Miley Cyrus Gives U.S. Troops a Shout-Out
Teen sensation Miley Cyrus headlined America’s Freedom Festival in Provo, Utah, on the Fourth of July.
Known as “one of the largest patriotic celebrations in America,” the sixth annual event was telecast live to the nation’s troops around the globe. The concert, dubbed the “Stadium of Fire,” was emceed by conservative political TV and radio commentator Glenn Beck.
Cyrus, 15, clad in a conservative all-white outfit of jeans and a tank top, performed in front of nearly 60,000 fans, singing her biggest hits and debuting songs off her new album. The reigning tween queen dedicated “Simple Song” to American troops.
“I want to take a minute to dedicate this song to all of our troops we got out there,” she told the crowd. “I know God has an ultimate plan, so I’m stoked.”
E! News is told that, prior to the show, Cyrus visited with kids from a local cancer hospital and signed autographs.
Missing from the Independence Day show was Miley’s best friend and backup dancer, Mandy Jiroux. But Miley & Mandy fans need not worry about a BFF split: Jiroux couldn’t make the show because she was performing in Boulder, Colo., this weekend with her girl group, the Beach Girlz, at a volleyball event.
Cyrus took in a fireworks show after her concert, despite her fears. In a conference call with reporters earlier in the week to promote the concert, Miley said: “I actually am really, really scared of fireworks so I would always sit in the car. Fireworks scare me so badly. Like, on my concert tour, any time pyro goes off, I’m like crossing my fingers. I really don’t like it.”
Following the concert, Cyrus flew back to Tennessee, where she is still filming the Hannah Montana movie, which is scheduled to wrap later this month.
Miley Cyrus: "Coolest. Person. Ev-er!"
If only every 15-year-old could have Miley Cyrus’ self-esteem.
“Coolest. Person. Ev-er!” she joked to People in a recent interview when asked how she would describe herself.
Then, upon reflection, she replied, “I think I’m chill. I am very hyper but I’m very carefree.”
Aside from her calm and collected side, Cyrus also reveals a few of her oh-so-teenage proclivities, such as her desire for a new car when she turns 16, her big crush on the coolest handbags and her beauty regimenmascara and a suntan.
Ah, to still be years away from voting age.
The star of the upcoming Hannah Montana Movie, which she’s been filming in Nashville this summer, also admits to eating ketchup right out of the bottle (now there’s something the paparazzi have missed) and preferring tomboy wear and Juicy Couture sweats when she doesn’t have to be all dolled up.
But although she might not be your typical girly-girl, it’s not as if she doesn’t make time to think about boys: Ask her who she prefers, McDreamy or McSteamy, and she’ll tell you that she’s a Dempsey girl all the way.
Of course, all this chit-chat is probably just leading up to a few more pressing topics, such as what Cyrus has learned in the wake of the Vanity Fair photo flap.
“A lot has happened,” she says. “There have been a lot of changes, but it’s all good. I’ve been really blessed.”
The teen says that she still has things to learn about “knowing which people I can trust and being more aware of my surroundings. It’s like DorothyI’m not in Kansas anymore.”
Meanwhile, the Disney Channel phenom has a new Hannah-free album, Breakout, ready to drop July 22, all just part of her plan to conquer the world by 18.
“Madonna always reinvents herself, and that’s what I want to do,” Cyrus says. “Whatever comes my way that sounds good, that’s what I want to do. Whether it’s designing clothes or photography or whatever.”
Coldplay It Again, Sam
It’s still hard out there for a pimp, but apparently it’s not much easier for a saint.
Mötley Crüe’s Saints of Los Angeles and Three 6 Mafia’s Last 2 Walk were the week’s biggest bows, but neither came close to the three albums that pulled a Groundhog Day up top.
Coldplay’s Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends held the No. 1 spot for the week ended Sunday, selling another 249,000 copies, per Nielsen SoundScan. Lil Wayne followed at No. 2 with 209,000 copies of Tha Carter III, and the Jonas Brothers-led Camp Rock soundtrack held at No. 3 with 169,000.
In just three weeks, Lil Wayne has sold 1.53 million copies, giving Tha Carter III a commanding lead as the year’s best-selling album. Coldplay’s Viva la Vida is already the fifth best-selling album of 2008, with 971,000 copies sold in just two weeks.
The Crüe, meanwhile, scored the week’s biggest debut, opening at No. 4 with 99,000 copies, while Three 6 Mafiabest known for the Oscar-winning “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”sold 77,000 copies at No. 5.
Shinedown’s The Sound of Madness landed the third and final top 10 bow at No. 8, moving 50,000 copies.
Other notable debuts included Sigur Rós’ Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust at No. 15, Cute Is What We Aim For’s Rotation at No. 21, Amos Lee’s Last Days at the Lodge at No. 29, Dwele’s Sketches of a Man at No. 35 and Superchick’s Rock What You Got at No. 65.
Over on the digital tracks chart, Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” held the top spot on 187,000 copies sold, though the Jonas Brothers’ “Burnin’ Up” sold a massive 183,000 copies in its debut. Expect a huge bump for the sibling singers on tomorrow’s Hot 100 chart.
Overall, album sales were down nearly 8 percent from last week and 13 percent compared to the same week last year, when the Hannah Montana 2 soundtrack led the charts.
Next week, look for the Fiddy-led G-Unit to make a play for No. 1 with T.O.S. (Terminate On Sight).
To recap, the top 10 albums were as follows:
- Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay
- Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne
- Camp Rock soundtrack, various
- Saints of Los Angeles, Mötley Crüe
- Last 2 Walk, Three 6 Mafia
- Now That’s What I Call Music! 28, various
- Here I Stand, Usher
- The Sound of Madness, Shinedown
- Indestructible, Disturbed
- Good Girl Gone Bad, Rihanna
New Miley Cyrus Video: Teddy Bear Overload
Rest easy, Miley Cyrus fans. Breakout may be the title of her upcoming album, but for us, the 15-year-old is clearly not straying very far from the bubble-gum pop persona that has made her a tween sensation.
This weekend saw the release of the video for her new single, “7 Things,” which finds Miley, along with her “girlfriends,” lashing out at their exescomplete with hurt looks, the occasional teardrop and, just to make sure the angst is properly conveyed, enough stuffed animals to put Build-A-Bear to shame.
So check it out and let us know what you think. Is Miley shaking up that Hannah Montana image of hersor is it simply a case of Kelly Clarkson lite?