According to the latest reports it sounds like Michael Jackson is struggling with his comeback.

Music mogul, Simon Fuller who successfully managed the Spice Girls, has been enlisted to help the wacky singer with his comeback but Jacko seems to be having some serious confidence issues.

Reports are that Michael, 49, was scheduled to sing live on the final of American Idol last week but bottled it, pulling out just 24 hours before the show saying; “I can’t do it. Everyone will hate me…”

Looks like Fuller’s got his work cut out with the star, stage fright has got to be one of the worst afflictions for any performer!!! Because of his lack of confidence, Jacko has missed a great oppurtunity to perform for a huge audience. Over 32 million viewers tuned into the final, making the reality show the second most watched programme in 2008.

lets hope he can get it together soon! Meanwhile, he is busy working on his highly anticipated new album which is expected to be released later this year although as yet, no release date has been given. Details of the album are being kept very quiet whilst it has been confirmed that R&B stars, Ne-Yo , Akon, RedOne and Will.iam are all contributing to it.

Four years after her debut album ‘Finally Woken’ hit stores, Welsh singer/songwriter Jem is set to release her long-awaited second album.

The album, entitled ‘Down to Earth’ will be released in September via ATO Records. The album’s first single, ‘It’s Amazing’, can be found on New Line’s ‘Sex and the City’ movie soundtrack.

Hip-hop producers Jeff Bass and Greg Kurstin - known for his work with Kylie Minogue and Lily Allen – are just two of the ‘Down to Earth’ contributors.

South African singer/songwriter Vusi Mahlasela duets with Jem on ‘You Will Make It,’ while ‘I Want You To…’ is described as a Latin-flavoured song originally intended for a Cut Chemist album.

Jem’s debut, ‘Finally Woken,’ reached No. 11 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart and has sold 321,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The single ‘24’ reached No. 27 on the Adult Top 40 tally.

It appears that Scarlett Johansson doesn’t have it all after all. Ok, while she may be a hugely successful actress, has looks to die for and is engaged to the delicious Ryan Reynolds, her recent attempt at a singing career has fallen, well, a little flat.

Scarlett’s collection of Tom Waits covers, Anywhere I Lay My Head, just debuted on the U.S. album charts at a lowly #126. The album sold only 5,100 copies in its first week out. Ouch!

Oh well, we’re sure that her gleaming engagement ring will cheer her up!

Icelandic band Sigur Rós are sheduled to be releasing their fifth studio album, ‘Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust’ -a bit of a mouthful! which translates to English as: ‘With a buzz in Our Ears we Play Endlessly’, on June 23rd, 2008 through EMI Records.

In a slightly controversial move, the band have chosen a naturist theme for the artwork of their album cover which has been photographed by New York bassed artist, Ryan McGinley. The image shows naked people running across a highway and is taken from McGinley’s ‘I Know Where the Summer Goes’ Collection, which according to the band members,is a reflection of the album’s spirit and the music which is said to be the most joyus which they have produced.

This naturist theme has been extended to the music video for their new single ‘Gobbledigook’ the first song taken from the album, which is available to download for free through the bands website, www.sigurros.com

Sigur Rós are heading off on a world tour through June, July and August, taking in dates in Mexico, USA, Europe and Australia playing at lots of the summer festivals including their first ever UK headlining slot which will be at Lattitude Festival on July 19th.

Take a look at the promo clip for the new single, ‘Gobbledigook’ and let me know what you think….

‘Come on Over’ a single taken from Jessica Simpson’s upcoming country album has hit the web and the response hasn’t been as bad as first thought.

While the single received a mixed response, most note that the country style suits Simpson’s voice and is an improvement on her earlier attempts at pop music.

Simpson breathlessly pleads: “Leave your coat behind the door / leave your laundry on the floor / just come on over.”

Simpson’s as-yet-untitled album is expected in early fall via Columbia Nashville, according to her spokesperson.

“I am a country girl,” Simpson told Billboard.com late last year. “I grew up in Texas, and country music was what I listened to. I always wanted to make a country album, but I wanted to wait until the time was right.”

“I think there is a strength in female country artists,” she added, citing Martina McBride, Shania Twain, Faith Hill and Reba McEntire as some of her inspirations.

After months of speculation, Ashlee and Pete Wentz have finally confirmed that they are expecting their first child. The newlyweds – who have just returned from a honeymoon in the Caribbean - announced the baby news on friendsorenemies.com, the same site where they announced their engagement back in April.

“While many have speculated about this, we wanted to wait until after the first trimester to officially confirm that we are expecting our first child. This is truly the most joyous time in our lives and we are excited to share the happy news and start our family,” last night’s statement read.

The message was signed “Pete and Ashlee Wentz.”

The couple also confirmed that Ashlee had taken Pete’s last name. While in her private life, she will now go by Ashlee Wentz, professionally, she will go by Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, according to People.com.

“I think that that’s something that a woman should do when they’re marrying a man,” Ashlee told People. “It’s a tradition that I think is a great tradition.”

Ashlee, 23, and Pete, 28, wed on May 17 at the Simpson family home in Los Angeles.

Best of luck guys!

According to reports, accomplished rapper P.Diddy, real name, Sean Coombs is turning his hand to script writing.

The star who has been partying at Cannes Film Festival, apparently told The Sunday Mirror; “…I’m writing a film, a comedy. For actresses I’m thinking Angelina Jolie or Sienna Miller. For actors, Eddie Murphy….”

On the subject of Diddy writing a movie, friend and fellow rapper, Crazy Dogg was reported as saying it’s going to be “one hot movie” adding “…We’re all like, you writing this so you can just hang out with Sienna?….”

Whether the film will ever see light of day remains to be seen but it sounds as though lady’s man Diddy might have alteria motives!!!! Someone better remind him that Sienna’s recently become engaged to fellow actor Rhys Ifans!!!

It’s official, British Formula One Ace, 23 year old Lewis Hamiltion and Pussycat Dolls star, Nicole Scherzinger, 30, are an item.

The loved up pair, confirmed the rumours which have been cirulating for the past few months. During interviews following the Monaco Grand Prix last Sunday, Nicole said: “…We’ve been seeing each other on and off for three months. He was amazing today..”

Besotted Nicole even missed the launch party for the new Pussycat Dolls single ‘When I Grow Up’ to support Lewis in Monaco, and I’m bet she’s glad she did as the young McLaren protegé championed with first place.

Other celebrities appearing in the paddock included, rap mogul, P.Diddy, Rapper Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce, film director Quentin Tarantino, Danni Minogue and Man U’s Michael Carrick.

Following the race, celebrations were held in the exclusive Monaco haunt, The Amber Lounge where the couple partied the night away with fellow racers and celebrities. According to reports the couple were all over eachother, “…Kissing as if no one else was watching….Then Lewis pulled Nicole up on stage and DJ-ed hip hop tracks…..”

Ne-Yo is one busy man. When he’s not touring with Alicia Keys or putting the final touches to his upcoming album ‘Year of the Gentleman’, the ‘Because of You’ star is helping young starlets, such as Lindsay Lohan, re-invent their music careers.

The R&B/hip hop producer penned and produced Lindsay’s recently leaked track, ‘Bossy,’ and expects the track to appear on the actress’ forthcoming album.

“I gotta admit, we were like … Lindsay Lohan?’” Ne-Yo says with a laugh. “I mean, I’ve written for Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Celine Dion and … Lindsay Lohan? But I will say this; we gave her a quality record and she did a ridiculously fabulous job. I was so shocked I had to call her and apologise for what I was thinking because she did so good. I think the world is gonna be surprised.”

Talking about the new track, Ne-Yo says: “It’s basically about a woman being strong enough to get what she wants when she wants it. In this case, ‘Bossy’ is a term that describes confidence and power.”

“I wrote it for her because when she’s on her game, you can see these traits in her. When she’s focused, she exudes the aura of a boss with ease,” Ne-Yo tells People Magazine.

“When [producer] Stargate and I were approached with the task, we viewed it as a challenge. ‘Can we make a song for Lindsay Lohan that people were gonna take seriously?’ I think we did it.”

Ne-Yo’s new album ‘Year of the Gentleman’ will be available from August 15th. ‘Bossy’ was released for digital download on May 27th.

Fans of Coldplay can breathe a sigh of relief as the band are returning to the UK for a series of gigs later in the year. The band - who’ve received worldwide success with their best-selling albums ‘Parachutes’, ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head‘ and ‘X&Y‘ - are set to undertake a ten date tour in December. The group, whose new album ‘Viva La Vida’ is released on June 12, will play the following shows:

December

1 Birmingham NIA
2 Birmingham NIA
5 Glasgow SECC
6 Glasgow SECC
7 Sheffield Arena
10 Liverpool Echo Arena
11 Manchester M.E.N. Arena
12 Manchester M.E.N. Arena
14 London O2 Arena
15 London 02 Arena

Tickets go on sale at 9.30am on Friday May 30th