MARIAH CAREY rang in the New Year with style - she reportedly scooped a whopping $1 million (GBP687,000) to perform just four songs at a private gig.
The Hero hitmaker was paid the staggering sum to play an intimate show for the son of Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi at a lavish party on New Year’s eve (31stDec08), according to U.K. newspaper The Sun.
Carey took time out of her Caribbean holiday with husband Nick Cannon in St Barts to sing a set of four classic tracks at the island’s Nikki Beach Club bash.
The singer was joined by superproducer Timbaland and rapper Jay-Z, who also allegedly performed sets at the event.

Mel B thinks celebrities who don’t give to charity are “disgusting”.

The former Spice Girl believes everyone in the public eye should use their fame to help others and can’t understand why some refuse.

She blasted: “Do you know what, I think it’s disgusting when a celebrity isn’t doing something for charity.

“It feels so good and it’s so easy - when you’ve got the money and you’ve got the exposure - to give something back.”

Mel, 33, insists her involvement with numerous good causes has made her become a tougher parent to daughters, Phoenix, nine, and 20-month-old Angel.

She added: “If Phoenix starts crying because she wants something, I say, ‘What’s the matter? Are you hungry? In pain? No, well stop right now because there are a lot of children in the world a lot worse off than you.

“And the good thing is I can actually come out with the facts which I know now because I support a few charities like Oxfam.”

After a tumultuous year, particularly for its two lead singers, Barenaked Ladies are understandably “looking forward to seeing the ass end of 2008,” according to drummer Tyler Stewart — and to a 2009 in which the Canadian quintet will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a boxed set and, hopefully, some new music.

Since the May release of its children’s album, “Snack Time,” the Canadian quintet has made headlines mostly on the non-musical front. Steven Page is serving six months’ probation after a July cocaine possession arrest in Fayetteville, N.Y. Ed Robertson, meanwhile, survived an August float plane crash and lost his mother, Wilma, on Dec. 13 to cancer.

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Harry Potter actress Emma Watson feels sorry for superstars such as Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan, because she loves living “a normal life”.

The star shot to fame aged just 11 but hasn’t let it go to her head, preferring to concentrate on her work rather than living the showbiz lifestyle.

She says, “I have a more normal life than people expect. When I take public transport, people are like, ‘That girl looks like the girl from Harry Potter, but it can’t be her on the train’. I get stopped by people, but that’s fine. I’d never want to be so famous that I couldn’t live a normal life to a certain extent.”

And the thought of being too famous to go out unrecognised terrifies the teenage actress.

She adds, “I can’t imagine anything lonelier, just not being able to be part of the real world and being trapped and locked in hotel rooms and cars.”

Biography: Robert Kardashian: birth name: Robert Arthur Kardashian, Jr., born on March 17, 1987, height: 5 ft 10 1/2 (179 cm), Zodiac Sign: Pisces. Rob is a TV personality. He is best known for his appearances on the reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians and being the younger brother of Kim Kardashian.

Robert was born in Los Angeles, the son of late attorney Robert Kardashian and Kris Jenner (née Houghton). Robert Kardashian, best known for being O. J. Simpson’s lawyer during his murder trial, died on September 30, 2003. Her mother, Kris, divorced Robert in 1989, and married former Olympian Bruce Jenner in 1991.

Robert has three sisters, Kim, Kourtney and Khloe. He also has stepbrothers Burton Jenner; Brandon Jenner; and reality TV star Brody Jenner; stepsister Casey Jenner; and half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner.

The glamour girl has cut down on the raunchy shoots over the past few years to concentrate on being a mum and her other business interests.

Cover girl … Dita Von Teese

But the model, real name Katie Price, has given her biggest indication yet that she’s ready to pose naked once again - though she won’t be asking for any advice from burlesque girl DITA VON TEESE.

Jordan told OK!: “I’d love to do Playboy.

“Although I just saw Dita Von Teese’s cover and it’s cr*p.

“The woman is rank. It’s not my cup of tea that she’s so pale. I think the pictures look a bit Readers’ Wives.

“It didn’t look like Playboy to me.”