Gaga, Bono Joining “We Are World” Remake
Just as George Clooney used the Golden Globes as recruiting grounds for his Haiti telethon, Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones did the same with Grammys for their “We Are the World” remake.
The veterans of the original 1985 charity single spent the festivities stocking up on music stars to perform on the new rendition, to be recorded Monday in Los Angeles.
Bono and Lady Gaga are among the latest on board for the Haiti-helping tune, joining the likes of Usher, Jason Mraz, Akon, Jennifer Hudson, Carlos Santana, Enrique Iglesias and Toni Braxton. There could be as many as 100 singers on the new rendition. “It’s like the biggest honor in life to get a call from our father in music, Quincy Jones, ” RedOne, who will help produce, told E! News backstage.
Katharine McPhee tweeted she’ll be involved too, “So excited to record “We Are The World, ” (the remake) on Monday along with many other amazing artist. I’m honored to be a part of it.”
T-Pain: ‘Next on my list is Carrie Underwood’
As for who he would like to work with next, T-Pain was enthusiastic and adamant. “Next on my list is Carrie Underwood. I swear to God. Everybody else can suck it until I get to Carrie Underwood.”
‘Pants on the Ground’ — The Seeds of Conflict
Good news for Gen. Larry Platt — “Pants on the Ground” has finally been recorded in a studio. The bad news — the General has no idea it’s been released … and a conflict is brewing.
Larry’s former manager Jason Mills — who’s releasing the song to radio stations — tells us he doesn’t need Larry’s approval because Mills says it’s “promotional” and not for profit … at least for now.
Mills says he now represents the producer, Carlos Thornton (aka Los Vegas) and Mills claims the producer has the right to release the tune, without the General’s approval.
More Idol Headlines After the JUMP…
Beyonce, Taylor Swift Dominate 2010 Grammy Awards
Female artists dominated the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift leading the charge. Beyoncé tallied the most awards, scooping up six trophies — the most ever for a female artist on a single Grammy night — most notably Song of the Year and Best R&B Song for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Halo.” It was Swift who took home the night’s biggest award, however, nabbing Album of the Year for 2009’s best-selling LP, Fearless, making her the youngest artist ever to receive the award. Swift won four awards total, including Best Country Album (also Fearless), Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance (both “White Horse”).
Kris Allen, Adam Lambert see healthy airplay gains
As Kelly Clarkson’s Already Gone starts to fall down the format charts (though it’s still Number One on our American Idol airplay chart), the singles from Kris Allen and Adam Lambert make some of their strongest moves to date. Both Live Like We’re Dying and Whataya Want From Me saw week-to-week spin increases greater than 700, according to Mediabase. That pushes Kris into the top 20 of USA TODAY’s Top 40 chart, while Adam leapfrogs Daughtry and Life After You to reach No. 23 on the Top 40 chart.
Jennifer Hudson Talks Motherhood on the Grammy Red Carpet
ET’s Kevin Frazier was on the Grammy Awards red carpet on Sunday night in Los Angeles, where stars discussed the devastation in Haiti and the night’s big Michael Jackson tribute. Plus, Jennifer Hudson opened up about motherhood and bringing her son to the Grammys — and ET’s Grammy fashion correspondent Adam Lambert talked music with Ke$ha!
Jennifer Hudson hopes nobody hears her baby
When someone yelled out to her asking where her infant son David was, she responded, “Yeah, yeah, he’s here. He’s off backstage. I hope nobody hears him
Carrie Underwood Flies Solo on Grammy Red Carpet
Carrie Underwood didn’t walk the red carpet with fiance Mike Fisher at Sunday’s Grammys.
No, they aren’t on the rocks.
“He’s here, ” she said on E!’s pre-show. “He’s waiting for me at the end of the carpet. I can’t feed him to the wolves!”
The 26-year-old Underwood, in an asymmetrical white Georges Chakra gown, said award shows are still “new for him.”
She said they plan to “take some photos together” later, but she wants to “ease him into” her world.
Rickey Minor “running on happy fumes”
American Idol’s band leader, Rickey Minor, says he’s “running on happy fumes” between playing Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party, the Grammy show itself and working as Quincy Jones’ music director for the We Are the World remake sessions.
How Matt Giraud celebrated his iTunes Number One
Marco also asked Matt what he did when he learned that his new duet with Anna Wilson, You Don’t Know Me, had reached Number One on the iTunes jazz chart. “We ran a rehearsal, and we bought two $5 bottles of champagne and one plastic cup. That’s all we could afford.”
Adam Lambert’s creepy Grammy fashion statement
Adam Lambert may actually be bugged on the Grammy red carpet.
At the Grammy Style Studio on Saturday, the Dish Rag got the scoop on several eclectic suits Adam’s personal stylist was looking at by designer Nemer Saade.
And his stylist also picked out a pair of Thomas Pink’s equally wild cufflinks that Adam may end up wearing to the Grammy’s today.
Keep an eye out for something crawling up his sleeves on the red carpet.
Hudson serenades Streisand at Grammy bash
It was Streisand’s first time at the party, and Davis orchestrated for Hudson to sing rousing renditions of “People” and “The Way We Were.” But the evening — which started at 7 p.m. — ran over five hours, and by the time Hudson performed, virtually every top celebrity had abandoned ship.
“You know it’s less than three hours of music, ” he told the crowd that remained as the event was coming to a close. “If you can’t take it, you’re in the wrong business.”
Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Ke$ha and more: On the scene at the annual Clive Davis pre-Grammy bash
It is, historically, the biggest party of Grammy weekend. But Saturday night’s Clive Davis/Recording Academy bash at L.A.’s Beverly Hilton may have also been the night this gala started to move into history, with a new generation of interests taking its place.
The event was studded with the usual stars, each one given the traditional laudatory introduction from Davis himself, who presides from the podium like the industry king he is. Jane Fonda was “matchless.” Jay-Z was “towering.” Les Moonves was a “titan.” For Wyclef Jean, he had “special emotion and pride.” Here and there, small pockets of celebrity glistened: Russell Brand chatted with Adam Lambert and Randy Jackson. Dierks Bentley shared a laugh with Richie Sambora. Katy Perry and Rihanna — whose attendance surprised me, seeing as how her life got really crappy after she left this party last year — bonded in the ladies’ room. Gazing across this savannah of fame from a table in the back, it was possible to believe that, like the Black Eyed Peas keep reminding us, the night was gonna be a good night.
‘American Idol’ Auditions Are a Myth … But Isn’t the Whole Show, Really?
Let me preface this by saying that I am a longtime “American Idol” fan. As a former singer and performer, nothing is more exhilarating than watching other people compete and either knock it out of the park or bomb big-time. Perhaps the most compelling part of the “Idol” journey is the audition process. Not only is it entertaining, but also every person alive (whether talented or untalented) can relate to that moment of waiting to fulfill a dream: to perform on Broadway, score the winning basket, get married, land that job. The feeling is universal.
Tickets still available for Adam Lambert’s Indio concert
There are still plenty of tickets left for Adam Lambert’s Feb. 27 concert at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, his first in the Coachella Valley, a casino spokeswoman said Sunday.
Even before tickets went on sale Friday, hundreds of fans had lined up outside the casino, and the hotel has already sold out its rooms for the weekend.
About 200 more tickets were sold on Sunday, raising the total to 1, 950, while the venue holds 3, 500 people, said the casino’s Ciara Coyle.
Dallas 2010 All Star Weekend Welcome Event Recognizes North Texas All Stars and Raises Money for Haiti and UNCF
Dallas, TEXAS January 31, 2010 – On Friday February 12, 2010 Phenixx Marketing & Media, LLC NBA Diversity Partner, will recognize North Texas All Star leaders & Businesses while raising money for UNCF and Haiti Recovery at the All Star Welcome & Networking event at the Historical Old Red Courthouse in Downtown Dallas (allstarweekenddfw.com), The All Star Welcome is followed by a Llano Estacado Wine Tasting, Taste of Texas buffet and 5 star entertainment from Dallas Icons “The Catdaddies”, from American Idol LaKisha Jones, R&B singer song writers CASE and Glenn Jones. Tickets are on sale now at allstarweekenddfw.com with a portion of the proceeds benefiting UNCF and Silent Auction benefiting Haiti Recovery. Doors Open at 6pm.
Simon Cowell’s Helping Haiti charity single ready to go
While George’s Clooney’s Help For Haiti initiative and subsequent album release has topped the charts in the USA, British music mogul Simon Cowell’s Helping Haiti charity single is expected to do the same across the pond when it enters the UK charts this weekend. The single, which was completed on Saturday night, is a cover of REM’s ‘Everybody Hurts’ hit from 1992. It features 21 artists, including Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, Robbie Williams, Leona Lewis, Jon Bon Jovi, Susan Boyle, the boys from Take That and Kylie Minogue. Vocals for the track were recorded in London and Los Angeles at the weekend.
How ‘Glee’ Married TV and Music in a New Moneymaking Model
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — “Glee” is ostensibly a show about a group of high-school misfits and nerds whose common love of song helps them get through the trials of adolescence. Yet in the real world, the cast — and its songs — are winning a popularity contest.
Tied to the show’s storylines, the cast’s performances become so sellable that the program’s production studio, News Corp.’s 20th Century Fox, believes it could have a new TV-show model on its hands, not unlike the kind of revenue juggernaut “American Idol” introduced.
PHOTOS: FIRST LOOK — Kimberly Caldwell’s ‘Mess Of You’ Video
Statuesque blonde powerhouse Kimberly Caldwell is looking to clean up on the charts with “Mess Of You, ” the lead single from her debut album, Without Regret. The TV Guide channel host and one-time American Idol contestant shot the music video for the song several weeks ago at Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel, and we’re excited to provide a first look at Kimberly’s sultry clip with this exclusive gallery of stills from the video and behind-the-scenes photos.
Edited to Add More:
Wanna bet? Here’s some interesting Super Bowl wagers
Not that any of us actually gamble on the Super Bowl, but there are some interesting proposition bets lining up for next Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIV between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts.
Of course there’s the standard batting line, which currently favors the Colts by 6 points. And there’s an over-under of 56 1/2 points for the combined score of the two teams.
But you can always find a lot of side action on a Super Bowl and this week’s game is no different. Here are some of the more interesting prop bets offered by bodog.com. Strictly for amusment purposes, of course …
How long will it take Carrie Underwood to sing the National Anthem?
Over/Under 1 minute 42 seconds
Clay Aiken at Mirasol: Golf, inclusion and fatherhood
In 2008, I had a chat with “American Idol” finalist, Broadway star and all-around big famous sensation during his first annual Golfing For Inclusion benefit at Palm Beach Gardens’ Mirasol Country Club, for what was then called the Bubel-Aiken Foundation. He was there to help raise money for the foundation’s goal of providing opportunities for kids with disabilities to attend camp, but not to share his mad golf skills, because he apparently doesn’t have any.
And today, at the third annual golf event to benefit what is now called the National Inclusion Project, Clay revealed that after three years and a couple of clinics with golf pro Wayne Player, his game…still has no game.
Quincy Jones won’t replace ‘American Idol’s’ Simon Cowell: ‘I simply don’t have the time’
Quincy Jones is busy today (Monday, Feb. 1) producing the 25th anniversary of “We Are the World” at the Nokia Theater in downtown LA.
But despite all the Grammy activities this weekend, he found time to chat exclusively with The Dish Rag about “American Idol” judge buzz, the importance of music and his new album.
About We are the World: “It will be all new, it’s going to be fabulous … and different, it’s three times as many performers. I don’t like to do anything that I’ve already done, so I’m doing this with a new perspective.”
Replacing Simon Cowell: “No, I’m not game. I simply don’t have the time. I’ve got too much going on. I’m working on my foundation (the Quincy Jones Foundation), working on nine movies and doing records with Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder.”
Fantasia on “American Idol, ” Tiny, and Why She Doesn’t Get to Watch Her Own Show
After watching, and recapping, the premiere of Fantasia Barrino’s reality show “Fantasia For Real” (Mondays, 10 p.m. on VH1) I wanted to know more. Specifically, more about what life with the cameras is like, will there be a follow-up show and what is the deal with her brother?
Barrino, a former “American Idol” winner, spoke to Speakeasy while finishing up her latest album which she says is due out in either March or April. The first single, “Move On Me, ” was heard in the first episode of her show.
Carrie Underwood Just Wants to Have Fun at Her Wedding
Don’t expect Carrie Underwood to obsess over every last little detail of her wedding to hockey player Mike Fisher. She has a much simpler goal in mind.
“We have some of the big decisions made, ” the singer told PEOPLE at Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy gala over the weekend. “I don’t care about details. I just want to show up and have a good time!”
Carrie Underwood Takes Home 5th Grammy
American Idol Carrie Underwood took home her 5th Grammy last night at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. She earned the trophy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for “I Told You So” featuring Randy Travis. In addition to taking home a coveted award, Carrie performed “Earth Song” with Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Celine Dion, and Smokey Robinson as a tribute to Michael Jackson at last night’s award show. Read more about the performance, here.
Jennifer Hudson Is ‘A Bit Busy’ With New Album, Movie
Jennifer Hudson has achieved a lot in a short time and already has a Grammy and an Oscar under her belt. Now with a few more films on her résumé and a husband and baby at home, she is ready to get busy working on more projects, including a new album and movie.
“I’m actually recording my album right now, ” she revealed to MTV News on the red carpet at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday. “And getting ready for my next film, which is [about] Winnie Mandela. So it’s a bit busy, but I’m enjoying myself.”
