Heidi Klum: I didn't date until after split with Seal

Heidi Klum admits that she's close to bodyguard Martin Kristen, but the "Project Runway" star insists she didn't begin her relationship with her muscle-bound protector while she was married to soul-R&B artist Seal, as he recently claimed.

"I don't know, it just started. ... I don't know where it's going to go," Klum told Katie Couric on Wednesday's edition of "Katie." She added that Kristen has been working with her family for the past four years and that she trusts him.

On the other hand, things with ex-husband Seal don't seem to be going so well since he told TMZ last month that Klum was "fornicating with the help."

"I don't know if we're the greatest friends right now ... especially the things that he said," Klum said. "I don't love that. ... Obviously it's not true."

Kanye West leads BET field

Kanye West has got to be feeling mighty fly right now. On Thursday, he got news that he had been nominated for 17 BET Hip-Hop Awards.

West, who teamed with Jay-Z for last year's "Watch the Throne," hasn't released a full-length solo album since 2010's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." But that didn't stop Kim Kardashian's newest man friend from besting 2 Chainz (13 nods) and Drake (11) in a field of wide-ranging award categories, including MVP of the Year and Hustler of the Year.

Detroit's Big Sean, who is on West's GOOD Music label, scored a bunch of nods, too, including Best Club Banger (for "Mercy," the Kanye track he helped record along with Pusha T and 2 Chainz), Best Video ("Mercy"), Perfect Combo ("Mercy") and Best Hip-Hop Style and People's Champ ("Mercy").

The big show, hosted by "Sparkle" star Mike Epps, will be taped at Georgia's Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center on Sept. 29 and will air Oct. 9 on BET.

Briefly

Photo! grapher Pedro Guerrero, whose 20-year association with architect Frank Lloyd Wright helped launch his fine-arts career, died Thursday at the age of 95. Guerrero, who had been battling cancer for several years, died at his home in Florence, Ariz.

British filmmaker Stanley Long, known as the "king of sexploitation" for his low-budget soft-core titles like "Adventures of a Taxi Driver," died Monday at his home in England. Long, 78, died of natural causes, although a specific cause was not revealed.

Nick Lachey, 38, and wife Vanessa, 31, welcomed their first child, son Camden John, on Wednesday, www.people.com reports. Lachey was previously married to Jessica Simpson, who delivered her first child, baby girl Maxwell, earlier this year.

Just in case you're keeping score: When NBC's "The Voice" and Fox's "The X Factor" went head-to-head Wednesday, it was "The Voice" that prevailed. It drew 10.7 million viewers, beating down the second-season premiere of Simon Cowell's "X Factor." During the 8 p.m. hour when the two shows overlapped, "The X Factor," featuring new judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato, netted 7.5 million viewers, USA Today reports. In the second "X" hour, when there was no "Voice" competition, about 8.5 million viewers checked in.

Representatives from Motown Records announced Thursday that soulful Detroit singer Kem will release his first holiday album, "What Christmas Means," on Oct. 16.

The Parade Company announced Thursday that a variety of grandstand tickets for this year's America's Thanksgiving Parade are now on sale. The Grandstand Seat (Step-Off) ticket ($30) includes seating at Mack and Woodward. At the other end of the scale is the Character Breakfast and Grandstand Seat ($50), which includes breakfast at th! e Tigers Club inside Comerica Park.

For more ticket details and other info about the Nov. 22 parade, call 313-923-7400 or go to www.theparade.org.

COMPILED BY B.J. HAMMERSTEIN, FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER. CONTACT HIM AT 313-223-4528 OR BJHAMMERSTEIN@FREEPRESS.COM.

More Details: Fast takes

1. Franklin in Hamlisch tribute

The Juilliard School says that Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli will be a part of a private musical tribute planned Tuesday in New York for Marvin Hamlisch. The award-winning composer died Aug. 6 at the age of 68 in Los Angeles.

2. Ex-Dead drummer wanted

Police in Kentucky have issued a warrant for the arrest of former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart. It stems from an alleged assault following his Mickey Hart Band show Saturday in Harrodsburg, according to a report at www.tmz.com. Harts publicist says hes baffled and the allegations are false.

3. Sally Struthers busted

Police in Maine say former All in the Family star Sally Struthers, left, has been charged with drunken driving. Struthers, 65, whos been performing at the Ogunquit Playhouse in the musical 9 to 5, was arrested Wednesday morning.