If you read this site often, then you may know I am a huge American Idol fan. I have been complacent in my commenting on the debut of this new season. The auditions are leaving me uninspired to write anything of substance … until last night. Ryan and the gang went home to L.A. where there should have been a plethora of talent. Wrong. Is it just me or are the auditions this season particuarly... 

Break out your 3-D shades, because you’re going to need them if you’re planning on watching the Grammy awards next week. It has been announced that Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Smokey Robinson and Celine Dion will perform a 3-D tribute to Michael Jackson. Jackson, who is receiving a posthumous lifetime achievement award, planned on featuring a 3-D mini movie to accompany... 

Okay, I could handle an absent Paula Abdul but not Simon Cowell. Rumors have been circulating for the past several weeks that Cowell might leave the hit show at  season’s end to focus on bringing his popular Idol-esque UK show, The X Factor, to the U.S. Today, Cowell confirmed that he is in fact leaving American Idol for The X Factor, which will air on Fox later this year. The announcement... 

Intriguing, grandiose, thought-provoking and grandiose to its core, are all the major adjectives that describe Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball. Clad in sequins and purple hair extensions, I was there taking it all in–and friends, there was a lot to take in. I wanted to draw a big lighting bolt over my eye a la Gaga’s “Just Dance” video, but I was told by my accompanied guests... 

The Grammy’s are bringing out the big guns for performances at the award ceremony airing at the end of the month. The Fame Monster herself, Lady Gaga, will be taking the stage as will Green Day, Pink, Dave Matthews Band and the Zac Brown Band. They will join previously announced Beyonce, Taylor Swift, the Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell and Lady Antebellum. All five artists nominated in the Album of... 

Jimmy “The Rev’” Sullivan, drummer for the band Avenged Sevenfold, was found dead Monday in his home in Huntington Beach, California. He was 28. “It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan,” wrote Avenged bandmates on their Web site. “Jimmy was not only one of the world’s best drummers, but more importantly... 

Steven Tyler has checked into a rehab facility to treat an addiction to painkillers stemming from over 10 years of performance injuries. It seemed as if it was only a matter of time before this news came to light. The Aerosmith frontman fell off the stage during a performance this summer bringing the band’s  tour to a halt and sparking major drama. Tyler distanced himself from his bandmates... 

Alicia Keys teamed up with Stephen Colbert last night when she appeared on “The Colbert Report” to promote her new album, The Element of Freedom. Keys performed ”Empire State of Mind” while Colbert laid it down, begging the question, Jay-Z who? Check it out! Alicia Keys teamed up with Stephen Colbert last night when she appeared on “The Colbert Report”... 

As a follow up to my Lil Wayne post yesterday, Christmas came early for about 500 Amazon customers who received the rapper’s six-time delayed album Rebirth by accident this week. Amazon.com shipped out hundreds of copies to fans who preordered the album. Wayne’s album was recently pushed back from a Dec. 21 release date to Feb. 1, one week before he receives sentencing for gun charges.... 

  Lil Wayne has been experiencing a literal rebirth as his album of the same name once again gets delayed. Tracks have been continuously leaking and Weezy has got us all guessing which ones will make it on the highly-anticipated album and which ones will be dropped. Fingers crossed that  he doesn’t axe “Drop the World,” featuring Eminem. The song is pure intensity with... 

  If you’re Lady Gaga, you  wear a Victorian/leather-inspired creation. At least she covered up and isn’t wearing a unitard, bubbles or Kermit the Frog smock. Same can’t be said for Miley Cyrus, who’s just being Miley in this dress:  It’s not the worst thing she’s ever worn, but she is a 17-year-old meeting the Queen. Maybe Miley wanted her to catch a glimpse... 

  One-hit wonders–the most dreaded title musicians aim to avoid. Unfortunately, it’s inevitable that a number of over-played songs on the radio today, will be condemned to that damning category. As we close out on the first decade of the new millennium, Billboardhas compiled a list of the top one-hit wonders from the last 10 years. The rankings are based on how high their first hit... 

  Alexa Ray Joel, the 23-year-old daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley, was hospitalized Saturday afternoon after swallowing eight herbal medicine pills. Joel was rushed to St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Manhattan where it is reported the overdose was a suicide attempt. “Alexa is stable. Her doctors are assessing her needs and that’s all we can say at this moment,” said a rep... 

The stage has been set for music’s biggest night and the competition is stiff. Unfortunately, we had to sit through a schizophrenic telecast  of  obscure performances (Nick Jonas and the Administration? Really?) and technical gaffs to receive the nominations. Beyonce leads the pack with 10 nominations while Taylor Swift trails her with 8. The Black Eyed Peas and Kanye West receive 6 nods each,...