LePaparazzi News Updates
Mischa BartonMischa Barton is speaking out about her O.C. character's demise in a car wreck last week. "Well, I was really excited that I get to die, to be honest," Barton, 20, tells Newsweek. "I've done pretty much everything else with the character.
It was better than one of those lame farewells." She even rules out a future appearance in dream sequence, saying, "Oh, God. I hope not. That would be cheesy."
Barton will now focus on her film career. "I really think it's best to do movies now. I was also thinking of spending a month in London, living there and taking a course in acting," the British-born thesp says. "Sometimes it's nice to go back to your roots."
SourceJanet Jackson's New Cover Shoot!
Janet Jackson at Johnny Gill's 40 th Birthday party at BB King's Blues Club Universal City, California on May 21, 2006. Pop superstar
JANET JACKSON just turned 40 and has an all-new album dropping this September called 20 Years Old -- and ET's
KEVIN FRAZIER was on the set of the cover shoot, proving that 40 is definitely the new 20!
"I worked really hard, and I continue to work very hard," says Janet about her lean new look. "I have to give credit to my parents' genes I suppose, and just working with great people [that] make me look good, and nutrition and a great trainer."
Just six months ago, the svelte Janet was seen in published photos looking like she had packed on a few extra pounds, but the star explains that she gained weight specifically for a movie role.
"I put on the pounds for a film I was to do with
LEE DANIELS, the producer of 'Monster's Ball,' which a lot of people didn't know," Janet tells Kevin. "They wanted a full-figured woman. She's from the South, a waitress."
Janet says they had to push the project back, and she had to pass on the opportunity in order to work on her new album. She now thinks that
MARIAH CAREY will take on the role. Of course, she had another assignment to take care of -- losing the weight!
"I had to turn around and take it off, which was a task -- I started my regimen in January; it took a 'little minute,'" she laughs. "I've still got work to do. I have to build my endurance and muscle for the tour. That's the next phase of this whole thing."
This "whole thing" starts off with the June 19 release of "Call On Me," the first single off the CD -- with a little help from Janet's friend
NELLY. The album is co-produced by Janet's fiancé,
JERMAINE DUPRI.
"I love this album, and I hate to say, 'expect an album that you'll love' -- which I just said, but I love this, so hopefully everyone else will enjoy it," says Janet, "and it's different, it's a little reminiscent, yet it's new and fresh."
SourceIt's McPhee versus Hicks' on 'Idol' 
LOS ANGELES - In Tuesday night's final showdown between ashen-haired soulster
Taylor Hicks and sultry
Katharine McPhee, the "American Idol" winner was clear to one person: Simon Cowell.
"Assuming that I was right — the show was tied — then you have just won `American Idol,'" the tart-tongued "Idol" judge told Hicks following his last performance.
After the show, Hicks told The Associated Press in response to Cowell's comment: "I just hope that people don't get complacent."
McPhee and Hicks each performed three songs in Tuesday's sing-off, staged in front of more than 3,000 fans at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. The winner will be crowned Wednesday.
At the show's start, Cowell offered the singers typically sugar-free advice: "I would suggest that the contestants pray that the other one forget the words."
In the first round, McPhee, 22, opened with a rendition of "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree." Cowell called it "good with a small `g'."
Hicks wore a purple velvet jacket — "arguably the worst jacket I've ever seen in my life," Cowell sniped — for his first number, a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City." Cowell handed his vote to Hicks: "It was a great way to start ... Round one to you." Round two was a reverse of the first.
McPhee's rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," drew praise from judges — and tears from her father, Daniel.
"You worked it out again — that was hot!" judge Randy Jackson gushed.
Hicks sang Elton John's "Levon" to mixed reviews."I think Kat has taken the second round," Cowell commented. The final round had McPhee and Hicks debuting new singles.
McPhee, wearing a silky blue dress, performed a pop ballad, "My Destiny." Jackson praised her but derided the song choice as "average."
"I would say to everyone who wants to vote for Kat, vote and remember the second song," Cowell reminded viewers.
Then Hicks performed "Do I Make You Proud?" and Cowell declared the 29-year-old Alabama native the winner.
"My vision as an artist is to inject as much soul as I can into popular music," Hicks told the AP later.
McPhee, looking calm and pretty in a flowered top and bare feet, told the AP backstage after the show that she was "totally at peace with whatever the outcome."
"But onstage I also thought, `Never underestimate the power of my fans,'" she continued.
Even though Cowell chose Hicks as the winner, the audience was split. Fans held signs saying "Hicks, Hometown Hero" and "We Got the McPheever."
Scarlet Swall traveled from Kansas City to attend her third "Idol" finale and considers Hicks "brilliant."
"It's kind of my birthday gift being here at the Kodak," the 65-year-old Swall said. "It's so exciting. Back in Kansas City, we have neighborhood parties up to the finals."
McPhee fan Tess Kleinhammes was upset at Cowell's statement.
"I didn't think that was fair at all," said the 13-year-old, who had flashed a sparkly sign in support of McPhee. "I think Katharine is better than Taylor. She's one of my role models."
When told about Tess' support of her, McPhee said, "I love being a role model. It's still a man's world in society." Her advice: "Girls should keep working on themselves."
Which, she said, she's done herself.
"I've been through many therapy sessions ... It's an ongoing struggle to work on myself."
It was a party atmosphere at the Kodak Theater from the moment the fans started arriving.
Los Angeles resident Steven Ahn, 47, came out with his daughter, 8-year-old Kirsten and her best friend Maggie. Asked who they wanted to win, they chimed in: "Katharine! Because she's a good singer!"
"Yeah," they continued. "We want to grow up to be like her."
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