The Grammy-winning blind singer-songwriter Doc Watson has died. He was 89. Watson had been hospitalized in Winston-Salem, N.C., for abdominal surgery. Born Arthel Lane Watson in North Carolina, Watson lost his eyesight as an infant due to an infection, but he went on to have a successful career as a bluegrass and folk musician, known for recordings including "Tom Dooley" and "Shady Grove." From the mid-1960s through the early 1980s, Watson toured and recorded with his son, Eddy Merle, until the younger musician was killed in a tractor accident on their family farm in 1985. In the 2000s, Watson was often joined onstage by his grandson, Merle's son Richard. Watson won seven Grammy awards throughout his career, as well as a lifetime achievement award in 2004. In 1997, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts from then President Bill Clinton. He is survived by a daughter, Nancy.
  Since Jessica Simpson and her fiancé Eric Johnson welcomed their daughter Maxwell Drew on May 1, "life has completely changed," Simpson, 31, tells PEOPLE exclusively. "From how I sleep to what I think about, Maxwell has definitely taken over everything!" In this week's issue, Simpson and Johnson give an exclusive interview, plus share the first photos of their little one, who's inherited her mom's eyes and her dad's calm demeanor. "We stare at her all the time," says Simpson. "We can't get enough!" But becoming new parents hasn't been without its hardships. Recovering from surgery – Simpson delivered via C-section – isn't easy, she says, and nursing, which she does throughout the day, has become "a full-on job."

Dominic Monaghan accuses Matthew Fox of beating women: 'Lost' feud flares on Twitter

 Six days ago, "Lost" co-creator Damon Lindelof celebrated the two-year anniversary of the show's highly polarizing series finale -- but while the show is in the past, that doesn't mean that the drama is over. Fan favorite Dominic Monaghan took to Twitter this week to promote his new documentary series, "Wild Things," this week, with a fan Q&A. One fan asked him to encourage his old "Lost" co-star Matthew Fox to join Twitter.Monaghan didn't seem up to phoning Fox, though, as he replied to the fan bluntly: "he beats women. No thanks."Last year, Fox was accused of punching a female bus driver in the crotch and the breast when she refused to give him a ride -- but he managed to avoid being charged in the incident. Monaghan, however, accuses Fox of more repeated incidents of violence."I KNOW IT WAS WRONG BUT WHAT?! WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE GOOD TIMES YOU HAD TOGETHER?!" the fan asked Monaghan, to which he replied: "you don't know either of us. he beats women. not isolated incidents. often. not interested."He insists on the veracity of the statement -- and says he's not worried about Fox pressing charges against him for his accusations. "an accusation is when you 'claim' someone did something wrong. i know," he wrote. "And it's very difficult to sue someone for speaking the truth." 
 After Cynthia Nixon revealed that she and Christine Marinoni tied the knot in New York City on Sunday, the newlyweds have released their wedding photo. Posing on a rooftop in the Big Apple, Nixon, 46, wore a flowing, pale green gown by Carolina Herrera and carried a bouquet of white peonies. Marinoni, 45, wore a suit with a darker green tie for the ceremony.

Britain's Supreme Court backs extradition of Julian Assange to Sweden
Britain's Supreme Court on Wednesday backed the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to Sweden where he is accused of sex crimes -- the latest chapter in the saga of the self-styled Internet whistle-blower. Swedish prosecutors want to question Assange over claims of rape and sexual assault made by two female former WikiLeaks volunteers, and he has been fighting a lengthy legal battle against extradition since his arrest in Britain in Dec. 2010. Seven judges at Britain's highest court rejected by a majority of 5-2 that Assange's claim that a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) under which his extradition is sought was invalid.  Two lower courts have already ruled he should be extradited. The former computer hacker gained international prominence in 2010 when WikiLeaks began releasing secret video footage and thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables about Iraq and Afghanistan, in the largest leak of classified documents in U.S. history. That made him a hero to anti-censorship campaigners but a menace to Washington and other governments. Assange also faced widespread criticism that he had put lives at risk by blowing the cover of sources who spoke to diplomats and intelligence agents in countries where it was dangerous to do so.  Since then, WikiLeaks has faded from the headlines due to a dearth of scoops and a blockade by credit card companies that has made donations to the site almost impossible. Assange's personal standing has been damaged by the Swedish sex case and he has lost support from most of his celebrity backers.  Assange's personal travails have accelerated WikiLeaks' slide toward irrelevance since its heyday. The suspected source of the site's biggest and most dramatic 2010 leaks, U.S. intelligence analyst Bradley Manning, is now facing 22 criminal charges which, if he is convicted, could land him in jail for life.

 Amber Riley's time on Glee has come to a dramatic close. The star, who has played Mercedes for three years on the cult-like show, tweeted the news of her departure late yesterday. "That's a wrap on Amber Riley," she wrote. "Just closed a chapter in my life, the only thing I've known day in and day out for three years. I'm going to miss the whole Glee family, seeing them everyday! I have so many brothers and sisters now :) But I am looking forward to a much needed and deserved summer vacation. SCHOOL's OUT Glee Kids! Let's play!"


TV NEWS

Tim Daly is checking out of Private Practice. The actor announced late Tuesday that series creator Shonda Rhimes opted not to pick up his contract option for the ABC medical soap’s upcoming sixth (and likely final) season. In a somewhat terse statement posted on Twitter, Daly said, “Wonderful fans of PPP. Shonda informed my agent today that Pete won’t be returning for season 6. It was a great 5 yrs. R.I.P. Pete Wilder.” Daly was likely the victim of cost cutting. PPP‘s renewal came down to the wire earlier this month as both sides haggled over budget-related issues.

 

 

HISTORY’s miniseries Hatfields & McCoys, starring Kevin Costner, Bill Paxton, Mare Winningham, Powers Boothe and Tom Berenger among others debuted on Monday Memorial Day and finishes tonight at 9p, has become the #1 non-sports telecast in ad-supported cable television history.  HISTORY tallied more than 13.9 million total viewers; 5.8 million with A25-54; and 4.8 million among A18-49 for the miniseries’ debut on Monday, based on Nielsen’s fast cable ratings.  More than 17 million watched both the premiere and encore telecast Monday night.  
 

Season two of Showtime’s drama series Homeland has added actress Zuleikha Robinson in the recurring role as a Middle Eastern woman and field journalist named Roya Hammad who has ties to the terrorist organization and will cross paths with Brody (Damian Lewis). 


NBC approved a new singing game show, The Winner Is where contestants will compete before an in-studio panel.  The singers, some soloists and groups including kids, teens, adults, seniors, families and professionals will have to figure out if they should negotiate a cash prize and step out of the competition or continue in the game.  If the contestants continue, they await the jury results to see if they made it to the next round and closer to the $1 million in prize money. 

Tonight’s Premieres:ABC Family: Melissa & Joey at 8p
CBS: Dogs in the City at 8p
Destination America: BBQ Pitmasters at 10p
Tonight’s Finales:CW: America’s Next Top Model at 9p
HISTORY: Hatfields & McCoys at 9p
TLC: Toddlers & Tiaras at 10p