When Nick Carter made headlines in July 2004, it wasn’t because of his band's latest hit single (the Backstreet Boys has sold more than 78 million albums worldwide to date) but rather it had more to do with accusations that he had abused his then girlfriend Paris Hilton, who showed up at a Hollywood club with bruises on her arms and a fat lip.

Two years later, the 26-year-old singer, who makes his reality show debut on October 2 with a no-holds-barred peek into his troubled family life on the House of Carters series, is finally ready to talk about his rocky romance with Hilton, now 25.

“I thought the fact that she had money and was famous meant I wouldn¹t have to worry about somebody using me,” he says. “I thought that. Wrong. I kind of fell head over heels for this girl. And I probably shouldn¹t have.”

Indeed, while the Simple Life star was shooting her thriller House of Wax in Australia that summer, Carter heard through the grapevine that his girlfriend was getting too friendly with costar Chad Michael Murray, now 25, who was then on the verge of engagement to Sophia Bush, now 24. The singer says he was so hurt that he retaliated with a little cheating of his own. Shortly after their infidelity showdown, the bruises appeared.

Where did they come from? What happened when Nick’s younger brother, Aaron, took Paris out on a date? For these details and more, check out the current issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands this week.

X Factor judge Simon Cowell dashed to his mother’s hospital bedside after she was struck by a car, it emerged today.

The TV star’s mother, Julie Cowell, 80, was left badly injured when the vehicle reversed into her.

The former dancer has a suspected broken hip and could face a hip replacement operation following Friday’s accident.

Cowell’s mother telephoned him after the incident and he went straight to her hospital bedside.

He stayed there the next day, watching X Factor with her before flying to the US to start filming a new series of American Idol.

Cowell’s publicist Max Clifford said: “She’s a very sprightly 80-year-old. She still goes to aerobics every week so she’s very fit.”

Cowell told The Sun newspaper: “When I heard, I was worried to death. But she is as strong as an ox and her attitude was a bit like, ‘What’s all the fuss about?’

“I was obviously relieved she is fine and already planning her 100th birthday party.”

The supermodel delighted the sell-out crowd by taking to the stage at Pete's first show since he checked out of rehab for drug addiction.

Kate, sporting a black sweater mini-dress, and Pete belted out the track 'La Belle et La Bete' - which translates as 'Beauty and The Beast'.

One fan said: "It was a fantastic moment. Everyone went wild. Kate looked sensational - and she sounded great."

Pete, 27, had only checked out of London's The Priory clinic for cocaine and heroin addiction earlier that day. The Babyshambles frontman was seen sipping water while Kate enjoyed a bottle of lager.

Kate, who exited the stage after one song to take photographs of the band, left the crowd screaming for more at Carlow's Music Factory, Ireland.

The 32-year-old model also ignored Ireland's strict smoking ban in public places by chain smoking throughout the show.

Babyshambles were scheduled to play another sell-out concert at Dublin's Ambassador last night (26.09.06).

Kate reportedly ditched her luxury five star hotel suite to stay with Pete and the band on the tour bus.

When asked about the possibility of the pair marrying in Ireland, Pete blushed and said: "No comment."

They’re not, but it's what they told a room full of journos as they announced their return to pop…

Man band, '5ive', have announced they are officially back together and ready to sell as many records as they did in their heyday.

The foursome – J, Abs, Scott and Richie – kicked off their press conference by joking, “We are here to tell everyone in this room that we are officially gay."

They soon got on to serious business however, and announced they'd been working with top (former Robbie Williams) tunesmith, Guy Chambers.

Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria is so busy with her career and relationship with basketball player boyfriend Tony Parker, she had her real estate agent pick out a house and buy it for her.

Longoria instructed her realtor to select only one house and she bought it on the spot without looking at any other options.

She explains, "I just bought a new house just down the street from where I live. It was literally down the street.

"I told my realtor show me a house and they did and they go, 'Why don't you look at one more?' And I said, 'Oh, my God!'

"I'm lazy when it comes to stuff like that. I just want to move in and sleep!"

Martha Stewart wants Eminem to appear on her “Martha” TV show. Not because he can knit or bake brownies but because audience members love his music.

“We play his music during breaks to keep people very lively and they love him,” Stewart told AP Radio in a recent interview.

“I would really love to have Eminem on the show,” the 65-year-old lifestyle guru said. “I don’t think he knows that my demographic audience is so involved in Eminem music.”

Stewart also said she’s not good at everything.

“I can’t pick up a guitar and play a fantastic song. ... I cannot sit down at a piano and do that,” she said. “I’m happy about my knowledge in so many different subjects relating to living, but in terms of specifics, I don’t know if I’d be really very good on ‘The Young and the Restless.”’

However, Stewart does have a wild side.

She licked David Letterman’s jelly covered finger when he pretended to cut himself during a cooking segment with her on CBS’ “Late Show With David Letterman.”

“I knew it was jelly because I looked really carefully before I licked his finger. And I think he was looking for a reaction and didn’t know what I would do,” Stewart said.

“I’m sure he was totally shocked that I would lick his finger, as were many, many, many other people,” she said with a laugh.