After years of dodging rumors of drug usage, US sprinter Marion Jones has finally admitted to using steroids during her career. Check out the story below, via The Washington Post:

Track star Marion Jones has acknowledged using steroids as she prepared for the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney and is scheduled to plead guilty today in New York to two counts of lying to federal agents about her drug use and an unrelated financial matter. Jones, who won five medals at the Sydney Olympics, said she took the steroid known as “the clear” for two years beginning in 1999, according to the letter. A source familiar with Jones’s legal situation who requested anonymity confirmed the relevant facts that were described in the letter. Marion Jones, who won five medals at the Sydney Olympics, says she took the steroid known as “the clear” for two years beginning in 1999, according to a letter Jones sent to close family and friends.

“I want to apologize to you all for all of this,” Jones said. “I am sorry for disappointing you all in so many ways.”

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I personally am very disappointed in her. Growing up, I remember watching Marion at the Atlanta Olympics and being a fan since. I even defended her when all this drug mess came about. SMH…

Pussycat Doll front-woman, Nicole Scherzinger, recently performed her new single ‘Baby Love’ on Pepsi Smash. Blah. Sorry but the song is straight garbage. What’s worst is that her label really seem to be hoping for this song to do big things, so much so that they are billing it as the album’s ‘first official single’. I guess they are hoping we forget about the major flop that was ‘Whatever You Like’.

The cast of Tyler Perry’s ‘Why Did I get Married’ glammed it up for the movie’s premiere in Hollywood, California yesterday. The film which opens in theatres across the US on October 12th, stars, among others, Perry, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott and Sharon Leal.

A host of big names from the entertainment industry were also came out to support the film. Inclusive were Janet’s new Island Def Jam label head LA Reid, her brothers Tito and Jermaine, Jimmy Jam, Eva Pigford and Magic Johnson.

Janet and her brothers Tito and Jermaine

R&B singer Kelly Rowland will be embarking on a North American concert tour in support of her recently released ‘Ms. Kelly’ album. The two month trek will begin on October 28th in Seattle, Washington and run through till December 1st. R&B crooner Mario will be serving as the opening act on the majority of the dates. Check out the full tour stop details below:

Sun 10/28 Seattle, WA Showbox
Tues 10/30 Sacramento, CA Empire Events Center
Wed 10/31 San Francisco, CA Mezzanine
Thu 11/1 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
Sat 11/3 Reno, NV Silver Legacy Casino (Kelly only)
Thu 11/8 Phoenix, AZ Celebrity Theatre
Sat 11/10 Albuquerque, NM Route 66
Sun 11/11 El Paso, Texas Blu
Thu 11/15 Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom
Sat 11/17 New Orleans, LA House of Blues
Wed 11/21 Verona, NY Turningstone
Fri 11/23 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues
Sun 11/25 Detroit, MI Plan B
Thu 11/29 Las Vegas, NV Orleans Casino (Kelly only)
Fri 11/30 Las Vegas, NV Orleans Casino (Kelly only)
Sat 12/1 Las Vegas, NV Orleans Casino (Kelly only)

With Tyler Perry’s ‘Why Did I Get Married’ set to hit theatres on October 12th, Perry along with co-stars Jill Scott and Janet Jackson were guests on the Oprah show yesterday (October 3rd). Check out the videos from thier appearance below:

As the release date for Jennifer Lopez’s new album ‘Brave’ draws nearer, the singer/actress is making the promotional rounds in support of the CD. This time she features on cover of the October/November issue of GIANT magazine. The rumored to be pregnant Lopez is currently on a world tour with her husband Marc Anthony.

Despite selling close to 300,000 copies of her sophomore album ‘Just Like You’ this week (debuting at #2), R&B singer Keyshia Cole was not in high spirits during a recent radio interview. While being questioned on the Big Phat Morning Show to promote the CD, Cole came across snappy, rude and very unprofessional. Thankfully, the radio host called her out and let her know that her attitude was unnecessary considering that they were showing her love and support.

Though the situation was ironed out before the end of the interview, Keyshia really needs to fix up with her attitude. It’s not the first time her unprofessional behaviour has been brought to light. With her increased success, you’d think she’d be humble, but obviously that is not the case. She really needs to remind herself of the industry she is in, because an attitude like that won’t go far.

In related news, Artist/producer, The Dream has told Billboard that he will never work with the ‘Wall to Wall’ singer again. Dream, the writer of ‘Umbrella’ and Nivea’s husband said Brown showed a bad attitude towards him, stemming from the handling of Dream’s track ‘Bed’ – which later saw success when recorded by J. Holiday:

“The track was considered for Chris Brown — he thought it was his — but it was my record and I decided to give it up to J. Holiday,” The-Dream explained to Billboard.com. “Chris said the record won’t be No. 1 unless he’s on it. I bet someone $500,000 that it would go to No. 1 and I collected my money just last week.”
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It is being reported that Ashanti’s long-awaited return to the charts has been delayed – by a week. The R&B star’s forthcoming album ‘The Declaration’ was originally slated to hit stores on December 4th, however has now been pushed to December 11th. Many are attributing the date-change to the fact that Mariah Carey’s eagerly anticipated album is also dropping on December 4th.

In other Ashanti news, the video for her new single ‘Hey Baby (After The Club) will be shot this weekend in Los Angeles. Famed director Hype Williams is set to direct the vid.

Whatever the true reason for the delay, it makes alot of sense from a business stand-point. Though on different labels, both Ashanti (Motown) and Mariah (Def Jam) come under the Universal Music umbrella, hence going head-to-head wouldn’t be smart. Universal will, no doubt, be looking to maximise the success of both projects. Anyway, ‘Hey Baby’ has really grown on me and I’m thinking Ashanti may be onto a hit with this one. I’m definitely anticipating the vid.

If you didn’t think Ray J could sink any lower, he can and is. The ‘singer’ is prepping the release of a Superhead-type book, detailing his sexual encounters. Check out the story below via Black Voices:

The BV Newswire has exclusively learned that Ray-J is in the final stages of completing his memoir, tentatively titled ‘Sex Machine.’

The book, due out next spring via Karen Hunter Publishing/Pocket Books, will detail the hip-hop soul crooner’s rise to fame (as a chart-topping recording artist) and infamy (as the co-star of a no-holds-barred, hard-core adult video with alleged Hollywood socialite Kim Kardashian).

Tales of having sex with more than 1,100 women will definitely raise eyebrows for the 26-year-old heart-throb who has been romantically linked to Whitney Houston, Lil’ Kim and fellow author Karrine Steffans (a.k.a. Superhead).

Former pop superstar Brandy’s little brother will continue to prove he isn’t little anymore with his foray into the literary world.

Family affairs – including his sister’s fatal car crash – will also be documented, along with a full exploration of his sexual prowess dating all the way back to his first experience at age 10.

Ray J is really beyond a joke now. A mess.