Daniel Edwards has struck again.

This time, the artist who created a shocking sculpture of Britney Spears giving birth on a bearskin rug has struck at the very heart of American spirituality with a bust of the queen of the new age, Oprah Winfrey, reports E!Online reports.

Memories of Sophie and Gracie: A Puppies Memorial, which opens Thursday at the Leo Kesting Gallery in New York, depicts Oprah with "puppy versions" of the talk show host's late cocker spaniel Sophie and golden retriever Gracie sitting atop her head.

According to Edwards, the Oprah bust highlights "the overlooked threat of accidental pet fatality by common household products." See, Gracie choked to death on a ball last year. (Sophie died in March of kidney failure.)

Meanwhile, gallery director John Leo explains why Edwards decided to show the puppies conjoined at the hip: "To represent Sophie and Gracie together, joined joined in Oprah's memory as they were in life and in Oprah's heart, the artist depicted them as conjoined at the hip and sharing a common tail."

Pay us to wed!

Hey, just because it's the most important and beautiful day of your life, just because it's the day when a sacred bond is forged between you and your soul mate, it doesn't mean you can't make money off your wedding.

That's the entrepreneurial spirit behind the Pete Wentz-Ashlee Simpson nuptials. The New York Daily News reports that the B-list (C-list?) celebs have struck a seven-figure deal with an unnamed media outlet for exclusive coverage of their super-secret wedding that is rumored to be scheduled for tomorrow.

Ashlee, who is said to be with child, has reportedly chosen a Vera Wang gown for the wedding, while Pete and the groomsmen will be attired in Dolce & Gabbana tuxes.

Can't wait to see how much money they make off the birth of their child.

Headed to Splitsville?

Even as tabloid reports trickle in that Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson (filming Marley & Me hereabouts) have become engaged, People mag says the couplehave split up. And the mag has quotes from anon sources to back up their report: "It was a pretty bad breakup," People says a Wilson pal says. While an equally anonymous "Hudson source" states, "She feels dumb thinking it was so serious."

So do we all. So do we all.

Back to work? What work?

In an interview with People, new mum Nicole Richie says she's ready to go back to work after taking a four month maternity leave to bond with Harlow, her baby with boyfriend Joel Madden. "After having the baby, obviously I had to focus all of my attention on her. I had to get back in a place where I was mentally able to give myself to other people," Nicole says. Trouble is, we weren't aware Nicole had a job – aside from being Paris Hilton's sometime best friend.

From '8½' to 'Nine'

Looks like Daniel Day-Lewis, who won the best actor Oscar for There Will Be Blood, is following up with a lighter project. Variety reports that the Brit is in negotiations to replace Javier Bardem in the Rob Marshall-directed musical, Nine.

The flick, which is an adaptation of the stage musical that itself was inspired by Fellini's famous dramedy, 81/2, is about a film director who is having a personal and creative crisis, not least of which is to find a way to juggle all the women in his life. Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench will costar.

No pain for T-Pain

Singer T-Pain, best known for his guest roles on records by Chris Brown, Kanye West and newcomer Flo Rida, has nabbed a leading five BET Award nominations - all for his collaborations.

"T-Pain is everywhere," BET executive vice president Stephen Hill said. "He's got five nominations, none of them for his own work."

West and Keyshia Cole received three nominations, while Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and Flo Rida received a pair each. The BET Awards will be presented June 24 in Los Angeles

Anne Heche files for relief

A judge Wednesday gave Anne Heche a temporary break from paying child and spousal support to her ex, Coley Laffoon, 34, for their 6-year-old son, Homer, while the court assesses the actress's claims that she can no longer afford to make the $14,798-a-month payments now that she is unemployed after the cancellation of Men in Trees.

"I am continuing to look for work, but I have no offers pending and the impending strike by the Screen Actors Guild reduces my prospects for work even further," Heche, 38, writes in court papers.

Celeb relief for Myanmar

In the wake of the devastating cyclone that has killed up to 200,000 people in Myanmar, Not on Our Watch, the nonprofit cofounded by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon and others, has pledged half a million dollars to Save the Children, E!Online says.

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Contact "Sideshow" at sideshow@phillynews.com. This column contains information from Inquirer wire services and from Web sites.