Scoop

Update Monday December 07, 2009 01:00 AM EST Originally posted Monday December 07, 2009 01:00 AM EST

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LeAnn Rimes' Ex Dean Sheremet

OUR SPLIT WAS 'LIBERATING'

He may have tweeted that "the price of love is loss" on Oct. 2, but these days Dean Sheremet is handling his break-up with wife of seven years LeAnn Rimes remarkably well. At a Nov. 17 screening in New York City of the indie film Across the Hall, the backup dancer turned songwriter, 28, told Scoop of starting over again, "It's liberating." Sheremet—who moved from Nashville to New York City in August—is also taking classes at the prestigious French Culinary Institute. "When [LeAnn] and I were on the road, I cooked all our meals," he said. Says his friend, Across the Hall director Alex Merkin: "Dean is obviously devastated by the things that were going on, but he's pulled through in the strongest, most positive way possible."

Avril Lavigne

REBOUNDING... WITH WILMER!

There's a new man in Avril Lavigne's life: Wilmer Valderrama, whose exes include Mandy Moore and Lindsay Lohan. A source tells Scoop that the pair, who costarred in 2006's Fast Food Nation, "have been friends for a long time. But they've been getting closer over the past few weeks." Lavigne, 25, who is divorcing Sum 41 singer Deryck Whibley, joined Valderrama, 29, at L.A. hot spot Wonderland on Nov. 14. "She had her hand on his knee," says a clubgoer. "They looked supercozy together."

People.com POLL

Do They Make a Good Couple?

71% NO

29% YES

TREND WARNING

LOOK-AT-ME TEES

Who says there's something wrong about being shamelessly self-promotional? Not these celebs, who put their best face foward—on their own clothes!

ANNALYNNE MCCORD

JOHN MCENROE

HULK HOGAN

JANE FONDA

Aerosmith Bandmates Make Plea

STEVEN TYLER 'NEEDS HELP'

Since Steven Tyler's reported decision to take a two-year hiatus from Aerosmith, his bandmates are chalking up his behavior—including canceling gigs—to old demons. "He needs help, and attention needs to be put to his health," drummer Joey Kramer says of Tyler, 61, who struggled with drugs in the '70s and '80s. Tyler's rep insists the singer is "concentrating on his book" while he recoups from a shoulder injury sustained in August. But guitarist Brad Whitford maintains, "His behavior is spinning out of control."

Taylor Swift & Taylor Lautner

LIVING DOLLS

After a series of dates in October, busy schedules have kept country superstar Taylor Swift, 19, and New Moon hunk Taylor Lautner, 17, apart. But they'll soon be reunited—on toy shelves! Swift's new singing doll hits stores next spring, while Lautner's muscly likeness debuts in February.

FLESH AND BLOOD!

The Taylors leave a Beverly Hills steakhouse on Oct. 28.

HELLO, DOLLIES!

Swift's $19.99 Performance Collection doll; Lautner's $24.95 Jacob Twilight Barbie doll.

BEFORE THEY WERE VAMPIRES!

Before they hit it big with the Twilight series, New Moon stars Kristen Stewart, 19, and Taylor Lautner, 17, started out in kids' movies, while Robert Pattinson, 23, turned heads with a campy fashion spread. They were just waiting for some roles they could really sink their teeth into.

ROBERT PATTINSON

"I was never a good model," Pattinson (in a 2001 shoot with model Lucy Flower) has said.

Robert was a fashion model

TAYLOR LAUTNER

The Michigan native (with actress Taylor Dooley) played a superhero in 2005's The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl.

Taylor was a kid superhero

KRISTEN STEWART

In 2004's Catch That Kid, Stewart (with costar Max Thieriot) starred alongside High School Musical's Corbin Bleu as a scheming tween who plots a bank heist.

Kristen played a bank robber

RUMOR PATROL

HAS JENNIFER BANNED WHITE FOOD FROM HER DIET?

A tabloid report claims that Jennifer Aniston, 40, "has a bizarre new diet secret—she won't eat white food . . . foods with white flour or white sugar." And she did once tell In Style that she loves salmon and steak. So has she really banned white food? Nope! The report "is not true," says her rep.

NOT DATING HIM!

Rihanna

I'M SINGLE . . .

BUT WHO HAS THE TIME TO DATE?

Sure, she admitted on Atlanta's Q100 radio station that she's a "very flirty girl," but when it comes to dating someone again, Rihanna, 21, says, "I don't think I have the time for a commitment right now—or the energy." Calling rumors about a romance with 90210's Tristan Wilds "funny," she adds, "I had a house party. He came by...but I don't even have his number."

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Just got done boxing and I can barely type! If anyone sees me puking on coldwater canyon start singing the Rocky theme song :)"

—Jessica Simpson tweeted on Nov. 17.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

• 11/17, L.A.: Leona Lewis celebrated the release of her new album Echo with pals Eve and Ciara at an Asics bash at Hyde Lounge. • 11/17, N.Y.C.: John Mayer rocked the Beacon Theatre while the concert aired live on the cable music channel Fuse. • 11/20, L.A.: American Idol champ Kris Allen surprised his wife with a Klipsch speaker system from the AMA luxury lounge. • 11/18, L.A.: Melissa Joan Hart was honored at the 7th Annual Lupus L.A. Bag Ladies charity luncheon.

Insider

DIDDY IS 4-0!

Sean "Diddy" Combs celebrated his milestone at a party fit for a king Nov. 20 at New York City's legendary Plaza hotel. The enchanted-forest fete drew powerhouse pals Jay-Z and Denzel Washington, who enjoyed—what else?—Diddy's vodka Ciroc.

BOYS' NIGHT OUT

GQ saluted their Men of the Year Nov. 18 at L.A.'s Chateau Marmont. Kate Bosworth and January Jones were among those who toasted honorees Clint Eastwood, Neil Patrick Harris and Kobe Bryant.