PHOENIX — Even with Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots' players in the room Sunday night, Jimmy Fallon was the only MVP for hundreds of people in a Phoenix theater.
The Patriots' Brandon LaFell, Danny Amendola and LeGarrette Blount were just a few of the surprise guests during a special Super Bowl edition of "The Tonight Show" Sunday night. Still, Fallon's infectious song-and-dance energy, as well as his lip-syncing skills, were at the forefront.
The special taping was one of the hottest events in town with tickets selling out in less than three minutes. More than 42,000 people vied for the more than 1,300 seats, according to show representatives. And for those in the Orpheum Theatre, he did not disappoint.
"The Tonight Show" host, whose collaborations with chart-topping singers have become YouTube hits, screened an a cappella version of "We Are The Champions" in honor of the Super Bowl. The pre-taped segment featured "Tonight Show" band The Roots and several artists including Carrie Underwood, One Direction, Blake Shelton and Christina Aguilera.
Fallon brought out Arnold Schwarzenegger — dressed like his "Terminator" persona — to segue to the show's first commercial break.
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The night's biggest laughs went to a "Super Bowl of Lip Sync Battles." Fallon, actors Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart brought their best emoting to the competition where they took turns faux-singing. Perhaps in a nod to Idina Menzel singing the national anthem earlier in the day, Ferrell put his own jazz hands on "Let It Go" from "Frozen." Kevin Hart let out a "Roar" in honor of Super Bowl half-time performer Katy Perry.
Fallon surprised the crowd with Drew Barrymore as backup for his rendition of "Time of My Life," the theme from the film "Dirty Dancing." Their duet included a clumsy but hilarious attempt to duplicate the lift from the movie.
The Patriots players, meanwhile, were basking in the victory that occurred just a few hours earlier. Their 28-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks was cemented when rookie Malcolm Butler made an interception in the end zone with 20 seconds left.
Fallon asked Blount what he whispered to Butler afterward.
"'You won us the game,'" Blount said.
Singer Ariana Grande capped off the night with her single, "One Last Time." She then joined Fallon and his other guests in throwing footballs into the audience.
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Dierks Bentley expresses admiration for awards rival Lambert
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GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dierks Bentley says there won't be any hard feelings if childhood friend Miranda Lambert takes home the Grammy for best country album.
Bentley's "Riser" and Lambert's "Platinum" are both nominated in that category on Sunday. He says if Lambert's name is called, he'll be happy for her.
"Any time she wins or performs, I'm usually the first one standing up and applauding," Bentley said before performing for fans Sunday at the official Super Bowl Tailgate. "A win for her is a win for everyone."
Lambert is already a Grammy owner, but Bentley is still waiting for his first win. The singers toured together and collaborated on music, even earning a Grammy nomination for their song "Bad Angel" at the 2011 awards show.
Bentley says his feelings toward Lambert haven't changed over the years.
"I just feel that she's the same Texas girl that she's always been," he said.
Meanwhile, the 39-year-old Bentley received seven nominations at the Academy of Country Music Awards, to be presented April 15. He is the second most-nominated act, a notch behind Lambert, who earned eight nods.
"It really blew my mind that they nominated me at all, let alone seven," he said.
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Lambert's other Grammy nominations include best country solo performance and country song for "Automatic" as well as country duo/group performance for "Somethin' Bad" with Carrie Underwood. Nominees for best country album include Lee Ann Womack, Eric Church and rising singer-songwriter Brandy Clark.
The 57th annual Grammy Awards will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
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Justin Timberlake shares baby news on his 34th birthday
NEW YORK — It's Justin Timberlake's birthday, but it's another birth date that's on his mind — that of his future son or daughter.
The superstar shared a picture of a bulging belly — presumably belonging to wife Jessica Biel — on Instagram on Saturday, his 34th birthday. He wrote that he was getting the greatest gift ever this year and added: "CAN'T WAIT."
The sex of the baby is not yet known; the actor-singer joked that the couple is taking bets.
The Grammy-winning Timberlake married Biel in 2012. It will be the first child for both. Biel's pregnancy has been rumored for weeks but Timberlake's post is the first official confirmation.
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