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| Jennifer Hudson Returns To 'American Idol' Stage
April 16, 2009 at 11:52 am
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| Singer performs her new single, 'If This Isn't Love.'
By Gil Kaufman 
Jennifer Hudson performs on "American Idol" on Wednesday
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images Introduced as the only "American Idol" finalist to win an Oscar, Jennifer Hudson returned to the "Idol" stage Wednesday night for the first time to perform her new single, "If This Isn't Love." In a brief clip introducing her performance, viewers got to see the wide-eyed Chicago native in her first audition for the show, rocking a blow-out 'do, a slinky black dress and the 1000-watt smile that helped land her on the show the first time. " 'Idol' was actually one of my tests for myself," Hudson said in a pre-taped interview segment. "I said, 'If I can get through "Idol," that means that I'm cut out for this industry.' " Ironically, Hudson needed a wild-card bid from the judges to make it to the finals and then she got ignominiously booted well before the finale, winding up in seventh place during the third season. That injustice is part of the reason the judges decided to implement a one-time-only save this season, which, coincidentally, they busted out less than 30 minutes after her performance, saving Matt Giraud from the "Idol" also-ran pile. The clip before her performance again praised the singer for being the only "Idol" winner to snag an Oscar (for her role in "Dreamgirls"), and mentioned her hit self-titled debut album, with a nod to her first Grammy win in February for Best R&B Album. "Accepting the Grammy was so overwhelming for me," she said in the taped interview. "That is what I've waited for, worked for since I was 7 years old." Wearing a long black jacket, glittery black top, black leggings and stiletto boots, Hudson walked slowly onto the bare stage, singing the ballad amid a swirl of small rotating spotlights, with a projection of the song's sensual black-and-white video behind her on the big screen. Rising from a breathy lower register to her signature soaring power range over the tick-tock tempo of the backing track, Hudson stood still behind the microphone for most of the song, getting more animated as it went on. The performance, taped several weeks ago, slowly picked up steam, with Hudson gripping the microphone stand at one point and belting out "So if you've got real love put your hands up," while raising her arms above her head. Hitting a roof-raising crescendo, she wailed the refrain "If this isn't love/ Dreamin'/ Crazy/ If this isn't love tell me what it is," as the lights caught the thick diamond-encrusted ring on her right hand. Hudson smiled sweetly as the performance ended, and host Ryan Seacrest walked out to give her a hug, welcoming her back to the program. "So good to be back," she said. "An Oscar, a Grammy, what else is left?" Seacrest asked. "I don't know," Hudson smiled. "I guess coming back here and singing." Though no mention was made of the difficult time the singer has had since the October murders of her mother, brother and nephew in Chicago, Seacrest asked Hudson about her recent engagement to "I Love New York 2" contestant David "Punk" Otunga, inquiring when the wedding will be. "It's a secret, I can't tell nobody," Hudson demurred. After Seacrest asked her to whisper it in his ear, she leaned in and joked quietly, "Ryan, they'll hear it if I tell you." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lil Jon Gets Miley Cyrus' Old Phone Number
April 16, 2009 at 10:18 am
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| Rapper surprised, 'especially when I get texts like, 'Congratulations on Teen Vogue!'
By Jocelyn Vena 
Miley Cyrus and Lil Jon
Photo: David Aguilera/ Steve Granitz/ BuzzFoto/ FilmMagic Friends of Miley Cyrus shouldn't be offended if, when they try to text or call the teen queen, she doesn't respond. They should know that these days they aren't getting in touch with Cyrus, but instead with rapper Lil Jon, who recently acquired the Disney star's old phone number. "I was basically in shock, like, 'How did that happen?!' " Lil Jon said in a statement, according to "Access Hollywood." "Especially when I get texts like, 'Congratulations on Teen Vogue!' " The rapper added that in addition to congratulatory texts, he's also been receiving calls from a lot of the stars' friends. Lil Jon doesn't seem to mind, now that the initial shock of getting the number has worn off. In fact, he's going to keep it and maybe eventually Cyrus' friends will realize it's not her number and finally get Cyrus' new digits. "I'm gonna keep it 'cause I don't answer numbers I don't know anyway," he said. He added that he's a fan of the "Hannah Montana" star. "Yeah, I like Miley! My son likes her show," he told "Access Hollywood." "I'll probably run into her at some award show." The rapper — whose new album, Crunk Rock, is coming out later this year — initially broke the news of getting Cyrus' old phone number on his Twitter page last week. He Tweeted, "How come I jus got a new phone number and it's f---ing Miley Cyrus old number!!! Stop callin me lil damn girls!!!! Trues story!! No BS!!" Related Videos Related Artists |
| American Idols Live! Summer Tour Dates Announced
April 16, 2009 at 9:56 am
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| Top 10 singers will hit 50 cities, starting July 5 in Portland, Oregon.
By Gil Kaufman 
The "American Idol" Season 8 Top 10
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images It will be another month before we learn who will wear this year's "American Idol" crown, but one thing's for sure: The top 10 finalists will be very, very busy this summer. The traditional American Idols Live! tour will take Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Michael Sarver and Scott MacIntyre to 50 cities beginning on July 5 in Portland, Oregon, and stretching through a September 15 gig in Manchester, New Hampshire. Tickets for the whole run go on sale May 9. American Idols Live! tour dates, according to the official site: » 7/5 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden
» 7/7 - Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
» 7/8 - Vancouver, BC @ General Motors Place
» 7/10 - Sacramento, CA @ ARCO Arena
» 7/11 - Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
» 7/12 - San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion at San Jose
» 7/14 - West Valley City, UT @ The E Center
» 7/16 - Los Angeles @ Staples Center
» 7/17 - Ontario, CA @ Citizens Business Bank Arena
» 7/18 - San Diego @ San Diego Sports Arena
» 7/20 - Glendale, AZ @ Jobing.com Arena
» 7/23 - Dallas @ American Airlines Center
» 7/24 - Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
» 7/25 - N. Little Rock, AR @ Alltel Arena
» 7/26 - Memphis, TN @ FedExForum
» 7/28 - Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum
» 7/29 - Sunrise, FL @ BankAtlantic Center
» 7/31 - Duluth, GA @ Arena at Gwinnett Center
» 8/1 - Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena
» 8/2 - Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
» 8/4 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
» 8/5 - Baltimore @ 1st Mariner Arena
» 8/7 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Boardwalk Hall
» 8/8 - Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
» 8/11 - Long Island, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
» 8/14 - Hamilton, ON @ Copps Coliseum
» 8/15 - Rochester, NY @ Blue Cross Arena
» 8/16 - Hartford, CT @ XL Center
» 8/18 - Boston @ TD Banknorth Garden
» 8/19 - Albany, NY @ Times Union Center
» 8/20 - Philadelphia @ Wachovia Center
» 8/22 - Pittsburgh @ Mellon Arena
» 8/23 - Cleveland @ Wolstein Center
» 8/25 - Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
» 8/26 - Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace at Auburn Hills
» 8/28 - Milwaukee @ Bradley Center
» 8/29 - St. Louis @ Scottrade Center
» 8/30 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
» 9/1 - Minneapolis @ Target Center
» 9/2 - Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena
» 9/4 - Madison, WI @ Alliant Energy Center
» 9/5 - Indianapolis @ Conseco Fieldhouse
» 9/6 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
» 9/8 - Reading, PA @ Sovereign Center
» 9/9 - Wilkes-Barre, PA @ Wachovia Arena
» 9/10 - Bridgeport, CT @ Arena at Harbor Yard
» 9/12 - Portland, ME @ Cumberland County Civic Center
» 9/13 - Providence, RI @ Dunkin' Donuts Center
» 9/14 - Syracuse, NY @ War Memorial at Oncenter
» 9/15 - Manchester, NH @ Verizon Wireless Arena
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'American Idol' Judges Save Matt Giraud
April 16, 2009 at 9:20 am
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| Giraud is first contestant in show's history to avoid elimination thanks to new rule.
By Gil Kaufman 
Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud and Ryan Seacrest on "American Idol" on Wednesday
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images At last. No, not the Etta James song every "American Idol" contestant thinks is their ticket to the winner's circle. At last the judges busted out their one-time-only save Wednesday night, making "Idol" history by giving dueling piano player Matt Giraud a second chance after he landed in the bottom three again. Though he didn't appear to win them over with his singing Wednesday night, there's clearly something about the Justin Timber-alike from Kalamazoo that continues to speak to the four panelists, who only had two weeks left to use the save before it ran out. The bad news? That means two contestants have to go home next week. After a hectic night in which time constraints forced the judges to give their opinions in pairs for the first time — and the show still ran over — the elimination night felt almost breezy. Because this week's mentor, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, is one of the show's biggest fans, it seemed he couldn't help but put his imprint on the opening of Wednesday night's show. With a doomsday showdown vibe fueled by an ominous voiceover, "Pulp Fiction"-style titles screens, quick edits and scratched-negative reels, the intro set up the elimination show as a do-or-die faceoff. But before any drama could unfold, things got warm and fuzzy for a while. In keeping with this week's movie theme, the top seven sang the "Flashdance" classic "Maniac," with Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta taking turns flirting with the judges as the kids shimmied through a high-energy arrangement. We also got to see tape of the cast meeting Zac Efron at the premiere of "17 Again" after Tuesday night's show and watch Iraheta get a bit tongue-tied as the boys teased her about her Efron crush. Speaking of Iraheta, who got props Tuesday night for being the girls' only hope left in the competition thanks to her gutsy take on Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," she was the first one to pass through to the next round. Though Simon Cowell didn't love Adam Lambert's cover of Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild," the leading contender on the show quickly took a seat as well, though Anoop Desai wasn't so lucky despite good notices from the judges for Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You," landing in the bottom three for the third week in a row. To shouts of "My sister loves you!" Kris Allen waited to find out whether viewers liked his cover of "Falling Slowly" from the movie "Once," which Kara DioGuardi labeled his best, but which Randy Jackson called pitchy. Simon, who didn't get a chance to discuss the song Tuesday night called it "brilliant," the opposite of what he said about Lil Rounds' cover of "The Rose," which sent the one-time leading contender back to the bottom three again. That left Matt Giraud and Danny Gokey as the last two awaiting their fate, with Giraud having sung an unevenly received cover of Bryan Adams' "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman," and Gokey banking on his performance of Lionel Richie's "Endless Love," which Simon said he found boring and unoriginal. Gokey got the pass, which meant Giraud was facing the bottom three for the second time. Looking the cellar dwellers over, Kara said the bottom three looked right to her. It wouldn't be a long trip for Desai, though, who got yet another reprieve. With only two more weeks left to use the once-only season save, Simon said, "You know, there is one I think that I would consider saving, and it might be a surprise to that person." When pressed by host Ryan Seacrest if it was Rounds, who has come under repeated fire from Cowell, the judge said, "We'll see who it is." After a vote of more than 36 million, Seacrest sent Rounds back to the couches, leaving Giraud center stage to sing for his life. Throwing a bit of rasp onto his usually smooth croon, Giraud gave the Adams song from the 1994 Johnny Depp/ Marlon Brando movie "Don Juan DeMarco" a bit of a country swing, appearing confident and energized as he faced down the judges. At one point, he stretched to hit a high note that he couldn't quite reach, grimacing a bit, but then ended on one of his signature clean falsettos, which brought the audience to their feet. Paula Abdul and Kara, who swayed along and clapped during the entire performance, stayed on their feet as the crowd broke out into a chant of "save, save, save, save!" Simon asked Giraud how many times he'd been in the bottom three and then told him that the performance was not as good as the night before. "I don't see that you have really any chance of winning the competition," he said flatly, as Abdul, Jackson and DioGuardi protested, "Oh, come on!" and waved their fingers. "Matt, we've made a decision," Cowell said. "Matt, it's good news." Giraud was swamped by his fellow contestants and burst into tears as Cowell looked on with a warm smile and warned the remaining seven, "I wouldn't be so quick to congratulate him. Number one, two people are going home next week now. Second piece of bad news, next week is disco week." The show also featured the triumphant return of former "Idol" finalist, Oscar- and Grammy-winner Jennifer Hudson, who sang her latest single, the slinky R&B tune, "If This Isn't Love." The pre-taped segment featured Hudson unleashing some of her signature titanic vocals, providing further proof that viewers got it wrong when they prematurely voted her off in season three, a mistake that led to the implementation of this year's save rule. Also performing on the program was Miley Cyrus, who sang her new single, "The Climb," while wearing a glittery silver ball gown on a stage enshrouded in fog. In addition to the sounds of disco from the competitors, next week's elimination show will feature music from last season's runner-up, David Archuleta, singing his latest single, "A Little Too Not Over You," as well as disco legends Harry Wayne "KC" Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band, Thelma Houston and Freda Payne, who will perform a medley of their boogie-fever hits, including "Get Down Tonight," "Don't Leave Me This Way" and "Band of Gold." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Plies Releases Teaser For His Reality Show 'Goonette'
April 16, 2009 at 7:50 am
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| 'This whole 'Goonette' movement is something I'm really excited about,' the rapper says of the show, still in production.
By Shaheem Reid 
Plies
Photo: MTV News Some call it horrifying, some say it's inspiring, some label it hilarious — but everyone is fascinated by it. Plies recently released an online teaser for his reality show "Goonette," and the Internet is chatting about the show that focuses on women who show "grace" and beat the odds. "Ah, man — I feel like it was a great move for me," Plies said about "Goonette," which is still in development. The Fort Myers, Florida, MC says he's pleased that he chose to do a "Goonette" show, and he should have a deal in place with a cable network within the next few weeks. "This whole 'Goonette' movement is something I'm really excited about," he said. "Today, it's a bigger movement than the 'Bust it Baby' situation. For me to have the chance to put the trailer together and shop it around, I think it's the best move I made in my career." The woman taking the lead role in Plies' trailer is Fire, a stripper and mother of two. "Fire is from Tampa," Plies explained of his friend. "I had a chance to meet her probably two years ago. I watched her a little bit — me and her been in some of the same clubs together. I just always grew a liking for her because I seen so many great qualities in terms of her strong inner personality. That was the most important thing for me in terms of making her the first official face of this whole reality series. "I heard about [the strip club] she worked at first, before I went there and seen it myself. I heard about how she was hustling. She was always the chick that, no matter what spot we was in, what [regular night] club we was in, she always ended up being the chick that turned the spot out. She always was with her clique. They always danced and partied. I used to see her dance all the time, but I didn't know that's what she did as far as her profession. I got whiff of it. For me, that was the icing on the cake." America's #1 goon has a camera crew all set to travel to Dallas to film another young lady he stumbled across in his travels. "I already had four different young ladies I already shot footage with it," he said. "I was gonna run and have the show be an online situation so it could be as raw as I wanted it to be. But some people made me reconsider that." Cable, however, will still allow the show to air uncensored, which he claims is perfect, despite some criticism on the Net calling the program "too ghetto." "It's kinda a no-lose situation for me to be narrating this whole situation," Plies said. "And then bringing interesting people to the forefront, it's a two-way win-win situation." Related Artists |
| Ashley Tisdale Talks About Her 'Guilty Pleasure'
April 16, 2009 at 7:50 am
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| 'It's still really fun and you can rock out to it,' the actress/singer says of her upcoming album.
By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by Kim Stolz 
Ashley Tisdale
Photo: MTV News With the release of Zac Efron's "17 Again" on April 17, it's "High School Musical" alumni week. MTV News is going to catch you up on what the future holds for all of your favorite East High Wildcats! Ashley Tisdale may have been the guilty pleasure of tween girls everywhere as Sharpay in the "High School Musical" movies, but now the singer/actress is sharing hers with the world on her aptly titled album, Guilty Pleasure, out June 16. For the album, Tisdale worked with Toby Gadd, "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi and Billy Steinberg and embraced her rocker-chick roots, emulating such artists as Pat Benatar and Pink. "It's different — it's more guitar-driven ... it's pop-rock," she said of the LP. "The first album, for me, was learning myself as an artist — and this album, I knew exactly what I wanted coming into and it's reflecting on where I am in my life right now." Unlike her first album, Headstrong, Tisdale hopes to show off her "edgier" side, leaving behind the pop and R&B songs. "They're more mature [songs], but it's still really fun and you can rock out to it," she said. "There are still only two ballads on it, because I want it to be something you can pop in your car or when you're getting ready to go out you can listen to." The album's first single is "I'm Alright, I'm OK," which the singer describes as "a strong survival song." And for the video, Tisdale got pretty destructive, showing "90210" actor Adam Gregory just what happens when you cross the "They Came From Upstairs" actress. "He drives away from his house, I enter his house, and I invite a lot of people over — we destroy it," she explained. "There's also male models there that I'm taking pictures with, I'm posing with, leaving them all around the house — so then he comes home with the girl that he is cheating on me with and sees his place is destroyed! Great revenge!" Related Videos |
| Virginia Tech Observes Second Anniversary Of Shootings
April 16, 2009 at 6:51 am
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| Campuses still debating gun control, security two years later.
By Gil Kaufman 
Virginia Tech memorial
Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images Two years after gunman Seung-Hui Cho opened fire on the Virginia Tech University campus, killing 32 students and faculty and then himself, the debate over guns on campus continues to rage across the country. The grim anniversary comes just a week after the building in which Cho killed the majority of his victims reopened on the VT campus with a wing dedicated to the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention. After $1 million in renovations following the April 16, 2007, shootings — the worst campus massacre in U.S. history — the second floor of VT's Norris Hall reopened with 4,300 square feet of former classroom space reconstructed to host a community space for the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics and the Center for Peace studies, according to The Roanoke Times. Though no traditional classes will be taught in the building anymore, the university wanted to dedicate the space to honor the legacy of those who died. Part of the work the center hopes to do is reach out to other communities facing school-violence issues and work with at-risk students in neighboring Roanoke and Southside Virginia to try and redirect them in positive ways in the hopes of creating safer school environments. VT junior Bryce Carter — who famously live-blogged the events as they were unfolding and shot footage from his dorm room the day of the shootings that became the second most-watched video on YouTube that day — said on Wednesday that the mood on campus is "a lot lighter" than last year's anniversary. "There's definitely a huge change," he said. "Last year, there were a lot more people on campus who experienced it [and] knew about it. This year, I feel like there's a lot less people now, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. "The school just came out saying that after we graduate, our class, it will be a regular school again, which is perfectly acceptable, because I feel like it's time for the school to move on, and that's exactly what is happening," Carter added. One of the most high-profile efforts taking place around the anniversary of the shootings is an initiative from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who joined VT shooting survivors this week to unveil a new TV ad criticizing former Virginia Attorney General Robert McDonnell, the presumptive Republican candidate for governor and gun-rights supporter. The New York Times reported that the 30-second ad features Omar Samaha — whose sister, Reema, was one of those killed by Cho — who calls for Virginia lawmakers to close what Samaha says is a gun-show loophole that allows private sellers to sell guns without background checks. Cho purchased the guns he used in the assault legally from local gun shops, but in the months after the massacre, officials questioned whether someone with his history of mental illness should have been allowed to do so. One of the biggest dilemmas facing campuses across the country is the continuing issue of security. A month before the second anniversary, a panel discussion about the shootings drew a small crowd to the campus of Virginia's College of William and Mary to discuss whether the state's schools are safer now than they were two years ago. According to a retired CIA officer who spoke at the forum, the answers is simple: no. David Cariens said officials have not learned from the mistakes they made at VT and that campus officials did not alert students and faculty quickly enough after Cho's first two victims were found in a campus dorm. Much of the discussion centered on how administrators and law enforcement deal with students struggling with mental illness — as Cho was at the time of the killings — and how officials are trained to spot possible threats to campus safety. Virginia Tech will not hold classes on the anniversary of the shootings, with a "Day of Remembrance" scheduled that will include the lighting of a commemorative candle at midnight at the memorial on the Drill Field with members of the Corps of Cadets standing guard around the candle all day. A university-wide commemoration will also be held at the memorial along with a 3.2-mile "Run in Remembrance," for which more than 3,300 had registered at press time, and the extinguishing of the candle just before midnight. Even as attention turns to the VT anniversary, campus violence continues to flare across the country, with the past week witnessing a murder/suicide at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, Michigan, which led to an immediate campus-wide lockdown. That latest shooting has again raised the question of whether students should be able to carry weapons to class at a time when almost a dozen states have pending legislation that would allow guns on campus. Those in favor of allowing concealed-carry permits on campus claim owners with those permits are five times less likely to commit violent crimes. One of the most vigorous debates is taking place in Texas, where a bill to allow concealed carry of guns on campuses is currently being discussed by a state House panel. One former VT student who is now a graduate student at the University of Texas, John Woods, testified before the House Committee on Public Safety and said he graduated three weeks after the shooting and that not a single survivor he's spoken to has said that more concealed guns on campus is the solution to the problem. Some campuses, such as Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, have been focusing not on guns, but on helping to spot the kind of mental illness that could lead to another massacre. Administrators at Youngstown, realizing they were not equipped to spot such potential issues, created a Mental Health Training, Response & Awareness on Campus program, whose main goal is to raise awareness of mental illness, reduce the stigma associated with it and provide staff with the skills to know what to do if they encounter an individual at risk. Inspired by the measures taken at VT following the shootings, the Youngstown campus has formed a Threat Assessment Team that meets regularly to share information, has installed a campus-wide public-address system and has begun work on a text-messaging alert system and a secondary Web site that will host information in any crisis. Head to Think.MTV.com to find a community where you, your friends and your favorite celebrities can get informed, get heard and take action on the issues that matter to you most. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Twilight' Star Cam Gigandet Is A First-Time Dad
April 16, 2009 at 4:59 am
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| Actor's girlfriend gave birth to a baby girl on Tuesday.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Cam Gigandet
Photo: MTV News Cam Gigandet's girlfriend, Dominique Geisendorff, gave birth to a baby girl on Tuesday. "There is no name yet," an insider told In Touch Weekly. "She is perfectly healthy, everyone is doing fine!" This is first child for the "Twilight" star and his girlfriend. A rep for Gigandet had not responded to MTV News' request for a comment at press time. "Marriage is definitely in their future," Cam's dad has said about the couple's future together, according to Just Jared. "They won't get married before the baby is born, but Dom will be our daughter-in-law sooner or later. We all love her so much." According to E! Online, Gigandet and Geisendorff broke it off in 2007 when the actor went off to film "Twilight," but they got back together when he was done shooting the flick. Back in 2008, when asked about his relationship status, Gigandet was unsure how to answer the question. "Oh, I dunno," he told E! about whether or not he was single, adding just what it would take to get him to settle down: "You know, it's a hard question. It all kind of changes. I dunno, someone perfect!" He originally won the hearts of girls when he starred on "The O.C." in 2005. In 2008, Gigandet won an MTV Movie Award for Best Fight for his work in "Never Back Down." Recently he was cast alongside "Gossip Girl" star Leighton Meester in "The Roommate." Gigandet won't be returning for "New Moon" since his character, James, was killed in "Twilight." The 2009 MTV Movie Awards are coming May 31, live from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, at 9 p.m. ET. And this time, you're in charge of picking the nominees. Head over to the Movie Awards site and vote now. |
| Kings Of Leon: From Tennessee To The Cover Of Rolling Stone
April 16, 2009 at 3:59 am
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| 'You dream about that when you start a band,' frontman Caleb Followill says of RS cover.
By James Montgomery 
Kings of Leon at the <i>Rolling Stone</i> cover shoot
Photo: "Rolling Stone" To say it's been a rather gigantic eight months for the Kings of Leon would be a disservice to the term "gigantic." In September, they released their fourth album, Only by the Night, which defied pretty much everyone's expectations. The LP hit big, making them stars not just in the U.K. and Europe (where they've enjoyed a rabid fanbase since the release of their debut, Youth and Young Manhood was released in '03), but here in the U.S. as well. Based on the strength of rock-radio staple "Sex on Fire," the Kings landed a spot on "Saturday Night Live," a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden and a headlining gig at this summer's Lollapalooza. Oh, and they'll kick off their first Stateside arena tour Saturday in Boston. And while all that is well and good, by their own admission, the Kings are most amazed by something that happened this week: They landed their first Rolling Stone cover. "It's the cover of Rolling Stone, man. You dream about that when you start a band. It's, like, the greatest thing," frontman Caleb Followill said. "It's definitely one of those things ... that I'm pretty sure it will sink in down the road a little bit, and we'll be like, 'Holy sh--, what happened?' I mean, I still have a Rolling Stone magazine that says 'Kings of Leon' on the front of it. And to me, that was like the pinnacle." And while they're definitely enjoying the ride, no one in the band is taking any of this for granted. After all, they've worked long and hard to get that coveted RS cover — just don't ask them to explain how any of this happened. "I don't know what made this album bigger than the rest. I think it was a series of events, between 'Saturday Night Live' and headlining Glastonbury," drummer Nathan Followill said. "Glastonbury was big, because it was us, Jay-Z and, I don't know, Coldplay or Oasis or one of those bands. And I think that kind of got America's attention, like, 'Holy sh--, these guys are headlining the same festival that Jay-Z is?' Between that and 'SNL' and [playing] the Garden and 'Sex on Fire' being the first song that really has ever done sh-- for us on the radio, I think this was the record that America was finally like, 'All right, now we finally get it.' " It's a rather inexact science, to be sure. But it's happened for the Kings of Leon. After all, for too long, they've been ignored by American audiences. Now, they' can't even go to the supermarket without being mobbed — or at least recognized by someone outside of their immediate family. "It's a relief, for sure, because you want to be accepted in your home. Obviously, the U.K. and Europe have a lot to do with the Kings of Leon still being around. If it was based on America, record sales and airplay, we probably wouldn't have got to make a third record, let alone a fourth record," Nathan laughed. "But it does feel good to get recognized in the grocery store by somebody other than your mom or you fiancée. We're stoked." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Did Matt Giraud Deserve To Be Saved On 'American Idol'?
April 16, 2009 at 3:19 am
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| We asked fans if the judges made the right call.
By Gil Kaufman, with additional reporting by Nicole Tahan and Kathleen Newman-Bremang 
Matt Giraud performs on "American Idol" on Wednesday
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images For the first time, "American Idol" judges gave themselves a do-over this year: a one-shot chance to save a potential winner from being tossed from the show too early. They'd held on tightly to the save for weeks, repeatedly telling contestants they were not worthy of a second chance. And then, Wednesday night, they finally used it — on Matt Giraud. Was the mild-mannered Justin Timberlake-esque singer from Kalamazoo, Michigan, an unlikely candidate to get the second chance? We asked some "Idol" fans in Times Square on Thursday morning (April 16) if they thought Giraud deserved the lifeline. "I'm a Matt Giraud fan, and I was really excited when he was saved last night," said Amanda Vankyn, 15. "I really thought he should have been. ... We like Matt because he's, like, different, and he's not the same person every time." Heather Hoffman, 18, said she thought it was "awesome ... 'cause he's good. The judges made the right decision." Her friend, Courtney Bell, 17, added, "Because he can play the piano, he can do everything. He's kind of new-school but with a vibe that's really good." A number of the fans compared the dueling piano player with the manicured scruff and keening falsetto to Timberlake, and all agreed that Giraud deserved to be saved. Well, almost all. The one dissenting opinion came from Paige Leonard, 22, who said, "I don't think it was really right. I thought his performance the other night was terrible. He was off-key. I don't think the piano saves him just because he plays the piano. I thought it was awful." In fact, Paige predicted that Giraud will probably just turn around and get eliminated next week, when two contestants have to go home. "He was definitely the worst by far," she said. "He'll probably do it again." Opinions were mixed on the "Idol" forums as well, with fan Jam_Giraud writing, "I've got mixed emotions about Matt being saved. I felt glad when the judges saved him ... he truly deserves it. On the other hand, I don't know what impact he'll get out of it. I really wanted [him to] make it on his own but he didn't ... maybe coming from the wild card has been a factor to his popularity." Garpods22 took the opposite opinion, saying, "Hey, he deserved it and just because he was kind of saved twice doesn't mean anything except the judges see his talent and just want America to realize what true talent he has." In another forum about the save option, the majority of the opinion appeared to fall in Giraud's favor, though some predicted that if Giraud isn't one of the two who go home next week, the fans of whoever does will "resent him forever." What do you think? Did Matt deserve to be saved? Related Videos Related Photos |
| Katy Perry Explains Her Link To Kelly Clarkson's New Album
April 16, 2009 at 2:59 am
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| Perry co-wrote a pair of tracks on the 'American Idol' champ's new LP.
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kim Stolz 
Katy Perry
Photo: Charley Gallay/WireImage We've already spoken to Katy Perry about her relationships with Rihanna, Josh Groban and Zooey Deschanel, but what we haven't discussed is her link to Kelly Clarkson. Perry co-wrote two songs on Clarkson's All I Ever Wanted album: her new single "I Do Not Hook Up" and "Long Shot." Perry wrote "Hook Up" with new "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi and producer Greg Wells and "Long Shot" with noted songwriter/producer Glen Ballard and Relient-K frontman Matt Thiessen. So how did a pair of her songs end up on Clarkson's album? "Kara and I and one of my producers, Greg Wells — when I was writing for this record that took five years and [encompassed] all these songs — we got together in a studio and we wrote a song for my record called 'I Do Not Hook Up,' but it didn't make it on my record," Perry said. "Just because there were so many different songs and there were only 12 slots allotted for the record, so ... it was kind of one of those songs that was just, like, still there. And Kelly Clarkson heard it. I guess she liked it, and she recorded it — and another song too." So does Perry harbor any hard feelings toward Clarkson for snatching the songs away from her? Not exactly. Seems things have worked out pretty well for all parties involved. "I'm so excited," Perry laughed, pumping her fist. "House in Malibu! Thank you, Kelly!" Related Videos Related Artists |
| Steve-O Opens Up About 'Dancing With The Stars'
April 16, 2009 at 2:29 am
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| 'Jackass' star says he enjoyed the show once he 'learned to relax.'
By Jocelyn Vena 
Steve-O and Lacey Schwimmer
Photo: ABC On Tuesday night, Steve-O bid adieu to his days on "Dancing With the Stars." Despite not always impressing the judges and being injured a few times during his tenure on the show, the "Jackass" star did manage to hold on for five weeks, beating out the likes of Steve Wozniak, Denise Richards and Belinda Carlisle. Describing his time on the show as "a growing experience," Steve-O told MTV News that once he learned to relax he actually enjoyed himself. "I think I struggled to enjoy myself a lot of the time 'cause I was too stressed out," he said. "I kind of got better at dealing with that. I felt anxious a lot. I learned to relax and it was cool." Initially, Steve-O wasn't sure how he felt about doing the show. He is a self-proclaimed bad dancer, so it took a little nudging from his agents to get him into the idea. "I feel like my agents really roped me into it," he explained. "My first reaction was, 'I'm the worst dancer,' but they said that if you had dancing experience they wouldn't consider you for this show. I don't know how true that is, but they put me at ease. They made me feel like no one was going to be good at dancing." With his fears gone and a sober lifestyle to maintain, he decided to join the show. "I'll give it my best. Beyond that, it drives with what I'm up to with being healthy and sober, so I decided to go for it.'' His fellow Jackasses were also supportive of the career move. "They thought it was great. They're so supportive. They were the ones that staged my intervention," he said. "They're really supportive. They're just proud of me for staying strong." Next up for Steve-O is the MTV special "Steve-O: Demise and Rise," airing May 3, which takes a look at his drug abuse and how the star got clean. "I'm not comfortable to be a role model," he said about the special. "But if it scares anyone straight, then that's cool." |
| Jamie Foxx's Miley Cyrus Comments Were 'Hurtful,' Dad Billy Ray Says
April 16, 2009 at 2:08 am
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| 'If I said those things about his daughter, he might not find it so comedic,' he says on 'The Bonnie Hunt Show.'
By Jocelyn Vena 
Miley & Billy Ray Cyrus
Photo: Tony R. Phipps/WireImage After Jamie Foxx apologized to Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus is addressing the comments Foxx made last weekend about his teen daughter. "It was hurtful," Billy Ray said on Thursday's "Bonnie Hunt Show," according to Us Weekly. "There wasn't nothing funny about it. And, quite frankly, I think if I said those things about his daughter, he might not find it so comedic." On his satellite-radio show Sunday, Foxx told the 16-year-old Disney star to "grow up," make a sex tape and do drugs. The comments were in response to a radio interview Cyrus did, in which she vowed to "ruin" Radiohead after they refused to meet with her. Foxx has a 14-year-old daughter and addressed how upset he would be if someone had said what he said about her when he stopped by "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on Tuesday. "I so apologize to [Cyrus], and this is sincere," Foxx said. "I am a comedian, and you guys know that whatever I say, I don't mean any of it. And sometimes, as comedians, as we do, we go a little bit too far." He added: "There was a situation with Miley Cyrus, and I just want to say, I apologize for what I said. I didn't mean it maliciously. You know I'm a comedian. You know my heart. Miley, I apologize, so I'll call you. I got a daughter too, so I completely understand." Earlier this week, a source told E! News that Billy Ray wasn't pleased to hear what Foxx had said about his daughter. "He thinks Jamie was out of line and didn't find any humor in it," the source said, pointing out that Miley had even met Foxx at the "Kids' Inaugural Concert" in January. "He doesn't understand why he would do that to Miley, especially since he has a teenage daughter himself." Related Artists |
| Rihanna Reportedly Performing In Dubai Next Month
April 16, 2009 at 1:23 am
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| Singer's first performance since the alleged incident with Chris Brown is tentatively scheduled for May 28.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Rihanna
Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images Rihanna could be returning to the stage soon. The singer, who has kept a relatively low profile since the alleged February 8 altercation with her then-boyfriend Chris Brown, is in talks to put on a show next month in the popular Middle Eastern resort locale of Dubai. "Rihanna will be performing on May 28," Mary Rachelle Cherpak, a spokeswoman for Dubai Department of Tourism, told MTV News. "The tickets have not gone on sale, but will do so in the next two weeks." She went on to say that if all comes together it will be "a concert for 25,000 audience members. This is another example of how Dubai tourism is attracting the best of the best and is one of the world's hottest destinations." Although Cherpak couldn't comment on the specifics, she did say that the show, if it should happen, "has received tremendous publicity in Dubai the last few days and has generated buzz." A spokesperson for Rihanna had no comment. There's no official word yet on where in Dubai the singer will be performing, but the Dubai-based production company behind the concert usually works hard to create a special look for these types of events. Responding to the news that this is potentially Rihanna's first gig since the February incident, Cherpak said, "She chooses to do that in Dubai, which I think is a great credit to the destination that it has support of these top artists." Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Has Diddy Signed Arctic Monkeys To Bad Boy?
April 16, 2009 at 1:23 am
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| Online video shows Diddy 'joining' the band, giving drummer home tour.
By James Montgomery 
Diddy and the Arctic Monkeys' Matt Helders in their YouTube clip
Photo: Youtube.com Fiddy touring with Fall Out Boy. Kanye collaborating with 30 Seconds to Mars. It's beginning to feel like the "Judgment Night" soundtrack all over again (look it up). Not wanting to miss out on the latest in hip-hop accessories, Diddy has grabbed himself a rock act too. He's gone and joined the Arctic Monkeys. Diddy won't be collaborating with the Brit rockers on any tracks; no, he's just made himself an honorary member of their entourage. In a new YouTube clip, Monkeys drummer Matt Helders heads to Diddy's Miami mansion to confront the rapper/producer about the rather, uh, undeniable similarities between a pair of pool-centric video posts. He expects the worst ... but ends up being courted, fed and even signed by his Diddiness. "What up, it's your boy Diddy. I'm the newest member of the Arctic Monkeys," Diddy shouts while a dumbfounded Helders stands in the background. "I'm not gonna be singing, I'm not gonna be playing any instruments, but I'm part of the crew; I'm part of the entourage. So if y'all f--- with the Arctic Monkeys, y'all gotta f--- with me." From there, Helders is signed to Bad Boy — a handshake deal, no money exchanged — shown around Diddy's expansive kitchen ("This is not even a restaurant. This is my kitchen, mother----ers!" Diddy shouts) and given a lesson in both economics and charity. "We feed the multitudes. This is what we do. We feed everybody," Diddy explains, while examining a huge platter of French toast. "This French toast right here, this is a lot of French toast. ... If I eat, everybody eat. ... This is enough French toast to feed 20 people. ... Everybody gotta eat. We are in a recession." Diddy then drapes his arm over Helders' shoulder, points at the camera and advises any rival bands from ever messing with the Monkeys, lest they want to face the wrath of Bad Boy (perhaps for added impact, San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman is standing in the background). "All you other rock bands in London, if you even look at my guys weird backstage, I'm gonna jump on that mother----ing British Airways flight and come backstage and stick my foot so far up your ass," he yells. "We havin' a bromance." For his part, Helders seems to be amazed that all of this is happening to him, attempting to crack jokes and handling Diddy's Grammy Awards like an awestruck 9-year-old. And looking back on it all (Helders is narrating the clip from a couch in his home in Sheffield, England), he sums up the entire experience — and his new entourage member/ label boss — thusly: "He's a very friendly guy. Probably the best host I've been hosted by in a long time, if not ever," he said. "He asked us to take our shoes off, which is acceptable." Related Artists |
| Nate Dogg's Stalking Charges Dropped
April 16, 2009 at 1:04 am
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| California authorities have dropped charges that the rap singer stalked and threatened his estranged wife.
By Shaheem Reid 
Nate Dogg
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images Nate Dogg doesn't have to worry about the law for now. According to The Associated Press, California police have dropped charges that the rap singer was stalking and threatening his estranged wife. Nate Dogg (real name: Nathaniel Dwayne Hale) was cleared because prosecutors had not hear from the woman, E! Online reports. Last summer, Nate was arrested after allegedly chasing his wife's car on a California freeway. He was also accused of sending threatening e-mails to the woman. The former Death Row artist's troubles with the law came as a surprise to everyone after the severe stroke he suffered in late 2007 that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body. He was described as having "neural-muscular issues that have to be jump-started." "Time will tell everything, obviously," his manager Rod McGrew told MTV News at the time. "The doctor can only guess what the outcome will be. But based on situations with similar people his age, and based on his health, the prognosis is good right now." In September 2008, while on the road to recovery, Nate had a second stroke but was listed in stable condition. Nate's health and legal issues have stalled the career of the man who had been hip-hop's go-to R&B singer before anyone had heard of T-Pain, Akon, Ne-Yo and The-Dream. He performed choruses for 50 Cent, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and a slew of others during the '90s and into the new millennium. Nate Dogg's manager could not be reached at press time. Related Artists | | | 
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