The latest romance rumblings; plus, Jen steps out with Gerard, Madonna buries her past, Miley becomes a tabloid fave, Mary-Kate's senior moment and more ...

Posted on Oct. 27, 2008

Carrie comes face to face with herself at the unveiling of her wax figure in New York on Oct. 22. (©Retna Ltd.)

For weeks, the rumor mill has been buzzing with chatter that Carrie Underwood is being wooed by Travis Stork, the ER doctor who debased himself on headlined "The Bachelor: Paris." Seems the reality show MD, 36, has not only been spied at some of the country belter's recent concerts, but he also reportedly had lunch with her in Toronto a few weeks back. Now, the New York Daily News claims the duo was "canoodling all over town" when Carrie, 25, debuted her oh-so-unflattering wax doppelganger at Madame Tussauds in Manhattan last week. And the story was apparently much the same in Philly a few days earlier, when the calorie-counting chanteuse and the self-promoting physician, who is out stumping for the Dr. Phil spin-off "The Doctors," engaged in some hand-holding and back-patting over dinner, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Carrie, whose exes include Chace Crawford (they broke up by text) and Tony Romo (she admitted to ignoring his calls post-split), has denied the romance rumors, calling her dog "the man in my life." Stork, however, has been conspicuously coy, responding to a recent question about his connection to Underwood by saying, "I'm taking the Fifth." If the two are dating, the sylphlike singer should expect plenty of undermining relationship analysis. Stork penned a book called "Don't Be That Girl: A Guide to Finding the Confident, Rational Girl Within," in which he purports to identify the "self-defeating behaviors" that "prevent many women from getting the most from their lives and relationships." Like, say, going on "The Bachelor" in an attempt to land a fame-craving doctor.

Justin and Jessica rally for Barack Obama in Las Vegas on Oct. 11. (©Retna Ltd.)

Justin Timberlake may have presented Jessica Biel with a vintage diamond ring during their recent Roman holiday, adding heat to long-simmering engagement rumors, but she insists she's not yet ready to settle down. "I kind of go back and forth about marriage and kids," the actress tells the December issue of Marie Claire. "I feel like, if it's an organic way for me and the right time in my life, then, yeah. If it's right, it'll be right -- but, at this moment, that seems completely foreign." Not that she's free from procreation peer pressure. "I tell you, I have so many friends having babies and getting married, and they just want to put me where they are so we can go to nursery together and stuff," she admits. "I'm like, 'Noooooo!' I'm resisting." What she isn't resisting -- but probably should be -- is joining the recent crop of starlets who have unsuccessfully tried their hand at singing (*cough* Scarlett Johansson *cough*). Biel recently recorded -- in an organic way, of course -- a couple of songs for the soundtrack to her forthcoming film "Easy Virtue," a warbling session that went just swimmingly, at least according to suspiciously similar accounts from inside the Los Angeles studio. "Some girls have everything," E! News quotes a definitely-not-publicist-coached studio source as rhapsodizing. "She's a successful actress, dating Justin Timberlake, and she can sing!" Echoes a studio rep to People, "Everyone at the studio said, 'Some girls have everything.' Jessica Biel is dating a gorgeous guy, she's a great actress -- and she can sing."

Jake and Reese go for a walk in Santa Monica, Calif., on Oct. 25. (©Splash News)

Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal quickly fell back into their domestic routine last week when he made a whirlwind visit home to Los Angeles from the London set of "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time." On Thursday, the petite Oscar winner and the lately strapping, stringy-haired actor were captured by paparazzi as they went for a jog. The next day, Jake made a school run with Reese's son Deacon, who just turned 5, with the two seen skipping along the sidewalk, according to People. On Saturday, the low-key lovebirds, who are rumored to be house hunting in London, reportedly held hands over breakfast in Santa Monica, Calif., before picking up Deacon and Witherspoon's other tyke, Ava, 9, and heading to the actress's estate in Ojai. By Monday, the likely jet-lagged Gyllenhaal was back in England.

David and Nicollette share a table at the Luau grand opening in Los Angeles on Oct. 22. (©WireImage.com)

Has another veteran vixen fallen for the elusive charms of David Spade? FoxNews.com says the funnyman, who was linked to Heather Locklear back in 2006, was spied looking "cozy" with Nicollette Sheridan at a restaurant opening last week in Los Angeles. The oddball pair apparently turned up at the soiree holding hands and remained suctioned to each other's side as they sank into a "deep conversation." Spade, a reluctant new dad, and Sheridan, who ended her engagement to repeat ex Michael Bolton in August, reportedly drove off from the shindig together.

Paris gives Benji a glimpse of her gaping maw as she gazes down into his adoring eyes. (©WireImage.com)

Even though Paris Hilton supposedly shook her assets for Prince William and Prince Harry during a recent night out in London, it's her boyfriend, Benji Madden, who's accused of having a wandering eye. Star alleges the less-popular Madden brother was seen "hugging" an unidentified blonde at a New York bash a few weeks ago, leaving the BFF-seeking starlet's "world shattered." "There is no more trust between them," pronounces a source. "This relationship is over." Alas, it looks like the possibility of a reality show starring the snooze-inducing twosome remains a possibility. "It's very frustrating when you finally find yourself in a good relationship and people attack it," the seemingly thin-skinned Good Charlotte rocker tells People as he denies stepping out on his squeeze of nine months. "I wear my feelings on my sleeve. I'm very open about how in love I am -- Paris and I are very happy." Not content with a single denial, he also issued a statement to Life & Style that's so gushing it should come with its own tourniquet. "Paris is the love of my life," he blabs to the mag. "She's the most beautiful woman in the world. These rumors are not only hurtful but completely false and absurd. She is my life and the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with ... She is my life, my heart and my soul and is the most important thing in my life. No one exists but her. I am the most loyal guy in the world and would never even look at anyone else." Meanwhile, FoxNews.com says Hilton may be having trouble rounding up enough warm bodies in London to duke it out for that coveted BFF position. "I know lots of people who want to be in the show," she explains, "but when you have my kind of celebrity, who can measure up to that?"