Briefly: Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, Aaron Neville, Leif Garrett, Vernon Reid
Mary J. Blige 's "The Breakthrough"--which debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart three weeks ago, but was bumped to No. 2 for the last two weeks by Jamie Foxx's "Unpredictable"--returns to the top of the chart this week.
"Unpredictable" drops to No. 2, while Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts" jumps two slots to No. 3.
Eminem's best-of set "Curtain Call: The Hits" falls one rung to No. 4, while The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Duets: The Final Chapter" rises two slots to No. 5.
Aretha Franklin and Aaron Neville , accompanied by pianist Dr. John, will team to perform the national anthem at this year's Super Bowl, set for Feb. 5 at Detroit's Ford Field.
Former teen singing idol Leif Garrett , 44, reportedly was charged with heroin possession Wednesday (1/18) in connection with his Saturday (1/14) arrest at a commuter train station in Los Angeles. He was also charged with fare evasion.
Garrett is currently on probation for a previous drug arrest.
Guitar virtuoso Vernon Reid and his group Masque will issue the self-produced CD "Other True Self" on the Favored Nations label on April 18. Reid, best known for his work in Living Colour, wrote many of the tracks on the album, which also features songs written by other Masque members as well as three cover songs.
- Artist Links:
Top acts honor Def Jam Records [September 2009]
U2, Springsteen to play Rock Hall 25th Anniversary shows [July 2009]
Featured Photos: Van Hunt, The Independent, San Francisco, CA - June 26, 2006 [July 2009]
Live Review: Aretha Franklin in Hollywood, CA [June 2009]
Aretha Franklin pulls out of San Antonio show [June 2009]
Aretha Franklin headlines the Hollywood Bowl [April 2009]



























































































