Music News

Jussie Smollett and Alicia Keys have teamed up for "Powerful," a cut from the soundtrack for Empire season two. The uplifting duet sees Keys and Smollett in agreement that "I matter, you matter, we matter all." "From women's rights to gay rights, there's always an underlying theme," Keys tells Essence of the tune's message.

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Coldplay will use the audio clip of president Barack Obama singing at a funeral on "A Head Full of Dreams," the title track from their upcoming album. Obama sang a bit of "Amazing Grace" during the funeral service for reverend Clementa C. Pinckney, who was gunned down in the Charleston church shooting earlier this year.

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Smokey Robinson, Eric Church, Aloe Blacc and Rhiannon Giddens teamed up for a rendition of Church's song "Kill a Word" during the two hour A&E special Shining a Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America. The event was put on to help spread racial understanding and Church's song was the perfect backdrop.

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Thomas Rhett's "Die A Happy Man" has been certified Gold by the RIAA. "Die a Happy Man," which has only been at radio for seven weeks, has already sold more than 500,000 copies. The song is the second single from Rhett's sophomore album, Tangled Up. Rhett says that he penned the hit song at the behest of his wife Lauren.

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Courtney Love has offered her support for Justin Bieber's decision to wear a Nirvana shirt to the American Music Awards on Sunday night. The Bieb's fashion decision upset some fans of the band who lashed out via social media. Love, however, hit Twitter to give Justin props. "You're cool in my book @justinbieber xc," she wrote.

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Alice Cooper is known to hit the stage with his beloved pet boa constrictor Christopher and has, more recently, opened up about the pet. In an interview with telegraph.co.uk, Cooper reveals that the snake is named after the late actor Christopher Lee and that the reptile may be gay.

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Monica has released "Hustler's Ambition," featuring Akon, taken off of her upcoming eighth studio album Code Red. On "Hustler's Ambition," Akon sings about being away from home while he provides for his family, while Monica prays for his safe return. "When you wake, I'm by your side / You'll be home in the morning," she sings on the new cut.

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Noel Gallagher will perform live for the BBC Radio 2 In Concert series at BBC Radio Theatre in London on December 7. The gig will be live streamed on BBC Radio 2, Red Button and the station's website beginning at 8 p.m. Prior to the official gig, Gallagher will do a live soundcheck on Ken Bruce's Radio 2 show beginning at 11 a.m.

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Stone Sour has released a new cover of Iron Maiden's "Running Free," which will appear on their upcoming new covers EP Straight Outta Burbank. "Well if you're going to cover something then you want to make sure you go for the best," frontman Corey Taylor told Team Rock of what led to the Maiden cover. "It's no secret that I'm a huge Iron Maiden fan because . . ."

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Returning Journey drummer Steve Smith says that he is excited to be back playing with the band again. "I am excited to revisit a role that was a formative part of my career, performing music that has touched many people for more than 30 years," Smith said on Facebook.

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