James Taylor

Veteran director Steven Spielberg and multi-platinum selling singer Barbara Streisand are among the list of names to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the United States.

President Barack Obama will present the awards to an exclusive selection of 17 guests during a ceremony at the White House next Tuesday (November 24th). Among the names to be honoured are singer Gloria Estefan, her music producer husband Emilio Estefan and songwriter Stephen Sondheim, as well as a list of sportsmen, activists, academics and civil servants.

Steven Spielberg

Continue reading: Steven Spielberg, Barbara Streisand Among Recipients Of Presidential Medal Of Freedom

Rapper Meek Mill has scored his first American Number One album, with his second effort Dreams Worth More Than Money entering at the top of the Billboard 200 in its first week with sales of nearly a quarter of a million over all platforms.

The Philadelphia-born star, real name Robert Rahmeek Williams, sold 246,000 copies of his sophomore effort in the week ending July 5th including 215,000 traditional album sales (i.e. excluding stream and track equivalents). His first album, 2012’s Dreams and Nightmares, peaked at Number 2 as a new entry, and three years later he’s gone one better.

Rapper Meek Mill is celebrating his first Number 1 album with 'Dreams Worth More Than Money'

Continue reading: Rapper Meek Mill Celebrates First Billboard Chart Topping Album

Throughout his lengthy and prestigious career, singer-songwriter James Taylor has achieved many great things, but a US Number One album has always eluded him: until today! Taylor’s 47 year wait for a Billboard chart topping LP came to an end this week as it was announced that his new effort Before This World had outsold all rivals.

According to Nielsen SoundScan, Taylor’s 17th studio album sold 97,000 copies in its first week of release to debut atop the Billboard 200, with 96,000 of those coming through actual album sales (as opposed to streaming or track equivalents). His very first album, a self-titled effort, was released in December 1968 but only achieved a chart peak of Number 62 in the US.

James Taylor scored his first ever US No.1 album

Continue reading: At Last! James Taylor Has His First Ever Billboard Number 1 Album

James Taylor turned out at Game 2 of the World Series in Boston on Thursday night (October 24, 2013) to sing The Star-Spangled Banner. Only, he didn't sing begin singing The Star-Spangled Banner at all - instead choosing to croon the first line of America the Beautiful.

The 65-year-old singer-songwriter quickly realised his mistake and switched seamlessly to the National Anthem after the first few words. Of course, the internet exploded into a giant ball of steaming indignation, HOW COULD JAMES TAYLOR MESS UP THE NATIONAL ANTHEM? they cried.

It really wasn't that bad - Taylor recovered like a pro. Also, he sang America the Beautiful during the seventh-inning stretch so he'd clearly just forgotten which song he was due to sing at the start. Don't worry guys, Taylor knows the words to the national anthem.

Continue reading: James Taylor Flubs 'The Star-Spangled Banner', Recovers Like A Pro.

Carly Simon's famous 'You're So Vain' continues to raise questions 41 years after its release. Taylor Swift has revealed Simon confided the identity of the song's subject. Swift, unfortunately, is sworn to secrecy.

Taylor Swift at the 2013 Capital FM Summertime Ball, London.

There are a variety of theories regarding who the mystery man could be. Simon had a number of relationships with high profile men such as Mick Jagger, Warren Beatty, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens and Simon's former husband James Taylor. None of the aforementioned was particularly renowned for their modesty.

Continue reading: Carly Simon Confides 'You're So Vain' Secret In Taylor Swift

Despite being put together in mere weeks, the Boston Strong concert, which took place last night at Boston’s TD Garden, was a complete success. Headlined by acts like Aerosmith (who flew in from Singapore for the occasion,) J. Geils and James Taylor, the gig had enough energy and momentum to ring as a celebration of Boston’s spirit, not a lament of the bombing, which rocked the city in April. Rolling Stone recapped the gig.

The show began, appropriately, with guitarist Tom Scholtz’s rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and continued with acts like Aerosmith, New Kids On The Block, blue-collar rockers J. Geils Band ripping through enthusiastic, high energy sets, interrupted by the occasional teary-eyed moment, where appropriate. Naturally, powerhouse rockers Boston made an appearance, in keeping with the night’s theme of Bostonians helping out and performing for other Bostonians.

It was definitely a celebration of Boston’s spirit and culture, with comedian as comedian Steve Sweeney, a local legend, said before introducing the Geils Band, when people ask, "How you doin'?," locals are liable to reply, "Mind your own goddamn business, you nosy bastard!"

Continue reading: Musicians, Comedians And Boston Natives Rocked TD Garden During Boston Strong Benefit

A number of musicians and comedians – the list so far includes Aerosmith, New Kids On The Block, James Taylor, Dane Cook and a number of others - have signed on to perform in the upcoming benefit for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. The tragedy, which took place on April 15, claimed the lives of three people and left many more injured. However, in the aftermath of the blast, the world saw unprecedented acts of kindness and compassion from Bostonians and visitors. Now, the entertainers, some of them Boston natives themselves, hope to do their part as well.

Boston's own NKOTB member Donnie Wahlberg revealed to MTV, "Like so many other proud Bostonians who have been extremely generous, we are honored to step up and do our part to help the victims and their families. Hopefully this event will not only raise money, but spirits as well."

Boston Strong: An Evening of Support and Celebration will take place on May 30 at TD Garden and ticket sales will benefit charity organisation The One Fund and through that – the victims and those affected by the explosions. Some other confirmed performers so far include J. Geils Band, Godsmack, Extreme, Steven Wright, Jason Aldean, Jimmy Buffett, and Carole King, but the list is sure to expand as the night of the benefit approaches.

Continue reading: Benefit For Boston Victims Will Include Aerosmith And New Kids On The Block

Aware that children are, indeed, the future, the Kids of America got the best of the entertainment this weekend, at the Kids’ Inaugural – a repeat of the 2009 concert, but this time, with bigger names, playing to a smaller audience. Sasha and Malia Obama were of course, the guests of honour on this special weekend for their father, President Barack Obama, but 5,000 others were present at the exciting pop concert held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre, where Katy Perry and Usher took the headline slots, to entertain the gathered youth.

During his set, Usher reinforced the notion that the kids were worth keeping sweet, for the next presidential term, and told them “the youth matters,” during a set described by the Washington Post as “aerobic,” with “twisted limbs clad in black leather, kicking high tops the maraschino cherries.” When he told them to make some noise, they responded with a roar. Katy Perry – an avid supporter of Barack Obama (remember the Katy Perry election dress?) also performed on Saturday night (January 19, 2013). This time, she’d switch up the ballot dress for a “star-spangled onesie” and she treated the kids to some of her biggest hits, including ‘Teenage Dream’ and ‘Firework.’

Also performing for the Kids’ Inaugural were the Far East Movement and Glee’s Darren Criss and Naya Rivera, who covered ‘Valerie,’ the song made famous by Amy Winehouse. If you’re wondering why the kids are getting to have all the fun, don’t worry: Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson and James Taylor are all warming up their vocal cords, to sing for the grown-ups at the official inauguration ceremony today (January 21, 2013). 

Continue reading: Kids' Inaugural 2013: Katy Perry And Usher Provide Highlights With Aerobic Acts And A Star-Spangled Onesie

Eddie Vedder performed one of his most expensive gigs to date, with tickets going for $20,000 per-person as he opened up for President Barrack Obama at a private fundraising event for the President's re-election campaign.

Dressed in a suit and strumming a mandolin, this was by far one of Vedder's more unconventional performances as he serenaded the President and the 85 guests in attendance at the home of signer-songwriter Don Miggs and Lisa DeBartolo. DeBartolo is the daughter of Edward J DeBartolo Jr, the former owner of the San Francisco 49ers, and runs the family's charitable foundation that regularly runs fundraisers for the Democratic Party.

Vedder performed two Pearl Jam songs, 'Rise' and 'Without You,' before playing two covers, first James Taylor's 'Millworker and Neil Young's 'Rockin' in the Free World.' The rocker then went on to discuss one of Republican candidate Mitt Romney's comments on the '47 percent', referring to his own experiences in the past.

Continue reading: Eddie Vedder Raises $1.7million For Obama Re-Election Campaign