The Biggest Celebrity News Stories Of November 2018

November 2018 has been a doozy in the celeb-o-sphere. Beyoncé was blamed for election results in Texas; pop star Demi Lovato left rehab and was spotted getting cozy with a mystery man; and starlet Ariana Grande penned an ode to her infamous exes — and that's just the tip of the tabloid iceberg. Singer Nick Jonas and actress Priyanka Chopra's wedding plans are moving ahead at lightning speed, and former first lady Michelle Obama blew the lid off her private struggles in a new book. 

While some of the month's top stories have made for juicy water-cooler chatter, other news headlines were terribly sad. The rich and famous are not immune to tragedy, and a horrific shooting and disastrous wildfires have deeply affected some well-known entertainers and their families. Let's take a closer look at the biggest celeb news stories of November 2018. 

Three months after checking into rehab after allegedly overdosing on heroin at her Hollywood Hills, Calif. home, pop star Demi Lovato was spotted out in public for the first time at a Beverly Hills, Calif. spa, according to TMZ. She hit up Matsuhisa restaurant later that night with Henri Alexander Levy — the founder of clothing label Enfants Riches Déprimés — who Lovato met "a few years back when both were in rehab," TMZ reported. A source told E! News the duo "seemed like good friends who were catching up and excited to see one another." 

Do all besties hold hands and gaze into each other's eyes over dinner? Lovato and Levy were spotted again the following day when photogs captured them grabbing coffee in West Hollywood. Lovato had her arm around his waist as he walked alongside her with his arm draped over her shoulder. Whether love is in the air, or they're just good friends providing each other with emotional support, we're glad to see Lovato back in the public eye and in good spirits.

Ariana Grande dropped a new track entitled "thank u, next" on Nov. 3, 2018. The tune is reportedly dedicated to some of her high-profile exes, including soccer player Ricky Alvarez, Saturday Night Live's Pete Davidson, rapper Big Sean, and the late Mac Miller, who died from an accidental overdose in September 2018. 

From the jump, the song dives into the hitmaker's failed relationships, while also expressing gratitude for the lessons she learned from her former flames. "Thought I'd end up with Sean / But it wasn't a match / Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh," she sings. "Even almost got married / And for Pete, I'm so thankful / Wish I could say, 'Thank you' to Malcolm / 'Cause he was an angel." The starlet also makes it clear that she's single like a dollar bill after ending her engagement to Davidson in mid-October 2018, and it seems like she's ready to take some time for herself, singing: "Plus, I met someone else ... But this one gon' last / 'Cause her name is Ari / And I'm so good with that."

A Marine veteran dressed in black and armed with a gun entered Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif. on  Nov. 8, 2018 and killed 12 people, including a sheriff's sergeant, before turning the gun on himself, NBC reported. Soon after the early morning mass shooting, The Real co-host Tamera Mowry-Housley took to Twitter to search for her niece, Alaina Housely, who was suspected to be at the establishment at the time of the shooting. Tamera's husband, Adam (pictured, right), also pleaded for his Twitter followers to pray for his niece, who he described as a "beautiful soul."

Sadly, Tamera and her family were met with horrifying news when it was confirmed that Alaina was killed in the shooting. The Sister, Sister star posted a tender dedication to Alaina that said: "Our sweet Alaina. We are broken. Our hearts are broken. We love you."

With hours left until the polls closed on midterm election night in Texas, Beyoncé posted a series of photos on her Instagram account, sporting a hat in support of her home state's Democrat hopeful in the Senate race, Robert "Beto" O'Rourke. She had remained relatively mum during the feverish lead-up to the Nov. 6, 2018 election night, but the superstar finally broke her silence in a caption that read, in part: "I'm feeling grateful for everyone before me who fought so hard to give us all the right to have a voice. We can't voice our frustrations and complain about what's wrong without voting and exercising our power to make it right. We need you."

While her intentions seemed pure, after O'Rourke lost to Republic incumbent Ted Cruz, fans blamed the "Single Ladies" artist for O'Rourke's failure, claiming her last-minute endorsement was too little too late. "You have such a huge, influential voice and you wait until Election Day to post this?!" one fan wrote (via Page Six). "Beto needed you sooner. Maybe you could've actually made a difference."

Either way, O'Rourke was grateful for the support, even if it arrived at the 11th hour. He even retweeted one of Bey's photos with a simple, "Thank you, Beyoncé!" 

After news broke about their engagement in July 2018, after just a couple of months of dating, no one would've been surprised if Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra also made a mad dash to the altar. Still, we were shocked when The Blast reported on Nov. 8, 2018, that the couple's big day was much closer than we expected. The "Jealous" singer and the Quantico actress reportedly visited a Beverly Hills, Calif. courthouse a week earlier to obtain a marriage license. According to the gossip website, the smitten couple plans to take the license with them to India in December 2018 for a wedding ceremony, then complete additional paperwork in the United States so the union will be valid in both India and America.

News of the stars' wedding plans moving full-steam ahead comes after the couple and their families celebrated a roka ceremony in August 2018 — an Indian tradition that celebrates a couple's engagement. Judging by the blaring music and non-stop dancing at their engagement party, we're on pins and needles as we await this wedding day. We know it's going to be fab!

As Michelle Obama discussed her memoir, Becoming, with ABC News, the former first lady revealed that she and former President Barack Obama endured heartache while starting a family. Michelle revealed that she suffered a miscarriage prior to giving birth to daughters Malia and Sasha. "I felt lost and alone and I felt like I failed because I didn't know how common miscarriages were because we don't talk about them," she said. Malia and Sasha were conceived through in-vitro fertilization. "That's one of the reasons why I think it's important to talk to young mothers about the fact that miscarriages happen and the biological clock is real because egg production is limited and I realized that as I was 34 and 35. We had to do IVF," she said.

Michelle also revealed that while her marriage may look picture-perfect on the outside, it hasn't been easy. When conflicting schedules took a toll on the Obamas' relationship, they sought outside help. "Marriage counseling for us was one of those ways where we learned how to talk out our differences," she said.

As wildfires rage through California, hundreds of thousands of acres of land have been destroyed and lives have been lost. Some of those who were impacted in November included celebrities, such as Khloé Kardashian, who revealed on Nov. 9, 2018, that she and daughter True Thompson evacuated their home. "I just left with the clothes on my back but I think I packed Trues entire bedroom and closet into my car," she tweeted. "Obviously she's all that matters to me."

Khloé's sister, Kim Kardashian, was also in a dire situation. "Just landed back home and had 1 hour to pack up & evacuate our home. I pray everyone is safe," the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star wrote on Instagram (via E! News).

Actor Will Smith shared on his Instagram Story (via E! News) that his family's home was just eight miles away from the Woolsey Fire. "We are prepared to evacuate as soon as we get the word. If you are in the evacuation zone, go now!" he urged his social media followers.

Iggy Azalea also expressed concern over her home being destroyed, and Cher tweeted, in part: "I can't bear the thought of there being no Malibu I've had a house in Malibu since 1972."

Danielle "Bhad Bhabie" Bregoli and Iggy Azalea were both in attendance at Cardi B's Fashion Nova event on Nov. 14, 2018, when things quickly got out of hand. As soon as the viral sensation laid eyes on Azalea, she threw a drink at her! TMZ shared footage of the drink-tossing antics and the aftermath, which included Azalea looking completely bewildered but rather unbothered by the attack. The Aussie rapper later took to her social media account to share her thoughts in a video, which she captioned: "So the Dr. Phil girl is really upset about me apparently and thought I'd fight a child?! LOL Anyway! The fashion nova party is LIT!" In that same video, Azalea laughs off the encounter. "What kind of Jerry Springer... What kind of whose baby is this, Dr. Phil, Oz s**t? Oh my god. I am a grown up. I cannot," she joked. 

According to XXL, this beef supposedly stems from an online altercation earlier in the month. After an Instagram user asked if people were going to see Bhad Bhabie on tour, Azalea reportedly responded in the comments section: "Are you?" Azalea's response was apparently a little too shady mcgrady, prompting Bhad Bhabie to reportedly reply: "u should come. would be a good memory for u of what a sold out show looks like."

Paris Hilton announced she was engaged to actor Chris Zylka in January 2018. They called off the wedding seven months later, and now, the couple have officially called it quits, according to TMZ. A source told E! News the socialite was the one who pulled the plug prior to the Nov. 19, 2018 announcement. "Their relationship moved really quickly, and she realized he wasn't right for her. She wishes him well and hopes they can remain friends."

Hilton spoke out about her breakup on social media by posting a glamorous picture of herself, naturally, along with a quote by Marilyn Monroe. "You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself. And sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together," the caption read, in part. 

Though Hilton had hopes that she and Zykla could remain friends, drama seemed to be bubbling soon after the breakup. TMZ reported Hilton was still in possession of her massive engagement ring, valued at $2 million. As of this writing, Zylka didn't directly ask his ex to return the pricey bauble, but the gossip rag reported that he "wants it back." No bride, no bling. Hand over the goods, Paris!

Actress Heather Locklear reportedly got into a fight with her boyfriend, Chris Heisser, on Nov. 17, 2018. The former Melrose Place star threw him out of the house and then "alerted her attorney and her doctors" about the incident, a family friend told People. The following day, someone called 911 from Locklear's residence, according to TMZ, and the actress was put on an involuntary psychiatric hold.

News of Locklear's condition comes at a point when the actress is trying to make some much-needed changes. "Heather had been in rehab for three months and got out in early October, the day before her daughter's 21st birthday," the insider told People. "And for the last month, she has been living privately and low-key." The actress' ex-husband, Richie Sambora, reportedly stepped in to be a "rock" for their daughter, Ava Sambora, while Locklear gets the help she needs. According to a family friend, "Everyone wants her to get better. She is unstable and she's had a lot of issues, drug use, and alcohol over the years. No one wants to see her go through something like this."

If you or someone you know is facing mental and/or substance use disorders, please call the SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

LFO singer Devin Lima (pictured, center) died Nov. 21, 2018 after a year-long battle with cancer, reported TMZ. He was 41-years-old. Lima rose to fame as a member of the pop group LFO, who brought us memorable hits such as 1999's "Summer Girls," a jam that peeked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the equally successful follow-up track, "Girl on TV." The trio toured seemingly nonstop, and after their self-titled debut album, the guys released their final group project, Life is Good, in 2001.

The Massachusetts-born singer's health concerns were made public in October 2017 via a video. "It's great to be holistic and have positive vibes. I've cured a lot with just my mind," he says. "...I could have maybe spotted this earlier but the pain only kicked in three weeks ago. And I tried different things to let it go away. It's time to go in. I'll see you on the other side." Lima underwent surgery to remove a tumor on his adrenal gland. Later that month, bandmate Brad Fischetti announced that his friend was diagnosed with stage 4 adrenal cancer that had spread to his kidney. 

News of his health crisis came as a shock. He is the second member of the '90s boyband to battle cancer. Singer Rich Cronin passed away in 2010 at the age of 36 after a battle with leukemia. Our thoughts are with his loved ones during this difficult time.

Oprah Winfrey's mom, Vernita Lee, passed away on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, 2018, at the age of 83. The news was revealed by Winfrey's niece, Alisha Hayes, according to TMZ. 

Winfrey has detailed her strained relationship with her mother and her troubled childhood in various interviews. While her mom went to work as a housemaid in Wisconsin, Winfrey was sent to live with her maternal grandmother, Hattie Mae Lee, in rural Mississippi. At the age of 6, as her grandmother's health failed, Winfrey moved back to Wisconsin to live with her mother, who, at that point, was a virtual stranger. "I suddenly land in a place that's completely foreign to me. I don't know anybody. I don't really even know my mother," Winfrey told the Huffington Post. During an interview with Now to Love, Winfrey shared that she didn't experience any feelings of joy or love when she and her mother were reunited. "And so for years, I was asking the question... what is a mother? What are you supposed to feel about your mother?" she said.

Their reunion would be brief and reoccurring throughout the talk show host's life, as she was bounced around between her mom's home and the man she presumed to be her dad, Vernon Lee, who lived in Tennessee. Winfrey and Vernita reportedly repaired their relationship in later years, with Vernita even making an appearance on Winfrey's talk show in 1990 to receive a stylish makeover.