MTV Newsroom › John Mitchell

Mark Wahlberg Is Heading Back To School – Here Are Four Other High School Dropouts Who Earned Their Diplomas

Posted 6/13/12 2:07 pm EST by in Jessica Simpson, Mark Wahlberg, Movies, Pink

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg is a pretty successful guy. At 41, he has an Oscar nomination, five hundred million-plus grossing blockbusters and a slew of other critical and box office hits under his buff belt. What he doesn't have is a high school diploma, but the father of four is looking to set an example and is returning to school to get his high school diploma.

The actor dropped out of school in the ninth grade, and on "The Late Show with David Letterman" last night announced that he's going back to high school beginning later this month. Wahlberg will complete his education courtesy of a new online program.

"It's an actual diploma," Wahlberg told Letterman. "I've got to take up all the courses that I missed, and I'm a little nervous. … They're going to give me whatever credits I already have, which is probably like one or two. But I'm going to make it happen."

Wahlberg's announcement is no doubt linked to his involvement with Taco Bell’s Graduate-To-Go program as an ambassador. The actor has been involved with the program, which seeks to help at-risk teens graduate high school, for three years.

"Participating in this campaign with Mona [a student helped by the program] inspired me, and I hope it will inspire others to help teens like her achieve greatness against all odds," Wahlberg said in a recent press release announcing his continued involvement.

He told Letterman that he has "a lot of downtime on sets in the trailer and stuff," so he hopes to "blast through [his course work]—hopefully do it within six to eight months."

Wahlberg isn't the only celebrity who, despite fame and fortune, has put a premium on education, seeking out their high school diploma or GED after dropping out of school for one reason or another.

Check out four more after the jump!

Read More...

Tags , , ,

The Strokes Reportedly Working On Fifth Studio Album

Posted 6/12/12 5:54 pm EST by in the-strokes

The Strokes

Billboard is reporting that The Strokes are in the studio working on their follow-up to 2011's Angels.

Gus Oberg, who also worked on parts of Angles as well as guitarist Albert Hammond Jr.'s 2008 solo album Como Te Llama?, is reportedly producing the effort, with the band logging time recently at New York's Electric Lady Studios.

Billboard notes that the album would likely be The Strokes' last under their current contract with longtime label home RCA Records.

The band has been more active in recent years than they had been throughout much of their career. Angles was the band's first album since 2006's First Impressions of Earth and they toured heavily in support of the set, including several stops at major festivals like Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits Music Festival and headlining slots at Coachella in 2011 and Spain's Festival Internacional de Benicàssim, where Nikolai Fraiture revealed to NME that they never really stopped recording entirely after the Angels sessions.

"We already went back in a little bit. Every time we have a couple weeks off we try to get back into the studio and just try to work on things as they progress and not leave them alone too long," Fraiture told NME last summer. "I don't think it's urgent in the way that we feel forced, but I think it's urgent in the way that we really want to work on the music and get it out there and continue with the momentum that we've been able to rebuild up to now."

Watch:

Tags

One Direction Tease Video Project, Need Your Help

Posted 6/12/12 4:29 pm EST by in boy bands, Tweet Beat

One Direction

One Direction are planning a little something special for fans and took to Twitter to reveal their plans … and ask their fans to get in on the action.

The "What Makes You Beautiful" stars (or a representative for them, based on the language of the tweet) told their 4.3 million followers, "We will be filming some special video content with the boys whilst they are over in the US … And will be asking them a selection of your best questions! Tweet us with the hashtag #Ask1D 1DHQ x"

In other 1D news, fans looking to get romantical with member Harry Styles need not get their knickers (we're British now too) in a twist over rumors that he has a little somethin'-somethin' going on with 32-year-old talk show host Caroline Frack. Apparently, their relationship was purely physical!

"I asked him what it was like with a woman that much older. He said it was weird but more physical than anything he’d experienced before," Harry's bro Will Sweeney told The People (via Hollywood Life). "He definitely enjoyed his time with Caroline but the age gap was too much, I think. Harry is just making the most of it and living every boy’s dream. All his mates think he’s a bit of a legend though. It’s classic Styles. He definitely enjoys the attention and he’s making the most of it."

A "legend" with the ladies at just 18 years old. Impressive!

One Direction's U.S. tour continues tomorrow night (June 13) at the San Jose's Events Center before they head to Oakland, California, for a show on June 14.

What do you think One Direction's secret video project could be? Let us know int he comments below!

Tags ,

Rihanna Is Hopping Mad At A British Tabloid Over Body Double Claims

Posted 6/12/12 2:38 pm EST by in Rihanna, Tweet Beat

Rihanna always hits Twitter hard and with no filter, so it's no surprise the pop superstar – who recently scored her 22nd top ten hit with "Where Have You Been" – went to her medium of choice to respond to a British tabloid's claim that a body double was used in her latest Armani jeans ad. And, as usual, she didn't hold back!

In the ad (after the jump), Rihanna's face and fantastic body are on full display as she writhes around on bed clad in underwear before getting up to hang up a telephone, slip on a pair of Armani jeans and head to the airport. (A steamy message in a mirror indicates she's to be there at 6.) Here is where the The Sun claims model Jahnassa Aicken's body was used, as Rihanna's face is out of the frame and all that is seen is a curvy, lingerie-clad backside pulling on jeans.

The Sun says the 27-year-old Irish model was booked by a Belfast-based agency to supplement the footage of Rihanna with close-ups of her cleavage and backside.

Rihanna's response was high on attitude but not particularly tasteful.

(We had to do a little censoring for the kiddies, but if you'd like to see her comment in full, it's here on her Twitter.)

We're not going to wade into the these waters too much further, except to say that we're not sure the famously fit woman with the below billboard in Times Square – the image of which Rihanna tweeted earlier today – would really need a body double.

Rihanna, Twitter

This isn't the only time Rihanna has recently hit out at a British tab for running less-than-flattering stories on her. On June 8, she tweeted an image from the Daily Mirror suggesting her hard partying has her "Ready for RIHab." Check out her response below!

Read More...

Tags ,

Ballad Master Celine Dion Slays Vegas With Cover Of Adele's 'Rolling in The Deep'

Posted 6/12/12 1:20 pm EST by in Adele, Covers

We already know Celine Dion can sing the pants off a ballad. The lady made bank, topped the charts and won a bunch of awards for one of the biggest ballads ever, "My Heart Will Go On" from "Titanic," and of all her top tens and chart-toppers, we'd say you can only really call one of them truly uptempo (that'd be "That's The Way It Is," which peaked at #6 in 2000).

(Who cares if "My Heart Will Go On" makes Kate Winslet sick!)

So it's no surprise that when she returned to the stage last night at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to resume her long-standing, hugely successful residency there, she introduced a new cover of a very popular contemporary ballad to her set list – Adele's "Rolling In The Deep."

She nails it, of course. "I love Adele so much, she's amazing," Dion to the crowd (via The Hollywood Reporter).

So what do you think, Adele fans? Did she do justice to your favorite diva? (We think she did.) Check it out below:

After the jump, check out our other favorite "Rolling In The Deep" cover from soul man John Legend. Let us know what you think of Dion's tribute in the comments below. Read More...

Tags , ,

Are Radiohead And Jack White Planning A Collaboration?

Posted 6/11/12 4:27 pm EST by in Music, Radiohead

Thom Yorke

Radiohead ruled Bonnaroo this weekend with a headlining set that drew heavily from their more recent albums King of Limbs and In Rainbows. During their performance of " Supercollider," the eccentric rockers gave their fans in the crowd even more reason to celebrate, as Thom Yorke dedicated the song to Jack White and appeared to hint that the two might have something in the works.

>> Radiohead Serve Up Another Legendary Bonnaroo Set

"This song is for Jack White," Yorke said, introducing "Supercollider." "We saw him yesterday. A big thank-you to him, but we can't tell you why. You'll find out."

No one is sure what Yorke was referring to, but fans are already frothing at the mouth over a potential collaboration.

White now lives in Nashville – the nearest major city to Manchester, Tenn., where the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is held annually – and has his Third Man Records based there … so, you know, they would have had easy access to a studio if they'd been so inclined before Radiohead hopped in a vehicle for the hour-plus drive to the festival grounds.

Radiohead continue their North American tour tonight in Auburn Hills, Michigan ahead of shows in New Jersey and Canada before heading to Italy to kick off the European leg of their world tour on June 30. In November, the band will head to New Zealand and Australia for a string of sold-out shows in Auckland, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

White heads to Europe himself on June 21 to headline his own tour of the continent.

Watch Foster the People, Aziz Ansari, Alabama Shakes, Yelawolf, Kendrick Lamar and more take MTV's Bonnaroo Quiz after the jump! Read More...

Tags , ,

Madonna On Nipple-Flashing: 'I Don't Like To Repeat Myself'

Posted 6/11/12 1:22 pm EST by in Madonna

Madonna caused quite the ruckus when she flashed her right breast during the the Istanbul, Turkey stop on her "MDNA Tour." It's nothing we haven't seen before – Her Madgesty published a coffee table photo book called "Sex" in 1992, after all – but it certainly has been a while. It was like being greeted by an old friend we haven't seen since high school!

The kerfuffle got us thinking about something we remember Madonna saying while she was out promoting her appearance at this year's Super Bowl.

We're big M fans, you see, and have a tendency to remember when she sits for a particularly fun interview, which was the case when she visited "The Tonight Show" back on January 30. She was in good spirits and was being more playful than usual when host Jay Leno asked her if there was anything the NFL had asked her not do during her performance.

"Well, for sure no nipples," Madonna joked. "I wasn't going to go there. I mean, I don't like to repeat myself … or do what other people have done before me."

We guess she was being Super Bowl specific. Check it out below (M talks nips at the 2:24 mark):

Tags

House Of Representatives To TSA: Beyonce's 'Not Going To Blow A Plane Up'

Posted 6/11/12 11:23 am EST by in Beyonce

Beyonce

Stars – they're just like us … except at the airport!

Anyone who has flown recently knows that it's pretty tough to get on an airplane. From pat downs to full-body scans, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) does what it thinks is necessary to ensure the safety of every person boarding a flight. And while that's a great thing in theory, in practice, a lot of people find the measures overly invasive, and it's landed the TSA a pretty poor public image – something a U.S. House of Representatives panel is looking to improve.

First up, stop patting down our nation's most treasured celebrities.

The House Homeland Security Transportation Subcommittee met late last week to offer the TSA advice on improving its image and its suggestions to make the agency more efficient – it regularly receives well over a thousand complaints a month, many regarding courtesy and wait times – included an initiative to implement a more risk-based approach to security focusing on passengers the TSA has less information about.

According to Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Transportation Subcommittee, that means giving famous faces a pass, and he used Queen Bey as a prime example.

"There are certain people that are just so well-known that you've just got to use your common sense," Rogers said. "Because if you start patting them down, people are going to say, 'They're patting down Beyonce.' I mean, she's not going to blow a plane up."

You see, "The American people are just really disgusted and outraged with the department that they see is bloated and inefficient," per Rogers – and the first thing they can do to change that is to get their paws off Beyonce's sequenced leotard!

We kid! We get what he's saying and agree to a point. Of course, Beyonce isn't going to blow up a plane and neither are a bunch of other well-known people, and letting them pass through would expedite the process for everyone. But his notion raises two very serious questions: is it wise to allow certain people through without checking them as thoroughly as others and where is the line drawn?

Let us know what you think about letting celebrities and other well-known public figures pass easily through airport security in the comments below!

Tags

Jimmy Fallon And The Roots Team Up With Carly Rae Jepsen Herself For The Ultimate 'Call Me Maybe' Cover (So Everyone Else Can Stop Now)

Posted 6/8/12 3:52 pm EST by in comedy, Music, Television

And of course it's sweet and perfect.

With Jepsen at his side, Fallon and his "Late Night" house band The Roots play a variety of children's instruments, including a multicolored xylophone, bongos, a tone block and tambourine with Jepsen handling triangle duties, as they harmonize away on the hit song.

While all the "Call Me Maybe" covers have been fun, the trend is getting a little played out, and it simply can't get any better than Fallon, Jepsen and the Roots' goofy and wonderful backstage performance. Hopefully we'll be able to look back on it as the best and last. Check it out below:

When Jepsen swung by the MTV Newsroom last month, the pop sensation revealed that she loves all the viral video love, which has come from the Harvard baseball team, the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders, and many many others. "I have seen a few. It's pretty rad that people are participating and making their own versions," she told MTV News. "It makes my day to see it."

As for Fallon the musician, we certainly haven't seen the last of him. He's bringing his charm to the Internet tonight (June 8 ) at 8 p.m. for a live 60-minute "YouTube Presents" concert, where he'll be performing songs from his cheeky new comedy album, Blow Your Pants Off, due out next week.

He will also answer questions from Twitter users who tweet @LateNightJimmy with the hashtag #AskJimmy, so get your questions ready!

Tags , ,

Is Christina Aguilera Set To Work With British Super Producers Xenomania On New Album?

Posted 6/8/12 2:08 pm EST by in Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera

If the ever-lovely Beth Ditto is to be believed, she may well be.

In a recent interview with Pop Justice, Ditto revealed that while she and her Gossip bandmates were in England recording at Xenomania Towers, the rural headquarters for super-producer Brian Higgins and his crew, they encountered a number of other musicians – but it's the one who wasn't there at the time but was planning on "coming in" that got us the most excited.

"Florrie was there, Annie was there. That’s when Nathan and I were there anyway. And there were some other people that I don’t remember. I think they were up and coming people," Ditto said when asked who was hanging around the studio. "But they were like, 'Oh in a week Christina Aguilera’s coming in,' and I was like 'please let me stay here.'"

Oh, really?

Aguilera talked up her new album during an April episode of her hit show "The Voice," telling Christina Milian, "I've been in the studio, hard at work. Different producers I'm working with have just excited me so much and have given me amazing tracks and beats and material I've been writing to and [with] writing partners. It's just filled with fun and excitement, and it's gonna come out later this year, and I'm very, very excited to share it with my fans, finally."

If one of the producers she mentioned does turn out to be Xenomania, Aguilera's fans should start getting excited. The British songwriting and production team, comprised mainly of Higgins and Miranda Cooper, have an affinity for radio friendly Europop and are revered in the UK for their work with some of the country's top acts, including Pet Shop Boys, The Saturdays, Sugababes and, in particular, Girls Aloud. They've also worked with Kylie Minogue, one of the world's biggest dance-pop superstars, and Higgins co-wrote Cher's international blockbuster "Believe."

It could be a marriage made in pop heaven – one of the best voices in mainstream music hitting the studio with producers renowned for making forward-thinking dance music that strays far enough off the well-worn path to be interesting but not so far that it won't find radio love. Sign us up, Xtina!

Tags

3456789101112
SPONSORS
AD:
©2013 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. MTV and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.