Leona Lewis
Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images

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.

• Leona Lewis Signs Copies Of Her Book 'Dreams' In London

• Leona Lewis

Leona Lewis at her London book signing on Wednesday
Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images

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."

• Leona Lewis Signs Copies Of Her Book 'Dreams' In London

• Leona Lewis

Justin Timberlake
Photo: George Napolitano/ FilmMagic

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.

• Justin Timberlake
• Leona Lewis

The Fray's self-titled album
Photo: Epic

It's been four years since Denver rockers the Fray released their debut album, but clearly their fans have not forgotten the "How to Save a Life" group. The band's self-titled second album will debut at the top of the Billboard albums chart next week with sales of 179,300, according to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan.

That top debut will push Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Working on a Dream — which held the spot for just one week — down to #2 with sales of 101,600, a 55 percent slide. Country singer Dierks Bentley will debut at #3 with Feel That Fire, which sold 71,200 copies.

The rest of the top 10 is mostly full of the usual suspects, once again. Taylor Swift will continue her strong chart run with Fearless, sliding down to #4 with another 63,900 moved, enough to push her over the 2.5 million mark. She's followed by Beyoncé's I Am ... Sasha Fierce (#5, 51,400), Nickelback's Dark Horse (#6, 47,300), new entry Kidz Bop 15 (#7, 38,400), Jamie Foxx's Intuition (#8, 36,600), Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreak (#9, 33,900) and Keyshia Cole's Different Me (#10, 33,600).

Further down the chart, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus debut at #14 with 26,000 copies sold of Lonely Road. Florida melodic metalcore rockers A Day to Remember pop in at #21 with sales of 21,700 of their third studio album, Homesick. Best New Artist Grammy winner Adele's debut, 19, jumps 29 spots to #27 on sales of nearly 17,900, and she'll likely see an even bigger jump next week. Adele's iTunes live EP, iTunes Live From Soho, will debut at #105 with sales of 6,300.

Another Best New Artist nominee, fellow British crooner Duffy, saw a double-digit percentage leap for Rockferry, which was boosted to #53 with sales of 11,500. A number of other Grammy-winnings artists were helped by the awards show, including Coldplay (#31, 16,700), Leona Lewis (#42, 12,700) and Jennifer Hudson (#47, 12,100). Expect Album of the Year winner Raising Sand from Robert Plant and Alison Krauss to have another huge bump next week. Sand flies back onto the charts at #68 thanks to about 9,400 new converts, a 286 percent increase from the previous week.

Elsewhere on the chart, "American Idol" season-six third-place finalist Melinda Doolittle's full length debut, It's Your Love, will land at #58 in its first week with close to 10,900 units moved. Franz Ferdinand's Tonight: Franz Ferdinand nose-dives 50 spots after last week's top 10 debut, down to #59 with 10,700 in sales. Cannibal Corpse bring their Evisceration Plague in at #91 with 7,500, and just a few customers behind is the latest from Ben Kweller, the country-tinged Changing Horses at #92. Indie darlings Heartless Bastards debut at #150 with sales of 4,200 for Mountains.

The top 10 might get shaken up a bit next week by new albums from Lily Allen, "Saturday Night Live" viral faves Lonely Island and the latest from Bobby Valentino.

• The Fray
• Leona Lewis
• Bruce Springsteen
• Duffy
• Adele

Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift arrive to the 51st Annual Grammy Awards
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The 2009 Grammy Awards saw everything from a pregnant rapper to matching pop stars to a James Bond-channeling boy band. There were a few rock bands who opted to go chic instead of grungy, and, of course, there were the mistakes of the night.

Here, we examine the good, the bad and the "what was that person thinking?" from the 2009 Grammy red carpet. (For a by-the-minute recap of the fabulous and faulty fashions, check out our Grammy red-carpet live blog.)

Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift looked equally sophisticated in their black gowns and diamond drop earrings. It was adorable that the girls, who would later perform together, went for borderline-matching looks on the carpet. Katy Perry looked classy in a pink gown that hearkened back to Madonna's iconic look in the "Material Girl" music video. The members of Death Cab for Cutie and Kings of Leon cleaned up nicely for the show, donning suits and very little facial hair.

(Vote for your favorite Grammy red-carpet look in our poll!.)

The Jonas Brothers, who are known for their fashion choices, went for well-fitted, classic tuxes and looked like one cohesive, swoon-worthy group. Duffy looked age-appropriate, fun and classy in a short black dress and bouffant. Sheryl Crowe looked great in a baby-blue Grecian-style gown.

But, as always, there were some questionable fashion choices. Leona Lewis' dress looked ill-fitting and wasn't flattering to her curvy figure. Paula Abdul's yellow dress should be sent back to the future where it belongs. Jennifer Hudson made her red-carpet entrance with a disappointing dress that looked like it had a bib.

Solange Knowles made another "interesting" fashion choice with her very, very mini yellow dress that looked more like a shirt than a dress. Estelle was going for edgy, but her dress looked stiff and really took away from her awesome makeup ode to Motown. John Mayer was one of the more disappointing men of the evening. He knows how to look elegant, but his outfit Sunday bordered on boring. It was basically just a black jacket and suit pants.

The one woman who left us thinking, "Really?" was M.I.A. We should cut her some slack for showing up on her due date, but there's no excuse for wearing a blue-and-green printed dress that made her look like a globe. For appropriate maternity chic, she should have called Cate Blanchett for advice.

Will Lil Wayne grab all the gramophones? Is Katy Perry going to tell her girl rivals to kiss off? Can Coldplay march off with a win? MTV News is all over the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, so stay tuned for interviews, analysis and more before, during and after the big night.

• Who Will Win At The Grammys?

• Stars Rock The 2009 Grammy Red Carpet
• 2009 Grammy Awards Show

• Miley Cyrus
• Taylor Swift
• Leona Lewis
• M.I.A.
• Katy Perry

Leona Lewis and Clive Davis
Photo: Amy Graves/WireImage

Leona Lewis has certainly had a whirlwind year since making her big debut at last year's Clive Davis pre-Grammy party and in the process has become a Grammy-nominated pop star. Her song "Bleeding Love" became an inescapable hit in 2008 and catapulted the singer to worldwide fame.

"Basically, we sat down and we went over all the material ... there was something about [the song] and her digging deep and the edginess of it and the strength of it," Davis explained about why they chose to record the song. "We all said, 'This is the first single.' We've had other hits coming from the album. This is a major album. This year has been so special. This is an appropriate time to celebrate that success."

Now she's up for three awards at Sunday's Grammys, and she offered a big thank you to Davis. "To have Clive Davis debut me, it's been so amazing," Lewis told MTV News at the party's rehearsals. "It was great and I think when he speaks, people listen, so to give me that opportunity is invaluable. And Clive is being celebrated [at the party]. I just can't wait."

But Lewis, about whom Davis said "music runs through her veins, her soul," is not resting on her laurels. The Brit is already hard at work prepping for her next album, and she's got some heavyweight talent onboard. "So I've just started to get in the studio. I've been in with Ryan [Tedders, who wrote 'Bleeding Love']," she said, adding, "and [I've been in with] Justin Timberlake as well, which has been great."

She admits, however, that's it all in the very early stages. "I'm writing and creating and in that real beginning process. It's really exciting. I feel lucky to be able to go in with people like Justin."

The singer, who recently recorded a version of the Snow Patrol song "Run" for the re-release of her album, Spirit, hopes to mix things up a bit on the upcoming album. "I mean, when I first started my training, I was an opera singer, and then I got into jazz and the blues. I love all types of music. I definitely wanna bring those elements into it. It's all about great songs and great music."

Will Lil Wayne grab all the gramophones? Is Katy Perry going to tell her girl rivals to kiss off? Can Coldplay march off with a win? MTV News is all over the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, so stay tuned for interviews, analysis and more before, during and after the big night, Sunday, February 8.

• 2009 Grammy Award Performers
• 2009 Grammy Award Nominees

• Leona Lewis

M.I.A.
Photo: Michael Loccisano/ FilmMagic

A year after Amy Winehouse swept awards in five major Grammy categories, 2009 could be another big year for female artists. A handful of emerging women could receive a major boost — as Winehouse, Alicia Keys and Lauryn Hill have experienced in years past — if they take home gold on Sunday.

One of the categories with the strongest female representation is Record of the Year, which pits Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" against Adele's "Chasing Pavements," Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love," M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes," and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' "Please Read the Letter."

Krauss is the only woman to represent in the Album of the Year category, but Song of the Year includes nods for Sara Bareilles ("Love Song"), Adele ("Chasing Pavements") and Estelle ("American Boy"). And while the not-so-new Jonas Brothers seem to have the inside line on the Best New Artist award, they're up against some serious competition from British crooners Adele and Duffy, reggae-loving Philly native Jazmine Sullivan and country trio Lady Antebellum, which, despite the name, features only one female member.

Entertainment Weekly critic Leah Greenblatt said Adele and Duffy might cancel each other out and split the vote, paving the way for the JoBros to win, even though the brotherly group has been around for a while. "Grammy voters kind of need to be smacked over the head to notice an artist," she said. "They have a history of sort of nominating 'new artists' [who are] not actual new artists and giving the prize to people who have actually been around for a few albums. And they just couldn't ignore the Jonas Brothers this year, probably."

Regardless, Greenblatt said Adele and Duffy could have good nights, though she thought Duffy might suffer from the incessant Amy Winehouse comparisons. "She really didn't have the impact, and she doesn't have the problems that make her so compelling, and she's not in the tabloids," Greenblatt said. "She's just a girl with a great voice who does retro soul. A lot of people love her, but I don't think anyone is, like, so passionate about her." Adele, on the other hand, who is nominated for four Grammys, has a better chance, Greenblatt said, because she's also nominated in the Song of the Year category as well and a number of the female-only categories, in which her chances are strong.

As for the Pop Collaboration With Vocals race, no matter how you slice it, a woman's going to come out on top, with nominations for Alicia Keys with John Mayer ("Lesson Learned"), Madonna with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland ("4 Minutes"), Krauss and Plant ("Rich Woman"), Rihanna and Maroon 5 ("If I Never See Your Face Again") and Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown ("No Air").

Though a trio of women are up for Best Pop Vocal Album — Sheryl Crow, Duffy and Leona Lewis — with Grammy-catnip acts like the Eagles and James Taylor alongside them, that might be a tough one to pull out. The odds are better for a win in Best Dance Recording, as super-buzzed Lady Gaga ("Just Dance") as well as Madonna ("Give It 2 Me") and Rihanna ("Disturbia") face more-obscure-to-the-Academy acts like Sam Sparro, Hot Chip and a live track from Daft Punk.

With Lil Wayne, Coldplay and Ne-Yo leading the nominations race, Greenblatt said it's clearly a "man's year," but she's pulling for Leona Lewis to win a couple. "Because [she's] someone [who] went from zero, total unknown to basically a mega-star in a year, and she had two ginormous hits and two more singles coming off the album, and people like her, she's got an incredible voice and she's never naughty," she said.

She's the lone female nominee in the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals category, but it's possible Jennifer Hudson (with Fantasia) could pull off an upset against such veterans as Boyz II Men, Al Green, Raphael Saadiq and Anthony David with her song "I'm His Only Woman." The nomination comes in a year in which Hudson released a well-received debut album and suffered a personal tragedy with the murders of her mother, brother and nephew in Chicago. Hudson also has another chance in the Best R&B album category with her self-titled debut.

Newcomer Jazmine Sullivan has a number of chances to arrive on the Grammy stage, but she's facing a wily female veteran in Mary J. Blige in the Best Contemporary R&B Album category (not to mention Ne-Yo), and Hudson, Ne-Yo and Keyshia Cole in the Best R&B Song race.

"Someone has to pinch me, because I don't believe it," Sullivan told MTV News shortly after she heard about her five nominations. "I wanted to make the best project that I could. That's why I wrote it. All the songs are very personal to me, and for people to appreciate it, it feels good." Though she knows she faces stiff competition from the JoBros, Sullivan said Best New Artist is the one she'd like to win.

One artist Greenblatt said she doesn't expect to see onstage — other than for her performance — is Katy Perry, who is nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. "She seems like Grammy catnip. ... She's a big pop star, she's really fun to look at, she always wears a great outfit," Greenblatt said, adding that Leona Lewis could win the category but might have to overcome the same TV-talent-show stigma that painted "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson after her first album. On vocals alone, she predicted Lewis would still win, though, but warned to look for Adele as a possible dark horse if she doesn't capture any other major awards.

Will Lil Wayne grab all the gramophones? Is Katy Perry going to tell her girl rivals to kiss off? Can Coldplay march off with a win? MTV News is all over the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, so stay tuned for interviews, analysis and more before, during and after the big night, Sunday, February 8.

• Who Will Win At The Grammys?

• M.I.A.
• Leona Lewis
• Katy Perry
• Rihanna

Leona Lewis
Photo: CBS News

In case you were wondering just why "Gossip Girl" star Chace Crawford ended up in the new Leona Lewis music video for "I Will Be" as the video's resident eye candy, Grammy-nominee Lewis has revealed the big reason as to why she cast him in her video.

"I'm a big 'Gossip Girl' fan," she told The Associated Press. "I love that show. I just love it. We get it back home [in England], but it's like one season back, so it's kind of hard to catch up, but I love it."

And just why is the series the singer's guilty pleasure? "I don't know. I just love the fashion," she said. "It's fun and I think it's a very cool series."

The singer also talked a bit about the other British female contenders who have found themselves with Grammy nominations, as the British pop invasion has became decidedly saturated by pretty girls with big voices.

"They're just so talented — Amy Winehouse, Adele, Duffy," she said. "Just really talented singers and they've been given opportunities. If you have the right talent you can get to where you want to be."

The 22-year-old also opened up about the deluxe edition release of her album, Spirit, which topped the U.S. charts on its release last year, and what extras the fans can expect from it. "There's been remixes of 'Bleeding Love' done that people have been like, 'I need to get my hands on this but haven't been able to,' " she said. "We've included that and we're including the single 'Run.' [It also has] the making-of, behind-the-scenes things. It's really good."

Finally the Brit revealed that she has yet to decide what she'll be wearing to the big ceremony and who she'll be taking as her date for the night. "I'm just thinking about the outfit. We're really going for it. I'm getting quite a few outfits together. I'm not sure who I'm going to wear.

When asked who her date for the big night will be, she joked, "Probably Clive!," referring to Clive Davis, the head of her American label, who has taken a big role in the singer's career. "I don't know!"

Maybe Chace is free that night ...

• Leona Lewis

Lil Wayne accepting a Moonman for Best Hip-Hop Video alongside T-Pain at the 2008 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

There's no denying that 2008 was a huge year for Lil Wayne. And the New Orleans rapper told Devin Friedman of GQ magazine that the 2008 VMAs served as the highlight.

"Of course it was the biggest year of my life. Obviously. The VMAs were the biggest moment," said Wayne, who took home the Moonman for Best Hip-Hop Video for "Lollipop" and also performed alongside Leona Lewis and T-Pain at the show.

He said the accolades were unexpected and that he hadn't anticipated taking home any awards. And he attributed his success to hard work. "The payoff was sweet, of course, but the whole year has been mostly consumed with hard work," Wayne said. "I work every single day. I work every single hour. That's what my year has been like. Work."

The rapper's unrelenting work ethic has paid off. In the past year, he earned the highest first-week sales for his album Tha Carter III, starred in a documentary, "The Carter," which premieres at this year's Sundance, and received eight Grammy nominations, more than any other act this year.

He also found time to star alongside Forest Whitaker, Taraji P. Henson and Bow Wow in the upcoming sports drama "Hurricane Season." The movie, directed by Tim Story, is about a high school basketball team assembled in post-Katrina Louisiana and led to the state championship by Whitaker's character.

Wayne said that working with Whitaker was an intense experience. "If I ever thought I was slipping on what I'm doing around here, I would remember those experiences of being around him," he said. "He looks at you once, speaks to you once, he's not ever going to make eye contact with you again."

Despite his already overbooked schedule, Wayne said that he's trying to write a movie of his own. He's a big fan of horror movies and would love to script one, but he has to get over himself first.

"I always think I be trippin'," he said. "Like, you think you're too good. Shut your stupid ass up, you can't write no movie. I always sit down and be like, 'I'm gonna write me a movie.' Then about five minutes later I be like, 'You really think you're a little genius, don't you.' "

While Wayne said that he gets up every morning and enjoys a normal breakfast like anyone else (although his is prepared by his chef), he explained to GQ that he was unique, to say the least. He said he doesn't like to do, think or say anything that people expect. And it's not a hard decision, either. He's just being himself.

"I'm a Martian," he said. "I like to be different. And what's more different than a Martian?"

• Lil Wayne
• T-Pain
• Leona Lewis
• Bow Wow

Britney Spears in "Womanizer"
Photo: Jive Records

OK, so I've heard your shouting and read your missives. You want — nay, demand — that Britney Spears and Danity Kane end up on some sort of year-end list (you also want me fired, it would appear). Well, it looks like you might be in luck ... about the list, not the firing, sadly.

Because while no amount of nasty comments is going to get me to budge when it comes to my list of the Best Songs of 2008, the brain trust here at MTV News has figured out a way to appease you — all of you.

See, while my list of songs was, well, mine (novel concept for a column, I know), it wasn't exactly representative of — how do I put this? — reality. Sure, things like "radio play" and "video streams" were taken into consideration, but they were weighed against things like "is this song terrible?" or "can I live with myself if I include 'Womanizer' on my list?" So, we've dug deep in our techno-vaults and come up with a list of songs that is 100 percent based on reality. Actually, it's based entirely on you.

We've compiled the Top 25 Music Videos of 2008, as determined by streams on MTV.com (as of December 12). No opinions, no rock criticisms, no bands you've never heard of (God forbid!). Just pure numbers -- eDemocacy in action, as it were -- because each click, in a sense, was a vote. And so, without further ado, here's your list of the best videos of the year. Looks like we've got two songs in common ... there's no accounting for taste, I guess.

25. Pink - "So What"
24. Danity Kane - "Bad Girl"
23. Madonna - "Four Minutes"
22. Rihanna - "Don't Stop the Music"
21. Tokio Hotel - "Ready, Set, Go!"
20. Beyoncé - "If I Were a Boy"
19. Rihanna - "Disturbia"
18. Paramore - "Decode"
17. Katy Perry - "I Kissed a Girl"
16. Rihanna - "Take a Bow"
15. Pussycat Dolls - "When I Grow Up"
14. Usher - "Love in This Club"
13. Beyoncé - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)"
12. Jonas Brothers - "When You Look Me in the Eyes"
11. Chris Brown - "With You"
10. Leona Lewis - "Bleeding Love"
9. Jonas Brothers - "Burnin Up"
8. Flo Rida - "Low"
7. Mariah Carey - "Touch My Body"
6. Britney Spears - "Piece of Me"
5. Danity Kane - "Damaged"
4. Chris Brown - "Forever"
3. Jordin Sparks (featuring Chris Brown) - "No Air"
2. Lil Wayne - "Lollipop"
1. Britney Spears - "Womanizer"

What are your favorite songs of 2008? Let us know below! We just might use your list in forthcoming news pieces!

[This story was originally published at 1:57 pm E.T. on 12.12.08]

• Top 25 Music Videos Of 2008 — Picked By You!

• Britney Spears
• Beyoncé
• P!nk
• Jordin Sparks
• Mariah Carey

Leona Lewis Signs Copies Of Her Book 'Dreams' In London

• Leona Lewis

2009 Grammy Weekend Parties

• Lil Wayne
• Rihanna
• Akon
• T.I.
• Cassie

EMA 2008: Red Carpet Recap

• Beyoncé
• Leona Lewis
• Tokio Hotel
• P!nk
• Katy Perry

Rihanna, 50 Cent, More Join Justin Timberlake And Friends Concert In Vegas

• Justin Timberlake
• Rihanna
• 50 Cent
• Jonas Brothers
• Leona Lewis

Rihanna, Amy Winehouse, Mika Rock The 2008 Brit Awards

• Rihanna
• Mika
• Ozzy Osbourne
• Kylie Minogue
• Amy Winehouse