Janet Jackson isn’t pregnant, says boyfriend

December 20, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

NEW YORK — Jermaine Dupri wants to clear up some misconceptions.

In an entry on his blog, the music producer says he and girlfriend Janet Jackson haven’t split up — and she isn’t pregnant.

Dupri writes: “As you all know Janet is a very private person ... the only reason you see her as much as you do on my YouTube vlog is because of me. LOL. But I hear yall and your questions. ... No she is not pregnant and yes we’re still together.”

Jackson and Dupri have been dating for about four years.

New album from U2 is on the horizon

NEW YORK — U2’s new album, “No Line on the Horizon,” will be released by Interscope Records on March 3.

It’s the Irish rock band’s 12th studio album and their first release since 2004’s “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.”

The announcement was made Thursday.

The new album was completed after studio sessions in Fez, Morocco; Dublin, Ireland; New York; and London.

Longtime collaborators Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois are producers, along with additional work from Steve Lillywhite.

“How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” won the Grammy for album of the year in 2006.

Expect changes on ‘American Idol’

LOS ANGELES — Changes are coming to “American Idol” when it returns in January, including “wild card” finalists picked by the show’s judges and less airtime for memorably bad auditions.

Fox’s hit talent contest will open its eighth season with a two-night, four-hour premiere on Jan. 13-14 from 8-10 p.m., the network said Monday.

“American Idol” will cut the number of weeks featuring nationwide tryouts from four weeks to three and will bring more contestants to Hollywood to compete, 36 people versus the two dozen of past seasons, Fox says.

Wrestler Mike Bell dies in rehab center

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Mike “Mad Dog” Bell, a former professional wrestler whose struggle with substance abuse was featured in the documentary “Bigger, Stronger, Faster,” has died. He was 37.

Bell was found Sunday at a Costa Mesa live-in rehabilitation facility, his family said.

An autopsy was conducted but investigators couldn’t immediately determine the cause of death, said Dan Akin, a supervising deputy at the Orange County coroner’s division. The coroner is awaiting the results of toxicology tests, he said.

Chris Bell, whose 2008 documentary examines the steroid use of his two brothers, said Mike Bell had long battled with his addictions to prescription painkillers and alcohol.

“He was always wrestling, he was a personal trainer, he was always pushing his body to the max,” Chris Bell told the Orange County Register.

“You can’t really blame wrestling, but it’s kind of the lifestyle,” he said. “You have a couple of painkillers to get to the next match, have a couple drinks night to night and it gets out of hand.”

Bell wrestled on World Wrestling Entertainment’s “Monday Night Raw” as a “jobber,” a fighter who takes falls to promote others.

“Although Mr. Bell was never under a WWE contract, WWE extends its deepest condolences to the Bell family,” the organization said.

Today’s birthdays

Comedian Charlie Callas is 81. Actor John Hillerman (“Magnum P.I.”) is 76. Drummer Peter Criss (Kiss) is 63. Musician Alan Parsons is 60. Actor Michael Badalucco (“The Practice”) is 54. Singer Billy Bragg is 51. Country singer Kris Tyler is 44. Singer Chris Robinson of Black Crowes is 42. Singer David Cook (“American Idol”) is 26. Actor Jonah Hill (“Accepted”) is 25. Singer JoJo is 18.