Robert Pattinson’s cheek was going at a hefty sum, with two bidders finally parting with $20,000 for a chance to brush the cheek of the Hollywood vampire at last night’s AmFAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit in Cannes.

Sharon Stone looked chic in a black one-shoulder gown and filigree choker.

“We have 33 million people who have AIDS,’’ she said. “It’s the number one killer

of African-American women in the United States between 19 and 25 years of age.

“I don’t think people realise that AIDS killed two million people in 2007. Those are astonishing figures. I think people really don’t stop and recognise the severity of what’s happened.”

Scottish songstress Annie Lennox was invited to perform. “I would describe half of my activities as HIV activism,” said Lennox, appearing in a blue china doll gown with red ribbon. “High profile events regarding HIV are very important.”

Other celebs in attendance were Robyn Wright Penn, Dita Von Teese, Paris Hilton, Hayden Panettiere, Donatella Versace, Claudia Schiffer, 50 Cent and Josh Hartnett.

UK girl group the Sugababes recently took to their Twitter to set the record straight about who they are as artists and responded to a supposed feud between them and Girls Aloud. They wrote “Oh we just wanted to give a BIG 2 fingers and a Kiss our Ass to the sad prat who made that YouTube video about Us against GA… We like what they do. We Love what we do. We are a completely different band. Who gives a shit if we’ve had 2 line up changes… Even more reason to show us support & respect because we are still surviving!!! WE have had Nearly TEN yrs In this industry with with 7 albums 5 number ones HUGE sales across EUROPE not only in the UK. We write. Sing live. We have never Sold our selves out to the media… We’re about the music. Love and support to all the up and coming girl bands. BUT their will only ever be ONE sugababes and even though the last album wasnt A huge hit (lol) Who gives a sh!t. We are not giving up. And we STILL remain (According to OVER ALL SALES) THE BIGGEST GIRLBAND FROM THE UK!”
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David Cook and David Archuleta visited the Philippines last week but before they were allowed to perform in the country, they were politely asked by Philippine health authorities to have themselves checked for the swine flu. The director of the quarantine bureau, had official go to the boys’ hotel and arrange a mandatory health check, one they should have had when they arrived at the airport. The two American Idol alums were even reminded that they could be arrested if they did not cooperate, so they did. Part of the briefing after the examination was a reminder to keep a distance of six feet from other people, how to identify flu-like symptoms and to use hand sanitizers.

Maybe Lady Gaga was right in saying that the Jonas Brothers have become The Beatles of our time. When the band of brothers touched down in Peru recently to kick off their South American tour, pre-teens and teenagers alike were going bonkers for the Jonas Brothers outside the boys’ press conference. The Jonas mania may be dying out in the US but it still seems like an epidemic in other places. I take back that Lady Gaga was right thing. I don’t think anyone is going to come close to the fame of The Beatles. At least not any time soon.

Former American Idol finalist, MICHAEL JOHNS will be performing his new single “Heart on My Sleeve” on The Ellen DeGeneres Show next Monday, May 25th. The Aussie vocalist will be releasing his first post-Idol solo album, Hold Back My Heart on June 23rd. Encouraged by his mentor David Foster, who invited Johns to appear on his star-studded David Foster And Friends PBS special in December 2008, Johns chose the road less traveled, and for the first time in his adult life, went to work on an album with no deal in place. “Foster always said that the secret of his success is to look at whatever lane is open in the music industry and take it,” Johns recalls. “And the way my record combines old and new, I could open for Alicia Keys one night and John Mayer the next, it’s right in the middle.” Songwriter Diane Warren, who penned the knee-buckling ballad “Heart Is Weak,” was another key endorsement. “There’s nothing more validating than having these heavyweights behind you,” says Johns. “It’s like screw winning American Idol when people like David Foster and Diane Warren are saying you have the real thing here.”

With an album completed and ready to turn in, Johns had the rare freedom to shop it around, and when Downtown Records, home to Gnarls Barkley, Cold War Kids and Santigold, showed interest in a licensing deal, he jumped at the opportunity to finally control his own fate. “I think we’re in the most exciting period of music ever, because there’s so many ways to do it,” he says. And like most of his plans thus far, Johns is thinking big for his future. “The live show is going to be great,” he says excitedly. “I might even take it old school with different bands in different towns — almost like what Chuck Berry and all those guys used to do.”

Tune in to see Michael Johns on The Ellen DeGeneres Show next Monday, May 25th. Check your local listings for times.

“HEART ON MY SLEEVE” audio embed code: