VH1's Iconic Series 'Behind The Music' Returns With Seven All New Episodes

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- VH1's five-time Emmy® Award-nominated documentary series "Behind The Music" returns with seven of today's most successful and important artists who have all had a major impact on the music world.  Narrated by Jim Forbes, the series gives viewers an inside look into the personal and professional lives of some of today's hottest artists.  Featured this season are DMX, Christina Aguilera, Eve, Courtney Love, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lopez and Usher. Beginning on Monday, June 7 at 8:00 PM* with "Behind The Music: DMX," the series goes full throttle with the stories, footage and music behind some of the most interesting and talented individuals in the music industry today.

"Behind The Music: DMX" Premieres Monday, June 7 at 8:00 PM*

This episode of "Behind The Music" will trace the multi-platinum rapper's journey from his rough childhood where violent beatings from his mother led to a life of crime and jail time, to becoming one of the most successful hip hop artists of today.  Viewers will get an in-depth look at DMX's battle to the top of the music charts, becoming the first hip hop artist to have five consecutive records debut at number one and crossing over into a lucrative movie career.  Born Earl Simmons and raised in the notorious projects of Yonkers, DMX was drawn to life on the streets.  His lifelong demons have yet to be quelled and throughout his entire career, run-ins with the law have been the norm.  For the first time on camera, DMX comes clean about his criminal record, love life and his 25 year-long struggle with drug addiction. Candid interviews with his family, ex-wife, and hip hop luminaries Lyor Cohen, Irv Gotti, Swizz Beatz and Eve contribute to this in-depth profile of an incredibly gifted yet troubled artist.

"An Evening With Christina Aguilera" Premieres Sunday, June 13 With Presentations of "Behind The Music: Christina Aguilera" and "VH1 Storytellers: Christina Aguilera"

"Behind The Music: Christina Aguilera" Premieres Sunday, June 13 at 9:00 PM*

Christina Aguilera's road to superstardom was not an easy one.  Surviving an abusive childhood, the naturally gifted Christina pursued her dream to sing starting at the age of six.  Enduring vicious teasing by jealous classmates, she won a role on the Mickey Mouse Club alongside Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. In her late teens she became a superstar overnight with her smash hit "Genie In A Bottle."  However, Christina explains that she struggled against a record label trying to control her image ultimately leading her to reinvent herself with the outrageously sexual and controversial song "Dirrty." While growing up in the public eye she was also quietly dealing with repressed emotions from her childhood and found herself sinking into a deep depression. The powerful ballad "Beautiful," written by Linda Perry, allowed her to vent and expose much of the pain she'd held on to all of her life.  The song was a massive hit that redefined her career and the album "Stripped" became global smash. Eventually, Christina met the man of her dreams in record executive Jordan Bratman and found her way back to happiness. In 2008, Christina gave birth to their son Max and found herself coming full circle. After a personal hiatus, she is storming back onto the scene with her new album "Bionic" (which will be released on Tuesday, June 8) and her controversial new music video "Not Myself Tonight." In addition to Christina, this "Behind The Music" episode will feature interviews with Christina's mother Shelly Kearns, husband Jordan Bratman, Justin Timberlake, Linda Perry, Sia, Ron Fair, DJ Premiere, Herbie Hancock and many others.

"VH1 Storytellers: Christina Aguilera" Premieres Worldwide Sunday, June 13 at 10:00 PM*on VH1, MTV and MTV Channels Around the Globe

Five-time Grammy® Award-winning recording artist Christina Aguilera had the crowd singing along with her during a taping for "VH1 Storytellers" May 4 at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, CA.  Fans at home can watch this exclusive performance when "VH1 Storytellers: Christina Aguilera" premieres Sunday, June 13 at 10:00 PM* on VH1 and MTV. The premiere will also debut on MTV channels across Europe, Latin America and Asia beginning Sunday, June 13 (check local listings).

The one-hour on-air special will feature Christina performing a selection of her biggest hits as well as a few songs from her latest album "Bionic" which will be released on Tuesday, June 8. Following in the "VH1 Storytellers" format, Christina answered fan questions and gave insight into her personal songwriting process. For viewers at home, they'll gain a unique opportunity to hear Christina share her stories and inspirations behind such classics as "Beautiful," "Fighter" and her new single "Not Myself Tonight."

"Behind The Music: Eve" Premieres Monday, June 14 at 9:00 PM*

Eve tracks her rocky rise to fame as one of rap's most successful female artists in this "Behind The Music." Her journey is plagued by bouts of depression, a stint working at a local strip club in the Bronx and painful reminders of her past. For the first time, Eve talks openly about her struggle with depression and her attempts to reconnect with her father who left her family when she was a child. She also discusses the attempts of others to dig up her past for profit, with private photos and a sex tape of her and her former boyfriend. After rough beginnings, Eve finally found fame in 1999 when she released her debut album, "Let There Be Eve … Ruff Ryders' First Lady." The album was an unprecedented success, making Eve only the second female in hip-hop history to have an album enter the "Billboard" 200 at number one. This episode will highlight all of Eve's triumphs including her crossover success as a television and film star to her career in the present day with interviews from her mother Julie Wilch, Jason George, DMX and Queen Latifah.

"Behind The Music: Courtney Love" Premieres Monday, June 21 at 8:30 PM*

Courtney Love tells the epic story of the rock star, actress and mother that begins with her troubled upbringing in Portland with stints in foster homes and reform school. An emancipated minor, Courtney turned to stripping and found an outlet for her anger in rock 'n roll, dabbling in pills and heroin. After a brief affair with acting, landing parts in "Sid & Nancy" and "Straight To Hell," she started the band Hole. The band became darlings of the underground, led by her fierce vocals and bold posturing. When she married legendary rock star Kurt Cobain, her rock fairytale spiraled into a dark, drug-fueled tragedy. Kurt's suicide left her a widowed mother and she took the brunt of the blame. Everyone predicted she would self-destruct but instead, Courtney did the unexpected. Transforming herself from grunge icon into glamorous starlet, she launched a critically-acclaimed acting career that landed her a Golden Globe ® nomination for her role in "The People vs. Larry Flynt." Always her own worst enemy though, Courtney later spiraled into a devastating addiction that left her in financial ruin. Today she's found her way out, releasing a new album "Nobody's Daughter," that tells her story. She lives for her only daughter, Frances Bean, but has repeatedly faced the heartbreak of losing custody of her. In an unprecedented interview, Courtney candidly discusses her frenetic childhood and tattered relationship with her mother, her courtship with Kurt Cobain, the aftermath of his death and her struggles with drug addiction. Courtney Love is one of the most controversial, reviled and riveting rock stars in the world and this special 90 minute episode of "Behind The Music" tells her wild, heartbreaking story. Featured in-depth interviews include Courtney's family, members of Hole and directors Milos Forman and Alex Cox.

"Behind The Music: Jennifer Hudson" Premieres Monday, June 28 at 9:00 PM*

This episode of "Behind The Music" will trace Jennifer Hudson's humble beginnings of growing up with her close knit family on the south side of Chicago to her early elimination from "American Idol." After "Idol," Jennifer found fame with a starring role in "Dream Girls" that earned her every major movie award Hollywood could bestow including an Academy Award®. Just after becoming engaged to the love of her life and releasing her self-titled debut album, Jennifer was devastated by the unspeakable tragedy of losing her mother, brother and nephew in a horrifying triple murder. For the very first time, Jennifer talks candidly about overcoming such a painful time in her life and her triumphant return to the public eye on the night she won her first Grammy® Award. Now a mother herself, this episode features exclusive footage of Jennifer interacting with her son David Jr. as she strives to raise her son in the same loving environment her mother created for her. In addition to Jennifer, "Behind The Music" has interviewed Jennifer's sister Julia, Randy Jackson, fiance David Otunga, Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah, Whitney Houston, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, Clive Davis and many others.

"Behind The Music: Jennifer Lopez" Premieres Sunday, July 4 at 9:00 PM*

Jennifer Lopez life's story is that of an everyday Puerto Rican girl from the Bronx who made her dreams come true. From literally dancing her way onto the national stage as a "Fly Girl" on the hit series "In Living Color," to becoming a box office hit, Jennifer Lopez knows no boundaries.  Viewers will be taken through an in-depth look at Jennifer's early career to her break out role of slain Tejano singer Selena that launched her into superstardom.  Not fully satisfied with having only a successful acting career, Jennifer fulfilled another dream of being a recording artist and released her debut album "On The 6," which shot up the music charts to number one. This episode of "Behind The Music" will also trace the triple threat's tumultuous romances with P. Diddy and Ben Affleck, how she finally found her Prince Charming in Latin superstar Marc Anthony and the birth of their twins. Now at 40, Jennifer says she has found a way to have it all after living through a lifetime of hard lessons. No topic is off limits as Jennifer openly discusses her career and personal life, including her version of what happened the night guns were drawn inside a Manhattan nightclub while with then boyfriend P. Diddy. In addition to Jennifer, tell-all interviews include Marc Anthony, Sean Combs, Keenan Ivory Wayans and Tommy Mottola.

"Behind The Music: Usher" Premieres Monday, July 19 at 8:00 PM*

This episode of "Behind The Music" will chronicle Usher's beginnings from a small town choirboy who was discovered at a local talent show to one of the biggest selling R&B artists of all time. A triple threat entertainer starring in film, TV and Broadway, Usher talks about growing up in the public spotlight, the outlet he found through music and the true meaning behind some of his biggest songs. During an exclusive interview, Usher opens up like never before about leaving home at fifteen years old to work on his self-titled debut album with Sean "Puffy" Combs and the endless temptations he faced living in the big city. He also confesses to having a longtime crush on TLC's Chilli as he looks back at the beginning of their relationship and the steamy music video for "U Remind Me" that sparked their romance. He addresses the rumors of infidelity and comes clean about the real reason behind their breakup. For the first time, Usher also touches on the emotional reunion with his father who abandoned him as a child and his recent divorce from wife Tameka. After winning five Grammy® Awards, Usher is venturing into acting and expressing a newfound love for mentoring, most notably his latest protege, recording artist Justin Bieber.  "Behind The Music" has interviewed Usher mother Jonetta Patton, L.A. Reid, Sean Combs and others for this compelling story.

"Behind The Music"

Each full episode of "Behind The Music" as well as extended interviews and footage will be available on VH1.com.

The series debuted on VH1 in August of 1997 and was originally created and produced for VH1 by Gay Rosenthal, George Moll and Jeff Gaspin who were responsible for many of the channels 200+ episodes of the series.

The current series is executive produced by Shelly Tatro, Brad Abramson, Stephen Mintz and Jeff Olde for VH1.  Executives in charge of music talent are Rick Krim and Leah Horwitz.  The Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez and Usher episodes were executive produced by Mark Ford and Kevin Lopez for Creature Films.

"VH1 Storytellers: Christina Aguilera"

The full on-air show will be available online at Storytellers.VH1.com following the on-air premiere.

"VH1 Storytellers" is a production of VH1.  Patrizia DiMaria produces and Lee Rolontz, Rick Krim and Bill Flanagan serve as executive producers.

*All times are ET/PT

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 95 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

SOURCE VH1

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