QTPIE

Hannah Montana Singer Miley Cyrus Changes Her Name Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus — who was born Destiny Hope Cyrus — has officially changed her name to Miley Ray Cyrus. Miley was a childhood nickname she was given. She adopted Ray as her middle name in honor of her father, country crooner Billy Ray Cyrus, Entertainment Tonight reports. usmagazine.com

Marie Osmond Gets Fall '09 Talk Show Marie Osmond, recently seen tapping her toes in “Dancing With the Stars,” will return to center stage, agreeing to a deal with syndicator Program Partners for upcoming daytime talk show "Marie," set to launch in fall 2009. "I like the philosophy that Program Partners brought to the table," Ms. Osmond said Tuesday at a NATPE press conference announcing the show. "They're giving me the freedom to do some things that I feel strongly about, and the timing is right for a show like this." Ms. Osmond first hit the airwaves in 1976 in prime-time series “Donny & Marie.” She returned to television first in the 1995 ABC sitcom “Maybe This Time” and then with brother Donny in 1998 to co-host “Donny and Marie,” a talk/entertainment show from Sony that lasted two seasons. Program Partners now becomes the first distrib to officially announce programming for fall 2009. Other series rumored to be in the pipeline include "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" from Twentieth and "Power of 10" from Sony. The new show comes on the heels of Ms. Osmond's success on “Dancing Wth the Stars,” in which she finished third. She also drew national attention for personal traumas during the competition, including fainting during week five and her father's death in week seven. Program Partners also is distributing “Family Court” for the fall season. "Marie Osmond is unique in this industry," said Josh Raphaelson, co-founder of Program Partners. "She is a star with an authenticity that makes her relatable to every woman in America." tvweek

Snipes' Lawyers Don't Call a Single Witness Actor Wesley Snipes' defense team in his tax and conspiracy trial rested on Monday, did not calla single witness. The "Blade" star stands accused of conspiring to defraud the U.S. out of millions of dollars in 2000 as part of a conspiracy scheme with co-defendants Eddie Ray Kahn and Douglas Rosile, and then failing to file tax returns. But Snipes' legal team is so certain the case against the 45-year-old will be thrown out of court, no defense witnesses were summoned to take the stand. The prosecution rested its case on Friday. Snipes' attorney Daniel Meachum says, "We chose not to call witnesses because there was no need to. The government prosecutors have put on a case that simply does not come close to meeting the standard of its burden of proof. "It was obvious after we went over the evidence the government presented that we could move on to closing arguments immediately and get a just acquittal for Wesley on all counts listed in the indictment." Snipes faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted, while Kahn and Rosile both face a maximum 10-year sentence.

Ross Jeered by Festival Crowd Diana Ross was booed by 40,000 music fans at a Jamaican music festival on Saturday when she vetoed plans to screen her performance on monitors to side of the stage. The legendary soul star was greeted by jeering at the 2008 Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival after organizers told the audience that "to honor Miss Ross' wishes, she will not be shown on the monitors." Many in the large crowd were unable to see Ross, who was reportedly paid $300,000 for the concert, which also featured stars including Mary Mary and Billy Ocean. They continued to boo throughout her set. Festival spokesperson Carlette DeLeon says, "The much-anticipated performance of Diana Ross on Saturday proved somewhat disappointing to many patrons who expected a very interactive set. "Miss Ross' request to have a restricted display of her performance however, inconvenienced patrons who were left feeling distanced from the stage and her performance."

McConaughey Confesses to Hudson Crush Matthew McConaughey would have made a move on co-star Kate Hudson if she wasn't married when the couple made "How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days." The movie hunk was quizzed about his feelings for Hudson by the actress herself during a recent TV interview to promote the pair's new film, "Fool's Gold," and he confessed he had a crush on her while they were making the 2003 romantic comedy. Hudson asked, "Do you think if I hadn't been married (to Chris Robinson) on 'How To Lose a Guy,' you'd have gone in for the kill?" A visibly stunned McConaughey paused before confessing, "If we were both single back then, sure." Hudson admits she and McConaughey often behave like a married couple when they're working together. She adds, "We can tell each other when we can't stand each other. I can run and grab him and go, 'I love you so much' and then I could tell him he's driving me crazy."

McConaughey Confesses to Hudson Crush Matthew McConaughey would have made a move on co-star Kate Hudson if she wasn't married when the couple made "How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days." The movie hunk was quizzed about his feelings for Hudson by the actress herself during a recent TV interview to promote the pair's new film, "Fool's Gold," and he confessed he had a crush on her while they were making the 2003 romantic comedy. Hudson asked, "Do you think if I hadn't been married (to Chris Robinson) on 'How To Lose a Guy,' you'd have gone in for the kill?" A visibly stunned McConaughey paused before confessing, "If we were both single back then, sure." Hudson admits she and McConaughey often behave like a married couple when they're working together. She adds, "We can tell each other when we can't stand each other. I can run and grab him and go, 'I love you so much' and then I could tell him he's driving me crazy."

Depp to Take Over for Ledger in Final Film? HOLLYWOOD - Director Terry Gilliam is determined to finish shooting Heath Ledger's last film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus--with Johnny Depp in his place. Filming on the set of the fantasy movie was allegedly abandoned following the death of the actor on Tuesday afternoon. But reports now claim Gilliam is keen to have the Pirates of the Caribbean star stand in for Ledger to complete the remaining scenes. A studio source tells British newspaper The Sun, "There is a point in the film when Heath falls through a magic mirror. He could change into another character after that, and that is where Johnny would come in. "It's a weird, fantasy, time-travel movie, so Heath's character could easily change appearance. It would be a poignant moment. "Johnny's not working at the moment, so everyone is praying he will do it." Ledger was said to be less than two months away from wrapping filming on the movie. hollywood.com

Beyoncé to Play Etta James AOL's Black Voices has learned from Cedric the Entertainer that Beyoncé (Dreamgirls) is set to play famed singer Etta James in Sony BMG's Cadillac Records, written and to be directed by Darnell Martin. The film explores Chicago in the 1950s, charting the colorful lives of American musical legends like Muddy Waters, Chess, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf and Elvis Presley. Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Columbus Short, Emmanuelle Chriqui and Tammy Blanchard co-star. Filming will take place in New Jersey and Mississippi.

Stallone Defends His Use of Human Growth Hormone Sylvester Stallone isn't holding back about his using HGH (Human Growth Hormone) to beef up for the new Rambo movie. The A.P. is reporting Stallone told Time Magazine, "Everyone over 40 years old would be wise to investigate it because it increases the quality of your life," Stallone says. "Testosterone, to me, is so important for a sense of well-being when you get older." The 61 year old actor directed and co-wrote the new Rambo sequel, which hit theaters on Wednesday okmagazine

Scarlett jokes about engagement to Obama ‘My heart belongs to Barack,’ says the actress AP NEW YORK - Scarlett Johansson returned from the Persian Gulf with a whole lot of soldiers’ trinkets and a delusion of her own engagement — to Barack Obama. “I am engaged ... to Barack Obama,” Johansson joked in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. “My heart belongs to Barack, and that is who I am currently, finally, engaged to. Yes.” Johansson, who showed her support for the Democratic presidential candidate at the Iowa caucus earlier this month, was really just deflecting a question about rumors she might be engaged (to actor-beau Ryan Reynolds). The 23-year-old actress talked about the warm welcome she received while visiting troops stationed in the Persian Gulf last week. Johansson dropped by U.S. bases in Kuwait on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 as part of a USO tour in which she met about 3,500 men and women in uniform. “Everybody that I met there was so incredibly friendly and polite and genuine and generous,” she said. “They were so, so sweet. I mean, I was just amazed.” Johansson said some people ripped patches off their jackets as gifts and handed her challenge coins from their military units. One Marine offered up his St. Christopher medal. Another starstruck guy gushed: “You made my whole deployment!” Johansson has a full plate for 2008, with the release of films including “The Other Boleyn Girl” and “He’s Just Not That Into You,” as well as the arrival of her debut album on May 20. The disc, called “Anywhere I Lay My Head,” features Tom Waits cover songs and one original track. “It was a really, really sort of inspired process to make this CD, and it was something I’d never done before,” said Johansson, who said the album has a dreamy, ethereal quality. On a far more serious note: Johansson was still speechless Thursday over the death of fellow actor Heath Ledger, who was found dead Tuesday in his Manhattan apartment. “I’m really just so very shocked,” she said. “He was an incredibly sweet, kindhearted and enthusiastic person. And, you know, he loved his daughter — I mean, that was like the light of his life. It’s just a terrible loss.”

FBI Dismisses Miley Cyrus Hijacking Plot Friday January 25, 2008 A 16-year-old from Louisiana who allegedly plotted to hijack a plane was not planning to crash it into Miley Cyrus' Hannah Montana concert, as some outlets have reported, a FBI spokesman tells the Associated Press. Authorities arrested the teen Tuesday after a flight from Los Angeles to Nashville. The teen had handcuffs, rope, and duct tape in his possession when he was apprehended. A mock cockpit was also found in the suspect's home, the FBI spokesman said. Authorities believe the teen, who has not been identified by authorities because he is a minor, was suicidal. The teen – who could face federal changes including felony terrorism — is being held at a juvenile detention center. US Weekly

Jolie and Haven To Mark Mom's Death with Donation Angelina Jolie and her brother James Haven will mark the first anniversary of their mother's death by making a sizable donation to the Los Angeles hospital where she lost her battle with ovarian cancer. Marcheline Bertrand passed away at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on January 27 at age 56. Jolie and Haven plan to pay their respects to their beloved mother with a day-long vigil on Sunday to commemorate her life. The event will see Jolie take her four children -- Maddox, 6, Pax, 4, Zahara, 3, and Shiloh, 19 months -- to the L.A. hospital with her brother to hand over the money to the hospital's women's cancer research fund. But Haven is said to be concerned about how the star will cope with the emotional day. A close family friend says, "James and Angelina adored their mother. They want this day to be solely dedicated to her memory. "(But) Angie still weeps for her a lot and James has been saying how he's worried she will fall apart on Sunday." Both siblings were close to Bertrand, but Jolie in particular struggled to come to terms with her mom's death and recently praised her boyfriend Brad Pitt for helping her through the trying time.

Ringo Starr Storms off TV Show over Cut Song By WENN HOLLYWOOD - Former Beatle Ringo Starr stormed off the set of Live with Regis & Kelly on Tuesday after producers attempted to cut short his musical set. Starr was set to appear on the show with former Eurythmics star Dave Stewart and perform his new song "Liverpool 8." But when TV bosses asked him to shorten the tune for an end-of-show time slot, an angry Starr left the building. The rocker's publicist, Elizabeth Freund, reveals Starr was informed the four-minute, 15-second song had to be cut by over a minute just before he was set to appear live. A statement from Freund reads, "We offered to cut back our chat time and asked them to fade or go to commercial. They were not willing to do that and Ringo was not willing to cut it further, so without a compromise we were not able to stay."

They probably blackmailed him

Will Smith boosting Scientology Will Smith has joined the ranks of Hollywood power players actively recruiting for the Church of Scientology. Big stars traditionally distribute "wrap presents" to crew members after completing a film. His recent gift after wrapping next summer's comedy "Hancock" was a card good for a personality test at your local Scientology center. Fun! Never mind that such tests are given free by the church anyway. The quiz is designed to convert people to the religion by identifying personality flaws that - surprise! - Scientology can fix right up for you. For a fee, of course. Smith, who is best buddies with Scientology booster Tom Cruise, has never confirmed that he joined the church. But he told "Access Hollywood" last month: "I was introduced to it by Tom, and I'm a student of world religion. I was raised in a Baptist household. I went to a Catholic school, but the ideas of the Bible are 98% the same ideas of Scientology, 98% the same ideas of Hinduism and Buddhism." Presumably the other 2% is the part about the evil space emperor who put the hydrogen bombs in the volcano. Smith's rep was traveling with the actor on Tuesday and unavailable for commen