"American Idol" winner Kris Allen debuted his first music video today (although he's been the unwilling star of several hilarious/creepy fan-made Kradam tribute clips) and while "Live Like We're Dying" probably won't win any Moonmen at next year's VMAs, it's a big, bold and awesomely expensive-looking first taste of what fans can expect from Kris Allen 2.0. He's no longer "just" an "Idol" winner. He's a musician in his own right, and the video sets him up as a worthy colleague to similarly-minded artists like the Fray, OneRepublic and John Mayer.

The video starts in near-darkness, but as the clip progresses (and as he plays more instruments), the sun slowly rises until the final moments, when a new day has officially dawned. Call me sentimental (and, okay, a crazy fan), but this video perfectly mirrors Kris' "Idol" journey in a deliciously subtle way. He began as a guy with little exposure during the early episodes, but thanks to his earnest performances and winning personality, he ended up being the top dog.

Perhaps I'm reading into it, but Allen could be winking at his naysayers by performing in front of a clock that looks as though it's ticking down from 15 minutes. (It's actually one-minute and fifty seconds, but with the fast-paced editing it's easy to misread it.) Okay, I'm definitely reading into it.

What struck me the most about the video, however, was just how different Kris' debut clip is compared to other "Idol" winners' music video debuts. And that's a good — nay, amazing — thing.

Imagine, if you will, the cheese that would have come with a dramatic interpretation of the song's lyrics (see Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel"). If Team Allen had decided to go the David Cook "Light On" route, poor Kris would have played second fiddle to a subplot featuring actors. Even worse, Kris could have played the romantic lead in a slo-mo melodramatic clip like Ruben Studdard's "Sorry (2004)" and Fantasia's "Truth Is" video. If they had used Kelly Clarkson's "Miss Independent" video philosophy, Kris would have had to wear a huge scarf and get lost in a giant house party. And don't even get me started on Taylor Hicks' first "Look! I'm at a jazz club!" video or Jordin Sparks' cheap off-season-at-the-carnival "Tattoo."

Instead, Jive Records and 19 Recordings opened their check books and let Kris do what he does best: Sing, play a bunch of instruments and look achingly sincere while doing so. Holy crap! An "Idol" music video that shows the contestant in their element? That really is a first.

It's been a long time since Mickey Avalon was passing out demos at Hollywood nightclubs and scrambling to secure a deal with MySpace Records. If you slept on his self-titled 2006 debut — an insanely profane, gutter-hugging punk rap manifesto featuring the classics "Jane Fonda" and "So Rich, So Pretty" — might I suggest you boost a copy from the cut-out bin of your local used record store? (It's what the old Mickey might have done.)

A few years removed from his more sordid days of street chaos, Avalon has been grinding away on his second album for the past few years, recording more than 70 tracks with a bevy of bold-faced names and a couple of unlikely hotshot producers. Calling in from Los Angeles on Thursday (don't worry, Governator — Mickey's mom was driving the car), Avalon gave a preview of what fans can expect from the tentatively titled Electric Gigolo, which is penciled in for release in the first quarter of 2010 on Interscope Records.

"I've been working this whole time, then I got an executive producer named Dr. Luke," he said, speaking of the mega-producer behind hits for Kelly Clarkson ("Since U Been Gone"), Avril Lavigne ("Girlfriend"), Katy Perry ("I Kissed a Girl"), Flo Rida ("Right Round") and Miley Cyrus ("Party in the U.S.A."). "He's been a fan of mine and I already had so much work done with [good friend, Shwayze members and Dyslexic Speedreaders band mate] Cisco [Adler] and other producers. He came in and we reworked some of the stuff I did with other producers and put his touch on them." In the meantime, Avalon has also been dropping songs like the just-released Luke-produced Billy Squier-sampling sex rap "Stroke Me" and "What Do You Say," a hop-along party rhyme that was on the soundtrack to "The Hangover."

With so much music sitting around, Avalon said he's planning on releasing a few mixtapes (or just leaking out a song or two every couple weeks) over the next couple months, while he keeps working on new songs with other producers including Benny Blanco (Britney Spears, Jordin Sparks, 3OH!3), Kool Kojak (Dirt Nasty, N.A.S.A., Ke$ha) and frequent collaborator Sunny Levine (Pete Yorn, Happy Mondays).

Avalon has some big-name guest spots he's hoping to nail down for the new album, only one of which he could talk about now. Read more...

Every day a multitude of stars wanders through the halls of MTV News to talk about their latest projects and goof around with our intrepid correspondents. But sometimes we catch stars elsewhere, and that's why we put together Spotted!, a daily compendium of stars in the wild.

There are an awful lot of "American Idol" alums in the news at the moment. The first Adam Lambert music has emerged, Kris Allen's album cover has been revealed, Kelly Clarkson's tour is gaining rave reviews and Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson are both getting Christmas specials. Not to be outdone, Jordin Sparks made a trip to London to drop in on the radio show "BBC One Live Lounge" to talk about touring with Britney Spears and her relationship with Simon Cowell. Though he doesn't have the "American Idol" judge's phone number, she did steal his car once. "I don't remember how that really worked out, but we were leaving dinner and there was a car sitting out there and it was Simon's driver," she said. "I was like, 'This is awesome!'"

Sparks wasn't the only star enjoying some international exposure yesterday. In support of her new album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, Mariah Carey attended a press conference in Seoul, South Korea. Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake continued his extended stay in Las Vegas (which might as well be its own sovereign nation) for more charity golf events. Click here for these photos plus the entire "Spotted!" archive, which features over 300 candid shots of Britney Spears, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, the Backstreet Boys, the Jonas Brothers and the casts of "New Moon" and "Gossip Girl"!

It seems like the music world is only just recovering from the MTV Video Music Awards, but it's already time to move on to the next huge event on the calendar. Tonight, VH1 brings back "Divas," which will air live from the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York, tonight at 9 p.m. ET. The show will feature performances from next-gen divas Leona Lewis, Adele, Jennifer Hudson, Miley Cyrus, Jordin Sparks and Kelly Clarkson. But the entire show may be hijacked by host Paula Abdul, who will be taking part in her first television show since her departure from "American Idol." In the show's history, "Divas" has featured just about every huge female name in music, from Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Tina Turner, Cher, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige and Beyoncé. But just about every year has one dominant diva, a single lady who sets herself apart from the rest of the pack. Who will stand slightly taller at tonight's show? Will Jennifer Hudson reign supreme or will Kelly Clarkson declare herself queen? Will Miley Cyrus elevate herself to diva status or will Jordin Sparks rise above?

Because there are so many diva experts in the MTV Newsroom, we decided to pass the microphone around the office and get everybody's thoughts on who their favorite diva is.

The fantastically unscientific results are in, and Clarkson narrowly gets the nod with 29 percent, but she has Miley Cyrus nipping at her heels with 26 percent. But looking down the list, there's also a healthy contingent who think Abdul could steal the whole show.

I popped my Britney Spears concert cherry last night at Madison Square Garden, and it was a one-night stand I won't regret.

"But Jim," you ask, "how the hell did a pop culture fanatic like you go 27 years without seeing Britney perform live?" I dunno. I guess I never had the urge to pony up the $8 million needed to catch a Britney show. (I kid. Ticket prices are less than that. Slightly.) Plus, I was never a diehard fan of Britney's music. Don't get me wrong: I always dug her as a pop culture force, and the hoopla around her and her career has been fascinating to me since day one. I just can't say I have ever purchased a Britney song on iTunes.

Not to mention that Britney has a reputation for not always singing live at her concerts. Why would I want to pay money to see someone lip-synch for two hours? I'll save my money for the next time Grizzly Bear is in town. Now that's a concert.

But given all the "She's back!" buzz surrounding the Circus tour, I jumped at the chance to check out her first of three nights at Madison Square Garden. "If I'm gonna see Britney, now's the time to do it," I told myself during another one-sided conversation. She's a total underdog that you can't stop rooting for, and I was curious to see if she's really "back."

Let me echo the sentiments of her fans, folks. Yep, she's baaaaaaack! And I had the time of my life at her concert.

Here are five more things that totally surprised me about the "Circus" tour.

» Jordin Sparks = Force To Be Reckoned With
Jordin Sparks debuted on the Circus tour last night, and she came out like she owned the place. The girl has more bona fide smash hits than some artists twice her age, and she flaunted each and every one of them during her tight opening set. MSG lit up with camera flashes the instant Ms. Sparks appeared on stage (wearing a sick-looking feather skirt) to sing "One Step at a Time." The crowd was less enthusiastic about the pair of newer album deep cuts she tossed into the set (girl's gotta sell her new record!), but once she finished with a one-two-three punch of "Battlefield," "Tattoo" and "No Air," the room was bouncing and singing in unison. It didn't hurt that Sparks sounded spectacular live, even with her ear monitor flying off two songs in. She is a fantastic addition to the Circus tour.

» Just Because You Have No Legs Doesn't Mean You Can't Jump On A Trampoline Read more...

Britney Spears is ready to get her "Circus" tour back on the road, and she's not afraid to remind everybody. After adding Jordin Sparks as her opening act and taking a few days off to hang out by various pools, Spears visited her old pal David Letterman (via pre-tape) to deliver the nightly "Top 10" list. Clad in a bikini (again!), a flower in her hair and seated atop a desk, Spears read off the "Top 10 Ways The Country Would Be Different If Britney Spears Were President." The lineup included a handful of excellent suggestions, including "We would only invade fun places like Cabo," "Free pie for everyone" and "I'd be the first President to wear eye shadow since Nixon."

Letterman seemed amused by Spears' performance, regularly commenting on her shifts from right leg to left leg and chuckling along with her inflection. The biggest crowd reaction came when Spears hit number four, which suggested that "America might have a more coherent fiscal strategy." And we're ready to endorse another one of her suggestions as soon as possible: "Three words: Vice President Diddy."

After a triumphant run through Europe, Spears has taken the last week to chill out and loosen up before she heads to Canada on Thursday for the start of her next tour leg. She'll be tested early, as next week she takes her show to New York for three shows at Madison Square Garden. Her late summer triumphs have already begun, as she was by far the highlight of Letterman's show, which also featured Donald Trump, actress Diane Kruger and country music star Billy Currington.

Every day a multitude of stars wanders through the halls of MTV News to talk about their latest projects and goof around with staff members. But sometimes we catch stars elsewhere, and that's why we put together Spotted!, a daily compendium of stars in the wild.

Having just announced that Jordin Sparks will be joining her on her incredibly successful "Circus" tour, Britney Spears paid a visit to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Marina Del-Ray, California, for a little fun in the sun with her son. Spears and offspring Jayden James (he'll turn three years old in September) tossed on their bathing suits and chilled poolside for a little while. She's enjoying a little downtime from her jaunt across the world before starting back up again in Canada on Thursday. From there, she hits Madison Square Garden in New York and crosses North America again before heading to Australia in November. No doubt she'll hit up plenty of hotel pools along the way.

(Click here for more Spotted! photos, including shots of Justin Timberlake, the Jonas Brothers, Beyoncé and more!)

Spears isn't the only star playing it casual over the weekend. In today's "Spotted!" update, Charlize Theron takes her dogs for a walk, Matthew McConaughey hits the beach for a jog and Jennifer Garner spends some quality time with her daughter Violet. Click here for those and other photos, including Justin Timberlake on a motorcycle, the family Cruise, Kourtney Kardashian and the Jonas Brothers.

Before rock critics start harassing me in the comments, hear me out.

Both Brooke and Elvis had infamous false starts on live television. Elvis freaked out NBC execs when he sang a few bars of "Less Than Zero" before ripping into "Radio Radio" on "Saturday Night Live" in 1977. Meanwhile, Brooke re-started "You Must Love Me" after having a brain fart over the lyrics on Andrew Lloyd Webber night.

Both Brooke and Elvis also love wearing hats. And both Brooke and Elvis released singles called "Radio Radio."

But don't assume Brooke's "Radio Radio" is a cover, kids. ("Idol" singers don't just do karaoke! I swear!) As Brooke White told us this week, the only thing her "Radio Radio" shares with Costello's is the title.

Ironically, this "Idol" title mix-up isn't the only one.

Brooke's first post-"Idol" album, High Hopes and Heartbreaks (out this week) also includes a song called "Hold Up My Heart," a name that's strikingly similar to another season seven "Idol" contestant's release, Michael Johns' "Hold Back My Heart." (Both Johns' and White's albums were produced by the same dude, Dave Cobb. Brooke swears it was just one of those happy accidents.)

But wait, there's more! Jordin Sparks' Battlefield also hit stores this week, just as her co-star Blake Lewis' new single "So Sad" debuted. The first line of his song? "Waking up in a battlefield."

[Slaps forehead!]

What's the problem, Idols?! Do producers hand you all the same thesaurus right after you watch your "America Hates You" montage on the elimination show? It's bad enough that the final "Idol" victory songs all sound the same. Let's try and keep the confusion down to a minimum post-Seacrest, okay?

(In all seriousness, though, Brooke White's new album is a fantastic throw-back to '70s singer-songwriters. And while she doesn't cover Elvis Costello, she does do a gorgeous rendition of the Kings of Leon tune "Use Somebody.")

By Selina Kaye

Today I sat in on an interview with former "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks. The first thing I noticed was the girl had a fierce sense of style: She was wearing a very cute casual jean dress from H&M. She dressed it up with a leopard print sweater and sky high heels. Her hair was done perfectly with long spiraling curls.

I am such a huge fan that I had to ask for a photo. After we took the picture, it made my day when she complimented me on my Michael Jackson tribute t-shirt! She asked where I got one from and said she wanted to get the same one. Ms. Sparks, who is only 19 years old but mature and professional beyond her years, was about 6 inches taller than me — and I was wearing heels!

She was so sweet to everyone and talked in depth about her new CD and upcoming tour with the Jonas Brothers. MTV News' Jim Cantiello will have more from Sparks all this week, so stay tuned to MTV News for more about her post-"Idol" career. One thing is for sure: I was deeply impressed by Sparks, who kept her positive energy up and seemed genuinely excited to be visiting the Newsroom. She had great things to say about last year's VMAs and said she was very much looking forward to this year's version.

"American Idol" isn't currently on the air (new episodes won't return until January 2010), but there is plenty of intrigue surrounding the show. Ryan Seacrest and Paula Abdul have both been working on their contracts, the summer auditions have wrapped up and the live tour is underway. This week sees a strange confluence of "Idol" album news, as Jordin Sparks and Brooke White both released albums yesterday and Daughtry finds his new album at the top of the album chart today. It's an interesting little three-way showdown, as it pits the soulful diva, the introspective singer-songwriter and the edgy arena rocker against each other. But of those three diverse albums, which one will reign supreme?

We hit the streets to ask: Between Sparks, Daughtry and White, which former "American Idol" contestant will have the finest album?

The (highly unscientific) results reveal that an overwhelming number of people we polled — 97%, in fact — believe that Jordin Sparks stands tall over the current competition among "Idol" veterans. Daughtry picked up 3%, and poor Brooke White came up with a goose egg. Sparks' single "Battlefield" has done very well, Daughtry has already proven himself as a sales force and White has done well maintaining a following in her post-"Idol" life. But only popular opinion and sales figures will decide who is left standing on top.

It just so happens that Sparks stopped by the MTV Newsroom today, so stay tuned for reports from that visit — as well as news on Daughtry and Brooke White — at MTV News.

What do you think: Will Jordin Sparks shine brightest, will Brooke White sneak up from behind or will Daughtry remain on top? Leave your thoughts in the comments or head over to Your.MTV.com to make your voice heard!