The late Michael Jackson, who we are well aware tragically passed away last June, was honored during the 2010 Grammy Awards last night with a fitting tribute performed by Céline Dion, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Usher. The singers dueted with MJ on his ballad Earth Song, a performance that was broadcast on television in 3D. Not only did the attendees of the Grammy Awards (like Rihanna) outfit themselves with 3D glasses (courtesy of Target, who gave out the 3D glasses for FREE for the event last night) but so, too, did viewers at home … like me:

The Grammys rode the 3-D wave Sunday with a special-effects-laden tribute to the late Michael Jackson in an awards show that featured many big spectacle moments. Jackson’s children, Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11 appeared after the tribute to accept a lifetime achievement award for the pop star, who died in June of a prescription drug overdose. Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson and Usher performed in the tribute, mingling their voices with the voice of the late King of Pop against the backdrop of a 3-D film featuring Jackson’s 1995 eco-friendly “Earth Song.” Free 3-D “Grammy” glasses were distributed at Target stores nationwide so viewers could watch the show in 3-D from their living rooms. Part of the Jackson film shown during the Grammys aired in the recent documentary “This Is It” which was shot during rehearsals for Jackson’s comeback tour and showed the pop star looking fit just days before his death in June 2009. Jackson had intended the environmentally themed song and film to be part of that tour, which was supposed to have begun in July 2009. He was considered one of the most commercially successful entertainers of all time whose music and videos transformed the art and broke down racial barriers. The clip features a lush forest through the eyes of a young girl.

I hope you hung on to your 3D glasses because uploaded video clips of the Earth Song performance will (kinda) appear in 3D if you watch them on your computer :) In addition to the technologically fitting tribute performance last night, MJ‘s children Prince Michael Joseph and Paris Michael Katherine appeared on stage to accept the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award which was awarded to MJ posthumously during the show:

After the jump, check out video of MJ‘s kids accepting his award on stage, check out a backstage photo of Prince and Paris posing with their little brother Blanket AND bust out those 3D glasses, yo, you can watch Earth Song in 3D right here on the blog …

Music mogul Clive Davis hosted his annual Pre-Grammy Gala event at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA last night bringing out a who’s who of music big wigs (as well as a very awkward pair of newlyweds who seem to have difficulty with the kissing) to celebrate Grammy weekend as only he knows how to do. Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Hudson were among the performers at last night’s affair (you may recall that Whitney Houston was among the performers at last year’s event, kicking off her stunning musical comeback which took place later in the year). Here are some photos from the red carpet arrivals along with some deets about the soiree:

It was an incongruous group. On one level were Hollywood royalty Barbra Streisand and Jane Fonda, Joan and Jackie Collins. In their sights, on the next level down, were Mary J Blige, Taylor Swift, Maxwell, Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas, Keyshia, Mos Def, Nelly, Jonas Brothers, Russell Brand and his fiance Katy Perry, the Kings of Leon, Usher and Jon Bon Jovi and many others. They were seated in what is known as the ‘pit’ inside the Beverly Hilton’s international ballroom. The old guard and the new guard of Hollywood movies and rock ‘n’ roll were gathered for the annual pre-Grammy party hosted by music industry mogul Clive Davis, known as ‘golden ears’ for his ability in finding and developing music artists. Some claim the pre-Grammy bash on Saturday night is bigger, and better, than the official Grammy show on Sunday night. It’s certainly a looser affair. Celebrities knock back wine and champagne and table hop. The evening saw Mary J Blige publicly humiliate her band in front of an audience that included recording industry titans and some of the biggest names in rock. The singer lost her cool as, ironically, she was about to sing a song titled No More Drama … Diva she may be but, to be fair to Mary J. Blige, she did sing beautifully and by the time she completed her performance her behaviour towards the band was forgiven and she earned a standing ovation … The night’s most amusing sight was observing Joan Collins and sister Jackie on their feet and waving their arms as Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas performed on stage. At least they moved in time to the music. Jennifer Hudson,who won a best supporting actress Oscar for her performance in Dreamgirls, performed a string of its associated with Barbra Streisand. Beforehand Hudson joked that she was frightened she would forget the lyrics. ‘They kept changing what songs I’d sing so I had to stay focused’, Hudson told the Daily Mail. Clive Davis hailed Oscar, Grammy and Tony award winner Streisand as a ‘unique, singular artist’ who boasted a number one album in five consecutive decades. ‘She’s the movie soundtrack of our lives’, Davis said of Streisand. Other big names at the pre-Grammy gig included Oscar winning actor Jamie Foxx and Harry Connick Jr. Rhianna sat at a prime table in the ‘pit’. This time last year she was seated at a similar table with Chris Brown … His name was missing from every Grammy party this weekend. However, Rhianna’s career has never been hotter and on Saturday everyone in the international ballroom queued to hug her.

Yes, as you may recall it was after Clive Davis‘s Pre-Grammy Gala last year that Brown brutally and criminally assaulted Rihanna. I’m so happy to see that Rihanna had no qualms about attending this event a year later, especially considering the horrible memories it is bound to dredge up. Grammy weekend does not get started until Clive throws his party so … it is now officially upon us. The Grammy Awards air LIVE on the East Coast starting at 8pm ET. Make sure you pick up your 3D glasses at Target so you can watch the tribute to Michael Jackson in 3D:

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

Just hours after news broke of the death of Michael Jackson last Thursday, a tribute song titled Better on the Other Side (featuring The Game, Chris Brown, Sean P. Diddy Combs et al.) was leaked to the Internets in honor of the late King of Pop. Today, we get our first look at the accompanying music video. Be Warned: some of the lyrics may be offensive to some viewers:

Only a day after Michael Jackson’s untimely death, a few artists have come together to record a tribute song in remembrance of the late, great pop star. When Los Angeles based DJ Skee told his good friend, The Game, about the passing of Michael, the rapper was shocked. But once it sunk in, he locked himself in the studio and came out with “Better On The Other Side.” “After I called Game and told him the news, he put this tribute together and produced this amazing record,” DJ Skee tweeted Friday morning (June 26). “Yesterday I told Game about MJ’s death and he didn’t believe it.” The new song, which leaked Friday (June 26), featuring Game spitting alongside Chris Brown, Diddy, Polow Da Don, Mario Winans, Usher and Boyz II Men, while DJ Khalil produced the track.

I have to say, for the song being put together so hasitly after MJ‘s death it’s not a bad song at all. I got to hear it last week but I think I like it better with a music video. The images of fans mourning MJ‘s death makes it feel more poignant. It’s a very nice tribute, wouldn’t you agree?

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Another day, another celebrity couple has decided to call it quits … in a week that already saw the splits between Miley Cyrus & Justin Gaston, Leonardo DiCaprio & Bar Refaeli and Paris Hilton & Doug Reinhardt we now add the married couple Usher Raymond & Tameka Foster to the list. According to In Touch Weekly magazine, they’re are dunzo, y’all!

In Touch can exclusively reveal that Usher and his wife, Tameka Foster, are divorcing. “The Grammy winner has been living apart from his wife for nearly a year after almost two years of marriage,” an insider exclusively tells In Touch, adding, “Usher’s primary concern is for his children. He is a great father and just wants to do what is right for them.” The soon-to-be exes have two kids together, Usher Raymond V, 18 months, and Naviyd, 6 months. And the insider says that it’s more than just talk — the divorce papers were filed in Atlanta this morning. The couple has faced problems in the past. In November 2008, In Touch reported that Usher was flirting with girls at a party in Miami, and even asked a model what she was doing afterward. And in February, In Touch revealed that although Usher flew to Tameka’s side after she suffered cardiac arrest from cosmetic surgery in Brazil, he “had no idea that she was there to have surgery.”

OY! The planets must be aligned all funkily this week or something because the celeb couples are dropping like flies. While this week’s other break-ups have been a wee bit sad (or not), this break-up is really unfortunate because the couple is married and they share two small children. I suppose these things happen for a reason … here’s hoping the best works out for the entire Raymond-Foster family.

What do y’all think … who will be the next celeb couple to fall apart?

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On the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today, dignitaries, politicians, celebrities and everyday citizens convened on the mall in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC yesterday to participate in the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration to celebrate not only tomorrow’s Inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th President but to also honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who, very famously, gave his I Have A Dream speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial back in August of 1963. Here are a few photos from yesterday’s We Are One concert event and some info about what went down:

Barack Obama and his family had a star-studded – and musical – introduction to Washington, D.C. On Sunday afternoon, the President-elect was feted on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration. The two-hour event was broadcast live on an open signal on HBO, and it featured a mix of historical speeches, presented by stars like Tom Hanks, and classic anthems like U2′s surging Martin Luther King, Jr.-inspired “Pride (In the Name of Love).” Equally powerful, Beyoncé closed out the festivities with a stately, soaring version of “America the Beautiful.” The singer beckoned all the earlier performers on stage, leading a star-studded sing-along. Said Beyoncé as she concluded, “America, we are one.” Denzel Washington kicked the festivities off with an introduction, telling the crowd, “We are inspired by the man we’ve elected to be the 44th president.” Then, the actor ceded the stage to Bruce Springsteen and a full gospel choir in red robes. Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, the troubadour performed “The Rising” – and delivered a message of unity. “Come on up for the rising,” he sang. “Come on up, lay your hands in mine.” As he performed, the cameras panned to the awe-inspiring sight of thousands of spectators huddled in the cold, packed around the Reflecting Pool and stretched all the way east to the Washington Monument. Much closer to the action, Obama and his family – including wife Michelle and their daughters Malia, 10, who snapped photos of the massive crowd, and Sasha, 7 – took in the festivities from a front-row perch, in a box just off the stage, next to Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill. Obama also took the stage to thank performers and audience members for sharing in the celebration. “Welcome to Washington, and welcome to this celebration of American renewal,” he said. “As I stand here tonight, what gives me the greatest hope . . . is you: Americans of every race and region and station who came here because you believe in what this country can be and because you want to help us get there.” Mary J. Blige got concert-goers dancing – even Obama, who grooved in his seat – during her soulful version of “Lean on Me.” And Jamie Foxx inspired plenty of laughter – including a chuckling Obama – with his pitch-perfect impression of the President-elect as he recited lines from Obama’s post-election victory speech in Chicago’s Grant Park. Sheryl Crow teamed up with jazz legend Herbie Hancock and will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas for a spirited take on Bob Marley’s “One Love.” “Let’s get together and feel all right,” they sang while audience members frantically waved their hands in the air. Later, during his performance, Garth Brooks sang his Obama-inspired original composition, “We Shall Be Free,” which the country star melded into a medley of recognizable favorites like “American Pie” and “Shout.” And Usher took the stage with Shakira and Stevie Wonder for the soul luminary’s “Higher Ground.”

I was able to watch a small portion of yesterday’s celebration and it was quite a sight to see … the party was jumpin’ and it’s only the beginning. Our President-elect was deffo in fine spirits at yesterday’s event as he spoke to the assembled crowd about how hopeful he is for our country on the eve of such a monumental achievement:

Barack Obama said he’s “as hopeful as ever” about the future of the U.S. as thousands of Americans converged on Washington’s Lincoln Memorial for a free concert to celebrate his inauguration as the first black president. “Only a handful of generations have been asked to confront challenges as serious as the ones we face right now,” Obama said today. “Despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead, I stand here today as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure, that it will prevail, that the dream of our founders will live on in our time.” People gathered hours in advance for the event at the same site chosen by civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. for his 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech. The concert featured songs by Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, U2 and Mary J. Blige; Martin Luther King III spoke, along with actors including Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks. Obama sang along as Garth Brooks performed “American Pie.” He and his wife, Michelle, rocked along to Blige and jumped to their feet as Wonder sang and played the keyboard. Interspersed in the event were clips of past presidents, including the inaugural addresses by John F. Kennedy and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Obama and his wife followed incoming Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, down the steps of the memorial and waved to crowds that stretched down the National Mall to the Washington Monument before the concert. They took seats to the side of the stage with the Obama children, Sasha and Malia. “Change has come to America,” actor Jamie Foxx told the roaring crowd, quoting Obama and doing an impression of him that drew laughter from attendees and the president-elect himself. Biden spoke about 40 minutes into the program about the value of work, saying it was about dignity and respect. “I see a country built by men and women who believe in the dignity of work, who take pride in providing for their families,” Biden told the crowd. Obama, 47, for the second day chose to invoke the spirit of Abraham Lincoln, the president who led the U.S. through the Civil War and ended slavery. Obama arrived in Washington last night after a “whistlestop” train trip that began in Philadelphia; Lincoln arrived by railroad in 1861 for his own inauguration. Both were elected from their adopted home state of Illinois.

Click HERE to read the full text of Barack Obama‘s speech yesterday, in case you missed hearing it aloud. After the jump, watch Beyoncé‘s stirring performance of America the Beautiful, she really nailed the song and gave a performance that is not to be missed …

A whole slew of celebs have gotten together to appear in a PSA produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, will.i.am, Tobey Maguire and Forest Whitaker in an effort to encourage the American youth to register to vote by telling them not to vote. The vid is a lengthy 4 minutes long but is deffo worth watching in full:

An effective strategy? Or, a plea destined to fall on deaf ears? You decide.

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Here is a great vid of Usher paying a visit to the Campaign for Change Headquarters in Detroit, MI:

I think Usher makes a great point about the importance of voting and how integral community barbershops are to helping spread the word about politics in neighborhoods, especially in areas like Detroit. It’s a great vid.

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