News » Miley Cyrus Blames Media
2008-07-30 00:13:00
Miley Cyrus Blames Media
Miley Cyrus is looking for love, and she's begging the media to help her find Mr. Right. The 15-year-old has been single since splitting from Jonas Brothers star Nick Jonas last year and she fears the media make potential suitors think twice before asking her out.
Cyrus insists that by claiming she is dating every guy friend she's ever seen with, possible boyfriends keep their distance.
The Hannah Montana star says, "It is hard when you're hanging out with guys. They are automatically your boyfriend. That's what the media thinks."
2008-07-14 10:30:00
Brian Eno Didn't Like Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida'
British band Coldplay's latest album was slated by legendary producer Brian Eno before it was even recorded, according to frontman Chris Martin.
The rocker and his band enlisted the former Roxy Music keyboardist to help with their latest album Viva La Vida - but were shocked when Eno unleashed his thoughts on their songs.
Martin says, "He said, 'Your songs are too long, you're too repetitive and your lyrics aren't good enough.β
"Within 20 minutes we'd forgotten about all our previous record sales."
2008-07-14 10:31:00
Brawl Breaks Out During Usher Concert
R&B star Usher's concert in Nigeria in the early hours of Saturday morning was marred by violence when a fight broke out in the crowd.
The Love In This Club hitmaker was performing at the This Day Music and Fashion Festival 2008 in the country's capital of Abuja at around 1am when the drunken brawl took place in front of the stage.
Security guards attempted to break up the scuffle as members of the crowdwere shoved towards the platform and one man was removed from the venue, The Dome.
It is currently unclear whether the unnamed male was arrested, as one source claimed, or was simply forbidden from re-entering the concert.
Nobody was seriously injured.
The gig also saw performances from rap superstar Jay-Z and pop star Rihanna.
2008-08-21 16:24:00
Tyra Banks Angers TV Show Audience
Model-turned-talkshow host Tyra Banks has been branded a 'phony' by infuriated audience members who waited more than two hours for her to appear in the Tyra Banks Show studio.
The beauty, who won a TV Emmy earlier this year for the series, reportedly ignored fans waiting to film the show on Tuesday in New York while she joked and chatted with staff backstage.
And Banks' actions further angered the audience as they could hear her laughing behind the stage curtain, according to New York gossip column PageSix.
A source tells the publication, "You could hear her going on and on because she was standing right behind the stage curtain. She's talking and talking. Meanwhile, you have the entire audience waiting almost two hours for the taping to start."
And fans were said to be unimpressed when the star made it onto the stage, accusing Banks of acting "so cold" towards them.
The source continues, "She leaves us waiting, and everyone is sitting there complaining, and then she comes out and doesn't say a word about it. She didn't even say hello, she got right into her script.
"She acted so cold towards everyone. She's a phony."
The star reportedly further upset the disgruntled audience by taking them outside the studio to release balloons in honor of black models.
The source adds, "She had the audience prance down the street and then release black balloons. It was so disorganized, people fell over the press outside and almost trampled two little girls."
2008-07-14 10:35:00
Second Rehab Stint For Ron Wood?
Rolling Stones star Ron Wood is reportedly planning to check himself into rehab for the second time in a month - after his wife Jo went public about her fears over his drinking.
Wood, a self-confessed alcoholic, has been at the center of controversy after a British tabloid newspaper reported that he had left his wife for an 18-year-old Russian waitress.
But although Jo Wood has dismissed stories that her husband is having an affair, she confirmed rumors he has begun drinking heavily again - admitting she is seriously worried about the 61-year-old rocker's health.
Wood has been staying in Ireland with teenage Muscovite Ekaterina Ivanova - who is rumored to be romantically involved with the musician.
Now, following Jo's public outburst, it is reported that he is planning on returning to the family home in England and seeking help to combat his drinking.
A source tells British newspaper The Sun, "It gave him a slap round the face and hopefully shocked him back onto the wagon. He called and said he was coming back on Monday and will check into rehab. Let's just hope he does."
Last month, Wood checked himself into rehab before his daughter Leah's wedding amid fears he was losing his battle with the booze.
2008-07-14 10:37:00
Bon Jovi Performs For Thousands In Central Park
NEW YORK (AP) - Bon Jovi rocked Central Park, New Jersey style.
The rock group gave a free concert Saturday night on the park's Great Lawn, delighting tens of thousands of fans who sang along with the lyrics on a glorious summer evening.
The band opened with "Livin' on a Prayer" and belted out songs including "Born to be my Baby," ''Lost Highway," and "Runaway."
Jon Bon Jovi, for one, was relieved that a long tour was winding down.
"It's good not to call room service. I can tell you that, you know?" the singer said before the concert. "It feels real good not to dial 9 to get a cup of coffee. For me that was very nice this morning. But what a way to end up.
"We started 10 nights in New Jersey and ended up with the biggest show of the year in New York at Central Park on the Great Lawn. It's very rarified air, you know? We know there are only a half a dozen shows that have ever been on this grass."
New York City officials gave away 60,000 tickets for the concert. Some 50,000 people were expected to attend. The free tickets were reportedly being hawked by scalpers on eBay for as much as $1,500 a pair.
Bon Jovi said that drama did not put a damper on the show.
"No. I mean look, it's all behind us at this point," he told The Associated Press. "So we did what we could for our fans and for the people of New York and wanted to share a beautiful Saturday summer night with them."
Hundreds of fans lined up early β in some cases as many as six hours before the show's 8 p.m. start.
For some, it was a family affair. Josephine Ribaudo-McGrane, 34, of Queens, arrived at 1 p.m. wearing a well-worn Bon Jovi concert T-shirt she bought in 2006. She came with her mother, 12-year-old son, 8-year-old daughter, an adult sister and her best friend.
"They've gotten me through a lot of rough times," she said, adding that her iPod is stocked with 200 Bon Jovi songs. "I don't think there's a song that I don't like."
The show was billed as a prelude to the Major League Baseball All-Star game at Yankee Stadium. The game on Tuesday will mark the final season at the Bronx ballpark. A new stadium is being built.
The band joins other greats who have performed on the Great Lawn, including Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand and Pope John Paul II. Garth Brooks also performed at the park's North Meadow.
Bon Jovi performs at Madison Square Garden on Monday and Tuesday as part of its "Lost Highway" tour. Those shows require paid admission.
The quartet has been rocking for more than two decades and has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
2008-07-14 10:39:00
Duffy Recalls One-Day Fishing Career
Singer Duffy's career as a fisherwoman lasted just one day, because she couldn't stand the smell of fish.
The 24-year-old grew up in a small town on the coast of Wales, and considered following a career in the local industry, before fame came knocking.
She reveals to Interview magazine, "I tried it for one day. It was absolutely disgusting. I had to get the bus home and I stank of fish."
2008-07-14 10:39:00
Anthony Kiedis Splits With Girlfriend
Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis has split up with his girlfriend of three years Heather Christie.
The couple has been living apart since June.
Kiedis, 45 and former model Christie, 22, have a nine-month-old son together, named Everly Bear.
Christie tells People.com, "Anthony is a great dad and I will love him forever for giving me the gift of life. I really hope he finds what he's looking for."
2008-07-14 10:41:00
Rapper Snoop Dogg is continuing his love affair with country music - by reworking Johnny Cash's classic track I Walk The Line.
The hip-hop star - who dedicated his new single My Medicine to the legendary musician - has signed up to work on an album of Cash covers. The new disc, to be produced by the late singer's son John Carter Cash, will see a variety of stars giving Cash's songs their own personal touch.
And Carter Cash insists his father would have approved of Snoop Dogg's contribution. He says, "He would have loved this remix record. While it stays true to the original recordings, this CD touches on undiscovered ground. This is what my father was about: staying true to tradition while creating groundbreaking new music."
2008-08-07 17:05:00
Rihanna & Chris Brown Engaged?
Rihanna has sparked rumors she is engaged to R&B singer Chris Brown after she was photographed wearing a diamond ring on her wedding finger.
The Bajan beauty has been romantically linked to the Kiss Kiss hit-maker for months, but both singers have continually denied they are a couple, despite being snapped in public kissing and cuddling. The pair stepped up speculation about their relationship last week when they were photographed frolicking in a hot tub together in Los Angeles.
And now Rihanna has fueled rumors that they are to walk down the aisle after she was photographed sporting a ring on her left hand.
2008-08-22 20:19:00
Jeezy Thrilled Phelps Found Inspiration In His Music
Young Jeezy has discovered he was a big part of Olympics hero Michael Phelps' record-breaking eight gold medal run - the swimmer played the rapper's songs to prepare for his races.
Phelps has revealed his motivation before each race came from Jeezy's R. Kelly collaboration, "Go Getta" - and the rap star is more than thrilled.
He says, "I'm a big fan of Michael Phelps. He's a great success. I like what he's doing. He's like the Young Jeezy of the swim world."
And the rapper insists other athletes should follow the swimming hero's lead and turn to his music for inspiration: "All my music is inspirational. You just gotta listen to the words and get what you can get out of it."
2008-08-25 11:19:00
Environmentalists Criticize Madonna's Tour
Madonna's upcoming "Sticky & Sweet" world tour has been criticized by environmental groups for not taking enough eco-friendly precautions.
The pop superstar kicks off her series of live dates in Cardiff, Wales on Saturday night. And green activists have slammed the singer for the massive carbon footprint they claim will be created by the tour.
Madonna's 49-date trek will see 250 staff members - including nine wardrobe assistants, 12 seamstresses, a personal trainer and a masseuse - 30 wardrobe trunks and the tour's stage set flown around the world. And experts from Carbonfootprint.com predict that the trek will produce more than 1,500 tons of carbon emissions.
John Buckley from the website insists that Madonna's team should have done more to protect the environment. He says, "This is a massive amount of carbon emissions even for a top celebrity icon. However, these emissions will be swamped by those caused by the crowds of concertgoers."
The hitmaker headlined the Live Earth concert in London last year where she pledged her commitment to saving the planet.
2008-08-26 16:58:00
Gwen Stefani Gives Birth To Second Child
LOS ANGELES (AP) - It's Love, Angel, Music, and Baby No. 2 for Gwen Stefani, who on Thursday gave birth to a boy.
Zuma Nesta Rock weighed 8 pounds and 5 ounces when he was born Thursday afternoon, according to publicist Dave Tomberlin.
"Mother, baby and family are all happy and healthy," he said in a statement.
The pop star and fashionista already has one son, Kingston, with her husband, rocker Gavin Rossdale. Rossdale also has a teenage daughter with fashion designer Pearl Lowe.
Stefani has racked up numerous hits and best-selling albums over the years, not only as a solo artist, but as the front woman for the band No Doubt. But the 38-year-old has also become a successful designer with her L.A.M.B. and other clothing lines.
Her last album, "The Sweet Escape," was released in 2006, a follow-up to 2004's multiplatinum "Love. Angel. Music. Baby."
2008-08-28 14:20:00
Rising Fuel Costs Have Diddy Flying Coach
Hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs refuses to pay for expensive fuel costs for his private jet - so instead travels on commercial airlines.
The rapper previously used his jet to fly across the U.S, but his acting career has taken him further afield and Combs is starting to the pay the price.
He laments the rocketing costs on a new video blog he recorded while in an airline terminal before boarding a commercial flight.
He says, "Gas prices are too motherf--king high.
"I've been flying back and forth to Los Angeles pursuing my acting career. If I fly back and forth twice a month, that's like $250,000 round trip. F--k that! I'm back on American Airlines now... and I'm in coach (economy)!"
2008-09-03 16:13:00
Usher Plans 'One Night Stand' Tour For Ladies Only
NEW YORK (AP) - Usher is preparing a tour for ladies only. The R&B singer revealed in a recent interview with The Associated Press that he will soon announce details of his "One Night Stand" tour. He said specific dates are still being worked out for about 15 "intimate" venues.
Asked why he wanted to perform a "ladies only" tour, Usher said he relishes the challenge.
"There's only a few artists that can pull that off," said the 29-year-old singer. "I feel like I've had such a connection with my audience. This album, I felt like, was definitely the type of one that was more intimate. So what better way to get up close and personal than to make it all women?"
Usher's latest album, "Here I Stand," finds him still singing about the life of a lothario, but this time he's a more mature, committed lothario. He sings: "This aint' sex/ This is a symbol of the true makings of love."
Last year, Usher married Tameka Foster and the couple had a son, Usher Raymond V. Though now a family man, Usher hasn't relinquished his sex symbol status.
"The ladies like to see that masculine build," he said. "They question if I still got it."
To go with the theme, Usher is also planning his own line of lingerie and men's undergarments. He already has a fragrance and cologne.
Usher, who's working on a video for his new single "Trading Places," will perform at the National Football League's annual kickoff concert Thursday along with Keith Urban and Natasha Bedingfield.
2008-09-04 15:58:00
U2 Pull Plans To Release 2008 Album
Rockers U2 have postponed the release of their new album because they can't stop writing new songs.
The Irish group has been recording tracks for the follow up to How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb in Morocco and France, where frontman Bono has a vacation home - and the bandmates have amassed "50 to 60" tracks, according to the frontman.
Bono says, "We've hit a rich songwriting vein and we don't want to stop."
So the band has scrapped plans to complete and release the new album by the end of 2008.
Bono adds, "Early next year people will be able to start hearing what weβve been doing. We want 2009 to be our year.β
2008-09-05 17:29:00
Beyonce: 'I'm Over Being A Pop Star'
Beyonce Knowles is set to shock fans by revealing she's "over" life as a pop superstar in a new interview.
The singer tells the upcoming issue of Britain's Marie Claire magazine she's sick of being little more than the "hot girl" and she wants to aim higher than bubblegum pop hits and blockbuster film roles in movies like Austin Powers in Goldmember and Dreamgirls.
She says, "Iβm over being a pop star. I donβt wanna be a hot girl. I feel like Iβve accomplished a lot (and) I feel like Iβm highly respected, which is more important than any award or any amount of records. I feel like there comes a point when being a pop star is not enough.β
And the usually humble singer, who tells the publication she's determined to become "a legend, an icon," feels sure her next movie role - as jazz great Etta James in Cadillac Records - will be the part that will help her really show off her talents.
She explains, "Iβve been saying for a long time that I wanted to do something dark. People are going to be very shocked. Itβs the complete opposite of me. It was very emotionally draining. I was exhausted.β
2008-09-09 11:03:00
MTV VMAs Britney Spears Steals Show
LOS ANGELES β No Madonna kiss. No Michael Jackson cameo. No flying Howard Stern. Not even a Kanye tantrum.
MTV has set a high standard for the unexpected at its Video Music Awards, but on the show's 25th anniversary, the network instead settled for throwing its full support behind Britney Spears' comeback. Spears won a leading three awards, including video of the year for "Piece of Me." (click here for photos from the VMAs)
Any spontaneity was left to host Russell Brand, the British comic whose rock star style and outlandish candor gave the Los Angeles show a pulse. But at the end of the night Sunday, even the manic and mangy Brand β a confessed former sex addict β could only summon a comic semi-feud with the young Jonas Brothers over their premarital celibacy.
But while Brand was unpredictable, witty and offensive, Spears was resolutely careful, determined to set right her pop star image. She was, after all, returning to the scene of the crime, so to speak. At last year's VMAs β Britney Comeback 1.0 β her unpolished performance was roundly disparaged.
In each acceptance speech Sunday, Spears spoke briefly, thanked God and dedicated the awards to her fans. Even while opening the show, she was all business, zipping through her few lines of introduction.
"Thank you so much," she said flatly as the crowd greeted her with a standing ovation. "Thank you for all the love."
MTV has a habit of reengineering the VMAs every year, and, true to form, took this year's show to the Paramount Studios lot in Los Angeles. After last year's awards, splashed throughout a Las Vegas hotel, MTV re-centered the action to a more traditional main stage.
The performances, though, often traveled back into the reaches of the Paramount lot. The Jonas Brothers played their song "Lovebug" on a fake building's stoop, before the set fell away and throngs of screaming fans ran down fictional city streets to surround them.
Unwittingly, the Jonas Brothers β one of the hottest young acts to the MTV audience β became the night's biggest talking point. Brand repeatedly joked about their purity rings, which each wears as a symbol of their vow not to have premarital sex. At one point, Brand brandished one as if he had won it from a Jonas brother.
"American Idol" champ β and fellow promise ring wearer β Jordin Sparks defended the brothers while presenting an award: "I just wanna say, it's not bad to wear a promise ring because not every guy and a girl wants to be a slut, OK?"
Brand was happy to apologize for any hurt feelings, but only to such a degree. After the show, he told The Associated Press, "I feel a bit bad that I kept talking about their vows to chastity and I'd like to take this opportunity to say no one ever have sex again. It's a mad idea. What a way to spend an evening."
A celebrity in England but relatively unknown in the States, Brand proved an interesting mix with the VMA crowd, who seemed unsure of how to react to his lack of political correctness. In his opening monologue, he joked about Madonna, virgins and President Bush, whom he called "that retarded cowboy fellow."
He pleaded, "Please, America, elect Barack Obama. On behalf of the world." Some in the star-studded crowd cheered, while others β like Spears β sat quietly.
The rest of the evening was mostly given to performances, many of which paired performers in unusual combinations. The prim and proper Leona Lewis joined Lil' Wayne, who later joined Kid Rock. Lil' Wayne took home the best hip hop video for "Lollipop."
T.I., who is currently serving 1,000 hours of community service and will afterward serve a year in prison for federal weapons charges, performed with Rihanna.
Closing the night was Kanye West who, like Spears, was hoping for a second chance after a disappointing VMA experience last year. In Las Vegas, he had a Kanye-sized hissy fit backstage and vowed never to appear at the VMAs again after he didn't get a Moonman trophy despite several nominations.
West again went home without an award this year; there were only eight awards in total. Videos from Chris Brown ("With You"), Linkin Park ("Shadow of the Day") and the Pussycat Dolls ("When I Grow Up") took home awards for best male video, best rock video and best dancing in a video, respectively.
Best new artist went to Tokio Hotel, while Spears' "Piece of Me" won for best female video, best pop video and video of the year.
2008-10-21 11:14:00
Rapper Lil Wayne is set to become a father for the second time - he is expecting a baby boy.
The Lollipop hit-maker announced his news whilst onstage at the 2008 BET Hip Hop Awards on Saturday night in Atlanta, Georgia. The star, real name Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was collecting his award for Lyricist of the Year when he told the crowd: "I got a son about to be born any day now, so shout-out to him. Pray for me."
The rapper already has a nine-year-old daughter, Reginae, with ex-wife Antonia Carter.
2008-10-21 11:16:00
Madonna's Publicist: No Settlement Finalized
LONDON (AP) - Madonna's divorce settlement with her estranged husband Guy Ritchie has yet to be finalized, the singer's publicist said Sunday.
The Sun and The Mail on Sunday reported that the two had struck a deal over their finances and how to split their property. The Mail also reported that they had agreed to a custody arrangement for the couple's children.
In a brief e-mail message sent to The Associated Press, Liz Rosenberg said she would not be commenting on media reports that the pop star and her film director husband had reached or were about to agree on how to share the couple's multimillion dollar fortune and custody of their children.
"I will not be commenting on the various reports regarding the divorce or of the settlement which has not been finalized," Rosenberg said. A statement from Guy Ritchie's representatives in London also declined comment.
Madonna and Ritchie announced their separation Wednesday after nearly eight years of marriage and Britain's tabloid press has speculated wildly on the outcome of the high-profile split.
Madonna and Ritchie married in December 2000 at a castle in Scotland. The couple are reportedly worth around $525 million, the bulk of that belonging to Madonna. Ritchie has an estimated $35 million fortune. They own homes in London, Los Angeles and New York, and a 1,200-acre retreat in Wiltshire, England.
The couple have two children: Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3, who was adopted in Malawi in 2006. Madonna also has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from her relationship with personal trainer Carlos Leon.
2008-10-21 11:18:00
The Beckhams To Talk To Police Over Theft Case
Soccer ace David Beckham and his wife Victoria will talk to police about allegations of theft from their British home, according to reports.
The former Spice Girl and her husband are due to speak to officers on Saturday in relation to claims against two former housekeepers. Personal items - said to include designer clothes, sportswear, and a pair of David's football boots - were allegedly put up for sale on internet auction website eBay.
June and Eric Emmett - who worked for the Beckhams - and a man believed to be their son, were taken into police custody and questioned earlier this week. And despite the Emmetts pleading their innocence, the Beckhams will need to talk to officers about the incident - and may have to give evidence in court if charges are brought.
A source tells British newspaper the Daily Mirror, "Police will want to know from the Beckhams who had access to their belongings and if anything else is missing. It will be quite a low-key session but officers will need to get a lot of detail from the couple, because it will be needed as a witness statement."
"If anyone is charged, it is possible David and Victoria might have to give evidence in court."
