The Chicago Suntimes is reporting that Whitney Houston’s mother Cissy has confronted the person who snapped the photo of Whitney in her final resting place. A Houston family insider says that Cissy, “had a come-to-Jesus moment” with the guilty culprit and demanded the alleged six-figure fee for the photo be donated to charity. As she should! Whoever was selfishly evil enough to take a photo of the late Whitney Houston with the intention of selling it to trashy tabloid deserves far more punishment than having to donate their profit. What do you think about Cissy confronting the person that took the photo? Who do you think took it? RELATED: Oprah Interviews The Houston Family [VIDEO] Bobbi Kristina: “It’s A Lot Of Pressure But She Prepared Me For It” [VIDEO] Whitney Houston Leaves Everything To Bobbi Kristina In Will Whitney Houston’s Mother Cissy Kicks Out “Secret Son” From Atlanta Home Houston Family Sells Funeral Coverage For Bobbi Kristina Whitney Houston Laid To Rest Beside Her Father [PHOTOS & VIDEO] Ray J Finally Breaks His Silence Bobby Brown Releases Statement On Why He Left Whitney’s Funeral [VIDEO] Whitney Houston Celebrated At Funeral [PHOTOS & VIDEO] Bobby Declares Love For Whitney On Stage [VIDEO]
Madge also recalls being ‘extremely envious’ of Whitney Houston in new interview. By Jocelyn Vena Madonna Photo: Jon Furniss/ WireImage Madonna has defied the laws of pop music, sustaining her career decades after it kicked off. And it seems her sensible attitude in part explains her longevity. In an interview with The Sun, when asked about the criticism Adele received from designer Karl Lagerfeld , she had these wise words. “That’s horrible. That’s ridiculous, that’s just the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I don’t like it when anybody says anything bad about anyone — I don’t like it. Adele’s a great talent and how much she weighs has nothing to do with it,” she said. “The thing for Adele to remember is at the end of the day, whether you rise or fall, it has so much to do with how you sustain yourself and keep your integrity and your inner strength.” Her last bit of advice seems relevant not only to living pop stars, but also to two pop stars we lost in the last year. “It is all about who you surround yourself with — friends and people who really do care about you, and care about your well-being beyond being a superstar. That’s the most important thing,” she said, later addressing the losses of Amy Winehouse and Whitney Houston. “One thing I was struck by with Whitney Houston is I remember she sort of came out as a singer around the same time I did,” Madonna added . “I remember looking at her singing and hearing people talk about her, and just thinking, ‘Oh my God. She’s such a beautiful woman and my God, what an incredible voice. I wish I could sing like that.’ I just remember being extremely envious of her and also touched by her innocence.” Madonna is now focused on the upcoming release of her album MDNA, and she said, “I hope I inspire women and give them strength to deal with life no matter what comes their way.” Related Videos Adele’s ‘Magical’ Road To Success Related Artists Madonna Adele
Sources say that Fox’s hit musical drama, “Glee” is shooting a Whitney Houston Episode that will feature 8 songs and a “character piece.” Just days after Fox’s “American Idol” made headlines for their tribute to the late Whitney Houston, the torch is being handed over to another series on the network. “Glee” is at work on a special tribute episode devoted to Houston. According to E! Online, the Fox hit is filming an episode of Season 3 that will include eight songs from Houston’s discography. SOURCE: Huffington Post
Private service held Wednesday in Florida; public memorials planned in the U.S. and Manchester, England. By John Mitchell Davy Jones in 1967 Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Image A private funeral service for Davy Jones was held near the former Monkees lead singer’s home in Hollywood, Florida, on Wednesday. Only immediate family attended the small service, Reuters reported. Jones’ former Monkees bandmates — Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith — did not attend to avoid attracting crowds. Jones’ ashes will be transported to his native Manchester, England, where a public memorial service is planned for next week. Another public memorial is being planned, but the date and location have not been confirmed, though it will likely take place in either Los Angeles or New York. There has been some talk that the surviving Monkees will perform at one of the public memorials, though Dolenz, Tork and Nesmith have not confirmed any performance plans. “The three of us, Mike and Peter and I, we have never worked together just as a threesome,” Dolenz told the Associated Press on Tuesday (via the New York Times ). “We’ve been talking, we’ve been communicating, but it’s way too early, I think, to project or predict anything like that.” Jones died on February 29 after suffering a heart attack while attending to his horses at his Florida farm, where he’d been living in recent years with his wife, Jessica. He is survived by his wife and four daughters. The singer rose to fame as the teen heartthrob lead singer of the popular made-for-TV ’60s pop group the Monkees. Born on December 30, 1945, Jones began his career as a child actor, appearing in a British daytime soap opera and radio plays before landing a Tony nomination at age 16 for his role as the Artful Dodger in a Broadway production of “Oliver.” With the Monkees, Jones helped create some of the most iconic pop of the 1960s, including hits “Daydream Believer,” “Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)” and “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You.” Though the group’s popularity was relatively short-lived, Jones continued to successfully tour and perform on TV and in films throughout the ’80s and ’90s, and was slated to mount a U.K. tour in honor of the Monkees’ 45th anniversary in May along with Tork and Dolenz. Related Artists The Monkees
Sanchez’s take on Whitney Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You’ brings down the house as the guys tackle Stevie Wonder. By James Montgomery Jessica Sanchez on “American Idol” Photo: FOX “American Idol” swung for the fences on Wednesday night — and we’re not just talking about Steven Tyler’s decision to wear his Roy Lichtenstein pants. The girls tackled Whitney Houston songs (borderline blasphemy?) and the guys did Stevie Wonder, and, after two hours of performances that ran the gamut from “startlingly great” to “shockingly unhinged” — with the majority falling somewhere in the middling middle — well, perhaps it’s best if producers reined it in a tad. Still, there were some highlights (Jessica Sanchez!), and with eliminations coming Thursday night (March 8) — though, in classic late-era “Idol,” they’ve added some unnecessary wrinkles to the proceedings — here’s our grades for the Top 13. Who passed with flying colors? Who flunked out in flaming fashion? Read on to find out! Jessica Sanchez: Showed some major stones taking on the Whitney song to end all Whitney songs, “I Will Always Love You.” Was maybe a touch too melismatic, didn’t quite get there at the end, but still … dang, girl. Tears and standing ovations both richly deserved. Grade: A Hollie Cavanagh: Pint-sized powerhouse delivered the goods on “All the Man That I Need,” including hitting that big, big note at the end. Showcased range, control and power — all that’s missing is some personality. J.Lo sees her going all the way to the finals, and if Cavanagh keeps singing like this — and loses the nerves — she might be right. Grade: B+ Joshua Ledet: Ventured outside his comfort zone with a strutting, cutting take on Stevie’s “I Wish,” and took us all to church in the process. It was a bit screechy in parts, but he made up for it with amazing hand gestures and newfound confidence. Quoth Randy: “You wore it out!” We’d have to agree with that assessment. Grade: B+ Skylar Laine: The fact that she’d never sung Whitney is not nearly as shocking as her newfound dark-horse status. She took on “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” and though it started out a bit nasally (and sleepy), she picked up speed and ended up more or less killing it. “Biggest moment of the night,” J.Lo said — of course, that was before Jessica Sanchez. Grade: B Heejun Han: He proved to be equally adept at both humorous tweets and gross misspellings of celebrity names (seriously dude, it’s “I-O-V-I-N-E”). His stripped-down take of “All in Love is Fair” was shaping up to be a slow-mo disaster, but he turned it around, and ended up putting his own silky smoove touch on the tune. We could do with less of his shtick, but the dude keeps delivering … and flirting with J.Lo. Grade: B Colton Dixon: Of course, was more than willing to take Jimmy and MJB’s advice to perform one of his own songs, and, of course, it was super wussy. He ended up doing “Lately,” which somehow managed to be both a tad flat and pitchy. Of course, only Randy seemed to notice. Girls seem to like his smoldering looks, which means he’ll stick around. Grade: B- Erika Van Pelt: Mary J called her tone “steak and potatoes,” though her take on “I Believe In You and Me” was more Lean Cuisine. Spotty at the beginning, she pressed on, and ended up with a fairly legit — if slightly bland — performance. It gave J.Lo goosies, which makes you wonder if they had the air conditioner cranked up too high. She earned a nickname from Seacrest (“EVP”), so she seems safe. Grade: B- Jeremy Rosado: Jer Bear put a sultry, supple spin on Stevie’s “Ribbon in the Sky,” and, in the process, made the most of his second chance. Sadly, Randy though it was lacking in “swag.” Can we retire that phrase yet? Middling reviews from the judges didn’t do him any favors. Grade: B- Phillip Phillips: His night-closing “Pimp Spot” turned out to be not so pimp, since he had to follow Jessica Sanchez. From the minute they announced the guys were doing Stevie, I knew he was doing “Superstition,” and lo and behold, he did just that. It was swampy, sorta scatty, and also sorta anti-climactic (and scary). Steven said he had a lot of “forget about it” in his voice … don’t worry, we already have. Grade: C Deandre Brackensick: Skanked his way through “Master Blaster” and showed off his ill falsetto. It was sort of forgettable, yet also kind of fresh at the same time. We’re glad Steven made the Naima comparison, since we didn’t think we were allowed to go there. Irie! Grade: C Jermaine Jones: The Gentle Giant’s baritone was on full display with “Knocks Me Off My Feet.” It started sort of bland, picked up steam toward the end, yet never truly seemed to connect. Quoth Steven: “That song fits you like an Armani suit” — that’d be a gigantic suit. Jones described his performance thusly: “I think I did a pretty good job.” OK, dude. Grade: C- Elise Testone: Ooof. Early attempts at “The Greatest Love of All” earned her the stank face from MJB, so (seemingly against her will) she ended up doing “I’m Your Baby Tonight.” The end result was a near catatonic, downright uncomfortable performance. Randy said she was “Boxing with the song,” and, well, she got knocked out. She seemed to come unglued during Seacrest’s post-performance interview, and for someone who claimed “there’s no excuse” for her spotty stint, she sure made a lot of excuses. Grade: D- Shannon Magrane: Seacrest introduced her as “The pride of Tampa,” though, after this debacle, he probably wants to reconsider that assessment. She did “I Have Nothing,” which was a pretty apt metaphor for her entire performance. Sure, she’s got a big voice, but she was swallowed up by the size and emotional wallop of the song itself — you know, because she’s 16 or whatever. She tried to power her way through, but ended up just sort of shouting. If Erika Van Pelt is “EVP,” she’s “NVG” — not very good. Grade: F 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
On ‘RapFix Live,’ Kim recalls when late pop diva offered her protection from a stalker: ‘She was so sweet about it.’ By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Lil’ Kim Photo: Uptin Saiidi / MTV News Lil’ Kim has stories for days. On Wednesday’s “RapFix Live,” the Queen Bee buzzed about her career, the things she’s done and the people she’s met. When a fan asked about Whitney Houston , a bright smile came upon Kim’s face and the memories came flooding. “Oh my goodness, I absolutely adored and loved Whitney Houston,” Kim gushed about the late icon. Turns out, at one time, Kim and Houston shared something in common — crazed stalkers. Once Houston learned of an obsessed fan who would leave creepy gifts at Kim’s doorstep, “The Bodyguard” actress offered her own personal bodyguard to help protect the female rapper. “Whitney Houston called me, and she was like, ‘Kim, I will send my guy, because remember when that stalker was in my house?’ ” Kim said, reenacting the conversation with her best Whitney impression. “She was so sweet about it,” Kim remembered. That wasn’t the only time the Hardcore MC and the pop diva bonded. Kim also recalled a time that she ended up on the same flight with Houston and her then-husband Bobby Brown. Surprised to see the femcee, Brown suggested Houston sit next to Kim so they could have a bit of girl talk. Kim excitedly agreed, but Whitney wasn’t in the mood for much conversation — or so she said: “She was like, ‘Girl, I’m not much of a talker,’ ” Kim recalled. “In my mind, I’m like, ‘This is Whitney. I don’t care, she can still sit there. I’ll just look at her.’ ” Kim’s dog Diamond was the icebreaker, however, and after Houston sat the pooch on her lap, she began to open up. Seems like Whitney was in the mood for some girl talk after all. “By the time we got in the air and they were getting ready to serve dinner, she had talked me to sleep,” Kim said, laughing. “She was so down to earth, so beautiful.” Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ Welcomes Back Lil’ Kim Related Photos Whitney Houston: A Life In Photos Related Artists Whitney Houston
Bobbi Kristina , daughter of late pop music legend Whitney Houston , is set to inherit $20 million from her mother’s estate. According to TMZ , Whitney left all of her worldly possessions–including furnishings, clothing, personal effects, jewelry and cars–to all of her children. Since Bobbi Kristina is Houston’s only biological child, everything belongs to her. Whitney Houston’s will was filed yesterday in Atlanta. Whitney signed it back in 1993, a month before she gave birth to Bobbi. As per documents signed by Houston a month before Bobbi Kristina was born, Bobbi Kristina’s $20 million inheritance will be placed in a trust where she will be able to access a portion of the money when she turns 21. She will receive another lump sum at 25 and the remaining money once she turns 30. With the return of Houston’s music to the pop charts, that $20 million is likely to balloon into something heftier than that. Source RELATED: Oprah Lands First Exclusive Interview With Bobbi Kristina & Houston Family [SNEEK PEEK] Whitney Houston’s Mother Cissy Kicks Out “Secret Son” From Atlanta Home Houston Family Sells Funeral Coverage For Bobbi Kristina Whitney Houston Laid To Rest Beside Her Father [PHOTOS & VIDEO] Ray J Finally Breaks His Silence Bobby Brown Releases Statement On Why He Left Whitney’s Funeral [VIDEO] Whitney Houston Celebrated At Funeral [PHOTOS & VIDEO] Jennifer Hudson Sings Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” At Grammys [VIDEO] Bobby Declares Love For Whitney On Stage [VIDEO]
Jessica Sanchez sang Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” on American Idol this week, and with it, may have established herself as the Season 11 frontrunner. Seriously. If Jessica Sanchez wasn’t in your Top 5 heading into Wednesday night, she is now. It was awesome, in one word. Don’t believe us? Take it from the panel: Jennifer Lopez: [at a loss for words] “Just, just amazing.” Randy Jackson: “This is one of the hardest songs to sing.” Steven Tyler: “You may be The One. You just made 40 million people cry.” LOL. Try 20 million at best, Steve … which is no small feat of course. In any case, listen to the nearly flawless performance and try to hold back the tears below … Jessica Sanchez – “I Will Always Love You” (American Idol Top 13)
American Idol’s Hollie Cavanagh struggled a bit in her mentoring session, but she came through with flying colors on Dusty Springfield’s “All The Man That I Need.” Hollie definitely exudes a kind of Dusty Springfield vibe, both with her looks and with the arrangements she’s given, so it certainly works for her and then some. Mentor Mary J. Blige must have gotten through to her, as she gave Jessica Sanchez a run for her money for the night’s most complete female performance. “That’s the Hollie that I know from last year and this year,” said a wowed Jennifer Lopez, who’s predicting her for the finale after the following effort … Hollie Cavanagh – “All The Man That I Need” (American Idol Top 13)
Stevie Wonder. Colton Dixon. Those two things may seem like oil and water, and vocally, the latter’s rendition of the former’s “Lately” was not up there with the likes of Phillip Phillips . Nevertheless, he overcame any shortcomings in his pedigree and made do with effort and charisma … and besides, he’s got the heart throb thing down. How much you like Colton Dixon likely depends on your age and gender, and how far he lasts this season will hinge on whether he can expand that appeal. His “base” got him here, but he needs swing voters to carry him to the next level. Can it happen? An open question, but he’s not going home after this: Colton Dixon – “Lately” (American Idol Top 13)
