Jennifer Hudson
Photo: Harrison Funk/ WireImage

The newly revamped VH1 Divas show is getting more divalicious with every new artist added to the already A-list lineup. The latest addition is Jennifer Hudson, who will join fellow "American Idol" alums Jordin Sparks and Kelly Clarkson for the big show on September 17, hosted by none other than former "American Idol" judge, Paula Abdul.

And as if it that weren't enough girl power for one stage, VH1 announced that Sheryl Crow, Cyndi Lauper and Melissa Etheridge will also be joining divas Miley Cyrus, Adele and Leona Lewis.

When the show airs live from the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, the night's presenters will include Lauren Conrad, Whitney Port, Toni Braxton and Kathy Griffin. Also scheduled to appear are actor Ryan Kwanten, who plays Jason Stackhouse on "True Blood," and the cast of "Fame."

In August, Sparks talked to MTV News about how excited she was to make her Divas debut in the first such concert since one held back in 2004 in Las Vegas. "I'm so stoked," she said. "I remember hearing about the Divas shows and watching them when I could, but I usually had to go to sleep when I was in school, so I couldn't usually watch them. ... I'm so excited. It's going to be so much fun."

Sparks was also thrilled about getting the chance to see Abdul again. "I'm so excited to see her. I can't wait to give her a huge hug," she said. "I love Paula."

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Jordin Sparks and Britney Spears at the 2008 Video Music Awards
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Before last September, Jordin Sparks had never been to the VMAs and had never met current tourmate Britney Spears. So, when she found out she was seated near Spears at the 2008 Video Music Awards, she knew it was her chance to speak up and have some time with the star.

First, she had to get over being nervous to be in the very presence of Britney. "Well, I didn't say anything," Sparks told MTV News. "I [didn't] know what to say, 'cause it was her big comeback thing. She was nominated for however many [awards], and she looked beautiful, and I was like, 'Aaah!' "

Though she was starstruck, Jordin couldn't help but feel a little jealous when Britney's "Piece of Me" beat her "No Air" in the Best Female Video category last year. "She did [beat me], and I was very sad," she said. "I was like, come on, she already has three of them, at least give me one."

But Sparks' mother wasn't about to allow her to miss the opportunity to meet the pop princess. "My mom had to ask her for a picture," the "Idol" winner admitted. "My mom was with me, 'cause I couldn't do it. I was like, 'Mom, I cannot ask her for this picture.' "

Sparks said Spears at first seemed reluctant to take the photo. "Then Larry [Rudolph], who is her manager, was like, 'She's on your label; you're going to want to take the picture.' And I was like, 'Cool!' " she said. "And I understand too because she wanted to sit and watch. But we got to take the picture!"

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards will take place September 13 at 9 p.m. ET. Additional celebrity presenters and performers will be announced in the coming weeks. To be the first to find out the inside scoop, follow the Inside MTV Twitter account at Twitter.com/InsideMTV.

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Jordin Sparks
Photo: MTV News

Although Jordin Sparks, who recently became one of the opening acts on Britney Spears' Circus tour, has yet to get her invite in the mail to Kevin Jonas' possible winter wedding to Danielle Deleasa, she's already planning what she might sing if Kevin decided to hire her as the wedding singer.

"Maybe I'll be their wedding singer — who knows? That would be crazy," Sparks, who toured with the Jonas Brothers over the summer, told MTV News. "So, maybe I'll get invited, and if I don't, it's OK."

But Sparks does have a song in mind for the wedding — a girl has to be prepared for all scenarios! "I'd sing 'Lovebug' ... I'm just kidding," she joked. "Actually, my friend Gina from 'Idol' got married, and she asked me to sing at her wedding, and she had me sing 'I Want To Hold Your Hand,' but the one from 'Across the Universe.' It's a lot slower and a lot more different, so I might sing that."

Sparks also revealed that Deleasa is starting to get used to her fiancé's hectic schedule. She's already hit the road with Nick, Joe and Kevin, and Sparks couldn't be happier for the couple. "I know that she comes in and she'll be on the tour for a little while, and you can just really tell that they're in love. And they're so cute, so all the congratulations. I love you guys. You're amazing."

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Photo: MTV News

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Jordin Sparks
Photo: MTV News

It's been quite a busy summer for Jordin Sparks. Right after wrapping up a stint opening for the Jonas Brothers, she hit the road with Britney Spears for her Circus tour — needless to say, it's been a whirlwind few weeks for the "American Idol" winner.

"It was a little intimidating, just because it's such a different crowd than the Jonas crowd," she told MTV News as she made her way over to Madison Square Garden for the her third night on Britney's tour. "And you go to a Britney concert and it's all of her fans and they have grown up ... but if they scream, they're screaming 'cause they want to. They don't scream at just anything, so when I took that stage and I could hear a little bit through that they were excited and that I wasn't so out of place, it was awesome."

Sparks only got the call to join Britney a couple of weeks ago, and even though she barely had time to rehearse, she couldn't say no. "The night before the Britney tour, we went into this ... little warehouse, drew a big circle of chalk and just tried to put some stuff together — and once we got on that stage it just sort of fell together," she said. "We still have some stuff to work on ... we walked off the stage like, 'We hope people liked it.' "

Sparks has yet to meet Britney or even catch her set, but hopes that will change as the busy tour continues.

"Well, I know they all have to get their hair and makeup done and there's dancer after dancer ... I haven't seen Britney yet, but I heard she's doing really well," Sparks said. "I haven't gotten to watch her show yet either. ... I've seen all the dancers and they've got cloaks on [so that people don't see what they're wearing] and they're just walking around everywhere."

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Jordin Sparks
Photo: MTV News

Jordin Sparks will be joining previously announced divas Miley Cyrus, Adele, Kelly Clarkson and Leona Lewis at the revamped VH1 Divas concert September 17. Sparks said she would love the opportunity to put her own spin on Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A." for the show.

"You know what? I would take 'Party in the U.S.A.' in a second," she told MTV News. "I would take it in a heartbeat. I love that song."

The "American Idol" champ said she'll be singing a hit or two of her own for the show and would love the chance to collaborate onstage with one of the newbie divas or even an established diva, including her three favorite: Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Christina Aguilera.

"I think it would be really cool if we all could sing a song together. I know the moment I try and out-sing somebody else, I will sound horrible," she joked. "I was hoping that I could sing with somebody as well. I named a few people like Mariah [Carey] and Whitney [Houston], but that's probably not going to happen.

"I'm so stoked," she continued. "I remember hearing about the Divas shows and watching them when I could, but I usually had to go to sleep when I was in school so I couldn't usually watch them. ... I'm so excited. It's going to be so much fun."

The night will also reunite the singer with former "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul, who will be the night's host. Sparks is definitely looking forward to sharing the stage with Abdul again. "I'm so excited to see her. I can't wait to give her a huge hug," she said. "I love Paula."

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Britney Spears
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images

On Monday, Britney Spears will be back Stateside to kick off the second leg of her Circus tour. After initial shows in Ontario on Thursday and Friday (August 20 and August 21), Britney will be back in New York City playing three nights at Madison Square Garden, with Jordin Sparks and Kristinia DeBarge opening for the pop princess.

In March, Britney started the first leg of the tour in New Orleans. But this time around the pop star promises that a few changes have been made to her show to keep it fresh for her fans.

	Britney's Circus Tour Kickoff

Last month Britney revealed the new twists fans can expect for this part of the tour. "We have a song called 'Mannequin' that we're adding to the show, which I'm really, really excited about, so it should be interesting," Britney said. "We have to update [the show] or it gets really boring."

In addition to adding a song to the set, the singer, who is nominated for nine Video Music Awards, revealed that she's also going to alter a few numbers. "We've changed up a couple of numbers in the show," she said. "So that's going to make it a lot more fun for me and the dancers. It'll be cool."

The Ottawa Citizen called her show Friday a "visual extravaganza," declaring that Britney's performance proved that "she's almost ready to slay the masses" and adding, "between the imaginative lighting, the extra personnel and the video clips, Spears' concert gets top marks for visuals."

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Jordin Sparks
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/ Getty Images

It's been quite a busy summer for Jordin Sparks. Not only did she release her new album, Battlefield, she's also been on the road with the Jonas Brothers. But come August 24 at New York's Madison Square Garden, when Britney Spears kicks off the second leg of her successful Circus tour, Sparks will be opening up for the VMA-nominated pop princess.

According to Spears' Web site, Sparks will be joining previously announced acts Kristinia DeBarge as well as Girlicious and One Call.

"Britney's show is incredible and for me to be a part of it is a great opportunity," Sparks said in a statement.

Ciara had originally been tapped to open for Spears, but her rep confirmed to Rap-up.com that she will no longer be part of the tour. She may pop up on a few dates in the future, but nothing has been confirmed.

Last week, Britney released the first official footage from her tour. The video, shot when Britney was in her brunette phase earlier this summer, features the opening sequence, in which gossip blogger Perez Hilton introduces the tour's ringmaster: Spears herself. Then, as the screen lifts, Britney descends from the ceiling dressed in her ringmaster jacket, hot pants and knee-high boots, whip in hand, and performs the tour's title track, "Circus."

Last month Spears revealed the new twists fans can expect when the tour starts up again. "We have a song called 'Mannequin' that we're adding to the show, which I'm really, really excited about, so it should be interesting," she said. "We have to update [the show] or it gets really boring."

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Jordin Sparks
Photo: MTV News

It was only a few weeks ago that Jordin Sparks stopped by the MTV News offices and told us she was rooting for Paula Abdul to stay on "American Idol." Now, with the news that Abdul will not be returning to the show, the "Idol" winner said she can't help but feel like the departing judge is irreplaceable.

"Well, when I first heard the rumor a couple weeks ago, I was just like, 'I really hope it doesn't happen,' " she told MTV News at the Teen Choice Awards in Los Angeles. "Now that she's gone, I don't think anybody will ever be able to replace Paula. She's amazing."

Recalling her days of competing on the show, Sparks noted how helpful Abdul was in keeping the contestants focused and strong. "She's one of the original judges, and from being a contestant ... how stressful the show is and how everything goes, Paula was always there to soften the blow and make sure we were OK."

She felt that with her absence she thinks competing "will be a little bit harder, a little bit crazier for the contestants. ... But we'll see what happens," she added. "I'm still gonna tune in and watch and see what the dynamic will is like."

Even though she's an avid Paula supporter, Sparks still has love for the remaining judges, including Kara DioGuardi, who wasn't even a judge on the show while Sparks was competing. "I'm glad Simon [Cowell], Randy [Jackson] and Kara are coming back. But nobody can replace Paula."

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Fabolous' <i>Loso's Way</i>
Photo: Def Jam

Fabolous will have his way with the Billboard 200 charts next week, when his latest, Loso's Way, snags the top spot in a quiet week of album sales. According to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan, the Brooklyn MC will easily nab the top spot as the only debut in the top 10, with sales of almost 99,000.

The rest of the heap will remain largely unchanged, with Daughtry's sophomore effort, Leave This Town, resting comfortably again at #2 (62,000), a resurgent Maxwell hanging onto the #3 spot with BLACKsummers'night (55,000), followed by the Now That's What I Call Music! 31 compilation (#4, 53,000) and the Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) (#5, 49,000). While most of the usual suspects in the top 10 suffered either double-digit declines from the previous week or marginal losses/gains, band of brothers (and cousin) Kings of Leon continue their upward march with Only by the Night, which saw a 21 percent increase in sales to 47,000 and will move up two spots to #6.

The Hannah Montana 3 soundtrack settles in at #7 (41,000), trailed by Demi Lovato's Here We Go Again (39,000), which shed 64 percent of its business in week two. Taylor Swift's Fearless comes in at #9 with 38,000, and Lady Gaga's Fame, which holds tight at #10 (27,000).

Just outside the top, Ashley Tisdale's Guilty Pleasure debuts at #12 (25,000), while Kristinia DeBarge musters an initial bow down at #23 with her debut, Exposed (17,000). After a disappointing #7 entry last week, former "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks' second album, Battlefield, took a serious hit in week two (18,000), dropping down to #21 and shedding 63 percent of its first-week sales.

While Fab can celebrate his #1 debut in the top 200, over on the Comprehensive Albums chart, he'll have to settle for being #2, as Michael Jackson's Number Ones once again leads the overall sales parade with sales of 114,000 in a top five still dominated by three of the late pop star's albums, including Essential Michael Jackson (#3, 69,000) and the iconic Thriller (#5, 59,000).

The top 10 should remain relatively settled next week, as no major releases are slated to hit the charts.

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