Over 83 million people tuned in last Friday night (Jan 22) to catch the Hope for Haiti Now telethon, which aired live and commercial-free on several major networks and was also streamed real-time online. The effort was spearheaded by MTV Networks, actor George Clooney and rapper/singer Wyclef Jean (who is from Haiti himself) in an effort to raise awareness and relief for the troubled country of Haiti, who suffered a massive earthquake earlier this month. According to recent numbers, over $61 million in pledges were made by members of the general public. Organizers will continue to take contributions for the next six months.

Celebrities who helped out by either performing or taking phone calls from pledges (or both) included Jay-Z, Rihanna, Bono from U2, Taylor Swift, Denzel Washington, Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson and tons more. Continue reading for more pictures and click here to peep the performances if you missed them last week.

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Big name stars like Beyonce, Madonna, Jay-Z, Rihanna and more are scheduled to perform in what’s beginning to look like a dress rehearsal for the upcoming 2010 Grammy Awards.

The stars mentioned, among others, will take part in a two-hour televised telethon today (Fri. Jan 22) called “Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief.” The show will air on all major cable networks beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern and will feature musical performances from all over the world from folks like Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Shakira, Taylor Swift, Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake and proud Haiti native Wyclef Jean.

The show, which in the United States will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern time on all the major networks and on cable channels, is to feature musical performances from multiple locations: Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Shakira and Wyclef Jean will play in New York, while in London Bono and the Edge of U2 will collaborate with Jay-Z and Rihanna, with Coldplay also slated to perform. The program in Los Angeles is to include performances by Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake and a collaboration among Keith Urban, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow. Songs from the telethon will be for sale on iTunes for 99 cents beginning Saturday, will all proceeds going to a number of relief organizations.

SOURCE: NY TIMES

Pop diva Madonna is heading back to Malawai for education this time around, instead of adoption.

The fabulous 51 year old singer, who has already adopted two children from Malawi, is visiting the African country this weekend on behalf of her charity, Raising Malawi. The big plan is to lay the foundation of education with a $15 million dollar school, following in the footsteps of high-profile philanthropist Oprah Winfrey, who built a boarding school for girls in South Africa back in 2007.

“She plans to meet the President Bingu wa Mutharika and together lay a foundation stone for her multi-million dollar girls school,” a staffer at the charity, who declined to be named, told Reuters Thursday.

Nothing has been declared on whether or not her two Malawi children, David (4) and James (3) will get to join her for the ride to their home country.

Pop legend Madonna and hip-hop star Lil Wayne have teamed up on a track titled “Revolver,” which will be featured on Madonna’s upcoming greatest hits album, titled Celebration. M’s compilation album drops September 29th and will be released along with a DVD of music videos.

This sounds more like a Britney song than a Madonna song, but Lil Wayne being enlisted to be featured on the track should definitely be celebrated. And the fact that he’s singing in the song is hilarious to us!!

D/L: MADONNA & LIL WAYNE – REVOLVER

Rapper Kanye West offered Joe Jackson a sip from his bottle of Henny before last night’s VMAs. The bottle apparently made its way around the audience because Pete Wentz was also spotted drinking straight from the community bottle. Looks like Kanye and Amber were trying to get everybody a little loose!

Kid Cudi and Wale performed as a part of the official house band during commercial breaks/intermissions.

Lady Gaga accepted her award for “Best New Artist” from a shocked Eminem. We would love to know what he was thinking when he saw her in that outfit!

Continue reading for more…

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Madonna, who completed her “Sticky & Sweet” world tour a couple of nights ago in Israel, recently premiered her new music video for “Celebration,” which is set to be featured on her upcoming greatest-hits compilation album, also titled Celebration.

The album will boast her biggest hits and will also include new songs from the pop star, including “Revolver,” her collaboration with rapper Lil Wayne. Along with the album comes a DVD, filled with songs and tons of videos selected by M and her fans. Both the DVD and the album are scheduled to be released on September 29th.

But in the meantime, continue reading to check out her new Jonas Akerlund directed music video!

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Quincy Jones: “I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don’t have the words. Divinity brought our souls together on The Wiz and allowed us to do what we were able to throughout the 80’s. To this day, the music we created together on Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad is played in every corner of the world and the reason for that is because he had it all…talent, grace, professionalism and dedication. He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever.”

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The Associated Press is reporting that singer Madonna is trying to adopt another child from Malawi, a country in Africa, depsite the melee over her son David Banda’s adoption last year in 2008. Officials at the Malawi welfare department say Madge filed adoption papers there Thursday. Another source said she’ll be arriving in Malawi this weekend and will be attending a court hearing on Monday.

Despite a U.S. official’s confirmation of the adoption attempt to AP, Madonna’s spokeswoman in NYC, Liz Rosenberg, declinded to comment.

Graydon Carter and Vanity Fair played host to the 2009 Vanity Hair Oscar party, which was attended by Russell Simmons, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, and about damn near everyone who held a big name at this year’s Oscar Awards and then some. Don’t believe us? Continue reading for more pics from the red carpet of the party!

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MIAMI // WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH 2008 » Pharrell & Timbaland both made surprise appearances last night at the Miami stop of Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet tour. Continue reading for more photos and to peep Madonna and Timbo on stage together.

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