newsmakers

newsmakers

Robin Roberts hopes to be back at ‘GMA’

NEW YORK

Robin Roberts’ grueling road to recovery will be bringing her back to the “Good Morning America” anchor desk soon.

Appearing from her home on Monday’s show, Roberts wore a broad smile as she announced that her most-recent bone-marrow test showed no sign of the life-threatening disease that has kept her off the air for months.

That means she can begin the process of returning to the anchor chair, she said, emphasizing she needs to go through a “process of re-entry.”

She said she hopes to be back “in weeks, not months,” perhaps as soon as February.

Black Sabbath to release album

LOS ANGELES

After a tumultuous year in which guitarist Tony Iommi was treated for lymphoma and drummer Bill Ward quit due to a contract dispute, Black Sabbath announced Saturday that it’s set to release a new studio album in June. Titled “13,” it will be the legendary English heavy-metal band’s first disc with frontman Ozzy Osbourne since “Never Say Die!” in 1978.

Osbourne, Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler — who along with Ward formed Black Sabbath in Birmingham in 1969 — recorded the set primarily in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin, best known for his collaborations with Johnny Cash, Metallica and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine played drums in the studio, according to a statement.

Black Sabbath’s founding members first revealed they were at work on a new album in late 2011 during an event at LA’s Whisky A Go Go.

First round of ACM nominees named

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

A long list of country’s hottest newcomers will compete to become the Academy of Country Music’s new artist of the year — and fans can help sort it all out.

The Academy announced nominees in the new female vocalist, new male vocalist and new vocal duo or group categories Monday.

The winners will be up for new artist of the year during the April 7 awards show, aired live from Las Vegas on CBS.

Jana Kramer, Kacey Musgraves and Sunny Sweeney are up for new female vocalist, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert and Hunter Hayes will compete for new male artist and Florida Georgia Line, Love and Theft and Thompson Square are nominated in duo/group.

Fans can vote at music network GAC’s website starting Monday .

Vindicator wire services