Entertainment Report . . .

AARON CARTER MOM SAYS HE IS A DRUGGIE?

A publicist for Aaron Carter spoke to the New York Post about allegations of his drug use that Carter's mom made to the National Enquirer. Publicist Brad Zeifman said, "Aaron Carter is bewildered and saddened by the allegations made by his mother. Aaron emphatically denies having or having ever had a drug problem. Jane Carter is clearly trying to exploit her son's success in order to promote her book deal and other projects. After severing his management contract with her, his mother continuously attempts to use the media to damage his career and further her own."

The 17-year-old singer fired his mom as his manager in December of 2003 after an accountant notified Carter's father that Jane Carter had removed $100,000 from her son's bank account without permission. They worked out their financial differences in a meeting the following month. Carter's mother and father managed his career together for 10 years, but separated in March of 2003 and are now divorced. Carter is legally emancipated from his mother. Boy band impresario Lou Pearlman now manages his career.

Carter's new CD single, "Saturday Night," was released last week and he is currently touring several U.S. cities. The tour is scheduled to wind up in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 24th. His yet-to-be-titled new album is expected out in early summer.


PERHAPS ASHLEE SHOULD FOCUSING ON LEARNING HER OWN MATERIAL FIRST

Even though she's currently on her first headlining tour in support of her debut album Autobiography, Ashlee Simpson is already looking ahead to her sophomore CD. Ashlee tells MTV News, "This summer, whenever I get off tour, I am going to start writing a new album and kind of focus on that for a while. I've been really into '80s music, and hopefully my next album will have that feel to it. I'm really excited to write my new record."

Ashlee says that she her new songs will be about her personal growth rather than romance. She says, "I feel like I've gone through a lot and I am at a different place in my life. This time I have dealt with a lot, you know, with myself, more than a relationship, which was the last record. So it'll be cool to go back in the studio and start writing. I've definitely got a lot to say."

LUNCH ON HER? 'DESPERATE HOUSEWIFE' TERI HATCHER EARNS $100K FOR CHARITY

The cost of a lunch date with Desperate Housewives stars Teri Hatcher and Jamie Denton cost one woman $100 thousand dollars last Thursday, reports the AP. But the expensive meal is for a good cause -- the money paid by an anonymous bidder benefits the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, an organization headed by director Steven Spielberg.

The fundraiser didn't originally include Denton as part of the lunch bunch. But Hatcher jumped on stage to help the auctioneer move the original offering of lunch for four, plus Hatcher. To make the bidding more heated, the actress offered up her onscreen boyfriend. She said, "I'm gonna add Jamie Denton. And he's gonna rub the shoulders of any woman at this lunch with me. That's gotta be worth at least another $10. It will be the best lunch of your life. I will make sure of it."

A WHINE SESSION WITH THE TWO JACKSONS

Michael Jackson appeared on Reverend Jesse L. Jackson's radio program, Keep Hope Alive, yesterday (March 27th), where he told listeners that he is determined to fight all charges against him. According to CNN, Jackson said: "I gain strength from God...and I gain strength from the fact that I know that I am innocent. None of these stories are true. They are totally fabricated." The pop star went on to say, "I'm a strong person. I'm a warrior, and I know what is inside of me. I'm a fighter, but it's very painful at the end of the day. I'm still human, you know. I'm still a human being, so it does hurt very, very, very much."" Blah. Blah. Blah.