Posts Tagged: News

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30
Jan 12

Singer-in-Chief boosts sales of Al Green song

Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter

Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – Singer Al Green’s online sales have soared since President Barack Obama performed an impromptu “cover” of “Let’s Stay Together” at the Apollo Theater Jan. 19.

Crooning just one line from the 1970s single, the president spurred a weekly sales increase of 490 percent for the track, Nielsen Soundscan reports.

In his surprise rendition, Obama began the tune with a bit of a vibrato in his voice, and hit all the high notes singing the lyrics “I’m so in love with you.” The brief melody garnered a rousing applause from the always tough and critical New York crowd.

Green’s soulful tune peaked in the early 70s, but after Obama’s performance, online downloads reached close to 16,000. Meanwhile, the YouTube video and other website views of the president’s performance has had more than 4 million hits.

Green told TMZ that the president’s performance was “terrific,” and he “nailed it.”

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6
Jan 12

MIchael Jackson’s kids to leave concrete symbols of dad in Hollywood

Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Michael Jackson died before he had the opportunity to have a hand and feet embossed into the sidewalk in front of the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

But, on Jan. 26, the King of Pop’s kids will make that possible. Jackson will have his hands and footprints immortalized in concrete at the site to celebrate the debut of the Cirque du Soleil production, “Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour.”

Prince, 14; Paris, 13; and Blanket, 9, will use their father’s acclaimed sequined glove and shoes to make the impression.

The new “Immortal” stage production combines Jackson’s music with all kinds of Cirque du Soleil leaping, acrobats and dancing.

The tradition of hand prints outside Grauman’s Theater dates bank to 1928. Show biz icons who have left their imprints include Elizabeth Taylor, Fred Astaire, Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe, to name just a few.

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7
Dec 11

Roy Orbison’s widow dies at 60

Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – The widow of rock n’ roll pioneer Roy Orbison, Barbara Orbison, died Tuesday in Los Angeles at the age of 60.

Family spokesperson Sarah McMullen said Barbara Orbison died at Los Angeles County USC Medical Center where she had been hospitalized since May.

Roy Orbison died in 1988. Barbara was his manager and co-produced a four-box CD of her husband’s 107 recordings after his death titled “Roy Orbison: The Soul of Rock and Roll.”

Barbara Orbison’s Nashville-based publishing company, Still Working Music, was recently awarded BMI’s 2010 Song of the Year for Taylor Swift’s “You Belong with Me.”

Last year, Mrs. Orbison accepted a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on her husband’s behalf.

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13
Nov 11

Shock jock Howard Stern near deal as judge on ‘America’s Got Talent’

Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Radio shock jock Howard Stern is near a deal with NBC to become a judge on the network’s reality competition show “America’s Got Talent.”

Under the deal, which is in negotiations, Stern would earn about $15 million a year. Joining co-judges Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne, he would take Piers Morgan’s seat at the judge’s table.

Morgan is steeping down to focus on his CNN evening talk show.

“America’s Got Talent” is among TV’s most popular show in the summer, when it typically airs.

Stern, known for his outspoken and bold interview style, and his frequent lewd commentaries, would continue to air his radio show, heard exclusively on Sirius XM Radio.

Stern, based in New York, may just be able to stay put. NBC is mulling moving the talent show, now shooting in Los Angeles, to the Big Apple.

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29
Oct 11

Steven Tyler’s fall is not a fall off the wagon

Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Aerosmith frontman and American Idol judge Steven Tyler took a tumble in the shower in Paraguay this week that sent him to the hospital and caused a brief disruption in the band’s South American concert tour.

Tyler, 63, lost two teeth in the fall and suffered a black eye.

The incident led many fans to wonder if the rocker, who has been open about his battles with drugs and alcohol but has been clean and sober for some time, had fallen off his rocker, or more succinctly, the wagon.

Tyler wanted to set the record straight so he phoned into the Today show Thursday and spoke with Matt Lauer. Tyler made it clear that although the accident appeared to be a bit bizarre, he maintains he has not relapsed.

“I started to get sick, and I just fell on my face. I just passed out,” Tyler said during the interview. The illness was apparently brought on by food poisoning.

“They stitched up my eye. They did a little plastic surgery. And they fixed my tooth. All in one fell swoop,” Tyler added.

Like a true professional, Tyler said that, despite the spill, the tour must go on.

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14
Oct 11

Rihanna named Esquire’s Sexiest Woman Alive

Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – R& B singer Rihanna has been named Esquire’s Sexiest Woman Alive for 2011.

The singer, who graces the cover and is strategically posed hiding little and baring more, said in an interview with the magazine that being sexy is not something she strives for when performing. “At the end of a concert, I don’t feel like I’ve been this sexy thing, Really, I don’t even think about it,” Rihanna told Esquire.

Readers may think different when they view the undeniably sexy photos of the 23-year-old Barbados-born singer.

The singer also noted in the interview that she keeps her figure curvy with a trainer and has a drink before she goes on stage.

Rihanna has sold more than 20 million albums and 60 million singles, making her one of the best selling artists of all times. She is the youngest artist in Billboard charts history to achieve 10 number-one singles on the Hot 100.

Rihanna takes the title from Minka Kelly, who received the honors last year.

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8
Sep 11

Ben & Jerry’s to introduce “Schweddy Balls” ice cream

Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter

South Burlington, VT, United States (AHN) – Here’s the scoop.

Ben & Jerry’s plans to introduce a “Schweddy Balls” themed ice cream. The new flavor is best identified with the very popular and iconic Saturday Night Live skit featuring Alex Baldwin, Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon.

Ben & Jerry’s made the announcement regarding the new ice cream on Wednesday. The flavor will be introduced early this fall and will be available through December. The frozen treat will include Fair Trade vanilla ice cream with a dash of rum, and loaded with plenty of fudge covered rum balls and milk chocolate malt balls.

In the press release Jostein Solheim, CEO of Ben & Jerry’s, said he and others at the company are big fans of Saturday Night Live. “Saturday Night Live has allowed us to laugh at ourselves and for that we thank them.”

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18
Jun 11

Carolina Herrera designs dress for Twilight wedding

Heather Doerr – Celebrity News Service Intern

LA, CA, United States (Celebrity News Service) – The royal wedding may have been all the hype in April, but another couple’s soon-to-be-seen nuptials are stealing the spotlight. The Twilight saga continues in Breaking Dawn: Part 1, with a very special wedding–and a very special dress.

Kristen Stewart’s character, Bella, will be wearing a dress designed by none other than top designer Carolina Herrera. Herrera has many celeb fans, including Amy Adams, January Jones, and Dianna Agron.

The film’s Twitter page recently announced, “On November 18, see Bella’s Carolina Herrera-designed wedding dress in #BreakingDawnPart1!”

Bella will be in good company. Herrera has also designed dresses for celebrities such as Christina Hendricks and Renee Zellweger.

The trailer for the film features a quick shot of Bella’s veil, but if viewers look closely, they’ll also see part of the bodice as well.

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11
Jun 11

Sarah Palin Documentary Coming Exclusively to AMC Theatres

Michael J Morsella – Celebrity News Service Contributor

Santa Monica, CA, United States (Celebrity News Service) – The Victory Film Group has announced that they will be exclusively distributing the Sarah Palin documentary “The Undefeated” to select AMC theatres beginning July 15th.

The film, which chronicles Palin’s rise from obscurity to national prominence, will be distributed and released with the help of the Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. and ARC Entertainment.

“After screening ‘The Undefeated’, we took the unusual step of immediately exploring an expedited theatrical release, something we normally wouldn’t do during the busy summer months,” said Trevor Drinkwater, CEO of ARC Entertainment in a statement.

“‘The Undefeated’ is the ideal candidate for digital theatrical distribution,” stated Jonathan Dern, President of Cinedigm Entertainment Group in a statement.

“Given Palin’s ardent following throughout the country, digital cinema allows us to be extremely precise and efficient in our distribution strategy, bringing this much-anticipated film directly to interested theatre-goers,” he added.

The film will launch in markets including Dallas, Atlanta, Indianapolis, and Kansas City.

The film includes interviews with political commentators, Alaskan civil servants, elected officials and advisors who were involved in Alaskan politics during Palin’s tenure as Governor.

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29
May 11

Vintage German camera sells for $1.89 million, sets new price record

Windsor Genova – AHN News News Writer

Vienna, Austria (AHN) – A prototype of a Leica camera built in 1923 was sold for $1.89 million at an auction in Austria on Saturday setting a new price record for a camera.

A private collector from Asia won the bidding for the rare 0-Serie Nr.107, one of 25 Leica cameras auctioned off by WestLicht Photographica Auctions. The camera was built two years before Leicas were sold commercially.

The bidding for the camera started at $286,360 and went on for 20 minutes before the auctioneer declared it sold, according to WestLicht.

The previous record holder for the most expensive camera was a daguerreotype, which was auctioned off for $1.048 million last year. The French brand was the first commercially produced camera.

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