Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, Miley Cyrus and Adele Are "VH1 Divas"

Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, Miley Cyrus and Adele will share the spotlight and microphone on live television as VH1 revives their Divas special after a five-year hiatus on September 17th. This year's Divas will take place live at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York, marking the first time in the special's history that the Divas haven't assembled in either Manhattan or Las Vegas. Additional special guests and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

Compared to Divas specials of year's past, which included artists like Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and many more legends in their field, this year's show seems to cater to a younger demographic, especially in the case of Cyrus, who's probably more Disney Star than Diva. However, as executive producer Lee Rolontz said in a statement, "Adele, Kelly, Leona and Miley have all captured the world's attention with their talent and have earned their designation as VH1 Divas this year. Don't let some of their young ages fool you — these women are among the best entertainers in the world and will continue to thrill music fans for a long time to come."

VH1 is asking fans to send text and video "Diva Stories" testimonials about how this year's Divas roster has influenced them. Some of those testimonials will be featured online and in on-air promos leading up to the event. The last VH1 Divas concert in 2004 featured '80s-tinged artists like Deborah Harry, Cyndi Lauper, and Sheila E along with Jessica Simpson, Ashanti, Gladys Knight and, umm, Tom Jones.

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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