Celebrity Couples: Rihanna and Matt Kemp

[Rihanna joins Matt Kemp for a game]

Less than a year ago, Rihanna‘s life was turned upside down after she was assaulted by former boyfriend Chris Brown. Now the singer seems to be putting the traumatic past behind her.

On Saturday, she was spotted at the LA Clippers vs Cleveland-Cavaliers game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles with her new pal, Dodgers star Matt Kemp, wearing her hair styled in angelic golden ringlets. The pop star, who will celebrate her 22nd birthday next month, appears to have kept her famous graduated bob hairstyle, adding playful curls for her day at the game.

In addition to the new style, photographers captured the singer with a perpetual and very sincere-looking grin on her face. Last week, Rihanna opened up to W magazine about coming out of the fog of last winter: “At first I completely shut down. But now I feel like this happened to me so I could be a voice for young girls who are going through what I went through and dont know how to talk about it.”

She also revealed a desire to focus on her budding acting career, briefly cut short by all the media attention surrounding her private life last year. As everyone who watched her fall appearance on “SNL” can attest, Rihanna has comedic acting skills that rival her talent as a singer.

Take a closer look at the new style below….

[Rihanna in December 2009]

[Rihanna in January 2010]

Check out some more photos of  Rihanna & Matt Kemp at the game.

Source: OMG!

“What do you think of her new relationship with Matt Kemp? I think they look cute together.  I’m really happy for her. I hope it works out. Good luck to the both of them.”

Music News: Shaheen Jafargholi Signed By Brad Pitt’s Agent

Twelve-year-old Shaheen Jafargholi has been signed up by Brad Pitt‘s talent agency after he appeared at Michael Jackson‘s memorial service. The youngster, who amazed audiences with his incredible voice on Britain’s Got Talent, impressed Jacko before he died and was set to perform at the London shows of the singer’s This Is It tour.

It is claimed his career in the US will now take off after his tribute to Jackson at the Staples Center and LA-based agency, CAA, are reported to be looking after the lad. The agency were behind footballer David Beckham‘s move to LA and Pitt, George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith are among the celebrities on their books. A source said: “Shaheen has had requests to appear on all the big TV shows. He has meetings lined up with Nickelodeon TV and Disney. “Disney are looking at finding a role for him in their High School Musical and Hannah Montana-style shows. Producer-director Kenny Ortega is involved in both and was the man behind the Jackson memorial. He loves Shaheen.” CAA also represent Britain’s Got Talent star Simon Cowell, 49, who is rumored to be planning a record deal for Shaheen.

Source: Splash News

Music News: Jennifer Hudson Sang Her Heart Out!

Jennifer Hudson hasn’t officially come forward and announced that she’s carrying a bun in the oven, but the glowing songstress pretty much confirmed the speculative story with her moving rendition of “Will You Be There” during Michael Jackson’s Memorial Concert.

Hudson’s bump was pretty prominent even thru her loose-fitting white dress and off-stage we couldn’t help but notice that the 27-year-old cautiously touched her tummy several times as she moved up and down from her seat throughout the show. We don’t know exactly when Hudson is expected to give birth, but an inside source close to the Oscar-winner said she could be as far along as eight months.

And while Hudson’s emotive performance was undoubtedly in honor of the late King of Pop, a very close friend told Tarts after the show that the experience was very therapeutic in helping her move forward from her own family tragedy last year in which her mother, brother and nephew were killed in a homicide.

“Being up there and doing this was the best thing for her,” said our source. “She wasn’t just paying tribute to Michael, she was paying tribute to her own family members that she lost.” R.I.P

Hudson joined other notables on the Staples floor including Usher, Brooke Shields, Stevie Wonder and John Mayer.

Source: Fox News

Just In: Prince Michael Jackson II (also known as Blanket) Exposed for the First Time

Blanket Jackson Exposed for the First Time…

Michael Jackson’s number one priority since the very moment each of his three children entered the world was to keep them covered and away from the spotlight that he himself had dealt with from such a young age, thus every jaw inside the Staples Center dropped to the floor on Tuesday as we heard daughter Paris speak for the very first time during her father’s memorial concert.

But that wasn’t the only major insight we had into the life of the Jackson children – we also saw Michael’s youngest, 7-year-old Blanket (who was infamously thrust over a fourth-floor balcony in Germany by his father back in 2002) uncovered for the first time. Wearing a dark suit and yellow tie just like his older brother, 12-year-old Prince Michael, Blanket clutched an MJ doll and joined the Jackson family onstage for the final performance of the show.

For the past twelve years, the singer went to extra-ordinary lengths to protect his kids faces by having them wear odd masks, hoodies and cover-ups. And while a couple of rare photographs revealing Paris and Prince Michael’s faces slipped thru the cracks, baby Blanket (who was born via a surrogate) was never fully exposed.

“Being part of the show was very good therapy for the children. They got to see firsthand what their father meant and the reaction his death has garnered throughout the world,” Jackson’s longtime family friend and biographer Stacy Brown told Tarts. “But I don’t think we can expect to see a lot of them. The Jackson family won’t exploit them and we know Michael wouldn’t want that.”

Check out more photos below…

Source: Via Fox News

Celebrity News: Diddy Twitters Memorial Amongst Others

Celebrities took to Twitter to relive their experiences of Michael Jackson’s memorial – with some stars even tweeting from inside the event, which was held at the Staples Center venue in LA. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs tweeted from inside the ceremony: “I’m at the memorial. RIP Michael Jackson.” He later added: “Just left funeral. Very sad! RIP MJ!”

Mariah Carey’s husband, Nick Cannon, also wrote his tweet from inside, saying: “A day of mourning. Here in the Staples Center, God is absolutely present.”

From one famous family to another, Kim Kardashian, her sisters Khloe and Kourtney and their mother Kris attended the memorial service for Michael Jackson Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Afterward, Kim shared her thoughts on her Twitter page:

“Kourtney, Khloe, my mom and I just left the Memorial. Everyone had such amazing memories of MJ. We all cried & laughed & remembered!” “Michael’s children were so brave … 2 stand there on stage & speak to the world about their father” “I spoke at

my dad’s funeral & it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I was shaking & crying & what Paris did was sooo soooo brave!”

Kim, who once dated one of Jackson’s nephews when she was a teenager.

Other celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Kevin Jonas, and Kelly Osbourne wrote about being moved by the memorial as they watched it on TV. Pamela Anderson said: “I’m starting with the woman in the mirror. Bless you Michael. You made the world a better place. Rest in Peace. P x.”

Source: Splash News

Just In: Michael Jackson Memorial Photos

The Michael Jackson Memorial Photos: The Coffin, The Brochure, The Kids, The Hearse & More…

It’s over. The funeral and the memorial service for the King of Pop have occurred and the Jackson family had their own private luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

It was beautiful, moving, well coordinated and produced. Wonderful performances and eloquent speeches echoed the sentiments of most of the world. Somber but still warm and loving, it was a respectable and fitting tribute.

You’ll be able to see broadcasts and videos of Mariah Carey, Trey, Usher, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, John Mayer and the other performers and speakers, along with his daughter’s heartbreaking comments, played over and over again online, on YouTube, on tv, etc.

But let’s face it, what you really want to see is that coffin, his kids, the brochure and other little incidentals. I’ve got those here for you, thanks to the AP and Getty images.

The Tickets:

The Memorial Brochure Cover:

The back of the memorial brochure:

A sad, Joe Jackson leaving his Encino home, heading for Forest Lawn Cemetery early yesterday morning:

The Motorcade consisted of black Cadillac Escalades, black Ford Explorers and black Rolls Royces:

The Hearse:

The motorcade leaving Forest Lawn cemetery on their way to the Staples Center:

On the freeway:

A good look at that gold-plated Casket (Coffin):

Above and below: The Promethean velvet-lined model by the Batesville Casket Company. Rumor has it that, Michael Jackson ordered it for himself, after seeing that James Brown was buried in the same years ago. It’s a $25,000, solid bronze, 14-karat gold-plated, custom casket.

The pallbearers, those of whom were the Jackson Brothers, each wore a single white sequined glove:

Above: From left: Randy, Tito, Marlon, Jackie and Jermaine

Above: a tender moment as brother Jermaine tosses a rose onto Michael’s casket while singing “Smile”.

The Children: Paris, Prince and Blanket:

Above: Michael Jackson’s children, Paris Michael Katherine, Prince Michael II (aka Blanket) and Michael Joseph Jr. (aka Prince Michael).

Above: Janet (L) and La Toya (R) with Prince Michael Jackson II (Blanket) and Paris Jackson

Above: the heartbreaking and unexpected speech from Paris Jackson

Rev. Al Sharpton (nice eulogy, by the way):

Yes, it’s true, Corey Feldman donned his “Michael Jackson” costume:

Above: A Michael Jackson mural with fan’s signatures stands in front of the Staples Center.

Above: A Michael Jackson impersonator poses outside at the public memorial service at the Staples Center.

See a video of the memorial in its entirety here.

Music In Ya Ear!: Usher “Gone Too Soon”

Michael Jackson Memorial: Usher sings “Gone Too Soon” 07.07.09

Usher was one of the most visibly moved performers as he delivered a chilling rendition of Michael‘s “Gone Too Soon.” Usher frequently sang directly to Michael‘s mother, Katherine Jackson, and knelt before her when he finished.

Source: YouTube

Dear Diary: My Thoughts on the Michael Jackson Memorial

Wow, what can I say about this day. Michael Jackson‘s memorial was amazing. I really liked the way Mariah Carey sang. It gave me the chills, seeing her sing her heart out to “I’ll Be There”. I was still in shock of the whole thing until I saw them bring out Michael’s casket. It was so heart breaking for me to see his brothers bring it out with their heads down. I could just imagine how it felt.

I loved it when, Brooke Shields talked about how her and Michael acted like little kids when they were alone. It showed so much character in her. I loved the way she said that to everyone else he was this and that, but to her he was just being a human being enjoying life and smiling his way to the top. I cried so much.

Queen Latifah‘s speech from Maya Angelou, and John Mayer‘s performance was amazing. Reverand Al Sharpton, told everyone how it is. I never really paid any attention to what he had to say. Today’s speech made me see him as a total different person, he was real and loved the way he told Michael’s kids, that he was not what everyone else made him out to be.

Usher, Jermaine Jackson and Shaheen Jafargholi‘s performances were a hair raising moment for me. Usher made me cry so much when he sang the song, “Gone Too Soon” when he went down to touch the casket. Jermaine, sang “Smile. OMG! was I crying for that. It was sad to see him have the strength to even finsh the whole song. I really thought the whole Jackson 5 would perform, but hey I don’t know if they all really had the strength.

My heart-breaking moment was hearing Paris speak about her dad. Rumors had it that his son was going to sing or speak, but I never expected to see his daughter talk about her dad in such a loving way. She really let everyone know that he was the best dad, and person in the world. He was someone who cared about everyone and people just thought the worst in him.

People tend to forget that everyone is human and that everyone makes mistakes, not saying that he is guilty of those past allegations that were made against him. I never believed that any of that was true, but even if they were, he was never given the chance to bounce back from it.

This last tour that he was going to do called, “This Is It” tour, was going to be one of the best of many tours he has ever had. I was hoping to get a chance to see him in concert if it were given the opportunity to see him here in concert in the United States. I think he looked amazing in the videos they had of his practice performance he made at the Staples Center the night before he passed away. I was really sad at the thought that I will never get the chance to see him perform ever again, whether it be in concert or on TV.

Michael Jackson, I just want you to know that you are forever missed and I will never forget the true legend and icon you were and always will be. Love you always.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson
1958-2009.

Breaking News: Michael Jackson’s Body Will Be At Staples Center!

Michael Jackson‘s body will be brought to the memorial service at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, sources involved in the planning said.

A motorcade leaves the Jackson family home in Encino, California, early Tuesday.Jackson‘s family and closest friends attended a gathering at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills on Tuesday morning before going to the public memorial.

Teddy Riley, a singer who worked closely with Jackson on several albums, said Jackson family members told him the casket will be driven in a procession from Forest Lawn to the arena.

A second source familiar with the planning also said the King of Pop‘s body would be delivered to the arena.

“It wouldn’t be fair for the fans who are going to appear and be here at the Staples Center not to see his casket,” Riley said.

An army of fans poured in to Los Angeles from places far-flung, hoping to collectively mourn their idol in a massive ceremony.

Parking lots in the area raised their prices, some as high as $30. Airports in Southern California saw a spike in bookings. And several movie theaters in the area announced special screenings of the event, which also will be carried live by some television networks and Web sites.

Police put up concrete barriers around the center, allowing only fans with tickets to the star-studded event to enter.

The first fans — those holding the best seats — began entering the arena at 7:30 a.m. The service is set to start at 10 a.m. (1 p.m. ET).

The stage is set up on one end of the Staples Center’s converted basketball court.

Michael Jackson: The Memorial
On Tuesday, join CNN, HLN and CNN.com Live for all-day coverage as the world celebrates the life of a worldwide pop icon, and don’t miss our prime time coverage starting at 8 p.m. ET.

see full schedule »Wide steps lead up from both sides and two transparent podiums are posed on either side. Drums sit in the background and small floral arrangements rest against the front of the stage, where three rows of chairs form a semicircle.

Police would not say what kind of security measures they have put in place. The cash-strapped city has said it will foot the bill for law enforcement. 

Until the last minute, the Jackson family remained tight-lipped about where the singer will be buried, but signs pointed to Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills after several carloads of people, La Toya Jackson among them, visited the cemetery Monday.

Tuesday began with a private gathering at the cemetery. A motorcade of mostly sports-utility vehicles was seen departing Jackson‘s parents’ Encino, California, home early Tuesday. California Highway Patrol officers then closed down ramps to the 101 Freeway leading from Encino toward Hollywood.

The procession pulled into Forest Lawn about 15 minutes later. Jackson’s family and his friends began entering the chapel, which can hold about 1,000 people.

The Staples event is expected to feature singers Mariah Carey, Usher and Stevie Wonder.

Also participating will be basketball stars Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson; singers Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer and Smokey Robinson; and activists Martin Luther King III and the Rev. Al Sharpton, according to an announcement released on behalf of the Jackson family.

Two notable absences will be actress Elizabeth Taylor, a longtime Jackson friend, and Debbie Rowe, Jackson‘s former wife and the mother of his two older children.

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Taylor, in a message posted on Twitter and verified by CNN, said she declined an invitation to speak because she “cannot be part of the public whoopla.”

“I just don’t believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others,” Taylor tweeted. “How I feel is between us. Not a public event.”

Rowe planned on attending but decided against it, said lawyer Marta Almli.

“The onslaught of media attention has made it clear her attendance would be an unnecessary distraction to an event that should focus exclusively on Michael’s legacy,” Almli said.

Fans congregated in downtown Los Angeles, outside the Staples Center regardless of whether they had tickets.

On Monday, organizers used a computer to choose 8,750 names from 1.6 million people who registered for tickets online. Each received a pair of tickets, for a total of 17,500 tickets.

Just 11,000 of those are for seats inside the arena. The other 6,500 are for viewing the memorial telecast across the street at the Nokia Theater. The Jackson family set aside an additional 9,000 Staples Center seats to give out, organizers said.

Two fans waiting to get in to the service Tuesday were surprised at their good fortune.

Michelle Mann and Basra Arte, both 18, flew in from Vancouver, British Columbia, to honor Jackson. They stood outside the Staples Center, brimming with excitement and celebrating the generosity of a complete stranger.

“It’s overwhelming,” Mann said. “We can’t believe that we’re here.”

The two had appeared on Canadian television and said they planned to fly to Los Angeles for the memorial service even though they didn’t have tickets. Six hours before their flight, 15-year-old Karlo Karanan, who’d seen them on TV, tracked them down and gave them his.

“I’m looking forward to being in the presence of other fans,” Arte said. “The energy is going to be amazing.”

Source: CNN

Breaking News: The Last Goodbye to the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson

MICHAEL JACKSON FUNERAL….

Details about the Michael Jackson Funeral: Michael Jackson will be privately buried July 7th at Forest Lawn Cemetery at 8 am. The public memorial ceremony to follow will be:

Date: July 7, 2009
Time: 10:00 am
Place: Staples Center
Tickets: Free

Michael Jackson fans will have a chance to watch Michael Jackson’s memorial today live on television and online:

Memorial Live Coverage:  kingofpopmichael.info , SKY NEWS, SKY ARTS, AOL, FOX NEWS.

CHECK OUT LIVE FEED HERE

If you do not have a Michael Jackson funeral ticket you will be barred from the Staples Center area by the Los Angeles police department. The the Michael Jackson Memorial will start at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7th, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Travel Arrangements for Michael Jackson’s Public Memorial. This will be an ‘event’ and not an all-day opportunity for a viewing. Michael Jackson’s will has been released and is available here:

“The will specifically states that nothing goes to his former wife, Deborah Jean Rowe Jackson.

The will specifically states that he has intentionally omitted all of his heirs. Contrary to earlier reports about Michael Jackson cutting out his father, Joe Jackson – Michael cut-out everyone – although it is not yet confirmed what is provided for in the trust.

Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, is to be the guardian of his children. If she cannot, then Diana Ross is asked to be the guardian.”

Michael Jackson’s body has been released from the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office. Although a full report is expected to take several weeks, the initial indication is that there was no foul play. For privacy reasons Michael Jackson’s family has had his body taken to a private mortuary.

Michael Jackson Memorial Service Live here! Online King Of Pop Michael