Oscar-winning rapper Eminem's divorce proceedings with wife Kimberly Mathers have been referred to a mediator. The couple attended an hour-long private hearing yesterday in Michigan and Macomb County Circuit Judge Antonio Viviano subsequently told reporters the case was being turned over to a mediator. Lawyers for both parties say a date for mediation hasn't been set. Opposing lawyers Harvey Hauer and Michael J. Smith, who represent Eminem and his estranged wife respectively, said they hope the case will be settled amicably. Mathers declined to make a comment on the way out of the courthouse and Eminem - real name Marshall Mathers - wasn't seen leaving the building. Eminem filed for divorce on April 5, 82 days after the couple remarried. The rapper remarried Mathers in Rochester, Michigan, on January 14 - one month after the couple announced they were getting back together. Their first marriage lasted from 1999 until 2001.

Clive Owen is the latest star to defend the casting of Daniel Craig as James Bond, even though he originally hoped to land the role. The Sin City actor was tipped for the coveted part of the suave superspy before Craig was announced as Pierce Brosnan's successor last year. But Owen is thrilled that a "proper actor" has finally been cast as 007, and insists new movie Casino Royale will silence Craig's critics. He says, "I think when Craig first took the part he got a pretty rough ride, which to a certain extent is inevitable because there are so many different people who have so many different ideas about something like that. You are never going to please everybody. The thing that is really exciting is that he is a proper actor. He is not shallow or posing, they have cast a really serious actor and I think that when the film comes out everyone will see what a great choice he was."

Rap mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs shocked students at a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania high school on Monday when he appeared onstage to encourage them to stay in school. The 36-year-old surprised the 750 students, who erupted in cheers when they realized who their guest speaker was. He told the children, "This is a really important time for you all right now. This is the time that is going to dictate your future. It's important to know what it takes to achieve your dream." The rap star also asked some of the students to join him onstage and recite some of the goals they hope to achieve in their lives. He added, "Take responsibility for your future. No excuses!" School officials were so impressed by Combs' inspiring talk, they have decided to use his words in an anti-truancy campaign. School principal Christopher Johnson says, "We wanted someone whom they would sit down and listen to, someone who comes from the same type of background. To have a superstar come in is extremely powerful."

Music mogul Clive Davis was so upset by pal Whitney Houston's decline into a drug hell, he called on rocker Courtney Love to mentor the troubled soul star, according to US reports. Love, who has gone through her own drug abuse problems and now insists she's clean and sober, jumped at the chance to help another struggling star and agreed to stage an intervention with Davis. According to the new issue of America's Us Weekly magazine, Love and Houston have become unlikely friends and former Hole star Love has turned Houston onto her own addiction counselor Warren Boyd. The publication claims Davis, who discovered Houston, is paying for her expensive counseling sessions.

Elf actress Zooey Deschanel has replaced singer Pink as Janis Joplin in the biopic Gospel According To Janis. The singer pulled out of the Penelope Spheeris film earlier this year and, after much speculation, Deschanel was eventually selected to take over the role. The script has gone through several revisions and now focuses on former Rolling Stone writer David Dalton, who was once assigned to write a cover story comparing the troubled Joplin to Judy Garland. Dalton accompanied the singer on a long tour and his adventures have become the central plot for the film. Deschanel has spent the past four months working with a vocal coach to help her mimic Joplin's gritty vocals, and she will sing all of Joplin's songs featured in the film. According to producer Peter Newman, it has been a struggle to find an actress who could sing or a singer who could act. He says, "Zooey is the first we found who excels at both." Filming will begin on November 13 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the film is scheduled for release in 2008. Oscar winner Renee Zellweger is attached to another film about Joplin's life, but it is currently on hold at Paramount Pictures while the script is reworked.

Joe Simpson is not only managing the careers of his famous daughters Jessica Simpson and Ashlee Simpson, he has also become their official photographer. The elder Simpson has reportedly struck a deal with celebrity picture service WireImage to control what images are being sent out to the media and has resorted to taking the photos himself. According to Radar Online, Simpson has been seen interfering with other photographers trying to get shots of his daughters and then approving only his own images for distribution through the photo agency. At other times, he has provided the agency with exclusive and even racy shots of his daughters on family holidays. According to one photographer who was repeatedly blocked by the camera-wielding patriarch at an event, "I thought it was really odd that he was always in my way, since I was the one who was paid to be there shooting." The photographer claims he finally did manage to get a few shots, but only photos approved by Simpson were eventually deemed worthy of distribution.

Singer Aaron Carter is engaged to Playboy Playmate Kari Ann Peniche, who previously dated his brother Nick. The 18-year-old proposed to Peniche on Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada, while they were onstage in front of 200 people during the Playboy Comedy Tour at the Palms Casino Resort. She tells American publication People, "I'm very excited about it. Aaron is the most genuine person I know. He's kind, loving, and I love him so much." Peniche, 22, says she was shocked when Carter popped the question adding, "I had no idea he was going to do this, but I'm glad he did. I don't remember it happening. It was such a blur." The couple, who plan to wed in the next six months, hugged and kissed after Peniche accepted the proposal. Playboy tour producer and comedian Cort McCown says, "He said he was going to do it, but we thought he was kidding. He was really nervous." Peniche was named Miss Teen USA in 2003, but had to relinquish her title after posing for Playboy. Carter is set to star in a new reality show about his family, House Of Carters, which premieres next month on the American E! network.

Former The OC star Mischa Barton was forced to work on part of her personality when she realized stardom was making her "vain and self-obsessed." The 20-year-old insists she has addressed her bulging ego, and believes actors need to stay grounded if they want to really connect with audiences. She says, "I was becoming too high maintenance. Actors will start talking about themselves as if they're the most important people on Earth - and I was no different. We have to have a big belief in ourselves. For most of us it's all about 'me, me, me'. It's a mad business. You play so many characters, and have to try to almost become them, that the self-absorption can take over your life. The moment you have success, people give you things, they make a fuss and try to make your life easy. And the younger you are, the worse it can become. At times I've thought to myself, 'I deserve this.' But I don't deserve anything at all. I'm 20 for goodness sake."

Broadway veteran Robert Earl Jones has died at the age of 96. The actor, whose son James Earl Jones found fame voicing Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies, passed away at the Lillian Booth Actors' Home in New Jersey earlier this month. Jones starred as boxing champion Joe Louis in Spirit Of Youth among other films and Broadway productions. However, his career was briefly interrupted in the 1950s when he was blacklisted for refusing to testify before the House Of Un-American Activities Committee. He later had roles in Odds Against Tomorrow, Wild River, The Sting and Witness, as well as a string of stage parts alongside his son. He is survived by James Earl Jones, another son Matthew Earl Jones and a grandson.

Actress Lindsay Lohan is having so much fun in London, she is planning to move to the British capital with boyfriend Harry Morton. The Mean Girls star has reportedly been exploring chic Notting Hill in West London for the perfect property. She says, "I just love Notting Hill - it has some really cool shops and great restaurants. I've been looking at some properties while I've been over here and we're hoping to buy something soon. I can see me and Harry really fitting in there."