Kelly court photos lands woman in jail

A woman who snapped photos of R. Kelly in a courtroom with her cell phone has pleaded guilty to contempt of court after spending the weekend in jail.

Jean Johnson, 49, was sentenced to five days in jail after entering the plea Monday, but she was released after Judge Vincent Gaughan gave her credit for the days she had already spent in custody. He also ordered her cell phone destroyed.

Describing herself as Kelly's "biggest fan," Johnson said she couldn't resist snapping four grainy pictures of the R&B superstar as he sat across from her last Thursday.

She said she didn't realize cameras weren't allowed in courtrooms.

"I feel stupid," Johnson said. "I just got carried away. I'm a big fan of R. Kelly. I wanted it so that every time my phone rang, I could open it up and he'd be right there."

Johnson had been in court to resolve a probation violation charge. Kelly faces child pornography charges.

Jay-Z to leave Def Jam exec job

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Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter said Monday that he will leave his post as president of Universal Music Group's Def Jam Records label after his contract expires this year.

The rapper, who was named Def Jam president three years ago, said in a statement that it is "time for me to take on new challenges."

He will continue to release his own music through his record label, Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam after his contract expires Dec. 31.

Antonio "L.A." Reid, chairman and CEO of Island Def Jam Music Group, said the label regrets Carter's decision to move on.

"While he will continue to be one of our signature artists, he will nonetheless be missed in this executive capacity," Reid said in a statement.

Carter took over Def Jam in December 2004 in an incentive-laden deal that was reportedly valued at up to $10 million. His appointment followed the exit of Lyor Cohen, who departed to be chief executive of Warner Music Group.

As Def Jam's president, Carter signed a number of acts including Ne-Yo and Rihanna, one of the record label's biggest sellers this year with her hit "Umbrella."

Carter co-founded Roc-A-Fella records with Damon Dash in 1995. The label has since become wholly owned by Def Jam, home to Kanye West, among others.

Carter has sold tens of millions of records during his career, powered by hits such as "Big Pimpin'" and "Give It To Me."

He famously said a few years ago that he was retiring from recording music, but returned last year with the album "Kingdom Come." Most recently, he recorded an album inspired by the Denzel Washington-Russell Crowe drama "American Gangster."

NYC Opera sketches out unusual '08-09

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The New York City Opera will likely produce four pared-down operas while its Lincoln Center theater is renovated next season, down from the company's typical 12 productions, officials said.

Chairwoman Susan Baker and future general manager and artistic director Gerard Mortier expect to announce final plans for the 2008-2009 season in the next two months.

Work on the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center in Manhattan is scheduled to begin next summer and continue through 2009, leaving the opera company temporarily homeless.

Baker and Mortier said they are considering such alternate locales as Carnegie Hall.

Mortier envisions concert or semi-staged versions of rarely heard works.

R. Kelly avoids having bond revoked

R. Kelly avoided having his bond revoked in his child pornography case, but was admonished by a judge Friday for missing a court date earlier in the week.

Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan set a May 9 trial date for the 40-year-old R&B superstar, whose case has been delayed numerous times since he was charged in 2002.

Kelly missed a court appearance Wednesday after his tour bus was delayed in Utah because its logbooks didn't document enough rest time for the driver. The bus had been stopped for speeding.

The singer, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, apologized to the court.

"I'm sorry for this whole incident," he told the judge.

Kelly has pleaded not guilty to child pornography charges for allegedly videotaping sex acts with a young teenage girl in or before 2000.

At Friday's hearing, his attorney, Ed Genson, argued that Kelly's bond shouldn't be revoked because he hadn't missed other court dates and had complied with other court rules regarding travel.

"There was no intentional violation," Genson said.

Gaughan ordered Kelly to fly back to Chicago if his timely arrival for a future court date came into question. Kelly agreed.

The judge also ordered him to cancel a Jan. 13 concert in Hampton, Va., to ensure he is in Chicago for court on Jan. 14.

Gaughan also admonished Kelly for his speeding tour bus, saying it could have caused an accident and injured innocent people. The judge said Kelly couldn't ride in any speeding vehicle.

In not revoking Kelly's bond, the judge said he didn't want to stop him from touring, which would affect people who work on the show and those who bought tickets to his concerts.

"You are a role model, whether you like it or not," Gaughan said.

Van Halen, Bertinelli divorce finalized

After seven years of separation, Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli have jumped forward and completed an amicable divorce.

The Los Angeles Superior Court judgment Thursday didn't provide details about a custody arrangement for their 16-year-old son, Wolfgang. The bass player is with his father on a Van Halen reunion tour.

Bertinelli cited irreconcilable differences when she filed for divorce in December 2005. The couple were married in 1981.

Van Halen, 52, and his band have sold 80 million albums worldwide.

His guitar licks and David Lee Roth's flamboyant stage persona sent songs such as "Jump," Panama" and "Hot for Teacher" to the top of the charts.

Bertinelli, 47, starred in the TV series "One Day at a Time" and "Touched by An Angel."

Holiday albums can become classics fast

Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks and Toby Keith have a couple apiece. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton did one together. The ever-prolific Willie Nelson has at least four of them. Most country stars, and many of their pop counterparts, have a Christmas album or two in their catalogs, and for good reason: The records are relatively easy to make and have the potential for big payoff.

"If it's really good, it can go for 20 years," said Bill Kennedy, vice president of sales for Capitol Records Nashville.

Or longer.

Released in 1957, "Elvis' Christmas Album" is the top-selling holiday release of all time with 9 million in sales, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. The single "Blue Christmas" is a Christmas classic, even parodied by Porky Pig.

Other Christmas blockbusters are Kenny G's "Miracles: The Holiday Album" (8 million) and Barbara Streisand's "A Christmas Album" (5 million), according to the RIAA.

But the Christmas kings, at least in terms of sales, have to be Mannheim Steamroller with two albums topping the 6 million mark: "A Fresh Aire Christmas" and "Mannheim Steamroller Christmas."

Holiday records are unique in the way they're promoted and marketed.

"It is a very short window that begins in late October, hits its peak the first two weeks of December, and then falls off the cliff right after the holiday," explained Ben Kline, executive vice president of sales, marketing and new media for Universal Music Group Nashville.

Though the window is tight, successful releases will do well for at least a few seasons before trailing off, said Peter Strickland, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Warner Brothers Nashville.

That's what happened with Warner Brothers' "A Very Larry Christmas" by Larry the Cable Guy. In 2004, the first year, the comedy album sold 150,000 copies. That shot to 250,000 the second year and to 315,000 the third.

This year, sales fell to about 70,000, though some of that likely is due to the October release of a second Christmas album by the comic, "Christmastime in Larryland."

Because most Christmas albums contain standards, they can be easier and faster to record than an album of new material, but not always. Choirs and string sections can add time and cost.

And with marketing and promotions time compressed, TV appearances become key, said Joe Galante, chairman of Sony BMG Nashville.

"We think of Christmas CDs as albums that will sell mainly for three to five years and won't be driven by hit singles on the radio," Galante said.

There are exceptions, but in general, sales expectations for holiday albums are lower than for standard releases. And for every breakout record, dozens of others get snowed under.

"If it can sell gold (500,000) or better, that's hugely successful," said Capitol Records' Kennedy. "And if you can do a minimum of 250,000 as a base, that would be all right."

George Strait, as big a star as there is in country music, has two Christmas albums, both of which sold over 500,000. By comparison, Strait's regular releases typically top the 1 million mark.

Still, Galante said most singers view the albums as fun and as an artistic break. "It helps fill out the artist's catalog," he said.

This year's hot holiday release is Josh Groban's "Noel," a traditional collection that has already scanned more than 2 million.

But for many, the star at the top of the tree remains "Elvis' Christmas Album." Released at the height of Presley's fame, it's a must-have for the serious Christmas music fan.

Ironically, the album's biggest hit, "Blue Christmas," was the one track Elvis didn't want to record.

As Gordon Stoker, a member of the Jordanaires, the vocal group that backed Presley on that song and many others, recalls, Elvis at first refused to do "Blue Christmas" out of respect for Ernest Tubb, who had had a No. 1 hit with it earlier.

When the producers said he had to cut it, he told folks at the session to come up with something so bad that it would never see the light of day as a single, Stoker told The Associated Press recently from his Nashville home.

"We thought that 'oo-ooo-oooo' was bad enough that they wouldn't release it," Stoker said of the signature backing vocals.

To this day, he said, "It still sounds bad to me when I hear it."

Judge: Stonewall Jackson can sue Opry

A federal judge says Stonewall Jackson may pursue claims of age discrimination against the Grand Ole Opry.

The 75-year-old country singer filed a federal lawsuit in January against Gaylord Entertainment Co. and Opry General Manager Pete Fisher, claiming age discrimination, breach of contract and retaliation.

He's seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages.

Gaylord has argued the singer wasn't an employee of the Grand Ole Opry and he shouldn't be able to pursue his claims.

U.S. District Judge William Haynes Jr. said Jackson could go forward because of the dispute over whether he is an employee of the Opry. The judge made his ruling recently.

Jackson has been a member of the long-running country music radio show since 1956. He had a string of hits in the 1950s and '60s, including "Waterloo" and "B.J. the D.J."

Willie Nelson shares concert proceeds

Willie Nelson hasn't forgotten the town that knew him before he was famous.

The 74-year-old country singer has donated $40,000 to Vancouver, the southwestern Washington city where he sold some of his first records a half-century ago.

Nelson performed at The Amphitheater near Vancouver on June 30. He promised to share some of the proceeds with the city and area charities.

In the late 1950s, Nelson worked as a disc jockey for Vancouver station KVAN. He financed and recorded the single "No Place for Me" and sold it to some of his listeners.

Nelson soon moved back to his native Texas and then on to Nashville, Tenn., and fame.

Vancouver received the $40,000 check three weeks ago. On Wednesday, the city gave $15,000 to the Humane Society of Washington and $15,000 to the Boys and Girls Club.

Colleen Kawahara, Vancouver special projects coordinator, said the remaining $10,000 would be used for efforts to make city government and the community more ecologically friendly.

Judge denies Remy Ma's travel request

A judge has denied a request by Remy Ma, accused of shooting an acquaintance in July over missing money, to travel to Europe for a five-country concert tour.

Ivan Fisher, lawyer for the 26-year-old rapper, told the judge his client, whose real name is Remy Smith, needs the tour to earn money. Since her arrest, Fisher said, Smith has been unable to get sufficient U.S. bookings, and a proposed recording contract has been put on hold.

Fisher told the judge the tour, which was to begin in Paris on Dec. 31, would net Smith up to $40,000, "which she very much needs."

Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Rena Uviller said Thursday she wouldn't allow Smith to leave the U.S. because of the serious charges facing her.

Smith is accused of shooting Makeda Barnes-Joseph twice in the abdomen on July 14, 2007, after leaving a party in Greenwich Village, claiming that $2,000 was missing from her purse and accusing Barnes-Joseph of taking it.

Barnes-Joseph was hospitalized for 16 days, prosecutors said.

Smith surrendered to police the day after the shooting.

The next month, the rapper was arrested on witness intimidation and gang assault charges related to a bar fight in the New York City borough of the Bronx. Prosecutors say that on Aug. 19 she caused several male friends to attack a witness' boyfriend. They say he suffered a black eye, shattered jaw and broken cheekbone.

Smith was the only person charged.

She has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including assault, coercion, gang assault and witness intimidation. She is free on $250,000 bail.

The judge adjourned the case until Jan. 22.

Marilyn Manson countersues ex-bandmate

Marilyn Manson has struck back against a former bandmate by countersuing for breach of contract.

The rocker claimed in court papers filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court that keyboardist Stephen Bier did not carry out obligations to take part in master recordings, concerts and the selling of band merchandise.

Bier — known by his stage name, Madonna Wayne Gacy — filed his own breach of contract lawsuit against Manson in August seeking more than $20 million.

Bier claimed Manson stiffed him on salary and medical support while using band profits to live a lavish lifestyle. He claimed Manson used the funds to buy a mansion, pay for drug treatment, produce a movie, buy Nazi memorabilia and hold a fancy wedding.

Manson's complaint claimed the pair's business partnership was dissolved in 1996 after the singer became the clear leader of the band.

Although Bier has been paid income for CD royalties, live performances and income from band merchandising, he has "failed to render services to the best of his ability and in a practical and cooperative manner," according to Manson's suit.

His suit accuses Bier of showing up late for band recordings, performances and promotional appearances, and giving confidential band information to the media and other people without Manson's consent.

Manson is seeking unspecified general and special damages. He also is seeking a court order preventing Bier from releasing more confidential band information.

Messages left Thursday for Bier's attorney and Manson's attorney were not immediately returned.

Ike Turner's memorial: moving, musical

Ike Turner's funeral was part memorial service, part rock concert.

The nearly three-hour remembrance Friday at Greater Bethany Community Church City of Refuge in Gardena featured Turner's eight-piece band, the Kings of Rhythm, which performed rollicking renditions of some of the musician's greatest hits, including "Nutbush City Limits" and "Proud Mary." The songs brought the crowd of hundreds to its feet.

"Daddy wouldn't want any of us crying," said Turner's daughter, Mia Turner. "He would want us to throw a party."

Among those eulogizing Turner, who died Dec. 13 at age 76, were music producer Phil Spector and rock 'n' roll pioneer Little Richard, who described his friend as "one of the greatest musicians I have ever met in my life."

Richard said that Turner's breakthrough rock 'n' roll hit, "Rocket 88," "shook my soul."

"I took that same introduction and made `Good Golly, Miss Molly,'" he said. "I took that same thing and made a huge hit."

Turner was responsible for a string of hits throughout his career, including 1959's "A Fool in Love" and 1970's "Take You Higher," but his musical legacy was forever tarnished by his image as the drug-addicted, brutally abusive former husband of Tina Turner, who did not attend Friday's funeral. When Ike Turner died, a spokeswoman for Tina said she hadn't had contact with him in 35 years and would not comment.

Ike Turner knew that his personal problems threatened to overshadow his musical accomplishments, said Rob Johnson, producer of Turner's Grammy-winning 2001 album "Here and Now."

"He understood, as a very sensitive artist, the challenge that would be involved in stepping up and moving forward and reinitiating the contribution of his genius, of his music, and giving that gift that God gave him back to society," he said. "How much courage that took for him. It could have been real simple to sit under a rock and let life go by, but he didn't accept that."

Many speakers alluded to Turner's personal woes, though none directly addressed his history of drug and domestic abuse.

"Stop holding this mess — whatever it is — against this man. Even Jesus forgives," said Richard, 75, who left the service early, aided by a walker and several assistants.

Spector, who produced Turner's song "River Deep, Mountain High," said, "There was only one Ike, and I learned more from Ike than any professors I know."

He went on to say that Turner was "demonized and vilified" by his ex-wife, Tina Turner. He called the 1993 film "What's Love Got To Do With It," based on her autobiography, a "piece of trash movie," inspiring applause from some mourners.

"Ike made Tina the jewel she was," said Spector, who stood trial for murder earlier this year for the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson. A judge declared a mistrial in September after jurors failed to reach a verdict.

Spector also accused Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg of "demonizing" Turner on their talk shows.

Of Turner's 17 months in jail for a drug conviction in 1989, Spector said, "He was sent to prison for no other reason than he was a black man in America."

Each speech was punctuated with performances by Turner's band, the crowd rising to its feet again and again to sing and dance along.

Concert promoter Charlie Dutton, Turner's friend and colleague for 40 years, called him "the most talented musical person to ever live on earth."

"He doesn't get his just dues for what he really did," Dutton said.

Other speakers included Ike Turner Jr., who brought his father's two Grammy Awards on stage.

"He made billions and billions and billions of people happy," he said. "He had the best life."

The service began with a photo montage from throughout Turner's life set to his song "Jesus Loves Me," which features the refrain "I'm a bad boy, but Jesus loves me anyway."

The service concluded with scores of mourners gathering near Turner's casket, which sat beneath a guitar-shaped wreath made of white flowers.

A 10-piece horn-and-drum ensemble played as mourners left the church.

Armstrong, Williams on holiday USO tour

Robin Williams and Lance Armstrong took a swipe at the French, Kid Rock strummed "Sweet Home Alabama," comedian Lewis Black grumbled about the falling snow, and Miss USA told the troops to keep "kicking butt."

Some 500 American soldiers watched an all-star USO cast perform under a steady snowstorm at a U.S. base in Kabul late Thursday. The stop was part of a six-day, 14-show tour that saw the entertainers begin their day with a performance in Iraq.

The audience of soldiers — bundled in hooded jackets and warm hats — stood in the snow before a makeshift stage waiting for Williams and company to arrive after the performers were delayed by rough weather.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was traveling with the group, took the microphone first, telling the soldiers it was a tough time to be away from home.

"We brought a few celebrities tonight to try and lift your spirits," he said before introducing Miss USA Rachel Smith, to a burst of cheers.

Armstrong, a seven-time winner of the Tour de France, told the soldiers that the entertainers had gotten stuck in Tikrit, Iraq because of a sandstorm and had to bunk in the same room. Black started snoring 60 seconds after the lights were turned out, Armstrong said.

"Then Robin was above me snoring so all night I was punching the bunk trying to get him to stop," he said.

After winning the world's most prestigious bike race seven times in a row, Armstrong said he was the most hated man in France. He then said he didn't think "there's that many French people around here anyway" — a statement that could be interpreted as a dig at the French military, which is stationed in the relatively peaceful north of Afghanistan.

Armstrong later said he walked offstage and promptly ran into several French soldiers.

Williams, a USO veteran making his fourth trip to Afghanistan, told the soldiers he woke up on Thursday in the desert sands of Iraq and closed out his day with snow in Kabul. "From sand to snow, mother nature is having hot flashes."

Then he, too, took a dig at the French.

"They're the only people who go into combat wearing a chef's hat. It's amazing," he said.

Among the many soldiers in the crowd wearing wide smiles on their faces was Lt. Col. Larry Terranova.

"Afghanistan is sometimes called the forgotten war and we don't get a lot of attention here and conditions are pretty miserable so it means a lot," said Terranova, 48, who is based out of Fort Sill, Okla.

He said he would miss his four children and four grandchildren over the holidays.

Williams, Armstrong and company have already performed in Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan and will perform in Kyrgyzstan and Europe before returning home.

Wayne Newton, head of talent recruitment for the USO, says the USO has had trouble recruiting entertainers for trips overseas. But John Hanson, USO spokesman, said that wasn't the case, noting the all-star cast now on tour. He said there have been 52 USO tours in 2007 that performed more than 300 shows.

"We don't want people to think there aren't people willing to come out here. There are," Hanson said, noting that entertainers must commit 10 days to two weeks for each tour.

Rock, who performed on acoustic guitar and had soldiers sing the chorus to "Sweet Home Alabama," said he volunteers for the sake of the soldiers.

"I'm here for one reason, to entertain these guys," he said in an interview after the show. "To be a source of entertainment, give them a slice of home."

"How can you not come?" he said.

"Especially at Christmas," Williams said, "to let people know they're not forgotten."

Smith, who was born on a military base in Panama, said she wanted to give something back because she knows what the troops are going through. She said the troops' work was invaluable.

"We wouldn't have the opportunities and freedoms that we have back at home if you guys weren't over here kicking butt," Smith said.

Armstrong said he was first introduced to USO tours through Williams, a longtime friend.

"I feel like it's important for us as entertainers or sports figures to step up and support our troops regardless of what you think or don't think of the conflict," Armstrong said. "The bottom line is that they sign up to defend our country."

Nick Lachey's choir wins NBC clash

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has something to sing about, thanks to Nick Lachey and the hometown choir he put together.

They were declared the winners on Thursday night's finale of NBC's "Clash of the Choirs," taking home $250,000 for the hospital.

Lachey's choir beat four other choirs led by music celebrities who went to their home areas to find talent. The choirs performed live in four airings from New York City this week. The winner was determined by viewer voting.

"I've been blown away by my choir's poise. It's made up of amateur singers. They've never done this before," Lachey, 34, said on the show.

He hand-picked the 20 vocalists in his choir from 350 people who auditioned six weeks ago. The choir included teachers, a chili server, a nurse, cell phone and software salesmen, choir directors and college students.

Many Children's Hospital Medical Center employees "have been glued to TV at home this week rooting for the hometown choir," said Nick Miller, hospital spokesman.

Patti LaBelle's Philadelphia choir placed second, while Blake Shelton's Oklahoma City choir was third. Also competing: Michael Bolton's New Haven, Conn., choir and Kelly Rowland's Houston choir. The show surprised these choirs with a $50,000 donation from GE to each of their charities.

Rapper Remy Ma sued by shooting victim

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Rapper Remy Ma is being sued for $20 million by the woman she is suspected of shooting in a dispute over money.

Makeda Barnes-Joseph was shot twice in the abdomen on July 14, after leaving a party in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. Authorities said the shooting occurred after Remy Ma, whose real name is Remy Smith, accused Barnes-Joseph of taking $2,000 that was missing from her purse.

The lawsuit says the shooting left her disabled, anxious and depressed. The suit also named as defendants Universal Music Group, and individuals who play important roles in Remy Ma's career, because they should have known she "had a history of unlawful, violent and anti-social behavior."

The defendants "encouraged her to engage in a pattern of harassment, threats, intimidation, physical violence and illegal acts which were designed and calculated by these defendants to enhance, market and promote the persona of 'Remy Ma,'" according to the suit.

A spokeswoman for Universal Music Group in Manhattan did not immediately return a call for comment Friday.

Barnes-Joseph, a Bronx resident hospitalized for more than two weeks after the shooting, said in the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan that she was leaving a birthday party for a friend when Remy Ma, who also attended the party, approached her car with a handgun.

According to the lawsuit dated Thursday, the 26-year-old rapper opened the passenger door of Barnes-Joseph's car, pointed a gun at her and demanded that Barnes-Joseph dump the contents of her pocketbook.

When she did not release it, Barnes-Joseph was shot in the stomach and abdomen by the rapper, who then searched the pocketbook while Barnes-Joseph bled, the lawsuit said. Finding nothing, she tossed the purse and contents aside and left without summoning medical assistance, the suit said.

Remy Ma has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges filed in connection with the shooting.

Her lawyer, Ivan Fisher, said the lawsuit "appears to be a publicity stunt consistent with the way Ms. Barnes and her lawyer have, together with their publicist, been attempting to claim 15 minutes of fame on account of a terrible accident."

Fisher has said that since her arrest, Remy Ma has been unable to get sufficient U.S. bookings, and a proposed recording contract has been put on hold. She is free on $250,000 bail.

As she recovered, Barnes-Joseph had to undergo surgery and blood transfusions and remains disabled, fearful, anxious and depressed and still unable to return to work, the lawsuit said.

Because her injuries will require continuing medical treatment, Barnes-Joseph is entitled to at least $20 million in damages, the lawsuit said.

Smith was nominated for a Grammy as part of the Terror Squad for the 2004 summer smash "Lean Back." Besides her solo career, Remy Ma has appeared on recordings with performers Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Eminem and R. Kelly, her Web site says.

R. Kelly avoids having bond revoked

R. Kelly avoided having his bond revoked Friday in his child pornography case, but a judge admonished him for missing an earlier court hearing.

The R&B superstar apologized to Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan, who set a May 9 trial date.

Kelly, 40, has pleaded not guilty to child pornography charges for allegedly videotaping sex acts with a young teenage girl in or before 2000.

He missed his Wednesday court appearance when his tour bus was delayed in Utah because its logbooks didn't document enough rest time for the driver.

Gaughan said that in similar situations in the future, Kelly must fly to make his court dates on time.

He also ordered the singer to cancel a Jan. 13 concert to ensure that he makes a Jan. 14 court date.

Judge denies Remy Ma's travel request

A judge has denied a request by Remy Ma, accused of shooting an acquaintance in July over missing money, to travel to Europe for a five-country concert tour.

Ivan Fisher, lawyer for the 26-year-old rapper, told the judge his client, whose real name is Remy Smith, needs the tour to earn money. Since her arrest, Fisher said, Smith has been unable to get sufficient U.S. bookings, and a proposed recording contract has been put on hold.

Fisher told the judge the tour, which was to begin in Paris on Dec. 31, would net Smith up to $40,000, "which she very much needs."

Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Rena Uviller said Thursday she wouldn't allow Smith to leave the U.S. because of the serious charges facing her.

Smith is accused of shooting Makeda Barnes-Joseph twice in the abdomen on July 14, 2007, after leaving a party in Greenwich Village, claiming that $2,000 was missing from her purse and accusing Barnes-Joseph of taking it.

Barnes-Joseph was hospitalized for 16 days, prosecutors said.

Smith surrendered to police the day after the shooting.

The next month, the rapper was arrested on witness intimidation and gang assault charges related to a bar fight in the New York City borough of the Bronx. Prosecutors say that on Aug. 19 she caused several male friends to attack a witness' boyfriend. They say he suffered a black eye, shattered jaw and broken cheekbone.

Smith was the only person charged.

She has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including assault, coercion, gang assault and witness intimidation. She is free on $250,000 bail.

The judge adjourned the case until Jan. 22.

50 Cent performs in Kosovo's cap

Thousands turned out in Kosovo's capital Monday to see rapper 50 Cent perform in the territory known more for its political woes than party tunes.

50 Cent arrived for a 10-hour visit that included a concert in a soccer stadium in the capital, Pristina, promoting his latest album "Curtis" and launching Kosovo's second phone operator.

"I came to entertain the world," the 32-year-old artist told the Associated Press in an interview. The rapper, who has sold over 20 million records, is the first high-profile artist to perform publicly in Kosovo.

The crowds chanted along to the songs in a performance marked by fireworks lighting the Pristina skyline.

The volatile province has been run by the United Nations since the end of the war in 1999. Celebrities have visited, including the actresses Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie and singer Mariah Carey. But they visited in their humanitarian capacities or entertained NATO peacekeepers.

Over 25,000 tickets had been snapped up for 50 Cent's performance.

He steered clear of Balkan politics and the issue of whether Kosovo should become an independent country.

"It's not for me to decide; my job is to put on a great show," he said.

2 women tried to revive Donda West -

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Two women tried to revive Kanye West's mother after she had a heart attack and stopped breathing, according to emergency 911 recordings released Monday.

An unidentified woman tells a male emergency dispatcher during the call that Donda West recently had surgery. She says West just had a heart attack, has stopped breathing and moving, and is "cold and clammy," according to the call released by the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The woman says she and another unidentified woman are trying to administer CPR.

"Are you doing it?" the dispatcher asks. "... Does anybody know how? That's what I already asked you."

As the two women talk, the dispatcher appears to grow frustrated.

"Ma'am, let me tell you how to do this. You need to listen. You're not listening to what I'm telling you. You're not helping the person at all. ... Have the other people be quiet so I can tell you what to do."

The dispatcher then instructs the woman in CPR, telling her to clear West's mouth and administer breaths. The women attempt to resuscitate West, but she doesn't respond. Soon after, paramedics arrive, and the dispatcher hangs up.

West, 58, was rushed to a hospital where she was pronounced dead Nov. 10, the day after she underwent breast reduction, tummy tuck and liposuction procedures.

Friends and family say goodbye to Pimp C

Thousands of family and friends said farewell Thursday to Pimp C, whose raspy Southern drawl and raw lyrical prowess attracted legions of fans.

The funeral was held at the Robert A. Bowers Civic Center in the rapper's southeast Texas hometown of Port Arthur. Bun B, Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Mike Jones and Willie D of the Geto Boys were among those who attended.

Bishop Don Magic Juan, a former pimp-turned-rap-celebrity, arrived just minutes before the ceremony ended, causing a stir as he sauntered down the aisle with an entourage of women who were scantily clad in gold and red. He held a pimp cup and wore a foot-tall crown and a blue velvet cape.

Pimp C, one-half of the trailblazing rap duo Underground Kingz, was found dead Dec. 4 in the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles. He was 33.

Officials said the rapper, whose real name was Chad Butler, apparently died in bed and there were no signs of foul play. Autopsy and toxicology results weren't yet available.

UGK laid the groundwork for the unprecedented success of Southern rap in this decade, and countless rap superstars name the group as a major influence.

"Without him we wouldn't be where we are," Rap-A-Lot boss J Prince said. "I tell everybody, Pimp was Tupac (Shakur) to the South. We probably loved him even more than the West Coast loved 'Pac. Everybody that's rapping today is imitating Pimp."

Pimp C and Bun B formed UGK in the late 1980s and had the first of six major label releases in 1992. Despite an almost fanatical following in Texas and the South, and the critical acclaim of their 1996 album, "Ridin' Dirty," mainstream success evaded the duo for most of their 15-year career.

Still, Bun B's witty and thoughtful lyrics with Pimp C's almost hypnotic beats and over-the-top delivery on themes of sex, money and drugs in a seductive drawl were an irresistible combination to many.

"You hear so many Southern artists and hear their styles and the influence that Pimp C and Bun B had on the whole culture," Chamillionaire said. "We're created off of them. It's a very, very big loss to the hip-hop community and you are going to see the impact globally."

The religious ceremony also included the reading of a resolution by the mayor of Port Arthur and remembrances by Jeff Sledge of Jive Records and Pimp C's mother, Weslyn Monroe.

Flanked by two oversized banners adorned with pictures of Pimp C, Monroe talked about her son going to heaven and associated her only child with Shakur, who died in 1996.

"He's up there and he told them the Soooouth is here," she said in her best imitation of her son's Southern drawl to thunderous applause. "He told 'Pac to take a break because C got it for now."

The ceremony lasted almost two hours. Fans continued to remember Pimp C as they left, and the sounds of dueling UGK songs streamed out the windows of cars trapped in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

"He never let anyone forget that he was a Texas boy," Sledge said. "It was all about P.A. (Port Arthur). He was going to carry this city on his back. I'd never heard of this place before I met him."

Keys, Thurman among Nobel concert celebs

Stars performing at a concert Tuesday honoring Nobel Peace laureates Al Gore and the United Nations climate panel said they hoped to draw attention to global warming.

Gore and the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shared the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to document and spread the word about what the former vice president calls the "planetary emergency" of global warming.

Performers at the annual concert included Kylie Minogue, Alicia Keys, Annie Lennox and Melissa Etheridge. Etheridge won an Oscar for the song "I Need to Wake Up," which was featured in Gore's documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth."

Etheridge said Gore asked her to write the song.

"I was deeply honored, I was deeply moved and then I had to write a song about global warming, which is not easy," the 46-year-old singer said, adding that Gore's efforts gave her "a great amount of hope for our Earth."

Keys said the Nobel Peace Prize underscores how the efforts of one person, such as civil-rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., can make a difference.

"For me, the Nobel Peace Prize is an extremely distinguished award for people who truly do serious work to make major change in the world," the 26-year-old singer said.

Kevin Spacey and Uma Thurman were co-hosts of the concert.

"The whole point is to raise awareness and communicate with everyone else in the world and share our concern for the planet," Thurman said at a news conference ahead of the show.

"What we are hearing is that everyone needs to get very much involved with climate. It's coming to us. It's coming to a theater near us, very, very near us," the 37-year-old actress said.

Spacey, who is artistic director of London's Old Vic, said the theater is starting a project next year called "Go for Green" to create a play to teach children to be more environmentally aware.

"I think that showing up at an event like this is important because there are going to be so many young people tuning in to this concert," said the 48-year-old Spacey.

Lennox said the question should really be about what the world's leaders can do.

"Can celebrities save the world? It rankles. What kind of place are we in when people are looking to Hollywood or celebrities to save the world?" the 52-year-old singer asked.

"Where are the people who really should be stepping up to the plate and leading us? Where is the leadership? Red light. Emergency. Help. This is something that has been flashing for the past 40 years," she said.

Judge dismisses Dr. Dre privacy case

As he did in 2003, a Wayne County judge has dismissed an invasion of privacy case brought by former Detroit officials against Dr. Dre.

Former police officers and the press secretary for former Mayor Dennis Archer accuse the 42-year-old rapper, whose real name is Andre Young, of improperly videotaping a backstage conversation at a concert in 2000.

A DVD set that showed the exchange was later released.

Circuit Judge John Murphy ruled the city workers had no reason to think the conversation was private. They had appealed Murphy's previous ruling.

Murphy's latest decision, issued Dec. 4, was released Monday.

The Detroit Free Press reported that Murphy's ruling was a surprise, because in October he said he was inclined to let the case go to trial.

Pimp C funeral set for Thursday in Texas

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Pimp C, found dead in bed in a Los Angeles hotel room last week, will be remembered with a public memorial service Thursday.

The service will be held in the Robert A. Bowers Civic Center in Pimp C's hometown of Port Arthur, about 90 miles east of Houston.

The 33-year-old rapper made up Underground Kingz with partner Bun B. His real name was Chad Butler.

Officials said there were no signs of foul play. Autopsy and toxicology results won't be available for up to eight weeks.

Grammy drama ahead with Kanye, Winehouse

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Grammy night was shaping up as high drama after Kanye West and Amy Winehouse — two of music's most gifted and volatile performers — were nominated for a leading eight and six trophies respectively.

Other top nominees at the Los Angeles announcement included the Foo Fighters, whose five nominations included mentions for album and record of the year; Justin Timberlake, who also got five, including record of the year for "What Goes Around Comes Around"; Rihanna, who received four nominations, including record of the year for her ubiquitous "Umbrella" anthem; and jazz legend Herbie Hancock, who surprisingly made it into the album of the year category for his Joni Mitchell tribute album.

"It's not a category you normally find a jazz artist," said a shocked Hancock.

Jay-Z, rapper-producer Timbaland and singer-songwriter Ne-Yo also received five nominations each. Bruce Springsteen, whose absence from the best album category was noteworthy, received four nominations, along with Akon, Chris Daughtry, Feist, Tim McGraw, Akon, Dierks Bentley and John Newton.

But the king and queen of the day were West and Winehouse, who both experienced tremendous highs and crushing lows in 2007.

West's "Graduation" album, which was nominated for album of the year, marked a coronation for the rapper-producer when it was released in September, selling almost one million copies in its first week and crushing 50 Cent in a much hyped sales battle. West also had two big hits this year, "Stronger" and "Good Life."

West, well known for his angry outbursts when snubbed at awards shows, most recently lashed out at the MTV Video Music Awards. But his year turned tragic last month when his mother and manager, Donda West, died at 58 after undergoing plastic surgery.

This is the third time West has dominated Grammy nominations: in 2004, he received 10 for his debut album, "The College Dropout," and a year later got eight for "Late Registration." But he lost each time in the major categories, including best album.

Winehouse also had a tumultuous 2007, for different reasons. The British singer was already known for her pot-smoking, hard-drinking ways when she released her stunning soul album "Back to Black" earlier this year. The album's top hit, "Rehab," a defiant anti-treatment anthem, earned her nods for record and single of the year.

Her hard-living past seemed behind her — until reports of even harder partying became more frequent and she canceled tour dates because of "health concerns." Just this week, Winehouse was photographed outside her London home walking barefoot, clad in only a red bra and jeans, looking distressed.

Comedian George Lopez joked about her reputation when he announced one of her nominations at the announcement ceremony: "Could somebody wake her up this afternoon around six (o'clock) and tell her?"

Still, the Recording Academy looked past all her drama to nominate her in key categories, including best new artist. In a statement, Winehouse said: "I'm grateful to have my music recognized with these nominations — this is a true validation from people I respect and admire."

Besides West and Winehouse, the other nominees for best album included the Foo Fighters, for "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace," Vince Gill's four-disc set "These Days," — and Hancock's tribute to Mitchell, "River: The Joni Letters."

"It's amazing, we had no idea. When you get acknowledged for what you do, it feels pretty good," said Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.

Record of the year candidates were "Rehab"; Beyonce's "Irreplaceable," the Foo Fighters' "The Pretender," Rihanna's "Umbrella" and "What Goes Around Comes Around" by Justin Timberlake.

For song of the year, given to the songwriter, the nominees once again included "Rehab," Corrine Bailey Rae's sweet-sounding "Like A Star," Carrie Underwood's revenge anthem "Before He Cheats," The Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah" and "Umbrella."

In the best new artist category, Winehouse was competing against Feist, perhaps best known these days for her iPod commercial; the rock group Paramore; country singer Taylor Swift; and soul singer Ledesi.

"This is the best day ever. I'm freaking out," said Swift, who turns 18 in less than a week. "I really didn't think it was going to happen. I was about to cry."

The Grammys will celebrate their 50th year when the awards are announced on Feb. 10. The broadcast is to be carried live on CBS.

Akon pleads not guilty in fan-tossing

Akon has pleaded not to criminal charges filed after he tossed a 15-year-old boy off the stage at a concert earlier this year.

The 34-year-old hip-hop star was released on his own recognizance following his brief court appearance Monday in Fishkill. He was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment.

Another fan, Abby Rosa, said she suffered a concussion when a teenage boy Akon threw off the stage fell on her during the June 3 concert at the local minor league baseball stadium.

The case was adjourned until January.

A town justice told Akon that his lawyer can stand in for him at future court appearances and he does not have to appear. Akon did not comment as he left the courthouse.

"It was never Akon's intention to violate the law," the singer's Manhattan lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said. "This unfortunate incident was a spontaneous reaction during a live concert that Akon deeply regrets."

Akon's latest album, "Konvicted," has sold more than 1 million copies in the United States. His hits include "Don't Matter," "I Wanna Love You" with Snoop Dogg and "Smack That" with Eminem.