Entertainment News, Celebrity News Online

Miami, FL (CNS) – N.E.R.D. are taking a page out of the Black Eyed Peas playbook. They’re adding their first female member, turning the R&B/Hip-Hop trio into a foursome.

MTV News reports that the “Everyone Nose” are adding singer Rhea to the line-up. She’ll first appear on the band’s upcoming fourth studio album, titled “Instant Gratification,” set to be released in 2010. The Toronto-raised singer of Guyanese descent, introduced to the group by a mutual friend, auditioned via Skype with a rendition of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” She soon found herself joining the trio, composed of Neptunes producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, and Shae.

The 5″4′ beauty has already started performing with the group. They debuted new songs from their upcoming album at a Miami Beach performance over the weekend. The material doesn’t find them going anywhere near B.E.P.-style radio friendly territory. “The music is very three-dimensional. We’re just really excited,” Pharrell told MTV News. “We feel like N.E.R.D. has always been the punks of hip-hop and the outcasts of alternative music, just a little different. But this time, we’re taking no prisoners.”

While Pharrell’s falsetto has taken them to soaring heights on cuts like “Love Bomb” and “Happy” from their critically-acclaimed 2008 album “Seeing Sounds,” Pharrell says that new member Rhea will take them to new heights. “Now you have this little Tinkerbell that’s just stepped in and has been amazing. It’s made it a fun process,” he said. “We can go in so many more directions, because we have the vocal support.”

The new N.E.R.D. line-up is set to join Jay-Z as support for his tour in support of “Blueprint 3,” which kicks off October 9th at University Park, PA.

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Chris Rock has been hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit over his upcoming comedy documentary film “Good Hair.” Independent filmmaker Regina Kimbell claims the funnyman stole ideas from her own “My Nappy Roots” film.

In the lawsuit she filed at Los Angeles’ District Court this week, she claims Rock’s inspiration behind his film came from the documentary she made in 2005, which she showed to him on the set of his sitcom “Everybody Hates Chris” in 2007.

She also cites several similarities of the two films, including both having celebrities tell their own hair stories, the business of Black hair care, interview of hair care pioneers, and socially and politically conscious themes.

Kimbell is seeking $5 million in damages, according to RadarOnline.com.

Meanwhile, Rock is set to star in a new film about a white man’s hilarious attempts to befriend an African American.

“Will You Be My Black Friend?” will be produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films and will be distributed by Lionsgate.

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Heath Ledger used to confide his problems to Verne Troyer.

The late actor, who died of an accidental drug overdose in January 2008, bonded with his ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’ co-star over dinner and amazed the ‘Austin Powers’ star with revelations about his life.

Verne said, “My best memory? Having dinner with him and sitting right next to him, him just being open with his life and things like that. He was a really cool guy. And him telling me things like that, I wasn’t shocked, just surprised, just the things in his life, what was going on.

“I felt honoured that he would trust me in that way. He was a very open character.”

Heath was filming ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’ when he died and Verne admits his friend was missed at last night’s, October 6, gala premiere in London’s Leicester Square.

He told BANG Showbiz, “It’s emotional for everybody. Heath was such an amazing person, such a giving person and we all loved him. I’m sure he is looking down and feeling honoured that everybody is here to support him and our movie.”

Despite his sadness, Verne, who was joined at the premiere by his co-stars Lily Cole and Paloma Faith and director Terry Gilliam, is enjoying his time in the UK and is even considering relocating to London.

He said, “Would I move here? Possibly, yeah, I’m working on a project with Lee Francis right now and we’re shopping it around, so if it happens then I’ll be here for a few months.

“I like British people, everyone is so nice and friendly. In Los Angeles, it’s so fake and superficial, here they’re not.”

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Dame Elizabeth Taylor is to undergo heart surgery.

The Oscar-winning actress will be admitted to an undisclosed Los Angeles hospital to have an operation on a leaky heart valve and has asked her legions of fans to pray for her.

She wrote on her Twitter webpage, “Dear friends, I would like to let you know before it gets in the papers that I am going into the hospital to have a procedure on my heart.

“It’s very new and involves repairing my leaky valve using a clip device, without open heart surgery, so that my heart will function better.

“Any prayers you happen to have lying around I would dearly appreciate. I’ll let you know when it’s all over. Love you, Elizabeth.”

The 77-year-old screen legend – who was left devastated by the death of her close friend Michael Jackson in June – suffers from a number of ailments and is regularly seen being pushed in a wheelchair.

In May 2008, she was taken to a Los Angeles clinic, which her publicist described as a routine check-up.

Following her release, she wrote on her Twitter page, “Home from the hospital and feeling great.”

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Brooke Shields is “fine” after being involved in a plane crash.

The 44-year-old actress and actor Jim Belushi had landed at a private airport in Hearst Castle, California, on Friday October 2, when the plane collided with a parked Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

Sheriff’s spokesman Rob Bryn explained, “The pilot got out, but he forgot to set the parking brake.”

Brooke’s representative Jill Fritzo added, “It was an unfortunate accident but thankfully everyone is fine.”

The incident happened after the pilot had disembarked and was helping Brooke, Jim and other passengers get out

The plane rolled into the vehicle, with its wing breaking a wing-mirror and causing damage to the side of the car.

However, no injuries have been reported.

Brooke, Jim and other people traveling on the aircraft were on their way to a private function.

In August, Ashton Kutcher and wife Demi Moore were involved in a mid-air scare when their plane was forced to make an emergency landing.

After the incident, Ashton wrote on his Twitter page, “My plane just had to do an emergency landing. Engine over heated. Fire engines everywhere good times. happy to be alive. (sic)”

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Lindsay Lohan’s father claims she is addicted to prescription drugs.

Michael Lohan, who has a history of drug abuse himself, wants to help the ‘Mean Girls’ actress beat her reliance on legal substances as he’s terrified she will end up dead.

He told website RadarOnline, “I’m going to get her off the prescription drugs that she’s on. I hate it when people talk about illegal drug abuse because it’s not just drinking and illegal drugs kill you.

“Prescription drugs can destroy and kill a person and are sometimes harder to stop. Look at Heath Ledger and Michael Jackson.”

Although he refused to say what medications his 22-year-old daughter is taking, he admitted her addiction has taken over her life.

He said, “You know why Lindsay’s not acting in feature films right now? Because she can’t. Because the girl with all the talent is hidden and buried deep inside this fungus that’s grown because of the prescription drugs. She can’t be herself.

“When you hug her she’s vacant inside. When she kisses or holds me I get chills, and not in a good way – in a bad way.”

Michael who has only recently repaired his turbulent relationship with Lindsay, met his eldest child following the break in at her Hollywood home in the summer and was shocked by how much she had changed.

He added, “She’s a different person. I was out there for a week when she was living at the Sunset Marquis Hotel and I would sit there and cry. It was horrible. This was not the kid I raised.”

Lindsay has previously completed three stints in rehab in a bid to get help for her addiction to drink and drugs.

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Patrick Swayze and his wife visited a psychic after experiencing marriage difficulties.

The ‘Ghost’ actor, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in September, and Lisa Niemi were on the verge of divorce when they sought help to repair their relationship.

Patrick wrote in his memoir ‘Time of My Life’: “‘In my heart, I’m gone,’ Lisa confessed. But out of the blue I felt a surge of love for Lisa I hadn’t felt for years. We cried, our tears washing away the pain that had been keeping us so far apart. We started talking, really talking.”

The couple then wrote ‘I will forget the past’ 10 times on a piece of paper, which they buried beneath an avocado tree.

Patrick, 57, and Lisa, 53, were married for 34 years at the time of his passing and were childhood sweethearts.

Their relationship difficulties started after he finished shooting 2003 movie ‘One Last Dance’.

Patrick became depressed and turned to alcohol, having received rehab treatment for his addiction 10 years before.

Patrick wrote, “I started drinking again to numb myself to the creeping feeling of despair.

“As I sank deeper into this hole and drank more and more, Lisa didn’t even recognize me. For years I had been dealing with my demons – feelings of inadequacy, fears I was never good enough.

“Seeing me depressed was scary for Lisa and my response frightened her.”

Lisa ended up packing her bags and leaving, moving into an apartment 20 minutes from their Los Angeles home.

The pair reconciled when Patrick was making 2004 movie ‘King Solomon’s Mines’ in Africa, but their relationship was “poisoned by mistrust and bitterness”.

After seeing the psychic they decided to give their marriage another chance.

Shortly afterwards, in January 2008, Patrick discovered he had pancreatic cancer.

A source said, “The cancer drove home how much they had to lose. That’s when Lisa finally forgave him for putting her through hell.”

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Vince Vaughn thinks men become yoga instructors so they can “dry-hump” women.

The ‘Couples Retreat’ actor was horrified when he went to a class and saw the “creepy” instructor draping himself all over his unsuspecting students.

The 39-year-old star said, “I had a girlfriend in Los Angeles who took me to a yoga class. While it was going on I was saying to myself, ‘Is this really happening?’

“It was like the instructor was making all these moves and he was basically dry humping the girls. Nobody batted an eye. I felt like I was in ‘The Twilight Zone’.”

Vince, who is currently engaged to Canadian real estate agent Kyla Weber, also revealed what he looks for in a girlfriend, saying he likes someone who can make him laugh.

He added to Parade.com, “Friendship is the biggest thing for me, and also a sense of humour. I like someone that can make me laugh. I like to laugh at stuff, especially myself.

“Life is always peaks and valleys, there’s going to be good times and bad times. So the biggest thing, for me, is having someone that makes you laugh and that you trust.”

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Chris Brown is going on tour.

The ‘Run It’ singer, who pleaded guilty to assaulting on/off girlfriend Rihanna earlier this year, has announced plans to perform at a series of small venues.

He wrote on his Twitter webpage, “BOUT TO START A SMALL TOUR SOON.. 15 TO 20 DATES.. MY FAN APPRECIATION TOUR. just for yall.nothin bigger than 4,ooo seaters (sic).”

The 20-year-old musician has not released further details of the show dates, or the venues he will appear at.

It was recently announced Chris – who hasn’t performed live since the February assault – will make his musical return on October 27.

He will headline Power 105.1’s Powerhouse ‘09 concert alongside Keri Hilson, The-Dream, Trey Songz, Mario, Day26 and Ginuwine.

Chris punched, kicked and choked Rihanna in his rented car in February after attending a pre-Grammy Awards party.

He received his sentence, five years probation and six months community labour, in August, and was left distraught when the judge banned him from contacting or seeing Rihanna for five years.

He has admitted being ashamed of what happened during a TV interview, and confessed he would struggle to cope if Rihanna found love with a new man.

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