Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson And The Art Of The Second Act

Above the Buzz examines how these former pop princesses serve as examples of how stars can re-brand themselves again and again.
By Jocelyn Vena

<P>Both Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson dominated headlines this week. Not since the late '90s have these two duked it out for so much media coverage.</P><P>However there's a remarkable difference in what's happening today to what was happening then: Then, everyone was talking about their music and their pop star personas. Where Britney was a Lolita who proclaimed virginity while dancing provocatively in belly-baring tops, Jessica was innocent and sweet and didn't dare anger her minister daddy. Jessica released songs that put her big voice on display, and Brit focused on songs that put eyes on her dazzling dance moves and her ear for dance beats.</P><P>A lot has changes in the years since then. What's interesting is that, despite their seemingly different personalities, in retrospect, they have a lot more in common than was initially apparent: They are both down-home country girls who have built empires that few can touch. Both have had very public career highs met with very public personal lows. Both have loved boy banders. Both have even documented their lives on reality shows, albeit with very different outcomes.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="'We All Are Authentic'" id="vid:493178.id:1633959" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>With almost 15 years separating the women they are now from those girls they were then, it seems they are looking to change it up.</P><P>At a time where the pop world is filled with plenty of younger pop princesses looking for their time to shine, Britney and Jessica seem comfortable enough with their own musical legacies to let them all have their moments. And, they should be at ease. They have both been incredibly successful in that world, having sold millions of albums, had huge radio singles and made music that is uniquely their own. And while Simpson has let her music take a back seat to other projects in the past few years, Spears is still a working singer who sells out tours and tops the charts.</P><P>These days, Jessica seems focused on maintaining the post-pop star second act she launched several years back. She's a fashion mogul with a billion-dollar empire that has outfitted fashionistas with reasonably priced essentials like platforms and bags. She also judges up-and-coming fashion talent on NBC's "Fashion Star," sharing with new designers her own wisdom on breaking into the industry. But, always savvy enough to keep people guessing, she's expanded her brand even further.</P><P>Now, she is also the latest mommy mogul. Jessica just added another gig to her post-pop star career &#8212; that of the A-list mom. Just this week, she welcomed her first child, Maxwell Drew, into the world. We expect she'll use that experience to re-launch herself yet again. We should expect fashion lines for stylish toddlers. And who wouldn't want to see a reality show that follows the new mom and her family?</P><P>It seems that, like Simpson, Spears might be looking to take a break from music for a moment. Having already given birth to two sons and tried her hand at the worlds of fashion and beauty, Spears is now a frontrunner to judge "X Factor." Her own experiences in the industry certainly make her the perfect candidate to give advice on the ups and downs of pop superstardom. She's experienced both with the entire world watching. While Spears' other projects (clothing line, fragrances) have generally been overshadowed by her music career, this rumored gig might be the first one to take the attention away from her pop fame while using it for all it's worth.</P><P>Spears is probably up for the gig because she is basically the heir to the Madonna legacy. She truly understands how to be a pop star. And the rumors that she might join Simon Cowell on the show seem to be intriguing Spears' critics and non-devotees more than anything she's done in the past few years. Spears might have found her perfect next chapter.</P><P>Right now, it's unclear how these new career paths will shape the future for Simpson and Spears &#8212; musically and otherwise. But, as has always been the case for them, no one doubts they will redefine what it means to be a female pop star. They are women who aren't willing to go quietly into the night. For Spears and Simpson, it seems they want it all or nothing. And, who can blame them?</P><P><i>What would you like to see Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson do next? Share your thoughts below!</i></P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Britney Hits The Studio With will.i.am" id="vid:638813.id:1661123" width="415" height="255"></div><p></p>

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Justin Bieber Helps Usher 'Relive' Teen Years

'The first reaction is like no other,' Usher says on 'MTV First' about witnessing Bieber's ascent to fame.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway

<P>Back in 1994, a teenaged Usher dropped his self-titled debut album and skyrocketed to fame. Nearly 20 years later, Usher is still on top, having lost little career momentum. While he's maintained his own career over the years, he also helped launch Justin Bieber to mega-fame as well.</P><P>As Bieber continues to grow as an artist, Usher explained that the 18-year-old has built up the kinds of friendships and relationships that he would have wanted as a kid star. "Cool part about it is, he's really able to live a dream that I think most teenagers would want to. To be able to have friends like Mayweather. They are actual friends, hang out, talk," Usher told MTV News during "MTV First" about Bieber's friendship with boxer Floyd Mayweather, who he recently hung out with in Las Vegas. "It's really cool to be able to have friends all around the world and people that can relate to your reality.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Justin Bieber Battle-Dances At Usher's Listening Party" id="vid:767988.id:1685137" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>"I don't think Michael [Jackson] had people like that," he continued. "I didn't have a ton of people like that. I had Puff. I had JD [producer Jermaine Dupri] ... but to be able to have friends all around the world that keep you, it's cool."</P><P>Their friendship was on full display recently when Usher performed in "Fuerza Bruta" back in April in New York City. Bieber dropped by to catch him getting his theater kid on, and midway through the show, the twosome battled it out on the dance floor.</P><P>"I was like, 'Come on, I got you. Just chill out.' <i>Set it up</i>," he recalled about tricking the sleepy globe-trotting star to hang with him at the show. "[We] brought him to the middle of the dance floor, and we got it in. But we always show support for each other like that. We was housing a little bit."</P><P>The guys will soon go head to head on the <i>Billboard</i> charts: Usher is set to drop his album, Looking 4 Myself, on June 12, and one week later, Bieber will release Believe. While it'll be interesting to see those two fight it out on the charts, what's more interesting for Usher is watching Bieber go through the same stuff he went through as a teen heartthrob.</P><P>"I relive every bit of it, from the screaming fans and the first reactions, shutting down the malls. The first reaction is like no other. To be able to be there, to be there with him and go through those emotions and see that shock for the first time [is exciting]," he said.</p>

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Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers

'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll

<P>You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.</P><P>In early February, reports began circulating that Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven," working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her <i>Stronger With Each Tear</i> album, due Monday.</P><P></p><div style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float:left;"></div><p></P><P>But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering <i>another</i> Zeppelin classic &#8212; the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" &#8212; for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the <i>Essence</i> Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.</P><P>"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' &#8212; it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."</P><P>Blige also said she recorded another new song &#8212; a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" &#8212; for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.</P><P>"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.</p>

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Heidi Rhoades: Jillian Michaels? Girlfriend, Partner, Baby Mama!

Meet Heidi Rhoades, Jillian Michaels? girlfriend, partner, and baby mama! The couple welcomed two children into their home in the past two weeks! Get the fascinating details here! Heidi Rhoades is Jillian Michaels? secret lover. We knew that Jillian left the Biggest Loser last year to focus on becoming a mother but boy did she surprise us all. This is really the first we have seen of her girlfriend and we had no idea that there would be two babies! It turns out, neither did they!   Rhodes revealed: ?It’s not the way we had planned it! But that’s how our life works. It’s always big. It could never be something like one child at a time.? Jillian and Heidi welcomed a baby boy Phoenix in early May, Heidi is the biological mother, and they also adopted two-year-old girl Lukensia, from Haiti on May 12 after a lengthy adoption process.   Jillian revealed that she has a new-found respect for new moms saying she hadn?t been to the gym in two weeks!   ?I have yet to figure out how to take care of myself right now. Telling moms “You need to put yourself first”?’ she says, rolling her eyes. ?It’s [...]

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Justin Bieber Has Nothing But 'Love' For Carly Rae Jepsen And Usher

'Carly is my artist, and I'm Usher's artist, so it's kind of cool that we're all performing,' Bieber tells MTV News at Billboard Music Awards.
By Kara Warner

<P><b>LAS VEGAS</b> &#8212; As was expected, Justin Bieber's show-stopping performance of "Boyfriend" at Sunday's (May 20) <i>Billboard</i> Music Awards brought out the squeals and the swag.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Justin Bieber Breaks Down Billboard Awards 'Boyfriend' Performance" id="vid:770729.id:1685461" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>When MTV News caught up with Bieber on the white carpet for the awards show, just before his big number, the teenage superstar said his expectations for the evening were relatively simple: He just wanted everyone to have fun and to be able to show off all the hard work he's been putting into his dance moves.</P><P>"This performance is going to be fun. I practiced a lot in the dance studio," Bieber said. "I've been working hard, and I can't wait to show the fans what I've been working so hard on." Since the other members of Bieber's musical family &#8212; Carly Rae Jepsen and Usher &#8212; were also performing, did the trio discuss any feelings of friendly competition or joke around about which performance would be better than the others?</P><P>"[It's] not a competition. It's all love," Bieber said with a smile. "We're all a family. Carly is my artist, and I'm Usher's artist, so it's kind of cool that we're all performing here, together.</P><P>For first-time <i>Billboard</i> Music Awards attendee and performer Jepsen, the goal for the night was to remember to take a moment to soak it all in.</P><P>"I want to feel happy when I'm onstage," she said. "A lot of times you kind of get caught up in the performance and then you worry and then it's over and you think, 'I didn't even enjoy it.' So tonight, after [having a successful] soundcheck this morning, it's going to be about having fun. It's me and my band, we've got some dancers and some fun lights, it's going to be an interesting show."</P><P><i>Who had the best </i>Billboard<i> performance: Justin, Usher or Carly? Let us know in the comments!</i></p>

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Joseph Gordon-Levitt Looks Buff On The Set Of His New Movie ?Don Jon?s Addiction?

We have been getting a steady stream of news about Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut the past few months and today we get to see our first look of JGL on the set of his new movie. They have also revealed the name of this highly anticipated film – Don Jon’s Addiction. As you may recall, [...]

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