Michael Jackson 'to become a Muslim' – Daily Gossip

Welcome to the Daily Gossip: your daily stop-off to find out who in the world of music has been up to what.

Today's top gossip:

Michael Jackson has reportedly become a Muslim and changed his name to Mikaeel.

The 'Thriller' singer apparently donned Islamic clothing in a ceremony at a friend's mansion in Los Angeles. Jackson, who was raised a Jehovah's Witness, attended the ceremony just days before he's due to head to London's High Court, where he is being sued by an Arab sheik Prince Abdulla Al-Khalif of Bahrain.

A source said: "An Imam was summoned from the Mosque and Michael went through the shahada, which is the Muslim declaration of belief" (The Sun).

From the papers:

Paul McCartney says he's worried about the credit crunch. "I did phone up my guy and say 'How exposed are we?'" he admitted (The Quietus).

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher mooned photographers after a meal with wife Nicole Appleton at London restaurant Nobu (The Sun).

Gallagher has also come in for stick from Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall, who is promoting his new best of album. "They’ve made a cliché of presenting Mancunians like that," he said (The Sun).

Lily Allen turned up to the opening of the new Palm Resort hotel in Dubai (Daily Mirror).

Girls Aloud singer and 'X Factor' judge Cheryl Cole is not a 'feminine icon' because "she hasn't got a fat bum", according to Germaine Greer (The Sun).

Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger kissed and cuddled her man, Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, at LAX (Daily Star).

Rihanna flashed a Maori-inspired tattoo at a Gucci bash (Daily Mirror).

Pink rode a motorbike through the streets of LA (Daily Record).

Check back on Monday for the next Daily Gossip. E-mail your spots to news@nme.com.