Fantasia Reality Show Update

News has finally emerged regarding Fantasia's upcoming reality show on VH1. Entitled Fantasia For Real, the eight-episode, half-hour series will premiere on Monday, January 11th, @ 10/9c. The show will be an in-depth look at Fantasia's personal life as well as the making of her third album, which is said to be due in March (with a single to drop around the time of the series' premiere). Very exciting stuff! I've been dying to hear more about this because I'm going through some pretty serious 'Tasia withdrawal, but all's well ... or it soon will be!

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Syesha Mercado & Moya Angela Perform "Listen" On The Early Show

Syesha Mercado & her "Dreamgirls" co-star Moya Angela sang their duet "Listen" from the musical on The Early Show before heading out on their nationwide tour. Very nice, ladies! I wonder if Syesha will look into putting that album out while she's still on the road to cash in on some of that promo...

New Fergie "Nine" Trailers

Here's a pair of new trailers for "Nine," a forthcoming musical that features Fergie in the cast. In the above clip, although we've already heard her song & seen what she looks like, there's actually some footage of her performing in the movie; the second video is mainly just a (Kate Hudson-centric) sequence from the film. This really does look good! "Nine" opens on Christmas Day.

Craig David Collaborates With Jay Sean

Craig David came out of hiding--if only for a moment--to feature on Jay Sean's "Stuck In The Middle" off the UK version of his new album All Or Nothing. Listen below:



Umm... this dude knows that Craig is better than him, right? Well, it's good to hear Craig's voice again & I hope that he has something of his own in store for the new year... even though we will most likely be deprived here in the US once again.

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Marques Houston On The Mo'Nique Show

"Body"

Interview

Marques Houston was a guest on The Mo'Nique Show recently, where he plugged his new album Mr. Houston, among other things. I got more than a little worried when the best thing Mo could come up with to talk about was "You Got Served" ... but not nearly as concerned as I was when she showed that clip of his new movie. (Marques has a new movie? I know!) As for that performance... ya know, the guy's got talent, but that song really sucks.

Estelle Album Update

Estelle has been hard at work crafting the follow-up to last year's Shine. Tentatively titled All Of Me, the album's first single is set to be "Back To Love Again," which I previously posted a performance of, but she suggests something may drop before it to increase anticipation. If you're like me, you'll be relieved to hear that Estelle will be both singing & rapping once again on the project, for which she has worked with Swizz Beatz & Wyclef Jean again on. She has also logged studio time with producer No I.D. (Kanye West's "Heartless") for a rap track. You can hear Estelle recap most of this in the video above. I think Estelle is phenomenal, so I can't wait for this record!

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Leona Lewis Performs "Happy" On CNN Heroes & French X Factor

Alright, this is beyond ridiculous. Have they SEEN Echo's sales numbers thus far? Have her perform something else already! Leona, you're doing a wonderful job; it's not your fault. ... Whatever. You can bet Echo will show up on my top 10 albums of the year list though!

Jennifer Lopez: Ten@Ten On Jay Leno

Jennifer Lopez was asked 10 questions on The Jay Leno Show last night that had her plugging her new single "Louboutins," revealing that she doesn't have an iPod (the horror!), &, most of all, showing off her infectious personality. Oh, J.Lo. Please dominate once again in 2010! (You bet I made that rhyme on purpose.)

Jazmine Sullivan Collaborates With Snoop Dogg

One of my favorite new artists in recent memory, Jazmine Sullivan, has been bridging the gap between her first two albums with a number of collaborations, the latest being with Snoop Dogg on his upcoming album Malice N Wonderland (December 8th). She assists on "Different Languages," which you can hear below:



Get gangsta on 'em, Jazmine! This one's a little different for her, but just as great. I really hope she drops that second album next year.

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Avril Lavigne "T-Mobile" Commercial

Avril Lavigne stars (with Wyclef Jean & Brad Paisley) in a new T-Mobile commercial that started airing recently. Getting that endorsement money may be good for her & all, but I want that album she's been recording! I take it the album's release took a backseat to her current divorce, but hopefully times will get better & we'll get the CD sometime early next year.

FREE Holiday Tunes From Katharine McPhee, Mary J. Blige

Artists are out to make this Christmas the best it can be by offering up their holiday recordings for FREE! First up, Katharine McPhee's rendition of "I'll Be Home For Christmas," which I featured recently, is one of iTunes' Holiday Discover Downloads this week, so you can download your complementary copy HERE. This is a very nice warm-up for Kat's sophomore album Unbroken, which comes out at the top of next year on January 5th.

Also available to download for FREE, but only today(!), is Mary J. Blige's duet with Andrea Bocelli on "What Child Is This," which you can watch them perform, umm, directly below. Click HERE for that one, courtesy of Oprah! (lol) Mary's been doing her thing everywhere lately, but up next is the release of her new album Stronger With Each Tear on December 21st.

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Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, & Alicia Keys Spread Holiday Cheer On Oprah

Jennifer Hudson & Sugarland "Silent Night"

Mary J. Blige & Andrea Bocelli "What Child Is This"



Alicia Keys & Tim McGraw "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"

Three divas joined forces with unlikely duet partners to perform holiday classics on Oprah yesterday. Jennifer Hudson brought the house down as always with that voice of hers, which made Ms. Sugarland lady sound relatively bad (sorry). Mary J. Blige went IN on her song with Andrea Bocelli; Alicia Keys did a nice job with odd partner Tim McGraw as well. All of these ladies aren't done wishing us a Merry Christmas this month either. J-Hud's Christmas special airs on the 14th, while Alicia's new album The Element Of Freedom comes out on the 15th (+ her concert is tonight!) & MJB's upcoming album Stronger With Each Tear drops on the 21st.

JoJo, Others Collaborate With Timbaland

You've heard Bran'Nu's songs from Timbaland's Shock Value 2 (December 8th), but what about everybody else? Well, for one, I'm excited for JoJo because she is featured on the album's third track "Lose Control":



I actually like this one *ahem*. I don't know why I was thinking earlier this year that Timbaland's beats were getting stale because this album is pretty hot! Further evidence can be found in the Keri Hilson-featured "The One I Love," which is also assisted by D.O.E.:

Another sizzling collabo from Keri & Timbo. They really do create magic together. Last but not least is Timbaland's version of OneRepublic's "Marchin' On," the original version of which can be found on the band's new album Waking Up. Listen to the remix below:

I'm used to the other version, but I think I like this one better. Definitely more up my alley. I can dig it.

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Kris Allen On The Bonnie Hunt Show

"Live Like We're Dying"

Interview

Kris Allen put in another performance/interview set on The Bonnie Hunt Show during the promo tour for his self-titled debut album. I enjoyed the interview.

Brandy Collaborates With Timbaland, Snoop Dogg

If you're a Brandy stan like me, then today is your lucky day! Actually, I guess it would be December 8th, since that's the release date for Timbaland's Shock Value 2, which features the official debut of Bran'Nu, Brandy's rap alter-ego. Check out one of her two tracks on the album, "Meet In Tha Middle," below:



Fiyah! You already KNOW she can spit like that!! If you like what you hear, listen to her other song "Symphony," which also features Attitude & D.O.E.:

Ah, yes. I could listen to these all day. Brandy getting her shine on by flowing on the track & singing background vocals?! What could be better? I know! ANOTHER new Brandy song! This one comes from Snoop Dogg's upcoming album Malice N Wonderland (also arriving on December 8th), also features Pharrell, & is titled "Special." Enjoy:

This is a nice juxtaposition to the Timbo tracks. I love it! These are all sooo hot... I already need a new Brandy album.

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