1. Fans Push for Beyoncé Monument in Houston
My Fox Houston reported that two locals have launched an effort to erect a monument honoring the iconic singer in the Bayou City. [MORE]

2. Simon Cowell Fires X Factor Judges
The love is still mighty between Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul.

Even though Cowell fired Paula from her judge post on X Factor (along with fellow judges Steve Jones and Nicole Scherzinger), he’s assured the public of his bond with his former American Idol co-hort. [MORE]

3. Cymphonique Miller Learns How to Rock
Master P’s daughter and Romeo’s sister talks to BET.com about following in her famous family’s footsteps. [MORE]

For more music news and information, visit BET.com/news/music

What’s a recently divorced singer to do when you’re looking to get back in the dating game? Release a song about it, which carries a name that is one part declarative statement and one part semi-shady. Case in point: Ruben Studdard’s new single, “June 28th (I’m Single).”

“This video has given me the opportunity to tell the story, but you always want to do something that is creative, and fun and fresh, not a sad thing. It’s just the both of us have moved on in life, and decided to do it in separate ways. It is something that I’m going through and felt it necessary to tell my story,” said the former American Idol winner.

Studdard’s forthcoming album Letters From Birmingham will hit stores March 13, but the new single is available for purchase now on iTunes.

With his fifth studio album Letters From Birmingham dropping March 13, Ruben Studdard is revving up his promotional blitz. Former CentricTV.com contributor Terry Bello sat with the former American Idol champ on the set of his video for his new single “June 28th,” to talk about the song, and the upcoming project.

Government Name(s): Kia Thorton, Nikki Bratcher, Tonia Tash
Period of Relevance: 1998-1999
Claim To Fame: The idea of bringing complete strangers together to form a musical group can be hit (Danity Kane) or miss (Da Band), but when Ruben Rodriguez, owner of Pendulum Records, brought Thorton, 17, and Bratcher, 19, of New Jersey; and Tash, 19, of New York; together, it proved to be solid gold (and later platinum). The singing trio’s first single, 1998’s “Lately”, hit #1 and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts respectively; becoming one of the biggest and highest played songs of that year.
The Decline: Following the release of their album, Fairy Tales, the group released the follow-up single, “One More Try”, a song originally released by George Michael in 1988. While it was a modest success, peaking at #13 on the R&B chart, the ladies soon disbanded in 2000.
Last Seen: Nikki Bratcher (who is celebrating her 31st birthday today, August 10) is married and is reportedly working as an A&R rep for an independent record label. Thorton, now 29, tried her hand at competing in the sixth season of American Idol in 2007 (Jordin Sparks would go on to win), but was eliminated during the Hollywood round (see her audition video after the break).

For more of your favorite music videos tune in to “Centric Hits” airing weekdays at 10am/9c

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Beyonce follows up “Run the World (Girls)” with the romantic ballad, “1+1″. The multi-Grammy Award winning entertainer performed the single on the finale show of “American Idol“, and got a standing ovation from the crowd and show judges—Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler.

Beyonce’s fourth studio album, “4″ will be in stores June 28th.

Beyonce “1+1″

After making a remarkable impact stateside with her new arms, new legs and [insert: mild chuckle] album, “I Remember Me”, Jennifer Hudson is now on her promotional grind overseas.

The Academy and Grammy award winning performer, who is now in Australia, took to Ustream to give an impromptu performance of Legendary Canadian singer Leonard Cohen’s 1984 classic ”Hallelujah”.

Alongside her two background singers—one of which is her former “American Idol” opponent George Huff—and a pianist, Hudson’s soaring vocals bring new life to the song.

Fan of J-Hud? Vote HERE to make her video, ”Where You At”, one of “The Hot 10″ 

Known as one of the hardest working women in show biz, Sy Smith has been on the move! Her third studio album, Conflict, which was released in 2008, is simply one of the many accomplishments in her roll of credentials. The beautiful, talented soul singer has since managed to shoot and release six videos, played in a number of cities alongside Chris Botti, performed as a soloist, and is currently the Secretary for the Los Angeles Chapter of The Recording Academy while working as a backing vocalist in this season’s American Idol. She does it, and she does it well!

I had a chance to catch up with Sy and get the goods on everything from her latest project to her love life! Check it out…

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The End of One Era and The Beginning of Another

With Simon Cowell announcing that he’s following Paula Abdul’s lead and jumping ship off of American Idol come the end of this season. After nine seasons, American Idol has produced more hit-making artists and gold and platinum singles and albums than any American major label of the last decade. More than seven Grammy wins, A.I. has produced most of the significant cross-over artists that people around the watercooler all knew and could discuss (Fantasia, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Carrie Underwood, even Daughtry) a rarity in the niche-market era spawned with the declining prominence of radio and network TV. It has fed Broadway with a seemingly endless stream of fresh faces and competent voices with bankable name recognition from Deanna DeGarmo and LaToya London to Constantine and Ruben Studdard. It’s even produced an Oscar-winner in Jennifer Hudson.

The Canary In The Mine?

American Idol could survive the loss of both Abdul and Cowell, but somehow I doubt if legendary producer/guitarist Randy Jackson or Kara Who? is enough of a draw to bridge the gap, even with the congenial comedy of A.I. newcomer Ellen Degeneres. What is even less clear is whether the music industry could survive the impact of losing American Idol? After all, A.I. drop dates for winners and losers are known to be heavy draws for fans who may otherwise rarely visit the record store or music section of their favorite Big Box store. Who knows if Cowell’s X-Factor will be the hit here that it is in Britain, creating a seamless transition without any blips. But, if NBC’s experiment with Jay Leno has taught us anything, it’s taught us tickering with a proven formula is almost always a recipe for disaster, if not cancellation. NBC could survive the cancellation of an earlier Jay Leno, but could the industry survive the cancellation of American Idol?