Sean Penn, Jim Carrey and Benicio Del Toro to play “The Three Stooges”
Sean Penn (Associated Press photo)
The Farrelly brothers and MGM hope to get Sean Penn, Jim Carrey and Benicio Del Toro to play Larry, Curly and Moe, according to Variety.com.
The studio has tapped Penn to play Larry, are negotiating with Carrey to take on Curly (and gain 40 pounds in the process), and tapping Del Toro to become Moe in a new film version of “The Three Stooges.”
Variety reports that the film will be a comedy rather than a biopic of Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Howard. The comedy will be built on the shenanigans the characters pulled off in the famed Columbia Pictures shorts.
Writer-directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly have worked more than a decade to pull together the project, according ot the trade publication. Production will begin in early fall for a release sometime in 2010.
-BAM
Reba McEntire and more added to ACM Awards performers
Reba McEntire (Associated Press photo)
Oklahoma native Reba McEntire, Lady Antebellum, Miley Cyrus, Jamey Johnson, John Rich and Lee Ann Womack have been added to perform on the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas April 5 on CBS.
They join previously announced performers Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Heidi Newfield, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and Taylor Swift.
McEntire, who returns as host of the Academy of Country Music Awards for the 11th time, is nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” with Brooks & Dunn. McEntire has won 12 Academy of Country Music Awards.
Lady Antebellum is nominated for an Academy of Country Music Award for Top Vocal Group. The group previously won Top New Vocal Duo or Group in 2007.
Multi-platinum singer, songwriter and actress Cyrus makes her Academy of Country Music Awards debut. Cyrus’ current hit, “The Climb,” from Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack, is currently climbing the Billboard charts.
Johnson is nominated for five Academy of Country Music Awards, including Top New Male Vocalist, Album of the Year, Single Record of the Year and as an artist and composer for Song of the Year for “In Color.” He previously won an Academy of Country Music Award in 2006 for Song of the Year for “Give It Away,” which was recorded by George Strait.
Rich is nominated for an Academy of Country Music Award for Top Vocal Duo. Big & Rich has been nominated for 14 Academy of Country Music Awards including Rich’s five nominations as a producer and two nominations as a writer.
Womack is nominated for an Academy of Country Music Award for Top Female Vocalist. She is a five-time Academy of Country Music Awards winner. She has previously won Single Record of the Year, Top New Female Vocalist and twice for Vocal Event of the Year.
-BAM
“Twilight” soundtrack becomes a hit – again
The soundtrack to the blockbuster movie “Twilight” has become a hit – again.
A new deluxe edition of the soundtrack was released last week in conjunctoin with the DVD debut of the film. The soundtrack is now back to No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart.
The soundtrack leaped from No. 14 to No. 3 with 74,000 in sales, according to E! Online.
The new double-disc CD/DVD pack features five bonus tracks, including acoustic, live and remix versions of the songs on the soundtrack. The DVD includes interviews with the performers and music videos.
The “Twilight” soundtrack hit No. 1 back in the fall when it was initially released. It has been on the album charts for 20 weeks, according to Billboard.com.
The soundtrack has sold more than 1.5 million copies to date. The Twilight movie DVD sold 3 million copies its first day of release, according to E! Online.
-BAM
Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift and more added to CMA Music Festival
Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Jamey Johnson, Jake Owen and Taylor Swift have been added to the long list of performers for the 2009 CMA Music Festival, according to a news release.
The huge four-day event will be June 11-14 in downtown Nashville.
Previously announced performers include Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Julianne Hough, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley and John Rich.
Toby Keith’s “Beer for My Horses” among early ACM winners
Toby Keith in “Beer for My Horses”
The Academy of Country Music has announced the winners of
instrumental, musician and special awards that will not be televised during the live April 5 broadcast of the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
The Academy of Country Music Special Awards are voted on by the ACM Board of Directors and are awarded during years in which the board feels there are clear and deserving candidates. The awards will be presented at ACM Honors, which will take place in Nashville on Sept. 22, according to a news release.
The movie “Beer for My Horses,” starring, co-written and co-produced by Oklahoma country star Toby Keith, been chosen as the recipient of the Tex Ritter Award, which is given to a movie released and/or receiving major exposure during the preceding calendar year, featuring or utilizing country music. The action-comedy also stars Tulsa comic Rodney Carrington, Ted Nugent, Tom Skerritt, Claire Forlani and Willie Nelson.
Past recipients of the Tex Ritter Award include “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “O, Brother, Where Art Thou,” and “Walk the Line.”
Dolly Parton has been chosen to receive the Jim Reeves International Award, which is presented to an individual for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.
Merle Haggard and the late Harlan Howard have been selected to receive the Poet’s Award, which honors songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their careers in the field of
country music.
Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Hank Williams Jr. and the late Jerry Reed have been chosen to receive the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award honoring individuals who are pioneers in the country music genre.
David Young has been chosen as the recipient of the Mae Boren Axton Award, which is given in recognition of years of dedication and service by an outstanding individual to the Academy of Country Music.
Young has been with the Academy of Country Music in various positions for 20 years. Most recently as senior director of operations, his responsibilities have included managing the office and all logistics for the academy.
Musician award winners: Tom Bukovac on guitar, Gordon Mote on piano/keyboards, Glenn Worf on bass, Greg Morrow on percussion/drums, Dan Dugmore on steel guitar, Aubrey Haynie on fiddle and Eric Darken and Jelly Roll Johnson on specialty instrument.
Chuck Ainlay won audio engineer of the year, and Tony Brown was named the year’s top producer.
To see the rest of the winners and read more about the recipients, go to www.acmcountry.com.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on March 26
Today’s featured event:
TULSA – Hear the Beach Boys at 7 tonight at the Osage Event Center at the Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino, 951 W 36 Street North.
For more information, go to www.milliondollarelm.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Bonus Video Spotlight: “Where the Wild Things Are” trailer
A teaser trailer to Spike Jonze’s long-awaited film version of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” hit the Internet today. (It’s posted here from YouTube.)
The preview looks promising, and Jonze is a talented director. But I fear “Where the Wild Things Are” will suffer the same shortcomings as the live-action adaptations of Dr. Seuss’ books: The beauty of Seuss’ and Sendak’s works are their mystery and simplicity, and big-budget movies aren’t great at pulling off either concept.
I guess we shall see in October, provided Warner Bros. doesn’t move the opening date again.
-BAM
Taylor Swift coming to Tulsa’s BOK Center
Taylor Swift (Associated Press photo)
Teenage country music star Taylor Swift will play Tulsa’s BOK Center this fall on her first headlining tour, the venue announced today.
The tour will stop at the Tulsa arena on Sept. 27 and feature special guests Kellie Pickler and Gloriana.
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. April 3 and will be available at www.bokcenter.com, area Reasor’s and Homeland stores, Arby’s Box Office or by calling (866) 7BOKCTR.
Ticket prices are set at $51.50, $41.50 and $22.
Swift’s will be headlining her first North American tour in support of her smash-hit sophomore album “Fearless.” The “Fearless Tour” will feature an theatrical presentation of graphics, sets and visual elements designed by the 19-year-old singer-songwriter herself, according to a news release.
Swift’s good friend, “American Idol” finalist Pickler, will be a featured artist on all of the dates. Pickler’s current single, “Best Days of Your Life”, is a revenge song that she co-wrote with Swift, who lends background vocals on the album as well.
Gloriana is an exciting new and vibrant force in country music. The group consists of four uniquely talented and enthusiastic young musicians joining forces to create a fresh, one-of-a-kind sound with soaring four-part harmonies and an electric stage presence. Their first single, “Wild at Heart”, is just arriving at country radio to rave reviews, and their debut album is set for release later this year.
For more information on the tour, go to www.taylorswift.com or www.myspace.com/taylorswift.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Jamie Foxx’s “Blame It”
Oscar-winning actor/comedian/rapper Jamie Foxx recruited a diverse horde of celebrities for the music video to his hip-hop hit “Blame It.”
The star-studded video features fellow Oscar winners Forest Whitaker and, surprisingly, Oklahoma native Ron Howard. It also includes Academy Award nominees Jake Gyllenhaal, Samuel L. Jackson and Quincy Jones, along with T-Pain, Cedric The Entertainer, Morris Chestnut and more.
Foxx recently talked to the Associated Press about how he recruited Howard, Whitaker and Jackson at Barack Obama’s inauguration. Click here to read the story. And check out the video, posted here from MTV.com.
-BAM
Oak Ridge Boys to appear on Feed the Children TV special
The Oak Ridge Boys will appear on a one-hour TV special promoting Oklahoma City-based charity Feed the Children at 6 p.m. today on the Hallmark Channel.
“Americans Feeding Americans” will feature the venerable group singing “Colors,” “American Family,” “Amazing Grace,” “Write Your Name Across My Heart” and “G.I. Joe & Lillie,” according to a news release.
“Our association with the Oak Ridge Boys has been a blessing throughout the years,” said Feed The Children President Larry Jones in a news release. ”Not only are they great entertainers, but they are great ambassadors for hungry children and families all over the world. The message that they bring in this show is one of inspiration and hope, something that America needs right now.”
The program also will include two song selections from Lee Greenwood, music from Phil Vassar and special appearances by Joel and Victoria Osteen and Shaquille O’Neal, according to the release.
The special will feature footage from a Wilmington, Ohio, food drop that aided hundreds of families after the DHL hub closed.
-BAM
