By Rachel Josue
It was a very exciting 2008 here in the MTV Newsroom. It was a year of triumph and tragedy, a year of secret weddings and pregnancies, a year of overcoming adversity and a year of inspiration and change.
2008 brought us everything from the shocking death of Heath Ledger and the tragedy that befell Jennifer Hudson and her family, to the reinvention of Britney Spears and the successes of "The Dark Knight" and Tha Carter III. Your favorite artists and celebrities eloped (is it legal yet, Speidi?), married overseas (nice tats, Mariah and Nick) and got hitched in secret (thanks for finally admitting to that, Jay and B). They had babies and — in true Hollywood style — named them strange things (I am available to babysit when Bronx befriends Brooklyn and they have a play-date in Manhattan. Just saying.). And, Chinese Democracy actually materialized, to the delight of Dr. Pepper fans.
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According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, the most popular baby names in America are rather de rigueur handles like Michael, Emily and Elizabeth. Nowhere on their list will you find an Apple or a Moses or even a Kal-El, which is primarily because the majority of this country's child-bearing population is not celebrities.
And that's a shame, because celebs pick the greatest baby names. Like, way better than anything you or I could come up with. For ever Matthew or Hannah, there's a Seven Sirius or an Audio Science (courtesy of Erykah Badu and actress Shannyn Sossamon, respectively). There are Kingstons and Brooklyns, Zumas and Harlows, and now — thanks to Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson — we have our first Bronx.
Last night, the couple welcomed their first child, a son dubbed Bronx Mowgli Wentz, to the world, and in the process, may have shattered the record for "Most 'celebrity' celebrity baby name of all time." And here's what we mean by that: Read more...
· At least she didn't fall victim to the Nicole Scherzinger syndrome (how many release dates has Her Name Is Nicole had now?). After several pushed-back release dates, it now appears that Ashlee Simpson's third album, Bittersweet World, will see the light of day on April 22. The album's first official single, "Little Miss Obsessive," will feature the Plain White T's Tom Higginson.
· We still have no idea what's up with Eddie Van Halen, but Van Halen have finally rescheduled all those tour dates they postponed last week when the guitarist began undergoing mysterious medical evaluations.
· Getting booted off "American Idol" is not always a career death sentence, but surely the flamboyant Danny Noriega was hoping for a bigger splash than a spot on Rosie's gay cruise?
· In other "Idol" news, season-four winner Carrie Underwood was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry via a surprise onstage visit by Randy Travis. She'll be inducted May 10.
Katie Fanfani was on hand when Tim Kash asked a tough question.
A rep for Ashlee Simpson long ago confirmed that she'd had a nose job (excuse me, rhinoplasty), but prior to her confession in Us Weekly, mum was the word when you interviewed her. Tim Kash went ahead anyway and inquired as to what she thought about Ashley Tisdale's December nose upgrade, and Miss Simpson, well, it was clear she didn't approve of our question.
