John Mayer says working with Taylor Hicks wasn’t just a gimmick.

With his new CD “Battle Studies” out this week, the former Atlantan said that he needed a “Stevie Nicks” to pair with his “Tom Petty” kind of mood because he had written a song that was melodic and to the point.

Of course now that Taylor has been crowned the Princess of country, complete with her history-making CMA for Entertainer of the Year, everyone in the music biz will want a piece of her.

Continue reading John Mayer, Taylor Swift team up on new CD »

Now that we’re wrapping up 2009, several heavy-hitters will drop new music. Thanksgiving week will be especially busy because a lot of artists are releasing albums so check back with the AJC next Monday to get the latest info on new CDs.

CD releases for today include:

Kris Allen, “Kris Allen”

The Season 8 winner of “American Idol” releases his first CD. “Idol” blogger Rodney Ho says it “remains true to what we think about Kris — dollops of Jason Mraz and John Mayer with more soul. The 13 tunes are a mix of mostly mid-tempo rock songs with ballads.”

Boyz II Men, “Love”

This is their second project produced by “Idol” judge Randy Jackson, and the second CD of covers. The R&B quartet-turned-trio rarely goes wrong with love song so this is probably their new formula. Check out CNN’s interview with the group (actually it was just Wanya and Nathan, because Shawn was sick with H1N1).

Casting Crowns, “Until the Whole World Hears”

This homegrown Christian-rock group has its fourth …

Continue reading CD releases: Nov. 17 includes Norah Jones, John Mayer, 50 Cent »

Guitarist Gerry McGee of The Ventures is 72. Singer Gordon Lightfoot is 71. Movie director Martin Scorsese is 67. Actress Lauren Hutton is 66. “Saturday Night Live” producer Lorne Michaels is 65. Actor-director Danny DeVito is 65. Actor Stephen Root (”King of the Hill,” “NewsRadio”) is 58. Actress Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is 51. Actor William Moses is 50. Entertainer RuPaul is 49. Actor Dylan Walsh (”Nip/Tuck,” “Brooklyn Bridge”) is 46. Actress-model Daisy Fuentes is 43. Actress Sophie Marceau (”Braveheart”) is 43. Singer Ronnie DeVoe of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe is 42. Keyboardist Ben Wilson of Blues Traveler is 42. Actress Leslie Bibb (”ER,” “Popular”) is 36. Actor Brandon Call (”Step By Step”) is 33. Country singer Aaron Lines is 32. Actress Rachel McAdams (”Wedding Crashers”) is 31. Guitarist Isaac Hanson of Hanson is 29. Actor Justin Cooper (”Liar, Liar”) is 21. Actress Raquel Castro (”Jersey Girl”) is …

Continue reading Celebrity birthdays: Nov. 17 »

“Jon & Kate Plus 8” continues its downward spiral in TV land. TLC has reportedly bumped the reality series, which has halted production, with another show. You can now watch the fondant fuss of “Cake Boss” at 9 p.m. Mondays.

Meanwhile, Jon Gosselin, who recently counter-sued TLC for damaging his reputation (sure, it was all the network’s fault), has jetsetted to Hawaii.

Guess you gotta get away when you’re in the middle of a nasty divorce as he is with estranged wife Kate Gosselin.

Continue reading ‘Jon & Kate Plus 8′ gets bumped »

“Heroes” star Hayden Panettiere is jumping behind the camera for “Harvard Medical School.”

She will reportedly be co-executive producer of the CW show “HMS.” The drama, which follows the lives of med students, is suppose to be “Grey’s Anatomy” for the college set.

Continue reading ‘Heroes’ star heads to Harvard Med »

Actress Kathleen Hughes (”Babe”) is 81. Jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis is 75. Writer P.J. O’Rourke is 62. Zydeco singer-accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco is 62. Guitarist James Young of Styx is 60. Singer Stephen Bishop is 58. Pianist Yanni is 55. Actor D.B. Sweeney is 48. Actress Laura San Giacomo (”Just Shoot Me”) is 48. Rapper Reverend Run of Run-DMC is 45. Actor Patrick Warburton (”The Tick,” “Seinfeld”) is 45. Singer Jeanette Jurado of Expose’ is 44. Bassist Brian Yale of Matchbox Twenty is 41. Singer Butch Walker (Marvelous 3) is 40. Actor Josh Duhamel (”Las Vegas”) is 37. Drummer Travis Barker of Plus-44 and of Blink-182 is 34. Drummer Robby Shaffer of MercyMe is 34. Rapper Shyheim is 32. Bassist Tobin Esperance of Papa Roach is 30.

Continue reading Celebrity birthdays: Nov. 14 »

Clint Eastwood (left) was honored by French President Nicolas Sarcozy (AP).

Screen giant Clint Eastwood and Anne Cox Chambers, chairman of Atlanta Newspapers, which owns The AJC, were honored for their cultural contributions at the Culture Ministry in Paris on Friday.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded actor/director Eastwood with the Legion of Honor, recognizing his body of work, his longevity and his ability to delight audiences around the globe, according to the award citation.

“It is just a great pleasure for me. I really love France. I love movies, and I love the appreciation that the French people have for movies,” Eastwood, 79, said.

Former French President Jacques Chirac had recognizred Eastwood as a knight of the Legion of Honor two years ago, and Friday’s decoration was a step up for Eastwood to grade three on the legion’s five-grade scale.

Chambers was awarded Commander in the Legion of Honor. It is the most recent of numerous honors bestowed upon …

Continue reading Actor/director Clint Eastwood honored in Paris »

Rosario Dawson, Anthony Mackie, Brooke Shields, Jennifer Anniston and more. (AP)

Photos of celebrities Stella McCartney, Fergie, Taylor Swift, Oprah, Ellen, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jay-Z, LeBron James and more made a splash this week across the world.

See photos of them in action.

Continue reading Celebrity photos of Taylor Swift, Stella McCartney, Fergie, LeBron James »

(AP)

A man has been charged with trying to extort money from Cindy Crawford and her husband, according to the AP.

The former supermodel and entrepreneur Rande Gerber were contacted by Edis Kayalar. The 26-year-old suspect, who wanted $100,000 for the picture, was recently deported to Germany and has not been arrested.

Apparently, a former nanny took the photo “as a joke” and the daughter, then 7, told her parents it was part of a “cops and robbers” game. Kayalar allegedly stole the photo from the nanny, who has not been charged.

Creepy.

Continue reading Man tried to get money from Cindy Crawford, husband over disturbing photo »

Well, maybe it wasn’t a fight, since we hear that Mike Tyson essentially landed the photographer on the floor. Police are investigating conflicting accounts of an airport scuffle between the former heavyweight champ and photographer Tony Echevarria that landed both men in jail, according to the AP (they’ve both been released).

Both say they will press battery charges against each other.

Paparazzo said: He told police that Tyson struck him once, airport police spokesman Sgt. Jim Holcomb said. The photographer fell to the ground and was treated for a cut to his forehead at a hospital. Video: Photog talks

Mike said: Tyson’s spokeswoman Tammy Brook said the boxer was traveling with his wife and 10-month-old child when he was attacked by an overly aggressive paparazzo. “Mike acted in self defense as a father protecting his child.”

Police said: “There’s a lot of different versions to this story and that’s all going to come out later,” Holcomb said. “Some witness statements support …

Continue reading Mike Tyson arrested for fight with paparazzi »