Madonna Still Hot at MTV, Gets Five Video Award Nods
Singer and gay icon Madonna proved that she's still got it after two decades in the music business, scoring five 2006 MTV Video Music Award nominations.
Among the nominations is Video of the Year, in which her video for Hung Up will compete against Shakira's Hips Don't Lie, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Dani California, Panic! at the Disco's I Write Sins Not Tragedies and Christina Aguilera's Ain't No Other Man, MTV.com reported. Madonna is also up for Best Female Video, Dance Video, Pop Video and Choreography. The competition is the Female Video category is particularly tough, with the Material Mom going up against Shakira, Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson and Nelly Furtado.
Shakira and the Chili Peppers led all nominees with seven nods each.
The awards show will air live from New York's Radio City Music Hall on Aug. 31.
George Michael Discusses Cruising
Singer George Michael went on BCC News 24 on July 27 to set the record straight about his alleged sexual encounter in London's Hampstead Heath park and the media blitz that followed, according to The Advocate.
Regarding reaction to his remark that cruising is a part of GLBT culture, Michael replied that he was 'only talking about my life. I'm not here to justify cruising. I think that is a very homophobic standpoint to take. It's private. That's the point.'
Michael also said that he plans to sue the photographers who have been following him for harassment and libel, and that he plans to sue Norman Kirtland, the 58-year-old man who claims to had a tryst with Michael in the park that evening. 'I wouldn't want to be ageist or fattist, and it's dark up there, but not that dark,' he is quoted on Gay.com as saying.
Among other things, Michael conceded that his partner, Kenny Goss, had called off their wedding until he paid him 1 million pounds ( $1,868,500 ) to smooth things over.
Cher to Give Up Personal Items
Cher once released a song called We All Sleep Alone—and someone will have the opportunity to do just that in her bed.
The bed is just one of 700 items from the singer's Malibu home to be auctioned off in Beverly Hills on Oct. 3, according to the Associated Press. She has announced that she plans to offer hundreds of her personal possessions—including furniture, jewelry, a 2003 H2 Hummer and original Bob Mackie costumes—so that she can redecorate her home.
A percentage of the auction's proceeds will benefit the Cher Charitable Foundation. The sale is expected to bring in more than $1 million.
Highlights from the auction will travel to Sotheby's sites in London, Chicago and New York before the full exhibition opens at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sept. 29.
