Source: http://perezhilton.com/2011-12-29-lmfao-was-almost-set-on-fire
Mumford & Sons, Justin Bieber, Rick Ross also prepping new material.
By Gil Kaufman
Photo: Theo Wargo/ WireImage
The past 12 months have seen the release of monster albums from Adele, Lady Gaga, Drake, Taylor Swift, Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj.
But the next 12 are promising to bring even more music from several of those artists, plus new albums from Mumford & Sons, Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Linkin Park, Paramore, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Maroon 5 and Green Day.
It's a bumper crop of major albums from some of rock, pop and hip-hop's biggest stars, who are returning from long breaks, hoping to follow up smash debuts or just trying to keep their momentum going.
While release dates are always subject to change, here are some of the most anticipated releases of 2012.
Pop:
Ironically, the status of new albums from the artists whose next moves everyone is most curious about are the ones most in the air. Rihanna tends to deliver a new album every 12 or 13 months, which means that she may have another disc in stores at the end of next year once the just-released Talk That Talk has run its course.
On the other hand, Lady Gaga has already begun talking about her follow-up to this year's Born This Way. Gaga recently told MTV News that she's already started writing songs and "all the concepts are beginning to flourish and take place." She didn't give a potential release date, only promising, "I'll put it out when it's done."
Katy Perry hasn't publicly spoken about what will come after 2010's smash Teenage Dream, but it's possible she could start work on new material in 2012 as well. We know for sure that Justin Bieber is planning to show his more mature side next time around, possibly even incorporating some EDM sounds into the mix.
It's been confirmed that Madonna hooked up with M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj for the single "Gimme All Your Luvin' " from her untitled forthcoming album, which will feature production from Ray of Light producer William Orbit.
Other artists who could release fresh material in 2012: No Doubt, Maroon 5, Avril Lavigne, Miley Cyrus, Christina Aguilera, Ke$ha and Nicole Scherzinger.
Hip-Hop:
Two titans of rap are cueing up fresh tracks for early 2012, with Nicki Minaj likely to get out of the gate first with her sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, due out on Valentine's Day. The disc will include first single "Roman in Moscow," which sees the Best New Artist Grammy nominee getting into the character of her alter ego, Roman Zolanski.
After the delay of God Forgives, I Don't due to a pair of seizures he suffered in October, Rick Ross is expected to come back strong as well. The Bawse has taken his convalescent time to work on a new track with Jay-Z.
Speaking of Jigga, fans may get a new record from him as well, considering he told MTV News he was cooking up fresh tracks way back when he first played us songs from his Kanye West collaborative album, Watch the Throne. In fact, Jay-Z said you might get solo albums from both men as well as the second Throne release.
Other artists that should have albums hitting stores in 2012: Nas, Frank Ocean, Slaughterhouse, Wiz Khalifa, the G.O.O.D. Music compilation, T.I., Big Sean, 50 Cent, Ludacris, Big K.R.I.T., Meek Mill and potentially two discs from Lil Wayne, I Am Not a Human Being II and Rebirth II.
Rock:
Some of rock's biggest guns are reloading for 2012, among them Green Day, who debuted some new tracks at a benefit show in August. The title of the follow-up to 2009's 21st Century Breakdown hasn't been announced yet, but some of the early songs slated for possible inclusion are "Nuclear Family," "Carpe Diem" and "Sweet 16."
U2 have reportedly been cooking up a number of potential new albums, logging sessions with Danger Mouse and working with French producer/DJ David Guetta, RedOne and will.i.am on a disc of dance-oriented tunes.
Prog rock revivalists Muse should also have some new material for us, with bassist Chris Wolstenholme promising in a recent interview that the sound on their sixth album will be "radically different" from 2009's The Resistance.
We may get something from Linkin Park, who are prepping the follow-up to 2010's A Thousand Suns, and Mumford & Sons. It's been two years since the British folk rock revivalists dropped their still strong-selling debut, Sigh No More, and they began giving fans a taste of some new material in the fall when they unveiled the majestic song "Ghosts."
After a rough year, Paramore have finally put the drama behind them and they're super-psyched to record an album free of tension and inter-band awkwardness. So far, they've already unwrapped the bouncy "Renegade" and "Hello Cold World," which bode well for their fourth full-length studio album.
Other rock acts slated to release new albums: the reunited Soundgarden, Foster the People, Neon Trees, Sleigh Bells, Silversun Pickups, Bruce Springsteen and All-American Rejects.
Which 2012 albums are you most excited about? Which ones did we miss? Let us know in comments below.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1676533/most-anticipated-albums-2012.jhtml
Source: http://perezhilton.com/2011-12-29-ian-somerhalder-dima-bilan-russian-music-video
Arrival of 'Deathly Hallows, Part 2' was a moment that made headlines and marked the end of an era.
By John Mitchell
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2"
Photo: WB
For millions of people all over the world, the approach of midnight on July 15 brought with it a gut-wrenching mix of excitement and heartache. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" was set to open all over the world, and as fans lined up outside movie theaters — some in costume as their favorite character — we realized that this was it. The joy of seeing the final installment of the most successful film franchise in history was tempered with the sadness that we'd never get to do this again. This truly great thing that had been, from first book to final film, a part of our lives for well over a decade had reached its end. For an entire generation, the film's release was like turning the final page on our childhoods.
"Deathly Hallows, Part 2" wasn't just a movie; it was the event of the summer. And the bittersweet moment is also MTV News' #8 Top Newsmaker of 2011, because it made headlines and marked the end of an era.
The stars of the film definitely seemed to understand just how close to fans' hearts the franchise had become. It had, after all, touched them too. Asked if there'd be tears upon the film's release, Emma Watson cheekily told MTV News at the MTV Movie Awards, "Maybe a few. Maybe one or two, just little ones."
The film set box-office records for the biggest first day ($92.1 million) and largest opening weekend, both domestically ($168.5 million) and worldwide ($314 million), ever and received the best reviews of any film in the franchise. The praise wasn't contained to critics and fans: Even the stars of the film were in awe of the final product. "I was a wreck because of the film itself," Daniel Radcliffe told MTV News at the film's New York premiere. "You've got to have a heart of stone to not find part of it — especially Alan Rickman's performance — heartbreaking, so yeah, I've done my fair share of crying already. ... I think that we proved in doing 'Potter' that you can bring integrity and perpetual growth to a franchise."
Fans' devotion to the books, films and characters created by J.K. Rowling was manifest in the enthusiastic response to our "Harry Potter" World Cup, MTV News' month-long, March Madness-style tournament to find out which character was the fan favorite. More than 7.4 million votes were cast in the competition, resulting in a final face-off between Ron Weasley and Professor Severus Snape. In the end, the compellingly complex Snape took the title, and star Alan Rickman thanked fans at the film's New York premiere, telling MTV News that Snape's victory was "a vote for ambiguity and things where you don't quite know how they're going to turn out." He continued, "Also, it's [Snape's] values that you can't talk about without ruining the film, but things like courage and determination and loyalty and love, actually."
The success of the series itself could be seen as a celebration of those same things. On the surface, the "Harry Potter" films are fantasies about a boy wizard and his underdog friends navigating a magical universe in which evil lurks in the shadows. But above all, the "Potter" books and films champion courage, determination and loyalty in the face of great adversity and are premised on the notion that love ultimately conquers all. We can think of no better message for a film series to impart on a generation of young people facing a real world mired in conflict and economic turmoil.
It's sad that there's no more "Potter" to look forward to, but the magic created by Rowling; directors Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell and especially David Yates (who helmed the final four films); screenwriter Steven Kloves; and stars Radcliffe, Watson and Rupert Grint will live on to do great things — much like the Boy Who Lived himself.
MTV continues our Best of 2011 coverage by looking back at the biggest pop-culture stories of the year. As we count down the newsmakers that mattered to you most, also check out our top Artists, Songs, Live Performances and EDM Artists of 2011.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1676453/harry-potter-deathly-hallows-finale-2011-news.jhtml
From the birth date to the sex of the baby, fans share their thoughts with MTV News.
By John Mitchell
Beyoncé
Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images
It's almost here, and no, we're not talking about New Year's. Here at MTV News we're waiting patiently for an even bigger event: the birth of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's baby.
And depending on whom you ask, Queen Bey's little prince or princess might be here sooner than any of us thought. According to various media reports, Beyoncé may even be in labor right now.
Rumors that the 4 songstress, who was one of MTV's top Newsmakers of 2011, was set to give birth Wednesday (December 28) first surfaced on Media Takeout, with two nurses at New York's Saint Luke's Roosevelt Hospital allegedly telling the celebrity gossip site that they were informed last night that a "celebrity VIP" who had reserved half of the hospital's luxury labor and delivery floor would be arriving to give birth Wednesday.
There has been no confirmation that the rumored VIP is indeed Beyoncé, and representatives for the star did not immediately respond when asked for comment.
Fans of the "Countdown" singer and her hip-hop mogul husband are starting to get very excited about baby Jayoncé. When MTV News took to the streets of New York to ask Bey's fans their thoughts on when they expect the baby to make its debut and whether it will be a boy or a girl, they had plenty to say.
Most of Bey's fans told us they expected the baby to be born in January, with one perhaps astute fan zeroing in on New Year's Day, saying, "I think Beyoncé's baby will be born sometime in January, maybe on the first."
We found only one dissenter on the chilly streets of NYC, and he seemed to have the best knowledge of past public statements from the couple, including an early-September interview with Beyoncé that announced that the baby was actually due in February. "I trust Jay Z, I think he's a good guy," the fan said. "Him and Beyoncé are a good couple, so they wouldn't lie to the public. So Beyoncé's baby is going to be born in February."
And nearly all of the fans we surveyed believe the power couple is expecting a baby girl. Perhaps they caught wind of de facto auntie Kelly Rowland's slip of the lip on a London red carpet in early November, where the former Destiny's Child singer said, "I have no idea what I'm going to buy Beyoncé at the baby shower because Jay is going to buy that little girl every single thing possible. She won't be spoiled, but she will be very well looked-after."
One fan was particularly excited for a baby girl because she hoped the babe picked up Beyoncé's good genes. "Hopefully a girl," she told MTV News. "Probably because I'm a fan of Beyoncé's looks."
One thing all could agree on was that Jay and Bey's bundle of joy would jump right to the top of the celebrity baby power list. "A power baby, obviously," one fan said, while another added, "It's gonna be a pretty cool baby, that's for sure. Probably gonna run New York City by the time he's 13 or 14."
Do you think Beyoncé and Jay-Z's baby will be a boy or a girl? Let us know in the comments!
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Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha, Selena Gomez also make fashion splash on red carpet, as showgirl style rules at the Las Vegas event on Sunday night.
By Jocelyn Vena
Taylor Swift at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards
Photo: Jordan Strauss/ Getty Images
On Sunday night, some of the biggest names in the music industry hit up the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas and decided that sparkles and sequins make for the perfect additions to any red carpet get-up. Well, it is Sin City after all. Taylor Swift always seems to bring some of that Nashville sparkle to any red carpet. She arrived at the show in a pale-hued, sequined Elie Saab gown. Nicki Minaj showed off her signature sense of style in her baby-blue, body-hugging spandex Mark Fast catsuit. Selena Gomez turned up the style dial in a sexy, cut-out black Dolce & Gabbana gown that she paired with red strappy sandals with sparkly bow detailing. Like Gomez, Ke$ha opted for some cut-out detailing in her sparkly, slate-gray dress with tulle skirt. Rihanna looked white hot in her men's tailored Max Azria suit, which she kept sexy and feminine by not buttoning her shirt all the way. Fergie went S&M chic in her little black bandage-type dress by Hervé Léger. Nicole Kidman also wore black. She paired a casual braid hairstyle with a long black gown and Keith Urban. British pop cutie Kyle Minogue looked funky in her little black lacey dress. Inside the show, Britney Spears sat in the audience wearing a skimpy black dress of her own, her hair in loose curls, with little-to-no accessories. While some stars kept the color scheme low-key, Keri Hilson decided to stand out in her billowy little yellow dress paired with a turquoise-colored belt. Kelly Rowland showed off some of her best assets in a body-hugging, bright pink bandage dress. The fellas also looked tight on the carpet. Joe Jonas wore all black with white sneakers, Ne-Yo paired his periwinkle suit with a Yankees cap and Justin Bieber wore black tuxedo pants with a gold-lamé tuxedo jacket. Which stars' styles caught your eye at the Billboard Music Awards? Tell us in the comments.
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This year saw the Disney star experiencing professional and personal breakthroughs.
By Jocelyn Vena
Demi Lovato
Photo: Denise Truscello/ Getty Images
Demi Lovato will be on hand for MTV's New Year's Eve festivities to rock the night with a performance. But before the party kicks off, it seems fitting to look back on her big 2011, which wasn't just a banner year for Lovato's career, but also her personal life.
After leaving treatment in January, Lovato opened up about her issues (which included eating disorders and self-mutilation) and was on the mend. She thanked her fans for standing by her while she sought treatment and focused on getting healthy. "I can't tell you how much light you brought into my life in probably the darkest time of my life," Lovato said shortly after being released. "Without you guys I wouldn't be here today."
The former Disney princess decided to step away from her Hollywood career to focus on her pop career when she left her hit Disney show "Sonny With a Chance." " 'Sonny' was a chapter in my life I will be forever grateful for," she said in April. "Thank you all for watching."
By July, she was fully in pop-star mode, dropping not only the single for "Skyscraper" but also the equally empowering video for the stirring ballad. "I've been pretty honest," Lovato told MTV News about the track. "My whole journey has been about telling my story and hoping that when I share my story, it inspires somebody. So when I decided to come out with a single that was honest and about my journey and about standing strong and tall like a skyscraper, I hope that it inspired people.
"I thought that there was a bigger opportunity for me to come out with a song that would inspire people, rather than it be just another dance song on the radio," she added.
The song was the lead single off Unbroken, which she dropped in September. "I think it's grown-up, but it's not too grown-up," Lovato explained about the album. "It's not tasteless. It's growing up with my fans. It's [like] I'm not a kid anymore, but I'm also not a full-grown woman either. So I'm in that in-between stage, trying to figure out where that is. So I'm figuring it out, just like my fans are."
In addition to causing a stir with her own music, Lovato had everyone going crazy over her cover of Lil Wayne's "How to Love." She also performed a heartfelt rendition of the national anthem at the World Series and recently returned to the Illinois treatment center where she spent time as a guest speaker.
As the year wraps up, Lovato's fans will have a new single to look forward to, the feel-good track "Give Your Heart a Break."
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Glitter-heavy pop star tells MTV News she's going for 'balls-out, irreverent rock and roll.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Matt Elias
Ke$ha
Photo: MTV News
Ke$ha's already got the face paint down pat, and, during recent live sets, she's even taken to guzzling blood out of a human heart, so it should come as no surprise that, on her upcoming album, the pop star is taking things back to the most theatrical era of rock: the prop-heavy, arena-spanning heyday of the 1970s. Ke$h revealed her plans over the weekend in Los Angeles, on the red carpet of KIIS FM's annual Wango Tango concert, where she told MTV News that the follow-up to her breakout Animal album (and, we suppose, Cannibal too) would be heavy on hard riffs and light on pretty much everything else.
"The next album ... I've been working on writing on the road, but as far as a sound, I just know it's gonna be balls-out, irreverent rock and roll," she said. "I've been pretty much in this '70s rock and roll kick and I just want to capture some of the true essence of what rock and roll is, and that's just irreverence and sexiness and fun and not giving a f---, so we'll definitely put a bit of rock and roll in it." So, does that mean that fans can expect the likes of Alice Cooper or Peter Frampton to show up on her new album? Perhaps. Because while Ke$ha's new album is still a ways off, she's already begun calling in favors, hoping to line up a killer collabo for the new disc. "I'm trying, trust me," she laughed. "I really would love to connect with one of my idols, I mean, that's my dream. I'm working on it." What do you think of Ke$ha going rock for her next album? Tell us in the comments!
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Gisele Bündchen Giuliana DePandi Giulianna Ramirez Grace Park
Conrad Murray asks judge for a court-appointed attorney to appeal his involuntary manslaughter conviction.
By Gil Kaufman
Dr. Conrad Murray arrives for his arraignment of at the Airport Los Angeles Courthouse today
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images
Just weeks after being sent to jail for four years following a conviction on a felony involuntary manslaughter charge in the death of Michael Jackson, cardiologist Conrad Murray is throwing himself on the mercy of the court. The doctor had been slated to earn up to $150,000 a month to act as Jackson's personal physician before the pop icon's death in June 2009 from an overdose of the Murray-administered surgical anesthetic propofol. But on Tuesday E! News reported that Murray filed a notice of appeal in Los Angeles Superior Court in which he claimed that he is "indigent and respectfully requests the appointment of counsel on appeal." Murray, 58, is planning to appeal both his conviction and his sentence, but has not yet filed papers with the California Appeals Court. He had hired two lawyers to handle his manslaughter case, but is now seeking attorneys with appeal experience. One of those former lawyers, J. Michael Flanagan, told E! that he was shocked at how his client is being treated in jail. "It is crazy and unbelievable how [the sheriffs] are treating" Murray in jail, said Flanagan, who claimed he waited over an hour to see Murray, who was brought out in handcuffs and leg chains. Flanagan was further shocked to see Murray handcuffed to the table for their meeting, something the lawyer said he'd never seen before in the case of a low-level, non-violent offender. Charles Peckham, who is handling civil cases against Murray, told the Associated Press that his client is under tight security and isolation that is more intense than other inmates at the Los Angeles Men's Central Jail. "Treating him like Hannibal Lecter is offensive," said Peckham. "This man who saved lives made a mistake, and they're going to [make] him pay like a mass-murderer." Sheriff's officials defended the tight security, saying it was for Murray's safety.
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A pesar de lo dicho ayer, Peter Mensch, manager del guitarrista Jimmy Page, se retractó totalmente en eso que la banda buscaría un reemplazo al ultragenial Robert Plant para seguir rockeando y toureándola por el mundo tras su show de 2007 en el O2 Arena de Londres por el poder de la música más sexual de la historia. No habrá más Led Zeppelin, no hay planes de que lo haya. Mensch comentó: "Led Zeppelin se acabó. Si no los vieron en el 2007, se los perdieron. Probaron reemplazantes a Robert Plant, pero nada funcionó. Se acabó. No hay planes para continuar. Francamente, ojalá todos dejaran de hablar al respecto." Los fans no están nada contentos, especialmente los británicos, considerando los precios delirantes de las entradas del show reunión. ¿Y a ti? ¿Qué te parece todo esto?
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Actor Tom Hiddleston says, 'Every day, there is magic that will happen.'
By Kevin P. Sullivan
Tom Hiddleston in "War Horse"
Photo: DreamWorks
"He is the master." At the premiere of "War Horse," praise like this for the movie's director wasn't hard to come by.
For Tom Hiddleston, working with a director as talented as Steven Spielberg meant more than just acting under a guy who has made dozens of timeless films. Hiddleston told MTV News on the red carpet premiere of "War Horse" that working with Spielberg was more like a crash course in classic movie magic.
Spielberg recently directed the "Thor" star in "War Horse," a World War I-era drama about the connection between a boy and his horse. Hiddleston shared a few of the lessons he learned from the legendary director.
"He's a master craftsman," he said. "And what I learned from him, really, is that he's so impeccably prepared."
Hiddleston recalled Spielberg's habit of storyboarding many of the film's scenes, but that never stopped the director from making changes on the fly and running with them. "He turns up on set every day with an open mind and an open heart, because he still doesn't know where the magic is. And every day, there is magic that will happen."
But for Spielberg to find that magic, he has to keep both this cast and crew on their toes. For Hiddleston, this often meant changing direction on a moment's notice. "He just has to be sharp enough and on point enough that he's there to catch it and to keep his crew nimble and fleet of foot," Hiddleston explained. "So that if he suddenly sees something like the sun's in a particular place or something's happening between two actors, or in this case, an actor and a horse, that he can capture that, the beauty of the accident, and it lasts forever on film."
Check out everything we've got on "War Horse."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1676404/war-horse-tom-hiddleston-steven-spielberg.jhtml
Behind-the-scenes clip shows singer in London with a blond bob and gold grill.
By James Dinh
Rihanna in her "You Da One" teaser
Photo: Def Jam
Even though "We Found Love" is still ruling the charts, Rihanna is gearing up for the release of her second Talk That Talk single, "You Da One," by releasing a behind-the-scenes teaser for the Melina Matsoukas-directed clip.
In the two-minute montage, the RihannaNavy get several glimpses at a blond-bobbed Rih with a fitted gold grill and a slew of outfit changes. For one of her ensembles, the pop titan dons a gold chain necklace and midriff-baring two-piece as she grinds up against a checkered wall with life-size playing cards nearby. Another scene finds the singer in a white tank top and tattered jean shorts, swinging a cane in between two brick buildings.
"We're in London town!" the chart-topper tells the cameraman while the Dr. Luke-produced track plays in the background. "We tried to shoot our first setup outside, but it started to rain really, really hard. Then it stopped after we had to switch setups. ... I'm running on one hour of sleep. I'm not even going to remember this tomorrow. My eyes are burning a little bit."
Rihanna has been dropping teasers for the "You Da One" visual for some time now. Two weeks ago, she released a clip of herself getting fitted for her grill. And just a few days ago, the singer took to Twitter to share another still, which depicted the star topless, leaning back and blowing smoke into the air. "#YOUDAONEVIDEO you know im already in trouble 4 this but, i like to keep yall in the loop," she wrote.
Fans can also expect to be kept in the loop about the video for "Take Care," Rihanna's collabo with Drake. MTV News recently caught up with Drizzy, who shared his expectations for the video for the Jamie xx-produced song, saying, "I want to make it perfect — the best video I've done to date — so I'm just taking my time."
Are you excited for Rihanna's "You Da One" video? Sound off below!
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Anna Kournikova Anna Paquin AnnaLynne McCord Anne Marie Kortright
Album art from Pink Floyd, Blur and David Bowie also included.
By James Montgomery
Photo: Royal Mail
On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years.
The albums featured in the new series are the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin's IV, David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Clash's London Calling, New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies, Primal Scream's Screamadelica, Pink Floyd's The Division Bell, Blur's Parklife and — the most recent album on to make the cut — Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head.
Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for IV — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery.
"Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time."
Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their Rush of Blood stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date."
"We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."
Related Photos Related ArtistsPop star's duet with Elton John, 'Hello Hello,' is on short list for Best Original Song.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
How does Lady Gaga feel about making the short list for the Best Original Song race at the Oscars? Well, she's pretty excited.
"Just heard my duet 'Hello, Hello' with Elton [John] is up for nomination at the Oscars! 'Gnomeo & Juliet' is such a beautiful film," she wrote on Twitter. "I'm so happy!!"
On Monday, it was announced that the Gaga/Elton duet is one of the 39 tracks vying for a nomination. will.i.am's "Rio" track, "Hot Wings," Mary J. Blige's "The Living Proof" from "The Help," and Zooey Deschanel's "Winnie the Pooh" track, "So Long," along with multiple tracks from "The Muppets," are also in the running. The final nominations will be announced January 24, and the awards show is slated to take place February 26 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.
Gaga is celebrating her latest achievement in Japan, where she will spend the holidays. "Well, I'll be in Japan right up until Christmas Day," she recently told MTV News. "So I'll be eating with all my Japanese Little Monsters. I like shabu shabu [a type of Japanese hotpot]."
Since touching down, Mother Monster has been keeping her fans up-to-date on what she's been up to on Twitter. "Sipping tea in Japan with Haus. Feeling so grateful," she wrote. "We sold about 1 million albums a month worldwide since the release of BORN THIS WAY."
The busy holiday season caps off an even busier year for Lady Gaga, who happened to be MTV News' Top Newsmaker of 2011. She tirelessly released singles, videos, personas and a chart-topping album (Born This Way) and scooped up awards at seemingly every show from the Grammys to the VMAs. She was also #5 on our list of Best Artists of 2011, and her disco empowerment track "Born This Way" snagged the #5 spot on the Best Songs of 2011 list as well.
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