It's time for People's annual "Most Beautiful People" issue!
This year's winner isss....
Jennifer Lopez! [I can't even be mad about this. She is freaking beautiful.. And maybe looking better than ever in these pictures.]
As much as she may have complained about American Idol not being her ultimate comeback move, she better look again. She's back and beautiful because of that show.
Still, in the article she talks about being a mom and how that look makes her feel the best.
"That's when I'm my happiest. Just being able to touch my face and rub my eyes and put my fingers in my hair and not having to worry about messing it up. It's so much better."
WORD, girl. I agree on that part.
She also had something to say about her "diva" reputation:
"I kind of like it. We've kind of owned it now. But I certainly don't like and I've never been a person who has what they call 'diva behavior,' which is something they tried to pin on me for a long time."
Yeah... I don't know if I believe you, but we'll go with it!
Check out some of the other beautiful People:
"You’re a human being, you live once and life is wonderful, so eat the damn red velvet cupcake." -Emma Stone
"I identify as a comedy writer, so to get compliments on appearance, that's the nicest compliment – to be shallow!" -Mindy Kaling
"One of the greatest luxuries I am afforded is a solid eight hours every once in a while!" -Jennifer Hudson
"There's no way to hide them as much as you want to bandage your boobs down. Now I can make my way in and out of parking tickets: Show the girls and give a wink!" -Jessica Simpson
"I don't want anybody thinking it's easy. It does take time and it's hard work. HDTV wide-screen is nobody's friend!" -Jennifer Lopez
"I think it's important to remember to live in the moment and enjoy every day to the fullest." -Zac Efron
"We're trying to nationalize Sexy. Sort of like Medicare." -Ryan Reynolds
"My mother always said, 'Be original!' but I didn't understand until I changed to be like everyone else." -Sandra Bullock
I can't help but notice that a lot of these people were pictured in magazines for being beautiful in the 90s... YAY! I also can't disagree with any of these choice. People- you did good. Real good.
Big rumor of the day: Patrick Swayze died. False statement. He's alive, and "well." But he's certainly not looking like the Patrick we all know. :(
This would be Jennifer Hudson on the Today Show.
Oh no, J-Hud. This is NOT a good look. WHAT are the pants? They give her the absolute biggest camel toe I think I have ever seen. Not even the Cuchini could save this girl. And the shirt! Hmm.. Is she trying to hide a baby? Yikes yikes yikes.
Rihanna! Is that... Are you.... Are you SMILING?!?!?! It can't be! A beautiful smile on Rihanna walking into the studio to work with Justin Timberlake and Jay Z can be seen from miles away! It's been a LONG time since we've seen one on her!
Now, she needs to ditch that ugly haircut of hers, and go back to the normal Rihanna I used to absolutely love.
Check that out! Justin is sporting his curls that he used to have back in the NSYNC days!
Okay, they're not bleached out, and he doesn't have a fro, but I feel like it's been uber short for years now, and the curls make my heart warm. Welcome back, JT curls.
Adam Glambert and Kris Allen performed tonight for the Idol FINALE! Official song was written by Kara Dioguardi and is called "No Boundaries." [It's pretty lame, but whatever.]
I voted for KRIS! Obvi. LET'S GOOOO!
We have a winner!!! DWTS Champion= SHAWN JOHNSON!!! And partner Mark Ballas!!! I'm SO excited!! More on that tomorrow, hopefully.
That is all.
Tunes on Tuesday will be a day late-- Tomorrow. Scouts honor.
Last night on Idol: Movie night. AKA another one of those "do whatever you want and find what movie it's been in" nights.
I think we've finally weeded out the people who are just downright bad. So now it's a little harder to determine what's going to happen. Here's what they sang, though:
Allison Iraheta/I Don't Want To Miss A Thing: Simon deemed her the only hope for the girls in the competition, and I probably agree. She's amazing. And did I mention only 16?
Anoop Desai/[Everything I do] I Do It For You: The judges think he improved a lot and did a great job, but I think he needs to be the next to go. Sure, he improved... But he's not great like I thought he'd be.
Adam Lambert/Born To Be Wild: He had a lot to live up to, and I'm not sure he did BETTER than last week, but he can't do wrong. He's a crazy performer, and though I think the screaming is a little much sometimes, he's the most talented on the show.
Danny Gokey/Endless Love: I liked it, but the judges were mixed. I don't think he can do any wrong, either. Plus it made me tear up a little not only because he's great, but thinking about his dead wife.
Matt Giraud/Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman: He's a very talented singer, and I like when he plays the piano... But he's a tad forgettable. Unless he makes it, I don't know we'll remember him/this next season or in a couple years.
Kris Allen/Falling Slowly: This kid is just way too precious to not be less than a foot from me. I mean.. Uhh... He did a good job, as usual. Nothing too over the top, and still a little forgettable, but he's a great singer, and I love him.
Lil Rounds/The Rose: Okay, I'm sick of them picking on her. She's a good singer! She's better than some of the people still on the show! Why are they telling her it's just not quite there? They're thinkin' she's someone else from the past or somethin', and it's not good.
Who I think will be in the bottom 3:
I think Lil's fans will come through for her. Danny and Adam are destined to be safe. Allison, I'm just hoping she's safe, I guess. Who will go home? Honestly, I think Kris or Matt. The forgettable factor is a killer.
We'll find out tonight! Jennifer Hudson and Miley are also performing! Wahoo! [Miley definitely prerecorded hers a good 1 or 2 weeks ago, though. Hmmm...]
These weeks are FLYING by! It's Tunes on Tuesday again!!!
First up--> These guys redid Britney's song--> Ahmir--> Womanizer
I think this is incredible. I love how they changed the lyrics. I love their sound. I love their little video just sitting in the chairs. I love every bit of it.
Chris Brown--> Cry No More
A lot of people are thinking this song is new and an apology to Rihanna, but it's not. It's actually from November of last year. Bloggers are making things up as usual. Nonetheless, it's a pretty good song. Obvi, it's Chris Brown. And no matter what, he makes good music.
Mims--> Move [If You Wanna]
I like the beat, it's not bad. I'm not sure if I like the whole sound of it, though. Hmmm.. I'll have to get back to you on it. ;) Cool video, though.
Miley Cyrus--> The Climb
Wow. Uh.. I like it. Quite a bit actually. It's kinda like Lonestar's "Mountains" because of the lyrics, but I seriously love this song. She sounds like a good singer, AND looks her age for once! If she can keep this up, she might become legit again. [Yes, she lost all legit-ness that she had being Hannah Montana when she decided to become 25 years old all of a sudden.]
Lady Gaga--> LoveGame
Oh snap! This song is kinda raunchy! But it's catchy, too. You can definitely dance to it and have a good time! I enjoy.
Lil Mama--> Truly In Love
Uhhh.. How awkward is this?! Really, I'm wondering if this is supposed to be a joke. She can't sing. There's too much of that. And since when is she looked at as being sexy in order for her to wear that purple dress? Really, the whole scene and video is awkward. Woah.
Jennifer Hudson--> If This Isn't Love
What a cute little song for her second single! She looks GORGEOUS in the video too! She's incredible.. Enough said. [Does it sound familiar to anyone? Like a remake or something..?]
Enrique Iglesias ft. Ciara--> Takin' Back My Love
Listening to this song, you wouldn't expect it to be about revenge or break-up or whatever, but it is. But instead of killing each other, I guess they're just taking everything back. It's good to see them both back, though.
Plies ft. Ashanti--> Want it, Need it
Sometimes I like Plies, sometimes I don't. This video makes me feel weird about him, but I love Ashanti in this song, and I think she saves it for me. I like it. I can dig it.
Pat Green--> Country Star
This is fun! And funny! He hits a LOT of country stars throughout the song, and it's catchy! Reminds me of "Celebrity." It's good stuff.
Chris Young--> Gettin' You Home
Let's be real.. He's just being honest. He doesn't want to be out on a date, he wants to be takin' the girl home with him. Right now. Clever! I enjoy.
Alright, that's all for this week! Break out the iPod!
One of the things I loved about Hollywood Week on American Idol is that a LOT of people took songs and remade them into something different. A lot of people did "Hey There Delilah" which was AMAZING. I just really like it when people redo songs into acoustic versions, etc.
For example, this guy Alain Clark does a beautiful version of Jennifer Hudson's first single, "Spotlight."
He's not the most amazing singer ever [plus, he's singing J.Hud's song, who IS an amazing singer], but the way his voice and the guitar and everything came together IS amazing. I love it, and you should too.
I really want to know more about you, guy! It's time to do some research.
As always, I'm sure you've been on the edge of your seat just WAITING to hear what I have to say about the event of the weekend.
No, I don't mean Chris beating Rihanna. I already told you about that. I mean the Grammy's.
First of all, if you didn't tune into E! Network to see Seacrest on the red carpet, you missed out on a show. The man must have been drinking, or just not slept in a week, because he was clearly in outer space. He kept asking really uncomfortable questions to people, but seemed so disconnected. I don't know.. It was weird.
I don't know if this is the best example of it, but here he is with Jennifer Hudson.. Who he used to talk to regularly on American Idol:
And yes, that's Punk. Her fiance. Or "baby" as Ryan thought. Weird.
Moving on... Whitney's big "comeback." Did she do it? My opinion: No. However, Britney didn't do it the first time either. She needed a second chance, and she nailed it then. So I'm sure no one is giving up on Whitney yet. They can't. She was just a little cracked out still last night.. No big deal.
PLUS, she DID sing at the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy party the night before, and sounded pretty good. Not as mind blowing as we're used to.. But she's still got some pipes. [I know, it's a terrible video.. Deal with it. She starts singing around 2 minutes.]
The sound was killin' me. During so many performances, the mic was clearly not rigged up to the broadcast or something, because it sounded like a live concert being recorded on someones video camera. It was terrible, and made amazing singers like Carrie Underwood sound bad.
But, she IS Carrie Underwood, so even though the sound wasn't working, she still sounded pretty good.. And as always, looked amazing.
Honestly though.. Overall, the performances really disappointed me. Yeah, maybe Rihanna and GF-Beater [:(] could have helped, but I just wasn't impressed overall.
For example... Why was one of the most hyped up duets MILEY and TAYLOR?!?! Neither of them are really amazing singers, and they're even worse live. There's just a lot more people out there who could have filled their spot.
And SPEAKING OF DUETS!!! Stevie Wonder performed. That's always something anyone is going to look forward to. But... Who'd they pair him with?! The JONAS BROTHERS!!!
Seriously, I'm all about combining generations and things like that... But this is not okay. Stevie is a legend. The JoBros are not.. No matter what any teeny bopper may say. [And I'm allowed to say this because I, too, was a teeny bopper growing up. Big time.] I mean yeah, it sounded okay and everything... But c'mon. This is like a sin or something! And didn't Stevie used to say he wouldn't be a part of such things?!
A good example of combining generations DID happen last night, though. Some of the Four Tops combined with Jamie Foxx and Neyo to do a montage of a songs.. And it was FABULOUS! Jamie and Neyo fit RIGHT in swagger-wise, and they're amazing singers. It just fit. You could feel the chemistry, and how they really knew this was something special for everyone.
Speaking of swagger, you KNOW Kanye had to be up on that stage sometime. And of course TI, Jay Z, Lil Wayne, and the ever so PREGO MIA. It started off black and white which was interesting, but it was a good performace.. I won't even lie.
Anddd speaking of TI.. He was also on stage with Justin Timberlake (replacing either Chris or Rihanna's peformance) for Dead and Gone. Good stuff, for sure.
On top of that, I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but there wasn't a whole lot worthy of sharing. Coldplay peformed, which a lot of people may like actually.. But I still haven't figured out the fascination in them. U2 opened the show. Album of the year winners Alison Krauss and Robert Plant ALSO performed.. But it still left the question of "Why'd they win?"
And, of course, Katy Perry told us all one more time, that she did in fact kiss a girl.. And yes, she liked the taste of her cherry chapstick.
Weird performance.
I know I'm forgetting plenty, but thanks to my computer crashing earlier today, I lost all of my notes, so these will have to do.
As usual, I love hearing what everyone had to say, and what you noticed that maybe I didn't, so please share!!
Overall though.. I just wasn't impressed this year. I think they could have been a lot better, and made some better decisions not only about performances, but about the awards too.
YAY for Jennifer Hudson though!!!
love, elizabethany
PS: I'll put up red carpet pictures tomorrow. It's all too much right now! :-P
I know all of you guys have been sitting on the edge of your seats just waiting to read what I thought about the Super Bowl.
Okay... You probably already know how I felt about the game.. But let's be honest. The Super Bowl is almost more about the OTHER stuff. Ya know, the performers, commercials, food...
First up.. Jennifer Hudson. Can we say Uh-May-Zing?!?! She was absolutely incredible. Yes, unfortunately she was lip syncing, but it wasn't her choice. Honestly, producers of the show have come out saying they forced her to do it because they thought it would be best. But who cares?! It was a great recording!
I think I have watched it a good 5 times, and I get goosebumpies every time. She's incredibly talented, and I'm so glad to see her out in public and performing again. [She'll also be performing at the NAACP Image Awards!]
People are even wondering if hers, or Whitney's version, of the Star Spangled Banner is better. Hmmm.. I think my vote goes for Jennifer, honestly. It's so wholesome but SO great. Ah, I loved it. She's easily one of the best singers alive right now.
Speaking of performers, how about the halftime show? I've said it before, a million times, and here I go, about to say it again... I'm sick of old school people performing for the Super Bowl Halftime Show. I want it to be a mix of old school, country, pop, rap, r&b.. EVERYTHING!
Every year since the wardrobe malfunction, it's just been oldies getting up on stage trying to fit into this generation. Prince tried to make it look like he was playing with his "thing," and now Bruce Springsteen practically straddled all of us. I just wasn't impressed.
Tell me if I'm wrong in what I'm saying, but I don't think I am. And frankly, I won't care if you think I am. :) They need to get over the malfunction and get back to the good ol' days, dangit! [I mean seriously.. They need to just watch out for porn getting on the broadcast.]
Now onto the reason that many female Steelers.. I mean... "Football" fans watched the game- The commercials.
These are my favorites.. In no particular order:
[I love Will.i.am, and I love comparing the present to the past. Enough said.]
[I think this one is going down in Super Bowl Ads history.. Just sayin'.]
[Who doesn't like a good love story?!]
[These are just hilarious and have always been some of my favorites. OMG the black baby is hilarious!!! Here are more outtakes:]
[What an amazing network commercial!! I love it.]
[I don't know why this is funny to me.. But it is.]
[The irony is so fabulous. The fact that this is real is fabulous. The hilarity is fabulous. Ahh, I love it.]
And as for two movies that I'm really pumped about:
[Will Ferrell I love you.]
So... I guess... Congrats to the Steelers. [Ugh.] But the season is officially over come Sunday which means no one is good anymore!!! ;) REDSKINS, NEXT YEAR IS OUR YEAR!!
So, her nephew's body was identified, and the autopsy showed that he died from 2 gunshot wounds to the head.... :(
Now, they think someone else was involved besides Jennifer's sister Julia's ex-husband and father of Julian. They think he had help driving his car around, etc.
But get this.. William Balfour, who's in for questioning, has quite the history. In fact, he violated his parole in June, which he was on for attempted murder back in 1999, for having cocaine on him. Had the police decided to revoke his parole back in June, he wouldn't have been around for this to happen. He also hasn't completed his required substance abuse or anger management counseling.. And he's reportedly in some really violent gang called Gangster Disciples. OH! And did I mention his dad is currently in jail for 30 years for murder, and his brother is in for drug dealing?! Sounds like quite the family, eh?!
There's lots more information here, as well as some videos too.. All the celebs helping Jennifer out such as Nelly, Ashanti, American Idol colleagues, Sex and the City costars, etc.
Over the weekend, Oscar winning actress, American Idol alum, and singer Jennifer Hudson's family was murdered.
As of Friday, her mom and brother had both been shot and killed in their hometown of Chicago. Her mother (Darnell Donerson)'s body was found in her home around 3 pm, after the gunshots were heard around 9am.. but no one thought to call the cops because its "a common thing to hear" in the neighborhood she lived in. Her brother (Jason Hudson)'s body was found a little later. They believe the murderer walked into the house, shooting Jason first, and then kept firing and hit Darnell.
That's not all that happened.
Jennifer got the call from her sister while out promoting her new movie "The Secret Life of Bees," and rushed home to identify the bodies. She then made an important announcement, while staying out of the public eye...
Her 7 year-old nephew, Julian, was also missing since the murder.
"My greatest fear has already happened," she said tearfully. "My greatest hope is for him to come back." -Julia Hudson, Jennifer's sister and Julian's mom.
Jennifer announced a $100,000 reward for anyone with information on his disappearance.. and police issued an Amber Alert. Bullet casings were found in his bedroom..
The body was just found this morning, around 7am, in a white Suburban.. It's registered as her brother's car.. who was shot. Now all that is left is to identify him.
They have one man in custody, Julia's ex-husband William Balfour, but police say he is only a "person of interest" and is just there for questioning.
Oh.. my goodness. I just.. I don't even know what to say. J.Hud has been living the dream the past couple years since she was on American Idol, then Dreamgirls, getting engaged and so on. For her to have to go through this.. This is the worst tragedy and worst thing anyone could ever imagine.
Everyone just keep her and her family in your prayers right now. They say she's doing OK.. but I don't know how "okay" one can be in this situation.
Hang in there, Jenn.. as much as possible. We love you!
love, elizabethany
PS: If you're interested, there is TONS more information, videos, random facts.. etc here.
So I think this is actually something I'm excited about.
Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga, aka Punk from I Love New York 2, are officially engaged!!!
It totally worries me in the sense that they were so secret for so "long" while they were together, and now that her single is a hit she's engaged, but I'm going to be optimistic about this one. I liked Punk on ILNY2, and definitely rooted for him to find a good girl... and I totally love J-Hud!! [American Idol alum, DUH!]
So I'm going to give lots of luck to the couple! :) And I suggest maybe a quick pre-nup, ya know, just in case. ;)
