The only ‘star’ who was officially confirmed for the Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna has already pulled-out.
Shawn King – the singer wife of U.S. journalist Larry King – had appeared on her husband’s TV show with Jermaine Jackson to officially announce the tribute.
Showing clear affection for Jermaine, Shawn had shown excitement for the September 26 show, promising “a lot of surprises”.
But now, despite being the only confirmed act, Shawn has announced she will not be attending.
Adding to rumours of troubles for the show, Shawn’s spokesman cited “prior commitments” – even though the singer had appeared on TV to talk about her involvement and excitement.
Although many big names have been touted around – including Madonna and U2 – no one has been confirmed, and some of those rumoured to be going have stated they are not involved.
Shawn’s spokesman insisted: “She still has great love and respect for Jermaine.”
When she helped Jermaine announce the show last week, Shawn had said: “I’m doing it because I love music. I love Jermaine. I love the Jackson family. And everything has come together so beautifully, and so perfectly, it’s meant to be. There’s no question in my mind.”
Jermaine said: “We’re going to pay a tribute to my brother – some of the world’s greatest entertainers are going to be there.”
Jermaine insists Vienna was a “very dear place for Michael”: “He loved castles, and we’re going to have this huge celebration in front of a castle. We’re expecting hundreds of thousands of people.”
Britney Spears was previously reported to be performing on the upcoming Teen Choice Awards after having been nominated for three awards. However, the pop singer didn?t perform on the show which aired yesterday on Fox. Her official website became the bearer of good news and bad news as it first reported of the performance and later reported that she was just going to appear. Britney?s camp also released a statement saying ?We are deeply sorry for any confusion and disappointment and appreciate the ongoing dedication of Britney’s wonderful fans.? I wonder what happened. Maybe they couldn?t get her backing track ready on time.
It turns out that Sean Kingston will be writing on Rihanna?s upcoming album. According to the hip hop artist ?Me and my producer Yankee, we cooking up some stuff,. Her people said we want some stuff for Rihanna ?cause I?m from Jamaica. I got the island feel, so I?m writing some stuff right now for her new album. You know what I like about her? She?s never changed. Even when her music changed, she always represented for the Caribbean, always represented for Barbados and that?s what Sean Kingston does. He represents for Jamaica. Anything I do, I always put Jamaica in there. You can?t leave where you?re coming from and I like that about her.?
Jill Sobule is the latest singer to come out against Katy Perry and her song ?I Kissed a Girl?. The singer/songwriter wrote a song with the same title back in 1995 but with different music and lyrics. So what does she have to bitch about? Jill said in an interview ?As a musician I have always refrained from criticizing another artist. I was, ‘Well, good for her.’ It did bug me a little bit, however, when she said she came up with the idea for the title in a dream. In truth, she wrote it with a team of professional writers and was signed by the very same guy that signed me in 1995. I have not mentioned that in interviews as I don’t want to sound bitter or petty, because that’s not me?Okay, maybe, if I really think about it, there were a few jealous and pissed off moments.? Talk about being bitter!
African stage stars are putting on a show called Mercy Madonna of Malawi which mocks the singer’s two adoptions from the country.
The 50-year-old performer has two adopted children David, three, and Mercy, four, who were both adopted from Malawi.
The Material Girl is being played by an African actor in a blonde wig in the show, which is using rewritten versions of Madge’s tracks mocking the adoptions.
The actor is joined by dancers wearing “Adopt Me” t-shirts and they have brought their show to the UK and will perform at the Edinburgh Festival. They say they are trying to show a local perspective of the star’s adoptions.
The audience of the show are reportedly asked at the end whether or not they believe the adoptions should have been allowed.
The show’s director Toby Gough said: “I know one of Madonna’s dancers and I’ve sent him an email saying: ‘Please invite her along.’ I haven’t heard back yet.”
AEG is finally putting their money where their mouth is as they have followed through with their promise to donate the money they raised at the Michael Jackson memorial to the LA Police Foundation. According to the LA Times, the company has donated $90,000 which they made from the sale of 18 suites for the July 7th memorial of the King of Pop at the Staples Center. It?s being said that part of the money will go to build a memorial for fallen officers in front of the new police headquarters. However, the LA City Attorney believes that AEG should still pay for sanitation, transportation, street services and LAPD protection expenses for the late singer?s memorial.
Rocker Sting’s daughter Coco Sumner is reportedly not impressed at having to rework material for her debut album.
The 19-year-old was allegedly told by bosses at Island Records to rework some of the tracks.
A source said: “She hoped the album would be out sooner but it looks as if it won’t be out until the end of the year. No date’s been set and she’s very frustrated.”
It is also claimed Sumner is unhappy that a track she recorded with Pete Doherty has been shelved.
Coco’s publicist said: “The album is coming out next year, we never set a date on it.”
Leighton Meester hit up the Katy Perry Concert at New York City?s Hammerstein Ballroom last week. The 23-year old ?Gossip Girl? actress, who was accompanied by her younger brother Lex and boyfriend Sebastian Stan, arrived late to the concert because she had to work. She had actually arrived just in time for the last three songs. Leighton only stayed backstage though. Cobra Starship opened up for Katy and Leighton actually wanted to perform with them during ?Good Girls Gone Bad? but work got in the way. That would have been cool if she made it on time but we all know that work comes first before some fun.
It looks like we have yet to see the end of the Eminem VS Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey story. The rapper has recently released a track called ?The Warning? which completely eviscerates the curvaceous singer and her husband. In the song, Eminem claims to have naked pictures of Mariah which he threatens to release and he calls Nick the F word, amongst other things. We can all be sure that Nick will have something to say about this. But of course, we also don?t expect that it will be as massive as what Eminem has to say. Nick should just admit defeat now.
Are you ready for the next round of American Idol roulette? Despite all the rumors that have gone back and forth, Kara DioGuardi is reportedly staying for the ninth season of the reality TV talent show. A source said ?Her deal is done. There are no ifs, ands or buts. Done. She will be back.? However, she will obviously be getting a much smaller pay check than Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest. There?s still no word as to the fate of Paula Abdul and filmed auditions for the next season begins today! I expect that she will be returning too. Maybe it?s all just to hype up the first couple of episodes of the show.
Mariah Carey’s performance on America’s Got Talent’s live results show – hosted by her husband Nick Cannon – is being eagerly awaited.
The show’s executive producer, Jason Raff, said: “I see paparazzi pictures of them [Carey and Cannon] all over the place, but very rarely do you see them interact together. I have a lot of anticipation to see her perform, but also to see her interact with Nick. He?s really excited to share his primetime show with his wife. He?s always so proud of her. He always talks about her.”
Carey is promoting her new single, Obsessed, from a new album entitled Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.
Carey was “so thrilled” to do the show, says Raff. ?The fact that they live in the same house certainly doesn?t hurt the situation. But it’s about [the timing]. It’s never something that we talked to Nick directly about. It?s never like, ‘Do you think you can ask your wife if she doesn?t mind coming on to perform?? We went through our normal channels.”
Black Eyed Peas member Apl.de.Ap announced a new record label he is launching in Los Angeles, Jeepney Music, calling on musicians in the area to drop off their demo tapes.
Grammy-winning Apl.de.Ap will throw a launch party for Jeepney at the ecologically conscious ECCO nightclub in Hollywood on August 11. Apl.de.Ap and Peas members Fergie, Taboo and Will.i.am are expected to join the celebration.
“The Los Angeles-based record label is founded on the principle of giving back, to both Apl.de.Ap’s homeland of the Philippines and the global community,” Apl.de.Ap’s representatives stated.
“Jeepney Music will feature not only emerging recording artists but will also highlight the growing number of disc jockeys and collaborative artists as he continues to build his label on the forefront of the digital transformation of music.
“In an unprecedented act, Jeepney Music is calling all artists in the Los Angeles area to drop off their music demos at the event from 10pm to 12am.”
Multi-platinum pop singer Katy Perry just nabbed another number one hit with her latest single ?Waking Up in Vegas?. That song makes it the singer?s third number one Top 40 song from her debut album ?One of the Boys?. There have only been three other artists in the history of the Billboard charts to have achieved that feat, including Ace of Base, Avril Lavigne and Lady Gaga. Wow. Avril?s in the list? Anyway, back to Katy. Congratulations to her! I?m such a big fan of hers and I couldn?t be more proud that she?s achieved that milestone. I?m sure she?s got plenty more up her sleeves for us to watch out for.
US presenter Ryan Seacrest announced the nominees for the Best Female Video award at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards on his radio show on KIIS-FM.
Seacrest, 34, announced the nominees are Katy Perry with her track Hot N Cold, Kelly Clarkson with My Life Would Suck Without You, and Taylor Swift with You Belong With Me.
The other nominees include Beyonc? for her track Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), Lady Gaga with Poker Face, and Pink with So What.
Nominee Lady Gaga spoke to Seacrest about her success and said: “I’m just really, really grateful. My friends and I have been working so hard for so long?
“I just want to keep doing good work with my fans because I love them so much.”
She added: “We’re just so grateful, I mean we can’t believe the three number ones in America, and we’re so honoured to have all these nominations for MTV.”
Gaga has been nominated for eight other MTV video music awards, tying with Beyonc? as the singer with the most nominations.
