SONY BMG Music Entertainment today announced the launch of Platinum MusicPass, a series of digital album cards that enable consumers to download full-length albums, and in many cases special bonus content, in the form of high-quality MP3 files. The first 37 titles in the series, which represent musical genres ranging from Rock and Pop to R&B and Country, will debut on January 15th, 2008 and by the end of the month will be available at 4,500 retail outlets across the United States. In Canada, MusicPass will debut in late January of 2008.

"The introduction of MusicPass is an important p...

Martina McBride, Kenny Rogers and Carlos Santana are among the stars who have donated items to a charity auction raising money for Nashville, Tennessee's Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA).

The online YWCA sale features items including a portrait of country star McBride by MuzikMafia member Rachel Kice. Other celebrities taking part include Diamond Rio, Big & Rich and Clay Walker.

The auction ends on Wednesday.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

Country star Charlie Daniels was overwhelmed with emotion on Monday night when he accepted a surprise invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry. The 71-year-old was performing at a benefit concert at Nashville, Tennessee's Ryman Auditorium when he was presented with the honor by Opry member Martina McBride.

Accepting the spot on the weekly country music program, Daniels said, "I can not even begin to tell you folks... this is very emotional for me. I never ever in my wildest dreams when I came to Nashville with my precious wife and son dreamed that this would happen. To think that now my ...

The list of Country luminaries performing on "The 41st Annual CMA Awards" reads like a who's who of the format's finest and freshest faces with the announcement today that multiple nominee Alison Krauss and Horizon Award nominees Jason Aldean and Kellie Pickler have each been added to the list of performers for this year's gala.

"The 41st Annual CMA Awards" will be held Wednesday, Nov. 7 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) and will air live from the Sommet Center in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.

Sheryl Crow, Blake Shelton and Gretchen Wilson have been added to the list of artists prese...

-Win a CMA Awards Prize Pack!

Multi-talented, Academy Award winning actor Jamie Foxx joins reigning CMA Awards Vocal Group of the Year Rascal Flatts for a duet performance during "The 41st Annual CMA Awards" Wednesday, Nov. 7 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) live from the Sommet Center in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.

Rascal Flatts, who are nominated for Entertainer of the Year, will open "Country Music's Biggest Night™" with the title track from their third consecutive No. 1 album, Still Feels Good. Later in the broadcast, they will perform "She Goes All the Way" with Foxx. The duet w...

Conde Nast Media Group announced today the following updates regarding New York Fashion Week's most star-studded event:

* Mary J. Blige joins the line up

* The Fashion Rocks(TM) stage will explode with once in a lifetime duets featuring Mary J. Blige and Usher, Fergie and Ludacris and Alicia Keys with Santana.

* Presenters include: Jessica Alba, Mischa Barton, Teri Hatcher, LeAnn Rimes, Denis Leary, Sean "Diddy" Combs, 50 Cent, Sean Lennon, Irina Lazareanu, Tyra Banks, Emily Procter, Kimora Lee Simmons, Michael Kors, Francisco Costa, Tommy Hilfiger, and Max Azria.

* A po...

Hollywood, California – June 26, 2007 – Around the world, entertainment superstar Dean Martin has the market cornered on charisma, easygoing charm, playful wit, and gracious humility, all of which combine to make him infinitely cool. To honor Martin's broad appeal and countless contributions to modern entertainment via his legendary music, stage, film and television career, many of the world's top artists have recorded new collaborative tracks with him for a new album titled Dean Martin: Forever Cool. To be released worldwide in CD and deluxe CD/DVD packages and digitally on August 14 by Ca...

Happy Birthday to "Blade" actor Stephen Dorff (1973), "Stand By Me" actor Wil Wheaton (1972), country singer Martina McBride (1966), WWE wrestler Scott Steiner (1962), Rush bassist/singer Geddy Lee (1953), documentary producer Ken Burns (1953), "The Sopranos" mobster Tony Sirico (1942), Canadian actor David Warner (1941), late Newsman Peter Jennings (1938; d. 2005), jazz soloist Charlie Christian (1916), silver screen actress Thelma Todd (1905; d. 1935), actress Clara Bow (1905; d. 1965), and "The Thin Man" star William Powell (1892; d. 1984).

Halle Berry is the world's most fabulous 40-something celebrity, according to a new magazine poll. Berry beat model/designer Daisy Fuentes and Salma Hayek in the Fabulous At 40 countdown, compiled by In Touch Weekly magazine.

Editors chose the Catwoman star to top the list because she has "evolved into this woman that feels very confident in who she is".

The top 10 are:

1. Halle Berry

2. Daisy Fuentes

3. Salma Hayek

4. Pamela Anderson

5. Martina McBride

6. Maria Bello

7. Tia Carrere

8. Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon

9. Melina Kanakaredes

10. Nicole Kidman

(Thi...

NEW YORK (AP) - Jennifer Lopez, Fergie, Fall Out Boy and Usher will perform at the fourth annual Fashion Rocks concert celebrating the relationship between music and fashion.

The show, hosted by ''Entourage'' star Jeremy Piven, will be held Sept. 6 at Radio City Music Hall. It will air the following night in a two-hour special on CBS Corp.'s CBS network.

Fashion Rocks will be among the events during New York Fashion Week.

Aerosmith, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Avril Lavigne, Ludacris, Martina McBride and Santana are also scheduled to appear.

''The syn...

NBC celebrates the nation's 231st birthday extravaganza with performances by superstar Martina McBride, American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, and "American Idol" contestants Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle on the live broadcast of the "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular."

Hosted by Natalie Morales, NBC's "Today" National Correspondent and Tiki Barber, "Today" Correspondent and "Football Night in America" Studio Analyst, the show will air on Wednesday, July 4th, 9-10 p.m. EST (all time zones).

The country's largest Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza will feature nearly 35...

ABC's hottest music event is back and bigger and better than ever when today's most exciting Country Music artists hit the stage in Nashville for a four-day party and celebration of America's music for the special "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock."

Filming during the Festival June 7-10, the two-hour special will air Monday, July 23 (9:00 - 11:00 PM/ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Sara Evans has just been added to the star-packed lineup. Artists already scheduled to perform include Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn...

The quest of American Idol finalist Sanjaya Malakar ended last night when it was announced that he received the fewest votes. Tuesday’s performance show featured the Top 7 singers performing country music after being mentored by superstar Martina McBride. Malakar, 17, from Federal Way, WA, sang “Something to Talk About.”

Over 38 million votes, this season’s highest total, were received after the show. On Wednesday, McBride performed “Anyway” from her new album “Waking Up Laughing,” Fergie sang “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and it was revealed that Malakar will not be moving forward in the com...

Multi-Platinum country superstar Martina McBride will mentor the top seven finalists next week as they prepare to sing country songs on American Idol Tuesday, April 17, and will perform her Top-5 single “Anyway” from her new CD “Waking Up Laughing” on the American Idol results show Wednesday, April 18, on FOX.

During the past several seasons, McBride has been one of the most popular artists to have signature songs covered by Idol contestants. McBride, whose powerhouse voice has earned her 23 career nominations and four Country Music Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year, tying her wi...

The quest of American Idol finalist Haley Scarnato ended last night when it was announced that she received the fewest votes. Tuesday’s performance show featured the Top 8 singers performing Latin-themed music after being mentored by superstar Jennifer Lopez. Scarnato, 24, from San Antonio, TX, sang Turn the Beat Around. Over 35 million votes, this season’s highest total, were received after the show. On Wednesday, Lopez performed her propulsive single Qué Hiciste, Akon performed Don’t Matter and it was revealed that Scarnato will not be moving forward in the competition.

Next week, te...

Hits compilation NOW 24 has taken over at the top of the album charts in its second week on release. The various artists CD entered the charts behind country superstar Tim McGraw last week, but second-week sales of 213,000 gave the hits album the edge on the new chart, and it changes places with McGraw's Let It Go.

In a good week for country music, Martina McBride’s new release, Waking Up Laughing, debuts at number three with 144,000 sales, while pop star/actress Hilary Duff scores her fourth successive top five debut at four with Dignity.

Meanwhile, rap producer Timbaland enters ...

The American Idol results show, continuing to feature performances by renowned musical artists who mentor the contestants each week, will expand from 30 minutes to one hour on the following dates: Wednesday, April 11; Wednesday, April 18; and Wednesday, May 2 on FOX.

Upcoming mentors include Gwen Stefani, Tony Bennett, Jennifer Lopez, Martina McBride, Bon Jovi and Barry Gibb.

Til Death, the comedy that looks at married life from the divergent perspectives of a long-married couple and their neighbors who have been married for just a year, will conclude its first season with a spec...

American Idol’s sixth season continues to shine, with nine new celebrity coaches and guests scheduled to appear on the show. Ryan Seacrest announced that Tony Bennett, Bon Jovi, Barry Gibb, Jennifer Lopez, Lulu, Martina McBride, Peter Noone, Diana Ross and Gwen Stefani will join the list of top musical talents who have made appearances on "American Idol."

In addition, Season Four winner Carrie Underwood and Season Five finalist Kellie Pickler will perform on the show this season. Season Three winner recently Fantasia had the audience on its feet with her rendition of "I'm Here" from t...

Country music star Reba McEntire will return to perform at the 2007 CMA Music festival in June after an 11-year absence.

The concerts will be held in Nashville, Tennessee on June 7-10, with proceeds going to the Keep the Music playing campaign to promote music education in local schools.

Country Music Association Chief Operating Officer Tammy Genovese says, "Reba McEntire is a true trailblazer, having elevated country music's profile throughout her career while being a successful actress, charitable spokesperson and respected businesswoman."

McEntire will be joined by other t...

Tommy Emmanuel has garnered a nomination for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in the “Best Country Instrumental Performance” category for “Gameshow Rag/Cannonball Rag” from his critically acclaimed Favored Nations Acoustic album, The Mystery, which was released August 22. "It's the greatest honor of my life and it's a dream come true. I appreciate being in such great company," said Emmanuel of his nomination.

Emmanuel—who currently resides in Nashville, but is an Australia native--is no stranger to the Grammy community. His work with Chet Atkins on the 1997 album The Day Finger Pickers ...

Several country stars are rallying to the defense of singer Faith Hill, following her controversial on-camera antics during Monday night's Country Music Awards. As fellow nominee Carrie Underwood was announced as the winner of the Female Vocalist Of The Year award, Hill looked at the camera and said, "What?" and turned away. Hill said in a statement on Tuesday that she had been joking.

Hill's close friend Martina McBride says, "She just didn't think it would come off the way that people are perceiving that it came off. It didn't translate across the television in the way in which she ...

Faith Hill has laughed off speculation she was upset when Carrie Underwood beat her to the Female Vocalist Of The Year accolade at the Country Music Association Awards last night. When Underwood's name was announced as the winner, Hill was caught on camera flailing her arms and apparently shouting "What?" before walking out of camera range.

Hill released a statement today through her publicist responding to criticism about the sour note she appeared to have struck during the ceremony, saying, "The idea that I would act disrespectful towards a fellow musician is unimaginable to me. For...

NBC lights up the night on Wednesday, Nov. 29 (8-9 p.m. ET/PT) with an incredible array of musical performances and the lighting of the world's most famous Christmas tree during the 9th annual "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" telecast.

Hosted by Al Roker and Ann Curry ("Today"), the star-studded 74th annual tree lighting extravaganza will feature Christina Aguilera, Sting, Lionel Richie, Bette Midler, Sarah McLachlan, Enya, John Legend, Martina McBride, and Taylor Hicks performing current hits and holiday favorites from Rockefeller Center in New York City.

The stars appearing on "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" are a testament to the overall popularity of Country Music. Legends, newcomers, style innovators and artists from other genres are all coming together for "Country Music's Biggest Night."

Added to the star-packed, performance line up for the 2006 CMA Awards are Horizon nominees Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Sugarland, and Josh Turner.

Presenting Awards will be "American Idol" alum Kellie Pickler; LeAnn Rimes; two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Barbara Mandrell; and rock royalty Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora of CMA Awards...

"Country Music's Biggest Night" continues to grow with the announcement today that Martina McBride and Keith Urban will perform when "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" airs live Monday, Nov. 6 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville.

The three-hour gala will be hosted for the third time by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of super duo Brooks & Dunn.

Performers already announced include Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Carrie Underwood and Gretchen Wilson. More performers an...

Happy Birthday to "Blade" actor Stephen Dorff (1973), "Stand By Me" actor Wil Wheaton (1972), country singer Martina McBride (1966), WWE wrestler Scott Steiner (1962), Rush bassist/singer Geddy Lee (1953), documentary producer Ken Burns (1953), "The Sopranos" mobster Tony Sirico (1942), Canadian actor David Warner (1941), late Newsman Peter Jennings (1938; d. 2005), jazz soloist Charlie Christian (1916), silver screen actress Thelma Todd (1905; d. 1935), actress Clara Bow (1905; d. 1965), and "The Thin Man" star William Powell (1892; d. 1984).

Heart-warming stories and riveting musical performances are the heart and soul of summer's hot TV special "CMA Music Festival: Country Music's Biggest Party," which airs Monday, July 24 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC.

Added to the list of artists appearing on the special are Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Gary Allan, Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans and Miranda Lambert. Several of today's top hit makers are already scheduled to perform including Brooks & Dunn, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Hank Williams Jr. Additional artists will be announced soon.

CMA Mus...

The Academy of Country Music just announced that Kelly Clarkson, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert and Martina McBride will perform as part of the 41st Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards. The ceremony, which honors country music's top talent as well as the industry's hottest emerging talent, will be broadcast live from Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 23, on CBS.

Grammy-winning Kelly Clarkson, will join Rascal Flatts for a special performance. Brooks & Dunn are nominees for Entertainer of the Year, Top Vocal Duo, Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year (all for "Bel...

The Wreckers, consisting of Michelle Branch & Jessica Harp, are modern country with a pop twist, and a little rock & roll tossed in for that extra bite. Michelle and Jessica met when they were both struggling in the music business. Michelle broke with her 2001 solo release on Maverick, The Spirit Room. Still in her teens, she was swept onto major tours and recruited by legendary guitarist Carlos Santana for Grammy-winning duet, “Game of Love.” Her second release, Hotel Paper, hit number two on Billboard’s Hot 200.

Michelle invited Jessica to join her on the road after trading email...

Country singer Martina McBride has been honoured as her native Kansas' favourite daughter. The Swingin' Doors hitmaker was named Kansan Of The Year by the Native Sons And Daughters Of Kansas organisation on Friday. McBride, who was brought up in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, says, "Kansas is a great place to be from."

* Dionne Warwick has recorded classic Burt Bacharach tune Anyone Who Had a Heart with Sir Cliff Richard for the British crooner's upcoming Duets album. The pair performed the song in public for the first time last week when Richard joined celebrities paying tribute to Warwick ...