Britney Spears Says Femme Fatale Tour Will Be 'Spectacular'

Singer also hopes her choreographers create the 'most outrageous things.'
By James Dinh


Britney Spears
Photo: Jive

Britney Spears is known for delivering an over-the-top stage show, and she promises that her forthcoming Femme Fatale Tour alongside Nicki Minaj will be no different.

In a new video interview posted on her website, the pop princess opens up about her 26-date summer venture, which is set to kick off June 16 in Sacramento and make its way across North America, before concluding August 13 in Toronto.

"The Femme Fatale Tour will hopefully just be outrageously spectacular," Spears said when asked about the trek. "I'm just hoping that the choreographers will come up with just the most outrageous things, and I'm really excited."

While it's been just over a month since the release of Femme Fatale, Brit gushed about the outing, saying, "This is one of the most excited I've been about a project in a really long time, so I can't wait."

While a set list has yet to surface, it would make sense that some of Spears' personal favorite Femme Fatale cuts will be performed throughout her concert, which she revealed as "He About to Lose Me," "Criminal" and "Till the World Ends."

Fans caught an early glimpse at the forthcoming tour last week when video footage of the pop star rehearsing the Bloodshy & Avant-produced "How I Roll" surfaced online. Wearing a baby-blue sports bra and sweatpants, a smiling Spears showed off some playful dance moves surrounded by a group of dancers.

Spears' manager, Larry Rudolph, told MTV News back in March that the tour is expected to have a postapocalyptic theme in tune with her latest single, "Till the World Ends." "This is exactly the direction we're moving in," he said. " 'Till the World Ends' keeps becoming a theme for us. ... The way we come up with a concept for a show like this is we sit with Britney, she talks to us about what she's interested in and what excites her."

Have you purchased tickets to Spears' tour yet? Let us know in the comments!

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Audrina Patridge, Ke$ha, Adam Lambert Share Prom Memories

'Me and my gay best friend just danced until 8 a.m.,' Ke$ha tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena


Audrina Patridge
Photo: MTV News

It's prom season, and that means high schoolers across this great land will be renting tuxes, buying fancy dresses and negotiating the details of their curfews with parents. So, before you take your pictures and get in your limos, we asked some Hollywood A-listers to recall their fondest prom memories.

"I had a great prom," Ne-Yo told MTV News. "I didn't get to go with who I wanted to go with. I got my second choice, but my second choice turned out to be the one I was supposed to be there with, so it turned out good."

Ke$ha, never one to say no to a party, had the best night of all her friends. "I went to prom with my gay best friend, and let me tell you, I had way more fun than anybody else at a prom with their boyfriends," she recalled. "Everybody else was, like, crying and drama and breaking up, and me and my gay best friend just danced until 8 a.m."

"Hellcats" star Aly Michalka doesn't have a favorite prom memory — because she never went to prom. "I was homeschooled, so I don't even think we had a fake prom," she lamented. "Like, maybe we had a home-school prom and I wasn't invited?"

While everything always seems to be in peril on "The Vampire Diaries," star Nina Dobrev had a less tumultuous night: "Having everyone get together and such a final celebration [is what I remember]."

Romeo went big for his prom. "My senior prom, I remember I pulled up in my red Ferrari. I was feeling like James Bond," he said. "And it was one of the best nights of my life."

"My favorite prom memory was probably going shopping for a dress, and our boyfriends at the time dressed up as 'Dumb & Dumber,' " Audrina Patridge laughed. "And so we were like, 'We can't dress up dorky ... we have to look good.' "

Roots drummer ?uestlove made a big decision on the night of his prom: "June 2, 1989, was my very last haircut; prom haircut, totally butchered my hair. He butchered my hair, and I vowed never again to ever get in a barber chair, so I grew that Afro on my prom night."

Adam Lambert said his prom date was a 10, so he definitely had a fun night. "I had a great prom. I had an awesome time," he said. "I went with one of my best friends in high school. Her name was Lauren, and she was really hot. She wore a really hot red dress, so I felt like I had arm candy."

Share your prom memories in the comments below!

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'Thor' Storms Past 'Fast Five' At Box Office

Wedding-themed 'Jumping the Broom,' 'Something Borrowed' follow far behind.
By Ryan J. Downey


Chris Hemsworth in "Thor"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

The "god of thunder" stormed the box office over the weekend as comic book fans and other moviegoers rained $66 million upon theaters to see "Thor." The latest big-screen adaptation of a beloved Marvel Comics superhero, this one drawn from Norse mythology, kicked off the summer movie season as the #1 movie in America, according to studio estimates.

Alas, a pair of romantic comedies proved to be no match against Thor's power. "Jumping the Broom" opened at #3 with $13.7 million, while "Something Borrowed," based on Emily Giffin's best-selling novel, came in fourth place with $13.1 million. Co-starring rom-com veteran Kate Hudson, "Borrowed" was far behind the $21.1 million her "Bride Wars" took in when it opened in 2009, or the similar numbers generated by "Fool's Gold" the year before.

"Thor" launches a potential franchise for Disney-owned Marvel Studios and serves as yet another piece of the comic-book-like continuity tapestry leading to 2012's "The Avengers." That ambitious movie recently started shooting and will unite Thor with Marvel heroes like Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Captain America (Chris Evans), whose own movie arrives on July 22. "Thor" benefited greatly from the critic-approved charisma of newcomer Chris Hemsworth in the title role and the Shakespearean sensibilities of director Kenneth Branagh. Technology didn't hurt, either, as roughly 60 percent of the film's business came courtesy of 3-D.

The opening-weekend numbers for "Thor" weren't as impressive as the franchise launching "Spider Man," "Iron Man," "Hulk" or "X-Men," but certainly stronger than "Ghost Rider" and "Daredevil." The movie's $66 million debut is more than the total gross of any other film Branagh has directed and bodes well for Hemsworth's future. The Australian actor already has the "Red Dawn" remake in the can, as well as "Cabin in the Woods," which was co-written by "Avengers" director Joss Whedon.

"Fast Five" was #2 with $32.5 million (for a $139.8 million total), although it beat "Thor" overseas as it expanded into more territories. The movie still boasts the biggest opening of 2011 thus far, and its 62 percent second week drop-off isn't any different than the last one, "Fast and Furious," which reunited Vin Diesel and Paul Walker after two sequels spent apart.

The animated "Rio" was #5, with $8.2 million for a $114.9 million total. Meanwhile, the Jodie Foster-directed dark dramedy "The Beaver," starring Mel Gibson, opened with $104,000, which even in limited release at just 22 locations is a disappointingly low number for all involved.

Next weekend's new releases include post-apocalyptic vampire flick "Priest," the Judd Apatow-produced comedy "Bridesmaids," heavy-metal infused indie "Hesher" and "Everything Must Go," which stars Will Ferrell in a dramatic role as a relapsing alcoholic whose life is falling apart.

Check out everything we've got on "Thor."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Beyonce Releases 'God Bless The USA' For Charity

Proceeds from the pop diva's track will go toward a New York charity that aids families of fallen firefighters and police.
By Jocelyn Vena


Beyoncé
Photo: Getty

Leading up to the release of her still-untitled forthcoming album, Beyoncé has been working the charity circuit. After hooking up with first lady Michelle Obama for the "Move Your Body" campaign, the superstar surprised students at New York City's PS 161: Pedro Albizu Campos middle school in Harlem on Tuesday to help spread the word about the importance of fitness.

It's not the only charity-based news that Queen B is making these days. Beyoncé has put her own signature diva spin on the classic track "God Bless the USA" and the patriotic track is available now on iTunes, with proceeds going toward the New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund. According to a press release, the organization is "a volunteer based not for profit dedicated to helping the families of fallen New York firefighters, police officers, EMS and Port Authority police killed in the line of duty." The singer debuted the song on CNN's "Piers Morgan" on Thursday night.

"I cannot think about anything more appropriate to do to help these families," she said in a statement about the tune, which plays showcases the performer's strong singing abilities. "Almost 10 years [after 9/11], it is still so painful for all Americans, especially those who lost loved ones.

"We were all affected by the tragedies of 9/11 and continue to keep the families who lost loved ones close to our hearts," the singer continued. "Thank you Piers Morgan and CNN for helping to get the message out to everyone about this."

"On behalf of New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund's Board of Directors and the families of our fallen heroes, we are truly grateful for Beyoncé's choice to support our charity and 'answer the call,' " Stephen J. Dannhauser, chairman of the New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund, said.

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Nicki Minaj 'Really Excited' About Britney Spears Tour

MC says she wants to 'show people that I can be part of any world.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway


Nicki Minaj
Photo: Chris McKay/WireImage

Fans are eight weeks away from the launch of the Femme Fatale tour. Britney Spears, along with top-line tour opener Nicki Minaj, will get the party started in June in Sacramento, California.

Minaj has called the slot "an honor." When MTV News caught up with the Barbie herself in New Orleans for the latest stop on the I Am Still Music Tour, she opened up a bit more about the matchup.

"She's definitely iconic and I'm very excited," Minaj explained. "It's weird. I just always remember her, since I was little, ruling the world, so I'm really excited to just expand my fanbase and show people that I can be a part of any world."

Minaj is the reigning princess in the hip-hop world, and she feels that hooking up with pop's leading queen will expand her horizons, even if she has to make some changes to her stage show.

"Of course I will adjust some things. I definitely will take away that one particular stage prop," she said of one very phallic object, adding that her music and set list will basically stay the same. "We'll add some stuff 'cause I got some new things coming out this summer, some new records."

Earlier this week, Minaj called into Ryan Seacrest's radio show, promising that things will be characteristically over-the-top when she hits the road with Spears.

"I'm calling to let everyone know how thrilled I am, how honored I am to be going on the road with the iconic Miss Britney Spears this summer. I just know that when the Femme Fatales and the Barbs get together, we're going to kick major ass," she said. "And I am looking forward to creating a new, a bigger, a brighter, a more spectacular show. And I am just really, really excited to make history with Britney, so you guys, make sure you come out this summer."

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'American Idol' Preview: Lady Gaga Arrives, Who Will Survive?

With help from Mother Monster, 'Idol' top four will take on a songbook that includes tunes by Elvis, Peggy Lee.
By Eric Ditzian


Lady Gaga
Photo: Marco Prosch/ Getty Images

"American Idol" has presented us with some head-scratching television this year. A Rock and Roll Night nearly devoid of rock and roll. Judges who all too often laud the commonplace and dismiss the extraordinary. An entire episode devoted to Carole King's songbook — a fine singer and writer, to be sure — one that hardly compares to past thematic artists like John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

If anything, this season's overarching theme has been straight-up weirdness. Wednesday's (May 11) show, then, will continue in this vein, and perhaps raise the bar. None other than Lady Gaga is the mentor for the top four contestants, as they take on the songbook of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

"Who?" you might ask. Well, these two gentlemen have written songs for Elvis Presley and Ben E. King, among others, and their music has since been covered by likes of the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix and sampled by everyone from Warren G to Sean Kingston. Of course, that still doesn't explain why the woman behind "Judas" is the perfect fit for this week's show.

Nonetheless, it should make for some very entertaining TV. If only Jacob Lusk were around to enjoy it! Here's what we'll be looking for from the remaining "Idol" hopefuls.

Lauren Alaina
Haley Reinhart aside, Lauren was the real stunner last week, both because she finally, firmly regained her swagger and belted out two top-notch performances and because she ended up in the bottom two. It's interesting how Haley seems to have chipped away at Lauren's fanbase. No complaints from us! But the pressure is seriously on Lauren, and we wonder how her near-dismissal will affect her confidence during two songs on Wednesday. "Kansas City," perhaps best known as a Beatles tune, is a bluesy track that's well suited to be deep-fried in country flavor. We just fear the refrain, "Bye bye, bye bye!"

James Durbin
James might not have landed in the bottom two, but last week was easily his worst combined performance of the season. Not that the judges seemed to notice, as they competed with each other to see who could offer the most superlative critique. Here's the thing: James is in it to win it, as silly as that is to say. He's consistently displayed the most creativity and passion of anyone on the show; what he's got to offer this week is a vocal performance to match. Dion's "Ruby Baby" would be a nice soft-rock fit. But with Gaga in the picture, we have a feeling James is going to go over the top. He's already lit a piano on fire and entered the stage with a marching band, so it's anybody's guess what the kid has lined up for Wednesday.

Scotty McCreery
Scotty has already taken on Elvis twice this season, the last time to rather underwhelming results. So we're going to say the King is off-limits this week, even for an "Idol" singer who isn't exactly the most creative artist in the world. Perhaps, however, Gaga will draw out a little creativity from the country kid. An inspired choice would be "Stand by Me." Scotty can give the familiar tune a twangy makeover while incorporating some of the soulful emotion inherent in the tune. And for his second performance, "Lucky Lips" would be nothing short of genius.

Haley Reinhart
Is Haley's "Idol" arc the greatest resurrection story in the show's history? Let's wait to see how far she truly goes. For now, we can applaud her for finding her form in the midst of the reality-show pressure cooker. And voters can applaud themselves for recognizing her late-blooming mojo and supporting her week after week.

Haley was able to tease out Gaga's bluesy essence during a cover of "You and I" last week, even if the judges slammed her for it. We hope Gaga comes to Haley's defense this time around and makes the key point that simply singing a Gaga tune does not mean you're trying to be Gaga. Leiber and Stoller's songbook offers Haley a gift in Peggy Lee's "I'm a Woman." She just shouldn't overly rely on her growls. But if she gets it right — and we have a felling she will — Haley just might find herself hanging around on the final night of "Idol."

Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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