VH1's Iconic Series 'Behind The Music' is Back and Continues to Tell the Stories Behind The Fame

TOP ARTISTS LIL WAYNE, PINK, T.I., 50 CENT, BRET MICHAELS AND BOBBY BROWN ARE FEATURED IN UPCOMING SERIES RETURN

VH1.com To Launch Exclusive Interview Clips for Each Episode

NEW YORK, Sept. 1 -- VH1's Emmy-nominated documentary series "Behind The Music" returns to focus on some of today's top artists who have had a major impact on the music world, from rock to hip-hop to pop. In addition to the dramatic storytelling that made "Behind The Music" a worldwide hit, the series will celebrate the subjects as artists and will also feature originally shot verite footage of each artist, which will anchor each story in the present day. Starting on Thursday, September 10 at 10PM* with "Behind The Music: Lil Wayne," the series goes full throttle with the stories, footage, and music behind some of the most interesting, talented individuals in today's music.

"Behind The Music: Lil Wayne" Premieres Thursday, September 10 at 10PM*

The self-proclaimed "best rapper alive" is telling his story to VH1. Dwayne "Lil Wayne" Carter opens up about his childhood, his music, and his struggles, as he and the people who know him best describe his ascension from a poverty-stricken childhood in New Orleans to his reign as one of hip-hop's heavy hitters. A true hip-hop icon, Lil Wayne is candid in his discussion about the life that made him one of the most respected hip-hop artists in the industry, as he relays his first experiences with drugs, his introduction to Cash Money Records, and his amazing career highs.

"Behind The Music: Pink" Premieres Thursday, September 17 at 8PM*

Describing music as her one salvation, Alecia Moore aka "Pink" was determined to make it in the music industry, but on her own terms. After experiencing success with first album, "Cant Take Me Home" Pink decided to go against the grain and create an album that exuded her artistic liberation and established her as a thoughtful and insightful musician. She delivered "Missundaztood" with childhood idol Linda Perry, and the album would prove to be career-defining. In this episode of "Behind The Music," Pink talks about the childhood scars from her parent's divorce, her tumultuous relationship with motocross star Carey Hart, and her emergence as a prolific songwriter and musician.

"Behind The Music: Bobby Brown" Premieres Thursday, September 24 at 10PM*

At an early age, Bobby Brown discovered his natural gifts as a singer and dancer, and became a childhood star with R&B group New Edition. The group had early success, but experienced tension when Bobby began to rebel against the group's squeaky-clean image. After being kicked out of New Edition and independently establishing himself as the undisputed "King of R&B," Bobby spun himself into a fast life of drugs and women. Brown eventually married American Pop Princess, Whitney Houston and after an 11-year publically turbulent marriage the two divorced. Bobby Brown relays his life in the spotlight and all of the hardships and glories that he's faced as one of the most controversial entertainers in R&B.

"Behind The Music: Bret Michaels" Premieres Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 10PM*

Bret Michaels and his band of brothers left Pennsylvania with a rock-n-roll dream and a desire to taste the good life on L.A.'s notorious Sunset Strip. Drugs, booze, women and more women - anything and everything happened. A diabetic, Bret's self indulgence took its toll, but not even collapsing on stage could slow him down. The lifestyle also cost Bret a valued romantic relationship (he turned his heartbreak into the hit power ballad ("Every Rose Has Its Thorn"). After turning to alcohol and nearly losing his life in a severe car accident, Bret got a wake up call cleaned himself up and started a successful solo career and even dabbling in film production, writing and starring in 1997's "A Letter From Death Row." In 2007, he starred in his own reality show, VH1's "Rock of Love With Bret Michaels." Over the course of three plus seasons, Bret showed fans a different side of him and once again skyrocketed into a mainstream star, completing a long and turbulent road living in and out of the spotlight.

"Behind The Music: T.I." Premieres Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 10PM*

After an adolescence of crime, violence, and drugs on the tough streets of Atlanta, which led to jail time, "T.I.," aka Clifford Harris Jr. channeled his frustration and sadness into rapping. After a debut album that flopped, T.I. started to release mixtapes that later caught the ear of Atlantic Records execs and he was soon signed. After a short stint in jail for violating probation over drug charges, T.!. started to get his life on track and by 2006 his career took off. Then tragedy would rock his world forever. When a bar room brawl escalated into a shoot out, T.I. watched his close friend, Philant Johnson, die. Riddled with guilt, T.I. went into a tailspin and suddenly his life as a celebrity was filled with paranoia and threats against his life. To protect himself, he began collecting a vast array of weapons. In 2007, while attempting to buy another firearm, T.I. was set up in a sting operation and busted by federal agents. After escaping 30 years in prison, T.I. made an important decision to change his approach and has since become a mentor, reaching out to troubled youth and preaching against the very mistakes that he made. In this episode of "Behind The Music," T.I. describes the good and the bad of his life as a hip-hop superstar and how these experiences have helped him become the man he is today.

"Behind The Music: 50 Cent" Premieres Tuesday, October 13 at 8PM*

Curtis Jackson III, aka "50 Cent" grew up on the violent and drug-infested streets of Jamaica, Queens and parlayed his street hustle instincts into an empire, forming the G-Unit business enterprise. His road to superstardom wouldn't be easy. With gritty street rhymes, 50 Cent attacked the industry and his bad boy reputation grew as fast as his list of enemies up until he was almost cut down in May 2000 by nine bullets. Facing his moment of truth, 50 Cent persevered through intense physical pain, emotional self doubt and came back to the game even stronger. Teaming up with Dr. Dre and Eminem, his first two albums, Get Rich or Die Trying and The Massacre, were hugely successful. Now, an international celebrity with albums, product endorsements, and a clothing line, 50 Cent has lived through the worst in order to become one of the biggest hip-hop stars in music history.

Music fans can get more interview footage -- not seen on-air -- on VH1.com. VH1.com will launch three to four online exclusive interview clips per episode. All exclusive clips will launch online the morning of each episode's premiere.

"Behind The Music"

The series debuted on VH1 in August of 1997 and was originally created and produced for VH1 by Gay Rosenthal, George Moll and Jeff Gaspin who were responsible for many of the channels 200+ episodes of the series.

In conjunction with the premiere of each episode, 3-4 additional interview clips not included in the on-air version will be available on VH1.com and VH1 Mobile. For more information on VH1's "Behind The Music" visit VH1.com.

The current series is executive produced by Shelly Tatro, Brad Abramson, Stephen Mintz and Jeff Olde for VH1. Executives in charge of music talent are Rick Krim and Leah Horwitz. The Bobby Brown, Bret Michaels and T.I. episodes were executive produced by Mark Ford and Kevin Lopez for Creature Films.

*All times are ET/PT

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 95 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.