It’s not rare that people pay celebrities to make appearances and put on shows. But when the person paying is the president of a third world country, and the money being paid is taken from poverty alleviation funds, it’s a different story entirely. And rumor has it that this is what’s just happened in Nigeria before Beyonce’s and Jay-Z’s last performance there.

Reportedly, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan gave the power couple that is Beyonce and Jay-Z $1 million to perform in Nigeria. The money was allegedly taken from funds meant to help the millions of people that live in poverty throughout the nation. That’s according to a letter that has been signed by Bayelsa officials, which states that the purported amount was given to fund the ThisDay Music Festival held in Lagos.

The existence of such a letter has not yet been confirmed, nor has the total amount given to the stars, whether it was the full amount or a portion. It is believed that the total cost of the festival, which was millions, was paid for by the Nigerian government from funds meant to help its poverty-stricken citizens.

It’s also thought that, while the Jonathan didn’t hand over the funds directly, he does have a close partnership with a man named Obaigbena, promoter of the ThisDay festival; and that the promoter was given free access to government funds.

The Beyonce and Jay-Z incident sadly isn’t the first one that has cast this country in a shady light. Kim Kardashian was reportedly also paid, out of the same type of funds, to make a short appearance in Lagos with Nigerian R&B artist Dare Art-Alade.

It’s not believed that any of the artists involved were aware of where the funds that were paid to them originated from.

It’s typical for audiences to pay the most attention to the celebrities on the big screen, with songwriters often getting little notice. Sadly though, the world was forced to turn their attention to one legendary songwriter, Diane Lampert, this weekend, after she died of heart failure in a Manhattan hospital. She was 88 years old.

Prominently known in the 50s and 60s, Lampert wrote title songs for over 20 movies with The Snow Queen, I’ll Take Sweden, Billie, and Silent Running being some of her most famous work. Bob Hope, Cary Grant, and Buster Keaton were jus a few of the huge Hollywood names that starred in films Lampert wrote the music for.

However, it was her hit Nothin’ Shakin’ (But the Leaves on the Trees) that the songwriter was most famous for. Lampert actually wrote this song in 1963, and it was then performed by The Beatles for a radio show on the BBC in London. It was released in disc format to the public on the “Live at the BBC” album The Beatles released in 1994.

Lampert is survived by her beloved husband, Fred Stuart, who announced the news this past weekend. He is currently the president of Rainbow Music Corp. A memorial service for Lampert is scheduled for Wednesday morning at the Riverside Memorial Chapel.

When it comes to theater events, it can be difficult to find one that is not only suitable for children, but one that will keep them interested as well. Even the beloved The Lion King is recommended for children 5 and older. However, there is one event that is guaranteed to be a child’s dream come true and that is Disney On Ice.

Depending on where you live, there’s several shows that you may have the opportunity to see. This year’s Disney On Ice shows include:

Treasure Trove

Treasure Trove is the latest show from Disney On Ice. This show features characters from the greatest movies produced by Disney including Rapunzel and Flynn from Tangled, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Mulan and Snow White. You’ll also see Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Hook and a few pirates. Timon and Pumba along with Simba and Nala are a part of the show as well. You’ll even go back in time a bit as Alice, the Madhatter and the Queen of Hearts’ Army of Cards take to the ice as well. This show is truly a compilation of Dinsney’s greatest treasure of characters.

Rockin’ Ever After

Rockin’ Ever After showcases the hottest music and characters from over the years. In this production, Merida makes her Disney On Ice debut. Other favorites include Ariel and Sebastian, Rapunzel and Flynn from Tangled, Beauty and the Beast’s enchanted castle and Belle.

Dare to Dream

Dare to Dream includes all of Disney’s royal characters including Rapunzel and Flynn, Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen from The Princess and the Frog, and Cinderella and Prince Charming. This is truly a Disney princess showcase event.

100 Years of Magic

This Disney On Ice show is a celebration of 65 of Disney’s unforgettable characters and 18 favorite stories. Character appearances include Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, and more. Stories include The Lion King, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Toy Story and Mulan.

Worlds of Fantasy

Worlds of Fantasy presents some of the most recent favorites of Disney characters including Lightening McQueen and Tow Mater from Cars, Woody and Buzz of Toy Story and even some classics such as Ariel and Sebastian.

No matter who your child’s favorite characters are, they will not be disappointed with one of these Disney On Ice Performances. Find your tickets now on TicketSupply.com.

It was back in September 2008 when Travis Barker of Blink 182 was in the same severe plane crash as several other people. While Travis survived the crash, unfortunately four others did not. Barker did suffer from some pretty severe injuries after that crash, but none perhaps more so than those he’s still dealing with inside his own head. Understandably due to that crash, Barker now has a severe fear of flying; and it’s this that will force him to miss Blink’s Australia tour which kicks off on Wednesday.

“I’m sorry to announce I won’t be joining Blink-182 on this Australian tour,” Barker wrote on his official Facebook page. “I still haven’t gotten over the horrific events that took place the last time I flew when my plane crashed and 4 people were killed, two being my best friends. I gave the band my blessing to take another drummer if they still wanted to do the tour without me. I hope to come to Australia again someday perhaps by ship if need be. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a boat that worked the schedule this time around. Once again I’m sorry to all the fans.”

The outpouring of support from those same fans on that page are an indication that everyone understands what he’s going through, and are willing to give him time to heal.

Those two friends Barker lost were his personal assistant Chris Baker and his friend, Che Still, who Barker had asked to come along after his ex-wife could not get away. DJ AM was also on that same plane and while he survived the crash, he died of a drug overdose less than a year later in August 2009.

Stepping in for Barker during the Australian run will be Tenacious D’s Brooks Wackerman. Fans will get their first chance to hear what the new drummer sounds like when the tour begins on February 21 in Sydney.

Several months ago, there was something missing on New York City’s airwaves. While you could find just about any type of music that you wanted, country wasn’t one of them. Cumulus Broadcasting, seeing the great things happening in country music right now and noticing the void, set out to fix the problem by launching NASH FM 94.7 — the only country on any NYC frequency at the moment. The radio station was so successful that it’s celebrating by now bringing some of country’s biggest stars to the Big Apple in a three-day concert series titled Nash Bash!

The event will take place February 18 — 20 at the Roseland Ballroom. Lady Antebellum, Sara Evans, and Blake Shelton will be headlining the event, but there will be a ton of other great musical acts showing up for support, too. Those include Gary Allan, Lonestar, Justin Moore, Brantley Gilbert, Dustin Lynch, and Randy Houser, to name just a few. Kix Brooks will also be on hand to perform each evening, and he’ll also be taking on the role of host of the show for all three days.

In a statement regarding the event, Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey said, “The response to launching New York City’s only country radio station last month has been amazing and we’re excited about this opportunity to let our listeners celebrate with top country acts as we roll out NASH nationwide.”

That Nash brand will also include more than just NYC’s station and this event. It will include a magazine, a television program, and an online community. In order to promote their station even more so, Cumulus will not be selling tickets but rather, giving them away to listeners of Nash FM.

After enjoying the huge success that followed his Hope on the Rocks album that he put out last fall, Toby Keith is taking it on the road — and he’s stopping off at a handful of festivals along the way, too.

With a slew of rodeo and festival dates in February and April, the Hope on the Rocks tour will officially kick off on June 14, after Toby plays at the Thunder on the Mountain festival the night before. The show on the 14th will be in Cincinnati and from there the country singer will make stops in Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Indianapolis, to name just a few. Toby has also left himself some time in between dates, and there are rumors that this is because more are currently in the process of being confirmed. For a full listing of current dates and venues, you can check out the Toby Keith tickets page on TicketSupply.com.

Throughout the tour fans will hear some of Keith’s most famous songs such as his current hits, “I Like Girls that Drink Beer,” and “Hope on the Rocks.”

And with Kip Moore coming along for the ride, they’ll also be able to hear some songs also on the top of charts, such as “Beer Money” and “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck.”

Don’t miss this chance to see a country icon together with one of country’s biggest up and comers! Tickets are on sale now, so get yours today!

The 55th Grammy Awards held on Sunday was truly music’s biggest night, with huge fashion, huge performances, and huge storylines from beginning to end. With a little something for everyone from beginning to end, there’s little doubt this was one of the best ceremonies in recent history!

Taylor Swift kicked the whole thing off when she opened with her hit “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Her circus-inspired set had the singer decked out in a blazing white ensemble including hot pants, jacket with tails, and a bejeweled top hat. It wasn’t the dancing bunnies, the flame-thrower, or even the stilt performers that sole the show though; it was when Taylor blatantly dissed her recent ex, Harry Styles in the show. During the narrative in the song, Taylor put on an exaggerated British accent, saying that when he professed his love (again) she replied that she was “busy opening the Grammys.”

Before taking on her circus trainer outfit, Taylor wore a gorgeous white J. Mendel gown on the red carpet, which was very much in keeping with her sexy, more mature look she’s been donning lately. While the song Taylor performed got her nominated for “Record of the Year,” that award actually went to Gotye’s “Somebody that I Used to Know.”

Taylor’s rumored rival, Carrie Underwood, also made news on the red carpet, but not for her elegant strapless Robert Cavalli gown. Rather, it was the $31 million worth in jewels that walked down the carpet with her that had all eyes on her. That it turned out, was just a precursor for what was yet to come in the evening. When Carrie took the stage to perform her two hit singles, “Two Black Cadillacs” and “Blown Away,” her shimmery silver ball gown served as a screen from which digital images were projected — at one point turning her into a monarch butterfly!

Rihanna sent tongues wagging throughout the night as well. Showing up on the red carpet in a show-stopping red Azzedine Alaia gown, it was her snuggling up to boyfriend Chris Brown that had everyone really talking. While the two definitely looked cozier than most would expect four years after RiRi was beaten by him, she also seemed to have made another statement when she took to the stage to perform “Stay.” While she had previously been photographed wearing numerous rings, for the performance she left just one on — a diamond band around the ring finger of her left hand. That has everyone guessing that the two are now engaged.

All of this, not to mention J. Lo’s Anthony Vaccarello dress that pushed the Grammys dress code to its limits, and Katy Perry’s mint-colored cleavage-exposing dress that actually did! Were there any of your favorite moments that we missed? What did you think was most glamorous about this year’s Grammys?

Beyonce went into her Super Bowl halftime show last night on the heels of backlash from lip-synching the national anthem during the Presidential Inauguration; and amid rumors that her former band, Destiny’s Child, would be joining her on-stage. Throughout her performance, she silenced all the wagging tongues, putting on a simply electric show that included many surprises along the way.

Beyonce came on-stage in what can only be described as in full diva form, belting out some of her biggest hits including “Love on Top,” “Halo,” and “Crazy in Love.” When she told fans to “reach your hands to me,” because she “needed to feel the energy,” she seemed to reach out to every single person in the Superdome — not a simple task when it’s filled to capacity. And as she lay on the ground and spun around, she also gave a show only for fans at home, as it was best appreciated from an aerial view.

But it was after she had filled the stage with her dynamic outfit, wave-a-licious hair, and huge voice, that the rumored guest stars finally appeared on stage. Suddenly from out of nowhere appeared the other members of Destiny’s Child — Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — to put on what seemed like an entirely different show. But beautifully combined with the first.

Michelle and Kelly helped Beyonce out with some of their biggest band hits, including “Bootylicious” and “Independent Women.” For the grand finale, they also lent a hand to Beyonce with one of her other biggest hits, “Single Ladies.”

Throughout this last number, it seemed as though Beyonce was trying to send a specific message, choosing to dance in fine choreographed style instead of chiming in with the background music. When she did bring the mic back to her, she belted out the melody in fine gritty, grimy style that was clearly authentic — and live.

And if all of that wasn’t enough, Beyonce had one more surprise in store for fans. Right after her halftime show, she announced that she’s heading out on the “Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.” The tour includes a slew of dates around Europe and North America, and you can get a full listing of current dates on TicketSupply.com.

Teasing fans last week with the news that they were going on tour this summer, and bringing some pretty serious boy band names with them, the New Kids on the Block didn’t stop there. At the same time they announced that they would also be releasing a new album and on Friday, they let us hear the first notes from that album with a new song.

After hearing that the song’s title is “Remix (I Like The,)” you might think that it’s about the band’s reunion, and coming back together after two long hiatuses. However, the song is actually about a girl that’s a bit of an ugly duckling — that is, until she gets a “remix” and suddenly people are liking “the new you.”

The track has a good beat and, with its sing-along melody, it won’t be long before it’s burning up dance clubs. Those who like Bruno Mars will love the soulful feel of this record, and it’s this same tempo that makes the track feel much more adult contemporary than the pop bubble gum variety they were formerly known for. And, for those of you who have been missing those fab five voices, each Kid has got his own solo within “Remix,” so there are plenty of swoon opportunities (or just chances to chime in.)

Can’t wait anymore? Want to hear for yourself? Check out “Remix (I Like The)” right here; and then tell us if you like it!

Why is it that whenever people think of country music they always think it has to be, well, in the country? Or in some remote town located only in the deep south? Northerners like to get down with their cowboy hats and boots too, and that’s just what Townsquare Media Group and Chet-5 Festivals was thinking when they created the Taste of Country festival.

This festival will still be in a small town, being held at the Hunter Mountain Resort in Hunter, New York on June 13 — June 15. But it’s being touted as the “Northeast’s first large-scale country music festival,” and there will be some huge names there to make it not just the first, but also the best.

Huge names like Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson & Family, and Trace Adkins will be headlining the event, while many supporting acts will also be on hand. Those will be comprised of Hunter Hayes, Billy Currington, Montgomery Gentry, Joe Nichols, Blackberry Smoke, Justin Moore, and Dustin Lynch, to name just a few.

There’s been some confusion revolving around Lady Antebellum and whether or not they’ll actually appear to perform after cancelling many other gigs due to Hillary Scott’s pregnancy. However, Taste of Country has announced that this is their last show before taking their needed time off.

The weekend prior to the country festival, the location will also be used for the annual Mountain Jam, a festival of big rock acts that come to the area to put on a great show. And organizers think that this second event will just help make this one of the best times in music.

“We are very excited about our partnership with the Townsquare Media Group,” said Gary Chetkof of Chet-5 Festivals. “Combining our experience producing the Mountain Jam Festival along with Townsquare Media Group’s assets makes for a powerful partnership that will produce a world-class country music event for many years to come.”