Blog Posts by Erin Carlson

Katy Perry and Russell Brand attend the 2010 MTV Europe Awards.. - Dave J. Hogan/Getty ImagesThis weekend's MTV Europe Music Awards attracted some rando people but also international superstars like Ke$ha, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and the long-haired, tortured Followill brothers of Kings Of Leon fame. Although Cyrus lost her pants, all eyes were on Russell Brand and Katy Perry as they made their first post-wedding photo op on the red carpet.

Somewhere amid the flashing cameras, this strange picture was taken. Not even true love can save this duo from a unflattering photo.

What's strange about this photo? Let us count the ways:

1. The dress: Did Perry wake up in Vegas and decide this dress looked cute? Apart from the showgirl-red sequins, which are very "Katy Perry," there are several parts to this dress that make this cute woman look creepy -- or rather, like a walking movie ticket. How do we begin? The zig-zagged hem. The phrase "Admit One" in bold black letters. (Get it? She's talking about her one-and-only, Russell!) The head-scratching sequence of numbers at the collar that

LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian. - Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesUpdate: False alarm! Despite reports to the contrary, LeAnn Rimes says she is NOT engaged to Eddie Cibrian. A furious Rimes tweeted, "I've about had it. Even though this is positive 'news' it's not true."

Previously: When Eddie Cibrian tweeted this photo of himself down on bended knee, proposing to LeAnn Rimes, was it really just a Halloween prank?

At the time, the couple denied they were engaged - but now, reports are surfacing that Cibrian did indeed propose to Rimes (not on Halloween, though), and she said yes. For real.

Representatives for Rimes and Cibrian did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In the meantime, Rimes is keeping uncharacteristically quiet on the subject. While she's twittering away on other things - like self-empowerment and the TV show "Dirty Jobs - Rimes refuses to confirm or deny that Cibrian has put a ring on it. And last night, she skipped a party Shape magazine threw in her honor in Los Angeles due to a bout of the flu; tonight she was to

Rihanna looks red-iculous. - Dave Hogan/Getty ImagesHere's Rihanna at Westfield shopping centre in London, looking like early Whitney Houston styled by Christmas. This is because the singer was called upon to help the department store turn on the holiday lights. Is Rihanna perhaps overdosing on "the red"? Yes. But somehow it works.

Let's break it down, shall we?

1. The hair: Houston, circa "How Will I Know," would approve. Big hair, big bow, big diva.

2. The outfit: Kinda conservative for the avant-garde Rihanna -- even with the low-cut neutral bustier against the bright red skirt. Has she been influenced by bestie Katy Perry? Rihanna looks very retro-cute, like Perry; imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! Consider this a sartorial shout-out for skipping Perry's wedding.

3. The jewelry: All gold, from the bangles to the earrings to the necklace. The effect classes up what could otherwise look like a clownish costume.

4. The taupe shoes: We don't like them! But what other shade could she wear? Nothing goes with this look.

Miley smiles as the big 1-8 approaches. - Carlos Alvarez/Getty ImagesMiley Cyrus turns 18 in a few weeks - November 23rd to be exact! Even though she has conquered the pop charts, dated older men and danced on a pole, there is still so much for her to accomplish before she reaches this major milestone.

A bucket list for 18 things the pop star should do before she turns the big 1-8, provided by The Famous:

1. Not vote.

2. Not buy cigarettes.

3. Not listen to Annie Leibovitz on, say, a controversial Vanity Fair photoshoot (until she turns 18).

4. Not participate in underage drinking (unless she's in Spain.) 

5. Go to a real high school dance. Not a fake one Billy Ray set up to make it appear as if she was not home-schooled by Disney.

6. Go to Disneyland for fun - not work!

7. Go wild and teepee someone's house. (Suggestion: La casa de Nick Jonas.)

8. Reactivate her Twitter account so we can read her "stay strong" shoutouts to fellow Disney star Demi Lovato. What does Cyrus think about Lovato's apparent breakdown? We'll never know!

9. Stay strong as

Oprah and Gayle laugh it off. - Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesWe've all heard this rumor before: Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King are in a relationship-relationship.

They've publicly and persuasively denied they are more-than-friends -- yet once the gossip spreads, it's tough to quash it and to separate truth from fiction. People will believe what they want to believe.

So what's the best way to deal with persistent rumors? Laugh them off. Which is exactly what Oprah and her BFF did while camping at Yosemite for an episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Retiring to their trailer for the night, King joked: "Let's just add to that lesbian rumor. Come on in, baby!" (See the clip here.)

Are you taking notes, Ryan Seacrest?

Oprah & Gayle King Joke About Lesbian Rumors [Access Hollywood]

Oprah and Gayle:The Lesbian Video! [E! Online]

Kate Mara at the "127 Hours" premiere in Los Angeles. - Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesKate Mara *almost* stole the spotlight from James Franco at last night's "127 Hours" premiere in Los Angeles. The 27-year-old actress, who co-stars alongside Franco in the new Danny Boyle thriller (which practically had people fainting in the aisles), looked inoffensively twee and very, very turquoise on the red carpet. It was spectacular, for several reasons.

Let's break it down:

1. The color: Wearing a summery bright on a fall night (OK, a fall night in Hollywood) is unexpected. Just because Mara's sister Rooney is playing Lisbeth Salander does not necessarily mean she has to wear all-black, too. This is a big moment for Mara, whose star profile will certainly get aboost from this latest Franco movie, and she needed to wear a striking shadethat would make her stand out.

2. The cut: Very 1960s-retro-"Mad Men." The flouncy flared skirt is a refreshing antidote to the Herve Leger banded dresses favored by the Audrina Patridges of the world. It says, "I am tasteful and elegant. Please

When word broke that there was a catalyst for Demi Lovato's apparent breakdown, everyone seemed to zero in on "Twilight" actress Ashley Greene. Lovato's fans viciously attacked Greene on Twitter, looking for a scapegoat; media outlets attempted to link Lovato and Greene together in scandal, hoping for a juicy catfight; Greene's spokespeople denied, denied, denied.

Since Greene dates Lovato ex Joe Jonas, who reportedly left Lovato heartbroken after their split, it was easy to imagine how Greene could be the impetus for Lovato quitting her joint world tour with the Jonas brothers and seeking treatment for ongoing "emotional and physical issues." But according to E! Online's Ken Baker, it was a 21-year-old backup dancer named Alex Welch (stage name: B Girl Shorty) on tour with Lovato and the Jonai who was involved in an airplane scuffle with the 18-year-old Disney star. Here are some pictures of Welch, including one in which her left eye appears to be bruised.

Meanwhile, People.com does

Cibrian and Rimes, hugging it out in Las Vegas in September. - Jacob Andrzejczak/Getty ImagesPublic-service announcement: LeAnn Rimes is done talking about adultery.

The singer, who faced a bitter public backlash after leaving husband Dean Sheremet for actor Eddie Cibrian, has since stoked the outrage by giving no-regrets interviews with national magazines and ABC's Robin Roberts. (Just let it go, LeAnn! Put us out of your misery!). Today she tweeted, "I wish for peace." Then one of her followers responded: "maybe blowing up the tabloids by giving Robin Roberts sound-bytes...was not the best way to go about achieving...peace... ."

And so Rimes, always one to have the last word, tweeted this: "maybe if they wouldn't twist what I said and watch the whole interview then there would be understanding. I never said what THEY are putting in my mouth. I'm trying to talk past this, so my music is priority. This will be the last time I speak about this situation. Its sad that my honesty is being twisted, but I don't expect people to print the truth, that would be too....right!"

Going