LOS ANGELES (AP) - Beyoncé earned a leading six nominations Wednesday for the 2007 BET Awards, including nods for top female R&B artist, video for ''Irreplaceable'' and duets with Jay-Z on ''Deja Vu'' and ''Upgrade U.''

Soul is at the heart of hip-hop, providing the inspiration for today's chart-topping hip-hop tracks. Now four new compilations present the best of soul--a total of 67 recordings, every track a #1 (nearly all on the R&B chart)--from the '60s to the '90s.

Choosing classic soul auteurs Teddy Riley, New Edition and Brian McKnight as musical inspiration could have been imposing for some, but in the case of newcomer Sterling Simms the truth is in the grooves.

Jive recording artist Joe will hit the road on a North American tour in support of his forthcoming album Ain't Nothing Like Me Due In Stores April 24. He will be joined by Brian McKnight and Sunshine Anderson. The 22 city tour will kick off on April 27 at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, CA.

Brian McKnight will hit the road in April for a U.S. tour supporting his current album Ten, which was released by Warner Bros. Records in December. The tour, which is sponsored by VH1 Soul, begins April 25th in San Diego, California, and features support from multi-platinum R&B crooner Joe and gold-selling R&B songstress Sunshine Anderson.

Tony Bennett, Wyclef Jean and Smokey Robinson are among the stars who will salute Stevie Wonder in song when the soul man is honoured with the inaugural American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) American Troubadour Award.

R&B singer Brian McKnight has returned and released his latest album "Ten." Check out his latest single, "What's My Name," right here...

In October, Justin Hawkins, lead singer of The Darkness, announced that he's leaving the band because he can't live the rock 'n' roll lifestyle again after completing rehab... Weird Al Yankovic's White & Nerdy becomes the parody singer's first ever top-ten hit... and legendary NYC nightclub CBGB, where bands like the Ramones, Talking Heads and Blondie got their start, closed; Patti Smith was the final act...

The "2006 American Music Awards" announce a star-studded lineup of celebrity presenters scheduled to appear and help hand out 20 American Music Awards representing the best of Pop/Rock, Country, Soul/Rhythm & Blues, Rap/Hip Hop, Latin, Alternative, Adult Contemporary and Contemporary Inspirational music. The special airs live Tuesday, Nov. 21 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on ABC.

Embracing an effortless eloquence and cocoa butter smooth persona, the music of Brian McKnight has defined the true meaning of American soul man since 1991. Like his spiritual Motown godfathers, this upstate New York native has a velvety voice and silky style that captures the vibe of vintage soul without being old fashion. On his latest disc Ten, that blend can be clearly heard.