Clarkson feeds the needy

Kelly Clarkson fans across the world today climbed down from their local redwood trees and interrupted their hunger strikes, as the former American Idol vixen unveiled details of her forthcoming album, My December. In a post on her Web site, Clarkson announced that the album's first single, "Never Again," will hit radio and online airwaves April 11.

"I know this has been torture for you, waiting, and I hope you like the album," she wrote. "The album is the story of my life [intense, up and down]. This is my favorite album I've done so far. It has some killer rock songs, and some fun soul tracks, and a few slower, intimate songs, and it's all me! The album will be dropping this summer [finally], and I'll be touring this summer too. I'm having a great day and as you can tell, I'm so excited today! THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT!!! WOOHOO!!!" Woo-hoo.

Richards' rep says he was joking

Reps for Keith Richards and the Rolling Stones circled the wagons today and refuted reports that the legendary guitarist once snorted his father's ashes, although the mere fact that most people assumed it was true speaks, well, volumes. "It was an off-the-cuff remark, a joke, and it is not true. File under April Fool's joke," Bernard Doherty of LD Communications, which represents the Rolling Stones, told the Associated Press. Doherty declined to say any more about why Richards made the statement in an interview with music mag NME. Richards' longtime manager, Jane Rose, told MTV.com, "Said in jest. Can't believe anyone took [it] seriously."

Lil' Kim penning book

Nine months removed from her 10-month stint in jail, Lil' Kim is currently working on a book titled The Price of Loyalty, which will be released later this year by publishing giant St. Martin's Press. Kim's spokesperson's Tracy Nguyen said the book is not an autobiography, and a specific release date for the paperback is unconfirmed. No further details about the book were revealed at press time.

Kim was convicted in March 2005 of perjury, after testifying in a 2001 trial about a shooting outside the Hot 97 radio station in New York. When she was originally sentenced, US District Judge Gerald Lynch ordered Kim to spend one year and one day behind bars, but she left early on good behavior.

Parton wins songwriters' award

Dolly Parton has been selected by the Songwriters Hall of Fame as this year's recipient of the Johnny Mercer Award. The award is presented to a songwriter "whose body of work is of such high quality and impact, that it upholds the gold standard set by the legendary Johnny Mercer," the organization said in a statement. Parton will be honored June 7 at the annual awards dinner in New York.

Previous honorees include Kris Kristofferson, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Carole King, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Hal David, and Burt Bacharach. Parton was inducted into the hall of fame in 2001.

Manilow unveils branded wine line

No dinner party is complete without some tasty wine and a little Barry Manilow on the old phonograph. The "Copacabana" singer is now set to cover both of those bases for you, as he is releasing a set of Manilow-branded wines. On sale through his online story at manilow.com, the Manilow wine is available in five varietals--Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel. Manilow wine retails for between $20 to $25 dollars a bottle.

The Manilow store also sells several flavors of herbal tea, including strawberry kiwi and mango rose green teas. Other products inspired by the singer include an array of apparel, bobblehead dolls, license-plate frames, and even a pillowcase featuring an image of a pajama-clad Manilow. We don't even have a joke here.

The View cancels tour again

Kyle Falconer has one expensive cocaine problem on his hands, regardless of whether or not he even does the stuff anymore. Falconer's band the View has had to cancel its on-again, off-again US tour yet again due to visa issues stemming from Falconer's conviction in the UK on cocaine possession earlier this year. The Scottish band was set to kick off a US tour April 30 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but that show and nine subsequent dates have been canceled.

The band had previously canceled a February tour pending Falconer's court case. He was later fined $2,000 for the offense. Despite the fact that his solicitor said the charge would make it "next to impossible" for the band to tour America, the tour was rescheduled for this month. The Scottish indie rockers were set to promote their debut album Hats Off to the Buskers.