Jeff Giles

Never one to pass up an opportunity to speak out against sexual discrimination — or use her fame as a tool for furthering her favorite causes — Madonna has announced her intention to use an upcoming performance in Russia as a forum for speaking out against a controversial St. Petersburg law.

It seems like every time Nicki Minaj steps out in public, she makes an impression with what she’s wearing — and that goes double on the set of her videos. So, it’s no surprise that when Nicki flew to Hawaii to film her clip for ‘Starships,’ the paparazzi were on hand to get a look at her outfits.

We told you last week that Nicki Minaj‘s ‘Starships‘ was poised to make history, and now it’s official: She’s the highest-charting female rapper in U.K. history. Pop the champagne! Or whatever it is British people drink when they’re celebrating.

It didn’t come together as quickly as he originally planned it, but Chris Brown‘s follow-up to last year’s ‘F.A.M.E.’ is on its way — and now you can have your first look at the cover of the new album, titled ‘Fortune.’

The-Dream may be in favor of Rihanna and Chris Brown guesting on each other’s tracks, but there’s a long list of people who still can’t quite believe what they’re hearing — and that group reportedly includes Jay-Z.

After what seems like countless rounds on the rumor mill — and just as many denials — the worst-kept secret in pop music has finally been officially confirmed: Adam Lambert will perform with Queen this year.

He had to take a break from working on his new music while he recovered from throat surgery, but John Mayer is on the mend — and he’s close enough to the finish line that he’s ready to start sharing clips from his upcoming album, ‘Born and Raised,’ starting with just over a minute from the first single, ‘Shadow Days.’

Take a deep breath, Adele fans. Yes, she’s taking a break after her triumphant, Grammy-sweeping year, but it looks like that whole “five-year break” thing was some sort of misunderstanding: According to Adele’s latest website update, she’s due to return to the studio in the very near future.

The long-gestating sequel to ‘Waiting to Exhale’ is still in the works — even after the untimely death of Whitney Houston, who was an important part of the original’s ensemble cast. And as Fox 2000 Pictures chief Elizabeth Gabler sees it, “It’s almost in her honor that we think to soldier on.”

All things considered, it’s highly unlikely that you received an invitation to Whitney Houston‘s funeral. However, you can still pay your respects when she’s laid to rest on Saturday, Feb. 18, and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your chair. According to the Associated Press, Houston’s funeral service will be streamed live over the Internet via the AP’s official website.

If you assumed that motherhood was going to keep Beyonce from releasing new music in 2012… Well, you were right. But according to in-demand producer/OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder, she’ll make up for lost time next year — by releasing not one, but two albums.

We all thought the Pussycat Dolls were finished when Nicole Scherzinger departed the group to pursue her solo career — but they’re back with brand new members, and they’ll make their national television debut during the Super Bowl on Feb. 5.