Briefly: Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston, Diana Krall and Elvis Costello, Koko Taylor
With sales of 618,000 copies, R&B singer Alicia Keys notches her second straight No. 1 debut on the U.S. album charts with her sophomore effort, "The Diary of Alicia Keys."
Toby Keith's "Shock 'N Y'all," in its fifth week in stores, jumps four places to No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart. Also vaulting four notches, to No. 3, is Josh Groban's "Closer."
At No. 4, up one place from a week ago, is the hits compilation "NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 14." OutKast's "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" moves up five places to No. 5.
Whitney Houston reportedly told police on Sunday night (12/7) that her husband, Bobby Brown, hit her in the face with an open hand in their Atlanta-area home before he left to catch a flight to Los Angeles.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, an officer who responded to a call from Houston after the alleged incident saw a bruise on Houston's cheek and a cut inside her upper lip. Police were seeking Brown for questioning on Wednesday (12/10).
Rock veteran Elvis Costello and jazz singer Diana Krall were married on Saturday night (12/6) at Elton John's mansion in Surrey, England, according to the Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail.
Blues singer Koko Taylor , 75, is recovering from surgery to correct a gastrointestinal bleed, according to her publicist. She underwent the procedure in Chicago on Nov. 2, and is now recovering at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
Taylor is expected to return home by Christmas, and hopes to begin performing again by late winter or early spring.
Alicia Keys' Fans Text To Support AIDS Fight [July 2008]
Kanye West, UGK top list of BET winners [June 2008]
LiveDaily Interview: Ne-Yo [May 2008]
Elvis Costello Tapped For Whistler Music Festival [May 2008]
New Releases, May 6: Neil Diamond, Clay Aiken, Tim McGraw [May 2008]
Alicia Keys Returns To The Stage After Cancellations [April 2008]
Madonna's "Confessions on a Dance Floor" tour
The Duke Spirit on stage and in the studio
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Stevie Nicks
Metallica at the KROQ Weenie Roast in Irvine, CA
R.E.M. at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA
Herbie Hancock at the Sonoma Jazz Festival
Brad Paisley, Jack Ingram and Kellie Pickler
Dengue Fever at The Independent, San Francisco, CA

