Beyonce wins at American Music Awards - Nov 19 2007
It was Beyonce’s night at the American Music Awards as the singer was recognised with the International Artist Award of Excellence.

The Bootylicious star joins a rather exclusive club of artists, as former recipients include Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin, the Bee Gees and Aerosmith.

For the first time in AMA’s 35-year history, winners were selected by the public via online voting - the show’s broadcaster ABC reported that around 1.2 million people voted.

Nominees were selected based on national sales and radio play, and included Brits Natasha Bedingfield and James Blunt, who both attended the glitzy ceremony held at the brand new Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

However, it was strictly the Americans who won big. Justin Timberlake was named Pop/Rock’s Favourite Male Artist and his album FutureSex/LoveSounds won in the Soul/Rhythm & Blues category. In a recorded acceptance speech from Australia, Justin said the win was "awesome".

Singer Fergie, who also performed for the star-studded audience, was named Pop/Rock’s Favourite Female Artist.

Other winners included Nickelback and Rihanna. Disney’s teen sensation High School Musical 2 picked up Favourite Soundtrack Album.

Beyonce talks fashion falls - Nov 16 2007
She famously slipped and fell over during a concert back in July, and now Beyonce has admitted it wasn’t really a one off.

"I recently fell down the stairs because my heel got caught in the hem of my coat," she told the December issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.

"But really, I’ve fallen down the stairs a lot of times, so I can’t only blame it on the coat!"

And although the 26-year-old singer has her own fashion business with her mum Tina Knowles, she confesses she wasn’t always so stylish.

"At one point, I was a tomboy and wouldn’t wear dresses," she reveals. "And when I first became a teenager, I hated purses. My mom used to say, ’You’re a young lady, you should have a purse.’ I refused. She had to beg me."

Beyonce explained she gets inspiration for her designs when she’s asleep.

"Usually, I tell my mom, ’I woke up from this dream. I was wearing gold and I was a robot.’ And she’s like, ’Okay you’re crazy, but I’m going to make it happen.’ So she makes about 50 robot suits and we choose from those."


5,000 at Beyonce world tour opener - Oct 22 2007
R&B diva Beyonce Knowles began her world tour in front of an audience of 5,000 adoring and hysterical fans in Ethiopia, a country usually unimpressed by Western music.

The 26-year-old Texan singer gave a spirited two-hour performance in the Ethiopian capital, to the delight of her fans, as part of the country’s year-long celebration of its 2,000th year, according to its archaic calendar.

In September, Addis Ababa hosted LA-based hip-hop group the Black Eyed Peas in a new, multi-million pound, but temporary, concert hall. The reception for the group was tepid, if respectful.

That lukewarm reaction was repeated for Beyonce’s opening act, multi-platinum-selling rapper Ludacris.

But Beyonce struck a chord in Ethiopia, and the reception was hysterical when she came onstage to deliver a two-hour musical variety show.

"Rap music doesn’t suit Ethiopia," said local music promoter Michael Melake, 36. "Ethiopians need a melody. Rap music is all about the message and we don’t identify with that. It’s all about the black American experience, and we don’t relate to that."