Mya
Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/ Getty Images

It's been an intense season, during which Aaron Carter got Robert Pattinson comparisons before eventually getting the boot, the dancers paid tribute to Michael Jackson and everyone from Taylor Swift to Shakira stopped by to perform on the show. But now the "Dancing With the Stars" finale is upon us, and the final three celebs to make the grade and dance in next week's show will be Mya, Donny Osmond and Kelly Osbourne.

On Tuesday night, model Joanna Krupa and her partner, Derek Hough, were voted off the show. "I really came in the underdog so it's great that people actually appreciated our dances and our hard work," Krupa told People, adding that she was happy for her new friend Kelly Osbourne. "[Kelly and I] basically said, 'Whatever happens happens.' It was an amazing experience. We both came in here with no experience, so whoever gets to the next level, we're going to root for, and I'm definitely going to root for Kelly to win."

Osbourne, Osmond and Mya are now left to battle it out for "Dancing" supremacy next Monday night before the winner is declared on Tuesday. In a previous interview with MTV News, Mya spoke about competing against Osbourne, noting that she was surprised that she wanted to be on the show to begin with.

"I didn't think it was in her personality to do something like this, but it's great that she is," she said of rock progeny Osbourne. "And I actually met her last night, and she's very cute and funny, so she's very sweet. I was just surprised, 'cause she's more of a rebel to me."

• 'Dancing With The Stars' Cast Announced

• Mya
• Kelly Osbourne

Mya
Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/ Getty Images

You might have seen her getting down in music videos, but Mya said she still has a lot to learn before she shimmies and shakes on "Dancing With the Stars" starting September 21.

"So far, rehearsals have been really tough," she told MTV News. "So it's kind of like reversing my thinking, 'cause hip-hop is so loose and not structured, and tap is so loose and close to the ground and not structured, so it's so different. I have a lot of work to do in reversing how I think. And I have a lot of partner work to do, so I hope it doesn't hurt me. But I think music and musicality is going to help me stay on the beat."

Mya's dance partner, Dmitry Chaplin, is making sure he's supporting her every step of the way. "He's really nice and patient, thankfully. He's a pleasure," she said. "He's very talented."

Mya said Chaplin is also helping her get all the basics down before she can do any fancy footwork. "He's doing these drills every day to get me to learn the basics first, 'cause he tells me I can't possibility learn a routine and perform in front of professionals if I don't know the basics," she explained. "So we're really at the beginning point of learning basics and the waltz and the cha-cha. We haven't really moved far beyond that. He's taught me, like, two small combinations."

Mya admitted that, aside from learning the dances, she's also scared she might hurt herself in the process. "I had to change my shoes yesterday, 'cause my heels were starting to hurt — and keep in mind that everything was in heels," she said. "I had a foot fracture last year, and I've had injuries in the past. That's what my worst fear is. To get injured ... is something I'm nervous about."

She might be nervous, but she's also excited to get to know the other celebrities dancing this season — one of whom she was surprised to learn would be on the show. "I didn't think it was in her personality to do something like this, but it's great that she is," she said of rock progeny Kelly Osbourne. "And I actually met her last night, and she's very cute and funny, so she's very sweet. I was just surprised, 'cause she's more of a rebel to me."

Mya can take comfort in knowing that she has someone to rely on if she should need some advice somewhere along the way: her "Lady Marmalade" co-star Lil' Kim, who competed last season. "She was so good!" she said about Kim. "I haven't spoken to her [for advice], but she did say she was going to come out and support me."

• 'Dancing With The Stars' Cast Announced

• Mya

Aaron Carter
Photo: George Pimentel/ WireImage

For those keeping track of what the dance cards will look like come September 21 when the new season of "Dancing With the Stars" begins, a few more dance partnerships have just been revealed.

"Entertainment Tonight" reports that singer/actress Mya has been partnered up with Emmy-nominated "So You Think You Can Dance" alum Dmitry Chaplin. Former Congressman Tom DeLay will be dancing with former "DWTS" champion Cheryl Burke, whose previous partnerships include Drew Lachey and Emmitt Smith. And singer Aaron Carter will dance with Karina Smirnoff.

	'Dancing With The Stars' Cast Announced

Though the official announcement of the dance partners won't come until Monday, news of other "DWTS" pairs broke on Wednesday: "Entourage" star Debi Mazar will be paired with Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and Donny Osmond is rumored to be paired with Kym Johnson.

Ashley Hamilton's dad, actor George Hamilton, revealed that his son will be dancing with Edyta Sliwinska, whom George danced with when he competed on the show. And Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin tweeted that her partner is dancer Alec Mazo.

Carter recently shared how excited he is to be on the show.

"I want to compete on 'DWTS' 'cause I love competition. I love learning new things, so it's going to be really good," Carter told "ET." "I don't know any ballroom steps, nothing like that, so it's a whole new kind of thing for me."

• 'Dancing With The Stars' Cast Announced

• Mya

Mya
Photo: Mike Coppola/ WireImage

Although it was rumored that LaToya Jackson and Paula Abdul were possible contenders for the upcoming season of "Dancing With the Stars," neither will actually be vying for the title of dancing king or queen when the new season begins on September 21 on ABC.

Singers Mya, Macy Gray Aaron Carter and Donny Osmond and MTV reality star Kelly Osbourne, however, are scheduled to compete on the show. Former Republican Congressman Tom DeLay, "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" star Melissa Joan Hart, actress Debi Mazar, George Hamilton's son Ashley Hamilton, model Joanna Krupa, model/actress Kathy Ireland, mixed-martial-artist Chuck Liddell, professional snowboarder Louie Vito, Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin and former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin will also be battling for the mirror-ball trophy.

	'Dancing With The Stars' Cast Announced

The announcement was made on "Good Morning America" Monday (August 17) by the show's host Tom Bergeron, who announced that the show will work a little differently for its ninth season.

"In the middle of our season, over three weeks, we're going to have double eliminations," Bergeron said. "We'll lose about half of our cast within that period. It will be a ballroom bloodbath."

Last week, the show's executive producer, Conrad Green, talked about the rumors of Abdul joining the cast, saying that it was a "possibility." "She has never been trained in ballroom and Latin," he told ETonline. "So that is a possibility as well. It is for Paula to work out. At the moment, the world is her oyster. Everyone wants her. At our show, we are great fans of Paula."

Last season, gymnast Shawn Johnson beat out the likes of Lil' Kim, Steve-O and Belinda Carlisle to win the dancing competition.

• 'Dancing With The Stars' Cast Announced

• Mya
• Kelly Osbourne
• Macy Gray

Snoop Dogg
Photo: MTV News

Snoop Dogg struck a plea deal on Thursday (September 20) in his weapon-possession case stemming from an arrest at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, in September 2006, The Associated Press reports. The rapper (real name: Calvin Broadus) was sentenced to 160 hours of community service and three years' probation, and ordered to make a $10,000 charitable donation. In the September incident, Snoop was found carrying a collapsible baton — while he claimed it was for a video shoot, authorities considered it to be a dangerous weapon. If he doesn't violate the law again, his felony conviction will be reduced to a misdemeanor after one year. "We are very pleased with the outcome," his attorney Donald Etra told AP. "He wants to get on with his life." ...

Game (real name: Jayceon Taylor) was given a conditional discharge on Thursday in the case involving the rapper allegedly impersonating a police officer in New York in November, AP reports. Per Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Marc Whiten's order, if Game is not arrested again within six months, the misdemeanor criminal-impersonation charge will be dismissed. Claiming innocence, Game had rejected previous plea deals that would have kept him out of jail in exchange for a guilty plea. He was arrested after allegedly telling a cab driver he was an undercover cop and instructing him to run red lights, but Game denied that claim and instead argued that the driver decided to run the red lights on his own. Game's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, pointed out Game's facial tattoo and said it was doubtful the driver would have believed the rapper to be a police officer. "I've never seen a cop with writing all over his face," Game said. ...

First Dr. Dre makes an appearance at the VMAs, and now he's got an interview in the latest issue of GQ — maybe Detox really is on the way. The notoriously reclusive producer appears in the 50th anniversary issue of the men's magazine and, for the first time, goes on record about the rift between his Aftermath artists 50 Cent and Game. "It was definitely a conscious thing," he said of his decision to not speak up in the past about the feud. "This is something that's between labelmates. I've said, 'When you guys are ready to make some music, let's get down. Let's get in the studio.' All that other stuff, that's not for me. This is something they created, so it's something they have to handle. I don't feel like I have to choose a side." Dre also revealed that, at the behest of Interscope Chairman Jimmy Iovine, he once asked Game not to dis 50 during a New York show. "I knew that this one wasn't gonna go away," he said. "I know these guys, and I know nobody is gonna back down." ...

Gerard Way had some kind words to say to the University of Maine's campus newspaper, The Maine Campus, about Bon Jovi — his band, My Chemical Romance, will open for the rock legends October 25-26 as part of the christening of Newark, New Jersey's Prudential Center. "I grew up as a Bon Jovi fan. Whenever you're dealing with Bon Jovi or Springsteen, it's just a great honor and at that point; it doesn't really matter what genre you play. It really just kind of matters that you're all from New Jersey." Way also had a thing or two to say about MCR being labeled "emo," although his words on that subject weren't so kind. "Emo bands were being booked while we were touring with Christian metal bands because no one would book us on tours. I think emo is f---ing garbage, it's bullsh--. I think there's bands that unfortunately we get lumped in with that are considered emo and by default that starts to make us emo. All I can say is anyone actually listening to the records, put the records next to each other and listen to them and there's actually no similarities. I think emo's a pile of sh--." ...

Yung Joc will perform at the 100th anniversary of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity's Cornell University chapter, according to the campus' paper, The Cornell Daily Sun. The October 12 concert, to be held at the Zeta Beta Tau house, will serve to benefit the Children's Miracle Network, an alliance of hospitals for children. ... Jennifer Lopez has a new album on the brain — Brave, which drops October 9 — but that hasn't stopped her from hooking up with Carlos Santana for a new slice set to be featured on the rock icon's Ultimate Santana collection, due October 16. Baby Bash also surfaces on "This Boy's Fire," which was partly produced by Sean Garrett. Two more previously unreleased collabos — "Into the Night" with Nickelback's Chad Kroeger and "The Game of Love" with Tina Turner — also beef up the best-of disc. ...

Missy Elliott posted a teaser on her Web site announcing that she's back in the lab cooking up a new album that she hopes to release in the spring. No other information was given on the album, which would be her first since 2005's The Cookbook. ... As huge as the Kanye West/ 50 Cent album showdown appeared to be, LP sales are still down 9 percent compared to the same week last year, Billboard reports. ... Tired of seeing Kanye West all over the place? Too bad. The recent Gradu-ee will perform September 29 on "Saturday Night Live." Spoon will play on the show the following week. ...

Sammy Hagar says he wouldn't have toured with the reunited Van Halen without founding bassist Michael Anthony, who has been replaced with Eddie Van Halen's son, Wolfgang Van Halen, for the band's reunion tour with singer David Lee Roth. According to the Web site for Internet radio station KNAC, Hagar said, "I wouldn't do it without Mike. ... If Eddie wants to play with his son, fine. I love my son too, but I got him a different job. ... I just think the fans are gonna walk away with a little bit of a disappointment because Mike's a big part of that band." ... In related news, Van Halen have tossed three more California dates onto their much-anticipated reunion tour, which kicks off September 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The band will hit Fresno on November 29, Anaheim on December 18 and will now bring the jaunt to a close in Oakland on December 22. ...

The inaugural Girlfrenzy concert scheduled for October 27 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, California, has been postponed. Though organizers have not given any reason for the show's cancellation, they said in a post on the show's MySpace page that it will be rescheduled for 2008. The show was to feature Avril Lavigne, Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow and Colbie Caillat. ... After three years, Scratch magazine is calling it a day. The hip-hop mag's final issue features 50 Cent and Timbaland on the cover and is due out at the end of September. No reason was given for the magazine's shuttering. ...

The 10th anniversary edition of Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp will get an extra dose of power this year with appearances from Slash, Who singer Roger Daltrey, Vince Neil and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh. Also on the roster for the event, to be held November 7-11 in Las Vegas, are Cream bassist Jack Bruce, as well as members of Iron Maiden, Yes, Steely Dan, Bad Company, Megadeth and Winger. ... Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will give Asbury Park, New Jersey, fans a sneak preview of their upcoming tour in support of their upcoming album Magic, which is due October 2. The Boss has scheduled a pair of benefit shows for Monday and Tuesday night at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, with the $100 tickets selling out almost immediately when they went on sale Thursday morning (September 20), according to the promoter. ...

Gene Simmons, glam-rocker, reality-TV star, magazine entrepreneur and ... science-fiction author? You read it right — the Kiss frontman has penned the first installment of a planned sci-fi series, "Zipper," for release in November. The heavily illustrated book tells the story of a drone soldier from another planet who "begins to question his purpose and contemplate his autonomy ... he realizes his own capacity for individualism and wishes to explore it further," according to Simmons' Web site. ... Hardcore heroes Snapcase are getting back together for a one-off show to benefit Callum Robbins, the son of Jawbox's J. Robbins who is suffering from spinal muscular atrophy. The gig will go down at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York, on November 24 and also feature 108 and Triple Threat. The show is being organized by 108 member and author Norman Brannon, whose "The Anti-Matter Anthology: A 1990s Post-Punk & Hardcore Reader" — a tome revolving around the defunct fanzine — is due in stores November 6. ...

Gina Gershon can't stop the rock. The "Showgirls" actress, whose 2004 reality show chronicled her attempted crossover into the world of rock and roll, will preview songs from her upcoming album In Search of Cleo during a residency at the New York club the Box every Sunday and Monday night in October. Backed by a five-piece band and three dancers, Gershon will unveil the suite of songs — all of which she wrote or co-wrote — that tell the true story of the search and recovery of her lost cat, Cleo. According to a press release, the 10 songs focus "on the literal and metaphoric experience of the search, not just for Cleo, but for love," using "biting humor, country, blues and jazz-influenced singing and a splash of sexy."

09.19.07

So a judge orders Britney Spears to submit to random drug tests and abstain from alcohol, and what does she apparently do next? Goes partying! The singer reportedly went clubbing into the wee hours Tuesday night in West Hollywood, California, hitting both Winston's Bar & Grill and the Hyde Lounge — with a flurry of paparazzi on her tail, of course. Observers told People magazine that the singer was brought shots at Hyde, though it's unclear whether she actually drank them. Meanwhile, Spears has changed legal counsel again. On Monday, her divorce attorney Laura Wasser had stepped down to be replaced by Marci Levine, and on Wednesday (September 19), Levine prepared to step down to be replaced by Sorrell Trope. Trope's office told MTV News on Wednesday that the firm was in the process of being retained by Spears and anticipated that the necessary paperwork would be signed and taken care of by the end of the day. ..

In other Britney news, Justin Timberlake talked a bit about the singer Wednesday on "Oprah." When asked what he thinks is "going on" with her, Timberlake said, "I don't know, to be honest with you. I haven't spoken to her in years. I mean, there's no ill will — I have nothing but love for her. It's funny because we dated each other at a time ... wow, I haven't talked about this in a long time. It's interesting. ... We were teenagers, you know? I think that's basically the best way to describe what happened to us. I think she's a great person, and I don't know her as well as I did. ... What I do know about her is she has a huge heart, and she is a great person." ...

Talk about adding insult to injury. After pounding 50 Cent in the first week of their album showdown, Kanye West has bested his rival a second time by clinching the Music of Black Origin Award for Best Hip Hop artist. Amy Winehouse scored the Best U.K. Female prize, surprisingly, while Rihanna nabbed Best International Act honors, and Ne-Yo's "Because of You" earned Best R&B Title and Best Song. ...

If you caught Ashlee Simpson giving her yet-untitled album a test-drive at the VMAs earlier this month, you probably noticed the Cure's Robert Smith didn't make it onto the LP. In July, Smith voiced doubt about the supposed collabo taking place, and while Simpson told MTV News during her "Chicago" run in London late last year that "To work with Robert Smith would be an honor," she recently told Rolling Stone, "I am a huge fan, but would never expect to write with Robert Smith from the Cure." Boyfriend Pete Wentz also doesn't appear on the November disc — "We both keep our music separate from each other," she told Rolling Stone — however Timbaland, the Neptunes, Kenna and Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy did make the cut. ...

Game better be game to take on a new lawsuit — an Indian music-and-film company is suing him and Timbaland over "Put You on the Game." The song was featured on the Compton, California, rapper's Aftermath debut, The Documentary, and produced by Timbaland. According to documents obtained by MTV News, Saregama India — which filed a similar copyright-infringement suit in 2002 against then-Aftermath artist Truth Hurts — claims the duo used the song without its permission and also cites a number of additional parties, including Aftermath Entertainment, G-Unit Records and producer Danjahandz, who co-produced the track. The company is suing for a yet-undetermined sum. ... But everything isn't so dire these days for Timbo — the super-producer is soaping up for a scheduled appearance on an upcoming episode of "One Life to Live" scheduled to air October 9. He will perform two songs from his recent Shock Value LP, with the artists who accompanied him on the studio tracks: "The Way I Are" with Keri Hilson and "Apologize" with One Republic. ...

Let's set one thing straight: Chris Brown does not dislike Ciara, even though he's quoted as saying "I don't want Ciara" in the current issue of Vibe. "I didn't say I didn't like her," the singer recently told MTV News. "They mixed it around. Ciara, you know you're my homie." The article states that Brown's face "curls up as if he'd just noticed a foul odor" when the topic of Ciara is broached. "They made it seem totally bogus," he explained. "I don't have any grudges. I'm not a negative person. And I don't have a certain type. I don't care if you're a model or if you work at a gas station. Everyone's human. Everyone's a loving human being. And everyone has a chance with me." ... The New York Times loves Justin Timberlake's Southern Hospitality — the "SexyBack" singer's baby-back ribs in particular. "The most confounding thing about Southern Hospitality is those baby back ribs. Because they are, against tall odds, good," Peter Meehan wrote in his review, which was published Wednesday. "They are juicy but not fatty, seasoned simply and evenly and scented with a strong but not overpowering hit of smoke." ...

Australian Web site Undercover has reported that Rage Against the Machine are tipped to be one of the headliners of the upcoming Big Day Out festival. Though organizers haven't yet announced the lineup of the January shows, the group has reportedly booked gigs in Sydney and Melbourne on January 22 and 30, respectively, which closely coincide with BDO shows in those cities. ... The Foo Fighters will serve as the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" on October 13, little more than two weeks after the band's Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace lands in stores. ...

Mya is stepping up for a good cause: The singer will perform at Skool'd, a benefit event to be hosted by Richie Rich on Wednesday night at Sol in New York. Eve DJ Miss Saigon and Le Tigre's JD Samson will spin at the benefit, the proceeds from which will go to the Ali Forney Center and the Reciprocity Foundation — organizations that assist lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender homeless youth in New York. Later Wednesday evening, she will host a party celebrating the launch of travel and lifestyle magazine Terrace at New York's Pink Elephant. ... A number of hip-hop and R&B acts have signed on to play a September 29 concert in support of the Jena Six, the black teens charged in connection with the beating of a white teen in Jena, Louisiana. Among the acts scheduled to play the Jena 6 Empowerment Concert at Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Alabama, according to the event's promoter, are Lloyd, Baby Boy, Twista, Jagged Edge, Tank, Killer Mike, Disturbing Tha Peace's Small World, B5, LAX Boys and Hurricane Chris. ...

Prince gave London Fashion Week the royal treatment on Wednesday when he delivered an unannounced performance during Matthew Williamson's catwalk show, Reuters reports. Once Prince's "U Got the Look" song reportedly began playing at the show, two models started dancing on the runway — after which the singer, who was sitting in the front row, started singing into a microphone from his seat. Prince them hopped on the runway and was joined by his band for the performance. "He really wanted to do this, and you don't say no to Prince," Williamson told the news service after the show. ... Bo Bice has seen the light, and it's Wal-Mart. The former "American Idol" finalist is planning to release his new album, See the Light, through the retail giant on October 23, with a presale on Walmart.com taking place beforehand. Wal-Mart will be the only terrestrial store carrying the disc, although it will be available through other online outlets. Bice, who parted ways with RCA last year, is putting out his second album through Sugar Money/ StratArt. "We had no inhibitions about what this was going to be," Bice said in a statement about the disc. "We just went in and did whatever we wanted to. The freedom shines through." ...

The Shins hope to indie-rock the mtvU Woodies this year — the band has scored three nominations, including Woodie of the Year. Lily Allen, Gym Class Heroes and Linkin Park have picked up two noms apiece, while Amy Winehouse, Common, Lil Wayne, TV on the Radio, M.I.A., Thom Yorke and Spoon have also been noticed. Don't miss the show when it airs November 15 on mtvU. ... A source told the Chicago Sun-Times that Michael Jackson is planning big things for his long-gestating comeback album. Comparing the music being recorded to the tunes on Jackson's landmark Thriller album, the source speculated that the yet-untitled, unscheduled disc might contain appearances by sister Janet Jackson and some of the other Jackson siblings. ...

Millions have watched Chris Crocker scream "Leave Britney alone!" on his hugely popular viral-video clip that recently made the rounds, and now reality-TV programmer 44 Blue Productions is hoping to parlay that success onto the small screen. Variety reports that a TV documentary soap is being developed around the 19-year-old Internet sensation — who still lives with his grandparents in Tennessee. ... According to reports from London, Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty — who has publicly stuggled with drugs — has written a song for fellow hot English mess, Amy Winehouse. The tune, "Amy on the Mend," was reportedly intended to lift Winehouse's spirits as she deals with her recent health issues and an alleged drug overdose last month, and was allegedly sent to Winehouse in a frame and signed, "Love, Pete." The Daily Star reported that the tune, timed with Winehouse's 24th birthday, features the lines, "Amy on the mend, all that passion to spend/ Like a paper Boadicea in a battle to the end, end, end." ...

Barry Bonds has piped up about Marc Ecko's move to let fans decide the fate of the baseball slugger's record-breaking 756th home-run ball, which Ecko won in an auction over the weekend, on Vote756.com. "He's stupid," Bonds said. "He's an idiot. He spent $750,000 on the ball and that's what he's doing with it? What he's doing is stupid." He added of the fans' voting, "All of those options don't weigh anything. In baseball, that number [756] stands." According to The Associated Press, Ecko issued a statement Wednesday saying he would make a custom T-shirt reading, "Marc Ecko paid $752,467 for my ball, and all I got was this 'stupid' T-shirt.' " Meanwhile, the hip-hop fashion mogul's philosophy has caught on — the man who submitted Bonds' record-tying home-run ball also plans to let fans vote on whether the item should go to Cooperstown or be destroyed. "I give [Ecko] a lot of credit in all sincerity," Ben Padnos told AP. "I understood the potential value in this." Speaking of which, there is one difference in Padnos' approach: He's selling ads on his Web site, EndtheDebate.com. ...

Owen Wilson was only supposed to have a minor cameo in Ben Stiller's "Tropic Thunder" flick, but all the same, Matthew McConaughey has stepped in to fill the actor's shoes after Wilson dropped out of the film following a suicide attempt last month, Variety reports. The movie, which is filming in Hawaii, will also star Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. and others. ...

Former Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele is now eligible for parole, having served one-third of his four-year prison sentence, AP reports. Rhode Island's parole board will meet on Wednesday to decide whether to grant parole to Biechele, who was imprisoned for igniting pyrotechnics that sparked a deadly fire four years ago at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The blaze killed 100 people and injured more than 200 others.

• Snoop Dogg
• Dr. Dre
• 50 Cent
• Game
• Missy Elliott

Britney Spears
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

So a judge orders Britney Spears to submit to random drug tests and abstain from alcohol, and what does she apparently do next? Goes partying! The singer reportedly went clubbing into the wee hours Tuesday night in West Hollywood, California, hitting both Winston's Bar & Grill and the Hyde Lounge — with a flurry of paparazzi on her tail, of course. Observers told People magazine that the singer was brought shots at Hyde, though it's unclear whether she actually drank them. Meanwhile, Spears has changed legal counsel again. On Monday, her divorce attorney Laura Wasser had stepped down to be replaced by Marci Levine, and on Wednesday (September 19), Levine prepared to step down to be replaced by Sorrell Trope. Trope's office told MTV News on Wednesday that the firm was in the process of being retained by Spears and anticipated that the necessary paperwork would be signed and taken care of by the end of the day. ..

In other Britney news, Justin Timberlake talked a bit about the singer Wednesday on "Oprah." When asked what he thinks is "going on" with her, Timberlake said, "I don't know, to be honest with you. I haven't spoken to her in years. I mean, there's no ill will — I have nothing but love for her. It's funny because we dated each other at a time ... wow, I haven't talked about this in a long time. It's interesting. ... We were teenagers, you know? I think that's basically the best way to describe what happened to us. I think she's a great person, and I don't know her as well as I did. ... What I do know about her is she has a huge heart, and she is a great person." ...

Talk about adding insult to injury. After pounding 50 Cent in the first week of their album showdown, Kanye West has bested his rival a second time by clinching the Music of Black Origin Award for Best Hip-Hop artist. Amy Winehouse scored the Best UK Female prize, surprisingly, while Rihanna nabbed Best International Act honors, and Ne-Yo's "Because of You" earned Best R&B Title and Best Song. ...

If you caught Ashlee Simpson giving her yet-untitled album a test-drive at the VMAs earlier this month, you probably noticed the Cure's Robert Smith didn't make it onto the LP. In July, Smith voiced doubt about the supposed collabo taking place, and while Simpson told MTV News during her "Chicago" run in London late last year that "to work with Robert Smith would be an honor," she recently told Rolling Stone, "I am a huge fan, but would never expect to write with Robert Smith from the Cure." Boyfriend Pete Wentz also doesn't appear on the November disc — "We both keep our music separate from each other," she told Rolling Stone — however Timbaland, the Neptunes, Kenna and Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy did make the cut. ...

Game better be game to take on a new lawsuit — an Indian music-and-film company is suing him and Timbaland over "Put You on the Game." The song was featured on the Compton, California, rapper's Aftermath debut, The Documentary, and produced by Timbaland. According to documents obtained by MTV News, Saregama India — which filed a similar copyright-infringement suit in 2002 against then-Aftermath artist Truth Hurts — claims the duo used the song without its permission and also cites a number of additional parties, including Aftermath Entertainment, G-Unit Records and producer Danjahandz, who co-produced the track. The company is suing for a yet-undetermined sum. ... But everything isn't so dire these days for Timbo — the super-producer is soaping up for a scheduled appearance on an upcoming episode of "One Life to Live" scheduled to air October 9. He will perform two songs from his recent Shock Value LP, with the artists who accompanied him on the studio tracks: "The Way I Are" with Keri Hilson and "Apologize" with One Republic. ...

Let's set one thing straight: Chris Brown does not dislike Ciara, even though he's quoted as saying "I don't want Ciara" in the current issue of Vibe. "I didn't say I didn't like her," the singer recently told MTV News. "They mixed it around. Ciara, you know you're my homie." The article states that Brown's face "curls up as if he'd just noticed a foul odor" when the topic of Ciara is broached. "They made it seem totally bogus," he explained. "I don't have any grudges. I'm not a negative person. And I don't have a certain type. I don't care if you're a model or if you work at a gas station. Everyone's human. Everyone's a loving human being. And everyone has a chance with me." ... The New York Times loves Justin Timberlake's Southern Hospitality — the "SexyBack" singer's baby-back ribs in particular. "The most confounding thing about Southern Hospitality is those baby back ribs. Because they are, against tall odds, good," Peter Meehan wrote in his review, which was published Wednesday. "They are juicy but not fatty, seasoned simply and evenly and scented with a strong but not overpowering hit of smoke." ...

Australian Web site Undercover has reported that Rage Against the Machine are tipped to be one of the headliners of the upcoming Big Day Out festival. Though organizers haven't yet announced the lineup of the January shows, the group has reportedly booked gigs in Sydney and Melbourne on January 22 and 30, respectively, which closely coincide with BDO shows in those cities. ... The Foo Fighters will serve as the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" on October 13, little more than two weeks after the band's Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace lands in stores. ...

Mya is stepping up for a good cause: The singer will perform at Skool'd, a benefit event to be hosted by Richie Rich on Wednesday night at Sol in New York. Eve DJ Miss Saigon and Le Tigre's JD Samson will spin at the benefit, the proceeds from which will go to the Ali Forney Center and the Reciprocity Foundation — organizations that assist lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender homeless youth in New York. Later Wednesday evening, she will host a party celebrating the launch of travel and lifestyle magazine Terrace at New York's Pink Elephant. ... A number of hip-hop and R&B acts have signed on to play a September 29 concert in support of the Jena Six, the black teens charged in connection with the beating of a white teen in Jena, Louisiana. Among the acts scheduled to play the Jena 6 Empowerment Concert at Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Alabama, according to the event's promoter, are Lloyd, Baby Boy, Twista, Jagged Edge, Tank, Killer Mike, Disturbing Tha Peace's Small World, B5, LAX Boys and Hurricane Chris. ...

Prince gave London Fashion Week the royal treatment on Wednesday when he delivered an unannounced performance during Matthew Williamson's catwalk show, Reuters reports. Once Prince's "U Got the Look" song reportedly began playing at the show, two models started dancing on the runway — after which the singer, who was sitting in the front row, started singing into a microphone from his seat. Prince them hopped on the runway and was joined by his band for the performance. "He really wanted to do this, and you don't say no to Prince," Williamson told the news service after the show. ... Bo Bice has seen the light, and it's Wal-Mart. The former "American Idol" finalist is planning to release his new album, See the Light, through the retail giant on October 23, with a presale on Walmart.com taking place beforehand. Wal-Mart will be the only terrestrial store carrying the disc, although it will be available through other online outlets. Bice, who parted ways with RCA last year, is putting out his second album through Sugar Money/ StratArt. "We had no inhibitions about what this was going to be," Bice said in a statement about the disc. "We just went in and did whatever we wanted to. The freedom shines through." ...

The Shins hope to indie-rock the mtvU Woodies this year — the band has scored three nominations, including Woodie of the Year. Lily Allen, Gym Class Heroes and Linkin Park have picked up two noms apiece, while Amy Winehouse, Common, Lil Wayne, TV on the Radio, M.I.A., Thom Yorke and Spoon have also been noticed. Don't miss the show when it airs November 15 on mtvU. ... A source told the Chicago Sun-Times that Michael Jackson is planning big things for his long-gestating comeback album. Comparing the music being recorded to the tunes on Jackson's landmark Thriller album, the source speculated that the yet-untitled, unscheduled disc might contain appearances by sister Janet Jackson and some of the other Jackson siblings. ...

Millions have watched Chris Crocker scream "Leave Britney alone!" on his hugely popular viral-video clip that recently made the rounds, and now reality-TV programmer 44 Blue Productions is hoping to parlay that success onto the small screen. Variety reports that a TV documentary soap is being developed around the 19-year-old Internet sensation — who still lives with his grandparents in Tennessee. ... According to reports from London, Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty — who has publicly stuggled with drugs — has written a song for fellow hot English mess, Amy Winehouse. The tune, "Amy on the Mend," was reportedly intended to lift Winehouse's spirits as she deals with her recent health issues and an alleged drug overdose last month, and was allegedly sent to Winehouse in a frame and signed, "Love, Pete." The Daily Star reported that the tune, timed with Winehouse's 24th birthday, features the lines, "Amy on the mend, all that passion to spend/ Like a paper Boadicea in a battle to the end, end, end." ...

Barry Bonds has piped up about Marc Ecko's move to let fans decide the fate of the baseball slugger's record-breaking 756th home-run ball, which Ecko won in an auction over the weekend, on Vote756.com. "He's stupid," Bonds said. "He's an idiot. He spent $750,000 on the ball and that's what he's doing with it? What he's doing is stupid." He added of the fans' voting, "All of those options don't weigh anything. In baseball, that number [756] stands." According to The Associated Press, Ecko issued a statement Wednesday saying he would make a custom T-shirt reading, "Marc Ecko paid $752,467 for my ball, and all I got was this 'stupid' T-shirt.' " Meanwhile, the hip-hop fashion mogul's philosophy has caught on — the man who submitted Bonds' record-tying home-run ball also plans to let fans vote on whether the item should go to Cooperstown or be destroyed. "I give [Ecko] a lot of credit in all sincerity," Ben Padnos told AP. "I understood the potential value in this." Speaking of which, there is one difference in Padnos' approach: He's selling ads on his Web site, EndtheDebate.com. ...

Owen Wilson was only supposed to have a minor cameo in Ben Stiller's "Tropic Thunder" flick, but all the same, Matthew McConaughey has stepped in to fill the actor's shoes after Wilson dropped out of the film following a suicide attempt last month, Variety reports. The movie, which is filming in Hawaii, will also star Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. and others. ...

Former Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele is now eligible for parole, having served one-third of his four-year prison sentence, AP reports. Rhode Island's parole board will meet on Wednesday to decide whether to grant parole to Biechele, who was imprisoned for igniting pyrotechnics that sparked a deadly fire four years ago at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The blaze killed 100 people and injured more than 200 others.

09.18.07

Joel Madden spoke on Ryan Seacrest's radio show on Tuesday (September 18) about his plans to marry Nicole Richie, People reports. The Good Charlotte rocker — who saw his marriage-proposal secret slip after Regis Philbin spilled the beans — told Seacrest, "Obviously, marriage is in our future. I don't know when or where or how, but right now our priority is our family and is the baby. That's all we've been thinking about. We are in love and are really happy." Richie announced on "Good Morning America" in late July that she was four months pregnant. And it looks like Madden is taking on some of the shopping responsibilities. "I already went to Target and got a stroller and a playpen," he told Seacrest. ...

Vanessa Hudgens, who has recently been dogged by leaked nude photos, is facing a new problem: The "High School Musical" star's attorney is suing her for $150,000 in unpaid fees, TMZ.com reports. The suit, filed by Brian L. Schall, alleges that she owes him for contract-signing services dating back to October 2005 and that he wants 5 percent of her earnings. ...

Kanye West and Jay-Z were all smiles on Tuesday, the day before the first-week-sales figures for 'Ye's Graduation and 50 Cent's competing Curtis were due to be released. "Everyone is coming up to me and telling me how proud they are of me," West told The Associated Press, adding, "it feels overwhelming." Jay was a bit more cautious in his enthusiasm over the yet-unannounced results, saying, "We're not gloating. He's celebrating his win ... in his mind, he believed he could win the whole time." ...

Hell has frozen over ... and Zack de la Rocha has finally put the finishing touches on his forever-in-the-works solo LP, Billboard reports. According to the news outlet, sources say de la Rocha plays keyboards on the yet-untitled effort — which has been in the works since the singer initially left Rage Against the Machine in 2000 — and that it sounds like a cross between Led Zeppelin and Dr. Dre. Ex-Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore also collaborated heavily on the album, according to Billboard, and some of it was recently recorded at Jack Johnson's Los Angeles studio. De la Rocha is reportedly unsigned and considering offers for how to distribute the LP. ...

Nicole Scherzinger is launching her second single this week, "Baby Love" (featuring Will.I.Am). But the Black Eyed Pea doesn't get to play her love interest in the video, despite the song being "about us being in love." "I love Will, but I'm not in love with Will," the singer laughed. "I have a guy playing my lover, a sweet guy with a great energy that I cast for it." Francis Lawrence (Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani) directed the clip, which takes place off the coast of Southern California's Catalina Island. ... Fat Joe has hooked up with Imperial Records — a division of Capitol and Terror Squad — for the release of his eighth album, The Elephant in the Room. The LP, due early next year, will be studded with stars: Diddy, Rick Ross and Fabolous make guest appearances, while Scott Storch, Danjahandz and DJ Khaled lend their production skills. ...

The last of four secret Van Halen rehearsal shows reportedly took place Sunday night in Los Angeles before more than 500 fans — including guitarists Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Kirk Hammett of Metallica. Also on hand, apparently, was Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde, who attempted to get onstage during the set but was denied by frontman David Lee Roth. In a video making the rounds on the Internet, Wylde, who appeared to be in the front row, tried to hoist himself onto the stage. Security shuffled in to remove him, but Roth took to the microphone. "Nah, nah, nah. Are you in show biz?" he said. "Then get off the stage. Get off the f---ing stage." ...

Legendary punk rockers the Sex Pistols have announced that they'll squeeze into their bondage pants again for one night only on November 8 at the Brixton Academy in London for a 30th anniversary celebration of the release of their landmark 1977 album, Never Mind the Bollocks ... Here's the Sex Pistols. Original singer John Lydon, guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock will be on hand for the show, the group's first in more than four years. Bollocks, the only studio album recorded by the Pistols, features such punk classics as "God Save the Queen" and "Anarchy in the U.K." ...

The Gorillaz are prepping their second B-sides collection, D-Sides. The 22-track double-disc is slated for release November 6 and will feature demos; B-sides ("68 State," "Murdoc Is God," "Hongkongaton"); and remixes of songs like "Kids With Guns" and "Dare" by everyone from DFA and Hot Chip to Jamie T and Soulwax. ... Our long national nightmare is over ... sort of. After years of holding out, Radiohead have finally begun offering their albums for download. The group, which has held back from offering landmarks like The Bends and OK Computer to iTunes in the past because of its dislike for the site's practice of allowing individual songs for download, is now offering all its albums and some early singles in a high-quality, DRM-free format on 7digital.com. The albums will only be sold as complete packages. ...

David Bowie has made a $10,000 donation to the Jena Six Legal Defense Fund and is lending his voice to aid the six black teenagers who defenders have said faced overly aggressive prosecution and extended incarceration over their role in an alleged altercation with a white classmate in the small town (population: 3,000) of Jena, Louisiana, last year. The teens are alleged to have assaulted a white student in December, months after an incident on campus in which three nooses were hung on a tree at the local high school set off a series of tense, racially charged confrontations. "There is clearly a separate and unequal judicial process going on in the town of Jena," Bowie said in a statement. "A donation to the Jena Six Legal Defense Fund is my small gesture indicating my belief that a wrongful charge and sentence should be prevented." Thousands of people, including rapper Mos Def, are expected to descend on the town on Thursday to protest the prosecution of the five teenagers and a minor. ...

Perry Farrell — whose Satellite Party has stumbled out of the starting gate with poor sales of their Ultra Payloaded debut — is kissing the major labels goodbye and launching his own indie label, Bells Are Ringing. Although it was originally released by Columbia in late May, Ultra Payloaded will now act as the first Bells Are Ringing release. "I'm very excited to become part of this new independent trend where artists will have more creative freedom, make higher profits on the sales of their music, and most of all, it allows me, the artist, to own my art, my masters," Farrell said in a statement. ... Don't tell Neil Young: Alabama Governor Bob Riley has announced that the state's tourism agency will be using Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" to market the state next year, AP reports. The classic-rock song was released in 1974 as a response to Young, who was critical of the South. ...

The Dead Kennedys will release a greatest-hits collection on October 9 called Milking the Sacred Cow. The set will feature a dozen tracks, including "Holiday in Cambodia," "Too Drunk to F---" and "Halloween." ... The dates for Sevendust's upcoming Ladies Get Out of Jail Free Tour '07, along with 10 Years, Black Light Burns and Neverset, have been revealed. The trek launches October 19 in Maplewood, Minnesota, and gigs are booked through November 10 in Atlanta. ... 3rd Strike have re-formed with a brand-new lineup. The band is currently working on new songs and posted one of them, "Battlecry," on its MySpace page. The band has booked an October 19 gig at West Hollywood, California's Whisky A Go Go, and the gig will also feature Drowning Pool and the Exies. ...

Expect to see even more kids accompanying Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in the future. "We're not done," Pitt recently told AP. "[People] say, 'Any plans for a fifth?' And I say, 'And a sixth, and a seventh, and an eighth and a ninth.' That's my answer," he said. The actor, who stars in Friday's "Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," also let it be known that he and Jolie have crafted a 9-foot-wide bed that fits them and their four children. "One more [child] and we'll have to go to 11 feet," he said. ...

Wesley Snipes must pay United Talent Agency $1.7 million in a default judgment issued Tuesday, according to CBS News. The company, which helped the "Blade" actor get roles in multiple films, sued him in July 2006 for an alleged breach of oral contract. UTA claims Snipes agreed to pay 10 percent of any money he earned for movie roles the talent agency got for him, but he did not pay commissions for "The Shooter," "Chaos" and other films.

• Britney Spears
• Justin Timberlake
• Kanye West
• Amy Winehouse
• Ashlee Simpson

Britney Spears
Photo: Chris Weeks/WireImage.com

(Editor's note: The VMAs are a big assignment, and with this year's show taking over Las Vegas all week long, our friends at Us Weekly are helping us make sure we've got every glittering inch of the Strip covered. You'll see their celebrity reporting here at MTV.com this week, and you'll find our music reporting over at UsMagazine.com.)

Further proof stars are just like Us: Britney's VMA comeback performance was the hot topic on the red carpet at Fashion Rocks (see "Britney Spears To Open 2007 MTV Video Music Awards: It's Official!").

(Peep snaps of Fergie, Carrie Underwood and many more at Fashion Rocks.)

"I'm curious just like everybody else," Fergie, who is nominated for Female Artist of the Year (see "MTV VMA Race Is On: Justin Timberlake, Beyonce Lead Nominations"), tells Us. "Britney always puts on a good show at awards shows, so I'm looking forward to it."

Best New Artist nominee Carrie Underwood agrees, "I think it's going to be good. I don't think Britney will let us down."

Spears is sure to have a few surprises up her sleeve for Sunday night, but these veteran performers have some ideas to make her performance even more spectacular:

"I would come out rockin'. Let them know, 'I am Britney. I am still here. So don't get it twisted,'" Ciara, who's "Like a Boy" video is up for the Best Choreography award, tells Us.

For Fergie, it's all about the stage props. "I say go for an even bigger animal! Maybe a different reptile," she tells Us. But it's Mya (who will be sitting in the audience at the VMAs) who has the most show-stopping suggestion of them all: "I would take my wig off! And then throw it into the audience!"

Wait -- don't cash out on the VMAs just yet! From Britney's sultry comeback performance to the big winners, you saw it all -- well, almost everything! Get yourself even richer with our wall-to-wall show coverage, party reports, videos and loads more at www.VMA.MTV.com. For reports, photos, video and much, much more from previous VMAs, dive into the VMA archives.

• VMAs 2007: The Vegas Honeymoon

• Paris Hilton, Diddy, Timbaland, Janet Jackson, More Hit The Vegas Party Scene

• Britney Spears
• Fergie
• Ciara
• Mya

The Game
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

The Game has been charged for allegedly making a criminal threat and possession of a firearm in a school zone during a pickup basketball game in February, The Associated Press reports. The rapper was arrested on the charges last month and subsequently released on $50,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Los Angeles, and faces more than five years in prison if convicted. ...

Mya tells Vibe Vixen that she learned a lot about the music business — and the kind of woman she wanted to be — while touring with Dru Hill in 1997. "Seeing the thrill, the lifestyle, seeing them with different girls all the time, I remember saying to myself, 'I don't want to be one of those girls.' " Mya also revealed in the interview published in the June/July issue that she was taught a harsh lesson about the industry at 17. "Someone that was instrumental in my career harassed me," she said. "I wasn't going to entertain it, but also didn't know how to say, 'F--- you, leave me alone.' I just internalized it." Those days are over, and in recent years, Mya's made a point of standing up for herself. After 50 Cent claimed — in the 2006 dis track "Not Rich, Still Lying," aimed at the Game — that he had sex with her, Mya denied his story both in the press and to his face. "I saw him and addressed him about it in person at Violator [Management offices]." Mya said. "He said, 'You're gangsta right now. You're the talk of the town.' ... I just let him know how I felt." ...

Andre 3000, Pink, Fall Out Boy's Andy Hurley, Carrie Underwood, GZA, RZA, AFI's Davey Havok, Joss Stone and Prince join last year's winners Natalie Portman and Benji Madden and dozens of other musicians, actors and athletes up for the "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" title on Peta2.com. ... The "High School Musical" soundtrack was a chart-topping success without a physical single, but Disney is switching it up for the sequel. "What Time Is It" will be released as a CD single on July 17, ahead of the August television premiere of "High School Musical 2." The track features Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Zac Efron, Lucas Grabeel, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale. ...

You know Don Imus made a major mistake when Too Short, of all people, is chastising the fired shock jock. In the raunchy rapper's newly launched "$hort Stories" column in Ozone Magazine, Short explained the same people responsible for firing Imus — corporate suits — pushed him to record material that used similarly vulgar language. "I did an album called You Nasty with naked women on the cover, and almost every song on it was nasty," he wrote of his 2000 LP. "That was not my idea. The president of the label asked me to make the nastiest album I could, so I did it, not realizing how important the positive songs are to my career." Short later noted his own influence on rap in regards to vulgar words, but he called for better clarity in deciding the context of entertainment. "If it becomes illegal to make those kinds of songs, is it going to be illegal for comedians to say [explicit content] in their jokes?" he said. "Can it be said in movies or on TV? Will it become illegal to show murders and rapes on TV, or will the ban be on rappers only?" ...

A judge ruled Monday (June 4) that attorneys cannot use Lana Clarkson's diary-like writings in the Phil Spector murder trial, AP reports. The writings were found on the late actress' computer and included "The Story of My Life," a composition in which she discussed having drug problems and talked about having visions of a dead actress who committed suicide. "I don't consider anything in this particular document to be significant," Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler concluded. ... Charles Patton, who is a business associate of Lupe Fiasco and co-owns their 1st & 15th record label, was sentenced to 44 years in prison last month, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Patton, a Desert Storm veteran, allegedly used funds from heroin trafficking to start up the company, an assistant state attorney told the paper. In 2003, Patton was arrested at his home — while Fiasco was present — after authorities discovered $1 million dollars' worth of cocaine in a storage locker belonging to him. Representatives for Fiasco have not responded to requests for comment. ...

Hi-Five singer Tony Thompson was found dead in Waco, Texas, on Friday night, AP reports. He was 31. Zomba Label Group CEO and President Barry Weiss released a statement of condolence, saying, "His rich vocal tone and artistry were readily apparent even at the young age of 15, when we signed him at Jive." Friends of Thompson's speculated that the death may have been an accidental overdose, according to a report in the Waco Herald-Tribune. Thompson had recently returned to Waco from Dallas and was working on new music. Hi-Five debuted in 1990 with a self-titled debut album that went multiplatinum thanks to the hits "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)" and "Can't Wait Another Minute." ...

After a plea went out over the weekend to help find missing Ra Ra Riot drummer John Pike, police in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, said they recovered Pike's body on Sunday off the coast of Buzzard's Bay, local NBC affiliate WHDH reported. Pike, 23, was last seen at around 3 a.m. Saturday, leaving a party he attended after a show in Providence, Rhode Island. He sent a text message to his girlfriend early Saturday morning but was not heard from after that. An autopsy will be performed this week to determine the cause of death. A message on the Syracuse, New York, band's MySpace page read, "We will always love and miss you, John." ...

MySpace filed a request in a Pennsylvania state court on Monday, seeking legal guidance on how to provide local authorities with the e-mail addresses of convicted sex offenders who had used the social-networking service, Reuters reports. Federal law prevents Internet service providers such as MySpace from revealing users' communications without a search warrant. The request comes after MySpace agreed last month to cooperate with a group of U.S. attorneys general seeking information on predators who have used the site. ...

A new Federal Communications Commission policy that penalizes broadcasters for accidentally airing profanities was declared invalid by a federal appeals court on Monday, AP reports. The court ruled 2-1 in favor of a Fox-led challenge to the policy but did not outlaw the policy outright. Instead, the court returned the case to the FCC. The new policy was put in place after Bono's F-bomb at the Golden Globe Awards aired in January 2003. ... The highly anticipated Apple iPhone will hit stores on June 29, according to TV ads that began running Sunday night. The keyboard-less touch-screen phone/music player will be available at Apple and AT&T stores.

06.01.2007

"MTV Unplugged" is plugging back in. Mary J. Blige, John Mayer, Kenny Chesney and the Police will be featured in upcoming installments of the intimate acoustic-performance series. An upcoming episode featuring Bon Jovi — who some say inspired the program with their acoustic set at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards — will be presented in three variations on different channels, with each tailored for a specific audience: June 22 (MTV); June 23 (VH1, VH1 Classic, Music High-Definition); and June 24 (CMT). Dates for the other programs have not been announced yet. ...

T-Pain performed — sans vocal enhancer! — at S.O.B.'s in New York Thursday night, running through a number of hits, including "Sprung," R. Kelly's "I'm a Flirt" remix and his latest hit, "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')," for which Yung Joc surprised the crowd and joined in for his guest verse. "I'm too big for this sh--," a winded T-Pain said after dancing around with Joc. "Y'all got me out here like I'm Chris Brown!" ... T.I. hosted an album-listening session in New York at Manhattan nightspot Manor on Thursday night, previewing songs from his forthcoming T.I. vs T.I.P. The Atlanta MC was joined onstage by DJ Drama. The duo spun tracks including the Wyclef-assisted "You Know What It Is," set to be the second T.I. vs. T.I.P. single. ...

Fergie's Taco Bell obsession is starting to pay off, TMZ.com reports. According to a letter obtained by the site, Taco Bell President Greg Creed is offering Fergie and her fans free Fourthmeals at any local Taco Bell near a stop on her tour. All Fergie has to do is contact the restaurant a week in advance. ... The Jackson family auction raked in a two-day total of $1.5-$2 million, Agence-France Presse reports. ...

Paula Abdul told People she's "just fine" following the online leak of a phone call in which a sobbing Abdul talked about her strained relationship with her ex-publicist, but that "it hurts." "That was a private conversation. That was a violation of my privacy and totally illegal," she added. In the call, the "American Idol" judge also discussed having Addison's disease, a disorder that causes muscle weakness. But she told People: "I haven't been diagnosed with it. I'm just exhausted. Sometimes I have really low blood-sugar levels. It's all because I work very hard, that's it." ... Paris Hilton isn't heading behind bars until Tuesday, but she's already starting to disappear from public view. A South Korea sportswear company has temporarily suspended TV and print ads featuring the heiress, Agence-France Presse reports. ... In other Hilton news, the heiress will not be allowed to give TV interviews while in jail, Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca said Friday (June 1), The Associated Press reports. Baca added that authorities are trying to prevent cameras from being smuggled into the Los Angeles County jail in Lynwood, and that deputies and jail employees have been told to treat Hilton like the other inmates. ...

Is TomKat's litter about to grow bigger? "Yes, definitely," Katie Holmes responded in an interview with "Entertainment Tonight," when asked if she is ready to have more children with Tom Cruise. "We're having the best time, it's so amazing." The programs airs Monday. ... Ben Affleck received a standing ovation Friday after giving a commencement speech at Falls Church High School in Falls Church, Virginia, AP reports. The actor praised Joe Kindregan, a disabled student he met in 1998; since then, the two have partnered to raise money to find a cure for ataxia-telengiectasia, the rare genetic disease Kindregan suffers from. ... Hugh Grant will not be prosecuted for allegedly kicking and tossing baked beans at a photographer, AP reports. The actor was arrested following the incident, which occurred on April 24. ...

Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson? Singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright isn't known for his pop-star duets, but Jane magazine asked him which of the bubbly blondes he'd rather collaborate with, and he didn't have to think twice. "Britney, by far," he said in an interview published in the magazine's June/July issue. "I love her. I think she's the emblem of our times." ... Courtney Love will be taking the stage Friday night at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California, a source close to the singer confirmed. Love will be the special guest at Linda Perry's concert and will play some new material in a four-to-five-song set. ...

The All-American Rejects will release a DVD, "Tournado," July 10. The offering revolves around a live performance shot while the band was touring in support of 2005's Move Along, and will feature behind-the-scenes footage. ... Iggy Pop supplies the voice of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in an upcoming Comedy Central cartoon. The rocker will portray Lil' Rummy, a child who is the bully figure in the channel's "Lil' Bush" series, which debuts June 13. The show portrays the Oval Office's main players as tykes ready to rule the world. Dave Grohl, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frank Black and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy will lend their voices to guest roles. ...

Ja Rule will join Salt-N-Pepa, "The Wire" actors Idris Elba and Hassan Johnson, radio host Ed Lover and others Saturday afternoon in Queens, New York, for the "Repping for Life" town-hall meeting to discuss gang intervention and prevention campaigns. The event is open to the public and begins at York College at 3 p.m. ... Chrisette Michelle joined the Roots onstage Thursday night at the Highline Ballroom in New York. The Def Jam singer and Philadelphia collective performed a string of songs at a Tanqueray- and Giant-magazine-sponsored event. ...

Godsmack plan to release a box set later this year, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the release of the band's debut album, 1997's All Wound Up. The set will compile the group's four studio albums, the acoustic EP The Other Side, and a DVD featuring short documentaries about the making of each album. ... Between the Buried and Me, the Red Chord, Cephalic Carnage and the End will hit the road this summer for a 15-date North American tour. The run kicks off July 27 in Pittsburgh, and dates are booked through August 11 in Wilmington, North Carolina. ...

Two days after iTunes started selling thousands of EMI artists' songs without copyright protection comes word that EMI, Google and YouTube have signed a licensing deal that will give YouTube users access to the record label's audio and video catalog, according to Billboard. The label's roster includes Gorillaz, Coldplay and Lily Allen. ... Bands playing in Nevada must call themselves "tribute" acts if they don't have at least one founding member, thanks to a new law. If bands don't do so, it will be considered deceptive trading practice. ... NBC Universal networks will air "Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis" in various incarnations on July 7. For the climate-change awareness concerts — which will feature Kanye West, Fall Out Boy, Madonna and many more — NBC will present a three-hour special hosted by Ann Curry and Carson Daly; Bravo will air 18 hours of live concert coverage and highlight clips; Sundance and Universal HD will broadcast concerts live all day; Telemundo and Mun2 will air specials featuring Latin performers; CNBC will air seven hours of coverage; and MSNBC will feature exclusive coverage throughout the day.

06.01.2007

"MTV Unplugged" is plugging back in. Mary J. Blige, John Mayer, Kenny Chesney and the Police will be featured in upcoming installments of the intimate acoustic-performance series. An upcoming episode featuring Bon Jovi — who some say inspired the program with their acoustic set at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards — will be presented in three variations on different channels, with each tailored for a specific audience: June 22 (MTV); June 23 (VH1, VH1 Classic, Music High-Definition); and June 24 (CMT). Dates for the other programs have not been announced yet. ...

T-Pain performed — sans vocal enhancer! — at S.O.B.'s in New York Thursday night, running through a number of hits, including "Sprung," R. Kelly's "I'm a Flirt" remix and his latest hit, "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')," for which Yung Joc surprised the crowd and joined in for his guest verse. "I'm too big for this sh--," a winded T-Pain said after dancing around with Joc. "Y'all got me out here like I'm Chris Brown!" ... T.I. hosted an album-listening session in New York at Manhattan nightspot Manor on Thursday night, previewing songs from his forthcoming T.I. vs T.I.P. The Atlanta MC was joined onstage by DJ Drama. The duo spun tracks including the Wyclef-assisted "You Know What It Is," set to be the second T.I. vs. T.I.P. single. ...

Fergie's Taco Bell obsession is starting to pay off, TMZ.com reports. According to a letter obtained by the site, Taco Bell President Greg Creed is offering Fergie and her fans free Fourthmeals at any local Taco Bell near a stop on her tour. All Fergie has to do is contact the restaurant a week in advance. ... The Jackson family auction raked in a two-day total of $1.5-$2 million, Agence-France Presse reports. ...

Paula Abdul told People she's "just fine" following the online leak of a phone call in which a sobbing Abdul talked about her strained relationship with her ex-publicist, but that "it hurts." "That was a private conversation. That was a violation of my privacy and totally illegal," she added. In the call, the "American Idol" judge also discussed having Addison's disease, a disorder that causes muscle weakness. But she told People: "I haven't been diagnosed with it. I'm just exhausted. Sometimes I have really low blood-sugar levels. It's all because I work very hard, that's it." ... Paris Hilton isn't heading behind bars until Tuesday, but she's already starting to disappear from public view. A South Korea sportswear company has temporarily suspended TV and print ads featuring the heiress, Agence-France Presse reports. ... In other Hilton news, the heiress will not be allowed to give TV interviews while in jail, Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca said Friday (June 1), The Associated Press reports. Baca added that authorities are trying to prevent cameras from being smuggled into the Los Angeles County jail in Lynwood, and that deputies and jail employees have been told to treat Hilton like the other inmates. ...

Is TomKat's litter about to grow bigger? "Yes, definitely," Katie Holmes responded in an interview with "Entertainment Tonight," when asked if she is ready to have more children with Tom Cruise. "We're having the best time, it's so amazing." The programs airs Monday. ... Ben Affleck received a standing ovation Friday after giving a commencement speech at Falls Church High School in Falls Church, Virginia, AP reports. The actor praised Joe Kindregan, a disabled student he met in 1998; since then, the two have partnered to raise money to find a cure for ataxia-telengiectasia, the rare genetic disease Kindregan suffers from. ... Hugh Grant will not be prosecuted for allegedly kicking and tossing baked beans at a photographer, AP reports. The actor was arrested following the incident, which occurred on April 24. ...

Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson? Singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright isn't known for his pop-star duets, but Jane magazine asked him which of the bubbly blondes he'd rather collaborate with, and he didn't have to think twice. "Britney, by far," he said in an interview published in the magazine's June/July issue. "I love her. I think she's the emblem of our times." ... Courtney Love will be taking the stage Friday night at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California, a source close to the singer confirmed. Love will be the special guest at Linda Perry's concert and will play some new material in a four-to-five-song set. ...

The All-American Rejects will release a DVD, "Tournado," July 10. The offering revolves around a live performance shot while the band was touring in support of 2005's Move Along, and will feature behind-the-scenes footage. ... Iggy Pop supplies the voice of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in an upcoming Comedy Central cartoon. The rocker will portray Lil' Rummy, a child who is the bully figure in the channel's "Lil' Bush" series, which debuts June 13. The show portrays the Oval Office's main players as tykes ready to rule the world. Dave Grohl, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frank Black and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy will lend their voices to guest roles. ...

Ja Rule will join Salt-N-Pepa, "The Wire" actors Idris Elba and Hassan Johnson, radio host Ed Lover and others Saturday afternoon in Queens, New York, for the "Repping for Life" town-hall meeting to discuss gang intervention and prevention campaigns. The event is open to the public and begins at York College at 3 p.m. ... Chrisette Michelle joined the Roots onstage Thursday night at the Highline Ballroom in New York. The Def Jam singer and Philadelphia collective performed a string of songs at a Tanqueray- and Giant-magazine-sponsored event. ...

Godsmack plan to release a box set later this year, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the release of the band's debut album, 1997's All Wound Up. The set will compile the group's four studio albums, the acoustic EP The Other Side, and a DVD featuring short documentaries about the making of each album. ... Between the Buried and Me, the Red Chord, Cephalic Carnage and the End will hit the road this summer for a 15-date North American tour. The run kicks off July 27 in Pittsburgh, and dates are booked through August 11 in Wilmington, North Carolina. ...

Two days after iTunes started selling thousands of EMI artists' songs without copyright protection comes word that EMI, Google and YouTube have signed a licensing deal that will give YouTube users access to the record label's audio and video catalog, according to Billboard. The label's roster includes Gorillaz, Coldplay and Lily Allen. ... Bands playing in Nevada must call themselves "tribute" acts if they don't have at least one founding member, thanks to a new law. If bands don't do so, it will be considered deceptive trading practice. ... NBC Universal networks will air "Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis" in various incarnations on July 7. For the climate-change awareness concerts — which will feature Kanye West, Fall Out Boy, Madonna and many more — NBC will present a three-hour special hosted by Ann Curry and Carson Daly; Bravo will air 18 hours of live concert coverage and highlight clips; Sundance and Universal HD will broadcast concerts live all day; Telemundo and Mun2 will air specials featuring Latin performers; CNBC will air seven hours of coverage; and MSNBC will feature exclusive coverage throughout the day.

• Game
• Mya
• 50 Cent
• Fall Out Boy
• OutKast

Cam'ron
Photo: Diplomat /Asylum Records

Cam'ron isn't one to bite his tongue — just ask 50 Cent — but when it comes to the 2005 Washington, D.C., shooting he was involved in, the New York rapper is quiet as kept, he tells CBS' "60 Minutes." He explained in a taped segment set to air Sunday that cooperating with police would hurt his image — even if his neighbor were a serial killer. "If I knew the serial killer was living next door to me?" Cam responded to a hypothetical question posed by Anderson Cooper. "I wouldn't call and tell anybody on him, but I'd probably move. But I'm not going to call and be like, 'The serial killer's in 4E' because ... it would definitely hurt my business, and the way I was raised, I just don't do that." ...

Simon Cowell is "blunt, but not disrespectful," Kelly Clarkson told "Extra" on Wednesday, after the entertainment show asked her to weigh in on allegations that the "American Idol" judge made light of the Virginia Tech tragedy on the show. "He would never do anything like that." ...

It isn't quite like the magical portraits found at Hogwarts, but muggle fans can now look forward to the next best thing, with news Thursday (April 19) that select scenes from "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" will be digitally converted for IMAX 3D. "Accio Prophecy!" Malfoy's summoning spell might suddenly have a whole new twist — a Warner Bros. spokesperson announced that the altered scenes will be from the last 20 minutes of the film. These converted scenes, then, almost certainly include the battle at the Ministry, Voldemort's duel with Dumbledore, and Sirius' death and fall through the Veil. Both the standard and IMAX 3D versions of "Order of the Phoenix" hit theaters July 13. ...

Forget Venom, Sandman and Doc Ock — could Spider-Man's greatest foe be ... the Phantom of the Opera? The web-slinger is heading to Broadway for a musical based on the popular Marvel character that is to be directed by multi-hyphenate Julie Taymor ("The Lion King") and scored by U2's Bono and the Edge. Aside from popular characters like Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson, a casting notice posted on Playbill.com lists "Arachne, a beautiful woman turned into a spider for her hubris" and a "geek chorus" that "ritualistically retell the Spider-Man stories." A 29-hour rehearsed reading is scheduled for July 12. ...

Gettin' some ... freedom? Rapper Shawnna recently confirmed to Miss Info of New York's Hot 97 radio that she's parted ways with Ludacris, Disturbing Tha Peace and Def Jam. The Chicago artist explained she'd most likely sign with an independent label soon and announced that plans for a group with Remy Ma and Jacki-O are officially no more. Remy later phoned into Wendy Williams and passed the blame onto Shawnna for the split, but Shawnna said internal issues were the root of the problem. ...

Tour dates for this year's Family Values Tour have been announced. The trek — featuring Korn (with Slipknot's Joey Jordison as guest drummer), Evanescence and Hellyeah — will hit Maryland Heights, Missouri (July 20); Somerset, Wisconsin (July 21); Chicago (July 22); Camden, New Jersey (July 24); Mansfield, Massachusetts (July 27); Bristow, Virginia (July 28); Hartford, Connecticut (July 29); Toronto (July 31); Clarkston, Michigan (August 1); Darien Center, New York (August 3); Burgettstown, Pennsylvania (August 4); Scranton, Pennsylvania (August 5); Saratoga Springs, New York (August 7); Holmdel, New Jersey (August 8); Noblesville, Indiana (August 10); Atlanta (August 11); Orlando, Florida (August 12); West Palm Beach, Florida (August 14); Tampa, Florida (August 15); Dallas (August 17); Woodlands, Texas (August 18); Selma, Texas (August 19); Bonner Springs, Kansas (August 22); Englewood, Colorado (August 24); Albuquerque, New Mexico (August 25); Phoenix (August 26); Bakersfield, California (August 28); Marysville, California (August 31); Concord, California (September 1); and Irvine, California (September 2). ...

Speaking of Hellyeah, the band — which features former Pantera/Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott and members of Mudvayne and Nothingface — has parted ways with bassist Jerry Montano. An explanation has not been offered for his abrupt departure, but Hellyeah have promised they would announce Montano's replacement soon. ... And on the topic of Abbott, his late brother "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott is being posthumously venerated with a spot on Hollywood's RockWalk. The induction will be held May 17 at noon. ...

Pink is calling out to fans to share their ideas for the next chapter in the saga of Lady Delish, her character in the "U and Ur Hand" video. The contest, hosted at Brickfish.com, is accepting submissions — via audio, video, photos with descriptions or a written blog — to explain what happens next in Lady Delish's story. The grand prize winner — as chosen by online viewers — will be awarded an autographed set of Pink's leather boxing gloves from the video. ...

Romeo's college-basketball dreams are coming true. The artist formerly known as Lil' Romeo — who has since become an All-American point guard at Beverly Hills High School in California — is heading to the University of Southern California and has signed up for the school's Trojans basketball team. "I love basketball, I've been doing that since I was 2 years old," he told MTV Radio. "I've been doing it since before the music and acting. ... I try to make it so I am able to do all of them. If it gets to that point, I won't give up acting or rapping at all. I love it, my fans love it. I'm gonna be dedicated to them." Romeo is planning to major in business administration — perhaps following in the footsteps of his father, Master P — and hopes to release a new album, Gumbo Station, later this year. ...

Mya gave a sneak peek of her forthcoming album Liberation — which was due out last November but is now slated for June 26 — at the Essence/Dodge Avenger Lifestyle Lounge party at New York's Roseland Ballroom Wednesday. While partygoers checked out the 2008 Avenger, Mya sang a four-song set, including her new single "Lock U Down," which Scott Storch produced. On Tuesday, Mya was finishing up the dance-heavy video for the single, which features a guest appearance by Lil Wayne. Meanwhile, Mya is going international with her modeling career. She's already strutted down the catwalk for Heatherette in New York during Fashion Week, and now she's making her European debut modeling for the design duo at Life Ball 2007 in Vienna on May 26. ...

Queens of the Stone Age have set June 12 as the release date for their new album, Era Vulgaris. The album will feature 11 tracks, including "3's & 7's," which was just posted on QOTSA.com. The hard-rockers have also announced their first tour dates of the year, including a handful of appearances at European festivals this summer. The only U.S. gig scheduled so far is a June 8 performance at the KJEE Seaside Beach Ball in Ventura, California. ... Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan hopes to release the debut LP from his Puscifer project this fall. The record will boast guest contributions from Rage Against the Machine's Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk and Primus' Tim Alexander as well as Lustmord and Jonny Polonsky. ...

Pitbull and Nina Sky performed at the Cuervotón: Search for La Nueva Generación of Latinos in Urban Música event Tuesday night at Arena in midtown Manhattan, New York. Rappers Tru Life and Joel Ortiz also joined them for the music-appreciation festivities. ... New Janet Jackson music is coming soon, according to her boyfriend, Jermaine Dupri. Dupri posted a note on his MySpace page saying that the "Rush Hour 3" soundtrack will be released on Island Records and will feature a new Janet single. Dupri was appointed president of Island Urban Music last month. ... Rolling Stone is archiving every issue on DVD for its 40th anniversary celebration this fall, Reuters reports. "Rolling Stone Cover-to-Cover: The First 40 Years" will cost $119.99 and amass more than 1,000 issues' worth of material — more than 115,000 pages in total.

04.18.2007

Jennifer Lopez's "Bordertown" finally has a release date: August 31. The singer/actress recently spoke with MTV Trés about the film, which also stars Antonio Banderas and finds Lopez playing a reporter investigating a series of murders of young female factory workers in Mexico. "We tried to make it an interesting film, for people to wanna go see it, but at the same time, really focused on [letting] people know that [factory workers are being murdered in Mexico]." ...

In another interview — published in the May issue of Elle's U.K. edition — Lopez describes herself as "the Christopher Columbus of romance." I've been through some rough seas and had some disasters, but in the end, I found what I was looking for," she said. After a burst of laughter, she added, "Can you believe I just said that?" But while love makes her say some strange things, Lopez said it's also helped her music. Husband Marc Anthony, who worked with the singer on her Spanish-language album Como Ama Una Mujer, told her, " 'I know you can do this. Sing the words. You know what they mean. You can do it,' " she said. "I'd go into the recording booth and, for the first time ever, I'd feel as if I was flying when I was singing. He gave me the confidence to do the best work I've ever done." ...

Russell Simmons, Warner Music Group Chairman Lyor Cohen, Damon Dash and other high-powered industry executives gathered Wednesday (April 18) to discuss sexist and racist remarks in rap lyrics, The Associated Press reports. T.I. also attended the summit, which was staged in the wake of Don Imus' firing for saying racial slurs on his radio program. The meeting lasted for several hours, postponing a scheduled news conference that was to be carried out after the summit. No specific initiatives were announced after the meeting, but Simmons' publicist released a statement saying the topic is a "complex issue that involves gender, race, culture and artistic expression. Everyone assembled today takes this issue very seriously." ...

Snoop Dogg and Bun B are helping pay homage to the late Eazy-E in a new tribute video by Mike Jones. The clip for Jones' "My 64" is set to be filmed in Los Angeles on Thursday. ... Rick James will be recalled with the posthumous release Deeper Still, the last studio effort he recorded before he died in August 2004. The funk master's LP — which contains 10 songs he either wrote or co-wrote, and was produced by James — will drop May 15 and is to be preceded by "Memoirs of a Super Freak," an autobiography James wrote while in California's Folsom State Prison in 1993-'95. ...

Beyoncé told MTV News that she hadn't planned to put her cover of Des'ree's "I'm Kissing You" — which she retitled "Still in Love (Kissing You)" — on her re-released B'Day - Deluxe Edition album and video anthology, but other people insisted, telling her she'd be "crazy" not to. She might have benefited from a second opinion, since now she's being sued for copyright infringement over the track. The Royalty Network — which administers the publishing on behalf of Westbury Music, owner of the copyright for Des'ree's song — is asking for $150,000 in damages and seeks an injunction to recall the album from stores, according to a suit filed Monday in Manhattan Federal Court. A hearing to show cause has been scheduled for Monday. ...

The ubiquitous Now That's What I Call Music! juggernaut rolls on, as volume 24(!) of the pop-hits collection sold more than 89,000 copies to hold the #1 spot on next week's Billboard albums chart, according to SoundScan. Country crooner Tim McGraw was a distant second, selling more than 65,000 copies of his Let It Go. Nearly as-ubiquitous-as-Now hook man Akon landed in third, as his Konvicted album sold more than 59,000 copies. He's followed closely by the week's biggest debut, Omaha, Nebraska's own Bright Eyes, who sold more than 58,000 copies of their Cassadaga album (a number right on par with the first-week sales for each of their 2005 releases, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn). Timbaland rounds out the top five, as his Shock Value also topped the 58,000 mark. ...

Chris Rock has every intention to "contribute to the support, maintenance and education" of a 13-year-old boy in Georgia — so long as the teen is really the actor's son, AP reports. Rock's attorney filed papers Monday in Bulloch County Superior Court, requesting that the court start paternity proceedings to determine whether he is the father of the boy, whose mother tried to file a paternity suit against the actor in March. ... The trust responsible for James Brown's estate owes more than $70,000 for the funeral and care involved with the singer's body, according to AP. Brown's longtime adviser, Buddy Dallas, said Wednesday that some funeral costs have been paid and that trustees have sent a check covering the balance owed to the C.A. Reid Funeral Home in Georgia. Dallas claims it "was the children that ran up a funeral bill of over $150,000, not the trustees," although a lawyer for Brown's offspring said the funeral costs are the trust's responsibility. Brown's children have filed three motions this week: one asking a judge to provide accounting records of the singer's trust and estate, one claiming Brown's trustees have been attempting to sell some of his assets against court orders, and another requesting that a judge modify his previous order that appointed two administrators to help the trustees settle the estate. ...

Fergie covers Heart's "Barracuda" for "Shrek the Third," AP reports. The soundtrack, due May 15, also features Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas teaming up for a cover of Sly & the Family Stone's "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)"; Eels' "Royal Pain," which was written for the film; as well as classic tracks by the Ramones, Led Zeppelin and Paul McCartney and Wings. ... Kelly Clarkson is going country. The singer is teaming up with Reba McEntire on May 15 for a performance on the 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The show will air live from Las Vegas beginning at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Country stars Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, George Strait and Sugarland will also perform. ... Can't get enough Dave Chappelle? How about six hours' worth of standup performance by the comedian? AP reports that Chappelle was onstage at West Hollywood, California's Laugh Factory for six hours and seven minutes Sunday night, surpassing Dane Cook's previous record-breaking, near-four-hour stretch from earlier this month. ...

Hellyeah are greasing their wheels for Fire It Up, a spring tour they're staging prior to heading out as part of this year's Family Values Tour. The band's run starts May 20 in Baltimore and hits 10 more cities before winding down June 5 in Corpus Christi, Texas. ... Pete Doherty told a judge in London on Wednesday that his friends are tired of his drug use, AP reports. "They've said it's drugs or them," the Babyshambles frontman said at a court appearance to review his drug-treatment progress. The judge praised Doherty's cooperation with the program. ... Expect to hear some new Happy Mondays material from their first album in 15 years when the band co-headlines Coachella on April 27. On the production front, the Mondays have been working with Sunny Levine — Quincy Jones' grandson — and U2 and Björk collaborator Howie B., who is mixing the LP. A title and release date have not been set. ... Actress Kitty Carlisle Hart — who starred in Woody Allen's "Radio Days," the Marx brothers movie "A Night at the Opera" and "Six Degrees of Separation," among other films — has died, AP reports. She was 96.

• Flick'd: 'Spider-Man 3'

• Cam'ron
• P!nk
• Lil' Romeo
• Mya
• Lil Wayne

J.R. Rotem
Photo: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images

Producer J.R. Rotem says he doesn't party. Judging by the schedule he's keeping these days, he probably wouldn't have time for it anyway.

A few years ago, Rotem was your average Joe, sitting at home in his boxer shorts wondering if anybody would actually pay for his tracks one day. Now Rotem has everyone from the Game to Rick Ross to JoJo shelling out top dollar for his beats. He's working with two artists a day, with Britney Spears and 50 Cent being the biggest names on his roster.

"Within a 24-hour time period I was in with 50, then Britney," Rotem said. "Whoever I'm in the studio with, I try to bring the best out of them and let them bring the best out of me. I just try to make the best possible song."

Although he's very secretive when it comes to Spears (see "Britney's New Music Is 'The Next Level,' Producer Says") — including those recently leaked tabloid photos that allegedly captured the two locking lips — he opens up just a little bit about 50's music. Just as 50 told MTV News a few weeks ago, he says the leader of the G-Unit is indeed looking to soul music for inspiration.

"I just sat down with him and we went through tracks," Rotem said. "He's definitely into soulful stuff. He's at a level where he doesn't have to put an album out for money or anything — he's in it for the love of hip-hop. For the next album, he's trying to bring a very powerful new sound. He's an innovator. He puts out a sound and people will copy it. He wants to set a trend. At this point I can't give any more details, but it's definitely going to be a remarkable project."

This year alone, Rotem has worked with Rihanna ("S.O.S."), Rick Ross ("Push It") and the Game ("The Doctor's Advocate," "California Vacation"). His latest projects include new tracks by Jennifer Lopez, JoJo, Mya, Natasha Bedingfield, Ashley Tisdale and Jesse McCartney.

Oh yeah, he's also worked with Dr. Dre on the Detox album (see "Meet Super-Producer J.R. Rotem: The Man Game Calls 'The White Dr. Dre' ").

"He's gotten a few tracks from me for it, and I've heard vocals on some of my tracks," Rotem said. "But with Dr. Dre, he might record 100 tracks and choose his favorite 15 or something. I don't want to jump the gun and say I'm going to be on the album."

Rotem also just inked a deal with Epic Records for his new imprint, Beluga Heights.

"We sat down with everybody," the producer said of the courting process for his label. "I learned that when you get into business with somebody on an exclusive level, you need to really connect with the point people. In this situation, there was no contest as to who we connected to the most. It just felt right to go with them."

First on his roster is 16-year-old Miami rapper Sean Kingston.

"He's incredible," J.R. boasted of his protégé. "I'm giving him his own sound, his own identity. When I work with established people, there's already precedents to their sound, so I have to step it up some and give the J.R. twist to it. With Sean, I'm the one who's actually establishing his sound."

• 50 Cent
• Jennifer Lopez
• JoJo
• Mya
• Jesse McCartney

Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, Kristin Cavallari At Us Weekly's Hot Hollywood Party

• Mya
• Adam Lambert
• LL Cool J
• Kris Allen

Best of 2006: The Red Carpet

• Fall Out Boy
• Beyoncé
• Gwen Stefani
• Gavin Rossdale
• Sean Paul

Paris Hilton, Avril Lavigne, Kate Bosworth, 50 Cent And More At Fashion Week

• Lil' Kim
• Foxy Brown
• Mos Def
• Cee-Lo
• Fonzworth Bentley

Jessica, 50 Cent, AFI, More Get Fashionable At The VMA Style Villa

• Jessica Simpson
• 50 Cent
• *NSYNC
• Gnarls Barkley
• Vanessa Carlton

JoJo And Mya Get Pretty For VMA Style And Sound

• JoJo
• Mya

Beyonce, Kanye, Paris Hilton, More Hit VMA Pre-Parties And After Bashes

• Jay-Z
• Beyoncé
• Diddy
• Busta Rhymes
• Ashley Parker Angel

"Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" Photos

• Mya

2003 MTV Video Music Award Performers And Presenters

• 50 Cent
• G-Unit
• Good Charlotte
• Diddy
• Kelly Clarkson

MTV Exclusive: Mya Photos

• Mya

Mya Photos

• Mya