Jennifer Lopez fell on her butt. Whitney Houston made a triumphant return and Michael Jackson won an potload of awards even though he hadn’t had a new CD in years.
Yup, it was just another night at the American Music Awards.
Among the observations:
1. Taylor Swift has to quit with the “I’m so surprised” routine. Accept the awards.
2. Keith Urban recycled his shirt. He wore it a couple of weeks ago at another awards ceremony.
3. Bare stomachs (on men and women) were in.
4. Fergie was not with her husband at the ceremony. Are those rumors true?
5. Janet Jackson grabbed a dancer’s crotch. Was she trying to even the score with Justin Timberlake?
6. Mary J. Blige and Perez Hilton had the same hairdo. (She rocked it; he didn’t.)
7. Why did Eminem look taped? Wasn’t that a concept that didn’t work on the MTV Awards?
8. Paula’s Back! And she looked and sounded good. Can’t the “Idol” folks rethink their decision?
9. Who decides what color microphone the singers get? Mary J had white, J Lo had gold.
10. If Taylor Swift could accept the awards from London, why couldn’t she sing a little song from there, too? Even Amy Winehouse did it at the Grammys and she wasn’t clicking on all cylinders.
One more: Adam Lambert. What up with that? The Glambert looked like he was auditioning for “The Rocky Horror Show.” The song wasn’t that good. And the staging? Um…what was he thinking? Even Simon might have disapproved.

Yup, that was former Sioux Cityan Grant Mickelson up on stage with Taylor Swift when she was named Entertainer of the Year Wednesday night at the Country Music Association Awards.
Mickelson is in Swift’s band and when she performed at the Tyson Events Center, Swift made sure to give him plenty of credit.
She was pretty generous at the CMAs, too, calling up her entire band for their own bows.
Swift won four awards in all — bumping Carrie Underwood as Top Female Vocalist — and setting herself up for a pretty big Grammy night next February.
The evening was filled with surprises. Brooks and Dunn didn’t get a farewell award. Sugarland landed that. Rascal Flatts got bumped by Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker (Hootie and the Blowfish) got the Best New Artist prize, even though he has been in music for years.

Other surprising developments:
1. There must be a new plastic surgeon in Nashville. Several old faces looked new again. (And one notable singer boasted new breasts.)
2. Wynonna chose “orange” in the tanning bed.
3. Carrie Underwood has a lot of clothes but all of them are pretty bad.
4. Naomi Judd looked positively matronly while Barbara Mandrell (who was inducted in the Hall of Fame) tried to compete with the Carries, Taylors and Kellies of the business.
5. Speaking of Kellie. Why did Kellie Pickler dye her hair? She was more fun as a blonde.
6. There must have been a good buffet backstage. Several stars had spillage.
7. Nicole Kidman always looks like she’s going to be jumped by someone.
8. Zac Brown was robbed. So was Billy Currington.
9. Jamey Johnson didn’t always look like a cough drop model. (I remember him with a buzz cut.) But it must help push his agenda as an “outlaw.”
10. What was up with Vince Gill? The glasses made him look like someone from “Mad Men.”

Thankfully, Brad Paisley held in as Best Male Vocalist. But expect a sea change next year.
If Kenny, Tim, Faith, Martina, Brooks and Dunn, Reba, George and Alan can’t win anything, you know it’s a new era for country music.

I defy you to sit still during the Michael Jackson documentary “This is It.” The music is so infectious, so stirring you’ll want to dance along with the King of Pop.
While it isn’t a polished example of what that last concert might have been, it is pretty good — particularly since Kenny Ortega, the show’s director, pulled out so many visual gems you’ll wonder if any artist could top it.
In addition to 3-D movie segments, the concert was going to feature so many of MJ’s hits it would have had to last a good two or three hours. The show required plenty of dancing and lots of singing. And that’s where the questions begin.
Had he lived, would Jackson have been up to that kind of grueling pace? In the film he looks incredibly skinny. At one point (in a goofy jacket with big shoulder pads), he resembles Jack Skellington. He doesn’t seem fragile. He just looks it.
He’s kind of a diva, too, demanding musicians and lighting artists to come in exactly when he wants them.
Because “This is It” is such a crazy quilt of rehearsals, it’s valid to wonder if he ever got through an entire run of the show without stopping.
The man’s abilities, though, are clearly on display. Deny him any props and you’re negating pop history. He had the goods — the voice, the songwriting ability, the dancing — to earn any artist’s respect.
Healthy? He appeared to be from these scenes. Had the concerts in London gone on, he would have been back at the top of his game and people would be awaiting a different documentary — one chronicling his triumph.
This brings tears — and joy. The joy? That someone managed to capture what might have been.
It’s a wonderful film — one that easily could win the year’s Best Documentary prize.

You’ve got to go to Theatermania.com and watch Sioux City’s Cassie Wooley compete in the New York Music Festival’s Next Broadway star competition. She’s in the finals and, judging from the video, I’m betting she’s going to win.

Cassie, you know, is the daughter of Russell and Diana Wooley from Lamb Productions. If you happened to see last year’s Baa-nefit, you know how truly gifted she is.

Now, quick! Get to that website!

Michael Jackson was upstaged by Kanye West. How did that happen?

Determined to bask in the spotlight, West jumped up on stage after the Best Female Video winner was named, grabbed the microphone from Taylor Swift and said Beyonce was robbed. He was right — she was robbed — but he didn’t need to play instant critic at the MTV Video Music Awards. Later (when she won video of the year), Beyonce graciously called Swift back and let her give the speech she couldn’t. Classy.

Russell Brand wasn’t all that as the show’s emcee (isn’t anyone else available?) but Madonna got the crowd to quiet down to a pin drop when she eulogized Jackson. The speech was touching, heartfelt — and just what his funeral needed. Then, some incredible dancers came out, did a medley of Jackson songs and supported Janet when she came out, sang and danced, too. The opening was pretty spectacular (as in, “This should win an Emmy”spectacular), then Swift won the Best Female Video prize and all hell broke loose.

The show featured plenty of music and odd pairings, some usual suspects (Eminem was a winner) and a Lady Gaga performance that smacked of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” You can see why she’s the hot new thing — she’s odd.

Jennifer Lopez showed up like the ghost of VMAs past and Beyonce did her own medley and proved why she’s the biggest performer on tour today.

All in all? Not a bad show. Surprises. Prizes. New guises. And Kanye — the Toby Keith of the hip hop world.

Before Michael Bolton comes to Sioux City this weekend, he took time to answer a few of our questions. He talked about his latest project, changes in the entertainment business and, yes, his hair.

He also talked about Frank Sinatra and his tribute album.

Sinatra, he says, was the king. He had “that voice, that smooth delivery. He also had universal appeal…it is important to strive for all that.

“I have always wanted to record Sinatra…it was on my wish list of things to do. I started by narrowing down the songs and I considered which would work for my voice and my style. As a musician the opportunity to work with an amazing big band, a swing band, was irresistible, especially the band featured on my record.

They were the best of the best…recording in the studio that he did was extraordinary. I was very fortunate to get the blessings of Barbara and Nancy Sinatra who loved the CD. And that speaks volumes.”

More? Look for it in Friday’s A&E. And see what he has to say about Lady Gaga.

I talked to David Cook Saturday afternoon and he had lots to say about life after “American Idol,” the secrets to winning the competition and what the future holds.

The complete story will run in Friday’s A&E section but for now, I’ve got a few tidbits to share now.

What does he ask for backstage? Not bottles of champagne, mountains of towels or green M&M’s. “I just like peanut butter and jelly,” he said. “I’m pretty simple.”

Not even M&M’s? “Nope,” he said. “But maybe I should ask for ones with my face on them.” He laughed.

Ask for too many things and promoters get upset. “You don’t want to make them mad when you’re doing well because when you’re not, they’ll remember.”

He says he still stays in touch with some of the folks he met at the Omaha auditions and has thanked his brother profusely for bringing him along on HIS “Idol” audition. The payback? “He’s living in my house while I’m on the road.”

Look for more Friday. Meanwhile, get tickets for his concert at the Orpheum Theatre. He promised it’d be good.

It was almost as if Michael Jackson had prepared for a day like Tuesday.

Many of the songs he wrote — which were sung at his memorial service — had that “I’m saying goodbye, but don’t cry” feel to them. The “We are the World/Heal the World” finale was fitting, touching and, all things considered, the best send-off anyone could have gotten.

The event? It was America’s answer to Diana, the princess of Wales’ funeral.

While some of the biggest names in the business weren’t in attendance (Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor), the performances were pretty high voltage. Mariah Carey and Stevie Wonder were great. But Jennifer Hudson and Usher evoked tears. Even better? Unknowns — from the boy who was going to be part of the London concerts to Jackson’s back-up singers — got the lead in some of the group songs.

Daughter Paris touched the heart with her tribute to her dad; brother Jermaine was spot-on singing Michael’s favorite song, “Smile.”

Brooke Shields was good, too, remembering the odd childhood she and Jackson shared. Their friendship made sense when she explained it and, in many ways, she was speaking for everyone from Liza to Emmanuel Lewis.

Plenty came out, too, in the speeches that were given.

Among the surprises:

1. Michael loved Kentucky Fried Chicken (while Magic Johnson ate grilled).

2.  The Jacksons were great baseball players and often beat everyone (could that be where “Beat It” comes from?).

3. Michael’s nickname was M.J. (Or, at least, that’s what Brooke Shields called him.)

4. Michael gave to more charities than any other performer. (This, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.)

5.  Jackson is the greatest entertainer ever (according to his old boss, Berry Gordy, who should know).

Son Blanket held a doll that looked like it might have been a Michael Jackson doll. Son Prince and daughter Paris knew the words to his songs. And director Kenny Ortega was right when he said the “This is It” concert had the potential to be his greatest comeback move.

Tuesday’s memorial celebrated the good that was Michael Jackson.

Let’s hope people wait a day or two before they start slinging the bad.

Some 1.6 million people applied for tickets to attend the Michael Jackson memorial in Los Angeles. Winning the Powerball is almost easier.

Apparently, the Jackson family has reserved 1,000 tickets for friends and family. So, who will that include? And who’s going to perform?

Already, Beyonce and Madonna have done tributes in their concerts (that means they could be performers); Justin Timberlake has been a Michael disciple for years. Count him in.

And, if someone’s looking for career trajectory, this has got to be it. Susan Boyle, perhaps?

It’s going to be covered like Diana’s funeral.

I’m thinkin’ Oprah will be in the house. Obama? Not likely. Diana Ross…of course. Lionel Richie? You bet. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the entire “We are the World” gang there. Michael, after all, was one of the song’s writers.

Tuesday’s event is a DVR must (unless, of course, you want to see it in one of the dozens of repeats later that night). For the ultimate showman, you’d expect nothing less than the entertainment world’s best.

So “American Idol” winner David Cook’s coming to Sioux City, huh? His Web site says he’s planning a July 17 concert at the Orpheum Theatre.

The Orpheum’s site doesn’t say as much. But if the Idol says it’s true, it’s true.

That means our Idol quotient is up significantly: Ruben, Taylor, Carrie and, soon, David.