Whitney Houston to divorce Bobby Brown

Hey, it's her prerogative. Embattled R&B diva Whitney Houston has filed for divorce from Bobby Brown, according to the Associated Press, effectively ending a 14-year marriage that has been littered with reports of drug abuse and breakup rumors. Publicist Nancy Seltzer declined to elaborate on the filing, saying only, "I can just confirm that she has filed for divorce," Seltzer said. Houston and Brown, who wed in 1992, have one child, a 13-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina. Houston is attempting to make a comeback in the coming months with industry legend Clive Davis, the man who discovered Houston more than 25 years ago. Houston, 43, was once one of the biggest names in the music business, churning out hits in the 1980s and 1990s, including "The Greatest Love of All" and the megahit "I Will Always Love You," from the 1992 film The Bodyguard, in which she starred opposite Kevin Costner.

Brown has struggled to revive his own career in recent years. The singer burst onto the scene in the 1980s with boy group New Edition and then went on to solo success. Brown, 37, has had a history of drug and alcohol arrests and was sentenced to 90 days in jail in 2004 for missing three months of child support payments for two other children. In June 2005, Brown launched his own reality series, Being Bobby Brown, on Bravo.

Vibe bumps Aguilera for Bobby Brown

Before Whitney Houston filed for divorce from Bobby Brown, the former New Edition star was picked by Vibe magazine to appear on the cover of its October issue, a move that Christina Aguilera says is a reversal of the mag's initial cover plans. Aguilera's reps say the singer gave an interview and posed for a photo shoot for the October cover, but it was shelved after new ownership took over the mag in the interim.

"When there's a change at a magazine, you understand that there might be a new direction," Aguilera spokeswoman Cindy Guagenti told the New York Daily News. "But Christina is completely within the scope of the magazine--she is very relevant to Vibe's readers, and we would still like them to honor their commitment. We want them to give us back our cover!" Vibe editor Danyel Smith told the paper, "I can't speak on the previous administration and what they did promise or didn't promise. But there was never an article to put anywhere. There was never a written piece. We had considered putting the photos online and then decided against it."

Lil' Kim to perform for the first time

With a 10-month prison sentence behind her, Lil' Kim made her first public appearance late last month at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. Now the pint-sized rapper is set to perform for the first time on the annual Hip-Hop Honors show on MTV's sister station, VH1. Kim will be performing during a tribute to rapper MC Lyte and will cover Lyte's hit "Lyte As a Rock." "MC Lyte is at the top of the list when you talk about hip-hop pioneers," Lil' Kim said in a statement. "She paved the way for myself and any of today's greatest MCs. I'm honored to have the opportunity to show my respect and how she influenced me."

MC Lyte, best known for hits in the 1990s like "Lyte as a Rock," "Poor Georgie," and "Ruffneck," is being honored along with Ice Cube, the Wu-Tang Clan, Afrika Bambaataa, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, Rakim, Beastie Boys, and the late Eazy E. The October 7 event will air October 17 on VH1. Ludacris, OutKast, Diddy, Da Brat, Fat Joe, and Lil Jon are also scheduled to perform.

DMX says Jay-Z has gone soft

When he's not running into trouble with the law and stiffing US troops in Iraq, barking rapper DMX is critiquing the footwear choices of fellow rappers, particularly those who run his former record label. In a recent interview with Vibe magazine, DMX ridicules Jay-Z's recent choice of footwear and blames his girlfriend, Beyonce. "The flip-flops--he's just not the same," DMX complained. "It's Beyonce. He's a sucker for love. Thugs don't do flip-flops. Yo, no matter how much vacation I'm on--we been to St. Thomas, Bahamas, all the little islands--I don't wear no flip-flops. I'm never that comfortable, not even in my own house."

Hasselhoff: Sparks flew between Di and me

At a promotional event for his new autobiography, Making Wave, actor/singer David Hasselhoff said that when he met Princess Diana in 1993, she had eyes for him, and they would have slept together "if circumstances had been different." The former Knight Rider star and America's Got Talent judge said that Diana, who died in a 1997 Paris car crash, was "smitten" with him when they spoke at a charity event in London 13 years ago. Hasselhoff, 54, who recently divorced his wife, Pamela Bach, said the princess said to him when they met, "You look much better with your clothes on," to which Hasselhoff replied, "Well ma'am, so do you."

"She was smitten with me since I was so tall. I was smitten with her since she was so tall," said Hasselhoff, currently enjoying chart success in the UK with his song "Jump in My Car." "But she was married and so was I. I probably would have gone after her if circumstances had been different. In the end, I just wanted to be a friend and to hang out with her."