Nick Lachey to host talent show
Since Nick Lachey’s solo music career has stalled, the former 98 Degrees singer is turning to a television talent show to help jump start his career again.
NBC announced Lachey will host a talent show titled “The Sing-Off.” The show will feature eight musical groups who will compete for a record contract with Epic Records/Sony Recording.
The show will premiere Dec. 14.
American Idol winner Kris Allen overshadowed by Adam Lambert
American Idol winner Kris Allen during a photo shoot in West Hollwood. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)
American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert during the premiere of Michael Jackson's movie "This Is It." (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
The 2009 ”American Idol” champion Kris Allen released his self-titled debut album today (Nov. 17). Many people might not have known he was even releasing an album.
Although Allen was victorious on “American Idol” earlier this year, he didn’t receive a substantial amount of media attention after his win. It wasn’t because he lacked talent. It was because he lacked shock value. Allen is plain, average and simple.
Which explains why he has been overshadowed by Adam Lambert, the “American Idol” runner-up. Lambert appears to be a magnet for the camera.
As a result, numerous magazines were racing to put him on the cover and land interviews with him. Meanwhile, Allen was an after thought. Entertainment journalists ignored him and focused on Lambert because he was more shocking.
Even pop star Lady Gaga came knocking on Lambert’s door wanting to collaborate with him on new music.
I’ll admit, Allen didn’t have the strongest vocals on the show. But the majority of “American Idol” voters chose Allen as their champion, and he deserves to receive some media attention since he was declared the winner.
Allen’s album is in stores now. Lambert’s album “For Your Entertainment” will be released Nov. 23.
Janet Jackson blames doctor for Michael’s death
Michael Jackson accepted an award at the 1984 Grammy's with his sisters on stage (from left) Rebbie, Janet and La Toya Jackson (AP photo by Doug Pizac)
Janet Jackson during a pre-Oscar party in 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Pop music legend Janet Jackson is speaking out against her brother Michael Jackson’s doctor. In an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, Janet said she blames Dr. Conrad Murray for Michael’s death.
She said Murray “was the one that was administering propofol. I think he is responsible.”
Although I agree Dr. Murray deserves some of the blame for Michael’s death because he administered propofol, it’s not entirely his fault. Michael willingly took the drug because he was a drug addict. He suffered from an addiction to medication, and that’s what killed him.
He hired Dr. Murray to travel with him and serve as his full-time doctor so he could have easy acess to prescription drugs.
Michael was a genius in the music industry. He made the right decisions when it came to his music, his dancing and his videos. But when it came to decisions in his personal life, Michael was negligent, and that negligence is what killed him.
In excerpts released by ABC News, Janet also describes how she found out Michael died.
“I was at my house in New York. You know, another day, another morning. And I get a call. My assistant said, ‘Your brother’s been taken to the hospital. It’s on CNN right now,’ I called everyone. There’s a line busy or someone wasn’t picking up. I spoke to mother. I spoke to Tito. I spoke to my nephew Austin. I spoke to my sister La Toya. I told them to call me when they got to the hospital, and I remember thinking nobody’s calling me back, so I tried calling again, and that’s how I found out that he was no longer. I couldn’t believe it It just didn’t ring true to me. It felt like a dream.”
Janet’s full interview will air Nov. 18 on ABC.
Chris Brown on The Wendy Williams Show
R&B singer Chris Brown sat down for an interview with talk show host Wendy Williams. His new video titled “Crawl” also premiered on the show. The interview is posted below. Fast forward the video clip to 49 seconds to watch the music video for “Crawl.”
Faith Hill, Tim McGraw defend Taylor Swift win
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw present Taylor Swift with the entertainer of the year award at the CMA's. (AP photo by Mark Humphrey)
Country singer Wynonna Judd issued an apology to Taylor Swift. Earlier this week (Nov. 12), Judd told USA Today that Swift’s success is “too much of a good thing.” Click here to read her full comment.
Swift made history by becoming the youngest person to win the entertainer of the year award at the CMA’s.
Judd posted this comment on her Web site. “I understand that my comment about Taylor Swift’s Entertainer of the Year nomination came across as a negative statement. My intent was not to take anything away from her talent and contributions to the country music industry…all of which are truly unprecedented for an artist of ANY age. Taylor is a beautiful, hard working young woman that deserves the success she has had and I support her as an artist and as a woman in the business.”
Now, country couple Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are defending Swift’s win.
Hill told People magazine, “I think she worked her tail off the last couple of years, and she deserves to win.”
McGraw told the magazine “I’ve been doing this a long time and she’s got a better head on her shoulders than I do, so I don’t know how anybody could complain about that.”
Country singer Randy Travis also weighed in on the topic. Travis told the magazine, “as a writer, she is a phenomenal talent. When you look at the body of work that she has written at the age when she came into this business, it’s remarkable. It really is. But do I think that entertainer of the year might have been a little early? In my opinion, yes, for whatever that’s worth.”
Personally, I don’t understand why some people are against Swift winning the top awards at a young age. If you don’t think she should win because you don’t like her music, that’s fine.
But I don’t think her age should be an issue. Outside of the country music industry, teenage singers frequently win top awards.
When Britney Spears was a teenager, she dominated the award shows. Someone’s age shouldn’t be a factor.
Wynonna Judd says Taylor Swift’s success happening too soon
(AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Kanye West isn’t the only entertainer who feels Taylor Swift shouldn’t win the top awards. Country singer Wynonna Judd feels Swift has too much success too soon.
On the red carpet before the Country Music Awards began, when Judd was asked what advice she would give Swift, she replied “You want my honest comment? It’s too much too soon. Time is God’s way of keeping everything from happening at once. It’s just too much of a good thing too soon. My thing is, being a home-school mom, I want kids to earn it, and I think some time cause mom and I rode in a car for the first year of our career to visit radio stations. There was a making of the star, there was a rising up, and the fans went with us. Now it’s over coffee breaks, the success, almost. You have to play catch up. It’s like the girl who wins an Oscar and she’s under 20. What do you do from here?” (according to USA Today).
To be fair, Judd’s comments were made BEFORE 19-year-old Swift won the top award for entetainer of the year. But based on her comments, I think it’s safe to say Judd doesn’t think Swift should have won that award this soon.
Judd never snatched a microphone from Swift, (Like Kanye did) but I’m curious to see if there will be any backlash against Judd for that comment.
Carrie Prejean pulls plug on Larry King Live
If you watched “Larry King Live” Wednesday nigth on CNN, you probably saw that awkward moment between King and Miss USA runnerup Carrie Prejean.
King questioned Prejean about the sex tape she made that features herself alone. Athough the tape has been the subject of many news programs, Prejean said the question was innappropriate for King to ask, and she took off her microphone in retaliation.
The video clip is posted below.
Highlights from the CMA’s
Taylor Swift gets emotional as she accepts the entertainer of the year award (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The Country Music Association Awards (CMA) was held Wednesday night in Nashville. Taylor Swift was the biggest winner (no surprise there).
The full Associated Press story is posted below via NewsOK.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Darius Rucker became the first black singer to win new artist of the year at the Country Music Association Awards, joining Charley Pride as the only African-American to win a major individual award, while Taylor Swift won two awards, including album of the year.
Rucker, whose first country album, “Learn to Live,” sold more than 1 million copies, took the stage Wednesday night to wild cheers from the crowd and shouted, “What a year!”
“First of all, to the fans, thank y’all for accepting me,” the jubilant Rucker said. “And I think most importantly, to country radio, you took a chance on a pop singer from Charleston, S.C. Thank you so much for that!”
Swift, who could become the youngest performer to win entertainer of the year, thanked the fans for their support of “Fearless,” the top-selling album of the year. She also won video of the year for “Love Story.”
“You guys, this album is my diary and so to all the people who voted for me for this is a thank you for saying you love my diary because that’s the nicest compliment,” Swift told the audience.
Lady Antebellum won two awards, emerging as the early leader with two trophies after capturing the vocal group and single of the year categories. The win in vocal group ended Rascal Flatts’ six-year dominance in that category.
“Rascal Flatts, you’ve inspired us for such a long time,” Lady Antebellum singer Charles Kelly said. “Thank you so much for letting us be up here.”
Jamey Johnson, along with James Otto and Lee Thomas Miller, won song of the year for “In Color.”
“I never thought you guys would even let me come to things like this,” Johnson, the country outlaw with the scruffy beard, said jokingly as the audience at the Sommet Center laughed.
The biggest question on the red carpet Wednesday evening was whether Swift – this year’s top-selling music artist in all genres outside of Michael Jackson – can end Kenny Chesney’s reign and become the first female solo artist to win the category since 1999.
“I think that you can’t help but talk about Taylor Swift when you talk about modern country music,” Otto said. “People talk about pop country or country pop. Whatever brings more fans to country music I’m all for.”
Swift was up four CMA awards with Zac Brown, George Strait and Johnson. Brad Paisley was the leading nominee, up for the biggest awards of the evening, including entertainer, male vocalist and album of the year. He won event of the year for the duet “Start a Band” with Keith Urban, up for five awards.
The entertainer of the year category has been fairly predictable the last five years, with Chesney winning four out of five times. But there seems to be plenty of chatter around Swift, who can also end Carrie Underwood’s streak. Swift is competing with her for female vocalist of the year, an award that Underwood has won three straight years.
While there seemed to be a groundswell of support for Swift, longtime watchers wonder whether she’ll actually win entertainer of the year.
“Just watching the awards for so many years, I would be surprised if Taylor wins,” Vince Gill said as he made his way up the red carpet with Daughtry. “I know people are probably speculating it’s too early to win. But that’s the beauty of having the ability to vote. You can’t got wrong with any of them.”
Swift was a favorite with the fans, though, kicking off the show with a playful version of her song, “Forever & Again,” throwing a chair off a raised podium, sliding down a poll and dropping to her knees to the delighted cheers of the crowd.
It was the Zac Brown Band that set the room on fire, though, with their high-rev version of Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” The fan favorite had the crowd screaming throughout the performance.
Brooks & Dunn, who announced their split earlier this year, teamed with ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons on a scorching version of “Honky Tonk Stomp” in their last performance as a duo at the awards.
Co-hosts Paisley and Underwood opened the show with a few new songs of their own, skewering Kanye West for his interruption of Swift’s MTV Video Music Awards win – “Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be Kanye” – and lamenting the break up of Brooks & Dunn.
Later in the show, telecast on ABC, country novelty singer Little Jimmy Dickens interrupted Paisley after Underwood told him that “Welcome to the Future” was one her favorite videos.
“Excuse me sir, excuse me. I’ll let you finish later. Now, Brad Paisley, I know you had a nice video, but … Taylor Swift made the best video in her time. You go girl,” the diminutive Dickens said, goofing on West, who famously took the stage during Swift’s acceptance speech to say that Beyonce deserved Swift’s prize.
Chris Brown discusses Rihanna incident on MTV
Celebrity briefs (Nov. 8)
The 2009 "American Idol" winner Kris Allen
–After six months of going through the legal system, Usher’s divorce from Tameka Foster Raymond was finalized this week.
–Susan Boyle will perform next week on “Dancing With The Stars.”
–Actor Dennis Hopper was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
–”American Idol” champion Kris Allen’s new video premiered this week. Click here to watch it.
–John Mayer recorded a duet with Taylor Swift. The song “Half of my Heart” will appear on his upcoming album “Battle Studies.”
–Dolly Parton, Kid Rock, Charlie Daniels and Ernest Tubb will be inducted to the Music City Walk of Fame Nov. 8 in Nashville.
–Lady Gaga will perform her new song “Bad Romance” Nov. 16 during an episode of the tv show “Gossip Girl.”
–During the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards this week, Beyonce thanked husband Jay-Z for putting a ring on it. This is a big deal because its the first time they have shown verbal affection toward each other in front of the cameras. From day one they’ve made a vow to refrain from discussing their relationship publicly.
Rihanna opens up on 20/20 about Chris Brown (part four)
Throughout the week, ABC aired briefs excerpts of Rihanna’s interview with Diane Sawyer. The final part of the interview aired Friday on 20/20.
Rihanna discusses the specifics of the Chris Brown assault. She also discusses how she grew up watching her mother being abused by her father.
The clips are posted below.
Taylor Swift on Saturday Night Live
Country singer Taylor Swift hosted “Saturday Night Live” during the weekend. S
he appeared in a variety of skits and parodies including a skit about Kanye West, the television show “The View,” the movie “Twilight,” Kate Gosselin and her ex-boyfriend Joe Jonas.
The clips are posted below.
The Jackson family reality show
Members of the Jackson family are starring in a new reality show set to air next month on the A&E network.
The show, titled “The Jacksons: Family Dynasty,” will feature Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon and Tito Jackson.
Cameras will follow the brothers around while they prepare for a concert tour. It will also show the brothers are coping with Michael’s death, according to the Associated Press.
Six episodes will air beginning Dec. 13. No word on whether Janet or La Toya will make any appearances on the show.
Before anyone assumes the Jackson brothers are trying to profit from their brother’s deaths, keep in mind, the Jacksons agreed to participate in this reality show one month before Michael died.
A preview is posted in the clip below
Rihanna opens up about Chris Brown (part 2)
(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Part two of Rihanna’s interview with Diane Sawyer aired Friday on “Good Morning America.”
The singer went into more details about the fight with her then-boyfriend Chris Brown.
During the interview, Rihanna said “There was no person when I looked at him. He had no soul in his eyes. Just blank.”
Rihanna said she (while she was being beaten) she wondered when it was going be over with.
“That’s all I kept thinking the whole time, ’When is it going to stop? When is it going to stop?’
Rihanna also said she still loves and cares about Chris, and she wants him to have a successful life and career.
Rihanna said the incident started when she questioned him about text message that he recieved from a woman.
Watch the video clip below to hear more of what Rihanna had to say. The third and final part of the interview will air tonight on ABC’s 20/20.
David Letterman scandal inspires “Law & Order” episode
(AP Photo/CBS)
David Letterman’s sexual escapades with his female staffers were embarrassing for the late night show host when the incidents became public.
But the scandal gave writers of a television drama some new material.
According to “Access Hollywood,” Letterman’s situation inspired “Law & Order” writers to create an episode in which a married talk show host is blackmailed for having affairs.
The host was blackmailed as part of a $3 million extortion plot.
The difference is the talk show host is female, unlike Letterman. Can’t wait to see this episode.
Highlights from the Latin Grammy’s
Alicia Keys and Alejandro Sans performed at the Latin Grammy's (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
The 10th annual Latin Grammy awards were held Thursday in Las Vegas. Highlights from the show are posted in the Associated Press story below.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Only a few minutes into the Latin Grammys awards show, Puerto Rican duo Calle 13 already led the competition with four gold gramophones Thursday night in Las Vegas.
The reggaeton group snapped up both best urban album for the politically charged “Los de Atras Vienen Conmigo” and best alternative song, for “No Hay Nadie Como Tu,” their lyrically complex collaboration with Mexico City rockers Cafe Tacvba.
The half brothers, Rene Perez, who is known as “Residente,” and Eduardo Cabra, or “Visitante,” posed for cameras on the carpet with their mother and Panamanian salsa legend Ruben Blades, who collaborated with them on “La Perla,” an ode to a seaside slum in San Juan.
"Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria Parker at the Latin Grammy's. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
While women in sequined gowns rubbed shoulders with Mexican regional groups in identical suits and cowboy hats on the carpet, Residente ran past the bleachers high-fiving the fans and signed autographs.
Most of the 49 awards in a variety of categories befitting the diverse musical traditions of the Americas, including best albums in Christian, grupero and Brazilian sertaneja music, were handed out during a pre-show ceremony.
“To all the people who make music in this moment of independent music, to hell with record labels! This is the moment for those of us who make real music,” Residente said after receiving the award for best alternative song.
Later, during the live telecast, the outspoken rapper dedicated the Latin Grammy for record of the year to government workers who lost their jobs in Puerto Rico.
The Latin Recording Academy honored Mexico’s prolific singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel with its person of the year award.
“For Mexico!” said the “Divo of Juarez,” as he kissed his statuette.
Mexican rock band Jaguares won for best rock album by a duo or group for “45″ and lead singer Saul Hernandez won best rock song for “Entre tus Jardines.”
Hernandez composed the song for his wife, he said, because “Men aren’t always right.”
Mercedes Sosa, who died in October, won in the folklore category for her album of duets, “Cantora 1.” Her longtime pianist and musical director, Popi Spatocco, accepted the award on her behalf.
Chucho and Bebo Valdes, father and son from Cuba, won best jazz album for “Juntos para Siempre.”
Performances from the MTV Europe Music Awards
Beyonce
Jay-Z
U2 and Jay-Z
Shakira
Leona Lewis
Green Day
Katy Perry
Tokio Hotel
Foo Fighters
Photo gallery of the MTV Europe Music Awards
Oprah Winfrey cancels gospel singer from show
Oprah Winfrey at an event in Chicago (AP Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast)
Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey is caving into pressure and will remove gospel singer BeBe Winans from an upcoming episode of her show.
Winans appeared on Oprah’s show last month, and he taped another appearance during Oprah’s karaoke challenge.
Winans was charged with a misdemeanor domestic assault earlier this year, accused of shoving his ex-wife to the ground.
His ex-wife Debra Winans publicly complained that Oprah shouldn’t have allowed BeBe to appear on her show because she took a hard stance against Chris Brown when he was charged with assaulting Rihanna.
Many bloggers (myself included) accused Oprah of having a double standard.
Apparently, Oprah agrees because her spokesman issued a statement saying BeBe will no longer appear on the karaoke challenge episode.
Janet Jackson to discuss Michael’s death in tv interview
Janet Jackson at the MTV Video Music Awards during a tribute performance to Michael Jackson (AP Photo by Jason DeCrow)
Janet Jackson has kept a low profile since the death of her brother Michael Jackson.
Now, she’s ready to talk in front of the cameras. Janet will appear on ABC for a one-hour interview with journalist Robin Roberts. The interview will air Nov. 18, the network announced.
Janet will promote her upcoming greatest hits album, and she will answer questions about Michael.
The two-disc greatest hits package will be in stores Nov. 17, and it will feature Janet’s biggest hits throughout her career and a few new songs.
Janet is also set to reprise her role as Patricia Agnew in the Tyler Perry Film “Why Did I Get Married Too.” The movie will be in theaters April 2.
Beyonce’s new DVD, duet with Lady Gaga, TV special
Beyonce is probably the hardest working woman in the music industry.
During the past year-and-a-half, she’s promoted her latest CD, filmed seven music videos, embarked on a world tour, starred in a movie and made countless television appearances around the world.
You would think she needed a vacation right? Not so. She still has a host of projects on her plate before the year ends.
Beyonce is releasing a DVD on Nov. 23 titled “I Am…Yours” An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas.” Also, on Nov. 23, the “I Am…Sasha Fierce: Deluxe Edition” will be in stores.
The deluxe edition features two new songs including “Video Phone,” which is a duet with Lady Gaga. The video will be released Thursday (Nov. 5).
She also has a Thanksgiving special that will air Nov. 26 on ABC.
Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to host Oscars
(AP Photo by Peter Kramer and Andy Kropa)
Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will host the 82nd Academy Awards next year.
This will be Martin’s third time to host the show, and Baldwin’s first time. I’m not surprised that Martin was selected. Although I’m not fond of his brand of comedy, at least some people think he’s funny.
I find it odd that Baldwin was chosen though. I had no idea anyone thought he was funny.
The show will air March 7 on the ABC network.
Full House star lied about sobriety
Former “Full House” actress Jodie Sweetin appeared on “Today Show” to promote her autobiography and to discuss her past drug use.
Sweetin told Matt Lauer she began abusing alcohol in 1996 at age 14 while attending the wedding of her “Full House” co-star Candace Cameron.
She said the alcohol abuse eventually led to hardcore drug use, including meth and cocaine. Sweetin said she attended rehab in 2007 in an effort to kick her substance abuse habit.
Last year, she toured college campuses around the country speaking to young adults about the dangers of drug and alcohol use.
However, She lied about her sobriety. Sweetin said she duped the public into thinking she was clean and sober. She said she used the money earned from her college tour to purchase more drugs.
Sweetin now says she has been sober for for 11 months. The problem is how do we really know if she’s kicked her drug habit?
How do we know she’s not trying to dupe the public into buying her autobiography so she can use the proceeds to purchase drugs like she did with the proceeds from her college tour last year?
I hope she’s overcome her demons, and I hope she is sincere. Sweetin portrayed Stephanie Tanner on “Full House” from 1987 to 1995. Her autobiography titled Unsweetined is in stores now.
Mariah Carey on late night television
Mariah Carey during a press conference in South Korea (AP photo by Yonhap, Kim Hyun-jung)
Pop singer turned actress Mariah Carey will appear on two late night talk shows this week to promote her upcoming film.
Mariah will appear will be on “Jay Leno Show” tonight (Nov. 2) and CNN’s “Larry King Live” on Wednesday (Nov. 4) .
She has a role in the film titled “Precious,” which also stars Gabourey Sidibe Paula Patton, Mo’nique and Lenny Kravitz. The film’s executive producer is Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry.
The movie will be in selected theaters Dec. 3. The movie is about the hardships of an overweight girl named Claireece Precious Jones who was sexually abused and impregnated by her father and physically abused by her mother.
Mariah portrays a social worker in the film. The trailer is posted below.
Meanwhile, Mariah’s music career is in full swing. Her latest CD “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel is currently number 14 on the Billboard charts. The CD features the songs “Obsessed” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.”
Rihanna will be on “Good Morning America”
R&B singer Rihanna has been silent since the infamous incident with Chris Brown. Now, it appears she’s ready to tell her side of the story.
Rihanna will appear on “Good Morning America” on Thursday (Nov. 5) on ABC. Based on the previews, it looks like Rihanna will discuss the Chris Brown fiasco.
The short preview is posted in the clip below.
