Blog Posts by Wendy Geller

Stefani at work in the studio this week/FacebookNo Doubt has some bad news and some good news for their fans this week. The bad news first: Those who were looking forward to catching the band live this year will have to wait, as they’ve postponed tour plans for the moment.

The good news—which we think well makes up for the bad—is that they made this decision in order to work on a new album!

A post on No Doubt’s Facebook account explained the situation: While touring behind comeback album Push And Shove last year, frontwoman Gwen Stefani found herself “inspired” to write new material. The group decided to go with the unexpected creative jolt and enter the studio at the beginning of 2013.

“The new music started flowing with unexpected ease,” states their note. “After spending three years recording the last album, this new pace feels incredibly exciting.”

Scott Weiland (Photo: Tim Mosenfelder)Grammy-winning and multiplatinum-selling rockers Stone Temple Pilots have apparently 86’d their lead singer, Scott Weiland, who’s fronted the band since its inception. The firing was announced in a single terse sentence Wednesday.

“Stone Temple Pilots have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland,” read the statement, which was posted on the band’s official site and social media. No further information was offered.

If you’re surprised by the seemingly abrupt decision, you’re not alone. Weiland issued a comment in response, noting that he himself was not even personally told of the news.

“I learned of my supposed "termination" from Stone Temple Pilots this morning by reading about it in the press,” the frontman stated. “Not sure how I can be ‘terminated’ from a band that I founded, fronted and co-wrote many of its biggest hits, but that's something for the lawyers to figure out. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to seeing all of my fans on my solo tour which starts this Friday.”

Joan Rivers hitting a celeb with a low blow? Oh, no, she never does that—right? Riiiight. However, the comedienne pulled absolutely no punches about Oscar winner Adele while appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman Tuesday night.

If you guessed Rivers picked on Adele’s weight, you’re correct. After reporting to Letterman that she “met Adele” at the awards show, the funny-lady mimicked a blimp shape with her arms. When the crowd booed, she scoffed “Oh no! She’s thin!”

(CBS)

Undaunted, Rivers continued with the roasting: "What's her song? 'Rolling in the Deep'? She should add fried chicken."

She also added that the superstar singer expressed a fear of performing live: "[Adele] said 'My throat, my throat, I don't know if I can swallow.'

"And I said, 'Oh, you can swallow.”

Wham!

Winehouse and Fielder-Civil (Courtesy: Photoshot)Nearly two years after her tragic passing, Amy Winehouse’s ex-husband is taking at least some of the blame for the issues that led to her death. Blake Fielder-Civil admitted this week on a tabloid television show that he regrets introducing the singer to heroin.

Fielder-Civil told talk-show host Jeremy Kyle—whose program is similar to the Jerry Springer Show in tone--that he didn’t think Winehouse would ever have tried the drug without him.

He pointed to the first time she asked to participate: "We were in a hotel in east London and I think I had about £10 of heroin with me,” he explained. "I was smoking it on foil and she said, 'Can I try some?'

"I think I might have put up a weak resistance--the fact is, whatever I said, she did end up having some."

Mindy McCready is, finally, presumably, at peace. The long-troubled country singer’s family held her funeral Tuesday in her hometown of Fort Myers, Fla., a little more than a week after she took her own life via gunshot.

The service, which took place at the Crossroads Baptist Church, was open to the public. According to People, around 400 attended to pay their respects.

McCready’s casket was driven to the church in a white hearse; her casket was decorated with white roses. The singer’s music was played during the service—including the hit “Ten Thousand Angels"—while her portrait was displayed on the altar and various photos from her life flashed on two large video screens flanking the sanctuary.

McCready's mother at the funeral (Splash News)Mourners were greeted on entry by McCready’s mother, Gayle Inge. Video clips on Florida’s News-Press showed guests filing in and speaking to Inge. McCready’s three brothers, as well as several of her cousins, served as pallbearers.

Kellie Pickler (Photo: Jason Kempin)Looks as if this season of Dancing With The Stars is going to be considerably countrified! It has been confirmed that that Kellie Picker and Wynonna Judd are officially part of the cast.

The new season's lineup was announced Tuesday morning on Good Morning America. Pickler will be paired with Derek Hough; Wynonna will partner with Tony Dovolani. Pickler's selection was extra remarkable as she’ll be the first American Idol alum to join the cast of this reality program. (Pickler was, of course, a contender in Season 5 of AI.)

In addition to the country gals, comedians Andy Dick and D. L. Hughley, boxer Victor Ortiz, Real Housewives star Lisa Vanderpump, actress Zendaya Coleman, actor Ingo Rademacher, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, ice skating legend Dorothy Hamill, and Baltimore Ravens' wide receiver Jacoby Jones have signed on for the new season.

Madonna (Photo: Chris McKay)When it comes to social media, it turns out nobody is above the rules, not even pop-culture behemoth Madonna. The superstar, who recently joined photo-sharing platform Instagram, was scolded by the company over the weekend for apparently violating its community guidelines.

Madonna posted a screenshot Saturday of the warning she received, which begins “Dear Madonna,” and asks that she review their rules or risk deactivation of her account.

It’s not specified what rule she broke--but a likely culprit may be the “don’t share photos that aren’t yours” stipulation. The singer has two photos of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo on her account that she—obviously—did not take (Kahlo died four years before Madonna was born).

Kenny Clutch/FacebookBy now, you've certainly heard all about the tragic demise of 27-year-old aspiring rapper Kenny Clutch, who was shot Thursday morning on the Las Vegas Strip. You've probably also heard all the grisly details: How gunfire pounded into his Maserati caused a crash with a taxi, killing both the driver and passenger--who had nothing to do with the original altercation.

What you probably don't know, and are wondering, is: Who exactly is Kenneth Cherry Jr., who rapped under the stage name Kenny Clutch? Here are five details about the young man that will shed some light on his life, lifestyle prior to the tragedy, and what he was all about.