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By Michael Lopez

Even though he's been out of office for over ten years, Bill Clinton still proved his viability at this weekend's "Decade of Difference" concert. Attracting some of the biggest stars on the planet, his Hollywood Bowl benefit show featured awesome musical performances, memorable speeches, and an online simulcast that was seen by millions.

The purpose of the concert was to honor the former Prez and his charitable Clinton Foundation. It also happened to coincide with his 65th birthday, which Lady Gaga made sure the crowd was well aware of. Channeling vintage Marilyn Monroe, the Little Monster sung Bill a very sexy version of "Bad Romance."

Clinton had joked earlier that he was a tad nervous about what Gaga may attempt to do.

"I wondered, you know, she always kind of goes up to the edge, she said she was going to have a Marilyn moment," he said on stage. "I thought, 'my God, I get Lady Gaga and I will have a heart attack celebrating my 65th birthday.'"

And Lady G was just the tip of the musical iceberg. Throughout the night, legendary artists like Stevie Wonder and Bono took the mic and belted out their classic hits. Tr3s fave Juanes had some memorable moments too, singing tracks from his Mi Sangre album and sharing his personal Bill stories with the crowd.

But don't think the Clinton celebration was just limited to the Saturday concert. Friday night, the Foundation hosted a gala dinner featuring a ton of A-list celebs. Jessica Alba, Stevie Nicks, and Fergie were just a few of the famous faces who were seen mingling at the event. And if you're curious about which star attracted the most attention, it was undoubtedly Sofia Vergara in her shimmering black dress.

Other weekend highlights included a Saturday brunch hosted by former first daughter Chelsea Clinton and Sunday golf with Bill and his closest confidants. Not a bad way to spend a birthday if you ask us. And what makes things even better is the fact that the "Decade of Difference" concert tickets helped raise millions for the Foundation’s causes.

Are you a fan of former President Clinton? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags A Decade of Difference, bill clinton, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Bono, Celebrities, Chelsea Clinton, Hot Stuff, Juanes, Lady Gaga, Marilyn Monroe, Música, sofia vergara, stevie wonder

By Michael Lopez

What a way to kick off the big 6-5! Bill Clinton has got a major birthday coming up and his team has gathered a huge array of stars to help him celebrate it. Juanes, Lady Gaga, Bono, and more will be performing for the former Prez at the Hollywood Bowl next weekend.

The concert is actually honoring another milestone too. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Clinton's charitable foundation. Calling itself "A Decade of Difference," the show will feature tons of talent from all realms of music. Everything from R&B (Usher) to country (Kenny Chesney) will be covered.

Juanes was just added to the bill this week and made sure all of his Twitter followers knew about it.

"Los Angeles ! Nos veremos muy pronto , aquí les dejo la Info del show. #ClintonConcert" he posted earlier today.

Clinton seemed touched by the outpouring of love leading up to the show. His foundation has done a ton of good since its inception back in 2001. Speaking about the concert and his accomplishments, he said,

"I am deeply grateful that the artists associated with the concert are giving their time and talent to raise awareness about the work of my foundation. In the past decade, commitments to my Clinton Global Initiative have improved the lives of more than 300 million people around the world. This celebration marks ten years of these efforts and demonstrates how much we can do to make a difference in the years ahead."

Do you look up to President Bill Clinton? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags A Decade of Difference, Agentes De Cambio, bill clinton, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Bono, Clinton Foundation, Juanes, Kenny Chesney, Lady Gaga, Música, Usher

By Michael Lopez

It's that time of the year again. The time when students across the country don those caps and gowns and prepare for their "next big journey." But before the 2011 grads step out into the real world, they'll get one last bit of wisdom from their university's commencement speaker. And this year, several colleges are booking some A-list talent to step up to the podium.

As expected, most of the top schools get their speeches from world dignitaries and trusted scholars. But one huge political leader is taking an entirely different route. President Barack Obama gave his commencement speeches to graduating students at Miami-Dade College and Tennessee's Booker T. Washington High School. Centered in one of the poorest districts in the country, the latter campus won the honor to hear Obama after participating in a Race to the Top competition.

Ex-Commander-In-Chief Bill Clinton spoke to a slightly larger crowd for his NYU address. Talking to a packed house at New York's Yankee Stadium, the former President drew massive cheers when he stepped onto the field in his purple gown.

Adding some Latin flair to the commencement world, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor made an impassioned speech at New Jersey's Ramapo College. Dressed in a black gown, the 56-year-old trailblazer spoke for nearly 20 minutes about the importance of following your dreams.

"I have lived all my dreams and, more incredibly, have far surpassed them," she said. "Dreams do not come true simply because of luck or innate talent. They only come true if you work hard to make them come true."

Interestingly, Sotomayor had some personal reasons for speaking at Ramapo. Her godson, Tommy Butler Jr., was part of the graduating class, having earned his master's degree in nursing.

Another Latino leader, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, is set to say some very inspirational words to the parting students at Stanford University. A graduate from Harvard, Calderon's speech is expected to draw a flurry of activity. So much so, that the faculty is planning to stream it live.

But don't think it's just the political elite that are getting the Class of 2011 worked up. Several celebs are offering their unique perspectives to the new graduates as well. Comedienne Amy Poehler will be speaking at Harvard on Wednesday and earlier in the week, Tom Hanks drew big cheers for his address at Yale.

And all of you Team Coco fans may want to check YouTube for bootlegs on June 12. That’s the day when comedian Conan O’Brien takes the mic at the Dartmouth graduation and we’re sure it will be very quotable.

Which celeb would you most like to hear a commencement speech from? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Amy Poehler, Barack Obama, bill clinton, Celebrities, Class of 2011, College, Conan O'Brien, Education, Felipe Calderon, Graduation, Sonia Sotomayor, Tom Hanks

By Michael Lopez

How do you bring attention to a social cause in Mexico? Get a former U.S. President and the world’s richest man to back it up! Bill Clinton and Carlos Slim announced this week that they are partnering to launch a soccer project that uses sports to keep kids away from gangs and narco violence.

Focusing on Mexican youths aged 16-24, the main goal of the program is to offer hope in border cities ravaged by recent drug cartels. So far, Clinton and Slim have projected that at least 900 teens will benefit from the project and they’re hopeful things will only get better from there.

Representatives from the Fundación Carlos Slim laid out a few of the plans in more detail. According to spokesman Renato Flores, the program will transform the lessons kids learn in sports (like fútbol) into viable skills, which can eventually be used when they enter the job market.

Mexican regions like Chihuahua and Juarez will be the first to receive aid. Local organizations set up by Clinton and Slim’s foundations will be set up in those cities to monitor and develop the programs. And though the exact amount of money donated to start the project hasn't been disclosed, we can foresee a nice chunk of change coming out of Carlos’ deep pockets.

Were you involved in youth programs in your community? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Agentes De Cambio, bill clinton, Carlos Slim, Cultura, futbol, Mexico, Sports

By Michael Lopez

Who says there was no Latin presence at Chelsea Clinton’s wedding? Though the new Mrs. Mezvinksy donned a strapless Vera Wang gown, mother-of-the-bride Hillary greeted guests in a custom fuchsia piece created by legendary Dominican designer, Oscar de la Renta.

We’ve got to admit it Hillary, this looks A LOT better than the typical pantsuits you sport on the job. The raspberry silks complimented Chelsea’s sparkly ivory just about perfectly. Even Papa Bill was spiffed up in a traditional black suit, complete with flowery boutineer.

Hillary’s no stranger to Oscar's designs. In the past, he’s hooked her up with shimmering gowns for events like the Obama inauguration and various D.C. galas. In the past, Oscar de la Renta candidly revealed her style to Barbara Walters:

“Hillary, in a sense, is sort of very prudish about the type of clothes she likes to wear, and you know, from the waist up she really looks great.”

We think the former First Lady’s fashion choice was absolutely perfect. Classy, conservative, and subtle enough to keep all eyes focused on the bride-to-be. Vera also did a great job with Chelsea.

Was it better than the design she made for this weekend’s other gushing bride, Alicia Keyes? We’ll let you be the judge of that.

What did you think of gowns at Chelsea’s wedding? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags bill clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Fashion, Hilary Clinton, Oscar De La Renta, photo, Photos, Weddings

By Sugey Palomares

Whoever believed Jennifer Lopez when she said her "Love Don't Cost A Thing"? J.Lo's spirit of giving hit new heights this week: The "Back-Up Plan" actress recently donated precious gemstones and diamonds to help raise serious cash for the Cannes Film Festival AIDS auction.

Proceeds from the event totaled $6.7 million, which will go to the American Foundation for Aids Research. Word has it that J.Lo donated ten luxury items, including a a gold-plated bottle of bubbly and a monkey-shaped pendant. We wonder if that was left over stock from the Bennifer days...

Paris Hilton, Mary J. Blige, and Michelle Williams were among the celebs that auctioned off their goods for charity, but one of the highest-rolling bids was to spend a day with former President Bill Clinton. Final price? $200,000!

No wonder the event earned about $2 million more than in 2008. And they say we are in a recession!

Source: [The Press Association]

How much would you pay for a day with your favorite star? Credit cards included! Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Agentes De Cambio, bill clinton, Cannes International Film Festival, Jennifer Lopez, Latin Music, mary j blige, Michelle Williams, MTV, Musica Latina, Paris Hilton, Tr3s

It's not a complicated process. Donors simply call into the telethon and pledge various financial contributions to the person on the other end of the line. But instead of an everyday volunteer, "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief" which airs Friday at 8 p.m. ET, will feature some fans-favorite entertainers soliciting funds.

"It'll be the biggest bank of faces that you recognize answering the phones,"  said George Clooney.

Clooney is hoping the star power will help the charitable effort reel in much-needed money for the survivors in Haiti.

Shakira, Christina Aguilera, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Madonna are among the superstars set to perform at the event, while former President Bill Clinton and Will Smith are some of the notable names who will make appearances.

Clooney is thankful to all the stars who have volunteered their time in one way or another. He was particularly excited about those who will be manning the phones.

"You got about 130 to 140 actors, athletes, singers and television hosts, and they're all coming up not to be on TV, but simply to answer the phones," he marveled.  (MTVNEWS)

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Beyonce, bill clinton, Christina Aguilera, George Clooney, Hope For Haiti, Jay Z, Madonna, Shakira, Will Smith

Madonna, President Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Robert Pattinson, and Will Smith have joined "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief," which airs Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT and 7 p.m. CT on MTV Tr3s and many other networks.

In addition to musical performances, Wyclef Jean in New York City, George Clooney in Los Angeles, and CNN's Anderson Cooper reporting from Haiti, "Hope for Haiti Now" will also feature Chris Rock, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, and Matt Damon, and more than 100 of the biggest names in film, television and music.

Madonna (performing in New York) and Haitian artist Emeline Michel (in Los Angeles) will join the previously announced lineup of musical performances: Shakira, Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige and Sting in New York; Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, and Taylor Swift in Los Angeles; and Beyoncé, Coldplay, and a group performance by Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z and Rihanna in London.

"Hope for Haiti Now" will begin accepting donations at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT on Friday via the following methods:

» Online: www.hopeforhaitinow.org
» Phone: 877-99-HAITI
» Text: Text "GIVE" to 50555
» Mail: Hope For Haiti Now Fund, Entertainment Industry Foundation, 1201 West 5th Street, Suite T-700, Los Angeles, CA 90017

Music performances from "Hope for Haiti Now" will be available for purchase and download on the iTunes Store. Beginning on Friday, iTunes customers will be able to exclusively pre-order both the Hope for Haiti Now full performance album ($7.99) and the full two-hour video telecast ($1.99). Pre-orders will be delivered in the days following the telethon. Individual audio performances will also be available for purchase and download for 99 cents each in the days following the telethon. Apple, the record labels and the artists will donate their share of the proceeds to Haiti relief funds managed by "Hope for Haiti Now" charities.

"Hope for Haiti Now" performances will also be available for purchase on AmazonMP3 and Rhapsody, with distribution provided by INgrooves. Proceeds from those purchases will also benefit Haiti relief funds managed by "Hope for Haiti Now" charities.

"Hope for Haiti Now," will benefit Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, Yele Haiti Foundation and the newly formed Clinton Bush Haiti Foundation. Proceeds from "Hope for Haiti Now" will be split among each organization's individual funds for Haiti earthquake relief. With the exception of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, each partner organization was selected for its history of operation and collaboration within the NGO community in Haiti.

"Hope for Haiti Now" will air across ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1, CMT, PBS, TNT, Showtime, Comedy Central, Bravo, E! Entertainment, National Geographic Channel, Oxygen, G4, CENTRIC, Current TV, Fuse, MLB Network, EPIX, Palladia, SoapNet, Style, Discovery Health, Planet Green, CNN en Español, HBO Latino, and Canadian networks including CBC Television, CTV, Global Television, and MuchMusic. The event will be live streamed online globally across sites including YouTube, Hulu, MySpace, Fancast, AOL, MSN.com, Yahoo, Bing.com, BET.com, CNN.com, MTV.com, VH1.com, and Rhapsody and on mobile via Alltel, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and FloTV. "Hope for Haiti Now" will also air internationally on BET International, CNN International, National Geographic, and MTV Networks International, which is available in 640 million homes worldwide. "Hope for Haiti Now" will be available non-exclusively to all terrestrial radio stations around the globe and SIRIUS XM Radio as a one time only radio broadcast via the MTV Radio Network and Westwood One.  (MTVNews)

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, bill clinton, Brad Pitt, bruce springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, Denzel Washington, halle Berry, Jay Z, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Madonna, mary j blige, MAtt Damon, Rihanna, Robert-Pattinson, stevie wonder, Taylor Swift, Will Smith, Wyclef

Eva Longoria and Tony Parker may be used to gracing the red carpet...

But the married couple posed for a good cause at last night's Shine Global "The Harvest" fundraiser. The documentary showcases the abusive working conditions that labor workers are currently facing in our country. In addition the film executive produced by Oscar-nominated duo Albie Hecht and his wife Susan MacLaury, and produced and directed by U. Roberto Romano, also promotes social change and human rights awareness.

Special guest, Bill Clinton joined the chicana actress and spoke about the importance of the project's funding. In the next two weeks, Shine Global will meet with Members of Congress including U.S Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis in order to re-introduce legislation protecting children workers in the fields.

Watch "The Harvest" sneak peek and visit the Shine Global website to find out how you can help the cause! Stay tuned for more exclusive coverage following this event to come soon.

Photos by Scott Gries

Tags bill clinton, Chisme, Eva Longoria, Musica Latina, Politics, The Harvest

Remember 1994?

The year Da Brat got us "Funkdafied" and Ace of Base showed us the signs. It was also the year a Cuban-American broke ground on some controversial issues -- homosexuality, HIV and AIDS -- on a pioneer reality TV show. Pedro Zamora moved into the Real World House in San Francisco that year and changed how we all thought about AIDS.

Pedro left such an impact on nuestra cultura that his story garnered personal attention from none other than President Bill Clinton, who thanked Pedro for his social contributions shortly before he passed away. It's no wonder that 15 years later the film tribute to Pedro Zamora evokes such a poignant, emotional response from the 42nd President.

Whether you are learning about Pedro's story for the first time, or taking a trip down memory lane it promises to leave you inspired. Check out the behind-the-scenes spoiler from the upcoming film Pedro and hear some words from former president Bill Clinton below:

No olvides, Pedro airs on MTV Tr3s April 1st at 8PM.  Gather tu familia around la tele, and get the tissues ready.

Tags 1994, bill clinton, Film, Movie, Pedro The Movie, real world san francisco, season three, tribute