Charlie Sheen has been released from prison.

The actor posted $8,500 bond last night, following a significant update to the assault charges leveled against him.

Immediately prior to the bail hearing, wife Brooke Mueller recanted her tale to a Colorado police officer. She said she was drunk when she dialed 911 (her blood alcohol test at the time measured a whopping .13) and reportedly backed up Sheen’s tale that he was merely defending himself.

Still, authorities will pursue charges against the Two and a Half Men star for now.

Sheen has hired Colorado attorney Richard Cummins and his next court date is schedule for February 8.

Welcome, gossip readers around the world, to The Hollywood Gossip on this day after Christmas. Below, we take a look back at another dramatic gossip week.

Some highlights from the last seven days in celebrity gossip news:

• Continuing a tragic run of celebrity deaths this year, actress Brittany Murphy passed away at the age of 32, suffering a heart attack at her home in L.A.
• There is speculation surrounding the long list of medication Murphy may have been taking, but officials say she died un-suspiciously of natural causes.
• Brittany’s husband, Simon Monjack, who many consider to be a rather shady individual, has gone to fantastic lengths to speak out on her behalf.

Brittany Murphy (1977-2009).

• As the Tiger Woods scandal dies down, rumors are swirling about his marriage. One tale has Woods checking into rehab for sex addiction, while various accounts say wife Elin is torn on what to do. He’s also gone AWOL.
• Best tabloid tale of the week: Angelina Jolie’s “revenge pregnancy.”
• Michael Jackson’s FBI file was released … and weird as you reckon!
• Natalie White won a shocking and controversial finale of Survivor.
• In couple news: Kevin Jonas got married to Danielle Deleasa; Carrie Underwood got engaged; LeAnn Rimes divorced; Brody Jenner and Jayde Nicole, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, and Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Jerry Ferrera split.

Christmas wasn’t too merry for Charlie Sheen.

• Charlie Sheen was arrested for assault on Christmas Day. His alleged victim? Wife Brooke Mueller. He claims she was in fact the aggressor.
• Also arrested for assault? Amy Winehouse. For this incident.
• This candle should be arrested for defiling Jessica Simpson.
• Kourtney (not Kim) Kardashian gave Reggie the Heisman.
• The first pic from Eclipse was released. Six months to go!
• The downtrodden Jon Gosselin may be on suicide watch.

Don’t forget to follow THG on Twitter for all the latest Hollywood news, celebrity gossip, rumors, commentary and humor as it happens, 24/7/365.

A private funeral was held on Christmas Eve for the late Brittany Murphy, who died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 32 less than a week ago.

A small group of close friends and family members gathered at the Church of the Hills at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in L.A. to pay their respects.

At the service, Simon Monjack called his wife his “soul mate.”

He also said of Brittany: “Mystery is the nature of like and you never know when or where it will strike or how quickly it will be taken from you.”

Murphy was interred at twilight; “Incredible Grace” was sung at graveside; The service concluded with a reading of The Small Prince, her favorite book.

Her estranged father, Angelo Bertolotti, did not attend the funeral. “If I wanted to go, I would go, but I don’t want to see her that way,” he told E! News Friday.

“She was flawless to me. She was a small bright child. I have only excellent memories. She’s a memory to me now. To me she’s off making a movie somewhere.”

A larger memorial service for Murphy may be held early next year.

Murphy died at 10:04 a.m. December 20 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after she was found unresponsive in her bathroom by her mother.

Many have speculated that Brittany Murphy took an unhealthy amount of medication, but her husband denies the star had an overdose or eating disorder.