Chelsea Clinton Turns Princess Bride in Wang

Barbara Kinney via FilmMagic / Getty Images

Who did the bride take for better or for worse? Vera Wang. And it was better than anyone could imagine.

In a floor-length gown with a bejeweled, shimmering waist-band, Chelsea Clinton surpassed the fashion expectations of the so-called “Wedding of the Century.”

What do you expect at an event where even emergency electricians were instructed to wear tuxedos? For the rehearsal dinner at a nearby estate, the dress code was “country chic”. But on the big day, the look among the 400 guests gathered at Rhinebeck’s Astor Court, was American royalty. The Queen Mum, Hillary, wore a wine-colored Oscar de la Renta gown. But all eyes were on the princess bride.

From the moment the former first daughter confirmed her engagement to banker boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky in 2009, speculation turned to her wedding gown. By November, Vanity Fair had already pegged Oscar de la Renta as the forerunner.  After all, he’d dressed Hill for her husband’s ‘97 inaugural ball and again for Obama’s swearing in. When Hillary was spotted at Oscar’s Manhattan showroom this week, Chelsea’s decision was clear. Or was it?

A few weeks ago, a new name was thrown into the ring: Vera Wang.  After the bride-to-be was photographed (hiding under a floppy hat) at the New York designer’s midtown showroom on Tuesday, Women’s Wear Daily published a cover story proclaiming Wang the chosen dress-maker.

Family allegiances aside, it was an obvious choice for a celebrity bride. With a client roster that reads like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Wang’s wedding gowns have draped everyone from Victoria Beckham to Jennifer Lopez—not to mention power daughters like Karenna Gore and Ivanka Trump.

Since launching her line in 1990, the Vera Wang brand has become synonymous with luxury weddings. Her gowns range from classically romantic to whimsically high-concept, taking detailed cues from past eras. That may have been a draw for Chelsea, a history major at Stanford.

Nevermind the fact that the first daughter has never followed in her parents footsteps—in career or fashion.  “Vera Wang’s recent collections have definitely had more avant-garde moments,” says Fiorella Valdesolo, a contributor for New York Magazine Weddings and Style.com. “Recent seasons have seen multi-layered tulle and organza confections with horsehair sashes and complex trumpet silhouettes.”

But for Chelsea’s custom gown, Wang dreamed up a dress fit for a fairytale. Cinderella, to be precise. Tiers of white tulle bustled beneath a hand-stitched organza overlay. A jewel-encrusted waist completed the regal confection. In a floor-length veil draped over her elegant updo, Chelsea was escorted down the aisle by her father, as Wang—a wedding guest—looked on. No doubt, with pride.

Ellen DeGeneres Out at ‘American Idol,’ Jennifer Lopez Could Replace Her

(FOX)

Ellen DeGeneres, who never got comfort able telling young sing ers to go back to their day jobs, has abruptly quit as a judge on “American Idol.”

“A couple of months ago, I let Fox and the ‘American Idol’ producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” she said last night in a statement.

“It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I’d bargained for.”

REPORT: Kara Dioguardi Fired from ‘Idol.’

Meanwhile, Jennifer Lopez is poised to take DeGeneres’ place, according to multiple reports

People magazine quoted an insider saying, “It’s true, she’s excited about it.”

FOX411 VOTE: Who should be the next ‘Idol’ judge?

OK! magazine said an “Idol” source revealed, “They are ironing out contracts . . . so unless something goes wrong, it’s a done deal.”

FOX411: Jessica Simpson still in the running for ‘Idol’ judgeship?

DeGeneres’ departure — coming as New York auditions are to begin next Tuesday — was sudden, but not a total surprise.

Just this week, the show’s producers began to hint that they were considering getting rid of all of the remaining judges — DeGeneris, Randy Jackson and Kara Dioguardi– and starting over with a whole new slate.

VIDEO: Obama Press Secretary Says He’s Leaving White House, Joining ‘Idol.’

Filling Simon Cowell’s vacant seat on the panel has been the No. 1 priority since January, when he announced that he was leaving to start a talent show of his own, “X Factor,” next year.

A dozen big names — including Elton John, Harry Connick Jr., Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jessica Simpson have been floated as possible successors.

But finding a replacement who could maintain the show’s famous chemistry has proven difficult.

“That’s why we’ve started to talk about starting all over again with all new judges,” an insider said.

Jackson has a year left on his contract, and DioGuardi has yet to be re-signed, sources said.

DeGeneris replaced Paula Abdul on the panel last August after Abdul quit in a contract dispute. But DeGeneres, the star of her own daytime talk show, never seemed to blend in with her fellow judges or take much pleasure in the rapid-fire system of gladiator justice.

“I realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings,” she admitted.

“I loved the experience of working on ‘Idol,’ and I am very grateful.”

The show remains the biggest draw on TV — attracting 18 million viewers in an average week, far more than its nearest rival, “Dancing with the Stars.”

But after nine seasons, its ratings had started to taper off, and the show itself had begun to seem predictable.

Auditions for the new season began two weeks ago. Now, it appears that those who made it past the first cut are being told to come back later — after new judges are hired.

Kara DioGuardi not returning to ‘American Idol’, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez likely to join, report says

Kara DioGuardi will not return as a judge on American Idol on the upcoming 10th season, while Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and singer Jennifer Lopez will likely join the show, Us Weekly magazine said on Friday, amid what appears to be a shake-up of the singing contest series and following Ellen Degeneres’ confirmed departure.

DioGuardi, Tyler, Lopez, the FOX network and production company 19 Entertainment have not commented on the reports.

Ellen Degeneres, who joined the show last season, said on Thursday in a statement she had decided to leave American Idol, citing a busy work schedule and saying she felt it difficult to “judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings.”DioGuardi had joined the show in 2008 and had replaced Paula Abdul. Us Weekly said she was “out” of the show and cited unconfirmed reports that said she was fired. It was reported on Thursday that Lopez was in talks to become an American Idol judge and Us Weekly said she had been hired.

Randy Jackson, who has been on the singing contest series since it began in 2002, is said to be returning for season 10. It is unclear how many judges will serve on the panel.

The ratings for the American Idol finale in May were the lowest recorded among its season ending episodes. General ratings for American Idol have more than tripled since the series debuted in 2002 but have declined slowly during the past few years. Peak ratings were recorded in about 2006, or the fifth season.

Cowell has said he began to become bored with American Idol about two years ago and quit the show after the season nine finale in May and is preparing to launch his own talent series next year – a U.S. version of his hit UK show The X Factor. Abdul is also launching her own series – Got to Dance, a CBS reality dance competition show that is based on a British program and is set to air in the 2010-11 season.

Nigel Lythgoe is said to be nearing a deal to return as a producer of the show. Lythgoe, who left his position as an American Idol producer two years ago, had said he would replace the entire judging panel. He mentioned American Idol through what appeared to be a slip of the tongue on a recent episode of his dance contest show So You Think You Can Dance.

FOX and production company 19 Entertainment have not commented about Lythgoe.

Jessica Simpson has also been reported to have been involved in talks to possibly replace Cowell as a judge. Others said to have been courted include singers Chris Isaak and Harry Connick, Jr.

Auditions for American Idol‘s tenth season are underway. They began on July 17 in Nashville, Tennessee and took place in New Orleans on Monday. The minimum age eligibility of contestants has been lowered from 16 to 15, while the maximum age stands at 28. The last venue to audition for the show is in San Francisco on August 19 and the series is set to air in January.

16-Year-Old Justin Bieber Drives Diddy’s $200,000 Lamborghini

It seems P. Diddy wasn’t kidding when he promised Justin Bieber he’d give him the keys to his Lamborghini when the teen pop star turned 16. On Tuesday, Bieber was spotted driving to get some frozen yogurt with his friend Sean Kingston in Diddy’s white Gallardo Spyder. (It’s not clear if Diddy gave it to Bieber for keeps or just for a spin.)

Bieber, who turned 16 on March 1 and passed the driving test soon after, laughed off Diddy’s promise, telling People magazine in March, “[Diddy] said when I turn 16 he will give me his Lamborghini. But we all know Diddy’s not going to give me his Lamborghini, he’s all talk.”

[Video: How to get Justin’s hair]

The white Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder (henceforth affectionately referred to as a “Bieberghini”) retails for upwards of $210,000, according to Yahoo! Autos. Lamborghinis have become a sort of go-to luxury vehicle for famous people. Other celebrities who’ve been known to drive Lamborghinis include Soulja Boy, Kobe Bryant, Bam Margera, Benji Madden, David Beckham, and Wilmer Valderrama.

[The world’s most beautiful cars]

Bieber’s fro-yo cohort, rapper Sean Kingston, has his own Lamborghini. In 2009, Kingston challenged Bow Wow to a race in their respective “Lambos.” Bow Wow caused a bit of a stir in January when he tweeted about driving his Gallardo while “tipsy.” He later apologized for the tweet, saying it wasn’t a great way to kick off 2010.

Diddy’s Lamborghini isn’t even the first car Bieber has received as a gift: His mentor, Usher, gave him a Range Rover for his 16th birthday. Maybe Diddy is trying to show up the R&B singer with something flashier.

[Photos: See Justin on stage and more]

Their Lambo stroll wasn’t the first time Kingston and Bieber have teamed up, of course — nor the first time they appeared with a fancy car. Check out the wheels and the Bieber-Kingston duet in the video for “Eenie Meenie,” a song the two performers co-wrote.