That pillow-in-front-of-the-tummy trick was only going to work for so long.
Nicole Richie has finally confirmed she is expecting a baby with live-in rocker boyfriend Joel Madden this winter, simultaneously putting an end to many weeks of rumors and reinvigorating the market for size-2 maternity clothes.
"Yes, I am. We are. I'm almost four months," the Simple Life star told ABC News' Diane Sawyer in an interview scheduled to air Thursday and Friday.
Apparently wanting to clear the calendar for all those Mommy and Me meetings, Richie nipped her legal troubles in the bud by pleading guilty Friday to driving under the influence of drugs, stemming from her December bust after driving down the wrong way of an L.A. freeway.
The 25-year-old was sentenced to four days behind bars, minus a six-hour credit for time served, placed on three years' probation, ordered to attend 21 days of drug-and-alcohol education classes and fined $2,048. She has until Sept. 28 to complete her jail term, which is the mandatory minimum for such an offense.
"I have a responsibility and it's something that I did wrong, and if I could personally apologize to every single person that has lost a loved one from drunk driving I would," Richie told Sawyer. "And unfortunately I can't, but this is my way of paying my dues and taking responsibility and being an adult."
And soon a parent, to boot.
ABC's release of the Richie-Sawyer one-ups OK! magazine. This week's issue features an "exclusive" interview with Richie confirming her pregnancy. Although the issue doesn't hit shelves until Friday, the glossy was due to release details of its interview on Wednesday morning, threatening to steal thunder from Sawyer.
While Richie and her reps chose to play coy with regard to the pregnancy rumors dotting the tabloids in June, E! Online's Awful Truth predicted last month that, based on some inside info as well as the Simple Life star's recent appearances at the doctor's office and lack of appearances on the party circuit, an announcement was in the cards.
And although Richie's supposed expectancy has been a fixture of late-night talk show monologues for weeks now, as well as the subject of an Us Weekly cover story, close friends of the petite celebutante would only say that Richie had been eating more lately, abstaining from alcohol, not letting her pals smoke around her, etc.
Plus, Richie continued to be photographed at various locales engaging in what looked to be hide-the-belly tactics: clutching a full-body pillow in front of her while en route to a tour stop in Canada with Madden, sporting unshapely dresses while out and about in Los Angeles, sitting at a table to eat, etc. During last week's court hearing, she wore an oversize black dress to disguise her bump.
Richie and Madden, 28, have been dating for nearly seven months, having hooked up shortly after the Good Charlotte frontman's split from Hilary Duff. There are also rumors circulating that the parents-to-be are planning on swapping vows this summer, but they have not yet commented on that possibility.
The couple are currently cohabitating at Madden's house in Glendale, California.
"Joel is really happy with Nicole," the musician's older brother, Josh Madden, told Us Weekly recently. "When you spend your life in a bus on tour, you don't get to meet that many people who just talk to you about stuff and watch dumb movies...They love playing with their dogs; they love hanging out at the house together. Nicole is awesome."
When asked whether he would be singing at his daughter's wedding anytime soon, Lionel Richie told Access Hollywood several weeks ago that Nicole, who broke off her yearlong engagement to DJ AM in December 2005, is currently in "nothing mode"—meaning, she supposedly doesn't have any particular plans to speak of.
"Especially in the case of Nicole, it's not only her dad and mom involved, but half of the world," Lionel said. "So it's a bit of a challenge. So I told her, 'Just enjoy the ride and take your time. Whatever you want to do, just make sure it's the right decision, make the decision and roll with it.' If that does happen, you have a husband now and you have a baby now, so whenever that goes, it's going to be wonderful."
To Us: "I've worried about Nicole getting pregnant since the day she pulled the car away from the driveway."
Madden and the rest of Good Charlotte head back out on tour, this time with Justin Timberlake, next Monday.