Rapper Juvenile, 32, (real name Terius Gray), singer of hits like “Back That Azz Up,” “Ha,” and “Gone Ride With Me,” got some terrible news: his four-year-old daughter Jelani was murdered by her half brother, Anthony Tyrone Terrell Jr, 17. Terrell also murdered his other half sister Micaiah, 11, along with the children’s mother Joy Deleston, 39. Deleston was a Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Deputy who worked in the sex offender unit. She sued Juvenile for paternity in 2004, and the case was eventually settled after both parties acknowledged that he was the father.

Anthony Tyrone Terrell Jr. was charged Friday in the deaths at the family home near Lawrenceville, where the bodies were found the night before, said police spokeswoman Illana Spellman. Police had gone to the subdivision because a caller reported shots fired, Officer David Schiralli said earlier. They found a bullet hole in a house, then checked next door because they knew a deputy lived there.

They opened the door to announce themselves and discovered the bodies, Schiralli said. The 17-year-old son arrived at the house about 35 minutes later, he said. Spellman said the boy was arrested after talking to investigators but didn’t elaborate. Because of his age, prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty against Terrell. A preliminary hearing will be set next week in Gwinnett County Superior Court, said prosecutor Danny Porter.

[From the Associated Press]

It’s not known how close Juvenile was to his daughter, but he is understandably distraught.

…according to Juvenile’s manager, Aubrey Francis, the rapper and father of little Jelani is ’shocked and devastated’ over the death of his daughter.

“It really shocked him and devastated him to the point where I’ve never seen him before,” Francis said of the rapper. “Right now he is relaxing and trying to grasp everything of what has happened.”

[From Memphis Rap]

No motive has yet been released by the police. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, friends say Terrell loved his sisters. Several of Terrell’s friends who were interviewed said he always spoke positively and lovingly about his mom and sisters. Along with being a police officer and single mother, Joy Deleston was also an aspiring actress who had appeared in several local Atlanta-based films, including “The Effect,” “Riff” and “Dark Secrets.” It’s not known if Terrell had a criminal record – since he is a minor, everything would be sealed. We offer our sincerest condolences to Juvenile and the Deleston family.

Here is Joy Deleston with her son, Anthony Tyrone Terrell and daughters Micaiah and Jelani. Header of Juvenile at the MTV VMA 2004 Vote Or Die Pre-Party on 8/27/2004. Image thanks to PR Photos.

Britney Spears got a house call from two mental health professionals on Saturday – but not for the traditional hostage-taking. According to E! and OK magazine, both the “court-appointed psychiatric evaluator” and UCLA Medical Center doctor showed up around two in the afternoon for some sort of evaluation, likely having to do with her child custody case. Though it could also be regarding her conservatorship… Brit’s got so many legal issues, it’s not always possible to determine what psych professional goes with which case. Probably sensing that they had a better chance of actually seeing Brit if they came to her instead of having her come to them, the two mental health professionals reportedly spent about two hours inside of Brit’s house before they left.

A source tells E! News that Spears’ bodyguard escorted the doctors from the Westwood-based medical center to her home in the posh, gated community of Summit Circle at approximately 2 p.m. They subsequently met with her for two hours before departing around 4 p.m.

No word on the nature of the checkup. However Mark Vincent Kaplan, the attorney for the popster’s ex-hubby Kevin Federline, told E! News last week that as part of her agreement to retain visitation rights with her kids, Spears is obligated to undergo “custody evaluation” by medical experts among other requirements.

[From E! News]

E! also notes that Britney has seen Sean Preston and Jayden James three times since she was awarded supervised visitation last week. Three times in a week has got to be some sort of record for Britney. After the court visit, Britney was off to her second home, the Millennium Dance Complex, where she taught another dance class. Brit has been really diligent with her classes, which is really impressive. There’s also no photographers there, and yet she’s keeping it up, which I think speaks pretty well of her. Robert Baker, who owns Millennium, said that the class has a different batch of kids each time, so that everyone gets a turn. Baker says Britney plays different dance games with the kids.

…”One is called Freeze,” he explains. “Everyone creates a circle and does a little dance step. Whoever gets off step has to stand in the circle. One time recently, she got off step but she didn’t want to get into the circle, saying, ‘Oh no, you guys! I’m not getting in the circle!’” But with the students shouting back, “You got off step! You have to get in!” the pop star didn’t have much of a choice. “The kids kind of revolted,” says Robert. “It was very cute. And, of course she did it, and the kids went crazy laughing.”

These lessons appear to be having a therapeutic effect on the mother of two. “Seeing her with these children, and then having these regular visits with her boys,” Robert explains. “It’s connecting the dots. I’m seeing a return to the old, loving Britney from before. She’s really improving.”

[From OK!]

That’s a cute story. Who the hell knows if it’s true or if it’s just some good press – but Britney could use some good press, so let’s go with it. Considering how much energy she’s put into acting out, whatever her motivation may be for teaching the classes, it’s a big improvement. It seems pretty clear that Britney’s father Jamie has been a good influence on her. The two have historically had a stormy relationship, but if nothing else, it seems pretty clear that he’s got Britney’s best interests at heart and is not at all self- serving. He’s been working as a chef for several years, and still holds the job. In the last month, Britney’s had a lot of ups and downs, but she’s regained limited supervised visitation with her kids, has actually shown up for appointments, and is doing something nice for others. All those changes speak well of her, and might be indications that she’s slowly getting better.

Here’s Britney on her way to Millennium Dance Studio on Friday. There’s a lot of speculation that’s she’s pregnant, and she’s certainly showing some visible tummy here. It certainly doesn’t look that bad from a slightly different angle. Let’s hope it’s just because she’s no longer using whatever substance she used to take to lose weight. Images thanks to Splash.

I love Celebrityville. It’s a little town I made up where all the stars live, and the laws of logic, normal behavior, and common decency do not apply. In Celebrityville, going to the E.R. to get your stomach pumped is checking in “for exhaustion.” Time spent at rehab for mainlining heroin is actually checking in to deal with some “personal issues.” And in Amy Winehouse’s case, getting hit in the face is actually some unknown exotic “skin infection.” At least according to her spokesman, who must by the mayor of Celebrityville by now. On Friday Amy was photographed with a bizarre… something… on her face. I don’t think there’s really a word to describe it. Rumors started flying that it’s a bruise and Amy must have gotten punched in a fight. While I’ve heard of people getting “a shiner” I didn’t think it was supposed to be so literal. Amy’s spokesman says it’s some kind of unknown skin infection. There are pictures of Amy from the day before, and her face looks completely normal. If it is an infection, it came on really, really fast.

Amy Winehouse has quashed rumors she was involved in a fight - putting her bruised and swollen face down to a mystery skin infection. The star fueled speculation she may have suffered a blow to the cheek after she was photographed on Friday (29Feb08) with a painful-looking swelling on the side of her face. But Winehouse’s official spokesman insists the singer has come down with a mystery illness and is seeking medical help. He tells British newspaper the Daily Star, “Amy has a skin infection which is why her face looks the way it does. At this stage she has no idea what it is but she’s getting to a doctor to try and identify the problem. “She’s not in any pain but, obviously, she wants to get it sorted as soon as possible.

[From Contact Music]

It could legitimately be a skin infection. Whatever is on her face is definitely very odd looking, and certainly doesn’t resemble a classic bruise. However the odd appearance could be due to Amy’s attempt to cover it up. It’s really not possible to totally rule out some sort of “altercation.” Though there does appear to be some other mark closer to her jawline. According to several medical websites, intravenous drug use increases the chances of contacting several types of skin infections, and also makes it much harder for the body to fight them off. Logically, a person would think, “Clearly Amy Winehouse has a skin infection, because if she got punched in the face she would of course stay home to avoid the paparazzi.” And while a normal, healthy, logical person would do that, Amy Winehouse would not. This is a woman who wanders around bloody and barefoot… and not even on her worst day. That’s just a typical Wednesday afternoon. Considering all the health issues that Amy’s got going on, and the fact that she’s never struck me as a particularly rigid bather, I would really love it if she’d see another doctor… and take her damn finger out of her mouth.

Update: Amy Winehouse has been diagnosed with impetigo, according to her rep, and many of you pointed out in the comments that’s what it looks like. US Weekly quotes the Mayo clinic website as saying that “Although it commonly occurs when bacteria enter the skin through cuts or insect bites, it can also develop in skin that’s perfectly healthy. Impetigo is seldom serious, and minor infections may clear on their own in two to three weeks.”

Thank goodness Scientology is around to cure all of society’s ills. Who needs a professional psychologist or addiction medicine expert to help you battle your increasingly debilitating drug addictions when Xenu can jiggle your brain juices around and spruce you right up? Jeff Conaway, star of such hits as “Grease,” “Taxi,” and more recently “Celebrity Rehab” has had quite the challenge sobering up on the reality show. In fact it’s been downright painful to watch him, and has served as a pretty brutal reminder why it’s a good idea to avoid drugs all together. Jeff was wheelchair-bound for much of the show, and suffered horrible convulsions. Most of his speech had to be subtitled for viewers, and it was nearly incomprehensible. He had to be admitted to the hospital for detox almost immediately. Unfortunately Jeff didn’t complete the program, and left after the seventh episode. Over the years he’s been a frequent patient of Dr. Drew Pinsky’s, the host of “Celebrity Rehab.” But apparently all Jeff really needed was a little help from Xenu’s brain-reading machines, because he claims Scientology has finally cured him.

Inside Edition sat down for an exclusive interview with former Taxi star Jeff Conaway, who says he has finally kicked his drug habit by practicing Scientology. According to Conaway, “I’ve been doing Scientology…my doctor was like, Holy cow, he says whatever you’ve been doing keep doing it because it’s really working.”

Conaway says his former Grease co-star John Travolta introduced him to the controversial religion. “John and I stayed friends but he couldn’t watch me going down the tubes…he gave me a whole library of Scientology books and he’s given me an auditor who comes almost every day.”

Conaway, who lost over 40 pounds while participating in VH1’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, tells Inside Edition he can’t wait to get back in front of the camera. “I’m going to be strong and healthy and totally together. I’ve got to get ready for my Academy Award.”

[From Inside Edition]

Something tells me the doctor Conaway is referencing is not the good Dr. Drew – who I will admit I have a daddy-issue-based crush on, but I’m sure would spit in the face of Scientology regardless. It’s great that Conaway’s talking positively and expecting big things of himself, a la Academy Awards. But I seriously doubt something as illegitimate as Narconon (Scientology’s anti-drug program, which is named to make it sound legitimate – note that it’s “onon” not “anon” as in all the Alcoholics Anonymous-based programs) magically cured all of Conaway’s many complex addictions. The man was like a walking anti drug ad. Mostly because he literally couldn’t even walk. They should show clips of him to kids in the DARE program. As much as I’d champion anything that helps someone battle such life-destroying demons, let’s not be fooled into thinking drinking some barely water and popping some vitamins has cured the poor guy. Clearly he’s desperate for some kind of change, and that’s great. But it means it’s time to call up a good rehab facility, not John Travolta and Kirstie Alley.

Here is Jeff Conaway and his girlfriend Vikki Lizzi at the 18th Annual Night of 100 Stars Gala Viewing Party at the Beverly Hills Hotel on February 24th. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Hillary Clinton appeared on Saturday Night Live this weekend after their introductory skit parodying the latest Democratic debate. It featured SNL cast members Amy Poehler as Clinton and Fred Armisen as Obama. Vincent D’Onofrio of Law & Order: Criminal Intent made a cameo to interrogate Poehler.

The skit tried to portray how the press softballs Obama while giving Clinton a hard time. It wasn’t hysterically funny, but I found it pretty amusing.

Clinton came on after the skit, and was introduced as “An Editorial Response.” She said:
“The scene you just saw was a re-enactment, sort of, of last Tuesday’s debate, and not an endorsement of one candidate over another. I can say this confidently, because when I asked if I could take it as an endorsement, I was told ‘absolutely not,’ but I still enjoyed that sketch a great deal, because I simply adore Amy’s impression of me.”

At that point Poehler entered wearing the same outfit as Senator Clinton, saying “My ears are ringing.”

Clinton and Poehler complimented each other’s outfits, with Clinton telling Poehler “I want the earrings back.” Poehler laughed hysterically and Clinton asked “Do I really laugh like that?”

Poehler asked “How’s the campaign going?” Clinton said “The campaign is going very well. Very very well. Why what did you hear?”

She then said she was just going to relax and didn’t want to talk politics, but then made a joking reference to the upcoming primaries saying “I would like to take this opportunity to say to all Americans, be they from the great state of Ohio or Texas, Rhode Island or Vermont, Pennsylvania or any of the other states, ‘Live from New York it’s Saturday Night!’”

Here’s the full skit followed by Clinton’s appearance.

And here’s just Clinton’s appearance.

Senator Clinton told her supporters last Monday to watch Saturday Night Live to see a skit they did last weekend about how the press gives her a hard time while fawning over Obama. She used it as an example of how the media tide was turning in her favor.

The state primaries determine by popular vote which Democratic party delegates representing a state will vote for a candidate at the National Convention in August. These are called “pledged delegates,” because they have pledged to vote according to the popular vote in the primary election. Clinton trails Obama in total Democratic delegate votes based on primaries held in January and February. Upcoming primary elections in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont on Tuesday are very close and hard to call.

There are more superdelegates, or upper-level Democratic party delegates, who are thought to support Clinton, and their votes can nullify the popular vote of party members. Unlike most other delegates, who are pledged, they are not required to vote according to the popular vote in their respective states. Clinton has drawn criticism for urging the superdelegates to disregard the popular vote and support her candidacy in place of Obama. It is thought that this strategy may backfire on her, and that her chances at securing the Democratic nomination are dwindling as Obama’s star rises.

The primaries on Tuesday have been described as “make-or-break” for Clinton, which can explain why she made an appearance on Saturday Night Live. She came across as good-natured and willing to poke fun at herself, but it may be too little too late for Clinton. We’ll have to see how she fares on Tuesday.

Clinton is shown on 1/18/08 at a rally in Henderson, Nevada thanks to PRPhotos.

Actor James McAvoy has been notoriously tight-lipped when asked about his family. The actor, 29, has garnered a lot of attention lately for his starring role alongside Keira Knightley in “Atonement,” for which he won a BAFTA. He’s also gotten a lot of press for his low-key lifestyle - he and his wife, actress Anne-Marie Duff, 38, live in an apartment they bought several years ago for 178,000 (about $346,000 USD), share a ten-year-old Nissan Micra that’s worth less than $2,000, and admit to rarely leaving their apartment. James has actually said that he purposely tries to avoid “celebrity bullshit,” and I can think of few actors who’ve stuck to an ideal so thoroughly. Even Matthew McConaughey eventually gave up his Airstream trailer – but McAvoy has adamantly stuck to his beliefs. The Daily Mail has written a surprisingly thorough article on McAvoy, in which they hypothesize that the reason he lives such a low-key existence is that he doesn’t want to draw a lot of attention to his family.

After McAvoy won his BAFTA, he thanked his mother, grandparents (who raised him), and wife, yet made no mention of his father or half-brother. It turns out that James has not spoken to his dad, James McAvoy Sr, in 21 years. His parents divorced when he was seven, and his father, who works as a roofer - claims that that eight-year-old James pulled away from him after he started seeing another woman.

“Our son took it hard,” says McAvoy Snr. “He just wasn’t the carefree little boy he’d been before.” At first, father and son continued their relationship, with James Snr taking his son swimming or to watch Celtic football team. But when a year later James Snr moved in with a new lover, Mary McKinnon, the eight-year-old McAvoy refused to have anything to do with his father.

“I think James still had hopes of me and his mum sorting things out,” claims McAvoy Snr. “He started refusing to see me because he didn’t like Mary. In the end I took a step back rather than upset him.”

The young McAvoy demonstrated his steely nature when a few years later he was larking around in the playground of the St Thomas Aquinas secondary school in Drumchapel and spotted his father working on the school roof. “James just looked away without saying a word,” recalls his father sadly.

[From the Daily Mail]

That appears to be their last encounter. James has a half-brother named Donald from his father’s relationship with the aforementioned woman. Donald was recently sent to jail after stabbing a man eight times.

To understand the extent of his transformation, perhaps we should look at McAvoy’s 18-year-old half-brother Donald, currently languishing in Polmont Young Offenders’ Institution near Falkirk. Donald - James Snr’s son from his now-ended relationship with his lover Mary - has never met James the actor.

But no one could blame the star for distancing himself from his violent, alcoholic brother. Just a fortnight ago, Donald was sent to Polmont for stabbing a man eight times and, in a separate incident, threatening a 14-year-old with a hammer.

James Snr, who lives in a dingy first-floor flat, sighs: “I am standing by one son who’s a maniac, but can’t stand by my other son, who has done so well.” According to Mr McAvoy, Donald’s problem stems from his penchant for alcohol: “He’s a polite boy who doesn’t cause trouble until he has been drinking.”

[From the Daily Mail]

It sounds like James McAvoy (Jr) isn’t so much distancing himself from the unsavory side of his family - he simply has no relationship with them and never has. He’s not under some obligation to acknowledge them now that he’s doing well. They haven’t been a part of each other’s lives for a long time – and in the case of his half-brother, they’ve never even met. James himself has admitted to struggling with alcohol, and credits his wife with helping him straighten out his life, noting in his BAFTA acceptance speech, “she taught me to respect life.” Having no relationship with his father is sad, but his dad doesn’t say anything that implies he tried to reconnect with his son before he was famous – he even said he “took a step back” from their relationship rather than upset James, which makes no sense to me. McAvoy clearly has a lot of talent and a great head on his shoulders, and has made a lot of his life already. His family history is sad, but it explains why he doesn’t want to talk about them and has insisted on moving forward.

Here’s James McAvoy at the 2008 Wonder Con in San Francisco on February 22nd. Images thanks to PR Photos.

I always have to wonder what politicians think about some of their celebrity endorsements. I’m sure just about everyone would love to get the likes of George Clooney, Oprah, and Tom Hanks on their side. But what must they think when someone like Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, or Paris Hilton endorses a candidate? To be fair, I think it’s highly unlikely that any of those particular celebs even know who’s running for president… in fact they might not even be clear on who is currently the president. I’m pretty sure Paris thinks it’s Bush senior, and he’s just been there for a really long time. And while Mariah Carey is no Britney Spears (though they both have had a few public meltdowns), one can’t help but wonder if Barack Obama really wants her endorsement. How does one politely say, “Gee, thanks but no thanks,” to someone like Mimi, without getting a stiletto imprinted somewhere on your backside?

“Are you watching the debates?” asked Yo.

“Clearly I’m no political analyst. We all know that my album is called E=MC2 but I’m not exactly friggin Einstein,” joked the “Love Takes Time” singer. “So basically I like to leave that to people who know what they are talking about, but I am very much more focused on this moment in our history.”

“Have you picked anyone?” asked Yo.

“Yes, clearly,” she answered.

“Can you say?”

“That’s personal but it’s pretty obvious,” the entertainer replied.

“Come on Mariah, ‘Yes we can’ Mr. Barack Obama?’

Laughing, Carey came clean: “Yes we can!”

[From E!]

Like Britney Spears, Mariah also had a very public meltdown several years ago, nearly stripping off her clothes on MTV’s “TRL.” But instead of flaunting the crazy like Brit, Mariah checked herself into a hospital (for the classic celeb “exhaustion”), took some time off, got her shit together, and came back with her strongest album ever, 2005’s “ The Emancipation of Mimi.” Though Mariah has always stated she’s not in a position to give Britney Spears advice, she did say that what got her through her public meltdown was her faith, and that Britney’s still got a chance to make a comeback.

On life after the bomb that was 2001’s Glitter album and movie and her subsequent comeback, Carey pointed to her faith as a source of strength. “You know what, I never lost my faith in God and that’s the main thing,” she noted. “For me its about my personal relationship with God and just feeling centered and just not letting anything really penetrate that. That’s something that’s sacred for me that I have for myself no matter what.”

In light of the personal crisis Carey faced in the wake of Glitter’s failure when she checked herself into a hospital to be treated for an emotional and physical breakdown, Yo also got her take on the Britster’s current travails and whether or not the pop tart can recover.

“I think anybody who loves music and is committed to the game can do whatever. I never count people out, that’s just not in my nature but that is a part of human nature, people like to do that but with me especially with making this new record, its all about the music.”

[From E!]

Mariah’s right in that she’s no Einstein, but she’s clearly gotten her act together since her breakdown. It’s cool that she doesn’t pretend to know what’s best for Britney Spears; but it’d be nice if someone pointed out to Britney that there’s another singer out there who took a pretty big fall and managed to come out even stronger for it.

Here’s Mariah Carey at MTV’s TRL on February 27, 2008. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Eddie Van Halen can kiss my ass. I’ve been waiting for this Van Halen reunion tour since 1986, when David Lee Roth left the group amid feuds with the Van Halen brothers. I bought my tickets to see the reunited VH- with David Lee Roth rightfully taking back his front man position- as soon as they went on sale. I’m supposed to go see them next week in my home town. Now, reports are coming out that Eddie’s old substance abuse problems are affecting the tour, and the band is on the verge of canceling the whole thing.

Sources tell TMZ the Van Halen tour has just been canceled!

We’re told arrangements are being made right now to cancel hotel stays for the tour — which was scheduled to continue through April 19th. Sources tell us the reason for the cancellation is Eddie — that he is having “issues.”

The last three shows had already been canceled. There have been reports that Eddie was out of it during concerts — and video of recent performances in which his guitar playing was atrocious.

Reps could not be reached for comment.

[From TMZ]

Way to disappoint the fans, there, Ed. We’ve been waiting more than 20 years for the best modern rock band since Led Zeppelin to get their act together and start making music again, and for a while, it looked like it was really going to happen. I guess old habits die hard. Eddie was rumored to have gone into intensive rehab prior to the tour, but it seems that didn’t take.

Eddie’s son, Wolfgang, is touring as the bass player for the reunited band. How nice for him to have to witness his dad falling off the wagon on tour.

I’m so pissed.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen and Wolfgang Van Halen are shown announcing their tour on 8/13/07, thanks to WENN.

Update by Celebitchy: Billboard reports that they have sources who say the tour is not being canceled. Some dates are postponed while Eddie undergoes testing, but it is not definitively canceled at this point.

The Ryan Seacrest radio show PR people e-mailed me a link to a new song by Britney Spears and Heidi Montag. I was scratching my head over this one. At first I thought it must be a parody, but it seems like a real song featuring these two. It’s not as piss poor as Montag’s earlier efforts, but not as good as Britney’s. It’s bad, forgettable and really repetitive. Whose idea was it to make a song with Britney and Heidi Montag, and why did Britney’s people agree to it? The song is called “Dramatic,” but if you listen to it you’ll realize that it doesn’t really matter what it’s called.

Here’s the link to the song, it will be on YouTube in about five minutes probably.

The Hills reality show star and aspiring singer Heidi Montag has lost her step brother in a freak accident. A veteran of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, 24-year-old Eric O’Hara was cleaning snow off a roof of a hotel where he worked in Colorado when he slid on some ice and fell off. Montag talked to US Weekly about her step brother’s death, and I hope they cut out the part where she said she was “shocked” and/or “devastated” or that it was “very sad” or “tragic.” Maybe she’s still processing it:

“I just loved him more than anything,” Montag told Usmagazine.com. “He couldn’t wait to meet Spencer.”

“He was very much a brother to me,” she said. “He called me his sister, not his step-sister. He was always like, ‘I love you! I have to meet Spencer and make sure he’s cool to you!’ Just like a brother.”

Montag’s father, Bill, married O’Hara’s mother, Terri, when Montag was 7-years-old. Montag lived with her mom and O’Hara lived with her dad. She saw him every weekend, at holidays and during the summer.

“He was just back [from Iraq] and was ready to go back to school,” Montag explained. “He went up to Steamboat [the hotel where he had the fatal accident] for the weekend where my dad lives.”

“He was just so patriotic,” Montag told Us. “He just really wanted to go there and help and do all that he could for his country. He felt like it was his duty.”

[From US Weekly]

It’s very sad to lose a family member so young. When I first read her comments it struck me that she didn’t sound very broken up over it. That’s not something I think I should judge her on though. It’s possible that she talked with the US Weekly people at length and they cut a lot out and just put in those specific comments.

Who made the decision to put Britney in a song with Heidi Montag though? Britney has been making a lot of progress in her personal life and a duet with Montag doesn’t seem like the best move for her career. OK! Magazine is now reporting this story, and they say that “Details on the collaboration are scant at the moment,” but speculate that it will only help Heidi’s career. Her boyfriend Spencer Pratt said after the negative reception to her premiere video, “Madonna, eat your heart out. Britney Spears, eat your heart out. I would say we have diamond records coming - they’re gonna sell 10-million plus.” Even with Britney on board, he’s probably way off with that number.

Update: Rumor has it that this song was made by Heidi and Spencer without Britney’s knowledge or permission. We’ll have to see what her people say about it.

Update 2: Thanks to reader Jessie for pointing us to an article in US Magazine that came out after we published this. Britney’s people say it was done without her authorization;

A source at Spears’ label, Jive, tells Usmagazine.com, “It’s not authorized and it wasn’t set up in any way and they never spent any time together in the studio. This was never a planned song or duet in any way.”

[From US Magazine]

Blind blues guitarist Jeff Healey lost his lifelong battle with cancer at age 41. Jeff became a popular artist in the U.S. during the late 80s/early 90’s after his single “Angel Eyes” was featured in the Patrick Swayze movie “Roadhouse,” in which Jeff had a small role. His cover of the Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was also a top 10 single.

Canadian blues, jazz, and rock musician Jeff Healey died on Sunday (March 2) in a Toronto hospital at 41. He finally succumbed to retinal cancer, which claimed his sight at age 1. The Grammy-nominated guitar virtuoso, famous for playing his instrument flat on his lap, reached the height of his success in 1988 with his album See the Light, which spawned the hit single ”Angel Eyes.” Healey shared the stage with guitar legends like Stevie Ray Vaughn, B.B. King, and Eric Clapton. Though he started out playing blues-rock, his last three studio efforts leaned toward jazz, which was said to be Healey’s true love. He died a month before the April 22 release of his first rock album in eight years, Mess of Blues. He is survived by his wife, Christie, and two children.

[From Entertainment Weekly]

This made me sad. Jeff was a talented guy who never let his disability stop him.

Note by Celebitchy: Healey left behind two children, Rachel, 13, and Derek, 3. Thanks to StevieRay.com for the header image of Jeff playing in the fall of 2006.