If you caught an accent coming from Mariah Carey recently, you weren't hearing things. The high-maintenance pop star had to learn a Southern accent for her latest movie, Tennessee. Directed by Lee Daniels of Monster's Ball fame, the movie also stars such Hollywood heavyweights as Bernie Mac, James D'Arcy, and Gregory Peck's grandson (amazing they could get all those guys together for one movie!). The budget is so tight that producers *gasp* asked Mariah to fly down to location in economy class. From Liz Smith of the New York Post:

Those who knew her just about fainted, saying, "She'll never do that!" Mariah had the last laugh. She did it. She bought out every seat in economy and flew alone in the economy cabin. (Source)

I don't see what the big deal is, us rich folks routinely buy out entire cabins of commercial flights. It's the best way of keeping a comfortable distance from the mouth-breathers back in coach. Just last month I bought out the first class cabin on a flight to Aspen.... What? Why are you giving me that look?...OK OK, it's wasn't exactly an airplane, but more of a bus and I wasn't really going to Aspen as I was Albuquerque. Fine, I might have stowed away in the luggage compartment. HAPPY NOW? Dick

ore of Mariah redefining short shorts after the jump...