Michael Jackson's <I>Thriller</I>
Photo: Anthony Verde/ Time Life Pictures/ Getty Images

In the weeks since Michael Jackson's death, his posthumous sales have gone through the roof, regularly outperforming the top new releases on the Billboard albums chart. Jackson's Number Ones has done the biggest numbers, but demand for his classic Thriller isn't far behind. In fact, sales have been so robust that the Recording Industry Association of America is reporting that it's about to surpass the Eagles' Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) as the top-selling album of all time.

Their Greatest Hits was certified platinum for the 29th time back in 2006, meaning that sales of the compilation surpassed 29 million copies in the United States. Meanwhile, Thriller was last certified in March, when it passed 28 million. Demand for physical copies of Jackson albums (an estimated 82 percent of his sales have been actual CDs) have ramped up the number of copies of Thriller in circulation, and the RIAA believes that said demand has brought the number up to 29 million.

That does not necessarily mean that Thriller has sold 29 million copies, as the RIAA's certification process is based on the number of albums shipped to stores, not necessarily the number actually scanned and sold. But based on the rabid consumption of Jackson's music in the past few weeks and the hard numbers released weekly by SoundScan, it's doubtful that there is much distance between the number of CDs shipped and the number sold. If the pace continues, Thriller will become the first album to go triple diamond, meaning 30 million albums sold.

The RIAA's certifications are simply a formality, though, as Jackson's Thriller is already recognized as the top-selling album according to worldwide sales. Though numbers vary, it's reasonable to estimate that the album has moved 110 million copies worldwide since its 1982 release. As a comparison, the Eagles' Their Greatest Hits has moved an estimated 42 million — a formidable number for sure, but less than half of Jackson's total.

• Michael Jackson: The Memorial
• Remembering Michael Jackson

• Michael Jackson's Public Memorial At Staples Center
• Michael Jackson: A Life In Photos

• Michael Jackson
• Eagles

Photo: Brian Tipton

James Otto and Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood all shared similar excitement Wednesday morning (Sept. 10) after a special live edition of CMT Insider at Nashville's Sommet Center. In addition to announcing part of this year's CMA award nominations, they also shared their first CMA award nominations.

Otto and Lady Antebellum were both nominated in the new artist category alongside Kellie Pickler, Jason Aldean and Rodney Atkins. Lady Antebellum also picked up a nomination for vocal group of the year, a field that includes the Eagles, Emerson Drive, Little Big Town and five-time winners Rascal Flatts.

All three members of Lady Antebellum were clearly excited over their very first CMA nominations.

"When we had looked at the categories, that was one that we were just hoping so much we could get in," Kelley told CMT Insider just moments after the new artist category was announced. "I think of us to have everybody's stamp of approval on us, it just feels so amazing, and there's just great talent in there."

Scott agreed, noting, "There's just so many people, so many new artists, that have come out in the past year to two years that, I mean, it's almost like a new ... kind of freshmen class. So it's exciting to feel like we're a part of that."

"The way they did it," Kelley explained, "they each gave us a card to call out the nominees for different categories, and right before we went on stage, they gave us the last card -- I guess so while we were back there, nobody would peek at it. It happened to be one that ourselves as well as James Otto was in -- so I guess they didn't want us looking."

"And they definitely gave it to Charles on purpose," Scott laughed. "They didn't give it to me for a reason because I'd have been like, 'Ahhhh! Oh, my gosh!'"

"She wouldn't have gotten past our name," Kelley joked. "It was genuine shock. It was. It was very exciting."

The trio didn't expect to be in the vocal group category.

"The Eagles, they were my first concert ever -- when I was 10," said Haywood. "So to actually be in a category with them, that's pretty amazing. Yeah, the three of us were flipping out."

Otto has been in the music business for several years, so he knew better than to take a nomination for granted.

"Man, I'm sweating now actually thinking about just how crazy it is," Otto told CMT Insider. "It's amazing, man. This is a lifetime of work coming together. ... You know, there's a lot of people that have been in that category that have a lot more hits than I do and people that really deserve the award, so it feels amazing, man. And yes, nerve-racking for sure."

"I've been in Nashville for 11 years," he added. "This is not my first record deal, but the thing is, this is the first opportunity I've really gotten that was 100 percent about trying to make this happen for me, and I'm just really honored that people look at me as a new artist. I feel like a new artist. I feel like this is my first real shot at this, and I'm just very excited man, very excited."

"I honestly didn't let myself think about being nominated for this. This was something that I saw -- too many big names in the category -- people that are established and already are large stars. So I didn't really allow myself to think about the fact that we might actually make the short list like this."

Kenny Chesney received seven nominations -- more than anyone this year. With entertainer of the year and male vocalist nominations, he is also up for album, single and video of the year, along with two vocal event nominations for his work with George Strait and Reba McEntire.

"You never know how these things are going to go," Chesney said in a written statement. "We work so hard on this music, the tours, the videos. It's so much the focus of what I do, how I live. It's always a thrill to see that people are not just noticing but recognize what we're all trying to do."

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush received five nominations, including their first-ever entertainer of the year nod. Nominated for vocal duo of the year, their hit, "Stay," is up for single, song and video of the year, and they are in the musical event category for their recording of "Life in a Northern Town" with Little Big Town and Jake Owen. Additionally, Nettles received a sixth nomination -- for song of the year -- for writing "Stay."

"I almost spilt my tea this morning as I was watching and the nominations kept being added," Nettles said in a written statement. "Being in the entertainer of the year category is such an honor. We've been lucky enough to be out on the road with Kenny Chesney for a couple of tours over the last two years. Looks like rock by osmosis really does work."

Bush added, "I just finished watching the nomination announcements on TV from my sofa at home, and it is simultaneously humbling and encouraging to be in such amazing company as we are in all of the categories. It is one thing to play shows every week of the year and imagine ourselves striving to become entertainers of the year and another thing all together to have the voting members of the CMA believe that it is possible. Simply awesome."

Strait also received five CMA nominations, including entertainer of the year and male vocalist. His latest album, Troubadour, is nominated for album of the year, and "I Saw God Today" is on the list for single of the year. Strait's fifth nomination this year is in the musical event category for his collaboration with Chesney on "Shiftwork."

"I'm sitting down here in South Texas, bracing for Hurricane Ike," Strait said in a press release. "This really brightens my day. I look forward to a great celebration of our great music. Thanks to all involved!"

Trace Adkins picked up two CMA nominations -- his first in 10 years -- for his hit single, "You're Gonna Miss This." Nominated for single and music video of the year, it also resulted in a song of the year nomination for songwriters Lee Thomas Miller and Ashley Gorley.

"'You're Gonna Miss This' has been such a special gift for me this year, so I'm really thrilled that the CMA and the industry recognized the strength of that song," Adkins said. "Not only was it one of the biggest hits of my career, when we performed it on the season finale of The Celebrity Apprentice, it helped raise a lot of money for my charity, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. So yeah, I'm really proud of this song."

Carrie Underwood is the recipient of two nominations, too. Her mention in the female vocalist division is complemented by an album of the year nomination for her second project, Carnival Ride.

"This is awesome!" Underwood said. "As an artist, you always hope the music you record will touch people's lives. There is nothing more rewarding than to be recognized by your peers and to know your fans are enjoying the same ride."

Taylor Swift was ecstatic when Rascal Flatts read her name among the female vocalist nominations during a segment of Good Morning America broadcast from New York's Times Square.

"This was definitely a day worth getting up really early for," she said. "Hearing my name called in the female vocalist category was a dream come true."

CMT Insider's writer/producer Terry Bumgarner contributed to this story.

View photos from the CMA award nominee announcements in New York and Nashville.

• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood
• Trace Adkins
• Jake Owen
• Sugarland

Mary J. Blige's <i>Growing Pains</i>
Photo: Geffen Records

To be quite honest, it was becoming rather hard to come up with new ways to say the same thing: that Grammy-nominated baritone Josh Groban's latest album, Noël, was once again the nation's top-selling record. Since late November, Groban's LP had consistently outsold the rest of the herd, making his the first Christmas album ever to hold the chart's #1 position for five straight weeks.

Luckily, we have Mary J. Blige. After failing to overpower Groban in last week's sales race with her new Growing Pains set, the R&B songstress bounced back this week, taking advantage of the shrinking market demand for Christmas classics.

Despite a 68 percent decline in sales, Growing Pains will rise from #2 to #1 in next week's Billboard top 200 album chart, with a reported 204,300 scans, according to the latest SoundScan totals. Groban's Noël shifted 175,700 units and also suffered a steep drop in sales: 77 percent, to be exact. That lands Groban's LP in the #3 spot on next week's chart, right behind second-place finisher Alicia Keys' As I Am, which sold more than 193,200 copies.

"This album means a lot to me, because it shows my appreciation of my growth and the progress I've made," Blige told MTV News recently about Growing Pains. "This is a next level for me, a new place, and it's a celebration of my weaknesses and strengths."

The week following Christmas was sluggish for the music industry, as total sales of the top 200 albums waned by nearly 6 million from the previous sales week. And, strangely, one of the only new albums debuting on next week's chart wasn't even officially in stores: Radiohead's In Rainbows opens prematurely, thanks to obvious street-date violations, at #156, with 8,500 sold.

In the chart's top 10, there is little change from the previous week; it's the same old song and dance, with a number of year-long favorites hanging tough. The 26th addition to the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series climbs two spots to #4 with 98,400 scans, while Chris Brown's Exclusive jumps from #10 to #5 with 86,700 copies sold.

The Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden falls two positions to #6, selling another 85,300 units, while Garth Brooks' Ultimate Hits finishes at #7 with 76,800 sold. Taylor Swift's self-titled debut follows at #8, with sales of 76,700. Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus dips four spots to #9, generating another 73,300 scans. And rounding things out at #10, with 71,600 copies snatched up, is Colbie Caillat's Coco.

• Mary J. Blige
• Alicia Keys
• Josh Groban
• Chris Brown
• Radiohead

Josh Groban's <I>Noël</i>
Photo: WEA/ Reprise

After four weeks of unadulterated retail domination, it looked as though Josh Groban's impressive run at #1 might come to a close with the release last week of Mary J. Blige's eighth studio offering, Growing Pains. And why not? After all, this is Mary J. we're talking about — you know, the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul," who has sold more than 40 million records worldwide.

It wouldn't have been much of a stretch to assume Blige's latest would be the record that finally dethroned Groban's holiday collection, Noël, on Billboard's top 200. But, of course, Blige's album hasn't been touted all month long by Oprah as the "one Christmas CD every family should have," like Groban's has. That glowing endorsement aired once again in a rerun of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Monday.

Despite Blige's track record — three of her albums have debuted at #1, most recently 2005's The Breakthrough, which scanned more than 727,000 units — and widespread name recognition, after the dust of the last-minute shopping rush settled, Blige's LP bowed at #2, selling more than 629,000 copies. Groban's Noël sold close to 756,600 units, pushing total sales of the disc past the 3.5 million mark. Groban's is the first Christmas album to ever top the chart for five straight weeks.

The rest of the top 10 is cluttered with some of the year's best-selling releases, including Alicia Keys' As I Am, which drops one spot to #3 with 473,800 copies sold. The Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden follows at #4 with 312,800 scans, while Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus closes out the week with sales of 260,000, enough to land the disc in the #5 position.

The 26th installment in the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series sits in the #6 spot, having sold another 235,000 units, while Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride trails at #7, with 215,800 sold. Taylor Swift's eponymous debut holds at #8, with 186,700 scans, and at #9, it's the soundtrack to "High School Musical 2," which sold 184,600 copies. Rounding things out at #10, up two spots from the previous week, is Chris Brown's Exclusive, selling 176,200 units. Overall sales of the disc shot up a whopping 66 percent.

The week before Christmas was a solid one for sales overall: The 200 releases comprising next week's Billboard albums chart topped out at 10.6 million, up from the previous week's sales of 7.2 million. But a mere eight newcomers cracked the top 200 this week, according to the latest SoundScan figures, with only one album — Blige's — entering in the chart's top 10. The second-highest charting new release, R&B stud Jaheim's The Makings of a Man, debuts at #11 with 175,900 sold.

Coming in at #15 with 143,400 sold is Lupe Fiasco's new one, Lupe Fiasco's "The Cool," followed at #33 by Kirk Franklin's Fight of My Life, which scanned more than 74,400 units. The soundtrack to director Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" checks in at #56, after selling nearly 47,000 copies, while WWE Raw's Greatest Hits follows at #68, with 40,300 snatched up. Chingy's Hate It or Love It bows at #84, with 31,500 sold. Lastly, debuting at #163 with about 14,200 scans, it's Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo's first solo outing, Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo.

• Josh Groban
• Mary J. Blige
• Carrie Underwood
• Taylor Swift
• Chris Brown

Josh Groban's <i>Noël</i>
Photo: WEA/ Reprise

Since its initial release 10 short weeks ago, Josh Groban's Noël has unexpectedly gone from being just another in a long list of forgettable Christmas-centric LPs to the best-selling album of 2007. With nearly 2.8 million copies sold — most coming within the last four weeks — Noël has usurped the "High School Musical 2" soundtrack (which has sold just over 2.7 million units) and Daughtry, the 2006 self-titled debut by "American Idol" finalist Chris Daughtry's band, (2.3 million) for that title.

What's more, Noël, which has increased in sales each week and has remained in the Billboard top 10 all those weeks, has shattered several sales records, thanks in large part to Oprah Winfrey's recent endorsement of the album as "the one Christmas CD every family should have."

According to the latest SoundScan totals, Noël, which sold another 669,000 copies, is the first Christmas album to spend four consecutive weeks on top in the chart's 51-year history. It's also only the second Christmas album to ever spend a total of four weeks at #1, tying it with Elvis Presley's 1957 LP Elvis' Christmas Album.

Noël is also the first album of any kind to spend four consecutive weeks at #1 and experience a sales increase each of those weeks since No Doubt's 1995 outing Tragic Kingdom, and the 669,000 copies the Groban album sold last week denotes the biggest single-week tally for a Christmas album since Kenny G's Miracles: The Holiday Album sold 819,000 copies during one of the last weeks of 1994. Plus, Noël is on pace to pass the 3 million-sold mark, which would make it the only album released in 2007 to reach that plateau.

Needless to say, everything's coming up Groban on Billboard's weekly albums chart. But Noël's sales aren't the only interesting development on next week's chart. For starters, a total of 10 new records enter next week's top 200, though none debut in the chart's top 10. The highest-charting debut of the week comes in at #11: Face Off, a collaborative album from rapper Bow Wow and R&B singer Omarion, sold 107,000 copies during its first week in stores, falling about 13,000 scans short of #10 finisher Garth Brooks' Ultimate Hits, which sold 119,400 copies.

Behind Groban at #2 is Alicia Keys' As I Am, with sales reported at 292,300, and the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden follows her at #3 with 241,000 scans. Meanwhile, the 26th addition to the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series comes in at #4 with 191,800 sold, and at #5, with 180,000 scans, it's Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas Song. The aforementioned "High School Musical 2" soundtrack holds at the #6 position with sales of 178,000, and Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus trails in the #7 spot, having sold another 177,500 units. Country crossover artist Taylor Swift's self-titled debut climbs one spot to #8 with 138,700 sold, and Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride falls two spots to #9 with sales of 137,500.

Rapper Birdman's 5 * Stunna was the top 200's second-highest charting debut offering, coming in at #18 with 86,000 sold. Mario's Go follows at #21 with 76,900 scans, and coming in at #25 with 68,500 copies snatched up, it's the Wu-Tang Clan's 8 Diagrams. The-Dream's Love/Hate bows at #30 with sales of 58,900, and rapper Beanie Sigel returns to the chart at #37, having sold 49,300 copies of his latest, Solution.

The Wal-Mart exclusive High School Musical: Hits Remixed enters the chart at #42 with 42,300 scans, while Gucci Mane's Back to the Traphouse debuts at #57 with 31,700 sold. The Dave Matthews Band's Live at Piedmont Park occupies the #68 slot, thanks to 27,400 scans, while Puerto Rican songstress Ednita Nazario's Real opens at #101 with 18,000 sold.

• Josh Groban
• Daughtry
• Elvis Presley
• No Doubt
• Kenny G

Josh Groban's <i>Noël</i>
Photo: WEA/ Reprise

Never underestimate the influence of Oprah Winfrey.

Two weeks ago, Grammy-nominated baritone Josh Groban appeared on Winfrey's afternoon talk show and performed a few numbers from his latest, the holiday-themed Noël — an album Oprah endorsed as "the one Christmas CD every family should have." And it seems every member of her audience listened, since one week later, sales of Groban's disc swelled by 81 percent (to close at 405,000 and change), finally landing the title atop Billboard's weekly albums sales chart.

Now, for a second straight week, Groban's Noël tops the chart again, only this time with much stronger sales: 538,800 to be exact. That's a sales increase of 33 percent from the previous week, meaning Oprah's seal of approval goes a long way. We'll have to wait until next year's presidential election to see just how far Oprah's sway reaches (Winfrey is supporting Senator Barack Obama's candidacy).

Aside from Groban's gains, album sales remained relatively strong for a second week, with the holiday shopping season now in full swing. Yet, just two new releases were able to crack the top 200, according to the latest SoundScan totals — and only one managed to make it into the top 50. Rapper Pitbull's latest, The Boatlift, enters the chart at #50 with sales reported at 22,200 (see "Lil Jon, Trick Daddy Among Boatload Of Guests On Pitbull's Boatlift"). Right behind him at #51 is the week's other newcomer, Mudvayne's fan-assisted compilation, By the People, for the People, which sold 21,700-plus during its first week in stores (see "Mudvayne Tide The People Over With Compilation Disc Before Dropping Fourth LP").

As for the rest of the top 10, right behind Groban on next week's chart, up three positions, is the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden, with 312,900 copies snatched up; overall sales of the record are up 70 percent. Following at #3 is Alicia Keys' As I Am, selling another 257,400 copies, and at #4, with 126,600 sold, it's the 26th installment in the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series.

Garth Brooks' Ultimate Hits fell one chart position to #5 with 112,500 scans, while the soundtrack to the Disney Channel's "High School Musical 2" finishes at #6 with sales of 97,700. Coming in at #7 is the soundtrack to "Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus," which sold 96,200 copies, and Celine Dion's Taking Chances trails at #8, having sold 92,600 units. Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride checks in at #9 with 89,300 in sales, and rounding out the top 10, selling 77,300 copies, is Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas Song.

Meanwhile, the self-titled debut from "American Idol" Jordin Sparks, which opened at a disappointing #10 last week, slipped to #18.

Several albums on the chart experienced strong gains last week, including Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds, which was re-released as a two-disc deluxe edition. Sales of that disc were up 120 percent, to finish with 38,200 scans. Meanwhile, M.I.A.'s Kala must have been on several Christmas lists, as the disc's sales shot up 102 percent; the album sold 6,000 copies and sits in the #168 slot. Sales of Patti LaBelle's Miss Patti's Christmas rose 108 percent, landing the disc at #175 with 5,700 sold, and lastly, finishing at #189, it's KT Tunstall's Sounds of the Season, which benefited from a 126 percent sales surge.

• Josh Groban
• Eagles
• Alicia Keys
• Carrie Underwood
• Chris Brown

Jay-Z's <i>American Gangster</i>
Photo: Roc-A-Fella

Wednesday (November 14) marks a professional milestone for hip-hop heavyweight Jay-Z. With 425,000 copies of his latest release, American Gangster, flying off shelves during its first week, the MC/ Def Jam president has earned himself the 10th chart-topping debut of his career.

Now, while that's certainly an impressive feat for any artist these days, it's an even more monumental achievement than you'd think. Thanks to American Gangster, a concept album inspired by the Ridley Scott-directed film of the same name, Jay's now tied with Elvis Presley in second place for most career #1 albums; only the Beatles have more, with 19 overall.

And to think the man wanted to retire after 2003's The Black Album.

Gangster is Jay-Z's second full-length project in a year's time, following up 2006's comeback album, Kingdom Come. Both The Black Album and Kingdom Come entered the Billboard top 200 at #1, with 463,000 and 680,000 scans, respectively. According to SoundScan, Hov has had seven other studio offerings open at the chart's peak, including 1998's Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life (with 352,200 scans); 1999's Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter (462,700); 2000's The Dynasty: Roc la Familia (557,800); 2001's The Blueprint (426,500); 2002's The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse (545,200); his 2004 collaboration with R. Kelly, Unfinished Business (215,000); and 2004's Collision Course, a mash-up set featuring Linkin Park (368,300).

While most figured Jay was a lock for the #1 position on next week's chart, some put their money on R&B heartthrob Chris Brown's sophomore release Exclusive to deliver a mind-bending upset — after all, the ladies do love him. Others had Garth Brooks' two-CD/ DVD collection The Ultimate Hits finishing in first. Of course, they were wrong. In fact, Jay's closest competitor was last week's #1, the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden, which sold another 359,300 copies for the chart's #2 opening. Brooks' best-of generated 351,800 scans to open at #3, while Brown's LP sold 294,500 units and follows in the #4 spot.

Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride slipped two spots to #5, with sales reported at 120,780, and at #6, up two places from the previous week, is Josh Groban's Noël with 115,600 copies sold. Britney Spears' Blackout nosedives five positions to #7, selling another 86,700 units (second-week sales of the disc suffered a 70 percent decline), while Taylor Swift's self-titled LP follows at #8 with 67,600 scans.

All told, five new releases entered next week's chart in the prestigious top 10, including Angels & Airwaves' sophomore LP, I-Empire, which sold 66,500 copies to take the #9 slot, and Cassidy's first post-prison outing, B.A.R.S.: The Barry Adrian Reese Story, which scanned 63,200 copies to debut at #10. Meanwhile, a dozen other titles are making their first appearances on the chart this week, including Latin reggaetón duo Wisin & Yandel's Los Extraterrestres, which enters at #14 with 52,600 copies sold. Country act Little Big Town follow at #24, selling 34,600 copies of their new one, A Place to Land, while the soundtrack to "American Gangster" takes the #36 spot with 21,000 scans.

Still on Top: The Greatest Hits, the third compilation album to be issued by Van Morrison in 2007, debuts at #48 with 17,900 copies snatched up, while Jimmy Buffett's Live in Anguilla sold 15,350 copies to enter at #54. Hvarf/Heim, Sigur Rós' double-CD compilation, follows at #58 with 14,500 scans, and coming in at #85 with 10,500 copies sold is Demon Hunter's Storm the Gates of Hell. Nas' Greatest Hits comes in at #124 with 6,900 sold.

Nonpoint return from obscurity at the #130 position, having sold 6,400 copies of their new one, Vengeance, while Aliados de la Sierra's Con Los Ojos Cerrados follows at #137 with 6,000 scans. American songstress Sara Groves' Tell Me What You Know debuts at #194 with 4,300 scans, and at #196, with sales of 4,200, it's Andrea Bocelli's The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere.

• Jay-Z, Nas, Beanie Sigel, LeBron James, More Live At The Apollo Theatre

• Jay-Z
• Chris Brown
• Eagles
• Carrie Underwood
• Angels & Airwaves

Britney Spears' <i>Blackout</i>
Photo: Jive

Britney Spears just can't catch a break. Even when she makes a positive career move — i.e. a strong album — things seem to fall apart in unprecedented ways.

In this case, after a surprising last-minute rule change on Tuesday night, her expected #1 debut on next week's Billboard albums chart for her fifth effort, Blackout, will be trumped at the finish line by the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden. Though Britney was pegged to top the charts with sales of 290,000, according to early SoundScan numbers, a press release issued Tuesday afternoon from Wal-Mart, the exclusive retailer of Eden, revealed that the Eagles' first album in nearly 30 years sold 711,000 copies.

Just hours before the press release was issued, a Billboard executive lamented that even though it appeared the Eagles had handily beaten Spears, they would not debut at the top of the charts because of rules forbidding albums exclusively sold at one retail outlet from hitting the Billboard 200.

"In consultation with Nielsen SoundScan, Billboard will now allow exclusive album titles that are only available through one retailer to appear on the Billboard 200 and other Billboard charts, effective with this week's charts," read an article posted on Billboard.biz Tuesday night. "Prior to this, proprietary titles were not eligible to appear on most Billboard charts."

Around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, several hours before the reversal was announced on the Billboard site, the magazine's senior analyst and director of charts Geoff Mayfield explained to MTV News why the Eagles would not be soaring over Britney. "Is Britney the best selling artist? I don't know. That's the difficulty of them [Wal-Mart] not reporting their data to SoundScan," Mayfield said of the chain, which historically has not released sales figures on albums for which it has exclusive deals. Most of the Eden sales came at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores, Billboard reported, with the only other sales coming from physical and download copies moved on walmart.com and the Eagles' Web site. Wal-Mart said in its press release that the robust sales of the Eagles album at its stores represented the best first-week album sales in two years at the chain.

"We were confident that Eagles fans would embrace Long Road Out of Eden but it has exceeded our first-week projections," said Gary Severson, Wal-Mart's senior vice president of entertainment, in the release. "With the holiday season approaching we are confident that the double-CD package will be one of the biggest sellers in Wal-Mart history."

"I can believe the Eagles sold more, but I'm not seeing anything that verifies for me that they outsold her and anything we see otherwise might be from people with a stake in suggesting that," Mayfield said Tuesday afternoon, admitting that he was frustrated by the situation and had been in talks to try and convince Wal-Mart and the Eagles to share the data. Because the trend of artists cutting exclusive deals with major retailers has grown over the past decade, Billboard developed a chart three years ago called the Top Comprehensive Albums chart that tracks sales in the overall market, taking into account not just current albums sold everywhere, but records that have been in the market for several years, exclusive releases (which typically don't report their figures to SoundScan) and seasonal titles that repeatedly chart during holiday seasons.

Mayfield was not available at press time to explain what specific changes spurred the decision to include the Eagles on the chart and change the Billboard policy on exclusive albums, which has been in place for more than three years.

But in describing the rule reversal in a press release Tuesday night, Mayfield said, "We know that some retailers will be uncomfortable with this policy, but it was inevitable that Billboard's charts would ultimately widen the parameters to reflect changes that are unfolding in music distribution. We would have preferred to make this decision earlier, but only became aware within the last 24 hours that Wal-Mart would be willing to share the data for this title with Nielsen SoundScan." Other titles set to debut on the chart will also be affected by the revision.

Because of the changes, Spears will now debut at #2 and the Eagles will also debut atop the Top Country Albums chart.

But while the Eagles' spot at #1 was being cemented, some started to question the Long Road Out of Eden sales figures. While the album is supposed to be a Wal-Mart exclusive, copies — shrink-wrapped and with promotional stickers on the cover — have been popping up at the other locations, including multiple Virgin Megastores, according to RollingStone.com. "Someone told me it was the third-best seller for Virgin," Mayfield told the site about the album, which reportedly is being sold for a significantly higher price at Virgin than at Wal-Mart, where it costs $11.88. But he then qualified: "SoundScan was [also] aware that this was happening. They audited the data to weed out double sales."

At press time, a spokesperson at Spears' label had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment.

[This story was originally published at 8:18 am E.T. on 11.07.2007]

• Britney Spears Falls Short Of #1; Jay-Z Prepares For Billboard Battle

• Britney Spears
• Eagles

Eagles' <i>Long Road Out of Eden</i>
Photo: Eagles Recording Co.

Ouch. She couldn't do it again.

Despite early projections — which, based on first-day sales figures, had beleaguered pop star Britney Spears' first studio LP in four years opening at #1 on next week's Billboard albums chart — it simply wasn't meant to be. That's thanks to an 11th-hour reversal of Billboard's policy to not include albums sold exclusively through one retailer in the top 200 (see "Britney Spears' Blackout Denied #1 Debut On Billboard Chart After Last-Minute Rule Change").

Instead, the Eagles' first studio LP in 28 years, Long Road Out of Eden, will take the chart's peak position, with sales of nearly 711,000 copies, despite only being sold in Wal-Mart. That more than doubles the 290,000 scans generated by Spears' Blackout, which fell more than 40,000 short of experts' earliest sales estimates. Eden is the Eagles' first release — apart from a few compilations — to debut at #1 since the mostly live Hell Freezes Over, which also entered on top back in 1994, with 266,700 copies sold. Eden is the band's sixth release to bow at #1, and one of 2007's best debuts, joining Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride, which racked up 527,000 in its first week; Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight (with 623,000 scans); 50 Cent's Curtis (691,000); and Kanye West's Graduation (957,000).

So rather than score the fifth #1 debut of her career, Spears finds herself in a position she's never been in before: second place. Before Blackout's release, all four of Brit's previous outings debuted at #1: 1999's ... Baby One More Time (with 120,600 sold), 2000's Oops! ... I Did It Again (with 1.3 million), 2001's Britney (with 745,700) and 2003's In the Zone (609,400).

But Brit and the Eagles weren't the only newcomers to next week's chart. In fact, four other new albums will enter the top 10, and in all, 22 LPs will enter this latest chart, during what was a rather strong week for record sales, according to the latest SoundScan totals.

Following Britney at #4, with 93,800 copies snatched up during week one, is the latest eponymous offering from California rockers Avenged Sevenfold. The band's previous outing, 2005's City of Evil, opened at #30 with 33,000 sold. Coming in at #5 with 83,600 scans is Josh Turner's Everything Is Fine, and bowing at #7, thanks to sales of 81,100, is the sixth studio LP from the Backstreet Boys, Unbreakable. The band's previous offerings fared better, for the most part. While 1997's Backstreet Boys debuted at #29 with 40,000 scanned, 1999's Millennium took the #1 spot with 1.2 million sold, and 2000's Black and Blue also opened at #1, selling 1.6 million. The band's 2005 LP, Never Gone, entered at #3 with 291,000 sold.

Underwood's Carnival Ride is wedged between Brit and Avenged Sevenfold at #3, with sales of 170,100, and at #6, it's Raising Sand, a collaborative offering from Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant and bluegrass revivalist Alison Krauss, selling another 81,200 units in its second week. Josh Groban's Noël drops three spots to #8, with 76,100 sold. Meanwhile, Italian singer Andrea Bocelli takes the chart's #9 position, having scanned 67,500 copies of his retrospective The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere release. Rascal Flatts' Still Feels Good rounds things out at #10, with 53,200 copies flying off store shelves.

Elsewhere on the chart, V Is for Vagina, the long-awaited debut album from Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan's side project, Puscifer, debuts at #25, with sales reported at more than 26,500. Rappers Playaz Circle follow at #27, having sold 26,100 copies of their new one, Supply and Demand, while Baby Bash's Cyclone enters at #30, with 25,800 scans. R&B stalwart Will Downing's After Tonight fills the #37 slot, with 21,500 in week-one sales, and rapper Project Pat's Walkin' Bank Roll checks in at #47, with 17,200 copies grabbed up.

After months of delays, Otep's The Ascension finally makes its debut on the top 200, entering at #81 after selling more than 10,200 copies. Armor for Sleep's Smile for Them follows at #93 with 9,400 scans, while the various-artists soundtrack to the Bob Dylan biopic "I'm Not There" opens at #95, with 9,200 copies sold. Levon Helm's Dirt Farmer takes over the #102 position, with more than 8,600 copies scanned, and Thursday's Kill the House Lights enters the chart at #113, with 7,700 in sales.

Saves the Day return to the chart at #119, with their latest, Under the Boards, selling 6,700 copies, while the Insane Clown Posse's Jugganauts: The Best of ICP takes the #124 spot with 6,300 scans. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra's EP — which, like the Eagles' new release, is being sold exclusively at Wal-Mart — follows at #132 with 5,800 copies sold, while Taking Back Sunday's Notes From the Past enters at #141 with 5,600 scans. Lastly, opening at #153 with nearly 5,100 copies sold, is Graham Colton's Here Right Now.

• Eagles
• Britney Spears
• Avenged Sevenfold
• Backstreet Boys
• Carrie Underwood

Stephen Colbert
Photo: Scott Wintrow/ Getty Images

Stephen Colbert is having the last "word" over his seemingly imperiled presidential candidacy, which was dealt a big blow last week after the executive committee of the South Carolina Democratic Party shot down his bid in the state. "I am shocked and saddened by the South Carolina Democratic executive council's 13-to-3 vote to keep me off their presidential primary ballot," the host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" said in a statement. "Although I lost by the slimmest margin in presidential election history — only 10 votes — I have chosen not to put the country through another agonizing Supreme Court battle. It is time for this nation to heal." But don't worry, Colbert Nation, your hero hasn't thrown in the towel entirely. "I want to say to my supporters, this is not over. While I may accept the decision of the council, the fight goes on! The dream endures!" He then made an additional comment, sarcastically acknowledging the Hollywood writers' strike that will likely keep his show from airing new episodes in the near future: "And I am going off the air until I can talk about this without weeping." The film and TV writers went on strike Monday (November 5) after talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers broke down. Reuters reports that both sides are digging in for what could be a lengthy standoff, mostly over the writers' demands for higher fees from the distribution of movies and TV shows on DVD and over the Internet. Late-night talk shows — including "The Colbert Report," "The Daily Show" and "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" — are expected to be the first to suffer from the strike. ...

"American Idol" isn't just for singing anymore — the seventh season will allow contenders to demonstrate their instrumental skills too, during "Hollywood Week," RollingStone.com reports. Producer Nigel Lythgoe also revealed that fewer celebrity mentors will be featured in the show's new season, which premieres in January, and that there might be a joint tour showcasing both "Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance" talents. ...

Christina Aguilera has finally 'fessed up. After months of silence, the singer has finally confirmed that she will "enter into mommyhood" next year, according to Glamour UK. Though her baby bump has been prominent for months, Aguilera has not previously spoken about expecting her first child with husband Jordan Bratman. She was, however, reportedly quiet when Paris Hilton blabbed the news at Las Vegas nightclub LAX over VMA weekend in early September. ... Though it looks like Britney Spears' Blackout will come out on top of the Billboard albums chart in the U.S. this week, rock veterans the Eagles trumped her in England with Long Road Out of Eden, their first new studio album in nearly 30 years, BBC News reports. The band has never been #1 in England before. And in other Brit news, more celebs are sounding off about the troubled singer. When "Extra" asked Ludacris who he thought had been naughty in 2007, he replied, "Hands down, Britney Spears has the crown on that one!" Meanwhile, Julia Roberts reached out to her in a new Vanity Fair interview, saying, "I see and hear what's happening to Britney Spears, and it's all I can do not to move her into my guesthouse and say, 'OK, this is how it's going to be!' And just take care of her." The interview appears in the magazine's new issue, which hits newsstands in New York and Los Angeles on Wednesday and streets nationally November 13. ...

Trey Songz was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest at the Hippodrome in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday night, according to TMZ. The singer (born Tremaine Neverson) and members of his entourage reportedly got combative with police officers who were investigating a shot that had been fired in the venue's parking lot after the show. According to TMZ, police asked Songz not to get involved, after which he reportedly said, "Don't you know who I am?!" He was expected to be arraigned Monday. ... TMZ has unearthed footage of Snoop Dogg's brawl at London's Heathrow Airport in April 2006 — the incident resulted in his being banned from traveling on British Airways. The rapper (real name: Calvin Broadus) is seen playing around with tourists in the video — even dancing with kids — but subsequent footage shows the confrontation breaking out after Snoop and his entourage were kicked out of a first-class lounge. ...

Alicia Keys, Avril Lavigne, Timbaland, Backstreet Boys, Jordin Sparks and others will bring some holiday cheer to New York's Madison Square Garden when they participate in Z100's annual Jingle Ball. Colbie Caillat, Boys Like Girls and the Jonas Brothers will also perform at the event, set for December 14. ... Don't be on the lookout for Ja Rule's The Mirror this year: The album, which was previously scheduled for a November 13 release, has been delayed until 2008. ... The video for the Killers' collaboration with Lou Reed, "Tranquilize," is making the rounds online. ...

Linkin Park announced last week that they would be helping Southern California recover from the devastating wildfires by donating $50,000 to a nonprofit group, but now they're ramping up their efforts by launching a charity auction through their outreach project, Music for Relief, and Unite the United. The eBay auction launched Monday and features items by LP, Green Day, Madonna, the Eagles, Avenged Sevenfold and others, in addition to VIP concert-ticket packages. Proceeds will go to California Community Foundation's Southern California Wildfire Relief Fund and the American Forests' California Wildfire ReLeaf Fund. ...

John Mayer has something to tell fans about: what he's been eating. In a new post on his blog, the wisecracking singer/songwriter shows off what's been on his plate lately — and he's stamped the pics with watermarks, because he's sure "the tabloids and entertainment news shows will [be frothing] at the mouth" over them. ... Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel are sinking their teeth into a new comedy ... written by Al Gore's daughter?! According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kristin Gore has co-written a satire called "Nailed" that revolves around a corrupt congressman and a sex-fiend lobbyist, and the actors are poised to play the respective roles. David O. Russell ("I Heart Huckabees," "Three Kings") is directing and co-authoring the screenplay for the flick, in which Biel's character goes to Washington, D.C., to fight for the rights of the bizarrely insured after a nail accidentally shoots into her head, causing her to become sex-crazed. Preproduction is due to begin in two weeks. ...

Sheriff Paul Laney, who launched a recent sting operation in Fargo, North Dakota, under the guise of an Ozzy Osbourne party, has responded to criticisms levied by the metal singer. Ozzy fans were duped into attending a faux party that preceded the rocker's scheduled performance in the area by mere hours — but were instead arrested on outstanding warrants upon their arrival. Osbourne insisted Laney apologize for using his name to secure the arrests. Laney told The Associated Press late last week that he "meant no disrespect toward Mr. Osbourne or his show," but that "what we did was a very creative law-enforcement technique to lure individuals who had active criminal warrants to come to us." He said using Osbourne's name in the invitations was no different than a bar advertising a Super Bowl party by mentioning the teams playing in the game. ...

The University of Maine's student government may pursue legal action against My Chemical Romance because the band canceled a recent gig at the school, according to a report in the school's paper, The Maine Campus. The rockers had said they had to cancel the show because of drummer Bob Bryar's health issues, but they did play another gig not long after the show was nixed. The student government sent the band two letters demanding more than $20,500 in compensation for costs incurred for advertising and money paid to outside contractors and cancellation fees. "Unless it is truly due to sickness or injury of the band, we intend to seek full damages for breach of contract," Derek Mitchell, the vice president of student entertainment, told the paper. "When they played Friday night, I think that kind of voids an 'Act of God' claim." The student government has given the band two weeks to pay, and if it refuses, the General Student Senate will take a vote to determine if it will pursue a lawsuit or not. ...

Howard Stern's cousin is crying foul about Jerry Seinfeld's recently released "Bee Movie," saying the flick uses his company's catchphrase, "Give Bees a Chance," without permission. Richie Gerber, known to Stern fans as "Cousin Richie," owns an organic skin and hair-care company called BeeCeuticals Organics, and claims in a lawsuit filed late last week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that DreamWorks and Paramount, after initially exploring opportunities to work with Gerber, went ahead and used the phrase to market the movie as if it were their own. "We were talking about co-sponsoring an event, a 'Bee In,' for National Pollinator Week in June," Gerber told MTV News, "and even on that press release, we used that slogan." Gerber said that despite owning the trademark on the slogan, "Bee Movie" went ahead and appropriated it, which he finds ironic, considering the movie's plot is about the human race stealing honey from bees. "We are not killer bees," Gerber said. "All we want is for them to acknowledge that it's our intellectual property and license it from us. We're worker bees, we'll work with you." ... Keanu Reeves has something in common with Britney Spears — he's being sued by a man who claims the actor hit him with his car, according to TMZ. Alison Silva, a Brazilian photographer, says Reeves struck him in the knee on March 19, 2007, near a clinic in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Silva is seeking unspecified damages. ...

Jimmy Page is all apologies after Led Zeppelin postponed their hugely anticipated reunion show last week due to the iconic guitarist's fractured finger. "I was regrettably put in a situation where I had to postpone my performance," he said of the show, which has been rescheduled for December 10 at London's O2 arena. "I was very conscious of the fact that many people are traveling great distances to attend," he continued. "I do want to let everyone know that this decision was unavoidable. My apologies to anyone who has been inconvenienced by this change." ...

Attention Radiohead completists (and fans of the digipak): On December 10, EMI will release a limited-edition box set collecting all seven of the band's releases on Parlophone Records — from 1993's Pablo Honey to '03's Hail to the Thief, plus the I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings album — repackaged in digi sleeves with their original artwork. The set (which really does come in a box) will retail for £39.99 (approximately $58). Those who purchase the physical set will also be given access to stream special footage via "Digital Insert technology." More tech-savvy Radiohead fans (which is pretty much all of them) can also download the entire set as DRM-free, 320 kbps-encoded MP3s — plus album art for £34.99 (approximately $51) — or purchase it as a USB memory stick, shaped in the band's "iconic bear image," for £79.99 (approximately $116). All three formats are available for pre-order at the Radiohead store. ...

Sum 41, who nixed the remaining dates on their Canadian tour last week as Deryck Whibley was suffering from a herniated disc, have now canceled the remainder of their 2007 shows in order to allow the frontman to heal. The band made the announcement in the journal section of its Web site, writing, "We're sorry that this happened and we hope our fans can understand ... We wish Deryck a quick and full recovery and can't wait to reschedule all these shows in the new year." The band was touring in support of this year's Underclass Hero album. ...

The Los Angeles Times reports that Disturbed frontman David Draiman has put his Northridge, California, castle — with its turrets, gargoyles, dragons and griffins — on the market at close to $2.9 million. Draiman purchased the residence for $2.5 million in 2005. The six-bedroom, seven-bathroom home, a former nondescript tract house that was transformed in 1992 by former owners with a fascination for medieval themes, has barrel-vaulted halls, a room with a 24-foot-high ceiling, theater chandeliers and secret doors located behind bookcases. ...

Sheryl Crow gets personal on her next studio album, Detours, which is due February 5, according to Billboard.com. The singer/songwriter revealed to the news outlet that the songs on the album "are very inspired by the last three years of events in my life," which included her battle with breast cancer and much-publicized split with Lance Armstrong. Beyond that, "Lullaby for Wyatt" features an appearance by her baby son of the same name and will be included in the John Cusack movie "Grace Is Gone."

11.02.07

R. Kelly is about to hit the road for his upcoming "Double Up" tour, which starts November 14, but that doesn't mean his child-pornography case will be on hold for the duration of his trek. In a hearing on Friday (November 2), a Chicago judge ruled that forensics expert Dr. Sharon Cooper can testify at a hearing, to be held December 18, about the veracity of her methods to determine her claims that Kelly is the man on the sex tape. Cooper has claimed she could identify him through the veins visible on his hands, and the hearing will be used to determine whether that method is acceptable in the scientific community at large. Cooper will also testify about how she determined the age of the victim on the tape, whom prosecutors say was 14 years old at the time of the alleged taping. Kelly will be in between show dates in Sacramento, California, and Chicago, and thus able to attend the hearing. ...

Jay-Z has some Sirius radio plans — the hip-hop mogul is taking over the satellite station for a week starting Monday, The Associated Press reports. He will be in command of Hip-Hop Nation channel 40, playing songs from his albums as well as other artists of his choosing. The stint comes at an opportune time for Jay — his new album, American Gangster, hits stores Tuesday. Sirius will also play back across various programs on the channel a concert Jay-Z is set to perform at Chicago's House of Blues. ...

Mariah Carey will play at a Glamour ceremony honoring the magazine's 2007 Women of the Year. She will perform with the African Children's Choir at the event, to be held Monday at New York's Avery Fisher Hall. The related issue — which spotlights Jennifer Garner, Elizabeth Edwards, Toni Morrison and others — hits newsstands November 13. In other Mariah news, Elizabeth Arden announced on Friday an increase in first-quarter profits thanks to the singer's M by Mariah Carey perfume. The beauty-products company earned $350,000 on revenue of $271.8 million — a year before, the company lost $1.3 million on revenue of $254.8 million in the same quarter. Profits are expected to rise again next year. ...

Da Brat was released from jail after posting a $50,000 bond Thursday night, AP reports. The rapper (real name: Shawntae Harris) was involved in a serious physical altercation early Thursday morning at Jermaine Dupri's Atlanta nightclub, Studio 72. According to WSB-TV in Atlanta, police arrested her on felony aggravated-assault charges after she got into a heated confrontation with a waitress. Da Brat is said to have struck the waitress in the face with a bottle of rum, causing cuts on her face. The waitress was later taken to a local hospital for treatment. ... T-Pain had an uncomfortable experience on Friday when he was arrested in Florida on outstanding warrants, according to TMZ. The singer/rapper (real name: Faheem Najm) reportedly turned himself in to authorities at Leon County Jail, where he was charged with driving on a suspended license, and subsequently released on his own recognizance, without having to pay bail. According to TMZ, police saw T-Pain driving in Tallahassee in June and, after running his record, discovered that he had a suspended license. ...

Like Don Imus and others before him, Duane "Dog" Chapman's racially charged comments have resulted in his show being pulled from the airwaves — A&E yanked "Dog the Bounty Hunter" from its programming schedule on Friday. The channel's top-rated show is being pulled indefinitely, although it has not been canceled. At least two advertisers pulled away from the show on Thursday after a tape of a call between Chapman and his son Tucker — in which the TV star used the N-word repeatedly — surfaced on the National Enquirer's Web site the day before. Duane "Dog" Chapman's lawyer Brook Hart told AP Thursday that Tucker had taped the call and sold it to the tabloid for "a lot of money." ...

E-40 is turning 40! But the bash the Bay Area spitter is planning for November 15 at Las Vegas' Poetry Nightclub will serve as more than just a b-day celebration — E-40 will also be using the event to celebrate 20 years in the rap game and unveil his new beverage line, 40 Water. "Rapping brought me into the entertainment game; once I got in, my eyes got bigger," he said in a statement. "As a business man, I get the best of both worlds, and the privileges of working and reaping the benefits at the best time in my career." The star-studded party will also feature a sneak peek of his 2008 album, The Ball Street Journal, a yellow carpet and more. ...

When it comes to her spending money, Britney Spears always seems to be saying "Gimme More." Recently released court papers related to her custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline show that the singer drops serious coin on clothes and entertainment and doesn't save or invest any of her almost $737,000 in monthly income, according to AP. Among Spears' monthly expenses are $49,267 in mortgages for two houses; $16,000 for clothes; and $102,000 on entertainment, gifts and vacations. And even though she's a fast-food junkie, she also stated in her financial declarations that she drops $4,758 per month dining out. She also spends zero on education, while giving $500 a month in charitable contributions. Federline, meanwhile, gets $15,000 per month in child support and $20,000 in spousal support, with the latter ending on November 15. ... Don't believe Vanessa Hudgens? Just look at her feet. The "High School Musical" starlet has submitted her hospital birth certificate, which includes her baby footprints, along with a motion that seeks the dismissal of a suit brought on by her ex-attorney Brian Schall, according to "Access Hollywood." He claims Hudgens owes him $150,000 after he helped her earn more than $5 million by advancing Hudgens' funds for her recording and songwriting career. But Hudgens argues that she was too young to sign her contract — when she did so in October 2005, she was 16 years old. A hearing is set for December 5 in Los Angeles. ...

The Spice Girls unveiled a video for "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)," their first single in seven years, on TodayShow.com on Thursday. The racy video, which features the reunited squad shedding clothes, has since been making the rounds elsewhere. ... Jewel has recorded most of her LPs in Nashville over the years — but now she's ready for a full-on country affair, according to Billboard.com. The singer/songwriter recently signed a multi-album deal with Valory Music Company, a new Nashville indie label named in tribute to June Carter Cash (the country legend's birth name was Valerie June Carter). "I've been wanting to do this record my whole career, but my label was always scared of country music," Jewel said. "I've always had country songs on my records." Her yet-untitled new album will be produced by John Rich of Big & Rich. ...

Morrissey in '08? The singer's recent marathon stand at the Palladium in Hollywood was supposed to be his last sweep through the U.S. for the near future, but according to Billboard.com, his lawyer says Moz will be touring again early next year — and new music is on the way too. According to the magazine, Morrissey will sign a new deal with Sanctuary that will result in the release of a new studio album — to be produced by Jerry Finn, who helmed 2004's You Are the Quarry — and best-of collection next year. As for the tour, manager Merck Mercuriadis said Morrissey will "be back out in January. We'll take a short break and then start again in March." He didn't specify what cities are being considered. ...

Is Meat Loaf done? According to the U.K.'s Times Online, the rock singer announced that he was ending his career midway through a concert at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on Wednesday. "I can no longer continue," he reportedly said as "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" began playing. "This is the last show I may ever do in my life." The concert ended, although it was later announced that the show had been canceled due to an illness. It's yet unclear whether Meat will still perform his scheduled Friday night show in Birmingham. According to Times Online, Meat's promoter spoke with the singer's doctor, who assured the promoter that Meat was exhausted and stressed. The newspaper also reports that his publicist chalked up the Wednesday incident to one of the singer's occasional blowouts. Meat Loaf's management did not return calls to MTV News as of press time. ... The Decemberists have canceled the rest of their Long and Short of It Tour after just two dates, due to an ongoing illness affecting an unnamed bandmember, according to the band's spokesperson. "One of our bandmembers has been ill for a while, but we thought all would be well in time for these tour dates," the group wrote in a statement. "After a couple shows, though, it has become clear that the illness is much worse than we had initially realized. We need to return home so our friend can mend. It saddens us to disappoint our fans. We hope everybody understands it is only because of an extreme situation that we had to cancel a tour we've all been excited about doing since the idea was originally hatched." There are no current plans to reschedule the tour. ...

Jack Osbourne, Jeff Buckley fan? Apparently so — Ozzy's son will MC the Jeff Buckley 10th Anniversary Tribute Concert being staged by the late singer/songwriter's mother, Mary Guibert. The salute will happen November 15 — two days before Buckley's birthday — at the Key Club in West Hollywood, California, and feature 25 Los Angeles-area singer/songwriters. Proceeds will go to the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, which was co-founded by Flea. ... The soundtrack to the upcoming music mockumentary "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" will feature actor John C. Reilly — in the guise of Cox — singing songs written by a host of rock luminaries, including Marshall Crenshaw, Beach Boys collaborator Van Dyke Parks, former Candy Butchers leader Mike Viola and San Francisco songwriter Dan Bern. Among the original songs on the album, due out December 4, are "Guilty as Charged," "A Life Without You (Is No Life at All)" and "Let Me Hold You (Little Man)." ...

Carlos Santana and his wife are splitting after 34 years together, Marin County, California, newspaper the Marin Independent Journal reports. Deborah Santana reportedly cited irreconcilable differences in her October 19 filing in Marin County Superior Court. The couple have three children together.

• Christina Aguilera
• Britney Spears
• Ozzy Osbourne
• My Chemical Romance
• Eagles

Dave Grohl, Jack Black, Fiona Apple, More At Tenacious D Hurricane Katrina Benefit

• Jack Black
• Queens of the Stone Age
• Foo Fighters
• Eagles
• Fiona Apple