NEW YORK — Chris Brown tells his fans he's "not a monster," in a video posted on YouTube.

In it, the 20-year-old singer talks about his new album, "Graffiti," and a single expected this summer.

Then he says: "Everybody that's haters, they just been haters. All my real fans, I love you. I ain't a monster."

Brown, who's been charged with felony assault and making criminal threats against Rihanna on the night of the Grammy Awards in February, did not mention his former girlfriend.

STRAIT SALUTED AS COUNTRY SINGER OF DECADE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — George Strait was honored as the Academy of Country Music's artist of the decade in an all-star concert that aired last night on CBS.

The show was taped last month in Las Vegas and features performances by Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Jamie Foxx, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride and more.

Garth Brooks, artist of the decade for the 1990s, presented Strait with his award. Only four other artists have received the distinction: Marty Robbins, Loretta Lynn, Alabama and Brooks.

EMINEM AGAIN SHOOTS STRAIGHT TO NO. 1

NEW YORK — Eminem's new album, "Relapse," has sold more copies in its first week of release than any other album this year.

Nielsen SoundScan says the Detroit rapper's first album in nearly five years sold 608,000 copies.

"Relapse" is Eminem's fifth straight No. 1 album. His previous disc, 2004's "Encore," sold 711,000 in its first week — though that was only over four days. It went on to sell 5.1 million copies.

SON USES WOLVERINE AS CHICK MAGNET

Hugh Jackman's 9-year-old son is using his dad's Wolverine pedigree to woo the girls.

In Mexico City to promote "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," Jackman said his son Oscar, spotting a group of teen girls one day, turned to him and said, "Hey dad, 2 o'clock, hot chicks."

The Australian actor, People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2008, says the conversation made him squirm. But Jackman says his son marched right up to the girls and declared "Hey, you know that my dad's Wolverine?"

ORIGINAL 'IDOL' A FAN OF SUSAN BOYLE

HONG KONG — Kelly Clarkson, the winner of the debut season of "American Idol" in 2002, says she's a fan of surprise British singing star Susan Boyle, adding to a growing number of celebrity admirers, including Oprah Winfrey and Demi Moore.

Boyle, a 47-year-old church volunteer, became an Internet and media sensation after her performance on the talent show "Britain's Got Talent" was posted on YouTube.

Clarkson was in Hong Kong promoting her new album, "All I Ever Wanted."