Through a rap verse, Jay-Z has confirmed the birth of "the most beautiful" girl in the world - his newborn daughter.
The song Glory made its debut on his social website Life and Times on Monday - two days after his wife Beyoncé gave birth to their daughter Blue Ivy.
Jay-Z's song, in which he says "you're my child with a child from Destiny's Child," talks about where the baby was conceived (in Paris) and even reveals that Beyoncé had a miscarriage at one point.
"Last time the miscarriage was so tragic / We was afraid you'd disappear / But nah baby you magic."
The song's refrain is: "The most amazing feeling I feel / Words can't describe what I'm feeling for real / Maybe I paint the sky blue / My greatest creation was you. You. Glory."
The sound of a baby's cries - perhaps Blue's - ends the song. The song says it features "B.I.C." - Blue's initials. It's the first child for the couple, who married in 2008 in a private ceremony.
Associated Press
Will Ryan Seacrest leave Idol?
Ryan Seacrest's future on American Idol is uncertain, as his three-year contract with the reality talent programme comes to a close.
The Hollywood Reporter speculated last week that the show's producers are letting go of Seacrest, no longer willing to pay his fee of US$15 million (Dh55m) per season. But on Sunday night, Fox's entertainment president Kevin Reilly issued a statement to the same publication, saying that the network will do its best to keep him as the host. "It's very hard to imagine the show without Ryan," Reilly said. He admitted sealing a new contract with the 37-year-old host will be "a tough negotiation", as Fox will reportedly attempt to get Seacrest to take a pay cut.
Could the reports be the typical by-product of high-stakes contract negotiations, or gossip to stir controversy in time for the premiere of Idol's latest season which starts on January 18? Stay tuned.
Jon Hamm: Mad Men returning on March 25
The last new episode of Mad Men was broadcast in October 2010. But relief is in sight, according to its lead star Jon Hamm, who revealed on a podcast last week that the premiere of the fifth season of the AMC network drama is on March 25. The actor also says he will direct that episode. He appeared on Friday's edition of the podcast "Doug Loves Movies" hosted by the comedian Doug Benson.
AMC declined to confirm the date. The return of the show follows protracted negotiations between the production studio Lionsgate and the creator and executive producer Matthew Weiner. The series is expected to run to a seventh season.
Associated Press
Black Sabbath guitarist has cancer
The band Black Sabbath released a statement on Monday saying Tony Iommi, 63, has been diagnosed with lymphoma and is being treated by doctors.
The news comes two months after the pioneering heavy metal quartet's original line-up announced they were working on their first album in 33 years. The album remains set for an autumn release and the rest of the group - the vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, the bassist Geezer Butler and the drummer Bill Ward - will go to the UK to continue working with Iommi.
Associated Press
Scorsese and Allen earn Directors Guild honours
The filmmaker Martin Scorsese and the Midnight in Paris creator Woody Allen are among the nominees for top filmmaking honours from the Directors Guild of America. Also nominated are David Fincher for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist; and Alexander Payne for The Descendants.
The Directors Guild field is one of Hollywood's most accurate forecasts for who will be in the running at the Academy Awards, the nominations for which are announced on January 24. The winner at the Directors Guild almost always goes on to win the directing prize at the Oscars. The guild will announce its winners at a January 28 dinner, with Kelsey Grammer as the host.
Associated Press
Global series coming to Philippine TV
This week the Philippine network TV5 released its line-up of programmes for the year, including notable franchises of global shows such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Philippines, The Amazing Race Philippines, The Biggest Game Show in Asia (known as It's a Knockout in the UK and Australia), Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Philippines and Temptation Island: Dare to Win (patterned after on defunct Fox series).
In 2010, the businessman Manuel Pangilinan, the Philippines' Donald Trump, launched the network, pirating stars from the country's two biggest stations, ABS-CBN 2 and GMA-7. More than a year after its initial broadcast, TV5 has proven to be a success: buying these franchises indicates the network is in formidable form.
Filipinos in the UAE can watch these programmes by subscribing to the international cable channel Kapatid TV5.
