Melody Plant

Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz has confessed that he was once so depressed that he tried to commit suicide. In an effort to encourage students suffering from mental illness to get help, Pete, Mary J. Blige and Smashing Pumpkins front man Billy Corgan front the Jed Foundation’s ‘Half of Us’ campaign which is aimed to cut student suicide rates. The 3 musicians sat down for interviews detailing their darkest hours which appear on MTV’s college channel mtvU. Pete confessed to being so messed up and taking a bunch of prescription drugs in a parking lot. Suicide is never the answer. Get help if you’re feeling depressed.

REM has been resurrected as the band has a new album coming out. The band members grace the cover of the new issue of Spin magazine wherein front man Michael Stipe talks about his own coming out. He said “It was super complicated for me in the ’80s. I was totally open with the band and my family and my friends and certainly the people I was sleeping with. I thought it was pretty obvious.” He also adds that going public was easier on him when he realized that it might inspire people to change their views about homosexuality and even help out some troubled kid somewhere out there.

People have been wondering about Kelly Rowland’s bustier physique and the former Destiny’s Child member finally settles things in the March 17 issue of People magazine. She confirms that she had breast implants last October which brought her from an A-cup to a B-cup. She says that she did it for the sake of fashion saying “I didn’t want to have double Ds and be a little bitty size 2 — that would look nuts! I was sick of not fitting into my tops. There was this one really hot House of Dereon top (designed by Beyonce’s mom, Tina Knowles) that I just wanted to fill that out! [After the surgery,] I put it on and I looked so good! I’m so happy. I feel complete.”

Spice Girls watch out…Brit award winner Adele wants to form the next generation of female supergroup — with Amy Winehouse, Katie Melua, Lily Allen and Kate Nash.

That sounds like trouble to me.

She said: “Amy, Katie, Lily, Kate and me all come from the same school. All of us represent most women in the world. If we were in a band I think it would be the best band ever. You don’t need to be a doll with tanned legs, blonde hair, big boobs and good lips. I really don’t think you have to be like that any more. We’re not afraid to speak our minds. I think everyone is entitled to an opinion whether it is good or horrible.”

And Adele might be knocking on her old Brit school mates’ doors sooner rather than later. The teenage singer, whose debut album 19 shot straight to No1 last month, said: “I want it soon as I want to be a mum and to be a wife.”

Heidi Montag’s video for her single ‘Higher’ has been released. And what can I say? It was everything I expected and much less. The video was shot, produced and directed by Heidi’s ex-fiance and still-boyfriend Spencer Pratt. If you’re a perv, this video is going to be good for you. There are two things worth noticing.

Spencer and Heidi need to stick to whatever it is that they do best. I don’t know what that is exactly. In fact, I’m pretty sure that they don’t either. But whatever it is, it’s not music videos. Why can’t the earth just open up and swallow them whole?

There’s a lot of hate heading towards Avril Lavigne. First, it was Canada’s national paper writing a not-so-complimentary article about her and now, the dancers in the Hollywood community are circulating an email amongst themselves which urges one another to boycott audition’s for the signer and so-called songwriter’s upcoming tour.

The reason for the boycott is because Avril is paying dancers below the industry standards. Avril’s publicist has released a statement saying that they have been told that the rates for the dancers are within the industry standard. However, a dance industry insider is refuting the claims and even put some specifics. Avril’s payments aren’t cutting it.

Sarah Harding is making moves behind the scenes to launch a solo career away from Girls Aloud. The Manc caner has been in touch with a select group of top music managers to sound them out in a bid to secure solo success after her girl band dream ends.

But so far she has been knocked back by operators including the team who put Lily Allen on the map and made Natasha Bedingfield a big name in the US.

An insider said: “Sarah has had an eye on her future for a long time. She knows girl bands only have a short shelf-life and that the dream wouldn’t last for ever”

Grammy-winning country singer, who hasn’t scored a hit lately, LeAnn Rimes puts her best abs on display in a bikini shot on the latest cover of Fitness magazine. Can I just say wow?! She may not be making some good music these days but boy does she have a rocking body!

In an accompanying article, LeAnn revealed the tunes that keep her pumped up as she does her workouts. Her list includes Kanye West’s ‘Stronger’, the Foo Fighters’ ‘The Pretender’, Audioslave’s ‘Broken City’, Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Hurt’, the soundtrack from ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and a few selections from David Gray. That’s some eclectic mix.

If you want to a preview of just what to expect on Paula Abdul’s pre-taped Super Bowl performance on Sunday, a couple of fans have decided to provide some spoilers and personal experiences after watching her taping. The reviews are pretty confusing. Some say it was bad while some say that she was just as good as she was at the peak of her singing career.

Fans say that it took a long time for security to let people in. Paula was said to have done 3 takes. The performance included her being lifted into the air by some hot hunks, a drum line and even cheerleaders. Some say she also had some hot moves to show off. However, she was lip synching. What did you expect?

Girls Aloud band member, Cheryl Cole is desperate to have children, claims bandmate Kim Walsh.

Cheryl is married to England soccer star Ashley Cole and admits that she wants a family, but promises to finish touring before she starts trying.

Kimberley said: “Cheryl will have kids first. She is the softest and has taken on the motherly role since getting married. She would happily have one but she is so committed to what we are doing right now. She would say, ‘But we have to do the tour!’

Kimberley, who has been dating Triple 8 singer Justin Scott since May 2006, also revealed she is looking forward to getting married and having children one day.

So it may not be long until I announce yet another celebrity pregnancy…

The girlfriend of Kaiser Chiefs front man Ricky Wilson is in a panic because he has become pals with Kylie Minogue. The reason behind this panic is because they have an agreement that he is allowed one “celebrity shag”; and his choice is Kylie.

Ricky and Kylie hit it off after meeting twice recently, including at Jools Holland’s Hootenanny on New Year’s Eve. And both are performing at the Brits next month – giving Ricky another chance to try his luck.

He admitted at the Brits nomination bash on Monday that the first album he ever bought was by Kylie. Then he revealed: “My girlfriend Storm agreed I’m allowed one celebrity shag and mine is Kylie.”

I think stardom might be going to his head if he thinks he can pull that one off.

And when asked who his bird’s celebrity shag was, he said: “Me, of course.”

Modesty indeed.

Parents who shelled out hundreds of dollars for their girls to see Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus are in an uproar over a possible Miley/Hannah imposter.

According to concert goers, there is a point in the show where Hannah Montana is surrounded by her dancers and then covered with a black sheet. She then slips out a stage door and reenters through a different door. Thing is, it isn’t the real Hannah Montana that comes back.

Instead, according to OK! magazine, a body double comes in while Miley does a costume change. Many who paid high dollar for the concert are upset because they believe they were taken advantage of and treated like fools.

Hannah Montana may lose some fanas.

A tired and sleep-deprived Amy Winehouse finally got a little bit of rest when she crash landed on a couch while waiting for her flight at a Barbados airport on Saturday. And I thought she was on vacation. What was she all tired for?

The sleeping train wreck, I mean, beauty was later spotted at Heathrow airport in an exposed bra, mesh tank top, rolled up denim cutoffs and some sort of bow-like hair contraption. She looks more ready to catch Madonna’s 1985 Virgin Tour rather down ready to face the London cold. Careful Wino, you might end up catching the flu.

There are several things being said about Britney Spears being released from Cedars-Sinai. They say that she no longer posed an imminent threat to herself. A source says that “It is very difficult to keep a patient in a psych ward at a hospital for longer than 24 to 48 hours. Even if you have tried to commit suicide (which Brit did not do) you are released as soon as you are no longer a threat to yourself… Brit is no different than other mentally ill people. After being admitted and given meds they are released if they are not a suicidal threat to themselves or others.”

From Scary Spice to just plain Scrooge, Mel B pocketed a whopping £10,000 from a Christmas fundraiser in aid of terminally ill kids.

Despite the estimate MILLIONS the Spice Girls are expected to make on their comeback tour, Mel refused to waive her appearance fee for helping the Make a Wish Foundation.

An insider at the store fumed: “All Mel B did was sing a couple of Christmas songs, sign autographs and mingle with the crowd collecting donations in a plastic bucket. And for that she pocketed £10,000 that should have gone to needy kids. Many people felt she should have waived her fee. It’s the least she could have done to help raise cash for the kids.”

Bah humbug. Who thinks Mel should get a lump of coal in her stocking this year?

Madonna’s new album isn’t expected to drop until well into the next year but that isn’t stopping Timbaland from leaking one of the songs that he worked on with the Queen of Pop. The producer played ‘4 Minutes to Save the World’ at the Jingle Ball in Philadelphia on Sunday night. I just hope that he got her permission to do so.

The song also features Justin Timberlake and it’s pretty hot. How could it not be when you’ve got all that great talent working on it? I’m also hoping that the finished version has a lot less of Timbaland though.

I have to say she is a Little Miss Sunshine…

Natasha Bedinfield releases the second single from her new album next month. It’s called Pocketfull of Sunshine, and it’s awesome! Check around online to find an early release of it.

The song is already slated to be a radio hit, and it’s one everyone can appreciate and enjoy – upbeat, sing-songey, fun.

Santa, you can put this one in my stocking!

The Jonas Brothers have really hit the big time. The musical trio of brothers Kevin, Nick and Joe were seen attending the 2007 Jingle Ball pre-event at The Hammerstein Ballroom on Friday in New York City.

Another mark of their success is that they were recently announced to be performers during ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Even 2008’ along with Carrie Underwood and Miley Cyrus. They will have live performances from Times Square with the show airing on Monday, December 31 on ABC. What a hot way to rock in the New Year – an American Idol and two big names from Disney.

It just goes to prove that money and fame cannot make you immune to normal human feelings and suffering. The sad news is depression still affects us all; rich and poor alike. And singer Alicia Keys; as gorgeous and successful as she is, is one of those to suffer.

The fab ‘No-One’ artist has revealed that a tendency to bottle up her feelings leads to feelings of hurt and anger. She said: “I was feeling so sad all the time, and I couldn’t shake it. I started burying my feelings, and it got to a point where I couldn’t even tell my family or my friends, ‘I’m twisted,’ or ‘I’m exhausted,’ or ‘I’m so angry.’ I became a master of putting up the wall so that I was unreadable.”

Thankfully Keys has since pulled through that tough time and is enjoying life with current boyfriend Kerry Brothers. But it is a note to remember that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side; and no-one is above being human.

Music legend Ike Turner has died. He apparently died in his home in San Marcos, California which is just outside of San Diego. He was married four times, most famously to Tina Turner whom he got divorced with in 1978 amidst his constant abuse towards her. Regardless, the singing duo had 7 top ten R&B songs. Ike is survived by his four known children, Ike Jr., Michael, Ronald and Mia.

The Recording Academy issued a statement regarding Turner’s passing saying “There is no doubt that Ike Turner was one of rock and roll’s great architects with his genre-defying sound as an instrumentalist and bandleader … As a two-time GRAMMY® Award winner and recipient of The Recording Academy’s 2004 Heroes Award, Ike’s legacy as a groundbreaking pioneer in the music industry will never be forgotten.”