Mix Tape: NYC Says No to Jay-Z, Blige Says Yes to Nina Simone

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Artist News, Collaborations, Performances, Rumors, Hip-Hop & Rap, Jazz, Pop, R&B / Soul,

-A surprise Jay-Z performance outside David Letterman’s studio will not happen on Monday. A permit was not granted for the concert by New York City officials.

-A future reunion for Jay-Z’s wife (Beyonce) and the other Destiny’s Child ladies will also not happen. Ex-manager Matthew Knowles squashed all rumors about a performance or an album.

-According to one person “A Day in the Life” was worth $1.2 million. That’s how much handwritten lyrics to the John Lennon-penned song were sold for this week.

-Please don’t let me be misunderstood. Mary J. Blige will be playing Nina Simone in a movie about the singer’s life. Shooting on Nina will start this fall.

-Sophie B. Hawkins (remember her?) is donating all proceeds from her song “The Land, the Sea and the Sky” to help clean-up efforts in the Gulf area. The song is available on iTunes.

Gallery: Mix Tape: NYC Says No to Jay-Z, Blige Says Yes to Nina Simone

Mix Tape: Garth Brooks Hits Vegas, Def Leppard is Sued

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Artist News, Concerts / Tours, Gossip, Performances, The Charts, Country, Dance, Pop, R&B / Soul, Rock,

-Apparently retirement didn’t sit with Garth Brooks very well. The country singer began a lengthy stay as the Wynn Hotel’s headliner this weekend.

-Can Jennifer Lopez stay on her feet this time? Find out when the “Louboutins” singer and Mary J. Blige perform on So You Think You Can Dance’s season finale this Wednesday.

-Def Leppard’s former manager, Trudy Green, is suing the band and their accountant for non-payment. Love hurts.

-Billboard recently charted the top One-Hit Wonders of the decade. Somebody out there is having a really “Bad Day.”

-Speaking of the decade, Newsweek chose their Best Albums of the past ten years. Anyone else surprised by the Kelly Clarkson mention?

-Although they already have two children together, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and his girlfriend, Jill McCormick, are finally getting around to that wedding thing. The longtime couple became engaged a week ago.

Gallery: Mix Tape: Garth Brooks Hits Vegas, Def Leppard is Sued

Mary J. Blige: Latest Idol Guest Judge

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Artist News, R&B / Soul,

Victoria Beckham and Mary J. Blige may be far apart musically, but their resumes do have one thing in common: American Idol.

Late this week, the former Spice Girl wrapped up her two-city stint as a guest judge in Boston. Her last-minute help was requested when Paula Abdul left the program. Now Blige will be the one adding the input when the show moves to Atlanta.

The Grammy award-winning R&B singer is no stranger to making television appearances. In addition to a performance on One Life to Live, she’s starred as herself on both Entourage and 30 Rock.

Read More | MTV

Gallery: Mary J. Blige: Latest Idol Guest Judge

2009 Grammy Award Winners

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards, Alternative, Country, Hip-Hop & Rap, Pop, R&B / Soul, Rock,

Lil’ Wayne may have had the most nominations going in, but he wasn’t the biggest winner coming out.

Next to Rihanna and Chris Brown, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the biggest newsmakers of the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. The collaboration between the Led Zeppelin lead singer and the bluegrass artist earned the duo five awards last night including Album of the Year for Raising Sand and Record of the Year. Prior to yesterday, Plant, 60, had only racked up one Grammy in his career. (Krauss, on the other hand, is now up to 26.)

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Read More | Grammys

Gallery: 2009 Grammy Award Winners

Musical Lineup for Obama Ceremony Announced

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Classical, Country, Pop, R&B / Soul, Rock,

This Sunday’s kickoff to Inauguration Week will look like a night at the Grammys. The January 18 ceremony - titled “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial” - boasts a lineup that most people would have to pay big bucks for. But for this one time, it will be free to everyone.

The event is just one of many being held next week for Barack Obama‘s January 20 inauguration. The incoming president will be honored at a number of ceremonies over several days.

Click to continue reading Musical Lineup for Obama Ceremony Announced

Read More | Rolling Stone

Gallery: Musical Lineup for Obama Ceremony Announced