English rock band Bush [ tickets ] has canceled its Oct. 31 show at the Emerald Theatre in Mount Clemens, Mich., citing an illness in the family of an unspecified band member. The performance, dubbed High Octane Halloween, was for fans who won tickets from the Detroit rock radio station WRIF-FM. Sponge, the scheduled opening act, will still perform.

Bush released its new record, "Golden State" (Atlantic), on Oct. 23.

Merle Haggard [ tickets ], who has a history of heart disease, has canceled his tour dates through Nov. 3 due to chest pains. His symptoms reportedly subsided with nitroglycerine treatment, but Haggard plans to spend time resting at his California home.

Rappers DMX [ tickets ] and Bubba Sparxxx both failed to show up for their scheduled performances at a radio-station concert at Boston's FleetCenter on Monday night (10/29), according to the Boston Herald. Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Eve, Missy Elliott, Craig David, Fabolous and City High all performed at the event.

DMX has built something of a reputation for pulling no-shows; the rapper did not show up for his planned performances at the past two MTV Video Music Awards ceremonies, and recently failed to show up for a scheduled appearance on the "Howard Stern Show."

Barbra Streisand's rendition of "God Bless America" is included as an exclusive bonus track on copies of the singer's new "Christmas Memories" album sold at Target stores.

MTV Networks reportedly will lay off 450 workers--about 9% of its workforce--to cut costs in the face of an advertising downturn. The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring at the company.

From New Found Glory's official website:

The New Found Glory tour made an unplanned tour stop at St. Mary’s Hospital emergency room. [Drummer Cyrus Bolooki] misjudged the length of the stage at the Roseland show [in New York] and broke his arm.

He'll be out for the remainder of the tour but don't worry guys, Chris Tsagakis of Rx Bandits will be doing double duty, and will fill in for the shows.

Snoop Dogg has inked a new deal with MCA Records that brings the rapper and his Doggy Style Records (E-White, Soopafly) under MCA's marketing and distribution arm. Snoop's last album, the soundtrack to the film "Bones," was released by Priority Records on Oct. 9.