See 'The X Factor's' Dexter Haygood Party Like It's 1984

This, people. THIS!!!In case you are confused and have no idea who Dexter Haygood or Xavion are, the former is the 49-year-old, homeless-yet-fabulous, Memphis funk-rocker who auditioned for "The X Factor" this week and bizarrely, against all odds, made it through. And Xavion is the Prince-ly band he fronted in the '80s, a band that put out one glam/disco/rock/soul/new wave/whatever album in the awesome year of 1984. That album was awesomely titled Burnin' Hot, its lead single was equally awesomely called "Eat Your Heart Out," and the ...

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Tony Bennett apologises for suggesting US provoked 9/11

Tony Bennett … 'I am so grateful to be an American.' Photograph: Picture Perfect/Rex Features Tony Bennett has apologised for his comments in a recent radio interview, where he blamed US foreign policy for the 9/11 attacks. "I am sorry if my statements suggested anything other than an expression of my love for my country," he wrote. "I am so grateful to be an American." The 85-year-old singer made headlines for his ...

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Avril Lavigne 'scared for her life' before London gig

Avril Lavigne was forced to cut her set short after losing her voice during her London concert date. The singer arrived on stage 40 minutes late to last night's 'Black Star' tour date at the Hammersmith Apollo following "mechanical difficulties". Her voice then cracked during closing song 'Complicated', leaving the crowd to sing the track. Lavigne later tweeted that she was having "one of those days", adding: "I had a bad situation right before the show that made me scared for my life - then I lost my voice tonight. "I feel super ...

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Maroon 5, Christina Aguilera's 'Jagger' Atop Hot 100 For Third Week

 As previously reported, the Billboard Hot 100's splashiest headline this week comes courtesy of Tony Bennett, who becomes the oldest living artist ever to appear on the tally. His duet with Amy Winehouse, "Body and Soul," enters the chart at No. 87, lifting the 85-year-old past then-84-year-old George Burns (in 1980) for the esteemed honor. Still, other news infuses this week's chart. Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger," featuring Christina Aguilera, spends a third week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, roaring to the No. 1 spot on Radio Songs and ...

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Duets From Heck!

It struck me last night--while the Emmys ceremony was apparently on TV--that I was not being deliberately obtuse or contrary by instead preferring to listen to the complete discography of Kiki Dee--or at least as much of it as I could muster--than watch a show celebrating humans I was barely familiar with! Indeed, hearing the strangely attractive Ms. Dee exchange promises with her good friend Elton John that she would not go breakin' his heart--bless them both--filled me with an unexpected warmth and excitement that, dare I suggest, I might ...

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'The Sing-Off' Is Back - Now With Extra Cheese!

Following the surprise success of "The Voice" this year, NBC decided to expand its other vocal competition, the voices-only "Sing-Off" (which used to be just a two-week lark, a bit of fluffy Christmastime filler squeezed in between "Rudolph" and "Frosty" specials), into a full-fledged, fall-season series this year. And NBC really upped the ante, opening up the competition to a whopping 16 a cappella groups, hyping the show almost as much as it has the inescapable "Whitney," and adding a new judge, sweet songstress Sara Bareilles. (I was ...

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Here's The Beef: Lady Gaga's Meat-Dress Designer Debuts Meat Shirt

Now you too can own a piece of Lady Gaga's controversial VMAs meat dress--sorta. Designer Franc Fernandez, the vision behind Gaga's daring choice-cut couture, has released a limited-edition meat shirt for Little Monsters and extreme fashion fans to enjoy. But don't worry, Morrissey: The shirt is just a fabric print of bloody marbled prime, not fashioned from real butcher scraps like Gaga's infamous dress that was lauded, criticized, and debated the world over. This gives a new meaning to the term "Beefy T,"  huh? The meat shirts will ...

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'X Factor' Premiere Recap: Go Big or Go Home

Everyone knows Simon Cowell has one of the most massive egos in show business. Obviously it'd take some serious self-confidence to quit a hugely successful TV show like "American Idol" (and a $36 million "Idol" paycheck to boot) to launch a new show like "The X Factor." Perhaps you've heard of it? Of course you have. No new show of the fall season, other than maybe "Whitney," has been as megahyped and throat-crammed as Simon's new talent competition, so as "The X Factor" at long last premiered Wednesday night, no expense was spared and no ...

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Coldplay drummer wanted Rihanna's vocal

Coldplay drummer Will Champion wanted to sing Rihanna's part on one of the group's new tracks. The 'Fix You' rockers teamed up with the 'S&M' singer for 'Princess of China' - which is on their forthcoming album 'Mylo Xyloto' - but frontman Chris Martin admits she had competition from Will. He said: "There's a bit of a love story thread so we really needed someone to sing higher than me. For all Will's good intentions, he can't do it. You need to be female." Chris also revealed the group's fifth studio album is "dangerously ...

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'The X Factor's' Nicole Scherzinger on First Day as Judge: 'I Can Barf or Say Rock-N-Roll' (Q&A)

The Pussycat Dolls singer also talks about having Simon Cowell as a boss, her ill-fated first solo album and Cheryl Cole's exit. Nicole Scherzinger is uniquely qualified to judge The X Factor. Like Cheryl Cole before her, who sat in the very same seat, Scherzinger started out competing on -- and winning -- a talent show, the short-lived Popstars on The WB (curiously, Cole won the British version of the show a year later). The experience helped launch a music career that eventually took her from the group Eden’s Crush to Pussycat Dolls ...

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Argo tornado victim finally finding reasons to smile

Enlarge Joe Songer -- The Birmingham News Annie Muse visits the grave of her sister Lucille Waters who was killed on April 27th by the tornado that destroyed many of the Muse family homes near Argo in Walker County. Tornado victim Annie Muse of the Argo Community in Walker County copes with the rebuilding of her home and the loss of ...

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Beyonce Knowles is having “the most fun time” with her pregnancy.

BeyonceThe ‘Love on Top’ singer publicly announced she and husband Jay-Z are expecting their first child together at the MTV Video Music Awards in August, and while she said it had been hard to conceal her baby bump, she is now “proud” to show it off to the world. Speaking at the launch of her House of Dereon fashion line at London Fashion Week, Beyonce told CNN: “I am having so much fun, it has been the most fun time now that it has been announced. “It was really difficult to conceal. But now I can be proud and excited about ...

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Westlife star Shane Filan sells Bond car

Westlife star Shane Filan fetched €398,000 for his James Bond 1964 Aston Martin, when it went under the hammer yesterday. The silver DB5 4.2 litre sports saloon was driven by Sean Connery in the James Bond film Goldfinger and was auctioned off in the UK at the three-day Goodwood Revival motorsport and aviation event. It was expected by auctioneers Bonhams that the car would fetch around €300,000, but it well exceeded expectations and was sold to a telephone bidder. Sligo-born Filan, who is a car fanatic, bought the motor as a 30th birthday ...

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Kasabian, Foster The People lead deep FIFA12 soundtrack

More and more in video games lately, the music that goes with the game is there to complete the experience, not just supplement it. With FIFA12 soon to be released, fans of the game will treated to a soundtrack that is as deep as the game itself. Featuring 39 artists from 15 different countries, FIFA12's soundtrack is highlighted by English rock band Kasabian and American newcomers Foster The People. Steve Schnur, who is Worldwide Executive of Music at EA is thrilled with the bands this soundtrack has been able to include and the impact ...

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Coldplay: 'Rihanna collaboration is best bit of Mylo Xyloto'

Coldplay have counted their collaboration with Rihanna as the highlight of their upcoming LP Mylo Xyloto. The 'Paradise' musicians worked alongside Rihanna on the track 'Princess of China' for their fifth album, due to hit stores October 26. Frontman Chris Martin told MTV News that he wrote the track for the 'Cheers (Drink To That)' singer in particular and was surprised when she consented to lending her voice to it. "So, in like a dream scenario, we had a song that I'd secretly kind of written to see if Rihanna would want to sing ...

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Kim Kardashian to produce new Pussycat Dolls reality series

Kim Kardashian has signed a deal to be an executive producer on a new Pussycat Dolls reality series. The show will follow the launch of a new version of The Pussycat Dolls, with American Idol's Nigel Lythgoe acting as main producer. Kardashian agreed to work on the programme because Lythgoe is "the best in the business". A source close to production on the show told TMZ that the new hopefuls are "10 times better than the original group". The Pussycat Dolls' former lineup, including Nicole Scherzinger, disbanded last year in order to pursue ...

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REVIEW: Katy Perry delivers sweet but satisfying treat

Katy Perry performs at the BOK Center on Saturday night. Concert-goers were treated to a Candy Land set and at least 20 of Perry’s catchy little cream puffs of songs, mostly light on substance, but oh, so easy to devour. JEFF LAUTENBERGER/Tulsa World Katy Perry made Tulsa the last American stop of this leg of her “California Dreams Tour” on Saturday night and it was obvious she had put on this show at least 100 times before. Concert-goers were treated ...

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