Bring That Week Back!

Bey says it was very painful. Get this and the rest of the week's top stories!

Painful Role - Beyoncé says playing Etta James in "Cadillac Records" was no joke. She says it was painful to take up the character of James, who was addicted to drugs and had a host of other problems in her life. To do that, Bey says she had to go "to the darkest spots" of her mind.

1 / 18

Painful Role - Beyoncé says playing Etta James in "Cadillac Records" was no joke. She says it was painful to take up the character of James, who was addicted to drugs and had a host of other problems in her life. To do that, Bey says she had to go "to the darkest spots" of her mind.

No Sale - If you thought you were going to get your hands on Fantasia's $1.1 million home, you were wrong. The auction of her Charlotte, N.C. home was called off this week after the singer and a lending company reached a deal. The 24-year-old singer still owes $65,000 – money she borrowed in 2006 to pay back taxes to the IRS.

2 / 18

Evicted?! - Fantasia is again finding out that, like her book, "Life Is Not a Fairy Tale.” One of her houses in Charlotte, N.C., has been put on the auction block because the "Idol" champ reportedly failed to pay back a loan to cover her taxes in 2006. Unless she can make payments, it'll be auctioned off on Jan. 12.

Moving Forward - Less than two months after three of her family members were fatally shot in Chicago, J. Hud is getting back to work. She's scheduled to begin filming a video for her single, "If It Isn't Love," next week.

3 / 18

Moving Forward - Less than two months after three of her family members were fatally shot in Chicago, J. Hud is getting back to work. She's scheduled to begin filming a video for her single, "If It Isn't Love," next week.

Found Dead - Harry Bentley, the English neighbor who used to butt in all the time on "The Jeffersons," was found dead Monday on Martha's Vineyard. Paul Benedict was 70. The cause of death is under investigation.

4 / 18

Found Dead - Harry Bentley, the English neighbor who used to butt in all the time on "The Jeffersons," was found dead Monday on Martha's Vineyard. Paul Benedict was 70. The cause of death is under investigation.

He Killed Himself - Actor De’Angelo Wilson, who starred in Eminem’s hit movie “8 Mile,” was found dead of an apparent suicide, The Dayton Daily News reports. The actor apparently hanged himself Nov. 26, just one day before Thanksgiving.

5 / 18

He Killed Himself - Actor De’Angelo Wilson, who starred in Eminem’s hit movie “8 Mile,” was found dead of an apparent suicide, The Dayton Daily News reports. The actor apparently hanged himself Nov. 26, just one day before Thanksgiving.

ADVERTISEMENT
Seeking New Trial - O.J.'s lawyers plan to launch an immediate appeal in his case. They're seeking a new trial and asking the court to grant Simpson a release on bail while awaiting the possibility of a new trial. Simpson was sentenced Friday to up to 33 years in prison for his armed effort to get back some memorabilia he said belonged to him.

6 / 18

Seeking New Trial - O.J.'s lawyers plan to launch an immediate appeal in his case. They're seeking a new trial and asking the court to grant Simpson a release on bail while awaiting the possibility of a new trial. Simpson was sentenced Friday to up to 33 years in prison for his armed effort to get back some memorabilia he said belonged to him.

Perry Wins - A jury rejected claims of a woman who accused Tyler Perry of stealing her play to make his movie, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman." The jury said Donna West didn't present evidence to back up her claim that Perry bit off her production of "Fantasy of a Black Woman." Lawyers for West say they plan to seek a new trial.

7 / 18

Perry Wins - A jury rejected claims of a woman who accused Tyler Perry of stealing her play to make his movie, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman." The jury said Donna West didn't present evidence to back up her claim that Perry bit off her production of "Fantasy of a Black Woman." Lawyers for West say they plan to seek a new trial.

Bond In Reversal - So much for being ready to step down. Julian Bond has decided to go ahead and seek another term as chairman of the NAACP's national board. The veteran civil rights leader announced three weeks ago that he wouldn't do that. But he says he has changed his mind.

8 / 18

Bond In Reversal - So much for being ready to step down. Julian Bond has decided to go ahead and seek another term as chairman of the NAACP's national board. The veteran civil rights leader announced three weeks ago that he wouldn't do that. But he says he has changed his mind.

Governor's Corruption - The governor of Illinois was allegedly caught trying to sell Obama’s Senate seat to the highest bidder. Rod Blagojevich is in federal custody and charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and solicitation of bribery, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.

9 / 18

Governor's Corruption - The governor of Illinois was allegedly caught trying to sell Obama’s Senate seat to the highest bidder. Rod Blagojevich is in federal custody and charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and solicitation of bribery, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.

Messy Jesse? - The FBI is investigating whether Jesse Jr. was involved in a scandal to buy and sell Obama’s senate seat. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich claimed Jackson Jr. would raise more than $1 million for his campaign war chest in exchange for getting Barack Obama's Senate seat.

10 / 18

Messy Jesse? - The FBI is investigating whether Jesse Jr. was involved in a scandal to buy and sell Obama’s senate seat. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich claimed Jackson Jr. would raise more than $1 million for his campaign war chest in exchange for getting Barack Obama's Senate seat.

ADVERTISEMENT
She’s Coming Too! - Oprah is following Obama to D.C. She will be hosting a live episode of her show on Jan. 19 – the day before the president-elect takes the oath of office. There will be another show the day after the inauguration.

11 / 18

She’s Coming Too! - Oprah is following Obama to D.C. She will be hosting a live episode of her show on Jan. 19 – the day before the president-elect takes the oath of office. There will be another show the day after the inauguration.

'Dumb' Comment - The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, President-elect Barack Obama's controversial former pastor, made headlines again this week by referring to one of his harshest critics, Elisabeth Hasselbeck of ABC's "The View," as "that dumb broad." Wright also said Obama made a "bad decision" in cutting ties with his former church.

12 / 18

'Dumb' Comment - The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, President-elect Barack Obama's controversial former pastor, made headlines again this week by referring to one of his harshest critics, Elisabeth Hasselbeck of ABC's "The View," as "that dumb broad." Wright also said Obama made a "bad decision" in cutting ties with his former church.

Bobby’s Book - Bobby Brown is cashing in on his marriage to Whitney Houston. The singer decided to tell it all in an unauthorized book in which he suggests Whitney drove him to doing drugs and the real reason why he left New Edition. "Bobby Brown: The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But...” hit stores Wednesday (Dec. 10).

13 / 18

Bobby’s Book - Bobby Brown is cashing in on his marriage to Whitney Houston. The singer decided to tell it all in an unauthorized book in which he suggests Whitney drove him to doing drugs and the real reason why he left New Edition. "Bobby Brown: The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But...” hit stores Wednesday (Dec. 10).

Caught! - A day after a $5,000 reward was offered by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s office for his capture, fugitive rapper DMX, born Earl Simmons, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday (Dec. 9) on a warrant issued by a Phoenix judge after he failed to appear in court last Friday.

14 / 18

Caught! - A day after a $5,000 reward was offered by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s office for his capture, fugitive rapper DMX, born Earl Simmons, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday (Dec. 9) on a warrant issued by a Phoenix judge after he failed to appear in court last Friday.

Off the Hook - Suge Knight is off the hook in a drug and battery case in Las Vegas. A judge has dismissed the charges filed against the founder of Death Row Records without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could revive the charges in the future. Knight was accused of beating a woman in a parking lot.

15 / 18

Off the Hook - Suge Knight is off the hook in a drug and battery case in Las Vegas. A judge has dismissed the charges filed against the founder of Death Row Records without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could revive the charges in the future. Knight was accused of beating a woman in a parking lot.

ADVERTISEMENT
NFL Laying Off - Not even the NFL is recession proof. Commissioner Roger Goodell says at least 10 percent of the people who work for the league will lose their jobs. Goodell says the dive in the nation's economy is likely to put a dent in ticket sales next year.

16 / 18

NFL Laying Off - Not even the NFL is recession proof. Commissioner Roger Goodell says at least 10 percent of the people who work for the league will lose their jobs. Goodell says the dive in the nation's economy is likely to put a dent in ticket sales next year.

Coming Back - Sources close to Ginuwine say he's working on a new CD. The highly anticipated album, which reportedly features writing and production from Bryan Michael Cox, is expected to be on store shelves in April 2009. His first single from the album is expected to hit the radio in January.

17 / 18

Coming Back - Sources close to Ginuwine say he's working on a new CD. The highly anticipated album, which reportedly features writing and production from Bryan Michael Cox, is expected to be on store shelves in April 2009. His first single from the album is expected to hit the radio in January.

Got the Cash? - Want a chance to duet with Aretha Franklin? You can – for the right price. The highest bidder at an auction to benefit the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights will get the chance to join Franklin for a sing-along or get musical advice from Clive Davis, the longtime A&R record exec. The auction is being run by “Charitybuzz.com,” a Web-based company.

18 / 18

Got the Cash? - Want a chance to duet with Aretha Franklin? You can – for the right price. The highest bidder at an auction to benefit the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights will get the chance to join Franklin for a sing-along or get musical advice from Clive Davis, the longtime A&R record exec. The auction is being run by “Charitybuzz.com,” a Web-based company.