Jasmina Anema, who captured the hearts of President Obama, Rihanna and thousands of ordinary Americans, lost her courageous fight against leukemia today.

The little girl was just six years old.

“Today, January 27, at 10:55 p.m., Jasmina lost her fight against leukemia,” her grief-stricken mother wrote to a sad group of supporters who that rallied around Jasmine’s worldwide, public campaign to find bone-marrow donors.

President Barack Obama himself commented on the sand news, releasing a statement:

Jasmina Anema was not lacking for celebrity support.

“It is with great sadness that Michelle and I extend our condolences on the passing of Jasmina Anema … she showed tremendous bravery, and her ability to remain positive was an inspiration to me and to all those she touched.”

Jasmina Anema’s story gained publicity last year when Rihanna made a public plea for bone-marrow donors to come forward. As a result, Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams, NBA star Paul Pierce and others joined the cause.

Jasmina received her transplant last year when a near-perfect match was found. But in September, her leukemia returned, though she always remained positive.

Rest in peace, Jasmina, and may your inspiring story give hope to others out there waging similar struggles, and to those who lend a hand to others in need.

Filed under: R.I.P.
by Free Britney
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Author J.D. Salinger, whose novel Catcher in the Rye has long been among the most popular and treasured titles in contemporary American literature, died Wednesday.

He was 91.

The author died of natural causes at his home in Cornish, N.H., his son said this morning in a statement released by Salinger’s literary representative.

Notoriously private despite his fame, Salinger’s last published work came in 1965, and he lived for the past several decades in self-imposed isolation.

Salinger earned his place in literary and pop culture history more than a half-century ago with his 1951 novel about rebellious teenager Holden Caulfield.

R.I.P. J.D. Salinger (1919-2010).

Filed under: R.I.P.
by Free Britney
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For Christina Aguilera, preparing for her role as a singer and performance artist in her first film, Burlesque, is clearly doing her body good! “I’m bringing my A-game and taking it very seriously,” she tells In Touch. Her trainer of five years, Tee Sorge, reveals that the 29-year-old star is rehearsing 14 hours a day and says a lot of that time is spent dancing. “She’s tremendously happy and feels really strong,” Sorge tells In Touch. The busy mother is also squeezing intense weight-training sessions into her busy schedule two to five times a week. “We want to make sure she doesn’t lose her muscle mass or too much weight,” her trainer says. So, Christina starts with a 10-minute warm-up on the treadmill and then goes straight into lifting weights. “We work the entire upper body by doing everything from bicep curls to tricep dips,” says Sorge. “Christina does three sets of each exercise and uses weights ranging from five to 15 pounds.” But her favorite thing to do is work her abs, and Sorge reveals the star does 300 to 500 sit-ups a session! When it comes to her diet, Christina has always been “good” says Sorge, but now she’s eating exceptionally healthy. “We took out all the whites, like white rice and white sugars,” says Sorge. “She’s sticking to whole grains and lean proteins.” Luckily for her, she has one cheat day a week. “Her goal now is just to be fit,” Sorge tells In Touch.

Filed under: InTouch - Latest News
by In Touch Weekly Magazine
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Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney, one of the most controversial (and successful) couples in the history of The Bachelor, are getting married in just over a month.

ABC will be televising it in a two-hour special.

The Bachelor: Jason and Molly’s Wedding, will air Monday, March 8. We’re fairly sure that’s one week after the current season finale, which would make sense.

The big wedding special for Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney will also show the bride’s dress fitting, planning for the day, bachelor/bachelorette parties, etc.

Past participants of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette will be on hand, which probably goes with the territory when Mike Fleiss gets to plan your nuptials.

The Bachelor’s 0-13 marriage steak is about to come to an end! Well, technically not, as Molly Malaney didn’t receive Jason Mesnick’s final rose … but close enough!

The Bachelor wedding is only the second such event in the franchise’s 19 seasons. The Bachelorette star Trista Rehn married Ryan Sutter on TV in 2003.

Jason proposed to Molly Malaney in New Zealand, the site of the infamous March 2009 season finale where he initially chose Melissa Rycroft instead of her.

He soon broke up with Melissa and asked Molly for another chance on the After the Final Rose special. She said yes, and they got engaged in October.

Mesnick first became a franchise fixture as runner-up on DeAnna Pappas’ edition of The Bachelorette. He then became The Bachelor‘s first single dad.

Filed under: Celebrity Weddings - Jason Mesnick - Molly Malaney - The Bachelor
by Free Britney
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Unlike the Oprah Winfrey autobiography we wrote about earlier today, the following book is actually going forward. To the chagrin of numerous trees that will be killed in its name.

In response to her ex-husband’s recent memoir, which labeled her an “abusive alcoholic,” Linda Hogan is preparing a tell-all of her own.

It will focus on her turbulent relationship with Hulk Hogan; her son’s 2007 car accident; and “how much better life is now that she is no longer married,” her attorney, Ray Rafool, said.

Rafool also labeled the upcoming book as “uplifting,” which we can only assume is a reference to where her skirt ends up every night in bed with 19-year old Charlie Hill.

“She will include all the trials she endured during the marriage, Nick’s accident and the things she has accomplished,” Rafool told Fox News. “Linda wants people to know her – she understands what it is like to get a divorce, to be a mother with grown children and establish a career and move forward.”

That career? Bitter ex-reality star.

Rafool adds that Hulk Hogan probably won’t like the book. If it includes more references to her daughter’s boob job and banging habits, Brooke Hogan might not be a fan of it, either.

Filed under: Linda Hogan
by EricContributor
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The State of the Union address by President Barack Obama Wednesday provided plenty of sound bites, but MSNBC’s Chris Matthews probably had the night’s best.

Or at least the most discussed.

“I forgot he was black tonight for an hour,” said Matthews, to which puzzled people across the country reacted somewhere along the lines of [crickets] or “lol wut.”

Taken in context, Matthews meant it as praise for Obama as a uniter, a “post-racial” president who has “brought us so far.” Still, not the best word choice, Chris.

“I think he’s done something wonderful,” Matthews later explained. “I think he’s taken us beyond black and white in our politics, wonderfully so, in just a year.”

Here’s the clip. Check it out and share your reactions below …

Chris Matthews’ comments on Obama are …

Filed under: Barack Obama - Chris Matthews
by Free Britney
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Jon Gosselin has been accused of dating Morgan Christie because she’s loaded. What the 25-year-old sees in him, however, has remained a mystery.

Well, kind of. According to a friend of the Connecticut native, it’s all about the 15 minutes of fame. Wow. You’re kidding. Who would have guessed?!

“No doubt she’s doing it for publicity. It’s all about getting her picture taken,” said the pal. “I mean, there is nothing attractive about Jon Gosselin.”

No argument there, pal.

He and Morgan have been parading around Park City, Utah, where the Sundance Film Festival is being held. Here’s a shot of the snowy couple …

“Why would Morgan want to be with an older, overweight man with eight kids?” the friend, a classmate of Morgan’s at Emory University, continued.

“In my opinion this is just her way of rebelling against her family. And knowing her family, I’m really surprised that they’re okay with this.”

So are we. Morgan Christie, who has relatives in Utah, met Jon Gosselin while he was vacationing in Park City over Thanksgiving weekend.

The two have reportedly moved in together, or Jon is seriously considering moving to Utah to be nearer to her full time, according to reports.

Morgan is definitely getting her money’s worth. But is her new notoriety worth the price – and is there any way this can possibly end well?

Filed under: Jon Gosselin - Morgan Christie
by Free Britney
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With an original song, and a controversial background, Todrick Hall was featured on last night’s Dallas-based audition episode of American Idol.

But there was another contestant in the city that impressed the judges enough to garner a ticket to Hollywood, despite not appearing on the actual episode:

Casey James is a Fort Worth resident and the lead singer and guitarist of The Casey James band. It features his brother Billy and a friend named Jacy McCann.

Sources state that James has advanced to this season’s top 24, which will be announced on February 17. There’s good reason to believe that rumor: all YouTube performances by the singer have been removed, a common step taken by American Idol producers for a contestant that advances in Hollywood.

For now, all we can offer is the following photo of Casey, as well as the news that he’ll likely be features on this Wednesday’s “Best of the Rest” audition installment.

Filed under: American Idol - Casey James
by Hilton Hater
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What started out as a summer fling may end with a quickie engagement ring! According to an insider, after dating for just six months, Renée Zellweger and boyfriend Bradley Cooper are planning to walk down the aisle. “Bradley has fast-tracked the romance and he’s ready to get married,” explains the insider, who adds that a wedding will take place sooner than later. In fact, the Hangover star is so eager to tie the knot, that before appearing on Late Show with David Letterman on January 7, Bradley took the time to shop for a ring in New York. “He already has a setting he likes, but he visited various jewelers on 47th Street, including I. Friedman & Son, to look for a stone,” the insider reveals. The actor even went alone so he wouldn’t draw attention to himself. “He wore a hat and dark glasses and just walked right in.” The couple, who have each been married before, may be moving fast, but that doesn’t mean that Bradley, 35, won’t pop the question in a traditional way. “He is old-fashioned,” the insider says. “He’ll probably get down on one knee and propose in a romantic setting — and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was on Valentine’s Day.”

Filed under: InTouch - Latest News
by In Touch Weekly Magazine
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Everyone on The Bachelor hates Vienna Girardi.

We’re starting to understand the reason (or two reasons) why the only one who’s opinion matters, star Jake Pavelka, has taken a liking to her, however.

ABC’s official “bio” for Vienna Girardi, who has quickly become the enemy of every other girl left on the series, lists her as a “marketing representative.”

Looks like they conveniently left out some of her free-time pursuits …

Vienna Girardi sure can strategically wear a scarf, and clean up nice.

The above pic, unearthed by some site called Hollywood Life, is from a pinup calendar sent to over 2,500 clients and friends of C.O.D. Trees, Inc. of Oviedo, Fla., in 2009.

We have no idea what any of that means. What we do know is that it will surely fuel the fire for V’s haters (as if rumors of her dating someone else weren’t enough).

One wonders how Jake will feel when he finds out about this.

The Bachelor spoilers we’ve read project Vienna as one of the final girls standing. If that’s true, we can see this (topless!) bomb being dropped on Jake soon enough.

You know Mike Fleiss is salivating over this … possibly in more ways than one.

Filed under: The Bachelor - Vienna Girardi
by Free Britney
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