Jessica Simpson made her first live TV appearance since her much-scrutinized weight gain, performing her song “Pray Out Loud” on CBS’ The Early Show Wednesday morning.

Simpson – who taped her spot in Nashville, where she helped announce nominations for the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards – briefly addressed the hype over her new curves after anchor Maggie Rodriguez mentioned all the support the singer has been receiving from fans.

“Honestly, I am right where I’m supposed to be. I am so happy,” Simpson said. “Right now I’m on tour with Rascal Flatts, having a blast. We’re at Madison Square Garden tomorrow. Everybody’s just been so warm and welcoming. Lots of hugs, I like that … Texas style.”

Rodriguez then told Simpson she looked “absolutely beautiful.”

“Everything’s really great,” she said. “It’s all about keeping the faith. That’s why I pray out loud.”

Source

What’s with her nasty finger!?

Splash

During her recent sit-down with Ann Curry on NBC’s Today, Nadya Suleman captivated the world when she spoke out for the first time about her 2-week-old octuplets. But almost more remarkable than her interview was her eerie physical similarity to celebrity mom of six Angelina Jolie - who sat down with Curry in May 2007 to discuss her own growing brood. Surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn (who has not treated Nadya) tells Life & Style that the mom of 14 appears to have undergone surgical procedures to augment her lips and perfect her nose — making her resemble Angelina. “The similarities between Nadya and Angelina are uncanny,” Dr. Youn notes.

“They have the same hair and big lips, and Nadya is quite tall too,” Sally Ramirez, one of Nadya’s neighbors in Whittier, Calif., tells Life & Style. “She would sometimes giggle if anybody mentioned the likeness to Angelina.”

But the similarities between Nadya and Angelina are more than just physical. Angelina has admitted to being a loner who had trouble forming friendships before she adopted her first child, eldest son Maddox, in 2001, then began raising him as a single mom. Similarly, Nadya — 33, the same age as Angie — confesses to initially wanting children for companionship. “There was always a dream of mine to have a large family, a huge family, and I just longed for certain connections and attachments with another person that I really lacked growing up,” Nadya, who was raised as an only child, told Curry.

Source

Actor Casey Affleck checks into Los Angeles International Airport with some camera equipment as he prepares to direct a documentary about his brother-in-law, and “retired” actor, Joaquin Phoenix and his transition from acting to the music world. A disheveled Joaquin Phoenix arrives separately and looks a bit worn for wear.

Bauer Griffin

Earlier today, the Los Angeles district attorney asked police detectives to dig up more evidence for their case against Chris Brown.

The police are getting cooperation from Rihanna, and what she has told them so far is chilling.

A source close to the investigation tells E! News exclusively that Rihanna has alleged to police that Brown choked her while threatening to kill her and, subsequently, she lost consciousness.

They began squabbling after leaving Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party late Saturday. Shortly after midnight, things blew up. Brown pulled his silver Lamborghini to the side of a street in L.A.’s Hancock Park neighborhood. That’s when, per the source, Rihanna grabbed the car keys and tossed them out the window, sending Brown into a rage.

He tried in vain to find the keys, then came back to the car, put his hands around her neck and, according to the insider, said, “I’m going to kill you!”

According to the source, the 20-year-old “Disturbia” singer told police that she lost consciousness, and when she awoke, Brown had fled.

According to the source, her right eye was blackened and badly swollen and she had hand prints on her arms. The responding officers were so concerned about her, they drove Rihanna to the hospital in their squad car instead of waiting for an ambulance.

Officers took two sets of photographs of the banged-up singer, one at the scene and the second after she was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment. Those photos were presumably among the evidence presented to the district attorney.

After being treated for her injuries, police escorted her down a rear elevator and into a waiting Mercedes, the source says.

Brown, 19, was subsequently booked on suspicion of making criminal threats. He was released after posting $50,000 bail.

His lawyer, Mark Geragos, has not responded to repeated requests for comment on the allegations. Brown’s publicist also has not commented.

A spokeswoman for Rihanna declined to comment specifically on details of the fight and the arrest and stuck to her earlier statement from Sunday: “Rihanna is well. Thank you for concern and support.”

Source

But I’m sick as a dog today!! Most everyone in my circle of family and friends has come down with this nasty bug – and I am not immune.  My son started feeling sick on Sunday, and we were fighting a 103 fever for about 24-48 hours! Well, I’ve now got it…and I feel like crap! I’m trying to post…and today has been a bit slower than usual, so I apologize.  I’m going to go get some food, then I’ll be back in a little bit to post some more…

Thanks guys,
Jocelyn

Splash