UNPLUGGED IS BACK!
CMT, MTV and VH1 are bringing back the award-winning music series Unplugged with eight new episodes, which will begin rolling out online on March 10th with VH1’s Unplugged: Adam Lambert. Upcoming Unplugged episodes include sets from Phoenix, The Script and Reba McEntire.
New episodes will launch over the next several months on Unplugged.CMT.com, Unplugged.MTV.com and/or Unplugged.VH1.com.
RIHANNA SCORES 14TH TOP 10 HIT!
Rihanna captures her 14th Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit as “Rude Boy” leaps 15 spots to number eight. According to Billboard, she has now posted the most Hot 100 top 10’s by a female artist since the beginning of the last decade. She had been tied with Beyonce, who has 13 top 10’s, and is now even with Ludacris with 14 for second among all artists. Only Jay-Z has scored more, with 15 top 10’s since 2000.
SHAKIRA HONORED WITH U.N. MEDAL
According to the Associated Press, Shakira has received a medal from the U.N. labor agency for her work to help impoverished children. The 33-year-old Colombian pop star has worked as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. Her Barefoot foundation provides nutrition to more than six-thousand children in Colombia, and she is member of the ALAS foundation that advocates for children across Latin America. Shakira said in a statement Thursday that social, economic and environmental policies must focus on children and their education.
BLACK EYED PEAS STILL NUMBER ONE!
The Black Eyed hold down the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for a second week with “Imma Be.” Young Money moves up to number two with “BedRock,” and Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” climbs two notches to number three. Ke$ha’s “TiK ToK” drops two spots to number four, while Lady Gaga slides one space to number five with “Bad Romance.”
DAUGHTRY REALLY LIKES THE NEW LIFEHOUSE
Chris Daughtry just can’t stop writing on Twitter about how much he loves the new Lifehouse album, Smoke & Mirrors. The former American Idol contestant wrote that even though they’re headed out on tour together, that they’re friends, and that he actually wrote for the new effort, Smoke & Mirrors is still “a fantastic piece of work.” The album is in stores now.
LADY ANTEBELLUM TALK “NEED YOU NOW”
Lady Antebellum have crossed over from the country world in a big way, with their smash hit “Need You Now.” Band member Dave Haywood spoke a little about seeing their song rise to the top (See Related Cut #3). The band is nominated for seven Academy of Country Music awards, the most of any group or artist, and vocalist Hillary Scott spoke about how good it feels to be recognized (See Related Cut #4). Lady A play in Hidalgo, Texas on Saturday.
ANOTHER NUMBER ONE FOR GAGA
Lady Gaga’s new single “Telephone” has gone to number one on the Billboard Pop chart, giving the pop star her sixth single in a row to top that chart. It joins “Poker Face,” “LoveGame,” “Paparazzi,” “Poker Face” and “Bad Romance” as her hits that have reached number one. Gaga wrote on her Twitter that all of her fans should “celebrate” the occasion. Learn more at LadyGaga.com.
JESSICA SIMPSON OPENS UP TO OPRAH
Jessica Simpson went on The Oprah Winfrey Show on Wednesday, and she really opened up about John Mayer referring to her as “sexual napalm.” Simpson told the talk show queen that she was “disappointed in him” and that he did apologize to her, but she won’t accept it. Simpson elaborated, saying she doesn’t resent him, but that part of her life “is over.” Read what else Jessica had to say, at USMagazine.com.
BILLY CORGAN LOVES JESSICA SIMPSON
Billy Corgan recently opened up about his relationship with Jessica Simpson to Rolling Stone. The Smashing Pumpkins singer said, “Sometimes people just like being around each other and good things come out of that. My goal in life is to love whoever I think is worth loving, and I think if people knew her like I knew her, they would love her like I do.”
KELLY CLARKSON ADDED TO LILITH FAIR
If you thought the lineup for this year’s Lilith Fair couldn’t get any better, than think again. It was just announced via press release that Kelly Clarkson, Suzanne Vega, The Bangles, the Courtyard Hounds – which is Emily Robison and Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks – and others, will be joining an already impressive list that includes Sarah McLachlan, Sara Bareilles, Sheryl Crow, Ingrid Michaelson, Ke$ha and many, many more. See the complete list of performers now at LilithFair.com.
LIL WAYNE OUT OF TOWN FOR LAST FREE WEEKEND
Now that Lil Wayne was granted an additional four days of freedom, the rapper was spotted leaving town with his baby mama, Nivea, and their three-month-old son, Neal. According to TMZ, Weezy and his family were headed toward New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport, but it’s unknown where their final destination was. The emcee is expected back in court on Monday to begin his one year prison sentence for weapons possession.
Lil Wayne’s most recent tweet: “More time to love.”
NE-YO SPILLS ON THE DIRECTION ON NEW ALBUM
According to MTV News, Ne-Yo has provided new information on the follow-up to 2008’s Year of the Gentleman. The “Closer” singer revealed that his upcoming project will be unlike anything we’ve heard from him before. Though he wouldn’t talk features or producers, he stated, “Just know I’m doing something a little different this time around. Just be expecting that were gonna bring back entertainment – that’s what were gonna do.” He added, “I’ve decided to make it the lifetime of the gentleman.” No release date was provided.
THE SCRIPT ARE IN THE STUDIO
The Script have arrived in New York City from their hometown of Dublin, Ireland, and the guys will spend time in the studio while in the Big Apple. The rockers have been posting pictures on their Twitter account of them recording, so head to Twitter.com/TheScript to check the shots out now.
THERE WILL BE NEW PUSSYCAT DOLLS
Some new information about the status of the Pussycat Dolls has finally been revealed. According to an interview with MTV News, lead singer Nicole Scherzinger said that there will be a “new cast” of ladies joining her in the Dolls, and that she’s “excited” about it. She also gave an update on the status of a new PCD album, saying that fans can expect it “late this year.” Learn more at MTVNews.com.
NICKI MINAJ “PROVING” HERSELF IN THE RAP GAME
In the spring issue of The Fader magazine, Nicki Minaj talks openly about her status in music industry and stated she doesn’t know where she “fits in the spectrum of rap yet” as she’s “proving” herself. The Young Money artist explained people assume she is “a sex symbol,” however Minaj makes “the goofiest faces” because she’s not “trying to be cute.” Nicki added, “I’m trying to entertain, and entertaining is more than exuding sex appeal. I don’t think that’s fun. I don’t find it fun watching someone trying to be sexy. It’s wack. I’m trying to just show my true personality, and I think that means more than anything else.”
SNOOP DOGG ALLOWED INTO THE U-K AGAIN
According to StarPulse.com, Snoop Dogg finally has permission to enter the United Kingdom after being banned for nearly four years. The West Coast emcee won the legal battle to enter to country after government officials barred Snoop stemming from a fight at London’s Heathrow Airport back in 2006. We’ve learned “two senior immigration judges decided border authorities were wrong to deny the star entry.”
ROCK HALL INDUCTION CEREMONY PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony takes place on the 15th in New York City, and the Hall has just announced who will be performing at the event. Chris Isaak, Faith Hill, Ronnie Spector and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine are among the musicians who will take the stage. This year’s inductees include Genesis, The Hollies, The Stooges and ABBA. Learn more at RockHall.com.
WHY LENNON FOOTAGE WAS USED IN CAR AD
Footage of John Lennon is currently appearing in a car ad overseas and the Beatle’s son Sean has responded to criticism and explained why his mom, Yoko Ono, allowed the material to be used. On his Twitter site, Sean wrote that it had nothing to do with money, rather they wanted to keep John in the public eye. Sean stated, “No new LPs, so TV ad is exposure to young.” You can see the ad, which is for Citroen DS3, by searching YouTube for “Citroen DS3 Lennon.” Read more from Sean at Twitter.com/SeanOnoLennon.
