Billy Ray Cyrus has spoken out for the first time about daughter Miley Cyrus’ provocative performance that included the teen singer dancing around a pole at the Teen Choice Awards earlier this month.

At the August 10 event, while singing her hit song, "Party In The USA," Billy Ray’s 16-year-old daughter jumped on top of an ice cream cart, pushed by her back up dancers. While performing the song, Miley crouched and danced next to a metal pole attached to the top of the cart, which attracted a host of criticisms across the Web.

When asked about headlines that suggested the teen got a little ahead of her age by dancing with the metal pole, Billy Ray — who Access Hollywood caught up with at the Hellmans/Facebook Feeding America Event in NYC on Thursday — said Miley remains focused on "entertaining."

"You know what? I just think that Miley loves entertaining people," Billy Ray told Access. "She loves singing [and] songwriting."

And while some might have taken exception to Miley’s performance, her father encouraged her to block out the negative comments.

"I always tell her to love what you’re doing and stay focused for the love of the art and not worry so much about opinion," he added.

America’s Parade magazine asked readers to vote for their favorite and least favorite stars in a range of categories and Depp and Berry were named Sexiest Actor and Sexiest Lady respectively, ahead of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who were hailed Sexiest Couple

Jennifer Garner picked up two honours – as Most Natural Beauty and as part of the Most Normal Couple with Ben Affleck – and newlyweds Fergie and Josh Duhamel were voted the pair with the Most Successful Marriage

America’s First Lady Michelle Obama was named Biggest Trendsetter and country music sensation Taylor Swift was voted Best Role Model for Teens

Those dishonoured in the summer magazine vote included Amy Winehouse (Most In Need of Therapy) and Paris Hilton (Most Promiscuous)

Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva were named the Most Surprising Couple.

Out gearing up for their baby-on-the-way, Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick went shopping at the Juvenile Shop in Calabasas, California on Thursday afternoon (August 20).

The E! reality star and her babydaddy strolled the local boutique’s racks side-by-side, with Kourtney clad in a loose fitting ensemble draped over her baby bump.

Chatting with press about getting ready for their impending arrival, Kourtney tells of the nursery, “I haven’t done one thing for the room, except look online at a million pictures. But I’m also kind of waiting until I can find a decorator. I just want to work with someone and make it perfect. I have a stylish vision of a room in my head.”

And it sounds as if Scott is getting into the fatherly spirit, with Miss Kardashian revealing, “At nighttime, I’ll make Scott put his hand on my stomach and feel it. Every time he leaves me he kisses my stomach and says goodbye to the baby and talks to it. It’s so cute.”

Aside from “Eat, Pray, Love”, Miss Roberts also recently put in work on the Garry Marshall directed romantic comedy “Valentine’s Day”.

Boasting a star-studded cast including Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway and Ashton Kutcher, the flick finds “intertwining couples and singles in Los Angeles breaking-up and making-up based on the pressures and expectations of Valentine’s Day.”

Out for another day’s work, Julia Roberts was all smiles on the set of “Eat, Pray, Love” in New York City on Thursday (August 20).

The “Pretty Woman” actress was on-hand for what’s the last day of filming inthe Big Apple – as the cast will soon be heading to shoot scenes in Italy, India and Indonesia.

Showing off her sexy physique, Heidi Montag was busy rehearsing her dance choreography for her new single “Body Language” in Los Angeles on Wednesday (August 19).

The MTV reality vixen is currently preparing for her big performance at the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in the Bahamas on August 23rd.

In related news, Heidi chatted with Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show, telling that she’s up for another round of Playboy – and this time she’ll show more skin.

She tells: “It was just such a fun experience and I tapped into a different side of myself. I had a lot of fun doing the photoshoot. more of those to come! Always leave them asking for more. So, next time I have more to reveal.”

Miss Montag added: “For me personally, I feel like God created the body and the body is beautiful. that’s the way God created us, naked! So, I am not ashamed of it. I’m proud of it and especially because I worked out so hard. This was such a blessed experience.”

Stepping out for a midday retail romp, Lindsay Lohan paid a visit to INA boutique in SoHo on Wednesday afternoon (August 19).

Wearing a little black dress and knee-high strappy boots, the “Mean Girls” actress browsed the racks, tweeting, “INA – 21 Prince between Mott & Elizabeth -great stuff! Ask for Ruby!”

Meanwhile, it sounds as if LiLo won’t be getting an offer for the lead role in Allison Burnett’s “Undiscovered Gyrl” – which “focuses on a Carrie Bradshaw-like teen who blogs about her sex life.”

According to a recent NY Post report, Allison said of studio exec’s recommendation of Miss Lohan for the character, ” [Lindsay] is a wonderful actress, but her fame and baggage would only work against her.”

She’s quite savvy when it comes to her career and earlier today (August 19), Tyra Banks was hard at work on the set of her show in Chelsea, New York.

The 35-year-old model taped an outdoor segment for “The Tyra Banks Show” and gave some lucky members of the audience a chance to win some cash.

And, just recently, Ms Banks announced via her Twitter page that she will show the world her real hair on the premiere of her show coming up on September 8th.

She explained that there will be “no fake hair at all! Will be the hair coming out of my scalp! 4 all 2 C! No ponytails, no ballet bun hair. hair will be out and free!”

Still plugging away on her latest project, Jennifer Aniston was hard at work on "The Bounty" at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey on Wednesday (August 19).

Looking her usual cute self, the former "Friends" darling strolled around the set during a break in the day’s action.

In related news, Jen recently chatted with Elle magazine for their September issue, during which time she talked about relationships and breakups.

The 40-year-old beauty tells, "Most of us fall in love with someone’s persona and spend the next three to five years discovering who that person really is."

Continuing on, Jen adds, "If you can stay connected through that process of raw vulnerability, I think you have a shot at the prize of knowing and accepting another human being for who and what they really are after years of highs and lows."

Continuing work on her new flick, Julia Roberts was spotted walking around the “Eat, Pray, Love” movie set in downtown Tribeca on Tuesday (August 18).

Reportedly headed to Rome, Italy to shoot scenes overseas later this week, the “Pretty Woman” cutie’s newest project is scheduled for release in 2011.

And Julia has to be hoping to strike gold at the box office with her new film – as recent reports tell that she was originally slated to star in “The Proposal” – a spot she lost to Sandra Bullock after demanding too much money.

Making for a tough career move, insiders point out that “The Proposal” pulled in $151 million at the box office – much more than Julia’s recent ventures.

Their sudden split came as a surprise to just about everyone, but now it looks as if Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush may be eyeing a rekindled romance.

Having announced their breakup just over three weeks back, the E! reality star was just recently spotted back alongside her ex-football star beau.

Making a weekend trip to Louisiana for the Dress for Success fashion show, Miss Kardashian was picked up after the charitable festivities by Bush.

“He picked her up from the charity event,” an onlooker told Us magazine, with a People source adding that the twosome were “all smiles” while dropping by the upscale Ruth’s Chris Steak House.