“They broke up over the holidays and have ended their engagement,” says a source close to the couple. “They’re both really sad about this. Even their friends are surprised; they seemed really happy. Everyone just wants the best for both of them.”

Reps for both Hewitt and McCall had no immediate comment.

The Ghost Whisperer star, 29, got engaged to the Scottish actor, 32, in November 2007 after dating for two years.

While the couple hadn’t announced a date, in October Hewitt told PEOPLE her svelte new look was prompted not by those infamous 2007 bikini pictures – and the ensuing controversy over body image after she took to her blog to defend herself – but by her upcoming nuptials.

“I’m getting ready to turn 30 and get married and all those things,” Hewitt said. “This year was my year to try to glow from within and feel better.”

McCall, who costarred in the 2001 HBO miniseries Band of Brothers and stars in the USA drama Crash, appeared in one episode of Hewitt’s hit show Ghost Whisperer, in 2006.

[From People]

It’s too bad that Hewitt and McCall couldn’t make it work. In September there were photographs of them looking like they were in an argument as McCall hauled suitcases to his car, but it was hard to tell if that’s exactly what was going on. Otherwise these two seemed like a very stable and happy couple. They were often photographed out together and were even seen hanging out at the mall recently. McCall seemed like a low-key kind of boyfriend who was content to go to events and support his more famous other half. Their last public appearance that I could find was serving Thanksgiving dinner at the LA Mission on 11/26/08.

For some reason, probably because they both seem like nice, down-to-earth people, I’m kind of hoping for a reconciliation for these two. They always struck me as the type that would have a happy ever after together. If they ultimately weren’t compatible it’s probably for the best that they broke up now before they got married though.

Photo credit: WENN

- Kate Hudson’s hard knock life [I’m Not Obsessed]
- Gary Oldman gets married for the fourth time [Dlisted]
- Britney Spearsforgets to wear a bra. Gasps of surprise heard round the world [Lainey Gossip]
- Video of Sharon Osbourne lashing out at ‘Charm School’ star [PopEater]
- Kim Kardashian’s butt does more than attract attention [Bossip]
- Either Britney Spears’ Twitter was hacked, or her vagina is hungry again [Fafarazzi]
- The 15 highest grossing films of 2008 [Pajiba]
- Paula Abdul might get her own talk show [Celebslam]
- Jon Stewart and his son are way too cute [Websters is my Bitch]
- Miley Cyrus tries to pretend she’s still a good girl by taking boyfriend Justin Gaston and her family to church [In Case You Didn’t Know]
- Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal - awkward at best [Crazy Days and Nights]
- The Beckhams spice up Dubai [PopSugar]
- Kate Winslet goes topless again [I Don’t Like You In That Way]
- Britney Spears’ Bollywood boyfriend has a girlfriend. Whoops! [Socialite’s Life]
- Ashton Kutcher’s big lie of the day: Demi Moore’s compassion is breathtaking [Just Jared]
- Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Sheryl Crow are bikini friends [Egotastic]
- Julian McMahon might be an attractive fellow [The Superficial]
- Easily the most unflattering pictures of Kate Moss in weeks[Hollywood Tuna]

Several months ago, the rumor was that Laura Bush was offered a multi-million dollar book deal, but details were sketchy, and Mrs. Bush never confirmed anything. With two weeks left in office, though, Mrs. Bush has finally confirmed the deal. She will write her memoir for an undisclosed amount thought to be in the multi-millions, and it will most likely be published in 2010.

U.S. first lady Laura Bush has agreed to publish her memoirs with Scribner, the publisher said on Monday, giving the normally soft-spoken former librarian a chance to offer her views on the Bush presidency.

The book is expected to be published in 2010, said Scribner, an imprint of publishing giant Simon & Shuster, itself part of CBS Corp. Scribner said it would offer “an intimate account of Laura Bush’s life experiences, including eight years in the White House.”

The publisher did not reveal terms of the deal, though publishing experts have said she could command a multimillion dollar advance. Susan Moldow, Scribner’s executive vice president and publisher, negotiated the agreement with Washington lawyer Robert Barnett, Scribner said. Barnett is known for brokering publishing and media deals for heavyweight politicians including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and President George W. Bush’s former aide Karl Rove.

Laura Bush said in a statement through Scribner she would “tell the stories of the extraordinary events and people I’ve met in my life, particularly during my years in the White House.”

From Reuters

I have no doubt that Mrs. Bush’s memoir will be one of many from this administration attempting to salvage President Bush’s legacy, but I still think it will be an interesting read. Mrs. Bush, a former librarian, is something of a elite reader, citing Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov as her favorite book. (The book has a torture scene, by the way). I’d be willing to bet this is one memoir that won’t be ghost-written.

What’s sort of funny (to me) is two things: first, notice how no one is offering George W. Bush any amount of money to write his memoirs. No comment on that. Second, Laura Bush already has a sort-of ghost-written, fictionalized account of her life - Curtis Sittenfeld’s The American Wife is a bestseller, and Sittenfeld has openly stated that she based her book almost completely on the life of Laura Bush. We’ll see if Mrs. Bush’s take is any better.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Laura Bush and George Bush are shown outside returning to the White House from their vacation on 1/1/09. They are also shown on 12/19/08 unveiling their official portraits at the Smithsonian. Credit: WENN. My acting coach in high school told me never to cross my legs away from someone if I wanted to make it look like I had affection for them.

The large donation is not out of the blue. Clark has been a guest on Oprah’s show twice, once in 2000 when he won the “Disney American Teacher of the Year” award, and then again last year when his book, The Essential 55, became a New York Times best-seller.

The school has also recently been in the news for its music-led teaching methods, including a cute rap by students “You can vote however you like,” based on the song “Whatever you like” by T.I., that became an Internet sensation:

Clark and his students became overnight stars during the presidential election when a video of the students performing a political rap they wrote grabbed the public’s attention on YouTube. The children ended up performing the rap, called “Vote However U Like,” on national TV shows including CNN and BET.

Teachers at the school frequently use rapping, dancing and drumming to help students learn.

Clark, who taught in one of New York City’s toughest schools and wrote the best-selling teaching book “The Essential 55,” opened the school last year with proceeds from his book and private donations.

Nearly all of its 80 students are from middle- and low-income households. Parents pay a small part of the tuition and the rest is paid by donors.

[from The Daily Mail]

Oprah is still stinging from the girl’s school in Africa debacle, during which critics complained that she wasn’t doing enough for American schools.  The donation to Ron Clark Academy was made through Oprah’s foundation, which in 2008 gave a total of $4 million to schools in need.

We haven’t heard much about the other schools Oprah donated to, but there are several possible reasons for that.  Ron Clark is skilled at getting publicity.  He’s been on Oprah twice and his school has received plenty of attention - the fact that the school has survived on donations alone is proof of his media-savvy. 

Additionally, this school is highly unusual and innovative in its teaching style, which demands some attention in and of itself.  It’s easier to write a story about an exceptional school where kids are inspired than a donation to a school where the students are struggling.

Oprah Winfrey is shown on 12/5/08. Credit: WENN

She’s not engaged to Tony Romo (yet), but Jessica Simpson is officially a part of the Dallas Cowboys family.

She appears in the 2008 Cowboys Family Cookbook, presented by “the wives of the Dallas Cowboys.”

On page 127, Simpson (who is not photographed) and Romo share their favorite family recipes for a “banana breakfast fruit smoothies” and “no-fat broccoli and cherry tomatoes.”

The two also show off their funny sides in the book’s biographical section, with Simpson listing her occupation as “hairdresser” and Romo stating that he’s a “fence builder.”

Romo — who lists “U2, Coldplay and AC/DC” as among the artists on his iPod (sorry, Jess!) — also reveals that his favorite food is “chicken enchiladas.”

[From Us Weekly]

The recipes, unsurprisingly are nothing special - I think my 9-year-old could probably make them without my help. The broccoli and tomato recipe calls for pre-cut, pre-washed vegetables. Is that what Jessica considers cooking?

It sure is interesting that Jessica is considered a “wife of a Dallas Cowboy.” She does like to go on and on about how Tony is her “future husband” and how she wants to have kids with him - but maybe she should wait for Tony to ask her first.

Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo are shown at the airport in Dallas on 1/3/08. Credit: SplashNewsOnline