A MUSIC ROUNDUP ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE

"DON'T HAVE TO" OR "ARE UNABLE TO"?
In a shocking move that shocked virtually no one, Britney Spears revealed that she and NSYNC's Justin Timberlake are indeed an item. "When you're really comfortable with someone you love, the silence is the best," she told October's Elle. "That's how me and J. are. When we're in a room together, we don't have to say anything." Onlookers were heard thanking God for the revelation, since many of those who have listened in on the duo's previous conversations have experienced a significant drop in IQ level.

CAN YOU SMELL WHAT THIS ROCK IS COOKIN'?
MTV's Return of the Rock tour, a hard rock fan's wet dream, will feature Stone Temple Pilots, Godsmack and Disturbed, who will already be on the road with STP Oct. 3-13. This is the second time out for the MTV-sponsored event. The first tour featured P.O.D., Staind, Dope and Crazy Town earlier this year. (And look what it did for their careers!) The new Return Of The Rock kicks off Oct. 20 at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, and is so far booked into 14 venues, with more dates expected. The show will stop in New York, Los Angeles and Houston, among other cities. Contrary to many of the smarter metalist's thoughts, Return of the Rock has nothing to do with plans to bring back the infamous Pet Rock novelty item.

EMINEM LOVES HIS MOMMY
HITS' favorite target Eminem was in a Michigan court Wednesday to address the $10 million defamation lawsuit filed by his mother, Debbie Mathers-Briggs. According to published reports, Eminem and his team of attorneys admitted to making not-so-nice comments about Mommy Dearest in publications like Rap Pages, Rolling Stone and The Source. Back-peddling a bit, Eminem claimed in court that when he spoke of his mother's drug use, he meant "prescription" not "illegal" drugs. He mentioned nothing of his mother's alleged money grubbing ways, which were pointed out by Em's mom in her suit. Eminem was seen escorting his mom out of the courtroom for lunch, got incensed when she refused to pick up the tab and pistol-whipped "tha beeeeyatch."

THE BITCH IS BACK
Elton John bolted 30 minutes before a scheduled performance Wednesday (9/13) in front of a sold-out crowd at the Estoril Casino near Lisbon, the BBC reports. Despite the sellout, John reportedly panicked when the venue was slow to fill and eventually slipped out the back door without letting anyone know of his intentions to cancel the show. "He said he was going out to get some air but then he jumped into his car and went to the airport to catch his private jet," said Nuno Lima de Carvalho, a spokesperson for the casino. No confirmation that John was willfully abducted by a gaggle of Portuguese sailors in town to see Captain Fantastic.

AS A PRECAUTION, MACK MINISTER AND E-40 WILL BE PRESENTERS
Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and Joe Dee Messina have been tapped to perform at the 34th Annual Country Music Association Awards Oct. 4 at the Grand Ole Opry. Vince Gill will host the show, to air on CBS, for the ninth consecutive year. In recognition of other recently held awards ceremonies, CMA officials are optimistic that Jackson will hit on McGraw's wife, Faith Hill, which, they hope will spark a full-blown melee among attendees—which, of course, means higher ratings.

BONE TO BE WILD
Flesh-N-Bone (Stanley Howse), a member of popular rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony pleaded no contest Wednesday (9/13) to possession of a sawed-off shotgun in connection with a January confrontation at a relative's house. Howse is expected to be sentenced to two years on Oct. 24, prosecutor Eric Lavine said. Howse was arrested Jan. 3 after relatives called police over an argument that started when the rapper arrived uninvited. Relatives said, "We just want his money…we don't want to see that gun-toting loon." The Grammy winner also faces sentencing later this month in an assault case involving threats using an AK-47.