Norah Jones ready with star-studded album

Singer Norah Jones is releasing a star-studded duets album.

It features collaborations with artists including the Foo Fighters, Dolly Parton and Outkast.

The Come Away With Me hitmaker has recorded the new disc, titled Featuring, which includes duets on several tracks from the last ten years. It is due for release in November.

Jones also collaborated with Willie Nelson, Ray Charles and indie rockers Belle & Sebastian on the album.

'It's so exciting and flattering and fun when I get asked to sing with somebody that I admire. It takes you a little bit out of your comfort zone when you're doing something with another artist,' the Daily star quoted Norah as saying.

'You don't know what to expect -- it's kind of like being a little kid and having a playdate,' she added.

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Michael Jackson's mom and children have filed a lawsuit accusing production company AEG Live of breaching its agreement to provide physical care for the star and negligent in their hiring of Dr Conrad Murray as MJ's physician.

In the suit, Katherine Jackson claims AEG's contract with Michael "created a legal duty for AEG to act reasonably toward the physical well-being of Michael Jackson," reports TMZ.com.

Katherine also blames AEG for hiring Dr Murray without a proper background check claiming, "AEG did not provide a doctor who was truly looking out for Jackson's well-being and did not provide equipment."

The suit also alleges AEG caused emotional distress to Michael's son Prince because he witnessed Michael suffering and dying, and "he was put in a position as bystander to these tragic events."

Kenny Ortega, who produced the planned London concerts for Michael, is also named as a defendant.

'The purpose of this lawsuit is to prove to the world the truth about what happened to Michael Jackson, once and for all,' said Brian J Panish, the attorney who filed the suit, in a released statement.

Lady Gaga was branded ''a childish diva'' by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, according to the singer's biographer.

The British-born journalist met GaGa back in May when she performed at Anna's Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala.

'She (Lady GaGa) sort of had a meltdown before she went on and as it was described to me, Anna was really none too pleased with her. Anna wasn't impressed. She thought she was just behaving like a childish diva and not the professional who was about to perform for her peers; these incredibly famous designers and celebrities,' the Sun quoted Maureen Callahan, author of much-anticipated biography 'Poker Face: The Rise and Rise of Lady Gaga', as saying.

'She sequestered herself in the back room for a good hour. She was late to perform and I also heard that she had been demanding things. She went to Anna at the last minute and was saying, ''I'd like it to be this way.

"And Anna just said no. I don't think she's used to hearing that very often. When you're dealing with two egos like that, it gets interesting,' she added.

Russell Crowe is set to make a foray into kung fu, for he's collaborating with Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA to star in a new movie.

The Gladiator' actor will star in The Man With the Iron Fist alongside the hip-hop star, who will also be directing the film.

Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, who previously worked with Crowe on Ridley Scott's American Gangster and upcoming movie The Next Three Days, will play a blacksmith in the film, but the star is keeping Crowe's role under wraps.

'I won't spoil it for you, but Russell's gonna be the baddest man alive. That man is in fighting shape. That man will knock you out. It's nerve-wracking (directing Crowe). He's a master of the craft. I'm quite sure that I may learn something from him,' the Daily Express quoted Diggs as telling E! Online.

Inglourious Basterds star Eli Roth is co-writing and co-producing the project, which is due to begin filming in Shanghai, China in December.

The Libertine star John Malkovich is set to play the role of an 18th century Casanova in a new Austrian theatre production.

The Hollywood actor is to star as an aged Casanova in The Giacomo Variations, which is described as a mix between a play and an opera and music has been provided by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

'It's the closest I'll ever get to realizing my boyhood dream of being in the Vienna Boys' Choir,' the Mirror quoted John as telling to an Australian radio station.

The Giacomo Variations is slated to premiere at Vienna's Ronacher Theatre in the beginning of the next year.

Imprisoned popstar George Michael has been placed in solitary confinement after being taunted by jail inmates.

The Careless Whispers hitmaker who was sentenced to eight weeks for drug driving, is in Pentonville Prison, North London, a high-risk unit which houses rapists and paedophiles.

The 47-year-old has now been placed in a segregation unit after prison governors decided it was too risky to put the singer in with the general prison population, reported Mirror online.

Michael was sentenced to eight weeks on Tuesday for crashing his car while high on cannabis. "George is currently in a segregation cell because his high profile makes him a target for any thug who wants to make a name for himself," said a source in the prison unit.

The gay singer, swapped the grey pin-striped suit he wore to court, for prison-issue blue jeans and a T-shirt before being taken to his cell, which is furnished with a bunk bed, toilet, TV and radio.

His first morning in prison was a far cry from his luxury lifestyle. He was woken at 7.30 am and had to make do with cornflakes for breakfast. Fellow prisoners taunted Michael on his first morning, singing versions of his hits Freedom and Faith.

"George was locked up in his cell having breakfast when an inmate burst into song. He sang the lyrics to Freedom and a couple of others joined in. They then burst out laughing. Other prisoners chanted,'Guilty George has got no Freedom'," added the source.

Prison regulations mean that Michael is not allowed any visitors for his first 48 hours behind bars. But he was allowed a three-minute phone call to boyfriend Kenny Goss.