Helen Mirren's Surprising Pink Hair Inspiration Revealed

Stylewatch
Style News Now

02/10/2013 at 03:49 PM ET

Ian Gavan/Getty

What do Dakota Fanning, Katy Perry and Helen Mirren have in common? Until Sunday’s BAFTA awards in London, not a whole lot, but Mirren’s bright new do put them all in a rarefied group of stars who have rocked pink hair.

“I saw it on America’s Next Top Model, so I decided to have a go,” Mirren, 67, told reporters of her tress inspiration. The cotton-candy hue highlighted her brand-new choppy pixie cut, which she showed off to great effect in a white crew-neck Nicholas Oakwell Couture gown with floral embroidery. “I know I won’t win tonight,” she said of her best actress nomination for Hitchcock, “but I’m going to have lots of fun and celebrate anyway.”

Though we’re used to the star’s bold fashion choices, her colorful locks (rumored to be temporary) still managed to surprise us — if only because we’d bet she’s the first-ever Dame Commander of the British Empire to sport a pastel pink pixie.

Tell us: What do you think of Mirren’s new do?

–Alex Apatoff

PHOTOS: VOTE ON MORE STAR HAIR CHANGES HERE!

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Predict the Grammy Award Winners!

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Sue Paterno Breaks Her Silence, Defends Late Husband Joe

By Nicole Weisensee Egan

02/08/2013 at 03:00 PM EST

Sue and Joe Paterno in 2010

Nabil K. Mark/Centre Daily Times/MCT/Getty

Nearly one year after Joe Paterno's death amid scandal, his widow is speaking out.

The football coach – whose heralded 61-year career at PSU ended amid speculation that he did not do enough to prevent former employee Jerry Sandusky from sexually abusing young boys – was "scrupulously honest, rigidly moral and absolutely unafraid of the consequences of doing the right thing," his widow, Sue, says in a letter sent to former Penn State football players Friday.

On Sunday morning, Sue Paterno will release the results of an investigation she ordered into her husband's conduct during the period when Sandusky was bringing his young victims to the university campus, and later when a witness to one of Sandusky's crimes came to the Paternos' home to report some of what he had seen.

She did not give the results of the report in her letter to the players, instead urging them to go to paterno.com on Sunday to read it themselves. The investigation, carried out by experts hired by her lawyers, was a response to a report commissioned by Penn State's board of directors and conducted by former FBI Director Louis Freeh last July. The report alleged that Paterno and other top school officials had shown "shocking disregard for child victims" and tried to cover up the scandal.

"I did not recognize the man Mr. Freeh described," she wrote. "I am here to tell you as definitively and forcefully as I know how that Mr. Freeh could not have been more off base in his assessment of Joe."

"I knew Joe Paterno as well as one human being can know another. Joe was exactly the moral, disciplined and demanding man you knew him to be."

In an exclusive at-home interview with PEOPLE, Sue, 73, goes on to say that "Joe lived his values every day, on and off the field, and he instilled those values in his players. Honesty was paramount."

In October, Sandusky, 69, was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison on 45 counts of child sexual abuse.

For Sue Paterno's complete interview, pick up next week's PEOPLE, on newsstands next Friday

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Jessica Simpson Takes Her Bump For a Workout!

By Maggie Coughlan

02/07/2013 at 04:00 PM EST

Jessica Simpson

Bruja/Juan Sharma/Pacific Coast News

Now that's a bump!

While heading to the gym on Wednesday, an expectant Jessica Simpson was photographed in Los Angeles wearing a form-fitting black top that showed off her growing belly.

Shielded by sunglasses, Simpson, 32, looked relaxed in comfy green sweatpants and her hair up in a high ponytail.

The Weight Watchers spokeswoman is expecting her second child with fiancé Eric Johnson. The couple are already parents to 9-month-old daughter, Maxwell Drew.

But the mommy mogul is doing more than just expanding her family, she's also taking on a maternity-focused business venture. Simpson recently partnered with Destination Maternity to feature her designs at over 800 stores.

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Miley Cyrus: My Short Hair Is Here to Stay - Forever!

Stylewatch
Style News Now

02/06/2013 at 03:45 PM ET

Getty; WireImage (2)

Hope you weren’t too attached to Miley Cyrus‘s long hair, because she has a message for you: “I could never see myself having long, long hair again.”

“I’m feeling it!” the star tells E! News of her close crop. “My fiancé [Liam Hemsworth] loves it. It’s so much easier to go shave the sides once a week, rather than getting your roots done and all this stuff.”

And it’s not just that she prefers the low maintenance of her new do: she actually hates the way she looks with long locks. “I do not like looking back at [photos of my long hair],” she says. “I wished somebody would have ripped those [extensions] out of my head. I do not miss that in any way.”

Though we initially found the chop surprising, it’s definitely growing on us (no pun intended) — and we love that Cyrus keeps finding new, fun ways to style her shorter do. Tell us: Do you love Cyrus’s awesome attitude about her hair as much as we do?

–Alex Apatoff

PHOTOS: VOTE ON MORE CELEB HAIRCUT AND COLOR CHANGES HERE!

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Sandra Bullock's Son Louis: Was He the Baltimore Ravens's Lucky Charm?

By Patrick Gomez

02/05/2013 at 03:30 PM EST

Sandra Bullock and son Louis with Leigh Ann Tuohy (inset)

Splash News Online; Inset: Getty

The Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII – and they may have gotten an assist from Sandra Bullock's son Louis who was watching in the stands.

"The 3-year-old had the lucky No. 3 jersey on! He wore it all through playoffs,” Leigh Ann Tuohy, Bullock's real-life Blind Side inspiration, tells PEOPLE. (Tuohy was at the game with Bullock, her son and the rest of Baltimore Raven Michael Oher's adoptive family.)

"My comment was, 'It better make it to New Orleans!' And it did," she says.

And it seems the blackout in the stadium following Beyoncé's half-time performance was of no concern to the toddler.

"I think Louis was a little more interested in the little lights that would go on your finger [that were passed out in the stands] verses the game, but that is OK,” Tuohy says.

Not wanting to divert attention from the players on the field, Tuohy and Bullock took special care not to be photographed or televised together during the game.

"It wasn't about us. Sandy and I knew that," Tuohy says. "It was about celebrating a young man who worked tremendously hard for the last 11 years to overcome every kind of adverse situation – and [Sunday] he achieved his dream. We're still giddy. We really are."

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Sesame Street Spoofs Downton Abbey

02/04/2013 at 03:30 PM EST

There's been plenty of drama on Downton Abbey this season but nothing compared to the challenges facing the residents of Upside Downton Abbey.

In a Sesame Street spoof of the hit PBS show, a Dowager Countess of Grantham lookalike requests several items from her butler, Carson, including tea, crumpets and a steak and kidney pie.

"I live to serve," he says, bringing her the food and drink. But each time the items fall to the ceiling because, the puppets discuss, everything is upside down on Upside Downton Abbey.

"Perhaps you can change the name from Upside Downton Abbey to Rightside Upton Abbey," Carson suggests.

"Then we could be right-side up and have our steak and kidney pie," the countess says, before officially changing the name and the direction of things in the home.

Then, of course, the steak and kidney pie comes crashing down on her head.

What would Maggie Smith say?

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Ben Affleck Wins Directors Guild Award, But Doesn't Consider Himself a 'Real Director'

By Oliver Jones and Alison Schwartz

02/03/2013 at 03:00 PM EST

Ben Affleck at the Directors Guild Awards

Tammie Arroyo/AFF

Oscar, who?

Ben Affleck took home the top prize Saturday night at the 65th Annual Directors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, where he once again reigned supreme following a snub from the Academy Awards.

It was a celebratory evening for Affleck – and it was also date night with his doting wife, Jennifer Garner, by his side (and often with her hand on his back).

"I have to just thank my wife for being the best person in the world. I love you," Affleck, 40, told the audience as he accepted the award for outstanding directorial achievement for Argo. "I don't need to look at the teleprompter to know why I want to thank you. I want to thank you because I love you."

He added: "I want our daughters to break boundaries."

He also tipped his hat to fellow nominee Steven Spielberg, telling the Lincoln director, "Steven, there is nothing to even say about a guy whose got 11 of these ... This is the guy whose face is in Wikipedia when you type in director."

That wasn't Spielberg's only shout-out of the night. As Girls mastermind Lena Dunham, also a first-time winner, accepted honors for television comedy directing, she playfully warned, "Steven Spielberg, I am coming for you. Ben Affleck, I already came for you."

Not that Affleck considers himself a tried-and-true director.

"I worked really, really hard to try to become the best director that I could be," he said. "I don't think that this makes me a real director, but I think it means I'm on my way."

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Rihanna & Chris Brown Make Readers Mad, Ashley Judd Split Makes Them Sad

By Andrea Billups

02/02/2013 at 03:00 PM EST

Rihanna (left) and Ashley Judd

Michael Kovac/Getty; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

What's on the minds of PEOPLE readers this week? We love getting your feedback, and as always, you weighed in with plenty of strong reactions.

From your anger over Rihanna's confession that she and Chris Brown are once again in a relationship, to your love as a Houston waiter refused to serve a customer who'd insulted a boy with Down syndrome, you told us what got you talking – and also laughing out loud.

Check out the articles with the top reactions on the site this week, and keep clicking on the emoticons at the bottom of every story to tell us what you think!

After posting plenty of photos of them together, Rihanna finally came clean, much to readers' chagrin, that she and Chris Brown are back on as a couple. The pop star, 24, and Brown, 23, have had a rocky past after he was charged with assaulting her in 2009. She told Rolling Stone magazine, in a cover story, that the reconciled relationship was important to her, despite any public scrutiny it would invite. "Even if it's a mistake, it's my mistake," she says. "After being tormented for so many years, being angry and dark, I'd rather just live my truth and take the backlash. I can handle it."

Readers felt the love for Houston waiter Michael Garcia of Laurenzo's Prime Rib who put his job on the line when he came to the defense of a 5-year-old boy with Down syndrome, the son of Garcia's regular customers. When Milo Castillo, who has delayed speech issues, began to chat loudly about his recent birthday, a male customer nearby announced: "Special needs children need to be special somewhere else." An angry Garcia was angered refused to serve the man, and the story later lit up the restaurant's Facebook page with support.

They're famous and beautiful and now, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his supermodel wife Gisele Bündchen own a $20 million, 22,000-square-foot castle-style Los Angeles home, replete with a moat. Wow, indeed. Brady, 35, and Bündchen, 32, will have plenty of room for their growing family, which includes son Benjamin, 3, and daughter Vivian, born Dec. 5, along with Brady's son, John, 5, from a previous relationship.

Fans were saddened by the split this week of longtime couple Ashley Judd, 44, and her husband of more than a decade, auto racing star Dario Franchitti, 39. Their exclusive statement to PEOPLE came as a surprise: "We have mutually decided to end our marriage. We'll always be family and continue to cherish our relationship based on the special love, integrity, and respect we have always enjoyed."

Outspoken Miley Cyrus, 20, drew laughs from readers when she referred to herself in a recent interview as already married. The singer, who's been engaged to actor Liam Hemsworth, 23, since May of last year, had also hinted at marriage in the past, posting photos on Twitter (since removed) of the couple wearing rings on their left hands. But she seems to just be jumping the gun. Hemsworth's rep confirmed to PEOPLE that the couple had not yet wed. "Definitely NOT married," said the rep.

Check back next week for another must-read roundup, and see what readers are reacting to here.

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Ashley Judd Breakup: Pals Saw Signs of Tension

By Linda Marx

02/01/2013 at 04:00 PM EST

Dario Franchitti and Ashley Judd

Nick Laham/Getty

In the fast and dangerous sport of IndyCar racing, Dario Franchitti could always take comfort in knowing his biggest fan would be waiting for him at the finish line in her signature floppy hat and movie star smile.

Wife Ashley Judd's devotion was never more public than when Franchitti won his first of three Indianapolis 500s on a rain-soaked day in 2007 as she danced and ran down the raceway to celebrate.

"When he was introduced, or got a good pole position she yelled and waved her hands in the air and was there to support him in a big way," a source at another track, Watkins Glen International raceway in New York, tells PEOPLE. "He is not that outgoing but it seemed cute and like a nice thing for a high-profile actress to be so there for her husband."

So for some in their racing circle the news of their split this week after nearly a dozen years of marriage came as a shock. "It looked like they were pretty happy," says another source.

Others, however, had seen indications of tension between the two stars. In a joint announcement, Judd, 44, and Franchitti, 39, said they had "mutually decided" to end their marriage but would "continue to cherish" their relationship.

"They can be having a drink or dinner and all of a sudden sparks will fly, and they will be fighting over something that was said in their group of friends," another racing source says. "Then it would stop and everything was fine between them."

They had been the ultimate glamour couple, the 2001 marriage of beautiful actress and dashing Scottish driver bringing together the world's of Hollywood and sports.

They often traveled together and shared in each other's successes. In 2012 Franchitti basked in his third Indy 500 victory by posing for photos with Judd and their two cockapoos, Buttermilk and Shug.

But those close to them saw another side. One night they were with a group of people at Tanino’s, an upscale Italian restaurant in Horseheads, N.Y., not far from Watkins Glen International, where Franchitti, 39, races each year.

"The place was packed and Ashley was kissing Dario, playing with his face and trying to get him to concentrate his attention on her instead of the rest of the group," a source tells PEOPLE. "It was cute at first but went on and on, you could tell he was uncomfortable with the public [affection]."

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Donald Faison and Cacee Cobb Expecting a Baby

Mom & Babies
Celebrity Baby Blog

01/31/2013 at 03:55 PM ET

Dr. Billy Ingram/Wireimage

Cacee Cobb has more than just a best friend in Jessica Simpson — she also has a pregnancy pal.

The Texas native and new husband Donald Faison are expecting their first child together, Cobb, 35, Tweeted Thursday.

“Looks like [Donald] and I are going to have a little stormtrooper of our own!” she wrote, sharing a photo of a light blue t-shirt with the Star Wars solider embroidered on the front.

The Exes star, 38, is already dad to children Kobe, 11, Dade and Kaya, both 13, and Sean, 16, from prior relationships.

The couple of six years were married in December in the backyard of Faison’s Scrubs costar Zach Braff.

– Sarah Michaud

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PHOTO: Fat Cat Swims to Lose Weight

People Pets

By Amy Jamieson

01/30/2013 at 03:30 PM EST

Holly the cat swimming at the Olde Towne Pet Resort

Mayra Ruiz

Holly the cat is large – and in charge of the indoor pool at Dulles, Virginia's Olde Towne Pet Resort!

The 13-year-old feline – who weighs a hefty 18 lbs. – takes regular swims in the pool in an effort to shed the 6 or 7 pounds of extra weight she's been carrying for far too long.

"The cat actually sits around all day watching Maury Povich shows at home," the resort's publicist, Mayra Ruiz-Mcpherson, tells PEOPLE. "The goal is just to get her moving. Swimming in the pool is the only activity she does."

Holly's owner, Dani Lawhorne, who works at the facility, began bringing the cat for swim sessions about a month ago after she became concerned about the extra pounds the cat was carrying. The morbidly obese kitty, who, unlike most cats is a natural in the water, is the only feline swimmer at the pool right now. Each time she visits, she dons a life vest and takes supervised swims for up to 30 minutes a time.

"Today she was just gliding and floating," says Ruiz-Mcpherson. "She loves it. She did better than the dogs here today."

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Jenny McCarthy's Super Bowl Plans: 'Have Fun' with Boys

By Dahvi Shira

01/30/2013 at 03:35 PM EST

Jenny McCarthy is on a mission. Aside from fulfilling her duties as co-host of the 10th annual Leather & Laces pre-Super Bowl soirée in New Orleans on Feb. 1, the sexy starlet also wants to meet some arm candy for the night.

"I'm going solo," she told PEOPLE on Friday. "Hell no, [I'm not bringing] any dates. I'm not looking for a boyfriend, but I am looking to have fun. What that entails, I don't know, but it is fun to talk to boys when you're single. I want just a sweet, nice – someone who isn't a slime ball."

Adds McCarthy, 40, "It's a really fun party. It attracts the adultsters. I love that term for them. People who grew up because they had to, but still want to go out and have a good time. It's a really, really, really lively group and the party always goes until at least three o' clock in the morning."

Something else she's looking forward to during the outing is reconnecting with fellow co-host and former Playboy star, Kendra Wilkinson, 27.

"She is also a mom and a really, really, really, really nice girl," says McCarthy, who will be clad in Herve Leger on the big night. "I'm looking forward to catching up and seeing how she's doing and having a mom's night out on the town."

As for what that "mom's night out" means, McCarthy expects, "We'll probably have dinner before we go and dance as much as possible. We have the night off. If you're going to host a party, you can't really sit there like a bump on a log. I want to look like my section is having the best time of their life because that kind of sets the tone of the party."

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Drew Barrymore: Why I Have Embraced Judaism

lberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Drew Barrymore has finally found her Ever After — and she’s not about to let her fairytale ending slip away.

During a Friday appearance on The View, the actress admitted her relationship with husband Will Kopelman is one she will never take for granted.

“You know me, I would never have messed this up. This is the most important thing I’ll ever do with my life,” she said. “I chose well, I’m so lucky he loves me back. It’s fantastic.”

Sharing that the art consultant is “a nice Jewish man from a nice Jewish family,” Barrymore has happily embraced Kopelman’s religion, and plans to raise the couple’s daughter Olive in the faith as well.

“I’m a shiksa. I do the seders and we do Passover. I haven’t converted yet, [but] Olive will be raised traditionally,” she explains. “We had a very traditional wedding ceremony with Rabbi Rubenstein and I did the ketubah. We wore the yamakas and we did the chuppah.”

Her decision to delve into practicing Judaism has brought an inner peace to the new mom. “I’m there, I love it! It’s a beautiful faith and I’m so honored to be around it,” she says. “It’s so family-oriented … The stories are so beautiful and it’s incredibly enlightening. I’m really happy.”

But while Barrymore is continuing tradition in some ways, she’s adamant that history will not be repeating itself in others — especially when it comes to her daughter’s happiness.

“I was such a hippie growing up, but I’m like the least loosey-goosey parent. I’m like bedtime, structure, feeding time because this baby is so happy knowing when everything is happy,” she notes.

“And I as a parent succeed and thrive knowing when everything is happening [under] that type of structure.”

Although she is without “a shred of remorse” over her own upbringing — “I celebrate my journey [because] I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t done everything I did,” she explains — Barrymore, 37, is not willing to take any risks with Olive’s childhood.

“I grew up very differently … which was really fun, but I think kids need structure so I would not just throw caution to the wind and hope everything works out,” she states. ”I will make sure that it does in a very timely manner.”

– Anya Leon

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Adam Levine & Friends Have 'Laid Back' Lunch in N.Y.C.

Caught in the Act

01/27/2013 at 03:30 PM EST

Before Adam Levine proved he was hilarious when he hosted Saturday Night Live, he kept his friends in stitches in New York on Monday.

Levine was spotted at The Mercer Kitchen around 2 p.m., an onlooker tells PEOPLE.

"He looked really laid back and seemed to be in a great mood," the source adds. "He was laughing a lot and was really enthralled in the conversation the whole table was having."

Joined by a group of guys and one girl – who was wearing a very big hat – Levine, 33, kept things casual in a gray hoodie and jeans.

– Jennifer Cress

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Ashton Kutcher Parties in Sundance After jOBS Premiere

Caught in the Act

01/26/2013 at 01:50 PM EST

Ashton Kutcher's much-hyped movie jOBS premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday, and the star was on hand – minus girlfriend Mila Kunis – for all the festivities.

Kutcher was one of the first to arrive at the official after party, hosted by Nur Khan Presents NK on Main Street for the cast and filmmakers and sponsored by Red Touch Media.

Kutcher was captivated by a floor-to-ceiling portrait of late Apple visionary Steve Jobs, whom Kutcher portrays in the film. Guests were quick to snap a photo of the actor admiring the subject of his role.

Without Kunis by his side, Kutcher very much remained a one-man guy, focusing his attention all night on his table of male friends and colleagues and posing for pictures with fans, according to an observer. The pride he takes in jOBS was palpable, as Kutcher was incredibly excited to chat about his film and role with all the guests who came up to greet him.

Co-star Ahna O'Reilly spent the evening in a very social mood, dancing to the beats of DJ Cash and catching up with co-star Josh Gad. Not to live down his "funny man" persona, Gad went into the evening entertaining all the guests and causing an uproar of laughter with Kutcher and O'Reilly while catching up about filming and their time at Sundance.


– Jennifer Garcia

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Joe Manganiello Is Dating Model Bridget Peters

By Monica Rizzo

01/25/2013 at 03:45 PM EST

Joe Manganiello and Bridget Peters

Seth Browarnik/Startraks

Joe Manganiello has a new lady love.

The True Blood hunk, 36, has been spending time with the beautiful brunette model Bridget Peters, PEOPLE has learned.

Manganiello and Peters met at a Las Vegas boxing match last year where Peters was a ring girl, according to a source. The two have been together ever since, with Peters accompanying Manganiello to Atlanta, Sweden and Miami.

Last month in Las Vegas, the duo caught the Zarkana Cirque du Soleil show at Aria with Manganiello's brother and father, and the Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez boxing match at the MGM Grand.

While promoting the film Magic Mike last July, Manganiello told PEOPLE his ideal woman is not a size two.

"I'm a big guy. All too often in Hollywood actresses are super skinny," Manganiello said. "As a man my primal instincts don't kick in when they are that skinny. It's almost unhealthy. I like curves."

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Puppy Bowl's Starting Lineup Revealed

People Pets

By Amy Jamieson

01/24/2013 at 03:45 PM EST

It's time to set your DVRs, people. Animal Planet has revealed Puppy Bowl IX's starting lineup, and it would be a crime to miss this much cuteness.

Thirty-five doe-eyed doggies are primed to strut their adorable assets on Feb. 3 at 3 p.m. ET/PT – and each is available for adoption. (Read: These cuties could cuddle next to you on the couch after the show is over.)

Not to be missed on this year's roster are Chestnut, a squeeze-worthy 9-week-old Labrador retriever/Australian shepherd mix available at the Bonnie Blue Rescue of Virginia, and – move over, Harry Styles – 12-week-old dachshund Harry from Rhode Island's Furever Dachshund Rescue is definitely breaking more hearts than you.

In a Puppy Bowl first, a lineup of hedgehogs will cheer on these pigskin-loving pups from the sidelines, and annual favorites like the water bowl cam, kiss cam and a stadium-hovering blimp piloted by hamsters are all returning. Also hitting the field for his sophomore season is The Ref, a.k.a. Dan Schachner, who is charged with keeping all these players in line.

Could Schachner's all-time career highlight be topped this year by this new team? "Receiving the honorary ref whistle and gold-plated pooper-scooper in a moving pre-game ceremony was uh-mazing last year," he tells Animal Planet. "I would be lying if I said my emotions didn't run high that day."

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Beyoncé's Lip-Syncing Controversy: PEOPLE Readers Weigh In

By Cara Lynn Shultz

01/23/2013 at 03:55 PM EST

Beyoncé at the presidential inauguration in 2013 and Whitney Houston at Super Bowl XXV

Justin Sullivan/Getty; George Rose/Getty

There's no question that Beyoncé can sing. But did she? That's still the question on everyone's lips.

Following the singer's stellar rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner" at the presidential inauguration, a spokesperson for the U.S. Marine Corps Band initially said that the singer's performance wasn't live – but was "pre-recorded."

Later, though, a media officer from the Pentagon said that the singer and the band never had the opportunity to rehearse live together, but added, "No one in the Marine Band is in a position to assess whether it was live or pre-recorded." (According to an NPR analysis, it appears that singer may have performed live – to a backing track.)

While Beyoncé has yet to speak out (live or otherwise) on the topic, it's not the first time the national anthem has been lip-synced: Whitney Houston's performance at the 1991 Super Bowl – arguably one of the best renditions of all time – was pre-recorded. But still, the revelation that Beyoncé put a tape on it didn't sit well with 63% of PEOPLE readers, who voted on Twitter that they were bothered by her seemingly pre-taped performance.

But not everyone was frustrated with the apparent lip-sync. Beyoncé's Destiny's Child mate Michelle Williams defended the singer to Entertainment Tonight, saying, "It's their personal preference. With big crowds and echoes, you know when it's a big historical moment, you don't want any room for any mistakes so I can understand why it was done."

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See Jana Kramer's 5-Carat Sparkler

Stylewatch
Style News Now

01/22/2013 at 03:29 PM ET

Courtesy of Jana Kramer (2)

When country star Brantley Gilbert proposed to his girlfriend of one year, country singer and One Tree Hill actress Jana Kramer, the one thing on his mind was making the day perfect for his bride-to-be.

That (of course) included getting on bended knee at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, prepared with the ultimate engagement ring. Gilbert, 28, worked with Giador Fine Jewelry, a local jeweler in midtown Nashville, to create a custom diamond sparkler for Kramer, 29.

“I’m in love with it,” Kramer tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I can’t stop looking at it!” The five-carat round-cut ring, set in white gold with diamonds embedded in the band, was just the icing on the cake for the singer/actress, who accepted the proposal with an enthusiastic “Yes!” The couple are both nominated in the “best new vocalist” category at this year’s Academy of Country Music awards. Tell us: What do you think of Kramer’s ring?
–Jen Garcia

PHOTOS: SEE MORE MEMBERS OF THE GINORMOUS CARAT CLUB HERE!

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