Beyonce Named 'Most Beautiful Woman'

New mom Beyonce tops People magazine's annual issue celebrating the world's most beautiful women.

UPI VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT NEWS 02.15.08

"The Great Debaters" wins big at NAACP Awards.

"The Great Debaters" took top honors at last night's NAACP Image Awards. The film, starring and directed by Denzel Washington grabbed four awards including best motion picture. Washington scored best actor and his co-star Jurnee Smolett took best actress. Denzel Whitaker was honored with best supporting actor. But it was Janet Jackson who took best supporting actress for " Why Did I Get Married."

In TV, Tyler Perry's "House of Paine" took the trophy for best comedy and "Grey's Anatomy" won best drama. "Ugly Betty" stars also did well with America Ferrera taking best actress in a comedy and Vanessa Williams winning best supporting actress. And in the music category, Alicia Keys won best female artist and former "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks took best new artist. Special honors also went to Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and actress Rubie Dee.

Britney Spears' family is holding onto control of her finances for now. A Los Angeles court reportedly extended her father's role as co-conservator yesterday...that means he'll share control with an attorney over her estimated 100 million dollar fortune. Her brother Bryan has also been ordered to monitor her day to day spending, including her food, medicine and psychiatric treatment.

Beyonce's Dad is firing back at Aretha Franklin following her comments about his daughter. Matthew Knowles called Franklin's remarks at the Grammy's "ridiculous." Franklin was reportedly upset that Beyonce referred to Tina Turner as the queen during the pairs' performance at the awards ceremony. Franklin has long been referred to as The Queen of Soul.

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher has tied the knot. The singer reportedly married his longtime girlfriend singer Nicole Appleton on Thursday. It was apparently a secret wedding. There's no word on any of the details. The pair have been together 8 years and have a six year old son named Gene.

BEYONCE GIG FUELS HUNGER STRIKE IN ETHIOPIA

Beyonce has caused turmoil among students at a top religious college in Ethiopia after she met with the school's patriarch in advance of her two-hour concert last month in Addis Ababa, reports the Associated Press.


The 26-year-old singer's visit with Ethiopian patriarch Abune Paulos has been added to a list or reasons why students at Theological College of the Holy Trinity began a hunger strike on Sunday.

Daniel Techale, a 28-year-old alumnus who still lives at the school, said students were also protesting the close ties between the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the government, alleged restrictions on their speech and food in the cafeteria. But Techale says students were also upset over the Beyonce-Paulos meeting.

"She provoked the whole situation," he said, accusing the patriarch of "practically a nonreligious act. It's unacceptable, or inappropriate, to say the least."

Authorities have been trying to persuade the students to end their hunger strike, which has so far sent about 30 of Techale's friends to the hospital, he added.

College official Bedilu Assefa confirmed that students had voiced various gripes about the school, but said: "What they have done is they have raised some administrative issues regarding food and clinical facilities. Nobody has protested against Beyonce. Never."

Student Kinetibebeu Assefa, 25, said that he had joined the protest to demand an improvement in cafeteria food and the firing of some college officials.

"There is no problem with Beyonce," he said. "But the (cafeteria) food is poisoned."

BEYONCE TO PERFORM IN SHANGHAI

Beyonce is gearing up to for her first-ever concert performance on Chinese soil.

The artist has been booked to play in China's biggest city, Shanghai, on November 5th at the city's Grand Stage, reports Variety.

The show is a highlight of the month-long ninth Shanghai Intl. Arts Festival, which kicks off on October 18th.

Beyonce's booked appearance comes in the wake of her cancelled gig in Malaysia due to its strict dress code and stage restrictions placed on performers

CALL ME GIRL

It's Ringylicious! Beyonce Unveils Her Own Phone.

BEYONCE has unveiled a special edition B'PHONE by SAMSUNG yesterday at the TIME WARNER CENTER in NEW YORK. She safely fielded only preapproved questions, such as whether she was bringing her new phone on tour. (Answer: yes.)

"I never thought that I would have my own phone. I'm very proud of it," said the GRAMMY winner. "I think it's very sexy and beautiful."

The $99, burgundy-and-gold phone, available to SPRINT customers NOV. 4, combines phone, camera and MP3 player with fan-friendly features such as an exclusive photo gallery and video content, plus a never-before-heard song recorded by BEYONCE when she was 10.

"I wanted to make sure it was something special," she said. "People get a feel for who I really am. The little videos only seen exclusively on the phone are me behind the scenes; not the BEYONCE you see on stage all the time, but who I really am."

The B'PHONE will be available exclusively at WAL-MART and www.sprint.com for $99 with SPRINT service.

THEIR LOST, NO BEYONCE IN MALAYSIA AFTER ALL

Gig canceled after refusal to obey strict dress code.

Fans in Malaysia can give up hopes of seeing a fully-covered Beyonce perform at Kuala Lumpur's 9000-seat Putra Stadium.

Her scheduled Nov. 1 concert has been canceled following protests by local Muslim groups and her reported refusal to abide by the country's strict dress code for performers, reports Billboard Biz.


A number of Muslim groups, including the 10,000-strong National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students, had taken their pleas for cancellation to the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage -- which in 2005 introduced a compulsory dress code and other rules for performers.

Local promoter Pineapple Concerts released a statement Sept. 28 announcing the cancellation, but would not disclose the reason. A ministry official says Pineapple had not applied for a license to hold the concert. However, industry sources speculate Pineapple did not apply for a license until it was sure Beyonce would agree to follow the dress code and that the artist refused to do so.

The dress code says there must be no hugging or kissing audience members or fellow artists, no jumping or shouting, no throwing objects onstage or at the audience and no foul language.

Clothes cannot have obscene or drug-related images or messages, and female performers must show no skin from the tops of their chests to their knees.