Wedding Bliss: Jessica Simpson Engaged?!

Sources have confirmed to UsMagazine.com that Jessica Simpson dud in fact got engaged to beau Eric Johnson on Thursday, just days after Us broke the news that her ex-husband, Nick Lachey, popped the question to Vanessa Minnillo, his love of nearly five years. Simpson and Lachey, 37, split in 2005, after three years of marriage.

On Saturday, Simpson flashed a sizable ring on her left hand during an appearance at Dillard’s at Oak Park Mall in Kansas City. Multiple sources later confirmed the pair was planning to tie the knot.

“We are excited to confirm that they are engaged,” Simpson’s rep told People.

The Texas native began dating the former NFL player in May while he was estranged from his first wife, stylist Keri Johnson; their divorce was finalized five months later.

“I met a wonderful man. Damn I’m lucky!” Simpson tweeted in September, gushing about her new relationship.

The newly engaged couple will spend Thanksgiving in New York, where Simpson is scheduled to perform during Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade; Johnson‘s family will join her on the float.

“Having a boyfriend through the holidays, we’re going to see how that all splits up,” the singer told Ryan Seacrest during a KIIS-FM radio interview last week. “I can’t imagine not being with my nephew and watching him open gifts. Maybe someone gets Christmas Eve and somebody gets Christmas day.”

Though Ashlee Simpson-Wentz recently told Us that her sister “is happy, so we’re all really happy,” sources insist that most of Simpson‘s friends are concerned about Johnson‘s motives for dating the singer.

“Eric was never that successful in the NFL, but he’s always wanted the celebrity lifestyle,” a source told Us in October. “Her friends do not trust him.”

Jessica’s Engagement News Greeted With Jeers, Skepticism

If Jessica Simpson expected the Internet to erupt in a collective “mazel tov!” when she confirmed her engagement to Eric Johnson on Sunday, she probably felt a wee bit disappointed.

The goodwill that the likeable starlet, 30, has long enjoyed (except maybe for that mom jeans moment) seemed to take a nasty turn at the news that Johnson, her boyfriend of five-plus months, had slipped a non-traditional-looking gold, ruby and diamond engagement ring on her finger.

Amid a smattering of well-wishes, the online masses found a lot to gripe about over her betrothal. Chief among the complaints: That the question-popping announcement came off as — and we’re paraphrasing here — a “desperate,” “pathetic” and “tacky” case of face-saving “one-upmanship,” falling as it did just days after Simpson‘s ex-husband, Nick Lachey, proposed to Vanessa Minnillo, his girlfriend of four years.

Other factors contributing to the wave of disapproval and predictions of romantic doom included the swiftness of their engagement; the fact that Johnson finalized his divorce just last month; and that his career has been in limbo since his post-Yale stint with the NFL (he reportedly bailed on pursuing his MBA at the Wharton School of Business when he hooked up with Jessica in May).

One commenter has even coined the phrase “pulling a Jessica,” which apparently means dropping hints to your boyfriend that it’s time to make a commitment, for better or worse.

Our take? We’ve always liked Simpson and wish her nothing but happiness. Are we worried that she’s rushing into things with Johnson? Sure, but love doesn’t necessarily follow a timeline. Plenty of couples have sprinted to the altar and enjoyed a happily-ever-after (and plenty of others haven’t — we’re looking at you, Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney).

Either way, we strongly urge Jessica to get a prenup.

Also, the timing is definitely … awkward. Would it have been better from a PR standpoint for them to keep the betrothal hush-hush for a few months to get some distance from Nick and Vanessa? Almost certainly.

Simpson and Johnson‘s engagement is now irrevocably tied to Lachey and Minnillo‘s, with the dueling nuptials sure to fuel a tabloid competition: Who has the better ring? Whose dress is more elaborate? Who will star in “Newlyweds 2.0”? Who will get knocked up first (by the by, we expect the shotgun-wedding rumors to start any second now for Jess and Eric)? It’s not an ideal situation for either duo.

The proposal also comes amid talk that Jessica was “deeply saddened” by Nick‘s engagement (she insists that she couldn’t be happier for her ex, whom she split with in 2005), and that she’d taken a potshot at Minnillo during a recent run-in at a Los Angeles restaurant, supposedly sniping, “I hope Vanessa likes her clothes because I bought them for her, since Nick took all my money.”

Still, Simpson has made it clear (as is her public-gushing custom) that Johnson is everything she could want and more.

“This is just normal, thank God. He’s very, very supportive,” Simpson enthused to People mag last month of her “hottie” squeeze. “[I] couldn’t ask for a better man in my life right now.”

Speaking of men in her life, we can’t forget to mention her dad, Joe, who reportedly never warmed up to Lachey, causing tension in the MTV-chronicled marriage.

He quickly tweeted his best wishes, saying that he’s “so very happy for Jess and Eric. May they have a lifetime of joy and happiness.” No word on whether that also includes giving them some space.

In what we consider a troubling sign, Papa Joe tagged along back in July when Jess celebrated her 30th birthday with Johnson on a yacht in Capri. Paparazzi snapped him standing just a few uncomfortable feet away as his little girl smooched and straddled her beau.

Source: Wonderwall

“What are your thoughts about Jessica’s engagement? I think it’s a bit selfish on her man’s part (Eric Johnson), being that she probably didn’t know about it, but we really never know. Either way congrats to the couple. I wish them good luck & love.”

 

Related Articles

• Jessica Simpson Bought Her Own Engagement Ring? Sad Face. (crushable.com)
• Nick Lachey to Jessica Simpson: Congratulations! (thehollywoodgossip.com)
• Jessica Simpson or Nick Lachey: Whose Relationship Will Last Longer? (thehollywoodgossip.com)
• Jessica Simpson, Eric Johnson Are Engaged! (omg.yahoo.com)
• Nick Lachey Speaks Out on Jessica Simpson’s Surprise Engagement (omg.yahoo.com)

AD Xpress: Buy Life Campaign

Alicia Keys is not only a singer, she is also a new mommy, and an HIV/AIDS Activist. She is well known for her charity work, such as her Keep A Child Alive organization, which is dedicated to providing assistance and support to children and those who are infected by HIV/AIDS in Africa, as well as India.

The Buy Life Campaign is about buying life to give life to millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. The charity provides medicine, food and shelter needed to fight the disease.

Alicia Keys signed on her husband Swizz Beatz as well as a few of her fellow friends like Kim Kardashian, Ryan Seacrest, Usher, Katie Holmes, Jay Sean, Jaden & Willow Smith, Serena Williams and many many more, to support the “Buy Life” campaign.

As stated on their website:

“It’s the one purchase nobody can live without. It’s Life. When you buy life, you give life to millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India by providing the medicine, food and shelter needed to fight this awful disease.

There is a profound difference between living and life. Living may extend time for another day. But life is far more than sleeping and waking. Life is more than merely existing. And, although it would be easier, life cannot be bought in a pill.That is why Keep A Child Alive buys more than just the pills needed to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. It buys the essential nutrition, shelter, support and education to help ensure those pills are taken properly and effectively. It buys the things we all take for granted, but that make all the difference. A bed. A roof. A ride. A book. A smile. KCA offers children, their families and entire communities a shoulder to lean on and a heart that beats for them. Because KCA believes we can do something far bigger and better than buy the ability to live. We can buy the dignity that is life. We can buy compassion. Buy love. Buy the cure. Buy life. Because the more you buy, the more you save. KEEP A CHILD ALIVE.”

Check out the photos of those who are involved with the Buy Life Campaign:

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The shirts that these celebrities are rocking aren’t just a message or fashion. They might look simple, but as you can see, they all have scannable barcodes. These shirts serve an even bigger purpose, because they’re scannable, by purchasing a “Buy Life” tee, you can become a walking charity box with your own, scannable BUY LIFE American Apparel Unisex T-Shirt. This shirt can be scanned using the Stickybits or Wimo app and will allow yourself and others to donate to the Keep A Child Alive foundation (Note: If you own a smart phone, you can order one via your phone), by simply scanning the t-shirt with your smart phone (Blackberry, iPhone, etc.).

The following is written on the back: “This Shirt Fights AIDS – Scan the barcode or Text ‘BUYLIFE’ to 90999 to Join the Fight.”

“It’s the one purchase nobody can live without. It’s Life. When you buy life, you give life to millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India by providing the medicine, food and shelter needed to fight this awful disease.

Whenever you see a “BUY LIFE” bar code, simply scan it using Stickybits or WiMO and instantly make the purchase of a lifetime.

You can also purchase a fully scannable “BUY LIFE” t-shirt and invite others to buy life wherever you go. This shirt not only looks good, but every scan does the world good.”

You can also purchase a tote bag…

Rock this Buy Life tote bag that can also be scanned with the Stickybits or Wimo app which will also allow people to give to Keep a Child Alive.

Check out the details and how to participate in the initiative by visiting the BUY LIFE website at BuyLife.org.

Please donate!

“The more you buy the more you save…”

Image via Wikipedia

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Download It!: Rihanna ft. Drake – “What’s My Name”

Rihanna and Drake‘s studio hook-up for, “What’s My Name” has arrived for fans’ listening pleasure. Once involved in a brief fling, they get playful again in this track with Drake throwing some lady-loving rhymes and Rihanna baring all he needs to know to be her man.

Check out an excerpt from the track after the jump….

“I heard you good with them soft lips,” Drake raps. “Yeah, you know word of mouth/ The square root of 69 is 8-something/ Right? ‘Cause I’ve been trying to work it out/ Good weed, white wine, I come alive in the nighttime/ OK, away we go/ Only thing we have on is the radio/ Let it play, say you gotta leave, but I know you wanna stay.”

Rihanna responds, “Not everybody knows how to work my body/ Knows how to make me want it/ But boy you stay up on it/ You got that something/ That keeps me so off balance/ Baby, you’re a challenge/ Let’s explore your talents.” She sings more in her next lines, “Hey, boy, I really want to see if you can go downtown with a girl like me/ Hey, boy, I really want to be with you, ’cause you’re just my type.”

Rihanna told BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Max in a recent interview:

“Drake is such a cool guy. He is one of my great friends. We actually just did a song together. It’s going to be on my album. The second song, we did another version with him. We may even shoot a video for it. I went out with him Trey and J Cole recently we had a lot of fun.”

Both the original and remixed versions of “What’s My Name” are recorded for Rihannna‘s November 16 album ‘Loud’. A music video for the original song has been filmed last month in New York, but according to a report on Ryan Seacrest’s blog, she will shoot another video possibly with Drake on October 28 for the revamped track.

“I hope we get to shoot a video for that too,” Drake told MTV News. “I’m really excited about that song.”

Chris Brown Reacts….

The newly-revealed song has been all over the web and apparently has been heard by Chris Brown. Despite his ill-fated romance with her, the male R&B performer praised the collaboration. Chris Brown took it to his Twitter to respond to new single “What’s My Name” by saying;

Rihanna releases ‘Loud’ on November 15th.

DOWNLOAD IT!: Rihanna f/ Drake – “What’s My Name”

Audio Source: Rap-Up.com via Props to B.O.B.O.

Download It: Rihanna – “Only Girl (In The World)”

The first single on her fifth album, “Only Girl (In the World),” premiered on Ryan Seacrest‘s radio show on Tuesday, September 7th, and features the 22-year-old pop star imploring her man to make her feel special. The song is dedicated to a new man in Rihanna’s life who can make her feel special after her bad breakup with Chris Brown.

Rihanna really, really wants to be loved – according to her latest single. A month after her controversial appearance on Eminem’s song about domestic abuse – “Love the Way You Lie” – Rihanna is once again singing about holding on to a guy on her fifth album, “Loud.”

“I wanted the next step in the evolution of Rihanna,” she said during a web chat on her official website, Rihanna Daily, after revealing her the title of her follow-up to “Rated R.”

“You guys are always defending me,” Rihanna told her fans on her website, “so now you’ve got some great songs to justify it.”

“I want you to make me feel like I’m the only girl in the world/ Like I’m the only one that you’ve ever loved/ Like I’m the only one who knows your heart,” she sings, before adding, “Like I’m the only one who understands how to make you feel like a man.”

“Loud,” which harks back to the title of the singer’s ‘Last Girl On Tour’, will be released on Nov. 2.

The Song is stuck in my head…Can’t wait for the new album!

DOWNLOAD IT: Rihanna – “Only Girl (In The World)”

Music News: Willow Smith Signs to Roc Nation

So if you haven’t been keeping up, Rihanna released “Only Girl (In the World)” on Tuesday and out of nowhere the offspring of Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith, Willow Smith, came out swinging with the unexpected “Whip My Hair.” All sorts of Willow and Rihanna comparisons were made due to an unreleased Rihanna song entitled “Whippin’ My hair,” Willow’s similar vocal delivery to Rihanna and the similar style Willow shares with Rihanna… Then today, it was announced that Willow signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.

Below is what Will and Jada had to say about the choice of label:

“After meeting with several record companies, it was clear that Jay-Z, Ty Ty, Jay Brown and the Roc Nation staff was the unquestionable choice. Their passion for Willow combined with their boundless vision and artistic integrity made Roc Nation the perfect home for our little girl.”

Below are Jay-Z’s comments made towards the superstar, in the making:

“I heard the record first before I knew that it was recorded by a nine year old and I was like, man that record’s a smash,” Jay-Z said. “I believe in superstars. I believe in big records and in superstars and I think [Willow] has both.”

“She has a child’s innocence but she has a clear vision of who she is and who she wants to be,” he continued. “I can only imagine that’s how Mike [Michael Jackson] was as a young kid, he knew exactly what he wanted.”

“Willow is about to embark on an incredible journey and we look forward to joining her as she grows in all aspects of her career,” Roc Nation said in a statement.

Well there you have it, Willow Smith may just be that child-in-training to be a true pop culture phenomenon. What we can’t get over about “Whip My Hair,” is it is a silly song for someone 20+ to sing but for a 9 year old to sing a song like this, it screams potential. All she has is room to grow and all she also has is POWER behind her now so expect to see Willow dazzle. Watch Willow on the Ryan Seacrest show after and listen to “Whip My Hair” here…

Source: YouTube/thecsperspective.com

“Love the song…she will be a good addition to the Roc Nation. Go ahead girl, do your thang!!”

WTF Wednesday: Ryan Seacrest Got Dissed

Ryan Seacrest was interviewing Beyonce’ at the Golden Globes on Sunday evening, when he decided to cut it short for his chance with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie aka “Brangelina”. Little did he know that they were not even trying to get his attention, in fact they acted like they didn’t even hear him calling them. I don’t have anything against Ryan or the Brangelina couple, I just think what they was a bit f*ck up.

Here’s a YouTube video of Ryan’s diss below.