Underrated R&B singer Amerie has been hard at work on her fifth studio album entitled Cymatica Vol. 1 and enjoying her marriage. She stepped out to celebrate with Ne-Yo at his pre-Grammy party in L.A. this past weekend. Amerie also debuted a new shorter hairstyle. What do you think of Amerie’s new look? Do you prefer with long or short hair? RELATED POSTS: VIDEO: Amerie’s “More Than Love” F/ Fabolous Should Singers Romance Their Managers? [OPINION] GALLERY: Amerie’s Sexy Honey Mag Shoot
The 21 track will hit radio in March. By Jocelyn Vena Adele Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic Riding off the success of her six Grammy wins, Adele plans to release “Rumour Has It,” her fourth 21 single. The song’s producer and co-writer, Ryan Tedder, confirmed the news to Billboard.com on the red carpet at Sunday’s show. “I found out three days ago that I have the next single,” he said about the song, which will follow the massively successful singles “Rolling in the Deep,” “Set Fire to the Rain” and “Someone Like You.” He added, “I’m very excited about it.” The song will hit pop, adult pop and adult contemporary radio in mid-March, Adele’s label confirmed. And although that will mark the song’s official release, it had seen some radio play on adult alternative radio. It was also featured on “Glee” in December, which gave it a boost on the Billboard charts. “I’m just excited that somebody as raw and real as that has cut through at radio and cut through at culture,” Tedder said. “I’ve never seen anything like it, I feel honored to be involved with it.” News of the single comes just as Adele returned to the spotlight with a triumphant performance at the 2012 Grammy Awards , where she took the stage for the first time since throat surgery in a November. The singer performed her chart-topping track “Rolling in the Deep.” Adele also graces the March cover of Vogue, in which she reveals that while she’s focused much of her songwriting on heartbreak, her next album may touch on other subjects. “Come on! I’m wifey material! I’m great. No one’s got to be brave. It’s not like, ‘You f— me over and I’m going to write a record and make you the most hated man in the world.’ I am never writing a breakup record again, by the way,” she said. “I’m done with being a bitter witch.” Stick with MTV News all for all the Grammy red-carpet fashion , Grammy winners and Grammy and get your daily fashion fix from the editors at MTV Style. Related Photos 2012 Grammy Awards: Press Room Related Artists Adele
While the cause of her death is still unclear, details emerge about how the pop legend spent her last few days. By Gil Kaufman Whitney Houston and Kelly Price perform in Los Angeles last Thursday Photo: Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic The circumstances behind Whitney Houston ‘s death are still murky, but details about the legendary singer’s final 72 hours provide a conflicting view of how she spent her last days. Houston died on Saturday at the age of 48, with the most recent reports suggesting that she may have succumbed to a combination of prescription drugs and alcohol , and not as a result of drowning in her hotel bathtub as initially thought. Houston had kept a relatively low profile recently, emerging sporadically in late 2011 to promote her role in the upcoming film, “Sparkle,” in which she plays singer Jordin Sparks’ mother. The remake of a 1976 film about talented young musicians struggling with addiction — a story Houston was sadly familiar with in her own life — is slated for release in August. It was Houston’s first major film role in 16 years and was to be a precursor to her expected role in “Waiting to Exhale 2.” As investigators try to piece together what killed the singer, a clearer picture is emerging of how Houston spent her final days. February 7 : According to TMZ , Houston paid the second of two recent visits to a Beverly Hills doctor, though it has not yet been determined what kind of physician she saw. February 9 : Houston dropped in on a pre-Grammys party in support of her old friend and R&B singer Kelly Price , who told MTV News her old pal seemed just fine. “We were talking about the kids, she was telling me how proud of me she was for doing this record, doing it independently … and singing the truth,” said Price, dismissing rumors that Whitney was partying heavily that night. “I was still at my hotel getting my hair curled and they called me and said, ‘Whitney’s there!’ She beat me to my own party,” said Price, who performed a gospel duet with Houston that night in what turned out to be Whitney’s final stage appearance . “She strolled down the red carpet, she smiled, she interviewed. She went down to the VIP area and she waited for me. … My friend has had some troubles and challenges down throughout the years, but you have to judge a moment by the moment. You can’t just automatically assume that something else happened. … She was happy that night.” February 10 : Though she had no official appearances on the day before her death, witnesses told TMZ that the singer had “partied heavily” with friends at the Beverly Hilton Hotel that night. The boisterous group reportedly drew stares at the hotel bar packed with other Grammy revelers. The site also claimed that Bobbi Kristina, Houston’s 18-year-old daughter with Bobby Brown, allegedly fell asleep in a bathtub in the same hotel less than 24 hours before her mother’s demise. February 11 : Hours before she was reportedly scheduled to attend mentor Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy bash, news broke that Houston was found dead in the bathtub of her Beverly Hilton Hotel room by members of her staff. CPR was attempted and did not work, and the 48-year-old singer was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. Police found no evidence of foul play and are currently awaiting toxicology reports. February 12 : LL Cool J leads a night of tributes to Houston at the 54th annual Grammy Awards, culminating in a stirring rendition of Whitney’s signature cover song, “I Will Always Love You,” by Jennifer Hudson . February 13 : posts a report containing photos of what they claim are the room-service trays ordered by Houston just before her death. They show several meals, as well as a Heineken can and an empty champagne glass, which suggests that she may have had several drinks on top of whatever prescription drugs she ingested before getting into the bathtub. (There is no proof, though, from the pictures that Houston alone consumed the drinks.) Share your condolences with Whitney’s family and friends on our Facebook page. Related Videos Whitney Houston: Life And Music Of An Icon Related Photos Whitney Houston: A Life In Photos Related Artists Whitney Houston
Preliminary ratings put Sunday’s show as second highest-rated Grammys ever. By Gil Kaufman Jennifer Hudson performs a tribute to Whitney Houston at the Grammys on Sunday Photo: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Sunday night’s 54th annual Grammy Awards were a ratings smash thanks to the televised return of the night’s big winner, Adele , as well as a thrilling tribute to Whitney Houston by singer Jennifer Hudson . In fact, the performance-packed three-and-a-half broadcast scored the second-highest rating in history for the show, second only to the 1984 eight-trophy coronation of Michael Jackson for his landmark Thriller album. According to preliminary ratings from Nielsen that combine live viewing with DVR figures, 39.9 million viewers tuned in to the show, putting the telecast behind the 51.67 million who watched the 1984 program. The dramatic ratings uptick followed two years in which the numbers were clustered in the 25 million to 26 million range after what Billboard reported were five years of low-20-million numbers. The show boasted a 14.1 rating among adults 18-49, a 41 percent increase in that demo over last year and the best ratings returns since 1990. Those viewers were rewarded with a diverse roster of performers that ranged from rock icon Paul McCartney performing twice, to the Foo Fighters , a tribute to electronic dance music , Taylor Swift , Nicki Minaj , Chris Brown and Rihanna . The night’s emotional highlight was a stirring tribute to Houston — who died Saturday at the age of 48 — by Hudson, who performed Whitney’s most iconic song, a cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” The other major buzz moment was the return to the stage of Adele, who sang at a major industry event for the first time on Sunday after career-saving vocal-cord surgery last November. Stick with MTV News all for all the Grammy red-carpet fashion , Grammy winners and performance recaps until the hangover wears off! Related Videos 2012 Grammy Awards Show Highlights Related Photos 2012 Grammy Awards: Press Room Related Artists Adele Jennifer Hudson Whitney Houston
Bobbi Kristina was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles twice after hearing news of her mother Whitney Houston’s death. She has been released from the hospital and TMZ reports that her father, Bobby Brown, has abandoned his New Edition concert in Nashville to be by her side! Bobby was swarmed by media at LAX airport when he landed in Los Angeles but he didn’t respond to any questions and was quickly ushered into a waiting vehicle. RELATED: Jennifer Hudson Sings Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” At Grammys [VIDEO] New Edition On Whitney Houston’s Death: “We Are Shocked And Saddened” Bobby Declares Love For Whitney On Stage [VIDEO] Whitney Houston Found Underwater In Bathtub [UPDATE] Whitney Houston’s Last Interview [VIDEO] Whitney Houston Dead At 48 [BREAKING NEWS]
Adele, Jennifer Hudson, LL Cool J nail it, while Nicki Minaj stumbles. By Gil Kaufman Adele wins at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards Photo: Robyn Beck/ AFP/ Getty Images Any way you cut it, Sunday night’s Grammys were huge for Adele , the Foo Fighters and Kanye West . All three artists came away with an armload of golden gramophones at a ceremony that artfully managed to celebrate the vibrancy of contemporary music while finding just the right way to pay tribute to fallen diva Whitney Houston . Adele swept the night’s major categories , taking Song, Record and Album of the Year on the way to putting a check beside all six of her nominations, with the Foos just behind with five wins and an absent Kanye nabbing four. But who really stole the spotlight at the show and who managed to win without nabbing any hardware? Let’s take a look at the true winners and losers at the ceremony. Winner: LL Cool J Not only did Uncle L get some serious prime-time exposure and represent for hip-hop on music’s biggest night, but he opened the show with a thoughtful, perfectly measured prayer for Houston that set the tone for the entire evening. Winner: Jennifer Hudson Note to any singer thinking about tackling “I Will Always Love You” ever again: Don’t bother. Hudson ‘s spine-tingling, perfectly pitched tribute to Whitney was a show-stopping cover of the trickiest, biggest song in the late singer’s repertoire that nearly stole the night. It was made all the more dramatic by the feeling that avowed superfan Hudson was legitimately on the verge of tears throughout the performance. Loser: Nicki Minaj Though it had plenty of energy, Nicki’s confusing, all-over-the-place “Exorcist”-meets-sexy-gothic/horror religious allegory was Grammy night’s most polarizing performance . Parts of “Roman’s Holiday” felt ripped right from the Madonna and Lady Gaga handbook of outrage — fitting, since Gaga’s former right-hand woman/choreographer, Laurieann Gibson, was Nicki’s collaborator — but some hip-hop purists felt she was reaching for the pop brass ring too hard. Loser: Anyone who thought they were going to win a major award As if there had been any question going into the night who would take the three biggies, it became clear, despite some tough competition from Best New Artist Bon Iver, Bruno Mars, the Foo Fighters, Gaga and Kanye, that this would be Adele’s night. Winner: Adele See above. Her comeback performance and well-deserved win were a shot in the arm to the recording industry and a win for the Academy for recognizing new talent. Winner: Foo Fighters The nice-guy Grammy-bait band had a big night and two high-energy performances that cemented their status as their generation’s most consistent, hard-working rock act. Plus, they pulled off that mashup with deadmau5 while totally keeping their dignity intact. Winner: EDM/Skrillex As if the millions of rave-happy kids across the planet needed the validation, Sunday night was the global coming-out party for the electronic dance music genre. Skrillex nabbed three awards , and the tribute segment featuring deadmau5 and David Guetta was one of the night’s most unexpected surprises. Loser: Lady Gaga Used to being the center of attention, Gaga kept her seat all night as she tried to look comfortable in a netted mask, metallic outfit and oversized golden cane. Winner: Chris Brown Making his return to the show three years after he scratched following his assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna , > link type=”content” id=”1679084″> Brown commanded the stage with an acrobatic performance. More importantly, while accepting the Best R&B Album award for F.A.M.E., he kept it brief and thanked the two constituencies that paved his road to redemption: his fans and the Recording Academy. Stick with MTV News all for all the Grammy red-carpet fashion , Grammy winners and performance recaps until the hangover wears off! Related Videos 2012 Grammy Awards Show Highlights 2012 Grammy Awards Red Carpet Highlights Grammys 2012: Experts React! Related Photos 2012 Grammy Awards: Backstage And Audience 2012 Grammy Awards: Main Show Related Artists Adele LL Cool J Jennifer Hudson Nicki Minaj
Whitney Houston’s family was told by L.A. County Coroner officials the singer did not die from drowning, but rather from what appears to be a combination of Xanax and other prescription drugs mixed with alcohol, reports TMZ . TMZ also reported that water was found in Whitney’s lungs, but it was not enough water to lead to the conclusion that she drowned. TMZ reports that the family was told Whitney may have died before her head was submerged in water. The site also reported that it was actually Whitney’s aunt, Mary Jones, who discovered Whitney’s body in the bathtub. Initial reports suggested Whitney’s body would be flown back to Atlanta, where she lived for several years with Bobby Brown and daughter Bobbi Kristina, but CNN is now reporting that Whitney’s mother, Cissy Houston, wants Whitney’s body flown to New Jersey, where Whitney was born. RELATED: Bobbi Kristina Released From Hospital As Bobby Brown Arrives In L.A. Jennifer Hudson Sings Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” At Grammys [VIDEO] New Edition On Whitney Houston’s Death: “We Are Shocked And Saddened” Bobby Declares Love For Whitney On Stage [VIDEO] Whitney Houston Found Underwater In Bathtub [UPDATE] Whitney Houston’s Last Interview [VIDEO] Whitney Houston Dead At 48 [BREAKING NEWS]
Houston’s talents were ‘undeniable and vast,’ actress Angela Bassett says in statement. By Kevin P. Sullivan Angela Bassett, Whitney Houston, Lela Rochon and Loretta Devine in “Waiting to Exhale” Photo: 20th Century Fox In the days since her tragic death, there has been an outpouring for Whitney Houston from the music industry, but those who worked with Houston on feature films have also spoken out about her passing. Houston starred in 1995’s “Waiting to Exhale” alongside Angela Bassett , Loretta Devine and Lela Rochon . The film, directed by Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker, was based on Terry McMillan’s book and marked Houston’s second starring role in a film after Bassett, Devine and McMillan spoke publicly about Houston’s death, each expressing their deep sadness at the loss. “I am so thankful to have been enveloped by the warmth of Whitney’s great talents. They were undeniable and vast,” Bassett said in a statement. “Whatever her burdens, she has at last laid them down and picked up instead a crown. For truly, she was and will ever be for us — who were so captivated by her strengths — unparalleled.” Both Devine and McMillan referenced the developing sequel the group was to collaborate on, “Getting to Happy,” in their comments about Houston’s death. McMillan, however, insisted over Twitter that now was not the time to talk about the status of the sequel. “I am not thinking about the damn movie,” she said. “So please, don’t ask.” The author said that she had been afraid this would happen and stated, “I’m sad, hurt and angry. Because I did not want to see her leave us. Period.” Houston’s “Waiting to Exhale” co-star Devine worked with the singer on several occasion and had expressed hope about working together again. “I am overwhelmed. I cannot wrap my mind around this. I missed the chance to see her at a party this past Thursday and when we spoke last she had just finished ‘Sparkle’ and she told me how excited she was to start production on ‘Waiting to Exhale 2’ with Angela, Lela and myself,” Devine said. “My prayers go out to her family and I am so honored for the time I spent working with her on ‘Waiting to Exhale,’ ‘The Preacher’s Wife’ and on ‘Boston Public.’ I love you, Whitney, and I will miss your easy laugh.” Share your condolences with Whitney’s family and friends on our Facebook page. Related Videos Whitney Houston: Life And Music Of An Icon Related Photos Whitney Houston: A Life In Photos Related Artists Whitney Houston
TMZ says Coroner’s officials have told icon’s family she likely died from drugs and alcohol; daughter Bobbi Kristina released from hospital. By Jocelyn Vena Whitney Houston Photo: Epsilon/ Getty Images On Sunday night, the life and impressive career of Whitney Houston was celebrated at the 2012 Grammy Awards , with everyone from Bruno Mars to host LL Cool J and Jennifer Hudson recalling the immense talent of the late icon. Since her passing on Saturday, more reports have surfaced about what might have contributed to her death . After initial speculation that she might have drowned in the bathtub of her Beverly Hills hotel room, a new TMZ report suggests that prescription drugs and alcohol might have played a bigger part in her death than originally believed. Sources tell the site that L.A. County Coroner’s officials have told Houston’s family that despite earlier drowning reports, it’s likely she died of a combination of Xanax, other prescription drugs and alcohol. There wasn’t enough water in her lungs to suggest that drowning played a part, the report says, and she might have died before her head was submerged in water. Her body was reportedly found by her aunt, Mary Jones, who entered the bathroom to check on the singer. Houston’s body will be flown to Atlanta once it is released from the coroner’s office, sources said. Meanwhile, Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina , has been released from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after being treated for a stressed-induced panic attack shortly after her mother’s death. Since Houston’s passing, Bobbi Kristina’s father, Bobby Brown, has flown to L.A. to be with his daughter, E! News reports. According to a People.com eyewitness, when he landed in L.A., “Bobby had a blank stare and looked exhausted … His friends seemed concerned about him and they surrounded him as they walked through the airport.” He had been on tour with New Edition when he left the trek to join Bobbi Kristina. Sunday’s hospitalization allegedly wasn’t the only health scare for the 18-year-old over Grammy weekend. TMZ reports that she had fallen asleep in the bathtub Friday at the same hotel where her mother was found dead the next day. Bobbi Kristina’s friends reportedly called security to unlock the door and help them remove her from the tub. Share your condolences with Whitney’s family and friends on our Facebook page. Related Videos Whitney Houston: Life And Music Of An Icon Related Photos 2012 Grammy Awards: Backstage And Audience Whitney Houston: A Life In Photos Related Artists Whitney Houston
Find out who took home Grammys at the biggest night in music. Adele accepts the award for Best Pop Solo Performance at the Grammys on Sunday Photo: John Shearer/ WireImage Who took home the most awards on the biggest night in music? Adele, Foo Fighters and Kanye West led the charge in a night that saw plenty of excitement around dance music, compelling country performances and tributes to the late Whitney Houston. Check out the selected list of major Grammy winners below, and see the complete list at Grammy.com . Watch highlights from the Grammy Awards and Red Carpet. Record Of The Year WINNER: “Rolling In The Deep” – Adele “Holocene” – Bon Iver “Grenade” – Bruno Mars “The Cave” – Mumford & Sons “Firework” – Katy Perry Album Of The Year WINNER: 21 – Adele Wasting Light – Foo Fighters Born This Way – Lady Gaga Doo-Wops & Hooligans – Bruno Mars Loud – Rihanna Song Of The Year WINNER: “Rolling In The Deep” – Adele “All Of The Lights” – Kanye West “The Cave” – Mumford & Sons “Grenade” – Bruno Mars “Holocene” – Bon Iver Best New Artist WINNER: Bon Iver The Band Perry J. Cole Nicki Minaj Skrillex Best Pop Solo Performance WINNER: “Someone Like You” – Adele “Yo
