The three-time Emmy Award-winning “The Voice” returns to NBC on Monday, February 27, 2017 with the “strongest vocalists from across the country” invited to compete in the blockbuster vocal competition show’s new season.
Grammy Award-winning artist Gwen Stefani returns as a coach this season, joining megastars Alicia Keys, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton and host Carson Daly.
SPOTTED: Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato at unite4:good and Variety’s unite4:humanity Gala held at Sony Pictures Studios on in Culver City, Calif. This was Selena’s first public appearance since news of her rehab stint broke. The singer looked her gorgeous and radiant self in a pink, jeweled Antonio Berardi jumpsuit, Manolo Blahnik heels, and Neil Lane jewelry. Continue reading
Here are some cool happenings on the music front:
American singer songwriter Alicia Keys is set to release her fifth studio album, titled Girl on Fire in late November and the Rolling Stones round off the month with two gigs at London’s 02 Arena. December sees the release of Ke$ha‘s Warrior and Bruno Mars drops Unorthodox Jukebox. Continue reading
Baywatch top honcho David Hasselhoff got a little starry-eyed Sunday at MTV European Music Awards which were held in Frankfurt, Germany.
The actor/singer who is tremendously popular in Germany transformed into a fan himself and started Tweeting photos of himself posing with various celebrities.
“This party is rocking!” Hoff Tweeted along with a photo of himself with Taylor Swift, adding “@taylorswift13 is so nice and so beautiful don’t you all agree?”
Hoff next moved over and found Kanye West. “Saw kanye at Coachella last year,” Hoff wrote before gushing, “Great to see him again. He’s a gentleman and an amazing artist!” Continue reading
The final goodbyes were said for Whitney Houston at New Hope Baptists Church in Newark, N.J. on Saturday, February 18.
Close friends Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder performed at the funeral service while Kevin Costner, Tyler Perry, Clive Davis, Kim Burrell, Donnie McClurkin, Rickey Minor and Cece Winans gave moving spoken farewells. Continue reading
Album of the Year: The Suburbs, Arcade Fire
Record of the Year: “Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
Rap Album: Recovery, Eminem
New Artist: Esperanza Spalding
RAP:
Rap Song: Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind,” The Blueprint 3
Rap/Sung Collaboration: Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind,” The Blueprint 3
Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz, “On to the Next One,” The Blueprint 3
Rap Solo Performance: Eminem, “Not Afraid,” Recovery
Urban/Alternative Performance: “F*** You,” Cee Lo Green
ROCK:
Solo Rock Vocal Performance: Paul McCartney, “Helter Skelter,” Good Evening New York City
Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: The Black Keys, “Tighten Up,” Brothers
Rock Song: “Angry World,” Neil Young, Le Noise
Hard Rock Performance: New Fang, “Them Crooked Vultures,” Them Crooked Vultures
Metal Performance: “El Dorado,” Iron Maiden, The Final Frontier
Rock Instrumental Performance: Jeff Beck, “Hammerhead,” Emotion & Commotion
Rock Album: Muse, The Resistance
COUNTRY:
Female Country Vocal Performance: Miranda Lambert, ” The House That Built Me,” Revolution
Male Country Vocal Performance: Keith Urban, “‘Til Summer Comes Around”
Country Song: “Need You Now,” Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum) (Need You Now)
Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now”
Country Instrumental Performance: Marty Stuart, “Hummingbyrd” (Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions)
New Age Album: Miho: Journey to the Mountain, Paul Winter Consort
Contemporary Jazz Album: The Stanley Clarke Band, The Stanley Clarke Band
Jazz Vocal Album: Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee, Dee Dee Bridgewater
LATIN:
Latin Pop Album: Paraiso Express, Alejandro Sanz
Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album: El Existential, Grupo Fantasma
Tropical Latin Album: Viva La Tradición, Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Tejano Album: Recuerdos, Little Joe & La Familia
Norteño Album: Classic, Intocable
Banda Album: Enamórate De Mí, El Güero Y Su Banda Centenario
JAZZ:
Contemporary Jazz Album: The Stanley Clarke Band, The Stanley Clarke Band
Jazz Vocal Album: Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee, Dee Dee Bridgewater
Improvised Jazz Solo: “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Herbie Hancock (The Imagine Project)
Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: Moody 4B, James Moody
Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Live at Jazz Standard, Mingus Big Band
Latin Jazz Album: Chucho’s Steps, Chucho Valdés and the Afro-Cuban Messengers
GOSPEL:
Gospel Performance: “Grace,” BeBe & CeCe Winans, Still
Gospel Song: “It’s What I Do,” Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters (Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway), The Gospel According to Jazz Chapter III
Rock or Rap Gospel Album: Hello Hurricane, Switchfoot
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: Love God. Love People, Israel Houghton
Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album: The Reason, Diamond Rio
Traditional Gospel Album: Downtown Church, Patty Griffin
Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: Still, BeBe & CeCe Winans
DANCE:
Dance Recording: “Only Girl (in the World),” Rihanna
Electronic/Dance Album: La Roux, La Roux
TRADITIONAL/ALTERNATIVE/WORLD:
Alternative Music Album: Brothers, The Black Keys
Americana Album: You Are Not Alone, Mavis Staples
Bluegrass Album: Mountain Soul II, Patty Loveless
Traditional Blues Album: Joined At The Hip, Pinetop Perkins & Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith
Contemporary Blues Album: Living Proof, Buddy Guy
Traditional Folk Album: Genuine Negro Jig, Carolina Chocolate Drops
Contemporary Folk Album: God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise, Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs
Hawaiian Music Album: Huana Ke Aloha, Tia Carrere
Native American Music Album: 2010 Gathering Of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit’s Dance, Various Artists
Zydeco or Cajun Music Album: Zydeco Junkie, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band
Reggae Album: Before The Dawn, Buju Banton
Traditional World Music Album: Ali And Toumani, Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté
Contemporary World Music Album: Throw Down Your Heart, Africa Sessions Part 2: Unreleased Tracks, Béla Fleck
New Age Album: Miho: Journey to the Mountain, Paul Winter Consort
VISUAL MEDIA:
Short Form Music Video: “Bad Romance,” Lady Gaga
Long Form Music Video: “When You’re Strange,” The Doors
Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books and Storytelling): The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook)
Musical Show Album: American Idiot (Featuring Green Day)
Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Crazy Heart (Various Artists)
Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Toy Story 3, Randy Newman, composer
Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: “The Weary Kind” (From Crazy Heart), Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett, songwriters
Instrumental Composition: “The Path Among the Trees,” Billy Childs, composer (Billy Childs Ensemble), Autumn: In Moving Pictures Jazz—Chamber Music Vol. 2
Instrumental Arrangement: “Carlos,” Vince Mendoza, arranger (John Scofield, Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orkest), 54
CLASSICAL:
Engineered Album, Classical: Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina, Giancarlo Guerrero &Nashville Symphony Orchestra
Producer of the Year: David Frost
Classical Album: Verdi: Requiem, Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus
Orchestral Performance: Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina, Nashville Symphony
Opera Recording:Saariaho: L’Amour De Loin, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Choral Performance: Verdi: Requiem, Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus
Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (With Orchestra): Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 24, Mitsuko Uchida (The Cleveland Orchestra)
Instrumental Soloist Performance (Without Orchestra): Paul Jacobs, Messiaen: Livre Du Saint-Sacrement
Chamber Music Performance: Ligeti: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2, Parker Quartet
Small Ensemble Performance: Dinastia Borja, Jordi Savall, conductor; Hespèrion XXI & La Capella Reial De Catalunya
Classical Vocal Performance: Sacrificium, Cecilia Bartoli (Giovanni Antonini; Il Giardino Armonico)
Classical Contemporary Composition: Michael Daugherty: Deus Ex Machina, Michael Daugherty (Giancarlo Guerrero), Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony
Classical Crossover Album: Christopher Tin: Calling All Dawns
Surround Sound Album: Britten’s Orchestra, Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony
CHILDREN:
Musical Album for Children: Tomorrow’s Children, Pete Seeger with the Rivertown Kids and Friends
Spoken Word Album for Children: Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies, Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton
OTHER:
Comedy Album: Lewis Black, Stark Raving Black
Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): “Baba Yetu,” Christopher Tin, Soweto Gospel Choir & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Calling All Dawns
Recording Package: Brothers, The Black Keys
Boxed or Special Limited-Edition Package: Under Great White Northern Lights (Limited Edition Box Set), The White Stripes
Album Notes: Keep An Eye On The Sky, Big Star
Historical Album: The Beatles (The Original Studio Recordings), The Beatles
Engineered Album, Nonclassical: Battle Studies, John Mayer
Producer of the Year, Nonclassical: Danger Mouse
Remixed Recording, Nonclassical: “Revolver” (David Guetta’s One Love Club Remix), Madonna
And the Keep a Child Alive Campaign has officially started with celebs committing digital death! See their last Tweet and Testaments:
Usher’s Last Tweet/Testament
Jennifer Hudson’s Last Tweet/Testament
Serena Williams’ Last Tweet/Testament
We sure have a fascination with the dead, don’t we? At least Alicia Keys’ charity, Keep a Child Alive, hopes that we do.
SEE MORE: SEE THE CELEBS LAST TWEETS AND TESTAMENTS VIDEOS HERE!
The poster for each dead celeb says that the celeb sacrificed his/her digital life to give real life to millions of others affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. “That means no more Facebook or Twitter until we buy [his/her] life back. Visit BuyLife.org or text ‘KIM’ to ‘90999’ to buy [his/her] life now.”
I reported yesterday that major celebs like Justin Timberlake, Ryan Seacrest, Usher, Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian are going off of Twitter and Facebook starting this Wednesday until $1 million dollars is raised for AIDS awareness for Alicia Key’s charity, Keep a Child Alive.
In a first of its kind, big-time celebs are actually going radio-silent just to prove a point and raise funds for charity.
The Digital Life Sacrifice event will raise money for Alicia’s charity, Keep a Child Alive and raise awareness for World AIDS Day. As soon as $1 million is raised to help families with HIV/AIDS in Africa and India, the celebs will sign back online.