August 20th, 2007Recent Music News popuri
Hit me, baby, with
one more subpoena
NEW YORK – Kevin Federline now wants Britney Spears’ rehab records. K-Fed’s lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said Sunday that a chief administrator at Promises, the drug treatment facility where Brit completed a stint last March, had been served with a deposition subpoena over the weekend.
It was the fifth subpoena doled out by Mr. Federline’s lawyers, who are battling Britney for custody of the couple’s two young sons.
Over the past week or so, Spears assistant Alli Sims, former assistant Shannon Funk, former bodyguard Daimon Shippen, and music producer Jonathan (J.R.) Rotem have all been served.
Presley’s princess
records duet with King
Lisa Marie Presley has recorded a song with her late father, Elvis Presley, echoing Natalie Cole’s duet with the late Nat “King” Cole on “Unforgettable” in 1991.
Ms. Cole’s pairing with her late dad proved to be a huge commercial hit and went on to win Grammys as song and record of the year. Hank Williams Jr. also won a Grammy for his 1989 posthumous duet with Hank Sr., “There’s a Tear in My Beer.”
Now Ms. Presley has teamed with Elvis on his 1969 track “In the Ghetto.” It went on sale at iTunes on Friday, with all profits said to be going to Presley Place, a program that helps the homeless.
Garth Brooks to
release ‘Ultimate Hits’
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Garth Brooks may be retired from touring, but he’s not slowing down.
In Nashville on Saturday, Mr. Brooks announced The Ultimate Hits, a greatest-hits package with four new songs and a DVD full of videos. The album, the latest in a string of CDs and box sets, will be released on Nov. 6.
Mr. Brooks, 45, retired in 2001 to be a stay-at-home dad for his daughters, and he said he has no plans for a tour or a full-length album of new material. He most recently performed with his wife, country music star Trisha Yearwood, at Al Gore’s Live Earth concert in Washington, D.C., earlier this summer.
But he assured more than 200 radio executives and music retailers that they should expect to hear those new songs on country radio.
Jordin Sparks sets
album, CD release dates
NEW YORK – Jordin Sparks has signed the record contract that comes with winning American Idol.
The bubbly 17-year-old from Glendale, Ariz., inked a deal with Jive Records in conjunction with 19Recordings, the label managed by Idol creator Simon Fuller, it was announced Friday.
Her debut album is slated for release in November. She’ll offer a taste of the disc with her new single, “Tattoo,” to be released to radio stations Aug. 27.
Ms. Sparks is the youngest winner in the Fox show’s six seasons.
Senatorial bat-fan to
appear in ‘Dark Knight’
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Holy Beltway, Batman! Sen. Patrick Leahy has a part in the next Batman movie. “I don’t wear tights,” the Vermont Democrat said.
Mr. Leahy’s scene was filmed this summer for The Dark Knight and involves Batman (Christian Bale), The Joker (Heath Ledger) and Alfred (Michael Caine).
The longtime Batman fan – and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee – would reveal little about his role except to say that it’s “a pretty tense scene.”
Mr. Leahy has already done voice-overs on Batman cartoons, written the preface for a Batman book and had small roles in the last two Batman features. The Dark Knight is scheduled to be released next summer.
