Britney pick up prizes at MTV awards

Britney Spears picked up three prizes at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The singer who is slowly getting her career back on track following a public breakdown earlier this year looked stunning in a tight silver Versace dress as she took to the stage to open the Los Angeles ceremony, before accepting the trio of accolades.

As she picked up her first award for Best Female Video for Piece of Me, Britney who has two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, with ex-husband Kevin Federline - said: I'm speechless. Oh, my goodness, thank you! First I want to thank God for blessing me like this and my family... my two beautiful boys for inspiring me every day.

After winning Best Pop Video for the same track later in the evening, Britney hugged her manager Larry Rudolph before going up to collect her statuette.

The 26-year-old singer who had never won a Moonman, the nickname given to the distinctive silver awards, before completed the evening by winning the third award for which she was nominated, the biggest honour of the evening, Video of the Year.

The Resurrection of Britney Spears

AFTER a tumultuous year in which she was admitted to a psychiatric unit and lost custody of her children, Britney Spears has staged her greatest performance yet – appearing before the world looking healthy and composed.
The troubled pop singer dominated the 25th MTV Video Music Awards in Hollywood, winning awards for all three categories in which she was nominated.

The ceremony's host, comedian Russell Brand, declared the evening "the resurrection of Britney".The 26-year-old took home awards for best video, best pop video, and best female, all for her single, Piece Of Me.

Her haul of statuettes was not the defining moment of the evening – that was reserved for her ability to endure the ceremony without incident or embarrassment.

Only a year ago at the same awards, a dishevelled Spears delivered a universally mocked performance, lip-synching out of time and forgetting her dance steps to her single, Gimme More.

That precipitated a tough time for the singer, which saw her shave her head for the paparazzi, find herself admitted to a hospital psychiatric award, and lose custody of her two sons.

Spears received a standing ovation from the crowd as her best-known song, Baby One More Time, blasted through the auditorium's PA.

Britney Spears is back

In just seven months Britney Spears has turned around her disastrous personal and professional life to regain her status as award-winning darling of pop. How on earth did she manage it, asks Emma Cowing
IT TOOK just 20 seconds. Striding onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in Los Angeles on Sunday night in a vintage silver Versace mini-dress, her skin glowing and her eyes bright, Britney Spears uttered the four short sentences that would resurrect her career.

"I want to thank God first and foremost for just blessing me like this," she told the crowd of hardened music industry types as she accepted three awards, for best female video, best pop video and video of the year. "I want to thank my beautiful family, my two beautiful boys for just inspiring me every day. And my fans, this is for you. Thank you so much".

The crowd got to its feet and – as the singer flashed the innocent white-toothed smile that had once made her America's sweetheart – gave her a standing ovation. With that, Britney Spears was back.

Britney Goes Gaga in 'Mother' of All Roles

(March 20) - Excited to see Britney Spears in her return to TV comedy on "How I Met Your Mother"? CBS has released two snippets of the troubled singer's turn as a lovestruck girl on the popular sitcom.

Britney Spears On How I Met Your Mother

Spears shares scenes with the show's lead character, Ted, played by Josh Radnor, as a somewhat ditsy receptionist who works in his doctor's office and becomes smitten with him.

The episode is scheduled to air March 24.

The show would mark Spears' first role in a prime-time TV series since a March 2006 guest spot on the NBC comedy "Will & Grace," in which she played a Christian conservative talk show host opposite series regular Sean Hayes.

Spears' career as a performer has been mostly on the skids since her personal life plunged into turmoil following her breakup with Federline in November 2006.

She has been in and out of rehab, and her highly publicized comeback performance on the MTV Video Music Awards in September last year was widely panned as an embarrassing flop.

Britney Spears Wheeled Out Of House After Refusing To Turn Over Kids

The singer was reportedly under the influence of an unidentified substance when authorities were called to her house.

Britney Spears hit a perilous new low on Thursday night when authorities reportedly responded to a family-custody dispute at her house in Studio City, California. According to TMZ.com and other outlets, the singer refused to turn over her two children to ex-husband Kevin Federline, and authorities discovered her under the influence of an unidentified substance.

The Los Angeles Police Department was reportedly called to Spears' house after a person who has not been identified phoned authorities at 8 p.m. over a domestic disturbance. The call involved a "family custodial dispute that we are trying to resolve ... peacefully by court order," LAPD spokesman Officer Jason Lee told The Associated Press. She was due to have her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, until 7 p.m. that day. UsMagazine.com later reported that Federline's bodyguards had gone to pick up the children at Spears' house, but she refused to turn them over, despite a court order to do so. She had been with the children since noon, according to UsMagazine.com. Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan had also been at the residence, TMZ reports.

Police went to Spears' home 90 minutes later, as did ambulances, fire trucks and a police helicopter, according to TMZ. While there, authorities reportedly found Spears "under the influence of an unknown substance," TMZ reports. She was later taken out of her home on a gurney by paramedics and taken to a local hospital, where she was reportedly placed under medical evaluation. According to multiple reports, the children are in the custody of Federline, who has temporary custody of the children because Spears has not obeyed court orders.

Earlier in the day, Spears finally sat down for her long-awaited deposition in her child-custody battle, although she cut the session short and was only questioned for 14 minutes. She had been scheduled to start her deposition at 9:45 a.m. but didn't leave her home until after 10 a.m., according to photos and video taken of her drive to her ex-husband's lawyer's offices in Century City, California. By the time Spears arrived, she was 90 minutes late, and proceedings didn't start until just after 11:30 a.m., according to Kaplan.

"I would've preferred it had gone on longer," Kaplan told reporters waiting outside the deposition. Kaplan was expected to ask the pop star, who he called "cooperative," about her alleged drug and alcohol use around her sons, as well as her driving habits and parenting techniques. Whether he got the answers he sought, he wouldn't say, except to offer, "You can imagine in 14 minutes there's not a lot of time to develop questions."

Spears lawyer Sorrell Trope, a partner at the law firm Trope and Trope — which on Wednesday asked to be withdrawn as her legal counsel — told UsMagazine.com in reference to the Thursday night incident, "In a normal case when someone shows up with a certified court order saying the kids need to be somewhere else, the police see to it that the order is obeyed. But that is in a normal case."

Led Zeppelin Dazzles at Joyous London Concert

For two hours and 10 minutes Monday night, renowned British rock band Led Zeppelin was back, rocking privileged fans at an ecstatic O2 Arena in London. It was something not seen for almost 20 years.

The evening was to honor late Atlantic Records founder and producer Ahmet Ertegun, and the band's devoted throng -- many of whom had paid thousands of dollars and flown thousands of miles to see them -- could not have been happier.

The Led Zeppelin part of the show began right on time at 9 p.m. local, with a giant screen showing clips from U.S. television when Led Zeppelin first toured the States.
Original members Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Robert Plant blasted onto the stage with drummer Jason Bonham, taking the place of his father, John Bonham, who died in 1980. The stage was brilliant and the lighting looked great, with an excellent video display offering multiple images behind the live players.

Page, 63, is stout these days, with puffy features and frizzled hair, but his fingers move just as quick. Plant, 59, whose visage is more familiar with all the publicity he's been doing for his hit album "Raising Sand" with Alison Krauss, appeared like a well-fed Anglo Wild Bill Hickok, commanding the stage and still finding those elusive trills.
Jones, 61, was clean cut and all business on keyboards or bass, and Bonham at the drums looked beefy but fit.

They began with a brisk version of "Good Times, Bad Times," with Page's guitar crisp and clear but Plant's voice cramped by feedback. When "Ramble On" followed, Plant's microphone was working better and he sounded in good voice, growling and snapping just like he used to.

GORILLAZ - D-Sides

Gorillaz' second rarities compilation covers "phase two" of the cartoon-avatar band's career, centering on its second album, 2005's "Demon Days." It's not all killer, but some impressive tracks lurk within.

Opener "68 State" is a sexy, fractured instrumental, propelled by a haunting bassline. "People" is also a great listen; the song is a demo version of "Demon Days" single "DARE," but here it has a completely different lyric and melody, sung by bandleader Damon Albarn (aka 2D) instead of eventual guest vocalist Shaun Ryder. "Hong Kong," originally recorded for a Warchild benefit album, is a different animal: Albarn is at his Blurriest, his voice melancholy yet hopeful as he muses over a river of gently plucked strings. A bonus disc features a host of remixes, including three versions each of "DARE" and "Kids With Guns."

BRITNEY SPEARS - Piece of Me

So guess who got the last laugh? "Gimme More," Britney Spears' launch single from fifth studio album "Blackout," peaked at a robust No. 3 on The Billboard Hot 100, garnering plenty of top 40 attention and consumer download love, while the album catapulted in at No. 2.

Follow-up "Piece of Me" has already fostered scrutiny with lyrical response to obsessive media attention: "I'm Mrs. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, I'm Mrs. Oh my God that Britney's shameless/ I'm Mrs. 'Extra,' 'Extra,' this just in, I'm Mrs. she's too big, now she's too thin." Musically, the song drips and drools '80s synths, alongside a drowsy midtempo clip, as Brit sings in a heavily layered near-monotone. Again, the cover of Us will be as big a catalyst for radio as vocal prowess.

SIMPLE PLAN - When I'm Gone

It may be a cliché to say that Simple Plan has developed a more mature sound on its self-titled third LP, but judging from infectious new single "When I'm Gone," teen angst has given way to a quarter-life crisis. Like Good Charlotte, the Montreal-based pop-punkers have made inroads at top 40 radio by exchanging punk attitude for pop accessibility.

They've also enlisted producers Dave Fortman and Timbaland protégé Danja to help redefine their sound. Fans distressed by the new direction can take solace in the fact that the quintet has retained its youthful exuberance and bratty charisma. "When I'm Gone" sputters to life with beats and beeps straight out of Timbaland's playbook, but it quickly morphs into an arena-ready anthem highlighted by rousing choruses and earnest lyrics.

Pitbull - The Boatlift

Pitbull's signature combination of clever, in-your-face Spanglish lyrics and frenetic dance beats is at its best on this album, where he plays to his less excessively crude sensibilities. The talented Miami MC shows his range here, deftly transitioning from uptempo dance to R&B to everything in between.

There are some party-perfect club tracks, particularly "The Anthem," a fun hip-shaker featuring Lil Jon, and "Midnight," featuring Casely on the hook. "Fuego," produced by Mr. Collipark and featuring Don Omar, has pleasing retro touches that recall "Planet Rock." Of the slower songs, the best is the refreshingly serious "My Life" ("I apologize, but this game made me a monster/I'm sorry"). The production is top-notch—if you don't mind the 2 Live Crew-ish blue streak, turn it up.

KYLIE MINOGUE

The hip producers (Calvin Harris, Bloodshy & Avant) and heavy-hitting songwriters (Guy Chambers, Cathy Dennis) are all present and correct, but they never overshadow Minogue's perky/ saucy pop/dance formula. You'll search in vain for insight into her recent personal traumas, but there's still plenty of heart and soul and, in the shape of "Sensitized," "In My Arms," "The One" and lead single "Two Hearts," her best batch of tunes in a while. A truly welcome return.

Even after a four-year absence and a courageous battle against cancer, Kylie Minogue's appetite for pop perfection remains undimmed. Indeed, her 10th studio album (due next year in the United States) is stuffed with pointers as to why she's one of the few pure pop artists to sustain a career into a third decade without ever pulling a Britney.

Maroon 5 - Won't Go Home Without You

Best new artist Maroon 5 and a Grammy Award winner sure is breaking the curse that so often follows the accolade. Following runaway hits "Makes Me Wonder" and "Wake Up Call," the quintet maintains strapping momentum of No. 1 platinum second album "It Won't Be Soon Before Long" with third single "Won't Go Home Without You," another track so organically hitworthy that one almost pities whomever had to decide the order of radio releases.

The tempo slows a bit this time, as singer/ songwriter Adam Levine laments letting go of a lady, though the chorus kicks in nicely with plugged guitars and spin-wheel percussion. Man, this guy can write hooks. Maroon 5 serves up songs that never seem to burn and will sound as relevant in years as they do now, while scaling the charts. The act is about two hits from becoming the premier pop band of the millennium.

Red Carpet Ride For Duran Duran U.K. Date

Duran Duran has made a killing on a U.K. concert in support of its new album, "Red Carpet Massacre."

The scheduled Dec. 3 date at the historic 2,000-capacity Lyceum Theatre in London's West End sold out in just five minutes after going on sale this morning (Nov. 16), promoters AEG said today.

The two-hour performance, the British pop-rock veterans' first on home soil in two years, replaces an earlier date planned for the Odeon Leicester Square, which officials canceled over concerns the London landmark would be swamped by onlookers.

The Lyceum performance will follow the formula of the band's recent residency on Broadway, where, during a stint at the 1,100-seat Ethel Barrymore Theatre, they played a mix of old and new works, plus an electro set.

The group is also booked to perform a one-off concert Dec. 5 at Phoenix Park, Dublin, which forms part of the "Live At The Marquee Concert Series."

Van Halen Extends Tour With 2008 Dates

As expected, Van Halen's tour with original lead singer David Lee Roth has been extended into 2008.

The Live Nation-produced trek -- Roth, Eddie and Alex Van Halen and Eddie Van Halen's teenage son Wolfgang on bass -- kicked off Sept. 27 in Charlotte, N.C., with 40 dates in place.

Now, five additional shows have been added: Oklahoma City (Jan. 22); Houston (Jan. 28); Omaha, Neb. (Feb. 4); Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Feb. 12); and St. Louis (March 30), according to the band's official site.

The current tour is Roth's first with the Van Halen brothers in more than 20 years. Van Halen last toured in 2004 with vocalist Sammy Hagar, grossing nearly $40 million, according to Billboard Boxscore.

Carrie Underwood Tops Billboard Charts

'American Idol' winner Carrie Underwood's sophomore album 'Carnival Ride' landed at the top of the Billboard charts, selling more than a half million copies in it's first week in stores.

NEW YORK (Oct. 31) - For the first time ever, three country singers (with help from one rock star) grabbed the top three slots on the U.S. pop album charts Wednesday, with former "American Idol" champ Carrie Underwood leading the way.

Underwood's "Carnival Ride" sold 527,000 copies in the week ended Oct. 28, according to Nielsen SoundScan, marking her first No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Her Grammy-winning debut "Some Hearts" opened at No. 2 with 315,000 copies in 2005.

Country music ruled the Billboard charts this week as Allison Krauss' new album with Robert Plant took second place, Carrie Underwood's sophomore effort finished at the top and Gary Allan's 'Living Hard' rounded out the top three.

'American Idol' winner Carrie Underwood's sophomore album 'Carnival Ride' landed at the top of the Billboard charts, selling more than a half million copies in it's first week in stores.

NEW YORK (Oct. 31) - For the first time ever, three country singers (with help from one rock star) grabbed the top three slots on the U.S. pop album charts Wednesday, with former "American Idol" champ Carrie Underwood leading the way.

Underwood's "Carnival Ride" sold 527,000 copies in the week ended Oct. 28, according to Nielsen SoundScan, marking her first No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Her Grammy-winning debut "Some Hearts" opened at No. 2 with 315,000 copies in 2005.

Jennifer Lopez Is Pregnant Designer Says

NEW YORK (Nov. 1) - Roberto Cavalli has confirmed, perhaps inadvertently, that Jennifer Lopez is pregnant. Asked what types of clothing he designs for celebrities, the fashion designer told People magazine: "Well Jennifer Lopez, at this moment, she requests something very special because she is waiting for the baby."

"It is so complicated because every week she is getting bigger," Cavalli said in a story posted Tuesday on the magazine's Web site.

"Jennifer Lopez has continued promotional appearances for her new CD 'Brave' amidst rumors that she is expecting her first child."

"Us sources say that the singer is four months pregnant with twins. One source says Lopez's mother is proudly spreading the word to her friends."

Cavalli, known for his attention-getting designs, created free-flowing outfits for Lopez, who has been on tour with her husband, Marc Anthony.

His comment came after weeks of speculation, tabloid baby-bump pictures and raised eyebrows. Lopez, 39, has declined comment.

A telephone message left Wednesday for her publicist, Nancy Ryder, wasn't immediately returned.

"The thing about Jennifer Lopez, she is a singer, she is a dancer," Cavalli said. "Most of the time when I prepare something for the tour, the performer, they want something very soft so they can dance and so they can move free."

Band of Horses Cease to Begin

If Ben Bridwell felt any pressure in crafting a worthy successor to his group's debut breakthrough, "Everything All the Time," it hardly shows.

Fitting of a man who wrote a song called "Weed Party," "Cease to Begin" finds Bridwell--his unkempt beard approaching hippie proportions these days--unapologetically baring his dude-bro demeanor. Between albums, he moved back home to South Carolina (from Seattle), inspiring a regional warmth, the musical equivalent of Southern hospitality.

There are no songs here quite as epic or grandiose as "The Funeral" or "The Great Salt Lake," but Bridwell is just as happy to seek peace and comfort in more humble doses. "Cease to Begin" checks in at 10 tracks (that is, if you include the 50-second "Lamb on the Lam") and 35 minutes.

The payoff here is not in sprawling guitar jams, but in Bridwell's high-on-life outlook that is equal parts corny and endearing. On the down-home "Ode to LRC," Bridwell wonders: "The town is so small, how could anybody not look me in the eye and wave as I drive by?" Then, with no hint of irony, he soars: "The world is such a wonderful place."

But Bridwell is at his romantic best on "No One's Gonna Love You," a misleading title given the chorus: "No one's ever gonna love you more than I do." If Bridwell didn't mean it so much, you'd half-expect to hear the friend from "Wayne's World" chime in, "No, I love you, man."

Chuckle if you must. But Bridwell, whose former Horses bandmate Mat Brooke left to work on other projects, seems to thrive on an infallible spirit and certain sincerity in which only the harshest of cynics would find fault.

Kid Rock Charged in Waffle House Brawl

(Oct. 21) - Rocker Kid Rock was arrested early Sunday morning after a brawl at a Georgia waffle house.

Fox 5 News in Atlanta is reporting that Kid Rock, born Robert Ritchie, stopped in for a bite at approximately 5:15 in the morning, following a performance at a local club.

Another patron, identified as Harlen Akins, recognized a female member of Rock's entourage and the two began to exchange words. As things progressed, the altercation moved out into the parking lot, where it turned into a brawl.

Police were alerted and Rock's tour bus was soon pulled over, whereupon he and five other passengers were arrested and charged with simple battery. He was out on bond by 5 PM, signing autographs as he returned to his bus.

Akins was charged with felony assault and second degree criminal damage to property.