Train, ‘Voice’ Winner to Headline NBC’s Carson Daly-Hosted New Year’s Eve Special – NBC’s annual New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly has unveiled its lineup. The two-hour special, live from New York City’s Time Square and hosted by Daly (late night’s Last Call With Carson Daly), will be headlined by Train and The Voice’s latest winner Cassadee Pope on Dec. 31, first from 10-11 p.m. and then 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. to ring in 2013. Train will perform “Mermaid” and John Lennon’s “Imagine.” A music retrospective will also highlight the year’s top performances, featuring Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Madonna, Psy, Beyonce, Adele, The Spice Girls and David Guetta. – Read more at Hollywood Reporter
Randy Travis Pleads Not Guilty to Simple Assault Charge – Country superstar Randy Travis has pleaded not guilty to a simple assault charge, after being accused of intervening in a dispute between girlfriend, Mary Beougher, and her estranged husband, reports WFFA. Plano police issued Travis a citation for class C assault outside Prestonwood Baptist Church in August, and on Friday, the Grammy-Award-Winner told his fans to be skeptical of recent accusations against him. In Friday’s hearing, Travis entered his plea and asked the judge for a jury trial. His attorney said the singer was merely trying to defend his girlfriend and another woman. Travis will head to trial on March 11 at 8AM. – Read moer at Extra TV
Kelly Clarkson Spreads Holiday Cheer at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt with Musicians On Call Nashville (from the mailbag) – The Christmas spirit was alive and well when the multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson stopped by Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt yesterday afternoon to sing and celebrate the season with patients, staff and families through Musicians On Call (MOC) Nashville. Clarkson, who recently released her Greatest Hits – Chapter One album, visited with the children and performed an acoustic set in the Children’s Hospital Theatre. The songstress led the packed room in a sing-along of her favorite holiday carols including “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,” “White Christmas,” and “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Clarkson encouraged singing and dancing, and the children were happy to oblige. Following the show, the kind-hearted entertainer generously offered to visit the rooms of patients unable to attend. – Read more at Nashville Gab
The Pulse: Guarini takes hope from Playhouse’s “Life.” – “When I was younger I had trouble sleeping. I would go to bed and … my mind would just be going and my parents got me for Christmas one year this ‘Golden Age of Radio’ tapes,” he told me last week. “I would listen to George Burns and Gracie Allen, Abbott and Costello, the Jack Benny show, and it was so amazing because I realized how people would go, sit in a big studio, and watch people stand in front of a microphone and do this comedy half-hour, and would see the people live making the sound effects at the Foley table.” – Read more at Philly.com
Melinda Doolittle helps Jordin Sparks Celebrate her Birthday
Melinda Doolittle attended Jordin Sparks 23rd birthday party and tweeted a few photos! Melinda finished in 3rd place, while Jordin won Season 6 of American Idol. Melinda tweeted, “Tonight made my heart so happy! Happy Birthday @JordinSparks! Love you!!!!”
Reality Check: Dissecting The Voice & X Factor Finales! Plus: How to Make ‘Em Better Shows
