Leona Lewis released her the first single from her eagerly-awaited sophomore album, Echo, expected to hit shelves Nov. 17.

“Happy,” a power ballad, was co-written by Leona Lewis with writer/producer Ryan Tedder — who penned the X-Factor songbird’s 2008 breakout hit, “Bleeding Love.” The single hits radio September 21.

Listen To “Happy” By Leona Lewis

Rock It or Drop It?

Leona Lewis’ eagerly-awaited sophomore album, Echo, will debut Nov. 17.

Echo is the follow-up to Leona’s 2007 debut Spirit, which has now sold more than six million copies worldwide to date.

“She’s really going all out singing-wise on this one. It’s more guitar-driven from what I’ve heard, so more pop/alternative, far from urban,” one of the project’s contributors Novel recently told Rap-Up. “It’s gonna be a crazy album.”

The album believed to feature songwriting and production contributions from Ne-Yo, Ryan Tedder, and Xenomania.

In L.A., blondes not only have more fun — they have more lookalikes.

Kim Kardashian’s sunkissed locks made the E! reality star a victim of mistaken identity last week.

Kim was puzzled when a fan approached her as she left Dan Tana’s in Los Angeles and asked if she was British songstress Leona Lewis, says a Kardashian Camp snitch.

A spywitness tells Star: “Kim said it was a weird question because they look different. She totally forgot that they have similar hair now!

Simon Cowell is beside himself with fury after Leona Lewis’ new single — which features Justin Timberlake –was leaked to the Internet this week.

Police have been called into investigate the breach of computers belonging to Cowell’s record company Syco – part of Sony BMG. The computers were allegedly hacked into and an early version of “Don’t Let Me Down” –the British singer’s collaboration with Timberlake — appeared online.

“Syco are working alongside the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, the British Phonographic Industry, the police and investigators in this and they are making fast progress,” a company exec said in a statement Tuesday. “We will certainly look to bring charges against those who are responsible. We cannot give any more details at this stage for operational seasons.”

Leona’s second album – a follow-up to her 2007 international smash Spirit – is expected to include collaborations with Ne-Yo, will.i.am, and Jay-Z and is due for release this November.

Britain’s Got Talent star Shaheen Jafargholi will reportedly join songbird Leona Lewis on tour next year.

Simon Cowell, who met 12-year-old Shaheen at his first audition and mentored Leona during her 2006 X Factor victory, is plotting a 14-date world tour — featuring a Garden of Eden theme — that will star the preteen sensation and the “Bleeding Love” hitmaker.

Shaheen, a native of Wales, shot to fame earlier this year with his rendition of The Jackson 5’s “Who’s Loving You” on BGT last spring. He later went on to perform the song at the King of Pop’s public memorial service.

A source tells The Mirror: “Simon is convinced Shaheen can be a global superstar.”

More than a decade after its inception, VH1 is revamping its Divas Live concert series with a new crop of upcoming and coming songbirds, the network said in a statement Tuesday. British vocalists Adele and Leona Lewis, former American Idol Kelly Clarkson, and teen star Miley Cyrus will follow in the footsteps of chart queen, like Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey, by headlining this year’s show, airing live from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York on Thursday, Sept. 17 @ 9/8c.
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Award-winning vocalists Usher, Justin Timberlake, and Leona Lewis are in discussions to perform at a Michael Jackson tribute concert taking place at London’s O2 arena later this summer.

“Executives want to stage a touching tribute to Michael and think The O2 would be a fitting location,” a source spilled The Sun.

“Huge stars such as Leona, Usher and Justin have expressed enthusiasm about the project. It will be a celebration of Jacko’s life through his music.”

The insider added, “The producers want to avoid a sombre memorial tone and intend the evening to be a joyful event focusing on Jacko’s extraordinary legacy.”

No word on when the proposed tribute might take place.

Leona Lewis has turned down an invitation to perform for President and First Lady Obama because she is too busy working on the follow-up to her platinum-selling debut album, Spirit. Read the rest of this entry »

British songbird Leona Lewis suffered facial injuries after being headbutted by her horse earlier this week. Read the rest of this entry »

Michael says, “Forget Janet, I’ll ‘Scream’ with someone else!”

Michael Jackson is reportedly eyeing a duet with international charttopper Leona Lewis. The King of Pop is hoping to have the British singer lend her famous voice to the part previously sung by his younger sister Janet on their 1995 hit “Scream.”

Celebrity insiders tell Britain’s The Sun that Michael is highly impressed with the vocals of the 23-year-old as he performs fifty “This Is It Concerts” at the O2 Arena in London.

“Michael has a list of singers he feels could do Janet justice and Leona is top…He hasn’t approached her yet but he’s a big fan of everything she has achieved. She’s massive all around the world and he feels this duet would give both their careers an even bigger boost.”