Johnny Depp can't get used to winning awards

Hollywood heartthrob Johnny Depp suspectshe'll never get used to receiving awards for his acting work.

Depp, best known for his Oscar-nominated role as Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" blockbusters, made the comments Sunday night before receiving a career achievement award at the Bahamas International Film Festival.

"Whenever anybody say they are going to give me some kind of award, I'm always a little stupefied by the notion. The first thing I say is 'why?'," Depp told a small scrum of reporters. "I just go to work like anyone else, except my job happens to be a little stranger."

Lit by cameras during a red carpet event, Depp said he planned on spending Christmas on his private island ringed with white sand off Exuma.

"The place is as close to paradise as anywhere you can get," said Depp, wearing a black pinstriped suit and tinted glasses with heavy black frames.

Fellow acting superstar Sean Connery, who also owns a home in the Bahamas, presented Depp with the award at the Balmoral Club in Nassau.

The festival's founder, Leslie Vanderpool, described Depp as an "icon" who is one of the finest actors of his generation.

"What makes this tribute to Johnny even more special is that he has a home in the Bahamas and possesses a true love and appreciation for the region and culture," Vanderpool said in a statement.

Depp's diverse screen credits through the years include starring roles in "Donnie Brasco," "Edward Scissorhands," and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape."

In September, Disney announced that a new "Pirates of the Caribbean" film is on the horizon. Depp will reprise his celebrated role as Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," slated for summer of 2011.

Depp said he's enjoyed playing all of his screen characters.

"I'm still amazed I get jobs after all this time," he quipped.

Obamas join stars for Christmas benefit concert

The nation's capital got in the holiday spirit Sunday night when music legends Neil Diamond and Mary J. Blige performed for President Barack Obama at the annual "Christmas in Washington" concert.

The festivities, hosted by comedian George Lopez, took place at theNational Building Museum and benefited the Children's National Medical Center.

"This season we celebrate that sacred moment, the birth of a child, the message of love preached to the world," Obama said from the stage, where he was joined by first lady Michelle Obama. "More than 2,000 years later, that spirit still inspires us."

The president spoke of helping those in need during the holidays, as well as honoring those in the military.

"With our men and women in uniform serving far from home, in harm's way, our fervent wish remains this season, and all seasons: Let there be peace on earth," he said.

Diamond kicked off the concert by performing "Joy to the World" and "Winter Wonderland." Blige wowed the crowd with "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)."

Two of the holiday songs were original numbers. Country group Sugarland performed "Gold and Green" andRob Thomas sang "A New York Christmas."

R&B singer Usher sang "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and Internet sensation Justin Bieberperformed "Someday at Christmas."

After addressing the crowd, the Obamas stayed on stage with all the performers to sing carols, starting with "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing." The president wiped a tear from his eye during the sing-along.

The concert will air Dec. 20 on TNT.

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Whitney Houston's big, public snub

The 52 annual Grammy nominations were announced this week on a Wednesday night TV special hosted byLL Cool J, and it was definitely ladies night, with Beyonce (10 nominations),Taylor Swift (eight), and Lady Gaga(five) leading the pack.

But one diva who was somewhat surprisingly shut out was onetime Grammy sweetheart Whitney Houston.

The Grammy committee usually loves comeback stories. Whether it's artists who left the spotlight for a while and then returned with a vengeance (Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Cole, Tina Turner), veterans who reinvented their careers by collaborating with other musicians (Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock,Robert Plant), or artists who struggled with their demons and made great music as a result (Dixie Chicks, Amy Winehouse), such rising-from-ashes back stories usually strongly resonate with industry voters. In this regard, Whitney Houston's "comeback" album I Look To You--released after the singer's long hiatus, divorce from Bobby Brown, and infamous battles with drugs--seemed a shoo-in for multiple nominations.

Her record label Arista seemed so sure of Whitney's chances, in fact, that it moved her album release date up in order for it to qualify for this year's voting window. But Whitney was actually completely shut out, with NO nominations whatsoever--not only was she snubbed in the major categories like Album Of The Year, but even in the secondary Pop and R&B categories. This was a shock considering her Grammy history of 24 nominations and six wins, including winning Album Of The Year and Record Of The Year in 1994.

Many industry people and fans alike are wondering why Whitney was overlooked this time. Some say it might have been all the hype. From the moment it was announced that Whitney would be releasing her first original studio album in seven years, the Arista promo machine went into overdrive--with Whitney hosting a star-studded listening party with her longtime mentor, Arista honchoClive Davis (at which Clive reminded everyone of Whitney's millions and millions of albums sold), and doing a headline-garnering Oprah interview about her struggles. And it seemed many were rooting for her, with I Look To Youdebuting at #1 with more than 300,000 units sold in its first week (it has sold about 800,000 as of this writing), but the hype was still a little overwhelming.

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Brad and Angie upstaged on red carpet

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Maddox attend LA "Invictus" premiere.Jordan Strauss/WireImage

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attended the premiere of "Invictus" on Thursday night, and the fashion world stood up and took notice of their 8-year-old son, Maddox.

While two of the world's most recognized actors wore basic black, the eldest of the couple's six children made a splash on the red carpet, donning a fedora and a stylish scarf as he posed for pictures and spoke to family friend and film legend Clint Eastwood, who directed the film about the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. You know, just another typical night for your average third-grader.

And while it's not the first time that Maddox who was adopted by Jolie in 2002 from his native Cambodia has been exposed to the media's flashbulbs, it's certainly his first red-carpet upstaging of his glamorous parents' style.

The only attribute visible on Jolie or Pitt that was likely to draw the public's eye away from the boy's easy style was father Brad's facial hair, an unkempt goatee in dire need of grooming.

Still, Maddox seemed to enjoy the night out on the town without his siblings, as Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne were all noticeably absent. They'll have to wait their turn to steal the spotlight.

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