Eminem, Usher, Alicia Keys and T-Pain have been added to the performance lineup of the BET Awards ’10, going down on June 27 in Los Angeles. The hitmakers will join a star-studded bill that includes previously announced performers Kanye West, Drake, T.I., Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross and Ludacris.

A BET rep also confirmed that a Michael Jackson tribute is slated for this year’s show, hosted by rapper/actor Queen Latifah. The 2009 event became an impromptu MJ homage after the icon died just days before the awards show aired. Host Jamie Foxx memorably Moonwalked and spoofed Jackson’s “Beat It,” and stars like Ne-Yo, Ciara and Keri Hilson paid homage to the icon during their performances.

Rolling Stone reported on Thursday (June 17) that BET insiders confirmed viewers can expect a performance of the monster collaboration “All I Do Is Win,” featuring DJ Khaled, T-Pain, Ludacris and Rick Ross. The magazine also teased that the “All I Do Is Win” collabo is set to feature a special guest.

Jay-Z leads this year’s BET Awards nominations with five nods, including Best Male Hip-Hop Artist and Video of the Year for both “Empire State of Mind” and “Run this Town” off his hit The Blueprint 3. Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and Drake also picked up multiple noms, with Mrs. Carter and the soon-to-be Mrs. Swizz Beatz both vying for the Best Female R&B Artist trophy and Drake competing with Hov for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist. Teen sensation Justin Bieber also received a nod for Best New Artist.

Soul singer John Legend will be honored with the Humanitarian Award for his philanthropic work while the legendary Prince will also be celebrated: The Purple One will receive the ceremony’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This year’s show, to be broadcast live from the Shrine Auditorium in L.A., will mark the 10th anniversary of the BET Awards.

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Usher has been nominated for 2 Teen Choice Awards: Choice Music: Male Artist & Choice Music: R&B Artist. Justin Bieber is also nominated for Choice Music: Male Artist. The Awards will air on Monday August 9, 2010 at 8:00 pm ET/PT on FOX.

Fans can vote once each day for their favorite Teen Choice 2010 nominees at www.teenchoiceawards.com. Performers, presenters and additional nominees will be announced soon.  Also, Invisalign Teen has launched the “Straight to Stardom Sweepstakes” with a grand prize VIP package for four to Teen Choice 2010 in Los Angeles and other prizes. Fans can enter at www.invisalignteen.com.

For those looking to smell a little sweeter, look no further than the 2010 FiFi award winners, the annual show that doles out honors for the top fragrances on the market.

Held Thursday night, June 10, at the Downtown Armory in New York, the big winners of the night, Michael Kors and Usher, were on hand to pick up their awards: For Kors, the FiFi “Hall of Fame” award and for Usher, “Male Celebrity Fragrance of the Year.”

Kim Kardashian, Sofia Vergara and Tinsley Mortimer cheered them along, as well as winners Bath & Body Works for “Retailer of the Year,” Tom Ford Grey Vetiver by the Estee Lauder Cos. Inc. for “Fragrance of the Year, Men’s Luxe” and Lola Marc Jacobs by Coty Prestige for “Fragrance of the Year, Women’s Luxe.”

As for the fragrances with the most popular appeal, Halle by Halle Berry, created by Coty, nabbed the women’s award while Antonio Banderas’ Seduction in Black by Puig USA Inc. was the winner in the men’s category

Niche fragrance brand Bond No. 9 New York won “Fragrance of the Year, Nouveau Niche” in both the women’s and men’s categories for their scents Bond No. 9 Astor Place and Bond No. 9 Brooklyn respectively.

And for its legendary fragrances, Calvin Klein Cosmetics and licensing partner Coty Prestige were given the “Fragrance Hall of Fame” award for their long-standing scent CK One.

Source: 1 & 2

Justin Bieber announces huge summer tour! The ‘it’ boy, Justin Bieber, has announced that he’s planning a 40-city North American tour which is scheduled to kick off thus Summer, June 23rd to be more precise.

This is reportedly Justin’s first time to be on the road. His “My World” tour will go on sale starting March 23rd for his fan club members and March 27th for the rest of the general public.

Sean Kingston is set to open for Justin Bieber. Bieber, who was discovered by Usher after posting a video of himself on Youtube, has long since become one of the most popular solo artist currently in the industry.

You can read on for the Justin’s “My World” tour dates.

 Justin Bieber’s “My World” Tour Dates:

June 2010

23 Hartford, CT XL Center
24 Trenton, NJ Sun National Bank Center
26 Cincinnati, OH US Bank Arena
27 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Summerfest
29 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
30 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena

July 2010

2 Moline, IL i wireless Center
3 Omaha, NE Qwest Center
5 Grand Prairie, TX NOKIA Theater at Grand Prairie
6 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
8 Broomfield, CO 1STBANK Center
10 W. Valley City, UT The E Center
13 Everett, WA Comcast Area at Everett
14 Portland, OR Rose Garden
17 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
18 Reno, NV Reno Events Center
20 Los Angeles, CA Nokia Theatre LA Live
21 Paso Robles, CA California Mid-State Fair*
24 Las Vegas, NV The Theatre of Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
25 Glendale, AZ jobling.com Arena
28 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
29 N. Little Rock, AR Verizon Arena
31 Memphis, TN FedExForum

August 2010

1 Lafayette, LA Cajundome
4 Orlando, FL Amway Arena
5 Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center
8 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena
9 Dulutch, GA Arena at Gwinnett Center
11 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
12 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse
14 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
15 Auburn Hills, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills
21 Toronto, ONT. Air Canada Centre**
22 London, Ont. John Labatt Centre
24 Ottawa, Ont. Scotiabank Place
25 Albany, NY Times Union Center
27 Providence, RI Dunkin’ Donuts Center
28 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
29 Syracuse, NY New York State Fair***
31 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

September 2010

1 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena
3 Essex Junction, VT Coca-Cola Grandstand at Champlaign Valley Exposition
4 Allentown, PA The Great Allentown Fair

Source

“SHE DON’T KNOW”

“I INVENTED SEX” REMIX

“CONFESSIONS” PART II

“U MAKE ME WANNA”

USHER GIVES A LITTLE DANCE LESSON (MUCHMUSIC CHANNEL)

OPENING (“CAUGHT UP”)

“BURN”

“LOVE IN THIS CLUB”

PICS

INTERVIEW (THE PROVINCE)

R&B/hip-hop heartthrob Usher heated up the resort last night with hit songs and new numbers.

True to form Usher performed his turn-the-lights-down-low numbers, tossing articles of clothing into the crowd to shrieks of delight.

But he also managed to keep the crowd — there not just for his concert but to celebrate the closing of the 2010 Olympic Games here — engaged.

He even got some clothing back at him as people in the crowd threw him the now famous red Hudson’s Bay Team Canada mittens.

Earlier, Usher told The Province that: “The Olympics are about unity regardless of race, gender or creed, so I consider it a blessing to be asked to perform at events such as this year’s Winter Games.

“To be amongst people from all over the world and perform for fans that may not have seen me live before is such an honour. I am happy to be here in Whistler and to perform for my Canadian fans as well as be an ambassador to music.”

Asking for the crowd’s indulgence he played a song from his new album Raymond v Raymond, “There Goes My Baby.”

Judging by the reaction of the thousands at the Medals Celebration Plaza, the album, due to be released March 30 after a long delay, is headed for the top.

Said Usher: “I am really excited about the new album as it speaks to the ‘duality of man’, which is why it’s called Raymond v Raymond. I think it will really connect with fans and will be a natural followup to Confessions and Here I Stand. There is something in it for everyone.”

His six stage dancers, two guys and four girls, helped keep the show moving, their liquid and sexual choreography perfect for the music.

Hits such as “Confessions,” “Hey Daddy,” “Love in This Club” and “Bad Girls” really got the crowd going, especially when he made it personal for his “Whistler girls.”

The crowd didn’t even seem to care when efforts to play the music video to “Hey Daddy” failed. The stage show was mesmerizing enough.

As the nightly fireworks signalled the end of the show, Usher took a moment to honour the athletes, including the Canadian four-man bobsleigh team who were awarded their bronze medals just minutes before he began his performance.

“A lot of hard work has gone into this event,” said Usher.

“We need to all thank the athletes.”

Source

Usher answering questions from MuchMusic fans at the GLC base of Whistler Gondola before his performance at the Whistler Olympic Medal Plaza.

More to come….

A tracklist has been released for Usher’s seventh album “Raymond vs. Raymond” due March 30, 2010. The guests include Ludacris, Nicky Minaj, TI, Plies, & will.i..am. Of course, we just have to wait until the album release to see if this is true. Check it out.

1. Monstar
2. Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home) (ft. Plies)
3. There Goes My Baby
4. Love `Em All
5. She Don’t Know (ft. Ludacris)
6. Lil Freak (ft. Nicki Minaj)
7. Mars Vs. Venus
8. Pro Lover
9. Foolin’ Around
10. Papers
11. So Many Girls
12. Guilty (ft. T.I.)
13. OMG (ft. will.i.am)
14. Making Love (Into The Night)