Nicole Richie didn’t just beat rival Christina Aguilera to the delivery room by having daughter Harlow on Jan. 11, one day before Aguilera gave birth to son Max, but it appears Richie will beat Aguilera on the newsstand as well.

Both new moms each had their own cover of People magazine, and according to some early estimates, the issue featuring Richie is on target to sell more than 1.8 million copies, according to an industry source, whereas Aguilera has far less. (People magazine could not confirm sales numbers; a spokesperson said its too soon to know how many copies were sold.)

Why does there seem to be more interest in Harlow Winter Kate Madden? One magazine insider said part of it could come down to the moms’ fan bases. “Christina historically doesn’t do that well on covers,” said the source, who cites poor sales of her wedding photo issue in OK!, and less-than-stellar sales of her nude photo shoot in the January 2008 Marie Claire.
That might be true, but Nicole Richie doesn’t seem like an obvious home run on the cover, either. “There’s also a greater element of curiosity with Nicole,” the source conceded. “She’s gone public about being a heroin addict. Her boyfriend is covered in tattoos. By default, she’s got the more interesting baby. People want to see how she settles down. They want to see what kind of baby someone with her [life] background has.”

Hackett won’t discuss actual figures but says, “These numbers are grossly inaccurate” and often “come from competitors who wanted the pictures and didn’t get them. You can almost set your watch to ‘I heard you paid …’ ”

For Christina Aguilera and son Max, the figure that popped up was $1.5 million, and People was scrutinized in reports that said the issue, dated Feb. 25, undersold. Hackett counters: “I am thrilled with Christina. It was a solid performer and not under expectations. I would buy Christina’s pictures again in a second.”

Reality TV star Nicole Richie is set to relaunch her post-pregnancy career by taking to the Broadway stage and starring in hit musical Chicago. Richie, who gave birth to daughter Harlow last month, is tipped to follow in the footsteps of Ashlee Simpson, Brooke Shields and Renee Zellweger as the latest big name Roxie Hart in the show.

The Los Angeles-based 26-year-old is now considering the possibility of moving to New York with boyfriend Joel Madden and their child Harlow. An insider tells American magazine Us Weekly, “Nicole’s definitely interested and is weighing it out.”

WENN

Nicole Richie & Joel Madden welcomed their daughter Harlow Winter into this world.  Now only weeks later, they’re welcoming their first public spat as parents.

Reportedly the dispute is over the issue of who will be Harlow’s godmother.  The Simple Life starlet is pulling for Miss Hilton to fill the role, while the Good Charlotte rocker has his hopes set on Sophie Monk, his twin brother Benji’s fiancé.

And they’re in a deadlock over the issue.  According to a source, “Joel doesn’t think Paris is up to the task … He’s lobbying for Sophie.”

What parent would want their little girl to go to Paris for advice???

Joel Madden has said that fatherhood has turned him and Nicole Richie into “the luckiest two people alive.”

“I had no idea what love even was until Harlow came along,” Madden, 28, writes on the Web site of his clothing company, DCMA Collective.

“I swear it’s so hard to leave during the day, but always so rewarding to come home to the little family. I’ve always been a guy who loves to love. Probably one of the things that define me outside of my work is LOVE.”

Madden adds: “She’s already growing too fast!”

First-time mom (and Madden’s girlfriend) Richie, 26, is doing well and enjoying parenthood as much as Madden, he says. Their daughter, Harlow Winter Kate Madden, was born Jan. 11.

“Me and her mother feel like the luckiest two people alive right now,” Madden says. “This time in our life has been amazing. We both look at our little girl every single moment everyday and know there is nothing we wouldn’t do to protect her and her perfect little innocence. It seems like you turn on the TV, or get online, and it’s all bad news.”

Source, WENN

After giving birth to his first granddaughter, Lionel Richie has said that he is extremely proud of Nicole. He’s still getting used to the title of grandpa, but we’re sure it’ll grow on him!

He said this in a statement on Tuesday:

“While it may take me a moment to adjust to being called grand dad, I am extremely happy and proud of Nicole and Joel,” Richie says, referring to the birth of his granddaughter.

“Harlow Winter Kate Madden, the newest and most beautiful addition to the Richie clan, is a lucky little girl,” he added. “She was surrounded by a great deal of love at that hospital as she entered the world. Nicole and Joel are going to be wonderful parents.”

WENN

Christina Aguilera and Nicole Richie will have something in common!

X17online can report exclusively that Nicole Richie is at Cedars Sinai NOW, apparently ready to give birth!

 WENN

When will the very pregnant Nicole Richie finally pop?

“I think it’s sometime in the next week, that’s all we know,” Josh Madden, a DJ, told reporters at the Fuze Resolution Slenderize Kickoff in Hollywood last night. “We don’t know what it is, we don’t know any names.”

(Richie — who made Us’ list of Hollywood’s best dressed bumps — has also said she and Joel Madden “can’t agree” on baby names either.)

One thing Josh is sure of: Bro Joel will make a great dad.

“He’s always had kids at heart,” Josh said. “He kind of modeled his life like a role model and I’d say if he was having a kid or not that everything he’s done from the start is just going to be continued on.”

When asked if Joel is ready to be a dad, Josh told Usmagazine.com, “Oh yeah, I think so.”

And Josh is more than prepared to play uncle.

“I got them some clothes, that’s what I do,” he said. “It’s been ongoing for a while so it’s cool.”

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