Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers

'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll

Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News

You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.

In early February, reports began circulating that Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven," working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her Stronger With Each Tear album, due Monday.

But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering another Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the Essence Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.

"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."

Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.

"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.

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Michael Jackson Doctor Pleads Not Guilty To Involuntary Manslaughter

Conrad Murray's trial slated to start March 28.
By Gil Kaufman

Dr. Conrad Murray appears in court on Tuesday in Los Angeles, California
Photo: Irfan Khan-Pool/ Getty Images

Michael Jackson's former personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray entered a plea of not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in the June 2009 death of the pop star at his arraignment on Tuesday morning (January 25).

According to the Los Angeles Times, when asked by judge Michael Pastor how he pleaded to the charge, Murray said, "Your honor, I am an innocent man." When Pastor interrupted and asked Murray what his plea was, the cardiologist said, "Therefore, I plead not guilty."

The brief hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court ended with Pastor setting a March 28 date for the start of a trial in the case. Murray faces a maximum of four years in prison if convicted, and the Times noted that he surprised the judge by invoking his right to a speedy trial, which meant the case would have to begin by late March. Pastor noted the rarity of a defendant asking to have a speedy trial, then set jury selection for the week of March 28 and said he was inclined to allow television coverage of the trial that the defense expects will last two months.

Lawyers for Murray have maintained his innocence all along, saying he did not do anything that "should have" caused the 50-year-old pop icon's death. The Los Angeles County Coroner's office determined that Jackson died of an overdose of the surgical anesthetic propofol mixed with a cocktail of other sedatives.

Murray has admitted to administering propofol to Jackson in the hours before the singer's death, but the defense appears to be gearing up to claim that it was Jackson who administered the final, fatal dose of the drug after he woke in a panic from a fitful night of sleep.

During a preliminary hearing earlier this month to determine if there was enough evidence to hold Murray over for trial, the physician's attorneys said that there was evidence Jackson injected or drank a fatal amount of the drug when the doctor was not looking.

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Kristen Stewart's 'Breaking Dawn' Vampire 'Scared' Elizabeth Reaser

'Twilight' co-star tells MTV News, 'I thought, 'This might not end well. She's looking pretty pissed right now.' '
By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Elizabeth Reaser
Photo: MTV News

PARK CITY, Utah — Ever since Kristen Stewart spilled the beans at the People's Choice Awards that she had been filming "Breaking Dawn" as a vampire that day, it's all we can think about when we get the chance to talk to one of her "Twilight Saga" co-stars.

Elizabeth Reaser, who plays Esme Cullen in the film franchise, teased at the Sundance Film Festival this week that there have been some crazy vampire scenes on set recently.

"There's been some really cool stuff in the Cullen house with Bella," Reaser revealed to MTV News. "There's been some interesting transformations happening."

Sounds to us like director Bill Condon has been filming the famous "Breaking Dawn" birthing scene, and that Reaser got a chance to see Bella's transformation into a vampire. Producer Wyck Godfrey already shared that the birthing scene will be shown from Bella's perspective to keep with the film's PG-13 rating, but as Reaser witnessed the whole scene unfold, what was her impression of Stewart's transformation?

"She scared me a little bit on Thursday, I'll be honest with you," Reaser said. "Because when vampires are newborns, they're stronger than any other vampires, so for a second there I thought, 'This might not end well. She's looking pretty pissed right now.' It was great."

Reaser's praise of Stewart's performance as vampire Bella matches with what co-stars Robert Pattinson and Peter Facinelli had to say about it at the Golden Globes. Pattinson told MTV News it felt like Stewart "wanted to do it the entire time."

"It's really funny, it's like a completely different environment on set when she's a vampire and when she's not," he said. "I think she's going to do it really well."

In the books, Bella becomes much more confident after transforming into a vampire, so it's fitting that Stewart is coming into her own with the role. Facinelli jokingly credited vampire contact lenses as the real reason Stewart is doing so much better.

"She's doing really well. She looks fantastic," Facinelli raved. "For some reason, once they put those contact lenses in, you look very statuesque."

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Jessica Simpson Gets Tipsy, Eats Fried Sushi After Cleanse

To look good for when she walks down the aisle, Jessica Simpson went on a detox to shed a few pounds.
But soon after the cleanse was done, Jessica stepped out and dined at Hollywood's Katsuya - a big no-no!
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Source: http://perezhilton.com/2011-01-27-jessica-simpson-gets-tipsy-at-katsuya

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