WorldMixMusic - News

Britney Spears Accuses False Tabloids of Dishonesty

2005-04-01T19:47:00.000+02:00

HOLLYWOOD –Britney Spears, an outspoken member of the conservative
watchdog group Accuracy in Media, has used the bully pulpit of her Web
site to call for "higher journalistic standards among false tabloids."
Speaking directly to Us Weekly, In Touch, Star, "and other desperate
magazines," Spears reminded their editors, "Your employees are a
reflection of your magazine." Then she posed the following rhetorical
question: "Do you want employees who are honest or those who are
liars?"

Spears' remarks about "fair and balanced reporting" were inspired by a
recent article in Us Weekly, which reported that Spears, 23, was
carrying a two-headed baby fathered by the ghost of Jerry Garcia.

"That's just, like, so totally untrue," wrote Spears. "I never met
this Mr. Garcia. How could I be carrying his two-headed baby?"

Spears expressed "genuine concern" about the people who work for false
tabloids. "I'd like them to ask themselves the question, 'What am I
lying to myself about?' Is it that you are fifty pounds overweight? Is
it your wife who's carrying that two-headed baby? Until you face what
is going on in your life, I guess you'll remain a false tabloid."

The editor of Us Weekly, Janice Min, said she was "stunned and
surprised" by Spears' allegations.

"To the best of my knowledge," said Min, "none of our writers is
carrying Jerry Garcia's baby. And even if she or he were, why would
that cast any doubt on the writer's veracity?"

Visibly distressed, with the veins in her neck throbbing like downed
electrical wires, Min fairly shouted, "Who is that bitch to tell US to
face what is going in our lives? She ought to face what's going on in
hers. She's beginning to look like Kirsty Alley's body double; her
trailer park trophy husband, Kevin Federline, was photographed playing
tonsil hockey with a stripper in Las Vegas last weekend; and People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals just accused her of beating that
little fag dog she lugs around everywhere."

In related news, President George W. Bush said he sympathized with
Spears, but he felt that her remarks did not go far enough. "She
should have included those so-called satirical Web sites in her
critique," said Bush. "The stuff they publish sounds like it was made
up out of half cloth."

Mariah's Heading To The Top

2005-04-01T03:13:00.000+02:00

Mariah Carey looks set to be back on top form this week. Early indications have her comeback single 'It's like that' settling for a high top five debut, while UK high street retailers Woolworths are predicting a top three entry for Mariah's new album "The Emancipation Of Mimi" next week.

Mariah Carey Ads Say The Voice Will Be Back, But She Says It Never Left

2005-03-29T19:46:00.000+02:00

Posters for Mariah Carey's upcoming CD, the Emancipation of Mimi,
declare "The Voice is Back" on April 12. But even though ads for the
new CD place a new emphasis on the diva's powerful vocals, she says
her prowess has always been there. Mariah tells Billboard, "The voice
has been here all along. Even if you listen to the oh-so-dissed
Glitter (soundtrack), there is a song called "Lead The Way" which is
one of my best vocal performances ever."

Unfortunately, according to Mariah, some listeners want to hear her
big, big voice all the time and don't understand the subtleties of her
vocal range. She says, "People who only heard certain singles would be
like, 'Why is she singing so breathy?' Some people are of the opinion
that if you have a big voice you should use it all the time." She adds
that she loves powerful singing, but, "I don't want to hear someone
scream at me all the time."

Mariah's voice may be considered legendary, but she has said she
doesn't think of herself as a 'legend.' She says, "I don't feel like a
legend. I feel like I've just worked really hard doing what I'm doing
and I'm continuing to work just as hard, if not harder now, to really
try and maintain what I've accomplished and to go further. But it's
definitely not like 'I'M A LEGEND.'"

The Emancipation Of Mimi is Mariah's first studio album since 2002's
Charmbracelet. "It's Like That," the debut single from the upcoming
album, is at Number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. She
released the second single, "We Belong Together," last week.

The Honeyz Return!

2005-03-28T13:55:00.000+02:00

Viewers will be treated to old hits performed by the original artists
on ITV1's Hit Me Baby One More Time.

The show, similar to US ratings flop Reborn In The USA, will see
artists such as Chesney Hawkes and Belinda Carlise sing one of their
old hits plus their interpretation of a contemporary track.

The first show, to be broadcast on April 2, will feature Gloria Gaynor
singing I Will Survive, Howard Jones with What Is Love, Limhal will
sing Too Shy, The Honeyz will perform Finally Found, while Tiffany
will give a rendition of I Think We're Alone Now.

A public vote each week will send one artist through to the Grand
Final at the end of the series.

Host Vernon Kay said: "I'm really looking forward to presenting Hit Me
Baby One More Time as it's a great opportunity to find out what the
artists who made the tracks of my years have been up to. They'll be
performing modern day classics as well as the hits that made them
famous."

Carey Fans Party With Mariah

2005-03-28T13:14:00.000+02:00

By: Darren Gale (Worldmix Staff)

The day started out with me and all my Mariah friends meeting up to
see Mariah on CD:UK. There was such a good line up with Do me bad
things, Garbage and Good Charlotte also performing along with Mario
and Rachel "No sound comes out my mouth" Stevens. We finally saw
Mariah's performance about 1.30pmish (Look out for it on next weeks
show). The performance was great but as expected she mimed.

That night Mariah was holding a joint birthday and album launch party
at a club in central London. A lot of my friends had gotten on the
guest list, but I hadn't managed it. I was determined to go in, and
luckily one of my friends had won tickets but couldn't make it, so I
posed as him. After a bit of arguing, I was in! There were three
sections to the club. The normal area, the VIP area which requires a
gold wristband, and Mariah's special area which required platinum
wristbands to get into. All my friends had gold wristbands. I didn't
get one, but that didn't stop me going into the VIP area. It meant I
couldn't leave the area at all or I wouldn't be allowed in, but I
managed!
The celebrities started turning up. First was Frank Bruno, then Steve
Brookstein. My friend Bobby ended up chatting to Steve for quite a
while, and when he'd finished declared to me "He's such a nice guy.
Sharon Osbourne is a bitch". I didn't talk to him as I'd have felt too
2 faced, so I just smiled. Estelle was next to arrive. She stood next
to me, and I ended up talking to her – mainly about Adam, who she says
she remembers. Other celebrities that turned up included Alesha from
Mis-teeq and up-himself-Usher-wannabe Mario!

Mariah finally turned up just after midnight. She walked past us and I
managed to wish her "Happy anniversary" (Her name for her birthday)
and held her hand for a moment. Then she went into her VVIP area! Her
area was secluded off by chains of beads. Two security guards guarded
the area. One of my friends managed to sneak in and sat down inside
it. After a minute, I did the same. We were in. Two more of my friends
managed it. But then someone caught on to us and we were asked to
leave. We didn't care and ran further up. We ended up face to face
with Mariah! I've always wanted Mariah to remember me like she
remembers my friends. Tonight… she did! She gave me such a big smile
when she saw me as she'd remembered me. I asked her if she liked the
birthday card I'd given to her the other day. She put her hand on my
shoulder, looked me in the eye and said "Thank you, it was so lovely".
I was talking to her for a couple more minutes but I can't even
remember what was said. All I know is that she was being so sweet to
us! One memorable moment of the evening was when Mario came up to
Mariah and slowdanced with her to 'Let me love you'… right in front of
me!!!
After a while, Mariah was ushered out the back. We stayed in the area
for a bit until Mariah's tour manager Michael got angry and kicked us
out!

We stayed just outside Mariah's area for the next hour or so. Mariah
came back, and a few of my friends sneaked in. The club were playing
some tracks from the new album, and my friends were dancing to them
with Mariah. I was getting jealous, and after a while I just ran in! I
ran up to Mariah and she smiled at me again. I started talking to her
again and told her I thought the album was fantastic and would be
massive! Most of the night is a bit of a blur to me, but I remember
everything being so casual and comfortable. Mariah was hugging and
kissing everyone. At one point I had my arm around her! I didn't bring
my camera in with me as I'd already put it in the cloakroom, and I
didn't really wanna snap her on her birthday! The experience was so
surreal. We were actually partying with Mariah Carey! It was about to
get a whole lot better! The DJ started to play the remix of
'Heartbreaker'. Me and about 3 or 4 of my friends were standing around
Mariah in a sort of circle, with her in the middle. What happened next
was unbelievable! We all started singing the song WITH Mariah! It was
hilarious to see Mariah say "Guess who's back in the motherf***ing
house". We ended up singing and dancing to the whole song with Mariah.
She's such a party girl and is up for a laugh. She was singing to us
individually in it. She had more fun doing Da Brat's parts though.

After a while the party was drawing to an end. I was trying to say
goodbye to Mariah for ages, but people kept coming in my way. Finally
I got close enough and some guy grabbed me. I turned around and it was
Mario. All of a sudden his two bodyguards pushed me out of the way and
said "Mario wants to say bye to Mariah". Twat! He really is such a…
you get the picture. Finally, I got to say my goodbye to Mariah as she
held my hand. We got out the club around 3.45am… 4.45 actually as the
clocks had gone forward!

So… the night was incredible! We felt sorry for Mariah as she was
being moved about constantly when all she wanted to do was party. It
is her birthday, for Gods sake. It was the best experience I've had
with her. I'm so happy she remembers me now. It's been a really
amazing week, and I can't wait to see her again!

Beyonce's Hair Worth Millions

2005-03-28T12:58:00.000+02:00

Beyonce Knowles earns over 4 million dollars a year for just ten days
work each year, advertising hair products, according to U.S. reports.

Apparently, the 22-year-old superstar can also demand first class air
fares and accommodation for herself and up to four people to help her
through the long, strenuous hard days work and luckily for Beyonce,
her mum Tina acts as one of her personal hairdressers for the shots.

Nice work if you can get it, but we suppose she'd say she's worth it.
Two of the options on the three-year deal have already been taken up,
so clearly the clients are pleased with Beyonce's performance so far
and their returns for the sponsorship deal.

Paula Abdul Pleads No Contest In Freeway Hit-And-Run

2005-03-28T12:57:00.000+02:00

At an arraignment Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles, Paula Abdul's
lawyer helped her to face the music, pleading no contest to a
misdemeanor hit-and-run charge on behalf of the singer.

The incident occurred during a December fender-bender on a Los Angeles
freeway. Celebrity Justice has reported that the driver of the other
car took a photo of Abdul's Mercedes-Benz's license plate with his
camera phone, and his passenger allegedly recognized the American Idol
judge. Abdul reportedly left the scene of the scrape without
exchanging information with the other driver and later denied to
California Highway Patrol investigators that she was involved in the
collision.

The former Laker Girl's plea is not an admission of guilt. According
to the Los Angeles city attorney's office, Abdul was sentenced to two
years of informal probation and ordered to pay $775 in restitution to
the other driver as well as fines and penalties totaling $900.

Whitney Houston Returns To Rehab

2005-03-28T12:56:00.000+02:00

One year after her first reported stay in a treatment clinic, Whitney
Houston has returned to rehab.

On Wednesday, the Grammy-winning singer checked herself into a
drug-rehabilitation clinic, reports The Associated Press.

Houston's publicist, Nancy Seltzer, has confirmed that the 41-year-old
R&B songstress voluntarily "re-entered a rehabilitation facility," but
would not provide any further details on the matter.

Houston, who has been working with music-industry legend Clive Davis
on a new album, did spend five days in a treatment clinic in March
2004. Two years earlier, after years of denying drug use, she publicly
confessed to Diane Sawyer — in an interview that aired on ABC's
Primetime -- that she had abused cocaine, marijuana and prescription
drugs in the past. However, she also claimed she'd beaten her
addiction through the power of prayer, according to the AP.

Back in 2000, she was detained at Hawaii's Keahole-Kona International
Airport when authorities allegedly discovered that one of her bags
contained less than 15 grams of marijuana and two partially smoked
joints. But misdemeanor drug possession charges that had been filed
against her were ultimately dropped when a substance-abuse counselor
said she did not need treatment.

-- Chris Harris (MTV.com)

Rumor : Britney Spears Is 3 Months Pregnant

2005-03-28T12:15:00.001+02:00

Britney Spears and her husband of seven months, Kevin Federline, are
expecting a baby, Star can exclusively and definitively reveal!
The 23-year-old singer is three-months pregnant, according to sources
close to the couple, and an official announcement confirming the happy
news is expected to be released this weekend.

Sources say Britney has canceled all her future work engagements and
is busy preparing for her new job - motherhood - when the baby arrives
this fall.

Brit's made no secret of her desire to start a family since her
marriage to Kevin Federline on Sept. 18 last year. Less than a month
after the wedding, Britney was telling fans on her Web site,
britneyspears.com, how she longed for a baby, saying, 'Being married
is GREAT and I can't wait to start my family!' Now it looks like her
dream has finally come true.

A source close to the couple tells Star that Britney is already
reading 'What to Expect When You're Expecting,' an advice manual for
expectant moms by pregnancy and childcare writer Heidi Murkoff, and is
eating for two with double helpings of everything.

'Brit is totally focused on being a mom,' says the source. 'She says
it's the most important thing she's ever done in her life. From now
until the baby comes, she says she's not going to do anything more
strenuous than eat for two!'

Father-to-be Kevin, 27, already has two children by his ex, Moesha
star Shar Jackson - Kori, 2, and Kaleb, 8 months.

'He calls Brit 'my lady-in-waiting,'' says the source. 'Kevin knows
he's not going to get a moment's peace from now until the baby comes.
He says what he really enjoys about her pregnancy is chugging beers
and telling Brit 'You can't have one!''

Another source close to the couple says although the Britney and Kevin
are keeping the pregnancy a secret, they're not fooling their friends
and family. 'Kevin's been acting funny,' says the source. 'But he
won't explain why. Britney and Kevin have been planning how they would
handle this if they found out she was pregnant - they'd keep it to
themselves until she was at least three months along.'

The week before her momentous announcement was expected, Britney was
taking it easy, relaxing in Santa Monica's luxury beach hotel Le
Merigot, where she's staying with Kevin for two weeks while their
$7-million Malibu home is renovated.

She enjoyed a massage and then hit the eucalyptus sauna and steam
room. But it looks like she's decided to get back in shape for her
pregnancy too - splitting her daily workout between power-walking on
the gym treadmill and yoga stretches. And after all that hard work,
Brit ordered up some room service - fried calamari and shrimp
cocktail, with extra roulade sauce. All that mayo is pretty fattening,
Brit!

But then, we guess you're eating for two now.

For complete coverage on this breaking story, check out Star, on
newsstands next Thursday.

Source: Yahoo! News

Gem of a party, Mariah

2005-03-28T12:15:00.000+02:00

You wouldn't expect MARIAH CAREY'S 35th birthday bash at London's
trendy Tantra club to be a low-key affair.
She splashed out £30,000 on the event and took centre stage in a
stunning white Roberto Cavalli dress complete with diamond gems worth
£1MILLION.
www.thesun.co.uk

Mariah's "We Belong Together" Storms the Airwaves

2005-03-28T11:56:00.000+02:00

Looks like this week’s FMQB cover girl Mariah Carey has her second hit single from her forthcoming CD, The Emancipation Of Mimi, due in stores on April 12. Last week’s Best Bet, "We Belong Together," is showing some early signs of being a major hit with a BIG week of reports including: WPGC, KPTY, KBBT, WZMX, KBMB and KSFM! Already on over 40 stations and WPOW’s Kid Curry is reporting #1 phones in Miami and MC is Top 5 phones at WKTU and KLUC!--Mariah graces the cover of this week's FMQB Magazine, Q-Beat Special Issue, "The Emancipation of...Mariah" with a featured interview by B96/Chicago APD/MD Erik Bradley.

Ashlee Simpson Going '80s, Getting Personal On Next Album

2005-03-28T11:35:00.000+02:00

Ashlee Simpson has been singing a medley of songs by Madonna, Blondie and the Pretenders on her current tour, and it's given her an idea — why not pull a Gwen Stefani and showcase her love of the '80s on her next record? But unlike the No Doubt singer's lighthearted solo fare, Simpson wants to go a bit deeper.

"This summer, whenever I get off tour, I am going to start writing a new album and kind of focus on that for a little while," Simpson said. "I've been really into '80s music, and hopefully my next album will have that feel to it. I'm really excited to write my new record."

That's because she's been through so much since she released her debut, Autobiography — and not just the infamous "SNL" and Orange Bowl incidents. Where Simpson's first album focused on ending a relationship with one boy and starting one with another (that would be Ryan Cabrera), this album would be less about them and more about her own personal growth. "I feel like I've gone through a lot and I am at a different place in my life," she said. "This time I have dealt with a lot, you know, with myself, more than a relationship, which was the last record. So it'll be cool to go back in the studio and start writing. I've definitely got a lot to say."

Exactly what she has to say, Simpson wouldn't say — but she did mention that she's interested in exploring the making of the new album via a television show, just not "The Ashlee Simpson Show," since the current second season will be its last. "I'm definitely going to keep my fans updated and do a little show or something. I don't know what it's going to be, but 'The Ashlee Simpson Show' has definitely come to its rest. I don't know how much more you could see of me," she laughed.

Until then, those wanting to see just a little more Ashlee will just have to wait till she's on the big screen in her first major movie role, in the upcoming "Undiscovered," formerly called "Wannabe" (see "Ashlee Simpson Trades Spotlight For Supporting Role In 'Wannabe' "). The movie's name change comes courtesy of her Autobiography song of the same name, which will be featured on the soundtrack. The film is due in late summer, and Simpson's already looking forward to finding her next role.

"I'd love to do another movie," she said, "and I'm going to start looking at scripts. I feel like I have a lot of things to learn and I can't wait to research new characters."

— Jennifer Vineyard, with reporting by Jennifer Schonborn www.mtvnews.com