MUSIC NEWS: FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016
``THE PASSION'' - CHRIS DAUGHTRY
Chris Daughtry has been cast as Judas in a live T-V production about the last hours of Jesus. ``Telenovela'' actor and singer Jencarlos Canela will take the role of Jesus in ``The Passion.'' Trisha Yearwood has been cast as his mother, Mary, Prince Royce will play Peter and Tyler Perry will be the narrator.
``The Passion'' will be staged in New Orleans and will run live on Fox on Palm Sunday, March 20th.
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OSCAR - PERFORMANCES
Lady Gaga, Toronto singer The Weeknd and Sam Smith will perform their Oscar-nominated songs at the Oscars. Lady Gaga is nominated for co-writing ``Til It Happens To You'' with Diane Warren from the movie ``The Hunting.'' The Weeknd is nominated for co-writing ``Earned It'' from ``Fifty Shades of Grey.'' Smith co-wrote ``Writing's on The Wall'' from ``Spectre.'' The other best original song nominees are ``Manta Ray'' from ``Racing Extinction'' and ``Simple Song Number 3'' from ``Youth.'' The Oscars will be February 28th in Los Angeles and shown on A-B-C.
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COLDPLAY - CONCERTS
Coldplay has announced the first dates of a new tour and so far they're only playing Saturdays. They will play in seven stadiums this summer, in New York; Chicago; Boston; Philadelphia; Los Angeles; Arlington, Texas; and San Francisco.
Coldplay will headline the Super Bowl halftime show on February 7th.
Singer Chris Martin will be interviewed on ``C-B-S Sunday Morning'' this week about their preparations. Martin also will do ``Carpool Karaoke'' on ``The Late Late Show with James Corden'' next week.
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SUPER BOWL - HALFTIME SHOW SPECIAL
C-B-S will run a special about the history of Super Bowl halftime shows two days before Super Bowl 50. It will include new interviews with past performers, including Paul McCartney, Bono, Beyonce', Katy Perry, Missy Elliott and Bruno Mars.
C-B-S makes no mention of the ``wardrobe malfunction'' halftime show of 2004 that featured Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake. Coldplay headlines this year's halftime show. ``Super Bowl's Greatest Halftime Shows'' airs February 5th on C-B-S.
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OF MONSTERS AND MEN - DOMINO'S PIZZA - ICELAND
Should you be in Iceland and at a loss for where to eat, the members of Of Monsters And Men recommend Domino's Pizza.
Singer Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir says Domino's pizza in Iceland is ``ridiculously good.'' She says it's not good anywhere else, but in Iceland it's ``crazy.''
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CARRIE UNDERWOOD - THANKS THE MILITARY
Carrie Underwood plans to honour the military on her upcoming ``Storyteller'' tour. She will meet with families at her tour stops, and she will do a free concert for military families onboard the Carnival Vista in New York on November 4th. Underwood says she gets on stage and everyone has to listen to her, but it's nice to talk to people and hear their stories. Underwood will sell commemorative dog tags at tour stops, with proceeds going to Operation Homefront, a charity that gives emergency assistance to military families and wounded warriors. Underwood's tour starts tomorrow in Jacksonville, Florida.
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BASKETBALL - All-STAR - HALFTIME
News that Sting will headline the halftime show at the N-B-A all-star game next month in Toronto delighted some players -- but puzzled some others. Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis of the New York Knicks had been embarrassed to admit he didn't know who Sting was, but was pleased that he recognized the songs ``Roxanne'' and ``Fields of Gold.'' Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan says he was fine with the selection but added that, ``I don't mind who performs.'' New York's Carmelo Anthony says he is excited -- but couldn't name a Sting song, let alone his favourite. Not everyone was happy with the decision. A tweet from former Toronto mayor Rob Ford's account read, ``How about some TORONTO talent!''
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OBIT - PAUL KANTNER
He was one of the original members of the Jefferson Airplane and helped to take rock on a psychedelic trip.
Paul Kantner has died of organ failure and septic shock at a San Francisco hospital. He was 74. His former girlfriend and publicist Cynthia Bowman says Kantner was admitted to the hospital after becoming ill earlier this week. He had recovered from a heart attack last year. The Jefferson Airplane sang about the sex, drugs and politics lifestyle of the 1960s and lived it as well. Kantner and Airplane lead singer Grace Slick had a daughter in 1971. They had wanted to call her God, but named her China. Kantner helped to write some of the Airplane's lasting hits, including ``Wooden Ships'' and ``Volunteers.''
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THE ROOTS - LAWSUIT
Former Roots bassist Leonard ``Hub'' Hubbard is suing the band and their manager over money. Hubbard was a member of The Roots from 1992 to 2007. He dropped out after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Two years later, The Roots became the house band on ``The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.'' Hubbard says in his lawsuit he had an agreement with The Roots under which he would continue to be paid as a co-owner. He says the paychecks dwindled and operations were transferred to a newly created company. The Roots could not be reached for comment.
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ARETHA FRANKLIN - CHARITY STREAK
Aretha Franklin is going all out to support her home state of Michigan. Franklin is offering hotel rooms for 25 to 50 residents of Flint, Michigan, which has been hit with high levels of lead since switching its water supply system in a cost-cutting measure. Applicants will be screened through her father's church, New Bethel Baptist Church. Franklin has also recorded a public service announcement in support of the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Detroit. The historic theatre is in danger of closing from lack of funds. Franklin has also pledged five-thousand dollars to a school supply drive to benefit students of Detroit Public Schools.
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BRET MICHAELS - CHILDHOOD HOME - FIRE
Bret Michaels' childhood home in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, has been destroyed by fire. The Sentinel of Carlisle quotes fire authorities as saying they had trouble battling Wednesday's fire because the nearest fire hydrants were buried in snow. They believe the fire was caused by a cooking accident. Five children and two adults escaped safely. Fire authorities say one family member was taken to a hospital for evaluation. An official with Bret Michaels Entertainment confirms Michaels lived there between the ages of 6 and 17.
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CREEDBOMBING - EXPLAINED
The key to the success of the Carolina Panthers this year might be Creedbombing. The Charlotte Observer reports it was created by backup linebacker Ben Jacobs, tight end Greg Olsen and athletic performance analyst Brett Nenaber.
Creedbombing is singing the lyrics to a Creed song in singer Scott Stapp's voice to a teammate. Jacobs says the key is to ``make really deep, direct eye contact.'' Stapp says he's honoured at the Creedbombing phenomenon and has realized just how funny it is. Stapp says his solo band has started Creedbombing him. Stapp would love to meet with the team, and if he gets the chance, he'll Creedbomb them with the song ``What If,'' with the line, ``The more you hold us down, the more we press on.''
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RIHANNA - ``ANTI''
If you didn't get Rihanna's new album for free yesterday, you can pay for it today. Rihanna released the album ``ANTI'' yesterday, and she gave away a limited number of downloads on her website. You can stream it on Tidal, which Rihanna co-owns.
It's available for purchase digitally beginning today. ``ANTI'' does not contain the singles she released last year.
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PHONE THIEVES - LIBERTINES CONCERTS
Fans at Libertines concerts in England have noticed their phones missing. British police now have a clue why, after they arrested a man with 38 mobile phones in his pants. West Midlands Police say they believe the man and a second man who was arrested stole the phones during a Libertines concert in Birmingham, in central England. Police were alerted after phones were reported stolen at another Libertines show in the northwest English city of Manchester. Police say the tip-off was the men had their pants taped closed at the bottom.
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ROCK HALL - INDUCTION CEREMONY
The Black Keys, Lars Ulrich of Metallica and Rob Thomas will be special guests for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions. Specifics about performances and presenters will be announced later. This year's class includes N.W.A, Chicago, Deep Purple, Cheap Trick and Steve Miller. The Rock Hall inductions are April 8th in New York. It will air later in April on H-B-O.
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(The Associated Press)