Natalie Cole Has Kidney Transplant

Bob Dylan, Queen Latifah head all-star salute to music that fueled civil rights

(AP) - Crediting civil rights-era protest songs and their spiritual predecessors for his election, President Obama last night opened the White House to an all-star lineup that paid tribute to the music that he said fueled freedom marches and civil disobedience. Queen Latifah sang the Marvin Gaye classic "What's Going On" and Yolanda Adams gave a spirited rendition of "A Change Is Gonna Come" in a program that will air on public television later this week in honor of Black History Month. More»

Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie plan 25th anniversary re-recording

(NEWSER) - It's "We Are the World" take 2, this time for Haiti. Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie are getting some of the music industry's top stars together for a 25th anniversary re-recording of the song, with proceeds going to earthquake victims. The gathering will probably take place in Los Angeles Feb. 1, the day after the Grammys, according to the Hollywood Reporter . More»

Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole also confirmed

(NEWSER) - Chris Brown will take the stage at a Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna, the Mirror reports. Jackson's brother Jermaine says 25 performers are expected. So far, Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole, Sister Sledge, Akon, and Angela Bassett are confirmed. More names will be announced this week. The artists will play Jacko's greatest hits, and his family will attend the Sept. 26 show. More»

Employees toast departure of 'difficult diva'

(NEWSER) - Ryan Seacrest may be sad to see Paula Abdul go, but he’s in the minority: Longtime American Idol staffers were so overjoyed at her announcement, they threw an impromptu party, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. “Can’t you hear our celebration?” one veteran staffer says. “We broke out the good champagne tonight.” More:

• Rumored replacements for Abdul—if producers decide they need one—include Diana Ross and Natalie Cole.

Singer gets dozens of offers after Larry King interview

(NEWSER) - Natalie Cole told CNN's Larry King last night that she needed a kidney—and had dozens of offers flood in before the show was through. "There are some great human beings out there. That's all I can say," said the singer, who has been on dialysis three days a week since hepatitis C caused both of her kidneys to fail last year. That hasn't stopped her from touring, though. "I have been on dialysis in Istanbul, Milan, Indonesia, Manila, London. It's amazing." More»