Music

Someone who knows a thing or two about singing competitions performed on The X Factor UK last night.

Kelly Clarkson - who won season one of American Idol, has sold 22 singles around the globe and garnered two Grammys - rocked out with a rendition of "Mr. Know It All," the lead single off her next album... which hits stores this week!

Kelly Clarkson - Mr. Know It All (X Factor UK)

Tweeted Clarkson after the performance:

"I just had such a fun time on X Factor in London!! Thank you to all of the "Extreme Rhythm" drummers, my band, and the production team! What a fun performance! All of the judges and the contestants I met were so sweet. I wish good luck to all of you! A special shout out to my favorite judge and Texas girl @KellyRowland and contestant @samibrooks."

The artist has given fans an early listen to a number of new tracks over the past week. We've collected each one in our Kelly Clarkson video section. Go watch now!

Seemingly apt for an American Idol contestant whose look and sound stood apart from most others, Crystal Bowersox has split from RCA/Jive and will release her next album elsewhere.

“I’m not worried about where I’m gonna be,” Bowersox told TV Line about her professional standing. “I’m gonna be making music if it’s on my own label or if it’s with somebody else. I’d love to work with ATO, Dave Matthews’ label. We’ll see what happens.”

Crystal Bowersox Returns to American Idol

The season nine runner-up has sold 210,000 copies of "Farmer's Daughter," a number that exceeds champion Lee DeWyze's 146,000 for his debut CD.

Crystal isn't a mainstream sensation, but she's perfectly happy with where her career is at.

“For not having any radio play and any great promotion, I think I’ve done pretty well on sales,” she said. “I’m able to provide a good, comfortable life for my family, and that’s what I wanted out of it... I continue to do this for a living. There’s nothing better.”

Bowersox will actually expand her resume next week: look for her to guest star on ABC's Body of Proof.

We hate to say it, but the facts speak for themselves: the solo career of Joe Jonas is off to an abysmal start.

In its first week of sales, Joe's first-ever solo album, "Fastlife," sold just 18,000 copies, landing him in 15th place on the Billboard 200. By comparison, the last CD Jonas compiled with his brothers, "A Little Bit Longer," moved 525,000 copies in the same time period. Ouch.

Joe Jonas Covers Chris Brown

Nick Jonas, meanwhile, also jumped into a solo career last year (with his band, The Administration, that is) and sold 82,000 copies of "Who I Am." Double ouch.

"Transforming a charmed teenhood career into a viable adult one is possibly one of the entertainment industry's most difficult feats," wrote Julianne Escobedo Shepherd in Billboard last week. "For every Justin Timberlake, there are 10 former boy-band members whose post-group disinterest led them to hang up their hats."

Can Joe rebound from this rough opening week? Or will we next see him on stage with his siblings? Stay tuned, THGers. Stay tuned.

Another day, another opportunity to sample Kelly Clarkson's upcoming album.

The singer has released another track off "Stronger," which comes out on October 24. This one is titled "The War is Over" and it features the original American Idol once again standing up for herself against a man.

“I won’t let you pull me in because I know you’re gonna win, but the war is over,” Kelly croons on the track below.

Kelly Clarkson - The War is Over

Previously released singles off the new CD include “Dark Side,” “You Love Me" and "What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)." Click on each of the preceding links to give each a listen.

In a word, to answer the question posed in our headline: No.

A week after American Idol champion Scotty McCreery became the first series winner since 2003 to take his debut album to the top of the Billboard 200 chart, runner-up Lauren Alaina fell to Evanescence, whose self-titled third CD sold 127,000 copies in its first week, good enough for first place.

Lauren Alaina - Maybe It Was Memphis

McCreery’s Clear As Day slipped down into fourth place following a 55 percent drop in sales, but managed to still beat out Alaina's "Wildflower." We've listed the week's top 10 below:

1. Evanescence, Evanescence – 127,000 copies
2. Adele, 21 – 111,000
3. Five Finger Death Punch, American Capitalist – 91,000
4. Scotty McCreery, Clear As Day – 88,000
5. Lauren Alaina, Wildflower – 69,000
6. Tony Bennett, Duets II – 54,000
7. Ryan Adams, Ashes and Fire – 49,000
8. Lady Antebellum, Own The Night – 47,000
9. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter IV – 45,000
10. Martina McBride, Eleven – 40,000

She just couldn't wait any longer.

“Ok I just can’t hold it anymore, and I’m probably in trouble after I say this but ...” Rihanna Tweeted Tuesday morning. “ ... WFLvideo is dropping today!!!”

We actually first found it today, but no complaints girl. WFLvideo, of course, means her video for "We Found Love," co-starring Dudley O’Shaughnessy.

The British model (and Rihanna’s rumored boyfriend for like a week) has great chemistry with her in this video, laden with themes of love as addiction:

Rihanna - We Found Love (Music Video)

“This is probably one of the deepest videos I’ve ever done," the singer Tweeted. "It’s all about love and love being like a drug ... you definitely get that from this. The good feeling of it and the dangers of it. That’s what this video is about.”

It's also about a video about a farmer getting pissed when he saw Rihanna nude in his field in Ireland and demanding the shoot be moved elsewhere.

Just kidding ... although that did more or less happen.

The song is just one of many on Rihanna’s new album, Talk That Talk, is set for release on November 21. Will you be adding it to your collection?

With a new album on the way, Coldplay has unleashed its latest music video on the public. Check it out now:

Coldplay - Paradise (Official Video)

The video is in honor of "Paradise," one of the tracks off the October 24 release, "Mylo Xyloto."

Chris Martin and company have also made another track from the upcoming CD available, as the band Tweeted today:

“You can now stream Hurts Like Heaven for free in all iTunes Stores where Mylo Xyloto is out 24 Oct (inc UK and US)." Will you be picking up this CD?

Kelly Clarkson is promoting the heck out of her upcoming album.

But the original American Idol isn't posing for magazine covers or giving an unusual number of interviews. Instead, she's actually giving fans a few free listens from "Stronger," which comes out on October 24.

First, there was "What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)." Then, "You Love Me." Now, let's all sit back and listen to Clarkson croon on "Dark Side." Everybody’s got a dark side, do you love me? Can you love mine? she asks below...

Kelly Clarkson - Dark Side

Britney Spears’ controversial “Criminal” music video, which features the singer robbing a store with boyfriend Jason Trawick, has just been released!

The 29-year-old, who just passed 10 million Twitter fans, wrote:

“Ladies & gents, I’m excited to present to you the music video for Criminal, one of my favorite songs off of Femme Fatale. Enjoy!”

We particularly enjoyed the shots of Brit in the shower. Yowza.

“Criminal” was shot in London and directed by Chris Marrs Piliero, who also did Britney's “I Wanna Go” video. She's been criticized for the violence depicted in the “Criminal” video, which you can watch and share your comments on right here:

Britney Spears - Criminal (Official Video)

Are you ready to camp under the Mistletoe, Beliebers?

Following an initial performance in Brazil, followed by a sneak peek at the upcoming music video, Justin Bieber has released the full studio version of his new Christmas single. It will be featured on his November 1 holiday album.

Justin Bieber - Mistletoe

So, what do you think? We hope you aren't sick of Justin just yet because the singer will unveil this track's full-length video tomorrow night, around 8 p.m. EST, followed by a live chat on MTV News.

Yes, it's Christmas come early, fans. Celebrate now and return to THG tomorrow evening for more!