Leighton Meester, who plays Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl, has gotten a music deal with Universal Republic. Her sound has an “electro-pop edge,” and the studio gives a bullsh*t statement about how excited they are about Leighton’s “tremendous presence and spirited approach to her musical artistry.” Leighton herself says that she is happy that she will be given license to explore her “creative boundaries.”

Leighton Meester, star of the CW Network’s teen drama “Gossip Girl,” has signed a deal with Universal Republic through Time-Act Music to release her debut album in the fall. The 23-year-old actress began recording material– described as having an “electro-pop edge”–for the project in March and has clocked studio time with producers Polow Da Don (Usher, Fergie), Harvey Mason, Jr. (Justin Timberlake, Pink) and Spencer Nezey (Jupiter Rising).

“I’m thrilled to be welcomed into the Universal Republic fold,” said Meester in a statement. “Their reputation for nurturing artists combined with a willingness to break new ground makes it the ultimate environment for me to enjoy making music and explore my own creative boundaries.”

“Leighton Meester’s tremendous presence and spirited approach to her musical artistry is a perfect fit with her new Universal Republic home as we introduce current and new fans to this unique facet of her immense talent,” added Monte Lipman, President and CEO of Universal Republic Records.

[From Billboard]

Electro-pop does not equal breaking new ground. How many other actresses and celebrities have tried breaking into the same genre - and failed? Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton are the first that come to mind. Scarlett Johansson tried a different approach altogether by recording an album of Tom Waits covers, but she also famously failed. I really would like Leighton to defy my expectations. She does seem to have a decent voice, with a Goldfrapp-esque lilt and smoothness to it. But in this business, having a good voice doesn’t mean anything. What I am not looking forward to is her record company paying Gossip Girl to have an episode where she has to sing in a talent contest or something. I can see it now: “Oh, Blair, I had no idea you sang!”

Here’s a clip of Leighton singing “Bette Davis Eyes” if you want to get an idea what she sounds like.

Here’s Leighton at the CHLOE Los Angeles Boutique Opening in Los Angeles yesterday. Images thanks to Fame Pictures .

Yesterday everyone was buzzing over a supposed unfiltered “board mix” of Beyonce performing her hit “If I Were a Boy” on The Today Show last November. The story went that Beyonce lip synced that performance and that the recording was of her actual singing. Howard Stern played the clip on his show yesterday and it was just awful. Beyonce screeched and warbled off pitch, her voice getting increasingly worse as the song went on.

In response to that clip, Beyonce’s dad and manager, Mathew Knowles, pointed out that his daughter sang live at the inauguration and at the inaugural ball and didn’t miss a note, adding “At 12 years into her career, the last thing someone should be questioning is her vocal ability.”:

In a fiery statement to TMZ, Mathew Knowles, who’s also Bey’s manager, says his daughter was set up. It’s one of the best statements we’ve ever gotten.

“If no one took the time to look at the biggest Inauguration in the history of America then shame on them.

If no one took the time to listen to Beyonce sing ‘America the Beautiful’ and ‘At Last’ at the Neighborhood Ball for the first dance of President Obama and the First Lady, and they question Beyonce’s vocal ability, they’ve gotta be an idiot.

At 12 years into her career, the last thing someone should be questioning is her vocal ability.

That would be like questioning if Kobe Bryant could shoot a jump shot. The vocals were obviously altered.”

[From TMZ]

Matthew Knowles was right. Someone took the real live recording Beyonce’s performance on The Today Show
and altered it to make her voice sound terrible. It was never intended to be taken as a real recording and was just a joke that went too far:

Beyonce has officially been cleared of all bad singing charges — the atrocious supposed “board mix” of her performance on “The Today Show” last year was altered after all.

Just as Mathew Knowles told us, the audio clip that many people believed was leaked from “Today” was indeed a fake.

In fact, TMZ found the person behind the prank who was surprised it went as far as it did, saying, “It’s a little bit crazy. No one in their right mind would sound like that, and no one would cheer for someone singing like that.”

Apparently, the dude never went to an Ashlee Simpson concert…

[From TMZ]

MSat and I were chatting about this, and she was saying how ironic it is, in the wake of the Susan Boyle phenomenon, that an attractive woman like Beyonce who is known for elaborate performances can’t really sing. It makes you think about the nature of the entertainment industry and how it favors flash over substance. In this case it didn’t happen to pan out that way and Beyonce really does have the pipes to back up her gorgeous wigs and bizarre outfits. Britney, though, is a different matter, although now I’m inclined to believe that her board mix was also a fake.

Beyonce is shown outside the Late Show last night. She told Letterman that performing at the inauguration was “the best moment” of her career.

Photo credit: WENN.com

Former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice is enjoying quite the media blitz post-job. She’s taken a turn as a sports writer, and appeared on several talk shows- even proclaimed her love for rock music, saying her favorite band is Led Zeppelin. For years, she rubbed elbows with the most powerful leaders in the world, and now, she’s holding court with pop culture icons all over Hollywood. One of those is “American Idol” judge, Randy “Dawg” Jackson. The former Journey bass player and Rice had a secret meeting back in March, at Rice’s request, to discuss music.

Former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice thinks Randy Jackson is top dawg!

When the classically trained pianist, 54, was in L.A. for her March 24 appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, she arranged to meet the American Idol judge, 52, for a private sit-down at the Beverly Wilshire hotel.

Rice’s spokesman tells the new issue of Us Weekly (on newsstands today): “She’s a longtime admirer of Randy and enjoyed the opportunity to meet him in person and talk about their common passion for music.”

When Jackson (who’s been married since 1995) learned Rice wanted to meet him, “he was sort of mystified,” a source tells Us, “but he went.”

And they had plenty to talk about during their 90-minute meeting.

Says an insider, “She found him to be absolutely intriguing.”

[From Us Weekly]

There are many adjectives I’d use to describe Randy Jackson - intriguing is not one of them. The guy has about a 5-word vocabulary. What on earth could he have talked about for 90 minutes? Maybe she played some piano for him? I can hear it now: “Yo, Condi, dawg, that was pitchy, but you worked it out, you did yo’ thing, yo!”

I have a theory that Randy’s entire “dawg” persona it 100% fake. In private, the guy probably speaks like Tom Brokaw. I mean, come on- he played for Journey! No street cred there, Dawg. Anyway, I have to say, Condi has really surprised me since leaving office with her cool attitude and many hidden talents. Do you think she’ll ever go back to public office?

Rapper Flo Rida is enjoying success with his new hit “Right Round,” which samples the 80’s classic “You Spin Me Right Round.” Even though he just released his second album, he feels it’s important to stay close to his fans, and during a CNN interview gave out his cell phone number (it’s 305-528-2786, in case you were wondering). He says that he answers or responds via text to approximately 30% of the calls.

In an attempt to reach his fan base on a more intimate level, the Floridian rapper has made his personal cell phone number public.

“If they can go out and buy my albums, I can at least make the sacrifice to holler at the few people who call,” he says. “A lot of times I’m busy so they’ll get my voice mail. And if I can speak to them and I have time, I always text back. Because I think that’s very important.”

To prove that the number he shared on camera during our interview was the real deal, he showed CNN his iPhone. The device was on overdrive, constantly lighting up and vibrating with an influx of texts and calls.

“Yo this is your boy Flo Rida,” he said to one caller. “What’s your name? What’s good?”

But it was too much for the person on the other end — he or she hung up before uttering a response.
“Most of them hang up,” says Flo Rida (real name Tramar Dillard). “They don’t think it’s really me.”

So how many calls and texts does a top-selling, in-demand rap star actually respond to?

“About 30 percent,” he says.

[From CNN]

Either he really does want to continue to connect with his fans, or this is a brilliant marketing ploy. The strategy might work for Flo Rida, but it wouldn’t work with a lot of other stars. Can you imagine if Zac Efron’s number got out? Or the Jonas Brothers? There would be some serious tween stalking going on.

He says that most people end up hanging up on him because they don’t believe that it’s actually him - or because they get scared. My roommate actually tried to call the number last night, but it was busy. Don’t know what we would have said if he actually answered the phone.

Wonder if he’ll change his number soon. For a while it might be kind of fun, but eventually he might have to get another private number. Wouldn’t want to miss a call from your mom because you were too busy responding to calls from fans.

Here’s Flo Rida with Wynter Gordon performing on the set of their new music video on Friday. Images thanks to WENN.com .

My ears feel like someone just ripped them off my head, submerged them in boiling water, transferred them to a vat of acid, pulled them out with tongs than had been resting on hot coals, then soldered them back onto my still bleeding head wounds. I’ve been forced to listen to Heidi Montag’s latest single, and although I didn’t think it was possible, it’s actually more horrendous than any of her previous music. As Michael K at Dlisted put it, “This might be the first time that every effect on a Playskool Magic Keyboard has been used on a ‘song.’” Spot on.

We sense a new season of The Hills must be on the horizon as MTV star Heidi Montag exclusively released her new single “Look How I’m Doing” to On-Air with Ryan Seacrest Wednesday morning. Soon after, she released a second single “Your Love Found Me” to PerezHilton.com. Listen to both killer tracks below!

On August 16, 2007, Ryan premiered her first song, “Body Language”, featuring a rap segment by long-time boyfriend, Spencer Pratt. Four months later, another one of Montag’s songs entitled, “Touch Me” was leaked online.

After receiving minimal air-time, Montag’s first single, “Higher” received an online-only release on iTunes. Since then, she’s put out more singles such as “One more Drink,” “Fashion,” “No more,” and “Overdosin.”

[From RyanSeacrest.com]

Heidi’s song is called “Look How I’m Doing” – and from the sound of it, she isn’t doing so well. She’s clearly got half a pack of cotton balls stuck in her throat. I can’t tell you much about the lyrics because, like her hair, Heidi’s voice is too over processed. It’s practically just a computer, there is so little that hasn’t been digitized. Yet somehow it’s also very muffled, as though some idiot teenager were messing with the treble (cough barf Spencer Pratt barf cough). And I don’t think that’s just because the song was recorded off the radio. It’s because Heidi has no skill at music whatsoever and clearly can’t hire people who know how it should sound. Probably because Spencer won’t let her.

Here are Heidi and Spencer at Perez Hilton’s 31st Birthday bash at The Viper Room in West Hollywood on Sunday. Images thanks to WENN .

Though Amy Winehouse seems to be doing her best to slowly turn things around, both her marriage and her career are taking some serious hits. After several attempts to convince her loser husband Blake to take her back, Amy has finally given up on the union, according to her Facebook page.

Troubled singer AMY WINEHOUSE has quit trying to save her marriage to BLAKE FIELDER-CIVIL - announcing the decision with a message posted online.

… despite writing heartfelt pleas for a reconciliation on her Facebook page, an announcement posted on the site on Friday (20Mar09) suggests Winehouse has given up any hope of salvaging her marriage.

She writes, “I don’t think I’ll ever see (Blake) again.”

[From Star Magazine UK]

I’m sure that hurts a lot in the here and now, but long-term it’s definitely best for Amy. The last thing she needs is that pathetic layabout bringing her down any longer. Blake is supposedly going after a lot of Amy’s money – and hopefully she’ll do whatever she can to keep him away from it – because she’s going to need it. According to The Sun, her record label has just rejected her new album. They think it’s too reggae-influenced, which doesn’t really work for her. And the songs are too dark. Not that most of the tracks on her last album were happiness and rainbows – so this must be some really heavy shit.

AFTER Back To Black, AMY WINEHOUSE has been forced to go back again – to the drawing board. The singer’s demo tracks for her third album, recorded in the Caribbean, have left her label less than happy. And they’ve told her she needs to come up with a new set of songs.

An insider said: “Amy was very productive during her stay in St Lucia. She wrote a hell of a lot of songs, but the majority of them just aren’t hitting the mark. She seems to have ditched her trademark vintage soul sound and is now heavily influenced by reggae. Her bosses don’t think it’s a wise move to change her style so sharply and have told her that.”

And what’s also cause for concern is the bleak outlook of the lyrics, which focus largely on her turbulent relationship with estranged husband BLAKE FIELDER-CIVIL. My source added: “The lyrics are very dark indeed. While she’s known for her confessional style and has been very successful with it, many of the tracks are near the knuckle.

“Everyone understands that Amy is an artist and she must be true to her instincts. In the past, she’s written frequently about broken hearts and boyfriends, but this time round she’s delving into harrowing terrain.”

The source added: “It’s crucial Amy’s return [to music] is handled properly. If she puts out a record that is in any way half-baked, that could severely damage her long-term prospects, so everyone’s focus at the minute is getting it right, even if that means telling Amy some things she probably won’t want to hear.”

[From The Sun]

Amy has damaged her credibility quite a bit due to her personal life and lack of professionalism in the past few years. The last thing she needs is to put out a bad album. Talk about a nail in the proverbial coffin.

I think the only reason people have been willing to bear with Amy is because she’s got so much talent, and her last album was so good. If she messes that up too, she’ll lose that last bit of public goodwill. Amy really does seem to think she can screw up over and over and over again without lasting consequences. It’s hard to know if she’s just delusional or if that’s the result of all the drugs. But if she puts out a career-killing album and loses a ton of money in a divorce, she’ll be surprised just how quickly it all goes away.

It seems like it’s time to make peace with Mark Ronson and get back in the studio.

Here’s Amy (flashing her underwear) as she leaves Maddox Nightclub on Wednesday. Images thanks to BauerGriffinOnline.

Thom Yorke of Radiohead has hit back at Miley Cyrus’ public complaint that the band wouldn’t meet her, ’cause she’d already texted all her friends and was like totally embarrassed. Yorke said that Miley has a “sense of entitlement” that she’ll lose once she “grows up”:

In a radio interview last week (ends06Mar09), Cyrus said, “My manager asked and said, you know, ‘Miley, she’s really obsessed and she’d really like to meet them,’ and they were like, ‘Yeah, we don’t really do that.’”

Cyrus was left humiliated by the slight - because she had already boasted to her friends about meeting the band.

She adds, “I left ’cause I was so upset. I wasn’t going to watch! I’d already texted all my friends, we were all freaking out.”

And the teen sensation was so hurt she made an instant decision to expose Radiohead as mean guys - something that has annoyed Yorke.

In a statement issued to magazine Us Weekly, the Fake Plastic Trees singer says, “When Miley grows up, she’ll learn not to have such a sense of entitlement.”

Contact Music

Zing!

Radiohead have long held a policy of not doing that kind of media thing, and letting their music speak for itself. It can come across as kind of snobbish, but I like that they’re proving you can sell albums without having to have an accompanying television show, clothing line, and running stream of paparazzi pictures.

Miley wasn’t the only one who got the brush off, Kanye West also got knocked back with a very s

Kanye West also has a bone to pick with the band. During his “VH1 Storytellers” taping, West told the audience he, too, was snubbed by the British band at the Grammys. He was so mad that when Radiohead performed, “I sat the f— down.”

So, much in Kanye’s style, the guys addressed the beef rumors on their Web site, Dead Air Space. “Wish us all a safe journey,” Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke blogged. “If you still like us and you’re not one of those people I have managed to offend by doing nothing, xx.”

MTV

Couldn’t they have set up a meeting with Kanye and Miley? That would have solved everything!

It’s unusual for Thom Yorke to respond to this kind of thing, but maybe he was annoyed that Miley got a lot of publicity for her comments, more than Radiohead received for their performance. I have no idea why Miley and Kanye thought that Radiohead should meet them, they have nothing really in common musically. Oh that’s right - Radiohead are the darlings of the music press and Kanye and Miley wanted a piece of that. If Kanye and Miley were real fans they would have respected Radiohead’s wishes and be content to see their performance.

Photo credit: PRPhotos. Yorke is shown performing in London on 6/25/08. Cyrus is shown at the Grammy Awards on 2/8/09

Yesterday the news came out that Chris Brown and Rihanna were working on a duet together. We were hoping it wasn’t true, as it just made their cringe inducing reunion all the more real and potentially more public if the song is ever released. It is true, according to TMZ, and Rihanna and her abuser made the decision to record the duet from a song originally intended for her alone. A producer named Polow Da Don is said to have come up with the brilliant idea and to have talked them into it.

The whole thing came together when they decided to reconcile shortly after the attack. Sources tell us music producer Polow Da Don convinced both Chris and Rihanna to get in the studio and record a love song stat, stressing that timing was important because the heightened emotions would translate powerfully into the music.

Both Rihanna and Chris agreed and snuck in a couple of “late night” sessions that we’re told were “very, very emotional … the feeling in the room was pure love.” Clearly, love hurts.

As for how they got along, they were “playfully touching each other.”

We’re told the song was originally written for Rihanna before the fight, but after the beat down the producer believed the track — which ironically focuses on overcoming difficult challenges as a couple — would be the perfect duet.

[From TMZ]

What kind of message are Brown and Rihanna sending young fans by not only getting back together, but recording a song that will probably emphasize how you can triumph over adversity as a couple? Young women need to be told that you leave abusers immediately and press charges, not that you can “work it out” after he hits you.

I want to think that major record companies will realize that this song is too controversial to release, but it’s not like the decision-makers will suddenly grow scruples. It’s about money, and if a duet emphasizing reconciliation after he beats the shit out of you is popular, that’s all that matters. Maybe some radio stations will boycott it at least.

Meanwhile Diddy was on Ellen to explain why he let Chris Brown and Rihanna stay at this Miami home after the beating incident. Contrary to prior reports, he didn’t say that Brown tricked him by initially asking to stay there alone. He defended himself by saying “I’m not going to pass judgment on it. I’m going to be there as a friend.” Diddy did say that “I don’t think it’s right for anybody to hit anybody.”

Nickelodeon has refused to remove Chris Brown as a nominee for the Kids Choice Awards, which air March 28. He is not thought to be planning to attend, though. That’s a shame, because they could have slimed him with something foul smelling that would never wash out. Maybe then his few remaining sponsors and fans would wise up and avoid him like the plague.

Photo credit: WENN

The Brit Awards, The British Phonographic Industry’s annual pop music awards, were held last night. The biggest winner was Duffy and her debut album Rockferry. During one of her acceptance speeches, Duffy cursed on live television, but it doesn’t look like the speech police from America have invaded Britain, so nothing will probably happen to her. Other notable awards went to Kayne West, Katy Perry and Kings of Leon. Here’s a list of the winners, provided by The Daily Telegraph:

:: Mastercard British Album – Duffy ‘Rockferry’
:: British Group – Elbow
:: British Single – Girls Aloud ‘The Promise’
:: British Male Solo Artist – Paul Weller
:: British Female Solo Artist – Duffy
:: British Breakthrough Act – Duffy
:: British Live Act – Iron Maiden
:: International Album – Kings of Leon ‘Only By The Night’
:: International Group – Kings of Leon
:: International Male Solo Artist – Kanye West
:: International Female Solo Artist – Katy Perry
:: Critics’ Choice Award – Florence & The Machine
:: British Producer of the Year – Bernard Butler
:: Outstanding Contribution to Music – Pet Shop Boys

From The Daily Telegraph

The biggest loser of the night was Chris Martin and Coldplay. The group had been nominated for a bunch of awards, but failed to win any - they lost to a bunch of girls. Coldplay’s latest album (Viva La Vida) is a commercial success, and they just won several Grammys last week - yet the British people seem to have mixed feelings about the album and about Coldplay. The Daily Telegraph has more:

Although the group bagged a handful of Grammys they failed to live up to their hype on this side of the Atlantic. Their latest album Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends topped the global sales chart last year with 6.6 million copies. But it lost out to Duffy’s Rockferry while the title single also missed out to Girls Aloud’s The Promise.

While their commercial success is certain, Coldplay’s style has received mixed reviews and, while nominated for best album at the Brits, they were also up for the worst album gong at the NME Awards later this month.

It was Elbow who walked off with Best Band category, while veteran rockers Iron Maiden ended Coldplay’s final hope of an award by scooping Best Live Act.

In the international categories, the Kings of Leon won best album and best group, while rapper Kanye West took best male. Katy Perry was named best international female.
Reaching number one in more than 30 countries, Viva La Vida was seen as a shoe-in for Best Album.

Their previous three albums - X&Y, A Rush Of Blood To The Head and Parachutes - have sold more than 30 million copies.

The group are currently on a huge world tour, which began last year and culminates this September with two nights at Wembley Stadium.

It is nine years since the band first earned worldwide fame with the release of Yellow, which quickly became the summer’s anthem of 2000.

From The Daily Telegraph

Even though I don’t really care for Coldplay’s music, I think the Brits are being a little harsh. So the album isn’t their best? So what? They’ll make other albums, and maybe one of them will be better.

I really don’t get Katy Perry. I realize I’m an old fart when it comes to what’s hip in music (I still think it’s Britney Spears), but I saw Katy perform live on the Grammy’s, and the performance was, in a word, rough. She’s not a live act. She’s a one-hit wonder who probably won’t be around the music business much longer.

Shown at the Brit awards are Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry, Estelle, Girls Aloud, Duffy, Taylor Swift, The Ting Tings, Natalie Imbruglia, KT Tunstall, Lionel Richie, and Pixie Geldof (in the white giant shirt without a bra.) Credit: WENN

Two exciting new musical collaborations are hitting the airwaves soon, at least one of which going to be very interesting. When you were wearing a Smashing Pumpkins t-shirt while secretly listening to Hanson on your walkman back in the 90s, did you ever expect those two worlds to collide? Former Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, Hanson brother Taylor, Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos, and Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger have formed a group called “Tinted Windows”:

Take one graying former Smashing Pumpkins ax-man, a Hanson brother-turned-father, a 57-year-old Cheap Trick drummer and the Fountains of Wayne bassist, and what have you got?

Tinted Windows, the music world’s latest, relatively head-scratching supergroup.

That’s right — James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) and Taylor Hanson have joined forces as the curiously named Windows. They even have a MySpace page, so it has to be legit.

And while, sure, it may seem like the oddest grouping of musicians ever, a closer look reveals that maybe Tinted Windows aren’t so random after all. Schlesinger and Iha co-own Stratosphere Sound Studios (along with Ivy’s Andy Chase), where Tinted Windows recorded their debut. And back when Iha was in the Pumpkins, they used to cover Cheap Trick songs (most notably “Baby Loves to Rock”) live in concert. We’re not really sure where the 25-year-old Hanson brother fits in, but, hey, it’s a supergroup … and since when do supergroups have to make complete sense?

MTV

I would love to hear this, I bet Taylor Hanson has gotten even better since his voice broke! The band’s myspace page gives nothing away, and when I tried to google ‘Tinted Windows’ all I got was information on tinting car windows. Perhaps not the most carefully thought out name. Do the superpowers that be think that they will be able to conquer this? The band plan to release their album in spring, and will be previewing their music at SXSW festival in March.

Another interesting collaboration upcoming is one with Bone Thugs N Harmony…and Kevin Federline, who will presumably be featuring under his rap moniker K-Fed, as opposed to ‘that guy that used to be married to Britney’.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony has a great resume when it comes to collaborations including big names like 2 Pac and Notorious B.I.G. Now a new name will be added to that list, Kevin Federline aka K-Fed. In an new interview, Layzie Bone talked about his plans saying “It’s gonna be viewed and doubted by a lot of people,” Layzie stated. “As Bone Thugs N Harmony with a brand new platform, we’re coming to show everybody what type of real hitmakers we are. We’re gonna make a multi-platinum album and party with the paparazzi. We coming to prove y’all wrong TMZ! Kevin Federline is gonna be platinum when Bone Thugs N Harmony is done with him.”

K-Fed even chimed in saying “I appreciate these guys coming and looking at this project for what it is,” K-Fed stated. “All I really want to do is make music.” The song with K-Fed, “Paparazzi Music,” is “a soundtrack for when you’re chasing people down” so says the producer LT Hutton.

Rap Basement

Just in case you were wondering, this isn’t some kind of stunt collaboration to generate interest - Bone Thugs N Harmony have debunked the suggestion that Vanilla Ice (ice ice baby) will be featuring on their album. They would never collaborate with such a musician - not when they’ve got instant publicity using K-Fed.

I’m guessing, despite multi-platinum hopes, that Fed-Ex is going to make more money touring as glorified nanny with the Britney circus than from this venture.

Header of K-Fed outside the studio on 2/11/08 with Bone Thungs N Harmony. Kevin Federline is also shown at an event on 2/5/09, Bun E. Carlos is shown on the drums on 7/31/08, Adam Schlesinger is shown on 2/13/07, Taylor Hanson is shown on 10/20/08 with his brothers Issac Hanson and Zac Hanson. Credit: WENN