Pop Shots – Fit To Be Tied … Or Untied

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from O-Town reminding people they have no ties to Diddy, to Jessica Simpson cutting ties with her husband, to Janet Jackson staying tied to Las Vegas for more show dates, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* O-Town has been reminding everyone who will listen that they have absolutely no ties to Diddy, explaining that their season of Making the Band had zero connection with him. Of course, they did have a connection with Lou Pearlman, who produced the boy band. Do you know how awful a person has to be to make Lou Pearlman the GOOD option to be associated with? That’s where Diddy is right now.

* Paris Hilton announced that her 11:11 Media Impact nonprofit raised $800,000 for Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts just 72 hours after launching the emergency fundraiser. Perhaps the stars aren’t blind.

* Tommy Lee ripped artists for promoting their upcoming albums, and tours, while L.A. is burning, saying on social media, “Maybe just stop and see who needs help if you can.” There’s no word on if he offered his penis to the LAFD as an extra hose to put out the flames.

* Jessica Simpson and her husband Eric Johnson have separated, and are living apart. Hey, do you think she’d be into a guy who owns her first album sampler as a cassingle? Asking for a friend.

* Jim Jones is currently beefing with his former Diplomats partner in rhyme Cam’ron, and a diss track may be on the way. In a related story, Jim Jones is about to lose a rap battle.

* Billboard debuted a new chart this past week, the Hot Dance/Pop Songs chart, which “ranks the most popular current dance/pop titles, featuring songs with dance-centric vocals, melody, and hooks by artists not rooted in the dance/electronic genre.” So basically, it’s the “PopoZão” chart. I guess Kevin Federline was just ahead of his time.

* Knowing it would be wrong to be celebratory in a city that’s been destroyed by wildfires, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Group, and Billboard have all cancelled their Grammy parties that usually happen during the week leading up to the awards show. Diddy, however, would love to pick up the slack, and host a few parties of his own.

* Janet Jackson added six more dates in May to her residency at Resorts World Las Vegas. I just need to know … will it be anything like the video for “If”?

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.