CHARLIE SHEEN APOLOGIZES TO ASHTON KUTCHER

Charlie Sheen has apologized to Ashton Kutcher for saying that he "sucks" on Two and a Half Men. The actor recently showed signs of 2011 Charlie, ranting to TMZ that "I'm tired of pretending the show doesn't suck. . . I'm tired of pretending Ashton doesn't suck. It's nothing personal. . . I just feel bad for him. . . He's saddled with such bad writing."

He's since changed his tune slightly, writing a open letter which reads: "Dear Ashton, My bad. I was disrespectful to a man doing his best. I got excited and I threw you into the crossfire, but the rest of my statement I stand behind. You however, deserve better. Safety in your travels good sir."

Ashton was brought in to replace Charlie, after Sheen was fired from Men for his erratic behavior.

'ANGER MANAGEMENT' STARTS SHOOTING NEXT MONTH

In other news, E! News revealed that Sheen will start filming his new FX sitcom Anger Management on March 22nd.

A source said that the first scenes of the program will be shot "on location" in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley. The show will reportedly move faster than most series, as producers are aiming to film two episodes each week as opposed to the standard single.

BOB SEGER, JIM STEINMAN, AND GORDON LIGHTFOOT SET FOR SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME

Bob Seger, Gordon Lightfoot, Meat Loaf composer Jim Steinman, country music's Don Schlitz, and Broadway's Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones will all be inducted into the Songwriter's Hall Of Fame on June 14th at New York City's Marriott Marquis. The six beat out the shortlisted competition, which included such heavyweights as Pete Townshend, Elvis Costello, Steve Miller, Dion, Yusuf Islam (a.k.a. Cat Stevens), Tom Waits, Blondie's Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, The Eurythimics' Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, and George Michael.

Songwriter Hall of Fame chairman -- and legendary songwriter in his own right -- Jimmy Webb said of the 2012 inductees: "Each of our 2012 inductees has created a unique range of extraordinary contributions, a body of work that has resonated with audiences around the world, and greatly enriched our global culture. We are looking forward to celebrating their craft and careers at our Annual Awards Gala."

Bob Seger has always been rated among the most honest and real lyricists of all his peers. Seger explained to us that like writing music; the words need to come from an organic place for him: "I don't consider myself a poetic writer, as such. I think I'm more conversational, more narrative -- and If I do hit a good image, its luck."

Despite some well-received work of the years, Meat Loaf will always be best remembered for his 1977 blockbuster, Bat Out Of Hell, which was entirely written and composed by Jim Steinman. He told us that the album has grown beyond a successful '70s album into a full-blown cultural phenomenon: "It's no longer about me. It belongs to you, and you create your own stories, and you create your own place in time for that record. Everything is geared so that when you hear it, you're funneled right into that speaker, and it becomes a visual of your life as opposed to a visual of my life."

DIDDY ANNOUNCES NEW TV NETWORK

Diddy has announced that he is launching a new music-themed cable network called REVOLT. On Tuesday (February 21st), Diddy issued a video announcement, saying,
"I first like to say thank you to Comcast, Comcast Diversity Council, and NBC for recognizing the importance of minority ownership of cable television. I grew up watching BET, MTV, HBO, and NBC and I had a dream that one day I would get a chance, an opportunity to show my perspective coming from a musical standpoint."

The network selected by Comcast is set to be the "first music network to truly leverage the power of social media."

In other news, Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Tyler Perry also announced that they are starting their own networks. Magic Johnson -- in partnership with GMC TV is launching his own network called Aspire. Tyler Perry also confirmed that he is launching a network -- and contemplating calling it TylerVision or Tyler TV.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN STILL MEASURING THE AMERICAN DREAM ON RECORD

Bruce Springsteen met the press in Paris on Friday (February 17th) to talk about his upcoming album, Wrecking Ball, set for release on March 6th. The album, which features an almost hip hop Celtic flavor, doesn't shy away from social issues across the album's songs. Springsteen said about the tone of the new material, "You can never go wrong in rock n' roll when you're pissed off! My work has always been about judging the distance between American reality and the 'American dream' (and) how far (apart they are) at any given moment."

Springsteen explained where his music fits in the national conversation: "There is a feeling of patriotism underneath. . . in my best music, but at the same time, it's a very critical, questioning, often angry sort of patriotism. That's not something that I'm prepared to give up for fear that someone might simplify what I'm saying. . . My work has always been about judging the distance between American reality and the American dream. How far is that at any given moment?"

He spoke about becoming a public figure in national politics during the 2004 election, explaining, "I never campaigned for politicians previous to John Kerry and at that moment it was such a blatant disaster occurring at the top of government, you felt that if you had any cachet whatsoever, you had to cash it in because you couldn't sit around and watch it. . . I'm not a professional campaigner and every four years I don't think that I'm going to go and pick a guy and go after him. I prefer to stay on the sidelines. I genuinely believe an artist (is) supposed to be the canary in the coal mine, and you're better off with a certain distance from the seat of power."

"The Boss" went on to say that although he still supports President Obama, he probably won't be campaigning for him this year, but joked: "Obama can sing! He's better than me!"

He spoke of the loss of co-foundering E Street Band member Clarence Clemons, who died earlier this year: "Losing Clarence was like losing something elemental, the air or the rain. There's just something missing. We were lucky to get him on 'Land Of Hope And Dreams.' When the sax solo comes up, its a lovely moment for me."

Springsteen explained that rather than being overt about how songs could be construed as right wing anthems -- as "Born In The U.S.A." was in 1984, he prefers to let the song run its course naturally over the years: "I realized at the time, that that was okay. Because what you do if somebody doesn't understand your song is, you keep singing your song. And you'll sing it again down the road, and somebody who didn't understand it before, they're gonna understand it then."

IS DREW BARRYMORE PREGNANT?

Drew Barrymore is apparently pregnant. The recently-engaged actress seemingly broke the news after leaving a doctor's office with a sonogram in hand.

TMZ.com snapped the actress late last week. As she walked through a parking lot with her fiance, a folded sonogram was visible in her hand.

Drew's boyfriend Will Kopelman, a 34-year-old art consultant, popped the question late last year.

When asked about the possible pregnancy, Drew's rep told TMZ, "no comment."

Barrymore turns 37-years-old today.

HEART ON THE ROAD, PREPPING BIOGRAPHY, AND BOX SET

2012 is proving to be yet another ambitious year for Heart. Gibson.com posted that the sisters, Ann and Nancy Wilson, are currently working on a band biography, a career-spanning box set, and a string of live dates. Unfortunately getting inducted into the Rock Hall will have to wait for another year. Despite making the shortlist for the 2012 class along with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Donna Summer, and others, the Wilson sisters just missed the final cut.

On March 15th, the Wilsons will appear at Austin's South By Southwest Music and Media Conference and Festival as featured speakers at the Austin Convention Center.

Nancy Wilson told us that Heart has been caught in a strange place throughout the years, with management and record labels pushing the band to not develop as artists: "They tell you not to reinvent yourself. They tell you that your fans have an identity that they know, that is familiar to them, that they don't want to change. It's interesting. But in our case, I mean, we've been able to change a lot, but we've had to fight to be able to change a lot (laugh)." )

Heart tour dates (subject to change):
February 25 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
March 10 - Newkirk, OK - First Council Casino
March 11, 12 - Houston, TX - House Of Blues
March 16 - New Orleans, LA - House Of Blues
March 17 - Thackerville, OK - Winstar World Casino
June 29 - Saint Paul, MN - Myth
July 6 - Hammond, IN - The Venue At Horseshoe Casino
July 20 - New Lenox, IL - New Lennox Commons
July 21 - Walker, MN - Moondance Jam at Moondance Events
July 26 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
July 27 - Columbus, OH - Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
September 10 - Puyallup, WA - Puyallup Fair at Western Washington Fairgrounds

JENNIFER ANISTON DENIES 'PLEADING' FOR TOPLESS 'WANDERLUST' SCENE TO BE CUT

Jennifer Aniston is denying reports that she "pleaded" for her topless scene in Wanderlust to be edited from the film. TheWrap.com reported that Aniston decided against exposing her chest after she began dating her costar Justin Theroux.

The scene in question features Aniston's character going bare-chested at a protest filmed for a TV news show. Although Aniston shot the scene topless, the final version only shows her from the back, with an image of her chest pixilated on the fake TV screens in the film.

However a spokesperson for the studio denied Aniston interjected, explaining, "The scene was shot a bunch of different ways, and we have the best possible version."

Aniston's own rep said, "The scene is how it was always supposed to be."

REMEMBERING THE SUPREMES' FLORENCE BALLARD

It was 36 years ago today (February 22nd, 1976) that Supremes' co-founder Florence Ballard died at the age of 32. The singer died of coronary thrombosis -- a blood clot in one of her coronary arteries. She has been cited by many friends and peers from the early Motown era as being the strongest singer of the three original Supremes, which included Diana Ross and Mary Wilson. Unfortunately for Ballard and Wilson, Motown chief Berry Gordy's plan to spotlight Ross on all of the group's singles pushed them into the roles of Ross' background singers.

Ballard was featured on several of the group's album cuts throughout the years, including "Buttered Popcorn" -- which was the group's third single, "Ain't That Good News," "Silent Night," "Heavenly Father," and her live solo spot, a cover of Barbra Streisand's "People."

Mary Wilson says she was amazed by Ballard's raw vocal talent and regrets that more people didn't recognize Ballard for her unique gift: "Florence actually was a great singer. In fact (laughs) every time I hear Etta James I think of Florence, because Florence had that same type of a voice as Etta James. And at a very young age. And had she lived, would've been really able to have really developed that style. I mean she would be like Aretha Franklin and Etta James today."

Former Temptations lead singer Dennis Edwards says that it seemed as though Ross' ambition ultimately forced Ballard into the shadows: "They say Florence actually was the best singer in the group. She didn't get the opportunity to be the best singer in the group, because Diana was a little bit more energetic. Y'know Diana was the type -- when she wanted something she got it, you know? (laughs)" )

When Ballard was forced out of the group in 1967 due to increasing personality clashes with the group and Motown, she was offered up a one-time severance payout of only $139,804.94. She unsuccessfully sued for back royalties in 1971.

She continued to record and perform occasionally and won a large legal settlement in 1975 after a "slip and fall" accident. Just prior to her death, she was reportedly making plans to begin recording again.

At her funeral, Ballard's Motown label mates, including Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops and Ross, came to pay their final respects. A tearful Ross was booed by fans outside the church, and was photographed sitting with Ballard's immediate family, including her two small children, at the service.

Ballard's work lives on in the numerous hits she recorded during her time with the Supremes. These included "You Can't Hurry Love," "Come See About Me," "I Hear A Symphony," "Baby Love," "My World Is Empty Without You," "Stop! In The Name Of Love," and many, many more.

Wilson says that that Ballard's emotional problems stemmed from being sexually attacked as a teenager: "Probably the main thing that destroyed her was being raped when she was 14 years old and we were still the Primettes, and that basically destroyed her. So people say that money and fame can make you happy and all that stuff, it really doesn't because it was always eating at Florence. And the minute that things happened to the Supremes that were bad, she was not able to do it because she was already weakened."

In 1999, author Randall Wilson published the first major book on Ballard's life, titled Florence Ballard: Forever Faithful!

In 2006 Ballard's sister Maxine "Precious" Jenkins began publishing an online book, titled A Life Supreme: The True Story Of Florence Ballard.

Ballard's time with the Supremes is said to be the inspiration behind the Broadway hit musical, and Oscar-winning movie, Dreamgirls.

Following her 2007 Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Role for Dreamgirls, Jennifer Hudson acknowledged the connection to the Supremes and why she dedicated her award to the Ballard: "'Effie' is loosely based on Florence Ballard and we did our research and we studied the Supremes. And in reading Florence Ballard's story it gave me the passion to want to deliver it. And I felt as if Effie was created as Florence's voice. So I felt it was my job to deliver on her end."

In 2010 it was reported that filming was expected to start shortly in Atlanta on the first biopic on Ballard's life and career. At the suggestion of Ballard's daughters, R&B star Faith Evans -- the widow of rapper Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace -- will star as Ballard in Blondie -- The Florence Ballard Story. There's been no word as to when filming will start on movie, which is based on author Peter Benjaminson's book The Lost Supreme.

KIM AND KHLOE KARDASHIAN FACING LAWSUIT OVER QUICKTRIM ENDORSEMENT

Kim and Khloe Kardashian are reportedly facing a lawsuit over the diet product they endorse, QuickTrim. The New York Post reported that a law firm is preparing to sue the product manufacturer Windmill, and the Kardashians for their marketing claims.

A partner from the firm said, "My firm has been retained by an individual that purchased QuickTrim, and we are investigating the matter. We have provided written notice of our client's claims to the company and others involved in marketing QuickTrim."

The issue is that QuickTrim contains high levels of caffeine, an ingredient that's "not safe or effective for weight loss." It has reportedly generated $45 million in revenue since the Kardashians began promoting it.

In 2010 a physician said of the product, "They're not saying how much caffeine is in these pills. Too much caffeine can make you jittery and increase your blood pressure and pulse. If you pop a couple of these pills with your Starbucks . . . you could get caffeine poisoning, which can cause heart arrhythmias."

REPORT: WHITNEY HOUSTON HAD VALIUM, XANAX AND ALCOHOL IN HER SYSTEM BEFORE SHE DIED

Reports say that Whitney Houston had a mixture of Valium, Xanax and alcohol in her system when she died at the Beverly Hilton on February 11th. According to RadarOnline.com, a source said, "The coroner is waiting on final toxicology results to determine which one of the three was the major contributing factor of her demise. The coroner will be closely examining Whitney's blood alcohol content at the time she died as well. The sedatives and alcohol will almost certainly be the cause of death, and not drowning."

The source continued, "Her heart stopped beating because her respiratory system was suppressed because of the anti-anxiety meds, and combined with the booze it probably happened very quickly before she was found partially submerged in the bathtub."

The final toxicology results for Houston should be released in the next several weeks.

REPORT: WHITNEY HOUSTON WAS WORKING ON BIOPIC BEFORE HER DEATH

In other Whitney news, according to E! News, the pop icon was beginning talks about developing her biopic shortly before her death. Actress Meagan Good -- who previously said that her dream role was to play Whitney, said that she and the pop icon were in talks.

She explained, "We were fairly in the beginning stages. We were supposed to meet today actually. My feeling is because she has the film Sparkle coming out and she's brilliant in it and she looks beautiful and healthy, my feeling was that's how we should end the movie - as a new beginning for her."

Meagan said it is too soon after Whitney's death to think about the future of the film. She added that she would never attempt to do her own singing.

IS BOBBY BROWN TO RELEASE TELL-ALL BOOK?

Is Bobby Brown planning to release a tell-all book about his life with ex-wife Whitney. According to E! Online, a major publisher said, "Back in 2008, the interest in a book on Whitney Houston wasn't that great. Whitney had fallen off the radar back then ... but now, following her tragic death, the market has changed. Now is the time for a book that details an honest look into the life of Whitney."

The only things that are standing in the way of the book is a confidentiality agreement he signed when they divorce and plus the impact that the tell-all would have on his daughter Bobbi Kristina.

Friends of Whitney say, "This is a man who left his ex-wife's funeral because he didn't like his seats and went to a paying gig that night. He didn't get on stage that night because he needed to sing his greatest hits or because Whitney would have wanted him to entertain his fans, he did it to get a paycheck -- the same reason he now wants to write a tell-all book."

RAINN WILSON APOLOGIZES FOR OFFENSIVE TWEET

The Office's Rainn Wilson is the latest celebrity to get caught up in a Twitter scandal. The actor caused a stir after writing, "If I were ever date raped I would want it to be to 'Whole Lotta Love' by Led Zeppelin."

After receiving a flurry of angry messages, Wilson deleted the post and replaced it with an apology.

He said, "Apparently my poorly conceived date-rape tweet upset a lot of folks. Not a good topic to joke about. Sorry & won't do that again."

SLASH CONFIRMS THAT ALL ORIGINAL GUNS MEMBERS WILL BE AT HALL OF FAME

Former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash confirmed what keyboardist Dizzy Reed recently told Billboard -- that the entire original band will be on hand for its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in two months -- but denied rumors that they will be getting back together for a performance at the April 14th event in Cleveland.

Slash told Washington radio station DC101, "I know that there's a lot of rumor about it, as always when it comes to G N' R, out there on the Internet and stuff, but as it stands right this second, I have no idea what's going on."

Slash told us that no matter what else happens that night, being inducted is the best part about it: "I couldn't go as far as saying one way or another how I would fit into it, but it's definitely something that I feel honored to be called in for, you know."

The guitarist had issued an angry denial late last year when a Hall representative jumped the gun and said that the entire original band had RSVPed for the event. Slash said at the time that he had not yet indicated whether he was going or not.

Reed, who still plays in the current lineup of Guns, revealed to Billboard last week that all five original members will now be present when the group is inducted. He added, "I don't know exactly what's going to go down. It's one of those things I'm sure will all come together and be really cool."

Slash, singer Axl Rose, guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Steven Adler will all be inducted, along with later members Reed, drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Gilby Clarke.

Slash, McKagan, Sorum and Adler have all express uncertainty about the possibility of a reunion at the ceremony.

THE ROLLING STONES MOVING TOWARDS UPCOMING ROAD TREK

Ron Wood is hinting that the Rolling Stones are slowly gearing up for their rumored 50th anniversary tour. Wood spoke to Radio Times and was asked about the prospect of the band regrouping this year for some live work, to which the Stones guitarist responded, "'Be lovely, wouldn't it? That's what we're on the verge of. I dunno what the hell is gonna happen yet but we all feel we owe it to ourselves and to the people to do something. Well, they're still in the talking mode. And I don't know, each week brings a new development. Basically, get the boys feeling comfortable with each other, 'cause we're all ready to go individually. It's just a matter of tying up loose ends and coming together as a unit."

Wood feels that he was actually born a Rolling Stone, and it simply took until 1975 for him to actually become part of the group: "I was born with those songs in my mouth, anyway. Y'know, you can name any song of their. . . And I was with it, y'know, I didn't have to learn it. When I joined the band back in, '74, or whenever and I had to learn 160 songs, or something -- that was my initiation down in Woodstock -- I ended up teaching them to the band! I mean, I knew the songs. I'd never played them before, but I just knew them."