#FreeBritney: Judge dissolves Britney Spears guardianship

A Los Angeles judge on Friday terminated the controversial guardianship that has controlled pop star Britney Spears' life for the past 13 years, handing back her freedom along with control of multimillion-dollar estate.

The ruling, greeted with raucous cheers by Spears' fans outside the downtown courthouse, ends a conservatorship long overseen by her father, and which the "Toxic" singer has described as abusive.

"Effective today... the conservatorship of the person and estate of Britney Jean Spears is hereby terminated. And that is the order of the court," said Judge Brenda Penny.

The formal end to the guardianship comes after the pop princess' father Jamie Spears was removed from his position in charge of her finances and estate at a hearing in September.

Both sides reiterated their support for swiftly ending the guardianship at the start of Friday's brief hearing.

While denying he abused his position in control of his daughter's life and career, Jamie Spears recently acknowledged that Britney Spears "believes that she can handle her own life."

In dissolving the conservatorship, Judge Penny agreed to a caveat by which John Zabel— the accountant chosen by Spears' lawyers to replace her father— is granted by the court additional powers to manage her estate on her behalf.

Spears' estate is estimated to be worth $60 million, according to US media.

The professional conservator Jodie Montgomery was declared no longer responsible for decisions concerning Spears' person, although her lawyer told the judge she would continue to "be there" for "anything Miss Spears needs."

'Trauma'

Friday's hearing capped a years-long campaign by Spears and her legion of global fans to end a conservatorship that began after her highly public 2007 breakdown, when the star attacked a paparazzo's car at a gas station.

Judge Penny agreed with Spears' request for the arrangement to end without need for a mental evaluation— on the basis that "this was a voluntary conservatorship" and that "all parties agree."

"The court finds and determines that the conservatorship of the person and estate of Britney Jean Spears is no longer required," she ruled.

Spears had said through her lawyers that her father was "never fit to serve," citing in one petition allegations of his "reported alcoholism" and "trauma he caused his daughter since her childhood."

As momentum mounted, Spears said in a September filing that she wanted to end the guardianship as soon as possible so that she can marry her fiancé Sam Asghari with a prenuptial agreement.

Spears, who has two children with her former husband, the rapper Kevin Federline, has previously alleged in court that she was prevented by her father from having a contraceptive IUD removed, despite wanting more children. Jamie Spears denied the allegation.

'Free Britney' 

Spears did not address the court Friday via telephone as she did earlier this summer, although her mother and father both dialled in.

Supporters organized a "Termination Rally" Friday, with a so-called "Freedom Party" to follow across town in West Hollywood.

Stoking excitement further, Asghari posted an Instagram video late Thursday with himself and Spears wearing matching "Free Britney" T-shirts.

"It's a human rights movement," reads the slogan on Spears' top, referring to the alleged abused of the conservatorship system.

"It sucks that it had to come to this point, that she has to be the face of all of this," said supporter Sandra Hernandez, 30, outside the courthouse.

"She is going to be the change on a grand scale— it happens every day behind closed doors, and nobody even knows."

Agence France-Presse

Beyonce storms VMAs, Rihanna gets lifetime award

NEW YORK -- Beyonce dominated the MTV Video Music awards on Sunday, prowling the stage with a 15-minute medley from her powerful "Lemonade" album and taking home eight statuettes, including the top prize - video of the year.

On a night when women ruled, Britney Spears returned to the VMA stage for the first time in a decade, and Rihanna performed four times to mark her lifetime achievement award.

Beyonce brought the house down at New York's Madison Square Garden, stringing together five of her "Lemonade" album tracks about betrayal, revenge and female empowerment in a song and dance routine that brought a long standing ovation.

VMA organizers had announced only three hours before Sunday's show began that Beyonce would perform. The singer arrived on the red carpet accompanied by the mothers of three African-American men who have died at the hands of U.S. police in the past two years.

Her politically charged "Formation" beat Adele's 2015 comeback single "Hello," Drake's "Hotline Bling," Justin Bieber's "Sorry" and Kanye West's sleeping nude celebrity look-alikes in "Famous" for video of the year.

She also won best female video and prizes for choreography, editing, and long form video in the awards that are voted on by fans.

Where Beyonce was angry and bold, Spears, 34, dressed in a sparkly gold leotard and matching over the knee boots was slinky retro pop. It was the "Toxic" singer's first time on the VMA stage since her humiliating 2007 performance when her personal and professional life was falling apart, and follows the release of a new album last week.

Rihanna, 28, sang 13 of the biggest hits in her 13-year career, including "Rude Girl," "Diamonds" and "Only Girl in the World." She was presented with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award by Canadian rapper Drake - with whom she has often been romantically linked.

"She's someone I've been in love with since I was 22 years old. She's one of my best friends in the world. All my adult life, I've looked up to her even though she's younger than me," said Drake.

Fifth Harmony, the five-girl group that won TV talent show "The X Factor," took home two "Moonman" awards.

Kanye West, who has often hijacked the live VMA show, presented a new video for his single "Fade." West preceded the video with a rambling, improvised speech that touched on poverty, his wife Kim Kardashian, his long-running feud with Taylor Swift, and violence in black neighborhoods.

"We are undeniably the influencers, the thought leaders," he said, before screening what he called a "piece of my art."

Many of pop music's biggest names, including Justin Bieber, Britain's Adele and Taylor Swift were absent on Sunday.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Madonna, Kesha, Dion rule the stage at emotional Billboard Awards

Madonna paid tribute to Prince, Kesha earned a standing ovation for her stirring rendition of "It Ain't Me, Babe" honoring Bob Dylan, and Celine Dion dedicated her Icon award to her late husband at Sunday night's emotion-packed Billboard Music Awards.

The three-hour live telecast from Las Vegas stuck to its tradition of a performance-heavy annual show featuring top recording stars in spectacular production numbers.

Britney Spears kicked things off, dazzling in a daring red outfit for a medley of her hits.

Canadian singer The Weeknd dedicated the first award to Prince, the Grammy-winning pop superstar best known for such hits as "Purple Rain" and "Let's Go Crazy," who died at his Minnesota home in April aged 57.

"I want to dedicate this award to the late great Prince," The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye), said in accepting the Top Hot 100 Artist award.

Madonna ended the show with a Prince tribute that included "Nothing Compares 2 U," before she was joined by Stevie Wonder for "Purple Rain" as the audience rose to its feet, arms gently swaying above their heads and singing along.

Earlier, Kesha delivered an emotional rendition of Dylan's classic in a much-anticipated performance that was nearly canceled by her label in a legal dispute.

Kemosabe Records relented, saying Kesha had assured them she would not use her time as a platform to address her failed legal bid against Sony Corp's Sony Music and producer Dr. Luke. Kemosabe, founded by Dr. Luke, is a unit of Sony Music. The singer stood by her word.

While several awards were handed out during the show, including to British singer Adele who won the big prize, top artist and accepted via a video segment, it was performances by the likes of Ariana Grande, Dion, and Rihanna that ruled.

Dion, making her first televised singing performance since the death of her husband, Rene Angelil, tearfully accepted the Icon Award for lifetime achievement, which in a surprise was presented by her son, Rene-Charles.

"I'm so sorry, I don't want to cry in front of you," Dion told the audience. She ended by holding her award aloft and declaring, "Rene, this one's for you, the show must go on," echoing the title of the Queen song she had just performed.

Other top prizes went to Rihanna in the fan-voted chart achievement award, Justin Bieber for top male artist, Adele for both top female artist and Billboard 200 album, and The Weeknd for R & B song "The Hills." (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb and Chris Michaud; Editing by Chris Reese, Robert Birsel and Paul Tait)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Not just Miley: 10 other scene-stealing looks at VMAs

The many outrageous outfits of singer Miley Cyrus during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards may have been the talk of the town, but many other celebrities also put up a good show with their scene-stealing looks.

Here are 10 other memorable outfits – from the stylish to the scandalous – in this year’s VMAs.

Mobile users can view the desktop version of the slideshow here.

 

Singer Britney Spears

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

IN PHOTOS: Taylor, JLo, Britney hit Billboard red carpet

Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Iggy Azalea, Britney Spears and many other big stars in music and beyond rocked the red carpet at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday night (Monday morning in Manila).

Swift dominated this year’s awards after winning Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album (for “1989”), Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Digital Songs Artist, Top Streaming Song – Video (for “Shake It Off”), and the fan-voted Billboard Chart Achievement Award.

Other big winners include Sam Smith (Top Male Artist, Top New Artist and Top Radio Songs Artist), Iggy Azalea (Top Rap Song for “Fancy,” Top Streaming Artist and Top Rap Artist), One Direction (Top Touring Artist and Top Duo/Group), Pharrell Williams (Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Song for “Happy” and Top R&B Album for “G I R L”), John Legend (Top Radio Song and Top Streaming Song – Audio for “All of Me”) and Hozier (Top Rock Artist and Top Rock Song for “Take Me to Church”).

Here’s a glimpse of the red carpet looks at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. Which one is your favorite?

Mobile users can view the desktop version of the slideshow here.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Paula Abdul Offers X Factor Advice for "Very Sweet" Britney Spears and Demi Lovato

Britney Spears and Demi Lovato may have already had their first day as The X Factor's newest judges, but there are still some things they could learn about being reality TV mentors.

At least that's according to Paula Abdul, who previously filled a seat on The X Factor panel alongside Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid.

READ: Britney Spears' First Day at X Factor—Did She Really Leave Early?

"Live television is just that," Abdul told us at last night's Lupus L.A. Orange Ball at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. "You have to go with the flow, speak your mind, and just remember millions of people are watching."

"I think they're going to be fantastic," Abdul said about Spears and Lovato as judges on the show. She added that Spears seems "lovely" and "very sweet," adding, "Demi seems sweet as well."

When we asked if she'll watch this season of The X Factor, the 49-year-old said, "I'm a fan. I'm a fan of all of these shows. My humble beginnings have always been mentoring and helping other people."

So with Jennifer Lopez possibly leaving American Idol, would Abdul ever return to TV and a singing competition judge?

She laughed, "That's a question I've never even thought about."

PHOTOS: 2012 American Idol Finale

source: eonline.com

Britney Spears- New York Bound For 'X-Factor'

Britney Spears is set to make a big splash Monday by personally appearing at the FOX Up Fronts in New York City for the announcement that she will be joining "X Factor."

As we reported, as of Friday AM the deal was NOT signed, contrary to various reports. There were some fairly minor issues that still needed resolving and both sides were hoping to finalize it by end of day Friday or over the weekend.

Britney will not sign the deal because she's under a conservatorship -- Co-conservators Jamie Spears and Jason Trawick will do the honors.

Our sources say ... Britney and FOX both think a personal appearance is essential in creating buzz
for the show.

source: TMZ