Things I Heard

Ever wondered how many other losers are selfishly sharing YOUR birthday?  Now you can actually figure it out.  Kind of.

--A statistician put together a chart of all 365 days of the year based on the total births on each of those days between 1973 and 1999.  You'll want to check out your date, but here are some highlights.

--The least-popular date for birthdays was February 29th, obviously . . . since it only occurs once every four years on a leap year, when there are actually 366 days in a year. 

--The second least popular day is December 25th.  Apparently that birthday is already TAKEN.

--The most popular date for births is September 16th.  That's JUST about nine months after the holiday season.  And actually, all ten of the most common birthdates are in September. 

--September 11th is the 24th most common . . . but that's now dropping.

(--Check out the interactive chart here where you can click your birthday to find its rank.)

KELLY CLARKSON ANNOUNCES UK TOUR

Kelly Clarkson announced U-K tour dates this week, in support of her latest album, Stronger. The singer will be kicking thinks off in Dublin, Ireland on October 10^th. The U-K may have Kelly in the fall, but her U-S fans will get to see her all summer long on the new ABC show Duets.

THE WANTED WILL SURPRISE YOU

The Wanted are working on their next album right now and they chatted with MTV News about the follow-up to their 2011 EP, Battleground. Singer Jay McGuiness says fans can expect new, fresh material on this upcoming EP and that the guys are all very excited about the new stuff they’ve been writing and recording.

BRITNEY SPEARS MAKES FIRST X FACTOR APPEARANCE!

Britney Spears and Demi Lovato appeared at the FOX upfront this week alongside Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid.  The foursome will officially be the judging panel for the upcoming season of The X Factor.  Spears made news last week when she signed on to the show for 15-million dollars.  Lovato was announced as a judge/mentor on Monday.  She is set to make one-million dollars for one season on the show, according to Gossip Cop. 

• QUOTE: Britney Spears said, “Just really being able to be there and inspire the other contestants ... they’re so young and they're trying to fulfill their dreams. It’s just a whole beautiful concept. It's just really cool.”

JENNIFER LOPEZ TOPS FORBES’ CELEBRITY 100 LIST

Jennifer Lopez tops Forbes’ Celebrity 100 list, taking over the top spot that belonged to Lady Gaga last year.  Gaga falls to number five, while Oprah Winfrey and Justin Bieber hold on to the number two and three spots, respectively and Rihanna debuts on the list at number four.  Within the last year, Lopez divorced from Marc Anthony, celebrated her second year on American Idol, landed endorsement deals with L'Oreal and Gillette, launched a clothing line at Kohl's, scored a top-selling fragrance and currently stars in What to Expect When You’re Expecting. 

• TIDBIT: Other notable entries on the Forbes Celebrity 100 include Taylor Swift at number 11, Beyoncé at 16, Jay-Z at 38, Kristen Stewart at 43, Kanye West at 45 and Lil Wayne is at 69.

RARE BEATLES ABBEY ROAD PHOTO UP FOR BIDS

When Beatles fans think of the Fab Four’s album Abbey Road, most conjure up the iconic image of the band crossing the street.  Well it turns out that the classic cover shot wasn’t the only photo taken during that shoot and now, a rare photograph of the band walking the other way across Abbey Road is going up for bids and is expected to sell for over 14-thousand dollars.  Along with the band walking right to left, other differences in the photo are that Paul McCartney isn’t barefoot – he’s wearing sandals – and he isn’t holding a cigarette.  The auction takes place in England later this month.

• TIDBIT: Late photographer Iaian MacMillan took the pictures.  The photo shoot lasted ten minutes and during that time, he took six photos of the band walking backwards and forwards across the street.  MacMillan was on a ladder to take the shots.

LIVE: GREEN DAY TO HEADLINE VOODOO MUSIC EXPERIENCE

Green Day are set to headline the Voodoo Music Experience later this year. The event will take place in New Orleans on October 26^th through the 28^th and is currently Green Day’s only U-S date scheduled for 2012. Over the coming months, the band will release a trilogy of albums called, ¡Uno! ¡Dos! and ¡Tré!,. Visit GreenDay.com for more.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS JOINED DAMON ALBARN IN AFRICA FOR NEW PROJECT

Red Hot Chili Peppers Flea and Josh Klinghoffer recently travelled to Africa with Gorillaz mainman Damon Albarn as part of his Africa Express project. Flea told NME, “Josh and I went to Ethiopia as part of Africa Express with Damon, who was so kind to invite us. What an amazing place it is. We meet all kind of people, artists, poets, intellectuals. It's like another world." The bass player goes on to say, “We had such a good time. One time me and Josh went to this orphanage and we took these two little amps and we just started rocking and they left just started laughing. It was righteous man. It was a really profound experience." We’ll be sure to let you know when you can check out more from that project.

RIHANNA IS FEARLESS!

Rihanna will make her feature film debut in Battleship, which opens in theaters tomorrow (5/18).  The singer and actress told us she loves taking risks and taking leaps of faith. You can watch Rihanna taking risks opposite Liam Neeson, Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard and Brooklyn Decker when Battleship opens tomorrow

• TIDBIT: Rihanna will help American Idol close out its 11^th season next week.  The big show airs live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 23^rd at 8 PM on FOX. 

RASCAL FLATTS’ CHANGED ALBUM GETS THE GOLD TREATMENT

Rascal Flatts are taking in the recent success of their new album, Changed, as it has been certified Gold for selling over 500-thousand copies. The honor is extra special to the group since band member Gary Levox believes they each put everything they had into the record. Rascal Flatts are taking Little Big Town, the Eli Young Band and Edens Edge out on their Changed Tour this summer. The first leg of the trek kicks off on June 15^th in Hartford, Connecticut.

LADY ANTEBELLUM TAKES THE STAGE FOR BENEFIT CONCERT

Lady Antebellum’s Rebuilding Henryville Charity Ball will take place tonight (5/16), and the trio is excited to change the lives of the community in Henryville, Indiana. Band member Hillary Scott said she us hoping their music will help the area take their mind off of the damage from recent tornadoes. Henryville High School was chosen as the winner of a video contest to have Lady A perform at the school’s prom, but the idea grew bigger than expected. All proceeds from the show’s ticket sales will benefit tornado relief efforts in Henryville.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD SEES MIKE FISHER’S ROMANTIC STREAK

Carrie Underwood will be the first person to claim that her husband, Mike Fisher, is not big on public displays of affection.  In fact, she told an Australian radio show that “to get him to kiss [her] in public is a really big deal.” Carrie and Mike recently hung out with Oprah at their Nashville cabin. The two will appear on Oprah’s Next Chapter this Sunday at 9 PM Eastern on OWN.

FUN. HAS FUN ON THE ROAD

Since their name is Fun. do you wonder how much “fun” the band gets up to on the road? In an interview with Rolling Stone, singer Nate Ruess of Fun. explains his drinking habits before he gets up to play a show, “I've turned it into a schedule. I drink one or two shots of whiskey 30 minutes before we go onstage. Then there's a nice break in the set where we play acoustic and I have another shot. After the show, I should stop, but I'm all jacked up, so I usually have one more glass of whiskey. Then I turn into what everybody refers to as ‘Dr. Midnight.’ ‘Dr. Midnight’ has no dietary restrictions. All f**king hell breaks loose.” Fun. plays the Sasquatch Festival in Washington State on May 28^th. Visit OurNameisFun.com for more tour dates.

JOHN MAYER LEARNED HIS LESSON FROM EXPLOSIVE INTERVIEWS

Back in 2010, it seemed like John Mayer couldn’t keep his mouth shut – talking about having sex with Jessica Simpson and still having a crush on Jennifer Aniston. Well Mayer is talking about that time in his career, saying he looks back at the period as a very strange time in his life and explaining that he lost his head for a little while. Mayer did an interview with Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show this week, where he revealed he stepped out of the spotlight for the past year or so to grow up and mature. Mayer’s new album, Born & Raised, comes out on May 22^nd.

ONEREPUBLIC DRUMMER WAS ARRESTED

OneRepublic’s drummer, Edward Ray Fisher, was arrested in Denver on Tuesday morning and charged with destruction of private property. TMZ reported that details about the 38-year-old rocker’s arrest are scarce, but he was also booked on disturbing the peace. We’ll get you more details when we learn them.

ALT AND ROCK TOPS THE BILLBOARD SONGS CHARTS

Alternative acts and rock bands are currently topping the Billboard songs charts. Fun. sits at number one on the Pop Songs chart with their smash single “We Are Young,” while Gotye tops the Alternative chart with his catchy hit “Somebody That I Used To Know.” Linkin Park sits at the summit of the Rock Songs with their new single “Burn It Down,” off their upcoming new album, which is due out next month.

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE ADD SECOND HOLLYWOOD BOWL DATE

Due to overwhelming demand, Florence and the Machine has announced a second show at the Hollywood Bowl. The British singer will play the venue on October 7^th and October 8^th and tickets are on sale now. For a full list of Florence and the Machine’s upcoming fall tour dates visit FlorenceAndTheMachine.net now.

JONAS BROTHERS TALKS NEXT ALBUM

Joe Jonas is talking about the Jonas Brothers’ next album. Joe told MTV News that the guys are currently recording a bunch of new material, both writing and producing the songs themselves. He also revealed that some of their recording sessions may end up on Kevin Jonas’s new E! reality show, Married to Jonas.

LADY GAGA CANCELS HER SHOW IN INDONESIA

Lady Gaga has been forced to cancel her sold-out show in Jakarta, Indonesia. The singer scrapped the gig after conservative lawmakers and Islamic hard-liners refused to grant her a permit for the show. The lawmakers protested the sexy costumes and provocative dance moves that are part of the Born This Way Ball. Gaga had sold out a 52-thousand seat stadium in Jakarta. MTVNews.com has more. 

KATY PERRY READY FOR A F***ING VACATION

Katy Perry has been extremely busy over the past two years, scoring five number one hits and touring the world, and it looks like she has one more single left in her before she takes a break.  The singer won the Artist of the Year Award at the NARM Music Awards last week and ther,e she announced her next single will be “Wide Awake,” which was written for her new concert film, Part of Me 3D.  The film arrives in theaters on July 5^th. 

• QUOTE: Katy Perry said, "I swear, after this song, I'm taking a f***ing vacation."

DEV LOVES MUSIC VIDEOS

Dev teamed up with Enrique Iglesias for her latest single and video for “Naked.”  The singer told us she loves making music videos.  MTV will give viewers an inside look at Dev’s journey to pop stardom in the new documentary DEV, which airs Wednesday, May 23^rd at 11 PM Eastern.

• STATEMENT: Dev released the following statement: “I am so excited to share these very personal and crazy moments from the past year of my life with viewers, I hope I inspire everyone to keep it pushin, and to do YOU, no matter what! The road to the release of my album was F***in insane, but my passion and love for making music made every bump completely worth it."
• TRAILER!  To view the trailer for DEV click HERE.

MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS ARE ON SEPTEMBER 6^th

The date of the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards has been revealed. The show will beam out live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 6^th at 8 PM Eastern. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on everything VMAs when we find out who will host the big show and who’s up for which awards! Stay tuned.

• TIDBIT: In the meantime, make sure to watch the 2012 MTV Movie Awards, airing live Sunday, June 3^rd. Russell Brand will host, so it’s sure to be an entertaining show!
• TIDBIT: During last year’s VMAs, Beyoncé revealed that she was pregnant.

·        TIDBIT: The 2011 Video Music Awards scored MTV’s biggest audience in the network’s history with a record-breaking 12.4-million total viewers.

DEMI LOVATO JOINS THE X FACTOR

Demi Lovato will join Britney Spears on The X Factor.  The announcement was made Monday at FOX’s upfront presentation.  Last week, Spears inked a 15-million dollar deal for one season on the show.  Lovato and Spears will join Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid for the second season of the series this fall.       

CARRIE UNDERWOOOD TAKES OVER DANCING WITH THE STARS

Carrie Underwood plans to blow viewers away with her performance during ABC’s Dancing with the Stars’ semifinals results show tonight (5/15). She will perform her current single, “Good Girl,” which, as she told us, allows her to transform her personality. Catch Carrie perform “Good Girl” tonight on Dancing with the Stars at 8 PM Eastern on ABC.

BUY ADAM LAMBERT’S NEW ALBUM, TRESPASSING, TODAY

Adam Lambert’s new album, Trespassing, is out today (5/15). We caught up with the American Idol finalist recently and he told us about his new disc (See Related Cut #3). Buy or download Trespassing today!

KATY PERRY TO DEBUT A NEW SONG AT BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS

Katy Perry will debut a new song called “Wide Awake” at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards this Sunday. The tune was written specifically for Perry’s upcoming 3D flick, Katy Perry Part of Me, which will come out on July 5^th. Tune in to the Billboard Music Awards this Sunday on ABC at 8 PM Eastern. Billboard.com has more.

THE VOICE COMING BACK IN THE FALL

The Voice is coming back sooner than you think. The singing competition show just wrapped but Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green will be back on your TVs this fall. Billboard has announced that the show will air on Mondays and Tuesdays. We’ll keep you updated on the exact date of the fall premiere when we know more. 

ADELE DOESN’T WANT TO BE A CELEBRITY

According to NME, Adele isn’t interested in fame. The singer told NBC, “I don't want to be a celebrity. I don't want to be in people's faces.” Adele goes on to explain, “I've managed to stay out of the public eye. The other day I walked through Trafalgar Square on a Sunday afternoon, a tourist haven. I was a bit worried. I was in my pajamas as well because I had been working the day before. [But] nobody recognized me. A couple of people looked round, but they were like 'What would she be doing walking through Trafalgar Square in pajamas?'" So how would Adele like to be remembered in 10 years time? She says, “I just want to make music. I mean, I still hope I have a little bit of clout in 10 years. But all I've ever wanted to do was sing."

TAYLOR SWIFT PUTS A SMILE ON A FAN’S FACE

Taylor Swift is supporting a fan once again, as the singer lifted the spirits of a 13-year-old girl named Summer. According to CBS Sacramento, Summer and her mother were hit by a drunk driver on their way to Taylor’s concert this past September, forcing the two to be pulled from a smashed SUV instead of attending the show. Officer Mike Lowry, who arrived on the scene was changed by the event, and really wanted to make sure Summer saw her favorite singer. The officer was finally able to get in touch with Taylor’s camp through a local radio station, and they promised Summer would see Taylor if the singer stops in Sacramento on her next tour. Until then, Summer received some Taylor Swift memorabilia.

• RELATED NEWS: Taylor Swift’s hit “Mean” will be featured as a duet on FOX’s Glee tonight (5/15) at 8 PM Eastern.

RASCAL FLATTS WILL NOT TOLERATE TEXTING AT DINNER

Rascal Flatts are venting on one of their biggest pet peeves – texting at dinner! Band member Jay DeMarcus says he can’t stand eating a meal around people who won’t put down their cell phones. Luckily for Rascal Flatts, they have something to take their minds off of their text messaging pet peeve. The band is gearing up to release their new single, “Come Wake Me Up,” off of their album, Changed.

CMT MUSIC AWARDS BRINGS COUNTRY FANS A STAR STUDDED LINEUP

The first round of performers have been announced for the 2012 CMT Music Awards. The lineup is full of country music’s favorites as Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and the Zac Brown Band. The 11^th Annual CMT Music Awards will broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on June 6^th at 8 PM Eastern on CMT and CMT.com. Tickets for the show will go on sale May 21^st at 11AM Eastern.

• RELATED LINK: Fans can purchase tickets for the 2012 CMT Music Awards starting May 21^st at 11 AM Eastern here: http://bit.ly/IUkCyu.

WILL.I.AM DROPS NEW SINGLE!

Will.i.am has released a new single titled “This Is Love.” The record was produced by Swedish House Mafia’s Steve Angello and features Eva Simons.  The Black Eyed Peas frontman, who is currently serving as a judge on the U-K version of The Voice, finished the song a couple days ago and premiered it on Capital FM in London.  Will is still working on his solo album, #willpower.  His first single off the effort was “T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever),” which features Jennifer Lopez and Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.

FLO RIDA TALKS DR. DRE

Dr. Dre has been working on his Detox album for over 10 years and we still don’t know when it will arrive in stores.  Dre has dropped two singles off the effort, “Kush” and “I Need a Doctor” featuring Skylar Grey and Eminem.  We caught up with Flo Rida, who is just like the rest of us and can’t wait to hear the album.  While we wait for Dre, Flo Rida will release his new album, Wild Ones, on July 3^rd.

• TIDBIT: Dr. Dre was born Andre Romelle Young on February 18^th, 1965.   

SANTANA’S SPIRITUAL SONGS

Today (5/15), Carlos Santana releases his latest album, Shape Shifter.  The record features 13 instrumental songs that he’s written since the late ‘90s and held on to for a project just like this one.  Here’s what the legendary guitarist told us when we asked him if he tries to make his music spiritual.

“When you paint with watercolors and you dip the brush into the color, it won’t work unless you dip it in water first.  So I love to play music that is like you dip yourself into this water to be as holy, sacred and divine.  All of us have those essence in us.”

Pick up Shape Shifter today and be sure to catch Carlos live this summer.  You can see all of his tour dates at Santana.com.

• TIDBIT: Shape Shifter is Carlos’ 36^th album.

SEE BRUCE CHECK SOUND

Ever wonder what a Bruce Springsteen soundcheck looks like?  Well now you can find out.  The Boss has released some footage of himself and the E Street Band warming up before their first European date this year in Seville, Spain this weekend.  Check it out at BruceSpringsteen.net.

       TIDBIT: The stadium where the concert took place is called the Estadio Olimpico de Sevilla, however, no Olympics where ever held there.  Seville bid for the 2004 and 2008 Summer Games but didn’t win them.

ONE DIRECTION SING “MORE THAN THIS” TO THEIR FANS

One Direction’s live tour DVD comes out on May 29^th and it contains some sweet touring footage of the band. This past week, the group released a clip of them singing “More Than This” and it’ll be included on their Up All Night: The Live Tour DVD. The video features close-ups of each band member and b-roll of their teenage girl fans going crazy. Head to OneDirection.com to check out the live video.

LADY GAGA APPEARS IN THE SIMPSONS’ SEASON FINALE

Lady Gaga is making a cartoon cameo on The Simpsons’ season finale episode on May 20^th. In the episode, Gaga comes to town to cheer up “Lisa,” and in the process, wears her signature meat dress and flame-shooting bra. The Simpsons celebrates its 25^th anniversary this year. Check out the season finale on FOX at 8 PM Eastern.

OWL CITY’S NEW SINGLE

Owl City had a hit single in 2009 with the tune “Fireflies,” and now, the singer is back with more. This summer, Adam Young will release his fourth album, but first he’s dropping a new sampler EP called The Shooting Star. The EP hits stores tomorrow (5/15), and contains four songs, including the title track. The effort is meant to be a preview of the full length disc he’s releasing later in the summer.  Head over to Billboard.com to stream Owl City’s latest song, “Shooting Star,” which is on the EP.

TV: CEE LO WANTS ADAM LEVINE AND CHRISTINA AGUILERA TO STOP FIGHTING ON THE VOICE

Cee Lo is sounding off about his fellow Voice judges Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine and their ongoing feud. Cee Lo tells Us Weekly, “It's getting a little old and a little inconvenient for everyone.” He hopes the arguing will end saying, “It's not something that we should carry over into season three. I want the integrity of the show intact." Host Carson Daly also weighed in, “It's frustrating in the same way when you're just with your family on Thanksgiving and the conversation over Monopoly gets heightened for a second – I'm looking at my sister going, 'Is my blood really boiling over the fact that you have Park Place?' Then it goes away." He added, "It's nothing new for us."

JUSTIN BIEBER RELEASES NEW SONG!

Justin Bieber has released a new song off his upcoming album, Believe, called “Turn To You.”  The 18-year-old dropped the song last week in time for Mother’s Day as a tribute to his mom, who worked hard to raise him.  Believe arrives in stores on June 19^th.     

• TWEET: Bieber took to Twitter last week and gave a shout out to all mothers, writing, "Help moms in need. Give them strength. thank u mom. it's on ITUNES. Happy Mother's Day Weekend. this is for my mom and all those moms out there. here is #TurnToYou."

JOE JONAS JOINS KATY PERRY AND NICKI MINAJ FOR PEPSI!

Pepsi has tapped Joe Jonas for its new Live for Now campaign.  Jonas, who joins Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj on the campaign, told MTV News that he is happy to work with the soft drink giant.  He added that he relates to the campaign, saying, "It's, I think, a good match. A lot of stuff that I love to do is spontaneous, last minute and living in the moment."  Earlier this month, Pepsi announced that Michael Jackson, who struck a deal with the brand in 1984, will be featured on its soda cans, which will in stores later this month.

MTV PRESENTS DEV

MTV will give viewers an inside look at Dev’s journey to pop stardom in the new documentary, DEV, which airs on Wednesday.  The special will follow her rise to fame while balancing family and a high risk pregnancy, all surrounding the release of her debut album, The Night the Sun Came Up.  DEV airs Wednesday, May 23^rd at 11 PM Eastern.

• TIDBIT: Dev is the voice behind the hits “Like A G6,” “In the Dark” and “Naked,” a duet with Enrique Iglesias.
• STATEMENT: Dev released the following statement: “I am so excited to share these very personal and crazy moments from the past year of my life with viewers, I hope I inspire everyone to keep it pushin, and to do YOU, no matter what! The road to the release of my album was F***in insane, but my passion and love for making music made every bump completely worth it."
• TRAILER!  To view the trailer for DEV click here.

U2 EXHIBIT OPENS IN DUBLIN

A new U2 exhibition opened up at the Little Museum in Dublin, Ireland this week. The show features rare photos of the Irish band from their early days, which were taken by photographer Patrick Brocklebank. U2: 1978-81 will run at the Little Museum of Dublin until September 2^nd. Visit U2.com for details.

DAVID GUETTA BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH MUSIC

David Guetta is constantly travelling the globe, spinning for fans of dance music.  The French DJ and producer told us he loves to bring people together through music.  David will spin in his home country of France on June 8^th. 

• TIDBIT: David Guetta’s latest single is “Titanium” featuring Sia.  It has sold over 324-thousand copies in just four weeks.
• TIDBIT: Guetta will perform the 2012 Electric Daisy Carnival, which takes place on June 8^th to the 10^th at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

SAMBORA WORKING ON NEW BON JOVI AND NEW SOLO ALBUMS

Bon Jovi might not be touring right now but that doesn’t mean they aren’t keeping busy.  Guitarist Richie Sambora told Rolling Stone that the band is in the studio and he’s working on his first solo album in 14 years.  The rocker revealed that a new Bon Jovi record will be out early next year since they just “started laying down basics a couple of weeks back.”  He added that it “sounds great.”  As for his own album, the self-titled effort comes out this summer and Sambora says it will surprise fans since they probably don’t see him as a vocalist, even though he was the lead singer for every band he was in before Bon Jovi.  Read more at RollingStone.com.

• TIDBIT: Bon Jovi will play a one-off, hit-filled show at this year’s Bamboozle Festival on May 20^th in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

BEASTIE BOYS ALBUMS RE-ENTER THE BILLBOARD 200 CHART

Sales of Beastie Boys records have skyrocketed since the death of Adam Yauch last Friday. Their Licensed to Ill album currently sits at number 18 on the Billboard album chart. Paul’s Boutique, Check your Head, Ill Communication, Beastie Boys Anthology: The Sounds of Science and their latest, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, have all also re-entered the top 200. Yauch passed away on Friday at the age of 47 after a long battle with cancer.

Who wants to spend the weekend with the Twins at Target Field?  WTBX is giving away Twins tickets for this Friday AND Saturday.  2 lucky listeners will each win a pair of tickets to BOTH games at Target Field May 11^th and 12^th!!!!

Do you want to go?  We want to send you.  Well, we want to send hardcore fans.  People who are going to don their Twins gear and bring a sign to Target Field and try to get on TV.

So here is how you get those tickets:

1. Make a sign for the games.  It could be a “hi mom” sign, a “circle me Bert” sign, a “go Twins” sign, a "shampoo is better" sign…whatever.  Clever and funny will earn big points with the judges.  The only requirement- the sign must include WTBX somewhere.
2. Put on your Twins gear.  Paint your face.  Whatever you are planning on putting on for the weekend at Target Field.
3. Take a photo of you and your sign and post it on our Facebook Page.  https://www.facebook.com/wtbx93.9

Craig and Justin will announce the winners (that’s right, we’ll have TWO winners) Wednesday during the Early Morning Show.

GET CRACKING!

NEW MUSIC: NEW NO DOUBT ALBUM OUT ON SEPTEMBER 25^TH

Good news for No Doubt fans. The band will be release their new studio album, their first since 2001’s Rock Steady, on September 25^th. The band writes on their site, “We are incredibly excited to share the new music with you. Ear candy coming your way! Thank you all so much for your support over the last 25 years. We're really proud of our new album and we hope you love it as much as we do. We'll be posting a lot of updates between now and September as we shoot the video and start rehearsing to perform the new songs live for all of you." We’ll be sure to keep you posted.

WHY BILLY JOEL LOVES HIS JOB

Today (5/9), Billy Joel turns 63 years old.  The Piano Man is pretty pleased with the career he picked, and he explained to us exactly why.

“I’ve had worse jobs than this.  This is a nice job.  Everybody knows ya, you get a table anywhere you go, people tell you they love your work.  What’s wrong with that?  Beats working in a factory and I’ve done that too.”

You can learn more about Billy through the Q&A’s he posts on his website.  Check them out at BillyJoel.com.

• TIDBIT: Billy has had 33 Top 40 hits and has won six GRAMMYs, been nominated for 23 and sold over 150-million records worldwide.

MAD MEN PAY BIG BUCKS FOR BEATLES SONG

If you caught the latest episode of Mad Men, you likely heard The Beatles’ song “Tomorrow Never Knows” closing out the show.  Well if you’re a fan of the band, you know that’s a rare thing.  Few times has a tune written and recorded by the Fab Four been licensed for use on a TV series and Mad Men paid a pretty penny for the rights.  250-thousand dollars in fact, according to sources who revealed the price to the New York Times.  Matthew Weiner, the Executive Producer of the series, told the paper, “Whatever people think, this is not about money.  It never is. They are concerned about their legacy and their artistic impact.”  Read more at NYTimes.com.

• TIDBIT: Most major pop songs can be licensed for under 100-thousand dollars.
• TIDBIT: Besides tunes on the occasional commercial or the Beatles’ cartoon series from the 1960s, Mad Men using “Tomorrow Never Knows” is likely one of the only times a Beatles track has been used in a TV show.

WATCH MAROON 5

Even though The Voice aired its season finale last night, you can still take a look back at the show and check out Adam Levine’s performance with contestant Tony Lucca, as well as a ton of other videos from this past season, starring the Maroon 5 frontman, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo and Blake Shelton. Check out NBC.com/The-Voice to relive the magic.

ADELE HAS A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY

Adele celebrated her 24^th birthday on May 5^th and the singer had a great day. She tweeted thanks to all her fans for their birthday wishes and revealed one of her favorite gifts was getting a blossom tree. She also set the rumor mill right, saying she did not get engaged. Follow Adele at Twitter.com/OfficialAdele.

FERGIE GETS INTO THE WINE BUSINESS

According to Forbes, Fergie recently bought a vineyard and plans to release wine this summer.  The Black Eyed Peas singer called the vineyard Ferguson Crest and will have her father run it.  Fergie said it “won’t be a high-volume business,” and she plans on releasing about one-thousand cases of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. 

• TIDBIT: Fergie also has three signature fragrances through Avon and a line of shoes plus she's the spokesperson for Wet 'n Wild cosmetics and the face of Voli vodka. 

FORMER RHCP GUITARIST FEELS “DISHONORED” BY EXCLUSION FROM ROCK HALL.

Billboard reports that former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Jack Sherman is angry at his ex-bandmates for not inviting him along to their recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sherman played on the group’s first record and contributed material to their second but was not included when the band was inducted back in April. Dave Navarro, who also played with the Peppers, was left out from the ceremony as well. Sherman says, “It’s a politically correct way of omitting Dave Navarro and I for whatever reasons they have – that are probably the band’s and not the Hall’s. It’s really painful to see all this celebrating going on, and be excluded.” He goes on further to say, “I’m being dishonored. And it sucks.” The Chili Peppers’ lawyer released a statement saying, “It’s not a decision made by the band. It’s made by the Hall of Fame. They determine which of the members, through their career, get inducted.”

NELLY FURTADO SAYS THE BIGGER THE BETTER!

Nelly Furtado has released her new single, “Big Hoops (Bigger The Better).”  The song was produced by Rodney Jerkins and will appear on her fifth album, The Spirit Indestructible, which arrives in stores next month.  Nelly will perform her new single at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 20^th. 

• VIDEO: You can see the video for “Big Hoops (Bigger The Better)” at NellyFurtado.com.   

MIKE D SAYS HE MISSES MCA “SO MUCH”

Mike D of the Beastie Boys has spoken out about the passing of his bandmate, Adam Yauch. Writing on the band’s Facebook page, Mike Diamond says, “I know, we should have tweeted and Instagrammed every sad, happy and inspired thought, smile or tear by now. But honestly the last few days have just been a blur of deep emotions for our closest friend, band mate and really brother. I miss Adam so much.” Yauch died on Friday at the age of 47 after a long battle with cancer.

AD-ROCK ON THE PASSING OF MCA

Adam Horovitz, a-k-a Ad-Rock from the Beastie Boys, has opened up about the passing of his bandmate Adam Yauch, who died on Friday after a long battle with cancer. Ad-Rock wrote on BeastieBoys.com, “As you can imagine, s**t is just fkd up right now. But I wanna say thank you to all our friends and family (which are kinda one in the same) for all the love and support. I'm glad to know that all the love that Yauch has put out into the world is coming right back at him. Thank you.”

BIEBER GRADUATES!

Justin Bieber told England’s Daily Telegraph that he has officially graduated high school.  While recording his platinum albums and touring the world, Bieber kept up with his school work and has finished school after passing his final test. 

• TIDBIT: Bieber’s latest video for “Boyfriend” racked up eight-million views within 24 hours after it was posted online.  The clip has now been viewed over 20-million times in less than a week. 

BIEBER TALKS BASKETBALL MOVIE

Last year it was reported that Justin Bieber was teaming up with Mark Wahlberg for a basketball movie.  The film has run into some delays and it looks like it might not happen anytime soon.  Bieber told MTV News that the two still want to make the flick.  He added that the script is being rewritten.  Wahlberg said in the past that the film will be like Martin Scorsese’s The Color of Money, which starred Tom Cruise and Paul Newman, with Bieber playing the rookie to Wahlberg's mentor character.

THE FIRST DUETS PREVIEW IS OUT

The first preview for Kelly Clarkson’s new singing competition show, Duets, aired Monday morning on Good Morning America. It looks like it’s going to be a fun series. The show stars Kelly, Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Robin Thicke and John Legend, and follows them as they travel the country looking for the best singers to duet with. The show premieres on Thursday, May 24^th on ABC.

ONEREPUBLIC WANT YOU TO READ

OneRepublic has a book recommendation for you. The guys did a lot of traveling this weekend, heading to Dubai for a show, and Ryan Tedder recommended the book he was reading to his Twitter followers. It’s called Seal Team Six and is a memoir of an elite navy seal sniper. You can pick up a copy from your local library or buy it in stores or online now. 

THE SCRIPT ANNOUNCE NYC SHOW

The Script have announced a New York City show at the iconic Radio City Music Hall. The Irish band will be performing there on October 9^th and the guys have promised to keep us all informed on when we can buy tickets. The Script are currently finishing up work on the follow-up to their 2010 album, Science & Faith. For updates on their new disc and for tour dates, check out Twitter.com/TheScript.

BEASTIE BOYS iTUNES SALES SKYROCKET

Beastie Boy Adam Yauch passed away on Friday and fans flocked to iTunes this weekend to buy the rap groups’ albums in honor of his legacy. The trio’s debut disc, Licensed to Ill, shot up to number three on the album chart on the downloading site, while their 1989 follow-up, Paul’s Boutique, went to number 13. All of their studio albums, including their 1999 anthology, popped onto the iTunes list over the weekend. MTVNews.com has more.

• TIDBIT: According to MTV News, this surge in sales for the Beastie Boys is similar to what happened after Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, Etta James and Michael Jackson passed away.

LINKIN PARK & INCUBUS TO PLAY L-A

Linkin Park and Incubus will be co-headlining the Honda Civic Tour this summer and they’ve just announced a show in Los Angeles on September 8^th as part of that trek. The tour kicks off on August 14^th in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Before then though, on June 26^th, Linkin Park’s new disc, Living Things, hits shelves.  If you pre-order the record now on the band’s website, you’ll not only get a free mp3 download of their song “Burn It Down, but you’ll also score early access to buy tickets for the Honda Civic Tour and more.

JUSTIN BIEBER HAPPY WITH “BOYFRIEND”

Justin Bieber scored an instant hit with his new single, “Boyfriend,” which debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart five weeks ago.  The 18-year-old told us he is excited by everyone’s feedback about the track.  Bieber will release his new album, Believe, on June 19^th.   

• TIDBIT: “Boyfriend” is currently number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 
• TIDBIT: You can see Justin’s new video for “Boyfriend” at www.MTV.com. 

MADONNA REMEMBERS MCA

Madonna has released a statement about the death of Beastie Boy Adam Yauch.  The singer said: "The Beastie Boys were one of a kind! And so was Adam! They were all an important part of my musical history. And integral to the musical revolution that was happening at the time.  I'm very sad to hear about Adam's passing. G*D bless him and his family."  Madge included The Beastie Boys as an opening act on 1985’s The Virgin Tour. At that point, Madonna had already established herself as a formidable pop act with her first two albums and the Beasties were just getting started. Their iconic debut album, License To Ill, wouldn't come until a year later. 

• TIDBITS: There were a number of tributes on Friday night. During Coldplay's concert at the Hollywood Bowl, Chris Martin and company performed a slowed down, piano-laden rendition of the Beastie Boys' breakthrough hit "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)."  The Red Hot Chili Peppers also paid their respects during their show at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Friday. According to Rolling Stone, HCP frontman Anthony Kiedis said to the crowd, "We're playing this show tonight for Adam Yauch."  
• TIDBITS: Over the weekend, the New York Mets paid tribute to the fallen Brooklynite by playing the Beastie's music as they each walked up to the plate.

RIHANNA MISSES DRESS REHEARSAL BUT PERFORMS ON SNL

Rihanna took to the stage of Saturday Night Live over the weekend and performed "Birthday Cake" and "Talk That Talk." According to TMZ, Ri-Ri upset show producers by failing to perform at the show’s dress rehearsal on Saturday before the live show.  Rihanna was in the building but said she was sick and needed to rest before going live.  TMZ is reporting that producers of the show were upset saying the singer looked just fine and didn’t appear sick.  The website also reports that Rihanna saw a doctor and received a shot of Penicillin before taking the stage.  

KYLIE MINOGUE PREPS GREATEST HITS ALBUM!

Kylie Minogue will release a greatest hits album next month.  According to Billboard, the Australian singer, who is celebrating 25 years in the music industry, will put out The Best of Kylie Minogue in June.  The 21-song set includes number one hits like "Can't Get You Out Of My Head," "Love at First Sight" and "Get Outta My Way." The Best of Kylie Minogue arrives on June 19^th. 

·        TRACK LIST: The track list for The Best of Kylie Minogue:
“Can't Get You Out Of My Head”
“Spinning Around”
“I Should Be So Lucky”
“Love At First Sight”
“In Your Eyes”
“Kids” (featuring Robbie Williams)
“Better The Devil You Know”
“All The Lovers”
“Give Me Just A Little More Time”
“Celebration”
“Slow”
“Red Blooded Woman”
“I Believe In You”
“On A Night Like This”
“Confide In Me”
“Get Outta My Way”
“The Loco-Motion”
“Tears On My Pillow”
“Wow”
“In My Arms”
“Never Too Late”

BEASTIE BOY ADAM YAUCH HAS DIED

TMZ is reporting that Beastie Boy rapper Adam Yauch, has passed away at the age of 47. Back in 2009, Adam, who went by the name MCA in the group, announced that he had cancer and went through surgery and radiation treatment. It’s not clear if his death was related to his battle with cancer, but we’ll keep you updated. Yauch co-founded the Beastie Boys in 1979 with Mike D, Mix Master Mike and Ad Roc. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

• TIDBIT: The Beastie Boys have won three GRAMMYS.
• TIDBIT: Just last month, the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Adam was not able to make it to the induction ceremony but no reason was given as to why.
• TWITTER REACTIONS:
• Cypress Hill: “deepest condolences 2 the family of Adam yauch & the beastie boys. Adam was the coolest dude ever& will b missed but memory will live on.”
• Papa Roach: “Rest in Peace to a hip hop pioneer - Adam Yauch aka MCA of Beastie Boys.”
• Reverend Run: “R I P Adam... I'm devastated. Praying for Adam Yauch's family from the legendary Beastie Boys. Youll be missed!
• Kurt Loder: “RIP Adam Yauch: Beastie Boys live at Woodstock 1999: "Sabotage": http://tinyurl.com/2u8c6zg”
• Edgar Wright: “Am heartbroken about Adam Yauch. Met him exactly a year ago in NYC. He was a fine, funny, talented gent. Will miss you Nathanial Hörnblowér.
• Q-Tip: “sadness....”
• Fred Durst: “A very sad day indeed. Adam Yauch RIP.”
• 311: “Much love & respect, Adam Yauch. Our best to the #BeastieBoys family.”
• Ice-T: “TERRIBLE NEWS: MCA of the Beastie Boys has died at 47. Another very sad day in Hip Hop. #MCARIP.”
• Chantal Claret: “Paul Revere, my favorite Beastie Boys song off of License to Ill which I played till it broke. RIP MCA.”
• Hayley Williams: “RIP ADAM MCA YAUCH.”
• Benji Madden: “This news hits hard. The Beastie Boys are 1of the reasons I do music&MCA was the captain. Thanx for everythin MCA. Rest in Peace #RIPMCA”
• Duff McKagan: “RIP Adam. Your contributions to music and humanity will be remembered forever. Our hearts go out to MCA's family, and fellow Beastie's.”
• Rob Thomas: “holy s**t. R.I.P. ADAM YAUCH. MCA, you will be missed.”
• Tom Morello: “Rip dear Adam Yauch. Words can't express the sadness and loss. Ur humor, talent & gentle soul are just irreplacable. Be at peace brother.”
• One Republic: “R.I.P Adam MCA. Beastie Boys remain untouchable.”
• Linkin Park: “We're sad to learn about the death of MCA. Our condolences to the Beastie Boys and Adam's family.”
• Kevin Smith: “RIP Adam Yauch. You made my teenage years more fun and your art made it easier for me to do what I do. For a Beastie, you sure were a beaut.”
• Travis Barker: “Rest In Peace Adam Yauch /MCA. 4ever somebody i looked up to & had the pleasure of meeting. Damn this bums me out, we lost one of the best.”
• Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers: “Wow, lost another brother..sail on MCA..”
• Rainn Wilson: “RIP Adam Yauch (MCA of the Beastie Boys). He was a super-genius, a visionary and, most importantly, a really good person.”
• Marlon Wayans:‏ “Rest in peace Adam Yauch. Beastie Boys were always the "coolest whiteboys" when I was growing up. They erased color lines the opposite way”
• Biz Markie: “A VERY SPECIAL R.I.P. TO ADAM YAUCH FROM THE BEASTIE BOYS MY BROTHER YOU ARE GONNA BE TRULY MISSED MY HEART IS HEAVY.....”
• Big Daddy Kane: “Rest in peace MCA of the Beastie Boys. A pioneer, legend & OG that will be missed.”
• Snoop Dogg: “RIP MCA U are a Legend and a pioneer. #BeastieBoys4life”
• Common:‏ “God Bless the soul of Adam Yauch aka MCA of the Beastie Boys. RIP
• Jimmy Eat World: “We're very saddened by the passing of Adam Yauch. RIP MCA. You'll be missed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdJ5e70Q8mw.”
• Steve Aoki: “ahhh man... rest in peace to the one and only MCA. wow. terrible news”
• Uncle Kracker: "License to ill" was the soundtrack of my youth and "MCA" was as much a part of my teenage years as any one of my friends.
• Chromeo: “Devastating. #RIPMCA”
• Backstreet Boys: “Rip MCA - out thoughts are with you and your family. #BeastieBoys4Life”
• DonaldGlover: “Adam Yauch was an amazing artist and one of the nicest people I've ever met. His music was some of my favorite. Truly saddened. RIP MCA.”
• Slash: “Sad day. MCA was fucking awesome. RIP man. We'll miss you very much.”
• Billy Corgan: “Sad news about Adam Yauch's passing,a man of dignity + spiritual conviction. I always had great respect for him in times we met and talked”
• Bloc Party: “RIP MCA. Bass is a poorer place today.”
• Krist Novoselic:  “Adam Yauch #RIPMCA. Thank you for Sabotage bass riff and many other great grooves. Adam also worked for justice and peace consciousness.”
• Flea: “Prayers and all the love I could ever muster for Adam Yauch. What a beautiful man. God bless his beautiful soul. A class act all the way”
• Far East Movement: “Cuz u can't u won't and u don't stop. Always make noise for MCA. RIP to the illest. Dam this can't be real”
• Danny Masterson: “MCA u will b missed more than most. Thank you for teaching me about hiphop when I was a kid.”
• Mike Shinoda: “The first record that ever mattered to me. Will be on repeat all day. #RIPMCA http://instagr.am/p/KNyvFpDmdo/”
• Weezer: “We are so sorry to hear about the loss of the Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch (MCA) a true legend & inspirational to everyone in weezers generation”
• Nickelback: “Absolutely devastated to hear about the passing of Adam Yauch of @beastieboys. Our best wishes to his family, band mates, friends and fans.”

COLDPLAY SINGER CHRIS MARTIN HAS TINNITUS

Coldplay singer Chris Martin has revealed he’s been suffering from the inner ear condition tinnitus for the past 10 years. Tinnitus causes permanent ringing or buzzing in the ears and is often caused by overexposure to loud noises. Martin is speaking out about his condition as part of a new campaign to encourage people to take care of their ears and wear ear plugs when they’re in places full of loud noises. Check out NME.com for more.

• TIDBIT: Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am also suffers from tinnitus.

YOUNG THE GIANT SELL OUT SUMMERSTAGE

Young The Giant have sold out their July 16^th Central Park Summerstage Show. The band is also performing two songs on The Today Show on May 22^nd. They’ll be performing be performing “Cough Syrup” and “Apartment” on morning staple.

DOES JUSTIN BIEBER’S “BOYFRIEND” VIDEO PAY TRIBUTE TO ‘NSYNC?

There are quite a few similarities between Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend” video and ‘NSYSC’s “Girlfriend” music video. According to MTV News, both clips contain laid-back parking lot parties filled with fancy cars, good looking girls and hip-hop-influenced dance breaks. After the pop star’s video premiere on MTV First, Sway Calloway asked Bieber whether he had seen the “Girlfriend” video.  The pop star replied, "I haven't seen it," but he also admitted that Justin Timberlake has had a great influence on him, adding, "He was young, and he did it, and he was really amazing and had such amazing music. I can't say that I would be upset when someone compares me to him."

CARRIE UNDERWOOD UNDERSTANDS THE LIMELIGHT

Carrie Underwood graces the cover of Glamour magazine’s June issue, and inside she is spilling details on what it’s like to be in a relationship with her husband, Mike Fisher, in the public eye. She says it was a plus that “he knew what to expect” since he’s a big celebrity in Canada. She insists that he “knows what it’s like living under a microscope,” and they’re “both independent people.” Carrie recently performed on the live results show of American Idol and said that after she won season four of the show, it feels as if “you’re like an elected official.” She completely understands though because she knows “they’ve invested in you” and “they’ve sat there and voted for you.” Carrie will be making more appearances this week, as she is promoting her new album, Blown Away. She performs on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Wednesday (5/9).

FAR EAST MOVEMENT TALK DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

Far East Movement will release their new album, Dirty Bass, later this month.  FM will release Dirty Bass on May 22^nd.  That same night, they will help kick off LMFAO’s Sorry For Party Rocking Tour in Columbus, Ohio. 

• LISTEN!  FM recently released a snippet of the song “Dirty Bass” featuring Tyga on their website.  You can listen here: www.FarEastMovement.com/news/default.aspx.

SELENA GOMEZ MAKES A WISH COME TRUE

Selena Gomez has made one girl extremely happy. Her name is Ella and the Houston, Texas native was recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  Her only wish was to meet Selena Gomez so, with the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and X-Box, Selena made Ella’s wish come true. The two were able hang out and even played video games together.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADELE!

Adele turns 24 tomorrow (5/5). The British singer was born Adele Laurie Blue Adkins back in 1988 in Tottenham, North London in England.  Wish Adele a happy birthday on Cinco de Mayo using Twitter!  Send your message to @OfficialAdele.

CHARTS: ADELE’S 21 HAS SOLD MORE THAN THRILLER IN THE U-K

According to NME.com, Adele has overtaken Michael Jackson on the list of the all-time biggest selling albums in the U-K. Her album, 21, has sold over four-million copies in the U-K and now has sold 500 more than Jackson’s 1982 Thriller record. In her homeland of England, 21 has spent 65 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Official Albums Chart. It has outsold Amy Winehouse's Back To Black to become the biggest-selling album of the 21^st Century in the U-K.

NEW MUSIC: GOTYE TALKS NEXT ALBUM

Gotye is already talking about the follow-up to his new album Making Mirrors. The “Somebody That I Used To Know” singer tells NME that he wants to make a more “traditional” album next time around and goes on further to say, “I can't put a timeline on it. But I do know that I'd like to do a more traditional record, focusing more on chords and harmonies and things like that. I'd like to collaborate more with people and make more use of my band, rather than just me working on my own." So how much material does Gotye have ready? He says, “I work in stages, I usually need to withdraw for a while and experiment with things before my better ideas start floating to the top. I have a lot of unfinished things and demos from the last record, but I usually like to start afresh when I make a new record, so going by my previous track record, a couple of years wouldn't be out of the question."

MUMFORD AND SONS FINISH RECORDING NEW ALBUM

Mumford and Sons have reportedly finished their second album. The band’s keyboardist Ben Lovett has revealed that the record is done but says they won’t put the album out unless they are completely happy with it after the mixing process. The album, which remains as-yet-untitled, is the follow-up to the British band’s multi-platinum selling debut, Sigh No More. We’ll be sure to let you know when they’ll be releasing their new music.

FINAL FOUR FOR MTV’S BATTLE OF THE BOY BANDS

Westlife, The Wanted, Jonas Brothers and Mindless Behavior are the final four boy bands left on MTV’s Battle of the Boy Bands. You can still vote for you favorite of that group to help them get one step closer to winning.

• DIRECT LINK: Here’s a direct link to cast your vote: http://www.mtv.com/content/news/2012/boybandbattle/

KATY PERRY FINISHES HER NEW MUSIC VIDEO

Katy Perry has finished shooting a new music video that will be included in her 3-D concert film, Katy Perry: Part of Me. In the video, she wears one of the costumes she used during her California Dreams Tour. Perry didn’t tweet about what track she was shooting the video for, but we’ll let you know we when we get more details! Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D hits theaters around July 4^th.

• TIDBIT: Follow Katy on Twitter @KatyPerry.

RINGO FOR RHINOS

Ringo Starr once wrote about an “Octopus’s Garden,” but these days, he’s focusing on a different animal. On his official website, the former Beatle posted a photo of a rhinoceros with the caption “Save the Rhinos.”  Ringo told The Hollywood Reporter about his fondness for the horned critters which are on the endangered species list.  He said, “I’ve always loved rhinos.  They were close to my and [late Who drummer] Keith Moon’s heart.  In fact, I had two huge ones made and gave one to Keith.  Mine is still out on the grass here [at his estate] in England.”  Check out Ringo’s message at RingoStarr.com.

• TIDBIT: Last fall, Ringo helped out Timberland’s Canvas that Cares charity campaign, which benefitted WaterAid, an organization that is dedicated to getting safe domestic water, sanitation and hygiene education to the world’s poorest people.

JUSTIN BIEBER RAPS ON BELIEVE

Justin Bieber throws down some rhymes on his new single, “Boyfriend,” which is number four on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart.  The 18-year-old told us that singing is his first love, but that he really enjoys rapping, so fans can expect to hear Bieber rhyming again sometime soon.  Biebs will premiere his video for “Boyfriend” tonight on MTV First: Justin Bieber, live at 7:50 PM Eastern on MTV.  His new album, Believe, will arrive on June 19^th.   

• TIDBIT: Immediately following the premiere, the "Boyfriend" video will be available on MTV.com

GLEE TAKE ON THEIR RENDITION OF TAYLOR SWIFT

FOX’s hit series Glee is getting the Taylor Swift treatment! Co-creator Ryan Murphy spilled details at a recent television panel, revealing that during an upcoming episode, two characters, “Puck” and “Coach Bieste,” will turn Taylor’s song “Mean” into a duet. The episode is reportedly set to air May 15^th on FOX at 8 PM Eastern.

JAY DEMARCUS & HIS WIFE REVEAL NAME OF NEW BABY

Rascal Flatts member Jay DeMarcus and his wife, CMT host Allison DeMarcus, have chosen a name for their second child. According to The Tennessean, their son will be Dylan Jay DeMarcus. He will join big sister Madeline Leigh this summer, and Jay told us he is excited to bring a son into the world. Rascal Flatts have other news to celebrate this week as their current single, “Banjo,” is back at the number one spot on the country charts.

We have 4 Twins tickets for you...but to win you'll need to bone up on your Twins Trivia.  During Friday's Early Morning Show we'll be taking a caller...and if that caller can pass our Twins' quiz, they will be going to Target Field for Monday's tilt against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. 

But this is an open book quiz...and we are giving you the questions ahead of time.  Do your homework, and be ready to play and win Friday morning.

Here are your 10 Twins Trivia Questions...find all the answers and you'll have a chance at a family 4-pack of tickets to Monday's game against the Angels at Target Field- good luck!

1)      Name the 3 Twins currently hitting .300 or better

2)      Which Twins have played in all 24 games so far this season?

3)      In high school Matt Capps lettered in 4 sports….what were they?

4)      Who led the Twins in home runs last year (2011)?

5)      Which team will the Twins play in the 2012 regular season finale?

6)      How many triples did Kent Hrbek hit in his career as a Twin?

7)      What is Ron Gardenhire’s middle name?

8)      Who is the all-time Twins leader for most games played?

9)      Who is the all-time Twins leader for highest On Base Percentage?

10)   How many games did Bert Blyleven lose in his Hall of Fame career?

SINGLE LADY GAGA

Lady Gaga is single. Us Magazine is reporting that the pop singer has broken things off with her Vampire Diaries boyfriend Taylor Kinney because she’ll be touring the world until 2013. A source told the mag that neither party is really heartbroken about the news, since they both knew they would never head down the aisle together.

•      TIDBIT: Gaga is going to have her hands full on this 110-show tour – she’s also planning on recording a new album during the trek.

KINGS OF LEON’S JARED FOLLOWILL IS ENGAGED

Kings of Leon bassist Jared Followill is engaged. The musician wrote on Twitter that he and his aspiring model girlfriend, Martha Patterson, are planning to wed. The 25-year-old and his girlfriend have only been dating for a few months, but Jared is confident in their love, proposing recently in Nashville. E! News has more and you can follow Jared on Twitter @YoungFollowill.

JUSTIN BIEBER TO PREMIERE “BOYFRIEND” VIDEO ON MTV THURSDAY

Justin Bieber will sit down with MTV News' Sway Calloway on Thursday to premiere his "Boyfriend" music video during MTV First: Justin Bieber, live at 7:50 PM Eastern on MTV. After the video premieres on air, Bieber will chat with Sway for 30 minutes on MTV.com, opening up about the Director X-directed clip, as well as his June 19^th album release, Believe.  If you have a burning question for Bieber, you can get in on the fun by tweeting @MTVNews with the hashtag #MTVFirst or #AskBieber.  Immediately following the premiere, the "Boyfriend" video will be available on MTV.com so Beliebers can watch it over and over and over again.

DEMI LOVATO ON THE X-FACTOR?

After Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul exited Simon Cowell's The X Factor, the show appears to be going in a youthful direction. While we are still waiting on word about Britney Spears joining the judging panel, rumors are swirling that Demi Lovato could be joining the show as well.  According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 19-year-old singer is "closing a deal" to join Cowell as one of the new judges on the show. Both Miley Cyrus and Avril Lavigne have been mentioned as potential judges as well, though no details or confirmation of those talks have emerged.

TV: COLDPLAY ON AMERICAN IDOL TONIGHT!

Coldplay are set to perform on American Idol tonight (5/3) on FOX.  Tune in to see who will be eliminated, and watch Coldplay perform, tonight on American Idol on FOX.