O’Brien to Host This Weekend’s Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day Rally

Soledad O’Brien is rallying for the planet…

The 48-year-old half-Cuban American broadcast journalist is set to host the free Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day rally alongside will.i.am.

Soledad O’Brien

The all-day Earth Day rally and concert will take place on Saturday, April 18 at the National Mall from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm ET near the Washington Monument.

Usher, Mary J. Blige, Gwen Stefani, Common and Train are scheduled to perform during the event.

Earth Day organizers also are announcing plans with developers of the popular Angry Birds game to create a new in-game experience about climate change. Angry Birds has been downloaded 2.8 billion times worldwide. The game’s climate change campaign will coincide with the United Nations General Assembly in September as world leaders tackle sustainability goals.

Earth Day Network president Kathleen Rogers says the game and celebrity power will help more people focus on solving climate change.

The rally is a joint initiative with the Global Poverty Project to end extreme poverty and coincides with meetings at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington. Top officials from the World Bank and United Nations are expected to speak at the rally.

Eliminating poverty will require solving climate change, Rogers said. So advocates on both issues are collaborating to push for sustainable international development.

“Whether it’s the big migrations we expect to see or soil depletion or emptying the oceans, loss of species, loss of timberland — all these things are creating poverty at the same time that they are also creating climate change issues,” Rogers said.

While Earth Day is officially on April 22, the Saturday rally will ask participants to commit to making environmentally friendly “acts of green” this year. Organizers also are asking attendees to sign petitions for a U.N. conference on climate change planned for Paris in December.

Aguilera Shines in All-Star A Cappella Cover of Queen’s “We Are The Champions”

Christina Aguilera is the champion, my friends

The 34-year-old half-Ecuadorian American singer joins an all-star roster of musicians to perform an a cappella version of Queen’s rock classic We Are The Champions.”

We Are The Champions with Christina Aguilera

Late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon revealed the highly entertaining video featuring Aguilera, Carrie Underwood, Sam Smith, Ariana Grande, One Direction and others during a special post-Super Bowl episode of NBC’s The Tonight Show.

With the screen divided into a nine-square grid, similar to the iconic The Brady Bunch opening credits, Fallon sang the opening lines of the song while the Roots constructed a tight rhythm section using only their own mouths. Then Underwood chimes in to carry the song for a few lyrics, followed by Smith and Grande sharing a duet on the triumphant chorus.

Usher, Blake Shelton, Meghan Trainor and One Direction also contribute to the “We Are The Champions” bit, but in an a cappella performance that features big time voices like Underwood and Grande, it’s Aguilera who steals the song with a skyscraping final chorus during the grand finale.

Mars Earns Sixth Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 with “Uptown Funk!”

It’s a chart-topping start of the New Year for Bruno Mars

The 29-year-old’s collaboration with Mark Ronson‘s, “Uptown Funk!,” has reached the summit on the Billboard 100 chart, rising 2-1 on the first chart released in 2015.

Bruno Mars

The song replaces Taylor Swift‘s “Blank Space” after seven weeks at the helm.

“Uptown Funk!,” released via RCA Records, earns Mars his sixth Hot 100 No. 1 and second as a featured artist: he previously reigned as a guest in his first appearance, on B.o.B‘s “Nothin’ on You” in 2010. In between, he led with his own tracks “Just the Way You Are” (four weeks, 2010), “Grenade” (four, 2011), “Locked Out of Heaven” and “When I Was Your Man” (one, 2013).

Among male soloists in the Hot 100’s 56-year history, only nine boast more No. 1s than Mars. Michael Jackson leads with 13, followed by Stevie Wonder (10), Elton John, Paul McCartney, Usher (nine each), George Michael (eight), Phil Collins, Frankie Valli and Elvis Presley (seven each; note that Presley’s career predated the Hot 100’s 1958 launch by two years).

“Uptown Funk!,” the 1,041st Hot 100 No. 1 of all-time, reaches the summit with the majority (65 percent) of its chart activity from sales, as it rebounds 2-1 for a second week atop the Digital Songs chart with 382,000 downloads sold (down 12 percent) in the week ending Jan. 4, according to Nielsen Music.

“Uptown Funk!” pushes 4-2 on the Streaming Songs charts with a 14 percent surge to 10 million U.S. streams. On Radio Songs, it rises 10-9 with an 11 percent increase to 76 million in all-format audience.

“Funk!” previews Ronson’s album Uptown Special, due Tuesday (January 13).

“It’s definitely one of the best things I’ve ever done,” Ronson says of his new Hot 100 leader. “And, I know that it’s one of Bruno’s favorite things that he’s ever done, as well.”

Carey Atop Time Magazine’s ‘Ultimate Pop Stardom’ List

Mariah Carey is the ultimate pop star…

The 44-year-old half-Venezuelan American singe ranks at the top of Time magazine’s The Ultimate Ranking of Pop Stardom list of artists/musicians when it comes to generating hit songs.

Mariah Carey

The artists were chosen for this list based on their all-time chart performance and their contemporary significance.

Time looked at every song that’s been in the Billboard Top 10 since 1960, the number of hits by each artist present on that list, and how long those musicians’ careers have lasted, and used that information to determine which artists are ultimately the most successful pop-hit generators.

Carey – who stormed onto the music scene with her self-titled debut album in 1990, which landed four No. 1 songs on Billboard Hot 100 and earned her Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance honors at the 1991 Grammy Awards, tops the list with 1,901 points. Her best years include 2005 (341 points), 1995 (300) and 1993 (222).

Carey – a five-time Grammy winner – ranks ahead of Rihanna (1,800), Usher (1,778), The Beatles (1,537) and Madonna (1,414).

But Carey isn’t the only Latin artist to make the list…

Bruno Mars, who broke onto the scene in 2010, ranks No. 17 on the list with 882 points.

The 28-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter earned 410 points in his first year on the charts after lending his vocals to the songs “Nothin’ on You” by B.o.B, and “Billionaire” by Travie McCoy, as well as releasing his first two singles “Just the Way You Are” and “Grenade.”

Meanwhile, Fergie comes in at No. 25 with her Grammy-winning group Black Eyed Peas, earning 733 points.

The 39-year-old part-Mexican singer and female vocalist for the hip hop group and her fellow BEP members registered their biggest point haul in 2009 with their singles “Boom Boom Pow,” “I Gotta Feeling” and “Meet Me Halfway” earning a combined 355 points that year.

The final product is a colorful infographic that proves Michael Jackson had a consistently successful career from 1971 to 1995, while Santana’s career, though long, hasn’t been witness to nearly as many hits.

The artists are awarded points for each song of theirs that made it into the Top 10—for example, Michael Jackson gets 10 points for “Beat It” topping the chart at No. 1 while Taylor Swift gets three points for “Speak Now” peaking at spot No. 8.

Usher had the best single year out of everyone when, in 2004, he racked up 639 points for having five songs in the Top 10 for a combined 88 weeks, while Barbra Streisand made just two points in 1997 for “I Finally Found Someone,” which peaked at No. 9 and only had a one-week stay in the Top 10.

Head over to Time.com to see how other musicians, ranging from Cher to T-Pain, stack up against one another.

Here’s a look at all the Latino artists on the list:

No. 1 Mariah Carey (1,901)
No. 17 Bruno Mars (882),
No. 25 Black Eyed Peas (Fergie)
No. 30 Jennifer Lopez (658)
No. 36 Christina Aguilera (603)
No. 48 Santana (457)

Lopez to Perform at This Year’s “Fashion Rocks” Show

Jennifer Lopez is a fashion rock star… And now she’s about the rock the fashion world.

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress and American Idol judge is slated to perform at this year’s Fashion Rocks, a special celebrating fashion and music.

Jennifer Lopez

Fashion Rocks is the only show that celebrates the inextricable link between fashion and music, a relationship that is more relevant today than ever before,” said Three Lions Entertainment CEO Richard Beckman, the executive producer of the show, in a statement. “For the first time we’ll air the event live during Fashion Week from Barclays Center. It will be a spectacular affair, featuring some of the world’s most talented musicians as well as today’s hottest fashions.”

In addition to J.Lo, Fashion Rocks will also feature performances by Pitbull, Afrojack, Duran Duran, KISS, Miranda Lambert, Nico & Vinz, Rita Ora, The Band Perry and Usher.

The two-hour special will be hosted by Ryan Seacrest. It will air live from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Additional performers will be announced shortly. Tickets go on sale Friday, August 1, at 10 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster or by calling 800-745-3000. American Express card members can purchase tickets before the general public on July 28-31.

Fashion Rocks will be broadcast live on CBS on September 9.

Fifth Harmony Receives First MTV Video Music Awards Nomination

Camila Cabello, Lauren Jauregui and Ally Brooke Hernandez and their fellow Fifth Harmony band mates have earned their first MTV Video Music Awards nomination…

The all-girl girl, formed by Simon Cowell during the second season of Fox’s The X Factor, earned the nod in the MTV Artist to Watch category for its “Miss Movin’ On” video.

Fifth Harmony

Fifth Harmony is up againstSam Smith’s “Stay With Me,”
5 Seconds of Summer’s “She Looks So Perfect,Charli XCX’s “Boom Clap” and
Schoolboy Q’s “Man of the Year.”

Aloe Blacc has also earned his first MTV Video Music Awards nod.

The 35-year-old Panamanian-American singer is nominated alongside Avicci in the Best Pop category, againstPharrell Williams’ “Happy,”
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX’s “Fancy,” Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz’s “Talk Dirty“
and Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea’s “Problem.

Meanwhile, Pitbull is nominated in the Best Collaboration category alongside Ke$ha for their Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 song “Timber.”

Starting Thursday, fans can vote in VMA categories by visiting vma.mtv.com. Nominees for best lyric video, which will be voted on through social media, will be announced at a later date. Voting for MTV Artist to Watch will be done via text messaging to 22444 with the nominee’s name.

The MTV VMAs air live from The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., on Sunday, August 24, at 9:00 pm ET, with previously announced performances fromAriana Grande, Usher and 5 Seconds of Summer. Additional performers will be announced later.

Here’s the full list of nominees:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – “Fancy”
Beyonce ft. Jay Z – “Drunk in Love”
Pharrell Williams – “Happy”
Sia – “Chandelier”
Miley Cyrus – “Wrecking Ball”

BEST HIP HOP
Eminem – “Bezerk”
Drake ft. Majid Jordan – “Hold On (We’re Going Home)”
Childish Gambino – “3005”
Kanye West – “Black Skinhead”
Wiz Khalifa – “We Dem Boyz”

BEST MALE
Pharrell Williams – “Happy”
John Legend – “All of Me”
Ed Sheeran ft. Pharrell – “Sing”
Sam Smith – “Stay With Me”
Eminem ft. Rihanna – “Monster”

BEST FEMALE
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – “Fancy”
Beyonce – “Partition”
Lorde – “Royals”
Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – “Problem”
Katy Perry ft. Juicy J – “Dark Horse”

BEST POP
Pharrell Williams – “Happy”
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – “Fancy”
Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz – “Talk Dirty”
Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – “Problem”
Avicii ft. Aloe Blacc – “Wake Me Up”

BEST ROCK
Imagine Dragons – “Demons”
Arctic Monkeys – “Do I Wanna Know”
The Black Keys – “Fever”
Lorde – “Royals”
Linkin Park – “Until It’s Gone”

MTV ARTIST TO WATCH
Sam Smith – “Stay With Me”
5 Seconds of Summer  -“She Looks So Perfect”
Charli XCX – “Boom Clap”
Schoolboy Q – “Man of the Year”
Fifth Harmony – “Miss Movin On”

BEST COLLABORATION
Beyonce ft. Jay Z – “Drunk in Love”
Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – “Problem”
Pitbull ft. Kesha – “Timber”
Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Tyga – “Loyal”
Eminem ft. Rihanna – “Monster”
Katy Perry ft. Juicy J – “Dark Horse”

MTV CLUBLAND AWARD
DJ Snake & Lil Jon – “Turn Down for What”
Zedd ft. Hayley Williams – “Stay the Night”
Calvin Harris – “Summer”
Martin Garrix – “Animal”
Disclosure – “Grab Her!”

BEST VIDEO WITH A SOCIAL MESSAGE
Angel Haze ft. SIA – “Battle Cry“
Avicii – “Hey Brother”
Beyonce – “Pretty Hurts”
J. Cole ft. TLC – “Crooked Smile”
Kelly Rowland – “Dirty Laundry”
David Guetta ft. Mikky Ekko – “One Voice”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
30 Seconds to Mars – “City of Angels”
Beyonce – “Pretty Hurts”
Arcade Fire – “Afterlife”
Gesaffelstein – “Hate or Glory”
Lana Del Rey – “West Coast”

BEST EDITING
Eminem – “Rap God”
MGMT – “Your Life Is a Lie”
Zedd  ft. Hayley Williams – “Stay the Night”
Beyonce – “Pretty Hurts”
Fitz and The Tantrums – “The Walker”

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Sia – “Chandelier”
Beyonce – “Partition”
Usher – “Good Kisser”
Michael Jackson ft. Justin Timberlake – “Love Never Felt So Good”
Jason Derulo ft. 2Chainz – “Talk Dirty”
KIESZA – “Hideaway”

BEST DIRECTION
DJ Snake & Lil Jon – “Turn Down for What”
OK Go  – “The Writing’s on the Wall”
Miley Cyrus – “Wrecking Ball”
Beyonce – “Pretty Hurts”
Eminem ft. Rihanna – “The Monster”

BEST ART DIRECTION
DJ Snake & Lil Jon – “Turn Down For What”
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – “Fancy”
Eminem – “Rap God”
Arcade Fire – “Reflektor”
Tyler, The Creator – “Tamale”

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
DJ Snake & Lil Jon – “Turn Down For What”
OK Go – “The Writing’s On the Wall”
Disclosure – “Grab Her!”
Eminem – “Rap God”
Jack White – “Lazaretto”

Carey Scheduled to Kick Off the Toyota Concert Series on NBC’s “Today” Show

Mariah Carey is preparing to rock the Rock

NBC‘s Today show has announced its lineup for the annual Toyota Concert Series on Today, now in its 19th season, with the 44-year-old half-Venezuelan American singer kicking things off on May 16 in Rockefeller Plaza.

Mariah Carey

It will mark Carey’s sixth concert for the morning show and gives the singer, who recently notched her 17th No. 1 on the Billboard‘s Dance Club Songs chart, a chance to promote her new album, expected to be released in late May.

But Carey isn’t the only Hispanic artist slated to appear on the Today show…

Camila Cabello, Lauren Jauregui, Ally Brooke Hernandez and their Fifth Harmony band mates will also take part in their first-ever Toyota Concert Series on Today. The all-girl group, recently named the favorite band on social media at the Shorties, will perform on July 11.

Meanwhile, Aloe Blacc, who lends his voice to Coca-Cola’s World Cup anthem “The World is Ours,” is set to make his debut performance as part of the concert series. The 35-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter is scheduled to perform on August 1.

Other artists scheduled to perform includeTim McGraw, Jennifer Hudson, Fall Out Boy and Usher all in the mix.

The concerts take place on Friday unless noted. More performers will be announced at a later date.

Here’s a look at the complete schedule:

MAY
16 Mariah Carey
23 Tim McGraw
26 Austin Mahone (Monday)
30 Rascal Flatts

JUNE
5 Pharrell (Thursday)
6 Sara Bareilles
13 Train
17 Little Mix (Tuesday)
20 Fall Out Boy
27 Phillip Phillips

JULY
4 Ed Sheeran
11 Fifth Harmony
18 Jason Mraz
25 OneRepublic
29 Jennifer Hudson (Tuesday)

AUGUST
1 Aloe Blacc
8 TBD
15 Neon Trees
22 TBD
29 Ariana Grande

SEPTEMBER
1 Maroon 5
5 Usher

AMC to Release Melendez’s “Journey of a Female Comic” Doc in Southern California

Kiki Melendez’ Hollywood journey will take her to theaters in Southern California…

The award-winning actress, comedienne, writer and producer’s documentary comedy Journey of a Female Comic will be released through AMC TheatresAMC Independent Program in Los Angeles and San Diego just in time for CInco de Mayo.

Kiki Melendez

“I am so grateful to AMC Independent for the opportunity to share my story. My hope in making this film, is to encourage and inspire women to take their dreams into their own hands,” says Melendez.

Journey of a Female Comic, which will hit theaters on Friday, May 2, 2014 with other major markets to follow, is an inspirational film for audiences of all races, genders, and backgrounds.

It centers on Melendez’ life growing up in a developing country, being raised by a single immigrant mother, and her career in Hollywood pursuing the American Dream. Never forgetting her humble beginnings, Melendez’ journey is thought-provoking, inspiring audiences to discover the difference between fame and fulfillment.

AMC’s independent program added the 88-minute film to its slate after it received an enthusiastic reception at test screenings.

The feature began as an experimental short film, premiering at the DR Global Film Festival. It also opened at Miami’s Hispanicize Film Showcase and The Broadway International Film Festival in 2012, where it represented the U.S. and won Best Documentary.

Journey of A Female Comic fits perfectly within our AMC Independent programming initiative, which opens our screens to movies that resonate with our diverse audiences,” said Nikkole Denson-Randolph, Vice President of Alternative Content at AMC. “Melendez’ story is honest and entertaining, and will connect with many of our guests.”

Journey of A Female Comic also features appearances by other Latino trailblazers in Hollywood, including Edward James OlmosJacob VargasEsai MoralesNadine Velazquez, the late Lupe OntiverosMaria Conchita Alonso and Guy Ecker.

Melendez also has lively conversations with international stars including Aaron Spelling, UsherSofia VergaraHalle BerryHugh JackmanJohn TravoltaShakira and Marc Anthony.

Melendez is best known for creating Galavision’s No. 1 entertainment show in 2000, Kiki Desde Hollywood, and Showtime’s hit show Hot Tamales Live! in 2008, the longest running all-female comedy show, available on HULU.

Shakira Returning to NBC’s “The Voice” in Late February

It’s official… Shakira is heading back to NBC’s infamous red leather chair…

The 36-year-old Colombian superstar will reprise her role as a Season 4 coach on the network’s hit singing competition The Voice.

Shakira

Shakira, along with R&B singer Usher, will reunite with show regulars Adam Levine and Blake Shelton for The Voice’s sixth season.

Shakira and the men will return in a special two-night premiere: 8:00-10:00 pm on Monday, February 24, and 8:00-9:00 pm on Tuesday, February 25.

Last spring, Shakira and Usher were cast to fill in for Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green, respectively, on The Voice — the latter two original judge/mentors returned for the fall season.

It’s an arrangement the show’s producers appear to have institutionalized. And in doing so, The Voice has become a bastion of judge stability.

The Voice has averaged a 4.9 rating in the demo and 14.7 million viewers overall with its Monday edition, and a 4.5 and 14 viewers overall on Tuesdays, making it the No. 1-rated Monday and Tuesday series on the broadcast networks so far this season in the demo.

Hayek to Make Cameo in “Muppets Most Wanted”

Salma Hayek will be seeing green soon…

The 47-year-old Mexican actress will be sharing screen time with Kermit the Frog; she’s signed on to star in next year’s Muppets Most Wanted.

Salma Hayek

The Frida star’s latest role has thrilled her six-year-old daughter Valentina.

“I have a very little cameo,” Hayek told reporters at the BAFTA Awards. “But I’m very excited because I’m [Valentina’s] hero now.”

Although Hayek’s exact role hasn’t been disclosed, here’s hoping that she shares scenes with Miss Piggy.

The Most Wanted has a cast list that includes Tina Fey, Lady Gaga, Usher and Celine Dion.