ADELE SWEEPS THE 54TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS

Adele at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards

Making a triumphant return to the stage after recovering from her Throat Surgery last fall, fave Brit Siren Adele had the audience cheering and clapping at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards performing an eagerly-awaited rendition of Song of the Year/Record of the Year Winner, Rolling in the Deep. Tears were visible in her eyes following her performance as she stood and took-in a standing ovation.

Prior to this evening, Adele had collected two GRAMMY Awards in 2009 including the coveted Best New Artist.  Although many see that Award as somewhat of a career curse, she clearly is an exception garnering six more GRAMMYs to her name tonight, including top honours with her Disc 21 in the category Album of the Year.  Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Diana Ross handed the Award to the tearful 23-year-old, who thanked her Mother first and foremost even though she wasn't in attendance.

Foo Fighters also fared exceptionally well, winning six Awards tonight for their work on latest Disc, Wasting Light.  Since forming in 1994, the Band led by David Grohl have earned a whopping an impressive eleven GRAMMYs.

85-year-old Jazz Legend Tony Bennett was presented tonight with two additional GRAMMY Awards for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Body and Soul (ft. Amy Winehouse) and also his U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart-topping Duets II for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.   Although not televised, Bennett had Winehouse's Parents join him on-stage to accept the Award on-stage.  Bennett now has now won a total 16 GRAMMYs in his celebrated Career.  Both he and Carrie Underwood presented Best New Artist to Wisconsin's own Bon Iver.  Lead Singer Justin Vernon currently is seeing Canadian Singer/Songwriter Kathleen Edwards.

"THE VOICE" SEES 120% INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS BEST IN SEASON TWO PREMIERE

Official Poster for The Voice

The numbers are in and if you thought NBC's The Voice was a smash the first season, its season Premiere on Super Bowl Sunday saw a 120% increase from its previous biggest measured ratings night, May 31, 2011.  Viewers who tuned-in saw even more of that noted tension between Mentors, Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine with the Diva repeatedly talking over Levine and at one point calling him a "Justin Timberlake Wannabe", which required an apology on her part shortly after.

There were a couple interesting stories during the Blind Auditions, which saw the Mentors listening to Contestants once again with their backs turned including one Contestant, a former Disney Mouseketeer who sang alongside Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, Britney Spears and Aguilera herself, named Tony Lucca.  At first failing to recognize the Singer-Songwriter, Aguilera bolted backstage after cluing-in to his identity, finally running to give him a hug.  "Britney used to have such a crush on you!", she revealed on National Television.

Another Contestant who stood-out is the handsome Chris Mann, who previously has appeared on Glee as a Dalton Academy Warbler.  The Singer, who specializes in Opera, has had various false starts also and his Muse is his Mother, who currently is battling Pancreatic Cancer.

The Voice airs on NBC Monday nights at 8:00 PM EST.

(Photo credit: NBC)

WATCH: MADONNA PERFORMS AT "SUPER BOWL XLVI HALFTIME SHOW"

Madonna and LMFAO perform at Super Bowl XLVI

One word to describe Madonna's much-hyped Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show Performance: Madjestic! The Queen of Pop may have had her worries about entertaining all of North America before their Television Sets/Computer Monitors tonight, but was she ever amaze! 

Although mostly mimed, Madonna's performance was tight, fitting perfectly into the allotted 13 minutes which was complete with an army of Dancers, Gold Pom-Poms, some chart-topping Special Guests, and a Gospel Choir, as she zipped her way through a Medley of hits.

Madonna's Medley of hits included:

• Vogue performed in a Viking Queen ensemble

• Music including her doing Cartwheels, with a dash of Party Rock Anthem featuring LMFAO tossed in. Demonstrating her superior upper body strength, she did a couple leg kicks, holding the weight of her body up only with her often criticized muscular arms

• As expected, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. joined Madonna on-stage for Give Me All Your Luvin' amidst of sea of dancers on bleachers.

• Cee Lo Green joined her on-stage for a snippet of Open Your Heart and Express Yourself with a Marching Band, before lending his soulful vocals on Like a Prayer, complete with a Gospel Choir.

Completely over-the-top.  Completely necessary. People will be talking about this performance for years, even if some of the reviews online were mixed.

Watch Madonna's Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show Performance in full:

CEE LO, LMFAO, NICKI MINAJ & M.I.A. POSSIBLE TO JOIN MADONNA ON "SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW"

LMFAO in Toronto - November 2011

In what surely will be a Spectacle, LMFAO is now confirmed to be a part of Madonna's Super Bowl Halftime Show performance.  Will.i.am confirmed to Capital FM, "I'm going to the Super Bowl this year to see my group LMFAO perform with Madonna".

Some sources also are reporting that Cee Lo Green will be performing together with the Queen of Pop and cite that he's been flying in and out of New York these past few weeks to rehearse for the performance.

We already know that Madonna will be performing new Single, Give Me all Your Luvin' as part of the 12-minute performance and that M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj will be joining her on-stage. With only 12 minutes to entertain the World, just how much of this will actually be about Madonna? Apparently there might even be some additional surprises.

We'll have to see on February 5, 2012 when Super Bowl XLVI airs on NBC at 6:30 PM EST!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

NBC'S "THE VOICE" CLOBBERS "GLEE" IN RATINGS DEBUT

The Judges of NBC's The Voice

In a bit of a Ratings shocker, NBC's singing Reality TV Competition The Voice outperformed FOX's Glee in a special 90-minute episode of the latter last night. The evening marked The Voice's big debut which based on its Star Power with Celebrity Judges Cee Lo, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, drew a huge crowd with 11.4 million Viewers at 9 PM, and 12.2 million at 10 PM. ABC's Dancing with the Stars was a clear Winner with 12.8 million Viewers at 8 PM and 18 million at 9 PM.

The Voice is unique from FOX's American Idol in that it has its Judges picking talent over looks with the Contestants dueling with each other for a Recording Contract.  On another level, each of the four Judges are also competing against one another also in that they must convince Contestants to work under their wings, with the Judge yielding the best results being victorious.

Glee paid tribute to Lady Gaga last night with its Born this Way-themed episode celebrating its characters hidden imperfections. The Gaga tie-in however wasn't enough to save it as it pulled in 8.4 million Viewers in the 9 PM slot and 8.6 million in the 10 PM slot.

Is Glee Mania starting to wane?  Are the Story Lines running thin? Uh-oh.

(Photo credit: NBC)

MUCHMUSIC TO AIR "THE VOICE" IN CANADA

The Judges of NBC's The Voice (L to R): Cee Lo, Christina Aguilera
Adam Levine, Blake Shelton

Love is blind. Or at least the people behind NBC's The Voice would like us to think that. It was just announced that MuchMusic will be airing the Reality TV Series/Competition when it premieres on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 7:00 PM EST.

The Voice will have Singers competing against one another for a grand prize of a $100k Record Contract under Universal Republic, home of Amy Winehouse, Colbie Caillat and Jessie J. Judges come from a wide-spectrum of genres including Christina Aguilera, Maroon 5's Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Cee Lo.  The Show claims not to be judging its Singers on their looks. 

V. progressive ain't it?  Whomever wins this thing has the Susan Boyles and Paul Potts of the world to thank, them having proven that singing talent with a bit of the X-Factor can sell records.  Count me officially among those excited.

(Photo credit: NBC)

GWYNETH PALTROW INKS $900K RECORD DEAL

Gwyneth Paltrow on Glee

So obvious! Gwyneth Paltrow just inked a record deal yesterday with Atlantic Records (distributed via Warner Music).  It it said the deal was worth $900,000 US, making her a label mate of Cee Lo Green, whom she has been seen performing Forget You with on-stage much of late.

The news comes hot on the heels of her second ever apperance on Glee last night where her character Holly Holiday appears to be in a looming romance with Matthew Morrison`s Will Schuester.

We can almost expect a proper duet between her and Green, maybe on a track penned by Warner`s Bruno Mars, maybe?  Hmm.

(Photo credit: Fox)

RIHANNA, ARCADE FIRE, CEE LO AND JUSTIN BIEBER AMONG WINNERS AT 2011 BRIT AWARDS

Rihanna was the Queen of the Red Carpet last night at the 2011 BRIT Awards, honouring the UK’s finest in Music. The fiery Redhead looked a vision in a Peacock Blue, Green and Purple number from Christian Dior Couture which only the Only Girl (in the World) could pull off.  The two-time Grammy Winner also wound up winning the Award for International Female Solo Artist. The quirky and sassy Cee Lo Green won International Male Solo Artist.  I had the honour of meeting both Cee Lo and Rihanna in-person last year and have been championing both of them all the way!  Amazing.

Canada’s Arcade Fire was given the honour of International Album and Best International Group for their 2010 release Suburbs, which just won Album of the Year at the Grammys on Sunday. Above this, Justin Bieber also represented Canada well in winning the Award for International Breakthrough Act after a heartbreaking loss for both him and his Fans at the Grammys in the Best New Artist category.

Jessie J who just topped the Charts with second single Price Tag in the UK, was awarded Critics’ Choice Award which is given annually to the Artist who shows the most promise. Despite not winning any Awards, previous Critics’ Choice Winner Adele stunned the audience with a stirring rendition of Someone Like You from her soon to be released sophomore effort 21.

GWYNETH PALTROW TO HOST "SNL" A THIRD TIME



Gwyneth Paltrow at TIFF 2005

Somebody needs to give Gwyneth Paltrow's Agent a raise because the Actress/Singer/Tastemaker is front and center again suddenly. With Country Strong hitting theatres this Friday, Paltrow will also be filling hosting duties on the Saturday, January 15, 2011 episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live. Musical Guest for the evening will be Cee Lo, whose most recent hit Fuck You, she covered recently on Glee in cleaned-up form. I suppose we can expect a musical collaboration that night too?

This coming appearance actually will be Paltrow's third time hosting the show. She hosted for the first time back in 1999 alongside the Barenaked Ladies and again in 2001 with Mandy Moore's now-husband Ryan Adams. She also appeared twice uncredited on episodes back in 2000 with then-boyfriend Ben Affleck and again with Tom Green hosting.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)