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.

TERRENCE HOWARD AT TIFF 2011 FOR "WINNIE"

Terrence "Dashon" Howard & Mr. Will-W.

Academy Award Nominee Terrence Dashon Howard originally was to accompany Jennifer Hudson on the Red Carpet tonight at the TIFF 2011 Premiere of Winnie, a Biopic about Winnie Mandela. Due to a last minute cancellation however, Hudson was unable to attend, leaving the weight of Press all on Howard to do himself.

Despite arriving later than anticipated, Howard generously made his way through the Red Carpet, shaking the hand of everyone who lined along the Barricades of Roy Thomson Hall and I was one of the few who got a Photo with the Actor, who plays the role of Nelson Mandela in Winnie.

Feedback so far for Winnie appears to be positive with quite a bit of praise surrounding Hudson's performance, but we'll have to wait til December 2011 to see it when the Film gets a release.

THE 2011 MET GALA - RED CARPET VICTRESSES

One of my favourite events of the year to creep is the the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art's Costume Institute Gala and the Ladies came out in full force again this year.  The Gala this year features the Exhibition, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, honouring the late Designer whose Successor Sarah Burton has had Fashionistas in a fury uniformly with Kate Middleton's Grace Kelly-inspired Wedding Dress.

Jennifer Hudson flaunted that new Body in Oscar de la Renta.  Jennifer Lopez stunned in Gucci.  Blake Lively shocked in Chanel.  Dakota Fanning was cute in Valentino. Salma Hayek was flawless in Alexander McQueen.  Madonna was demure in Stella McCartney. Both Sofia Vergara and Renée Zellweger were perfection in Carolina Herrera.

Visit Zimbio for all the Photos.

(Photo credit: Zimbio/Getty Images)

HAPPY WORLD AIDS DAY

Jennifer Hudson 

Happy World AIDS Day!  Wait. That's inappropriate isn't it? According a 2009 Report from the United Nations, it is estimated that 33.3 million people around the World are infected with HIV/AIDS and that is no laughing matter.  Although globally fewer people overall are dying of AIDS due to advancements in Medicine since the 1990s which slow down the progression of HIV to AIDS, there still is a steady increase in the number of people living with HIV around the World.

Some of our favourite Celebrities have teamed together to raise money for Children in Africa who are infected with AIDS. Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Justin Timberlake, Kim Kardashian, Bronson Pelletier, Usher, Lady Gaga and many more have staged their own Digital Deaths today, which means that until they raise $1 million from their Fans via Text Message Donations, there will be no more online communication between them and their Fans through Social Utilities like Facebook and Twitter.  And to think Hudson just lost all that weight and can't even enjoy it now!

Click here for details on how to donate to and learn about the cause. It's easy to donate and even my favourite Starbucks has created their own World AIDS Day initiative where $0.05 from each Hand-Crafted Beverage (made at the Bar) sold today will be donated to the Global Fund.

(Photo credit: BuyLife.Org)

ALICIA KEYS, JENNIFER HUDSON AND WHITNEY HOUSTON AT 2010 BLACK BALL

Best photo ever. Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City hosted the Keep a Child Alive's annual Black Ball this past weekend, raising money for children affected by HIV/AIDS. The event raised a stellar $2.4 million and in attendance were many amazing artists like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Whitney Houston. One lucky photographer got this amazing shot of a v. slim Hudson, Keys and Houston together. So much strength and glamour all in one glance. I cannot handle it!

Check out more pictures on Houston's official site.

(Photo credit: WireImage/WhitneyHouston.com)

NEW JENNIFER HUDSON AND TERENCE HOWARD STILL FROM WINNIE MANDELA BIOPIC

This promotional still has just been released for forthcoming Winnie Mandela Biopic, Winnie which is currently filming in South Africa. The film stars Grammy and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and Oscar nominee Terence Howard as Winnie and Nelson. As the story goes, Winnie fought 27 years (1962 to 1990) for her husband's release from prison after having been jailed for Sabotage in his Anti-Apartheid efforts. The couple divorced in 1996, shortly after Nelson's release. It is said that production has just reached the stage in their relationship where the couple weds. It's about time Hudson got a role deserving of her after having appeared in a string of well-cast, but alas little-seen films like Fragments and The Secret Life of Bees.

Winnie is set to be released sometime in 2011 and is directed by Darrell James Roodt. The film is a Canadian-South African co-production, meaning that there is a chance that it may screen at 2011's TIFF? Calm down now, there's still a while to go....

HELP FOR HAITI NOW - BEYONCÉ PERFORMS HALO WITH CHRIS MARTIN

George Clooney (pictured left in a pic I got of him this  past September at TIFF), spearheaded tonight's Hope For Haiti Now telethon which aired on all major U.S. networks.  The two-hour show was a star-studded spectacle which included the likes of Alicia Keys, John Legend, Anderson Cooper, Madonna, Beyoncé, Shakira, Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, Taylor Swift, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, U2, Jay-Z and many, many more.

Actors, singers and everyday people impacted personally by the disaster in Haiti took turns speaking about how we can aid the cause with our donations.  There were many genuinely touching moments like Julia Roberts accepting a donation over the phone from a nurse who was eager to go to Haiti to assist in medical aid.  Also, we were treated to many amazing musical performances with highlights such as Aguilera performing Lift Me Up from her soon-to-be released album Bionic, Hudson's rendition of Let It Be (The Beatles) and my favourite performance of the evening, Beyoncé's Halo in which she personalized the lyrics specifically to Haiti.  And yes, that was Coldplay's Chris Martin accompanying her on keys.  Madonna performing Like a Prayer and pride of Haiti Wyclef Jean, each provided a couple of the rare uplifting moments on the broadcast.

Donate to Hope for Haiti Now from anywhere in the world by visiting their website for details.  The musical performances can be downloaded as an album on iTunes on January 25, 2010.  Visit http://itunes.com/haiti for details. All proceeds will be going towards Haiti's relief efforts.

You can watch Beyoncé's outstanding performance of Halo with Chris Martin below (audio content owned by Sony Music):

JENNIFER HUDSON AND MICHAEL BUBLÉ: HEATING UP YOUR HOLIDAYS

ABC aired Grammy and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson's hour-long Christmas special I'll Be Home For Christmas tonight, documenting her return to her hometown of Chicago. The program followed Hudson as she went back to her former high school and church, reuniting with friends and family along the way. More notably, she delivered some very soulful renditions of This Christmas, O Come All Ye Faithful, The Christmas Song and Silent Night and we could sense her nervousness in singing alongside some local mentors she looked up to growing up. She remains humble despite having earned her place alongside them.

Although the special didn't necessarily connect us to any deep emotional level with her, America like Hudson, has had a tough run over the past while. Seeing her be strong enough to overcome it all is fitting in these times of hope and change.

During the special, Hudson did a duet medley of Baby, It's Cold Outside and Let It Snow with Canada's beloved Michael Bublé. Hudson made him a first choice to collaborate with in this special, stating that his voice perfectly exemplifies for her the meaning of Christmas. The two playfully bantered back and forth and if you do a search on YouTube, you just might be able to find the performances online.

Bublé also just announced the launch of his Crazy Love Tour, with its American leg kicking off March 10th in Orlando, Florida and wrapping up April 9th in Los Angeles, California. The European leg of his tour begins May 6th also in Sheffield, England, although there are no Canadian dates announced yet. For a full list of tour dates, visit the handsome crooner's official tour site.

As an interesting aside, Bublé revealed to MR. WILL-W.: POP MAVEN readers that he finds much joy in eating some of his favourite comfort foods which include: his Grandmother's homemade Risotto, Velveeta Mac and Cheese, Beef Jerky, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (my Mavenati in Australia don't know what they're missing!) and Cheetos. He also let us know that his most essential item of clothing to bring along while touring is his favourite pair of jeans, which he has had repaired four times apparently. Perhaps, he'll be on Santa's Nice List this year and get a gift card to his tailor.

Don't forget to check out my review of Bublé's Crazy Love album here. Watch a teaser for the Crazy Love Tour below:

*I took the above photo of Hudson during her 2008 visit to Toronto during TIFF. The photo of Bublé was taken 2006 at his Sony Centre show in Toronto.