News, the actor said "I left the hospital today just after 12 noon, Memphis time. I'm doing very well. I feel really good." He continued saying, "I just really, I thank the staff at Elvis Presley [Hospital] and many, many thanks to my many well-wishers. It's great to know people care about you."

A new album from Jay-Z is no longer a rumor since the rapper himself confirmed the project during Kanye West's Glow in the Dark concert where he became a guest star. At his Madison Square Garden concert on Wednesday, August 6, West called out Jay-Z to join him on stage to perform "Jockin' Jay-Z" which is speculated to be one of the tracks from the new album.

West said during the performance that the song was recorded while he was in Hawaii. Rapper Memphis Bleek provided further explanation, saying that West has produced the beats especially for Jay-Z. To Billboard.com Bleek said, "Kanye just brought him a new beat called 'Brooklyn'. You know Jay though, he's always changing his mind. It's going to be a masterpiece though. Kanye gave him some beats where I told Jay that I'm hating on him for having them. The beats are like new rhythms with old drums. Just picture Jay-Z having four records like 'Encore'". The latest mentioned title is a track that became a popular single in Jay-Z's 2003 album "The Black Album".

That Miley Cyrus once dated Nick Jonas, it's an old story. However, it was not until recently that the teen sensation finally confirmed her long-rumored romance with the teen rocker of boyband Jonas Brothers. She confessed their romance in an interview in the forthcoming September issue of Seventeen magazine.

Opening up like never before about her and Nick's two-year relationship, which has long been the subject of media speculation, the "Hannah Montana" star confessed "Nick and I loved each other." She went on revealing, "We still do, but we were in love with each other. For two years he was basically my 24/7. But it was really hard to keep it from people. We were arguing a lot, and it really wasn't fun."

While rumors on the casting of "Inglourious Basterds" have been crowding the media lately, one major signing of a particular Hollywood actor for the Quentin Tarantino's latest feature film project has been confirmed. Said to be in talks for Lieutenant Aldo Raine character, Brad Pitt has officially been tapped to tackle the role.

Described to be a "Tennessee hillbilly", Pitt's character is the assembler as well as leader of the eight Jewish-American soldiers who are sent to a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. The 44-year-old actor is among the first actors signed for the action drama's cast ensemble joining helmer Eli Roth who is assigned to portray Sgt. Donnie Donowitz.