KEITH URBAN PLAYS DIPLOMAT
NEW YORK (AP) - New "American Idol" judge Keith Urban says he's like the UN - playing diplomat between fellow judges Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey. At a New York Film Festival gala Wednesday honoring his wife, Nicole Kidman, Urban said, "We're all passionate people and we're learning a new dance." Kidman thinks her husband will be good for the show. Apart from being the new resident peacemaker, she says he genuinely "loves helping young talent" and she even sees it in the way he is with their daughters. She describes Urban as "very nurturing." Earlier this week TMZ had a leaked video that shows Idol judges Minaj and Carey going at it.
"X FACTOR"
UNDATED (AP) - Willie Jones could be in trouble on "The X Factor." He's the deep-voiced black teen who sings country. But Willie forgot the lyrics to "Nobody Knows," while performing a duet with contestant Tate Stevens. Willie told the judges it was Tate who picked the song and L.A. Reid says Willie might have been hustled. No more eliminations were announced on last night's show. But the field is to be cut to 24 next week.
TANYA TUCKER POSTPONES DECEMBER CONCERT DUE TO 'HEALTH CONCERNS'
UNDATED (AP) - Tanya Tucker has postponed a December concert because of undisclosed "health concerns." That's according to an upstate New York newspaper (Oneonta Daily Star). The show originally scheduled for December 9 was to be the 53-year-old singer's last 2012 tour date. It has been rescheduled for August 17 of next year. There's been no official public statement from Tucker or her representatives. The information was released by the executive director of the Foothills Performing Arts Center where the December 9 concert was scheduled to take place. The "Delta Dawn" singer's last major release is her 2009 "My Turn" album, a collection of country cover tunes.
NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - "It all begins with a song" as the slogan says. And now The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame has a permanent home at the city's new convention center. Nashville's Mayor Karl Dean announced the plans yesterday. He called songwriters the unsung heroes of the city's country music industry and called the new Music City Center a fitting space to showcase and honor their creativity. The Hall of Fame is expected to be complete in time for the opening of the Music City Center this coming spring.
LYLE LOVETT TO RECEIVE ASCAP CREATIVE VOICE AWARD
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)- Four-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, composer and actor Lyle Lovett is being awarded the Creative Voice Award by The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. ASCAP President Paul Williams says Lovett is "a musical hero in more ways than one" and is being recognized for his artistry as well as his work advocating on behalf of fellow musicians and his work with lawmakers to protect copyrights. Lovett will be presented the award at the 50th Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards in Nashville on October 29.
LUKE BRYAN HEADED BACK INTO THE STUDIO
UNDATED (AP) - Luke Bryan says writing songs is "pretty weird and crazy and pretty special all at the same time." Bryan is in the middle of his Farm Tour but he's headed back into the studio to work on a new album next month. According to The Boot, Bryan wants to shake things up a bit but he doesn't want to change his music too much and risk losing fans. He told The Boot he's already got some new songs for the album and is hoping to write some more that help him grow as an artist.
SCOTTY MCCREERY ON HIS UPCOMING CHRISTMAS ALBUM
UNDATED (AP) - "Christmas with Scotty McCreery" is hitting the store shelves in less than two weeks. McCreery says his goal for the holiday album - his first - was to make an album that would make both him and his fans feel good. He tells GAC that he "just wanted it to be holly and jolly and really lift people's spirits in the Christmas season because it's supposed to be a really happy time." But, he says, he also wanted to "get across the real reason for the season" and that's why he chose the song 'Christmas in Heaven' - his favorite on the album. He says he knew he wanted to record the song after listening to the first verse. The album is available October 16.