FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, April 13, 2005

BABY ON BOARD: Following weeks of tabloid speculation, Britney Spears finally confirming on Tuesday that she is expecting her first child with husband Kevin Federline. No word on a due date, but reports have put her at four months along.

GETTING REAL: Spears and Federline's new reality series debuting May 17 on UPN.

MORE PIE, HOLD THE BEER: American Pie star Chris Klein facing drunken driving charges stemming from a Feb. 5 arrest in San Diego. The actor could face up to six months in jail for his DUI two charges.

JACKSON WATCH: The mother of Michael Jackson's accuser taking the stand outside the jury's presence Wednesday and invoking her Fifth Amendment right to not testify about welfare payments she had received.

CODA: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Johnnie Johnson, who teamed with Chuck Berry on hits such as "Roll Over Beethoven," died at his St. Louis home Wednesday. He was 80.

PRAISE HIM: Casting Crowns winning song of the year and songwriter of the year honors Wednesday night at the Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards.

BAD NEWS: Comedy series The Bad Girl's Guide, starring Jenny McCarthy, debuting May 24 on UPN.

CONCERNED: Donald Trump saying he feels "very badly" for Apprentice contestant Chris Shelton, who was arrested last week for disorderly conduct. "He's got an anger-management problem," Trump said at a press conference.

BABY JESUS IS BACK: Ol' Dirty Bastard's posthumous disc, A Son Unique, is slated for release June 21.

CHART MASSACRE: 50 Cent's Massacre topping the charts for the sixth straight week in a row.

TURNER'S TOUGH LUCK: American Idol fans voting Nadia Turner off the Fox hit Wednesday after Idol judges harshed on her song choice.

STRIPPING DOWN: The stars of Desperate Housewives launching a new charity, Clothes Off Our Covers, which auctions off clothes worn by stars on magazine covers.

C'EST MAGNIFIQUE: France naming Bruce Willis an officer in the Order of Arts and Letters, one of the highest cultural honors awarded by the country.

ALL RIGHT! The Backstreet Boys releasing their first studio album in five years, NeverGone, in stores June 14.

HE WANTS IT THAT WAY: Meanwhile, Nick Carter's lawyer phoning in a not guilty plea Wednesday to an Orange County court regarding the Backstreet Boy's March DUI charge.

OFF THE HOOK: British prosecutors dropping robbery and blackmail charges against former Libertines frontman Pete Doherty.

OVER THE RAINBOW: Bonhams & Butterfield auctioning off the blue and white gingham dress worn by Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz later this month.

KUDOS: The Museum of Television & Radio honoring Merv Griffin, creator of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, at its annual gala on May 26.

CROSSING THE POND: David Schwimmer taking the stage for Some Girls in London's West End beginning next month.

SEE YOU THERE: Val Kilmer also heading to London to star in the West End adaptation of The Postman Always Rings Twice, per Daily Variety.

BLONDE HAS MORE FUN: Suzanne Somers taking her autobiographical solo show The Blonde in the Thunderbird to Broadway this summer.

SOBER STATE OF MIND: Billy Joel checking out of the Betty Ford Center after a 30-day stint to battle alcohol abuse.

ET TU, JOAQUIN? Gladiator star Joaquin Phoenix voluntarily entering an undisclosed rehab facility two weeks ago to deal with his own addiction to the bottle, according to his rep.

TEAMING UP: Bob Dylan joining Willie Nelson for his 32nd annual Fourth of July picnic concert in Fort Worth, Texas.