Justin Bieber's Grammy Performance Will Be 'A Crossover,' Usher Says

The 'O.M.G.' singer looks forward to sharing the stage with his protégé on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery


Usher
Photo: Amanda Edwards/ Getty Images

HOLLYWOOD — At Sunday's 53rd Grammy Awards, Usher will be pulling double duty as both a nominee and a performer. Of course, given the massive year he just completed — with the success of his smash single "O.M.G." and as a mentor to rising phenom Justin Bieber — Ush's Grammy plans seem rather fitting.

Especially since he'll be performing with Bieber (and Bieber's pal Jaden Smith), a move that's just as much about celebrating Usher's successes as it is the successes of his young protégé.

"Having been through [the Grammys] so many times, you couldn't want for anything more than for your young protégé to have the opportunity to have one, so, in support of him having his moment, I wanted to be here," Usher told MTV News on Thursday, hours before his performance at the (Belvedere) RED launch party in Hollywood. "And also to be there to perform, to kind of tell the story of how we came together. This music business has definitely been good to both of us, and this year we have a lot to be happy for."

And just how will the dynamic duo tell that story? Well, Usher wasn't about to reveal all the details, but he did say that he's hoping their performance will show another side of Bieber ... a side most tend to overlook.

"The performance will be fun," Usher explained. "We want to get up there and just do what we do. Be comfortable, and have a great time. ... This is kind of a crossover for Justin. Having performed on so many different stages, this is the way that I wanted him to be seen and an opportunity to show the industry — a lot of the industry, that didn't believe [in him] — some of his other talents. He's going to play acoustically, and also, we'll get down a little bit."

And though Ush is up for a pair of Grammy awards on Sunday — Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best Contemporary R&B Album for Raymond v. Raymond — he's most looking forward to sharing the stage with Bieber and giving fans a look at where the young artist will be heading next.

"I'm very proud, man. I definitely saw it from the beginning, but thanks to the team that we have around us, it was made to happen. And that story has only just begun," Usher said. "The story of Justin Bieber doesn't stop with screaming girls; we need screaming fans all around the world ... a cultural experience that's much more than just fanfare. And that's what this is. That's what the Grammys will be; that's what my next phase for Justin is. This is the way I found him: I found him with a guitar in his hand, so I want him to be seen that way."

Don't miss "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!

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Justin Bieber Rents Staples Center For Date With Selena Gomez

Couple ate a steak dinner and watched 'Titanic' alone in the L.A. arena.
By Gil Kaufman


Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez (file)
Photo: Getty Images

Justin Bieber may only be 17, but the kid has crazy mature boyfriend skills when it comes to doing special things for his girl Selena Gomez. Case in point: The dynamic duo went out for a decent-enough date on Friday night to see Gomez's pal Demi Lovato play a show at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

Then, according to TMZ, he surprised Gomez after the concert with an even bigger show right next door at the Staples Center, the 20,000-seat home of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Check out photos of Justin and Selena.

After 11 p.m., Bieber told Gomez, "follow me," and the pair walked through an underground tunnel that connects the two arenas. As they walked into the empty building, all Gomez saw was a table for two set up on the floor with a steak and pasta dinner from the venue's fancy restaurant, the Lexus Club.

How much would a private Staples Center date set Justin Bieber back? We crunched the numbers!

The major date was inspired by a scene in the Adam Sandler flick "Mr. Deeds," in which Sandler's character surprises his love interest, Winona Ryder, with a date for two at Madison Square Garden. After the superstar couple's meal, things got even more romantic when "Titanic" began playing on a screen in the arena.

According to reports, Bieber got the venue for free as a thank-you from the bosses at Staples for his string of three previous sell-outs there. After making things way harder for his fellow man with his big-balling gesture, Biebs had a message for all the dudes out there who aren't pulling their weight when it comes to the chivalry department. "Romance isn't dead," he tweeted after his date. "Treat your lady right fellas."

Easy for you to say, dude.

What do you think of Justin's date idea for Selena? Tell us in the comments!

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Heidi Klum Flaunts New Fragrance "Shine"

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The ?Project Runway? starlet was all smiles as she hammed it up at the Mondrian Los Angeles to plug her signature scent.

Heidi explained that she put a lot of time and effort into creating Shine. ?I worked with this amazing French nose who came from Paris many times to me in Los Angeles and New York when I was working there. Basically we would just talk about all the things that I love in smells and different roots that I like. He comes over and has all the little sniffing strips. They all have numbers so we don?t mess anything up. You sniff, and sniff, and sniff, all day long.?

?I wanted something that is super feminine, that is very light. My husband definitely got an input in it because I do want to smell good for my husband. He doesn?t like it when I smell too strong. He still wants to smell me with a little bit of perfume.?

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'X Factor' Recap: Season 1, Episode 3

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Steve is back on the road, in one of the X Factor trucks en route to Chicago, the home for the next round of auditions. He reminds us that it's also the hometown of Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson and R. Kelly. Kind of surprised they mentioned her when they usually go out of their way to avoid any word of that other show. People have come from all over the Midwest, only to be greeted with some pretty bad weather.

Steve re-explains the basics of the competition: thousands of auditioners, hoping for a $5 million recording contract, for which they have to impress the judges -- Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid and, in Chicago, Cheryl Cole. There'll be categories of boys, girls, over 30s, and groups. I'm still not comfortable with people in their twenties being referred to as "boys" and "girls."

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Lady Gaga Honors Jamey Rodemeyer At iHeartRadio Festival

Gay teen committed suicide last weekend after suffering years of bullying.
By Gil Kaufman


Lady Gaga performs at the iHeartRadio Music Festival
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Just days after once again speaking out against bullying, Lady Gaga dedicated a moving version of "Hair" to teen Jamey Rodemeyer at the iHeartRadio music festival in Las Vegas on Saturday. The gay teen committed suicide last week after enduring years of bullying by his school peers, inspiring Gaga to tweet that she was going to meet with President Obama to encourage him to pass legislation outlawing bullying.

Following up on her promise, Gaga attended an Obama fundraiser in Los Angeles over the weekend, where a source told MTV News last week that she was expected to bring up the topic if the two were able to get a moment together. According to The Associated Press, Gaga was among the guests at an intimate Sunday night gathering at the home of Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg, wearing a sleeveless gown and high heels. A spokesperson for Gaga had not returned requests for comment at press time inquiring about whether the meeting of the minds had taken place.

The two-night iHeartRadio festival unfolded at the MGM Grand in Vegas and featured sets from Jay-Z, the Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez and Usher.

For photos of Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and others at the iHeartRadio festival, click here.

"We lost a Little Monster this week," Gaga said of the 14-year-old Rodemeyer during the show, as a picture of the teen was shown on a screen onstage. "I wrote this record about how your identity is really all you've got when you're in school ... so tonight, Jamey, I know you're up there looking at us, and you're not a victim ... you're a lesson to all of us. I know it's a bit of a downer, but sometimes the right thing is more important than the music."

The Amherst Police Department has opened a criminal investigation into Rodemeyer's death and is considering harassment, cyberharassment and hate crimes charges against a number of teens who may have been involved in bullying Jamey.

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