Twisted Angel, LeAnn Rimes’ new album, will contain only “a hint” of country, according to MTV News, as the singer is eager to spread her creative wings and explore other musical styles…including techno. Taking a cue from the wildly successful dance remix of Rimes’ “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” insiders point to the song, “Tic-Toc,” which features the 19-year-old singing about her sexual desires over a techno beat, as a likely follow-up to the 1999 dance floor hit. As for radio play, the label has released “Life Goes On” as the project’s first single, with a video filmed by Matthew Rolston (Madonna, Jennifer Lopez).

Life Goes On? I think someone might want to pass that little nugget onto Diana Ross. According to The New York Post, the singer returned to Promises, Hollywood’s favorite drug rehab center, at the end of last month…making this the second time Miss Ross has had to check in to the facility this year. “Diana’s angry that she doesn’t have Cher’s spectacular career, because she feels she’s a hundred times more talented,” states the column, citing an unnamed “inside” source as part of a larger article on Promises’ inability to protect the privacy of residents. (Be wary of checkbook journalism.)

The New York Daily News is reporting that Rosie O’Donnell wants to bring Boy George’s semi-autobiographical stage musical Taboo to Broadway next spring. “I know it’ll be a huge hit,” she said. “It’s got heart, humor and art…all the things I love.”

Speaking of the Boy, she’s shooting her mouth off again, this time in an interview with the BBC show Liquid News. Seems George was asked to comment on steamy pictures that surfaced a few weeks ago of hottie Brit popstar Robbie Williams cannoodling with model Rachel Hunter. “Let’s face it, Robbie will do anything to look straight! There’s a slither of George Michael about him as afar as I’m concerned … not that I’m saying anything for definite.” (Cue: “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?”) As for Williams, his new studio album is titled Escapology, and has a tentative release date scheduled for November, with a possible first single titled “Feel.” Other tracks include “Wanna Love Somebody,” “Something Beautiful,” and “Song 3.”

Update on Whitney Houston: The first single off of Houston’s new album will NOT be the remake of Debbie Boone’s “You Light up my Life,” as was previously reported. “Watcha Lookin At?” which is a reference to her disdain for the media, is now the still-untitled project’s first single, according to New York magazine (August 19 issue). But you can forget about seeing a video, at least for now. Shooting was scheduled for early August but that has been postponed indefinitely. A rep for Houston confirmed the cancellation and said: “Arista did not move forward on the video because the album wasn’t finished … they regarded it as more important to finish the album than the video.”

Bubbling underneath: the new Deborah Cox album, The Morning After, due Sept. 24; A remake of the Kermit the Frog classic, “Rainbow Connection,” by Sarah McLachlan, to be released this fall as part of the For the Kids project, a benefit CD for VH1’s Save the Music Foundation; Sean-Nos Nua, Sinead O’Connor’s first studio album since 2000, will hit the streets Oct. 8. Expect the LP to have a strong traditional Irish sound, as evidenced by the project’s title. Yes, Kylie has just accepted one million pounds to pen her autobiography (twice as much as Geri Halliwell received for hers, but whose counting?) but the real Kylie news that’s got the hive all abuzz: Madonna has reportedly co-written a new track, titled “Alone, Again” for Minogue which is featured on her latest single, “Come Into My World.” (“Alone, Again” is co-written with Madonna producer Rick Nowels, which means the track is most likely a cast-off from the sessions for Ray of Light).

End Quote: This is what actor Adriano Giannini said to the London Sunday Express about his Swept Away co-star, Madonna: “It didn’t come easy for me to slap a woman, especially someone I had grown up listening to. When I first slapped her, she thought I wasn’t violent enough and told me to hit her harder. On another occasion I was asked to humiliate her by making her bark like a dog. It got a bit masochistic but she’s good. She’s very professional.” Here’s our favorite part: “She’s tough as a lizard and should be made into a belt, bag and boots.”

Look for Madonna-mania to hit, yet again, sometime after Sept. 11 as M. will be featured on the October cover of at least three publications: W, Vanity Fair and Jane.