Japanese schoolgirls: Cute, flirty, vulnerable psycho killers

Until a few
years ago, Wired magazine ran a column called "Japanese Schoolgirl Watch," which
covered tech trends embraced by teenage girls in Japan. It was quirky and
amusing, showing Western readers how cutting edge and ahead of the curve this
group could be.read more

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Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year

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."



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Usher Calls 'Hot Tottie,' Featuring Jay-Z, 'Incredible'

'Videos, we're in the process of working on that as well,' he tells MTV News of his Versus plans.By Shaheem Reid, with reporting by James "FLX" Smith





Usher

Photo: MTV News




Usher's life is all about balance right now. We caught up with him at the World Leadership Awards earlier this month in Atlanta, and he gave us a glimpse into his busy schedule.

"If it's not philanthropy, it's music," he said at the event for his New Look Foundation, which just raised $150,000 for a mobile clinic that will go to Haiti. "If it's not music, it's making sure I got the kids and dropping them off. I'm like super dad right now. The tour is the next step. May do a little acting. I'm definitely in the process of producing a few things, but it's staying busy. If it's not fragrance, then it's lifestyle. If it's cars — I mean owning, not just driving — it's a little bit of everything."
As far as his music goes, his latest song, the Jay-Z-featuring "Hot Tottie," is in heavy radio rotation. The record — whose name is a variation on a hot toddy mixed drink — is just a taste of the heat Usher has to offer on his upcoming EP, Versus.
"In terms of 'Hot Tottie,' it's another incredible record that's gonna be part of the re-release of Raymond v. Raymond [called] Versus," he said. "There's a few more. You guys check it out. Videos, we're in the process of working on that as well."
Versus is slated to drop Tuesday.
Are you excited to hear new music from Usher on the upcoming EP? Let us know in the comments!



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Britney Spears - Piece of Me

Piece of Me



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'Machete' Director Robert Rodriguez Reveals Trick To Onscreen Nudity

He front-loads his movies with nakedness, then 'in your mind, everyone is naked the rest of the movie.'By Kara Warner





Robert Rodriguez

Photo: MTV News




"Machete" was originally conceived as a fake trailer in "Grindhouse," but fan demand convinced director Robert Rodriguez to make the story into a full-length feature, which opens Friday. The film, which revolves around the titular character and his attempt to clear his sullied name, is full of blood, action, crazy weaponry and beautiful naked and half-naked women.
When we caught up with the "Sin City" and "Spy Kids" filmmaker recently, we asked how he decides when to play the naked card and when to avoid it.

"Ask my sister. She tells me, 'You need to have more hot chicks in this movie!' " Rodriguez said, playfully deferring to his co-editor and co-writer, Alvaro Rodriguez.
"I have a trick," he admitted. "I did this in 'Sin City' too. People say, 'There's so much nudity in "Sin City." ' I say, 'No, if you look close, there's only [some] at the very beginning.' "
Rodriguez said showing a lot of skin from the get-go makes people think they're seeing more than they do. "If you do it at the beginning of the movie, in your mind, everyone is naked the rest of the movie if they're scantily clad — because that's how the comics are drawn," he said. "['Machete'] was the same way."
Rodriguez cited a particular scene at the beginning of the film, in which Machete tries to save a beautiful (and naked) woman, as his prime example. He said the decision to have the actress appear sans clothing throughout the entire scene helps enable extra tricks in the plot that wouldn't work otherwise.
"That was the first scene I wrote. There's got to be a girl that he goes to save and she's naked and he's having to run out with this naked girl over his shoulder, but then you put a twist on it," Rodriguez explained, continuing with a pseudo-spoiler. "She ends up working for the other side and tricking him by being nude. That way he doesn't see it coming. Everything else, he'd be able to see a trick coming," he said, adding that there isn't much more skin in the rest of the film (save for a topless scene in a pool). "It's really just that trick."
"Machete," starring Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Robert De Niro and Don Johnson, opens Friday.
What do you think of Rodriguez's trick? Will it affect how you watch the film now? Let us know in the comments!
Check out everything we've got on "Machete."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Justin Bieber Gives Fans A Chance To Be In His 3-D Movie

Beliebers can upload a video of themselves singing 'That Should Be Me' to get in the film.By Kara Warner





Justin Bieber

Photo: Frederick Breedon/ Getty Images




Attention Justin Bieber fans (you might want to sit down while reading this, if you haven't already seen the news on Bieber's Twitter account): You have an opportunity to be in his new 3-D movie!
That's right, Justin Bieber and director Jon Chu made the announcement via Twitter on Tuesday (August 24) that they are hosting a 24-hour casting call for all the Beliebers out there to be in their new concert extravaganza. All it takes is a visit to the website BieberFever.com/movie.
According to the site, fans have an opportunity to "be a part" of the movie, which could mean any number of things, as the details in the announcement are few (we recommend a thorough perusal of Paramount Pictures' "terms of use" statement for further explanation before submission). To be considered, fans must submit a home video of themselves singing along to Bieber's "That Should Be Me" or they should "Show us how 'U Smile' " by sending in a photo or video.
When Chu and Bieber made the Twitter-nouncement on Tuesday afternoon, Bieber followed up his initial tweet with an update that fans had already overwhelmed the website's server. "Sorry u guys crashed the server!!" he tweeted. "Haha. It's back up now!! Get in MY MOVIE!!! U got less than 24 hours!!"
When MTV News caught up with Chu recently (who also directed "Step-Up 3-D"), he said the Bieber movie will be for everyone — not just his devoted fans.
"[It's] a movie for his fans, a movie for people who don't know him, and we're gonna tell the underdog story of where he came from," Chu said. "There's not going to be acted-out scenes and I can't talk about the rest. It's not your typical concert film and it's not going to be a biopic ... but it is about his life. I think it's more of a documentary. We're going to figure it out as we go." As for how much of it will be in 3-D, he said, "You'll have to see it. We're figuring that out now."
The Justin Bieber 3-D movie is set to open on Valentine's Day weekend.
Will you submit a video to be in Bieber's movie? Let us know in the comments!
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.



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Britney Spears On Working With Lady Gaga: 'Anything's Possible'

Singer poses on manga-inspired Pop cover.By James Dinh





Britney Spears on the cover of <i>Pop</i>

Photo: J-Pop




From schoolgirl to toxic temptress, Britney Spears has played many characters throughout the years. But the singer took a very different approach for her photo spread in the upcoming issue of the U.K.'s Pop magazine by channeling her inner manga character. In the issue, the pop princess dished about the possibilities of a Lady Gaga collaboration and working with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami for the anime-inspired cover.
Despite Gaga overthrowing Spears as the most-followed celebrity on Twitter, the singer had no hard feelings toward pop's newest sensation. "I'm a big fan of hers," she said when asked about working with Gaga. "Anything's possible!"
A collaboration between the pop stars doesn't seem out of the question, as Gaga's mega-hit "Telephone" duet with Beyoncé was originally offered to Spears.
Donning a white wedding dress and a veil with matching gloves, Spears innocently poses in a field of flowers on the cover. In another photo, the singer trades the dress for a leg-baring getup accessorized with a red backpack.
Spears' manga-style shoot was shot by Todd Cole with art direction from Takashi Murakami, who is often referred to as the "Andy Warhol of Japan." While the spread strays from the singer's typical styling, the pop star enjoyed working with the artist. "I loved working with Takashi," she said. "I especially liked how he took high-end fashion and incorporated it with Japanese manga."
The singer's tour to Japan was what originally piqued her interest in Japanese culture. "We looked at a lot of characters and artwork before we shot, so I could get a feel for what he was looking for," she explained. "I was in Japan on my past promo tour, and I loved it."
Editor in Chief Dasha Zhukova spoke to Style.com about the singer's Japanese treatment: "She's feminine, sassy, strong-willed, determined: all the things a great Pop icon should be. Couple that with some Japanese swimsuits and a Rodarte wedding gown, and I think she is pretty much Pop personified!"
Spears couldn't wait to share her excitement for her photo shoot with fans. The pop star took to Twitter, saying, "I just saw the photos for the first time and they are beautiful. Comes out Sept. 1st. Thanks @TakashiPom -- Britney."
Aside from gracing the cover of Pop magazine, the singer has already filmed a cameo for her "Glee" tribute episode and is working on completing the follow-up to 2008's Circus.
What do you think of Britney's manga-inspired photo shoot? Would you like to hear a Britney and Gaga collabo? Share your thoughts below!



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Hong Kong?s best Hainan chicken rice

Most Hong Kong diners are familiar with Hainan chicken rice, which appears on menus from Southeast Asian restaurants to hotel coffee shops around town. The dish that most serve is the Singaporean version -- which has more dips than you would find accompanying the dish in Hainan Island itself. On the sub-tropical South China isle, the most prized chickens come from the Wenchang area in its east.
Traditionally, the rice is fried with garlic before cooking and the water in which the tender fowl is poached turns to stock that is used to boil rice and for accompanying soup. We take a look here at some of the better variations on the dish, available in Hong Kong.read more

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Chris Brown And Usher Unite Onstage In Jamaica

Brown surprises audience with onstage appearance during Usher's set at Reggae SumFest.By James Dinh





Chris Brown and Usher perform at Reggae SumFest in Jamaica on July 25

Photo: Robert Keshishian/ Newscom




While Chris Brown has always made it clear that he looks to Michael Jackson for inspiration, there are nearly as many parallels to be made between Brown and Usher. And last weekend, Breezy joined Usher on stage during the Reggae SumFest 2010 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The duo wowed audiences in the concluding night of the festival.
Brown had already performed his own set on Friday, tearing through songs like "Run It" and "Forever" and showing off his formidable dancing skills. But it was his surprise appearance during Usher's set the following day that really set the crowd off. According to TheChrisBrownBlog.com, the two were also joined onstage by Elephant Man and later engaged in a dance-off.
Video footage from the performance had not surfaced online at press time, but photos reveal the two singing together and even showing some affection with an onstage hug.
Brown took to Twitter Saturday to thank Jamaica. "I wanna thank you Jamaica for your wonderful embrace last night at the show," he wrote. "Next time well do passa passa ... lmao ... (oh hell naw). Love ya!"
Later on Saturday, he tweeted about performing with Usher. "Me and Usher killin Jamaica right now," he wrote.
When Chris burst on the music scene five years ago, he was overcome with excitement when meeting Usher. "To see him face-to-face, I was like, 'OK, Chris, it's gonna be all right, just chill out right quick. You about to do the song, man, don't be no punk,' " Brown told MTV News about recording a song that was later featured in Usher's 2005 film "In the Mix."



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Britney Spears - Do Somethin'

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Chris Brown's BET Awards MJ Tribute Was 'Spectacular,' Jermaine Jackson Says

'He deserves to perform, because it's healing for him,' Michael Jackson's brother tells 'Extra.'By Gil Kaufman





Chris Brown performs during the 2010 BET Awards on Sunday

Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images




Chris Brown wasn't the only one getting misty-eyed at Sunday night's BET Awards during his tribute to Michael Jackson. The King of Pop's older brother, Jermaine, told "Extra" that he was also overcome with emotion during the dance routine, in which Brown paid homage to some of MJ's most famous moves and then attempted to sing "Man in the Mirror" before being overcome with emotion and weeping onstage.

"To see [Chris'] performance, it was very emotional for me, because it was an acceptance from his fans from what has happened to him and also paying tribute to my brother," Jermaine said. "It was just a spectacular moment."
Fans and critics have been split on the performance, which some saw as the bursting of an emotional dam for the singer, making his first major public appearance since he pleaded guilty to felony assault in his assault of former girlfriend Rihanna last June. Others speculated that Brown may have manufactured the tears to gain sympathy from fans who abandoned him in the wake of the Rihanna attack.
Jermaine Jackson said he thought Brown — a longtime devotee of Michael's and, at one point, considered a modern heir to the R&B throne — had every right to pay homage to his brother. "He deserves to perform, because it's healing for him," Jermaine said. "How can he learn from his mistakes if you don't give him a chance? He needs that. I love Rihanna, and I'm not supporting what he did, but I support him [as a singer] 100 percent. ... I'm just very emotional just knowing what has happened. Chris Brown is a human being, and we all make mistakes. We can't condemn him for what has happened. We hope he has learned from it."
Brown hasn't made any public statements since the BET performance, but on Monday, he did tweet, "My fans are my world," a follow-up to a message earlier in the day when he wrote, "I Love you ... (ever single one of #teambreezy)."
What did you think of Chris Brown's emotional performance? Let us know in the comments.



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Les News, 083010

The Last Exorcism was the #1 movie at the box office this weekend. Are the Glee actors fighting for more money? The Human Centipede sequel is already being filmed. Wait, James Dean was gay? Giddy-up, cowboy! Andy Cohen opens up about getting bullied during the reunion special for The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Taylor [...]

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Kylie Minogue Announces The ?Les Folies Tour 2011?

Kylie Minogue, who just performed here in the US on America’s Got Talent this past Wednesday night, will be hittin’ the road next year with a new tour she is calling Les Folies Tour 2011. Promo poster artwork for the tour has been popping up in Germany announcing the tour, here is our first look [...]

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Beyonc&#233; - Sweet Dreams

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Snooki's Boyfriend Sort Of Pops The Question On Magazine Cover

'Jersey Shore' star Snooki might be rocking a bit of bling in the near future, if her boyfriend, Jeff Miranda, has anything to say about it. The Iraqi war vet spoke with Steppin' Out magazine about his feelings for Snooki and hopes for their future.
"I want us to be together forever," Miranda reportedly tells the magazine.
"I could see us having children. I want to pop the question to her. If we got married, we would be the best parents around. She's so loving and puts everyone else before herself. She'll be a great mother."
He even posed for the magazine cover on one knee, shirtless, in his army fatigues.
"I will never break her heart," he says. "She's such a great girl. If people could see us together they would think we're a match made in heaven. People think I'm using her for fame. But that's bulls**t."
I think it would be sweet, if only I hadn't read this little article on RadarOnline. RadarOnline reports that Jeff has a shaky past, which includes a restraining order that keeps him from his ex-girlfriend after he allegedly held a shotgun to her head. The court documents that the ex filed included scary statements like this:
?threatened to burn plaintiff?s house down while she slept, threatened to cut plaintiff?s brakes, defendant threatened plaintiff by stating ?if you cheat on me or break up with me you have a hole dug for you already.??
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NYPL

I've lived in New York now for over ten years now and I've ever been to the New York Public Library until today. Mark is in town and wanted to meet someplace where we could work, so I said, "How about the library?" I've always been meaning to go there but never have.
Anyway, long story short, it smelled like feet and body funk. It was gross. I don't think I'll ever go back. And I'm terrified of bed bugs at the moment, so of course I thought the joint was crawling with them. I shook myself out on the street when I left just to be safe.

Okay, bye bye.

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David Bowie Denies Lady Gaga Collaboration

Rock legend's official site calls document claiming that Bowie and Gaga would work together a 'hoax.'By Gil Kaufman





David Bowie

Photo: Virgin




Lady Gaga has often spoken about her love for chameleonic rock icon David Bowie and his gender-bending, glitter-splashed style. Last week, when rumors emerged on a Gaga fansite that the Thin White Duke would be working on Gaga's upcoming album, fans of both artists were understandably intrigued, excited and a bit skeptical.
But Bowie's official website has denied rumors that he would lend his legendary croon to a song reportedly titled "Vinyl." The statement, written by the site's news editor, read in part: "When this tall story first surfaced a few days ago it was denied as a hoax in an update to the same article, and we thought that would be the end of it. I guess some folk see what they want to see though."
The scanned document that popped up last Thursday, which bears the hoax-y title "confirmation of recorded music," also lists Gaga collaborator RedOne as one of the album's producers and engineers. Also named on the fake list are famed R&B producer Teddy Riley and his daughter Taja, as well as former Gaga collaborator Fernando Garibay (Pussycat Dolls, Britney Spears). Song titles cited include "Hooker on a Church Corner" and "Scream Loud."
"The rumor that David Bowie has been working with Lady Gaga seems to have taken off," continued the statement on Bowie's site. "The hoax was started by some bright spark or other with the above forgery ... However, in a nutshell, the suggestion that David Bowie is producing and participating in the production of Lady Gaga's next album is untrue and a hoax."
Gaga has kept a tight lid on the details about her second full-length studio effort. In an interview with i-D, she said, "The new album is my absolute greatest work I've ever done, and I'm so excited about it ... The message, the melodies, the direction, the meaning, what it will mean to my fans and what it will mean to me in my own life — it's utter liberation.
I'm on the quest to create the anthem for my generation for the next decade, so that's what I've done."
Though she's had a close, hit-heavy relationship with RedOne, Gaga promised that she's updating her sound on the still-untitled album with a slate of new producers who she's declined to identify.
"I will never tell because as soon as I tell, everyone starts working with them," she said of her new album's production team. "So all I can say is that nobody knows who they are. They're all new."



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TRAILER: Charles Ferguson?s economic meltdown doc, ?Inside Job? (video)

Documentarian Charles Ferguson, who made the Oscar-nominated 2007 Iraq War doc "No End in Sight," has his new film, "Inside Job," about to screen at the Toronto and New York film fests. Sony Pictures Classics will release the film, which takes a hard look at the beginnings of the economic meltdown in 2008, in mid-October.
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Hot Dude Of The Week: Nick Ayler

It is time, once again, for us to partake in the wondrous time of the week where we collectively gawk and gander at the Hot Dude of the Week. This week’s Hot Dude was photographed by Richard Gerst and he graces the cover and inside pages of the new issue of hawt Aussie magazine DNA. [...]

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Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson Plead To Be On 'Glee'

'I was gonna get up on the stage tonight with them and start dancing,' Wilson says of her love for the show at the Emmys.By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kara Warner





Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson at the 2010 Emmy Awards

Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images




Tom Hanks may have won a ton of awards in his career, including an Emmy on Sunday night for his work on the HBO miniseries "The Pacific," but there's still one thing that the Oscar winner has yet to do: He wants a part on "Glee," as does his wife and fellow Gleek, Rita Wilson.

" 'Glee,' oh my God! Yes! Oh please. Call [show creator] Ryan [Murphy] up! I was gonna get up on the stage tonight with them and start dancing," Wilson teased to MTV News at the HBO Emmy afterparty, where she tried to think up what her choice tune for the show would be. "For 'Glee'? Hold on!"
Her husband, on the other hand, had the perfect set of tunes for his wife to perform on the hit show. "You work for MTV, can't you make that happen? Bring it on! Bring it on!" he joked. " 'All the Single Ladies'! Oh no! 'Do You Believe in Love' by Cher!" (Hanks famously sang the Beyoncé track at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden last October, saying it's a "damn fine song.")
While Hanks and Wilson wait for the call from Murphy about their cameos on the show, earlier in the night, "Glee" managed to take home a few Emmy Awards of its own, including prizes in the Supporting Actress, Comedy Series category for Jane Lynch, and the Directing for a Comedy Series for Ryan Murphy.
The night's host, Jimmy Fallon, kicked off the Emmys with a musical number that included several of the stars from "Glee," including Lea Michele and Cory Monteith, plus a number of TV's biggest stars like Jorge Garcia, Tina Fey, Jon Hamm, Nina Dobrev and Joel McHale.
What would you like to see Hanks and Wilson do on "Glee" should they get their wish? Tell us in the comments!



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Gallery: Thailand's blinged out tourist buses

In Thailand bling is in. Even the country?s coach owners are ordering lavish custom paint jobs on their tourist buses, before finishing them off with rows of floodlights, shiny reflectors and external speakers that turn some into large, colorful, mobile discotheques.

The town of Bang Len in the central Thailand province of Nakhon Pathom, about 50 kilometers west of Bangkok, is one of two coach-building centers in the country, with dozens of large and small factories turning out tourist coaches in response to the country?s burgeoning demand. The majority of Bang Len?s bus building companies trace their origins and links back to one family, with all members using the ?Meeseang? (Have Light) name, followed by additional family identifying words tacked on the end.

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?Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson? Again

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Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson Plead To Be On 'Glee'

'I was gonna get up on the stage tonight with them and start dancing,' Wilson says of her love for the show at the Emmys.By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kara Warner





Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson at the 2010 Emmy Awards

Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images




Tom Hanks may have won a ton of awards in his career, including an Emmy on Sunday night for his work on the HBO miniseries "The Pacific," but there's still one thing that the Oscar winner has yet to do: He wants a part on "Glee," as does his wife and fellow Gleek, Rita Wilson.

" 'Glee,' oh my God! Yes! Oh please. Call [show creator] Ryan [Murphy] up! I was gonna get up on the stage tonight with them and start dancing," Wilson teased to MTV News at the HBO Emmy afterparty, where she tried to think up what her choice tune for the show would be. "For 'Glee'? Hold on!"
Her husband, on the other hand, had the perfect set of tunes for his wife to perform on the hit show. "You work for MTV, can't you make that happen? Bring it on! Bring it on!" he joked. " 'All the Single Ladies'! Oh no! 'Do You Believe in Love' by Cher!" (Hanks famously sang the Beyoncé track at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden last October, saying it's a "damn fine song.")
While Hanks and Wilson wait for the call from Murphy about their cameos on the show, earlier in the night, "Glee" managed to take home a few Emmy Awards of its own, including prizes in the Supporting Actress, Comedy Series category for Jane Lynch, and the Directing for a Comedy Series for Ryan Murphy.
The night's host, Jimmy Fallon, kicked off the Emmys with a musical number that included several of the stars from "Glee," including Lea Michele and Cory Monteith, plus a number of TV's biggest stars like Jorge Garcia, Tina Fey, Jon Hamm, Nina Dobrev and Joel McHale.
What would you like to see Hanks and Wilson do on "Glee" should they get their wish? Tell us in the comments!



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Usher Opens Up About Marriage To Tameka Foster

'It just was never going to work out 100 percent,' the singer says. By Mawuse Ziegbe





Usher and Tameka Foster

Photo: Getty Images/ Frank Micelotta




Usher's personal life — or public speculation about what has happened behind closed doors — has often figured prominently in the singer's work. Fans ate up the 2004 Confessions LP, which dropped amid rumors that Usher had stepped out on ex-girlfriend Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. Similarly, the singer had endured whispers about his reportedly rocky marriage to stylist Tameka Foster before his latest album, Raymond v. Raymond, debuted at #1 this year.
On the heels of the release of Versus, an extension of Raymond, the R&B crooner opened up about why he wasn't able to make it work with Foster.
"We're two different people and we have two different goals," Usher told People. "It just was never going to work out 100 percent."
Just like he did with his monster album Confessions, the ATL singer turned the heartbreak into hits.
"My music is about where I am at the time," Usher explained. "In Raymond v. Raymond, I was going through a lot of things, and it came out in my music. My marriage fell apart and
I was suddenly a single father."
Continuing his tradition of mining his personal life for inspiration, Usher said that Versus is "about being a dating father."
Earlier this year, the buzz surrounding his relationship with Foster ramped up when Usher's track "Papers," a song about ending a marriage by signing off on divorce documents, hit airwaves. However, Usher told MTV News in March that while the track wasn't inspired by a real-life situation, it unfortunately became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
"When the song was recorded, I wasn't divorced," Usher said. "It was some reality in the contrast of trying to make it all work, having to balance a career and having a normal life. Coming in at six in the morning and arguing was a reality when you have those type of relationships. I felt that in a way, the story did touch on certain things at the time. I didn't know how realistic it would become. I didn't know I would become divorced. I did know it spoke on the contrast between trying to balance this world of being married and having this responsibility that's like a marriage at the same time. The song spoke to that place. Unfortunately, it did become a reality."
What do you think of Usher's explanation for the end of his marriage to Tameka Foster? Let us know in the comments below!



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Paris Hilton's Drugs And Driving Woes: A Timeline

A history of the heiress' drug-related driving incidents.By Mawuse Ziegbe





Paris Hilton

Photo: Getty Images




Paris Hilton is known for her jet-set lifestyle but things tend to go south when the heiress decides to travel by car. On Friday, Hilton was arrested in Las Vegas for possession of cocaine after police pulled over the SUV she was riding in. The socialite's beau was apparently behind the wheel but Hilton was taken into custody after the illegal substance fell out of her purse.
The Vegas bust is not the first time Hilton has run into trouble with drugs while driving. Here's a timeline of her substance-related issues behind the wheel:
»Hilton was arrested on September 7, 2006 in Los Angeles for suspicion of drunk driving. The socialite's blood alcohol level was .08 percent, the minimum for a DUI charge in California.
»On May 4, 2007 the heiress was sentenced to 45 days behind bars for violating her probation. Hilton told the judge, "I'm very sorry and from now on...

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Melanie Brown has landed her own reality TV show called 'Mel B: It?s a Scary World' and it premieres on Sunday, September 5th at 9pm ET/PT on Style Network.

Viewers will get to know Mel's husband, Stephen Belafonte, and her two adorable daughters, Angel (3) and Phoenix (11), both from prior relationships. Style will follow Mel as she juggles it all and focuses on family, career and the many new opportunities that lie ahead.
Is this something you might be interested in checking out?

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New Treatment Center Encourages Clients to Rock Out on Premesis

Roll over Betty Ford and tell Promises the news. A new rehab center in South Central, Pennsylvania called Clarity Way is providing its clients the use of an in-house recording studio and a music therapist. So now drug-addled artists can try to get clean and be productive at the same time.
The studio, which is equipped [...]

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Stanley Tucci Says 'Captain America' 'Design Is Stunning'

The actor says the film is shot beautifully.By Mawuse Ziegbe





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Photo: MTV News




Marvel hero Captain America is known his unstoppable brawn so it's a safe bet that moviegoers will check out a feast of out-of-this-world action scenes when "Captain America: The First Avenger" lands in theaters next summer. In addition to heart-stopping thrills, , who spent some of this summer filming the 2011 release, said that fans are in for a visually creative experience.

"[Director] Joe Johnston is a wonderful guy and I love the way he's shooting it, it's really interesting, it's beautiful-looking," Tucci told MTV News. The actor seemed awed by Johnston's approach. "There's a real power to it and the design is stunning."
Tucci will portray Dr. Abraham Erskine, the lab wiz who develops the potent serum that endows Steve Rogers with super-human strength and effectively turns the weakling into Captain America. The Oscar-nominated star dished about the nuances of his character who, ...

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Britney Spears Repertoire Has 'Glee' Cast Gleeking Out

'There are so many great Britney songs to choose from, how do you pick just one?' Naya Rivera asks.By Josh Wigler, with reporting by Kara Warner





"Glee" cast in the Lady Gaga-themed episode

Photo: FOX




The cast of "Glee" are used to mimicking some of the most iconic pop artists of our time, including Lady Gaga and Madonna. And when the show returns for its second season this fall, the castmembers will be gleeking out over another very special pop singer: none other than Britney Spears.

"The reason we're doing it is because so many of the kids on the show say, 'We grew up with Britney. We want to do Britney,' " show creator Ryan Murphy told MTV News about the upcoming Britney-themed episode.
The "You Drive Me Crazy" singer is already slated for a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in the episode, meaning that the spotlight won't be on Spears herself. Instead, it's the adoring "Glee" cast's turn to pay tribute to one of their favorite singers, with rumors floating around that leading lady Lea Michele is set to hone in on Britney's schoolgirl days with "... Baby One More Time." And actress Heather Morris told MTV News that she wants to channel her inner "Toxic." But she's not the only castmember making requests.
"I think Kurt would sing 'Circus,' " actor Chris Colfer said when asked about the upcoming Spears-centric episode. "Just so he can wear a top hat."
Amber Riley, who plays the divalicious Mercedes Jones, laughed at Colfer's suggestion, and it's certainly hard to blame her. For her own part, Riley sees "Stronger" as a natural fit for Mercedes' boisterous, self-assured personality. "I like that song," she assessed with a nod.
Still, there are other "Glee" castmembers — like Naya Rivera, for instance — who aren't too concerned about which Britney number they end up covering. At the end of the day, there are more than enough memorable songs to go around for everybody.
"There are so many great Britney songs to choose from, how do you pick just one?" Rivera asked. "My fingers are crossed that my favorites will make the list!"
Which Britney songs would you like the "Glee" cast to perform? Tell us in the comments!



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'Avatar' Is Back In Theaters Today, So We Nerd Out With Deep-Cut Questions For James Cameron And Jon Landau

"Avatar" is back in theaters today, quite literally with a vengeance. It was ousted from 3-D screens earlier this year when pre-existing arrangements saw it replaced with "Alice in Wonderland." The theatrical re-release features an additional 9 minutes of footage not seen in the previous cut. It also represents a chance for those who haven't [...]

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Kim Kardashian Weighs In On Justin Bieber Photo Controversy

'Everyone's loved it. It was all in fun,' she says, responding to Bill O'Reilly's criticism of 'Graduate'-inspired shoot.By Jocelyn Vena





Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber

Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images




If only Justin Bieber were 18, then he might have a shot at scoring a date with his pal and Elle photo-shoot partner, Kim Kardashian. When the "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" star stopped by "Lopez Tonight" on Tuesday night, she admitted that if their age difference wasn't so large (she's 29, he's 16), she might be attracted to the chart-topping, mop-headed pop singer.

"If he was of legal age, I said Justin Bieber has, like, this swag to him," she said, according to E! Online. "You just have to meet him. He definitely has this swag to him."
While the "Graduate"-inspired photo shoot of the pair frolicking on the beach seems pretty harmless, TV pundit Bill O'Reilly found the photos inappropriate and criticized them.
For her part, Kardashian doesn't see the controversy in the photos. "I thought that the shoot was all in fun. We had a good time," she said on "Lopez." "Everyone's entitled to their own opinion on it, but we were just having a good time and the amazing creative team at Elle magazine obviously thought it was a great shoot. Everyone's loved it.
It was all in fun.'
Bieber, however, may have some competition. Kardashian teases that there might already be someone special in her life. She said, "You never know. Maybe someone has [come into my life]. You never know."
Earlier this year, when he stopped by VMA host Chelsea Handler's talk show, "Chelsea Lately," Bieber admitted he wouldn't mind scoring a date with the reality starlet. "Well, I mean, she actually said, or Kim said, 'I think Justin Bieber should date my sister,' " he recalled of Kardashian trying to set up Biebs with her younger sister. "And I was like, 'I think I should date you.' "
Handler may have summed it up best when she quipped, "Basically, what's happening is, you made it OK to flirt with underage people."



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'Machete' Stars Pick Their Badass Allies

Jessica Alba goes with 'genius and amazing' director Robert Rodriguez, along with co-star Michelle Rodriguez.By Kara Warner





Jessica Alba, Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez and Robert Rodriguez at the "Machete" premiere

Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images




Those familiar with the trailer for Robert Rodriguez's new film "Machete" — which started out as a fake preview in "Grindhouse" and eventually inspired the full-length feature — know to expect high-octane action sequences, blood and, thanks to Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez, badass babes.
Wednesday night's special screening of the anticipated "Mexploitation" flick kept up with the high-octane and badass aspects, as Rodriguez and his cast arrived in pimped-out low-riders to the Orpheum Theatre in downtown L.A. Given the rebellious and revolutionary nature of Machete the character, and his trajectory in the film, we asked the stars who they would choose as an ally in a revolution.

Don Johnson went with a founding father and a famous rebel. "I like George Washington," Johnson said. "He did a good job. Fidel [Castro], he did a good job." Johnson also singled out Machete himself, Danny Trejo. "He's good with a knife," he said. "Weird huh?"
Trejo went a different route: with his leading ladies. "Jessica Alba or Michelle Rodriguez," he said, highlighting the ladies' feisty fighting skills. "In this movie, they're both badasses. They're both bad-gorgeous-asses."
Alba also picked a leading lady as her ally. "Michelle [Rodriguez]!" she said. "[Michelle's character in the movie] and Robert Rodriguez," she added, as her director joined in the interview. "Because he's a genius and he's amazing." (Alba also revealed that Rodriguez is an amazing cook, which enhances his ally appeal.)
"I'd have to say Danny [Trejo]," Rodriguez said. "You know why? Because he's got loyalty in his eyes. He looks like the kind of guy that will take survival seriously, protection seriously, love seriously."
Cheech Marin agreed: "Danny Trejo, man, he's the baddest. He's great in this movie."
There you have it. Choice revolution ally: Danny Trejo. Who would you want to be by your side in a revolution? Leave your ideas in the comments!
Check out everything we've got on "Machete."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.



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No hay m&#225;s Led Zeppelin

A pesar de lo dicho ayer, Peter Mensch, manager del guitarrista Jimmy Page, se retractó totalmente en eso que la banda buscaría un reemplazo al ultragenial Robert Plant para seguir rockeando y toureándola por el mundo tras su show de 2007 en el O2 Arena de Londres por el poder de la música más sexual de la historia. No habrá más Led Zeppelin, no hay planes de que lo haya.
Mensch comentó: "Led Zeppelin se acabó. Si no los vieron en el 2007, se los perdieron. Probaron reemplazantes a Robert Plant, pero nada funcionó. Se acabó. No hay planes para continuar. Francamente, ojalá todos dejaran de hablar al respecto."
Los fans no están nada contentos, especialmente los británicos, considerando los precios delirantes de las entradas del show reunión.
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Michael Jackson Doctor Conrad Murray's Trial Set For January

Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death.By Gil Kaufman





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Photo: Toby Canham/ Getty Images




More than a year after Michael Jackson's death, the pop icon's former personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was in court Monday (August 23) where a judge finally set a preliminary date of January 4, 2011, in the cardiologist's involuntary-manslaughter trial.
TMZ reported that Murray's legal team won a request to get a fluid sample from Jackson as part of their defense strategy questioning the accuracy of levels of the surgical anesthetic propofol found in Jackson's body. The Los Angeles County Coroner's office determined that Jackson, 50, died as a result of acute propofol intoxication.
Murray has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of involuntary manslaughter and has admitted to giving Jackson propofol, a strong anesthetic usually used during surgery but allegedly employed by chronic insomniac Jackson as a sleep aid. Murray's lawyers have said the physician did not administer any drugs that "should have" caused Jackson's death. The investigation into his death was equally lengthy, lasting more than eight months, after which Los Angeles prosecutors charged that Murray gave the King of Pop a lethal combination of propofol and other painkillers and sedatives in the hours before the singer was found dead in his rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25, 2009. Murray faces up to four years in prison if convicted.
After hearing from both sides in the case at the January court date, the judge, Michael Pastor, will determine if there is enough evidence to mount a full trial.
Jackson's mother and father, Katherine and Joseph, were in court on Monday, according to Radar Online, sitting in the front row as Judge Pastor set the preliminary hearing date. Pastor granted a protective order covering all evidence in the criminal case, meaning it cannot be released to anyone other than the lawyers, paralegals and investigators in the case.
Murray's defense team reportedly asked for access to three fluids collected by the coroner's office, including ones taken from syringes and an IV tube to re-examine test results. Pastor ruled that the coroner's office must preserve the samples, and if defense attorneys and prosecutors cannot agree on the request, he will schedule a hearing on the matter.
After court let out, a group of Jackson supporters gathered and sang an impromptu verse that featured the lines, "Conrad Murray is a cold man," while holding up signs that read "Justice for Michael Jackson" and "Love Unites Us, Peace Drives Us, Judgment Day 4 All."



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Lady Gaga's Next Album Will Be 'Shocking,' Producer RedOne Says

'That's part of my job and her job — to keep her evolving,' he tells Billboard.By Kara Warner





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Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic




Hot on the heels of Lady Gaga's confident pronouncement that her upcoming album is the "absolute greatest work I've ever done," "utter liberation" and an "anthem for my generation for the next decade" comes echoing praise from a reliable — if slightly biased — source: her producer RedOne.
"It's going to be shocking, shocking, shocking!" the Moroccan/Swedish master mixer behind "Just Dance," "LoveGame," "Poker Face," "Bad Romance" and "Alejandro" told Billboard of Gaga's new music. "You never want to go too far from your brand — people love you for a reason. But we still want to give them something with a kick, something that makes them say, 'Oh my God! We didn't expect this!' "
RedOne (real name: Nadir Khayat) said a big part of his job and future collaborations with Gaga are about evolution. "When you heard 'Bad Romance' after 'Poker Face,' it was like the best thing you've ever heard," he said. "We want that type of reaction. I think that's part of my job and her job — to keep her evolving."
The producer told Billboard that he worked on at least two tracks on Gaga's new album but also encouraged her to collaborate with others (he produced a total of nine tracks on The Fame and The Fame Monster), though he wouldn't divulge which hitmakers might be producing songs on the upcoming album.
"After 'Just Dance' and 'Poker Face,' 'LoveGame' and 'Boys Boys Boys,' I got a sound out of her, and that made it easier for other producers," he said. "Her sound is so defined that, no matter what, people can follow it. That sound belongs to her."
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Young Money's Mack Maine Debuts 'I'm From New Orleans' Video

MTV Jams' 'Louisiana Love' day is paying tribute on the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.By Shaheem Reid





Mack Maine

Photo: MTV News




As we reflect on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, MTV Jams is paying special tribute to survivors of the disaster with "Louisiana Love." All Sunday (August 29) on the channel, you'll see videos from New Orleans artists. MTV Jams is celebrating the strength of the people in the Gulf Coast rather than making it a day of mourning.

One of the videos fans will see today is courtesy of director Scoob Doo and the Young Money family. It's called "I'm From New Orleans" and stars YM president Mack Maine. Fellow N.O. natives Lil Wayne, Lil Chuckee and the Birdman have cameos in the vid.
"The New Orleans video is basically a song with some guys from New Orleans: Lucci Lou and T@," Mack explained to MTV News. Mack Mizzle was in New York to visit Lil Wayne at Rikers Island. "The name of the song is 'I'm From New Orleans.' I got pretty New Orleans on my verse. The video is pretty raw. It's low-budget, capturing the raw and real of New Orleans. It's a good look. It'll make the city proud and kinda let other people see our heritage and basically how we live, our way of life."
The Cash Money/ Young Money family obviously has a well-documented history of showing us New Orleans in videos, starting back in the '90s with such videos as Juvenile's "Ha" and five years ago with Lil Wayne's "Fireman." However, since Katrina's destruction hit, many of the signature landmarks are no longer standing in the city.
"I was just in town for my birthday party, and I rode through the neighborhoods to see the new developments that are coming up and what's being torn down," Mack said. "A lot of the uptown part, the projects are basically gone, like the Magnolia, some of the Calliope are still up. They're trying to give the city a new face. It's a lot of memories gone at the end of the day. But we basically shot uptown, we caught the Superdome. Uptown, my little brother has a house. We caught some footage by him. We caught some of Hollygrove. The guys on the song are from New Orleans East. So we caught the East in there too. We tried to capture all the city. I don't think we went on the West Bank, but shouts to the West Bank as well. Uptown, downtown and the East."
Mack says his song co-stars, Lucci Lou and T@, have worked with the YM family before, and the two are just stepping up to the spotlight now.
"Lucci Lou, he was on the No Ceilings mixtape," Mack explained. "T@ is one of the guys who works for Wayne. He started messing around with the rap and started making beats. That's how the song came. He hit me when we was in the studio. He hit me, like, 'Pull up some of the beats we made on the I Am Music Tour.' I don't write; I freestyle. I went in there and went from the verse to the hook. I didn't know if it was nice at first. It was like 5 in the morning. I was tired. They called me like, 'It's a hit.' I listened to it two days later and said, 'It's a nice song.' They did their verse, and here we are."
Share your memories of Hurricane Katrina in the comments.

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U2, AC/DC, Beyonce Top Forbes 2010 Music Earners List

Lady Gaga debuts on the list at #7, after earning more than Madonna in the past year.By Gil Kaufman





U2's Bono

Photo: Harry Herd/ Getty Images




It just stands to reason that if you put on the biggest rock tour in history, you're going to make some serious coin. That might explain why more than three decades into their career, U2 easily took the top spot on Forbes magazine's list of the world's top-earning musicians, which also included newcomer Lady Gaga, as well as some of the usual suspects like Madonna, Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Bruce Springsteen.
Like most of the artists on the list, the veteran Irish rockers did it with touring cash, in their case the coin from their gigantic 360 Tour, which netted them $130 million over the past 12 months by selling more than 1.3 million tickets for an average price of $94 apiece in North America. The tour grossed $311 million, and each stop had gross ticket receipts of $10 million, but the band's bottom line was also boosted by healthy merchandise sales, as well as strong radio play for their deep back catalog, which continues to sell well. The outing was temporarily derailed this year due to Bono's back injury, but U2 plan to return to North American shores next summer for a victory lap.
The Forbes tally, which counted earnings between June 2009 and June 2010, had another veteran band at #2: power rockers AC/DC, who stormed back last year with a tour that grossed $2.3 million a night and helped them earn $114 million on worldwide grosses of $226 million.
Making a stand for the ladies, Beyoncé netted $87 million to become the highest-earning female on the list at #3. A healthy dose of her take was courtesy of major endorsement deals with Nintendo and L'Oréal, sales from her House of Dereon fashion line, and the $86 million in gross receipts from her 93-date world tour.
New Jersey rock icon Springsteen also made most of his money on the road, raking in $70 million by selling more than 2 million tickets on his world tour, which grossed $167 million. Heavy radio play and the sales of lots of catalog albums also helped him lock down the #4 slot on the list.
It was another solid year for Britney Spears, who earned the #5 position with the fifth-highest grossing tour of the year, which brought in gross receipts of $130 million. She also rang up big cash for endorsement deals with Elizabeth Arden and Candies, which added to her $64 million in earnings. Jay-Z gave wifey Beyoncé a run for her money, taking the #6 position with $63 million he brought in from his stake in the New Jersey Nets NBA team, 40/40 nightclub chain, the hit Broadway show "Fela!," Blueprint 3 sales and the album's tour, which grossed more than $1 million a night.
Gaga, 24, crashed the list at #7 thanks to strong CD and download sales, her smash worldwide Monster Ball tour and million-dollar endorsement deals with Virgin Mobile, Polaroid, Viva Glam and Monster Cable, which netted her $62 million. She beat out one of her musical and sartorial touchstones, Madonna, who hit the #8 spot with earnings of $58 million thanks to her Sticky and Sweet Tour, the fourth highest-grossing outing of 2009, which raked in $6 million a night for a $138 million gross. The pop legend also made cash from an all-Madonna episode of "Glee" and earned a lump of cash from her lucrative publishing royalties.
Country star Kenny Chesney landed at #9 with $50 million in earnings from a $71 million grossing tour and prominent sponsorships with Corona and MasterCard.
The final spot was a three-way tie between the Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay and Toby Keith, all of whom brought in $48 million. The unstoppable Peas did it with a worldwide tour that brought in $800,000 a night, as well as a raft of endorsement deals with Target, Honda, Bacardi and Apple computers. Coldplay's tour dates for 2008's Viva la Vida grossed more than $105 million as well as millions in merchandise sales. Keith made $30 million in gross concert receipts and earned the rest from a growing chain of restaurants, stakes in several publishing companies and millions a year from publishing royalties. 



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Saying No

To all my fellow people-pleasers out there who have a tendency to say yes to everything and then find themselves in over their head...

"We've discovered by walking through the uncomfortable feeling of saying no, there is incredible peace and freedom on the other side."
— Kathy Kinney and Cindy Ratzlaff, co-authors of Queen of Your Own Life

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Celebrate Wendy O. Williams' Birthday With Bobblehead Doll

What better way to celebrate Wendy O. Williams' 61st birthday on May 28 (if she hadn't blown her head off at age 48) than with a cute, scantily clad bobblehead doll.
Yes, Aggronautix, the company that, in 2009, presented a bobblehead of GG Allin -- the lovable now-deceased counter culture character who beat up audience members, [...]

Michael Michele Michelle Behennah Michelle Branch Michelle Malkin Michelle Obama Michelle Rodriguez

Lady Gaga Thanks Fans For BET Awards Win With Beyonce

'Thank you so much for my first BET award ever,' Gaga tweeted after winning Video of the Year for 'Video Phone.'By Jocelyn Vena





Lady Gaga in the music video for "Video Phone"

Photo: Columbia/Music World




Jay-Z was nominated for two Video of the Year prizes at the BET Awards, but it was his wife, Beyoncé, who took home the trophy on Sunday night, for "Video Phone," her splashy collaboration with Lady Gaga.
And Gaga — who plays second billing on that particular collaboration, which is not to be confused with their work on "Telephone" — didn't wait too long to take to her Twitter to thank her fans for the prize. She wrote, "Thank you so much for my first BET award ever, with Honey B! Videophone won VIDEO OF THE YEAR! Paws up for B! X Mother Monster."
The girls were up against such other worthy contenders as Jay-Z, Kanye West and Rihanna ("Run This Town"), Jay-Z and Alicia Keys ("Empire State of Mind"), B.o.B. and Bruno Mars ("Nothin' on You") and Melanie Fiona ("It Kills Me").
The "Video Phone" clip premiered late last year and was only a prelude to what fans could expect from the ladies in Gaga's "Telephone" video.
In November, Gaga admitted that she went into the video shoot in the Beyoncé headspace. "I said, 'I want to do you in your video, and I want to tribute you. I want to dress up like you,' " she recalled telling her co-star. "And [director] Hype Williams ... was so excited. He was like, 'Gaga, I want no makeup on your face.' It was really stripped down — real Beyoncé hair, and we wore the same outfit in the video, and I [paid tribute to] her."
Do you think Beyoncé and Lady Gaga deserved the top prize? Tell us in the comments!



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