Jay-Z is the latest artist to be featured on 'VH1's Storytellers.' The program, dubbed 'Jay-Z: Life of an American Gangster,' filmed in the rapper's hometown of Brooklyn, New York, will feature commentary from the rap star as he performs tracks off his upcoming album, 'American Gangster,' due November 6.

"This is what would have happened if I hadn't become Jay-Z," Hova said at the taping before launching into tracks off his new project. Inspired by the film of the same name, Jay-Z announced his plans to record his first conceptual album despite already being pegged for the movie's soundtrack. The film, starring actors Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, and rappers Common, T.I. and RZA, hits theaters November 2.

"It was like I was watching the film, and putting it on pause, and giving a back story to the story," Jay-Z said. The special episode premieres on VH1 on November 8.

MTV and Epic Records are making the dreams of Latino boys come true with their new reality series called 'Making Menudo.' Yes, Menudo. The group, originally formed more than 30 years ago, acted as an incubator for young Latino singers including Ricky Martin and Marc Anthony. Once the members turned 16, new ones were selected.

'Making Menudo' will revive the band concept in a talent competition, which is one part 'Making the Band,' and one part 'American Idol.' Each week, a group from 15 selected finalists will be put together to learn a song and dance routine, which will be performed in front of a live audience. Manager Johnny Wright and a team of judges will begin whittling the finalists down to five members.

We're not sure who made the cut, but the band has already recorded their first demo called 'More Than Words (A E I O U),' and word on the street is that they're recording with Akon. 'Making Menudo' premieres on October 25 at 10:30pm on MTV.

Listen to 'More Than Words (A E I O U)' by Menudo

Listen to 'Mas Que Amor (A E I O U)' by Menudo

John Rich, the producing/singing/songwriting half of country duo Big & Rich, is inviting celebrities to get their twang on. Rich is set to host a new show on CMT called 'Gone Country,' which casts several non-country music celebrities competing for a career in country music.

The eclectic group of celebrities starring on the reality show will include rapper Bobby Brown, Latin pop crooner Julio Iglesias Jr., pop singer Carnie Wilson (Wilson Phillips), glam-rocker Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), 'American Idol' runner-up Diana DeGarmo, rapper/R&B star Sisqo and 'Marcia Brady' herself, Maureen McCormick. Those seven celebrities will not only try their hands at singing country music, but they'll also compete in various challenges to see whether they can handle a musician's lifestyle in Nashville. At the end of two weeks, the person who has proven themselves the most impressive as a country star will record and release a country song.

The six-episode series is set to premiere in January.

Disney representatives deny that the company fired Vanessa Hudgens from the third installment of the wildly successful 'High School Musical' series, despite earlier reports from OK! magazine, saying that the rumors are "totally untrue." Negotiations between Disney and the entire cast of 'High School Musical 3' are still underway.

The status of Hudgens' involvement in the project was questionable after nude photos of the young star surfaced on the Internet. Hudgens publicly apologized for the incident, explaining that the photo was taken privately.

It was also rumored that Adrienne Baillon of the 'Cheetah Girls' and Sabrina Bryan from 'Dancing with the Stars' were in the running to replace the 18-year old Hudgens.

Disney has decided to not ask Vanessa Hudgens to be in 'High School Musical 3.' The status of her involvement in the project was questionable after nude photos of the young star surfaced on the Internet. Hudgens publicly apologized for the incident, explaining that the photo was taken privately.

"They feel that as long as Zac Efron is in the movie, all will be fine," a Disney insider told OK! "He's the real star -- the household name -- and, most importantly, he comes without baggage."

The same source also revealed that Adrienne Baillon of the 'Cheetah Girls' and Sabrina Bryan from 'Dancing with the Stars' are both in the running to replace the 18-year old Hudgens. Meanwhile, Hudgens still has a pending offer to be the new face of Sketchers, replacing pop and reality TV star, Ashlee Simpson.

Jamie Foxx has signed on to appear with country powerhouse Rascal Flatts at the upcoming Country Music Association Awards. The Oscar-winning actor and R&B singer will duet with the group on 'She Goes All the Way,' a song he recorded with them for Rascal Flatts new album, 'Still Feels Good.'

The Foxx-Flatts friendship goes back more than a decade. Foxx and Rascal Flatts lead singer Gary LeVox were roommates in California back in the late '90s while LeVox was pursuing a music career. The two have remained friends ever since.

"Jamie is an incredible talent, and we were thrilled he took us up on our invitation to join us on the song," says LeVox. "He said he'd do it if we would sing on one of his records, so it's a pretty good swap."

MySpace phenomenon Tila Tequila had a monumental Tuesday. That day marked the release of her second single, 'Stripper Friends,' and the debut of her MTV reality series, 'A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila.'

'Friends,' the follow-up to her Lil Jon-produced single 'I Love You,' is another track to be included on her as-yet-unreleased album. The new song, essentially a sexed-up version of Kevin Michael's 'We All Want the Same Thing,' showcases suggestive lyrics, sexy sighs and Tequila's raw signature style. Watch the episode one of 'A Shot of Love' here.

Artist: Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus
Song: 'Ready, Set, Don't Go'
Why You Should Listen: Hear the song that the adorable father-daughter duo sang on Tuesday's 'Dancing With the Stars.'

The multifaceted Pharrell Williams and the Neptunes, have made an indelible mark in the world of music production. Crafting hits like Nelly's 'Hot in Herre' have won the duo three Grammys. Now, Pharrell is looking to add television producer to his resume with the upcoming ABC project 'Limelight.'

"This project reminded me a lot of my own life growing up, " the N*E*R*D singer told Variety of the drama, which will focus on talented students at a NYC performing arts school. "Coming from a different environment where we stuck out for having abilities that we later learned, after attending a school like this, were actually gifts and talents."

Fellow 'Limelight' producer McG seemed thrilled about the 34-year-old talent's involvement in the show. "Pharrell is the ultimate embodiment of credibility in this space," he said. "He attended a performing arts high school and went on to become the most prolific producer of our generation."

Katharine McPhee is reportedly engaged to longtime boyfriend, actor Nick Cokas. While official word from her rep has yet to come, friends of the couple say that Cokas recently proposed to the Season Five 'American Idol' runner up, and an insider told OK! Magazine, "They've been talking about [marriage] for some time."

The 23-year-old singer and her 41-year-old boyfriend met in 2005. In fact, it was he and McPhee's parents that coaxed her to try out for 'American Idol' in the first place. "Everyone was pretty cool about it in the beginning," she said of their 19 year age difference on 'The View' last year. "I've always been a little bit older than I am."

McPhee released her self-titled debut last year to mixed reviews, yet landed at No. 2 on the Billboard charts in its first week of release. In addition to music, the singer is trying her hand at acting. McPhee will star alongside Anna Faris as a pregnant hippie in the upcoming comedy, 'I Know What Boys Like.' She has several other projects lined up for the near future, as well.

Watch Katharine McPhee's 'Love Story' at Sessions

Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Cee-Lo and Ghostface Killah will lend their voices to the upcoming season of the animated series 'The Boondocks.'

The controversial MA-rated series, based on the comic strip created by cartoonist Aaron McGruder, focuses on the Freeman family's migration from urban South Side, Chicago to quiet Woodcrest, Maryland.

Actors Donald Faison ('Scrubs'), Monique ('Fat Chance') and Tichina Arnold ('Everybody Hates Chris') will also lend their voices to the anticipated second season, while rappers Mos Def and Xzibit -- who both appeared in the debut season -- will reprise their roles.

The second season of 'The Boondocks' will air on October 8 on the Cartoon Network.

The 'TV Guide' Emmy afterparty scored quite the coup when, following John Legend's nearly hour-long performance -- which included covers of the Beatles and Sly Stone -- Kanye West came out and set Hollywood off with his own four-song set.

Opening with 'Stronger,' and sporting his now signature shades, West was heavy with impact, prompting a room full of television celebrities and industry folk clad in gowns, tuxes and suits to wave their cell phones in the air and sing along with every word -- a rare feat at any Hollywood party.

Britney Spears could be heading back to an award show stage -- at least that's what US Magazine says. The rag is reporting she was invited to appear this year's Emmys on Sunday, and that she's "weighing the offer," according to an inside Emmy source. "The idea is to have her come on and apologize for the VMAs," the source said.

"I can't say this is 100 percent not true," a source close to Spears said. "All I can say is that the Emmy people aren't dealing with her record company, her manager or her agents at William Morris. So if she is doing anything for the Emmys, then it's not going through official channels."

Might we suggest leaving the bikini at home this time.

"[It's] in the Luxor hotel." Valderrama told PEOPLE last week. "It's a steakhouse [with] a different flavor ... the architecture, the chef, the vibe of the restaurant ... kind of next generation type things."

'The Company' is set to open in the next few weeks. We hope it's as successful as Valderrama's Los Angeles eatery, 'Dolce,' of which he and his ''70s' co-stars Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson share partial ownership.

'American Idol' judge Simon Cowell has never been one to pull verbal punches. Now, his vicious tongue has joined the chorus of critics lashing out at Britney Spears and her disastrous appearance at Sunday's VMAs.

"If she had turned up and given that performance at the X Factor (a British talent competition) auditions, I wouldn't have put her through to the next round," he told London's Sun newspaper. "She could have killed her career. It's difficult to come back from that performance."