Taylor Swift & Zac Efron on “Ellen”

I love these two.  Wouldn’t they make the cutest couple?

And then they can get married and have some really pretty and really talented babies.  I also love that Zac can play the guitar…and SING!  Check out the “couple’s” appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show which included an impromptu duet.  They were on Ellen to promote their new animated movie, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, which opens in theatres on March 2nd.

Let The Music Play

Whitney Houston passed away the day before the Grammy Awards at the age of 48. It’s so tragic when an unbelievably talented artist dies. It forces me to reexamine everything I loved about their music.  As soon as the news about Whitney’s death broke on TMZ and Twitter, my immediate thoughts went to her music.  And to all the memories. I remember watching the “How Will I Know” video on MTV and wishing I had that awesome hair bow.  ”Greatest Love of All” became my little “lift me up” anthem.  I first heard “I Will Always Love You” on the radio while I was studying in my college apartment.  I was stunned silent.  The song was so beautiful.  I haven’t really thought about Whitney much lately, but just like when Michael passed, she’s been front and center in my mind. She was a true talent with the most amazing voice.  It was all about the music.

It was fitting that Jennifer Hudson sang “I Will Always Love You” in Whitney’s honor last night at the Grammys in Los Angeles.  Jennifer has the voice that will do that song justice and she did not disappoint. It was all about the music.

The big winner of the night was the lovely Adele who is back from throat surgery and sounding better than ever.  She went six for six (!) which included Album, Song, and Record of the Year.   She won because she can sing.  She can sing alone in front of a microphone with no fireworks or set changes or fancy costumes.  It’s all about the music.

I also got a kick out of Bruno Mars and his fun set.  And, of course, I loved my girl, Taylor Swift.  She sang “Mean” and won a couple of awards too.  Katy Perry came out to kick some butt, and give some digs to her ex-husband Russell Brand, with her new song, “Part Of Me.”  Nicki Minaj gave me nightmares with her freaky deaky exorcism mini-operetta.  (I thought I was just getting old, but lots of Twitter folks didn’t get it either. )  Chris Brown was there and I just don’t understand the support he gets. (You should read this post by my fellow mom blogger, Mom-101.  You will be SHOCKED – or maybe you won’t be – by some of the Twitter comments she references from women defending Brown.)

I thought Rihanna did a great job lighting up the stage with her voice AND her dance moves and I even enjoyed the old school folks: The Beach Boys, Glen Campbell, Tony Bennett and Paul McCartney.  The Beach Boys, and especially the tributes from Maroon 5 and Foster the People, were a blast.  It’s amazing how Glen Campbell’s music has stayed with me all these years.  I remember being a little kid and my parents would play his records.  McCartney’s jam session at the end with Bruce Springsteen and Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters totally rocked.  I was surprised how much I enjoyed all the classic stuff.

But then I remembered.  It’s all about the music.

 

“Glee”: Michael Jackson Episode

I grew up listening to Michael Jackson.  My first album was Thriller. (I still have it.) He left us way too soon, but his music lives on. And now I’m super excited for next week’s Glee!

It’s the much anticipated “Michael” tribute episode and it airs next Tuesday, January 31st at 8/7 c.  Here’s a special sneak peek – straight from the cast!

Taylor Swift in “Vogue”

Taylor Swift graces the cover of Vogue magazine’s February issue and here are some of the interview highlights.  Love her!

“I look out at the stadiums full of people and see them all knowing the words to songs I wrote,” says Swift. “And curling their hair! I remember straightening my hair because I wanted to be like everybody else, and now the fact that anybody would emulate what I do? It’s just funny. And wonderful.”

Do you ever lose it and act bratty?  “Yeah, but if I do I usually spend the next four days apologizing,” she says. “I get post-conversation anxiety. ‘I am so sorry if I said something weird. Did I make that weird? I am sorry if I made that weird!’ ”

“…There’s no personal trainer. I love to go hiking because it’s an experience. If I need to gain stamina for a tour, I will run every single night on the treadmill, but I don’t necessarily like being at the gym.”

Swift is working on her fourth album: “There’s just been this earth-shattering, not recent, but absolute crash-and-burn heartbreak,” she says, “and that will turn out to be what the next album is about…”

She looks so beautiful in all the 70s inspired photos.  And even though I’m partial to the curls, her hair looks amazing. February’s Vogue hits newsstands tomorrow, but you can read the entire Taylor article now by clicking HERE.

Justin Bieber Visits Whitney Elementary

I caught an episode of Ellen and I wanted to share it here.

In the episode, Justin Bieber gives a surprise visit, and performance, to the underprivileged children of Whitney Elementary in Las Vegas. This will give you one more reason to love superstar Justin Bieber.  Or, maybe it will be your very FIRST reason to love him. Either way, you can see he is one very cool, and bighearted, guy.

“Glory”: Jay-Z featuring His Baby Girl, Blue Ivy Carter!

“The most amazing feeling I feel, words can’t describe what I’m feeling for real / Baby, I paint the sky blue, my greatest creation was you.”  -Jay-Z

This is pretty awesome stuff.

Brand new Daddy, Jay-Z, just wrote and recorded a brand new track called “Glory.”  It’s all about his two-day-old baby daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.  (Blue was born Saturday in New York City.) And Blue Ivy even makes an appearance on the record.  You can hear the baby coo in the backyard over some beats.  The track was produced by Pharrell and credits Blue Ivy as “B.I.C.”

Jay-Z just posted this track on his website, Life & Times.  He must have been truly inspired by the birth. I just wish his wife, and Blue’s Mama, Beyoncé made an appearance too.

Jay-Z does reference first-time mom Beyoncé’s musical past by saying: “You’re the child of destiny / you’re the child of my destiny / you’re my child with the child from Destiny’s Child.”

The notoriously private star even reveals that he and Beyoncé conceived the baby in Paris AND opens up about a miscarriage in the past.

“Last time the miscarriage was tragic / We was afraid you’d disappear but nah baby you’re magic.”  Wow.  You can listen to “Glory” below.

Jessica Simpson: Mommy-to-be?

Is she or isn’t she?  Jessica Simpson has not confirmed her pregnancy, but I think this photo taken of the superstar this past weekend at New York’s JFK airport says it all.  Jessica is engaged to Eric Johnson and has been mum about her growing belly.  I think an announcement will be coming soon.  I’m excited for her and I’ve always been a big fan.  We even like the same boy bander. So, come on, Jessica!  Give us a tweet with the happy news!

John Mayer: Get Well Soon

I’m a big fan of John Mayer.

I know he’s had some trouble keeping his mouth shut about past personal relationships.  Yes, I know he’s a serial dater and a bit of a playboy.  Yes, he might even be arrogant and a little self absorbed sometimes.  I just like his music.  I think he’s an amazing artist and songwriter.  He’s also a quiet philanthropist.  So I was sad when he wrote this on his Tumblr blog a few weeks back. (I wish John would get back on Twitter but, again, he had some issues there as well.)

“Hi everyone,

After several months of going week to week monitoring and hoping to correct the condition, I am forced to cancel my upcoming singing engagements due to something next to my vocal cords called a granuloma. 

I’m bummed to have to bow out of both the iheartradio Music Festival in Las Vegas and an appearance with Tony Bennett in Los Angeles. I know there were people depending on me to be there and I’m sorry that I can’t be on those stages. 

‘Born and Raised’ is complete as far as music recording, song selection, and in some cases mixing, but because of this condition I couldn’t finish singing on several of the tracks. This means the record will be released next year instead of this fall or winter. 

This is a temporary setback, though I’m not sure how long or short a period of time it will be. I’ve got the best doctors in the country looking after me and I will be singing and touring again as soon as I get the all clear. Until then I’ll be spending time writing and composing more music and kicking an empty soup can around the West Village. 

I’m looking forward to seeing you again soon. Until then take good care.

John”

Get well soon, JM.  I can’t wait to hear “Born and Raised” and to see you in Jacksonville again soon.

 

MTV VMAs 2011: Beyonce is Pregnant!

The highlight of last night’s MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles was Beyonce announcing she is pregnant!

She was absolutely glowing when she spilled the beans during the black carpet arrival.

Then she performed her song “Love on Top” while telling the audience to stand up and “feel the love that’s growing inside of me.”  At the end of the song she took off her sparkly purple Dolce & Gabbana jacket and rubbed her pregnant belly.  It was the cutest thing. Her husband Jay-Z was in the audience looking like a proud Papa-to-be while his BFF Kanye West gave him a congratulatory hug.

Congrats Beyonce and Jay-Z! That is going to be one talented baby!

Scotty McCreery: I Love You This Big

Here’s the official music video for “I Love You This Big” by Scotty McCreery. It’s the American Idol Season 10 winner’s debut single. My favorite line is “I love you to the moon and back.”  He’s just so darn cute.

I was a fan of Scotty’s from the very beginning and I’m so happy he won.  I’ve always loved country music.  And I think the video is perfect for him.  It’s simple.  It’s down to earth.  It’s true country.  The fun thing is he’s from Garner, North Carolina, a small town near Raleigh where I lived for five years.  It’s a wonderful place to live and I’m sure everyone there is just thrilled for their hometown boy.

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