News

Before John Williams became the flagship film composer-conductor anyone thought of when they thought about the Hollywood Bowl, that honor belonged to Henry Mancini. And in some years, when Los Angeles is particularly lucky, it still does, even though the scorer behind “The Pink Panther,” “Days of Wine and Roses” and other classic scores has been gone for 30 years now. This Sunday, the LA Phil will devote the Bowl’s traditional opening night to a 100th birthday celebration for the man who, arguably more than any other, turned movie scores into a truly populist artform… and who conducted at the Bowl 29 times.

It’s not even the only major event involving Mancini’s legacy this weekend. Friday will see the release of a tribute album, “The Henry Mancini 100th Sessions – Henry Has Company,” that features among its guests Lizzo, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock and, not incidentally,...

Can you believe that Christmas is less than two months away?! Now that it’s November, it’s time to start listening to your holiday music playlists.

SiriusXM just revealed their official lineup of 26 festival channels, including three new ones. The holiday season kicks off November 8 on SiriusXM with many of the channels live now and streaming on the SiriusXM app.

Traditional holiday songs, classical Christmas carols, country Christmas classics, contemporary holiday tunes, soul music, Hanukkah music and so many more, can be heard on all of the offerings.

Subscribers are able to listen online, on-the-go with the SiriusXM mobile app, and at home on a wide variety of connected devices including smart TVs, Amazon Alexa devices, Apple TV, PlayStation, Roku, Sonos speakers and more.

Head inside to check out the list of channels…

Keep scrolling for the full list of channels…

SiriusXM’s Holiday Channel Line-Up (Quick Guide)

Channel...

Ken Kragen, producer of Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, among others, organizer of humanitarian projects including “We Are The World” and “Hands Across America and personal manager to Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie and many others, died Tuesday of natural causes at his home in Brentwood, CA, a family spokesperson announced. He was 85.

A graduate of Harvard Business School, Kragen’s decades-long career transcended the music and entertainment industries, where he managed some of the world’s top entertainers including Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, The Bee Gees, Olivia Newton-John, Burt Reynolds, The Smothers Brothers, and Trisha Yearwood, among others.

He created and organized historic humanitarian projects including “We Are the World,” and “Hands Across America,” for which he was honored with the United Nations’ Peace Medal, as well as Cisco System’s “NetAid.”

Kragen also produced a variety of film and TV projects, from the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on CBS to...

Today, music-centric charity In Concert for Cancer (Icfc) announced its 10th Anniversary Music Celebration, taking place on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 5 p.m. Pst, which will be streamed on YouTube and Facebook.

Half of the proceeds from the virtual event will benefit the Department of Supportive Care Medicine at City of Hope, a world-renowned cancer research and treatment organization. The special anniversary concert will celebrate the music of Stevie Wonder and will feature musical luminaries Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, Kenny Lattimore, Judith Hill, Danny Seraphine and Tony Grant—backed by a world-class 12-piece band led by musical director and drummer Nisan Stewart.

“Stevie is a living legend and an inspiration to the world,” said Icfc founder Michele Abrams. “His music means so much to everyone. His songs affirm the importance and power of love, unity, community, equality and hope. We are honored to celebrate Stevie and feel that performing his songs...

William Shatner has tackled everything from blues and country to prog on his idiosyncratic albums over the past few years, and he’s just announced that his next release, Bill, will be a blend of spoken-word poetry and music, drawing inspiration from key moments in the actor’s long life.

Bill arrives in stores September 24th via Joe Jonas’ new label Let’s Get It! Records/Republic Records, and right now you can check out “Clouds of Guilt,” a collaboration with Jonas. “I’ve been a fan of Bill’s...

Brian McKnight had been wondering when he might get a call to appear on “The Masked Singer.” But when it came, it instead was for spinoff series “The Masked Dancer.”

“I’m sure I’m not the only quote-unquote ‘celebrity’ sitting at home watching these shows unfold, saying, ‘How come I haven’t gotten the call for this? Have people forgotten about me?'” McKnight told Variety. “So when you get the call you’re like, ‘yeah I’m gonna do the Masked Dancer!'”

McKnight was revealed to be the person under the Cricket costume on Wednesday’s edition of “The Masked Dancer.” He was unmasked after dancing to Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It.”

Although a well-known performer, known for hits such as “Back at One” and “One Last Cry,” McKnight admits he doesn’t have much dancing expertise. ” I spent all my time as...

Foo Fighters played a sold-out pre-Super Bowl concert Saturday night in Atlanta, a gig that was live-streamed over Twitter.

The Atlanta Station show featured a number of special guests, including Zac Brown and Tom Morello, who joined the Foo Fighters at the two-hour mark of the video below to perform Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.”

The performance marked the third time Brown had performed the Paranoid classic with Foo Fighters, a collaboration that happened twice in 2014 following the country singer’s appearance on Sonic Highways.

After “War Pigs,” Morello and...

Lady Gaga has no problem living — and revealing — her truth.

While accepting a patron award at the SAG-aftra Foundation’s third annual Patron of the Artists Awards on Thursday night in Beverly Hills, the “Star Is Born” actress called on Hollywood to provide better mental health care for people in the entertainment business.

In a nearly 25-minute speech, she detailed her own “mental health crisis” that prompted her to seek professional help after becoming overwhelmed by work commitments.

“I began to notice that I would stare off into space and black out for seconds or minutes,” Gaga recalled. “I would see flashes of things I was tormented by, experiences that were filed away in my brain with ‘I’ll deal with you later’ for many years because my brain was protecting me, as science teaches us. These were also symptoms of disassociation and Ptsd and I did not have a...

Foo Fighters will curate and headline another installment of their Cal Jam festival, with the 2018 edition costarring Iggy Pop, Billy Idol, Tenacious D, Garbage, Greta Van Fleet and many more Dave Grohl-endorsed artists. The festival will feature more than 20 artists across four stages, October 5-6, 2018, again at the Glen Helen Regional Park and Amphitheater in San Bernardino, Calif. The festival is promoted by Live Nation; the full lineup to day appears below. (Read Variety’s review of last year’s festival here.)

One-day tickets cost $99 (plus taxes and fees), according to the announcement. Saturday ticket holders have the option to buy a Friday night ticket for $30 (plus taxes and fees). All camping packages include free entrance to the Friday night Party. Tickets and camping packages go on sale this Thursday, May 17th at 10Am Pst.

The festival kicks off Friday night with Billy Idol, comedian Bridget Everett and Mexico City’s Mexrrissey,...

After twenty years of sold out Christmas tours and five celebrated holiday albums within as many years, saxophonist Dave Koz has done his share – and then some – to help to make the season bright.

Dave Koz and Friends 20th Anniversary Christmas

This year he has reassembled his original holiday lineup – pianist David Benoit, trumpeter Rick Braun and acoustic guitarist Peter White – for the making of Dave Koz and Friends 20th Anniversary Christmas, an album that features brand new recordings of classic Christmas songs.

The September 29, 2017, release of Dave Koz and Friends 20th Anniversary Christmas on Concord Records sets the stage for Koz and this same lineup to go back on the road in late November for the 2017 holiday season.

“If you had asked me twenty years ago, I would never in a million years believed that we’d be doing Christmas tours two decades later,” says Koz. “But here we are,...

Celebrity natives of Flint, Michigan are banding together to help their hometown. A group of Hollywood stars, led by Flint expat and famed jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater, are holding a concert on Feb. 21 to benefit those affected by the water contamination crisis. "We're all critically aware of what's going on in Flint," Bridgewater tells People. "My role is to perform and reach out to a lot of celebrities that I know in the Los Angeles area to make them aware of the benefit and see if I can get them involved." The three-time Grammy award-winner's family is currently suffering...

Nominations for the 46th NAACP Image Awards have been revealed and "Belle," "Beyond the Lights," "Dear White People," "Get On Up," and "Selma" are duking it out for the Outstanding Motion Picture Award.

Winners will be announced on Friday, February 6, 2015 in a two-hour televised event on TV One.

The NAACP Image Awards celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.

Here's the complete list of nominees for the 46th NAACP Image Awards:

Television

Outstanding Comedy Series

. "black-ish" (ABC)

. "House of Lies" (Showtime)

. "Key & Peele" (Comedy Central)

. "Orange is the New Black" (Netflix)

. "Real Husbands of Hollywood" (Bet)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

. Andre Braugher - "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (Fox)

. Anthony Anderson - "'black-ish" (ABC)

. Don Cheadle - "House of Lies" (Showtime)

. Keegan-Michael Key - "Key & Peele" (Comedy Central)

. Kevin Hart...

Nominations for the 46th annual NAACP Image Awards were announced today across categories in film, television, music and the literary world. In the film arena, top nominees were Amma Asante's "Belle," Gina Prince-Bythewood's "Beyond the Lights," Justin Simien's "Dear White People," Tate Taylor's "Get On Up" and Ava DuVernay's "Selma." Check out the full list of nominees below. Winners will be announced on Feb. 6. And remember to keep track of the season via The Circuit! Film Outstanding Motion Picture "Belle" (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films) "Beyond The Lights" (Relativity Media) "Dear White People" (Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions) "Get On Up" (Universal Pictures) "Selma" (Paramount Pictures) Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture Amma Asante, "Belle" (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films) Antoine Fuqua, "The Equalizer" (Columbia Pictures) Ava DuVernay, "Selma" (Paramount Pictures) John Ridley, "Jimi: All Is By My Side" (XLrator Media) Gina Prince-Bythewood, "Beyond The Lights...

Gearing up for another year of excitement, the 46th Annual NAACP Image Awards just unveiled the first round of hopefuls and there are plenty of worthy contenders.

In the television categories, Shonda Rhimes’ series “Scandal” and “How to Get Away With Murder” are among the most nominated, though “Black-ish” is also up there. Meanwhile, “Selma” and “Get on Up” are the top two movies on the docket, ahead of the big event on Friday, February 6th, 2015. Per the official website, “The NAACP Image Awards honors the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and honors those who promote social justice through creative endeavors.”

And the nominees are:

Outstanding Comedy Series

“Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)

“black-ish” (ABC)

“House of Lies” (Showtime)

“Key & Peele” (Comedy Central)

“Real Husbands of Hollywood” (Bet)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

Andre Braugher – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox)

Anthony Anderson...

Paramount’s Selma, Universal’s Get On Up and Lionsgate’s Dear White People are among the Outstanding Motion Picture nominees for the NAACP’s Image Awards, which will be bestowed live on TVOne on February 6. On the TV side, Shonda Rhimes’ ABC trifecta of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder are all up for best drama. Here is the full list:

Film

Outstanding Motion Picture

“Belle” (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films)

“Beyond The Lights” (Relativity Media)

“Dear White People” (Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions)

“Get On Up” (Universal Pictures)

“Selma” (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

Chadwick Boseman – “Get On Up” (Universal Pictures)

David Oyelowo – “Selma” (Paramount Pictures)

Denzel Washington – “The Equalizer” (Columbia Pictures)

Idris Elba – “No Good Deed” (Screen Gems)

Nate Parker – “Beyond The Lights” (Relativity Media)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

Gugu Mbatha-Raw – “Belle” (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films)

Quvenzhané Wallis...

The 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards went off without a hitch earlier this evening (February 22) with "12 Years a Slave" continuing to make waves snagging the biggest prize of the night.

Before her film won Outstanding Motion Picture, the gorgeous Lupita Nyong'o added another piece of hardware to her already impressive collection taking home a trophy for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, while Kerry Washington snagged up her second Image Award with a win for Best Actress in a Dramatic Series. Kerry's show "Scandal" also won Outstanding Drama Series.

In addition, the hilarious Kevin Hart took home Entertainer of the Year, while Oprah Winfrey paid tribute to the late Nelson Mandela with a touching speech and musical dedication.

"He was everything we have all have heard and more. He was humble and he was unscathed by any kind of bitterness after all that we know he's been through," Winfrey said.

The 45th NAACP Image Awards were presented Saturday night (Feb. 22), with names like Kevin Hart, Kerry Washington, "12 Years a Slave" director Steve McQueen and Lupita Nyong'o being honored.

The Image Awards pay tribute to the best in film, TV, writing, music and literature. Take a look at the full list of winners below.

Winners are in bold.

Entertainer of the Year

Kevin Hart

Film

Outstanding Motion Picture

"12 Years A Slave" "Fruitvale Station""Lee Daniels' The Butler""Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom""The Best Man Holiday" 

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

Forest Whitaker - "Lee Daniels' The Butler"Chadwick Boseman - "42"Chiwetel Ejiofor - "12 Years A Slave"Idris Elba - "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom"Michael B. Jordan - "Fruitvale Station"

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

Angela Bassett - "Black Nativity"Halle Berry - "The Call"Jennifer Hudson - "Winnie Mandela"Kerry Washington - "Tyler Perry Presents Peeples"Nicole Beharie...

It was an incredible night at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards with amazing performances from Beyonce Knowles and Jay-z, along with Katy Perry and Lorde, just to name a few.

Hosted by the uber-talented LL Cool J, there were a plethora of winners this evening (January 26) including Macklemore and Ryan Lewis taking home the trophy for Best New Artist.

Daft Punk scored the biggest prize of the night with Album of the Year for Random Access Memories. In addition, the French electronic duo won Record of the Year with "Get Lucky" featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, along with Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Dance/Electronica Album.

Another memorable moment went to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis when Madonna and Queen Latifah joined them on stage for "Same Love," during which 34 couples tied the knot!

Check out the full list of 56th Annual Grammy Award winners below!

Record of...

Which music stars went home with awards at the 2014 Grammy Awards? Find out with this full winners list.

Winners in each category are bolded.

Record of the Year

"Get Lucky" -- Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers

"Radioactive" -- Imagine Dragons

"Royals" -- Lorde

"Locked Out of Heaven" -- Bruno Mars

"Blurred Lines" -- Robin Thick feat. T.I. and Pharrell

Album of the year

"The Blessed Unrest" -- Sara Bareilles

"Random Access Memories" -- Daft Punk

"Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" -- Kendrick Lamar

"The Heist" -- Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

"Red" -- Taylor Swift

Song of the year

"Just Give Me a Reason" -- Jeff Bhasker, Pink and Nate Ruess (Pink feat. Nate Ruess)

"Locked Out of Heaven" -- Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine and Bruno Mars (Bruno Mars)

"Roar" -- Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Katy Perry and Henry Walter (Katy Perry)

"Royals...

Adding their picks to the awards season deluge, the 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards unveiled the official list of nominees.

Not surprisingly, “The Butler” will compete in categories including Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Supporting Actor & Actress and Writing.

Meanwhile, Kerry Washington’s “Scandal” is up for Outstanding Drama Series, and Ms. Washington herself received a nod for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.

NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock gushed, “This has been an incredible year from the artistic community, with phenomenal contributions across the board from the music, television, motion picture, and literature genres that have the power and impact to drive social change.”

The 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards will go live on Friday, February 21st.

And the nominees are:

Television

Outstanding Comedy Series

"House of Lies" (Showtime)

"Modern Family" (ABC)

"Real Husbands of Hollywood" (Bet)

"The Game" (Bet)

"The Soul Man" (TV Land)

Outstanding Actor in...

News

Open, the human sexuality drama Ryan Murphy is producing for HBO, has cast Scott Speedman as its second male lead, according to Deadline. I am now eagerly awaiting the gifs to flow on Tumblr.

Scott Speedman

In the latest news of real crime to take notes from Breaking Bad, an Idaho man killed his girlfriend and tried to dispose of the body by soaking it in acid. When police checked his DVD player, it had been left at the scene where Walter instructs Jesse on the kind of plastic tub to buy for that kind of disposal.

I’m debating how I feel about the news that The Price is Right celebrating the anniversary of Plinko with an all-Plinko episode. I love Plinko, and when I manage to catch Tpir, I’m thrilled to see the Plinko board — but I’m not sure if it’ll work with no...

Birthday shoutouts go to Nathan Fillion (above), who is 42, Dave Koz is 50, Fergie is 38, Mariah Carey is 43, and Jann Arden is 51. The Canadian songstress will always hold a place in my heart for giving us one the greatest singles of the pop wasteland of the 90's.

Towleroad has analysis of today's Scotus event. But it's looking that Doma may be toast. CBS Renews Elementary, The Good Wife, Person Of Interest, NCIS: La, Mentalist, 2 Broke Girls, Mike & Molly & Blue Bloods.Ten years after the last Angelina Jolie sequel, Tomb Raider is about to get a big screen reboot.Joseph Gordon-Levitt is returning to TV! "The former 3rd Rock from the Sun star is set to host a variety show based on his collaborative site, hitReCord, for Participant Media’s newly announced cable network, pivot." I have no idea what that is, but it's great news.In ratings news, The New Normal took a spectacular leap,...

With the fabulous extravaganza coming to an end, the 55th Annual Grammy Awards named the year’s big winners during an extremely entertaining presentation at the Staples Center on Sunday (February 10).

Taking home the top prize tonight was Mumford and Sons winning Album of the Year, while other tremendous victors included Adele, The Black Keys, and Carrie Underwood.

While viewers found out who took home the prizes of the night, they were also treated to dazzling performances from Rihanna with Bruno Mars and Sting, along with Miss Undersood, Justin Timberlake, and Taylor Swift.

In addition, Fun. cleaned up by taking home the coveted award for Song of the Year and Best New Artist.

Meanwhile, the complete list of 2013 Grammy Award Winners is as follows:

General Field

Record Of The Year

Lonely Boy - The Black Keys

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson

We Are Young - Fun. featuring...

The 55th Grammy Awards have arrived, and music's biggest night promises a ton of trophies, and hopefully some great live performances by today's hottest acts. Who has the best record of 2012? How about the year's best new artist? Stick with Zap2it throughout the night, as we continue updating the list of this year's winners!

All of the award categories are below, with the winners in bold.

Record of the Year"Lonely Boy" by The Black Keys"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" by Kelly Clarkson"We Are Young" by Fun., featuring Janelle Monáe"Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye, featuring Kimbra"Thinkin Bout You" by Frank Ocean"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" by Taylor Swift

Album of the Year"El Camino" by The Black Keys"Some Nights" by Fun."Babel" by Mumford & Sons"Channel Orange" by Frank Ocean"Blunderbuss" by Jack White

Song of the Year...

(Rns) In his new book, "The Whitney I Knew," gospel artist BeBe Winans describes his 28-year friendship with singer Whitney Houston. Winans, 49, and his sister CeCe, performed with Houston, and sang at her funeral in February. His older brother, Marvin, gave the eulogy for Houston at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J.

In an interview, Winans talked about the faith of the woman known just as "Whitney," and why he won't rush to see her in "Sparkle," the movie that opens Friday (Aug. 17).

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: As a grieving friend of Whitney Houston's, why did you decide to write this book?

A: I felt it would enable me to embrace the pain and come to the other side of it and also, in my personal way, paint the picture of who Whitney really was and not allow just the tabloids to describe who she was.

Birthday shoutouts go to the adorable Nathan Fillion (above), who turns 41, and out jazzman Dave Koz is 49. Hello! Hello! Hello! It's time for Xuxa , who's 49, faboo ally Pauley Perrette is 43, and Fergie is 37. Do a Fergie/Black Eyed Peas list if you must, but I'm doing Mariah Carey, who's 42 today. Here are my top five, but I'm all about vintage Mariah, when she was actually singing, and not doing that breathless-whisper thing that she does now.: 5. "Always Be My Baby" 4. "Dreamlover," 3. "Make It Happen," 2. "Vision Of Love," 1. "Can't Let Go"The big news today was the Hrc releasing the previously sealed documents from Nom's adventures in Maine, revealing that Nom is just as sleazy as everyone already knew. As always, Thomas Roberts is the first on-air anchor to expose their B.S.

Yesterday I mentioned the names being bandied about to play Carrie's mother in the unnecessary remake, and...

There was no escaping the reality of their sudden and tragic loss, but by Sunday afternoon the music industry's brightest stars and biggest hitters were putting on their brave faces for the Grammy red carpet. The show was to begin at 8 Et and be broadcast on CBS. Read more: Whitney Houston: Details of Death Emerge with Autopsy Scheduled for Today As the pre-telecast awards ceremony began, host Dave Koz acknowledged the tragedy, noting the “great legacy of Miss Whitney Houston. She’s in our hearts and our minds.” Taylor Swift (below) was among the early...

The cast of entertainers and sports icons slated to appear at Keep Memory Alive’s 16th annual Power of Love Gala on Saturday, Feb. 18, in Las Vegas keeps getting bigger every day, though only a limited number of tickets remain for the celebrity-filled fundraiser.

Fans wishing to see what’s happening inside this one-of-a-kind 70th birthday celebration for Muhammad Ali — which will raise funds in support of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center — will also be able to tune in to “Ali 70th From Las Vegas” on ABC on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 4 p.m. Et and 2 p.m. Pt. It will re-air on ESPN2 later that same night at 10 p.m. Et.

The lineup for the night includes performances and heartfelt tributes from some of the world’s hottest entertainers and sports icons. The list of performers and celebrity supporters slated to...

The Grammy Foundation will host One Night Only: A Celebration Of The Live Music Experience — the 14th Annual Grammy Foundation Music Preservation Project — featuring live musical performances and historical footage from preservation archives.

Television personality and entrepreneur Sharon Osbourne and Grammy-winning guitarist Steve Vai will be the evening’s co-hosts, and rock icon and philanthropist Bret Michaels will perform as the closing act.

Additional performers include Grammy winners Robert Cray, Jonny Lang, Shelby Lynne, and Mavis Staples; current Grammy nominees Dave Koz and Ledisi; and the Colburn Orchestra, A Fine Frenzy, winner of the Queen Extravaganza contest Marc Martel, finalist on season one of NBC’s “The Voice” Beverly McClellan, and Tyrese. The evening’s musical director will be Darrell Brown, songwriter/producer, Recording Academy Trustee, and Grammy Foundation Board member. Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation, will be in attendance, along with other...

The Grammy Foundation will host One Night Only: A Celebration Of The Live Music Experience — the 14th Annual Grammy Foundation Music Preservation Project — on Thursday, Feb. 9 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, California.

One Night Only: A Celebration Of The Live Music Experience will explore the history and evolution of live concert performances and celebrate the various and invaluable contributions of those events, the key players behind them, and their influence on the American cultural landscape. The event will feature live musical performances and archival footage.

Hosted by television personality Sharon Osbourne, performers will include Grammy winners Robert Cray, Jonny Lang and Mavis Staples; current Grammy nominees Dave Koz and Ledisi; and A Fine Frenzy, the Colburn Orchestra, Trombone Shorty, and Tyrese, as well as other artists to be announced shortly. The evening’s musical director will be Darrell Brown, songwriter/producer, Recording Academy Trustee and Grammy Foundation Board member.

Tom Morello: The Watchman is part of the new season of The Guitar Center's award-winning Directv series. This "musical call to arms" premieres Saturday, December 17 at 9pm Et/Pt in 2D hi-definition on Directv's Audience Network (channel 239) and in 3D on Directv's in 3D™ powered by Panasonic.

The show features an intimate conversation with Morello about the "high-wire act" of embarking on a solo career, the impetus behind his storied musical career and how his definition of "heavy music" has changed over the years with host and esteemed musical tastemaker Nic Harcourt.

Here is The Huffington Post's exclusive...

Ani Difranco 's Latest...

¿Which Side Are You On?, in stores January 17th, will be Ani Difranco's first studio album in more than three years. The title track is her unique reworking of the famed protest anthem, written in 1931, but made famous by Pete Seeger, who Difranco calls, "my elder,...

-- "The Wayman Tisdale Story" (Rendezvous Music/Mack Avenue)

"The Wayman Tisdale Story" is the larger-than-life tale of a three-time college All-American, Olympic gold medalist and 12-year NBA veteran who after he gave up hoops turned to his "first love" – music – and became a contemporary jazz star with several chart-topping CDs. But it's more than that.

It's also the inspirational story of a "gentle giant" – the son and brother of noted preachers_ who always kept his trademark smile and faith in a courageous battle against the bone cancer that eventually claimed his life at age 44 in May 2009.

The CD/DVD package includes a recent documentary, written and directed by Brian Schodorf, that includes some of Tisdale's last interviews in the weeks before his death, as well as footage from his final concert in Memphis, Tenn., when despite having lost half of his right leg, he still thrilled the crowd with...

A new celebrity charity album has been released for a good cause just in time for Christmas.

The Everychild Within Us CD features brand new, unreleased music from Zooey Deschanel’s She and Him and Burt Bacharach, as well as music by singer-songwriters such as Randy Newman, David Crosby, Shawn Colvin, Kenny Loggins, Lisa Loeb and Katrina Carlson. The new album also includes songs by Dave Koz and Jim Wilson.

Read more...

Jethro Nededog

In light of the divorce filing just 72 days after marrying Kris Humphries, Kim Kardashian’s wedding has definitely come under scrutiny. But now, one of the performers at the event is saying he felt something was definitely wrong at the nuptials. Photos: 19 of Hollywood's All-Time Shortest Marriages "Honestly, in retrospect, I've got to admit it didn't feel right," Grammy nominated saxaphone player, Dave Koz, tells the Corpus Christi Caller Times. Koz was at the highly publicized Santa Barbara event in August, which eventually aired on a two-part special on E! in early-October. He performed his

read more...

Well, after the dust has settled, it turns out that Cowboys & Aliens has narrowly edged out The Smurfs for #1 at the box office. Adorkable Chris Hayes will anchor a new weekend show on MSNBC starting September 17th. It will air live on Saturdays from 7 - 9 Am Et, and Sunday 8 - 10 Am Et, amidst shows about brawls caught on camera and psycho stalkers.

Dave Koz performs at the Grammy Block Party

Production is going forward on Die Hard 5: Keep Your Damn Hands Off My Medicaid!, with Bruce Willis reprising his role as that guy from all the other Die Hard movies. Allison Janney and John Benjamin Hickey stopped by Watch What Happens Live last night, and in the clip below, you can see a surprising tidbit about John and Andy Cohen revealed.

Ballistic: Ecks Vs. Sever star Lucy Liu is is joining the cast of Southland. She'll "guest star...

Because it seems virtually impossible to write about anything this weekend without bringing Harry Potter into it, let's get it over with. The wizard is set to smash nearly every opening weekend record: $43.5 million for midnight screenings, and $92.1 million in the first day. It's put a stake in the heart of that sparkling vampire on those records, and looks to clip the wings of The Dark Knight, which grossed merely $158 million in its opening weekend. Potter is on track to rake in $187 million.

In a truly odd ruling issued minutes after the court closed for the weekend, the Ninth Circuit split the difference on Don't Ask, Don't Tell, reinstating the stay that keeps the law on the books, but barring the military from investigating or separating soldiers under the law. I really can't imagine how much uncertainty this creates for people who just want to serve their country.

But in San Diego,...

Happy 48th Birthday to gay-fav Edie Falco

dot429 has an interview with Patrick O'Neill, advertising's "out, gay, creative rock star." Hell hath no fury like a pissed-off Chord Overstreet fan. The Advocate talks to Lady Gaga about her activism, her critics, and her music. Okay, I vehemently defended her against accusations that she was ripping off Madonna, but when steals her look from Blossom, that's going ... too far.

The February issue of Vanity Fair, with Justin Bieber on the cover, was the worst selling issue in 12 years. Popeater has a collection of tweets from celebs responding to the "Wtf?" verdict in the Casey Anthony trial. Anyone up for shooting fish in a barrel? Below you can see Bryan Safi chat with gay Republican Presidential candidate Fred Karger about ... being a gay Republican Presidential candidate.

The Guardian talks to Ricky Martin, who opens about his feelings for the gay community since...

Kristin Chenoweth attends 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented by Rokk Vodka in Los Angeles.Photo copyright Keadrick D. Washington / PR Photos. Kristin Chenoweth attends 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented by Rokk Vodka in Los Angeles.Photo copyright Keadrick D. Washington / PR Photos. Kristin Chenoweth attends 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented by Rokk Vodka in Los Angeles.Photo copyright Keadrick D. Washington / PR Photos. Kristin Chenoweth attends 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented by Rokk Vodka in Los Angeles.Photo copyright Keadrick D. Washington / PR Photos. Kirsten Dunst attends 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented by Rokk Vodka in Los Angeles.Photo copyright Keadrick D. Washington / PR Photos. 04/10/2011 - Dave Koz -...

Good news, America! For the first time ever, we get to see the Doctor Who Christmas Special on Christmas Day. BBC America will air this year’s tale, loosely modeled on A Christmas Carol and guest starring Michael Gambon at 9 Pm.

More good news, and this isn’t just for America. Glee is promoting Harry Shum, Jr. to series regular for next season. Does this mean Sue has to stop calling him Other Asian?

The Marine Corps has found a new way to express their homophobia. They’ve demanded that the gay Toys for Tots party that raises money in New York City change their name after 25 years. They want people to know that when they donate to Toys For Tots, it’s going to the Marine charity.

The Prop 8 oral arguments will be televised on C-span. Stunning that we'll see the appeal live, after Scotus intervened to stop the trial from being televised.

By Greg Hernandez

HollywoodNews.com: Red Carpet Scene: Among the celebrities on hand were Lily Tomlin, Kathy Griffin, honoree Jane Lynch, presenters Ryan Murphy and Matthew Morrison, Queer as Folk alum and board member Peter Paige, True Blood star James Frain, Kat Graham of Vampire Diaries, saxophonist Dave Koz, and blogger Perez Hilton.

Morrison was the first big name to arrive. He posed for photographers then was hustled off by a publicist who explained that he had to prepare for the show (he was presenting to Lynch approximately three hours later). But Matthew did return to the red carpet to join Lynch, Griffin and Tomlin for a group photo. The trio of ladies seemed delighted to be in each other’s company and all worked much of the press line. Unfortunately, I was so far down that none of them got to Greg In Hollywood!

Controversy: When guests arrived at...

The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center had the perfect recipe to throw a successful anniversary bash Saturday as its 39th annual gala fundraiser set record attendance and was on pace to raise $600,000 for its programs.

With its Rand Schrader Distinguished Achievement Award going to Glee star Jane Lynch — and being presented by co-star Matthew Morrison (who plays Will Schuester) and creator-writer-director Ryan Murphy — the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel’s California Ballroom was standing room only as entertainers ranging from host Lily Tomlin to Kathy Griffin helped the Center raise funds for programs that support homeless Lgbt youth and those living with AIDS.

Tomlin kicked off the high school-themed evening with an opening monologue that ripped on everything from George W. Bush’s recent book — “that he claims to have written” — to ABC’s gay-friendly Modern Family, about which she joked that the show is among Republicans’ top 10 favorites because...

The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center had the perfect recipe to throw a successful anniversary bash Saturday as its 39th annual gala fundraiser set record attendance and was on pace to raise $600,000 for its programs.

With its Rand Schrader Distinguished Achievement Award going to Glee star Jane Lynch — and being presented by co-star Matthew Morrison (who plays Will Schuester) and creator-writer-director Ryan Murphy — the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel’s California Ballroom was standing room only as entertainers ranging from host Lily Tomlin to Kathy Griffin helped the Center raise funds for programs that support homeless Lgbt youth and those living with AIDS.

Tomlin kicked off the high school-themed evening with an opening monologue that ripped on everything from George W. Bush’s recent book — “that he claims to have written” — to ABC’s gay-friendly Modern Family, about which she joked that the show is among Republicans’ top 10 favorites because...

Adam deserves a more throne-like chair.

Adam Lambert has sat down with E! for his own E! True Hollywood Story. Access to Adam, his brother Neil, and their mom and dad will give a no holds barred view of his journey from playing Linus in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown to his current Glamnation tour. A London school claims to have eliminated homophobia on campus by teaching gay history, which makes sense. It would never work in the United States because conservatives would claim that children were being "indoctrinated into the homosexual lifestyle" and that schools were being used as recruiting centers. Last night on The Colbert Report's "Indecision 2010: Revenge of the Fallen" Stephen talked about the gay trash talking coming from Ken Bucks and Sean Bielat. I'd explain more, but it would ruin the jokes.

David Alan Grier appears to be trading his Bones lab coat in for some dancing shoes.

In next week's episode of "Desperate Housewives", Susan's days as a sexy internet sensation may be coming to an end after she angers an important client and incurs the wrath of her boss, Maxine. Renee and Gabrielle are headed for a smackdown after each of them reveals an intimate secret about the other to the wrong people.

Bree finds herself exhausted by younger lover Keith's sexual stamina. Lynette is angry with Tom after he asks his mother to become the baby's nanny without talking it over with her first and housewife Emma Graham (singer-songwriter Dana Glover) puts on a cabaret show - with the aid of saxophonist Dave Koz - with surprising results.

Called "Let Me Entertain You", the episode airs October 24 on ABC.

A Conversation with Dave Koz Mike Ragogna: Hello, Dave. Dave Koz: Hello there to you, Mike. Nice to talk to you, and wow--solar-powered radio. Mr: And we're the only station in the Midwest doing it. Dk: And you got clear to the end of the song. It must be a sunny day in Iowa. Mr: That's right! We'd be okay with clouds too though, bring 'em. Dk: The sun does go through the clouds. The last time I checked, the sun was pretty powerful. Mr: What's really great about it is that it's the only one in the Midwest, but we don't really want to be able to claim that. We want everybody to be using solar power soon, especially in places like Southern California where you are, right? Dk: Well, I'm in New York City, right now. I'm spending the month in New York, which is kind...

Plus Alexander Skarsgård drops robe, a gay prom king and queen, and the High School Musical franchise gets gay!

You know you need to get laid when your biggest problem with Glee is that they never bring up acquiring performance licenses for the music on the show. And you blog about it, in detail, with dollar figures.

I am a total geek, so when Wil Wheaton posted a link to an interactive, Flash-based map of Ringworld from the Larry Niven books, I knew I couldn't actually look myself, or you’d never get a Meme. Tell me if it’s wonderful?

Believe it or not, Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark is being penciled in for October previews, with a late November opening. The $52 million musical just needs to sell out the theater until 2016 to break even.

This weekend at L.A. Pride, Life Out Loud will be honoring teens...

Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Kimmel, and Elton John are just several celebrities who are kicking off their shoes for the Second Annual Hillsides Foster Soles auction.

Held during Foster Care Awareness Month in May, the annual online auction raises awareness of national foster care issues and the plight of children and youth in the system by auctioning off celebrity signed shoes and photographs.

The online auction, which runs from May 4 through May 20, includes autographed shoes from Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Kimmel, Elton John, Billy Joel, Larry King, Ryan Seacrest, Billy Zane, Dave Koz, Jack Johnson, Jamie Kennedy, Marlee Matlin, Dr. Drew Pinsky, “Dancing with the Stars” performers, Wayne Newton, Adam Sandler, Florence Henderson, Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, and many more – including USA Network’s cast of “Burn Notice.”

Read more...

Taylor Swift gets shut out at the 2010 ACMs in Las Vegas.

By Gil Kaufman

Miranda Lambert takes home the award for "Album of the Year" at the 2010 Acm awards

Photo: Rick Diamond/ Getty Images

Las Vegas — It was poised to be a big night for the ladies at the 45th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday night from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. And Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum made sure that prediction came true as the pistol-packing country gal, the former "American Idol" champ and the female-led chart-topping trio swept up the evening's major awards.

Host Reba McEntire opened the show with some sharp-tongued barbs, praising the year of hits that included "White Liar," and then thanked Tiger Woods and Jesse James for giving country's women so much material. She took some good-humored jabs at young stars Underwood and Taylor Swift, joking about Underwood's...

Toby Keith gave a heartrending tribute to NBA player and jazz bass guitar great Wayman Tisdale with his song "Cryin' for Me" at the 2010 Academy of Country Music awards.

Tisdale passed away on May 15, 2009 after a two-year battle with osteosarcoma (cancer in his knee). He had his leg amputed from the disease in 2008 but never stopped fighting to beat the cancer. He is survived by his wife REgina and four children.

Toby Keith dedicated his 2009 album "American Ride" to Tisdale and wrote "Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)" in his memory. Toby Keith and Dave Koz, a jazz saxophone player, performed the tribute song for the 2010 Acm awards. We'll post video just as soon as it becomes available but for now, check out the music video for "Cryin' for Me."

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Country singer Toby Keith will give a special performance at the 45th annual Academy of Country Music Awards Sunday night.

Keith will sing "Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)" with Dave Koz in support of Stand Up to Cancer, the charity selected this year by Acm Lifting Lives. Keith wrote the song in memory of his friend and fellow musician, Wayman Tisdale, a former NBA player and accomplished jazz bassist, who passed away unexpectedly last May...