Whether it was the inclusion of younger presenters like Zac Efron, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart or the comical teaming of Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin or the fact that there was a real race between “The Hurt Locker” and “Avatar,” directed by ex-spouses (winner) Kathryn Bigelow and James Cameron, the ratings for last night’s Oscar telecast were up from last year’s.

With preliminary numbers in – and things will change a bit – it appears yesterday’s Oscars garnered about 14 percent more viewers than last year’s show.

It’s estimated that the total U.S. audience was approximately 41.3 million people, up from 36.3 million in 2009.

What do you think was the reason for the bigger ratings?

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(GettyImages.com)

Producers behind the 82nd Academy Awards just announced eight new male presenters to an already star-packed lineup at Sunday’s broadcast.

Bradley Cooper, Tom Ford, Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Pine, Keanu Reeves, Sam Worthington, Ryan Reynolds, and Gerard Butler will present Oscars, according to producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman.

The group joins previously announced presenters including Jason Bateman, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Ben Stiller, Miley Cyrus, Zac Efron, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Barbra Streisand, Kathy Bates, John Travolta, and Queen Latifah.

We’d say that lineup isn’t too shabby.

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It takes a lot to stand out among all the wrong rumors Gossip Cop sees in a week, but this particularly nauseating one fits the bill.

Making the rounds are claims that Noah Cyrus, 9-year-old younger sister to Miley, is – wait for it – launching a children’s lingerie collection.

Ugh.

According to reports, Cyrus and friend Emily Grace Reaves are teaming up to start a lingerie line for a company called Ooh! La, La! Couture. At least that’s what dozens of outlets, including a certain blogger’s celebrity fashion offshoot, all breathlessly announce. We won’t get into the supposed specifics, except to say that it’s all a little unnerving.

And, thankfully, WRONG.

A source close to Cyrus tells Gossip Cop that she is NOT starting this line, that she is NOT involved in its launch, and that it’s NOT lingerie in the first place.

We’re NOT surprised to hear that a sensational rumor took off without anyone checking to see if it was true. Looks like Noah will be devoting her entrepreneurial energies elsewhere.

Whew.

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Today sees the premiere of Simon Cowell’s star-studded cover of “Everybody Hurts” to raise funds for relief efforts in Haiti.

Performers including Mariah Carey, Susan Boyle, Jon Bon Jovi, Rod Stewart, Miley Cyrus, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, and many others. The single, recorded in Los Angeles and London, will be available for digital download starting Sunday, February 7, and is already available for pre-order on British retailers such as Amazon.co.uk.

Proceeds go to the Helping Haiti fund.

The song premiered on BBC Radio 1 this morning. You can hear it below.

Please remember to donate whatever you can to relief efforts in Haiti. It’s never too late to help.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for more…

(GettyImages.com)

Dozens and dozens of stars were at the Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles earlier today to record a remake of “We Are the World” to benefit those devastated by the earthquake in Haiti.

Among those lending their voices and support were Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Carlos Santana, Wyclef Jean, Pink, Jennifer Hudson, the Jonas Brothers, Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, will.i.am, Rob Thomas, Natalie Cole, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, Katharine McPhee, Justin Bieber, Keri Hilson, Brian Wilson, Akon, Brandy, Gladys Knight, Randy Jackson, Nancy Wilson, Adam Levine, Nicole Richie, Joel Madden, Robin Thicke, Jason Mraz, Faith Evans, Harry Connick Jr., India.arie, Snoop Dogg, T-Pain, Brandy,  Julianne Hough, Lil Wayne, Amber Rose, Nicole Scherzinger, and Vince Vaughn. 

The benefit single was produced by Quincy Jones, who along with Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, put together the original recording 25 years ago in the exact same studio. 

Gossip Cop will update when more participants’ names are confirmed.

The video for the song is reportedly going to begin airing February 11.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for breaking news and updates, and check out GossipCop.com for the most ACCURATE celebrity reporting

(HollywoodLife.com)

In its latest post, the celebrity site asks in a headline, “Is Miley Cyrus Engaged? She’s Sporting a Sparkler on Her Ring Finger!”

That’s followed by a series of other questions like, “Is that an engagement ring on your finger? Aren’t you a little too young — 17 years old — to be moving so fast with your boyfriend Liam Hemsworth?”

Well, Gossip Cop doesn’t ask questions. Gossip Cop answers them. And instead of basing our reporting on the paparazzi, we fact-check stories.

So let’s look at HollywoodLife’s post…

According to the site, “Miley Cyrus was spotted yesterday by photogs in Hollywood wearing a very suspicious sparkly piece of jewelry on the fourth finger of her left hand — and tongues are already wagging.”

Put your tongues back inside. While it’s true that Cyrus was wearing a ring, she and Hemsworth, who met on the set of their upcoming film “The Last Song,” are NOT engaged.

A rep for Cyrus further told Gossip Cop that the engagement rumor is “not true.”

Be sure to follow @GossipCop on Twitter for updates, and visit GossipCop.com for the MOST accurate celebrity reporting!

(NationalEnquirer.com)

In a piece classily titled, “Miley Shacks Up With BF,” the National Enquirer breathlessly reports, “Miley Cyrus has a new roommate – her 19-year-old boyfriend!”

According to the supermarket tab, “The 17-year-old Disney tween queen recently moved hunky Australian actor Liam Hemsworth into her family’s Toluca Lake, Calif., home – after informing her parents she’d move out if she didn’t get her away!”

The Enquirer even quotes a so-called “family friend” saying Cyrus’ parents, Billy Ray and Tish, “decided they’d rather have Miley under their roof with Liam than not knowing where she is at night,” so they moved him “into the family guest room.”

Sounds like a very interesting living arrangement.

However, it’s not true. 

A source close to Cyrus tells Gossip Cop that Hemsworth actually lives in West Hollywood with his brother, actor Chris Hemsworth, and another friend.

Whoops.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for updates, and check out GossipCop.com for the MOST accurate celebrity reporting.

(GettyImages.com)

It’s over soon for “Hannah Montana.”

The hit series that made Miley Cyrus one of the biggest stars in the world will close after its upcoming fourth season.

Officials at Disney Channel, the show’s home, revealed the decision and a representative for Cyrus confirmed. The network does not know how many episodes will be shot or precisely when they’ll air. The final episodes’ plot will reportedly mirror Cyrus’ own life, as her character struggles with whether to leave behind her pop starlet persona for a “regular” life as a teenage girl.

Production on the final season is scheduled to begin on January 18.

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(GettyImages.com)

(GettyImages.com)

Some burst onto the scene for the first time.

Some rose back to the top.

They sang, acted, hosted, and entertained their way through a wild 2009, and now Gossip Cop wants to know – which male and female stars had the BEST year to close the decade?

(GettyImages.com)

Aussie actor Liam Hemsworth may be a new name on the gossip scene, but outlets are already giving Miley Cyrus‘ co-star in “The Last Song” the classic “treatment” in bad dish.

In a “short interview” credited to the Herald-Sun, Hemsworth responds to a question about whether he’s dating Cyrus by (supposedly) saying, “Miley is obviously not bad looking and a very sweet girl… yeah, we are great friends.” The comments about his rumored romance made waves immediately.

Tiny problem.

Hemsworth’s representative tells Gossip Cop, “Liam never said this.” “I believe this is a made up interview,” he added, saying, “They have taken answers from other pieces.”

Or from their own imagination.

At one point, Hemsworth “reveals” that he Tweets, and the piece gives Twitter accounts for both Hemsworth and his actor brother Chris. Don’t get too excited, though.

Liam “never would have a Twitter” account, according to the rep.

Gossip Cop thinks we can safely call this “reporting” from Down Under underdone.

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