Diana Krall [ tickets ] is scheduled to release her first full-length Christmas album, "Christmas Songs, featuring The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra," on Nov. 1.

The set was co-produced by Krall with Tommy LiPuma, and features contributions from arranger/bassist John Clayton (Count Basie, Duke Ellington), guitarist Anthony Wilson (Chris Botti, Michael Buble), drummer Jeff Hamilton (Rosemary Clooney, Natalie Cole) and bassist Bob Hurst (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Saturday Night Live).

Among the standards covered on the album are "Let it Snow," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and "Jingle Bells."

Pixies vocalist/guitarist Frank Black [ tickets ] recently returned to a Nashville studio with producer Jon Tiven and many of the Nashville musicians who contributed to "Honeycomb," Black's 2005 solo album. No release date has been set for the still-untitled new set.

Among the artists who took part in recording the approximately 25 new tracks were "Honeycomb" alumni Steve Cropper, Reggie Young, Spooner Oldham, Anton Fig, Chester Thompson and David Hood, along with new collaborators Levon Helm, Al Kooper, Ian McLagan, Cheap Trick's Tom Peterson and Jack Clement.

"The new tunes are much different in many ways than those on 'Honeycomb,'" producer Tiven said in a press release. "'Honeycomb' was subdued, almost mellow, whereas more up tempo, rock tracks were recorded this time. ... Until we decide how many and what tracks will make it onto the new album, we won't know for sure what the musical direction will be."

Boy George [ tickets ], who was arrested in New York City on Friday (10/7) after police said they found a small amount of cocaine in his apartment, returned to the U.K. on Sunday (10/9). He faces drug possession charges, and is due to return to New York for a court hearing on Dec. 19.

Rascal Flatts [ tickets ], Big & Rich [ tickets ], Dierks Bentley and Sara Evans have joined the list of performers for Nov. 15's Country Music Association Awards, which take place at New York's Madison Square Garden and will be broadcast live on CBS-TV.

Previously announced performers include Brooks & Dunn (who will double as the show's co-hosts), George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Lee Ann Womack, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley.