Mars Performing at This Year’s Grammy Awards

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars is set to take the Grammy stage…

The 31-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter will perform at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy has announced.

This will be the four-time Grammy winner’s fifth Grammy performance and his first in four years.

He’s also nominated in this year’s album of the year category for his work on Adele‘s 25. While working together, Adele and Mars initially looked to create an uptempo song. But they ended up coming up with the “dramatic ballad,” “All I Ask,” which earned him an iHeart Music Award nomination for Best Cover Song.

Mars joins previously announced performers Adele, John Legend, Metallica, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban.

The Grammy Awards will take place February 12 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles with host James Corden. It will be broadcast live at 8:00 pm EST on CBS.

Pitbull to Perform at This Year’s CMT Awards

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull has gone country…

The 35-year-old Cuban American rap superstar will take the stage at this year’s CMT Awards.

Organizers of the fan-voted awards show for country music videos and television performances are aiming for big collaborative moments this year.

So Pitbull — who appeared on Keith Urban‘s “Sun Don’t Let Me Down” earlier this year — and Leona Lewis will join forces with Cassadee Pope during the show.

Meanwhile, Dierks Bentley will perform with Elle King (the two duet on Bentley’s new album), Fifth Harmony teams up with Cam, Billy Ray Cyrus with Cheap Trick, Blake Shelton with the Oak Ridge Boys, and Keith Urban with both Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris.

Meanwhile, Carrie Underwood will perform “Church Bells,” which she performed at the ACMs and the ACCAs in April.

The CMTs air Wednesday, June 8, at 8:00 pm EST.

Lopez Returning as Judge on “American Idol” for Season 14

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s still Judge Jennifer Lopez…

Fox has confirmed that the 44-year-old Puerto Rican singer and actress will return to the judges’ table on American Idol next season.

Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. will return as judges, with Ryan Seacrest serving as host, for the show’s its 14th season.

“Jennifer, Keith, Harry and Ryan are the very best in the business at what they do, and I’m thrilled that they are returning to American Idol for another season,” said David Hill, senior executive vice president at 20th Century Fox Television. “Each brings unique qualities and expertise to the team, but they all share the same passion for helping undiscovered singers achieve the American dream.”

American Idol wrapped its 13th season on May 21 down from the previous year.

No word yet on whether any dramatic changes will happen in the upcoming season.

Fox Releases Official “American Idol” Judges Photo, Featuring Lopez

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’s official… Jennifer Lopez is back in the hot seat…

Fox has released the first official photograph of the new American Idol judging panel, with the 44-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress sandwiched between fellow judges Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban.

The photo, which was taken on the first day of the Boston auditions for season 13, was released just hours after the network confirmed that former judge Lopez and new panelist Connick Jr. have joined country singer Urban on the show this season.

Not pictured is veteran Randy Jackson, who has been with Idol since it premiered. He’ll return to the show as a mentor when the singing competition airs in January.

In the photo, Lopez seems thrilled to be back in the same spot she occupied before when she shared the table with Jackson and then-judge Steven Tyler.

Earlier today, Fox released a statement announcing the “dream team.” Lopez also tweeted her excitement: “#IDOL2014TheRemix.”

The panel appears comfortable together. Urban, who always seemed to enjoy the job more so than anyone else on the panel last season, had kind words for his new comrades in music, and anticipates the new season is going to be “a blast.”

Idol returns in January.

Lopez Returning to American Idol, According to Her Boyfriend

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is returning to the American Idol judges’ table…

At least that’s the word from the 43-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress’ boyfriend Casper Smart.

He confirmed to E! News that La Lopez will be returning as a judge next season.

Asked whether J.Lo is planning to join the Fox singing competition’s 13th season, Smart replied: “Yes.”

There’s just one problem… Fox hasn’t made any announcement yet about Lopez’s return.

It’s no surprise that Lopez was high on the producers’ wish list. As previously reported, the “Live It Up” singer’s deal was expected to close imminently. Fox declined comment on Smart’s remark.

The only confirmed “Idol” judge so far is returnee Keith Urban, who sat alongside departed season 12 judges Nicki Minaj, Randy Jackson and Mariah Carey.

Lopez served as judge for two previous seasons, in 2011 and 2012.

The American Idol season 13 hopefuls are expected to face the judges for the first time next month, with the season premiere set for January.

Lopez ThisClose to Finalizing Deal to Return to “American Idol”

Posted on August 4, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is reportedly thisclose to returning to American Idol…

The 44-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress has reached an agreement on the major deal points to return to the judges’ panel on Fox’s hit reality singing competition, according to Deadline.com.

An official announcement on the “Live It Up” singer’s return to the show for the upcoming thirteenth season is expected in the next week or two.

J.Lo will join returning judge Keith Urban and host Ryan Seacrest. The third Idol judging seat is still open, with will.i.am reportedly high on the Idol producers’ wish list.

The details of Lopez’s new deal haven’t been released, but Deadline.com reports that her paycheck could be around $15 million, what she most recently earned on the show in Season 11.

Lopez, who left Idol in May 2012, is on stronger footing now than she was when she first joined the show in 2010. As an executive producer, she has a hit series in ABC Family‘s The Fosters, which just received a back order, and she is also a partner in NUVOtv, a channel for Latinos.

Mars’ iHeartRadio Music Festival Performance to Air on the CW

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars will be rockin’ the CW this fall…

The CW has announced plans to broadcast performances from this year’s iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, which will feature a live performance by the 27-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer.

The CW will use the concert special to kick off its official television season.

The network will broadcast the fesival as a four-hour special over two nights, September 30 and October1.

The special will focus on Clear Channel’s two-day concert event, which will take place on the weekend of September 20 and 21.

Along with Mars, this year’s festival will include performances by Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, J. Cole, Elton John, Muse, Keith Urban, fun., Miguel, Maroon 5, Tim McGraw, Miley Cyrus, The Wanted, Avril Lavigne, Ke$ha and others who are still to be determined.

Carey to Release Her Fourteenth Album This Summer

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Prepare for new Mariah Carey music in July…

The 43-year-old half-Venezuelan American singer and former American Idol judge will be releasing her fourteenth studio album on July 23, with Island Def Jam confirming the date.

“The New Era Begins.. 7/23 #MC723,” posted Carey to her 11 million Twitter followers.

The album has been previewed by Carey’s duet with Miguel, “#Beautiful,” which reaches No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week.

Carey’s new album follows 2009’s Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, which featured the single “Obsessed” and has sold 546,000 copies to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Carey also released a new holiday album, Merry Christmas II You, in 2010.

Last week, Carey officially announced that she wouldn’t be returning to the American Idol judges panel, after starring on the show alongside Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban and Randy Jackson this season.

Instead, Carey’s focus will be her solo career: the singer has performed “#Beautiful” on Good Morning America and at the Hot 97 Summer Jam.

“#Beautiful” marks Carey’s 27th Top 10 hit on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart — the fourth most Top 10s all-time on the tally for a female.

Carey will perform on NBC‘s Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular on July 4, and will embark on a world tour beginning in October, although dates have yet to be announced

Lopez to Perform on the “American Idol” Finale

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is heading back to the American Idol stage…

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress, who will perform at this year’s Billboard Music Awards, will reportedly return to American Idol for the first time since ending her judging stint last year.

La Lopez will perform on one night of this season’s two-part finale, according to E!.

Lopez will take the stage in front of current judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban and Randy Jackson on either May 15 or 16.

J. Lo shared the judges panel with Jackson and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler for two seasons.

While a song hasn’t been confirmed for the performance, Lopez will presumably play “Live It Up,” the first single from her next album, which will be released on May 8.

Like previous hits “On The Floor” and “Dance Again” — both of which were performed on the Idol stage — “Live It Up” was produced by RedOne and features Pitbull.

Sanchez Wows with Her Performance of New Single “Tonight” on “American Idol”

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Talk about showing American Idol’s new crop of finalists how it’s done…

Jessica Sanchez, last season’s runner-up, returned to Fox’s reality singing competition to perform the first track from her upcoming debut album.

Dressed in a sparkly silver midriff-exposing top, baggy pants and silver, high-heeled high tops, the 17-year-old half-Mexican singer took the stage to sing “Tonight,” her poptastic collaboration with R&B star Ne-Yo.

It’s hard to believe Sanchez was competing on Idol just a year ago after her seasoned pro-like performance on Thursday night’s results show. She strutted her stuff across the stage with confidence, showed her Jennifer Lopez-like sass in front of a wind machine and even busted a move with her backup dancers.

Following her performance, which earned a standing ovation from Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson, Sanchez confirmed to Idol host Ryan Seacrest that she’s having the time of her life.

Sanchez’s new track is available for download on iTunes. Her debut album Me, You & the Music will be released on April 30.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Keith Urban