The war is never-ending, foreign policy is going down the crapper and the economy is in a tailspin -- so it's not really the best time for Congress to be taking meetings with Shakira. But they are.
The Colombian native captivated the horniest of Representatives to demand money for universal education. It's easy to get face time before Congress, if you're hot.
Filed under: Shakira
Mega-generous Shakira made a cheeky exit from a Manhattan eatery last night, demonstrating the paparazzi-friendly properties of stretchy black fabric, bright lighting, and celebrity skin.
As she crawled her way into a four-wheeled chariot on the way to the airport, Sheer-kira gave photogs an eyeful of the hips and haunches that don't lie, and despite her oops! moment, cheerily handed out some autographs to the fans.
Que nalgas indeed!
Filed under: Shakira
Her hips don't lie and neither does her wallet! Shapely Colombian pop singer Shakira dug deep in her foundation's bank account and donated $45 million to charity on Friday.
The sexy singer announced the donation during Friday's Clinton Global Initiative meeting. Forty million will go to Nicaragua and Peru to address recent natural disasters there, and an additional $5 million will go to educational projects benefiting children across Latin America. Move over Angelina!
Shakira's a serial do-gooder: She's the co-founder of the Latin America for Solidarity Foundation, which helps impoverished communities across Latin America.
Filed under: Shakira
All that booty-shaking was a little too much for Wyclef to handle at last night's Grammy performance.
The former Fugee couldn't keep his hands off of himself during the erotic performance -- grabbing his package every chance he could.
As 'Clef and Shakira belted out their hit, "Hips Don't Lie," Wyclef adjusted his junk at least eight times on live television.
Richard Simmons would be so proud!
Filed under: Music, Wacky & Weird, Shakira
Shakira dashed out of a restaurant yesterday, covering her mouth like a doctor exposed to SARS. TMZ spotted the hip-shaker coming out of Il Cielo in Beverly Hills, using her scarf to hide the lower half of her face.
Mena Suvari was spotted posing for pictures with some children as she shopped on Melrose Avenue. Who knew kids were such "American Beauty" fans? Across town in Hollywood, Drew Barrymore, Hugh Grant and Jimmy Fallon looked their best for the premiere of "Music and Lyrics," where Grant was swarmed by fans before hopping into his limo.
Catch all the comings and goings, and more in today's edition of Star Catcher.
Filed under: Shakira, Star Catcher
Colombian hip-shaking sensation Shakira was honored by her hometown of Barranquilla yesterday, with the unveiling of a 15-foot, six-ton iron statue of the singer. The statue does not gyrate.
Shakira played a concert in the city, which doubled as a fundraiser for Shakira's foundation, Pies Descalzos ("Bare Feet"), which builds schools around Colombia.
The sixth school funded by Shakira is set to open in 2008, putting her neck-in-neck with Angelina Jolie in the Hottest Humanitarian competition. Caliente!
Filed under: Music, Wacky & Weird, Shakira
No one is safe from the cold shoulder of Shakira. A source tells TMZ that the pop princess skipped out on meet-and-greets scheduled months ago with fans and local radio personalities on her latest tour stop in McAllen, Tex. What's more, she demanded a full phalanx of protection literally surrounding her from dressing room to stage, preventing any contact with fans or staff, and asked the Dodge Arena to confiscate any cameras, which they did. (TMZ got this snap of the show from a cell phone.)
The Colombian-born songstress' budding-diva-behavior seems oddly off-key, particularly because McAllen's population is more than 80% Hispanic, and some of her most ardent fans are in the area, which borders Mexico, where Shakira is also hugely popular. In fact, fans were so desperate to get tickets for the sold-out shows that they have engaged in raw-egg-and-onion-eating contests for the chance to see her.
A member of the local media tells TMZ that reps for Epic Records, Shakira's label, told him that she declined the meet-and-greets and interviews because she needed to protect her voice -- except that the songstress has only one more show on her current tour until December. Reps for Shakira say that there were no official engagements that the singer was aware of or that she intentionally skipped, and a Dodge Arena spokesperson said that other artists have asked for the "no cameras" proviso.
Filed under: Gossip/Rumors, Music, Shakira
What's going on with Shakira?
Marlene, we have the goods for you on the hip swaying sensation that is Shakira! Born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, the 29-year-old Colombian-born beauty is engaged to long-time beau Antonio de la Rua. On a more random note, she once got kicked out of choir for singing "too forcefully"!
There's still time to get tickets for her Oral Fixation tour -- she'll be in Dallas and McAllen, Texas beginning tomorrow through Tuesday and will be closing out the year with a couple concerts in Miami.
Need more on Shakira's world? Click here. But make sure not to miss her photo gallery!
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Music, Brad & Angelina, Shakira, Mariah Carey, I Just Gotta Know!
We know her hips don't lie, and neither do the music charts. Last week the Colombian beauty set a record for digital sales, and her duet with Wyclef is #1 on the Billboard Pop 100 for the second straight week.
This comes on the heels of the song setting a record for the most radio plays ever for a pop song, as tracked by the Nielsen company. "Hips Don't Lie" was played 9,657 times in a single week on U.S. radio. That number broke Gwen Stefani's record of 9,582 plays for "Hollaback Girl." (Maybe Hillary Duff should take notes!)
And, she's a big hit elsewhere too. She cleaned up at the Latin Grammys in April and a recent survey in Romania polled the hip shaker as the number one international act that Romanians would most like to see. And, the rest of Europe is taking note of the FIFA World Cup "Hips Don't Lie" remix. Indeed, Shakira herself seems to be caught up in World Cup fever, as she recently taught David Beckham and the England squad a few dance moves.
Speaking of her instructions to Mr. Posh Spice and his mates, Shakira says "I've shown them hope [sic] to shake their hips like I do. Maybe they will do if they win, but maybe they will be too shy." Well, we happily know Shakira isn't too shy. There's no about it - she's a worldwide sensation.
Filed under: Music, Shakira, Sound Bytes
Hip-shaking sensation Shakira has a new lucky number, six.
The tiny songbird scooped up six Billboard Latin Music Awards and stopped the show with a sizzling performance.
Related links
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Music, Shakira, Awards/Awards Shows
They're Shakira's!
Shakira attributes her abs to belly dancing, which she's been doing since she was nine. Belly dancing is great for losing weight and flexibility. Shakira has inspired new recruits in belly dancing classes all over the country -- so get out there and shake it!
Next Six Pack:
Whose Abs?
Filed under: Beauty, Life Style, Shakira
Filed under: Beauty, Life Style, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce Knowles
Shakira almost pulled the plug on her scheduled 'American Idol' performance tonight. Sources connected with the show tell TMZ that the singer had insisted her band accompany her as she opened the show, but FOX said "no." We're told it's because FOX didn't want to ante up money for her band.
Shakira drew a line in the sand and refused to perform. But, we're told, FOX blinked and agreed to fork over what it would take for Shakira's band to perform. So, the show will go on.
Filed under: TV, Music, American Idol, Shakira
Colombian superstar Shakira announced plans for her 'Fijacion Oral' world tour from Madrid, Spain yesterday. She declined to reveal any details about the show itself, because then "it wouldn't be surprise." She did say that she was going to throw all of her physical energy and creativity behind it, because it is going to be the most important tour of her life.
The tour will begin in Spain and tour nine Spanish cities, before moving on to the rest of Europe, Latin America and the United States. It will launch in June, and continue through the end of the year.
Click here... it's not over yet
To be sure, 2005 turned out to be a terrible year for fashion filth. The veteran style watcher Mr. Blackwell released his 46th Annual Worst Dressed Women list Tuesday, and Britney Spears lead the way for wearing clothes that he said made her look like an "over-the-hill Lolita."
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Fashion Police, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Shakira, Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff, Pamela Anderson, Mary-Kate/Ashley Olsen, Mariah Carey
You can e-mail us here or call the TMZ tip line at
1-888-847-9869
Pick up the hot scoop by email from the newsroom floor as it happens!
