And the whole world has to answer right now just to tell you once again: Who’s back?
Michael Jackson’s comeback album is one step closer to reality. The King of Pop plans to have new music out before the end of the year, billboard.com reports, and he already has a top producer on board: will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas.
“He could go anywhere,” will.i.am told Billboard of Jackson’s musical direction. “I think we have a real opportunity to do something here. It’s either going to be really big or nobody’s going to care. Ain’t no middle ground on this one.”
Jackson complimented the Peas’ rapper/producer in an interview with “Access Hollywood” in October. “I think he’s doing wonderful, innovative, positive, great music,” Jackson said at the time.
Meanwhile, Akon and Chris Brown are among the big names rumored to be in talks to collaborate on Jackson’s effort, according to Billboard, but neither singer has confirmed he is involved.
Comebacks seem to be en vogue since Mariah Carey dropped her chart-topping “The Emancipation of Mimi.” So where does Jacko rank on the RedEye’s list of recent and upcoming returns to the spotlight?
Welcome back
Mariah Carey
Success. “Mimi” was a hit with fans and Grammy voters alike.
Britney Spears
We’ll see. The pop tart’s inevitable try at a musical comeback should generate headlines, if nothing else.
Dr. Dre
We’ll see. The good doctor says his hotly anticipated album is finally coming out this year.
ChristinaAguilera
So-so. “Back to Basics” spawned a hit in “Ain’t No Other Man,” but didn’t quite echo Xtina’s success at the height of her stardom.
“Live Free or Die Hard”
We’ll see. Unlike Stallone, Willis has enjoyed some recent hits (“Sin City,” “The Sixth Sense”).
Courteney Cox
We’ll see. The “Friends” actress is finally back on the small screen with the FX series “Dirt.” Critics are giving the show, which premiered Tuesday, middling reviews.
“Rocky Balboa”
Success. Stallone went from punchline to box office king, with Rocky scoring more than $50 million so far.
Guns N’ Roses
We’ll see. The album is finally coming out. Does Axl Rose still have enough fans that care?
“Indiana Jones”
We’ll see. Why Harrison, why?
Wedding bells
The Madden family is on a roll lately.
Benji Madden is engaged to Aussie actress Sophie Monk, her rep told people.com. Meanwhile, Joel Madden, his brother and Good Charlotte bandmate, continues to go steady with Nicole Richie.
“Benji proposed to Sophie in Australia on Christmas Eve,” Monk’s publicist, Kacey Spies, told people.com. He reportedly presented the bride-to-be with a Neil Lane platinum diamond ring. (What a stud.)
Joel, who parted ways with singer Hilary Duff in November, was photographed smooching Richie in Las Vegas over New Year’s Eve.
Get a load of them
Nick Lachey made the big splash over the weekend with girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo, but Jessica Simpson made waves too with on-again companion John Mayer. The singers were spotted dining, shopping and looking lovey-dovey in general all weekend in New York, Us Weekly reports on its Web site. They rang in 2007 at the Hudson Hotel in Manhattan, where they arrived just after 2 a.m.
It’s academic
Oprah Winfrey headed a celebrity lineup that included Tina Turner and Spike Lee at the opening Tuesday of the talk show queen’s new $40 million leadership academy for poor South African girls. Winfrey said she planned to open another school for boys and girls this month in eastern KwaZulu-Natal province. Guests on Tuesday included Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Sidney Poitier and Chris Tucker.
Golden rule
There’s one simple rule for dating actress Kaley Cuoco: Don’t be an actor. “Believe me, I don’t want to be involved with an actor because I know how they are. I am one,” The “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter” star tells McClatchy-Tribune News Service. “I know what it’s like. Especially guys at a young age if they’re in any way successful.”
