• Lady Gaga, four years ago performing at NYU under her birth name and in her bare feet, stuns the judges with talent. They loved how she can “blow, sing, and tickle the keys.” [NYU Local]—Love it.
• A New York bride sued her wedding photographer for posting semi-nude pictures of her on his professional website after she explicitly told him not to photograph her while she denuded. [Gothamist]—Strange. And I’m happy my photographer was awesome.
• The maid café trend in Japan is here to stay and competition is really fierce for the 217 eateries, where things keep getting crazier and crazier. [CNNGo]

It looks like nature was calling while Mariah Carey waited outside the Dorchester Hotel after arriving from Milan by private jet. [London, 11/11/09]

I am the girl most likely to knock over my drink at dinner, trip and fall down a flight of stairs, or walk into a pole. Translation: I am a major klutz. And yes … people laugh when these things happen to me. So I feel justified—maybe even comforted—when I see a celebrity bite it in public. Like last week when Mariah Carey was trippin’ on Leno after she stumbled on her way to the couch and her bubbies were almost the stars of the show. At least she laughed at herself and said that she’d choreographed that move. I may just use that line in the future. [BuzzFeed]

After the jump, 10 of my favorite celebrity slips, trips, and falls.

Of course we get the real dirt a few days after the big night. Apparently, Mariah Carey and Rihanna had a diva-off on Halloween. Even though Mariah was hosting the party, Rihanna didn’t pay her regards to the songstress, a witness said. And Rihanna’s tiger costume required a security guard to hold up the tail, while Mariah needed six guards to clear a path to the bathroom so her angel wings didn’t get tousled. Sheesh. [NY Post]

What is it about Halloween that brings out the stars’ most ridiculous behavior? Read on for more celebrities who behaved badly on Halloween.

“I felt completely rancid! With the music industry, it’s very like ‘Oh, she’s got a hair out of place! Go fix it!’ You know what I mean? And so this was such a liberating experience and yet humiliated me. But I needed that. We all need that. We all need to understand how to be humble, and it’s a difficult business to do that in.” [People]

—Mariah Carey, on her uber-unglamorous role as a social worker in the movie “Precious.” Seriously, it wasn’t until the second time I saw the trailer that I even realized it was her.

On paper, the new movie “Precious” doesn’t sound like much fun: It’s the story of a 350-pound, illiterate black teenager impregnated for the second time by her dad and physically and verbally abused by her mom. It’s enough to send a girl galloping into the next showing of lighter fare like “Couples Retreat”! But the film industry buzz for “Precious”—from the illustrious Cannes Film Festival to this week’s cover of The New York Times Magazine—says the film is not to be missed. There’s even buzz about an Oscar for Mo’Nique, who stars as Precious’ monstrous mother, as well as accolades for the rest of the cast, including Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, Gabby Sidibe, and Lenny Kravitz.

Mariah Carey visited “Today” this morning to promote her just-released album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. She even brought along her own crystal-encrusted microphone and mic stand, as only a true diva does. Listen to her piercing high notes (and watch the accompanying hand gestures) in the video above. She sings the 1984 classic “I Want to Know What Love Is” with a children’s choir. [Today]

It’s new release Tuesday, so it’s time to take the latest tunes for a spin. This week, Mariah Carey continues to emancipate Mimi, Karen O knows where the wild things are, the Avett Brothers steal our hearts, Paramore makes us yawn, and Dizzee Rascal gets us dancing real funky at our desks. So, let’s get into the groove, after the jump.

Is it just me or does Mariah Carey look like she's ripping a page from her own hair book of a decade ago? If I may remind you of Mrs. Cannon back when -- on a stool, on a dimly lit stage, belting out "There's a heeerrrroooo, if you look inside your heart," looking fresh and natural. Back when she was only a few hit singles into her career Mariah sported a curly 'do—one that we are now seeing again, on the left. (Along with the same sort of dresses, too!). Now, I happen to be a giant fan of her throwback look—she appears just as fresh and (I swear) younger-looking. But what say you? After the jump, a quick how-to on the curls, for those of us not genetically blessed with those pretty ringlets—as for the tight, black spandex dress, you're on your own.

“Precious,” adapted from the novel Push by Sapphire, is a gritty indie film directed by Lee Daniels about an obese and illiterate teen who is pregnant for a second time by her own father. Set in Harlem in 1987, the story follows Precious as she struggles with her insecurities and disastrous home life while using what resources she has to improve her life. Although, “Precious” has an impressive cast, Mo’Nique, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, Sherri Shepherd, Paula Patton, and Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe in the starring role, Mariah and Mo’Nique’s performances are already generating Oscar buzz. Mariah strips off the makeup and glitz from her normal life and steps into the role of a social worker. Mo’Nique is terrifying as she plays Mary, Precious’ mother, who is both physically and verbally abusive and delusional. Mary has the power to crush all of Precious’ hopes. Gabby also gives a great performance in her acting debut for someone who auditioned on a whim. If the book is any indication, “Precious” won’t wallow in the bleak details of the main character’s life. Instead it captures an energy that is pushed along by anger and hope. If you need more encouragement to see this film when it opens Nov. 6, consider that it won three awards at the Sundance Film Festival, including the coveted Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, and received a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

Mariah Carey is really sick of being shafted by the Grammys—she’s been nominated 21 times, but has only won five awards. So this year, the songbird has basically told the Grammy people to kiss it where the sun don’t shine. Mariah pushed back the release of her album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, to Sept. 29, one day after the Grammy cut-off date. The album’s first single, “Obsessed,” debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 11, so don’t try to theorize that the album is garbage and Mariah’s trying to save face. She doesn’t need the Grammy accolades because her career has been successful with only five awards. Plus, she’s kind of throwing a bone to Whitney Houston, whose first album in seven years will be released Sept. 1. Who’s a diva now? [NY Daily News]

Mariah Carey’s next album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, hits shelves on September 15th. And it’ll be a lot bigger than your traditional CD. The album will come bundled with a 34-page magazine made by the folks at Elle. The ad section of the book, which covered the costs for this endeavor, will be home to lifestyle ads that reflect Mariah’s taste—Elizabeth Arden, Angel Champagne, Carmen Steffens, Le Métier de Beauté, and the Bahamas Board of Tourism. A second section of the magazine will contain articles all about Mariah, with “VIP Access to Her Sexy Love Life,” “Amazing Closet,” and “Recording Rituals.” The third part of the book will be your traditional liner notes, full of lyrics and images. The entire booklet will also be available in digital form, and an abridged version will be tucked into 500,000 copies of Elle’s October issue.

Sure, this is the first cross-platform collaboration of its kind. But isn’t this shill-fest taking things way too far?

• Nick Cannon took to his Twitter to address the ongoing feud between wife Mariah Carey and Eminem, who’s trying to sell his new album. Nick tweeted several biblical and philosophical quotes about rising above anger. [PopEater]—So this was his punk way of defending his wife, huh? Well at least he didn’t make a dis record in return.
• Kate Major sat down with “E! News” to discuss her relationship with Jon Gosselin and the future she hopes they’ll make together. [E! Online]—I’ll never understand people who discuss a new romance before their love interest is even divorced.
• Jessica Szohr went on a dinner date with Adam Brody from “The O.C.” at Cafeteria in NYC. [Just Jared]

 

Geez, is Eminem still thinking about that time back in freaking 2001 when he “dated” Mariah Carey? Here’s the short version of the story: After this hookup heard round the world, Eminem dedicated his song “Puke” to Mariah in 2005. Nick Cannon, Mariah’s husband, wrote on his website, “I’m going to make you wish you never spoke my name and regret the ungodly things you said about my wife.” Then Mariah shot back in her video for “Obsession” in May, where a faux Eminem in a hoodie stalks her. Now Eminem has taken this feud to a whole new level with “The Warning.” Take a listen above. (Headphones on, as it’s likely NSFW.) Here’s a sampling of the ultra-classy lyrics:

“Mariah, it ever occur to you that I still have pictures? However you prefer to do and goes for you too, Nick, f*ggot/ You think I’m scared of you? You gonna ruin my career you better get one/ Like I’ma sit and fight with you over some slut bitch c**t who made me put up with her psycho ass over 6 months and only spread her legs to let me hit once.”

Gross, Eminem. Gross. How is this beef still going on? All this happened over eight years ago. Is this really the only way these two can generate press?

Well, not really, but that is Mimi, cross-dressing at her video shoot for her song “Obsessed.” She’s a beautiful woman, but a hideous man. [NYC, 6/29/09]

• Al Roker has been accused of attacking Heidi and Spencer Pratt on “The Today Show” on Monday, as the newlyweds discussed their one-week stint on “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here.” [Today]—Seems to us that Roker was just doing his job.
• Oh dear. Here’s a list of “10 Things Your Dad Inadvertently Taught You About Sex.” [Em & Lo]—Cringe.
• Katie Holmes has reportedly met with “So You Think You Can Dance” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe more than once. Reps for the show haven’t confirmed that Holmes will take center stage on the show, but there have been rumors that she may! [People]