Miley Cyrus’ parents, Billy Ray Cyrus and wife Tish Cyrus, are to divorce after 17 years of marriage.

30 October 2010
Miley Cyrus’ parents are to divorce.

Singer Billy Ray Cyrus and wife Tish Cyrus announced they have separated after 17 years of marriage and filed divorce papers this week citing “irreconcilable differences”.

In a statement, they said: “As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for our family. We are trying to work through some personal matters. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers.”

Friends say it was inevitable the couple – who have three children, 17-year-old Miley, Braison, 16, and 10-year-old Noah – would split but insist nobody else is involved.

One pal said: “It was a long time coming. It is the best thing for both of them.”

Country singer Billy married Tish in December 1992 and as well as having three children together he adopted Tish’s two children, Brandi and Trace, from her previous marriage.

He also has a son, Christopher, from his relationship with Kristen Luckey.

The family initially lived on a 500-acre farm near Nashville, Tennessee, before moving to Los Angeles following the success of Miley’s TV show ‘Hannah Montana’, which Billy also appears in.

Celine Dion wanted daughters

Celine Dion has revealed while she would have liked to have a baby girl, she is “truly happy” with her twin boys, who were born on Saturday (23.10.10).

30 October 2010
Celine Dion would have preferred to have had a baby girl.

The ‘My Heart Will Go On’ singer – who gave birth to twin boys by Caesarean section on Saturday (23.10.10) – admitted while she would have loved to have given son Rene-Charles, nine, a sister but insists she “wasn’t disappointed” to find out she was expecting a pair of boys after undergoing in vitro fertilisation (VF) therapy.

She explained: “Honestly if I had a choice, certainly I’d have liked to have a girl. But the day I learned that I was expecting two boys, I wasn’t disappointed. It was a day of tremendous joy. I’m truly happy. Everything went well and the babies are in good health. That’s all that counts.

“I’m telling you, if they could have come out through my ears at the time they were ready to come into the world, that would have suited me fine.”

However, the 42-year-old star and her husband Rene Angelil are having difficulty deciding on names for the new arrivals.

Celine – who is of French Canadian descent – added to France’s Gala magazine: “I’ve read nearly 15,000 names and nothing has stuck.

“Because Rene-Charles goes to school in the United States, he’s suggested English first names. My mother, on the other hand, has been hinting about very French first names and we’re going a little bit crazy trying to decide.”

Bon Jovi answer Hard Rock Calling

Bon Jovi have been are the first headliner to be confirmed for Hard Rock Calling festival in London next summer, as well as announcing two other UK dates.

29 October 2010
Bon Jovi will play three dates in the UK next year, including headlining Hard Rock Calling 2011.

The ‘It’s My Life’ rockers are to play three dates in the UK next summer – at in Edinburgh and Manchester, as well as headlining one of the nights of the festival, held in Hyde Park, London.

Hamish Dodds, CEO of Hard Rock International said: “2011 marks Hard Rock’s 40th anniversary and there is no better way to celebrate than with Bon Jovi at Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park

“Bon Jovi have been one of the world’s most successful and beloved bands, but they have also been a friend of the Hard Rock brand for many years.”

The group – who have sold over 120 million records in their 30 year career – sold out a 12-night residency at the O2 in London earlier this year, and guitarist Richie Sambora revealed the band still get a kick out of playing to large crowds

he said: “It feels great! We’re still selling out stadiums for god’s sakes! You know what? To actually remain contemporary after all these years is cool man – there’s not many bands doing it and this thing is not stopping.

“We’re having so much fun.”

The band are to pick up a special Global Icon award at this year’s MTV European Music Awards (EMAs) in Madrid on November 7, and are also expected to announce further dates across Europe next summer.

Tickets for all shows so far announced will go on sale on Monday (01.11.10).

Other headline acts and bands to play at Hard Rock Calling are yet to be confirmed.

Madonna opens Hard gyms

Madonna is launching a chain of fitness centres across the world, opening the first in Mexico City next month.

27 October 2010
Madonna is launching a chain of gyms.

The ‘Celebration’ singer is to open the fitness centres, entitled Hard Candy Fitness – which take their name from her last studio album ‘Hard Candy’ – across the world and has been involved in every stage of planning and design.

Mark Mastrov, who is working with the 52-year-old pop star through his company New Evolution Ventures, said: “Hard Candy Fitness will be a reflection of Madonna’s point of view and will reflect her input on every detail, including music space, light and design cues. Madonna touch will be everywhere.”

Madonna’s manager Guy Oseary revealed most of the gyms will be opening where Madonna is popular. The first centre will be unveiled in the Mexican capital Mexico City.

Guy said: “Madonna’s world tours have taken us to many of our favourite cities around the world. We are looking forward to opening Hard Candy Fitness in many of these same places.”

In addition to the normal furnishings of a gym, the centres will include a juice bar, yoga studios and saunas.

Another ten gyms are expected to launch in Argentina, Russia, Brazil and Europe.

The Mexico City gym will open at the end of November and Madonna – who is well known for her extreme diet and exercise regime – is expected to make an appearance.

Celine Dion’s tearful birth

Celine Dion was in tears following the birth of her twin boys on Saturday (23.10.10), who were conceived after the star underwent six in vitro fertilisation (IVF) attempts.

27 October 2010
Celine Dion was in tears after the birth of her twins.

The ‘My Heart Will Go On’ singer – who delivered the two boys via Caesarean section on Saturday (23.10.10) – found the experience particularly emotional after undergoing six in vitro fertilisation (IVF) attempts in the last year alone.

Her husband Rene Angelil explained: “When Saturday at 11:11, they showed us the first baby that was crying, we were crying. It was a very emotional moment, and even though we didn’t speak to each other, we were both thinking about the time it took.

“We are very lucky, very privileged and very fortunate to have these boys.”

The couple’s nine-year-old son Rene-Charles is also thrilled with the new arrivals because he was desperate to have a younger brother.

Rene said: “He was very, very happy that it was boys. I remember a few months ago when mom told him the day we were going to know if it was a boy or a girl or two boys or two girls … his reaction pointing to his mom’s belly he said, ‘I hope there’s not too many girls in there.’ ”

However, 42-year-old Celine only plans to take three months out from her busy schedule, and will begin rehearsing for her three-year Las Vegas residency, which starts in March, in January.

Rene added to Canadian entertainment show etalk: “We know she’s going to start rehearsing on January 17. It gives her three months to recoup and she thinks she can do it.”

Kanye West gets diamond teeth

Kanye West has removed his entire bottom row of teeth and had a row of diamonds implanted in their place.

22 October 2010
Kanye West has replaced his bottom teeth with diamonds.

The ‘Golddigger’ rapper – who is known for his extravagant spending habits – removed his entire bottom row of teeth and had a row of precious gems implanted in their place because he thought it was what “rock stars are supposed to do”.

In an interview with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, he explained: “It’s really my real teeth. It’s replaced my bottom row of teeth.

“I just thought the diamonds were cooler. There’s just certain stuff that rock stars are supposed to do.”

It seems the hip-hop star has been considering the sparkling dental work for some time.

In July, he posted a picture of himself with what are believed to have been temporary diamond teeth before taking the plunge and in August he wrote: “Diamond teeth … another reason to smile : ) (sic)”

During his chat with Ellen, Kanye also poked fun at the incident from last year’s MTV Video Music Awards – when he stormed on stage during Taylor Swift’s Best Female Video acceptance speech and ranted about how Beyonce Knowles should have won – by interrupting the TV star during a segment.

He admitted the controversy had been good for him because it forced him to take a break from music, during which he branched out and worked as a fashion intern.

He explained: “It was good just to be around other spaces because the creativity in other fields inspired what I did in music. When I finally decided to go back to music, I realised the power I had in that space, and the responsibility I had to keep on pushing the genre forward.”

BBC apologises for Clarkson’s ’joke’

Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson described a Ferrari owned by co-host James May as “special needs” – provoking complaints and an apology from the BBC

26 October 2010
The BBC has apologised after Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson described a car as “special needs”.

Britain’s broadcasting watchdog Ofcom investigated after the joke made by Clarkson about a Ferrari owned by co-host James May, provoked complaints.

Clarkson said the F430 Speciale “looked like a simpleton” and should have been called “Speciale Needs”.

The BBC’s removed the joke from the repeat and internet streaming versions of the show and apologised for the offence it caused.

Newton to face court today

Australian actor Matthew Newton will face court today, accused of bashing his former fiance.

25 October 2010
Australian actor Matthew Newton, known here for his role in the Mr Asia series Underbelly, will come face to face with his former fiance Rachael Taylor in court today.

Taylor has taken out a violence order against the 43-year-old actor, who’s accused of bashing her in a hotel in Rome in August.

Newton, who has been in the car of a psychiatrist for the past six years, is no stranger to domestic violence accusations.

He split with longtime girlfriend Brooke Satchwell in 2006, leading to his arrest on assault charges.

Emergency for Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. is to produce and possibly star in a movie adaptation of Neil Strauss novel ‘Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life’.

22 October 2010
Robert Downey Jr. is in talks to star in an adaptation of ‘Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life’.

The ‘Iron Man’ actor is already on board to produce the movie – based on the book by Neil Strauss – and may take the leading role in the Columbia Pictures project.

The book tells the tale of a man who learns to live in the wild and remakes himself as a “government-defying survivor” after he fears his homeland is losing its direction.

‘Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps’ writer Allan Loeb is adapting the novel for the big screen.

Downey Jr., 45, will produce the project alongside his wife of five years Susan and Michael DeLuca, who admits the book is a great feature possibility because of its look into “male panic”.

He said: “The book is a study in male panic and since I specialised in that throughout the 90s I felt a true kinship.”

Downey Jr. is currently attached to a number of projects, including Alfonso Cuaron’s ‘Gravity’ – which has yet to secure a female lead – and ‘The Avengers’.

More bones found on building site

Workers at a construction site in Gisborne find more skeletal remains

23 October 2010
Another set of skeletal remains has been uncovered at construction site in Gisborne.

It’s the second set of remains dug up at the site of an extension to the District Court.

The Ministry of Justice says established Maori protocols are being followed. The remains have been removed for further examination, and will be re-interred at a later date.