Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri burned the midnight oil while recording for the pop diva’s upcoming album. The insomniacs checked in with their fans at 7 a.m. in a new episode of J.D.’s “Living the Life,” revealing that they have done about five songs for the follow-up to 2009’s Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.

“The first night we did about three sketches for songs,” said Mariah, who is set to debut new material at the Mawazine festival in Morocco in May.

Mariah also teased J.D. for spending too much time online and the dangers of technology in the studio. Listen up, Lambs.

After nursing her husband Nick Cannon back to health, Mariah Carey returned to work. The pop diva hit the studio with longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri last night at Southside Studios in Atlanta. She showed off her curvaceous figure (thanks to Jenny and Dem Babies) while posing in front of the console.

“I said MC they don’t expect you to be camera ready,she said Yes they do LOL!!” tweeted J.D., who shared a couple photos from their session.

The dynamic duo is cooking up new music for Mariah’s upcoming fourteenth album. We hope to hear more classics like “Always Be My Baby” and “We Belong Together.”

[GLOBAL 14]

Chelsea Handler is used to asking the questions, but the blonde comedienne was the one in the hot seat on Howard Stern’s SiriusXM show on Monday (Jan. 23). The talk show host got candid when speaking about her relationship with 50 Cent and had some choice words for Mariah Carey.

“He’s actually a lot different than you would think. He’s really sweet,” Handler said of the hip-hop star, who she dated briefly in 2010. “I thought it was kind of amusing that I would even be with 50 Cent. I thought it was funny.”

Her Hollywood pals including Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon were fascinated by their romance. “My friends all loved him, my friends fell in love with him,” she said. “They loved that I was dating him. They were like, ‘Chelsea, come on.’ They were both laughing really hard at it… I mean, everyone was.”

But things went sour after one of 50’s ex-girlfriends, rumored to be Ciara, appeared on her show. “We dated for a couple months and then we had a falling out,” she explained. “One of his ex-girlfriends was coming onto my show.”

According to Handler, 50 warned her that his ex still had feelings for him, but she didn’t want to hear it.

“It was just so juvenile, I was at work,” said Handler before hurling insults his way. “Whatever I called him was probably the worst thing you could say to a black person, short of calling him the N-word. I said you’re like a street person, basically, something along the lines of being a gangster. It was really, really offensive and I hung up and I’ve never spoken to him again.”

50 wasn’t her only victim. Handler also lashed out at Mariah Carey. “She’s worse than Elizabeth Taylor,” she said. “She’s just so ridiculous with her body. You see her one day and she’s like 50 pounds heavier or lighter. I mean, what is she doing? I don’t even understand what hemisphere people like that operate in. There’s nothing real about her and her Hello Kitty whatever…”

[E! Online]

BET recognized the achievements of legends in the fields of music, literature, entertainment, media, service, and education at its 5th Annual BET Honors. Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Maya Angelou, and Spike Lee were among the honorees at Saturday’s taping at Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. The star-studded evening featured musical performances and touching tributes.

L.A. Reid bestowed praise on Mariah Carey before Patti LaBelle left the diva in tears while performing her classic ballad “Hero.” Nick Cannon honored his wife with an emotional speech as he held their son Moroccan (his sister Monroe was backstage feeling camera shy). A grateful Mariah thanked everyone for their love and support as she accepted her award.

With her idol in the front row, Kelly Rowland joined Raekwon for a cover of MC’s ODB-assisted hit “Fantasy.” “I love and respect her so much,” said Kelly. “I have to look at her forehead when I’m singing and not her eyes ’cause I know I’m gonna break out in tears.”

Common, Jennifer Hudson, Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Willow Smith, Jill Scott, and First Lady Michelle Obama were also on hand to salute the honorees. The special will air during Black History Month on February 13.

After suffering from “mild kidney failure” earlier this week while on holiday vacation, a recovering Nick Cannon checked out of Aspen Valley Hospital in Colorado and arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Jan. 4).

In paparazzi photos, the 31-year-old entertainer is seen boarding a private jet from Aspen en route to L.A. with Mariah Carey. Nick appeared to be in good spirits as he was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in a wheelchair, while his mother and wife greeted friends outside the hospital.

The host of America’s Got Talent updated his fans on his condition, thanking them for their support. “Currently being transfered to a hospital in LA. Thank you all for all your love, prayers and concern. You know me… I will be a’ight,” he tweeted.

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon’s holiday vacation was cut short after Nick suffered a “mild kidney failure.”

The showbiz mogul, 31, was hospitalized while vacationing in Aspen, Colorado, with his wife and twins. Mariah shared the news with her fans on Twitter and via her website.

“Please pray for Nick as he’s fighting to recover from a mild kidney failure. #mybraveman,” tweeted the pop diva along with a photo of her lying on his bed at the hospital.

She expressed that Nick was in a lot of pain, and asked her fans for their prayers while he recovers. Read her letter to the Lambs below.

This is us in the hospital – role reversal; Last year it was me attached to the machines (after having dembabies) and Nick was there with me through it, and now here we are.

We’re trying to be as festive as possible under the circumstances but please keep Nick in your thoughts because this is very painful. They tried to kick me out of the hospital but here I am pon de bed with Mr. C.

We’re doing OK but we’re “straaaaaanded in Aspen”. #DramaticDivaPlace (I know, we could be in a lot worse places) but the truth is as long as we’re together, we’re OK. I’m not trying to make light out of the situation because it’s a serious moment that’s very tough on all of us so please keep us and our family in your prayers. LYM.

No one does Christmas like Mariah Carey. The festive diva and her husband Nick Cannon went all out while celebrating their first Christmas with their eight-month-old twins Monroe and Moroccan aka Dem Babies. Mimi shared photos from their magical holiday with her fans online.

In the candid pics, the loving mom hugs her daughter Roe, Roc rocks red and green for the season, and Nick kicks it on the couch with Santa Claus. The happy family enjoyed a white Christmas in Aspen, where they return each year.

See more pics of Christmas with the Cannons below.

Jenny, set, go! Mariah Carey wants to help get you in shape for the new year. The pop diva whips her hair back and forth while showing off her post-baby body in a new commercial for weight-loss program Jenny, for which she is the new spokeswoman. A remix of her 1991 hit “Make It Happen” plays in the background as success stories flash across the screen. Let Mariah be your motivation.

Mariah Carey had a “bleak” moment while vacationing in Aspen for the holidays. During her annual Christmas getaway, the pop diva adventured on a sleigh ride, but some stubborn horses she nicknamed “Scrooge” tried to ruin the festive moment when they wouldn’t budge. After 20 minutes, they finally got going and Mariah and her crew dashed away into the night. Watch the drama unfold in the candid footage.

Mariah Carey packed her bags and headed to her favorite winter destination, Aspen, for the holidays. The pop diva, who missed out on the vacation last year because of her pregnancy, looked dashing in a black peacoat, floppy hat, and sunglasses as she made her way into town and posed for the paparazzi. The new mom brought her twins Moroccan and Monroe along to share in the annual Christmas tradition.

Get in the holiday spirit with Mariah by watching her holiday special “Merry Christmas from Mariah Carey,” which begins airing today on Music Choice On Demand.