Friday, December 31, 2010

Photos | Jay-Z, Beyonce, Bieber And More Nominated For 2010 BET Awards

Jay-Z, Beyonce, Bieber And More Nominated For 2010 BET Awards

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Kelly Monaco Kelly Ripa Kelly Rowland Kerry Suseck Kim Kardashian

Beckhams To Celebrate New Year's Eve In Wine Country

Ah, it must be nice!!
David and Victoria Beckham will reportedly toast in the new year at a lavish party in California's wine country with fellow celeb couples.
The Beckhams will be boozing it up with Gordon Ramsay and his wife Tana, as well as Seal and Heidi Klum. Ramsay is said to be organizing the [...]

Source: http://perezhilton.com/2010-12-31-beckhams-to-celebrate-new-years-eve-with-other-celebrity-couples-in-calfornia-wine-country

Emilie de Ravin Emma Heming Emma Stone Emma Watson Emmanuelle Chriqui

'Teen Mom' Star Amber Portwood Reunited With Baby Leah

Portwood still can't have contact with ex-fiancé Gary Shirley after domestic-violence arrest.
By Terri Schwartz


"Teen Mom" stars baby Leah and Amber Portwood
Photo: Scott Gries

"Teen Mom" star Amber Portwood's hope for the "no contact" order preventing her from seeing her daughter Leah to be lifted came true. Radar Online confirmed that a judge modified the initial order Wednesday so Portwood is able to have contact with her daughter, but she is still prevented from seeing ex-fiancé Gary Shirley.

Portwood has primary custody of Leah, but the "no contact" order was put into effect after she was arrested Monday over domestic-violence charges. She pleaded not guilty on Tuesday and was released on bail. Shirley kept baby Leah overnight Tuesday, but the Indiana Department of Child Services brought her back to Portwood's home Wednesday. If Portwood is convicted of any of the felonies for which she was arrested, she will lose custody of her daughter.

The charges stemmed from a September episode of "Teen Mom" that showed an altercation between Portwood and Shirley where she punched him in front of then-1-year-old Leah. Anderson, Indiana, police started investigating Portwood for domestic battery and child neglect and passed the case to the Madison County Prosecutor's Office, which issued the arrest warrant with three felony counts of domestic battery and one misdemeanor count of neglect of a dependent.

Child Protective Services have been strictly supervising Portwood since November. If they found her living situation to be unsuitable or felt that Leah was in any danger, she would be returned to her father's custody.

During the reunion episode after season two of "Teen Mom," 20-year-old Portwood opened up about the incident, saying, "I have no clue why I hurt Gary. I sort of do, but it's kind of beyond myself. I can't help myself. I have to get help and then help myself. I never notice how bad I am until I see it. And I feel so terrible. And it's like, did I really do that? The people who are around me, how do they feel? I don't remember it being that bad at the time. How did Gary feel? What the hell was I doing?"

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Michael Jackson - Heal the World

Heal the World

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=208386

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Photos | New York's 2010 Summer Jam Lineup

New York's 2010 Summer Jam Lineup

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Willow Smith To Cover ?Parents Just Don?t Understand??

Assuming her place as the rightful heir of slick, schlocky, celebrity-obsessed music-making now that her father has long moved on to be king of slick, schlocky, celebrity-obsessed filmmaking, Willow Smith has been hinting that she may cover follow up her disturbing popular ?Whip My Hair? single with a cover of ?Parents Just Don?t Understand,? the [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/K4bFXVPvG1A/

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Usher's 'OMG' Is MTV News' #1 Song Of 2010!

Club smash, featuring will.i.am, tops our list of the Top 25 Songs of the year.
By James Montgomery


Usher
Photo: Getty Images

MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 has reached an end. We've already counted down the rest, and now it's time to get to the best: Usher's "OMG," the song that perfectly sums up the past 12 months of popular music — and makes you wanna move until you can't move no more.

If 2010 proved anything, it's that a DJ really can save your life ... or at least get you to #1 on the Hot 100. After years of staring at each other from across the room, hip-hop, pop and R&B all decided to finally get in bed with dance music, and the results weren't always pretty, but they were certainly successful. To date, only 17 songs have made it to the top spot of Billboard's singles chart in 2010, and nearly two-thirds of them — from Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" to Far East Movement's "Like a G6" — were, in some way, dance songs.

In that regard, no song better sums up 2010 pop music quite like Usher's "OMG," the dance song to end all dance songs. Sure, it may not have matched the swagger of Kanye West's "Power," the snarl of Rick Ross' "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" or the inbox-clogging spread of Cee Lo's "F--- You," but it didn't have to. None of those songs went to #1, after all. "OMG" did. Twice.

Even among songs that managed to snag that top spot — Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie," Katy Perry's "California Gurls," B.o.B and Bruno Mars' "Nothin' on You" — "OMG" stood out from the pack, mostly because of its pedigree. It's not a stretch to say that any of those tracks could've (and probably would've) been #1 in any other year; "OMG" could only have done it in 2010, because it was crafted to do nothing else. No other song this year was as of the moment, as singular and shiny and downright undeniable. There's a reason it was named on more ballots than any other song on our countdown and justly takes the title of MTV News' #1 Song of 2010.

And while all that is important, it's largely beside the point. "OMG" is the kind of song that truly defies deep inspection, because it's not exactly headphone music. Rather, it was made for the clubs, designed to envelop you on the dance floor and not let go until the final "oh-ohh-oh-ooh-oh." And in that regard, it succeeds in spades. It is a masterful melding of R&B, and Euro dance, all icy synths and handclaps, starbursts and stutters and sing-along chants. It ebbs and flows, stops and starts, pumps and preens. Simply put, you cannot listen to it without moving in some way. (MTV's Dee Caligiuri, who voted on our countdown, probably put it best one night when she declared: "There are so many dances you can do to it!") And if that's not the definition of a success, well, then I don't know what is.

A large portion of the credit for "OMG" has to go to will.i.am, who not only produced the track (I know!), but was smart enough to see this whole dance thing coming when he teamed up with producer David Guetta last year. Those songs — "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling" — were, of course, massive, but neither of them are as good as this. Given full control, Will goes off the deep end, cramming the song with every dance trick in the book — and probably some new ones he just invented on the spot. And Usher, whose career, truth be told, was sort of in need of a shot in the arm, is the beneficiary. He floats and gloats above the mix, suave and cocksure, knowing that he is exactly the right man at the right time. That time, of course, had to be 2010.

Because in a year when so many big-name acts embraced the DJ, he flat-out did it better than any of them. "OMG" represents the peak of the dance-pop era in which we live, a song as undeniable as it is of the moment. We can only speculate as to what next year will bring, but there's really no denying that, as 2010 comes to a close, Usher stands above all else, reinvigorated and ready for more. It's enough to make you say "Oh My God," really.

How does Usher's "OMG" rank among the year's best songs? Let us know in the comments!

MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 have all been counted down. But the fun isn't over yet: We still want to see your picks in the comments below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653969/20101209/usher.jhtml

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Photos | Rihanna and Ke$ha Perform At Madison Square Garden

Rihanna and Ke$ha Perform At Madison Square Garden

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Britney Spears' Producer Opens Up About Her New Album

'She is actually damn professional,' Shellback says in radio interview.
By Jocelyn Vena


Britney Spears
Photo: Eric Charbonneau/ Le Studio/ Wireimage

Britney Spears fans are gearing up for the release of the singer's new music in 2011. With the album due out in March, and a single expected to drop before then, details are slowly emerging about the music and what it was like to work with Spears on the follow-up to 2008's Circus.

"Right now we are preparing for Britney's upcoming album, which will be released in March. Some other things too, but the main focus is the album," Swedish producer Shellback said in a recent radio interview. "It works in many different ways [when you work with Britney]. You can make something absolutely new, or take a beat that's three years old and come up with a good sound."

Shellback, who worked with Pink on "Raise Your Glass," collaborated with Dr. Luke and Max Martin on music for Spears. The producers are donating a guitar they used on the album to charity.

"[Britney]'s actually damn professional. You read a lot on the Internet that Britney is not singing and mimes, but she is actually damn professional," Shellback said. "She's done it since she was 16. And just rhythmic way, she is f---ing awesome! And you do not have to go through and talk about the rhythms and stuff that you sometimes have to do. She's very easy in the studio."

Spears has shared her excitement about the new album with fans via her Twitter page. "I'm almost done with my new album and it will be coming out this March," she wrote. "I AM IN L-O-V-E WITH IT!"

Are you excited for Britney's new album? Tell us in the comments below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654749/20101221/spears_britney.jhtml

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Photos | Ke$ha Exclusive Photos | MTV Style

Ke$ha Exclusive Photos | MTV Style

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1646299

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Aretha Franklin Is Alive, Not Dead

With not much entertainment news happening in the final days of 2010, hey, why not stir things up with a rumor that Aretha Franklin has died?
Well thankfully the Queen of Soul is not dead. Rumors hit the web Monday that Franklin had died of pancreatic cancer, with which she had been diagnosed earlier [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/Ar7XvHq2Yf8/

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GaGa Breaks More Records With Ale-Ale-Jandro!

She's UNSTOPPABLE!
Lady GaGa has once again broken ANOTHER crazy record - as her single Alejandro has hit the two million mark in paid downloads, making it her seventh song to do so!
Holy shiz! Let's think about this.
Our wifey is the only artist in digital history to have SEVEN two million sellers!
Congratulations, bb! We're [...]

Source: http://perezhilton.com/2010-12-30-lady-gaga-alejandro-hits-two-million-mark-in-paid-downloads

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Thursday, December 30, 2010

Jeff Bridges Heaps Praise On 'True Grit' Co-Star Hailee Steinfeld

Bridges calls the 14-year-old actress' performance 'remarkable.'
By Terri Schwartz


Jeff Bridges
Photo: MTV News

With the Coen brothers' "True Grit" making its way into theaters this week, all eyes likely will be turning to newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, who plays the film's young leading lady, Mattie Ross. In her first major role, the 14-year-old actress ultimately has to carry the first portion of the movie, and her performance has been garnering some serious buzz during this awards season. When MTV News caught up with Steinfeld's co-star Jeff Bridges while he was promoting "True Grit," he said he was impressed by the intensity of her performance while they were filming on set.

"What a tough, challenging role for a seasoned actor. All that dialogue, kind of tricky way of speaking. Thirteen-year-old girl, never been in a movie, and she comes up with that performance," Bridges gushed. "Isn't that remarkable?"

Steinfeld found herself surrounded by a full cast and crew of cinema veterans. The Coen brothers won an Oscar for directing 2008's "No Country for Old Men" and have been nominated two other times, Bridges took home a Best Actor Oscar for his role in last year's "Crazy Heart," and Matt Damon and Josh Brolin both have received Academy Award nods in acting categories in the past. But Bridges said Steinfeld didn't need any acting tips from himself or any of the other castmembers.

"I might have slipped out a tip once or twice, and I always regret when I would do that. It's almost like a reflex action — you can't help but put yourself into the other actor's position sometimes," he explained. "I always appreciate a tip from some guy, one of the other players, but no, I let her run free. The brothers directed her beautifully."

With all the buzz Steinfeld has been getting for her "True Grit" performance, she now is one of the main actresses being looked at to play another strong female character: Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games." When Steinfeld spoke with MTV recently while promoting "True Grit," she said it "would definitely be an honor" to even be considered for the Katniss role.

"I didn't even realize that people were mentioning my name," she said. "It's every actor's dream to be recognized for something that they love to do, and to get recognized for that is pretty amazing. I thank the people out there who think that."

Check out everything we've got on "True Grit."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Zombie Pop Stars

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Zombie Pop Stars

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Photos | Ke$ha Exclusive Photos | MTV Style

Ke$ha Exclusive Photos | MTV Style

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Hobbits Reunite For A Special Day!

We're glad to see that after all these years, these guys have all stayed friends!
On Wednesday, Billy Boyd officially became someone's hubby as he married his girlfriend, Ali McKinnon, in Glasgow.
As you can see, standing dutifully by him on his big day were his Lord of the Rings co-stars, Elijah Wood and Dominic Monaghan.
My, my, [...]

Source: http://perezhilton.com/2010-12-30-elijah-wood-and-dominic-monaghan-billy-boyd-wedding-lord-of-the-rings

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Did 'Girls Gone Wild' Producer Joe Francis' Wife Leave After Only 7 Weeks?

Did 'Girls Gone Wild' Producer Joe Francis' Wife Leave After Only 7 Weeks?

She may not have gone wild, but sources say that Joe Francis' wife of only seven weeks, Christina McLarty, is definitely gone. 

The couple said "I do" in early November, but insiders say McClarty has since moved out of the Girls Gone Wild founder's Bel Air home.

"Things completely changed in the relationship and it just became painful," a source close to the twosome told UsMagazine.com. "They are not sure if they are going to divorce yet. They're just taking some time apart."

A rep for Francis has denied the split, but pals of the couple insist there is definitely some sort of trouble in paradise.

"The rumors are true despite the rep's denial, but that's because he's hoping to reconcile with her," the source says. "It's just a spat. They've turned to friends for counsel."

Do you think Joe Francis' marriage will last? Chime in below!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/did-girls-gone-wild-producer-joe-francis-wife-leave-after-only-7-weeks/1-a-310045

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Beyonce Jokes She's Been Pregnant With Concert Special

'I was pregnant with this DVD,' she laughs to MTV News as 'I Am ... World Tour' is set to air Thanksgiving Day on ABC.
By Jocelyn Vena


Beyoncé
Photo: MTV News

Beyoncé never really seems to slow down, so when the time came to choose a director for her concert special DVD "I Am ... World Tour," the singer decided to take on those duties too. It's an accomplishment the singer jokes may have sparked those pregnancy rumors.

"I was pregnant with this DVD, yes!" she joked to MTV News.

The DVD hits stores on November 30, but fans can catch the 90-minute "I Am ... World Tour" TV special when it airs on ABC Thanksgiving night at 9:30 p.m. ET. Beyoncé opened up about what it was like to sit in the director's chair.

"Well, I've done some co-directing for music videos [but] this was definitely a big step for me, and I'm so thrilled," she said at the New York City screening for the flick.

Beyoncé said she was completely hands-on, deciding which moments made the final cut and which ones wound up on the cutting-room floor. "It was hard work," she said. "I learned so much. I have a new respect for directors and I think I would like to do more of it."

Her parents, Mathew and Tina Knowles, who also attended the screening over the weekend, said the film gives B the recognition she deserves after years of collaborating on many of her own videos.

"I'm really excited about this because Beyoncé has been making little short films and really helping to direct her videos," Tina told us. "So it's nice that she'll get credit for doing something that she really loves doing and that she's very talented at."

Dad Mathew recalled all of the effort his superstar daughter put into the special. "I'm so proud," he said. "I had an opportunity [to see the film], I've been to Houston with a screening; I've been to Bentonville, [Arkansas], with a screening, and to see the excitement from the audience, what an incredible job Beyoncé did as a director in the editing, I'm just so proud. Hopefully, all the fans go out and get the DVD and soundtrack and look at that ABC special coming on Thanksgiving."

Are you excited to see Beyoncé's concert special? Tell us in the comments!

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Stephen Dorff Says Filming 'Somewhere' Was 'Pretty Extreme'

'It's the most naked part you could ever play,' Dorff says of his role in the Sofia Coppola-directed film.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Stephen Dorff
Photo: MTV News

For many moviegoers familiar with his work, Stephen Dorff is most recognized for playing dark, destructive and evil characters à la Deacon Frost in "Blade" — the role for which he took home an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. His new movie "Somewhere," written and directed by Sofia Coppola, is a complete departure from much of his previous work, a role that required Dorff to step into new territories of both filmmaking and acting.

"This one was pretty extreme because [Coppola] wanted to experience some real-time acting on film," Dorff told MTV News of Coppola, whose unique directorial style involved getting lingering shots of his character just staring off in the distance or literally doing nothing. "So if I smoke a cigarette, that might be one line in the script but in the movie it might be five minutes, so it's very authentic," he added.

Dorff said the role of Johnny Marco, a disenchanted movie star and absent father to 11-year-old Cleo (played by Elle Fanning), was the most challenging of his career thus far.

"It's the most naked part you could ever play, really, because there's no plot driving the emotion," he said. "There's no explosions, nobody dying to trigger an emotional breakdown, there's no bank robbery. This is a film that's based on almost a portrait of a guy we open with, and we find the monotony in his life. Then when Elle comes into play, Cleo, it becomes really this movie about an adolescent father who needs a change in his life or he's headed for disaster."

Dorff described Marco as broken, lost, confused and bored with his life, until his daughter comes along and he starts to realize how spending time with her, actually being a father, makes him happy.

"While he's been going through that, he's missed probably three years of crucial time with his daughter and the fog starts to lift throughout the film," he explained. "He starts to see this beautiful girl and starts to get his act together."

"Somewhere" began a limited run in theaters on Wednesday.

Check out everything we've got on "Somewhere."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654859/20101223/story.jhtml

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Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel

The Way You Make Me Feel

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=208859

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Tricky Stewart Defends New Michael Jackson Tune, 'Keep Your Head'

'This was a record that [MJ] wrote and that he produced. And I just got in there,' the producer maintains.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by James Lacsina


Tricky Stewart
Photo: MTV News

While detractors of Michael Jackson's Michael album cry foul over the unfinished material that makes up the bulk of the posthumous project, producer Christopher "Tricky" Stewart is insisting that his contribution to the release was material MJ put together — and finished — himself.

In the case of "Keep Your Head Up," one of the album's biggest standouts, Stewart told MTV News that the track was not a remake of any kind. Rather, he just added minor additional production flourishes to the number.

"The main thing I wanted to do was make sure that Michael would like it," said Stewart, who has worked with Beyoncé, Mariah Carey and The-Dream. "And that it would feel like something he would do naturally if he was here. A lot of it was probably me overthinking it a little bit. And trying to deliver what I think he would do. And there's so much music that he made that I could reference the precision of what he was into musically. I did that and this was a song that he wrote. It wasn't he and me making a record. This was a record that he wrote and that he produced. And I just got in there.

He added, "It was really just about getting into his mental space and trying to find out the best way to deliver that record."

"Keep Your Head" leaked online prior to Michael's release and was under scrutiny regarding the validity of MJ's vocals.

Although, it's evident that Jackson's lead crooning on "Keep Your Head" is authentic and new, some of the background vocals are alleged to be from previously released material, like the 1995 tune "Earth Song."

Stewart confirmed that the primary vocals are Jackson's and said he was satisfied with the result.

"It was really surreal," the producer said of the experience. "Getting into that moment and getting into that space, to have the opportunity to work with the greatest entertainer of all time. Or work on, I should say. It was a tremendous time in my life to just get in there and listen to his voice, be able to strip down the track and listen to him in his purest form — something that most people can't do. It was a great experience. I'm glad I did it, I had a lot of fun doing it and I think the track came out great."

What's your opinion about "Keep Your Head"? Tell us in the comments.

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What If A '16 and Pregnant' Teen Chose Abortion?

What If A '16 and Pregnant' Teen Chose Abortion?

Throughout three seasons of MTV's 16 and Pregnant, teens grapple with unplanned pregnancy in one of two ways. They either decide to raise the baby, or they give the baby up for adoption. None of them go with that unnamed third option: aborting the baby.

That just changed. In a special episode called "No Easy Decision" (December 28, 11:30 p.m. ET), MTV's cameras follow 19-year-old Markai Durham (of 16 and Pregnant, Season 3) as she decides to abort her second baby.

Just last month, viewers tagged along during Durham's first experience with unplanned pregnancy. An African-American girl on a show usually devoted to lighter-skinned teens, Durham was sassy and headstrong, but admittedly unconcerned about practicing safe sex. She smiled limply and shook her head when her mother asked about it. "Condoms be all in the way, pretty much," said James, her white, dreadlocked, cheating boyfriend (whose speech was so mumbled that MTV had to use subtitles).

Like Teen Mom's Amber Portwood, Durham stirred up controversy when MTV aired footage of her slapping James during an argument. (Unlike Portwood's situation, the police didn't investigate the incident.) With this special episode, Durham's bringing the network more publicity. Just months after she delivered their daughter, Za'Karia, she (and James) conceived again. "I thought I was on birth-control," she wrote on her Facebook page. "I don't blame anyone but myself for it though. I should have educated MYSELF on the medicine that would be transferred into my OWN BODY."

Durham felt that abortion was the right way to handle this second pregnancy. "I still did what was BEST," she wrote. "I'm a 19 year old with a one year old with only a high school diploma with a 20 year old wonderful man with only a high school diploma."

Naturally, pro-life groups and bloggers disagree, and several have weighed in with their disapproval. (Here's one entry by blogger Jill Stanek, who calls Durham "depressingly ignorant about fetal development.")

Sadly, there is no bright side to the abortion quandary, and there never will be. As Durham herself wrote, "One thing we can all agree on is no one is pro-abortion! (no one with a heart at least)." But sadder still is MTV's choice of Durham to tell this story. Talk about not learning from your mistakes! Somehow, the very real hardships of an unplanned pregnancy (and teen motherhood) failed to deter this girl from getting pregnant again mere months after the delivery. Now we're expected to nod along sympathetically as she struggles with the politically charged, ethical dilemma of abortion? It's frustrating to watch such a hapless soul struggle with such a momentous choice.

But then, there are no obvious answers in this debate. Even for a smarter girl, this would be "no easy decision."

Do you agree with Markai's choice to let cameras capture her decision to abort? Chime in below.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/what-if-16-and-pregnant-teen-chose-abortion/1-a-309748

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Photos | 'Forbes' Top Earning Celebrities Of 2010

'Forbes' Top Earning Celebrities Of 2010

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Demi Lovato Will Not Star In 'The Avengers'

Disney starlet was rumored to be up for a role in the all-star superhero film.
By James Dinh


Demi Lovato
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for PCA

Demi Lovato still has her 2011 touring plan, but one gig the teen sensation doesn't have on her agenda is a starring role in "The Avengers." Contrary to reports, the 18-year-old singer/actress will not be featured in the film about a team of Marvel superheroes, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

THR reports that sources inside Lovato's and Marvel's camps are "denying across the board" that the "Camp Rock" star is involved in any way in the all-star comic book adaptation, which is tentatively due in 2012. Part of the difficulty in hiring the actress is that the Joss Whedon-directed film will begin shooting in spring 2011 and the starlet is still undergoing her medical treatment for "emotional and physical issues."

Despite the circulating Lovato rumor, Marvel may still be on the lookout for another female actress to join the male-heavy cast. As of now, "The Avengers" superhero lineup includes Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Samuel Jackson (Nick Fury), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Chris Evans (Captain America), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk) and Chris Hemsworth (Thor).

Things have been looking up for the "Sonny With a Chance" star. Not only did the songstress come to an agreement with dancer Alex Welch, whom she allegedly punched before leaving her joint tour with the Jonas Brothers, but the Disney star was also able to spend some time with her family on Christmas Day. She was spotted with her family on the holiday getting food near her treatment facility in Woodridge, Illinois.

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies -- updated around the clock -- visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1655041/20101229/lovato__demi.jhtml

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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Britney Spears' Producer Opens Up About Her New Album

'She is actually damn professional,' Shellback says in radio interview.
By Jocelyn Vena


Britney Spears
Photo: Eric Charbonneau/ Le Studio/ Wireimage

Britney Spears fans are gearing up for the release of the singer's new music in 2011. With the album due out in March, and a single expected to drop before then, details are slowly emerging about the music and what it was like to work with Spears on the follow-up to 2008's Circus.

"Right now we are preparing for Britney's upcoming album, which will be released in March. Some other things too, but the main focus is the album," Swedish producer Shellback said in a recent radio interview. "It works in many different ways [when you work with Britney]. You can make something absolutely new, or take a beat that's three years old and come up with a good sound."

Shellback, who worked with Pink on "Raise Your Glass," collaborated with Dr. Luke and Max Martin on music for Spears. The producers are donating a guitar they used on the album to charity.

"[Britney]'s actually damn professional. You read a lot on the Internet that Britney is not singing and mimes, but she is actually damn professional," Shellback said. "She's done it since she was 16. And just rhythmic way, she is f---ing awesome! And you do not have to go through and talk about the rhythms and stuff that you sometimes have to do. She's very easy in the studio."

Spears has shared her excitement about the new album with fans via her Twitter page. "I'm almost done with my new album and it will be coming out this March," she wrote. "I AM IN L-O-V-E WITH IT!"

Are you excited for Britney's new album? Tell us in the comments below!

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Photos | Ke$ha Gets Electro At Casio's Shock The World Event 2010

Ke$ha Gets Electro At Casio's Shock The World Event 2010

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Cher & Kathy Griffin Are Beach BFFs

Iconic Diva Cher and self-proclaimed D-Lister Kathy Griffin spent part of their weekend in Hawaii hanging out together on the beach. The BFFs who spend the Xmas weekend holidaying in Hawaii met up for a paddleboarding trip together on Xmas Eve. I don’t know how you spent your Xmas Eve, but paddleboarding in paradise sure [...]

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Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year

Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff


Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."

He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.

You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.

Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.

And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.

And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.

To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.

One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.

"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."

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Grammy Hits And Misses: Ke$ha Shut Out, Bruno Mars Cleans Up

Big Boi and Alicia Keys are also left out, but Florence and the Machine and Ray LaMontagne get some much-deserved love.
By Gil Kaufman


Ke$ha
Photo: Kristian Dowling / PictureGroup

What would the annual Grammy nominations announcement be without the next-day quarterbacking and bellyaching about who got dissed and who got just the right amount of Academy love?

While this year's batch of contenders is mostly devoid of the WTF factor of past nomination seasons, when veteran acts such as Steely Dan, Robert Plant and Herbie Hancock sucked most of the air out of the room, there were still plenty of surprises, omissions and flat-out questionable choices to go around.

The one most people were buzzing about Thursday (December 2) was the blank delivered to Ke$ha, who earned a grand total of zero nominations for her debut, Animal, despite launching several hits and earning a major spot in the pop-culture universe in 2010. The snub was even more noticeable because one of her producers, Dr. Luke, was nominated in the producer category and four of the eight songs that earned him that spot were from Ke$ha's debut.

We spoke to Entertainment Weekly music critic Leah Greenblatt about that oversight and many others in this year's nominations. She said the Ke$ha situation was surprising, especially considering the love that the similarly poptastic Katy Perry got for Teenage Dream, which has sold well but, like Animal, was not critically adored upon release.

"But I think it's really cool to see Florence [and the Machine] get that nomination [for Best New Artist], and I think it's awesome that Esperanza Spalding also got nominated [in that category]," she said of the little-known jazz singer who likely sent many people to Google on Wednesday night.

Greenblatt was also excited that raspy-voiced singer Ray LaMontagne snagged a spot in the Song of the Year category for "Beg Steal or Borrow" and another in the Best Contemporary Folk Album category.

"As fogie-ish as the Grammys are, it seems like this year they went more towards a Teen Choice Awards direction with a noticeably younger group of nominees," she said, wondering if it was a conscious decision to try and make the show hipper or if it's a signal of the changing demographic of Grammy voters. "And I think Bruno Mars deserves all of his nominations," she added about the singer/songwriter/producer who scored seven nods. "He only had one hit, but he really shaped popular music this year with the songs he did for Travie McCoy, B.o.B and Cee Lo. He brought so much musicality to R&B and pop. He's making music and playing instruments and he's insanely melodic. He's not just jacking samples."

As for how Eminem ended up with the most nominations at 10, she chalked it up to the "Sandra Bullock factor," speculating that Grammy voters might have just thought it was Marshall Mathers' time to shine again. "He's not universally liked for his sparkling personality, but it seems like it's his time," she said of the rapper, who had the year's best-selling album with Recovery and stormed back with some of the most melodic, accessible music of his decade-plus career. "It almost seemed like he was deemed safe enough for the Grammys this year ... and the album is so incredibly commercial. It's as safe as Eminem gets."

As for who got left off, Greenblatt said she was surprised at the lack of "American Idol" names on the list, with season-eight winner Kris Allen getting shut out and that season's runner-up, Adam Lambert, only getting a bid for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Whataya Want From Me."

And for a song that was one of the best-selling singles of the year, it was surprising that Train's "Hey, Soul Sister," Grammy bait if there ever was, managed only one nod for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals — for a live version of the tune.

There were other glaring omissions to be sure: no love for rappers Rick Ross and Big Boi, just a pair of nominations for last year's big winners Kings of Leon, a shutout for Lady Gaga's smash "Bad Romance" in the Record and Song of the Year categories (it did show up in Best Female Pop Vocal Performance) as well as for B.o.B and Hayley Williams' mega-hit "Airplanes," which scored only a Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals acknowledgment.

Greenblatt was also disappointed that Alicia Keys' The Element of Freedom got blanked, despite the handfuls of Grammys the singer has taken home in the past. And considering its major impact on the pop-culture landscape, "Glee" only got noticed in the Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media category and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals for "Don't Stop Believin'," which Greenblatt said may have had something to do with the fact that the songs on the show are covers and not original compositions.

In the end, though, she said this year's Grammys were mostly devoid of the giant head-smacking omissions and inclusions of past years and with the strong recognition to a new generation of singers, another potential sign that the show might be inching in a new direction.

Which artists or albums do you think got too much (or not enough love) this year? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Photos | "Michael Jackson's This Is It"

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Michael Jackson's 'Hold My Hand' And More Posthumous Music Videos

Aaliyah, Tupac Shakur, Elvis Presley and more late superstars have popped up in videos after their deaths.
By James Montgomery


Michael Jackson in the video for "Hold My Hand"
Photo: Sony Music Entertainment

On Thursday (December 9), the late, great Michael Jackson returned to the music-video world with "Hold My Hand," a clip from the upcoming Michael album, which pairs his vocals with production work from some of today's top producers.

And much like that album, the "Hold My Hand" video is very much a retrospective affair, loaded with triumphant MJ performance footage and uplifting imagery (smiling children, sunrises, bright blue skies), not to mention a whole lot of Akon. And while fans can debate whether the clip is a worthy addition to the King of Pop's massive music-video legacy, it certainly carries on the tradition of the posthumous video, a rather ignominious — and incredibly profitable — wing of the music-industry machine.

Yes, ever since Elvis Presley shuffled off this mortal coil, record labels have been churning out videos by deceased stars, for reasons that run the gamut from tribute to pure profit. Out of necessity (since the star is no longer with us), these videos are usually by-the-numbers affairs, full of stock footage and performance clips, the occasional use of animation and, of course, the odd celebrity cameo. More often than not, fans love them — which is why we keep seeing them. And since "Hold My Hand" has just been unveiled, we decided to take a look back at some of the most notable examples of stars who may no longer be with us, but continue to make music videos. Here's our Posthumous Playlist.

Aaliyah
She died tragically in a 2001 plane crash, but her videos kept showing up on MTV. "I Care 4 U" was a collection of clips from the Japanese anime "Macross Pluss II," which feature her as a ghostly figure. "Miss You" was a tribute vid, starting with a heartfelt monologue by DMX and featuring cameos by the likes of Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim and Toni Braxton. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" is a combination of footage from her old videos and newly animated bits, which reimagine Aaliyah as a superhero in a skintight getup.

Elvis Presley
He died in 1977 but found chart success once again in 2002, when a remixed version of his song "A Little Less Conversation" was featured in a Nike World Cup commercial. A video, featuring performance footage of the King playing on a TV monitor (and a bunch of hyperactive dancers and models re-enacting his famous "Jailhouse Rock" video) was quickly assembled to capitalize. It was appropriately massive.

John Lennon
Murdered outside his New York City home in 1980, Lennon's (then) just-released Double Fantasy quickly rose to #1 on the album charts and even won the Grammy for Album of the Year. The follow-up, Milk and Honey, was also a hit and featured the single "Nobody Told Me," which came with a posthumous video, complete with photos of Lennon as a child, his iconic wire-frame specs and even some of his illustrations.

Nirvana
After the death of Kurt Cobain, there was no shortage of Nirvana sundry released, though the video for "You Know You're Right" — one of the last songs he recorded with the band — is the true standout, full of performance clips and backstage footage that capture the grunge icon at his most powerful, moody and, strangely enough, happy.

The Notorious B.I.G.
He was killed in 1997, but his talent — and the prodigious amount of pre-recorded material he left behind — survives to this day. There truly is no shortage of posthumous Biggie videos, though the most notable are probably the flossy, glossy "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems," Spike Jonze's riotous "Sky's the Limit" (which stars nothing but children) and "Notorious Thugz," a team up with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony that features his ghost rapping inside a studio.

Sublime
Frontman Bradley Nowell died just before the release of the trio's breakout self-titled album, and so — mostly out of necessity — Nowell (and his beloved dog, Lou) continued to turn up in the band's videos, including "What I Got," "Santeria" and "Wrong Way."

TLC
Just before the release of their 2002 album 3D, founding member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was killed in a car accident in Honduras. The group's two remaining members pressed on, releasing a series of videos that paid tribute to their late friend. In the video for "Girl Talk," they wear outfits emblazoned with her name, and she shows up in animated form too. "Turntable" is a more traditional posthumous clip, made up of performance footage of the trio taken from their live shows and videos.

Tupac Shakur
Unlike most late stars, Tupac left behind so much material that he never really left. The vaults were mined for more than a decade following his 1996 death, to the point where some believe he may actually still be with us. Not surprisingly, there are no shortage of posthumous music videos out there, including "I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto," which picks up after he was shot (and was filmed from his "point of view"); "Changes," a solemn tribute clip made up of news footage, scenes from his videos and movies and still photos; and "Until the End of Time," a more sparse affair, featuring clips of him onstage and in the studio.

What is your favorite posthumous clip? Let us know in the comments.

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Photos | 2010 American Music Awards Red Carpet

2010 American Music Awards Red Carpet

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Movie Review: ?All Good Things?

Last night was another quiet movie night for David and me, which to be honest, was the perfect way to spend an uneventful Monday night. A few weeks ago, we got to see some photos of Ryan Gosling in the just-released film All Good Things and based on those photos (of Ryan in a pair [...]

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AMA 2010 Performance Highlights


Taylor Swift performs at the 2010 American Music Awards
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Val Kilmer Owes The IRS?AGAIN!

Oh geez!
Val Kilmer is once again in trouble with the IRS - this time he reportedly owes them almost $500,000 in unpaid federal taxes!
According to legal documents, Kilmer has a $498,165 lien filed against him in New Mexico, where the actor owns a multi-million dollar ranch!
And he only just settled his debt from 2009 a [...]

Source: http://perezhilton.com/2010-12-28-val-kilmer-owes-irs-50000-dollars

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Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Lindsay Lohan's Family Threatens To Sue Over 'Dogs In Pocketbooks'

Mom Dina Lohan says the family has 'a very strong case' against satirical film.
By Terri Schwartz


Lindsay Lohan
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

It took less than a day for reps from the Lohan family to speak out against Charles Casillo's latest film, "Dogs in Pocketbooks." The screenplay was written as a satire of Lindsay Lohan's life, though Casillo was emphatic that the film was "in no way mean-spirited toward Lindsay," adding, "It's the kind of thing she has spoofed about herself in the past."

But the Lohan family has been notoriously sensitive about anything that makes a mockery of Lindsay, most recently seen when they sued E-Trade for $100 million because of an ad that was modeled after her and ran during the Super Bowl.

Dina Lohan, Lindsay's mother, spoke with TMZ and said the family is considering legal action against Casillo. She said the new movie is "definitely based on Lindsay's likeness" (something Casillo did not try to hide when the film was announced Monday) and that the family has "a very strong case. It's shadowing E-Trade."

The Lohan family has already contacted their lawyer, Stephanie Ovadia, who told TMZ she thinks they have a case against the film. "They are again using [Lindsay's] likeness without her being compensated," the lawyer said. "Not only that, but they are advertising the fact they are using her likeness. Anyone bringing negativity will be dealt with accordingly."

When TMZ contacted Casillo for comment, he backpedaled and said that allegations that the movie is based on Lindsay are "totally blown out of proportion." He argued that the character is a composite of many young Hollywood starlets, including Lohan, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Marilyn Monroe and Jean Harlow.

"Dogs in Pocketbooks" follows a "bratty movie goddess in and out of rehab, in trouble with the law, and hounded by greedy agents, predatory paparazzi, off-the-wall stalkers and crazed media." The title is an obvious reference to the trend Hilton started by carrying around her teacup Chihuahua in her purse, but the rest of the character description sounds markedly similar to Lohan.

On Monday, it was announced that model and heiress Lydia Hearst Shaw would play the lead, with Joan Collins cast as her agent. Casillo said of Hearst Shaw, "She's one of the few supermodels who can actually act. She's smart, well-read, charming and very beautiful. We looked at a lot of actresses for this role, and I was really knocked out."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more -- updated around the clock -- visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Ronnie James Dio Dead at 67

Today, the heavy metal world lost a true legend. Ronnie James Dio, who most recently fronted the Black Sabbath-without-Ozzy band Heaven & Hell, lost his battle with stomach cancer at 7:45 a.m. PST. He was 67.
?My heart is broken,? said his wife and manager, Wendy Dio in a statement. ?Many, many friends and family were [...]

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Photos | Justin Bieber Superhero Trading Cards!

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Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year

Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff


Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."

He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.

You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.

Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.

And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.

And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.

To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.

One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.

"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."

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