Drake was left silent during a concert in Los Angeles on Tuesday night after the sound cut out mid-show.

The hip-hop newcomer was performing at Bao Steakhouse in L.A. as part of a promotional event, with a star-studded audience including Jamie Foxx, Zoe Saldana and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

But Drake’s rapping fell quiet half-way through his set when a technical problem affected the sound and halted the show, according to the New York Daily News.

The newspaper reports hip-hop fan Foxx went over to the sound booth to talk to the engineer in charge. A source claims the singer/actor “went nuts on the guy working in the sound booth”.

The botched gig comes just a week after Drake was forced to cancel a show in New York due to over-crowding.

It was comeback night at the BET Awards.

Kanye West opened Sunday’s show in his first TV appearance since dissing Taylor Swift at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards. T.I. made a triumphant return to TV for his first performance since being released from prison in December. And 1980s hitmaker El DeBarge blazed back onto the stage to play old hits and the title track from his first new album in 16 years.

But most unexpected was Chris Brown, who offered an emotional tribute to Michael Jackson.

The embattled pop star has mostly kept a low profile since the incident with Rihanna in February 2009. But here he was, center stage, mimicking Jackson’s signature dance moves with almost eerie accuracy. Introduced by Jermaine Jackson, Brown embodied the King of Pop, wearing his fedora and spangled glove and moonwalking across the stage to “Billie Jean.”

Then, as Brown grabbed a microphone to sing “Man in the Mirror,” he broke down in tears. His voice cracked, he couldn’t sing, and at one point he crumpled to the stage in apparent agony. It was a moving moment made even more so by the song’s lyrics and his own recent past.

The 21-year-old returned to the stage later to apologize to his fans.

“I let you all down before, but I won’t do it again. I promise you,” Brown said.

Performances were so plentiful during the 3 1/2-hour show that prizes were almost secondary.

Usher was backed by a string section as he sang “There Goes My Baby.” Drake, who was named best male hip-hop artist, performed his hit “Thank Me Later.” B.o.B. was joined by Keyshia Cole, and later Eminem, on “Airplanes.” Eminem continued with his new single, “Not Afraid,” backed by a choir. Trey Songz, who was named best male R&B artist, crooned his hit, “Yo Side of the Bed,” as a banner on stage behind him read, “pray for our soldiers and their families.”

Alicia Keys performed a medley of her hits, bookended by two awards. She won for female R&B artist and best collaboration for her song with Jay-Z, “Empire State of Mind.”

Ludacris was surrounded by female violinists and backed by Tommy Lee on drums as he performed “My Chick Bad.” Then a marching band joined him on stage – as did DJ Khaled, T-Pain, Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj – for the rousing “Hands Up.”

Host Queen Latifah was also musical, first singing to famous members of the audience, then returning to her rap roots and rhyming about the royalty in the house: herself and Prince, who received BET’s lifetime achievement award.

The venerable entertainer was feted with an all-female musical tribute. Janelle Monae delivered an energetic take on “Let’s Go Crazy.” Jazz musician Esperanza Spalding accompanied herself on standup bass for “If I Was Your Girlfriend.” Alicia Keys started behind the piano, then climbed on top of it, when she sang “Adore,” and Patti LaBelle kicked off her shoes to give her all to “Purple Rain.”

Prince, who wore a tunic with his own image on it, seemed humbled by the tribute.

“I’m just so thankful to be a part of this world of music,” he said. “Thanks for a wonderful night. I’ll never forget it as long as I live.”

John Legend was presented with BET’s humanitarian award for his work with the Show Me Campaign, which aims to eradicate poverty worldwide through education and health care. He challenged his peers to become humanitarians as well.

“There’s a lot of money, fame and influence in this room tonight,” Legend said. “So I say to all of us: We can do better, we can make this world better. Let’s not waste this opportunity.”

Other winners included Minaj for female hip-hop artist, Serena Williams for sportswoman of the year and LeBron James for sportsman of the year. Beyonce and Lady Gaga weren’t on hand to accept their award for video of the year for “Video Phone,” nor was Rihanna around to collect the viewer’s choice award for her song with Young Jeezy, “Hard.”

The BET Awards honor the year’s best in music, sports and film in 19 categories. Winners are selected by a voting academy comprising industry insiders and executives, music journalists and a group of fans randomly selected by BET.com.

(source)

Kanye West

Chris Brown

Prince

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VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

Jennifer Hudson is to open up in a TV interview about the family tragedy which saw her mother and brother murdered in a grisly killing spree.

The Dreamgirls singer/actress was left grief-stricken in October, 2008 when her mum Darnell Donerson and brother Jason were found shot dead at their Chicago, Illinois home. The body of her seven-year-old nephew, Julian King, was found in an abandoned car three days later.

Hudson is now preparing to discuss the traumatic experience on Behind The Music on VH1, which will see her “talk at length” about the murders, reports MTV News.

The star will also discuss her rise to fame on American Idol, as well as her engagement and new son, David Jr.

Hudson’s sister Julia’s estranged husband, William Balfour, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first degree murder and home invasion in connection with the triple tragedy.

“Behind The Music: Jennifer Hudson” which premieres at a new time on VH1 Monday, June 28 at 10 PM ET/PT.

(source)

Rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Famer Gregg Allman underwent a successful liver transplant surgery Wednesday morning at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla.

Allman’s manager Michael Lehman told The Associated Press in a phone interview that Allman was groggy but awake Wednesday morning and that the co-founder of the seminal Southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band could be sitting up and on his feet by nightfall.

“He’s psyched to put this time of his life behind him and have a chance again to feel really healthy and good, and hopefully live for many more years to come,” Lehman said.

Allman began treatment for Hepatitis C in 2007 but chronic damage to his liver led to the transplant. He had been on the waiting list until doctors found a suitable liver.

Lehman said Allman got the call late Tuesday afternoon and drove to Jacksonville from his home near Savannah, Ga., for the early morning surgery.

Doctors told him to expect to be in the hospital for up to a week, stay in the Jacksonville area for up to three weeks and possibly be back on the road by November, Lehman said. Doctors said he should be able to participate in the wedding of his daughter, Island, on July 26, he added.

“It’s his dream to be able to walk her down the aisle,” Lehman said.

Allman battled addiction over the years and has been suffering side effects from the hepatitis, though he still managed a robust touring schedule. He had been on the transplant list longer than average, Lehman said, but his schedule was kept mostly clear in anticipation of a possible transplant this summer.

Lehman says he’s planning a late fall tour that could begin in November and a new Gregg Allman Band album, the T Bone Burnett-produced “Low Country Blues,” is due in January.

“I changed my ways years ago, but we can’t turn back time,” Allman said in a news release. “Every day is a gift, and I can’t wait to get back on the road making music with my friends.”

Mariah Carey is in the doghouse with a veterinarian who says the pop superstar hasn’t paid nearly $30,000 in bills for three of her prized pooches.

Veterinarian Cindy Bressler sued Carey on Wednesday in a Manhattan state court.

Bressler provided “extraordinary services” for the Jack Russell terriers – Cha-Cha, Dolomite and JJ – but the Grammy Award-winning singer paid only about $8,200 of the roughly $37,800 in charges, the lawsuit says. The bills cover a little more than a month of care.

Bressler’s lawyer, Michael C. Posner, declined to elaborate on the dogs’ treatment. Bressler, whose website notes that she makes house calls in New York City and the Hamptons and caters to “prominent New Yorkers and celebrity clients,” didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail message seeking comment.

Carey’s spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to telephone and e-mail messages.

The pop diva has made her dogs something of characters in her multiplatinum-selling career, including in some comic video sketches made as part of an MTV.com promotion and posted on YouTube. In one, she and JJ compare the fit of their jeans: “I told you those `fat-free’ dog treats weren’t fat-free,” she scolds.

She also regularly chronicles her dogs’ doings on her Twitter feed, from Cha-Cha urinating on her dressing room floor and jumping on her last September to Dolomite stealing her underwear out of a suitcase while she was vacationing in March.

Known for R&B-inflected singles such as “Vision of Love” and “Hero,” Carey, 40, has sold more than 50 million albums during her 20-year career. Her 18 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart put her ahead of every other artist except the Beatles.

Her “The Emancipation of Mimi” was the best-selling album of 2005, selling 5 million copies. Her most recent album, “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel,” was released last year.

She also has appeared in movies, earning praise for her role in last year’s “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.”

She is married to actor and producer Nick Cannon, and they recently welcomed a new addition to their household: a puppy named Jackie Lambchops, born to Cha-Cha this month, according to Carey’s Twitter feed.

Her romance with NFL star Reggie Bush may be over, but Kim Kardashian still has a love for football.

Kim, 29, has been spotted out with a new man, and just like her ex, he is an NFL star too.

Kim, who broke up with Reggie earlier this year, is now rumored to be dating Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, Miles Austin.

‘It’s not just a revenge relationship,’ a source tells a US magazine.

‘Kim has really fallen for Miles and the feeling is mutual.’

‘She is carving out more time in her schedule to be with Miles, and she is telling those close to her that he’s “the one”,’ the source added.

Kim is believed to have invited him to watch her brother-in-law, Lamar Odom, play in the NBA Finals at The Staples Centre but the pair sat separately to keep the romance under wraps.

Kim stayed with her sister Khloe courtside while Miles joined their brother Rob in the stands.

Miles, 25, is originally from Summit, New Jersey and was drafted to play for Dallas in 2006 after he left college.

Kim has been linked to several men since her split from Reggie including Portuguese footballer Christiano Ronaldo.

Kim ended her three year relationship with Saints player Reggie, 25, despite her hopes of marrying the star and starting a family.

She was previously married to music producer Damon Thomas from 2002 to 2004.

Kate Gosselin has sparked more rumors she has sought the help of a plastic surgeon to refresh her look.

The Kate Plus Eight star was spotted looking frozen-faced as she shopped for food near her home in Pennsylvania on Wednesday.

Her eyebrows appeared to have developed a much more defined arch and her forehead seemed smooth and waxy, both possible signs of Botox use.

Only last week, reports surfaced that the 35-year-old mother of eight may of undergone a secret boob job early last year around the time she separated from her husband of 10 years, Jon.

Insiders claimed that Steve Neild – the star’s bodyguard – drove his famous client to the doctor’s office when it allegedly took place on March 30, 2009.
However Kate dismissed surgery talk earlier this year, saying: ‘Plastic surgery? Please. Who has time to even think about it, let alone do it?’

But she’s not completely adverse to the idea of a going under the knife.

In 2007 Gosselin had a tummy tuck procedure, which was shown on her TLC reality show, Jon and Kate plus Eight.

One thing is for sure – the once dowdy blonde has given her wardrobe a serious update this year.

The star, who is still incredibly toned following her stint on Dancing With The Stars earlier this year, opted for a very racy look complete with white hot pants, a plunging top and black heels.

Perhaps Kate is hoping to attract a new man.

She was overheard outside the supermarket telling onlookers, ‘I am lonely. I do need help.’

Gosselin told In Touch Weekly magazine back in April that she ‘has no man in her life’, and admitted she was worried that no one will love her again.