It looks like Gwen Stefani was a good girl after all, just like she promised.
The 37-year-old pop star wowed fans in Muslim-majority Malaysia on Tuesday, performing in costumes that showed almost no skin after Islamic critics claimed that her revealing clothes could corrupt the country's youth.
She burst onto the stage wearing a black leotard under a white short-sleeved shirt and black-and-white striped hot pants suit, with black gloves up to her elbows. "I am very inspired tonight," Stefani told some 7,000 cheering fans at an indoor stadium. She changed costumes for every song, remaining fully covered as she belted out tunes such as "The Sweet Escape," "Rich Girl," "Wind it Up" and "Hollaback Girl."
Gwen had promised to dress modestly after the 10,000-member National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students charged that her skimpy outfits and cheeky performances clashed with Islamic values.
Madonna is in talks to quit Warner Music and ink a new record contract valued at around $100 million, it has been claimed.
The pop superstar is understood to be nearing the end of her deal with the label which has been her home for almost 25 years.
As previously reported, she has apparently been approached by Live Nation, who are market leaders in music promotion across the globe.
The deal, covering future touring and releases, is said to be worth £50.5 million ($100 million), marginally outstripping Robbie Williams' contract with EMI in 2002.
Madonna is understood to be nearing completion on the follow-up to "Confessions On A Dancefloor", with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake amongst the collaborators.
Pop star Mika is to take a break from performing after failing to recover from a recurring ear infection.
The Grace Kelly hitmaker cancelled an appearance at the Big Chill festival in England earlier this month because of the illness, and was forced to pull gigs in Denmark last month due to the same ailment.
But despite wowing the crowds at the V Festival in Staffordshire on Saturday, he has vowed to take some time off after failing to shake the condition.
He says, "I had an ear infection quite a while ago and because we've been on tour for a year there's been very little recovery time, so it just hits me every time I get tired.
"I decided to take some time off after V and hang around London.
"I'm looking forward to being able to rest because the last thing I want to do is cancel gigs."
It's not exactly Lilith Fair, but Avril Lavigne, Fiona Apple and Sheryl Crow will anchor the first-ever Girlfrenzy, a daylong concert that will revolve around female artists and take place October 27 at Irvine, California's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. Colbie Caillat, Antigone Rising and Sara Bareilles will also perform.
In an interview with XXL magazine for its October issue — which hits stands September 11 — Kanye called Justin his "biggest inspiration and biggest competition," adding that "he's the only other person that gets an across-the-board response and respect level — black radio, white radio. If Justin hadn't come out and killed the game, I can't say that my album, singles and videos would be on the same level that they're on. We push each other. I look at me and Justin like Prince and Michael Jackson in their day."
Lily Allen had some choice dirty words for President Bush and U.S. immigration on Saturday during her performance at the V Festival in Stafford, England.
"This next one is about people who are awkward on the train, U.S. immigration officials and George Bush in general," she said before the song "Everything's Just Wonderful."
The outburst, in which she referred to Bush as a "f-cking c-nt," came just days after Lily was forced to scrap U.S. dates and an appearance at the Video Music Awards in light of the revocation of her working visa in the U.S.
"I've been banned from America. That's nice. Oh well, that means I can't go back there. Good," Allen said, according to MTV UK.
It seems Britney Spears is not in a chatty mood lately. Just as she did for Ok! magazine Brit failed to give a scheduled interview to Allure magazine , but she did manage to complete a photo shoot for them in which the star appears topless. (check out excerpts right here). The accompanying article is an amusing meditation on Britney's past, Dick Cheney (!) and the writer's experiences waiting for the interview to happen. For more, check out allure.com/go/britney.
For the upcoming season of "Ugly Betty," ABC produced a music video with British pop singer Mika, who re-recorded his hit single "Big Girl" with new lyrics.
The music video -- which features Mika recording the new version of the song "Betty Girl," footage from his "Big Girl" video and scenes from Season 1 of "Betty" -- will premiere Thursday on ABC.com.
The song also will be featured on-air in ABC's promo spots for "Betty."
The American TV network is producing music videos for several of its new and returning shows, including "Ugly Betty," "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," "Dancing With the Stars" and "Brothers and Sisters."
Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Kate Nash, who's topped the album charts with her debut 'Made of Bricks', has seen her single "Foundation" drop two places to four.
Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry" rounds up the top five, while Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah" takes the sixth spot and "Umbrella" from Rihanna slips down three to seven.
"Dream Catch Me" by Newton Faulkner and "Worried About Ray" by Hoosiers take up the eight and ninth spot respectively, followed Enrique Iglesias' "Do You Know" at ten.
Lily Allen has canceled gigs once again, this time because she has strep throat and sinusitis, she says in a post on her MySpaceblog.
"I'm back in London eating my mum's chicken soup, 'cause I'm afraid the traveling has caught up with me," she wrote in the post.
"Before anyone starts trying to accuse me of neglecting my fans, I want to apologise and say how sorry I am, but I can't risk causing any permanent damage."
Defending herself further, the singer also posted the above picture of her holding her doctor's note.
Amywas hospitalized earlier this week after suffering a drug overdose, according to various reports, confirmed by a close family member.
Amy's father-in-law Lance Fielder said: "It was bought on by all her excesses. Yes, work is one of them, but there's the drink and drugs too. She's got to get a grip before it's too late."
Amy is now recuperating at The Priory rehab in Roehampton, South West London.
UPDATE: Amy Winehouse is recovering from her suspected overdose in a hotel in London, and has not entered rehab, as had been previously reported in the UK press. Despite newspaper reports that the singer had entered The Priory rehab clinic, the latest information is that she has locked herself in a London hotel room to recover.
Amy Winehouse was hospitalized on Wednesday (August 8) for "exhaustion."
According to a press release from her U.S. label, Universal Republic, "Amy Winehouse was admitted to [University College London Hospital] this morning, suffering from severe exhaustion. Amy was discharged from the hospital this afternoon and has been advised to take complete rest.
Scheduled performances in Norway and Denmark this week have been canceled."
Melanie Brown aka Scary Spice, who gave birth to Eddie Murphy's daughter in April, married her boyfriend, Steven Belafonte, in June, Access Hollywood reported Wednesday.
Murphy acknowledged his paternity of Brown's daughter, Angel, last week, one day after the 32-year-old singer took legal action to establish him as the parent.
Brown was scheduled to discuss the paternity issue on CNN's "Larry King Live" Wednesday, but she canceled the appearance because of illness, according to Access Hollywood.
Don't believe the rumours, Madonna's representative Liz Rosenberg says that despite reports of a snag in the singer's adoption of David Banda, the process is going smoothly.
"None of that stuff is true," Rosenberg told UsMagazine.com in regards to a Reuters report that suggested the adoption might be compromised.
"The adoption process is going along very well and according to proper procedure," she asserted.
A court has awared Jennifer Lopez with almost $545,000 in a lawsuit against her first husband, The Associated Press reports.
Jennifer had filed the breach-of-contract lawsuit over Ojani Noa's plans to publish a tell-all book in which he was expected to claim the singer/actress had multiple affairs.
The court-ordered arbitrator who made the Monday decision also decided that she also be awarded a permanent injunction barring Noa from criticizing or disparaging her.
In other J. Lo news, she'll be shooting a video for her new single "Do It Well" in Los Angeles on August 16-17.
Amy Winehouse will appear in an episode of "The Simpsons" next year, it has been claimed.
She is expected to follow in the footsteps of Metallica, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, REM, The White Stripes and Smashing Pumpkins by featuring on the show.
Few details have been revealed about her appearance, which comes after her huge commercial success in the US.
A show 'source' explained: "Amy is huge in America right now. She was asked if she would consider making an appearance on the show and she agreed. Apparently she is a big fan."
"There aren't many details about the episode yet, but we do know she meets Lisa in a blues bar and teaches her how to sing."
JT's "What Goes Around ... Comes Around" and B's "Irreplaceable" will face off in the Video of the Year category, alongside West's "Stronger," Rihanna's "Umbrella," Winehouse's "Rehab" and — in perhaps the biggest shock of the entire nominations field — French electro duo Justice's "D.A.N.C.E."
Timberlake, West, Rihanna and Winehouse will also perform at the event, along with a full house of kings and queens that includes Timbaland, Fall Out Boy, Chris Brown, Lily Allen and the Foo Fighters performing with special guests live from the Palms Fantasy Suites. Timbaland will also be serving as the evening's musical maestro, with superstar DJ Mark Ronson on the decks — and Timbaland and Timberlake will be hosting their own own Fantasy Suite party.
The awards will be coming to you live from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on September 9 at 9 p.m. ET, with MTV News' preshow beginning at 8 p.m.
Watch this crazy ass video by The Chemical Brothers for "The Salmon Dance" featuring Fatlip. This is the second single from their latest album 'We Are The Night'.
Lily Allen has been banned from performing in the US after her work visa was revoked when she was stopped at Los Angeles airport.
The 22-year-old singer was detained at the airport for five hours over her arrest in London in March for an alleged clash with a photographer.
Lily had flown from Australia to the US to attend the MTV Video Music Awards launch in Las Vegas.
A spokesperson for the singer said: "Lily was questioned and her work visa was revoked. She was detained for five hours but not strip searched. Understandably she was upset by it."
Allen told the Daily Mirror that she was trying her best to get a new work visa for her US tour in September.
"I am trying everything I can to sort this out. It is my intention to play my American dates in September. This depends on the authorities granting me a new work visa."
"I want my fans to know that I will do everything I can to be back in America in September. I don't like letting my fans down and this is a situation that I am sure we can sort," she said.
Usher has finally got married to stylist Tameka Foster.
The wedding, which took place on Friday (August 3), was called off the previous week, with rumours suggesting it was due to the fact the singer's mother objected to the union.
The pair, who are expecting their first child together, were eventually married in a simple ceremony held in the office of Usher's lawyer.
The original wedding was set to be held at the Long Island home of Def Jam head LA Reid.
Commenting on the initial cancellation of the marriage, Usher told MTV: "As of right now we don't have a date, but we will let you know when we do. Everybody's fine. Tameka and the baby are fine."
Sugababes are set to release their new single "About YouNow" next month.
The song, out on September 24, was recorded with Kelis collaborator Dr Luke.The track will be he first single from the band's fifth studio album, which is also set to be released in the autumn.
The as-yet untitled record will be the follow-up to last year's singles collection 'Overload'
The Spice Girls gave fans worldwide to vote and pick another city for them to add to their upcoming tour, and Toronto took that honor.
We are delighted to be going to Toronto," the Spice Girls said in statement. "We have such incredible fans there and we are amazed at such a positive reaction. It's a great place and we can't wait to get back there."
Emma, Geri, Mel B, Melanie C and Victoria will play Toronto's "Spice City" show in January.
A HUGE THANK YOU to all the Toronto Spice Girls fans who voted!!
Check out the brand new video from 50 Cent featuring Justin Timberlakeand Timbaland for "Ayo Technology", you know it's all about JT though. This is the third single from 50 Cent's upcoming third album, 'Curtis'.
On July 25, Christina, who is about 18 weeks pregnant, had an ultrasound at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA.
The powerhouse singer found out that she’s having a girl with hubby Jordan Bratman and that her due date is December 15.
Christina also recently canceled two concerts because she was ordered to bed rest on July 29 after coming down with the flu.
The mom-to-be also revealed to UK’s In Style that she wants her kids to be bilingual.
Christina said, “I definitely want my children to know Spanish, that’s important. It’s something that I want to start speaking early on in the house, so I’m brushing up on my Spanish and taking out my lesson tapes on tour.”
Melanie Brown aka Scary Spice announced at a press conference Wednesday that she has filed a paternity petition against Eddie Murphy to legally establish that he is the father of her son.
She is also seeking sole custody of the child and asking the court "to decide what is reasonable" in regards to child support.
Eddie's publicist, Arnold Robinson, said, “We don’t comment on Eddie’s personal life.”
His publishing company Eight Mile Style and copyright manager Martin Affiliated are suing the company.
They claim the company can't sell Eminem's songs on iTunes because Universal didn't have the right to license them to Apple.
Eight Mile Style previously sued Universal when the company licensed his music to Apple for a 2004 ad and also to stop Eminem's ringtones from being sold online by Universal-licensed companies, reports Wired.