December 29, 2010

A throwback to 2010 continues with this second quarter of AceShowbiz's annual Kaleidoscope. The period between the year of April and June is the time when beauty pageants start appointing the year's ambassador, studios are dropping their summer blockbusters and music artists release music videos before the award season starts.

Through this Kaleidoscope, AceShowbiz presents the important events happening in the entertainment world in the last 12 months. Divided into quarters, the annual Kaleidoscope is published between December 28 and 31.

A new sneak peek for "Biutiful" is released shortly before the film hits limited U.S. theaters on December 29. The clip features a scene which is less in dialog and follows Javier Bardem's Uxbal as he runs on the street before being arrested by police. Looking scared, he pees on his pants.

"Biutiful" is a love story between a father and his children. Uxbal is a conflicted man who struggles to reconcile fatherhood, love, spirituality, crime, guilt and mortality amidst the dangerous underworld of modern Barcelona. His livelihood is earned out of bounds, his sacrifices for his children know no bounds.

Gorilla Zoe's music video for his track "Stankin" has just gone viral. This video doesn't have any specific storyline, only focusing on the Atlanta MC spitting his verses to the camera with a number of male and female companions.

"Stankin" is one of the materials listed in Zoe's mini album "I Am Atlanta 3 [EP]" which has been available for download on iTunes. It is released to tide fans over his next studio installment tentatively titled "King Kong" which is coming out next year.

Country music legend Merle Haggard has stepped up to defend beleaguered U.S. President Barack Obama after meeting him earlier this month and discovering he's nothing like his media portrayal. Haggard met Obama at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. - where he was feted alongside Sir Paul McCartney and Oprah Winfrey, among others, for his lifetime services to the arts - and he insists the President is a great guy.

The singer/songwriter tells Rolling Stone magazine, "It's really almost criminal what they (media) do with our President. There seems to be no shame or anything. They call him all kinds of names all day long, saying he's doing certain things that he's not. It's just a big old political game that I don't want to be part of."

Sir Elton John and David Furnish's baby boy won't be short of friends growing up - the couple's pal Neil Patrick Harris is already planning "play dates". The Rocket Man and his partner David Furnish welcomed little Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John via a surrogate mother on Christmas Day and announced the happy news late on Monday, December 27.

Patrick Harris has been quick to congratulate his friends - and the star can't wait for his baby twins Harper Grace and Gideon Scott, who were born via a surrogate in October, to meet the newborn.

Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is urging Oscars bosses to consider Javier Bardem for a Best Actor nod for his portrayal of a cancer victim in new movie "Biutiful". The star took home the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival in France earlier this year for his performance in the harrowing drama, but was left out in the recent Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations, which will see winners crowned next month.

However, Inarritu is hopeful Bardem will take Hollywood's highest honor at the Academy Awards ceremony in February - as he's convinced the actor only missed out on several nods because of the film's timing. He tells E! Online, "I think the fact that the film has not been out yet, that many people haven't seen it or we don't have the money to spend to put all the ads out there. They (awards bosses) have 40 DVDs to watch. Maybe 'Biutiful' will be the last one for them to watch because it's a subtitled film. There's many filters or challenges that we have to face."

Actor Kelsey Grammer has fuelled rumours he's planning to wed fiancee Kayte Walsh early next year after revealing he sees "no reason to postpone" their marriage. The former "Frasier" star began dating Walsh following his split from wife Camille over the summer.

She filed for divorce on July 1 and it was revealed earlier this week the split could become final on Saturday, January 1, 2011 under California law - prompting speculation the actor is planning to wed imminently.

Already hauled at British Independent Film Awards and receiving Oscar buzz, "The King's Speech" will miss a chance to win at upcoming Writers Guild Awards. While the WGA has not unveiled the nominations until January 4, 2011, it has been pointed out by The Wrap that the British film along with "Blue Valentine", "Toy Story 3", "Winter's Bone" and "Another Year" will not make it to the list.

These movie are left off the list because they do not meet "the guild's Minimum Basic Agreement, or the agreements of several affiliated international guilds." Without purposely trying to indiscriminate the best films of the year, the Writers Guild Awards aim "to honor the best films produced by WGA members, or under WGA guidelines."

Ciara and Keri Hilson might have settled their feud. According to producer Polow da Don, the two female R&B singers are going to hook up for a duet. "Keri/Ciara colabo in 2011," he tweeted in upper-case letters. "Keri will be 2 or 3 times bigger next yr."

Playing down persistent rumors that they don't get along, the top-notch music maker went on, "They've known each other since they were 14.... me Ciara Keri Lloyd Akon Luda[ris] T.I. [Young] Jeezy and Jazze all started from nothing."

MTV aired a raw and bold documentary called "No Easy Decision" as a holiday special and it presented an issue as hard as its title. The spin-off to "16 and Pregnant" follows the reality show's alumna Markai Durham who fell pregnant for the second time. It highlights the emotional distress that Markai went through until she reached the decision to abort the baby.

Markai, who actually was banned from talking to the press before the episode aired, wrote on her Facebook page to prepare viewers of what they would see. "I thought I was on birth control," she wrote on early Tuesday morning. "I thought I was protected I thought this would have never been anything I would have to go through. But it just shows you ...you will never know."

"Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" will not include Nathan Drake's extended family. While the movie's helmer David O. Russell was believed saying it will feature "the family dynamic", "Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception" game director Justin Richmond says the information did not come from Russell.

"This idea really turns me on that there's a family that's a force to be reckoned with in the world of international art and antiquities... [a family] that deals with heads of state and heads of museums and metes out justice," Russell reportedly said which was quoted by Los Angeles Times at that time. "We'll have the family dynamic, which we've done in a couple of movies now... And then you take that and put it on the bigger, more muscular stage of an international action picture, but also put all the character stuff in it. That's a really cool idea to me."

Nick Carter is currently preparing for his second solo studio effort "I'm Taking Off". The first offering of the album is a love song called "Just One Kiss" which just got an accompanying music video coming out. Directed by Danny Roew, the clip follows the Backstreet Boys member strolling down the beach.

Carter's first album since 2002 "Now or Never", "I'm Taking Off" reportedly is due early February next year. Other details about the album remain under wraps, but he is rumored to have worked with OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder, Claude Kelly and Ne-Yo.

"The Princess Diaries" stars Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews are in negotiations to reteam for an upcoming episode of "Glee", according to U.K. reports. Dame Julie is in talks to play the grandmother of Chris Colfer's gay character Kurt Hummel, while 2011 Oscars co-host Hathaway is reportedly close to signing on to play his aunt, according to the Daily Express.

It's a dream come true for Hathaway, who recently revealed she's desperate to land a guest role on the show. Devil Wears star had even worked out the whole storyline and the song she'd love to sing.

Avril Lavigne has hailed the setting up of her own charity as her proudest achievement of 2010. The singer has endured a turbulent year, which saw her finalize her divorce from Deryck Whibley and fall out with her record label bosses over her upcoming album "Goodbye Lullaby".

The "Complicated" hitmaker launched the Avril Lavigne Foundation in September to help sick and disabled kids after spending most of the year working on the project. And she admits she's pleased to have finally launched the charity, telling EW.com, "The focus is on sick and disabled children and youth."

Country music icon Merle Haggard has been given the all-clear after a two-year battle with cancer. The "Okie From Muskogee" singer/songwriter had surgery to remove part of his lung in 2008 and admits it has been a struggle to get his health back.

Haggard, 73, scrapped a series of shows in September, prompting fans to worry his cancer had returned - but he was given a big health boost just before he was feted at the Kennedy Center Honors earlier this month.

Former "Friends" star Matt LeBlanc is on the verge of a major TV comeback after taking a break from Hollywood to nurse his daughter through a brain disorder and concentrate on a punky hairdo. The actor, who made his millions as clueless Joey in the hit sitcom, dropped out of the spotlight in 2006 when his spin-off show "Joey" was canceled.

But Le Blanc, who is the star of critically acclaimed new U.S. cable show "Episodes", insists he hasn't been idle. He tells TV Guide magazine, "When 'Joey' ended, it was a weird time in my life. I'd gotten divorced (from actress Melissa McKnight), and my daughter had been diagnosed with this weird brain thing. Now she's out of the woods with all that stuff. But it was a really stressful time."

Val Kilmer is facing financial woes amid reports he owes nearly $500,000 in unpaid U.S. federal taxes. According to DetNews.com, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) filed a $498,165 lien against Kilmer on November 30 in New Mexico, where he owns a multi-million dollar ranch he put up for sale last year.

It's not the first time the "Top Gun" star has had issues with taxes. The IRS filed a lien against him for $538,000 in 2009. He reportedly settled that debt earlier this year. Kilmer's publicist has failed to respond to requests for a comment.

LeAnn Rimes still shares her joy of being engaged to Eddie Cibrian to the public. After announcing that the actor proposed to her over Christmas, she flaunted her engagement ring when hitting Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday, December 28.

Wearing a green jacket on top of her mini dress, she smiled while putting her left hand on her fiance's muscled arm, showing off the huge sparkler. According to CEO of MyJewelryBox.com David Mamane, the 5-carat oval diamond in a platinum and rose-gold setting is worth $85,000, which is in the same price range as Katy Perry's and Jessica Simpson's.

The writer/producer of upcoming film "Dogs in Pocketbooks" is backtracking over statements he made suggesting the movie is based on the colorful life of Lindsay Lohan - after the actress' mother threatened to take legal action.

Lydia Hearst and Joan Collins have signed up for roles in the gritty drama, about a troubled young star making her way in Hollywood. Screenwriter Charles Casillo riled Lohan's parents after admitting Hearst's part is "obviously based on Lindsay Lohan" earlier this week.

A representative for Adam Sandler has slammed internet gossip suggesting the star died on Tuesday, December 28. The funnyman passed away after suffering fatal injuries during a Christmas skiing trip in Switzerland, according to the crazy online story, but Sandler's spokesperson has moved swiftly to dismiss the shock speculation.

The rep tells GossipCop.com, "It's completely not true and such irresponsible journalism." Sandler is the latest star who has had to respond to a Christmas death hoax - publicists representing Aretha Franklin, actor Charlie Sheen and singer Aaron Carter have also spoken out to clear up upsetting fictional reports.

Americans want to see less of Miley Cyrus in 2011 and they're longing for a "M*A*S*H" TV remake and a Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal engagement, according to a new end-of-year online poll. Parade.com polled over 1,000 Americans during December and the results are about to be posted online.

Thirteen per cent of respondents wanted a media blackout of Cyrus, 32 per cent would like to see "M*A*S*H" back on TV, and 36 per cent of those polled want to see Swift and Gyllenhaal take their new romance to the next level and plan a wedding.

Pregnant pop star Pink and husband Carey Hart have spent a whopping $11.5 million on a new family home in California ahead of their new arrival next year. The "So What" hitmaker announced last month she is due to give birth to her first baby in the spring 2011 and the couple has been on the hunt for a bigger property.

Pink and Hart bought their new sprawling estate in Malibu in October and RealEstalker.com reveals the new home boasts six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a guest house, as well as a swimming pool and spa. The pair also has starry neighbours - Matthew McConaughey and his partner Camila Alves live nearby.

LeAnn Rimes insists she's not following in Alicia Keys and Natalie Portman's footsteps and doubling up an engagement announcement with baby news. Rimes went public with her marriage plans on Monday, December 27 but has taken to Twitter.com to dismiss reports she's expecting fiance Eddie Cibrian's baby.

She writes, "This is such BS!!!! Lol (laugh out loud), you people all report BS." To hammer home the point, the country star insists she plans to live it up and party when she visits Cabo San Lucas in Mexico for the New Year.

U.S. reality TV star Amber Portwood has pleaded not guilty to beating up the father of her two-year-old daughter. "Teen Mom" star Portwood was charged with two felony counts of domestic battery, one felony count of neglect of a dependent and one misdemeanor count of domestic battery in Madison County, Indiana on Monday, December 27 after a series of alleged attacks on Gary Shirley.

The 20 year old was booked and jailed for 24 hours. She was released on Tuesday afternoon, December 28.

2010 is not the most glorious year for Hollywood movie industry. According to Hollywood.com (via The Associated Press), this year's domestic box office revenues will not hit last year's record of $10.6 billion. By the end of this year, it is estimated that total movie-ticket sales will only reach $10.556 billion.

The modest decline of annual box office revenues is in line with the 5.36% decrease of total attendance from last year. The number will mark the biggest percentage drop year over year since 2005. It will also be the second-lowest attended year of the decade.

Lady GaGa has sold albums more than any other artists this year. A German website Media Traffic put her November 2009 effort "The Fame Monster" on top of their list that tallies worldwide album sales collected from a variety of international sources.

The extended play of her debut album "The Fame", "Monster" pulled in 5.8 million copies around the globe over the course of this year. "THE FAME MONSTER was named the best-selling album of 2010! I'm so excited for the future, believe + work hard, you will achieve your dreams," she shared her joy on Twitter.

When "Modern Family" returns this January with the second half of season 2, there will be a hunk in Cameron and Mitchell's hot tub. James Marsden plays Barry, Cam and Mitch's new neighbor who lives upstairs and stumbles upon the gay couple when he jumps into their hot tub unannounced.

Both Cam and Mitch are smitten by his good looks. And from the look of the episode's stills, Barry will extend his visit to inside their house, giving Mitch a back massage. The synopsis says, "Mitchell and Cameron stumble upon a mysterious neighbor who is quite the charmer."

Avenged Sevenfold frontman M. Shadows is urging fans to celebrate the life of tragic drummer Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan on Tuesday, December 28 - one year after the musician's death. The band members were left devastated when Sullivan died from a drug overdose on December 28, 2009. He was 28.

Shadows admits he still struggles to deal with the grief, but he's urging his band mates and their fans to celebrate the rocker's life on the day that marks the tragedy. He tells Kerrang! magazine, "It's a daily struggle since Jimmy's death. There are good days and bad days - days where you don't think about it so much, and then there are days where you sit there and just can't believe it. We're just trying to move forward and live our lives as best we can, and we're just happy to be here right now."

Actor Ryan Gosling turns down as many movie jobs as possible, insisting he "feels sick" when he sees himself on the big screen. Two of Gosling's latest films - "Blue Valentine" and "All Good Things" - will hit theaters in the U.S. this month and the simultaneous releases have left him with a sense of dread.

He tells the Los Angeles Times, "I try not to make too many movies. I get sick of myself, so I can imagine how everyone else feels. And for the two to come out at the same time, it makes me feel sick." But "The Notebook" star admits he can't stop himself from acting - although he doesn't quite understand his passion for performing.

Eliza Dushku is aiming to raise $30,000 by her 30th birthday later this month to build a recovery center for former child soldiers in Uganda. The "Bring It On" star is spearheading efforts to purchase land for the project, which will help rehabilitate young soldiers who were abducted by the African country's rebel army.

And she's told friends and family not to buy her gifts when she turns 30 on Thursday, December 30, requesting donations for the cause instead. Dushku tells Celebuzz.com, "My mother Judy is a professor of African politics and political science, and she has been going to Africa my whole life, and she'd take groups of students and her kids to Africa on trips... Because of her teaching, she started thinking about the Ugandan child soldiers who were eight, nine years old and what that looked like. That's how it all began."

Actress Natalie Mendoza has dropped out of Broadway's troubled "Spider-Man" musical - one month after suffering a concussion during a preview show. Mendoza, who played villainess Arachne in "Spider-Man: Turn off The Dark", was hit in the head with a weighted rope during the production's first preview performance last month, on November 28.

She returned three days later but took another two weeks off after suffering nausea and a headache. Understudy America Olivo took over the role.

Slightly more than a month away from the return episode, "Glee" fills up the gap by releasing a special featurette about its news cast. Chord Overstreet joins the New Direction gang in the second season as Sam Evans and here are ten things about the actor that fans may find interesting.

Chord has a dog back at home and his favorite thing to do on spare time is watching football. He wants to play flute, is a true gleek for he likes to read, and will snooze after drinking coffee. He is also "constantly wanting sweet food", "secretly likes to dance", and has the bad habit of biting his nails. In the remaining two slots Overstreet said he likes to cut grass and do Riverdance.

Although Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez haven't confirmed that they're an item, things are reportedly heating up between them. Following several sightings which saw them getting cozy with each other, now new report mentions that the two young stars were spotted in a hotel together.

Bieber was reportedly spotted in a hallway of Gansevoort hotel in Miami outside his suite with Gomez on December 18. That's the day they were photographed taking a romantic stroll on the streets of Miami Beach and spending time together in his tour bus after he performed at the American Airlines Arena.

Eva Green has just dropped another role. After Gemma Arterton said she will replace Green in "Waiting for Robert Capa", now Diane Kruger steps in to take over her role in "Farewell, My Queen". The "National Treasure" blonde beauty will be seen playing Marie Antoinette in the upcoming movie, The Playlist says.

She joins Lea Seydoux and Gerard Depardieu whose involvements have been known before. Seydoux is set to portray a reader to her royal majesty during the final days of the French Revolution. There is still no word on who Depardieu will portray, but it is believed that he will be seen as a member of the royal family.

Miley Cyrus is facing fresh controversy after a set of photographs which appear to show her in a compromising position with a female friend leaked online.

The "Hannah Montana" star is pictured lying on a sofa in a revealing black mini-dress, as a girl, believed to be her assistant, pulls at the fabric and pretends to lick the star's breast. Another snap shows the 18 year old surrounded by scantily-clad men, pulling up a white t-shirt to reveal her bra.

Embattled rapper DMX has been transferred to a mental health unit at the prison where he is currently serving a 12-month sentence for probation violation. The hip-hop star, real name Earl Simmons, was busted by cops at an Arizona club in November after slipping up in his sobriety battle by using cocaine and consuming alcohol during a gig. He was also accused of driving on a suspended licence and failing to check in with his probation officer.

DMX initially denied the allegations, but later entered a guilty plea to a charge of felony probation violation and was sentenced to a year behind bars. At the sentencing hearing earlier this month, Judge Christine Mulleneaux expressed concern he is suffering from an undiagnosed mental condition, and on December 20, DMX was admitted to the Flamenco Mental Health Unit inside the Alahambra Prison complex, reports AllHipHop.com.

LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian's happy engagement news has been soured by scathing comments from the actor's ex-wife, who has criticized her former partner for announcing his wedding plans to the world before telling his kids.

The couple became involved back in 2008 while they were both married - Rimes has since divorced dancer Dean Sheremet and Cibrian ended his union to Brandi Glanville. The "CSI: Miami" star sealed his romance with Rimes by proposing over Christmas and she announced the engagement in a post on Twitter.com.

2011 People's Choice Awards is going to get "Twilight" boost. Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner reportedly have confirmed to attend the annual prize-giving event which would be held on Wednesday, January 5.

Both of them landed nods at the show for their performances in "The Twilight Saga's Eclipse", with Lautner nominated for Favorite Movie Actor and Stewart up for Favorite Movie Actress as well as Favorite Movie Star Under 25. Additionally, the twosome along with their co-star Robert Pattinson were on Favorite On-Screen Team category. It is still unknown, however, whether or not the depicter of vampire Edward Cullen will show up at People's Choice Awards.

Iconic films including "The Empire Strikes Back", "The Exorcist" and "Saturday Night Fever" are to be preserved as American national treasures with an induction into the Library of Congress' National Film Registry.

Twenty five films have been selected to be stored in the national archives as part of an annual drive to preserve movies with artistic, cultural or historical significance. George Lucas' 1980 sci-fi sequel is among the 2010 inductees and will join the "Star Wars" film in the archive, while "Saturday Night Fever", starring a disco-dancing John Travolta, horror classic "The Exorcist", and political thriller "All the President's Men" also make the list.

Billy Bob Thornton has dispelled rumors he wore a vial of Angelina Jolie's blood around his neck, blaming the public image of the couple as "vampires" for the bizarre story. Thornton married the actress in 2000 and they frequently made headlines with reports about their love life, including speculation they kept one another's blood in tiny bottles.

But the "Armageddon" star insists their relationship was not so eccentric - the pair actually wore lockets with small smears of blood. He tells Britain's Total Film magazine, "(There are rumours that) I wear blood around my neck and all that horses**t. (It was) a clear locket you'd put your grandmother's picture in. That's what we had, Angelina and I. And it was her idea that we literally prick our fingers and rub the blood on the glass in the locket and wear it."

Avril Lavigne delighted her fans when she announced that her forthcoming single "What the Hell" will be made available for free download on her Facebook. The track is set to come out on January 1, 2011 after she showcases it live on the star-studded "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest".

"What the Hell" is lead single from her upcoming fourth studio album "Goodbye Lullaby". She said to Entertainment Weekly, "The song is more pop and uptempo and kind of reminiscent of my old stuff, and the rest of the record is more stripped and raw and a little deeper. So this album is less pop-rock than the previous stuff, but the first single is a more like that."

Kelly Osbourne has vowed to quit posting on microblogging website Twitter.com after an online war-of-words with her ex-boyfriend Luke Worrall. The pop singer-turned-reality TV star dumped model Worrall in July, but admits she is still broken-hearted over their split.

She took to her page on Twitter on Tuesday, December 28 to launch a furious rant at Worrall, accusing him of sleeping with dozens of women since the break-up. Worrall hit back, branding Osbourne's claims "lies" and laughing when a fan congratulated him on his womanizing ways - and Osbourne has now decided to quit the website as she is still in turmoil over her ex.

Lindsay Lohan's mother has confirmed the family is considering legal action in a bid to stop a movie spoofing the actress' colorful personal life. Lydia Hearst and Joan Collins have signed up for roles in "Dogs in Pocketbooks", about a troubled young star making her way in Hollywood, and screenwriter Charles Casillo has confirmed the model/socialite's part is "obviously based on Lindsay Lohan".

The move has already riled Lohan's father Michael, who criticized the film plans, and now the actress' mother Dina has confirmed she is talking to lawyers about the project. Lohan settled a multi-million dollar battle with executives at financial firm E-Trade back in September over allegations they mocked her in an advert, and Dina is convinced bosses behind "Dogs in Pocketbooks" could face a similar lawsuit.

Wilson Cruz of "My So-Called Life" makes a return to ABC by guest starring on "Grey's Anatomy". The first look of him as a groom whose bride got a freak accident on their wedding day has been released. It looks like Callie would be the attending doctor and do the talking.

Cruz will appear in the January 13 episode where another blast from the past by the name of Scott Foley is also in. Some spoilers have come out about this episode, including the fact that Callie will announce a big news. Reports say she is not giving Arizona a kind welcome after her surprise return from Africa.

While many happy news come from celebrity couples during the holidays, this is not the case with Rihanna and Matt Kemp. The twosome, who had been previously hit with split rumor, has called it quits few weeks ago, latest report says.

Rihanna's representative has not responded to the report, but a source tells Us Magazine that the 26-year-old Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder "can't keep up with her crazy travel schedule." Explaining further about the reason of their separation, the source says, "Matt's sick of always following after her like a puppy dog all over the world. He wants something more normal."

Peaches Geldof has been left unimpressed with a British TV drama based on her father's campaign to stage 1985 charity supergig Live Aid, branding it "exhausting" to watch. The story of how Bob Geldof and promoter Harvey Goldsmith put the massive event together, staged in London and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in just six months was dramatized for a BBC TV movie, "When Harvey Met Bob", starring Domhnall Gleeson as the singer and Ian Hart as the promoter. It debuted on Sunday, December 26 - and Peaches was watching.

But the socialite/columnist was far from happy with the Christmas TV special - and she has taken aim at Gleeson's portrayal of her father. In a series of posts on her Twitter.com page, she writes, "The guy acting as my dad on When Harvey Met Bob on tv right now is beyond terrible. What is that ACCENT?! He's not a leprechaun!"

Rapper 50 Cent has found a way to make money after a blizzard on Monday, December 27 - he's shoveling snow from his neighbors' driveways. The hip-hop star's Connecticut home was buried under thick snow after wintry weather hit America's East Coast but he's making the most of the adverse conditions, charging $100 to clear sidewalks in the area.

And 50 Cent proved he's serious about his new business after posting photos of himself hard at work with a shovel on Twitter.com. In a series of posts on his page, he writes: "I'm going out to shovel snow and see if I can make me a few extra dollars today. I'm charging more if they want to take pictures."

Aretha Franklin's representative has confirmed the legendary singer is alive and well after she became the latest victim of an internet death hoax. The Queen of Soul underwent surgery at a hospital in Detroit, Michigan earlier this month to treat an undisclosed ailment, with subsequent reports suggesting she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Her ailing health led to incorrect online reports stating she had passed away over the festive period, but her spokesperson has slammed the claims, telling GossipCop.com, "Aretha is fine."

Colin Firth is keen to shed his serious movie image - he'd love to play "a transvestite or a stripper" on the big screen. The British actor shot to fame in a 1990s TV adaption of Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice" and has since gone on to play stoic roles in films like "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and first-time director Tom Ford's acclaimed 2009 movie "A Single Man.

Firth is tipped for Oscar glory next year with his portrayal of stuttering monarch King George VI in new royal drama "The King's Speech" - but the actor admits he'd like to take on a very different role next. He says, "I'm dying to be a transvestite or a stripper or a pop star. They (roles) just don't tend to come my way."

"The Avengers" has not yet added another girl on the line-up. Debunking swirling report that Demi Lovato was going to join the cast ensemble of the superhero flick, her representatives as well as sources from Marvel's camp say there was no truth to the rumor.

The denial came days after Radar Online reported that Lovato was up for a role in "The Avengers" while she is still staying in rehab. The Disney star was given a Christmas break and stepped out of the medical facility on December 25 for family outing, but returned to the place later the same day.

While a lot of celebrity couples step up a notch higher in their relationship, actor Chris Hemsworth takes two leaps. The 27-year-old got married over the holidays to Spanish girlfriend Elsa Pataky who is 7 years his senior.

Despite a confirmation from his rep to People, little details about the nuptials were released. Us Magazine said the wedding ceremony took place in Hemsworth's native Australia. "They are in love, and have been talking about it for awhile," a source told Us. "They've only been dating since the spring but he's been convinced that she is the one since they met."

A brand new star-studded song called "Syllables" has just made its round for listening pleasure. Opened with Eminem's verses, it also features the likes of Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Stat Quo and Cashis. Those stars team up together, taking a jab at today's Top 40 songs.

"If we have to dumb down our style and ABC it then so be it / Because these days these kids, jeez, they don't give a sh*t about lyrics, just want to hear a beat and that's it," the Slim Shady sounds off his frustration. "All we know is the chorus because the chorus repeats the same four words for us."

Reese Witherspoon has become the latest star to join the race to the altar in 2011 - the actress and her Hollywood agent boyfriend Jim Toth are engaged. The star began dating Toth at the beginning of 2010 shortly after she and Jake Gyllenhaal split, and now her publicist has confirmed the Oscar winner is planning a second trip up the aisle.

Witherspoon and actor Ryan Phillippe divorced in 2008. The actress joins LeAnn Rimes, Natalie Portman, Hugh Hefner, Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Mraz among the celebrities who have announced engagements in the last week, and unconfirmed reports suggest singer Lily Allen has also accepted boyfriend Sam Cooper's proposal over Christmas.