British soul star JOSS STONE is racing to explain a saucy photo in the booklet accompanying her new album - because fans think it confirms a romance with producer RAPHAEL SAADIQ.
The sexy singer and Saadiq appear naked, in an embrace, with their bodies painted for the eye-catching shot - but Stone insists it's supposed to be an artistic statement, and nothing sexual.

Stone says, "It's a picture that everybody kind of looks at it sexually, but it isn't... He (Saadiq) is from Oakland, I'm from Devon, England; he is 40, I am 19; he is American, I'm English.

"It's, like, two completely different people. It says something and I wanted to say something, otherwise there's no point in doing it."

Stone has been romantically linked to Saadiq recently after producer DALLAS AUSTIN sensationally claimed the singer had slept with her latest collaborator while working on her new album, INTRODUCING JOSS STONE, in the Bahamas.

A Bahamian judge has given photographer LARRY BIRKHEAD a legal boost in his paternity battle over ex-girlfriend ANNA NICOLE SMITH's baby daughter after ordering a DNA test on the tot.
Birkhead, who has been fighting for custody of the child he claims is his, pumped his fists in the air and jumped up and down as he emerged from court in Nassau yesterday (20MAR07) after hearing an end to his battle was in sight.

He told reporters, "It's been a good day in court for me. I can't really get into specifics, but tomorrow might be an even better day."

That suggests the results from the DNA test could be determined as soon as today (21MAR07).

Tragic Smith's lawyer/companion HOWARD K. STERN, who is listed as baby DANNIELYNN's father on the little girl's birth certificate, stormed out of the courthouse and fled the scene in a black sports utility vehicle.

Stern has been caring for the baby at the Bahamian home he shared with Anna Nicole before her death in Florida last month (FEB07).

The Bahamian authorities have ordered Stern not to leave the country with the girl before a custody ruling.

The latest ruling looks to end a case that has been ongoing since December (06) when a Los Angeles judge issued an order for Smith to bring her daughter to California for paternity tests.

That ruling and another that followed were delayed as Anna Nicole and Stern attempted to more jurisdiction in the case to the Bahamas, where child custody laws and paternity issues supposedly rule in favour of the father determined on the birth certificate.

British singer AMY WINEHOUSE almost revealed more than her soul while performing in Los Angeles last night (19MAR07) when she suffered an onstage wardrobe malfunction.
Wearing a figure-hugging teal dress, tipsy Winehouse took to the stage at the Roxy Theatre after partying with record company officials. And she almost treated fans to a real eyeful when she found herself spilling out of her dress less than a song into her act. Fan DAVID MILLS says, "This dress was sliding all over the place and she kept wrestling with it throughout the first number. "Then her left nipple appeared to pop out and she spent the rest of the song trying to adjust everything.

"But she was very professional. She kept singing and the slip up didn't seem to phase her one bit."

Fans half expected Winehouse to play up to her past drunken antics that have turned her into a headline maker in her native Britain. But one concertgoer explains, "She came out with a drink in her hand and had obviously been partying."

After dating Janet Jackson for 5 years singer Jermaine Dupri has revealed that he's ready to walk the aisle with her.

In a friendly banter with 2008 Presidential candidate Barack Obama, the rapper revealed his intentions of marrying the pop singer

"Barack told him he's a lucky man, and Jermaine replied, 'You have no idea! She takes good care of me...She writes me poems,'" a source was quoted by

Dupri then proceeded to Obama that he's "definitely" marrying Jackson and "can't wait to make a baby with her."

While Dupri is dreaming of a wedding, his ladylove seems to be completely oblivious of technological advancements around her.

Janet was reportedly loafing around with rapper Missy Elliott at her home when the two decided to grab a late night snack.

The pop star admits she was completely awe-struck when she was told to make her grocery payments through her credit card.

"It's so funny because I haven't set foot in a grocery store in years, you know. And that's so embarrassing. A few years back Missy and I were hanging out," Contactmusic quoted the singer, as saying.

"It was so late at night, and we went to the grocery store - this is when I still lived in Malibu - and I hadn't been in a grocery store in so long. I kept going, 'What's this?' First of all I had the cart and I was riding down the aisles standing on it.

And there's nobody there but us. And we got in the checkout. And I'm seeing this square thing, and I'm like, 'What's this you guys?' And Missy just looked at me. And they said, 'That's so you can use your credit card.' And I said, 'You can use your credit cards in grocery stores now?' "And Missy cracked up laughing. She thought it was the funniest thing. I didn't know!" she added.

Celebrity mom Angelina Jolie and her newly adopted Vietnamese son Pax Thien Jolie will be seen on the cover of the exclusive Hello! magazine.


The special issue of the magazine will give the readers an "intimate glimpse of Angelina as she arrived in Vietnam to pick up her new adopted son Pax Thien last week."

In an interview with Hello!, Hollywood's yummiest mummy talked about how Pax Thien which means peaceful sky, was steadily coping with his new life and surroundings.

"You can imagine what courage it takes to be in all new surroundings with new people and a new language. He is very strong," Just Jared quoted Jolie, as telling Hello!

She also revealed that she will take a break for a while to spend the maximum possible time with Pax and his siblings.

"I will stay at home to help Pax adjust to his new life. I have four children and caring for them is the most important thing for me at the moment. I am very proud and happy to be their mother," the 31-year-old actress added.

According to a Hello! press release, there will be "breathtaking spread features [of] young Pax playing and napping with his new siblings."

Pamela Anderson says she's amazed at people's opinions about her relationships, so she's setting the record straight about where she is in her personal life.

In a message on her Web site Anderson says she's working on a friendship with the father of her sons, ex-husband, drummer Tommy Lee, and isn't interested in bringing other men into her life right now.

"We all learn and grow every day," she writes. "My biggest concern has always been my boys — they are completely well adjusted and happy and thriving — their Dad has been in their lives in a productive but small way over the years — I've tried to remarry — move on — like any other single mom I've tried to create a healthy example for my kids always, that's why I realized early on that we are better off on our own right now and work on our friendship if nothing else with their father who's admittedly made mistakes but adores us. People do need time to grow up sometimes. I have faith that we’re heading in the right direction. I'm really not interested in bringing any other men into our lives."Anderson, who split with Kid Rock late last year, says she's worked hard to shelter her kids from a "bizarre existence … full of strangers who judge."

"I understand how things may look — but we are all just the tip of the iceberg — no one could possibly know the really struggles or issues we've dealt with day to day honestly all our work is under the water," she writes.

Anderson revealed that her beloved golden retriever, Star, died on March 18, the day she wrote the message. "Today is one of the hardest days I've experienced ... it shines a light on the 17 yrs in LA and the good the bad and the ugly — I've grown a thick skin — I've lost myself over the years — but I'm back on track — I'm reading — I'm back to what makes me happy — growing and learning — being around and working with great artists — being inspired and realizing how short life can be and how simple it can be and we all are delicate and have meaning and feelings."

She says she's going to be splitting her time between L.A. and Canada, where she is building a compound and marina with hockey players in Ladysmith, British Colombia.

The former "Baywatch" star also revealed that she plans a return to TV in a show called "Malibu."

"I can't say no to the guys from Baywatch — they are great to my kids — my schedule is built around theirs — just a few days a week — I'm close to home — I love the idea — flamingo kid meets Baywatch — show is called MALIBU. I've come full circle — back to the beach," she writes.

Content with lots of new developments in her life, Anderson writes, "I feel I have my strength back — my health is back on track."

Hollywood star Kirsten Dunst has moved reportedly on to a new rocker boyfriend - RAZORLIGHT frontman JOHNNY BORRELL.

The SPIDER-MAN star, who has reportedly dumped THE STROKES drummer FABRIZIO MORETTI earlier this month (MAR07), was spotted with the British singer last weekend (begs17MAR07) at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

A source tells PageSix, "(They) were kissing and cuddling on the dance floor and drinking Absolut (vodka) cocktails."

Courteney Cox is digging up the dirt for her latest magazine photoshoot - she agreed to cake herself in mud for the eye-catching session.

To honour her new TV show DIRT, in which she plays a ruthless tabloid editor, Cox had soil smeared all over her for the Los Angeles Confidential piece, headlined 'Pretty Mess.'

In the accompanying article, the former FRIENDS star admits she's sick of the paparazzi culture in Los Angeles, and has no idea where top photographers get their information.

Cox says, "There was a party at my house for (friend) JENNIFER (ANISTON)... I don't know who leaked it, but all day long, there were paparazzi (there) - and I'm talking a ton.

"Sometimes they get so competitive it's dangerous... It's OK as long as it stays within limits. It's OK to go to a restaurant and get your picture taken - you're going out and you have to expect something.

"But when it gets invasive and they're sitting outside your house, it's gone too far. I'm kind of torn because I understand... but if I'm followed every time I leave my house? That's too much."