The Voice First Lady Shall Be Back

Gwen Stefani musta been told not to get too comfortable on TV’s The Voice, huh.

I say this because Christina Aguilera will be back.

That’s right: NBC has announced that the two-time mama fully intends on returning to her hit reality competition as full-time coach during the show’s eighth season, which will debut next year, probably in the spring.

Aguilera will share her coaching duties with the show’s emeritus-status coaches (her founding buds), Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, while Pharrell will stick around for a second go at things.

Photo: InStyle.com.

Divas Be Duetin’ and Stuff

How very Rayna and Juliette.

So…remember how like, last, uh, year Christina Aguilera and Lady GaGa surprised everyone who ever thought the two hated each other and came together to perform the latter’s “Do What U Want” on the season finale of TV’s The Voice?

Well, the two divas are doing it again.

Well, they already did.

Mother Monster invited Aguilera to record a new version of the song, and the Aguilerafied ditty – which rocks even harder than the original – hit the iTunes on New Year’s Eve.

Go, get…get it!

Photo: EW.com.

When Christina (Finally) Met Lady GaGa

So…remember how they used to say that Christina Aguilera and Lady GaGa were in this horrible feud a while ago (around the time the latter first broke through and the former’s Bionic album tanked).

Cut to last night, when the pair took the stage together to sing Mother Monster’s “Do What U Want” (the latest, most happening single of her ARTPOP) on the season finale of TV’s The Voice.

I. Was. Pretty amazing.

Love the song. Loved the guest vocalist. Loved the performance.

It was a diva overload moment – and we need more of those.

OKRRR!

Photo: Vibe.com.

Singing Something

Christina Aguilera is back in the spotlight – the music spotlight – thanks to A Great Big World.

Sure, Xtina has been back post-Lotus ever since she rejoined Sexiest Man Alive Adam Levine and his bromantic life partner Blake Shelton on TV’s The Voice earlier this season, and ever since – shudder – she lost all that weight she’d put on (I hate that that’s even how we gotta think of it).

But now she’s like, totally back, just how we like her best: singing the s--- outta of song we enjoy.

Not that the up-and-coming indie pop two-member band has Ms. Aguilera belting away on their single “Say Something.”

No, she is smartly showing us she can do subdued, too, as you can hear in the hit power torch ballad, the effect of which is rather haunting.

Loving it. Especially now that I heard them all perform the song on last night’s American Music Awards.

GTS!.

Photo: ThatGrapeJuice.net.

The Voice Will Be Back

You see – it was just a quick little break.

So don’t be getting used to her seat, Shakira (or Usher): Christina Aguilera is planning on returning to her big red chair on the fifth season of TV’s The Voice in the fall.

Xtina reportedly has negotiated a new contract with NBC worth $12 million.

Meanwhile, Cee Lo Green, who exited the show at the end of Season 3 as well, is currently working out a new deal to come back, too.

So stay tuned for that.

Photo: ElComercio.com.

All About the Moment

Christina Aguilera owes Pitbull some flowers, IMHO.

Or some bubbly.

A yacht maybe.

Something.

Mr. Worldwide has gone and done Xtina – whose latest album Lotus crashed and burned quick – a real solid by asking her to come on and let herself be featured in the latest track off his Global Warming album, “Feel This Moment,” which is classic Pitbull.

There’s a cool sample (cash ’em royalties, A-ha!) and shout-outs to the 305. A nice build-yourself-up message. And plenty of permission to celebrate that out on the dance floor.

Go on...feel it. And then watch the two perform, quite likely this very song, at the 2013 Kids’ Choice Awards next week.

Photo: TheProphetBlog.net.

Christina Cares

Sandy may have ravaged New York, but, by golly, those who heart the city will come out in full force to show they care.

Among the acts participating in a hour-long telethon that will air on NBC tomorrow is Christina Aguilera. The singer will perform at the Peacock’s Rockefeller Plaza studios during the Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together special that Matt Lauer will host beginning at 8 p.m.

Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, and Sting also will be on hand for the fundraiser for the American Red Cross’ relief efforts for victims from the storm.

The special also will air across other networks in the NBCUniversal family, including Bravo, E!, Style, and the USA Network.

Photo: RollingStone.com.

Bodacious Xtina

Yeah, Christina Aguilera has put on a little weight – let's call a spade a spade – and you know what...girlfriend is owning it and making the most of it.

The singer – who, granted, previously was a little on the twig side – is flaunting her new curves with just enough see-though fabulousness on the cover of her upcoming new single, the aptly titled “Your Body.”

Aguilera herself revealed the sheerstastic art via her Twitter, saying she couldn't wait for us to hear the song, which she kinda sorta likens to her hit “Fighter.” So I will wager it's all empower-y and s---.

The wait will be over tomorrow when the single hits radio, y'all, so keep your ears peeled for it.

Photo: UsMagazine.com.

Update 1: Click here for a preview of the song and its video.

Celebrating Jagger

Here’s the thing to come out of NBC’s The Voice that I’m totally digging: “Moves Like Jagger,” a fun collab between Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera:

I like the throwback-ish sound of the track, and I love, love, love all of the Adam Levine shirtlessness in the Jonas Åkerlund-directed video.

It’s the hotness, y’all.

Right?

Not to Be Silenced

Christina Aguilera’s downward spiral may have caught a bit of a soft landing.

The powerhouse-voiced entertainer will join Adam Levine and Cee Lo Green as a coach/judge on NBC’s The Voice.

“I am so excited to be part of such a wonderful project that celebrates music and the talent behind it,” the Grammy winner said. “To be given the opportunity to help shape new artists’ careers and mentor them to see their dreams come to fruition is a task I welcome with open arms. I am so happy to be working with Adam and Cee Lo as I feel there is so much we can all bring to [the show].”

Hope this turns things around for L’Aguilera....

Photo: SurfGossip.com.

Just a Simple Girl with a Dream

There’s a lot riding on Burlesque – and I don’t just mean the thongs up the dancers’ fannies.

For one, the movie marks the big-screen debut of Christina Aguilera, the powerhouse-voiced diva who’s gone from Mouseketeer to pop princess to dirrty girl to jazzy pin-up to, now, actress. And for two, it marks the return to the medium, in a headlining capacity, of the one and only Cher.

That sound you hear is that of 10 percent of the population, give or take, having a massive gaygasm.

Too bad that sound is way more exciting than most anything that happens on screen in this musical mess.

Oof, that came out harsher than I wanted it to.

Burlesque isn’t so bad, but it’s not as good as it should’ve been considering the cast it boasts (joining Cher and Aguilera are the invaluable Stanley Tucci, the underused Kristen Bell, and the oh-so-handsome Cam Gigandet and Eric Dane).

Aguilera plays Ali, a girl from Iowa who hops on a one-way-ticket bus for Los Angeles – lest her talents go forever unnoticed – with nothing but a couple of bags, very little money, and her big dreams of making it in Tinseltown.

When she gets there, she quickly hits the looking-for-a-job trail, ultimately stumbling upon the Burlesque Lounge, a not-so-hot-anymore spot with “the best view on the Sunset Strip” that Cher’s Tess owns and operates.

The club is like this glittery mecca for Ali, who may come from a small town but has big-city moxie. Determined to stay and make things happen for herself there, she chats up cute bartender Jack (Gigandet), who points her in the direction of the big boss, who turns her down for a job in the club’s cast of dancer. Undeterred, Ali picks up a tray and starts waiting tables.

That’s the Iowa way, I guess.

Ali proves she wants to be there, that she’ll do whatever it takes to earn a chance at the spotlight. She doesn’t make a lot of friends along the way, though. Sure, she’s got Jack on her side (who looks at her with the dreamiest eyes and takes her in as a platonic roommate, for he’s engaged, after her place gets burgled), and Tess’ gay BFF Sean (Tucci) also has taken a likin’ to her, but not the club’s queen bee Nikki (Bell) or the other girls.

Anyway, when the time to audition finally comes, she takes it and proves she’s got what it takes. She’s on her way up the ladder, but the joint’s on its way down. Tess is having major financial problems – banks want to get paid, a pushy developer (Dane) wants to buy her out, but she refuses to sell.

Meanwhile, Ali is pushing Tess to let her sing, pitching her the idea that live performances over lip-synched ones are the way to go, without much luck. Eventually, the former gets yet another opportunity to prove herself, impressing the latter so much she decides to build the shows around her and her tremendous voice. This could be what turns everything around.

Teasetastic, yet lukewarm number after teasetastic, yet lukewarm number, the club resurges, but it’s not quite enough. Deadlines are looming, but Ali...that girl gets yet another go at proving just what a resource she is and saves the day yet again.

Unfortunately, Burlesque, much like Aguilera (who does a fine job in her maiden cinematic voyage), only comes truly alive during the musical numbers, which after a while grow old because of their samesyness.

By the end of the flick, you will have clapped for some of it (and for ever fabulous Cher!), genuinely enjoyed some scenes (like the one involving Gigandet and a big box of cookies), but, ultimately, thought this one could’ve used a little more work.

My Rating **1/2

Photo: Screen Gems.

Curtains Up

I very nearly had a gaygasm when I saw it.

I mean, really, it was Christina Aguilera, and Cher, and Kristen freakin’ Bell, and Stanley Tucci, and Alan Cumming, and Cam Gigandet – all together with a ribbon on it making up the gift to the friends of friends hat is going to be Burlesque.

It’s a tale of small-town dreams are made of big-city this, a tale of backstabbing, a tale of song and dance and sequins – lots of sequins!

There’s love, there’s an ingénue, and there’s a legend.

What more could you want, right – he said breathlessly:



Loves it, right?

The movie, due out on Nov. 24, also features Eric Dane, Julianne Hough, and Peter Gallagher.

Christina Cancels

I feel bad for Leona Lewis – girlfriend can’t catch a break in the United States.

The British chanteuse was supposed to open Christina Aguilera’s summer tour beginning in July, but now that the latter’s cancelled the whole thing, that won’t be the case.

Aguilera cited promotion for her feature film debut, Burlesque (which opens in November), and, oddly enough, promotion for her new record, Bionic (out on June 8), as reasons for the postponement. She also announced she plans to hit the road next year, after all.

“The singer felt she needed more time to rehearse the show,” a statement said. “With less than a month between the album release and [the] tour, this wasn’t possible.”

Of course, everyone knows her first single, “Not Myself Tonight,” and its video have underwhelmed.

In any case, Lewis is kinda getting the rawer deal – she could’ve used the promotion, y’ know, since her latest stuff hasn’t hit stateside…and the duet she and Jennifer Hudson sing on the Sex and the City 2 soundtrack is kind of eh.

Photo: DivaReport.com.

Too M, Too Lady GaGa, Christina

I think Christina Aguilera can do no wrong – well, OK…the hair in the “Lady Marmalade” video was a bit much.

But seriously, whomever directed the oh-so-derivative video for the singer’s “Not Myself Tonight” needs to be sacked. The thing’s too Madonna’s “Human Nature”-meets-Lady GaGa’s “Bad Romance” and the result couldn’t be less Christina Aguilera, which is a shame because she’s such a singular artist.



What happened? Who dropped the ball? Am I missing something?

Today’s Music

The Today show announced this morning its lineup of acts for the 15th annual summer concert series that will bring lots and lots of people to Rockefeller Plaza.

Sting will get the party started – kinda sorta – on May 14, with a 30-minute set from his upcoming tour with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

Tween idol Justin Beiber will heat up June (as much as he can) followed by, among others, Christina Aguilera and Maxwell. July brings to the stage Maroon 5 (Adam Levine Alert!), as well as Lady GaGa, Enrique Iglesias, John Mayer, and Carrie Underwood.

Ke$ha is slated for a date in August, while Katy Perry will close the season on Aug. 27.

Click here for a complete schedule.

Photo: AroundTownBrown.blogspot.com.

Back to Naughty Basics

Hot Mama Alert!

Christina Aguilera is getting ready to release “Not Myself Tonight,” the first track off her upcoming new album – and just to tease us, she has given us a peek at the single’s sexy art.

In the black and white photo, Aguilera is dressed in dominatrix gear, complete with devil horns and tail drawn in.

The singer has promised to update fans with more information within a day.

Photo: People.com.

Update: As promised, Christina Aguilera updated fans on March 25 on what to expect from her this year: a new album called Bionic to be released on June 8.

Save Haiti, Save Your Soul

Ever the philanthropist, two-time Sexiest Man Alive George Clooney spent the week organizing tonight’s “Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief,” a star-studded telethon, in the wake of the devastating 7.0 quake that hit the island nation on Jan. 12.

Slated to appear on the TV special, which will air beginning at 8 p.m. on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH-1, CMT, PBS, TNT, Showtime, Comedy Central, Bravo, and E! Entertainment, are President Bill Clinton, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Robert Pattinson, Will Smith, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Anderson Cooper (live from Haiti), Wyclef, and Muhammad Ali, among others.

Madonna will perform from New York. Btw, I hear the Queen of Pop is set to perform...an oldie but a goody. (I promised I wouldn’ t say which one. Yet.)

Other performers appearing from either the Big Apple or Los Angeles include Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, Alicia Keys, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and Stevie Wonder.

Keith Urban, Kid Rock, and Sheryl Crow will put on a group performance, while Beyoncé, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Bono and the Edge, and Coldplay will perform via satellite from London.

To donate to the relief effort, check out the American Red Cross link to your left, or visit the Partners in Health Web site.

Photo: Time.com.

Update 1: A hint regarding Madonna’s choice of song: She performed it on her “Re-Invention” and “Sticky & Sweet” tours.

Update 2: Alright, M’s supposed to sing “Like a Prayer.” Hopefully she won’t change her mind since I already told.

Update 3: “Hope for Haiti Now” reportedly raised $58 million with more donations coming in still.

There’s still time to donate by purchasing all the performances (or individual ones) from the telethon. I just bought three (guess which one I got first).

Proceeds will benefit Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF, the U.N. World Food Programme, Yele Haiti Foundation, and the Clinton Bush Haiti Foundation.

A Beautiful Day to Be Beautiful

People magazine has announced its annual list of the 100 Most Beautiful, and Christina Applegate (TV’s Samantha Who?) has come out on top.

Let’s hear it for Kelly Bundy!

2009’s Most Beautiful star admits that after being diagnosed with breast cancer last March, she had “a rollercoaster of emotions, but there was a calm about what I had to do.”

Applegate underwent a double mastectomy, followed by reconstructive surgery. “It’s a decision that you made to save your life,” she said, noting one positive: “I don’t have to wear a bra! They don’t hang down to my knees like they did before. And the gals look good in tank tops.”

Also named Most Beautiful were list favorite Halle Berry, the girls from TV’s 90210, Zac Efron (natch), Christina Aguilera, Slumdog Millionaire’s Freida Pinto, Robert Pattinson, Michelle Obama, and SNL’s Kristen Wiig, among others.

Photo: People.com.

Ain’t No Other Christina

She rubbed it the right way and now Christina Aguilera is releasing her first greatest hits collection.

The album features re-recorded versions of her classics, such as “Genie in a Bottle” and “Beautiful,” as well as two new tracks, one of which, “Keeps Gettin’ Better” made its radio debut yesterday New York’s Z100.com.

Aguilera’s greatest hits will be available exclusively at Target on Nov. 11. The singer’s set to perform at tomorrow’s MTV VMAs.

Photo: E! Online.

What a Girl Wants Is Your Vote

Christina Aguilera has enlisted the help of her 5-month-old son Max to urge Americans to vote in November.

The “Beautiful” singer discussed her upcoming Rock the Vote PSA, last night on CNN’s Larry King Live.

“It was really important for me to get involved and get excited about this election in particular, being such one of change and new development for our country and for the future of my son, she said.”

Aguilera’s PSA, a takeoff on a 1992 Rock the Vote commercial with Madonna, features her holding Max wrapped in the American flag – which had some in a bit of a huff – and singing “America the Beautiful.”

Photo: LATimes.com.