The “Single Ladies” singer is pregnant.

Beyoncé held her belly as she arrived at the Video Music Awards Sunday wearing a long, red dress, quite the opposite of her normal midriff-baring stage costumes.

When addressing photographers on the red carpet, Beyoncé said, “I have a surprise!” People reported.

Beyoncé’s rep later confirmed the news to the magazine. “I’m happy to say it’s true,” the rep said, according to People.

In a June interview special on “Piers Morgan Tonight,” Beyoncé said she looked forward to parenthood.

“I always said I would have a baby at 30,” said the singer whose 30^th birthday is September 4.

Apparently, Beyoncé’s husband Jay-Z has also had children on his mind. He and Kanye rapped about fatherhood on “New Day” from their new album, “Watch The Throne.”

Beyoncé and Jay-Z wed in April 2008.

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Tyler gave an expletive-riddled acceptance speech, admitting he didn’t prepare one, and also confessed that he had dreamed of winning an MTV trophy since the age of 9. He ended the address with what seemed to be an inspirational statement to young fans, but it was largely bleeped by MTV so there isn’t much to quote.

The MTV award was for the single “Yonkers” from his solo effort “Goblin,” released on indie XL Recordings. The win was something of a surprise for MTV, as it veered from the popularity-contest feel of the show, as “Goblin” has long disappeared from Billboard’s top-200 albums chart.

Earlier, Beyonce revealed that she was pregnant with a few knowing rubs of her belly, and gave a rousing performance of “Love on Top,” a gleefully chipper single, while Orange County’s rising Young the Giant was given a prime slot for its energetic alt-rock single “My Body.”

Ashford, who along with wife Valerie Simpson wrote some of Motown’s biggest hits, died in a New York City hospital, said publicist Liz Rosenberg, who was Ashford’s longtime friend. He had been suffering from throat cancer and had undergone radiation treatment, she told The Associated Press.

Though they had some of their greatest success at Motown with classics like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Reach Out And Touch Somebody’s Hand” by Ross and “You’re All I Need To Get By” by Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Ashford & Simpson also created anthems for others, like “I’m Every Woman” by Khan (and later remade by Whitney Houston). Ashford & Simpson also had success writing for themselves: Perhaps the best-known song they sang was the 1980s hit “Solid As A Rock.”

“His music is unmatched in terms of great songwriting,” Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire said after learning of his friend’s death.

“They had magic and that’s what creates those wonderful hits, that magic,” White added. “Without those songs, those artists wouldn’t have been able to go to the next level.”

Others in the music industry also mourned the loss. On Twitter, Alicia Keys wrote, “I’m so sad that he’s gone. … So many of the greatests are going to a greater place … what a legacy of infectious music … man!”

Ashford and Simpson’s relationship stretched more than four decades. They met in 1964 in a New York City church. Ashford, a South Carolina native, had come to the city to pursue a dance career. Simpson was a music student, and after connecting with her, they decided to start to write songs together.

“They were always comfortable with each other and they made all of us comfortable, because they were comfortable,” White said.

Their first major success occurred when they came up with “Let’s Go Get Stoned” for Ray Charles. The bluesy, gospel-tinged song became a huge hit for Charles, and soon, they came to the attention of Motown Records and began penning hits for their artists.

They started out writing soulful, romantic works for the duo of Gaye and Terrell that would become instant classics, like “Your Precious Love,” and “Ain’t Nothin’ Like The Real Thing.” In fact, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was originally their hit, until Ross later rerecorded it with a new arrangement that had sweeping pop grandeur and made it her signature song.

Ross may have been their greatest muse: With her, they had some of their biggest songs and helped give her career-defining hits that would distinguish her solo career apart from The Supremes. Among the songs Ross made hits were “Reach Out and Touch,” ”The Boss,” ”My House,” and “Missing You,” a tribute to the late Gaye and others. They also composed some of the music for “The Wiz,” the movie musical that starred Ross and Michael Jackson.

In an industry where marriages and partnerships are fleeting, Ashford and Simpson stood the test of time.

“The thing is they were married and working together, that was what was special about them. Everybody admired that,” White said.

The duo, married for 38 years, helped sell millions of records for several artists. They also had success as their own entity, but despite “Solid As a Rock,” their songs were dwarfed by those they penned for others. They continued to craft hits even into the new millennium: They are credited as co-writers on Amy Winehouse’s “Tears Dry On Their Own.”

In recent years, the pair continued to perform. They also were owners of the New York City restaurant Sugar Bar, where many top names and emerging talents would put on showcases.

In 2002, Ashford & Simpson were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Ashford is survived by his wife and two daughters. Rosenberg said there is no information yet on funeral arrangements.

Currently on the second leg of what is sure to be one of 2011′s highest-grossing tours, Weezy has been hit with a $15 million lawsuit over his Young Money crew’s 2009 single ‘BedRock,’ from their compilation album ‘We Are Young Money.’

AllHipHop reports that a Waynesboro, Georgia rap group called Done Deal Enterprises has filed suit against Wayne, Young Money Records and Cash Money Records, in the Southern district of New York, claiming ‘BedRock’ contains elements of DDE’s original composition of the same name, which they allegedly handed to a contact at Young Money.

Kingston, 21, stepped out on the Gibson Amphitheatre’s red carpet for his first public appearance since the incident, clad in a bright red vest, white T-shirt, jeans, and gold jewelry.

The Jamaican-American singer recently opened up to MTV about his near-fatal accident, which occurred over Memorial Day weekend when the watercraft he was driving crashed under a small bridge, injuring him and his passenger.

“A lot of people don’t know it was a deeper situation,” the “Beautiful Girls” singer said. “I had open heart surgery and I had two other surgeries.”

Doctors had to operate on Kingston multiple times when they discovered that his aorta was torn and blood was filling his chest. But the star, who in addition suffered a broken jaw, fractured wrist, and water in his lungs, made a miraculous full recovery. “I’m 100 percent right now,” he said. “What the accident basically taught me is, in life, you have to count your blessings.”

As Lollapalooza kicked off its 20th anniversary edition Friday in Chicago, organizers announced international expansion plans. The concert will take place in Brazil for the very first time next year on April 7 and 8 at Sao Paulo’s Jockey Club. It will also make a return trip to Santiago, Chile on March 31 and April 1.

Festival founder Perry Farrell said in a statement, “The Brazilians have a very rich history of celebration. If we (Lolla) can rub together with them, there’s no telling what heights that party will reach.”

Lollapalooza began as a touring concert in 1991 and was reborn as a destination festival in 2005 taking place at Chicago’s Grant Park. This year’s lineup boasts 130 bands on eight stages including Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse, My Morning Jacket and deadmau5.

Three-day tickets for the event go for as much as $215, and a record 90,000 people are expected to attend. The festival site has been expanded by 35 acres to accommodate the bigger crowd.

William Morris Endeavor and C3 Presents produce the event in the U.S.; Lotus Producciones is its Chilean partner and GEO Eventos is its Brazilian partner.

Beyonce’s “Run The World” video premiered last night, May 18, on “American Idol.” She also made an appearance on the show coaching the final three contestants on their singing and song selection during the first round.

“Who runs the world? Girls! Who runs the world? Girls!”

In the video, Beyonce begins dancing with her shoulders, representing an “army” of women behind her as they stand before troops of men who watch closely. The “battle” is peaceful as Beyonce, dancing in a trio of women, makes moves we will soon see take YouTube by storm. The army of men stand astonished as Beyonce triumphs. They are upset that they cannot defend themselves. They are defeated.

Along with passionate moves, and making worldly fashion statements, Beyonce also maintained piercing facial expressions throughout the video. At the end of each refrain, the queen of pop belts “Girls” with vengeance and a passion like no other.

“Run The World (Girls)” makes it known that this may be a man’s world – but it is nothing without a woman’s touch and sense of style.

Beyonce sings: “My persuasion could build a nation, endless power without love we can devour” as the women dance victoriously against the men who are speechless. Overall, the video brings back a sense of strength and reasserts what it is to be a woman and what new fashion trends to catch.

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Even before she became a music superstar, Etta James was making great music, and this is demonstrated on a new compilation of her earliest recordings, Etta James: The Essential Modern Records Collection. Featuring funny songs like “The Pick Up” and “Shortnin’ Bread Rock,” this collection shows a playful side of James that is often underappreciated. As this album makes clear, the singer of the ballad “At Last” can also tell a joke.

Fresh from her first ever Grammy win in February, Miranda Lambert returns to the spotlight at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Texan leads the field with seven nominations, including her first bid for the coveted entertainer of the year award, a fan-voted honor. She will also defend her title as top female vocalist.

Lambert’s nostalgic ballad “The House That Built Me,” for which she received a Grammy, will vie for single record, song and video of the year at the ACM Awards. The award for single record goes to the artist and producer, whereas the trophy for best song is given to the artist and composer.

Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown Band received five ACM nominations each. But they failed to make the cut for entertainer of the year, a field rounded out by Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban. Swift received four nominations overall, and Urban three.

All the entertainer of the year nominees will perform during the three-hour ceremony, which gets underway at 5 p.m. PDT (8 p.m. EDT) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on the famed Las Vegas Strip. CBS will televise the show in the United States, and CMT Canada north of the border.

Other performers will include Carrie Underwood, who won the top award in 2009 and 2010, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley, and both co-hosts Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton, who is also Lambert’s fiance. The Zac Brown Band will share the stage with veteran pop singer/songwriter James Taylor.

Lady Antebellum, which led the winners at last year’s ACM Awards and this year’s Grammys, picked up three ACM nominations this time.

The ACM Awards and the Grammys do not always mirror each other because of different eligibility periods. The ACMs honor works produced in 2010, while the Grammys covered a 13-month period ended September 30, 2010. Lady Antebellum’s Grammy-winning hit song “Need You Now” was the big winner at last year’s ACM Awards, while its similarly honored album of the same name is a contender for ACM honors this year.

The album field also includes Chesney’s “Hemingway’s Whiskey,” Jamey Johnson’s “The Guitar Song,” Swift’s “Speak Now,” Bentley’s “Up on the Ridge” and Zac Brown Band’s “You Get What You Give.” Lambert won the prize last year.

The race would appear to be a close one between Lady Antebellum and Swift, if sales are any indication. “Need You Now” was the second-biggest album in the United States last year, just ahead of Swift’s late-October release. The country-pop starlet also won the award in 2009.

Holloway’s death was confirmed Monday by her manager, Ron Richardson.

The lady with the big voice got her start as a gospel singer, recording with Albertina Walker and the Caravans. In the early 1970s, she signed a recording contract with the Aware Recrods. Holloway recorded two albums for the label, both of them produced by Floyd Smith—Loleatta (1973) and Cry to Me (1975). Holloway later married Smith. Her first single from the second album, the ballad Cry to Me (video below) rose to No. 10 Billboard R&B and No. 68 on the Hot 100, but before the label could really establish Holloway, it went out of business.

Top Philadelphia arranger and producer Norman Harris quickly signed her in 1976 for his new label, Gold Mind. The first release from the album Loleatta was another Sam Dees ballad, Worn-Out Broken Heart, which reached No. 25 R&B, but the B-side, Dreaming, climbed to No. 72 on the pop chart and launched her as a disco act.

Eighteen songs of hers charted on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, including four No. 1s. However, it was a ballad that proved to be another big R&B hit for her. Only You was written and produced by Bunny Sigler, who also sang with Holloway on the track, and it reached NO. 11 in 1978.

R.I.P., Loleatta.