Stories related to: singer

A black jazz singer got plenty of glares before the mayor's address in Denver this week when instead of singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" as expected, she sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing"—known as the "black national anthem." Many in the audience appeared shocked and the mayor later said he regretted the "distraction." More »

Britney Spears' father has been given court permission to put the star's Los Angeles mansion up for sale. The singer is looking for a new home with more privacy and open space to raise her sons, a source told People. Spears and her dad are also planning a trip to Louisiana this week to be with Brit's pregnant sister as her due date nears. More »

A Las Vegas comeback could be in the cards for Michael Jackson if a private equity firm has its way, the Wall Street Journal reports. A firm that owns the Las Vegas Hilton and a big stake in a casino company bought $23 million of Jackson's debt last month and is now in talks with the singer about an Elvis- or Celine-style residency on the Strip. More »

Boy George is planning a private gig as a thank-you to the people who helped him keep New York's streets clean during his week of court-ordered community service, the New York Daily News reports. The singer, who says city workers treated him very kindly during his 2006 punishment for wasting police time, will play the sanitation department's family picnic this summer. More »

Shania Twain, nursing a broken heart after a split from her husband of 14 years, has posted a heartfelt message thanking her fans for their support on her website. The Canadian country singer promises to return stronger than ever. Twain's marriage fell apart after her husband had an affair with a close friend of hers, sources told People . Both deny it. More »

Britney Spears still isn't ready to take part  in the legal proceedings of her conservatorship case, a Los Angeles court commissioner has decided. The official said the singer is unable to participate "in any meaningful way" and may need more tests, People reports. Spears' affairs are currently being handled by her father and her attorney. More »

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has checked into a California rehab facility, E! Online reports. The singer is being treated for undisclosed substance abuse at the center where Dr. Drew's Celebrity Rehab was filmed. The dad of actress Liv Tyler had been clean for over 20 years since his wild '70s and '80s heyday, but he reportedly fell off the wagon during a rocky stretch in his relationship with gal pal Erin Bradley. More »

And then there were three. Jason Castro got the boot from "American Idol" last night, leaving David Cook, David Archuleta, and Syesha Mercado remaining in the competition, reports the AP. The dreadlocked Texan was an early favorite but couldn't keep the momentum going. His fate was sealed after he managed to mess up the lyrics to Bob Dylan's "Mr Tambourine Man" on Tuesday's show. More »

Addled singer Amy Winehouse is out on bail after being arrested again for suspected drug offenses yesterday, the Guardian reports. London police questioned her after a video surfaced that allegedly shows her taking drugs. Winehouse's last arrest was less than two weeks ago, when she was cautioned about an assault. More »

Amy Winehouse spent the night behind bars after showing up 3 hours late for questioning yesterday on Tuesday's head-butting and punching assault on two men outside a London bar, the Times reports. The visibly distressed singer was arrested and held overnight because a doctor deemed her “unfit to be interviewed.” This morning she was questioned and released with a "caution." More »

Mariah Carey may be nearing her 40th birthday but the singer isn't worried about her biological clock, reports the New York Daily News . That's because she has no plans to have kids—in fact, she'd "feel violated' by having a baby. "I know that's a weird thing to say, but that's how I am," she said. "For now, I enjoy my dog Jack's company." More »

"American Idol" champ Jordin Sparks has been forced to cancel April concert dates with Alicia Keys because of dangerous vocal-cord hemorrhaging, the New York Post reports. Even a sneeze could permanently damage the 18-year-old chart-topper, who has been singing nonstop since winning "Idol" last year. However, her handlers say, Sparks is expected to recover fully. More »

Britney Spears is taking voice lessons and spending time in a Burbank recording studio, singing and playing piano "just for fun," E! Online reports. Insiders say that after a troubled year, the star is simply enjoying herself. "It may lead to something down the road, but right now this is just part of her staying on the right track," said a source. More »

Australian American Idol hopeful Michael Johns got the heave-ho from the show last night in the biggest shocker so far this season, the Daily News reports. A surprised crowd booed the stunned singer's abrupt departure. Johns had been considered a frontrunner but the 31 million voters were clearly unimpressed by the crooner's effort at Aerosmith's "Dream On." More »

Singer Toni Braxton has been hospitalized in Las Vegas after suffering chest pains, Access Hollywood reports. She was taken in for tests and will likely be released today after an overnight stay, said a spokesman for the Famingo hotel-casino, where Braxton has been performing since 2006. The six-time Grammy winner suffers from a heart disease known as pericarditis. More »

A Marine back from Iraq and Afghanistan has fired a musical rebuke at the Dixie Chicks for their anti-war hit, "Not Ready to Make Nice."  Cpl. David Thibodeaux's "Not Ready to End the Fight" is hitting America's country dials—including some that shunned the Nashville trio's 2006 Grammy winner. More »

  Living with her parents and toiling as a teacher in an after-school program, Ingrid Michaelson’s music career consisted of gigs in a coffee shop and a dream of having one of her songs on “Grey’s Anatomy.” Thanks to MySpace, the dream has come true, a New York Times profile says. Instead of just one song on “Grey’s,” she got three, and then was asked to write a song just for the show.   More »

Think Britney is a brat? Blame her mom. That's what Lynne Spears is doing. The 52-year-old says her daughter has been falling apart for years and it's her fault because she wasn't able to go on the road with Britney when her career took off. "I wish I'd been there more, but I had the other kids to look after," said the mom of three. More »

Critically ill singer Robert Goulet is sedated and on a respirator awaiting a lung transplant at a Los Angeles hospital, his wife said yesterday. A suitable donor has yet to be found, and a hospital committee has not yet determined that Goulet, 73, would make a good transplant candidate. He fell ill last month flying home from a Las Vegas performance and was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a rapidly progressing fatal illness. More »

Opera star Luciano Pavarotti, one of the greatest tenors of the last century, died early this morning of pancreatic cancer, surrounded by his wife, sister and four daughters, in his hometown villa in Modena, Italy. He was 71. "The Maestro fought a long, tough battle," said his manager. "Fitting with the approach that characterized his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness." More »