Well, isn't it just about time?
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced on Tuesday that it would add Neil Diamond to its Pantheon of Platter. Diamond, who made his first album way back when music was recorded on these big vinyl discs called records, is part of a veteran group of inductees that includes the Alice Cooper Band, New Orleans musician Dr. John, singer Darlene Love, and singer-songwriter Tom Waits.
The Cleveland-based Hall also announced it would honor piano man Leon Russell with a new Award for Musical Excellence, previously called the Sideman category.
Diamond, who had been eligible for the hall for a few years, was philosophical about the wait: "I thought about it occasionally, but I kind of figured they'd get around to me at some point," he told the Associated Press.
Among those eligible but, um, dissed were Bon Jovi, a first-time nom; LL Cool J; the J. Geils Band; the Beastie Boys; and Donna Summer.
The induction ceremony will be held in March in New York.
Country pop princess
Taylor Swift
, from nearby Wyomissing, is returning to the region in a big, big way. On Aug. 6, Swift will perform at Lincoln Financial Field, one of seven stadium shows in her 87-date "Speak Now" tour. Alas, tickets won't be issued in time for the holidays. (So much for a Swift-tix stocking stuffer.)
A spokesman for the Philadelphia Eagles, who operate the Linc, said the billets won't go on sale until Jan. 21, and will be available through PhiladelphiaEagles.com, Ticketmaster.com or at 1-800-745-3000.
- Sam Wood
Susan Boyle
's
The Gift
is again atop Billboard's Top 200 albums, with 243,000 sold and 1.43 million so far.
T.I.
's
No Mercy
debuted strong at No. 4, with 159K. And the soundtrack for
Tron: Legacy
by
Daft Punk
snuck in at 10 with 34K. The rest of the top 10: (2)
Speak Now
, by
Taylor Swift
, 201K; (3)
Glee, the Music: The Christmas Album
, 193K; (5)
O Holy Night
, by
Jackie Evancho
, 149K; (6)
Pink Friday
, by
Nicki Minaj
, 82K; (7)
Illuminations
, by
Josh Groban
, 75K; (8)
Glee, the Music: Season Two: Volume 4
, 74K; (9)
Loud
, by
Rihanna
, 71K. Top downloaded single:
Still
Katy Perry's "Firework," with 201K downloads last week.
Actress
Tyne Daly
returns to Broadway this spring, taking on the role of opera legend Maria Callas for a second time in a new production of the
Terrence McNally
play
Master Class
, the Associated Press reports.
Daly, 64, played Callas in a run at the Kennedy Center in Washington last spring. In the play, the tempestuous, talented soprano reminisces on the triumphs and tragedies of her life. Stephen Wadsworth will return to direct. Previews are to begin May 24 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on 47th Street. Opening night is set for June 21.
TV viewers remember her from the series Cagney & Lacey and Judging Amy.
- Michael Schaffer
George Clinton
, the cracked genius behind Parliament-Funkadelic, has left the Mother Ship long enough to sue the
Black Eyed Peas
, saying that
Fergie
,
will.i.am
, and
apl.de.ap
illegally sampled a tune of his when making remixes of their tune "Shut Up." The Clinton tune in question is "(Not Just) Knee Deep," a glorious, 15-minute, 21-second funkstravaganza on Funkadelic's 1979 album
Uncle Jam Wants You
. "Shut Up" first appeared on BEP's 2003 album
Elephunk
; remixes also appeared that year. Another remix surfaced on the deluxe edish of the 2009 smash BEP album
The E.N.D.
Clinton is suing the Peas for copyright infringement damages and is asking a judge to block further sales of the remixes.
Heidi Jones
, sometime weatherwoman for ABC's
Good Morning America
, and a full-time forecaster for New York affiliate WABC, was suspended Tuesday, after police arrested her Monday on charges she lied about being sexually assaulted. Jones, 37, was charged with two counts of filing a false police report. Conviction could bring a year in jail or a $1,000 fine. Last month, Jones told police she was assaulted by a Latino man while jogging in Central Park on Sept. 24. Her attorney,
Paul Callahan
, calls the charges against her "unproven."
There
is
reason to live, after all. The ever-ebullient, hyperpneumatic
Pamela Anderson
, a smokin' 43, appears on the cover of the January 2011 ish of Playboy. This is a record-setter, yo! The 13th time one single woman has posed for
Hugh Heffner
's mag! Pam first covered Playboy in, wow, 1989. She last did so in 2007. She's doing an undressy nine-page spread inside in which she channels
Anita Ekberg
's role in the classic
Federico Fellini
flick
La Dolce Vita
.
People says, correctly, that
Sandra Bullock
was 2010's Most Intriguing Person. . . .
Eva Longoria Parker
flew to Texas to meet wayward hubby
Tony Parker
, the second time she's done so. They were seen being all nicey at Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q north of San Antone.
Unnamed Source
says the Parkers, currently peri-divorce, may patch it up. . . . Actor/director
Jon Favreau
tweets that he has, in effect, left Marvel and gone to Disney: "It's true, I'm directing Magic Kingdom, not Iron Man 3. I've had a great run with Marvel and wish them the best." Can
Iron Man
keep the mojo without Jon? . . . The divorce of
Liz Hurley
and textile heir
Arun Nayar
is said to be amicable and no-$$. This counters rumors he wanted to get paid. . . . Gossiphound
Perez Hilton
says
Unnamed Source
says
Kate Gosselin
's children
Alexis
and
Collin
were expelled from that local, special school because they assaulted an adult twice and needed massive help. . . . Tax-allergic
Survivor
winner
Richard Hatch
actually showed up in a Rhode Island court on charges of failing to file tax returns. The hearing resumes in January.