Table of contents for February 17, 2020 in Globe

YOU go, Dawg! Former American Idol judge Randy Jackson confesses to using “pretty drastic measures” to maintain a staggering 114-pound weight loss. The 63-year-old had gastric bypass surgery in 2003 after being fat-shamed by contestants during Idol’s second season. “You come in and they go, ‘Yeah dawg, you’re telling me I’m terrible but you’re fat!’ ” he recalls. “And I would go, ‘I am. I have mirrors in my house. I know!’ ” The snarky comments, plus an emergency room visit, led to Randy being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and changing his attitude to food. “You have to almost have a complete divorce breakup — and start back bit by bit and find out the things that work with your body,” he says. After the surgery, Randy worked with…

POP princess Taylor Swift has fessed up to starving herself as a twiggy teen as she faced down an eating disorder! “It’s only happened a few times, and I’m not in any way proud of it,” explains the Shake It Off singer. “A picture of me where I feel like I looked like my tummy was too big, or … someone said that I looked pregnant … and that’ll just trigger me to just … stop eating.” Now 30, the chart-topper confesses, “I thought that I was supposed to feel like I was going to pass out at the end of the show, or in the middle of it. “Now, I realize … if you eat food, have energy, get stronger, you can do all these shows.”…

COUNTRY songbird Carrie Underwood and hubby Mike Fisher are butting heads over how to raise their two young sons — because the former pro hockey hunk believes she’s coddling them too much! “It’s really affecting the dynamics of their relationship,” snitches an insider. “All those little things that nagged them when it was just the two of them are becoming problems now that they’re a family of four.” Now parents of sons Isaiah, 4, and Jacob, 1, the couple have very different attitudes toward discipline and dealing with such things as temper tantrums, sources say. “Carrie showers the kids with love and affection, but Mike says pouring on the sympathy when they take a little spill is too much,” reveals the insider. “He’s a nurturer but also a believer in making…

It’s a boy for supermodel ASHLEY GRAHAM, 32, and husband JUSTIN ERVIN, who welcomed their first child after nine years of marriage. CHRISTINA MILIAN, 38, and her boyfriend, French singer MATT POKORA, 34, welcomed son Isaiah. The singer-actress also has a 9-year-old daughter, Violet, with ex-husband THE-DREAM. Busy supermodel BAR REFAELI, 34, and husband ADI EZRA welcomed their third child in less than four years, a baby boy who joins toddler sisters. The honeymoon’s over for Master of None star LENA WAITHE, 35, and producer wife ALANA MAYO, 35. The couple split less than three months after announcing a secret marriage. Monty Python star TERRY JONES died at age 77. A founding member of the famous Brit comedy troupe, the Welsh comedian had been battling a rare form of dementia. Legendary…

CHEEKY Jane Seymour dropped a news flash during a recent red carpet appearance — admitting her slinky silver gown had “no room for underwear!” On top of revealing she’d gone commando, the slender stunner also bragged she’d lost 12 pounds! “I decided 23 days ago that I was going to get super healthy,” says the 68-year-old former star of TV’s Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. “I did that intermittent fasting. I eat healthy anyway and I quit drinking.”…

BRAD PITT may still adore former wife Jennifer Aniston — but sources tell GLOBE the same can’t be said for another ex, Gwyneth Paltrow! “If they run into each other, Brad’s polite, but he certainly doesn’t go out of his way to see her,” dishes an insider. “She’s in a totally different league from how he perceives Jen, who is just about the classiest lady he knows.” The Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood hunk, 56, was married to the Friends cutie, 51, from 2000 to 2005. But before he and Jen tied the knot, he was engaged to Seven costar Gwyneth. However, their three-year romance fizzled out in 1997. As GLOBE reported, Brad had an affectionate reunion with “good friend” Jen back-stage at the SAG Awards in January,…

THE killer Chinese coronavirus racing across the globe has killed scores and threatens to take millions more lives as the incurable infection spreads like wildfire! Here are five facts about the recently identified superbug — including how to avoid catching it! HOW DID IT START? The dangerous disease first appeared in December among people who’d visited a live animal market in Wuhan, China. Testing has shown 2019-nCoV likely originated in snakes and jumped to humans who touched or ate infected animals. HOW DOES IT SPREAD? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says the pneumonia-like condition is spread between people through particles released during coughs and sneezes, close personal contact like shaking hands and touching surfaces or objects infected with viral particles. IS IT WORSE THAN SARS? Yes. Experts warn 2019-nCoV…

WINDBAG Wendy Williams has raised a stink over rumors she let one rip during a recent episode of her day-time chatfest! After a clip from her show appeared to suggest the chatterbox broke wind on camera, she joked, “By the sound of that fart, I would have had to go change my costume!” But the TV blowhard, who just finalized her divorce from Kevin Hunter, insisted, “I have never farted once on this show. “As a matter of fact, I barely fart,” she added. “You know why? Because gas gets released several different ways and mine is belching, because all I do is talk.” A staffer later cleared the air by blaming the noise on a backstage mishap. I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work…

POP princess Selena Gomez blasted her rocky relationship with ex Justin Bieber, saying she was a “victim” of emotional “abuse”! The former Disney darling and the Yummy singer’s on-again, off-again romance ended after seven years in March 2018 — mere months before he popped the question to model Hailey Baldwin! Shortly after the lovebirds tied the knot in September 2018, stressed-out Selena checked herself into a mental health facility. Then, in October 2019, she released the telling ballad Lose You to Love Me, which she says helped her cope with her heartache. “I felt I didn’t get a respectful closure, and I had accepted that,” explains Selena. “But I know I needed some way to just say a few things that I wish I had said.” The Biebs hasn’t responded…

SONNY BONO and wife CHER look happy in this 1973 photo from their Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour extravaganza — but in less than a year they would separate and the show would be canceled! The variety program, which began in 1971 and rose as high as seventh in the ratings, featured songs and sketches performed in the pair’s over-the-top style. This one is from a recurring segment called The Vamp, in which Cher played notorious women in history, in this case Queen Nefertiti of Egypt. Cher went on to superstardom as a solo artist while Sonny turned to politics, becoming mayor of Palm Springs, Calif., and a congressman. He was killed in a skiing accident in 1998.…

A MICHIGAN man who thought a cushion on a couch he bought at a thrift store was stiff opened it up — and found $43,170 stuffed inside! Howard Kirby returned the stash to the store, which contacted the owner, Kim Fauth-Newberry, who said her deceased grandfather had squirreled the cash away. She added that the family had considered burning the couch! DRIVERS using navigation app Waze to find the Borgata casino in Atlantic City, N.J., instead found themselves 45 miles away on unpaved roads in the state’s Pine Barrens wilderness! Police said Waze was working to fix the problem. TEMPERATURES in Miami got so low that the National Weather Service issued a warning — about falling iguanas! The cold-blooded reptiles, which often live in trees, are unable to adjust to…

CURVY Kim Kardashian plans to protect her bottom line — by insuring her prized posterior for $100 million, sources tell GLOBE. Though her rep denies it, insiders say the bubble-butt reality TV star has reevaluated her ample assets, which have as her businesses have boomed. “Her brand is literally worth billions,” spills a spy. “But Kim’s never going to forget what’s gotten her to where she’s at now.“ In addition to appearing on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kim has expanded her empire to include shapewear, cosmetics and fragrances. “She just wants to make sure she’s covered — in the practical sense — in case anything happens like damage, scarring or injury.” Adds the snitch: “Kim takes credit for starting the booty craze, and she’d like to supplement lost income in case…

TOTALLY fed up with rude, mouthy View co-host Meghan McCain, show leader Whoopi Goldberg has nabbed a plum gig with the new Star Trek: Picard series as she prepares to quit the fight-ridden gabfest. Sources say Whoopi, 64, has been miserable with all the on-camera feuding and backstage bickering with Meghan, so when her old pal Sir Patrick Stewart offered her a role on his new series, she jumped at the chance. “She’s telling friends that she wants to leave The View,” snitches an insider. “She’s been really unhappy and every day brings upset in her life.” As GLOBE previously reported, the Ghost Oscar winner got so upset over mouthy Meghan’s interruptions and know-it-all airs, she felt her health was in jeopardy. “Now the bosses are really panicked,” tattles the insider. “They’ve…

JESSE’S GOT A BUN IN THE OVEN! It’s a real-life Modern Family for JESSE TYLER FERGUSON, 44, and his lawyer husband, JUSTIN MIKITA, 34 — the couple, who married in 2013, are expecting their first baby! With his long-running ABC hit series coming to an end after 11 seasons, the star will have much more time to enjoy being a handson dad to the surrogate-produced progeny. “I’m very excited … let’s get this show going,” he says about impending parenthood. As for the babe’s gender, Jesse has a thoroughly modern response, announcing it’ll be “a human.” AMY’S EX MOVES IN! And speaking of modern families, this one takes the cake: AMY SCHUMER’s ex-boyfriend, comedian KYLE DUNNIGAN, is living under the same roof as her and husband CHRIS FISCHER! No joke.…

FRUGAL mom Kelly Ripa put her foot down with fussy daughter Lola Consuelos after the college freshman began ordering pricey takeout from a delivery service! Though the 18-year-old was signed up for a dining plan at her NYU dorm, Kelly dishes, “She doesn’t like the meals at school, so she was ordering Postmates.” “She would order the $7 salad — but it would cost $25 dollars [to deliver],” marvels Kelly, who adds, “We shut down that debit card account.”…

DOMESTIC goddess Martha Stewart is no flake! The 78-year-old millionaire took matters into her own hands at her snow-covered country estate by plowing the roads herself. Martha took to Instagram to share a photo showing her clearing a path on her Bedford, N.Y., farm while seated in a vehicle equipped with a plow. The business tycoon revealed she’d gotten up early to tend to four miles of roads on her property and crowed, “I think I did a great job!”…

ARIES March 21 - April 20 Feeling overwhelmed, Ram? Blame Mercury retrograde! The mischievous planet’s causing mix-ups and mayhem in everything you try to do! You may even be dealing with a minor injury! But relax! The cosmos spotlights someone willing to help sort things out — just in time for some weekend fun! GEMINI May 22 - June 21 Mercury aligned with Venus creates the ideal climate to improve health, Twin! You’ll be drawn to people who can help you lose weight, gain strength and boost your immune system! Friday, you reconnect with someone from the past. But think twice before getting involved again, for any reason! LEO July 23 - Aug. 23 Ugh, your partner’s mood is a buzzkill, deflating your enthusiasm for the exciting idea you both…

SICKLY Madonna is getting her affairs in order — and planning a funeral to rival Elvis Presley’s grand exit from the world stage, insiders say! That splashy send-off at the King’s Graceland estate featured a procession of 14 white Cadillacs and 80,000 mourning fans! “Madonna is vain enough to believe she’s even bigger than Elvis!” an insider tells GLOBE. “She’s a pop sensation, an actress, a mother of six, a philanthropist and a humanitarian. She wants a send-off that’ll spell that out in capital letters! “She’s updated her will and trusts, plus outlined exactly what type of memorial service she wants. “It might seem macabre, but Madonna insists this is a considerate thing to do to avoid any drama once she passes. “That may be true, but it’s a tragic…

COLORFUL pop singer Katy Perry is back judging wannabe superstars on American Idol this month, marking her third season with the reality competition. Here are ten things you don’t know about the 35-year-old hit-maker, who’s also the fiancée of Pirates of the Caribbean actor Orlando Bloom. 1 During her childhood, her Pentecostal pastor mother insisted Katy and her two siblings call deviled eggs “angelic eggs.” 2 Her younger brother, David, has described Katy as being a tomboy during her teens. 3 She got a GED and quit high school at 15 to pursue a career in gospel music. 4 Her 2001 debut album of Christian tunes — released when she was 16 under her birth name, Katy Hudson — was a commercial flop, selling an estimated 200 copies that year.…