Music icon Paul Simon has been chosen to receive Sweden's prestigious Polar Music Prize.

The singer will share the honor with cellist Yo-Yo Ma after they were selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.

Hailing Simon's career, a college spokesman said, "Nobody else is more deserving of the epithet of 'world-class songwriter'. For five decades, Paul Simon has built bridges not only over troubled waters but over entire oceans by rejoining the world's continents with his music. Paul Simon has compiled a library of songs which will remain open to future generations."

The ceremony will...

Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt all took to the stage to pay tribute to Meryl Streep at the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday.

The Oscar-winning actress received an accolade at the 34th annual ceremony in Washington, D.C. along with Neil Diamond, actress Barbara Cook, saxophonist Sonny Rollins, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

A number of guests spoke on behalf of the honorees and Streep enjoyed tributes from some of Hollywood's biggest names.

After a series of clips showing her stellar big screen career, Streep's The Deer Hunter co-star De Niro joked, "My first thought was, I was am...

Neil Diamond and Meryl Streep are to be rewarded for their cultural contributions to the arts as this year's recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors.

"Sweet Caroline" singer Diamond and the veteran actress will pick up the accolades at the 34th annual ceremony before President Barack Obama on December 4.

Acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Broadway star Barbara Cook and saxophonist/composer Sonny Rollins were among the others chosen for their lifetime of work.

The five stars will join a long list of talented past honorees; among them director Steven Spielberg, country singer Dolly Parton, Diamon...

On February 17, 2009 Concord Records will release individually the soundtracks to the original three Indiana Jones films: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Originally Available as Part of Last Year's Limited-Edition Boxed Set, These Expanded and Remastered Soundtracks Feature Previously Unreleased Music From The First Three Films!

All three feature Oscar-winning composer John Williams' soundtracks digitally remastered from the original tapes, plus unreleased music from each respective film. Previously available only as pa...

Some old, some new, there's no other way to spice up the holidays with a little music. Check out a few of our December favorites below, and let us know some of your season picks!

Faith Hill - Joy To The World

Given the longevity of her career, Joy To The World is Faith Hill's debut holiday release. Hill covers holiday standards with a very disciplined approach. Her vocal talent, orchestral backdrops, and singing choir are highlights.

Keith Sweat - A Christmas Of Love

Keith Sweat provides a groovilicious holiday with the funky smooth sounds of...

Charlize Theron has been named a United Nations Messenger Of Peace for her work towards ending violence against women.

The South African-born actress was awarded the title on Friday, joining the ranks of fellow actors George Clooney, Michael Douglas and musician Yo-Yo Ma.

Bestowing her with the honor, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said to Theron, "You have used your voice, compassion and special relationship with the public to create a better world."

Celebrities chosen as messengers of peace are asked to promote U.N. activities and ideals through public appearances and m...

Legendary singer/songwriter James Taylor will perform live on Good Morning America on Monday, September 15. Taylor's performance kicks off the unprecedented "50 States in 50 Days" initiative that will take ABC News and USA Today reporters to every state in the union in the days leading up to the Presidential election in November. GMA's "Whistle Stop '08" tour begins with James Taylor's performance in his home state of Massachusetts on the porch of the historic Red Lion Inn. Taylor will perform material from his forthcoming release Covers, which will be available on Hear Music on Septembe...

George Clooney has been named a United Nations Messenger Of Peace in honor of his humanitarian work. Clooney, who is a long-term campaigner on behalf of refugees in the Darfur region of Sudan, joins fellow actor Michael Douglas and musician Yo-Yo Ma in accepting the honor.

U.N. spokesman Michele Montas says, "(Clooney is being) recognised for focusing public attention on crucial international political and social issues."

Last month, Clooney and his Ocean's Eleven co-star Don Cheadle were awarded the Peace Summit Award at the World Summit Of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in Rome, ...

In addition to The War soundtrack album - an eclectic mix of vintage era jazz, pop singers of the time, contemporary classical recordings, plus three previously unreleased performances by Wynton Marsalis and a previously unreleased performance by Norah Jones - Legacy will also issue three companion collections:

-Sentimental Journey: Hits From The Second World War: 20 tracks starring Frank Sinatra, the Mills Brothers, and the orchestras of Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Teddy Wilson, and others, with vo...

Happy Birthday to Notebook star Rachel McAdams (1976), singer Toni Braxton (1968), American Idol nice-guy Simon Cowell (1959), Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith (1957), Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres (1956), cellist Yo-Yo Ma (1955), singer/songwriter John Cougar Mellencamp (1951).

Rockers Metallica have stunned fans by signing up for a Ennio Morricone tribute project.

The group have used the composer's The Good, The Bad And The Ugly track "The Ecstasy Of Gold" to open their stage shows since 1983, and now the US band will repay the musical favor with a cover version of the song for a tribute album due out later this year.

The Metallica cover features on "We All Love Ennio Morricone", alongside offerings from an assorted array of other celebrity Morricone fans including opera star Andrea Bocelli, Yo-Yo Ma, Bruce Springsteen and Celine Dion.

Frontman Jam...

Happy Birthday to Notebook star Rachel McAdams (1976), singer Toni Braxton (1968), American Idol nice-guy Simon Cowell (1959), Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith (1957), Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres (1956), cellist Yo-Yo Ma (1955), singer/songwriter John Cougar Mellencamp (1951).

Acclaimed cellist Yo Yo Ma has been made a Messenger of Peace by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. The Chinese-American musician is the latest in a long line of celebrities to be honored with the title, including boxing legend Muhammad Ali and actor Michael Douglas.

His appointment marks the International Day of Peace, established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1981. Announcing Ma's appointment, Annan urged: "Let each of us pledge to do more, wherever we can make a difference, to bring about lasting peace."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Netwo...

Who wouldn't want Hollywood's biggest stars to sing them to sleep? Some of the most surprising voices in Hollywood, accompanied by musicians of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, lend their talents to a new album, "Unexpected Dreams: Songs from the Stars," to be released by Rhino Records on April 25. It's the perfect soundtrack for quiet evenings at home, with your children…or without them.

The CD features 14 spellbinding tunes by composers including Elton John, Billy Joel, Sade, Bob Dylan and Lennon/McCartney, beautifully sung and lushly orchestrated. A portion of the proceeds will be...

Acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma testified at a reform committee in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, claiming America's strict immigration policy has harmful effects on international recording artists. The Chinese-American musician, who was born in France, took the stand in front of the House of Representatives' Government Reform Committee and spoke out against delays in processing visas.

The artistic director of the Silk Road Project - which brings together the talents of international artists - said, "I'm 50 years old. I've played the cello for 46 years. Of the last 30 years of being a profe...

Salma Hayek will be the master of ceremonies for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize Concert in honor of laureate Mohamed ElBaradei and the International Atomic Energy Agency he leads. The Dec. 11 concert in Oslo, Norway, will include performers such as the Sugababes, Duran Duran, Katie Melua, Gladys Knight, Westlife, Yo-Yo Ma, Damien Rice, Katherine Jenkins, Madrugada, Ane Brun, Ska Cubano, and Martin Yates.

The Nobel Prize is the first international award given yearly since 1901 for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace. In 1968, the Sveriges Riksba...