Celine Dion

Lady Gaga Is Forbes' Top-Earning Woman In Music

14 Dec 2011 16:33:18 EST

Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Celine Dion and Adele round out the top five.
By Jocelyn Vena

Lady Gaga performs at the EMAs
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Apparently, Lady Gaga made a little bit of money this year: She tops Forbes' list of Top-Earning Women in Music in 2011. Just how much did Gaga make this past year? According to the magazine, the singer netted $90 million thanks to sales of Born This Way, her massive Monster Ball Tour and a number of endorsement deals.

But she's not the only lady making bank this year. Coming in at #2 is Taylor Swift. The country/pop superstar managed to make $45 million over the past 12 months with the never-ending success of her Speak Now album (which she released back in 2010) and her tour of the same name. Nipping at her heels is Katy Perry. The Billboard record-holder amassed $44 million with continued singles from 2010's Teenage Dream and her California Dreams Tour. Perhaps the biggest surprise in the top five is Celine Dion. The Canadian singer comes in at #4 with $19 million in earnings. The singer's success is due in part to her Las Vegas stage show. Adele squeaked into the top five at #5 with $18 million, earned mostly from the album sales from her chart-dominating 21. Alicia Keys also makes the list; Forbes reports that the singer earned $10 million, beating out her hubby Swizz Beatz for the year by $3.5 million.

Forbes compiled the list using income earned from May 2010 through May 2011. It also used data from Pollstar and RIAA, as well as interviews with industry insiders and the musicians themselves. Many of the ladies on this list also landed on MTV's Songs of the Year countdown; Gaga's "Born This Way" comes in at #5 and Perry's "Firework" sits at #10. All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year!

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Celine Dion Gives Birth To Twin Boys

23 Oct 2010 18:50:14 EDT

Singer's rep says Dion delivered sons Saturday morning in Florida.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Céline Dion and René Angélil
Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Powerhouse singer Celine Dion welcomed twin boys on Saturday (October 23), the singer's rep revealed to People magazine. The Grammy-winning songstress delivered fraternal twins just after 11 a.m. at a Florida hospital . The newborns arrived prematurely and will spend their upcoming days in an incubator. However, Dion's rep maintained the babies are doing well. The songbird and her husband, René Angélil, who also have a 9-year-old son named René-Charles, have not decided on names for the new tots. "Celine is resting now and they plan to discuss what to name the boys when she wakes up," her rep said. "René-Charles has been to the hospital to visit his brothers and is just so excited they are here." The twins' birth comes days after the "My Heart Will Go On" belter entered a West Palm Beach hospital for observation. Dion's new arrivals come after the songstress struggled through several rounds of in vitro fertilization and even suffered the loss of a pregnancy in 2009. The songstress has been candid about her attempts to conceive, telling People in February that she was determined to try to get pregnant. "I'm going to try until it works," Dion said after experiencing four failed rounds of IVF. "Five's my lucky number ... so this is the time it's got to [work]." Dion, who has sold over 100 million albums throughout her decades in the music industry, was recently the subject of a photo book entitled "Cé-line, Au-delà de l'image," which features over 600 previously unreleased photos of the superstar. Share your well-wishes for the family below!

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Celine Dion

'We Are The World: 25 For Haiti' Video Premieres During Olympics Opening Ceremony

12 Feb 2010 22:07:00 EST

Extended version of song and video are available now on iTunes.
By Jem Aswad, with additional reporting by Rich Sancho

Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

The video of "We Are the World: 25 for Haiti" premiered Friday night (February 12) during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The new incarnation of the 1985 song sticks closely to the arrangement of the original, but the cast is much larger and, of course, much more contemporary.

On television, the song was introduced by a message from original "We Are the World" principals Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones, who urged viewers to contribute via World25.org, iTunes or by texting "World" to 50555. A tightly edited version of the video was aired on Friday night, but the long version is available now on iTunes. That version is introduced by Jamie Foxx, who sets the scene, talking about the original recording and then the new version, the video of which was directed by "Crash" director Paul Haggis. "Do more than just watch," Foxx says. "Whatever you have, no matter how big or how small, it all counts." The video features footage from the song's recording session intercut with scenes of rebuilding efforts in Haiti. Justin Bieber opens, singing Lionel Richie's verse from the original, and is quickly followed by Nicole Scherzinger and Jennifer Hudson singing together, then Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles, Josh Groban, and then footage of Michael Jackson from the original recording superimposed with sister Janet duetting on the first verse of the chorus. Barbra Streisand, Fergie, a wailing Celine Dion and others follow. Miley Cyrus, Enrique Iglesias, Foxx, Maroon 5's Adam Levine, Pink, Mary J. Blige, Akon, T-Pain and others take verses later in the song; a second verse from a recording of Michael Jackson is immediately followed by Usher. Carlos Santana and Orianthi are seen playing guitars; Richie and Jones are often visible, smiling on the sidelines. The most remarkable moments come from the rappers: an Auto-Tuned Lil Wayne sings Bob Dylan's verse, Wyclef adds some Haitian flavor, and Will.I.Am and Kanye West both rap verses. "Like Katrina, Africa and Indonesia/ Haiti needs us," Will.I.Am raps. LL Cool J, Will.I.Am, Swizz Beatz, Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes team up for a rapped section; Bizzy Bone, Kid Cudi, Drake and Nipsey Hussle were also at the session. The music drops out toward the end to let the chorus sing alone. Along with the studio footage, we see Haitian children dancing amid the destruction. Tellingly, the Haiti footage focuses on rebuilding efforts. Haggis talked with MTV News about the session earlier this week. "You hear these stories about people checking their egos at the door, and it really is true," he said. "They came and stood forever and were glorified extras a lot of the time. They just stood in the corner and waved." What do you think of "We Are the World: 25 for Haiti"? Does it stand up to the original? Is it better with rappers? Who has the best verse? Let us know in the comments below! Learn more about what you can do to help with earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti, and for more information, see Think MTV. Visit HopeForHaitiNow.org or call (877) 99-HAITI to make a donation now.

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'We Are the World' Remake Leaves Jordin Sparks, Tyrese, Celine Dion Starstruck

02 Feb 2010 14:29:00 EST

'I think we all turned into groupies,' singer Anthony Hamilton says of his fellow participants.
By Jocelyn Vena

Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

You would think that when celebrities like Kanye West, the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus and Celine Dion get into a room together, they'd be too jaded to get starstruck by the other A-listers in attendance. But when more than 80 singers, rappers and actors gathered on Monday to re-record "We are the World" to benefit the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, they were all pretty impressed by each other.

"We're grateful because so many artists showed up," Wyclef Jean said. "I think we have an all-star cast. Of course, there's always artists that you wish was here, but every artist that I can think of... I seen Pink, Pink is incredible. Tyrese, Will.I.Am, Kanye West, I can keep going, so the room is definitely packed with stars." Tyrese noted, "I've never been in a room full of that many of my peers ever. I'm starstruck." And Jordin Sparks added that the vibe was similar to that of a major award show. "It's kind of like when you go to an awards show and everybody's there, and you're like, 'I can't believe everyone's here,' " she explained. "Except this time, they're not posing for pictures. They're not doing interviews. They're just there for the music, and I'm just, like, standing next to Rob Thomas on this side; Lil Wayne is in front of me; Brandy, Tyrese and then Natalie Cole is down there." Even veterans like Celine Dion couldn't help but be overtaken by the talent in the room. "For me, it's always an amazing opportunity to work with amazing people that I admire a lot," she said. "I was working with Lionel Richie, and I was beside Quincy Jones, and even though I've been doing this work for a long, long time, I'm still extremely impressed." "I think we all turned into groupies," R&B singer Anthony Hamilton added. "Everybody had a camera out and was filming. I think even Tony Bennett probably had a handheld and was like, 'Oh my God, Lil Wayne.' " "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson noted that the gathering proved that when times are tough, people will always work together. "It makes me proud for the human spirit, for us to come together in a time when we need to help people," he said. "I think this is a great moment in time, and I wasn't going to miss it for anything."

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'We Are The World' Group Breaks Into 'Lean On Me' Sing-Along

02 Feb 2010 14:10:00 EST

'It was a beautiful moment,' Musiq Soulchild says of Celine Dion-led jam session.
By Jocelyn Vena

Photo: MTV News

When you get some of the music world's biggest names into one room, a sing-along is bound to happen. That's what went down when an 80-celeb-strong group gathered to re-record the 1985 charity single "We Are the World" for Haitian earthquake relief on Monday.

"I was standing there, and an artist, Melanie Fiona, she was leaning on me — literally leaning on me — and I said, 'This is "We Are the World," not "Lean on Me"!' And then Celine Dion just started going on, actually," Musiq Soulchild told MTV News of how the impromptu "Lean on Me" sing-along kicked off. "Everybody started chiming in. It was very organic and not planned at all, and I kind of, like, huddled back, like, 'What just started?' " Fiona said she had gotten a little restless after the marathon recording session. "We were standing for quite a while, and my feet started to hurt a little bit," she said. "So I said [to Musiq], 'I'm just going to lean on you,' and he said, 'This isn't "Lean on me," ' " she recalled. "And then Celine started singing, and the rest of what you saw is on camera, history." Soulchild apologized to anyone who thought the sing-along was out of place. "It was a beautiful moment," he said. "It was wonderful, and I apologize if it was inappropriate. My bad. I'm sincere." Learn more about what you can do to help with earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti, and for more information, see Think MTV. Visit HopeForHaitiNow.org or call (877) 99-HAITI to make a donation now.

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Patrick Stump Named One Of 2007's Un-Sexiest Men; Plus Prodigy, R.E.M., Lindsay Lohan, Eddie Murphy & More, In For The Record

02 Jan 2008 17:39:00 EST

Mobb Deep rapper to issue solo LP while in jail; R.E.M. settle on album title; Lohan tops worst-movie-performance poll.
By MTV News staff

Patrick Stump
Photo: Scott Gries/ Getty Images

Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump has been named one of the un-sexiest men of 2007 by Boston alt-weekly The Phoenix. He lands at #95 on the list, right next to Larry King and Jon Heder. ... Prodigy, who will start serving a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence on a charge of gun possession for which he was indicted in October, plans to issue his second solo album while behind bars. H.N.I.C. Part 2 will drop in March, feature production from Mobb Deep group mate Havoc and Alchemist, and be integrated with Voxonic technology, which converts a voice into hundreds of languages with near-perfect accuracy. Prodigy also released a statement regarding his upcoming sentence, saying, "Throughout my life, I have always lived through adversity. I'm a survivor. You don't understand the mental power that I have. While I'm locked up, I'm going to be writing lyrics, working on the script for my second feature film, 'Dope,' and finish writing an autobiography of my life, which will be finished by the time I'm released. My mind is going to be focused, and I'll have time to think and map out my entire plan. The experience will make me a tougher, stronger person. I'm gonna work on getting out faster, so I can get back to doing what I do best. When I get home, it's gonna be on!" ... R.E.M. have christened their forthcoming album Accelerate and set an April 1 release date for the effort. The album was produced by Jacknife Lee (Bloc Party, Snow Patrol) and will feature "Until the Day Is Done," "Living Well Is the Best Revenge" and "Staring Down the Barrel of Middle Distance." Expect the band to tour in the spring. ... It's not like she was expecting an Oscar nomination, but a nod for the worst? In a poll conducted by AOL's Moviefone Web site, 58 percent of respondents gave Lindsay Lohan the dubious distinction of turning in the worst performance by an actress in 2007 for her role in "I Know Who Killed Me." Another one of Lohan's box-office bombs, "Georgia Rule," finished second among the more than 3.8 million voters, just behind the Eddie Murphy comedy "Norbit," as the biggest waste of $10. "Norbit" also earned the comedian the title of worst performance by an actor. ... Eddie Murphy and "Good Luck Chuck" producer Tracey Edmonds got hitched during an intimate New Year's Day ceremony on a private island in French Polynesia, according to People.com. Johnny Gill was reportedly Murphy's best man. ... Radiohead singer Thom Yorke has hit back at the boss of his former label, EMI Music, after claims that the band had rejected a nearly $6 million advance for their new album while demanding the copyrights to older titles. In a December 29 post on the group's official Web site under the heading "FYI — if you care — for your information," Yorke wrote, "We did not ask for a load of cash from our old record label EMI to re-sign. That is a L I E. The Times in the U.K. should check its facts before it prints such dirt. What we wanted was some control over our work and how it was used in the future by them — that seemed reasonable to us, as we cared about it a great deal. [EMI boss Guy] Hands was not interested. So neither were we. We made the sign of the cross and walked away. Sadly." Yorke said the group was upset about the airing of "dirty laundry" in public. Separately, Yorke told BBC Radio 4 that releasing In Rainbows solely as a digital download — the physical album hit stores this week — would have been "stark raving mad" because 80 percent of fans still buy physical releases. "We didn't want it to be a big announcement about 'everything's over except the Internet, the Internet's the future,' 'cause that's utter rubbish," Yorke said. "And it's really important to have an artifact as well, as they call it, an object." Yorke, in one of his first public comments about the decision to release In Rainbows under a pay-what-you-wish scheme, explained that Radiohead had a "moral justification in what we did in the sense that the majors and the big infrastructure of the music business has not addressed the way artists communicate directly with their fans. ... In fact, they seem to basically get in the way. Not only do they get in the way, but they take all the cash." He also denied reports that In Rainbows was downloaded more than 1.2 million times in its first week, but, in keeping with the band's silence on sales, would not confirm how many times it was actually downloaded. "It's total nonsense. ... We're the only people who know, and it feels wrong to say exactly what happened," he said. "But it's been a really nice surprise and we've done really well out of it." ... The presidential race will bleed over into late-night TV on Wednesday night (January 2) when David Letterman chats up Democratic contender Senator Hillary Clinton and Jay Leno welcomes Republican candidate Mike Huckabee on the respective comeback episodes of their shows. Chingy will perform on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," while Lupe Fiasco will play on the "Late Show With David Letterman," with Robin Williams also appearing. Letterman struck a deal with the Writers Guild of America that will allow him to return to air with writers, but Huckabee and Chingy will be crossing the picket line with their appearances on Leno's show, as the writers' strike continues. ... "L.A." Reid, Denzel Washington, Steven Spielberg, Brett Ratner, Billy Joel and others partied Sunday on a private yacht owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Jon Bon Jovi and Robbie Robertson performed at the shindig, according to Fox News. ... Staind's Aaron Lewis, along with members of Boston, Tesla, Stryper and other bands, will join host Dee Snider of Twisted Sister at the fifth anniversary Relief Fund Charity Concert, to be staged February 25 at Providence, Rhode Island's Dunkin' Donut Center. The event is being put on by the Station Family Fund, a group founded by survivors, family members and community members affected by the Station fire, the February 2003 nightclub tragedy that claimed 100 lives. Proceeds from the show will go to the survivors of the fire, many of whom did not qualify for Social Security benefits. ... The lineup for Dave Mustaine's Gigantour 2008 has been revealed. The trek, to launch in mid-April and run through late May, will feature his band Megadeth, as well as In Flames, Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy and High on Fire. ... P.O.D. have set an April 8 release date for When Angels & Serpents Dance, the band's forthcoming LP. The record will feature a guest appearance by Suicidal Tendencies mainman Mike Muir. ... Former Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland's band, Black Light Burns, have begun work on material for their second album, which is set for release in early 2009. Borland said in a statement that the new stuff is "a lot more guitar-heavy than it is synth-heavy. The feeling/tone is a little more fun and weird compared to the darkness of the first album." The effort follows the band's debut disc, last year's Cruel Melody. ... Hatebreed were forced to postpone the final concert in their Stillborn Fest series after guitarist Frank Novinec broke his ankle. No word yet on when they'll make up the gig, which was supposed to happen Sunday in Rochester, New York. ... A lawyer who previously represented Death Row Records boss Marion "Suge" Knight in a $130 million lawsuit over ownership of the onetime gangsta-rap powerhouse is asking a judge to set that judgment aside. According to the Los Angeles Times, in a hearing set for Wednesday attorney Dermot Givens is asking that the judgment be voided because of what he claims is new evidence that the plaintiff, singer Lydia Harris, and her imprisoned drug-dealing husband, Michael, allegedly duped a Los Angeles judge into ruling against Knight. The motion contends that Harris hid from the court that she had filed for bankruptcy five years before suing Knight and that she never claimed an ownership stake in Death Row during that legal proceeding. The motion also alleges that recent sworn testimony by the couple shows that Michael Harris, an alleged crack kingpin, was the real party of interest in her lawsuit against Knight; Michael Harris sued Knight in 1996 claiming he helped finance Death Row, and was awarded a $300,000 out-of-court settlement. Lydia Harris filed a separate suit in 2002 claiming that she and Knight started the label together and that he cheated her out of millions in profits. ... James Brown's final recordings have been caught up in the legal feud over the late rock legend's estate, according to The Associated Press. Brown recorded an album in Los Angeles in summer 2006, but courtroom disputes over who should get his music royalties are preventing the release of the tracks. More than 50-60 additional unreleased songs recorded by Brown are also reportedly in the archives. ... The Jersey Boys have a bit of a problem on their hands. Tommy DeVito, ex-bassist of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons — on which the "Jersey Boys" story is based — is being sued by the widow of a man who also wrote a story about the group, according to TMZ. Donna Corbello says her late husband Rex Conrad Woodard's yet-unpublished book was the basis of the Broadway smash, and she is reportedly seeking a declaration that he is the volume's "joint owner" so she can get some of the future profits from the production. The suit was recentl

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Madonna Reportedly Snags Kanye West, Pharrell For LP; Plus Jessica Sierra, Gym Class Heroes, Radiohead, Ne-Yo & More, In For The Record

06 Dec 2007 18:01:00 EST

Sierra pleads not guilty to charges; Heroes tapped for Warped Tour; Radiohead to end downloads soon.
By MTV News staff

Madonna
Photo: Dave Hogan/ Getty Images

Time to pucker up for Madonna's next album — Billboard.com reports that the singer has settled on the title for it: Licorice. The effort, which will reportedly feature "Candy Shop" and "The Beat Goes On" (featuring Pharrell), is due in late April and will be Madge's last effort for longtime label Warner Bros. Kanye West is said to be a guest on "The Beat Goes On," according to the site, which also reports that Madonna's vintage track "The Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" will get an update on the new disc. ... Jessica Sierra pleaded not guilty on Thursday (December 6) to charges of disorderly intoxication, resisting arrest and violating conditions of her parole on earlier felony battery and possession charges, according to The Associated Press. The former "American Idol" finalist was arrested early Sunday morning outside a bar in Ybor City, near Tampa, Florida, after causing an unspecified disturbance while working inside the establishment. Sierra's lawyer reportedly said he is consulting with doctors to map out a comprehensive drug and alcohol plan for the ex-"Idol" contestant, who is currently being held without bail. Sierra is to remain in jail at least until her next hearing on December 20. ... Gym Class Heroes, the Academy Is ... and Relient K will help anchor next year's Warped Tour, according to Alternative Press. Every Time I Die, From First to Last and the Bronx are also among the first 18 bands named for the summer trek, with the dates yet to be announced. ... Speaking of summer fests, Bonnaroo will take place June 12-15 in Manchester, Tennessee, Billboard.com reports. The lineup will be revealed in late January or early February. ... Your chance to download Radiohead's In Rainbows is about to end. The band has announced that the InRainbows.com Web site will close Saturday. But you can still plunk down $80 for the box set at Radiohead's online w.a.s.t.e. store, while supplies last. ... Ne-Yo and Macy Gray are joining Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy and others as they pitch in for presidential aspirant Senator Barack Obama. Ne-Yo and the Goo Goo Dolls will play at an Obama fundraiser in Universal City, California, on Monday, while Gray, Tweedy and others will perform at the senator's Friday event in Obama's hometown of Chicago. On a related note, Wilco will set out for a two-week U.S. tour in February. ... Paris, you've got nothing on Britney — Spears outdid Hilton on eBay in terms of related items sold this year. AP reports that 34,345 Brit-related items were sold, compared with 27,377 for Paris. A mere 8,099 items related to Lindsay Lohan were auctioned, while on the movies front, "Transformers" beat out Harry Potter with 442,342 and 344,825 related items sold, respectively. ... Indie-rockers, state attorneys general and anti-smoking activists are finding themselves on the same side, oddly enough — some of them are reportedly peeved about an ad for Camel cigarettes that appeared alongside a cartoon-heavy indie-rock feature in the magazine's November 15 issue, Pitchfork reports. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. has stopped promotions for its "The Farm" marketing campaign after nine attorneys general sued the company over the ads, according to North Carolina's Winston-Salem Journal. More states are reportedly expected to also sue R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., which could face a fine of more than $100 million for violating a 1998 agreement between 46 states and tobacco manufacturers. The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement banned the use of cartoons to sell market cigarettes in 1997, effectively killing off Joe Camel. Also being debated, according to Pitchfork, are Camel-sponsored concerts that have featured the Flaming Lips, Band of Horses and the Faint. ... Alicia Keys will ring in the new year with a performance on the roof of New York's Rockefeller Center as part of Carson Daly's shindig on NBC, People.com reports. The show, which will air December 31 at 11:35 p.m. ET, will also feature Lenny Kravitz performing in Times Square. Keys will sing two songs from her latest album, As I Am. ... LL Cool J, Rev Run, Petra Nemcova, Brett Ratner and other celebs have ponied up items for an ongoing online charity auction staged by Russell Simmons' Diamond Empowerment Fund. "Diamonds Give" features 15 lots of donated diamond pieces and runs through December 16 on eBay. ... It sounds like U2 might be going back to the future on their upcoming album. The band, which flirted with dance beats and techno on such albums as 1991's Achtung Baby, is incorporating trance, metal and Moroccan influences on its new disc, according to an interview with Bono in The Independent. The singer said fans will "feel the difference. ... Normally when you play a U2 tune, it clears the dance floor. And that may not be true of this. There's some trance influences." He also said the yet-untitled and unscheduled album has some "very hardcore guitar" and "real molten metal" from guitarist the Edge that doesn't sound "like anything we've ever done before, and we don't think it sounds like anything anyone else has done either." Though he wouldn't categorize the album as "world" music, Bono said its sound was inspired in part by a religious music festival the guys attended in Fez, Morocco, where they were exposed to Sufi music. "It was a real humbling thing for a punk-rock shouter, listening to these people who just close their eyes for 40 minutes and sing the most sophisticated melodies." So far, U2 have recorded enough material for two records, he added. ... Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson recently hung with locals, bathed in an irrigation ditch in their boxers and visited an orphanage in Peru this week, according to AP. An image that surfaced shows the two, who reportedly stayed at a cheap hotel room that cost less than $50 per night, smiling and waving in Cuzco. Cameron Diaz, Bill Gates and others visited the area earlier this year. ... Courtney Love has a new video on her hands ... kind of. A clip featuring manga character Princess Ai — whose universe of properties was co-created by Love — will premiere at the New York Anime Festival on Saturday. "Princess Ai: Broken Leash," which includes live action, animation and music, will appear as part of a CD/DVD anthology due in fall 2008. ... It's hard to keep old punks down. After their recent reunion tour of England this year, punk grandfathers the Sex Pistols will hit the road again next summer, according to Reuters. Guitarist Steve Jones did not give any specifics about the 2008 tour on his Los Angeles radio show on Wednesday, other than to say that the group might play an upcoming charity show at London's Royal Albert Hall organized by Who singer Roger Daltrey. ... And the battle over James Brown's estate goes on. According to AP, two former trustees for the late singer's estate say the judge who is handling the disputes made them resign in late November. In recently filed court documents, Buddy Dallas and Alford Bradley reportedly said they want to retract their resignations and that South Carolina Circuit Judge Jack Early used "improper judicial influence." They are also seeking for the appointment of their successors to be overturned. 12.5.07 Unlike Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie, Kiefer Sutherland is not getting off easy with his DUI — the "24" actor has been sentenced to 48 days in a Los Angeles County jail for his September 24 arrest and violating his probation. The actor must start serving his sentence at the Glendale City Jail prior to March 30, UsMagazine.com reports. He has also been sentenced to five years of probation, must finish a year-and-a-half-long alcohol-education program and go to weekly therapy sessions for a half-year. Sutherland, who had a previous DUI before his fall arrest, had been pulled over by police after making an illegal U-turn and reportedly blew twice the legal blood-alcohol level during a breathalyzer test. He issued a statement after entering a no-contest plea in early October, saying, "I'm very disappointed in myself for the poor judgment I exhibited recently, and I'm deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this has caused my family, friends and co-workers on '24' and at 20th Century Fox." ... Contrasting with Sutherland's devastating news, Richie caught a break on Wednesday when her court-mandated anti-drinking program granted the socialite a leave of absence, according to People. Coordinators at the program were reportedly worried for Richie's safety, with her rep saying such leaves of absence are granted to people with medical conditions and that she did not get special treatment. Richie is eight months pregnant and has to complete the 18-month program as part of her DUI plea deal ... Bad news for Vanessa Hudgens: A Los Angeles judge ruled Wednesday (December 5) that a breach-of-contract suit by her former lawyer can go forward, according to CBS News. Brian L. Schall is suing the "The High School Musical" star for breach of contract, although Hudgens has argued that she was a minor at the time she signed the agreement and therefore isn't bound to it. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Tricia Ann Bigelow said the matter of Hudgens disaffirming her contractual obligations within a reasonable time period is a "factual i

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Britney Spears Suffers Setback In Hearing; Plus Dave Grohl, Kanye West, 'High School Musical' & More, In For The Record

17 Sep 2007 21:04:00 EDT

Grohl opens up about Kurt Cobain; West mocks himself at Emmys; 'HSM' stars still in negotiations for third flick.
By

Photo: Alexander Tamargo/ Getty Images

Britney Spears suffered a setback in her child-custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline during a hearing on Monday (September 17). An anticipated "secret witness" — who turned out to be one of the singer's ex-bodyguards — came forward to file a declaration to the court and make himself available to testify on "issues of nudity by Ms. Spears, drug use and safety issues involving the children post-rehab," according to his attorney Gloria Allred. Spears' attorney chose not to cross-examine Tony Barretto, so the ex-bodyguard did not take the stand, which "shocked" Allred, she said. "Since neither the court nor Ms. Spears' attorney chose to examine our client from the witness stand regarding the particulars of his highly explosive and relevant declaration, it stands unrefuted and unchallenged," Allred told reporters outside the courthouse. However, contents of that declaration were not made public Monday, nor were the court's minutes from the closed hearing, so there's no word on how the declaration was received. Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told reporters he didn't see a quick end to the custody dispute, since the next hearing isn't set until November 26, with another court date to follow in December. "I don't see it being resolved before that time," he said. To make matters worse for Spears, she lost two members of her team on Monday. Attorney Laura Wasser is no longer providing her with legal representation in the custody battle, Wasser confirmed to MTV News — the singer has new representation in Marci Levine, according to Levine's office. Shortly after Wasser threw in the towel, Spears' management company, the Firm, quit as well, according to People. "It saddens us to confirm media reports that we have terminated our professional relationship with Britney Spears," read the statement. "We believe Britney is enormously talented and has made a terrific record, but current circumstances have prevented us from properly doing our job. We wish Britney the best." ... Meanwhile, the level of absurdity surrounding the Spears/Federline saga has reached a new height. As the former spouses' custody battle continued in Los Angeles Superior Court, another story started to unravel outside the courthouse: that of an alleged contract hit on Federline's life. According to the FBI's Los Angeles office, a "non-specific," "low-credibility" and "uncorroborated" threat on Federline's life was received. "Since there was no federal jurisdiction, we shared the information with the local authorities," FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller told MTV News. "We take every threat seriously. But there was no specificity, no corroboration, and it could not be substantiated." The LAPD, who seemed to take the threat a little less seriously, laughed when asked about it, telling MTV News, "We do not have a current investigation." Federline's rep had no official comment, but his lawyer told reporters outside the courthouse on Monday, "Until I see what the alleged threat was, I can't speak to that." ... Dave Grohl has opened up to U.K. newspaper The Guardian about the death of his former Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain. "Kurt dying shocked me into running away from music for a while," he divulged. "I started Foo Fighters because I didn't want to retreat. I couldn't imagine joining another band and sitting behind the drum set, because I would always think about Krist [Novoselic] and Kurt." Grohl also revealed that while one of the Foos' earliest songs, "I'll Stick Around," was not directed at Cobain's ex-wife, Courtney Love, he wouldn't be surprised if similar comparisons are made over "Let It Die." The song, featured on the Foos' new album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, features the lyric "A simple man and his blushing bride/ Intravenous, intertwined." The tune was "written about feeling helpless to someone else's demise," Grohl said. "I've seen people lose it all to drugs and heartbreak and death. It's happened more than once in my life, but the one that's most noted is Kurt. And there are a lot of people that I've been angry with in my life, but the one that's most noted is Courtney. So it's pretty obvious to me that those correlations are gonna pop up every now and again. I still remain a little secretive about it all." ... Even at Sunday night's Emmys, where he wasn't nominated for anything, Kanye West couldn't win. The rapper notorious for loudly expressing his award-show-freeze-out frustrations playfully lampooned his sore-loser reputation during a skit in which actor Rainn Wilson ("The Office") beat Kanye at a game of "Don't Forget the Lyrics" based on 'Ye's song "Stronger," with the loser doomed to retiring from show business. After West slipped up and sang "that's how long I've been on you," comedian Wayne Brady joked that Mr. West picked "the wrong time to speak properly," pointing out that the lyric ends with the words "on ya." A smiling West exclaimed, "I never win!" The consolation? West had a front-row seat for the Los Angeles ceremony, right next to multiple winner Tony Bennett. Later on in the evening, he popped over to Justin Timberlake's concert at the Staples Center for a rendition of West's "Stronger," according to TMZ.com. ... The stars of "High School Musical" are still in negotiations for a third flick, Corbin Bleu told People magazine. "Truthfully as long as it's a good script and as long as everybody is being paid fairly, I would be more than happy to go and have one last hurrah," he said. The 18-year-old actor also revealed that he's never actually been to an "HSM" premiere due to various scheduling conflicts. ... Comic book fan Ghostface Killah is partnering with Adult Swim for a free tour set to hit college campuses next month. The trek, which will feature Witchdoctor as the opening act, will begin October 1 at the State University of New York in Albany and run through an October 19 gig at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Indie-rockers ... And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead and Dethlok — the once-fictional animated band featured on the Adult Swim program "Metalocalypse" — are joining forces for a separate free trek, but shows have not been announced beyond the October 29 start date. ... Will Ferrell isn't your typical actor, so it makes sense he wouldn't be your typical charity donor either — he's raising money for a friend's cancer foundation by auctioning a cameo spot in his new flick, The Associated Press reports. Online bidding for an appearance in "Step Brothers" began Monday and ends September 26, and the opening bid was $5,000. The winner will be announced September 27; get to meet with Ferrell at the Cancer for College golf tournament dinner at Temecula Creek Inn in Temecula, California; and shoot a scene with the actor in October. The proceeds will go to Craig Pollard's Cancer for College foundation — Pollard and Ferrell were fraternity brothers at the University of Southern California. ... Apparently Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor plans to disband the group's current lineup following the final gig on its current tour, which is set for Tuesday in Honolulu. Reznor told Honolulu's Star-Bulletin that he wants "to switch things around a bit." Nine Inch Nails, he said, "as a rock band configuration [has] done it and we've done it again. I see other ways I can present the material in concert, more challenging, something new. I don't want it to go stale." The band has been touring together for more than two years and currently includes drummer Josh Freese, guitarist Aaron North, bassist Jeordie White and keyboardist Alessandro Cortini. ... Marilyn Manson is teaming up with a French family-run distillery, Matter-Luginbuehl, to produce thousands of bottles of his own brand of absinthe, called "Mansinthe." Production on the line started last month, and so far, 6,000 bottles have been made. No word on when "Mansinthe" will be commercially available, or for that matter, where. ... Former Evanescence members Ben Moody and David Hodges have collaborated with Celine Dion for a track slated to appear on the singer's forthcoming Taking Chances LP, due November 13. The duo wrote and produced one track for Dion, called "This Time." ... Live Nation, which runs the House of Blues chain, has either canceled or moved to alternate venues five heavy-metal concerts previously scheduled at House of Blues clubs located on Walt Disney Co. property in Anaheim, California, and Orlando, Florida, according to the Los Angeles Times. In Anaheim, a gig that had been booked two months earlier and was set to feature Machine Head, Arch Enemy, Throwdown and Sanctity on September 7 was moved to a different venue; a show that was supposed to feature Cannibal Corpse, the Black Dahlia Murder, the Red Chord and the Absence on September 13 was also shifted to a different club; and Obituary's planned September 26 concert has been canceled. Two other shows, scheduled for the House of Blues in Orlando, have been moved as well. John Vlautin, vice president of communications for Live Nation, said in a statement that "House of Blues offers a range of entertainment to match the audience at our venues. It was determined that the mix of entertainment at our two Disney locations should be different from our other venues." ... After months of delays, the free-download site SpiralFrog finally launched on Monday, offering users the chance to choose from more than 700,000 songs and 3,500 videos from a number of independent labels and Universal Music Group acts like Amy Winehouse, Timbaland, Rihanna and Fall O

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'Idol' Judges Warn: 'Don't Sing Celine, Whitney, Stevie' — Yet So Many Try ...

04 Apr 2007 06:01:00 EDT

Randy Jackson tells contestants to stay clear of certain artists — so why do they keep coming back for more?
By Corey Moss

LaKisha Jones performing Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing"
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Fox

As the music director on "American Idol," Rickey Minor is well schooled on how to sing a Celine Dion song in a competition. "You don't," Minor said bluntly. "You simply don't. Can you play one-on-one [basketball] with Kobe? No. So don't do it — you're gonna lose. Now, you can play with someone else and have a great game and have fun." If Minor's words sound familiar, it's because he subscribes to the same school of thought as judge Randy Jackson, who has berated contestants over the years for taking on the biggest and best singers of all time. As Jackson repeats nearly every week, some artists are untouchable. Celine and Whitney Houston are at the top of the list, followed by Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and even Christina Aguilera. Randy has also said the same about Stevie Wonder, even though the show had a Wonder-themed week last season. So if one of the judges and the leader of the band are advising the "Idol" hopefuls to avoid these singers, why are their songs among the most sung on the show? Well, the catalogs of artists like Dion and Wonder are so vast that perhaps they are just too difficult to ignore. But the more likely answer is that the contestants just don't agree — or care. "I think if you can sing, you can sing any artist," recently eliminated contestant Stephanie Edwards said. "The only thing is, if you're going to sing somebody's song that they sang very well, don't sing it just like them, because if you sing it just like them, they are going to compare you to that artist. Like with me and the Chaka song ['Sweet Thing']. I didn't sing it like Chaka Khan, but I still was compared to Chaka Khan. So it kind of didn't go like I wanted it to go." "I think you have to know what you can sing and what you can do," added LaKisha Jones, who clinched her way into the finals with Houston's "I Have Nothing." "Before I learned Aretha and before I learned Jennifer Holliday, I've always sung Whitney, so I knew that I could sing a Whitney song. And a lot of people can't because she has a five-octave range, but I like to challenge myself." Another reason so many songs from the so-called untouchables end up on "Idol" is because the singers are constantly being given lists of songs that are available rights-wise, and those by Celine and other untouchables are often included. "That's why I don't agree," season-six semifinalist Jared Cotter said. "What are the songs there for? What are they on the list for? The fact is, what's good about those songs is that nobody is going to do them the same. I'm not going to do it like Stevie did it — I tried, but I'm not Stevie Wonder, you know? I'm me. I put my own different twist to it." Still, Cotter's rendition of Wonder's "If You Really Love Me" got him a disappointing review and sent him home. "As much as [Jackson] said that I didn't have any originality, I really feel like if he did his homework and went and looked at the videotape, that I did," Cotter insisted. Brandon Rogers, who worked as a backup singer for Aguilera before making the "Idol" finals, pointed to this season's youngest contestant, Jordin Sparks, to prove Jackson and Minor wrong. "She sang [Aguilera's] 'Reflection' and blew it out," Rogers said. "That's one of the untouchables and she touched it." Contestant Blake Lewis also disagrees that some singers are untouchable and, not surprisingly, said it's "all about the arrangement." "That and where it lies in your voice," he said. "If you think you can sing a song, go for it." Debra Byrd, the show's vocal coach who often sides with Jackson and Minor, agreed that LaKisha nailed Whitney. "It works when they put their stamp on it," she said. As for "Idol" co-executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, he's not sure he would put too much stock in anything Jackson or any of the other judges say. "If I was a contestant listening to everything that's been said over the last six seasons, I wouldn't know what to do," he said. "They tell you one week you're playing it safe and then the next week they tell you it's dangerous. "You just have to go out there and sing and knock their socks off, end of story," he concluded. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Mos Def Scores Highest-Ever Chart Debut With New Danger; Usher Holds Fast

20 Oct 2004 13:10:00 EDT

George Strait, Usher hold on to top two spots for second week in a row.
By James Montgomery and Joe D'Angelo

They don't call him "The Mighty Mos Def" for nothing. The Brooklyn MC scored his highest-ever chart debut with his second solo album, The New Danger, selling more than 95,000 copies to open at #5 on next week's Billboard albums chart. Mos' last album, Black on Both Sides, bowed at #25 back in October 1999, selling more than 53,000 copies, according to SoundScan. But Mos Def's best wasn't good enough to overtake Celine Dion, whose Miracle debuts at #4; the collaboration between Dion and photographer Anne Geddes sold more than 107,000 copies. Nelly's Suit jumps two spots to #3, selling more than 143,000 copies, while its counterpart, Sweat, holds steady at #12 on just over 62,000 copies. The top two albums in the country remain unchanged. The ubiquitous Usher continues to benefit from the re-release of his Confessions album, which sold another 176,000 copies to stay at #2. And country's George Strait holds on to the #1 spot, as his greatest-hits collection, 50 Number Ones, sold more than 189,000 copies. Hilary Duff's self-titled album holds at #6, selling more than 85,000 copies. And in a rare top-10 tie, SoundScan reports that Green Day's American Idiot and Good Charlotte's The Chronicles of Life and Death sold an identical 73,484 copies to share the #7 spot. Tim McGraw is #9 for a second straight week, moving more than 67,000 copies of his Live Like You Were Dying album. Sum 41's semi-serious Chuck debuts at #10, selling more than 65,000 copies, giving the guys their highest-ever chart debut. But the taste of victory must be semisweet: Their last album, 2002's Does This Look Infected?, opened lower (at #32) but sold more (76,000 copies). Pop vets Duran Duran open at #17, selling more than 54,000 copies of their new album, Astronaut. Other notable debuts on next week's chart include Amy Grant's Greatest Hits: 1986-2004 at #48; the emo-riffic Straylight Run's self-titled debut at #100; the soundtrack to Jennifer Lopez's "Shall We Dance?" at #184; and indie rockers Pinback's Summer in Abaddon at #196. Nitpicking At Nelly's Numbers
Next week's chart will show the largest difference yet between Nelly's Suit and Sweat: nine places and more than 81,000 copies separate the two simultaneously released albums. While the sales of Sweat fall just slightly and the album retains its #12 position, Suit actually has increased its weekly total for the past two weeks, by 17 percent last week and 3 percent in the week prior. After both albums have been out for over a month, Suit's sales are nearing 1 million (more than 940,000), while Sweat's top out at more than 675,000, approximately 71 percent of its companion. Hardcore Nelly fans probably own both halves of the St. Lunatic's musical double-feature, as evidenced by the albums occupying the top two places on the chart the week after their September 14 release. But even five weeks ago, Suit bettered Sweat by more than 50,000 copies. However, less committed fans are probably finding more songs that they like on Suit, making it continually outshine Sweat. As the titles imply, Sweat is the dirtier, grittier half, whose sexually suggestive first single, "Flap Your Wings," served as its introduction. Suit, meanwhile, is a smoother, more refined R&B affair, and, given Usher's success with Confessions, that seems to be the sure-shot formula in 2004. As such, Suit's two singles, "My Place," and "Over And Over," are outperforming Sweat's first two, "Flap Your Wings" and "Tilt Ya Head Back," at radio. It also doesn't hurt Suit's cause to have country superstar Tim McGraw on "Over and Over," giving the track that all-important crossover appeal. The tune is among the most-added at top 40 pop stations — and it's also the one receiving the biggest increase in spins by the stations that already have it on their playlists. Besides McGraw, Suit also features contributions by Pharrell Williams, Jaheim, Snoop Dogg and Anthony Hamilton, a cast that packs more retail clout than Sweat's guest roster of Lil' Flip, Murphy Lee, Fat Joe and Christina Aguilera. It's Beginning To Sound A Lot Like Christmas
It's not even close to Thanksgiving, the traditional start of the holiday season, and already Christmas albums have arrived on the chart. Perennial far-out favorites the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Mannheim Steamroller just dropped Lost Christmas Eve and Christmas at #26 and #54, respectively. More holiday-themed albums will undoubtedly surface in the weeks to come, each looking to rank among the more successful ones, such as 1998's Home For Christmas by 'NSYNC, which sold more than 2.6 million copies, and Christina Aguilera's 2000 LP My Kind of Christmas. On The Move
Velvet Revolver's recent newsmaking escapades — a rescheduled free show in Hollywood on Thursday that was supposed to take place last Tuesday (October 12), but city officials wouldn't allow them to play atop the Hustler Store — helped their debut, Contraband, jump up eight spots to #31. Sales should continue to bode well for the rockers throughout their five-week fall tour, which kicked off Saturday. With a second single, "Mr. Brightside," following "Somebody Told Me," the Killers' Hot Fuss, will also make a significant stride from #45 to #35. Hanging Out And Hanging On
Other than the Cinderella story that is Maroon 5's Songs About Jane, there aren't many albums able to reside in the Top 40 for more than a year after their release, but Switchfoot's Beautiful Letdown might give the funky fivesome some worry. After 76 weeks on the chart, the fourth album by the San Diego quartet will occupy the #33 spot, following previous positions at #36, #38. The Black Eyed Peas' 69-week-old Elephunk, isn't much further behind, up one spot this week to #37. This story updated on October 10 at 4:21 p.m. ET

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Celine Dion - Taking Chances

01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EDT

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23 Aug 2005 00:00:00 EDT

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18 Jul 2005 00:00:00 EDT

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08 Apr 2003 00:00:00 EDT

I Drove All Night

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17 Jun 2002 00:00:00 EDT

A New Day Has Come

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