LeAnn Rimes takes over as 'Nashville Star' host

LeAnn Rimes takes overas 'Nashville Star' host
JACKSON, Miss. -- LeAnn Rimes will host the third season of USA Network's "Nashville Star."
Rimes, who performed as a special guest on the show's second season finale in May, succeeds Nancy O'Dell, USA Network announced Wednesday.
"As a singer and songwriter, I have great admiration for many of the budding stars who come to try their hand at performing and can relate to the hopes and aspirations of all the contestants, no matter how good or bad," Rimes said in a statement posted on her Web site.
The reality talent show pits country music singing hopefuls against each other in an "American Idol"-style competition. The first episodes of the third season are set to begin airing on March 25.
Rimes' aunt Melissa Bagwell said her niece's schedule fits in with the taping demands of the popular country series. Rimes, a native of Pearl, lives in Nashville, Tenn., where the show is based, with her husband, Dean Sheremet.
The 22-year-old singer is promoting her new Christmas album, "What a Wonderful World." Her next studio album, "This Woman," is set for release Jan. 25.
The horror! Novelistfears the comb-over
Stephen King has compiled his list of Pet Peeves of 2004, with "annoyance levels" that range from minor headache to head-splitting migraine.
King writes in his Entertainment Weekly column that although pop culture is full of pleasures, it also has its share of annoyances. "For every pretty, talented Elisha Cuthbert there is a Paris Hilton [and her little dog, too]."
By exposing his own annoyances -- "in all their triviality" -- he hopes to encourage readers to speak of their own pet peeves, King writes in the magazine's current issue.
The list includes pop star Britney Spears, who rates a minor headache; real estate mogul and "The Apprentice" star Donald Trump, a moderate to severe headache (due to unavoidable comb-over); and ads before theatrical movies, a head-splitting migraine.
Of Trump, King writes: "One can avoid the TV show, but lately the Donald's face is everywhere, and the hideous comb-over always floats above it."
Hasselhoffenters plea
LOS ANGELES -- Actor David Hasselhoff pleaded no contest Thursday to a charge of driving under the influence and was ordered to enroll in an alcohol program for six months.
The plea was entered by an attorney on behalf of Hasselhoff, who did not appear in court.
Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Lippitt also imposed a $390 fine, community service and license restrictions, said Jenaro Batiz-Romero, spokesman for the city attorney's office.
Hasselhoff, 52, was arrested in June and charged with driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or greater.
In 2002, Hasselhoff checked himself into the Betty Ford Center for treatment of alcoholism.
He is best known for playing lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the long-running "Baywatch" TV series. He also starred in the 1980s television show "Knight Rider."
Defeated by the curse of the misplaced shoe
LOS ANGELES -- The curse of the Bambino wasn't the only thing that was shattered during the Boston Red Sox's championship run.
Faithful Red Sox fan Maria Shriver broke her foot.
California's first lady injured herself while watching the fifth playoff game between Boston and the New York Yankees. The Red Sox, who had been down three games, went on to win the next four and advance to the World Series.
When the Sox's David Ortiz smacked a 14th-inning single, an excited Shriver jumped off the sofa -- landing on one of her children's cast-off shoes and breaking her foot.
"She was hollering at her kids to pick up their misplaced shoes, but she's realized her instructions fell on deaf ears," spokeswoman Terri Carbaugh said Thursday.
"It goes to show it's easier to ... defeat the curse of the Bambino than it is to get one's child to do as [he or she] is told, as most mothers can relate to."
Shriver and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have four children.
Shriver was wearing a brace, and doctors said it would take about three months for the injury to heal.
Before Boston swept St. Louis to win the World Series, some Red Sox fans believed a curse had held their team back since the owner sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1920.
Today's birthdays
Bluegrass singer-musician Sonny Osborne (The Osborne Brothers) is 67. Country singer Lee Clayton is 62. Rock musician Denny Laine is 60. Singer Melba Moore is 59. Musician Peter Green is 58. Actor Richard Dreyfuss is 57. Actress Kate Jackson is 56. Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne is 53. Country musician Steve Kellough (Wild Horses) is 47. Singer Randy Jackson is 43. Rock musician Peter Timmins (Cowboy Junkies) is 39. Actress Joely Fisher is 37. Rapper Paris is 37. Rock singer SA Martinez (311) is 34. Musician Toby Smith is 34. Actress Winona Ryder is 33. Actress Tracee Ellis Ross is 32. Actor Trevor Lissauer is 31. Actor Brendan Fehr is 27.