Paul McCartney In Talks to Soundtrack ?Shrek,? Paul Westerberg Writing New Songs, Kid

September 25, 2007, 01:37 AM

• Paul McCartney's animated exploits are going from Yellow Submarine to green ogre, as he is reportedly in talks to help pen the soundtrack to the upcoming Shrek 4. McCartney, whose “Live and Let Die” featured in Shrek 3, will also have a small speaking role in the new film.

• If the projections are correct, Kanye West and 50 Cent are about to have their chart-topping turf invaded by Reba McEntire. According to Billboard's new Building Chart, which takes all the fun out of speculating who comes in at number one, Reba Duets will take over the top spot after both 50 and Kanye experienced decreased sales of 76 percent from last week's total.

• The Replacements' usually reclusive Paul Westerberg crawled out from under his rock to guest on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Q&A&Concert series “The Craft.” Westerberg revealed to the Minneapolis audience that he is writing songs again after injuring his hand last December, and has turned down record deals fron Sony and Universal.

• A woman who has claimed a stake of the late James Brown's estate is taking legal action to establish her connection to the Godfather of Soul (”I’ve been walking around looking like this man for forty-five years,” LaRhonda Petitt says). While Brown's will listed six adult children, at least three more people have since claimed Brown was their father.

• Since their VMA slap-fest failed to name a victor, Kid Rock and Tommy Lee have been offered $5 million to fight it out — with fists this time — in a winner-takes-all boxing match. The two musicians initially turned down a $1 million apiece offer. No word whether Pamela Anderson will be employed as the Round Girl.