Madonna Teams Up with Cirque du Soleil for NFL Halftime Show
The National Football League has announced that Madonna will be the featured performer at the Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show. The championship football game takes place on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Madonna is reportedly putting the show together with a creative team from Cirque du Soleil, choreographer Jamie King and multimedia artists from Canadian entertainment studio Moment Factory.
Jackson Brothers Plan Tribute to Michael
Marlon, Tito and Jackie Jackson will be in Japan on December 13 and 14 to perform two concerts as a tribute to their late brother Michael. The shows will also feature some Japanese artists, including popular R&B star A.I. The Jacksons and A.I. plan to release a duet, called “Letter in the Sky,” on December 14.
On December 17, Julien’s Auctions will sell the contents of Michael Jackson’s leased Los Angeles home. The 600 pieces include furniture, artwork, and other personal family items. The headboard from the bed in which Michael died was removed from the auction at the request of his estate.
Guns N' Roses, Red Hot Chilli Peppers Among Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2012. The Faces, Guns N’ Roses, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, Donovan and the late Laura Nyro will be added in the Performers category. In addition, late blues great Freddie King will be inducted in the Early Influences category, late producer Don Kirshner will be honored with the Ahmet Ertegun Award and engineer/producers Glyn Johns, Cosimo Matassa and the late Tom Dowd will receive the Award For Musical Excellence. The 27th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions will be held on April 14, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. The ceremony is being taped for a May 2012 HBO special.
Buble Tops Billboard 200 Chart
Pop singer Michael Buble’s new holiday album, Christmas, spends its second week at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. With 293,000 additional copies sold during the past week, total sales of the album have surpassed the one million mark. Christmas is the seventh album to sell more than one million copies in 2011.
New Album Releases December 13:
“Back To Love” by Anthony Hamilton
“Welcome Reality” by Nero
“Made In Germany” by Rammstein
“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1, The Score
Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits:
December 16, cable channel TNT will air the 30th anniversary “Christmas In Washington” special. This year’s lineup includes Justin Bieber, Cee Lo Green, Jennifer Hudson, The Band Perry and Victoria Justice. The show’s audience includes President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. “Christmas In Washington” benefits the Children’s National Medical Center.
