FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, October 26, 2005

NOT A MOM: Janet Jackson denying rumors that she has a secret 18-year-old daughter from an early marriage."I do not have a child and all allegations saying so are false," the singer said in a statement.

PAY THE PRICE: Transit officials for the Washington, D.C., metro system refusing to allow Nicole Kidman to hop a turnstile in a scene for her upcoming film The Visiting. Filmmakers were forced to add a police officer to the scene, saying "Ma'am, you didn't process your Farecard."

SPLITSVILLE: Nicollette Sheridan and fiancé Nicklas Soderblom calling it quits after a year and a half together, Sheridan's rep confirmed to E!.

BEYOND THE GRAVE: The late Frank Sinatra virtually starring in a dance and music production in London, thanks to footage from the 1950s that will be restored, colorized and projected onto screens in a theater. The production slated to open in February.

CHART ATTACK: Ashlee Simpson's sophomore release, I Am Me, topping the charts with 220,000 copies sold, per Nielsen SoundScan data. Rod Stewart's Thanks for the Memories debuting in second place, with 193,000 copies sold.

LAW ATTACK: Seattle law firm Hendricks & Lewis filing a lawsuit against Courtney Love. The firm claims the rocker owes them over $340,000 in fees for work they performed over the last five years for Love.

NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY: Activists demanding that Paramount Pictures remove promotional billboards for 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin', claiming that the advertisements, which show the rapper holding a gun, promote gun violence.

ON A ROLL: The Rolling Stones set to release an album of rare material through a partnership with Starbucks and Virgin Records next month. Rarities 1971-2003 will be released simultaneously Nov. 22 in both coffee shops and traditional music retailers.

DRUG DEAL: Johnny Depp set to star in Shantaram, a fact-based tale of a heroin addict on the run, per the Hollywood Reporter.

FROM THE MOUTH OF ROYALTY: Prince Charles granting a rare interview to U.S. television and speaking to 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft last month for an interview that will be broadcast Oct. 30--the eve of his first official joint tour with his new wife, Camilla.

GAB FEST: Megan Mullally's syndicated talk-variety show has been sold in four top markets--New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago--for a fall 2006 launch, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution said this week.

HOST WITH THE MOST: Craig Ferguson hosting the 32nd Annual People's Choice Awards, to be broadcast live on CBS on Jan. 10.

THAT'S A RAP: Houston hip-hop hero Paul Wall marrying his longtime girlfriend, according to Allhiphop.com.

STEPPING IN: Italian model Mariacarla Boscono replacing Kate Moss in H&M's campaign to launch Stella McCartney's new line, following Moss' cocaine scandal.

JOINING THE REVOLUTION: Liz Phair telling Billboard that she is "all about podcasting," and that she records every Friday and posts the material on her Website, www.lizphair.com.

OFF THE MARKET: Former Home Improvement star Zachery Bryan getting engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Carly Matros, People reports.

X MARKS THE SPOT: DMX facing up to 60 days in prison after pleading guilty to driving-related probation violations. He is due back in court for sentencing Nov. 17.

GOOD NIGHT: CNN canceling Daybreak and expanding American Morning to four hours beginning Nov. 28.

GOAL! Peter Gabriel tapped to organize the opening ceremony for next year's World Cup finals in Germany.