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For The Record: Quick News On Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, Michelle Branch, Enrique Iglesias & More

Britney Spears, Madonna, Michelle Branch and Stone Temple Pilots are among the celebrities putting autographed merchandise on the block for the American Red Cross Virtual Auction currently underway on eBay. Additional items up for bid will appear on the site April 29, and the gavel drops on the charity event May 9. ... Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and Shakira are among the artists slated for the "Today" show's summer concert series, which takes place outdoors in New York's Rockefeller Center. Highlights include Sheryl Crow (May 3), Train (May 10), Celine Dion (May 17), Shakira (May 31), Goo Goo Dolls (June 7), David Bowie (June 14), Keys (June 21), Enrique Iglesias (June 28), Blige (August 9), Toni Braxton (September 6) and Santana (September 20). ...

Upcoming episodes of Fox's "That '80s Show" will feature a couple of stars who made the decade shine: Deborah Gibson and Duran Duran's John Taylor. Gibson cameos as a Permanent Records patron with a penchant for show tunes in her episode, which taped Wednesday and will air May 7; Taylor plays a roadie-turned-contractor in his installment, which taped April 15 and has yet to receive a broadcast date. ... Rasputina's Melora Creager will fill in for an ill Isobel Campbell when Belle and Sebastian perform on the "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" show Friday. ... Chris Isaak and Natalie Merchant will co-headline a summer tour that will kick off June 21 in Irvine, California. The outing, supporting Isaak's Always Got Tonight and Merchant's latest self-titled release, is currently scheduled through mid-July, though more dates will be added. ... The third annual Latin Grammy Awards will be held September 18 at the new Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, the Recording Academy announced Thursday. The ceremony will be broadcast on CBS (MTV's parent company, Viacom, also owns CBS). ...

04.24.02

No Doubt canceled a couple of shows — Tuesday (April 23) in Pittsburgh and Thursday (April 25) in Cleveland — after singer Gwen Stefani was diagnosed with flu and a sore throat. The band is trying to reschedule the dates and is expected to return to the stage for Friday's gig in Washington, D.C. ... HBO is developing a new series based on the life of Dr. Dre, who said actor Chazz Palminteri is writing and directing the first episode. "It's still in the beginning stages right now, but it's gonna be pretty hot," the hip-hop pioneer said. ... Atticus, the clothing label responsible for keeping Blink-182 from being naked more than they already are, is releasing a compilation CD featuring unreleased tracks by Blink, Jimmy Eat World, Alkaline Trio, New Found Glory, Rival Schools, Box Car Racer and others. The 24-song ... Dragging the Lake hits stores May 7. ...

U2 frontman Bono will be in Africa next month, but not with his bandmates. The singer will travel through Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia with Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill as part of his continuing efforts to drum up aid for Third World countries. ... Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head" and Dido's "Thank You" are among the top nominees for the U.K.'s 47th Ivor Novello Awards, taking place May 23 in London. Other hopefuls for the trophies, which honor Britain's best songwriters and composers, include Gorillaz' "Clint Eastwood," U2's "Walk On" and Travis' "Side." ... An unreleased track from Nelly Furtado and ambient tunes from Radiohead, Coldplay and Beth Orton will highlight the Ultra Chilled 02 compilation, due Tuesday. Timo Maas, Sasha and Groove Armada also appear on the album. ...

Alanis Morissette has added nine dates to her North American tour itinerary, which will now end with the KIIS-FM Wango Tango show on June 15 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The singer just shot the video for her next single, "Precious Illusions," in Los Angeles with director Francis Lawrence (Aerosmith). ... "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart," a documentary about the making of Wilco's new Yankee Hotel Foxtrot shot in black and white by director Sam Jones, will hit theaters in New York City in late July, before going to other cities in late August. DVD and VHS versions of the film will be released at the end of the year. ... Bloodhound Gang singer Jimmy Pop said Backstreet Boy Nick Carter has asked him to collaborate on his upcoming rock solo record, though so far, Pop has been too busy working on the next Bloodhound album. ...

Lauryn Hill and the Roots, along with Living Colour and George Clinton with Parliament/Funkadelic, will join jazz artists Wynton Marsalis and Roy Hargrove at this year's JVC Jazz Festival in New York City. The festival, which has been around since 1984, will take place at different venues like the Apollo Theater and Carnegie Hall from June 16-29. ... The Knack, that immortal '80s power-pop band best remembered for hits such as "My Sharona" and "That's What the Little Girls Do," will embark on a summer tour starting May 4 at the Bayfest in Tampa, Florida. The band will remain on the road through September and share stages with various '80s pop acts including the Fixx, REO Speedwagon, Missing Persons and Tommy Tutone. ...

Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgeman will promote their audio/visual release 1 Giant Leap with appearances in New York (May 1), San Francisco (May 2) and Los Angeles (May 6). The duo traveled around the world to create the project, which includes appearances by Michael Stipe, Robbie Williams, Brian Eno, actor Dennis Hopper and others. ... The second annual BET Awards will be broadcast live on June 25 from Los Angeles' Kodak Theatre with Steve Harvey and Cedric "The Entertainer" as hosts. The channel, which will announce the nominees on May 14, revealed that their Humanitarian of the Year Award will go to Muhammad Ali (MTV's parent company, Viacom, also owns BET).

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