Willie Nelson is all out of fawks to give. Willie Nelson Says He Smoked A Joint On The White House Roof When Willie Nelson visited the White House last December, it was just days after the singer’s arrest for possession of 6 ounces of pot. The 77-year-old singer, who is on the advisory board for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), has never bothered to hide his famous habit. It had been 30 years since the first White House sleepover for the man who wrote ‘Crazy,’ ‘Night Life,’ ‘Hello Walls’ and many more of country music’s most enduring hits. In 1980, in the waning days of Jimmy Carter’s administration, the former peanut farmer from Georgia invited his old buddy to perform and stay at the White House. Nelson and Carter had grown friendly during the president’s 1976 election campaign, when the Texas native sang ‘Georgia on My Mind’ at several rallies for the candidate. To relieve the stress of being the leader of the free world, Carter, an avid fly fisherman, sometimes retired to the presidential study to tie flies while listening to Willie on “the hi-fi,” as the former president recalled when the two appeared together on a CMT special in 2004. In one of Willie Nelson’s books, he freely admits stealing away to the roof of the White House, where he lit up “a big fat Austin torpedo” while members of the Secret Service looked on. Apparently, it wasn’t the first time that particular law was broken at the White House: In 1977 — also on Carter’s watch — David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash are said to have burned a fatty of their own when they were left alone in the Oval Office. Guess Snoop and Wiz Khalifa are gonna have to step their game up if they want to be OG like ol’ Willie-Will Image via Facebook Source
When his tears fell during Wednesday’s ‘American Idol’ finale, Phillips instantly became the most relatable champ in the show’s history. By James Montgomery Phillip Phillips Photo: Michael Tran/ FilmMagic I think I’m finally coming around on Phillip Phillips. Yes, I’m aware that I’ve spent the past 19 weeks making fun of his grouting delivery (that’s “growl/shouting,” for the uninitiated), criticizing his every performance and referring to him as “Kris Allen 2.0,” but none of that comes into play here. Because what changed my opinion of Phillips had nothing to do with his singing — in fact, the moment of reconsideration actually occurred when he wasn’t singing. It happened when he was crying. See, when Phillips broke down in tears during his performance of “Home” on Wednesday night’s “American Idol” finale, it wasn’t just the show’s most touching moment in years, it was the most personal he’s gotten all season. It taught me more about him than any hometown-visit piece or expertly edited contestant-confessional vignette ever could. For the entire season, he’s been an enigma, a slightly scruffy oddball who never really seemed to be that interested in actually winning (or taking Tommy Hilfiger’s fashion advice ). Early on, he built a wall around himself, and he never let viewers get a glimpse at what lay inside — until he finally allowed himself to get lost in the moment of triumph , as the confetti fell and the audience cheered. That’s when the wall came down and the tears began to flow. And that’s when I realized that everything I knew about him was probably wrong. Because Phillips isn’t some aloof, obstinate singer/songwriter dude who’s been to a ton of DMB shows. He doesn’t possess the supreme ego required to believe that his words are poetry and his songs can save the world. He is just a regular kid from Leesburg, Georgia, one who says stuff like “Music’s fun, dude,” and one who was overcome with the emotions of the moment and the sheer magnitude of his “Idol” win, to the point where singing his coronation song became secondary and all he wanted to do was share his triumph with his family. And that’s exactly what he did, performance be damned. In other words, he acted exactly like you or I would, had we just won an internationally famous singing competition and suddenly become a star. In that instant, I realized that Phillips has never had a day of stage training in his entire life, that, unlike pretty much everyone else who auditions for “Idol,” he hadn’t been dreaming of this moment since he was a talent-competition tyke. He truly never believed he could win, because normal people never would. And so he started crying, real genuine tears, the kind that seize your body and make everything else an afterthought — the kind that professional entertainers rarely get, mostly because they prevent them from entertaining. I’ve never been able to fathom how a person could cry and sing at the same time, and yet, each year on “Idol” (and on stages around the world), I see trained talent do exactly that, shed crocodile tears while still nailing the chorus. It is oddly robotic, not to mention slightly off-putting. I’m glad Phillips didn’t try to do it, and now I know why. I’m not sure if his “Idol” victory is good for the show (probably not), or if he’ll be able to buck the recent trend and actually become a superstar (though “Home” is a nice start), but for one night, I wasn’t concerned with either of those things. Phillips’ emotional outpouring may very well have been the Cry Heard ‘Round the World, serving notice that he’s much more than the realest “American Idol” champ in history: He’s an actual human being. In that moment, he became instantly relatable, even to his staunchest of detractors (like me). And because of that, I’m willing to let my icy heart thaw just a little bit and wish him the best. And even though it goes against my every willfully difficult impulse I’ll close with this: All hail Phillip Phillips, the People’s King. Long may he reign. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Finale Highlights Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Finale Show ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Finale Red Carpet
‘The show exists to find the next cute white guy with a guitar,’ says Richard Rushfield, author of ‘American Idol: The Untold Story.’ By Gil Kaufman Phillip Phillips performs on the “American Idol” finale on May 22 Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images Even if she hadn’t been saddled with what is possibly the worst “American Idol” finalist song in the show’s history, the chances of Jessica Sanchez beating Phillip Phillips seemed slim. The guitar-strumming, foot-swiveling, five-o’clock-shadow-having Dave Matthews doppelg
‘ I don’t really feel anything … It’s just so unreal,” 21-year-old Phillips says after the season 11 finale on Wednesday. By Kelly Marino Phillip Phillips wins “American Idol” Photo: Fox/ Getty Images After a “world record” of 132 million votes, America has crowned guitar-strumming sweetheart Phillip Phillips as season 11’s “American Idol.” And although most viewers and critics expected him to win it all, Phillips himself seemed shocked that America chose him. When MTV News caught up with the 21-year-old Georgia native at a backstage press conference after the finale, he still seemed to be coming to terms with his recent win over 16-year-old Jessica Sanchez. Q: How do you feel? A: Uh, I’m feeling. I don’t know. I don’t really feel anything. It’s crazy. I’m still a little numb from the whole situation. It’s just so unreal. Q: Did you think you were going to win? A: Did I think I was going to win? No. Heck no. Did you see Jessica’s last performance? Golly. She sang the crap out of that song. Q: Is this surreal? Is this like a dream come true? A: Man, it’s so unreal. Like I said, it hasn’t sunk in yet and it’s just such a blessing to have and I’m kind of ready to try to comprehend it all. Q: Can you talk about your health? Will you get any surgery? A: Yeah, I’m gonna get some surgery done so I’m gonna get all better for the tour. Q: How were you able to overcome the pain you must have been in to get through this season and get all the way to the end? A: Yeah, it was very tough but I had great doctors and great people surrounding me so that really helped out. So, it’s just a blessing to be here now. Q: Can you talk about what happened onstage when you were performing “Home” tonight? A: Yeah, I wasn’t thinking about anything, not even the song. I wasn’t really wanting to sing or anything. And I just started thinking about the whole journey, how far all of us had come and how far we had made it and it was just so overwhelming. Q: When you auditioned did you think you would be standing where you are right now? A: Honestly man, I didn’t think I’d even make it to see the judges because, like I said, man, I have no shame in saying that I’m not a great singer. You know, I just love having fun up onstage jamming with the guys and just playing good music man. You know, I like getting the crowd into it. Music’s fun dude. It’s takes away a lot of things that’s going around. Q: Are you all cried out or do you think you might cry a little more? A: I might end up crying some more. I hate crying but I’ll probably cry some more. It feels good at times. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Finale Highlights Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Finale Red Carpet ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Finale Show
Kid Cudi tells MTV News watching himself on seven screens simultaneously during 30-minute film ‘was weird! But it was dope.’ By Alicia Malone Kanye West and Kim Kardashian attend the “Cruel Summer” premiere during the Cannes Film Festival Photo: Getty Images CANNES, France — Kanye West is nothing if not ambitious. The rapper/designer/mogul has added a few more slashes to his name, as producer, writer and director of the experimental short film “Cruel Summer,” which had its premiere during a splashy party Wednesday night during the Cannes Film Festival. The 30-minute short, inspired by West’s upcoming G.O.O.D. Music compilation of the same name, was projected onto seven screens inside a tented pyramid, designed to give viewers a fully immersive experience. “Cruel Summer” stars G.O.O.D. artist Kid Cudi as a car thief who falls for a blind Arabian princess. The seven screens alternately come on and off, sometimes showing different angles of one shot, other times acting as an extended wide screen, complete with a ceiling and floor. This means the audience looks around them at the images, instead of staring straight ahead, which, as Kanye explained in a speech, was to reflect real life. “It related to a post-Steve Jobs, post-Windows era, where we’re always on our BlackBerry in a ball game or at the movies,” West said. “I was very particular about having the screens separate, where your mind puts the screens back together, the way you put memories together. I’m not the best director in the world, but I had an idea that I thought would be amazing to inspire people, like a dream of one day this being the way people watch movies. You know, [Quentin] Tarantino doing a movie like this or a horror movie like this, animation, 3-D … in this form that surrounds you. People want to go back and see it more and more because they missed something to their left or to their right, and it feels more like the experience of life.” “Cruel Summer” plays like an extended music video, in a similar way to ‘Ye’s 2010 online film for “Runaway,” with sparse dialogue and striking slow-motion images set to a rocking soundtrack. The music is provided by various G.O.O.D. artists, many of whom make cameos in the film, and there’s a super quick appearance by comedian Aziz Ansari. Among the celebrity names attending the premiere party at the Palm Beach Club were Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian and Kid Cudi, who told MTV News the experience of watching himself on seven screens was surreal. “It was weird! But it was dope,” Cudi said. “I’m nervous, just like with anything I do, with people watching, but I’m really proud of it. I’m happy that Kanye had me as part of it. It’s so humbling. He’s a genius, he’s the best, the illest … you can quote me on that!” “Cruel Summer” was co-directed by Alexandre Moors, who previously worked with ‘Ye on the videos for “Runaway” and “N—as in Paris.” The script was based on a screenplay by Elon Rutberg, and it was shot entirely in Qatar in the Middle East. “We were literally shooting in Qatar less than a month ago,” West said. “It was the most impossible feat, all odds were against us having this moment, showing this at Cannes. The reason why I went so hard is that this is my goal. What I want to do post-Grammys is I want to change entertainment experiences. Like if [late fashion designer Alexander] McQueen or [director] Tarsem [Singh] was to meet the entertainment value of Cirque du Soleil or Walt Disney. We’re going to bring it to New York to Qatar and re-edit it … so you guys are seeing the rough draft of this concept.” Although the world premiere of “Cruel Summer” coincided with the Cannes Film Festival, it is not in competition or part of the official screenings. The film is now open to the public in Cannes until May 25. Related Artists Kanye West Kid Cudi
Frontrunner Phillips beats out 16-year-old Jessica Sanchez for the season 11 crown after a ‘world record’ of 132 million votes. By Adam Graham Phillip Phillips performs on the “American Idol” season 11 finale Photo: Getty Images The lights were dimmed, the votes were counted, and Phillip Phillips became the new “American Idol.” As expected, Phillips beat out Jessica Sanchez on Wednesday’s (May 23) Season 11 “Idol” finale, live at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre. Phillips topped Sanchez after a reported 132 million votes were cast — “a new world record,” according to host Ryan Seacrest. Phillips teared up while performing his winning song “Home,” while confetti rained down on the stage around him. The Leesburg, Georgia, native has been a cool cucumber all season long, but he broke down in the moment, just as he did during his hometown visit last week. Phillips didn’t finish the song, but strolled off stage and into the arms of his family, who were waiting in the first few rows. As streamers fell and the band played on the stage behind him, Phillips hugged his family members, and later judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. Phillips came out of Tuesday’s performance episode the heavy favorite to win it all and was celebrated by the judges for his “Home,” which was tailor made for his laid-back style. On the other hand, Sanchez’s would-be winning song, “Change Nothing,” was sloughed off by the judges and even Sanchez herself, who acknowledged the song wasn’t really in her wheelhouse, and said she’d aim to put more of herself in her future recordings. Heading into this season, the buzz was that a woman would win “Idol,” becoming the first female winner since Jordin Sparks in 2007. Four of this year’s top six contestants were female, but Phillips proved unbeatable in the stretch. Sanchez was an early favorite in the season, stepping out in front with her show-stopping rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” on the March 7 episode. But she hit her stumbling blocks along the way, and was voted out on the April 12 episode, and had to be saved by the judges to stay in the competition. Phillips was steady throughout the season. His name — that name! — made him an instant standout, and he played it cool all season long, never letting much of anything — including the season-long illness he battled — ruffle his fathers. (On Thursday’s show, he joked — he was joking, right? — that he got nine and a half to 10 hours of sleep the night before.) He was often criticized, and fairly so, for his similarities to Dave Matthews, but he came alive in the final two weeks, knocking out Bob Seger’s “We’ve Got Tonight” and his winning “Idol” song, “Home.” Wednesday’s finale packed the usual array of medleys, group performances and guest appearances. Stars on the roster included Rihanna (who hit the stage to perform “Where Have You Been”), Chaka Kahn (who joined the female finalists on “I’m Every Woman”), Neil Diamond (who did “Sweet Caroline” with the male contestants) and Reba McEntire (who sang “Turn on the Radio” with Skylar Laine). Josha Ledet sang Elton John’s “Take Me to the Pilot” alongside Fantasia Barrino, whom he introduced as “the biggest inspiration in my life” and who hit the stage in a wild, form-fitting catsuit and long hair, while another former “Idol” winner, Jordin Sparks, took the stage with Hollie Cavanagh on “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” John Fogerty teamed up with Phillips on the Creedence Clearwater Revival classics “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and “Bad Moon Rising,” and Jennifer Holliday teamed up with Sanchez on the “Dreamgirls” signature song “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” (Earlier, Sanchez hit the stage on her own to reprise her performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”) The “Idol” finalists — minus Phillips and Sanchez, who teamed up on Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes’ “Up Where We Belong” late in the show — opened the show with Bruno Mars’ “Runaway Baby,” and the male finalists paid tribute to the late Robin Gibb by running through a handful of Bee Gees classics, including “How Deep is Your Love,” “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” and “To Love Somebody.” The “Idol” judges got in on the action as well. Jennifer Lopez performed “Goin’ In” with Flo Rida and Lil Jon and “Follow the Leader” with Puerto Rican duo Wisin & Yandel, while Steven Tyler hit the stage with his Aerosmith cohorts to do their new single “Legendary Child” along with “Walk This Way.” The show also featured “Idol’s” first live wedding proposal, when fifth season finalist Ace Young proposed to third season runner-up Diana DeGarmo while the dramatic “Idol” suspense-building music played in the background. (DeGarmo accepted despite Young’s tacky jewelry store plug mid-proposal.) Phillips and Sanchez were also given new Ford automobiles for their efforts. Next up? After the finalists make the media rounds, the “American Idol” summer tour — featuring the season’s top 10 finalists — kicks off July 6 in Detroit. What did you think of the “Idol” finale? Let us know in the comments! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Finale Red Carpet
‘[Today] is the last episode of the season and I think we are just really relieved,’ finalist Jessica Sanchez says about Wednesday’s finale. By Kelly Marino Jessica Sanchez performs on the “American Idol” finale on May 22 Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images The end is finally upon us. On Wednesday night (May 23), someone will be showered in confetti and ultimately crowned the 11th “American Idol” after going head-to-head in last night’s final performances. Will Jessica Sanchez take home the title, finally becoming the first female contestant since Jordan Sparks in 2007 to win? Or will it be Phillip Phillips , whose stage presence is so similar to the last few years’ winners, apparently all he needs to do is make the ladies melt with that guitar and he’ll be a shoo-in for first place. Regardless, not a lot of people can say they stuck it out this long. “Of course we all want to win, but it gets to a point where nobody really makes it this far,” Sanchez, a.k.a. the tiny girl with the huge voice, said backstage Tuesday night. “I love that I’m with [Phillip] in the top two. It’s amazing. He’s goofy and he’s funny and he is an amazing artist and an amazing person overall.” And those feelings were mutual — in so many words or less. When asked what his favorite performance of the night was, the humble yet painfully bashful Phillips replied with that infamous smile, “Probably all three of Jessica’s.” According to the judges though, it was Phillip Phillip’s song choice of “Home” in the final round that stole the show, giving him the one and only standing ovation of the night — a moment that might not have happened had he not calmed his nerves earlier on. “I was scared to death,” the husky-voiced Georgia native explained after realizing he would be performing in front of more than 7,000 audience members inside the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. “But you know, I went out there and finally loosened up throughout ‘Stand by Me,’ and I just had fun the rest of the night. It was so, so fun.” And after three months of crazy schedules, lack of sleep, countless critiques, powerful (and some not so powerful) performances, it’s about time to have some fun and loosen up. With Tuesday night’s two-hour finale their last show of the season, both “Idol” hopefuls, who will take the stage singing duets with some of their favorite artists, agree it is a stress-free road from here on out. “We just feel like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders,” 16-year-old Sanchez admitted. “[Today] is the last episode of the season and I think we are just really relieved. We are going to miss each other so much. We are going to be on tour together, but I mean, this competition has taught us so much and it’s been really tiring too.” “We got to the point that whatever happens, happens,” Phillips, the only contestant never up for elimination, added. “We are two completely different artists and we wish each other the best with both of our careers.” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Performances
Our prayers are with this young lady. The woman in Georgia who has been battling a flesh eating bacteria deserves kudos for her bravery after learning she’ll have to have her hands and remaining foot amputated. According to RadarOnline reports : The Georgia girl whose body is being ravaged by a flesh-eating bacteria bravely gave the OK when her parents broke the news to her that she would have to lose her hands and right foot. Aimee Copeland, 24, of Snellville, Georgia, is now awake and alert but remains in critical condition battling the hideous infection, after falling from a home-made zip line into infected water near the Little Tallapoosa River on May 1. She suffered a deep gash in her calf and despite it being cleaned and closed with 22 staples, a bacteria burrowed deep into the wound and caused necrotizing fasciitis, forcing surgeons to amputate her left leg. Copeland’s parents told her Thursday that the doctors want to remove her hands and remaining foot, reported the Atlanta Journal Constitution and the brave student replied that she was a “little confused but would figure it out.” “She smiled and raised her hands up, carefully examining them,” father Andy Copeland wrote on his Facebook page on Friday. “She then looked at us. We all understood her next three words… ‘Let’s do this.’” Aimee’s dad explained how they had come to expect the inevitable after watching the startling transformation in her hands over the past few days. “They went from a splotchy purple color to a red tone and then to a pinkish flesh tone… back to an angry red,” he wrote. “The doctor explained that her body was trying hard to heal her hands, but the blood flow was too poor.” Andy said he was blown away by the strength of his daughter when he explained to her, “Aimee, these hands are not healthy, they are hampering your progress. “I have never seen such a strong display of courage,” he revealed. “Aimee shed no tears, she never batted an eyelash. I was crying because I am a proud father of an incredibly courageous young lady.” The bacteria that triggered the infection destroying the University of West Georgia Psychology student’s body, Aeromonas hydrophila, thrives in warm climates and fresh water. While common, the germ rarely causes flesh-eating disease. But when it does, the infection carries a fatality rate upward of 60 percent, according to a 2010 report published in the Journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews.
Chris Lambton and Peyton Wright went looking for love on The Bachelorette and The Bachelor, respectively, only to find it years later with each other. The couple got married Saturday! Peyton and Chris, who got engaged last year, tied the knot at Wild Dunes Resort in Charleston, S.C. The bride wore a gown by Melissa Sweet. Their I-dos provide a happy ending for a courtship that started when a mutual Bachelor friend introduced the pair, who came up short on reality TV. Not that the show didn’t provide them other opportunities – in love and work. The landscaper from Massachusetts and his Dallas-born bride will star in Going Yard , premiering May 12 on HGTV. Chris Lambton and Peyton Wright be traveling the U.S. designing and decorating outdoor living spaces. Among Lambton’s fellow Bachelorette alums invited to the nuptials were Craig Robinson, Tyler Vermette and even Roberto Martinez, whom Ali Fedotowsky got engaged to on the finale of her season, spurning Chris. Let bygones be bygones, right? Congratulations, Chris and Peyton! NOTE : For the scoop on the new season, starring Emily Maynard, check out our page compiling the The Bachelorette spoilers , news and more.
Amanda Bynes was involved in another hit and run in Hollywood this weekend, but at least she apparently hit some random guy and not a cop. A man claims he was sideswiped by a Range Rover trying to pass him on the right in L.A., and when the SUV didn’t stop, he called the police. He also began to follow the SUV himself, and when he finally caught up to the Range Rover, sources say the driver was none other than Bynes. The star told police she had no idea she had struck another vehicle, which is plausible, as police say damage to her car was quite minimal. Law enforcement sources tell us Amanda was very cooperative with police and that they had her exchange information with the other driver. She was not given a citation for the incident and cops will not be investigating the case any further … beyond the usual insurance rigamarole. Bynes was arrested for DUI last month after she clipped a police car, and has basically continued crashing and partying in the 2-3 weeks since. [Photo: WENN.com]
