Former Hootie & The Blowfish star Darius Rucker took to Twitter.com on Sunday night (19May13) to attack a racist who took aim at the singer for covering a classic Bob Dylan song at country music mecca the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

Rucker performed his rendition of Wagon Wheel over the weekend, prompting many fans to applaud him for taking on Dylan and reworking the tune that was a hit for Old Crow Medicine Show a decade ago.

But one music lover, identified as pqkullman on Twitter.com, wasn't impressed and tweeted, "@dariusrucker Leave country to the white folk."

Rucker was ...

Legendary singer/songwriter Bob Dylan has announced that he's set to hit the road along with Wilco and My Morning Jacket on a summer tour.

The 26-date AmericanaramA festival of Music kicks off in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the Cruzan Amphitheatre on June 26 and wraps August 4 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, Calif.

Additional artists will be added at select venues, including the Richard Thompson Electric Trio and Ryan Bingham, according to 71-year-old singer's website..

The singer is currently on tour supporting his latest album, "Tempest," whcih debuted at number 3 on t...

Famed music producer Phil Ramone has died at the age of 79. The producer and sound engineer, who worked with stars including Ray Charles, Billy Joel and Barbra Streisand, passed away on Saturday in New York City. 

His death comes just weeks after he was hospitalized to treat an aortic aneurysm. 

Ramone, who was born in South Africa, but grew up in the Big Apple, won 14 Grammy Awards throughout his illustrious career, including album of the year prizes for Paul Simon's Still Crazy After All These Years, Billy Joel's 52nd Street and Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company.  He won his last Grammy...

Snoop Dogg has traded a canine for a feline, claiming he has taken up the moniker Snoop Lion following his conversion to Rastafarian. But he's far from the first celebrity to change his name. Here are our Top 10 Celebrity Name Changes:

Carlos Irwin Estevez - Charlie Sheen. Charlie took the esteemed stage name of his father Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez (Martin Sheen). His brother, Emilio, kept his real name because it sounded better than "Emilio Sheen."

Farrokh Bulsara - Freddie Mercury: You can understand why Queen's lead singer changed his name. After living in Zanzibar, his famil...

Fans have been given little information about Bob Dylan's upcoming album other than the title and the release date. His 35th studio album, "Tempest," will drop Sept. 11, 2012.

Record label Sony/Columbia suggests it will contain 10 original songs, listing them as: "Duquesne Whistle," "Soon After Midnight," "Narrow Way," "Long and Wasted Years," "Pay in Blood," "Scarlet Town," "Early Roman Kings," "Tin Angel," "Tempest," and "Roll on John."

The last song on the list is intriguing because it's unclear if it is, indeed, an original track or the traditional song of the same name that he perfor...

A Rhode Island man is claiming he is Bob Dylan's illegitimate son. William DeVogue, 48, bears a striking resemblance to the singer and insists he was the result of a love affair between Dylan and his mother Anita Grace DeVogue in the early 1960s.

While battling a drug addiction Anita gave her son up for adoption and then disappeared from his life. After many years DeVogue tracked down his mother, and she told him Dylan was his father.

In 2010, DeVogue reached out to Dylan's manager, Jeff Rosen, and requested a non-legal paternity test. The singer refused.

DeVogue told City Pages, "I told...

Bob Dylan was honored by President Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday.

The folk music icon was among the recipients of this year's Medal of Freedom - the highest civilian honor handed out by the U.S. leader.

Wearing dark glasses and sporting a pencil-thin moustache, Dylan sat stoically as Obama paid tribute to him, and refused to acknowledge the President's jokes.

Obama said, "Today everybody from Bruce Springsteen to U2 owes Bob their gratitude. There is not a bigger giant in the history of American music. All these years later, he is still chasing that sound, still searching fo...

Twilight star Robert Pattinson has signed on to appear in an upcoming film project about rock legends The Band.

Few details are known about the movie, but the British actor reveals it will focus on the group's craft more than anything else.

In an interview with French magazine Les InRockuptibles, Pattinson is quoted as saying, "I'm going to do a movie about The Band, the one that played with (Bob) Dylan: a beautiful script about the nature of songwriting."

The Band was founded in the 1960s by the late Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson and drummer Levon Helm, w...

Bob Dylan is to be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

The singer/songwriter is among 13 recipients to receive this year's award - America's highest civilian accolade. He joins the likes of poet Maya Angelou, novelist Toni Morrison and civil rights trailblazer Dolores Huerta.

Announcing this year's picks, the President states, "These extraordinary honorees come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, but each of them has made a lasting contribution to the life of our nation. They've challenged us, they've inspired us, and they've made...

Bob Dylan has paid a poignant tribute to his close pal Levon Helm following The Band star's death on Thursday.

Drummer Helm lost his battle with throat cancer at the age of 71, prompting a wave of tributes from fellow rockers and Hollywood stars.

Now Dylan, who became friends with Helm when his first group The Hawks worked as Dylan's backing band in the 1960s, has added his own eulogy to the late star.

In a post on his official website, Dylan writes, "He was my bosom buddy friend to the end, one of the last true great spirits of my or any other generation. This is just so sad to talk ...

The Band star Levon Helm has lost his battle with throat cancer.

The much-loved rocker died on Thursday in New York, aged 71. Helm's longtime guitarist pal Larry Campbell announced the sad news in a statement to RollingStone.com, which reads: "He passed away peacefully at 1:30 this afternoon surrounded by his friends and band mates.

"All his friends were there, and it seemed like Levon was waiting for them. Ten minutes after they left we sat there and he just faded away. He did it with dignity. It was even two days ago they thought it would happen within hours, but he held on. It seems ...

Folk icon Pete Seeger is aiming for the top of the world's pop charts and the chance to break Tony Bennett's six-month-old record, as the oldest person to score a hit, with an apt version of Bob Dylan's tune "Forever Young."

Seeger, 92, recorded the cover for Amnesty International's charity Dylan tribute album "Chimes of Freedom," backed by a children's choir, and now the track is to be made available as a digital single, promoted by a video featuring the folk singer in the studio with the singing kids.

The promo will be available on Monday - the exact 50th anniversary of the release of D...

Singer Garth Brooks is set to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year.

The two-time Grammy Award winner, singer Connie Smith and session musician Hargus 'Pig' Robbins will make up the class of 2012.

Brooks will be celebrated in the Modern Era Artist category, Smith will round out the Veterans Era Artist category and Robbins, who has worked with Bob Dylan and Loretta Lynn, will be feted in the Recording and/or Touring Musician Active Prior to 1980 category.

And Friends in Low Places hit-maker Brooks couldn't be more thrilled.

He says, "I am astounded and honor...

When you look at someone who succeeds in a certain field, there are always numerous factors on why that person’s particular talent is above the rest and he or she seems to always excel. Take Peyton Manning, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Denzel Washington, and even Albert Pujols, and it is evident that these special talents have not only shown the world their skills, but also inherited the proficiency of their particular areas. They do it for the art of their field. Not that sports and music goes hand in hand because they don’t, it’s just those particular athletes love their arena. And becaus...

The Help and The Artist dominated the Critics' Choice Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday night, scooping the event's top prizes.

The film about the treatment of black maids in 1960s America landed three of the coveted acting honors, including a Best Actress prize for Viola Davis, while her co-star Octavia Spencer picked up the night's first award, Best Supporting Actress.

Davis told the crowd at the Hollywood Palladium, "I consider it an honor to pay homage to these woman who at that time period were not allowed to dream."

The ladies were handed another trophy, Best Acting Ensemble, bu...

Gallery bosses in New York have been forced to change the description of Bob Dylan's latest art exhibition amid allegations the folk rocker has plagiarized pieces of his work.

The "Like A Rolling Stone" singer unveiled drawings and paintings inspired by his recent tour of the Far East last week as part of The Asia Series at the Gagosian Gallery.

But visitors to the exhibition have raised concerns about Dylan's art, claiming it bears striking similarities to a number of well-known photos, with some comparing the star's Opium painting to Leon Busy's Indochine image from 1915. Other pieces h...

Proceeds from Star-Studded Album to Support Disaster Relief Efforts of Japanese Red Cross

In what stands as a major global music relief effort to benefit those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, over 30 of the biggest names in contemporary music have joined together for the worldwide release of "Songs for Japan," an unprecedented compilation of 38 chart-topping hits and classic tracks, available worldwide on the iTunes Store for $9.99 starting today (www.itunes.com/songsforjapan). Proceeds from the album's sale will benefit the disaster relief efforts of the Japanese Red Cros...

Bob Dylan is preparing to play his first ever gig in Vietnam, nearly 50 years after his songs became anti-war anthems as conflict raged in the Asian country.

The folk legend rose to prominence in the 1960s at the height of the Vietnam War, and a number of his hits, including Blowin' in the Wind and The Times They Are a-Changin, were adopted by campaigners opposed to the military action.

He is now set to play his first concert in the country as part of his Asian tour, which will also see him perform in China.

Dylan's show in Vietnam will take place at a stadium in Ho Chi Minh City on A...

Bob Dylan has reportedly been granted permission to play two shows in China next month following a review by officials.

The Like A Rolling Stone hit-maker wanted to take his Never Ending Tour to the country last April, but government officials refused to approve his dates in Beijing and Shanghai, prompting Dylan to scrap the rest of his Asian shows. The music legend lodged a new application with China's Ministry of Culture for concerts this year and the plans have now been given the go-ahead, according to AFP.

Executives at promotion company Gehua-LiveNation have reportedly confirmed th...

Lady Antebellum and Lady Gaga were the toast of the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night after picking up nine awards between them.

Country trio Lady Antebellum claimed five accolades for their single and album "Need You Now," including Record and Song of the Year, while Gaga scored wins for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Short Form Video for "Bad Romance" and Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Vocal Album for "The Fame Monster."

But the surprise of the night came right at the end of the ceremony when indie darlings Arcade Fire picked up Album of the Year honors for "Th...

Pop star Jewel jumped at the chance to mentor wannabe singers on new TV talent search "Platinum Hit" because it gives her the chance to do what Bob Dylan did for her.

The hitmaker will join former "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi on the new show and she admits that helping budding stars realise their true potential brought back memories of how Dylan took her under his wing when she was starting out.

She recalls, "I was really lucky when I was 20; my first album was flopping and my record label wanted me to make a second album and Bob Dylan took me under his wing.

"He mentored me ever...

British rock icon Jack Bruce has called for Simon Cowell's extermination - because he believes the music mogul is single-handedly wrecking the industry.

The Cream star insists so many great acts would never have made it in the 1960s if Cowell had been a major part of the music business - and the bass player fears for the future of music under svengalis like the man behind TV talent shows The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent.

Bruce tells Britain's Uncut magazine, "He should be exterminated.

"You can pretty much guarantee that had that bastard Cowell been around at the beginning of the '6...

What does it really take to be one of the most recognized muses in rock ‘n’ roll? Just ask fiery haired Pamela Des Barres, the world’s most famous groupie. Before TMZ and Perez Hilton reported on the escapades of celebrities, the now 62-year-old California girl set off to meet her idols and was doing plenty of kissing, but no telling, at least until she published her world renowned memoir in 1987, I’m With The Band. Finally, she dished on what it was really like to be with some of music’s most influential artists, including Mick Jagger, Keith Moon, Jimmy Page, and Jim Morrison. Yet, it wasn...

A sheet of handwritten lyrics to Bob Dylan classic "The Times They Are A-Changin'" has sold at auction for a whopping $422,500.

The rock legend scrawled the words to four verses of the iconic protest song on a scrap of paper in the 1960s - and experts at Sotheby's in New York estimated the item would fetch between $200,000 to $300,000.

But the lyrics proved to be an even bigger draw at the December 10 sale.

Hedge fund manager and contemporary art collector Adam Sender placed the winning bid by phone, according to auction house bosses.

More photos of Bob here!

Jon Bon Jovi fears youngsters competing on reality TV talent contests such as American Idol will struggle to become enduring stars because they aren't given enough time to perfect their craft.

The Bon Jovi rocker has appeared on the show twice as a mentor to contestants, and although he appreciates the entertainment value of such competitions, he worries that many aspiring artists will crumble after experiencing instant fame.

He tells Larry King, "Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, I can go (through) the list of guys that would have all been thrown off... What artists have establi...

Susan Boyle is set to repeat her end-of-2009 album success this year - the Scottish singer's new album has shot to the top of Amazon.com's Bestsellers chart more than a month before its release.

"The Gift" won't be released until November 9, but the talent show sensations is already assured of another big hit - fans are already desperate to pre-order the album.

Amazon's director of music Craig Pape tells Billboard.com, "It's the season of Susan and it's a pretty significantly number one. The Gift has leapfrogged fourth-quarter efforts by Taylor Swift, Eric Clapton and Neil Young on the be...

John Mellencamp is convinced the internet has "destroyed" the music business, branding the web the "most dangerous thing invented since the atomic bomb."

The veteran rocker is adamant the rise in online music sales and the decline of CDs, combined with a sharp increase in internet piracy, will be detrimental to the industry in the long term, and he's even convinced digital tracks don't sound the same as hard copies.

He tells Reuters, "I think the internet is the most dangerous thing invented since the atomic bomb. It's destroyed the music business. It's going to destroy the movie busine...

Some shows are called off on account of dangerous weather, illness, exhaustion, or structural failure. Go back through the news of the past couple of years and you can find shows by Bush, Madonna and even Lady Gaga affected by what can be called unavoidable or extreme circumstances. More recently Kelly Clarkson experienced a different cause for the cancellation of her concert in Jakarta.

She was banned from performing there altogether based on her sponsorship.

Jakarta has a rule based on its’ governing ideals that prohibits all smoking under Islam. Clarkson’s tour is sponsored by a tobacc...

Bob Dylan's 1965 hit Like A Rolling Stone has topped a new list of the Greatest Songs of All Time.

Rolling Stone magazine editors and contributors have spent months piecing together the ultimate top 500 list and Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited track has beaten out The Rolling Stones' (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction to the number one spot. John Lennon's Imagine comes in at three, while What's Going On by Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin's 1967 anthem Respect round out the top five.

Also making the top 10 are Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys, Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode, The Beatles' Hey Jud...

Joni Mitchell has criticized Bob Dylan as a "fake" and a "plagiarist" - insisting the folk legend's entire act is a "deception".

Mitchell slammed the star during an interview with the Los Angeles Times, after her decision to change her name from Roberta Joan Anderson was likened to Dylan's move to drop his birth name of Robert Zimmerman.

And the Canadian musician is adamant she is very different to the Blowin' In The Wind hit-maker.

She tells the newspaper, "Bob is not authentic at all. He's a plagiarist, and his name and voice are fake. Everything about Bob is a deception. We are lik...