Sunday, November 28, 2010

Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal Couple Up for Thanksgiving

Taylor Swift, Jake Gyllenhaal Jackson Lee/NPG.com; Kevin Winter/Getty Images
'Tis the season for yet another Jake Gyllenhaal and Taylor Swift sighting.
So where did the rumored couple kick off the holidays?


After reportedly sipping maple syrup lattes at a Brooklyn café near sister Maggie Gyllenhaal's home Thanksgiving morning (How sweet!), Jake and the country cutie were spotted grabbing breakfast at a cafe called Fido in Nashville Saturday, according to People.
Although Swift and Gyllenhaal have been seen together numerous times around the country, the low-key lovebirds have yet to reveal the nature of their relationship.
Nevertheless, this seems to be turning into quite the love story.

Guess Me From Behind: Black Lace Bare Ass

Guess Me From Behind 
What the OMFG was she thinking?!
Jaws dropped when this TV star recently stepped out in a plunging, black lace jumpsuit that left little to the imagination.
It's not only a 180 from the preppy princess she plays on the small screen, but it's also more skin than we've ever seen from this young star.
Can you guess who was brave stupid enough to step out next-to-naked on the red carpet?
Leighton Meester

It's Leighton Meester at the Harry Winston Court of Jewels Recreation launch in New York City (not even the tropics, which could at least provide some flimsy excuse).
Marchesa is responsible for the Gossip Girl star's sheer lace outfit with shoes by Nicholas Kirkwood and bling by Harry Winston, natch.
And even if this style counts as designer—Marchesa does dress Hollywood's finest, after all—somewhere Blair Waldorf's delicate head is spinning.

Hulk and Spidey and Buffy—What's With All the Reboots?

The Incredible Hulk, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Spiderman Universal Pictures; WB; Sony Pictures
Why are we seeing so many stupid so-called "reboots" of old ideas like Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
—88Vibey, via the inbox
I hope you boarded up your windows before you sent me this. Vampire lovers are so rabid in their fandom they're liable to storm your house. (Here, I'll create a diversion for you: Robert Pattinson has a head like bleached a cinder block. Run!)
Anyway, here's why The Hulk, Buffy, Superman and Spider-Man are all being reset and retold from the beginning:


Money. Or, more specifically, guaranteed money.
"Reboots are going to succeed more often," says Tim League of the theater franchise Alamo Drafthouse.
"People are more aware of the concept you're promoting, so it's a safer route. And you succeed more often than you fail."
Even more importantly, he says, you're more likely to know your profits early. Advance ticket sales are much easier to pull off if customers know what they're going to see—well, in advance.
That's opposed to brand-new movie ideas, which do not lend themselves to pre-sales, League tells me. Instead, theater owners and moviemakers have to wait longer for their money to come in, because new ideas require time for good word of mouth to get around. (Of course, that did work out for Avatar.)
That idea also translates to television. The Hulk is coming back to TV, with the help of Pan's Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro, who is on board to co-create the new reboot.
Is it greedy for moviemakers to keep revisiting old ideas instead of working a little harder to find fresh ones? I'll tell you, in my latest podcast!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Tony Parker Files to Divorce Eva Longoria

Tony Parker has filed to divorce Eva Longoria, even though the reverse had already taken place. This could very well mean a legal showdown in the making.
Tony's divorce petition was filed in Texas. Eva filed for divorce earlier in the week in Los Angeles, setting up a battle over where the couple's case is heard.
Texas divorces can be handled fast, in as little as 60 days. It's unclear if Tony Parker's Erin Barry sexting would be a lesser factor in one state or another.

Eva Longoria and Tony Parker Pic
Tony and Eva Longoria Parker are divorcing after three years.
Tony's stated reason: "The marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities between Petitioner and Respondent that destroys legitimate ends of the marriage and prevents any reasonable expectation of reconciliation."
Interestingly, they have a prenup, but in Tony's petition he writes, "Petitioner believes Petitioner and Respondent will enter an agreement for the division of their estate."
Since they've already signed a prenup, the word "will" is puzzling.
Tony's petition also states, "Petitioner owns certain separate property that is not part of the community estate of the parties." We'll see if a judge agrees.
Neither Tony's lawyer nor Eva's camp has commented publicly.
Finally, in an ironic twist, Tony is being represented by attorney Richard Orsinger, the same lawyer who is repping Brent Barry ... his former teammate.
His former teammate and the husband of Erin Barry, who was just revealed as Parker's mistress / sexting buddy last week. Conflict of interest much?

Oksana Grigorieva to Lawyer: ONLY $15 Million!?

Oksana Grigorieva disavowed the $15 million settlement her lawyers got from Mel Gibson this spring not because she feared for her baby daughter, as she says, but because she felt the actor would pay a lot more to avoid the bad publicity.
We're not lawyers, but ... sounds a little like extortion to us.

Oksana G. Pic
Oksana Grigorieva's actions appear more questionable by the day.
A text sent June 2 from Oksana to Eric George, the lawyer who negotiated her $15 million mediation package, is laden with buyer's remorse, complaining that George never told her about a domestic violence claim, which could up the ante.
Underscoring how important the Mel Gibson tapes were in the mediation, Oksana says, "Forget about the tapes for the moment. This is the case of domestic violence."
The point - no one raised the issue of domestic violence during the mediation - it was about the tapes. Seriously shady stuff here. Was it ever really about poor Lucia?
Oksana says her relationship with Mel ended due to"Mels (sic) domestic violence, the only reason and the fact, with proof, and I run away to save my children."
Then she lays her cards on the table: "If the opposition is buying my silence, please, we have to renegotiate the custody portion and secure the monetory (sic)."
Also in the text, Oksana Grigorieva makes it clear she had a strategy all along, and aware of her strongest bargaining chip: "He doesn't want this publicity."
"I have lots of questions about the moneytory (sic) part also, i'd (sic) like us to get together and discus (sic) everything," she adds, "I am not bluffing."
Law enforcement sources say the text is part of the extortion investigation to determine if Oksana leveraged the tapes to score the $15 million package.
The theory: After signing the agreement, Oksana got greedy and decided she could get more than $15 million by adding a fresh domestic violence claim.
Was that whole "fearing for her life" bit all an exaggeration to get paid? No matter what Mel did, it's getting hard to take anything Oksana says seriously.
In other news, Mel will be front and center in court Monday as his lawyers ask the judge to strip Oksana of custody and award it to him. He'll be there in person because he wants to show how serious he is and how unstable she is.

Anne Hathaway Makes Pitch to Glee Producers: Cast Me!

Anne Hathaway took a break from posing topless this week to make a pitch to Fox: the actress wants to be on Glee!
But Hathaway has already done the work for creator Ryan Murphy. She already knows what character she wants to portray:
"I would want to be Kurt's aunt," she told reporters this week. "I have thought about it... I would like to pitch to Murphy right now that I go on as Kurt's aunt, his mother who is deceased's younger sister."

Hathaway Photo
Watch Hathaway and Gyllenhaal in the trailer for Love and Other Drugs NOW and then sound off: Do you wanna see Anne Hathaway on Glee?

Wesley Snipes: Finally Headed to Jail

He may have proven that white men can't jump, but Wesley Snipes has also made it clear that felons can't avoid jail time.
The actor - who was convicted of tax evasion in 2008, but spent years going to extreme lengths to avoid his sentence - had his latest appeal rejected by a federal judge this week.
Told he “had a fair trial” and that “the time has come for the judgment to be enforced,” Snipes will finally be heading to the clink.

Wesley Snipes Pic
“Wesley is very disappointed but staying strong and positive,” his lawyer told The Orlando Sentinel.
It’s unclear when or where Snipes will start serving the sentence. So much for always betting on black, though.

Monday, November 15, 2010

The Real Housewives of Atlanta Recap: Bad Dancing, Elderly Engagements

Sheree returned! Peter proposed! And our intern somehow managed to keep all her food down while watching the latest installment of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. A detailed recap follows...
After being MIA for most of last week's episode, Sheree came roaring back big time. In an Aston Martin no less.  After all, she needs to reward herself for surviving her arduous divorce. She's also been asked to participate on Dancing with the Stars of Atlanta, a charity event.  Because Sheree's all about giving back, she accepts the challenge and goes about proving to the world she can dance.  Can she?
In a word: NO.

Sheree and Her Aston Martin
Kim shows off her brand new, gold drenched, Napoleonic office to her kids and parents.  She also surprises Ariana with her new $60,000 bedroom.  Brielle is fuming.  Apparently a 2,000 square foot bedroom that takes up the top half of the house doesn't cut it for the fugly brat anymore.
Nene and Maloria, Cynthia's sister, prep for Cynthia's surprise engagement party.  50-year-old Peter asked for their help because he's finally popping the question after three years.  It works! Peter surprises eyelash-less Cynthia with a huge ring which elicits about as much reaction from Cynthia as watching paint dry.  Nene thought the rock showed more emotion but to each his own.   Cynthia promises Peter she won't be a runaway bride.  Mmm-hmmm.
Meanwhile, Phaedra starts packing for the impending arrival of her baby with the help of her assistant and a friend.  Labor is being induced (yes, that's her story and she's sticking to it!) and as Phaedra so eloquently put it "this baby is ready to come out of her vagina." All class she is.  P
Phaedra seems inconvenienced by this baby.  Milk?  Penis ointment?  A 50-cent piece wrapped in gauze taped to the navel?  Damn it all to hell what the doctors and nurses say, this baby's being raised country!
Sheree starts practicing for her dance debut and from what her partner, Derek Walters, and one of the judges can see, a 2x4 has more style and rhythm.  Sheree, however, is not concerned.  Whatever mirror she gazes into has her convinced that she's ready to take on the ballroom masters of the world.
Kandi and Lawrence start working in the studio on his "Closet Freak" track.  Ladyboy Lawrence has a set of pipes on him and can actually sing so Kandi knows that this single will be a hit.  Lawrence tells Kandi about Kim dissing "The Ring Don't Mean A Thing" all over town and Kandi is none too happy about that.  She's fed up with Kim's crappy, lazy attitude.  Find someone else to write your songs beeyotch!
Peter Proposal
Cynthia goes bridal gown shopping with her mom and sister to give her stylist some ideas.  She's a supermodel, after all, and can't just buy off the rack. 
She promises Mom and sis she won't be a runaway bride but she is getting overwhelmed by all this wedding business.  Mmm-hmmm.  Cynthia's afraid of being stuck in a loveless, dependent, controlling, abusive marriage like Mom was and she never wants that for herself.
The day of Sheree's big dance event arrives, as does Sheree in her Aston Martin and her glam team.  These days big "Atlanta stars" prep in public restrooms instead of dressing rooms it seems.  While Sheree continues on her delusional journey, her guests begin to arrive. 
Nene brings Gregg (trailing behind like a hound dog ) as her "date" and freezes him out for the entire night. Kim drools over Atlanta Falcons defensive end Kroy Biermann and his ass.  Future baby daddy?  Nene gets all hot and bothered by "black berry" 50-year-old Peter.  Who knew?! 
Kim tells Kandi she'll get vocal lessons.  Kandi has an 'uh-huh' attitude. Sheree needs to raise $5,000 for the event.  The table decides to donate $20. Wearing a costume that appears to be from Johnny Weir's reject pile, Sheree demonstrates her wooden dance moves and elicits yawns and grimaces.  The judges give her high scores proving they must be high.  Sheree's proud of herself because she moved out of her comfort zone. 
Which is exactly how the audience felt throughout this debacle... uncomfortable!

Changes Coming to Sonny with a Chance

While Demi Lovato focuses on her personal issues in rehab, producers behind her Disney Channel series have been forced to make changes of their own.
Those behind Sonny with a Chance will temporarily adjust the focus of the series while its star recovers, placing the spotlight on the program within the program, So Random!. The switch means production on season three will begin in January.
Sonny with a Chance Poster
"[This] allows [Demi] the time she needs to get well, without distraction or pressure," a Disney Channel spokeswoman said. "Again, we extend our ongoing support to Demi and her family as she works to overcome personal issues."
There is no timetable for Lovato's return to singing or acting. Sources continue to debate the reasons behind her downfall, but THG simply wishes this young star a full, healthy recovery.

Twilight Saga Stars Cover New Comic Book

They've all received the comic book treatment on their own, but Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner will soon come together and be featured in a new Bluewater Productions release.
That company has found major success with its Fame series, a group of graphic novels that has also honored Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, among other celebrities.

Twilight Comic BookCute Drawings
On December 1, meanwhile, fans will have a chance to purchase a compilation of previously released Fame editions, each having given followers unparalleled access to these Twilight stars. The new installment will aptly be titled "The Cast of Twilight."
The comic will track the rise to stardom of all these actors/actresses, along with a history of Twilight author Stephenie Meyer. Will you put it on your Christmas list?

Jessica Simpson: Engaged to Eric Johnson!

Not to be outdone by Nick Lachey, Jessica Simpson is getting married again. Congrats to the alleged singer and former mediocre NFL player Eric Johnson!
We kid, of course. Truly, we are so happy for Jess, whose rep confirmed the news earlier today, saying: "Yes, we are excited to confirm they are engaged!"
The couple began dating in May, after being introduced by friends. Ever since, Eric and Jessica have been seen getting cozy across the U.S. and beyond.

Eric Johnson, Jessica Simpson
The future Mr. and Mrs. Jessica Simpson, everyone!
Explaining how well their relationship was going, Simpson told People last month she is just so inspired by Eric Johnson: "This is just normal, thank God. He's very, very supportive. [I] couldn't ask for a better man in my life right now."
Asked if Johnson were the one, she replied: "I never go to that because I already went there, so, I'm not gonna jinx myself. He's the one for me right now! I'm very happy, I'm in a great place and if right now could last forever, I'd take it."
She already went there, of course, with Nick Lachey, who also just got engaged to Vanessa Minnillo this month. Guess she didn't want to be outdone!
Congratulations to the soon-to-be-spouses. We can't wait for the MTV reality series chronicling the lead-up to the wedding and their life as newlyweds.

Mel Gibson Admits Slapping, Not Hitting Oksana Grigorieva; Claims He Had to Protect Daughter

Mel Gibson apparently admitted "slapping" Oksana Grigorieva in a sworn court declaration, but his account of their blowout fight is very different than hers.
According to the declaration obtained by TMZ, Mel admits slapping - not hitting - Oksana after she became so hysterical that she was endangering their baby.
In the January 6 fight that sparked a domestic violence investigation, Oksana claims Mel punched her in the temple and the mouth, knocking out two teeth.
But Mel tells a very different story.

Not Okay OksanaIm'ma Smack That!
Mel says he and Oksana were arguing at his home when Oksana grabbed Lucia out her of bassinet, brought her right in the middle of the argument, screaming, "Stop yelling or you will make her into a retarded brain damaged idiot!"
Oksana then "spun around," according to Mel, and ran out into the backyard, which the actor says is dangerous at night, set on different levels and dimly lit. Oksana ran across the various levels for about 75 yards, near thorny trees.
Mel says he implored Oksana to bring Lucia back inside, which she did, but "while jerking her body from side to side to keep Lucia out of my reach."
Oksana was "hysterical" and her "rapid movements were causing Lucia's little body to be flung from one side to the other, her head shaking violently."
Mel says he feared Shaken Baby Syndrome and when she refused to hand the baby over and continued her "rough and erratic movements," Mel says, "I slapped Oksana one time with an open hand in an attempt to bring her back to reality."
"I did not slap [Oksana Grigorieva] hard, I was just trying to shock her so that she would stop screaming, continuing shaking Lucia back and forth."
"I did not hit Oksana with a closed fist, as she alleges. I did not punch her in the face, in the temple or anywhere else, not then or at any other time."
"There was never any blood and no teeth were 'broken,' although one of the false veneers from a tooth apparently came off, I did not see that occur."
"While I do not believe I handled the situation as well as I should have, I was worried about the way Oksana was shaking and tossing Lucia around."
"My hand never touched any part of Lucia."
As we talked about last week, the pediatrician who examined Lucia saw no evidence of injury to the baby. So was Oksana lying about the abuse?
In any event, Mel's story could establish a defense to her domestic violence allegations, using reasonable force to protect a child from injury.

Taylor Swift at BBC Teen Awards: Performance Pictures

Sorry, American fans of Taylor Swift. But you most definitely don't have a monopoly on affection for this singer.
A Passionate SingerEmoting on Stage
BBC Teen Awards PhotoIn Great BritainPerforming at the BBC Teen AwardsTaylor S. Pic

A few days after receiving raves for her CMA rendition of "Back to December," the 20-year old traveled across the Atlantic this weekend and performed for attendees at the BBC Teen Awards in London. She sang such hits as “Love Story,” “Speak Now,” and “Mine.”
How did the crowd react to Taylor? See for yourself HERE and then click on the following photos to enlarge shots of her in concert:

Fashion Face-Off: Lea Michele vs. Nelly Furtado

You won't see Lea Michele and Nelly Furtado mentioned in the same story very often.
One is a key member of the Glee cast, while the other is a singer with a couple major hits on her resume.
But the two beauties share more in common than merely a solid singing voice, as both were spotted at public events over the last couple weeks in the same dress. Loyal THG readers know what that means: It's time to compare and contrast Lea and Nelly, coming to a conclusion about them in the following poll...
Lea vs. Nelly

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM) 2010 - Winners and Nominees Named

Reba McEntire hosted the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM) tonight on Great American Country (GAC). She's a great singer, song-writer, actress, and now you can
 add a great host to that list. The lady can do it all!

Live Performances:

Duet with Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood covering 'Travelin' Band' and then John Fogerty joined them on stage. Charlie Daniels and Brad Paisley backed them on fiddle and guitar.

Blake Sheldon performed Hillbilly Bone, joined by Trace Adkins. The crowd went wild and sang along.

Billy Currington sang, That's How Country Boys Roll.

Kenny Chesney performed his hit song, Ain't Back Yet.

Laura Bell Bundy sang Giddy On Up, from her debut album Achin' and Shakin'.

Toby Keith sang and wrote a song in honor of his friend who lost his life to cancer at the age of 44. The song is titled 'Cryin For Me (Wayman's Song)', dedicated to Wayman Tisdale. Go to itunes and download his performance to help Stand Up To Cancer. It's a good song, and was a beautiful tribute.

They showed footage from The Zac Brown Band and their support and tour of the USO.

Taylor Swift performed her hit song Change from a moving riser above the crowd. She was backed by a vocal group named The Tritones.

Gloriana performed Wild At Heart, Luke Bryan sang Do I, and Joey and Rory sang Cheater Cheater - before it was announced which one won the Top New Artist Award.

Next up, Lady Antebellum sang their hit American Honey. They are a very talented trio.

Rascal Flatts performed Unstoppable next on the stage. They are always worth watching, always. I love watching their performances, and their voices and lyrics never fail to impress. Love is unstoppable.

Jason Aldean was the next performer on stage, singing Crazy Town. The fans love him!

Miranda Lambert sang The House That Built Me, and it was a moving performance. Lambert was given a standing ovation.

Jack Ingram and Dierks Bentley sang Barbie Doll. Check out their ACM performance in this video. They sang in the midst of fans in the audience, who helped them sing the song.

44th Annual Country Music Awards--My Prediction of the Winners

The 44th Annual Country Music Awards is my favorite country music awards show because this organization seems to get the awards closer

 to "right" than any other. This year's show will be packed with great entertainment by many of my favorite artists.

Miranda Lambert leads the nominations in this year's Country Music Awards which will broadcast live from Nashville, TN on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 on ABC. Lambert is nominated for nine different awards, including the big one for Entertainer of the Year. She had an incredible year and totally deserves these nine nominations in my opinion.

Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley will return as the hosts for the 44th Annual County Music Awards. The duo was a big hit last year after they stole the show singing various clips poking fun at other country music stars.

Now that I have the basics out of the way, are you ready to hear my predictions for the winners of country music's biggest and best awards show?

The nominations for this year's 44th Annual Country Music Awards are:

Entertainer of the Year:

Brad Paisley
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Keith Urban
Zac Brown Band

This is always the hardest category for me to make a choice of. I have several favorites but have narrowed my choice down to either Miranda Lambert or Brad Paisley. My reasoning is that Lady Antebellum won this award last year and even though they are still very hot, that leaves Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert as the top acts.

Zac Brown Band is good and had a great year, but fairly new to the country music scene. I do not think they will have enough pull to win this award this year. Keith Urban is another worthy artist of this award, but I feel like his year just wasn't' quite as good as Lambert's and Paisley's. I think Miranda Lambert has had a big break-out year and will take this award home this year.

Female Vocalist of the Year:

Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McIntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Life was Good for Carrie Underwood in 2009: Engagement, Awards and Her First TV ShowLife was Good for Carrie Underwood in 2009: Engagement, Awards and Her First TV Show

Bounteous Awards and a Big Fat Engagement Ring for Carrie Underwood in 2009
Carrie Underwood, American Idol winner and country music superstar, certainly had a wonderful year in 2009. The multi-platinum album-selling Underwood

 won a sack full of awards, hosted her own television show, Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special, and became engaged to NHL hockey player, Mike Fisher. Underwood is one country music entertainer to watch in 2010 as her career and wedding unfold!

Before Fame
Raised in Checotah, Oklahoma, Carrie Marie Underwood was blessed with beauty and brains. She graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern State University with a bachelor's degree in mass communications and competed in numerous beauty contests, winning the Miss NSU runner-up position. Underwood used her gift of music to perform in talent shows, church and other events in her home town. After a record deal fell through in 1996, Underwood would have the chance to show the world that she had skills by way of American Idol in 2004.

And the Award Goes To . . .
After winning American Idol, Underwood began her musical career with a thunderous boom. Her first album, Some Hearts, was certified septuple platinum. The second album, Carnival Ride, released in 2007, went double platinum and begat prestigious awards in 2008 and 2009.

Underwood's list of 2009 awards is a hefty one. On the People's Choice Awards in January, 2009, Underwood won Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Country Song for Last Name from Carnival Ride. During the People's Choice Awards, People Magazine and the People's Choice Awards formed a new trophy. Called Favorite Star 35 and Under, this new accolade was designed especially for Underwood.

Lambert wins 3 CMA awards, including album of year

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Miranda Lambert's coronation at the Country Music Association Awards came with the most authentic endorsement you can get in Music City: Loretta Lynn.

"Nobody in country music is more country than Miranda," the icon said.
Story photo: Lambert wins 3 CMA awards, including album of year
Lambert won three CMA awards Wednesday night, including the coveted album of the year, celebrating her 27th birthday by leading a sea change in country music that also included two wins for her fiance, Blake Shelton, and entertainer of the year for long-suffering Brad Paisley.

The blond Texas firebrand whose breakthrough album "Revolution" was just that joined Lynn on stage with Sheryl Crow for a rendition of "Coal Miner's Daughter."

Lambert received her female vocalist of the year trophy from Lynn, who is celebrating her 50th year as a singer.

"I hope it's the beginning," Lambert said. "I hope that I'm here 40 years from now, handing out an award like Loretta did."

Lambert also won video of the year for "The House That Built Me," which also won song of the year for songwriters Tom Douglas and Allan Shamblin.

It's a song that Lambert almost missed out on. It originally was pitched to Shelton, but when Lambert heard it, she immediately broke down because it seemed to perfectly describe her hard-luck childhood.

She asked Shelton if she could have the song instead. It went on to become her second No. 1 hit and helped her earn nine CMA nominations, a record for a woman and the second most in CMA history.

"People could've gotten greedy, but I'm glad they didn't," Shamblin said.

The song might be the perfect symbol for country's new "it" couple. They've shared in almost everything in a year that saw their engagement. Both said it was more special to see the other win.

For Shelton, who was recently invited to join the Grand Ole Opry, the night was not only a validation of his 11-year career, but a sign of acceptance from the Nashville music community. He ended Paisley's three-year run as male vocalist of the year — a development Paisley praised — and won music event of the year for his "Hillbilly Bone" collaboration with Trace Adkins.

"I know this stuff is political and that's my favorite thing about it right now," Shelton said. "That's the hardest thing to do in this town, is to get people on your side."

And people were definitely on their side. When Shelton won male vocalist, Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles said: "Ooooh, shake it up CMA."

And the traditionally conservative voters did just that. Other relatively new acts with wins included Lady Antebellum and the Zac Brown Band.

Lady A, the second-leading nominee with five, won vocal group of the year and single of the year for "Need You Now," a crossover sensation that has helped the trio's album of the same name to 3 million in sales. And Brown's band won new artist of the year. Sugarland took vocal duo of the year, and Mac McAnally won musician of the year.

Paisley, long Nashville's young gun who's matured into one of the genre's most popular spokesmen, was first nominated for the award in 2005. This year he became the face of the city after May's devastating floods. Just weeks from launching his aptly named H2O Tour, the floods destroyed most of his personal and tour gear, forcing a fast-forward effort to prepare.

"I owe this award to my crew that put this show on and take as much pride in it as I do," Paisley said. "If there was ever a year I wanted to win this one, it was this year."

Paisley, who co-hosted the ABC broadcast with Carrie Underwood, thought it was the CMA awards he's seen, and he's been watching since childhood. The show featured spirited performances by Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, the Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley and Carrie Underwood. And Gwyneth Paltrow sang the theme to her new movie, "Country Strong."

Paisley hailed voters for their willingness to vote for new faces.

"It really showed the health of country music right now, the fact that people are making some of the best music ever in our history," he said.

___

ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.

CMA Awards 2010, 10 Reasons to Get Excited for Country Music's Biggest Night

    *
          o celebs:
          o Alan Jackson
          o Blake Shelton
          o Brad Paisley
          o Carrie Underwood
          o Dierks Bentley
          o Faith Hill
          o George Strait
          o Gwyneth Paltrow
          o Jeff Gordon
          o Kate Middleton
          o Keith Urban
          o Kenny Chesney
          o Kim Kardashian
          o Martina McBride
          o Miranda Lambert
          o Nicole Kidman
          o Prince
          o Shania Twain
          o Sheryl Crow
          o Taylor Swift
          o Tim McGraw

Are you ready for the 2010 CMA Awards? It's country music's biggest night at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and the singers set the stage to honor the industry's most talented artists. It goes without saying that we're excited to see what nominees win the CMA titles, but what are some other reasons to get excited for the awards show? There are at least 10 good reasons besides the obvious to watch the 2010 CMAs.

10 Reasons to Get Excited for the 2010 CMA Awards

1. Red Carpet Arrivals. First impression means everything when the country music stars strut their stuff on the red carpet. It's a scene of elegant gowns, trendy styles, gorgeous shoes, and stunning hair. The men are just as fun to watch because of the western apparel they choose. Long coats, cowboy hats, and cowboy boots. The men are just as hot as the women.

2. Carrie Underwood Wardrobe Changes. Carrie Underwood's costume changes are as much a part of the CMAs as the the awards themselves. Women find Carrie the main reason to check the CMA reviews the next day on the Internet. They just can't get enough of Carrie's wardrobe the first time. Underwood changed a total of six times in 2008 and seven times in 2009. Her CMA Awards co-host, Brad Paisley, said her clothes are the main reason for him being there.

"I get to be zipper tech," he told the Associated Press. "I'm the guy that's there to make sure the thing is all the way up. That's probably the most important job I have at this event. I'm hoping to not let her down."

3. CMA Presenters. Presenters for the CMAs add to the entertainment of the awards show. You see country star favorites and guest appearances. Ty Pennington of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will be on the 44th Annual CMAs along with JoAnna Garcia of "Better With You." NASCAR champion, Jeff Gordon will add to the guest list. It's also an exciting platform for returning artists we haven't seen in a while. In 2008, Shania Twain made her first public appearance since her divorce from Mutt Lange and was the talk of the CMA Awards.

4. CMA Performances. An impressive list of CMA performances will be on this year's awards show. That's a huge reason to get excited for the show. This year Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, and Reba among others will entertain the crowd and viewers.

5. Debut Performances. If the clothes and country stars aren't reason enough to turn on the CMA Awards, think about the special debut performances reserved especially for this event. Gwyneth Paltrow and Vince Gill will make their singing debut at the 2010 CMAs, as well as Alan Jackson and the Zac Brown Band.

6. Saluting Country Legends. Every year there's a tribute by today's country music artists to legends that inspired them. In 2009 a tribute to Barbara Mandrell was performed by Martina McBride. This year Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow will perform a duet saluting Loretta Lynn's 50th Anniversary in the country music industry.

7. Entertainer of the Year. The most exciting category of the CMA Awards is the Entertainer of the Year Award. It's the most coveted title in country music and it's reserved as one of the final announcements of the night. Nominees to win in 2010 are Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown.

8. Famous Country Artists Under One Roof. It's not often you see the world of country music in one place and the CMAs are certainly reason for the artists to come together.

9. Who to Watch for Next Year. One thing that's true in all awards shows is the fact you learn more about the celebrities and what they have to offer. At the CMA Awards viewers get a glimpse of music newcomers in a way they hadn't before seeing the show. Country music has plenty of room for new stars and a lot of them are seen at the CMA Awards.

10. Country Music Couples. Singers in country music are busy with their own concert tours and other projects which keep them apart. When the CMAs hit, there's only place couples the couples are excited to be. Fans get to see Faith Hill with Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, and Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton. Will Carrie Underwood's new husband, Mike Fisher be there, too?

Those are the 10 top reasons to get excited for the 2010 CMA Awards. The awards will air on ABC Wednesday, November 10 at 8:00 p.m., ET.

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*Note: This was written by an Associated Content contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own entertainment articles.

2010 CMA Awards

Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, and LeAnn Rimes attend the 44th Annual CMAs.

David Beckham to Launch Men's Underwear Line

He's stripped down multiple times for Armani, but David Beckham will soon be getting nearly naked for no one but himself. And millions of women around the world, of course.
Sources confirm that the 35-year old soccer star/stud will soon launch his own line of men's underwear, as one insider told MTV UK:
"The whole planet went nuts when David stripped off for his Armani ads. Sales went through the roof. It was decided not to renew the Armani contract and develop a business of David’s own. He has seen how fulfilling it has been for Victoria to branch out and relishes a similar challenge.”

For the Ladies
Reports indicate that sales of Armani increased by 30% with Beckham as the face/body of the brand.
The handsome athlete is being advised by designer Stella McCartney's husband Alasdhair Willis, who is said to be “focused on turning David into a major fashion presence." With a physique such as this, it shouldn't be that difficult.

Lauren Conrad Denies Feud With Audrina Patridge

Audrina Patridge's drunk mom tried to start $h!t, but Lauren Conrad says she's not in competition with Audrina. There's room for two reality shows to coexist!
There's been no comment from Audrina on her mom's drunken rant (for which she later apologized), during which Lynn Patridge called The Hills girls "tramps."
Regarding her new reality show, Lynn said her daughter would fare better than Lauren Conrad, whom she called a "b!tch" who does "frilly fashion $h!t."

LC and Audrina Photo
Lauren Conrad says it's all good with Audrina.
Lauren doesn't see eye-to-eye with Lynn, fortunately, saying there's no bad blood whatsoever and that she doesn't view Audrina Patridge as competition.
LC's new reality show is also coming out soon.
Asked on Monday about Audrina's newly-picked up VH1 show, Conrad told Us, "I think it's good for her. And no, I really don't think about it like that at all."
Regarding the rant itself, LC smiled and said, "I really don't have a comment on that right now, thanks." Good to see someone knows how to keep it classy.

Dark and Stormie: Teen Mom Family Feud Continues For Farrah AbrahamDark and Stormie: Teen Mom Family Feud Continues For Farrah Abraham

The family feud rages on between Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham and the family of her deceased boyfriend over visitation of Farrah's daughter Sophia.
"I'm not giving up," Stormie Clark, the mother of Derek Underwood, told Radar Online exclusively after a judge recently denied her visitation rights.
Clark's son tragically died in a car crash in 2008 just two months before his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Farrah Abraham, gave birth to Sophia.

Farrah A.
For Farrah Abraham, the battle for Sophia continues.
"In the state of Iowa in order to get grandparents rights your child has to be deceased and my son passed away," Stormie Clark explained.
"Then you have to have had a substantial relationship with the child. This is not fair because I'm not able to do that because of Farrah."
"The easiest thing to do would be talk to Farrah and work this out. I am 110 percent willing to do that, but that's not the case for her. Prior to trying to get visitation I've tried to reach out to Farrah while she was pregnant and she ignored me."
During season 2 of the hit MTV reality show, Clark's daughter Kassy appeared alongside Farrah, who learned the results of the paternity test.
"My daughter is not on the show anymore because Farrah only wanted her on the show for ratings and now wants nothing to do with her," Clark said. "I think Farrah has changed her phone number so none of us can call her."
Clark said she wouldn't visit uninvited, and couldn't anyway: "I don't know where she lives," and fears Farrah would "probably call the cops," she said.
Her only explanation for the familial distance is "she's spiteful."
"She's said on the show that we never supported the relationship [between her and my son], but her family didn't support the relationship either."
"It was just because they fought all the time. And I understand teenagers will do that. They were on-again, off-again, and Derek [my son] would always be upset. I just wanted them to move on because they never got along."
Follow the link to continue reading Radar Online's talk with Stormie ...