Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/FocyllAb0sk/
Tamala Jones Tami Donaldson Tamie Sheffield Tara Conner Tara Reed
'She knows exactly what she wants to do,' Ne-Yo says of Bey's Sasha Fierce follow-up.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Tim Kash
Beyoncé may have killed off Sasha Fierce for her next album, but that doesn't mean that whatever she turns out won't be just as, dare we say, fierce as her previous effort. And Ne-Yo, who reveals he is working with the megastar on the follow-up to 2008's I Am ... Sasha Fierce, says that it's easy-peasy working with Bey, mostly because she knows exactly what she wants.
"The thing about working with Beyoncé is that she definitely has her own agenda," the "Irreplaceable" songwriter told MTV News about the hush-hush song (or songs) the pair worked on together. "She's an artist that knows exactly what she wants to do."
Additionally, producer Jim Jonsin reveals that he has been submitting some tracks and angling to get in the studio to work with Beyoncé on the forthcoming album, noting that he wants to go retro for the record. "I'd like to take it even more Depeche Mode-ish, like '80s electro with just some hard drums," the "Beautiful Nightmare" producer told Rap-Up. "I'd love to go there."
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648430/20100922/ne_yo.jhtml
Leeann Tweeden Leelee Sobieski Leighton Meester Leila Arcieri Lena Headey
Knowles denies rumors that he will no longer manage Beyonce's career.
By James Dinh
Beyoncé
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ WireImage
Jay-Z may be Beyoncé's husband, but the hip-hop heavyweight will not be managing the pop star anytime soon. According to a statement posted by the singer's management website, Music World Entertainment, Beyoncé's father, Mathew Knowles is not being replaced by Jay-Z or anyone else as her manager.
"Contrary to false rumors online, Beyoncé and her manager Mathew Knowles unequivocally have had and continue to have a close personal and business relationship. Mathew Knowles is the sole and exclusive manager of Beyoncé," the statement reads.
Mathew Knowles has always played an important part in his daughter's career, dating all the way back to her days in Destiny's Child. When the group split in 2005, Mathew continued managing Beyoncé as well as Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. But Rowland and Williams recently parted ways with Knowles and his Music World Entertainment team. Earlier this year, he also denied claims that the trio were in talks to reunite Destiny's Child.
In addition to refuting the online rumors, the management company confirmed that the singer is working on upcoming music projects. "Furthermore, Beyoncé is readying the release of her new, highly anticipated DVD and has started the recording process for her new album," the statement concluded.
One producer that the singer may be reuniting with for her next record is Ne-Yo. The pair previously worked together on her hit single "Irreplaceable" back in 2006. Just last week, the soon-to-be father tweeted, "Mornin' NY!!! Studio with Mary J Blige last night, Beyonce tonight. I LOVE MY JOB!!! Shout out Jerry Wonder!!"
How do you think Mathew Knowles does at managing Beyoncé? Share your thoughts below.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647075/20100902/knowles_beyonce.jhtml
Ashanti Ashlee Simpson Ashley Greene Ashley Olsen Ashley Scott
Last week, we asked you to tell us how you'll stay motivated to exercise during the colder months, in the hopes of winning "Thintervention" workout gear from Shop by Bravo. And the winner is ... save_the_empire for the comment after the jump…
Chloë Sevigny Christina Aguilera Christina Applegate Christina DaRe Christina Milian
Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff
Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."
He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.
You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.
Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.
And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.
And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.
To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.
One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.
"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604582/20090209/plant_robert.jhtml
Amanda Bynes Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti
Tribute episode brings in 13.3 million viewers.
By James Dinh
Britney Spears and Heather Morris on the set of "Glee"
Photo: FOX
Madonna's "Glee" tribute episode might have been titled "The Power of Madonna," but it was the show's tribute to Britney Spears that reigned supreme. The broadcast, which featured cameos from the pop princess herself, drew 13.3 million viewers, leading the 8 p.m. hour and posting its best-ever rating among adults 18-49.
Tuesday night's episode, appropriately titled "Britney/Brittany," had a 5.8 rating and rose 4 percent from last week's season-two premiere. The feat made history for "Glee," as it becomes the first series since NBC's "Seinfeld" in 1993 to debut as the top series of the week and then spike in ratings the following week, according to Entertainment Weekly.
The episode, which highlighted Heather Morris' character Brittany S. Pearce, revolved around the McKinley High students' fight to perform Britney Spears numbers. Through anesthesia-induced sequences, the Gleeks tapped into their inner pop star to perform renditions of the singer's hits, including " ... Baby One More Time" and "Me Against the Music."
In addition to Spears' appearances on the hit Fox show, the singer took to Twitter during the West Coast premiere to thank fans for campaigning in support of the episode. "I loved it! Thank you guys SO much for making this happen!" she tweeted. The pop princess also gave props to the many song and video re-creations, including "I'm a Slave 4 U," saying, "Slave: Oh ... My ... God ...! Those little boys are SO cute! I know how hard it is to dance with that snake! Nice job."
Spears' manager, Adam Leber, also showed his appreciation for the episode, which spawned multiple trending topics on Twitter. "So glad you guys loved the GLEE episode! The Overwhelming worldwide response has been insane.3 of the top 10 worldwide trending topics.Sick! Big big big thank you to Ryan Murphy, the incredible cast and Brit's fans for making it happen...."
After such success, it wouldn't be surprising if the rumors of a second Spears-devoted episode came true, since "Britney/Brittany" only included hits from the first few years of the singer's career.
Did you catch the Britney Spears-themed episode last night? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648982/20100929/spears_britney.jhtml
Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris