Justin Bieber says he's suffering from facial paralysis

NEW YORK — Justin Bieber on Friday told fans in a video posted on Instagram that he's been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which is causing him partial facial paralysis.

The 28-year-old pop singer recently announced he was pausing his Justice World Tour due to illness, hours before his first slated concert in Toronto.

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is a complication of shingles that occurs when an outbreak impacts the facial nerve near one ear. In addition to facial paralysis, it can cause hearing loss.

"As you can see, this eye is not blinking, I can't smile on this side of my face, this nostril will not move," Bieber explained in a video.

"So, there’s full paralysis on this side of my face. So for those who are frustrated by my cancellations of the next shows, I'm just physically, obviously, not capable of doing them. This is pretty serious, as you can see."

The "Peaches" singer said he was doing facial exercises and taking time to "rest and relax and get back to 100 percent so I can do what I was born to do."

He did not give an estimated timeline for his recovery.

It's the third instance Bieber's tour has been postponed, the first two due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agence France-Presse

Billie Eilish says watching porn from age 11 'really destroyed my brain'

LOS ANGELES, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Grammy-winning singer Billie Eilish has spoken about an addiction to watching pornography, starting at age 11, and how it gave her nightmares and messed her up when she started dating.

Eilish, who turns 20 on Saturday, was speaking on "The Howard Stern Show" on Sirius XM radio on Monday.

"I think porn is a disgrace. I used to watch a lot of porn, to be honest. I started watching porn when I was, like, 11,” the "Bad Guy" singer said, saying it helped her feel as if she were cool and "one of the guys."

"I think it really destroyed my brain and I feel incredibly devastated that I was exposed to so much porn,” she added, saying she suffered nightmares because some of the content she watched was so violent and abusive.

Eilish, who was homeschooled in Los Angeles and has seven Grammy Awards, is known for her often dark lyrics.

In the ballad "Male Fantasy" on her second album "Happier Than Ever," she sings about being home alone and distracting herself with pornography as she recalls a broken relationship.

Eilish said she is now angry at herself for thinking it was OK to watch so much porn.

"The first few times I, you know, had sex, I was not saying no to things that were not good. It was because I thought that’s what I was supposed to be attracted to,” she said.

Eilish, who started her career wearing baggy clothes to prevent people from commenting on her body, became the youngest person in history to win all four of the top Grammy Awards in the same year when she took home the statuettes for new artist, album, record and song of the year in 2020 at age 18.

The singer said her fame had made it hard to date.

"It's really hard to meet people when, you know, people are either terrified of you or think you're out of their league," Eilish told Stern.

Reporting by Jill Serjeant in Los Angeles Editing by Matthew Lewis

Queen of Twitter: Dionne Warwick uses her voice on social media

NEW YORK (Reuters) - American singer Dionne Warwick, who has reigned as a diva for over six decades, is now using her voice as the ‘Queen of Twitter,’ spreading joy and poking fun in viral tweets to a new audience.

The pop legend, 80, regularly tweets her thoughts on life, career and fellow musicians, sometimes prompting responses that lead to heartwarming exchanges.

“If you are very obviously a rapper why did you put it in your stage name?” Warwick asked Chance the Rapper in a tweet. “I cannot stop thinking about this.”

“I will be whatever you wanna call me Ms Warwick,” Chance responded.

The five-time Grammy Award winner was surprised Chance even knew who she was.

It all started when Warwick saw her nieces and nephews having fun on Twitter and wanted to join in. Once she got the hang of it, Warwick decided how she would use her new platform.

“I’m going to do it when I have an urge to say something or feel that I need to say something and/or ask a question, somebody is going to answer it,” she recalled telling her niece who showed her the ropes.

Warwick, who is often referred to now as the ‘Queen of Twitter,’ relishes bringing positive energy to social media.

“That’s one of the things I’m enjoying more than anything else in the world, that everybody’s laughing with me, you know, and that I think is something that has been missing,” she said.

Warwick is also trailblazing with virtual concerts. Her first was held live from home on Easter Sunday.

“I had a little bit of anxiety, based on the fact that I had not sung in a complete year, and vocal cords are muscles and muscles had to be exercised, and I don’t do that,” she said.

“I wanted to do a disclaimer, you know, there might be a couple of squeaks, croaks,” she said with a laugh.

She will perform a second show on May 9, which is Mother’s Day in the United States.

This year Warwick was nominated for the first time to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a late recognition after nearly 60 hit songs including “Don’t Make Me Over,” “Walk on By,” and “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” and selling over 100 million records since the early 1960s.

Reporting by Alicia Powell; Writing by Richard Chang; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien

-reuters

New Amy Winehouse film to mark 10 years since singer's death

LONDON — A new documentary about Amy Winehouse, in which her mother will share details about her late daughter’s life, will be released in July, marking 10 years since the British singer’s death at age 27.

“Amy Winehouse: 10 Years On”, commissioned by Britain’s BBC Two and BBC Music, will be told through the narrative of the “Rehab” and “Back to Black” singer’s mother Janis, who has multiple sclerosis and wants to share her memories, the broadcaster said.

It described Janis as “a figure close to Amy whom we have yet to hear a lot from and whose version of events often differs from the narrative we have been told before”.

“I don’t feel the world knew the true Amy, the one that I brought up, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to offer an understanding of her roots and a deeper insight into the real Amy,” Janis Winehouse said in a statement on Wednesday.

Winehouse, a Grammy Award winner, died from alcohol poisoning at her London home in July 2011. She had struggled with drinking and drug problems through much of her career.

The documentary will feature previously unseen family archive material, the BBC said. “Janis will be aided by family, friends and those who knew Amy best to piece together the side of Amy rarely seen,” it said.

“The film will be a powerful and sensitive account of one of Britain’s best-loved and greatly-missed musical talents, offering a new female-driven interpretation of her life, her loves and her legacy.”

A 2015 documentary “AMY” about Winehouse won director Asif Kapadia an Oscar, although at the time the singer’s father Mitch Winehouse called it misleading and said the family had disassociated itself from the film.

Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Mark Heinrich

-reuters

Authorities search for ‘Glee’ star believed to have drowned

Authorities planned Friday to renew the search for “Glee” star Naya Rivera, who is believed to have drowned in a Southern California lake while boating with her 4-year-old son.

Rivera, 33, disappeared after renting the pontoon boat for three hours Wednesday afternoon and taking it out on Lake Piru in Ventura County, the Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.

The lake an hour’s drive from Los Angeles was searched by dozens of people, most of them divers, with help from helicopters, drones and all-terrain vehicles. The search to recover Rivera’s body continued into the night Thursday before ending for that day.

The area where the boat was found is about 30 feet (9 meters) deep. Murky waters heavy with plants made it difficult for divers to see more than about a foot ahead of them, sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Donoghue said Thursday.

“If the body is entangled on something beneath the water, it may never come back up,” Donoghue said.

Rivera played Santana Lopez, a singing cheerleader in 113 episodes of the musical-comedy “Glee,” which aired on Fox from 2009 until 2015. She also had recurring roles on “The Bernie Mac Show” and “The Royal Family.”

Rivera, a Los Angeles resident, had experience boating on the lake in Los Padres National Forest, Donoghue said.

Surveillance video taken at about 1 p.m. Wednesday shows Rivera and her son, Josey Hollis Dorsey, leaving on the rented boat.

When the boat failed to return, its vendor found the vessel drifting in the northern end of the lake late Wednesday afternoon with the boy asleep on board. He told investigators that he and his mother had been swimming and he got back into the boat but she didn’t, according to a Sheriff’s Office statement.

The boy was wearing a life vest and another life jacket was found in the boat along with Rivera’s purse and identification.

Rivera is believed to have drowned “in what appears to be a tragic accident,” the statement said.

The boy, Rivera’s son from her marriage to actor Ryan Dorsey, was safe and healthy and with family members, authorities said. The couple finalized their divorce in June 2018 after nearly four years of marriage.

She called the boy, her only child, “my greatest success, and I will never do any better than him” in her 2016 memoir “Sorry Not Sorry.”

The most recent tweet on Rivera’s account, from Tuesday, read “just the two of us” along with a photo of her and her son.

It appeared increasingly likely she would become the third major cast member from the show to die in their 30s.


Co-star Mark Salling, who Rivera dated at one point, killed himself in 2018 at age 35 after pleading guilty to child pornography charges.

Cory Monteith, one of the show’s leads, died at 31 in 2013 from a toxic mix of alcohol and heroin.

Rivera was engaged to rapper Big Sean in 2013, but their relationship ended a year later. The pair met on Twitter and collaborated musically, with the rapper appearing on Rivera’s debut single “Sorry.” She married Dorsey a few months later.

Associated Press

Cyber-bullied K-pop star found dead at her home

SEOUL, South Korea — A popular K-pop star who had long been the target of abusive online comments was found dead at her home Monday, South Korean police said.

The body of Sulli, a former member of top girl group f(x), was discovered by her manager at her home on the outskirts of the capital, Seoul.

Police said in a statement that the 25-year-old had been suffering from "severe depression".

The exact cause of her death was still under investigation.

South Korea has one of the world's highest rates of suicide which, according to recent government figures, is among the top causes of death for those under 40.

Sulli, whose real name was Choi Jin-ri, was known for her outspokenness and drive for women's rights, for which she had suffered online bullying and harassment.

She debuted in 2009 for f(x), which quickly became one of the top K-pop girl groups worldwide.

She suspended her career in 2014 after struggling with cyber-bullying and left the group a year later to focus on acting projects.

Sulli was active on social media and recently hosted a TV series where celebrities discussed their experiences with online abuse.

Her death sent shockwaves through the K-pop fan community.

"I always adored and respected you for your boldness. All I can say is rest in peace," a fan commented on Sulli's Instagram account.

"In heaven, you don't have to act strong or pretend everything is okay," another fan said. "I hope you will only think about yourself there."

source: philstar.com

'Unforgettable' singer Natalie Cole dead at 65

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK - Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole, whose biggest hit came in a virtual duet with her late father, pop legend Nat King Cole, of his decades-old hit "Unforgettable," has died at the age of 65, her family said on Friday.

The family's statement said Cole died on Thursday night at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles from "ongoing health issues."

Cole's career spanned five decades in the R&B, soul, jazz and pop genres. In 2015, she had canceled appearances citing medical reasons.

"It is with heavy hearts that we bring to you all the news of our Mother and sister's passing," the Cole family statement said. "Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived - with dignity, strength and honor. Our beloved Mother and sister will be greatly missed and remain UNFORGETTABLE in our hearts forever.”

The statement was signed by Cole's only child, Robert Yancey, and her twin sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole.

Tributes quickly poured in for Cole, with singer Tony Bennett saying on Instagram he was "deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Natalie Cole, as I have cherished the long friendship I had with her, her father Nat, and the family over the years."

Bennett added: "Natalie was an exceptional jazz singer and it was an honor to have recorded and performed with her on several occasions."

‘Unforgettable’ comeback

Cole broke out in 1975 with the hit "This Will Be," which won the Grammy for best R&B female performance and also earned her the Grammy for best new artist. Critics compared her to Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin but her career floundered in the 1980s when she ran into problems with heroin.

She bounced back, and her career reached the superstar level in 1991 when she recorded "Unforgettable ... With Love." The album contained songs associated with her father, the silky-voiced baritone who was one of the most popular performers of the 1940s and '50s but died before his daughter began her solo career.

Using technology that was cutting edge at the time, studio engineers merged her voice with her father's in the song "Unforgettable," which had been a hit for Nat King Cole in 1951. The result was a moving, sentimental No. 1 hit 40 years later, that actually sounded as if the two were singing a duet.

The song and the album it came from earned Cole three Grammy Awards.

"I thank my dad for leaving me such a wonderful, wonderful heritage," Cole said in accepting her awards.

Cole's other hits included "Everlasting," "Sophisticated Lady," "I've Got love on My Mind," and "Good to Be Back." In all, she won nine Grammys.

The success of "Unforgettable" capped her comeback after a dark period of heroin, crack and alcohol abuse. In "Angel on My Shoulder," her 2000 memoir, Cole said she turned to drugs because of unresolved issues in her life, including being molested as a child and her father's death when she was 15.

She spent six months in a rehabilitation program at the Hazelden Clinic in Minnesota and told CBS in 2006 that "those people gave me my life back one day at a time."

Cole was diagnosed with hepatitis in 2008 from sharing needles with drug addicts, and underwent kidney transplant surgery in 2009. This past autumn, she canceled several concerts scheduled for November and December, citing a recent medical procedure.

Her 2008 album of pop standards, "Still Unforgettable," included another duet with her father, "Walkin' My Baby Back Home." Her most recent work was 2013's "Natalie Cole en Espanol."

Cole was only 11 when she first sang professionally, with her father. But she went to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst with no plans of an entertainment career. While in college, she performed with bands and set aside plans for being a child psychologist.

Cole's mother, Maria Cole, also had been a singer with the Duke Ellington and Count Basie bands.

Cole portrayed herself in "Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story," a 2000 television movie that depicted her drug addiction. She was married three times.

"We’ve lost a wonderful, highly cherished artist and our heartfelt condolences go out to Natalie’s family, friends, her many collaborators, as well as to all who have been entertained by her exceptional talent," Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Singer Patti LaBelle tweeted “Sending prayers and condolences to all the loved ones of my friend #NatalieCole! She will be truly missed but her light will shine forever!”

Singer Lenny Kravitz posted on Instagram: "As the new year was ushered in, an angelic instrument moved on. Natalie Cole's voice was perfection. And what a lady... You will be missed my dear. Love."

source: interaksyon.com

Lorde makes king’s ransom in royalty deal though ‘decision wasn’t made on money’

WELLINGTON | Chart-topping New Zealand teenager Lorde has landed a multi-million dollar contract for the rights to her songs, it has been reported.

The Auckland singer-songwriter, who turned 17 last week, signed with boutique music publisher Songs Music in a deal believed to be worth around US$4 million after a fierce bidding war involving major labels, the Wall Street Journal said.

It said the size of the sum is remarkable because Lorde, whose hit “Royals” has spent six weeks at number one in the US charts, co-writes most of her songs with collaborator Joel Little, meaning she owns only 50 percent of the copyright for the compositions.

Lorde’s manager Tim Youngson said the singer, whose real name is Ella Yelich O’Connor, opted for New York-based Songs Music for creative, not commercial reasons.

“Even before signing her they were bringing her options for collaborations and introducing her to other songwriters,” he told the newspaper. “The decision wasn’t made on money.”

Lorde signed a recording contract with Universal in New Zealand as a 12-year-old, achieving a breakthrough this year with the release of “Royals” and her debut album “Pure Heroine”.

Music publishing deals such as the one signed by Lorde give a company the right to license songs and ensure that a fee is paid when they are used commercially, which is usually split between the writer and the company.

source: interaksyon.com

Photos of Freddie Aguilar and young lady who may be 16-year-old girlfriend surface online

Amid the social media frenzy over Freddie Aguilar’s admission that he is deeply in love with his 16-year-old girlfriend, photos of the legendary folk singer and a young woman who may or may not be the unidentified girlfriend (see above) surfaced online on Thursday.

Two of the photos show the 60-year-old singer and the young lady kissing. The third has them looking directly at the camera.

Aguilar made his controversial admission to pep.ph reporter Glenn Regondola on Sunday night at the 5th Star Awards for Music at Solaire Resorts and Casino where he received a Lifetime Achievement Award, although the report only came out on Wednesday.

Aguilar was accompanied by his girlfriend and another female companion, whom he identified as the pregnant girlfriend of his son Jeriko.

The singer, who shot to stardom in 1979 with his signature hit “Anak”, claimed he did not know that his girlfriend was a minor when he first met her but said he was already in love when he found out.

He said he has her parents’ blessings and is ready to marry her when she’s legal and ready. He added that they have discussed the prospect of having a baby.

source: interaksyon.com

Katy Perry Wins Big at Kids' Choice Awards Post-Breakup

Just a few days after news broke of her split from John Mayer, Katy Perry had plenty of reasons to smile Saturday night.

Perry, 28, took home honors at the Kids' Choice Awards and the title of favorite female singer, besting Taylor Swift, Pink and Oscar-winner Adele.

Making no mention of her former romance (and rocking some seriously sunny attire), she proclaimed, "I love the kids," as she accepted her prize. "I think it's the coolest award."

She wasn't the only recently single lady winning big at the Galen Center. Earlier in the night, Wizards of Waverly Place star (and Justin Bieber ex) Selena Gomez took the stage to accept the award for favorite television actress.

source: people.com

Lady Gaga cancels tour, to have hip surgery

WASHINGTON – Lady Gaga has canceled the rest of her “Born This Way Ball” tour due to a hip problem that requires surgery, Live Nation Global Touring said Wednesday.

In a statement, the tour operator said the superstar singer has a labral tear of the right hip.

“She will need surgery to repair the problem, followed by strict down time to recover,” said the statement. “This unfortunately, will force her to cancel the tour so she can heal.”


In a series of tweets Tuesday, Lady Gaga said she had been hiding a show injury and chronic pain for some time and that it had worsened over the past month.

“I hid it from my staff, I didn’t want to disappoint my amazing fans,” she tweeted.

The latest tweet had described her condition as a case of synovitis, an inflammation of the joints.

Live Nation said refunds for the cancelled performances will be available starting Thursday.

source: interaksyon.com

Justin Bieber becomes youngest artist with five No. 1 albums

LOS ANGELES – Canadian pop star Justin Bieber became the youngest artist to land five chart-topping albums in the United States on Wednesday when his latest record, “Believe Acoustic,” debuted atop the Billboard 200 album chart.

“Believe Acoustic,” which features stripped down versions of Bieber’s songs from his fourth No. 1 album, “Believe,” released last June, as well as three new songs, sold 211,000 copies in its first week according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan.

The album also topped iTunes downloads charts in 63 countries, and became a hot topic on social media platforms as the singer’s 34 million-strong followers on Twitter raced to purchase the record as soon as it was released.

Bieber was previously tied with former Disney star Miley Cyrus with four chart-topping albums before turning 19, and he is only one of nine artists in Billboard history to have a No. 1 album for four consecutive years.

Bieber’s 19th birthday is March 1.

The singer, who failed to pick up a Grammy nomination this year despite having a top-selling album and sold-out world tour in 2012, will be hosting and performing on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” this week, the night before the Grammy awards.

Four new albums debuted in the top five of the Billboard 200 chart this week, led by “Believe Acoustic.”

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli’s 14th studio album, “Passione,” landed at No. 2 with sales of 93,000, while Canadian sister duo Tegan & Sara notched No. 3 with their seventh studio album, “Heartthrob,” selling 49,000 copies.

R&B singer Charlie Wilson came in at No. 4 with his latest record, “Love, Charlie,” selling 44,000 copies in its first week.

Singer Beyonce saw a boost in sales following her widely praised performance at the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday, which was watched by more than 108 million people.

For the week ending Sunday, February 2, digital sales of Beyonce’s songs “Halo,” “Crazy In Love” and “Single Ladies” saw the biggest bumps. There were 19,000 digital copies of “Halo” sold, a 338 percent increase from the previous week.

The new Destiny’s Child compilation album, “Love Songs,” didn’t see as big a bump, selling under 6,000 copies last week.

source: interaksyon.com

‘Significant discrepancies’ suspected in singer Chris Brown’s community service records

LOS ANGELES – Prosecutors on Tuesday asked a court to find R&B singer Chris Brown in violation of his probation because they say community service records stemming from his 2009 assault on girlfriend Rihanna contain “significant discrepancies.”

Brown is scheduled to appear at a hearing on Wednesday in Los Angeles, at which time a judge could revoke the “Don’t Wake Me Up” singer’s probation.

He pleaded guilty in 2009 to beating and punching the R&B singer and was sentenced to five years probation, 180 days of community service and domestic violence counseling.

The community service involved tasks like cutting grass, picking up trash and removing graffiti. He was allowed to complete it in his home state of Virginia.

“After a thorough review of all documents and evidence submitted to the court it appears there are significant discrepancies indicating at best sloppy documentation and, at worst fraudulent reporting,” Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Mary Murray said in a court filing on Tuesday.

Murray cited three occasions when she said Brown was not at the recorded location of his community service and instead performing or traveling, once on a private jet bound for Cancun, Mexico.

Brown, in another instance, never stripped or waxed the floors at a Virginia community center as a report said he did, according to the 19-page court document.

Murray also accused Virginia authorities of poor and incorrect management of the singer’s service and records, and said his community service case should be transferred to Los Angeles.

Brown’s attorney did not return calls for comment on Tuesday. But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg in November praised Brown for “actually working diligently to complete all the things the court has required of you.”

R&B singer Rihanna and Brown have recently rekindled their romance and are dating again, Rihanna told Rolling Stone magazine last week.

Brown was in a brawl last month with fellow singer Frank Ocean outside a West Hollywood recording studio. A police report indicates Brown punched Ocean in the face but Ocean said over the weekend he did not want the singer prosecuted.

source: interaksyon.com

Barbra Streisand to sing again at Oscars after 36 years

NEW YORK – Actress, singer and director Barbra Streisand may be a familiar figure at Hollywood’s Oscars, but she has only sung on the annual awards show once.

Streisand will perform again at the Academy Awards on February 24, producers said on Wednesday, without providing details about how her appearance would fit into the show or what she might sing.

Streisand, 70, has won two Oscars, one for best actress in “Funny Girl” and another for best original song, “Evergreen” from her 1976 vehicle “A Star Is Born.” Her performance of the song at the 1977 Oscars show was her only previous onstage stint at Hollywood’s biggest night.

“In an evening that celebrates the artistry of movies and music, how could the telecast be complete without Barbra Streisand?” producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said in a statement. “We are honored that she has agreed to do a very special performance on this year’s Oscars.”

Streisand has also been nominated for several Oscars, including for best actress in “The Way We Were” and as producer for best picture nominee “The Prince of Tides.”

Most recently she co-starred with Seth Rogen in “The Guilt Trip,” a Christmas 2012 release.

Earlier this month, the Film Society of Lincoln Center announced that Streisand would be this year’s recipient of its annual Chaplin Award, a prestigious honor recognizing achievement in film.

The Oscars will be presented at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, hosted by Seth MacFarlane and broadcast live on ABC as well as in more than 225 countries worldwide.

source: interaksyon.com

Britney Spears calls off engagement

LOS ANGELES - US pop veteran Britney Spears has called off her engagement to talent agent Jason Trawick after a one-year committed relationship, Hollywood media reported Saturday.

"Jason and I have decided to call off our engagement," Spears said in a statement published by today.com. "I'll always adore him and we will remain great friends."

Trawick is quoted as saying that despite the split, the two "will be close forever."



Spears, 31, and Trawick became engaged on Trawick's 40th birthday in December 2011. They began dating in 2009.

Spears has two sons, Preston, 7, and Jayden, 6, with her former husband Kevin Federline, from whom she divorced in 2006.

source: interaksyon.com

Britney Spears calls off engagement, quits ‘X Factor’

LOS ANGELES – Pop star Britney Spears on Friday called it quits with both fiancé Jason Trawick and as a celebrity judge on “The X Factor” talent show.

Spears, 31, and Trawick, 41 — her former agent — got engaged in December 2011.

“Jason and I have decided to call off our engagement,” Spears said in a statement. “I’ll always adore him and we will remain great friends.”

The couple began dating in May 2010, following a turbulent few years in Spears’ personal and professional life in which she lost custody of her children, entered rehab and shaved off her hair.

Trawick added in a statement: “As this chapter ends for us a new one begins. I love and cherish her and her boys and we will be close forever.”

The wedding would have been the third for Spears. She divorced dancer Kevin Federline, with whom she had two children, in 2006.

The singer also spontaneously married childhood friend Jason Alexander during a trip to Las Vegas in 2004. That marriage lasted 55 hours before the singer annulled the union.

Spears and Trawick announced their split the same day that the “Toxic” singer confirmed she was leaving “The X Factor” after just one year as a judge on the Fox singing show, saying it was time to get back to making music.

“I had an incredible time doing the show and I love the other judges and I am so proud of my teens but it’s time for me to get back in the studio.

“Watching them all do their thing up on that stage every week made me miss performing so much! I can’t wait to get back out there and do what I love most,” Spears said of her “X Factor” departure.

Spears’ most recent album, “Femme Fatale,” was released in March 2011.

Celebrity website TMZ.com reported on Friday that Spears was in talks about a long-term residency gig in Las Vegas. The gambling city is already host to stars like Celine Dion and Shania Twain, who perform under long term contracts.

Spears was recruited to “The X Factor” with a reported $15 million salary after a 14-year singing career that made her one of the biggest pop stars of the 2000s.

But audiences slumped and the TV show lost about 3 million regular viewers from its first season. Many fans and TV critics found Spears bland and boring.

The exit of Spears leaves “X Factor” creator Simon Cowell searching for two new judges to lift his show past its NBC rival, “The Voice,” in the ratings when it returns in September.

Judge and record producer L.A. Reid announced in December that he would be returning full time to his job as the head of Epic Records.

Spears took “The X Factor” gig with singer Demi Lovato, 20, in May 2012 to fill the judges’ seats left by Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, who were both fired by Cowell a year ago.

source: interaksyon.com

Mariah Carey increased security after ‘Idol’ feud with Nicki Minaj

NEW YORK – Pop diva Mariah Carey said she hired increased security following what she described as threats reportedly made against her by fellow ‘American Idol’ judge Nicki Minaj, according to an interview on ABC News.

Carey, 42, one of three new judges to join the “American Idol” panel for the hit talent show’s new season on January 16, told Barbara Walters in an interview airing on Monday, “it felt like an unsafe work environment.”

“Anytime anybody’s reeling threats at somebody, you know, it’s not appropriate,” Carey said.

“I’m a professional. I’m not used to that type of environment,” she said, adding that she hired extra security.

The diva was alluding to widely reported tension between her and Minaj, who were seen arguing with one another in a video from the show’s audition phase.

Walters has reported that, according to Carey, others on the “Idol” set heard Minaj go further and say, off-camera, “If I had a gun, I would shoot that bitch.”

Minaj, a Trinidadian-born singer and songwriter, previously denied making any remarks about firearms, but Carey told Walters that beefing up her security “was the appropriate thing to do.”

“Sitting there on the road with two babies, I’m not going to take any chances,” she said, referring to her 20-month old twins with husband Nick Cannon.

But in a sign of media savvy, she noted that “for all the drama, I hope it helps the show.”

Walters also asked Carey about reports she is being paid $18 million for each “Idol” season.

“I think we’re in the ballpark, (but) I can’t even talk about those things,” the singer replied.

source: interaksyon.com

How to shine like J. Lo on the red carpet

Nothing makes you feel quite like royalty than trying on a piece of jewelry that was actually worn by Hollywood royalty — in my case, Gwyneth Paltrow, who christened her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame while wearing a different kind of star: H.Stern’s Highlight Stars ring. (Not to belabor the point, but “stern” is also German for “star,” so the house symbol is, of course, a stylized, bejeweled depiction of that celestial body.)

Anyway, I was able to try on Gwyneth’s ring, which in reality is an absolutely breathtaking work of art. The rectangular amethyst is over 99 carats, almost two inches long, and of a pale lavender so clear it’s like crystal. Encased in the stone itself is a star that glitters with cognac diamonds, set in the 18-karat Noble Gold that is propietary to H.Stern.

This Highlight Stars ring is one of the baubles in H.Stern’s Red Carpet collection, which will be available for a limited time at Adora in Greenbelt 5. Consisting of jewels that celebrities have worn on the red carpet, not only can you view the pieces now but don’t be put off by the fact that they’re behind glass. Adora’s highly trained staff are more than willing to let customers try them on and I highly recommend it. Not only will you feel like a celebrity yourself but you just might find something that calls your name.

Like Sharon Stone did in Diane Von Furstenberg’s Sutras collection by H.Stern. The Basic Instinct diva found something to relate to in DVF’s Sutras bracelet, which seamlessly interlocks 18K gold links and bears the Tibetan knot of infinity, which symbolizes eternal love.

“DVF went to India to do her spiritual healing,” relates Erica Ilacad, Adora’s communications manager.

“The engraved words on the jewelry represent everything important to her, like love, knowledge, and truth,” adds H.Stern manager Meileen Torres.
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“That was not such a good time in career and personal life,” continues Erica. “Her business wasn’t doing so well, she was getting divorced — so she chose to go to India for renewal and discovery and this collection is based upon that time of her life.”

Cameron Diaz was also lured by another Diane Von Furstenberg by H.Stern range, the Rock Crystal collection. A symbol of purity believed to bring good luck, rock crystals of different shapes and facets adorned Diaz’s wrist at the premiere of her movie In Her Shoes.

Another standout piece is an 18K gold bracelet from the Zephyr collection, which Jennifer Lopez picked pieces from for a Vanity Fair Oscars party appearance. Inspired by the Greek god of the west wind, the cuff is handcrafted (as all H.Stern pieces are) in such a way that it conveys breeziness and movement — what you would normally think improbable in a material like precious metal.

H.Stern’s penchant for natural forms is also evident in the Hera collection, which Halle Berry wore to the 2009 Academy Awards. “All of the inspirations are nature-oriented, so the shapes are very organic,” Ilacad explains. “The designers aren’t even allowed to read fashion magazines because they don’t want them to be influenced by trends, so Roberto Stern, the creative director and CEO, will tell them to go see the Grupo Corpo dance troupe for their inspiration, or go out and get inspired by nature.”

Sex and the City actress Bridget Moynahan attended the 2012 Moves Power Women Awards gala sparkling in Stars earrings and deco ring, which showed H.Stern’s visual signature to full effect in champagne-colored 18K Noble Gold studded with 37 full-cut diamonds. “No matter how small the diamonds may appear, they’re all full-cut, with 57 or 58 facets,” Ilacad says.

Young Hollywood has also discovered H.Stern. At the “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations” Costume Institute Gala at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum, rising starlets Lily Collins, Nina Dobrev, Hailee Steinfeld and Malin Akerman walked the red carpet in H.Stern jewels, giving the Brazilian jewelry house fresh cachet.

Mirror Mirror star Lily Collins chose pieces from H.Stern’s Zephyr collection. The actress, who played Snow White, twinkled in Zephyr earrings and two H.Stern Zephyr rings, all in 18K Noble Gold with diamonds.

The Vampire Diaries’ Nina Dobrev craned some necks in H.Stern Stars stud earrings and ring, both in 18K noble gold with diamonds.

Up-and-comer Hailee Steinfeld showed true grit in an H.Stern citrine necklace in 18K yellow gold, and Rock of Ages’ Malin Akerman shone in a different kind of rock — a diamond Sutras bracelet by DVF for H.Stern in 18K white gold.

So what is it about this 67-year-old jewelry institution that appeals to these fresh faces?

Perhaps it’s H.Stern’s knack for reinventing itself, and its uncompromising emphasis on design, which makes their jewelry look different from everyone else’s: sleek, modern, and always youthful in spirit.

“At H.Stern the design really comes first,” Ilacad says. “Instead of getting a stone and designing around it, they sketch their design and creative concept first, and then they source the stones that would fit their designs.”

“Imagine having to look for diamonds in the shade that they need for a certain piece,” adds Torres. “That’s why it takes months, years, to find the perfect stone.”

article source: philstar.com

Taylor Swift and One Direction's Harry Styles: Are They Dating?

Taylor Swift appears to be taking her love life in a new direction.

The "Never Ever Getting Back Together" singer is seemingly taking her lyrics to heart as she moves on from recent ex, Conor Kennedy, and enjoys the company of One Direction hottie Harry Styles.

"I had to literally do a double-take," an onlooker tells PEOPLE of finding Styles, 18, with Swift, 22, on the set of The X Factor Thursday morning.

Styles was on hand to watch Swift rehearse the debut of "State of Grace," which she performed later that night on the Fox reality show.

"He was smiling at her while she rehearsed. When she was done he jumped up on stage, picked her up, put her over his shoulder and carried her off stage," the onlooker says. "The whole crew was really surprised."

The young singers were also spotted by X Factor host Mario Lopez, who says he was slapped on the back by Styles during Swift's rehearsal.

"I said, 'What are you doing here,' " Lopez said on his 104.3 MY FM radio show Friday. "And he sort of [pointed] toward Taylor."

Lopez went on to say he later saw the two "hand-in-hand."

A telling sign of the budding relationship may have been a look Styles shared with his bandmate Niall Horan a week earlier after Horan told PEOPLE his favorite song of 2012 was Swift's "Never Ever Getting Back Together."

When asked if he would ever date Swift, Horan gave a small laugh, looked at Styles and answered with a succinct, "no."

source: people.com

She’s got the voice, now Christina Aguilera looks for hits

LOS ANGELES – Christina Aguilera has the vocal chops, the look, the strut and millions of new fans thanks to her stint as a judge on TV singing contest “The Voice.”

But can she still sell records?

The singer, who had global hits with “Genie in a Bottle” and the female empowerment ballad “Beautiful” more than 10 years ago, bids to reclaim her status as one of the world’s biggest pop stars with her new album, “Lotus,” released on Tuesday.

Aguilera, 31, says the title and the mixture of dance-pop, ballads and rock-tinged tracks reflect the hopes and disappointments of recent years that saw her 2010 tour for album “Bionic” canceled, a divorce and the box-office flop of her debut feature film, the musical “Burlesque.”

“Lotus represents the unbreakable flower that stands the test of time. No matter the roughest of weather conditions, it remains strong and continues to thrive. (The album) is a nod to my fans who have been here with me the whole journey, and a nod to myself,” she said.

“It is a record of freedom and embracing that…It is very artistic at times, it is very fun at times, it is very free. I think that’s how music and life should be, away from all the negativity,” the four-time Grammy winner said in an appearance at a Billboard Film and TV Music conference in Los Angeles last month.

Aguilera will perform one of the tracks – “Make the World Move” – with her fellow judge Cee Lo Green live on “The Voice” this week for the show’s more than 10 million viewers.

But music industry experts say Aguilera’s popularity on “The Voice” – where her powerhouse performances leave aspiring pop stars in the dust – may not guarantee huge album sales and won’t give the singer a No. 1 hit.

This week also sees new releases from British boy band One Direction and singer Susan Boyle as well as the new “Twilight” film soundtrack.

“I think ‘Lotus’ will certainly debut in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart. But we don’t see it as being a blockbuster out of the gate,” said Keith Caulfield, associate director of charts at Billboard.

“It is a long road to rebuilding Christina as a brand and as a musician, after the last album didn’t so very well,” said Caulfield. “But it’s not always about first week sales.”

Much like Jennifer Lopez on “American Idol,” Aguilera has seen her star rocket in her 18 months on “The Voice.” Just a few months before the TV show made its debut in spring 2011, Aguilera was arrested for being drunk in public in West Hollywood, and her 2010 album “Bionic” had sold a disappointing 312,000 copies.

“‘The Voice’ has reinvigorated her entire career. A lot of people think she is the star of ‘The Voice’ – the judge you tune in for,” said Lyndsey Parker, managing editor at Yahoo! Music.

Yet the first single – “Your Body” – from the new album failed to make a big impact when it was released in September. It peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and never really caught fire on radio.

“It came and went, which surprised me because I think it is a very strong song. And pretty much everything I have heard on this album is strong. I think it’s a real return to form,” said Parker.

“There are very few people in pop who can sing like her. I do think there is a renewed appreciation for great singing that can be done live and that isn’t just about flash. And Christina is coming back to prove that. I think some people are looking at her to take back her crown,” Parker added.

“Lotus” includes duets with both Green and Aguilera’s fellow “Voice” judge, country singer Blake Shelton. It also features the piano-driven ballad “Blank Page,” which is reminiscent of her 2002 hit “Beautiful” and rock-tinged tracks like “Army of Me.”

Aguilera says she hopes to inspire a new generation of singers who were not around in 1999 for her first big hit “Genie in a Bottle.”

“It’s so exciting for me to show them what I do as an artist,” she said. “I’ve been through a lot over the past few years, going through ‘Burlesque,’ a divorce…having a few setbacks….Stuff happens! This is the business. It’s not going to be all cute and pretty and tied up in a bow.

“All of that combined is in ‘Lotus.’ It embraces the woman that I’ve become, and embracing myself coming full circle as a pop star,” she said.

source: interaksyon.com