Billboard Bits serves up the best bite-sized nuggets of music news and gossip.
Shania Twain Releases Wedding Photos
As previously reported, Shania Twain kicked off 2011 on a hugely positive note, marrying Swiss businessman Frédéric Thiébaud in a small sunset ceremony in Puerto Rico on New Year’s Day. The country singer — and soon-to-be TV star on Oprah’s newly-launched OWN network — released photos from the ceremony on her website today (Jan. 3). The bride, who was escorted down the aisle by her 9-year-old son Eja, wore a dress she bought at a small Swiss boutique. (ShaniaTwain.com)
Muse Shoots For the Stars — Literally
Muse may out-of-this-world rock anthems, but the U.K. trio is looking to its lofty aspirations to the next level — specifically to outer space. “We’ve had some discussions about playing in space,” frontman Matt Bellamy said recently. “Sometimes very coherent conversations and sometimes very late at night, but it’s for real.” In fact, Bellamy and bandmates are looking talk to Virgin Atlantic Airways head Richard Branson about a performing aboard the airline’s upcoming Galactic Flights. (The Sun via Spinner)
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Does Kanye West’s ‘Monster’ Video Copy Dr. Dog Clip?
Kanye West’s truly twisted (and certainly innovative) video for “Monster,” a rough version of which leaked late last week, is now facing comparisons to an eerily similar 2008 clip for Dr. Dog’s “The Ark.” Both videos feature disembodied heads, stray limbs (specifically hands), and a dark color palette, among other details. And it seems Kanye noticed the video back in 2008, posting it to his blog and praising it as “beautiful.” Although the blog post has since been deleted, “The Ark” director Adam Kurland commented that “it’s at least a very odd coincidence.” (Village Voice)
T-Pain Rumored to Sign to Young Money
In a video that surfaced late last week, Young Money jeweler Gabriel Jacobs of Rafaello & Co said that AutoTune master T-Pain will be signing to Lil Wayne’s Young Money roster in the near future. Jacobs showed off a diamond and ruby Young Money pendant he recent he recently completed for T-Pain, which features the rapper’s Nappy Boy logo is embossed around the edges. (VLADTV.com via Hip Hop Wired)
Christina Milian Opens Up About Divorce from The-Dream
Singer Christina Milian wasn’t married to superstar producer and rapper The-Dream for long — only a handful of months after their Sept. 2009 elopement. But apparently the marriage, which spawned daughter Violet, lasted long enough for his eyes to wander. Milian recently opened up about the cheating scandal, saying: “I didn’t know anything. But looking back, my gut was telling me something was off. But I thought I could fix it.” (Latina)
New Decemberists Album, ‘The King Is Dead,’ Available for Free Listen
Portland, Ore. folk-rockers the Decemberists, who told Billboard.com last month that musical theatre may be in their future, have offered up their latest album on NPR First Listen. “The King Is Dead,” out Jan. 18 on Capitol, can be streamed in its entirety for free on the NPR website until its release date. (NPR)
(Reporting by Jillian Mapes)