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Cheryl Cole: National TV Awards Winner

Gearing up for a glamourous evening, Cheryl Cole was spotted at the National Television Awards in London last night (January 26).

The Girls Aloud singer arrived at the O2 Arena looking fabulous in a below-the-knee black dress with side cutouts and red heels.

Later on in the evening, Cheryl was joined onstage by Simon Cowell as they accepted the Most Popular Talent Show award.

?X Factor? champ Matt Cardle and presenter Dermot O?Leary also made their way to the front to celebrate the honor.

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Nicki Minaj Gets 'Romantic' With Drake In 'Moment 4 Life' Video

Don't miss video's premiere Thursday at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by a live interview with Minaj.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway


Nicki Minaj
Photo: MTV News & Docs

First Nicki Minaj and Drake got married. Then they got divorced. After that, Drake claimed he wrote his "Un-Thinkable" verse about Nicki. And now, the two Lil Wayne protégés will star in Nicki's "Moment 4 Life" video, premiering Thursday at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV followed by a live interview with Minaj herself.

The question on everyone's minds now is: Will the sparks fly between the two in the clip?

"People have come to be intrigued about us," Minaj told MTV News from the video's Los Angeles set. "And we're shooting the video together, so I was like, 'There has to be some kind of romantic story line.' So we put a few things in there that we don't give away."

Perhaps the pair will smooch again? During her December concert in New York, Drake made a guest appearance and surprised fans when he planted one on the "Right Thru Me" raptress. Photos of the alleged kiss popped up everywhere afterward, but Drake sported a hooded jacket that concealed his and Nicki's faces when they drew close.

According to Nicki, she and Drake are just friends, which she insists often despite his flirty responses in interviews. "This is someone that I'm gonna hit on the [phone] later today, like, 'What's up,' " she said. "It's a family affair when it's Drake."

Drizzy, on the other hand, has always had something different to say.

"It is [about Minaj], I'm not gonna lie," Drake explained when asked about his verse on Alicia Keys' "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" last year. "The concept came from a conversation that we had, or conversations we have. I wrote it based off two things: Number one, based off that, and then two, based off Alicia and Swizz and their situation, and it just seemed fitting. It was like the perfect concept."

Don't miss the premiere of Nicki Minaj's "Moment 4 Life" video, featuring Drake, Thursday at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by a live interview with the Young Money femcee that will continue on MTV.com. If you have questions for Minaj, tweet them with the hashtag #asknicki or upload a video question to Your.MTV.com.

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Ronald Isley, Anita Baker Honored At Soul Train Awards

Rihanna, Eminem, Usher, B.o.B, Alicia Keys among winners at event celebrating 40th anniversary of classic music show.
By Joel Hanek and Gil Kaufman


Anita Baker at the 2010 Soul Train Awards
Photo: Moses Robinson/ Getty Images

Only at the Soul Train Awards could you have a tribute to R&B icons such as Anita Baker and Ronald Isley alongside a segment in which rap legend Doug E. Fresh attempts to teach CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer how to do the Dougie.

It was that kind of night at the 2010 Soul Train Awards, as rookies, veterans and legends came together in Atlanta for the second annual event — which was taped November 10 and aired Sunday night on BET. The show, hosted once again by Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, featured a night of performances from some of the biggest names in soul and R&B.

Host Howard told MTV News that the show is meant to be an extension of the long-running and legendary '70s TV series that brought soul, disco, R&B and rap stars into viewers' living rooms. "It reminds me of the advancement black people have made over the years because 'Soul Train' really was the beginning of that Black Power movement when we could actually see ourselves — and to have an awards show based upon that 'Soul Train' — it's headed somewhere," Howard said. "We have a black president now. The country seems to be more tolerant towards the diversity inside of it so it seems like the train is moving well down the tracks."

The awards show marked the 40th anniversary of the classic music showcase hosted by Don Cornelius, and celebrated the careers of Baker and Isley, while handing out trophies to such contemporary stars as B.o.B (Song of the Year for "Nothing on You"), Melanie Fiona (Best New Artist), Eminem and Rihanna (Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year for "Love the Way You Lie"), Usher (Album of the Year for Raymond vs. Raymond) and Alicia Keys (Record of the Year for "Unthinkable [I'm Ready]" and Best Female R&B Soul Artist).

Though top winners such as Trey Songz, Usher, Ciara, Eminem and Rihanna were not in the house, Blitzer graciously agreed to accept Slim Shady's award for him, joking, "Who better to accept this award on behalf of Eminem ... I know he's thrilled."

Weaving through a series of skits involving magic tricks and jovial bickering by the hosts, the performance-heavy program delivered on talent. R. Kelly opened by teasing the crowd with his classic "Bump n' Grind," then diving into his new single "When a Woman Loves" — transforming the song from a slow jam into an all-out '50s rock-and-roll epic. Ne-Yo kept the show moving with a showcase of his singles from this year, including "Champagne Life" and "One in a Million."

The tribute to Baker featured an all-star cast, with artists like Chrisette Michele, Goapele, Lalah Hathaway, Dionne Farris, Kem, Tamia, Faith Evans and El DeBarge covering a medley of the singer's greatest hits. Baker told the crowd that the biggest honor of the night for her was that real musicians were performing live with an actual band. "It's amazing because you've got children behind you singing 'Rapture' — it's lovely," she said, adding, "Let's do it again!"

Ronald Isley, co-founder and lead singer of the Isley Brothers, also received a special homage that featured Jeffrey Osborne, Freddy Jackson, DeBarge, Tank, Eric Benet, Bilal and Peabo Bryson. Isley also came out to perform his own medley of hits and was joined onstage by Chanté Moore and R. Kelly for a rendition of "Contagious," their 2002 single that featured the Isleys. In addition, Cee Lo Green closed the show with a duet on the Isleys' classic 1959 hit, "Shout."

Among the event's other highlights was Cee Lo's performance of his smash "Forget You," which took place on a golden stage that resembled a cross between Kanye's Egyptian fusion and an OK Go video, and found the singer gliding down conveyor belts while belting his number.

Erykah Badu delivered a stripped-down version of her 2010 breakout "Window Seat" that featured the singer perched on the floor over a web of lights while appearing to orchestrate the vibrations of light flickers with her hands.

Soul singer Eric Benet performed "Sometimes a Cry" — a song that Lil Wayne cited as one of his favorites while in prison — bringing down the house with a soaring falsetto that bested his studio rendition of the track.

The evening's other performers included Bruno Mars, who sang his new hit "Grenade," and Jazmine Sullivan, who did a medley of "10 Seconds" and "Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)."

Did you watch the 2010 Soul Train Awards? Tell us about your favorite highlights in the comments.

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Bunny faces and Canto-pop ensure we won't be bored during Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

chinese new year in Hong Kong

While those who can afford the time and money abandon Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year holiday, the rest of us can revel in the peace and quiet -- or join the crowds at these major events.

January 28: Market mania

Whatever your wish may be for the lunar new year, it can be symbolized by a beautiful, fragrant, fruit-bearing plant. Buy these at the numerous flower markets that open annually for the Chinese New Year rush.

Just remember the big three when picking species: peach blossoms for romance and longevity, kumquats for luck, narcissus for prosperity.

About 14 parks around Hong Kong will feature market stalls from January 28-February 2. They open from noon till midnight and go on until the wee hours of February 3.

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Penelope Cruz & Javier Bardem Welcome Baby!

[Story ID: 48252] They’ve been anxiously awaiting their first child’s arrival, and it’s being reported that Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem are officially proud parents! According to Spanish newspaper El Pais, the 36-year-old actress gave birth to her and Javier’s baby on Tuesday (January 25) at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, California. With no gender [...]

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