John Mayer's vocal trouble returns, U.S. tour canceled

John Mayer has every right to sing the blues, as the crooner can't sing at all thanks to a returning throat condition.

Mayer spent the bulk of 2011 recovering from a granuloma, an inflammation, in this case in tissue where his vocal cords touch, only to make a triumphant return at the top of the year with a completed album and a slate of U.S. tour dates.

Sadly, his conditioned has returned, and Mayer has been advised to take an indefinite vocal rest to ensure proper healing.

"I’m pretty emotionally burnt out at the moment, but please know how hard I tried to resolve this and how disappointed I am that I can't perform this record yet," he wrote to fans on his blog.

"The only thing that stops me from devolving into a puddle of tears is knowing that it's a long life, and the greatest gift in the world is being able to create music no matter what the circumstances."

The new record, "Born and Raised," will be released as planned May 22. While Mayer will go silent for an undetermined amount of time, he says writing his next record will be his saving grace.

"I feel really vibrant as a writer at the moment and there's no reason not to begin the next album project in the time I would have been touring. Somewhere in all of this is another surgery and a very long chemically-imposed period of silence, so I hope you’ll understand that I have to really pick that date carefully," he said. 

The first single, "Shadow Days," hit radio earlier this month, but there's no word on what modified promotion Mayer might participate in. Here's wishing a speedy recovery, John. 

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Photo: John Mayer at the 2011 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Credit: Kirk McCoy / Los Angeles Times

Kelly Rowland: Blue Ivy's 'auntie' talks 'X Factor,' Essence award

International songstress Kelly Rowland -- an "auntie" to Blue Ivy Carter -- will be honored by Essence magazine Wednesday as part of its Black Women in Music event, just in time for this year's Grammy Awards.

We caught up with Rowland to talk about her fellow females, working for Simon Cowell, new music and of course longtime BFF Beyonce's world-famous newborn.

The former Destiny's Child member has long been a solo star in her own right, with three successful records (her most recent sparking the worldwide David Guetta phenomenon) and a seat on last year's British edition of "The X Factor."

Ministry of Gossip: Essence is celebrating you and longtime music industry exec Sylvia Rhone. Who were the women who inspired you, coming up? 

Kelly Rowland: My own mother, for sure. And Beyonce's mother, Tina Knowles. You know we grew up in the hair salon [Tina's, in Houston], myself and Beyonce, and there were so many interesting women there. Art dealers, doctors, lawyers. And look at Sylvia Rhone, she's a legend. She's found so many amazing acts.

MoG: It's ideal when any community is supportive of its own, but music is very competitive. What's the key to stamina as a woman in the business?

KR: Hunger. You know, I still love this after so many years. It's loving what you do, looking for ways to reinvent the wheel. And know that this is a business but also an opportunity.

MoG: You're also performing at Wednesday's event. What's in store?

KR: Plenty! We're going to have fun. I'm gonna take 'em to a Destiny's Child moment, a solo moment. Eve [who collaborated on 2007's "Like This" with Rowland] is going to make an appearance.

MoG: You were a huge hit abroad this year as a judge on "The X Factor" in Britain. That franchise is in the same contract shuffle that the U.S. version is going through. Will you go back? 

KR: I know as much as anyone else. Everything is up in the air, but that's the excitement of working with Simon Cowell. He's unpredictable. And the U.K. is just on fire with talent. It's remarkable that people, the country, stays in on Saturday night to watch the show.

MoG: So you're busy with work, but obviously there's been some personal excitement with the arrival of Blue Ivy. How is the family doing?

KR: They're great. I'm just so happy she's here. And beautiful -- such a beautiful baby.

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Photo: Kelly Rowland at the BET Honors 2012 in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 14. Credit: Kris Connor / Getty Images

Lana Del Rey likes Britney Spears, shrugs off haters

Pouty music star Lana Del Rey has a coy, indie persona but is owning up to a love for one pop's iconic princesses — Britney Spears.

The "Born To Die" singer says she's not very taken with many lady artists (which we're not exactly buying), but Spears has always fascinated her.

"I'm not really interested in a ton of female musicians but there is something about Britney that compelled me — the way she sings and just the way she looks," she told UK radio station Magic 104.5. 

The content of Spears' music doesn't jibe with that of Del Rey's, fond of crooning about her lover's "cocaine mouth" and roaming around in Cipriani's basement, but Spears has certainly had her edgier times. Besides, anything remotely positive resonating from Lana's bee-stung lips is a good thing.

She has her detractors. 

Our friends at Pop & Hiss have a perfect primer for those in favor of, and staunchly opposed to, the breakout singer. Yet Lana pays the haters no mind.

"There’s backlash about everything I do. It’s nothing new. When I walk outside, people have something to say about it. It wouldn’t have mattered if I was absolutely excellent," Del Rey told Rolling Stone magazine on Tuesday, referencing her widely panned "SNL" performance.

Remember what Britney says, Lana. Stronger than yesterday. 

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Photo: Lana del Rey takes appears on French show "Le Grand Journal" on Monday in Paris. Credit: Lionel Bonaventure / AFP / Getty Images

Happy birthday, Harry Styles. Who are you?

Harry Styles, One Direction heartthrob, is turning 18 today, and our hats are off to the young man with the apparently healthy libido.

One Direction is a British-Irish boy band that came in third place in the U.K. "X Factor" series in 2010. To the jaundiced -- aged -- eye, the group's members might all look a little like Justin Bieber, but Styles is the one with the curls ... and the one who just broke up with his 32-year-old girlfriend. 

Last week (Styles was still 17 at that point), he tweeted that he had not dumped Caroline Flack, but that breaking it off was a "mutual decision." We can assume it didn't have anything to do with the fact that 32 minus 17 is 15.

Flack is an English TV presenter who is host for, most recently, the interestingly named "Survivor"-type show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here Now!" and the interestingly named "The Xtra Factor."

Styles & Co. (not including Flack, of course) are making themselves known in the U.S. They will play themselves in an episode of "iCarly." MTV reported last week that they would appear during the fifth season of the show and had this synopsis:

Carly returns home sick after a trip and discovers that One Direction has accepted an invitation to perform on their web show. Not long after arriving, bandmate Harry becomes sick and we see Carly doting over him.

Styles, newly single and 18, might just make an impression on U.S. girls. And some thirtysomethings.

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Photo: Harry Styles of One Direction performs at the BBC Teen Awards at London's Wembley Arena in October 2011. Credit: Dave Hogan / Getty Images

Etta James' funeral: Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder say goodbye

 

 

Etta James’ funeral marked a final goodbye for family, fans and famous friends as they gathered Saturday in Los Angeles to bid farewell to the singer.

Christina Aguilera helped give the four-time Grammy winner a fitting sendoff by singing James’ signature song, “At Last,” for the hundreds of mourners at Greater Bethany Community Church in Gardena, Calif. Stevie Wonder joined up with the church choir to pay his respects to James, who passed away Jan. 20 at 73, and Al Sharpton was there to give the eulogy.

The funeral follows a public viewing on Friday where fans gathered at Inglewood Cemetery Mortuary to reminisce about the legendary singer. 

PHOTOS: Etta James' funeral

"Whenever I hear that song, I freeze," Donald Hicks, 67, of Inglewood told the L.A. Times about James' megahit "At Last." "I even pull over when it comes on."

News spread in December that the rhythm and blues singer was suffering from terminal chronic leukemia. The bleak diagnosis followed past health issues like sepsis, kidney failure, gastric bypass surgery, dementia and drug addiction. In addition, her children were involved in court proceedings to take control of James’ estate away from her husband, Artis Mills, but lost.

An inspiration to generations of musicians, she was “equally at home singing unadulterated blues, searing R&B and sophisticated jazz," says Times pop music writer Randy Lewis.

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Photo: Stevie Wonder sings at Etta James' funeral. Credit: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Etta James is terminally ill, live-in doctor says

Etta James, the "At Last" singer whose health has been in decline, is terminally ill with chronic leukemia, her doctor says.

Dr. Elaine James, who has lived with the 73-year-old singer since March 2010, made the announcement Thursday, explaining that James’ leukemia was deemed incurable two weeks ago. The diagnosis was determined with help from an oncologist-hematologist and an internist.

"I am Southern and Christian and would just ask for the prayers of her fans and friends," the doctor, who is no relation to the singer,  told the Riverside Press-Enterprise. "[Fans] know she’s been sick, but not how sick."

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, where blood cells are produced, according to our sister blog Booster Shots. When abnormal cells are created, they disrupt the function of healthy cells. Treatments for more advanced stages of chronic leukemia can include drug therapy, chemotherapy and bone marrow or stem cell transplants.

Adding to Etta James' suffering are kidney failure and dementia, according to court records, and Elaine James says Etta's communication is at this point mostly just "uh-huhs”"and "no's." The Riverside resident, who underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2003, was hospitalized earlier this year with blood and urinary tract infections, and has suffered from heroin and painkiller addictions in the past.

Donto James and his brother Sametto James told Reuters on Friday that they were not involved in the announcement and are still trying to determine the accuracy of the diagnosis.

Donto has been involved with ongoing court proceedings concerning his mother's estate and care. So far, he is asking for a conservator to take over his mother’s $1-million estate in place of her husband, Artis Mills, and is questioning the employment of Elaine James. The doctor’s salary was previously reported at $20,000 per month, then $25,000 and now $30,000.

In past proceedings, Donto has drawn comparisons between Elaine James and Michael Jackson’s live-in physician Dr. Conrad Murray and recently said of his mother's at-home care: "I saw her the day before yesterday, and I think she needs to be in the hospital. She doesn't look good."

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Photo: Etta James in 2009. Credit: Rick Diamond / Getty Images.

George Michael nixes rest of Symphonica tour on doctors' orders

George Michael, who has been fighting pneumonia, has postponed the remainder of the concert dates on his Symphonica tour, it was announced Friday. Doctors' orders, it seems.

After postponing four shows that were to happen this week, Michael remains hospitalized with the pneumonia that hit him in Vienna.

"His condition has stabilized and he is responding to treatment," said Drs. Christoph Zielinski and Thomas Staudinger said in a statement, speaking on behalf of the hospital where the 48-year-old singer is being treated as an inpatient.

"From the current point of view, the time until recovery cannot be estimated, but he will not be able to perform the rest of the tour. Besides medical treatment, complete rest and peace and quiet are mandatory."

The statement on his website notes that "George was very much looking forward to bringing his tour back home and performing for his loyal and dedicated UK fan base." Fans were being told to hang on to their tickets while arrangements are made to reschedule the shows.

Michael was taken to the hospital Monday, shortly before he was to go onstage in Vienna. His spokeswoman on Friday dismissed rumors that the singer might be suffering heart problems.

"George Michael is ill with pneumonia and any other speculation regarding his illness is unfounded and untrue," she said in a statement.

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Reuters contributed to this report.

Photos, from left: George Michael performing in Milan, Italy, on Nov. 11 (credit: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images); Vienna General Hospital, where he is being treated (Georg Hochmuth / European Pressphoto Agency).

Jennifer Hudson says fiance saved her life when family was killed

Though Jennifer Hudson has long refrained from talking in detail about the 2008 murders of her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew, the Oscar winner finally revealed the simple twist of fate that literally saved her life.

Hudson says her fiance, pro wrestler David Otunga, suggested she visit him in Florida the weekend of the killings.

"That's one of the things that saved my life, because I could have been home with my mom then," Hudson told Ebony. Otunga "wanted me to come out to Florida with him instead of going to Chicago."

While Hudson was in Florida, Her 57-year-old mother Darnell Donerson and brother Jason Hudson were gunned down. Nephew Julian King, reported missing in the wake of the shootings, was found dead the following Monday in the back of an SUV. Jennifer immediately went into hiding.

"I flew out to see him; that's why I'm still here. I've never said that before, and I can't believe I just said that now," she said. "But I didn't know. He was just like, 'I'm going to this wrestling thing, and it's in Tampa. I'm going out there now, so you can come out there and see me versus going home." 

William Balfour, a love interest of Jennifer's sister Julia, was arrested in December 2008 and faces three counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion. After years of continuances, a judge said last week that the case will be tried in February.

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Photo: Jennifer Hudson arrives at the Swarovski Elements Rodeo Drive Lighting Ceremony in Beverly Hills on Monday. Credit: Matt Sayles / Associated Press

 

Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees is fighting liver cancer

UPDATED POST: Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees hospitalized for intestinal surgery

Robin Gibb, one of the two surviving members of the Bee Gees, is suffering from liver cancer and was rushed to the hospital several days ago via ambulance after his family called 999 -- the British  equivalent of 911 -- for treatment.

Gibb, 61, was diagnosed with liver cancer several months ago, according to the Sunday Mirror, which reported that older brother Barry, 65, his wife, Linda, and mother Barbara Gibb, 91, had flown in from their homes in the U.S. to be with Robin.

Robin Gibb was allowed to return home Tuesday after spending five hours in the hospital; he said later in a statement that he had been treated for inflammation of the colon, the Sun reported. The always-slim singer, who has appeared gaunt in recent months, has had to cancel a number of appearances this year.

"Robin is not good and there is a lot of concern for him ... ," a family friend told the Sunday Mirror. "But Robin is a strong character, he is a fighter and has been encouraged by all the online messages from his fans. Dwina [his wife] is doing everything ­possible and hasn’t left his side"

In a previously recorded "Living the Life" TV interview that the Telegraph said was set to air Sunday night, Robin speaks of his twin brother's death in 2003 as "something I haven’t accepted still. He was a relatively young man and he just went all of a sudden."

Maurice Gibb, the third member of the Bee Gees, died at age 53 of complications due to a twisted small intestine, which was noted in his autopsy report as a congenital condition. After suffering abdominal pain while performing in August 2010, Robin Gibb had surgery for the same sort of blockage.

In April, he canceled a series of concert dates in Brazil after being hospitalized for abdominal pain.

Andy Gibb, the family's fourth brother and a solo artist, died of heart failure in 1988 at age 30 after years of struggling with cocaine addiction. The Bee Gees, famed for their dominance in the disco era, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

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Photos, from left: The Bee Gees, shown in 1978, comprised Robin, left, Barry and Maurice Gibb (Maurice, Robin's twin, died in 2003); Robin Gibb, shown in 2007, has been diagnosed with liver cancer. Credits: Lennox McLendon / Associated Press, Ian Gavan / Getty Images

Exclusive: Drake to perform at American Music Awards

Good news, Drake fans: The "Take Care" rapper has been added to the roster of performers for Sunday's American Music Awards.

The Ministry can exclusively reveal that Drake, aka Drizzy, aka Aubrey Drake Graham, is slated to belt his single "Headlines," joining an AMAs lineup that boasts Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Maroon 5 and David Guetta.

Also news Thursday: Sunday's telecast will feature a collaboration from Ludacris and Enrique Iglesias.

With this week's release of his sophomore LP, Drake couldn't be a hotter commodity. Credited with breaking out via mixtape, he's been featured on popular tracks with Minaj, Lil Wayne and more. He was also a 2010 GQ Man of the Year.

Ludacris and Iglesias are now the the sixth pair up for the show, which also bills Lopez with will.i.am, Marc Anthony with rapper Pitbull, Maroon 5 with Christina Aguilera, Minaj with Guetta and Adam Levine with Gym Class Heroes.

The American Music Awards air Sunday on ABC at 8 p.m. 

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Photo:  Drake performs at T-Mobile's launch of Google Music in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Credit: Jason Redmond / Reuters