MTV News |
- Eminem Is MTV News' #2 Man Of The Year
- Katy Perry Is MTV News' #2 Woman Of The Year
- Rick Ross, Fabolous And More Of Our Favorite Mixtape MCs Of 2010
- Christian Bale Didn't Want 'Fighter' Weight Loss To Go 'Too Far'
- 'Country Strong' Star Leighton Meester Calls Live Singing 'Terrifying'
- Paul Rudd Says He Almost Lost 'How Do You Know' Role
- Lil Wayne's '6'7" ' Ups The Ante After 'A Milli,' Bangladesh Says
- Usher 'Got A Good Laugh' From Fan Kicking Him In The Face
- Justin Bieber Is MTV News' #3 Man Of The Year
- Ryan Reynolds And Scarlett Johansson: Millionaire Matchmaker's Advice
- Taylor Swift Is MTV News' #3 Woman Of The Year
- T.I. Thanks Fans For Supporting <i>No Mercy</i>
- Scarlett Johansson And Ryan Reynolds 'On Different Pages' Before Breakup
- Jeff Bridges Says 'Tron' Sequel Asks: 'What Will Our Legacy Be?'
- Aretha Franklin Home From The Hospital
- 'Muppets' Star Jason Segel 'Hoping' For Lady Gaga Cameo
- Mark Zuckerberg And Facebook Were All Over Pop Culture In 2010
- 'True Grit' Stars Talk Fave Westerns At Brown-Carpet NYC Premiere
- Crystal Bowersox Wary Of 'American Idol' Changes
- 'Glee' Stars 'Can't Wait' For Gwyneth Paltrow's Return
| Eminem Is MTV News' #2 Man Of The Year Posted: 16 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST Em raised the bar in 2010, thanks to a blockbuster album, hometown stadium shows and awards galore.
If there's one thing we've learned by now about Eminem, it's this: Never count him out. The 38-year-old Detroit legend seemed like he was in a career funk last year with the release of the long-awaited but unevenly dark Relapse, which chronicled his near-death experience with drug addiction and left some fans a bit worried about whether he'd finally run out of lyrical magic tricks. But what a difference a year makes. Near the end of 2009, we began getting excited about the promised, more "emotionally driven" sequel, Relapse 2. Twelve months and an entirely different album later, Eminem has the year's best-selling release, handfuls of Grammy nominations and a fresh-eyed take on life that can only bode well for his next musical adventure.
2010 Highlights: As 2010 dawned, February brought Em joining Drake, Kanye West and Lil Wayne for a rousing, bleep-tastic performance of "Forever" at the Grammys with a tease of "Drop the World," his hookup with Weezy that hit screens and iPods a month later, bringing together two of hip-hop's biggest names for a rough-and-ready cut. He killed it again with his verse on B.o.B's "Airplanes Pt. 2" and then the shocking news broke April 14 that "there is no Relapse 2." Fans were dumbstruck, but not for long, as the MC clarified later that day that he would be dropping a whole new album called Recovery on June 22. April's release of the first single, "Not Afraid," provided proof that Slim Shady would be taking a more positive, uplifting approach on his sixth major-label album, an encouraging note hammered home by lyrics on the song in which the rapper admitted that Relapse wasn't his best work. In the run-up to the release, "Not Afraid" debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and there was more cause for celebration when Jay-Z and Marshall announced a slate of hometown stadium shows, which would represent one of the few live appearances the Detroit spitter would make in 2010. Then, despite leaking two weeks early, Recovery easily notched the highest debut of the year to date when it moved a gargantuan 741,000 copies in its first week, topping the charts for nearly two months on its way to selling more than 3 million copies to take the sales crown for 2010. After crushing it with "Not Afraid," Em struck platinum again with an even bigger hit, his domestic-violence ballad "Love the Way You Lie," a duet with Rihanna that featured an iconic video starring Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan as the song's protagonists. August brought a hefty eight VMA nominations and September the long-awaited shows with Jay, which found rap's two biggest headliners torching the stage for thrilled fans in Detroit and NYC. In between the gigs, though, Shady found time to open up the VMAs with performances of "Not Afraid" and "Love the Way You Lie" with a surprise cameo from Rihanna on a night when he took home two Moonmen. By October, Em was talking about being in the lab with mentor Dr. Dre working on the latter's long-awaited Detox album and topping MTV News' Hottest MCs in the Game list. Eminem was also getting more shine for his duet with Nicki Minaj on "Roman's Revenge" from her Pink Friday debut and another collabo with Rihanna on her track "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)." As 2010 came to a close, he could be heard on T.I.'s "That's All She Wrote" and had locked down a "Saturday Night Live" appearance with Lil Wayne for December 18. He wasn't done yet, as he led all artists with 10 Grammy nominations, landed at #9 on MTV News' Top Songs of 2010 with "Love the Way You Lie," took top spots on the album-sales chart on iTunes and Amazon.com and inked a deal to play a boxer in the "8 Mile" inspired "Southpaw." Not bad, right? We'll be revealing MTV News' #1 Man and Woman of the Year on Friday. As always, we want to know what you think, so share your picks in the comments below! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Katy Perry Is MTV News' #2 Woman Of The Year Posted: 16 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST Perry got married and ruled the charts in 2010.
For most women, getting married to the man of their dreams would be enough to make a pretty good year. But when you're a larger-than-life pop diva like Katy Perry, exchanging rings with comedic beau Russell Brand is just one of the bold headlines in a 365-day whirlwind that also included a successful tour and a trio of inescapable radio smashes that permanently smacked down any fears of a sophomore slump. After meeting at the 2009 VMAs, Perry and Brand started off 2010 with a bang by announcing their engagement, and frankly, things just got better and better for her from there.
2010 Highlights: An impressive engagement ring in hand, Perry set to work on her follow-up to her 2008 breakthrough, One of the Boys, working again with pop maestros Dr. Luke and Max Martin while turning in one of the most memorable guest-judge spots in the early audition rounds of what would turn out to be a very lackluster season of "American Idol." There was the inevitable pregnancy rumor to bat away, and then it was off to work on the "Smurfs" movie and complete the album, even as wedding plans continued apace. By March, Perry was calling Brand a "bridezilla" for his fascination with all things marital, and news leaked that pal Rihanna was planning Perry's bachelorette party. Like any proper pop star, Perry's songs started leaking early in May, and when her first single, the Snoop Dogg-assisted "California Gurls," finally dropped on May 7, fans had no idea how much a part of their flip-flop months that insanely catchy song would become. We got the first glimpse of six months of kaleidoscopic wigs and second-skin latex outfits at the MTV Movie Awards in June when she nearly melted the stage up with her "Gurls" performance, and the single made a historic rise to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart a few days later. When the sticky-sweet video debuted a week after that, well, it was clear Katy (and her whipped-cream-spurting bra) would be in a lot of late-night dreams for the rest of the year. July and August brought a false-starting lawsuit from the Beach Boys' publisher over "Gurls," another fetish-fantasy performance at the Teen Choice Awards and a triumphant chart debut in early September for Teenage Dream, which successfully bumped Eminem's Recovery from the top of the charts. She turned heads again at the VMAs in September, played a sweet revenge show at her old high school and jetted to Las Vegas for a bachelorette party hosted by Rihanna by month's end. And what would a year of ups be without a few bumps and controversies? In Katy's case, it was her God-given assets that got her bumped from "Sesame Street," when some parents complained in late September that her cleavage was NSFK (not safe for kindergarten). She got her revenge a short time later by giving an eyeful on a "Saturday Night Live" skit lampooning the flap and then flew to India in early October for her lavish wedding to Brand. The year was rounded out with the empowering message of the "Firework" video, a headline-grabbing appearance at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, another boob-centric controversy, this time courtesy of the poster for the "VH1 Divas Salute the Troops," and a place on Amazon.com's year-end best-seller list. An exotic wedding to the man of your dreams, a red-hot career, mad love from your fans and a jet-setting lifestyle — what more could a girl ask for in one year? We'll be revealing MTV News' #1 Man and Woman of the Year on Friday. As always, we want to know what you think, so share your picks in the comments below! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Rick Ross, Fabolous And More Of Our Favorite Mixtape MCs Of 2010 Posted: 16 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST Wiz Khalifa, Travis Porter and Cam'ron and Vado round out our year-end favorites, in Mixtape Daily.
There's the hip-hop that hits the charts and plays in the clubs and then there's that raw stuff that bangs beyond the radio — on blogs, on the block and at backyard barbecues. These MCs, the short list picked by the Mixtape Daily extended family, occupy that arena just outside the mainstream with their mixtapes, intended for the underground circuit. Sure, Rick Ross' "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" earned a slot on MTV News' Top 10 Songs of 2010 and landed on the Miami rapper's proper album, but the industrial-strength drums and cast-iron rhymes were served up for the streets first. That the track ultimately broke through and resonated on a larger level demonstrated the power of appealing to your base.
The acts below are the best of that crop and sport the crown for the past 12 months as Mixtape Daily's Top Mixtape MCs of 2010: Cam'ron and Vado Fabolous Rick Ross Travis Porter Wiz Khalifa Did we miss anyone? Share your picks for the best mixtape MCs of 2010 in the comments! For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Christian Bale Didn't Want 'Fighter' Weight Loss To Go 'Too Far' Posted: 16 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST 'I can't lose that much weight, because I wouldn't be able to box and train,' he tells MTV News.
Given his penchant for undergoing dramatic physical changes, it's almost expected that Christian Bale alter his body in some way for each new movie role. The "Dark Knight" star's commitment to his craft even inspired Eminem to slim down for a music video (which Bale strongly advised him to reconsider).
Bale's Golden Globe-nominated role in "The Fighter" is no different. In order to fully embody real-life former boxer Dicky Eklund, Bale dropped serious weight to look and feel the part. When MTV News caught up with the actor recently, we asked him if anything in particular inspired him to seek out such demanding roles. "I have no goal of seeing if I can become invisible one day, eat so little that I disappear," Bale joked. " ... I didn't take this job because I went, 'Oh, there's a physical transformation needed.' I always go, 'Damn! There's a physical transformation needed!' " he admitted. "Again, I just didn't recognize that. I just liked the character and then realized, 'Oh, crap, he's a welterweight.' " Bale was then faced with yet another weight loss. "I'm a good 60 pounds heavier than a welterweight. I can't lose that much weight, because I wouldn't be able to box and train and everything," he explained. "I didn't look at numbers, I didn't look at scale, I just went down to what looked like might be the right body type for Dicky and the way that he fights as well. "I couldn't go too far," Bale added. "Because if I went too far, I'd be able to play the crackhead side, but then after jail, he got clean mentally and physically, and he's always wiry, he's always lean, but I had to be able to show that. So we needed makeup to help me out a great deal with that." Check out everything we've got on "The Fighter." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| 'Country Strong' Star Leighton Meester Calls Live Singing 'Terrifying' Posted: 16 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST 'It's an incredible adrenaline rush,' she tells MTV News.
For her role in "Country Strong," Leighton Meester stepped out of her stuffy "Gossip Girl" stilettos and into the cowboy boots of Chiles Stanton, a beauty queen-turned-aspiring country singer who initially suffers from stage fright — something Meester can relate to. When MTV News caught up with the actress/singer recently, we wondered how often she gets anxious about performing.
"Every time," she said. "It's terrifying and it's just, it's an incredible adrenaline rush. It's not bad, by any means, it's just terrifying." Does she have any horror stories to share? "No, I've had good experiences, I've never done what Chiles does [in the film]: get up onstage and not a single note comes out. That hasn't happened. For her, that was another aspect that was incredibly fulfilling. She changes. She starts off a certain way and she ends up completely the other way. She grows up." As far as Meester's singing career goes, she said she hopes to go on tour herself one day and promised that she's hard at work on her album. "I would love [to go on tour]. I performed last night, actually," she revealed. "I got up with this band, Check in the Dark, that I've been working with. They make their own music, and they've been working with me on a bunch of stuff I wrote while I was away in Europe this summer. So I got up there and played a couple songs." So about that album: When will it be released? "I don't know. I recorded three songs recently. I have, like, 20 more to do," she admitted. "So I don't know when that's going to happen. I just really want it to be perfect. I'm not in any rush. It's all in my heart, and I'm really happy how it's going. I've been very inspired, even with this movie, how I write." Thanks to a recent stay overseas, Meester said she came back chockfull of potential album material. "I was doing a movie in Budapest and Paris and was so lonely and writing all this music, and when I got back to the States, I got set up with this band," she said of teaming-up with Check in the Dark. "And they're perfectly complementary to it and they understand, somehow, my girly emotional side." Check out everything we've got on "Country Strong." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| Paul Rudd Says He Almost Lost 'How Do You Know' Role Posted: 16 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST Rudd tells MTV News he got a do-over after showing up to audition for director James Brooks with a raging fever.
At this point in his career, it's hard to imagine that comedically gifted actor Paul Rudd would ever not be considered for a role he wanted. However, Rudd's role in James L. Brooks' romantic comedy "How Do You Know" is a part that almost wasn't. "I didn't get a call [to audition]," Rudd recently told MTV News about finding his way to the film. "I knew this movie was going to happen, and I just inquired if I could get an audition and I got a call to read at James Brooks' apartment," he explained. "So the first thing was, 'Oh my God I'm going to James Brooks' apartment!' "
That was the good news. Unfortunately, that first meeting with Brooks was scheduled just as Rudd was coming down with a fever. "I had a very high temperature. ... It was like 101 degrees," Rudd recalled. "I went up and I was not quite [myself], I couldn't even add correctly. So I read, and it was just not that good," he admitted. "Thankfully, I had my faculties with me enough that I asked him if I could meet with him again in a few weeks — he was going to go back to Los Angeles and I had to be in Los Angeles for something else. He said, 'Yeah, sure.' " Rudd said that second meeting secured his fate. "I'm really happy that I [asked for another meeting] because there was no way it would have happened otherwise, based on the reading in New York," he said. "So I went and then read with Reese [Witherspoon] in his office." Obviously, the rest is history, since Rudd is in "How Do You Know" (on the posters and everything) and it opens Friday. Check out everything we've got on "How Do You Know." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Lil Wayne's '6'7" ' Ups The Ante After 'A Milli,' Bangladesh Says Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:33 AM PST The producer behind both tracks tells MTV News Weezy brings a whole other 'level of cleverness' to Tha Carter IV song.
While Lil Wayne reaped tons of accolades in 2008 when he went spastic on "A Milli," the track's producer, Bangladesh, also earned acclaim for creating the frenetic musical backdrop. The Atlanta-based producer reunited with Weezy when the two joined forces for a sequel of sorts titled "6'7"," the first single from the New Orleans MC's forthcoming Tha Carter IV. The track also serves as Wayne's official return to the music game since his release from prison last month.
So, just how did the pair wind up working together after Bangladesh aired out some grievances he had with Lil Wayne's Cash Money record label? "It's kind of similar [to how we worked together for 'A Milli']," Bangladesh told MTV News on Wednesday (December 15). "I had 'A Milli,' knowing that the actual track was actually important. I had opportunities to sell it, but until I got it to Wayne at that time, who I wanted to get it to, I couldn't sell it to anybody else. This time, I knew this beat was great like that, too. And I hadn't really thought of sending it to him. I sent it to [Atlantic Records executive] Gee Roberson, and he works closely with Wayne and played it for him. That's how it happened, really." There are already huge expectations for the track. Young Money President Mack Maine (and others in the camp) described "6'7" " as "A Milli" on steroids. Then Wayne upped the ante, calling the track "A Milli" on human growth hormone. While Bangladesh shied away from making direct comparisons, he did say Wayne aimed more directly on the new number, a decision he supported. "The overall wittiness is everything I was saying about 'A Milli' when it came to be," the producer explained. "He freestyled 'A Milli,' and before it was big and before we knew what it was gonna do, we all had our opinions of it. A lot of people loved it, but me being the creator of the art, I didn't see the vision that he had. I think he attacked it as a mixtape. And that was the genius of what he did and it became the biggest thing. The way he approached this one, was everything that I wanted him to do on 'A Milli.' I think he's really focusing on every, every line. It's like he's writing. It's different. It's a whole 'nother level of cleverness to it." Related Artists |
| Usher 'Got A Good Laugh' From Fan Kicking Him In The Face Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:47 AM PST 'It looked worse than it actually was,' the 'OMG' singer laughs about accidental blow during concert serenade.
Usher's club-rattling jam "OMG" may "kill it every night" according to tourmate Miguel, but when the Atlanta crooner hit Madison Square Garden earlier this week, he was almost taken out by a clumsy fan. When the singer touched down in New York on Monday, he indulged a super amped fan's fantasy by pulling her onstage for an intimate flirty serenade of "Trading Places." As Usher and the concertgoer got cozy on a recliner, she swiveled around to face the crooner — knocking him squarely in his mug with her foot. She began apologizing profusely as Usher briefly paused to collect himself. But the superstar took the strike in stride, quipping, "We play rough in the bed. We kick each other in the face and all type of good stuff." Although Usher brushed off the blow, the moment did make an impression on him. "In all my years, this is one of the most interesting experiences. I got a kick out of it!" he told Us Weekly. The singer assured fans that the knock wasn't that bad. "It looked worse than it actually was. My audience and I got a good laugh." As for the fan, the "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" star maintained everything is all good on that front too. "Wherever you are baby, don't feel bad," Usher said. "No hard feelings." As Miguel has noted, Usher isn't one dwell on drama, whether it's cranking out another hit album or weathering an unexpected hit from a fan. "He's such a tremendous example of perseverance and determination," Miguel recently told MTV News. "I was there throughout this album, so I've seen the adversity that he's had to overcome perception-wise." What do you think of Usher's response to getting knocked in the head by a fan? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Justin Bieber Is MTV News' #3 Man Of The Year Posted: 15 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST In 2010, the pop star cleans up at awards shows, causes worldwide pandemonium — and turns 16.
Justin Bieber seemingly did it all in 2010. He sold out concerts, filmed a movie, released two albums and set girls hearts aflutter — all in the span of 12 months. Not only is he arguably the biggest pop star in the world, he's also pals with some of hip-hop's biggest names (just ask Drake, Ludacris and Kanye West if you don't believe us), and he chills with some of the prettiest girls in the game thanks to friendships with ladies like Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez. This really is Justin Bieber's world, and we're all just living in it. For a kid from a small town in Canada, Bieber's meteoric rise to fame from Internet sensation to bona fide musical superstar may have seemed fast, but let's face it: Bieber is the real deal.
2010 Highlights: Justin Bieber kicked off 2010 with his smash single "Baby." He also showed his charitable side appearing on BET's "SOS: Help for Haiti" telethon and lending his voice to the "We Are the World" remake. He was also a presenter at the Grammy Awards alongside Ke$ha. Bieber then went bowling with Drake and Ludacris in his "Baby" video and would later date the clip's leading lady, Jasmine Villegas. In February, Justin caused hysteria in Paris during a trip to Europe, and then in March, he turned sweet 16, collaborated with Sean Kingston on the track "Eeenie Meenie" and had Aziz Ansari mock him in a Funny or Die clip he thought was "hilarious." He also released his sophomore album, My World 2.0, which he promised would be "a lot of fun." Bieber became the subject of his own "Diary" special in late March, released his video for "Never Let You Go" and made an appearance at the Teen Choice Awards. He kicked off April by taking over Funny or Die, where he joked, "I'm a star. I do what stars do. I ride on yachts. I autograph lady lumps." That same month, Bieber once again showed his funny side on "Saturday Night Live," where he was the night's musical guest. He sat down with MTV News and thanked his fans for making him a constant Twitter trend. He shook up New Zealand and Australia, causing more fan hysteria, and by May, his fans were threatening the life of Kim Kardashian just for taking a Twitpic with him! In June, he hooked up with Jaden Smith for the "Karate Kid" track "Never Say Never." He was nominated for the Teen Choice Awards and hung out with his mentor Usher in the "Somebody to Love" video. That same month, Bieber was a big winner at the Much Music Awards and kicked off his first-ever headlining tour. The second half of 2010 was just as busy for the star. In July, he and Lady Gaga battled it out for YouTube supremacy and announced he'd be on "CSI" and releasing a book. (He followed through on all those promises by year's end.) By the end of August, Kanye West's remix of "Runaway Love" hit the world, and it was announced that Bieber would be performing at the VMAs. He also filmed the concert portions of his 3-D movie at Madison Square Garden. JB hit the stage at the VMAs in September and even took home his first-ever Moonman. At the show, he shared with MTV News that "girlfriends are trouble." He made his cameo on "CSI" and premiered his video for "U Smile," and then in October, he revealed the name of his 3-D flick — "Never Say Never" — as well as the first trailer for the movie. In November, he released his book and his My Worlds Acoustic album and took home a few American Music Awards. And that brings us to December, when he sat down with Barbara Walters, made Google's Zeitgeist list and went out for pancakes with Selena Gomez. If doing all that in 12 months isn't reason enough to make Justin Bieber our #3 Man of the Year, then we're not sure what can. We'll be rolling out our Top Five Men and Women of 2010 all week, until we unveil MTV News' Man and Woman of the Year on Friday. As always, we want to know what you think, so share your picks in the comments below! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Ryan Reynolds And Scarlett Johansson: Millionaire Matchmaker's Advice Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:18 AM PST Bravo's Patti Stanger offers some suggestions for the newly separated couple, whom she expects back in the dating game 'by the new year.'
Breaking up is hard to do. Just ask Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson. The preternaturally pretty pair announced Tuesday that they were separating after two years of marriage. While neither has filed for divorce just yet, it seems likely the newly single stars will re-enter the dating pool soon. In fact, when we spoke with Patti Stanger, the no-nonsense star of Bravo's reality series "The Millionaire Matchmaker," she predicted the two would begin seeing other people as soon as next month. (See photos of Ryan and Scarlett in happier times.) "I think they're going to get back on the horse right away," she said. "I think they've been broken up for a while. Just because the public didn't know, they already feel like they've had their death. The bereavement period is over. I feel like by the new year, no later than February 1, they'll get back on the horse. You might even hear about it before, like snippets around New Year's Eve." With the "when" covered, the big question is the "who." Patti believes that, despite the fact that he's eight years older than Scarlett, Ryan likes older women. "I think he is very mature," she explained. And Patti has just the woman for him: her friend Jenny McCarthy. "I think her and Ryan would make the cutest couple in the whole wide world," she said. "They both have the goofy senses of humor. Jenny is really grounded and really down-to-earth. She does have a son, but I don't know who wouldn't procreate with Ryan Reynolds." But what about old friend and "Proposal" co-star Sandra Bullock, who herself is newly single after splitting from Jesse James? The two shared palpable chemistry (and a nude scene) in their 2009 rom-com. Is it enough to start a relationship? "I think that if he was wounded by this breakup, and she's wounded by Jesse, it could make a great friendship," Patti said. "Why don't you do it this way: Take a friendship and see if it organically grows." As for Scarlett, Patti's got her eye on someone who's already spoken for: Taylor Swift's new beau Jake Gyllenhaal. "I'd like to see her with a Jake Gyllenhaal," Patti said. "I really would. Taylor and him, I just don't see it happening. I could be wrong. I think Taylor needs more of a younger guy." Ultimately, however, Patti would like to see Ryan and Scarlett get back together. "I'm sad to see them break up," she said. "I think they should work on it. Somebody jumped the shark." Do you agree with Patti's matchmaking selections? Or do you think Ryan and Scarlett should get back together? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos |
| Taylor Swift Is MTV News' #3 Woman Of The Year Posted: 15 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST Swift fell in and out of love through song, but we never stopped loving the superstar in 2010.
After a year as impressive as 2009, Taylor Swift followed suit in 2010. She toured the world, released a chart-topping album and even starred in her first feature film. Swift kicked off the year winning awards and ended it dominating the charts, and in between, she never looked back. Swift proved that she was more than just a crossover coincidence thanks to catchy songs and girl-next-door charm that appeals to the masses. She managed to scoop up awards and be surprised by each win. The other shoe isn't going to drop anytime soon, and 2010 proved that.
2010 Highlights: In January, Taylor took home her first People's Choice Award and covered Better Than Ezra's "Breathless" at the "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon. She also broke Britney Spears' record for first-week download sales by a female artist thanks to her tune "Today Was a Fairytale." But it was February that would truly leave her breathless. At the Grammys in February, Swift took home four trophies, including Album of the Year. She also hit the stage with Stevie Nicks at the awards show. Weeks later, she would rule the box office alongside former beau Taylor Lautner in "Valentine's Day." Swift spent much of 2010 on tour, but along the way, she racked up nominations at a slew of awards shows, including the Academy of Country Music Awards and CMT Awards. In the spring, she revealed that she was working on her next album and that, unsurprisingly, it would focus on "boys and love." In July, the singer announced that her next album would be out in October and that she wouldn't hold back on the aptly titled Speak Now. Weeks later, in August, the album's first single, "Mine," leaked online and then soared to the top of the charts. "I was reflecting back on a boy I liked at a certain time," she said about the song. The video was released at the end of August and showed a more adult side of the singer. Then September rolled around and Swift took the stage at the VMAs. It was a defining moment for the singer, as she publicly let go of the Kanye West incident from a year prior and buried the hatchet with the rapper thanks to her heartfelt performance of "Innocent." Swift later explained, "I had a lot of options going into the VMAs: You can not go, you can perform your current single, you can pretend that nothing happened or you can say what you need to say at the time you need to say it." By early October, Swift was pre-releasing Speak Now tracks, prompting speculation about whether the songs were referring to famous exes like Taylor Lautner and Joe Jonas. "I've never kept quiet the fact that I write songs about people," she said. "It's like, this is album number three. You guys have had fair warning!" For the album's release, Swift invited fans to her album-release party, and just one week later, she found out that Speak Now had sold 1,047,000 units in its first week, making it the biggest album release in five years. Swift capped 2010 with performances at the CMA Awards and the American Music Awards, announcing a world tour, embarking on a whirlwind romance with Jake Gyllenhaal and turning 21. Not a bad year, to say the least. We'll be rolling out our Top Five Men and Women of 2010 all week, until we unveil MTV News' Man and Woman of the Year on Friday. As always, we want to know what you think, so share your picks in the comments below! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| T.I. Thanks Fans For Supporting <i>No Mercy</i> Posted: 15 Dec 2010 02:15 AM PST 'I love hearing your opinions on what songs you like most for the next singles,' incarcerated MC tells fans in message on his website.
T.I. may be locked up, but he's still keeping tabs on his fans. In a message posted on the ATL MC's website Wednesday (December 15), Tip thanked followers for the #4 debut of his latest effort, No Mercy, and added that he's taking fan opinion into account when choosing upcoming singles from the project. "What up world? First off I'd like to thank everybody again for going out and supporting the 'Hustle' yet again with No Mercy last week. I can't say enough on how much I appreciate the support and all the positive feedback. I read so many tweets, letters, reviews and comments that spoke volumes to how much love was still out there and how much respect still exists for my art and my passion. I put so much of myself into what I do," he said. "I even read over the negative comments cuz' that's the kind of energy I feed off of to adjust, evolve and improve my craft until it manifests into the closest thing to perfection on the next go-round. I love hearing your opinions on what songs you like most for the next singles. We are taking all of them into consideration as we decide right now on which direction to head in." Tip also urged followers to stay positive despite his time behind bars and sent out some cheery holiday greetings. "I know this seems like an unfortunate set of circumstances to endure for a career with so much potential but remember adversity builds character and character takes you places money can't. I know what's in store for me in the future so I ain't trippin' and neither should you," he said. "For now all my love and best wishes to you and yours for the holidays. Y'all hold it down out there and I'll do the same in here. And continue to spread the word about No Mercy & Team T.I." The upbeat missive comes around the same time that longtime T.I. crony DJ Drama said the "Get Back Up" spitter might have been disappointed in his first-week sales because he wasn't physically on the scene. "Tip is the type of guy that, I'm sure, no matter how high it debuted, he might feel disappointed, because he's not here, [and he might] feel like he could have done better," Drama told MTV News. The mixtape king also added that he feels the drama surrounding Mercy may be a turning point in a career plagued by run-ins with the law — a sentiment that T.I. has also echoed. "If it does whatever numbers it does, with him being here, it might have done double that. I think this [release] is the toughest one for him. I been a part of his career for the last 10 years, and I seen him in and out of legal problems. But I think this one is a little bit different. Hopefully, this one is the most life-changing one for him," he said. "I listened to the album, and I watched it being made, and it's some quality work. You know, at the end of the day, it's about the music. And he still comes with that music." What do you think of T.I.'s latest message? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Scarlett Johansson And Ryan Reynolds 'On Different Pages' Before Breakup Posted: 15 Dec 2010 02:07 AM PST 'Distance and their careers played a big role,' source says about split.
With fans reeling from the news that Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds called it quits on their marriage of two years, more and more about the breakup is hitting the Web. E! News reports that while Reynolds' "Green Lantern" co-star Blake Lively might begin to be linked as a cause for the split, nothing happened between the pair that should cause Johansson any concern. (See photos of Ryan and Scarlett in happier times.) People.com seems to confirm that report, saying their marriage rift was due to conflicting business schedules — not cheating scandals. "There's no third party," a source told the website, adding that the couple separated about a month ago. "Ryan and Scarlett had been having some issues for a few months now. Distance and their careers played a big role. When you don't spend a lot of time with your partner, you grow apart." The source explained that the duo "started to lead different lives, and it was harder and harder to come back together and pick up where they left off." "Scarlett was young when they married," the source said. "She's a mature person, but at points, they were just on different pages." The source adds that while the pair is ending their marriage, "they had an intense and loving relationship, and they'll always love and respect each other." Reynolds is filming a movie in Atlanta, and Us Weekly reports that he's confiding in a former flame, but the relationship is only platonic. "Ryan has been reaching out to an ex the past few months," a source said. "He is seeking comfort, but not in a romantic or sexual way." Johansson, on the other hand, is not working, but hanging out with friends in Jamaica. A source said, "She's been unhappy for a while." Related Photos |
| Jeff Bridges Says 'Tron' Sequel Asks: 'What Will Our Legacy Be?' Posted: 15 Dec 2010 03:33 AM PST Actor explains the big-picture idea he took from 'Tron Legacy.'
For those unfamiliar with the original "Tron," "Tron Legacy" might appear to be a trippy mix of one part blockbuster, one part computer games and one part sci-fi. When MTV News caught up with Jeff Bridges, star of both "Tron" films, we asked him what big-picture idea he took away from the sequel, which hits theaters Friday. "I think the title of the film, 'Legacy,' what will our legacy be?" Bridges said. "What kind of legacy will we leave to our kids and what kind of wisdom will we leave them to go along with that legacy? I'm hoping some of that we'll see up on the screen."
Regarding the inevitable comparisons to the first film, which was released in 1982, the Oscar winner admitted that he had reservations in tackling another "Tron" more than 20 years later. When asked if he could pick a favorite between the two films, which is likely akin to choosing a favorite child, Bridges deferred to the most recent experience. "Unlike kids, it's usually the last one I have in my mind," Bridges said. "The other one was 28 years ago. That must be a record, I would think. I don't know if it is or not, but it seems like it to me." Bridges told MTV News earlier this year that one of the main reasons he entertained the notion of appearing in "Tron Legacy" was the opportunity to be part of new filmmaking technology — much like his reason for signing on to the original. "It was very exciting to be a part of that," he said. "That was one of the reasons that got me involved in 'Tron' in the first place, was to be a part of that cutting-edge technology. This one takes it to the nth degree. "Playing the young guy, we did a lot of work in a space called the Volume — you record motion-capture work," he said of his part in the visual-effects process on the film. "That was a completely unique experience for me. I had never done that. It's great to be able to play a character in a story at any age you want now. I can play my character when he's 4 years old." Check out everything we've got on "Tron Legacy." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Aretha Franklin Home From The Hospital Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:13 AM PST 'My family and friends who brought me home are taking great care of me,' singer says in a statement.
After a recent hospital stay, Aretha Franklin is home just in time for the holidays. The legendary songstress is recovering after undergoing surgery for an undisclosed ailment earlier this month. "I've been at home for almost three days now,"Franklin said in a statement on Wednesday (December 15). "My family and friends who brought me home are taking great care of me. I also have a private nurse who visits on a daily basis." The "Respect" singer also detailed some of her plans now that she's out of the hospital, which include heading to the theater to check out stage productions inspired by '60s soul music. "I'm hoping to be strong enough to go out and see the upcoming Sam Cooke play at the Music Hall in downtown Detroit before Jan. 2, as well as a performance of 'Dreamgirls' at the FOX [theater] before it closes," she continued. "The Queen of Soul is in great spirits and very happy to be home where she will be resting in anticipation of spending the upcoming holiday season with her family," her rep added. The statement comes one week after the Reverend Jesse Jackson gave an update about the singer's post-surgery condition. "She's conscious, communicating and taking daily walks up and down the hall," Jackson told The Associated Press on December 8. "She has amazing strength — body, religion and faith," he said. "It's what he keeps her going." Although neither Franklin nor her publicist have revealed the nature of her illness, multiple reports indicate that she is battling cancer. A relative confirmed to news station Fox 2 in her native Detroit that she is dealing with a disease, which may be either pancreatic or bladder cancer. Share your well-wishes for Franklin and her family in the comments. Related Artists |
| 'Muppets' Star Jason Segel 'Hoping' For Lady Gaga Cameo Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:06 AM PST Actor and co-writer weighs in on Michael Cera rumor, 3-D for 2011 movie.
Will Lady Gaga reunite with Kermit the Frog after their red-carpet dalliance at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards? Will Michael Cera kick it with some felt friends? Will the creative minds behind "The Muppets" give in to the 3-D craze and deliver the first franchise film since 1999 in three dimensions? These are just a few of the questions surrounding Jason Segel's resurrection of the Muppets in a flick set to hit theaters next November. And while promoting "Gulliver's Travels" recently, Segel touched on all these Muppet topics and more.
"We are hoping to get Lady Gaga, but we hadn't heard anything yet," Segel told MTV News of the much talked-about cameo. "I literally don't know." We'll file this bit of casting gossip under "wait and see." On to the question of Cera. Earlier reports suggested Paul Rudd was being recruited for a cameo, but the actor told us a few weeks ago that it wasn't going to happen. Cera had been rumored to be up for the same part, and Segel issued something of a non-denial denial about the rumor, going on to explain that the role in question concerns a new Muppet named Walter. "That part was never to play Walter," Segel said. "The puppeteer who's playing Walter is called Peter Linz, who's an absolute genius, amazing puppeteer, brilliant actor and a great singer. There was a bit where Walter imagines himself as a human. All the puppeteers play their characters. There are no celebrity voices of the puppets." Again, we'll wait and see on Cera. One thing we most certainly won't be seeing in "Muppets" is 3-D. Segel, who stars in the film and wrote the script along with Nicholas Stoller ("Get Him to the Greek"), envisions the movie as a throwback to previous series installments like "The Great Muppet Caper." "No, I don't think so," he said of the 3-D question. "Maybe you'll play this back in a year and see I was wrong. My goal is make it like the 1970s, early '80s Muppet movies, so I don't want there to be any 3-D, personally." Check out everything we've got on "The Muppets." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Mark Zuckerberg And Facebook Were All Over Pop Culture In 2010 Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:51 AM PST The Time Person of the Year and his company popped up in movies, on TV and in music all year long.
Of all the stats splashed across Time's Person of the Year profile of Mark Zuckerberg, the most noteworthy might be that one out of every 12 people on the Earth has a Facebook account. The social networking service, in other words, is everywhere. And outside of the site's Web-enabled walled garden, nowhere was Facebook's impact felt more significantly in 2010 than in pop culture. From an impromptu concert by one of hip-hop's biggest names to a movie that has been tearing up the awards circuit and beyond, Facebook kept coming up again and again in the entertainment conversation du jour. It's a big step up from 2009, which didn't exactly end well for the company. When "30 Rock" wasn't mocking Facebook with its fictional creation of YouFace, the world's most inane social networking site, the dotcom was enraging its users with a whole-scale reconfiguring of its privacy settings. Sony, meanwhile, was gearing up plans to make "The Social Network," a film that would expose Facebook's controversial founding and was based on a script that made the year's vaunted Black List of Hollywood's finest unproduced scripts. At the same time, Facebook approached the 550 million-member mark, the company seemed suddenly vulnerable, with the public increasingly concerned that the site which had become an integral part of the social experience was now some sort of Web 2.0-assisted Big Brother. And what about that Net-based social experience? Was this really the direction in which we wanted the culture to travel? "It's not normal," said comedian Ricky Gervais in a Web chat in January, going on to skewer the site's discourse. "My name is Charlie. This is my cat. I live with my mum." But Facebook wasn't just about basement-dwelling cat lovers, was it? A grassroots Facebook campaign materialized around the idea of getting Betty White to host "Saturday Night Live." And it worked. Kanye West chose Facebook's Palo Alto headquarters, of all places, as the venue to perform a mini-set of new material. (Of course, video of the performance made its way to YouTube.) In the fall, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert utilized Facebook to promote their Washington, D.C., rallies, attracting almost 300,000 "definite" attendees. And don't forget about Facebook's role in the short-lived tradition of "icing," in which young drinkers photographed their friends pounding Smirnoff Ice, then posted pics on their pages. It wasn't just those types of photos that swept through Facebook in 2010: There was a nude Courtney Love, Vice President Joe Biden and conservative commentator Laura Ingraham hanging out, and much more. Plus the site became Sarah Palin's go-to platform for hitting back against critics and causes. All this pop-culture promotion, though, couldn't silence ceaseless criticism about Facebook's reportedly lax attitude about keeping its users' personal info private. The company revamped its privacy policy in May, but that hardly quieted the fuss. And then there was "The Social Network." After months of hype and the recruitment of a cast that included Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake, the film's first teaser trailer dropped in June. The buzz on the flick still hasn't quieted. Virtually sweeping critics associations awards and nabbing six Golden Globe nominations this week, "Social Network" has established itself as a front-runner to win all manner of Oscars. It is, simply put, a truly excellent movie. It just might not be entirely based in reality. Producers of the film and Facebook have been duking it out in the media about how accurate a picture the film presents of the social network's creation at Harvard in 2004, including accusations that Zuckerberg stole the idea from classmates and screwed over one of its founding members. Competing claims aside, Facebook once again found itself on the defensive. Zuckerberg jumped into damage-control mode. The 26-year-old CEO appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to announce a $100 million donation to the Newark, New Jersey, public school system. He sat down for a wide-ranging, largely softball interview with "60 Minutes." He recorded his voice for a cameo in "The Simpsons." And this month, he joined Bill Gates and Warren Buffett's Giving Pledge, a consortium of billionaires who commit to giving the majority of their wealth to charity. "People wait until late in their career to give back. But why wait when there is so much to be done?" Zuckerberg said in a statement. "With a generation of younger folks who have thrived on the success of their companies, there is a big opportunity for many of us to give back earlier in our lifetime and see the impact of our philanthropic efforts." Zuckerberg even took his staff to see "The Social Network," and told everyone who would listen that he actually enjoyed the film. High road, taken. And so the year is ending just as it began, with Facebook at the epicenter of the pop-culture universe. The haters will remain, many of them still among the site's 550 million users. Time's Person of the Year would expect nothing else. "I mean, people write all kinds of different things, from 'It's the greatest thing that's ever existed' to 'It's the worst thing that's ever existed,' " he said. The only thing he seemingly might wish to change in 2011 is for his name to be a less frequent topic for conversation than his company's. As he told the magazine, "I usually don't like things that are too much about me." Related Videos |
| 'True Grit' Stars Talk Fave Westerns At Brown-Carpet NYC Premiere Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:05 AM PST Co-stars Hailee Steinfeld and Barry Pepper reveal their gun-slinging genre favorites to MTV News.
If the 25-degree temperatures, dirt-brown carpet (in lieu of a red one) and lack of Golden Globes nominations dampened spirits at Tuesday night's "True Grit" premiere at New York's famed Ziegfeld Theatre, it sure didn't show.
Taking a lesson from the film's title, stars Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Barry Pepper and Hailee Steinfeld — as well as a bevy of celebrities, including "Entourage" star Adrian Grenier, musician John Legend and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani — showed true grit in braving the frigid temps to walk the unconventionally colored carpet. (Giuliani was greeted by chants of "Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!") And the "True Grit" posse chatted jovially with reporters about the film, which marks a return to the Western genre for "No Country for Old Men" directors Joel and Ethan Coen, and tells of a U.S. Marshal (Bridges) and Texas Ranger (Damon) helping a young girl (Steinfeld) track down her father's killer (Brolin). When asked what sets "True Grit," which hits theaters December 22, apart from the rest of the Western pack, Pepper had a theory. "So many of them have so many anachronisms that kind of ruin it for me and pull me out of the period, whereas the Coen brothers are so authentic and they have such a precise vision," he said. "And the dialogue [in 'True Grit'] is extraordinary, which is plucked straight from the source of Charles Portis' novel. So, yeah, this one's a very special one for me." As for Pepper's favorite Western of all time, the actor didn't have to think twice before responding: "I'd say 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.' It came out in 1966 and it raised the bar for the Western genre beyond belief." Singer Legend, en route to what he said was his first trip to a movie theater in months, had a bit more trouble pinpointing his list-topping Western. "Oh, I don't know — let me think about that," the "Ordinary People" singer said, eventually revealing that he's a big fan of "that one with Morgan Freeman," a.k.a. "Unforgiven." Meanwhile, Steinfeld, the 14-year-old who's earning raves for her feature-film debut in "True Grit," admitted that she hadn't seen many Westerns before signing on for the movie. "Maybe I can get away with 'True Grit'?" she laughed. We'll let it slide. Check out everything we've got on "True Grit." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Crystal Bowersox Wary Of 'American Idol' Changes Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:24 AM PST 'I think that 'American Idol' producers ... were a little disappointed on how many rootsy, folksy people they got,' season nine runner-up says.
There was a common misconception — both during her time on the show and immediately following — that Crystal Bowersox considered herself to be "above" "American Idol," or at the very least, that she viewed everything that happened on it as slightly corny and/or ridiculous.
But now, with her post-"Idol" debut in stores, Bowersox is speaking out about her time on the show, and, as it turns out, she's grateful for everything the show did — and continues to do — for her career. "I don't take for granted for a second what 'American Idol' did for me, the life that I have now. I'm sitting here now because of 'American Idol,' " she told MTV News. "I wouldn't have anything that I have now if I hadn't tried out for the show. It's changed my entire life." That said, when asked for her thoughts on the upcoming season of the show — which reportedly will have an increased focus on "reality TV" elements like the contestants making music videos and living in a house together, in addition to new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler — Bowersox wasn't shy about expressing some reservations. "I think that 'American Idol' producers ... were a little disappointed on how many rootsy, folksy people they got. And they're really looking for a pop icon to come through. But, I don't know, we'll see what happens," she said. "With Steven Tyler as a judge, you'd think you want to stay with that rootsy-rock thing, but then there's J.Lo, and Randy's still there. It'll be interesting to see what happens next season." And now, as an "Idol" alum, will Bowersox still tune in to the show? Perhaps. "I don't know. I might catch it on YouTube or something," she said. "I've been so busy I haven't been able to catch anything. But it'll be fun to see." Will you watch the upcoming season of "American Idol"? Tell us in the comments below! Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Glee' Stars 'Can't Wait' For Gwyneth Paltrow's Return Posted: 14 Dec 2010 10:41 PM PST 'She came in and just blew the roof off this place,' Lea Michele gushes.
Not only did Gwyneth Paltrow's guest appearance on "Glee" please Cee Lo, it also left a lasting impression on the show's castmembers. Lea Michele and Jane Lynch recently opened up about the Oscar-winning actress' return to the halls of McKinley High for a yet-to-be-filmed episode and why they look forward to working with her again. Speaking with "Access Hollywood," Golden Globe nominee Michele said she hopes to do another number with Paltrow, admitting she was originally starstruck by actress. "Oh my God, that was so unbelievable," she gushed. "Half the time I was like ... all that was processing in my head over and over again: 'That's Gwyneth Paltrow. That's Gwyneth Paltrow.' It's so unbelievable." While many celebrity guests have appeared on the hit Fox show, Michele felt that Paltrow left an impression, saying, "She came in and just blew the roof off this place. I'm telling you, no one has come in and has done what Gwyneth did. She came in, totally not intimidated by anything and she went from doing Cee Lo to 'Chicago' and just totally did it with ease and grace like she'd been here every day before that." The 24-year-old star also told "Access" host Maria Menounos that, before leaving the show, Paltrow wrote her "the loveliest note." "She's just so sweet and I can't wait to have her back," she added. Michele isn't the only castmember looking forward to the "Country Strong" star's return as substitute teacher Holly Holiday. Jane Lynch said she was "thrilled" to have Paltrow revisit "Glee." "I thought she did such a wonderful job," Lynch told "Access Hollywood." "She proved that she has the goods, you know, she's the real thing. She sings, she dances and obviously she had a good time and we worked her so hard that week she was here. I hope I get to do more with her." Are you excited for Gwyneth's follow-up cameo? Share your thoughts in the comments! |
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