Brooks leads 2012 Country Music Hall of Fame class

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Garth Brooks' induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame caps one of the most astounding and important music careers in American history. At 50, though, Brooks isn't done yet.


He's one of the hall's youngest living inductees and might be a few short years from launching the second phase of a career that forced country music into the national consciousness and sold more albums than Michael Jackson.


He joins singer Connie Smith and keyboard player Hargus "Pig" Robbins as this year's inductees. A formal ceremony is planned later this year.


Brooks has been in semi-retirement, raising his children in his home state of Oklahoma with his wife, Trisha Yearwood. He started a string of shows in Las Vegas a few years ago, and talked openly Tuesday about what will happen after his nest empties.

Designer of 'Star Wars' look dies in Calif. at 82

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -- Ralph McQuarrie, the artist who developed the look of the first "Star Wars" trilogy's signature characters, sets and spaceships, has died. He was 82.


McQuarrie's death Saturday at his Berkeley home was announced on his official website and Facebook page. John Scoleri, co-author of a book on McQuarrie's art, told the Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/Af82v3 ) that McQuarrie had suffered from Parkinson's disease.


In a statement on the official "Star Wars" website, George Lucas said McQuarrie was the first person he hired to help him envision what would become some of the top-grossing movies of all time.


"His genial contribution, in the form of unequaled production paintings, propelled and inspired all of the cast and crew of the original Star Wars trilogy," Lucas said. "When words could not convey my ideas, I could always point to one of Ralph's fabulous illustrations."

The 'Real Housewives' Legacy of Marital Destruction and Financial Ruin

The apparent suicide of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" husband Russell Armstrong sent shock waves across the internet on Tuesday, but perhaps it shouldn't have.

The tragedy follows relevations that Armstrong's wife, "Real Housewives" star Taylor Armstrong, filed for divorce from him in July. It also came after he complained, "This show has literally pushed us to the limit."

Also read: Russell Armstrong, 'Real Housewives' Husband, Dead of Apparent Suicide

In reality, the apparent suicide was preceded by a long list of destroyed marriages and financial ruin that have plagued the franchise's castmates since the "Real Housewives of Orange County" premiered in 2006.

No fewer than eight divorces have occurred among the "Real Housewives" crew, even before the Armstrong union officially began to disintegrate last month.

Also read: 'Real Housewives' Return: 'No Decisions Have Been Made'

Music-lovers observe death anniversary of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Music-lovers including traditional Qawwali lovers observed the death anniversary of legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan here on Tuesday.

(R) Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan seen in this picture. - Photo by WhiteStar

“The King of Qawwali”, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was born on October 13, 1948 in Faisalabad.


The legendary singer was not only popular in Pakistan but also in rest of the world. He sang predominantly in the Islamic devotional style known as Qawwali.


He passed away at the age of 48, having become one of the world’s most outstanding vocalists.


Nusrat Fateh’s songs are still alive among his fans and also youngsters, and have defined the art-form of Qawwali for the generations to come.

Jerry Lewis ousted from MDA telethon -- and comics are outraged

Jerry Lewis has been ousted from the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. telethon he has hosted for nearly half a century -- and the comedy community is outraged.  

On Wednesday night, the MDA released a statement saying it was severing its association with the 85-year-old performer. Lewis won't appear on this year's Labor Day weekend telethon.

The announcement provoked an outcry from the comedy community, even as the circumstances surrounding Lewis' departure remained mysterious.  Here’s what some of L.A.’s comics had to say:

Tom Arnold: "Younger comics were coming out [to the show] for Jerry Lewis. Jerry let them fly. They would use the word ‘genius’ -- and he certainly is. It’s been handled so poorly. To me, Jerry should be able to come back and say goodbye.... It's probably time for him to retire.  But he should get to say goodbye. They screwed up. If they'd promoted this as Jerry Lewis' final telethon they could've gotten guys like George Clooney, which would've opened the door to God knows who. It would've been a big deal and showbiz loves big deals."

Lady Gaga: ''Judas' leaks are a slow death' - video

Singer also calls songwriting '15 minutes of vomiting'

Lady Gaga has called the gradual leaks of her new single 'Judas' a "slow death".

The track was rush-released last Friday (April 15) after it leaked.

Speaking in her new edition of 'Gagavision', one of her regular webisodes filmed before the track was rush-released, this week's NME cover star said: "'Judas' is leaking, it's like a slow death. They [the leaks] were tearing at the song, first it was the arm and then it was the liver."

Gaga also opened up about songwriting, describing the way she writes songs as "15 minutes of vomiting."

She said: "The creative process is 15 minutes of vomiting and then days, weeks, months, years of fine tuning."

She also added that you "must honour your vomit."

Pick up the new issue of NME to read our Lady Gaga interview. It's available to buy online and is on UK newsstands now.

Robert Pattinson sinks his teeth into vampire-free drama with 'Water for Elephants'

Robert Pattison wasn't worried about his dramatic acting chops while making "Water for Elephants," but he is now.

The 24-year-old actor and "Twilight" heartthrob trades his pale skin and vampire fangs for a role as a veterinarian on a 1930s circus train in "Elephants," based on the 2006 bestselling novel, in theatres Friday.

Pattinson plays Jacob Jankowski, a veterinary student forced to fend for himself after his parents are killed in a car accident. He hops a train and begins his life in a travelling circus. He quickly sets his sights on the star of the Benzini Bros. show, played by Reese Witherspoon, but lives under constant watch of her husband, an ambitious and often cruel circus owner and ringmaster played by Christoph Waltz.

"There are about 15 Oscar winners at every level of the production," Pattinson says. "I had such an incredible time making it. I would love it if you could make movies and they were never released. That would be so cool. That would be the best job in the world. I'm only nervous now."

The soft-spoken British star became an instant international sensation when he was cast as romantic vampire Edward Cullen in "Twilight." He was named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" and one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people. "Water for Elephants" is the biggest production Pattinson has appeared in post-"Twilight."

"The only thing you can do is try and work with the best people," he says.

His two Oscar-winning costars have already given his latest performance a thumbs-up.

Witherspoon calls him "the heart of this movie."

No resolution in Charlie Sheen's custody hearing

Former Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen went before a Los Angeles judge Tuesday seeking custody of his twin sons with estranged wife Brooke Mueller, who also attended the closed hearing.

No resolution was immediately announced. Sheen left the courthouse flanked by security and was on his way to catch a plane to Washington, DC, for a performance of his stage show. Mueller emerged from court smiling and hugged her attorney but declined to comment. Attorneys for both sides also refused to divulge details of the hearing.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Hank Goldberg sealed the hearing at the request of her attorney, saying it was "in the best interest of the children" because of "questions of abuse and other inflammatory and emotional issues."

Sheen arrived in court wearing a black suit, glasses and an orange tie. As the public filed out of the courtroom, Sheen gave a fist bump to a reporter in the audience. One of his girlfriends, whom he describes as goddesses, accompanied him to court and sat on a bench outside the courtroom.

The actor and his estranged wife have sparred in recent months, with Mueller accusing Sheen of threatening her with a pen knife.

Report: Charlie Sheen lost custody battle

Although the court session was closed to the media, reports are that Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller's toddler twins will stay with their mother and her family, as agreed on in a March 10 settlement.

Former "Two and a Half Men" star Sheen went before a Los Angeles judge Tuesday seeking custody of the boys. Mueller also attended, and emerged from court smiling and hugging her attorney. Although nothing official was announced to the media, TMZ.com reports that the couple's custody arrangment will not be changed.

Sheen left the courthouse flanked by security and was on his way to catch a plane to Washington, DC for a performance of his stage show, "My Violent Torpedo of Truth — Defeat is Not an Option."

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Hank Goldberg sealed the hearing at the request of Mueller's attorney, saying it was "in the best interest of the children" because of "questions of abuse and other inflammatory and emotional issues."

Story: Mueller would 'never let' Richards raise her kids

Sheen arrived in court wearing a black suit, glasses and an orange tie. As the public filed out of the courtroom, Sheen gave a fist bump to a reporter in the audience. One of his girlfriends, whom he describes as goddesses, accompanied him to court and sat on a bench outside the courtroom.

The actor and his estranged wife have sparred in recent months, with Mueller accusing Sheen of threatening her with a pen knife. Recent reports have claimed Mueller has re-entered rehab for addiction issues.

Pia Toscano's Ex Wasn't a Mark Ballas Casualty

As we previously reported, Pia and Mark went out on a date the NIGHT AFTER she got the boot from "Idol" ... and have since ratcheted up their romance.

There's a report out that Pia unceremoniously dumped her caterer boyfriend Carlos Nunez to trade up to Ballas.

But our "Dancing with the Stars"/"American Idol" spies tell us ... Carlos was history long before Mark entered the picture.

Check out the pics we got of Pia and her ex. Ah, what could have been.

Kate Middleton to design her own wedding gown

The most famous yet-to-be revealed dress in the world is being designed by the bride herself. Kate Middleton’s wedding dress is top secret, but that hasn’t stopped the British media from trying to parse the details together from leaked snippets here are there.

The latest breathless news, quoting an “impeccably placed source,” London’s Daily Mail suggests that Ms. Middleton began designing her own dress immediately after her engagement, taking her cue from “the Renaissance period,” (For fashion samples click here)which she studied in Florence during her gap year.

The dress will also offer a “nod” to Princess Diana’s wedding gown, minus the “flounce,” the Mail reports. It has reportedly been created by 34-year-old Sophie Cranston, whose label Libelula was created in 2002, and includes a bridal collection. (Kate Middleton has worn Libelula before- in January she sported this velvet coat.)

The dress, kept under lock and key at Clarence House, is made of “ ivory satin and lace, with a pearl button detail and 10 foot train,” according to the Mail.

And some lucky bidder will have the pleasure of taking the gown home after royal wedding. It will be put up for auction to raise money for charity.

Sean Bean on Game of Thrones

Sean Bean’s latest role didn’t require him to master many new skills from scratch. “I’m pretty good at horse riding and sword-fighting already,” he chuckles in his gruff Northern burr, “though I did have to brush up on them both a bit before filming.” It has, after all, been 18 years since Bean saddled up as Sergeant Richard Sharpe in the first of 16 swashbuckling adventures on ITV1. “Though generally,” he says, “we practise with sticks instead of swords.”

Bean is discussing his latest heroic incarnation: Lord Eddard Stark, the lead character in the new HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones. Comparisons with his biggest film role, as Boromir in Lord of the Rings, are inevitable. But Game of Thrones, says Bean, is quite different – “an edgier, sexy, dark, brooding piece, where no one is safe” and that has more “brutality, betrayal, back-stabbing, corruption and hordes of unsavoury characters.”

Based on A Song of Fire and Ice, the popular series of books by America’s contemporary answer to Tolkien, George RR Martin, Game of Thrones is indeed a sumptuous, sprawling tale of feuding families and the pursuit of power. Bloody and barbarous, but also beautiful, it has no shortage of sex, swords and savagery.

Told across 10 intense and, at times, eerie 60-minute episodes, the epic, multilayered story is set in the fictional land of Westeros, where competing clans, or Houses, have fought for generations, each dominating a different realm. Years ago, one tribe, the Targaryens, invaded to unite the Seven Kingdoms under the Iron Throne; now there’s a battle brewing to regain that throne once more.

Five tips that could save your marriage

Maybe you saw that actor Nicolas Cage was arrested in New Orleans after an argument with his wife. He was booked on suspicion of domestic abuse battery, disturbing the peace and public drunkenness.

nicolas cage crop 320What intrigued me was that the police said Cage and his wife were standing in front of a home and arguing about whether it was where they lived.

Well, I can get behind that in a big way. If there’s one thing my wife and I always argue about, it’s which house is ours.

Honey, this is our place! No, our house is on another street! Hold on, it’s that green one! Wait, this isn’t even our city!

Because I’ve been through this so often, I’ve devised some helpful tricks. They’ve saved my marriage, and maybe they’ll work for other guys:

Look in your pocket. If you have a key to the front door, it’s probably your house.

Check the address on your diver’s license to see if the numbers match the ones on the door.

Use your cell phone to dial your home number, then listen carefully for a ring inside the house.

Go to nearby homes and ask the neighbors if you look familiar.

Stumble back to the bar. Another drink could help jog your memory.

By using these simple tricks, you and your wife will be back at home in no time. I mean, assuming she’s really your wife.

Film fans head for 'Rio' with $40M debut

Movie fans are going to "Rio" in big numbers, but they're not quite screaming over the latest installment of a horror-comedy franchise.

Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg's animated family flick "Rio" led the weekend box office with a healthy $40 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday.

But the slasher comedy "Scream 4" opened at No. 2 with just $19.3 million, a fraction of the business for the previous two sequels, which both debuted at over $30 million more than a decade ago.

After two weekends in the No. 1 spot, Russell Brand's Easter bunny tale "Hop" slipped to third-place with $11.2 million, raising its total to $82.6 million.

Lady Gaga Feels Alexander Mcqueen's Presence

Lady GaGa has attributed her latest chart success to the late Alexander Mcqueen - the singer's convinced she's simply channelling the designer's feelings through song.

The Poker Face hitmaker developed a special bond with the Scottish fashion guru in the months leading up to his death and she believes McQueen's spirit guided her to write equality anthem Born This Way, which was released on 11 February - exactly one year after the tragic star's suicide.

She tells Harper's Bazaar magazine, "(McQueen) planned the whole thing. Right after he died, I wrote Born This Way. I think he's up in heaven with fashion strings in his hands, marionetting away, planning this whole thing."

ill the 'real' Paris Hilton stand up in 'The World According to Paris'?

Yes, you've seen Paris Hilton on "The Simple Life." You've watched her trying to choose "best friends" on other reality shows. And we've seen her in less-flattering situations -- being carted off to jail, lying about drug possession, making a spectacle of herself at parties. And then there are those news reports about her saying unflattering things about black men.

Paris would like you to wipe that from your mind. "The World According to Paris," the upcoming Oxygen series providing an all-access "voyueristic" look into the everyday life of the heiress, is "the real deal," according to Hilton.

"On 'The Simple Life," I played a character," Hilton said Friday during NBC/Universal's Summer Press Day. "This is not a competiton show. Now people will see my real world."

The series, which will premiere June 1, will feature Hilton as she moves through her professional and personal life. Her mother Kathy Hilton and her boyfriend Cy Waits figure prominently.

"This is the real Paris," said executive producer Arthur Smith. "People will be really, really surprised. Her fans will be blown away."

Judging from clips shown during the session, the show bears more than a little resemblance to "Keeping Up with The Kardashians" and other series featuring Kim Kardashian, who used to be a good friend of Hilton's.

Said Hilton, "This show is really personal," adding that there were some aspects she felt uncomfortable about showing but knew would make great television." She turns 30 on the show and shows different sides of herself. "I cook -- I'm a good cook."

Hilton was treated to overwhelmingly positive questions from reporters who praised her style and her personality.

Kathy Hilton said she also shows the impact she has on Paris' life.

"This was good therapy for me," she said with a smile.

Dish's Blockbuster buy may mean brand's survival

Dish Network Corp.'s agreement to buy Blockbuster Inc.'s assets out of bankruptcy could keep the movie-rental chain and its blue-and-gold logo from disappearing.

But whether the No. 3 pay TV company can use Blockbuster's brand, stores and streaming-video capabilities to create a service more relevant to today's quickly evolving viewer habits remains to be seen.

Dish, headed by billionaire Charles Ergen, won a two-day auction for Blockbuster that stretched into the early hours of Wednesday morning with a bid valued at $228 million in cash.

Dish beat out billionaire investor Carl Icahn and a group of debt holders for the Dallas movie-rental chain, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September.

Icahn had teamed with a group of liquidators. Analysts say it was likely he would have liquidated the company. Dish has more of a vested interest in keeping Blockbuster a going concern.

But analysts are split about whether Dish will keep the stores themselves open.

"Dish has zero retail capability at present, and therefore lacks the scale or synergies to benefit from the operation of Blockbuster retail stores," Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said.

He said the company might just want Blockbuster's movie-streaming service and was likely emboldened by the $290 million initial bid from debt holders that started the auction.

"(Dish) decided that rather than buying the streaming capability and the Blockbuster brand name from another party, it could bid for the entire company and offer the store inventory to another bidder at a later date," he said.

Pachter thinks that Dish will liquidate stores by the end of the year. But others thought Dish might keep at least some stores open.

"In order to get the most from the investment, Dish Network needs to keep the Blockbuster brand top of mind with consumers, and that means in kiosks in drug stores and physical store locations," Wall Street Strategies analyst Brian Sozzi said.

Either way, Dish and Ergen, who also chairs former Dish parent EchoStar, is gambling the deal can help reinvent Dish as consumers' TV and movie-watching habits evolve.

The company, with 14.1 million subscribers, is facing a maturing pay-TV industry as more TV and movie watchers go online or subscribe to services like Hulu and Netflix.

In 2010 new Dish subscribers fell 2 percent, hurt by aggressive discounts by competitors as satellite TV players duke it out for subscribers.

Dish offers an online service at Dishonline.com with 150,000 movies, TV shows, clips and trailers. It also offers video-on-demand and pay-per-view services. It could use Dallas-based Blockbuster's streaming service to expand its online offerings.

Whatever its plans, Dish is taking on a company that is a shadow of its former self.

When Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy protection, it was down to 3,000 stores, less than a third of the peak of 9,100 in 2004. There are about 2,400 currently open with plans to close about 700 more by mid-April.

Blockbuster used to dominate the U.S. movie rental business. But it lost money for years as that business declined because customers shifted to Netflix Inc., video on demand and DVD rental kiosks.

In a statement about its Blockbuster bid, Dish Executive Vice President Tom Cullen made specific mention of Blockbuster's stores.

"With its more than 1,700 store locations, a highly recognizable brand and multiple methods of delivery, Blockbuster will complement our existing video offerings while presenting cross-marketing and service extension opportunities for Dish Network," Cullen said.

But Dish has not yet laid out specific plan for the company. Dish spokeswoman Francie Bauer said the Englewood, Colo.-based company would not comment further since the deal must receive bankruptcy court approval.

A hearing for that approval is set for Thursday, and Dish expects the deal to close in the second quarter.

Kirstie Alley, Maksim Chmerkovskiy Wipe Out on 'Dancing With the Stars'

"Dancing With the Stars" had its first onstage disaster Monday night.

Kirstie Alley and "Dancing with the Stars" partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy fell in the ballroom during the live performance show.

Just seconds into their rumba routine to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on Monday, Chmerkovskiy wiped out, taking the 60-year-old actress down with him.

A limping, apologetic Chmerkovskiy later told the judges that his thigh "just gave out."

After a few moments the pair recovered and went on to earn the praise of the judges and a score of 21 - one point higher than their score for last week's quickstep.

Judge Carrie Ann Inaba says, "Sometimes tragedy leads to amazingly beautiful moments."

After the show, Chmerkovskiy tweeted his apologies to Alley and their supporters.

"To all the fans...I'm sorry! It will never happen again and I will never 'fall'! To @kirstiealley You were..FLAWLESS! In more ways than one!"

Britney Spears Talks 'I Am The Femme Fatale'

Britney Spears has spoken about working with Will.I.Am on Femme Fatale album track, Big Fat Bass, stating that the rapper is "brilliant."

Speaking to our US Team as part of the MTV special, Britney Spears: I Am The Femme Fatale, the Hold It Against Me singer seemed to having nothing but praise for the Black Eyed Peas frontman.

The pop princess claimed: "I love his work. He's all over the place. He's brilliant. When he does talk, he blows you away."

The MTV special also goes behind the scenes of making her seventh studio LP, Femme Fatale, and the video shoot for her next single, Till The World Ends.

When asked about the promo, which is shot in a "grimy and gross" warehouse, the 29-year old revealed: "I feel like I've done so many videos, I'm at the point I want to enjoy myself."

In the documentary, Spears also sheds some light on her home-life, confessing: "I'm usually pretty busy when I'm not working."

"I have two children, so I usually get them up in the morning, and I'm usually at the gym, and I help cook dinner sometimes ... a lot of the stuff that I do I do early in the morning when my boys are at school."

The star also talks about her comeback show in Las Vegas, where she surprised her fans at the Palms Hotel and Casino, stating: "It was very exciting. The fans were amazing."

Britney added: "It was good energy, especially when they're screaming. They hype you up and make you feel larger than life."

Rihanna stars alongside Taylor Swift at Academy of Country Music awards

Surprise performers at the 46th Academy of Country Music awards in Las Vegas on Sunday night included Steven Tyler and Rihanna, but the night belonged to Taylor Swift and rising star Miranda Lambert. Taking the stage to collect the award for entertainer of the year, the 21-year old Swift said: "This is the first time that I've ever won this and I'm just losing my mind."

Aerosmith singer and American Idol judge Tyler duetted with Carrie Underwood – winner of the TV talent show in 2005 – on a high-energy version of Walk This Way, while the importance of the CMAs to all sectors of the US music industry was demonstrated when Rihanna joined country singer Jennifer Nettles for a Nashville-influenced version of the R&B star's latest single California King Bed.

The 27-year-old Lambert was the biggest winnner of the night, picking up awards such as female vocalist of the year as well the song, video and single of the year trophies for The House That Built Me.

The new artist award went to Mississippi group the Band Perry, who also picked up single of the year for If I Die Young. Nashville band Lady Antebellum won album of the year and Brad Paisley was named top male vocalist for the fifth year running.

Previous winners of the prestigious entertainer of the year award include Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks.