PAULA ABDUL TO HOST ‘VH1 DIVAS’

Emmy and Grammy awards winner Paula Abdul is set to host the “VH1 Divas” live concert event.

Joining the star-studded list of “Divas” performers is one of America’s favorite pop idols – the platinum selling artist, Jordin Sparks. Previously announced “Divas” include Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis and Miley Cyrus. The “VH1 Divas” concert will be televised live on VH1 on Thursday, September 17 at 9:00 pm.*

For the first time ever, these leading ladies at the top of their musical game will perform together live at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York. Continuing in true “Divas” tradition, the evening will feature a night of unforgettable performances from various performers, presenters and special guests. Additional performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

Fans can go now to Divas.VH1.com to submit a “Diva Stories” text or video testimonial that tells the world how their favorite divas have influenced their lives. VH1 wants to hear from all Divas’ fans – favorite songs, favorite moments and the craziest things they’ve done to show their diva how they feel. Select testimonials may be featured online and on-air leading up to this year’s live telecast. Divas.VH1.com has also launched close to 50 past “VH1 Divas” performances, featuring Diana Ross, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and many more. Join Divas.VH1.com on Thursday, September 17 for live blogging coverage before and during the live telecast. Users can also follow all show-related news by following the “VH1 Divas” twitter account at http://twitter.com/vh1divas.

Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys perform on Dancing With the Stars 2 part finale

After nine weeks of entertaining drama, surprises and dazzling performances, Lance Bass, Brooke Burke and Warren Sapp have broken away from the pack and earned the right for a chance to be crowned champion of “Dancing with the Stars.” The three finalists will have their last opportunity to impress the judges and viewers on two nights of final competition, beginning MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24 (8:00-9:32 p.m., ET), which include the crowning of the Ballroom Kids champions, and concluding on the Season Finale, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET).

Tonight, the teams will face off against one another in a Samba Smackdown in which they each dance to an extended version of the same song. Each couple will take their turn in a section of the song before stepping aside for the next team to showcase their routine — giving judges and viewers a chance to compare the couples alongside each other. In addition, Lance, Brooke and Warren will show us what they’ve got in the ever popular Freestyle routine – a fan favorite.

In Tuesday’s two-hour Finale, all three finalists will perform their third and final dance — one of their favorite past routines from the season – to be scored by the judges. The judges’ scores for Tuesday’s dances will be combined with the judges’ scores and viewers’ votes from Monday’s performances to determine the victor of the coveted “Dancing with the Stars” mirror ball trophy. Throughout the two-hour Finale, the previously eliminated couples will return to perform their final dances of the season.

Cloris Leachman returns in a very special “Man on the Street” segment and Jeffrey Ross returns for a hilarious roast of the three finalists. Other Finale highlights include two amazing musical guests: Multi-Grammy Award-winning artist Alicia Keys, and Miley Cyrus will rock the “Dancing with the Stars” stage with eight of her own dancers performing her third single, “Fly on the Wall,” from her second studio album, “Breakout.”

Viewers may cast their votes for their favorite couples via phone during and up to thirty minutes after Monday’s show. AT&T subscribers may also text message their votes by texting the word “VOTE” and entering the number that corresponds to the team they want to support (standard text message rates apply). Viewers may also vote online at www.abc.com once the performance show begins on the East Coast, until 12:00 p.m., ET the next day.

American Idol’s Bucky Covington is in the Hannah Montana Movie

Country singer and American Idol finalist Bucky Covington will be in the Hannah Montana movie, courtesy of Miley Cyrus‘ dad and co-star, singer Billy Ray Cyrus.

Covington has moved to Nashville, Tennesee to further his music career, and it turns out that the movie version of the Disney hit show is filming in Nashville. Apparently, that is where Billy Ray extended the invitation for Bucky to perform a song in the movie.

To read more, click here.

American Idol News Bites & Gossip

- According to an interview that Blake Lewis gave radio station WAPE in Jacksonville, Florida, Sanjaya Malakar was put through with his sister because they thought that it would be “cute” to have a brother and sister on. When, he was cut later on, they decided to give him another chance, expecting that he would be cut before making it to the actual show.

- Some ex-Idols have a bone to pick: Kelly Clarkson is upset that songs from her CD were leaked before the album was actually finished, and Carrie Underwood is annoyed when the media ask questions about her break up with Chace Crawford.

- David Archeleta’s voice coach calls in several times a day from Salt Lake City to take him through voice exercises. Is that cheating?

- Danny Noriega is working on his own YouTube channel. Why?

-There’s an article in USA Today about former Idol contestant Nikki McKibbin, who talks about her lastest album, and how she literally took a swing at reality tv diva Omarosa.

-Unlike last season, where they didn’t want the elimination of a contestant ruin the “feel good” vibe of Idol Gives Back, this week somebody’s going home.

- Always and forever a diva, Randy Jackson’s buddy Mariah Carey taped her Idol Gives Back segment rocking a blinging microphone.

- Clay Aiken’s new cd, On My Way Here is set to drop on May 6:

- And finally, Miley Cyrus admitted to OK! magazine that she has never seen American Idol:
“I think it’s something you have to really get into from the beginning and I just don’t have time!”
Yeah, because if you miss a show, you won’t have a clue why these people are singing. What does she think it is; LOST?
Miley will be performing on Idol Gives Back, but I’m pretty sure she doesn’t know why.