After countless denials of domestic trouble, Madonna and Guy Ritchie announced Wednesday they are divorcing after nearly eight years of marriage. The couple's announcement brings an end to years of reports that they were on the rocks. Over the summer, Madonna was linked - unfairly, she said - to the breakup of New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez and his ex-wife Cynthia. The couple married in 2000 at Skibo Castle, in the Scottish Highlands and have two children: Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3, who was adopted from Malawi in 2006. They are reportedly worth some $525 million, the bulk of that belonging to Madonna. Ritchie has an estimated $35 million.

Directorial debuts for Demi Moore, Courteney Cox

When women make movies, Hollywood pays attention, as scores of A-listers turned out to see Demi Moore, Courteney Cox and screenwriter Kirsten ''Kiwi'' Smith make their directorial debuts.

Jennifer Aniston, Lucy Liu, Sheryl Crow, Kirsten Dunst, and David Arquette were among the stars gathered at the Directors Guild headquarters Tuesday for "Glamour" magazine's annual Reel Moments event, where Moore, Cox and Smith each showed a short film.

Ellen DeGeneres speaks out against Proposition 8

Ellen DeGeneres has made a public service announcement urging California voters to oppose a ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage. DeGeneres married actress Portia de Rossi on Aug. 16, two months after the California Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage took effect. In recent days, the popular talk show host has been criticized in the gay press for not giving money to the campaign to defeat Proposition 8 or otherwise lending her star presence to the cause.

Celebrity birthdays

Actress Angela Lansbury is 83.

Author Gunter Grass is 81.

Actor-producer Tony Anthony is 71.

Actor Barry Corbin is 68.

Actress Suzanne Somers is 62.

Rock singer-musician Bob Weir is 61.

Actor-director Tim Robbins is 50.

Actor-musician Gary Kemp is 49.

Singer-musician Bob Mould is 48.

Actor Randy Vasquez is 47.

Actor Todd Stashwick is 40.

Jazz musician Roy Hargrove is 39.

Actress Terri J. Vaughn is 39.