HILARY DUFF'S NEW GIG: YOUNG ADULT NOVELIST

Hilary Duff is coming out with her own series of young adult novels. According to GossipCop.com, she's writing series of books, which starts with Elixir -- featuring the worldwide adventures of photojournalist "Clea Raymond." The 22-year-old singer-actress also has plans for a nonfiction book about children coping with divorce, scheduled for 2012.

She signed the deal with Simon & Schuster.

In the past, Duff has written songs about her own parent's divorce.

She recently got engaged to hockey player Mike Comrie.

JESSICA SIMPSON DEBUTS NEW SONG

Jessica Simpson's new song "Who We Are" has surfaced online. It's the track she worked on with Billy Corgan for her upcoming reality show, The Price Of Beauty, which debuts March 15th on VH1. According to People.com, Simpson spoke very highly about Corgan in a radio interview, saying, "He's a very, very dear friend . . . I hope we can do more music together."

Other Highlights From Interview:

On Trusting People: "I'm not as guarded as you would think. I should probably be more guarded. I trust a lot of people, actually."

On Feeling Disappointed About John Mayer: "That's truly how I felt and still feel. Somebody that you have cared about for a long time, you just hope they can keep the intimate things intimate."

On weight controversy and her ex, Tony Romo: "Tony was so great and so supportive and never ever made me feel like I wasn't sexy. I was embarrassed by what the world was saying, but I still had my friends and loved ones and family who appreciated me."

JEREMY RENNER SAYS THERE'S NO ROMANCE WITH JESSICA SIMPSON:

Last week, People.com had reported that Jessica Simpson was spotted flirting with actor Jeremy Renner. But The Hurt Locker star said he hardly knows her -- they only met for "three minutes." He tells UsMagazine.com, "Her hair stylist Ken Paves did my mom's hair so we were talking about that -- and then all of a sudden we're dating!" Actually Renner says he's single and looking, adding, "I'm not a ladies man!" Renner told Us. "I'm a working man! That's all."

JUSTIN BIEBER SPOOFED IN NEW 'FUNNY OR DIE' VIDEO

Justin Bieber is the subject of a new "Funny Or Die" video that's been making the rounds this week. In it, comedian and star of Parks And Recreation Aziz Ansari creates a spoof in which he "declares war" on the 16-year-old pop star. The clip finds Ansari playing his alter-ego "Raaaaaaaandy." He's in the studio with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner and TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek recording a song called "Baby Baby" that sounds just like Bieber's hit song "Baby." In the reenactment, the fake, pudgier, pot-smoking Bieber listens to the track, then steals the lyrics sheet and shoots Raaaaaaaandy in the knee before dropping a bunch of F-Bombs. The next day, the faux Bieber returns to do even more damage by trashing the entire studio.

Bieber performed on QVC last night (Tuesday, March 9th).

QUICKIES

LADY GAGA HEADED FOR 'ROCK BAND': Lady Gaga's music will soon be part of Rock Band. MTV reports that next week the video game franchise will release the first "Lady Gaga Song Pack," featuring "Bad Romance," "Just Dance," "Monster" and "Poker Face."

BRITNEY SPEARS WANTS TO DRIVE A MASERATI: Britney Spears has her eyes on a Maserati. For the second time in less than a month she took the $150,000 sports car for a spin. X17Online reports that she actually bought the car, but sources tell TMZ.com there's no way her father or a judge will let her buy the car under the conservatorship. Spears did manage to buy a lot of clothes this week, though, during a shopping trip with her mom to Bebe, H&M and the Gap.

MADONNA DANCES NON-STOP AT OSCAR PARTY: Madonna was dancing it up at her Oscars party over the weekend. A source tells People.com that she danced non-stop for four hours." At one point, Madonna said that if CNN's Anderson Cooper didn't start dancing, she wouldn't play any more music. Anderson, needless to say, listened to the Queen of Pop and joined her on the dance floor. Meanwhile, HollywoodLife.com reports that Madge was grinding with actor Gerard Butler at the party. Her boy toy, Jesus Luz, was nowhere to be found. Madonna will release her Sticky & Sweet tour DVD on March 30th. Watch a sneak peak here: http://tinyurl.com/ya3ftnz

SOURCE SAYS JOE AND KEVIN JONAS DID NOT AUDITION FOR 'CAPTAIN AMERICA'

Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas have auditioned for roles in the Captain America movie, according to some reports. But GosssipCop.com has debunked the story, noting that a source at Marvel laughed off the Jonas rumor, saying it's "not true."

According to the original reports "sources" said the brothers had "already read lines for the upcoming film" and were "in contention" for both the title role and other characters. There has also been talk that Star Trek's Chris Pine was "close to signing" as the lead. The latest is that The Office star John Krasinski is in the running for the flick.

In other news, rumors are circulating that things are heating up between Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato. They've been friends for years, but insiders say the pair looked very friendly at Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar party in West Hollywood. They may have just hit up the party as friends, but an insider tells HollywoodLife.com, "Joe spoke to Demi very cozily for most of the night. They were inseparable. Wherever Joe went, Demi would follow. I still say there is something going on between these two!"

WAS RICKY MARTIN'S CAREER DESTROYED BY BARBARA WALTERS?

Did Barbara Walters ruin Ricky Martin's career? The "Livin' La Vida Loca" singer was at the height of his career in 2000 when he sat down with Walters for an interview. It wasn't too long after that when his career took a nose dive. During the interview, Walters asked Martin whether he was gay, and now looking back, the TV host thinks it could have contributed to the demise of his career.

She recently told the Toronto Star, "In 2000, I pushed Ricky Martin very hard to admit if he was gay or not, and the way he refused to do it made everyone decide that he was. A lot of people say that destroyed his career, and when I think back on it now I feel it was an inappropriate question."

During the 2000 interview, Walters told Martin, "You know, you could stop these rumors. You could say, as many artists have, 'Yes I am gay,' or you could say, 'No I'm not,' or you could leave it, as you are, ambiguous. I don't want to put you on the spot, but it's in your power to do it." At the time he said he didn't want to talk about it.

On Tuesday (March 9th), Martin made a cryptic Tweet, which may or may not be referring to Walters' comments. He wrote, "judging someone based on his/hers old behavior?who's stuck?"

In 2006, Walters talked about how she thought outing celebrities is wrong during a segment on The View.

Martin is a single dad with twin sons and does not comment publicly on his sexuality.

He's been working on a new album, as well as writing a book. He recently Tweeted, "Working on the manuscript of my book "editing". Had no idea how difficult this would be. consuming. But im happy with the outcome."

LADY ANTEBELLUM BEGINS TWO-NIGHT STINT AT NASHVILLE'S RYMAN TONIGHT

Lady Antebellum will play the first of two sold out shows at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville tonight (Wednesday, March 10th). The trio have been working on playing "Music City" for a while now, and Dave Haywood tells us the venue was worth the wait. "We've been tryin' to plan that for, I think, a year now, tryin' to get a show in Nashville, and to get an opportunity at the Ryman is incredible. I mean, we've got probably the venue with the most history (Charles Kelley) Yeah! (Dave) And also the best sounding place in the world!"

Tonight's hometown show is in appreciation of all their local supporters who climbed aboard the Lady A train from the beginning. "Man, it's gonna be great! We haven't played in Nashville in years, a headlining show like that. (Charles) Yeah, not a big, big show. (Dave) Yeah, I mean we've played little things here or there -- festivals -- but this is our first chance -- it's gotta be since we got our record deal -- that we've really done a full out headlining show for Lady Antebellum, so we're looking forward (to it). We love Nashville. This is where we started, so this is kind of our hometown crowd and a way for us to say thanks to the fans here."

Lady Antebellum will also take the Ryman stage tomorrow night (Thursday, March 11th).

The trio are the most nominated act going into next month's Academy of Country Music Awards. They are up for Top Vocal Group, Album of the Year for Lady Antebellum, and Single, Song and Video of the Year for "Need You Now."

The ACM Awards will air live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on April 18th on CBS.

AUDIO: LADY ANTEBELLUM ON PLAYING FIRST HEADLINING NASHVILLE SHOW
AUDIO: LADY ANTEBELLUM ON PLAYING AT RYMAN