Christina Aguilera was completely surprised when her boyfriend, Jordan Bratman, proposed to her last week, she told People magazine. Her beau of two years had filled their hotel room with rose petals, red and pink balloons, and gift boxes, each filled with a present and a poem. The last box held a 5-carat diamond-and-platinum ring. "It's classic, but it has a rock and roll feeling," she told the magazine. "He got down on one knee and said, 'Will you do the honor of being my wife?' I've been floating ever since." The couple have yet to set a wedding date. ...

Destiny's Child will perform "Lose My Breath" and "Soldier" during the player introductions at Sunday's NBA All-Star Game in Denver. LeAnn Rimes and Big & Rich will also perform Sunday, while Kelly Clarkson and the Goo Goo Dolls will perform during Saturday's All-Star events, which include the slam-dunk contest. The events will air on TNT. ... Meanwhile, Fabolous will perform at a Jermaine Dupri-hosted party on Friday at the Union Station in Denver. Twista will perform at an All-Star Game event at the same venue the following night. ...

Want to hang out with Ashlee Simpson? The singer, who launched her first-ever tour this week, is offering a chance for fans to come visit her when she's back in the recording studio, via Thermasilk's "Rock Star for a Day" sweepstakes. The winner also gets $1,000 and a makeover. Enter at http://www.thermasilkhair.com/ashleesimpson/flash.html. ... On Monday, 44 theaters across the country will air Usher's 20-minute mini-movie, "Rhythm City Volume 1: Caught Up." Fans who come out for the flick will also get to see a making-of-the-movie segment as well as a live interview with Usher conducted by Lionel Richie. Meanwhile, the movie, which Usher co-directed with Little X, will be released on DVD on March 28. Several Usher videos will also be included. ...

Canada is serious about its love for U2, and to prove it, Prime Minister Paul Martin has signed on to help persuade Bono to schedule a show in the country's capital, Ottawa. Martin called the station BOB-FM on Thursday morning (February 17) and told the crew that he would mention its petition to bring the band to town the next time he talked with Bono, with whom he's been friendly since they met in 1998 when Martin spoke about a campaign to wipe out Third World debt, according to The Ottawa Sun. Currently, the band only has two Canadian shows scheduled: both in Vancouver, British Columbia. "It's unlikely at this point," Arthur Fogel, the band's international tour manager, told the paper. "But never say never. I wouldn't underestimate Paul Martin's ability to persuade the band to play Ottawa." ... Subliminal and the Shadow, an Israeli hip-hop group whose upcoming fourth album will feature Ashanti, Wyclef Jean and Killah Priest, are touring the U.S. for the first time beginning March 2 in Los Angeles. The group, which was recently named smbassadors of Israel by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, hope to educate music fans on the political issues going on in their home country. ...

Ben Gibbard might be back at his Death Cab for Cutie, day job, but the Postal Service's Jimmy Tamborello is still making beats. Using his Dntel moniker, Tamborello recently remixed the outer space-y ballad "Broken Drum" from Beck's upcoming Guero. Meanwhile, Dntel's third album, Dumb Luck, is taking shape. Tentatively scheduled for the fall, the record will feature Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis, Mia Doi Tod, Lali Puna's Valerie Trebeljahr, Fog's Andrew Broder and possibly the Shins' James Mercer, if the two can find the time to collaborate. Tamborello has also completed a Postal remix of Nina Simone's rendition of "Little Girl Blue" for the jazz compilation Verve Remixed 3, which also includes Danger Mouse retooling Dinah Washington's "Baby, Did You Hear?" and the Junior Boys' take on "Yesterdays" by Billie Holiday. ... Conor Oberst is already a folk-rock balladeer and an indielectro whiz kid, but now he's adding another feather to his cap: record exec. He's launched his own label, called Team Love, and has signed tourmates Tilly and the Wall as well as a host of other acts. Now he needs to get the word out -- cheap. Which means he needs a street team. So to get one, he's running a contest. Over at www.Team-Love.com, if you sign up to be a street teamer, you're automatically entered in a contest to win a limited-edition green vinyl 7-inch, signed by the Tillies themselves. ...

AC/DC plan to shake you all night long with their new DVD, a best-of compilation spanning the band's career. "Family Jewels" is a two-disc set that includes rare footage of original frontman Bon Scott, the promotional video for "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)," and videos from 1980's Back in Black. "Family Jewels" hits shelves on March 29. ... John Digweed has set a March 8 release date for his next collection, Fabric 20. The DJ will support the release with a mid-March North American tour that will include several dates at the Winter Music Conference in Miami. ...

02.16.2005

Michael Jackson was discharged from the Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, California, on Wednesday one day after he was admitted for flulike symptoms. His reps say he will continue recovery at his home. Jackson's stay at the facility had been causing problems for other patients trying to gain admittance, because of the media crews and photographers stationed outside. The hospital earlier had asked the media to stay away from the emergency entrance and instead camp out in a separate, newly designated press area nearby, so that the "life safety" of patients wouldn't be compromised. ...

Hilary Duff is going to the dogs -- literally. The proud "parent" of five pooches, Duff is asking other pet owners to think about animal welfare via a public service announcement she's just shot for "Desex and the City," a campaign promoting spaying and neutering that's running in Los Angeles next month. Participating veterinarians are offering discounts to anyone bringing in their pets for a little readjustment. On Sunday, the singer also shot the cover -- with her puppy Lola -- for the new magazine New York Dog for the April/May issue (on newsstands in late March), in which she explains her commitment to animal causes. "I think there are so many dogs that we don't need any more for a while," she told the magazine. "Or until all of them have homes. It's just unfair to the dogs and puppies to not have a home or the right living conditions." For Duff's canines, "the right living conditions" equals massive pampering -- from doggie clothes and shoes to nail polish and jewelry (Lola, for instance, has a bracelet for a dog collar courtesy of bling king Jacob the Jeweler). Duff even has her own doggie accessories line, "Little Dog," named in honor of a pet who passed about a year ago, for which all the proceeds are donated to the Living Free No-Kill shelter in Palm Springs, California. ...

The bids have been totaled from the celebrity auction spearheaded by Ashlee Simpson and Teen People, and the sale of items like autographed clothing, a foosball table and concert tickets from artists including Simpson, big sister Jessica and Ashlee's on-again-off-again boyfriend Ryan Cabrera pulled in more than $42,000. The money will go to UNICEF's tsunami-relief efforts. ... Snoop Dogg was injured on Saturday when a concertgoer threw a glass bottle and hit him in the head toward the end of his set in Nottingham, England. According to his rep, while Snoop did require medical attention, he did not need stitches. He has since resumed the overseas tour. ... Jay-Z is looking to get lucky in Atlantic City. The MC-turned-label-president is planning on opening his second 40/40 sports bar and lounge in the East Coast's answer to Sin City. Currently, few details about the New Jersey lounge are available, but it is scheduled to open on the Fourth of July at Atlantic City Outlets - The Walk. ...

Fresh off his Grammy win, Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas made his official debut as a fashion designer with his I.Am clothing line Tuesday night at the Magic convention in Las Vegas. The launch event included a performance by the Peas and Macy Gray. Known for his one-of-a-kind ensembles, the Peas frontman began designing his own signature line in 2001, drawing from his background in fashion -- he attended Los Angeles' Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. A high-end men and women's fashion line that consists of blazers, shirts, waistcoats, skirts, pants and scarves, I.Am clothing has already found fans in such celebrity clients as Ashlee Simpson, Kelly Osbourne and members of Coldplay through its exclusive availability in L.A.'s Fred Segal store. After the Vegas convention, I.Am clothing will be available worldwide. ... Alanis Morissette is now an American citizen. At a ceremony last week, the Canadian singer was sworn in at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and later sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" during her show that night. "It can be difficult to travel and being an American will make it easier to travel over borders," she said in a statement. "I'd like to make political comments and not have my chops busted by people who say I don't have the right to comment." However, she said, "I will never renounce my Canadian citizenship. I consider myself a Canadian-American." ...

On Tuesday, DMX was scheduled to appear in a North Castle, New York, criminal court on a host of traffic violations. However, the hearing has been adjourned until March 29. The charges stem from a December 15 arrest in which the rapper was pulled over for driving 104 mph in a 65 mph zone. The charges include third-degree unlicensed operation, speeding and driving an unregistered vehicle. DMX pleaded not guilty to the charges on January 18. ... Bruce Springsteen is set to release his 19th album, Devils & Dust, on April 26. Produced by Brendan O'Brien, who worked with Springsteen on 2002's The Rising, the album was recorded in Los Angeles and Springsteen's home state of New Jersey. The Boss plans to tour behind the LP, but no dates or venues have been announced yet. ...

Fountains of Wayne are playing a fund-raising event to benefit autism education and research. Comedy Love Call, taking place March 7 at the Beacon Theatre in New York, will also feature Nellie McKay, Adam Sandler, Jon Stewart, Tina Fey and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, among others. ... Coheed and Cambria have set a March 22 release date for the DVD "Live at the Starland Ballroom." The performance featured on the home video was taped on August 20, 2004 at the Sayreville, New Jersey, venue. ... Less Than Jake have been tapped to headline a Drive-Thru and Fueled by Ramen Records joint tour, which kicks off on April 1. The lineup also includes Allister, Hidden in Plain View and Kane Hodder. No dates or cities have been announced yet, but the labels are brainstorming other ideas for the trek, including a limited-edition toy based on tour artwork that would be available only at shows. ...

Jennifer Lopez has canceled her European concert tour due to illness, The Associated Press reports. Lopez also called off a trip to England for a British charity premiere of her movie "Shall We Dance?" "I very much wanted to be in London today but unfortunately I'm not well," J. Lo said in a statement. "At the advice of my doctors I'm unable to travel. ... Please accept my sincerest apologies." ...