Leona Lewis

Leona Lewis Delays Album Release To 2012

28 Sep 2011 12:04:23 EDT

'I'm feeling so inspired right now and have decided to continue recording,' singer says of Glassheart.
By Jocelyn Vena

Leona Lewis fans will have to wait to hear what the singer has in store for them on her album Glassheart. The British pop chanteuse has taken to her Facebook page to announce that the album is now expected to drop next year, instead of November as originally planned.

"Just wanted to update everyone on the album!" she wrote. "I'm feeling so inspired right now and have decided to continue recording! I have a collection of songs that I'm so in love with and I [know] there's more to be born so it means the album will come early next year x."

Despite the delay, she did tease fans with a single, "Collide," earlier this year. The song, written and produced by Autumn Rowe and produced by Sandy Vee, garnered attention when Swedish DJ Avicii claimed it was plagiarized from his 2010 track "Penguin." Avicii was eventually given co-writing credits on the track, NME.com reports.

A video for the song dropped this past summer and featured Lewis getting flirty on the beach. The dance-flavored track was something of a departure for Lewis, who made a name for herself with big ballads and mid-tempo hits like "Better in Time" and "Bleeding Love."

She's reportedly been in the studio with a number of A-listers including Chuck Harmony, Claude Kelly, Ryan Tedder, Fraser T. Smith, Dallas Austin, Rico Love, Naughty Boy and Ne-Yo. The album is a follow-up to 2009's Echo, which spawned hits like "Happy" when it dropped.

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Jennifer Hudson, Leona Lewis Recorded 'Sex And The City 2' Track Wearing Stilettos

25 May 2010 13:55:48 EDT

'You got to be chic at all times,' producer Claude Kelly says of session for 'Love Is Your Color.'
By Jocelyn Vena

NEW YORK — "Sex and the City 2" comes out Thursday, but the film's soundtrack album is available Tuesday (May 25). The album features everyone from the female cast of the flick singing the Helen Reddy empowerment tune "I Am Woman" to Alicia Keys covering the Blondie classic "Rapture," and the one and only Liza Minnelli doing Beyoncé's "Single Ladies." But the album's divalicious duet is "Love Is Your Color," by Leona Lewis and "SATC1" star Jennifer Hudson.

At the film's New York premiere, the song's writer/producer, Claude Kelly, admitted that it was quite an experience getting the two big-voiced singers together for the track. "I'm like the diva whisperer," he joked to MTV News on the red carpet. "It was amazing. I've worked with both of them before and it was a fun experience to have two different kinds of voices and two different styles come together for this movie. It was the perfect vehicle for that."

Kelly also revealed that the two singers got in character to record the song for the film. "The most incredible thing ... I didn't know this, but there's a rule that to work on 'Sex and the City,' all the women have to wear stilettos," he said. "You got to be chic at all times. So they both got the memo: They both came in with their stilettos on to record, which is weird because most artists come in their comfortable clothes. Leona and Jennifer both show up, completely ego-less, in stilettos, ready to record. It was a completely amazing moment."

He jokingly added, "I wasn't complaining, because they looked great in stilettos — I didn't [wear mine]. I didn't get the memo. Maybe next time!"

Check out everything we've got on "Sex and the City 2."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Jennifer Hudson, Leona Lewis' 'Sex And The City 2' Duet Hits Internet

11 May 2010 15:00:01 EDT

Uplifting ballad 'Love Is Your Color' is first single from the May 25 soundtrack.
By Jocelyn Vena

Jennifer Hudson and Leona Lewis offer some hope to the lovesick Carrie Bradshaws of the world with their new duet "Love Is Your Color," which hit the Internet this week. The song is featured on the star-studded "Sex and the City 2" soundtrack, out May 25.

In the first "SATC" flick, Hudson not only played Carrie Bradshaw's assistant, she also recorded the song "All Dressed in Love" for the soundtrack. And though Sarah Jessica Parker confirmed that the Oscar winner doesn't have a cameo in the May 27 sequel, Hudson's fans can still enjoy her and Lewis on the midtempo ballad.

"Love is your color/ It makes you shine," the duo sing in the chorus. "Sometimes it's hard to cope/ Long as you always know to show your color/ It comes from inside/ Everything else is black and white/ Love is your color."

The soundtrack also features the cast of the flick, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon, performing the the Helen Reddy ode to female empowerment "I Am Woman," as well as previously released songs including Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" and Erykah Badu's "Window Seat."

The uplifting, empowering songs of the soundtrack seem to fit right in line with the "black-and-white road movie" feeling that Parker says is prevalent in "SATC 2."

"We're hoping that it's fun and light," she said, contrasting it to the melancholy first movie. "It feels like a soufflé. We've traveled a great distance to film it, and I think we have beautiful cinematic images and pictures, and I think everybody else is really good in it. I'm probably not, but I've enjoyed doing it."

What do you think of the new song? Does it fit the "Sex and the City" theme? Share your reviews in the comments.

Check out everything we've got on "Sex and the City 2."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Christina Aguilera Announces Summer Tour Dates

10 May 2010 09:51:00 EDT

Bionic tour, which includes 20 North American dates, kicks off July 15 in Connecticut.
By Jocelyn Vena

Christina Aguilera may or may not be herself when she hits the road this July. The singer, who releases her new album, Bionic, on June 8, has announced a 20-date North American trek starting on July 15.

The singer will be joined by British pop chanteuse Leona Lewis. Tickets go on sale May 21, and all fans who purchase tickets before June 4 will receive a download code for a digital copy of the album on June 7, the day before its official release. Before Aguilera takes her act on the road, she'll appear on the "Today" Show Summer Concert Series on June 8, and she'll perform at the MTV Movie Awards on June 6.

Aguilera recently spoke to MTV News about the tour, saying that she planned on taking the show all around the world. "It'll be a world tour. We start in the U.S., then off to Europe, resulting in Asia/Australia, which is usually how they go for me," she revealed. "It'll probably take about a year to get through that cycle."

Without giving away too many details, she added, "It'll be a fun, fun tour; again with the look and feel of Bionic."

Like the video for her recently released clip for "Not Myself Tonight," Aguilera said there's definitely a visual theme to the album. "I wanted to maintain and keep consistent with the look of the album packaging and book," she said about the sexy video. "And I really wanted to keep all that in line, and so [director Hype Williams] really paid attention tour dates, and I think it's really iconic and classic."

» July 15 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
» July 17 - Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
» July 18 - Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
» July 20 - Toronto, ON Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
» July 22 - Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
» July 24 - Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
» July 25 - Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
» July 28 - Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater » July 30 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
» July 31 - Boston, MA @ Comcast Center
» August 3 - Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion
» August 5 - Atlanta, GA @ Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood
» August 7 - West Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheatre
» August 8 - Tampa, FL @ Ford Amphitheatre
» August 10 - Dallas, TX @ Superpages.com Center
» August 12 - Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
» August 14 - Phoenix, AZ @ US Airways Center
» August 15 - San Diego, CA @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
» August 18 - Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View
» August 19 - Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Are you stoked to see Christina Aguilera on tour this summer? Tell us in the comments!

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'Sex And The City 2' Soundtrack Features Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson

21 Apr 2010 16:45:00 EDT

Leona Lewis, Erykah Badu, Liza Minnelli and even the 'SATC' ladies themselves appear on the album.
By Jocelyn Vena

Two days before "Sex and the City 2" hits theaters on May 27, fans of the HBO franchise can pick up the movie's soundtrack to get pumped up for the NYC foursome's return.

As if having a number of A-list artists on the soundtrack weren't enough to get fans dancing in their Manolos, it turns out that the stars of the flick — Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon — also appear on the soundtrack, performing the Helen Reddy female-empowerment tune "I Am Woman."

Other songs on the album include a duet between Jennifer Hudson and Leona Lewis called "Love Is Your Color"; Hudson appeared in the first flick as Carrie's assistant, but it's not known whether she'll return for the sequel. Additionally, Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" will be on the soundtrack. The original Jay-Z version of the song appears in the "Sex and the City 2" trailer. Keys will also have a third song on the soundtrack, a cover of the Blondie song "Rapture."

Eyrkah Badu's "Window Seat" will be on the album, as well as a new song from Dido, who worked with T-Pain and Cee-Lo on the song "Everything to Lose." Liza Minnelli, who appears in the sequel, also has two songs on the soundtrack: a cover of Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and a duet with Billy Stritch, "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye."

Recently, the ladies of "SATC" spoke to MTV News about what fans can expect from the film. "This time around, Carrie has been married for a couple of years. She is about to publish her fourth book," Parker said. "She is content. ... She and her husband, John, have found a nice and modest apartment, and they are living their lives, and she is seeing her friends as much as time allows."

What do you think of "SATC" soundtrack lineup? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Sex and the City 2."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Leona Lewis, Rod Stewart Sign On For Simon Cowell's Haiti Benefit Single

22 Jan 2010 13:49:00 EST

Group will record R.E.M.'s 'Everybody Hurts'; Coldplay, Paul McCartney have also been approached.
By Jocelyn Vena

Leona Lewis, Rod Stewart and Michael Bublé have all signed on for Simon Cowell's charity single to benefit Haiti. The "American Idol" judge announced he'd be putting together a lineup for the song on Wednesday in London.

Boy band JLS, who competed on Cowell's "The X Factor" in 2008, will also be involved, the BBC reports. They will be covering R.E.M.'s classic song "Everybody Hurts." The Sun newspaper, which is working with Cowell on the project, reports that Cowell is trying to get Robbie Williams, Coldplay, Take That and Paul McCartney on the track as well.

"The agony and anguish for the people that we are seeing on our television screens is something that British people want to respond to," said Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who reportedly asked Cowell to organize a charity single. "Simon Cowell can make a huge amount of money to help the people of Haiti."

The BBC also reports that a number of acts including Coldplay, Blur's Damon Albarn, the Arctic Monkeys, the Chemical Brothers, the Kooks, the Pet Shop Boys, Klaxons and Pearl Jam are participating in an eBay auction that was set up by Glastonbury Festival organizer Emily Eavis. Albarn recorded a song for the auction and Coldplay's Chris Martin signed a Viva La Vida tour jacket.

The auction, which started Friday (January 22), will run for 10 days. "I visited Haiti with Oxfam a few years ago. It's a country of extreme poverty and brutal living conditions. Most people in Port-au-Prince live in tin shacks," Martin said. "The earthquake that has struck Haiti will have turned the city into an unimaginable hell."

Learn more about what you can do to help with earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti, and for more information, see Think MTV. Join George Clooney and Wyclef Jean for MTV's "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon, airing commercial-free Friday, January 22, at 8 p.m. ET, and visit HopeForHaitiNow.org or call (877) 99-HAITI to make a donation now.

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Simon Cowell Plans Haiti Benefit Single

21 Jan 2010 11:20:00 EST

Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Leona Lewis and Susan Boyle among rumored singers on Cowell's project.
By Jocelyn Vena

While Simon Cowell was attending the National Television Awards in London on Wednesday night, the "American Idol" judge confirmed to reporters that he is securing acts for a charity single he's putting together to help aid the victims of last Tuesday's devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Cowell was reportedly encouraged to do the single by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who reportedly said he would waive the country's VAT (value added tax) so that more proceeds from the track could go to charity. U.K. paper The Sun speculated that in addition to big names such as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, Cowell would recruit his own reality-show stars, Leona Lewis and Susan Boyle, to record the track.

"We are going to do a single. I've got to get it together in 48 hours," he said, according to the Telegraph. "I wanted to do something for Haiti, and we had a request from the prime minister to put a record together."

In a Sky News video from backstage at the awards show, Cowell said that he isn't sure who might be able to come onboard for the track, but he already had a confirmation from fellow "X Factor" judge Cheryl Cole. "I don't know who's available, but I will get a record out in seven to 10 days. ... [I want] as many good people as possible. We'll get a lot of people."

Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie are also said to be working on an anniversary edition of "We Are the World," with proceeds going to Haiti relief. Usher, Natalie Cole, and John Legend have been invited to participate and it the recording will be later released as a video and single. Rihanna and Maxwell also recorded performances on "Oprah" that are being sold to raise money for the cause.

The music performances from MTV's "Hope for Haiti Now" benefit on Friday will be available for purchase and download on the iTunes Store. Beginning on the day of the benefit, iTunes customers will be able to exclusively pre-order both the full Hope for Haiti Now album ($7.99) and the two-hour video telecast ($1.99). Pre-orders will be delivered in the days following the telethon. Individual audio performances will also be available for purchase and download for 99 cents each in the days following the telethon. Apple, the record labels and the artists will donate their share of the proceeds to Haiti relief funds managed by "Hope for Haiti Now" charities.

Learn more about what you can do to help with earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti, and for more information, see Think MTV. Join George Clooney and Wyclef Jean for MTV's "Hope for Haiti" telethon, airing commercial-free Friday, January 22, at 8 p.m. ET.

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Leona Lewis In 'Horrible Shock' After Attack At Book Signing

16 Oct 2009 09:18:00 EDT

Peter Kowalczyk was reportedly in line for five hours to meet the singer before punching her in the head.
By Gil Kaufman

British singer Leona Lewis is still shaken and distraught after a man attacked her during a book signing on Wednesday.

Lewis, 24, was punched in the head while autographing copies of her recently released autobiography "Dreams" at a Waterstone's outlet in London's Piccadilly neighborhood. The "Bleeding Love" singer was suddenly attacked by a man who had been waiting in line but then unexpectedly struck her before being detained by Lewis' handlers and store security. Lewis fled the scene with her hand covering her face and was taken to a hospital as a precaution. She did not need treatment for her injuries.

Peter Kowalczyk, 29, was charged with common assault for allegedly attacking Lewis and is being held under the Mental Health Act at a psychiatric hospital, according to BBC News. Lewis canceled a promotional visit to Germany on Thursday (October 16) in the wake of the attack.

In a statement released on Thursday, Lewis said she was still in "horrible shock" and that the assault had left her "extremely hurt and upset." The BBC reported that Lewis' spokesperson said she had been signing books for about 90 minutes when Kowalczyk — who reportedly waited in line for five hours to meet the singer — walked up and punched her.

An eyewitness to the incident told the BBC that Kowalczyk was laughing as he was being reprimanded by officials. "She was running out with her hand over her eye and I just saw a man on the floor," the fan said. "Suddenly the security all jumped on him and they were trying to pull him out and he was just laughing, he thought it was funny."

On Friday, England's Sun reported that Kowalczyk was a reject from the British talent show "X Factor" — which Lewis won in 2006 — and that he was jealous of the singer's success. Kowalczyk is slated to appear in court on the charges on October 26.

The Grammy-nominated singer's second album, Echo, is scheduled for release next month.

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Leona Lewis Punched At London Book Signing

14 Oct 2009 16:39:00 EDT

Police arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of assault after the incident.
By Eric Ditzian

Leona Lewis' book signing in London for her new memoir, "Dreams," took a frightening turn Wednesday (October 14) when the singer was assaulted by a young man.

According to various news reports, Lewis was signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans when a man from the line stepped up and punched her in the head. He was quickly restrained by security guards and later arrested by police. The Associated Press reports that London's Metropolitan police said a 29-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assault and was being held in custody.




	Leona Lewis At Her Book Signing In London

"Leona was the victim of an unprovoked attack," the singer's rep said in a statement. "The police were called immediately and medical attention has been sought. Leona is understandably shaken and apologizes to the fans she was unable to meet and complete signings."

Photographs show Lewis leaving Waterstone's bookstore with sunglasses on and a pained expression on her face. Reports indicate she was taken to a doctor as a precautionary measure.

BBC News published a statement from Waterstone's that said, "There was an incident at our Leona Lewis signing this afternoon and the event was immediately stopped. We are now doing everything we can to support the police in their enquiries."

An eyewitness at the store told the BBC, "[Lewis] was running out with her hand over her eye, and I just saw a man on the floor. Suddenly the security all jumped on him and they were trying to pull him out and he was just laughing. He thought it was funny."

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Leona Lewis, Justin Timberlake Song Leak Under Investigation

20 Aug 2009 11:04:00 EDT

Simon Cowell's record label, SyCo, suspects computer hackers snagged 'Don't Let Me Down.'
By Jocelyn Vena

Police are investigating the leak of a new Leona Lewis song featuring Justin Timberlake called "Don't Let Me Down," which is being considered for the British pop star's sophomore album, The Sun reported.

Simon Cowell's record label, SyCo, has partnered with the IFPI, which represents record companies worldwide, and the police to look into what they suspect was the work of computer hackers. According to The Sun, SyCo's computers were also allegedly hacked last month, and unfinished recordings by "X Factor" winner Alexandra Burke were leaked.

"IFPI is working with SyCo and law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and Europe to trace the individuals who stole the Leona Lewis/Justin Timberlake track," Jeremy Banks, head of IFPI's Internet Anti-Piracy Unit, said in a statement, according to Billboard.com. "The police investigation is ongoing. Such pre-release leaks, however they are sourced, are highly damaging to our members who invest considerable budgets in marketing and promoting music ahead of release."

SyCo thinks that the track was leaked by hackers and not by someone within the industry. In a statement to the BBC, a label rep said that the company's computers had come under a "sustained attack." The rep added, "We will certainly look to bring charges against those who are responsible."

Lewis, who won "X Factor" in 2006, released her chart-topping debut, Spirit, in 2007. Her second album is reportedly due out in November.

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