Mellencamp comes to Kansas

Bloomington, Ind. — John Mellencamp will bring his “Words & Music” to cities across the United States this spring on his first headlining tour in three years.

Sixteen stops have been announced for the first leg of the tour, which opens in Savannah, Ga., on March 23 and ends April 17 in Louisville, Ky. The tour is dubbed the “Words & Music Tour” after Mellencamp’s recently released double CD greatest hits collection.

“Jack and Diane,” “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.” and “Small Town” are among the songs Mellencamp will perform.

The top ticket price will be $45 for all tour dates in March and April, including the March 30 concert at the Kansas Coliseum near Wichita, Kan. Tickets go on sale Saturday at selectaseat.com.

Publisher sues ‘P. Diddy’ over unwritten memoir

New York — Random House Inc. is suing Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, alleging that the hip-hop mogul never paid back a $300,000 advance for a memoir he never completed.

In papers filed Monday at the state Supreme Court in Manhattan, the publisher alleged that Combs and his corporation, Bad Boy, have “simply kept the money they never rightfully earned.” Random House is seeking the advance’s return, plus interest.

Combs’ publicist, Rob Shuter, said Tuesday that there was a “disagreement with Random House that we hoped would be resolved without litigation. We anticipate that this will be resolved quickly.”

According to the court papers, Combs signed with Random House in 1998 and then arranged on his own to collaborate with Mikal Gilmore, a contributing editor to Rolling Stone and author of the acclaimed “Shot in the Heart.” A manuscript was to be completed by Dec. 15, 1999, but the deadline passed and, in early 2000, Random House notified Combs that he was in breach of contract and that the publisher wanted the money back.

Reality show runner-up shows she’s a winner in love

Los Angeles — “American Idol” runner-up Kimberley Locke is a winner when it comes to love.

Locke, who competed in season two of the Fox television talent contest, said she is engaged to marry her high school sweetheart, Don Campbell. She made the announcement to TV entertainment magazine “Extra” in an interview scheduled to air Tuesday.

Locke, 27, and Campbell have been dating off and on for 10 years. They plan to live in Los Angeles and have yet to set a wedding date.

“I’m going to take the time to order every wedding magazine and book ever published,” Locke told “Extra.”

She had a hit with the single, “8th World Wonder,” and is working on a new album, expected to be released by the end of the year.

Mexican pop star plans first tour since release from prison

Monterrey, Mexico — Mexican pop star Gloria Trevi, who was recently released from prison, will kick off her “Trevolution” tour in her hometown of Monterrey next month.

The tour, which will take Trevi to dozens of cities in Mexico, the United States, Latin America and Europe, will open at the Arena Monterrey on March 4, her manager, John Regna, said Monday.

Trevi was cleared on rape and kidnapping charges in September, along with two of her backup singers, after spending five years in Brazilian and Mexican prisons. Prosecutors had alleged they had lured young girls into their entourage and then sexually abused them.

Lohan’s a Barbie girl

New York — Are you a Lohan girl, living in a Lohan world?

Lindsay Lohan, the red-haired “Mean Girls” star, is getting the Barbie treatment with a new doll made in her likeness. The doll is dressed in full red-carpet splendor, wearing a beige dress and a faux fur-trimmed coat.

The Mattel doll comes complete with a director’s chair and her very own velvet rope, the company announced recently. Part of the toy maker’s “My Scene” line, the Lohan doll is due out in June and will retail for about $30.

The first peek at the doll will come at the annual American International Toy Fair, which starts Sunday in New York and concludes Feb. 23.

Lohan, 18, also starred in “Freaky Friday” and recently finished shooting “Herbie: Fully Loaded,” an update of the Disney story about a plucky Volkswagen Beetle.

Contest searches for next Joplin

New York — If Joss Stone isn’t busy, here’s something she could probably win.

Janis Joplin’s estate has announced “Search for the Pearl,” a reality TV talent search to find the next Joplin.

The 17-year-old Stone sang “Cry Baby,” then teamed with Melissa Etheridge’s vocals and driving guitar on “Piece of My Heart” in a gritty tribute to Joplin during Sunday’s Grammy Awards show.

According to a statement, vocalists across the country will audition to recreate the vocal styling of Joplin, who died in 1970 at age 27. Five finalists will be flown to San Francisco to perform for a panel of judges. The selected Janis-a-like will then headline a world concert tour. The tour will culminate in a star-studded tribute concert in 2006.

“Search for the Pearl” will premiere sometime in 2005.