Big controversy at the inauguration. Did Beyonce lip-sync the national anthem? That’s what some are claiming. It's standard procedure with a performance like this for musicians to record a backing track that they can sing and play along to. And yesterday, a spokeswoman for the Marine Corps Band…which backed up the performance…said that Beyoncé made the decision to rely ENTIRELY on that track. She added that the band played live for the other performers, like Kelly Clarkson, but was specifically told to fake for Beyoncé. A Marine Corps spokesman later watered down that claim. But he didn't specifically deny it.
Miss Alabama Katherine Webb isn’t going away anytime soon. We first met her two weeks ago when the ESPN commentators were more interested in ogling her than watching the BCS championship game. Katherine is capitalizing on her newfound fame. She’ll be reporting from the sidelines at the Super Bowl and Sports Illustrated got her to slip into a bikini for their upcoming swimsuit edition. Now comes word that Katherine is sticking with the bikini for an ABC reality TV show called Celebrity Diving -- a weekly program featuring D-list stars taking a leap from the springboard. Sportscaster Brent Musburger is probably already programming his DVR for the first episode on March 19th.
Shakira gave birth to a baby boy yesterday…they named him Milan. In a post on her website, Shakira said, quote, "The name Milan (pronounced MEE-lahn), means dear, loving and gracious in Slavic; in Ancient Roman, eager and laborious; and in Sanskrit, unification. "Just like his father, baby Milan became a member of FC Barcelona at birth."
A couple of tv cancellations…
ABC is yanking "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" from their schedule. Technically, the show hasn't been canceled, but that seems inevitable at this point. 11 episodes have already aired this season, and eight more have been produced. It's unclear when or if they'll see the light of day.
Also, TBS has canceled "The Wedding Band"… their musical comedy starring Brian Austin Green. The first season finale aired this weekend…and naturally, this means there won't be a second season.
Lindsay Lohan is hurting for money so she really isn't in a position to turn down ANY offer right now…especially not one that pays $550,000. But TMZ claims she got an offer for that much to do "Dancing With the Stars" and she rejected it. Apparently, she's not ready to stoop to reality TV because she thinks she still has a future in film. By the way, this will be Dancing with the Stars 16th season. It will premiere Monday March 18th
Barbara Walters is still in the hospital after falling Saturday night and cutting her head. But she's doing fine. Yesterday on "The View", Whoopi Goldberg read a statement from Barbara that said, quote, "First and foremost, I want to thank all the people who have called and written and been concerned about me. I'm most appreciative. "I'm running a low-grade fever and the doctors are keeping me in the hospital until my temperature is normal. I'm pleased to say that it is going in the right direction and I will be home soon."
There's been talk of a "Saved By the Bell" reunion for a while… however, it's never really seemed on the cusp of happening. It still isn't, but Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who played Zack, is teasing that it COULD happen. Earlier this week, the paparazzi asked Mark-Paul what he thought of the Disney Channel's upcoming "Boy Meets World" spin-off, "Girl Meets World". Mark-Paul said he'd check it out…and added, quote, "I'll see how they do, and maybe we'll do a reunion as well."
It's been over two years since New Kids on the Block teamed up with the Backstreet Boys…and now they're hooking up with two other old-school boy bands. New Kids will hit the road this summer with Boyz II Men and 98 Degrees for a series of shows they're calling "The Package Tour." For now, the dates stretch from May 31st through July 13th. This will be the first tour for 98 Degrees in 12 YEARS. All three groups were on "The View" yesterday to announce the tour. By the way, New Kids are releasing a single called "Remix (I Like This)" next Monday… and their new album, "10", will be out April 2nd.
Sheryl Crow has made her first comments since her ex-fiancé Lance Armstrong admitted to using performance enhancing drugs during his cycling career. “I think that honesty is always the best bet and the truth will set you free.” “It’s gotta be really hard to walk around knowing that you’re not telling the truth about something, so I always contend that the truth is the best way to go." Crow said she caught “bits and pieces,” of Lance’s Oprah Winfrey interview, adding, “To carry around a weight like that would be devastating in the long run.”
It’s no secret that Taylor Swift jumps from boyfriend to boyfriend, but it sounds like she may be considering taking a break from men for a bit. “Part of me just wants to be alone,” she told Vibe magazine. “Independence is something I’ve always needed, from when I was young.” But Taylor isn’t about to give up on love completely. She explains, “I love the idea of romance and falling in love. I’ve never really had a long relationship. So that’s something I think about for the future.”
Demi Moore’s new relationship seems to be going strong. The 50-year-old actress has been linked to 31-year-old Hard Rock Café heir Harry Morton (an ex of Lindsay Lohan), and the New York Post reports that over the weekend they were seen holding hands at the Stanley Kubrick exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. If the rumors are true, this would be Demi’s first serious romance since splitting from husband Ashton Kutcher in 2011.
A few months ago, former "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert and Cyndi Lauper teamed up to perform "Mad World". Now, there's talk they might record it for real. A so-called "source" says, quote, "Adam and Cyndi talked after their performance. They want to record their duet of 'Mad World' at the studio and release it. It's just a project they want to do for fun."
Madonna and her personal trainer are working on a series of exercise DVDs called "Addicted to Sweat". There's no word whether Madonna will actually appear in them.
Rihanna reportedly left a $200 tip on an $80 bill. It was at the Laugh Factory this past Friday night. Rihanna and some friends were there to see Dane Cook
If you’ve been waiting to see Steve Carell during the final season of "The Office" …sorry to tell you, it’s not going to happen. Steve says he decided not to do it, because it wouldn't make sense for his character, Michael Scott. He said quote, "I just didn't think it was right . . . because that character had had an arc within the story and kind of grew and sort of evolved past the idea of the documentary." (You know, the documentary crew that is filming and interviewing the characters on the show.) Steve adds that he DOES plan on going back to visit everyone on the set before it ends...but there won't be an onscreen return.
Justin Bieber has surpassed Lady Gaga to become the most-followed person on Twitter…but it's still a ridiculously tight race. As of last night, both of them had more than 33.3 MILLION followers. But Justin was ahead by about 18,000. And it sounds like his lead is only going to increase. According to Twittercounter.com, Justin adds an average of 40,055 followers per day, while Gaga only gets 30,495.
