CHRISTINA TO COACH CONTESTANTS ON THE VOICE
Christina Aguilera has been named as a musician coach on NBC’s new musical competition series, The Voice. Aguilera joins previously announced musician coaches Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine. The Voice will be hosted by Carson Daly and the winner of the show receives a recording contract and 100-thousand dollars. It premieres on NBC Tuesday, April 26th at 9 PM Eastern.
JUSTIN BIEBER SCORES TWO TOP FIVE ALBUMS
Justin Bieber has two albums in the top ten of the Billboard album chart. His latest set, Never Say Never — The Remixes, falls from the top spot to number two, while his My World 2.0 album is up three notches to number five in its 49th week on the chart. Meanwhile, Bieber’s My Worlds Acoustic album falls four spots to number 22 and his debut album, My World, is up seven spots to number 24.
BRITNEY TOUR?
Rumors are swirling about a possible Britney Spears tour. According to a Live Nation report, Spears is expected to launch a tour behind her new album, Femme Fatale, this year.
GAGA UNVIELS NEW SONG AT PARIS FASHION SHOW
Lady Gaga made her runway debut at the Thierry Mugler fashion show during Paris fashion week yesterday. According to Rap-Up.com, the singer helped show off the collection by her stylist, Nicola Formichetti, as “Born This Way” and a new Gaga song, “Government Hooker,” played in the venue. Gaga was the last of the models to hit the catwalk, wearing a giant floppy hat and towering heels.
JUSTIN BIEBER AND NATASHA BEDINGFIELD JOIN RASCAL FLATTS
Justin Bieber and Natasha Bedingfield will join Rascal Flatts for their concert special, Rascal Flatts: Nothing Like This, next week. Bieber will appear in a never before seen clip of the their video “That Should Be Me,” as well as in behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the video. Bedingfield made a surprise appearance during the live concert taping in St. Paul, Minneapolis in January to perform with the band. The special will air on ABC on Saturday, March 12th at 9 PM Eastern.
JT PLANS STUDIO TIME THIS SUMMER
Justin Timberlake is finally planning a return to music. The singer, who has focused on acting for the past two years, told E! Online that he may spend some time in the studio this summer. You can see Timberlake and Mila Kunis in Friends With Benefits, which opens in theaters on July 22nd.
APL.DE.AP BUILDING SCHOOLS IN PHILIPPINES
According to The Associated Press, Black Eyed Peas’ apl.de.ap has launched school projects in his Philippines hometown that aim to increase literacy and develop the musical talents of young Filipinos. The singer opened a library, a computer room and a music room at the Sapang Bato National High School and a music library and studio at Holy Angel University this week. The rapper, whose real name is Allan Pineda Lindo Jr., attended both schools before he was adopted at 14 and moved to the United States.
MAROON 5 CANCEL SHOWS
Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine is now a part of the forthcoming NBC show The Voice, and because of this, the band has had to postpone a big part of their European tour. In a post on their official website, the guys apologize for having to reschedule, saying that it’s a “sad thing,” but that they’ll “make it up” to their fans. Learn more and see which dates have been changed at Maroon5.com.
DAUGHTRY IS ENJOYING IDOL
At least one former American Idol contestant is a fan of the new judges of the show. Season Five competitor Chris Daughtry wrote on his Twitter account that the he’s “really diggin’ the dynamic” on the program, and that he’s “seeing some real honesty and sensible criticism from the judges.” Read more at Twitter.com/Chris_Daughtry.
GAGA PRAISES ADELE
Adele has gotten some high praise from arguably the biggest pop star in the world. In a BBC Radio interview, Lady Gaga said that she “loves” Adele, and that she’s “so excited” about her recent success with her new album, 21.
JENNIFER PICKS APRIL LAUNCH DATE FOR LOVE?
Rap-Up.com reports Jennifer Lopez has changed the release date of her upcoming album, Love?, from March 20th to April 19th. J-Lo’s Island Def Jam debut would have competed with Britney Spears’ largely anticipated Femme Fatale LP. Meanwhile, fans can expect the video for “On the Floor” featuring Pitbull to premiere tonight on American Idol.
TIMBALAND AND MISSY ELLIOT REUNITES
Missy Elliott and Timbaland have officially reunited and have plans to collaborate on a new album. Together, the pair created numerous hit songs — stemming back to their first collaborations on Missy’s 1997 album, Supa Dupa Fly. A few weeks ago, Tim gave fans an idea of what their new material will sound like with a Missy-assisted record called “Take Ur Clothes Off.” Check it out via TimbalandThursdays.com.
MTV EMAs HEAD TO BELFAST
The MTV EMAs are heading to Belfast, Northern Ireland this year. According to a press release, the MTV European Music Awards will take place in November at the Odyssey Arena. The exact date of the concert will be announced soon. We’ll keep you posted.
BEYONCE DEFENDS HEAT COMMERCIAL
Beyonce has no shame in releasing her controversial Heat perfume commercial. In the ad, which was banned in the U-K last fall, the signer is scantily clad and seductively touches herself. When asked about it, Jay-Z’s wife admits to Cosmopolitan U-K magazine, “I wasn’t annoyed, I thought it was funny. Personally, I don’t think my ad was any more crazy sexy than other ads out there – I loved it, despite whatever anyone else thought.” Knowles added, “It was for my fragrance and I believe a wonderful fragrance brings out the sex appeal in a woman. That was what I was trying to express. I don’t regret it.”
SARA BAREILLES TALKS WRITER’S BLOCK
Sara Bareilles is talking a bit about the bad case of writer’s black that she encountered while writing her most recent album, Kaleidoscope Heart. She told Bang Showbiz that it was “really scary,” and that she thought that there was a chance she might never “write another song again.” Fortunately, it all worked itself out, and she just released her second single from the effort, the song “Uncharted.”
DIRECTOR’S CUT OF SARA B’S NEW VIDEO
Sara Bareilles just released the video for her song “Uncharted” the other day, and she’s already put out the “director’s cut” for it. It features a little music lesson from Ben Folds at the beginning, and also has appearances from Maroon 5 and Pharrell. Check it out at SaraBMusic.com now.
KT TUNSTALL ANNOUNCES TOUR
KT Tunstall has just announced a new tour. It’s called The Solo Show and is in support of her most recent album, Tiger Suit. It kicks off on April 9th in Boston and wraps up on the 26th in Salt Lake City, Utah. Learn more at KTTunstall.com.
MICHAEL FRANTI & INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Michael Franti will be participating in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. According to a press release, Michael, along with India.Arie, Crystal Bowersox and others, will be performing at a concert on Tuesday in Washington, D-C. Learn more at MichaelFranti.com.
ADELE’S 21 IS NUMBER ONE!
Adele has the number one album in the country. Since last week, people had been projecting that the singer-songwriter’s latest effort, 21, would bow at the top spot of the Billboard 200 and they were correct, as she sold over 350-thousand copies in the album’s first week of release. 21 is also at the top of the charts in the U-K as well.