May 2012 Archives

Ding! Ding! It's time for round two.

Following opening performances chosen by the judges last night, American Idol finalists Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez and Joshua Ledet were left to choose their own material. Who made the best selection? Watch. Decide. Vote.

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Joshua Ledet followed an Etta James cover with a version of John Lennon's iconic "Imagine." Did he do it justice?

Joshua Ledet - "I'd Rather Go Blind"

Jessica Sanchez went bold again, this time taking on Steven Tyler in front of Steven Tyler with "i Don't Wanna Miss a Thing."

Jessica Sanchez - "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing"

Phillip Phillips closed this section of songs with "Disease" by Matchbox 20." Listen below and compare it to his rendition of "Beggin."

Phillip Phillips - "Disease"

VOTE ON YOUR FAVORITE:

Nicki Minaj’s music video for her latest hit single “Right By My Side” premiered last night, featuring Chris Brown on vocals and Nas in the romance department.

The Benny Boom-directed video features Nicki as a 'round-the-way kinda girl who finds love with a regular guy (Nas). Fairy tale romance at its finest, people.

Chris woos the outrageous rapper-singer during his guest appearance, and they even dance suggestively together, but it looks like he loses out to bad boy Nas.

Nas manages to win her over by gifting her an expensive sports car, though her expression at the end of the song makes you wonder if she made a mistake:

Nicki Minaj - Right By My Side Music Video (ft. Chris Brown)

“Right By My Side” is Nicki's third single from Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, following “Starships” and "Stupid Hoe." What do you think of the music video?

It was a busy Tuesday for the trio of remaining American Idol finalists last night, as Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez and Joshua Ledet sang three songs apiece.

That's a total of nine performances in two hours. Which of the opening acts did you like best? The judges selected the first numbers last night and we've posted each below. Watch now and then vote on your favorite.

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Joshua Ledet kicked the night off with his version of an Etta James' classic. Are you down his take on "I'd Rather Go Blind?"

Joshua Ledet - "I'd Rather Go Blind"

Up next, Jessica Sanchez continued her trend of tackling the most impressive artists of our time. She covered Mariah Carey's "My All."

Jessica Sanchez - "My All"

Finally, Phillip Phillips went "Beggin" for your vote. Did he earn it with this audition?

Phillip Phillips - "Beggin"

WHICH OPENING PERFORMANCE DID YOU LIKE BEST?

Now that Jessica Simpson has given birth to a 9-pound, 13-oz. baby daughter, Maxwell Drew, her other new baby has her undivided attention:

A new $4 million deal with Weight Watchers.

"As soon as Jessica heals from the C-section, she is extremely determined to work out," a confidant says. "She wants to show the world and is excited to do it."

And is contractually obligated to do it.

Since announcing that she and her fiance Eric Johnson were expecting their first child, Jessica has been under scrutiny over her pregnancy weight gain.

The 5-foot-3 star, who admitted weighing 175 pounds when she posed nude and pregnant for the April issue of Elle, needs to do a serious slim-down.

A source familiar with the Weight Watchers negotiations says the stakes are high, as she's got to lose at least 50 pounds. LITERALLY no pain, no gain.

"She'll have to meet the weight-loss goals for the deal to go through," says the source, adding that the new mom will be under a lot of pressure.

"She hasn't chosen a trainer yet. In fact, she hasn't even thought about it. But if she wants this, she'll need to work out a good five times a week."

For four million bucks? She can deal.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Chuck Brown, a musician known as the "Godfather of Go-Go," has died.

The Washington, D.C. musical giant, born in Gaston, N.C., and perhaps best known for his group's 1979 chart-topping hit "Bustin' Loose," was 75.

Earlier this month, Chuck Brown's family revealed that he had pneumonia. He canceled a planned performance in April due to health concerns.

According to the AP, Brown was pronounced dead at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore. From The Washington Post's obituary:

"Known as the 'Godfather of Go-Go,' the singer, guitarist and songwriter developed his commanding brand of funk in the mid-'70s to compete with the dominance of disco."

"Like a DJ blending records, Mr. Brown used nonstop percussion to stitch songs together and keep the crowd on the dance floor, resulting in marathon performances."

"Mr. Brown said the style got its name because “the music just goes and goes.”

Chuck Brown - Bustin' Loose

As NPR reported, "the name Chuck Brown might not mean a whole lot to people outside the Washington, D.C., area. That would be their loss." R.I.P.

We told you Kanye West would appear on season seven of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

And now you can see for yourself.

In a new E! promo for the season premiere, which airs on Sunday, we get a glimpse of Kanye and Kim at dinner, along with Khloe talking about the rapper and making it seem like this relationship is nothing but a publicity stunt. But that would be crazy, right?

Elsewhere: Kim wears wigs; Kourtney cries; Kris recalls a past love; Lamar Odom considers his NBA career; Scott Disick yells; and THG almost loses our dinner. Watch the totally unscripted madness now:

Keeping Up With the Kardashians Promo

Actor Nick Stahl's family filed a missing-person report Monday, but there were ongoing issues that predated the Terminator 3 star's disappearance.

According to court papers, he was involved in a custody battle with wife Roseann, who reported Nick Stahl missing, over their 2-year-old daughter Marlo.

She filed in February requesting that Nick not be allowed unsupervised visits with their daughter. She also requested both legal and physical custody.

Nick and Roseann are still married, but estranged and living apart.

Roseann, 30, also stated that in 2011 she estimated the Terminator Salvation actor's income to be $500,000 while she listed her own income as $0.

She said her total monthly expenses were $6,065. In March, she subsequently requested Nick pay $3,807 monthly in child support, and he agreed.

It's unclear if Nick Stahl's drug problems played a role in his disappearance, but they were bad enough to worry Roseann at the time he vanished.

He was granted only supervised visitation with their child, however, and was barred from consuming alcoholic beverages or narcotics within 24 hours.

He was also ordered to provide a negative drug test result for marijuana, cocaine and alcohol within 24 hours prior to every scheduled visitation.

"Thank you for the kind words," Roseann tweeted, along with a plea for anyone with information about Nick's whereabouts to contact the LAPD.

[Photo: WENN.com]

While Jennifer Lopez has publicly said she has yet to make a decision about her future, numerous sources say she's all but officially leaving American Idol.

Having just been ranked as Forbes' most powerful celebrity in large part because Idol revitalized her career, J. Lo may be ready to take her talents elsewhere.

"She's just too busy," one source said, and with a tour with Enrique Iglesias kicking off this summer, with plans to go worldwide in the fall, there's no doubting that.

If nothing else, the next round of Idol auditions would begin while she's overseas, and all that time away from her kids is said to be wearing on her too.

"It is just like any working mom's dilemma," Lopez, who can also been seen in What to Expect When You're Expecting, told E! News this week.

"It's tough. You put them first and then you have all these other things that you have to do, and you have to make sure that they're OK. It's a balancing act."

One that may cause her to ride off into the sunset ... but not if Fox has its way. A network source said, "Fox does not want to let her go. They love her."

Enough to double her $20 million salary to keep her? Stay tuned.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Move over, Darren McFadden. According to reports, Rihanna is turning her attention over to another random athlete in the New York Knicks' J.R. Smith.

Sources tell In Touch that the two are a thing. A fake thing, probably, but good enough for 2-3 hours of celebrity gossip before she denies it on Twitter.

The two were spotted, allegedly, getting cozy at Veranda nightclub in NYC.

“They were very flirty in the club all night and holding hands,” an eyewitness tells the magazine. “She was sitting on his lap and was really into him.”

How serious is it? Not very. But those who know the wild child say she's attracted to bad boys like J.R., who's no stranger to raising eyebrows himself.

J.R. Smith, 26, made headlines in March when he was fined $25,000 by the NBA after tweeting a pic of a woman’s ass in a thong from his bed. Classy.

“He is the team’s most controversial player, so it’s no wonder that Rihanna likes him,” says a source. In the past, the singer has said of her "type":

“I definitely like high-risk guys. I don’t like cream puff, corny guys… the nice ones that won’t hurt you. I like the edge. That’s the thrill for me.”

Insert obvious Chris Brown comment here.

Mary Kennedy, the estranged wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has died.

She was 52. Law enforcement sources say she was found dead in her Mount Kisco, N.Y., home this morning. The cause of death has not been reported.

Mary and RFK Jr. were married in 1994. She was Robert's second wife. The couple, who separated nearly two years ago, has four kids together.

The radio host, political activist and nephew of JFK filed for divorce from his wife mere days before Mary Kennedy was charged with DUI in 2010.

According to Radar Online, a source revealed that the cause of death was suicide, though police have yet to even confirm or deny this report.

In any case, may she rest in peace.

UPDATE: "We deeply regret the death of our beloved sister Mary, whose radiant, creative spirit will be sorely missed by those who loved her," Mary Kennedy's family said in a statement released through her lawyer Kerry Lawrence.

"Our heart goes out to her children who she loved without reservation.