Nick Lachey may be heartbroken over the end of his marriage to Jessica Simpson after all. The singer spurned former beauty queen Lizzie Arnold – Miss Kentucky USA 2002 – during the recent Crown Royal Playboy party on the eve of the Kentucky Derby, the New York Daily News’ Lloyd Grove reported. Lachey, 32, got cozy with Arnold, 26, in January in Los Angeles but ignored her at the party although she left him suggestive voice-mail and text messages, sources told Grove.
Richie Sambora blasted rumors that he cheated on his wife, Heather Locklear, and defended dating actress Denise Richards. “I remained faithful during my marriage,” the Bon Jovi guitarist told Us Weekly magazine. “And I defy anyone to refute that.” An insider told the magazine, “(Sambora) can’t believe he’s accused of wrongdoing, since Heather ended the marriage, tried to break their ironclad prenup and has now started dating David Spade.” Sambora is considering having Richards, herself in the midst of a nasty divorce with actor Charlie Sheen, join him on the European leg of Bon Jovi’s “Have a Nice Day” tour, the source said.
Katie Couric called out to Regis Philbin at a restaurant recently. Only problem was the new “CBS Evening News” anchor was having dinner with jazz trumpeter, and supposedly ex-boyfriend, Chris Botti. So, Philbin later told his “Live With Regis and Kelly” audience last week: “Let’s not worry about Katie anymore, if Katie’s lonely, it’s no secret.” Philbin continued, identifying Botti as Couric’s current love interest, “They make a lovely couple.” Couric’s rep said she and Botti “are great friends,” not a couple.
Vince Vaughn finally confirmed what the rest of the world already knows: He is dating Jennifer Aniston. “Jennifer’s great. She’s one of my favorite people,” Vaughn said last week on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” After a little grilling, Vaughn confessed: “I think having children takes a lot of focus, takes a lot of attention. … I think that time would come, but not any time in the near future for me. And no, I have not talked about having kids with Jennifer.” On the couple’s rumored $8 million wedding: “I find it to be really ridiculous, but I’m expecting a pretty good band for $8 million.”
Matt Damon praised President Bush’s AIDS relief program after a six-day trip to Africa last month. Damon visited several sites, including a clinic sponsored by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, an independent charity. “You walk into these clinics; you’re surrounded by people who are alive and well because of the president’s plan and because of this money,” Damon told The Associated Press.
Whitney Houston adamantly denies a National Enquirer report the singer has been diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor. “It’s an absolute lie and Ms. Houston is evaluating her legal options at this time,” Whitney’s publicist said. National Enquirer claims, “We are standing by the story 100 percent.” The Enquirer’s next cover story? “Alien monkeys invade Britney Spears’ body.”
Joan Rivers will host Bravo’s first talk show, “Can We Dish?” a show still in development. Rivers and three men will dish on pop culture news mixed with celebrity interviews, according to various reports. No start date has been mentioned.
