Singer Janelle Monae adopted her signature suit and tie look to set a good example for young female fans, declaring, "Showing skin is not what makes me sexy."

The R&B star, who is known for her masculine dress sense, made a conscious decision at the start of her career not to flash her flesh in a bid to conform to traditional ideas of sex appeal.

She tells Essence magazine, "People don't ask Jay-Z to take his shirt off when he rhymes. (I want to) redefine what it means to be sexy and what it means to be a woman. Showing my skin is not what makes me sexy. I like skirts and dresses just l...

Singer Janelle Monae has become the new face of CoverGirl.

The stylish hit-maker will join the likes of P!nk, Taylor Swift and Drew Barrymore in new commercials for the cosmetics firm.

Monae says, "Becoming a CoverGirl is truly an honor and a gift. It opens up a new platform for me to inspire women to feel stronger, braver and more beautiful inside and out."

Her first adverts for CoverGirl will debut in the September issue of Vogue magazine.

Stars including Lindsay Lohan, Sarah Jessica Parker and Julianne Moore turned out to help raise more than $1.4 million for Elizabeth Taylor's AIDS charity at a gala in New York on Wednesday.

The event at Manhattan's Cipriani Wall Street was hosted by Sex and the City star Parker to benefit Taylor's American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and included performances by rapper Theophilius London, R&B star Janelle Monae and opera singer Michelle Johnson.

The bash also featured an auction in which a portrait of Richard Gere, taken by late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, sold for $20,000...

Janelle Monae was astonished when President Barack Obama asked her to perform his favorite track during her show at a White House state dinner this week.

The R&B star was invited to entertain 220 guests at the American leader's temporary home during a special event honoring South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday.

And she was left stunned when the president and his wife, First Lady Michelle, made a personal request for her to sing her hit song "Tightrope."

In a post on Facebook, Monae writes, "Just performed (at) The WHITE HOUSE for the State Dinner!!!!! President Obama and Firs...

R&B singer Mya is giving one wealthy fan the chance to win an intimate dinner date with the sexy star as part of a charity auction.

The Case of the Ex hit-maker, who previously dated rapper The Game, has offered up a night in her company for the CharityBuzz.com sale.

The lot, valued at $2,500, will raise money for the North Shore Animal League America - an animal rescue organization.

Singer/songwriter Janelle Monae is also taking part in the online sale and has offered bidders the opportunity to meet her backstage at a concert of their choice.

Her prize will benefit the Alzheimer's ...

Soul legend Marvin Gaye's groundbreaking "What's Going On?" album is set for a 40th anniversary celebration featuring re-releases, rare cuts and celebrity tributes.

The classic hit stores on May 21, 1971 and quickly became one of the most important albums ever released, featuring a reflective Gaye musing on the troubles of the day.

The album spawned the hits "What's Going On, Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" and "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)."

To celebrate the anniversary, record label Motown is releasing "What's Going On" - Super Deluxe Edition, which features two CDs and one vi...

Pop superstar Katy Perry has announced a series of brand-new U.S. dates on her California Dreams 2011 World Tour sponsored by Shick Quattro for Women. The new shows commence on September 7 following on the heels of the summer North American leg of the tour, which kicks off Stateside on June 7th in Atlanta and runs through August 14th with two shows in Katy's Santa Barbara hometown. Katy just wrapped sold-out dates in the U.K. before heading to sold-out shows in Australia, New Zealand and Japan in May. North American dates feature a rotating group of exciting openers, including Robyn, Janel...

As we previously reported, the ladies ruled the Grammy Awards last night. And several stars stood out on the red carpet with their fashionable attire.

Katy Perry showed up with her grandmother wearing angel wings, while Lady Gaga made an appearance in an egg.

Cee Lo Green performed with muppets and Gwyneth Paltrow in a bird-like costume, while Rihanna teased with a ruffled number that strategically hid her softer parts.

Check out the fashion below, and tell us who your favorites are. (See the list of winners here!)

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga arriving in an egg

Jennifer Lopez

Justin Bi...

Hip-hop diva Lauryn Hill showed no remorse after keeping devotees waiting for almost four hours at a recent comeback concert in New York, telling disgruntled fans she was "worth the wait."

The reclusive singer was due to return to the stage to kick off her first U.S. tour in years on December 27th, but the show at Manhattan's Highline Ballroom had to be postponed after a heavy snow storm brought transport in the Big Apple to a standstill. She went ahead with her second scheduled gig, at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg, on December 28th, and drew a crowd including soul superstar Prin...

Kanye West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" has topped another important end-of-year albums poll after landing the honor from Spin magazine's editors.

The acclaimed album was named the best of 2010 ahead of Deerhunter's "Halcyon Digest" and "The Suburbs" by Arcade Fire.

LCD Soundsystem's "This is Happening" and Jamey Johnson's "The Guitar Song" round out the Spin top five, while albums from M.I.A., Kid Cudi, Janelle Monae, Grinderman and Robyn make the top 10.

Cee-Lo Green's naughty hit "F--- You" has topped music magazine Spin's poll of 2010 hits.

The quirky tune beat out Arcade Fire's Ready To Start and Power by Kanye West in the first definitive end-of-year pop poll.

Rapper West's Runaway also makes the top 10, as does LCD Soundsystem's All I Want and Helicopter by Deerhunter.

The top 10 is:

1. "F--- You" by Cee Lo Green
2. "Ready To Start" by Arcade Fire
3. "Power" by Kanye West
4. "All I Want" by LCD Soundsystem
5. "Hitchhiker" by Neil Young
6. "Helicopter" by Deerhunter
7. "Runaway" by Kanye West
8. "Cry When You Get Older" by Robyn
9. ...

New mom Alicia Keys has something else to celebrate after learning she has been nominated for four Soul Train Awards.

The "No One" singer gave birth to her first child, Egypt, on Friday, and now she's leading the way at the soul and R&B prizegiving, which is due to take place in Atlanta, Georgia on November 10.

Usher also landed four nominations, while Drake scored three. Monica, Nicki Minaj and Sade were among the double nominees.

Ronald Isley and Anita Baker will be the recipients of special career achievement awards at the event, which will be hosted by "Hustle & Flow" co-stars Terren...

Alicia Keys and her superstar pals Jay-Z, Beyonce, Whitney Houston and Usher have helped to raise a massive $2.4 million for the R&B singer's children's charity.

The "No One" star staged the seventh annual Keep A Child Alive Black Ball in New York on Thursday night to generate funds for kids and families in Africa and India affected by HIV and AIDS.

A heavily pregnant Keys, a co-founder of Keep A Child Alive, performed at the event, teaming up for a duet with Sade and with Jay-Z for a rendition of their smash hit Empire State of Mind, while singer/songwriter Janelle Monae also took to the...

Singer/songwriter Janelle Monae has refused to deny persistent rumors she is a lesbian - joking to fans that she only dates androids.

The 24 year old has been dogged by speculation about her sexuality and in a new Rolling Stone magazine interview, she's provoked further comment.

The star, who released her debut album The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) in May, tells the publication, "The lesbian community has tried to claim me, but I only date androids. Nothing like an android, they don't cheat on you."

Monae is well known for her masculine dress sense, and she admits it was inspired ...

R&B star Chris Brown stole the limelight at the 2010 BET Awards on Sunday night when he performed a showstopping dance tribute to the late Michael Jackson.

The "Kiss Kiss" hitmaker was introduced to the stage by Jermaine Jackson to mark the first anniversary of the King of Pop's death.

The young singer showed off his fancy footwork to "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Smooth Criminal" and "Billie Jean" but struggled to complete his tribute segment as tears streamed down his face while trying to sing Jackson classic "Man in the Mirror."

His surprise addition to the show's line-up came a year a...

Weekly Music News: Jive Records is having a pretty big week with big news and comebacks from artists like Chris Brown, Ciara, and Britney Spears. The Britney fans will be thrilled to know that her new single "3" will officially make its radio premiere today, September 29. DJ AM's reality show gets the green light, Chris Brown returns to the stage, Ciara readies new album and Diddy leaving Atlantic Records round's out this week's music news.

Beyonce tapped for new movie role

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Beyonce is being eyed to star in a new movie. The film is said to be a rema...

There are tons of tours this summer, but some are creating bigger hype than others. Here is who we are excited for this season!

Britney Spears

Britney Spears suffered a highly publicized meltdown in which she shaved her head and used an umbrella as an attack weapon. But whether you love her or hate her, are rooting for her or hoping she fails, almost everyone wants to know the answer to the question-Can she make a comeback?

From recent reviews, it seems that she is back to her old midriff-wearing, highly choreographed self. She is now heading into the second month of her Cir...