Pop Stand

In a lengthy, sometimes tearful interview, Brittany Murphy's husband Simon Monjack, shown at left with the star, says he has no idea what could have caused her death, but strongly denied that she had an eating disorder or could have died of a drug overdose. "These rumors that she was anorexic? It's crazy – she was slim, but that was her natural physique," screenwriter Monjack told People. "This is what's killing all of us: How did it happen? Her mum, myself and her family – we want to know why we lost our baby." Although police found a dozen prescription medications in the master bedroom, Monjack said Murphy did not abuse them. "There was nothing here that could endanger her; there was prescription medication in the house for her female time and some cough syrup. That was it." Monjack, 39, who described himself as "devastated" and said he hadn't slept since his wife died early Sunday, said he immediately opposed an autopsy on emotional grounds. "My initial reaction to the autopsy was – they're going to cut her open – I couldn't bear it," Monjack said, weeping. "That would break her mother, but we realized we needed to know. I look forward to getting the results." He also repeated the report that Murphy was slightly ill for a few days before she died, and taking herbal remedies for a sore throat.

The Los Angeles County Coroner's office has launched an investigation into how the web site TMZ got detailed notes from an investigator about the circumstances of Murphy's death. "The investigator did not release anything to TMZ, nor did he talk to anybody," said the agency's chief investigator, Ed Winter. "Where did all this information come from? Neither Chief [Coroner Craig] Harvey nor I released the information. I don't even know if we provided LAPD with a copy of anything yet."

Meanwhile, the director of "Abandoned," the final film Murphy completed, in late summer, told People she was "a pro." Director Michael Feifer told People the actress, who played the lead in the psychological thriller that also starred Dean Cain, Mimi Rogers and Peter Bogdanovich, could jump into any role. "When she needed to turn it on, she just threw a switch and she was on ... playing frantic came really easy and playing sweet came really easy." Feifer said, "It hurts me to hear all this salacious stuff because my experience with Brittany was really one of my best experiences with an actress."

The Larimer County District Attorney's office says it sent a bill for $42,000 to "Balloon Boy" parents and would-be reality show stars Richard and Mayumi Heene to pay for the extra work done by police, the National Guard and the Federal Aviation Administration to track the homemade balloon in which they claimed their son Falcon had been carried off. Think they will be writing a check right away? Guess again. "Let's see the bills," the Heenes' lawyer told the Denver Post."They're not paying anything until they see some receipts."

The newly released FBI files on Michael Jackson show that in addition to probing letters from stalkers and threats to the singer, the bureau was involved in collecting evidence against Jackson several times over the years because it was believed that Jackson might have taken minors across state lines to molest them. The papers show that an FBI agent accompanied other law enforcement officials who traveled to the Philippines in 1993 to interview former employees of the Neverland ranch.

Beyonce, Taylor Swift and the Black Eyed Peas will get lots of stage time at the 2010 Grammy Awards on Jan. 31. Not only are they all nominated a lot -- Beyonce 10 times, Swift eight times and the Peas six times -- but they will all perform. Swift is also set to present an award, a source told People. Other nominees scheduled to perform at the ceremony are Maxwell, with six nominations, and Lady Antebellum, with two.

Randy and Evi Quaid showed up in court Tuesday to plead not guilty to defrauding an innkeeper in Santa Barbara, in connection with a $10,000 tab that was left unpaid at a luxury hotel earlier this year. After they missed an earlier court date, the eccentric pair forfeited their bail and were arrested as felony fugitives in Texas, where the live. Tuesday they were required to post an additional $20,000 bail each and warned that they must return March 1 for a preliminary hearing.

Rapper T.I. is halfway home for Christmas -- he's out of prison after serving seven months in  Arkansas and in a halfway house. T.I., real name Clifford Harris, was sentenced on federal weapons charges in March for having his bodyguard buy machine guns and silencers. T.I. still must complete 23 days of home confinement and 500 hours of community service.

Brody Jenner of "The Hills" and Playboy Playmate and model Jayde Nicole are no longer a couple. "They did break up," a source told People. Jenner, the son of Olympian athlete Bruce Jenner and songwriter Linda Thompson, had dated the 2008 Playmate of the Year for more than a year, and the two had been friends for two years before becoming romantically involved. Nicole Tweeted on Friday "Sometimes when you truly love someone you have to let them go ... I never really understood that quote until now."

-- Anne Neville