WHITNEY HOUSTON AND LEONA LEWIS DUET

Leona Lewis

Always troubled singer Whitney Houston is planning to duet with hit British singer Leona Lewis and is hoping it will help her comeback, according to media reports. Houston is back on stage this year, after a lengthy break to battle alleged drug addictions, and a new album is being planned for release later in 2008. Now her mentor, music mogul Clive Davis, wants to give her a helping hand by teaming her with Bleeding Love pop sensation Lewis, reports the New York Post. Since winning British talent show The X Factor in 2006, Lewis has stormed the charts in both Britain and the United States and drawn numerous comparisons to Houston and Mariah Carey.But the 23-year-old will have to overcome her nervous disposition if she wants to perform with her idol - she suffers from stress-related chronic throat problems, which doctors have confirmed can only be cured permanently by surgery.

LEONA LEWIS 'BLEEDING LOVE' TOP IN UK

Leona Lewis' new single 'Bleeding Love' has become the fastest selling record in the UK this year.'The X Factor' winner - who broke records with her debut single 'A Moment Like This' after she won the ITV reality show last year - is already outselling her biggest chart rivals Take That by two-to-one. More than 3,000 people snapped up 'Bleeding Love' in the first hour after it had been released on Monday. Record store HMV spokesperson Gennaro Castaldo said: "It's turning out to be a massive week for singles sales. 'Bleeding Love' is outselling Take That's 'Rule The World' by two-to-one and the rest of the top ten combined, and is on course to top 200,000 sales by the end of the week if stores can keep it in stock - it's without doubt the fastest-selling single of the year."The 'Bleeding Love' video - which shows stunning Leona in curve-hugging Dolce and Gabanna dresses - is attracting an average of 150 views a minute worldwide on video sharing website YouTube.The promo also received three million views online in the first 24 hours it was available.If Leona is still number one when the top 10 selling singles in the UK are announced on Sunday, she will become the first 'The X Factor' winner to reach the top spot with a second single.

SIMON COWELL GETS READY FOR BATTLE

Simon Cowell is furious

Simon Cowell is furious with Take That for instigating a chart battle with his protégé Leona Lewis.The music mogul, who signed Leona to his Syco Music record label after she won UK reality TV show 'The X Factor' last year, has warned Take That they will regret going up against Leona in the UK singles charts this month.Leona's 80s inspired 'Bleeding Love' is released on October 22 - although it is available to download from October 20 - the same week as Take That's 'Rule the World', the theme song to new movie 'Stardust'. Simon told BANG Showbiz: "I am annoyed Take That have chosen to release their new single at the same time as Leona. I just don't know why they would do that. "I certainly know which one I would rather buy. 'Bleeding Love' is a world class track and Leona is going to do very, very well."Leona has become good friends with Take That since she performed with the group in last December's 'X Factor' final. Earlier this year, the band's lead singer Gary Barlow even offered to write a song for her. Leona, 22, is dreading the chart battle and admits she was a massive Take That fan when she was growing up. She said: "I used to have Take That pencil cases and Take That pencils, so to actually release something at the same time as them is so surreal!"This is Leona's first single since she topped the UK Christmas charts last year with 'A Moment like This'.Take That have enjoyed renewed chart success since they reformed last year. Their comeback single 'Patience' and follow-up track 'Shine' both reached number one in the UK singles charts.