Entertainment and arts review of 2008

The music world had its fair share of controversies during 2008 as some stars' personal lives dominated the headlines, while others let the music speak for itself.

JANUARY

Britney Spears was seen being put into an ambulance

Two of music's biggest female stars saw their health issues placed in the spotlight throughout 2008.

Britney Spears was taken to hospital in January, midway through a custody battle over her children. The star's father later took charge of her affairs.

Amy Winehouse was admitted to rehab for drug addiction. Her father, Mitch Winehouse told reporters he wanted to see her sectioned.

Meanwhile, UB40 frontman Ali Campbell walked out of the group after 30 years.

Britney taken to hospital UB40 star 'compelled' to quit

Winehouse enters rehab

FEBRUARY

The Spice Girls said sorry to fans for cutting short their tour

She couldn't make February's Grammys in person, but Amy Winehouse got a boost when she won five of the US music awards.

The Spice Girls said farewell to "the most loyal fans in the world" at the end of their reunion tour in Toronto.

BBC Sound of 2008 winner Adele saw her debut album 19 go straight to the top of the chart.

And Take That, Arctic Monkeys and Foo Fighters each scooped two Brit Awards at a ceremony which saw Sir Paul McCartney receive a lifetime honour.

Grammy glory for Winehouse Adele's album debuts at top

Spice Girls say goodbye In Pictures: Brits

MARCH

A look at the winners at the 80th Academy Awards.

March saw Sir Paul McCartney agree to hand over £24.3m as part of his divorce settlement from Heather Mills.

Ms Mills ended the court hearing by throwing water at Sir Paul's lawyer, declaring: "I'm not a loser."

U2 signed a 12-year deal with concert promoter Live Nation to handle the band's merchandising, digital and branding rights.

They followed in the footsteps of Madonna, who was also inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Mills awarded £24.3m U2 sign Live Nation deal

McCartney lawyer soaked Madonna joins Hall of Fame

APRIL

The couple's romance had been rumoured for six years

Neither Beyonce Knowles nor Jay-Z ever acknowledged they were together, but April saw the couple marry in New York.

They held a lavish party in Manhattan, but it took two weeks before anyone would confirm they had wed.

Leona Lewis became the first British woman to enter the US album chart at number one with her debut, Spirit.

Teenage star Miley Cyrus apologised after photos showing her apparently topless were published. "They were supposed to be 'artistic'," she said.

Beyonce wedding confirmed Star red-faced over photos

Leona smashes into US chart

MAY

Winehouse sent a message to husband Blake Fielder-Civil

In May, boy band mogul Lou Pearlman, who created the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for a $300m (£203m) fraud.

A court in Malawi gave final approval for pop star Madonna to adopt a young boy from the country.

Amy Winehouse won an Ivor Novello songwriting award - but turned up too late to accept it.

She also caused a stir by appearing alongside Pete Doherty in a video posted online. The pair were filmed playing with newborn mice.

Mogul gets 25 years for fraud Winehouse too late for award

Madonna adoption approved Amy posts YouTube video

JUNE

George Michael on why he wants a more private life

George Michael announced in June that he would give up touring after two August dates in London.

R Kelly was cleared of 14 charges of child pornography. Both he and the alleged victim denied they were the people shown on a sex tape.

Amy Winehouse stole the headlines again by appearing to lash out at a fan at the Glastonbury Festival.

And Jay-Z won over sceptics with a triumphant headlining set at the Somerset event.

Michael 'to retire from touring' Kelly cleared over sex tape

Fan filmed Winehouse incident Reporter's log: Glastonbury

JULY

Jack White wrote and produced the track

Angry festival-goers complained after acts including Dizzee Rascal, Athlete and Wiley pulled out of an event in Kent in July.

It later emerged that organisers of Zoo8 had run out of money.

Alicia Keys and Jack White teamed up to record Another Way To Die, the theme to James Bond film Quantum of Solace.

And singer David Gray said that US interrogators in Iraq who played his song Babylon at ear-splitting volumes were conducting "torture".

Festival admits cash chaos Gray's 'torture' music warning

Keys & White record 007-inch

AUGUST

Kings of Leon headlined the Pyramid Stage on day one of Glastonbury

The Verve, Kings of Leon, Muse and Amy Winehouse were among the bands playing the V Festival in August.

But hundreds of fans missed out after an unofficial agency failed to deliver their tickets.

Meanwhile, Rage Against The Machine and The Killers played the Reading and Leeds festivals.

Iron Maiden asked to be dropped from a live music awards ceremony where they were up for the best comeback prize. They said they had never been away.

In Pictures: V Festival Maiden refuse live award nod

Fans ticket agony

SEPTEMBER

Nationwide Mercury Prize is announced

Elbow celebrated in September after winning the £20,000 Mercury Prize for their album The Seldom Seen Kid.

Meanwhile, a panel of judges gathered by the Popjustice website gave Girls Aloud the single of the year prize for Call The Shots - netting the group £20.

Britney Spears put her troubles behind her by taking three prizes at the US MTV Video Music Awards.

Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher suffered a suspected broken rib when he was pushed over by a stage invader in Canada.

Elbow win Mercury Prize Spears dominates VMAs

Girls Aloud win £20 prize Man charged over Noel attack

OCTOBER

Starr said he had 'too much to do' to continue signing objects

October saw Phil Spector's retrial get under way in California. The legendary producer denies killing actress Lana Clarkson at his Los Angeles mansion.

Estelle and Leona Lewis won two prizes each at the Mobo Awards in London - but Lewis was booed by fans for not turning up to collect her honours.

Former Beatle Ringo Starr declared he was "too busy" to sign autographs for fans in a video message on his website.

And Madonna parted with husband Guy Ritchie after seven years of marriage.

Spector murder retrial opens Estelle dominates Mobos

No autographs for Ringo Madonna and Ritchie split

NOVEMBER

Singer Katy Perry hosted the MTV Europe awards

Guns N' Roses finally released their comeback album Chinese Democracy in November, the first release from the US rockers in 15 years.

Michael Jackson settled a legal dispute with an Arab sheikh, hours before he was due to appear in court in London. They fell out over a music contract.

Britney Spears picked up two prizes at the MTV Europe awards in Liverpool.

And Sir Cliff Richard announced he was reuniting with his backing band The Shadows for a nationwide tour.

Review: Chinese Democracy Jackson case settled

In Pictures: MTV Awards Cliff and The Shadows reunite

DECEMBER

Alexandra Burke sings Hallelujah. Clip courtesy of Sony BMG

In December, Boy George was found guilty of falsely imprisoning a male escort at his flat in east London. He was told to expect a jail sentence.

Coldplay won seven nominations for 2009's Grammy awards, with Leona Lewis, Adele, Robert Plant and Duffy adding to a strong UK showing on the shortlist.

This year's X Factor winner, Alexandra Burke, grabbed the Christmas number one with a cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.

Jeff Buckley's version made number two, with Cohen's original at number 36.

American singer, dancer and actress Eartha Kitt died on Christmas Day at the age of 81 of colon cancer. She starred as Catwoman in the 1960s TV series and went on to enjoy a successful Broadway career.

Boy George found guilty Hallelujah Christmas double

Grammy nods for Coldplay Singer Eartha Kitt dies at 81