Michael Jackson Wrongful Death Suit Vs. AEG Can Proceed, Judge Rules

Katherine Jackson and family are pursuing a claim against concert promoter.By Gil Kaufman





Michael Jackson




When he was alive, Michael Jackson was forever embroiled in a series of complex and expensive-sounding lawsuits. But even in death, the late King of Pop is the subject of major legal action. None could potentially be bigger than the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the pop icon's mother, Katherine Jackson, against concert promotion giant AEG Live.
Reuters reported that a Los Angeles judge ruled on Wednesday that the civil lawsuit can go forward. It will proceed in parallel with the criminal case against Jackson's physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson's June 2009 death from an overdose of the powerful surgical anesthetic propofol. Murray is the only person charged in Jackson's death and he is currently awaiting trial in that matter.
Katherine Jackson's lawsuit — filed in September on behalf of her and Jackson's three young children — accuses AEG of being responsible for the medical decisions made by Murray, whose salary was paid by the touring company behind Jackson's attempted "This Is It" comeback shows in London. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Yvette Palazuelos denied a motion on Wednesday by AEG to dismiss Katherine Jackson's suit, but warned Jackson's attorneys that they would need to show evidence of "fraud, negligent infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy" in order to win the case.
The judge has already said she doubts they can prove the latter charge, because the suit does not detail any agreement between Murray and AEG to break the law in providing medical care to Jackson.
"If the object was to get him to rehearsals, I don't see that as a wrongful or illegal act," the judge said. A lawyer for AEG told the judge that the company could not have predicted beforehand that Murray's medical decisions would result in Jackson's death. Court papers also show that AEG "did not choose to hire Murray" and had only participated in negotiations to bring him on as an independent contractor. Michael, who had previously been treated by Murray in Las Vegas, was reportedly the one who suggested the cardiologist serve as his personal, on-call physician during the "This Is It" rehearsals and shows.
Katherine Jackson's attorney recently dropped choreographer Kenny Ortega from the lawsuit based on new information they received about his actions. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 22, just six days before Murray is due back in court for his trial. Jackson's father, Joseph, has twice attempted to file a wrongful death suit in the matter, though his is focused on Murray and the Las Vegas pharmacy that supplied the propofol, not AEG Live.



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?Super Skywalk? to end Bangkok?s pedestrian nightmare

It's a common site on Bangkok's streets. Sweaty tourists, a look of determined frustration in their eyes, battling to push a stroller through a maze of sidewalk vendors, pot holes, random dangling wires and poles, as their toddler bounces about in delight. Rarely will you see a Bangkok resident pushing a baby stroller anywhere other than in a shopping mall, let alone a person in a wheel chair. They know better. But rather than tackle the city?s nightmare sidewalks on the ground, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration announced it?s spending 15 billion baht to build a ?Super Skywalk System,? a 50-kilometer covered, elevated walking space through some of the city's busiest neighborhoods that also connects to the BTS and MRT. read more

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Alex Da Kid Talks About Skylar Grey's Debut Album

'I Need a Doctor' singer's project will be first release on producer's new label, he tells 'RapFix Live.'By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway





Alex Da Kid in a Skpe interview Thursday

Photo: MTV News




Alex Da Kid and Skylar Grey have a proven track record, from their work together on Eminem's chart-topper "Love the Way You Lie" and current hits "Words I Never Said" by Lupe Fiasco and "I Need a Doctor" by Dr. Dre.

Now the duo -- he, a producer and she, a songwriter -- are teaming up to work on Grey's debut album. The still-untitled project will be the first release on the British import's new label.
"I'm working on Skylar's project, and I'm really excited about that," he said during Thursday's (February 24) Dr. Dre edition of "RapFix Live." "She's the first artist signed to my label. I'm just wrapping up my label situation right now, and that's my main focus."
Alex Da Kid also has credits working with B.o.B and Paramore ("Airplanes"), Nicki Minaj ("Massive Attack") and T.I. ("Castle Walls"); Grey penned the chorus for each track.
"It's just a creative experience being in the studio with different people," Grey said of the pair's work. "I'm not from the hip-hop world, but I think that's what works for the sound that we got: the combination of the alternative chorus mixed with the hip-hop verses."
Although he has hopes to work across various genres and has been in the studio with artists as varied as Rob Thomas and Rihanna, ADK said he wants to make sure he doesn't spread himself too thin.
"I definitely want to take one thing at a time," he said. "I don't want to overload and work with everyone and dilute my sound. I want to fully focus on everything that I do. So that's the next thing on the list."
What do you think of Alex and Skylar's collabos so far? Let us know in the comments!



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Cee Lo, Adam Levine In Talks To Judge 'The Voice'

Producers also considered Lenny Kravitz, Mary J. Blige and John Legend for NBC singing competition.By James Dinh





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Photo: Jay West/ Getty Images




With all the hype that surrounded the "American Idol" search for celebrity judges, it's no surprise that NBC is in talks with Cee Lo Green and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine to judge their Mark Burnett-produced singing competition "The Voice," according to Entertainment Weekly.
EW reports that deals have yet to be signed, but the network hopes to finalize contracts with the artists within the next couple of days. Sources also reveal that a high-profile female star, rumored to be Christina Aguilera, is in talks to join the panel. Like "Idol," producers considered a slew of other judges, including Lenny Kravitz, Roger Daltrey, Mary J. Blige, John Legend and Enrique Iglesias.
Hosted by Carson Daly, "The Voice" is expected to premiere this spring, potentially facing off against "Idol" and "X Factor." However, the show, which is based on the hit Netherlands program "The Voice of Holland," strays from the traditional singing-competition format.
"The Voice" will feature a panel of four celebrity judges, who will sit with their backs to the talented hopefuls in order to focus on their vocals. If they approve of the audition, the judges will push a button that will send the competitor to the next round, claiming them as one of their students. In the case where more than one judge likes the singer, then the competitor gets the opportunity to choose between judges.
Once the teams are chosen, the celebrity judges will mentor their contestants and eventually duel the teams against each other, with viewers picking the winners. If you can't make it for the auditions, NBC has announced that the reality competition will also let hopefuls audition for "The Voice" via webcam.
Who do you want to judge on "The Voice"? Sound off below!



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Between Ridley and Tony, the Scotts are already one of the most respected and acclaimed filmmaking families in the business. It only makes sense, then, that those good genes passed down to the next generation in the Scott clan.

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Justin Bieber's 'Never Say Never' Will Be Re-Released With Additional Footage

'I realized I had an embarrassment of riches,' director Jon Chu says.By Jocelyn Vena





Justin Bieber in "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never"

Photo: Paramount Pictures




After watching "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," did you leave the theater thinking there was even more Justin Bieber film footage that you wanted to see? Well, your wish has been granted. A new version of the movie, dubbed "Director's Fan Cut," is about to hit theaters this week for an exclusive one-week run.

The extended version will hit theaters on Friday. According to a press release, it will include "more of Justin's friends and hometown life, new songs and performances, and special footage shot at fan premieres across the country."
"I realized I had an embarrassment of riches when I was in the cutting room," director Jon Chu said in a statement. "This cut allows me to retain some of the best scenes from the original movie, while incorporating previously unseen footage and new material I shot during our extensive promotional tour on behalf of the movie. Justin's dedication to his fanbase is unwavering and I was inspired as a filmmaker to attempt to provide them a unique experience that showed even more of his world."
The film originally opened on February 11 and features a behind-the-scenes look into the rise of Bieber's career. It also includes concert footage shot at various shows during his tour, including his stop at Madison Square Garden last summer.
"It is a testament to the professionalism and tenacity of Jon and the production team for turning around this new version of 'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never' director's fan cut in only a few months, giving fans an even-deeper look into Justin's life," Paramount Film Group President Adam Goodman said. "Giving fans an even deeper look into Justin's life." (MTV's parent company, Viacom, also owns Paramount.)
Do you plan to check out " 'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never' Director's Fan Cut"? Tell us in the comments.



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Usher, Ke$ha And More Help Dance Music Go Pop In 2010

But is it here to stay? Our music-industry experts weigh in.By Akshay Bhansali





Ke$ha

Photo: Andreas Rentz/ Getty Images




In 2010, pop princesses, R&B icons and chart-dominating newcomers all danced to the same beat. Not only did dance music go pop, but pop music caught the club-music bug.

Between Katy Perry's "Firework," Ke$ha's "We R Who We R," Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)," Enrique Iglesias' "I Like It," Usher's "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" and "OMG" and countless other singles, established artists definitely looked to dance beats for surefire hits. And two of this year's biggest success stories in music were Jason Derülo and Taio Cruz; could there be a soul left in this country who hasn't heard "Dynamite" or "In My Head"?
The love went both ways, with dance music's biggest stars finding mainstream success this year. Dance-music maestro deadmau5 took up house-artist duties at this year's VMAs, and Swedish House Mafia and Usher teamed up for a medley of their gems at the American Music Awards.
So how did this happen? We caught up with some music-industry experts to get their takes.
"You definitely saw tempos go up this year," Jon Caramanica of The New York Times told MTV News. "And I think what you had are a lot of producers who are really familiar with nightclub stuff. They are familiar with Europe. Things are happening on a more global scale now."
"I think everything from Europe, and sometimes even Asia, it comes to America, and we just adopt things a little bit slower," said Jared Eng of JustJared.com. "I think it was just a change. People like different types of music at different times. And dance was of this moment."
Noah Callahan of Complex magazine added: "I think 2010 saw the merging of the pop and dance genres. Pop artists realized that there were best practices that could be borrowed from dance music. And, ultimately, [all] pop music that has been made in the past 20 years had ended up being remixed for the club by dance artists. I think they basically just cut out the middleman and went straight there."
Dance music being introduced into the hip-hop and R&B realms was particularly notable this year.
"I think David Guetta kind of at the end of last year and the beginning of this year spearheaded it," said freelance writer Julianne Escobedo Shepherd. "He produced a lot of tracks. I think as trends go, people revile 'unst-unst.' But it's just coming back around. Big-room techno was a way for people to get decadent in a year that no one could get decadent."
"You have someone like will.i.am, who's like, 'Well, I spent all this time in Ibiza, and this is what they are doing,' and he wants to find a way to bring that into his music," Caramanica said of the Black Eyed Peas mastermind. "R&B especially became dance music. And especially with your Jason Derülos, Taio Cruzes. Guys like that would have literally been blocked at the border two years ago. That would not have made it through customs. And now all of a sudden they have #1 songs. I think will.i.am had a lot to do with that last year."
Elliott Wilson of RapRadar.com added: "It's actually even affected hip-hop. I was talking to Q-Tip, and his next record, I feel like that's gonna kind of go in that vein. I know that was also Jay-Z's thought process with Blueprint 3 at first, that he wanted to make a little bit more of a world music [vibe], a little more dancey. I think the kids today want to go to the clubs. They wanna have a good time. They wanna dance. So I think the artists of today are trying to kind of feed that audience."
"I think it's caught on this year because the people who've done it have been successful," offered Clover Hope of Vibe magazine. "Like 'OMG,' with usher, he didn't have success until he made a dance record. He had 'There Goes My Baby' and these really, like, adult-contemporary records that didn't really catch on. And then once you see that everybody is doing it and that people are liking it, they are like, 'OK, let me just try this out.' It's like Auto-Tune. Like, 'Let me see what I sound like on a record by David Guetta.' They end up liking it and doing more of it."
So does the club-music trend have staying power. According to our tastemakers, not so much.
"I do think it's a blip," Caramanica said. "I don't think that's gonna be something that lasts in America. I think this is gonna be a moment we'll all look back on and go, 'Wasn't that weird when Jason Derülo and Taio Cruz had #1 records?"
"At some point, these R&B artists will get kind of sick of it and be like, 'Let me go back to my soul background,' " Hope said. "When you actually have to say something, dance doesn't really lend itself to substance. And I think that R&B artists, they really want to talk about love and in a deep way, and to do that, you need to do, like, a soul or a traditional R&B record. I want to say that it's kind of a fad."
"I think music is very cyclical," Eng offered. "So I think dance music might be here for a little bit, but I'm sure it will phase out at some point."
Wilson called dance music "the sound of today. I think that people want more aggressive, faster beats, and I think that that probably has legs until at least next summer."
What do you think? Is dance music here to stay? Let us know in the comments!



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Coldplay, Led Zeppelin Album Covers Featured On New British Stamps

Album art from Pink Floyd, Blur and David Bowie also included.By James Montgomery





Coldplay's new British stamps

Photo: Royal Mail




On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years.
The albums featured in the new series are the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin's IV, David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Clash's London Calling, New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies, Primal Scream's Screamadelica, Pink Floyd's The Division Bell, Blur's Parklife and — the most recent album on to make the cut — Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head.
Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for IV — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery.
"Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time."
Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their Rush of Blood stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date."
"We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."



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CNNGo TV tours Berlin

In many cities, sub-freezing temperatures would lead to a state of hibernation. But we hardly found that to be the case as we tore a path across Berlin. A bundled-up cast of locals led us to many of the city's hotspots.Air times are above.

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Hide your eyes Justin Bieber fans (and fans of his luxuriously silky, shaggy hair) … the Biebs paid a visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live last night and he went BALD right on the air! Apparently, Bieber was lookin’ for a new look and Kimmel was ready to give him one. Is the world ready for [...]

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New Led Zeppelin On The Way? Jason Bonham Hints At 'Jam' Sessions With Jimmy Page -- But Not Robert Plant

Drummer admits he doesn't know what will come of 'new material.'By Chris Harris





Jason Bonham

Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images




On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.



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Britney Spears' Latest 'Hold It Against Me' Clip Teases Dance Scene

Pop star is shown wearing a white bustier, booty shorts and knee-high boots in six-second teaser. By Kara Warner





Britney Spears in the fourth "Hold it Against Me" teaser

Photo: Jive




Like highly stylized, beautifully choreographed clockwork, Ms. Britney Spears continued her 13 days of "Hold It Against Me" music-video teasers on Monday (February 7).

The new clip (#4, for those who are counting) debuted on Spears fan site BreatheHeavy.com. Fans were alerted by Spears herself, who tweeted out a link announcing the new clip to her followers: "BreatheHeavy, the largest Britney fan website, is so honored to premiere the next HIAM teaser."
In the six-second tease (which is actually more like two seconds, if we're just counting the amount of time Spears is actually shown in the clip, not the titling before and after the frames), Spears is shown in the midst of what looks like a complicated and suggestive dance sequence with six male dancers. She is clad in a white bustier, matching white booty shorts and knee-high boots. A "Britney Spears" title card is shown over the brief dance scene and is left as the standalone image as the very brief shot of the dancing fades to black.
This follows Super Bowl Sunday's sneak peek, which featured a bunch of TV monitors showing scenes from some of the singer's most iconic videos, including "Slave 4 U" and " ... Baby One More Time," as well as various dance rehearsals, and the song "Toxic" plays before transitioning into "HIAM." Spears added further intrigue to the video's forthcoming premiere when she tweeted that she "Just saw a new cut of #HIAM. SOOOO excited to share it!"
What do you think of the clips so far? Tell us in the comments!



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Johnny Depp To Cameo In Adam Sandler's 'Jack And Jill'

Director Dennis Dugan confirms Depp's cameo to MTV News at 'Just Go With It' premiere.By Eric Ditzian





Johnny Depp

Photo: CBS




On the absolutely frigid red carpet for Adam Sandler's "Just Go With It" on Tuesday night, MTV News got an answer to a burning question about another upcoming Sandler comedy, "Jack and Jill."
Last month, paparazzi photos surfaced showing Johnny Depp visiting the set of "Jack and Jill," in which Sandler plays both halves of a boy/girl set of twins, leading to speculation that the "Pirates of Caribbean" star will make a cameo in the flick. We put that question to director Dennis Dugan — who's helmed not only "Just Go With It" and "Jack and Jill," but five other Sandler films — and got a cameo confirmation.
"There's a secret guest star, but I can't say who it is," Dugan said, before admitting: "Johnny Depp."
We followed up to make sure Dugan wasn't just messing with us. "No!" he said.
So we can mark that rumor as official fact, though Dugan stopped short of letting us know the exact nature of Depp's cameo. But the mere fact that Depp has signed on for the appearance is not only kind of great, but gives us hope that he'll also pop up for a cameo in the big-screen adaptation of "21 Jump Street." Goodness knows MTV News has been doing everything we can to make that happen.
In non-Depp-related "Jack and Jill" news, we've got another scoop for you: the answer to the question of what Sandler looks like dressed up as a woman.
Said Dugan, "Not Brooklyn Decker in 'Just Go with It.' "
Check out everything we've got on "Just Go With It."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Cee Lo's Puppet-Backed Grammy Performance Will Be 'Weird And Cool'

Jim Henson Company CEO Brian Henson says Sunday's set, which also includes Gwyneth Paltrow, will be 'an unforgettable version' of 'F--- You.'By Gil Kaufman





Cee Lo Green

Photo: Neilson Barnard/ Getty Images




Over the past few years, we've seen Cee Lo Green in a variety of outrageous costumes during performances by his side project Gnarls Barkley, including Darth Vader, characters from "A Clockwork Orange," "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and "Napoleon Dynamite," a roman gladiator and a bride.
But when the Goodie Mob rapper takes the stage at the Grammys on Sunday night, we're likely to see a whole different side of the Atlanta native. After a year in which his profanely excellent "F--- You" not only became a huge viral hit but also notched nominations for Song and Record of the Year, Green will play to his biggest audience with some help from one of his new Hollywood friends.
Not only will he reteam with "Country Strong" actress and pal Gwyneth Paltrow on the show, but he'll join the long, illustrious history of musicians who've taken the stage with Jim Henson's puppets for a one-of-a-kind performance.
And Henson's son, Jim Henson Company's Academy Award-winning CEO Brian Henson, told MTV News exclusively on Tuesday that viewers will truly see an "unforgettable" version of the song. "We have a live theater show in New York called 'Stuffed and Unstrung,' and we've taken a bunch of the characters from that cast and made them into a band and backup singers for Cee Lo," Henson said of the fuzzy puppets from the made-for-grown-ups improv show. "He'll be backed by puppets who will make up a very weird and cool band."
Henson said the idea to sing with the puppets came from Cee Lo, who approached the Henson Company with a concept of what he wanted to do. "We had never worked with him before, and he's just a fabulous guy," Henson said. "I think he's a lifelong fan of the Muppets, and he had a pretty good idea of what he wanted."
The folks at the Grammys are keeping a tight lid on what will happen during Green's performance, but you can bet with the family-friendly Henson puppets onboard and the strict rules about four-letter words on prime-time TV that Cee Lo will be rocking out the G-rated "Forget You" version of the song.
Chances are he'll also be marking the world debut of the special version of the tune he recorded with Paltrow in New York last month. The same week they tracked that song in a New York studio, Cee Lo came out during Paltrow's "Saturday Night Live" monologue and helped her out with the lyrics to a Kenny Rogers/ Dolly Parton song.
Henson said Cee Lo made a visit to the Henson monster shop, where the singer and the puppeteers threw around some ideas and spent a while looking at puppets. "I think it will really be an unforgettable version of the song," Henson said.
What do you expect from Cee Lo's Grammy performance? Let us know in the comments!
Don't miss "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!



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BREAKING NEWS!

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Justin Bieber Vintage Video: Pop Star Describes His Hometown

In 2009, Bieber talked to MTV News about moving from Canada to the big city of Atlanta.By Jocelyn Vena





Justin Bieber in September 2009

Photo: MTV News




In "Never Say Never," fans are taken to Justin Bieber's hometown of Stratford, Ontario, a small town where street performers — like Bieber was several years ago — try to find their big break. Bieber was one of the lucky ones.
When he spoke to MTV News in 2009, shortly before he rocketed to pop superstardom, he opened up about transitioning from small-town life to life in a big city like Atlanta, where he moved with his mother after he was discovered by his manager, Scooter Braun, on the Internet.

"I grew up in a town of 30,000 people, so moving to Atlanta, there's like millions of people," he explained at the time, when he was gearing up to release his debut EP, My World. "And you don't know anyone [in Atlanta, but] in my town everyone knows everybody. ... I didn't really get to travel before this whole experience, so it's definitely been great."
At the time, he was also prepping work on his second single, a follow-up to the Web sensation "One Time." He hoped "One Less Lonely Girl," now a fan-favorite when he plays live, would send his fans a very special message. "I think it's important that these girls have something," he said. "So there can be one less lonely girl."
Bieber was quick to point out that his album wasn't all feel-good filler. "There are a lot of people, especially young artists, that are just, like, they make songs that are cookie-cutter — everything is perfect — and real-life things aren't perfect," he explained.
"There's a song on my album called 'Down to Earth' that is just, like, my relationship with my dad and how my mom and dad split up ... at a very young age," he continued. "So there's just a lot of stuff that they can relate to, and it's just going to be a lot of fun."
On Friday, Justin Bieber's 3-D documentary, "Never Say Never," opens. The film takes a look at how the teen star worked to hit it big. MTV News has been chatting with him along the way, from the time he first burst on the scene in 2009 until now, as he embarks on a huge 2011 that will include a tour and more new music.
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.



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Usher's 'OMG' ' 'Kills It Every Night,' Says Tourmate Miguel

'There's so much anticipation for this song when he comes out,' Miguel says of MTV News' Song of the Year.By Vaughn Trudeau Schoonmaker





Usher

Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images




MTV News just named Usher's "OMG" the #1 song of 2010, and clearly we're not alone in our admiration. But what is it like to watch it performed night after night? Miguel, who is currently opening for Usher's OMG Tour gave us a little insight.
"There's so much anticipation for this song when he comes out, and he really gives the fans what they want," Miguel laughs. "He kills it every night."
Before his latest string of hits, Usher was out of the spotlight for a period of time in 2009, when he was dealing with personal issues including a divorce. Miguel finds his 2010 comeback inspiring.
"There was a period of time, when a lot of people didn't believe in Usher and thought he was finished ... just kind of going to ride off into the sunset and disappear," the up-and-coming singer noted.
With the release of Raymond vs. Raymond and its extended, companion EP, Versus, in 2010, Usher proved the skeptics wrong with chart-toppers including "OMG" and "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love."
"He's such a tremendous example of perseverance and determination," Miguel beamed. "I was there throughout this album, so I've seen the adversity that he's had to overcome perception-wise."
MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 have all been counted down. But the fun isn't over yet: We still want to see your picks in the comments below!



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Lady Gaga Releases Full 'Born This Way' Lyrics

Gaga sings about love and equality on track, set for release February 13.By Jocelyn Vena





Lady Gaga

Photo: Ian Gavan/ Getty Images




Thanks to the excitement of her Little Monsters everywhere, Lady Gaga released the full "Born This Way" lyrics on Twitter, after teasing her fans with several lyrics earlier in the day.

"Are you ready for the full lyrics?! Can we trend #bornthiswaylyrics!? It has been in my heart for over a year. I'm so excited to share it," she tweeted. "It's #1 worldwide! That was fast! You're so radical! Here you [go] Monsters, this one's for you."
She tweeted out the song credits as well. The song was written and co-produced by Gaga. Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow also got co-production credits on the track, off her May album of the same name.
Intro
It doesn't matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M
Just put your paws up
'cause you were Born This Way, Baby
Verse
My Mama told me when I was young
We are all born stars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir
"There's nothing wrong with lovin' who you are"
She said, "Cause he made you perfect, babe."
"So hold your head up girl and you'll go far,
Listen to me when I say"
Chorus
I'm beautiful in my way
Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way
Post-Chorus
Ooo there ain't no other way
Baby I was born this way
Baby I was born this way
Ooo there ain't no other way
Baby I was born this way
Baby I was born this way
Ooo there ain't no other way
Baby I was born this way
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way
Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Don't be!
Verse
Give yourself prudence
And love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice your truth
In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth
A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M (hey hey hey)
I love my life I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah (love needs faith)
Repeat Chorus and Post-chorus
Bridge
Don't be a drag, be a queen
Whether you're broke or evergreen
You're black, white, beige chola descent
You're Lebanese, You're Orient
Whether life's disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
Cause baby you we're born this way
No matter gay, straight, or bi
Lesbian, transgendered life
I'm on the right track baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white or beige
Chola or Orient made
I'm on the right track baby
I was born to be brave
Repeat Chorus
Outro/Refrain
I was born this way hey!
I was born this way hey!
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way hey!
I was born this way hey!
I was born this way hey!
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way hey!
What do you think of the lyrics? Share your thoughts in the comments!



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Beyonce Working With Kanye West Producer S1

'Power' producer tweets he's 'finishing up some monsters' after week in the studio with B.By James Montgomery



Beyoncé's already taken inspiration from the likes of Michael Jackson and Lauryn Hill, hit the studio with a list of producers that includes Ne-Yo, Sean Garrett and Jim Jonsin, and now, she's hoping to capture the surge of Kanye West's "Power."
B — who's already hard at work on the follow-up to her massive I Am ... Sasha Fierce album — just wrapped a week in the studio with producer S1, the man who co-produced "Power" and has logged time with the likes of Ghostface Killah and Erykah Badu.
S1 broke the news via his Twitter account and also posted a photo of himself and B over on his official site. And from the sound of things, the sessions, which took place in New York City, were definitely eventful.
"A couple of meetings then back in the lab with Beyonce today," he wrote in one tweet. "Excited to see what we're gonna create today after last night's session.
"Not going to bed anytime soon. Beyonce got us in here working and I'm loving every bit of it," he wrote in another post. "Finishing up some monsters ... everything is sounding really great and big!"
There's still not much information about Beyoncé's new album, though in an interview with "Entertainment Tonight" last year, she said that, this time out, she's aiming to "make [her] own genre of music." In a follow-up interview with MTV News, she clarified that statement, explaining that she's "mixing every type of genre that I love" on the new album, and added, "I'm not in a box. It's not R&B. It's not typically pop. It's not rock. It's just everything I love all mixed together in my own little gumbo of music."
What do you think S1's work with Beyoncé will sound like? Tell us in the comments!



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Willow Smith Does ?Teen Vogue? Magazine

Last month little popstar Willow Smith was featured in the pages of Vanity Fair magazine. This month, she is featured in the pages of Teen Vogue. In a new interview with the mag, Willow talks about her plans for a professional career in music … she explains why she does NOT have a crush on [...]

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Usher's 'OMG' Is MTV News' #1 Song Of 2010!

Club smash, featuring will.i.am, tops our list of the Top 25 Songs of the year.By James Montgomery





Usher

Photo: Getty Images




MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 has reached an end. We've already counted down the rest, and now it's time to get to the best: Usher's "OMG," the song that perfectly sums up the past 12 months of popular music — and makes you wanna move until you can't move no more.

If 2010 proved anything, it's that a DJ really can save your life ... or at least get you to #1 on the Hot 100. After years of staring at each other from across the room, hip-hop, pop and R&B all decided to finally get in bed with dance music, and the results weren't always pretty, but they were certainly successful. To date, only 17 songs have made it to the top spot of Billboard's singles chart in 2010, and nearly two-thirds of them — from Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" to Far East Movement's "Like a G6" — were, in some way, dance songs.
In that regard, no song better sums up 2010 pop music quite like Usher's "OMG," the dance song to end all dance songs. Sure, it may not have matched the swagger of Kanye West's "Power," the snarl of Rick Ross' "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" or the inbox-clogging spread of Cee Lo's "F--- You," but it didn't have to. None of those songs went to #1, after all. "OMG" did. Twice.
Even among songs that managed to snag that top spot — Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie," Katy Perry's "California Gurls," B.o.B and Bruno Mars' "Nothin' on You" — "OMG" stood out from the pack, mostly because of its pedigree. It's not a stretch to say that any of those tracks could've (and probably would've) been #1 in any other year; "OMG" could only have done it in 2010, because it was crafted to do nothing else. No other song this year was as of the moment, as singular and shiny and downright undeniable. There's a reason it was named on more ballots than any other song on our countdown and justly takes the title of MTV News' #1 Song of 2010.
And while all that is important, it's largely beside the point. "OMG" is the kind of song that truly defies deep inspection, because it's not exactly headphone music. Rather, it was made for the clubs, designed to envelop you on the dance floor and not let go until the final "oh-ohh-oh-ooh-oh." And in that regard, it succeeds in spades. It is a masterful melding of R&B, and Euro dance, all icy synths and handclaps, starbursts and stutters and sing-along chants. It ebbs and flows, stops and starts, pumps and preens. Simply put, you cannot listen to it without moving in some way. (MTV's Dee Caligiuri, who voted on our countdown, probably put it best one night when she declared: "There are so many dances you can do to it!") And if that's not the definition of a success, well, then I don't know what is.
A large portion of the credit for "OMG" has to go to will.i.am, who not only produced the track (I know!), but was smart enough to see this whole dance thing coming when he teamed up with producer David Guetta last year. Those songs — "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling" — were, of course, massive, but neither of them are as good as this. Given full control, Will goes off the deep end, cramming the song with every dance trick in the book — and probably some new ones he just invented on the spot. And Usher, whose career, truth be told, was sort of in need of a shot in the arm, is the beneficiary. He floats and gloats above the mix, suave and cocksure, knowing that he is exactly the right man at the right time. That time, of course, had to be 2010.
Because in a year when so many big-name acts embraced the DJ, he flat-out did it better than any of them. "OMG" represents the peak of the dance-pop era in which we live, a song as undeniable as it is of the moment. We can only speculate as to what next year will bring, but there's really no denying that, as 2010 comes to a close, Usher stands above all else, reinvigorated and ready for more. It's enough to make you say "Oh My God," really.
How does Usher's "OMG" rank among the year's best songs? Let us know in the comments!
MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 have all been counted down. But the fun isn't over yet: We still want to see your picks in the comments below!



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'The Rite' Captures Friday Box Office

Thriller makes $5.3 million.By Mawuse Ziegbe





Anthony Hopkins and Marta Gastini in "The Rite"

Photo: Warner Bros.




It appears that audiences are still down to get freaked out by a creepy performance from Anthony Hopkins.
The Oscar-winning actor's latest skin-crawling, onscreen turn, "The Rite," topped the Friday box office. The film, which is based on real-life events and stars Hopkins as an unconventional exorcist, debuted with $5.3 million. When MTV News sat down with Sir Hopkins recently, the veteran star admitted he has a gift for freaking out fans.
"I know how to do those parts," he said. "Not because I'm scary, but because I know how to scare people. ... It's a question of being quiet and not overplaying it," he explained. "You let the script and the audiences do the work for you. You don't have to play evil."
Behind "The Rite" is last week's box-office winner, "No Strings Attached. Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman's portrayal of "sex friends" who shrug off the possibility of a relationship in favor of casual lovin,' scored $4.3 million. Friday's earnings kick the film's total haul to just over $30 million.
Jason Statham's latest firepower-heavy flick ,"The Mechanic," came in third place. The tale of an assassin looking to avenge the killing of his mentor with the help of his son (Ben Foster), debuted with $3.6 million.
"The Green Hornet" took the fourth-place spot at the Friday box office. Moviegoers coughed up $2.9 million to catch Seth Rogen as the classic masked superhero duke it out with Los Angeles-area baddies. The figure kicks the film's total estimated tally to $70 million.
"The King's Speech," the dramatization of the UK's King George VI's struggle to overcome his stammer with the help of an eccentric speech therapist, rounded out the top five. The film, which recently picked up 12 Academy Award nominations, scored $2.8 million. The movie's total estimated haul now stands at around $63 million.
Check out everything we've got on "The Rite," "No Strings Attached" and "The Mechanic."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Ryan Seacrest, Josh Duhamel In Talks For 'New Year's Eve' Movie

Ice Cube has also been named as possible addition to all-star cast for Garry Marshall flick.By Jocelyn Vena





Ryan Seacrest

Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images




Who would have thought that Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Robert De Niro, Zac Efron, Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Til Schweiger, Sienna Miller, Hilary Swank and Sofia Vergara wouldn't be enough Hollywood star power for one movie? Well, it seems that the brains behind the forthcoming movie "New Year's Eve" are looking to add even more high-profile talent to the lineup.
"American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest, Ice Cube and Josh Duhamel all are in talks to appear in the star-studded flick, which follows New Yorkers over the course of, you guessed it, New Year's Eve, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Seacrest would play himself in the movie, Duhamel would play a man looking to get to New York to reconnect with a mystery woman he met the year before, and Cube would play an NYPD cop who works with Swank, who will play the director of the Times Square New Year's Eve party. The flick is set to begin filming next month.
Earlier this week, "SNL" funnyman Seth Meyers and rocker Jon Bon Jovi signed on for roles in the Garry Marshall film, the sequel to 2010's "Valentine's Day." And at the Golden Globe Awards earlier this month, Efron confirmed his role in the movie to MTV News.
"I'm starting a movie in a couple of weeks called 'New Year's Eve,' with Garry Marshall. It's got a great cast," he shared. "My scenes are with Michelle Pfeiffer. Yeah, not a bad co-star."
Last year, Marshall spoke to MTV News about the film, which was then in its early stages, and had one other megastar in mind for the film. "Already they're mentioning Justin Bieber," he said. "Perhaps I'd better see who he is, so when he arrives on set, possibly [we can talk]. So we'll see."
Check out everything we've got on "New Year's Eve."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Justin Bieber's Next Album To Capture Justin Timberlake's Magic

Songwriter Sean Garrett says former 'NSYNC star's success inspires Bieber's new project and also dishes on Beyoncé's album.By Mawuse Ziegbe





Justin Bieber

Photo: Getty Images




Justin Bieber may have declined the chance to join Justin Timberlake's label, but according to a songwriter in the know, the former 'NSYNC crooner is the inspiration for the teen sensation's upcoming album.
Songwriter Sean "The Pen "Garrett, who has been working with Bieber on the follow-up to the chart-ruling My World 2.0., spoke with Billboard about the direction for the teen superstar's forthcoming album, saying the project will feature more grown-up fare.
"What we're trying to do with Justin is to segue him into young adulthood," Garrett said of the project, which is also slated to feature production from hitmaker Christopher "Tricky" Stewart. "The one great thing about Justin Bieber is the fact that his fans are going to grow with him. So we want all the fans that started out with him to still be intrigued and excited about him, but we want to also stretch out a little bit and make the fans that are 22-23 years old love Justin as well. When Justin Timberlake went from the last album of *N Sync to his first solo album -- I want to say [we're aiming for] that level. That's the bar for the type of song, that level of 'Cry Me a River,' big records."
Garrett, who has crafted records for stars like Chris Brown and Bieber's mentor Usher, also said he's hard at work on Beyoncé's next project. However, the songwriter didn't divulge too much information, only revealing that he's "been working with her extremely hard ... she's my favorite."
While Garrett said the plan for his next outing is to angle Bieber toward a swiftly maturing audience, Bieber himself has refused to categorize his music, insisting to MTV News in December that he's just focused on creating quality records.
"Whatever comes out of my mouth is just what you guys are going to hear," Bieber explained of his hits. "I don't know, it's not a specific type of music. Whatever music I write, I wouldn't say I'm pop or R&B or country or anything: I would just say it's just good music,"
What do you think Justin Bieber's new music is going to sound like? Let us know in the comments!



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