‘Twilight’ among People’s Choice Award nominees

Los Angeles — Nominees for the People’s Choice Awards are out, and the people choose vampires.

“Twilight” and “True Blood” were among the top nominees announced Tuesday. Fans cast more than 18 million votes online to select the nominee slate and will also choose the winners in 35 categories.

“Twilight” is up for favorite movie, franchise and on-screen team for its trio of stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. Stewart and Pattinson were also nominated individually for favorite movie actress and actor, and Lautner is up for breakout movie actor.

“True Blood” was nominated for favorite TV obsession and sci-fi/fantasy TV show, plus star Anna Paquin earned a nod for TV drama actress. “The Vampire Diaries” was also a double nominee, up for favorite sci-fi/fantasy show and new TV drama.

Fans can vote for their favorites online at peopleschoice.com.

Queen Latifah is set to host the People’s Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre. The ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS on Jan. 6, 2010.

Rihanna talks about breaking down, new CD

New York — Rihanna says recording songs on her new album was such an emotional experience that she sometimes had to leave the studio to prevent herself from breaking down.

“I walked out the studio a few times just trying not to be in tears,” she said Monday about recording her fourth studio album, “Rated R,” to be released on Nov. 23.

“It was about me, and so much so that songs got really personal to the point where it took three months for me to start recording it because it was too deep for me to even listen to,” she said.

The CD comes nine months after the 21-year-old singing sensation was attacked by ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. Rihanna said recording helped ease the pain — giving her an outlet to express how she truly felt.

“I got to vent because I didn’t really talk a lot. I didn’t talk to a lot of people about anything I was feeling. I just did it on the record,” she said.

Brown was arrested Feb. 8. He was accused of beating Rihanna after they attended a pre-Grammy party. Brown later pleaded guilty to felony assault and was sentenced to five years’ probation, six months of community labor and a year of domestic violence counseling.

Aerosmith’s Joe Perry: Band not breaking up

New York — Aerosmith’s lead guitarist Joe Perry says the legendary rock band isn’t breaking up — although they may be in need of a new singer.

Perry said on the micro-blogging site Twitter late Monday that Aerosmith is “not splitting up” but “looking for a new singer to work with” amid growing speculation about the future of the band and the role of front man Steven Tyler.

Tyler has been quoted as saying he is considering a solo career.

Perry said Monday on WKXL, a radio station in Concord, N.H., that Tyler hasn’t communicated his intentions with anyone in the band and that he found out about Tyler’s solo wishes after going online.

Tyler could not immediately be reached for comment.

The 61-year-old Tyler was injured when he fell off a stage during an Aug. 5 performance in South Dakota, and the band canceled the remainder of its summer tour.

Denzel Washington set for ‘Fences’ on Broadway

New York — Get ready for another big name on Broadway.

Denzel Washington plans to return to the New York stage next spring in a revival of August Wilson’s “Fences.”

Producers Carole Shorenstein Hays and Scott Rudin say the play will open in April at a theater to be announced. The production will be directed by Kenny Leon, who directed Wilson’s “Radio Golf” and “Gem of the Ocean” on Broadway.

No other casting was announced. The original 1987 production starred James Earl Jones as patriarch Troy Maxson, Mary Alice as his wife and Courtney B. Vance as his son. It won both the Tony Award for best play and the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

Arrest warrant dropped for Quaids in hotel case

Santa Barbara, Calif. — An arrest warrant has been dropped for actor Randy Quaid and his wife, Evi, who are accused of stiffing a Santa Barbara County hotel on a $10,000 bill.

Prosecutor Lee Carter says the warrant was recalled after the Quaids posted bail of $20,000 each last week.

The Quaids’ attorney, Robert Sanger, says the bill has been paid and he hopes to talk with prosecutors about resolving the case.

The warrant was issued after the Quaids failed to show up for three court appearances.

Arraignment is set for Dec. 15.

Halle Berry to receive Sherry Lansing award

Los Angeles — Halle Berry has something else in common with fellow Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Jodie Foster: The Sherry Lansing Leadership Award.

The Hollywood Reporter says Berry will receive the honor next month at the paper’s 18th annual Power 100: Women in Entertainment breakfast.

The award recognizes groundbreaking contributions to the entertainment industry.

Hilary Swank will give the keynote address at the Power 100 breakfast Dec. 4 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.