Popups :: Divas Edition

Love them or hate them, several female pop stars made headlines this week. One singer announced who she was voting for in the upcoming presidential election, another celebrated her 20-year anniversary of her album and x-rated book, while the other gave birth to a baby boy.

Kelly Clarkson to Vote for Obama Because of Romney’ Anti-Gay Views

Kelly Clarkson, the first winner of the reality TV super-show, "American Idol," recently told the Daily Star that she is going to vote for President Barack Obama this November because Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney does not support marriage equality or has a strong record for women's rights.

"I've been reading online about the debates and I'm probably going to vote for Obama again, even though I'm a Republican at heart," Clarkson, 30, said. "I can't support Romney's policies as I have a lot of gay friends and I don't think it's fair they can't get married. I'm not a hardcore feminist but we can't be going back to the 50s. Obama is a great guy. I've met him and I'm a fan of Michelle too. She has been busy promoting better education and healthy diets, which is something we could all use a dose of reality on."

In December, however, the "Since U Been Gone" singer was slammed with backlash from fans after she tweeted that she supported Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, EDGE reported.

"I love Ron Paul. I liked him a lot during the last Republican nomination and no one gave him a chance," the singer wrote. "If he wins the nomination for the Republican party in 2012 he's got my vote. Too bad he probably won't."

It didn't take long before fans and haters latched on to the comment and slammed her for her stance. Paul has been surrounded by controversy, especially when it comes to LGBT rights. Weeks before Clarkson made her comments, it was discovered the politician authorized newsletters in the 80s and 90s that were full of racist, sexist and homophobic statements. One letter warned that "AIDS patients" should not be allowed to eat in restaurants because "AIDS can be transmitted by saliva."

"I am really sorry if I have offended anyone. Obviously that was not my intent," Clarkson later tweeted. "I do not support racism. I support gay rights, straight rights, women's rights, men's rights, white/black/purple/orange rights. I like Ron Paul because he believes in less government and letting the people (all of us) make the decisions and mold our country. That is all. Out of all of the Republican nominees, he's my favorite."

Adele Gives Birth to Baby Boy

British singer Adele had an incredibly successful year in 2011 as her extremely popular sophomore album "21" became the best-selling musical release in the US and sold millions across the globe. But the "Rolling in the Deep" singer can add another accomplishment to her list: motherhood.

Although her official website has yet to post an official announcement, several media outlets have reported that Adele has given birth to her first child, a baby boy, the Los Angeles Times points out.

In January, Adele, 24, struck up a relationship with entrepreneur Simon Konecki and in June she announced they were expecting a baby.

Not only did "21" sell nearly 10 million records in the US, which made it the longest album to be in Billboard's Top 10, but it also earned her a number of awards, including 2012's Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Recently, the classy songstress recorded the theme song for the new James Bond movie, "Skyfall," which leaked early, EDGE reported.

Madonna’s ’Erotica’ and ’Sex’ Turn 20

If you remember songs like "Deeper and Deeper," "Bad Girl," or "Fever," then you probably were partying pretty hard in the the early 90s. To make you feel even older, that was 20 years ago.

You may want to dive into your record collection and blow the dust off of Madonna's fifth studio album, "Erotica" and her controversial coffee table book "Sex," which were released two decades ago and are celebrating their 20th anniversary this week.

The album, which was praised for incorporating elements of house music, new jack swing and lounge music, dropped on October 20, 1992 and made a huge impact for its lyrical content as the pop diva sang about two close friends who died of AIDS. The album went to number two on US Billboard 200.

"Sex" was released simultaneously with the album and perhaps made an even bigger controversy that "Erotica." The taboo book featured several softcore pornographic images, which depicted a number of sexual acts. Madonna herself, even showed off her lady parts in the picture book.

"I always try to write songs so that they could be read on lots of different levels, so you could appreciate them superficially and then if you go deeper you could see something else," Madonna told British media in 1992 when asked about her album and book, Gawker
points out. "I think I have a dick in my brain."