Hussein Abdullah clutches his oud, long the symbol of Iraqi music, and sighs. "Iraqis do not care for their musical heritage," he laments. "On TV, all you see are singers who have no voice."

With the end of official events, AFP is closing its live report on the second Inauguration of Barack Obama as president of the United States. The parade is expected to last a few hours, even as the sun sets in Washington. Today's events will be capped off with dozens of unofficial parties but only two official Inaugural Balls, one for members of the military and another for supporters.

Pop diva Beyonce will sing the national anthem before hundreds of thousands of onlookers at US President Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony on January 21, organizers said Wednesday.

NBC is hoping to breathe new life into a vintage Broadway musical by casting chart-topping country singer Carrie Underwood as the star of its revival of "The Sound of Music" next year.

It is a tale of two cities. In one there is light, restaurants are open and the elevators work. In the other there is darkness, hardly any water and not even a one dollar slice of pizza.

Ellen DeGeneres on Monday received the 2012 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Ellen DeGeneres on Monday received the 2012 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The 54-year-old DeGeneres, the host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, was presented with the 15th annual award at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., the AP reported. ?I never could have imagined my life would end up this way,? DeGeneres said in accepting the award. ?I only thought I'd be a positive gay comedian wearing parachute pants.? Late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel called DeGeneres the ?original Modern Family.? ?In 1998, I mustered the courage to come out of the closet, despite the fact that I'm not gay,? he joked. The Mark Twain Prize honors ?people that have spent one season or less as a judge on American Idol,? he explained. Celebrities attending the event included Sean Hayes, Jane Lynch, Kristin Chenoweth and John Krasinski. DeGeneres' wife, Portia de Rossi, said on the red carpet:

Singer Adam Lambert says he wants the right to get married. Singer Adam Lambert says he wants the right to get married. During an appearance on Auckland TV ONE's early morning show Breakfast, the 30-year-old openly gay Lambert said some of the songs on his new album Trespassing address guys. ?Some songs on the album address guys, but sometimes I leave it universal,? Lambert said. ?I wanted my music to be personal, but I also want it to reflect the human condition. There are songs that are a bit more broad to try and be inclusive,? he said. The American Idol alum last month staged a concert to benefit Marylanders for Marriage Equality, the group working to uphold a gay marriage law approved by Maryland lawmakers. ?I want the right to get married,? said Lambert, who is dating Finnish reality star Sauli Koskinen. ?Who knows what my future holds. I'm not planning to get married anytime soon but I feel like myself and other people should have the right.? Lambert is in Auckland to promote hi

Brandon Caruana thinks friends are ready to swap online social network niceties for trash talk and competition in a virtual arena that challenges people to "TopThat."

America's "forgotten war" in Afghanistan, is missing in action again, squeezed out of the campaign narrative as President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney duel for the White House.

Cult retro series "Mad Men" and comedy hit "Modern Family" are Emmys favorites again this weekend -- but a bunch of newcomers could yet produce surprises at US television's annual awards show.

The Fox television network announced Sunday it has tapped rapper Nicki Minaj and country singer Keith Urban as judges on troubled TV talent show "American Idol."

The Fox television network announced Sunday it has tapped rapper Nicki Minaj and country singer Keith Urban as judges on troubled TV talent show "American Idol."

Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez has filed a $20 million lawsuit against a former driver whom she claims threatened to spill her secrets if she did not pay him $2.8 million, court records showed.

'American Idol' winner and 'Sparkle' co-star Jordin Sparks says Whitney Houston 'loved her gays'. American Idol winner and Sparkle co-star Jordin Sparks says Whitney Houston ?loved her gays.? Houston played Emma Williams in Sparkle opposite Sparks, who played Sparkle Williams, before Houston's tragic death in February. The film opens next Friday. In an interview with Michigan weekly Pride Source, Sparks dismissed rumors that she grew up in a Christian family which did not accept gay people. ?That's all stuff that people write,? she said. ?I grew up in a Christian family, but I have cousins and I have tons of friends [who are gay]. Some of my closest friends are actually gay, and some of my band members are, as well. So, for me, I'm just like, whatever! Those are just mean things that people say.? When asked if Houston talked about her gay fans on the set of Sparkle, Sparks answered: ?No, but her family would tell us. They'd be like, 'She loves her gays, honey,' and there have been a fe

'American Idol' winner and 'Sparkle' co-star Jordin Sparks says Whitney Houston 'loved her gays'. American Idol winner and Sparkle co-star Jordin Sparks says Whitney Houston ?loved her gays.? Houston played Emma Williams in Sparkle opposite Sparks, who played Sparkle Williams, before Houston's tragic death in February. The film opens next Friday. In an interview with Michigan weekly Pride Source, Sparks dismissed rumors that she grew up in a Christian family which did not accept gay people. ?That's all stuff that people write,? she said. ?I grew up in a Christian family, but I have cousins and I have tons of friends [who are gay]. Some of my closest friends are actually gay, and some of my band members are, as well. So, for me, I'm just like, whatever! Those are just mean things that people say.? When asked if Houston talked about her gay fans on the set of Sparkle, Sparks answered: ?No, but her family would tell us. They'd be like, 'She loves her gays, honey,' and there have been a fe

Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson wiped away tears as her brother-in-law was sentenced to life in prison by a judge in Illinois on Tuesday for slaying her mother, brother and young nephew in 2008.

Pop star Mariah Carey is taking over at the troubled TV talent show "American Idol" after Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and pop diva Jennifer Lopez quit as judges.

"Mad Men" dominated nominations for the primetime Emmy awards, a triumph for the 1960s-themed series that almost failed to return for its fifth season this year.

"Mad Men" dominated nominations for the primetime Emmy awards on Thursday, a triumph for the 1960s-themed series that almost failed to return for its fifth season this year.

Jennifer Lopez announced Friday she was quitting ratings-challenged TV talent show "American Idol," a day after fellow judge Steven Tyler announced his departure.