Ola Ray, the girl who played Michael Jackson’s date in the famed “Thriller” music video (below), has settled her lawsuit over payment for her role. Three years after filing suit, and 29 years after starring in it. Ray sued MJ and his production company in May 2009, the month before Jackson died, claiming she was owed royalties from the 1983 smash. Michael Jackson – Thriller The video was perhaps Jackson’s biggest career highlight. The former Playboy Playmate sued Jackson for breach of contract, insisting that she was still owed a massive share of “Thriller” profits . Terms were not disclosed, but the out-of-court settlement implies Ray was paid in some way, rather than the court tossing her complaint. “Thriller” video director John Landis has filed a similar lawsuit against MJ Estate, with both sides still trying to negotiate a settlement.
Just a few days shy of turning 46-years-old Janet Jackson was spotting looking better than most of these young bangers on the come up. We love that jacket. The singer/actress was spotted at an Upper East Side art gallery event in New York. We’ve seen more makeup on 20-year-olds. We know Janet has “had some work” in the past, but do you think she is hitting that needle (Botox)? PacificCoastNews/WENN
Judge Randy Jackson says Cavanagh ‘made the wrong choice at the wrong time’ on Wednesday’s episode. By Adam Graham Hollie Cavanagh on “American Idol” Photo: Michael Becker/ Fox It’s Joshua Ledet’s Ledet’s Ledet’s World. The “American Idol” frontrunner soared higher than ever while Hollie Cavanagh may have sealed her fate on Wednesday’s (May 9) performance episode, which saw the contestants battling for the hometown visits that await the top three finalists. The evening saw the final four taking on two songs apiece — one with ties to the state of California and one song the contestants wished they’d written themselves. (The categories were some of the loosest in “Idol” history, but hey, they can’t all be winners.) Joshua Ledet stepped out with Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up” (his California song — Grobes hails from L.A.) and James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” the latter of which earned Ledet his latest in a long line of standing ovations and had the judges singing his praises, saying Ledet was second coming of the Godfather of Soul himself. “Neither a man nor a woman has ever sang that good with that much compassion on this show ever!” Steven Tyler said following the performance. “I can go home right now. I never heard anything like that in my life!” Jennifer Lopez said, “I think people at home maybe thought, like I did, that they had seen everything you had to give and how you can interpret a song. We hadn’t.” She then started speaking in Spanish. “You’re making me speak different languages now!” she said, calling his song “sickening.” Randy Jackson put the cherry on top, calling it “one of the best performances in the history of any singing show, including ours, any show, any show, yo!” Yo indeed, Randy. Jessica Sanchez was no slouch herself, turning in a “crazy, crazy, crazy” (per J. Lo) rendition of Etta James’ “Steal Away,” washing it down with a stunning “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” the “Dreamgirls” staple that she delivered with the fierceness of Jennifer Hudson. The performance earned her the night’s other standing O from the judges. “It was a real moment,” Lopez told her, while Jackson complimented her by telling her, “Dude, you are phenomenal.” (It’s always extra special when Jackson refers to females as “dudes.”) Phillip Phillips, who’s been living in his own personal version of “Contagion” all season long, managed to fight his sickness enough to deliver a strong version of John Fogerty’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” (making two Fogerty songs in two weeks for “Idol”) and a splendid version of Damien Rice’s “Volcano.” Continuing with the hyperbole that has been tossed around like a Frisbee on the judge’s panel the last several weeks, Lopez said after “Volcano,” “After watching the show for many, many years and now being here for two years, it was one of the most beautiful, poignant moments a contestant has ever had.” Jackson followed by saying, “So yo, that’s wassup right there!” and calling it one of the best performances of the season. Poor Hollie Cavanagh, who has barely avoided elimination the last few weeks, may have met her end following her versions of Journey’s “Faithfully” and Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Her first song received good marks — both J. Lo and Steven Tyler called it “beautiful” (but when don’t they say that?) — but her Raitt song was slammed for being distant. “I thought it fell a little short,” said Tyler, and Lopez said the emotions of the song — or the emotions she thought she had to deliver with the song — got the better of her. Jackson was even harsher. “It gave you nowhere to go,” he said. “There were no moments for me. For me, it was the wrong choice at the wrong time.” The two-hour episode was padded with bonus performances, including duets between Phillips and Ledet (Maroon 5’s “This Love”), Cavanagh and Sanchez (the Bangles’ “Eternal Flame”) and a performance of Foreigner’s “Waiting for a Girl Like You” tied to the upcoming “Rock of Ages,” which gobbled up a healthy amount of promotional time during the show. One of the four singers will be eliminated on Thursday’s episode, which is also set to feature performances by David Cook and — hey, would you look at that? — Jennifer Lopez. How’d she manage that gig? Who do you think is getting eliminated from “Idol” on Thursday? 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 Performances
Uh oh Jackson… Ball so hard! Charlize Theron Travels With Adopted Son Jackson In Paris Look at the handsome little guy Charlize Theron recently adopted. How precious is he??? Looks like they are really bonding. Pacific Coast News
Departed artists like Whitney Houston, Queen’s Freddie Mercury and John Lennon also get mentions from fans in Times Square. By Kate Callahan Michael Jackson Photo: Sony Music Entertainment NEW YORK — After the Tupac hologram performance at Coachella made such a huge splash, the team behind the projection system floated the possibility this week of an Elvis hologram to perform with Justin Bieber . Even ’90s girl group TLC is rumored to be considering a virtual version of the late Left Eye on their upcoming tour. With all that talk, MTV News hit Times Square to ask fans which departed artists they would most like to see perform in hologram form. While some of those interviewed wanted to see other rappers like the Notorious B.I.G. or Nate Dogg, one fan thought Whitney Houston should get the honors. “I love her, I grew up singing her [songs], just walking around the house when I was seven or eight,” Shayana of Houston said. Brits Amy Winehouse and John Lennon of the Beatles were also popular picks, and a few rock fans mentioned Queen’s flamboyant frontman. “It would have to be Freddie Mercury because Queen were one of the all-time greatest bands and he was a showman,” said a fan named Rob. Blane Mader would like to see a hologram of another great showman, Michael Jackson . “It’s a really clich
New Kids on the Block, One Direction, the Wanted and more advance to second round — voting is open now! By Christina Garibaldi Backstreet Boys at the 1999 VMAs Photo: Getty Images It was a highly unpredictable first round of MTV’s Battle of the Boy Bands , with perceived favorites Backstreet Boys and ‘NSYNC out of the competition. Irish boy band Westlife ousted BSB, and British group 5ive took out ‘NSYNC by an extremely thin margin. Many other matchups went down to the wire, including New Kids on the Block, who narrowly avoided an upset by Take That. O-Town received a late rally from their fans, giving them the edge over the Jackson 5. New boy bands like One Direction, the Wanted and Big Time Rush will move on to the next round, but, as you can see, it seems as if no one is safe. So who remains in the competition? Let’s take a look at the next round of matchups! Midwest Westlife vs. O-Town : Westlife proved to be a real contender in this competition after beating the Backstreet Boys in round one. The group — which is about to kick off a farewell tour in May — seems to have a die-hard fanbase that may prove tough for O-Town to overcome. But don’t count them out just yet: They also had a tough first-round matchup in the Jackson 5, and fans may still be hoping for a reunion from these guys, since last year, four of the five original members announced they wanted to get back together. The Beatles vs. New Kids on the Block : NKOTB barely made it through to the second round and now have to face an even tougher competitor: The Beatles. The New Kids had much of their success in the late’80s and early ’90s and have sold 80 million records worldwide. Pretty impressive, but the Beatles are known as the original boy band and are the best-selling band in history. Let’s hope NKOTB are “Hangin’ Tough.” East Jonas Brothers vs. Hanson : It’s not only a battle of the boy bands; it’s a battle of the brothers! Hanson and the Jonas Brothers will face off in a touch matchup in the next round. Both groups, consisting of three brothers, are known for their infectious pop hits and the fact that they all play their own instruments. Hanson received massive success in the mid- to late ’90s with single “MMMBop,” which hit #1 in 27 countries. After marriages, babies and several albums, the group is very much still together and will be touring this summer. With four LPs in just as many years, the Jonas Brothers have sold 8 million albums worldwide and became a household name after starring in two Disney Channel movies, “Camp Rock” and “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.” The guys took a break to work on solo projects but have been working on a follow-up to their 2009 album, Lines, Vines and Trying Times. LFO vs. 5ive : Both of these boy bands barely edged out their competition, which should make for an interesting second-round matchup. 5ive found success overseas with 11 top 10 singles and four top 10 albums in the U.K. before they called it quits in 2001, and LFO became popular in the U.S. during the wave of late-’90s boy bands and had two top 10 hits, including “Summer Girls.” This one may go down to the wire again with both groups having very loyal fanbases. West The Wanted vs. the Monkees : British boy band, the Wanted have certainly gained momentum here in the States over the past few months. The group released a much-anticipated U.S. EP earlier this week and premiered the “Chasing the Sun” video on “MTV First: The Wanted.” They will have to see if this energy can carry them through when they face off against the Monkees. The group enjoyed success in the mid-’60s with their hit television show and songs like “I’m a Believer” and experienced a revival in the mid-’80s with a performance at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards. The band continued to tour off and on until 2011 but lost member Davy Jones earlier this year when he died of a severe heart attack. Big Time Rush vs. Boyz II Men : Both of these groups easily made it past their first-round competition, but it will most likely be a closer matchup in round two. Big Time Rush may have a younger audience voting for them, since they gained success with their hit Nickelodeon television show. Boyz II Men, on the other hand, have longevity on their side, being that they are the most successful R&B group of all time. South One Direction vs. IM5: Even though both of these boy bands are relatively new to the music scene, it seems they already have a lot in common. One Direction were assembled by Simon Cowell on the U.K. version of “The X Factor,” and IM5 were recently created by “American Idol” creator Simon Fuller, Perez Hilton and creative director and choreographer Jamie King. NKOTBSB vs. Mindless Behavior : With the Backstreet Boys out of the competition, BSB fans can still vote for NKOTBSB. The New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys supergroup released a compilation album in 2011 consisting of each of their hit songs and two joint singles including “Don’t Turn Out the Lights.” The group is overseas on the European leg of their tour. But don’t ignore the power behind the fans of Mindless Behavior. The group, which has actually toured with the Backstreet Boys, just released the single “Hello” in March. Voting in round two of MTV’s Battle of the Boy Bands runs until noon ET on Monday, April 30. Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite band made the cut, make sure you keep voting. Tune in to AMTV and MTV Hits for their boy-band video takeovers each day and make sure to spread the word on Twitter using the hashtag #BBB and like us on Facebook for updates! Vote for your favorite band, discuss and share on Facebook and Twitter in the MTV Battle of the Boy Bands interactive bracket! Related Videos Battle Of The Boy Bands Related Artists Backstreet Boys *NSYNC New Kids on the Block One Direction The Wanted
In the wake of Jessica Sanchez’s near-exit, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler say season 11 is anyone’s to win. By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kelly Marino Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler Photo: MTV News After “American Idol” voters tried their hardest to send presumptive front-runner Jessica Sanchez packing on Thursday night’s shocking results show — only to have their plan foiled by the judges, who promptly used their save to keep her in the competition — the deck has been re-shuffled, and it appears that this season really is anyone’s to win. Following Sanchez’s near-exit, two of those “Idol” judges spoke to MTV News, and they weren’t shy about letting their opinions be known. Simply put, they were as surprised as everyone to hear Sanchez’s name called. “I think [America] thought she was safe,” Randy Jackson said of Sanchez. “I think they thought she was safe … and I think they thought [fellow bottom-three dweller] Joshua [Ledet] was safe, because those two alone … have been the most consistent. So, you know, yeah, I think they just forgot.” “There’s just so many different singers out there. That’s why it’s hard for me now,” Steven Tyler added. “I like to let America judge. Tonight they were wrong.” More than likely, they were. But the inclusion of Sanchez in the bottom three raises a larger question about the show: Is it possible for anyone other than a guy to actually win anymore? The previous four champions — David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze and Scotty McCreery — have all been proud possessors of the Y chromosome, and a male contestant has won in five of the previous six seasons. (Jordin Sparks was the last female to be crowned champion, way back in 2007.) And now, with Thursday night’s shake-up — and the rise of Colton Dixon and Phillip Phillips — it appears that history may repeat itself once again. Not surprisingly, though, neither Jackson nor Tyler seems to see it that way. “I don’t know, it’s a toss-up right now,” Jackson said. “I think it’ll be a person. ” “You gotta wait and see,” Tyler added. Of course, Jackson was also quick to admit that both Dixon and Phillips are strong contenders for the season 11 crown (which is probably why “Idol” mentor Jimmy Iovine spent so much time this week trying to pit them against each other ), and he saved a particular bit of praise for Phillips and his, uh, unique approach to the competition. “He’s his own guy, that’s what I love about him. He’s an individual, Steven’s an individual; that’s what a real artist is made of,” Jackson said. “An artist is not usually a follower; you want to be your own person. So I love that about him. I don’t know if it’s going to hurt him, but somebody’s gotta go every week now. It’s gonna be rough.” 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
California rock quintet reflect on their rise to fame, from little league soccer to a sold-out tour. By Rya Backer Rya Backer with Young the Giant Photo: MTV News Spend any time with Young the Giant and you’ll quickly learn that the quintet from Irvine, California, offers more than just rock music. Not to say that their music is something to be brushed off: Their choruses are anthemic, drums stomping, and guitar and bass intricate and commanding. It all results in a sound that music critics would describe as “sweeping,” “lush,” or more simply “whole” — with every band member getting their fair share of shine. On my First Date with Young the Giant to one of my old college haunts, the Pizza Box in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, it became clear that the reason they treat each other so fairly is simple: They’re best friends. They’ve spent nearly every day of the past five years together — yes, that does include living together. And even before they were Young the Giant, most of them were childhood friends. (Lead singer Sameer Gadhia and Payam Doostzadeh met playing little-league soccer.) Their years of work seemed to have paid off nicely. There’s their 2011 VMA performance , a sold-out tour, and a cushy bus for them to get from show to show in. But Doostzadeh (full disclosure: my fellow Persian) has a much more humble approach to gauging when he and his friends first “made it.” “Making it was the fact that we’re now on a tour, that we have a crew,” he explained, referencing their past ventures that were a lot more hands-on. “So we don’t have to load in and load out our gear.” After looking back on the past five years together ( always together), where do the guys see themselves in five years? “I don’t think any of us have a plan. … I don’t think we even know what’s gonna happen in the next year. That’s what makes it exciting for us,” stated Gadhia. We’ll at least assume they’ll have all gotten their own places by then. Related Videos MTV News First Date Related Artists Young The Giant
Joshua Ledet, Jessica Sanchez and Skylar Laine shine during the top eight’s trip back in time. By Adam Graham Joshua Ledet and Jessica Sanchez on “American Idol” Photo: Fox The “American Idol” top eight traveled back to the ’80s on Wednesday (April 4), and were helped along the way by guest mentors Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal. Each contestant took the stage twice — once for a solo and once for a duet with a fellow contestant. The trip back in time paid off big for Skylar Laine, who made a huge surge forward in the competition. Laine said that after winding up in the bottom three last week, she was hesitant to return with another upbeat song, so she bagged doing Dolly Parton’s “Nine to Five” in favor of Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings.” The gamble paid off: Laine received a standing ovation from the judges, and cameras caught Lopez mouthing, “That was so beautiful!” as the song was ending. “You know what you just said to America with that performance? Do not count me out,” Lopez told her. “You just told ’em you could sing with the best of everybody who’s here, and you can. Amazing!” Jackson called it Laine’s “best performance on the show to date” and Tyler called it “the beginning of a great career.” Laine received one of three standing ovations Wednesday; the other two belonged to Joshua Ledet. He earned the evening’s first standing O with his version of “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” and later earned the second for his duet of George Michael and Aretha Franklin’s “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” with Jessica Sanchez. His take on Simply Red’s 1989 hit — a cover of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ 1972 original — had Lopez gushing, “Lord, lord, lordy lordy lordy, it was spectacular!” while Jackson raved, “I wanted to stand up from beginning to end!” Tyler’s judgment was positive but wrapped in mystery; “It wasn’t too much over-the-top, and it was way over-the-top, so it was just perfect,” he said. (Say what?) On her own, Sanchez — or was it her alter ego, “BB Chez”? — revisited the songbook of Whitney Houston, which originally brought her frontrunner status back when she knocked “I Will Always Love You” out of the park. This time she took on Houston’s 1985 #1 smash “How Will I Know,” earning another set of raves from the judges in the process. “Your vocals just make everything go away for me,” Lopez told her, while Tyler said, “Everything you do is beautiful, everything you do is great.” Jackson dubbed her one of the evening’s “gotta have it” performers, the term he was using for the evening for performers with the most gusto. DeAndre Brackensick got positive remarks for his version of DeBarge’s “I Like It,” which he started out singing in the crowd before making his way up to the stage. The judges called it “natural” (Lopez) and “captivating” (Tyler), with Jackson calling it “amazing” and comparing Brackensick to a 2012 version of DeBarge. “It was one of my best performances from you,” he told him. Phillip Phillips was called “great” by all three judges for his version of Genesis’ “That’s All,” which he performed alongside his brother on guitar. “You’re just a wildflower, aren’t you?” Tyler told him. “You just love being who you are, and that transcends.” (Coherence, you see, isn’t exactly Tyler’s strong suit these days.) Colton Dixon’s version of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” was lifted mostly from Quietdrive’s cover of the song, which Dixon copped to at the end of the performance. It didn’t matter: He scored with the judges. “You could do a record right now,” Tyler told him, while Jackson told him he made it his own and celebrated him for being “current.” The song’s drummer also earned a fair amount of praise for his performance on the song. Elise Testone, who had scored big in recent weeks after a decidedly rocky start, suffered a setback with her lackluster version of Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is,” which never quite found its footing. While Lopez gave it a qualified “really great,” Tyler said it wasn’t the right song for her and Jackson said she was pitchy throughout and “out of tune everywhere for me.” But the evening’s most poorly received performance came from Hollie Cavanagh. Not only did the 18-year-old Texan get slammed by the judges for her version of the “Flashdance” theme “What a Feeling,” but something strange happened while she was being critiqued: The “Idol” audience, which usually boos at the first hint of criticism, was dead silent throughout the process. It was the most quiet an “Idol” crowd has been all season, and it was almost disconcerting to watch. “Your pitch was all over the place, I’m sorry to tell you,” Tyler told her, silence filling the studio, while both Jackson and Lopez told her she needs to stop listening to her advisers and feel the songs. But of any feelings gathered on the show, it feels like the fate of Cavanagh — who landed in the bottom two last week — could be sealed. What did you think of “Idol” on Wednesday? 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 Top 13 Contestants
