Britney Spears House Hunting

Court records show Britney Spears is house-hunting — preferably for something greener, quieter and with a bigger backyard.

Documents released Monday show that Britney Spears seeks a house with a larger yard that's closer to parks and recreation areas for her children, Sean Preston and Jayden James. She also wants a "less trafficked" locale than her paparazzi-stalked Beverly Hills home, which she bought for nearly $7 million early last year.

Spears' father, James, requested the sale in mid-June, and a court commissioner agreed. James Spears is acting as his daughter's conservator following several incidents of erratic behavior by the 26-year-old singer.

The children's father, Kevin Federline, has custody.

A Winehouse Excuse?

Amy Winehouse has early stage emphysema and her lungs have been damaged by smoking crack cocaine and cigarettes, her father said in an interview published Sunday.

The Sunday Mirror quoted Mitch Winehouse as saying that Amy has an irregular heartbeat, and has been warned that she will have to wear an oxygen mask unless she stops smoking drugs.

"The doctors have told her if she goes back to smoking drugs, it won't just ruin her voice, it will kill her," Mitch Winehouse was quoted as saying. "There are nodules around the chest and dark marks. She has 70 percent lung capacity."

The 24-year-old soul diva collapsed at her north London home Monday after signing autographs for a group of fans and was taken to a London hospital for tests. She remained there all week.

She is still scheduled to sing at a concert in London on Friday celebrating the 90th birthday of Nelson Mandela, the South African Nobel Prize-winner, and plans to take part in the Glastonbury music festival the following day.

Mitch Winehouse said it would be good for his daughter to perform.

"When she's been inactive work-wise then that's when the problems really start. The doctors have said that medically there isn't any reason why she can't do Glastonbury," the paper quoted him as saying.

He also pleaded with her drug-taking friends to stay away from her.

"What hope does she have if people are taking drugs around her," he said.

Chris Goodman, spokesman for Amy Winehouse, said "If that's what Mitch says, that's what he says. It sounds right."

R. Kelly Adrdresses Judge At Trial

R. Kelly told the judge in his child pornography trial Tuesday that he doesn't plan to testify in his own defense.

After Judge Vincent Gaughan told Kelly he had a right to not testify, the R&B singer leaned forward at the defense table with his hands folded and — speaking for the first time at the trial — responded: "I decided not to testify."

The jury wasn't in the room at the time.

R. Kelly, 41, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he videotaped himself having sex with an underage girl. Both Kelly and the alleged victim, now 23, have denied being on the tape.

Also Tuesday, the judge ruled that jurors can view the sex tape once they begin deliberating.
Kelly's lawyers had asked the judge to bar jurors from reviewing the graphic video, saying they worried jurors would overemphasize one piece of evidence. But prosecutors argued the tape is the primary subject of the trial and couldn't be kept from jurors.

Prosecutors are scheduled to call two rebuttal witnesses. Closing arguments are likely to be delivered Thursday.

Kelly's attorneys surprised courtroom observers by resting their case Monday. Over two days, Kelly's lawyers called 12 witnesses. One was a forensics expert who testified there didn't appear to be a mole on the back of a man in a sex tape.

Defense attorneys say R. Kelly has a mole on his back, so the man on the tape can't be him. But a prosecution witness who'll take the stand for a second time is expected to challenge that claim.

Daddy Yankee's Movie

After scoring the top-selling Latin album of 2007 with "El Cartel: The Big Boss," reggaeton star Daddy Yankee is beginning to pave the way for his next project with the track "Pose."

The twist? "Pose" is being presented as the first single from "Talento de Barrio: El Soundtrack," the soundtrack to Daddy Yankee's upcoming film debut, "Talento de Barrio."

This past March another single, the movie's theme song, "Somos Calle," was released, but not to radio. Instead, "Somos Calle," a more gritty, urban track, was available online and on video channels.

"Pose," in contrast, is more pop/dance than reggaeton and has quickly gained traction on stations nationwide. The song's tone is in keeping with Daddy Yankee's recent singles, including the similarly pop-friendly "Impacto," although the artist says "Talento de Barrio" explores a wide array of musical styles. The album includes collaborations with such Puerto Rican acts as Tempo and Arcangel.

The album is slated for release July 15 on the artist's own El Cartel Records, with distribution by Universal Music Group Distribution via Machete Records. Unlike "El Cartel: The Big Boss" (El Cartel/Interscope), "Talento" doesn't include any English-language tracks, and it will not be released under the Interscope banner. All promotion and marketing falls under El Cartel's jurisdiction.

In turn, the film "Talento de Barrio" (Barrio Talent), originally slated for release via Paramount, will now be released independently via separate distribution agreements in various countries. The movie, directed by Jose Ivan Santiago, is loosely based on Daddy Yankee's life growing up in one of San Juan, Puerto Rico's poorest neighborhoods.

Daddy Yankee stars as Edgar Dinero, a young man caught between the thug life of his barrio and his dream of becoming a reggaeton star. Reggaeton performers who have minor roles in the movie include Gringo (of duo Baby Rasta & Gringo), Glory and producer Eddie Dee.