Happy 18th Birthday Justin Bieber!
Justin Bieber, who had his debut album My World go double platinum after being discovered on YouTube, turns 18 today! In celebration of Justin’s big [...]
Happy 18th Birthday Justin Bieber! Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News
From Lady Gaga's egg to Katy Perry's wedding video, plenty of crazy went down at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards.
By John Mitchell
Lady Gaga arrives at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
<P>The 54th annual <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/grammys/">Grammy Awards</a> are just a day away and everyone in the MTV Newsroom is starting to get excited. Will <a href="/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyoncé"</a> show up? How will <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/adele/artist.jhtml">Adele</a> sound in her first major live performance since undergoing surgery to repair a vocal cord hemorrhage? What color will <a href="/music/artist/perry_katy/artist.jhtml">Katy Perry"</a>'s hair be? What will <a href="/music/artist/lady_gaga/artist.jhtml">Lady Gaga"</a> wear? We can't wait to find out. But if last year's show is any indication, it's safe to say that just about anything could happen at Los Angeles' Staples Center on Sunday night. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:621416.id:1657665" width="240" height="211"></div><p> The quirk factor was high at <a href="/news/articles/1657879/grammy-awards-arcade-fire-lady-antebellum.jhtml">last year's Grammys</a>, and it got started long before a single award was handed out. Lady Gaga's red carpet arrival inside of a pearlescent egg carried by four scantily clad dudes wearing prosthetics on their faces and shoulders should have been reminder enough that the unusual is the norm at the Grammys. But in case it wasn't, the show itself delivered Muppets and Katy Perry on a swing. We've rounded up five big moments from last year's show to remind you why the Grammys are the craziest awards show of the year. <b>» Lady Gaga arrives in that freakin' egg, er, "vessel."</b><br> Never one to just casually stroll the red carpet in a pretty dress, Lady Gaga went to great lengths to make every element of her Grammy appearance part of a larger art piece that culminated in the performance of her then-new single "Born this Way." It all started on the red carpet, when she arrived already inside her <a href="/news/articles/1657833/lady-gaga-grammy-arrival-egg.jhtml">"vessel,"</a> later claiming to Jay Leno that she'd been in a state of artistic incubation inside it for 72 hours. (Did you just roll your eyes? We think you just rolled your eyes!) The pop star emerged to deliver a full-voiced — if otherwise joyless — performance of the song, which at the time was drawing <a href="http://www.popeater.com/2011/02/11/lady-gaga-born-this-way-madonna-express-yourself/" target="_blank">heavy criticism</a> for sounding maybe a little <i>too</i> much like <a href="/news/articles/1657803/lady-gaga-born-this-way-madonna.jhtml">Madonna's 1989 classic "Express Yourself,"</a> and went on to score three Grammys, including Best Pop Vocal Album for <i>The Fame Monster</i>. <b>» Did Christina Aguilera fall down after that showstopping Aretha Franklin tribute?</b><br> Last year's ceremony kicked off with an <a href="/news/articles/1657852/christina-aguilera-jennifer-hudson-aretha-franklin-grammy-tribute.jhtml">Aretha Franklin tribute</a> featuring Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch, Martina McBride and Yolanda Adams. The ladies delivered a rousing group performance of "(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman" before launching into solos of "Ain't No Way," "Until You Come Back to Me," "Think," "Respect" and "Spirit in the Dark" and closing with "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" — tearing the roof off the Staples Center. Except all anyone wanted to talk about afterward was how Christina maybe slipped a little in her towering heels. The performance came just one week after Xtina botched "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XLV (luckily, <a href="/news/articles/1678621/kelly-clarkson-national-anthem-super-bowl-46.jhtml">Kelly Clarkson's rendition</a> this year went smoothly), and it seemed like the "Beautiful" singer and "Voice" judge had fully redeemed herself after the debacle, delivering a fantastic vocal performance ... until she stumbled onstage, sending <a href="http://www.popeater.com/2011/02/14/christina-aguilera-grammys-stumble/" target="_blank">gossips</a> into a tizzy that the singer may have been, we'll say, out of sorts during the performance despite much evidence to the contrary. Or maybe people just like a good near-fall? People get very excited when an entertainer loses her footing — <a href="/news/articles/1678570/madonna-super-bowl-halftime-fumbles.jhtml">don't they, Madonna?</a> Anyway, while everyone tried to make Xtina's mini-tumble a bigger story than it was, the ladies earned a richly deserved standing ovation for their tribute to Franklin, who was rather ill at the time but has since recovered, lost a bunch of weight, gotten engaged and ended that engagement. (A year in Hollywood time is like five years in normal person time ... maybe that's why everyone is so afraid of getting older!) <b>» Bieber performs big, loses Best New Artist to unknown jazz bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding.</b><br> Justin Bieber's medley performance began with an acoustic strum through "Baby" but quickly segued into a raucous take on "Never Say Never," complete with breakdancing ninja acrobats, fire breathers and a cameo rap by "Karate Kid" star Jaden Smith. Biebs' mentor Usher even joined in on the fun for a pop-and-lock-heavy dance-off to his hit "OMG." But the <i>real</i> story with Bieber at last year's Grammys was that he lost. To Esperanza Spalding. A critically acclaimed but otherwise unknown jazz performer. Bieber didn't take the loss so well but his fans went even crazier, expressing the profound sadness they felt and bearing witness to their idol's defeat by hacking Spalding's Wikipedia page and changing her middle name to both "Justin" and "Quesadilla." One <a href="http://www.popeater.com/2011/02/14/esperanza-spalding-justin-bieber/" target="_blank">fan wrote</a>, "Justin Bieber deserved it go die in a hole. Who the heck are you anyway?" while another scribbled, "So the Esperanza Spalding has only 8 thousand followers on twitter and how many does Justin Bieber has?" It seems someone forgot to tell the Belieber army that the Grammys are not a popularity contest (well, they're not <i>supposed</i> to be, anyway) and that one's amount of Twitter followers is not taken into account when deciding the winners. Duly noted! <b>» Katy Perry performed the ballad "Not Like the Movies" while on a swing, playing video from her wedding to Russell Brand.</b><br> If you needed further proof that <i>a lot</i> can change in just a single year, look no further than Katy Perry's performance at last year's ceremony. Much like she did on her California Dreams Tour, Perry performed her ballad "Not Like the Movies" while sitting on a swing as video from her elaborate <a href="/news/articles/1657862/katy-perry-grammy-performance.jhtml">October 2010 wedding to Russell Brand</a> was projected behind her. Though one would think a sweet performance like Katy's would shut the gossip mill down for at least a little while, the couple was already back to defending their strange union less than two months later when Brand co-hosted "Live!" with Kelly Ripa. By year's end, Perry and Brand's marriage was <a href="/news/articles/1676630/russell-brand-katy-perry-divorce.jhtml">officially no more</a>, and it made re-watching her performance from last year for the purposes of this article, um, kind of awkward. <b>» Cee Lo performed "Forget You" with a bunch of Muppets (and Gwyneth Paltrow). </b><br> No, no one at your Grammy party spiked your drink. Cee Lo Green, wearing a crazy red bear suit and a rainbow fan of feathers (think peacock), really did perform his Grammy-nominated smash <a href="/news/articles/1657860/cee-lo-gwyneth-paltrow-grammy-performance.jhtml">"Forget You"</a> backed by a bunch of singing and dancing Muppets while Oscar-winning home health guru Gwyneth Paltrow writhed atop his piano. Oddly, the whole thing worked like gangbusters and was a big old ball of fun. (And when was the last time anyone associated the word "fun" with Gwyneth Paltrow? Such is the funky power of Cee Lo.) This year's show has the potential to outdo last year's in the water-cooler department with Rihanna and Chris Brown both set to perform under the same roof for the first time since, well, you know ... in addition to plenty of interesting collabos, including a special electronic dance music performance set to feature the Foo Fighters (right?), and whatever Lady Gaga decides to get into. <i>What are you most looking forward to at this year's Grammys? Let us know in the comments below.</i> <b>Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss our <a href="/news/articles/1678706/grammy-awards-red-carpet-live-stream.jhtml">Grammy red-carpet live stream</a> this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered for all the <a href="http://style.mtv.com/category/awards-shows/">Grammy red-carpet fashion</a>, <a href="/news/articles/1678701/grammy-winners-list.jhtml">Grammy winners</a> and Grammy news until the hangover wears off!</b></p>
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By James Montgomery
Photo: Royal Mail
<P>On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years. The albums featured in the new series are the <a href="/music/artist/rolling_stones/artist.jhtml">Rolling Stones</a>' <i>Let It Bleed,</i> <a href="/music/artist/led_zeppelin/artist.jhtml">Led Zeppelin</a>'s <i>IV,</i> <a href="/music/artist/bowie_david/artist.jhtml">David Bowie</a>'s <i>The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars,</i> <a href="/music/artist/mike_oldfield/artist.jhtml">Mike Oldfield</a>'s <i>Tubular Bells,</i> <a href="/music/artist/clash/artist.jhtml">The Clash</a>'s <i>London Calling,</i> <a href="/music/artist/new_order/artist.jhtml">New Order</a>'s <i>Power, Corruption and Lies,</i> <a href="/music/artist/primal_scream/artist.jhtml">Primal Scream</a>'s <i>Screamadelica,</i> <a href="/music/artist/pink_floyd/artist.jhtml">Pink Floyd</a>'s <i>The Division Bell,</i> <a href="/music/artist/blur/artist.jhtml">Blur</a>'s <i>Parklife</i> and — the most recent album on to make the cut — <a href="/music/artist/coldplay/artist.jhtml">Coldplay</a>'s <i>A Rush of Blood to the Head.</i> Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for <i>IV</i> — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery. "Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time." Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their <i>Rush of Blood</i> stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date." "We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."</p>
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Perez Hilton reports that January 24 episode includes a 'Beat It' and 'Billie Jean' mash-up.
By Jocelyn Vena
Darren Criss, Damian McGinty, Chord Overstreet, Mark Salling, Cory Monteith and Harry Shum Jr. perform on "Glee"
Photo: Adam Rose / FOX
<P><P><P><P><P><P>"Glee" has already dedicated entire episodes to <a href="/news/articles/1637098/madonna-gives-props-to-glee-episode.jhtml">Madonna</a>, <a href="/news/articles/1648829/britney-spears-glee-episode-everything-you-need-to-know.jhtml">Britney Spears</a> and <a href="/news/articles/1639871/glee-lady-gaga-episode-is-fantastic-matthew-morrison-says.jhtml">Lady Gaga</a>, and come 2012, it's the King of Pop's turn. A rumored set list for the January 24 "Glee" Michael Jackson tribute episode has hit the Web, and it features some of the late singer's greatest hits. <a href="http://perezhilton.com/2011-12-27-glee-michael-jackson-tribute-episode-setlist#.TvoRm0rkk7A" target="_blank">Perez Hilton</a> reports that 14 tracks have made the final cut, although the list has yet to be confirmed by anyone connected with the show. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:549513.id:1645343" width="240" height="211"></div><p> The set list (along with who will perform the track) reportedly includes "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' " (Blaine), "Bad" (the New Directions and the Warblers), "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (Finn and Rachel), "Smooth Criminal" (Santana and Sebastian), "Never Can Say Goodbye" (Quinn), "In the Closet" (Brittany and Santana), "We Are the World" (the New Directions and the Warblers), "Black and White" (Puck), "Ghost"/"Monster" (New Directions), "Beat It"/"Billie Jean" (Warblers), "The Way You Make Me Feel" (Kurt) and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (Artie). This is hardly the first time the show has paid homage to Jackson. Back in 2010, the <a href="/news/articles/1657395/glee-thriller.jhtml">New Directions performed his track "Thriller,"</a> complete with zombie garb, during an episode that aired after the Super Bowl. The show has also previously covered "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" and "Man in the Mirror." Back in 2010, the cast of the hit Fox show had only imagined what it would be like to have an entire <a href="http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2010/08/09/glee-michael-jackson/">episode dedicated to Jackson</a>. "I would love to do a Michael Jackson episode," Amber Riley told MTV News at the time. "You know, it's so many [songs that I love], but my favorite song by him is 'Human Nature.' I love that song." While Riley seemed psyched about the opportunity, castmate Jenna Ushkowitz found the possibility a little more daunting. "That's a scary, scary episode to do," she said. "[But] that would be absolutely amazing." <i>Are you happy with the rumored set list? What's missing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!</i></p></p></p></p></p></p>
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Gwyneth Paltrow sees big things in little Blue Ivy Carter's future. Paltrow, who's good friends with Blue's parents Beyonce and Jay-Z, knows a few things about having stardom in the genes: Her own parents are actress Blythe Danner and the late producer-director Bruce Paltrow. And based on her expertise, Gwyneth has declared 8-week-old Blue Ivy an absolute star in the making.
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Katy Perry rocks a hilarious new look for her guest spot on Raising Hope! Plus, check out more stars' cute, candid and crazy Twitter photos
Bieber's manager confirms on Twitter that the young pop star hit the studio with Drizzy for his upcoming album.
By Jocelyn Vena
Drake and Justin Bieber
Photo: MTV News
<P><i>Believe</i> it or not, there doesn't seem to be anyone that <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> isn't getting on his in-the-works next album. It seems that fellow <a href="/news/articles/1647665/justin-bieber-drake-have-canadian-reunion-at-vmas.jhtml">Canadian and <i>Take Care</i> rapper Drake</a> has been tapped to appear on the album, set for release later this year. The news of their collabo was confirmed on Thursday (February 9) by Bieber's manager Scooter Braun on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/scooterbraun/status/167555650400960512" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. But any Belieber could have easily figured out whom Bieber was referring to when he tweeted this <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/justinbieber/status/167393544573698049" target="_blank">message</a> to his devotees: "You really wanna know who im going into the studio with tonight??#bigbro #CANADA." <center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:571707/cp~id%3D1672718%26vid%3D571707%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A571707%26instance%3Dmtv" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></center> This Drizzy collabo has been a long time in the making. At the 2010 VMAs, Bieber shared with MTV News that he wanted to get his pal on his next proper (non-holiday) album. Then, in a radio interview late last year, he confirmed that <a href="/news/articles/1673221/justin-bieber-kanye-west-drake-next-album.jhtml">Drake, along with Kanye West</a>, was in talks to work on <i>Believe.</i> However, as the list of collaborators for the album grows, one more name is being tossed about as a potential collaborator. Sources tell <a href="http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2012/02/08/justin-bieber-new-album-believe-kesha">Hollywoodlife.com</a> that Ke$ha may appear on <i>Believe.</i> The source says that K-dollar sign "would also be a part of the song in a duet capacity." The duet has yet to be confirmed, and K is busy in the studio working on her own <a href="/news/articles/1676580/kesha-2012-new-album.jhtml">rock and roll-inspired album</a>. This wouldn't be the first time <a href="/news/articles/1630853/justin-bieber-keha-look-forward-to-2011-grammys.jhtml">Bieber and Ke$ha</a> have paired up. They appeared together at the 2010 Grammy Awards, where the newbies presented the award for Best New Artist to the Zac Brown Band. Super-producers Pharrell, will.i.am and Lil Wayne (who recently <a href="/news/articles/1678337/justin-bieber-lil-wayne-studio-visit.jhtml">visited Bieber in the studio</a>) are among the other names that have been tossed about as possible folks working with Bieber on the album. <i>Believe</i> is the follow-up Christmas-themed <i>Under the Mistletoe,</i> which was released in late 2011. <i>What collaborations do you hope to see on</i> Believe<i>? Leave your comments below!</i></p>
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From Lady Gaga's egg to Katy Perry's wedding video, plenty of crazy went down at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards.
By John Mitchell
Lady Gaga arrives at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
<P>The 54th annual <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/grammys/">Grammy Awards</a> are just a day away and everyone in the MTV Newsroom is starting to get excited. Will <a href="/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyoncé"</a> show up? How will <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/adele/artist.jhtml">Adele</a> sound in her first major live performance since undergoing surgery to repair a vocal cord hemorrhage? What color will <a href="/music/artist/perry_katy/artist.jhtml">Katy Perry"</a>'s hair be? What will <a href="/music/artist/lady_gaga/artist.jhtml">Lady Gaga"</a> wear? We can't wait to find out. But if last year's show is any indication, it's safe to say that just about anything could happen at Los Angeles' Staples Center on Sunday night. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:621416.id:1657665" width="240" height="211"></div><p> The quirk factor was high at <a href="/news/articles/1657879/grammy-awards-arcade-fire-lady-antebellum.jhtml">last year's Grammys</a>, and it got started long before a single award was handed out. Lady Gaga's red carpet arrival inside of a pearlescent egg carried by four scantily clad dudes wearing prosthetics on their faces and shoulders should have been reminder enough that the unusual is the norm at the Grammys. But in case it wasn't, the show itself delivered Muppets and Katy Perry on a swing. We've rounded up five big moments from last year's show to remind you why the Grammys are the craziest awards show of the year. <b>» Lady Gaga arrives in that freakin' egg, er, "vessel."</b><br> Never one to just casually stroll the red carpet in a pretty dress, Lady Gaga went to great lengths to make every element of her Grammy appearance part of a larger art piece that culminated in the performance of her then-new single "Born this Way." It all started on the red carpet, when she arrived already inside her <a href="/news/articles/1657833/lady-gaga-grammy-arrival-egg.jhtml">"vessel,"</a> later claiming to Jay Leno that she'd been in a state of artistic incubation inside it for 72 hours. (Did you just roll your eyes? We think you just rolled your eyes!) The pop star emerged to deliver a full-voiced — if otherwise joyless — performance of the song, which at the time was drawing <a href="http://www.popeater.com/2011/02/11/lady-gaga-born-this-way-madonna-express-yourself/" target="_blank">heavy criticism</a> for sounding maybe a little <i>too</i> much like <a href="/news/articles/1657803/lady-gaga-born-this-way-madonna.jhtml">Madonna's 1989 classic "Express Yourself,"</a> and went on to score three Grammys, including Best Pop Vocal Album for <i>The Fame Monster</i>. <b>» Did Christina Aguilera fall down after that showstopping Aretha Franklin tribute?</b><br> Last year's ceremony kicked off with an <a href="/news/articles/1657852/christina-aguilera-jennifer-hudson-aretha-franklin-grammy-tribute.jhtml">Aretha Franklin tribute</a> featuring Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch, Martina McBride and Yolanda Adams. The ladies delivered a rousing group performance of "(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman" before launching into solos of "Ain't No Way," "Until You Come Back to Me," "Think," "Respect" and "Spirit in the Dark" and closing with "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" — tearing the roof off the Staples Center. Except all anyone wanted to talk about afterward was how Christina maybe slipped a little in her towering heels. The performance came just one week after Xtina botched "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XLV (luckily, <a href="/news/articles/1678621/kelly-clarkson-national-anthem-super-bowl-46.jhtml">Kelly Clarkson's rendition</a> this year went smoothly), and it seemed like the "Beautiful" singer and "Voice" judge had fully redeemed herself after the debacle, delivering a fantastic vocal performance ... until she stumbled onstage, sending <a href="http://www.popeater.com/2011/02/14/christina-aguilera-grammys-stumble/" target="_blank">gossips</a> into a tizzy that the singer may have been, we'll say, out of sorts during the performance despite much evidence to the contrary. Or maybe people just like a good near-fall? People get very excited when an entertainer loses her footing — <a href="/news/articles/1678570/madonna-super-bowl-halftime-fumbles.jhtml">don't they, Madonna?</a> Anyway, while everyone tried to make Xtina's mini-tumble a bigger story than it was, the ladies earned a richly deserved standing ovation for their tribute to Franklin, who was rather ill at the time but has since recovered, lost a bunch of weight, gotten engaged and ended that engagement. (A year in Hollywood time is like five years in normal person time ... maybe that's why everyone is so afraid of getting older!) <b>» Bieber performs big, loses Best New Artist to unknown jazz bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding.</b><br> Justin Bieber's medley performance began with an acoustic strum through "Baby" but quickly segued into a raucous take on "Never Say Never," complete with breakdancing ninja acrobats, fire breathers and a cameo rap by "Karate Kid" star Jaden Smith. Biebs' mentor Usher even joined in on the fun for a pop-and-lock-heavy dance-off to his hit "OMG." But the <i>real</i> story with Bieber at last year's Grammys was that he lost. To Esperanza Spalding. A critically acclaimed but otherwise unknown jazz performer. Bieber didn't take the loss so well but his fans went even crazier, expressing the profound sadness they felt and bearing witness to their idol's defeat by hacking Spalding's Wikipedia page and changing her middle name to both "Justin" and "Quesadilla." One <a href="http://www.popeater.com/2011/02/14/esperanza-spalding-justin-bieber/" target="_blank">fan wrote</a>, "Justin Bieber deserved it go die in a hole. Who the heck are you anyway?" while another scribbled, "So the Esperanza Spalding has only 8 thousand followers on twitter and how many does Justin Bieber has?" It seems someone forgot to tell the Belieber army that the Grammys are not a popularity contest (well, they're not <i>supposed</i> to be, anyway) and that one's amount of Twitter followers is not taken into account when deciding the winners. Duly noted! <b>» Katy Perry performed the ballad "Not Like the Movies" while on a swing, playing video from her wedding to Russell Brand.</b><br> If you needed further proof that <i>a lot</i> can change in just a single year, look no further than Katy Perry's performance at last year's ceremony. Much like she did on her California Dreams Tour, Perry performed her ballad "Not Like the Movies" while sitting on a swing as video from her elaborate <a href="/news/articles/1657862/katy-perry-grammy-performance.jhtml">October 2010 wedding to Russell Brand</a> was projected behind her. Though one would think a sweet performance like Katy's would shut the gossip mill down for at least a little while, the couple was already back to defending their strange union less than two months later when Brand co-hosted "Live!" with Kelly Ripa. By year's end, Perry and Brand's marriage was <a href="/news/articles/1676630/russell-brand-katy-perry-divorce.jhtml">officially no more</a>, and it made re-watching her performance from last year for the purposes of this article, um, kind of awkward. <b>» Cee Lo performed "Forget You" with a bunch of Muppets (and Gwyneth Paltrow). </b><br> No, no one at your Grammy party spiked your drink. Cee Lo Green, wearing a crazy red bear suit and a rainbow fan of feathers (think peacock), really did perform his Grammy-nominated smash <a href="/news/articles/1657860/cee-lo-gwyneth-paltrow-grammy-performance.jhtml">"Forget You"</a> backed by a bunch of singing and dancing Muppets while Oscar-winning home health guru Gwyneth Paltrow writhed atop his piano. Oddly, the whole thing worked like gangbusters and was a big old ball of fun. (And when was the last time anyone associated the word "fun" with Gwyneth Paltrow? Such is the funky power of Cee Lo.) This year's show has the potential to outdo last year's in the water-cooler department with Rihanna and Chris Brown both set to perform under the same roof for the first time since, well, you know ... in addition to plenty of interesting collabos, including a special electronic dance music performance set to feature the Foo Fighters (right?), and whatever Lady Gaga decides to get into. <i>What are you most looking forward to at this year's Grammys? Let us know in the comments below.</i> <b>Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss our <a href="/news/articles/1678706/grammy-awards-red-carpet-live-stream.jhtml">Grammy red-carpet live stream</a> this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered for all the <a href="http://style.mtv.com/category/awards-shows/">Grammy red-carpet fashion</a>, <a href="/news/articles/1678701/grammy-winners-list.jhtml">Grammy winners</a> and Grammy news until the hangover wears off!</b></p>
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Taylor Swift was invited to attend Kevin McGuire’s prom, but had to turn him down due to her schedule. But, the country singer has asked [...]
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A decade into her career, the pop megastar reinvented herself this year as the ultimate Femme Fatale and made a big commitment to Jason Trawick.
By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears
Photo: Getty Images
<P>Maybe <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/spears_britney/artist.jhtml">Britney Spears</a>' lucky number is 30. The singer turned 30 this year, marking the landmark birthday on December 2 with a fan-voted MTV News tournament that crowned <a href="/news/articles/1675289/britney-spears-tournament-winner-30th-birthday.jhtml">the Best Britney Video of All Time</a>. But her 30th year also proved to be an incredibly successful period in her career. <center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:720934/cp~vid%3D720934%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A720934" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></center> For the first time in a while, she seemed comfortable being the pop megastar that she is. More than a decade into her career, Spears re-emerged as a <a href="/news/articles/1675474/britney-spears-femme-fatale-favorite-album.jhtml"><i>Femme Fatale,</i></a> giving fans a fist-pumping album, embarking on a flashy tour and dropping more memorable music videos. Britney Spears fandom was reenergized as the singer came out of her shell, opening up about this phase in her career as well her personal life in several high-profile interviews. So it's probably not surprising that Spears will cap off the year at #4 on MTV News' <a href="/news/articles/1676177/newsmakers-2011-lady-gaga-amy-winehouse.jhtml">Top Newsmakers of 2011</a> list, just behind Lil Wayne. "When I was younger, I was busy, busy, and I was always singing and dancing all the time. I was just really creative," she recalled in the <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/638813/britney-hits-the-studio-with-william.jhtml#id=166112">MTV special "I Am the Femme Fatale."</a> "That's when my mom realized I'm a really creative person." She let that creativity shine over the past 12 months. From <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/britney-spears/624145/hold-it-against-me.jhtml#artist=501686">"Hold It Against Me"</a> to <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/britney-spears/639722/till-the-world-ends.jhtml#artist=501686">"Till the World Ends"</a> to her Chris Marrs Piliero-directed "I Wanna Go" and "Criminal," Britney made headlines every time she dropped a music video. But no vid stirred up as much controversy as her <a href="/news/articles/1672795/britney-spears-criminal-video-director.jhtml">"Criminal" clip</a>, which featured real-life boyfriend <a href="/news/articles/1676120/britney-spears-is-engaged.jhtml">(now fiancé) Jason Trawick</a> — and his abs. "At the end of the day, Jason killed it," Piliero told MTV News of Trawick's cameo. "That was one of those things I was really stoked [about], as much as I went into it like, 'Wow, he's not an actor. This is going to be interesting,' but I really do like a challenge, and I really do like the idea that I'm a director and my job is to direct and get the performance. For me, it was a fun challenge to be like, 'I'm gonna make sure that you are awesome,' and he was." Between video shoots, Spears hit the road with <a href="/news/articles/1668836/nicki-minaj-britney-spears-tour.jhtml">the likes of Nicki Minaj</a>, Joe Jonas, and DJ Pauly D. Spears fully embraced her sensuality on the <i>Femme Fatale</i> Tour, a spectacular show full of costume changes, elaborate stage setups and stunning mini-films. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:638813.id:1661123" width="240" height="211"></div><p> And while much of the 2011 VMA buzz was about <a href="/news/articles/1669849/beyonce-pregnant-vmas.jhtml">Beyoncé's baby bump</a> and <a href="/news/articles/1669843/lady-gaga-you-and-i-video-music-awards-performance.jhtml">Jo Calderone</a>, Spears stole the spotlight by walking away with a Moonman for Best Pop Video and the prized <a href="/news/articles/1669873/britney-spears-vma-tribute.jhtml">Video Vanguard Award</a>. She also had tongues wagging after an onstage kiss from Jo (a.k.a. Lady Gaga), just before she was honored with an electrifying dance tribute that highlighted some of biggest career moments. "It was really crazy. I had no idea what to expect," Spears told us backstage at the VMAs. "The kids were amazing and so entertaining, and it was a really fun night. It was really cool. I was like, 'Wow, that's really sweet!' " As 2011 came to a close, Spears wrapped up her tour, and MTV News threw her a birthday bash in the form of the <a href="http://www.mtv.com/content/news/2011/britney30/index.jhtml">"30 Videos for 30 Years"</a> tournament. The competition was heated but in the end, Spears' iconic "I'm a Slave 4 U" took home the prize. And just when it seemed things couldn't get any better, <a href="/news/articles/1676167/britney-spears-jason-trawick-engaged-timeline.jhtml">Britney confirmed she was engaged</a> to Trawick after dating for two years. She showed off her Neil Lane ring during a celebratory weekend in Las Vegas. <b>MTV continues our <a href="http://www.mtv.com/specials/best_of/">Best of 2011</a> coverage by looking back at the biggest pop-culture stories of the year. As we count down the newsmakers that mattered to you most, also check out our <a href="/news/articles/1675981/best-artists-2011.jhtml">Best Artists</a>, <a href="/news/articles/1675921/best-songs-2011.jhtml">Best Songs</a>, <a href="/news/articles/1675822/best-mtv-live-performances-2011.jhtml">Best MTV Live Performances</a> and <a href="/news/articles/1675726/best-edm-artists-2011.jhtml">Best EDM Artists</a> of 2011.</b></p>
Related Videos Related Artists Legal expert Mike Cavalluzzi tells MTV News he isn't surprised by sentence but doesn't think it's justified.
By Gil Kaufman
Dr. Conrad Murray sits in court after he was sentenced for the involuntary manslaughter of singer Michael Jackson at the Los Angeles Superior Court on November 29, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Judge Michael E. Pastor sentenced Murray to four years in the Los Angeles County Jail for the involuntary manslaughter of Jackson. A restitution hearing has been scheduled for January 23, 2012 to determine the amount of restitution to be paid to the Jackson family.
Photo: Mario Anzuoni-Pool/ Getty Images
<P><P><P>Though he dodged a potential four-year prison term, former <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jackson_michael/artist.jhtml">Michael Jackson</a> physician Conrad Murray was sentenced to an equal amount of time in Los Angeles County Jail on Tuesday (November 29) in the death of the pop singer. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:714975.id:1673923" width="240" height="211"></div><p> But the same overcrowding problems that spared the cardiologist from doing time in a federal pen might also save him from serving his entire sentence in county as well. Shortly after the <a href="/news/articles/1675062/conrad-murray-sentence.jhtml">sentence was handed down</a> by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, Los Angeles Sheriff spokesman Steve Whitmore told <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/jackson_family_reacts_conrad_murrays/277336" target="_blank">E! News</a> that Murray would likely end up serving "a little less than two years." Due to overcrowding, most county jail sentences are immediately cut in half, and given the 46 days credit Murray has already been given, he is looking at even less than that. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mtvnews/posts/199210760161755" target="_blank"><b>Do you think Conrad Murray deserved the maximum sentence? Let us know on Facebook.</b></a> Murray's lawyers said afterward that they believed the sentence was unnecessarily long. "Yes, of course [Judge Pastor] was harsh. He gave the stiffest penalty he was entitled to give under the law," Murray's attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, told reporters. "He was openly hostile. ... [Murray has] led 56 years of exemplary life. He was really dreading [sentencing]. I think anybody would dread going into it. He's an honorable man, and he'll get through this. The family is suffering more than Dr. Murray is. ... Dr. Murray is the provider in that family." Pastor had leeway in the sentencing, with options ranging from probation to the full sentence, but in a lengthy ruling from the bench, he said Murray's lack of remorse and negligent behavior called for the highest possible penalty. "He is and remains dangerous ... the request of probation is denied, the court imposes the high term of four years imprisonment in this case," Pastor said during the 90-plus-minute hearing. Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney Mike Cavalluzzi told MTV News that he wasn't surprised by the sentencing but that he didn't believe it was justified. Cavalluzzi said Pastor had incentive to give the full sentence because of the prominence of Jackson and his family and to create the perception that he is tough on crime. "He gets that perception by sentencing him to the max while not having to surrender the defendant to the full sentence," said Cavalluzzi, who was not involved in the case. "He gets the self-satisfaction of being perceived as being tough on crime and making the Jackson family happy, but I don't think it was a fair sentence." Cavalluzzi said when deciding prison versus probation, judges have to look at someone's criminal history and whether a person is likely to complete the terms of their probation, which he believes Murray would. "I'm not seeing aggravating factors here, and I think it was just a chapter in [Murray's] life and he does not have a history of being a mercenary doctor always after money, but of being a good, responsible doctor who was seduced by the celebrity and money that Jackson offered," he said. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:708788.id:1673923" width="240" height="211"></div><p> As to why Pastor gave such a dramatic, lengthy explanation for why he was sentencing Murray to the max, Cavalluzzi said the judge has to have a justification for his actions in the public record. "Because he doesn't have the discretion to give a high prison term, [Pastor] has to justify his sentence in the record and have very specific reasons for it. I don't think there's any way that anyone truly believes that from this day forward Dr. Murray truly represents a threat to society. That's just ludicrous." And while he doesn't agree with the four-year term, Cavalluzzi said the high-profile nature of the case and the glare of the media could have played into the sentence. "It probably gives [<a href="/news/articles/1675068/conrad-murray-sentencing.jhtml">Jackson's family</a>] great comfort to have someone to blame," he said. " 'If not for this awful man, my son, brother, father would be alive.' But it's not fair to do that and it feels like a capitulating judgment in favor of feeding the emotional needs of the family." Upon leaving the courthouse, Michael's brother Jermaine, when asked if the four-year sentence was enough, shook his head and said, "No." Mother Katherine Jackson told local TV station KTLA, "Four years is not enough for someone's life. It won't bring him back. But at least he got the maximum, and I thought the judge was very, very fair." The prosecution, however, was satisfied with the ruling. "We're pleased. That's what we thought was appropriate. The judge obviously agreed with us," deputy district attorney David Walgren said. "It was our position that it was not a simple, one-time mistake; it was a series of mistakes culminating in the abandonment of Michael Jackson when he died ... the judge agreed with that sentiment. A brother and a son and a family member was killed, and whatever the sentence may be, the family of the victim deserves justice. And we did everything to bring them that justice." As for how much time Murray will spend locked up, Cavalluzzi said it is likely to be less than two years and, frankly, he predicted, the doctor could be out even sooner than that. "He might be eligible for house arrest very quickly," he said.</p></p></p>
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Singer makes an entrance at Jigga's Carnegie Hall show in a form-fitting red dress.
By Gil Kaufman
Beyoncé leaves 40/40 Club
Photo: Splash News
<P>There was no way <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyoncé</a> was going to miss hubby <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jay_z/artist.jhtml"_blank">Jay-Z's</a> first gig at <a href="/news/articles/1678669/jay-z-carnegie-hall.jhtml">Carnegie Hall</a>
 on Monday night. The new mom made a huge splash just walking into the show, her first public appearance since the birth of <a href="/news/articles/1676906/beyonce-jay-z-baby-born-ivy-blue.jhtml">Blue Ivy Carter</a>
 last month. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:731725" width="240" height="211"></div><p> Wearing a form-fitting Alice by Temperley dress, 4-inch Christian Louboutin heels and holding a gold Alexander McQueen clutch, the singer looked in fighting form for her big night out. According to the <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/beyonce-steps-giving-birth-jay-z-benefit-carnegie-hall-article-1.1018364" target="_blank"><I>New York Daily News</I>,</a> at an afterparty at Jay's 40/40 club, she reportedly said, "It was amazing," when asked about Jigga's show. The newspaper said he chilled out after the concert by having a celery-and-champagne snack and threw his arms around Bey as she greeted him in the middle of the club just before midnight. They then went up to the VIP section and hung out with Nas and Santigold. It was the capper to a historic night for Jay, who filled the Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall for the first of two benefit concerts for the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation and the United Way to raise money for gifted high school students who need financial assistance to attend college. Backed by a full orchestra that included Roots drummer ?uestlove and Young Guru playing DJ, Hov took the stage just before 9 p.m. in a white tux jacket and holding a bottle of champagne. Jay began the night by shouting the iconic line from his 2003 song "Public Service Announcement" in which he declares "allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Hov." Among the guests who joined him over the course of the show were Alicia Keys and Nas, but the one cameo everyone was waiting for was Blue's cooing in the song <a href="/news/articles/1676945/blue-ivy-carter-new-jay-z-song-glory.jhtml">"Glory,"</a>
 which Jay released just days after his daughter's birth. <center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:725377/cp~id%3D1676907%26vid%3D725377%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A725377%26instance%3Dmtv" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></center></p>
Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists Bieber's manager confirms on Twitter that the young pop star hit the studio with Drizzy for his upcoming album.
By Jocelyn Vena
Drake and Justin Bieber
Photo: MTV News
<P><i>Believe</i> it or not, there doesn't seem to be anyone that <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> isn't getting on his in-the-works next album. It seems that fellow <a href="/news/articles/1647665/justin-bieber-drake-have-canadian-reunion-at-vmas.jhtml">Canadian and <i>Take Care</i> rapper Drake</a> has been tapped to appear on the album, set for release later this year. The news of their collabo was confirmed on Thursday (February 9) by Bieber's manager Scooter Braun on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/scooterbraun/status/167555650400960512" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. But any Belieber could have easily figured out whom Bieber was referring to when he tweeted this <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/justinbieber/status/167393544573698049" target="_blank">message</a> to his devotees: "You really wanna know who im going into the studio with tonight??#bigbro #CANADA." <center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:571707/cp~id%3D1672718%26vid%3D571707%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A571707%26instance%3Dmtv" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></center> This Drizzy collabo has been a long time in the making. At the 2010 VMAs, Bieber shared with MTV News that he wanted to get his pal on his next proper (non-holiday) album. Then, in a radio interview late last year, he confirmed that <a href="/news/articles/1673221/justin-bieber-kanye-west-drake-next-album.jhtml">Drake, along with Kanye West</a>, was in talks to work on <i>Believe.</i> However, as the list of collaborators for the album grows, one more name is being tossed about as a potential collaborator. Sources tell <a href="http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2012/02/08/justin-bieber-new-album-believe-kesha">Hollywoodlife.com</a> that Ke$ha may appear on <i>Believe.</i> The source says that K-dollar sign "would also be a part of the song in a duet capacity." The duet has yet to be confirmed, and K is busy in the studio working on her own <a href="/news/articles/1676580/kesha-2012-new-album.jhtml">rock and roll-inspired album</a>. This wouldn't be the first time <a href="/news/articles/1630853/justin-bieber-keha-look-forward-to-2011-grammys.jhtml">Bieber and Ke$ha</a> have paired up. They appeared together at the 2010 Grammy Awards, where the newbies presented the award for Best New Artist to the Zac Brown Band. Super-producers Pharrell, will.i.am and Lil Wayne (who recently <a href="/news/articles/1678337/justin-bieber-lil-wayne-studio-visit.jhtml">visited Bieber in the studio</a>) are among the other names that have been tossed about as possible folks working with Bieber on the album. <i>Believe</i> is the follow-up Christmas-themed <i>Under the Mistletoe,</i> which was released in late 2011. <i>What collaborations do you hope to see on</i> Believe<i>? Leave your comments below!</i></p>
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