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R&B star Jill Scott was sued Wednesday by her longtime record label, which is accusing the multi-platinum songstress of skipping out halfway through a six-album contract and potentially owing millions of dollars in damages.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by L.A.-based Hidden Beach Records, claims that the label and its founder, Steve McKeever, helped launch Scott’s career and nurtured her into a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter but was unceremoniously dumped in October after a 10-plus year relationship.

“Hidden Beach is shocked by her decision not only because Scott has apparently chosen to leave the Hidden Beach family,” the complaint reads, “but also because Scott is contractually required to deliver three more albums to Hidden Beach.”

The complaint alleges causes of action for breach of contract and damages owed under a section of California’s Labor Code sometimes known as the “De Havilland Law.” Named after actress Olivia De Havilland’s successful fight in the ’40s against long-term studio deals, it provides that talent cannot be bound by personal services contracts for longer than seven years.

Hidden Beach isn’t disputing that Scott’s deal violated the seven-year rule but the law carves out a requirement that certain recording artists who wish to terminate their lengthy deals must reimburse their labels in the amount the labels would have received under the terms of the contracts.

Since breaking onto the scene with the double-platinum selling “Who Is Jill Scott?” album in 2000, Scott’s studio albums (and live albums) have generated millions in revenue. So while Hidden Beach’s alleged damages are unspecified in the complaint, under California law they could total several million dollars.

The lawsuit is unusually detailed in its description of the small label’s close relationship with Scott. She clearly was the center of attention for McKeever. The complaint alleges he paid her million-dollar advances when he wasn’t required to, allowed her to keep merchandising revenue, paid $450,000 to fund a concert DVD that Scott later asked not be released, bought her lavish gifts and indulged her desire to slow her recording schedule to pursue an acting career (Scott has appeared in the films “Houndog,” “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?” and HBO’s “No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency”).

“Hidden Beach feels that Jill Scott is an incredibly talented artist,” the company’s lawyer Lawrence Hinkle told us. “No one regrets that this lawsuit had to be filed more than Hidden Beach, but its hands were tied and it had no other option.”

A call to Scott’s attorney Stephen Barnes was not immediately returned.

2010 Oscar nominations were announced this morning, and ‘Avatar’ and ‘The Hurt Locker ‘ tied with nine nominations, including one for best picture and best director. This will put James Cameron in competition with his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow.

Also nominated in the Best Picture category are ‘The Blind Side’; ‘District 9′; ‘An Education’; ‘Inglourious Basterds’; ‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’; ‘A Serious Man’; ‘Up’; and ‘Up in the Air.’

Competing in the best supporting actress category will be Mo’Nique for ‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.’ The film itself is a Best Picture nominee and received six nomination in total, including one for lead actress Gabourey Sidibe.

Lee Daniels became the first African American director nominated since John Singleton received one in 1991 for ‘Boyz N the Hood.’

Also receiving a nomination was ‘The Princess and the Frog’ for Best Animated film.

The 82nd annual Academy Awards will air on March 7 at 8 p.m. EST (5 p.m. PST) and broadcast live from Los Angeles on ABC.

Here is the list of nominees:

1. Best Picture: ‘Avatar’; ‘The Blind Side’; ‘District 9′; ‘An Education’; ‘The Hurt Locker’; ‘Inglourious Basterds’; ‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’; ‘A Serious Man’; ‘Up’; ‘Up in the Air’

2. Actor: Jeff Bridges, ‘Crazy Heart’; George Clooney, ‘Up in the Air’; Colin Firth, ‘A Single Man’; Morgan Freeman, ‘Invictus’; Jeremy Renner, ‘The Hurt Locker’

3. Actress: Sandra Bullock, ‘The Blind Side’; Helen Mirren, ‘The Last Station’; Carey Mulligan, ‘An Education’; Gabourey Sidibe, ‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’; Meryl Streep, ‘Julie and Julia’

4. Supporting Actor: Matt Damon, ‘Invictus’; Woody Harrelson, ‘The Messenger’; Christhopher Plummer, ‘The Last Station’; Stanley Tucci, ‘The Lovely Bones’; Christoph Waltz, ‘Inglourious Basterds’

5. Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz, ‘Nine’; Vera Farmiga, ‘Up in the Air’; Maggie Gyllenhaal, ‘Crazy Heart’; Anna Kendrick, ‘Up in the Air’; Mo’Nique, ‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’

6. Director: Kathyrn Bigelow, ‘The Hurt Locker’; James Cameron, ‘Avatar’; Lee Daniels, ‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’; Jason Reitman, ‘Up in the Air’; Quentin Taratino, ‘Inglourious Basterds’

7. Foreign Film: Ajami,’ Israel; ‘El Secreto de Sus Ojos,’ Argentina; ‘The Milk of Sorrow,’ Peru; ‘Un Prophète,’ France; ‘The White Ribbon,’ Germany

8. Adapted Screenplay: Neill Blomkamp, ‘District 9′; Nick Hornby, ‘An Education’; Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche, ‘In The Loop’; Geoffrey Fletcher, ‘Precious: Based On The Novel Push by Sapphire’; Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner, ‘Up in the Air’

9. Original Screenplay: Mark Boal, ‘The Hurt Locker’; Quentin Taratino, ‘Inglourious Basterds’; Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman, ‘The Messenger’; Joel & Ethan Coen, ‘A Serious Man’; Bob Peterson and Pete Docter, ‘Up’

10. Animated Feature Film: ‘Coraline’; ‘Fantastic Mr.Fox’; ‘The Princess and the Frog’; ‘The Secret of Kells’; ‘Up’

11. Art Direction: ‘Avatar’; ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’; ‘Nine’; ‘Sherlock Holmes’; ‘The Young Victoria’

12. Cinematography: Mauro Fiore, ‘Avatar’; Bruno Delbonnel, ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’; Barry Ackroyd, ‘The Hurt Locker’; Robert Richardson ‘The Hurt Locker’; Christian Berger, ‘The White Ribbon’

13. Sound Mixing: ‘Avatar’; ‘The Hurt Locker’; ‘Inglourious Basterds’; ‘Star Trek’; ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’

14. Sound Editing: ‘Avatar’; ‘The Hurt Locker’; ‘Inglourious Basterds’; ‘Star Trek’;'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’;

15. Original Score: James Horner, ‘Avatar’; Alexandre Desplat, ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’; Marco Beltrami & Buck Sanders, ‘The Hurt Locker’; Hans Zimmer, ‘Sherlock Holmes’; Michael Giacchino, ‘Up’

16. Original Song: ‘Almost There’ from ‘The Princess and the Frog’ Music and Lyric by Randy Newman; ‘Down in New Orleans’ from ‘The Princess and the Frog’ Music and Lyric by Randy Newman; ‘Loin de Paname’ from ‘Paris 36′ Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas; ‘Take It All’ from ‘Nine’ Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston; ‘The Weary Kind’ from ‘Crazy Heart’ Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

17. Costume: ‘Bright Star’; ‘Coco Before Chanel’; ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’; ‘Nine’; ‘The Young Victoria’

18. Documentary Feature: ‘Burma VJ’; ‘The Cove’; ‘Food, INc.’; ‘The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers’; ‘Which Way Home’

19. Documentary (short subject): ‘China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province’; ‘The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner’; ‘The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant’; ‘Music by Prudence’; ‘Rabbit à la Berlin’

20. Film Editing: ‘Avatar’; ‘The District 9′; ‘The Hurt Locker’; ‘Inglourious Basterds’; ‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’

21. Makeup: ‘Il Divo’; ‘Star Trek’; ‘The Young Victoria’

22. Live Action Short ‘The Door’; ‘Instead of Abracadabra’; ‘Kavi’; ‘Miracle Fish’; ‘The New Tenants’

23. Animated Short Film: ‘French Roast’; ‘Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty’; ‘The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)’; ‘Logorama’; ‘A Matter of Loaf and Death’

24. Visual Effects: ‘ ‘Avatar’; ‘District 9′; ‘Star Trek’

Grammy Award-winning singers Alicia Keys and Shakira will perform during halftime of the NBA All-Star game.

The league also announced Tuesday that Usher will perform at the Feb. 14 game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Keys will sing her hits “No One” and “Empire State of Mind,” plus “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart.” Shakira’s performance will include “She Wolf” and “Give It Up To Me.”

Usher will perform his single “More” during the player introductions.

Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean was forced to deal with another tragedy while helping desperate survivors of the Haiti earthquake, after a volunteer for his Yele Haiti foundation was shot dead in a car-jacking.

The former Fugees star and native Haitian rushed to his homeland when the massive tremor hit the nation earlier this month, ravaging the poor country’s infrastructure and killing more than 150,000 people.

But Jean and his team of volunteers had to contend with more than just the devastation left by the earthquake, they witnessed the desperate lengths Haiti’s people were going to in a bid to survive – which ended in terrible consequences for one young helper.

He explains, “Jo Jo was shot and killed on the second day we were there. He was the victim of a car-jacking. I left him alone for two hours and he was driving in the city.

“A guy stopped him and told him to get out of the car. No one knows quite what happened next but he was shot twice and killed instantly. The jacker didn’t even want the car, he just wanted to take the fuel.”

And Jean is adamant he will never be able to forget the horrific scenes he witnessed.

He says, “It looked like the apocalypse – there were bodies everywhere. It’s a sight that will stay with me for ever. It’s something you just can’t put into words. I filmed everything with a video camera because I was convinced people would not believe what we told them.”

Mariah Carey’s upcoming remix album Angels Advocate is facing a setback. The record’s release has been delayed by five weeks.

Carey teased fans with the follow-up to her 2009 offering Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel recently releasing two songs from the dance record - Angel Cry featuring Ne-Yo and Up Out of My Face.

But now the initial February 23rd launch date has been scrapped, meaning fans will have to wait until the following month to hear the full album. The album will now face off against Usher’s upcoming Raymond Vs. Raymond on March 30th.

A spokesperson for Carey made the announcement in a post on the singer’s Twitter.com page.

The message reads, “Mariah’s Newly Remixed Album of Duets, Angels Advocate to be released on March 30th!”

An explanation for the delay was not given.

Ojani Noa, otherwise known as the more creepy of Jennifer Lopez’s spouses, is trying to sell a sex tape of the pair from back when they were on their honeymoon, but because Jennifer is a super-famous person (with a terrible new song), her attorneys are doing everything they can to keep the video from being released. So far, it’s been working! But with a judge refusing to send their court battle to arbitration, Noa wants to get Lopez on the stand. And on the record about being A Bisexual!

“The first question I plan on asking Jennifer Lopez on the stand is if she is bi-sexual,” says Noa’s business partner Ed Meyer. That’s because there are scenes in the video, supposedly of Lopez kissing other girls.

Risque!

What that has to do with Noa’s right to sell the tape for commercial gain, well, we’re not sure. At all.

Tito Jackson is accused of single handedly torpedoing a Michael Jackson tribute concert last year — and now the guy behind the show is looking to settle the score.

A concert promoter named Roy Isaac has fired off a letter to Tito — demanding he return a $7,500 deposit Tito was allegedly paid for a concert in Michigan — a concert that never happened.

Isaac tells TMZ the whole thing fell apart, in part, because Tito refused to do any press for the show.

Now, Isaac has told Tito that he wants his money back — in 30 days — or else he’ll sue.

Tito’s rep tells TMZ that Tito never got the money and Isaac’s beef should be with Jackson’s former booking agent.

Beyonce was the big winner at the Grammys, getting six awards including song of the year for Single Ladies and female pop vocal performance

Taylor Swift won more than a handful of Grammys. picking up (and dropping) awards for album of the year, country album, country song and female country vocal peformance

The Black Eyed Peas won the Grammy for best pop vocal album

Maxwell picked up awards for best R&B male vocal for the ballad Pretty Wings and best R&B album for BLACKsummers’ night

Michael Jackson’s young children, Prince and Paris, accepted a lifetime achievement award for their late father

Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z won three awards: best rap solo performance and two awards for ‘Run This Town’ with Rihanna (pictured here) and Kanye West

Eminem’s album Relapse won best rap album

Lady Gaga won two Grammys during the pre-telecast ceremony and brought out Elton John as they melded her song “Speechless” and his classic “Your Song” together in a performance that featured duelling pianos, and glitter-painted faces

A scantily-clad Pink sang Glitter in the Air while suspended from the air on a rope above the audience

Mary J Blige joined Andrea Bocelli in a rousing rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water, which was not only designed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the song’s big Grammy wins, but to raise money for the people in Haiti

Jennifer Lopez, who had one of the most famous Grammy fashion moments in a plunging-V gown back in 2000, again wore Versace, this time a silver chain-mail dress with white chiffon overlay

Miley Cyrus wore a steely long-sleeve minidress

Beyonce wore a strong-shoulder, mermaid-hem gown in gray, while Rihanna chose a high-neck white gown with cascading ruffles by Elie Saab

Lady Gaga wore a succession of bizarre outfits including a solar system gown created in collaboration with Giorgio Armani, a green fairy-wing bodysuit and a crystal-encrusted hat

Lady Gaga on the red carpet in her shiny, silvery, three-dimensional number

The results from the 25th Annual Stellar Awards were announced on January 16, 2010 from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

Complete listings of the official nominees, with winners in bold, are presented below for all categories:

Hosted by Kirk Franklin, Vickie Winans and Donnie McClurkin, the televised event was highlighted by multiple performances, including songs from Mary Mary, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Byron Cage, Dottie Peoples, Richard Smallwood, Israel Houghton, James Fortune, Smokie Norful, Hezekiah Walker & LFC, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Crystal Aikin and Vanessa Bell Armstrong.

Artist of the Year

Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy RecordsSong of the Year (Songwriter; Song - Album; Label)

Group Duo of the Year

New Artist of the Year

Philip Carter & SOV, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLCProducer of the Year

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year

Lisa Knowles & The Brown Singers, Experience The Evolution, IndependentContemporary Male of the Year

Troy Sneed, In Due Season, Emtro GospelContemporary Female of the Year

Philip Carter, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLCTraditional Female of the Year

Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records Contemporary CD of the Year

Urban/ Inspirational Single / Performance of the Year (Artist; Song - Album; Label)

Contemporary Choir of the Year

Instrumental CD of the Year

Kim Ruff, Ready To Live, MacKim RecordsPraise and Worship CD of the Year

Recorded Music Package of the Year [art credit / artist - album / label]

Sean P Diddy Combs

Dr. Keith Black

Dr.  Ruth Simmons

Gabrielle Union

BET Honors Honorees

Jazmine Sullivan

Whitney Houston stands to her feet as Jennifer Hudson sings a rendition of her 1992 hit, “I Will Always Love You.”

Kim Burrell takes the stage.

Mary does a medley of her classics.

Maxwell treats attendees to a soulful performance.

Ne-Yo praises Whitney Houston.

Stevie and Take 6 make beautiful music together.

India joins Stevie and Trey’s performance.

Whitney, Diddy and Queen share a moment onstage together.

Ciara

Lady Gaga

Keri Hilson

Heidi Klum & Seal

Jennifer Hudson

Ke$ha

Rihanna

Taylor Swift

Beyonce

Mary Mary

Mary J. Blige

Pink

Fergie

Common

Musiq Soulchild

Britney Spears

Ne-Yo

Usher

Toni Braxton

Beyonce was the big winner at the Grammys, getting six awards including song of the year for Single Ladies and female pop vocal performance

Record of the Year: “Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon

Album of the Year: “Fearless,” Taylor Swift

Song of the Year: “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On it),” Beyonce Knowles

New Artist: Zac Brown Band

Pop Vocal Album: “The E.N.D.”, The Black Eyed Peas

Female Pop Vocal Performance: “Halo,” Beyonce Knowles

Male Pop Vocal Performance: “Make It Mine,” Jason Mraz

Rock Album: “21st Century Breakdown,” Green Day

Rock Song: “Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon

R&B Album: “BLACKsummers’night, “Maxwell

R&B Song: “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” Beyonce Knowles

Rap Album: “Relapse,” Eminem

Rap Song: “Run This Town,” Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: “Run This Town,” Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West

Country Album: “Fearless,” Taylor Swift

Female Country Vocal Performance: “White Horse,” Taylor Swift

Male Country Vocal Performance: “Sweet Thing,” Keith Urban,

Latin Pop Album: “Sin Frenos,” La Quinta Estacion

Contemporary Jazz Album: “75,” Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate

Classical Album: “Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio from Symphony No. 10″

Traditional Gospel Album: “Oh Happy Day,” various artists

Dance Recording: “Poker Face,” Lady Gaga

Electronic Dance Album: “The Fame,” Lady Gaga

Alternative Music Album: “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix,” Phoenix

Best Rock Instrumental Performance: “A Day In The Life,” Jeff Beck

Best Metal Performance: “Dissident Aggressor,” Judas Priest

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: “Ellipse,” Imogen Heap

Spoken Word Album: “Always Looking Up,” Michael J. Fox

Comedy Album: “A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!” Stephen Colbert

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media: “Slumdog Millionaire,” Various Artists, A.R. Rahman, producer.

Traditional World Music Album: “Douga Mansa,” Mamadou Diabate.

Contemporary World Music Album: “Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 - Africa Sessions,” Bela Fleck.

Reggae Album: “Mind Control - Acoustic,” Stephen Marley.

Tropical Latin Album: “Ciclos,” Luis Enrique.

Latin Pop Album: “Sin Frenos,” La Quinta Estacion.

Latin Rock, Alternative Or Urban Album: “Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo,” Calle 13.

Regional Mexican Album: “Necesito De Ti,” Vicente Fernandez.

Tejano Album: “Borders Y Bailes,” Los Texmaniacs.

Norteno Album: “Tu Noche Con…Los Tigres Del Norte,” Los Tigres Del Norte.

Banda Album: “Tu Esclavo Y Amo,” Lupillo Rivera.

The full winners list in all 109 categories will be available at Grammy.com

Beyonce puts on a show

2010 Grammys

2010 Grammy awards