Josh and I had the pleasure of attending a live outdoor concert today at the Hollywood and Highland complex in Los Angeles – next to the Kodak theater, where they host the Oscars. We had SUCH an amazing night! It was the final concert in the Samsung AT&T Summer Krush concert tour – and headlining tonight was one of my favorite singers, Kelly Clarkson! They were also taping several songs for Jimmy Kimmel Live! – Set to air tonight, Tuesday September 15th on his show. Samsung/AT&T were there to promo their new Samsung Jack slim mobile phone, and had kiosks set up where you could check it out. Josh and I were set up in the VIP area at the H&H “Babylon Court”, with a great vantage point above the crowds – PLUS an open bar and tons of food! It was kind of ridic. Kelly came on shortly after 8pm – and got off to a rousing start with “Miss Independent”! The crowd went ballistic and you could tell there were a lot of hardcore fans there. She then slowed things down with “Already Gone”, then got people jumping with “My Life Would Suck Without You” – which made for such a cool sight! Looking up and down the various levels of the Hollywood & Highland complex, you could see people jumping and singing along on every floor! I had the pleasure of attending Kelly’s last tour through LA for her latest album, and let me tell you – the girl can SING! She puts on such a great show. Josh hadn’t seen her live before, and was blown away by how great she sounds live! Her voice is just amazing – if you get the chance to see her on her tour, GO! There’s no lipsyncing, homegirl has some pipes! Kelly continued with “Breakaway”, “If I Can’t Have You”, and then what she called one of her personal favorites – “Never Again”. Several times throughout the show I thought she was waving to us – but apparently we were standing next to some ‘close personal friends’ of hers. Awww! I still pretended she was singing to me! ;) The acoustics outside sounded great and the crowd was really crazy for her – you could tell Kelly was having fun and she was really playful with the crowd. She ended the concert by performing Since You Been Gone – you could feel the thumping of everyone jumping and going crazy! The concert rocked and it was an amazing night, we had a blast! HUGE shout out to Wendy for setting us up, and Danielle and the Samsung/AT&T crew for taking care of us – and most of all to Trent & PITNB!

Aww … I’m so glad that Darion and Josh had a great time last night. Trust me, if I were home I would’ve deffo been there to see Kelly Clarkson perform live but I’m really happy that Darion and Josh were there to enjoy it for themselves. I have been very fortunate to see Kelly perform live before and Darion is right, homegirl can sing and she absolutely does so live. Much love to Wendy and Danielle from Samsung/AT&T for taking such good care of my friends and love goes out to Darion and Josh for reporting back.

[thanks Darion]

In his defense, Ryan Tedder posted a blogpost on his official My Space profile yesterday kinda sorta responding to the controversy. Shortly after he posted his message, the blogpost was deleted from his profile … methinks, he was asked to remove it. Nonetheless, I managed to save the text of his post … here it is in full:

Hey everyone, Ryan here. So…..i’m in Europe on vacation with my wife yesterday when I get a flurry of emails with links to gossip sites and media outlets saying “Kelly clarkson throws producer Ryan Tedder under the bus re: Already Gone” etc etc etc… Alleging that I copied myself or “pulled a fast one” on Kelly Clarkson. This couldn’t be farther from the truth and the whole thing is absurd….however, I need to actually read what the hell is going on, make a call or 2, and be fully informed of it, then I assure you I will have a proper, respectful response. I don’t take allegations of this nature lightly- ESPECIALLY when it’s in regards to artists I respect and admire. Nor do I let things like this go unaddressed. So, give me a minute, and I’ll tell u whatsup and what really happened, or in this case, “didn’t” happen.

HMMM … I mean, what else is the guy gonna say? Altho Tedder removed his My Space blogpost, he did release an official statement in its place today:

“‘Already Gone’ is one of the best song I’ve written or produced since “Bleeding Love” and stands tall on it’s own merits apart from “Halo”. They are two entirely different songs conceptually, melodically, & lyrically and I would never try to dupe an artist such as Kelly Clarkson or Beyoncé into recording over the same musical track, the idea is both hurtful & absurd. I think when people hear “Already Gone” they will hear what I hear-one of the greatest female vocalists on earth giving her most haunting and heart-breaking performance on a song she helped write. I challenge people to listen and form their own opinions.”

Uhhh, Ryan … we have listened to both songs and it seems pretty clear to me that the same music was pawned off on two different singers. OY! Kelly Clarkson can hear it too and because she was brave enough to speak up about it, she is now reportedly being punished … for the second time now. As you may recall, Kelly already butt heads with her record company bosses (music mogul Clive Davis, to be exact) when she released her last album My December which, IMHO, led to the disc’s poor performance in sales and on the charts. Kelly may have released a statement saying that everything was “fine” with her record company bosses in the wake of that controversy but we know it was all a spin job. This latest threat seems to be right up her alley … she speaks up honestly and then gets punished by her bosses. It remains to be seen if the threat will really be carried out but if we hear nothing from Kelly Clarkson in the coming weeks and months, well, you’ll know why.

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If you’ve noticed similarities between Kelly Clarkson’s new single “Already Gone” and Beyoncé’s hit “Halo,” well, you’re not the only one. Turns out Clarkson has also noticed, and she’s not too happy about it. In an interview with Canada’s CBC radio network, the former “American Idol” champ said she was unaware of any similarities between her song and Beyoncé’s “Halo” until she heard the two songs side by side (according to Clarkson, her All I Ever Wanted album was finished before Beyoncé’s I Am … Sasha Fierce was released). And she’s not mincing words about who she blames for the similarities: OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder, who co-wrote both songs. “Ryan and I met each other at the record label, before he was working with anyone else. He’s from Oklahoma, I’m from Texas; we got along really well and had some of the same influences,” Clarkson said. “We wrote about six songs together, four or five of them made the album. It was all fine and dandy. I’d never heard of a song called ‘Halo’ … [Beyoncé's] album came out when my album was already being printed. “No one’s gonna be sittin’ at home, thinkin’ ‘Man, Ryan Tedder gave Beyoncé and Kelly the same track to write to,’ ” she continued. “No, they’re just gonna be sayin’ I ripped someone off. I called Ryan and said, ‘I don’t understand. Why would you do that?’ ” “Gone” and “Halo” do share some striking similarities, most notably in the backing track, which features somber piano, crashing drums and hand-claps. Clarkson — who clashed with her label in the past — said that she’s upset that “Already Gone” was released as a single without her blessing, but that, at this point, there’s really nothing to do about the situation. “It sucks, but it’s one of those things I have no control over,” she told the CBC. “I already made my album. At this point, the record company can do whatever they want with it. It’s kind of a shitty situation, but … you know, you learn.” At press time, a spokesperson for Tedder had not responded to MTV News’ request for comment on the situation.

To be honest, I didn’t immediately notice the similarity between the songs when I heard them both separately … at different times. But since the release of Kelly’s new single, I thought it sounded very familiar … and then the handclaps cued me in to the Halo recognition. Shoot, if I were her … I’d be pissed, too … especially since despite the fact that Kelly’s album was finished first, Halo was released months ago well ahead of the release of Already Gone. Methinks Mr. Ryan Tedder has got some ’splainin’ to do. After the jump, check out the music videos for both Kelly Clarkson’s Already Gone and Beyoncé’s Halo for a side-by-side comparison …

Describing the book New Moon as the “saddest book” of the Twilight Saga series, Kelly explains that she was inspired to write an equally sad yet poignant song for the story … and now that the film is set for release this November and will require songs for the film’s soundtrack she is hoping that her song will make it on the album. After the jump, check out Kelly Clarkson’s supercute video interview where she talks in some detail about her New Moon-inspired song Empty As I Am …

Now this is more like it … the last cover image that we saw for this single was nice but it didn’t fit with the scheme of the artwork from Kelly’s album or her first single. As you may recall, the song was written by new American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi and Katy Perry. I understand that the video for I Do Not Hook Up has been filmed and is being put together now for an imminent release. I must say, I was a bit jarred by the vibrant color palette that is being used on Kelly’s new artwork at first but it has really grown on me. I love this photo … even tho it’s Photoshopped to unrealistic perfection. I can’t wait to see what the music video looks like. Hopefully we won’t have to wait long to see it.

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I Do Not Hook Up was written by new American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi and Katy Perry and is, coincidentally, the second track on the album (after My Life Would Suck Without You). The song does have a bit of a Katy Perry feel to it … and honestly is not one of my fave tracks on the album. The disc is very strong and I think it will do well once released. It’s full of trademark Kelly Clarkson songs that are sure to chart well. No word on when a video for Hook Up might come our way but I suspect it won’t be long after the album hits stores this week. It’s great having Kelly back, she’s been sorely missed.

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A stunning-looking and strong-sounding Whitney Houston made a triumphant return to the stage at a pre-Grammy party honoring her mentor, music mogul Clive Davis. “I’ve got it, I’ve got it!” Houston, looking glamorous in a skintight leopard dress, sang early Sunday morning as she belted a line from one of her classic hits, “I’m Every Woman.” But more than a lyric, it summarized to the crowd of A-list superstars and top industry execs that the superstar — whose drug use and erratic behavior had caused a shocking fall from grace just a few years ago — was back in top form … Houston’s mini-concert put an exclamation point on a night that included a rousing performance by Kelly Clarkson, an unlikely but magical duet between Jennifer Hudson and Barry Manilow and a rambling monologue by Kanye West. “I have to bow in the presence of greats right now,” West said as he looked out into the crowd, which at one point included Sir Paul McCartney, Prince, Diddy, Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Quincy Jones, and other luminaries. “I’m just humbled by your greatness, and also Clive,” West told the audience. Davis, the music mogul who founded labels, signed greats ranging from Houston to Bruce Springsteen to Janis Joplin, and resuscitated the careers of veterans like Rod Stewart and Carlos Santana, was honored by the Recording Academy as an industry icon on Saturday, hours before Sunday’s Grammys. For nearly three decades, Davis’ pre-Grammy party and concert had become one of the industry’s most coveted invites; this year, the Recording Academy took the event over and honored Davis instead. But while Davis got an award, he still held court like it was his own party, acting as the evening’s host as he introduced performers like Stewart, the Kings of Leon and Leona Lewis. Diddy got the often staid crowd on their feet with a moving rendition of his tribute to the slain Notorious B.I.G., “I’ll Be Missing You,” with Biggie’s widow, singer Faith Evans, and a gospel choir. Clarkson got one of the evening’s biggest ovations with her performance of her new single, “My Life Would Suck Without You” and the Joplin gem “Piece of My Heart.” But Hudson was perhaps the night’s biggest star — until Houston hit the stage. Starting with the Super Bowl last Sunday, Hudson has been raising her profile after spending months in seclusion following the slayings of her mother, brother and nephew last October. A smiling Houston performed her hit “Spotlight,” which earned her one of her four Grammy nominations, and got a standing ovation from the crowd. But she raised the bar with a pairing with Barry Manilow, injecting one of his signature songs, “Weekend in New England,” with a lacking ingredient — soul. Afterward, the Oscar-winner joined the audience (and friend Fantasia), stood in the front and danced and sang as Houston performed. Houston started off with “I Will Always Love You,” but didn’t hit the high, sustaining notes that made the song such a dramatic, stirring hit. Instead, she kept her voice at medium power, deciding to croon rather than soar. But as she got into hits like “It’s Not Right, But It’s O.K.,” her voice appeared to get stronger — and louder, and while she never replicated the vocal gymnastics of some of her past work, delivered a mesmerizing performance nonetheless. The 45-year-old, one of the best-selling artists of all time and among the greatest singers, hasn’t made an album since 2002. Then she was was sinking due to drug use and a tumultuous personal life — a far cry from the princess image she cultivated since her debut in the 1980s. But the singer is expected to release an album sometime this year, and unlike other reported returns, this comeback seems to be the real deal. “She was on it, she was happy — she’s back,” said Foxx. “Everybody else watch out.”

This Grammy Awards Salute to Icons affair sounded like a night to remember. I cannot even fathom what it must be like to be in presence of so much talent all in one room. The fact that even Kanye West was humbled, well, that should tell you something. After the jump, check out a bunch of photos that range from the performance stage to the interaction in the audience …

Wow … Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis AND Whitney Houston? Clive really has the magic touch and knows how to cultivate talent and make it flourish. I’m not sure there are many more ways to honor Clive Davis anymore … but this annual event that culls together the richest talent and most amazing voices in tribute to him, well, that sounds like a pretty sweet way to honor him. I must say, tho, that I’m bummed that Britney Spears didn’t attend … it was reported that she would be in attendance. Ah well, I guess Clive Davis can’t have it all. In any regard, congrats Clive!!

[Photo credit: Splash News, Wireimage; Source]

Get it straight: Kelly Clarkson isn’t gay. “I get that all the time,” she tells AOL’s pop culture news site, PopEater.com.. “People are like, ‘Are you secretly a lesbian? Because I’d really love it.’ “Lesbians tell it to me all the time,” she goes on. “I’m like, ‘I’m glad it works for you, and I wish I liked women like that because often times, men are very hard for me, but I happen to like boys.’” Clarkson goes on to say she “could never be a lesbian. I would never want to date [someone like] myself, ever. I’m a crazy person. I need some kind of stable, quiet man.” But she has no problem with gay people, she says. “I don’t really care if you’re black, white, yellow, gay, straight, crazy, whatever,” says the singer. “As long as you’re cool and you like the music, and you’re coming out to have a good time at the shows, I don’t really care.” As she prepares for the release of her fourth album (out March 10), she says she wants to focus on her career, not dating. She says she doesn’t think it’s weird she’s never been in love, either. “I recently got back from this European promo tour…and every interview kept focusing on that….I’m like ‘Well, maybe ya’ll just fall in love too quickly. Have you ever thought about that?’” Says Clarkson, “I was like ‘I don’t think it’s very odd. I’m 26-years old,’ and I just think I’d rather have quality than quantity.”

Not that I expect Kelly’s comments on her sexuality to quell the rumors about her but I think it’s great that she goes on the record and has her say. I, too, have heard the stories about Kelly and her rumored girlfriend … but, honestly, it really doesn’t concern me. I’m sure she’s well aware that this question is bound to come up now that she’s back on the promo scene (and will likely come up again). I can absolutely understand why lesbians would want to claim her as their own, she’s a very beautiful and talented girl. In the end, I think it’s best that we just focus on her talent and her music and leave her private sex life to herself … whatever that may be. I, for one, believe what she says … do y’all?

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The vid is pretty cute, there’s an awful lot of cutesy boy-girl love in this music video. I think I was expecting a bit more excitement but it is pretty simple. Much like the song itself reminds me of her hit song Since U Been Gone, I have to admit that this video resembles that video as well. Mebbe she’s trying to make lighting strike twice? In any event, I love the song … and I quite like the video. I can’t wait to see/hear more. After the jump, check out the music video for My Life Would Suck Without You in full …

Head over to THIS Kelly fan forum to see these images (along with the cover artwork for her new single My Life Would Suck Without You) in ginormous, high res quality. She looks pretty swank in these photos … I love how her bling has that extra little sparkle that can only come from Photoshop manipulation. As I mentioned before, I am very much looking forward to hearing more from Kelly’s new album. These new promo pics are a great way to get geared up for her new disc.

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