Aguilera & “The Voice” Pay Tribute to the Newton Shooting Victims

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Christina Aguilera gives voice to a nation’s mourning following the heartbreaking Newton school shooting…

During Monday night’s episode of The Voice, the 31-year-old half-Ecuadorian American singer joined her fellow coaches, the NBC reality singing competition’s contestants, host Carson Daly and social media correspondent Christina Milian took the stage at the beginning of the show to pay tribute to the 26 victims in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Lined up across the stage, Aguilera and the group gave a solemn and heartfelt performance of Leonard Cohen‘s “Hallelujah,” each holding a card with the name and age of one of the people killed in the tragic incident.

Aguilera held up the card with the name of Grace McDonnell, one of the youngest shooting victims.

Castillo Becomes First to Audition with Spanish Song on “The Voice”

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s hard to believe in the first two seasons of NBC’s The Voice not a single potential-contestant had auditioned by singing a completely Spanish song.

But that all changed during the second episode of the hit reality show’s third season…

During Tuesday night’s blind auditions, Julio Cesar Castillo—a lifelong mariachi singer—performed Ritchie Valens’ iconic hit “La Bamba.”

“I started singing at the age of three, when I was around six, I fell in love with mariachi,” Castillo told the cameras before his audition. “For the last couple of years, I’ve been playing in a mariachi band three nights a week to support my family. In my family, me, my mom and my younger sister are the only one’s working right now. My dad was diagnosed with epilepsy. But it’s my time to do something more.”

The self-proclaimed “Mariachi Man,” who hails from Chicago, performed the entire song in Spanish… a big risk that paid off. Not only did Castillo bring the audience to its feet, he inspired a bidding war between The Voice coaches Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green. (Surprisingly, Christina Aguilera didn’t turn her chair, even though she performed some air-maraca moves while listening to Castillo’s performance.)

Shelton immediately turned his chair around, and Green followed suit at the very end.

“You saw how quickly I turned around. I just think you have a very strong and technically good voice, it’s very powerful,” Shelton told Castillo. He then went on to talk about how Castillo’s letterman-like jacket reminded him of being in a school gym, and told Castillo to picture a banner hanging on the side of a gym saying “Blake Shelton, Season Two winner” to motivate him to pick him over Green, which Castillo did.

The Voice’s social media correspondent Christina Milian seemed to appreciate Castillo becoming the first contestant to audition with a song entirely in Spanish.

“I love that we’re showing some #LatinLove on #TheVoice this season!,” tweeted the Latina singer. “@JulioCCastle is killing it with the Mariachi vocals!”

Castillo, who learned to play the guitar at 10 and also plays the saxophone, writes on his Twitter page: “Madly in love with music and hope to some day live the dream I’ve had my whole life.”

It appears he’s officially living the dream as part of Team Blake on NBC’s The Voice.

Vergara to Play Tia Sofia on “The Cleveland Show”

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Vergara is heading to Cleveland this fall…

The 40-year-old Colombian actress—who just earned her third consecutive Primetime Emmy nomination for her role on ABC’s Modern Family—will be lending her voice to Fox’s animated series The Cleveland Show.

Vergara, currently the highest paid actress on television, will play Tia Sofia, who attempts to convince Cleveland to throw a quinceñera for Cleveland Jr.’s 15th birthday.

In addition, she’ll make a cameo as Peter Griffin’s fantasy love interest in an upcoming episode of Family Guy, according to Entertainment Weekly. In a cutaway gag featuring Peter as a telenovela lothario, Vergara will voice his oh-so-sexy and sassy lover. And that’s not her only role in the episode; she’ll also play a woman selling roses in a restaurant where Quagmire is “wooing” Peter so that Peter will do him a big favor.

Meanwhile, as previously reported, Bruno Mars will appear in the season premiere of The Cleveland Show, along with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, The Roots’ ?uestlove and will.i.am. They’ll star as characters in a secret hip-hop society that Cleveland discovers in the season premiere.

A subsequent episode will feature Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who recently became the 49th player in major league history to reach 400 home runs.

On The Simpsons, the 24th season of the Fox comedy will feature Portlandia‘s Fred Armisen, while Family Guy will see The Voice’s Christina Milian voice an upcoming role.

Milian Recording Her Next Album

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

She may currently serving as the social media correspondent on NBC’s singing competition show The Voice… But Christina Milian will soon be making her own music.

The 30-year-old Cuban American singer and actress recently—who signed on to rapper Lil Wayne’s record label Young Money Entertainment in February— is currently in the studio working on her fourth album.

During a special video interview as part of The Hollywood Reporter’s THR Covers Lounge, Milian says her upcoming album will range from dance music to R&B-pop.

“I think this is going to be the most exciting, most meaningful album I’ve ever made,” Milian says.

In addition, Milian, who has 11-years of experience in the entertainment business, offered some sage advice to The Voice’s performers, as well as anyone struggling to break into the business.

“I’ve been in the music industry, I’ve been in the acting field for a very long time,” she says. “I’ve had my ups and downs and I still believe and I will not give up.”

“Maybe not everything is meant to be,” she goes on to say. “But I do believe that maybe mistakes are lessons learned or it’s just an experience for you to grow through, so that you can get to a better place.”

Find out what else Milian has to say about breaking into the music business and her upcoming album in the video below.

Milian Joins Lil Wayne’s Young Money Crew

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Christina Milian will be making sweet music again…

The 30-year-old Cuban-American singer and actress—currently serving as the social media corresponded on NBC’s The Voice—has joined Lil Wayne‘s Young Money crew.

“The answer is….Yes. Let’s Get To Work! I Heart You Guys.. It’s Now or Never,” announced Milian on Twitter on Sunday.

Lil Wayne introduced Milian at the Cash Money pre-Grammy party on Sunday, according to Billboard.com, telling the crowd, “Y’all make some noise for Christina Milian… Young Money Christina Milian!”

The label—home to Drake and Nicki Minaj—is expected to release Milian’s much-delayed fourth album in the near future.

The new release has been a work in progress since 2008, and was formerly attached t oseveral labels including Interscope and Radio Killa Records, the home of Milian’s ex-husband, The-Dream.

One version of the album, then titled “Elope,” was said to have been completed in 2009 under the helm of The-Dream and Tricky Stewart; where the project stands now remains to be seen.

Milian to Guest Star on CBS’s A Gifted Man

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

She’ll soon be appearing as a correspondent on NBC’s The Voice… But Christina Milian will also get a chance to go all diva on another television program.

The 30-year-old Cuban-American singer and actress will guest star in an upcoming episode of CBS’s A Gifted Man.

Milian, who last appeared as a guest star on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, will get to tap into her own musical experience by playing a thriving pop star who experiences strange symptoms, according to TalkTVWorld.com.

“We’re thrilled that Christina will be bringing her acting and singing talents to A Gifted Man,” stated the show’s executive producer Neal Baer. “She’ll play a spoiled pop star who complains of a mysterious ailment zapping all her energy that even Dr. Michael Holt (Patrick Wilson) finds puzzling.”

Milian’s episode, titled “In Case of Co-Dependents,” will appear later this month.

A Gifted Man airs Fridays at 8 PM ET on CBS.

“Black & Latino” with Milian and More

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Christina Milian and other Afro-Latino celebrities are sharing their uniquely bicultural stories with the world…

The 30-year-old singer/actress, who will be serving as the new Social Media Correspondent for NBC’s The Voice, will appear in mun2’s web original Black and Latino, which aims to shine a light on an important yet often misrepresented segment of the US Latino population.

Along with Milian, other celebrities, musicians and journalists of African heritage appearing in the web documentary are actor Laz Alonso, actress Tatyana Ali and journalist Soledad O’Brien, who relate their own previously untold experiences of working through the unreasonable constraints of stereotypes in both Hispanic and mainstream culture.

“It was kind of like a dual existence because outside of my house I would be just an African-American guy,” says Alonso, who recently appeared in Jumping the Broom. “But once I got home, I was Cuban again.”

Other interviews include The Voice season one winner Javier Colon, actresses Gina Torres and Judy Reyes, pop singer Kat de Luna and music video director Jessy Terrero.

“As part of our commitment to reflecting the diversity and dynamism of US Latino identity, we are honored to share these provocative and poignant stories of celebrities who live and work at the intersection of so many cultures,” says Jose Marquez, Telemundo and mun 2’s VP Interactive Strategy, Telemundo and mun2.

The short, made-for-web documentary also features man-on-the-street interviews with Generation Y Latinos who provide a refreshingly nuanced understanding of race and identity in contemporary America.

Click here to check out mun2’s Black and Latino.

Aguilera & The Voice Gang Ready for Season Two

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Christina Aguilera and her fellow The Voice judges are back in the (red) hot seat… And they’re ready to pick their oh-so-talented team members on the upcoming season of NBC’s smash-hit reality singing competition.

A new promo clip for the second season of The Voice hit the airwaves during this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live, which featured an appearance by Aguilera’s fellow judge and co-People’s Choice Award nominee Adam Levine and his band Maroon 5.

The 30-year part-Ecuadorian singer is featured prominently in the 30-second spot talking about the excitement behind the blind auditions.

“We’re just waiting on pins and needles to find out what those first few notes sound like,” says Aguilera, who is reportedly The Voice’s highest paid judge, taking home more than $225,000 per episode.

Meanwhile, as previously reported, another Latina (and Christina) will be joining The Voice.

30-year-old Cuban-American singer Christina Milian has been named the show’s new social media correspondent, serving as the officials “eyes and ears behind and beyond the stage.”

The Voice will premiere right after the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 5.

Milian Heading to NBC’s “The Voice”…

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

There’s another Christina preparing to participate in NBC’s “The Voice”… and, she’s a Latina as well.

Christina Milian is replacing Alison Haislip as the new Social Media Correspondent for NBC’s hit singing competition, the network has confirmed.

“I’m officially your eyes and ears behind and beyond the stage for ‘The Voice,’” said the 30-year-old Cuban-American singer and actress via her Twitter account. “So if you’re a major fan you may wanna follow me!”

“Christina’s extensive musical background and widespread recognition make her the perfect choice for the role of Social Media Correspondent on ‘The Voice,’” said NBC president of alternative programming Paul Telegdy in a statement. “Her experience as a singer will provide a comfort level to our artists when they speak to her about the ins and outs of the competition,” he continued.

Milian joins an all-star team that includes hosted Carson Daly and coaches Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine.

The second season of “The Voice” will debut after the Superbowl on Sunday, February 5.

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