Britney cancels secret dates

The much-rumored secret shows that were to launch the comeback of Britney Spears the singer--as opposed to Britney Spears the paparazzi-stalked train wreck--have reportedly been cancelled, although not in their entirety. Spears had apparently lined up several secret shows at House of Blues venues under the name The M+M's in San Diego, Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, all in the next week.

The May 1 show in San Diego and the May 2 show in Anaheim have reportedly been cancelled, but the other two are still on the docket, according to MSNBC. The shows are expected to feature songs from the singer's forthcoming fifth album, which she's been working on with the likes of Pharrell Williams and Swizz Beatz.

Green Day to release single

The first single from the John Lennon cover album Instant Karma: The Campaign to Save Darfur, Green Day's "Working Class Hero," is set to hit iTunes tomorrow. The album, which features some of Lennon's original vocals, also includes Lennon covers by the likes of R.E.M., U2, Black Eyed Peas, Christina Aguilera, Jack Johnson, Snow Patrol, Aerosmith, and Corinne Bailey Rae. The album is set for a full release in late May.

"It's wonderful that, through this campaign, music which is so familiar to many people of my era will now be embraced by a whole new generation," Lennon's widow Yoko Ono said in a statement. "John's music set out to inspire change and, in standing up for human rights, we really can make the world a better place."

Beyonce copyright controversy continues

Following Des'ree's copyright infringement lawsuit against Beyonce, her label is dealing with what to do with the album that incited the lawsuit. The deluxe edition of B'Day, which hit stores last month, contains the song "Still in Love (Kissing You)," a reworking of Des'ree's 1996 song "I'm Kissing You." According to the complaint, the parties never came to an agreement on licensing for the song, and Beyonce's label, Columbia Records, faces the prospect of having to pull the album from stores. But rather than recalling the release altogether, Reuters reported that Columbia parent company Sony BMG plans to manufacture and distribute a new version of the deluxe edition, minus the disputed track.

Love to sell Cobain's belongings

Courtney Love plans to sell the belongings of her late husband Kurt Cobain, according to a report on Spinner, and donate some of the proceeds to charity. Cobain committed suicide in April 1994, and Love said she hopes the Christie's auction of his personal items will allow her to move on. Love previously sold a stake in Cobain's publishing catalog for $50 million.

"[My house] is like a mausoleum," she said. "My daughter [14-year-old Frances Bean] doesn't need to inherit a giant hefty bag full of flannel f***ing shirts...A sweater, a guitar, and the lyrics to 'Teen Spirit'--that's what my daughter gets. And the rest of it we'll just f***ing sell." Love says Cobain's impact on her is still considerable. "I still wear his pajamas to bed," she said. "How am I ever going to go form another relationship in my lifetime wearing Kurt's pajamas?"

Pryor's widow settles case

The widow of legendary comic Richard Pryor has settled a lawsuit accusing Universal Music Group of selling 11 of the comedian's recordings without authorization, the Associated Press reported. Pryor sued Universal two months before his death, charging the company had released the recordings without his knowledge or permission. After he died of a heart attack in December 2005, his widow, Jennifer Pryor, was allowed to take over as plaintiff. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. In his suit, Pryor said it was years before he learned Universal had licensed such titles as Wizard of Comedy, I Ain't Lied Yet, and Are You Serious? .

Menudo auditions conclude

Given new life by the American Idol phenomenon, Menudo is back and concluded its multicity audition tour over the weekend. The Latin boy band, which spawned the career of Ricky Martin, is reforming around a new reality television show called The Road to Menudo later this year. The auditions, previously held in Dallas, Miami, and Los Angeles, as well as a shopping mall in the New York City borough of Queens on Saturday, were to pick the show's 12 finalists.

About 100 would-be pop stars sang a cappella in both English and Spanish for a shot at becoming one of the five new members of the reformed group, which first performed in 1977, enjoyed its heyday in the 1980s, changed its name to MDO in 1997, and disbanded in 2003. The group was known for "retiring" its members when they hit age 16, or their voice or height changed too much. Current candidates must be at least 15 years old but appear younger than 19 years old. The group will have an Epic Records contract with the first single due out this year.