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Deadline.com has learned that representatives for both Justin Timberlake and Elton John are denying there's anything real behind that published rumor that both musicians are in talks to replace Simon Cowell as a permanent judge onAmerican Idol.

A Justin insider says the report is "just silly" because Timberlake has no time for a gig like this. That's because his film career is really taking off after acting turns in David Fincher's Oscar-touted The Social Network as well as Bad Teacher and Friends with Benefits. And he's been offered the lead in the Andrew Niccols-directed I'm Mortal for New Regency and Fox.

Elton John's name surfaced the moment Cowell announced his exit -- which is why the singer's UK publicist Gary Farrow just gave this blunt quote to Deadline London editor Tim Adler: “Absolute rubbish... This story’s three months old. There’s more chance of you fucking me than Elton appearing on US Idol.”

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Nigel Lythgoe, who left his post as executive producer of "American Idol" in 2008 to focus solely on "So You Think You Can Dance" and its various incarnations, is poised to make a return to Idol in its hour of need (for a fourth judge, that is).

While the show's focus has appeared to be on finding a so-called replacement for the irreplaceable Simon Cowell, there's also been much quieter talk about scrapping the whole crop of current judges—an idea that Lythgoe has championed in the past when asked about Idol's diminishing popularity.

"I think over the last couple of years, the show has been about the judges, whether it was Kara [DioGuardi] or Paula [Abdul] leaving or Ellen DeGeneres joining," Lythgoe told E! News in April 2010. "It shouldn't be about the judges," he said. "It should be about the young talent. And once we get that into focus, the show will be successful again."

And there are plenty of names being bandied about as to who would make for a stellar panel, albeit not exactly a group of shrinking violets. Count Justin Timberlake and Elton John, who has performed on Idol in the past, as two of the biggest names on Idol creator Simon Fuller's wish list, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Lythgoe has also namechecked Elton as someone who's "capable of knowing what's needed," and has praised the talents of Abdul and Usher, who "knows exactly what's going on in the moment." Harry Connick Jr., who won major props for his turn as guest mentor last season, Chris Isaak and Bret Michaels have also come up in conversation.

Abdul, whose name always comes up as a possible addition to Cowell's X Factor when that's up and running on Fox, has inked a deal in the meantime to be lead judge on CBS' foray into bust-a-move programming, Got to Dance, and it's pretty certain that she won't be returning to Idol in any official capacity.

As for who's already employed as an Idol judge: Kara has a year-to-year deal that hasn't officially been reupped for 2011 yet. Randy Jackson has one more year left on his contract. Ellen, however, signed a multiyear deal, so she at least planning on going anywhere for awhile.

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Elton is teaming up with his 'Billy Elliot' co-writer Lee Hall to pen a new stage production based on George Orwell's book 'Animal Farm'.

However Lee - who won Olivier and Tony awards for his book and lyricsfor the musical 'Billy Elliot' and an Oscar for the movie - admitted that the musical will not be completed any time soon. He said: "I would think it's going to take about two years before it's all ready to go".

The writer also revealed that the 'Rocket Man' hitmaker prefers the lyrics to be written before he begins to work on the music. He explained to the Daily Mail newspaper: "Having worked with him on 'Billy Elliot', I know that Elton likes to have the lyrics done and have them in front of him so I'll work on a batch before I give him anything to look at." And the writer said he is "deep into it, writing songs for pigs and other four-legged friends."

'Animal Farm', an allegorical novel based on events in the Soviet Union tells the story of a piglet called Napoleon who destroys his opponents in a bid to control the old Manor Farm. There is no producer attached to the project yet, with Lee saying that he and Elton would get others involved when the show is near completion.

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Elton John didn't mince words in slamming his fellow musicians for boycotting Arizona over the controversial SB 1070 immigration law.

From the stage at his sold-out Tucson Arena concert on July 22, 2010, Elton savored a few choice, not-so-family-friendly words: "We are all very pleased to be playing in Arizona. I have read that some of the artists won't come here. They are (expletive) wits! Let's face it: I still play in California, and as a gay man I have no legal rights whatsoever. So what's the (expletive) with these people?"

Elton has never been one to cave into political pressure from his musical colleagues. He ignored an artist boycott of Israel in June 2010 over the flotilla fiasco and played a show in Tel Aviv. He also played Rush Limbaugh's latest wedding reception in early June 2010, which drew the ire of gays and lesbians. Limbaugh is vehemently anti-gay marriage.

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Elton continues to help rap pal Eminem with his battle to stay sober by calling him once a week.

The rapper reached out to Elton, who he performed with at the 2001 Grammy Awards, and asked the British rocker to unofficially counsel him as he attempted to get clean after a four year hell of painkiller abuse.

The hip-hop star felt Elton's past battles to kick his drug habit would serve as lessons for him - and he was right. So much so that he still looks forward to his pal's weekly chats.

He tells Spin magazine, "Elton John calls me once a week. He used to tell me stuff like, 'You're going to start seeing certain things you've been overlooking'. And it came true.

"I'd walk around like, 'Damn, that tree does look crazy, look at all those leaves!' Things I didn't notice when I was f**ked up."

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Mid July 2010 saw the launch of Face the Music, the new marketing campaign from the British Music Experience, masterminded by student Cassie Lawrence from University College Falmouth.

Cassie won the Young Creative Network Student Awards, a competition opened up to all the creative universities in the UK to produce a communication that showcased the depth of the content within the British Music Experience, The O2’s interactive exhibition of rock and pop. Cassie’s entry was the stand out winner of the 80 entries submitted.

The Face the Music game features the abstract likenesses of 64 British music greats, from Elton John to Amy Winehouse, from John Lennon to Liam Gallagher. Players are given a clue and have to guess who the face represents, before being given a clue to the next face, and so the game continues. Many of the artists included have donated memorabilia to the British Music Experience or feature in the interactive time zones.

Richard Philip, Brand Manager for The O2 and the British Music Experience, commented: ‘Cassie’s campaign captured our imagination immediately. It’s a fun and interactive way for our audience to engage with the British Music Experience and its infectious format will no doubt make this a viral hit.’

The campaign can be found at www.britishmusicexperience.com/facethemusic and is also visible in tube and overland railway stations across London. Face the Music will also feature on a host of online music, entertainment and film websites including XFM, Uncut, NME, Q, MOJO and Kerrang, and has been developed as a facebook app.

The viral campaign aims to target domestic tourists, Londoners exploring their city, educated music fans and online game fans. Prizes include gig tickets at The O2, a signed Epiphone Guitar, tickets to the L.E.D. Festival or a private tour of the British Music Experience for you and your friends.

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Elton John is bringing his World Tennis Team Smash Hits charity event to D.C. in November 2010, so get ready for a good cause complete with a legendary pop star.

The 18th annual event will take place on November 15, 2010 at American University’s Bender Arena with tennis greats such as Andre Agassi, Anna Kournikova and Stefanie Graf all making an appearance on the court. If we’re lucky, Elton might just take a few serves as well seeing as he has a private tennis trainer who travels on tour with him.

All funds raised through the event will benefit the Elton John Aids Foundation and local Washingon, D.C. Area AIDS charities.

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A bout of food poisoning has caused the postponement of Elton John's scheduled concert at Tucson Arena.

The Arizona Daily Star reports that the show originally scheduled for July 21, 2010 was nearly sold out with about 8,800 tickets purchased. Organizers say the British rocker will perform on July 22, 2010 night instead.

A spokeswoman for the Tucson concert venue says Elton apologizes for the inconvenience caused by his illness, but doctors say he will be fine to take the stage on July 22, 2010.

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Kylie Minogue plans to throw a charity concert to celebrate the fifth anniversary of her beating breast cancer. The fundraiser is expected to include performances from her famous friends Robbie Williams, Elton John and the Scissor Sisters.

As well as continuing to raise awareness, Kylie wants the February 2011 bash to be a big thank you to the French doctor who treated her. Speaking to Sunday Mirror about her plans, the pop veteran said, "Early next year it will be my five years all clear and I would like to do something to mark that – something like a benefit concert. We are going to try and arrange something with my professor in Paris."

Kylie was first diagnosed in 2005, causing her to pull out of the coveted headline slot at the Glastonbury festival. She was replaced by Basement Jaxx, who honoured her absence by performing Can’t Get You Out Of My Head and leading the crowd in a chant of “2,4,6,8, who do we appreciate? Kylie!”
When the 42-year-old went public with her diagnosis, cancer screenings went up a third in the UK. Kylie said she hopes the benefit concert with further highlight the importance of screenings and early detection.

“I know a lot of women went for screenings after my announcement,” the All The Lovers singer said. “And a lot of people came up to me and said I saved them. Of course I didn’t – but it made them go and get checked.”

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Bernie Taupin’s recent relationship with SiriusXM got into full swing on July 3, 2010 with the premier of his “American Roots Radio” show.

The 2-hour program will have new shows airing every other Saturday. Repeat performances will air on the following Thursday, 12 midnight Eastern/9pm Pacific. For full details check out Bernie's new web page.

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