Music Blogs

Well, more than a month after the initial Grammy-weekend altercation between Chris Brown and his on/off/on girlfriend Rihanna, the controversy surrounding the onetime power-couple of the R&B scene continued this week. Fired up by this saga, Oprah Winfrey--who last week openly voiced her disapproval of Chris and Rihanna's reconciliation, telling her audience, "If a man hits you once, he will hit you again"--actually took on the topic of domestic violence among dating teens in a one-hour special on Thursday (joined by equally outspoken TV talk show hostess Tyra Banks).

Meanwhile, Chris--who was recently charged with two felonies stemming from his February 7 skirmish with Rihanna--withdrew his nominations from the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, under pressure from special interest groups and concerned parents who argued that honoring Chris would set a bad example for underage viewers.

"Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding the incident last month has shifted the focus from the music to whether he should be allowed to be among the nominated," a Chris spokesperson announced in a statement released Wednesday.

Ironically, Chris's "Kiss Kiss" was up for Favorite Song against Rihanna's "Don't Stop The Music." Rihanna is still in the running (and her song does seem to be more appropriate for kids than the other two remaining nominations, Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl" and Beyonce's "Single Ladies"); no word yet on whether Rihanna plans to attend the Nick Awards on March 28, but chances are if she does, she'll go stag and leave Chris at home that night.

Anyway, while tabloid rumors continued to run rampant that Chris and Rihanna not only recently recorded a "love duet" but were recently married in a secret wedding ceremony, one celebrity couple confirmed their elopement: former teen-pop princess Mandy Moore and alt-country maverick Ryan Adams, who covertly tied the knot this week in Savannah, Georgia. The two may seem like a real odd couple (Mandy hit the music scene 10 years ago with the frothy pop confection "Candy," and Ryan is a famously rehabbed alcoholic with a reputation for nutty bad-boy behavior). But Mandy has dated her share of indie types (Zach Braff, Greg Laswell) and musicians (Laswell, DJ AM), and Ryan's been romantically linked to actresses like Winona Ryder and Parker Posey, so the union actually makes some sense. Mandy certainly seems smitten by her new groom, saying in the current issue of Marie Claire magazine that she is "in awe of him--his brain, his passion. He's truly one of a kind." We wish the happy couple a lifetime of wedded bliss and domestic peace.

Mandy and Rihanna weren't the only Nickelodeon-friendly pop girls making headlines this week: Two others, both of whom coincidentally happen to be famous little sisters, were also in the news. Jessica Simpson's sibling Ashlee, who before she was lip-synching on Saturday Night Live and marrying rocker Pete Wentz got her start as an actress on 7th Heaven, announced she was planning a return to the nighttime TV soap circuit, as a regular cast member on the CW's remake of Melrose Place. "I'm thrilled to be joining the cast of Melrose Place and I look forward to being a part of its new generation of residents," Mrs. Simpson-Wentz told People magazine. Meanwhile, Britney Spears's younger sis, Jamie Lynn, pulled a Jessica Simpson regarding her own plans for a career comeback, by deciding to go country: Spears sources confirmed to E! News this week that Jamie Lynn "has been quietly working on a country album since last fall" and is "trying to get a record deal."

Meanwhile, another teen star, Miley Cyrus, got into possibly the oddest feud since Beyonce-versus-Etta James a while back...when she lashed out at Radiohead over their alleged snub at the Grammys last month. According to a recent Miley radio interview, on Grammy night her manager tried to arrange a meeting between her and the band, of whom she is a huge fan, and they declined. "I left [the Grammy ceremony] 'cause I was so upset," she griped. "I wasn't going to watch. Stinkin' Radiohead! I'm gonna ruin them! I'm going to tell everyone."

Responding this week to Miley's threats to "ruin" them, a seemingly unfrightened Radiohead countered: "When Miley grows up, she'll learn not to have such a sense of entitlement." Ouch. Have the karma police finally caught up with Miley?

Another tabloid-fodder female in the news this week was Amy Winehouse, who--surprise!--just cancelled her appearance at next month's Coachella festival in California, because she cannot get a work visa to travel to the U.S. in time for her scheduled date on April 18.

Amy was charged with assault last week following an altercation at a ball in London's Berkeley Square last year, and is scheduled to appear at a hearing in the case next Tuesday; this will make it hard for her to travel outside of the U.K. any time soon. This isn't the first time Amy has been denied a U.S. touring visa, of course: In 2008 she had to perform via satellite on the Grammys because of visa issues that kept her from leaving Britain. But apparently Coachella's promoters didn't think a satellite setup was a viable option at the annual desert festival, so Amy's off the bill.

There were other concert disasters that took place this week: 16,000 Metallica fans were turned away from the Stockholm Globe Arena without seeing the band perform after lead singer James Hetfield was taken to the hospital with a stomach bug, and 194 Phish fans were arrested (most on drug-related charges) at the jam band's three reunion shows last weekend in Hampton, Virginia.

But there was some good concert news this week from the King Of Pop. Right after having his classic songs pretty much destroyed by the top 13 contestants on American Idol, Michael Jackson announced that fans would have more chances to hear those tunes properly, performed by MJ himself. Yes, concert promoters in London added a whopping EIGHTEEN September dates to Jacko's original 10-date July concert run at London's 20,000-capacity 02 Arena, due to popular demand. Demand for the Jackson's "This Is It" shows was so overwhelming, in fact, that when tickets went on sale this week Ticketmaster's computer system crashed under the pressure. Apparently Jacko's fans won't stop till they get enough.

And on that note, it's time for us to beat it. Come back next Friday for more headlines, and until then, goodnight and good music.

THIS WEEK'S TOP 10 STORIES:

1) Everyone Hates Chris - Oprah, Tyra, and parents of Nickelodeon-watching kids blast Chris Brown.

2) Moore To Love - Ryan Adams and Mandy Moore wed in a secret ceremony.

3) Don't Stop Till You Get Enough - Michael Jackson adds 18 more dates to his London concert residency.

4) 7 Things She Hates About Radiohead - Miley Cyrus and Thom Yorke become embroiled in an unlikely feud. 

5) Amy Deserts The Desert - Winehouse cancels her Coachella appearance.

6) Ashlee's New Address - Simpson joins the new cast of Melrose Place.

7) Something's Phishy - 194 Phish fans are arrested at the jam band's reunion shows.

8) Jamie Lynn Goes Country - Britney's sister wants to be a Nashville star.

9) Jack Of All Trades - White Stripes/Raconteurs mastermind Jack White forms a third band.

10) Sad But True - Metallica cancel a concert after singer James Hetfield is hospitalized.