The play opened with upbeat, rap music…in French, complete with half-naked dancers.  I thought to myself, “Hmm…this is interesting.  What’s this about?”  While watching this display confused, I recognized the familiar melody and having minored in French in undergrad, I realized they were performing some version of “Oh what a night.”  Then Tommy DeVito came out and began to tell the story…of how the little group he was trying to develop would have a “ubiquitous” influence on music in times to come.  As I was taken through the journey of the young men from Jersey and their remarkable individual stories, I was most amazed with the lasting nature of their music.  Although I was born in the 80’s, long after Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ hay day, I was familiar with many of the songs. Not even just familiar, I love many of their songs. 

Two weeks after being hospitalized  for overdosing on aspirin and a sleep aid, singer Fantasia Barrino says she knew exactly what she was doing. She wanted to die.

"I didn't have any fight in me. I didn't care about anything. I just wanted out," the American Idol winner, 26, tells VH1 in a new Behind the Music interview, airing 9 p.m. ET/PT Tuesday, the same day her new album, Back to Me, is released. "At that moment, I wanted out. I wanted it to be over with – all of it, all of that [expletive]."

She continues: "I just sat in the closet and looked at the mirror and took all the pills in the bottle. I wanted to go to sleep and just be at peace. I knew exactly what I was doing. You can't accidentally take a whole bottle of pills."

Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren announced their divorce Monday, ending months of speculation about the future of their marriage.

A statement on tigerwoods.com said: "Elin Nordegren and Tiger Woods confirmed today that they have divorced. Judgment was entered today in Bay County (Florida) Circuit Court dissolving the marriage. The Judgment provides for shared parenting of their two children."

The couple also issued a joint statement, focusing on their 3-year-old daughter, Sam, and 1-year-old son, Charlie.

On Friday, August 13th, Rozone Productions hosted an Old School Jam at the Austin Music Hall.  The purpose of the event was to bring to Austin several artists who had been at the top of the hip hop world during its Golden Era (late 80s-early 90s).  Considering that this is the era during which I was introduced to hip hop, I was excited for the opportunity to catch the show.  I was particularly interested in seeing one act in particular, which I will discuss momentarily.

Embattled radio talk-show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger announced Tuesday she will not renew her contract that is up at the end of the year, telling CNN's "Larry King Live" she wants to "regain my First Amendment rights."

Schlessinger, 63, has been under fire for using the N-word repeatedly during an on-air conversation last week with a caller.

In announcing her decision "not to do radio anymore" after being in the business for more than 30 years, Schlessinger said, "I want to be able to say what's on my mind and in my heart and what I think is helpful and useful without somebody getting angry or some special-interest group deciding this is a time to silence a voice of dissent."

Wyclef Jean said Tuesday he is in hiding in Haiti after receiving death threats amid the drama surrounding the country’s presidential election.

Haiti’s electoral commission said late Tuesday that it was postponing its ruling on who will be allowed to run for president in November elections, leaving Wyclef’s candidacy in limbo. A statement from the commission, known as the CEP, said it would postpone the announcement until Friday.

Wyclef disclosed the threats in a series of e-mails to The Associated Press, revealing few details. Jean said he received a phone call telling him to get out of Haiti and that he was in hiding in a secret location in the Caribbean country.