Madonna is Cash Queens of Music

Pop star Madonna is still the material girl, earning $72 million in a recent 12-month period to top a Forbes.com list of female singers whom the financial website dubbed "Cash Queens of Music."

Madonna, who rose to recording superstardom in the 1980s as the "Material Girl" after her hit song of that name, beat out Barbra Streisand, who was No 2 with annual earnings of $60 million, and Celine Dion at $45 million, according to Forbes.com.

The website tracked earnings in the period from June 2006 to June 2007 and said it examined concert ticket sales, merchandise revenue, album sales and earnings from ancillary products such as clothing, perfumes and endorsements.

Rounding out the top five on Forbes.com's "Cash Queens of Music" poll were Colombian singing sensation Shakira at No 4 with $38 million and R&B singer Beyonce with $27 million.

Country music stars also did well, with Faith Hill landing in the No 8 slot with $19 million and the Dixie Chicks at No 9 with $18 million.

Then there was Britney Spears. For all her troubles in the past year -- a stint in rehab and a bitter custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline, among them -- the pop star still made No. 14 on the list, earning $8 million from royalties on old songs and sales of her perfume, Curious.

Her latest album, "Blackout," was released late in 2007 after the period covered by the Forbes.com survey.

Late last year, Madonna ended her long relationship with Warner Music Group Corp and reached a recording deal with concert promoter Live Nation Inc.

Britney Spears banned from 50th Grammy Awards

The 'Gimme More' singer Britney Spears, who has been undergoing troubled times following her new found relationship with photographer boyfriend Adnan Ghalib has reportedly been banned from the 50th Anniversary of the Grammy Awards.

The pop starlet was spotted recently at Hollywood's Millennium Dance Studio, where she is said to be rehearsing for her new music video, sparking a rumor that she will perform at the February 10th ceremony.

However, local media described this as ‘untrue’ and disclosed that Britney has been banned from the building.

In fact she hasn't even been nominated for any Grammy award this year. So, when times are hard, everything seems hard, isn't it?

Scarlett Johansson engaged?

So it's time to tie the knot and Scarlett Johansson is engaged to actor Ryan Reynolds.

According to reports, the 'Lost in Translation' actress, who has been dating Ryan for almost a year, is said to be smitten with the 'Smokin' Aces' star and has accepted his marriage proposal.

Sources said that the two are deeply in love and an announcement is likely soon. They also revealed that the actress is thrilled to enter a new threshold of life with someone she deeply loves.

Incidentally, Scarlett, 23, and Ryan, 31, were first seen together at a New York cinema last April, shortly after Ryan ended his engagement to fellow Canadian Alanis Morissette.

The couple first sparked engagement rumors last year, when Scarlett and Ryan flew to Canada to meet his parents.

Scarlett previously dated her Black Dahlia co-star Josh Hartnett for two years.

Fergie has a wardrobe malfunction

She may have sold millions of records and have assistants to ensure she looks flawless, but The Black Eyed Peas singer Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson can still have a wardrobe malfunction.

 

The 23-year-old suffered a slight wardrobe malfunction when she opened for The Police at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.

 

Fergie danced and sang a selection of her hits, embarrassingly unaware the zip was down in her tight white trousers.

 

Teamed with a white waistcoat, Fergie showed off her toned physique and would have looked her usual groomed self if it wasn't for the noticeable trouser disaster.

 

The stadium was jam-packed as around 22,000 fans flocked to watch The Police kicking off their Australasian tour.

The Police comprise front man Sting, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers.

Britney'll be dead in six months: Psychologist

Britney Spears has been warned by a top U.S. psychologist, that she'll die in six months unless she gets the needed treatment for chronic mood disorder cyclothymia.

In the hope that the 26-year-old singer will seek medical help, Dr. Lillian Glass has gone public with her diagnosis.

The renowned Beverly Hills doctor gave her warning comments while talking to America's Globe mag.

"Unless Britney is locked away or put into a treatment program, she is going to die in six months - or even sooner. In my opinion, she suffers from cyclothymia, a chronic mood disorder in which short periods of mild depression are followed by short periods of hypomania," she said.

She added: "That explains why one minute she (Spears) can appear perfectly sane and the next she's exhibiting totally crazy behavior." Dr. Glass tells the publication, She's definitely a candidate for suicide if she isn't treated immediately."

The diagnosis supports her recent meltdown at her home when she locked herself and her son in a bathroom at the end of a visitation term and refused to come out for three hours. This led to her being admitted to hospital strapped to a stretcher.

Salma and Fiance named Richest Couple

Ugly Betty producer Salma Hayek and her boyfriend Francois-Henri Pinault have topped a new list to find Hollywood's Richest Couple.

The actress and the businessman landed at number one on the In Touch Weekly poll thanks to their combined fortune; Pinault's luxury goods company PPR, which owns Gucci Yves Saint Laurent, is said to be worth over GBP7 billion.

The couple appears to be starting 2008 by spending a sizable part of their joint fortune - they have reportedly set up home at actor Kelsey Grammer's GBP10 million Bel Air, California, estate.

Also making the new power pair top 10 list are Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, music mogul Simon Cowell and Teri Seymour and new couple Jessica Simpson and American football star Tony Romo.

Britney's suicide note and Naked Shopping

Reports of Britney's recent bizarre behavior now include a suicide note written before her January 3 meltdown and stepping out of a changing room in a upscale clothing store stark.

Whatever is happening in Britney's life, the presence of boyfriend Adnan Ghalib in it is of no help.

Alli Sims, Britney's cousin and good friend who has stood besides her through a lot of her travails, sounded a warning note on Adnan while speaking with Us weekly.

"I don't know him. I only know who he is through him following us for the last eight months. I do not think Adnan is a good person; I think he only has bad intentions. He has always given me a weird feeling and creeped me out. I wish he would just go away."

Not all that is being reported about Britney is true. For example, the In-Touch story that Britney left a suicide note has been trashed by Britney's manager Sam Lutfi, reports x17online.

The original In Touch story claimed that Britney's "very sad" note was "filled with reasons why she shouldn't live, including lines from poems about death" was found by Sam.

As to Britney walking around naked this is what has been reported.

While shopping at the Westfield Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks, California , Britney came out of the changing room stark naked, a sales clerk at the store told Life & Style magazine.

As she walked into the upscale clothing store, Britney grabbed a couple of dresses and went into the changing room with Adnan. A little later she stepped out completely naked to the utter astonishment of every one present.

When the sales clerk tried to cover her up she went ballistic 'Get away from me! Don't you f------ come near me!'

"Then she disappeared in the dressing room with Adnan for 45 minutes. They were making weird noises. It was disgusting," the sales clerk adds.

After the two emerged Britney was mumbling something unintelligible.

"I couldn't understand a word she was saying. She was slurring and spitting, and talking with a British accent," says the employee. "Her face was covered with cold sores and acne, and her scalp was patchy. I wanted to help her, but she was so mean that I left her alone.

"Then she muttered, 'F--- you!' and left the store."

Paris Hilton named as Woman of the Year

Socialite Paris Hilton is off to Harvard University, and no, it is not for studies, but because she is being named as the University's Woman of the Year.

According to the New York Post's Page Six, the Simple Life star will be stopping by the Cambridge, Massachusetts institution on 6 February (08) during a promotional tour for her new movie The Hottie and the Nottie.

She will be picking up her award from Harvard's Hasty Pudding Club the very next day.

Ladies who have won the Women of the Year award in the past include Scarlett Johansson, Halle Berry and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Sharon Stone wants to become a Lesbian

The Hollywood beauty is sick of men who "act like women" and claims she would rather be romanced by a "masculine" lady.

Sharon - who famously played a bisexual serial killer in Basic Instinct - claimed: "Everybody is bisexual to an extent. Now men act like women and it is difficult to have a relationship because I like men in that old-fashioned way. I like masculinity and, in truth, only women do that now.

"If you go on a date with a woman they call and say, 'I'm going to pick you up at seven.' They take you somewhere great and you can dress like a chick."

Sharon, 49, also claims she is a big fan of "lesbian sports".

She revealed: "I like fishing and golf. I like the boring sports. I also like baseball. I just like a lot of the lesbian sports, I have to say. I'm a little heavy on the loafers - it's true, if you think about it. I can hit an 80-mile-an-hour hardball."

In 2006, Sharon revealed lesbian sex scenes had been cut from her movie Basic Instinct 2 because they were "too hot".

She said: "We shot a menage a trois scene and the girl was really beautiful and hot, this amazing French actress and the ratings board made us take it out. I guess it was too hot."

Britney Spears Lover is Mad and Sex-Mad

Britney's paparazzo lover Adnan Ghalib's wife Nichole Grimes says Adnan is "mad and sex-mad".

Grimes "fell-head-over-heels" for Birmingham photographer Adnan Ghalib - who is now dating the 'Gimme More' singer - only to discover he was cheating on her with her best-friend.

Nichole, 35, said: "Britney should watch out - he's wild. To say he was a ladies' man was an understatement. He couldn't get enough. He's mad and sex-mad.

"When we met I thought he was this lovely young Asian boy from a strict family. I was head-over-heels in love. Then I discovered he'd been secretly hitting on my friend behind my back.

"Some people may wonder what this guy from a strict Muslim family is doing with a party animal like Britney. But I reckon he's wilder than her."

Nichole - who met Adnan, 35, when they both attended Birmingham's Sheldon Heath Community School - also believes it has been Adnan's "life-long dream" to date a superstar.

Nichole added to the Daily Star newspaper: "He was a real charmer. He knew what he wanted and he knew how to get it.

"He's such an attention-seeker that to date one of the world's most famous women must have been his life-long dream."

Meanwhile, Britney, 26, and Adnan boarded a private jet to New York together yesterday afternoon (09 Jan 2008).

They left Van Nuys Airport at 4pm on a flight bound for New Jersey's Teterboro Airport.

The singer has lost her visitation rights to sons Sean Preston, two, and 15-month-old Jayden James, after she was hospitalized for a psychiatric evaluation last week following a police stand-off at her home.

Jennifer Aniston looking for sperm donor

Jennifer Aniston is reportedly desperate to have a baby and wants a friend to donate sperm.

The 38-year-old actress, who is said to be dating Sex and the City hunk Jason Lewis, has reportedly told best pal Courteney Cox that she wants one of her male friends to help her conceive a child.

A source close to the actress said: "With her biological clock now ticking urgently, Jen's weighing up the relative qualities of all her make friends to soon make the decision which of them is her best bet as a sperm donor.

"Looks, intelligence and personality are all in the equation because she wants beautiful, bright children to make her life complete. Once she's reached a decision, she'll pop the question to a surprised bachelor, explaining she doesn't want marriage - just babies!"

Potential candidates allegedly include current lover Lewis and ex-boyfriends British model Paul Sculfor and Vince Vaughn.

The source added: "While Jen may have soured on marriage after her divorce from Brad Pitt, she's still desperate to start a family. She has a beautiful mansion complete with nursery all fitted out, millions in the bank and a select band of eligible guys, one of whom she'll soon pick to be a daddy."

Reese refusing to film sex scene with Vaughn

The pair have reportedly been clashing constantly on the set of romantic comedy Four Christmases and now Reese is refusing to roll around naked with Vince.

An on-set source told the New York Post newspaper: "Reese has an issue with the scripted love scene. It is meant to be a funny, 'American Pie'-style romp, full of bumps and laughs, but Reese is such a prude, she thinks it's just too much."

Despite being an Oscar winner and a more highly-paid Hollywood star, Reese is unlikely to win the argument as Vince is one of the film's producers.

The 37-year-old actor also oversaw much of the script writing, about a couple whose divorced parents do not get on, so they decide to celebrate Christmas separately with each of them.

It has previously been reported Reese, 31, has been unhappy with Vince's behavior on set.

While she is keen to work hard and film on schedule, he allegedly turns up to work hung-over, forgets his lines and is constantly fooling about on set.

Vanessa Hudgens: No more nude photos!

High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens says that her risque photos, including a full frontal nude, leaked out because she trusted the wrong person not because she was trying to gain attention.

"Nobody was supposed to see it. It's unfortunate that everybody did," the nineteen-year-old told Seventeen magazine for its February issue.

"It shows that you can't trust everyone..I'm much better now. But truthfully, I don't like talking about it," she adds.

Hudgens has learnt her lesson and even is she clicks more nude photos of herself you are unlikely to see them.

"With the Internet these days, you don't have a personal life. Nothing is private: Everyone knows everything, and they can find out everything about you. You're not as safe as you think you are, and you have to be aware of the people you're around," she says.

Hudgens became globally famous when risqué photos that she clicked using her own digital camera, before embarking on her career, leaked out over the internet in September last year.

Following the incident, Hudgens asked for forgiveness from her fans, and said that the situation has left her embarrassed.

The scandal did not adversely affect her job with Disney Channel and her relationship with boyfriend and costar Zac Efron.

Hudgen's mother too remained unfazed by the incident. Hudgens recalls how she reacted when Hudgens broke the news to her.

"Well, everyone can be naked if they want to," her mother said.

Tom Cruise could end up broke!

Tom Cruise is in danger of going broke if he does not control his wild spending, it has been claimed.

The Top Gun star - whose estimated fortune is $250 million -enjoys splashing his cash so much sources close to the actor fear he could squander it all.

A source said: "Tom is really into money. He has no problem spending it. It makes him feel powerful. He loves to brag about his Porsches, his homes, his planes and his motorcycles.

"When Tom takes Katie out, he has his security people hand $100 bills to anyone who helps them, even someone who opens a door! He's a big giver."

The 45-year-old actor and wife Katie Holmes have a 20-month-old daughter Suri together, and Tom also has two adopted children, Connor, 12, and 14-year-old Isabella with his ex-wife Nicole Kidman, who stand to inherit his fortune.

As well as funding his lavish lifestyle of expensive meals and shopping sprees for Katie and Suri, Tom also spends a vast amount of money running his four private planes.

Last year, he spent a staggering $1 million on fuel alone.

Britney Spears and Paris Hilton in strip club war?

It seems that Britney Spears and Paris Hilton are welcoming 2008 with a bitter bitch fight - the two are planning to launch their own chains of Las Vegas strip clubs.

Britney, who is annoyed with the hotel heiress for flirting with her ex-husband Kevin Federline, has been in secret talks about a 40million pounds project to open her chain of strip clubs across Sin City.

However, after learning about the pop star's plans, Paris has decided to beat Spears to the punch by opening her chain of strip clubs in Las Vegas.

"Britney was excited about this project for months and is really pissed with Paris that things have come to this. And that's even before she heard Paris has been partying with Kevin," the Daily Star quoted a source, as saying.

"Britney has always thought of stripping as a bit like art - as a skill. So when some Vegas-based developers approached her about investing money into three exclusive strip joints, which she wants to call Toxic Heaven, she jumped at the chance.

"But then Paris heard about the plans through her younger sister Nicky, who is a hotelier, and jumped on the bandwagon.

"She wanting to open her own strip joints, calling them Shagadillic. Paris is now in talks with business developers about the idea and wants to involve Nicky to keep it within the family. She thinks they can trounce Britney," the source added.