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THURSDAY'S MUSIC NEWS Jessica Simpson has had several meetings with American Idol in the hopes of taking over Simon's judging duties, and sources say there's "mutual interest." The official announcement will be in early September. The sister of legendary singer Diana Ross is denying that she's the mother of a woman claiming to be the late Michael Jackson's daughter. Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee recently spoke with TMZ.com and said Mocienne Petit Jackson is, "not my child," adding that she is "delusional," and that her entire story is "bizarre." She also noted that Petit Jackson used to harass her at her office, stating that she eventually had to have her employer contact the police to get the woman to stop. Mocienne recently filed a lawsuit claiming a DNA test would prove she's Michael's daughter, saying that he impregnated Barbara when he was 17, and that Katherine Jackson had her "abducted" to Belgium to protect her son's image. Yoko Ono is protesting the possible parole of Mark David Chapman, the man who killed her husband John Lennon in 1980. The New York Daily News reports that Ono has sent a letter to the parole board reviewing the case. Chapman's serving a 20-years-to-life sentence at Attica in upstate New York. He's scheduled to once again go before a parole board on August 9th. Elton John is speaking out on music boycotts in connection with Arizona's anti-illegal immigration legislation. He told his audience at a Tuscon show last week he doesn't understand why major acts are snubbing the state for political reasons, reminding fans that he's an openly gay man who plays dates in California, where same-sex marriage was recently voted down by a majority. Hall and Oates and Los Lobos are among the artists who have recently cancelled shows in Arizona over the state's controversial new law. Sheryl Crow’s new album "100 Miles From Memphis" opens at number three with 55-thousand copies sold on this week’s Billboard album chart. Eminem's "Recovery" album is number one for a fifth straight week. "Kidz Bop 18" is number five with sales of 43-thousand albums. Sarah McLachlan is playing an unusual venue today…New York's JFK Airport, as part of JetBlue's "Live From T5" concert. It's not a show for which the public can purchase tickets, but the airline's lucky passengers can listen in after passing through security at the airport's terminal five. The airline says the idea is to provide passengers with a unique travel experience. BRITNEY SPEARS SUPPOSEDLY CALLS MEL ON A DAILY BASIS -- IT'S HER WAY OF REPAYING THE KINDNESS HE SHOWED HER, DURING HER MELTDOWN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- WEDNESDAY'S MUSIC NEWS Justin Timberlake and Elton John have both turned down invitations to replace Simon Cowell on American Idol. Both were reportedly on the short list of possible replacements, but their representatives say they won't be appearing on the show. Timberlake's spokesperson says the rumors are silly because he doesn't have enough time to do the twice-weekly show. Elton John's rep says he’s got commitments right up until next year. A woman who claims to be Michael Jackson's illegitimate love child has filed legal documents claiming there was a diabolical plot to cover up her existence involving murder, abduction and Diana Ross' sister. Mocienne Petit Jackson has filed documents with L.A. County Superior Court to get the go-ahead on a DNA test. She says in 1975, 17-year-old Michael secretly impregnated her mother Barbara, who happens to be Diana Ross' sister. She says Katherine Jackson hatched a plan to "abduct" her and send her to Belgium to protect Michael's "reputation." She claims all 7 of her abductors were later murdered. Beyonce tops "Forbes'" list of the highest paid celebrities under 30 for the second year in a row. With more than 90 concerts across the globe and endorsement deals with companies like Nintendo, L'Oreal and her Dereon fashion line, Beyonce pulled in an estimated 87-million dollars. Britney Spears is right behind, earning 64-million dollars. Lady Gaga is a close third with an estimated 62-million dollars. Here is "Forbes'" list of the top 12 highest paid celebrities under 30 JON BON JOVI IS REPORTEDLY FURIOUS THAT HE FAILED TO MAKE IT ONTO TWO MAJOR FORBES MAGAZINE CELEBRITY LISTS, INCLUDING THEIR "RICHEST MUSICIANS LIST" -- A SOURCE TOLD THE NEW YORK POST "JON KICKED UP A HUGE FUSS AND GOT HIS PEOPLE TO COMPLAIN. HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE DIDN'T MAKE THE MUSICIANS LIST SINCE BON JOVI'S BEEN TOURING NON-STOP SINCE FEBRUARY. EVEN BRITNEY SPEARS WAS #5, AND SHE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING THIS YEAR" Cory Monteith, Mark Salling, Chris Colfer, and Kevin McHale of Fox's Emmy nominated musical comedy "Glee" will join pop singer Katy Perry as co-hosts for the upcoming Teen Choice Awards. Sandra Bullock is slated to appear with "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" actors Robert Pattinson and Ashley Greene. Artists set to perform at the Teen Choice Awards include Jason Derulo and Travie McCoy. The Teen Choice Awards will be presented on Sunday, August 8th. Katy Perry answered fan-submitted questions in an online interview presented by YouTube. One of the things she talked about is her love of online videos parodying her candy-themed "California Gurls" video. Perry says she watches as many of them as she can but continues to hope more will pop up. She says, "I actually welcome them...I think if people are making parodies of your song, you've made it." A link to her entire 30-minute interview is posted on her website, KatyPerry.com. Lady Gaga took time out from touring to suck face with her boyfriend Luc Carl, tan her porcelain skin and even indulge in a game of chicken fights while at a hotel pool in Texas on Monday. Ke$ha won't rule out a possible future in country music, saying that she’s really inspired by country songs. Ke$ha says her mom wrote country music and she loves Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. But she says she also really digs being called, half jokingly, a white girl rapper. I think it's really funny and I'm going to ride that train for a bit." Ke$ha tells about her failed attempts to pick up men while riding around in a gold Trans Am in the summer music issue of "Paper" magazine, now on newsstands. The Cars are hinting that they may be headed toward a reunion by posting a buzz-worthy photo on their Facebook Fan page. The photo depicts the band's surviving members working together in a Boston, Massachusetts studio. Under the picture, a captions reads, "Anyone in the mood for a reunion?" If the band is recording a new LP for fans, it will be its first since 1987. Belinda Carlisle is ready to talk about her struggles with drug abuse. In an interview with Spinner.com, the lead singer for The Go-Gos says she was scared of being found dead due to an overdose. Carlisle remembers spending three days using cocaine in a London hotel in March 2005, an anecdote included in her autobiography, "Lips Unsealed." These days, Carlisle is five years into recovery and lives in both France and India. The book, "Lips Unsealed" is available now. ------------------------------------------------------------- TUESDAY'S MUSIC NEWS: The Rolling Stones are not retiring. EntertainmentWeekly.com reports that a rep for the English rockers said talk of wrapping up the band's run are simply, "not true." This, after the UK newspaper "The Sun" cited an inside source as saying, "The band realize that age is creeping up on them. They want to bow out on top of their game, and not short-change their fans." The rumors also suggested that the Stones' upcoming world tour would be their last. The band will mark its 50th anniversary in 2012. Rihanna has signed on to make her feature-film debut in the action flick, Battleship, which is inspired by the classic board game. There’ll be eye-candy for the ladies in the movie too… Friday Night Lights hunk Taylor Kitsch and True Blood hottie Alexander Skarsgård are in it as well. Battleship is due in May 2012. THE GUYS IN MAROON 5 ARE REPORTEDLY TIRED OF THEIR SINGER, ADAM LEVINE AND HIS ENORMOUS EGO -- NOW HE'S REPORTEDLY "AGONIZING" OVER HIS DECISION TO BOYCOTT ARIZONA OVER ITS CONTROVERSIAL NEW IMMIGRATION LAW --- MAROON 5's TOUR KICKS OFF FRIDAY IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK TO SUPPORT THE NEW ALBUM, “HANDS ALL OVER,” WHICH DROPS SEPTEMBER 21st. Maroon 5 Tour Dates: Michael Franti & Spearhead will now release their new album on September 21st. Called "The Sound Of Sunshine," the album was originally scheduled to be released on August 24th, but plans changed when the band signed a deal to Capitol Records. Franti and Spearhead will hit the road two days before the album's release. Michael Franti & Spearhead Tour Dates: Former Fugees rapper and Haiti native, Wyclef Jean is considering running for president in his homeland. A Canadian paper reported the store, but Jean has since told CNN that he hasn't made up his mind yet. Jean says he's filled out the necessary paperwork in case he does decide to run. Wyclef has been a vocal supporter of Haiti with his foundation, and has been working hard to rebuild the country ever since a massive earthquake struck the nation earlier this year. BRITNEY SPEARS AND HER BOYFRIEND JUST TOOK A ROMANTIC GETAWAY TO SANTA BARBARA -- BUT THE MAIN POINT OF THE TRIP WAS TO MEET HIS PARENTS -- HER BOYFRIEND IS STILL HER FORMER AGENT, JASON TRAWICK -- THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE DONE ANYTHING "ROMANTIC" SINCE JASON WAS BUSTED FOR CHEATING ON HER (WITH SEVERAL WOMEN) Glee’s Emmy nominated star, Matthew Morrison said he hoped the show would not do a Britney Spears tribute. Now that it looks like they will, UsMagazine.com is reporting that his character, Will Schuester, will "refuse" to perform the singer's songs in the episode. Creator Ryan Murphy still won't confirm whether Spears herself will appear on the Fox sitcom, but her ex, Justin Timberlake has been rumored to be getting a spot on the show, but Murphy says it’s not true. Pink is singing the praises of Eminem after working with him on the song "Won't Back Down" from his new "Recovery" album. She says he's one of the greatest talents to ever enter music. Eminem enjoys taking shots at pop stars, but Pink was never one of his victims. She tells "Spin" magazine, "I was always afraid he'd pick me as a target, but he's always been nice to me and finally approached me to be on the album, so I must have done something right." Adam Young of Owl City fame is releasing an album of songs he did before his song Fireflies ever hit the charts. The album, "An Airplane Carried Me To Bed," is being released under the moniker of Sky Sailing. Young says he’s kept these recordings secret for a long time and they've never seen the light of day until now. Idol also-rans kick-off the listing of new CDs in stores today --- the 10th place contestant from season 8 who was a roughneck on an oil rig MICHAEL SARVER, and the 7th place finisher from season 2, KIMBERLY CALDWELL --- plus new rock from AVENGED SEVENFOLD and hip-hop, rap and R&B from FAT JOE and DRU HILL --- all in stores today ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MONDAY'S MUSIC NEWS FRIDAY NIGHT IN ST LOUIS, KINGS OF LEON QUIT THEIR SHOW AFTER ONLY 3 SONGS -- THEY WERE BEING BOMBARDED BY PIGEON POOP -- THE MANAGEMENT OF THE VERIZON AMPHITHEATER WARNED THEM IN ADVANCE THEY WERE HAVING A "SIGNIFICANT PIGEON PROBLEM THIS SUMMER, AND WERE DOING ALL THEY COULD TO FIX IT" -- BASS PLAYER JARED FOLLOWILL SAID "WE DIDN'T WANT TO CANCEL, SO WE WENT FOR IT. WE TRIED TO PLAY. BUT IT WAS RIDICULOUS" -- ACCORDING TO THE GROUP'S MANAGER "JARED WAS HIT SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE FIRST TWO SONGS" -- THE ATTACK STARTED DURING THE OPENING NUMBER, WHEN HE GOT BLASTED IN THE FACE -- A CREW MEMBER WIPED MOST OF IT OFF, BUT THEN HE GOT BOMBED AGAIN, NEAR THE MOUTH -- REFUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING THIS MORNING... Chris Daughtry used his Twitter feed Saturday to weigh in on the incident by saying he wouldn't have walked off stage if a pigeon had defecated on his head. He also adds that he's heard it is good luck if a bird goes to the bathroom on a person. But Daughtry admits that taking a shot to the mouth from a pigeon while performing is a "different story." U2 singer Bono may have a 16-million-dollar back. London's "Sun" reports that when U2 had to cancel their U.S. "360" tour dates earlier this summer due to Bono's back injury, an insurer had to pick up a 16-million-dollar bill. Bono's back injury was quite serious, with the singer having experienced temporary paralysis because of it. The injury happened in May and forced 16 concerts to be cancelled across North America as Bono underwent emergency surgery in Germany. Smashing Pumpkins' vocalist Billy Corgan is doing better after an onstage injury last Wednesday. During a show in Tampa, Florida, the singer stumbled and fell to the ground while performing. Corgan says via Twitter, quote, "For those who saw me fall last night, that wasn't a stage move or clumsiness. That was me blacking out and wiping out. I have no memory of falling against the drum riser and my guitar cabinet, but I can tell you I've got quite a good bruise and am moving slow." Grammy-winning singer Al Jarreau is continuing to receive medical treatment in France. He was transferred to a cardiac center in Marseille, also in the south of France to undergo medical testing and recovery. Jarreau admitted himself into the hospital after his body Thursday failed to "adjust normally to mountain altitude" during a preconcert warm up routine. The 70-year-old reportedly experienced breathing problems and was admitted to an intensive care unit. "Spin" magazine reports that Elton John faithfully makes a weekly phone call to rapper Eminem in order to check up on his sobriety. Eminem says John was one of his first phone calls after he decided to sober up. He sought out his advice on sobriety because he knew he could relate. Eminem was addicted to prescription drugs, while Elton John abused alcohol and cocaine before coming clean. Enrique Iglesias continues to drop teases about his promise to water ski naked in Florida's Biscayne Bay. During the World Cup's first round of games, Iglesias said that if Spain wins, he would get drunk and ski naked on Biscayne Bay. Well, Spain won the World Cup and now Iglesias tells People.com that he still plans to make good on that bet, but, "I need to get my Brazilian wax before I do it.” He then came back to say he was just joking, and that he’s just waiting for a day off to conduct the stunt. This fall's second season of "Glee" will tackle the cult favorite movie "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." The Fox show's creator, Ryan Murphy, made the announcement while at San Diego's Comic Con on Sunday. Meanwhile, Murphy still won't reveal who an upcoming special tribute show will honor. The "Glee" special is set to honor a big-name musician on Super Bowl Sunday next year. According to a new book, "Sex, Drugs and Bon Jovi," pictures of the band cavorting with topless women on a bed are from a 1985 photoshoot that was deemed way too risqué for the public. So, the sexy snapshots never saw the light of day, until now. The guy who wrote the book, Bon Jovi's tour manager at the time, claims Jon went ballistic trying to keep the photos under wraps because he was afraid they'd ruin his reputation. Miley Cyrus and her racy image are being defended by 1980s pop star Tiffany. The veteran pop singer was at San Diego's Comic Con event on Saturday, where she told UsMagazine.com that Cyrus is "on a great track." Tiffany says in today's world you kind of have to be sexy to be competitive in the market. Tiffany was at Comic Con to promote the sci-fi movie "Mega Python vs. Gararoid," a movie she stars in opposite fellow 1980s pop star Debbie Gibson. ---------------------------------------------------------------- FRIDAY'S MUSIC NEWS: Indiana sheriff's deputies discovered marijuana on Bret Michaels' bus after drug dogs caught a whiff of something illegal during a routine traffic stop. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office tells TMZ Bret was onboard one of buses when cops made the stop at around 11:30 PM. One of the buses, not the one Bret was on, had the controlled substances inside. Citations were issued but no arrests were made. The case is being forwarded to DeKalb prosecutors. Color Me Badd singer Bryan Abrams has been arrested in Honolulu after an alleged fight with his wife. TMZ reports the altercation happened Tuesday when the singer allegedly threw his wife across the room during an argument. He was arrested for suspicion of harassment and released afterwards. Abrams and the rest of his Color Me Badd bandmates were in Hawaii to play a show on Sunday. He was arrested on similar charges in 2008 in Oklahoma, when he allegedly threatened to kill his girlfriend. Brian McKnight is not the father of a 14-year-old kid in Florida, according to a DNA test, and now, he's no longer responsible for $341,000 in back child support payments the boy's mother was hoping to collect. McKnight eventually took a DNA test and after the results, the judge promptly tossed out the case. Justin Bieber will guest-star on the season premiere of CSI September 23. Bieber will play a 16-year-old singing sensation. Bieber's scene will kick off a story arc that will conclude at some point later in the season. Rihanna brought a surprise guest to her Staples Center tour stop in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. She began performing the hook of her current number one hit with rapper Eminem, "Love The Way You Lie," when Eminem hit the stage as the crowd went wild. Eminem was in town to shoot the video for the song with Rihanna. Rihanna's "Last Girl On Earth" Tour Dates: Greyson Chance, the 12-year-old YouTube sensation famous for covering Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" on piano, has finally met Gaga in person. Chance used his Twitter feed to share the news on Thursday morning and posted a photo of himself standing next to Gaga. The young singer from Oklahoma recently moved to Los Angeles in order to record his debut album. It will be released by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres' new label, ElevenEleven, in partnership with Geffen Records. Season two "American Idol" finalists Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken will be reuniting today as they kick off their 17-city North American tour. The Studdard-Aiken tour is called "Timeless" and runs through August 14th. Clay Aiken is slated to sing a duet with Chaka Khan on an upcoming episode of Disney's "Phineas and Ferb." The episode is called "Summer Belongs To You," and will air Monday, August 2nd at 8pm on Disney XD. It will air again on Friday, August 6th at 8 on the Disney Channel. Their duet will be released on Tuesday, August 3rd by Walt Disney Records through the iTunes music store. John Fogerty's making a stop in Cooperstown, New York this weekend as America's Baseball Hall of Fame is inducting him and his 1985 hit "Centerfield" into the Hall of Fame on Sunday. Fogerty is scheduled to attend the celebration in person, where he'll perform "Centerfield" live for fans playing on his restored baseball bat-shaped guitar. Over the years "Centerfield" has become a baseball staple, played regularly during baseball games throughout the country all summer long, and for more than a decade it's been included in the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. |
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