Jon Stewart selected to host Academy Awards

Beverly Hills, Calif. – Jon Stewart will return as host of the Academy Awards.

The star of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” will get his second shot at hosting Hollywood’s premiere event, which will be held on Feb. 24 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. He hosted the 78th annual awards show in 2006.

Stewart was “a terrific host” for that event, Oscar telecast producer Gil Cates said Wednesday, announcing the selection in a statement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

The academy didn’t indicate why it decided to go with Stewart after using comedian Ellen DeGeneres this year.

“I’m thrilled to be asked to host the Academy Awards for the second time because, as they say, the third time’s a charm,” Stewart joked.

Previous Cates-selected hosts include Steve Martin, Chris Rock, Billy Crystal and Stewart.

Stewart, a political satirist, injected some political humor into his 2006 performance, taking jabs at the war in Iraq and ribbing Hollywood’s elite about their ties to the Democratic Party.

Led Zeppelin will reunite for tribute concert

London – Led Zeppelin will perform a one-time comeback concert in memory of Ahmet Ertegun, a co-founder of Atlantic Records.

The band will perform together for the first time in 19 years Nov. 26, at London’s The O2 venue, on the banks of the River Thames.

Promoters said the concert would pay tribute to Ertegun – the label boss who popularized Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Led Zeppelin – who died in December at age 83.

“During the Zeppelin years, Ahmet Ertegun was a major foundation of solidarity and accord,” Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant said in a statement. “For us he was Atlantic Records and remained a close friend and conspirator.”

Ertegun, who co-founded the Atlantic Records label with Herb Abramson, signed Plant’s band in 1968 and later snapped up the Rolling Stones.

Led Zeppelin’s remaining original members Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones will headline the concert with late drummer John Bonham’s son, Jason, on drums, organizers said Wednesday.

The quartet is expected to perform a full set lasting up to two hours.

Beyonce, J.Lo and Gwen top ‘best-dressed’ list

New York – Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Lopez and Gwen Stefani are among the stylish stars on People magazine’s list of best dressed women of 2007.

Katie Holmes, Penelope Cruz, Jessica Biel, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Reese Witherspoon and Ali Larter are other sharp dressers singled out in the magazine’s “Best & Worst Dressed” double issue, on newsstands Friday.

Don’t forget the men. David Beckham, Terrence Howard, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt and George Clooney meet People’s standards for always stepping out in style, whether they’re wearing tuxedos or T-shirts.

Pitt and his partner, Angelina Jolie, are among the year’s best dressed couples. Other fashionable duos: Stefani and her husband, Gavin Rossdale; and Halle Berry and boyfriend Gabriel Aubry.

Among the fashion moments the magazine would like to forget: Sienna Miller’s black hot pants and tights and Avril Lavigne’s pairing of a frilly dress and combat boots.

Janet Jackson and Kirsten Dunst are cited for wearing the “worst red carpet dresses” of the year.

Meg White feeling ill, Stripes cancel dates

Detroit – The White Stripes have canceled upcoming tour dates “due to health issues.”

“Meg White is suffering from acute anxiety and is unable to travel at this time,” the duo said Tuesday in a posting on their Web site. “We hate to let people down and are very sorry.”

A representative for the White Stripes declined comment Wednesday.

Drummer White and singer-guitarist Jack White are touring to promote their latest album, “Icky Thump.”

Shows set for this month in Albuquerque, N.M.; Austin, Texas; San Diego; Inglewood, Calif.; and Berkeley, Calif., have been canceled.

Foxy Brown’s manager: Rapper isn’t pregnant

New York – Jail officials will not need to make maternity accommodations for Foxy Brown – her manager says the rapper isn’t pregnant, despite her lawyer’s courtroom contention that she was.

The revelation came Wednesday as her manager and Koch Records announced that Brown would release a new album while serving a one-year jail sentence.

Brown, who hasn’t released an album since 2001’s “Broken Silence,” was sentenced Friday to one year in jail for violating probation that stemmed from a fight with two manicurists in a New York City nail salon three years ago.

In August, defense lawyers told the court that Brown was three months pregnant. But in a statement released Wednesday, her manager, Chaz Williams, said: “And to the pregnancy rumors, this is the official statement: She is not pregnant.”

Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit against Lohan

Los Angeles – Lindsay Lohan has another court date.

A judge Tuesday refused to dismiss portions of a lawsuit against the 21-year-old actress over an October 2005 accident in which her Mercedes-Benz collided with a van.

Superior Court Judge Michael L. Stern rejected a motion that argued the lawsuit lacked legal sufficiency, and set April 7 for the trial.

The California Highway Patrol concluded that Raymundo Ortega, a busboy, caused the accident by making an illegal U-turn, but he sued Lohan and is seeking at least $200,000 in damages.