We were lucky enough to check out The Fray at the Billboard Awards on Monday night and they're one of our new favorite bands. Now the cute boys from Denver are getting ready to premiere a new version of their hit How to Save a Life. Make sure to check out the new video tomorrow night on MTV at 11pm. Want even more info on The Fray and a chance to win their CD? Check out our latest Sugar site, BuzzSugar coming this Friday.
We got to watch the show from the press room so unfortunately we missed out on seeing all of the wonderful performances but we did enjoy The Fray, Fergie and Mary J Blige who was clearly the big Billboard winner of the night. Mary J took home nine awards including Female R&B/hip-hop artist of the year. Other winners included Carrie Underwood, T.I., Chris Brown, and Tony Bennett who was presented the Billboard Century Award by Stevie Wonder. It was a fun filled night.
Tons more images from the show and press room including Nelly, Mary, Gwen, Carmen, Janet and more so read more
The Billboard Awards red carpet event was interesting to say the least. Watching the talent be escorted down the strip with publicists, stylists, and their entourage was a special treat. Not many stood out this time but we loved Carmen and Kristen Bell. Janet and Nelly were all smiles as well. Nelly looks much better here than she did last week when she wore the same hair that Janet is wearing tonight. It's amazing to see how petite all the ladies are in person. Denise Richards was by far the worst hair of the evening.
Lots more pics of the red carpet including Gwen, Katharine, Denise, and all the men so read more
We're here in the press room before the FOX Billboard Music Awards, and we just got done chatting with the adorable and super-sharp Kristen Bell, whose CW show, Veronica Mars, just got picked up for the remainder of the season. Congrats, Kristen! Here's what she had to say about the little show that could:
"The fans are not big in numbers but they're mighty in their roar. I'd much rather be on a show where people are so passionate about it than a show that everybody watches just because it's on."
We asked Bell why she thinks her show has such a cult following, and she gave credit to the writing staff, saying "they tackle a lot of issues that a lot of shows don't, like date rape and single parents families, and they present them in a realistic manner without being preachy."
Bell will be presenting tonight at the Billboard Awards (and, oddly enough, sharing the stage with Def Leppard). As for her fashion, she plans to wear a simple but elegant Donna Karan dress with a bubble hem. We can't wait to check out how she looks on the red carpet in a few hours.
Chris Daughtry is still going strong with his debut album, Daughtry, which is rocking the Billboard charts in the No. 2 spot. Needless to say, we were thrilled to sit down with him before the FOX Billboard Music Awards, which air tonight live from Vegas.
Chris was laid-back and charming, nursing his Monday morning coffee and telling us about his stay in Vegas in his soft Southern drawl. Tonight he'll be presenting the award for Male Country Artist of the Year; he's rooting for Tim McGraw because he wants to hand him the award. He was also excited to see Boyz II Men, saying they were an early influence on him before he discovered rock.
Of his rock-oriented debut, Chris told us: "I didn't want to be a solo artist. I didn't want to have the typical album coming out of American Idol." For his band name, he simply went with his last name, a la Bon Jovi. Early next year, he'll be kicking off a national tour in support of the album, but until then, he just wants to be home for the holidays and spend some quiet nights at home playing Scattergories. Sounds great to us - check Chris out tonight on FOX at 8/7c!
American Idol finalists weren't the only young talents heating things up at the FOX Billboard Music Awards. We were also psyched to chat with 16-year-old hip-hop phenom Jibbs, who seemed wise beyond his years but had lots of boyish charm. It was Jibbs's first time in Las Vegas, and he was riding high on the success of his first single, "Chain Hang Low" (check out the video here) from his new album, Jibbs Featuring Jibbs. His big brother produced the album, and his 12-year-old sister came up with the name:
"The album is really versatile. I can make a rock song or I can go to a slow song for the ladies or I can make a real hardcore song. So my little sister was like, you’ve got so many styles on your album you should call it Jibbs featuring Jibbs."
Like us, Jibbs is really hoping to see Jay Z show up at the awards Monday night. "I was raised up on Jay Z and Nelly, and it’s exciting for me that Jay Z’s back at it again. There’s a possibility I could do a song with him now. Jibbs Featuring Jay Z."
As you all know, we're at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards which air tonight on FOX and we're having a blast meeting lots of Fox TV talent and American Idol stars. We especially enjoyed getting some one-on-one time with Ace Young who was even cuter (and taller!) in person than he looks on TV and who has a ton going on right now.
He just came off the 60-show Idol tour and self-released his first single, "Scattered," which you can buy on iTunes. According to Ace, the song is "about a girl" but also tells the story of his unconventional rise to fame:
“It’s part of me. It’s a metaphor about my life in the music industry. I toured with Brian McKnight and New Edition, but I couldn't get a deal I was really really happy with. So I said, if I can’t get it through the office, I’m gonna get it through the people, and so I tried out for Idol."
Ace was really interesting and well spoken. He also has a new album in the works and a cool charity he's started. He had so much to say so if you want more Ace (you know you do), just read more
American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee is having a big year. In fact, we caught up with her in Vegas before the FOX Billboard Music Awards, just after she'd been named the Big It Girl at VH1's Big in '06 Awards (more of that to come soon). She has been super busy working on her debut album, which comes out January 30, enduring a rather grueling schedule to get it out by the beginning of the year:
"After the third week of recording 10 hours a day, I was like, I just want to make this record good. They said, 'You’ll never make a record like this again. You’ll be recording one song a week as opposed to two songs a day.'"
Despite her busy schedule, Katharine looked radiant with porcelain skin and fabulous hair. We know she was the spokesmodel for Sexy Hair, so we thought it was funny when she freely admitted to wearing hair extensions. She joked: "I did cut it short at the end of the summer, so it’s grown so quickly!"
He's a quick video on what she's going to wear at the awards:
