Rapper Beanie Sigel, a one-time protege of Jay Z whose career dived after stints in prison, was shot and seriously wounded Friday at a house near Atlantic City, reports said.

The rapper, real name Dwight Grant, was shot in the stomach after an apparent altercation at a home in Pleasantville, New Jersey, that left another person injured.

Newcomer Sam Smith joined Beyonce and Pharrell Williams on Friday to lead in nominations for the Grammy Awards, with the music industry's annual picks weighted toward R&B-influenced artists.

Smith -- the British blue-eyed soul singer who emerged in force this year with "Stay With Me," a ballad about a one-night stand -- was tied with Beyonce and Williams for nominations in six categories at music's most-watched awards.

How did U2 frontman Bono escape notice when he crashed his bicycle last month? If his bandmate is to be believed, it's because he was disguised as a Hasidic Jew.

U2 guitarist The Edge was asked in a US radio interview why no pictures emerged when Bono -- one of the world's most recognizable singers -- suffered a serious accident in New York's Central Park.

The only woman to have filed a sex assault lawsuit against Bill Cosby took her case to police Friday, accepting an offer to have her claims investigated despite them dating from 40 years ago.

Judy Huth, who filed legal action against the veteran comic earlier this week, was accompanied by celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred to meet detectives at Los Angeles Police Department.

Madonna, still toned at 56 and riding a wave of acclaim for a recent topless photo shoot, was named Thursday as the face of Versace's spring/summer 2015 collection.

Extending a long-standing relationship with the Italian fashion house, the American singer was snapped for the new campaign by photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, who captured her in black and white, standing showing off her lean frame and sitting poised on the edge of a chair.

Lil Wayne's long-delayed album "Tha Carter V" won't be coming out Tuesday and the U.S. rapper is blaming his record label for the latest delay, saying he has been made "a prisoner."

The heavily tattooed bad-boy rapper recently debuted a first track at the American Music Awards, raising expectations that "Tha Carter V" was finally ready to go.

In a bizarre and emotionally transparent performance, Miley Cyrus mocked her own music, opened up about her dark year and belted out some Led Zeppelin. Oh yeah, and she smoked pot onstage.

Wearing a silver metallic Cleopatra wig and bright turquoise eye shadow, Cyrus kicked off a private, poolside show at the Raleigh Hotel in South Beach singing a duet of "Super Freak" with a topless woman. Cyrus was among the top-billed acts during the star-studded week of the prestigious Art Basel Miami Beach.

Veteran comic Bill Cosby counter-sued a woman Thursday who says he sexually abused her, accusing her of trying to extort up to $250,000 from him.

Judy Huth, 55, filed a lawsuit against Cosby in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, claiming sexual battery and infliction of emotional distress in an alleged assault at the Playboy Mansion in 1974.

French actress Lea Seydoux and Italian star Monica Bellucci will star alongside Britain's Daniel Craig in the new James Bond film "Spectre", the producers said on Thursday at the historic Pinewood Studios.

The film will be shot in Mexico City, Rome and Tangier and Bond will drive a new sleek Aston Martin, which was shown off to reporters by director Sam Mendes.

Thousands celebrated in the heart of Manhattan as they watched the lighting of the 85-foot (26-meter)-tall Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center.

Performers at the annual tradition Wednesday night included Mariah Carey and Cyndi Lauper. There also were taped performances from Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett.