Online Sheet Music Blog

American Idol Season 12 Winner: Candice Glover!

2013-05-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

Candice Glover is the new "American Idol" winner. The 23-year-old beat out Kree Harrison to take the "American Idol" crown for Season 12.

Glover is the first female winner since Jordin Sparks won "American Idol" Season 6. Third time's the charm it seems, this season was the third time Glover tried out for "American Idol."

The "American Idol" finale opened with group number featuring the Top 10 contestants singing The Wanted's "Glad You Came" to an audience filled with past "Idol" winners and contestants. Janelle Arthur took the stage with The Band Perry and the Top 5 "Idol" boys sang a medley with surprise guest Frankie Valli.

Mariah Carey finally took to the "American Idol" stage to sing a medley of hits, including her current single "#Beautiful."

In addition to Frankie Valli, there were plenty more celebrity cameos. Emeli Sande joined fourth runner-up Amber Holcomb to sing her hit "Next To Me" and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson showed up to sing "Inseparable" with Candice Glover.

The Top 5 "Idol" women also did a medley with Aretha Franklin via satellite. The special guests didn't stop there: Jennifer Lopez returned to "American Idol" and performed with Pitbull.

"American Idol" returns for Season 13 in January 2014.

Backstreet Boys Get Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

2013-04-23T09:23:00.001-07:00

Boy band the Backstreet Boys marked their 20th anniversary and their upcoming world tour by getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"Backstreet is Back ... and we aren't going anywhere," Nick Carter, 33, told fans as all five members of the 1990s band gathered to unveil their star - located right next to another popular boy band, Boyz II Men.

The close harmony singers were visibly emotional as they thanked their families and fans for their support over the years.

"What an honor it is," said Kevin Richardson, 40, holding back tears. "What a beautiful day. What another beautiful way to celebrate 20 years together."

Formed in 1993 in Florida, the Backstreet Boys went on to sell more than 130 million albums worldwide and score hits like "I Want It That Way," and "Shape of My Heart."

The other members of the group are Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean and Howie Dorough.

After several hiatuses in the 2000s and the departure of Richardson, the five original members officially got back together last year and will embark on a world tour in May, starting in China.

Backstreet Boys are also due to release a new album this summer, and a music documentary in 2014.

Britney Spears to Release New Song for Smurfs Sequel

2013-04-18T08:16:00.001-07:00

Before Britney Spears releases her in-the-works eighth studio album, the pop superstar will return with "Ooh La La," a new song featured on the soundtrack to the "The Smurfs 2." The 31 year old broke the news to her fans on Twitter yesterday. She tweeted: "Remember that surprise song I recorded for my boys? It's coming soon! #OohLaLa for #TheSmurfs2 :) Stay tuned for more..."

"Ooh La La" was produced by Spears' "Femme Fatale" collaborators Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, Ammo Cirkut, while Bonnie McKee, J Kash, Lola Blanc and Fransisca Hall all score writing credits. The song will play at the end credits of the film, which hits theaters on July 31.

"I have always loved the Smurfs as a kid and now my boys are the biggest Smurfs fans EVER," Spears said in a press statement. "I wanted to surprise them with a song in the movie. I know they'll think it's Smurftastic!"

Academy of Country Music Awards: The Winners

2013-04-08T14:49:00.002-07:00

Singers Miranda Lambert and Luke Bryan led the winners at the Academy of Country Music awards on Sunday, while leading nominees Taylor Swift and Hunter Hayes came away empty-handed in a night honoring top achievers in country music.

Swift, 23, lost out on all five categories she was nominated in including Female Vocalist of the Year and the fan-voted Entertainer of the Year, a surprise for the country music favorite who won the award for the last two years.

Newcomer Hayes, 21, who was nominated in six categories, also went home empty-handed.

The night's top award Entertainer of the Year went to the show's co-host Bryan, 36, a surprise to the charismatic host who said he had only just started headlining shows.

"What I always wanted to be is just a country singer who got to ride on a tour bus and perform every night. ... This is the defining moment of my life, it means the world to me and I'll never take it for granted," Bryan said tearfully.

Lambert, 29, picked up four awards in three categories, including Female Vocalist of the Year, beating Swift, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves and Martina McBride.

Lambert also won Song of the Year for "Over You," written with husband Blake Shelton, who was co-hosting the ceremony, and thanked her peers for recognizing her song-writing talents.

"As a songwriter having your songs and your lyrics recognized by your peers is pretty much as good as it gets. ... Thank you for accepting me as a songwriter and not just as a singer, that means the world to me," Lambert said.

For a full list of the winners, click here!

The Rolling Stones Are Back!

2013-04-04T08:24:00.002-07:00

The Rolling Stones unveiled details of their biggest tour in six years on Wednesday, playing dates in North America and Britain after a stage comeback last year to celebrate 50 years in music.

The band said they would kick off their "50 and Counting" tour in Los Angeles on an unspecified date but would then play Oakland, California on May 5 and eight other cities including Toronto and London, UK.

To celebrate 50 years the band also released a greatest hits collection, a documentary, and a photographic book and then sparked rumors about more concerts with a March 29th post on their website that said "5 Days & Counting..."

The Rolling Stones, which are comprised of Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood on guitar, and Charlie Watts on drums, emerged alongside The Beatles in the early 1960s. They became one of the most successful groups in rock and roll history with hits such as "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Sympathy for the Devil".

The band has toured 40 times in a five-decade career, mostly across Europe and North America in the 1960s and 1970s.They last went on the road for their "A Bigger Bang" tour from 2005 to 2007, playing 144 shows globally and grossing more than $550 million, one of the world's most lucrative tours.

The Line Up: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony

2013-03-28T08:17:00.002-07:00

Spike Lee, Usher and Cheech and Chong have been added to the long line-up of celebrities honoring the eight 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees at the annual ceremony held in Los Angeles this spring.

Oscar-nominated director Lee will partner with Harry Belafonte to pay tribute to hip hop group Public Enemy, while comedians Cheech and Chong ("Up in Smoke," "Still Smokin") will present Lou Adler - who produced the duo's movies - with the Ahmet Ertegun Award for Lifetime Achievement. Usher, a new judge on "The Voice," will perform for Quincy Jones, the second Lifetime Achievement award recipient of the evening.

This year's other inductees include Rush, Heart and Randy Newman - all scheduled to perform - as well as post-mortem inductees Donna Summer and Albert King.

Jackson Browne and John Fogerty will join Newman on stage during his set. Pearl Jam's Mike McCready and Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains will perform with Heart during the ceremony, while Chris Cornell will induct the "Crazy on You" rock band.

Carole King, the 2013 recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, is also set to perform for record exec Adler, who once served as her manager.

No special guests have yet been announced to play with Rush, but Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters will present the Canadian rock trio.

The evening celebrating eight artists' induction into Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum takes place on April 18 at L.A.'s Nokia Theatre, where it will be taped for HBO broadcast on May 18.

Justin Timberlake Releases New Album

2013-03-21T08:57:00.001-07:00

Justin Timberlake released his eagerly awaited comeback album, The 20/20 Experience, on Tuesday. His popular single "Suit and Tie" is part of the album, which is expected to to top the Billboard 200 chart next week.

Speaking of his new record Timberlake said: “Back in June of last year, I quietly started working on what is now, my next journey with that thing I love called MUSIC.” He added: “What I came up with is something I couldn’t be more excited about! It is full of inspiration that I grew up listening to and some new found muses that I’ve discovered along the way.”

The new album marks the return of Mr. Timberlake to the world of pop music after six years in which he focused on his acting career, appearing in films like “The Social Network” and “Friends With Benefits.”

Bulgaria Violin 'May Be Stradivarius Stolen in London'

2013-03-11T09:17:00.001-07:00

British detectives are investigating whether a violin recovered during a police operation in Bulgaria is a $1.8 million Stradivarius stolen from a London train station more than two years ago.

The 300-year-old violin was snatched from Euston station in central London in November 2010, when its owner, Korean-born classical musician Min-Jin Kym, stopped at a restaurant to buy a sandwich.

Two bows stored inside the instrument's case, a Peccatte worth 62,000 pounds and another made by the School of Bazin valued at more than 5,000 pounds, were also taken.

The antique violin, made in 1696, was never found. A reward of 40,000 pounds was offered for its safe return.

Officers from the British Transport Police (BTP) were working with Bulgarian authorities following the discovery of the violin, a BTP spokesman said on Monday.

"BTP detectives are aware of the recovery of a violin in Bulgaria and will investigate, with insurers, underwriters and international colleagues, whether it is the 1696 Antonio Stradivarius antique violin stolen from a café at Euston rail station in November 2010," the spokesman added.

New Jimi Hendrix Album to Debut on March 5

2013-03-04T09:17:00.001-08:00

People, Hell and Angels, released on CD tomorrow, is a collection of twelve previously unreleased studio performances by Jimi Hendrix.

These twelve tracks, recorded between 1968 and 1969, encompass a variety of unique sounds and styles showcasing many of the elements Jimi wanted to incorporate within his new music; including horns, keyboards, percussion and second guitar.

People, Hell and Angels, presents some of the finest Jimi Hendrix guitar work ever issued and provides a compelling window into his growth as a songwriter, musician and producers apart from the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

2013 Brit Awards: A Recap

2013-02-21T08:32:00.003-08:00

The 2013 Brit Awards celebrated a great year of music on Wednesday night. Justin Timberlake performed his new hit "Mirrors" for the first time, and Taylor Swift hit the stage with "I Knew You Were Trouble." One Direction performed "One Way or Another," and later, they accepted the award for Global Success.

Emeli Sandé swept the ceremony on Wednesday picking up awards for Female Solo Artist and Album of the Year for "Our Version of Events." Ben Howard also took home two awards, one for Breakthrough Act and another for Male Solo Artist. Lana Del Rey, Frank Ocean and the Black Keys represented American musicians, taking home one win each in the international categories.

Check out the complete list of winners below:

British Female – Emeli Sande

British Group – Mumford & Sons

British Breakthrough Act – Ben Howard

British Male – Ben Howard

Critics' Choice – Tom Odell

International Female – Lana Del Rey

British Live Act – Coldplay

British Single – "Skyfall," Adele

International Group – The Black Keys

International Male – Frank Ocean

Special Recognition Award – Warchild

British Album – Emeli Sande, "Our Version of Events"

Global Success – One Direction

Lady Gaga Cancels Remainder of Tour Because of Hip Injury

2013-02-15T14:57:00.002-08:00

Lady Gaga has torn soft tissues in her hip joint and the injury has forced her to cancel the rest of her "Born This Way Ball" tour to have surgery and recover, Live Nation Global Touring announced Wednesday.

"She will need surgery to repair the problem, followed by strict downtime to recover. This, unfortunately, will force her to cancel the tour so she can heal," it added.

The tour kicked off on Jan. 14 in Tacoma, Wash., and the massive two-year tour was meant to span six continents.

The cancellation of the 21 dates is estimated to cost the industry more than $35 million in lost revenue, according to the Chicago Tribune. She earned $161 million on the road last year.

Refunds for the canceled performances will be available at point of purchase starting on Thursday.

The 55th Annual Grammy Awards: A Recap

2013-02-11T15:01:00.000-08:00

Mumford & Sons, Gotye & Kimbra, Kelly Clarkson, Zac Brown Band and Fun. were just a few of the big winners at the 55th annual Grammy Awards telecast, hosted by LL Cool J and broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Album of the Year went to "Babel" by Mumford & Sons; Record of the Year went to Gotye & Kimbra's "Somebody That I Used To Know;" Fun. won Best New Artist, and their "We Are Young" (featuring Janelle Monae) was named Song of the Year; Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger" was named Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Country Album was awarded to Zac Brown Band's "Uncaged."

Other big accolades handed out during Sunday night's telecast went to Carrie Underwood (Best Country Solo Performance: "Blown Away"); Frank Ocean was the Best Urban Contemporary Album Winner for "Channel Orange;" The Black Keys earned Best Rock Performance for "Lonely Boy;" Best Rap/Sung Collaboration went to "No Church in the Wild" by Jay-Z and Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream; and Adele nabbed Best Pop Solo Performance for "Set Fire to the Rain (Live)."

Performers at the 55th annual Grammy Awards included Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Elton John, Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, and Justin Timberlake.

For a list of all the winners from last night's show, click here.

Patty Andrews Dead: Last Surviving Member Of The Andrews Sisters Dies At 94

2013-01-31T08:04:00.003-08:00

The last surviving member of the Andrews Sisters trio, Patty Andrews, passed away on Wednesday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 94.

The sisters performed with "Patty always singing the lead, Maxene the high harmony and LaVerne the low harmony, inventing a unique blend that came from their hearts, since none of the girls could read music," according to the sister's official biography.

Andrews and her siblings LaVerne and Maxene sold more than 80 million records during a career that stretched from the 1920s to the late 1960s. They're perhaps best known for entertaining Allied troops and selling war bonds and boosting morale on the home front during World War II – along with their 1941 hit "The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," which the Recording Industry of America ranked at Number Six on a list of 25 "Songs of the Century."

The sisters also made a dozen low-budget musical comedy movies with Universal Pictures between 1940-44, and they appeared with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in the 1947 movie The Road to Rio.

Patty is survived by a foster daughter, a niece and several cousins.

Destiny's Child Announces New Single "Nuclear"

2013-01-21T08:35:00.003-08:00

Destiny's Child, a R&B supergroup consisting of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, announced on Thursday that they will be releasing a compilation album later this month, which contains the first new song they've recorded since 2004.

"We are so proud to announce the first original Destiny's Child music in eight years," a post on the group's Facebook page read.

The song, titled "Nuclear," will appear on Destiny's Child's 14-track album, titled "Love Songs,"which is composed of romantic-themed songs the trio recorded between 1997-2004.

Sony Legacy will be releasing it January 29, 2013.

Check out the full tracklist below.

1. "Cater 2 U" ("Destiny Fulfilled" (2004))
2. "Killing Time" ("Destiny's Child" (1998))
3. "Second Nature" ("Destiny's Child" (1998))
4. "Heaven" ("Simply Deep" (2002))
5. "Now That She's Gone" ("The Writing's On The Wall" (1999))
6. "Brown Eyes" ("Survivor" (2001))
7. "If" ( "Destiny Fulfilled" (2004))
8. "Emotion" ("Survivor" (2001))
9. "If You Leave (featuring Next)" ("The Writing's On The Wall" (1999))
10. "T-Shirt" ("Destiny Fulfilled" (2004))
11. "Temptation" ("The Writing's On The Wall" (1999))
12. "Say My Name" (Timbaland remix) ("This Is The Remix" (2002))
13. "Love" ("Destiny Fulfilled" (2004))
14. "Nuclear" ("Destiny's Child - Love Songs" (2013))

Adele’s ‘21’ Best-Selling Album for Second Year

2013-01-07T09:28:00.001-08:00

The British singer’s “21” was the highest-selling album in the U.S. for the second consecutive year, according to 2012 sales figures released by Nielsen SoundScan. That’s a first in the SoundScan era, which began tracking music sales in 1991.

According to figures released Thursday, Adele's "21" sold 4.4 million copies in the United States last year, after selling 5.8 million in 2011. The second-biggest album of 2012 was Taylor Swift’s “Red," with 3.1 million sales. One Direction's breakthrough debut album "Up All Night" is 2012's third-biggest set with 1.62 million sold.

For the first time since 2008, no Christmas albums rank among the year's top 10 sellers. 2012's biggest holiday set was Rod Stewart's "Merry Christmas, Baby," which finishes at No. 15 with 858,000 sold.

Gotye scored the year’s top-selling song with “Somebody That I Used To Know” featuring Kimbra. The song was downloaded a record 6.8 million times. Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” was next at 6.5 million. Both songs are the first to cross the 6 million digital sales mark, while fun. came close with 5.9 million downloads of “We Are Young” featuring Janelle Monae.

Forty-one songs crossed the 2 million download mark, helping drive digital and overall sales to a new high even as album sales began to drop.

The 2013 Grammy Award Nominees

2012-12-11T15:16:00.001-08:00

Frank Ocean, Mumford & Sons, Kanye West, Jay-Z and The Black Keys, each copped an impressive six nods apiece at the Grammy Awards nominations TV special in Nashville on Wednesday.

Drake, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Jack White and best new artist nominee Hunter Hayes were among 16 nominees with three nods.

Taylor Swift's 1.21 million-selling “Red” was released too late for album eligibility, she was still able to bag nominations for her hit single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and her tune on “The Hunger Games” soundtrack, "Safe and Sound."

Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" picked up two nominations for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance, and country star Carrie Underwood also picked up two nods.

The 55th Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on February 10, 2013. CBS will televise the ceremony.

A full list of nominees is available on Grammy.com. Here are the nominees in the notable categories:

Album of the Year
The Black Keys, “El Camino”
fun., “Some Nights”
Mumford & Sons, “Babel”
Frank Ocean, “Channel Orange”
Jack White, “Blunderbuss”

Record of the Year
The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”
Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”
fun. featuring Janelle Monae, “We Are Young”
Gotye featuring Kimbra, “Somebody That I Used to Know”
Frank Ocean, “Thinkin Bout You”
Taylor Swift, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”

Song Of The Year [awarded to songwriter]
“The A Team,” Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)
“Adorn,” Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
“Call Me Maybe,” Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson)
“We Are Young,” Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (fun. featuring Janelle Monae)

Best New Artist
Alabama Shakes
fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

Best Pop Vocal Album
Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger”
Florence + the Machine, “Ceremonials”
fun., “Some Nights”
Maroon 5, “Overexposed”
Pink, “The Truth About Love”

Best Pop Solo Performance
“Set Fire To The Rain (Live),” Adele
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” Kelly Clarkson
“Call Me Maybe,” Carly Rae Jepsen
“Wide Awake,” Katy Perry
“Where Have You Been,” Rihanna

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Shake It Out,” Florence + The Machine
“We Are Young,” fun. featuring Janelle Monae
“Somebody That I Used To Know,” Gotye featuring Kimbra
“Sexy And I Know It,” LMFAO
“Payphone,” Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
“Christmas,” Michael Bublé
“A Holiday Carole,” Carole King
“Kisses On The Bottom,” Paul McCartney

Best Rock Performance
“Hold On,” Alabama Shakes
“Lonely Boy,” The Black Keys
“Charlie Brown,” Coldplay
“I Will Wait,” Mumford & Sons
“We Take Care Of Our Own,” Bruce Springsteen

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance
“I’m Alive,” Anthrax
“Love Bites (So Do I),” Halestorm
“Blood Brothers,” Iron Maiden
“Ghost Walking,” Lamb Of God
“No Reflection,” Marilyn Manson
“Whose Life (Is It Anyways?),” Megadeth

Best Rock Song
“Freedom At 21,” Jack White
“I Will Wait,” Mumford & Sons
“Lonely Boy,” The Black Keys
“Madness,” Muse
“We Take Care Of Our Own,” Bruce Springsteen

Best Rock Album
“El Camino,” The Black Keys
“Mylo Xyloto,” Coldplay
“The 2nd Law,” Muse
“Wrecking Ball,” Bruce Springsteen
“Blunderbuss,” Jack White

Best Alternative Music Album
“The Idler Wheel …,” Fiona Apple
“Biophilia,” Björk
“Making Mirrors,” Gotye
“Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming,” M83
“Bad As Me,” Tom Waits

Best R&B Performance
“Thank You,” Estelle
“Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.),” Robert Glasper Experiment Featuring Ledisi
“I Want You,” Luke James
“Adorn,” Miguel
“Climax,” Usher

Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Lately,” Anita Baker
“Love On Top,” Beyoncé
“Wrong Side Of A Love Song,” Melanie Fiona
“Real Good Hands,” Gregory Porter
“If Only You Knew,” SWV

Best R&B Song
“Adorn,” Miguel
“Beautiful Surprise,” Tamia
“Heart Attack,” Trey Songz
“Pray For Me,” Anthony Hamilton
“Refill,” Elle Varner

Best Urban Contemporary Album
“Fortune,” Chris Brown
“Kaleidoscope Dream,” Miguel
“Channel Orange,” Frank Ocean

Best R&B Album
“Black Radio,” Robert Glasper Experiment
“Back To Love,” Anthony Hamilton
“Write Me Back,” R. Kelly
“Beautiful Surprise,” Tamia
“Open Invitation,” Tyrese

Best Rap Performance
“HYFR (Hell Ya F***ing Right),” Drake Featuring Lil’ Wayne
“N****s In Paris,” Jay-Z & Kanye West
“Daughters,” Nas
“Mercy,” Kanye West Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz
“I Do,” Young Jeezy Featuring Jay-Z & André 3000

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
“Wild Ones,” Flo Rida featuring Sia
“No Church In The Wild,” Jay-Z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream
“Tonight (Best You Ever Had),” John Legend Featuring Ludacris
“Cherry Wine,” Nas Featuring Amy Winehouse
“Talk That Talk,” Rihanna featuring Jay-Z

Best Rap Song
“Daughters,” Nas
“Lotus Flower Bomb,” Wale Featuring Miguel
“Mercy,” Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz
“The Motto,” Drake featuring Lil’ Wayne
“N****s In Paris,” Jay-Z & Kanye West
“Young, Wild & Free,” Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa featuring Bruno Mars

Best Rap Album
“Take Care,” Drake
“Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1,” Lupe Fiasco
“Life Is Good,” Nas
“Undun,” The Roots
“God Forgives, I Don’t,” Rick Ross
“Based On A T.R.U. Story,” 2 Chainz

Best Country Solo Performance
Dierks Bentley, “Home”
Eric Church, “Springsteen”
Ronnie Dunn, “Cost of Livin’”
Hunter Hayes, “Wanted”
Blake Shelton, “Over”
Carrie Underwood, “Blown Away”

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” Eli Young Band
“Pontoon,” Little Big Town
“Safe & Sound,” Taylor Swift & The Civil Wars
“On The Outskirts Of Town,” The Time Jumpers
“I Just Come Here For The Music,” Don Williams featuring Alison Krauss

Best Country Song
“Blown Away,” Carrie Underwood
“Cost Of Livin’,” Ronnie Dunn
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” Eli Young Band
“So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore,” Alan Jackson
“Springsteen,” Eric Church

Best Country Album
“Uncaged,” Zac Brown Band
“Hunter Hayes,” Hunter Hayes
“Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran,” Jamey Johnson
“Four The Record,” Miranda Lambert
“The Time Jumpers,” The Time Jumpers

Singer Jenni Rivera Feared Dead in Mexican Plane Crash

2012-12-10T08:54:00.000-08:00

Mexico's music world mourned Jenni Rivera, the U.S.-born singer presumed killed in a plane crash whose soulful voice and openness about her personal troubles had made her a Mexican-American superstar.

Rivera, a mother of five and grandmother of two, was traveling on the Learjet 25 jet with six other passengers that disintegrated on impact Sunday in rugged territory in Nuevo Leon state in northern Mexico.

Rivera sold 15 million records, and recently won two Billboard Mexican Music Awards: Female Artist of the Year and Banda Album of the Year for "Joyas Prestadas: Banda."

She made history in September 2011 when she sold out the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the first female regional Mexican artist to do so. Her reality show on mun2, I Love Jenni, is one of the network's highest rated shows.

The 2012 American Music Awards

2012-11-19T09:54:00.002-08:00

Justin Bieber was the night's biggest winner, taking home 3 trophies including favorite artist of the year, beating out Rihanna, Katy Perry, Maroon 5 and Drake for the top prize at the American Music Awards Sunday.

Rapper Nicki Minaj repeated her wins from last year, taking home awards for favorite rap/hip hop album (for "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded") and favorite rap/hip hop artist. She and Rihanna went into the ceremony with the most nominations - four each. Rihanna, who was on tour and did not attend, won an award for favorite soul/R&B album (for "Talk That Talk").

Taylor Swift won her fifth consecutive award for favorite country female artist. "This is unreal. I want to thank the fans. You guys are the ones who voted on this," she said.

Canadian pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen, 26, picked up the coveted new artist-of-the-year award over One Direction, Australian artist Gotye, indie-pop band fun. and rapper J. Cole.

Other awards went to Linkin Park for best alt rock artist, Luke Bryan for best male country artist and Usher for best male soul/R&B artist.

Sunday's show from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles marks the AMA's 40th anniversary. American Music Awards nominees were selected based on sales and airplay, and fans chose the winners by voting online.

Recap: The 46th Annual CMA Awards

2012-11-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

On Thursday evening, November 1, 2012 the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville was once again home to the Country Music Association Awards. Hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley for the 5th consecutive year, the show began with an introduction chock full of pop culture references including a parody of “Moves Like Jaggar” by Maroon 5, Underwood and Paisley dancing to “Gangnam Style” and, of course, a reference to Taylor Swift’s latest breakup with Conor Kennedy.

The first performance of the night was from Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Eric Church who sang “The Only Way We Know” together after dedicating the show to all those affected by Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast.

Lisa Marie Presely presented the first award of the night for Song of the Year, for which Jason Aldean “Dirt Road Anthem,” Blake Shelton “God Gave Me You,” Dierks Bentley “Home,” Little Big Town “Pontoon,” and Eric Church “Springsteen” were nominated. The award went to Little Big Town for “Pontoon.”

Other winners included Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton for Female and Male Vocalist of the Year, Little Big Town took home Vocal Group of the Year, and Hunter Hayes snagged New Artist of the Year.

For a full list of winners, see the list below:

Entertainer of the Year: Blake Shelton
Male Vocalist of the Year: Blake Shelton
Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert
Vocal Duo of the Year: Thompson Square
Vocal Group of the Year: Little Big Town
New Artist of the Year: Hunter Hayes
Single of the Year: Pontoon - Little Big Town
Song of the Year: Over You - Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton
Music Video of the Year: Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith
Album of the Year: Chief - Eric Church
Musical Event of the Year: Feel Like A Rock Star - Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw

Garth Brooks Inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame

2012-10-26T15:06:00.001-07:00

Singer Garth Brooks received country music's highest honor with an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, calling the event "the biggest night" of his chart-topping career.

Oklahoma native Brooks, 50, was inducted on Sunday in a star-studded ceremony featuring music greats including Bob Seger, George Strait and James Taylor, all of whom Brooks has cited as influences.

"There are big days in your career, like when you join the Grand Ole Opry...and I didn't think anything would top those. I might have lied. This may be the biggest night of my of career. I'm so excited and nervous, and feel so undeserving, all at the same time," Brooks said.

The singer is the best-selling solo country music artist in U.S. popular music history with more than 128 million album sales. He has won 2 Grammy awards over his career spanning three decades.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located in Nashville, Tennessee, serves to honor the history and traditions of country music. Hall of Fame inductees are voted for by a panel of current members, which include artists such as Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, and The Everly Brothers.

Brooks was inducted along with trailblazing singer Connie Smith and keyboard player Hargus "Pig" Robbins on Sunday.

Creepy Countdown: 15 Best Halloween Songs

2012-10-17T11:33:00.002-07:00

Halloween is right around the corner! In celebration, I have put together a list of the 15 songs you must feature at your Halloween party. Spook, scare, and thrill your Halloween party guests with the ultimate mix of Halloween party songs from OnlineSheetMusic.com.

15. "Devil Went Down to Georgia" - Charlie Daniels Band

14. "Nightmare on My Street" - DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince

13. "Thriller" - Michael Jackson

12. "Witchy Woman" - Eagles

11. "Ghostbusters" - Ray Parker, Jr.

10. “Frankenstein” -The Edgar Winter Group

9. "Werewolves Of London" - Warren William Zevon

8. "Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival

7. "The Addams Family Theme" - Viz Mizzy

6. "This is Halloween" - Danny Elfman

5. "Monster Mash" - Bobby "Boris"

4. "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" - J S Bach

3. "Tubular Bells" - Mike Oldfield

2. “Dead Man’s Party” - Oingo Boingo

1. "I Put a Spell on You" - Jay Hawkins

'The John Lennon Letters' Released This Week

2012-10-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

John Lennon was one of the greatest songwriters the world has ever known, creator of "Help!," "Come Together," "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Imagine," and dozens more. But it was in his correspondences that he let his personality and poetry flow unguarded.

This week, with the blessing of Yoko Ono, Little, Brown and Company will publish The John Lennon Letters, a collection of John Lennon’s letters to family, friends, strangers, and lovers from every point in his life.

“These letters have never been collected in one place before, and for the most part they have never been seen before,” said Alan Samson, of the Orion Publishing Group.

The groundbreaking collection of almost 300 letters and postcards has been edited and annotated by Hunter Davies, whose authorized biography The Beatles (1968) was published to great acclaim.

Adele's James Bond Theme, 'Skyfall,' Debuts Thursday

2012-10-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

Soulful singer-songwriter Adele confirmed today that she has recorded the theme song for the upcoming James Bond "Skyfall" film, and it will be available for download this week.

The singer was not initially sold on the idea. "I was a little hesitant at first to be involved with the theme song for Skyfall," she said. "There's a lot of instant spotlight and pressure when it comes to a Bond song." But after enlisting the help of "Rolling in the Deep" co-writer/producer, Paul Epworth, the multi-platinum selling singer agreed to participate.

"Skyfall" marks the first new song Adele has recorded since "21" became an international phenomena.

Adele's "Skyfall" was recorded at the famed Abbey Road Studios in London and features a 77-piece orchestra. "When we recorded the strings, it was one of the proudest moments of my life," Adele said in the statement. I’ll be back combing my hair when I'm 60 telling people I was a Bond girl back in the day."

Adele follows icons like Paul McCartney, Nancy Sinatra and Madonna, all of whom have contributed to the James Bond series over the years.

Katy Perry Is Billboard's Woman of the Year

2012-09-25T13:41:00.002-07:00

Billboard has named Katy Perry its Woman of the Year. The prolific hit-maker follows in the footsteps of past winners Beyonce, Fergie and Taylor Swift.

According to Billboard, "the award honors the achievements of a trailblazing female recording artist over the past 12 months, and acknowledges her overall success in the music business and her leadership in embracing the changing industry."

Perry has been a fixture on the Billboard charts since her breakthrough smash "I Kissed A Girl" debuted in May 2008. She holds the record for the most consecutive weeks (69) with at least one song in the top 10 on the Hot 100.

In August 2011, she tied Michael Jackson's record for the most #1 singles from one album. In March 2012, she entered the Hot 100 at #1 for the first time in her career with "Part Of Me." It was her seventh #1 hit.

Perry has sold 48 million digital tracks in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. She has four of 30 best-selling digital hits of all time, which is more than any other artist. "Firework" is her biggest hit, with U.S. sales of 5,869,000 copies. It is followed by "California Gurls" featuring Snoop Dogg, which sold 5,374,000 copies, "E.T." featuring Kanye West, which sold 5,361,000 copies, and "Hot N Cold" which sold 5,281,000 copies.

The award will be presented at the Billboard Women in Music event set for Nov. 30 at Capitale in New York City.

"Glee" Season 4 Premiere: 'The New Rachel'

2012-09-14T14:39:00.006-07:00

School is back in session! "Glee" is back for its 4th Season, which premiered September 13, 2012 on Fox. By the looks of the first episode, Gleeks are in for a show stopping season.

Rachel Berry finds out the hard way how tough a town New York City can be for entertainers. When she gets whipped around and insulted by the nightmare dance instructor Cassandra, played by guest star Kate Hudson, Rachel realizes that a star in Ohio doesn't necessarily shine in the Big Apple.

Rachel, however, did get the chance to do what she does best, sing, and her version of Billy Joel's iconic "New York State of Mind," was performed in synchronicity with Marley, the "new Rachel."

There are three new students at McKinley, and all of them shine in their own special ways, with Marley being the stand-out. The episode ends with a number set to Adele’s "Chasing Pavements."

Did you enjoy the premiere? Tune into the 4th season of "Glee" airing on Thursdays at 9pm/8c!