Britney Spears 'Can't Be Knocked Down'

Celebrity fans including former 'NSYNC singer JC Chasez, tourmate DJ Pauly D and more weigh in on why Brit is still on top.
By Jocelyn Vena


Britney Spears with Lady Gaga as Jo Calderone at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

At the 2011 Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga's alter ego Jo Calderone presented Britney Spears with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award by telling the audience that Spears "taught us all how to be fearless." And that fearlessness was honored with a dance-heavy tribute to the pop star. Brit's ever-growing legacy is the reason why she was so deserving of the special award, her celebrity fans and members of her inner circle told MTV News.

"She never lets you down," her longtime choreographer Brian Friedman told MTV News on the VMA black carpet on Sunday night. "She's definitely not dull. There's always something crazy coming around the next turn. I think it's a mix between music, which is always incredible, the dance performance you see on the stage, the iconic videos, the fashion, and then the fact that she can't be knocked down."

We spotted Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and more hanging out backstage!

Those sentiments were mirrored by her pal and former 'NSYNC member JC Chasez, who noted that even at 30, "She's actually been around long enough [to have a tribute]. She has a body of work to pull from."

Spears' former tourmate, DJ Pauly D, also gushed about the singer, who won Best Pop Video for "Till The World Ends."

Find out how Beyoncé and Jay-Z Celebrated Their VMA Baby News!

"Oh, man! She deserves it out of anybody," the "Jersey Shore" star said. "She's been killing it forever now. She's got so many albums, and every time she brings out an album, she brings it."

After Gaga presented Spears with the award on Sunday, a group of young female dancers of various ages, dressed up in Britney-themed costumes from her hit music videos, took the stage to perform some of her most memorable moves.

The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards have wrapped, but the real action is just getting started! Stick with MTV News for winners, fashion pics, video and behind-the-scenes stories about everything that went down. Visit VMA.MTV.com for the latest.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669948/britney-spears-video-music-awards-tribute.jhtml

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Season 8 Premier Recap of Gene Simmons Family Jewels

We all know already that Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed got married this past weekend. But through the magic of Reality TV, we can now watch as the whole engagement and wedding unfolds. Last night was the season 8 premier of ?Gene Simmons Family Jewels?, which I will recap here. The show began where season 7 left off, with Gene on bended knee before Shannon on a sea-side setting in Belize proposing marriage. Season 8 of ?Gene Simmons Family Jewels? premiered last night, beginning the road to the alter for Gene and Shannon. Image Credit: FayesVision / WENN.com. We then flash forward to the office of therapist Dr. Ann Wexler as Gene and Shannon discuss the event with her. Gene says he was scared, afraid that Shannon would say no. Shannon said the proposal was bittersweet, since it took her threat of leaving him to prompt it. But, back in Belize, a teary-eyed Shannon told Gene she would marry him. Aww! Meanwhile, back at Casa Simmons in Los Angeles, Nick, Sophie and Tracy Tweed are planning an engagement party. Shannon calls and lets the kids know that they will be a day late in returning, Sophie prods for info but [...]

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Soap Dish: General Hospital Bring Back Megan Ward As Kate Howard

It is Soap Dish time again and this week I am dishing about how I think that General Hospital needs to bring back Megan Ward as Kate Howard ASAP. When the character of Kate Howard appeared on General Hospital I instantly liked her, mostly because Megan Ward did such a killer job of playing the uptight fashion mogul who was running from her past. She was a total biotch but you just couldn?t help to like her. Plus she had some serious chemistry with Maurice Benard, Sonny Corinthos to you and me. Those two were amazing together. Until recently the character had been MIA for awhile but she is back. I was thrilled when I heard Kate was coming back and would be front and center in a story with Sonny again. However much to my dismay the role was recast with a new actress, who I am not going to name because she is not a bad actress I want to make that clear from the get go. That being said she is not Kate Howard and yes I have given the nuKate a chance, I really did but I just don?t buy her in the role. I will [...]

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Justin Bieber's Grammy Performance Will Be 'A Crossover,' Usher Says

The 'O.M.G.' singer looks forward to sharing the stage with his protégé on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery


Usher
Photo: Amanda Edwards/ Getty Images

HOLLYWOOD — At Sunday's 53rd Grammy Awards, Usher will be pulling double duty as both a nominee and a performer. Of course, given the massive year he just completed — with the success of his smash single "O.M.G." and as a mentor to rising phenom Justin Bieber — Ush's Grammy plans seem rather fitting.

Especially since he'll be performing with Bieber (and Bieber's pal Jaden Smith), a move that's just as much about celebrating Usher's successes as it is the successes of his young protégé.

"Having been through [the Grammys] so many times, you couldn't want for anything more than for your young protégé to have the opportunity to have one, so, in support of him having his moment, I wanted to be here," Usher told MTV News on Thursday, hours before his performance at the (Belvedere) RED launch party in Hollywood. "And also to be there to perform, to kind of tell the story of how we came together. This music business has definitely been good to both of us, and this year we have a lot to be happy for."

And just how will the dynamic duo tell that story? Well, Usher wasn't about to reveal all the details, but he did say that he's hoping their performance will show another side of Bieber ... a side most tend to overlook.

"The performance will be fun," Usher explained. "We want to get up there and just do what we do. Be comfortable, and have a great time. ... This is kind of a crossover for Justin. Having performed on so many different stages, this is the way that I wanted him to be seen and an opportunity to show the industry — a lot of the industry, that didn't believe [in him] — some of his other talents. He's going to play acoustically, and also, we'll get down a little bit."

And though Ush is up for a pair of Grammy awards on Sunday — Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best Contemporary R&B Album for Raymond v. Raymond — he's most looking forward to sharing the stage with Bieber and giving fans a look at where the young artist will be heading next.

"I'm very proud, man. I definitely saw it from the beginning, but thanks to the team that we have around us, it was made to happen. And that story has only just begun," Usher said. "The story of Justin Bieber doesn't stop with screaming girls; we need screaming fans all around the world ... a cultural experience that's much more than just fanfare. And that's what this is. That's what the Grammys will be; that's what my next phase for Justin is. This is the way I found him: I found him with a guitar in his hand, so I want him to be seen that way."

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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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657728/usher-justin-bieber-grammy-performance.jhtml

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Stranger Danger

My sister recently had a talk with my four-year-old nephew Jack about strangers. Here's how it went:

SISTER: Now, Jack, if a stranger says, "Come here, I want to show you something," what do you do?

JACK: I turn around and run!

SISTER: If a stranger says, "Come here, I want to give you some candy," what do you do?

JACK: I turn around and run!

SISTER: If a stranger says, "Come here, I want to show you my puppy," what do you do?

JACK: Oh, I love puppies...

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/7/26/stranger-danger.html

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Glee Recap: Asian F Gets An A

Glee is back, baby, and in tonight’s episode we learned a bit more about some of those not so central characters – Mike Chang, Mercedes Jones and Emma Pillsbury. We begin the episode with Will finding Emma’s secret stash of wedding magazines, and while he’s okay with finding it, he’s not okay with the fact that he hasn’t even met her parents yet. Mike and his father, Mike Chang, Sr. are in Principal Figgin’s office, with the elder Mike concerned about his son because he got an A- on his chemistry test. OMG, an Asian F! His father thinks he should take a drug test and feels Glee Club and Tina are distractions to his academic future. Mercedes’ boyfriend Shane gives her the confidence she needs by telling her that she’s better than Rachel, and she auditions for the role of Maria, singing Jennifer Hudson’s ‘Spotlight’. We all know what amazing vocals she has and of course wowed the judges. Rachel looks on, and feels threatened by Mercedes’ audition. Artie, Emma and Coach Beiste can’t decide so they have both return for another audition, wanting them to sing ‘Out Here On My Own’. With Brittany running against Kurt for class [...]

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Kelly Monaco Kelly Ripa Kelly Rowland Kerry Suseck Kim Kardashian

Usher Collaborator Rico Love Calls Kelly Rowland's 'Motivation' 'Truly Organic'

Lil Wayne 'jumped on it,' Raymond v. Raymond writer tells Mixtape Daily.
By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Rob Markman


Rico Love
Photo: TTLL

Behind the Beats: Rico Love

If more people read the credits behind some of R&B's biggest hits, Rico Love should be a household name. Born Richard Preston Butler Jr., the former Florida A&M University student is now one of the music industry's most-sought-after singer/songwriters.

After writing hits for Usher ("There Goes My Baby"), Beyoncé ("Sweet Dreams") and Diddy-Dirty Money ("Hello Good Morning"), to name a few, one of Rico's biggest hits to date is Kelly Rowland's "Motivation."

"It came about in a truly organic way," Rico told Mixtape Daily of the Jim Jonsin-produced "Motivation." "We had this meeting in New York: myself and Sylvia [Rhone] and Kelly. And they just were saying, 'We need to find that single; we need that big single.' Everybody was asking for an uptempo, actually.

"I flew down to Miami the next day, and that Tuesday, we got back in the studio, and Jim started playing these chords, and then coming up with these little sounds — the signature sounds that Jim comes up with. I just told him to lay it like a skeleton idea, and I jumped in the booth, and I started with the verse, and I kind of sang my way all the way through the record."

Rowland, formerly of Destiny's Child, was in the studio while Rico was laying down the reference track and made her regard for the song known immediately. "Kelly was there and watched the whole process," Rico recalled. "As soon as I finished singing the demo, usually an artist wants to live with it or listen to it for a little while. She just said, 'I want to cut it right now.' So she jumped in the booth, and we cut the record."

"Motivation" became the lead single for Rowland's third album, Here I Am, which was released in April. The song, which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, features a verse from Lil Wayne.

"Lil Wayne got out of jail a few days later, and as soon as he got out of jail, [Rowland] went to see him, and he jumped on it," Rico explained. "It was the most organized situation ever. It was nothing contrived about it."

There's been nothing manufactured about Rico's accomplishments either. Starting his musical career as a rapper, he has signed former Roc-a-Fella rapper Young Chris to his Universal/Motown-distributed Division 1 label.

After leaving Florida A&M to pursue music, Rico caught the attention of Usher, and penned songs for the R&B singer, including "Throwback." Other artists soon benefitted from his songwriting, including T.I., Pleasure P and Mario. Rico takes pride in being versatile with his talents, preferring not to make specific songs intended for specific artists only.

"Sometimes, when you keep an artist in mind, you'll limit yourself," Rico explained. "You won't go a place that they probably would go because you're thinking, "Nah, she wouldn't say this," or "He wouldn't do this," or "He wouldn't say this," and "This melody is out of the way for them."

"When I get a chance to just get into the studio and just write music and just produce music and sit at the piano and tell a guy where I want to hear the chords and create the progressions and just freely make music, it's a lot more fun."

Lately, Rico has been back in the studio with Usher. In 2007, he was signed to the singer's former US Records via J Records. But his debut album was never released, and he and Usher went their separate ways.

But as Rico become a songwriting force, the two eventually started working together again. The first song they recorded was the Grammy-winning "There Goes My Baby" from 2010's Raymond v. Raymond. Now, Rico is working on Usher's forthcoming album and embracing the pressure of surpassing its predecessor's platinum sales and critical success.

"I feel like this is what separates the boys from the men," Rico said of working with Usher. "This week, we been creating records together. We had two mics, two headphones set up in the booth, and we just sit there and vibe out.

"These first few days have been amazing. We got four records cut so far that sound super amazing. I'm super excited about it. I'm just anxious for the world to hear it."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1667790/rico-love-kelly-rowland-motivation.jhtml

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Appamen Debuts Fall Collection

Courtesy Appaman It may not be time to bundle up yet, but just looking at Appaman‘s latest fall collection has us craving colorful wooly hats and puffy coats. This time around, the company has created a smart, stylish mix of sporty basics (long-sleeve graphic tees, sweats, hoodies) and tailored casual wear (cargo pants, corduroy mini [...]

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Taylor Kitsch Talks Prepping For 'John Carter'

'It's such a grand movie, and John is in every shot of this film,' actor says.
By Kevin Sullivan, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Taylor Kitsch in "John Carter"
Photo: Disney

Not just anyone can be John Carter. Taylor Kitsch found that out the hard way while auditioning for the role, his first big movie as the lead. And even though he had been unfamiliar with the John Carter books before, the role was, according to Kitsch, something he was "willing to do anything for."

In the upcoming adaption of Edgar Rice Burroughs' beloved "A Princess of Mars," Kitsch plays a Civil War veteran who finds himself transported to another planet. The Martians task Carter with saving the planet and rescuing the captive princess, played by Lynn Collins. The production finally came together recently after lingering in development for years and losing Jon Favreau, who was once attached to direct.

The journey began by meeting with the director Andrew Stanton, best known for his work on Pixar films. "I knew of Stanton, of course, and I was a huge fan," Kitsch says. "He was a big fan of Riggins, my 'Friday Night Lights' character, so right away we kind of pushed each other because we were so excited about just meeting one another."

After their initial meeting, Stanton took Kitsch through some of the preproduction work that the director and his team had already finished. "It's literally floor-to-ceiling in prep and pictures, storyboards, arc of John Carter, arc of the Tharks, Dejah," Kitsch said. "It's not overwhelming, but it's like, OK, this guy's not screwing around."

That first meeting was just the beginning for Kitsch. The producers put him through "a lot," but he understood that it all needed to happen. "It's such a grand movie, and John is in every shot of this film, so of course it's a big gap. You go on film, and you read for him a couple times and then you get to the screen test and you're starting to battle through this," Kitsch said.

But Stanton was there for his eventual star every step of the way, especially during the two-day screen test. "This really says a lot about who he is. He takes you the day before and does a walkthrough," Kitsch said. "He just puts everything level when you get there on the day. That just helped me settle in a lot."

Check out everything we've got on "John Carter."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1672088/john-carter-taylor-kitsch.jhtml

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Britney Spears Hosts As Ke$ha, Jennifer Lopez, More Bring Wango Tango To L.A.

Pitbull, Matthew Morrison, Selena Gomez, Far East Movement and others filled the Staples Center on Saturday night.
By Matt Elias


Britney Spears hosts KIIS FM's Wango Tango 2011 on Saturday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

LOS ANGELESBritney Spears makes headlines at concerts, even when she's not performing. That's probably why Los Angeles radio station KIIS FM tapped the pop princess to guest-host their annual Wango Tango music festival along with Ryan Seacrest on Saturday night at the Staples Center.

The bill was a balance of pop and hip-hop, with acts like Ke$ha, Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, Ne-Yo, Selena Gomez, "Glee" 's Matthew Morrison, Lupe Fiasco, T-Pain, Jason Derülo, Far East Movement, New Boyz, Cobra Starship and newcomer Cody Simpson.

Backstage, the media room went into a frenzy when Spears arrived in a red, geometric-print dress and a beaming smile. Owning her "femme fatale" moniker, Spears worked the carpet for a few moments while all of the cameras in the room were pointing at her. It was the second red carpet appearance by Brit this week, after her Beverly Hills benefit on Wednesday night for the St. Bernard Project.

Check out photos from Wango Tango 2011.

Spears' Femme Fatale collaborator Ke$ha, who was returning to the festival for the second time, said that an onstage collab between to the two would have to require one thing.

"That would have to include me finding her and attacking her," Ke$ha told MTV News, with the best intentions. "I'm planning on pouncing her."

While that never happened, at least not onstage, Ke$ha delivered on her promise of a set heavy on her glitter gun. And she assured us she knew the dos and don'ts of handling that kind of firepower.

"Do not spray yourself in the face with it," she said. "Do spray everybody else with it. That's pretty much it."

While Joe Jonas wasn't performing at the show, he took a break from recording his solo debut to catch up with almost everyone backstage.

"I didn't see Britney backstage, just said 'hello' to a couple of my friends," Jonas said. "Backstage is always [full of] people, especially having it at the Staples Center this time, I think compared to all the way out in the desert, it changes everything."

Also happy to have Wango Tango in Los Angeles were locals Far East Movement.

"Man, we grew up literally a few blocks away from here, and you can only imagine basketball games being played here," Kev Nish said. "So to come in here as performers, to be able to do our songs in this arena is a little crazy. We used to pass out CDs a few blocks [away], so we're very thankful. And the lineup is nuts, so we're extremely excited to be a part of this lineup."

Were you at Wango Tango? Share your experience in the comments below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663909/wango-tango-britney-spears-kesha.jhtml

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