Day in Pop Report for 06/10/2011
(NME) Rebecca Black makes cameo in new Katy Perry video The 'Last Friday Night' promo stars Perry's alter-ego Kathy Beth Terry more (Billboard) In her upcoming Us Weekly cover story, Christina Aguilera reveals that she and fellow "Voice" coach Adam Levine recorded a duet together. more (BBC) The original director of Broadway's Spider-Man musical has not been paid royalties for working on the project, her union has said more (BBC) A benefit concert in New York's Central Park at which Black Eyed Peas were scheduled to perform is cancelled due to severe thunderstorms. more (Billboard) As we all learned when Snookie's book was published, being on television is clearly an indicator of quality writing ability. Following in her actor-turned-author footsteps is Chris Colfer, better known as Kurt on "Glee," who has just signed a contract with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. more (BBC) US writer and producer Leonard Stern, who was behind hit shows including Get Smart and The Honeymooners, dies aged 87. more (NME) Lady Gaga: ''Born This Way' was inspired by Madonna and Prince' Singer also talks up German house music and Whitney Houston as influences for her new LP more (Billboard) With yet another week atop Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, Kelly Rowland released the date of her upcoming third album, "I Am Here," for July 26. more (BBC) Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman receives the American Film Institute's Life Achievement award at a star-studded event in Los Angeles. more (FMQB) After dropping 80 pounds, Jennifer Hudson has landed a book deal with Dutton, an imprint of the Penguin Group, to write a memoir about her struggles with weight. more more on this story
Sources tell us ... Gomez was feeling horrible during and after the show, complaining of nausea and a severe headache. She was taken to a Los Angeles area hospital and is still there, undergoing tests. We're told the exact cause of her illness is not yet known. more on this story
Stone -- real name Sylvester Stewart -- was arrested on April 1 ... after LAPD officers say they found freebase cocaine on the 68-year-old during a vehicle search. TMZ spoke with Sly's attorney, James Silverstein, who tells us Stone was riding in a buddy's camper vehicle with some friends ... when it was pulled over for a routine traffic violation. During the stop, Silverstein says, cops searched the vehicle and found the coke. Stone was arrested and hauled to a nearby police station. more on this story
Hudon's rep tells us ... "After performing on 'Good Morning America' earlier today, Jennifer Hudson went to the hospital due to severe abdominal pains." The rep added, "She was treated for food poisoning and released." more on this story
Sources close to the show tell us Meeka Claxton (left) and Tami Roman (right) have been on frigid terms for months now -- all because Tami has repeatedly accused Meeka of creating animosity between the girls on the show. Meeka denies the accusations ... but during a recent taping at some nightclub in Rome -- where the girls filmed several scenes abroad -- Tami decided to confront her ... fists flying. We're told a full on brawl broke out ... and ended with Tami PUNCHING Meeka right in the face. No one was seriously injured in the fight -- but the two were promptly escorted out of the club by security. Clearly, Italy is the hot place for reality stars to duke it out. more on this story
The show provided an inside look at a band midway through rehearsals for a massive stage show. Before the performance, Urban sat on a stool at the front of the stage and spoke with the audience about the show. "We've never done this before," he confessed. "I'm a bit nervous." The performance was a truncated version of the show the group is taking on the road next week. Entering to the strains of The Beatles' "A Day in the Life," Urban and his four-piece backing band tore into "Put You in a Song," from the Aussie's 2010 album, Get Closer. The group then played 90 minutes of other Get Closer tracks mixed with fan favorites from the past decade. Highlights included the tender "Making Memories of Us," a foot-stomping take of "You Look Good in My Shirt" and a center-of-the-arena-roundabout performance of his hit, "You'll Think of Me." The show also featured mash-ups with video performances by Little Big Town and vintage Waylon Jennings, and a rocking "Days Go By" medley that included snatches of U2, Tom Petty and AC/DC. more on this story
Kardashian has fired off a new demand letter to Lockett, obtained by TMZ, which warns him if he doesn't retract his allegations and cease from making fresh ones, his new position will be defendant on the left side of the courtroom. Lockett went on TMZ Live Wednesday and insisted he did indeed have an online and physical relationship with Kim this year, at the same time she was dating now-fiance Kris Humphries. In the letter, Kim's lawyer, Michael Kump, says, "To put it very plainly and clearly, and as Mr. Lockett knows, there is not now, and never has been such a relationship," adding, "Ms. Kardashian does not know and has never even met Mr. Lockett." Lockett told us he has physical evidence proving the relationship, but he evaded questions on specifics. more on this story
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, the L.A. City Attorney's office filed the four charges today -- each misdemeanors. If convicted on all charges, Warren faces a total of 2.5 years in jail. As we previously reported, Warren was arrested last month after allegedly boozing up and slamming into three cars, kicking a cop, and escaping the police station. Estella dodged the escape charge on a technicality -- because she hadn't been booked when she slipped out of her handcuffs and bolted from the police station. Warren is due back in court next week. more on this story
TMZ has learned the Fatone family is moving and EVERYTHING must go -- including Joey's Death Star replica, his personal Sword of Omens from Thundercats, arcade games, furniture, art, dishes, grill utensils ... all the way down to his clothes and shoes. In fact ... since everything in the house is marked with price tags -- it looks like the only thing not included in the sale is the kitchen sink. ... Unless the price is right. more on this story
"Smash" -- starting mid-season on Mondays (10-11 p.m. ET) on NBC -- stars Debra Messing ("Will & Grace"), McPhee ("American Idol") and Oscar winner Anjelica Huston ("Prizzi's Honor"). The announcements were made by Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment, and Rob Stringer, Chairman, Columbia/Epic Label Group. The arrangement guarantees worldwide, digital and physical rights to the first season of "Smash" with successive options to subsequent seasons. more on this story
Travis Romero claims he and Jeff Eastin often channeled their creative juices in Jeff's San Fernando Valley hot tub ... and it all came together one day when they concocted the plot for "White Collar." The two have a lot of history ... meeting 20 years ago when they worked as camp counselors at the YMCA. But friendships often end, and according to Romero, his crashed and burned when Eastin allegedly stole the glory and the financial fruits of the show right out from under him. Eastin is listed as the sole creator in the show credits. Romero stewed over the alleged backstab for more than a year, but was inspired to take action after seeing "The Social Network." According to the lawsuit, "As he watched the movie Romero realized that Eastin took advantage of him much like Mark Zuckerberg took advantage of Eduardo Saverin." more on this story
They're selling out like hot cakes ... but the owner of El Viejo Lazaro Botanica -- which hocks all sorts of bizarre religious supplies, including voodoo stuff -- tells TMZ, he has no idea which Mavs are being targeted by the hexes. If they're not buying voodoo dolls, we're told Miami fans are turning to herbal remedies -- buying what are called "Paraiso" herbs to use in a bath. more on this story
Norm Macdonald released an animated short video clip based on the 12 Days of Christmas! While it's normal for Macdonald to march by the beat of his own drum he was also a little inspired to create the video clip. Norm became enamored with an animated clip (done by No Mas and artist James Blagden) of an interview with former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis. In the interview Ellis explains how he was high on LSD while he pitched a no-hitter against the Padres in the 1970. MacDonald became such a huge fan of the clip that he decided to make his own animated short video about Christmas�and release it in June. Check out the video here
Despite the fame and notoriety the label has brought to this Parisian producer, debut single "Forever Young" off the forthcoming record will mark the very first single under the Joakim moniker to be officially released through Tigersushi on June 13, 2011. Despite notable collaborations with artists such as Goldfrapp, Friendly Fires, DJ Mehdi, Cut Copy, Tiga, Fischerspooner, Late of the Pier, Max Berlin and Zombie Zombie - to name a few, the premiere single 'Forever Young' stems from an inspiring place of honesty and self-reverence for Joakim as his self-proclaimed "road to Damascus." more on this story
Released digitally through Eric Morillo's venerable Subliminal Records imprint, the track will be available through iTunes, Beatport and Traxsource June 28th.
Starring two-time academy award winning actress Hilary Swank (Boys Don't Cry, Million Dollar Baby) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Grey's Anatomy, Watchmen), The Resident is a terrifying psychological thriller, inspired by the fact that every year, countless single women move into apartments for the first time. They do not know who lived in the apartment before them; they do not know their landlords, and they don't bother to change the locks. The Resident marks Christopher Lee's return to the Hammer franchise after a 34 year absence. The film, theatre and television veteran, who was recently honoured with the BAFTA Academy Fellowship award for outstanding contribution to film, has starred in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Star Wars: Episode II-Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith. He is best known to millions of horror fans for his famous roles in the film classics Dracula, The Mummy and The Wicker Man.
Law enforcement sources say ... Flo Rida was driving around in his red and black Bugatti -- valued around $1.7 million -- when cops observed the rapper swerving in his lane and pulled him over around 3:30 AM. During the stop, cops detected the odor of alcohol -- so Flo was given a field sobriety test ... and didn't perform very well. Flo -- real name Tramar Dillard -- was arrested on suspicion of DUI and taken to a nearby station where he is currently being booked. Sources tell us Flo's blood alcohol level was more than double the legal limit. UPDATE: According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, cops say a large crowd gathered around Flo after cops had pulled him over. Several bystanders were "trying to get officers to let [Flo Rida] go. Some individuals were offering to drive [Flo] home." When the officer tried to conduct a "walk the line" test -- Flo told the cop, "Officer I can't do this. I don't feel I can't walk a straight line. I had a few drinks. Let's try another test." Flo then tried to convince the officer, "I can make it home." Cops disagreed -- and claim his B.A.C. was .185 .... more than twice the legal limit. more on this story
TMZ broke the story ... Joe Jackson was pushing the new "Jackson" scent line at the Cannes Film Festival last month on behalf of a company called Julian Rouas Paris. But according to a new lawsuit, J.R.P. never obtained permission to use Michael's name and image in connection with the product. Now, Bravado International is asking a federal court in Los Angeles to force Julian Rouas Paris to immediately strip anything MJ-related from their smelly product line ASAP. Bravado is also seeking $750 for each time MJ's name and likeness were used on a product PLUS three times the amount of profits they've made on the scents PLUS more than $150k in damages. A rep for Bravado tells TMZ, "Michael Jackson's talent made his name one of the most valuable in the history of entertainment, and no person acting on behalf of the estate gave Mr. Rouas oral or written consent to exploit it." more on this story
The duo teamed up for unexpected collaboration of Aldean's current Top 10 hit "Dirt Road Anthem." The remix of the song is now available on iTunes for download. Additionally, the performance video will be available on Mon., June 13. "Ludacris absolutely killed his verse of the song," said Aldean. "He name checks Kenny Rogers and talks about drinking cold beer�that's pretty country, if you ask me! I think Luda said it best last night at the close of the song when he told the crowd 'History has been made.' It really did feel like one of those one-in-a-lifetime television moments, and the CMT Music Awards was the perfect show for it. The fans were crazy!"
Rock and roll legend Buddy Holly would have turned 75 on September 7 had his life not been taken in a plane crash in 1959, on the infamous "Day The Music Died." Fortunately, the pioneering Lubbock, Texas rocker's legacy lives on, as is evidenced by the upcoming compilation Rave On Buddy Holly (out June 18 via Fantasy/Concord), which features covers of his songs by an eclectic array of artists that includes The Voice coach Cee Lo Green ("(You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care"), Paul McCartney ("It's Easy"), Florence + The Machine ("Not Fade Away"), Kid Rock ("Well�All Right") and Fiona Apple ("Every Day"). Today we're honored to premiere Grammy winner Cee Lo's raucous, rockabilly take on the Jerry Leiber- and Mike Stoller-penned "Baby, I Don't Care." American Idol viewers and Lady Gaga fans alike will know Leiber and Stoller's timeless work from Season 10 contestants Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Haley Reinhart and James Durbin performing the pair's material last month, in an episode that featured Gaga as a mentor. "(You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care" was originally recorded by Elvis Presley in 1957 for his Jailhouse Rock EP. Buddy Holly's version appeared on his self-titled album that was released the following year. Check it out
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... David Cocordan went to Judge Sautner's courtroom on Good Friday -- April 22 -- and informed the clerk he was Lindsay's fiance and needed to speak to the judge about her criminal theft case. We're told Cocordan acted so bizarrely ... courthouse security contacted the police department in the city where the judge lives and asked them to do drive-bys at her home to make sure she was safe. There's reason to fear Cocordan. Aside from the threatening and sexual messages he sent Lindsay and the order of protection she received, Cocordan was also arrested for robbery in 2004. more on this story
The special online auction is live now and will last through Saturday, June 18 at 10 PM ET. The auction features limited edition items donated by The Civil Wars and numerous other world-renowned musicians. Already confirmed contributions include items from A Fine Frenzy, Adele, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Bon Iver, Brad Paisley, Brandi Carlile, Bright Eyes, Carrie Underwood, Christina Perri, Crystal Bowersox, Drive By Truckers, Emmylou Harris, Flo Rida, George Strait, Hank Williams Sr., Ingrid Michaelson, James Vincent McMorrow, Jason Aldean, Jason Isbell, Jason Mraz, John Legend, Josh Ritter, Justin Townes Earle, Kelly Clarkson, Kobe Bryant, Lady Antebellum, Lionel Richie, Little Big Town, Lupe Fiasco, Martina McBride, Mat Kearney, Miranda Lambert, Mumford & Sons, Nickelback, Phoenix, Rascal Flatts, Rosanne Cash, Sade, Secondhand Serenade, Snoop Dogg, St. Vincent, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, The Secret Sisters, The Temper Trap, Train, Two Door Cinema Club, Tyrese Gibson, VH1, Whitney Houston, Wilco, Wiz Khalifa and Zac Brown. In addition to the auction, the band has already raised over $20,000 through a special benefit concert that took place at the historic Shoals Theater in Muscle Shoals, AL on May 25. In addition to The Civil Wars, the concert featured special guest appearances by Dylan LeBlanc and Doc Dailey & Magnolia Devil. 100% of the proceeds were donated directly toward tornado victims. John Paul White (one half of The Civil Wars) was inspired to action after witnessing the devastation first hand in his home of Florence, Alabama. White states, "The devastation around here can't be summed up very easily; not in words, pictures, or video. It's everywhere we look�the lines at the gas pumps, the lines at the hotels, the desperation for generators, water, non-perishable food. I, just like everyone else here, have close friends and family that have lost everything."
Riders will gather for Little Big Town hosts the 5th Annual Ride for a Cureregistration beginning at 8 a.m., and a morning jam will feature multiple artists including Bo Bice, Eric Paslay, Kelleigh Bannen, Dean Alexander, and Cali Rodi. Following registration the riders will hit the road at 10:30 a.m. and head south to Harley-Davidson Columbia. The party will continue once the riders arrive around noon as the afternoon jam begins, and Little Big Town takes the stage. more on this story
Halperin, an unsigned singer/songwriter, took the initiative on his own to partner with a crew of filmmakers and dozens of volunteers in Fort Worth, Texas, to create the video using a budget of $8,000, completely donated by online supporters. Halperin performed his original 'The Last Song' for judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson on American Idol, earning a spot in the show's top 24 and the first round of live episodes that aired in March 2011.He has made the song available as a free download at http://www.TimHalperin.com and will include it as a track on his new full length album, scheduled for independent release in September. more on this story
"A red light, stop sign, could a green light just let me go/Maybe, in a while, please tell me yes or no..." I was sitting at the house I grew up in in New Jersey, with our family's little West Highland Terrier, Melly, keeping me company. It was one of those chilly November nights, where winter hasn't yet set in but you can feel it coming. It was like so many late-fall evenings that I'm very accustomed to, having grown up on the east coast. I was anticipating a move to Los Angeles, having extended my stay in New Jersey to perform at the Billboard Emerging Artists Showcase at the Gramercy Theater in New York City. In between running songs for my upcoming performance, I started strumming away at my usual chords and just sang those lines over the top. I loved the feel of the melody. It had a certain bounce, and the lyrics had a poignancy that seemed to say a lot, with a little. It's about that push and pull feeling that I think we've all experienced, whether it's a relationship (any kind of relationship), or the everyday struggles we face trying to make our way in the world and build careers or pursue whatever ambitions we may have. I wanted to put this song in the context of a relationship so that people could relate and understand, even though for me, it was really about my struggles pursuing a life and career in the music industry. It was important to me to give this driving sense of urgency to not only the lyrics, but to the actual feel of the song. I knew inherently what the point of the song was, but when I got to the line "My head is ready to explode" it really clicked. And then, "My heart is ready to explode." That's how I was feeling at that moment. And I liked that it could be anyone who feels like they're waiting, waiting, and still waiting... for the phone to ring, for someone to show up, or for the dream job to appear. It's about wanting to get to the other side of the tunnel, and the anticipation of when that's going to happen. Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album right here!
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