Jennifer Lopez, who’s new film The Back-up Plan will be hitting theaters shortly, is featured on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Redbook magazine. In this latest coverstory interview, J. Lo talks about the 3 most important things in her life right now — marriage, motherhood, and fame — as well as her upcoming new film, her upcoming guest appearance on Glee and her new album Love? which will finally be released this Summer. Here is out first look at Jenny‘s Redbook coverphoto along with some excerpts from her interview:

On marriage and finding “the one”: “I think you can love many different people, but that’s different from what makes a great partner in life, which Marc is for me… He inspires me to be better at everything—a better person, mom, singer, performer, friend, and wife. A marriage is long, and you’ve got to like the person as much as you love or lust after them. You’ve got to be friends first.”

On how motherhood has changed her: “I can’t help but be a different person now that I’ve had kids. That really does change your whole perspective on life for the better. I definitely feel like I’ve grown up. So, I guess in a way parts of me are going to be different, but in general I’m still the same girl from the Bronx who had big dreams.”

On fame and accomplishments: “I always wanted to be great at what I did—that’s what drove me. If I got rejected, I wouldn’t take it personally. I was like, Make them a fan and they’ll bring you back in for something else. I never thought about money or fame, and I never really thought that would happen to me. All that was just a by-product.”

Another interview where it seems that Jenny from the Block is just giving the same answers to the same questions. Thankfully, the accompanying photospread appears to be a bit more interesting. After the jump, check out a couple photos from J. Lo‘s new Redbook spread …

In February we learned that Jennifer Lopez got dumped by her record label, Sony Music Epic Records, which essentially killed her plans for the release of her new album Love?. Considering how poorly her latest single Louboutins was received by the public, it sounds like Sony decided to cut their losses. But, one record labels trash is another’s treasure … today we learn that J. Lo just scored a new record contract with Def Jam Recordings. It would appear that La Diva Latina‘s music career isn’t quite finished just yet:

She said yes. Jennifer Lopez confirmed to Hitfix that she is signing with L.A. Reid’s Island Def Jam label. Rumors had been swirling since her split with Sony’s Epic Records that she and Reid would team up, but no official word from either party had been issued. Hitfix’s Greg Ellwood asked Lopez point blank “Are you signing with Def Jam” on Monday during an interview for “The Back-Up Plan” and she said yes, not once, but twice, smiling about the prospect. Word on the street is that Reid will not only sign Lopez, but will produce the actress/singer’s new album. Last month, Lopez and Epic split up before the release of her seventh studio album “Love” following the disappointing reaction to such singles as “Louboutins.” Her manager, Benny Medina, confirmed the split to Deadline Hollywood Daily, which broke the news. Since then, the IDJ chatter has only gotten louder. We can’t wait to see what Reid and Lopez come up with.

Yeah … you kinda knew that J. Lo‘s music career wasn’t gonna just go away that easily. To be honest, I’m hoping this new union with Def Jam will be a fruitful one. Altho Lopez‘s music has been quite shite for the past few years, she used to put out some amazingly fantastic pop/dance music back in the day. Let’s hope that this new recording contract will re-infuse her music with the vim and vigor it once had. Hope springs eternal … and my hope is that J. Lo‘s next album will be a club-banger rather than another sad disappointment.

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Outside of the Academy Awards themselves, and the accompanying Governor’s Ball, there is no bigger event on Oscar night than the annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by VF editor in chief Graydon Carter. Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals at the Sunset Tower, the site of this year’s affair, along with some deets from the LA Times about what went down at the soirée:

Although the winners of the 82nd Academy Awards might have been a roll of the dice, Vanity Fair’s post-Oscar party is a sure thing. This year was no exception. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard Held at West Hollywood’s Sunset Tower Hotel, nominees, winners and celebrity guests joined VF editor in chief Graydon Carter for the annual exclusive fete. Young, old, werewolf and human peppered the gathering — from Joan and Jackie Collins to Taylor Lautner and Zac Efron. Meryl Streep perched on a couch, chatting up pregnant Amy Adams, while Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard huddled in a corner talking to pal Carey Mulligan. Michael Bay loomed near Jessica Simpson, Marc Anthony, Heidi Klum and Harvey Weinstein in the Terrace Room. Charlize Theron and her mother, Gerda, bypassed Ed Norton and Shauna Robertson to mingle with Suzanne Somers, Joe and Nick Jonas, Tyler Perry, Russell Brand and Katy Perry and Sean Penn. A very formal Giovanni Ribisi spoke at length with a casually dressed Beck; nearby, Oscar producer Adam Shankman talked the telecast with Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt. Sarah Silverman introduced herself to Spike Lee, while Vera Wang danced to Michael Jackson’s “PYT” with her Olympic medalist muse, Evan Lysacek. The night’s big winner, Kathryn Bigelow, with her “Hurt Locker” star Jeremy Renner, was greeted with unanimous applause from the likes of a radiant Gabrielle Union, Judd Apatow, Chevy Chase, Lee Daniels, Natalie Portman, Common, Kid Rock, Oscar host Steve Martin, Robert Downey Jr., Macaulay Culkin, Rachel McAdams, best actress nominee Gabourey Sidibe and Bill Maher. Exes Ryan Phillippe and Abbie Cornish kept their distance, while Jennifer Lopez revealed a quick change into a black gown to husband Marc Anthony. Efron kept his “High School Musical” gal Vanessa Hudgens warm on the chilly patio, while Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz were offered In n’ Out burgers on silver platters. Jesse James and Sandra Bullock This year’s best actress winner, Sandra Bullock, made an appearance with her husband, Jesse James, both eager to greet Ryan Reynolds (sans bride Scarlett Johannson). Oscar winners Christoph Waltz, Jeff Bridges, Sandy Powell and T-Bone Burnett were in also attendance.

Juicy, juicy … I believe this is the first time that Ryan Phillippe and Abbie Cornish have been at the same public event since their split last month. I guess things are not amicable between the ex-lovers. The Vanity Fair party is really the event to attend after the Oscars. There are many other parties to attend, including Elton John‘s annual event, but anyone who is anyone is Hollywood makes it a point to show up at the VF event. I’m glad to see that some of the ladies changed up their looks from the Oscar red carpet to the VF red carpet … it’s a shame that Charlie Theron didn’t change out of her rose-budded boobie dress because it was just a WORLD of no. Sounds like this year’s VF party was a good time.

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

Yesterday we saw a couple of promos for Jennifer Lopez‘s gig as host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live last night … and today, we’re gonna take another look at how she did on the show. Here are some of J. Lo‘s SNL promo photos from last night’s ep:

I understand J. Lo last hosted SNL 10 years ago and while I don’t necessarily recall that episode, I have to believe it was funnier than last night’s ep was. Let’s get the musical guest portion out of the way first … terrible! The two new songs she performed are tracks that I’ve never heard before and, very honestly, never want to hear again. They were bland, forgettable and just … bad. OY! Further proof that her recording career is in dire, dire straits. The skits … yeah, those were pretty bad, too. I kinda chuckled during the We Are The World skit and I actually laughed out loud during the New Car Horns skits but … that was it. The first and the last skit were humorous … the in-between was horrible. After the jump, if you dare, check out some of the skits from last night’s ep of SNL to judge (or re-judge) for yourselves …

Jennifer Lopez will host and play musical guest on tonight’s new episode of Saturday Night Live. Here is video of her two promo commercials for tonight’s show:

HMMM … I have to admit, I’m deffo gonna be tuning in to watch tonight’s ep. I think J. Lo will make a great host … I’m not too jazzed about the musical performance (cuz I really don’t want to hear Louboutins again) but I guess I can take the bad with the good. Are any of y’all excited to see La Diva Latina host SNL tonight?

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Oh snap!! New reports out today reveal that Jennifer Lopez, La Diva Latina herself, has been dumped by her record label Sony Music Epic Records. I understand that her contract with the label was fulfilled by the last two singles she released (the horrid Louboutins was one of them) and the label decided they do not want to re-sign her and have no interest in releasing her new album Love? Yikes! At this point, J. Lo‘s recording career is dunzo, y’all!

Jennifer Lopez has spent most of her singing career at Sony Music Epic Records. The bland version of what happened, I’m told, is that the contract period had ended and that Lopez had fulfilled it with her last two singles, and that Lopez and Stringer decided together not to move forward with an album. Others insist the Sony label dropped her. There also is disagreement on how finished her upcoming album was before it was canceled. Internet reports say her 7th studio album, titled “Love?”, was supposed to come out in April and featured production from Danja, Jim Jonsin, Darkchild, Chris n Teeb from Dropzone, and The Neptunes among others. A song from it titled “Fresh Out The Oven” surfaced online in October 2009 as a buzz single and reached #1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Songs chart. But the official lead single, “Louboutins”, had its radio debut on November 23 following the song’s premiere and performance at the 2009 American Music Awards and then peaked at #31 on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Lopez insiders claim to me the album was “by no means done” and everyone was “only a few songs into it” and “unlike movie dates, street dates rarely hold in the music biz”. But that album was real enough to delay the release of her upcoming CBS Film, The Back-Up Plan. Others tell me the album isn’t being released because “Louboutins” bombed, as did her performance at the American Music Awards, and Sony Music execs “aren’t sure who her audience is anymore. Where once she had little girls, she’s been supplanted by Beyonce, Gaga, and Rhianna. Lots of fighting going on between Benny Medina (who, of course, is spending their money like it’s 10 years ago) and the label.” But when I began inquiring about this, her manager Benny Medina emailed this morning to confirm the split. “Jennifer had a wonderful relationship with the Sony Music group, and they have shared many successes together, but the time was right to make a change that best serves the direction her career as an actress and recording artist. She is grateful and appreciative to everyone Sony for all that they accomplished together” … eanwhile, I understand that Sony will still be releasing her “Greatest Hits” album in the fall. Supposedly, Lopez has not wasted any time getting signed elsewhere: it’s rumored she is already in talks with Island Def Jam’s bigwig L.A. Reid to come to his label. Granted, this is a tough time for music artists, especially those like Lopez who were once big in the biz and now are battling not only the changed economics and rampant piracy but also the moving target of today’s music fans. JLo insiders insist none of this is fazing Lopez, who took time off to have two kids with her recording star husband, Marc Anthony, and who is just now returning to her acting career with the release of the feature The Back Up Plan.

Yeah, I don’t care how “amicable” they are trying to spin this story … Sony Epic would not be letting J. Lo go if they thought she could make them more money. The music biz is in shambles and an artist like J. Lo, who commands a lot of money, can be seen as dead weight if she is not able to bring the hits. I have no doubt that Lopez will get a new record contract, she may even get one that is pretty lucrative, but the fact that she is no longer a hitmaker means that her days in the music biz are very limited. If Love? is made up of garbage like Louboutins then it’s prolly for the best that we never hear it. I’m not sure how much longer Jennifer Lopez can stretch out her music career but this is not a good sign for her longevity. Mebbe it’s time she pack it in now and save some face.

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A couple of weeks ago, Neil Patrick Harris shared a personal photo on Twitter of Jennifer Lopez on the set of his CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and today we get to see the first official promo still from that episode. As you can see from the following photo, J. Lo‘s character Anita Appleby is puttin’ the serious moves on NPH‘s character Barney Stinson:

The official first look of “How I Met Your Mother” episode that reveals how Jennifer Lopez translates to the sitcom has been released. In the new still, Lopez’s Anita Appleby is in the position to seduce Neil Patrick Harris’ Barney. According to earlier reports, Anita is a self-help guru who helps Robin in taming the womanizer. Anita makes it her mission to “break” Barney. There is no date yet for the episode but it will be within the March run … “How I Met Your Mother” is taking a break for the Winter Olympics coverage but will be back on March 1 with Carrie Underwood as guest.

J. Lo looks good, y’all. Her booty is bangin’ and Barney looks like putty in Anita‘s hands. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that these might might actually do the do … er, well, on the show that is ;) HIMYM is pulling out all the stops in these upcoming eps … be on the look out for a bunch of great guest stars. Which of the show’s upcoming guests are you most excited to see?

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Jennifer Lopez paid a visit to the set of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother yesterday to film a guest appearance on the show … so naturally, HIMYM star Neil Patrick Harris just had to share a photo with J. Lo with all of his followers on Twitter:

Jennifer Lopez was really great – hot, cool, and funny. And well prepared! She gave me a few pointers. Here’s one:

Hahahaha … cute pic. While I’m sure NPH‘s character Barney was happy to have Jennifer Lopez all up on him for the show, NPH himself was prolly all giddy for an entirely different reason to be chillin’ with La Diva Latina. As far as fierce beyotches go, these two make a nice pair!

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Congratulations goes out to the New Orleans Saints today who, as I’m sure you are well aware, won Super Bowl XLIV last night at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. Props go out to the Indianapolis Colts for playing a strong game and for taking an early lead (making it look like they were going to blow out the Saints) but, in the end, the New Orleans Saints pulled off the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history and ended up winning their FIRST Super Bowl Championship ever by a final score of 31 – 17:

The New Orleans Saints almost left when their city flooded and their stadium had been turned into a shelter, a disaster seeming to provide the perfect escape route for a team in search of a better stadium and a bigger market. Displaced and disheartened, the Saints haltingly returned to a repaired Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. And a team so awful that its fans used to wear bags on their heads came to symbolize and be embraced by a battered but rebuilding community. On Sunday, with a quarterback who had hitched his career to resurrecting the Saints and with a team that played nearly flawlessly, the Saints gave New Orleans a reason to do what it does better than any other American city: celebrate. In the franchise’s first Super Bowl, the Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, sending New Orleanians into the streets for a party. “Who Dat?” Saints fans ask about which opponent might beat their team. Now they have their answer: nobody. The Saints are the N.F.L.’s champions, after 42 seasons of futility. Confetti fell on the Saints here, but back in New Orleans, where Mardi Gras begins in less than two weeks, Bourbon Street erupted in joy, four and a half years after the city was nearly engulfed by despair when the levees broke. “Louisiana, by way of New Orleans, is back,” said the Saints’ owner, Tom Benson, clutching the Lombardi Trophy. “And it shows the whole world.” The play that sealed the victory, a comeback from a 10-0 deficit, came with a little more than three minutes to play at the expense of a New Orleans native. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, a son of the beloved former Saints quarterback Archie Manning, was intercepted by Saints cornerback Tracy Porter — a Louisiana native, too — when the Saints blitzed. Porter jumped in front of the intended receiver and returned the interception 74 yards for a touchdown that gave the Saints their winning margin. “Four years ago, whoever thought this would be happening?” quarterback Drew Brees said. “Eighty-five percent of the city was under water. All of the residents evacuated across the county. Most people not knowing if New Orleans could ever come back or if the organization or team would ever come back” … Brees was the M.V.P. of the game, but Saints Coach Sean Payton made the most valuable — and the gutsiest — decision. With the Saints trailing by 4 points and kicking off to the Colts to open the second half, Payton called for an onside kick. The Saints call the play “ambush,” and that was what it was. Colts players admitted after the game that they did not see it coming. Thomas Morstead, the kicker on the play, said: “I wasn’t worried. I was terrified” … At long last, the Saints have arrived, and they brought New Orleans back with them.

What a game, eh? As I said yesterday before the game got underway, I was not rooting for any particular team because I didn’t have a vested interest in either side winning but you gotta admit, it’s pretty sweet to see the people of New Orleans cheering in the streets just 4 years after their city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The Saints‘ win was well-deserved, they played hard … make smart moves … and, in the end, proved they were the best team of the year. After the jump, check out some of the celebs who were in the hiz at Super Bowl XLIV last night …

Celebrities of varying stature and caliber have made their way to Miami, FL this weekend to partake of the Super Bowl XLIV activities (like the Rock ‘N Soul party at the Hard Rock DJed by Pete Wentz last night) which means that the city is teeming with famous folk. Yesterday afternoon, Rihanna — who played a Pepsi Smash concert in Miami on Thursday night — ran into La Diva Latina herself, Jenifer Lopez, by the pool at the Fontainebleau Hotel and sparked up a fast friendship:

Now I’m not sure what Ri Ri and J. Lo might have in common to talk about but I’m sure that two pop divas might have a few things to chat about. Mebbe Rihanna asked J. Lo what it was like to be a huge megastar and J. Lo seethed with jealousy over the loss of her glory days. The Fontainebleau isn’t a new hotel but it already has a reputation for attracting a very famous clientele, which means that famous folks like this are always running into one another. I wonder who else might be running into one another by the pool this weekend. HMMM.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin]