American Idol may be getting a worldwide idol as a judge - Mariah Carey. A person familiar with the negotiations says Carey is being pursued to join the judging panel. There are two openings: both Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler announced last week they were leaving as judges. Randy Jackson, a manager and producer of Carey's, is the only judge left. Carey would give the show a dose of stardom, which is key considering the star power on Idol's rival, The X Factor, which added Britney Spears and Demi Lovato as judges for its second season. * AP
Stallone speaks about son's death
Sylvester Stallone said on Monday there was "no greater pain" than losing a child, begging for respect for his eldest son Sage, who died last week. He also called for an end to "speculation and questionable reporting" about the 36-year-old's death. "This agonising loss will be felt for the rest of our lives," he said. "I am humbly begging for all to have my son's memory left in peace." * AP
Author Stephen Covey dies at 79
Stephen R Covey, the author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People as well as several other best-sellers, died on Monday from complications following a bicycle accident. He was 79. Covey was considered a pioneer in the self-help genre, most notably with Seven Habits, which sold more than 20 million copies in 38 languages. * AP
Uma Thurman gives birth
It's a girl for Uma Thurman and her financier boyfriend Arpad Busson, the actress's representative confirmed on Monday. Thurman, 42, has two older children, the 13-year-old Maya Ray and the 10-year-old Levon Roan, with her ex-husband Ethan Hawke. Busson has two sons with Elle Macpherson. * AP
David Hasselhoff to star in Baywatch film
David Hasselhoff says he won't be reprising his role as the lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the big-screen adaptation of his hit 1990s show Baywatch - he will instead play himself. "I've just met the guy writing the film," he told the Daily Express, "and I'm going to play myself." Justin Timberlake and Justin Bieber are rumoured to be being courted for the movie. Hasselhoff turned 60 yesterday.
Deep Purple's Jon Lord dies at 71
The British rocker Jon Lord, the former keyboardist of Deep Purple, died on Monday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 71. Lord co-wrote some of Deep Purple's most famous numbers, including their best-known track Smoke on the Water, and later had a successful solo career following his retirement from the band in 2002. * AP
