Jennifer Hudson On Ellen's Bathroom Concert Series

When Jennifer Hudson paid The Ellen DeGeneres Show a visit the other day, she also recorded this segment for Ellen's Bathroom Concert Series, which finds the pair singing "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." This is absolutely the best one yet! A must watch. Jennifer Hudson's self-titled debut album is out now!

New Britney Spears "Candie's" Ad

Some of the first images of Britney Spears as the newest Candie's model have emerged. There's no denying she looks great. Does that mean that, at this point in her career, Britney would be working for Candie's if she had made that decision? Please... no. Anyway, her latest album Circus is in stores now.

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Keri Hilson "Since U Been Gone" Cover

A while back, Keri Hilson recorded a cover of Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" for use on a tour. The studio recording has just now surfaced & I'm loving the new take on the song! Of course the song belongs to Kelly, but that's exactly why I'm glad Keri made it her own. Be sure to support Keri's debut album In A Perfect World..., which is available now ... in a perfect world.

Sarah McLachlan Performs "U Want Me 2" On 2009 Juno Awards

Canadian Sarah McLachlan performed her most recent single "U Want Me 2" at the 2009 Juno Awards in Canada recently. It's just great to hear that voice again. Congrats on the award, Sarah! Her greatest hits album Closer is out now.

Kelly Rowland Dropped From Columbia + More

Not long after Kelly Rowland made the wise career move to part ways with her manager Mathew Knowles, the former Destiny's Child singer has unfortunately been dropped from her label Columbia Records. The bullcrap the label is sending around about Kelly being "no longer commercially viable" is absurd. In fact, Kelly amazingly managed to salvage some success across the pond after the mishandling of her sophomore album Ms. Kelly & has been building her name up in the market ever since. This should have been a sign to her record company that there is plenty of interest there & should they put a slight amount of effort into promoting her properly, much success could have potentially been had. I'm never one to put too much faith in the industry to recognize talent, but hopefully Kelly can find a new home that will allow her to release that long-awaited third album & will give her the support she deserves. In the meantime, check out this talent that Columbia is now missing out on, courtesy of her new collaboration with David Guetta entitled "Love Takes Over":

[Source, Source]

N.E.R.D. Perform "Soldier" On Jimmy Fallon

N.E.R.D. performed a new Santigold-featured song "Soldier" on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon recently. I'm not sure about this one--it's a little wild. Pharrell must really like it though cause he was going crazy! "Soldier" isn't on it, but N.E.R.D.'s latest album Seeing Sounds is available now. (Maybe it's just cause I have the time, but this weekend seems painfully slow.)

The Pussycat Dolls Perform On 2009 Kids' Choice Awards + Winners

The Pussycat Dolls, strutting more clothing than normal, took the stage at the 2009 Kids' Choice Awards earlier tonight to perform "Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)" & "When I Grow Up." To be honest, the showings weren't anything we haven't seen before, & while "Jai Ho" isn't really something I would expect kids to connect with, they made it up with the latter. The Dolls were good though. PCD will release Doll Domination 2.0 on April 14th. If you're interested in the winners, which include Beyonce & "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," click HERE.

Keyshia Cole Lines Up "Trust"

Keyshia Cole is planning to release her duet with Monica, "Trust," as the third single off her latest album A Different Me, as confirmed on her MySpace. I'm thrilled to death about this one! My favorite part about the whole thing is that it should give Monica that push she needs to get momentum going on her new album. I look forward to the video!

*UPDATED* Keri Hilson & Lil' Wayne Perform "Turnin' Me On" On Jimmy Kimmel

Keri Hilson brought along Lil' Wayne to perform their hit single "Turnin' Me On" off her debut album In A Perfect World... last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live! That was one hot performance. As much as I like the song, I don't think I've ever given it enough credit. Make sure you pick up In A Perfect World... if you haven't already!

UPDATE: Keri also performed "Energy." What a pleasant surprise--

Pink "Funhouse" Tour Opening Video

I ran across this cool video that opens Pink's current tour for her newest album Funhouse. It actually features her cover of "Highway To Hell," which sounds great. Everybody's on tour & I don't get to see them. :(

The Pussycat Dolls' Pro7 Commercial

Here's a really cool commercial The Pussycat Dolls did for Pro7, which is a German TV station. The clip almost acts as a sleek music video for their song "Takin' Over The World," but the chorus includes the words "we love to entertain you," the network's slogan, instead. I like! PCD will release Doll Domination 2.0 on April 14th.

New Christina Aguilera Jewelry Ad

Christina Aguilera is featured in another ad campaign for jeweler Stephen Webster. Christina looks fierce! Where's that new music anyway?

Beyonce's Crystal Geyser Commercial

Check out Beyonce in an apparently Japanese commercial for Crystal Geyser water. Nice! Beyonce just kicked off her "I Am..." tour & it looks amazing ... can't wait for the DVD! Meanwhile, Beyonce's latest album I Am... Sasha Fierce is out now.

Idol Review: Top 10

Ruben Studdard returned to the American Idol stage this week to perform the first single "Together" off his upcoming fourth album Love IS (May 19th). The Top 10 took on Motown &, in what is becoming a typical thing, Adam Lambert was incredible. My girl Lil Rounds didn't get enough credit though. Kris Allen continued his streak of solid performances as well. As for everyone else, not so much. Megan Joy, who I usually like, was a disappointment. Matt Giraud continued his whiny nonsense, while Scott MacIntyre continued to prove that he's been here much too long. Anoop Desai's falsetto just didn't do it for me. The judges' continued praise of Old Yeller still leaves me confused & Allison Iraheta showed us just how--yes, judges--amateur she is. While I would've been pleased to see Matt get out of our hair, Michael Sarver's time to go (finally) came. That's not to say I actually thought for a second Matt was actually in the bottom two. They just pulled the same crap they did with Allison, who unsurprisingly had this week's pimp spot, last week: let's scare America into voting for this person that we love so much even though they don't! The rigging on this show is so obvious & sickening. Having recently watched some past Idol performances, I realized just how dry the talent they have to choose from has run. These amateurish screamers & yellers are nothing compared to the powerhouses Idol used to have (& never appreciated). Sad day.

Watch The Ford Commercial HERE

Jennifer Hudson On Ellen

"If This Isn't Love"

Interview

Jennifer Hudson appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show today, where she performed the second single "If This Isn't Love" off her self-titled debut album & sat down for an interview. Jen looked amazing & sounded incredible as always. The interview was nice as well. Do yo' thang, honey!

Billboard Update

^This week's #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart

This week's #1 single on the Hot 100 chart^

See full charts HERE.

Kelly Clarkson sits pretty atop the Billboard 200 album chart with All I Ever Wanted for a second week. On the Hot 100 singles chart, Flo Rida continues his reign on top with "Right Round," while his Wynter Gordon-assisted "Sugar" is this week's Hot Shot Debut at #25. Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis' "I Told You So" zoomed 57-9 after selling 126,000 copies following their performance of the song on American Idol last week. Also, Britney Spears earned this week's Sales Gainer status for "If U Seek Amy," which currently resides at #26.

[Source]

Ashanti On The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet

"The Way That I Love You"

Interview

In a move that makes me wonder if we ever made it past the summer of '08, Ashanti visited The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet to perform "The Way That I Love You" off her latest album The Declaration & participate in an interview. She sounded great! Note: The interview video is a hot mess, but you can just listen if you want.

Ruben Studdard "Love IS" Cover

A classy Ruben Studdard appears on the cover of his upcoming fourth album Love IS (May 19th).

[Source]

Elliott Yamin On Idol Confessions

Elliott Yamin recently sat down with the LA Times for an Idol Confessions segment. The clip starts off with a short acapella performance of "Fight For Love" that is outstanding, which leads into an interesting interview. Look out for Elliott's forthcoming album Fight For Love on May 5th!

The Pussycat Dolls To Perform At Kids' Choice Awards

The Pussycat Dolls are all set to dominate Saturday's 2009 Kids' Choice Awards on Nickelodeon. They will hit the stage for a performance of "Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)." Kids' Choice meets the Oscars! I love it.

Keri Hilson On PIX 11 Morning News

"Turnin' Me On"

Interview

Keri Hilson dropped by PIX 11 Morning News to promote the release of her debut album In A Perfect World... by performing her hit single "Turnin' Me On" & sitting down for an interview. Hey, if I were her, I would take a look in the mirror & say, "Wassup?!" every morning too! Oh, & by the looks of the empty (sold out) shelves at the stores in my area, I'd say Keri isn't booked on big enough shows! I'm so happy for her.

The Caffeine Patch: New Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs Trailer

Our first look at what we can really expect from "Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs" has surfaced today. By the looks of it, we may have the best of the trilogy on our hands! I literally laughed out loud multiple times. "Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs" arrives in theaters on July 1st in 3D!

*UPDATED* Ruben Studdard "Love Is" Update

To the left is the single cover for "Together," Ruben Studdard's new Stargate-produced lead offering from the singer's upcoming fourth album Love Is (May 19th). You can click on the cover to purchase the track. In addition to a performance on tomorrow night's episode of American Idol, Ruben has some big plans for his new album. He worked with famed producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to "record an album of songs that people will remember & has broader appeal." Ruben has a raw talent that is rare even on Idol these days, so I'm definitely looking forward to Love Is.

UPDATE: More details have just emerged about Love IS. Ruben will be covering "More Than Words," originally by Extreme, & Bryan Adams' "Heaven," which will feature Boyz II Men. I like the sound of that already! He will also tackle Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It" (which I don't think I've ever heard...), has written the track "A Song For Her" about his wife, & has worked with producers Teddy Riley & John Rich from Big & Rich ( O_o ).

[Source]

New Black-Eyed Peas Promo Pic

The Black-Eyed Peas are looking very superhero-ish in their first promotional photo for their upcoming album The END (June 9th). Call me crazy, but I think the dark hair works for Fergie! I'm also feeling their new single "Boom Boom Pow," so I look forward to what they'll have to offer.

[Source]

New Stuff Tuesday

Today is quite an exciting day for new releases if I do say so myself. First up, we have the highly anticipated debut album In A Perfect World... from Keri Hilson. I recently gave the set, which features the singles "Knock You Down" with Kanye West & Ne-Yo, "Turnin' Me On" with Lil' Wayne, "Return The Favor" with Timbaland, & "Energy," a glowing review, so be sure to support your girl & purchase your copy of the album by clicking its cover above. Also, Mandisa's sophomore album Freedom, which I gave a positive review & features the single "My Deliverer," comes out today (click cover above to buy). Last but not least comes "Bolt," the latest fun-filled, Oscar-nominated, computer-animated movie from Disney, which you can purchase by clicking its cover above as well.

Keri Hilson ft. Kanye West & Ne-Yo "Knock You Down" Video Premiere

"Knock You Down," featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo, is the fourth single taken from Keri Hilson's debut album In A Perfect World..., which finally drops tomorrow! I love the single choice; this should definitely be another hit for Keri *knock on wood*. The video is equally hot. Keri looks amazing. This is the kind of artist we need right now, people!

Busta Rhymes ft. T-Pain "Hustler's Anthem" Video Preview

It appears that the T-Pain-assisted "Hustler's Anthem" is set to follow-up Busta Rhymes' "Arab Money" preceding the release of his constantly pushed back Back On My B.S. (May 19th). Not sure about the song, but I'm optimistic about what Busta's doing visually. Props for the ol' skool look! Note: This is official, so don't worry that the video & audio don't match.

Ryan Leslie "Precious" Video Premiere

Ryan Leslie is featured on "Precious," a new song from Jim Jones. However, this 1:46 video for the song only features Ryan's parts, so it makes for a tolerable listen. The video isn't much of a spectacle, but "Precious" would fit right in with the rest of Ryan's new self-titled album. Nothing extremely special, but it's good.

Monica Discusses Reality Show, New Album

In this recent interview with StraightFromTheA.com, Monica reveals that she does have an actual reality show in the making. It is to be called Still Standing & will premiere in September on BET. She also confirms that the newly leaked "Once In A Lifetime" is NOT the first single off her upcoming album, but that the single may result from recent sessions she's had with Missy Elliott. I'm happy to hear that the one-hour special "The Single" we received last year from her isn't the long-speculated reality show & I hope Keyshia Cole can lend some of her ratings success to her fellow ATL resident. Also, as much as I like the new song, I'm hoping Mo has a few hits somewhere in those 100-ish songs she's recorded!

Shontelle Performs "T-Shirt" On Album Chart Show

Shontelle did a little UK promotion recently by performing her hit single "T-Shirt" off Shontelligence on their Album Chart Show. This did not sound very good, but I wouldn't say Shontelle is completely to blame. The backup singer that was on the chorus, though a decent singer, does not sound good with Shontelle at all... SMH.

Ciara ft. Justin Timberlake "Love Sex Magic" Video Premiere

"Love Sex Magic," featuring Justin Timberlake, is the second official single off Ciara's upcoming album Fantasy Ride (May 5th). This is one sexy video! Ciara is so fine ... ridiculation. I'm even warming up to (her vocals on) the song. May 5th, here we come!

Christina Milian "Bring It On: Fight To The Finish" Trailer

We now have a visual to go along with the fact that Christina Milian stars in "Bring It On: Fight To The Finish," the fifth in the series. Personally, I feel like this long line of straight-to-DVD sequels, which has attracted the likes of Solange & Hayden Panettiere, is a disgrace to what made the first film great. Oh well.

Kelly Clarkson Performs "MLWSWY" On TV Total Wok WM 2009

I don't have a clue what TV Total Wok WM 2009 is, but I know it was in Germany & I know it was cold, so props to Kelly Clarkson for performing her first single "My Life Would Suck Without You" off All I Ever Wanted to the same amazing standards as always.

Lily Allen Performs "Not Fair" On Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

Lily Allen performed her second single "Not Fair" off It's Not Me, It's You on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway. I like this cheeky song.

Album Review: Mandisa "Freedom"

Mandisa is one of American Idol's signature belters. Since being surprisingly booted from the fifth season of the show in ninth place, she hasn't looked back, creating a successful career for herself in Christian music. Inspired by her recent 75-lb. weight loss, Freedom is the title of Mandisa's sophomore studio album. She keeps in line with the sound of her debut True Beauty by creating radio-friendly music with heart & soul. Freedom is a celebration & we're along for the ride!

First single "My Deliverer" is a wonderful way to kick off the album. It goes well with "How Much," another uptempo that makes its inspirational message quite clear. Mandisa enters ballad territory with "He Is With You," another track with a great message, if not the strongest song. The groovy "Definition Of Me" finds Mandisa alongside the rapper Bianca from Group 1 Crew, which makes for, well, an interesting collaboration. "Not Guilty" is an on-point power ballad that shows us what Mandisa does best.

There's no way you can't feel good while listening to "Leave It In The Valley," which features a cool falsetto hook. "Victorious" follows & is the uptempo equivalent to "He Is With You." Mandisa offers more gorgeousness though on "Broken Hallelujah." Then, the celebration makes its way to church for "Freedom Song" & continues with "Dance, Dance, Dance." Finally, Mandisa leaves us with some refreshing words, courtesy of the ballad "You Wouldn't Cry."

Freedom is a pretty good blend of uptempos & ballads. Few of the 11 tracks are subpar, with the majority being quite enjoyable. Extra points are always given for a big voice anyway. Mandisa has provided us with a solid sophomore effort that is sure to provide many a renewing listen.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Lily Allen "Not Fair" Video Premiere

"Not Fair" is the second single off Lily Allen's sophomore album It's Not Me, It's You. Gotta love Lily's humor. Good song too.

George Huff's Self-Titled Album Cover + More

George Huff appropriately looks like his playful self on the cover of his upcoming self-titled album (April 7th). Not sure if you're interested? Head over HERE to listen to his first single "Don't Let Go" as well as snippets of "I Belong To You (Yours)," "Victory," "Free," "Destiny," & more. I sure like what I'm hearing!

[Source]

Ciara ft. Justin Timberlake "Love Sex Magic": Behind-The-Scenes

If you're like me & can't wait to see Ciara's "Love Sex Magic" video, then check out this behind-the-scenes clip from Access Hollywood. This looks like it'll be another hot one from CiCi! Ciara's third album Fantasy Ride comes out May 5th.

Teairra Mari "Turnin' Me On" Cover

Teairra Mari has put her own spin on Keri Hilson's "Turnin' Me On." This really isn't a straight cover ... unfortunately for her. I just think she is missing the point of the song, but maybe the point is lost on me. This comes on the heels of her remix to Jamie Foxx's "Blame It," which I didn't exactly think was an upgrade either. I do like Teairra on her own material though, so I recommend checking for her sophomore album At That Point when it drops on April 7th (or, most likely, later).

Album Review: Keri Hilson "In A Perfect World..."

I don't need to tell most of you that it sure has been a long time coming. But after what seemed like a lifetime for us--& what has been for her--Keri Hilson is finally releasing her debut album In A Perfect World.... After the infectious "Turnin' Me On," featuring Lil' Wayne, caught on at last, there was no stopping this star-waiting-to-happen from the big time any longer. Keri Hilson is an exquisitely fresh talent that the world hasn't been ready for... until now. Has she in fact managed to create the music heard In A Perfect World...?

The intro is spot-on when Keri announces that she's "'bout to get it poppin'," as it heads straight for "Turnin' Me On." Probably my favorite track on the album, the Keyshia Cole & Trina-assisted ladies anthem "Get Your Money Up," follows with a sick beat & is quite the collaboration. "Return The Favor" with Timbaland, the official second single, is next. Its accompanying video was one of my favorites from last year, but it saddens me that the song went with little additional promotion because it's a hot one. However, the album version has an extended ending that is pretty much unnecessary because it practically puts a 30-second silence right in the middle of the album. No time is wasted getting back on track though with the Kanye West & Ne-Yo assisted forthcoming single "Knock You Down." This one is sure to get radio & the clubs bumpin'.

In A Perfect World... gradually moves in a different direction with "Slow Dance," which goes hard. Slow jam perfection, however, can be found on "Make Love," which demonstrates Keri's magic with Polow Da Don at its best. I love the middle eastern flavored beat on "Intuition." "How Does It Feel" is good too, but note to Timbaland about the beat in the chorus: it's hot, but how about we only use it once on a single album ("Return The Favor")?

At this point, while the album doesn't get bad by any means, it could've used "Hey Girl," the uptempo originally planned to be included exactly here. Nonetheless, Keri brings it once again with the excellent beats on "Alienated," which finds this incredible vocalist right in her comfort zone. She isn't quite there on "Tell Him The Truth," but the funkiness of the track makes up for it. Akon guests on "Change Me," which is alright, but their other collabo "Mic Check" would've been a better fit. The album gets back on track in a big way with the official first single "Energy," which I fell in love with when it originally came out. I've always thought the track was generating enough buzz that it could've carried the album, but I think the pushback ended up being for the better, even if the success of "Turnin' Me On" was most definitely not foreseen. In A Perfect World... ends with "Where Did He Go," a song that isn't exactly new. It's not the best album closer I've ever heard, but it's definitely a great slow jam.

In A Perfect World... is a near-perfect blend of uptempos & slow jams from a woman who has mastered her craft in both. I can't help but wonder why there wasn't a little bit more life, if you will, breathed into this project when Keri is sitting on tracks like "Do It," which she even performed a time or two, & "Turn Up The Radio." I guess you can't hate on her for trying to minimize the most simplistic material on the final cut though. All that said, Keri Hilson is such a refreshing force in today's R&B market & I hope she is here to stay.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Kelly Clarkson On Oprah

Medley

Interview (Pt. 1)

Interview (Pt. 2)

Kelly Clarkson was a guest on today's Oprah, where she performed a medley of "Because Of You," "Behind These Hazel Eyes," & "My Life Would Suck Without You." "BTHE" is my favorite song from her Breakaway album, so I really enjoyed the performance. "They keep gettin' stuff!" I love Kelly. All I Ever Wanted is available now!

Kelly Clarkson Performs "I Do Not Hook Up" On GMA

Kelly Clarkson performed "I Do Not Hook Up" off her new album All I Ever Wanted when she visited Good Morning America last week, but they just got around to airing it (they do this a lot). This was a great showing of this one for Kelly!

Kelly Clarkson On Mario Barth

"My Life Would Suck Without You"

Interview

Kelly Clarkson visited Germany's Mario Barth to perform "My Life Would Suck Without You," the first single off All I Ever Wanted, & ended up doing some very interesting monster truck tricks. Kelly was very entertaining!

Mary J. Blige To Star In New Tyler Perry Movie

Mary J. Blige has signed on to lead the cast of "I Can Do Bad All By Myself," Tyler Perry's next movie. Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson will also star in the film, which is set for release on September 11th. Blige will play Tanya, a nightclub manager, in the stage play adaptation, while Henson will play her friend April. "Bad" will also feature Perry's signature character Madea. I've always been a huge fan of Tyler Perry's movies, so I'm most definitely looking forward to this one.

[Source]

Listen To Keri Hilson's "In A Perfect World..."

Keri Hilson's entire debut album In A Perfect World... can currently be streamed right HERE. Head on over & experience the awesomeness, then pick up your copy on March 24th.

Ciara ft. Justin Timberlake "Love Sex Magic" Video Preview

Watch Ciara show off her flexibility in this sneak peek of the video for "Love Sex Magic," the official second single taken from her forthcoming third album Fantasy Ride (May 5th). CiCi has never looked better, but the jury is still out on her new music. Do look out for the full "Love Sex Magic" video Monday.

[Source]

*UPDATED* Keri Hilson Records "Get Your Money Up"

Some footage has surfaced of Keri Hilson in the studio rockin' to a rough cut of "Get Your Money Up" (I'm assuming that's unmastered) that features only vocals from her. Sounds like a hit either way! Keri's debut album In A Perfect World... drops March 24th.

UPDATE: Peep Keri & Polow Da Don talk about working together--

Elliott Yamin Visits Q102

"Fight For Love"

Interview

Elliott Yamin stopped by Philly radio station Q102 on St. Patrick's Day to perform an acoustic version of his new single "Fight For Love," the title track off his upcoming sophomore album (May 5th), & sit down for an interview. Elliott sounded great & I'm really looking forward to his new album. He's sure stepped up his game!

Billboard Update

^This week's #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart
This week's #1 single on the Hot 100 chart^

See full charts HERE.

Kelly Clarkson makes her triumphant return to the top of the Billboard 200 album chart this week with her fourth album All I Ever Wanted after selling 255,000 copies. The-Dream's Love Vs. Money didn't do too shabby either, debuting at #2 with 151,000 copies sold. Flo Rida's "Right Round" makes it five consecutive weeks atop the Hot 100 singles chart, which sees quite a few debuts this week. The Hot Shot Debut comes from Carrie Underwood, whose "Home Sweet Home" comes in at #21 after selling 112,000 digital copies. Other debuts come from Kelly Clarkson ("Already Gone," #70), The Black-Eyed Peas ("Boom Boom Pow," #71), & Ashanti ("Want It, Need It" with Plies, #96).

[Source, Source, Source]

The Pussycat Dolls "Doll Domination 2.0" Details

Check the cover art for Doll Domination 2.0 from The Pussycat Dolls above. It's definitely hot, even if I prefer the version without the gray background over their faces. On April 14th, PCD will drop this 10-track set, which features four new songs: "Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)," "Top Of The World" from MTV's The City, the Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins-produced "Painted Windows," & the tour remix of "Hush Hush," which features vocals from "I Will Survive." The other six tracks will be made up of three hits ("When I Grow Up," "I Hate This Part," & "Bottle Pop") & three fan favorites ("Takin' Over The World," "Halo," & "I'm Done"). I think this is a great idea, especially with all the random songs the Dolls have been putting out lately that can now be found all in one place. That said, this set is far from perfect. Uh, where's "Whatcha Think About That?" You can't pretend like there wasn't a video for it. I would also suggest placing the "I Hate This Part (Dave Aude Dance Hybrid Mix)" on this release since it's the version they've performed & that people are familiar with. I'm quite puzzled how they came up with those three "fan favorites" too, but I would still recommend picking up the original Doll Domination because it's phenomenal!

[Source]

Idol Review: Top 11

Carrie Underwood accompanied mentor Randy Travis on results night to perform a duet "I Told You So," which is available on iTunes HERE, to top off Grand Ole Opry week on American Idol. It should also be noted that Carrie Underwood sings this year's farewell song "Home Sweet Home," which is also available to download HERE. On performance night, Adam Lambert killed it again with a unique version of "Ring Of Fire." There's no denying his vocals were on-point! I also enjoyed Lil Rounds' rendition of "Independence Day," even if country isn't her style either. Kris Allen's "To Make You Feel My Love" was incredible as well. I thought Anoop Desai did a good job & Megan Joy did alright. My opinion of dislike still holds up for the rest of the gang though, so the elimination of Alexis Grace was a nice surprise. However, I'm still trying to figure out how the Carrie Underwood butchering from Danny Gokey & Matt Giraud went practically unnoticed. Ugh.

Watch The Ford Commercial HERE

Brandy & Ginuwine "Love": First Listen

Ginuwine previews a new duet with Brandy called "Love" that is to be featured on his upcoming album A Man's Thoughts (June 2nd) in the clip above. It sounds great so far, so I can't wait to hear the mastered version. In the meantime, make sure you pick up Brandy's new album Human!

*UPDATED* The Pussycat Dolls Perform On Much On Demand

I Hate This Part

When I Grow Up

The Pussycat Dolls performed their two hits off the soon-to-be re-released Doll Domination (details coming soon) while visiting Much On Demand recently. Sounds like that Britney tour is taking its toll. Don't work too hard, girls!

UPDATE: Check out this performance of "Jai Ho" that didn't air on TV--

Meet Skye Taylor

Skye Taylor is a fresh new artist on the R&B scene. Her debut single "Blessed" recently hit iTunes & I'm lovin' it. Take a listen HERE & if you like what you hear, purchase "Blessed" HERE.

David Archuleta Concert Review

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to catch David Archuleta's concert in Albuquerque, NM. Most of my readers are aware by now that I'm a huge fan of this guy. I supported him throughout American Idol & I still do. Well, after this weekend, David's album, on a scale of 1 to 10, represents his talent at about an 8. Even his brilliant performances like "Imagine" & "Angels" on Idol, as far as I'm concerned, are about a 9. David Archuleta's incredible talent cannot be fully absorbed until you see him live. There is no doubt in my mind that he is one of the greatest talents of our generation.

Although the venue was a little O_o , it all worked out for the best because we could see David quite well. I thought the setlist was excellent. He performed just enough material from his album, some of the bonus tracks (which is a rare perk), & even a selection of his favorite songs. One of the highlights, though, was definitely the new song "Zero Gravity." He really got into that one--& for good reason! Hopefully this isn't too much of a spoiler for anyone, but I also enjoyed the encore, which had David take the stage alone at his keyboard. It was the perfect way to top off the perfect evening.

Even in front of a sold-out crowd, David was just the sweet, grateful person I expected &/or hoped he would be. He even sang Selena again at the audience's request! David put on a great show that, at the heart of it, had precisely what I am always looking for: the music. Not that they'll do his flawless showing any justice, but I'll share some of his performances with you below:

"A Little Too Not Over You"

"Zero Gravity"

Medley ("One," "You Gotta Be," "Love Song," & "I'm Yours"--Jason Mraz WISHES he was this good!)

See More HERE

New India.Arie Promo Pics

Here's the latest set of India.Arie promotional photos for her new album Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics.

[Source]

Mya In The Studio + More

As can be seen in the above footage, Mya is hard at work on her forthcoming US album. She can be heard recording the song "Blackout" in the clip, which you can listen to HERE, where she talks about offering the song to Rihanna. Considering RiRi's current situation, it makes sense lyrically ... but then, it doesn't too. Anyway, the beats also sound good, so I'm anticipating Mya's new material even more now!

*UPDATED* Single News: Beyonce + Christina Milian

Beyonce has selected the third pair of singles to be taken from her latest album I Am... Sasha Fierce. For pop radio, it'll be "Broken-Hearted Girl," while urban radio will be serviced "Ego." Beyonce has shot the videos for both, the latter of which is expected to be the remix she previously recorded with Kanye West. It has also been confirmed that the Sasha Fierce glove will not be used in the "Ego" video. If that's the case, then what was the point of it in the first place? Consistency, people!

Meanwhile, Christina Milian has changed her mind regarding her forthcoming single. The first single to be lifted from her reworked & retitled Elope will now be "I'm A Cheat," as confirmed by The-Dream. [UPDATE: Or not?] Hopefully it'll do the trick!

[Source, Source, Source]

Mariah Carey "Precious" Update

Mariah Carey's upcoming movie "Push" has been renamed "Precious." The title has been named after the main character & changed to differentiate the Lee Daniels film from the recent release "Push" starring Chris Evans. "Precious" also now has a release date: November 6th. I just figured I'd let y'all know!

[Source, Source]

Kelly Clarkson Performs On SNL + Promo

I Do Not Hook Up

My Life Would Suck Without You

Kelly Clarkson was this week's musical guest on Saturday Night Live & performed two songs off her recently released album All I Ever Wanted. She sounded great as usual. Also, her promo for the episode can be viewed below:

The Pussycat Dolls "Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)" Video Premiere

The Pussycat Dolls' video for "Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)," their remix to the Oscar-winning song from "Slumdog Millionaire," has premiered & it's HOT! Nicole Scherzinger is the featured vocalist on the song, which also features A.R. Rahman, & she sounds incredible. What's not to love? "Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)" is out on iTunes.

Beyonce "Vogue" Magazine Cover

Beyonce went & snagged herself a Vogue cover. Mrs. Carter shines on the magazine's latest issue. Beyonce's latest album I Am... Sasha Fierce is available now.

The Caffeine Patch: UPisode #2 "First Aid"

"First Aid" is the second promotional UPisode for Disney/Pixar's upcoming feature "Up." In fact, if you wish to download these UPisodes, click HERE. These things are hilarious! "Up" is set to hit theaters in 3D on May 29th.

Kelly Clarkson On Regis & Kelly

"My Life Would Suck Without You"

"Walk Away"

Interview

Kelly Clarkson stopped by Live With Regis & Kelly for an interview & a pair of performances, one being first single "My Life Would Suck Without You" off her new album All I Ever Wanted. Love her!

Jennifer Hudson "Jet" Magazine Cover

The lovely Jennifer Hudson covers Jet magazine's latest issue. The Oscar- & Grammy-winner's self-titled debut album is out now!

[Source]

Listen To Mandisa's "Freedom"

Simply click play on the widget above to hear Mandisa's entire sophomore album Freedom, which hits stores on March 24th! It sounds great, so definitely give it a listen.

*UPDATED* Idol Review: Top 13

Adam Lambert killed "Black Or White" on Michael Jackson week of American Idol. His Top 13 performance is on the left, while Lil Rounds' excellent rendition of "The Way You Make Me Feel" is on the right. (They both have incredible recording voices!) I guess you could say this week was pretty hit & miss for the contestants. In addition to the above standouts, I liked Kris Allen (to an extent), the underrated Jasmine Murray, &, for some backwards reason, Megan Joy Corkrey. I was a bit surprised by Michael Sarver, but I still don't like him, & Anoop Desai wasn't as bad as the judges made him out to be. Now, Allison Iraheta (who America isn't digging NEARLY as much as the judges) was a mess, as was the painfully out-of-tune performance from Matt Giraud. Poor Jorge Nunez was in fact 'bad' & Alexis Grace is like a six-year-old girl trying to sing that can't. As for Scott MacIntyre, the truth of the matter is that he just isn't a good enough singer to be here. Not only can that be said about Old Yeller (AKA Danny Gokey), but the guy doesn't even know the difference between yelling & singing.

When it comes to the elimination of Jasmine & Jorge, I wasn't very surprised nor did it really affect me. While I did like Jasmine, it's been evident for a while that she just isn't clever enough with her song choices to survive in the competition. Also during the results show were performances from Kelly Clarkson & Kanye West:

Kelly Clarkson "My Life Would Suck Without You"

Kanye West "Heartless"

Watch The Ford Commercial HERE

UPDATE: Jasmine on Live With Regis & Kelly & The Ellen DeGeneres Show ("Reflection," Interview).

Britney Spears "If U Seek Amy" Video Premiere

"If U Seek Amy" is the third single taken from Britney Spears' Circus album. I've always loved this song, & the video is cool & quirky enough to be worthy. I wouldn't go as far as to say it's the best offering from Ms. Spears this era, but it sure is nice to have the queen back!

Keyshia Cole On The View

"You Complete Me"

Interview

Keyshia Cole dropped by The View earlier today to perform "You Complete Me," the second single off A Different Me, & sit down with the ladies for an interview. She did awesome. I've been thinking about it & I really think Keyshia could have a hit with "Make Me Over," which hints at her sexy new sound enough that releasing the exquisite "Erotic" afterwards wouldn't be such a shock, but instead people might warm up to it & give Keyshia's new material the recognition it deserves.

Billboard Update

^This week's #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart

This week's #1 single on the Hot 100 chart^

See full charts HERE.

U2 take over the top spot on the Billboard 200 album chart this week with No Line On The Horizon. Flo Rida's "Right Round" continues its reign atop the Hot 100 singles chart, where The-Dream & Mariah Carey debut at #82 with "My Love."

[Source]

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The Pussycat Dolls Hit Up Regis & Kelly, Today

Live With Regis & Kelly: "Jai Ho"

Today: Interview

This morning, The Pussycat Dolls took over network TV by performing their remix of "Jai Ho" on Live With Regis & Kelly, & appearing on Today for an interview as well as a sneak preview of the "Jai Ho" music video. The performance was on-point & the video promises to be as well. PCD's second album Doll Domination is available now.

Jessica Mauboy "Been Waiting" Video Premiere

"Been Waiting" is the third single off Jessica Mauboy's Australia-only debut album of the same name. I like this song. Other than the Christina Milian "Us Against The World" jack, the video was equally great.

Cassie & Diddy In The Studio

Here's some footage of Cassie in the studio mixing her new single "Must Be Love" with Diddy, who is featured on the track. The song, most of which can be heard in the clip, sounds fairly decent. Cassie is tentatively scheduled to release her sophomore album in July.

Ciara "Fantasy Ride" Cover

At long last, the cover art for Ciara's upcoming third album Fantasy Ride (May 5th) has arrived. Besides the fact that CiCi looks flawless, *sigh* I hate it. What happened to the cool conceptual stuff? How can you even call an album Fantasy Ride if you give it a cover like this? Somebody also needs to explain to me what is with these fanmade-looking official covers lately.

[Source]

The Pussycat Dolls Perform "Jai Ho" On Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

The Pussycat Dolls took to the stage to perform their remix of "Jai Ho" for the first time on Late Night, newly helmed by Jimmy Fallon. The Dolls did a great job & Nicole's vocals were awesome as usual, but I'm still wondering why the other four even had microphones in their hands. Still, a nice showing from PCD, who have been on the road with Britney Spears. Has anybody seen & does anyone like Jimmy Fallon hosting? (It HAS to be better than Conan!) Anyway, The Pussycat Dolls' sophomore album Doll Domination is out now.

Elliott Yamin Collaborates With Taylor Hicks + More

Practically taking a page from the Jennifer Hudson & Fantasia book, Elliott Yamin is featured on the new album from Taylor Hicks, the winner from his season of American Idol. Their collaboration, "Woman's Got To Have It," is the album closer & can be heard HERE. Ha... Elliott sounds better than Taylor (but then again, I never liked Taylor anyway).

In related news, because Elliott's label apparently wants him to fail, considering his lack of presence on the iTunes homepage, I would like to show Mr. Yamin some support by letting everyone know that the amazing first single "Fight For Love" off his May 5th sophomore album of the same name is now available for download:

[Source]

Kelly Clarkson "Blender" Magazine Cover + More

The fabulous Kelly Clarkson covers Blender magazine's latest issue. Take a peek at the inside HERE. Kelly's new album All I Ever Wanted is available now.

Keyshia Cole Performs "You Complete Me" On Leno

Keyshia Cole finally hit the promo trail for her second single "You Complete Me" from A Different Me by performing the top 10 R&B hit on the Tonight Show With Jay Leno last night. In addition to her on-point vocals, Keyshia really has it down in the looks department this era.

Kelly Clarkson On GMA

"My Life Would Suck Without You"

"Walk Away" Snippet + Interview

Kelly Clarkson stopped by Good Morning America on the release day of her fourth album All I Ever Wanted for, among other things, a performance of first single "My Life Would Suck Without You." Show 'em how a real American Idol is supposed to sound!

The-Dream ft. Christina Milian "Amazing (Remix)" Song Premiere

The-Dream & Christina Milian have remixed Kanye West's track "Amazing" for this new viral video. The-Dream compares his new album Love Vs. Money to Thriller in the song & though it's alright, it ain't all that. Meanwhile, Christina Milian's next album Elope is set to drop in May.

Solange Performs At Houston Rodeo

Solange performed "Sandcastle Disco" & "T.O.N.Y." recently at the Houston Rodeo. Good stuff. Solange's latest album SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams is out now.

Mandisa "Freedom" Tracklisting & Revised Cover Art

Unsurprisingly, Mandisa has revised the cover of her forthcoming sophomore album Freedom (March 24th) to show off her new bod. She looks awesome! Check out the tracklisting for Freedom below:

1. My Deliverer
2. How Much
3. He Is With You
4. The Definition Of Me (ft. Blanca of Group 1 Crew)
5. Not Guilty
6. Leave It In The Valley
7. Victorious
8. Broken Hallelujah
9. Freedom Song
10. Dance, Dance, Dance
11. You Wouldn't Cry (Andrew's Song)

"My Deliverer" is great, so I have high hopes for this one!

[Source]

Kelly Clarkson On Wal-Mart Soundcheck

"I Do Not Hook Up"

"My Life Would Suck Without You"

"Since U Been Gone"

"Because Of You"

"Walk Away"

Interview

Kelly Clarkson is the latest artist to perform for Wal-Mart's Soundcheck. She did a set of songs as well as an interview to promote her new album All I Ever Wanted. "I Do Not Hook Up" is my jam!

LeToya "Not Anymore" Video Premiere

"Not Anymore" is the first single off LeToya's upcoming sophomore album Lady Love (May 19th). LeToya surprised me with this one because I wasn't seeing single potential at all when the song leaked. I can't help but feeling still that this kind of thing is better left to Beyonces & Kelly Clarksons, but LeToya is headed in the right direction nonetheless. I didn't give LeToya much of a chance when she came out as a solo artist because "Torn" didn't offer anything interesting to me, but a friend recently convinced me to give her debut album a shot & I quite liked it. I do like how LeToya is maturing musically though. As far as the video goes, though far from original, I really liked it as well. I'm a pretty big fan of director Bryan Barber's work.

New Music Tuesday: Kelly Clarkson "All I Ever Wanted"

^Click To Purchase^

Kelly Clarkson's highly anticipated fourth album All I Ever Wanted is finally released today. The set features the #1 hit "My Life Would Suck Without You." I'll definitely be getting the deluxe edition!

India.Arie On Wal-Mart Soundcheck + More

Recently, India.Arie visited Wal-Mart's Soundcheck for a session of performances of songs off her new album Testimony, Vol. 2: Love & Politics. She performed "Grains/Ghetto," "Better Way," "Pearls," "Therapy" with Gramps Morgan, "Chocolate High," where a background singer absolutely killed Musiq's parts, &, my favorite, "Long Goodbye." India also sat down for an interview, part of which can be viewed in the above preview clip. The entire set was great & can be viewed HERE. Also, if you're hungry for more, HERE's a bonus performance of "Ghetto."

*UPDATED* Keri Hilson "In A Perfect World..." Trailer

Keri Hilson has released a promo trailer for her forthcoming debut album In A Perfect World... (March 24th). The clip features Kanye West playing her love interest & the new song "Make Love," which can be found on the album. Keri definitely turned her swag on for this one! I'm lovin' the song too. Can't wait for the album!

UPDATE: "Make Love" has leaked in full HERE. ... Cause I'm nice like that.

Ashlee Simpson Joins Cast Of New Melrose Place

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz has joined the cast of The CW's new version of Melrose Place. She will play Violet, "a character whose disarming naiveté masks the calculating, shrewd sex kitten within." 'Melrose 2.0' is aiming to be included on The CW's fall schedule. No offense Ashlee, but I will not be watching...

[Source]

Album Review: Kelly Clarkson "All I Ever Wanted (Deluxe Edition)"

After conquering the world of pop music, Kelly Clarkson veered in a different direction with 2007's My December. Now, Kelly & that big voice that made her the inaugural American Idol have returned with her fourth album. All I Ever Wanted takes into consideration Clarkson's rock & country influences as of late to create a pop album that is more polished than ever. There was no denying Kelly's comeback with the #1 single "My Life Would Suck Without You." Never fear though: the hits don't stop there!

After the wonderfully catchy lead single is "I Do Not Hook Up," another addictive gem. Kelly belts out like only she can on the ballad "Cry," while the uptempo perfection continues with "Don't Let Me Stop You." Title track "All I Ever Wanted," compared to its surrounding material, is a grower, but sounds like it would be great live.

Ryan Tedder, the man behind Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" & Beyonce's "Halo," works his magic on "Already Gone;" he & Kelly are an excellent match. Ms. Clarkson brings out her sexier side on "If I Can't Have You," yet another perfect song. The next two tracks, the calm "Save You" & the wild "Whyyawannabringmedown," complement eachother very well.

Katy Perry co-wrote "Longshot," one of my favorite songs on the album. Although the influence can be detected, Kelly is much better than Katy could ever wish to be. "Impossible," another Ryan Tedder original, follows & is lyrically intriguing. One of Clarkson's early demo leaks, "Ready," can be heard here in finished form. The track crosses genre lines & proves that Kelly can successfully release her own material as long as the proper production team is behind it.

All I Ever Wanted closes off with the funky "I Want You" & the gorgeous "If No One Will Listen." However, if you get the deluxe edition, the fun has only just begun! It baffles me how fun, enjoyable "Tip Of My Tongue" didn't make the final tracklisting of the standard edition. If that decision wasn't bad enough, the 100% singleworthy "The Day We Fell Apart" tops off the album with a bang!

Not much beats the feeling of having a Kelly Clarkson album live up to your expectations. In fact, the ridiculously talented artist offers up this time around a well-rounded pop effort that just brings it! All I Ever Wanted doesn't fall flat once & will definitely not leave you disappointed.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

*UPDATED* The-Dream ft. Mariah Carey "My Love" Video Premiere

"My Love," featuring Mariah Carey, is the second single taken from The-Dream's sophomore album Love Vs. Money, which drops tomorrow. Mariah hoods it up for this one & the result is pretty great. The clip is almost perfect, sans director Nick Cannon.

UPDATE: You HAVE to see these "My Love" outtakes. Hilarious!--

Michelle Branch "This Way" Video Premiere

"This Way" is the first single off Michelle Branch's upcoming third album Everything Comes & Goes. Since I posted the video preview, I thought I'd follow through with the full clip, but if Michelle continues in this direction, I just don't think I'll be too interested. The video is pretty dull & the song is way too country for my taste.

Jazmine Sullivan "In Love With Another Man" Video Premiere

"In Love With Another Man" is the fifth single taken from Jazmine Sullivan's Grammy-nominated debut album Fearless. This is the song that made me fall in love with Jazmine, so I'm thrilled to see a short film, of sorts, released for it. The clip is a pretty powerful one, as, of course, is the track itself.

The-Dream "Rockin' That Thang (Remix)" Video Premiere

The-Dream joins forces with Ludacris, Fabolous, Juelz Santana, & Rick Ross for the remix to his first single "Rockin' That Thang" off Love Vs. Money (March 10th). I don't really think the remix does anything for the song. However, considering it's a remix video, I quite like the concept.

Beyonce Does Los Angeles Confidential Magazine

Beyonce sizzles on the cover of Los Angeles Confidential's latest issue. Check out the entire shoot below. Beyonce's latest album I Am... Sasha Fierce is in stores now.

Wynter Gordon Collaborates With Flo Rida

For her first major release as a recording artist for Atlantic, the very talented Wynter Gordon is featured on her labelmate Flo Rida's new single "Sugar." Billboard has the exclusive first listen. To hear more from this exciting newcomer, click on the above banner to visit her MySpace. I hope the steps necessary for Wynter to release an album are taken soon!

Jordin Sparks Performs "Ave Maria" Cover On YouTube

Jordin Sparks has posted a cover of Beyonce's version of "Ave Maria" that is pretty incredible. Each artist brings something to the song & I just so happen to adore Jordin, so I love both interpretations.

Day26 "Forever In A Day" Cover

Here is the official album cover for Day26's sophomore effort Forever In A Day (April 14th). It is most definitely an improvement over the rumored cover.

[Source]

The Caffeine Patch: New Up Trailer

Our first full look at Disney/Pixar's "Up" has finally arrived. The comedy-adventure should be another winner! "Up" comes out on May 29th.

Alicia Keys Portrays Michelle Obama In "Glamour" Magazine

Alicia Keys dressed up as Michelle Obama for a tribute of sorts in the latest issue of Glamour magazine. I just thought it was interesting.

[Source]

Beyonce's L'Oreal Commercial

Beyonce stars alongside Eva Longoria Parker & Elizabeth Banks in L'Oreal's latest commercial. Beyonce's third album I Am... Sasha Fierce is out now.

Idol Review: Top 36 Group 3 & Wildcard

Above is Lil Rounds' Top 36 performance of Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You." She did a great job & I'm pretty sure she's my favorite contestant this year. All-in-all, the third & last group of 12 vying for a spot in the Top 12 was the best. Not because anyone in particular, with the exception of Lil, was outstanding, but because the talent was more evident throughout the entire show. This is why my three picks are Lil Rounds, Ju'not Joyner, & Arianna Afsar (not really based on her performance this week, but, again, mainly her talent). That's not to say she's Top 12 material in general, but her performance wasn't as bad as the judges made it out to be. Here's my two cents about the remaining contestants that didn't get through:

Von Smith: Poor guy's got a voice, but he doesn't quite know how to use it.
Taylor Vaifanua: ...is no Alicia Keys, despite what she may think.
Alex Wagner-Trugman: I kinda feel bad for him cause he's almost as good as Anoop.
Kristen McNamara: She might have a pretty good range to go along with her nice tone, but I couldn't tell from her performance.
Nathaniel Marshall: Blegh.
Felicia Barton: I'll admit that I was already annoyed with her because of the Joanna Pacitti situation (girl would've been one of the three or four best contestants this year), but she isn't Alicia Keys either.
Kendall Beard: It's pretty sad that they feel it necessary to include a Carrie Underwood wannabe every single year, especially since that one trick pony ran outta steam with Kristy Lee Cook last year.

Anyway, Lil Rounds took her rightful place in the Top 12 last night, along with Scott MacIntyre, who is just not good enough, & Jorge Nunez, who oughta thank his tear ducts.

Now, for the Wildcard round. Did anybody else think the eight, at first glance, that performed on tonight's show look like a better Top 12 than (the majority of) the actual one? Well, here's what I thought:

Jesse Langseth: Simon was right on the money calling her "indulgent." Eh.
*Matt Giraud: He's not as great as they say he is. Think Elliott Yamin without everything that makes him the least bit likable.
*Megan Corkrey: I actually like her, but she doesn't belong on this show. She can't apply her talent to the multi-themed format of Idol.
Von Smith: My above comments apply here as well.
*Jasmine Murray: Now THAT's what I'm talkin' about!
Ricky Braddy: R.O.B.B.E.D. You just don't get natural talent as polished as this everyday.
Tatiana Del Toro: I won't even reward this pathetic ratings stunt with a comment.
*Anoop Desai: Sanjaya Malakar 2009. They sure have been mean to him this week though!

* = Top 12... err... 13. That's right: Top 13. Btw, if I had to pick three more people to complete the Top 12, which I can't really do without going against some of my comments, I would choose Mishovanna Henson, Megan Corkrey, & Kristen McNamara. There's just not much to choose from this year.

As we enter the finals, I have to get this off my chest. When this season started & the old format was returning, I was very optimistic. I thought we might finally revert to the times when Idol was genuinely fair & about talent. However, with the inexcusable difference in airtime & pimp spot placement of certain contestants (whether I like them or not), I soon realized this show was worse rigging-wise than ever. The judges' desire for the Top 12 to include so much "variety" is a joke; it gives them an excuse to put through crazier people in place of more talented singers. Don't be fooled: American Idol is not a singing competition at heart. The Idol producers do what they THINK they have to do to get ratings, no matter what it is. Don't they realize their show already has the largest audience on television? Imagine if they put through good singers who actually sold records like they used to?!

Michael Jackson Announces London Gig

Michael Jackson attended & spoke at a press conference earlier today to announce "Michael Jackson: This Is It!," a series of concerts he will perform in July at London's O2 arena. Currently, 10 shows are scheduled for this "final curtain call," but Jackson is expected to perform a total of 20-25. Assuming these are his last concerts not just in London, I guess that pretty much confirms the speculation that MJ won't be releasing another studio album.

[Source]

Kelly Rowland & Tiziano Ferro "Breathe Gentle" Video Premiere

Kelly Rowland has collaborated with Italian singer Tiziano Ferro for his latest single "Breathe Gentle." Kelly looks amazing in the video & sounds wonderful on the song. This Tiziano character sounds like a really bad John Legend though.

Billboard Update

^This week's #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart
This week's #1 single on the Hot 100 chart^

See full charts HERE.

Same depressing shiz as last week... #1 album: Taylor Swift Fearless & #1 single: Flo Rida "Right Round." Elsewhere on the Hot 100 singles chart however, The Pussycat Dolls' "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" earns the Sales Gainer title & jumps 100-15. Also, Jennifer Hudson debuts at #92 with "If This Isn't Love."

[Source]

Shontelle ft. Akon "Stuck With Each Other" Video Premiere

"Stuck With Each Other," featuring Akon, is Shontelle's new single from the "Confessions Of A Shopaholic" soundtrack. This one doesn't do anything for me. I wonder what the idea behind releasing this is though, considering the track is not on her album Shontelligence. That's sure no way to sell a record!

Ashlee Simpson & Pete Wentz "CSI: NY" Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek of Ashlee Simpson-Wentz & Pete Wentz guest-starring on a new episode of CSI: NY. In the episode, which airs March 18th, the real-life married couple plays a Bonnie & Clyde-like pair. I actually watch this show & as much as I dig Ashlee, this looks like a hot mess.

[Source]

Lily Allen Performs "The Fear" On So You Think You Can Dance Australia

Lily Allen went down under to perform her first single "The Fear" off It's Not Me, It's You on Australia's version of So You Think You Can Dance.

Kelly Clarkson On Radio 538

"My Life Would Suck Without You"

Q&A + "Because Of You"

Well, somebody sure likes the international radio gigs. Kelly Clarkson visited Radio 538 at stupid o'clock in the Netherlands to sing "My Life Would Suck Without You" & "Because Of You," & answer a few questions. Kudos to her for sounding so good so early, but I'm pretty much ready for her to get on back here to the US & perform "MLWSWY" properly. Kelly's fourth album All I Ever Wanted drops March 10th.

Jazmine Sullivan "Dream Big" Video Premiere

"Dream Big" is the fourth single taken from Jazmine Sullivan's debut album Fearless. Appropriately, the video mirrors the song by chronicling Jazmine's journey from songwriter to singer ... & I just love it! I think the words writing themselves out like that is an excellent touch. I'm tellin' ya: Jazmine's video just keep getting better! I am curious as to why they rushed this one out without letting "Lions, Tigers & Bears" get its proper shine on, but oh well. If you have ears, you oughta treat them to Jazmine's Fearless today! Note: I'll post a better quality video if one becomes available.

Keri Hilson Performs "Turnin' Me On" On Rip The Runway

Keri Hilson & her fine self turned up the heat at BET's annual Rip The Runway special when she performed her hit (yes!) single "Turnin' Me On" off her upcoming debut album In A Perfect World... (March 24th). Love it. Love her. I can't believe we're about to finally get the album!

Melanie Fiona On Last Call With Carson Daly

"Give It To Me Right"

"Ay Yo"

Interview

Up-&-comer Melanie Fiona was recently featured on Last Call With Carson Daly, where she performed two of her songs & sat down for an interview. "Give It To Me Right" is the first single off Melanie's forthcoming album The Bridge (May 12th). I particularly think she killed on "Ay Yo." If you're looking for some fresh, soulful talent, look no further!

Kelly Clarkson Performs On 1LIVE

Kelly Clarkson performed a two-song acoustic set for 1LIVE in Germany that consisted of "My Life Would Suck Without You" & "Because Of You." I don't necessarily prefer it, but it was cool hearing "MLWSWY" in a different way. The song will be included on Kelly's upcoming album All I Ever Wanted (March 10th).

The Pussycat Dolls "Jai Ho!": Behind-The-Scenes

Here's some footage of The Pussycat Dolls shooting the video for their version of "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" in Austria. I can't wait to see the final product! The song, which is originally from the film "Slumdog Millionaire," is available on iTunes now.

Listen To Kelly Clarkson's "All I Ever Wanted"

For those who haven't yet, now is your opportunity to stream Kelly Clarkson's new album All I Ever Wanted in full via MTV's The Leak. I most definitely recommend that you do because the album is pure hotness! All I Ever Wanted will be released on March 10th.

*UPDATED* Britney Spears Tour Sneak Peek

Check out this sneak peek of Britney Spears' upcoming Circus tour, which kicks off tomorrow. In the clip is also an announcement that Britney is the new spokesperson for Candie's. Nonetheless, doesn't that tour look hot? Sure wish I could go!

UPDATE: Here's an extended first look at the tour. Scandalous--

Christina Milian Discusses New Album

In a new video update, Christina Milian reveals that her new album's title has been changed from Dream In Color to Elope. As Christina suggests in the clip, many changes are on the way for Elope, including the fact that the official first single will be a track called "Zipper," which will follow up "Us Against The World." Christina has also worked with LOS Da Maestro, a close collaborator with The-Dream & Tricky Stewart, since merging with Radio Killa. Hmm... so, changes, huh Christina? Like this?!

[Source, Source]

*UPDATED* New Beyonce "Samantha Thavasa" Ad

Beyonce takes on the (odd) role of a "rear admiral" for the latest Samantha Thavasa handbag ad campaign. She looks lovely, but can you say SMH at the concept? Anyway, Beyonce's third album I Am... Sasha Fierce is out now.

UPDATE: Check out the ad with sister Solange--

Kanye West Performs On VH1 Storytellers

Check Kanye West performing "See You In My Nightmares" from his latest album 808s & Heartbreak above. The performance is taken from Kanye's VH1 Storytellers special, which can be viewed in full HERE. During the special, he performed ten songs that consisted of new material as well as previous hits. Kanye sure entertained me. The show was pretty "amazin', so amazin'."

Katharine McPhee Performs "I Got You Under My Skin" On Chris Botti In Boston

Katharine McPhee joined trumpeter Chris Botti to perform "I Got You Under My Skin" during his "Chris Botti In Boston" special, which will be released on CD/DVD on March 31st (details HERE). Katharine sounded as wonderful as ever & I look forward to her sophomore album. Note: Unfortunately, the video & audio get increasingly off from one another as the video progresses, but you can still at least listen.

Kelly Clarkson On Album Chart Show

"All I Ever Wanted"

"My Life Would Suck Without You"

Interview

During her appearance on the UK's Album Chart Show, Kelly Clarkson performed the first single "My Life Would Suck Without You" as well as the title track off her upcoming fourth album All I Ever Wanted (March 10th) in addition to sitting down for a quick interview. I think I like "All I Ever Wanted" live better than the album version!