Pop Music News Weekly, April 5th, 2011: John Mellencamp/Stephen King Musical; ACM Awards; Spears in Talks with Nicki Minaj to Join Tour

Welcome once again to Pop Music News, a weekly wrap-up of some of the more noteworthy news items from the world of popular music. Here's some of what's happening this week:

John Mellencamp/Stephen King Musical set to debut in 2012

In what promises to be a unique and entertaining collaboration of great songwriting and gothic storytelling, rocker John Mellencamp and horror master Stephen King have teamed up to create a new musical which is set to debut on April 4, 2012 at the Alliance Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.

"Ghost Brothers of Darkland County" follows 40 years in the life of a witness to the deaths of two brothers and a young girl. King's story is based on real violent deaths that took place in late 50's Mississippi and Mellencamp's score is said to be 'roots and blues-tinged." Oscar winner T-Bone Burnett is set to provide musical direction for the show and Susan V. Booth will direct.

Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift Big Winners at ACM Awards

On Sunday evening, the Academy of Country Music held their 46^th Annual Awards show from Las Vegas, which aired on CBS. The big winner of the evening included Miranda Lambert, the Texas singer whose smash 'The House That Built Me' helped earn her Top Female Vocalist, Single of the Year and Video of the Year Honors. Songwriters Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin won Song of the Year for penning the song.

The biggest surprise of the evening was in the Entertainer of the Year category, an award based on fan voting. Lambert, who led all artists with seven nominations, might have been favored to win this one, but in the end, popular songstress Taylor Swift took home the honor. Swift, who had received four nominations with no prize until that point, was clearly taken aback at the announcement. "This is the first time I've ever won this and I'm just losing my mind," the singer said, fighting back tears of joy.

Other ACM award winners included Brad Paisley (Top Male Vocalist), Sugarland (Top Vocal Duo), Lady Antebellum (Top Vocal Group and Album of the Year), and The Band Perry (Top New Artist). The show was telecast from two Vegas venues, Mandolay Bay and the MGM Grand, and featured great , unique performances by Brad Paisley with Alabama ('Old Alabama'), Carrie Underwood and Steven Tyler (performing Aerosmith's 'Walk This Way'), Sugarland ('Tonight'), Toby Keith ('Somewhere Else'), Lambert ('Heart Like Mine'), Swift ('Mean') and a duet between Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and pop singer Rihanna on the latter's 'California King Bed'). Legendary country music singer Reba McEntire hosted.

Britney Spears in Talks with Nicki Minaj to replace Enrique Iglesias on 'Femme Fatale' Tour

In a follow-up to last week's issue, Britney Spears is reportedly in talks with female rap powerhouse Nicki Minaj to appear as the opening act to her upcoming tour. Last week Spears announced, then had to retract, that Latin pop sensation Enrique Iglesias would be joining her on her summer tour in support of her new 'Femme Fatale' album. Within hours after the announcement, Iglesias abruptly dropped out of the tour and though it was said that the two were still in negotiations, Spears wasted no time in searching for another big name act to join the tour. Minaj is currently touring with rap star Lil Wayne in support of her own popular 'Pink Friday' CD and would surely attract fans to the show. Stay tuned...

The Charts

Here's what's happening on the charts this week:
iTunes Top Ten Downloaded Singles

1- E.T. - Katy Perry, featuring Kanye West

2- Just Can't Get Enough - The Black Eyed Peas

3- Honey Bee - Blake Shelton

4- S&M - Rihanna

5- On the Floor - Jennifer Lopez, featuring Pitbull

6- R olling in the Deep - Adele

7- Till the World Ends - Britney Spears

8- Look at Me Now - Chris Brown, featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes

9- Born This Way - Lady GaGa

10- Blow - Ke$ha

iTunes Top Ten Downloaded Albums

1- Songs for Japan - Various Artists

2- 21 - Adele

3- Reckless and Relentless - Asking Alexandria

4- American Tragedy (Deluxe Edition) - Hollywood Undead

5- Femme Fatale (Deluxe Version) - Britney Spears

6- Sigh No More - Mumford and Sons

7- Rolling Papers (Deluxe Version) - Wiz Khalifa

8- TRON: Legacy Reconfigured - Daft Punk

9- Blood Pressures - The Kills

10- American Tragedy - Hollywood Undead

Billboard's Hot 100 Top Ten Singles

1- E.T. - Katy Perry, featuring Kanye West

2- S&M - Rihanna

3- F**k You (Forget You) - Cee Lo Green

4- Born This Way - Lady GaGa

5- J ust Can't Get Enough - Black Eyed Peas

6- N o Sleep - Wiz Khalifa

7- Look at Me Now - Chris Brown, featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes

8- F**kin Perfect - Pink

9- Down on Me - Jeremiah, featuring 50 Cent

10- On the Floor - Jennifer Lopez, featuring Pitbull

Other Billboard #1's This Week:

#1 Album - F.A.M.E. - Chris Brown

#1 R&B/Hip Hop Song - Look at Me Now - Chris Brown, featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes

#1 Country Song - Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not - Thompson Square

#1 Rock Song - Rope - Foo Fighters

#1 Dance/Club - On the Floor - Jennifer Lopez, featuring Pitbull

For past issues in the series, click the links below:

March 29^th Edition

March 22^nd Edition

March 15^th Edition

March 8^th Edition

March 1^st Edition

Also see:

"Songs for Japan" Digital Album Released Today on iTunes

New Music Releases for April 2011

New Music Releases for March 2011

Sources:

D'Arminio, Aubry. "Stephen King and John Mellencamp's stage musical gets a world premiere date in Atlanta." EW.com 01 Apr 2011: n. pag. Web. 5 Apr 2011. .

Reuters. "Nicki Minaj in talks to join Britney Spears tour." Times Live. 04 Apr 2011: n. pag. Web. 5 Apr 2011. http://www.timeslive.co.za/entertainment/article1002785.ece/Nicki-Minaj-in-talks-to-join-Britney-Spears-tour

Reuters. "Taylor Swift wins Entertainer of the Year at ACM Awards." Billboard. 03 Apr 2011: n. pag. Web. 5 Apr 2011. http://www.billboard.com/news/taylor-swift-wins-entertainer-of-the-year-1005109722.story#/news/taylor-swift-wins-entertainer-of-the-year-1005109722.story

The Editors of the Boot. "Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift Win big at the 2011 ACM Awards." PopEater 04 Apr 2011: n. pag. Web. 5 Apr 2011. http://www.popeater.com/2011/04/04/2011-acm-awards-winners?icid=sphere_billboard

Other sources:

http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/john-mellencamp-and-stephen-king-partner-for-gothic-musical/8771796