U2 frontman Bono is celebrating his 50th birthday on Monday, marking a career which has taken him from early rehearsals in a pal's kitchen to international rock star, leading campaigner on humanitarian issues, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee.

The singer formed U2 in 1976 after answering an advert for musicians posted by drummer Larry Mullen, Jr., joining him, guitarist The Edge, and bass player Adam Clayton for auditions in Mullen's kitchen.

He is now one of the most famous and iconic frontmen in rock - and to celebrate his landmark birthday, WENN has collected 10 fascinating facts about B...

Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo are to perform together on Sunday for the first time since the death of their Three Tenors tourmate Luciano Pavarotti last year.

The opera singers will pay tribute to the late maestro at a special show held by the Italian tenor's widow Nicoletta Mantovani and Princess Haya Of Jordan in Petra, Jordan this weekend.

Andrea Bocelli and rocker Sting are also due to play at the two-day event, which will mark what would have been his 73rd birthday on Sunday.

But the event will reach a climax when Carreras and Domingo take to the stage to celebrate t...

The estate of late opera legend Luciano Pavarotti has been settled "fairly", according to his widow's lawyer - despite reports of a bitter feud between the star's wife and his children from a former marriage.

A feud between Pavarotti's wife Nicoletta Mantovani and the tenor's three daughters from a previous marriage had blown up after his death when reports surfaced suggesting his legal will had been changed six weeks before his death, meaning all of his assets would go to Mantovani.

However, Mantovani vehemently denied the claims, and went on to sue two of the late tenor's close ...

Late opera legend Luciano Pavarotti mimed during his last ever live performance, according to a new book written by his longtime conductor. Leone Magiera - who performed alongside Pavarotti at more than 1,000 concerts - claims the tenor pre-recorded a rendition of "Nessun Dorma," which was then played at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, while the orchestra, singer and conductor mimed.

Writing in new book Pavarotti Visto da Vicino (Pavarotti Seen from Up Close), Magiera recalls, "On the evening of the ceremony, the orchestra pretended to play for the audience, I pretended to co...

Internationally-renowned vocalist Josh Groban will release a brand-new live CD/DVD - titled Awake Live - on Reprise/143 Records on May 6th, 2008. Directed by Hamish Hamilton, Awake Live captures the Grammy Award-winning singer's exhilarating performance at Salt Lake City's EnergySolutions Arena before a sold-out crowd of 15,000 thrilled fans on August 28th, 2007. In its review of the tour, the New York Times raved that Groban has "the power to knock the arena senseless."

While the DVD includes favorites from Groban's three best-selling albums, including "Canto Alla Vita" and "Alla Lu...

"I don't have a model's body. But I'm not one of those crazy girls who think that they're fat... I can rock this body." Heroes star Hayden Panettiere is happy with what she's got.

"What helps when you're doing nude scenes is the ability to tolerate huge amounts of whisky. It was scary to go out there naked." Knocked Up star Jason Segel on his full-frontal nude scenes in new film Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

"They always write that it went badly, but show me the jokes that didn't work." Comedian Chris Rock insists his stint as Oscars host in 2005 wasn't the disaster it's often portra...

"All The Best" is an affectionate compilation of 15 tracks from Italian singer/songwriter Zucchero, whose original releases span from 1986 to the present, including four new tracks recorded specifically for this release. Several tracks contain stellar guest performances from artists such as Luciano Pavarotti, Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker and Vanessa Carlton.

Perhaps no other recording artist in the world has recorded as many successful – and diverse – collaborations as the singer-songwriter from Emilia-Romagna. "All The Best" features Zucchero's first such collaboration with jazz leg...

Rocker Bruce Springsteen has settled a lawsuit over a show horse out-of-court. The singer, 58, is alleged to have breached a contract with Olympic equestrian Todd Minikus to buy the mammal - named Pavarotti - for $850,000, after the horse failed to "perform well", reports the Palm Beach Post in Florida.

The animal was intended as a gift to Springsteen's teenage daughter, Jessica, to help her in her fledgling riding career - but the star pulled out of the agreement after he was left disappointed by the horse's performance.

But Springsteen opted to pay up $200,000 to end the legal ...

Concord Records recently released A Swingin' Christmas, an album of yuletide hits sung by multi-platinum Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Michael Bolton with the bang of a big band orchestra behind him. Originally released last year (exclusively at Target), this beautiful and inspirational holiday collection adds two brand-new tracks: "Silent Night" and "Joy To The World."

A Swingin' Christmas sees Bolton bringing new life to a host of holiday chestnuts, including "Walkin' In A Winter Wonderland," "Let It Snow" and "White Christmas," making it a must-have for the holiday season. The fu...

Opera legend Luciano Pavarotti died owing more than $24 million in debt, according to reports. The Italian tenor is reported to have had an overdraft of more than $14 million and owed more than $10 million in mortgage payments at the Monte dei Paschi di Siena bank in Bologna, Italy.

Pavarotti was believed to have left a personal fortune of more than $400 million - but his personal fortune is believed to be much less.

It is thought the finances of Pavarotti's estate could put an end to the rift between his second wife Nicoletta Mantovani and his three daughters who reportedly fell ...

Recently, Steve Guttenberg appeared at New York's Upright Citizens' Brigade (UCB) Theater for an installment of "Inside Joke," a live talk show about the craft of comedy. Certainly there's much to be learned in the arena of humor from the star of films such as Police Academy, Cocoon, Short Circuit, and Three Men and a Little Lady, but The Gute also has much to say on the subjects of community, fame, and responsibility, not to mention some info on a few forthcoming acting roles and a book.

How did your appearance at the UCB Theater go?

I had the best time and now that I'm back in ...

Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl has gone brunette for a new magazine cover. The blonde actress goes dark for one of three alternative InStyle covers, and admits she has always dreamed of adopting a new look. Heigl says, "In a town of blondes, it makes me look a little more exotic - but my producers won't let me do it."

British actress Billie Piper is desperate to become invisible - so she can spy on her friends. The star would love to spend her life spying on people and reveals her nosy trait is the real reason she became an actress. She says, "Other people's lives fascinate me... ...

Late tenor Luciano Pavarotti had a secret dream to become a tennis ace. The Italian opera star, who died last week, told U.S. sports commentator Bud Collins of his court dreams but swore the pundit to secrecy.

In an obituary dedicated to the former soccer player, Collins says, "Luciano Pavarotti would have loved to be a professional tennis player.

"He told me that one day in 1980 while we were watching John McEnroe gliding toward a second U.S. Open title at Flushing Meadow, New York. Pavarotti... adored tennis, and could empathise with the pros. He too, especially in concerts, s...

British royal Prince Charles has paid tribute to Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, hailing him a "prodigious talent" in a message of condolence to the maestro's grieving family.

The Nessun Dorma star lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on Thursday at the age of 71. The heir to the throne is the latest high-profile figure to give praise to the opera legend, after words of sympathy poured in from stars including Jose Carreras, Elton John, Sting and Bono.

In the note, the prince says, "(I am) profoundly grateful to have lived when such a prodigious talent inhabited this Earth. My w...

The funeral service for Luciano Pavarotti has begun in his hometown of Modena, Italy, with singers Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and U2 rocker Bono among the stars in attendance.

The Italian maestro, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 71 on Thursday, will be laid to rest in a cemetary close to his family home, following the rememberance service at Modena Cathedral on Saturday.

Blind tenor Andrea Bocelli is expected to perform the hymn Panis Angelicus at the funeral service, which is being conducted by the Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bert...

Tributes have poured in for Luciano Pavarotti after he lost his battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 71 on Thursday.

Fellow tenor, Placido Domingo, conceded he would miss Pavarotti's sense of humor and his voice most.

He said, "I always admired the God-given glory of his voice - that unmistakable special timbre from the bottom up to the very top of the tenor range. I also loved his wonderful sense of humor and on several occasions of our concerts with Jose Carreras - the so-called Three Tenors concerts - we had trouble remembering that we were giving a concert before a payi...

Opera legend Luciano Pavarotti has died, his manager has announced. He was 71. The Italian tenor was said to be in a "very serious" condition on Wednesday night, after falling unconscious. A local TV news station in Modena, northern Italy, reported Pavarotti was on his death bed after suffering kidney failure.

Friends and family held a bedside vigil at the singer's home in Modena on Wednesday, but the star died in the early hours of Thursday morning. His death follows a recent spell of ill health - Pavarotti was admitted to hospital last month to undergo treatment for pancreatic cance...

NASHVILLE – Sept. 5, 2007 – The series that proves great music knows no boundaries returns, bringing together multiple Grammy winners, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and Trisha Yearwood. Known for his smooth voice and prolific songwriting, Edmonds joins country superstar Yearwood for a magical evening that was taped before an invitation only audience in Nashville. The two soulful voices will join as one on the latest episode of CMT Crossroads: Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds And Trisha Yearwood premiering Friday, Sept. 21 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT.

CMT Crossroads: Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds And Trisha ...

Italian opera legend Luciano Pavarotti has been released from the hospital following a two-week stay to undergo treatment for cancer. The 71-year-old was admitted to the University Policlinico in northern Italy on August 8 after suffering from a high fever.

But a hospital spokesperson, says "all diagnostic tests having been completed" and the famous tenor can return home "to convalesce in the serenity of his family surroundings."

Pavarotti underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer last year and has since had at least five rounds of chemotherapy.

(This news article provided by ...

Geffen Records is proud to present the debut EP from Emmy Rossum (The Phantom of the Opera, Mystic River, The Day After Tomorrow, Poseidon).

"This music is who I am," says 20-year-old Emmy Rossum of her self-titled debut on Geffen Records. "In the movies, I've always felt like one piece of the puzzle. But this is all me. It's my baby. I get to write, direct and star. And that's the most fulfilling thing. It's everything I've always wanted to do. This music is so close to me. It's something new… You can't categorize it."

With a Golden Globe nomination for her performance as Christ...

(July 10, 2007- New York, NY) –The new movie, No Reservations, starring Academy Award®-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago) and Golden Globe® nominee Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for Smoking), is destined to become the romantic film of the summer. This culinary comedy drama, directed by Oscar-nominated Scott Hicks (Shine), is set in a New York City restaurant and also features Academy Award® nominee Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine). The soundtrack will be released on Decca July 24th.

The recipe for this musical masterpiece starts with a generous helping of Italian arias performed ...

Opera sensation Luciano Pavarotti has hit out at reports he's close to death, declaring, "I'm doing fine." The Italian tenor is battling pancreatic cancer and currently wheelchair-bound, and earlier this week his daughter Guiliana allegedly expressed fears her famous father hasn't got long to live.

However, Guiliana has since claimed she was misquoted when she revealed Pavarotti "knows he's going to die soon" to an Italian magazine. She says, "I was tricked into saying those things. In reality my father is very strong and responding well. His humor is upbeat, he is doing physiotherapy...