Janet Jackson famously paid tribute to her late brother Michael Jackson in song and dance at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in NYC, NY earlier this month but she has since made her way to Europe to partake of the Fashion Week activities going on there this week. Janet was spotted in the front row of the Giorgio Armani Spring 2010 show at Milan Fashion Week yesterday … here are a few photos:

I gotta say, it’s really great seeing Janet’s trademark smile again. She’s had a tough time dealing with the death of her brother, I’m sure, so carrying on with work seems like a great idea right now. As you may recall, Janet leaked the first single off her new album after her MTV VMAs appearance and now she’s checkin’ out next season’s fashions at Milan Fashion Week. It’s great to see her happy again. I hope we continue to see happy Janet in the weeks/months to come.

[Photo credit: Wireimage]

Pretty much every celeb in NYC made their way out to attend the Marc Jacobs Spring 2010 fashion show which took place at The Armory here for New York Fashion Week yesterday and then made their way, post haste, to the Hiro Ballroom for the afterparty. Here are a few pics of some of the celebs who attended the event last night:

This is but a smattering of the celebs who packed themselves into the ballroom to celebrate Jacobs’s newest collection. So … wanna see what all the fuss was about? After the jump, check out a few of the pieces that walked down the runway yesterday for the Marc Jacobs and the Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2010 collections …

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As we are all pretty much aware by now, the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards were handed out at Radio City Music Hall here in NYC last night in a ceremony that was mired in controversy but also featured heartfelt tributes to the late Michael Jackson as well as a few spectacular performances and on stage appearances. Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals last night:

But for a few exceptions, most everyone looked amazing on the red carpet. I loved all the shiny bling that some folks were wearing … particularly Kristin Cavallari who wore a simple vintage dress and looked absolutely amazing in it. The show itself was really fun .. the opening tribute performance to MJ was really very cool and except for Kanye West’s douchey behavior, the show was very entertaining. Here are a few pics from the show and some deets about what went down:

Planned and random acts of kindness reigned at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday night. Among the planned acts: Janet Jackson’s opening tribute to her brother Michael, whose death at age 50 on June 25 rocked the music world. The production began with Madonna recalling her encounter with Michael and reminding the audience that “Michael Jackson was a hero.” And while “he seemed otherworldly,” she added, “he was also a human being.” And then, the performance began. Dancers crept up on stage with original Thriller video airing in the background. The dancers’ moves duplicated the ones being performed on the video. Then a sequence of Michael’s hits played. Bad and Smooth Criminal led to Scream, his duet with Janet, who broke through glass to make her way onstage and sing along with the video. The loud, almost angry performance had the audience on its feet. After the tribute, Madonna said backstage that “it was good to finally get to say my piece.” And then near the end of the show, in a gracious act of kindness, video-of-the-year winner Beyoncé offered young country music star Taylor Swift a second chance to say her piece with an acceptance speech. The moment came after Kanye West took everyone by surprise early in the show when he went onstage to interrupt Swift’s acceptance speech for best female video for You Belong With Me … The teen country star returned for her live performance of You Belong With Me later in the show. Celebrities reacted backstage. Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong said, “Well, you know, she’s young, I think she’ll get over it. I think he needs to get it over it also. It was very uncomfortable sitting there.” “I feel bad for Taylor,” said Kristin Cavallari. “I think it was really disrespectful” … Other music-related news items had guests talking at the awards show, too. American Idol’s Kara DioGuardi was asked about her new colleague at the judges’ table, Ellen DeGeneres. “I feel fantastic. I feel ecstatic. I can’t wait for January, when we can all be on the panel.” DioGuardi added that she has been in touch with former judge Paula Abdul. “I’ve spoken to her, and she seems to be doing really well, and that’s what matters.” Abdul is set to play host at the VH1 Divas special on MTV’s sister network on Thursday night (9 ET/PT). Faye Dunaway had two divas she was looking forward to seeing on Sunday at the VMAs. “Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. How could you not love Beyoncé?” Dunaway asked. Ne-Yo echoed Dunaway’s sentiment. When asked who he was rooting for, he replied, “Besides myself?” and then added, “I’m here to see Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Pink, everyone. I’m here just to enjoy the electricity.” And the atmosphere was electric, with returning host Russell Brand doling out his brash brand of humor. Among the stars: Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Eminem, Jermaine Jackson, Katy Perry, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.

For me, the live performances were the highlight of the entire night. After the jump, check out a few photos from the press room and watch a couple of my fave performances from the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards …

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The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards opened up with a touching tribute by Madonna for the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. In what seemed like a semi-off-the-cuff address, Madonna delivered a speech that sought to highlight the similarities that she shared with Michael Jackson in an attempt to outline what went wrong with his life. While some felt that the speech focused too much on her (and, to be honest, I can understand why), I personally feel it was a touching tribute that was very Madonna (right down to the chastisement to the viewing audience that “we abandoned Michael Jackson” with the implication being that we are somewhat to blame for losing him) … and very well suited for MJ’s memory. Here are a few photos of Madonna on stage delivering her tribute address:

Michael Jackson, who was not only one of the most influential forces in MTV’s history but also provided its Video Music Awards with some of its most irreverent moments, got reverential treatment Sunday as Madonna and his sister Janet provided emotional tributes — one through words, one through song. It was a tender, special moment — a rarity for the Video Music Awards. But the mood didn’t last for long, thanks in part to another onstage outburst from Kanye West. Madonna kicked off the show at Radio City Music Hall with a poignant speech about her relationship with Michael Jackson, which began when she was a youngster idolizing the then-child star, then morphed into a friendship when both were at the apex of their careers, and later, grew distant. Madonna lamented the negative publicity that dogged him in his later years. “Sometimes, we have to lose things before we can truly appreciate them,” said Madonna, dressed in black. “Yes, Michael Jackson was a human being, but yes, he was a king,” she told the celebrity-studded crowd, which included Michael’s brother Jermaine and father Joe Jackson. “Long live the king.”

Once Madonna stopped talking about her, she really let her personal feelings about Michael Jackson come to the forefront of her speech and honestly honored his memory. After the jump, watch video of Madonna delivering her address (along with a full transcript of her speech) and watch video of Janet Jackson and her troupe of dancers paying homage to MJ in their own way — in song and dance …

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Janet Jackson is featured on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Harper’s Bazaar magazine which features the worldwide exclusive first interview with Ms. Jackson since the death of her older brother Michael Jackson. Here is Janet’s Harper’s Bazaar coverphoto along with excerpts from her coverstory interview:

Janet Jackson hasn’t watched television since her brother Michael died suddenly in Los Angeles on June 25. She has blocked herself off completely from the hysterical media coverage of his death — who did it, what did it. “It will drive you crazy,” she says. “People can have rhinoceros skin, but there’s a point when something’s going to hurt you. Not everyone is stone, stone. I haven’t watched the news in weeks. I had to ask my chef, How’s Obama doing? I haven’t read a newspaper. On top of that, [we've lost] a family member.” The last time Janet saw Michael was on May 14, two days before her 43rd birthday. It was a family celebration, the Jackson kids were running around, and she and her big brother hung out, ate Thai food, and tormented each other. “We had so much fun that day,” she says, her soft voice almost inaudible. “We kept calling each other after and saying how great it was.” Janet left soon after to start work on Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too. She was on set in Atlanta when she got the call that Michael had died. She immediately returned to L.A., plunging headlong into a private family grief served up to a ravenous public. Of course, one of the most moving images from the memorial service was of Michael’s daughter, Paris, who stepped up to the microphone and said, “Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine” before grabbing her aunt Janet for support. “I was really proud,” Janet recalls. “People said to me that Michael’s daughter speaking really gave them a sense of how he was as a father, in her words. Paris is incredibly smart; they are all so smart. She’s a sweet girl. The kids are doing well. They’re with all their cousins; that family love will keep them going.” After the service, Janet and sisters La Toya and Rebbie went to speak to the fans. Janet, who said a brief and quiet thank-you, was greeted with thunderous applause. “I don’t remember that at all,” she says. “I really didn’t want to say anything. I left that night to go back to Atlanta to film.”

It’s no secret that Janet and Michael were very, very close so I can only imagine how difficult his death has been for her. I imagine the ensuing media frenzy that erupted in the wake of MJ’s untimely and shocking death has made it difficult for her to grieve in private so it makes sense that she would want to plunge headlong into work to keep her head on straight. After the jump, read more from Janet’s coverstory interview to find out how work helped her cope in the days after MJ’s death and see a few photos from her Harper’s Bazaar photospread, including an alternate coverphoto …

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Last week we learned that Janet Jackson relaunched her official website, JanetJackson.com, and spilled the news that she is prepping the release of her next album for early 2010. Today we get to feast our eyes on, what turns out to be, a fanmade faked promo pic of Janet, Miss Jackson if you’re nasty, that may hint at the vibe/tone that her new album might be going for:

The photo is beautiful, I love it. While Janet’s official website clearly states that her album is scheduled for release in early 2010, the latest Twitter update on her official Twitter profile makes clear that she has yet to actually start work on the album, she tweets:

I just finished working on the film, “Why Did I Get Married Too.” I’m looking forward to getting started on my new album!

Clearly she is hard at work these days, which is good news considering how difficult it may be for her to deal with the loss of her big brother Michael. I am loving this new promo pic, hopefully we’ll get to see more soon.

UPDATE: Pink reader Sebastian informs that this promo pic isn’t a real promo pic at all … it’s a mash-up Photoshop creation that was fanmade. Bummer. It’s actually a cool pic.

[Source, Source]

Janet Jackson, who was hit really hard by the loss of her older brother Michael Jackson in June and then reports of her split with Jermaine Dupri in July, just relaunched her official website and has announced to fans that she is ready to move forward with her life and get back to work. In addition to announcing that she will appear in a new Tyler Perry movie and will be releasing a new book later on this year, she also reveals that she will release her next studio album during the “first quarter of 2010″:

Later this year, Janet will publish her first book, providing an intimate look at her life and how she has dealt with issues of self-esteem. Janet will reveal aspects not known before about her uniquely successful career not only in music but in television and motion pictures. The next months and new year will also bring another film starring Janet as she joins Tyler Perry in his sequel, Why Did I Get Married Too, followed by a new album slated to released during the first quarter of 2010. Summarizing her career and her incredibly raw albums, Janet has said, “Here I am. I’m coming on. Musically, I have it. You want it. And I’m giving it to you.” Continuing her growth as an artist and as a person Janet intriguingly states, “I’m proud to have stayed in the game and survived. And I’m proud that I’ve remained true to myself. But if you go back and listen to the music, you’ll hear how that self is always changing.”

I know this is great news for longtime Janet fans (my boo David, among them). I’m happy to know that Janet is focusing on her work during this tough time and hopefully she will find solace in her art. I haven’t been too fond of her last few albums but I full support her work and wish her nothing but the best. Janet joined Twitter about 17 hours ago and has already amassed over 25,000 followers with just one tweet. It really does look like she is ready to get back in the saddle again.

[Source, thanks Kevin]