Russell Brand seeks divorce from Katy Perry

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 17:20

After the pair were spotted over the holidays without their wedding rings - and with half the world between them to boot - the rumor spread that Katy Perry and Russell Brand had called it quits for good.

Last Thursday TMZ reported that Brand had filed for divorce in Los Angeles, citing irreconcilable differences.

The comedian said in a statement: “Sadly, Katy and I are ending our marriage. I will always adore her and I know we’ll remain friends.”

If the split came as a surprise to fans, insiders in the entertainment world are showing no signs of shock at the news. The pair had apparently been experiencing troubles for months, and a last-ditch effort to save the marriage didn’t work out in the end.

Celebrity news editor David Caplan told MTV News: “Katy and Russell’s split is not a surprise. It’s one of those celeb splits where the writing is on the wall for months, so much so that they denied any marital trouble on The Ellen DeGeneres Show several weeks ago, which is uncommon for celebs to acknowledge tabloids reports.

“But then came news this week that they had a big blowup and spent Christmas apart. Very far apart – she in Hawaii, and he in London. You don’t get much farther apart! Plus, in between Ellen and Christmas, there were multiple reports of them on the rocks. And unlike so many other rumblings about celeb couples on the skids, this was totally true, and they clearly decided not to keep it a secret and just put on a happy front.”

TMZ reports that Perry wanted Brand to file the divorce papers so as not to upset her parents, who maintain strict religious beliefs.

According to the Daily Mail, Brand stands to make £20 million from the split if the pair end things with a 50/50 split.

Marcus Collins duets with Rebecca Ferguson

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 17:09

X Factor graduates Rebecca Ferguson and Marcus Collins showed off a Liverpool nightspot, singing the Jackie Wilson classic ''Higher and Higher'' for a very impressed crowd.

The pair arrived at club Playground, where they met model Amanda Harrington and Desperate Scousewives star Gillian O’Toole.

Collins has a bit of experience with the song, having sung it during the X Factor final.

Harrington was especially happy to meet the pair, tweeting a photo of herself alongside the ITV show alums.

One of their fellow club-goers told The Sun that when the song came on, Collins began an impromptu performance. “It was amazing, all eyes turned on Marcus when the track came on. He loved the attention and it was great to see him with Rebecca Ferguson as well. It was like best of the X Factor for two years running.”

Marcus Collins lost this year’s competition to Little Mix, and Rebecca Ferguson was last year’s runner-up, losing to Matt Cardle.

Ferguson may have come in second place on the show, but her album is currently outselling the debut release from Cardle. In three weeks, Ferguson has sold 350,000 copies of her album.

Cardle’s album, Lettters, was released in October and has yet to break the 250,000 mark.

Ferguson recently told the Guardian what it was like going up against Cardle in the final. “When me and Matt walked on, I thought, ‘Ooh, it would be lovely if I won now.’ But it didn’t happen. His name got called out. For a split second I was like…”

She went on: “But then I went over and gave him a hug and thought, ‘It’s not the end. I’m gonna be okay.”

Ferguson may have had faith that her career wasn’t over, but she that didn’t mean she knew what the future had in store. “I was nervous because I know not everybody goes on to do well [after being on the X Factor].”

Cheryl Cole: Biographical TV show was ‘a load of s***’

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 17:05

According to Cheryl Cole, a television show claiming to ''reveal the truth'' about the singer was nothing but a ''load of s***.''

The ''3 Words'' singer was so upset over a program called The Truth About Cheryl Cole that she took to her Twitter page to give the producers a what-for.

“It amazes me how people can piece together a show called ‘The truth about Cheryl Cole’ and then fill it with a load of s***!” she wrote. “Just been hearing all about it and lmao #thetruthaboutcherylcole or #icouldntbearsedtofindthetruthout! Bore off..Zzzzz.”

When it aired last summer, the Channel 5 show called itself “a unique insight into the rollercoaster ride taken by national treasure Cheryl Cole from a humble housing estate in Newcastle to a palatial new home in star studded LA.”

The singer is apparently upset that she was never contacted for an interview, and that the resulting content left something to be desired when it came to “truth.”

Meanwhile, Cole is preparing to celebrate the New Year with the man she is rumored to be dating, Taio Cruz. The pair will be attending a party in Los Angeles together.

Last month Cruz denied the claims that the pair were dating, telling the Metro: “Cheryl and I worked together in Los Angeles a few weeks ago – we got about three new songs done. I gave her one of my watches and took a photo of it, which seems to have spurred some strange rumors.”

Rumors aside, Cruz admitted that he wouldn’t mind hanging out with the Girls Aloud star. “I really wish I was dating Cheryl Cole, but I’m not!”

Kanye West to further fashion career in London

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 16:57

According to reports, rapper Kanye West has relocated to London in order to pursue a serious career as a fashion designer.

Last fall, the star premiered the woman's line for his new label, DW, during Paris Fashion Week. Before the holiday, West held a party in London for his budding label, where he reportedly informed guests that he planned to permanently relocate to the UK.

A source close to the “Gold Digger” rapper told The Sun: “He went home for the holidays but was proclaiming that he is now based in the capital and would return in early January.

“He’s close to the lecturers and students at the Central Saint Martins College and being in London means he can stop by for advice any time.”

The source added that West was already preparing to launch his next collection: “He’ll be over here preparing his Paris Fashion Week show, due in March. He’s also been looking for a studio.

“While at the party Kanye was giving models his email address and cheekily asking them to send him photos.”

Label DW was named after the rapper’s late mother, Donda West. Its first collection was met with mixed reviews when it premiered in October.

Donda died in 2007, at the age of 58. Her publicist said at the time that she’d died “as the result of complications from a cosmetic surgical procedure.”

Meanwhile, the West’s upcoming album “is almost done,” according to collaborator Big Sean.

Sean told MTV news: “We’re gonna do the G.O.O.D. music album first; we’ve been working on that. So me, Kanye, Cudi, CyHi, John Legend, Common, Pusha T, everybody on G.O.O.D., Mr. Hudson – we’re all working on a new project; it’s almost done.”

This latest collaborative effort comes on the heels of West’s album with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne.

Olly Murs may give up Xtra Factor

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 16:52

Just as his Xtra Factor co-host Caroline Flack suggested recently, Olly Murs may not be returning to the show next year. The singer apparently fears being ''typecast'' as a presenter and would prefer to be considered a music man.

His success on the show notwithstanding, the X Factor alum wishes to fully concentrate on his music career.

Asked whether he’d be returning to the show, Murs told New: “I don’t know, we haven’t spoken about it yet. I’ve told them that I’m open to speak about it next year, but I’m not saying no and I’m not saying yes.”

He added: “We’ll see what happens. Presenting is always a tricky one because the more you do it, the more you get typecast as a presenter and I’m not a TV presenter, you know? I want to continue doing my singing, but we’ll see what happens next year.”

The “Dance with Me Tonight” singer admitted that it’s not easy to know what’s going on with X Factor these days, and that he doesn’t know whether Tulisa Contostavlos, Kelly Rowland and Gary Barlow will be returning to the judging panel next year.

He told the publication: “I don’t know if they’ll all be back. I guess it’s the same for me as it is for them. Gary, Tulisa and Kelly’s top priorities are their music careers. I don’t know their contracts, so I don’t know how long they’ve signed up for. But I know for me it’s the sort of situation where I’ve had a great time and would love to do it again, but I want to concentrate on my music next year.”

The 27-year-old recently tied with boy band JLS for the title of hardest working act in music. Murs and the JLS were credited for their hard work in PRS for Music’s annual poll, after having put on an impressive amount of live shows in 2011.

Katy Perry and Russell Brand spend Christmas apart

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 16:45

The rumor that Katy Perry had split with husband Russell Brand made its way around the blogosphere this week after the pair decided to spend the holiday on separate sides of the globe.

An insider told Us Weekly that a huge argument had inspired time apart for the couple, who have denied any marriage trouble.

“They had a massive fight,” the source explained. “She was like, ‘F*** you. I’m going to do my own thing.’ Russell replied, ‘Fine, f*** you too.’”

The 27-year-old “Firework” singer was spotted in Hawaii – sans wedding ring – while Brand hung out with a group of pals in a Cornwall pub.

Neither star has explained the situation via Twitter, and their joint spokesperson has so far been unavailable for comment.

Many had expected the pair to spend some much-needed quality time together over Christmas, as their conflicting schedules don’t often allow them to be in the same city.  It was thought that Perry would invite her family to the UK to celebrate with Brand.

In spite of the mysterious disagreement, both Perry and Brand have denied that there were any problems between them in the recent past.

Perry once tweeted: “Just cause we don’t flaunt our relationship doesn’t mean there’s something wrong w/it. Privacy is our luxury.”

And when he appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show this month, Brand jokingly said of their supposed split: “What?! She should have told me!”

He continued: “I’ve treated the whole internet now as a wicked little liar. I am really happily married. Being famous is like a little bit of you is taken away and goes off and lives on its own and does what it wants. I wish it would do more interesting things.

“I don’t know what he's doing, but I’m married to Katy. Perpetually – ‘until death do us part’ was the pledge. I’m still alive.”

Fourth marriage lasts 16 days for Sinead O’Connor

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 16:36

Sinead O'Connor's marriage to Dublin therapist Barry Herridge - her fourth - lasted a mere 16 days. According to the Irish singer, Herridge is simply ''too nice to trap.''

The pair wed in a drive-thru ceremony in Las Vegas on December 8^th and cohabitated together for exactly a week before they’d had enough. The marriage officially came to an end on Christmas Eve.

According to O’Connor, the nature of the quick-dissolving marriage has much to do with those close to her latest ex.

The “Nothing Compares 2 U” singer explains the situation on her blog: “From the moment myself and my husband got together not long ago, there was intense pressure placed upon him by certain people in his life, not to be involved with me.”

She reports that their marriage was “kyboshed by the behavior of certain people in my husband’s life” only hours after the nuptials, and adds that she may have further damaged her chances with Herridge when she sought drugs on her wedding night. O’Connor admits that she had taken “a bit of a wild ride” in search of “a bit of smoke of weed for me wedding night as I don’t drink.”

O’Connor added: “My husband was enormously wounded and very badly affected by that experience and also by the attitude of those close to him toward our marriage. It became apparent to me that if he were to stay with me he would be losing too much to bear.”

The singer’s affair with Herridge began when she took to Twitter in search of a “very sweet sex-starved man,” and seems to have ended on a bittersweet note. “[I’m] happy that I know we weren’t horrible to each other and he is better off free. And that I can be me. And that’s a freedom I can’t give up for anyone or anything.”

O’Connor’s troubles are not limited to her short-lived marriages – the singer has been open about her issues with bipolar disorder, for which she has been hospitalized more than once.

Her 2010 marriage to musician Steve Cooney ended within a year.

Military Wives No. 1 on Christmas

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 16:32

This year, Military Wives have usurped the coveted Christmas No. 1 spot on the UK singles chart with their single ''Wherever You Are.''

The ladies' choirmaster Gareth Malone said of the achievement: “This is so surreal. Who would have guessed in those first rehearsals that we could take Christmas No. 1? It’s a testament to the Military Wives’ hard work and the nation’s support of them, as well as the power of choral singing.”

He added: “It’s a winning combination – a Christmas No. 1 winning combination! Thank you to the British public for supporting the Royal British Legion and SSAFA Forces Help by buying this single.

“The support of the British military for the choir has been fantastic. I’m delighted that they have found their voice. We did it!”

The group of women beat out latest X Factor winners Little Mix for top spot on the chart, moving 556,000 copies of the song last week. Meanwhile, “Cannonball,” the first single from girl group Little Mix, sold 117,000 copies.

The ladies sold the most copies of a single since Alexandra Burke landed at the top of the Christmas chart in 2008 with her version of “Hallelujah,” selling 576,000 copies.

Malone isn’t the only one impressed with this group of women. Martin Talbot, managing director at the Official Charts Company, told the Metro: “To have achieved more than 500,000 sales in a week without the backing of a vast promotional operation over many weeks, like X Factor, is truly remarkable. It is hard to think of a more deserving winner in 60 years of Christmas number ones.”

The singers were assembled for Malone’s BBC program The Choir, during which the ladies performed at the Royal Albert Hall. Single “Wherever You Are” is a tribute to all those British soldiers spending the holidays overseas, as well as those who lost their lives in combat.

Dido celebrates first Christmas with son

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 16:24

This holiday, singer Dido will not only be celebrating her 40^th birthday - she'll be celebrating her first Christmas with son, Stanley.

Apparently named after the star's No. 1 Eminem collaboration, Dido gave birth to her first child at London’s Portland Hospital in July.

The first many heard about Dido’s son came over the weekend, when the singer tweeted: “I wanted to wish you all a very happy christmas. I’m ridiculously excited about stanley’s first christmas this year!”

Dido announced her pregnancy before this year’s Oscar awards, but never came forward with the details of her son’s actual birth.

“Hello everyone,” she wrote at the time, “It’s been a month of amazing news for me and now I have some more to share. Me and my husband Rohan are expecting a baby and we’re beyond happy and excited about it. So as some of you already know, I won’t be able to travel to LA for the Oscars ceremony to perform ‘If I Rise.’

“Obviously I’m really gutted about not being there – going to the Oscars has literally been a dream of mine since I was about nine.”

The “Thank You” singer added that she was experiencing a pleasant pregnancy: “There’s a real calmness about it which I think is really nice. Your decisions are sort of made for you. You just have this priority that is unchangeable and I think that’s a great calmness that comes from that.”

Dido became one of the top-selling British female artists after her debut No Angels was released in 2001. The album sold more than 21 million copies around the globe, landing the singer two Brit awards – Best Female and Best Album.

Sophomore release Life for Rent also performed rather well, selling 12 million copies and bringing home two more Brits for the singer. 2008 album Safe Trip Home was less well-received, but its track “If I Rise” did ensure the singer’s first Academy Award nomination.

Melanie Amaro wins first US X Factor

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 16:18

Sunrise, Florida native Melanie Amaro has won a $5 million SyCo recording contract and a starring role in a Pepsi commercial.

After her name was called on Thursday night, mentor Simon Cowell said: “I want to say, ‘America, thank you for giving this girl an opportunity.’”

The 19-year-old defeated runner-up Josh Krajcik for the crown.

The night’s performances included a Steve Wonder-Justin Bieber duet and appearances by 50 Cent, Ne-Yo and Pitbull.

Amaro, who was eliminated from the running during the judges’ houses portion of the show, sang the Dreamgirls hit song “Listen” during the final moments of the show. Her performance of the song on Wednesday night’s show was highly praised by the judges.

Simon said of bringing Amaro back to the show: “She’s a little star. I remember when I walked into her house; she’s literally watching herself on YouTube. I knock on her door. She did a double take when she saw me.

“I explained why I was there. And it was like a marriage proposal. I said to her, ‘I’ve made a mistake. I admit it. I’m going to give you a second chance.’ And I stood there like a lemon for 30 seconds while she stared at me, and then quietly said, ‘Yes, I’ll do it.’

“Now I’m seeing her behind me, she’s got the confidence. And I’m proud the show found her. I was probably looking for a bit of balance. To be honest with you, I can’t answer this question properly. All I can say is, ‘I royally screwed up.’ But this time at least I have a chance to rectify it.”

In spite of her star quality – or perhaps because of it – Cowell says Amaro was “not the easiest person to work with.” He added: “She’s willing to work hard. I think she’s someone who can sell records all over the world, which is important, and I think she’s got longevity.”