Okay, so we don’t get X-Factor here in the US so I’m not entirely sure how the show works but … apparently Dannii Minogue, as one of the judges, gets to pick 3 contestants to compete for the big prize and her contestants will go up against the 3 pics of the other judges. In order to help make her selection, it is being reported that Dannii enlisted the help of her big sister Kylie Minogue to help make the decision. Here are pics of Dannii and Kylie looking AMAZING in Dubai recently and the deets of all this X-Factor drama:

With seven number one hits, who better to help little sister Dannii win this year’s X Factor than Kylie Minogue? Dannii has vowed to beat rival judge Cheryl Cole by hiring Kylie – one of the world’s best-selling pop stars – to help her pick her three acts for the final. A source said: ‘Dannii realised once again that it’s a competition between the judges as much as it is between the competitors. ‘She knows she’s going to need the best team behind her.’ The source added: ‘Dannii knows that Cheryl is still managing to win the battle for the public. She realised it was time to bring in her sister to help change things around a bit.’ The sisters were filmed in a suite at the five-star Atlantis Palm hotel in Dubai, where rooms start at £1,000 a night. Kylie, 41, wears an emerald green off-the-shoulder dress while Dannii, 37, wears a floor-length patterned gown. The last 12 acts – three for each judge – will be revealed at the end of next Sunday’s show before the live rounds begin next month. A source told the Mirror: ‘The girls had a blast in Dubai. Dannii is a professional and takes her job as a judge very seriously. ‘But it was lovely for her to be able to take her sister with her to go through the decision-making process. Between them the girls have nearly 40 years experience in the music industry so who better to spot the stars of tomorrow?’ According to the Daily Star Sunday, Dannii claims she was made to feel like an outsider on last year’s X Factor. Dannii broke down in tears on one of the live shows when Louis Walsh accused her of stealing on of her song choices. The newspaper reveals that Dannii is once again reduced to tears on tonight’s Boot Camp show when her fellow judges decide to throw out one of her favourite artists.

Ummm … yeah … I still don’t know what the heck is going on over on X-Factor … all I know is that I love seeing the Minogue sisters together. It’s a shame that Dannii is all bizzy with this X-Factor biz in the UK cuz she’s gonna miss out on Kylie’s North American Tour debut this week here in Oakland, CA. I was hoping Dannii would be able to sneak over here to see Kylie’s shows but I understand she cannot break away. In any event, Dannii will be workin’ hard on X-Factor and Kylie will be workin’ hard touring the US (well, some of the US). Gotta love those Minogues :)

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Dannii Minogue, little sister to Kylie Minogue, has posted a few personal photos on her official blog of her and her new model boyfriend Kris Smith enjoying the sights of LA this Summer. Dannii and Kris, who are currently in Europe where Kris has been bizzy modeling these days, spent some time in SoCal recently and looked like they had a fun time lurvin’ all up on each other all the while. Here are a few of Dannii’s personal photos and the full accompanying text from her blog:

Hello Hollywood! I had a great trip to LA with my beautiful beau, Kris. It was his first visit, so a great chance to do the touristy things, and not feel a drop of guilt! My first tip is to take Hollyridge Trail to get the best tourist shots of the Hollywood sign! Then trek up Runyon Canyon Trail for some proper exercise, and views of Los Angeles … there are Palm trees to look at, and Rattle Snakes to look out for it seemed kind of timely to visit the Chinese Theatre to see the stars in the pavement and it’s always good to hunt for old favourites … don’t forget the shopping! and hot spots to eat … try the Octopus at Cecconi’s and everything at Palihouse! Palihouse do a proper English Sunday roast for anyone wanting some home cooking – the chef is British and you have to leave room for pudding! enjoy my little Mousketeers! dx

Get it, gurl! I have to say … Wow! Dannii has snagged herself a DAMN fine-lookin’ man. I am SO THRILLED to see Dannii looking so happy. I heard that these two were an item but this is the first time I’ve been able to see them together … hubba hubba! The make a very hot couple. I hope we get to see more of them. I’m also hoping Dannii (with or without Kris) will be back here in the US for Kylie’s upcoming concert dates. It would be so fab to see both Minogue sisters here on US soil :)

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MTV Australia handed out their annual Video Music Awards in Sydney last night and managed to bring a bunch of music stars down under for the lavish affair. Pete Wentz played host of the show while Hills star Audrina Patridge played host on the red carpet. Here are a few photos of some of the folks who came out for the MTV Australia Awards last night some deets from the event itself:

Hollywood starlet Ashlee Simpson joined her rocker husband Pete Wentz for an intimate moment on stage at the MTV Australia Awards. The couple surprised audiences with a lengthy kiss after introducing Kings of Leon performing via satellite from New Zealand. “Sorry we haven’t seen each other in a while,” Simpson said. “So we’re going to find a quiet place to go fornicate.” Wentz hosted the annual bash in Sydney, following in the footsteps of Simpson who hosted a few years ago. “I hosted this three years ago so I’m pretty much alumni,” Simpson said. Another surprise came in the form of 1990s rapper Vanilla Ice, who sang his hit Ice Ice Baby – delighting the crowd. Wentz showed off some rockstar antics by diving into the crowd as the Kaiser Chiefs launched into their song Never Miss A Beat. It was very much the Fall Out Boy bassist’s night as his band picked up the Best Rock Video award for their track I Don’t Care. US pop star Pink clinched best video for So What, while former Australian Idol Jessica Mauboy was crowned favourite Aussie. Katy Perry won the breakthrough artist gong, Britney Spears nabbed the best moves trophy, and Aussie band Sneaky Sound System got the independent spirit award. Earlier a raft of stars, including Australian glamour girls Dannii Minogue, Delta Goodrem and Lara Bingle, walked the red carpet at the award ceremony. Audrina Patridge from US reality TV show The Hills delivered gossip from the red carpet, joined by MTV presenters Darren McMullen, Ruby Rose and Maz Compton. US band The Killers opened the show at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour, followed by The Fray, Mauboy, Sia, Kaiser Chiefs, and Kings of Leon (via satellite). Later in the night Australian band Wolfmother rocked out with the world debut of their new single, Background.

Sounds like the Aussies had themselves a great time yesterday. For me, here in the US, it’s so strange to think of MTV VMA award shows happening at different times of the year in other countries. Because MTV traditionally has their big bash at the end of Summer, it’s weird for me to think that other MTV outlets around the world have their parties this early in the year. I think it’s really nice of MTV OZ to not only invite Vanilla Ice to their shindig but to allow him to perform as well. Mebbe we can get MC Hammer to do the same when we have our VMAs later this year. In any event, congrats to all the MTV OZ winners. Woot!

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

80,000 Aussies braved the rain and made their way out to the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to attend the Sound Relief charity concert this past weekend to help raise money to aid the victims of the Victorian bushfire that claimed the lives of 210 people last month. Artists like Kylie Minogue, Olivia Newton-John, Bee Gees member Barry Gibb, Kings of Leon and honorary Australians Coldplay performed at Sound Relief to help raise funds for bushfire relief. Here are a few photos of Kylie on stage during her performance and some info about the event itself:

Kylie Minogue returned to her hometown of Melbourne over the weekend for Australia’s largest ever fund-raising concert for victims of the bushfires. The singer was cheered on by an 80,000 strong crowd – which included her sister, X Factor judge Dannii – as she took to the stage at Sound Relief held at the city’s MCG. A heartfelt message and her moving rendition of the nation’s unofficial anthem I Still Call Australia Home, brought many fans to tears as they remembered the 210 people killed by the Victorian fires, the worst in Australia’s history. During her performance, which was broadcast simultaneously at a concert at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Kylie said: ‘I’m so thankful I can make it home tonight and share this with all of you. “There’s a thing we talk about a lot which is the Australian spirit and I believe that it’s in evidence tonight all around the country. And as someone that’s recognised around the world, I travel everywhere and that’s what people see in Australians. I don’t have a band, I don’t have dancers, in fact there ain’t one feather on me tonight. But I thought this could actually be my biggest gig ever if you are all prepared – and all of you in Sydney and all of you around the world – are prepared to sing with me.” Kylie lead some of the biggest names in Australian music, both past and present, as they turned out to raise money for the victims of the fires, including the 10,000 who were left homeless. The concerts raised an estimated £2.3million (A$5 million) to help rebuild residences destroyed in the blaze. Bee Gee Barry Gibb and Grease star Olivia Newton-John performed a duet while Midnight Oil reformed for the night. Princes William and Harry relayed a message of support on giant screens while American band Kings of Leon and British group Coldplay, currently on tour in the country, also turned out for the show. Lead singer Chris Martin said: “Today’s the only day in the world when we can claim to be honorary Australians.”

What a great event … and what a fun way to get so many people to help the others in need who are, undoubtedly, still reeling from the devastation caused by the bushfire last month. As the report noted, Kylie’s little sister Dannii Minogue was also in the hiz at the MCG. After the jump, check out a cute pic of the Minogue sisters posing together backstage …

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Britney Spears wrapped up her mini-European promo tour ahead of the release of her new album Circus (due out in stores on Tuesday December 2) by performing on the UK competitive reality program X-Factor on live TV last night — giving the program it’s highest ratings ever, pulling in 12.8 million viewers! Even tho Britney turned in the same routine that she gave in Germany and in France, there were small amendments to the routine and more life in this latest performance (I thought) than the previous two performances. Here are a few pics of Britney (lookin’ smokin’, I might add) on the X-Factor stage last night:

Britney Spears sang her latest hit on the X Factor stage during her first UK television performance in over four years. The pop singer, who turns 27 on Tuesday, mimed her way through her latest single Womanizer after the five remaining finalists each covered a classic Britney track. Spears, who was dressed all in black, with hotpants, fishnet tights and knee-high boots, did not coach the show’s contestants, as previous guests have done. It has been reported Spears travelled with a 45-strong entourage of stylists and security. And reports claimed she is said to have banned contestants and judges from approaching her. But the judging panel gave her a standing ovation along with an excited crowd. On Monday, she releases her sixth studio album Circus, and has been on a whistle-stop tour of Europe to promote the record. Earlier, Alexandra Burke, who sang Toxic, said: “When I was nine, Britney brought out Baby One More Time, and I loved her. I’m very excited about meeting her. This is the Britney we all know and love. I hope I can do my Britney song justice, with my own twist.” Eoghan Quigg performed Sometimes, Ruth Lorenzo – who was later voted off the reality show – sang I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll, Diana Vickers sang I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman and JLS took on Baby One More Time.

For me, the folks making such a big deal of Britney lip-syncing (“miming”) are missing the point — and none of this criticism is new. Even at the height of her fame, critics felt it necessary to try and demean her performances by making a point of the lip-syncing. She is a performer, not really a singer … she has always been this way. I, for one, do not mind it at all. I find when critics attack her for the lip-syncing it’s because they’ve run out of other things to complain about … it means that things have finally gotten back to normal ;) Regarding this performance, I felt that she offered the most vim and vigor of all the performances she put on this week. Even tho she wore the same outfit that she wore in Germany, I think she looked the best on X-Factor than on the other two shows. The rolling steel cage ball was taken out of the performance and made it feel more like a dance routine than a “spectacle” — I liked it. At the end, Britney got a standing ovation from the crowd and from the judges. The girl is not trying to reinvent the wheel … slowly and steadily, she is working towards getting back to her comfort zone. I think she is handling it all very well. After the jump, check out a backstage photo of Britney with the X-Factor judges, a few photos of Britney making her exit from the venue and video of her performance in full …

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Dannii Minogue was on hand in the UK this weekend host (and possibly accept an award on behalf of her TV series X-Factor) the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards UK … naturally, the folks at Nickelodeon took the opportunity to dump gallons of slime on the lovely Ms. Minogue:

Dannii was coated in the gunk as she hosted the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards UK today at London’s Excel centre. In her purple and silver frock and designer heels Kylie’s little sister looked every inch the glamorous pop star when she arrived at the event. But onstage her composure was shattered when a pool of green sludge rained down on her. The 36-year-old screamed and raised her clenched fists in horror, before setting her jaw in a clenched scowl. Ironically when Dannii had earlier told reporters that she hoped to see fellow X Factor judge Simon Cowell get gunged. “I’d slime Simon of course,” she said. “But could he handle it? Or would we finally see Mr Nasty lose his cool on TV? We’ll have to wait and see.” The X Factor is up for a gong at the awards, which will be screened air on September 20. It faces Doctor Who, Britain’s Got Talent and Harry Hill’s TV Burp for Favourite Winner prize.

Now, y’all know that Dannii is my girl so I had to take the opportunity to spread the word about her slimy weekend ;) This country is seriously devoid of Minogueness so there is no chance that I’ll be able to watch Dannii’s hosting performance when the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards airs in the UK later on this month … I guess I’ll have to make do with these amazingly fun pics ;)

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

Dannii Minogue sent me a cute little video message which teases for the opening segment of the new season of X-Factor, the competitive reality TV show that airs in the UK … check it out:

Wow! This opening segment looks like it’s gonna be awesome … I can’t wait to see how they manage to pull it off! Loves it!!!

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