The cover of Vanity Fair's Green Issue shows Madonna with the whole world in her hands, and inside the issue she continues to show off her strength. The release of her upcoming album proves that she's an international force with no signs of slowing down, even if that includes some bad ideas (see after the jump). In the article she confidently talks about her life — past, present, and future. Here are highlights about Malawi, her album, and how she views the world:

• On her decision to help in Malawi: “If you have children, you know you’re responsible for somebody. You realize you are being imitated; your belief systems and priorities have a direct influence on these children, who are like flowers in a garden. So you start to second-guess everything you value, and the suffering of other children becomes much more intolerable.”
• On the music industry: “Well, there’s one thing you can’t download and that’s a live performance. And I know how to put on a show, and enjoy performing, and I’ll always have that.”
• On making Hard Candy: “I didn’t have any idea what kind of music I wanted to make. I just knew I wanted to collaborate with Pharrell and Justin. I needed to be inspired and thought, well, who’s making records I like? So I went, ‘I like that guy and I like that guy.’ It’s not like we hit it off right away. Writing is very intimate. You have to be vulnerable and it’s hard to do that with strangers. I had ups and downs before everybody got comfortable, but I grew very fond of Pharrell and Justin.”

To see what else Madonna had to say about religion and what she was like as a teenager, just read more

Paris Hilton and Benji Madden are still spreading their love all over Germany and Prague. You may not want to be Paris' BFF, but these two still seem smitten as ever. Over the weekend Benji was up on stage doing his Good Charlotte tour thing in Cologne and Prague while Paris was doing her own self-promotion on the German TV show Wetten, dass...? (Lets Make A Bet). Unfortunately, sometime during their sightseeing adventures, Paris took a bit of a fall hurting her chin and forcing her to hold her jacket/BlackBerry covering it up for the rest of her day. Sorry, I know it's horrible but a little bit funny? Ouch. At least we know Paris has a thick skin.

To see more of Paris and Benji (including the fall) just read more

Gwen Stefani's baby bump may be growing, but it's not yet keeping her off of the slide! The mom-to-be enjoyed an afternoon at the park with Gavin and Kingston with a smile on her face. These boys are always a delight to see, but there are some other men in her life who have been taking up her time, too. On Friday, Gwen Stefani blogged about being back in the studio with her No Doubt bandmates. She said:

Been thinking so much about you all lately as I am back in the studio again with the boys trying to write some new music. What an amazing few years it has been. So inspired going through the dance record phase of my life. Thank you so much for all your support! The tour was incredible. We ended up doing over 100 shows around the world and it was so rewarding and again inspiring. Thank you to everyone who came out to see it . . . memories for life! Great to be home with with all my boys. Feels crazy to be pregnant all over again!!!!! We have been spending every day up in the little studio in our house trying to write music. My favorite part so far is just seeing the guys everyday and hanging out. We have so much fun together. The songwriting part is a bit slow on my part . . . I think it has something to do with the baby in my belly but I'm sure it is all of the process and I really believe this could be the most inspired No Doubt record so far. Can't wait to see what happens. All my love g

Sounds like the baby isn't the only new addition we have to get excited for. While her "dance phase" gained Gwen some new diehard followers, the old No Doubt fans must be more than thrilled to hear about making progress on the new album.

Pacific Coast News Online

• Tennis star Andy Roddick is engaged to swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker, whom he started dating last year. — People
• Food Network chef Giada de Laurentiis and her husband Todd Thompson welcomed their first child, a girl named Jade, on Saturday. — lilsugar
• 21 took the top spot at the weekend box office, followed by Horton Hears a Who and Superhero Movie. — BuzzSugar
• An Australian newspaper is reporting that Heath Ledger may have fathered a child at 17 during an affair with a 25-year-old woman, who has raised the child with another man. — The Daily Telegraph
• The unions representing television and film actors, which have a long history of working together, have split and will now negotiate with producers separately in their contract talks. — AP
• U2 has signed a 12-year agreement with Live Nation, which will handle the group's merchandising, branding, and touring. Live Nation recently inked a similar deal with Madonna for around $100 million, and U2's package is said to be in a similar range. — Reuters
• Kathy Lee Gifford will cohost the fourth hour of The Today Show with Hoda Kotb. — MSNBC

Bauer-Griffin Online

Fresh off his trip abroad earning his 100^th cap, David Beckham was back in the states for a sports-filled weekend. First, he slipped back into his Galaxy jersey for a game against the Rapids in Colorado on Saturday. Unfortunately the team suffered a 4-0 loss, but Becks seemed to be over it by the Lakers game Sunday night. He flashed a huge grin as he cheered on the team and signed a few autographs for his young fans from his courtside seat. Looked like a fun night back home for David — all that was missing were his fellow pint-sized Laker fans.

More of Becks on the field and on the court, so just read more

Lindsay Lohan was showing off — or kind of hiding, whatever — her newly blond again hair out grocery shopping with Samantha Ronson in LA yesterday. It feels like we just stopped gushing about how happy we were to have her darker locks back and now platinum it is — dare I even mention the wish that she get back to her natural red? She hasn't been spending her time out promoting Chapter 27's release (a few years later) but at least she's got an excuse. She's been too busy dyeing her hair.

Flynet