Britney bails on Billboard gig with Hilton

After a week of partying, shopping, and flashing her private parts with Paris Hilton, Britney Spears has reportedly bailed on joining Hilton as cohost of the upcoming Fox Billboard Music Awards. Us reported today that Spears pulled out of the event, set for live broadcast on Fox December 4, without a reason. It is unclear if Hilton will host the show by herself, with another cohost, or if the producers will pick a different host. "We really don't know the reason," Us quoted a Fox source as saying. "But we're disappointed she backed out." The awards show, to be held at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena, is set to feature performances from Gwen Stefani, Ludacris, Janet Jackson, Fergie, the Killers, the Fray, and Mary J. Blige. Nominees were scheduled to be announced yesterday but have not been released. Spears and Hilton have been photographed repeatedly in the past week, including several in which Spears made her distaste for underwear quite apparent.

Human rights groups granted role in Madonna adoption

A Malawi judge today granted a coalition of human rights groups a role in evaluating the efficacy of Madonna's adoption of a 1-year-old boy from the impoverished southwest African country last month. Judge Andrew Nyirenda ruled in favor of a coalition of 67 Malawian human rights and child advocacy groups who want to be party to the assessment of the 48-year-old pop singer's fitness as a mother. The boy, named David Banda, is currently in the custody of the pop singer and her husband, filmmaker Guy Ritchie. Malawi regulations stipulate that prospective parents undergo an 18- to 24-month assessment period in the country. The rights groups had claimed that the government had cut legal corners to fast-track the adoption.

"I must stress that all along we have not been against the adoption but we only wanted Malawi's adoption laws clarified and followed to the letter," said Justin Dzonzi, a lawyer and chairman of the Human Rights Consultative Commission, according to Reuters. "Today's ruling gives us the opportunity to clear [up] some gray areas surrounding adoption laws in Malawi."

Fall Out Boy seeks fans for video shoot

Los Angeles-area fans of Fall Out Boy have a chance to appear as extras in the upcoming video for the band's new single, "This Is Not a Scene, It's an Arms Race." The band is shooting the video today through Friday. Fans between the ages of 18 and 23 who are interested in appearing in the video should email FOBmusicvideo@gmail.com with your availability, your phone number, and a picture of yourself. The band's reps will then give out details of the location and time of the video shoot. Fall Out Boy is set to release its forthcoming album, Infinity on High, on February 6, 2007.

Reports: Wiggles singer to leave group

Australian media are reporting that Greg Page, the "Yellow Wiggle" in the popular children's entertainers The Wiggles, will be leaving the group due to a serious illness. Page, who has often been absent from touring since undergoing a double hernia surgery last December, is expected to announce his departure from the group at a press conference tomorrow in Perth, Australia, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The 34-year-old known for his bright yellow T-shirt has been undergoing medical treatment since June after experiencing fainting spells and lethargy, the reports said. The Wiggles were Australia's top-earning entertainers last year, ahead of No. 2 AC/DC and No. 3 Nicole Kidman. The four men in brightly colored T-shirts, accompanied by a cast of characters including Dorothy the Dinosaur and Wags the Dog, grossed $39 million last year.

Phoenix singer, Coppola have a daughter

Oscar-winning filmmaker Sophia Coppola has given birth to a baby girl with French musician Thomas Mars of synth-rock band Phoenix. The couple named the girl Romy after Coppola's brother Roman Coppola. The couple first met via Coppola's film Lost in Translation, for which Phoenix contributed to the soundtrack. The band also made a cameo in Coppola's latest film Marie Antoinette. Coppola was previously married for four years to director Spike Jones, with whom she had no children.