Susan Boyle Tops US, UK Album Charts
Scottish singer Susan Boyle has the best-selling album in the U.S. this week. Her holiday album, The Gift, sold 318,000 copies and debuts at Number One on the Billboard 200. Boyle also tops the U.K. albums chart. She's the first artist in more than 40 years to simultaneously occupy the Number One position in both countries in a 12-month period. Boyle's debut album, I Dreamed A Dream, topped charts in the U.S. and U.K. simultaneously in December 2009.
Other Top 10 entries on this week's Billboard 200 include Kid Cudi's "Man on the Moon 2: The Legend of Mr. Roger" (Number 3), "Now That's What I Call Music! 36" by various artists (Number 4), Bon Jovi's "Greatest Hits" (Number 5), Reba McEntire's "All The Women I Am" (Number 7) and Cee Lo Green's "The Lady Killer" (Number 9).
Aguilera Makes Film Debut
Christina Aguilera makes her motion picture debut this week in Burlesque, which co-stars 63-year-old Cher. Cher's last film role was in Tea With Mussolini in 1999. Burlesque opens nationwide on November 24. Eight of the 10 songs on the soundtrack are performed by Aguilera. Cher performs the other two. The soundtrack will be released on November 23.
New Michael Jackson DVD Hits Stores
On November 23, Epic/Legacy Recordings will release "Michael Jackson's Vision," the first-ever collection of all the short films produced by the late "King of Pop." The box set features four-and-a-half hours of material on three DVDs. The 40 videos in newly restored color and remastered audio include 10 that were previously unavailable on DVD.
Fans Beware - Garth Brooks Ticket Prices to Increase in 2011
Garth Brooks' 2011 shows at Wynn Las Vegas will be much more expensive than this year. Owner Steve Wynn is raising ticket prices from $125 to $225. "When the greatest live performer of our time appears in such an intimate theater, the seats should be priced at least competitively," Wynn said. "I believe Garth Brooks is still under-priced." Garth is well known for keeping ticket prices affordable for his fans. He says, "I am flattered Steve Wynn believes in me… My only concern is the audience."
Justin Bieber Prepares for Black Friday Album Release
Pop star Justin Bieber's new album, My World's Acoustic, will be released on November 26. That date, known as "Black Friday," is one of the busiest holiday shopping days of the year. My World's Acoustic is available exclusively at Wal-Mart stores and Walmart.com. In addition to stripped-down versions of Bieber's hits, the album contains one new song, called "Pray."
New Album Releases November 23:
"My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" by Kanye West
"Cannibal" by Ke$ha
"Stadium" by Akon
"Pink Friday" by Nicki Minaj
"Libra Scale" by Ne-Yo
The original motion picture soundtrack to "Burlesque"
"34 Number Ones" by Alan Jackson
"Relentless" by Yngwie Malmsteen
"Happy Christmas" by Jessica Simpson
"Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Scott Weiland
"The Hits Collection, Volume 1" by Jay-Z
Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits:
The 2010 "Charlie Daniels Band & Friends Christmas 4 Kids Concert" will take place November 22 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Montgomery Gentry, Jake Owen and Sawyer Brown will also perform at the sold-out event. The annual charity concert raises money for Christmas 4 Kids, an organization that provides underprivileged children with Christmas shopping sprees.
Look Who's Going On Tour!
This week, Irish rock group U2 will take its "360 Tour" to New Zealand and Australia. The band performs in Auckland, New Zealand on November 25 and 26, then heads to Australia for eight more shows in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth. U2 last performed in Perth in 1998. The outing wraps up on December 19. Rapper Jay-Z will open all of the concerts.
Legendary singer Kenny Rogers will launch his 2010 "Christmas & Hits Tour" on November 26 in Bossier City, Louisiana. He'll perform in 20 North American cities through December 22. Kenny's first live holiday album, "Christmas Live," is now available exclusively on his website (www.kennyrogers.com). The album includes 12 holiday favorites recorded on his annual Christmas tour.
On November 26, "The Judds: The Last Encore" tour will begin in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It's been 10 years since the mother-daughter duo performed their last tour. Their 18-city outing will wrap up on December 19 in Phoenix, Arizona. Fifteen percent of proceeds from sales of VIP and Fan packages will go to St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
