TRAVEL BLOG

Beyonce has just announced plans for a 2009 tour in support of her upcoming yet-to-be-titled album, which hits stores Nov. 18. Jay-Z’s wife and R&B’s leading lady will play international dates in spring 2009 before coming back to play shows in North America early next summer.

Beyonce Giselle Knowles began singing, dancing and displaying her emerging diva as a young girl growing up in Houston, Texas. Beyonce and her cousin Kelly Rowland and two friends LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett formed a girl group in high school. The quartet signed to Columbia Records in 1997 after changing their name from Girl Tyme to Destiny’s Child, and released their eponymous debut soon after. While the album’s lead single, “No, No, No” was hit, Destiny’s Child really hit the big time with 1999’s The Writings on the Wall thanks to the popularity of “Bug a Boo,” “Jumpin’ Jumpin’,” “Bills Bills Bills” and “Say My Name,” which rewarded the girl group with two Grammy’s.

As Destiny’s child continued its ascent to stardom, Luckett and Roberson were replaced by Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin. Franklin only lasted with the group for a year and Destiny’s Child became a solid trio with Beyonce (who had dropped the “Knowles” by now) at the helm. In 2000 the girl-powered anthem “Independent Woman Pt. 1″ was featured on the soundtrack for Charlie’s Angels. The track also appeared on the group’s sophomore album, Survivor, which soared to number one on the charts and included the single whose name launched a national catchphrase, “Bootylicious.” Beyonce dipped her toes in the acting pool in 2001, starring in the MTV “hip-hopera” Carmen and co-starring in the sequel to the big screen blockbuster Austin Powers. Beyonce’s first solo single, “Work It Out” (which was featured on the Austin Powers sequel soundtrack) was followed by the scorching single “03 Bonnie & Clyde,” a duet with her then-rumored fling and now confirmed husband Jay-Z. (The couple somehow pulled off a quiet wedding 2008 in spite of generous media buzz around their relationship.)

In 2003 Beyonce released her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, and watched as it climbed the charts to number one thanks to the infectious “Crazy in Love” and “Baby Boy,” a duet with Sean Paul. After securing five Grammys for her solo effort, Beyonce returned to Destiny’s Child for the group’s last effort: 2004’s Destiny Fulfilled. The trio went out with a bang due to the popularity of “Lose My Breath” and “Soldier” and Beyonce’s solo star continued to rise; she appeared alongside Steve Martin in The Black Panther and starred in 2006’s blockbuster Dreamgirls. That year Beyonce also released her sophomore solo album, B’Day, and the popularity of “Déjà vu,” “Irreplaceable” and “Ring the Alarm” earned the songstress a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B album.

Beyonce’s upcoming yet-to-be-titled album, her third solo effort, will be released Nov. 18 on the heels of the album’s singles “Single Ladies” and “If I Were a Boy” and her 2009 tour will have fans undoubtedly clamoring for Beyonce tickets once they go on sale.

http://www.stubhub.com/beyonce-tickets/ is your best source for Beyonce tickets.

A recent marriage, an album and now a movie on the way for Beyonce, is there anything she can’t do? The pop star’s cover of Etta James’ iconic “At Last” will be the lead song for the upcoming soundtrack for Cadillac Records which will debut Dec. 2 via Columbia. The film chronicles the rise and fall of famed label Chess Records and Beyonce stars as James. Beyonce told Billboard about the experience, saying: “I realized that Etta James was so unapologetic, bold and strong that playing her was a big risk for me. It gave me the confidence and the push to challenge myself a little more with my music.” To see her perform her own songs, try http://www.stubhub.com/beyonce-tickets/ for Beyonce tickets.

The soundtrack also includes tracks from Mos Def (portraying Chuck Berry), Columbus Short (as Little Walter), Jeffrey Wright (as Muddy Waters) and Eamonn Walker (as Howlin’ Wolf). The album, which will be available in both single- and double-disc versions, also boasts songs from Mary Mary, Nas, Buddy Guy, Elvis Presley, Raphael Saadiq and Beyonce’s sister Solange. Cadillac Records makes its big screen debut Dec. 5 and Sony BMG Music Entertainment chairman Andrew Lack, who produced the film with Sony BMG films executive VP Sophia Sondervan says it will show a different side of the pop diva. “People will be most surprised that the glamorous Beyonce allowed herself to be seen in the desperate straits that Etta went through, including her heroin addiction. That’s a Beyonce I don’t think anyone’s seen yet.”

The public was first introduced to Beyonce when she was part of Destiny’s Child, the group formerly known as Girl Tyme that she formed with her cousin Kelly Rowland and school friends LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett in her native Houston. The quartet burst into the R&B/pop mainstream with “No, No, NO,” off their eponymous debut album is 1997 and their breakthrough came two years later with The Writings on the Wall. The album spawned radio mainstays “Jumpin’ Jumpin’,” “Bills Bills Bills,” “Bug a Boo” and “Say My Name,” which earned Destiny’s Child two Grammy awards. Despite the girl group’s fast-paced ascent to stardom, Luckett and Roberson left the group and were replaced by Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin (who would leave the group within a year).

In 2000 the trio released the girl-powered single “Independent Women Pt. 1″ on the Charlie’s Angels soundtrack and their subsequent album, 2001’s Survivor, went straight to the top of the charts thanks to “Bootylicious” (yes, the term is actually in the dictionary thanks to Beyonce). Long-since the leading lady of Destiny’s Child, Beyonce dipped into the acting pool with a starring role in the MTV “hip-hopera” Carmen and a spot alongside Mike Myers in the Austin Powers sequel, for which she recorded her first solo song, “Work It Out,” that was included on the soundtrack. “03 Bonnie & Clyde,” another solo single featuring then-rumored beau and now-husband Jay-Z was followed by Beyonce’s solo album debut, 2003’s Dangerously in Love. The album won five Grammys thanks to popular singles like “Baby Boy” and “Crazy in Love” and then Destiny’s Child reunited for their last album. The aptly titled Destiny Fulfilled spawned hits “Soldier” and “Lose My Breath” and all three girls went on to pursue solo work, with Beyonce starring in 2006’s Dreamgirls and releasing her sophomore solo record, B’Day, in 2006. Beyonce is set to release her third solo album in November and singles “If I Were a Boy” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” are already creating buzz. So hurry up and get your Beyonce tickets soon because this talented diva is sure to pack arenas when she hits the road.

You always watch this goody goody demure girl snuggle up Clark Kent on the hit tv series Smallville. And now, Kristin Kreuk is sure to warm up the big screen as this hot and **** young actress plays the lead role of tough ***** Chun-Li in the upcoming Street Fighter film.

Born in Canada, 25-year old Kristin is of Dutch and Chinese descent. Her first television appearance was in Edgemont, a teen soap opera set at a Vancouver-area high school. After shooting its first season, she landed the lead role in a television movie Snow White: The Fairest of Them All, which aired on ABC in 2002.

Kristin’s biggest break came when her agent sent an audition tape to screenwriters who were putting

together the cast of a new show entitled Smallville, which revolves around the life of teenager Clark Kent before he becomes Superman. The hot and **** actress was originally unsure about auditioning for Lana Lang’s role, but was impressed upon reading the graveyard scene from the pilot episode that when she was offered the role, she immediately accepted it.

In addition, the hot and **** actress is also the spokesmodel for Neutrogena’s new worldwide ad campaign, thus following the footsteps of fellow teen stars such as Jennifer Love Hewitt and Mandy

Moore. In 2005, she renewed her contract for another two years, making her the company’s longest-serving model spokesperson.

Aside from Smallville, hot and **** Kristin made her first feature film in 2003, which was a cameo

appearance in Eurotrip. In 2004, she took the role of Tenar for the Sci-Fi Channel’s two-part

miniseries Legend of Earthsea and signed on to the independent feature film Partition in 2005. In the

summer of 2006, she starred in a short film called the Dream Princess, which was a modern sci-punk

retelling of the tale of Sleeping Beauty. Her next film is Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li.