Rihanna, Britney kick off invigorated Billboard Awards

After five years of dormancy, the Billboard Music Awards were invigorated Sunday with a major dose of star power.

Rihanna got the show off to a steamy start, wearing a skimpy leather outfit for her hit song "S&M," and was joined at the end of the number by Britney Spears, who came into view on a remix on the track.

Taylor Swift won the evening's first award, as top album artist, at the back the multimillion sales for "Speak Now."

"The impact of an album is all resolute by the fans," she told the audience. "You've just given me another reason to be completely in love with you."

Other award winners built-in Justin Bieber (digital artist) and the Black Eyed Peas (top duo/group).

Beyonce conventional a special Millennium Award for her career achievements: The 29-year-old phenomenon was lauded in a video by an array of legends and luminaries, as well as Stevie Wonder, Barbara Streisand, Bono, Lady Gaga and First Lady Michelle Obama.

"This is a moment I have to immerse in because it's gonna be -- and it is -- one of the best moments of my life," said Beyonce after getting the award from her mother, Tina Knowles. Beyonce also did her new song, "Run the World (Girls)."

This year marks the Billboard Awards' rebirth. The Billboard Awards had been a yclip since 1989, but gave out what came into view to be its last award in 2006. This year, the show was brought back.

It was held in Las Vegas, broadcast live on ABC and hosted by "The Hangover 2"' star Ken Jeong.

The Billboard Music Awards are given out to music's most popular artists. The finalists and winners are strong-minded by their rank on the Billboard charts and their "social and streaming activity."

Rihanna is the top finalist, competing in 18 categories. Among the awards she's up for take in top artist, top female artist, and top radio songs artist.

Eminem's name appears in 16 categories, counting top artist. He's also vying for top male artist as well as top social artist.

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Rachel Zoe sparks the dazzling 10carat diamond ring

Some new mothers are happy with maybe a good night's sleep or a bunch of flowers after giving birth.

But for celebrities like Rachel Zoe, 39, they take delivery of a whole lot more in the form of a 'push present'.

Rachel Zoe was presented with a huge 10-carat Neil Lane diamond ring from her husband Rodger Berman.

The couple celebrated the birth of their son Skyler Morrison six weeks ago and are enjoying in being new parents.

But Berman it seems that wanted to give Zoe amazing special to thank her for giving birth to their son.

And at nearly $300,000 - it is a a very special gift certainly. Skyler weighed in at 6lb 12oz which means the 'push present' was more than a carat a pound.

She flashed the enormous ring yesterday while celebrating her first Mother's Day with Berman during an outdoor meal.

Live Music helps disabled children to socialize

SINGING, dancing, drumming and playing the guitar to children with disabilities helps perk up their social and motor skills, Australian therapists have found.

For one hour each week, Queensland University of Technology's Kate Williams and a team of music therapists would sit on the floor with a group of immobilize children under five years old, joined by their mothers.

"We have a guitar and we use our voice ... and bring along a whole lot of instruments that are easy to get to and motivating," said Ms Williams.

"We're using some familiar, early childhood repertoire - Twinkle Twinkle and Baa Baa (Black Sheep) and what not - to get them at ease and using their hands for doing events.

"But we also compose and write a lot of our own songs because we want to be targeting particular aspects of the family relationship."

The Queensland University of Technology-based researcher interviewed the mothers of the 201 participants, who had a variety of disabilities including autistic disorders, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.

The parents said they had learnt to use music to sidetrack and calm their children, and noticed their own mental health had improved.

Ms Williams also made clinical observations over the course of the study.

"We were observing really positive changes in parenting behaviors and the relationships between the parents and children," she told AAP.

"It's very easy to see what these children can't do and where they're lacking in their development but, I think we found in music therapy sessions, parents are really confident to see what (the children) actually can do with motivation.

"Even children who couldn't talk would vocalize.

"The focus is really strength, based on what people can do."

Taylor Swift to Close Down CMA Music Fest

Taylor Swift will bring the drape down on this year's CMA Music Fest.

Swift has been added to the Sunday lineup of the Nightly Concerts at LP Field for the June 9-12 fair in Nashville, Tenn.

Fans in Swift's hometown will get to see a bit of the live show the 2009 Country Music Association performer of the year has been dispersal around the globe on tour this coil. Swift has been concerned in some way with the festival every year since 2006.

Sunday will be a runaway success night with Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Darius Rucker among the performers on the agenda.

Other performers scheduled Thursday through Saturday include Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban and Sheryl Crow.