Lee DeWyze Is Engaged!

Lee DeWyze, the 2010 winner of American Idol, has some more great news to celebrate.

The singer, 25, is engaged to model/actress Jonna Walsh, he tells PEOPLE exclusively.

"I'm excited," says DeWyze, who popped the question July 16 over champagne on a private yacht under a fireworks-filled sky at Disney World in Orlando. The couple are planning to wed in the fall of 2012.

"Jonna is a Disney freak," he says. "They were playing love songs on the boat and I got down on my knee and asked her. I had a speech prepared but it all went out the window so I just asked her. She started crying and I said, 'Is that a yes?'"

Indeed it was. DeWyze met Walsh last October while shooting a video for his single "Sweet Serendipity." "We were casting and I saw her and said, 'Let's go with her.' I thought she was cute."

"We hung out and we went to a Lakers game on our first date. She's a Lakers fan and I'm a Chicago Bulls fan and we just clicked out of the gate." As for Walsh supporting another team, "We're seeing a counselor about that," he joked.

But DeWyze did seek another sort of counseling two months earlier: He consulted Walsh's sister before choosing an engagement ring.

"We do all kinds of stuff together," the singer says of life in Southern California with his fiancée. "We go to plays and exhibits and Jonna is really into the planning for the wedding."

Though they have been dating for only eight months, DeWyze had no hesitation before popping the question. "When you know, you know," he says. "We both feel that way. We don't need to be together 20 years before we figure it out."

Read more »

Happy Birthday, Selena Gomez! Here Are Some Chic Gifts Justin Bieber Ought To Get You

Oh, Selena Gomez, we are bursting with pride like parents...or at least creepy aunts who pour over the pictures you send and remember things like "how much you loved pink when you were still small." But you aren't small anymore. In fact, you grew up before our very eyes, stepping out from Waverly Place and into the hallowed halls of The Very Adorably Dressed Women In Hollywood. So we wish you a happy 19th, and very gingerly have some teensy-tiny suggestions for what your man Justin Bieber ought to get you for the occasion.


Justin is great, for sure, and you might not know it but we watch the two of you when you aren't noticing and, GURL, it's clear he is so into you. Which is great. But you are definitely the burgeoning style star in this relationship—the one that is stepping out and creating a presence and personality within the fashion community. While we don't have any beef with the MCM bag he got you earlier this month, we think he ought to take a page from your style handbook. Which means, thinking like a 19-year-old girl who has her style game on lock.

So skip the stodgy bags (MCM is a good bet, but a girl can only have so many heritage bags, right?), and go for something youthful. Miu Miu has been making headlines with its stylish parties and your pal Hailee Steinfeld as the ambassador. They just released a killer collection of adorbz sunnies, and for a July lady, nothing could be more sun-shieldingly appropriate. (We also know how, in your youth, you dug a leopard print, and the sparkly ones are super reminiscent of the shoes you rocked at the "Never Say Never" premiere.) Lotsa glitter!

Since it's July and we have sun on the brain, all the hip young girls have been spotted in the embroidered, colorful offerings of Mara Hoffman. This is perfect for Selena because, deep down at heart, there's this bohemian vibe we totally adore. We've seen your bandeau bikinis before, and while they are aight, a colorful but well-tailored swim look would be killer.

Let us know if Justin takes our advice, OK? Maybe if we were invited to the party, we'd have brought one of these sweet treats along, too. Jus' saying.

Read more »

'Glee''s Cory Monteith Is 'Straight But Not Narrow'

Cory Monteith has joined the movement of guys talking to guys about guys who like guys. Phew, say that three times fast. The “Glee” star joined the likes of Avan Jogia of "Victorious" and Josh Hutcherson of the upcoming “The Hunger Games” in saying that they are Straight But Not Narrow (SBNN).

The SBNN movement, founded by Jogia, aims to reach straight guys (and girls), opening their minds about people they know being “straight, gay, and everything in between.” If more and more straight guys start standing up for their LGBT peers, then hopefully much of the bullying toward gay teens will subside.

Cory's character on “Glee,” Finn, knows a thing or two about standing up for his gay stepbrother, Kurt (played by Chris Colfer). He didn't come to that stance without struggling with his own beliefs, but in the end realized he could be a powerful voice against bullying.

SBNN wants to spread open-mindedness, and promote a “who cares?” attitude. Does it really matter who the guy in your history class chooses to date?

"Maybe you like to play football," he says in the video. "Maybe you like to sing and dance. Maybe you like both. Maybe you don't like either. It doesn't matter, just be yourself. Just be you, 'cause that's good enough for me."

Watch the video and let us know what you think. For help establishing an SBNN campaign in your school, contact the Gay, Lesbian and Striaght Education Network (GLSEN), or start a GSA of your own.

Read more »

OMG, Are Justin Timberlake And Jessica Biel Back ON?

Take your Team TimBIELake shirt out of storage, because Us Weekly magazine reports that Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are giving their relationship another shot! In addition to bringing Myspace back, the sexy singer is adding his ex-GF to that order. The pretty pair ended their four-year relationship in March but have been spotted together all over the joint of late, and it seems like they may be seeing each other once again. Perhaps this reunited-and-it-feels-so-good moment comes courtesy of Jessica Biel's recent Revlon commercial with Pharrell Williams. Did Justin see Jessica on his pimped-out bachelor-pad TV advertising mascara and think: "Wait. I could totally get with that?"

Sigh. Sorry, Nicole. You'll just have to wait once again for your shot at single Justin Timberlake.

Read more »

Taylor Swift Cancels Tour Dates Due To Illness

It may be a little difficult for Taylor Swift to Speak Now. The singer canceled several dates on her summer tour after coming down with bronchitis.

According to a statement from her label, Swift has had to shuffle around a few shows because she "has bronchitis, and has been advised by her doctor that she is not well enough to perform this week."

Her July 8 show in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been rescheduled for November 16, and two dates in Atlanta, on July 9 and 10, are now slated for October 1 and 2. "It breaks my heart to miss out on this weekend's shows with my friends in Charlotte and Atlanta," the star in a statement. "I would never cancel if I thought I was physically able to perform these shows. I am so sorry to the fans, but I look forward to seeing you when we come back through your towns, which we will do."

Swift's tour will resume on July 14 in Montreal. Swift canceled a concert in Kentucky over the weekend, marking the first time the singer has ever had to cancel a show due to illness. She alerted her fans to the news on Twitter, writing, "Louisville, I so sorry to have to postpone this show to Oct 11. This is my first time having to do this. I'm so, so sorry."

When Swift spoke to MTV News in May about the Speak Now tour, she explained it would be all about the fans. "That's why I'm so blown away. That's why I can't wait to go out on tour and thank them personally," she explained.

"We get to have such groovy, cool stuff happening. I've never had pyro before. I've never had aerialists before. It's got this grand staircase. The stage in itself looks like an old-world theater. I can't believe we get to play stadiums. I'm so excited about this tour. I want to live on that stage. I hope people leave the concert feeling like they know you better."

Get well SWIFT

Read more »

Usher Has a Pool Party with His Kids in South Beach

• What a sweet dad! Usher and his sons Usher V and Naviyd took a sunny vacation at Acqualina Resort & Spa in Miami Beach. The singer was spotted working out at the hotel's gym and also clocked time with his boys in an oceanfront pool. "They were so cute – all playing in the pool," an onlooker tells us. "It was adorable."

• Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber, nabbing his-and-her pairs of Warby Parker sunglasses at the Shark Attack Sounds Party at Rick's Crabby Cowboy Café in Montauk, N.Y., co-hosted by Watts's photographer brother, Ben. Also partying at the beach blowout: Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio and her boyfriend Jamie Mazur.

• In town for Paris Fashion Week, fashionista (and Super 8 star) Elle Fanning snuck in a hug with designer Karl Lagerfeld after the Chanel show, which didn't even begin until after 10 p.m. Also catching the runway show: Joshua Jackson, who gallantly held an umbrella over girlfriend Diane Kruger's head as she ventured inside.

• Newlyweds Dave Annable and Odette Yustman were spotted with a group of friends at the Diesel store on Melrose Avenue in L.A., talking about their camping excursion at Big Bear over the recent holiday weekend. Says an onlooker: "It's easy to tell they are both really in love!"

Read more »

Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry: Who's The Most Patriotic Diva? Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Christina Aguilera are also in the running this Fourth of July.

happy birthday, America! — and that means it's time to celebrate the most patriotic ladies in music! Whether they're singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" in front of millions or wearing their love of their country on their sleeve (sometimes very literally), these ladies are living the American dream.
And this isn't some arbitrary ranking, either! To determine who the most patriotic divas are, we got positively scientific (just go with it). We assessed these ladies' patriotism based on four areas. Each was awarded one point if she, A) appeared at a patriotic event or in a pro-America public service announcement, B) was photographed wearing American flag-related clothing, C) sang the national anthem at a public event or D) released an America-themed song. The lady with the most points won.
So who are the top America-lovin' ladies in music today? Check 'em out

Britney Spears

Spears famously appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in 2000 wearing an American-flag belly shirt with a play on Uncle Sam's famous saying running beside her: "Britney Wants You!" We decided to be pretty liberal with what constitutes a patriotic event, so we are going to give Spears a combined single point for appearing at two very American (but not specifically about America) events: the NASCAR Winston Cup Pepsi 400 in 2001 and the Super Bowl XXXV halftime show.

Alas, Spears has not released a song specifically about America, despite being "Miss American Dream since I was 17." She also, curiously enough, hasn't performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" in her pop-star era. (There is a six-second YouTube clip of her performing the national anthem at age 8, but she wasn't a sanctioned diva back then.)

Score: 2

Miley Cyrus

We thought of Cyrus for this list specifically because of her good-times jam "Party in the U.S.A.," which is not only about America but weirdly became a bona fide anthem that reflected the mood in the country following the death of Osama Bin Laden.

But just when we thought we could award the young pop star only one point, we stumbled upon her PSA for the American Red Cross, asking for support in the wake of the earthquake that ravaged northern Japan earlier this year. Way to lend your celebrity to both a very American organization and an allied country in dire need, Miley!

Score: 2




Lady Gaga

America is all about being yourself. We are a melting pot, after all. And Lady Gaga is all about being herself, and she wants you to be yourself too — there's nothing more American than that!

We'd love to see her put those killer pipes to use and sing the national anthem, but she hasn't done it just yet. She does earn points, however, in the three other areas of our survey. Gaga is, interestingly, perhaps the pop star most involved in the democratic process. Last year she spoke at the National Equality March and at rallies in Maine to encourage the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. She even appeared in a PSA for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network asking her fans to contact their senators to voice their displeasure with the policy.

On the sartorial front, she sported an American-flag bikini in her "Telephone" video. (Wouldn't you have been more surprised if we had told you that Lady Gaga had never worn the American flag?) She also has a song on her most recent album, Born This Way, called "Americano."

Score: 3

Christina Aguilera

Aguilera is known for her awesome singing voice, so it's no surprise that she has performed the national anthem at several major events, including this year's Super Bowl, where she mangled the lyrics something fierce in an uncommon bout of nervousness. (That's what it was, right? Seriously, she's done "The Star-Spangled Banner" about a thousand times!)

The "Beautiful" singer also filmed PSAs for "Rock the Vote" in 2008 to encourage young people to get out and do their duty as U.S. citizens. In the clips, she sings "America the Beautiful" a cappella while holding her newborn son Max, who is wrapped in an American flag (double points!). Yes, Aguilera herself isn't draped in the flag, but we thought we'd give her the point anyway because of her USO-themed video for "Candyman."

Score: 3

Katy Perry

Perry impresses in three of our categories. Late last year, she performed at the "USO Presents: VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" concert at Miramar, California, where she also wore an American-flag bustier. That is not the only instance of flag-waving clothing Perry has sported, however. During an appearance on British TV show James Corden's "World Cup Live!," Perry wore a latex flag dress.

Given her frequent pro-America attire, we're going to give Perry the benefit of the doubt and count her pro-tolerance anthem "Firework" as an America-themed song, because in America, all men and women are created equal, and that's basically what "Firework" is all about. Also, it's the Fourth of July, people. Fireworks!

Score: 3

Beyoncé

Was it even really a contest? Beyoncé sang (and nailed) "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 2004 Super Bowl in her hometown of Houston, Texas.

What's more American than singing the national anthem at America's most-watched sporting event? Well, perhaps being personally asked by the president to perform at his inauguration. The girl (who runs the world) was asked to sing "At Last" while Barack and Michelle Obama had their first dance as president and first lady of the United States.

Beyoncé recently released a cover of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." to benefit the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund. (Seriously, could she be more awesome?) Having worn the American flag as a dress to get down opposite Lady Gaga in the video for "Telephone," Queen B is the only diva who fulfills all our categories.

When it comes to Beyoncé and America, we could go on and on — she recently repurposed one of her hits for Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" anti-obesity campaign, and in 2001, she performed with Destiny's Child at the United We Stand: What More Can I Give? benefit concert at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. — wearing American-flag pants, we might add. But it's the Fourth of July, and we think a real patriot like B would prefer you get out and celebrate America's 235th birthday instead of celebrating her dedication to the US of A!

Score: 4 (OMG, you guys, not only is 4 B's lucky number, it's the name of her latest record!)

Read more »

Nutritious (And Delicious!) Fourth of July Recipes From Chef Soa Davies

Happy Fourth of July! ...Almost. We're gonna go ahead and guess that store-bought red, white and blue sugar cookies might already be in your cupboard. Cheeseburger patties and hot dogs in the freezer, perhaps? Don't worry--you wouldn't be the only one.

Summer BBQs can be slippery slopes. Chef Soa Davies from New York's famed Le Bernadin restaurant passed on some recipes to help give our classic cookout menus a little variety. Impress your friends with a gourmet spread and add these to the mix. Thank you, Soa!

+ Romaine and Vegetable Salad with Toasted Sesame Vinaigrette
6 servings (Per Serving: 95 calories, 2 grams total fat)

+ Vinaigrette:
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
pinch of red chili flakes (optional)
freshly ground black pepper

In a mixing bowl, combine vinegar, lime juice, soy sauce and chili flakes; whisking constantly, drizzle in both oils until fully incorporated. Season to taste with pepper. The vinaigrette can be made the day before and kept refrigerated.

+ Salad:
1 small head romaine lettuce, washed and trimmed
6 medium red radishes, thinly sliced
1 small carrot, peeled and sliced
1 English cucumber, peeled, seeded and sliced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, washed and halved
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)

In a medium bowl, combine all of the lettuce and vegetables; toss with 6 tablespoons of sesame vinaigrette and season with salt and pepper. Garnish the top of salad with toasted sesame seeds.

+ Grilled Salmon with Lemon and Dill on Zucchini Fettuccini
6 servings (Per Serving: 230 calories, 10 grams total fat)

+ Grilled Salmon with Lemon and Dill:
6 (6 ounce) salmon fillets, skin and bones removed
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
2 lemons, cut in half
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Prepare a grill.
Season the fish evenly with salt and pepper, and brush each of the salmon fillets with vegetable oil; sprinkle the dill over the salmon and let marinate while the grill is getting hot. When the grill is hot, place the salmon fillets over the coals and cook for about 3 minutes. Turn the fish and continue cooking another 3 minutes until the fish starts to look opaque. Test the doneness by inserting a metal skewer into the fish and hold for 5 seconds; remove the skewer from the salmon; the skewer should be just barely warm when touched to the bottom of your lip. Remove the salmon from the grill and serve on a bed of zucchini fettuccini (see below) and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

+ Zucchini Fettuccini:
4 medium zucchini
6 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup loosely packed Italian parsley leaves, torn
salt and pepper

While the salmon is marinating, wash the zucchini and with a vegetable peeler, peel long thin ribbons of zucchini.
When ready to serve, heat a large sauté pan, add olive oil and zucchini “fettuccini”; lightly sauté until tender. Season the fettuccini with salt, pepper and fresh parsley. Serve the poached fish on a bed of zucchini fettuccini.

+ Marinated Strawberries and Blueberries with Meringue Cookies
6 servings (Per Serving: 180 calories; about 2 grams of total fat, depending on cookies.)

1 pint hulled and quartered fresh strawberries
1 pint blueberries
¼ cup orange juice
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
3 tablespoons agave syrup or 4 tablespoons brown sugar
Meringue cookies (see recipe below or from the store)

In a bowl, whisk together the orange juice, orange zest and agave syrup. Add strawberries and blueberries, and toss to combine. Cover and let refrigerate for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve the marinated berries in a bowl with meringue cookies.

Meringue Cookies (If you have a standing mixer, this will be a lot easier)
Makes 3 dozen cookies

4 large egg whites
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 cup sugar

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Place the egg whites and lemon juice in a standing mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar and beat on high speed until the whites are shiny and stiff, about 7 to 10 minutes. Fit a pastry bag with a star tip. Fill the bag with egg-white mixture and pipe rosettes about an inch in diameter onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 2 hours or until the cookies are dry.

#AMERICAFUCKYEAH

Read more »