Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding the Dixie Chicks - - in particular, the political opinions of their lead singer, Natalie Maines - their newest album, Taking The Long Way - took the top spot on country albums chart and the Billboard 200 overall chart — which are based on sales rather than radio airplay — with 526,000 units sold in its first full week. [Source]

The album has received a very cool (FRIGID) reception on country music radio stations and is not receiving very much airplay at all. But, the new album hit the stores on May 23 and the first week sales on the album were better than Toby Keith’s “White Trash With Money” (330,000) and Tim McGraw’s “Greatest Hits Vol. 2: Reflected” (242,000).

Country radio programmers have been slow to embrace the group since lead singer Natalie Maines told a London audience in 2003 on the eve of the war in Iraq that the group was ashamed President Bush was from their home state of Texas.

Back in the U.S., their music was boycotted and the Chicks said they received death threats, leading them to install metal detectors at their shows.

The single “Not Ready To Make Nice” has hugely been in rotation on both MTV and VH1 - and an announcement on the Dixie Chicks own website - VH1’s VSpot Top 20 Countdown has added the video to their countdown (except I don’t see it listed there at the time of this writing).

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum has launched a Bring Back Britney campaign. Basically what they are wanting is the old teenage sex symbol back… When she as a pin-up, not knocked up. [Source]

The wax figure is featured on a strippers pole - complete with robotic, heaving breasts.

Their message? They don’t like what Britney has become since marrying Kevin Federline, giving birth to Sean Preston and getting pregnant with her second child.

Now, I like celebrity fodder as much as the next guy and gal - - but I really dislike the message that Tussauds is giving with this campaign.

Sure, Britney isn’t perfect. Her husband is a TOTAL dolt. She’s had a few parenting problems (what parent HASN’T?). Her career is at a stand still. No - she’s not the Britney that we’ve all grown to love and hate.

People change. People grow up. AND people have problems making that transition from youth to adulthood - - some do it better than others, and then you have Britney.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is hoping for the impossible. We will never have the “Hit Me Baby, One More Time” Britney back - - but personally, I highly doubt Britney is down for the count.

Seems we all know who WON’T be on Simon’s Christmas card list this year! Nor should we be expecting any repeat performances of the artist formerly known as Prince on any American Idol show, or future affiliate shows, any time in the near (if EVER) future:

AMERICAN IDOL judge SIMON COWELL has turned his famous barbed comments on PRINCE after being appalled by the pop superstar’s surprise performance at the show’s finale last week (24MAY06). The PURPLE RAIN hitmaker took to the stage at the Kodak Theatre for a quick run through two new songs before dashing off, refusing to meet the Idol contestants or greet the audience. Idol host RYAN SEACREST has since reported that he feared Prince would be a no-show - because he appeared just minutes before he was due to hit the stage. And Cowell insists Prince’s attitude isn’t one he’d like Idol winners to display at any time in their career. He says, “It just tells you how selfish he is. He comes on, not a word - ‘I’m not gonna sing with anybody else, I’m not gonna say goodbye.’ Thank you for your generosity, Prince.”

[Source]

Paul Gleason, who was in “Trading Places” and “The Breakfast Club,” has died. He was 67.

Gleason died at a local hospital Saturday of mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer linked to asbestos, said his wife, Susan Gleason.

RIP Paul Gleason

How to get the government of an impoverished nation to bow to your every request? Become famous.. like really REALLY famous… then get pregnant.

Ok got that?

Alright.. next step. Enter said impoverished nation, announcing to the world that THIS is where you intend on birthing your baby - and THEN spend lots of money with the inferred promise of increased tourism and appeal because your HUGE star celebrity status will turn the worlds impression of the impoverished country on its collective heel.

Once you’ve done that - you can DICTATE! W00T!

You can secure the borders. You can secure the airspace. You can ban foreign reporters from even ENTERING the country! The leader of said impoverished country will BOW to your every whim because of the promise and potential that your, apparently incredibly powerful, star studded celebrity status and fame will bring into the country.

Make sure you make up for all that incredible self-importance by selling the first pictures of your newborn for $5.4Mil and donating the proceeds to charity.

Namibia: Government for hire.

Are we having fun yet?

Namibia ‘bowed to pressure’ from Pitt and Jolie over birth

The Republic of Namibia - the impoverished country of 1.8 million known for its wild remoteness - not only welcomed the movie stars, it handed over control of its international land borders and airspace to them.

As the world awaited the birth of the child at a luxury villa complex on the coast, Namibian authorities said they had bowed to pressure from Jolie and Pitt and granted them the right to ban foreign journalists from entering the country - a remarkable move for the Government of any sovereign state.

The stars told ministers they would quit the country unless allegedly intrusive journalists and paparazzi were brought to heel.

…..

But the exceptionally high-profile presence of Pitt and Jolie promises to be a massive boost to tourist income in the desperately poor country, where the average wage is $46 a week.

Three weeks ago, one South African and three French photographers were expelled from Namibia, a move attacked by human rights groups as a clear breach of the country’s civil liberties legislation.

Nonsense, said the Government. “This lady is expecting,” Prime Minister Nahas Angula said at the time. “You guys are harassing her. Why don’t you allow her some privacy? Harassment is not allowed in Namibia.”

Emphasis mine.

The much anticipated birth of the year! Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt had a baby girl!! She FINALLY popped! We didn’t really think she was ever going to!

All together now… awwwwwww!

The young girls name is: Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt

Shiloh – which in one longstanding translation from the Bible has come to mean “the peaceful one” – was born in The Cottage Hospital in Swakopmund.

Jolie is expected to remain in the hospital for a couple days before returning to the couple’s sea-side Namibian retreat.

[Source]

Now that his radio show has completely crashed and burned - David Lee Roth wants back into Van Halen, as the lead singer.

Roth is also planning to tour later this summer to play Van Halen hits — “I’m so proud of that music,” he says — favorites from his solo album and covers. He’ll leave the banjos and fiddles at home, though.

“I like to bring out the brass section now and the keyboard players and the singers and so forth,” Roth explains. “It’s probably a little closer to the Rolling Stones’ revue than to the early three-piece power trio. But the demand is amazing; I guess I’m lucky enough to be one of those guys now who can point at the map and say ‘Let’s go here’ — or, rather, my favorite expression, which is ‘Let’s follow the sun.”‘ - [Source]

Umm. Yea.

The last time David Lee Roth recorded music with Van Halen was in 1996 - a full decade ago. Come to think of it… does Van Halen even DO music anymore? They haven’t been on tour since the summer of ‘04. They haven’t released an album since 1998 (unless you count the 2004 release of “Best of Both Worlds” which is just a combination of the greatest hits from a mix of the Hagar and Roth years.)

Is the world ready for a Van Halen come back with David Lee Roth in the spotlight.

There’s something to be said for history that is perfect and untouched.

Following the latest and greatest trend of attacking celebrities on their parenting skills, US Magazine publishes this picture of Brad Pitt and his adpoted daughter, Zahara - then asks the question: “Should Zahara Be Wearing a Helmet?”

First Britney and now Brad. Who is next, really?

US Magazine seeks the opinion of Debra Smiley, author of Safe Baby who states: ““She needs a helmet and closed-toe shoes. And I highly recommened toddlers ride in a child trailer pulled by a bike. It’s more stable and secure.”

Everyone is a critic these days, see.

I just have to say that I’m really glad I didn’t have a gaggle of photographers following me around the day that I fell down a flight of stairs with my (then) 6 month old daughter in my arms. (she was ok - I, however, broke my tailbone in the process because I couldn’t put my arms out to save myself, otherwise I would’ve dropped her!)

Nor, thankfully, were the papparazi around the day my (then) 2 year old son decided to unbuckle himself from his safety seat and climbed over the seat to sit in my lap as I was driving 65 MPH down the highway! Yikes!

Though, I do have to say - the image of little Zahara without a helmet or shoes on does make me cringe with the all the ‘What Ifs’ that go through my head.

Is Brad Pitt a BAD parent?? Give your answer in our poll in the Celebrity Gossip Forum

Rapper Ice Cube is no fan of Oprah. He joins rappers Ludacris and 50 (fitty) Cent in their beef with the talk show hostess because she never seems to invite rappers on her show. “Maybe she’s got something against rappers”, says Ice Cube.

Gee. Ya think?

Last month, 50 complained that Winfrey rarely invites rappers on her talk show: “I think she caters to older white women.” Ludacris, whose real name is Chris Bridges, told GQ magazine that the media mogul was “unfair” to him during a show he appeared on last October with co- stars from best-picture Oscar winner “Crash.”

Earlier this month, Winfrey defended herself in a surprise appearance on New York City-based radio station Power 105.1.

“I listen to some hip-hop,” she told DJ Ed Lover. “You know, I’ve been accused of not liking hip-hop and that’s just not true. I got a little 50 (Cent) on my iPod. I really do. Love ‘In Da Club.’ … Love that, and you know, love Jay-Z, love Kanye (West), love Mary J. (Blige).”

The O is down with rap, yo.

It’s a boy!! Kingston James McGregor Rossdale was born by Caesarean section Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, according to Stefani spokesman Dave Tomberlin. The baby weighed 7 1/2 pounds.

“Both mother and child are doing well,” Tomberlin said in a statement.

It’s the first child for Stefani, 36, and Rossdale, 38, who were married in 2002. Rossdale, who fronted the rock band Bush, has a 16-year-old daughter with fashion designer Pearl Lowe.

Congratulations to the happy parents!

Source

Thought we would join in the Thursday Thirteen fun this week - with a Diva Twist. Instead of 13 things directly about Me - I have thirteen celebrity facts I’ve run across this week and found to be interesting:

1. The votes are in, the songs are done…it’s all over but the coronation, tonight at 8 p.m. EST on Fox. So who’s the next American Idol? Katherine McPhee and Taylor Hicks belted out three songs each last night, and Simon Cowell, for one, thought it was anybody’s game going into the final song.
2. Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn seem to be keeping their distance from one another lately. I dunno - is it me? I want to see Jen happy, and all - but I just wasn’t very thrilled about this pairing.
3. YIKES! Hair straighteners were made for a reason, Courtney!
4. All of Britney Spears Letters of Truth that were posted to her website at britneyspears.com have been removed (click the ‘Love B’ bubble) - - and replaced with a cryptic poem called Rememberance of Who I Am. Hmm.. vewwwwwy straaange. Should I read between the lines and predict that Kfed’s days are numbered?? One. Can. Only. Hope.
5. Speaking of weird Hollywood couples - - are Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes about to call it quits??. So soon? And here we all thought that one would last forever, eh? reportedly got into a big fight — that ended with Holmes deciding to take baby Suri to Ohio to introduce the infant to family and friends.
6. Speculation continues over whether Tori Spelling is pregnant, or not?. Oh why not? Everyone else in Hollywood is doing it.
7. Here’s a sweet and cute picture of Brooke Sheilds with her baby girl, Grier.
8. In case you were wondering why Brad Pitt wasn’t at the Canne’s Film Festival (you WERE wondering, I know) - he skipped it because of the impending birth of the young Brangelina. Aww - - good dad.
9. Denise Richards is going for broke - - and won’t end up broke at all if she gets her way in going after Charlie Sheen’s pension. Wow!
10. Kentucky Fried Chicken offers tonight’s American Idol loser second place winner the first chance to sell out with a chance to be the first to write and star in their upcoming advertisement for its newest product KFC Famous Bowls
11. Nicole Richie and (ex)fiance DJ AM (Adam Golstein) annouce their semi-annual breakup. Yawn.
12. Nicolas Cage bought an island. A whole island - in the Bahamas. After selling his Malibu mansion for $10 Mil, Cage purchased the island for $3 Mil.
13. Celeb birthdays today: Musician Bob Dylan is 65, Actor Gary Burghoff (MASH) is 63, Singer Patty Labelle is 62, Actress Priscilla Presley is 61, Actress Kristin Scott Thomas is 46

I know - it sounds crazy doesn’t it? Madonna . . . OUR Madonna..offending and upsetting Catholics, of all groups. That’s just so . . so. . so very 80’s of her.

LOS ANGELES - Less than 12 hours after Madonna crucified herself on a mirrored cross, the Catholic League expressed its discontent with the concert stunt.

The controversial diva wore a crown of thorns and sang while hanging from a cross during Sunday night’s opener of her “Confessions” world tour at The Forum in Inglewood.

“Knock off the Christ-bashing,” Catholic League president Bill Donohue said in a statement Monday. “It’s just pathetic.”

Source

Try not to snore in the midst of your shock.

The Dixie Chicks are back - and they are not sorry anymore. You may remember the last time the Dixie Chicks made screaming headlines admid a severe backlash after lead singer, Natalie Maines, said this to a London crowd: “”Just so you know, we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.”

They later apologized for the comment.

Now - they’ve taken back the apology and are launching a new attack on President Bush.

Natalie Maines is one of those people born middle finger first. As a high school senior in Lubbock, Texas, she’d skip a class a day in an attempt to prove that because she never got caught and some Mexican students did, the system was racist … Now that she’s truly notorious, having told a London audience in 2003, on the eve of the Iraq war, “Just so you know, we’re ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas,” Maines has one regret: the apology she offered George W. Bush at the onset of her infamy. “I apologized for disrespecting the office of the President,” says Maines. “But I don’t feel that way anymore. I don’t feel he is owed any respect whatsoever.” A sizable chunk of their once adoring audience feels the same way about the Dixie Chicks. After Maines’ pronouncement, which was vigorously seconded by bandmates Martie Maguire and Emily Robison, the group received death threats and was banned by thousands of country radio stations, many of which still have informal bans in place. The Dixie Chicks have mass appeal–you can’t sell 10 million copies of two of your three albums without engaging lots of different people–but country radio is an indispensable part of how they reach people. Programmers say that even now a heartfelt apology could help set things right with listeners, but it’s not happening. “If people are going to ask me to apologize based on who I am,” says Maines, “I don’t know what to do about that. I can’t change who I am.”

[Source]

I gotta say - - it takes guts in the country music scene to be this outspoken against the Good Ol’ Boy from Texas. It will be interesting to see how their new album sells… and what kind of airplay their new music gets on country music stations.

Thought we would join in the Thursday Thirteen fun this week - with a Diva Twist. Instead of 13 things directly about Me - I have thirteen celebrity facts I’ve run across this week and found to be interesting:

1. Here is a funny as hell video of Paris Hilton’s friend, Brandon Davis, TOTALLY dissing Lindsey Lohan, and Paris is smirking and laughing right along with him. He says things like: Lindsay’s movie bombed because “she is a firecrotch”, saying that “she’s orange, she’s not black or white — she’s orange.” He goes on to say that “she tastes like [Brandon’s] Turkish father’s asshole”. Hmm.. why does Brandon know what his father’s turkish asshole tastes like??? Oy!
2. Pictures of Katie Holme’s stretchmarks have been circulating around. She apparently let the paparazzi close enough to snap a picture of her stomach, rife with strech marks. The picture was taken at a baseball park when she was out and about with husband, Tom Cruise. Yet - - STILL no appearance of baby Suri. BUT! She has the stretchmarks to prove she was pregnant, just in case you were still wondering
3. Early reviews of The Da Vinci Code don’t sound very good. But, the reviews came out of Cannes - so it’s entirely possible if they hated it, I’ll probably LOVE it!
4. Janice Dickerson, the self-proclaimed “Worlds First SuperModel” (coughsputter) is counselling Britney Spears to DUMP KFED! Good advice, sister! She says, “I never found him hot at all. But she’s a hick anyway. She needs to get hot again. Stop clomping around in those Malibu flip-flops. … I would tar and feather her first of all, tell her to dump that [bleeping] hick husband of hers. She needs solid advice, and not from Hicksville“
5. Tori Spelling had a quickie shotgun wedding - some say she’s preggers. Et tu, Tori?
6. Pamela Anderson offers up orgasm tits tips - - just in case you needed ‘em.
7. Following on the heels of the RED American Express credit card, rock star Bono launched a new red mobile phone in the UK on Monday, sales of which are expected to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to fight AIDS in Africa
8. Here’s a few pics of Tori Spelling’s wedding ceremony to Dean McDermott. What do ya give ‘em? A year..more?
9. For the second year in a row, Desperate Housewives list of the most successful women in film, TV, music, sports and fashion. Jessica Alba is No. 2, followed by Lindsay Lohan, Angelina Jolie, Stacy Keibler (“Dancing With the Stars”), Scarlett Johansson, Cameron Diaz, Kate Bosworth, Keira Knightley and singer-actress Christina Milian.
10. Esquire Magazine reveals their sexiest woman of all time - in parts. Six of them. Who is it?
11. All the fuss about Denise Richards and Richie Sambora - - he came out last week and said he didn’t cheat on Heather Locklear with Denise while the two were together, and reports stated he dumped Denise in an effort to make this whole sordid mess go away. And yet, Denise Richards is joining Sambora on tour. Gee, just last week Sambora told his fans, “I am single and ready to party” . . . he doesn’t sound very on the market to me!
12. US Magazine reports that Britney Spears FINALLY gave KFED the ultimatum - - SHAPE UP OR GET OUT!! That’s one step closer to divorce.
13. Usually a meticulously stylish star, Jennifer Lopez spawned a fresh round of baby rumors when she showed up on the red carpet sporting gray roots (hair dye may be dangerous for women during their first trimester). But a source tells Us that the failure to cover up wasn’t because Gray.Lo is pregnant: “It was all down to scheduling a time to see her colorist.”
    “Jennifer has been gray for a long time,” adds another source. “This is nothing recent.” Click for the Grey.Lo picture

We’re waiting for Angelina to burst - - doesn’t she look like she’s going to at any minute? Sources say that her new baby is expected to be born next month . . but she seriously looks like she’s ready to go at any moment! Maddox looks cool - the kid still looks like Jet Li’s mini-me.

[Source]

In other Brangelina news, the question of whether or not Brad Pitt is going to sign his contract for Oceans 13 is still up in the air.

George Clooney is reportedly getting very nervous because Pitt has not comitted to the project yet.

Pitt is currently holed up in Namibia with Angelina Jolie and their two adopted children awaiting the arrival of their baby.

Despite Matt Damon and director Steven Soderburgh committing to the project Pitt has yet to dedicate 100% to the movie which is now only weeks away from kicking off.

A source told the Sun: “Brad has been able to confirm 100 per cent that he will be available – and that’s making George very anxious.

I’ll just say this - - while I would miss Pitt in Oceans 13 . . the man has a responsibility at home. I will respect him more if he stays with Angelina during and after the birth of their child, rather than going off to make the movie - leaving Agnelina and the new baby alone.

The man has gotta take care of his bidness, yo.

What do you think? Should he stay with Angelina or make the movie? Give your answer in our poll in the NEW Diva Dish Celebrity Gossip Forum

I don’t know about you - - but I would be! Let’s see . . she gave birth 3-4 weeks ago under seriously strange circumstances. Well, at least the MEDIA portrayed it as all seriously strange: 1.) Complete silence at the birth, 2.) No pain killers, 3.) Katie couldn’t talk to the baby for 7 days after the birth, 4.) and then the strange rumor about Tom eating the placenta (totally unverified but as disgusting as it is unbelievable!).

Then, just 2 weeks after giving birth - she’s jetsetting around the country with hubby, Tom Cruise, for his M:I3 movie premiere. In addition to him being gone all the time on international premiers.

Couple all that with the whole hormone thing and it sounds like a Prozac moment to me!

Oh, except, Tom Cruise has totally bashed the use of anti-depressants for the treatment of post-partum depression, just ask Brooke Sheilds.

[Source]

Just what is a brand new Mom in Hollywood to do?