Superstar Jamie Foxx turned his 39th birthday bash into a double-headed long night of Strip-club partying and he took Fergie and her Black Eyed Peas star Will. I. Am. with him for all the fun and festivities. The pre-Grammy bash, sponsored by People Magazine to celebrate February's 49th annual awards began the night at Jet in The Mirage and, with double Patron tequila shots feuling the night, Jamie was in awe when Fergie sang him "Happy Birthday" and served up an extraordinary chocolate birthday cake featuring 12 different scenes from his brand new movie 'Dreamgirls.' (Preview) I watched close-up as he jumped off-stage spontaneously and poured some of his tequila down the throats of the busty blondes and brunettes standing front row. Take it as sexy-humor, but he said he was looking to go home and party with them all night long so they'd windup "naked on the Top 8 of MySpace," adding, "What we do tonight in Vegas will stay in Vegas!" They put on a 90+ minutes show with John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting and guitarist Josh Kelly providing more entertainment. But that turned out just to be a warm-up, because Jamie, who lived in Vegas for several years before Hollywood stardom, wanted to hit the Asian-themed TAO Nightclub at The Venetian too. Once there he started his own birthday show and the other stars joined in on that impromptu birthday celebration concert that lasted another two hours, ticking past 4AM!
I got to chat with all the stars in the private Green Room that had been setup at Jet. Commenting about his three Grammy nominations, Jamie told me: "21-years-ago, I really wanted to just be a singer so I'm like a little kid with this nomination, and it sort of puts an official stamp of approval on it all. I love acting. I love singing and I love standup comedy. But you could never take the comedy away from me. That's the energy that drives the entire engine. Take that one career away and the others would fall apart. But if it came down to between a Grammy and the Oscar the Grammy gets the sweet spot because that's where I began. I love the Oscar and it's the greatest thing but the music came first! I love we're doing this in Vegas, it gets the momentum going for the Grammy's. Music is going through a lot right now what with the download challenge so we want to keep the integrity of it and keep the fun of it going." He told me that he was ready to start his 20-city music/standup comedy tour now that 'Dreamgirls' has been premiered and for which he picked up a Golden Globe nomination. He confirmed that it will windup at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood Theater for NBA All-Star weekend. "I promise you that it will be a real party with just about everybody in town taking part. I'm feeling great about turning 39 but time is flying by. Jay Leno and I talked about it and he told me that time really flies when you're doing well so time is flying for me.""
My night -- my year actually -- was complete when Fergie asked me topose with her for a photo, and here it is as taken by Scott Doctor!
She fessed up she was a fan from my 'Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous' days and had watched the show every week. "I wanted to be that successful," she laughed, telling me why I'm featured in the lyrics of her new hit 'Glamorous.' "Ludacris gets the credit for that," she said. "He brought the lyric to me, I loved it and now it's going to be the next single from the album!" She said she hoped I wasn't offended even though they hadn't asked for permission. I assured her I wasn't and in fact was flattered she'd sing my name and make my brand and image part of the best-selling disc! I told her that Randy Newman was the first recording artist to turn me into a song line! She continued: "I've always been a risk taker so it's nice tonight to be singing solo and then return to Mandalay just before New Years as a group again. It's my 1st full solo set ever so it feels crazy. It's much different than the Peas because this isn't Level 10. This is just me doing my thing with a lot more peaks and valleys and by the way I never thought I'd get a Grammy nomination for singing about my butt, but it's a wonderful thing!" The group leaves Vegas to head for South America for a New Years Eve show in Rio de Janeiro.
My good friend, celebrity stylist Michael Boychuck of Amp Salon at the Palms, Canyon Ranch at The Venetian and the salons at Nicky Hilton's upcoming Nicky O Hotels, helped the stars with their pre-show style and fashion fixes. To celebrate the Vegas Grammy Kick Off party at Jet he donated 20, $500 gift certificates to his AMP salon plus various Kerastase products for the official celebrity gift bags.
Over at TAO, it was a regular Worship party night and the crowd had no idea Jamie and Fergie would stroll in and they'd be invited to join in their unexpected birthday night. Along with Will. I. Am., they spent most of the night on stage and Jamie once again dished out free tequila shots to the beautiful girls crowding around him. Vegas celebrities DJ Five and TAO marketing exec. Mike Snedegar, who were simultaneously celebrating their own birthdays, wound up wrapped into Jamie and Fergie's festivities.
No way was Jamie going to sleep in late next morning at his Palms hotel suite. He was up bright and early to play basketball in the Hardwood Suite of the resorts Fantasy Tower!!!
PURE'S PAGEANT PROBLEMS
Just hours before tonight's 21st birthday party at PURE in Caesars Palace for Miss USA Tara Connor, the troubled pageant winner canceled, after being summoned to New York by my mogul friend and pageant owner Donald Trump. Luckily for her, she was not dethroned, as was expected. Instead, she was given a second chance.
"I've always been a believer in second chances. Tara is a good person. Tara has tried hard. Tara is going to be given a second chance," Trump said at a press conference, referring to allegations of Conner's drug and alcohol use and sexual indiscretions. "She made some very, very bad choices and got caught up in the whirlwind that is New York" Trump revealed that she will promptly enter rehab for treatment, and thus her planned appearance at the PURE was canceled. Tara was in tears when she spoke at the press conference: "Walking in this morning, in no way did I think it would be possible for a second chance. I've had a very big blessing bestowed upon me -- you'll never know how much I appreciate Mr. Trump for saving me on this one," she said. "He could have said 'You're Fired.' He's a very, very compassionate person." Tara, who has been linked with numerous rockers including Travis Barker, ironically made an acceptance speech at the pageant ceremony condemning the late-night party antics of celebrities in nightclubs!!!
POWER PARTIES
Meantime, magnificent model Monica Hansen (above), the sexy FHM cover girl, hosted a Jersey Girl fashion showcase at PURE to the music of DJ Riz. She and the models strutted their stuff down the runway, while PURE regular Floyd Mayweather, Jr. enjoyed the show from his VIP table, Next night Monica kept the party going at Tangerine in TI to the delight of 'Batman' actor Ethan Embry She played a great host mingling and dancing with club goers in the VIP section while Ethan danced, smoked cigars and generously bought as many drinks as he could for lucky local ladies!
STRIP SCRIBBLES
Comedian Jeff Foxworthy didn't only join a full house to watch "V: The Ultimate Variety Show," but he wound up taking photos with other show goers who spotted him in the audience and then he went backstage to meet the cast and pose for more.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE
I would be remiss if I didn't extend my sympathy and condolences to a dear friend and one of my first employees from 40-years ago, Lorraine Alterman on the death from myeloma cancer of her husband, veteran actor Peter Boyle. Long before I got into television Lorraine worked for me at GO Magazine in the late 60's after I arrived in New York. After 3-years she left for Rolling Stone where she met Peter on an interview assignment. They have two lovely daughters, Lucy and Amanda. As a result of another dear friend who died from the killer-cancer I host various fundraising events for the International Myeloma Foundation and Lorraine requested that donations be made to that charity in Peter's name. ... The entertainment world also lost Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun as a 60-year veteran of the music business discovering and caring for such greats as Ray Charles, Ben E. King and Bobby Darin. But my friendship with him began when he invited me to sit in with him on the very first-session when he recorded Sonny & Cher singing 'I Got You Babe' back in the mid 60's! Ahmet was a true gentleman in every sense of the world and a strong supporter of my early launch of GO Magazine and the once fledgling Entertainment Tonight. At the pre-Grammy party Jamie Foxx commented: "Ahmet really had a passion for the music, it wasn't just the business. Not only with our Dreamgirls movie but he was a very important person in Ray Charles life and he would always tell m e stories about him when we made the movie, including how he had to lie down hidden on the back floor of a "black-only" taxi to get to where Ray was recording, "white taxis" wouldn't go there." He will be greatly missed!
TOMORROW'S TEASE
Luxe Life gets the first sneak photo preview on a walking tour of the new Cirque du Soleil/Beatles Revolution ultra lounge nightclub at the Mirage in advance of Friday's grand opening. Plus full photo coverage from Sly Stallone's 'Rocky Balboa' premiere with all the sports stars!
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