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Josh Duhamel and Fergie ring in 2009.
* There’s no question that pop superstar Fergie is “over the moon” happy in love with actor Josh Duhamel. There’s no doubt the handsome, lip-locked couple will tie the knot. However, her lips were sealed about the exact date when I talked with her -- even though she proudly showed me her engagement ring and chatted about marriage and starting a family.
But in talking to her friends during her Las Vegas visit with Josh and their respective families, it looks as if five days from now -- this Saturday, Jan. 10 -- Fergie and Josh will marry and become the new hottest Mr. and Mrs. in show business.
Fergie, 33, confirmed to me that they will marry. “I love being in love,” she said. “It’s such a great feeling, and it’s so right.” Try as I could, though, she wouldn’t budge on the exact date and place (some rumors pinpoint Southern California), so I switched the subject to babies.
She told me that she definitely wants children -- but that is going to wait for a while for a couple of reasons!
“First,” she said, “let’s get the rest of all this weight off that I put on. Second, we’re going out with another Black Eyed Peas tour, and that has to be wrapped before we begin to start a family. But, yes, we both want babies!”
The three-time Grammy Award-winning artist explained that she’d gained 15 pounds for the upcoming movie based on the Broadway musical "Nine," in which she plays a salty hooker.
“I literally pigged out and stopped working out,” she said. “I went to In-N-Out Burger and just ate what I wanted. I really went for it. I loved it. I felt a complete glutton because I didn’t say no to anything, and I knew I was getting bigger by the moment without even looking in a mirror. I moved differently because my body was getting bigger.” She co-stars with Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman, Dame Judi Dench and Daniel Day-Lewis in the movie.
David Spade, Fergie and Carmen Electra.
Now, though, she’s fighting to be able to squeeze into her Fergalicious and glamorous wedding gown.
“I’m not shedding the pounds right off, though. It’s not easy trying to get healthy again and stay that way. It’s hard because, whereas I gave up working out, now I’m back working out every day. We’re going hiking, and I’m doing tons of sit-ups and walking and running twice as much as Josh does just to keep up with him.”
She explained that she’s got to get it all off before long, though, because it’s not just the wedding but also to wear swimsuits at the beach when they go off on their honeymoon vacation! And also because this year’s new Black Eyed Peas tour is just ahead on her calendar.
“That’s going to be really big,” Fergie told me. “I’m excited about that new tour. I just love all that hard work and energy. But when that’s over with, we will start to think about a family of our own. Let me get the weight off this time before I start putting it on again with that,” she laughed.
* Nightlife observers are convinced that a major shakeup of nightclubs is about to get underway now that the 800-pound Encore resort gorilla named XS has opened. One expert told me: “Watch Victor Drai’s XS put at least three clubs out of business by spring, and you’re going to see others undergoing major renovations and remodels to compete, with the remainder fighting for survival.” Tonight is the debut of XS’s hospitality industry night, and experts will be watching its expected double-whammy impact on locals!
Ray J
Meantime, for three consecutive nights, multiplatinum R&B star Ray J partied at Poetry nightclub in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, and now I’m hearing solid rumors that he will become a new partner there. “He loved the club that much,” one of my reliable sources told me, “and he wants to buy it.” I know Poetry owners Mike Goodwin and Branden Powers were in heated lunchtime business discussions at the new T&T Mexican eatery inside the Luxor over the weekend. I’m betting you’ll hear by midweek that the I’s have been dotted and the T’s have been crossed on a contract that makes Ray J, real name William Norwood Jr., a partner in the upscale hip-hop nightspot. When the sexy singer tossed out thousands of $$$ in a “Sexy Lady” contest there over the weekend, he was definitely celebrating something special! Ray J, who is the younger brother of R&B princess Brandy, debuts his new show "For the Love of Ray J" next month on VH1, where women from across the country compete for his favors and attention.
Usher played NYE 2008 host at the Bank.
* Smooth as silk R&B singer Usher went shopping for an incredibly expensive new Rolex watch while he was staying at the Bellagio, and to accommodate his privacy, the lobby store shut the doors so he could be the only customer in there while fans pressed hard against the windows to see just how many thousands he was spending!
* From all inside reports I’ve heard, Holly Madison’s parents, who visited for New Year’s, hit it off perfectly with boyfriend Criss Angel and his mom and brothers! The "Mindfreak" magician even took them to Fix for desserts, ordering up warm brownie cakes, molten chocolate coffee cakes, cappuccino milk shakes and even a hot chocolate from the bar! During their visit, Holly took Mom and Dad to watch Criss’s Cirque du Soleil "Believe" show at the Luxor, and both families joined together for a private New Year’s dinner at Tender there past the midnight hour! More from that “seal of approval” as it develops!
Kym Johnson, Lance Bass and Cheryl Burke.
* "Dancing With the Stars" runner-up Lance Bass treated two of the show’s professional dancers, Kym Johnson and Cheryl Burke, to dinner with five other friends in the private dining room of Strip House inside Planet Hollywood. Also dining there in another section were love mates Tito Ortiz and former porn princess Jenna Jameson.
* While at their LAX New Year’s Eve party in the Luxor, the Kardashian family confirmed that their reality TV show home in Hidden Hills, Calif., is up for sale. Sisters Kim, Khloe and Kourtney said their present four-bedroom home where they film the show simply isn’t large enough, so they’re moving up in size! If you’ve got a cool $3.4 million sitting around, you can snap it up immediately! You’d sure be "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" if you became the new owner!
Samantha Harris
* After four years with E! Entertainment news, sparkly "Dancing With the Stars" co-host Samantha Harris begins her new job as senior correspondent at "The Insider" today. She’ll also serve as the standby anchor, and her first assignment is this weekend’s Golden Globe Awards. She celebrated her new contract over the weekend in tandem with a belated birthday party here in Las Vegas.
The partying ran three days from start to finish and included a family dinner for 20 people at the new Encore restaurant Society and a party for 40 family and friends at Blush in the Wynn. Her husband, Michael Hess, was on hand, and they even brought their 15-month-old daughter Josselyn with them. Their group also took in the spectacular water-themed production "Le Reve," and Samantha met the cast backstage.
Benji Madden at Body English on New Year's Eve.
* While Paris Hilton was ringing in the New Year Down Under, former beau and Good Charlotte frontman Benji Madden was right here in Las Vegas. With a 12-strong entourage of friends, Benji partied up a storm at Body English inside the Hard Rock Hotel -- and even helped give away $25,000 to the rowdy revelers.
After handling the 10 to 1 countdown to usher in 2009, Benji went straight into his guest DJ set. He wound up having so much fun, he went right over his scheduled 90-minute set time.
“He was in a great mood, and it looks as if he’s over the split with Paris,” my spywitness told me.
Even though Benji was guest DJ at the Hard Rock, he stayed in one of George Maloof’s Palms Place tower condominiums -- and got himself a new hairstyle for 2009 at Michael Boychuck’s Primp salon there. Benji is an investor in Carey Hart’s Wasted Space and also met up with Pink’s ex and checked up on the club while he was in the rival hotel.
* Basketball legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, was front row and center at Bette Midler’s spectacular at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace, and afterward he went backstage for a personal meet-and-greet with the singer.
Michael Phelps.
* Multiple Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps brought along 20 family members and friends for dinner at Tao in The Venetian. While revelers were celebrating the annual post-New Year’s Eve “Hung Over & Broke” party, the world record holder tucked into Chilean sea bass, Kobe beef and chicken pad Thai before hitting the large corner dance floor table with Patron tequila and Grey Goose vodka. Michael went into the DJ booth to wave to the crowd after getting a shout-out from comedian Pauly Shore. Lance Bass, along with fellow "Dancing With the Stars" contestant Maurice Green and pro dancer Cheryl Burke, also joined in the fun. Cheryl showed off some of her serious dance moves to actress Mena Suvari and her fiance Simone Sestito, who were seated alongside in the VIP section for the second consecutive night. Before the night was over, Staind lead singer Aaron Lewis arrived with his crew. Also there was "Dr. 90210" star Dr. Gary Motykie and up-and-coming actress Briana Evigan with beau Max Nash.
Find Robin Leach's full blog and updated coverage of the celebrity scene in Las Vegas at Vegas DeLuxe.com.
David Spade got all dressed up New Years Eve to look like Harpo Marx.