NBC-TV's September 2 "Concert for Hurricane Relief" raised nearly $51 million for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. More donations will soon be pouring in from other fundraising events. On September 9, a one-hour, commercial-free telethon aired on eight national networks and more than 30 cable channels to 140 countries around the world. Performers on "Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast" included Garth Brooks, Kanye West, the Dixie Chicks, Alicia Keys, Rod Stewart, Paul Simon, Neil Young, Sheryl Crow, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige and U2. Proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Also on September 9, BET (Black Entertainment Television) presented "S.O.S. (Saving Ourselves): The BET Relief Telethon" with performances or appearances by Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Diddy, Master P, Omarion, Rihanna, B5, and many others.
Michael Jackson has written a song called "From the Bottom of My Heart," which he plans to record to raise money for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Jackson is reaching out to other artists to join him on the project, as he did in 1985 for the "We Are The World" hunger benefit. Jackson released a statement that said, "It pains me to watch the human suffering taking place in the Gulf region of my country. My heart and prayers go out to every individual who has had to endure the pain and suffering caused by this tragedy."
The Season 4 American Idol tour has been extended by one night to raise money for the hurricane victims. On September 11, American Idol winner Carrie Underwood will headline the event in Syracuse, New York with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross. Carrie says, "When Simon (Fuller) suggested the idea of putting on a special charity concert to help those in need, myself and all the Idols on tour were very happy to help. Our hearts go out to the many people suffering from this disaster." American Idol runner-up Bo Bice, who has been absent from the American Idols Live Tour since having emergency intestinal surgery on August 18, will return for the final night. He'll debut a song he wrote called "We Can't Change This World," which was inspired by the Hurricane Katrina.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced its 2005 honorees. The list includes singers Tony Bennett and Tina Turner, dancer Suzanne Farrell, filmmaker and actor Robert Redford and actress Julie Harris. This year's Kennedy Center Honors will be presented during a gala in Washington on December 4. President and Mrs. Bush are scheduled to attend the 28th annual event.
On September 17, Country singer Patty Loveless will be inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Previous inductees include Trisha Yearwood, Travis Tritt, Kenny Rogers and Alan Jackson. September 13, Epic Records will release Patty's latest album, Dreaming My Dreams.
MUSICAL EVENTS/FESTIVALS/BENEFITS:
Country singer Darryl Worley will host his 4th annual Tennessee River Run September 16 and 17 in Hardin County, Tennessee. Joining him this year are Ronnie Milsap, Jamie O'Neal, Hot Apple Pie and The Stevens Sisters. In addition to concerts, the event will include celebrity golf and fishing tournaments, a 5k run, a celebrity auction, and an Arts and Crafts Fair. Proceeds will go to the Darryl Worley Foundation, which donates money to St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis and several other local and regional charities. This year, Worley will also give $50,000 to the American Red Cross for its Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
The 48th annual Monterey Jazz Festival will take place September 16-18 in Monterey, California. This year's lineup includes John Scofield, Branford Marsalis, the Pat Metheny Trio, Sonny Rollins, Carla Bley and Tony Bennett, who will make his first ever appearance at the event.
AWARDS PRESENTATIONS/WINNERS:
The 2005 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards will be presented on September 12 in Calgary, Alberta. Paul Brandt and new Country group The Road Hammers lead the contenders with six nominations, including Album of the Year and Single of the Year. Following close behind is last year's CCMA Best New Artist winner George Canyon with five mentions and Carolyn Dawn Johnson, who received four nominations.
Spanish singer-songwriter Bebe leads the nominees for the 6th Latin Grammy Awards, scheduled for November 3 in Los Angeles. Her nominations include Album of the Year for Pafuera Telaranas and Single of the Year and Song of the Year for "Malo." This year's triple nominees include Latin pop star Marc Anthony, Colombian singer Juanes, Mexican singer Aleks Syntek, Miami-born Latin pop singer JD Natasha and Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Obie Bermudez.
Brad Paisley and Lee Ann Womack each received six nominations for the 39th annual Country Music Association Awards. Brad earned his first Entertainer of the Year mention, as well as nominations for Male Vocalist of the Year and Single, Song and Music Video of the Year for his current hit "Alcohol." Lee Ann will compete in the categories of Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for "There's More Where That Came From" and Single of the Year for "I May Hate Myself in the Morning." Other multiple nominees include Keith Urban and Toby Keith with four nods each, and Gretchen Wilson, Rascal Flatts, George Strait and new Country trio Sugarland with three apiece. The CMA Awards are making a controversial move to New York City this year. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden on November 15.
TOUR DATES AND INFORMATION:
On September 16, Paul McCartney will kick off a North American concert tour in Miami, Florida. The former Beatle will be supporting his new album Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard. The release is his first since 2001's Driving Rain and his 20th studio album since the breakup of the Beatles. 37 dates are currently listed on his itinerary, which is expected to wrap up on November 29 in Los Angeles.
