Katy Perry
Photo: MTV News

MTV News had been trying to sit down with Katy Perry for months — at the Grammys, during South by Southwest, anywhere and everywhere. The problem was, things just kept coming up. Video shoots and TV appearances. Schedules were shuffled, reformatted, then torn up and forgotten about. This happened more times than you could imagine.

This is sort of the way things are for Katy Perry these days. She's sold a million albums, notched three hits on the Billboard Hot 100, had breakups and feuds, become a sex symbol and a lightning rod ... all at roughly the same time, and all seemingly overnight. Everyone wants to talk to her and everyone wants her on their show or at their party or their red carpet. Getting time with her is not an easy task.

But, after months of trying, we finally got our sit-down. Perry chatted with MTV News' Kim Stolz here in New York, and it was worth the wait. Rather than avoiding questions or having her handlers waiting in the wings, Perry was an open book. She answered anything and everything, laughing and joking about her rise to stardom, her plans for a new album and just how she deals with life in the spotlight. It was rather refreshing, to be honest.

We've already published a pair of stories from the interview — Perry talking about her plans to stop kissing girls on her next album, and addressing the rumors that she had "reached out" to fellow singer Rihanna in the wake of her incident with boyfriend Chris Brown. The response to both was so great that we decided we should just go ahead and show you even more of our chat.

So, here's our favorite pop tart, unfiltered and unafraid — weighing in on her love life, her career, the Rihanna situation, and, uh, actress Zooey Deschanel. It's Katy Perry: Raw.

• MTV News RAW: Katy Perry

• Katy Perry
• Rihanna
• Josh Groban

Katy Perry
Photo: Mike Marsland/ WireImage

Earlier this week, Perez Hilton reported that Katy Perry was dating Josh Groban. Well, apparently the rumor is just that: a rumor. Despite Hilton's report that "they've been trying to keep it very low-profile," the "I Kissed a Girl" singer and the operatic-pop star are nothing more than friends, according to Groban's rep.

"Josh and Katy are very close friends and hang out, but they are not a couple," Luke Burland told People in response to the relationship rumors.

Since her split from Gym Class Heroes frontman Travis McCoy earlier this year, Perry has been linked not only to Groban, but also Benji Madden after she and the Good Charlotte guitarist were seen hanging out in Vegas together. That relationship rumor was also refuted as false by Perry herself.

"It's two pseudo-famous people sitting next to each other ... doesn't mean we were bumping uglies!" she wrote on her blog. "You know I don't just do that with anyone! That's just how the media works, as you can tell. ... Benji is a nice young fellow, but my heart really belongs to [my cat] Kitty Purry."

She echoed the sentiment in a previous interview when asked about her love life. She jokingly told TV Guide that 2009 was going to be man-free. "I've actually taken a the Grammy nominee said. "No kissing anyone. Just my cat: Kitty Purry."

• Katy Perry
• Josh Groban

George Clinton reaches out to a crowdmember during the Heroes Red, White and Blue Military Ball
Photo: Erica Anderson

As they say in the biz, the show must goes on. And on the eve of President Barack Obama's inauguration, the Heroes Red, White and Blue Military Ball had to do just that.

Scheduled performers Jamie Foxx, Nas, Josh Groban and Tiki Barber ultimately did not appear, putting ball sponsors USO, TAPS and Citizens Helping Heroes in a difficult position. Nevertheless, adjustments were made and the night was a huge success, with performances by Parliament Funkadelic mastermind George Clinton — who is renowned for his wild live shows — David Banner, Memphis Gold and others.

"We can be so proud," Captain Angelina Carrera said. "We served our country with love and honor."

Carrera served in Iraq with her husband, Colonel Stephen K. Scott. He was killed by a mortar round in Baghdad last April. Carrera's remarks came during an intermission between performers Memphis Gold, Peter Paul and George Clinton in the historic Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C.

During Obama's inaugural address earlier that day, the president stressed that American civilians should follow the example of men and women in uniform.

Staff Sergeant Calvin Linnette, who was wounded twice in Iraq, said Obama's remarks made him feel good.

"A lot of people today wouldn't join the military," he said. "A lot wouldn't dare join. But Obama sees the courage in us, he sees what we endure. For him to make that comment, about our service, it means so much. He understands what we sacrifice."

The sacrifice wasn't lost on the quickly organized group of performers, including George Clinton and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, who stepped up to give America's heroes a show.

"This is an honor," Peanut of George Clinton's entourage said. "We don't say it enough. We don't say 'thank you' enough."

Watch "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" online now, and come back Thursday for the full performances from Kanye West, Kid Rock and Fall Out Boy. Stick with us for wall-to-wall coverage of the inauguration and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya.

• The Presidential Inauguration Of Barack Obama

• Nas
• David Banner
• George Clinton
• Josh Groban

Jimmy Kimmel on "Jimmy Kimmel Live"
Photo: ABC

The morning after comedian Sarah Silverman's "I'm F---ing Matt Damon" video — the supposed couple's duet about their affair — first aired on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" late last month, the clip was deemed a bona fide viral-video sensation. Links arrived in everyone's inbox, and the obscenity-laden tune inspired numerous online parodies. Much more than that, though, the video riled up the vengeful side of Silverman's boyfriend, Jimmy Kimmel.

On Sunday, minutes after "No Country for Old Men" was named Best Picture at the the Academy Awards, Kimmel had his revenge. It came in the form of "I'm F---ing Ben Affleck," a hilarious video response featuring more than 20 musicians and A-list actors belting out a "We Are the World"-esque chorus. Less than 48 hours later, the video had clocked more than 2.5 million YouTube hits.

"Jimmy enjoyed every second, every morsel of [Silverman's video], but immediately began plotting his revenge — from the moment that Sarah and Matt's video played on our anniversary show," explained Jill Leiderman, the show's executive producer. "The next morning, he said to me, 'I need to get Ben Affleck.' So I reached out to Ben's representation, Ken Sunshine, and wrote him an impassioned letter explaining the chronology and history of the Matt Damon/ Jimmy Kimmel feud. ... Within an hour, Ben was signed on to participate."

The "feud" Leiderman references is not much of a feud at all, but more of a joke that has carried on for years. Kimmel frequently ends the show by saying, "Our apologies to Matt Damon, we ran out of time."

"At the time he said that, on the show, the celebrity bookings were not of the caliber of Matt Damon. So to underscore that point, the irony of the joke was that Jimmy would say, 'My apologies to Matt Damon,' highlighting the fact that if Damon really had been sitting in the green room, picking at a fruit plate, how ballsy of Jimmy to not actually bring him out on the show," Leiderman continued, adding that Damon's was the first name that popped into Kimmel's head when he came up with the jab. "It was a labor of love for our staff, to support Jimmy in his quest to seek revenge against Sarah and Matt."

Kimmel's video stars the likes of Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Don Cheadle, Robin Williams, Huey Lewis, Rebecca Romijn, Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, "Lost" star Dominic Monaghan, Joel and Benji Madden, Josh Groban, Christina Applegate, Meat Loaf, Jane's Addiction's Perry Farrell, Lance Bass, Joan Jett, "Superbad" thespian Christopher Mintz-Plasse and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones' Dicky Barrett, along with a gospel choir.

"Hearing a gospel choir and 20 celebrities singing this song about Jimmy and Ben f---ing each other was the most resonant, rich sound, bellowing and bouncing off the walls of the recording studio — it was a religious experience," Leiderman joked, adding that Sunday's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" repeats this coming Friday. "We delivered 22 celebrities in a single comedy piece, and for my money, that's redefining late night."

According to Leiderman, it was Affleck's idea to wrangle Harrison Ford for an appearance. "Ben found out that Harrison had seen [Sarah's] video and was tickled by it, and he encouraged us to reach out to Harrison to participate," she said. "They came back and told us that Harrison was interested in participating in any capacity we wanted him to — and he spent the entire day with us, shooting at the Roosevelt Hotel [in Hollywood] and then over at the recording studio. He was a trooper to be part of Jimmy's revenge."

As for the musicians who took part, Leiderman said a list was culled, based on the show's past guests. The names on the list constituted those who had shown themselves to be comically inclined — or had some affiliation with Kimmel, Affleck, Silverman or Damon.

"When it came to Josh Groban, he was an artist we brought in because he trusts Jimmy's comedic sensibility, and when he's been on in the past, he has always wanted to do a comedy bit with us," Leiderman explained. "So we knew he would be an exemplary artist to participate, and he knocked it out of the park. His voice added the exact gravitas we needed for this piece," which, she added, is the most expensive piece of tape to ever air on the show, "and worth every penny."

Were there any artists or Hollywood types who turned down an offer to aid in Jimmy's quest? If there were, Leiderman isn't talking. "The beauty of whomever we couldn't get means there's room for the next incarnation," she hinted. "Jimmy made his sentiment clear in the video, so I can't imagine there's any more to say. If Matt chooses to respond, we are certainly interested in what he has to say. In the interim, we're hoping that he and Sarah are very happy together.

"Everyone recognized how impassioned our request was and how there was an altruistic angle to this, which was that Jimmy and Ben needed to pronounce their love as publicly as possible and needed the celebrity support," Leiderman continued.

For Fall Out Boy's Wentz, signing on for the video was a no-brainer.

"Pretty much everyone there was a riot — egos all checked at the door for the most part," Wentz told MTV News on Tuesday (February 26). "Dominic [Monaghan] and I would pretty much bug Harrison Ford the whole time. Every time he would put the headphones on, we would be like, 'Tell us about "Indy 4," ' and he'd be like, 'What?' And then we'd say, 'Never mind.' I can't believe he got Huey [Lewis] on it. Jimmy's a funny guy, and I have to admit the Affleck idea is pretty insane. Besides, who would [turn] down the chance to do some homoerotic song that has Brad Pitt in it?"

• Fall Out Boy
• Josh Groban
• Good Charlotte

Radiohead's <i>In Rainbows</i>
Photo: XL

The lights are all coming down, those plastic trees are being dismantled and packed away in cardboard boxes, and the eggnog has turned — all signs that another Christmas is behind us. Of course, some of us are still in denial, slurping down thick, chunky eggnog despite the fact that it's a new year — but take one look at the first Billboard top 200 of 2008, and there's no denying Christmas is in the can.

On next week's albums sales chart, all but 16 of the albums comprising the top 200 suffered severe sales drops — and three of those 16 are new releases. According to the latest SoundScan figures, overall sales for the nation's top 200 records sunk by about 2 million when compared to those put up during the previous week. But the most convincing piece of evidence supporting the argument that Christmas is done can be found at #58 on next week's chart: That's where you'll find Josh Groban's Noël, one of the holiday season's — and the year's — best-selling releases.

After dominating the Billboard chart for five consecutive weeks, Groban's latest slipped to #3 on last week's chart. Now, thanks to a 92 percent drop in retail interest, Groban's set falls 55 positions, selling 14,400 copies. (Which obviously begs another question: Who buys Christmas music the week after Christmas?)

Perhaps the more important development on this week's chart, though, is who claimed #1. With just 122,300 copies snatched up, Radiohead's In Rainbows surges ahead 155 spots to the chart's peak. While considered an official #1 debut (the album first landed in retail outlets last week), the band's latest album prematurely opened at #156 on the previous week's chart, courtesy of some obvious street-date violations. In Rainbows had been available for several weeks this fall, as a "name your own price" download, available exclusively at the band's Web site. Official sales figures from Radiohead's daring experiment have not been released.

This marks only the second time in Radiohead's imposing career that they've seen one of their albums hit #1. In 2000, Kid A sold more than 207,000 copies, to enter at #1, but 2001's Amnesiac and 2003's Hail to the Thief debuted at #2 (with 231,500 scans) and #3 (with 300,000), respectively.

Holding strong at #2 this week is Alicia Keys' As I Am, which sold 112,400 copies, while last week's #1, Mary J. Blige's Growing Pains, slides to #3 with 89,000 scans. The 26th volume in the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series stays put at #4 with 54,000 sold, while sales of Taylor Swift's self-titled debut were clocked at nearly 47,000, putting her at #5 on next week's chart. Chris Brown's Exclusive follows at #6 with 40,800 sold, while Garth Brooks' Ultimate Hits holds at #7 with 38,500 scans.

The soundtrack to "Juno," with contributions from Sonic Youth, Kimya Dawson, the Kinks and Belle and Sebastian, makes its first appearance on the chart at #8, despite being commercially available for weeks now. The disc sold 38,000 units, outperforming Colbie Caillat's Coco, which occupies the #9 slot, by not even 300 copies. Rounding things out at #10 is the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden, selling another 35,700 copies.

The other two newcomers to this week's chart sit at #54 and #151. The two-disc Grammys 50th Anniversary Collection, featuring tracks from the likes of Frank Sinatra, the Police, Sade, Beck and John Mayer, sold 15,600 copies, while the Starbucks sampler Across the Pond, with tracks from Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone, James Blunt and others, sold 5,600 units.

• Radiohead
• Alicia Keys
• Josh Groban
• Mary J. Blige
• Taylor Swift

Hannah Montana (a.k.a. Miley Cyrus)
Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images

The Hannah Montana tour is definitely one of the hottest tickets in town for tweens and their parents, but one woman admits she went a little overboard in trying to win tickets for her daughter. Texas mom Priscilla Ceballos apologized Friday (January 4) on NBC's "Today" show for writing an essay falsely claiming the girl's father had died in Iraq just so the girl could see Hannah (a.k.a. Miley Cyrus) in person. "I just wanted to help my daughter write a compelling story," she said. The fabricated essay won the contest's grand prize, which included airfare for four to Albany, New York, and four tickets to a sold-out Hannah Montana concert there, as well as a makeover that included a blond Hannah Montana wig. "Please accept my heartfelt apology and please do not punish my child for my mistake," Ceballos urged on the show. ...

What's harder to find than a City of Gold? For "American Idol" rocker Chris Daughtry, it was one of his own songs. Daughtry was commissioned to write a song to play over the end credits of "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," but the single, "Feels Like Tonight," was left on the cutting-room floor, reports Variety. "It's a great song, and probably could have been a good marketing tool, but when we put it up with the movie, it just felt wrong," Disney music chief Mitchell Leib told the Hollywood trade. ...In other "Idol" alumni news, Season Two winner Ruben Studdard and semifinalist Frenchie Davis (who got the boot from the show after Fox discovered that she worked for an adult Web site before trying out) have signed on for the 30th anniversary national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical revue "Ain't Misbehavin'." Richard Maltby Jr. co-wrote and directed the Broadway production, which showcases the music of "Fats" Waller, and he will re-create his original direction. Studdard was in need of some good news after being the first "Idol" winner to be dropped from his label, when J Records let him go in December. Since appearing on "Idol," Davis was in the Broadway cast of "Rent." The "Ain't Misbehavin' " tour will begin in November and run at least through May 2009. ...

Literature probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of C-Murder, but the rapper — who is to be retried on a second-degree murder charge on February 11 — is taking part in a unique book club that connects readers with authors. On January 19, C-Murder will help christen the New Orleans "chapter" of the Conversations Book Club when he joins the group at the Comfort Inn & Suites downtown to discuss "Death Around the Corner," his recent novel about the city. ...

R.E.M., My Morning Jacket, Vampire Weekend, Daniel Lanois, Tech N9ne and My Brightest Diamond are among the initial slate of bands scheduled to perform at this year's South by Southwest festival. Lou Reed will be the keynote speaker at the fest, which will take place in Austin, Texas, March 12-16. ... Birdman is being sued for allegedly sampling other artists' songs without paying for them. The lawsuit, which was filed in New Orleans, claims that the Cash Money Records co-founder (real name: Bryan Williams) owes several music publishers money for using copyrighted songs without permission. ... Does Britney have some competition? Both Whitney Houston and her estranged husband, Bobby Brown, were no-shows Friday (January 4) at their scheduled court appearance, TMZ.com reports. According to the Web site, Whitney's attorney, Stephen Kolodny, said the singer was sick. ...

Bay Area producer/DJ Amplive won't be putting out his remix of Radiohead's In Rainbows after all. Just a month after announcing his remix album, Rainydayz Remixes, which was to feature a cameo from Too Short, Amp announced on his MySpace page that he had received a cease-and-desist letter from Radiohead's publisher, Warner/Chappell, on December 18 that barred him from releasing the unapproved album, according to a story on Pitchfork linked to from Amp's site. In a video on his MySpace page, a dejected-looking Amp, holding a sign that reads "free," laments, "In Rainbows is one of the top Radiohead albums, and I'm a big Radiohead fan, and it was all done in celebration." He says he wanted to show his appreciation for Radiohead's pioneering pay-what-you-want scheme by doing a hip-hop remix album that would also have featured Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and Jurassic 5's Chali 2na. He says he wishes that Radiohead could hear the free remix album, which he knows they would like, and suspects the band is not to blame for the legal action. "Thom [Yorke], holla at me, man," he pleads to the band's frontman at the end of the message. ...

Australia's first couple of music, Silverchair singer Daniel Johns and singer/actress Natalie Imbruglia, have announced that they will separate after four years of marriage, according to the Melbourne Herald Sun. The pair announced their split in a joint statement released Friday (January 4) that read, "While we are very sad that our marriage has ended, we want to make it clear that our parting is amicable and we remain friends. ... This mutual decision has not been taken lightly or quickly. However, our career demands and our lives in different parts of the world have brought us to the point where unfortunately this difficult decision was necessary for both of us. We have simply grown apart through not being able to spend enough time together." ... On March 25, long-running, genre-spanning party-poppers the B-52s will return with Funplex, their first album of new material since 1992's Good Stuff (and their first to feature co-frontwoman Cindy Wilson since '89's Cosmic Thing). Guitarist Keith Strickland describes the album as "loud, sexy rock and roll for your pleasure zones, with the beat pumped up to hot pink," just in case you were wondering. ...

Josh Groban had a great Christmas, but the music industry? Not so much. For the eighth year in a row, album sales were down, with total album sales diving 15 percent in 2007 to 500.5 million units, according to year-end figures from Nielsen SoundScan. The Los Angeles Times reports that it was the lowest tally and steepest decline since Nielsen began publishing estimates based on in-stores sales data in 1993. There was a bright spot with digital-album sales rising 2.4 percent to 30.1 million units, but even that paled in comparison to the 19 percent uptick in 2006. The overall picture, including albums, singles and individual-song downloads, showed a rise of 14 percent to 1.4 billion units, which, again, was down from the 19 percent gain in 2006. ...

Last year's Live Earth concert and the Roskilde Festival in Denmark will be recognized with environmental honors at the upcoming Midem Green World Awards in Cannes, France, later this month, according to BBC News. The awards pay tribute to events that promote a greater awareness of environmental issues. Live Earth is being recognized for the strict green guidelines it set out in order to create a low-impact worldwide event, while Roskilde, one of the largest European festivals, is earning praise for serving all its drinks in recyclable plastic mugs. ...

Not everyone is psyched about the huge music festival that is slated to touch down in Vineland, New Jersey, this summer courtesy of a hookup between Lollapalooza promoters C3 and the people behind England's Glastonbury Festival. According to the Vineland Daily Journal, a group of citizens, including a former City Council president, have mobilized under the banner of Neighbors Against Rock Concert Site in an attempt to block the show. The first meeting of NARCS is slated to take place Thursday, with the goal of blocking the festival — currently scheduled for August 8-10 — from taking place on a local 570-acre farm. The event is expected to draw 35,000-40,000 people over three days, with mostly on-site camping, which neighbors worry will have a negative impact on the area due to potential increases in traffic, noise, crime and pollution. According to the Journal, NARCS isn't opposed to the festival, just its location. The group is considering a lawsuit to stop the show, while suggesting that promoters move it to a more "appropriate" location, such as the local county fairgrounds. ...

The once-in-a-lifetime New Year's Eve gig at a small club in Surrey, England, that featured Who guitarist Pete Townshend, former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and guitar god Eric Clapton might not be a one-off after all. The secret show, which the trio performed under the name Totally Abandoned, benefited charity and included mostly "old classics," according to London newspaper The Independent. A Thursday post on the Who's site confirmed that the gig took place and teased that "a much larger gig" could happen in New York before March. ...

Stephen Stills is recovering after having surgery for prostate cancer on Thursday. He is expected to be at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25 for the world premiere of "CSNY/ Déjà Vu," a movie directed by Neil Young that revolves around his and Stills' group, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

1.3.08

T.I. adjusted his calendar Thursday (January 3) after an Atlanta judge postponed until February 19 a suppression hearing that had been scheduled for Thursday. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Grand Hustle rapper's lawyers are seeking to have evidence thrown out because they claim it was obtained as a part of an illegal search when T.I. (real name: Clifford Harris Jr.) was arrested in October for allegedly attempting to purchase illegal machine guns. Lawyers for the rapper filed a motion in November stating his vehicle had been searched without a warrant, consent or probable cause. He has been under house arrest awaiting trial after posting a $3 million bond in late October. ...

Chris Brown has hit a bump as he tours across the U.S. — the singer's set designer is suing him for breach of contract, according to TMZ. John Troxtel claims in a federal lawsuit he filed Christmas Eve that while he was paid for some of his labor, "extra work was required and requested." He says an oral agreement was made but that the touring company has refused to make good on its promise. Troxtel, who is seeking more than $1 million in damages, is also reportedly suing Brown for unjust enrichment. ...

Former B2K groupmates Dreux "Lil Fizz" Frederic and Jarell "J-Boog" Houston have released a statement through their publicist regarding the claims of sexual molestation Raz-B made against manager Chris Stokes in recent online videos. "We had nothing to do with the [videos], their release and/or their claims, we are unaware of any inappropriate behavior," the statement read. Raz-B later retracted and apologized for the accusations. Meanwhile, Raz-B's business partner had no comment on a new, recently surfaced tape of Raz-B, his brother Ricky Romance and Stokes, and said he didn't know when it was shot. ...

Nate Dogg suffered a stroke on December 19, according to a coordinator for the hip-hop crooner's recently formed gospel choir, Innate Praise. Reports had circulated that the longtime Snoop Dogg associate had been admitted to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in California after suffering a heart attack. Erica Beckwith, however, confirmed to MTV News that Nate Dogg was released on December 26 after being treated for a stroke and is currently in a medical-rehab facility to assist him in his recovery. ...

The Jonas Brothers have inked a fat deal with Live Nation, and it's being called the first of its kind for an up-and-coming group, according to Billboard. The multimillion-dollar agreement will see the band of brothers playing a jaw-dropping 140 shows at theaters and arenas over the next two years. Eight shows have been lined up so far for the Look Me in the Eyes Tour, in Tuscon, Arizona (January 31); Las Vegas (February 1); Los Angeles (February 2); Everett, Washington (February 5); Portland, Oregon (February 6); February 8 (Salt Lake City); El Paso, Texas (February 11); and San Antonio (February 12). ... Radiohead have, according to the U.K.'s The Times, agreed to a deal with iTunes — which some fans may have noticed, given that the band's In Rainbows album is now available through the online store. "In terms of digital income, we've made more money out of this record than out of all the other Radiohead albums put together, forever," Thom Yorke reportedly said about the release. ...

Bono has teamed with Hard Rock for a new tee that is benefiting the Wildlife Conservation Society's Conservation Cotton Initiative, which helps educate impoverished African farmers. The Bono Signature Series T-shirt, which will be available starting Monday at Hard Rock's terrestrial and online shops, is being made available via Edun, a socially conscious clothing company that Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, launched in spring 2005. ... Bright Eyes mainman Conor Oberst, who toured as part of the Vote for Change Tour in support of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004, performed at a rally for another Democratic contender, Senator Barack Obama, in Iowa on Tuesday. According to The New York Observer, Oberst played for a crowd of approximately 1,000 Obama supporters and at one point told them, "I met the next president of the United States earlier today." But that's hardly the only star Obama has on his side. Scarlett Johansson was a special guest at a rally for him in Iowa on Wednesday night, according to The Nation. She reportedly spoke with a group of young supporters in Des Moines. ...

The Facebook profile cited in many articles (including MTV News') about Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the late Benazir Bhutto's son, is a hoax, according to a statement from Farahnaz Ispahani of the Pakistan Peoples Party. "The statement that's on [the Facebook profile] is not his statement," he told The New York Times. "It seems genuine but according to Mr. Zardari, and we checked with him, the Facebook statement has not been written by Bilawal." ...

Foo Fighters are following in Justin Timberlake's footsteps — the band is participating in this year's "My Grammy Moment" segment for the February 10 awards ceremony. Unsigned instrumentalists — sorry, singers — are getting the chance to perform with Dave Grohl and the gang as part of an orchestra, with the winner being showcased as the featured instrumentalist. Interested? Record a performance video that is no longer than one minute and reflects your talent and submit it here. A Grammy Awards panel will choose 45 quarter-finalists, after which the public will narrow down the group to semifinalists who will perform with the five-time Grammy-nominated band. ... Christina Aguilera and Katie Holmes, starring side by side in a new flick? Rumors are circulating online that the two have been tapped for an upcoming comedy called "Humboldt Park," but Rene Rigal, who is executive producing the flick, told MTV News in regards to the castings, "We haven't heard anything as of yet." ...

Mark this one with a "WTF?" on your calendar: Keytar-wielding indie-rockers and former You Hear It First artists Mute Math will open for Matchbox Twenty and Alanis Morissette on their Exile in America tour, which runs from January 25 in Hollywood, Florida, through March 18 in Las Vegas. ... Hot Chip will pad their February 5 release, Made in the Dark, with a smattering of shows in April. The British electro-poppers will play nine gigs, from an April 10 one in Philadelphia through an April 24 show in San Francisco. ... Meanwhile, Ween are barreling on with their longest tour in three years. The band will play six gigs in January — from January 23 in Washington, D.C., through January 31 in Orlando, Florida — and is slated to play February 1-2 in St. Petersburg and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before jetting overseas. ...

Sketch-comedy duo Tim and Eric have a few friends you may know. Maroon 5 bassist Mickey Madden, Phantom Planet frontman Alex Greenwald and the Like singer/guitarist Z have chalked up covers of songs by the pair's fictional Casey and His Brothers group. Check 'em out on TimAndEric.com. ... Sean Penn will head the awards jury at this year's Cannes Film Festival, which is slated for May 14-25. According to AP, the "Into the Wild" director said "a new generation of filmmaking may have begun," and that there seems to be "a rejuvenation of cinema building worldwide." ...

The Offspring are nearly finished with the follow-up to 2003's Splinter. According to a post from frontman Dexter Holland on the punk-rockers' Web site, they're "taking a quick break from recording right now to be with our families. I've got two lyrics to do, a couple more to sing, and various musical tweaks and fixes to get done. Then, we'll be ready to mix." There's no release date for the album yet, but the Offspring "want to thank all our fans who have been so patient, and we want you to know that we've been in the studio nearly every day now for quite awhile working hard to make a great record," the post says. ...

Former Kid 'N Play frontman Christopher "Play" Martin was reportedly hospitalized over the weekend when his car was struck by another vehicle whose driver was wounded by a bullet. According to North Carolina's The News & Observer, the one-time rapper's car was struck after a man — suspected of fleeing from where a home robbery took place — was allegedly fired upon by local police. The man, identified as Raul Riva Aldamo, reportedly died as a result of the gunfire. Martin and his companion, Michelle Gonzales, were released from doctor's care on Wednesday, and according to a rep for Martin, he is at home recovering.

• Hannah Montana
• Miley Cyrus
• R.E.M.
• My Morning Jacket
• Vampire Weekend

Mary J. Blige's <i>Growing Pains</i>
Photo: Geffen Records

To be quite honest, it was becoming rather hard to come up with new ways to say the same thing: that Grammy-nominated baritone Josh Groban's latest album, Noël, was once again the nation's top-selling record. Since late November, Groban's LP had consistently outsold the rest of the herd, making his the first Christmas album ever to hold the chart's #1 position for five straight weeks.

Luckily, we have Mary J. Blige. After failing to overpower Groban in last week's sales race with her new Growing Pains set, the R&B songstress bounced back this week, taking advantage of the shrinking market demand for Christmas classics.

Despite a 68 percent decline in sales, Growing Pains will rise from #2 to #1 in next week's Billboard top 200 album chart, with a reported 204,300 scans, according to the latest SoundScan totals. Groban's Noël shifted 175,700 units and also suffered a steep drop in sales: 77 percent, to be exact. That lands Groban's LP in the #3 spot on next week's chart, right behind second-place finisher Alicia Keys' As I Am, which sold more than 193,200 copies.

"This album means a lot to me, because it shows my appreciation of my growth and the progress I've made," Blige told MTV News recently about Growing Pains. "This is a next level for me, a new place, and it's a celebration of my weaknesses and strengths."

The week following Christmas was sluggish for the music industry, as total sales of the top 200 albums waned by nearly 6 million from the previous sales week. And, strangely, one of the only new albums debuting on next week's chart wasn't even officially in stores: Radiohead's In Rainbows opens prematurely, thanks to obvious street-date violations, at #156, with 8,500 sold.

In the chart's top 10, there is little change from the previous week; it's the same old song and dance, with a number of year-long favorites hanging tough. The 26th addition to the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series climbs two spots to #4 with 98,400 scans, while Chris Brown's Exclusive jumps from #10 to #5 with 86,700 copies sold.

The Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden falls two positions to #6, selling another 85,300 units, while Garth Brooks' Ultimate Hits finishes at #7 with 76,800 sold. Taylor Swift's self-titled debut follows at #8, with sales of 76,700. Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus dips four spots to #9, generating another 73,300 scans. And rounding things out at #10, with 71,600 copies snatched up, is Colbie Caillat's Coco.

• Mary J. Blige
• Alicia Keys
• Josh Groban
• Chris Brown
• Radiohead

Yung Joc
Photo: Jason Campbell

Yung Joc was seven hours late to an arraignment on a felony gun charge on Wednesday and was scolded by the judge in the case after an arrest warrant was issued. But the rapper (born Jasiel Robinson) tried to clear his name in a statement released through his lawyers. "I have the utmost respect for the laws of this country and would never deliberately commit an act that would jeopardize my freedom, my family or my career," he said, according to TMZ. "I've worked very hard to achieve my goals, and it's unfortunate that this current situation has garnered more attention than the many donations I've made and the charitable work I've done with various organizations. ... I'm proud to be a citizen of America, where we are taught to believe that every person is afforded the presumption of innocence. That being said, I have full respect for the judicial system and its due process. I look forward to resolving this situation and moving forward to a positive and prosperous 2008." Joc is due back in court on January 25 in connection with his arrest Sunday at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, where authorities said he tried to take a loaded gun onto a flight. He faces a possible sentence of up to 18 months for the charge. ...

Lil Wayne told MTV News a couple of months ago that he was planning to drop Tha Carter III: The Leak on December 18, with the official Tha Carter III LP to follow February 12, but he actually slipped out a five-song EP called The Leak through Rhapsody and Amazon on Christmas Day instead. The disc features "I'm Me," "Gossip," "Kush," "Love Me or Hate Me" and "Talkin' About It." "Gossip" has been rumored to be a dis song directed toward 50 Cent, but as Weezy told Mixtape Monday in late October, "I recorded that song in 2006. ... I don't make records or say anything about people. I don't beef with people. Everybody knows that. ... My words are more important than you."...

Jessica Simpson is enjoying Nashville as the relocated singer/actress records her upcoming, yet-untitled country album there. "Nashville is a very warm city," she recently told Billboard.com. "The people are friendly and kind. There is a sense of community, which thrives on music. There is no animosity ... only respect for one another's talent." The effort is due in 2008 through Columbia Nashville and will be the follow-up to 2006's A Public Affair. Simpson didn't provide many more details on the project, and when asked if she would be hitting the road to support it, she said, "Since the record is in the beginning stages, there hasn't been much talk about a tour just yet." ...

Meanwhile, Franz Ferdinand's third album doesn't have a name yet either, but the band has shed some more light on the successor to 2005's You Could Have It So Much Better. "I suppose we're heading back to the idea of dance music," frontman Alex Kapranos told RollingStone.com. "It's more of a dance record than a rock record." The band has tapped an unlikely producer — Brian Higgins (Kylie Minogue, Cher) — for some of the songs. "It appeals to my contrary side," Kapranos said. "And I don't like the distance between bands and pop music there is now. Dr. Dre or Timbaland or the Neptunes are making the songs you've never heard before, not the indie kids strumming their f---ing guitars." ...

Chris Rock has jumped into the 2008 presidential-election conversation, comparing Senator Hillary Clinton to the current commander in chief and voicing his support for rival Senator Barack Obama in a recent interview with The New York Times. "I love Hillary Clinton, but to me she is the Democratic version of George [W.] Bush: someone who is running, and the only reason you know who this person is is because of their name. ... She has much more in common with George Bush Jr. than she does with Oprah Winfrey." He added, "It's neck and neck against a woman whose husband was the president, and [Obama is] a black man that no one knew a couple years ago. That is an unbelievable achievement." ...

Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn are divorcing after 11 years of marriage, according to People.com. The "Into the Wild" director and "Beowulf" actress have two children together, boys ages 14 and 16. ... In another marital development, Marilyn Manson and Dita Von Teese's divorce still isn't finalized yet — Von Teese filed in December 2006, citing Manson's alleged infidelity and partying — but they are now legally permitted to marry other people, People.com reports. Their marital status was terminated Thursday, but the ex-couple have yet to settle their finances. Manson, 38, has been dating Evan Rachel Wood, age 20. ...

While Josh Groban is enjoying a record-setting run atop the charts with his holiday album, Noël, Variety reports that the rest of the music business had a horrible Christmas week. Overall music sales during the Christmas shopping season were down 21 percent from last year. From the week of Thanksgiving through December 23, 83.9 million albums were sold, a steep decline from 2006's total of 105.28 million.

12.27.07

'Tis the season to get engaged, apparently. A day after it was revealed that Fergie and Josh Duhamel are going to be wed comes news that Jessica Alba is engaged to producer Cash Warren, the father of the child the "Awake" actress is expecting. The couple are expecting their first child in late spring or early summer, although a wedding date has yet to be revealed. ...

Miley Cyrus has donated a personalized, autographed Philadelphia 76ers jersey to an auction benefitting charities chosen by the NBA team. The singer/actress also known as Hannah Montana recently performed at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center, the same arena where the Sixers play. At press time, bidding for the jersey was at $520. ...

What do Jay-Z, Sammy Hagar, Mel Gibson, Hugh Grant and 50 Cent have in common? All five made the cut on Forbes' list of Biggest Celebrity Paydays of 2007. Fiddy came in second, thanks to the Vitamin Water deal that netted him $100 million, while Jay-Z made $82 million (before taxes) when he sold Rocawear to Iconix Brand Group. Hagar earned almost as much — $80 million — when Gruppo Campari bought his Cabo Wabo tequila brand. ...

Madonna's directorial debut will premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, which will take place in Germany on February 7-17. Madge's short-form comedy "Filth and Wisdom" counts among its stars Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hutz, who also starred alongside Elijah Wood in "Everything Is Illuminated." ... In related news, there's cause for Madonna and Green Day to celebrate: Amazon's DRM-free downloads store began selling tunes from the Warner Music Group catalog starting Thursday (December 27), according to Billboard.biz. The development means all four major labels have now committed to eliminating DRM from their catalogs. WMG will also sell additional digital products, including album bundles with exclusive tracks, through Amazon. ...

Don't mess with Trey Songz. Videos circulating online show the R&B singer lashing out at a fan who apparently threw ice at him during a recent concert. As seen in the clips, Trey Songz tells the DJ to cut the music after the objects are thrown, and he then leaps into the crowd with his bodyguard to go after the fan. He is later seen apologizing to the women in the crowd for the disruption. ...

Good news for Brandy: An unnamed California Highway Patrol source reportedly told TMZ.com that the woman who died in a 2006 car crash involving the singer may have actually caused the crash herself. As officials continue to consider filing vehicular manslaughter charges over the December 2006 accident that took the life of Awatef Aboudihaj, the source told TMZ that rather than being the cause of the accident, Brandy may have been a victim of the pileup. According to the sources, Aboudihaj struck the vehicle in front of her and then slammed on her brakes, which caused Brandy to hit the woman's car. The city attorney has until the end of the day Friday to file criminal charges against Brandy in the incident. In the meantime, Brandy is still facing a $50 million wrongful-death suit from Aboudihaj's family. ...

Never afraid to take the unpopular position, TV physician Dr. Phil McGraw told People magazine that he thinks Lynne Spears is doing a great job raising her kids, despite the current controversy over 16-year-old Jamie Lynn's pregnancy. "We know the Spears family, particularly the parents," he told the magazine. "An asset that Britney and Jamie Lynn both have is a great and dedicated mother." McGraw admitted that his friend Lynne Spears is "troubled right now" but is "really looking for the positives in this." The good doctor's wife, Robin, said of the Spears clan, "They're a very strong, close-knit family. ... They're relying on each other." Just days later, Us Magazine reported that the father of the Spears girls, Jamie Spears, was still so "furious" with reports that his ex-wife arranged a $1 million deal with OK! Magazine for the story on Jamie Lynn's pregnancy, that he didn't spend Christmas with his ex-wife or daughter and instead stayed in Los Angeles and worked. ...

It sounds like Rivers Cuomo may have a bigger vault than we thought. The Weezer frontman told Billboard that he would like to release a sequel to Alone -- The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, the solo demos disc that came out last week. "I would love to put out at least one more," he told the magazine. "I'm talking with the record company [now] to figure out what's the best way for me to get more of this stuff out, and if they're gonna be involved or not. But it's certainly my hope to put out as much of this stuff as I can." Cuomo is also working on what he called a "deep and detailed" memoir covering the years from Weezer's formation in 1992 to the release of their self-titled debut in 1994. He expects to spend another year working on the book before turning it in to the publisher. ...

A man who adopted a rock-star alter ego pulled a gun at a Vancouver, Washington, convenience store on Christmas Eve, after several hours of harassing patrons in the quick stop and other local businesses. According to Portland, Oregon's KPTV, the man — who has not been identified — called himself "Ozzy Osbourne" when he pulled out the gun and threatened to shoot a clerk at the convenience store. Paramedics transported the man to a nearby hospital. ... Dredg have begun writing material for their next album. A statement from the band claims the recording should start before the end of winter, and the group will be on tour in the spring. Songs expected to make the final cut include "Gathering Pebbles," "Mourning This Morning" and "McGuffin." ...

The Anti-Defamation League has come to the defense of actor Will Smith following comments he made about Adolf Hitler during a recent interview with a Scottish newspaper. Smith has claimed his words were twisted, and the ADL has accepted the actor's explanation. "We welcome [his] statement that Hitler was a 'vicious killer' and that he did not mean for his remarks about the Nazi leader to be mistaken as praise," the group said in a statement, according to multiple reports. The ADL also praised Smith for taking "immediate steps to clarify his words and condemn Hitler."

• Yung Joc
• Jessica Simpson
• Franz Ferdinand
• Josh Groban
• Lil Wayne

Josh Groban's <I>Noël</i>
Photo: WEA/ Reprise

After four weeks of unadulterated retail domination, it looked as though Josh Groban's impressive run at #1 might come to a close with the release last week of Mary J. Blige's eighth studio offering, Growing Pains. And why not? After all, this is Mary J. we're talking about — you know, the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul," who has sold more than 40 million records worldwide.

It wouldn't have been much of a stretch to assume Blige's latest would be the record that finally dethroned Groban's holiday collection, Noël, on Billboard's top 200. But, of course, Blige's album hasn't been touted all month long by Oprah as the "one Christmas CD every family should have," like Groban's has. That glowing endorsement aired once again in a rerun of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Monday.

Despite Blige's track record — three of her albums have debuted at #1, most recently 2005's The Breakthrough, which scanned more than 727,000 units — and widespread name recognition, after the dust of the last-minute shopping rush settled, Blige's LP bowed at #2, selling more than 629,000 copies. Groban's Noël sold close to 756,600 units, pushing total sales of the disc past the 3.5 million mark. Groban's is the first Christmas album to ever top the chart for five straight weeks.

The rest of the top 10 is cluttered with some of the year's best-selling releases, including Alicia Keys' As I Am, which drops one spot to #3 with 473,800 copies sold. The Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden follows at #4 with 312,800 scans, while Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus closes out the week with sales of 260,000, enough to land the disc in the #5 position.

The 26th installment in the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series sits in the #6 spot, having sold another 235,000 units, while Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride trails at #7, with 215,800 sold. Taylor Swift's eponymous debut holds at #8, with 186,700 scans, and at #9, it's the soundtrack to "High School Musical 2," which sold 184,600 copies. Rounding things out at #10, up two spots from the previous week, is Chris Brown's Exclusive, selling 176,200 units. Overall sales of the disc shot up a whopping 66 percent.

The week before Christmas was a solid one for sales overall: The 200 releases comprising next week's Billboard albums chart topped out at 10.6 million, up from the previous week's sales of 7.2 million. But a mere eight newcomers cracked the top 200 this week, according to the latest SoundScan figures, with only one album — Blige's — entering in the chart's top 10. The second-highest charting new release, R&B stud Jaheim's The Makings of a Man, debuts at #11 with 175,900 sold.

Coming in at #15 with 143,400 sold is Lupe Fiasco's new one, Lupe Fiasco's "The Cool," followed at #33 by Kirk Franklin's Fight of My Life, which scanned more than 74,400 units. The soundtrack to director Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" checks in at #56, after selling nearly 47,000 copies, while WWE Raw's Greatest Hits follows at #68, with 40,300 snatched up. Chingy's Hate It or Love It bows at #84, with 31,500 sold. Lastly, debuting at #163 with about 14,200 scans, it's Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo's first solo outing, Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo.

• Josh Groban
• Mary J. Blige
• Carrie Underwood
• Taylor Swift
• Chris Brown

Josh Groban's <i>Noël</i>
Photo: WEA/ Reprise

Since its initial release 10 short weeks ago, Josh Groban's Noël has unexpectedly gone from being just another in a long list of forgettable Christmas-centric LPs to the best-selling album of 2007. With nearly 2.8 million copies sold — most coming within the last four weeks — Noël has usurped the "High School Musical 2" soundtrack (which has sold just over 2.7 million units) and Daughtry, the 2006 self-titled debut by "American Idol" finalist Chris Daughtry's band, (2.3 million) for that title.

What's more, Noël, which has increased in sales each week and has remained in the Billboard top 10 all those weeks, has shattered several sales records, thanks in large part to Oprah Winfrey's recent endorsement of the album as "the one Christmas CD every family should have."

According to the latest SoundScan totals, Noël, which sold another 669,000 copies, is the first Christmas album to spend four consecutive weeks on top in the chart's 51-year history. It's also only the second Christmas album to ever spend a total of four weeks at #1, tying it with Elvis Presley's 1957 LP Elvis' Christmas Album.

Noël is also the first album of any kind to spend four consecutive weeks at #1 and experience a sales increase each of those weeks since No Doubt's 1995 outing Tragic Kingdom, and the 669,000 copies the Groban album sold last week denotes the biggest single-week tally for a Christmas album since Kenny G's Miracles: The Holiday Album sold 819,000 copies during one of the last weeks of 1994. Plus, Noël is on pace to pass the 3 million-sold mark, which would make it the only album released in 2007 to reach that plateau.

Needless to say, everything's coming up Groban on Billboard's weekly albums chart. But Noël's sales aren't the only interesting development on next week's chart. For starters, a total of 10 new records enter next week's top 200, though none debut in the chart's top 10. The highest-charting debut of the week comes in at #11: Face Off, a collaborative album from rapper Bow Wow and R&B singer Omarion, sold 107,000 copies during its first week in stores, falling about 13,000 scans short of #10 finisher Garth Brooks' Ultimate Hits, which sold 119,400 copies.

Behind Groban at #2 is Alicia Keys' As I Am, with sales reported at 292,300, and the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden follows her at #3 with 241,000 scans. Meanwhile, the 26th addition to the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series comes in at #4 with 191,800 sold, and at #5, with 180,000 scans, it's Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas Song. The aforementioned "High School Musical 2" soundtrack holds at the #6 position with sales of 178,000, and Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus trails in the #7 spot, having sold another 177,500 units. Country crossover artist Taylor Swift's self-titled debut climbs one spot to #8 with 138,700 sold, and Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride falls two spots to #9 with sales of 137,500.

Rapper Birdman's 5 * Stunna was the top 200's second-highest charting debut offering, coming in at #18 with 86,000 sold. Mario's Go follows at #21 with 76,900 scans, and coming in at #25 with 68,500 copies snatched up, it's the Wu-Tang Clan's 8 Diagrams. The-Dream's Love/Hate bows at #30 with sales of 58,900, and rapper Beanie Sigel returns to the chart at #37, having sold 49,300 copies of his latest, Solution.

The Wal-Mart exclusive High School Musical: Hits Remixed enters the chart at #42 with 42,300 scans, while Gucci Mane's Back to the Traphouse debuts at #57 with 31,700 sold. The Dave Matthews Band's Live at Piedmont Park occupies the #68 slot, thanks to 27,400 scans, while Puerto Rican songstress Ednita Nazario's Real opens at #101 with 18,000 sold.

• Josh Groban
• Daughtry
• Elvis Presley
• No Doubt
• Kenny G

Josh Groban Takes The Stage In Melbourne, Australia

• Josh Groban

2008 Grammy Parties

• Ashlee Simpson
• Fall Out Boy
• Rihanna
• Paris Hilton
• Miley Cyrus

2008 Grammy Awards Performers And Presenters

• Foo Fighters
• Beyoncé
• Rihanna
• Aretha Franklin
• Mary J. Blige

Gwen, Beyonce, Paris, Game, More At The 2006 American Music Awards

• Gwen Stefani
• Beyoncé
• Weird Al Yankovic
• Game
• Josh Groban