Blogamole ›

By Sharmaine Jones

Millions of football fans watched — and some even sang along — as Christina Aguilera belted out "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the start of Super Bowl XLV.

She looked great and sounded spectacular, hitting every note — until the fourth line of the first stanza. Instead of singing "O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming," Christina accidentally flubbed the words and sang, "What so proudly we watched at the twilight's last gleaming."

We've got to give it to her, she stumbled, but she didn't drop the ball. Aguilera found her place and remained poised and professional until the end of the song.

“I got so caught up in the moment of the song that I lost my place,” Aguilera said in a statement. “I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through."

Her pop peers didn't dwell on the drama. Fellow Super Bowl performer Will.i.am posted a picture and tweeted:

“Xtina sing'n wonderful”

The Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger posted on her Twitter:

“Lea M n X tina just killed it “sangin”! Sounded amazing here”

Jordin Sparks really hit the nail on the head, tweeting:

“The test of a true artist is continuing even when things go a little left & not letting ppl know it did during the performance. #ilovextina”

We couldn't have said it better ourselves.

What do you think of Aguilera's performance? Do you know the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner"?

Tags Christina Aguilera, Football, national anthem, Super Bowl XLV, The Star-Spangled Banner, Will.I.am

By Sharmaine Jones

Watch out Justin Bieber, Puerto Rican reggaeton star and preteen heartthrob Miguelito is building an empire.

The 12-year-old phenom has already recorded four albums (including his aptly titled album El Heredero) and collaborated with music sensations Divino, Tito “El Bambino” and Daddy Yankee. He became the youngest person to win a Latin Grammy at age 9.

Now, he's launching several branding partnerships — for a video game, hair gel, a line of party goods, a cruise, a summer camp and even a film with him as the protagonist.

His clothing line Heir, which has sold more than 3.5 million pieces through the Puerto Rican Me Salvé retail chain, will be expanded to include a line of baby clothes. And niños y niñas can now add the finishing touches to their looks with Miguelito hair gel, specially designed for kids by maker Xtreme Gel.

The video game “Miguelito's Time Traveler,” designed by Global Games Entertainment for kids ages 5 to 11, takes players on a journey through space and time to save the world using Miguelito's likeness. The game is set to hit stores in May.

"I never imagined that I'd be in a video game, but I was really moved that they would make a video game with my face, my image," Miguelito told masreggaetonflow.com. "[The child that appears in the animation] is exactly like I was at that age...."

In a partnership with Dinax Corporation, Miguelito is launching a line of party goods including cups, plates, napkins, piñatas, banners, invitations and balloons.

Puerto Rico's Moisty Skate and Park waterpark will hold a Miguelito-themed summer camp in June and July, featuring a Miguelito concert at the end of the season. Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas will feature a nine-day, eight-night Caribbean Christmas Cruise in December, also featuring a performance by the young reggaeton artist.

As if that weren't enough, Miguelito is also set to star in — and produce the soundtrack for — his first film, "Nadie Sabe Lo Que Tiene," written and directed by David Impelluso and Virginia Romero.

So, while The Biebs may have his own doll, Miguelito's likeness will soon be appearing on everything from clothing to hair gel to party supplies to vacation destinations.

What do you think of Miguelito's new endeavors? Tell us in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Dinax Corp., El Heredero, Heir, HEIRS, Latin Grammy, Miguelito, Miguelito's Time Traveler, Reggaeton

By Michael Lopez

It’s hard to believe it's already February, a month dedicated to celebrating love, Lincoln's birthday and African-American achievement. In honor of Black History Month, we wanted to recognize a few of our favorite Afro-Latinos.

Carmelo Anthony: We're actually giving double points to Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony. Not only is he Afro-Latino, but so is his wife La La Vazquez! Born to a Puerto Rican father and an African-American mother, Carmelo's a superstar on and off the court. We already know how much Denver fans love him, but his contributions stretch way beyond that city. In his hometown of Baltimore, Anthony has donated millions of dollars to help build youth centers for underprivileged children.

Alex Cuba: Born Alex Puentes on the island of Cuba, this is one artist you want on your radar. Whether he’s engaging us with insightful interviews, wailing on the electric guitar or picking up Latin Grammys, Alex is destined for musical stardom. His 2009 Alex Cuba album is a must for any fan of Latin, jazz, funk or African rhythms.

Christina Milian: Milian was actually born Christina Flores to Afro-Cuban parents. A talented singer, actress, dancer and model, Christina has been a Tr3s fave for years. This year she's expected to bring her fourth studio album, which may include some emotional lyrics about her breakup with The-Dream. But aside from all of that, Milian is a great role model for young Afro-Latinas, lending her time and name to such causes as Children Uniting Nations.

Tatyana Ali: Many people were surprised to find out that Tatyana was half Panamanian. For six seasons she played African-American Ashley Banks on Will Smith's The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air show, before branching out into a successful R & B career. She’s also a Harvard grad and a recurring lead on The Young and the Restless.

Who are your favorite Afro-Latinos? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Alex Cuba, Black History Month, Carmelo Anthony, Christina Milian, Cultura, Música, Sports, Tatyana Ali

By Michael Lopez

It's been a while since we've heard from Gloria Estéfan. In fact, it’s been more than three years since the Miami music maven released an album. But now we're hearing that Gloria is back in the studio and getting some production assistance from hip-hop star Pharrell.

We know what you’re thinking. Her husband Emilio happens to be one of the hottest music producers on the planet, or at least in the Latin music world. Well, don't worry, we’re sure he'll lend his expertise to the project too. But just imagining the combination of Estéfan's Cuban pop rhythms and Pharrell’s funky Neptunes beats makes us giddy with excitement.

Latina even scored some photos of the two music icons together. All we know about the album so far is that it’s supposed to be very upbeat and dance-oriented. Plus, having an American hip-hop collaborator makes us think she’s going to back to English lyrics, the first time she’s done so since 2003.

So far there’s still no title or release date for the new record. But sources say it’s projected to drop sometime this year. Let’s hope it comes along with a nationwide tour because, as we all know, live "Conga" never gets old!

Are you excited about Gloria’s new album? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Gloria Estefan, Hot Stuff, Música, Pharrell

By Michael Lopez

Who can forget that mugshot of a flannel-clad, happy-faced Peter Hernandez? That’s the name the Las Vegas police booked him under when they arrested him back in September, but the rest of us know him as Bruno Mars. On Friday, Bruno’s set to face justice for possessing 2.6 grams of cocaine.

According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, Mars is expected to plead guilty and face a light sentence. Although this is his first offense, he's used all that cash he’s been raking in from Doo Wops & Hooligans to arm himself with some very high-priced lawyers.

Though his L.A.-based attorney Blair Berk (who’s also represented Lindsay Lohan and Mel Gibson) declined to comment, it looks like Mars will be hit with a $2,000 fine, a year of probation and 200 hours of community service. Bruno will also be required to attend several drug counseling sessions.

Hopefully that’ll be enough to keep Bruno on the straight and narrow. Since the arrest, Mars’ star has been on the rise and we would hate to see it shot down by any more embarrassing mug shots.

Do you think Bruno will stay out of trouble? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Arrest, Bruno Mars, Celebrities, Chisme, Cocaine, Drugs, Música, Peter Hernandez

By Michael Lopez

Oh how we wish this was a feature film! Unfortunately the Kobe Bryant and Robert Rodriguez Black Mamba collaboration is just a high-profile commercial for Nike shoes. But it’s set to be one heck of a TV spot. Kanye West, Bruce Willis and Danny Trejo are all in the cast list for this epic court battle.

So far, Nike's released :30 teasers to build buzz for the six-minute film. Set to debut during this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend, the Black Mamba promises explosions, helicopters and wild-eyed zombies on the court.

Best of all, it looks like Danny Trejo’s Machete may pop in for an appearance too. We’re totally guessing here, but it is being made by the same team that created the 2010 cult classic. The style of the trailer (and that distinctive Trejo growl) make this promo seem very Machete-esque.

One other interesting thing to point out about Machete is that it too started as a short trailer. Originally featured in the Robert Rodriguez film Grindhouse, its underground popularity led the filmmaker to expand it into a full-length feature film. Let’s hope the same kind of buzz works with Black Mamba!

Are you excited about Kobe Bryant’s Black Mamba spot? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags basketball, Black Mamba, Bruce Willis, Danny Trejo, Hot Stuff, Kanye West, Kobe Bryant, Nike, Robert Rodriguez, Sports

By Michael Lopez

Somewhere right now, Penelope’s brother Eduardo Cruz is jumping for joy. According to TMZ, his rumored galpal Eva Longoria is now “officially” a single woman, having finalized her divorce to San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker.

Though the two were married in Paris in 2007, the divorce proceedings went down in her home state of Texas. For the record, Eva and Tony did have a pre-nuptial agreement in place, which probably helped make financial matters a lot less sticky.

Eva originally filed for the split in November, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Somehow that sounds a lot less painful than “my husband was sexting a British teenager.” Parker has kept mostly quiet on the matter, focusing his energies on keeping up a winning streak on the basketball court.

“I’ve taken refuge in basketball because that’s what I’ve done best since my youth,” he recently said.

Meanwhile, Eva seems to have found solace in dinner dates with Eduardo and having fun with her BFFs. Just this past Sunday, she was all smiles at the 2011 SAG Awards, tweeting:

“Me and my favorite Latina @sofiavergara at the SAG Awards!”

Are you excited now that Eva’s “officially” single? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrities, Celebrity Divorce, Chisme, Eduardo Cruz, Eva Longoria, Tony Parker

By Sharmaine Jones

Los Angeles hasn't been home to an NFL team since the Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995, but the city is now one step closer to filling the football void.

According to ESPN, Farmers Insurance Exchange inked a 30-year, $700 million naming deal with AEG (Anshutz Entertainment Group) for a new NFL stadium to be built in downtown Los Angeles. This deal makes Citigroup's $400 million naming contract with the Mets look like chump change.

"This groundbreaking agreement with Farmers not only makes this the largest long-term commitment in naming rights history, it also signals the most significant step forward in creating the football stadium and event center and bringing an NFL team back to Los Angeles," AEG President and CEO Tim Leiweke told the local Fox affiliate.

The proposed 64,000-seat retractable roof venue will be named “Farmers Field” and will connect to the Los Angeles Convention Center, which AEG also owns. Taxpayers can breathe a sigh of relief because AEG plans to privately finance the $1 billion project, which will create 20,000 to 30,000 jobs.

Before AEG breaks ground, there are a few hurdles left to overcome. First and foremost, they'll have to withstand a competing proposal by developer Ed Roski of Majestic Realty for a 75,000-seat open-air football stadium that has already had two environmental impact reports approved. Majestic Realty is confident that they're the ones for the job and feels that Leiweke's plan not to use taxpayers' money is a farce.

"AEG is expecting taxpayers to dole out well over a billion dollars for a proposal that will compromise the City's general fund, the L.A. Convention Center, the new stadium and the financial success of any potential NFL team," John Semcken, vice president of Majestic Reality, told ESPN.

Leiweke has the support of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and remains confident that everything will go in his favor.

"By the time we hit the Super Bowl, we're going to have an announcement that proves to everyone once and for all that this project is going to happen," Leiweke said. "It's going to be private and it's going to be brilliant and it's going to happen."

What would you name Los Angeles' NFL team? Tell us in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags AEG, Antonio Villaraigosa, Ed Roski, Farmers Insurance, Football, Los Angeles Stadium, Majestic Realty, NFL, Tim Leiweke

By Sharmaine Jones

After winning the WWE Royal Rumble on Sunday, Han. 30, the rich and arrogant Alberto Del Rio is looking to add “world champion” to his resumé.

The Mexican sensation prevailed over 39 competitors in the biggest Royal Rumble of WWE's 24-year history. He joins an impressive list of Rumble winners, including legends Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Bret Heart, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Rock.

The Royal Rumble is an annual match in which a set number of participants attempt to eliminate competitors by tossing them over the top rope, resulting in both feet touching the floor. The match starts with two competitors, but new wrestlers join the match in timed intervals.

As exceptional a wrestler as Del Rio is, he was fortunate enough to have the advantage of entering the bout at number 38. When he entered the ring, there appeared to be only three competitors to eliminate — John Cena, Wade Barrett and Randy Orton. Through no effort of his own, Cena was tossed first, then Barrett. Del Rio then seized the opportunity to eliminate Orton. It appeared to be over, but according to WWE, Santino Marella wasn't officially eliminated earlier on in the match. Marella crawled from under the ring and hit a celebratory Del Rio with “The Cobra”. Del Rio was almost thrown over the ropes, but his reverse move sent Morella over them instead, making him the victor and the beneficiary of huge bragging rights.

On WWE Raw, a smug Del Rio marched into the ring — accompanied by a mariachi band — and announced that he knew he would win the Rumble, and planned to challenge current Smackdown champion Edge — rather than Raw champion The Miz — for the heavyweight title at the 27th annual Wrestlemania.

Do you think Alberto Del Rio can win the championship belt? Tell us in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Alberto Del Rio, Edge, John Cena, Randy Orton, Royal Rumble, Santino Morella, The Miz, Wade Barrett, Wrestlemania, Wrestling, WWE

By Michael Lopez

It’s hard to believe a rock superstar can do anything in “secret” anymore. With countless paparazzi cameras and gossip bloggers in every Starbucks, you have to be very careful if you want to keep your private life private. Amazingly Calle 13’s Eduardo Cabra (aka Visitante) not only kept a high-profile romance secret, but even got married without the press finding out!

Photo via Café Fuerte

This past Saturday, 32-year-old Eduardo wed 25-year-old Cuban singer Diana Fuentes in Havana. A trained ballerina and pianist, the bride looked gorgeous in her shimmering white dress. Cabra sported his trademark hat and a stylish black-and-white color combination.

The event took place in front of roughly 150 close family and friends, though People en Español is reporting that Eduardo’s Calle brother, Rene Perez Joglar (aka Residente), did not attend. No word on the music at the festivities, but we imagine Visitante must have broken out at least one romantic reggaeton song.

Rumor has it that a bigger celebration will take place on Eduardo’s home turf in Puerto Rico sometime in the next few months, perhaps even at the real Calle 13 that the bandmates know and love. We imagine that Residente will surely be there, along with tons of flashing paparazzi cameras.

Are you sad that Visitante is off the market? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Calle 13, Celebrity Couples, Diana Fuentes, Hot Stuff, Música, Residente, visitante, Weddings