Album isn't expected to drop before September.
By Gil Kaufman
Lady Gaga as Nerdface Killah recording in the studio
Photo: Lady Gaga/Twitter
Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff
<P>"I'm bewildered," <a href="/music/artist/plant_robert/artist.jhtml">Robert Plant</a> said onstage as he accepted the <MTVNLINK type="news" id="1604580">Grammy Album of the Year award</MTVNLINK> with <a href="/music/artist/krauss_alison/artist.jhtml">Alison Krauss</a> on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday." </P><P> </P><P>He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because <i>Raising Sand,</i> which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/grammys/">Grammy</a> album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.</p><div style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:338316" width="256" height="223" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashVars="configParams=instance%3Dnews%26vid%3D338316" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his <a href="/music/artist/led_zeppelin/artist.jhtml">Led Zeppelin</a> days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history. </P><P> </P><P>Really, she's the key to <i>Sand</i>'s success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, <i>Sand</i> was released. </P><P> </P><P>And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain. </P><P> </P><P>And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on <i>Sand.</i> His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified. </P><P> </P><P>To date, <i>Sand</i> has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. </P><P> </P><P>One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album. </P><P> </P><P>"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" <i>New York Times</i> music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really <i>good</i> record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards." </P><P></p>
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Meanwhile, Paula Abdul has been absent from the set since her final group was eliminated last week.
By Jim Cantiello
<P><i>MTV News' own Jim Cantiello is exclusively covering "The X Factor" rehearsals. Read on for his fly-on-the-wall backstage report!</i> </P><P> </P><P><b>LOS ANGELES</b> — "The X Factor" top seven are back on the lot after their first (and only) mini-vacation of the season. And as the Thanksgiving tryptophan wears off, the anxiety of another double elimination is setting in. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="'X Factor' Star Astro Teases His Michael Jackson Song Night Performance" id="vid:714741" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>Adding to the stress? "The X Factor" is tackling the songs of <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jackson_michael/artist.jhtml">Michael Jackson</a> on Wednesday night (November 30), on the 29th anniversary of <i>Thriller</i>'s release, no less. </P><P> </P><P>One of the contestants is so stressed over the theme he's emerged as a total perfectionist. During Monday's rehearsals, he had already nixed multiple arrangements the show had provided him. "This is the most unprepared I've felt on a Monday," he said to his mentor as they rushed out of Stage 36. There was a camera crew chasing them to capture the drama — as well as the ensuing late-night emergency meeting with the vocal coaches — so don't be surprised if some of this intense footage ends up in your living room. (This afternoon's dress rehearsal went swimmingly, for the record.) </P><P> </P><P>Meanwhile, one contestant had a full-on battle with his/her mentor over a chair. The mentor said, "Sit and sing." The contestant said, "Again?! How about I do something on my feet for Michael Jackson week?" Another mentor came to the defense of the contestant. In the end, the contestant is sitting after all. Don't worry, contestant. The eerie arrangement of an MJ classic is what folks are going to be buzzing about. No one will care if you sit or stand. In the control room, I spied one of the bigwigs utter the word "brilliant!" after the contestant's dress rehearsal. </P><P> </P><P>Another hot topic: wardrobe! When paying homage to one of the biggest music icons ever, it's tempting for the stylists to include clothing nods to Michael's various looks. But several singers are worried they'll look too much like Jackson impersonators, which has caused many a headache in the wardrobe trailer. But stylist June Ambrose is still able to keep things light in the midst of the drama. While waiting around for a contestant's last-minute fitting, she started an impromptu MJ dance party on the lot. Crotch grabs and "woo" included! </P><P> </P><P>Lastly, Paula Abdul's sunny energy has been noticeably absent on the CBS lot now that all her groups have been eliminated. She went from being the most hands-on mentor to an on-set ghost. "The X Factor" family can't wait to welcome her back for her first live show as strictly a judge. What do you think she's been doing with her newfound free time? </P><P> </P><P><b>You can catch Jim on the "X Factor Pepsi Pre-Show," streaming at 7 p.m. ET tonight on <a href="http://www.thexfactorusa.com/" target="_blank">TheXFactorUSA.com</a>!</b></p>
Related Artists 'Unfortunately, she's the closest to breaking my record for the last 10 years,' singer says of Adele catching up with his chart record.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/usher/artist.jhtml">Usher</a> has a confession to make. He really loves <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/adele/artist.jhtml">Adele</a>, even if she's threatening his position as an album-sales record holder. </P><P> </P><P>"If I have to confess, I have to confess that I have told a few people not to go and buy Adele's album because I don't want her to go and break my record," he joked to <a href="http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/usher/view/43207/" target="_blank">Capital FM</a> in the U.K. The <i>21</i> singer's record-setting album has come close to beating the record held by his own album <i>Confessions</i> for <a href="/news/articles/1676522/adele-usher-best-sales-record.jhtml">most albums sold in one year</a>. </P><P> </P><P>"No, actually, I love her. Unfortunately, she's the closest to breaking my record for the last 10 years. So now, guys, don't go and buy that album right now." </P><P> </P><P>But if he can't beat her, he'll join her. He hinted in the same interview that he would love the chance to collaborate with the broken-hearted songstress. "I think the world deserves an <a href="http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/usher/view/43230/" target="_blank">Usher and Adele record</a>," he said. "That's what I think." </P><P> </P><P>Well, Usher will get his chance to prove his chart dominance once again when he drops his new album later this year. He's currently out promoting its lead single, the sexy, sultry, Diplo-produced <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/02/16/usher-diplo-climax-love-affair-song/">"Climax."</a> </P><P> </P><P>The singer released a video for the track earlier this month. The sexy clip follows two lovers engaged in a hot, steamy love affair. Usher wrestles with the ramifications of their relationship, pondering it all in his car, with a gun not far away. </P><P> </P><P>Leading to the video's climax, Usher watches his lady with her other man, then runs in the house, fires off his gun and runs away. Viewers are left wondering if it was nothing more than a daydream as the video ends with the singer once again sitting in his car, still reflecting, as he pulls away from the supposed crime scene.</p>
Related ArtistsIf you wrote a novel, which took you a decade to write, and you hear David E. Kelley, award-winning TV producer of such greats as Ally McBeal and Chicago Hope, wants to turn your book into a television show, what are you to think? Just ask Sanjay Gupta.
Singer discusses being bullied as a child and her plan not to speak to the media 'for a very long time' on 'Oprah's Next Chapter.'
By Jocelyn Vena
<P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lady_gaga/artist.jhtml">Lady Gaga</a> confessed she wants to have enough children to form a <a href="/news/articles/1681179/lady-gaga-oprah-winfreys-next-chapter-own.jhtml">"soccer team"</a> when she sat down with talk show maven Oprah Winfrey for "Oprah's Next Chapter." In the intimate chat, which took place at Gaga's childhood home in New York City, the never-press-shy Gaga made another big announcement. </P><P> </P><P><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:749701/cp~vid%3D749701%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A749701" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed> </P><P> </P><P>"Other than this interview, Oprah, I don't intend to speak to anyone for a very long time. I have to shut out the noise," Mother Monster told Winfrey, according to <a href="http://www.gossipcop.com/oprah-lady-gaga-interview-2012-bullying-childhood-oprahs-next-chapter-recap-highlights-video/" target="_blank">Gossip Cop</a>. "The latest thing I do is I don't read a damn thing. No press, no television. If my mom calls and says, 'Did you hear about?' I don't want to know nothing about anything that is going on ... I shut it all off." </P><P> </P><P>Gaga's mother was on hand for parts of the interview, sharing that in Gaga's early days, her father thought she had a "screw loose" while she was performing at downtown New York nightclubs in her bra while lighting hairspray on fire. The superstar added that there's one thing about her current act that her mother isn't a big fan of. </P><P> </P><P>"She doesn't like when I swear," Gaga said, with her mother adding, "You're effective without it." </P><P> </P><P>Another part of the candid chat also focused on Gaga's youth, during which she said she was frequently bullied. "There really is no difference between the bully and the victim," she said. "I would like to do a psychological autopsy on as many bullies and victims as possible ... How do we understand what breeds hatred, what breeds anger?" </P><P>She added that despite all "all the praise you receive, something inside of you is scarred by those experiences. ... Sometimes I feel worthless." </P><P>Parts of the special were also filmed at Harvard University last month. </P><P> </P><P>The singer and the talk show host were on hand at the prestigious college to launch Gaga's <a href="/news/articles/1680176/lady-gaga-launches-born-this-way-foundation-harvard.jhtml"><i>Born This Way</i> Foundation</a>. </P><P> </P><P>"I just have one thing to say before we get started: We got Oprah! ... Thank you from all of us — from my entire team, from my mother, from the bottom of the hearts of so many people who believe in what we're doing today," Gaga said at the launch. She explained that the foundation seeks to empower the youth of America, adding, "How can we inspire young people to know they have the power to be brave?"</p>
Related Videos Related Artists Producer/songwriter tells MTV News the 'sexier' track, which drops Monday, will 'definitely surprise people.'
By Jocelyn Vena
<P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> is days away from dropping his lead <a href="/news/articles/1680373/justin-bieber-believe-album.jhtml"><i>Believe</i></a> single, <a href="/news/articles/1680882/justin-bieber-boyfriend-single-buzz.jhtml">"Boyfriend,"</a> and its early buzz grew even louder on Wednesday when <a href="/news/articles/1681514/justin-bieber-boyfriend-lyrics.jhtml">Bieber released the lyrics</a> for the track. While fans will have to wait until Monday to hear the song, MTV News got a little bit of a tease from one of the guys who worked with the teen sensation on the track. </P><P> </P><P> "This record is different in a very good way," "BF" co-producer and co-writer Mason Levy told MTV News. "Definitely edgier, it's more grown-up, it's more developed and it's sexier. It's just like really dope. It's gonna definitely surprise people. People aren't really expecting that they're going to like it." </P><P> </P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:744691/cp~id%3D1680192%26vid%3D744691%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A744691" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></center> </P><P> </P><P>Levy thinks pretty much everyone is destined to like it, thanks to a sound that reaches far beyond that of Bieber's tweeny pop days. "It's more of something that everyone can drive around and listen to it, whether they're guys or girls or older," he said. </P><P> </P><P>Bieber has said he wanted to grow up with this album and the Mike Posner-produced song. His model was the post-'NSYNC Justin Timberlake. From the sound of it, he might have hit that nail on the head. </P><P> </P><P>"It's more just the verses [that he raps on] and the rest he's singing," he said. "It's dope. It's hip-hop, but with great acoustic R&B, pop guitar with very hip-hop, clubby drums and really dope Justin Timberlake-y melodies." </P><P> </P><P>The creation of the song was pretty organic, Levy said. "We got together and started messing around. It was one of those things where you didn't have to struggle too much. It just kind of happened," he said. "He always goes in and does melodies and he's involved in lyrics and everything." </P><P> </P><P>"Boyfriend" will set the tone for the album, set for release later this year. "There's definitely lots of diversity on the album. There's really ballad-y stuff and there's more stuff like this. I would say ['Boyfriend'] is harder," Levy added. "He's very open to everything." </P><P> </P><P><i>Are you excited to hear a "grown-up" Bieber on "Boyfriend"? Leave your comment below!</i> </P><P></p>
Related Videos Related Artists Jennifer Lawrence and Claire Danes also look modern and chic on the red carpet.
By Maud Deitch
Justin Timberlake arrives at 2013 SAG Awards
Photo: Getty Images
Jessica Cauffiel Jessica Paré Jessica Simpson Zooey Deschanel
'This is not an anti-bullying foundation; this is a youth-empowerment foundation,' Mother Monster says at Harvard launch event.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P><a href="/news/articles/1677562/lady-gaga-born-this-way-foundation.jhtml">Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta</a>, took over Harvard University to launch their <a href="/news/articles/1673633/lady-gaga-born-this-way-foundation.jhtml"><i>Born This Way</i> Foundation</a> on Wednesday (February 29). In front of a crowd that included <a href="/news/articles/1679223/lady-gaga-oprah-winfrey-foundation.jhtml">Oprah Winfrey</a>, the New York natives kicked off their inspirational foundation, hoping to empower the youth of America. </P><P> </P><P>"I was recently with the great Gloria Steinem, who said that sometimes the only way you can get attention to a problem is to freak people out," <a href="http://act.mtv.com/posts/lady-gaga-launches-born-this-way-foundation/">Oprah said at the event</a>." 'Break the form,' she said. You have to stop playing the game in order to change the content. Lady Gaga, with her music and her message and her own story, is breaking the form, and she is changing consciousness. She says that she wasn't put on earth just to sing songs; her passion is to be that force for good. The <i>Born This Way</i> Foundation is in line with so many of my core beliefs." </P><P> </P><P>Gaga enthusiastically opened up about the foundation and what she hopes to do with it. "I just have one thing to say before we get started: We got Oprah! ... Thank you from all of us — from my entire team, from my mother, from the bottom of the hearts of so many people who believe in what we're doing today," she said, wearing a chocolate-brown gown, brown lace gloves, towering platforms and a sparkly fishnet hat. </P><P> </P><P>"I'm not here today to give you an answer. And I'm not here to tell you I can solve these problems [of bullying]. This is about transformative change in culture over a period of time. One of the most important things I wanted to share with all of you today, it's no secret I speak out against bullying. This is not an anti-bullying foundation; this is a youth-empowerment foundation," she continued. "This is about changing the climate of the school environment and not putting the power in the hands of the teachers or the government. It is about the bubble effect. I don't believe they have the answers; I believe that you do." </P><P> </P><P>In addition to her fans, Gaga said her biggest influence to start the foundation is her own Mother Monster. "My mother really inspires me, because she talked about giving back ever since I was very, very young," she said. "And the more that I got to know my fans, the more that I realized that not everybody has that support system at home." </P><P> </P><P>Her mother later enthused that despite the snow outside, "It is even more beautiful inside because we are launching the foundation. The youth that is listening: you are the leaders of our future." </P><P> </P><P>Gaga also revealed another aspect of the foundation: "There is a bus now called the Born Brave Bus. So the Born Brave Bus is essentially a bus that is going to travel and follow my tour bus around the country, and it will welcome anyone from any walk of life to come and hang out and talk about love, acceptance, kindness and so forth. And the best thing about it it's going to be fun. It's going to essentially be a tailgate. This is not about saying, 'I need help,' but if you do, you can come. If you want to help someone else, you can come and say 'Hey, what's up?' " </P><P> </P><P>At the end of the day, Gaga said the foundation "is all about saying the power is in your hands. There really is sort of a focus on the victim, but what I want to point out today is that the victim and the bully are on the same playing field. How do we say, 'You are both equal members of society'? How do we not save not just the victim, but also the bully? I want the <i>Born This Way</i> Foundation to empower the youth of the world." </P><P> </P><P>Gaga further explained that one of the core values is teaching her fans to empower themselves to be "brave." </P><P> </P><P>"This, again, is not focused on bullying, the bravery aspect; I want for young people to know they have the power," she said. "How can we inspire young people to know they have the power to be brave?"</p>
Related Videos Related Artists Amid rumors that Spears will appear on Madge's 'Girls Gone Wild,' MTV News looks back at their history together.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P>Could it be that <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/madonna/artist.jhtml">Madonna</a> has enlisted her pal <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/spears_britney/artist.jhtml">Britney Spears</a> for <a href="/news/articles/1678197/madonna-mdna-album.jhtml"><i>MDNA</i></a>? </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Britney Spears, Madonna Get In The Zone For 'Me Against The Music' Video" id="vid:623135.id:1657989" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>Well, according to a leaked album jacket, it seems that Spears is making an appearance on the album's lead track, "Girls Gone Wild." </P><P> </P><P>This would mark the second collaboration on the album. Madonna nabbed Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. for the album's first single, <a href="/news/articles/1678478/madonna-give-me-all-your-luvin-video.jhtml">"Give Me All Your Luvin'."</a> </P><P>While the leaked jacket, which appeared on Britney fansite <a href="http://www.breatheheavy.com/2012/02/britney-on-new-madonna-album/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed" target="_blank">Breatheheavy.com</a>, can't be confirmed as authentic, a rep for Madge had no comment about the rumor, neither confirming nor denying it. Meanwhile, a rep for Spears never returned MTV News' request for comment. </P><P> </P><P>This is hardly the first time that the two ladies have worked together. In fact, they have quite a history with each other. </P><P> </P><P>The duo kicked off their nearly decade-long friendship at the 2003 VMAs when, in case you hadn't heard, they <a href="/news/articles/1669706/britney-spears-mtv-vma-history.jhtml">shared an onstage kiss</a> while performing together. It was the kiss seen and heard around the world, and nearly 10 years later it is still often talked about as one of the most memorable moments in the show's storied history. </P><P> </P><P>After they shared that smooch, Spears was inspired to get the Queen of Pop on her lead <i>In the Zone</i> single, <a href="/news/articles/1658075/britney-spears-me-against-the-music.jhtml">"Me Against the Music."</a> "I was in the middle of rehearsals for the VMAs and I played her the song, and she was like, 'That's your first single, right?' " Britney recalled in a vintage interview with MTV. "I was like, 'Yeah, hopefully.' She was like, 'I really like it.' I was like, 'Really?' I was like, 'Well, you wanna do it with me?' She said, 'Yeah.' " </P><P> </P><P>They later appeared together in the warehouse-set video with one another, playing a pop star cat-and-mouse game that featured a near kiss. </P><P> </P><P>Five years later, as Spears was prepping her return to the pop spotlight, she appeared <a href="/news/articles/1598804/britney-spears-justin-timberlake-appear-onstage-with-madonna.jhtml">onstage with Madonna</a> during a Sticky & Sweet Tour stop at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The singer hit the stage with the pop icon to perform "Human Nature" by her side. </P><P> </P><P>That same year, Madonna appeared in <a href="/news/articles/1600361/britney-spears-talks-breakups-breakdowns-in-for-the-record.jhtml">Spears' documentary, "For the Record,"</a> where she spoke about the younger singer. "I admire her as an artist," the Material Girl said, adding that she sees a lot of herself in Spears. </P><P>In 2011, as Spears was prepping the release of her album <i>Femme Fatale,</i> in an <a href="/news/articles/1659522/britney-spears-plastic-surgery-out-magazine.jhtml">interview with <i>Out</i> magazine</a>, she noted that she truly admires her friend. "Madonna. No question. She is an amazing entertainer," she said when asked whose career she most would want to emulate. </P><P> </P><P>As Madonna preps the release of <i>MDNA</i> in March, Spears is also the topic of conversation in a recent interview with her. When asked by ABC News what it was like to smooch the pop princess, she commented, "Nice moment, good kisser. Cool," she said, clarifying that she wouldn't do it again. "No, I already did it. I don't like to repeat myself." </P><P> </P><P>Well, perhaps a kiss would be "reductive" (her word, not ours), but it seems given the love that Madge and Spears fans have for the two pop stars, they wouldn't mind them cooking up some musical magic. </P><P>The track, "Girls Gone Wild," was teased in a megamix that dropped last week and it certainly feels like it would lend itself to both Madonna and Brit's musical sensibilities: It's fist-pumpingly dance-y, sexy and all about going out and having a good time, with Madge proclaiming, "Girls, they just want to have some fun/ Get fired up like a smoking gun/ On the floor till the daylight comes/ Girls, they just want to have some fun." </P><P> </P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:728690/cp~id%3D1672718%26vid%3D728690%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A728690%26instance%3Dmtv" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></center> </P><P> </P><P><i>What would you think of a new Britney Spears/ Madonna collabo? Leave your comment below!</i></p>
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The 'Silver Linings Playbook' actress suffered a wardrobe malfunction on the way to accept her statue.
By Amy Wilkinson
Jennifer Lawrence at the 2013 SAG Awards
Photo: Mark Davis
Campaign aims to bring African militia leader Joseph Kony to justice for war crimes and for enlisting children as soldiers.
By Gil Kaufman
<P>A campaign to stop the nearly 30-year, brutal rule of African militia leader Joseph Kony became a viral sensation this week. <a href="http://kony2012.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com" target="_blank">"Kony 2012,"</a> started by the group Invisible Children, aims to make Kony's face so famous that authorities will finally be able to arrest him and try him for his crimes. </P><P> </P><P>A 30-minute <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc" target="_blank">documentary</a> released on Monday is one of the keys to the campaign, and as of Thursday it had gotten more than 26 million views. The video details the atrocities carried out by Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army. The campaign appears to be working, as at one point on Wednesday, Invisible Children and #stopkony were trending higher on Twitter than Peyton Manning or the new iPad. </P><P> </P><P>Since 1987, human rights officials say Kony has forcefully abducted more than 60,000 children to be soldiers in his army and reportedly raped, mutilated and killed civilians in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan and displaced more than 2 million people. The leader is wanted for committing atrocities by the International Criminal Court and is being hunted down by 100 U.S. Special Forces advisers and local troops in four Central African nations, according to the <a href="http://bit.ly/AyrDyz"><I>Associated Press.</I></a> </P><P> </P><P>Kony 2012 is an effort to capture Kony and disarm the LRA before a reported window of opportunity closes. One way it plans to do that is by encouraging users to directly message a variety of stars to make use of their Twitter ubiquity to get the word out. Among those listed on the site are: Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Jay-Z, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Ryan Seacrest and Ellen DeGeneres, along with a number of major policymakers. </P><P> </P><P>When users click on the celebs' photos, a tweet pops up that reads: Help us end #LRA violence. Visit kony2012.com to find out why and how. @timtebow Join us for #KONY2012. </P><P> </P><P><a href="http://act.mtv.com/posts/invisible-children-video-joseph-kony/">Get More on Invisible Children at ACT.MTV.com.</a></p>
Related Artists 'We welcome you to share in our joy,' reads a note posted with the five photos, signed by 'the Carter family.'
By Kelley L. Carter
<P>And now we've seen her. </P><P> </P><P>On Friday (February 10), <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jay_z/artist.jhtml">Jay-Z</a> posted the first photos of his and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyoncé</a>'s daughter, <a href="/news/articles/1676906/beyonce-jay-z-baby-born-ivy-blue.jhtml">Blue Ivy Carter</a>, on his <a href="http://lifeandtimes.com/glory" target="_blank">Life + Times</a> website. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="All About Beyonce And Jay-Z's New Arrival" id="id:1676907" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>The rapper and his superstar wife are seen in the photos holding the newborn in a series of five photos. In the first large photo, we see the baby swathed in a polka-dot wrap sleeping. In the remaining images, she has her eyes wide open and is being held by her beaming mother, and in another, her back is to us while she's being held by her smiling father. </P><P> </P><P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/photos/thumbnails.jhtml?fid=1679016&view=thumb"><b>Photos: Blue Ivy Carter revealed.</a></b> </P><P> </P><P>There's a note that reads: "We welcome you to share in our joy. Thank you for respecting our privacy during this beautiful time in our lives. The Carter family." </P><P> </P><P>The baby-picture reveal is just the latest Blue Ivy news. On Thursday, it was confirmed that the high-profile couple filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to <a href="/news/articles/1678877/beyonce-jay-z-blue-ivy-trademark.jhtml">trademark Blue Ivy's name</a>. The patent is intended to prevent the use of their daughter's name by non-related parties. The application was filed by Beyoncé's company, BGK Trademark Holdings, and is currently pending. <i>The Washington Post</i> reported that it will likely get approved, considering that parents are legally authorized to trademark the names of minor children. </P><P> </P><P>Earlier this week, Beyoncé revealed her post-pregnancy body, and she's back in fighting shape only a month after the birth of her baby girl. <a href="/news/articles/1678670/beyonce-post-baby-appearance-jay-z.jhtml">B was photographed twice</a> this week, including at the first night of <a href="/news/articles/1678669/jay-z-carnegie-hall.jhtml">Jay-Z's two-night charity stint at Carnegie Hall</a>. </P><P> </P><P><i>What do you think of the first Blue Ivy photos? Let us know in the comments!</i></p>
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Well, here's the latest:
Murray will represent himself as he contests involuntary manslaughter conviction for which he faces up to four years in state prison.
By Kara Warner
<P>As expected, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jackson_michael/artist.jhtml">Michael Jackson</a>'s former doctor <a href="/news/articles/1673957/conrad-murray-appeal-verdict-michael-jackson.jhtml">Conrad Murray has filed an appeal</a> to challenge his involuntary manslaughter conviction. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Michael Jackson's Former Doctor Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter" id="vid:708788.id:1673923" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>According to <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2011/12/02/conrad-murray-files-appeal-involuntary-manslaughter" target="_blank">TMZ</a>, Murray filed the petition in pro per, which means he has decided to forego hiring legal representation and represent himself. He reportedly listed "Men's Central Jail" and his booking number in the space on the appeal document where a lawyer would normally list a firm's name or contact information. </P><P> </P><P>TMZ also reported that although Murray seems to be without a lawyer, he is still in communication with Nareg Gourjian, one of the attorneys who represented him during his manslaughter trial. </P><P> </P><P>"This case presents a gold mine of issues for any appellate lawyer," Gourjian told TMZ. "Dr. Murray is confident that the Court of Appeal will vindicate him." </P><P> </P><P>Following the guilty verdict, Murray's lead defense lawyer Ed Chernoff told CNN, "What matters most right now is trying to keep Dr. Murray from taking up a prison cell in this community. That's what we're focusing on right now, and we'll deal with an appeal after that." </P><P> </P><P><a href="/news/articles/1675062/conrad-murray-sentence.jhtml">Murray was sentenced to four years</a> in jail Tuesday, but due to overcrowding, he's unlikely to serve his full term. </p>
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Conrad Murray faces another hearing in January to potentially provide more than $101 million in restitution to the Jackson family.
By
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'It's a bit morbid,' frontman Ryan Tedder says of OneRepublic's new single, though the video certainly isn't.
By James Montgomery
Ryan Tedder in OneRepublic's "If I Lose Myself" video
Photo: Interscope
'This is not an anti-bullying foundation; this is a youth-empowerment foundation,' Mother Monster says at Harvard launch event.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P><a href="/news/articles/1677562/lady-gaga-born-this-way-foundation.jhtml">Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta</a>, took over Harvard University to launch their <a href="/news/articles/1673633/lady-gaga-born-this-way-foundation.jhtml"><i>Born This Way</i> Foundation</a> on Wednesday (February 29). In front of a crowd that included <a href="/news/articles/1679223/lady-gaga-oprah-winfrey-foundation.jhtml">Oprah Winfrey</a>, the New York natives kicked off their inspirational foundation, hoping to empower the youth of America. </P><P> </P><P>"I was recently with the great Gloria Steinem, who said that sometimes the only way you can get attention to a problem is to freak people out," <a href="http://act.mtv.com/posts/lady-gaga-launches-born-this-way-foundation/">Oprah said at the event</a>." 'Break the form,' she said. You have to stop playing the game in order to change the content. Lady Gaga, with her music and her message and her own story, is breaking the form, and she is changing consciousness. She says that she wasn't put on earth just to sing songs; her passion is to be that force for good. The <i>Born This Way</i> Foundation is in line with so many of my core beliefs." </P><P> </P><P>Gaga enthusiastically opened up about the foundation and what she hopes to do with it. "I just have one thing to say before we get started: We got Oprah! ... Thank you from all of us — from my entire team, from my mother, from the bottom of the hearts of so many people who believe in what we're doing today," she said, wearing a chocolate-brown gown, brown lace gloves, towering platforms and a sparkly fishnet hat. </P><P> </P><P>"I'm not here today to give you an answer. And I'm not here to tell you I can solve these problems [of bullying]. This is about transformative change in culture over a period of time. One of the most important things I wanted to share with all of you today, it's no secret I speak out against bullying. This is not an anti-bullying foundation; this is a youth-empowerment foundation," she continued. "This is about changing the climate of the school environment and not putting the power in the hands of the teachers or the government. It is about the bubble effect. I don't believe they have the answers; I believe that you do." </P><P> </P><P>In addition to her fans, Gaga said her biggest influence to start the foundation is her own Mother Monster. "My mother really inspires me, because she talked about giving back ever since I was very, very young," she said. "And the more that I got to know my fans, the more that I realized that not everybody has that support system at home." </P><P> </P><P>Her mother later enthused that despite the snow outside, "It is even more beautiful inside because we are launching the foundation. The youth that is listening: you are the leaders of our future." </P><P> </P><P>Gaga also revealed another aspect of the foundation: "There is a bus now called the Born Brave Bus. So the Born Brave Bus is essentially a bus that is going to travel and follow my tour bus around the country, and it will welcome anyone from any walk of life to come and hang out and talk about love, acceptance, kindness and so forth. And the best thing about it it's going to be fun. It's going to essentially be a tailgate. This is not about saying, 'I need help,' but if you do, you can come. If you want to help someone else, you can come and say 'Hey, what's up?' " </P><P> </P><P>At the end of the day, Gaga said the foundation "is all about saying the power is in your hands. There really is sort of a focus on the victim, but what I want to point out today is that the victim and the bully are on the same playing field. How do we say, 'You are both equal members of society'? How do we not save not just the victim, but also the bully? I want the <i>Born This Way</i> Foundation to empower the youth of the world." </P><P> </P><P>Gaga further explained that one of the core values is teaching her fans to empower themselves to be "brave." </P><P> </P><P>"This, again, is not focused on bullying, the bravery aspect; I want for young people to know they have the power," she said. "How can we inspire young people to know they have the power to be brave?"</p>
Related Videos Related Artists 'You will always remember where you were ... when you heard the news,' Simon Cowell says, echoing the sentiments after Jackson's death.
By Tomika L. Anderson
<P>Few people will forget where they were when they heard that the King of Pop, <a href="/news/articles/1614744/michael-jackson-dies-at-50.jhtml">Michael Jackson, had died</a> in June 2009. And now, the same can be said for 1980s and '90s <a href="/news/articles/1679029/whitney-houston-dead.jhtml">Queen of Pop Whitney Houston</a>. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Celebrities React To Whitney Houston's Passing" id="vid:733106.id:1679030" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>The beloved, long-suffering singer died Saturday inside a Beverly Hills hotel room, hours before she was expected to attend a <a href="/news/articles/1679046/whitney-houston-dies-grammys-clive-davis.jhtml">pre-Grammy Awards party thrown by her longtime mentor Clive Davis</a>. </P><P> </P><P>And while the official cause of death is yet unknown — what's been speculated so far is that <a href="/news/articles/1679049/whitney-houston-dies-details.jhtml">Houston may have drowned</a> in the bathtub after taking prescription drugs, including Xanax — given her very public struggle with substance abuse, depression and anxiety over the past decade, it's hard not to conclude that some drug- or alcohol-related accident may have been to blame. </P><P> </P><P>It's much like, most recently, British singer Amy Winehouse and the late, great Michael Jackson before her, who died after taking a fatal cocktail of propofol and two other drugs. Also like Jackson, Houston's sudden death — at the age of 48 — has stopped the world in its tracks, an enormous, one-of-a-kind musical flame forever extinguished. </P><P> </P><P>Even Jackson's brother, Jermaine — who was first introduced to Houston years ago by Clive Davis at the same Beverly Hills Hilton where the singer passed away — could not help but draw the comparison. In an interview with CNN overnight, he paid tribute to the two fallen musical giants. "They shared a lot of success in the late '80s and they were great friends," he said. "I'm happy and honored to have been a part of their lives." </P><P> </P><P>And oh, what lives they led: Like Jackson — who died at just 50 years old, after years of struggling with personal demons — Houston, too, had an intensely profound and everlasting impact on the world of entertainment. </P><P> </P><P>Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson and countless other chart-topping entertainers have all name-checked her as their musical mentor, icon and inspiration: To date, she is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with more than 170 million albums, songs and videos sold. </P><P> </P><P>In her lifetime, Houston achieved what precious few of them have or ever will — stacking an astonishing 415 awards, including six Grammys, two Emmys, 22 American Music Awards, 30 <i>Billboard</i> Awards. </P><P> </P><P>Her voice, in its prime, was a national treasure. </P><P> </P><P>"X Factor" mastermind Simon Cowell may have summed it up the best: On "Piers Morgan Tonight," he said, "She was one of the greatest voices in our lifetime. Whitney was the number one singer that other singers want to emulate. People like that can't be manufactured. They've either got, it or they don't." </P><P> </P><P>He added, "You will always remember where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news." </P><P> </P><P>Like Michael before her, gone too soon. </P><P> </P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:733107/cp~id%3D1679030%26vid%3D733107%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A733107%26instance%3Dmtv" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></center> </P><P> </P><P><b>MTV News' Sway and James Montgomery will be live from the <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/grammys/">Grammys</a> red carpet tonight starting at 5 p.m. ET to get reactions from music's biggest stars on the death of Whitney Houston. Watch reactions and remembrances at MTV.com.</b> </P><P> </P><P><I>Share your condolences with Whitney's family and friends on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mtvnews/posts/381732435187118&rdquo" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page.</I></p>
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