Leona Lewis continues to make history over here in the US with her debut album Spirit. Her new album topped The Billboard 200 this week selling 205,000 copies, making her the first U.K. solo artist to chart at No. 1 with a debut album. Mariah Carey is expected to trample her sales figures when her sales result are tallied next week. Reports are that her latest album E=MC2 will push more than 500,000 units. I don't doubt it. [Source]



Whoa! What's going on with Jessica Simpson these days? She was recently in the hospital and it was more than just because of an infection, reports STAR magazine. Apparently it was also triggered by months of hard drinking and during the stay Jessica asked for a pregnancy test. A source tells STAR that her health problems was "brought on by drinking an obscene amount of alcohol. " "She was treated for a kidney infection, a bladder infection and a urinary tract infection." This chick is a wreck right now! [Source]


I thought this man was supposed to be in jail by now but for some odd reason R. Kelly remains a free man and out of trouble for now. Just last year he dropped the album Double Up, which to date has sold 935,000 copies. Now he is gearing up for a summer release of a new album titled 12 Play: Fourth Quarter. The first single from the album will be titled "Hair Braider", which I have heard and was not impressed with at all. I hope the hair braider he's talking about in the song, isn't the same one that did this to him! [Source]



Gnarls Barkley is giving away their new album for FREE. Yes, you can get the new album for free but there is a catch. It's backwards! Click here to get elpuoC ddO ehT (The Odd Couple) which features one solid track of 38 minutes and 45 seconds of backwards music. [Source]

How do you go from having your own show to being cameoed in a soap opera? You gotta ask Snoop Dogg that question because even I couldn't tell you. He plans on stopping by the set of 'One Life To Live' as a performer for a bachelorette party. He'll perform two singles "Sensual Seduction" and "Life Of Da Party", from his new album Ego Trippin. He is also said to have redone the theme song to the show for the two episodes he'll be featured in. Surprisingly Snoop revealed that he is truly a fan of the show "I've been a fan of 'One Life To Live' since I was a baby. My momma always had it on the tube in the crib growing up. The opportunity to change up the theme song and give it some of my flavor will make the show the life of the party." Whoda thunk it? [Source]

I thought we were free and clear of ever having to mention this name again but he just won't seem to go away. Teen superstar Soulja Boy has big plans to stay around in 2008, long after his one hit launched him into superstar status. "In 2008, you can expect the Soulja Boy takeover, Soulja Boy cartoon, Soulja Boy shades, Soulja Boy clothing line, Soulja Boy shoes and a new Soulja Boy album, so that's 5 big things you can expect from Soulja Boy in 2008," he said eagerly. Actually now that I think about it, I would rather him have clothing out than more music. I wonder what he's going to call himself when he becomes a man.  [Source] 



Aaron Fields writes for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are his.