James Taylor performs at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday
Photo: Justin Sullivan/ Getty Images

President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration festivities are bringing out the best in everybody, it seems.

Bruce Springsteen volunteered to perform after Obama's historic win, as did Beyoncé and U2. And James Taylor is set to proceed with his scheduled inauguration performances despite suffering an eye injury.

The Grammy-winning singer told CNN's Larry King on Saturday night that he was wearing an eye patch because he tripped and fell. Taylor said his wife wanted him to explain his injury by saying he hit a doorknob.

Taylor's injury set the Web abuzz about exactly what happened. Beginning late Saturday, there were a number of queries on Twitter about the artist, asking why he donned an eye patch for his appearance on CNN.

Some Web sites suggested Taylor's accessory was a publicity stunt rather than a protective covering for a serious injury.

Early Sunday afternoon (January 18), MTV News saw Taylor at a rehearsal for the big "We Are One" concert. Taylor didn't speak to any media during the soundcheck.

When Taylor finally appeared for his televised performance, he had opted for sunglasses instead of the eye patch.

MTV News is live-blogging the "We Are One" concert.

"Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" will air live on MTV on Tuesday, January 20, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. MTV News will have wall-to-wall coverage of the event and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya in the days leading up to the event and in the days that follow.

• 'We Are One' Inaugural Concert: Highlights
• Inauguration Celebrations Fill D.C. With Music

• Beyonce, U2, Usher, More Perform At "We Are One" Inaugural Concert

• James Taylor

Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, and Nelly announce 2003 Grammy nominations
Photo: MTV News

When nominations for the 45th annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday morning, reactions ranged from sincere congratulations to "What were they thinking?" (Click here for the list of nominees.)

Few readers writing to MTVNews.com's You Tell Us forum had sour sentiments about demure Norah Jones, the jazz-influenced singer/pianist who's got a chance to sweep the four biggest categories — Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist (see "Eminem, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, Norah Jones Nab Most Grammy Noms"). Jones is also among the eight artists who garnered five nominations. (Click for photos of this year's Grammy nominees.)

"I'm sooo happy for [Norah Jones]," wrote 18-year-old Lexi, from Seattle. "I know many people haven't heard her music, but those who have know how great it is. Big ups to the critics for giving this girl the credit she deserves."

Jones' Come Away With Me faces stiff competition from The Rising, Bruce Springsteen's return to form, and, to a lesser extent, The Eminem Show. Although the mainstream seems to have embraced the volatile rapper, with hardly a protest over his third major-label album or his fictionalized biopic "8 Mile," the Grammys might not be ready to bestow such a prestigious honor to a man who had a hit with a song that talks about killing the mother of his child and stuffing her in a trunk.

Then again, Eminem already has five golden gramophones in his trophy case (though none in the big four categories), and the Recording Academy did grant an Album of the Year Grammy to Steely Dan in 2001, for Two Against Nature, which featured the song "Cousin Dupree," about incest. But old guards like Donald Fagen and Walter Becker have always had Grammy odds in their favor, which is why Springsteen stands such a good shot. And even if The Eminem Show doesn't win for Album of the Year and "Without Me" doesn't lay claim to Record of the Year, Eminem is likely to make good on at least one of his other three nominations.

While Jones stands as the artist with the smallest presence at radio compared with fellow new-artist nominees R&B songbird Ashanti, singer/songwriter Michelle Branch, sensitive guy John Mayer and pop-rocker Avril Lavigne, most of you think the latter stands as her fiercest competition.

"I think Avril Lavigne definitely deserves Best New Artist," wrote 14-year-old Ashley of Thief River Falls, Minnesota. "She's worked so hard and accomplished so much this year."

"There is no doubt that Avril Lavigne should win Best New Artist," echoed 14-year-old Danielle, from Somerset, New Jersey. "She writes her own music, had three top 40 songs in 2002, sold over 4 million copies of her debut, Let Go, and hates Britney Spears. What more could you want in a Best New Artist?"

While statistics may garner gold records, they don't necessarily translate to a Grammy. Awards are (theoretically) doled out to those who demonstrate genuine artistry in their work. And that's Avril Lavigne, isn't it?

"Avril has no business being nominated for as much as she was," disagreed 19-year-old Andrea. "As far as music and creativity go, Britney is more creative — and you know that's a stretch, especially since Britney is nothing but manufactured bubble gum. Avril may have had something going with her and her ties but let's face it, MTV, that's all she has had."

After yesterday's announcement of the nominations, Lavigne has a lot more attached to her, namely a monumental mistake when she mispronounced David Bowie's last name. When reading the list of artists up for the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, she mispronounced Bowie as "bow-wie" (rhymes with oh, wowee!). An unnerving hush immediately enveloped Madison Square Garden.

"Am I the only person who realizes what a poser Avril Lavigne is?" queried 22-year-old Kim, from Denver. "First of all, she botched the pronunciation of David Bowie, one of the most influential musicians of our time. ... Does Avril know anything about music? ... My point is, although everyone seems to be touting Avril Lavigne as some new prodigy, the fact is that she is not a true musician or artist and is just as fake and untalented as Britney Spears."

And here we thought Avril was the anti-Britney.

While Mayer's the only guy among the gals in the Best New Artist pack, his fans warn not to count him out just because he's outnumbered.

"John Mayer deserves to win the Grammy for Best New Artist," declared 18-year-old Tiffany Johnson, from Austin, Texas. "He is just on a different level from the rest of the nominees. The guy is brilliant."

Nelly, who's up for Album of the Year, Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Album honors, among others, is feeling the brunt of haters. For the nearly 5 million copies of Nellyville sold, the St. Louis rapper seems to have just as many, if not more, detractors.

"I want to know what the Grammy folks see in Nelly," demanded 19-year-old Jason Curtis of Seattle. "Everyone is hypnotized by his so-called 'skills,' which are by no means good. As far as I'm concerned, Nelly doesn't deserve a Grammy."

It wasn't all trash talk directed at the St. Louis rapper, however. Many have their fingers crossed that the Band-Aid bearing MC will leave with even more gold than he came in with.

"I'm really anticipating seeing Nelly take home the Grammy for best album," wrote 14-year-old Linzi, from Sandusky, Michigan. "I mean, his music is totally hot, and I'm pretty sure that I don't know anyone who isn't into Nelly."

Linzi, meet 21-year-old James, from New Haven, Connecticut.

"It is clear once again that the awards honor what is popular, not what is good," James began. "Nelly has sunk so far down in the talent pool that he's left rapping about sneakers and some sort of heat wave that has apparently swept Nellyville. Talk about meaningless music. Seriously, if it's that hot in 'herre,' then drink a glass of water. Don't make a freakin' song about it."

Fellow hip-hopper Petey Pablo, up for Best Rap Album with Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry, faced some harsh reactions, with fellow nominee Mystikal also catching some heat.

"I am very upset to see that Pete Pablo has been nominated for Best Rap Album," expressed 25-year-old Curtis, from Tallahassee, Florida. "Also, Mystikal's Tarantula album was very disappointing. How come someone like Trick Daddy or Cee-Lo never gets nominated? He is pure trash, and I understand why people like Jay-Z protest the Grammys. If we want to make it mainstream for all these old white people, let's nominate Will Smith. Even though his album sold probably 200 copies, he does not curse."

Such outrage over those who were nominated couldn't rival the furor over those who were left out: uber-producers the Neptunes and anyone from the neo-garage school, such as the Hives, the Vines, the Strokes or the White Stripes.

"How did Dr. Dre get nominated in the Producer of the Year category, while the Neptunes were ignored?" wondered Venni, 18, from Blacksburg, Virginia. "Dre didn't do anything in 2002. Every single song on the radio was produced by the Neptunes."

OK, Venni may be exaggerating a bit, though Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are responsible for Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You," Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Mystikal's "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)," all of which are Grammy-nominated.

"I'm surprised the new 'the' bands didn't get major nods," typed an aghast CJ, 18, from Newmarket, New Hampshire. "I'm sad that the White Stripes were shafted, when overrated Avril Lavigne gets all the credit. Well, the Grammys are pretty lame either way."

If the nominations aroused such fervent feelings in these folks, they'd better be prepared for the shock of February 23. While some surprises can be expected with the nods, utter jaw-droppers like the over-the-hill Jethro Tull winning for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 1988 are unmatched.

Stay tuned and stay calm.

For a look back at previous big Grammy winners, red carpet photos and much more, visit our Grammy News Archive.

• Eminem
• Norah Jones
• Nelly
• Dixie Chicks
• Bruce Springsteen

Black Sabbath's Ozzy Osbourne
Photo: Epic

It's understandable why a chorus of critical bellyaching sometimes accompanies the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. I occasionally bellyache myself. After all, any self-appointed music-biz organization that's decreed James Taylor and (this year) '50s teen-pop muffin Brenda Lee to be worthy of inclusion in the pantheon of rock immortals, while the likes of Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Captain Beefheart and Dick Dale — the father of surf music! — shiver outside the gates, is begging for argument.

Actually, there's still some debate about whether there should even be a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, if only because the induction ceremonies, with their tuxedoed herds of industry denizens chowing down on bad steam-table food in a classically cheesy hotel ballroom, seem so fundamentally out of tune with the music's original, animating spirit. Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has famously suggested that, since most of the true gods of rock and roll — Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Little Richard, Buddy Holly and of course, Elvis Presley, to skim just the cream — have already been inducted, the most dignified thing to do at this point would be to lock up the place and lose the key.

But that's not going to happen. For one thing, the Hall of Fame facility — very expensively designed by the celebrated architect I.M. Pei — is now a major tourist attraction in Cleveland, the city where it's kind of curiously located. (A few years back, Hall of Fame executives, who like to do their nominating and inducting in New York City, where so many of them are based, finally gave in to complaints from their provincial partners and agreed to actually hold an induction ceremony in Cleveland. The resulting experience proved so alien to all the record-company poobahs who had to fly in from New York and L.A. that this scenario has never again been seriously entertained.)

So the Hall isn't going away. Well, then can't it at least induct the right people, you ask? This, as it happens, raises a key issue: What exactly is rock and roll? Having spent many years as a member of the Hall of Fame nominating committee (a position I no longer hold), I can tell you that endless hours have been devoted to this question, and it has never been definitively answered. Some critics — most notably the English writer Charlie Gillett, in his groundbreaking 1970 book, "The Sound of the City" — have argued that rock and roll is, if not "dead," at least historically complete, and now a part of the past. (Gillett traced the original wave of rock and roll from its roots in black rhythm & blues in the late 1940s up to the worldwide breakthrough of the Beatles in 1964; after that, he argued, the music developed self-consciousness, an awareness of its own traditions — it became, in short, "rock.")

No one can really say what "rock" is. Or rock and roll, for that matter. A purist might deny the possibility of, say, a smooth, supper-club-style vocal group being classified as a "rock" act; but the Platters — who superficially fit that description — were so luminously unique, and so much an ambient part of the original rock and roll era of the 1950s, that there's no way they could possibly be disqualified from the canon. The late Ricky Nelson may have started out in the early '50s as a white-bread teen TV star, but the hit singles he later recorded (backed by a hot band that included the fabled rockabilly guitarist James Burton) were inarguably a species of rock and roll. Acts like Elton John, Frank Zappa and Pink Floyd may not have much in common, but in their upstart spirit, and the ways in which their music related to and interacted with their times, they have to make the grade: they rocked.

Looking back over the roster of musicians who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame over the last 16 years, I think a reasonable person would have to admit that there've been few, if any, outright clinkers. James Taylor (despite his Beatles connection) is not my idea of a rock act, but that's just me; and I realize there are valid arguments to be made even for Brenda Lee.

And I'll admit it's nice to see the Ramones and Talking Heads going into the Hall this year. But as long as Black Sabbath and AC/DC remain uninducted (along with who? Deep Purple? Richard Thompson? Screamin' Jay Hawkins?), rock partisans of various tribes will continue to have plenty to bellyache about. Which should keep us happy.

—Kurt Loder

• Black Sabbath
• AC/DC
• James Taylor
• Brenda Lee
• Captain Beefheart

Paul McCartney
Photo: Capitol

After announcing his intentions last week to stage a benefit concert for families of firemen who died in the World Trade Center collapse, Paul McCartney has decided instead to join up with an all-star benefit planned for October 20 at Madison Square Garden.

The four-hour show will also feature the Who, Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, Macy Gray, the Goo Goo Dolls, James Taylor, India.Arie and Melissa Etheridge, with more acts to be announced. Called simply "The Concert for New York," the event will air live on VH1 and will be simulcast on radio stations nationwide.

As with the "America: A Tribute to Heroes" telethon, the musicians will be joined by a panel of actors and comedians including Jim Carrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Gwyneth Paltrow and John Cusack. The television broadcast will display a phone number and Web site address for donations, but it appears unlikely that celebrities will answer viewers' calls like they did on last week's telethon.

More than 5,000 members of New York's fire department, police department and rescue crews and their families are being invited to the event.

Tickets will go on sale October 7 at noon via Ticketmaster. Prices have not yet been determined, but all money raised will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, which will distribute the money to the Twin Towers Fund and other agencies aiding the victims and their families.

For more information on and audience reaction to the attacks, including tips on how you can help, see "9.11.01: Moving Forward."

• Paul McCartney
• Bon Jovi
• Macy Gray
• The Who
• Goo Goo Dolls

Michael Jackson
Photo: MTV News

Michael Jackson is spearheading an all-star benefit single for the survivors and families of victims in last week's terrorist attacks.

Britney Spears, Destiny's Child, 'NSYNC's Justin Timberlake, Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter and Mya will join Jackson on a song titled "What More Can I Give," he said in a statement released Sunday.

Jackson's spokesperson, Howard Rubenstein, told Reuters that more singers will contribute to the single and that it will be released as soon as possible.

"We have demonstrated time and again that music can touch our souls," Jackson said in his statement. "It is time we used that power to help us begin the process of healing immediately."

Jackson has already begun working on "What More Can I Give," which he is writing and producing. He hopes the single will raise $50 million, he said.

Plans for a Spanish-language version of the song are also in the works.

Hundreds are confirmed dead and nearly 5,000 people are missing as a result of the plane crashes that destroyed the World Trade Center towers and damaged the Pentagon on September 11 — the worst terrorist attack in American history.

"I believe in my heart that the music community will come together as one and rally to the aid of thousands of innocent victims," Jackson said. "There is a tremendous need for relief dollars right now and through this effort each one of us can play an immediate role in helping comfort so many people."

Earlier this month, Spears, Destiny's Child, 'NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and more contributed to a benefit song for AIDS research (see "Fred Durst, P. Diddy, Aaron Lewis, More Join In On Gaye Remake"). U2 singer Bono organized the project — a cover of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" — which will be released on World AIDS Day, December 1.

Michael and friends aren't alone in raising funds for relief efforts; several artists are doing their part to raise funds for victims of the tragedies.

In addition to proceeds from Madonna's show at Los Angeles' Staples Center on Thursday benefiting the children and families affected by last week's terrorist attacks, Friday and Saturday's shows were also included in her fund-raising efforts, according to a venue spokesperson (see "Madonna Closes Drowned World Tour With Prayer, Donation"). Saturday's show was a rescheduled date after it was originally slated for last Tuesday.

Janet Jackson, James Taylor and Maxwell are the latest artists to participate in the ClearChannel.com Relief Fund, a program in which $1 from every ticket sold, with a minimum total donation of $10,000, will be donated to the Red Cross and affected police and fire departments. Clear Channel Entertainment promotes the artists' tours.

Whitney Houston's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," which she recorded in 1991 during the Gulf War, will be reissued by Arista Records with proceeds benefiting relief efforts (see "Whitney Houston's 'Star-Spangled Banner' To Wave Again").

Godsmack has pledged the proceeds of all merchandise sales from the remaining 10 dates of their tour, which wraps up September 30 in Austin, to benefit the families of police officers and firefighters. The band's manager estimates the total amount donated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, when merch sales are combined with donations made by fans at the shows.

Alanis Morissette posted on her Web site (www.alanismorissette.com) that she is planning some type of benefit concert, the specifics of which are expected to be announced later.

Though the Latin Grammy Awards were called off in the wake of last Tuesday's terrorist strikes (see "Concerts Across U.S., CMJ Marathon, Latin Grammys On Hold Following Attacks"), music producer Phil Ramone and television producer Merv Griffin assembled several of the artists who were in Los Angeles for the canceled event — including Joan Osborne and Celia Cruz — for a fundraiser on Saturday in honor of the police officers and firefighters of New York City. Held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the event benefited the American Red Cross and featured a performance of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by actor Kevin Spacey.

Backstreet Boys and Incubus are also among the artists who have pledged proceeds generated at recent concerts toward relief efforts (see "Musicians From Madonna To Godsmack Pledge Aid").

(This story was updated at 7:07 P.M. ET Monday, September 17, 2001.)

• Michael Jackson
• Britney Spears
• Destiny's Child
• *NSYNC
• Madonna

Consider it the year of "lite rock" for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

-- David Basham

• Eric Clapton
• Earth, Wind & Fire
• James Taylor

45th Annual Grammy Award Nominees, Presenters, And Performers

• Ashanti
• Norah Jones
• Avril Lavigne
• John Mayer
• Nelly