Madonna To Play Super Bowl

Madonna joins an esteemed list of recent halftime acts that includes The Black Eyed Peas, The Who, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2. more on this story

Death Threats For X-Factor Judges?

(TMZ) "X-Factor" hosts Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger voted off the wrong contestant Thursday night -- at least according to several angry Drew Ryniewicz fans ... whose violent threats have Paula and Nicole fearing for their lives.

According to our sources, Paula and Nicole both got the cold shoulder from Simon Cowell after the show ... who was "furious" with their decision. But that's nothing compared to the abusive tweets and Facebook messages they've received. Some of the messages read:

-- "F**K you paula you dumb c**t you voted off the most talented person on your f**king show. i hope you die you DUMB B***H."

-- "I hope you die, you selfish----------"

-- "@NicoleScherzy @paulaabdul go die"

Sources on the show tell us Paula and Nicole are shocked by the harassing messages and neither has experienced a reaction so strong before. more on this story

Conrad Murray Appealing Michael Jackson Manslaughter Conviction

(TMZ) Dr. Conrad Murray has just filed an appeal, challenging his conviction for involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson ... TMZ has learned.

Murray filed the document in pro per -- which means he's representing himself instead of using a lawyer.

On the portion of the document where a lawyer will usually state his or her firm's contact information -- Murray lists "Men's Central Jail" ... and includes his booking number. more on this story

Lady Gaga Planning Massive World Tour?

Is Lady Gaga looking to break U2's record for the most seen and biggest grossing tour of all time?

The Sun has a report (based on the usual unnamed source) that she is. According to the report, Lady Gaga is planning a world spanning 450 date tour.

"She is planning to kick things off in Asia and India next year and go on a gruelling world tour," the source is quoted as saying. We will see if this source is legit or not soon enough but for now you can read The Sun's report for more details here.

2011 Hits Featured In New Mashup

(popmusiclife) Think 2011 has just flown by? What if you could relive it in 4 minutes and 8 seconds? Now you can, thanks to Mashup Germany, who has taken the biggest pop hits of the year, put them together in a new mashup, and offered it out to music fans.

29 songs have been edited together, starting with Taio Cruz' "Hangover" and ending with "Judas" by Lady Gaga.

Mashup Germany has provided the following song list for the track, and fans can even download the new mix. Check out the track and see who else made the cut here.

Kate Major Missing Following Seizure

(TMZ) Kate Major went missing Saturday night after she apparently wandered off from the hospital ... TMZ has learned

According to her rep, Major was transferred from rehab to a hospital after suffering a seizure. The rep says Major left the hospital on her own and no one knows where she went.

We're told Major has no money, no phone, no credit cards and only the clothes on her back. more on this story

Johnny Depp Bodyguards Reportedly Attack Disabled Woman At Iggy Pop Show

(TMZ) Johnny Depp's hired muscle put a handicapped woman in the hospital Thursday night -- this according to a police report filed by the woman in question.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... 52-year-old Robyn Ecker filed the report claiming she was celebrating her husband's birthday at the Iggy Pop concert in L.A. -- treating him to $600-a-pop seats at the Palladium ... and Johnny was seated right beside her, surrounded by bodyguards.

Ecker claims she was having a blast, dancing her face off ... when she accidentally strayed a little too close to Johnny's table.

According to Ecker, Depp's bodyguards pounced on her out of nowhere -- grabbing her wrists and wrestling her to the ground. Soon as she regained composure, Ecker says she left and got herself checked out at the hospital.

Ecker's assistant tells TMZ, Robyn and her party had been drinking during the evening. Law enforcement sources tell us, Robyn appeared wasted when she made the report.

Attempts to reach Depp's people were unsuccessful. more on this story

Justin Bieber's Mistletoe Spoofed

(popmusiclife) A parody video is a sign that you've made an impact on pop culture. Add Justin Bieber to that list.

In The Key of Awesome have been building a library of spoof videos, and they've now added Justin Bieber's "Mistletoe" to the collection.

You won't recognize Bieber in this one, since both the original song and video have been given a complete makeover. Check it out here.

Adele To Kick Off Live From The Artists Den's Next Season

(popmusiclife) Adele helps launch the fourth season of the Live From The Artists Den, which will premiere nationwide on public television beginning February 3, 2012.

The New York Emmy-nominated show connects music fans with a remarkable line-up of icons and emerging stars performing in unique and historic venues.

The new season features Adele, The Fray, Death Cab for Cutie, Kid Rock, Iron and Wine, and Amos Lee with special guests Calexico. more on this story

DMX Visits With Wounded Troops

(TMZ) DMX is continuing to clean up his image (just not literally this time) as a concert in Texas turned into a visit to injured soldiers.

X was doing a show in San Antonio last Thursday, when a fan asked if he would visit the troops at nearby Fort Sam Houston. X said yes ... and actually kept his word, showing up the next day and playing a little wheelchair basketball with some of the guys.

DMX told us, "It made my day as much as it did their day. One told me that I gave him the best early Christmas gift he ever got and that has me still smiling." Check out photo

Brooke Mueller Drug Bust

(TMZ) Brooke Mueller was arrested Saturday night in Aspen, Colorado on suspicion of felony cocaine possession ... TMZ has learned.

According to the Aspen PD, Charlie Sheen's ex-wife was also booked on a misdemeanor 3rd degree assault charge after allegedly attacking some woman.

Brooke was released from the Pitkin County jail this morning on $11,000 bond. Worth noting ... it's been nearly two years since Charlie and Brooke's infamous domestic violence incident in Aspen -- when Charlie was arrested for assault after allegedly roughing Brooke up.

Brooke has since been in and out of rehab multiple times. more on this story

Michael Jackson's Dad To Tell All

Michael Jackson's father will reportedly "tell-all" in a new documentary that will hit theaters next year and in a new autobiography. Here is the official word:

GPA Entertainment announced the pending release of an exclusive documentary featuring 84-year old Joe Jackson, father of pop icon Michael Jackson and self-proclaimed architect of the Jackson family musical empire.

Confessions of a Father is compiled from hours of interviews conducted over a two-year period. The feature-length film will offer a fascinating and chilling look at one of the most controversial fathers in show business history. Told from Joe Jackson's unique perspective, the film will cover the Jackson family history from the formation of the Jackson 5 through Michael's tragic death and the subsequent trial and sentencing of his physician, Dr. Conrad Murray. The film's release is planned for 2012, as is the publication of "The Architect," Joe Jackson's autobiography from Atria Books, a division of Simon and Schuster. more on this story

Vh1 Plan Winningest Winners of 2011 and More

VH1 sent over word that they will pay homage to 2011's highly-publicized weddings and divorces, "tiger moms" and a whole lot of Bieber with three year-end specials.

VH1 will "occupy" pop culture with these three specials beginning Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 7 PM/6c with "40 Winningest Winners of 2011."

"40 Winningest Winners of 2011" Premieres Wednesday, December 7 at 7 PM/6c: When historians look back on 2011, they will describe pop culture with one simple word - "winning!" VH1 will celebrate the year when Adele soared, Pippa Middleton stole the show at the royal wedding, Beyoncé announced she was expecting, Nicki Minaj was rocking and Rebecca Black became an online, music video sensation ("Friday"). Hosted by comedienne Amy Schumer ("Last Comic Standing"), VH1's "40 Winningest Winners of 2011" is a two-hour countdown show highlighting the people and stories that dominated the airwaves. >From the inspirational to the sensational, 2011 showed "winning" promised a place in the pop culture spotlight. more on this story

Chemical Brothers Movie Hitting Theaters Worldwide Next Month

20 theaters in 20 cities worldwide will host an exclusive advance screening of Don't Think starring The Chemical Brothers on January 26th.

Filmed with 20 cameras at a headline show at Japan's very own Glastonbury - Fujirock Festival - Don't Think is the first time the full Chemical Brothers' live experience has been captured on film. Directed by long-term visuals collaborator Adam Smith this full-length concert movie places cameras in the centre of the stage as well as at the very heart of the crowd to perfectly capture a fan's eye view of the heightened emotional reactions of the audience seeing the band at their very best.

During the film, Smith takes advantage of one of the most unique festival settings in the world when he follows selected audience members away from the stage and out into the natural environment. Then, by adding avant-garde magic realist moments where trippy visuals leave the screens and invade the open spaces of the festival, Don't Think undergoes a transformation from concert film to fully immersive document of one of the most mind-bendingly psychedelic live shows ever seen. With an extensive global cinema run, the film offers audiences a powerful alternative to the reduced circumstances of watching gig footage on You Tube clips and mobile phone screens. more on this story

Alan Jackson Added As Country Thunder Headliner

Alan Jackson is set to close out the 19th annual Arizona Country Thunder festival as the Sunday night headliner and will join previously announced headliners Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, and Big & Rich for festival taking place on April 12-15, 2012.

Numerous other artists have also been added to the line-up, starting with Texas based talents like Wade Bowen and the Eli Young Band who will take the stage on Thursday along with fan-favorite Craig Morgan. Morgan, recently signed to Black River Entertainment, has just released his new album "Good Ole Boy", sure to add to his current count of 14 number one hits! Big & Rich previously announced for Friday night, will be joined by Steve Holy, hit-maker Jake Owen, country sweetheart Kellie Pickler, and Sawyer Brown,who has continued their success for over 20 years through non-stop energetic performances and chart topping hits including "Some Girls Do" and "Thank God For You". Saturday's line-up includes headliner Blake Shelton, Country Thunder favorite Neal McCoy, ACM and CMA winner Joe Nichols, recently Grammy nominated duo Thompson Square, and hot new country act, The Farm!

For the final day of the festival, country music's leading piano man and two-time ACM winner Phil Vassar will take the stage. With two current albums, Noel and Hits Live On Broadway, Vassar continues to entertain country fans nationwide with his boundless energy and infectious sound. Also performing on Sunday with Jackson is Illinois native Brett Eldredge, and The Band Perry, who has recently been honored with three CMA Awards, including the coveted "New Artist of the Year" award. more on this story

Harvard To Honor Lionel Richie Today

Lionel Richie is set to receive the 2011 Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award from the Harvard Foundation today, December 5, 2011 at Kirkland House.

Richie is a multi-award winning superstar and musical genius who has written and recorded many popular love songs. One of those songs he co-wrote was with the late Michael Jackson entitled, "We Are the World," to benefit hunger victims in Africa, and again in 2010 for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. He is also an advocate for breast cancer research and has helped to raise funds to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

"The students and faculty of the Harvard Foundation are pleased to present the 2011 Humanitarian Award to Mr. Lionel Richie in memory of the late Reverend Peter J. Gomes," said Dr. S. Allen Counter, director of the Harvard Foundation. "Richie is one of our nation's most creative musical artists, who has inspired many through his artistic and philanthropic endeavors. Reverend Gomes would be proud of the selection of the legendary musician, Lionel Richie, for this singular honor. We are honored to have him as our special guest on the Harvard campus" more on this story

Unreleased Bill Hicks Material Being Released On His 50th Birthday

To celebrate what would have been Bill Hicks' 50th birthday, Ryko will release 12/16/61, a 5-track EP containing previously unreleased material.

Recorded in Texas when Hicks was just 21 years old, the EP fully encompasses his short but influential career as a satirist, social critic, and stand-up comedian. Available digitally on December 13, the release comes on the heels of SPIN naming Hicks' 1997 release Rant in E Minor as #11 of the "40 Greatest Comedy Albums of All Time."

The aptly titled EP is a reference to Bill's birthday - December 16, 1961. His brother Steve Hicks explains: "Harder to grasp that Bill would be turning 50 and that he has been gone almost 18 years, is the idea that he has reached so many people around the world. Old fans remain fiercely loyal and new fans discover Bill and his work every day. So, appropriately, this is a big Thanks to all of you. Thanks for remembering Bill and thanks for keeping his memory alive. Enjoy this little tidbit from a 21-year-old Bill. Happy Birthday Brother." more on this story

Jerry Rice May Make $330K On Failed Mansion Sale

(TMZ) The cost to purchase Jerry Rice's Northern California mansion -- $11,000,000. The cost to back out of the deal at the last minute -- $330,000 ... and a lawsuit.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ ... Rice claims he was all set to unload his massive home in Atherton, CA (which Forbes ranked as the 2nd most expensive ZIP code in the US in 2010) ... when the buyers decided to pull out at the last minute.

It's a pretty kick ass home -- with 6-bedrooms, 11 baths, a gym and a movie theater. And according to the docs, Jerry was willing to throw in some some of his stuff to sweeten the $11 million deal ... including a treadmill, a pilates machines, 2 animal print chairs and more.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, the buyers signed a contract in which they agreed to close the house by July 15, 2011 ... or else forfeit a $330,000 deposit.

Buuuuuuut .... Rice claims the buyers couldn't seal the deal by the deadline ... and BOOM -- now he's suing so he can keep the money without having to sell them the house. Sounds like a great deal for Rice.

Attempts to reach the buyers were unsuccessful. more on this story

Deliverance Star Filmed R Rated Doritos Commercial Before His Death

(TMZ) Just two weeks before he died, a lung cancer-stricken Bill McKinney -- who played the "squeal like a piggie" redneck in "Deliverance" -- starred in a hilarious Doritos commercial ... beside a bunch of topless ladies ... and TMZ has obtained the footage.

The 85-year-old played a creepy old man in the TV spot, submitted as part of Doritos' Crash the Super Bowl contest -- a competition to find the chip company's next big Super Bowl commercial.

It's unclear if Bill's commercial won -- we won't find out 'til game day -- but it's still awesome ... check it out here.

Sofia Coppola Planning Burglar Bunch Movie

(TMZ) Sofia Coppola is once again casting her lens on Hollywood -- but she's not focusing on movie stars this time, but rather the people who stole from them!

According to our sources, Coppola is developing a film based on the infamous Burglar Bunch. We're told the film, which would be produced daddy Francis' Zoetrope studio, does not have a start date or even a script yet.

Sources close to the project tell TMZ ... producers approached Burgler Buncher Nick Prugo about being a consultant on the film, but he declined. We're told Tess Taylor, sister of Buncher Alexis Neiers, has now signed on to the project. more on this story

Kardashians Lash Out Over Name Use

(TMZ) The Kardashian Klan only has eyes for themselves ... and that's why the family is threatening to take legal action against a woman who wants to use the family name to sell an eyelash-elongation product.

The product is called KardashianLash (a kind of eyelash-growing make-up thing) and the person behind the company -- named Sarah Ehrlich -- just filed a petition to trademark the name.

We spoke to Ms. Ehrlich -- who tells us, she wanted KardashianLash to help raise money to send Honduran orphans to cosmetology school (a worthy cause) ... and she didn't think the K's would mind.

But Kim & co do mind -- claiming no one ever asked them for permission ... and we're told the girls are planning to fight her petition, claiming it's a blatant rip-off of their trademark. more on this story