And We’re Telling You, Her Star Power is Undeniable

Former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson brought tears to our eyes during her emotional Grammy performance (God, can you believe that Diana DeGarmo finished ahead of her?!).  Since she stepped back into the “Spotlight” for the first time since her family tragedy at the Super Bowl (in totally covetable Sigerson Morrison gladiator wedge heels, BTW.  Yes, we know.  We’re the only ones that could find a fashion moment in the middle of a major sporting event), the newly crowned Grammy winner for best R&B album has never sounded better and she looks svelte and beautiful and dressed to perfection.

Her red carpet look at the musical awards show was one of our faves and her on-stage look was just as flawless as her “hand me some Kleenex, I’m getting furklempt” rendition of “You Pull Me Through.”  In a gently figure-hugging sparkly LBD and matching peep toes, she’s giving some wicked  hip action and cleavage, er lung capacity, that Oprah would admire.  The very picture of a diva staking her claim.  Beyonce, you’ve been served.

Let’s hit rewind to the sassy little number she wore to music titan Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy fete:  She’s appropriately covered up — giving the man who controls your music career a heart attack by unleashing the girls would not be wise — but the figure she cuts is totally bad-ass (Adele, THIS is how you flaunt and flatter your curves to their best advantage.  See, you don’t have to be a Hollywood bobble-head to show some sass).  And those Balenciaga heels need to find their way into our closet.  Utterly delicious shoe candy.

We hope that the Sex and the City alum will be signed up for a return engagement in the sequel so that the dreamgirl will continue her enviable parade of shoes that we’re pretty sure Sarah Jessica Parker’s Manolo-lovin’ alter ego Carrie Bradshaw would blow her rent money on.  The Givenchy lace ankle sandals she sported at the NAACP awards are definitely worth the credit card APR.

Jennifer’s story to this point has been one of tragedy and triumph on par with the movie role that won her an Oscar and her composure and grace in the eye of the media maelstrom has been nothing short of remarkable. She’ll be unstoppable when she’s back 100%. With a tour and marriage on the horizon (with every fiber of our being we pray that Patricia Fields will whip up a frou-frou confection of over-the-topness for her walk down the aisle in!), we hope the only drama in her life in 2009 will be whether or not to invite Simon, Paula, Ryan and Randy to the wedding (if yes, we strongly suggest seating Paula far away from the bar).

Sniffle.  OK, enough with all the sappy stuff. Bai Ling, don’t think we didn’t notice that Pepto Bismal pink reject from David’s Bridal that you turned up in . . .

By ShoeMinx Idol Paige Muller

Awards Show Tries Something New:  Music That Doesn’t Completely Suck

The Grammys generally don’t offer much in the way of music people actually listen to but this year’s list of nominees for the annual snooze-apalooza is surprisingly not awful. Sadly they still haven’t done away with vintage terms like “album” or “record” but at least most of the tunes aren’t ones your parents are likely to groove to in the mini-van so it’s a start.

But with the across-the-pond centric tilt to some of the categories, the award ceremony seems more like the Brit Awards than the Grammys.

Notable nods:

Leona Lewis’ career has skyrocketed since winning the British reality show X Factor. (For non-Brits: X Factor is a U.K. singing talent search with cantankerous Simon Cowell as the show’s lead judge and executive producer; American Idol is the uber successful U.S. version.) Nominated in several categories, including Record of the Year and Best Pop Female, for her single “Bleeding Love,” pop’s Cinderella superstar could cap a fairytale year with multiple wins.  Mariah, you might want to polish up that pop crown and have it ready to hand over, just in case.

Fellow Britster Adele, who’s hijacked Amy Winehouse’s once-promising career with her angst-y hit “Chasing Pavements” (and the whole not being a coke fiend thing) is up against Lewis for Record of the Year, and has several chances to return to the stage to claim trophies, including the career “kiss of death” award, Best New Artist.  Anyone remember Paula Cole?  Exactly.  Also up for the dubious honor, soul-voiced nominee Duffy, who charted with hits “Rockferry” and “Mercy.”

“American Boy” singer Estelle keeps the British invasion going with a nom for Song of the Year.  If she wins, the award would be sitting pretty next to the UK Best Female trophy she won over Lewis at the Music of Black Origin awards last year.  Maybe collab partner Kanye West will gift her with some mad Louis Vuitton swag from the line of shoes he’s designing between music tracks and all-cap blog posts.

Not to be shown up by the popsters from across the pond, America’s lyrical ladies are also representing.  Katy Perry and her ubiquitous played-it-till-you-wanted-to-scream song “I Kissed A Girl” will go retro pinup toe-to-toe against Duffy and Adele for Best New Artist.

Her marriage crashed and burned, but the music industry showed Madonna some love with a Best Pop Collaboration nod for her hit “Four Minutes” with music maestros Justin Timberlake and Timbaland and another for Best Dance Track, “Give It 2 Me.” Our money is on the Sticky and Sweet and very single divorcee rocking the red carpet in something sheer with fishnets.  Will the “fabulous at fifty” material model rock a pair of those to die for shoes from her new spring 2009 Louis Vuitton ads or something from Miu Miu, Givenchy or even Stella McCartney?  Such an embarrassment of riches!  As if hooking up with A-Rod isn’t reward enough.

And after recent family tragedies, R&B newcomer Jennifer Hudson returns to the “Spotlight” with four nominations, including Best Female R&B Vocal, where she is pitted against Dream Girls rival Beyonce and her metal glove. If Bey gets knocked off the podium, at least she’ll have bagging rights that she sang for the new prez and he knows the dance moves to “Single Ladies.”  Priceless.  But if she does win, who will accept the trophy:  Mrs. Jay-Z or Sasha Fierce?

Worst dressed on the red carpet is one award Grammy nominees don’t want to win.  The stars’ footwear will be ready for their close-up on the E! Stiletto Cam in these a “little bit rock n’ roll, a whole lotta cool” ‘Jewel’ heels from Sergio Rossi.

Read the complete list of nominees here.  The big show goes down February 8, 2009 at Los Angeles’ Staples Center and will be broadcast live on CBS. Yeah, we’re going to catch the highlights and the inevitable WTF moment on YouTube, too.

By ShoeMinx Pop Star Paige Muller