Did You Know?

:: New mommy Pink looks fabulous on the cover of the June issue of Cosmopolitan, and with phenomenal cleavege like that, we’re not surprised she’s still nursing. “I’m used to going into the studio and smoking and drinking until three in the morning. But I can’t drink as much because I’m breastfeeding,” said the singer, who is working on her follow-up to 2008′s Funhouse. “I’ve exorcised a lot of my demons, but I’m still working on myself. I think I’ll be a work in progress for the rest of my life.” [That Grape Juice]

:: Jay-Z discusses redesigning the Brooklyn Nets’ logo. “I wanted to make it really classic and strong; a throwback to Brooklyn and what we’re about,” he says. “It’s real gritty and we’re not about flash — well, sometimes. Just the roots of Brooklyn as this very bold, strong, simple logo” Wait, Jay-Z is not about flash? News to us! [Rap Radar]

:: Ed Sheeran is writing new material with Taylor Swift. We suppose since they’re writing together, the chances of Taylor penning a song about Ed isn’t so likely. [Digital Spy]

:: Lauryn Hill‘s ex Rohan Marley — son of reggae icon Bob Marley — is set to marry model Isabeli Fontana in an Ethiopian wedding. He and Hill were together for 15 years before separating last year. They share five children together. [MTV Rap Fix]

:: Jermaine Paul won The Voice just a few weeks ago, and he’s aleady got an Alicia Keys collaboration in the works. [Pop Crush]

After the jump, find out which music acts will be hitting the tube today.

Music on TV:

:: Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) — Regina Spektor, John Mayer
:: Conan (TBS) — Rufus Wainwright
:: The View (ABC) — a performance from the Broadway musical Once
:: Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC) — Matthew Morrison, Delta Spirit
:: Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC) —  Young the Giant

MTV may have J-WOWWed a captive Beacon Theatre crowd with its 2012 summer television lineup in New York Thursday night (Apr. 26), but it was Alicia Keys stripped-down debut of a new song, “Not Even A King”, that wowed us at the event. Under a spotlight, Alicia performed the romantic piano ballad in a leather jacket and red pants, singing out:

All the kings horses and all the kings men, charging to get what we got / They offer the crown and they offer the throne, but I’ve already got all I want / All the kings horses and all the kings men, they came on marching through / They offer the world just to get what we got, but I found the world in you.”

It’s a stunner that’s sure to become a staple first dance at weddings as soon as the studio version is produced. What do you think of Alicia’s new song? Let us know below.

Earlier this month we got a peek at Alicia Key‘s VIBE cover, and now we’ve finally got our hands on the superwoman‘s entire spread. For her shoot, the piano-tickling songbird rocks vibrant colors, burgundy lipstick and a gorgeous braided updo so fantastic we bet there are at least 20 different Pinterest tutorials on it already.

The 31-year-old opens up to the mag about the turn that’s taken place in her career, thanks in large part to listening to her inner voice. “What changed was maybe others’ opinions being my be-all end-all, or other people’s opinions swaying me to where I’d say, ‘Let me go with it,’ even if I felt something wasn’t right,” Alicia explains. “So that shifted, and that’s a great feeling. I trust myself now.” The better half of one of pop’s most adorable couples, Alicia also opens up about her relationship with husband Swizz Beatz. “We want the whole world to have what we have.” For more on the long road that led to their happily ever after and Alicia’s new frame of mind head here. 

What would we do without our mom? Whether she’s offering comfort via some milk and cookies, or cheering from the sidelines of the state championships, she’s always by your side — even when you don’t come home with the first-place trophy. So for all her grace and patience and hard work and most importantly LOVE, we’ve whipped up this playlist of 10 songs to celebrate the amazing woman she is.

Kicking things off up top is Christina Aguilera‘s emotional ballad and chart-topping 2000 hit, “I Turn to You.” While the song can apply to anyone who’s been there for you, no one has the strength and will to be there till the end like your mom — making this the perfect song to show your appreciation. Just make sure to be ready with some Kleenex.

Beyoncé, “Run The World (Girls)”
Beyoncé’s empowerment anthem isn’t the most obvious way to say “Thanks, Mom.” But with lyrics like “Boy you know you love it / How we’re smart enough to make these millions / Strong enough to bare the children / Then get back to business”, “Run The World” toasts mama’s strength and savvy — and give her a reason to shake her groove thing. Because come May 13, we expect Mrs. Sean Carter and baby Blue Ivy will be doing just that.

Alicia Keys, “Superwoman”
For the mom who not only works the 9 to 5 but also makes sure she’s home in time to help her kids with their math homework while putting dinner on the table, Alicia Keys’ “Superwoman” is the perfect song for her. A mother herself, Alicia sings: “This is for all the mothers fighting / For better days to come / And all my women / All my women sitting here trying / To come home before the sun.”

Kanye West, “Hey Mama”
While some people, including President Obama, think Kanye West is a bit of a jerk, that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have a soft side. And this can’t be any truer than on Kanye’s track “Hey Mama,” which he dedicates to his mom, who died in November 2007. For those who want to commemorate their late mother’s memory or show her that they’re grateful for their love despite the mistakes, here’s your soundtrack.

Tupac Shakur, “Dear Mama” 
Another rapper with a tough exterior but a soft heart (especially for mom) is Tupac. His track, “Dear Mama” is as real as a Mother’s Day song can get. Sample rhyme: “But now the road got rough, you’re alone / You’re tryin’ to raise two bad kids on your own / And there’s no way I can pay you back / But my plan is to show you that I understand / You are appreciated.” And if Mom still doesn’t get it, maybe you can get a Tupac hologram to perform it for her.

Spice Girls, “Mama”
Nothing says “girl power” like the Spice Girls. And they extended that message to their “mums” on the 1997 ballad “Mama.” The Spice Girls have taken the words out of our mouths when they sing, “I didn’t want to hear it then bu t /I’m not ashamed to say it now / Every little thing you said and did was right for me.” It’ll show your mom that even though she used to embarrass you back in high school when she showed old baby pictures to your prom date, no one could ever replace her.

Taylor Swift, “The Best Day”
Sure Taylor Swift is known best her for honest country-pop breakup songs, but “The Best Day” shows that she can also sing about something other than a bad boyfriend. This song is the perfect way to thank the woman that raised you for sticking by you, especially when you were getting over a broken heart.

Christina Aguilera, “Oh Mother” 
Even though Christina Aguilera will be receiving props for pushing out a kid of our own this Mother’s Day, that doesn’t mean that she’s forgotten the woman who made it all possible. Her song “Oh Mother” from the 2006 album, Back to Basics, is a thank-you letter to the lady that gave her life — a song you can borrow to tell your mom the same thing. 

Blake Shelton, “The Baby” 
Xtina isn’t the only Voice coach who made our list. Country crooner Blake Shelton makes the cut with his super sweet ode to mama ‘The Baby.” Post this song on the Facebook wall of any mom who still refers to her grown-up son or daughter as “my baby.”

Boyz II Men, “A Song for Mama”
This list just doesn’t seem complete without the Boyz II Men ballad, “A Song for Mama.” Originally the theme song for 1997 film, Soul Food, the tune’s Mother’s Day appropriateness is right there in the title. The Boyz sing: “Mama you’re the queen of my heart / Your love is like / Tears from the stars / Mama, I just want you to know / Lovin’ you is like good to my soul”, which is enough to make Mom forget about her annual breakfast in bed and reach out for a big hug instead.

What big Mother’s Day ideas to have you planned for this year? Tell us in the comments below, or on Twitter and Facebook.

Over the course of a 65-year career in the entertainment industry, Dick Clark was bound to make some famous friends. The television and music mogul rubbed shoulders with artists long after he discovered or promoted them on his radio show, American Bandstand and annual New Year’s Eve spectacles, which is one reason so many artists are mourning his death. We’ve collected a gallery of photos of Clark hobnobbing with some of the biggest and most influential artists of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s to represent his impact across so many generations. One thing is clear — if you have a hit on the radio, chances are you’ve met Dick Clark.

dick clark's life and times

9 Photos »

Alicia Keys looks gorgeous with a pompadour on the cover of VIBE. In her interview, Alicia dishes a bit on her and her husband Swizz Beatz’ relationship. The two met for the first time 14 years before they married, when Swizz unsuccessfully attempted to get her number; the second meeting involved Alicia’s credit card getting in his wallet. (If that wasn’t a fortunate accident — sly move there, Swizz!) The issue will hit newsstands April 16. Can’t wait that long? Check out excerpts from her interview here. 

Have an extra $6,000 lying around? Why not buy some stilettos from Kanye West’s fall/winter collection? Those of us with slightly less expensive taste, however, will have to content ourselves with merely looking at photos from the runway show at Paris Fashion Week today. In attendance were Diddy (sans his new BFF) and Alicia Keys (gee, who knew she was in Paris this week?), along with non-musicians such as Rosario Dawson and Kim Kardashian (no, “Jam” doesn’t count as “music”). Let us know if you’d wear any of Kanye’s fashions on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.

They should consider renaming Paris Fashion Week to Alicia Keys Fashion Week, judging by the number of head-turning looks the Whitney Houston fan has trotted out this week in the City of Lights. Already we’ve seen her in black-and-white at Givenchy and Stella McCartney shows, but perhaps today’s ensemble for the Chanel Ready-To-Wear Fall/Winter 2012 show is the most eye-catching of all — thanks mostly to the large diamond headpiece. Way to get our attention, Alicia!

Fashion Week can be a great place for artists we don’t normally expect to see together to have some fun photo ops (just ask Robyn and Diddy). Alicia Keys temporarily traded her Empire State of Mind for City of Lights chic, carrying the black-and-white trend from the Givenchy event over to today’s Stella McCartney show, where she also hob-knobbed with Stella’s dad Sir Paul McCartney. Which of Alicia’s fashion week looks did you prefer? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.

It was a very colorless affair for many of our favorite hip hop and R&B performers at the Givenchy show for Paris fashion week over the weekend. As he so often does, Kanye West opted for a plain white shirt — but at least this one was a sweater, studded with stars. Meanwhile, Diddy was his opposite in sleek head-to-toe black, while Alicia Keys looked positively beatific in a white top with a large golden cross around her neck. “King of Hearts” songbird Cassie also rocked an all-black number. With such stunning taste amongst the guests, we have to wonder if anyone was able to pay attention to the runway!

If Whitney Houston ever needed confirmation that we will always love her, this is it. It’s still hard to believe that the troubled singer is no longer with us, but the overwhelming response to her death in the media reminds us that her music will always be with us. Along with Stevie Wonder and several others, Aretha Franklin was originally slated to perform in honor of the fallen star at today’s funeral, but health concerns unfortunately kept her away. Stepping in was Alicia Keys to sing “Send Me An Angel.” And in one of several heartfelt speeches, Houston’s The Bodyguard co-star Kevin Costner spoke at length about the role that made her a movie star in addition to one of the greatest voices of all time. Watch below.

Alicia Keys — “Send Me An Angel” (Whitney Houston funeral)

Kevin Costner’s tribute to Whitney Houston

Which moment from Whitney’s funeral moved you the most? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.

Sure, the world of pop is filled with songs about heartache and heartbreak, but we wanted to focus on the brighter side of love this Valentine’s Day. So we’re celebrating this February 14 with a roundup of our music favorites who seem to been struck the hardest by Cupid’s arrow. Check out 10 of our most beloved pop-music couples, who still give us hope in a happily ever after. Then tell us below, or on Facebook and Twitter, if you think we left off any love birds that are near and dear to your heart.

The 2012 Grammy Awards made us experience a rainbow of emotions during its three-and-a-half-hour telecast. Adele made us giggle with her adorable acceptance speeches, while Katy Perry‘s unflattering hair color just made us angry. We wept over Jennifer Hudson‘s moving tribute to Whitney Houston, and cried even more when Nicki Minaj began flying over the stage like a scene out of The Craft. But oh, there were so many more memorable moments from music’s biggest night. Check out the Top 5 Best and Worst of the bunch from the 54th Annual Grammy Awards below.

5 Best Moments From The 2012 Grammy Awards

5. Taylor Swift‘s spot-on performance of her Grammy-winning song “Mean”. Though Taylor has a tendency to go off-key during live performances, she sounded great during her bluegrass-infused number. (And we especially love the tweaked lyric, “Someday I’ll be singing this at the Grammys”.) Swift made her trademark surprised face at the end, shocked at the standing ovation she received, though we weren’t nearly as surprised the crowd gave her such a positive reaction.  (As a sidenote, anyone else think it looked like she was performing in front of the barricade set from Les Miserables? Perhaps she was inspired by her brief time being attached to the project?) Watch it here.

4. Justin Vernon‘s acceptance speech for Best New Artist was sweet, humble, and honest — after making critical comments towards the Grammys, it would be even more uncomfortable if the Bon Iver mastermind didn’t somehow mention that he was wary of such awards shows. Watch his awkward (yet totally endearing) acceptance speech here.

3. Alicia Keys (rocking a Janelle Monae/Bruno Mars-style pompadour) and Bonnie Raitt delivered a subtle and effective tribute to Etta James, covering the late singer’s “A Sunday Kind Of Love”. It was simple, subtle and sincere, proving you don’t need costumes, lasers or any other distractions to put on a phenomenal performance. Watch it here.

2. Adele (who was on stage so much during the show she should have had her mail forwarded there) kept it short and light for her first few acceptance speeches, chewing gum and acting super relaxed as she thanked her “Rolling In The Deep” producer Paul Epworth (who won Producer of the Year), radio stations for playing her songs, and her doctors for healing her voice. But the Brit singer’s speech upon winning Album Of The Year was the most moving, as she finally broke down into tears. (She still manages to make herself and us laugh when she realizes, “Oh, I got snot!”) Can this woman get any more likeable?! Watch it here.

1. Whitney Houston, whose death shocked the world only the day before, was memorialized throughout the night — host LL Cool J opened his monologue with a prayer, while many performers and presenters made reference to Whitney as the show went on. But with less than a day of preparation, Jennifer Hudson gave one of the finest performances of her career with this emotional tribute to the fallen star.

5 Worst Moments From The 2012 Grammy Awards

5. We’re disappointed that there wasn’t any Amy Winehouse tribute. We realize a whole bunch of people died in the last year and there are only so many hours of airtime, but the woman did win a whole bunch of Grammys. (Including one last night!)

4. We know they were either paid tribute to or referenced elsewhere during the show, but why was there no mention of Etta James and Soul Train creator Don Cornelius during the In Memorium segment?

3. Katy Perry made her first live TV performance since her divorce from Russell Brand, and it wasn’t much of a return. The blue-raspberry-haired pop star sang her new single “Part Of Me” (snappy, but far inferior to her Grammy-nominated song “Firework”), combining elements of S&M and sci-fi for an underwhelming production. Hey, at least she looked incredible in a skintight body suit. (Wait, is she now cribbing her style from Jessie J? Oh, how the tables have turned.)

2. That special electro-dance performance featuring mostly non-dance artists. We seriously didn’t need to see Chris Brown perform twice on one awards show when we didn’t even get to see Robyn perform once.

1. Nicki Minaj’s “Roman Holiday” performance… goodness gracious, where do we even begin? It was like watching a low-budget spin-off of The Exorcist turned into an off-off Broadway musical that’s cancelled after opening night. The song itself was so irritating it made “Stupid Hoe” seem as melodic as John Lennon’s “Imagine”. As for the production, the religious imagery was weird for the sake of being weird, and adding in “I Feel Pretty” and “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” was jarring and just plain random. Plus, picking a track that focuses on her alter-ego Roman was a poor choice, since we doubt most of America has any clue who Roman is or what Nicki was even talking about in that terrible British accent. Would it have killed her to perform “Super Bass” one more time? Or a song from her new album that’s more accessible for this type of platform? And forget all the faux-shocking theatrics – you’re a talented rapper, Nicki. Get up there and rap. All this ridiculous spectacle is unnecessary.

The 54th Grammy Awards, a night overshadowed by the death of Whitney Houston, kicked off with a performance by Bruce Springsteen. Right after, LL Cool J — the annual event’s first host in eight years — walked on stage and reminded us of just what a powerful, iconic force Houston was by introducing a clip of her performing “I Will Always Love You” back in 1994. Of course, the show must go on — and indeed it did. Head below to watch the night’s performances, from artists such as Adele, Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry and Chris Brown.

See other highlights (Adele’s acceptance speech), lowlights (Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon at the microphone) and more on our Grammy Awards 2012 page.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band — ”We Take Care of Our Own”

Bruno Mars — ”Runaway Baby”

Alicia Keys & Bonnie Raitt — “A Sunday Kind of Love” (Etta James tribute)

Chris Brown — ”Beautiful People”

Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson — ”Don’t You Wanna Stay”

Foo Fighters — ”Walk”

Rihanna & Coldplay — ”We Found Love / Princess Of China / Paradise”

The Beach Boys, Foster the People & Maroon 5 — “Surfer Girl / Wouldn’t It Be Nice / Good Vibrations”

Paul McCartney — ”My Valentine”

Taylor Swift — ”Mean”

Katy Perry — “E.T. / Part Of Me”

Adele — “Rolling In The Deep”

The Band Perry, Blake Shelton & Glen Campbell — “Gentle on My Mind / Southern Nights/ Rhinestone Cowboy”

Jennifer Hudson — ”I Will Always Love You” (Whitney Houston tribute)

David Guetta, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Foo Fighters, Deadmau5 – “I Can Only Imagine / Rope / Raise Your Weapon”

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Nicki Minaj — ”Roman Holiday”

Paul McCartney — “”Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End”

Who stole the show? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.

The late, great Etta James, who died last month at the age of 73, will be honored with a special performance during the 2012 Grammy Awards. Though many artists have contributed stunning covers of James’ classic songs, Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt have been chosen to tribute the iconic singer during the telecast. We have no doubt Keys and Raitt will deliver a memorable performance, but we must stress the importance of avoiding to spray-tan tight before the show.

Can’t get enough Grammy Awards news? Follow @idolator on Twitter for the latest Grammys updates, predictions and photos. Plus watch along with us as we live-tweet the show starting at 5 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 12!

Will.i.am went hard with Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger, but there are plenty more guest stars lined up for his forthcoming solo album #willpower. The Black Eyed Pea recently revealed quite an impressive list of collaborators — his “Big Fat Bass” lady Britney Spears, as well as Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Swedish House Mafia, Shakira, LMFAO and Busta Rhymes. Oh, and there’s more: “I made this song with Nicole Scherzinger that you would never expect,” he said, explaining that his collab with The X Factor judge may only be released online. “It’s classical music.”

Following the 2012 BRIT Awards, where Emeli Sande will be the recipient of the Critics’ Choice Award and is also up for British Breakthrough Act, the pop-soul singer will be heading to North America for a handful of live appearances. Scottish-born Sande is set to perform at two private showcases, in New York and Los Angeles, before offering up three gigs to her fans on this side of the pond in early March. Head below to catch the dates, and to watch Emeli’s video for new UK single “Next To Me”.

Emeli Sande — ”Next To Me”

North American live dates

02/27 — New York, NY, The Box (private showcase)
03/01 — Los Angeles, CA, Hollywood Forever Cemetery (private showcase)
03/02 — San Francisco, CA, Café du Nord
03/05 — Minneapolis, MN, Dakota
03/07 — Toronto, ON, The Drake

Sande’s debut album Our Version Of Events will be released in the UK on February 13, and in the US on June 5. While readying her first LP for public consumption, Emeli has also been writing material with Alicia Keys for the “No One” singer’s next album.

Keys co-wrote and produced the track “Hope” for Sande’s debut.

Is Obama a huge Maroon 5, Glee, and Black Eyed Peas fan? Maybe, maybe not — but he does want their endorsement on his 2012 re-election. The Commander-in-Chief already has stars like Lady Gaga on his team, but that didn’t stop him from releasing a “wish list” of celebrities he’d like on board as he bids for a second term. Amongst names we might easily expect to find here, such as B.o.B., Jay-Z, and Alicia Keys, there are such diverse acts as Arcade Fire, Lady Antebellum, the Jonas Brothers, Janelle Monae, Ricky Martin, Regina Spektor, and Vampire Weekend. (Kelly Clarkson was apparently already spoken for.) Check out the full list of names below.

will.i.am
Marc Anthony
Arcade Fire
India Arie
B.o.B.
Sara Bareilles
Bebe
Chris Cornell
Counting Crows
Robert Cray
David Anthony
Eric Robertson and the Boston Boys
Fergie
Jay-Z
Josh Groban
Bruce Hornsby
Jack Johnson
Jonas Brothers
Alicia Keys
Jewel
Lady Antebellum
Ledisi
John Legend
Adam Levine
Ricky Martin
Chrisette Michelle
Lea Michele
Bette Midler
Janelle Monae
Penn Masala
Esperanza Spalding
Regina Spektor
Curtis Stigers
The Band Perry
The Roots
Train
Vampire Weekend
Wilco

And these are just the musicians! This list comes courtesy of Entertainment Weekly, which notes that Lady Antebellum has already passed on this (and any) endorsement.

Clearly the President is trying to cover all his musical bases! We are curious to see how many of these acts actually take Obama up on the offer, though…

What better way to wrap up your work week than with a fresh installment of At Your Request? Today’s episode features an old (but timeless) ditty from the glamourous Alicia Keys. Watch below as we cook up a fact-filled episode so delicious, we makes Bobby Flay envious (we assume).

Alicia Keys’ 2003 hit “You Don’t Know My Name” is the order of the day and it comes courtesy of @AmandaHarlech. This track gave the “International Party” hostess her third #10 hit, and scored her a Grammy win for Best R&B song. The track was also included on the New York native’s first live album Alicia Keys Unplugged which was recorded for MTV Unplugged. The track was written by Alicia, Kanye West and Harold Lilly — who collaborated with Yeezy again on Brandy’s  “Talk About Our love”, which features the rapper.

For more At Your Request head here.

Check back with us next week as we dish out more fancy musical facts to the song of your choosing. And while we try to flag down the waitress to order the special with hot chocolate, give us your requests. Don’t be shy! Just jump on Twitter (#AtYourRequest), Facebook or simply comment below.

Be sure to give us the artist, song title and why it’s your personal pick.

Alicia Keys dressed down this year for her 8th Annual Keep A Child Alive Black Ball at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. The Glamour cover girl strutted down the red carpet alongside “International Party” collaborator (and hubby) Swizz Beatz before taking stage for her charity event, with additional appearances by Mary J. Blige and will.i.am. Check out Alicia in a glittery top and white blazer and tell us how you think it compares to last year’s black gown.