CELEB SPOTTINGS: R&B SINGERS OUT & ABOUT // LEONA LEWIS WILL HAVE NO 1 ALBUM IN THE STATES // JORDIN SPARKS ADMITS THAT CHRIS & RIHANNA ARE DATING....

Leona Lewis was spotted departing JFK airport yesterday. She's been working her butt off all week and it's looks like it's about to pay off. According to first-day predictions, Leona's latest album Spirit, which was released in the US on Tuesday is set to debut at #1 on next week's HITS Album Sales chart, edging near 200k.

So not only has Bleeding Love got to no 1 on Billboard but she'll have a double victory with Spirit as well. I am really pleased for her. Those are fantastic sales for a newcomer artist. I'm sure Simon Cowell and Clive Davis will be sipping champagne once everything has been made official. Good for her. She deserves all of her success on both sides of the Atlantic. I guess she'll be getting a top of the range merc now, at Mr Cowell's expense.

Check out some pictures of when Leona visited TRL yesterday:

She performed on the show as well.

During her stay in New York, she's been seen out and about making the most of her vacation. Here are some candids of the singer in Manhattan recently:

She looked cute. I'm totally feeling her outfit. Cute and casual. I never realised she was THAT thick until now though. Hey, that's a good thing. I hope she doesn't follow Hollywood's stick thin rules now that she's finally cracked America.

Rihanna and Chris Brown were spotted YET AGAIN in New York yesterday, and did everything possible not to be seen together as usual. The pair were spotted near their Manhattan hotel. Here they are on separate occasions:

Rihanna looked absolutely wonderful. That is one bad heffa, waxy ears and all. Bitch is untouchable, OK?!?!? Anyway, they can front all they like. Jordin Sparks has just went and told their business even though they don't want to confirm their relationship. She talked about when her and Chris shot the video for her latest single No Air, and Rihanna came on the set to support her man. Check it out in her own words:

Are Chris Brown and Rihanna dating?
Yeah, they are. It was really cool because I walked on the set and she was sitting there with Chris Brown and I was like I can’t believe she’s here. She came and she told me that she loved “No Air”, and that it was one of her favourite songs. It was really cool hearing that from one of my peers. She just wanted to support him.

Did it feel weird doing intimate scenes with Chris Brown with his girlfriend watching you?
(laughs) It was hard at first, but then I said, ‘you know what? I have to work!’ It had to look like I was in love with him, so I had to do it. Hopefully she won’t kill me!! (laughs)

Well, alrighty then! Pretty much, the cat is out the bag. They're not hiding their relationship. They just won't admit to it.

Last night, Rihanna performed a concert held at the Highline Ballroom. The concert helped fund the BELIEVE Foundation, which Rihanna created in 2006 to "ensure the health and well-being of our future leaders." BELIEVE is also "committed to creating change in the lives of our youth by providing, educational, financial, social and medical support when and wherever it is needed." Check out some pics of the event:

And yup, Chris was spotted there as well. Apparently, he came out to support Rihanna at her concert. Sweet.

Earlier this week, she was also spotted leaving her Manhattan Hotel:

And that's all in the hectic week of Rihanna Fenty.

Keri Hilson attended the 25th Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood last night:

She looked fierce as hell.

Also at the Awards was Fergie who was honored for her smash hit Big Girls Don't Cry. That won the Song of The Year:

Okay, so her album was well rewarded but girl, time to start a fresh and release some brand new material!

Our no 1 prick Justin Timberlake won gongs for hit singles My Love and Until The End of Time:

Reportedly, he has agreed to meet his ex-flame Britney Spears at a family barbecue, on the insistence of her father Jamie Spears. He was called in aid of Britney’s recovery from mental illness issues. And he agreed to talk to the Toxic singer face to face. The couple dated for nearly four years and split in 2002. From then, things got nasty - Justin publicly telling a radio station that Britney sucked him off, the Cry Me A River video, the constant bitching about her cheating and so forth. Maybe, he's not such a prick after all. I just hope this isn't Chris and Rihanna in a few years time. They are the EXACT same age Justin and Brit were when they first started dating.

Also at the event was another prick, Polow Da Don, alongside Mel B and her husband Stephan Belafonte, AND Lional Richie with his two daughters Nicole Richie and his youngest one (the little girl is his biological daughter):

Lionel was also honoured at the event. Nicole looked nice. Motherhood has changed her for the better. I see Mel is wearing a design from her disastrous clothing line.

This week, Cassie was spotted in New York departing Philippe restaurant:

This chick is toooo pretty for words.

Anywho, check out some pictures of Michelle Williams spotted in the studio alongside Usher's signed artist Rico Love :

[SPOTTED @ URBAN HOOPLA]

Speaking of Usher and signed acts, what's going on with his group One Chance? As for Michelle, her single Break The Dawn has been getting a great reception and her forthcoming album Unexpected is scheduled to drop in August which is quite a while so anything can go. Her fans are petitioning for the album to be released in June or early July. They are worried that interest for the album will wane and want to see an earlier release. As a result, they want as many signatures as possible and want you to spread the petition to as many blogs as possible so that Matthew Knowles gets the message. HERE IT IS.

Universal Motown is such a crappy label but their artists Lloyd, Teyana Taylor, Keisha Chante, JoJo and Ryan Leslie all attended the industry event celebrating Hearst's extended partnership with the record label:

Good to see Kesha Chante is still out there. I love that chick. Jojo looks pretty. Can't believe she'll be 18 this year.

Deborah Cox presented an award at the Juno Awards (the Canadian Grammys) this week. She didn't win the Jazz Vocal category but she posed for pics on the red carpet (with R&B singer Jully Black who is the lady standing next to her in the middle pic):

Deborah is also working on a brand new R&B album. If you didn't know I posted about it back in February. Thanks Silent Tiger and Stormz for sending the pics.

Ray-J hit up TRL this week: