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Rihanna showed off her big bad blingin' ring as she made her way through LAX yesterday. She's quite a jet setter these days, but that wasn't always the case for the pop star. In a recent interview, Rihanna talks about growing up in Barbados, becoming a celebrity, and why she'll never take anything for granted. Here are highlights:

• On being famous enough to make her own decisions: "In the past, I had no say in how I was presented. Those decisions were made for me, right down to the colour of my lipstick. Then I got to a point where I felt confident enough to say, 'This is how I want to look. Take it or leave it.' You could look at it as a form of rebellion. I prefer to look at it as a transition from teenage girl to young woman. I make my own decisions now. When I decide something is going to happen, it happens."
• On her home life: "My dad left home when I was nine, so I was really young when I was living with his addictions. I didn’t understand exactly what was going on, but I knew he was doing something he shouldn’t be doing."
• On the party scene: "If I go to a club, I go for the sounds. I go out to have fun, to dance and laugh at people fighting or dressed like whores. I might have a few drinks, but I don’t get tipsy too easily. I don’t ever get to the point where I want to throw up, can’t stand up straight or say things I’m likely to regret in the morning."
• On appreciating what she has: "I don’t take any of that for granted. I grew up with little or no money. It’s made me appreciate everything so much more."

While Rihanna had a pretty tough childhood, it sounds like she still came out of it with a good head on her shoulders to go along with her big talent.

NPG

John Mayer stepped out of an NYC hotel with his rolling luggage yesterday. The usually talkative musician has stayed out of the press for the most part since his post-breakup rant to the paparazzi, but that doesn't mean he's keeping his mouth shut. On Tuesday he played a "secret" show at the Mercury Lounge, talking between songs about the lack of connectedness thanks to computers and his drunk vs. sober thoughts. He also checked his BlackBerry and commented, "Who am I kidding? No one calls me anymore. Oh wait, here's a text message from 'device is powering down.'" Thankfully, there was no mention of any breakups this time, but he does sound a little lonely.

Looks like all that travel caught up with Suri Cruise, who snuggled into mom Katie's shoulder out in NYC today. The growing girl was sporting a new 'do with her pigtail braids and pretty pink dress. Katie performs for a full audience for the first time tonight, though she got a good taste of the attention after last night's dress rehearsal. Whether or not Suri is awake to watch her mom take on Broadway tonight, there's nothing like a little one-on-one playtime in NYC to help wind down.

Flynet

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony stepped off Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana's yacht in St. Tropez last night. The family is overseas to keep on celebrating Marc's 40th birthday with a little vacation. Jennifer and Marc looked fabulous and ready for a night on the town, but not before posing for pictures with their twins Max and Emme on the luxurious boat. Not a bad way to turn another year older, or wind down after a triathlon; maybe we'll even get to see Jennifer slip back into a bikini to play with the babies while catching some of that Mediterranean sun.

Bauer-Griffin Online

Amanda Peet looked like she was having as much fun as her daughter Frances on the swings and slide at an LA park yesterday. The happy duo were joined by Amanda's husband David, who looked on as the girls hit the playground. Frances enjoys lots of quality time outdoors with her parents, and while she's certainly a precious celebrity baby, don't forget to enter your own adorable child in Gap's third annual Casting Call.

Fame