June 13-19: Christina Aguilera On Tumultuous Year

This week, your pals at That's Really Week became even bigger fans of Christina Aguilera. In a candid July 2011 "W" magazine cover story, the "Genie In A Bottle" singer addressed many of the dramas that haunted her last year -- divorce, flopped movie, national anthem lyric flub at the Super Bowl, slipping on stage at the Grammys, and drunk driving arrest. But we are pleased to report that there has been a happy ending.
As Christina was faced with the lukewarm response to last year's "Bionic" album which prompted accusations that she was copying Lady Gaga, her marriage was also falling apart.
Christina and Jordan Bratman had been married for five years and have a 3-year-old son. But as their marital problems ensued, a split was inevitable.
"It got to a point where our life at home was reminding me of my own childhood. I will not have my son grow up in a tension-filled home," Christina told "W," adding that she would not allow negative media coverage to dictate how she lived her life.
But she had also already met another man. Christina was seeing Matt Rutler, whom she met on the set of "Burlesque," her first movie. "I could depend on him for everything," she said about the 25-year-old musician and production assistant. "Matt was working on the movie, and he was so supportive. And he still is."
Despite "Burlesque" being the perfect theatrical vehicle for Christina, the movie did not live up to its hype. Christina confirms that the friction between the director and the head of the studio, who were dating, didn't help matters.
"It was very hard to be in the center of all that," Christina said. "A lot was riding on the film, and I bore the brunt. I was like, 'Hey, stop fighting -- this is my career.'"
Still, Christina had more demons to face. While the success of a new album and movie are measured by the reaction from a fickle public, singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl is arguably the one thing everyone expected Christina to conquer with ease.
But Christina forgot part of the lyrics of the song she has been singing since she was a child. "Everything on the field at the Super Bowl was vividly bright, and I was having a moment," she said. "I got lost in the emotion of being there, and I messed up the lyrics to the song."
A week later, Christina stumbled on stage at the Grammys during the Aretha Franklin tribute. "Note to self: Never wear a train onstage," she said. "My heel got caught in my train, and if it wasn't for Jennifer Hudson, who picked me up as I went down, I would have fallen to the floor."
Christina also dismisses the drunk driving arrest. One, she wasn't driving, or even drives at all. And two, her boyfriend, who was behind the wheel, was cleared of the charges. His blood alcohol level was below California's legal limit of 0.08.
"The police knew my recent history and wanted to jump on the bandwagon," she said. "I was a victim of celebrity."
After nearly a year of bad luck things finally turned around for Christina when she landed a role as a judge on the popular new televised talent competition "The Voice."
Christina wants to share her career experiences with the contestants to help prepare them for the pitfalls of the business. "I don't want to be tough with my singers," she said, "but I do want to tell them on 'The Voice' that if you really want this, you'll be kicked when you're down. You have to be willing to roll with those punches. You have to really want it."
Christina is living proof of such sound advice. Perseverance is absolutely key in the success stories of this week's other newsmakers. People laughed at Lady Gaga last year when she showed up at MTV's Video Music Awards in a dress made of meat. But the edible couture has found a home at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Gaga "Edge Of Glory" collaborator and Bruce Springsteen saxophonist Clarence Clemons died Saturday from complications from a stroke. Congratulations are in order for Stevie Wonder, who was inducted into the Apollo's Hall Of Fame. And Justin Timberlake finally admitted what many of his music fans have been dreading. He has no immediate plans to record music. He is focusing on his acting. This feels like good news for Joe Jonas, who is embarking on a pop-dance solo career, and horrible news for Justin's N'SYNC bandmates, who may have been hoping for a reunion similar to that of New Kids On The Block and the Backstreet Boys.
Get all the details and more on these stories in the links below. Be sure to check back next week for another music news roundup.
THIS WEEK'S TOP 5 MUSIC NEWS STORIES
1) Can't Hold [Her] Down -- Christina Aguilera addresses recent hurdles.
2) Born To Run -- Bruce Springsteen saxophonist Clarence Clemons dies at 69.
3) Where's The Beef? -- Lady Gaga's meat dress heads to Hall Of Fame.
4) Bye Bye Bye -- Justin Timberlake focuses on acting, puts music on hold.
5) Living Legend -- Stevie Wonder is inducted into Apollo Hall Of Fame.

W Magazine photos by Daniele Duella & Iango Henzi.