Word Up

2/8/2010

Janet Jackson’s quite the cougar. The “Rhythm Nation” singer has set her sights on a new, much younger man: Gossip Girl star Chase Crawford. “We met at a bar, someone brought him over,” said Janet, who is a big fan of the show. “It was after I did the tribute to my brother Michael at the MTV Video Music Awards. We talked for a minute.” That very short meeting was enough to leave Miss Jackson both star struck and smitten. “He’s beautiful. And the thing about it is, in person he’s even more beautiful. When you see him on the screen, he’s really good looking, but then you meet him in person,” she gushed about Carrie Underwood’s ex. Chase is only 24 years old—close to half her age—but this is hardly the first time Janet’s dipped into another generation’s gene pool. Her ex boyfriend, music producer Jermaine Dupri, is six years her junior and Janet was supposedly hanging out with Justin Timberlake around the time of Nipplegate.  Clearly the 43-year-old star likes them young.

Article By: Michelle Loeb

12/4/09

It’s been a few weeks since Adam Lambert’s infamous performance at the American Music Awards, but shockwaves are still being felt throughout the industry. It reminds us a lot of Janet Jackson and “Nipple Gate.” Remember that? Well Lambert’s had some TV performances cancelled and even had to deal with his own dad’s public call for an apology. Now ABC wants to make sure they’ll never have to deal with a raunchy performance like that again. According to Perez Hilton, company president Anne Sweeney is making artists sign contracts before they perform on her station, saying they “are contractually obligated to have their live performances match their rehearsals,” said Hilton. Speaking about the new rules, Sweeney said, “”We certainly don’t want to suppress artistry at any level, but we also have to be very cognizant of who our audience is.” Censorship or good business? Hmmm.

Article by: Michelle Loeb

Monday 11/16/09

It has been five months since Michael Jackson’s sudden death, but interest in the singer isn’t waning one bit. His concert movie, This Is It, passed the $200 million mark in worldwide sales and his sister Janet sat down with ABC’s Robin Roberts about her brother while promoting her new greatest hits album. “I was at my house in New York. You know, another day. Another morning. And I get a call…[My assistant] said, ‘Your brother’s been taken to the hospital. It’s on CNN right now,’” the singer recalled in her first interview about her brother’s death. “I told [my family] to call me when they got to the hospital. And I remember thinking nobody’s calling me back, so I tried calling again, and that’s how I found out that he was no longer…I couldn’t believe it. It just didn’t ring true to me. It felt like a dream,” she continued. “It’s still so difficult for me to believe. And a day doesn’t go by that I don’t think about him.”

The interview is set to air on Wednesday, November 18, at 10pm, and word is Jackson blames her brother’s private doctor, Conrad Murray, for the events of June 25th. “He was the one that was administering,” said Jackson, who thinks Dr. Murray should lose his license to practice medicine. “I think he is responsible.”

Article by: Michelle Loeb

Monday 11/9/09

After taking some time apart from long-term boyfriend Jermaine Dupri to mourn the sudden death of her brother, Janet Jackson confirmed the relationship is most definitely back on. “They never really broke up,” a source told People. “Jermaine wanted to give her some space when Michael died.” Well they certainly had us fooled! Jackson told Harper’s Bazaar that she was single and Dupri was conspicuously absent from MJ’s star-studded memorial service.

Now that things are back on track, could a wedding be in the cards? Rumors are floating around that the happy pair wants to get hitched early next year.  “They’re rushing it,” said a source, “because after Michael’s death, the family needs something to smile about.” But don’t go buying them wedding gifts anytime soon. Dupri put a damper on the rumors, telling People, “They’ve been saying that for years and you don’t see a ring on my finger. I guess it just sounds good to have that rumor this time of the year or something.”

Article by: Michelle Loeb

Tuesday 09/08/09

Michael Jackson: The King of Pop

If you needed a reason to tune in to MTV’s Video Music Awards on Sunday night, here’s your chance. While there have been plenty of tributes to the King of Pop after his passing, none will be as big as the one lil sis Janet is planning for Sunday. Word is that some of the world’s top choreographers, such as Frank Gatson and Travis Payne will be helping choreograph a routine that will make Janet’s fitting tribute a very memorable one. Dancers have been working overtime and according to one of them “there won’t be a dry eye in the house.”  We know it’ll be a fitting tribute. Will you be tuning in to watch?

In related news, the list of A-list performers participating at the September 26 concert for Michael Jackson in Vienna has been revealed. Among the notables are: Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Natalie Cole, Sister Sledge, Akon, actress Angela Bassett and the possibility exists that even Madonna will make an appearance. Jackson’s family and children – along with 65,000 fans – are expected to attend the festivities.

Article by Michelle Loeb