Britney Spears looked like the epitome of elegance and sophistication on Friday when she delicately glided into a L.A. gas station to purchase a cool, refreshing bottle of Fanta. {Pic Source}

Besides invading gas stations across America with her muscular legs, the Queen B is also working on her next album, which paparazzi gossip site X-17 are exclusively claiming will be “more energetic” than her last album Circus, and like “Blackout times 100″.

“Right after this year’s Grammy Awards, Britney met with all of the producers for her next album to explain the vibe she’s looking to capture. Brit, who is co-writing many of the songs, explained that she’s looking to give the new album a vibe like the song ‘Get Naked’ from Blackout.”

They also mentioned that Britney is working with Blackout producers Bloodshy & Avant, Danja and Corte Ellis so she can recreate the vibe of the album again.

I’d trust X-17 about as far as I could throw them (not very), but I figured I’d put the rumors out there then combine prayer with positive thinking in hopes of making them a reality!

Ciara was snapped this week working on her modelling career as she shot a new commercial for Adidas.

On the music front the singer, who’s often known for doing a lot of features and collaborations, could possibly have the chance to hit the studio with Lady GaGa at some stage after Gente magazine reported that GaGa is interested in collaborating with CiCi and Nelly Furtado in the future.

Who do you want to see Ciara work with on her next album?

Low Key over at BET.com is reporting that rapper Young Jeezy will team up with Beyonce for the first single from his upcoming fourth album Thug Motivation 103.

Jeezy already dropped the official street single from the street single from the album “Lost My Mind” featuring Plies, so it looks like he’s enlisted Bey to help give him a boost at radio for the main single.

There’s no word yet on who produced it or what it sounds like, but Low Key says that we could have it within a week. Neither Bey or Jeezy’s camps have have any official announcement about he collabo, but Low Key is swearing that the rumor is true, citing sources close to Jeezy.

This will now mark the third single that Beyonce has featured on recently after she shot a video for her duet with Lady GaGa “Telephone” and one with Alicia Keys for their single “Put It In A Love Song”.

When does this break she’s been talking about officially start? It doesn’t count as a break if you’re featured on major singles for a pop artist, an R&B singer and a rapper!

It’s no secret that pop star Rihanna has been in and out of the studio recently recording new music, but it’s been unclear exactly what the new music is intended for. Now to help clear up some of the confusion pop websites Neon Limelight and Johnny Ikon are both reporting that they’ve received exclusive word that Rihanna is NOT planning to rih-release her latest album Rated R, and is instead working on a whole new album due for release this Summer.

While the source at Def Jam tells Ikon the quick push to release a new album is because “Ri wants to get across that she’s moved on from the dark period she was in when recording the ‘Rated R’ songs,” our source says that’s only part of the reason. The label is said to be unhappy with Rated R’s current performance. The album has been certified platinum in the United States and has had two top 10 singles with another, the snappy island-flavored “Rude Boy,” moving up the charts quickly, but it appears it hasn’t yet lived up to the label’s big projections or massive investments.

Our source says “Rude Boy” will likely be Rated R’s final single with the new album and tour taking priority after promotion ends. {Source 1}

Asked about what we should expect from Rihanna’s new album, my insider continued: “Ri wants to get across that she’s moved on from the dark period she was in when recording the ‘Rated R’ songs. So expect more upbeat, dance tunes, similar to ‘Don’t Stop the Music’ and ‘Disturbia’. {Source 2}

David Guetta and Ne-Yo have both already confirmed that they’ll be working with Rihanna on new music, and RiRi herself told MTV last week that her next album will have more “energetic, up-tempo pop records”.

Rated R was only released towards the end of November last year, but releasing a new album so soon won’t be a first for Rihanna since her first three albums all came out within about a year of each other.

Do you believe these reports? Is it too soon for more RiRi or are you looking forward to her new music?

According to Deadline singer-actress Jennifer Lopez has split with her label Epic Records.

The split was supposedly amicable, but rumors are saying that Jennifer was dropped after the singles from her upcoming album Love? all bombed on the charts despite receiving heavy promotion.

Deadline are claiming that Lopez’s manager Benny Medina confirmed the split to them via e-mail earlier today.

“Jennifer had a wonderful relationship with the Sony Music group, and they have shared many successes together, but the time was right to make a change that best serves the direction her career as an actress and recording artist. She is grateful and appreciative to everyone Sony for all that they accomplished together.”

Surprisingly though Lopez is said to be okay with the decision, and is even in talks with L.A. Reid about signing a new deal at Def Jam as we speak.

Read all the juicy details on the split over at Deadline here.

Despite the drama the 40-year-old is still scheduled to host and perform on Saturday Night Live this weekend to promote her upcoming film The Back-up Plan and what was supposed to be her new album.

I’ve already contacted Lopez’s label for an official statement or confirmation on the split, as I’m sure many others have, so I’m sure we’ll get a definite answer regarding the article some time today or tomorrow.

The news is pretty dire though, but it’s actually not a huge shock considering not only how her Love? singles are doing, but also the poor reception towards her past two albums Rebirth and Brave (the latter didn’t even crack the top 10 on the Billboard 200).

It seems like Jen has really hit that trademark slump that all female pop stars do when they’re around forty. Now many women besides Madonna have been able to maintain the same amount of success  that they had when they were younger once they reach forty. It’s a curse, and also reflective on how people are always looking for the next hot thing. One minute you’re a huge star, the next minute you’ve been dropped by your label. Unfortunately that’s just how it works in pop music.

Pictured above is a beautiful new shot from Whitney Houston’s official Nothin’ But Love tour book.

I never knew that a woman good look so good!

In other news, there’s some exciting rumors flying around that the R&B midtempo “Worth It” is rumored to serve as Whitney’s next US single from her hit album I Look to You, whilst the upbeat Danja produced “Nothin’ But Love” will be released as the albums next international single.

The news originated from an unverified Twitter account of an A&R agent, so until something official is announced just treat single news as rumors.

Hopefully it’s true because “Nothin’ But Love” is a great choice!

{Spotted by: Ash Jones}

Looking as beautiful as ever Cheryl Cole is doing what she does best on the cover of the latest issue of Glamour magazine.

The 26-year-old is currently preparing to release her third single “Parachute” from her debut album 3 Words. The video will reportedly be shot next week, with Dancing with the Stars diva Derek Hough choreographing it.

Now onto something more exciting than Cheryl’s next single are the current rumors that Simon Cowell will bring her over to the States when he launches the American version of Idol rival the X Factor next year.

Cheryl herself has already confirmed that she’d be interested in the move, telling Glamour “I would do it, obviously, but I don’t want this massive ambition to break America.” She may however have some competition from both Kelly Rowland and Perez Hilton who have both publicly thrown themselves at Simon Cowells feet practically begging for a spot on the hit show.

If Cheryl ends up landing the gig she’ll be spreading herself pretty thin between America and England, with her contract stating that she still has to deliver three more studio albums with her group Girls Aloud.

Who do you want to see on the American X Factor?

Her album may not be due until much later in the year but according to new reports Kylie Minogue is way ahead of schedule.

The Australian pop Queen recently surprised record executives at her label EMI by unexpectedly submitting eight new songs which she reportedly recorded with Stuart Price (a.k.a. “Jacques Lu Cont”).

Price is best known for producing Madonna’s Confessions on a Dancefloor album, but right before Madge he actually produced a great album titled Random Order for a singer called Juliet which is worth checking out.

Kylie still has “some way to go” on the dance-pop album, but so far she’s managed to get in the studio with The Scissor Sisters, Xenomania, Calvin Harris, Nerina Pallot and a few others.

I’ll always be team Dannii but I wouldn’t say no to a new Kylie album, especially if it sounds anything like “Better Than Today” which is so far the only confirmed song to appear on the album. Take a listen to it below and let me know what you think.

Britney Spears looked beautiful yesterday as she showed off her Blackout era dark hair on a shopping trip in Beverley Hills.

The Circus singer’s shopping spree followed a session at a recording studio in Wilshire, where she could have possibly been recording material for her new album which is due out in the first half of this year.

Speaking of her new album, producer Marcella Araica hinted on Twitter that she may possibly be attached to the upcoming project.

In case you don’t know who Marcella is, she worked with Britney on Blackout, co-writing, recording, mixing and programming several of the albums tracks including “Gimme More”, “Break The Ice”, “Perfect Lover”, “Get Naked” and the bonus song “Outta This World”.

I’m loving the black hair almost as much as I love all the people she’s collaborating with on this new album. It’s sounding like we might get urban Britney back after all!

Lil’ Wayne released his new music video “On Fire” earlier today, which is one of the many singles from his serially-delayed rock album Rebirth.

I was hoping that he’d take the song’s title a little more literally and blow lots of stuff up and rock out on the guitar on top of burning cars with babes hanging off him, but you know, this’ll do to I guess.

As for Weezy’s Rebirth, new reports are claiming that it’s been pushed back from February to June 22nd.

Normally I’d respond with a “What kind of fuckery is this?”, but the album’s already leaked in full so it’s all good from my end!