Video: Adele previews Grammy Awards performance for Anderson Cooper
Current Grammy nominee Adele will make her much-anticipated return to live performances on Sunday’s 54th Annual Grammy Awards. Poised to become of the biggest Grammy moments in recent memory, it will be her first time performing live anywhere in nearly five months since being forced to cancel a sold-out U.S. tour to undergo surgery on her vocal cords.
Hosted by two-time Grammy winner and “NCIS: Los Angeles” star LL Cool J, the Grammy Awards take place live from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The show will air live on the CBS Television Network.
Look for my live blog of the show here on BAM’s Blog Sunday night.
“I’m immensely proud to have been asked to perform at this year’s Grammy Awards,” said Adele in the announcement. “It’s an absolute honor to be included in such a night and for it to be my first performance in months is very exciting and of course nerve-racking, but what a way to get back into it all.”
Two-time Grammy winner Adele has six nominations: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Short Form Music Video for “Rolling In The Deep”; Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for “21″; and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Someone Like You.”
Adele recently sat down for an interview with Anderson Cooper, and in her first public performance since the surgery, she sang “Rolling in the Deep” for him. The performance was first broadcast Friday on “CBS This Morning.”
Cooper’s interview with Adele will air during “60 Minutes” at 6 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
Other performers set up for Sunday night’s Grammys include the reunited Beach Boys with Foster The People and Maroon 5, The Civil Wars, Diana Krall, Maceo Parker, Joe Walsh, Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Tony Bennett and Checotah native Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, Glen Campbell with The Band Perry and Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton, Coldplay and Rihanna, deadmau5, Foo Fighters, David Guetta, Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt, Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars, Paul McCartney, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band, and Taylor Swift.
-BAM
Thompson Square, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, other Oklahomans to compete for Grammy glory Sunday night
Thompson Square (AP file)
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Oklahomans to compete for Grammy glory Sunday night
BAM: Country duo Thompson Square, which includes Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson, are relishing their first chance to win one of the music industry’s most prestigious prizes.
Keifer and Shawna Thompson just couldn’t wrap their heads around the big news: The couple, who make country music under the moniker Thompson Square, had just become Grammy nominees.
“I’ll tell you what, “When we found that out, we just about lost our minds. That’s the big enchilada there. It doesn’t get any bigger than Grammys,” said Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson during a recent phone interview.
In a week, he and his wife will play an eagerly awaited hometown show at Buffalo Run Casino in Miami. Before they head back to Oklahoma, though, the couple will be part of “Music’s Biggest Night”: the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, which will air live from Los Angeles from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
“We’re definitely gonna go,” said Keifer Thompson. “Are you crazy?”
Thompson Square received its first Grammy nod for best country duo/group performance for its breakthrough hit “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not,” which earned songwriters Jim Collins and David Lee Murphy a best country song nomination, too.
Oklahoma nominees
The couple is hardly the only nominee with Oklahoma ties.
Ada native Blake Shelton is nominated for best country album for “Red River Blue” and best country solo performance for the album’s chart-topping first single “Honey Bee.” The Tishomingo resident’s No. 1 hit “God Gave Me You,” written by contemporary Christian singer Dave Barnes, also earned a nod for best country song, an award presented to songwriters.
In addition, Shelton and The Band Perry will give a special performance with country legend Glen Campbell during the show, and Shelton’s wife and fellow country star Miranda Lambert will be a presenter, along with Chockie native Reba McEntire.
In the best country solo performance category, Shelton will compete against Checotah native Carrie Underwood, who is nominated for her emotional ballad “Mama’s Song.” The Recording Academy this year consolidated many Grammy categories, so solo country artists are longer separated into male and female competitions.
Underwood also is featured on legendary crooner Tony Bennett’s “Duets II,” nominated for best traditional pop vocal album. Underwood, a five-time Grammy winner, and Bennett, who has 14 golden gramophones plus a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, are set to perform together on the awards show.
Vince Gill earned his 41st Grammy nomination in the best country song category with “Threaten Me with Heaven,” which the Norman-born, Oklahoma City-bred star penned with his wife Amy Grant, Dillon O’Brian and the late Will Owsley. Gill already has earned the most Grammys of any male country artist with 20.
Four-time Grammy winners Kings of Leon, who have ties to Oklahoma City and Talihina, are nominated for best rock album for their fifth studio effort, “Come Around Sundown.” Plus, Stephen C. Mitchell’s rock documentary “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon,” which opened 2011’s deadCenter Film Festival, will contend for best long-form music video.
Tulsa native Charlie Wilson, former frontman of the Gap Band, is nominated for best R&B performance for his hit “You Are,” from his 2010 solo album “Just Charlie.” In addition, Wilson, his wife Mahin Wilson and their fellow songwriters Dennis Bettis, Carl M. Days Jr. and Wirlie Morris share a nomination for best R&B song for “You Are.”
For the second straight year, Christian worship group Gungor, which is fronted by former Tulsan Michael Gungor, is celebrating a nomination for its new album. The group’s 2011 album “Ghosts Upon the Earth” earned a nod in the new best contemporary Christian music album category. Gungor’s 2010 release “Beautiful Things” was nominated last year in the now-eliminated best rock or rap gospel album division.
Best known as the frontman for pop band OneRepublic, Tulsa native Ryan Tedder is nominated for non-classical producer of the year for his work on several records, including Beyonce’s “I Was Here,” Jennifer Hudson’s “I Remember Me” and Adele’s “Rumour Has It.” Since he produced “Rumour Has It,” Tedder shares in the Adele’s nomination for album of the year for her smash “21,” too. (In addition, Tedder co-wrote “Rumour Has It” and another “21″ track, “Turning the Tables,” with Adele.)
Muskogee native Ester Dean also has a share of an album of the year nomination as one of several producers on Rihanna’s “Loud.”
The 40th anniversary Super Deluxe Edition of Derek and the Dominos’ beloved 1970 album “Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs” earned a nomination in the best surround sound album category. The late Carl Radle, a Tulsa native, was the band’s bassist.
And, Oklahoma City kindie rock duo Sugar Free Allstars is among the various artists featured on “All About Bullies … Big and Small,” nominated for best children’s album. The Allstars collaborated with fellow kindie rocker Secret Agent 23 Skidoo on the compilation track “Cooperate.”
Thrilling nomination
Thompson Square was enjoying a rare night off when the Grammy nominations were announced Nov. 30.
“I decided to stay in and was in my pajamas, watching, I’m sure, some reality show. … Keifer and I both had forgotten that they were announcing the nominees that night, and about 10 o’clock our manager called and was like, ‘Is your husband there?’ and I know … when he wants to talk to both of us, it’s either really good news or really bad news,” she said.
“He told me about it, and all I could do was just say ‘What?’ over and over again. I was like, ‘What? You’ve gotta be kidding me.’ I thought he was joking. We finally got a hold of Keifer — he was out with some of his buddies in downtown Nashville — and his response was exactly the same. He just kept saying ‘What? What?’ like he couldn’t understand. It wasn’t processing.”
“It’s just crazy to think you’re in that kind of game,” Keifer added. “It feels good, though. We’ll take it.”
Grammy Awards Live Blog
Follow along with Brandy McDonnell’s live blog of the 54th Annual Grammy Awards from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday here at BAM’s Blog at blog.newsok.com/bamsblog.
Thompson Square
When: 9 p.m. Feb. 17.
Where: Buffalo Run Casino, 1000 Buffalo Run Blvd., Miami, OK.
Information: (918) 542-7140 or www.buffaloruncasino.com.
-BAM
Reba McEntire’s “All the Women I Am” GAC special premiering March 17
Reba McEntire (AP file)
On a recent tour stop, Oklahoma country music superstar Reba McEntire brought along a film crew to capture all the hits, the energy, the dazzling production that are a part of her amazing live shows. The result is “All the Women I Am,” a 90-minute concert special premiering at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 17, on Great American Country (GAC).
Shot at the Cajun Dome in Lafayette, La., the set list reads like a greatest hits and includes some of Reba’s signature tracks including “Is There Life Out There,” “I’m A Survivor,” “Does He Love You,” (with vocal assistance from The Band Perry’s Kimberly Perry, who was one of the openers on the tour), “Turn on Your Radio,” “Strange,” “Somebody’s Chelsea” and the title track of her current LP, “All The Women I Am.”
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with GAC for this special,” says Reba, who hails from Chockie, in the announcement on Reba.com. “We had a blast out on the road with our new production this past fall, and I hope that all the fans who tune in enjoy it as much as we did.”
“All the Women I Am” was produced by Jon Small, a creative partner of Reba’s since the mid-‘80s who has produced and directed more than 18 music videos for the star.
“When Reba steps into the batter’s box, I know what I’m going to get,” says Small. “She’s the best female singer and the most professional artist, she’s got it all. Even after 27 years of working together, I still get so excited just watching her perform.”
It’s been more than 15 years since Reba’s last televised concert special.
Reba’s “All the Women I Am” tour made a stop last November at Tulsa’s BOK Center, and the star was kind enough to give me an interview in advance of the show. To read the interview, click here.
-BAM
Ryan Merriman to appear on Monday’s episode of “Hawaii Five-0″
Ryan Merriman
Choctaw-born and bred actor Ryan Merriman will appear as a guest star on Monday’s episode of the CBS series “Hawaii Five-0.”
He will play a character named Dennis Mack in the episode titled “I Helu Pu,” which is Hawaiian for “The Reckoning.”
Here is the episode description:
When Five-0 nearly causes an international incident while on a case, Lt. Governor Denning tells them one of the team members will pay for it with their job.
“Hawaii Five-0,” starring Alex O’Loughlin, Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park, airs at 9 p.m. Mondays on CBS (KWTV-9).
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Miranda Lambert making acting debut on tonight’s “Law & Order: SVU”
Country music star Miranda Lambert, who lives in Tishomingo, will make her acting debut as a guest star on tonight’s episode of the procedural drama “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
“Law & Order: SVU” airs at 9 tonight on NBC (KFOR-4 in Oklahoma City).
Tonight’s episode is titled “Father’s Shadow.” To read NewsOK TV blogger Melissa Hayer’s review of the episode, click here.
In this Wednesday Video Spotlight, check out clips from the episode and an interview with Lambert about appearing on the show, which she calls one of her favorites.
Here is the synopsis of tonight’s episode:
Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay) finds herself in danger when a rape investigation spirals into a hostage crisis. Harry Connick Jr., Miranda Lambert and Michael McKean guest star. An aspiring actress is found unconscious in Central Park with drugs in her system and evidence of sexual trauma. Detectives Benson (Hargitay) and Amaro (Danny Pino) pay a visit to the reality show producer (guest star McKean) for whom she had auditioned just before the attack, and stop him from assaulting another actress (guest star Lambert) on the casting couch. The detectives arrest the producer, but the situation turns dangerous when his distraught son takes drastic action in order to get his father out of jail. Meanwhile, Benson and Executive ADA David Haden (guest star Connick) grow closer. Also starring Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen), Richard Belzer (Sergeant John Munch) and Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins.) Special appearance by Linus Roache (Bureau Chief Mike Cutter.)
-BAM
Reba McEntire added to presenters, reunited Beach Boys to perform on Grammy Awards
The Beach Boys — Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks, who have not performed together live in more than two decades — will reunite on the Grammy stage and join with current Grammy Award nominees Foster The People and Maroon 5 for a special performance, CBS announced today.
Current nominees The Civil Wars, two-time Grammy winner Diana Krall, funk artist Maceo Parker and six-time Grammy winner Joe Walsh also have been added to the stellar lineup of performers for the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.
Two-time Grammy winner and Chockie native Reba McEntire, two-time Grammy winner Common, Academy Award-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson (“Person of Interest”) and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Diana Ross will appear as presenters.
Hosted by two-time Grammy winner and “NCIS: Los Angeles” star LL Cool J, the Grammy Awards take place live from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The show will air live on the CBS Television Network.
Three-time Grammy Award winners Maroon 5 are nominated in Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Moves Like Jagger” (with Christina Aguilera).
The Civil Wars and Foster The People each have two nominations. The Civil Wars are up for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Barton Hollow” and Best Folk Album for “Barton Hollow.” Foster The People have nods in Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Pumped Up Kicks” and Best Alternative Music Album for “Torches.”
Previously announced performers for Sunday’s Grammy Awards include Adele (in her first live performance since undergoing vocal cord surgery last fall), Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Tony Bennett and Checotah native Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, Glen Campbell with The Band Perry and Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton, Coldplay and Rihanna, deadmau5, Foo Fighters, David Guetta, Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt, Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars, Paul McCartney, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band, and Taylor Swift.
Aldean, The Band Perry, Civil Wars, deadmau5, Foster The People, Guetta, Minaj, Parker and Shelton will perform on the Grammy broadcast for the first time.
Previously announced presenters are Marc Anthony, Dierks Bentley, Jack Black, Drake, Fergie, Lady Antebellum, Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ryan Seacrest, Ringo Starr and Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson.
Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
Please make plans to follow my live blog of the Grammy Awards Sunday night here on BAM’s Blog.
-BAM
Carrie Underwood and Tony Bennett, Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt, Chris Brown and more added to Grammys performers
Carrie Underwood
Tony Bennett (AP file)
Current Grammy nominees Tony Bennett and Checotah native Carrie Underwoodwill perform together during the 54th Annual GrammyAwards, CBS announced today.
Also, current nominees Chris Brown, deadmau5, Foo Fighters, David Guetta and Lil Wayne will join forces for a special performance highlighting dance/electronica music for the first time eve.
Plus, 14-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys and nine-time Grammy winner Bonnie Raitt will remember Etta James in a special performance.
Added as presenters are two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy winner Marc Anthony, six-time Grammy winners and current nominees Lady Antebellum and television and radio host/producer Ryan Seacrest. Hosted by two-time Grammy winner and “NCIS: Los Angeles” star LL Cool J, the Grammy Awards take place live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday on the CBS Television Network.
Look for my Grammy preview story Friday and my live blog of the show Sunday here at BAM’s Blog.
Five-time Grammy winner Underwood is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance for “Mama’s Song.” Fourteen-time Winner and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Bennett has two nods: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Body And Soul” (with Amy Winehouse) and Best Traditional Pop Album for “Duets II” (with various artists, including Underwood).
Four-time Grammy winner Lil Wayne has five nominations: Best Rap Performance for “Look At Me Now” (with Chris Brown and Busta Rhymes); two nods in Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “I’m On One” (with DJ Khaled, Drake and Rick Ross) and “Motivation” (with Kelly Rowland); Best Rap Song for “Look At Me Now”; and Best Rap Album for “Tha Carter IV.”
deadmau5 has three nominations: Best Dance Recording “Raise Your Weapon” (with Greta Svabo Bech), Best Dance/Electronica Album for “4X4=12″ and Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical for Foo Fighters’ “Rope” (deadmau5 Mix).
Two-time Grammy winner Guetta is up for two awards: Best Dance Recording for “Sunshine” (with Avicii) and Best Dance/Electronica Album for “Nothing But The Beat.”
Previously announced performers finclude Adele (in her first live performance since undergoing vocal cord surgery last fall), Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Glen Campbell with The Band Perry and Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton, Coldplay and Rihanna, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Paul McCartney, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band, and Taylor Swift. Aldean, The Band Perry, Minaj and Shelton will perform on the Grammy broadcast for the first time. Previously announced presenters are Dierks Bentley, Jack Black, Drake, Fergie, Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson and Ringo Starr.
Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
-BAM
Reba McEntire’s sitcom pilot “Malibu Country” picked up by ABC
It’s official: Oklahoma-born and bred actress/singer Reba McEntire is back in the television business.
ABC last week ordered two comedy pilots Wednesday, one of them McEntire’s half-hour, multi-camera, according to TheWrap.com.
“Malibu Country” reunites McEntire with “Reba” executive producer Kevin Abbott, who is writing the project. McEntire’s popular eponymous sitcom aired from 2001-07 on The WB, which became The CW during the show’s run. “Reba” has remained very popular in reruns on Lifetime.
The “Malibu Country” pilot will star McEntire as a woman who divorces her rock-star husband after he cheats on her and burns through most of her cash. Moving from Nashville to Malibu with her mother and three children, she attempts to revive her own singing career while keeping her kids from becoming spoiled by their new environment.
According to TheWrap.com, McEntire also will be an executive producer on the ABC Studios pilot, along with Mindy Schultheis, Michael Hanel, Pam Williams, Dave Stewart (of INXS fame) and Narvel Blackstock (Reba’s husband and manager).
An an interview last fall, McEntire, who hails from Chockie, told me she hopes to begin shooting the sitcom in August, and she is ecstatic about the chance to return to series television, mostly because she was never ready to leave in the first place.
“I was not ready to leave, absolutely not. We had lots more stories to tell on the ‘Reba’ show; we were devastated. We were the No. 1 sitcom on that network (The WB, which became The CW during the show’s run). And then we went into syndication with Lifetime, and I think more people have seen us on Lifetime than they did before when we were shooting. So it has had second and third life,” she said.
“I mean, when I sing ‘I’m a Survivor’ on our (live) show, the crowd goes nuts because they do love the ‘Reba’ TV show. And I thank them for that. … It was just a great experience for all of us.”
She is excited about the prospect of leading a new TV ensemble.
“That’s the most fun thing in the world. It’s just like playtime. You learn your lines and you get together and you do funny things. It’s great entertainment for us: We get to be funny, we get to bring joy into people’s lives, we get to put smiles on their faces. Again, take ‘em away from maybe the problems of their everyday life. (They) get to sit down for 30 minutes and laugh a little bit. That’s what I love about it.”
According to TheWrap.com, ABC also picked up the pilot to “Prairie Dogs,” a single-camera, half-hour comedy pilot about Neil, an uncool cubicle worker toiling at one of the coolest companies in the world. After being victimized by identity theft and discovering that the thief has created a much better life for himself than Neil has, he engaged the thief to help him turn his life around.
-BAM
New releases for Feb. 7, 2012: David Cook, Cady Groves, Van Halen, Paul McCartney, Dierks Bentley, “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″, “Phantom of the Opera”
Season 7 “American Idol” winner David Cook, who has Tulsa ties, has released today an EP titled “This Quiet Night” exclusively through Walmart. The CD includes acoustic performances of five songs from his 2011 album “This Loud Morning.”
Emerging pop singer-songwriter Cady Groves, who grew up in Marlow, Cache and Yukon, also is released today her “This Little Girl” EP.
Featuring tracks including her popular first single “This Little Girl” the digital EP will be available at all digital service providers and will include fan-favorite track “We’re The Sh*t” as well as Groves cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You”. The physical version will be available www.cadygroves.com and will include the same tracks as the digital version with the addition of Groves duet “Oh Darlin’” with Plug in Stereo.
Groves, who was just spotlighted in Seventeen Magazine’s “Ultimate Guide To Music” will be joining her labelmates and friends Hot Chelle Rae in select North American markets in February and March. (See the full list of tour dates after the break; it looks Dallas will be the closest she comes to Oklahoma.).
Among LPs, this week boasts new releases from Van Halen, Paul McCartney and Dierks Bentley. To read my review of Dierks’ latest, click here.
This week’s new DVDs include the 25th anniversary performance of “The Phantom of the Opera,” which I’ll be reviewing in the coming days; the excellent documentary “Project Nim,” which made my top 10 movies of 2011 list; and oh yeah, a little blockbuster called “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1,” which will be released in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
CDs
David Cook, “This Quiet Night” EP (Walmart exclusive)
Van Halen, “A Different Kind of Truth.”
Paul McCartney, “Kisses on the Bottom.”
Dierks Bentley, “Home.”
The Fray, “Scars & Stories.”
Various artists, “Waylon: The Music Inside, Volume II.”
Tony Bennett, “Isn’t It Romantic.”
Steve Tyrell, “I’ll Take Romance.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess, “Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall: In Celebration of 25 Years.”
Air, “Le Voyage Dans La Lune” (CD/DVD).
Edith Piaf, “Edith Piaf” (3-CD special edition).
DVD
Anonymous
Downton Abbey: Season 2
Father Dowling Mysteries: The First Season
Fireflies in the Garden
Project Nim
The Rebound
The Sunset Limited
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (midnight Saturday)
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
A Warrior’s Heart
Books
Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman
Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success by Rory Vaden
Kill Shot (Mitch Rapp)by Vince Flynn
Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales by Ali Wentworth
Hilarity Ensues by Tucker Max
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, death, and hope in a Mumbai undercity by Katherine Boo
-BAM
New releases for Feb. 7, 2012: David Cook, Cady Groves, Van Halen, Paul McCartney, Dierks Bentley, “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″, “Phantom of the Opera”
Video: St. Vincent releases music video for “Cheerleader,” models police uniforms on “Portlandia”
Tulsa-born singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist St. Vincent is huge in the new music video for “Cheerleader,” one of the tracks from her 2011 album “Strange Mercy.”
As previously reported, St. Vincent (who was born Annie Clark) made a guest appearance on Friday’s episode of the IFC sketch series “Portlandia,” and you can check out that rather funny clip of her modeling a totally impractical police uniform here as well. Her appearance on the show reunited her with “Portlandia” masterminds Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, who starred in St. Vincent’s 2010 video for “Laughing with a Mouth of Blood.”
By the way, I’m no mayor or Kyle MacLachlan, but if someone wanted to make me a super-journalist cape, I would proudly wear it at least once.
BTW again, St. Vincent is playing a show in the city of her birth May 15 at Cain’s Ballroom, and if you want more information, you can go to www.cainsballroom.com.
-BAM
