Big Michael Jackson news to pass along today … Sony Music has announced that a new Michael Jackson single titled This Is It will be released next month, which will be included on a new 2-disc album from MJ also titled This Is It … all of which will coincide nicely with the release of the This Is It Movie which was made from rehearsal footage of the This Is It Tour. Here are some of the deets of the release of this new MJ music:

Like numerous pop-music performers before him, Michael Jackson will not be hindered in his recording career by his death. A new song by Mr. Jackson, called “This Is It,” will be released next month, Sony Music Entertainment said Wednesday in a news release. The song, which shares its title with the comeback tour that Mr. Jackson was rehearsing when he died in June, will be released as a single on Oct. 12, Sony said. Two versions of that song, which includes backing vocals by Mr. Jackson’s brothers, will also appear on a new two-disc set, also called “This Is It,” which includes previously released and new material, including a spoken-word poem by Mr. Jackson called “Planet Earth”; that set will be released internationally on Oct. 26 and in North America on Oct. 27. That will be followed on Oct. 28 by Sony Pictures’ release of the documentary film “Michael Jackson: This Is It,” which is compiled from rehearsal footage from Mr. Jackson’s planned concerts.

I don’t think there is a soul alive that was not expecting the announcement of previously unheard Michael Jackson music … I guess I just wasn’t expecting its release so soon. It makes sense that Sony Music would want to capitalize on the hype surrounding the release of the This Is It Movie. This may be the first of the new MJ music to be released but it will most certainly not be the last. We’ve been hearing of the treasure trove of previously unreleased music that MJ left as his legacy … this is just the tip of the iceberg. Get ready for an onslaught of all new MJ material … I guess we should’ve know that not even death would be able to hinder Michael Jackson’s money making power.

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OY!! Normally I’m on board with Rihanna’s forays into adventurous styling but her new ‘do is a definite DON’T! For some ungodly reason, Ri Ri thought it would be a good idea to get streaks in her hair … and she was HORRIBLY wrong:

Egads is this a bad look … on her … on ANYONE. Not only are her streaks a terrible yellow color but she adds insult to injury by wearing that terrrrrrible lipstick color that only makes the yellow in her hair look worse. Rihanna, girl, I think you need to call my boy Josh Rosebrook at Parlour on Third here in LA to get that hair fixed STAT! Josh is a talented hair stylist and I’m sure he can fix that travesty sitting on your shoulders. Ugh. I love me some Rihanna but … this look gets a resounding poop sandwich from me. Blech!!

[Photo credit: Splash News]

New mom (again) Nicole Richie is not letting a little thing like enduring child birth keep her from her regular appointed duties. Despite giving birth to her second child (and first boy), Sparrow James Midnight, a couple of weeks ago Nicole is already back on her feet and out and about again. Here are cute pics of Nicole taking her daughter Harlow Winter to her baby gym class:

You may recall that this isn’t even the first time we’ve seen her out and about since she gave birth … Nicole was spotted with Harlow just last Thursday (about one week after she popped). She looks fabulous … Harlow looks adorable … but, HELLO! I think it’s time we got a peek at little Sparrow James already. Here’s hoping Nicole, daddy Joel Madden and BOTH of their little darlings venture out for a family outing into the wild soon ;)

[Photo credit: X17]

Samantha Burke, Jude Law’s unfortunate babymama who famously called a press conference at her house to ask for privacy from press intrusion on her private life after she first practically screamed from the rooftops that she is pregs with Law’s baby, has released a statement to the media announcing to the world (and to babydaddy Jude Law) that Samantha and Jude are the proud parents of a bouncing baby girl named Sophia Lee! Here is what Ms. Burke has to say on the joyous birth of her illegitimate child with Mr. Law:

Less than two months after he fessed up that a model he had dated was pregnant with his child, Jude Law is a father – again. A friend of the family tells PEOPLE that Samantha Burke, the 24-year-old aspiring actress whom Law met while filming Sherlock Holmes in New York City last year, gave birth to a daughter Tuesday night. “I doubt Jude was there,” says the source. “Besides the financial support, he’s not involved.” The source adds: “Samantha is doing well” after the birth. Law, 36, who has three other children with ex-wife Sadie Frost, is currently appearing in a Broadway production of Hamlet, now in previews. Law’s rep acknowledged the pregnancy in a statement released last July after reports surfaced in the media that Burke was expecting. “Jude Law can confirm that, following a relationship last year, he has been advised that he is to be the father of a child due in the fall of this year,” the actor’s rep said. “Mr. Law is no longer in a relationship with the individual concerned but he intends to be a fully supportive part of the child’s life. This is an entirely private matter and no other statements will be made.”

I’m relieved to hear that Ms. Burke gave birth to a baby girl but I’m sure she was just a wee bit disappointed … she was prolly expecting an over-stuffed money bag to come shooting out of her womb …

… but, still … a baby girl is deffo worth celebrating, I think! I’m not sure how happy Jude Law is to hear this news but I’m sure that babymama Burke and her little girl are really happy today. Any guesses on how Burke is going to introduce Law to his newborn treasure?

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BritneySpears.com has just been updated with the news that our dear Britney will be releasing her first Singles Collection (which, apparently, is different from a greatest hits collection … which she has previously released) in November. This Singles Collection will feature 17 singles in both a deluxe version and a standard version. The collection will also feature a new song titled 3 which will hit radio stations on September 29. Here is the full text of the press release announcement:

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of her debut on the music scene, Jive Records is releasing Britney Spears The Singles Collection on November 24. To launch the special package a brand new single entitled “3,” which Britney recently recorded with hitmaker Max Martin, will go to radio Tuesday, September 29. There will be two configurations of The Singles Collection; an ultimate fan box set and a standard version. The ultimate fan box set version of The Singles Collection will contain all 29 of her singles, including the new song “3.” Each disc will be packaged in its own slip sleeve case with original artwork, and will include an additional b-side or a remix of the track. The collection will include a DVD featuring all of Britney’s videos in chronological order. The ultimate fan box set will also include a special booklet featuring iconic images and fun facts about each track. The standard version of The Singles Collection will contain 17 of her chart topping favorites along with the new song “3,” all on one CD.

Um, yay? As I mentioned above … I’m not sure what makes Britney Spears: The Singles Collection any different than Greatest Hits: My Prerogative (except for the new singles that have been released since her greatest hits collection was released in 2004) but … it’s comin’! I’m most intrigued by this new single, written by Max Martin. Martin is responsible for writing some of Britney’s biggest hit songs … I can’t wait to hear what 3 sounds like. But another collection of already released songs? Yeah … I’m not so sure. What do y’all think … will YOU be ponying up for this new collection of old songs?

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Last night The Turtle Party: Book Club finally managed to meet again after too many weeks of delay. Altho we were one member short, we managed to finally get around to discussing our first book selection Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Overall, we liked the book as a group … tho, some people had difficulty or just didn’t like the British humor. Our discussion veered off into the realm of religion and really made for an interesting conversation. It was really cool to hear everyone’s perspectives on the book, whether they liked it or not, which made the whole thing more enlightening overall. We had a really great discussion.

Tamar brought a selection of 4 books for us to vote on as our next selection and we decided as a group to read Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions as our next book:

I haven’t read any of Vonnegut’s work so I’m really excited to check out this book. The next meeting of The Turtle Party: Book Club will be on October 6 and those who are reading along should have read up to the end of chapter 15 by that meeting time.

Tonight I have plans to meet up with Darion and Josh for dinner and/or a movie so that should be fun. Nothing too exciting going on this week … which is just the way I like it :)

• Mackenzie Phillips comes clean about her 10 year incestuous sexual affair with her father, John Phillips, in a new memoir.
• Click HERE to see who has been nominated for the 2010 class of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
• Ellen Pompeo gives birth to a baby girl she named Stella Luna. Coincidentally, my BFF Sarah named her first cat Luna and her second cat Stella.
• Howard K. Stern was charged today with five more felonies stemming from the death of Anna-Nicole Smith.
• Marilyn Manson has swine flu.
• Kirk Cameron takes crazy to a whole new level.
• Things got a little dusty in Australia yesterday.
• THIS pastor wants you to tone down your racism so that your homophobia can be taken more seriously.
• Pee Wee Herman does Jay Leno.
• Glamour mag gets cut.
• Click HERE to go behind the scenes of Eliza Dushku’s Complex magazine photoshoot.
• Lil’ Kim shows off her bikini … I really wish she wouldn’t.
• Julia Roberts upsets locals while filming her new film in India.
• Jessica Simpson chooses not to address questions about her missing dog Daisy.
• Ashley Greene does Saturday Night magazine.
• Jermaine Dupri is 37, Ani DiFranco is 39, Bruce Springsteen is 60 and Mickey Rooney is 89 years old today. Click HERE to see who else is celebrating a birthday today.
• Contrary to idiotic rumor and irresponsible “reporting”, Jaclyn Smith of Charlie’s Angels fame is still very much alive and well.
• Ryan Adams responds to Courtney Love’s crazy blathering.
• Whoopi Goldberg takes issue with Suzanne Somers’s comments on Patrick Swayze’s death.
• Woot!! I made The LA Times :)