Aretha Franklin News

ESSENCE is proud to announce that multi-platinum selling, chart- topping, Grammy award-winning powerhouse USHER will headline the 2011 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL being held July 1, 2, and 3 in New Orleans.

The Associated Press has released a detail of the celebrity farewell to Oprah, which will air on May 23 and May 24, just before the last Oprah Winfrey Show airs on May 25. On hand to pay tribute to the queen of daytime talk was the segment's host, Tom Hanks, Jerry Seinfeld who performed a routine, Madonna, Tom Cruise, Halle Berry, Beyonce, John Legend, Patti LaBelle and mroe. Aretha Franklin sang Amazing Grace and stage and small screen favorite Kristin Chenoweth led a performance of Wicked's For Good. As she performed, nearly 300 Morehouse College scholarship students, endorced by Oprah in one of her many charity endeavors, walked the aisles of the United Center where the event was being filmed. Simon Cowell was also on hand and Rosie O'Donnell additionally performed a Broadway-inspired number.

Diane Warren, considered the most prolific and successful songwriter of our time, will present Due Voci: The Music of Diane Warren on interactive, multichannel retailer HSN during a LIVE one-hour primetime special of her greatest hits on HSN on Thursday, June 2 at 11p.m. (EDT).

Jacob's Pillow Dance, recent recipient of a prestigious National Medal of Arts, announces its full 2011 Festival calendar, including more than 120 ticketed performances and 200 free events, performances, talks, exhibits, and tours.

One of a kind musical group Black Violin will bring their unique blend of jazz, hip-hop, funk and classical music to the Colonial for a series of events this May. They will work with local area music students in two special workshops on Wednesday, May 11, followed by two school matinee performances on Thursday, May 12.

On Monday, May 9, the Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present singer Morgan James, along with her seven-piece band, which included Chris Fenwick on piano, Mat Fieldes on bass, Damien Bassman on drums, Eric Davis on guitar, Dan Levine on trombone and CJ Camerieri on trumpet. The concert featured fresh arrangements of soul and blues classics, including Aretha Franklin's 'Ain't No Way,' and the jazz standard 'Ill Wind.' Songwriter Katie Thompson also joined James at the piano for a duet of Thompson's 'Make Me Hate You.'

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post will continue its Spring 2011 season with the debut of six time Grammy Award nominee NNENNA FREELON from May 10 through 14.

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announces its entire 2011 summer season, featuring 99 performances at the majestic Filene Center amphitheater, eight evenings of opera at The Barns at Wolf Trap, and 70 performances at Wolf Trap's Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods.

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater debuted in October 1998 and has quickly became one of New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance.

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announces its entire 2011 summer season, featuring 99 performances at the majestic Filene Center amphitheater, eight evenings of opera at The Barns at Wolf Trap, and 70 performances at Wolf Trap's Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods.

The Broadway at Birdland series is pleased to announce that MORGAN JAMES, currently appearing on Broadway in Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland, will appear in concert on Monday, May 9 at 7pm.

Once upon a time, right here in New York City, storied clubs - swanky hotel supper clubs, zebra-striped celebrity showcases, smoky after-hour boîtes - ruled the night. Places like The Stork Club, Copacabana, Persian Room and Latin Quarter (run by Lou Walters, father of Barbara ) were meccas where songwriters, singers and society mingled and fueled American popular music. Author and Lyrics & LyricistsTM series artistic director Deborah Grace Winer takes the helm as artistic director/writer/host for The Crowd's at El Morocco: The Heyday of the New York Nightclubs, on April 30 and May 1, 2. Joining her are vocalists Debby Boone, La Tanya Hall, James Naughton, Billy Stritch and Karen Ziemba.

This morning, the legendary Aretha Franklin appeared on The View to promote her new album, A Woman Falling Out of Love, discuss her dramatic weight loss as a result of surgery and the new biopic of her life, now in the works, among other topics. While reporting on the status of the film based on her life, the songbird revealed that in addition to picks such as Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson, SISTER ACT's Patina Miller is now being considered to channel her.

PAULA JOHNS plays Saturday - May 7 from 8:00 PM - 11:30 PM · $10 at the door Dinner Starting at 6:00 PM · Reservations at 732-774-1155

The Broadway at Birdland series is pleased to announce that MORGAN JAMES, currently appearing on Broadway in Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland, will appear in concert on Monday, May 9 at 7pm.

The following guests are set for appearances on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: April 25- May 6:

In celebration of the Royal nuptials of Prince William of Wales and Catherine Elizabeth 'Kate' Middleton at Buckingham Palace, the hosts of ABC's popular talker 'The View' will observe this special occasion with 'A Royal Wedding - The View,' a live, one-hour special edition, Friday, April 29 (11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, ET), covering all the pomp and circumstance. This marks the first time 'The View' has broadcast live on Friday since Sept. 12, 2008. Regularly featured co-hosts Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd will be joined in-studio by Hollywood royalty Goldie Hawn, a featured guest co-host for the day. Barbara Walters, on assignment in London for ABC News, will join the program live via satellite.

BABY IT'S YOU! began previews Saturday, March 26, at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street), and opens Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at 6:30pm. Inspired by the true story of Florence Greenberg, the woman who in the late 1950's took the male-dominated music industry by storm, BABY IT'S YOU! is conceived by Floyd Mutrux, directed by Floyd Mutrux and Sheldon Epps, and written by Tony nominated book writers Mutrux and Colin Escott, the team behind Broadway's MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, with musical supervision and arrangements by Rahn Coleman, orchestrations by Don Sebesky and musical direction by Shelton Becton. Click below for performance highlights!

Warhol Live: Music and Dance in Andy Warhol's Work, the first exhibition to delve deeply into the roles music and dance played in the artist's life and work, opens at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts on June 24 in the Ingram Gallery and will remain on view through Sept. 11, 2011.

The original cast recording of the new Broadway musical BABY IT'S YOU! will be released by Universal Music Group's Verve label, and produced by legendary music producer Richard Perry and associated produced by Rahn Coleman in New York City between Sunday, April 17 and Monday, April 25, 2011.