It sometimes seems like singer, producer and Auto-Tune aficionado T-Pain has been around a lot longer than he actually has. But his first music only came out back in 2005, and the guy is only 26 years old. He'll almost certainly be spending his birthday — which is today — in style, as it seems like every time we see him he's either hanging out in a strip club, buying ladies dranks or rolling up to awards shows on elephants. But what do you get a guy who has everything, including a "big ass chain," his own Auto-Tune-centric iPhone app and a fine collection of top hats?

Regardless, Pain hasn't slowed his output, as he's constantly appearing in videos, guesting on songs and working on his own album Revolver, which is expected late this year or early next. But if there's any one collaborator who should buy Pain a cupcake on his birthday today, it's Busta Rhymes. Pain guested on Busta's track "Hustler's Anthem '09," and it's one of the strongest songs from Rhymes' latest album Back on My B.S., which came out earlier this year. The track is hot, but the video is even hotter: A super-saturated Hype Williams joint that taps into Busta's classic court jester vibe. So blow out your candles, T-Pain, and be proud that if nothing else, you've brought Busta back to his technicolor greatness.

By Nicole Guanlao

If someone was to ask me how I would describe Colbie Caillat's music, I'd have to say her tunes ooze happiness. I love to be happy, so it's no wonder that I'm a huge fan of this blonde beauty's work. Admit it! You had "Bubbly" on repeat! Imagine my elation when I got to interview her and I realized that Colbie is actually just as sweet and nice as her music.

We talked about skydiving (she just recently jumped out of a plane) and the story about her tattoo (which looks like it was drawn on with crayons). The tiny flower symbolizes Coco, her debut album, while the larger one represents her follow-up record, Breakthrough (which drops today).

The highlight of the interview came when we talked about future collaborations. Colbie's team-up with the hat-wearing, guitar-strumming Jason Mraz on the single "Lucky" wasn't much of a surprise considering they share a laid-back, California-centric sound, but I was surprised to hear that the songstress' musical taste is more diverse than I originally thought. Fans would be surprised to know that she hopes to pull a Taylor Swift (a former collaborator on Swift's "Breathe") and work with a rapper next!

"The next collaboration I want to do is with a hip hop artist like Common or Pharrell Williams," she told me. "I love [Bone Thugs-N-Harmony] and Notorious B.I.G., so something like that where I can do the pretty melody — kind of like the Fugees and Black Eyed Peas."

It’s hard for me to see Colbie waving her hands in air like she's a true playa, but I have to admit that she's talented enough to pull it off.

Her new video for "Fallin' for You" has her frolicking on the beach with "Saturday Night Live" funnyman Bobby Moynihan, but upon hearing of her desire to work with a hip-hop artist, I couldn't help but swap Bobby out for T-Pain and visualize the rapper rolling around on the beach and surfing. Now that's a sight to see!

We got excited over the photos and made a wishlist, but the result was even better than we thought. On last night's CMT Music Awards, Taylor Swift and T-Pain opened the show with a pre-taped video for "Thug Story," a rap very reminiscent of the Natalie Portman rap from a few years ago. Swift identifies herself as "T-Swizzle" and makes boasts like "You can find me making cookies at night/You out clubbing? I just made caramel delights" and "You don't wanna fight me/In my extra-small white tees." Swift's mom even makes a cameo when she raps "I still live with my parents." Pain Auto-Tunes along with Swift, and even when the track breaks down at the end, he's still talking with pitch correction.

The T-Pain video appeared as part of the show's cold open, where Swift and host Bill Engvall talked about her dreams (which also included being in the new "Star Trek" movie and playing for the Tennessee Titans). She closed well, too: "Love Story" won both Female Video of the Year and Video of the Year.

Since the photos of her and T-Pain surfaced last week, Taylor Swift has stayed completely mum about what exactly she'll be doing on tonight's CMT Music Awards. We do know she'll take the stage with Def Leppard for one of their collaborations (possibly "Photograph," for which they are nominated for a video award) and that there will be some sort of reference to her playing football, but the T-Pain collaboration remains a mystery. We'll be tuning in tonight, but in the meantime, here are a few things we hope will happen.

(Click here for more photos of Taylor Swift, T-Pain, Kellie Pickler and others getting ready for the CMT Music Awards)

» Swift begins singing "Love Story," then gets interrupted by T-Pain, who storms the stage and remixes the song so he sings the chorus using Auto-Tune.

» T-Pain opens with an attempt at country music, perhaps trying his hand at a Toby Keith song. Swift interrupts him and tells him it's not nearly 'hood enough. She insists they break into Busta Rhymes' Hustlers Anthem '09, with Pain singing the chorus and Swift spitting Busta's verses.

» Def Leppard performs "Photograph" with Swift. Everything is the same sonically, but all the bandmembers are wearing big top hats and grills.

» T-Pain and Taylor Swift drive around in an Escalade, bumping the new 50 Cent mixtape. Neither of them perform, though they do cruise through a Sonic for a cherry limeade.

T-Pain's managers, Rocco Valdes and Mike Blumstein of Chase Entertainment, obviously know how to get that mullah. They got their start working in the studio at Slip-N-Slide Records with producer Jim Johnson. One day, the duo were in a parking lot and heard T-Pain's demo through record promoter T.J. Chapman and sought out the singer. Now, in addition to Pain, they help guide the careers of new artists A.B., Sophia Fresh, Young Cash and Sophia Del Carmen, as well as producers Catalyst, All-Star and Detail (who wrote and produced Ray J's "Sexy Can I"). One of their favorite places to break bread? Miami, of course. The pair tell us the spots in Miami that you can get some great business done.

Best Places in Miami to Cut a Deal
» Tootsie's: "Everyone knows Tootsie's," says Valdes. "I've been everywhere, and it's the best strip club in the United States. You take a client to Tootsie's and get a table and throw beautiful women over them all night, and the deal is done."

» Philippe at the Gansevoort South Hotel: "Good food and drinks and beautiful women," Blumstein advises. "It gives people a feel of Miami and is a great place to get someone drunk and negotiate better terms. This is for the more reserved clients."

» Nobu: "Can't go wrong with this spot because this is a lot of people's favorite restaurant," Valdes adds. "Easy deal closer."
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By Eric Ditzian

Okay, so check out that picture below of T-Pain and Taylor Swift. It is so undeniably spellbinding that my gut instinct is to simply tell you to stare at it and just walk away. But of course you're going to want details, so here you go: The photo comes from a rehearsal for the 2009 Country Music Television awards show in Nashville.

As you can see, the hip-hop star has introduced the country music star to the glories of hot cars, grillz and newly-minted big-ass chains. But what exactly is this unlikely duo rehearsing? Desperate for answers, I put in a call to CMT — which, like MTV, is owned by Viacom — hoping for insight.

As expected, the details are being closely guarded. All I was able to learn was that T-Pain and Swift's collaboration is rumored to take place during the show's opening segment.

But are they performing together? Have they collaborated on something new or will Swift croon the Lil Wayne verse of "Can't Believe It"? Will this be a pre-taped bit or will they appear together on stage? Alas, the answers to these questions — as well as whether Swift will win score on any of her four nominations — will have to wait until the CMT Music Awards air on Tuesday, June 16.

"American Idol" used to be so squeaky-clean with the guest appearances from middle-of-the-road acts like Neil Diamond, Rod Stewart, Tony Bennett, Martina McBride, Barry Gibb and Dolly Parton.

While their songs are fun for the whole family, the show dodged a bullet on Wednesday night when this week's mentor, Jamie Foxx, had to perform a foreshortened version of his ode to the pants-loosening effects of alcohol, "Blame It." See, after recent results shows on which Lady Gaga sang about bluffin' on her "muffin" and rapper Flo Rida paid tribute to strippers and/or oral sex with "Right Round," Foxx's song avoided controversy from edgy verses that might have inspired shouts of "ear muffs!" from parents across the country. Read more...

By Lindsay Wallace

MTV News caught up with the Barbados-born artist Shontelle just after her return from Japan's Spring Groove. The talent-filled show was a landmark in her very quick rise to stardom, as she performed with John Legend, T-Pain, Akon and TLC. This wasn't her first star-studded collaboration, however, as she has previously performed with both Akon and her fellow Barbados-born pop-star friend, Rihanna.

Her relationship with Rihanna began in Barbados, where they went to different schools but were involved in friendly competition in the cadets. She admits that her friend was especially influential on her in many ways since Rihanna made it in the music industry first. Her fellow former cadet, who she refers to as "Rih," gave her advice on the ins and outs of the music industry. "I definitely got a lot of tips from her," Shontelle said. "I tend to pay attention to successful artists and she's certainly one of the most successful artists in the last few years."
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Even if you've spent the past six months traveling with an actual circus, you are probably aware that Britney Spears' new album is called Circus and that it hits stores Tuesday.

You are probably also marginally aware that this is her big comeback record (again), and as such, she is back (or so say the legions of her disturbingly dedicated fans). Or that she is fierce and free and, of course, better than ever. And all of those things are fine and good and — to varying degrees — sort of true. But there is one thing you probably aren't aware of ... something shocking and, to be honest, sort of awful: Britney has started wearing a top hat in public. You know, just like a ringmaster. Because her album is called Circus. Get it?
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Me and Teddy P always have a good time. I have definitely grown to respect not just his work ethic but his talent. Pain has one of the best live shows in the business today, and you can't front on his songs. He keeps coming with the smash records. It's not just the Auto-Tune effect that's getting him over. He can write, and the boy knows melody.

It's great when you have an artist who's at the very top of his game, knocking out hit after hit, but still able to maintain his sense of humor. Pain always has jokes — I mean, look at those top hats! Whenever we have an interview, it's always loose (just check out the video where we helped him pick out the perfect VMA vehicle), and we never know which direction the talk will go. T-Pain stopped by the MTV newsroom recently to talk about putting an end to Auto-Tune, and his visit was as fun as always. We talked about everything, from my co-worker Whitney Benta hating on the fact that Teddy thanked me in the Thr33 Ringz album credits (What up, Roc!!!!!) to Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch to a special award he will be getting soon. Check out the tape here.