[PHOTOS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA AND JORDAN BRATMAN TAKE SON MAX TO VENICE BEACH

[NEWS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA RETURNS TO 'THE VOICE', REFRESHED AND REJUVENATED

The Voice prides itself on being a reality competition show devoted to discovering new talent, but it’s most noteworthy star to date has to be pop diva Christina Aguilera. This blonde bombshell took off Season 4 from the show to regroup and recharge, but now the superstar is back and looking better than ever.

Wetpaint Entertainment caught up with Xtina and the rest of the coaches at the NBC summer press junket where the “Beautiful” singer was looking more trim than ever. And when she was asked about her drastic weight loss, she had a surprising secret to share.

“I know you're going to think this is total B.S. when I tell you this, but my mission in taking the time off was getting back to things that are outside of inspiring me on camera,” she said. “It was about getting back to my roots and my being a mom, spending time at home. My son lights up my life, and it's hard to go to work and be separated from him and work long hours, and that's something that these guys don't really know yet, and there's a different thing when you're a mom. It's just a little more emotional and it's hard, and I needed to be with my son for a minute.”

The typically private star even alluded to her painful divorce from Jordan Bratman, the father of her son, Max. She started The Voice less than a year after filing for divorce, ending an eight-year marriage.

Michael Buckner/Getty Images

“I kind of came off of 2010,” she said. “It was a little bit of a hard time in — you know, we go through rocky moments in our lives, and especially being under a microscope and I've always been a risk‑taker and whatnot.”

The diva admits that part of her reason for leaving the show was to rejuvenate a temporarily dull career.

“I just — I was a little bit bored, actually, and I needed to have a moment to re-inspire myself and reconnect,” she said. “I know it's in there because my gut is to sing from my friggin’ heart and soul. And that's what I got in this for. I wanted to gain a different perspective and find happiness with all this stuff again, and I did. I did.”

Xtina thinks that her time away will allow her to be a better coach and mentor to her contestants in Season 5.

“I'm spreading the love,” Christina continued. “I think the boys feel it. I came back. I'm like, ‘I just want to laugh with you guys and have fun.'"

Are you excited for Christina’s return to The Voice stage? Tell us below!

The Voice Season 5 premieres Monday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Source: WetPaint

[NEWS] AN OPEN LETTER TO CHRISTINA AGUILERA, FROM DAVID

Dear Christina,

How I hoped to never have to go public with this, but your reluctance to embrace your true musical identity as represented by a series of misguided and utterly depressing CDs—Bionic anyone?— has really forced me to spill the beans. Let me me offer heartfelt apologies in advance for breaking your confidence and sincerely say, at the risk of sounding didactic, that I am doing this for your own good. You see, with the truth exposed you just might be forced to acknowledge that the bulk of your discography is an act of treason against the great artist you longed to be but are clearly afraid of becoming. Clearly the failure of these albums, a series of increasingly misspent efforts chasing radio trends with exponentially more lackluster results (made worse with each album’s concomitant and public announcement that the new collection “truly reflects your personal growth and authentic self,”) has not chastened you.

While I know it’s fun to be a TV star and spin around in your chair on the The Voice after six hours of hair and make-up, this strikes me as a betrayal of your tremendous early promise. For Stargayzing readers, permit me to tell the story from the beginning, which will make my motives clearer and, at the risk of sounding grandiose, might give you pause to consider that you are, in fact, standing at a creative precipice.

[PHOTOS] CHRISTINA & JORDAN ATTEND MAX'S PRESCHOOL HALLOWEEN PARTY

[VIDEO] CHRISTINA AGUILERA TALKS TO EXTRA

[SMART-PHONE FRIENDLY]

[NEWS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA ANSWERS BURNING QUESTIONS: 'I DON'T BELIEVE IN REGRETS'

I think you already know her name. And just in case you forgot how comfortable Christina Aguilera is in her own skin, she's dropped a new music video for "Your Body," the first single off her upcoming album, Lotus. I'm loving the use of pastel colors and the vintage prop styling, all of which suggests a soft and feminine approach, but no less confident than her Dirrty days- if you're going to rock pink and lavender hair, you may as well do it with panache.

And she does.

If the rest of the album sounds this good, Xtina will be claiming her spot at the top of the charts come November 13. Ke$ha, you've been warned.

An avid art collector (her home is filled with originals by D*Face, Shephard Fairey, and Banksy, including a funny one by the latter of a famously prudish Queen Victoria siting on another woman's face), Aguilera has paid special attention to the visuals on this album, hiring hipster street style photographer Mark Hunter a.k.a The Cobrasnake, who, coincidentally, got his start as an asistant to Fairey. The look differs wildly from what Alix Malka shot for Aguilera's 2010 album Bionic, which was aesthetically very sharp and futuristic and cool, as was the music itself, even if it underperformed commercially when compared to Xtina's other albums.

Aguilera has defended her last album recently, calling it "ahead of its time" (peep the new Billboard cover story) but I just think it was misunderstood, and apparently I'm not the only one who feels that way.

The Voice coach was recently honored at the ALMA Awards, where she chatted with us on the carpet, turning heads in a black, curve-hugging Michael Kors gown.

As she puts the finishing touches on the album, which she says is symbolic of a flower "that can withstand even the harshest conditions and still remain strong and beautiful," 31-year-old Aguilera was game to answer some burning questions via e-mail - some that deal with her childhood, others than touch on her current state of mind, as well as how she changed after becoming a mother (Aguilera has said that she struggled with the decision to divorce music exec Jordan Bratman in 2010, but that ultimately she did what she felt was best for their son, Max, now 4).

Of course, I'll be tailoring them to each subject. In Xtina's case, I wanted to know what's behind the new album and I mixed in some lighter questions with the deeper ones.

Out of a list of more than 30 questions, these are the ones she picked.

[NEWS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA SAYS 'LOTUS' TAKES RISKS

Christina Aguilera doesn't pull any punches on her upcoming Lotus album, named in honor of — as she explained — "the unbreakable flower ... no matter the harshest of conditions, it still survives and it thrives through time."

You can see why the title appealed to her; after all, if the past few years have proven anything, it's that Aguilera is a survivor. Her much-publicized marriage to Jordan Bratman came to an end and her equally publicized Bionic album failed to match the commercial success of her previous efforts. In many ways, it seemed like her entire life was at a crossroads, but rather than cover-up and hide, she re-invented herself, joining "The Voice" and re-invigorating her career with "Moves Like Jagger." And now, she's back with a brand-new album ... and if you thought she was about to play things safe, well, then you don't know Christina Aguilera.

"I've already put out a greatest hits record, so I've been in this business for a while, and ... I'm a risk taker, that's just who I am at heart. It's who I can't help but be. It's who I always am in nature, as a person and as an artist," she told MTV News. "And with that comes hurdles and certain areas where people aren't going to get it and understand it artistically; sometimes it will go over their heads and it will not be as commercially successful.

"[And] personally, I'm someone that's always growing and evolving," she continued, "And at this point of my life, I feel that I've reached a place where I'm completely embracing everything about who I am, and I'm having more of an understanding of myself."

And based on Lotus' first single, "Your Body," Aguilera seems poised to once again regain her spot amongst the pop elite. She's not hiding from her past, or letting everything that happened in the aftermath of Bionic slow her down ... if anything, she's embracing everything, and moving forward. Fearlessly so.

"I wanted to make a record that speaks to those fans who grew up listening to my music and yet reintroduce new fans ... watching me on 'The Voice' at 6 years old who don't know about my first record," she said. "This is a really exciting time to show them both sides."

Source: MTV

[NEWS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA'S NEW ALBUM IS A REBIRTH AND IS SUPER EXPRESSIVE & VULNERABLE

Christina Aguilera is comparing her upcoming album to a “rebirth.”

With more than a decade in the music business behind her, the album will be a culmination of “everything I’ve experienced up until this point,” the 31-year-old pop star said in a recent interview.

“I’ve been through a lot since the release of my last album, being on (‘The Voice’), having had a divorce,” she said.“This is all sort of a free rebirth for me.”

Aguilera and Jordan Bratman were married for five years before she filed for divorce in 2010. They have a 4-year-old son, Max.

Her new album’s first single, “Your Body,” was produced by Max Martin, who also produced Aguilera’s last hit, the Maroon 5 smash “Moves Like Jagger,” where she was featured.

“I’m embracing many different things, but it’s all feel-good,” she said of the album’s material, including tracks that are “super expressive” and fun, with moments that are “super vulnerable.”

The new album, which is without a release date or announced title, will feature fellow “Voice” coach Cee Lo Green and comes two years after Aguilera’s lackluster “Bionic,” which has sold 310,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That album featured electronic and dance-flavored tracks as well as pop ballads; it’s her only album to not reach platinum status.

“In the fashion that I always like to put forth, it’s very self-expressive and it’s all heartfelt,” Aguilera said of her new material.

Adam Levine, Maroon 5 frontman and a “Voice” coach, told Aguilera at a recent news conference for the show that he’d heard “Your Body” and added, “I hate you because it’s so good.”

Aguilera will perform the song on NBC’s “The Voice” on Sept. 17. The show’s third season starts Sept. 10.

Source: AccessHollywood

[NEWS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA AND MATT RUTLER'S RELATIONSHIP HAS SHOWN 'STAYING POWER'

Still going strong!

When Christina Aguilera, 31, started dating Burlesque set assistant Matthew Rutler in late 2010, "we thought it was going to be a quick, seat-of-your-pants romance," a Rutler source admits to Us Weekly.

But more than a year later, "it's turned into something special," the source shares. Credit that staying power to Rutler's eagerness to please his girlfriend of over a year--especially when it comes to the Voice coach's son, Max, 4. (Aguilera split from Max's dad, her ex-husband Jordan Bratman, in 2010).

"He recently surprised them by taking them to Cirque du Soleil's Iris show," a pal says of Rutler. "They had a blast."

More recently, Aguilera threw Rutler a 27th birthday bash at burlesque-themed hotspot Le Descarga in Los Angeles April 5.

"There were about fifty people there," a partygoer tells Us. "It was intimate, and low-key. Matt and Christina were super affectionate."

Aguilera--whose figure has come under scrutiny ever since she first stepped into the spotlight in 1999--has, in recent years, been criticized for her curvier appearance. But none of that matters to Rutler: "Matt is happy with the way she looks, however it is," the insider shares. "Even when she was looking heavier, he would always say, 'She looks gorgeous to me.'"

Earlier this year, the Grammy winner opened up to Marie Claire about the positive effect Rutler has on her self-esteem.

"I've been through my highs, I've been through my lows; I've been through the gamut of all things in this business," Aguilera shared. "Being too thin. Being bigger...It's noise I block out automatically. I love my body. My boyfriend loooooves my body. My son is healthy and happy, so that's all that matters to me."

Source: USWeekly

[NEWS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA: REALITY TV'S BEST JUDGE (SURPRISINGLY!)

Last season on The Voice, Christina Aguilera personified the Hot Mess. Joining the show shortly after divorcing husband Jordan Bratman — and amid reports of her hard-partying ways, which led to her arrest for public intoxication in March of 2011 — Aguilera was a mentor more “Dirrty” than “Beautiful." Her season 1 ill-fitting wardrobe was just the start of it — the singer also seemed bored with her new role on reality TV and not entirely committed to mentoring her eager contestants. Her comebacks to Adam Levine’s barbs were typically awkward, and her self-promotion tactics went into overdrive. Yes, Beverly McClellan’s “Beautiful” duet with Aguilera was fittingly gorgeous… but it was also a cover of “Beautiful.” Why push your music on a series you're already headlining?

But what a difference six months make. Sure, Aguilera’s wardrobe has yet to completely redeem itself — though her high-collared shirts last night were a definite improvement over her Battle Round Barbarella-meets-Royal Wedding look — but the singer sure has. Over the course of season 2, Aguilera has managed to turn herself into the reality series’ most valuable mentor. Not only have her Levine-directed insults become sharper, but her passion during the blind auditions also allowed her to lock in some of the buzziest contestants. (See: Current frontrunner Jesse Campbell.) And she’s already proved she’s guiding her team on a successful path: The singer was spot-on when she warned contestants during the blind auditions that she would have more time to commit than busy countryman Blake Shelton — Aguilera’s song suggestions for her team last night were far fresher and more fitting for each contestant. (Seth and Amy say, really Blake Shelton? “Livin’ On a Prayer,” “Alone,” and “Living for the City” for your team? American Idol called — it wants its season 3 material back.)

Perhaps more impressively, during last night’s first live show, Aguilera officially established herself as the only useful talent judge left on popular reality TV. Following Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul’s Idol exit, the Fox singing series has been weighed down by three judges seemingly incapable of critiquing contestants, no matter how much they butcher Adele. (I know — it seems mean to shoot Eben Franckewitz when he’s down, but dear God, boy.) And, so far this season, The Voice’s panel has been guilty of the same crime — until Aguilera finally called out Naia Kete for her thin cover of Adele’s “Turning Tables.” Can we give her a round of applause for finally channeling that honest voice within?

Now, don’t get me wrong: There’s still enough mess in the much-hotter Aguilera to keep her entertaining. The aforementioned wardrobe that dangerously borders on malfunction, the hilarious stage mom instincts that lead her to mimic her contestants’ dance moves from her spinning chair, etc. But her actions on this season of The Voice have also reminded us that the girl’s damn talented — not only does she know how to bring out the best in other singers, but she allows her singers to bring out the best in her. One of my favorite moments of this season remains Aguilera’s impromptu duet with Sera Hill — there’s no doubt that Alpha Aguilera saw this as an opportunity to prove her vocal dominance, but it was a moment as sweet as it was calculated. Would Cee Lo turn away from Erin Martin’s legs long enough to be inspired by the most talented on his team? Purrfect says “No no no.”

So let’s applaud Aguilera for her work thus far on season 2 of The Voice — it was about time for her arrival. And NBC should be sending her one big fruit basket to wear on her head: Her commitment to the series makes it that much harder for TV fans to throw in the towel when it comes to The Voice. Even this dedicated Idol fan has fully embraced being blasphemous by throwing her UFO hat into the series. So, please, Aguilera: Continue delivering good TV and quality reality show judging — how refreshing it’s been to see you rub us Voice fans the right way. Wait, is that gross?

Who else is loving Aguilera this season?

Source: Hollywood

[NEWS] TATTOOS THE COACHES OF NBC'S 'THE VOICE' "REGRET" GETTING DONE

There's no shortage of ink amongst "The Voice" judging panel -- Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green, and Christina Aguilera all rock multiple tattoos. But with so many tats, there's bound to be one that they regret going under the needle for. Click through this slideshow to see the judges' unfortunate choices.


Adam Levine

In a recent interview with Anderson Cooper, Adam Levine revealed that the tattoo on his right shoulder is "pretty stupid." When Adam saw a guy with a cool-looking Russian-like tattoo, he tried to mimic it and ended up getting inked with a "horrible bastardized version" instead. In hindsight, he admits he probably shouldn't have gotten the tattoo in the first place because he's "not tough." Adam told Anderson that he tried to hide the tat by surrounding it with something else, but now it just looks like "a cauliflower with a sun in the middle of it."

Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton has said before, "I probably have the crappiest tattoo, not only in country music, but maybe in the world." The tattoo he's referring to is a trail of deer tracks around his left forearm representing his love of hunting. Unfortunately, the deer tracks are constantly mistaken for ladybugs. Annoyed, Blake added a coil of barbed wire to the design, hoping to make it look "more manly."

Cee Lo Green

Cee Lo Green has tattoos all over his body -- even his face -- so it's surprising to know that he actually walked out of a tattoo parlor in the middle of getting his back inked because he was in too much pain. "I think that the tree on my back gave me the most pain. When you get your arms done ... if you can see what's going on, then maybe, psychologically, you think you can control it. Apparently you can, because it doesn't hurt so bad. With your back, you're lying on your front getting the tattoo and you just feel totally out of control -- you can't get a gauge on whether they're close to completion. So I gave up on it and I have an unfinished tattoo on my back. It was meant to be a family tree; I haven't been in a rush to finish it." That explains why we couldn't find a photo of the unfinished tattoo.

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera has a tattoo located on the inner part of her left elbow that's supposed to be the initials of her ex-husband, Jordan Bratman, in Hebrew. Unfortunately, the combination of the characters Xtina got actually means "12" and not "JB." Considering that she's no longer with Jordan, that might not be such a bad thing.

Source: Yahoo!

[PHOTO] HAPPY HALLOWEEN! HERE'S A LOOK BACK AT CHRISTINA'S COSTUMES FROM 2004 TO 2010

Credits: MerlitoDesigns

[PHOTOS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA AND JORDAN BRATMAN TAKE SON MAX TO HALLOWEEN PARTY

Christina Aguilera and her ex-husband Jordan Bratman take their son Max to a Halloween party on Monday (October 31) in Brentwood, Calif.

The 30-year-old entertainer wore a skull and bones sweatshirt, and her 3-year-old son looked adorable as a medieval knight!


Source: JustJared