Saturday, January 21, 2006
Still going strong at 80,B.B. King plans last tour
LOS ANGELES -- While other 80-year-olds might dust off their rockers, blues dynamo B.B. King will be rocking and rolling when he launches what he says will be his final world tour later this year. King will begin an international "Farewell Tour" in March, part of a domestic tour that starts Feb. 16 in Chicago, King's publicist, Jerry Digney, said in a news release Wednesday. King said he will continue to make U.S. concert appearances after the tour. "I hardly remember I'm 80 unless I have to run up a hill or stairs," the singer and guitarist said. "As long as people buy my records and come to my concerts, I don't see anything else I'd like to do." King has toured every year for 60 years, Digney said Thursday. The musician celebrated his 80th birthday in September and released an album, "B.B. King & amp; Friends -- 80," featuring Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sheryl Crow and other musicians. A $10 million B.B. King museum is slated to open later this year in the Grammy winner's native Mississippi. "I think the clock is ticking, yes," King said. "In fact, I know it is. Frank Sinatra sang about the September of [his] years. I think I'm in the November of my years."
Sugarland's Hall leavesto pursue songwriting
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Kristen Hall of the country music trio Sugarland is leaving the group to spend more time writing songs. Hall wrote most of the melodic story songs on Sugarland's major-label debut, "Twice the Speed of Life." Besides writing, Hall sang harmony and played guitar. Fellow members Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush released this statement: "Kristen has decided that she wants to stay home and write songs, and we support her in that decision." A spokesman for Universal Music Group Nashville, which includes the band's Mercury label, said Wednesday that Sugarland would continue as a group and will open for Kenny Chesney on his tour beginning March 23 in Dayton, Ohio. Sugarland was one of country music's bright spots last year, selling about 2 million copies of its album and producing the hit singles "Baby Girl" and "Something More."
CBS to remake 'Sybil'with Lange, Blanchard
NEW YORK -- Jessica Lange and Tammy Blanchard will star in CBS' remake of "Sybil," a 1976 TV movie that starred Sally Field and Joanne Woodward. "Sybil" is based on Flora Rheta Schreiber's book about a young woman who suffered from a psychological condition where two or more different personalities exist within the same person. Blanchard will play the title character; Lange will portray the psychiatrist who treats her. As Sybil begins to recall her troubled past, she reveals 16 distinct personalities. Production is set to begin next week in Nova Scotia, CBS announced Wednesday. Lange, 56, has won Oscars for her roles in "Blue Sky" and "Tootsie." Blanchard, 29, won an Emmy Award for her performance as the young Judy Garland in the TV movie "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows." Field won an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Sybil; Woodward played the psychiatrist.
From *NSync to 'Out':2 plan UPN series
PASADENA, Calif. -- There may be life after *NSync for Lance Bass and Joey Fatone -- as television stars. The former boy band members are developing a new series about their lives for UPN described as a modern-day "Odd Couple," said Dawn Ostroff, the network president, Thursday. Fatone is Oscar, the slob. Bass is Felix. Tentatively dubbed, "Out of Sync," and planned for this fall, it's a hybrid of reality and comedy, she said. "They came to us," she said. "Joey and Lance are such fun, interesting people and they truly are an odd couple -- even if you sit in a room with them, it's Felix and Oscar in many ways." It's a classic kind of story that could resonate with a new generation, Ostroff said. *NSync ruled the music world at the turn of the decade, until Justin Timberlake departed.
Today's birthdays
Actor Paul Scofield is 84. Actress Ann Wedgeworth is 71. Blues singer-musician Snooks Eaglin is 70. Golfer Jack Nicklaus is 66. Opera singer Placido Domingo is 65. Singer Richie Havens is 65. Singer Mac Davis is 64. Actress Jill Eikenberry is 59. Singer-songwriter Billy Ocean is 56. Actor Robby Benson is 50. Actress Geena Davis is 50. Actress Karina Lombard is 37. Singer Emma Bunton (Spice Girls) is 30. R & amp;B singer Nokio (Dru Hill) is 27. Actress Izabella Miko is 25.