Quick quips: Eddie Van Halen, Rolling Stones, Reba McEntire, Lionel Richie, Dolly Parton, Jim Reeves, John Parr

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added: 12 Jan 2012 // by: VVN Music 

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Eddie Van Halen has donated 75 electric guitars from his collection to music programs at schools throughout the Los Angeles area. The gift was made in cooperation with the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation.
Van Halen said in a statement, "Music is the universal language. It has the ability to transcend and convey every human emotion that exists without saying a word. Music kept me off the streets and out of trouble and gave me something that was mine that no one could take away from me.
"Music education and families are dealing with the economic times, and I wanted to help them. If I can help a kid discover a liking, or even a passion for music in their life, then that's a wonderful thing. Music has provided a good life for me and hopefully it can help make life better for others with this donation."

A group called the Rolling Stones Liberation Front have issued six demands prior to the group's announcement of any 50th anniversary tour. They say if all six aren't met, they will wage a non-violent disruptive action. The demands are:
We want smaller venues.
We want lower ticket prices.
We want a set list overhaul.
We want to eliminate the horn section and back-up singers.
We want the expulsion of all opening acts.
We want all fans to take responsibility for themselves.
To read the details behind each of the demands, check out the article at Classic Rock magazine.

The Academy of Country Music has announced that Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton will return for their annual awards show on April 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It is Blake's second year as host and Reba's fourteenth.

The next night, the stars will return to the venue to tape ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends - A Lifetime of Hits. The special will air later in the year on CBS.

k.d. lang has filed papers to dissolve her domestic partnership with Jamie Price. The two first met in 2003 and entered into a partnership contract in 2009.

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge, TN has reached a major milestone, it's 25th anniversary year. Parton said of the restaurant "Over the years, some incredibly talented performers, those with two legs and those with four legs, have thoroughly amazed audiences with their talents, and our 25th anniversary season will be no exception!"

Jim Reeves is one of the most successful artists in country music history, racking up hits for years after his death in a 1964 plane crash. Larry Jordan, who knew Reeves and was close friends with his wife, Mary, has written a new book on the singer, Jim Reeves: His Untold Story.

John Parr, who hit in 1985 with the Theme From St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion), has recorded a new version of the song for Denver Broncos' quarterback Tim Tebow.

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'CBS This Morning': A worthy wakeup TV alternative

NEW YORK (AP) — Hooray for "CBS This Morning"! It's not silly!

This is not meant to damn with faint praise the brand-new wakeup show CBS is billing as "a more thoughtful, substantive and insightful source of news and information."

What CBS actually seems to be saying: "CBS This Morning" is more thoughtful, substantive and insightful than longtime NBC ratings champ "Today," or than narrowing-the-gap ABC runner-up "Good Morning America."

And it is.

After nearly 60 years and countless overlooked knockoffs of the morning-show format "Today" pioneered, CBS has dared to stray from the beaten path and try something different from its crushing competition. And in its first week, "CBS This Morning" (airing at 7 a.m. EST) proved itself a welcome alternative.

"CBS This Morning" has no jovial weather guy; no throngs of sidewalk fans waving signs; no rock bands; no we're-just-one-big-happy-family camaraderie among the co-hosts.

Hallelujah!

Increasingly, both "Today" and "Good Morning America" share a default position of fluff interrupted only when breaking, urgent news yanks them into sobriety.

"CBS This Morning" has, in effect, vowed to keep the silliness to a minimum, and its first week is promising.

This happens to be a week when "Today" was strutting its stuff even more than usual, celebrating its 60th anniversary with much hoopla. But for any viewer who yearned for a morning show that places a premium on news and information while holding the line on crime and star-gazing, "Today" as well as "GMA" was instantly upstaged by "CBS This Morning." It's an answered prayer.

The show is hosted by Charlie Rose (weathering an ill-timed cold and, by Friday, a sore throat). His calm, urbane, Southern-cured manner is counterbalanced by the caffeinated Gayle King. The third member of this hosting trio, Erica Hill, a holdover from the defunct "Early Show," falls somewhere in between.

In their first week, they seem like professional colleagues who get along fine. But refreshingly, "CBS This Morning" seems conceived not so much as a showcase for masterfully matched hosts as a destination for the information it dispenses.

The setting (dubbed Studio 57) is beautiful — spacious, brick-and-woody and blessedly free of any windows.

The show begins in sleek, elegant fashion, quickly seguing into a 90-second "Eye Opener" video montage that sets the stage for the program (and day) ahead.

Then most of the action takes place at a glass-topped roundtable where, in various combinations, members of the anchor team, CBS correspondents and interviewees appear, and then seamlessly depart. There's no "news reader," as on the other two shows, which have a decentralized structure and whose pace seems inspired by a game of hot potato.

Here, the news, like the rest of the show, flows steadily through its hosts at this information hub. The show is brisk but grounded.

Not that its first week was perfect. Maybe the worst segment: a vacuous interview with Julianna Margulies, star of CBS' "The Good Wife," that had no point other than to plug a network series and fill time — way too much of it.

For anyone not mesmerized by the British royals, Monday's show also included interminable coverage and analysis of Kate Middleton turning 30.

But Wednesday's edition found Gayle King interviewing first lady Michelle Obama, who refuted claims that she's "some angry black woman." It was a revealing segment made even more timely by "The Obamas," a just-published book in which she didn't participate.

 

Friday's show had an investigative report by Sharyl Attkisson on troubled clean-energy companies that got billions of dollars from the government and then, in several cases, went belly-up. And correspondent Mo Rocca had a smart feature on, fittingly, the stigma of Friday the 13th.

But does "CBS This Morning" have enough that's special to draw enough viewers?

Thursday's edition had a report by correspondent Elizabeth Palmer from inside Syria, where the government has severely limited access by most foreign media. And Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger offered reassuring words about flying in the wake of reports of planes diverted to foreign airports to refuel when crossing the Atlantic Ocean: "It's a passenger convenience issue, not a safety issue," he declared.

 

But otherwise, viewers of the first hour of "Today" would have gotten pretty much the same menu of news — however differently packaged — as those who watched "CBS This Morning."

Of course, during this first hour (where hard news traditionally gets the emphasis) "Today" viewers would also have seen lengthy reports on tabloid boldface names Casey Anthony and Joran van der Sloot, a prime suspect in the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

Did those stories really matter? What "CBS This Morning" didn't have — that, too, provides a good argument for watching.

___

Online:

http://www.cbsnews.com

___

EDITOR'S NOTE — Frazier Moore is a national television columnist for The Associated Press. He can be reached at fmoore(at)ap.org and at http://www.twitter.com/tvfrazier

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Portico Quartet ask fans to remix new album track �Steepless�

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added: 13 Jan 2012 // by: newsdesk 

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Portico Quartet have teamed up with Soundcloud to celebrate the upcoming release of their new album 'Portico Quartet' out 30th January 2012 by inviting the world to remix their phenomenal album track 'Steepless' which features singer-songwriter Cornelia.

The Mercury nominated East London based outfit's unique music has expanded to embrace new sonic territories on their third album release. Drawing on the inspiration of electronica, ambient, classical and dance music they take their strange, beautiful, cinematic, future music to exciting new vistas where the inspiration of Burial, Mount Kimbie and Flying Lotus rubs shoulders with the textures of Arve Henriksen and Bon Iver and echoes of Steve Reich and Max Richter.

Portico Quartet are encouraging fans and newcomers to their music the chance to remix 'Steepless', a track from their upcoming self titled album. Uniquely for them the track features a vocal collaboration, with East London based Swedish singer, Cornelia, whom they met through their friend Jamie Woon.

First prize includes a Pro SoundCloud account worth over £200 (courtesy of SoundCloud.com), all 3 Portico Quartet Vinyl LP releases, a limited edition EP and a pair of tickets to one of their upcoming gigs (excluding festivals). Two runners up will receive a Soundcloud Lite account and a copy of the new album.

To enter the competition and for more information on obtaining the stems and submitting remixes please visit ' http://www.facebook.com/porticoquartetmusic

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Tiesto DJs First-Ever Live Twitter Concert At 2012 CES

CES saw the power of dance music firsthand Wednesday night, as Tiësto took the booth at Las Vegas nightclub XS to make social media history.

Video streaming by Ustream

The DJ/producer and Billboard cover star partnered with HP and Intel to stage the first-ever live concert stream on Twitter, for a room full of the sponsors' best clients - some still wearing their CES badges and trade show comfort shoes - and an online audience of thousands.

"The coolest aspect for me is to be the first one to do it," the 42-year-old global superstar said earlier that day. "Twitter is here to stay; it's a long-term thing. And to be a part of it, to help its development, is amazing."

The private, invite-only set also marked the launch of another social media initiative for the man his friends call Tijs: "In The Booth," a 10-part video series meant to document Tiësto's fast-paced, globetrotting life, is set to premiere on the artist's YouTube channel on January 17. Produced by Believe Entertainment Group - the digital content company behind Lebron James' animated Web series "The Lebrons" - the documentary was also underwritten by HP and Intel, and features Tiësto prominently using the brands' products.

"He's the king of electronic dance music, but he's also a guy who gets it," said Believe co-founder William H. Masterson III from the event's "black carpet" (HP's key brand color). "He tries to create experiences for his audience that they've never had before."

For the sponsors, the Tiësto partnership was an ideal way to showcase their top priority for 2012: The new ultrabook category, created by (or according to event signage, "inspired by") processor giant Intel to compete with Apple's MacBook Air. Ultrabooks are meant to be light, thin and powerful; aesthetically pleasing but undeniably high-functioning. While Intel has charged all of its manufacturing partners to try their hands at making the lithe machines - with Acer, Lenovo and Dell also debuting new models at CES - the focus at XS was HP.

With media sponsorships that span other verticals - like "Project Runway" (Season 9 winner Anya Ayoung-Chee made an appearance at the HP booth, and at the Tiësto event) - HP likes to position itself as a facilitator of creativity, for a slightly younger and hipper audience. Its Envy 14 Spectre, a lightweight, visually striking Gorilla Glass-encased 14-incher; and Folio 15, a 15-inch addition to the Folio series, which boasts long battery life, were splashed all over the venue, on video screens, banners, and even in glass cases for revelers to gawk at.

Tiësto played his heart out for the full 90 minutes, blasting his trademark confetti cannons, and dropping a greatest-hits type of set, including Avicii's omnipresent "Le7els," Kaskade's "Turn It Down," a new remix of Oasis classic "Wonderwall," and his own "Maximal Crazy." The UStream video feed appeared in the extended body of a traditional Tweet, on HP and Intel's enhanced Twitter pages. The video player was tiny - but the real-time quality of the platform, now augmented with sight, sound and motion, was undeniably game-changing.

With logos strewn around every corner of the room - sketched on mirrors, projected on walls, even stretched over male dancers in branded unitards - there was no doubt that HP and Intel were in full support of their smiling Dutch DJ star, and his 847,000 Twitter followers.

"Five years ago, no way - brands like this wouldn't have gotten behind a DJ," says Believe co-founder Dan Goodman. "They wouldn't have known who you were talking about. Even now, I think it's early; we're just at the beginning."

"Never before has their been a form of music that's taken hold so hard," said Masterson. "Electronic music is probably the most dominant category globally right now. The way people react to the music, and the enjoyment they get out of it - that tells the entire story."

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Joe Kennedy III engaged to fellow Harvard Law grad

BOSTON (AP) — Joseph Kennedy III now has a wedding to look forward to as he considers a congressional run in Massachusetts.

The son of former U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II and grandson of the late Robert F. Kennedy is engaged to Lauren Anne Birchfield, a fellow Harvard Law School graduate.

Friday's announcement comes a little more than a week after the 31-year-old Kennedy formed an exploratory committee as a first step toward a run for the U.S. House seat held by retiring Rep. Barney Frank.

The engagement was announced by Birchfield's parents, the Rev. Dr. James Birchfield and Marta Birchfield of Houston. They did not say if a wedding date has been set.

Kennedy plans to leave his job as a prosecutor with the Middlesex District Attorney's office later this month.

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Lana Del Rey Heading to 'Letterman,' 'Ellen,' Reveals 'Born to Die' Track List

by David Greenwald, L.A.  |   January 12, 2012 6:17 EST

Lana Del Rey's television tour won't end with this weekend's "Saturday Night Live" performance.

Following her U.S. television debut, Rey, who covers Billboard this week, will sing on "Late Show with David Letterman" on Feb. 2 and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" at a February date yet to be announced.

Hooked: Lana Del Rey Lands Modeling Deal

Her Interscope debut, "Born to Die," is due Jan. 31, led by singles "Video Games," a track that's racked up 18 million YouTube views, and title track "Born to Die," which currently stands at 10 million views.

Find the newly announced track list for "Born to Die" below. The digital deluxe edition will be available via iTunes:

1. Born To Die  
2. Off To The Races  
3. Blue Jeans  
4. Video Games
5. Diet Mountain Dew  
6. National Anthem  
7. Dark Paradise  
8. Radio  
9. Carmen  
10. Million Dollar Man  
11. Summertime Sadness  
12. This Is What Makes Us Girls  

Deluxe Bonus Tracks:
13. Without You  
14. Lolita  
15. Lucky Ones

In addition to her domestic gigs, Del Rey recently performed "Video Games" at London's Corinthia Hotel. Watch the performance below:

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Freed Moroccan rapper promises more protest songs

RABAT (Reuters) - A Moroccan rapper who has become one of the monarchy's boldest critics was freed on Thursday after serving four months for assault, a charge which his lawyers say was a ploy to muzzle the popular singer.

After his release from Casablanca's Oukacha prison, Mouad Belrhouat, known as El-Haqed or "The Sullen One," said he would continue singing rap to protest "against the contempt ordinary Moroccans endure at the hands of the state and politicians."

"I will continue to spread my message and denounce the massive corruption in our country," he told Reuters by phone.

His trial had been seen as a test of the Justice and Development Party's commitment to ensuring full independence for the judiciary. The moderate Islamists are leading a government for the first time - like their Tunisian counterparts - after winning elections in November.

The Arab world's oldest monarchy, seeking to preempt popular revolt, made the judiciary constitutionally independent last year. But the courts retain a reputation for taking cues from the authorities, notably in graft and Islamic militancy cases.

BITTERSWEET VICTORY

Earlier on Thursday, a court in Casablanca sentenced 24-year-old Belrouat to four months and three days in jail and fined him 500 dirhams ($57), sources in the court said.

Belrhouat was arrested in September after a brawl with a monarchist. Bail requests by his lawyers were rejected and the trial was adjourned six times.

"It's a bittersweet victory for us," said activist Maria Karim, who has led the campaign for Belrhouat's release.

He has become the singing voice of the movement, inspired by Arab world uprisings, demanding a constitutional monarchy, an independent judiciary and a crackdown on corruption.

Morocco's main human rights group, AMDH, considers him to have been a prisoner of conscience.

His lyrics telling Moroccans to "wise up" have angered many monarchists. In one song he says the king spends so much time giving orders that he has little time to count his money in Switzerland.

Belrhouat has struck a chord with young Moroccans who are disenchanted with the lack of jobs and widespread corruption. One song "Bite just as much as you can chew" has had more than 600,000 hits on YouTube.

($1 = 8.7220 Moroccan dirhams)

(Editing by Louise Ireland)

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Aussie fly named after Beyonce

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added: 13 Jan 2012 // by: Noise11 

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Australian scientists have name a fly after Beyonce because of its 'bootylicious' shape.

The Scaptia (Plinthina) was first identified in Queensland in 1981, the same year Beyonce was born. To date, it has never been officially named.

Researchers for the CSIRO noticed that the fly's huge behind made it 'the diva of flies' and named in Beyonce in honour of her shapely figure.

Beyonce the fly is a rare horse fly only found in Northern Queensland.

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Bruce Springsteen's New Album: His 'Angriest' Yet

by Tim Appelo & Shirley Halperin, THR  |   January 13, 2012 1:57 EST

Bruce Springsteen is gearing up to release a new album with the E Street Band -- his 24th -- and a source tells the Hollywood Reporter it's The Boss' "angriest" yet.

"He gets into economic justice quite a bit," says an earwitness who's heard some of the music. "It's very rock'n'roll. He feels it's the angriest album he's ever made. Bear in mind, though, that [Springsteen] wrote and recorded the majority of the album before the Occupy movements started, so he's not just setting headlines to music."

Produced by Ron Aniello ( Patti Scialfa, Jars of Clay), the album, which was recently played for label execs, is described as veering into "unexpected textures -- loops, electronic percussion… an amazing sweep of influences and rhythms, from hip-hop to Irish folk rhythms." The as-yet-untitled effort is said to be "terrific."

While no release date has been set, Springsteen is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the music conference portion of South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 15, fueling speculation that an album may coincide with the appearance. The boss and the E Street Band, who lost two members ( Danny Federici and legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons) in 2011, have also announced a round of U.K. tour dates set for June, listed below.

June 21: Sunderland, England (Stadium of Light)
June 22: Manchester, England (Etihad Stadium)
June 24: Isle of Wight, England (Isle of Wight Festival)
July 14: London, England (Hard Rock Calling)

(Additional reporting by Jillian Mapes, Billboard)

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Heather Locklear taken to Calif. hospital

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Heather Locklear was taken to a Southern California hospital for precautionary reasons Thursday after an emergency call was made from her home, authorities said.

Paramedics and sheriff's deputies responded Thursday afternoon to Locklear's home in Westlake Village, which is 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Locklear was taken to Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, where a spokeswoman told KCAL-TV the actress was stable and her parents were by her side.

"Her parents wanted everybody to know that she's doing well, she's fine, she's not in any danger, she's healthy," hospital spokeswoman Kris Carraway-Bowman told the station.

Ventura County sheriff's Capt. Mike Aranda said he did not know Locklear's condition but deputies were not investigating.

Locklear has been hospitalized several times over the years. In 2009, she pleaded no contest to reckless driving after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of prescription medication.

The 50-year-old actress's publicists did not return messages seeking comment.

Locklear and "Melrose Place" co-star Jack Wagner recently ended their engagement. She was previously married to Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, and they have a daughter together.

 

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No Ferguson extradition over Turkey film: UK source

LONDON (Reuters) - There is no prospect of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, being extradited to Turkey to face criminal charges over her undercover reporting for a TV documentary on Turkish orphanages, a British interior ministry source said on Friday.

Turkey sought Ferguson's extradition after a Turkish court accused her of "breaking the law in acquiring footage and violating the privacy of five children" while making the documentary in 2008, Turkey's Anatolian news agency said.

The charges carry a maximum jail term of 22 years six months.

Ferguson, the former wife of Queen Elizabeth's second son Prince Andrew, posed as a potential charitable donor to visit state orphanages in Turkey and Romania, followed by hidden cameras, to highlight poor conditions at rehabilitation centers for mentally handicapped children.

The documentary, made by British channel ITV's "Tonight" program, reported cases of children being tied to beds and disabled children being neglected by overworked staff.

Ferguson later apologized for any embarrassment the documentary might have caused Turkey.

Britain's Home Office (interior ministry) said in a statement "The Home Office can confirm it has received a formal request for mutual legal assistance concerning Sarah, Duchess of York. It is not appropriate to comment further."

A ministry source said there was no question of the Duchess being extradited to Turkey. "It has to be an offence in both the countries' laws. It's not an offence in UK law so the duchess won't be extradited," the source told Reuters.

Asked about the possibility of extradition to Turkey, Ferguson told Reuters in 2009: "I am a human rights activist for children. I'm apolitical and multi-faith. I go with the governments, not against them.

"But I will be a foghorn for silent whisperers if I feel that children are not given the life that they should be given. In other words if they're in institutions and haven't even seen the light of day, that doesn't sit well with me."

The poor conditions in state orphanages and psychiatric centers in Turkey have been the subject of several domestic and international investigations.

At the time, Turkish officials accused Ferguson of smearing Turkey's image with the aim of increasing opposition to Ankara's bid to join the European Union.

Predominantly Muslim Turkey began EU membership negotiations in October 2005, but talks have slowed to a halt because of opposition in some member states and what the EU says is lack of reforms on human rights, freedom of expression and other areas.

(Additional reporting by Ibon Villelabeitia in Ankara; editing by Tim Pearce)

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Wretch 32 back on tour in May

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added: 13 Jan 2012 // by: newsdesk 

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Wretch 32 is going on tour in May! After his sold out tour in October, Gold album 'Black and White', 2 top 5 singles and his number 1 hit single 'Don't Go' he is back on the road with new locations.

Please see a list of towns below plus artwork for your site.

Hope your well and happy new year (It's never to late to wish happy new year).

WRETCH 32 tour dates.
08/05/2012 - 19.30 - Portsmouth - Portsmouth Pyramids.
09/05/2012 - 19.30 - London - Shepherd's Bush Empire
11/05/2012 - 19.30 - Cambridge - Junction
12/05/2012 - 19.30 - Hatfield - Forum, Hatfield
13/05/2012 - 19.30 - Norwich - UEA
14/05/2012 - 19.30 - Middlesbrough - The Empire
15/05/2012 - 19.30 - Preston - 53 Degrees
17/05/2012 - 19.30 - Lincoln - The Engine Shed
18/05/2012 - 19.30 - Exeter - Exeter Lemon Grove
19/05/2012 - 19.30 - Penryn - The Stannary
19/05/2012 - 20.00 - Falmouth - The Stannary

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Jay-Z�s daughter already a record breaker

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added: 12 Jan 2012 // by: newsdesk 

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Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles' newborn baby daughter is already making music history.
Blue Ivy Carter was born on Saturday but thanks to her gurgles and cries heard at the end of her father's new track, Glory, she is already making her mark in the entertainment industry.
The track, which Jay-Z recorded a short time after the bundle of joy was born, is set to appear on Billboard's chart next week at No. 74.
By then Blue Ivy will be less than two weeks old and will make her the youngest ever person to appear on a chart.
Jay-Z's heartfelt tune has emotional lyrics about what his new bundle of joy means to him and listed the track as featuring B.I.C.
'The most amazing feeling I feel, Words can't describe what a feeling, for real, Baby I'll paint the sky blue, My greatest creation was you,' he raps.
Ironically, the song is Jay-Z's 107th entry in the charts which mirrors Blue Ivy's birthday of January 7th ' 1/07.
Stevie Wonder also showcased his baby daughter Aisha's coos on his son Isn't She Lovely but she was not a named person on the track.
© Cover Media

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Dolly Parton Raps Over Queen Latifah Beat on 'Today': Watch

by RJ Cubarrubia, N.Y.  |   January 12, 2012 3:40 EST

We may already have crunk, OutKast and Three 6 Mafia, but Southern rap ain't seen nothin' yet. Appearing on the "Today" show Thursday morning (Jan. 12), country music queen Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah came together to promote their upcoming movie musical, "Joyful Noise," with some usually fresh sounds.

Watch: Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah Rap On "Today"

After anchor Ann Curry astutely noticed a creative "intersection" between the two stars, Parton and Latifah responded with an impromptu rap, featuring Latifah beatboxing a sinister beat over approximately 8 beastly bars of Parton's hyper-lyricism. Be sure to not to miss aggressive, confrontational and hard-hitting lines like "Oh, she's the Queen of her own hood / But I'm the Queen of Dollywood." (Although asserting superiority over your own DJ might not be the best idea for a rookie MC.)

"Joyful Noise," featuring Parton, Latifah and Keke Palmer, is out Friday (Jan. 13).

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Ed Sheeran and Adele leading the way at BRITs

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added: 13 Jan 2012 // by: newsdesk 

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Ed Sheeran has more nods than any other act for this year's BRIT Awards.

The social media pop sensation shot to stardom via Twitter and Facebook. Ed sold 200,000 copies of his album + in two weeks without the aid of a record label.

Ed has been honoured by being nominated with awards in four categories, including Best Male, Best Breakthrough Act, Best Album for + and Best Single for The A Team.

Songstress Adele has the second most nominations this year. She has picked up nods in the Best Female Artist category and is up for Best Album for 21 and Best Single for Someone Like You. Adele is thought to be a main contender for these awards, and is expected to win at least one.

Jessie J also has three nods for Best Female Artist, Best Breakthrough Act and Best Single for Price Tag.
Adele and Jessie will compete against Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine, Laura Marling and Kate Bush for the Best Female Artist trophy.

Ed's male rivals for the award include James Blake, Noel Gallagher, James Morrison, and Professor Green.
Best Album nominations include Adele's 21, Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto, + by Ed, Let England Shake by PJ Harvey and Ceremonials by Florence + the Machine.

The BRIT Awards will be held on February 21 at London's O2 Arena.

2012 BRIT Awards nominees:

British male solo artist
Ed Sheeran
James Blake
James Morrison
Noel Gallagher
Professor Green

British female solo artist
Adele
Florence + the Machine
Jessie J
Kate Bush
Laura Manning

British breakthrough act
Anna Calvi
Ed Sheeran
Emeli Sandé
Jessie J
The Vaccines

British group
Arctic Monkeys
Chase & Status
Coldplay
Elbow
Kasabian

British single
Adele, Someone Like You
Ed Sheeran, The A Team
Example, Changed The Way You Kissed Me
Jessie J ft. B.o.B., Price Tag
JLS ft. Dev, She Makes Me Wanna
Military Wives/Gareth Malone, Wherever You Are
Olly Murs ft. Rizzle, Kicks Heart Skips A Beat
One Direction, What Makes You Beautiful
Pixie Lott, All About Tonight
The Wanted, Glad You Came

Mastercard British album of the year
Adele, 21
Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto
Ed Sheeran, +
Florence + the Machine, Ceremonials
PJ Harvey, Let England Shake

International male solo artist
Aloe Blacc
Bon Iver
Bruno Mars
David Guetta
Ryan Adams

International female solo artist
Beyoncé Knowles
Björk
Feist
Lady Gaga
Rihanna

International group
Fleet Foxes
Foo Fighters
Jay-Z/Kanye West
Lady Antebellum
Maroon 5

International breakthrough act
Aloe Blacc
Bon Iver
Foster The People
Lana Del Rey
Nicki Minaj

Outstanding contribution to music award
Blur

Critics' choice
1st: Emeli Sandé
2nd: Maverick Sabre
3rd: Michael Kiwanuka

British producer
Paul Epworth
Flood
Ethan Johns
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Lil Wayne to Publish Prison Memoir in November

by Philiana Ng, The Hollywood Reporter  |   January 12, 2012 2:00 EST

Lil Wayne's prison stint is being immortalized in book form.

Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, has announced that the company will publish "Gone Till November," a compilation of the rapper's diaries that he kept during his eight months spent in 2010 on RIkers Island on a gun charge.

Scheduled for a Nov. 28 release, in time for the holiday season, "Gone Till November" will offer a firsthand account of Lil Wayne's experience in prison.

"We are thrilled to be publishing Wayne's prison memoir," said Ben Greenberg, executive editor at Grand Central Publishing. "He kept detailed journals of his inner and outer life while he was on Rikers Island, and they certainly tell a story. They are revealing."

The journals detail his thoughts and feelings, the people he met, his plans, his family, his children, his past and his future.

Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter IV" sold 964,000 in its first week according to Nielsen SoundScan, debuting No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. It is his third No. 1 album following "Tha Carter III" and "I Am Not a Human Being."

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Keith Urban Returning to Stage After Surgery

by The Associated Press  |   January 12, 2012 9:39 EST

Keith Urban will return to the stage for the first time since vocal surgery on the Feb. 3 Grand Ole Opry.

The country superstar had a polyp removed from a vocal cord at Vanderbilt University Medical Center late last year and has been on vocal rest.

His appearance at The Ryman Auditorium next month will be his first public performance since he recorded a song for the "CMA Country Christmas" television special in mid-November.

He was forced to postpone his "All For The Hall" benefit concert for the Country Music Hall of Fame that was originally scheduled for Jan. 18. He also rescheduled the tail end of his 2011 concert tour for later this year.

The Grand Ole Opry also announced Urban will perform in March.

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NFL Playoffs: 8 Musicians Make The Picks, Round 2

The 2011 NFL postseason continues into the divisional round on Saturday (Jan. 14), and like the rest of us, many music artists will be tuning in and rooting for their favorite teams. To celebrate the NFL playoffs and get some predictions on second-round matchups, Billboard.com spoke with eight artists about their favorite pro football teams and how they see their beloved teams faring in the race to the Super Bowl.

Artists like Lil Wayne, Asher Roth and the Dropkick Murphys' Ken Casey are ready to see their top-seeded teams kick into high gear, while Birdman, Bun B and The Fray's Joe King think their squads will continue their winning ways from last weekend . Check out all of the NFL Q&As for this week, and revisit the wild card round Q&As by clicking here.

NEW YORK GIANTS (Waka Flocka Flame) vs. GREEN BAY PACKERS (Lil Wayne)

One year after winning the Super Bowl, the Packers enjoyed their best regular season ever with 15 wins and 1 loss; the Giants' road to the postseason has been rockier, but the team has won 3 games in a row and finally has its pass rush in order. Packers super-fan Lil Wayne checked in with Billboard.com about Sunday's matchup with the Giants, while "No Hands" MC Waka Flocka Flame returned to once again guarantee a championship for his G-Men.

Lil Wayne, Green Bay Packers Fan

Billboard: How long have you been a Packers fan?

Lil Wayne: Since '95, because they won the Super Bowl in the Superdome. Jumped on the bandwagon and never jumped off. Plus I'm a super fan of Brett Favre.

What do you think is the greatest strength of this current Packers team?

Aaron Rodgers.

Are you worried about facing the New York Giants, currently riding a 3-game win streak?

I am because they are on the high, playing out of their minds and Green Bay hasn't been on the field. The Giants are amped, and I don't know what Green Bay has been doing. Hope they are working hard during this off time. Also I'm worried, because they could have lost the first game against the Giants [a 38-35 win on Dec. 4].

How far do you see this Packers team going in this year's playoffs?

Super Bowl.

Waka Flocka Flame, New York Giants Fan

The Giants blew out the Falcons last weekend, 24-2. Now they face a much tougher opponent in the Green Bay Packers. How do you think the Giants do this week?

It's gonna be a close one, but we're gonna take it home. We're winning the championship! I think we gotta play all four quarters, but I know the Giants will come out on top. And Eli's gonna prove that he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

The Green Bay offense has been explosive this season. Do you see the Giants' defense being able to shut down Aaron Rodgers and his receivers?

I don't see them shutting them down, but I can see them stopping them. I think we're gonna throw them in the mud.

If the Giants win this week, they head to either San Francisco or New Orleans. What team would you rather draw in the NFC Championship game?

The 49ers would be a run-over (laughs). I want to see the Saints, because I think it would go down to the last second.

You talked a lot about Eli Manning before last week's game. Is there another player on the Giants that's just as important to their success?

[Justin] Tuck could be a key player. But Eli's crazy; I think it's all up to him. It's like, who does he feel like throwing it to today? Eli gets it done -- he's the reason I watch football.

Next: The Fray and Dropkick Murphys Talk Broncos-Patriots

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Graham Coxon announces new ablum - A+E

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added: 13 Jan 2012 // by: newsdesk 

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Graham Coxon returns to Parlophone for his new album titled A+E, which will be released on 2nd April. A+E is Coxon's first release since the acclaimed, acoustic-driven The Spinning Top.

Aptly named not only for the sense of scratchy, frantic urgency that suffuses its 10 songs, A+E finds Graham continuing with his singular vision as a truly eclectic artist. Playing all the instruments and improvising in the studio, Coxon found himself preoccupied with lyrical themes around the effects of weekend hedonism in modern Britain, on which A+E shines an outsider's light, albeit with a mordant, sharp wit.

Produced by Ben Hillier, A+E features Coxon's distinctive, visceral garage-punk-pop and is inspired by the experimental genres of Krautrock and the black & white, post-punk era ' bringing to mind artists such as Neu! ('City Hall'), Can and Kraftwerk ('What'll It Take'), as well as Peter Hamill, Joy Division ('Knife In The Cast') and Monochrome Set - with hypnotic, driving grooves ('The Truth'). This may be the closet Graham has ever come to making, in a skewed sense of the word, 'dance' music.

Coxon describes the album as, 'Improvisations, experiments in beats, rhythms. A chance to uninhibitedly make some sort of perversely sad, danceable and funny and despondent songs.' Adding 'I didn't want to get caught up in my usual struggle with trying to make things sound really posh. I didn't want lovely 60s-sounding drums and valves.'

In keeping with the album's themes, Graham will curate the bill on a special tour around the UK in April, where he'll invite his fans to nominate local bands to support him ' he will then select his favourite for each venue (please go to www.nme.com / www.grahamcoxon.co.uk for further information).

The full A+E track list is:
1. Advice
2. City Hall
3. What'll It Take
4. Meet+Drink+Pollinate
5. The Truth
6. Seven Naked Valleys
7. Running For Your Life
8. Bah Singer
9. Knife In The Cast
10. Ohh, Yeh, Yeh

A+E Tour dates, April 2012:
13th O2 Oxford Academy. 0844 477 2000
http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_south&query=detail&event=485364&interface=
15th Gateshead Sage. Box office: 0845 413 44444 /
http://www.alt-tickets.co.uk/alttickets/home_graham_coxon.html
16th Edinburgh Liquid Rooms. 08444 999 990 /
www.gigsinscotland.com
17th Glasgow Garage (same as above)
19th Manchester Sound Control. 0845 413 44444 /
http://www.alt-tickets.co.uk/alttickets/home_graham_coxon.html
20th Sheffield Leadmill. 0114 2212 828 /
www.leadmill.co.uk
21st Nottingham Rescue Rooms. 0845 413 44444 /
http://www.alt-tickets.co.uk/alttickets/home_graham_coxon.html
23rd Brighton Concorde. 01273 673311 /
http://www.seetickets.com/Event/GRAHAM-COXON/Concorde-2/611386/
24th Cambridge Junction. 01223 511511 /
www.junction.co.uk
25th London Forum. 0844 811 0051 /
http://www.gigsandtours.com/?a=graham+coxon&site=grahamcoxon
27th Gloucester Guildhall. 01452 503050 /
http://www.seetickets.com/Event/GRAHAM-COXON/Gloucester-Guildhall/611169
28th Bristol Trinity. 0117 9299008 /
http://www.seetickets.com/Event/GRAHAM-COXON/Bristol-Trinity/611133
29th Exeter Phoenix. 01392 667080 /
http://www.seetickets.com/Event/GRAHAM-COXON/Exeter-Phoenix/611161
30th Falmouth Princess Pavilions. 01326 211222 /
http://www.seetickets.com/Event/GRAHAM-COXON/Princess-Pavilion/611165

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Velvet Underground get legal with Apple over banana

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added: 12 Jan 2012 // by: Noise11 

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The Velvet Underground, the band formed by Lou Reed and John Cale in the 60s, has taken legal action against the Andy Warhol Foundation for selling his iconic Banana album design to Apple.

The artwork was originally used on the 1967 album 'The Velvet Underground & Nico'.

The lawsuit this time claims the image is symbolic of the band and fans relate to the image as The Velvet Underground. They claim that by selling the image to Apple for iPad and iPhone products that the Andy Warhol Foundation is cheapening the name of The Velvet Underground and associating them with a product they would never endorse.

However, the artwork was never copyrighted because Andy Warhol originally licenced the image from an ad.

The album was a commercial failure in its day. It entered the Billboard chart in May 13, 1967 at no. 199 and was out by June 10, 1967 after only getting to no. 177. The group disbanded in 1973 and in years to come the album went on to become one of the most important records of its time.

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Video: President Obama Sings Gaga's 'Born This Way'... Sort Of

by Jillian Mapes, N.Y.  |   January 12, 2012 1:10 EST

President Obama, Little Monster? Not quite, but in a new fan-made video, Obama's speeches are spliced and dubbed to all hell to create a presidential cover of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way."

The clip starts off with Obama's speech at the Human Rights Campaign, in which he says, "I've had some productive bilateral talks with your leader, Lady Gaga [who's campaigned for HRC]." Soon enough, the Pres is rocking robotic dance moves (sadly, no Monster Claw) and singing along to Gaga's let-your-freak-flag-fly anthem. Watch below.

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Madonna names new album

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added: 12 Jan 2012 // by: Noise11 

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Madonna's twelfth studio album will be named MDNA, the pop superstar has revealed.

Speaking to British comedian Graham Norton in an interview for The Graham Norton Show, Mads revealed the name.

MDNA is Madonna's first album as part of her 360 deal with Live Nation and Interscope. The nature of 360 deals is that the deal maker gets a slice of all of Madonna's profits, not just from album sales. The name is a play on 'MDMA' ' the active ingredient in the drug ecstasy.

It will also be her first album not released through Warner Bros., who have had her on their roster since her 1982 debut.

The album has already made headlines after a Spanish man was arrested over the leak of the album's first single, Gimme All Your Luvin'. At the time Madonna expressed her disappointment in the leaker, who was never identified.

The single, which features vocals from M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj will be released at the end of January, just in time for her Superbowl performance. The album will be released in March.

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Movie Scores: How the critics rated the new movies

Mark Wahlberg plays a master smuggler in "Contraband," but he couldn't steal great reviews from the nation's critics this week.

The action thriller is opening to a lukewarm response. AP Movie Critic Christy Lemire was on the generous side, saying: "This is a solid genre picture that knows exactly what it is, has no delusions of grandeur and carries out its task in entertaining and occasionally even suspenseful fashion." She gave the movie two and a half stars out of four.

Faring even worse was "Joyful Noise," starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton as rivals fighting for creative control of a small-town church choir. Lemire gave the film one and a half stars out of four, writing: "If some incarnation of 'Glee' were to be developed for the Christian Broadcasting Network, it would probably look a lot like 'Joyful Noise.'"

Two other movies which opened in limited release at the end of 2011 to qualify for awards consideration expand this week: "We Need to Talk About Kevin," starring Tilda Swinton as the shaken mother of a violent teenage son; and "The Iron Lady," starring Meryl Streep as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Here's a look at how these movies fared on the top review websites as of Friday afternoon. Each score is the percentage of positive reviews for the film:

— "We Need to Talk About Kevin": Metacritic, 71; Movie Review Intelligence, 76.2; Rotten Tomatoes, 83. Average: 76.7.

— "The Iron Lady": Metacritic, 54; Movie Review Intelligence: 58.9; Rotten Tomatoes, 54. Average: 55.6.

— "Contraband": Metacritic, 52; Movie Review Intelligence: 55.6; Rotten Tomatoes, 46. Average: 51.2.

— "Joyful Noise": Metacritic, 44; Movie Review Intelligence: 51.1; Rotten Tomatoes, 39. Average: 44.7.

___

Online:

http://www.metacritic.com/

http://moviereviewintelligence.com/

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/

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Mysterious death of astrophysicist shocks Oxford

LONDON (Reuters) - The case of an Oxford University astrophysicist who was found dead in mysterious circumstances took a dramatic twist on Friday when his wife said she believed the death was an accident and not murder as initially suspected.

The body of Professor Steven Rawlings, 50, was found on Wednesday night at the home of his close friend and fellow Oxford academic Dr Devinder Sivia, 49, after a neighbor called police to report an incident.

Sivia was arrested on suspicion of murder that night and released on bail on Friday morning until April 18. Police said an autopsy conducted on Rawlings' body was inconclusive and further examinations were needed.

Later on Friday, Rawlings' wife Linda said she did not believe her husband had been murdered.

"Steve and Devinder were best friends since college and I believe this is a tragic accident," Linda Rawlings said in a statement emailed to journalists by the police on her behalf.

"I do not believe Devinder should be tarnished in this way," she said.

Police made no comment on her statement.

Rawlings' sudden death has shocked the 900-year-old university, where he held a prestigious post as professor of physics and had led the astrophysics department from 2006 to 2010.

"The entire university community has been profoundly saddened and shocked by the tragic and untimely death of Professor Steve Rawlings," said Oxford's Vice-Chancellor Andrew Hamilton, the university's senior officer.

Sivia is a lecturer in mathematics for the sciences at Saint John's, one of the 38 colleges that make up the university.

"The college is shocked and distressed by this tragic event," said Sir Michael Scholar, president of Saint John's.

Rawlings, who lectured on vector calculus to first-year undergraduates, was based at another Oxford college, Saint Peter's.

"He was a much-liked and admired tutor and colleague within the college and will be greatly missed," said Mark Damazer, master of Saint Peter's, in a statement.

Rawlings was one of the lead scientists in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), an international project to create the world's largest radio telescope.

"The SKA will give astronomers insight into the formation and evolution of the first stars and galaxies after the Big Bang, the role of cosmic magnetism, the nature of gravity, and possibly even life beyond Earth," says the project's website.

Sivia teaches maths for natural sciences to physics and chemistry undergraduates.

"My research interests revolve around the application of Bayesian probability theory to all sorts of data analysis problems, mainly in the physical sciences," he says on the Saint John's College website.

(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon,; editing by Paul Casciato)

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Eddie Van Halen gives guitars to LA-area schools

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rocker Eddie Van Halen has donated 75 electric guitars to Los Angeles-area high schools as a way to inspire music in kids.

Tricia Steel of the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation says the Van Halen lead-guitarist came with the brand-new guitars this week, saying he wanted them used in schools and not sold.

The non-profit Los Angeles foundation has distributed the guitars to seven schools serving mostly low-income students that needed them to replace broken instruments or build music enrollment.

Schools were not told where the guitars came from until they arrived, and then they were advised to keep them under tight lock and key.

 

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John Varvatos Grabs Green Day For Spring 2012 Campaign

by Gregory DelliCarpini Jr.  |   January 13, 2012 11:50 EST

Edgy fashion label John Varvatos may be bold enough to house a retail store in the former location of legendary punk club CBGB, but now seems they're rock'n'roll enough for Green Day. The pop-punk trio follows in the footsteps of the Roots, Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop as the new face of Varvatos in the brand's Spring/Summer 2012 campaign.

Shot by Danny Clinch, the campaign features Green Day modeling and dangling on crossbeams over New York City, echoing both Philippe Petit's "Man on Wire" act and Charles C. Ebbets' classic photo "Construction Workers Lunching on a Crossbeam." Draped in leather and denim, band members Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool look casual-chic in the ad.

Stephen Niedzweicki, creative director of Yard (the agency that worked with Varvatos on the campaign) spoke out about the campaign, telling WWD, "We were moved by 'Man on Wire,' where a man traverses a tightrope illegally rigged between the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, 110 stories up. It's portrayed in such an inspiring and beautiful way, but there's so much danger and rebellion involved. It's also incredibly rock'n'roll to go to any lengths to have the best view of New York City -- and to be so high."

The photos are now appearing on the official Varvatos website, alongside a short film by Clinch chronicling the shoot and featuring a mashup of Green Day riffs. Watch below.

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Nicki Minaj performing at Grammys

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added: 12 Jan 2012 // by: newsdesk 

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Nicki Minaj is performing at the 54th annual Grammy Awards next month.

The rapper has been added to the ceremony's coveted line-up which includes performances from the Foo Fighters, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars.

It will be the first time Nicki has performed at the prestigious music event.

The Grammy's official Twitter page announced the news earlier today.

"Happy to welcome @nickiminaj as a first-time performer on our GRAMMY Awards stage on Feb. 12! #GRAMMYs (sic),' the post read.

Nicki is nominated for three awards at the show including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance.

The 29-year-old is also featured on 2012 Grammy Nominees Album, which is due for release in the US on January 24.

The Grammy Awards will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 12.

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Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars To Perform at Grammy Awards

by Jason Lipshutz, N.Y.  |   January 12, 2012 10:30 EST

Taylor Swift, Foo Fighters, Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars, Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson have been announced as the initial round of performers at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, which will air on Feb. 12 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Mars and Foo Fighters each have six nominations and are both vying for the Album of the Year prize, for "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" and "Wasting Light," respectively. Meanwhile, Swift and Minaj -- who were honored as Billboard's Woman of the Year and Rising Star of the Year in 2011 -- are up for three awards and four awards, respectively; Swift took home the Album of the Year trophy in 2010 for her sophomore album, "Fearless," while Minaj will try to capture the Best New Artist trophy this year.

Grammy Nominations: The Biggest Snubs and Surprises

Aldean and Clarkson are listed as joint performers and will presumably play their hit single "Don't You Wanna Stay," which is nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Aldean and Minaj will make their debuts on the Grammy stage.

Kanye West led all artists with seven nods when the nominations were announced on Nov. 30, while Adele was right behind the rapper with six nominations. The British crooner's best-selling second album, "21," will compete against "Doo-Wops & Hooligans," "Wasting Light," Rihanna's "Loud" and Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" for Album of the Year. The Grammy Awards will air live on CBS at 8 p.m. EST on Feb. 12.

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Aretha Franklin, Charlie Wilson and Stylistics join Essence Festival line-up

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added: 13 Jan 2012 // by: VVN Music 

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The 2012 Essence Festival, scheduled for July 6, 7 and 8 in New Orleans, has announced their initial lineup of talent that mixes a number of esteemed veterans with the best of today's R&B voices.

"The theme of this year's Essence Music Festival celebrates our most powerful voices. Whether it's Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul commanding respect or Rep. Maxine Waters demanding better conditions for our community, these powerful voices resonate with our audience like no other," said Michelle Ebanks, president, Essence Communications Inc. "As we all face a new reality in these critical times, we want to inspire our Festival-goers to leave this year's Festival even more resilient and motivated so that they can be empowered to create change in their own communities."

After another record-breaking year in 2011, this year's line-up promises to be a weekend to remember. Stellar acts leading the list of artists set to perform at the legendary Louisiana Superdome include:

Aretha Franklin
Mary J. Blige
Fantasia
Stephanie Mills
Charlie Wilson
Keyshia Cole
Ledisi
SWV
Dru Hill
Raheem DeVaughn
Estelle
Goapele
Vivian Green
Kindred the Family Soul
Luke James
Eric Roberson
Stylistics
Big Sam's Funky Nation
Bridget Kelly
The Original Pinettes Brass Band
The Stooges Brass Band
Khris Royal & Dark Matter

In addition, ESSENCE will honor iconic singer Aretha Franklin with "The Power Award." The Queen of Soul previously performed at the Festival in 1995 and 2005.

In addition to the colossal music line-up, the audience can look forward to the annual Essence Empowerment Experience, which is free and open to the public at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Festival-goers will experience three full days of socio-political dialogue, health and wellness discussions and spiritual inspiration led by dynamic motivational speakers. The initial roster of leading authors, speakers and leaders include: Steve Harvey, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rep. Maxine Waters and Dr. Steve Perry. The weekend will culminate on Sunday with a rousing All-star Gospel tribute honoring gospel mega-stars Fred Hammond and Mary Mary.

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Anthony Hopkins: Musical ability was a shock

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added: 13 Jan 2012 // by: newsdesk 

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Sir Anthony Hopkins didn't take his musical ability 'seriously' until recently.

The award-winning actor has turned his hand to composing and has written some orchestral music that is being released this month.

Music has always been a hobby of Anthony's, but he never thought twice about releasing it into the public sphere until his wife Stella Arroyave pointed out his talent.

"I have a piano ' I play every day, if I'm home ' and I've always improvised music and composed," he said in an interview with British newspaper The Independent.

"But I never took any of it seriously. I did it not out of ambition to be a musician or to be a composer, but for the sheer pleasure of it. Stella heard my playing over the years and said, 'Why don't you write those down?'"

Anthony says music comes naturally to him. The 74-year-old star warns that thinking too much about something is destructive to creativity.

"That's because I don't worry about it. I don't think, 'I've got to get this perfect, I've got to analyse it...' If it sounds OK to me and other people like it, then I go ahead,' he explained. "I have catholic tastes and no preconceptions. I love listening to Vaughan Williams, Delius and Elgar, but I also listen to country and western music and jazz. I listen to anything."

Anthony has explained the roots of his musical interests. The Hollywood star's passion for music started before his love of acting.

"I was a lonely kid because at school I was a real duffer. I was completely stupid, I didn't know what on earth was going on, so I withdrew into myself. I didn't have any friends at school and I never played with other kids. I sort of created my own world,' he explained.

'It sounds a little bit like a fairy tale, but I had no other choice. I could draw and I could play the piano. And that has stayed with me all my life."

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Actress Heather Locklear in hospital after 911 call

Getting ready to host the Golden Globes again, Ricky Gervais says he'd rather get laughs than gasps — but he cherishes the gasps, too.

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Films? Stars? Who Cares. Globes' spotlight on Gervais

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - What will Ricky Gervais say and about whom will he say it? Those are the two most pressing questions heading into Sunday night's Golden Globe Awards, not what will win best film or TV show.

The Golden Globe Awards annually is among Hollywood's most-watched honors programs where A-list stars come out to wine, dine and rub elbows, and the trophies that are given out often bring the type of industry exposure that can lead to Oscars.

But in 2011, Globes host and Ricky Gervais ruffled the tuxedos and gowns of celebrities such as Robert Downey, Jr. and even Golden Globe organizers -- roughly 90 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association -- with jokes about their reputations.

Initially, the HFPA said he would not be invited back, but in a turnabout late last year, they and TV network NBC which airs the program issued an olive branch and invited the British funnyman to return. Now, the question is, what will he say this time.

"People say, is there anything you shouldn't joke about? I don't think there is. I just think it depends what the joke is," Gervais told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres in a segment to be aired on her program on Thursday.

"Comedy comes from either a good or a bad place and I was just teasing them, ya know," he added. "It wasn't a room full of wounded soldiers. These are the richest, most privileged people in the world."

Indeed, Hollywood royalty ranging from George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt to Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep are nominated for awards, as are the casts of TV comedy "Modern Family" and newcomer drama "Homeland", who will be on hand in Beverly Hills for the awards show.

Because they are widely-watched on TV and in the industry, the Golden Globes are seen as a harbinger of which movies and stars may win Oscars -- the world's top film honors given out in February by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

A heartfelt Golden Globes acceptance speech for best actor or actress, for example, may endear Oscar voters to a star and propel them to victory throughout Hollywood's film award season.

"The Golden Globes is your Oscar audition," said veteran awards watcher Tom O'Neil of website Goldderby.com.

HOLLYWOOD'S SILENT AGE HIT

Silent-era film "The Artist," a romantic tale shot in the style of old Hollywood, heads into Sunday night's ceremony with six nominations, more than any other film, including best comedy or musical. The movie has charmed Hollywood this awards season and looks a sure pick to claim that prize, but could face competition from popular comedy "Bridesmaids."

Golden Globe voters also pick a winner of best film drama, and in that category "The Descendants," starring Clooney as a father trying to keep his family together during a crisis, has the strongest shot at walking off a victor, O'Neil said.

Among actors and actresses, Streep looks to be a good pick to claim the Golden Globe trophy for best actress in a drama for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady," although she could face a challenge from Viola Davis in "The Help."

Michelle Williams competes for best actress in a movie musical or comedy in "My Week with Marilyn" against the likes of "Saturday Night Live" comedian Kristen Wiig for "Bridesmaids."

Clooney with "Descendants" takes on DiCaprio for "J. Edgar" and Pitt in "Moneyball" in the best drama actor category, and "Artist" star, Frenchman "Jean Dujardin" is among the top nominees for best actor in a film musical or comedy.

While the film categories are most closely watched because of their impact on the Oscar race, Golden Globe voters pick TV favorites, too, and have a tendency to elevate new shows and fresh faces.

Psychological thriller "Homeland" is among new shows competing for best drama series, taking on other newcomers like "American Horror Story" and "Game of Thrones." Best comedy program nominees feature past favorites such as "Glee" and "Modern Family."

O'Neil said "New Girl" actress Zooey Deschanel could easily take the stage for best actress in a comedy, solidifying her status as this year's hottest fresh face on TV.

But regardless of who wins what, all eyes -- and ears -- will be fixed more closely on Gervais. Let the Globes begin.

(Reporting By Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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Jennifer Hudson Wants A Little Girl; Talks Criticism While Striving To Lose Weight

Jennifer Hudson is on top with numerous awards, a loving fiance and son, and an inspiring weight loss.

However, the 27-year-old says earning her svelte body had its drawbacks.

PLAY IT NOW: 2011 AMAs Red Carpet: When Will Jennifer Hudson Get Married?

"I've come to realize you cannot win with the weight loss," Jennifer told Billy Bush and Kit Hoover on Friday's Access Hollywood Live. "First they say you can't do it, then when you do they said, 'Oh, well, you're gonna gain it back.'

"Then, when you don't gain it back, then people get madder and they say, 'Well... well... you lost too much weight,'" she continued. "And that is why I say you have to do it for yourself. It shouldn't matter what other people say or what they think you should do."

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Top 10 Best Selling ‘American Idols’

Jennifer recently revealed she turned down the lead role in the hit drama "Precious" (which would have required the star to gain weight after her successful slim-down). However, Jennifer says the required extra pounds were less of a deterrent than the film's gritty subject matter.

"It was not about the gaining weight part, it was more that I felt the character was going places that I did not want to go at the time," she told Billy and Kit. "I felt it was too graphic... I'm in a different place now and more open to a lot more things."

Beyond her inspiring weight loss journey, Jennifer was happy to dish about her most prized creation - her son with her fiance, wrestler David Otunga.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hollywood’s Hottest Moms & Their Loveable Little Ones

"Is [your son] precious all the time?" Billy asked.

"He really is! Yes," the proud mommy said of 2-year-old David Jr. "He's always been such a good baby and he's just the sweetest thing. He's such a blessing.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: From ‘Idol’ To Hollywood ‘Dreamgirl’ & Beyond — Jennifer Hudson

"He's very advanced for his age, so he likes to talk a lot," she added. "He's a chatterbox."

Jennifer's little boy has also taken up both of his parents' trades, but prefers to display them in a surprising way.

"He loves to sing, he loves to wrestle," she said. "[But] he likes to wrestle mommy and sing to daddy!"

While David Jr.'s busy parents haven't announced a wedding date (the couple became engaged in September 2008), Jennifer said she's definitely planning on adding to their family - hopefully with the birth of a little girl.

"I want a little girl so bad. And [my son] walks around saying, 'I want a sister,'" Jennifer said. "I want a little girl so bad! But not right now. Give it about three more years."

And she's not concerned about the inevitable body changes that are par for the course with pregnancy.

"I feel like I got it. Having a baby - obviously your body's going to change," she said. "[It's] OK, I'll just start all over again."

The award-winning singer delves deeply into her personal life in her new book, "I Got This" - available in stores now - and Jennifer said the book's title signifies the her day-to-day outlook.

"It's like, not doubting ourselves, not second-guessing ourselves, just going for things. I always say, if God placed me here, I have no choice but to be prepared," she explained. "So I try to not question anything. It's like, I'm here, so I must be prepared for it."

Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Daryl Hall celebrates 50th Edition of Live From Daryl's House with Keb Mo

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added: 13 Jan 2012 // by: VVN Music 

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Internet series come and go but few attain longevity. That's what sets Daryl Hall's Live From Daryl's House apart from the rest. His next episode, debuting January 15, marks his 50th edition of the program.

To celebrate the landmark 50th episode, Daryl Hall gets back to his own blues and gospel roots with Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Keb Mo. The latest installment of the Webby Award-winning series debuts on Jan. 15 at www.lfdh.com.

The Compton, CA-born blues and gospel singer, guitarist and writer started his career playing steel drums and upright bass in a calypso band, before starting to record in the '70s with Jefferson Airplane violinist Papa John Creach in an R&B band when he was 21 years old. Keb Mo has been nominated for a Grammy six times in his career, winning three, including a spot in this year's Best Blues Album category for his latest, The Reflection, released last summer on Yolabelle/Rykodisc.

Said Keb Mo of his Live from Daryl's House experience: "To work with an artist the caliber of Daryl is a great honor. I've admired his work for many years and for me, this was a great honor."

Daryl and Keb Mo collaborate on a seven-song set that includes a Hall track, Cab Driver, from his 2003 solo album, Can't Stop Dreaming, as well as the Daryl Hall and John Oates hit single, Everything Your Heart Desires, from the 1988 album, Oooh Yeah!

The two also perform five songs from Keb Mo's The Reflection, including the hit single, The Whole Enchilada and We Don't Need It, which features a video with Camryn Manheim in a poignant interpretation of how family bonds can transcend hard times, with a video that can be seen here: http://bit.ly/sX83gM. Other Keb Mo songs featured on this very special 50th Live from Daryl's House include All the Way, Inside Outside and My Baby's Tellin' Lies.

Says Daryl: 'Keb Mo defines the phrase nice guy" His smooth effortless soul and blues style works perfectly in my house. Can't wait to work with him again!'

The past five years have marked a steady stream of superlatives and recognition for Live from Daryl's House, with Hall receiving a Webby Award for Best Variety series from more than 10,000 entries at the 14th annual ceremony three years ago at N.Y.'s Cipriani Wall Street before garnering an O Music Award from MTV last year.

Live from Daryl's House is being shown weekly in over 80% of U.S. homes in the nation's top 200 media markets, as well as all of the top 10, including New York (WPIX), L.A. (KTLA), Chicago (WGN), Dallas (KDAF) and Houston (KIAH). The show has also cleared in such key markets as Philadelphia (CBS-owned KYW), Boston (KBIN) and Atlanta (WATL), as well as a number of NBC, Fox and CBS-owned affiliates across the country. Most stations are airing a full hour with two original shows back to back on Saturday nights. The first week of the show did a .2 in national Nielsens, with the second week increasing 50% and several stations adding airings.

The 49 previous episodes of Live From Daryl's House have featured a mix of well-known performers like Booker T and the MGs, Blind Boys of Alabama, Rob Thomas, Train, Smokey Robinson, The Doors' Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek, Guster, Toots Hibbert, Nick Lowe, K.T. Tunstall, Todd Rundgren, Dave Stewart, Goo Goo Dolls' John Rzeznik and Patrick Stump along with newcomers such as Nikki Jean, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Mayer Hawthorne, Eric Hutchinson, Chromeo, Matt Nathanson, Parachute, Plain White T's, Sharon Jones, Diane Birch, Fitz & the Tantrums and Neon Trees.

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Gotye song racks up another 4m views

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added: 13 Jan 2012 // by: Noise11 

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Overnight the Walk Off The Earth video has generated another 4 million + views brining it to a total of 15,339,711 in just 6 days and they are now giving away a free download for watching it.

The viral impact of this clip is incredible.

Canadian group Walk Off The Earth and singer Sarah Blackwood became viral superstars when they covered the Gotye and Kimbra song and made the clip featuring five people playing one guitar.

In the new thankyou video they say, 'We just wanted to make this video to say thankyou to everybody who has shared and posted our video. You made this crazy dream come true for us'.

As part of the thankyou, Walk Off The Earth have posted a new and original song called 'These Times' for you to download within the video below.

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Silent film hopes to make noise at US Globes

Silent French-directed film "The Artist" hopes to make a lot of noise at the Golden Globes on Sunday, aiming to add to a string of awards and nominations ahead of the all-important Oscars.

But it faces stiff competition from a slew of films starring A-listers including George Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep, who was nominated for her gripping turn as British premier Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady."

British comic Ricky Gervais is meanwhile promising a no-holds-barred performance in his third time as Globes host, invited back despite ruffling some Hollywood feathers with near-the-bone jokes at last year's show.

"They have got to know I am going to do the same again," he said on the eve of the show. "They can expect the same as last year, with different -- I nearly said 'targets' -- different subjects and different jokes."

"The Artist," by French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius, tops the Globes nominees this year with nods in six categories including best musical or comedy and best director.

The black-and-white film, billed as a tribute to the silent movie era, tells the story of silent star George Valentin (played by Jean Dujardin) whose career is torpedoed by the arrival of the "talkies."

It won best film and best director at the New York Film Critics Circle awards in November, and has garnered a string of nods since -- including this week from the Directors Guild of America (DGA), seen as a key Oscars indicator.

It won yet another prize just three days before the Globes, taking the Critics' Choice best film award in Los Angeles on Thursday evening.

But it also drew unusually harsh criticism this week, when veteran star Kim Novak, in a full-page ad in industry daily Variety, accused Hazanavicius of "rape" for using music from the Alfred Hitchcock classic "Vertigo."

And for all the tributes, the French film faces tough contenders at the Beverly Hilton hotel on Sunday.

After its six nods, tied for second were "The Help," about black servants in the pre-civil rights era US south, and "The Descendants" starring George Clooney. Both were nominated in five categories for the Globes.

There were four each for Clooney-directed thriller "The Ides of March," Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" and "Moneyball" starring Brad Pitt.

Notable absentees from the Globes shortlists were Terrence Malick's critically acclaimed "The Tree of Life" -- which won the Palme d'Or in Cannes -- as well as Cold War thriller "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy."

They could yet win gongs though: nominations for the Oscars are due to be announced on January 24, ahead of the 84th Academy Awards show -- the climax of Hollywood's awards season on February 26.

The Los Angeles Times noted that the Globes shortlists were celebrity-heavy -- testifying to the reputation of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for getting star power on the red carpet.

Other "A" listers nominated include Elton John and Madonna for best song -- Elton for "Hello Hello" from "Gnomeo and Juliet," and Madonna for "Masterpiece" from "W.E.," which she directed, about King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.

At last year's show Gervais lampooned the Globes -- seen in Hollywood as on a totally different level to the elite and peer-selected Oscars Academy-- for nominating a lackluster film purely to get mega-stars Pitt and Jolie to attend.

The creator of the hit TV comedy "The Office" said he is looking forward to Sunday -- whoever wins -- and says he's not worried if anyone takes offense. "Maybe they might be a little bit more chilled out about it this year.

"Or not. Whatever. I don’t care," he told the BBC.

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Trent Reznor To Write New Nine Inch Nails Material in 2012

by Gary Graff, Detroit  |   January 13, 2012 10:50 EST

As he and musical partner Atticus Ross enter the film awards season with their soundtrack for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," Trent Reznor is readying a return to rock in 2012 -- with his new band How To Destroy Angels and, possibly, with a refreshed Nine Inch Nails.

"I'm going to be writing for Nine Inch Nails this year," Reznor, who will be at Sunday's Golden Globe Awards for "...Dragon Tattoo's" Best Original Score nomination, tells Billboard.com. He put NiN on hiatus in 2009, and Reznor explains that at the moment he doesn't "have any particular goal in mind other than... my voice as a songwriter feels like it needs to speak up or at least work out a little bit to not atrophy. I think I have something to say that feels unique to who I am right now, and that's when it tells me it's time to do something."

Madonna, Trent Reznor Land Golden Globe Nominations

Reznor says that he did think about adopting yet another moniker for his upcoming writing but decided that "at the moment it's going to live in the Nine Inch Nails column, for a few reasons. I enjoy the challenge of moving that kind of brand forward, that identity, shaping it to who I am now instead of who I was a few years ago when I last left off." But, he adds, "It's all kind of hypothetical right now. When I sit down with a notebook and a little mini-recorder is when my bluff will be called, and then it might not happen at all."

What definitely will see the light of day this year is the first full-length album by How To Destroy Angels, the band he formed with his wife, former West Indian Girl singer Mariqueen Maandig, and Ross. Reznor says the album -- which follows a 2010 EP -- is nearly finished after "a year and a half of us tinkering around with it and trying new things," and he describes it as "a nice counterpoint to the work Atticus and I have been doing with the last two films ('...Dragon Tattoo' and 'The Social Network'). It's much more rhythmic-based, but it's kind of the sound of too much information -- a weird blend." Reznor predicts the album will come out in the spring, and the trio might play some live dates to support it.

Meanwhile, he's got his tuxedo cleaned and pressed for the upcoming round of awards shows. Though he's "never been one for trophies and recognition," Reznor says he did enjoy taking home a Golden Globe and Academy Award for "The Social Network" score last year. "When it comes from a place that feels legitimate, that makes a difference," he explains. "What happened last year was unexpected and it was flattering, and I've allowed myself to feel pretty good about it. Going to those kind of events, with the camaraderie of this team of people that made this film that you all believe in...was fun."

And, Reznor notes, in some ways being honored for "...Dragon Tattoo" may feel even better. "This score felt a lot more kind of woven into the picture," he explains. "I don't think it's the kind of score you leave humming the love theme from '...Dragon Tattoo' or anything. We purposely went in to make the type of score that disappeared into the frames and felt like a part of the set...but not announcing itself as 'Look how flashy this is!' We were really aiming for something that was more in the woodwork and were very pleased with how it came out and, again, are so astonished and so flattered it's getting noticed."

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Toni Braxton hospitalised for lupus

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added: 13 Jan 2012 // by: newsdesk 

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Toni Braxton suffered a 'lupus flare-up' this week.

The Breathe Again singer experienced pain from the skin condition and was admitted to hospital.

Lupus is a rare form of tuberculosis of the skin that causes brownish swellings that hurt and heal slowly.

Toni is grateful for the good wishes she has received from fans and loved ones.

"I wanted to say thanks to all my fans for their support, as I have been experiencing some flare ups with my lupus which has me in the hospital for a few days,' Toni told TMZ.

Although in pain, Toni knows that she will feel 100 per cent better once her ulcers heal.

"I wanted to clear the record before rumours started, and will totally be fine as I''m blessed to having an amazing family for support,' Toni said.

In November 2010 Toni shared that she suffered from the autoimmune disease.

It is hereditary as her brother also shares the condition and her uncle died from lupus complications.

Lupus can affect many areas of the body, including skin, kidneys, joints, blood cells, the heart and lungs.

It is unknown when Toni will be released from hospital.

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Madonna on 'Born This Way': 'Interesting' Redo of 'My Song'

by David Greenwald, L.A.  |   gennaio 12, 2012 7:51 EST

When Lady Gaga debuted "Born This Way," many commenters noticed striking similarities to Madonna's 1989 hit "Express Yourself." Now the Material Girl herself has weighed in, telling Newsweek the critics weren't alone.

"I thought, 'What a wonderful way to redo my song,'" she told the magazine for a profile set to run on Jan. 30. "I mean, I recognized the chord changes. I thought it was… interesting."

Madonna also talked Gaga in an interview for "The Graham Norton Show" set to air on the BBC Friday.

"When I first saw her [Gaga] I was really impressed by her and she was cool. She did remind me of me back in the day," she said. "I do think she is very talented."

As previously reported, Madonna's next album, "M.D.N.A.," is expected in March. The pop icon is set to perform the M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj-aided lead single "Gimme All Your Luvin,'" among other songs, at the Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 5.

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Amber Rose: Stop bullying me

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added: 12 Jan 2012 // by: newsdesk 

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Amber Rose is 'sick' of being bullied by the public.

The 28-year-old model is famed for her high-profile relationship with Kanye West. Since splitting up with him in the summer of 2010, Amber has found herself on the receiving end of some harsh comments from the rapper's fans.

The star says she is not deserving of such cruel remarks.

"I have people throwing things at me in the street because they're fans of Kanye,' she said before getting upset. "I'm just crying because I don't deserve to be bullied like that. I'm a nice girl, I don't bother anybody. I keep my mouth shut because I don't want any trouble. To be bullied through music and stuff like that, it's not fair to me.

"I don't deserve that, and I'm sick of being bullied."

Amber was speaking on RapFix Live on Wednesday where she was promoting her debut album and the film Gang of Roses 2, which will be released on February 14.

The stunning star wants to move on with her life, and says her current relationship with rapper Wiz Khalifa is helping her to do that.

"I'm done, I'm moving on with a new career. I'm in love with Wiz. I'm happy. I just want to move on with my life, and we can get everything out right now and then I'm done,' she smiled.

"I'm so happy now that I actually have a gentleman, a great guy that I love so much. Wiz knows that I never loved a man the way that I love him. He knows that, he's very secure with that."

Amber recently slammed Kanye for allegedly cheating on her with Kim Kardashian.

The model claimed that the rapper got close to the socialite while they were still together in a recent interview.

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Lana Del Rey: The Billboard Cover Story

Rarely is a breaking artist as polarizing as Lana Del Rey.

The 25-year-old songstress became one of 2011's most seemingly organic upstarts. Following the release of her breakout single "Video Games" and its vintage-shaded video, apparently filmed and edited on her Macbook, the Lake Placid, N.Y., native racked upwards of 13 million YouTube views and has sold 20,000 copies of her double A-side "Video Games" single since its October 2011 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It debuted and spent three weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Singles Sales chart. Joining Ellie Goulding and Jessie J, Del Rey recently signed with Next Model Management.

But it's her all-important authenticity that's had the Internet atwitter. Multiple blogs have painted a target on Del Rey, whose previous musical incarnation as Lizzy Grant, her birth name, was almost entirely wiped from the Web. On the surface, her tactics could appear calculated: Del Rey's 2010 5 Points Records debut, Lizzy Grant aka Lana Del Ray, was on iTunes for only two months before vanishing from the store, while her website and social networking profiles were deleted and relaunched under her current guise.

Has a major label been silently orchestrating one of 2011's greatest indie viral success stories? With her Del Rey debut, "Born to Die" (Interscope), arriving Jan. 31, the pillow-lipped singer/songwriter is the new year's buzziest commodity, becoming the first artist since Natalie Imbruglia in 1998 to play "Saturday Night Live" (Jan. 14) before releasing her first major-label LP. She's confirmed for "Late Night With David Letterman" on Feb. 2 and scheduled to appear on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" later the same month. Still, character assassination attempts on the Internet are a daily threat, even if acclaim outweighs the conspiracy theories.

"The Internet's been well-established for 14 years," Del Rey says. "It's not like 1962 where you can't find out about me. My intention was never to transform into a different person. What other people think of me is none of my business. Sometimes, it hurts my feelings. But I have to just keep going. The good stuff is really good. Some of the other stuff is difficult, but I'll be able to tour now, probably sing for a while. That's nice for me."

Sites like Hipster Runoff, which (at press time) has dedicated 29 posts to Del Rey since last September, have taken her integrity to task, needling her artistic reinvention and dissecting supposed misconceptions. From the start, Del Rey has felt the sting of Internet ire, which coincided with her rise in stature. "I began getting messages on my personal Twitter account, really creepy messages, like, 'The blogosphere that created you is about to destroy you,'" she says. "And within three days, the strangest things were happening." At @LanaDelRey, she has 93,000-plus followers. Her bio: Everything I want I have. Money, notoriety and rivieras -- I even think I found God -- in the flash bulbs of your pretty cameras. It's in all-caps.

Many of the attacks question her personal history. Sharpening her octave-spanning pipes in a church choir, Del Rey initially came to New York as Grant, performing at open-mic nights with the likes of Lady Gaga (then known as Stefani Germanotta). She soon signed an indie deal with 5 Points Records to release debut EP Kill Kill in 2008, followed by her full-length, Lizzy Grant aka Lana Del Ray, on the imprint.

The record, finished in 2008, collected dust for two years before its release. During a performance at the CMJ Music Marathon in 2009, she met her current manager, Ben Mawson, an entertainment lawyer (with the United Kingdom's SSB Solicitors) intent on untangling her contractual obligations. Contrary to reports, Mawson claims that he and co-manager Ed Millett had nothing to do with naming her, or dictating her direction, instead negotiating her out of her deal with 5 Points and agreeing on joint ownership of the album.

"I'm a lawyer," says Mawson, also of Hear No Evil Management. "And if I gave her advice on dressing, it would not be right." His first move was to pull the album from iTunes two months after its release, so as not to confuse future consumers of music sold as Lana Del Rey's. He hopes to release it as a collection of B-sides and claims it's nothing that she's ashamed of, but is more surprised by the overanalysis of past decisions. "It's pretty crazy, this whole whirlwind of attention. Some of it's great, but obviously, there's been a lot of stuff -- which is basically total fancy -- about what she is and where she's come from."

David Kahne, who produced Grant as well as albums for Paul McCartney, Regina Spektor and Kelly Clarkson, thinks otherwise. Agreeing to work with her in 2008 after 5 Points connected them, he witnessed the beginnings of her reinvention from a platinum blonde guitar-cradler to an alt-indie princess. Contrary to what Del Rey asserts, Kahne is under the impression that she bought the rights back from 5 Points to stifle future opportunities to distribute it--an echo of rumors that the action was part of a calculated strategy.

"I think Lizzy Lana owns it, so [her team] wanted it out of circulation. That's why they bought the rights from them," Kahne says. "I think she wanted to be Lana Del Rey and didn't want to be Lizzy Grant. That was her family name, and she's very dramatic. She wiped [out] this other person. I think she actually thinks that she's that other person, and she probably is. So that was the decision that she made, that she didn't want traces of that whole person around, as far as I can tell." He hasn't worked with her since 2008.

To jump-start her transformation from Grant to Del Rey, she relocated to London and spent 2010 taking meetings with "every label," but, she says, she was repeatedly rejected. Though his work with Del Rey ceased after they recorded three post-album songs, including "Yayo" and "Gramma," Kahne observed the physical transformation that's become a focal point of criticism.

"She looks different. [She] doesn't sound different to me, though," Kahne says. He claims that she was operatically trained, which Del Rey denies. But when it comes to songwriting, he praises her abilities. "She's a clever writer, but she definitely has a very powerful angle on the image, the perfume of the thing that she wants to be. I think she probably didn't feel that she was far enough into that, and by making this change, she's more like what she wanted to be in the first place."

NEXT PAGE: Del Rey's Rise + Major Label Signing

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