Kids Choose Miley, Johnny, Jessica

You don't have to be a kid to win big at the Kids' Choice Awards, but it certainly seems to help.

Just ask Miley Cyrus, who enjoyed the best of both worlds—singing and acting—at Nickelodeon's 21st annual slime fest Saturday night, taking home awards for both Favorite TV Actress and Favorite Female Singer at the kid-powered show.

The omnipresent Hannah Montana star, who also performed her new single "G.N.O.—Girl's Night Out" during the ceremony, was the only individual double winner of the night.

The night's only other multiple honoree was Nickelodeon's homegrown talent Drake & Josh, which not only took home the coveted orange blimp for Favorite TV Show, but earned series star Drake Bell the Favorite TV Actor award, as well.

Jack Black returned as host, opening the night with one of his trademark musical parody numbers—this time around a rousing rendition of "I Was Made for Sliming You," an ode to the wonders of the show's signature green goo—before welcoming the tween masses to "the slimiest, starriest, choiciest awards show ever!"

The first prize of the night went to Jessica Alba, who was crowned Favorite Movie Actress at the completely fan-determined awards show. As Black was keen to boast, more than 88 million votes were cast prior to the ceremony.

But for all the awards doled out over the course of the show—perpetual favorite Johnny Depp took home the nod for Favorite Movie Actor, though parents can rest assured it was for swash-buckling turn in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End rather than the blood-soaked Sweeney Todd, while Alvin and the Chipmunks was honored as Favorite Movie—slime was definitely the name of the game.

In keeping with the green theme, Heidi Klum gamely made an appearance at the show, coming onstage to pop slime-filled balloons with help from a giant bum-spanning pad covered in spikes. Usher and Akon got in on the messy action later in the show, blasting a sumo wrestler with an industrial strength slime hose and making their way through a slime-filled obstacle course, respectively.

The slimey set pièce de résistance, however, came courtesy of host Black and Orlando Bloom, whose climactic and lengthy joint sliming was one for the show's history books.

In a change of pace, the awards show also managed to make history for another, completely slime-unrelated reason: The distribution of the first ever Wannabe Award.

Cameron Diaz was the honored recipient, so chosen for being the celebrity kids most "want to be." Ashton Kutcher was on hand to present the award.

Here's the complete list of winners for the Kids' Choice Awards:

MOVIES

• Favorite Movie Actor: Johnny Depp • Favorite Movie Actress: Jessica Alba • Favorite Movie: Alvin and the Chipmunks • Favorite Animated Movie: Ratatouille • Favorite Voice in an Animated Movie: Eddie Murphy, Shrek the Third

TV

• Favorite Reality Show: American Idol • Favorite TV Show: Drake & Josh • Favorite Animated Show: Avatar: The Latest Airbender • Favorite TV Actor: Drake Bell, Drake & Josh • Favorite TV Actress: Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana

MUSIC

• Favorite Female Singer: Miley Cyrus • Favorite Male Singer: Chris Brown • Favorite Music Group: Jonas Brothers • Favorite Song: Avril Lavigne, "Girlfriend"

SPORTS

• Favorite Male Athlete: Tony Hawk • Favorite Female Athlete: Danica Patrick

OTHER

• Wannabe Award: Cameron Diaz • Favorite Book: Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling • Favorite Video Game: Madden NFL '08

Ricky Martin Fights Human Trafficking

ricky martin human trafficking puerto rico

Pop star Ricky Martin has taken his fight against child trafficking to Cambodia.

Martin, who arrived in the country Wednesday, met with Interior Minister Sar Kheng and visited various projects run by non-governmental organizations fighting child trafficking and sexual exploitation.

"This is a fact-finding mission for us," Angel Saltos, executive director of the Ricky Martin Foundation, told The Associated Press on Saturday. "He wanted to see for himself."

Martin learned of Cambodia's child trafficking problems in February during a three-day United Nations conference in Vienna. He joined Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson, Egyptian first lady Suzanne Mubarak and other dignitaries in calling for action.

Some 2.5 million people are involved in forced labor as a result of trafficking, and 161 countries — on every continent and in every type of economy — are affected by the crime, the U.N. said.

Most victims are between the ages of 18 and 24, and an estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked each year, U.N. figures show.

The Ricky Martin Foundation does most of its work in Latin America.

Tom Petty Leans on Mudcrutch

To follow up a Super Bowl performance that was viewed by more than 90 million people, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are going incognito.

Petty and longtime bandmates Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench are planning to hit the club circuit with the original members of Mudcrutch, the name of their group when they were still relegated to playing diners in their hometown of Gainesville, Fla.

After nearly 30 years, the five musicians—Petty, Campbell, Tench, Randall Marsh and Tom Leadon—reunited last summer on the West Coast to record an album.

"I just finished a record with Mudcrutch, my old band before the Heartbreakers," Petty wrote in a message posted on his website. "I am over the moon about it. I couldn't have hoped for it to be as good as it came out."

Mudcrutch will next crisscross California for about two weeks, starting April 12 at a benefit in Malibu for Los Angeles' Midnight Mission and winding up with a four-night engagement at the famed Troubadour in West Hollywood.

But although Petty has released 15 albums with the Heartbreakers (Campbell, Tench, Stan Lynch and Ron Blair, who quit in the 1980s to be replaced by Dan Epstein), Mudcrutch's upcoming effort will put that band's total at exactly...one.

The self-titled debut, featuring a 14-track combination of new and rerecorded tunes, is due out April 29.

In 1975, back when records were records, Mudcrutch released one single, "Depot Street," which was the A-side on an LP that also included the B-side "Wild Eyes."

Leadon, a childhood friend of Petty's who left the band in 1972 and now teaches guitar in Nashville, told the Tennessean newspaper that Mudcrutch's 2007 reunion was "just entirely unexpected."

"It was like a dream, the whole thing," he said. "Tom couldn't have been nicer. It was great to hang out with him again."

Meanwhile, Petty will return to his day job fronting the Heartbreakers on May 30 when the "Free Fallin'" rockers kick off a three-month North American tour in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Justin Goes to Bat for ESPN

The pop star has been tapped to host the 2008 ESPY Awards, slated to take place July 20 at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre L.A. Live.

The annual awards, presented by ESPN, celebrate the best and brightest sporting moments of the year as decided by fans, who can vote for their favorites online at espys.tv beginning July 1.

"I'm very excited to be hosting the 16th edition of the ESPYs. I can't wait for the day of the show as I'm truly a sports junkie," Timberlake said in a statement.

"Since the last ESPYs, there have been amazing moments in sports, and I'm looking forward to recapping all of them with ESPN's diehard fans."

The hosting gig won't be Timberlake's first. Last year, he presided over the 20th annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, where he was named Favorite Male Singer (and subsequently doused with a healthy dose of slime). The singer is up for the same honor at this year's Kids' Choice Awards, taking place Saturday.

Up ahead, Timberlake stars opposite Mike Myers and Jessica Alba in The Love Guru, opening June 20.

50 Cent Working With DJ Drama

DJ Drama promises that it will be one of the biggest mixtapes of the year. Arguably the top DJ in the mixtape field is teaming up with arguably the most renowned crew in the underground circuit. The first-ever G-Unit Gangsta Grillz is about to go into production.

"A couple of days after G-Unit dropped their Elephant in the Sand mixtape [two weeks ago], I got the call from 50 [Cent] and he was like, 'Drama, what up? It's time to do this G-Unit/ Aphilliates Gangsta Grillz.' He's really going heavy on the ThisIs50.com Web site, and he was saying basically it's time to get G-Unit hot in the South. What better way to do that than to do a Gangsta Grillz? Not only from a South aspect but from a quality street-music aspect. Me and Whoo Kid talked the other day, Fif and G-Unit are getting songs together, [my artists] Willie Da Kid and La Da Darkman are getting some songs together. I reached out to the King and told him it's a special project; I need him to get busy. We're gonna go in."

"The King" Drama is referring to is, of course, none other than the King of the South, T.I. Drama said he's also reached out to a slew of his other friends from the South and told them to get their best material ready. Fif's DJ, Whoo Kid, will also be heavily involved in putting the project together.

"Look out for some skits," Drama said. "Whoo Kid is a jokester. I'mma bring some personality to the table. We're gonna have fun with it. Let the mixtape game come back to life. It's been over a year since the historical [RIAA] raid, and the mixtape game is still here. That's what we're out to prove. 50 is a monster in the game, I'm a monster in the game. The combination is gonna kill the streets."

Drama just released the mixtape The Notorious L.A.D. from La the Darkman, while 50 and the Unit have been on a rampage for the past six months with Sabrina's Baby Boy, Return of the Body Snatchers and Elephant in the Sand.

"He's still working like he's hungry and putting product out every day," Dram said of Fif. "You can't take it as nothing but motivation."

Drama said the G-Unit Gangsta Grillz should be out in early to mid-April and available for free download on ThisIs50.com and GangstaGrillz.com.

Fab Four Sue Over Bootleg

The Beatles have come together to block distribution of an early bootleg.

Lawyers for the Fab Four's London-based company, Apple Records, filed a lawsuit last week against Fuego Entertainment of Miami Lakes, Fla., contending the online music store does not have permission to disseminate eight unreleased tracks that were made during a 1962 New Year's Eve performance at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany.

Apple's complaint claims that since the Beatles had already signed an exclusive contract with EMI that barred third party recordings of their gigs, the tape was obtained without authorization.

The recording, titled Jammin' with the Beatles and Friends, Star Club, Hamburg, 1962, features Paul McCartney singing a cover of Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues," he and John Lennon joining forces on "Ask Me Why" and six additional tracks. It is also notable for being the live debut of drummer Ringo Starr after the departure of member Pete Best.

The suit goes on to state that Fuego and two sister firms violated the mop tops' copyrights by streaming snippets of the concert on the Web and improperly using the long T that's long been part of the band's logo for its own purposes.

Apple also notes the bootleg's audio is of such crude quality that it "dilutes and tarnishes the extraordinarily valuable image associated with the Beatles."

Apple Corps attorney Paul LiCalsi said the company was forced to take Fuego to court after the company ignored a cease-and-desist letter sent by Apple regarding the remastering of the performance and the sale of it on CD, though Fuego did take down the audio excerpts.

"This appears to us to be a garden-variety bootleg recording," Apple Corps attorney, LiCalsi, told the media.

Not so, according to Fuego's president, Hugo Cancio.

"Don't claim that these were just bootlegged. It's not like today, that you just go in with a phone or BlackBerry and you record," he said. "The world deserves to hear these tracks. The fact is that we have it, they don't and that is what's bothering them."

Cancio added: "It's unfair to millions of Beatles fans not to allow this recording to be put out. The world deserves to hear these tracks."

Cancio's firm reportedly bought the recording for an undisclosed amount from partner and owner, Jeffrey Collins. No word how he got his hands on it.

Aside from an injunction preventing the tape's release, Apple is seeking $15 million in actual and punitive damages.

This isn't the first time Apple and Fuego have feuded. The Beatles' legal eagles foiled an earlier 1995 attempt by the company to hock another bootleg. They also successfully sued Sony Music to stop it from releasing a similar recording, The Beatles Live at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962—Vol. 1 and Vol. II.

Dolly Parton Releases Album On Own Label

Dolly Parton knows a good investment when she sees one, and these days she sees one in the mirror.

Parton, whose business portfolio includes a theme park and an entertainment production company, says she's spending a lot of her own money trying to get back on country radio with her new CD, "Backwoods Barbie."

"I'm looking at it like an investment," she told The Associated Press. "I thought, 'I've made enough money. I can afford to invest a little in myself.'"

She has self-released the disc on her own label, Dolly Records, and hired a seven-member promotions team.

"I purposely tailor-made this to try to get some hits," Parton explained.

The album reached No. 2 on Billboard in its second week, her best showing in 17 years.

The first single, "Better Get to Livin'," a country-pop song she describes as sonically similar to Keith Urban, sputtered at No. 48. But the second single, "Jesus & Gravity," is just now arriving at radio.

At age 62, Parton remains an icon and inspiration to younger singers.

"I don't think there's anything that woman can't do," said rising country star Kellie Pickler, who calls Parton her greatest influence. "She just walks into a room and lights it up. She's got that 'it' factor that money can't buy. She's the whole package."

Music Row began to lose interest in Parton in the '90s as a new crop of country stars emerged. Her last Top 5 hit, "Rockin' Years," was in 1991, and she hasn't had a major label record deal in 10 years.

"When it changed I was still as serious as ever and was thinking I'm still as good as ever, if I ever was any good," Parton said.

She has watched with interest as new technology has created opportunities without the big labels.

"Now the majors are what they used to think I was: history," she said.

"I thought this is a good time, but I need to make an all-out effort. ... Whatever it takes, you fight for it. You do what you have to do to feed your habit, and I'm a music addict."

Marilyn Manson Tries to Cover Up

After making a career out of spectacle, shock value and other open displays of eccentricity, Marilyn Manson is now looking to cover up.

The heavy-metalist has filed a motion requesting that all of his financial and business records be kept sealed during the discovery process pertaining to his ex-band mate's pending lawsuit against him.

Former Marilyn Manson (the band) keyboardist Stephen Bier, aka Madonna Wayne Gacy, sued Manson for breach of contract in August, claiming the milky-eyed singer had used the group's money to, among other things, finance a drug habit, pay for his wedding to Dita Von Teese and decorate his Chatsworth, Calif., home with an array of oddities, including Nazi memorabilia and a human skeleton.

Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, countersued in December, accusing Bier of failing to meet contractual touring, recording and merchandising agreements. He's been collecting royalties, Manson says of his former ivory-tickler, but during his tenure with the band frequently showed up late and otherwise "failed to render services to the best of his ability and in a practical and cooperative manner."

Because Bier's allegations directly reference Manson's cash value, his attorney argues, he should be allowed an order of protection protecting the confidentiality of his records.

Meanwhile, Bier's attorneys say "hogwash," citing Manson's well-known penchant for public displays of… whatever.

"Manson lives his life in the public eye," a filing opposing the defense's motion states. "He communicates frequently with the press regarding his personal affairs, openly discusses his frequent drug use, his failed marriage with burlesque model Dita Von Teese, his current relationship with actress Evan Rachel Wood, and his wild, rock 'n' roll lifestyle."

He also drinks absinthe and openly discusses his friends' and band members' sexual proclivities, as well, Bier claims.

Stern heard arguments Wednesday but has yet to rule on the request.

If the order is granted as per Manson's specifications, Bier's lawyers will have access to the records but they would not be made part of the public record and his camp would not be allowed to show them to anyone else.

The order is necessary before the two sides can proceed with depositions, Manson's lawyer says. A hearing during which Bier's side is set to renew its petition to depose the "Beautiful People" rocker is scheduled for Apr. 10.

Quincy Jones' Honorary Doctorate

Quincy Jones will receive an honorary doctorate at the University of Washington commencement, where the musician-composer-producer-arranger will speak on June 14.

The university's regents voted to award the degree at their meeting Thursday.

The 75-year-old Jones moved to Bremerton, Wash., with his family at age 10 and began playing the trumpet in junior high school. He also sang in a gospel quartet before moving to Seattle.

He has toured with Lionel Hampton's band, and has arranged for other musicians including Duke Ellington, Ray Charles and County Basie.

He's best known, though, as the producer of two of the biggest selling records of all time: Michael Jackson's 1982 album "Thriller" and the single "We Are the World."

Madonna's New Album

The singer's new album comes to cell phones before stores

Before hitting stores on April 28, lucky Vodafone customers will be able to get seven of the eleven tracks off of Madonna's latest album Hard Candy!

According to the Times Online, songs will go on sale one week before the album release date and can be downloaded for 24 hours before being replaced by the next track.

Each song will cost 99p, with the hot new single, "4 Minutes" being available immediately for 75p! Now for the bad news, Vodafone spans across ten European countries. . . Which means U.S. fans are gonna have to be super patient, or wait for leaked versions to hit the net.

Britney Spears' Medical Records

UCLA Medical Center has launched an investigation into some 25 employees who peeked at the singer's confidential medical records during her late January/ early February stay in the psychiatric ward. This week, the hospital began the process of firing 13 employees, has suspended at least six more, and is considering discipline against six other physicians who looked at her computerized records.

"It's not only surprising," human resources director Jeri Simpson told the paper, adding that similar firings also followed Spears' 2005 stay, when she gave birth to her first child, Sean Preston. "It's very frustrating, and it's very disappointing.

"I feel like we do everything that we possibly can to ensure the privacy of our patients, and I know we feel horrible that it happened again," Simpson added, offering an apology to Spears. "I don't know what it is about this particular person."

UCLA confirmed that, in an attempt to keep this breach of ethics from occurring, officials had sent out a memo on the morning Spears was hospitalized. The memo reminded employees that they were only allowed to view their own patients' records and that doing otherwise violated a federal patient-privacy law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

"Each member of our workforce, which includes our physicians, faculty, employees, volunteers and students, is responsible to ensure that medical information is only accessed as required for treatment, for facilitating payment of a claim, or for supporting our healthcare operations," the memo read. "Please remember that any unauthorized access by a workforce member will be subject to disciplinary action, which could include termination."

During routine monitoring of inappropriate record-viewing, UCLA officials uncovered violations by both medical and nonmedical personnel involving Spears' records, following an electronic trail left by the employees.

Snoop Dogg Rolls Out The Hits

You call it promoting an album. Snoop Dogg calls it going out with the homies and having the time of his life.

This week in New York, the Dogg has been everywhere from the "The Late Show With David Letterman" to a recent album-release party for Ego Trippin'. On Thursday night, he even taped the latest episode of "VH1 Storytellers." Snoop threw the VH1 rulebook out the window when he told the audience that he didn't have a tale to tell about the first track he performed, "Whateva U Do."

Obviously this wasn't going to be the normal show where the audience sits down to listen to the artist's musical selections and hear some nice antidotes. Snoop was intent on making the show a full party, and his music — including hits like "Gin & Juice" and "Drop It Like It's Hot" — would not allow anyone in the crowd to stay in their seats. People stood and danced all night. The Dogg was backed by a band — "The Snoopadelics" — that included Teddy Riley; DJs Quik, Battlecat and Jelly; Soopafly on piano; a horn section; backup singers; and Tha Dogg Pound on hypeman vocals.

The Long Beach legend did have plenty of stories to share later on, from his days riding shotgun with Dr. Dre and being medically cleared to use marijuana (he claimed to have glaucoma) to a quip about his children telling him he didn't make songs that kids wanted to dance to. "I said, 'N---a, what you talkin' about?' " Snoop said to the crowd with a grin.

Snoop, in fact, has come up with a foolproof dance song called "Life of the Party," which had guest stars Mistah F.A.B. and Too Short walk up from the crowd for a must-see show.

Another surprise was when Snoop and company performed the Everlast country song "My Medicine." The fact that Snoop Dogg performed a country song is still taking time to settle in, and the fact that he did a country song that got the whole audience to clap their hands and bop like they were in church was a sight to behold.

Gap Band lead singer Charlie Wilson came out for "Can't Say Goodbye." The song is about a man who is trying to be there for his family, but he refuses to let the streets go. Once the tune started, an emotional Snoop made the band stop and restart. "That record makes me wanna cry," Snoop said.

The best moment of the show was unscheduled and may not even make the show's cut due to some red tape. The Dogg and his Pound did a rendition of Morris Day and the Time's "Cool." Snoop said he couldn't perform the song on TV because the "man who owns it wouldn't clear it." (According to ASCAP, the writers of that song are former Revolution guitarist Dez Dickerson and a man named Prince.) The band — which sounded better than the recorded tracks — kept their consistent, overachieving sound up, jamming on instrumentals for "Cool" for five minutes before Snoop started singing.

After "Cool," Snoop sat on a stool and kept singing, "Paid the cost to be the boss," while the band played. Then he freestyled, bringing some melody to cuss words. "We just some real mutha----as," said Snoop. He and Riley went back and forth — Snoop in his real voice, Riley using the auto-tune device at his keyboard.

"VH1 Storytellers: Snoop Dogg" premieres March 31.

Trent Reznor's Youtube Channel

Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor launched a YouTube channel that will host a film festival of fan-made movies that feature tracks from Ghosts I-IV, insuring the fans’ films will be reduced to compressed, blotchy, out-of-sync YouTube clips. Reznor himself will judge the competition, along with “special guests.” Fans can upload their videos onto the YouTube page now, but Reznor insists to take your time, since the whole process is going to take a few months. The rules state, “Please don’t just submit simple image slideshows.”

In other Reznor news, he criticized Radiohead’s pay-what-you-want release of In Rainbows, calling it “insincere” and “a bait and switch to get you to pay for a MySpace-quality stream as a way to promote a very traditional record sale.” “What they did right: they surprised the world with a new record, and it was available digitally first,” Reznor said of his possible Lollapalooza co-headliners. “What they did wrong: by making it such a low quality thing, not even including artwork … to me that feels insincere.” Reznor’s comments come one day after he revealed his self-released instrumental album Ghosts I-IV raked in $1.6 million in first week label-free sales.

Michael, And Aretha's Housing Woes

The King of Pop and the Queen of Soul are working to resolve problems with their respective castles.

With a public auction looming, Michael Jackson has managed to refinance his outstanding loan on Neverland Ranch in time to save the property, his lawyer said Thursday.

Attorney L. Londell McMillan said the pop star had worked out a "confidential" agreement with Fortress Investment Group, LLC. that would allow him to hold onto the 2,500-acre spread in Los Olivos, California.

The property had been scheduled to go on the block on Wednesday after the singer defaulted on a $24.5 million loan payment.

Jackson has not lived at Neverland since his acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005.

During his ordeal, he said he felt his privacy had been so violated by authorities' searches of the ranch that he would never occupy the premises again on a fulltime basis.

"I won't live there ever again," he said during a December 2003 60 Minutes interview. "It's a house now. It's not a home anymore. I'll only visit."

Now that his finances are seemingly in order once again (at least for the time being), he can continue to stop by when the mood strikes him.

Meanwhile, Aretha Franklin has a homeowner's headache of her own on her hands.

The singer's $700,000 mansion in Detroit has slipped into foreclosure over $445 in 2005 taxes and late fees, the Detroit Free Press reports. In all, Franklin owes $19,192 in back taxes on the property.

Franklin blamed the situation on an attorney's error.

The singer has until Mar. 31 to settle the outstanding payments and reclaim the property.

Janet's Hospital Escapade

Janet Jackson was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center late Monday after coming down with a nasty—again, not in the good, patented Miss Jackson way—virus.

Jackson's rep, Patti Webster said, "She's been battling this flu like everyone else," adding that the singer otherwise boasts a clean bill of health.

The 41-year-old has since been released, Webster said, but will not be appearing as the musical guest on this weekend's Saturday Night Live, as scheduled.

News of the singer's trip to the sick bay was first reported by Us Weekly, which claimed Jackson was admitted after experiencing "shortness of breath."

The ailment comes in the wake of some good news for the singer, whose new album, Discipline, debuted atop the Billboard album charts last week, her sixth disc to hit number one. She will tour later this year.

Not one for a lack of projects, Jackson also recently confirmed that she is in the process of cowriting a book about weight loss with her nutritionist, in which she will discuss her history of being an "emotional eater."

The as-yet-untitled tome will include tips on a healthy approach to eating (feed a cold, hospitalize the flu?) and is due out by the end of the year.

New video from Janet's upcoming album Discipline.

Madonna's Collaboration With Justin

The singer, who on Monday will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, says she and Timberlake would discuss issues and problems with people in order to write their songs, which will appear on her forthcoming album Hard Candy.

She told the press she really enjoy writing with Justin. That they had psychoanalytic sessions whenever writing songs, sit down and start talking about situations. And then start talking about issues or problems or relationships with people. She adds further that writing together with somebody is very intimate....that was fun, because Justin is open and he's got talent. He's a songwriter and Madonna has not worked with a lot of songwriters where she's instantly connected and start riffing and playing with the rhythm of the words. He's as interested in the rhythm of the words as the meaning of the words.

Madonna will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on Monday, March 10. Justin Timberlake will present her with the honor during the ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.

Hootie And The Blowfish Solo Efforts

When Hootie and the Blowfish play at a fundraiser to benefit the Animal Mission this week, the bandmates likely will compare notes on their recent solo efforts.

Guitarist Mark Bryan and lead singer Darius Rucker are working on their second solo efforts, while drummer Jim "Soni" Sonefeld is making his solo debut. Bassist Dean Felber doesn't have any solo plans yet.

Bryan's effort includes a punkish track "Glad to be Alive" that didn't make the cut for the most recent Hootie effort — 2005's "Looking for Lucky."

"I can totally respect it's not a Hootie song," Bryan said. His "End of the Front" has a diverse lineup from punk to pop, rock to bluegrass.

"Stylistically it's all over the place," Bryan told The (Columbia) State. "But it's because the songs were written over a 10-year period."

Rucker, who released his first solo effort "Back to Then" in 2002, is going a little bit country for his second effort.

"I know that a lot of country fans have 'Cracked Rear View,' " Rucker said of the band's breakthrough album, which has sold more than 16 million copies and put the Columbia-based group on the map. "We've never really been that far from country. It came out so organically."

For his debut, drummer Sonefeld went more progressive with his "Snowman Melting" being released by independent label Aquarian Nation.

Usher's New Album

Usher has finally announced his album title and is closing in on a release date. The singer's reps confirmed that the new Usher album is named Here I Stand and will come out sometime in June.

Usher's return comes at a time when he may have more momentum on his side than any other performer in the business. His album's first single, "Love in This Club," is #1 in the country and made the third-largest jump to the top in the 50-year history of Billboard's Hot 100 chart. The record, which was just #51 last week, rose 50 spots. The single's video is being filmed in Atlanta next week.

The quick rise of "Love in This Club" — which features Young Jeezy — can partially be credited to producer Polow Da Don's triumphant club beat and his impetuous nature. First, he let Young Jeezy get on the track without Usher's permission; then, he leaked the song several weeks before it was supposed to be released.

"I actually leaked it. I'm the culprit," Polow told the press recently. "It's no secret. I told [Usher] when I saw him that I had to put my relationship on the line. 'If it fails, I know you probably gonna be mad at me. I know you probably won't f--- with me anymore.' I just felt like it was so much back-and-forth [between Usher and his record label]. I know this record is it! I'm out there, I know what it is. It got 600 spins in two days. That's great for a record label. Imagine how good that is for one person who leaked it? Radio stations were getting it off the Internet and playing it. Before I left Atlanta, they were playing it 10 times in a row.

"When I spoke to Usher, he was like, 'Maaan, why'd you do it?' " Polow added. "He knew I leaked the record; he didn't have to ask. I was like, 'What?' He said, 'You know you leaked the record.' But he was getting good calls on it too."

As for Jeezy's appearance on the song, Polow told last Monday it was perfect timing. The Snowman asked to be on the record, arriving to the studio minutes after Usher had left.

"I was like, 'Man, I don't know,' " Polow recalled of Jeezy's request. "He said, 'Just let me do the verse, dawg. If you don't wanna keep it, cool.' I played the version that night at [Jermaine Dupri's] club, and Usher went crazy. That was the first time he heard it."

In addition to Polow, the Here I Stand recording sessions have included collaborations with Dupri, Dre & Vidal, Timbaland, Ludacris and Nelly, with Sean "The Pen" Garrett and Lil Jon still scheduled to check in.

Justin Timberlake On NBC

Timberlake is teaming with Reveille, the production company behind Ugly Betty and The Office, to bring the hit Peruvian comedy My Problem with Women to the Peacock net, NBC confirmed Friday.

Timberlake will serve as an executive producer on the project, which is based on Peru's Mi Problema con las Mujeres, a show that launched in July and has since been sold in 20 countries.

"I am very excited to be collaborating with Reveille to bring this hugely successful format to NBC," the singer said in a statement.

In other Timberlake news, Mr. SexyBack will be inducting none other than Madonna into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday. The duo recently collaborated on the Queen of Pop's upcoming album, Hard Candy, which is due out on Apr. 28.

Up ahead, Timberlake stars in the comedy The Love Guru, opposite Mike Myers and Jessica Alba. The film is slated for a June 20 release.

The pop star is currently filming the drama The Open Road, opposite Jeff Bridges and Kate Mara.

Rihanna Bans Umbrellas

In a move based on security fears, Rihanna has banned fans from bringing umbrellas to her gigs .

According to the Daily Star's Playlist, fans attending the star's gig on Monday (March 3) had their brollies confiscated by security guards before they got into Scotland's Aberdeen Exhibition Centre for the show.

Security guard Andy McDonald told the newspaper: "We don't normally ask people to leave an umbrella outside. But we were taking precautions over a potential accident.

"We were told that Rihanna's song features dancing with umbrellas onstage. We didn't want the crowd following her actions and someone getting their eye poked out."

Rihanna's "Umbrella" music video.

Cyndi Lauper News

Cyndi Lauper will take her "True Colors" tour back on the road this summer.

Lauper, whose tour last year promoted gay rights, will open the second go-round in Boston on May 31 alongside fellow headliners Rosie O'Donnell and the B-52s, it was announced Wednesday.

Carson Kressley ("Queer Eye for the Straight Guy") will host the 24-city event, which winds down in Morrison, Colo., on July 5.

"The tour is a nonstop five-hour music party with a message," Lauper, 54, said. "This year, the party only gets bigger and our message to the fans is to get out and vote in November."

Guest artists such as Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Regina Spektor, the Indigo Girls and Wanda Sykes will perform at various cities throughout the tour.

Eddie Van Halen News

03/03/2008

The music hasn't died, it's just under the weather.

Four upcoming stops on Van Halen's reunion tour have been postponed due to an unidentified illness currently afflicting frontman Eddie Van Halen, concert promoter Live Nation announced Monday.

According to Eddie's physician, "he is undergoing a battery of comprehensive medical tests to determine a defined diagnosis and recommended medical procedures," the company said in a statement.

Shows scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday in Dallas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Baltimore have been reset for Apr. 24, Apr. 22, Apr. 13 and Apr. 15, respectively. Tickets for the canceled dates will be honored at the rescheduled shows.

Otherwise, the "Jump" rockers plan to resume their road trip Mar. 11 in Charlottesville, Virginia

But what Van Halen really wants its fans to know is that, contrary to some reports, the band's routinely sold-out tour has not been canceled. Performances are still booked through Apr. 25, where Eddie Van Halen, his son Wolfgang, original frontman David Lee Roth and drummer Alex Van Halen are supposed to hit up Sacramento, California.

Eddie Van Halen, who received a clean bill of health in 2002 after battling tongue cancer for several years, has also struggled alcoholism and substance abuse in the past.

His most recent stint in rehab was last March, just as rumors of a possible reunion was lighting a fire under fans of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-bound band.

Van Halen wrote on the group's Website,
"I have always and will always feel a responsibility to give you my best. At the moment I do not feel that I can give you my best".
"That's why I have decided to enter a rehabilitation facility to work on myself, so that in the future I can deliver the 110 percent that I feel I owe you and want to give you."

Mick Jagger News

03/03/2008

The new British Broadcasting Corp. documentary has claimed that Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger escaped an assassination plot hatched in 1969 by the Hells Angels,

A program to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Monday says the rock star was the target of the plot following a purported dispute with the motorcycle gang over concert security.

Jagger had vowed not to use Hells Angel members as bouncers following the death in December 1969 of an 18-year-old fan at a notorious free performance at Altamont Speedway in Northern California.

In return, gang members hatched a plan to kill Jagger at his holiday home in Long Island, New York, the BBC claimed.

"The Hells Angels were so angered by Jagger's treatment of them that they decided to get rid of him," Tom Mangold, the presenter of the program, was quoted as telling Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

He said the plan was disclosed during an interview with Mark Young, a former FBI officer, for the BBC's "The FBI at 100" documentary.

Mangold said the men tried to reach Jagger by sea. "The boat was hit by a storm and all of the men were thrown overboard," he was quoted as saying. They all survived but made no other attempt on his life, Mangold said.

It was not clear whether Jagger was ever informed of the alleged plot against him.

LD Communications, Jagger's publicists in Britain, did not immediately return calls requesting comment.

Who are the Hells Angels?

The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) is a world-wide motorcycle club whose members traditionally ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States, and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Some members nickname themselves "one-percenters" in response to the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) claim that 99% of motorcyclists were law abiding citizens, and the last one percent were outlaws.

Both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada classify the Angels as one of the "big four" outlaw motorcycle gangs; contending that members carry out widespread violence, drug dealing, trafficking in stolen goods, and extortion.[1][2] The Hells Angels assert that this is a mischaracterization, and claim that they are a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who organize social events such as undertaking trips as a group, parties and motorcycle rallies.

J. Lo's Twins Named

03/02/2008

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have reportedly named their newborn twins Max and Emme.

Lopez' manager, Simon Fields, confirmed the babies' names to People magazine on Friday.

The twins were born at a Long Island hospital on Feb. 22, with 5-pound, 7-ounce Emme arriving about 15 minutes before her 6-pound brother. The hospital's name was not disclosed.

Fields said then that Lopez, a first-time mother at 39, was "thrilled" at the babies' arrival. The 38-year-old Anthony has three other children.

The Latin music power couple married in 2004.

The babies arrived a day after both their parents were named as winners of Latin music's "Premio Lo Nuestro" awards. Lopez won this year's award for best solo pop singer, while Anthony was named salsa artist of the year.

Juvenile's Music News

03/01/2008

Juvenile is in mourning.

Suurces in DeKalb County, Georgia confirmed that Anthony Tyrone Terrell Jr., who is Deleston's son aged 17, is currently being held and is being charged with multiple counts involving his mother and two younger sisters, one of which was Juvenile's 4 year old daughter.

A representative with the rapper's label, Atlantic Records, had no comment.

Deleston, 39, was an actress who appeared in locally produced films, as well as a seven-and-a-half-year veteran of the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, according to the paper.

Terrell waived his first court hearing, where he would have been formally notified of the charges against him, on Friday (February 29), a Gwinnett County Magistrate Court clerk told the AJC. Defense attorney Lyle Porter, who could not be reached Friday, has been assigned to represent him.

"Investigators interviewed Mr. Terrell, and as a result of the interview, there was enough probable cause to charge him with the murder of his mother and two sisters," a police spokesperson, who said the motive for the shootings was still under investigation, told the paper.

Here's a music video of Juvenile. I find the banner in the beginning ironic.