Two big performances from two reigning chart Queens are what we can look forward to this year. It has now been confirmed that Adele will perform at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards on February 12th. The singer’s label issued a press release announcing her addition to the line-up (comprising of Coldplay, Bruno Mars, Rihanna and many more). Adele, who is up for six awards, will belt out for the first time since cancelling a sold-out U.S. tour to undergo surgery on her vocal cords five months ago

Rihanna also joins rapper Drake as the headliner of this year’s ‘Wireless Festival’. Performing at London’s Hyde Park, Rihanna will will take to the stage on July 8th while performing hit singles from her impressive back catalogue. Click here to buy tickets. The singer is set on having a chilled back year as this will be the only concert she plays in the country. She can definetely afford to chill out and enjoy her downtime. For she is #1 with ticket sales revenue from the final European leg of her ‘Loud’ tour. So, who’s a bad ass then?

During an appearance on ‘The Tonight Show,’ Madonna continued her catty remarks towards fellow pop icon Janet Jackson. When Jay Leno asked the 53-year-old pop legend what was in store for her Super Bowl performance, she replied: “Well, for sure no nipples. But I wasn’t gonna go there. I mean, I don’t like to repeat myself, or do what other people have done before me”. A reference, which was clearly targeting her own sexed up history, as well as Janet’s infamous wardrobe malfunction. Hotmess.com!

Ole Madonna stays manipulating the media to the best of her ability. After this Super Bowl hype finally dies down, it will be interesting to see how Madge can put herself back on top, as opposed to being seen as the bitter, washed up hasbeen lately. In related laugh-worthy news, Sir Elton John recently offered Madonna advice on her Super Bowl half-time show by urging her to lip-synch: “Make sure you lip-synch good” he says. Old people beef eh? I live for it!

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Mariah Carey, looking youthful and well rested, joins Jermaine Dupri in the latest installment of his YouTube series, ‘Living the Life (LTL)’ live from the studio this morning at 7am. The diva is up to her old tricks this time around (i.e. ‘Mimi’), and thats a good thing! Sticking to her guns and giving the fans what they want Mariah Carey has hired her favorite producers including Randy Jackson, Big Jim Wright, JD, and DJ Clue to help steamroll this project straight to the top. Can she do it? No doubt, Mariah is always at her best when she’s counted out—and like Adele and Beyonce have proven, talent always outweighs a fad.

Check out the songwriter of Billboard’s Song of the Decade getting ready to lay down those big vocals she known for after the jump and sound off below!

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Ruthless Simon Cowell brought his big fat axe to the corporate meeting surrounding the future of season two’s X Factor USA this week. The blade was sharp and very able, meaning heads were sliced right off judges Nicole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul and the shows host Steve Jones. Scherzinger and Abdul reportedly got the chop because they delivered lukewarm delivery to the panel. Other reports suggest Scherzinger knew Fox executives were not pleased with her performance and she handed in her resignation anyway to spare the ‘humilaition’ of a public sacking.

Scherzinger is citing her invisible music career needing to take the front seat as reason why she cannot continue with the show. It was confirmed that she was in the recording studio with Bangladesh over the weekend putting the finishing touches to her ill-fated ‘Killer Love’ US release. Jones, who confirmed his departure last night, was clearly sacked and it has been evident from previous comments that it was not his decision to leave. No surprises that he got the axe. Jones sure was a nice piece of eye candy for us ladies, but his personality was dryer than burnt toast without its butter. As a result, viewers failed to warm up to him. LA Reid‘s continuing position as a judge is concrete which serves as no surprise given that his label Epic Records plays a pivotal part in the show.

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In the midst of a raging gay rave, here is Madonna‘s official artwork for new album ‘MDNA’. The reflective, very colourful and striking album cover really is a revisitation to an era dating back two decades ago. Actually, looking at it again, it’s pretty cool only because of its boldness which literally screams out at you. Something most album covers should set out to do, especially if the unmastered airing of that first single leaves little to be desired.

It’s definetely a massive improvement from the atrocity that was her ‘Hard Candy’ album artwork and I can definetely work with its futuristic elements. Madge will release her album ‘MDNA’ internationally on March 26th, 2012. You ready to party people?

Olivia‘s music career has been on life support for almost a decade now. But props where props is due. The ‘Love and Hip Hop’ star brings her stance against domestic violence in her new music video for ‘Walk Away’. It’s plain and simple and the message couldn’t be any clearer. No matter how deep your feelings run for a man, if he starts hitting you, leave him. Encouraging words in which she hopes will get through to her suffering friend.

The video itself was very dramatic and the interpretive dancing added a nice touch. However, the dialogue and overall acting was very wooden. Plus, Livvy’s styling needed work and the dark lipstick was not a good look at all. I’ve seen the domestic violence concept executed a lot better in other visuals but that’s not to say this was a bad effort. Very nice song, by the way. Watch the Gee-lo directed visual below.

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Monica‘s new album has been pushed back to April 3rd 2012, according to Amazon. The project was previously set for March. With February approaching this week, fans only have to wait 8 weeks to get their hands on the anticipated project. I cannot wait to hear the Brandy-assisted lead single ‘It All Belongs To Me’. We’re no longer in an era where R&B is dominant like it was in the 90s. I’m not expecting it to smash the Billboard Hot 100 like ‘The Boy Is Mine’.

However, those two are veterans and name alone could secure them a nice hit on the R&B charts. Whatever the case, I hope it does the job so that ‘New Life’ need not encounter any more pushbacks.

Unfortunately for Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am, he has never encountered the type of solo success enjoyed by his bandmate Fergie. Perhaps getting some big names for his upcoming new album ‘#willpower’ may drum up interest for the project. At least, that is what he’s hoping for. In addition to his Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger-assisted first single ‘The Hardest Ever’, he has revealed that Alicia Keys, Britney Spears, Shakira and Nicole Scherzinger will serve as guest features on the forthcoming project.

He says: “I have a song with Alicia Keys – me, Alicia and Swedish House Mafia. Me and Shakira have been trying to finish the stuff we started, and me and Britney is really crazy. I made this song with Nicole Scherzinger that you would never expect. This classic piece of music that I did with Nicole, it’s beautiful. That girl sings like I’ve never heard anybody sing like that in pop culture”. Sounds good on paper, and I’ll leave it at that.

When reviewing Teyana Taylor‘s Wale-assisted new single ‘Make Your Move’, I commented on how Taylor was paying homage with her Michael Jackson adlibs. That very homage looks to have been stepped up for the upcoming music video. The clip sees the singer channelling the late King of Pop in some newly released behind the scenes footage from the set. The visual was shot at NYC hotspot Cotton club in Harlem.

The retro feel-good cut serves as the first single from Taylor’s upcoming EP, and she was certainly showing off those MJ-inspired dance moves. It was like watching an updated version of Michael’s ‘Smooth Criminal’. The EP will be made available on February 29th.

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The Super Bowl serves as the ultimate forum for advertisers to distribute their TV commercials. One of those highly anticipated commercials this year comes from Pepsi, who have teamed up with X Factor USA winner Melanie Amaro and the legendary Elton John. In the commercial, Amaro sings an electronica dance version of Aretha Franklin‘s classic hit ‘Respect’. Simon Cowell deserves to be shot for that remix. Ugh. She sounds amazing but that better not be her first single or she’s screwed.

The 60-second commercial features a medieval setting with Amaro performing in front of a ‘royal court of rock’. John steps into character as the King. The commercial will end with the following tagline, “Where there’s Pepsi, there’s music”. It looks like a cute and fun commercial and there’s some appeal to the fairy tale concept. Check out a preview of the TV slot below and tune in on Sunday (February 5th) during the Super Bowl for the full-length commercial.

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