Mel B.

Mel B. Headshot

Singer

Birth Date: May 29, 1975

Age: 48 years old

Birth Place: Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Immortalized forever as "Scary Spice" or "Mel B," Melanie Brown is one of the founding members of the Spice Girls, the world's most successful girl group of all time. Championing "Girl Power" and British pride, the Spice Girls scored a No. 1 hit with "Wannabe" on both sides of the pond, as well as the U.K. No. 1 hits "Say You'll Be There," "2 Become 1," and "Spice Up Your Life," among others. One of the most iconic pop cultural phenomenons of the 1990s, the Spice Girls conquered the world with an unprecedented avalanche of endorsements, albums like 1996's Spice and 1997's Spiceworld, and even scored a hit movie, "Spice World" (1997). After parting ways, the group members attempted solo careers, with Brown scoring a U.K. No. 1 collaboration with Missy Elliott with "I Want You Back" and releasing the 2000 album Hot and 2005 follow-up L.A. State of Mind. She had more success as a TV host, judge and reality show star, with gigs on the Aussie edition of "The X Factor" (Network Ten, 2005; Seven Network, 2010- ), "America's Got Talent" (NBC, 2006- ), and a second place run on "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ), as well as reuniting with her fellow Spices for a blockbuster reunion world tour which reaffirmed the band's pop cultural immortality. As a fierce, outspoken Spice Girl and talented solo star, Melanie Brown became a role model and idol to countless fans around the world.

Born May 29, 1975 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, Melanie Janine Brown was the daughter of a black Caribbean father and an English mother. Training as a singer and dancer throughout her youth, Brown dreamed of a career in the entertainment industry and started hitting the audition circuit in 1992. The following year, she landed the opportunity of a lifetime when she answered an ad in The Stage that read, "WANTED: R.U. 18023 with the ability to sing/dance? R.U. streetwise, outgoing, ambitious and dedicated? Heart Management Ltd. are a widely successful music industry management consortium currently forming a choreographed, singing/dancing, all-female pop act for a recording deal. Open audition. Please bring sheet music or backing cassette." As one of 400 eager young women who auditioned, Brown was given one minute to sing and dance for the management company, and her fiery personality, charming self-confidence and heartfelt rendition of Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All" earned her a callback. Brown nailed her second audition and, along with Victoria Adams, Melanie Chisholm, Geri Halliwell and Michelle Stephenson, became the founding members of the new group Touch.

Moving into a house together and subsisting off of the most basic of living expenses, the five women began an arduous training schedule that included multiple daily singing and dancing lessons as well as media training. Although the intensity of their regimen helped bring the women closer, it soon became obvious that Stephenson was a weak link, and she was dismissed from the band and replaced by Emma Bunton, who proved a natural fit. Although originally formed with mercenary motives, the band proved to have a one-of-a-kind chemistry and drive that would help them become music industry icons as well as assuring them an amount of control unthinkable to many other similarly-created pop entities. Changing their name to "Spice," the women began performing in showcases and writing songs, but soon butted heads with their managers over the direction of the band. Led largely by Brown and Halliwell, the group's strongest and most aggressive personalities, Spice left their management and sought out new representation on their own, eventually impressing power manager Simon Fuller with their talent, verve and charm. Signed by Fuller to his 19 Management, the women underwent another professional metamorphosis when, upon realizing that "Spice" was already in use by a U.S. rapper, they dubbed themselves the "Spice Girls" and signed with Virgin Records. Quickly charming the press with the overwhelming force of their personalities, charisma and effervescent good cheer, the Spice Girls gained valuable touring experience during the all-important process of writing and recording their debut album. Although many industry experts augured success for the group, no one could have predicted just how massive the Spice quake that would rock the world would be. The band burst into the public's consciousness in 1996 with their debut single, "Wannabe," a sing-a-long tribute to female friendship that topped charts all over the world. Serving as the ultimate introduction to the Spice Girls, "Wannabe" was also powered by a charming video that featured the band at their mischievous best. Helping to fuel the SpiceMania was a feature in Top of the Pops magazine, which gave each of the band members nicknames: Posh (Adams), Baby (Bunton), Sporty (Chisholm), Ginger (Halliwell) and Scary (Brown), the latter earning the sobriquet for her fearless, dominating demeanor. The group's Melanies, Brown and Chisholm, were also well known by their nicknames of "Mel B" and "Mel C" as well.

After the glorious reign of "Wannabe," which hit No. 1 in 31 countries including the United States, the Spices scored another massive U.K. No. 1 with their follow-up, "Say You'll Be There," which in turn helped pave the way for their global blockbuster debut album, Spice, which was the biggest album of 1996 in the U.K. and of 1997 in the U.S., eventually selling more than 23 million copies worldwide. Earning an unprecedented amount of endorsements, the Spice Girls quickly achieved not just pop cultural ubiquity, but also an amazing degree of power pushing their updated brand of feminism, embodied in their frequently declared motto of "Girl Power!" In fact, for many cultural critics, despite the enormous musical milestones set by the Spice Girls, the greatest legacy of the band was their ability to steadfastly broadcast an aggressively pro-female message to all corners of the globe and to help start serious conversations about the face and future of modern feminism, despite their cartoonish and over-the-top antics. The group went on to score U.K. No. 1 hits with "2 Become 1" and "Who Do You Think You Are"/"Mama" and made headlines around the world for their performance at the 1997 Brit Awards, which featured Halliwell in a Union Jack dress that would later become the most expensive pop star memorabilia item ever auctioned off. Conquering the U.S. charts, the Spice Girls helped usher in a new era of pop music, reclaiming radio from grunge and harder rock, and their universal popularity helped their debut film "Spice World" (1997) become a global blockbuster, despite negative reviews and a Worst Actress Razzie shared by all five members.

Although they set the media world afire with the news that they were dropping Simon Fuller and managing themselves from that point on, the Spice Girls saw their chart success continue. The accompanying album, 1997's Spiceworld, became another worldwide sensation, hitting No. 1 in the U.K. and launching the chart-topping singles "Spice Up Your Life," "Too Much" and "Viva Forever," as well as the No. 2 hit "Stop." The media firestorm that Fuller's departure had caused, however, was nothing compared to what happened when rumblings began that Halliwell was potentially leaving the band; when it was announced that she was, in fact, leaving, shares in the record label itself dropped. With Halliwell out of the picture, Brown became the band's leader, although news that she and Adams had both become pregnant cast some doubt on the viability of the Spice Girls continuing. Nevertheless, they completed their successful world tour, with Adams marrying soccer superstar David Beckham and Brown marrying dancer Jimmy Gulzar, briefly going by "Mel G." The year 1998 ended on a high note for the Spices; their aptly named tribute to Halliwell, "Goodbye," went to No. 1, giving them their third consecutive U.K. Christmas single.

Earning Lifetime Achievement honors from the Brit Awards, the Spice Girls scored another No. 1 with "Holler"/"Let Love Lead the Way," which, like "Goodbye," was off their post-Halliwell album, 2000's Forever. The album, however, sold less than its predecessors, and the Spice Girls made the mutual decision to put their band on hold and to follow in Halliwell's footsteps by launching solo careers. Brown burst out of the gate by scoring the first solo No. 1 of the group with her Missy Elliott collaboration "I Want You Back," but her subsequent solo album, 2000's Hot, failed to live up to its title, although she did place a cover of Cameo's "Word Up!" on the soundtrack to "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" (1999). Despite her Spice success, Brown had difficulty building a solo career and after a poorly received indie follow-up, 2005's L.

A State of Mind, turned her focus to work as a TV host and actress with roles in the stage musical "Rent" and in the screen projects "Burn It" (BBC, 2003), and "The Seat Filler" (2004), as well as publishing her autobiography in 2002, Catch a Fire. She made some scandalous headlines when, six years after her divorce from Gulzar, she gave birth to her second child, which she stated was Eddie Murphy's, a claim that was denied by the comic but proven true after a paternity test. In 2007, each member of the Spice Girls, including Halliwell, had a career-reviving burst of energy when they reunited as a band under the management of Simon Fuller and launched a massively successful greatest hits set and reunion tour that took them around the world and helped cement their status as enduring pop cultural icons, culminating in their own documentary, "Spice Girls: Giving You Everything" (2007). With her career reignited, Brown competed on "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ), coming in second place, and booked a slew of hosting gigs, including "Entertainment Tonight" (syndicated, 1981- ), the Australian version of "The X Factor" (Network Ten, 2005; Seven Network, 2010- ), "Dance Your Ass Off" (Oxygen, 2009-2010), as well as starring in her own reality projects, including "Mel B: It's a Scary World" (Style, 2010). In the summer of 2012, the Spice Girls reunited once more to perform onstage during the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics, held in London. Although Brown and company did not appear in it, West End audiences also had the opportunity to see the Jennifer Saunders-penned Spice Girls jukebox musical, "Viva Forever!" although reviews were less than kind. In early 2013, Brown, along with supermodel Heidi Klum, was named one of two new judges to join the "America's Got Talent" (NBC, 2006- ) panel alongside Howie Mandel and Howard Stern.

By Jonathan Riggs

Credits

America's Got Talent: Fantasy LeagueStream

Judge
Reality
2024

Pride of Britain: A Windrush Special

Self
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2023

Young Again

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2023

The Day I Met The King

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Late Night Lycett

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2023

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins USA

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2023

Special Forces: World's Toughest TestStream

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2023

Trailblazers: A Rocky Mountain Road Trip

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2022

Sherri

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2022

The Jennifer Hudson Show

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2022

A League of Their Own Road Trip: Dingle to Dover

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2022

A New Diva's Christmas CarolStream

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Movie
2022

Queen of the UniverseStream

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Reality
2021

Blankety Blank

Contestant
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2021

Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line Up

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2021

Mel B's Birthday Beats

Actor
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2021

Game of Talents

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2021

Celebrity Name That TuneStream

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2021

Michael McIntyre's The Wheel

Contestant
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2020

Steph's Packed Lunch

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2020

Steph's Packed Lunch

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2020

Big Zuu's Big Eats

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2020

The Fantastical Factory of Curious Craft

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2020

Pants on Fire

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2019

RuPaul's Drag Race UKStream

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2019

The Masked Singer

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2019

The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan

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2019

Shopping with Keith Lemon

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2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

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2019

America's Got Talent -The Champions

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2019

Darci Lynne: My Hometown Christmas

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Series
2018

The Big Narstie Show

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2018

Access

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2017

Drop the MicStream

Contestant
Reality
2017

STEVE on Watch

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Talk
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

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2017

All Round to Mrs Brown's

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2017

NBC's New Year's Eve With Carson Daly

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2016

Stand Up to Cancer

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2016

Today's Take

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2016

Red Nose Day

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2016

Girl Power! Live In Istanbul

Composer
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2016

Lip Sync Battle UK

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2016

Chocolate City Vegas Strip

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Brandy
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2016

Alan Carr's New Year Specstacular

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2015

VH1 Big Music in 2015: You Oughta Know

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2015

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

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2015

FamelessStream

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2015

America's Got Talent: Extras

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2015

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

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2015

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2014

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2014

Star Coach

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2014

Celebrity Name Game

Contestant
Game Show
2014

The Meredith Vieira Show

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2014

Running Wild With Bear GryllsStream

Self
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2014

The Voice Kids

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2014

Good Morning Britain

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2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

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2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

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2014

Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast

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2014

Klein gegen Groß: Das unglaubliche Duell

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2013

Miss Universe

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2013

The Queen Latifah Show

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2013

Bethenny

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2013

Through the Keyhole

Self
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2013

Deal With It

Guest Star
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2013

Whose Line Is It Anyway?Stream

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2013

The Real

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2013

The Real

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2013

Hollywood Game Night

Actor
Game Show
2013

Hollywood Game Night

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2013

The Last LegStream

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2013

Mel B: For Once in My Life

Music Performer
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2013

The Twelve Trees of Christmas

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Cordelia
Movie
2013

The Spice Girls Story: Viva Forever!

Self
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2012

Katie

Music Performer
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2012

Steve Harvey

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2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
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2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Host
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2012

Larry King NowStream

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2012

LIVE with Kelly

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Talk
2011

The Chew

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2011

The Jonathan Ross ShowStream

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2011

Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model

Judge
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2011

Melanie B: Feels So Good

Music Performer
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2011

The Talk

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2010

Access Hollywood Live

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2010

Lorraine

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2010

Mel B: It's a Scary World

Executive Producer
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2010

Mel B: It's a Scary World

Self
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2010

The Kilborn File

Guest
Show
2010

Cupcake WarsStream

Contestant
Reality
2009

The Project

Guest
Show
2009

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

Dance Your A... Off

Host
Show
2009

Alan Carr: Chatty Man

Guest
Show
2009

Piers Morgan's Life Stories

Guest
Show
2009

Celebrity Juice

Guest
Show
2008

Celebrity Juice

Host
Show
2008

The Bonnie Hunt Show

Guest
Talk
2008

The Doctors

Guest
Talk
2008

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Miss Universe 2008

Host
Show
2008

The Singing Office

Host
Show
2008

Telling Lies

Actor
Maggie Thomas
Movie
2008

Secret Diary of a Call GirlStream

Guest Star
Series
2007

Keeping Up with the KardashiansStream

Guest Star
Reality
2007

Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda

Guest
Show
2007

Chelsea Lately

Guest
Talk
2007

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

The One Show

Guest
Show
2006

America's Got TalentStream

Judge
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2006

Dancing With the StarsStream

Contestant
Reality
2005

Dancing With the StarsStream

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Reality
2005

The X Factor

Judge
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2005

Project RunwayStream

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2004

The X Factor

Judge
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2004

The Xtra Factor

Judge
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2004

The Seat Filler

Actor
Movie
2004

LD 50

Actor
Louise
Movie
2004

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

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Talk
2003

Loose Women

Guest
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2002

Loose Women

Host
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2002

The Kumars at No. 42

Guest
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2001

Live With Regis and Kelly

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2001

Live With Regis and Kelly

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2001

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

E! True Hollywood StoryStream

Self
Series
1997

Spice World

Original Music
Movie
1997
35%

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

Extra

Guest
News
1994

Extra

Host
News
1994

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

This Morning

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1988

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

Coronation StreetStream

Actor
Amy Nelson
Soap
1960

Today

Guest
News
1952

Today

Music Performer
News
1952

News aboutMel B.

Sofía Vergara attends the Red Carpet for 'America's Got Talent' Season 18 Live Show

Why is Sofía Vergara Not a Judge in ‘AGT: Fantasy League?’

Simon Cowell, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel on 'America's Got Talent'

‘America’s Got Talent’ Adds ‘Fantasy League’ Series on NBC — Who’s Judging?

Jamie Lynn Spears

Jamie Lynn Spears & Other Celebs Go Through Hell in ‘Special Forces’ Training (VIDEO)

Mel B

‘Queen of the Universe’: Mel B Joins as Judge for Season 2

The Circle - Season 4 - Spice Girls Mel B and Emma Bunton

‘The Circle’: Spice Girls Mel B & Emma Bunton Join Season 4 in Big Twist (VIDEO)

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT: THE CHAMPIONS

‘America’s Got Talent’ Is Embracing Change With 3 New Faces — But the Fans Are Still Divided

America's Got Talent - Season 13

Will You Watch ‘America’s Got Talent’ Without Heidi Klum & Mel B? (POLL)

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Exclusive

‘AGT’ Winner Darci Lynne Invites Us to Cozy Up With ‘My Hometown Christmas’ on NBC

America's Got Talent - Season 13
Preview

‘America’s Got Talent’ Judges Reveal Their Top Contestant Picks

Untitled design (68)

3 ‘America’s Got Talent’ Acts to Watch This Season (VIDEOS)

America's Got Talent - Season 13
Preview

‘America’s Got Talent’ Judge Simon Cowell Reveals Season 13 Secrets

America's Got Talent Judges - Howie Mandel, Mel B., Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell.
Spoiler Alert

‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 12 Voting Numbers

America's Got Talent Holiday Spectacular

‘America’s Got Talent’ Holiday Spectacular: The Return of the Olate Dogs (VIDEO)

Margaret Cho, Kristen Bell and Derek Hough

TV’s Biggest Stars Strike a Pose at TCA (PHOTOS)

JIMMY FALLON - TVGM

NBC Announces Jimmy Fallon as Golden Globe Host, Adds Olympic Previews of ‘Superstore’ and ‘The Voice’

Mel B. on Project Runway

Mel B. Gets Critical as a Guest Judge on ‘Project Runway’ (VIDEO)