This month, Blender magazine caught up with the industry-saving pop star Leona Lewis, our very own You Oughta Know Artist. We already knew we loved the “Bleeding Love” singer, but we found out a few other details that only further cemented her staying power as the pop star of our hearts. Not only did she grow up tough in an East London where her family struggled to make ends meet, she hardly drinks (”I’ve tasted champagne, which is gross. And I tasted wine, which I don’t like.”) and she always wears undies: “I don’t wear little miniskirts and low cut tops. If you want to show your bits off, it’s up to you.”

The epitome of courage and optimism, Nelson Mandela spent 18 years behind bars for ideals he believed in. To celebrate such resilience, the world has a huge old birthday party for him each year. This time around, on Friday, June 27, you’re invited to the celebration as well. “The 46664 Concert Honoring Nelson Mandela at 90″ will be streamed live from London’s Hyde Park on VH1.com, starting at 1:30 pm EST. Will Smith is the host. Highlights from the concert will premiere on VH1 on Monday, June 30, at 9 EST/PST.

This year’s artists include a 1-2 punch of British sirens: Amy Winehouse and Leona Lewis are on the bill. Make that a 1-2-3 punch: Annie Lennox is part of the show, as well. Other performers include Queen + Paul Rogers, Simple Minds, The Sugababes, Andrea and Sharon Corr, Johnny Clegg, Papa Wemba, and Dame Shirley Bassey. More artists will be announced as added.

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Though Mariah Carey topped the charts this week with her latest E=MC2, she may be feeling the heat from the new batch of talented singers, particularly Leona Lewis, who occupies the number two slot after dominating the charts last week. Mimi’s been asked about the similarities, and as you can see from the photo above, they do bear more than a slight resemblance.

In an interview, Mariah responded to the constant comparisons that have plagued her for the length of her twenty-year career, and also to Ms. Lewis specifically. “Honestly, there has been so many, this is the new her, and I’m like, OK, show me the new her…I’m not particular talking about this girl Leona, because I only heard her once and I didn’t really hear a true similarity, particularly in the style of music.”

Sounds like Ms. Mimi’s a bit defensive there. She went on to say that she prays to lose “the spirit of jealousy.” We bet knocking Leona out of the chart’s top spot helps with that, but as for her “no similarity” claim, really, Mariah? Not the hair? Not the young age you both started at, the multi-octave voice or the fact that you came up in difficult circumstances? OK, Mims. Whatever you say.

Leona Lewis, our ultra-talented You Oughta Know artist, made her American TV debut on Oprah’s show yesterday, and yep, she did some convincing. Remember the background. The young British singer won the UK version of American Idol and Simon Cowell’s been inching her forward ever since. Listen to the way that Ms. Lewis swoops around the melody of “Bleeding Love.” Watch the video for the song right here. Make sure you’re here on April 1. We’ll be streaming the U.S. release of Lewis’ Spirit disc a week before it hits the racks.