Heart, Eagles, Pretenders Members Among Stars Featured on Upcoming Album by Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen

Legacy RecordingsA star-studded list of musicians, including Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson, the Eagles' Joe Walsh and The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, have contributed to the upcoming album by technology mogul and philanthropist Paul Allen and his band The Underthinkers.  Scheduled for an August 6 release, Everywhere at Once features 13 songs either written or co-written by Allen.

Other musicians who appear on the multi-billionaire's album include Allman Brothers Band slide guitarist Derek Trucks, Los Lobos' David Hidalgo, Ivan Neville and frequent Eric Clapton collaborator Doyle Bramhall II. 

The Wilson sisters lend their talents to the song "Straw into Gold," Walsh sings and plays guitar on the tune "Six Strings from Hell" and Hynde delivers a lead vocal on a track titled "Rodeo."  Trucks, meanwhile, appears on two songs while Hidalgo plays guitar on 11 of the album's 13 tracks.

Proceeds raised by sales of Everywhere at Once will benefit educational programs at Seattle's EMP Museum, which Allen founded in 2000.  Allen co-founded Microsoft in 1975 and, after leaving the company in 1983, has gone on to fund and support a variety of projects in the areas of science, the arts, sports and business.  He's also a lifelong guitar aficionado whose own music has been greatly influenced by Jimi Hendrix.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Country Star Trivia

Comstock/ThinkstockWhich music superstar co-wrote Kellie Pickler's hit "Best Days of Your Life?" ANSWER: Taylor Swift.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Dierks Bentley Mixes Old and New on Upcoming Album, "Riser," Due Out This Fall

Facebook.com/DierksBentleyDierks Bentley fans can look forward to familiar themes on his upcoming album, Riser, including a few lonesome songs and some songs about drinking a nice, cold beer. There are some new elements to the music too due to where Dierks is in his life right now as a husband and father.

He adds, "You know my dad passed away, so that’s all kind of tied into it. Just kind of look at the world around me and making observations on that."

No matter what project he's working on, Dierks always takes care to put some kind of new sound on every album.

"I think 'new' is what is exciting about country music, you know?" Dierks explains. "''New' is what got me into country music. Hearing Hank, Jr.  sing when I was 17-years-old was totally new to me. It might’ve been old to somebody else, but for me that was a brand new sound, and it just was…exciting."

The first single from Riser is titled "Bourbon in Kentucky." It will hit the airwaves next week.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Paramore, fun., Mumford & Sons Make First Wave of Teen Choice Awards Music Nominations

Facebook.com/TeenChoiceAwardsThe first wave of the Teen Choice Awards nominations has been announced and a few rockers are in the running for a couple of awards.

Paramore, Mumford & Sons, AWOLNATION, Imagine Dragons and The Lumineers will all face off against each other for Choice Rock Group, while fun. will compete against pop acts Big Time Rush, Maroon 5, One Direction and The Wanted for Choice Music Group. The music categories include nominees in almost every genre, including pop, country, R&B, hip-hop, rock, and electronic dance music, the latter of which was added last year. 

The Teen Choice Awards will air August 11, live on Fox from 8-10 p.m. ET. Fans ages 13-19 can vote once a day in each category for their favorite Teen Choice 2013 nominees right now at TeenChoiceAwards.com.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Fake PSY Psyches Out Cannes Film Festival

Facebook.com/WonderfulPistachiosFor two days, "Psy" took Cannes by storm, posing for pics with celebs, hitting hot parties, booking DJ gigs, and enjoying the life of an international music star -- except it wasn't really him.

The New York Post reports a lookalike for the "Gangnam Style" and "Gentleman" performer, bodyguards in tow, hoodwinked attendees at the French film festival. Even more strange, he really isn't much of a dead ringer for the star, at least according to a pic snapped at the festival by Justin Bieber's manager Scooter Braun.

The real Psy re-tweeted the pic, posting, "Here the picture of  #fakePSYinCannes spotted by @scooterbraun!!" and followed it with a hashtag revealing the star's real location: #realPSYinSINGAPORE.

A source who booked the fake star at one of the Cannes events finally realized his VIP wasn't the South Korean star only after getting in touch with Psy's record label. "We've been duped," the source admitted.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Trisha Yearwood Performs at White House in Honor of Carole King

Vector ManagementTrisha Yearwood was one of several artists invited to the White House Wednesday night to pay tribute to Carole King, who was honored by President Obama and awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Obama remarked, "For an entire decade, behind so many of the songs that touched our hearts and stirred our soul, there was Carole forever joyful and uplifting."

Several artists paid tribute to King by performing her music, including Billy Joel, James Taylor, Gloria Estefan, Emeli Sande and Yearwood.

The highlights included Joel performing "Locomotion," Taylor playing "Up on the Roof," and Estefan, Yearwood and Sande teaming up on "Will You Love Me Tomorrow."

Yearwood delivered a solo performance of King's hit "So Far Away."

King herself opened the event with a performance of "Beautiful."

The concert was presented as the latest edition of the “In Performance at the White House” series. It will air on PBS next Tuesday.

The 71-year-old King, the first woman to receive the Gershwin Prize, was also saluted with a concert at the Library of Congress on Tuesday night.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Carole King Receives Library of Congress Prize at the White House

Yuri Gripas-Pool/Getty ImagesCarole King was honored by President Obama at the White House on Wednesday night as she was awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Obama remarked, "For an entire decade, behind so many of the songs that touched our hearts and stirred our soul, there was Carol forever joyful and uplifting."

Several artists paid tribute to King by performing her music, including Billy Joel, James Taylor, Gloria Estefan, Trisha Yearwood, Jesse McCartney and Emeli Sande.

The highlights included Joel performing "Locomotion," Taylor playing "Up on the Roof," and Estefan, Yearwood and Sande teaming up on "Will You Love Me Tomorrow."

King herself opened the event with a performance of "Beautiful."

The concert was presented as the latest edition of the “In Performance at the White House” series. It will air on PBS next Tuesday.

The 71-year-old King, the first woman to receive the Gershwin Prize, was also saluted with a concert at the Library of Congress on Tuesday night.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Sharon Osbourne Says Ozzy Remains Sober

Ozzy.comOzzy Osbourne has remained sober since announcing to fans last month that he had consumed alcohol and taken prescription drugs for an extended period of time.

On Wednesday's edition of the CBS daytime program The Talk, Ozzy's wife, co-host Sharon Osbourne, casually mentioned, "My husband is sober."

Sharon previously addressed the matter on The Talk April 23 as she denied reports that they were getting divorced.

Earlier that month, the Black Sabbath frontman, who's struggled with drug and alcohol abuse in the past, wrote on his Facebook page, “For the last year and a half I have been drinking and taking drugs. I was in a very dark place. However, I am happy to say that I am 44 days sober.”

Sharon provided the update on her husband Wednesday while confirming that she is rejoining the U.K. edition of The X Factor as a judge for its 10th season. She previously served as a judge on Simon Cowell's British singing competition from 2004 to 2007.

Sharon also said she will not be leaving The Talk despite her increased workload. She left her role as a judge on NBC's America's Got Talent after the 2012 season.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Women's Empowerment Concert Featuring Beyonce & More Airing as TV Special

ChimeforChange.orgHighlights from next month's Sound of Change Live concert in London, promoting improved education, health and justice for women and girls around the world, will be televised by NBC as a two-hour special.

The special, titled The Women’s Concert for Change: Live from London, will air from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, June 2, one day after the concert will be held at Twickenham Stadium.

The lineup includes Beyonce, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Ellie Goulding and Florence + the Machine. Madonna, James Franco and Salma Hayek Pinault will be among the presenters at the event, which will be presented by Gucci’s Chime for Change.

In addition, Ben Affleck, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts and other celebrities will make appearances in PSAs that will air during the NBC special.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Pitbull Says He'll Bring "Crazy Freaky Fun" to Joint Tour with Ke$ha

Facebook.com/KeshaMr. Worldwide and K-Dolla are bringing the party to you this summer.  Pitbull and Ke$ha's joint tour kicks off Thursday night in Mansfield, Massachusetts, and it seems like quite a production: Ke$ha promises "glitter, beards, balls and laser beams," while Pitbull says he'll contribute some "crazy freaky fun."

So how did this odd couple end up as a double bill?  Pitbull tells ABC News Radio that fans have wanted them to collaborate for a long time.  "People have been asking us, when are we going to do something together? So, crazy thing is that we are actually doing a tour together before we do a record together," Pitbull laughs. 

As for why he thinks she's a great tour partner, Pit explains, "She has a great vibe, great music, and I think it's a great segue where we can both finish it off together with a lot of energy."  He suggests that fans who attend will really be able to, as his latest hit says, "feel the moment."

At this point, fans know what to expect from Pitbull's live performances: in the past two weeks, they've seen him perform on the American Idol finale, the Dancing with the Stars finale and the Billboard Music Awards. Asked if he feels he'll need to step up his production to compete with Ke$ha's clouds of glitter and lasers, Pit says he's not into that kind of one-upmanship. 

"I'm not here to compete. I'm not here to complicate. I'm here to compliment," he explains.  "Whatever she does on stage, I watch, I learn, I study. But that's not going to change what we bring to the stage. And what we bring is global music, a lot of fun, a lot of energy, and I just bring that old-school Miami bass -- crazy, freaky, fun!"

But will Ke$ha's fanatical fans, who she calls "animals," mix well with Pitbull's crowd?  He says there's no reason why they wouldn't, since they're all going to be at the concert for the same thing: good music.

"Music, at the end of the day connects everybody," he tells ABC News Radio. "So it's all about them having a good time and escaping, and Ke$ha's got great music, I think we have great music also. So...I may pick up some fans from Ke$ha, she may pick up some fans from us, and that's what it's all about."

So is an onstage collaboration in the cards for the tour, which runs through the end of June?  The rapper won't say.

"It's up in the air, you know? God knows what we're going to end up doing," he says. "She seems like a lot of fun, I've met her a couple of times, she has a great attitude, and also I'm hearing a great work ethic. So, looking forward to it, but there are definitely going to be some surprises!"

If you can't get enough Pitbull, he provides one of the voices in Epic, the animated family film that's opening this weekend.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Kelly Rowland, The-Dream Announce Details of Their New Tour Schedule

RepublicThere's been some confusion about Kelly Rowland and The-Dream's co-headlining Lights Out tour.  There were rumors that the whole trek would be canceled now that Kelly's been tapped to appear as a judge on The X Factor, but the Lights Out tour will go on.

"First, I want to wish my friend Kelly congratulations on her new gig at X Factor," The-Dream says in a statement.  "Unfortunately, we have to change some tour dates which has been extremely hard for me and for Kelly."  Because of scheduling conflicts, the co-headliners have had to scrap shows, including concerts previously scheduled this week in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Kansas City, Missouri. 

"It’s an amazing experience to be able to perform live for your fans and The Dream and I are so grateful to have the opportunity to tour together,” Kelly says. "Even though we’ve adjusted our original plans a bit, we’re very excited,” she adds.

The tour will make previously announced stops in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, then Baltimore on Tuesday, and followed by New York City, on May 30.  The trek will then take Kelly and The-Dream to Philadelphia on May 31, and Mashantucket, CT, on June 2.

The-Dream, whose new album IV Play arrives in stores Tuesday, adds that, "We are looking forward to seeing everyone at a later date.  But in support of IV Play, I will find the time to come to some of the cities left out to the best of my ability, if only to be in front of the fans that support us." 

Kelly will still make previously scheduled appearances at the Riverfest in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Saturday, and at Caribbean Fashion Week in Kingston, Jamaica on June 8th.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Nashville Notes

Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockBrett Eldredge is CMT's current Listen Up featured artist, and you can learn more about him at ListenUp.CMT.com.

Keith Urban has released the lyric video for his new single, "Little Bit of Everything."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Train Setting Sail on Their Own Fan Cruise

Trainline.comA few days ago, Train posted a photo on Twitter of lead singer Pat Monahan photoshopped to look like Captain Stubing from the classic '70s TV show The Love Boat.  The caption was a line from that show's theme song: "Come aboard, we're expecting you."  It was the band's way of teasing what they finally announced on Wednesday: their own fan cruise.

The Sail Across the Sun cruise leaves from Miami on February 14, 2014, and is being billed as "A Music, Food & Wine Festival at Sea."  Since the band has several signature varieties of wine, as well as their own line of chocolate, it's a perfect combination. 

Fans will sail to Grand Cayman on the Norwegian Pearl, and in addition to enjoying two full Train concerts while on board, plus a Q&A and photos with the guys, they'll also get to enjoy meals cooked by some of the band's favorite chefs.  Other artists will be joining in the fun as well -- they'll be announced later.

You can visit SailAcrossTheSun.com now to get all the details, and register for a pre-sale in order to reserve your spot.  In case you didn't get the reference, the cruise is named after a lyric in one of Train's biggest hits "Drops of Jupiter" -- "Tell me/did you sail across the sun/did you make it to the Milky Way."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

VH1 Classic Paying Tribute to Ray Manzarek on Thursday with an Evening of Doors Programming

Photo: Bob HakinsIn honor of Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, who passed away Monday at age 74 after a battle with cancer, VH1 Classic will air a special block of Doors-related programming on Thursday night. 

The network will kick things off at 8 p.m. ET/PT by screening the influential band's recently restored concert film, Live at the Hollywood Bowl '68.  The film captures The Doors' historic July 1968 show at the famed Los Angeles venue and includes three previously unreleased performances.

Next up, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, VH1 Classic will air the Classic Albums series' making-of documentary about The Doors' self-titled debut.  The program features recently taped interviews with Manzarek, as well as with Doors guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore.

Then, at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, an encore screening of Live at the Hollywood Bowl will be shown.

Manzarek's hypnotic and inventive keyboard melodies were a key element of The Doors' sound.  After the band broke up in 1973, Ray delved into a wide variety of creative projects.  He reunited with Krieger about a decade ago to form a touring group that continued to play The Doors' music for fans around the world until his death this week.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Paul McCartney Shows Support for Jailed Russian Rockers After One Begins Hunger Strike

Mary McCartney/MPL Communications Ltd.Paul McCartney has once again spoken out in support of the jailed members of Russian punk group Pussy Riot after one of the imprisoned musicians, Maria Alyokhina, began a hunger strike Wednesday in protest of her treatment at a recent parole hearing.  According to The Guardian, Alyokhina started the protest after she was denied the right to attend her hearing in the Russian city of Berezniki.

Following Maria's announcement, McCartney sent handwritten letters to Russian officials asking that they consider granting parole to both Alyokhina and her band mate Nadezhda Tolokonnikova.

On behalf of Alyokhina, Sir Paul wrote, "My personal belief is that further incarceration for Maria will be harmful for her and the situation as a whole, which, of course, is being watched by people all over the world."  He added, "In the great tradition of fair-mindedness which the Russian people (many of whom are my friends) are famous for, I believe that you granting this request would send a very positive message to all the people who have followed this case."

With regard to Nadezhda, who was denied parole last month, McCartney wrote, "I have had a long relationship with the Russian people, and, with this in mind, I am making the following request in a spirit of friendship for my many Russian acquaintances who, like me, believe in treating people - all people, with compassion and kindness."

Alyokhina, Tolokonnikova and their band mate Yekaterina Samutsevich were arrested in March 2012 for hooliganism after Pussy Riot staged an unauthorized concert at Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, described by authorities as "blasphemous."  Following the trio's arrest, McCartney was among the many artists who sent letters to the Russian authorities imploring them to release the musicians.  However, the three rockers were convicted in August and sentenced to two years in prison.  Samutsevich was released on probation in October 2012.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

David Draiman Looking Forward to Creating “a Number of Records” with Device

Facebook.com/DeviceTheBandIf you thought that David Draiman’s new band Device was a one-time side project, think again.  The Disturbed frontman says that he hopes to keep churning out new music with the group for years to come.

“I have every intention of Device being something that continues,” he tells ABC News Radio. “I look forward to doing a number of records from this project.  I think that life is always about finding the balance to be able to find a little bit of time for all the things you’re passionate about.  Hopefully I can achieve that.”

The band’s self-titled debut album produced a big hit with “Vilify,” which Draiman feels was the best choice to ease Disturbed fans into his new band’s sound.  “I think that some of this record could catch a Disturbed fan off-guard, and so giving them something that’s a comfortable segue into this style, I thought that that would be a great introductory piece,” he notes.  “[It] gives them a little bit of familiarity, some of that rhythmic cadence, that aggression, but still infuses a lot of that electronica.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

"Dancing with the Stars" Champ Kellie Pickler Headed Back to the Recording Studio to Finish Album #4

ABCNow that Kellie Pickler has won this season of Dancing with the Stars, she's ready to get back to her first love -- making music.  Kellie just released her new country single, "Someone Somewhere Tonight," to radio.

She tells ABC News Radio, "I'm really excited about getting back in the studio 'cause I started working on my record before we started the show, and I've only been able to get in the studio a couple times since then 'cause we've been so busy in the dance studio."

Kellie expects her new album to be out this fall.  She's also on the road this summer with shows coming up in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

What the Hashtag in Mariah Carey's "#Beautiful" Song Title Really Means

Facebook.com/MariahCareyWhen Mariah Carey released her new hit "#Beautiful," many people wondered why she included the hashtag in the song title.  After all, she and duet partner Miguel don't sing "hashtag beautiful" in the song, so what purpose does it serve?  Well, turns out it's standing in for a naughty word.

The explicit version of "#Beautiful" is now on iTunes, and while linking to it on Twitter, Mariah wrote, "Find out what the hashtag means :)."  Fans who download the song will hear very clearly that Miguel is singing "f" word -- the adjective form, to be precise -- before he sings "beautiful."  So now you know.

Speaking of hashtags, Mariah is asking fans to use them to help name the puppies that her dog, Squeak E. Beans, just gave birth to, much to the singer's surprise. 

As Mariah wrote on Facebook, "I promise I was told she was spayed! Ugh!"  But she added that the pups are "irresistible," and invites fans to suggest names via Twitter using the hashtag #namedempuppies.  There are two males and a female pup just waiting for their names, dahhhling.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Famed Beatles Author Donates John Lennon-Penned Lyrics to the British Library

The British LibraryAcclaimed Beatles biographer Hunter Davies has donated lyric sheets and letters written by John Lennon to the British Library in London as part of a new U.K. government initiative.  The Cultural Gifts Scheme, which was adopted by the British government in March, allows citizens or companies to donate historically significant items in exchange for having their tax liability lowered.

Davies officially handed over the documents, which include Lennon's handwritten lyrics to The Beatles songs "Strawberry Fields Forever," "She Said She Said" and "In My Life," during a ceremony held earlier on Thursday at the library.  The author had previously allowed the items to be temporarily displayed at the institution.

Prior to the event, the author said in a statement about his donation, "I want my Beatles collection to be kept together, in one place, and on public display, and the British Library is the perfect home for it.  I have always been pleased to see them in the Treasures Gallery, next to the Magna Carta, and works by Shakespeare and Beethoven, because that's where I honestly think they belong."

He added that he's been working on a new book focusing on The Beatles' lyrics, and explained that this inspired him to give the Fab Four-related collectibles to the library.

In response to Davies' donation, U.K. Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said, "It's fantastic that the first treasures to be donated to the nation through the Cultural Gifts Scheme include the hand written lyrics to some of the world's best known songs, by one of the world's most loved artists.  Incredibly generous donations like these are testament to the strong culture of philanthropy that exists in Britain today."

According to the BBC, Lennon himself gave the documents to Davies, who became friends with the late Beatles legend during the 1960s.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

LeToya Luckett Added to VH1's "Single Ladies" Cast

LeToyaOnline.comLeToya Luckett has joined the cast of VH1's scripted series, Single Ladies. 

That's according to Deadline, which reports that LeToya will play "the icy and aloof" character Felicia Price, the founder and senior partner of a super influential music management company that she's built for herself.  Among the company's employees is David Berenger, a character played by new cast member Damien Wayans.

Deadline reports that Lesley-Ann Brandt is the third new addition to the Single Ladies cast.  Brandt will play a calculating gold-digger who causes friction with LisaRaye McCoy's Keisha character, according to Deadline.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio