One wouldn't guess it by listening to the sexually suggestive lyrics in her music, but Katy Perry is actually the daughter of two pastors and grew up singing in church until she was 17. Perry was also a fan of gospel music, and in her freshman year of high school, the California native dropped out to pursue a career in music. Perry's church singing turned the heads of some music veterans, who brought her to Nashville to hone her songwriting skills. Her first album (which she released under her original name Kate Hudson) was rooted in gospel and proved to be an unmitigated failure. After changing her name and moving to California, Perry recorded a rock album for Island Records with super-producer Glen Ballard, though it was never released. After a continued series of falling outs and shelved projects with a variety of record labels, Perry's undeniable talent and star quality captured the attention of a Capitol Music executive who signed her in 2007.
katy perry kisses a girl and likes it
While the first song released off Katy Perry's debut album called "Ur So Gay" created online buzz and controversy for obvious reasons, it was the official lead single "I Kissed A Girl," that established Perry as a bona fide pop sensation. The racy tale of woman-on-woman love soared to the top of the Billboard charts where it remained for seven weeks, while drawing the ire of gay and lesbian groups across the country. Perry's mother, an Evangelical Christian, was one of the song's most vocal critics, calling it "shameful and disgusting." Still, its injection into the cultural zeitgeist was undeniable, as was its success, earning Perry a nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 51st Grammys. Her debut album One of the Boys featured a string of equally successful singles including "Hot N' Cold" and "Waking Up in Vegas," making it a platinum-selling disc with a 71 week-long stay on the charts.
katy perry saddles up with russell brand
With her professional career progressing full steam ahead, all Katy Perry lacked was stability in her personal life. Ironic, then, that she began a courtship with notorious British bad-boy Russell Brand. After a rocky on-and-off again relationship with Gym Class Heroes singer Travis McCoy, Perry began seeing Brand after the two met at the MTV Video Awards, and their relationship has progressed into a highly publicized engagement under constant scrutiny from the tabloids. Set to marry this October, the couple is very vocal about their love for one another, and often share intimate details with the press. Though Brand -- a former drug addict -- will forgo the bachelor party festivities, Perry's bachelorette is being thrown by her good friend Rihanna. And yes, we're still waiting for our invitation in the mail.
katy perry looks to dominate the summer
When Katy Perry released "California Gurls" -- the infectious first single from her coming sophomore effort Teenage Dream, it instantly became the front-runner for the coveted "Song of The Summer" crown. The Snoop Dogg-featuring electro banger soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, which certainly bodes well for Perry's latest disc, released in the U.S. on August 24th. Perry claims that the song is a direct response to Jay-Z's Big Apple big-up "Empire State of Mind," igniting the fiercest coast wars since Tupac and Biggie went at it in the '90s.
katy perry takes on lady gaga
Speaking of feuds, Katy Perry must have been looking to shake up the pop landscape when she tweeted "using blasphemy as entertainment is as cheap as a comedian telling a fart joke," which was perceived as a direct shot at Lady Gaga and her controversial video for "Alejandro." Perry immediately clarified that her statement was directed at blasphemous pop stars in general, not just at Gaga, insisting that she's in fact a fan of the megastar. Millions of men around the world hoping for the world's sexiest cat fight just let out a simultaneous groan.
Here is a brilliantly produced video with the theme HAPPY NEW YEAR, with the accompaniment of the song by ABBA.
NEW YEAR 2011 is so special because we are moving to not only a new year, but a NEW DECADE! So, celebrate it with new resolutions for the new year as well as the new decade!
From early childhood onward, Avril Lavigne always stood out among the 5,000 residents of Napanee, Ontario -- her 1984 birthplace. At first distinguished from her female peers because of her affinity for the baseball field in the summer and the hockey rink in the winter, Avril became recognizable in the community on the basis of her musical performances. avril lavigne sings with shania twain By age 10, she had graduated from the local church choir to the regional fairgrounds, singing country music in competitions. Three years later, Avril Lavigne began making her impact outside of Napanee, as her vocal skill won her the grand prize in a radio station contest: a trip to the city of Ottawa, to perform a duet in concert with another Ontario native, country music star Shania Twain. While this probably ranked as the pinnacle of pubescence for any other 13-year-old girl, Avril Lavigne went on to accomplish far greater things before leaving adolescence. avril lavigne gets a record deal By the time Avril Lavigne reached high school, her vocal prowess seemed rivaled only by her ability to play the guitar, and she began sending videotapes of her stage performances to labels and management companies throughout North America. Following a host of rejections, her talent finally caught the eyes of Nettwerk Management, an organization that fostered other such Canadian acts as Sarah McLachlan, Sum 41 and the Barenaked Ladies. Nettwerk arranged for Avril Lavigne to fly down to New York City to meet with some other songwriters and begin work on a demo tape. As it turned out, Avril Lavigne was signed before she even had a chance to complete the demo. An Arista Records representative came to visit Avril Lavigne at her studio, and was sufficiently impressed with her voice to return with Arista CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid, who immediately signed the 16-year-old to a contract. avril lavigne moves to new york city After briefly returning to Canada, Avril Lavigne made the move to Manhattan to embark on her professional career, accompanied by her older brother Matt as an escort. Although she had been signed to Arista strictly as a vocalist, Avril Lavigne balked at the notion of singing someone else's songs and insisted on having a hand in the writing process. When she failed to click with any New York-based songwriters, Avril Lavigne made her third move of the year, this time to Los Angeles. It was on the West Coast that she met producer/songwriter Cliff Magness, with whom she immediately developed a rapport. The two began composing together, and within a few months' time, Avril Lavigne's debut album had begun to take shape. avril lavigne releases complicated and the album let go Avril Lavigne's first single, "Complicated," was released in the early spring of 2002, and immediately began scaling the charts across the continent. By the summer, the track had reached the top spot among Canadian singles, and was in the top 15 on the Billboard Adult 40 list. The popularity of "Complicated" paved the way for the success of Avril's first full-length CD, Let Go, which debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard charts in June 2002. She received eight Grammy nods and won four Juno Awards for the album. While Avril Lavigne's vocal range and high-energy musical style has brought her comparisons ranging from Alanis Morissette to Pink, she has been adamant in positioning herself as a unique artist, one who runs counter to the mainstream. This persona has been nurtured thanks to the lyrics of such songs as "Sk8er Boi," wherein Avril Lavigne is none too subtle in voicing her anti-conformist stance, and through her public remarks regarding other female musicians, notably Britney Spears.
avril lavigne releases under my skin
In 2004 Avril Lavigne released her second album, Under My Skin, which debuted at No. 1 in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. The single "My Happy Ending" became her third biggest song. The album helped Avril win two World Music Awards and five Juno nominations. She also won the award for "Favorite Female Singer" at the eighteenth annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. The album sold eight million copies worldwide.
avril lavigne releases the best damn thing
Avril Lavigne's third album The Best Damn Thing debuted at No. 1 in the U.S. as well. The album was produced with the help of her husband, Deryck Whibley of the band Sum 41, and the single "Hot" was a huge success (Avril performed this hit at the American Music Awards). A small tour followed.
Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born in the parish of Saint Michael, Barbados, on February 20, 1988. Growing up, Rihanna led a relatively simple, average life on her island home. She attended Combermere, a kind of technical high school, and, despite having a natural singing talent, she didn't give much thought to performing -- aside from singing with her friends for fun. At one point, though, Rihanna did enter a beauty and talent pageant at her school. Singing Mariah Carey's "Hero" as part of the talent component, Rihanna went on to win the competition. But that performance -- and singing in the shower or in front of the mirror -- was the extent of her musical experience before 2004. def jam discovers rihanna During Christmas 2003, a series of chance events unfolded that would change Rihanna's life forever. A New York City record producer, Evan Rogers, was vacationing with his wife near Rihanna's home. A mutual friend introduced them, and after Rihanna belted out a few tunes for Rogers, he realized her potential and invited her to New York to record some demo songs. Rihanna jumped at the opportunity to sing professionally, and she took Rogers up on his offer the following spring. It wasn't long before Rihanna was auditioning for Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, head of Def Jam Recordings. Despite her nervousness, Rihanna wowed the Def Jam record execs and signed a deal before she walked out the door. Work immediately began on her singles, starting with "Pon de Replay," one of the punchy dance numbers that had first impressed Jay-Z. rihanna releases pon de replay The faith Def Jam placed in Rihanna's talent paid off when "Pon de Replay" became a summer smash in 2005. The song hit the third slot on the Billboard charts, and by late August, Rihanna released a second single, "If It's Lovin' That You Want," and her debut album Music of the Sun was out in stores. The wave of popularity that stemmed from Rihanna's impressive debut carried her onto the small screen. She's been on Live with Regis and Kelly, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Today, and has performed at the 2005 Video Music Awards, World Music Awards and MTV Awards. She's also helped kick off sports events, from a performance alongside Kanye West at the start of the NFL season to a show for the start of the 2005 U.S. Lawn Tennis Open Championships.
rihanna has a hit single with sos
In 2006, Rihanna released her second album, A Girl Like Me, which boasted the hit singles "SOS," "Unfaithful," "We Ride," and "Break It Off" featuring Sean Paul. All of the songs spent some time on the U.S. Billboard charts except "We Ride." That same year, Rihanna recorded a song called "Winning Women" with Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger for P&G’s female deodorant Secret. She also made her acting debut with a role in Bring It On: All or Nothing, which was released on August 8, 2006. To top it off, Rihanna appeared on an episode of the long-running soap opera All My Children and the drama Las Vegas.
rihanna releases umbrella and don't stop the music
2007 was another successful year for the budding talent. Rihanna released her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad. A number of hits also resulted from this album including "Umbrella," which featured Jay-Z. This song was the longest running No. 1 single since Wet Wet Wet's' single "Love Is All Around" back in 1994, and the longest running No. 1 by a female artist since Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad also included the hits "Shut Up And Drive" and "Don't Stop The Music." At the 2007 American Music Awards Rihanna won for Favorite Female Artist in the Soul/Rhythm & Blues category.
rihanna is named no. 8 in 2008 & 2009 top 99
Bursting onto the music scene with panache, Rihanna made a name for herself in the music world in a very short time. Her talent, along with her gorgeous face and figure, make it evident why she was voted No. 8 on AskMen.com's Top 99 of 2008. That same year, she also appeared on several episodes of Dancing with the Stars.
It seemed nothing could bring this shining star down, especially after maintaining her No. 8 position for our Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2009, but while Rihanna was scheduled to perform at the 2009 Grammy Awards show, an incident of physical abuse from boyfriend Chris Brown kept the two from performing together on stage. Photos of battered Rihanna circulated the internet days after the incident, and Chris Brown released a statement to the public claiming he was finding the guidance he needed with friends and family, away from Rihanna. After the courts agreed to a plea bargain with Brown, Rihanna fans will be happy to know that part of the plea bargain requires Brown to stay far away from Rihanna. Phew.
Brazilian Bikini Swimwear set features a unique ombre sequin fully lined halter swimsuit bikini and adjustable tie side Brazilian bikini bottom with back shirring detail.BUY HERE
Grand enterance: Willow Smith wows the crowd at the Holiday Tree Lighting at Nokia Live in Los Angeles
Willow Smith is taking after her famous father more and more each day as she follows the road to musical stardom.
The 10-year-old pint-sized singer entertained scores of Christmas revellers at the L.A. Live Holiday Tree Lighting in Downtown Los Angeles this weekend.
Proud parents Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith watched from the audience as their daughter belted out her new hit single, Whip My Hair with a festive twist.
Angelically dressed in an all-white tracksuit complete with a candy cane-inspired hairpiece and gold Michael Jackson style gloves, Willow got into the Christmas spirit as she took to the stage enveloped in puffs of white smoke.
Ever the consummate professional, the singer took to the stage like duck to water using every ounce of energy to give it her all.
So it’s no wonder mega music mogul Jay-Z signed her.
Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, says he signed Will Smith’s daughter after he was blown away by her musical capabilities at such a young age.
Taking the world by storm: The 10-year-old showed confidence beyond her years as she took to the stage
Belting it out: Willow performs her hit song Whip My Hair
'I heard the record first before I knew that it was recorded a nine-year-old, and I was like "Man, that record's a smash,"' he said in an interview on the Ryan Seacreast’s Kiss FM radio show back in September. '[I was told that she was] nine and I was like "Whoa," [but then I found out she was Will Smith's] daughter and I was like "Whoa, whoa!"
‘It just went from there. So then I went to Japan to do some stuff, and [the Smith family] was out there in Japan, and I met Willow and the first thing she said was, "I'm really nervous."
'I thought that maturity to explain exactly how she's feeling as she walked in the room, I knew right then that she was a star. I believe in big records on super stars, and I think she's got both.'
Like father, like daughter: Willow is passionate about her career
Proud as punch: Will Smith is overjoyed at his daughter's performance as he watches from the audience
Willow takes after her father Will, who also has also found success as a recording artist.
She says she still can't help but hide her excitement about her new-found fame. 'It's very, very amazing and it's very overwhelming,’.
'All of the red carpet and the [cameras] flash[ing] and all the people wanting to meet you, it's very, very, very overwhelming for a nine-year-old,’ she told Ryan during same radio segment back in September.
And she had every right to be happy last night.
Willow shared the limelight with musical legends Stevie Wonder, who performed a song with 13-year-old singer and pianist, Greyson Chance and UK singer Seal.
The scripted one-hour special which was broadcast live on KTLA, also included appearances from American rock band Plain White T's, 90210’s Jessica Lowndes and Jersey Shore's Paul 'Pauly DelVecchio who spun some tracks on the DJ deck.
Music legends: Stevie Wonder and Seal got the crowd going with some Christmas cheer
Other highlights included an ice-skating demonstration by American Olympic Gold Medallist Evan Lysacek and a fire-breathing performance by a local Circus Performance Art Troupe called Cirque Bezerk.
A pair of Rockettes was also on hand to flip the switch to light the tree. Willow will be taking her music talents across the US this month.
She will perform at the Power Live Holiday Party at New York’s Highline Ballroom next Saturday.
Party Time: Jersey Shore's Paul 'Pauly D' DelVecchio and Jessica Lowndes also join the fun
She and her brother Jaden were also recently named Entertainers of the Year by US magazine Entertainment along with music stars Taylor Swift and Kanye West.
Willow, who picked Lady Gaga, B.o.B, and Eminem as her favourite entertainers of 2010, says she also wants to pursue acting.
I’m focusing on music right now, but I’m going to pick acting up soon,' she told the magazine.
Rising star! He's already conquered Hollywood, now Johnny Depp is taking on the art world, seen here painting a self portrait in Venice, Italy in April
Hollywood star Johnny Depp shows his artistic side as he paints a self portrait of his famous swashbuckling character Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean series.
Depp showed his talented inner self while staying in Venice filming The Tourist with legendary man snatcher Angelina Jolie which hits the cinemas later this week.
The A list actors - who had never worked before together let alone met - spent three months together filming the romantic thriller in the picturesque Italian lagoon city.
Johnny Depp was here! The actor left a permanent thank-you note
During shooting Depp stayed in a private suite at the luxury Palazzina Grassi where he was even given his own 'jamming room' where he could strum away at two electric guitars.
But his favourite haunt, just five minutes walk from the hotel, was pizzeria La Rosa Rossa, where owner Cristiano Vitale, now has the actor's denim jacket hanging on the wall in glass cabinet.
Vitale revealed how Depp was happy to get behind the bar and mix cocktails for customers and staff with the evenings turning into well lubricated mornings.
He tends bar too! Johnny mixes it up behind the bar at La Rosa Rossa
Vitale said: 'Johnny was the life and soul of the party and he treated us like we were part of his family - we had some great nights in the bar and he brought his wife and children in for dinner a couple of time.
'I even let him do a self portrait on the ceiling of the pizzeria and he signed it - we have a great picture of him standing on a step ladder painting it.
'He promised he would come back and visit us as soon as we can and we're ready to welcome him back. Angelina never came here - Johnny said our place was just for him.'
With Depp's self portrait on the ceiling that's one Venice pizzeria he can certainly call his own.
Disney character Jack Sparrow inspired Depp's self portrait
Hard at work: The Hollywood stars, who had never met before starting the project, filmed most of the movie in in Venice, Italy, earlier this year
ANGELINA JOLIE & JOHNNY DEPP N PAIRIS INTERVIEW ' THE TOURIST '
Change of plans: Justin Bieber, pictured here in London earlier this week, cancelled his appearance on a German TV show
Teen idol Justin Bieber missed an appearance on one of Germany's top rated television shows as it was cut short by a stunt that went badly wrong.
The live broadcast of Wetten Dass (Bet it...?) game show had to be cancelled Saturday evening after contestant Samuel Koch was severely injured while trying to jump over a moving car driven by his father with the help of special shoes featuring a suspension system.
The 16-year-old Bieber later said on his Twitter account: 'Please pray for Samuel Koch & his family as we wait and hope for his health and safety.'
The singer added on Twitter he felt sorry for not performing in Germany, but 'some things are more important than putting on a show. We will be back I promise.'
Wetten Dass, which has been on TV for almost 30 years, is one of the country's most successful shows, and German media reported Saturday's show had an audience of about 10 million.
The show also was to include a gig by singer Robbie Williams, and Phil Collins, Cher or actress Cameron Diaz were among the guests, according to the broadcaster's website.
The 23-year-old Koch suffered multiple back injuries and fractures, underwent surgery Sunday, and his condition was no longer life threatening, the German news agency DPAD quoted Duesseldorf hospital Dr. Wolfgang Raab as saying.
But it remained unclear if or when Koch would fully recover since 'he is in an extremely critical stage,' Raab told journalists.
Heading for disaster: Samuel Koch in his 'kangaroo' spring heels tries to jump over the moving car on Wetten Dass
Shocked: German TV host Thomas Gottschalk right, watches over the contestant as he is treated after the stunt went wrong
Doting: New queen of the jungle Stacey Solomon with her son Zach, two
The first words that flew out of Stacey Solomon’s wide mouth as she was parachuted from a plane to join the other celebrities in the Australian rainforest were typical: ‘I’m the luckiest girl in the world!’ No hysteria, no vanity, no cod heroics, just pure, unadulterated joy and gratitude.
There were no crocodile tears during the three weeks Stacey inhabited the I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here! jungle; merely a desire to grasp life with both French-manicured hands.
‘Lord only knows I’m annoying, so thank you for having me,’ she said as she accepted her crown. And with those words, a brand-new star was born.
Why do I love Stacey? Can I count the ways? There is no artifice about her, no vanity at all — she described her special skill on entering the show as ‘talking’. No chip on those gloriously broad shoulders (unlike Cheryl Cole, who felt the need to tick off a contestant on The X Factor for daring to highlight her working-class roots).
When Stacey was crowned Queen Of The Jungle on Saturday night, having brought fellow finalist Shaun Ryder out of his shell (her presence was like a deliriously sunny, ripe peach placed under the nostrils of a particularly recalcitrant tortoise), she was shown clips of her best moments on the show, and could only exclaim how hideously unattractive she looked.
As she hugged the other stars, she warned them disingenuously about her dodgy breath. What a breath of fresh air (probably an inappropriate analogy) that here was a young woman, who, despite her working-class roots and hunger for fame, was not all about false eyelashes, It-bags, and finding fun in the bottom of a vodka shot.
Stacey Solomon: 'There is no artifice about her, no vanity at all'
She is an unlikely modern-day heroine, not least because she was born of that most vulgar of the decade’s inventions — reality TV. Yet unlike many so-called celebrities who have emerged from the same cocoon, she has remained as true to her working-class roots as the day she was born.
Before coming third on last year’s X Factor, she worked behind the counter at her local chippy, Oh My Cod. Stacey knows how hard real life can be, and does not want to go back to it. That’s why she is grateful for every opportunity her TV career gives her — even if it does mean eating the odd witchety grub.
Not for her the anger and unedifying moments of spite and resentment displayed by her predecessor, the tragic, late Jade Goody. Stacey will laugh and chatter her way through everything. Why ponder the darker side of life too much?
Who can forget when, on reaching the finals of The X Factor last year, she was asked what she would do if she didn’t make it. With her big beaming smile and trademark foghorn, she screeched: ‘There’s always Asda!’ Quite simply, she oozed an old-fashioned, natural high. Surely the best kind there is.
Stacey Solomon was brought up in Dagenham, Essex, a place formerly only famous for its car factories. She has a two-year-old son, Zach, with ex-boyfriend Dean Cox.
‘Where is my baby? I want to see my baby!’ she kept asking Ant and Dec as the fireworks were set off, and the closing credits started to roll. There has never been a winner who garnered more votes from the public, or such high praise from her fellow contestants.
To me, the reason she stole our hearts is pure and simple: she’s an Essex girl. I was born in Chelmsford, the county town, went to school in Brentwood, and spent my teenage years hanging out in dodgy nightclubs in Southend-on-Sea. I was Miss Talk of the South 1975 — and by 1979 I was living in London’s Barbican working as a sub-editor on a glossy magazine.
I guess that tells you something about us Essex girls: we are fiercely proud of our roots but desperate to leave them behind.
The most exciting thing I ever found to do was to trawl Romford Market on a Saturday afternoon, which is why anyone born in Essex is desperate to make it to the capital, so tantalisingly close is it, just down the dreadful A12.
Why are Essex girls the best in the world? Essex girls’ dreams are more vivid than anyone else’s because the county itself is so monochrome: Sixties concrete high-rises, endless roundabouts and housing estates. The beach at Southend is comprised of mud.
For Stacey, Liverpool Street station was the shining gateway to success, a new life away from shopping precincts and dead-end jobs.
As well as ambition, Essex girls have a great sense of humour, developed after generations of being the butt of jokes, and a real desire for luxury. After all, we invented chavdom, a much-maligned quality — but all it means is we want a better life.
Good sport: Stacey Solomon during one of her horrific tasks in the jungle
We are grafters, too, and independent: we have had to be, given that Essex boys, the randiest boys in the world, love fast cars, copious amounts of cologne, earrings and putting their feet up.
Essex boys are charmers, and can lead a nice girl like Stacey down the garden path. It’s nice to see she is now in a happy relationship, with new boyfriend Aaron Barnham, a painter and decorator.
Stacey is a throw-back, the last of a breed we thought had gone out with food rationing and gas masks, the stoicism of the Cockneys who moved north after the Blitz coursing through her veins.
Is Stacey a good role model? Most definitely, despite her admitting in the jungle that she believes reading gossip magazines to be as rewarding as reading books, because ‘it’s all stories, I love to see what a celebrity is wearing, and what their house is like’. You can tell Stacey is not ignorant in the way Jade Goody was.
While Rebecca Ferguson, another thoroughly nice single mum from Liverpool who looks poised to win The X Factor next weekend, is much more talented and beautiful than Stacey, it is Stacey’s very British brand of ordinariness that has made even Middle Englanders embrace her.
She might have very little talent, but who cares? Aren’t you, like me, a little tired of all these wannabes, giving it 200 per cent?
Stacey is a natural, and she’s nice, surely a far rarer quality than being able to top the iTunes charts these days.
And what better example for young women than to see someone laughing all the time, rather than moaning and whinging.
Stacey never once gossiped about anyone, or tried to impress (I loved it when she first met Linford Christie and exclaimed: ‘I wanna race you!’), but always tried to see the best in them.
She warmed my cold winter evenings like a bowl of creamy porridge. I was so angry when Gillian McKeith made her cry. It was as unnecessary and shocking an act, surely, as placing a kitten in a wheelie bin.
What do I hope Stacey does next? I’d love to see her play Eliza Doolittle on the West End stage, but in real life I don’t want to see her Henry ’Igginsed. I hope she finds success.
She is not calculating, in the way the dreadful Myleene Klass was when she, too, donned a bikini to wash under the waterfall in the jungle. While Myleene was doing mental arithmetic, wondering how much the exposure of her breasts would earn her in a future lingerie campaign, you could see Stacey was just thinking: ‘Oh my God, I stink!’
I really hope Stacey makes it to a mock-tudor mansion in Loughton, where she will zoom around Epping Forest in an open-top car, singing at the top of those lovely lungs, saying, ‘Oooh, I dunno!’ at every opportunity, purchasing leopard-print cushions and Versace outfits, living the dream we all dreamed.
Stacey Solomon Wins I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here 2010
Hello, ladies! X Factor reject Wagner Carrilho blows kisses to female fans after performing at the Revenge nightclub in Brighton
Wagner, 54, had been spotted performing an energetic dance routine by a benefit official who was aware of his claim, the minister told Sky News.
‘I suspect he’ll find that he’ll be asked to come in and explain himself,’ he added. Wagner has denied cheating the benefits system.
Carrilho has said that he is the only contestant that will be remembered after the show has finished and slammed mentor Louis Walsh for trying to make him look 'inadequate'.
The Brazilian was speaking after performing at a nightclub in Brighton and one in Maidstone, Kent on Friday night where he was mobbed by female fans at both venues.
Talking exclusively to the Sunday Mirror, the former karate teacher said that he never thought he would win and being kicked off was the best thing to happen to his career
He said: 'The winner might win... but that doesn’t mean you will have a career.' He said he didn't think the remaining contestants had any charisma and added: 'I am wondering if they will get a career out of that... and I think I might.'
Blondes have more fun: Wagner cosies up to a fair-haired lady after the show
And he hinted that there may have been a plot to get him off the show when he said: 'I was surprised I was in the bottom three last week.
'But then, who counts the votes? The public never see the way they voted.' Wagner was kept in the competition having drummed up massive public support but he slammed the judges who slated him week after week and said they wanted to make him look stupid.
A kiss for you: Wagner can't resist puckering up to a pretty brunette
Referring to his last performance on the show in which he sang Radiohead's Creep, he said: 'They did it to make me look stupid but they didn’t expect me to sing that well. The idea was to make me look bad with the lyrics. Like me confessing, "I’m a creep, a weirdo".
'I think the idea was to make me look inadequate but I changed it around because I sang it very well. I don’t want to do bouncy songs, I only wanted to do meaningful songs. There was no connection with the audience with those other songs, I could feel it.'
Wagner has played a handful of club nights since being voted off the show last weekend.
Brazilian boogie: Wagner struts his stuff on stage at the Liquid nightclub in Maidstone...
... before succumbing to the attentions of a female fan On Friday night he played at Liquid nightclub in Maidstone, Kent before heading on to Revenge in Brighton before playing G-A-Y in London.
At all three venues he was mobbed by fans but insisted that he wouldn't be interested in pursuing any of them.
He said: 'I think I will find that if I took them aside and spoke with them and chatted for half an hour, the interest would be gone. I am sure they don’t want me. I mean some of them are 19, 18, 20. They are like, "Ah, Wagner, Wagner". But they love what they saw, not Wagner himself.
Bah humbug: X Factor judge Cheryl Cole accessorised with red but left her smile at home
With her eye-catching, bright red earrings and equally boldly-coloured boots, one might assume Cheryl Cole is starting to feel the buzz of Christmas.
She even finished off her smart yet casual look of jeans, T-shirt and tuxedo jacket with a flash of bright red nail polish.
But the 27-year-old had clearly left her festive cheer at home as she arrived at Fountain Studios for tonight's X Factor.
Getting out of her car, the presenter and singer glowered at the waiting photographers before heading in to get started on tonight's episode of the ITV show.
Perhaps Cole is concerned about her contestants - and in particular, her apparent protege Cher Lloyd.
It emerged today the 17-year-old exploded at a member of the show's production staff and One Direction's Louis Tomlinson during rehearsals for last night's episode.
Tis the season: Cole brought some festive cheer to the show with her bright red earrings, boots and nail varnish
Described by X Factor choreographer Brian Friedman as 'a meltdown', it is believed the teenage hopeful had to be taken aside and calmed by mentor Cole after screaming at a crew member, 'get out of my face'.
Lloyd was reportedly upset about the introduction to her song and her outfit for the performance.
Strained: Following a meltdown before X Factor's Saturday show Cher Lloyd looked tired as she arrived for tonight's round of the competition
Arriving today, the contestant also looked strained and was typically casually dressed in a purple puffa jacket, jeans and Doc Marten boots.
She - like her mentor - did not smile for the paparazzi.
However, Lloyd must be feeling a surge of confidence in her ability after Simon Cowell admitted on last night's show he was a 'huge fan'.
Meanwhile, One Direction, Matt Cardle and Mary Byrne arrived at the studios looking as laid-back as ever.
Easygoing: One Direction members Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson did not seem worried about tonight's show
Smiling for the cameras and wrapped up warm, they did not appear to be worried about the verdict on their performances set to be announced on tonight's show.
Unlike the rest of the UK, which is waiting with bated breath to see which acts will go on to the next round in this year's competition - surely the most controversial of the series yet.
Confident: Mary Byrne and Matt Cardle looked equally optimistic about their performances as they arrived at the show's London studio
Face off: Mary Byrne (right) was sent home on tonight's X Factor after Simon Cowell chose to save Cher Lloyd following the sing-off
Cher Lloyd is just through to the final of this year's The X Factor, after Mary Byrne was voted off.
Simon Cowell was given the deciding vote after Louis Walsh predictably plumped for his last remaining act Mary, with Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole saving the teenager.
The Tesco checkout worker, who was in the bottom three last week, sang It's A Man's Man's Man's World - which she originally performed during the first week of the live shows.
Gracious: Mary took the decision well as she was joined on stage by her mentor Louis Walsh, who has no more acts left in the competition
Making the deciding vote, Simon said: 'This is quite straightforward. Mary I have supported you from the beginning and tonight proved what a good singer you are.
'Cher, I actually liked that song you just sang. It was like hearing you for the first time. The act I'm sending through to the final is Cher.'
Before the sing-off, the single mother, 50, admitted she 'expected' to be in the bottom two, but later revealed her highlight of the contest had been 'definitely meeting the soldiers and doing the single for the guys in Afghanistan'.
Looking tearful as she took to the stage, Cher, 17, slowed down her usual uptempo songs to sing Britney Spears's 2004 single Everytime.
Sing off: Mary performed It's A Man's Man's Man's World, while Cher sang Everytime
Presenting the 2010 finalists: (L-R) Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Rebecca Ferguson, Cher and Matt Cardle
Simon's boy band One Direction were the first act to find out they were in the the final, to the delight of their mentor, who hadn't spent much time with them this week after suffering from a cold.
The group spent a lot of the week rehearsing as a four-piece after bandmember Zayn Malik went home to Bradford after his grandfather passed away.
Cheryl also stepped in to mentor them after Simon spent a lot of the week in bed with a cold, despite criticising their rendition of Rihanna's Only Girl In The World, because she thought it was too 'current'.
Next to discover their fate was Liverpudlian Rebecca Ferguson, then Matt Cardle - despite his shaky second performance on Saturday night.
The boys are through: Simon Cowell celebrated with One Direction after they become the first to be told they are in the final
The Essex native, 27, had been suffering from tonsillitis most of last week, so admitted his second performance on Saturday, Billy Joel's Always A Woman, 'was not my best performance'.
Last night's episode kicked off with a performance by X Factor 2008 alumni Alexandra Burke, who performed her new single The Silence.
Wearing a flowing white dress, the 21-year-old belted out the ballad before being lifting up into the sky on a harness.
We're through: Rebecca Ferguson and Matt Cardle celebrate after learning they're through to the final
Coming home: X Factor 2008 alumni Alexandra Burke performed her new single The Silence.
Spectacular: Alexandra was lifted up into the air with a troupe of acrobats and violin players at the climax of the song
The song, which is released tomorrow, is the fifth single from the Deluxe edition of her debut album Overcome.
She was followed by members of the cast of Glee, performing the show's stand-out hit Don't Stop Believin' - but appeared to be having major sound problems as the members of the cast took to the stage.
Wearing gold dresses were Lea Michele, Jenna Ushkowitz, Dianna Agron, Amber Riley, Heather Morris and Naya Rivera, while the men Cory Monteith, Mark Salling and Kevin McHale wore all black.
Energetic: The Black Eyed Peas performed their new single The Time (Dirty Bit)
The last guest performance of the night was from The Black Eyed Peas - who also performed last year- with their newest single The Time (Dirty Bit).
No doubt there was time for bandmember Will.I.Am to catch up with his friend Cheryl backstage, who he was romantically linked to following her split from ex-husband Ashley Cole earlier this year.
Will.I.Am helped Cheryl choose her three acts at the judges' houses stage of the competition - when she controversially declined to let Gamu Nhengu through, but put Katie Waissel and Cher through - despite neither being able to complete their song.
Sound problems: The cast of hit U.S. TV show Glee performed Don't Stop Believin'
Will said he was 'torn' between if he wanted Rebecca and Cher to win the show, insisting they were 'very different artists'.
Meanwhile, Dannii made another bid to hang onto her X Factor 2010 style queen award in a stunning strapless lace dress with black pumps.
But Girls Aloud singer Cheryl showed a bit more flesh in a asymmetrical leopard-print 'mullet dress' - called so because of its floor-length back and mini-skirted front.
Fashion face-off: Dannii wore a revealing strapless lace number and black pumps, while Cheryl opted for a risky asymmetrical animal print 'mullet' dress and plain black heels
A new guest judge? Hollywood star Jack Black, who was seated in the audience, threw Simon out of his seat on the judging panel during the ad break
The Results - The X Factor Live Semi-Final Results
Cher Lloyd sings Everytime for survival - The X Factor Live Semi-Final Results (Full Version)
Mary Byrne sings It's a Man's World - The X Factor Live Semi-Final Results
Alexandra Burke performs The Silence - The X Factor Live Semi-Final Results (Full Version)
One Direction sing Chasing Cars - The X Factor Live Semi-Final
The X Factor 2010 - Black Eyed Peas - The Time (Dirty Bit) - Live Performance
