T-Pain was crowned Songwriter of the Year and shared the Producer of the Year honor Thursday at the BMI Urban Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. The crooner was saluted for his seven chart-topping songs in 2007. Also winning the Producer of the Year trophy was Kanye West. Song of the Year went to Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable," which was co-penned by multiple winner Ne-Yo. Meanwhile, the Jacksons -- sans Michael and Jermaine -- reunited at the event to receive their BMI Icon Award.
[more]

Beyoncé has done it all -- singing, acting and producing films (her latest project is Cadillac Records, in which she plays blues legend Etta James). The multitasking entertainer says she's looking beyond her career as a chart-topping songbird. "I'm over being a pop star," B says. "I wanna be iconic [and] I feel like I've accomplished a lot. I feel like I'm highly respected, which is more important than any award or any amount of records."
[more]

Ne-Yo has worked with slew of music artists, but was very impressed by '80s balladeer Michael Bolton after collaborating with him in the studio. "He's really, really cool and down to earth," he says. "I expected him to be otherwise, but he was a regular person." Meanwhile, click here to listen to Ne-Yo's remix for "Miss Independent" called "She's Got Her Own" (featuring Jamie Foxx and Fabolous).
[more]

N*E*R*D have been added to the lineup of the 2008 Voodoo Experience. They join Lil Wayne and hundreds of other acts Oct. 24-26 for the three-day festival held at New Orleans' City Park. Meanwhile, N*E*R*D are hitting the road with Common for the Seeing the Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour kicking off Sept. 9 in Houston. Peep the full itinerary here.
[more]

Denzel Booked for New Hughes Movie
Marion Jones Released From Texas Prison
Rev. Jackson Hospitalized With Food Poisoning
Giants WR Burress Secures 5-Year, $35M Deal
Eva Talks Therapy and Friendships