Recipients of this year's Kennedy Center Honors have been announced. They include legendary Country singer Loretta Lynn, violinist Itzhak Perlman, soul legend James Brown, actress Carol Burnett and director Mike Nichols. They'll be honored December 6 and 7 during a ceremony and gala in Washington, D.C. The show will air on CBS-TV in late December.
Billboard.com reports that Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears may develop their own syndicated television talk shows. According to Billboard's website, Jennifer's sister Lynda, a New York radio personality, would participate in Lopez's show. Britney would serve as executive producer of her program and occasionally appear in videotaped segments. If picked up by a network, the programs would launch in late 2004.
Michael Jackson is launching a men's clothing line in Japan that's expected to be on the market by next spring. Japanese clothing manufacturer Wakita will create suits and formal wear with an MJ logo and sell them for approximately $480. Clothing designs are still being developed and will have to be approved by Michael's agent.
August 12, Broken Bow Records will release Australian Country singer Sherrie Austin's fourth album, Streets of Heaven. The title track, which tells the poignant story of a mother pleading with God to heal her sick child, currently sits at Number 29 on Billboard's Country Singles chart. On August 18, Sherrie will visit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee to announce a special relationship with the hospital surrounding the release of her new CD.
Arista Nashville Records will release Alan Jackson's anthology, Greatest Hits Volume II, on August 12. The compilation includes his current Number One duet with Jimmy Buffett, It's Five O'Clock Somewhere. The single took only eight weeks to hit the top of the Country chart. It marks Alan's 30th Number One single. Greatest Hits Volume II contains one other new track, Remember When.
August 12, Rounder/Liberty International Entertainment will issue concert performances from Paul McCartney's New World Tour on DVD. Paul Is Live features more than 20 McCartney, Wings and Beatles classics. In addition to concert footage, the DVD includes impromptu and non-concert music segment.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES/ AUGUST 12:
MUSICAL EVENTS/FESTIVALS/BENEFITS:
Daryl Worley, Vince Gill and his wife Amy Grant will perform a benefit concert on August 12 in Jackson, Tennessee. Proceeds will go to the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation to aid victims of the May 4 tornadoes in that area. The tornadoes killed 11 people in western Tennessee and 2,000 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. Daryl Worley grew up in nearby Hardin County, Tennessee.
AWARDS PRESENTATIONS/WINNERS:
"American Idol" Kelly Clarkson was voted Choice Music Female Artist at the 2003 Teen Choice Awards, handed out in Universal City, California on August 6. "American Idol" won for Choice TV Reality Show, and "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul was named Choice TV Reality Babe. Bring Me To Life by Evanescence won this year's Choice Music Rock Track award. Jennifer Lopez went into the race with six nominations for her music and film work, but was shut out.
TOUR DATES AND INFORMATION:
The Rolling Stones are in talks to reschedule the Chinese concerts they cancelled back in April due to the SARS outbreak. The band was scheduled to perform in Shanghai on April 1 and Beijing on April 4. Although dates have not been confirmed, the Rolling Stones hope to play in China for the first time in their 41-year career in mid-November.