Music impresario Don Cornelius, 75, whose groundbreaking "Soul Train" show exposed music acts like Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to millions of TV viewers, took his own life Wednesday, Los Angeles officials said.

"The death was reported as a suicide, a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head," Los Angeles coroner's assistant Chief Ed Winter said, after police confirmed Cornelius was found at his home in the Sherman Oaks area at about 4:00 am and was later pronounced dead.

French fashion bible Elle has denied charges of racism after unleashing a storm by suggesting that a black American elite, inspired by the Obama couple, was finally embracing "white" fashion.

The January 13 blog post entitled "Black fashion power" has drawn volleys of angry protest on both side of the Atlantic, with the New York Daily News tabloid saying it managed to "insult black Americans as a whole".

A Cairo court has sentenced the Arab world's most famous actor, Adel Iman, to three months in jail for "defaming Islam" in several roles on stage and screen, the Egyptian comic said on Thursday.

Imam, a U.N. goodwill ambassador who has been described as the Arab world's Charlie Chaplin, was sentenced to hard labor in absentia, he told AFP after being sued by Asran Mansur, a lawyer with Islamist ties.

First lady Michelle Obama cajoled TV talk show host Jay Leno into nibbling on apples, sweet potato fries and a pizza made with eggplant, green peppers and zucchini on the "Tonight Show," breaking his long-held aversion for all-things-healthy in his diet.

Leno once told a magazine he hadn't eaten a vegetable since 1969, and he insisted he tasted his last apple in 1984. That didn't dissuade the first lady, who's promoting her "Let's Move!" campaign to get kids excited about fitness and healthy eating habits.

Actor Sean Penn has been named ambassador at large for Haiti in recognition of his humanitarian work since the 2010 earthquake.

The Hollywood star received the honor from Haitiian President Michel Martelly at a special ceremony Tuesday evening at the National Palace.

Simon Cowell predicted "The X Factor" would be a TV hit and eclipse his ex-employer, "American Idol." He was wrong, and now his show has been gutted of three of its five stars, including Paula Abdul, putting its future in question.

Where does Fox's "X Factor" go from here in trying to replace them and compete in a crowded field of singing contests when it returns this year for season two?

Adele is nominated for six Grammys, and she'll be on deck to collect anything she wins: The 23-year-old singer is set to perform at the awards show.

Adele had surgery on her vocal cords last year, and the Grammys will be the first time she has performed live in five months, The Recording Academy announced Tuesday.

A cute, trick-performing Jack Russell versus a snarling, orphan-chasing Doberman -- a potentially ugly Oscars dog fight is squaring up on Hollywood's red carpet.

Even as Tinseltown's A-listers vie for Academy Award glory, a contest for the canine equivalent -- the Golden Collar -- which seemed sewn up, has been ripped wide open. And by Martin Scorsese, no less.

Madonna announced she has teamed up with an American charity to build schools in Malawi, reviving a project she had earlier dropped due to financial mismanagement and lawsuits.

"This remains a very big priority in my life and I am excited that with the help of buildOn we can maintain our ongoing commitment to move forward efficiently," the US singer's organization Raising Malawi said in a statement issued Monday.

No tickets for the 2012 Olympics? Don't despair: You don't need one to enjoy the games and the party atmosphere in London this summer.

Although most sporting events take place in ticketed Olympic venues, there is plenty to see and do elsewhere in the run-up to and during the games.