Melody Plant

Britney Spears wore a custom Versace dress, H Stern Jewels and Versace shoes as she received the award for Best Female Video for ‘Piece of Me’ at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards at Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles last weekend. Britney had a short comedy sketch with ‘Superbad’ actor Jonah Hill before walking out to the stage to introduce the show. She may not have performed but she did open the show. As the 26-year old singer walked onto the stage, she received a standing ovation. During her acceptance speech, she thanked God and her two sons. Later that night, she also picked the top award, Video of the Year for ‘Piece of Me’.

Sources are saying that British comedian Russell Brand has been tapped to host this year’s MTV Video Music Awards which will air from Los Angeles in September. If you don’t know who he is, he’s actually a big name in the UK and has awards show hosting experience. Russell was actually the host at the Brit Awards two years ago. He’s also known for his crazy antics and being a self-proclaimed reformed horn dog. That should make the whole VMAs interesting this year. Sarah Silverman was pretty memorable for her bitchiness. I think Russell will be able to top that with his horniness.

Jessica Simpson recently talked about her future in country music with Nashville’s Tennessean. The 27-year old blonde bombshell addressed why some people are so against her singing the genre saying “I think just because my name is attached to it. Or maybe they thought that I was just trying to stomp on their ground for a little bit and see what I could do, and then just go back and make another pop record. But I’m planning on making country for the rest of my life, and I don’t want to go back to that other world. It’s a spiritual thing for me, like ‘I know God has a plan and a purpose.’ For the first time in my life, I take a lot of pride in my talent and in the record I was able to put together. With the writers, I felt comfortable opening up, because the only way this opportunity was going to be a great one was to be honest with myself and with them. If I want to be singing it for the rest of my life onstage, I want it to be honest.”

The newest solo country singer Jessica Simpson and her fellow country singing blonde signed autographs at the 2008 CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee on Friday. She hasn’t even come out with her country album yet but Jessica’s already being treated as a country singing superstar. Country music fans are so accepting. But kudos does go to Jess as her country single ‘Come on Over’ is doing quite well on the Nielsen charts. She may have finally found something that she’s actually good at. But considering that she’s Joe Simpson’s kid, I doubt it would last. He’s going to make her sell out sooner or later.

Tori Amos is going indie as the musical genius has left her record label deciding to pursue alternative routes to get her music out to her fans. Tori’s manager John Witherspoon explained the new development to Billboard magazine saying “After 22 years of being in the shackles of the major label system, Tori has chosen the path of independence for her next work. As with many of her contemporaries, Tori is devising new and exciting ways of getting her music to the masses without the boundaries and limitations of the major music companies. This will commence with a project of new music and visuals which is being started in the summer and due for release in Spring 2009.”

Alternative music is down but country music is up. AHITS Daily Double says so by citing the attendance of music lovers for Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (which drew 30,000 fewer people this year as compared to last year) and Stagecoach Country Music Festival (which drew double its audience from last year). But then again, if you compare Coachella lineups of this year and years’ past, it was really weak. Coachella is also on its 9th year while Stagecoach is only on its 2nd. Interest in the actual festivals may be a factor too and not just the love of the music itself.

The music industry is getting really desperate for cash as the days go on. Universal has just announced that its Island Def Jam branch is going to team up with Procter & Gamble on a hip hop label to be named TAG Records. P&G’s TAG body spray for men is the inspiration behind the name. Also according to the announcement, Jermaine Dupri will act as the president of the new label. It’s a win-win situation if you think about it. P&G has a direct way to market its products and the artists will get loads of support from the marketing gurus. Hurray for capitalism!

Pop beauty Rihanna managed to dodge getting gunged at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards by carrying an umbrella-ella-ella to present the award for Favourite TV Show.

And Jessica Alba left the stage unscathed after picking up the Favourite Movie Actress gong.

Indiana Jones actor Harrison Ford wasn’t so lucky though – although he wasn’t too bothered about being slimed.

But Lord Of The Rings star Orlando Bloom didn’t look quite so happy to get a green splattering

The gunging was directed by awards’ host Jack Black, who was dressed as a superhero. And the Hollywood funnyman didn’t mind when he was given a slimy soaking himself.

Also at the US event actor Ashton Kutcher went weak at the knees, literally, and fell off stage as he gave actress Cameron Diaz the Wannabe award.

Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz has confessed that he was once so depressed that he tried to commit suicide. In an effort to encourage students suffering from mental illness to get help, Pete, Mary J. Blige and Smashing Pumpkins front man Billy Corgan front the Jed Foundation’s ‘Half of Us’ campaign which is aimed to cut student suicide rates. The 3 musicians sat down for interviews detailing their darkest hours which appear on MTV’s college channel mtvU. Pete confessed to being so messed up and taking a bunch of prescription drugs in a parking lot. Suicide is never the answer. Get help if you’re feeling depressed.

Grammy-winning country singer, who hasn’t scored a hit lately, LeAnn Rimes puts her best abs on display in a bikini shot on the latest cover of Fitness magazine. Can I just say wow?! She may not be making some good music these days but boy does she have a rocking body!

In an accompanying article, LeAnn revealed the tunes that keep her pumped up as she does her workouts. Her list includes Kanye West’s ‘Stronger’, the Foo Fighters’ ‘The Pretender’, Audioslave’s ‘Broken City’, Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Hurt’, the soundtrack from ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and a few selections from David Gray. That’s some eclectic mix.

Madonna’s new album isn’t expected to drop until well into the next year but that isn’t stopping Timbaland from leaking one of the songs that he worked on with the Queen of Pop. The producer played ‘4 Minutes to Save the World’ at the Jingle Ball in Philadelphia on Sunday night. I just hope that he got her permission to do so.

The song also features Justin Timberlake and it’s pretty hot. How could it not be when you’ve got all that great talent working on it? I’m also hoping that the finished version has a lot less of Timbaland though.

I have to say she is a Little Miss Sunshine…

Natasha Bedinfield releases the second single from her new album next month. It’s called Pocketfull of Sunshine, and it’s awesome! Check around online to find an early release of it.

The song is already slated to be a radio hit, and it’s one everyone can appreciate and enjoy – upbeat, sing-songey, fun.

Santa, you can put this one in my stocking!

The Jonas Brothers have really hit the big time. The musical trio of brothers Kevin, Nick and Joe were seen attending the 2007 Jingle Ball pre-event at The Hammerstein Ballroom on Friday in New York City.

Another mark of their success is that they were recently announced to be performers during ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Even 2008’ along with Carrie Underwood and Miley Cyrus. They will have live performances from Times Square with the show airing on Monday, December 31 on ABC. What a hot way to rock in the New Year – an American Idol and two big names from Disney.

Music legend Ike Turner has died. He apparently died in his home in San Marcos, California which is just outside of San Diego. He was married four times, most famously to Tina Turner whom he got divorced with in 1978 amidst his constant abuse towards her. Regardless, the singing duo had 7 top ten R&B songs. Ike is survived by his four known children, Ike Jr., Michael, Ronald and Mia.

The Recording Academy issued a statement regarding Turner’s passing saying “There is no doubt that Ike Turner was one of rock and roll’s great architects with his genre-defying sound as an instrumentalist and bandleader … As a two-time GRAMMY® Award winner and recipient of The Recording Academy’s 2004 Heroes Award, Ike’s legacy as a groundbreaking pioneer in the music industry will never be forgotten.”

Despite a letter from Mom, Amy Winehouse isn’t ready to pack up and head home just yet. Instead, she vows to keep on moving forward.

Amy’s rep says she’s set on making it to the Grammys. “Amy is thrilled to be nominated for six Grammys and is very much hoping to attend. She is determined to be ready and well for that performance.”

Amy has endured a lot in her mere 24 years of life. Her husband Blake Fielder-Civil is currently in jail, and she’s already had to cancel her shows for the rest of the year as she gets herself back together. Her rep says she is under physician supervision has been writing a lot. “It’s a really difficult time and she’s been channeling it into her music.”

Wow…good for you, Amy. It’s your own self-prescribed rehab.

Fall Out Boy got a total of zero Grammy nominations on Thursday mor

ning and come night time, bassist Pete Wentz showed just how much of a sore loser he was when he pitched a fit at the People magazine Grammy kick off party. Pete continues to be a sourpuss when he made a post on the band’s official blog.

In the blog titled “got bitterness? vs. a revelation on true connection (and the award goes to)” Pete reveals just how he felt about the lack of nominations but yet being asked to appear and even perform for a kick off party.

But apart from bitterness, Pete actually has a great point about relevance and acceptance in there. It’s a good read.

If their performance at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show was anything to go by, the Spice Girls concert wouldn’t be any good. But the thing is, that performance isn’t anything compared to the actual show because the show is really good!

Besides making LA fans go crazy by singing all their hits on Wednesday, Baby, Scary, Ginger and Sporty each belted out solo numbers. Mel C did ‘I Turn to You’, Scary made her own rendition of ‘Are You Gonna Go My Way’ and Ginger did ‘It’s Raining Men’. I forget what Baby sang but it brought the house down along with the other 3 nonetheless.

What did Posh do? Instead of belting out her own solo number, she opted to prance down the runway to a mix of Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’ and RuPaul’s ‘Supermodel’.

KT Tunstall has given up her love of rock climbing due to fears she will lose her fingers to frostbite. What a sentence! The huge singer claims that a climbing holiday in the Isle of Skye a few years ago was the best time she ever had; but she worries that the dangerous hobby will damage her fingers so much it will prevent her from playing the guitar.

She says, “What worries me most is damaging my fingers. At the moment, I can’t afford to risk losing them to frostbite but I’d love to do more in the future.”

We feel for you KT but totally agree. Fans of your music urge you not to ruin your fingers – we wait with baited breath for your next album.

Avril Lavigne went to a great low when she had a free concert in Canada this past weekend for the opening of a Best Buy. The only thing that gets lower than that is if it happened to be a disaster – which it was!

A fan turned non-fan said that the show was a joke especially after Avril showed up nearly two hours late while her fans stayed out in the freezing cold and snow just to see her outdoor concert. The show was scheduled to start at 1PM but an announcement came at 1:50PM that she was only to arrive in 15 minutes. Shame on her!

Britney Spears’ latest album ‘Blackout’ is already on the fourth week of its release and it has literally blacked out. Her album has already dropped to a very disappointing 41st place this week in the US according to the new Soundscan charts.

What’s far more disappointing is that Brit’s album has only sold a total of 466,834 copies. That means that her latest effort will not be selling more than a million copies unless some sort of miracle happens. ‘Blackout’ will be the only Britney CD to date that will not go to platinum.

Well that has to suck for her. But I doubt that she really cares.