Britney Spears plays a pole dancing brunette and an innocent blonde in her "Gimme More" video.

The troubled singer appears all in black, with a tattoo on her bicep and ripped fishnet stockings, as she dances erotically around a pole for her role as 'Bad Britney'.

Timbaland reportedly doesn't want Britney Spears to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards. The hip-hop producer - who is the event's musical director - is said to be worried Britney's comeback appearance at the awards on September 9 could overshadow the other performances.

A source is quoted by E! Online as saying: "Timbaland doesn't want her on the show. He thinks it would be too much drama, and that she is going to take away from the other performers."

Gwen Stefani covered up for her concert in Malaysia yesterday to appease Muslim critics.

The 'Sweet Escape' singer, who performed in front of 7,000 fans in Kuala Lumpur, chose to don a series of different flesh-covering outfits.

Kelly Rowland was rushed to hospital after collapsing onstage. The former Destiny's Child star fainted while performing at the ThisDay Music Festival in Lagos, Nigeria.

She was taken to an undisclosed Lagos hospital, but is now said to be in "good condition."

Madonna has been slammed for investing in environmental damaging companies. The singer - who headlined Live Earth London on Saturday night, which was held to raise awareness of global warming - is said to have invested approximately £2.1 million ($4.2 million) into companies named among the world's biggest polluters.

Madonna's Ray of Light Foundation allegedly owns shares in companies including Alcoa, Ingersoll Rand, BP and several others associated with oil exploration and refining.

Steven Tyler says he is a bad advertisement for the dangers of drugs. The Aerosmith rocker, who is in good health despite his drug and alcohol-fueled past, says the secret to his youthfulness is good genes.

He told Britain's Independent newspaper: "People always look at us and think, 'OK, they got away with it - why shouldn't I? The truth is it's all in the genes. My Italian grandfather on my mother's side had a full head of hair in his old age, and my paternal grandfather was this wiry Portuguese sailor."