THE SAGA OF PHARRELL WILLIAMS’ HAT

NEW YORK (AP) — Pharrell Williams’ Dudley Do-Right hat is the hot thing right now, and he can’t believe it took this long. Williams tells W magazine he bought two of the hats five or six years ago in a London shop. Vivienne Westwood designed it 32 years ago. He wore one on a TV interview shortly after and no one said anything. He wore it on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” this past year, and no one said anything. He wore it to the Grammys, and it all exploded. Williams says he knew he was onto something when his hat had its own Twitter account by the end of the Grammys.

MILEY CYRUS BACK ON THE ROAD”AMERICAN IDOL” ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS

LONDON (AP) — She was so ill, she had to cancel a series of shows in the United States. But now Miley Cyrus says she is “the poster child for good health” — and is ready to get back on the road. She resumed her concert series with a show Tuesday night at London’s O2 Arena. And she indicated before taking the stage that she was ready to get back it. She said after “laying down for three weeks,” she felt like “a star waiting to explode.” Cyrus made good on the boast, giving an energetic performance that featured crotch grabbing — and a ride on a giant hot dot.

CLAY AIKEN EDGES AHEAD IN N.C. PRIMARY RACE

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — It’s still tight — but Clay Aiken is starting to ease ahead in his race for Congress. The former “American Idol” runner-up holds a slight edge over textile entrepreneur Keith Crisco in a congressional primary election in North Carolina. At last word, there were fewer than 400 votes separating the two Democrats in the battle to face off against a Republican incumbent in a heavily GOP-leaning district. But as the votes were counted yesterday, Aiken had a slight lead. And since he and his opponent have 40 percent of the tally, he can avoid a runoff election in July. While small, his margin over his opponent is large enough that Crisco cannot ask for a re-count. Aiken is gay — and has insisted that his sexual orientation won’t affect whether people will vote for him.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’S ORIGINAL “BORN TO RUN” LYRICS ON EXHIBIT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — If Bruce Springsteen had kept his original thought, “Born to Run” would have been less about Wendy and more about a car. The handwritten first draft of “Born to Run” is on display at Duke University. There’s no talk of dying with Wendy in an everlasting kiss or guarding her dreams and visions. Instead, Springsteen wrote that he “looked out cross my hood + saw the highway buckle neath the wheels of A gold Chevy 6.” He also writes, “Baby out there heroes are crushed to death behind the wheels of a gold Chevy 6.” He also toyed with the phrases “wild angels,” ”Stroll on!” and “the rebels,” which he wrote in the margins. The lyrics are on display at Duke because the father of a student there bought them last year for $197,000. Springsteen’s daughter Jessica goes to Duke as well.

”AMERICAN IDOL” TOP FOUR PERFORM

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jena Irene was in an enviable spot on “American Idol” last night. Jennifer Lopez went over and kissed her after she sang “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You.” Irene didn’t do so well earlier in the night, when Harry Connick Junior said her shoes were holding her back from cutting loose. Lopez told Caleb Johnson his version of “Maybe I’m Amazed” was his best performance ever. Keith Urban said Alex Preston possessed “a particular kind of poetic vulnerability” on his version of “Yellow.” The judges did not care for Jessica Meuse on her first two songs but felt she killed it on Lady Gaga’s “You and I.”

”AMERICAN IDOL” ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In two weeks, we’ll know who the new “American Idol” is. In six weeks, we’ll start to choose another one. The first auditions for the next season of “American Idol” will be June 18 in Minneapolis. They will go to New Orleans on June 25, New York on July 23, Nashville on July 30 and San Francisco on September 29. The “Idol” audition bus will travel to ten cities. Singers can also audition on www.AmericanIdol.com . Ryan Seacrest says “a game changer to the audition process” will be revealed next week.

SCORPIONS DRUMMER IS BACK IN U.S.

UNDATED (AP) — Scorpions confirm drummer James Kottak is out of jail after angering authorities in Dubai. The band write on their Facebook page Kottak arrived in the U.S. Tuesday night. They say, “He will have to find the time to sort out his problems.” No other details were given. Dubai media reported Kottak was jailed for insulting Islam, raising his middle finger and being drunk. Scorpions have continued their tour of Europe with a replacement drummer.

PAUL SIMON PERFORMS IN NEW YORK, DAYS AFTER SPAT WITH WIFE

NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Simon is back performing in public — in his first public appearance since he and wife Edie Brickell were arrested on disorderly conduct charges. Simon didn’t mention the dustup with his wife — and Brickell didn’t attend the performance at the Beacon Theater in New York. Simon, who is 72, was honored at an annual event hosted by New York University. He played guitar and performed several of his hits, including “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” ”Late In the Evening,” ”You Can Call Me Al” and “Graceland”

ZZ WARD ON TOURING WITH ERIC CLAPTON

LOS ANGELES (AP) — You’d figure any parent would be proud to see their child performing on tour as a musician. But ZZ Ward says what really has her parents amped about her touring — is that she’s opening for Eric Clapton. Ward says her parents are crazy about Clapton — and are almost as excited about going to see him as they are to see her. She says she doubts it would be the same if she were touring with someone else, like say, Drake. Ward says she doubts her folks know who the rapper is. But since they know Clapton, Ward says her parents have already booked their plane tickets and secured their tickets for the shows.

  by  The Bull Pen www.bullpenpictures.com