A bearded drag queen who was initially written off as too provocative for some socially conservative countries is now a favorite to win Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest, tinged as always with regional politics.

Since the first votes were cast in 1956, Eurovision results have been closely intertwined with politics and the 2014 competition is no exception.

Chris Brown on Friday admitted a probation violation over an altercation last year outside a Washington, D.C., hotel and was sentenced to remain on probation and serve an additional 131 days in jail.

The singer appeared in court and, while his mother and several friends and supporters looked on, he admitted committing a crime in Washington in October.

French Eurovision hopefuls Twin Twin on Friday said their country could fare better in the contest if their entries were a bit more fun and colorful.

The group, set to compete in Saturday's final with electro-pop party anthem "Moustache", said France's dismal record in the contest over the past three decades was due to "a mix of things."

Michael Jackson returns this month from the musical grave for a second time, with a new posthumous album aimed at resurrecting his star power, five years after his untimely death. 

Critics have already hailed "Xscape" a clear improvement on 2010's "Michael," the first album released after Jackson died of a drug overdose at age 50, as part of a multi-record deal with label giant Sony.

Chinese authorities have refused to allow the release there of biblical epic "Noah," starring Russell Crowe, which has already been banned in a string of Muslim countries, a source said.

Paramount Pictures tried to secure a release slot for the vast Chinese mainland market by stressing its "environmental message" and special effects, the Los Angeles Times reported. 

Take a furious princely family, add a transatlantic row between prominent movie personalities, top with Hollywood superstar Nicole Kidman and you get the opening film of the 67th Cannes Film Festival.

The biopic "Grace of Monaco" premieres on Wednesday at the start of the glitzy event, and already it is mired in controversy that threatens to cast a cloud over the very festival that allowed Grace Kelly to meet Prince Rainier III in 1955.

It turns out that Ellen DeGeneres still has a few surprises up her sleeve for Edgar Martirosyan, the owner of Big Mama's & Papa's Pizza who delivered three pies to the star-studded audience at the 86th annual Academy Awards in March.

In addition to surprising him with a with a very generous $1,000 tip when he appeared on her show the day after the Oscars, DeGeneres also introduced him to his favorite actress, Julia Roberts.

Bruce Willis has welcomed another daughter.

The actor and his wife Emma had a baby girl named Evelyn Penn on May 5 in Los Angeles, his rep confirmed to ABC News.

Saying she's back on top form, Miley Cyrus resumed her Bangerz tour in London after a series of canceled shows.

The 21-year-old pop star delayed her U.S. dates until August after treatment for a sinus infection went awry and last week postponed two European shows. Cyrus says she suffered a severe allergic reaction to antibiotics.

One of eight circus acrobats who plunged to the ground during a hair-hanging act in the U.S. says she wants to get back in the ring, and she's hopeful her fellow acrobats will someday return, too. But their medical team said Wednesday that two have spinal cord injuries, and only time will tell if they can ever walk again.

"I'm hoping to join back up with the tour and show the world that I'm OK, and I'm hoping some of the other girls will do the same," Samantha Pitard told The Associated Press after being released from a hospital Tuesday.