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CNN Live Today

Look at MTV Video Music Awards

Aired August 29, 2002 - 10:39   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: What is on tap in New York is a little fun, a lot of live music and a few surprises. That's the formula for the annual MTV Video Music Awards. They're set to go live tonight from Radio City Music Hall, in New York.
Our entertainment reporter Kendis Gibson is already there. He's getting ready to cover the awards tonight. Let's check in with him to see how things are shaking up so far.

Kendis, how are you doing?

I'm doing good.

This what's the latest?

KENDIS GIBSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm doing good.

This is how much of a wimp I am, Leon: I come indoors because it is pouring outside and will be pouring all day long.

HARRIS: So much for sacrificing your body for the story there. Way to go, buddy.

GIBSON: But I will be out there a little bit later on, when the red carpet will be busy, as you mentioned. The woman that you just saw there in that video will be walking the red carpet, and performing as well,

This is going to be -- and his album is called "The Eminem Show" -- but tonight's MTV Music Awards will look like the Eminem show. He is up for more awards than anybody else. He will be there and is expected to take home plenty of Moonmen from his latest album, "The Eminem Show." He has sold millions as a result of wonderful lyrics like "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes."

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIS: I just got a kick out of seeing Eminem dressed as Osama bin Laden doing the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the running man there, I don't know.

GIBSON: Get your dances straight. He'll be doing the snake a little bit later on tonight on the MTV Music Awards.

But also performing, Shakira. It is going to be sort of like the battle of the pop divas, because there are several of them that plan to perform. Besides Shakira, the Colombian who has really taken MTV by force, and pretty much the world by force lately -- she will be performing -- Pink will also be on stage and Ashanti, who is the newest R&B star -- you know they crown one every year -- she has sold more than 2 million of her new CD, her new debut CD, and she is going to be performing, doing a duet with her mentor of sorts, the rapper Ja Rul, who brought her career along over the last couple of years.

But you know, the awards really is going to try to take on a little serious note because of the September 11 attacks. For one thing, they moved up the awards by a week earlier than they normally are. And they are also going to have Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performing; their new CD, "The Rising," is just laden with references to the September 11 attacks. And that will be sort of MTV's tribute of sorts to the events that took place a year ago.

So there you have it, Leon. But plenty of surprise guests coming up, we are told.

HARRIS: Any guesses as to who they might be?

GIBSON: Now that you've asked. We are told that -- I don't know if this is actually going to happen, but Justin Timberlake is supposed to make his solo performance debut this time around. And we're told that there is supposed to be a surprise guest. So everybody is just talking that that surprise guest might be Britney Spears. When I talked with Kurt Loder earlier today, he says for one thing, Britney is going to be sitting over there, Justin is going to be sitting over in the opposite direction. They're not talking, but maybe they will sing together. Who knows?

HARRIS: Interesting. That would be a nice interesting surprise there.

GIBSON: It would be.

But you know, MTV is known also for bringing weird couples together. You did have Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson a couple of years ago.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, that's right, I remember that (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

HARRIS: Speaking of News from the Bizarre, thank you for bringing that back.

All right, buddy, we will check back with you later on then. Have a good time out there, all right?

Kendis Gibson, in New York.

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