December 08, 2007

Responses have been varied since the announcement of 50th Annual Grammy Awards nominees on Thursday, December 6. While some musicians are delighted and planning on celebrations, one is pissed on not being included in the list at all.

Rocker Pete Wentz indirectly hit out at music bosses at The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for failing to nominate his band Fall Out Boy whose February album, 'Infinity on High', reached platinum this year.

With Christmas holiday coming around the corner, VH1 Classic is giving an ultimate KISS treat by broadcasting KISSprogramming starting from Friday, December 7 that will coincide with the beginning of the rock band's KISSology Volume 3 pre-order.

. Part of successful DVD series, the third and final volume of KISSology can be ordered in a limited period by logging in to KISSmas.Vh1Classic.com. Pre-sale of the bundle that contains four DVDs is only available between December 7 at 9 P.M. ET/PT to December 9 at 12 P.M. ET/PT.

Although still not confirmed, it was reported that Cassie will release her sophomore set under the title 'Connecticut Fever'. The first single chosen from the album would be 'Is It You?', a song utilized as the soundtrack from her film 'Step Up 2 the Streets'.

'Is It You?' has hit the airwaves and it reportedly will appear in the album along with two leaked tracks called 'In Love With the DJ' and 'Turn the Lights Off' as well as the song that was posted in her MySpace called 'Sometimes' feat. Ryan Leslie.

First invaded Broadway playing the role of conniving lawyer Billy Flynn in the long-running musical revival "Chicago" in 2006, Usher is now about to make a comeback to the stage as he's been lined up to star in a Broadway revival of classical play "Golden Boy."

The R&B star who has just become a father for the first time is said to be in talks to take on the role made famous by Sammy Davis, Jr. in the 1960s, about a pianist who quits music to become a boxer.

Former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Eliza Dushku is about to ride a new vehicle in her next path. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the beauty has signed on to star in a new indie feature titled "The Thacker Case", which is based on the real-life 1983 wrongful death case of Kevin Thacker.

Dushku is joining Gabriel Mann and John Savage in the cast and will portray a young attorney and the loyal assistant to Stuart Pepper, played by Mann, who handles the case. Meanwhile, story revolves around the mysterious death of repeat drunk driving offender Thacker and the discovery of his body in an alley behind the Marshalltown police department after his latest DUI arrest.

Ashlee Simpson has revealed the details on her new music video, 'Out of My Head (Ay Ya Ya)', the first single from her third studio album which name will be determined over the holiday break.

When Billboard.com asked about the concept of the video Ashlee said, "One of my favorite artists is Salvador Dali. You'll see a little bit of that surrealism in it. There's a bit of 'Being John Malkovich' in there too. It's a little out there."

Words have heated up on the actor who suits up for the baddie role in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine", the spin-off to "X-Men" trilogy. CHUD.com has brought up interesting tidbit that the 20th Century Fox now is approaching Gerard Butler for a possibility of him to play Victor Creed aka Sabretooth, the title character's arch-enemy.

The site claimed to have obtained from its closely placed and highly trusted source that the "300" star becomes considered after the studio's talks with Karl Urban for the role fell through. Sabretooth, one of the victims of the Cold War super-soldier program Weapon X alongside Wolverine, was initially portrayed by Tyler Mane in 2000's "X-Men", which found him getting blown through the head of the Statue of Liberty by Cyclops following a brief battle with Wolverine.

Soon after reports are published that Madonna's 11th studio album will be named 'Licorice' and dropped in April 2008, her label issued a statement that none of the them is true.

Billboard.com, who was the first to report the news, took the hint from its former editor and radio host, Larry Flick on Thursday, December 6. In his 'OutQ' show at Sirius Satellite Radio, Flick played some leaked tracks from Madonna's new album while saying that it will be named 'Licorice' and due April next year.

Words are spreading that the release date of "I Am Legend" in China is yet to be settled. Associated Press reported that Will Smith, the star of the sci-fi thriller, has met with Han Sanping, the chairman of China Film Group in order to fix the movie's release date.

According to reports, the prolonging happens because in their effort to improve their domestic film industry, China has imposed a three-month temporary ban on American movies. However, on Thursday, December 6, an executive from China Film Group denied the banning rumor stating that they are still reviewing Hollywood movies.

Rumors are mounting by the hours that Nick Lachey and his longtime girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo are getting married this weekend.

FOX News' Hollie McKay is the first to bring the report to the surface, quoted an inside source as saying the couple will be holding their nuptial in Bahama. Minnillo's entourage is said to have arrived at one of the Bahamian Carlyle Hotels, where the supposedly hush hush nuptial is set to be held.

Another family member from the Raymond clan is set to take off in his music career. JLack, little brother of rapper Usher, has signed a publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing, as set up by manager and mom, Jonnetta Patton.

"JLack is an incredibly talented songwriter and producer. He has a true musical sensitivity and this, coupled with his incredible drive, is the combination for a bright future. He has emerged gracefully as a true songwriter," said Big Jon Platt, Executive Vice President/Head of Urban at EMI Music Publishing.

Put the brake on the mounting rumors about Pimp C's funeral, representatives for the late rapper have confirmed a funeral is being planned in his hometown of Port Arthur, Texas next week.

Pimp C's management confirmed that funeral arrangements are currently being made to hold the funeral on Thursday, December 13 with a formal announcement to be issued Monday, December 10 confirming the exact location.

Lions Gate Film has announced the release date of the fifth installment of the "Saw" movie series, "Saw V". According to Bloody-disgusting.com, the thriller movie is coming to theaters on October 24, 2008.

The release date of "Saw V" is once again set on the Friday before Halloween to continue the movie's tradition. Again, it will be starred by Tobin Bell, Scott Patterson, and Costas Mandylor, and procuced by Mark Burg and Oren Koules. However, Darren Lynn Bousman, the director of "Saw 2", "Saw III" and "Saw IV", will be replaced by David Hackl, who used to be the production designer on those three "Saw" installments.

In the hype of 50th Annual Grammy Awards, The Recording Academy has worked with Shout! Factory to release 7-CD series compilation boasting a selection of hits from previous Grammy winners in four different genres.

The series are released in line with the awards' 50th celebration, topped with personal introduction from the official ambassador and 27-time Grammy winner, Quincy Jones.

Britney Spears' ongoing drama just keeps rolling on. Hot on the heels of report that she is threatening to leak Paris Hilton's new sex tape unless the hotel heiress treats her better, words are mounting that a magazine is seeking a body double to replace the mother of two in a naked photo shoot due to the fact that she is too "out of shape".

Britney is set to recreate an iconic Marilyn Monroe pose for Blender Magazine, but the publication reportedly wants to find another female model with a better physique.

Anne Hathaway has agreed to star in the New Regency's new comedy movie, "Bride Wars". In the movie directed by the helmer of "13 Going On 30" and "Charlotte's Web", Gary Winick, the "Becoming Jane" star will play opposite another Hollywood beauty, Kate Hudson.

The romantic comedy movie resolves around best friends, portrayed by Hathaway and Hudson, whose wedding dates mistakenly clashed and simultaneously tested their friendship. As the story continues, the two friends are involved in a bitter war with each other when they compete for venues, caterers and guests.

Bjork decides to go with the pro again for the clip of her third single from 'Volta'. The Icelandic singer teams up with renown French director Michel Gondry, who is famous for his artistic visual and concept, for the music video of 'Declare Independence'.

The clip that was premiered on AOL on Thursday, December 6, was shot back in October in New York City. Like many of Gondry's works, frame angle switching is present along with numerous colors.

Vivica A. Fox was pleaded no contest to driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or above.

The actress has, through her attorney, been pleaded no contest to DUI in a Van Nuys, Calif., courthouse Friday, December 7 and was sentenced to three years probation.

Bow Wow was rushed to a Cincinnati hospital on Thursday night, December 6 after a performance there due to what his representative called as "stress and exhaustion."

The rap icon was one of the top-line acts on his current tour with Chris Brown, Sean Kingston, Soulja Boy, Lil Mama and others, and had a performance at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati. He was just not feeling well after the performance and thus rushed to the hospital.