Bruce Springsteen

New Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band will perform the halftime show at the National Football League's Super Bowl XLIII.  The championship game will take place on February 1, 2009 in Tampa, Florida.  Previous Super Bowl halftime shows have featured such superstars as the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Prince, U2 and Janet Jackson.

Janet Jackson Mum About 'Sudden Illness' That Temporarily Canceled Tour

Janet Jackson

Speaking of Janet Jackson, the 42-year-old singer was hospitalized hours before her September 29 concert in Montreal.  She was released that same evening and no details were given about her "sudden illness."  In addition to the Montreal show, Jackson canceled her October 1 concert in Boston and October 2 performance in Philadelphia.  Reports say she continued her first tour in seven years on October 4 in Greensboro, North Carolina.  In other Janet Jackson news, it's been announced that she recently left Island Def Jam Records.  She was signed to the label in July 2007 after spending many years with Virgin Records.  Her first album for Island Def Jam, Discipline, debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200, but sold only 400,000 copies.  In an interview with SOHH.com, Jackson complained that Island Def Jam "stopped all promotion whatsoever on the album" after the release of its first single, "Feedback."

Bach Wins 'Gone Country' Reality Show

Sebastian Bach

Sebastian Bach, former lead singer of the hard rock band Skid Row, is the Season 2 winner of Country Music Television's reality series, Gone Country.  The show brings non-Country artists together in a Nashville mansion to compete for a chance to record a Country song. Gone Country host John Rich produced Bach's debut Country single, "Battle With the Bottle."  Rich performs in the award-winning Country duo Big & Rich.

Wynonna Judd Tapes Holiday Special at Grand Ole Opry

Wynonna Judd

It's Christmas in October for Country star Wynonna Judd.  On October 6, Wynonna will tape a free concert at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry that will air during the holiday season on the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.  "Holiday Notes From Home: A Christmas Tribute For The Troops" was inspired in part by her concert appearance in Alaska to mark the state's 50th anniversary.  Ten thousand troops and their families attended the show, which took place at the Elmendorf Air Force Base.

Allman Brothers Band to Receive Billboard Award

Dave, Dan and Greg Allman

The Allman Brothers Band has been chosen to receive the 5th annual Legend Of Live award at this year's Billboard Touring Awards.  The honor "recognizes a touring professional who has had a significant and lasting impact on the concert industry." Ray Waddell, Billboard's executive director of content and programming, touring and live entertainment says, "The Allman Brothers Band has rocked the house for four decades, 'hittin' the note' for veteran fans and converting new generations year after year.  They're an American institution and concert icons, and Billboard is thrilled to honor them as this year's Legend Of Live."     The Allman Brothers Band will celebrate their 40th anniversary in music next year.  The 2008 Billboard Touring Awards will take place on November 20 in New York.

New Album Releases October 7

 "Greatest Hits 3" - Tim McGraw
 "Dig Out Your Soul" - Oasis
"OK Now" - Jon McLaughlin
 "Break Up The Concrete" - The Pretenders
 "Closer: The Best of Sarah McLachlan" (includes two new songs) - Sarah McLachlan
 "Peace On Earth" - Casting Crowns
 "My Kind of Holiday" - Elliott Yamin
 "Unexpected" - Michelle Williams,
"Forever More" - Tesla
"Elephants" - Rachael Yamagata
 "Genesis 1970-1975" (7-CD set) - Genesis
 "Certifiable" - The Police

Awards Presentations/Winners

Vincent & Dailey led the winners at the 19th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards (IBMA), held on October 2nd in Nashville, Tennessee.  The new duo took home trophies for Vocal Group of the Year, Emerging Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for their self-titled debut, Gospel Recorded Performance for "By The Mark" and Entertainer of the Year.  Darrin Vincent, who also picked up the IBMA's Best Male Vocalist of the Year honor, was a member of Ricky Skaggs' band Kentucky Thunder before teaming with Jamie Dailey in 2007.  Jamie was the lead singer of Doyle Lawson's band Quicksilver, which led this year's contenders with 10 nominations.  Other winners included Dale Ann Bradley, who received her second consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year trophy; Andy Hall, who won the Instrumental Album of the Year award for "Sound of the Slide Guitar;" and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, named Instrumental Group of the Year.

Look Who's Going on Tour!

The Cheetah Girls are an all-girl pop group based on a book series by the same name

On October 8, the Cheetah Girls will kick off a 50-city North American tour in Austin, Texas.  The trio will be supporting the soundtrack to the Disney Channel movie The Cheetah Girls One World and their 2007 album "TCG."  The tour is scheduled to wrap up in San Diego, California on December 21.