R. Kelly Hospitalized
R&B singer R. Kelly was admitted to a Chicago, Illinois hospital on July 19 after complaining of throat pain. Doctors drained an abscess on one of his tonsils and released him two days later. The Grammy-winning singer is recuperating at his Chicago home. Kelly recently wrapped up a U.S. tour in support of his latest album, Love Letter.
Pollstar Says Concert Ticket Sales Up
According to Pollstar, the concert tour industry is making a solid comeback from last year’s low box office numbers. Total figures for the Top 100 tours from January through June 2011 are up 16.2%. “What’s happening is that some artists are combining with a stronger support act, almost a co-bill situation,” Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni told USA Today. Billboard touring editor Ray Waddell added, “There are a lot of healthy things going on. You talk to people in this business, they are telling more good stories than bad ones. A year ago, I was hearing the word ‘bloodbath’ a lot about this time.”
Shelton Tops Billboard 200 Chart
This week, Country star Blake Shelton earns his first Number One debut on the Billboard 200. His new album, Red River Blue, sold 117,000 copies its first week of release to also enter the Country chart in the top spot. Its lead single, “Honey Bee,” spent four weeks at Number One on the Country singles chart.
There are five other Top 10 debuts on this week’s Billboard 200. Incubus comes in at Number 2 with If Not Now, When?, Chris Young enters at Number 4 with Neon, Colbie Caillat is new at Number 6 with All of You, The Truth Is… by Theory of a Deadman starts at Number 8 and Sublime with Rome debuts on the list at Number 9 with Yours Truly.
Documentary Features McCartney's Post 9/11 Emotional Journey
Paul McCartney was in New York City when the September 11, 2001 terror attacks occurred. His emotional journey in the aftermath of the attacks is documented in the upcoming film, The Love We Make. The film also traces the all-star benefit concert, “The Concert for New York,” which took place six weeks later at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The Showtime Channel will air the documentary on September 10.
New Album Releases July 26:
“LP1” by Joss Stone
“Rabbits On The Run” by Vanessa Carlton
“Chief” by Eric Church
“A Family Business” by Brandy & Ray J
“Country Again” by Ronnie Milsap
“Love Has No Recession” by Kindred The Family Soul
“Locksley” by Locksley
“Plays More Blues, Ballads & Favorites” by Jimmie Vaughan
Look Who's Going On Tour!
On July 24, Selena Gomez & the Scene kicked off a 27-city North American tour in Costa Mesa, California. The outing supports the 19-year-old pop star’s third album When the Sun Goes Down, which features the hit singles “Who Says” and “Love You Like A Love Song.” Selena wraps up the tour on September 12 in Puyallup, Washington.
Kings of Leon began the U.S. leg of its world tour on July 26 in Orange Beach, Alabama. The band was forced to cancel a March Australian tour while drummer Nathan Followill recovered from surgery for a torn bicep. Those dates have been rescheduled for November. On May 28, Kings of Leon was back on the road to perform its European shows, which ran through July 3. Kings of Leon’s fifth album, Come Around Sundown, topped the chart in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
On July 27, the Top 8 finalists of the NBC reality show The Voice launch a six-city tour in Los Angeles, California. Beverly McClellan, Vicci Martinez, Nakia, Xenia, Casey Weston, Frenchie Davis, runner-up Dia Frampton and winner Javier Colon will also perform in Las Vegas, Nevada (July 30); Rosemont, Illinois (August 2); Boston, Massachusetts (August 4); Wallingford, Connecticut (August 5); and New York City (August 6).
