Was Whitney Houston's
rehab decision really her idea?

Whitney Houston’s decision to check herself into rehab this week came as a surprise to some in the music world, but a well-placed source says it wasn’t entirely Whitney’s decision. Clive Davis, the new head of BMG, “made her do it,” says the insider.

Last month, Davis, was named the chairman and CEO of BMG, Arista’s parent company, and Whitney’s label.

“A lot of people are wondering, ‘Why now, since she’s been a mess for a while?’” says the source. “But the truth is, Clive Davis stepped in and said, ‘You’re going into rehab.’ He’s been making a lot of changes at Arista, and Whitney is one of his pet projects. He wants to fix her up and get her back in working order. He pulled a little tough love on her and told her, basically, get clean or get out.”

Reps for Houston and Davis didn’t return calls for comment.

Cashing in on J.Lo

Carlo Allegri / Getty Images file

Jennifer Lopez’s ex has been taking pot-shots at his former wife, but J. Lo defenders say that one-time waiter Ojani Noa is still trying to cash in on J. Lo’s fame.

“I’m sure her romance with Ben failed because she changed,” Noa said, according to Australia’s MX. “Ben went through the same joys I had with her in the early days. It is all incredibly romantic, but then she changes. The more famous she becomes, the more different she is.  . . . There were times when even I had to go through advisers to speak to her.”    

Noa also told a Spanish language TV show that his marriage to Lopez fell apart because of her romance with Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. He claims Lopez gave him a job at her restaurant to keep him quiet, but later fired him. Lopez’s rep couldn’t be reached for comment, but Lopez has in the past denied that she was involved with Combs before she split with Noa. And, apparently, Noa is shopping around a book proposal about Lopez.

Notes from all over

Chris Weeks / AP

Social observers are buzzing about Nicole Kidman’s new friendship. The “Cold Mountain” star has become buddies with Lord Rothschild, an elderly aristocrat who was also a regular companion of Princess Diana. They gossip together and have nicknames for each other, sources say. “They’re friends,” Kidman’s spokesman tells The Scoop. “It’s no big deal.”   . . . Don’t hold your breath waiting for George Clooney to play Magnum, P.I. in the Universal film adaptation of Tom Selleck’s 1980s TV series. Published reports say that Clooney will take the lead role, but when asked about it, Clooney’s rep tells The Scoop the star replied, “This is the first I’m hearing about it.”  . . . William Hung might get a fine new set of choppers — if his spokesman learns to speak English. Hung — the failed “American Idol” contestant whose attempt to sing “She Bangs” was so atrocious that he’s developed a cult following — has teeth that would make Austin Powers cringe. So the dentist for “Extreme Makeover” has been trying to give Hung a freebie fix-up, but there have been complications, says a source. “Hung’s spokesman is his brother, and he doesn’t speak English very well,” says the insider. “Plus, his cell phone keeps breaking down. There have been communications problems.”

Jeannette Walls Delivers The Scoop Mondays through Thursdays on MSNBC.com

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