NEW CANDIDS: KELLY ROWLAND IN LONDON; JAYONCE IN N.Y.C.

Beyonce and her beau, Jay-Z were spotted leaving the Da Silvano restaurant in Manhattan, New York yesterday. As previously reported, Beyonce will portray Etta James in the new film, Cadillac Records. James says she is absolutely thrilled that the R&B star will play her on-screen and has even offered her assistance at helping Beyonce prepare for the role. "It’s a privilege and an honor to have somebody like that girl,” Etta gushed. “I don’t think she looks like me, but that’s all right. They can fix that up.” Etta also made it clear that Beyonce will have a lot of work getting ready for the role - reaching way beyond her own good girl image. “Oh my god, she’s going to have a hill to climb, because Etta James ain’t been no angel!” Etta said.

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Beyonce's background singer/dancer, Kelly Rowland, attended Kylie Minogue's British Awards afterparty at Movida nightclub in London, England last night. And it looks like the silicone sacks she allegedly had placed in her bosom region have escaped their new home and put up residence all up and through her backside a la Kim Kardashian. Rowland is refusing to confirm or deny reports that she had gone under the knife in an attempt to enhance the size of her ta-tas; but one plastic surgeon insists the camera never lies. Dr. Michelle Copeland, who didn't work on Rowland's apparent boob job, told Star magazine, "She definitely has significantly larger, fuller breasts now, most likely from implant augmentation. Some women want Wonder Woman breasts, which Kelly certainly has now."

Mmmm-hmm.

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TIFFANY 'NEW YORK' POLLARD RETURNS TO REALITY TV IN A NEW SHOW; REALITY STAR GIVES FIANCEE 4 MONTHS TO FINALIZE DIVORCE.

Are we really surprised? I mean, really? VH1 brass has taken it upon themselves to bring back Tiffany 'New York' Pollard for another reality show, tentatively titled New York Loves Hollywood. VH1 producers are currently trying to cast established industry people in Hollywood to be on the show with her. According to reports, the focus of New York Loves Hollywood will revolve around Pollard's desperate attempts to become an actress in the Land of Stars as well as her whirlwind romance and impending nuptials to her fiance and winner of I Love New York 2, George 'Tailor Made' Weisgerber. Did I mention the fact that Tailor Made is still legally married? Although sources claim the couple are still very much in love, it's Weisgerber estranged wife that who has become their Achilles Hell....I meant heel.

Last month, Pollard said that “there's some kinks and knots in the divorce” and added that her fiance's wife is “slow” in signing off all the necessary legal documents. "I cursed him out so many times for it. I have cursed out his lawyers over it,” Pollard said, referring to Weisberger's divorce drama. "I'm like, 'Don't involve me in this. I have my own issues. Don't put the lawyers on the phone with me to talk about the progress. I just want to hear when it's over." She also said that that although she believes Weisberger is the man for her, she's not willing to wait for him for a long period of time. I can't wait years for him [to get a divorce]," she said. "I can wait, maybe, three or four months since he's such a good guy."

Should things not work out between the two, a third season of I Love New York is no longer an option for Pollard, as she insists she won't look for love on-air again.

BELOW ARE A FEW SEMI-CANDID PICS OF TIFFANY MEETING HER #1 FAN, BRUCE, AT A MEET AND GREET DURING VALENTINE'S DAY WEEKEND.

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BEYONCE WILL INDEED PORTRAY LEGENDARY SINGER ETTA JAMES IN NEW MOVIE, 'CADILLAC RECORDS.'

Oh, Lord. The rumors are true. Beyonce will portray legendary blues singer, Etta James in Darnell Martin's Cadillac Records, according to the Hollywood Reporter. She will also serve as one of the movie's executive producers. Cadillac Records will follow the life of influential Chicago-based record company executive Leonard Chess— who ran the legendary record company with his brother, Phil, through the 1950s and '60s — and the label's lineup of musical icons, including James, Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Willie Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer) and Little Walter (Columbus Short). Oscar winner Adrien Brody is scheduled to play Chess. The role is the first for Beyoncé since her turn as Deena Jones in the musical Dreamgirls. As Jones, the singer earned two Golden Globe nominations, for Best Actress in a Motion Picture and Best Original Song.

While her Dreamgirls character was loosely based on Diana Ross, Beyoncé will have some big shoes to fill as the real-life James. The gutsy and full-figured legend belted out many standout blues and jazz tracks, including unforgettable track At Last, which she was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for in 1999. And I swear to God I hate this song for the simple fact that it has been sung and butchered by tone-deaf wedding singers and contestants on Showtime at the Apollo as well as American Idol.

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KIMORA GRANTS US ACCESS INTO HER WORLD OF FABULOSITY FOR A 2nd SEASON.

Prepare yourself for more Kimora. The Style Network has announced a second season pick-up for its hit reality series (which also happens to be the network's highest-rated series in history) Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane. With all-new half-hour episodes, the new season will continue its candid and entertaining look at the fabulous and frenetic life of model, mogul, mom Kimora Lee Simmons. The second season of Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane premieres Sunday, April 20 at 8 PM ET/PT, only on Style. Shot on location in Los Angeles, Miami, New York and anywhere on the globe her business takes her, Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane once again brings viewers behind the closed doors of Kimora Lee Simmons’ world. In addition to her most important job as mom to two adorable daughters Ming Lee and Aoki Lee, Kimora is faced with even more challenges this season as she takes on the new and expanded role of Creative Director of Phat Fashions, including the global brands Phat Farm and Baby Phat. New episodes feature birthday parties, public appearances, ad campaign shoots and insider meetings at the Phat Fashions offices, among other behind-the-scenes action. Viewers witness the real Kimora while along the way getting to know her extended family and the “cast” of characters that inhabit her daily life.

How does Kimora balance her duties running a fashion empire with those of being a loving and attentive mother? What are the secrets of her style and success? How does she keep it all together? Tune-in to the second season of Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane (Sunday, April 20, on The Style Network) to find out.

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TYLER PERRY LUV THE KIDS; MOGUL TO CREATE NEW ANIMATION SERIES STARRING THE ONE AND ONLY 'MADEA.'

Bless his heart. Just when you thought Tyler Perry had done it all (i.e. stage plays, blockbuster movies, television sitcoms, books, production company), he turns around and surprises his fans with another project. And for those of you who love yourselves some Mabel 'Madea' Simmons as much as my 8-year-old niece, you all are in for a big treat because Perry is bringing the gun-toting, 'Good Morn-ting' greeting, chain-smoking, house-arrest-anklet-wearing grandma to life in her own cartoon series. Perry has teamed up with animation company Exodus Film Group for the untitled series, which will be produced entirely up front before shopping to a network or releasing on DVD – or both. The actor/filmmaker will create, write and executive produce an undetermined number of 22-minute standalone episodes and also provide the voice of Simmons.

Perry, who has never written an animated project before, said his goal was to take the more adult-themed Madea and gear it toward younger viewers. "After receiving thousands of letters from parents telling me how much their kids love Madea and realizing that a lot of the plays were not kid friendly," said Perry, "I wanted to do something more appropriate, and this seems to be it. A 'Madea' animation looks like the best way."

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Perry has turned his Madea plays into such movie box office hits as Madea's Family Reunion and Diary of a Mad Black Woman. The next Madea feature, Meet the Browns, will be out next month from Lionsgate. He also has written for television with the current TBS series Tyler Perry's House of Payne, which Perry also funded and produced before shopping to networks.

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DIDDY SAYS HIS FATHER'S MURDER IS WHAT INSPIRED HIM TO BE THE (BUSINESS) MAN HE IS TODAY.

Multi-media mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs says he was driven to become a successful businessman to avoid the same fate as his father, who was murdered when he was a child. Combs was just three years old when his dad Melvin, an associate of drug kingpin Frank Lucas, was shot dead in his car in 1972. And Combs, who now runs hip-hop, fashion and fragrance empires, admits the tragic end to his father's life proved instrumental in shaping his desire to succeed. He says, "The greatest thing about the American dream is to be an American businessman, to take care of your family and make something happen. This is way more parallel to my life. I grew up on 145th Street and Lenox Avenue (in Harlem). I was afraid of getting hurt in the streets. My father was murdered when I was three. He was a street hustler. I just wanted to be somebody."

In related news, the Broadway actor is snapping back at those who tend to undermine and criticize his thespian skills. Combs claims he is determined to continuously improve as an actor as he prepares for both criticism and praise for his latest role in A Raisin In the Sun. "I wanna shock the world. People can say whatever they want about me as an actor, but I want them to see the growth."

The highly anticipated special three-hour television movie adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun, based on the play that inspired a generation, will air as an "ABC Premiere Event" on Monday at 8 p.m. eastern.
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MAG SCANS: JANET JACKSON SCORES TWO SEPARATE ISSUES OF VIBE MAGAZINE'S APRIL '08 ISSUE.

Janet Jackson will cover two separate issues of Vibe magazine's April 2008 issue. In the 'Off the Wall' edition, the singer pays homage to her brother Michael's first solo album cover, Off The Wall by donning a double-breasted black suit and hat. Coincidentally, the singer also has a track tentatively titled Rock With You which samples Michael's single of the same name, on her new album, Discipline (which will be released on February 26, 2008).

In other Janet news, word around the web is that the singer is in secret talks to host and perform at one of the biggest events on the California gay calendar. Jackson was a surprise guest at the weekly Tiger Heat gay night at Arena Nightclub in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago, and now organizers of the White Party weekend in Palm Springs are begging her to play the desert event in April. If Jackson does perform, she'll join the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Toni Braxton, who have headlined the White Party in recent years.
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