Music Headlines

Authorities: 'Soul Train' founder dead of gunshot wound
Don Cornelius, the founder of the "Soul Train" television show, was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head Wednesday, authorities said. He was 75.

Kellie Pickler on her new country album and growing up
If you've cast Kellie Pickler as either an "American Idol" runner-up, pop-country musician or both -- it's time to re-evaluate.

Adele's well and Grammy bound, singer tweets
Adele's vocal cords have healed from surgery in November, allowing the 23-year-old British songstress to perform on the Grammys stage next month, she and the Recording Academy confirmed Tuesday.

Chesney, Swift lead in Academy of Country Music Awards nominations
Taylor Swift gets a chance to extend her reign as the Academy of Country Music's entertainer of the year, but she's competing with four-time winner Kenny Chesney and nominees Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton.

Ringing tones of famed Philharmonic silenced by ringing cell phone
Add a new one to the irate reactions triggered by incessant ringing of a cell phone: bringing one of the world's great symphony orchestras to a dead stop in mid-performance.

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has cancer
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with cancer, a statement from the English heavy metal band said.

Digital music sales top physical sales
The times they are a-changin'. For the first time in history, digital music sales topped the physical sale of music.

Irving Berlin's gift of 'God Bless America'
Who walks away from $10 million?

Adele all the rage at Grammy nominations
Even though Kanye West walked off with the most Grammy nominations Wednesday night, the chatter backstage was all about Adele.

Mexican mariachi music receives international recognition
The United Nations' cultural organization recognized mariachi music Sunday in a move that Mexican authorities hope will help preserve the well-known tradition.

Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj win big at AMA show
Taylor Swift won three trophies at the 39th annual American Music Awards Sunday night, but the singer's ability to act surprised and excited may be worthy of an Emmy.

Why can't country music deal with race?
On November 8, 1965, 48 American soldiers lost their lives during "Operation Hump" after the 400 men of the 173 Airborne Brigade were ambushed by roughly 1,200 Viet Cong fighters.

Obsessions: Crazy about country music
There's a standing joke that if you play a country song backward, the singer gets re-hired, wins back his girl, finds whatever he's lost, quits crying and leaves the bar.

Stone Roses wanna be adored again
Influential British rock band The Stone Roses announced on Tuesday they will reform for several concerts next year after a 15-year hiatus.

Kanye Hangs with Hip Hop Elite During Big Apple Weekend
The rapper hung out with Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Diddy while in N.Y.C.

Kellie Pickler Brings Country Charm to 90210
"I enjoyed stepping out of my comfort zone and I'd love to do it again," the singer says of her acting debut

'Idol' winner Scotty McCreery juggles school and stardom
This week, "American Idol" Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery releases his debut album, "Clear as Day."

Singer, hip-hop pioneer Sylvia Robinson dies
Sylvia Robinson, a singer-songwriter who went on to become a pioneer in the hip-hop music business, introducing the seminal "Rapper's Delight," died Thursday in New Jersey of congestive heart failure. She was 76.

Rascal Flatts Surprised with Grand Ole Opry Invitation
The band gets a long-awaited invitation onstage from Vince Gill

Mike Mills on why R.E.M. are calling it quits
"There is a great deal of sadness, but it's really celebratory," R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills says, describing his conflicting emotions the day after he, guitarist Peter Buck and singer Michael Stipe announced they were disbanding after 31 years together.

Commentary: The roots of grunge run deep
During the days leading up to the 20th anniversary of the release of Nirvana's landmark album "Nevermind" on Saturday and the grunge album's deluxe reissue the following Tuesday, you're going to hear a lot about how "Nevermind" changed everything:

'Nevermind,' never again?
When it comes to rock 'n' roll on the radio today -- outside the ghetto of rock-only stations --- to paraphrase punk patriarch Lou Reed, there's almost nothing going down at all.

Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton Join CMA Awards Lineup
Jason Aldean and Keith Urban are also performers on "Country Music's Biggest Night"

'Da sun back out' as T.I. leaves prison, again
Rapper T.I. walked out of a federal prison Thursday to return to an Atlanta halfway house where he will spend the last 14 days of an 11-month prison sentence for a parole violation, his lawyer said Thursday.

Jay-Z's music on 9/11
Jay-Z's sixth album, "The Blueprint," hit record stores on the fateful morning of September 11, 2001.

Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert Score CMA Nods
Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley will host the Country Music Awards Nov. 9

Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton score CMA nods
The nominations are in for the 45th annual Country Music Awards, and Keith Urban and Taylor Swift are among the recognized artists.

Bus ride detours Rapper T.I.'s early release from prison
T.I., who walked out of a federal prison in Arkansas Wednesday and joyously tweeted "The storm is over & da sun back out," woke up back in a prison Friday morning.

T.I. tweets 'da sun back out' as he steps out of prison
Rapper T.I. walked out of a federal prison in Arkansas Wednesday morning, 10 months after he began serving a sentence for violating his parole on a gun conviction, a prison official confirmed.

Tyler, the Creator: 5 Things to Know About the Rapper
The rapper plays the piano, eats bugs and stirs up controversy