Beyonce says that at this point in her career, she hopes she has moved past the title of just a pop singer and is working toward being an icon. With Grammy Awards, Oscar nominations, and a role as the drug-abusing singer Etta James in the upcoming film Cadillac Records -- not to mention successful clothing businesses and endorsement contracts -- the former Destiny's Child singer has certainly made her mark. She shares her thoughts about her goals in the October issue of Marie Claire magazine.
• Beyonce, who celebrated her 27th birthday yesterday (September 4th) explains, "I'm over being a pop star. I don't wanna be a hot girl. I wanna be iconic. And I feel like I've accomplished a lot. I feel like I'm highly respected, which is more important than any award or any amount of records. And I feel like there comes a point when being a pop star is not enough."
• Beyonce, who is also the magazine's cover girl, adds that she'd like to be considered a trailblazer. "I am really proud that I am one of the artists that has the opportunity to be on magazine covers and to be in the movies," Beyonce adds. "And I do think that I'm opening doors for more black women, just like Halle (Berry) and Diana Ross opened doors for me."
• Beyonce's next solo CD -- the follow-up to 2006's smash B'Day -- is scheduled to drop in November.

T.I. IS ENJOYING SECOND WEEK AT NUMBER ONE

Rapper T.I. is enjoying his second week at Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 with his latest single, "Whatever You Want." The song continues to be very popular with the downloaders. After opening with 205,000 digital sales, this week it continues to perform extremely well as it was downloaded by another 176,000 customers.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA INKS EXCLUSIVE ALBUM DEAL WITH TARGET

When Christina Aguilera releases her first greatest hits album this fall, it will only be available at Target stores and Target.com. According to Billboard.com, Aguilera has signed a deal making Target the only retailer that will carry her Keeps Gettin' Better -- A Decade of Hits set, due out November 11th. Pre-orders placed before September 30th will come with a free download of Aguilera's new song "Keeps Gettin' Better." The compilation will also include her hits "Genie," "Come on Over (All I Want Is You)," "What a Girl Wants" and "Lady Marmalade."
• Target has also inked deals in the past with Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, the Jonas Brothers and John Legend.
• Meanwhile, Aguilera has been working on the follow-up to her 2006 effort, Back to Basics.
• In related news, Aguilera has been tapped to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards this Sunday (September 7th). According to OK! magazine, she said, "I'm very excited," adding that she's thrilled at the prospect of her eight-month-old son, Max Liron, watching her on TV. She said, "This will be his first time watching me perform on television, but only for a little while because he's not really allowed to watch television yet. I'll make an exception for the VMAs."

MICHAEL PHELPS FINDS A NEW 'ENTOURAGE'

Michael Phelps may have a new entourage. The Olympic swimming champion recently filmed a cameo on the hit HBO series, Entourage, and the cast members liked him so much they would love to have him back. According to People.com, actor Jeremy Piven, who plays agent Ari Gold, said, "I could see him coming back as one of the boys." He added, "I can see Ari being very aggressive in recruiting him to represent him and also stopping at nothing to poach him from another client. That's what Ari would do." Jerry Ferrera, who plays Turtle, agreed, adding, "I'm lobbying to get him back next season so that I can be there. He could teach Turtle how to swim."
Phelps's Entourage cameo apparently wasn't planned. Executive producer Doug Ellin said Phelps happened to walk by the set when a scene was being shot. As soon as he was recognized, the guys invited him in. Ellin said, "When he showed up, I'm not exaggerating, city buses stopped and people started yelling and within five minutes we couldn't even shoot."
• Phelps plays himself during the episode, which features a scene with actor Kevin Connelly, who explained, "He and I bump into each other on the side of the road, at a crosswalk on 57th and 7th. He bumps into me and looks at me like he's gonna beat me up. It was great. We had actually taken a few takes of the scene, and then we decided we're gonna pop Michael Phelps into the shot."
• The new season of Entourage premieres this Sunday (September 7th) on HBO at 10 p.m. ET.

MOM REVEALS BRITNEY SPEARS'S SCANDALOUS PAST IN NEW BOOK

Britney Spears began drinking at age 13, lost her virginity at age 14 and started taking drugs at 15, according to her mother's new memoir, Through the Storm. The 53-year-old goes on to say that she regrets handing over control of Britney's career to managers and allowing her daughter to be promoted as a sex object. In leaked passages reported by the British media, Lynne Spears details that Britney first had sex with her high school boyfriend and, at the age of 16, was caught with cocaine and marijuana on a private jet.
• In other news, Lynne Spears's rep denied Wednesday's (September 3rd) report that she had sent a baby gift to Bristol Palin on behalf of her 17-year-old daughter Jamie Lynn.

VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS TO BE AN ALL-STAR TREAT

This Sunday's (September 7th) MTV Video Music Awards will have "lots of virginity and lesbianism going on," according to host Russell Brand. At a press preview at the Paramount Lot, where the show will be held, the British comic was referring to "I Kissed A Girl" singer Katy Perry, who will perform Madonna's hit, "Like A Virgin," as well as the Jonas Brothers, whom Brand called "God's favorite virgins." He noted that the brothers requested that Taylor Swift introduce them, joking that this was "a decision made from below their sexy little waists."
Also performing on Sunday is Christina Aguilera, who joined Brand at the preview and informed the audience that she'll be performing her new single "Keeps Getting Better," the title track of her Best Of album, due out in November. "You're going to get a first look and a first listen at my new image and my new sound," said Aguilera. "The last album, the style and sound was about vintage glam -- this one is all about the future."
• T.I. announced that he will be debuting a new song with Rihanna.
• Kanye West will be closing the show, which is ironic considering his vow to "never return to MTV" after being shut out of all five categories in which he was nominated last year.
• The MTV Video Music Awards will air live at 9 p.m ET.

SUPER BOWL CHAMP GIANTS KICK OFF NFL SEASON WITH A WIN

The New York Giants kicked off the NFL season last night and their bid to repeat as Super Bowl champions with a 16-7 home win over the Washington Redskins. The Giants were playing without Pro Bowl linemen Michael Strahan, who retired after last season, and Osi Umenyiora, who was injured in a preseason game and is out for the year. But the team scored on their first four possessions, as Super Bowl MVP quarterback Eli Manning capped a game-opening 84-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run and John Carney kicked three field goals. In festivities before the game began, Giants fans saw Strahan hold up the Lombardi Trophy just minutes before the opening kickoff.