Tour Notes: Lily Allen, Coldplay, Kings of Leon and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Concerts / Tours, Pop, R&B / Soul, Rock

A number of acts will be hitting the road this year. Here’s hoping one of them comes your way:

• Lily Allen: The “Smile” singer will be hitting up this side of the pond starting in April.
• The B-52’s: The group began a series of stops last week. The party continues through May.
• Coldplay: The band will be spending part of their summer vacation in the US. Portland will be their first stop in July.
• Flight of the Conchords: The New Zealand duo will kick off a North American tour this April.
• Jennifer Hudson: The Dreamgirl and Robin Thicke will be touring together starting this spring.
• Kings of Leon: The Grammy award winners will begin a set of North American stops on April 19.

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2009 Grammy Award Winners

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards, Alternative, Country, Hip-Hop & Rap, Pop, R&B / Soul, Rock

Lil’ Wayne may have had the most nominations going in, but he wasn’t the biggest winner coming out.

Next to Rihanna and Chris Brown, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the biggest newsmakers of the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. The collaboration between the Led Zeppelin lead singer and the bluegrass artist earned the duo five awards last night including Album of the Year for Raising Sand and Record of the Year. Prior to yesterday, Plant, 60, had only racked up one Grammy in his career. (Krauss, on the other hand, is now up to 26.)

Click to continue reading 2009 Grammy Award Winners

Read More | Grammys

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Idols Underwood and Hudson Among Grammy Performers

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards, Performances, Country, Hip-Hop & Rap, Pop, R&B / Soul

Once again, former American Idol contestants will be represented in the annual Grammy broadcast.

Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson are the latest nominees scheduled to perform at next month’s ceremony. Underwood, who already has three statues under her belt, is currently up for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Meanwhile, Hudson, who will also be singing at the upcoming Super Bowl, is hoping to place a Grammy right next to her Oscar.

Other acts confirmed for the telecast include Kenny Chesney, Katy Perry and the Jonas Brothers. Coldplay - up for seven awards - will also perform as will Lil Wayne. The rapper leads this year’s field with a total of eight nominations.

The 51st Annual Grammy Awards will air February 8th on CBS.

Read More | Futon Critic

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Jennifer Hudson to Perform at Super Bowl

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Artist News, R&B / Soul

After nearly three months in seclusion, Jennifer Hudson is preparing to tackle one of the biggest challenges for a singer out there. In just a few weeks, the Oscar winner will be singing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl.

The February 1st event - her first public outing since the horrific family murders - will be just one of several appearances for Hudson next month. The 27-year-old is also scheduled to perform Neil Diamond tunes at February 6th’s MusiCares Person of the Year event in Los Angeles.

Although it’s unknown whether she’ll be attending the 51st annual Grammy Awards on February 8th, the Secret Lives of Bees star is up for four awards including R&B Album of the Year and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Read More | E! Online

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Jennifer Hudson Not Yet Ready to Work

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards, R&B / Soul

Despite earlier reports that Jennifer Hudson might soon return work, the Oscar winner realizes that she’s still not emotionally ready.

Last week, J Records told the Associated Press that Hudson would begin filming a new music video sometime this week. The label said the “If It Isn’t Love” shoot was originally supposed to happen around the time her family members were murdered in October. And though it was Jennifer’s intention to “finish what she started,” a source for the 27-year-old said Hudson has since acknowledged “that she’s not ready to go back to work.”

Although Jennifer hasn’t been seen in public since the tragedy, the 27-year-old did release a statement shortly after her recent Grammy nominations.  “It’s been a childhood dream of mine to release an album, so to receive four Grammy nominations is truly a blessing.” Only time will tell whether Hudson will feel up to appearing at the February 8th ceremony.

Read More | Us Magazine

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Some Happy News for Jennifer Hudson

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Artist News, R&B / Soul

Jennifer Hudson has made recent headlines for her personal tragedies, but thanks to the Grammys the singer/actress has some happy news to celebrate. Nominated for four awards, Hudson may soon add “Grammy winner” to her impressive list of credentials.

Hudson, who won an Oscar for her work in Dreamgirls, said she’s “honored” to be nominated. “It’s been a childhood dream of mine to release an album, so to receive four Grammy nominations is truly a blessing,” Hudson said in a statement.

She snagged a nod for R&B Album of the Year, Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (“Spotlight”), and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group (with Fantasia Barrino “I’m His Only Woman”).

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