Country Music Hall of Famer George Jones isn’t fond of how pop-influenced the genre he loves has become in recent years.
The 78-year-old “Choices” crooner has some harsh words for some of country’s modern day big acts, like Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift, who Jones accuses of “stealing our identity.”
“They’re definitely not traditional country music. It’s good to know that we still do traditional country music. Alan Jackson still does it, so does George Strait. We still have it, and there’s quite a few of us that are going to hope that it comes back one of these days,” Jones remarked in an interview with The Associated Press Tuesday.
Music sensation Taylor Swift takes the virtual stage in an all-new edition of Band Hero premiering this month!
Swift fans will be able to live their musical fantasy by performing hits like “Love Story,” “You Belong With Me,” and “Picture To Burn” as Taylor Swift — or alongside the star — on the Band Hero stage.
“Anything that encourages people to pick up an instrument and play, I’m fully behind. And, I’m really excited about Band Hero, because not only are fans getting to play my songs, but I’m actually in the game,” Taylor, a singer/songwriter/guitarist said of the game back in August. “There are so many awesome things that go into being in Band Hero, like getting to customize my band to look like my touring band, and it’s so cool for people to feel like they are experiencing one of my concerts. This is one of the closest things out there to going to see me perform!”
Carrie Underwood’s in love — and she doesn’t care who knows it! The charttopping former American Idol professes her love for hockey playing beau Mike Fisher in a special message tucked away in the linear notes of her third album, Play On, available now.
In the album’s pamphlet, Carrie passionately writes: “Thank you #12 (Mike’s jersey number for the Ottawa Senators). You are the most amazing addition to my life! You are such a wonderful person and have had such an amazing hand in the building of this album and in the growth of me as a person. I love you so much! You make my life better in every way! I thank God for you every day… xoxo, Carrie.”
Carrie sure is having a great season. After rocking Manhattan’s Bryant Park with a performance on Good Morning America Tuesday, her current single. “Cowboy Casanova.” has already peaked to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on Hot Country Songs.
It appears Leighton Meester’s taking this singing thing seriously after all. The CW showed a sneak peek of the actress’ new video “Somebody to Love” after last night’s installment of Gossip Girl. The full video will premiere next Monday night @ 9PM, immediately after Gossip Girl!
On Tuesday, Rihanna released a gritty and grainy video in support of her new single “Wait Your Turn” — which is featured on her upcoming fourth album, Rated R.
Speaking of Rihanna, have you seen the new cover artwork for Chris Brown’s comeback album Graffiti? Just when we thought Adam Lambert would take Top Honors in the roundup of thise year’s WTF Album Covers, Chris swoops in for the steal after releasing this cover shot of himself posted up in a pair of Ri-Ri’s favorite leggings. Nice going, Breezy.
Chris Tweeted the image late Monday and later flipped into Full Bitch Mode after a few acid-tongued Tweeters criticized the tight ass pants he wears in the photo. What do you expect from a guy who refers to himself as “Mechanical Dummy?” Check out a few quotes from Chrissy Poo’s online hissy fit — which came to us in ALL CAPS, might we add:
-WHO CARES IF MY PANTS R FITTED. its called fashion. IM SO TIRED OF CLOSED MINDED PEOPLE. IM 100% COMFORTABLE WIT MY SEXUALITY. IM A GROWN MAN
-MY FASHION ISNT LIMITED TO BAGGY AZZ JEANS AND FITTED CAPS.. i did that in 05. CMON son. HATING IS SO LAME….
-I get paid to do this… U don’t get paid to hate.. So why do it loser?
HA! “Poker Face” becomes pure poetry when read from the lips of screen star Christopher Walken. The acting vet appeared on a special Halloween edition of the BBC’s Friday Night with Jonathan Ross over the weekend, where he gave his rendition of Lady Gaga’s platinum charttopper, “Poker Face”
After a turbulent nine months filled, with a nude photo scandal and public brawl with ex Chris Brown, Rihanna is back on the scene and ready to release her fourth studio album, Rated R — which is great news for those of you who have missed the Island Queen’s funky costumes and action-packed performances. Check out the LP’s Official Tracklisting:
1. “Mad House”
2. “Wait Your Turn”
3. “Hard featuring Jeezy”
4. “Stupid In Love”
5. “ROCKSTAR 101″ (Featuring Slash)
6. “Russian Roulette”
7. “Fire Bomb”
8. “Rude Boy”
9. “Photographs” (Featuring will.i.am)
10. “G4L”
11. “Te Amo”
12. “Cold Case Love”
13. “The Last Song”
Rihanna’s label also confirmed that the video for the album’s second single, “Wait Your Turn,” will premiere Nov. 3 exclusively at Rihannanow.com. Fans who pre-order the album will receive “Russian Roulette,” instantly. Included in the iTunes edition of Rated R are special, exclusive director’s cuts of the videos for “Russian Roulette” and “Wait Your Turn,” both helmed by director Anthony Mandler.
The Spice Girls are in talks to perform during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics Games in London, according to British music mogul Simon Fuller — who turned the group into the most successful girl bands of all-time during their chart reign in the late ’90s.
“They stand for so much in British music history and I can’t think of a better time for them to get back together for another performance. The demand for them as a band is as strong as ever,” Fuller said.
“They will not want to be performing hits like Wannabe in their 40s, but it’’s amazing how often people talk about another reunion. And I think if they do it, it’’s going to be in 2012.”
The event will be seen by an estimated two billion people. The most successful British bands since ‘The Beatles, The Spice Girls has sold more than 65 million records worldwide. In 2007, the hitmakers briefly returned for a reunion tour.
Michael Jackson’s This Is It was the No. 1 “Thriller” for movie audiences this Halloween.
The King of Pop’s highly anticipated musical documentary — comprised of This Is It Tour behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage — led the box office with $21.3 million in weekend ticket sales, knocking low-budget horror fest Paranormal Activity down to No. 2. This Is It has raised its five-day total worldwide to $101 million. Paranormal has raised $84.8 million total, according to The AP.
