The Malaysian Insider

NEW YORK, Nov 19 — When he was on “American Idol”, David Cook — as cool as a cucumber for much of last season — fought back tears after performing for a studio audience that included his brother Adam, who’s fighting brain cancer.

It was a moment of raw emotion, winning Cook the sympathy of viewers who’ve also been touched by tragedy.

Cook’s tears have flowed more freely in private. The 25-year-old rocker, who won the Fox competition in May, fuelled his anguish over Adam’s illness into the gut-wrenching ballad “Permanent”, one of 13 songs on his namesake debut album.

NEW YORK, Nov 19 - Sean "Diddy" Combs is becoming a prosecutor - at least on television.

CBS says the rapper has agreed to a two-episode appearance on "CSI: Miami."

The network says Combs will portray a prosecutor who doesn't get along with police Lt. Horatio Caine, played by David Caruso.

LONDON, Nov 19 — Michael Jackson might be too sick to travel to London to testify in a suit claiming he owes an Arab sheik US$7 million (RM25 million), the pop star’s attorney said yesterday.

Jackson is seeking to give his testimony by video link from the United States.

“It would be unwise for him to travel, given what’s he’s got now,” lawyer Robert Englehart said, declining to elaborate “for the obvious reasons.”

LOS ANGELES, Nov 18 — On Beyonce’s new album, the 27-year-old singer-diva-icon gives her on-stage, bump-n-grind alter-ego Sasha Fierce co-billing.

“I AM ... SASHA FIERCE” is her attempt at a concept album, with the disc split into two.

There’s the swoony, ballad heavy “I AM ...” which Beyonce says reveals her true self “underneath all the exciting star drama”. Then there’s the more modern, hip-hop-influenced “SASHA FIERCE”, which Beyonce calls “more sensual, more aggressive”. The cover for “I AM ...” has Beyonce scrubbed free of makeup, a cross dangling from her hand. “SASHA FIERCE” is all glamazon armor: dark eyebrows, gilded eyelids, puckered mouth — all oozing sex.

LOS ANGELES, Nov 18 — The first time out, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio’s romance went down with the ship.

Now the “Titanic” stars reunite for another love affair, and this one’s a train wreck.

Winslet and DiCaprio attended a press screening on Saturday for “Revolutionary Road”, their dark domestic drama that should put them back in the heart of the upcoming Academy Awards season.