Shannon Tavarez Passes Away

Shannon Tavarez, a young actress who won a featured role on Broadway in The Lion King, lost her battle with leukemia earlier this week. She was 11.
The sixth-grader's plight became well-documented earlier this year when her quest to find a suitable bone marrow donor caught the eye of celebrities.
Several stars, including Alicia Keys, Rihanna and 50 Cent, were particularly moved, and appealed to fans to register as donors for Shannon Tavarez.

R.I.P. Shannon Tavarez (1999-2010).

Shannon's death was first reported via statement from Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, where she passed away.
In The Lion King she played young Nala, a lion cub who was the best friend of Simba, the show’s lead character. She beat out hundreds for the role.
“She was fearless, as a performer and as a young woman,” Ron Vodicka, the production manager for The Lion King, said in an interview Tuesday.
“She was never intimidated and she was constantly happy. After she was diagnosed, all she talked about was when she could come back.”
Surfing legend Andy Irons also died this week. May both rest in peace.

Bret Michaels Denies Doing Tish Cyrus

Bret Michaels has had sex with many, many, many, many, many, many women.
But he's adamant in this stance: Tish Cyrus is NOT one of them.
The rocker woke up today to allegations that he broke up Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus by having an affair with Miley's mom, a charge he denies. This is what the singer's rep had to say in response to the rumor:

"The reports of my client having an affair with Tish are completely unfounded and a complete fabrication.

"Bret has been a close friend of the family for some time and has worked with Miley. It's unfortunate that the sad breakup of Billy Ray and Tish has to be further tainted with these lies being reported."

"New" Michael Jackson Songs: Real or Fake?

Sony is releasing a Michael Jackson album this Christmas, featuring 10-12 original songs. The reason this is noteworthy? His kids say some of the tracks are bogus!
Five of the tracks were recorded at the New Jersey home of record producer named Eddie Cascio, where Michael and his children stayed for four months in 2007.
Many tracks were recorded then, plus remixes that were released on the Thriller 25 album. But the children say the soon-to-be-released ones aren't real.

FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE: Is Michael's "new" music real or fake?

Michael Jackson's kids, who are also in the news because of an upcoming interview with Oprah this Monday, believe the Cascio tracks in question are fakes.
The theory is they were performed by a Michael Jackson sound-alike instead. Hard to believe? Maybe, but MJ's oldest, Prince Michael Jackson, is adamant.
He says he was upstairs at the Cascio's house when many tracks were recorded and heard the music, none of which match the Sony tracks, he says.
Paris Jackson is equally adamant that her father's voice is not the one on the tracks in question. Jackson's estate begs to differ, however, saying they're legit.
The estate, managed by executors and former MJ associates John McClain and John Branca, claims sound experts conclusively noted that the tracks are real.
People connected with Sony say the kids may be getting "manipulated" by Katherine Jackson and other family members who don't want the album released.
Neither scenario would surprise us, really. We haven't heard any of the new tracks, but as soon as we do, we'll post them right here and let you be the judge.

Fashion Face-Off: Naomi Watts vs. Rosario Dawson

Two women that scarcely make celebrity gossip headlines are in the news today.
That's because Naomi Watts and Rosario Dawson each donned the same Stella McCartney gown for public events over the last few weeks.
The former chose a shade of pink for the Met Costume Institute gala, while the latter went with periwinkle at the premiere of Unstoppable.
You know what comes next, right? Compare the looks below and then vote:

LeAnn Rimes on Eddie Cibrian Affair: No Regrets!

LeAnn Rimes says her decision to have the affair with Eddie Cibrian that ended both their marriages is complicated and people shouldn't rush to judgment.
Brandi Glanville will beg to differ when she sobers up.
"What happened is not who I am, period," Rimes says on In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts: All Access Nashville, airing Wednesday at 10 p.m. on ABC. "But I know how much I love him. I've always said I don't live my life with regret. I can't."

Home-wrecker or not, LeAnn Rimes has no regrets.

LeAnn and Eddie's scandalous fling began last year while shooting the Lifetime flick, Northern Lights. He was married to Glanville, and she to Dean Sheremet.
"It happens every day to so many people," Rimes says, trying to justify the affair. "If I take away my album sales, my words, you have just another couple."
"You had two couples whose marriages didn't work and who really stumbled upon each other and fell in love. I can't change [critics'] minds. Nothing I'm going to say is going to change it. I do know that and I have accepted that."
Eddie Cibrian seconds that notion: "The truth is that we're human beings. We make mistakes and we learn from them, but we're human. We fell in love."
"We're talking about something that's over a year, year and-a-half old, really, and we're still together, and we're madly in love," the actor continues.
"I think people are finally seeing that, but it doesn't mean people will accept it or tabloids will stop printing lies and try to tear us apart, tear us down."
Adds Rimes, who is not engaged to Eddie Cibrian, "We're really happy in what we feel privately. We hope one day, I think people will feel publicly."
Contrary to other reports, Rimes doesn't break down in tears defending any railing. She cries when asked about her book, What I Cannot Change.
"That was my life!" she says, of her music career, crying. "I'm learning who I am without it and that's the coolest thing about my life right now."
These days, music isn't the burden that it used to be.
"There's been a lot thrust on my shoulders at a very young age. I - thank God. I don't know how I could have handled it, but I have and I'm still here."