Keith Crisco, Clay Aiken’s chief opponent in the Democratic Congressional race in North Carolina, died on Monday (May 12) at the age of 71.

According to The Courier-Tribune, Crisco, who was formerly the state’s secretary of commerce, died suddenly in his home in Asheboro after a fall. He was in a tight race with “American Idol” veteran to represent North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional district in the House of Representatives.

“I am stunned and deeply saddened by Keith Crisco’s death. He was a gentleman, a good and honorable man and an extraordinary public servant,” Aiken announced on Twitter. He also announced that he is suspending all his campaign activities in light of the news.

He was reportedly a mere 369 points behind the “Invisible” singer in a primary battle. Final results were expected later this week.

Joshua Lawson, spokesman for North Carolina’s Board of Elections, told ABC News that his death does not influence vote certification process. According to Lawson, if Crisco comes out on top over Aiken, then the district executive committee of the Democratic Party will choose the nominee.

Crisco is survived by his wife, Jane, and three children and six grandchildren.

Emily Blake

With critics still raving over her third album, the at-times heartbreaking I Never Learn, Lykke Li released yet another sad one on Monday (May 12) with “No One Ever Loved,” the latest off the upcoming “The Fault in Our Stars” soundtrack.

Filled with longing and tinged with melancholy, the track is an appropriate accompaniment to the big-screen adaptation of John Green’s novel, about two 16-year-old cancer patients who fall in love. Just last week, Ed Sheeran shared his contribution, the equally emotional “All of the Stars.” Also on the soundtrack are Birdy, Charli XCX and Ray La LaMontagne.

The full soundtrack will be available May 19.

» Ed Sheeran — “All Of The Stars”
» Jake Bugg — “Simple As This”
» Grouplove — “Let Me In”
» Birdy & Jaymes Young — “Best Shot”
» Kodaline — “All I Want”
» Tom Odell — “Long Way Down”
» Charli XCX — “Boom Clap”
» STRFKR — “While I’m Alive”
» Indians — “Oblivion”
» The Radio Dept. — “Strange Things Will Happen”
» Afasi & Filthy — “Bomfallarella”
» Ray LaMontagne — “Without Words”
» Birdy — “Not About Angels”
» Lykke Li — “No One Ever Loved”
» M83 — “Wait”
Bonus track: Birdy — “Tee Shirt”

Emily Blake

Somewhere out there, there’s a handful of lucky women in bed with One Direction.

Well, sort of.

For an all-too-brief moment, you could bring the British boy band into the bedroom with FDA-approved One Erection: Up All Night rubbers sold on ripnroll.com. But after the band’s management reportedly threatened to sue the company, they’re no longer available on the site — which means the majority of the world will never ever sleep with Harry Styles.

“There is only one direction to go with these babies and that is UP! Great ice breaker at parties and bars,” read a description for the condoms, which fans could buy in bulk at the price of $300 for 1,000.

While the guys reportedly found the whole thing rather hilarious, their management didn’t. In fact, according to The Daily Mail, they found it grounds for a lawsuit, saying the company was “shamefully exploiting” the group and “cashing in on their sex-symbol status.”

1D’s reps had not responded to MTV News’ request for comment by press time on Wednesday (May 7).

Emily Blake

Shortly after Katy Perry crashed real-life birthday parties for her “Birthday” video, Sara Bareilles decided to use her “I Choose You” video to step into her fans’ lives, too — but this time, there were no creepy clowns or lap dances.

Instead, the Grammy-nominated singer helped out with the proposals of two couples — Matt and Chelsea from Los Angeles, and Aly and Amanda from Denver. It’s all rather touching, and even for the most cynical among us — believe me, I’m one of them — it has a way of giving you hope that, like the lyrics suggest, there is some ounce of hope for a “lifelong love letter.”

For the record, both women say “yes.”

The Blessed Unrest singer also announced on Monday her Little Black Dress tour, a 24-date trek kicking off on July 10 in Chicago. Pre-sale tickets go on sale Tuesday (May 6). See the full tour schedule on her website.

Emily Blake

You know that feeling. You see a boy in your Chemistry class. Your eyes get all glazed over. You have a hard time putting words together. Your heart does that thing where it drops to your stomach. And then, after careful, calculated planning, you kiss and the earth crumbles beneath you. Usher knows that feeling too.

In fact, if Usher’s latest video for “Good Kisser” is one thing, it’s proof that the 35-year-old father of two actually is a giddy schoolgirl on the inside.

He’s So Happy He Twirls

So Happy He SCREAMS

Sometimes He Just Needs To Close His Eyes And Have A Moment

He’s So Happy It Literally Pains Him

Like, It HURTS

Too Happy For His Shirt

Emily Blake

Things may be a little awkward between Selena Gomez and the Jenner sisters, but Kylie and Kendall seem to be getting along just fine with her ex.

A week after being spotted getting dinner with Kendall in NYC, Justin Bieber posted an Instagram photo with Kylie (as well as 18-year-old model Yovanna Ventura) at the Floyd Mayweather fight on Sunday night.

We’re not jumping to any conclusions on whether Kylie and Bieber are more than friends, but what makes the whole thing a little strange is the fact that Selena just recently unfollowed both Kylie and Kendall on Instagram — and deleted photos they had taken together at Coachella.

And again, we’re not jumping to any conclusions, but shortly after he shared the selfie, Selena waxed emotional by posting stills from John Legend’s “All of Me” video. (Back in March, Bieber and Selena got rather friendly dancing to the song in an Instagram video.) Then again, Selena might not have even seen Bieber’s photo — considering she follows literally no one on Instagram.

Emily Blake

Forget fixing politics in D.C., Kerry Washington now has a new full-time job: a mom.

The 37-year-old “Scandal” actress and her husband, Nnamdi Asomugha, welcomed daughter Isabelle Amarachi Asomugha on April 21, TMZ is reporting.

This is the first child for the couple, who were married in June of 2013. The actress kept her pregnancy rather private — and was sure to hide it while shooting the hit ABC drama — but she did show up to the Golden Globes earlier this year with a very visible baby bump beneath her white Balenciaga gown.

“I feel like I have the best date of the night,” she said on the red carpet. “My little accessory tonight.”

A rep for Washington had yet to respond to MTV News’ request for comment by press time.

Emily Blake

When Ariana Grande first took the stage at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, wearing a long sleeved black dress, fans may have thought they were in for another sweet from her Yours Truly days.

Her performance “The Way” on Thursday night (May 1) was, like the song itself, rather sweet — she did cute little dance and bopped up and down. But when sassy horns of her latest hit, the Iggy Azalea-assisted “Problem,” sounded, the whole affair became quite a bit more, well, bad.

That’s when Yours Truly singer stripped off the long-sleeved number for something decidedly more adult — a sexy, black sequined dress, which looked all the more scandalous paired with the knee-high white go-go boots reminiscent of the track’s artwork.

Like her outfit, her moves in the second half of her performance were also more.. grown-up. Her hip movements were enough to get a nod (and a bit of a chuckle) the bad girl in charge, Rihanna.

“Problem,” the lead single off of Ariana’s upcoming second studio album, made history earlier this week by climbing to the top of the iTunes charts in a record-breaking 37 minutes.

Grande went on to take home the Young Influencer Award at Thursday’s show.

Emily Blake

The world cried collective tears of joy when we first heard last month that the Michael Jackson estate and Epic Records were planning to release eight never-before-heard MJ from the King of Pop. And on Thursday night (May 1), during the inaugural iHeartRadio Music Awards, the world will be treated to the first taste, with “Love Never Felt So Good.”

Produced by John McClain and Paul Anka, the track is the lead single off XSCAPE,, which is set to drop on May 13 and will feature eight songs, all originally recorded between 1983 and 1999.

“Love Never Felt So Good” was written and originally recorded and produced by Michael Jackson and Paul Anka in 1983, around the time they recorded “This Is It.” The deluxe album will also include a bonus version of the track featuring Justin Timberlake. Earlier on Thursday, JT teased the collaboration on Instagram.

The single will be available for purchase at 12:01 a.m. Friday.

XSCAPE was helmed by Epic Records’ Chairman and CEO L.A. Reid, with Timbaland serving as lead producer.

Emily Blake

Little Mix are looking for recruits, but a fair warning: they run a tight ship. Like, human-leashes tight.

The British girl group just premiered their video for Salute,” and to use the word “fierce” wouldn’t quite do it justice.

Starting off with a slightly sinister and rather sexy spin of the “Taps” military, the clip takes the army commands “attention” and “salute” and uses them as a call to arms for ladies everywhere.

And “Salute” really is all about the fairer sex — but not the weaker one, they are sure to clarify. Jesy, Jade, Perrie and Leigh-Anne take center stage in a dance sequence set in what looks to be an abandoned office, while their male dancers stick to the background. Leigh-Anne gives a smug look from a throne. Jesy and Perrie Edwards even carry their men on leashes.

In essence, this is a girl’s anthem at its core, which is exactly told MTV News they were shooting for when we caught up with them earlier this year.

“I think we all absolutely love ‘Salute,’ ” Leigh-Anne said. “We all wanted to write a song — a real proper, empowering girl-power song for such a long time, and for this album we got it. We just love performing it and it kind of, it just sums us up.”

Emily Blake